bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cost-effectiveness analysis of cinacalcet for haemodialysis patients with moderate-to-severe secondary hyperparathyroidism in China: evaluation based on the EVOLVE trial
Authors: Liu Lin , Hong Dongsheng , Ma Kuifen , Wu Bin , Lu Xiaoyang 
Published: August 2020

ObjectiveAs the cost-effectiveness evaluation of cinacalcet and conventional therapy in China has not been reported, the objective of this study was to make a pharmacoeconomic evaluation of cinacalcet specific to the Chinese healthcare setting in patients with moderate-to-severe secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) undergoing dialysis.DesignsData from Evaluation of Cinacalcet Therapy to Lower Cardiovascular Events trial were used for this analysis. A semi-Markov model was constructed to estimate quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) and lifetime costs in cinacalcet plus conventional therapy (cinacalcet strategy) compared with conventional therapy (standard strategy), in patients with moderate-to-severe SHPT undergoing dialysis. Treatment effect estimates from the unadjusted intent-to-treat (ITT) analysis and covariate-adjusted ITT analysis were used as the main analyses. Model sensitivity to variations in individual inputs and overall decision uncertainty were assessed through probabilistic sensitivity analyses.Primary and secondary outcome measuresIncremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) as measured by cost per QALY gained.ResultsThe ICER for cinacalcet strategy was US$44 400 per QALY gained using the covariate-adjusted ITT analysis. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis suggested a 46.2% chance of the ICER being below a willingness-to-pay threshold of US$26 508. Treatment effects from unadjusted ITT analysis yielded an ICER of US$87 210 per QALY. The model was most sensitive to the treatment effect on mortality.ConclusionsExisting evidence does not support the cost-effectiveness of cinacalcet strategy in patients with moderate-to-severe SHPT undergoing dialysis when applying a willingness-to-pay threshold of US$26 508 per QALY, whether it is using the treatment effect from covariate-adjusted ITT analysis or unadjusted ITT analysis.
Meniscal Tear Outcome (METRO) review: a protocol for a systematic review summarising the clinical course and patient experiences of meniscal tears in the current literature
Authors: Ahmed Imran , Khatri Chetan , Parsons Nicholas , Hutchinson Charles E , Staniszewska Sophie , Price Andrew James , Metcalfe Andrew 
Published: August 2020

IntroductionMeniscal tears are a common knee injury with an incidence of 60 per 100 000. Management of meniscal tears can include either non-operative measures or operative procedures such as arthroscopic partial meniscectomy (APM). Despite substantial research evaluating the effectiveness of APM in the recent past, little is known about the clinical course or the experiences of patients with a meniscal tear.AimTo summarise the short to long-term patterns of variability in outcome in patients with a meniscal tear.To summarise the evidence on patient experiences of meniscal tears. In particular, we will focus on patient experiences of treatment options, treatment pathways and their views of the outcomes used in meniscal tear research.Methods and analysisTwo search strategies will be developed to identify citations from EMBASE, MEDLINE, AMED, CENTRAL, Web of Science and Sociofile. The date of our planned search is 14 August 2020. For the quantitative review we will identify studies reporting patient-reported outcome measures in patients after a meniscal tear. The standardised mean change will be used to assess the variation in size of response and summarise the overall response to each treatment option. All studies will undergo quality assessment using either the Cochrane risk of bias or the Newcastle-Ottawa tool.A qualitative systematic review will be used to identify studies reporting views and experiences of patients with a meniscal tear. All studies will be assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme tool and if sufficient data are present a meta-synthesis will be performed to identify first, second and third-order constructs.Ethics and disseminationGiven the nature of this study, no formal ethical approval will be sought. Results from the review will be disseminated at national conferences and will be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal for publication. Lay summaries will be freely available via the study Twitter page.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42019122179.
Cross-sectional mixed-methods study protocol exploring the enablers and barriers for people with severe and enduring mental illness in Jamaica when accessing healthcare for chronic physical illness
Authors: Whitehorne-Smith Patrice , Burns Sharyn , Milbourn Ben , Abel Wendel , Martin Robyn 
Published: August 2020

IntroductionExtant international research suggests that people with severe and enduring mental illness (PWSEMI) experience increased rates of chronic physical illness (CPI), reduced life expectancy and higher mortality than those in the general population. The high prevalence of CPI among PWSEMI is associated with a number of barriers that this population experiences when accessing physical healthcare. Although substantial research has been conducted in North America, Europe and Australia, there appears to be a paucity of research exploring CPI among PWSEMI in the Caribbean region, although this region has reported very high rates of non-communicable diseases within its populations. The current study will be situated in Jamaica and will explore the enablers and barriers to PWSEMI accessing healthcare for CPI.Methods and analysisA convergent mixed-method design will explore the enablers and barriers to accessing healthcare for CPI among PWSEMI. This cross-sectional study will collect data from PWSEMI, caregivers and family members, community health aides, primary care physicians, psychiatrists and health policymakers.Ethics and disseminationThe study findings will provide baseline data describing the prevalence of CPI among PWSEMI in Jamaica and will identify enablers for, and barriers to, PWSEMI accessing CPI care. Findings will be disseminated widely in Jamaica and internationally to key stakeholders through publications and conferences. Institutional ethical approval was granted from Jamaica’s Ministry of Health and Wellness Medico-legal Ethics Review Panel (# 2019/49), the Curtin University Human Research and Ethics Committee (HRE 2020–0022) and the University of the West Indies FMS Ethics Committee (ECP 101, 19/20).
Natural history of recovery after intracerebral haemorrhage: a scoping review protocol
Authors: Massicotte Sara , Lun Ronda , Yogendrakumar Vignan , Dewar Brian , Davies Alexandra , Fergusson Dean A , Shamy Michel , Dowlatshahi Dar 
Published: August 2020

IntroductionClinical trials for intracerebral haemorrhage typically measure outcomes in the same way and at the same time points as trials for ischaemic stroke. However, there is growing evidence that the trajectory of recovery following intracerebral haemorrhage may differ significantly from that following ischaemic stroke. A better understanding of current approaches to outcome assessment is essential to ensure that future trials examining treatments for intracerebral haemorrhage are designed appropriately.ObjectiveTo determine when and how outcomes are measured in patients with intracerebral haemorrhage.Methods and analysisWith the assistance of an information specialist, we will conduct a scoping review by searching MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and Web of Science for prospective studies of adults with primary intracerebral haemorrhage and documented outcomes with specified times. Two reviewers will independently collect data on included studies pertaining to publication data, study population information, timing of outcome and details of the outcome measurement tools used. The extracted data will be used to demonstrate the type and timing of outcome measures.Ethics and disseminationPrimary data will not be collected therefore formal ethics is not required. The findings of this study will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and through presentation at academic conferences.
Head home: a prospective cohort study of a nurse-led paediatric head injury clinical decision tool at a district general hospital
Authors: Aldridge Patrick , Castle Heather , Phillips Clare , Russell Emma , Guerrero-Luduena Richard , Rout Raj 
Published: August 2020

ObjectivesTo assess if a nurse-led application of a paediatric head injury clinical decision tool would be safe compared with current practice.MethodsAll paediatric (<17 years) patients with head injuries presenting to Frimley Park Emergency Department (ED), England from 1 May to 31 October 2018 were prospectively screened by a nurse using a mandated electronic 'Head Injury Discharge At Triage' questionnaire (HIDATq). We determined which patients underwent CT of brain and whether there was a clinically important intracranial injury or re-presentation to the ED. The negative predictive value of the screening tool was assessed. We determined what proportion of patients could have been sent home from triage using this tool.ResultsOf the 1739 patients screened, 61 had CTs performed due to head injury (six abnormal) with a CT rate of 3.5% and 2% re-presentations. Of the entire cohort, 1052 screened negative. 1 CT occurred in this group showing no abnormalities. Of those screened negative, 349 (33%)/1052 had ‘no other injuries’ and 543 (52%)/1052 had ‘abrasions or lacerations’. HIDATq's negative predictive value for CT was 99.9% (95% CI 99.4% to 99.9%) and 100% (95% CI 99.0% to 100%) for intracranial injury. The positive predictive value of the tool was low. Five patients screened negative and re-presented within 72 hours but did not require CT imaging.ConclusionA negative HIDATq appears safe in our ED. Potentially 20% (349/1739) of all patients with head injuries presenting to our department could be discharged by nurses at triage with adequate safety netting advice. This increases to 50% (543/1739), if patients with lacerations or abrasions were given advice and discharged at triage. A large multicentre study is required to validate the tool.
Reducing pain by using venous blood gas instead of arterial blood gas (VEINART): a multicentre randomised controlled trial
Authors: Chauvin Anthony , Javaud Nicolas , Ghazali Aiham , Curac Sonja , Altar Adrien , Ali Talina , Beguin Nora , Bellier Julien , Coupier Antoine , Delsarte Laura , Dreyfuss Dora , Kheirbek Nour , Oudar Clara , Stordeur Yoann , Weiss Morgane , Gaudry Stephane , Lambert Jerome , Roux Damien 
Published: August 2020

IntroductionVenous sampling for blood gas analysis has been suggested as an alternative to arterial sampling in order to reduce pain. The main objective was to compare pain induced by venous and arterial sampling and to assess whether the type of sampling would affect clinical management or not.MethodsWe performed an open-label randomised multicentre prospective study in four French EDs during a 4-week period. Non-hypoxaemic adults, whose medical management required blood gas analysis, were randomly allocated using a computer-generated randomisation list stratified by centres with an allocation ratio of 1:1 using random blocks to one of the two arms: venous or arterial sampling. The primary outcome was the maximal pain during sampling, using the visual analogue scale. Secondary outcomes pertained to ease of sampling as rated by the nurse drawing the blood, and physician satisfaction regarding usefulness of biochemical data.Results113 patients were included: 55 in the arterial and 58 in the venous sampling group. The mean maximal pain was 40.5 mm±24.9 mm and 22.6 mm±20.2 mm in the arterial group and the venous group, respectively, accounting for a mean difference of 17.9 mm (95% CI 9.6 to 26.3) (p<0.0001). Ease of blood sampling was greater in the venous group as compared with the arterial group (p=0.02). The usefulness of the results, evaluated by the prescriber, did not significantly differ (p=0.25).ConclusionsVenous blood gas is less painful for patients than ABG in non-hypoxaemic patients. Venous blood gas should replace ABG in this setting.Trial registration numberNCT03784664.
Immunoinformatic approach to assess SARS-CoV-2 protein S epitopes recognised by the most frequent MHC-I alleles in the Brazilian population
Authors: Moura Ronald Rodrigues de , Agrelli Almerinda , Santos-Silva Carlos André , Silva Natália , Assunção Bruno Rodrigo , Brandão Lucas , Benko-Iseppon Ana Maria , Crovella Sergio 
Published: August 2020

AimsBrazil is nowadays one of the epicentres of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic and new therapies are needed to face it. In the context of specific immune response against the virus, a correlation between Major Histocompatibility Complex Class I (MHC-I) and the severity of the disease in patients with COVID-19 has been suggested. Aiming at better understanding the biology of the infection and the immune response against the virus in the Brazilian population, we analysed SARS-CoV-2 protein S peptides in order to identify epitopes able to elicit an immune response mediated by the most frequent MHC-I alleles using in silico methods.MethodsOur analyses consisted in searching for the most frequent Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA)-A, HLA-B and HLA-C alleles in the Brazilian population, excluding the genetic isolates; then, we performed: molecular modelling for unsolved structures, MHC-I binding affinity and antigenicity prediction, peptide docking and molecular dynamics of the best fitted MHC-I/protein S complexes.ResultsWe identified 24 immunogenic epitopes in the SARS-CoV-2 protein S that could interact with 17 different MHC-I alleles (namely, HLA-A*01:01; HLA-A*02:01; HLA-A*11:01; HLA-A*24:02; HLA-A*68:01; HLA-A*23:01; HLA-A*26:01; HLA-A*30:02; HLA-A*31:01; HLA-B*07:02; HLA-B*51:01; HLA-B*35:01; HLA-B*44:02; HLA-B*35:03; HLA-C*05:01; HLA-C*07:01 and HLA-C*15:02) in the Brazilian population.ConclusionsBeing aware of the intrinsic limitations of in silico analysis (mainly the differences between the real and the Protein Data Bank (PDB) structure; and accuracy of the methods for simulate proteasome cleavage), we identified 24 epitopes able to interact with 17 MHC-I more frequent alleles in the Brazilian population that could be useful for the development of strategic methods for vaccines against SARS-CoV-2.
Anisotropic magnetoresistance in spin–orbit semimetal $${\hbox {SrIrO}}_{3}$$
Authors: Groenendijk Dirk J. , Manca Nicola , de Bruijckere Joeri , Monteiro Ana Mafalda R. V. L. , Gaudenzi Rocco , van der Zant Herre S. J. , Caviglia Andrea D. 
Published: August 2020

Abstract$${\hbox {SrIrO}}_{3}$$

SrIrO
3

, the three-dimensional member of the Ruddlesden–Popper iridates, is a paramagnetic semimetal characterised by a the delicate interplay between spin–orbit coupling and Coulomb repulsion. In this work, we study the anisotropic magnetoresistance (AMR) of $${\hbox {SrIrO}}_{3}$$

SrIrO
3

thin films, which is closely linked to spin–orbit coupling and probes correlations between electronic transport, magnetic order and orbital states. We show that the low-temperature negative magnetoresistance is anisotropic with respect to the magnetic field orientation, and its angular dependence reveals the appearance of a fourfold symmetric component above a critical magnetic field. We show that this AMR component is of magnetocrystalline origin, and attribute the observed transition to a field-induced magnetic state in $${\hbox {SrIrO}}_{3}$$

SrIrO
3

.
Simulation of novel cell-like topological structures with quantum walk
Authors: Panahiyan S. , Fritzsche S. 
Published: August 2020

AbstractWe demonstrate how quantum walk can simulate exotic cell-like structures for topological phases and boundary states. These cell-like structures contain the three known boundary states of Dirac cone, Fermi arc and flat bands alongside of all trivial and non-trivial phases of BDI family of topological phases. We also characterize the behavior of boundary states through Bloch spheres. In addition, we investigate the topological phase transitions and critical behavior of the system that take place over boundary states through curvature function. We confirm that critical behavior of the simulated topological phenomena can be described by peak-divergence scenario. We extract the critical exponents and length scale, establish a scaling law and show that band crossing is 1. Furthermore, we find the correlation function through Wannier states and show that it decays as a function of length scale.
Optimized geometry of the carotid artery cross-section: Comparison between circular and elliptical approximations in B-mode ultrasound images
Authors: Soleimani Effat , Saberi Hazhir , Ayoobi-Yazdi Niloofar 
Published: August 2020

Cross-sectional area (CSA) measurement obtained from transverse ultrasound images is the general method used for carotid artery stenosis calculation which assumes a circular CS, however, atherosclerotic stenosis may change the CSA geometry and lead to miscalculation. This study aims to determine the accuracy of circular or elliptical approximation of the normal and stenosed carotid artery CSA. Sixty transverse B-mode ultrasound images (30 from healthy and 30 from stenosed carotid arteries) were recorded. Contours of the internal lumen of the arteries were segmented and the encompassed lumen area was calculated. Based on the fitting accuracy and computational cost effectiveness, pattern search (PS) optimization algorithm was selected by which the parameterized equations of the circular and elliptical geometries were fitted to the segmented point clouds. Goodness of fit analysis of two geometries was carried out using root mean square error (RMSE) and the relative deviation of the approximated CSA. Results of this study showed that elliptical approximation better fits to the artery CS of carotid arteries, with the average RMSE of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] pixels in healthy and [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] pixels in stenosed carotid arteries, respectively, for circle and ellipse approximation. Mean values of the relative deviation of the approximated CSA by circle and ellipse geometries were 5.14%[Formula: see text]±[Formula: see text]4.53% and 3.89%[Formula: see text]±[Formula: see text]4.19% in normal arteries; and 12.18%[Formula: see text]±[Formula: see text]10.94% and 4.59%[Formula: see text]±[Formula: see text]3.75% in stenosed arteries, respectively. This study represented that elliptical approximation provides increased accuracy for carotid artery CSA for both normal and stenosed carotid arteries.
The influence of the Carpathian Mountains on the variability of stable isotopes in precipitation and the relationship with large-scale atmospheric circulation
Authors: Nagavciuc Viorica , Bădăluţă Carmen-Andrea , Ionita Monica 
Published: August 2020

Abstract

In this chapter, we analyse the influence of the Carpathian Mountains on the variability of stable isotopes in precipitation by employing a combination of observed and model data. Overall, the mean value of the stable isotopes in precipitation over the Carpathian Mountains, based on observational data, was −9.8‰ for
δ
18
O and −68.6‰ for
δ
2
H. The local meteoric line, using all samples from the study sites, was
δ
2
H = 7.65 ×
δ
18
O + 5.82. The simulated
δ
18
O, based on the ECHAM5-wiso isotopes enable model, showed good agreement with the observed isotopic data. By comparing all the monthly values of the observed isotopic data from all analysed stations and the corresponding model data, a correlation coefficient of 0.76 (
n
= 455,
p
< 0.001) was obtained. The spatial distribution of the simulated
δ
18
O values in precipitation had the lowest values over the Romanian Carpathian Mountains and the highest values over the extra-Carpathian area, with the maximum in southeastern Romania. This pattern was strongly influenced by the Carpathian Mountains orography. Using the simulated
δ
18
O data, we show that the spatial distribution of the
δ
18
O values increases with temperature and decreases with altitude and latitude (−0.5‰ for
δ
18
O per degree of latitude). The continental gradient is characterized by a polynomial trend of the second degree in the form of a large-open ‘U’ shape, and the general pattern of the
δ
18
O values follows the spatial distribution of the Carpathian Mountains.
Applicability of selected stable isotopes to study the hydrodynamics and contaminant transport within mining areas in Romania and Finland
Authors: Papp Delia C. , Baciu Călin , Turunen Kaisa , Kittilä Anniina 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
Mining operations disturb the natural hydrological cycle at a local scale by creating new pathways for water flow and conveying large amounts of water, both for use in ore beneficiation and through the dewatering of mining workings. Sulfide minerals exposed to water and oxygen are oxidized through chemical and microbial-enhanced reactions, significantly altering the quality of water (acid mine drainage). Stable isotopes may reveal important information concerning water origin and transfer, as well as chemical processes and solute fluxes within the aqueous environment. Several case studies illustrate the use of stable isotope techniques for clarifying aspects related to water circulation in mining areas within Romania and Finland. Hydrogen and oxygen stable isotopes coupled with total dissolved solids have been used to characterize mine water and for assessing water sources, flow paths and mixing processes at some Romanian mining sites. At Talvivaara mine in Finland, water isotopes and chemical composition were used to determine the extent of waste water contamination in groundwater systems after a leakage at gypsum ponds.
Quantification of a North American greenhouse hydrological cycle: using oxygen isotopic composition of phosphate from Early Cretaceous (Aptian–Albian) turtles
Authors: Suarez C. A. , Frucci M. N. , Tompkins T. B. , Suarez M. B. 
Published: August 2020

Abstract

The oxygen isotopic composition of turtle phosphate from Early (Aptian–Albian) Cretaceous turtles from several North American palaeolatitudes was measured to estimate the isotopic compositions of groundwater
δ
18
O
w
. In Earth's history, under greenhouse conditions, researchers have recorded an intensification of the hydrological cycle as global heat was distributed from the equator to the poles via latent heat transport. Previous studies, using pedogenic carbonate nodules, show an increased rainout effect, causing intense depletion in
δ
18
O
w
at high latitudes due to this phenomenon. This study shows the utility of another palaeo-
δ
18
O
w
proxy, turtle phosphate oxygen from turtle carapace and plastron. Turtle
δ
18
O
p
was sampled from several Early Cretaceous sites. We find that turtle-derived
δ
18
O
w
values range from −3.1 ± 0.9‰ at a palaeolatitude of 29.5° N to −7.2‰ at 40° N. Turtles at the lowest latitude (Arkansas) plot off the carbonate-derived
δ
18
O
w
gradient; however, turtles at 34° N and 40° N plot within the range of carbonate-derived
δ
18
O
w
. Turtles from Arkansas (29.5° N) were likely to have been influenced by marine water and/or enriched Gulf of Mexico water vapour resulting in a deviation from the expected
δ
18
O
w
gradient. These data are encouraging steps towards using turtles to estimate palaeohydrological dynamics; however, additional analysis of lower- and higher-latitude specimens is necessary to confirm this trend.
Quest for Ideal Composite Biomarkers for Response to Immunotherapies
Authors: Swami Umang , Nussenzveig Roberto H. , Agarwal Neeraj 
Published: August 2020

Abstract
In the CheckMate 275 study, composite biomarkers appear to better predict response to immunotherapy over individual ones. Nevertheless, the path forward needs consensus guidelines for biomarker interpretation. Thereafter, prospective validation with real-time, serial biospecimen collection along with the development of composite biomarker models leads to the goal of personalized therapy.
See related article by Galsky et al., p. 5120