bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The impact of quantitative CT-based tumor volumetric features on the outcomes of patients with limited stage small cell lung cancer
Authors: Kamran Sophia C. , Coroller Thibaud , Milani Nastaran , Agrawal Vishesh , Baldini Elizabeth H. , Chen Aileen B. , Johnson Bruce E. , Kozono David , Franco Idalid , Chopra Nitish , Zeleznik Roman , Aerts Hugo J. W. L. , Mak Raymond 
Published: January 2020

Abstract
Introduction
Limited stage small cell lung cancer (LS-SCLC) has a poor prognosis. Additional prognostic markers are needed for risk-stratification and treatment intensification. This study compares quantitative CT-based volumetric tumor measurements versus International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) TNM staging to predict outcomes.

Materials & methods
A cohort of 105 patients diagnosed with LS-SCLC and treated with chemoradiation (CRT) from 2000 to 2013 were analyzed retrospectively. Patients were staged by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) TNM Classification, 8th edition. Tumor volumes and diameters were extracted from radiation planning CT imaging. Univariable and multivariable models were used to analyze relationships between CT features and overall survival (OS), locoregional recurrence (LRR), in-field LRR, any progression, and distant metastasis (DM).

Results
Median follow-up was 21.3 months. Two-year outcomes were as follows: 38% LRR, 31% in-field LRR, 52% DM, 62% any progression, and 47% OS (median survival 16.5 months).
On univariable analysis, UICC T-stage and N-stage were not associated with any clinical outcome. UICC overall stage was only statistically associated with in-field LRR. One imaging feature (3D maximum tumor diameter) was found to be significantly associated with LRR (HR 1.10, p = 0.003), in-field LRR (HR 1.10, p = 0.007), DM (HR 1.10, p = 0.02), any progression (HR 1.10, p = 0.008), and OS (HR 1.10, p = 0.03). On multivariable analysis, this feature remained significantly associated with all outcomes.

Conclusion
For LS-SCLC, quantitative CT-based volumetric tumor measurements were significantly associated with outcomes after CRT and may be better predictors of outcome than TNM stage.
Clinical evaluation of percutaneous and intra-operative device closure of atrial septal defects under transesophageal echocardiographic guidance: one center experience and mid-term follow-up
Authors: Zhu Peng , Qiang Haifeng , Liu Fei , Xie Peng , Zheng Shaoyi , Sun Yong 
Published: January 2020

Abstract
Objective
The percutaneous closure of a single secundum atrial septal defect (ASD) under transesophageal echocardiography guidance as an accepted alternative to the transcatheter closure with fluoroscopy has been proven. However, the technique has not been routinely used. This study was to present and share our experience in comparing the clinical outcomes of the percutaneous and intra-operative device closure (IODC) of atrial septal defects without fluoroscopy.

Methods
From January 2013 to December 2016, 103 patients with maximum diameters of ASD of less than 30 mm were allocated to groups taking either the percutaneous closure of atrial septal defects approach (PASD group, n = 53) or the intra-operative device closure approach (IODC Group, n = 50). They were operated on using the minimally invasive Amplatzer duct occluder under the guidance of transesophageal echocardiography without cardiopulmonary bypass. Echocardiography was performed to obtain an en face view of the ASD and important surrounding structures before the operation. Patient characteristics, perioperative data, and follow-up data were retrospectively documented and analyzed.

Results
Patient characteristics were comparable between the two groups. These were no differences in the maximum diameters of defects and the size of the occluders in each group (16.4 ± 5.3 mm vs16.4 ± 5.2 mm, P = 0.98; 22.4 ± 5.8 mm vs 21.3 ± 6.6 mm, P = 0.38). Intracardiac manipulation time was 20.72 ± 7.70 min in the PASD group and 6.01 ± 1.03 min in the IODC group (P < 0.001). The procedure time was 28.70 ± 10.41 min in the PASD group and 39.13 ± 6.03 min in the IODC group (P < 0.001). The successful closure defect was 100% in both groups when the maximum diameter of defect less than 25 mm. Four patients the PASD groups with maximum diameters between 25 mm and 30 mm were transferred to the IOCD group after unsuccessful device implantations. The total occlusion rate was 82% immediately after deployment, 98% at 3 months, and 100% at 6 months. No cardiac-related complications occurred during the follow-up period of between 3 to 65 months (mean 21.4 ± 9.8 months).

Conclusions
Percutaneous device closures of Secundum atrial septal defects showed safety and high efficiency in patients under guidance by transesophageal echocardiography when compared with intra-operative device closures and are especially suited for women and children.
Are school difficulties an early sign for mental disorder diagnosis and suicide prevention? A comparative study of individuals who died by suicide and control group
Authors: Ligier Fabienne , Giguère Charles-Edouard , Notredame Charles-Edouard , Lesage Alain , Renaud Johanne , Séguin Monique 
Published: January 2020

Abstract
Background
Suicide is the third leading cause of death worldwide among youth aged 10- to 19, and mental disorders are often associated in the etiology of suicidal behavior. Mental disorders are often under-diagnosed and under-treated in young people, a situation likely to increase the severity of the disorder and suicide risk. Presence of school difficulties may, in some cases, be a consequence of mental disorder, and theses difficulties are observable. Therefore, early detection and early intervention of school difficulties may alleviate the development of mental disorders and suicide vulnerability. The aim of this study is to understand the link between school difficulties and suicide risk.

Methods
We used the data bank gathered by the McGill Group on Suicide Studies over the past two decades through interviews with the relatives of individuals who died by suicide and with individuals from the community as a control group. We included data on common sociodemographic characteristics, life events and mental health characteristics identified before age 18, among individuals who died before the age of 35 or were interviewed before the age of 35. We identified 200 individuals who died by suicide and 97 living controls. We compared groups according to gender and characteristics.

Results
Within the total sample, 74% were male, 13% had met with academic failure, 18% had engaged in inappropriate behavior at school, and 18% presented combined school difficulties. Combined school difficulties (academic failure and inappropriate behavior) for both sexes and academic failure alone for males were associated with higher suicide risk before the age of 35. School difficulties generally began in early childhood and were linked to mental disorders/difficulties and substance abuse before age 18.

Conclusions
This study underlines the importance for parents, teachers, and educators to identify children with school difficulties—academic failure and behavioral difficulties at school—as early as possible in order to be able to propose adapted interventions. Early identification and proper diagnosis may prevent chronicity of some disorders, accumulation of adverse events, and even suicide.
Professional appraisal of online information about children's footwear measurement and fit: readability, usability and quality
Authors: Price Carina , Haley Michael , Williams Anita , Nester Chris , Morrison Stewart C. 
Published: January 2020

AbstractBackgroundParents increasingly use the internet to seek health information, share information and for purchasing textiles and footwear. This shift in footwear purchasing habits raises concern about how (and if) parents are getting their children's feet measured, and what support strategies are in place to support the fit of footwear. In response to this, some companies and healthcare organisations have developed resources to support home measurement of foot size, and link these measures to footwear selection, measurement and fitting. The aim of this research was to undertake an appraisal of web‐based resources about measurement and fit of children's footwear, focussing specifically on readability, usability and quality.MethodsSearch terms relating to children's foot measurement were compiled and online searching was undertaken. Search results were saved and screened for relevance. Existing resources were categorised based on their source e.g. a footwear company or a health website. The 15 most commonly identified resources were reviewed by a professional panel for readability, content, usability and validity. One researcher also assessed the accessibility and reading ease of the resources.ResultsOnline resources were predominantly from commercial footwear companies (54%). Health information sources from professional bodies made up 4.2% of the resources identified. The top 15 resources had appropriate reading ease scores for parents (SMOG Index 4.3–8.2). Accessibility scores (the product of the number of times it appeared in search results and its ranking in the results) were highest for commercial footwear companies. The panel scores for readability ranged from 2.7 to 9 out of 10, with a similar range for content, usability and validity.ConclusionsInformation for parents seeking to purchase footwear for their children is readily available online but this was largely dominated by commercial footwear companies. The quality and usability of this information is of a moderate standard; notable improvements could be made to the validity of the task the child is asked to undertake and the measures being taken. Improvements in these resources would improve the data input to the selection of footwear and therefore have a beneficial impact on footwear fit in children.
HIFI: estimating DNA-DNA interaction frequency from Hi-C data at restriction-fragment resolution
Authors: Cameron Christopher JF , Dostie Josée , Blanchette Mathieu 
Published: January 2020

AbstractHi-C is a popular technique to map three-dimensional chromosome conformation. In principle, Hi-C’s resolution is only limited by the size of restriction fragments. However, insufficient sequencing depth forces researchers to artificially reduce the resolution of Hi-C matrices at a loss of biological interpretability. We present the Hi-C Interaction Frequency Inference (HIFI) algorithms that accurately estimate restriction-fragment resolution Hi-C matrices by exploiting dependencies between neighboring fragments. Cross-validation experiments and comparisons to 5C data and known regulatory interactions demonstrate HIFI’s superiority to existing approaches. In addition, HIFI’s restriction-fragment resolution reveals a new role for active regulatory regions in structuring topologically associating domains.
Double-chamber syringe versus classic syringes for peripheral intravenous drug administration and catheter flushing: a study protocol for a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Parreira Pedro , Sousa Liliana B. , Marques Inês A. , Santos-Costa Paulo , Braga Luciene M. , Cruz Arménio , Salgueiro-Oliveira Anabela 
Published: January 2020

Abstract
Background
The prevention of catheter-related complications is nowadays an important topic of research. Flushing catheters is considered an important clinical procedure in preventing malfunction and several complications such as phlebitis or infection. Considering the latest guidelines of the Infusion Nurses Society, the flushing should be carried out both pre- and post-drug administration, requiring different syringes (with associated overall increased times of preparation/administration of intravenous medication by nurses, and also increasing the need for manipulation of the venous catheter).

Methods/design
A multi-centre, two-arm randomised controlled trial with partially blinded outcome assessment of 146 adult patients. After eligibility analysis and informed consent, participants will receive usual intravenous administration drugs with flushing procedures, with a double-chamber syringe (arm A) or with classic syringes (arm B). The outcomes assessment will be performed on a daily basis by an unblinded ward team, with the same procedures in both groups. Some main outcomes, such as phlebitis and infiltration, will also be evaluated by nurses from a blinded research team and registered once a day.

Discussion
The study outlined in this protocol will provide valuable insight regarding the effectiveness and safety of this new medical device. The development of this medical device (dual-chamber syringe, for drug and flush solution) seems to be an important step to facilitate nurses’ adoption of good clinical practices in intravenous procedures, reducing catheter manipulations.

Trial registration
ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04046770. Registered 13 August 2019.
KARAOKE: Krill oil versus placebo in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis: protocol for a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Laslett L. L. , Antony B. , Wluka A. E. , Hill C. , March L. , Keen H. I. , Otahal P. , Cicuttini F. M. , Jones G. 
Published: January 2020

Abstract
Background
Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a common and important cause of pain and disability, but interventions aimed at modifying structures visible on imaging have been disappointing. While OA affects the whole joint, synovitis and effusion have been recognised as having a role in the pathogenesis of OA. Krill oil reduces knee pain and systemic inflammation and could be used for targeting inflammatory mechanisms of OA.

Methods/design
We will recruit 260 patients with clinical knee OA, significant knee pain and effusion-synovitis present on MRI in five Australian cities (Hobart, Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide and Perth). These patients will be randomly allocated to the two arms of the study, receiving 2 g/day krill oil or inert placebo daily for 6 months. MRI of the study knee will be performed at screening and after 6 months. Knee symptoms, function and MRI structural abnormalities will be assessed using validated methods. Safety data will be recorded. Primary outcomes are absolute change in knee pain (assessed by visual analog score) and change in size of knee effusion-synovitis over 24 weeks. Secondary outcomes include improvement in knee pain over 4, 8, 12, 16 and 20 weeks. The primary analyses will be intention-to-treat analyses of primary and secondary outcomes. Per protocol analyses adjusting for missing data and for treatment compliance will be performed as the secondary analyses.

Discussion
This study will provide high-quality evidence to assess whether krill oil 2 g/day reduces pain and effusion-synovitis size in older adults with clinical knee OA and knee effusion-synovitis. If krill oil is effective and confirmed to be safe, we will provide compelling evidence that krill oil improves pain and function, changes disease trajectory and slows disease progression in OA. Given the lack of approved therapies for slowing disease progression in OA, and moderate cost of krill oil, these findings will be readily translated into clinical practice.

Trial registration
Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, ACTRN12616000726459. Registered on 02 June 2016.
Universal Trial Number (UTN) U1111–1181-7087.
Bayesian adaptive designs for multi-arm trials: an orthopaedic case study
Authors: Ryan Elizabeth G. , Lamb Sarah E. , Williamson Esther , Gates Simon 
Published: January 2020

Abstract
Background
Bayesian adaptive designs can be more efficient than traditional methods for multi-arm randomised controlled trials. The aim of this work was to demonstrate how Bayesian adaptive designs can be constructed for multi-arm phase III clinical trials and assess potential benefits that these designs offer.

Methods
We constructed several alternative Bayesian adaptive designs for the Collaborative Ankle Support Trial (CAST), which was a randomised controlled trial that compared four treatments for severe ankle sprain. These designs incorporated response adaptive randomisation (RAR), arm dropping, and early stopping for efficacy or futility. We studied the operating characteristics of the Bayesian designs via simulation. We then virtually re-executed the trial by implementing the Bayesian adaptive designs using patient data sampled from the CAST study to demonstrate the practical applicability of the designs.

Results
We constructed five Bayesian adaptive designs, each of which had high power and recruited fewer patients on average than the original designs target sample size. The virtual executions showed that most of the Bayesian designs would have led to trials that declared superiority of one of the interventions over the control. Bayesian adaptive designs with RAR or arm dropping were more likely to allocate patients to better performing arms at each interim analysis. Similar estimates and conclusions were obtained from the Bayesian adaptive designs as from the original trial.

Conclusions
Using CAST as an example, this case study shows how Bayesian adaptive designs can be constructed for phase III multi-arm trials using clinically relevant decision criteria. These designs demonstrated that they can potentially generate earlier results and allocate more patients to better performing arms. We recommend the wider use of Bayesian adaptive approaches in phase III clinical trials.

Trial registration
CAST study registration ISRCTN, ISRCTN37807450. Retrospectively registered on 25 April 2003.
Efficacy of lotilaner (Credelio™) against the adult cat flea, Ctenocephalides felis and flea eggs following oral administration to dogs
Authors: Young Lisa , Karadzovska Daniela , Wiseman Scott , Helbig Rainer 
Published: January 2020

Abstract
Background
A blinded, randomized, negative controlled laboratory study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of lotilaner (CredelioTM, Elanco) when administered orally to dogs, against experimentally induced adult flea infestations and flea egg production.

Methods
Twenty dogs were selected for the study and allocated to two treatment groups. Ten dogs were treated with lotilaner (at the lower half of the recommended dose range of 20–43 mg/kg) on Day 0. Ten dogs treated with placebo tablets served as the control group. Each dog was infested with 100 unfed adult C. felis fleas on days -1, 6, 13, 20 and 29. At 24 h post-treatment or post-infestation, each dog was combed for the removal and counting of adult live fleas. Flea eggs were also collected and counted from the pan under each dog cage.

Results
Dogs in the lotilaner treated group received a mean dose of 22.6 mg/kg (range 20.2–25.9 mg/kg) and no adverse events were observed in any dog in this study. At each evaluation time point, the lotilaner group provided 100% efficacy against adult live flea counts as compared to the placebo control group. Egg production from lotilaner treated dogs was reduced by 98.5% (geometric mean; 97.4% arithmetic mean) 24 h post-treatment (and 48 h post-flea infestation). No eggs (100% efficacy) were available for collection following infestations on Day 6 onwards from the lotilaner treated dogs. At each evaluation time point, adult live flea counts from the lotilaner treated dogs were significantly lower (P < 0.0001) than from the placebo control group.

Conclusions
In dogs treated with a single dose of lotilaner (mean dose 22.6 mg/kg), 100% of adult fleas were killed within 24 h post-treatment or post-subsequent infestations as compared to the placebo control group, thereby demonstrating that lotilaner kills fleas before they can lay eggs thus preventing subsequent flea infestations for 30 days after treatment. There were no reported adverse events in any dogs, demonstrating that lotilaner tablets were well tolerated at the dose rates assessed in this study.
Improved detection of house infestations with triatomines using sticky traps: a paired-comparison trial in the Argentine Chaco
Authors: Enriquez Gustavo Fabián , Cecere María Carla , Alvarado-Otegui Julián Antonio , Alvedro Alejandra , Gaspe María Sol , Laiño Mariano Alberto , Gürtler Ricardo Esteban , Cardinal Marta Victoria 
Published: January 2020

Abstract
Background
We conducted a matched-pairs trial of three methods for detecting house infestation with triatominae bugs in a well-defined endemic rural area in the Argentine Chaco.

Methods
The three methods included a simple double-sided adhesive tape (ST) installed near host resting sites; timed-manual collections with a dislodging aerosol (TMC, the reference method used by vector control programmes), and householders’ bug notifications (HN). Triatomine infestations were evaluated in 103 sites of 54 houses, including domiciles, kitchens and storerooms.

Results
In domiciles where Triatoma infestans was collected, sensitivity of each single method decreased from 79% by ST and 77% by HN, to 57% by TMC, and increased to 92% when ST was combined with HN. In peridomestic kitchens and storerooms, TMC was relatively as sensitive as ST and significantly more sensitive than HN. On average, the number of bugs recovered by ST was 0.94 times that collected by TMC. The ST mainly collected early-instar nymphs whereas TMC yielded late (larger) stages. Triatomines caught by ST had significantly lower mean weight-to-length ratios and lower blood-feeding rates than those caught by TMC, suggesting the ST intercepted and trapped vectors seeking a blood meal host.

Conclusions
The ST may effectively replace TMC for detecting T. infestans in domiciles, and is especially apt for early detection of low-density domestic infestations in the frame of community-based surveillance or elimination programmes; decision making on whether an area should be targeted for full-coverage insecticide spraying, and to corroborate that extant conditions are compatible with the interruption of vector-borne transmission.