bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cardiac arrhythmia services in Africa from 2011 to 2018: the second report from the Pan African Society of Cardiology working group on cardiac arrhythmias and pacing
Authors: Bonny Aimé , Ngantcha Marcus , Yuyun Matthew F , Karaye Kamilu M , Scholtz Wihan , Suliman Ahmed , Nel George , Aoudia Yazid , Kane Adama , Moustaghfi Abdelhamid , Okello Emmy , Houenassi Martin , Sonou Arn , Niakara Ali , Lubenga Yves Ray , Adoubi Anicet , Russel James , Damasceno Albertino , Touré Ali Ibrahim , Kane Abdoul , Tabane Alioune , Jeilan Mohammed , Mbaye Alassane , Tibazarwa Kemi , Ben Ameur Yousef , Diakité Mamadou , Subahi Saad , Kaviraj Bundhoo , Sani Mahmoud U , Ajijola Olujimi A , Chin Ashley , Sliwa Karen 
Published: December 2019

Abstract

Aims
Cardiac arrhythmia services are a neglected field of cardiology in Africa. To provide comprehensive contemporary information on the access and use of cardiac arrhythmia services in Africa.

Methods and results
Data on human resources, drug availability, cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIED), and ablation procedures were sought from member countries of Pan African Society of Cardiology. Data were received from 23 out of 31 countries. In most countries, healthcare services are primarily supported by household incomes. Vitamin K antagonists (VKAs), digoxin, and amiodarone were available in all countries, while the availability of other drugs varied widely. Non-VKA oral anticoagulants (NOACs) were unequally present in the African markets, while International Normalized Ratio monitoring was challenging. Four countries (18%) did not provide pacemaker implantations while, where available, the implantation and operator rates were 2.79 and 0.772 per million population, respectively. The countries with the highest pacemaker implantation rate/million population in descending order were Tunisia, Mauritius, South Africa, Algeria, and Morocco. Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator and cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) were performed in 15 (65%) and 12 (52%) countries, respectively. Reconditioned CIED were used in 5 (22%) countries. Electrophysiology was performed in 8 (35%) countries, but complex ablations only in countries from the Maghreb and South Africa. Marked variation in costs of CIED that severely mismatched the gross domestic product per capita was observed in Africa. From the first report, three countries have started performing simple ablations.

Conclusion
The access to arrhythmia treatments varied widely in Africa where hundreds of millions of people remain at risk of dying from heart block. Increased economic and human resources as well as infrastructures are the critical targets for improving arrhythmia services in Africa.
Poor Sleep Quality in Crohn’s Disease Is Associated With Disease Activity and Risk for Hospitalization or Surgery
Authors: Sofia M Anthony , Lipowska Anna M , Zmeter Nada , Perez Edgar , Kavitt Robert , Rubin David T 
Published: December 2019

AbstractBackground and AimsPoor sleep quality in Crohn’s disease (CD) is associated with histologic activity and clinical relapse. We sought to characterize sleep dysfunction and determine the effect of poor sleep quality on risk for hospitalization and surgery.MethodsClinical data were collected for CD subjects including the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Harvey-Bradshaw index (HBI). The PSQI score and a brief medical history were obtained for control subjects. The PSQI and HBI correlation was tested at an initial clinic visit and at follow-up. Crohn’s disease subjects with and without poor sleep were compared for risk of hospitalization or surgery by Kaplan–Meier and Cox proportional hazards.ResultsNinety-two CD and 82 control subjects were included. Crohn’s disease and control subjects shared similar baseline characteristics and PSQI (8.3 vs 7.8, P = 0.31), and 77% of the CD population had PSQI &gt;5. Crohn’s disease subjects with PSQI &gt;5 more often had inflammatory phenotypes and reported increased benzodiazepine and psychiatric medication use. Crohn’s disease subjects with PSQI &gt;5 also reported more night awakenings due to pain and bathroom use. The PSQI correlated with HBI (r = 0.256, P = 0.014), and ΔPSQI on follow-up correlated with ΔHBI (r = 0.47, P = 0.002). Cox proportional hazards model for hospitalization or surgery showed that PSQI &gt;8 was predictive of surgery or hospitalization (hazards ratio 5.37; 95% confidence interval, 1.39–27.54).ConclusionThere is a high burden of poor sleep quality in CD, which is associated with risk for adverse outcomes. Sleep quality may identify CD patients at risk for complications and have prognostic value in CD.
Low-dose aspirin use and endometrial cancer mortality—a Danish nationwide cohort study
Authors: Sperling Cecilie D , Verdoodt Freija , Aalborg Gitte L , Dehlendorff Christian , Friis Søren , Kjaer Susanne K 
Published: December 2019

Abstract

Background
Accumulating evidence suggests that aspirin use may improve survival in cancer patients, however, for endometrial cancer, epidemiological evidence is limited and results are equivocal. In a nationwide cohort study, we examined the association between post-diagnostic low-dose aspirin use and endometrial cancer mortality.

Methods
From the Danish Cancer Registry, we identified all women with a primary diagnosis of endometrial cancer. Women diagnosed between 2000 and 2012, aged 30–84 years, who had no history of cancer (except non-melanoma skin cancer) and were alive 1 year after the cancer diagnosis were eligible. We obtained information on pre- and post-diagnostic use (≥1 prescription) of low-dose aspirin, mortality and potential confounding factors from nationwide registries. Using Cox regression models, we estimated adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association between post-diagnostic low-dose aspirin use and endometrial cancer mortality. The exposure was modelled as both time-varying as well as time-fixed within exposure windows of 1 and 5 years.

Results
We identified 6694 endometrial cancer patients with a maximum follow-up of 13 years. In the time-varying analysis, post-diagnostic low-dose aspirin use was associated with a HR of 1.10 (95% CI 0.90–1.33) for endometrial cancer mortality. We found no indication of a dose–response association according to increasing tablet strength, cumulative amount or duration of use, and the HRs were similar for pre-diagnostic and post-diagnostic low-dose aspirin use compared with non-use.

Conclusions
We found no indication that post-diagnostic low-dose aspirin use was associated with reduced mortality for endometrial cancer; rather our findings suggested a concern for increased mortality.
On Perfect Matchings in k-Complexes
Authors: Han Jie 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
Keevash and Mycroft [ 19] developed a geometric theory for hypergraph matchings and characterized the dense simplicial complexes that contain a perfect matching. Their proof uses the hypergraph regularity method and the hypergraph blow-up lemma recently developed by Keevash. In this note we give a new proof of their results, which avoids these complex tools. In particular, our proof uses the lattice-based absorbing method developed by the author and a recent probabilistic argument of Kohayakawa, Person, and the author.
Occurrence of NDM-1-producing Morganella morganii and Proteus mirabilis in a single patient in Portugal: probable in vivo transfer by conjugation
Authors: Aires-de-Sousa Marta , Ortiz de la Rosa José Manuel , Goncalves Maria Luísa , Costa Augusto , Nordmann Patrice , Poirel Laurent 
Published: December 2019

Abstract

Objectives
To decipher the genetics of acquisition of carbapenemase-encoding genes identified in two carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae recovered from a single patient in Portugal.

Methods
Carbapenemase genes were searched by PCR assays and mating-out assays were performed to further characterize the plasmid support of the carbapenemase genes. Genetic characterization of the plasmid supports was performed by whole-plasmid sequencing using the Illumina technology.

Results
We identified here two NDM-1-producing isolates, namely a Morganella morganii and a Proteus mirabilis, sharing the same blaNDM-1-positive plasmid. This 154 kb plasmid belonged to the IncA/C2 type, recently renamed IncC, and co-harboured two AmpC β-lactamase genes, namely blaCMY-4 and blaDHA-1, in addition to the 16S rRNA methylase gene armA encoding high-level resistance to aminoglycosides. In addition, the M. morganii isolate produced the CTX-M-33 extended-spectrum β-lactamase possessing weak carbapenemase activity, encoded by another plasmid.

Conclusions
We showed here that, in addition to KPC-type and OXA-181 carbapenemases, which have been identified as widespread in this country, another concern is the emergence of NDM-1-producing enterobacterial isolates in Portugal. We demonstrated here the in vivo plasmid transfer of a blaNDM-1-positive plasmid leading to dissemination of this carbapenemase gene within different enterobacterial species in a single patient.
Trade Liberalisation and Labour Market Adjustment in Botswana
Authors: McCaig Brian , S. McMillan Margaret 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
We study the effects of domestic trade liberalisation on labour markets in Botswana. South Africa is the dominant member of the Southern Africa Customs Union. As such, when South Africa liberalised trade in the 1990s, this induced large and plausibly exogenous tariff reductions for the other customs union members, including Botswana. Using labour force surveys from Botswana spanning a decade, we find that trade liberalisation did not affect the relative size of industries in terms of employment. However, trade liberalisation had effects within industries. We find an increase in the prevalence of working in an informal firm and self-employment, but mixed evidence of effects on unemployment. Hours worked decreased in response to trade liberalisation, partially driven by the movement of workers to informal firms. Despite large increases in aggregate income, trade liberalisation is associated with a reduction in monthly income, but the results are imprecise. Our results also suggest that a positive export demand shock, the 2000 African Growth and Opportunities Act, is associated with a reduction in employment in informal firms in the clothing industry.
iDISK: the integrated DIetary Supplements Knowledge base
Authors: Rizvi Rubina F , Vasilakes Jake , Adam Terrence J , Melton Genevieve B , Bishop Jeffrey R , Bian Jiang , Tao Cui , Zhang Rui 
Published: December 2019

Abstract

Objective
To build a knowledge base of dietary supplement (DS) information, called the integrated DIetary Supplement Knowledge base (iDISK), which integrates and standardizes DS-related information from 4 existing resources.

Materials and Methods
iDISK was built through an iterative process comprising 3 phases: 1) establishment of the content scope, 2) development of the data model, and 3) integration of existing resources. Four well-regarded DS resources were integrated into iDISK: The Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, the “About Herbs” page on the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center website, the Dietary Supplement Label Database, and the Natural Health Products Database. We evaluated the iDISK build process by manually checking that the data elements associated with 50 randomly selected ingredients were correctly extracted and integrated from their respective sources.

Results
iDISK encompasses a terminology of 4208 DS ingredient concepts, which are linked via 6 relationship types to 495 drugs, 776 diseases, 985 symptoms, 605 therapeutic classes, 17 system organ classes, and 137 568 DS products. iDISK also contains 7 concept attribute types and 3 relationship attribute types. Evaluation of the data extraction and integration process showed average errors of 0.3%, 2.6%, and 0.4% for concepts, relationships and attributes, respectively.

Conclusion
We developed iDISK, a publicly available standardized DS knowledge base that can facilitate more efficient and meaningful dissemination of DS knowledge.
MACC1 expression is an indicator of recurrence in early-stage glottic cancer
Authors: Makino Takuma , Orita Yorihisa , Gion Yuka , Tachibana Tomoyasu , Takao Soshi , Marunaka Hidenori , Miki Kentaro , Akisada Naoki , Akagi Yusuke , Yoshino Tadashi , Nishizaki Kazunori , Sato Yasuharu 
Published: December 2019

Abstract

Background
Metastasis-associated in colon cancer 1 (MACC1) has been reported to be an independent indicator of poor prognoses in some kinds of cancer due to disease metastasis or recurrence. We investigated the correlation between MACC1 expression and the prognosis of glottic cancer.

Methods
Paraffin-embedded, early-stage (I or II) glottic cancer specimens (n = 52) were immunohistochemically analyzed to explore MACC1 expression. The clinical records associated with each case were also examined. Recurrence-free survival (RFS) was estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method, and between-group RFS differences were assessed using the log-rank test. The multivariate analyses were evaluated using the Cox’s proportional-hazard model.

Results
Patients were treated with only radiotherapy (RT) (n = 37, including 18 with T1 disease and 19 with T2 disease), or with chemoradiotherapy (CRT) (n = 15, including 1 with T1 disease and 14 with T2 disease). Eleven patients demonstrated local recurrence and two patients experienced cervical lymph node recurrence. Tumor specimens were MACC1-positive in 9 of the 13 (69.2%) patients with local or neck recurrence, and 7 of the 11 (63.6%) patients with local recurrence. The RFS rate of patients who were treated with only RT was significantly lower than that of patients who were treated with CRT (P = 0.0243). The RFS rate was significantly lower in cases with MACC1 expression than in those without MACC1 expression (P = 0.0003). Multivariate analysis revealed that MACC1 expression was an independent risk factor of local recurrence (P = 0.0016).

Conclusion
MACC1 is an independent indicator of recurrence related to RFS in early-stage glottic cancer.
PD-L1 Expression in Pediatric Low-Grade Gliomas Is Independent of BRAF V600E Mutational Status
Authors: Martin Allison M , Bell W Robert , Yuan Ming , Harris Lauren , Poore Bradley , Arnold Antje , Engle Elizabeth L , Asnaghi Laura , Lim Michael , Raabe Eric H , Eberhart Charles G 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
To evaluate a potential relationship between BRAF V600E mutation and PD-L1 expression, we examined the expression of PD-L1 in pediatric high- and low-grade glioma cell lines as well as a cohort of pediatric low-grade glioma patient samples. Half of the tumors in our patient cohort were V600-wildtype and half were V600E mutant. All tumors expressed PD-L1. In most tumors, PD-L1 expression was low (&lt;5%), but in some cases over 50% of cells were positive. Extent of PD-L1 expression and immune cell infiltration was independent of BRAF V600E mutational status. All cell lines evaluated, including a BRAF V600E mutant xenograft, expressed PD-L1. Transient transfection of cell lines with a plasmid expressing mutant BRAF V600E had minimal effect on PD-L1 expression. These findings suggest that the PD-1 pathway is active in subsets of pediatric low-grade glioma as a mechanism of immune evasion independent of BRAF V600E mutational status. Low-grade gliomas that are unresectable and refractory to traditional therapy are associated with significant morbidity and continue to pose a treatment challenge. PD-1 pathway inhibitors may offer an alternative treatment approach. Clinical trials will be critical in determining whether PD-L1 expression indicates likely therapeutic benefit with immune checkpoint inhibitors.
Mother–Infant Sleep and Maternal Emotional Distress in Solo-Mother and Two-Parent Families
Authors: Ben-Zion Hamutal , Volkovich Ella , Meiri Gal , Tikotzky Liat 
Published: December 2019

AbstractObjectiveThis study examined for the first time mother–infant sleep and emotional distress in solo mother families compared with two-parent families and explored whether the links between mother–infant sleep and maternal emotional distress differ as a function of family structure.MethodsThirty-nine solo-mother families and 39 two-parent families, with an infant within the age range of 6–18 months participated in the study. Actigraphy and sleep diaries were used to assess maternal and infant sleep at home. Mothers completed questionnaires to assess maternal depressive and anxiety symptoms, social support, sleeping arrangements, breastfeeding, and demographics.ResultsSolo mothers were older and more likely to breastfeed and share a bed with their infants than married mothers. There were no significant differences between the groups in mother–infant sleep and maternal emotional distress, while controlling for maternal age, breastfeeding, and sleeping arrangements. Family structure had a moderating effect on the associations between maternal emotional distress and mother–infant sleep. Only in solo-mother families, higher maternal emotional distress was associated with lower maternal and infant sleep quality.Conclusions Our findings suggest that, although there are no significant differences in maternal and infant sleep between solo-mother families and two-parent families, the strength of the associations between maternal emotional distress and both infant and maternal sleep quality are stronger in solo-mother families, compared with two-parent families. Hopefully, understanding which aspects of parenting may contribute to the development of sleep problems in solo-mother families could be helpful in tailoring interventions to this growing population.
Rare Use of Posterolateral Thoracotomy in an Austere Environment
Authors: Devasahayam Rebekah J , Fabich Robert A , Tighe Currie A , Becker Tyson E 
Published: December 2019

AbstractA 25-year-old local national male presented to a split Forward Surgical Team after impalement of the posterior chest with a metal fragment. The patient was hemodynamically normal, but no imaging was available to determine the depth of penetration or the size of the internal portion of the fragment. This case represents a rare indication for posterolateral thoracotomy in an austere trauma setting.
Heart Rate Complexity in US Army Forward Surgical Teams During Pre Deployment Training
Authors: Mulder Michelle B , Sussman Matthew S , Eidelson Sarah A , Gross Kirby R , Buzzelli Mark D , Batchinsky Andriy I , Schulman Carl I , Namias Nicholas , Proctor Kenneth G 
Published: December 2019

AbstractIntroductionFor trauma triage, the US Army has developed a portable heart rate complexity (HRC) monitor, which estimates cardiac autonomic input and the activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. We hypothesize that autonomic/HPA stress associated with predeployment training in U.S. Army Forward Surgical Teams will cause changes in HRC.Materials and MethodsA prospective observational study was conducted in 80 soldiers and 10 civilians at the U.S. Army Trauma Training Detachment. Heart rate (HR, b/min), cardiac output (CO, L/min), HR variability (HRV, ms), and HRC (Sample Entropy, unitless), were measured using a portable non-invasive hemodynamic monitor during postural changes, a mass casualty (MASCAL) situational training exercise (STX) using live tissue, a mock trauma (MT) STX using moulaged humans, and/or physical exercise.ResultsBaseline HR, CO, HRV, and HRC averaged 72 ± 11b/min, 5.6 ± 1.2 L/min, 48 ± 24 ms, and 1.9 ± 0.5 (unitless), respectively. Supine to sitting to standing caused minimal changes. Before the MASCAL or MT, HR and CO both increased to ~125% baseline, whereas HRV and HRC both decreased to ~75% baseline. Those values all changed an additional ~5% during the MASCAL, but an additional 10 to 30% during the MT. With physical exercise, HR and CO increased to &gt;200% baseline, while HRV and HRC both decreased to 40 to 60% baseline; these changes were comparable to those caused by the MT. All the changes were P &lt; 0.05.ConclusionsVarious forms of HPA stress during Forward Surgical Team STXs can be objectively quantitated continuously in real time with a portable non-invasive monitor. Differences from resting baseline indicate stress anticipating an impending STX whereas differences between average and peak responses indicate the relative stress between STXs. Monitoring HRC could prove useful to field commanders to rapidly and objectively assess the readiness status of troops during STXs or repeated operational missions. In the future, health care systems and regulatory bodies will likely be held accountable for stress in their trainees and/or obliged to develop wellness options and standardize efforts to ameliorate burnout, so HRC metrics might have a role, as well.
NGTS clusters survey – I. Rotation in the young benchmark open cluster Blanco 1
Authors: Gillen Edward , Briegal Joshua T , Hodgkin Simon T , Foreman-Mackey Daniel , Van Leeuwen Floor , Jackman James A G , McCormac James , West Richard G , Queloz Didier , Bayliss Daniel , Goad Michael R , Watson Christopher A , Wheatley Peter J , Belardi Claudia , Burleigh Matthew R , Casewell Sarah L , Jenkins James S , Raynard Liam , Smith Alexis M S , Tilbrook Rosanna H , Vines Jose I 
Published: December 2019

ABSTRACT
We determine rotation periods for 127 stars in the ∼115-Myr-old Blanco 1 open cluster using ∼200 d of photometric monitoring with the Next Generation Transit Survey. These stars span F5–M3 spectral types (1.2 M⊙ ≳ M ≳ 0.3 M⊙) and increase the number of known rotation periods in Blanco 1 by a factor of four. We determine rotation periods using three methods: Gaussian process (GP) regression, generalized autocorrelation function (G-ACF), and Lomb–Scargle (LS) periodogram, and find that the GP and G-ACF methods are more applicable to evolving spot modulation patterns. Between mid-F and mid-K spectral types, single stars follow a well-defined rotation sequence from ∼2 to 10 d, whereas stars in photometric multiple systems typically rotate faster. This may suggest that the presence of a moderate-to-high mass ratio companion inhibits angular momentum loss mechanisms during the early pre-main sequence, and this signature has not been erased at ∼100 Myr. The majority of mid-F to mid-K stars display evolving modulation patterns, whereas most M stars show stable modulation signals. This morphological change coincides with the shift from a well-defined rotation sequence (mid-F to mid-K stars) to a broad rotation period distribution (late-K and M stars). Finally, we compare our rotation results for Blanco 1 to the similarly aged Pleiades: the single-star populations in both clusters possess consistent rotation period distributions, which suggests that the angular momentum evolution of stars follows a well-defined pathway that is, at least for mid-F to mid-K stars, strongly imprinted by ∼100 Myr.