bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Impacts of persistent general and site‐specific pain on activities of daily living and physical performance: A prospective analysis of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing
Authors: Yiengprugsawan Vasoontara , Steptoe Andrew 
Published: March 2018

AimPain is an increasingly common phenomenon as people age; pain over a long period can result in limited functioning. The present study investigated the impacts of general and multisite‐specific pain on activities of daily living and physical performance among older adults.MethodsData were analyzed from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing, a representative sample of the population aged ≥50 years. Face‐to‐face interview and nurse records were used from waves 2–6 (2004–2012) for analyses. General and site‐specific pain (back, hip and knee) were measured biennially between 2004 and 2008 (n = 5010). Impaired activity of daily living and physical performance measures (chair rise and grip strength) between 2008 and 2012 were aggregated across assessments as outcomes. Multinomial logistic regressions were used for the former and linear regression for the latter, adjusting for potential covariates.ResultsGeneral pain (moderate‐to‐severe) was prevalent, with close to one‐quarter of participants reporting pain at least twice during the follow‐up period. Multisite pain reports were strong predictors of subsequent limited activities of daily living (adjusted odds ratio range 1.86–3.97 for back and hip, 2.04–4.19 for back and knee, and 2.08–5.16 for hip and knee). Persistent pain was also strongly associated with worse physical performance outcomes.ConclusionsOur data confirm the longitudinal impacts of persistent pain among older adults. The findings highlight the value of monitoring and management of both general and site‐specific pain in order to promote sustained independence at older ages. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2018; 18: 1051–1057.
Determining discharge destination in geriatric evaluation and management units: Is progressive goal attainment a better early indicator of discharge destination than improvement in functional independence measure scores?
Authors: Black Susan , Nicholas Caitlin , Cotton Susan , Brock Kim 
Published: March 2018

AimTo determine whether progress in goal attainment is a more responsive measure of functional improvement than the Functional Independence Measure, and whether it is a more accurate predictor of discharge destination in the early phase of a Geriatric Evaluation and Management episode.MethodsThe present study was a prospective audit of goal achievement, functional ability and discharge destination. A total of 83 patients were included in this study. Logistic regression was carried out with the outcome variable discharge destination (home vs residential care), and the predictors being goal attainment, age at admission and change in the Functional Independence Measure motor function scale from admission to 2 weeks.ResultsOf the predictors, goal attainment was the only significant predictor. The overall amount of variability in the discharge destination explained by the predictors was 25% (Nagelkerke pseudo R2).ConclusionsProgressive goal attainment might be a better predictor of improvement in function and discharge destination than change in the Functional Independence Measure. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2018; 18: 1058–1063.
Quartz‐Helium Method to Estimate Fluid Flow in Thick Aquitards, Gunnedah Basin, Australia
Authors: Smith Stanley D. , Mathouchanh Emeline , Mallants Dirk 
Published: March 2018

AbstractThe hydraulic integrity of aquitards is generally assumed and relies on a few core‐scale permeability measurements, drill‐stem tests, or textbook values. This approach is because hydraulic data across the full aquitard thickness is generally lacking. Proper assessment of aquitard integrity should be studied at the formation (spanning its entire thickness at a single point) or regional (formation properties at multiple locations throughout the basin) scale. One formation‐scale approach uses environmental tracers and advection‐dispersion modeling to constrain fluid flow rates. This study demonstrates the use of helium concentrations in quartz as a method of constraining the rate of fluid flow in a 520‐m thick aquitard in the Gunnedah Basin, NSW, Australia. Quartz was separated from existing core samples in the Watermark and Porcupine Formations at depths from 750 to 1200 m. The helium was released from these samples by heating and select samples were impregnated with helium to determine the rate of helium diffusion through the quartz. One‐dimensional advection‐dispersion modeling of the helium profile accounting for diffusive helium exchange between quartz and pore water revealed, that (1) vertical fluid velocity has been on the order of 0.02 mm/year or less for tens to thousands of years, (2) helium is in equilibrium between quartz and pore water, and (3) the helium profile is transient indicating that helium concentrations in the underlying Maules Creek Formation has varied over geological time. Further modeling identified aquitard conditions (thickness and temperature) for which equilibrium exists, a precondition for deriving formation‐scale permeability.
Arteriovenous shunts as venous access in children with haemophilia
Authors: Thom K. E. , Hölzenbein T. , Jones N. , Zwiauer K. , Streif W. , Gattringer S. , Male C. 
Published: March 2018

IntroductionVenous access is essential in patients with haemophilia for administration of factor concentrates. Peripheral venipuncture may be challenging, particularly in young children or during immune tolerance induction (ITI). Central venous access devices (CVADs) carry a significant risk for complications. An alternative for venous access is peripheral arteriovenous shunts (AVSs), but there is sparse documentation in the literature. The aim of this study was to document our experience with AVS over 12 years in 27 boys with severe haemophilia.MethodsFor AVS creation, a subcutaneous vein is connected end‐to‐side with an artery at the wrist (Cimino) or at the forearm (Gracz shunt). Factor concentrates were substituted as for intermediate size surgery. To prevent shunt occlusion, heparin (5 units/kg/h) was given during the first 3 days.ResultsIndications for AVS creation were prophylaxis start (n = 20) and ITI (n = 7). Age at shunt insertion was median 1.5 years (minimum 8 months; maximum 11.7 years). Shunt maturation was achieved within a median of 3 weeks after surgery (1.5 weeks; 18 weeks). Age when home treatment was established was median 2.1 years (9 months; 11.7 years). Four patients required AVS revisions due to stenosis, but 26 of 27 patients (96%) achieved good long‐term shunt function. There were few other complications.ConclusionArteriovenous shunts provide a good alternative to CVAD and carry a lower risk of complications. AVSs allow earlier start of prophylaxis and home therapy with an improved quality of life for patients and families.
Where are the wild things? Animals in western medieval European History
Authors: Taylor Anna Lisa 
Published: March 2018

AbstractDespite the humanities' “animal turn,” the historiography of western European medieval animals is limited. Social historians have examined specific (usually economically important) species, and cultural historians have analyzed the symbolism of animals in the Middle Ages, but few are interested in the animals themselves. Drawing on the highly interdisciplinary field of Critical Animal Studies and other fields of history, I suggest ways that medieval historians could embrace the animal turn to study the experiences of real animals and animal–human entanglements of the Middle Ages.
Loss to follow‐up and mortality among HIV‐infected adolescents receiving antiretroviral therapy in Pune, India
Authors: Nimkar S , Valvi C , Kadam D , Rewari BB , Kinikar A , Gupte N , Suryavanshi N , Deluca A , Shankar A , Golub J , Bollinger R , Gupta A , Marbaniang I , Mave V 
Published: March 2018

ObjectivesIndia has the highest number of HIV‐infected adolescents in Asia, but little is known about their treatment outcomes. We assessed rates and factors associated with loss to follow‐up (LTFU) and mortality among Indian adolescents.MethodsThe analysis included adolescents (10–19 years old) starting antiretroviral therapy (ART) between 2005 and 2014 at BJ Government Medical College, Pune, India. LTFU was defined as missing more than three consecutive monthly visits. The competing‐risks method was used to calculate subdistribution hazard ratios (SHRs) of predictors for LTFU, with death as the competing risk. Cox proportional hazard models were used to identify predictors of mortality.ResultsOf 717 adolescents starting ART, 402 with complete data were included in the analysis. Of these, 61% were male and 80% were perinatally infected, and the median baseline CD4 count was 174 cells/μL. LTFU and mortality rates were 4.4 and 4.9/100‐person years, respectively. Cumulative LTFU incidence increased from 6% to 15% over 6 years. Age ≥ 15 years [adjusted SHR (aSHR) 2.44; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.18–5.02] was a risk factor for LTFU. Cumulative mortality increased from 9.5% to 17.9% over 6 years. World Health Organization (WHO) stages III and IV [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 2.26; 95% CI: 1.14–4.48] and an increase in CD4 count by 100 cells/μL (aHR: 0.59; 95% CI: 0.43–0.83) were associated with mortality.ConclusionsA third of adolescents had been lost to follow‐up or died by follow‐up year 6. Older age was a risk factor for LTFU and advanced clinical disease for death. Strategies to improve retention counselling for older adolescents and closer clinical monitoring of all adolescents must be considered.
The challenge of discriminating between HIV‐1, HIV‐2 and HIV‐1/2 dual infections
Authors: Hønge BL , Jespersen S , Medina C , Té DS , da Silva ZJ , Christiansen M , Kjerulff B , Laursen AL , Wejse C , Krarup H , Erikstrup C ,   the Bissau HIV Cohort study group
Published: March 2018

ObjectivesDiscrimination between HIV‐1 and HIV‐2 is important to ensure appropriate antiretroviral treatment (ART) and epidemiological surveillance. However, serological tests have shown frequent mistyping when applied in the field. We evaluated two confirmatory tests, INNO‐LIA HIV I/II Score and ImmunoComb HIV 1/2 BiSpot, for HIV type discriminatory capacity.MethodsSamples from 239 ART‐naïve HIV‐infected patients from the Bissau HIV Cohort in Guinea‐Bissau were selected retrospectively based on the initial HIV typing performed in Bissau, ensuring a broad representation of HIV types. INNO‐LIA results were interpreted by the newest software algorithm, and three independent observers read the ImmunoComb results. HIV‐1/HIV‐2 RNA and DNA were measured for confirmation.ResultsINNO‐LIA results showed 123 HIV‐1 positive samples, 69 HIV‐2 positive and 47 HIV‐1/2 dually reactive. There was agreement between INNO‐LIA and HIV‐1/HIV‐2 RNA and DNA detection, although not all HIV‐1/2 dually reactive samples could be confirmed by the nucleic acid results. Overall, the observers found that the ImmunoComb results differed from the INNO‐LIA results, with agreements of 90.4, 91.2 and 92.5%, respectively, for HIV‐1, HIV‐2 and HIV‐1/2. The combined kappa‐score for agreement between the three observers was 0.955 (z‐score 35.1; P < 0.01). Of the HIV‐2 mono‐reactive samples (INNO‐LIA), the three observers interpreted 24.6–31.9% as HIV‐1/2 dually infected by ImmunoComb. None of these samples had detectable HIV‐1 RNA or DNA.ConclusionsThere was accordance between INNO‐LIA calls and nucleic acid results, whereas ImmunoComb overestimated the number of HIV‐1/2 dually infected patients. Confirmatory typing is needed for patients diagnosed with HIV‐1/2 dual infection by ImmunoComb.
Secular trends in opportunistic infections, cancers and mortality in patients with AIDS during the era of modern combination antiretroviral therapy
Authors: Sezgin E , Van Natta ML , Thorne JE , Puhan MA , Jabs DA ,   the Longitudinal Studies of the Ocular Complications of AIDS (SOCA) Research Group
Published: March 2018

ObjectivesThe aim of the study was to estimate the incidence of, determine risk factors for, and investigate the consequences of opportunistic infections (OIs) and malignancies among patients with the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) in the era of modern combination antiretroviral therapy (cART).MethodsThree enrolment periods (1998–2002, 2003–2005 and 2006–2012), corresponding to changes in predominant cART regimens, were compared among 1889 participants enrolled in a prospective cohort study, the Longitudinal Study of Ocular Complications of AIDS (LSOCA). Incidences of AIDS‐related OIs and cancers were estimated. Multivariate logistic and Cox regression models were used to determine the effect of demographic and clinical characteristics on OIs and mortality.ResultsBetween participants enrolled in the 1998–2002 and 2006–2012 enrolment periods, the incidence of OIs decreased from 27 per 1000 person‐years (PY) to 11 per 1000 PY (P < 0.001), and mortality decreased from 41 per 1000 PY to 18 per 1000 PY (P < 0.0001), corresponding to improvements in cART regimens.ConclusionsImprovements in cART regimens led to a progressive decline in the incidence of OIs and mortality between 1999 and 2013 among patients with AIDS in the era of modern cART.
Efficacy and tolerability of lamivudine plus dolutegravir as a switch strategy in a multicentre cohort of patients with suppressed HIV‐1 replication
Authors: Borghetti A , Baldin G , Lombardi F , Ciccullo A , Capetti A , Rusconi S , Sterrantino G , Latini A , Cossu MV , Gagliardini R , De Luca A , Di Giambenedetto S 
Published: March 2018

ObjectivesWe evaluated the efficacy and tolerability of lamivudine + dolutegravir in a cohort of HIV‐1 infected, treatment‐experienced patients with undetectable HIV‐RNA.MethodsTime to treatment discontinuation (TD) and virological failure (VF) and their predictors were assessed in a multicenter cohort of HIV‐1 infected patients, starting lamivudine + dolutegravir after reaching viral suppression. Secondary objective was the evaluation of changes in lipid profile, renal and immunological functions at week 48.ResultsWe enrolled 206 patients (72.8% male, with 51 years median age), who mainly switched their antiretroviral therapy for simplification (32.5%) or drug toxicity (54.5%). The estimated probability of maintaining virological suppression at 48 and 96 weeks was 98.2% and 95.1%, respectively. VF was independently predicted by cumulative time on antiretroviral therapy. The estimated probability of remaining on lamivudine plus dolutegravir was 86.7% and 80.5% at week 48 and 96, respectively. A significant improvement in immunological function (CD4 count and CD4/CD8 ratio) was evidenced at week 48, as well as a decrease in total cholesterol/HDL ratio, triglycerides and estimated glomerular filtration rate.ConclusionsLamivudine plus dolutegravir was effective in maintaining viral suppression in our cohort and led to an improvement in metabolic and immunologic functions.
A new approach to assess the effect of photodamage on corneocyte envelope maturity using combined hydrophobicity and mechanical fragility assays
Authors: Guneri D. , Voegeli R. , Gurgul S. J. , Munday M. R. , Lane M. E. , Rawlings A. V. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractBackgroundThe maturity of the corneocyte envelope (CE) provides information about the barrier functionality of the stratum corneum (SC). Corneocytes are enclosed by the CE, a protein‐lipid matrix, contributing to mechanical resistance and hydrophobicity of the SC.ObjectivesThe aim of the work was to develop a novel and robust approach to characterize CE maturity based on rigidity, hydrophobicity and surface area. This offers an alternative approach to the Nile red staining and antigenicity of involucrin to characterize the CE. The photoexposed (PE) cheek and photoprotected (PP) post‐auricular sites were selected for investigation.MethodsNine tape strips were obtained from the cheek and post‐auricular sites of healthy Caucasians. CEs on the first and last tape strip were subjected to sonication to assess rigidity, and Nile red staining to determine hydrophobicity per unit surface area. In addition, the presence of involucrin and lipids was assessed to determine CE maturity by examination of the red/green pixel ratio, percentage of involucrin expressing CEs and alternatively the ratio of fluorescence density.ResultsThe CE rigidity was lower in the deeper SC layers of the cheek, whereas post‐auricular CEs were mechanically more resistant. Post‐auricular CEs from the superficial SC had a larger surface area with a stronger fluorescence signal than those from the cheek. Interestingly, those CEs from the deeper SC layers had similar surface areas in both anatomical sites but were significantly different in hydrophobicity. These three parameters can be summarized as a relative CE maturity index that expresses CE maturity more precisely with a higher sensitivity than the conventional involucrin and Nile red staining approach. CEs of the cheek surface are more mature than CEs in the deeper SC layer, whereas CEs obtained from the post‐auricular surface are more mature than those from the cheek surface.ConclusionThe combined method developed allows characterization of CE maturity based on hydrophobicity per unit surface area and rigidity rather than a simple ratio of lipid to involucrin. A more robust and sensitive measurement has therefore been developed addressing the limitations of earlier protocols.
Influence of the velocity and impact angle on the distribution of the surface defects of a sandblasted glass
Authors: Barka Brahim , Faci Abdelaziz , Bouaouadja Noureddine , Bousbaa Chaabane , Benachour Djaafar , Fatmi Messaoud 
Published: March 2018

AbstractSandblasting erosion tests were simulated in laboratory to study the size distribution of defects generated by sandstorms in the Saharan regions on soda lime glass, considering different velocities (V = 15, 25, 35 m/s) and different impact angles (α = 30°, 60°, 90°). The influence of these 2 parameters on the defect sizes and the defects number was studied. The defect sizes were measured on a surface of 1 cm2 in the central zone of the damaged surfaces. The damaged surfaces show that the defects with varying sizes are randomly distributed. The surface degradation increases as the velocity and the impact angle increase. Weibull analysis was introduced to characterize the size distribution of surface defects for different test conditions. Weibull plots indicate that the behavior is presented following 2 aspects: The first aspect is unimodal which exists only in 2 extreme conditions, and the second aspect is bimodal, but only for intermediate cases.
Flow cytometric osmotic fragility test and eosin‐5’‐maleimide dye‐binding tests are better than conventional osmotic fragility tests for the diagnosis of hereditary spherocytosis
Authors: Arora R. D. , Dass J. , Maydeo S. , Arya V. , Radhakrishnan N. , Sachdeva A. , Kotwal J. , Bhargava M. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractIntroductionHereditary spherocytosis (HS) is the most common inherited hemolytic anemia with heterogeneous clinico‐laboratory manifestations. We evaluated the flow‐cytometric tests: eosin‐5’‐maleimide (EMA) and flow‐cytometric osmotic fragility test (FOFT) and the conventional osmotic fragility tests (OFT) for the diagnosis of hereditary spherocytosis (HS).MethodsOne hundred two suspected HS patients underwent EMA, FOFT, incubated OFT (IOFT), and room temperature OFT (RT‐OFT). In addition, 10 cases of immune hemolytic anemia (IHA) were included, and performance of the above 4 tests was evaluated. For EMA and FOFT, 5 normal controls were assessed together with the patients and cutoffs were calculated using receiver‐operator‐characteristics curve (ROC) analysis.ResultsThe best cutoff for %EMA decrease was 12.5%, and for FOFT, %residual red cells (%RRC) was 25.6%. The sensitivity and specificity of RT‐OFT was 62.06% and 86.3%, respectively, while that of IOFT was 79.31% and 87.67%, respectively. Both flow cytometric tests performed better. Sensitivity and specificity of EMA was 86.2% and 93.9% respectively, and that of FOFT was 96.6% and 98.63%, respectively. The combination of the FOFT with IOFT or EMA dye‐binding test yields a sensitivity of 100%, but with EMA, it had a higher specificity. Hb/MCHC was a predictor of the severity of the disease while %EMA decrease and %RRC did not correlate with severity of the disease.ConclusionFlow‐cytometric osmotic fragility test is the best possible single test followed by EMA for diagnosis of HS. A combination of FOFT and EMA can correctly diagnose 100% patients. These tests are likely to replace conventional OFTs in future.
Mutation profile and associated clinical features in Chinese patients with cytogenetically normal acute myeloid leukemia
Authors: Wang S. , Zhang Y.‐X. , Huang T. , Sui J.‐N. , Lu J. , Chen X.‐J. , Wang K.‐K. , Xi X.‐D. , Li J.‐M. , Huang J.‐Y. , Chen B. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractIntroductionCytogenetically normal acute myeloid leukemia (CN‐AML), which accounted for nearly half of total AML patients, is a highly heterogeneous subset of AML. The specific genetic profile and the ethnic features of CN‐AML are worth to be studied.MethodsUsing deep sequencing technology, we detected the mutation pattern of 39 genes in 152 Chinese CN‐AML patients and analyzed their clinical features.ResultsA total of 503 mutations of 39 genes were identified in 145 (95.4%) patients, with the median number of 3 mutations per case. Nine genes (NPM1, CEBPA, DNMT3A, GATA2, NRAS, TET2, FLT3, IDH2, and WT1) mutated in more than 10% patients. Function groups of myeloid transcription factors, activated signaling, and DNA methylation were most affected. The distribution of variant allele frequencies (VAF) of recurrent genes was different among functional groups. High mutation rates of CEBPA and GATA2 together with the low frequency of FLT3‐ITD mutation seemed to be the distinct characteristics of Chinese patients. Furthermore, CEBPAbi and GATA2 were found to mutate most in M2 subtype, while NPM1 and DNMT3A mutated more in M4 and M5. The prognostic analysis identified CEBPAmo mutation as an inferior factor. FLT3‐ITD, TP53, DNMT3A, CEBPAmo, and WT1 mutations were selected as high‐risk markers to identify the CN‐AML patients with poor prognosis.ConclusionOur study provided the valuable information of ethnic genetic characteristics and the clinical relevance of Chinese CN‐AML patients.