bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
RBC and platelet transfusion support in the first 30 and 100 days after haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
Authors: Yuan Shan , Yang Dongyun , Nakamura Ryotaro , Zhuang Lefan , Al Malki Monzr M. , Wang Shirong 
Published: October 2019

AbstractBACKGROUNDThe volume of haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplant (haplo‐HSCT) has increased dramatically in recent years. However, the associated higher risk of delayed engraftment may increase patient transfusion requirements.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODSThe post‐HSCT RBC and platelet transfusions of 195 haplo‐HSCT recipients were evaluated. Patient and transplant‐related factors potentially impacting the number of products transfused and time to transfusion independence were assessed.RESULTSNearly all (98.4%) patients were transfused in the first 30 days, and 59.2% were transfused between days 31 and 100. Among the transfused patients, medians of 5 units (interquartile range [IQR] = 3‐8) of RBCs and 11 units (6‐20) platelets were given in the first 30 days, and medians of 3 units (IQR = 1‐7) of RBCs and 6 units (2‐18) of platelets were transfused between days 31 and 100. Median times for achieving RBC and platelet transfusion independence were 34 (95% CI: 28‐40) and 25 (95% CI: 23‐27) days, respectively.Multivariable analyses showed that RBC transfusions in the 10 days before HSCT were associated with significantly increased and sustained RBC and platelet transfusion requirements. Major ABO incompatibility led to increased RBC transfusions. Advanced disease was associated with increased transfusions during the first 30 days, whereas GVHD increased platelet transfusions between days 31 and 100. Effects of age, sex, CD34+ cell dose, stem cell source, and conditioning regimen were limited or insignificant.CONCLUSIONSThis study for the first time provided quantitative transfusion data on a large cohort of haplo‐HSCT recipients and identified factors predictive of increased transfusions.
Synthesis of GMA/EDMA Uniform Pores Monolith Using Melt blown Polypropylene Nanofibers Templates
Authors: Kamin Z. , Ramon N. , Misson M. , Ken C. C. , Sarbatly R. , Krishnaiah D. , Bono A. 
Published: October 2019

Glycidyl methacrylate / ethyl dimethacrylate (GMA/ EDMA) monoliths consisting of pores induced by polypropylene nanofibers (PPNF) were developed. For creating these pores, templating technique was used where the PPNF act as a template. The PPNF were fabricated using a melt blowing technique at various process operations of polymer flowrate, air pressure and die-to-collector distance at ranges of 15 to 30 Hz, 0.15 to 0.3 MPa and 0.20 to 0.6 m respectively designed using a response surface methodology (RSM). Subsequently, a monolith solution was synthesis using the polymerization of GMA and EDMA, with azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as initiator and cyclohexanol as porogen. The PPNF and GMA/ EDMA monoliths were characterized using SEM and melting point instrument. The findings show, PPNF fiber diameter and melting points were in the range of 5 to 14 x 103 nm and 120 to 130 °C respectively. RSM analysis suggests that air pressure and die-to-collector distance could be an important factor for PPNF final diameter. Morphology studies demonstrate that GMA/ EDMA monolith have been successfully acquired mesoporous structure and creating uniform pores by PPNF template produce at 22.5 Hz, 0.22 MPa and 0.40 m. As a conclusion, the PPNF can be proposed as a template to prepare monolith having uniform pores.
A Heuristic Scaling Strategy for Multi-Robot Cooperative Three-Dimensional Printing
Authors: Poudel Laxmi , Blair Chandler , McPherson Jace , Sha Zhenghui , Zhou Wenchao 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
While three-dimensional (3D) printing has been making significant strides over the past decades, it still trails behind mainstream manufacturing due to its lack of scalability in both print size and print speed. Cooperative 3D printing (C3DP) is an emerging technology that holds the promise to mitigate both of these issues by having a swarm of printhead-carrying mobile robots working together to finish a single print job cooperatively. In our previous work, we have developed a chunk-based printing strategy to enable the cooperative 3D printing with two fused deposition modeling (FDM) mobile 3D printers, which allows each of them to print one chunk at a time without interfering with the other and the printed part. In this paper, we present a novel method in discretizing the continuous 3D printing process, where the desired part is discretized into chunks, resulting in multi-stage 3D printing process. In addition, the key contribution of this study is the first working scaling strategy for cooperative 3D printing based on simple heuristics, called scalable parallel arrays of robots for 3DP (SPAR3), which enables many mobile 3D printers to work together to reduce the total printing time for large prints. In order to evaluate the performance of the printing strategy, a framework is developed based on directed dependency tree (DDT), which provides a mathematical and graphical description of dependency relationships and sequence of printing tasks. The graph-based framework can be used to estimate the total print time for a given print strategy. Along with the time evaluation metric, the developed framework provides us with a mathematical representation of geometric constraints that are temporospatially dynamic and need to be satisfied in order to achieve collision-free printing for any C3DP strategy. The DDT-based evaluation framework is then used to evaluate the proposed SPAR3 strategy. The results validate the SPAR3 as a collision-free strategy that can significantly shorten the printing time (about 11 times faster with 16 robots for the demonstrated examples) in comparison with the traditional 3D printing with single printhead.
Scratch and Sliding Wear Testing of Electroless Ni–B–W Coating
Authors: Nemane Vaibhav , Chatterjee Satyajit 
Published: October 2019

Abstract
Electroless Ni–B–W coating is deposited on low carbon steel in an alkaline sodium borohydride-reduced electroless bath. The mechanical and tribological properties of such coatings are much necessary to be assessed to carry out application-based studies. The present work focuses mainly on the evaluation of hardness and fracture toughness of electroless Ni–B–W coatings using a scratch tester. Coating's response toward scratching is also studied thoroughly. The characteristic short-range order present in its lattice structure causes the generation of a specific behavioral pattern. Furthermore, a linear sliding wear test is carried out on coatings' surface to analyze the wear behavior at different loading conditions. The specific wear rate is observed to be minimum at a normal load of 22.5 N against Si3N4 counterbody. The patterns of tribological behavior of the coating at different load values are examined from the worn surface morphologies. But before embarking on the scratch and sliding wear tests, the synthesized coatings are characterized under field emission scanning electron microscope and X-ray diffraction in an exhaustive manner. The growth rates with respect to time and the changes in morphological aspects of the coating are also evaluated. The present study establishes electroless Ni–B–W deposits as a suitable option for protecting mechanical components against wear.
Value of shear wave elastography for diagnosis of primary prostate cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Yang Ye , Zhao Xinxin , Zhao Xinxin , Shi Jingwen , Huang Ying 
Published: October 2019

Aim: To evaluate the difference in stiffness between prostate cancer (PCa) and benign tissue based on Young’s modulus determined by shear wave elastography (SWE). In addition, the diagnostic accuracy of SWE for the detection of PCa was evaluated comprehensively.Material and methods: We conducted our systematic review and meta-analysis based on databases of PubMed, Embase and Web of Science. Relevant studies regarding to the diagnostic accuracy of SWE for detecting PCa compared to a reference standard of histopathology were included. The pooled weighted mean difference (WMD) of Young’s modulus, sensitivity (SEN) and specificity (SPE), and area under the curve (AUC) were calculated using Stata software.Results: Based on our search strategy, 9 studies were ultimately included. The pooled results indicated that the mean Young’s modulus for detecting prostate cancer was significantly higher than that for prostate benign tissue (WMD = 38.01, 95%CI = 25.59–50.44, p<0.01). In addition, the pooled SEN was 0.86 (95%CI = 0.75–0.92), and the SPE was 0.89 (95%CI = 0.82–0.93). Moreover, an overall high degree of accuracy was indicated by the summary receiver operator characteristic curve with an AUC of 0.94 (95%CI = 0.91–0.95).Conclusion: Our study indicated that SWE is a useful technique for differentiating PCa and benign tissue with a high degree of diagnostic accuracy.
Application of orphan drug designation to cancer treatments (2008–2017): a comprehensive and comparative analysis of the USA and EU
Authors: Vokinger Kerstin Noëlle , Kesselheim Aaron S 
Published: October 2019

ObjectiveTo determine differences in the characteristics of cancer drugs designated as orphan drugs by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and European Medicines Agency (EMA).Design and settingIdentification of all cancer drugs (initial or supplementary indication) with orphan status approved by the FDA between 2008–2017 based on publicly accessible reports. The European public assessment reports (EPAR) was searched to determine whether these FDA-approved drugs were also approved by the EMA.Main outcome measuresExtraction of active ingredient, trade name, approval date and approved indication from two FDA data sources (Orphan Drug Product Designation Database, Drugs@FDA) and comparison with the same data from EPAR.ResultsThe FDA approved 135 cancer drugs with orphan indications that met our inclusion criteria, of which 101 (75%) were also approved by the EMA. 80/101 (79%) were first approved in the USA. Only 41/101 (41%) also received orphan designation by the EMA. 33/101 (33%) were approved for biomarker-based indications in the USA, however, only nine approved cancer drug indications by the EMA were biomarker-derived drugs. 78% (47/60) of approved cancer drugs that were only approved in the USA with orphan status were indicated for solid tumours, 22% (13/60) had indications for non-solid tumours. By contrast, out of those approved cancer drugs that received orphan designation by both agencies, 20% (8/41) were indicated for solid, and 80% (33/41) for non-solid tumours.ConclusionsOrphan designation was intended to encourage drug development for rare conditions. This study shows that the FDA approves more cancer drugs with such designations compared with the EMA, especially for subgroups of more prevalent cancers. One reason for the difference could be that the European Union requires demonstration of significant benefit for drugs that target the same indication as a drug already on the market to earn the orphan designation.
Association of gout and colorectal cancer in Taiwan: a nationwide population-based cohort study
Authors: Chuang Jen-Pin , Lee Jenq-Chang , Leu Tzeng-Horng , Hidajah Atik Choirul , Chang Ya-Hui , Li Chung-Yi 
Published: October 2019

ObjectivesThis study aimed to determine colorectal cancer (CRC) risks among patients with gout through a follow-up study on a nationwide population-based cohort that included patients with gout and the general population in Taiwan.ParticipantFrom the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database, we identified 28 061 patients who were newly diagnosed with gout between 2000 and 2010 as the study cohort. We randomly selected 84 248 subjects matching in gender, age and baseline year as comparison cohort. The cohorts were followed up until CRC occurrence, withdrawal from the system of National Health Insurance, or Dec. 31, 2013.Primary and secondary outcome measuresCumulative incidences and incidence rate ratios (IRRs) of CRC between two cohorts were examined. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to evaluate risk factors associated with CRC development.ResultsDuring the 13-year follow-up, the incidence rate of CRC development in the gout cohort reached 2.44 per 1000 person-years, which was higher than the 2.13 per 1000 person-years in the control cohort (IRR=1.15; 95% CI 1.04 to 1.26). After adjusting for age, gender, urbanisation status and comorbidities, including hypertension, diabetes and hyperlipidaemia, gout showed no significant association with increased risk of CRC occurrence (adjusted HR=1.03; 95% CI 0.93 to 1.14).ConclusionsSimilar risks of CRC incidence were observed in patients with and without gout in Taiwan. Allopurinol and colchicine are commonly used as urate-lowering drug and anti-inflammation medication in Taiwan and had been shown to reduce the risk of CRC incidence. Thus, further pharmaco-epidemiological studies should be carried out to specifically assess the role of allopurinol in the relationship between gout and CRC.
Process evaluation protocol for the I-WOTCH study: an opioid tapering support programme for people with chronic non-malignant pain
Authors: Nichols Vivien P , Abraham Charles , Eldabe Sam , Sandhu Harbinder K , Underwood Martin , Seers Kate 
Published: October 2019

IntroductionThe Improving the Wellbeing of people with Opioid Treated CHronic Pain (I-WOTCH) randomised controlled trial uses a multicomponent self-management intervention to help people taper their opioid use. This approach is not widely used and its efficacy is unknown. A process evaluation alongside the trial will help to assess how the intervention was delivered, looking at the dose of intervention received and the fidelity of the delivery. We will explore how the intervention may have brought about change through the experiences of the participants receiving and the staff delivering the intervention and whether there were contextual factors involved.Methods and analysisA mixed methods process evaluation will assess how the processes of the I-WOTCH intervention fared and whether these affected the outcomes. We will collect quantitative data, for example, group attendance analysed with statistical methods. Qualitative data, for example, from interviews and feedback forms will be analysed using framework analysis. We will use a ‘following a thread’ and a mixed methods matrix for the final integrated analysis.Ethics and disseminationThe I-WOTCH trial and process evaluation were granted full ethics approval by Yorkshire and The Humber—South Yorkshire Research Ethics Committee on 13 September 2016 (16/YH/0325). All data were collected in accordance with data protection guidelines. Participants provided written informed consent for the main trial, and all interviewees provided additional written informed consent. The results of the process evaluation will be published and presented at conferences.Trial registration numberISRCTN49470934; Pre-results.
Emergency department visits for non-urgent conditions in Iran: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Bahadori Mohammadkarim , Mousavi Seyyed Meysam , Teymourzadeh Ehsan , Ravangard Ramin 
Published: October 2019

ObjectivesTo determine the percentage of non-urgent (NU) visits in an Iranian emergency department (ED), to explore why patients with NU conditions refer to EDs and also to assess the association between patients’ characteristics and their visits.DesignA cross sectional study based on face to face survey.SettingA territorial, teaching and military hospital in Tehran province, Iran.Participants and data collectionAll patients who visited the ED during the 2-week period were recruited. Data were collected using a validated questionnaire.ResultsOf 1884 patients who visited the ED, 1217 (64.6%) patients were triaged as NU while 667 (35.4%) were urgent and semiurgent visits cases. The most important reasons for NU visits were seeking prompt (36.6%) and less costly care (35.9%). We found that NU visits have increased with younger patients, during weekends and night shifts, and with patients suffering from recurrent symptoms lasting in 1 week or less.ConclusionsEDs are a common source of care for NU problems in Iran. The most invaluable solution is building up special clinics for providing healthcare services to NU patients during the weekends and, in the busy and night shifts. Receiving higher fees from NU patients could also be adopted with caution. Promoting awareness and knowledge of both healthcare providers and patients about the main role of EDs will contribute in improving their performance. As a long-term solution, adopting the family physician programme and ameliorating the referral system are recommended.
Association of smoking with direct medical expenditures of chronic diseases in north of Jordan: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Alefan Qais , Al-Issa Eman T , Alzoubi Karem H , Hammouri Hanan M 
Published: October 2019

ObjectiveThis study aimed to estimate the association of smoking with the direct medical expenditures for chronic disease management in north of Jordan.Design, setting and participantsRetrospective cohort study using hospital database. Patients who were diagnosed with at least one chronic disease,were aged 18 years or older and had attended King Abdullah University Hospital for disease management and procedures from 1 July 2015 through 30 June 2016 were included in the study.Main outcome measuresThe outcome of interest was the direct medical expenditures for chronic disease management according to smoking status.ResultsData were collected from 845 patients having at least one chronic disease (mean age of 61±10.7 years). Smokers formed 22% of total patients. The back transformed mean total expenditure per patient of smokers, former smokers and non-smokers was 875 JD, 928 JD and 774 JD, respectively. Drugs were the most expensive healthcare resource used, accounting for 43% of total expenditure, followed by inpatient-related and outpatient-related services (19%). Smokers and former smokers were associated with the highest inpatient expenditures and inpatient-related and outpatient-related services expenditures. However, smokers were associated with the lowest outpatient and medication expenditures.ConclusionsSmokers and former smokers presented with higher statistically significant inpatient-related and outpatient-related services expenditures and higher transformed mean total expenditures compared to non-smokers; highlighting this economic burden is useful for promoting tobacco control policies.
What is multidisciplinary cancer care like in practice? a protocol for a mixed-method study to characterise ambulatory oncology services in the Australian public sector
Authors: Nic Giolla Easpaig Bróna , Arnolda Gaston , Tran Yvonne , Bierbaum Mia , Lamprell Klay , Delaney Geoffrey P , Liauw Winston , Chittajallu Renuka , Winata Teresa , Ward Robyn L , Currow David C , Olver Ian , Karnon Jonathan , Westbrook Johanna , Braithwaite Jeffrey 
Published: October 2019

IntroductionAn understanding of the real-world provision of oncology outpatient services can help maintain service quality in the face of escalating demand and tight budgets, by informing the design of interventions that improve the effectiveness or efficiency of provision. The aims of this study are threefold. First, to develop an understanding of cancer services in outpatient clinics by characterising the organisation and practice of multidisciplinary care (MDC). Second, to explore the key areas of: (a) clinical decision-making and (b) engagement with patients’ supportive needs. Third, to identify barriers to, and facilitators of, the delivery of quality care in these settings.Methods and analysisA suite of mixed-methods studies will be implemented at six hospitals providing cancer outpatient clinics, with a staged roll-out. In Stage One, we will examine policies, use unstructured observations and undertake interviews with key health professionals to characterise the organisation and delivery of MDC. In Stage Two, observations of practice will continue, to deepen our understanding, and to inform two focused studies. The first will explore decision-making practices and the second will examine how staff engage with patients’ needs; both studies involve interviews, to complement observation. As part of the study of supportive care, we will examine the implications of an introduction of patient-reported measures (PRMs) into care, adding surveys to interviews before and after PRMs roll-out. Data analysis will account for site-specific and cross-site issues using an adapted Qualitative Rapid Appraisal, Rigorous Analysis approach. Quantitative data from clinician surveys will be statistically analysed and triangulated with the related qualitative study findings.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval was granted by South Eastern Sydney Local Health District Human Research Ethics Committee (no. 18/207). Findings will be shared with participating hospitals and widely disseminated through publications and presentations.
SCING—Spinal Cord Injury Neuroprotection with Glyburide: a pilot, open-label, multicentre, prospective evaluation of oral glyburide in patients with acute traumatic spinal cord injury in the USA
Authors: Minnema Amy Janelle , Mehta A , Boling Warren W , Schwab Jan , Simard J Marc , Farhadi H Francis 
Published: October 2019

IntroductionAcute traumatic spinal cord injury (tSCI) is a devastating neurological disorder with no pharmacological neuroprotective strategy proven effective to date. Progressive haemorrhagic necrosis (PHN) represents an increasingly well-characterised mechanism of secondary injury after tSCI that negatively impacts neurological outcomes following acute tSCI. Preclinical studies evaluating the use of the Food and Drug Administration-approved sulfonylurea receptor 1-transient receptor potential melastatin 4 channel blocker glyburide in rodent models have shown reduced secondary microhaemorrhage formation and the absence of capillary fragmentation, the pathological hallmark of PHN.Methods and analysisIn this initial phase multicentre open-label pilot study, we propose to enrol 10 patients with acute cervical tSCI to primarily assess the feasibility, and safety of receiving oral glyburide within 8 hours of injury. Secondary objectives include pharmacokinetics and preliminary evaluations on neurological recovery as well as blood and MRI-based injury biomarkers. Analysis will be performed using the descriptive and non-parametric statistics.Ethics and disseminationGlyburide has been shown as an effective neuroprotective agent in preclinical tSCI models and in the treatment of ischaemic stroke with the additional risk of a hypoglycaemic response. Given the ongoing secondary injury and the traumatic hyperglycaemic stress response seen in patients with tSCI, glyburide; thus, offers an appealing neuroprotective strategy to supplement standard of care treatment. The study protocol was approved by the Ohio State University Biomedical Institutional Review Board. The protocol was amended in February 2017 with changes related to study feasibility and patient recruitment. Specifically, the route of administration was changed to the oral form to allow for streamlined and rapid drug administration, and the injury-to-drug time window was extended to 8 hours in an effort to further enhance enrolment. Participants or legally authorised representatives are informed about the trial and its anticipated risks orally and in written form using an approved informed consent form prior to inclusion. The findings of this study will be disseminated to the participants and to academic peers through scientific conferences and peer-reviewed journal publications.Trial registration numbersNCT02524379and 2014H0335.