bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Non‐Observed Economy in Portugal: The monetary model and the MIMIC model
Authors: Soares Cláudia , Afonso Óscar 
Published: January 2019

AbstractThis paper offers estimations for the Portuguese path of the Non‐Observed Economy (NOE), in the period 1970–2015, through two seminal approaches: monetary method and the Multiple Indicators Multiple Causes (MIMIC) model. It is observed that the tax burden and social benefits are its main causes. Then, to get a more in‐depth understanding of the phenomenon, it provides a study of the Granger causality between the NOE and the official Gross Domestic Product (GDP), emphasizing the implications of the NOE on the Portuguese economy. Evidence has been found for the existence of bidirectional causality between the NOE and the GDP, suggesting that the formal economy affects the NOE, and conversely that the NOE affects the economic growth.
Duplex nucleic acid test for the detection of chikungunya and dengue RNA viruses in blood donations
Authors: Stramer Susan L. , Stanley Jean , Nguyen Megan L. , Bertuzis Rasa , Huynh Nancy , Duncan John R. , Albrecht Patrick , Pate Lisa L. , Galel Susan A. 
Published: January 2019

BACKGROUNDChikungunya (CHIKV) and dengue (DENV) viruses are primarily mosquito‐borne, but transfusion transmission can occur (DENV) or is likely (CHIKV). In the absence of commercially available blood screening assays, a variety of strategies to ensure recipient safety in the face of expanding CHIKV and/or DENV outbreaks have been used.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODSPerformance of cobas CHIKV/DENV, a qualitative RNA detection assay for use on the cobas 6800/8800 Systems, was evaluated at two sites (Roche Molecular Systems, Inc. [RMS], and the American Red Cross [ARC]). Analytical sensitivity, genotype inclusion, correlation with other assays, and reproducibility used clinical CHIKV‐ or DENV‐positive samples and secondary standards for DENV Types 1 to 4 and for three CHIKV genotypes (Asian; East Central South African; and West African); each secondary standard was traceable to international reference panels or reagents. Evaluation of analytic specificity assessed other microorganisms for interference and cross‐reactivity; clinical specificity was determined by individually testing 10,528 volunteer blood donations from the continental United States.RESULTSThe 50 and 95% limit of detection (LoD) obtained by RMS for CHIKV, Asian genotype was 1.8 and 6.8 Detectable Units (DU)/mL, respectively, and 0.14 and 0.63 International Units (IU)/mL, respectively for DENV‐1. No significant differences in detection occurred by testing at a second site, the ARC (2.4 and 10.5 DU/mL for CHIKV and 0.15 and 0.60 IU/mL for DENV). Clinical specificity was 100% (95% confidence interval, 99.965%‐100%) for CHIKV and DENV.CONCLUSIONSThe high sensitivity and specificity of the cobas CHIKV/DENV test, as demonstrated in these evaluations, indicate its suitability for blood donation screening.
Performance of injury severity measures in trauma research: a literature review and validation analysis of studies from low-income and middle-income countries
Authors: Mehmood Amber , Hung Yuen W , He Huan , Ali Shahmir , Bachani Abdul M 
Published: January 2019

IntroductionCharacterisation of injury severity is an important pillar of scientific research to measure and compare the outcomes. Although majority of injury severity measures were developed in high-income countries, many have been studied in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We conducted this study to identify and characterise all injury severity measures, describe how widely and frequently they are used in trauma research from LMICs, and summarise the evidence on their performance based on empirical and theoretical validation​ analysis.MethodsFirst, a list of injury measures was identified through PubMed search. Subsequently, a systematic search of PubMed, Global Health and EMBASE was undertaken on LMIC trauma literature published from January 2006 to June 2016, in order to assess the application and performance of injury severity measures to predict in-hospital mortality. Studies that applied one or more global injury severity measure(s) on all types of injuries were included, with the exception of war injuries and isolated organ injuries.ResultsOver a span of 40 years, more than 55 injury severity measures were developed. Out of 3862 non-duplicate citations, 597 studies from 54 LMICs were listed as eligible studies. Full-text review revealed 37 studies describing performance of injury severity measures for outcome prediction. Twenty-five articles from 13 LMICs assessed the validity of at least one injury severity measure for in-hospital mortality. Injury severity score was the most commonly validated measure in LMICs, with a wide range of performance (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) between 0.9 and 0.65). Trauma and Injury Severity Score validation studies reported AUROC between 0.80 and 0.98.ConclusionEmpirical studies from LMICs frequently use injury severity measures, however, no single injury severity measure has shown a consistent result in all settings or populations and thus warrants validation studies for the diversity of LMIC population.
Effects of exercise interventions on cardiovascular health in individuals with chronic, motor complete spinal cord injury: protocol for a randomised controlled trial [Cardiovascular Health/Outcomes: Improvements Created by Exercise and education in SCI (CHOICES) Study]
Authors: Krassioukov Andrei V , Currie Katharine D , Hubli Michèle , Nightingale Tom E , Alrashidi Abdullah A , Ramer Leanne , Eng Janice J , Ginis Kathleen A Martin , MacDonald Maureen J , Hicks Audrey , Ditor Dave , Oh Paul , Verrier Molly C , Craven Beverly Catharine 
Published: January 2019

IntroductionRecent studies demonstrate that cardiovascular diseases and associated complications are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI). Abnormal arterial stiffness, defined by a carotid–to-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) ≥10 m/s, is a recognised risk factor for heart disease in individuals with SCI. There is a paucity of studies assessing the efficacy of conventional training modalities on arterial stiffness and other cardiovascular outcomes in this population. Therefore, this study aims to compare the efficacy of arm cycle ergometry training (ACET) and body weight-supported treadmill training (BWSTT) on reducing arterial stiffness in individuals with chronic motor complete, high-level (above the sixth thoracic segment) SCI.Methods and analysisThis is a multicentre, randomised, controlled, clinical trial. Eligible participants will be randomly assigned (1:1) into either ACET or BWSTT groups. Sixty participants with chronic (>1 year) SCI will be recruited from three sites in Canada (Vancouver, Toronto and Hamilton). Participants in each group will exercise three times per week up to 30 min and 60 min for ACET and BWSTT, respectively, over the period of 6 months. The primary outcome measure will be change in arterial stiffness (cfPWV) from baseline. Secondary outcome measures will include comprehensive assessments of: (1) cardiovascular parameters, (2) autonomic function, (3) body composition, (4) blood haematological and metabolic profiles, (5) cardiorespiratory fitness and (6) quality of life (QOL) and physical activity outcomes. Outcome measures will be assessed at baseline, 3 months, 6 months and 12 months (only QOL and physical activity outcomes). Statistical analyses will apply linear-mixed modelling to determine the training (time), group (ACET vs BWSTT) and interaction (time × group) effects on all outcomes.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval was obtained from all three participating sites. Primary and secondary outcome data will be submitted for publication in peer-reviewed journals and widely disseminated.Trial registration numberNCT01718977; Pre-results.Trial statusRecruitment for this study began on January 2013 and the first participant was randomized on April 2013. Recruitment stopped on October 2018.
Predicting poorer health outcomes in older community-dwelling patients with multimorbidity: prospective cohort study assessing the accuracy of different multimorbidity definitions
Authors: Sasseville Maxime , Smith Susan M , Freyne Lisa , McDowell Ronald , Boland Fiona , Fortin Martin , Wallace Emma 
Published: January 2019

PurposeMultimorbidity is commonly defined and measured using condition counts. The UK National Institute for Health Care Excellence Guidelines for Multimorbidity suggest that a medication-orientated approach could be used to identify those in need of a multimorbidity approach to management.ObjectivesTo compare the accuracy of medication-based and diagnosis-based multimorbidity measures at higher cut-points to identify older community-dwelling patients who are at risk of poorer health outcomes.DesignA secondary analysis of a prospective cohort study with a 2-year follow-up (2010–2012).Setting15 general practices in Ireland.Participants904 older community-dwelling patients.ExposureBaseline multimorbidity measurements based on both medication classes count (MCC) and chronic disease count (CDC).OutcomesMortality, self-reported health related quality of life, mental health and physical functioning at follow-up.AnalysisSensitivity, specificity, positive predictive values (PPV) and negative predictive values (NPV) adjusting for clustering by practice for each outcome using both definitions.ResultsOf the 904 baseline participants, 53 died during follow-up and 673 patients completed the follow-up questionnaire. At baseline, 223 patients had 3 or more chronic conditions and 89 patients were prescribed 10 or more medication classes. Sensitivity was low for both MCC and CDC measures for all outcomes. For specificity, MCC was better for all outcomes with estimates varying from 88.8% (95% CI 85.2% to 91.6%) for physical functioning to 90.9% (95% CI 86.2% to 94.1%) for self-reported health-related quality of life. There were no differences between MCC and CDC in terms of PPV and NPV for any outcomes.ConclusionsNeither measure demonstrated high sensitivity. However, MCC using a definition of 10 or more regular medication classes to define multimorbidity had higher specificity for predicting poorer health outcomes. While having limitations, this definition could be used for proactive identification of patients who may benefit from targeted clinical care.
Acupuncture or metformin to improve insulin resistance in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: study protocol of a combined multinational cross sectional case-control study and a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Stener-Victorin Elisabet , Zhang Haolin , Li Rong , Friden Cecilia , Li Dong , Wang Wei , Wang Haining , Chang Cuiqing , Li Shi , Huo ZeJun , Zhang Hua , Ji Xiaolan , Linden-Hirschberg Angelica , Qiao Jie 
Published: January 2019

IntroductionPolycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is linked to hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance with dysfunctional glucose metabolism. Pilot studies suggests that acupuncture treatment with combined manual and low-frequency electrical stimulation (electroacupuncture (EA)) of the needles decrease circulating glycated haemoglobulin (HbA1c) and homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance. Therefore, we here aim to investigate if acupuncture treatment or metformin together with lifestyle or lifestyle management alone improves insulin sensitivity and related symptoms in overweight/obese women with PCOS.Methods and analysisThis is a two-centre multinational (Sweden and China), cross-sectional case–control study combined with an open-labelled randomised controlled trial (RCT). Participants are randomised to one of three groups: (1) EA 2–3 times/week during 4 months+lifestyle management; (2) metformin, 500 mg, three/day during 4 months+lifestyle management; or (3) lifestyle management alone. The primary outcome measure in the RCT is changes in HbA1C. A total of 123 obese overweight women with PCOS will be enrolled and randomised into one of the three groups with a target power of at least 80% and 5% significance level based on two-sided tests.Ethics and disseminationThe study has been approved by the Regional Ethical Review Board of Stockholm and of Peking University Third Hospital, China. Primary outcome data of the RCT will be published in a relevant journal together with supporting secondary outcome measurements. Further, outcome measurements will be published in separate papers as well as case–control data.Expected resultsWe anticipate that EA and metformin, both with lifestyle management, are equally effective and superior to lifestyle management alone for improvement of glycaemic control.Trial registration numbersNCT02647827and EudraCT2015-004250-18.
Patient-reported outcome and experience measures for diabetes: development of scale models, differences between patient groups and relationships with cardiovascular and diabetes complication risk factors, in a combined registry and survey study in Sweden
Authors: Borg Sixten , Eeg-Olofsson Katarina , Palaszewski Bo , Svedbo Engström Maria , Gerdtham Ulf-G , Gudbjörnsdottir Soffia 
Published: January 2019

PurposeThe Swedish National Diabetes Register (NDR) has developed a diabetes-specific questionnaire to collect information on individuals' management of their diabetes, collaboration with healthcare providers and the disease’s impact on daily life. Our main objective was to develop measures of well-being, abilities to manage diabetes and judgements of diabetes care, and to detect and quantify differences using the NDR questionnaire.Design, setting and participantsThe questionnaire was analysed with using responses from 3689 participants with type 1 and 2 diabetes, randomly sampled from the NDR population, combined with register data on patient characteristics and cardiovascular and diabetes complication risk factors.MethodsWe used item response theory to develop scales for measuring well-being, abilities to manage diabetes and judgements of diabetes care (scores). Test–retest reliability on the scale level was analysed with intraclass correlation. Associations between scores and risk factor levels were investigated with subgroup analyses and correlations.ResultsWe obtained scales with satisfactory measurement properties, covering patient reported outcome measures such as general well-being and being free of worries, and patient reported experience measure, for example, access and continuity in diabetes care. All scales had acceptable test–retest reliability and could detect differences between diabetes types, age, gender and treatment subgroups. In several aspects, for example, freedom of worries, type 1 patients report lower than type 2, and younger patients lower than older. Associations were found between some scores and glycated haemoglobin, but none with systolic blood pressure or low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Clinicians report positive experience of using scores, visually presented, in the patient dialogue.ConclusionsThe questionnaire measures and detects differences in patient well-being, abilities and judgements of diabetes care, and identifies areas for improvement. To further improve diabetes care, we conclude that patient-reported measures are important supplements to cardiovascular and diabetes complication risk factors, reflecting patient experiences of living with diabetes and diabetes care.
MesoTRAP: a feasibility study that includes a pilot clinical trial comparing video-assisted thoracoscopic partial pleurectomy decortication with indwelling pleural catheter in patients with trapped lung due to malignant pleural mesothelioma designed to address recruitment and randomisation uncertainties and sample size requirements for a phase III trial
Authors: Matthews Claire , Freeman Carol , Sharples Linda D , Fox-Rushby Julia , Tod Angela , Maskell Nicholas A , Edwards John G , Coonar Aman S , Sivasothy Pasupathy , Hughes Victoria , Rahman Najib M , Waller David A , Rintoul Robert Campbell 
Published: January 2019

IntroductionOne of the most debilitating symptoms of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is dyspnoea caused by pleural effusion. MPM can be complicated by the presence of tumour on the visceral pleura preventing the lung from re-expanding, known as trapped lung (TL). There is currently no consensus on the best way to manage TL. One approach is insertion of an indwelling pleural catheter (IPC) under local anaesthesia. Another is video-assisted thoracoscopic partial pleurectomy/decortication (VAT-PD). Performed under general anaesthesia, VAT-PD permits surgical removal of the rind of tumour from the visceral pleura thereby allowing the lung to fully re-expand.Methods and analysisMesoTRAP is a feasibility study that includes a pilot multicentre, randomised controlled clinical trial comparing VAT-PD with IPC in patients with TL and pleural effusion due to MPM. The primary objective is to measure the SD of visual analogue scale scores for dyspnoea following randomisation and examine the patterns of change over time in each treatment group. Secondary objectives include documenting survival and adverse events, estimating the incidence and prevalence of TL in patients with MPM, examining completion of alternative forms of data capture for economic evaluation and determining the ability to randomise 38 patients in 18 months.Ethics and disseminationThis study was approved by the East of England-Cambridge Central Research Ethics Committee and the Health Research Authority (reference number 16/EE/0370). We aim to publish the outputs of this work in international peer-reviewed journals compliant with an Open Access policy.Trial registrationNCT03412357.
Effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy and corticosteroid therapy in military personnel with acute acoustic trauma
Authors: Bayoumy A B , van der Veen E L , van Ooij P-J A M , Besseling-Hansen F S , Koch D A A , Stegeman I , de Ru J A 
Published: January 2019

IntroductionAcute acoustic trauma (AAT) is a sensorineural hearing impairment due to exposure to an intense impulse noise which causes cochlear hypoxia. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO) could provide an adequate oxygen supply. The aim was to investigate the effectiveness of early treatment with combined HBO and corticosteroid therapy in patients with AAT compared with corticosteroid monotherapy.MethodsA retrospective study was performed on military personnel diagnosed with AAT between November 2012 and December 2017. Inclusion criteria for HBO therapy were hearing loss of 30 dB or greater on at least one, 25 dB or more on at least two, or 20 dB or more on three or more frequencies as compared with the contralateral ear.ResultsAbsolute hearing improvements showed significant differences (independent t-test) between patients receiving HBO and the control group at 500 Hz (p=0.014), 3000 Hz (p=0.023), 4000 Hz (p=0.001) and 6000 Hz (p=0.01) and at the mean of all frequencies (p=0.002). Relative hearing improvements were significantly different (independent t-test) at 4000 Hz (p=0.046) and 6000 Hz (p=0.013) and at all frequencies combined (p=0.005). Furthermore, the percentage of patients with recovery to the functional level required by the Dutch Armed Forces (clinical outcome score) was higher in the HBO group.ConclusionsEarly-stage combination therapy for patients with AAT was associated with better audiometric results at higher frequencies and better clinical outcome score.
Liver X Receptor/Retinoid X Receptor Pathway Plays a Regulatory Role in Pacing‐Induced Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Lin Yu‐Sheng , Chang Tzu‐Hao , Shi Chung‐Sheng , Wang Yi‐Zhen , Ho Wan‐Chun , Huang Hsien‐Da , Chang Shih‐Tai , Pan Kuo‐Li , Chen Mien‐Cheng 
Published: January 2019

Background
The molecular mechanisms through which high‐demand pacing induce myocardial dysfunction remain unclear.

Methods and Results

We created atrioventricular block in pigs using dependent right ventricular septal pacing for 6 months. Echocardiography was performed to evaluate dyssynchrony between pacing (n=6) and sham control (n=6) groups. Microarray and enrichment analyses were used to identify differentially expressed genes (
DEG
s) in the left ventricular (
LV
) myocardium between pacing and sham control groups. Histopathological and protein changes were also analyzed and an A cell pacing model was also performed. Pacing significantly increased mechanical dyssynchrony. Enrichment analysis using Ingenuity Pathway Analysis and the activation z‐score analysis method demonstrated that there were 5
DEG
s (
ABCA
1,
APOD
,
CLU
,
LY
96, and
SERPINF
1) in the
LV
septum (z‐score=−0.447) and 5
DEG
s (
APOD
,
CLU
,
LY
96,
MSR
1, and
SERPINF
1) in the
LV
free wall (z‐score=−1.000) inhibited the liver X receptor/retinoid X receptor (
LXR
/
RXR
) pathway, and 4
DEG
s (
ACTA
2,
MYL
1,
PPP
2R3A, and
SNAI
2) activated the integrin‐linked kinase (
ILK
) pathway in the
LV
septum (z‐score=1.000). The pacing group had a larger cell size, higher degree of myolysis and fibrosis, and increased expression of intracellular lipid, inflammatory cytokines, and apoptotic markers than the sham control group. The causal relationships between pacing and
DEG
s related to
LXR
/
RXR
and
ILK
pathways, apoptosis, fibrosis, and lipid expression after pacing were confirmed in the cell pacing model. Luciferase reporter assay in the cell pacing model also supported inhibition of the
LXR
pathway by pacing.

Conclusions

Right ventricular septal‐dependent pacing was associated with persistent
LV
dyssynchrony–induced cardiomyopathy through inhibition of the
LXR
/
RXR
pathway.