bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
TNFα inhibitors exacerbateMycobacterium paratuberculosisinfection in tissue culture: a rationale for poor response of patients with Crohn’s disease to current approved therapy
Authors: Qasem Ahmad , Naser Saleh A 
Published: July 2018

BackgroundThe role ofMycobacteriumaviumsubspeciesparatuberculosis(MAP) in Crohn’s disease (CD) is increasingly accepted as evident by detection of the bacteria in the blood and intestinal tissue from patients with CD, and by supporting data from several open-label anti-MAP treatment studies. Tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) monoclonal antibodies (anti-TNFα) have been widely used for CD treatment. Despite the short-term benefit of anti-TNFα in controlling CD symptoms, most patients suffer from detrimental adverse effects, including higher susceptibility to mycobacterial infections.MethodsWe investigated the effect of recombinant cytokines and anti-TNFα therapeutics on macrophages infected with clinical MAP strain isolated from CD patient blood. MAP viability was measured in macrophages pulsed with PEGylated and non-PEGylated anti-TNFα monoclonal antibodies at concentrations 0 to 50 µg/mL and with rTNFα, rIL-6, rIL-12, rIL-23 and IFNγ at a final concentration of 1000 U/mL. Expression of proinflammatory cytokines was measured by RT-PCR following MAP infection.ResultsBoth PEGylated and non-PEGylated forms of anti-TNFα increased MAP viability by nearly 1.5 logs. rIL-6 and rIL-12 induced MAP viability at 5.42±0.25 and 4.79±0.14 log CFU/mL, respectively. In contrast, rTNFα reduced MAP survival in infected macrophages by 2.63 logs. Expression ofTNFα,IL-6andIL-12was upregulated threefold following MAP orM. tuberculosisinfection compared with other bacterial strains (p<0.05), while expression ofIL-23andIFNγwas not significant after MAP infection.ConclusionThe data indicate MAP-positive patients with CD receiving anti-TNFα treatment could result in favourable conditions for MAP infection, which explains the poor response of many patients with CD to anti-TNFα therapy.
Experiences of returning to work and maintaining work 7 to 8 years after a stroke: a qualitative interview study in Sweden
Authors: Palstam Annie , Törnbom Marie , Sunnerhagen Katharina Stibrant 
Published: July 2018

ObjectiveTo explore how persons experienced return to work (RTW) and their work situation 7 to 8 years after a stroke.DesignAn explorative qualitative design with individual interviews. The data analysis was inductive thematic and three researchers collaborated during the analysis process.ParticipantsThe study population included five women and eight men who had a stroke during 2009–2010, received care at the Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Gothenburg, Sweden and RTW after stroke and it was a heterogenic sample based on age, occupation, stroke severity and time to RTW.ResultsThe analysis led to four themes;motivated and RTW while struggling with impairments,mixed feelings in the RTW process, still at work though restrictedandsocial support for a sustainable work situation.The themes revealed that participants were motivated to RTW while struggling with impairments. The RTW process evoked mixed feelings of worry and grief over lost functions but also acceptance and gratitude for being able to work. Although maintaining work 7 to 8 years after experiencing a stroke, most were restricted in some way. Fatigue and cognitive impairments meant having to set limits, omit work tasks and rest at work, but also rest during free time and refraining from social activities in order to manage work. Participants avoided work-related stress if they could because of aggravated symptoms and/or fear of a new stroke. Support from supervisors and colleagues was often crucial for a sustainable work situation.ConclusionMaintaining work can be a continuous struggle with invisible impairments many years after a stroke. Strategies for managing work are dependent on each individual work situation, where support and understanding at work seem to be crucial for a sustainable work situation.
How do Australian women cope with pelvic girdle pain during pregnancy? A qualitative study protocol
Authors: Ceprnja Dragana , Chipchase Lucinda , Liamputtong Pranee , Gupta Amitabh 
Published: July 2018

IntroductionPelvic girdle pain is commonly experienced during pregnancy and results in significant physical, psychosocial and work-related challenges. Few studies have investigated the lived experiences of pregnant women with pelvic girdle pain and their coping strategies. There is a need to develop a greater understanding of this prevalent condition among Australian women. Thus, this study seeks to gain information about the impact of pelvic girdle pain on daily life and how women cope with this condition during pregnancy.Methods and analysisA qualitative research design, situated within a phenomenological framework, is adopted. The participants will be invited to describe their lived experiences of pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain, the impact on their daily life and the strategies they use to cope with the condition. A stratified purposive sample will be undertaken to ensure the sample provides information-rich cases representative of women with pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain. Face-to-face, individual, semistructured interviews will be conducted with participants at Westmead Hospital, Sydney, Australia. A solicited diary will be offered to any participants who may find attending the interview difficult. All participants will also be invited to attend a focus group session. The different methods of data collection used in this study will allow for triangulation, thereby increasing the trustworthiness of findings.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval has been granted by the Human Research Ethics Committees of Westmead Hospital, Sydney, and Western Sydney University, Sydney. Dissemination of results will be via journal articles and conference presentations.
Prognostic implications of left ventricular strain by speckle-tracking echocardiography in population-based studies: a systematic review protocol of the published literature
Authors: Al Saikhan Lamia , Park Chloe , Hardy Rebecca , Hughes Alun 
Published: July 2018

IntroductionLeft ventricular (LV) strain by speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE) is a comparatively new prognostic marker. Meta-analyses relating LV strain by STE to outcomes have been conducted in selected patient-based populations with established or suspected cardiovascular (CV) diseases. However, the evidence related to population-based studies of community-dwelling individuals is uncertain. The aim of this study is to provide a comprehensive systematic review and analysis of the current available literature regarding LV strain by STE as a predictor of adverse outcomes in population-based studies.Methods and analysesThesaurus and text-word searching will be used to search two online databases (MEDLINE and EMBASE) and additional sources will be identified from citation metrics and reference lists’ search. Dual search results’ screening, data extraction and quality assessment will be performed. Cohort studies of community/population-based samples who have had STE and followed up longitudinally for mortal and morbid events, and published in English and peer-reviewed journals will be included. Primary outcome will be all-cause mortality whereas secondary outcomes will be composite cardiac and CV end points. Risk of bias will be assessed using Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale of cohort studies that will be modified as appropriate. Any arising discrepancies will be discussed and resolved through consensus.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval is not required as this is a protocol for a systematic review. The findings of this study will be presented at scientific conferences and published in a peer-reviewed journal. Any amendments to the protocol will be documented and updated in the PROSPERO registry.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42018090302.
Protocol for process evaluation of CIVIC randomised controlled trial: Community-based InterVentions to prevent serIous Complications following spinal cord injury in Bangladesh
Authors: Hossain Mohammad Sohrab , Harvey Lisa A , Liu Hueiming , Islam Md. Shofiqul , Rahman Md. Akhlasur , Muldoon Stephen , Biering-Sorensen Fin , Cameron Ian D , Chhabra Harvinder S , Lindley Richard I , Jan Stephen 
Published: July 2018

IntroductionPeople with spinal cord injuries in low-income and middle-income countries are highly vulnerable to life-threatening complications in the period immediately after discharge from hospital. We are conducting a randomised controlled trial in Bangladesh to determine whether all-cause mortality at 2 years can be reduced if health professionals regularly ring and visit participants in their homes following discharge. We will conduct a process evaluation alongside the trial to explain the trial results and determine the feasibility of scaling this intervention up in low-income and middle-income countries if it is found to be effective.Methods and analysisOur process evaluation is based on the Realist and Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation and Maintenance frameworks. We will use a mixed methods approach that uses both qualitative and quantitative data. For example, we will audit a sample of telephone interactions between intervention participants and the healthcare professionals, and we will conduct semistructured interviews with people reflective of various interest groups. Quantitative data will also be collected to determine the number and length of interactions between the healthcare professionals and participants, the types of issues identified during each interaction and the nature of the support and advice provided by the healthcare professionals. All quantitative and qualitative data will be analysed iteratively before the final analysis of the trial results. These data will then be triangulated with the final results of the primary outcome.Ethics and disseminationEthics approval was obtained from the institutional ethics committee at the site in Bangladesh and from the University of Sydney, Australia. The study will be conducted in compliance with all stipulations of its protocol, the conditions of ethics committee approval and the relevant regulatory bodies. The results of the trial will be disseminated through publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals and presentations at scientific conferences.Trial registration numberACTRN12615000630516.
Electromagnetic quasinormal modes of the nearly-extremal higher-dimensional Schwarzschild–de Sitter black hole
Authors: Panotopoulos Grigoris 
Published: July 2018

We obtain an analytical expression for the electromagnetic quasinormal (QN) spectrum of the higher-dimensional nearly-extremal Schwarzschild–de Sitter black hole. The WKB method is used to verify the results, and a comparison with known results from previous works is briefly made as well.
Computing the Expected Value and Variance of Geometric Measures
Authors: Tsirogiannis Constantinos , Staals Frank , Pellissier Vincent 
Published: July 2018

LetPbe a point set in ℝd, and letMbe a function that maps any subset ofPto a positive real. We examine the problem of computing the mean and variance ofMwhen a subset inPis selected according to a random distribution. We consider two distributions; in the first distribution (the Bernoulli distribution), each pointpinPis included in the random subset independently, with probability π(p). In the second distribution (the fixed-size distribution), exactlyspoints are selected uniformly at random among all possible subsets ofspoints inP.We present efficient algorithms for computing the mean and variance of several geometric measures when point sets are selected under one of the described random distributions. We also implemented four of those algorithms: an algorithm that computes the mean 2D bounding box volume in the Bernoulli distribution, an algorithm for the mean 2D convex hull area in the fixed-size distribution, an algorithm that computes the exact mean and variance of the mean pairwise distance (MPD) ford-dimensional point sets in the fixed-size distribution, and an (1 − ε)-approximation algorithm for the same measure. We conducted experiments where we compared the performance of our implementations with a standard heuristic approach, and we show that our implementations are very efficient. We also compared the implementation of our exact MPD algorithm and the (1 − ε)-approximation algorithm; the approximation method performs faster on real-world datasets for point sets of up to 13 dimensions, and provides high-precision approximations.
Diagnostic Performance of Extracellular Volume, Native T1, and T2 Mapping Versus Lake Louise Criteria by Cardiac Magnetic Resonance for Detection of Acute Myocarditis
Authors: Pan Jonathan A. , Lee Yoo Jin , Salerno Michael 
Published: July 2018

Background:
The Lake Louise Criteria (LLC) were established in 2009 and are the recommended cardiac magnetic resonance imaging criterion for diagnosing patients with suspected myocarditis. Subsequently, newer parametric imaging techniques which can quantify T1, T2, and the extracellular volume (ECV) have been developed and may provide additional utility in the diagnosis of myocarditis. However, whether their diagnostic accuracy is superior to LLC remains unclear. In this meta-analysis, we compared the diagnostic performance of native T1, T2, ECV to LLC in diagnosing acute myocarditis.

Methods and Results:

We searched PubMed for published studies of LLC, native T1, ECV, and T2 diagnostic criteria used to diagnose acute myocarditis. Seventeen studies were included, with a total of 867 myocarditis patients and 441 control subjects. Pooled sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic odds ratio of all diagnostic tests were assessed by bivariate analysis. LLC had a pooled sensitivity of 74%, specificity of 86%, and diagnostic odds ratio of 17.7. Native T1 had a significantly higher sensitivity than LLC (85% versus 74%,
P
=0.025). Otherwise, there was no significant difference in sensitivity, specificity, and diagnostic odds ratio when comparing LLC to native T1, T2, or ECV.

Conclusions:
Native T1, T2, and ECV mapping provide comparable diagnostic performance to LLC. Although only native T1 had significantly better sensitivity than LLC, each technique offers distinct advantages for evaluating and characterizing myocarditis when compared with the LLC.
Prediction Models for Clinical Outcome After a Carotid Revascularization Procedure
Authors: Volkers Eline J. , Algra Ale , Kappelle L. Jaap , Jansen Olav , Howard George , Hendrikse Jeroen , Halliday Alison , Gregson John , Fraedrich Gustav , Eckstein Hans-Henning , Calvet David , Bulbulia Richard , Brown Martin M. , Becquemin Jean-Pierre , Ringleb Peter A. , Mas Jean-Louis , Bonati Leo H. , Brott Thomas G. , Greving Jacoba P. ,   on behalf of the Carotid Stenosis Trialists’ Collaboration
Published: July 2018

Background and Purpose—
Prediction models may help physicians to stratify patients with high and low risk for periprocedural complications or long-term stroke risk after carotid artery stenting or carotid endarterectomy. We aimed to evaluate external performance of previously published prediction models for short- and long-term outcome after carotid revascularization in patients with symptomatic carotid artery stenosis.

Methods—
From a literature review, we selected all prediction models that used only readily available patient characteristics known before procedure initiation. Follow-up data from 2184 carotid artery stenting and 2261 carotid endarterectomy patients from 4 randomized trials (EVA-3S [Endarterectomy Versus Angioplasty in Patients With Symptomatic Severe Carotid Stenosis], SPACE [Stent-Protected Angioplasty Versus Carotid Endarterectomy], ICSS [International Carotid Stenting Study], and CREST [Carotid Revascularization Endarterectomy Versus Stenting Trial]) were used to validate 23 short-term outcome models to estimate stroke or death risk ≤30 days after the procedure and the original outcome measure for which the model was developed. Additionally, we validated 7 long-term outcome models for the original outcome measure. Predictive performance of the models was assessed with C statistics and calibration plots.

Results—
Stroke or death ≤30 days after the procedure occurred in 158 (7.2%) patients after carotid artery stenting and in 84 (3.7%) patients after carotid endarterectomy. Most models for short-term outcome after carotid artery stenting (n=4) or carotid endarterectomy (n=19) had poor discriminative performance (C statistics ranging from 0.49–0.64) and poor calibration with small absolute risk differences between the lowest and highest risk groups and overestimation of risk in the highest risk groups. Long-term outcome models (n=7) had a slightly better performance with C statistics ranging from 0.59 to 0.67 and reasonable calibration.

Conclusions—
Current models did not reliably predict outcome after carotid revascularization in a trial population of patients with symptomatic carotid stenosis. In particular, prediction of short-term outcome seemed to be difficult. Further external validation of existing prediction models or development of new prediction models is needed before such models can be used to support treatment decisions in individual patients.
Trajectory Groups of 24-Hour Systolic Blood Pressure After Acute Ischemic Stroke and Recurrent Vascular Events
Authors: Kim Beom Joon , Cho Yong-Jin , Hong Keun-Sik , Lee Jun , Kim Joon-Tae , Choi Kang Ho , Park Tai Hwan , Park Sang-Soon , Park Jong-Moo , Kang Kyusik , Lee Soo Joo , Kim Jae Guk , Cha Jae-Kwan , Kim Dae-Hyun , Nah Hyun-Wook , Lee Byung-Chul , Yu Kyung-Ho , Oh Mi-Sun , Kim Dong-Eog , Ryu Wi-Sun , Choi Jay Chol , Kim Wook-Joo , Shin Dong-Ick , Yeo Min-Ju , Sohn Sung Il , Hong Jeong-Ho , Lee Ji Sung , Lee Juneyoung , Han Moon-Ku , Gorelick Philip B. , Bae Hee-Joon 
Published: July 2018

Background and Purpose—
Blood pressure dynamics in patients with acute ischemic stroke may serve as an important modifiable and prognostic factor.

Methods—
A total of 8376 patients with acute ischemic stroke were studied from a prospective multicenter registry. Patients were eligible if they had been admitted within 24 hours of symptom onset and had ≥5 systolic blood pressure (SBP) measurements during the first 24 hours of hospitalization. SBP trajectory groups in the first 24 hours were identified using the TRAJ procedure in SAS software with delta-Bayesian Information Criterion and prespecified modeling parameters. Vascular events, including recurrent stroke, myocardial infarction, and death, were prospectively collected. The risk of having vascular events was calculated using the frailty model to adjust for clustering by hospital.

Results—
The group-based trajectory model classified patients with acute ischemic stroke into 5 SBP trajectory groups: low (22.3%), moderate (40.8%), rapidly stabilized (11.9%), acutely elevated (18.5%), and persistently high (6.4%) SBP. The risk of having vascular events was increased in the acutely elevated (hazard ratio, 1.28 [95% confidence interval, 1.12–1.47]) and the persistently high SBP groups (hazard ratio, 1.67 [95% confidence interval, 1.37–2.04]) but not in the rapidly stabilized group (hazard ratio, 1.13 [95% confidence interval, 0.95–1.34]), when compared with the moderate SBP group.

Conclusions—
SBP during the first 24 hours after acute ischemic stroke may be categorized into distinct trajectory groups, which differ in relation to stroke characteristics and frequency of subsequent recurrent vascular event risks. The findings may help to recognize potential candidates for future blood pressure control trials.
Moment-Based Tests under Parameter Uncertainty
Authors: Bontemps Christian 
Published: July 2018

Abstract
This paper considers moment-based tests applied to estimated quantities. We propose a general class of transforms of moments to handle the parameter uncertainty problem. The construction requires only a linear correction that can be implemented in sample and remains valid for some extended families of nonsmooth moments. We reemphasize the attractiveness of working with robust moments, which lead to testing procedures that do not depend on the estimator. Furthermore, no correction is needed when considering the implied test statistic in the out-of-sample case. We apply our methodology to various examples with an emphasis on the backtesting of value-at-risk forecasts.
Equilibrium Effects of Health Care Price Information
Authors: Brown Zach Y. 
Published: July 2018

Abstract
Do information frictions in health care markets lead to higher prices and price dispersion? Focusing on medical imaging procedures, this paper examines the equilibrium effect of a unique statewide price transparency website. Price information leads to a shift to lower-cost providers, especially for patients subject to a deductible. Furthermore, supply-side effects play a significant role in the long run, benefiting all insured individuals. Supply-side effects reduce price dispersion and are especially relevant in concentrated markets. These effects are important given that high prices are thought to be a primary cause of high private health care spending.
Evaluation of Reanalyses over British Columbia. Part I: Daily and Extreme 2-m Temperature
Authors: Odon Pedro , West Gregory , Stull Roland 
Published: July 2018

AbstractWeather-station data coverage, quality, and completeness across British Columbia, Canada, degrade outside of population centers and as one goes back in time. This data paucity motivates the search for the best reanalysis to serve as a climatological reference dataset. This study focuses on how well reanalyses represent 2-m temperature (T2M). Systematic error, random error, and two-sample Kolmogorov–Smirnov statistics of daily maximum and minimum T2M are evaluated from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts interim reanalysis (ERA-Interim), the Climate Forecast System Reanalysis (CFSR), the Japanese 55-year Reanalysis (JRA-55), and the Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications, version 2 (MERRA-2). Also evaluated are the 2- and 30-yr return levels of T2M, which are estimated by the method of L moments from a fitted generalized extreme value (GEV) distribution. Reanalyses are compared with observations from 57 meteorological stations distributed over the complex terrain of British Columbia from 1980 to 2010. Minimum temperatures are better captured than maximum temperatures by all four reanalyses. JRA-55 and ERA-Interim generally perform better across all metrics. Biases are largely explained by poor reanalysis terrain representation. Statistical stationarity over the 30-yr period is assessed by using Gaussian and GEV distributions fitted with and without time-dependent parameters. It is determined that stationary distributions are sufficient to represent the climate of T2M for this region and time period.