bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Airflow limitation more than doubles the risk for hospitalization/mortality in patients with heart failure
Authors: Bugajski Andrew , Frazier Susan K , Moser Debra K , Chung Misook , Lennie Terry A 
Published: January 2019

Background: Comorbid chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is found in approximately one-third of patients with heart failure. Survival in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease generally decreases as lung function declines. However, the association between lung function, hospitalization and survival is less clear for patients with heart failure. Aim: The purpose of this study was to determine the predictive power of spirometry measures for event-free survival (combined all-cause hospitalization and/or mortality) in patients with heart failure. Methods: In this secondary analysis of data from three prospective, longitudinal studies, we selected patients with a confirmed diagnosis of heart failure who completed airflow limitation assessment using spirometry measures ( n=137): forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume/second, and forced expiratory volume/second/forced vital capacity. Cox proportional hazards modeling was used to determine the relationship between spirometry and all-cause hospitalization/mortality with and without adjusting for demographic and clinical covariates over a four-year follow-up period. Results: A majority (74%) exhibited some degree of airflow limitation (forced expiratory volume/second<80% predicted value) and 26 (19%) met the spirometric criterion for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (forced expiratory volume/second/forced vital capacity⩽0.70). Cox proportional hazards regression models compared all-cause hospitalization/mortality between those with and without airflow limitation. Patients with airflow limitation were 2.2 times more likely to be hospitalized or die compared to those without airflow limitations (hazard ratio: 2.20, 95% confidence interval 1.06–4.53, p=0.03). Conclusion: Patients with comorbid heart failure and airflow limitation were at more than double the risk for an event. Spirometric measures may be useful to patients with heart failure, as tailored management of airflow limitation may impact event-free survival.
Screw-Related Complications After Instrumentation of the Osteoporotic Spine: A Systematic Literature Review With Meta-Analysis
Authors: Rometsch Elke , Spruit Maarten , Zigler Jack E. , Menon Venugopal K. , Ouellet Jean A. , Mazel Christian , Härtl Roger , Espinoza Kathrin , Kandziora Frank 
Published: January 2019

Study Design: Systematic literature review with meta-analysis. Objective: Osteoporosis is common in elderly patients, who frequently suffer from spinal fractures or degenerative diseases and often require surgical treatment with spinal instrumentation. Diminished bone quality impairs primary screw purchase, which may lead to loosening and its sequelae, in the worst case, revision surgery. Information about the incidence of spinal instrumentation-related complications in osteoporotic patients is currently limited to individual reports. We conducted a systematic literature review with the aim of quantifying the incidence of screw loosening in osteoporotic spines. Methods: Publications on spinal instrumentation of osteoporotic patients reporting screw-related complications were identified in 3 databases. Data on screw loosening and other local complications was collected. Pooled risks of experiencing such complications were estimated with random effects models. Risk of bias in the individual studies was assessed with an adapted McHarm Scale. Results: From 1831 initial matches, 32 were eligible and 19 reported screw loosening rates. Studies were heterogeneous concerning procedures performed and risk of bias. Screw loosening incidences were variable with a pooled risk of 22.5% (95% CI 10.8%-36.6%, 95% prediction interval [PI] 0%-81.2%) in reports on nonaugmented screws and 2.2% (95% CI 0.0%-7.2%, 95% PI 0%-25.1%) in reports on augmented screws. Conclusions: The findings of this meta-analysis suggest that screw loosening incidences may be considerably higher in osteoporotic spines than with normal bone mineral density. Screw augmentation may reduce loosening rates; however, this requires confirmation through clinical studies. Standardized reporting of prespecified complications should be enforced by publishers.
Endovascular management of unruptured intercostal artery aneurysms
Authors: Fenwick Andrew , Omotoso Patrick , Ferguson Darren 
Published: January 2019

Abstract

Background
Intercostal artery aneurysms are rare vascular abnormalities that are typically diagnosed following rupture in patients with predisposing conditions. Our report is the first to document a patient with unruptured intercostal artery aneurysms in the absence of any associated disease.

Case presentation
A 70-year-old male with prostatic adenocarcinoma was incidentally discovered to have multiple unruptured aneurysms of his intercostal arteries. Three of the aneurysms were embolized utilizing microcoils and glue. At six-month follow-up the patient remained asymptomatic.

Conclusion
We demonstrate successful endovascular management of a unique case of multiple idiopathic unruptured intercostal artery aneurysms. Appropriate diagnosis and prompt treatment of these rare vascular lesions is essential in preventing the potentially catastrophic consequences of rupture.
Against the stream: early diagnosis of dementia, is it so desirable?
Authors: Brayne Carol , Kelly Sarah 
Published: January 2019

SummaryThe Prime Minister's challenge on dementia called for improved dementia diagnosis rates, based on assumptions of benefit to individuals and those who care for them. Subsequent policies have led to increased target drives for clinical practice to achieve early diagnosis of dementia through intense case identification. However, the current evidence base and treatment options do not support screening for dementia, and there is little empirical evidence that such intensive case identification and early diagnosis for dementia is justified without a better understanding of the benefits, costs and potential harms to individuals and services.Declaration of interestNone.
The association between frontal lobe perfusion and depressive symptoms in later life
Authors: Briggs Robert , Carey Daniel , Claffey Paul , McNicholas Triona , Newman Louise , Nolan Hugh , Kennelly Sean P. , Kenny Rose Anne 
Published: January 2019

BackgroundDeficits in frontal lobe perfusion have been demonstrated in late-life depression; however, studies to date have generally involved small numbers, used neuroimaging rather than bedside testing and have not controlled for important covariates.AimsWe aimed to examine the association between depressive symptoms and frontal lobe perfusion during standing, in a large cohort of community-dwelling older people.MethodParticipants aged ≥50 years underwent continuous measurement of orthostatic blood pressure by finometry, and frontal lobe perfusion by near-infrared spectroscopy. Depressive symptoms were assessed by the eight-item Centre for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale. Real-time frontal lobe cerebral oxygenation was measured by the Portalite System, detecting changes in frontal lobe perfusion and reporting a tissue saturation index score.ResultsAlmost 8% (209 out of 2616) had clinically significant depressive symptoms. Multilevel models demonstrated a significantly lower tissue saturation index in participants with depressive symptoms at both 60 and 90 s post-stand, with coefficients of −0.43 (95% CI −0.63 to −0.22) and −0.37 (95% CI −0.57 to −0.16), respectively. Controlling for relevant covariates did not significantly attenuate these associations. After addition of systolic blood pressure this association was no longer significant, suggesting lower blood pressure may modify this relationship.ConclusionsThis study demonstrates that lower frontal lobe perfusion, related to lower values of baseline systolic blood pressure, is associated with clinically significant depressive symptoms in a cohort of community-dwelling older people. Given the recognised longitudinal association between lower blood pressure and depression in older people, this may represent a potential therapeutic target for prevention of incident depression.Declaration of interestNone.
Functional Repair Assay for the Diagnosis of Constitutional Mismatch Repair Deficiency From Non-Neoplastic Tissue
Authors: Shuen Andrew Y. , Lanni Stella , Panigrahi Gagan B. , Edwards Melissa , Yu Lisa , Campbell Brittany B. , Mandel Ariane , Zhang Cindy , Zhukova Nataliya , Alharbi Musa , Bernstein Mark , Bowers Daniel C. , Carroll Sara , Cole Kristina A. , Constantini Shlomi , Crooks Bruce , Dvir Rina , Farah Roula , Hijiya Nobuko , George Ben , Laetsch Theodore W. , Larouche Valerie , Lindhorst Scott , Luiten Rebecca C. , Magimairajan Vanan , Mason Gary , Mason Warren , Mordechai Oz , Mushtaq Naureen , Nicholas Garth , Oren Michael , Palma Laura , Pedroza Luis Alberto , Ramdas Jagadeesh , Samuel David , Wolfe Schneider Kami , Seeley Andrea , Semotiuk Kara , Shamvil Ashraf , Sumerauer David , Toledano Helen , Tomboc Patrick , Wierman Margaret , Van Damme An , Lee Yi-Yen , Zapotocky Michal , Bouffet Eric , Durno Carol , Aronson Melyssa , Gallinger Steve , Foulkes William D. , Malkin David , Tabori Uri , Pearson Christopher E. 
Published: January 2019

Purpose Constitutional mismatch repair deficiency (CMMRD) is a highly penetrant cancer predisposition syndrome caused by biallelic mutations in mismatch repair (MMR) genes. As several cancer syndromes are clinically similar, accurate diagnosis is critical to cancer screening and treatment. As genetic diagnosis is confounded by 15 or more pseudogenes and variants of uncertain significance, a robust diagnostic assay is urgently needed. We sought to determine whether an assay that directly measures MMR activity could accurately diagnose CMMRD. Patients and Methods In vitro MMR activity was quantified using a 3′-nicked G-T mismatched DNA substrate, which requires MSH2-MSH6 and MLH1-PMS2 for repair. We quantified MMR activity from 20 Epstein-Barr virus–transformed lymphoblastoid cell lines from patients with confirmed CMMRD. We also tested 20 lymphoblastoid cell lines from patients who were suspected for CMMRD. We also characterized MMR activity from patients with neurofibromatosis type 1, Li-Fraumeni syndrome, polymerase proofreading-associated cancer syndrome, and Lynch syndrome. Results All CMMRD cell lines had low MMR activity (n = 20; mean, 4.14 ± 1.56%) relative to controls (n = 6; mean, 44.00 ± 8.65%; P < .001). Repair was restored by complementation with the missing protein, which confirmed MMR deficiency. All cases of patients with suspected CMMRD were accurately diagnosed. Individuals with Lynch syndrome (n = 28), neurofibromatosis type 1 (n = 5), Li-Fraumeni syndrome (n = 5), and polymerase proofreading-associated cancer syndrome (n = 3) had MMR activity that was comparable to controls. To accelerate testing, we measured MMR activity directly from fresh lymphocytes, which yielded results in 8 days. Conclusion On the basis of the current data set, the in vitro G-T repair assay was able to diagnose CMMRD with 100% specificity and sensitivity. Rapid diagnosis before surgery in non-neoplastic tissues could speed proper therapeutic management.
The clinical value of imaging in primary cutaneous lymphomas: Role of high resolution ultrasound and PET-CT
Authors: Mandava Anitha , Koppula Veeraiah , Wortsman Ximena , Catalano Orlando , Alfageme Fernando 
Published: January 2019

Background:
Primary cutaneous lymphoma is a rare extranodal non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma confined to the skin. The data on the imaging findings of primary cutaneous lymphomas are largely lacking and the current diagnosis is based on clinical and histopathological examination. With the advances in dermatological ultrasound and molecular imaging, newer perspectives in the evaluation of cutaneous lymphomas are available.

Objective:
To review and describe the imaging findings in patient’s with the diagnosis of primary cutaneous lymphoma.

Methods:
A multicentric, retrospective observational study was undertaken in four countries to review the high resolution ultrasonography (HRUS) and fluorine 18-fludeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) imaging findings.

Results:
We had 41 patients, Female:Male 1:4.1; mean age, 57 years; range, 13–94 years. High resolution ultrasonography of the primary cutaneous lesions revealed thickening of the dermis in all the cases and the lesions were hypoechoic without any calcifications or central necrosis. The sonographic appearances of the lesions were categorised into focal infiltrative, nodular, pseudonodular, and diffusely infiltrative patterns. Nodular and pseudonodular lesions were predominant in B cell lymphomas, while diffusely infiltrative lesions were more common in T-cell lymphomas. On colour Doppler imaging, the lesions were hypervascular. Whole body 18F-fludeoxyglucose PET–CT imaging of the patients revealed increased uptake of the metabolite in the lesions.

Conclusion:
Sonographic patterns based on high resolution ultrasonography provide early clues to the non-invasive diagnosis of primary cutaneous lymphomas and PET-CT is the recommended modality of imaging for staging and follow-up.

Advances in knowledge:
High resolution ultrasound with colour Doppler and PET-CT imaging are complimentary to the clinical diagnosis of primary cutaneous lymphomas.
First-trimester fasting plasma glucose as a predictor of gestational diabetes mellitus and the association with adverse pregnancy outcomes
Authors: LI Ping , Lin Shuo , Li Ling , Cui Jinhui , Zhou Shuisheng , Fan Jianhui 
Published: January 2019

Objective: To evaluate the usefulness of a fasting plasma glucose (FPG) at the first trimester in predicting gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and the association between FPG and adverse pregnancy outcomes.
Methods: The levels of FPG in women with singleton pregnancies were measured at 9-13+6 weeks. A two hour 75-g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was completed at 24-28 weeks and the International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups (IADPSG) criteria was used. Adverse pregnancy outcomes were assessed and recorded.
Results: Among 2112 pregnant women enrolled in the study, 224 (10.6%) subjects were diagnosed with GDM. The AUC for FPG in predicting GDM was 0.63 (95% CI 0.61- 0.65) and the optimal cutoff value was 4.5 mmol/L (sensitivity 64.29% and specificity 56.45%). Higher first-trimester FPG increased the prevalence of GDM, large for gestational age (LGA) and assisted vaginal delivery and/or cesarean section (all P < 0.05).
Conclusion: FPG at first trimester could be used to predict GDM and higher first-trimester FPG was associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes.
How to cite this:Li P, Lin S, Li L, Cui J, Zhou S, Fan J. First-trimester fasting plasma glucose as a predictor of gestational diabetes mellitus and the association with adverse pregnancy outcomes. Pak J Med Sci. 2019;35(1):95-100. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.35.1.216
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Current concepts in osteogenesis imperfecta: Bone structure, biomechanics and medical management
Authors: Nijhuis W. H. , Eastwood D. M. , Allgrove J. , Hvid I. , Weinans H. H. , Bank R. A. , Sakkers R. J. 
Published: January 2019

The majority of patients with osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) have mutations in the COL1A1 or COL1A2 gene, which has consequences for the composition of the bone matrix and bone architecture. The mutations result in overmodified collagen molecules, thinner collagen fibres and hypermineralization of bone tissue at a bone matrix level. Trabecular bone in OI is characterized by a lower trabecular number and connectivity as well as a lower trabecular thickness and volumetric bone mass. Cortical bone shows a decreased cortical thickness with less mechanical anisotropy and an increased pore percentage as a result of increased osteocyte lacunae and vascular porosity. Most OI patients have mutations at different locations in the COL1 gene. Disease severity in OI is probably partly determined by the nature of the primary collagen defect and its location with respect to the C-terminus of the collagen protein. The overall bone biomechanics result in a relatively weak and brittle structure. Since this is a result of all of the above-mentioned factors as well as their interactions, there is considerable variation between patients, and accurate prediction on bone strength in the individual patient with OI is difficult. Current treatment of OI focuses on adequate vitamin-D levels and interventions in the bone turnover cycle with bisphosphonates. Bisphosphonates increase bone mineral density, but the evidence on improvement of clinical status remains limited. Effects of newer drugs such as antibodies against RANKL and sclerostin are currently under investigation. This paper was written under the guidance of the Study Group Genetics and Metabolic Diseases of the European Paediatric Orthopaedic Society.
The effect of hypercaloric diet and Quercetin on the full-transcriptome liver tissue profile of Zucker-LEPRfa rats
Authors: Trusov Nikita V. , Apryatin Sergey A. , Gorbachev Aleksey Yu. , Naumov Vladimir A. , Mzhelskaya Kristina V. , Gmoshinski Ivan V. 
Published: January 2019

BACKGROUND: The peptidic hormone leptin (Lep) occupies a central place in the control of energy homeostasis and body weight in mammals. A convenient model for studying the role of impaired Lep reception is the Zucker-LEPRfa rats, which carry a mutation in the homozygote of the LEPR gene. Quercetin (Q; 3.3 ‘, 4’, 5.7-pentahydroxyflavone) is currently being considered as one of the promising biologically active substances, which allows to correct metabolic disorders in obesity and metabolic syndrome.
AIM: to study changes in the expression of genes in liver tissue of rats with impaired receptivity of Lep under the influence of high-fat and high-carbohydrate diet (HFCR) or/and Q supplementation.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: 4 groups of six male Zucker-LEPRfa male rats were used in experiment. Within 61 days the animals of the 1st group (control) received a balanced semi-synthetic diet, the second group received the same diet with the addition of quercetin in a dose of 50 mg/kg of body weight, the third group — the HFCR (30% fat by dry weight and 20% fructose instead of water), the 4th group is the same diet and supplement of quercetin. Full transcriptional profiling of liver tissue was performed on microchips from the Gene Expression Hybridization Kit (Agilent Technologies), a real-time polymerase chain reaction combined with reverse transcription (RT-PCR) was performed for liver transcripts of Crot, FTO, NpY, Prdx1, Prom1, Ugt2b37 and GAPDH genes contained in liver tissue.
RESULTS: It was shown that feeding of Zucker-LEPRfa rats with Q and/or HFCR led to significant changes in the level of transcription of 1604 genes in liver tissue, from which the effect of quercetin proper was manifested for 1396 genes. Changes were more pronounced in the transcriptome of liver tissue caused by HFCR, than caused by the addition of Q against the background of a standard diet. Q influenced the expression of genes responsible for xenobiotic detoxification processes (UGT2b37), redox homeostasis (Prdx1), beta-oxidation of fatty acids (Crot), and central mechanisms affecting hunger and satiety (NpY), and potentiated, or abolished the effects of HFCR against a number of other functionally important genes. Bioinformatic analysis revealed the influence of HFCR and/or Q on 23 metabolic pathways (KEGGS), of which 7 (the metabolism of steroids, arachidonic and linoleic acids, retinoids, drugs and xenobiotics (due to cytochrome P-450), bile secretion) were affected in all experimental groups.
CONCLUSIONS: Changes in the transcriptome of the liver of Zucker-LEPRfa rats, caused by consumption of HFCR and/or Q, were consistent with experimental data on changes in short-term memory, anxiety and mineral metabolism in these animals.
Planning repetitive construction projects considering technological constraints
Authors: Radziszewska-Zielina Elżbieta , Sroka Bartłomiej 
Published: January 2019

AbstractRecently, there has been a growing number of construction projects that require more than one structure to be built - repetitive construction projects. These repetitive construction projects are characterized by a high degree of complexity both in terms of organisational and technological dependencies. A method is needed that will flexibly take into account the technological constraints that occur during the carrying out of repetitive construction projects. The article presents a method of priority scheduling that takes into account technological pauses that can prove useful in the planning of repetitive construction projects. The planner (usually a construction site manager) will be able to model the technological constraints occurring on the construction site in a more flexible way. The article also presents a calculation example in which the application of the developed model has been presented. The developed model proved to be effective in scheduling repetitive construction projects, taking into account technological constraints.
The Specific Features of High-Velocity Magnetic Fluid Sealing Complexes
Authors: Radionov Aleksander , Podoltsev Aleksander , Peczkis Grzegorz 
Published: January 2019

Abstract
Studies on the impact of magnetic and centrifugal forces in hermetic magnetic-liquid seals were presented. The results of numerical calculations on the decrease of the impact of the centrifugal force through the use of magnetic flux concentrators on a rotating shaftwere shown. It has been demonstrated that there is a greater possibility for the use of hermetic magnetic-liquid seals in axially symmetrical clearances in gas-steam separation for coke gases.
Vertical ionospheric delay estimation for single-receiver operation
Authors: Elsayed Ahmed , Sedeek Ahmed , Doma Mohamed , Rabah Mostafa 
Published: January 2019

Abstract
An apparent delay is occurred in GPS signal due to both refraction and diffraction caused by the atmosphere. The second region of the atmosphere is the ionosphere. The ionosphere is significantly related to GPS and the refraction it causes in GPS signal is considered one of the main source of errors which must be eliminated to determine accurate positions. GPS receiver networks have been used for monitoring the ionosphere for a long time.
The ionospheric delay is the most predominant of all the error sources. This delay is a function of the total electron content (TEC). Because of the dispersive nature of the ionosphere, one can estimate the ionospheric delay using the dual frequency GPS.
In the current research our primary goal is applying Precise Point Positioning (PPP) observation for accurate ionosphere error modeling, by estimating Ionosphere delay using carrier phase observations from dual frequency GPS receiver. The proposed algorithm was written using MATLAB and was named VIDE program.
The proposed Algorithm depends on the geometry-free carrier-phase observations after detecting cycle slip to estimates the ionospheric delay using a spherical ionospheric shell model, in which the vertical delays are described by means of a zenith delay at the station position and latitudinal and longitudinal gradients.
Geometry-free carrier-phase observations were applied to avoid unwanted effects of pseudorange measurements, such as code multipath. The ionospheric estimation in this algorithm is performed by means of sequential least-squares adjustment.
Finally, an adaptable user interface MATLAB software are capable of estimating ionosphere delay, ambiguity term and ionosphere gradient accurately.