bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Carotid Intima-Media Thickness and Silent Brain Infarctions in a Biracial Cohort: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study
Authors: Caughey Melissa C , Qiao Ye , Windham Beverly Gwen , Gottesman Rebecca F , Mosley Thomas H , Wasserman Bruce A 
Published: February 2018

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Both hypertensive and atherosclerotic processes contribute to common carotid artery intima-media thickness (CCA-IMT). Elevated CCA-IMT may be indicative of subclinical cerebrovascular disease; however, its role in the absence of concomitant carotid artery plaque is uncertain, and few studies have examined associations in Black populations.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
At cohort visit 3 (1993–1995) a subset of stroke-free participants (641 Blacks and 702 Whites, mean age 63) from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study was imaged by brain MRI and carotid ultrasound. A CCA-IMT &gt;0.9 mm was considered elevated. Asymptomatic brain lesions ≥3 mm were considered silent brain infarctions (SBI). Subcortical SBI measuring 3 to &lt;20 mm were considered lacunes. Associations between elevated CCA-IMT and SBI were analyzed with Poisson regression.

RESULTS
Elevated CCA-IMT was identified in 168 participants (16% of Blacks, 10% of Whites), and SBI were observed in 156 (15% of Blacks, 8% of Whites). Elevated CCA-IMT was strongly related to anterior circulation SBI, posterior circulation SBI, and lacunes. After adjustments, elevated CCA-IMT remained associated with greater number of lacunes in Blacks ([prevalence ratio, PR] = 1.60; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.02–2.51), but not Whites (PR = 0.85; 95% CI: 0.35–2.04); P value for interaction = 0.12. Among Black participants without concomitant carotid plaque, elevated CCA-IMT was associated with twice the number of lacunes (PR = 2.00; 95% CI: 1.05–3.82).

CONCLUSIONS
In older Black adults, elevated CCA-IMT is independently associated with lipohyalinosis of the cerebral small vessels, irrespective of concomitant carotid plaque and vascular risk factors.
Influence of Long-Term Salt Diets on Cardiac Ca2+ Handling and Contractility Proteins in Hypertensive Rats
Authors: Berger Rebeca Caldeira Machado , Benetti Acaris , Girardi Adriana Castello Costa , Forechi Ludimila , de Oliveira Rafaella Martins , Vassallo Paula Frizera , Mill José Geraldo 
Published: February 2018

Abstract

BACKGROUND
High sodium intake contributes to the pathogenesis of hypertension and adversely affects cardiac function. Conversely, sodium reduction is associated with a blood pressure decrease and improved cardiovascular function. However, the mechanisms that underlie the cardiac effects induced by salt intake in hypertension have not been fully elucidated. Ca2+ handling is critical for efficient myocardial function; thus, we aimed to investigate the long-term effects of diets with different salt contents on cardiac function and Ca2+ handling proteins in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs).

METHODS
Cardiac function was evaluated by catheterization. Ca2+ handling and contractile proteins were evaluated by immunoblotting in hearts from SHRs fed for 6 months with diets containing high (HS, 3%), low (LS, 0.03%), or normal salt content (NS, 0.3%). Diets were introduced immediately after weaning. Tail cuff pletismography was assessed at the 3rd and 7th months of follow-up.

RESULTS
Compared to the NS group, the HS group exhibited worsened hypertension, increased cardiac expression of β-myosin heavy chain (MHC), a decreased α/β-MHC ratio and reduced expression of both phospholamban (PLB) and Na+/Ca2+ exchanger (NCX). LS intake attenuated the blood pressure increase and left ventricle hypertrophy, slightly decreased the cardiac contractility and relaxation index, and increased the α/β-MHC ratio. These effects were accompanied by increased cardiac PLB expression and decreased Ca2+ L-type channel and NCX expression.

CONCLUSIONS
These findings indicate that the modulation of Ca2+ handling may be one of the molecular mechanisms underlying the effect of salt intake on myocardial function in hypertension.
The EDGE–CALIFA survey: validating stellar dynamical mass models with CO kinematics
Authors: Leung Gigi Y C , Leaman Ryan , van de Ven Glenn , Lyubenova Mariya , Zhu Ling , Bolatto Alberto D , Falcón-Barroso Jesus , Blitz Leo , Dannerbauer Helmut , Fisher David B , Levy Rebecca C , Sanchez Sebastian F , Utomo Dyas , Vogel Stuart , Wong Tony , Ziegler Bodo 
Published: February 2018

Abstract
Deriving circular velocities of galaxies from stellar kinematics can provide an estimate of their total dynamical mass, provided a contribution from the velocity dispersion of the stars is taken into account. Molecular gas (e.g. CO), on the other hand, is a dynamically cold tracer and hence acts as an independent circular velocity estimate without needing such a correction. In this paper, we test the underlying assumptions of three commonly used dynamical models, deriving circular velocities from stellar kinematics of 54 galaxies (S0-Sd) that have observations of both stellar kinematics from the Calar Alto Legacy Integral Field Area (CALIFA) survey, and CO kinematics from the Extragalactic Database for Galaxy Evolution (EDGE) survey. We test the asymmetric drift correction (ADC) method, as well as Jeans, and Schwarzschild models. The three methods each reproduce the CO circular velocity at 1Re to within 10 per cent. All three methods show larger scatter (up to 20 per cent) in the inner regions (R < 0.4Re) that may be due to an increasingly spherical mass distribution (which is not captured by the thin disc assumption in ADC), or non-constant stellar M/L ratios (for both the JAM and Schwarzschild models). This homogeneous analysis of stellar and gaseous kinematics validates that all three models can recover Mdyn at 1Re to better than 20 per cent, but users should be mindful of scatter in the inner regions where some assumptions may break down.
Opioid Use During Pregnancy, Observations of Opioid Use, and Secular Trend From 2006 to 2014 at HealthPartners Medical Group
Authors: Elliott Thomas E. , Frail Caitlin K. , Pawloski Pamala A. , Thomas Avis J. , Werner Ann M. , Rossom Rebecca C. 
Published: February 2018

Objectives:
To determine the prevalence of opioid use before, during, and after pregnancy and describe its use based on patient-specific characteristics. Determine secular trend of opioid use 2006 to 2014.

Materials and Methods:
Retrospective cohort study. A large Upper Midwest integrated health care system and insurer. Female individuals age 10 to 50 years with a delivery diagnosis from July 1, 2006 through June 30, 2014. Main outcome measure: prevalence of opioid use before, during, and after pregnancy; description of opioid use during these time periods.

Results:
From 11,565 deliveries among 9690 unique women, 862 (7.5%) deliveries were associated with significant opioid use. Significant opioid use was associated with single marital status, Cesarean section, Medicaid coverage, tobacco use, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, substance use disorder, nonopioid analgesic use, and referral to physical therapy, psychotherapy, or pain specialists. From 2006 to 2014 opioid use decreased from 9% to 6% before, during, and after pregnancy with a rate of change per year of −0.2%.

Discussion:
Known risk factors including tobacco and alcohol use, mental health diagnoses, substance use disorder, or Medicaid enrollment may enable enhanced assessments and targeted interventions to reduce unnecessary prescribing and use of opioids among pregnant women and those who might become pregnant. Strategies to decrease opioid use during pregnancy should be considered by health care systems and health plans to reduce opioid prescribing in this patient population.
Relationship Between Sever Disease and Skeletal Maturity
Authors: Duong Mindy M. , Nicholson Allen D. , Li Samuel Q. , Gilmore Allison , Cooperman Daniel R. , Liu Raymond W. 
Published: February 2018

Background:
Sever disease is a common condition in active, growing children. This condition presents as pain in the heel and is thought to be an overuse condition of the calcaneal apophysis. There are currently no defined radiographic diagnostic criteria for evaluation of Sever disease, with radiographs generally showing normal appearance of the calcaneal apophysis. A better understanding of the relationship of Sever disease and skeletal maturity may allow for improved interpretation of radiographs when trying to diagnose this condition.

Methods:
ICD-9 code 732.5 was used to search for patients diagnosed with Sever disease from 2007 to 2015 at a single hospital. For every patient with Sever disease with available calcaneal imaging within 40 days of diagnosis, heel x-rays were staged for calcaneal maturity score using a previously described calcaneal skeletal maturity assessment system. Controls matched by age, race, and sex were evaluated for calcaneal stage to compare with the Sever patients.

Results:
The chart review yielded 78 patients diagnosed with Sever disease by the orthopaedic attending, 39 of which have x-rays around the time of diagnosis. Calcaneal scores averaged 2.2±0.8 for all patients, 2.1±0.9 for male individuals, and 2.3±0.8 for female individuals. The average age for male individuals was 10.4±1.9 years and for female individuals, 9.2±2.2 years. The ages of diagnosis were similar for patients with and without x-rays. Twenty-two of 39 patients with Sever disease were calcaneal stage 2, and 37 of 39 were stages 1, 2, or 3. We calculated the absolute difference from stage 2 for the Sever and control groups. Mean difference from stage 2 was 0.51±0.68 for the Sever patients and 0.95±0.79 for control patients (P=0.01).

Conclusion:
Sever disease occurs in a very narrow range of skeletal maturity, as measured by the calcaneal skeletal maturity assessment system and our observations with chronological age. When compared with age-matched and race-matched controls, stage 2 was seen more frequently in the Sever patients. If a child is not within calcaneal stages 1, 2, or 3, then a different diagnosis should be considered.

Level of Evidence:
Level III—retrospective case-control study.
Reporting of Sepsis Cases for Performance Measurement Versus for Reimbursement in New York State*
Authors: Prescott Hallie C. , Cope Tara M. , Gesten Foster C. , Ledneva Tatiana A. , Friedrich Marcus E. , Iwashyna Theodore J. , Osborn Tiffany M. , Seymour Christopher W. , Levy Mitchell M. 
Published: February 2018

Objectives:
Under “Rory’s Regulations,” New York State Article 28 acute care hospitals were mandated to implement sepsis protocols and report patient-level data. This study sought to determine how well cases reported under state mandate align with discharge records in a statewide administrative database.

Design:
Observational cohort study.

Setting:
First 27 months of mandated sepsis reporting (April 1, 2014, to June 30, 2016).

Patients:
Hospitalizations with sepsis at New York State Article 28 acute care hospitals.

Intervention:
Sepsis regulations with mandated reporting.

Measurements and Main Results:
We compared cases reported to the New York State Department of Health Sepsis Clinical Database with discharge records in the Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System database. We classified discharges as 1) “coded sepsis discharges”—a diagnosis code for severe sepsis or septic shock and 2) “possible sepsis discharges,” using Dombrovskiy and Angus criteria. Of 111,816 sepsis cases reported to the New York State Department of Health Sepsis Clinical Database, 105,722 (94.5%) were matched to discharge records in Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System. The percentage of coded sepsis discharges reported increased from 67.5% in the first quarter to 81.3% in the final quarter of the study period (mean, 77.7%). Accounting for unmatched cases, as many as 82.7% of coded sepsis discharges were potentially reported, whereas at least 17.3% were unreported. Compared with unreported discharges, reported discharges had higher rates of acute organ dysfunction (e.g., cardiovascular dysfunction 63.0% vs 51.8%; p < 0.001) and higher in-hospital mortality (30.2% vs 26.1%; p < 0.001). Hospital characteristics (e.g., number of beds, teaching status, volume of sepsis cases) were similar between hospitals with a higher versus lower percent of discharges reported, p values greater than 0.05 for all. Hospitals’ percent of discharges reported was not correlated with risk-adjusted mortality of their submitted cases (Pearson correlation coefficient 0.11; p = 0.17).

Conclusions:
Approximately four of five discharges with a diagnosis code of severe sepsis or septic shock in the Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System data were reported in the New York State Department of Health Sepsis Clinical Database. Incomplete reporting appears to be driven more by underrecognition than attempts to game the system, with minimal bias to risk-adjusted hospital performance measurement.
Zika virus: a public health perspective
Authors: Chakhtoura Nahida , Hazra Rohan , Spong Catherine Y. 
Published: February 2018

Purpose of review
Zika virus’ impact on pregnancy became widely known in 2015 with a dramatic increase in the number of babies born with microcephaly in Recife, Brazil. A mosquito-borne virus resulting in congenital anomalies is unique, and Zika's ability to cause neurological defects on a large scale was a grim reminder of the Rubella epidemic in the 1950s. Over the past 2 years, studies have provided insight on how Zika virus (ZIKV) infects cells and causes disease, but much remains unknown about the long-term risks of Zika exposure on infant growth and development.

Recent findings
The impact of ZIKV on pregnancy extends beyond microcephaly and may only first be identified in infancy. The virus has a long latency in semen and can be transmitted sexually. Transplacental passage occurs through infection of Hofbauer cells in the trophoblast. A major difficulty in management of ZIKV disease is that most infections are asymptomatic and the diagnostic methods are not ideal, making both diagnosis and ascertainment of timing of infection problematic. Several different types of vaccines are in development. Large studies are ongoing to determine the risk and total spectrum of anomalies based on the timing of infection and other environmental exposures.

Summary
This review will summarize the epidemic, what we have learned, what we hope to learn, and current recommendations for care and management.
Photochemically Induced Crosslinking of Tarsal Collagen as a Treatment for Eyelid Laxity: Assessing Potentiality in Animal Tissue
Authors: Smith Tai M. , Suzuki Shuko , Cronin Brendan G. , Haghighatpanah Mohammadreza , Petcu Eugen B. , Philippa Christopher J. , Chirila Traian V. 
Published: February 2018

Purpose:
An experimental study to demonstrate in animal eyelids that the controlled exposure of excised tarsal plate to ultraviolet-A radiation can induce a rigidification effect due to photochemical crosslinking of the constitutive collagen.

Methods:
Excised strips of sheep tarsus were irradiated with ultraviolet-A rays (wavelength 365 nm) at low and high irradiances, in the presence of riboflavin as a photosensitizer, using radiation sources available for corneal collagen crosslinking procedure. The tensile strength and Young’s modulus (stiffness) of irradiated and control samples were measured in a mechanical tester and analyzed statistically. Histologic examination of the specimens was carried out to evaluate the effect of radiation on the meibomian glands and collagen organization.

Results:
Mechanical evaluation showed that irradiation induced both stiffening and strengthening of the tarsal plate specimens, and this effect was enhanced at the higher levels of irradiance. The changes in mechanical properties can be attributed to a process of photochemically induced crosslinking of tarsal collagen. Histology revealed no changes in the meibomian glands or in the fibrous collagen system of the tarsus.

Conclusions:
These findings indicate that irradiation of tarsal collagen leading to tissue stiffening could be a safe procedure for treating lax eyelid conditions in human patients.
Combining eastern and western practices for safe and effective endoscopic resection of large complex colorectal lesions
Authors: Emmanuel Andrew , Gulati Shraddha , Burt Margaret , Hayee Bu’Hussain , Haji Amyn 
Published: February 2018

Background
Endoscopic resection of large colorectal polyps is well established. However, significant differences in technique exist between eastern and western interventional endoscopists. We report the results of endoscopic resection of large complex colorectal lesions from a specialist unit that combines eastern and western techniques for assessment and resection.

Patients and methods
Endoscopic resections of colorectal lesions of at least 2 cm were included. Lesions were assessed using magnification chromoendoscopy supplemented by colonoscopic ultrasound in selected cases. A lesion-specific approach to resection with endoscopic mucosal resection or endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) was used. Surveillance endoscopy was performed at 3 (SC1) and 12 (SC2) months.

Results
Four hundred and sixty-six large (≥20 mm) colorectal lesions (mean size 54.8 mm) were resected. Three hundread and fifty-six were resected using endoscopic mucosal resection and 110 by ESD or hybrid ESD. Fifty-one percent of lesions had been subjected to previous failed attempts at resection or heavy manipulation (≥6 biopsies). Nevertheless, endoscopic resection was deemed successful after an initial attempt in 98%. Recurrence occurred in 15% and could be treated with endoscopic resection in most. Only two patients required surgery for perforation. Nine patients had postprocedure bleeding; only two required endoscopic clips. Ninety-six percent of patients without invasive cancer were free from recurrence and had avoided surgery at last follow-up.

Conclusion
Combining eastern and western practices for assessment and resection results in safe and effective organ-conserving treatment of complex colorectal lesions. Accurate assessment before and after resection using magnification chromoendoscopy and a lesion-specific approach to resection, incorporating ESD where appropriate, are important factors in achieving these results.
Assessing Variation in Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator Therapy Guideline Adherence With Physician and Hospital Patient-sharing Networks
Authors: Moen Erika L. , Bynum Julie P. , Austin Andrea M. , Skinner Jonathan S. , Chakraborti Gouri , O’Malley Alistair James 
Published: February 2018

Background:
Implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) therapy is used for primary prevention of death among people with heart failure, and new evidence in 2005 on its effectiveness changed practice guidelines in the United States.

Objectives:
The objective of this study is to examine how the connectedness of physicians and hospitals, measured using network analysis, relates to guideline-consistent ICD implantation.

Research Design:
We constructed physician and hospital networks for cardiovascular disease. Physicians were linked if they shared cardiovascular disease patients; these links were aggregated by hospital affiliation to construct a hospital network.

Subjects:
Medicare beneficiaries who underwent ICD therapy for primary prevention from 2007 to 2011.

Measures:
The clinical outcome of interest was guideline-consistent ICD implantation, calculated using the National Cardiovascular Data Registry. The exposure variables of interest were the network measures of the ICD surgeon, the referring hospital, and the hospital where the ICD surgery occurred.

Results:
We focused on patients who were referred between hospitals for ICD implantation because they were more likely influenced by the hospital network (n=28,179). Patients were less likely to meet guidelines if their referring hospital had more connections to other hospitals (OR, 0.49; 95% confidence interval, 0.25–0.96) and more likely to meet guidelines if their ICD surgery hospital had more connections (OR, 1.61; 95% confidence interval, 0.98–2.64). The ICD surgeon’s network measures were not associated with guideline-consistent implantation.

Conclusions:
Associations between the hospital network measures and guideline adherence suggests new approaches to better disseminate clinical guidelines across health systems.
The child health exposure analysis resource as a vehicle to measure environment in the environmental influences on child health outcomes program
Authors: Wright Robert O. , Teitelbaum Susan , Thompson Claudia , Balshaw David 
Published: February 2018

Purpose of review
Demonstrate the role of environment as a predictor of child health.

Recent findings
The children's health exposure analysis resource (CHEAR) assists the Environmental influences on child health outcomes (ECHO) program in understanding the time sensitive and dynamic nature of perinatal and childhood environment on developmental trajectories by providing a central infrastructure for the analysis of biological samples from the ECHO cohort awards. CHEAR will assist ECHO cohorts in defining the critical or sensitive period for effects associated with environmental exposures. Effective incorporation of these principles into multiple existing cohorts requires extensive multidisciplinary expertise, creativity, and flexibility. The pursuit of life course – informed research within the CHEAR/ECHO structure represents a shift in focus from single exposure inquiries to one that addresses multiple environmental risk factors linked through shared vulnerabilities. CHEAR provides ECHO both targeted analyses of inorganic and organic toxicants, nutrients, and social-stress markers and untargeted analyses to assess the exposome and discovery of exposure-outcome relationships.

Summary
Utilization of CHEAR as a single site for characterization of environmental exposures within the ECHO cohorts will not only support the investigation of the influence of environment on children's health but also support the harmonization of data across the disparate cohorts that comprise ECHO.
Relationship of Spinal Cord Injury Level and Duration to Peak Aerobic Capacity With Arms-Only and Hybrid Functional Electrical Stimulation Rowing
Authors: Shaffer Rebecca F. , Picard Glen , Taylor J. Andrew 
Published: February 2018

Objective
The aim of the study was to assess the relationship of spinal cord injury level and duration to peak aerobic capacities during arms-only rowing compared with hybrid Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES)-rowing.

Design
Comparison of peak aerobic capacity (VO2), peak ventilation, peak respiratory exchange ratio, and peak heart rate were measured during arms-only rowing and FES-rowing obtained from graded exercise tests.

Results
Peak aerobic values were strongly related to injury level and injury duration for both arms-only rowing (r = 0.67, P < 0.05) and FES-rowing (r = 0.61, P < 0.05). Peak aerobic capacities were greater across all injury levels and durations with FES-rowing compared with arms-only rowing. Differences in VO2 were inversely related to injury level (r = 0.55, P < 0.05) with greater increases in VO2 in higher level injuries. Injury durations of less than 2 yrs had greater percent increases in VO2 with FES-rowing.

Conclusions
FES-rowing acutely post injury may have the greatest effect to maintain function and improve VO2. This impact seems to be greatest in those with higher level injuries.