bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Relationship between serum uric acid and clustering of cardiovascular disease risk factors and renal disorders among Shanghai population: a multicentre and cross-sectional study
Authors: Tao Min , Pi Xiaoling , Ma Xiaoyan , Shi Yingfeng , Zhang Yuzhen , Gu Hongwei , Chi Yongbin , Zhuang Shougang , Liu Na 
Published: March 2019

ObjectivesTo estimate the current prevalence of cardiovascular disease risk factors (CRFs) and renal disorders across serum uric acid (SUA) quartiles, and evaluate the relationships between SUA and CRFs and renal diseases in Shanghai population.Study designObservational, cross-sectional study.SettingData were obtained from the physical check-up of local residents at three hospitals in Shanghai.ParticipantsResidents were invited to take part in a physical check-up and provided informed consent. Exclusion criteria were diseases that resemble cancer, hepatic disease, and other coexisting illnesses including autoimmune kidney diseases and renal artery stenosis, individuals treated with xanthine oxidase inhibitors, and those with incomplete information. There are 26 768 individuals in our study.Primary and secondary outcome measuresHyperuricaemia was defined as SUA ≥7 mg/dL in men and ≥6 mg/dL in women or taking xanthine oxidase inhibitors. Subjects were divided into gender-specific quartiles. We estimate the prevalence of CRFs and renal disorders across SUA quartiles. The relationships between SUA and CRFs and renal disorders in both genders were evaluated using logistic regression analysis.ResultsThere was a significant increase in the prevalence of major CRFs and renal diseases across SUA quartiles in a separate analysis among men and women (all p trend <0.001). After multiple adjustment, hyperuricaemia positively correlated with obesity (male OR=3.165, p<0.001; female OR=3.776, p<0.001), hypertension (male OR=1.341, p<0.001; female OR=1.289, p=0.006), dyslipidaemia (male OR=2.490, p<0.001; female OR=3.614, p<0.001), chronic kidney disease (male OR=7.081, p<0.001; female OR=11.571, p<0.001) and nephrolithiasis (male OR=1.469, p<0.001; female OR=1.242, p=0.041), but negatively correlated with diabetes mellitus (male OR=0.206, p<0.001; female OR=0.524, p<0.001). There was a stronger association between hyperuricaemia and clustered CRFs as well as chronic kidney disease in women than in men.ConclusionsIn Shanghai population, concomitant with the elevated level of SUA, the prevalence of CRFs and renal diseases was rising. Hyperuricaemia was significantly associated with CRFs and renal disorders, especially in women.
Palliative care and imaging utilisation for patients with cancer
Authors: Raghavan Kesav , Copeland Timothy P , Rabow Michael , Ladenheim Maya , Marks Angela , Pantilat Steven Z , O'Riordan David , Seidenwurm David , Franc Benjamin 
Published: March 2019

ObjectiveThis observational study explores the association between palliative care (PC) involvement and high-cost imaging utilisation for patients with cancer patients during the last 3 months of life.MethodsAdult patients with cancer who died between 1 January 2012 and 31 May 2015 were identified. Referral to PC, intensity of PC service use, and non-emergent oncological imaging utilisation were determined. Associations between PC utilisation and proportion of patients imaged and mean number of studies per patient (mean imaging intensity (MII)) were assessed for the last 3 months and the last month of life. Similar analyses were performed for randomly matched case-control pairs (n = 197). Finally, the association between intensity of PC involvement and imaging utilisation was assessed.Results3784 patients were included, with 3523 (93%) never referred to PC and 261 (7%) seen by PC, largely before the last month of life (61%). Similar proportions of patients with and without PC referral were imaged during the last 3 months, while a greater proportion of patients with PC referral were imaged in the last month of life. PC involvement was not associated with significantly different MII during either time frame. In the matched-pairs analysis, a greater proportion of patients previously referred to PC received imaging in the period between the first PC encounter and death, and in the last month of life. MII remained similar between PC and non-PC groups. Finally, intensity of PC services was similar for imaged and non-imaged patients in the final 3 months and 1 month of life. During these time periods, increased PC intensity was not associated with decreased MII.ConclusionsPC involvement in end-of-life oncological care was not associated with decreased use of non-emergent, high-cost imaging. The role of advanced imaging in the PC setting requires further investigation.
Case series of non-freezing cold injury: the modern clinical syndrome
Authors: Kuht James Alan , Woods D , Hollis S 
Published: March 2019

BackgroundNon-freezing cold injury (NFCI) occurs when peripheral tissue is damaged by cold exposure but not to the extent of freezing. Historically, the phenotype of NFCIs sustained was severe, whereas today the spectrum of injury represented in the UK military predominantly comprises subtler injuries. The diagnostic challenge of recognising these injuries, both in the acute and chronic settings, can lead to mismanagement and subsequent morbidity.MethodsWe characterised a recent case series of 100 UK Service Personnel referred with suspected NFCI to a Military UK NFCI clinic. We characterised the acute and chronic phenotype of those diagnosed with NFCI (n=76) and made comparison to those who received alternate diagnoses (n=24), to find discriminatory symptoms and signs.ResultsThe most common acute symptoms of NFCI were the extremities becoming cold to the point of loss of feeling for more than 30 min (sensitivity 96%, specificity 90%, p<0.001), followed by a period of painful rewarming (sensitivity 81%, specificity 67%, p<0.001). In-field foot/hand inspections took place in half of the NFCI cases. Importantly, remaining in the field and undergoing multiple cycles of cooling and rewarming after an initial NFCI was associated with having double the risk of the NFCI persisting for more than a week. The most common and discriminant chronic symptoms and signs of NFCI were having extremities that behave differently during cold exposures (sensitivity 81%, specificity 75%, p<0.001) and having abnormal pinprick sensation in the affected extremity (sensitivity 88%, specificity 88%, p<0.001).ConclusionsA small collection of symptoms and signs characterise acute and chronic NFCIs and distinguish this vasoneuropathy from NFCI mimics.
Robust Instruments Position Estimation using Improved Kernelized Correlation Filter for Substation Patrol Robots
Authors: Yuan Jianying , Liu Jiajia 
Published: March 2019

Substation patrol robots (SIR) play an increasingly important role in ensuring the safe operation of substations. The robust and precise position estimating of the instruments to be inspected on the images are a prerequisite for accurately detecting the target states or obtaining the target readings under all-weather environment. In order to achieve high location accuracy of instrument, this study proposed an improved kernelized correlation filter (KCF) algorithm for achieving robust instrument location on images for SPR. Firstly, multiple templates are selected for training KCF classifier parameters. Then, reliable SURF matching-point determination method is designed, and the regions including reliable matching points are selected as the candidate regions, so that the searching range is narrowed. Finally, for KCF response surface of each candidate region, Single-Peak Constraint (SPC) is designed for locating target and reducing mismatching rate. Furthermore, experiments are performed for validating the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm, in which four instruments mainly including lightning arrester monitor and transformer thermometer are selected. The experimental results show that the proposed method has higher accuracy of target localization than traditional SURF-based position estimating method.
Ordinal definability and combinatorics of equivalence relations
Authors: Chan William 
Published: March 2019

Assume [Formula: see text]. Let [Formula: see text] be a [Formula: see text] equivalence relation coded in [Formula: see text]. [Formula: see text] has an ordinal definable equivalence class without any ordinal definable elements if and only if [Formula: see text] is unpinned. [Formula: see text] proves [Formula: see text]-class section uniformization when [Formula: see text] is a [Formula: see text] equivalence relation on [Formula: see text] which is pinned in every transitive model of [Formula: see text] containing the real which codes [Formula: see text]: Suppose [Formula: see text] is a relation on [Formula: see text] such that each section [Formula: see text] is an [Formula: see text]-class, then there is a function [Formula: see text] such that for all [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]. [Formula: see text] proves that [Formula: see text] is Jónsson whenever [Formula: see text] is an ordinal: For every function [Formula: see text], there is an [Formula: see text] with [Formula: see text] in bijection with [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text].
The nanostructure of barium dititanate prepared by hydrothermal method
Authors: Rasheed Sarah L. , Al-Shakarchi Emad K. 
Published: March 2019

The dielectric ceramic of barium dititanate compound BaTi2O5 had been prepared through the hydrothermal process by applying different parameters, such as pH-value, reaction time, temperature and pressure. The prepared powders were examined by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The predominant phase was a monoclinic phase with lattice constants ([Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] Å), ([Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]), and the unit cell volume (527 Å3). The surface morphology was demonstrated by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). It exhibited the grains in spherical and elliptical shapes with high homogeneity. The shapes of nanostructure were analyzed by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). The appearance of nanostructures like the nanoparticles and nano rods were found. The size of nanoparticles was in the range of 9–31[Formula: see text]nm, and size of nanorods was 32–37[Formula: see text]nm. The dielectric measurements were done by using LCR meter at different temperature and frequencies (10, 50 and 100[Formula: see text]kHz). It was clear that the Curie temperature had a high value up to (485∘C). The relative permittivity was partially changed for two prepared samples regarding high pressure and long reaction time, which were the main preparation conditions of hydrothermal method.
Knowledge of Neonatal Hyperbilirubinemia Among Primary Health Care Physicians: A Single-Center Experience
Authors: Mostafa Mostafa A , Kamal Naglaa M , Eltaher Sherif , Hamed Yahia , Abdelaziz Hany , Abdelghany Walid , Aser Efat , Fawzy Eman , Sherief Laila M 
Published: March 2019

Background and objectives: To evaluate the knowledge of the primary health care physicians (PHCP) in Kalubia governorate, Egypt, about the causes, diagnosis, complications, and treatment of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia (NHB). Methods: Cross-sectional survey distributed by interview to 500 physicians working in the primary health care (PHC) sector in Kalubia. Results: Out of 500 distributed surveys, 419 (84%) PHCP completed the questionnaire. They represent 174 (90%) out of 193 PHC units and centers. About 18% were males and 82% females with mean age of 28.5 ± 5.2 years, and mean duration of work was 3.3 ± 4.4 years. All of the respondents have patients with NHB in their daily practice. The knowledge of the PHCP was good in some aspects about NHB; however, it was poor and may be even hazardous in other aspects. Conclusions: Many areas of defects are detected in PHCP knowledge about NHB. Pre-service and continuous training of the PHCP about the diagnosis and management of NHB are essential.
Exposure to 50 Hz electromagnetic fields enhances hair follicle regrowth in C57BL/6 mice
Authors: Li Xinping , Wang Xin , Bai Liming , Zhao Pin , Zhang Mingsheng 
Published: March 2019

Many studies have suggested that electromagnetic field activity affects the cellular activity of many types of cells involved in forming hair follicles. However, the bio-effects of electromagnetic fields on hair follicle growth have not been fully elucidated. This present study was designed to determine whether 50 Hz electromagnetic fields increased hair follicle regrowth. In this experiment, C57BL/6 mice were used to present the model of depilation-induced hair follicle cycling, and then those mice were divided at random into the control group and the electromagnetic field group. After electromagnetic field (50 Hz, 5 mT) exposure for 16 days, the skin specimens of the mice were harvested to assess for hair regrowth, and epidermal stem cells proliferation was evaluated by immunofluorescence staining. The expression and location of keratinocyte growth factors were also tested. Our results showed that, compared to the control, the hair club formed faster on the 3rd day, and most of the hair shafts erupted earlier from the pore in the epidermis on the 9th day after depilation, and the hairs length was significantly longer on the 16th day within the electromagnetic field group. After electromagnetic field treatment, there were more Ki67+ cells in the outer root sheath and hair bulb where it co-localized with K15+ cells compared to the control. Keratinocyte growth factors were expressed in the inner root sheath in both groups, and the electromagnetic field group showed more expression of keratinocyte growth factors. Our data suggested that the hair-growth-promoting effect of the 50 Hz electromagnetic field was observed in depilation-induced hair follicles cycling, which was associated with 50 Hz electromagnetic field enhancing K15+ stem cells proliferation and increased keratinocyte growth factor expression. Impact statement In this study, our experiments confirmed that 50 Hz EMF affected hair follicle regrowth, and 50 Hz EMF enhanced K15+ stem cells proliferation in the hair bulb and follicular outer root sheath of hair follicles. Those results indicated that 50 Hz EMF may be beneficial for functional healing of hair loss.
Suppression of Human Natural Killer Cells by Different Classes of Opioids
Authors: Maher Dermot P. , Walia Deepa , Heller Nicola M. 
Published: March 2019

BACKGROUND:
The use of regional and other opioid-sparing forms of anesthesia has been associated with a decrease in the recurrence of certain malignancies. Direct suppression of human natural killer cells by opioids has been postulated to explain this observation. However, the effect of different classes of opioids on suppression of natural killer cell cytotoxicity has not been systematically characterized.

METHODS:
After confirming that freshly isolated natural killer cells from peripheral human blood express opioid receptors, cells were incubated with increasing concentrations of clinically used or receptor-specific opioid agonists. We also evaluated the effect of pretreatment with receptor-specific antagonists or naloxone. Treated natural killer cells were then coincubated with a carboxyfluorescein succinimidyl ester–labeled target tumor cell line, K562. Annexin V staining was used to compare the percent of tumor cell apoptosis in the presence of opioid-pretreated and untreated natural killer cells. Treated samples were compared to untreated samples using Kruskal-Wallis tests with a post hoc Dunn correction.

RESULTS:
Morphine, methadone, buprenorphine, loperamide, [d-Ala2, N-MePhe4, Gly-ol]-enkephalin, and U-50488 significantly decreased natural killer cell cytotoxicity. When natural killer cells were pretreated with naloxone, cyprodime, and nor-binaltorphimine before exposure to morphine, there was no difference in natural killer cytotoxicity, compared to the amount observed by untreated natural killer cells. Fentanyl, O-desmethyltramadol, and [D-Pen2,D-Pen5] enkephalin did not change natural killer cell cytotoxicity compare to untreated natural killer cells.

CONCLUSIONS:
Incubation of isolated natural killer cells with certain opioids causes a decrease in activity that is not observed after naloxone pretreatment. Suppression of natural killer cell cytotoxicity was observed with μ- and κ-receptor agonists but not δ-receptor agonists. These data suggest that the effect is mediated by μ- and κ-receptor agonism and that suppression is similar with many clinically used opioids.
Methylprednisolone Does Not Reduce Acute Postoperative Pain After Cardiac Surgery: Subanalysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: Turan Alparslan , Cohen Barak , Whitlock Richard P. , Essber Hani , Niazi Azfar , Makarova Natalya , Saasouh Wael , Alfirevic Andrej , Marciniak Donn , Sessler Daniel I. 
Published: March 2019

BACKGROUND:
Pain after cardiac surgery is largely treated with opioids, but their poor safety profile makes nonopioid medications attractive as part of multimodal pathways. Anti-inflammatory drugs reduce acute postoperative pain, but the role of steroids in reducing acute poststernotomy pain is unclear. We evaluated the association between the intraoperative administration of methylprednisolone and postoperative analgesia, defined as a composite of pain scores and opioid consumption, during the initial 24 hours after cardiac surgery.

METHODS:
We conducted a post hoc retrospective analysis of a large clinical trial in which adults having cardiac surgery were randomized 1:1 to receive 2 intraoperative doses of 250 mg IV methylprednisolone or placebo. Pain scores and opioid consumption were collected during the initial 24 hours after surgery. Methylprednisolone was considered to be associated with better pain control than placebo if proven noninferior (not worse) on both pain scores (defined a priori with delta of 1 point) and opioid consumption (delta of 20%) and superior to placebo in at least 1 of the 2 outcomes. This test was repeated in the opposite direction (testing whether placebo is better than methylprednisolone on postoperative pain management).

RESULTS:
Of 251 eligible patients, 127 received methylprednisolone and 124 received placebo. Methylprednisolone was noninferior to placebo on pain with difference in mean (CI) pain scores of −0.25 (−0.71 to 0.21); P < .001. However, methylprednisolone was not noninferior to placebo on opioid consumption (ratio of geometric means [CI]: 1.11 [0.64–1.91]; P = .37). Because methylprednisolone was not noninferior to placebo on both outcomes, we did not proceed to superiority testing based on the a priori stopping rules. Similar results were found when testing the opposite direction.

CONCLUSIONS:
In this post hoc analysis, we could not identify a beneficial analgesic effect after cardiac surgery associated with methylprednisolone administration. There are currently no data to suggest that methylprednisolone has significant analgesic benefit in adults having cardiac surgery.
Minocycline Relieves Depressive-Like Behaviors in Rats With Bone Cancer Pain by Inhibiting Microglia Activation in Hippocampus
Authors: Dai Jiajia , Ding Zhuofeng , Zhang Jie , Xu Wei , Guo Qulian , Zou Wangyuan , Xiong Yunchuan , Weng Yingqi , Yang Yong , Chen Sisi , Zhang Jun-Ming , Song Zongbin 
Published: March 2019

BACKGROUND:
Pain and depression are highly prevalent symptoms in cancer patients. They tend to occur simultaneously and affect each other and share biological pathways and neurotransmitters. In this study, we investigated the roles of microglia in the hippocampus in the comorbidity of bone cancer pain and depressive-like behaviors in an animal model of bone cancer pain.

METHODS:
Bone cancer pain was induced by injection of Walker 256 mammary gland carcinoma cells into the tibia of rats. The effects of intracerebroventricular administration of microglia inhibitor minocycline were examined.

RESULTS:
Carcinoma intratibia injection caused comorbidity of mechanical allodynia and depressive-like behaviors in rats and activation of microglia in the hippocampus. Both mechanical allodynia and depressive-like behaviors were attenuated by minocycline. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay analysis showed that the enhanced expressions of M1 microglia marker (CD 86) and the proinflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1β in the hippocampus of cancer-bearing rats were decreased by minocycline. On the other hand, minocycline also increased the expressions of M2 microglia marker (MRC1) and anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10.

CONCLUSIONS:
The results suggest that the activation of microglia in the hippocampus plays an important role in the development of pain and depressive-like behaviors in bone cancer condition.
V˙O2peak, Body Composition, and Neck Strength of Elite Motor Racing Drivers
Authors: MCKNIGHT PETER J. , BENNETT LUKE A. , MALVERN JON J. , FERGUSON DAVID P. 
Published: March 2019

ABSTRACT

Purpose
Automobile racing is widely known to be physically demanding; however, there is no published information comparing the physical fitness variables of elite-level race car drivers across various competitive championships.

Methods
We documented the body composition, peak oxygen consumption (V˙O2peak), and isometric neck strength in a sample of elite race car drivers currently competing in Formula 1, IndyCar, NASCAR, and International Motor Sports Association sports car racing (IMSA GTD), to determine current human performance benchmarks and establish goals for drivers wishing to compete in these series.

Results
Percent body fat was significantly (P < 0.001) lower in Formula 1 drivers (8.1% ± 1.7%) as compared with the other series, with IndyCar (17.4% ± 1.7%) and NASCAR (17.3% ± 4.6%) being less than IMSA GTD (24.9% ± 1.8%). Percent lean mass followed the same trend as percent body fat. IMSA GTD had not only the highest percent body fat but also the lowest (P = 0.001) V˙O2peak (45.2 ± 2.1 mL·kg−1·mL−1) compared with Formula 1 (62.0 ± 6.0 mL·kg−1·mL−1), IndyCar (58.05 ± 6.40 mL·kg−1·mL−1), and NASCAR (53.2 ± 4.1 mL·kg−1·mL−1). Isometric neck strength was the highest in Formula 1 and IndyCar drivers as compared with IMSA GTD and NASCAR drivers.

Conclusion
These results support the hypothesis that the varying physical demands of each competition series require different physical fitness levels of drivers. These benchmarks can be used by exercise professionals to better prepare athletes for competition.
Lower Extremity Stiffness Predicts Ground Reaction Force Loading Rate in Heel Strike Runners
Authors: SHIH YO , TENG HSIANG-LING , POWERS CHRISTOPHER M. 
Published: March 2019

ABSTRACT

Purpose
High vertical ground reaction force (vGRF) loading rates are thought to contribute to lower extremity injuries in runners. Given that elevated lower extremity stiffness has been reported to be associated with increased GRFs, the purpose of the current study was to determine if overall lower extremity stiffness, individual joint angular excursions and/or torsional stiffness are predictive of the average vGRF loading rate during running.

Methods
Forty heel strike runners (20 men and 20 women) ran overground at a speed of 3.4 m·s−1. Average vGRF loading rate, lower extremity stiffness, and hip, knee, and ankle joint excursions and torsional stiffness from initial contact to the first peak of the vGRF were quantified. Stepwise multiple linear regression was performed to determine the best predictor(s) of average vGRF loading rate.

Results
Lower extremity stiffness was found to the best predictor of average vGRF loading rate (R
2 = 0.68, P < 0.001). The second variable that entered the stepwise regression model of average vGRF loading rate was knee joint excursion (ΔR
2 = 0.03, P = 0.023).

Conclusions
Increased lower extremity stiffness immediately after initial contact may expose heel strike runners to higher vGRF loading rates.