bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
An Observational 1-Month Trial on the Efficacy and Safety of Promerim for Improving Knee Joint
Authors: Kilinc Bekir Eray , Oc Yunus , Alibakan Gungor , Bilgin Emre , Kanar Muharrem , Eren Osman Tugrul 
Published: February 2018

Objective: This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of the oral intake of promerim in the elimination of acute pain and discomfort associated with knee osteoarthritis (OA). Methods: Single-center, 1-month, prospective, observational clinical trial. A total of 92 patients not older than 70 years were included. Patients were offered to use 720-mg promerim for the first 15 days after admission after breakfast and then 360 mg for the second 15 days. All patients were analyzed with the visual analog scale (VAS) for pain, which ranges from 0 to 10, and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) score before the start of treatment and 1 month after the start. Statistical analysis was performed by SPSS 15.0 software. An α level of P < .05 was assumed to be statistically significant. Results: This study comprised 92 patients (69 women and 23 men) with a mean age of 51.5 (range: 40-69) years. Before treatment, the mean VAS score was 5.6 ± 1.1, and after treatment, the mean VAS score was 2.6 ± 1.7. Treatment with promerim consistently showed a significant decrease in the VAS score ( P < .001). The mean WOMAC score of the patients was 46.4 ± 8.2 before treatment. After treatment, the mean WOMAC score was 72.1 ± 14.4. Treatment with promerim consistently showed a significant increase in the WOMAC score ( P < .001). Conclusions: The results of this single-center, open-label clinical study demonstrate that promerim is a viable natural treatment option for treating knee OA. We recommend that 720-mg promerim taken once daily for the first 15 days after admission and 360 mg taken once daily for the next 15 days significantly and rapidly reduced composite pain and stiffness in the knee OA within 1 month.
Pulmonary Arterial Enlargement is Associated With Acute Chest Pain in Patients Without Obstructive Coronary Artery Disease
Authors: Madam Narasa , Mosleh Wassim , Punnanithinont Natdanai , Carmona-Rubio Andres , Said Zaid H , Sharma Umesh C 
Published: February 2018

Background: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is an underdiagnosed cause for chest pain in patients without significant coronary artery disease (CAD). Studies showed that enlarged pulmonary arterial (PA) and right ventricular chamber sizes correlate with the severity of PH. Therefore, we studied the association between chest pain, right ventricular dimensions (RVDs), and PA size on coronary coronary tomographic angiography (CCTA). Methods: The CCTA of 87 patients presenting with chest pain without evidence of obstructive CAD was examined. The PA diameter (PAD), right atrial dimension (RAD), and RVD were measured. A comparative control cohort included 31 patients who presented without cardiopulmonary complaints and underwent thoracic CT. The risk for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) was assessed using STOP-BANG questionnaires. Results: Patients with chest pain without obstructive CAD showed markedly dilated right atrial and ventricular chambers compared with standard parameters (right atrium: 48 ± 6.4 mm; right ventricle long axis: 61 ± 9.5 mm). When comparing chest pain vs non-chest pain group, respectively, the mean PAD measured 25.92 ± 0.43 mm vs 22.89 ± 0.38 mm ( P < .001), RAD2 measured 40.1423 ± 0.7108 mm vs 34.8800 ± 1.0245 mm ( P = .0048), and RVD2 measured 31.7729 ± 0.7299 mm vs 27.6379 ± 1.6178 mm ( P = .034). Chest pain was associated with higher PAD (odds ratio [OR]: 11.11, P < .05) after adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, history of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, OSA, and smoking. The chest pain group had a mean STOP-BANG score of 3.9 ± 1.8 in all patients, and 3.62 ± 0.20 in patients without known history of OSA, representing an elevated risk index for the disease. Conclusions: In patients presenting with chest pain without obstructive CAD on CCTA, there is a strong association between the presence of chest pain and enlarged PAD. They also represent a high-risk group for OSA.
Evaluation of lipid profiles and hematological parameters in hypertensive patients: Laboratory-based cross-sectional study
Authors: Gebrie Alemu , Gnanasekaran Natesan , Menon Menakath , Sisay Mekonnen , Zegeye Abriham 
Published: February 2018

Introduction: Hypertension and dyslipidemia are the two coexisting and synergizing major risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. The cellular constituents of blood affect the volume and viscosity of blood, thus playing a key role in regulating blood pressure. Overweight and obesity are key determinants of adverse metabolic changes including an increase in blood pressure. The aim of this study was to evaluate lipid profiles and hematological parameters in hypertensive patients at Debre Markos Referral Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia. Methods: Laboratory-based cross-sectional study was conducted in 100 eligible hypertensive patients at the hospital. The required amount of blood was withdrawn from the patients by healthcare professionals for immediate automated laboratory analyses. Data were collected on socio-demographic factors, anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, lipid profiles, and hematological parameters. Result: The mean serum levels of triglyceride, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein were significantly higher than their respective cut-off values in the hypertensive patients. Besides, 54%, 52%, 35%, and 11% of the hypertensive patients had abnormal low-density lipoprotein, total cholesterol, triglyceride, and high-density lipoprotein levels, respectively. Higher levels of low-density lipoprotein, hemoglobin, and red blood cell count were observed in the hypertensive patients whose blood pressure had been poorly controlled than the controlled ones ( p < 0.05). Waist circumference had a significant positive association with the serum levels of total cholesterol and white blood cell count ( p < 0.05). Conclusion: Hypertensive patients had a high prevalence of lipid profile abnormalities and poorly controlled blood pressure which synergize in accelerating other cardiovascular diseases. Some hematological parameters such as red blood cell count are also increased as do the severity of hypertension.
Worldwide Steroid Prescription for Acute Spinal Cord Injury
Authors: Falavigna Asdrubal , Quadros Francine W. , Teles Alisson R. , Wong Chung Chek , Barbagallo Giuseppe , Brodke Darrel , Al-Mutair Abdulaziz , Riew K. Daniel 
Published: February 2018

Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Objectives: To continue the line of a previous publication using steroid for acute spinal cord injury (SCI) by spine surgeons from Latin America (LA) and assess the current status of methylprednisolone (MP) prescription in Europe (EU), Asia Pacific (AP), North America (NA), and Middle East (ME) to determine targets for educational activities suitable for each region. Methods: The English version of a previously published questionnaire was used to evaluate opinions about MP administration in acute SCI in LA, EU, AP, NA, and ME. This Internet-based survey was conducted by members of AOSpine. The questionnaire asked about demographic features, background with management of spine trauma patients, routine administration of MP in acute SCI, and reasons for MP administration. Results: A total of 2659 responses were obtained for the electronic questionnaire from LA, EU, AP, NA, and ME. The number of spine surgeons that treat SCI was 2206 (83%). The steroid was used by 1198 (52.9%) surgeons. The uses of MP were based predominantly on the National Acute Spinal Cord Injury Study III study (n = 595, 50%). The answers were most frequently given by spine surgeons from AP, ME, and LA. These regions presented a statistically significant difference from North America ( P < .001). The number of SCI patients treated per year inversely influenced the use of MP. The higher the number of patients treated, the lower the administration rates of MP observed. Conclusions: The study identified potential targets for educational campaigns, aiming to reduce inappropriate practices of MP administration.
Mixed methods evaluation of the impact of a short term training program on sterile processing knowledge, practice, and attitude in three hospitals in Benin
Authors: Fast Olive , Fast Christina , Fast Dan , Veltjens Suzanne , Salami Zouliha , White Michelle 
Published: February 2018

Abstract
Background
Proper sterile processing is fundamental to safe surgical practice and optimal patient outcomes. Sterile processing practices in low and middle-income countries often fall short of recommended standards. The impact of education and training on sterile processing practices in low and middle-income countries is unknown. We designed a sterile processing education course, including mentoring, and aimed to evaluate the impact on participants’ personal knowledge, skills, and practices. We also aimed to identify institutional changes in sterile processing practices at participants’ work places.

Methods
A mixed methods design study was conducted using a Hospital Sterile Processing Assessment Tool, knowledge tests, and open-ended interviews.

Results
Education and mentoring improved how workers understood and approached their work and to what they paid attention. Sterile processing workers were also better able to identify resources available to do their work and showed improved understanding of the impact of their work on patient safety.

Conclusions
Health care organizations seeking to improve surgical outcomes can find easy wins requiring minimal cost expenditures by paying attention to sterile processing practices. Investing in education and low-cost resources, such as cleaning detergents and brushes, must be part of any quality improvement initiative aimed at providing safe surgery in low and middle-income countries.
Clinical outcomes of staff training in positive behaviour support to reduce challenging behaviour in adults with intellectual disability: cluster randomised controlled trial
Authors: Hassiotis Angela , Poppe Michaela , Strydom Andre , Vickerstaff Victoria , Hall Ian S. , Crabtree Jason , Omar Rumana Z. , King Michael , Hunter Rachael , Biswas Asit , Cooper Viv , Howie William , Crawford Michael J. 
Published: February 2018

BackgroundStaff training in positive behaviour support (PBS) is a widespread treatment approach for challenging behaviour in adults with intellectual disability.AimsTo evaluate whether such training is clinically effective in reducing challenging behaviour during routine care (trial registration: NCT01680276).MethodWe carried out a multicentre, cluster randomised controlled trial involving 23 community intellectual disability services in England, randomly allocated to manual-assisted staff training in PBS (n = 11) or treatment as usual (TAU, n = 12). Data were collected from 246 adult participants.ResultsNo treatment effects were found for the primary outcome (challenging behaviour over 12 months, adjusted mean difference = −2.14, 95% CI: −8.79, 4.51) or secondary outcomes.ConclusionsStaff training in PBS, as applied in this study, did not reduce challenging behaviour. Further research should tackle implementation issues and endeavour to identify other interventions that can reduce challenging behaviour.Declaration of interestNone.
From the unfolded protein response to metabolic diseases – lipids under the spotlight
Authors: Ho Nurulain , Xu Chengchao , Thibault Guillaume 
Published: February 2018

ABSTRACT
The unfolded protein response (UPR) is classically viewed as a stress response pathway to maintain protein homeostasis at the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). However, it has recently emerged that the UPR can be directly activated by lipid perturbation, independently of misfolded proteins. Comprising primarily phospholipids, sphingolipids and sterols, individual membranes can contain hundreds of distinct lipids. Even with such complexity, lipid distribution in a cell is tightly regulated by mechanisms that remain incompletely understood. It is therefore unsurprising that lipid dysregulation can be a key factor in disease development. Recent advances in analysis of lipids and their regulators have revealed remarkable mechanisms and connections to other cellular pathways including the UPR. In this Review, we summarize the current understanding in UPR transducers functioning as lipid sensors and the interplay between lipid metabolism and ER homeostasis in the context of metabolic diseases. We attempt to provide a framework consisting of a few key principles to integrate the different lines of evidence and explain this rather complicated mechanism.
Extended pharmacological miosis is superfluous after glaucoma angle surgery: A retrospective study
Authors: Esfandiari Hamed , Hassanpour Kiana , Yaseri Mehdi , Loewen Nils A. 
Published: February 2018

Background: Pilocarpine is commonly used after angle surgery for glaucoma despite a host of side effects and risks. We hypothesized that a pharmacological miosis during the first two months does not improve short- and long-term results of trabectome-mediated ab interno trabeculectomy. Methods: In this retrospective comparative 1-year case series, we compared 187 trabectome surgery eyes with (P+) or without (P-) 1% pilocarpine for two months. Primary outcome measures were the surgical success defined as intraocular pressure (IOP) ≤ 21 mmHg and decreased ≥ 20%, and no secondary glaucoma surgery. Secondary outcome measures were the number of glaucoma medications, complications, and IOP. Results: We categorized 86 (46%) eyes as P- and 101 (54%) eyes as P+. The mean age was 69.8±10.1 in P- and 70.5±9.4 in P+ (P=0.617) with equal gender distribution (P=0.38). The cumulative probability of qualified success at 12 months was 78.1% in the P- and 81% in the P+ (P=0.35). The IOP was decreased significantly from 20.2±6.8 mmHg at baseline to 15.0±4.8 mmHg at 12 months follow-up in P- (P=0.001) and 18.8±5.3 and 14.7±4.0, respectively (P=0.001). The medications decreased significantly from 1.4±1.2 in P- and 1.4±1.2 in P+ at baseline to 1.0±1.2 and 0.7±1.0, respectively (P=0.183). P- and P+ did not differ in IOP or medications (all P>0.05). In Multivariate Cox Regression models, the baseline IOP and central corneal thickness were associated with failure. Conclusions: Use of postoperative pilocarpine does not improve the efficacy of trabectome surgery.
Use of the Finite Element Method in Predicting Vibrations of Sandwich Beams and Plates Resting on Deformable Foundations Subjected to Moving Loads
Authors: Zbiciak A. , Ataman M. , Szcześniak W. 
Published: February 2018

AbstractThis paper presents the capabilities of ABAQUS finite-element program [1] in modelling sandwich beams and plates resting on deformable foundations. Specific systems of sandwich beams and plates separated by an elastic core layer were subjected to the action of point and distributed moving loads. A few theoretical examples are provided to present different techniques of modelling the foundations and the moving loads. The effects of the boundary conditions and of the foundation parameters on the deflections of the analysed structures are also presented.
A note on the behavior of the Dunkl maximal operator
Authors: Deleaval Luc 
Published: February 2018

Abstract
This note is a contribution to the Proceedings of the Conference of the Tunisian Mathematical Society CSMT 2017.
After briefly revisiting the case of the standard Hardy–Littlewood maximal operator, we will discuss the behavior of the Dunkl maximal operator in both the scalar and vector-valued cases.
On the Track of the Szekler Village Tízes The Model-Like Potential of the Szekler Village Tízes on the Eve of the 21st Century
Authors: Ambrus Tünde 
Published: February 2018

Abstract
The object of this study is the existence of the village tízes (organization in structures by ten) as space-specific elements in Szeklerland and the social problems at the turn of the centuries (involving the population, the community, the culture, and the economy). The study is the result of a historical-geographical survey of the cultural space in Szeklerland within a larger research. The main purpose is to make an attempt to form a historical, system-based perspective, make people aware of the material and spiritual value of the Szekler tízes as well as contribute to the subsistence of the tízes and the reinterpretation of the notion of value in the 21st century, using my own means and modalities. The subsistence of the Szekler village tízes is not required by the subsistence or restoration of the romantic, spiritual goods or the community organization but by the necessities of the entire community.
Old and New Criteria for the Governance of Political and Economic Structures on the Basis of the Bible and the Quran
Authors: Varga Norbert , Szikra Andrea 
Published: February 2018

Abstract
This study presents a sociological analysis of the Holy Books of two world religions (the Bible and the Quran) since, according to prognoses and risk analyses, a political, economic, cultural, and religious confrontation between the world religions will be unavoidable. Special economic and political aspects also contribute to the up-to-datedness of the topic in the democratic world; in fact: the economic crisis at the beginning of the 21st century, the difficulties of managing the crisis with traditional micro- and macroeconomic tools as well as the Europe-wide issue of migration processes. These challenges have directed our attention to alternative economic solutions and policy options, including theories on ethical basis. Modern academic discourse has recently started to direct research at leadership skills as acknowledged forms of talent. The priority of moral talent is never disputed in the Bible and the Quran, more so by certain leaders holding political or economic positions.
Clinically relevant discrepancies between different rheumatoid factor assays
Authors: Falkenburg Willem J.J. , von Richthofen Helen J. , Koers Jana , Weykamp Cas , Schreurs Marco W.J. , Bakker-Jonges Liesbeth E. , Haagen Inez-Anne , Lems Willem F. , Hamann Dörte , van Schaardenburg Dirkjan , Rispens Theo 
Published: February 2018

AbstractBackground:Accurate measurements of rheumatoid factors (RFs), autoantibodies binding IgG, are important for diagnosing rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and for predicting disease course. Worldwide, various RF assays are being used that differ in technique and target antigens. We studied whether assay choice leads to clinically important discrepancies in RF status and level.Methods:RF measurements using four commercial RF assays were compared in 32 RF+samples. Using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), the influence of the target antigen source – human IgG (hIgG) versus rabbit IgG (rIgG) – on measured RF levels was investigated in arthralgia patients and RA patients.Results:Substantial discrepancies were found between RF levels measured in the four commercial assays. Six samples (19%) with RF levels below or slightly above the cutoff in the rIgG-based Phadia assay were RF+in three assays using hIgG as the target antigen, some with very high levels. Direct ELISA comparisons of RF reactivity against hIgG and rIgG estimated that among 173 ACPA+arthralgia patients, originally RF negative in rIgG-based assays, up to 10% were single positive against hIgG. Monoclonal RFs binding to hIgG and rIgG or hIgG only supported these findings. In a cohort of 69 early RA patients, virtually all RF responses reacted with both targets, although levels were still variable.Conclusions:The use of RF assays that differ in technique and target antigen, together with the different specificities of RF responses, leads to discrepancies in RF status and levels. This has important consequences for patient care if RA diagnosis and disease progression assessments are based on RF test results.
Quantitative urine test strip reading for leukocyte esterase and hemoglobin peroxidase
Authors: Oyaert Matthijs N. , Himpe Jonas , Speeckaert Marijn M. , Stove Veronique V. , Delanghe Joris R. 
Published: February 2018

AbstractBackground:Recently, urine test strip readers have become available for automated test strip analysis. We explored the possibilities of the Sysmex UC-3500 automated urine chemistry analyzer based on complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) sensor technology with regard to accuracy of leukocyte esterase and hemoglobin peroxidase results. We studied the influence of possible confounders on these measurements.Methods:Reflectance data of leukocyte esterase and hemoglobin peroxidase were measured using CMOS technology on the Sysmex UC-3500 automated urine chemistry analyzer. Analytical performance (imprecision, LOQ) as well as the correlation with white blood cell (WBC) and red blood cell (RBC) counts (Sysmex UF-5000) were studied. Furthermore, the influence of urinary dilution, haptoglobin, pH and ascorbic acid as confounders was determined.Results:Within- and between-run imprecision (reflectance signal) ranged from 1.1% to 3.6% and 0.9% to 4.2% for peroxidase and 0.4% to 2.5% and 0.4% to 3.3% for leukocyte esterase. Good agreement was obtained between the UF-5000 for RBCs and peroxidase reflectance (r=0.843) and for WBCs and leukocyte esterase (r=0.821). Specific esterase activity decreased for WBC counts exceeding 100 cells/μL. Haptoglobin influenced the peroxidase activity, whereas leukocyte esterase and peroxidase activities showed a pH optimum between 5.0 and 6.5. A sigmoidal correlation was observed between urinary osmolality and peroxidase activity.Conclusions:CMOS technology allows to obtain high quality test strip results for assessing WBC and RBC in urine. Quantitative peroxidase and leukocyte esterase are complementary with flow cytometry and have an added value in urinalysis, which may form a basis for expert system development.