bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Measuring Health-related Quality of Life in Teens With and Without Depression
Authors: Lynch Frances L. , Dickerson John F. , Feeny David H. , Clarke Gregory N. , MacMillan Alex L. 
Published: June 2016

Purpose:
To provide empirical evidence on the performance of common measures in assessing health-related quality of life (HRQL) in depressed and nondepressed youth. These measures can be used in research trials, cost-effectiveness studies, and to help develop policy for treating youth depression.

Background:
Depression is one of the most common mental disorders among adolescents, with a chronic, episodic course marked by considerable impairment. Data on HRQL for teens with depression could more fully demonstrate the burden of depression and help to evaluate the comparative effectiveness of teen depression services, which in turn can be used to inform public and clinical policies.

Methods:
We collected data on depression and HRQL from 392 depressed and nondepressed teens aged 13–17.

Results:
Generic mental health, disease-specific, and generic preference-based measures of HRQL all do a reasonable job of distinguishing teens with and without depression and between teens with differing levels of depression. Generic mental health and disease-specific measures provide valuable information on burden of disease and perform well. For the purpose of economic evaluation, the HUI-3 and EQ-5D perform somewhat better than other preference-based measures. These results can aid future research on teens with depression by helping to guide which HRQL instruments are most useful in this population and can help to quantify the burden of depression in teens for policy and clinical planning.
Cognitive Representation of Treatment-Related Symptoms in Older Adults With Cancer
Authors: Loerzel Victoria 
Published: June 2016

Background:
Adults, 65 years or older, are the most common age group diagnosed with cancer. However, little is known about their beliefs (representations) regarding treatment-related symptoms or how they make decisions to manage those symptoms at home.

Objective:
The aim of this study is to explore symptom representation of treatment-related symptoms in older adults with cancer.

Methods:
A total of 100 older adults in treatment for cancer completed a standardized measure of symptom representation. Demographic and other patient variables were also collected. Analysis of variance, t tests, and Pearson correlations were used for analysis.

Results:
Fatigue was both the most common and most noted symptom; however, several most noted symptoms were not common. Overall, older adults believed symptoms were caused by either their cancer or treatment and were unsure if symptoms would last a long time. They were able to recognize symptom consequences but were unsure about their ability to control symptoms. Adults who reported more comorbid illnesses and a higher number of symptoms believed that treatment-related symptoms had higher consequences.

Conclusions:
Findings suggest that older adults experience symptom-related consequences but question the impact that their actions will have on symptom severity. This may contribute to older adult’s lack of active symptom self-management.

Implications for Practice:
Patient education strategies need to address these representations and new interventions may need to be developed to reinforce symptom consequences and empower older adults to self-manage symptoms.
“I Had a Little Bit of a Bloke Meltdown…But the Next Day, I Was Up”
Authors: Newman Christy E. , Gray Rebecca , Brener Loren , Jackson L. Clair , Dillon Anthony , Saunders Veronica , Johnson Priscilla , Treloar Carla 
Published: June 2016

Background:Although cancer in indigenous populations is receiving increased research attention, there is a gap in understanding the particular experiences of Aboriginal men.Objective:The aim of this study is to integrate a range of primary and secondary accounts of the experiences of Aboriginal men in engaging with a cancer diagnosis and treatment in Australia.Methods:Secondary analysis of qualitative interviews (n = 54) conducted between 2008 and 2011 revealed recurrent themes regarding the cancer experiences of Aboriginal men in a subset of participant interviews (n = 23). The analysis reports themes that spanned the accounts of Aboriginal men with cancer (n = 6) and those of their carers (n = 12) and clinicians (n = 5).Results:Recurrent beliefs about the cancer experiences of Aboriginal men included that they “avoid seeking help” for health matters, including cancer symptoms, and to “get on with it,” “not talk about it,” and “manage without fuss” after a cancer diagnosis. Although some men described having to “accept vulnerability,” emphasis was placed on appreciating men’s desire to “protect cultural roles” and “connect with family and culture” throughout care and treatment, including through humor.Conclusions:Men’s accounts of the experiences of cancer diagnosis and care reveal more than simply individual challenge, extending to encompass the very real social and economic implications of illness and vulnerability for Aboriginal men today.Implications for Practice:Aboriginal men could be better engaged with cancer diagnosis and treatment if greater attention was paid to recognizing preferred approaches, including pragmatism and humor, and supporting connections to family and culture throughout the cancer journey.
Retrograde Degeneration of Retinal Ganglion Cells Secondary to Head Trauma
Authors: Vien Lee , DalPorto Christina , Yang David 
Published: June 2016

ABSTRACT

Purpose
To discuss the clinical case of a patient with transsynaptic retrograde degeneration (TRD) demonstrated by progressive retinal nerve fiber layer loss documented by serial spectral domain optical coherence tomography secondary to traumatic brain injury after 2 months post-trauma.

Case Report
A 25-year-old Caucasian male patient presented to a polytrauma rehabilitation center (PRC) for evaluation and treatment secondary to a severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) from a motorcycle accident 2 months before. Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) was completed at intervals that ranged between 8 and 42 days for a duration of 119 days. A comparison to the pre-trauma SD-OCT 10 months before revealed progressive thinning of the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) in both eyes over multiple follow-ups post-trauma. Humphrey visual field (HVF) testing revealed an incomplete congruous right homonymous hemianopsia that gradually improved over the follow-ups. Analysis of the macular ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) thickness displayed loss that corresponded to the pattern of visual field defect.

Conclusions
TRD can occur as soon as 2 months after severe TBI with damage posterior to the lateral geniculate nucleus. Progressive RNFL loss can be tracked with SD-OCT, and the rate of thinning may slowly stabilize over time. Visual field defects can improve months after the trauma but may not correspond to the progressive RNFL loss detected by SD-OCT.
The Challenges of Caring for Long-Stay Patients in the PICU*
Authors: Geoghegan Sophie , Oulton Kate , Bull Catherine , Brierley Joe , Peters Mark , Wray Jo 
Published: June 2016

Objective:
Compared to shorter-stay patients, caring for long-stay patients in the ICU entails a disproportionate burden for staff. Our objective was to gain a deeper understanding of the impact on staff of caring for children who have a prolonged stay on the PICU.

Design:
Qualitative study based on semi-structured interviews. Data were analyzed using the Framework approach.

Setting:
Children’s tertiary hospital.

Participants:
Seventeen members of staff (7 psychosocial staff, 7 nurses, 3 consultants) working in the PICU, neonatal ICU, or cardiac ICU (PICU will be used to encompass neonatal ICU, cardiac ICU, and PICU for the remainder of this article).

Interventions:
Semi-structured, tape-recorded interviews.

Measurements and Main Results:
Staff reported both positive and challenging aspects of caring for long-stay patients in the PICU. Five key areas relating to the challenges of caring for long-stay patients were identified: staff expectations about their work, characteristics of the patient group, the impact on staff, the impact on the wider unit, and the availability of support. Staff views were often compounded by individual cases they had been involved with or had heard about which fell at either end of the spectrum of “good” and “bad”.

Conclusions:
Whilst there are reported benefits associated with caring for long-stay patients, there are a number of challenges reported that may have implications for staff and the wider unit. When caring for a particular sub-group of long-stay patients, staff may be more likely to experience negative impacts. A key priority for the PICU is to ensure that support mechanisms are timely, accessible, and allow staff to explore their own reactions to their work.
Construct Validity and Responsiveness of the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4.0 Generic Core Scales and Infant Scales in the PICU*
Authors: Aspesberro François , Fesinmeyer Megan D. , Zhou Chuan , Zimmerman Jerry J. , Mangione-Smith Rita 
Published: June 2016

Objectives:
To assess the construct validity and the responsiveness of the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4.0 Generic Core Scales and Infant Scales in the medical-surgical (PICU) and cardiac PICU.

Design/Setting/Participants:
Prospective cohort study of 367 inpatients admitted either to the PICU or the cardiac ICU at Seattle Children’s Hospital from January 2012 to June 2013. Parent/caregiver and child (≥ 8 yr old, developmentally appropriate, and critical illness resolved) Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory scores were obtained within 24 hours of PICU/cardiac ICU discharge and subsequently at 4–12 weeks following hospital discharge. Of the 491 eligible participants invited to participate, 367 (74.7% response rate) completed the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory survey at ICU discharge, and of these, 263 (71.7% follow-up response rate) completed the follow-up survey 4–12 weeks after hospital discharge.

Measurements and Main Results:
Responsiveness was assessed by calculating improvement scores (difference between follow-up and ICU discharge scores, Δ Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory). Construct validity was examined by comparing mean improvement scores for known groups differing by medical complexity. At follow-up, ∆ Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory scores were as follows (mean ± sd): physical domain, 34.8 ± 32.0; and psychosocial domain, 23.1 ± 23.5. Patients with complex chronic or noncomplex chronic disease had physical functioning improvement scores that were 17.4 points (95% CI, –28.3 to –6.5; p < 0.001) and 19.5 points (95% CI, –30.4 to –8.5; p < 0.002) lower than children with no chronic illness, respectively. Patients with complex chronic disease exhibited psychosocial improvement scores that were 9.6 points (95% CI, –18.4 to –0.8; p < 0.033) lower than patients without chronic disease. Patients with noncomplex chronic disease had similar psychosocial improvement scores when compared with patients without chronic disease.

Conclusions:
As a measure of health-related quality of live, Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory demonstrated responsiveness and construct validity in a broad population of critically ill children. This measure represents a patient-centered clinically meaningful patient-or-parent-reported outcome measure for pediatric research assessing the clinical effectiveness of PICU/cardiac ICU interventions. When using health-related quality of life recovery as an outcome measure to assess clinical effectiveness in the PICU/cardiac ICU setting, measuring and controlling for the level of medical complexity is important in order to understand the true impact of clinical interventions.
Viral Decay Dynamics and Mathematical Modeling of Treatment Response: Evidence of Lower in vivo Fitness of HIV-1 Subtype C
Authors: Shet Anita , Nagaraja Pradeep , Dixit Narendra M. 
Published: June 2016

Background:
Despite the high prevalence of HIV-1 subtype C (HIV-1C) worldwide, information on HIV-1C viral dynamics and response to antiretroviral therapy (ART) is limited. We sought to measure viral load decay dynamics during treatment and estimate the within-host basic reproductive ratio, R0, and the critical efficacy, εc, for successful treatment of HIV-1C infection.

Methods:
Individuals initiated on first-line ART in India and monitored for 6 months of treatment were considered. Viral load, CD4+ count, and adherence data were collected at baseline, 4, 12, 16 and 24 weeks after ART initiation. Drug resistance genotyping was performed at baseline. R0 and εc were estimated using a mathematical model.

Results:
Among 257 patients with complete data, mean baseline viral load was 5.7 log10 copies per milliliter and median CD4+ count was 165 cells per cubic millimeter. Primary drug resistance was present in 3.1% at baseline. At 6 months, 87.5% had undetectable viral load, indicating excellent response to ART despite high baseline viremia. After excluding those with transmitted resistance, suboptimal adherence and viral rebound, data from 112 patients were analyzed using a mathematical model. We estimated the median R0 to be 5.3. The corresponding εc was ∼0.8.

Conclusions:
These estimates of R0 and εc are smaller than current estimates for HIV-1B, suggesting that HIV-1C exhibits lower in vivo fitness compared with HIV-1B, which allows successful treatment despite high baseline viral loads. The lower fitness, and potentially lower virulence, together with high viral loads may underlie the heightened transmission potential of HIV-1C and its growing global spread.
Effect of Renal Function on Gadolinium-Related Signal Increases on Unenhanced T1-Weighted Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Authors: Cao Yan , Zhang Yang , Shih George , Zhang Yan , Bohmart Andrew , Hecht Elizabeth M. , Prince Martin R. 
Published: June 2016

Objectives
The purpose of this study was to determine if renal function affects signal changes in the deep brain nuclei on unenhanced T1-weighted images after administration of linear gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs).

Methods
An electronic medical records search of 2 large medical centers identified 25 patients who received linear GBCA while on hemodialysis and had unenhanced T1-weighted images of the brain before and after. The dentate-to-cerebellar peduncle (DCP) ratio, globus pallidus-to-mid thalamus (GPT) ratio, and choroid plexus-to-nearby white matter ratio were measured and compared with 25 age/sex/GBCA exposure–matched control patients with normal or near-normal renal function (estimated glomerular filtration rate >60 mL/min per 1.73 m2). Two additional control groups included 13 patients on hemodialysis without GBCA exposure and 13 age/sex-matched patients with estimated glomerular filtration rate greater than 60 mL/min per 1.73 m2.

Results
Hemodialysis patients (n = 25) with an average of 1.8 linear GBCA administrations had a 4.9% mean increase (1.00 ± 0.04 vs 1.05 ± 0.05; P < 0.001) in DCP, which was greater than the 1.6% change (0.99 ± 0.04 vs 1.00 ± 0.05; P = 0.08) observed in matched controls (P = 0.01). There was no significant signal change in the DCP ratio in the 13 hemodialysis patients (0.99 ± 0.04 vs 0.99 ± 0.04; P = 0.78) and 13 age/sex-matched patients (0.99 ± 0.02 vs 0.99 ± 0.03; P = 0.78) who did not receive GBCA. The hemodialysis patients had a baseline GPT that was higher than nondialysis patients (P < 0.001). However, the GPT change after GBCA administration was not significantly different from controls. Increased signal in the choroid plexus on unenhanced T1-weighted images after GBCA administration was noted in hemodialysis patients (0.72 ± 0.20 vs 0.86 ± 0.23; P = 0.006); however, a multivariate analysis showed this to be primarily related to hemodialysis (P = 0.003) with only a trend toward relating to GBCA exposure (P = 0.07).

Conclusions
Hemodialysis patients receiving linear GBCA have greater dentate nucleus signal increases on unenhanced T1-weighted images, suggesting that renal function may affect the rate of gadolinium accumulation in the brain after linear GBCA-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging.
Ultrasonographic and Electrophysiological Evaluation of the Ulnar Nerve in Patients Diagnosed With Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Authors: Kose Ozlece Hatice , Huseyinoglu Nergiz , Gok Mustafa , Ilik Faik 
Published: June 2016

Purpose:
In this study, we evaluated the ulnar nerve of patients diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) using electrophysiology and ultrasonography.

Methods:
The study included 86 patients (136 hands) and 39 controls (78 hands) with normal electrophysiological assessment. According to Bland's classification, patients were divided into group 1 (grades 1–3 CTS) or group 2 (grades 4–6 CTS). The ulnar nerve was evaluated at the wrist using nerve conduction studies and ultrasonography.

Results:
The sensory velocity was slower in group 2 than in group 1 (P < 0.001), slower in group 2 than in controls (P < 0.001), and slower in group 1 than in controls (P < 0.005). Although the ultrasonography results showed a reduction in the ulnar nerve cross-sectional area in group 1 compared with controls, the difference was not statistically significant. However, the reduction was significant in group 2 compared with group 1 and controls (P < 0.001).

Conclusions:
Based on our study results, the ulnar nerve is affected electrophysiologically and morphologically in patients with CTS, especially those with advanced-stage CTS.
Cancer cells with alternative lengthening of telomeres do not display a general hypersensitivity to ATR inhibition
Authors: Deeg Katharina I. , Chung Inn , Bauer Caroline , Rippe Karsten 
Published: June 2016

AbstractTelomere maintenance is a hallmark of cancer as it provides cancer cells with cellular immortality. A significant fraction of tumors uses the alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) pathway to elongate their telomeres and to gain an unlimited proliferation potential. Since the ALT pathway is unique to cancer cells, it represents a potentially valuable, currently unexploited target for anticancer therapies. Recently, it was proposed that ALT renders cells hypersensitive to ataxia telangiectasia-and RAD3-related (ATR) protein inhibitors (Flynn et al., Science 347, 273). Here, we measured the response of various ALT or telomerase positive cell lines to the ATR inhibitor VE-821. In addition, we compared the effect of the inhibitor on cell viability in an isogenic cell line, in which ALT was active or suppressed. In these experiments a general ATR inhibitor sensitivity of cells with ALT could not be confirmed. We rather propose that the observed variations in sensitivity reflect differences between cell lines that are unrelated to ALT.
The Lair: A resource for exploratory analysis of published RNA-Seq data
Authors: Pimentel Harold , Sturmfels Pascal , Bray Nicolas , Melsted Páll , Pachter Lior 
Published: June 2016

AbstractIncreased emphasis on reproducibility of published research in the last few years has led to the large-scale archiving of sequencing data. While this data can, in theory, be used to reproduce results in papers, it is typically not easily usable in practice. We introduce a series of tools for processing and analyzing RNA-Seq data in the Short Read Archive, that together have allowed us to build an easily extendable resource for analysis of data underlying published papers. Our system makes the exploration of data easily accessible and usable without technical expertise. Our database and associated tools can be accessed at The Lair:http://pachterlab.github.io/lair
Large-scaletrans-eQTLs affect hundreds of transcripts and mediate patterns of transcriptional co-regulation Short:trans-eQTLs reveal patterns of transcriptional co-regulation
Authors: Brynedal Boel , Choi JinMyung , Raj Towfique , Bjornson Robert , Stranger Barbara E , Neale Benjamin M , Voight Benjamin F , Cotsapas Chris 
Published: June 2016

AbstractGenetic variation affecting gene regulation is a driver of phenotypic differences between individuals and can be used to uncover how biological processes are organized in a cell. Although detectingcis-eQTLs is now routine,trans-eQTLs have proven more challenging to find due to the modest variance explained and the multiple testing burden when comparing millions of SNPs for association to thousands of transcripts. Here, we provide evidence for the existence oftrans-eQTLs by looking for SNPs associated with the expression of multiple genes simultaneously. We find substantial evidence oftrans-eQTLs, with an 1.8-fold enrichment in nominally significant markers in all three populations and significant overlap between results across the populations. Thesetrans-eQTLs target the same genes and show the same direction of effect across populations. We define a high-confidence set of eight independenttrans-eQTLs which are associated to multiple transcripts in all three populations, and affect the same targets in all three populations with the same direction of effect. We then show that target transcripts oftrans-eQTLs encode proteins that interact more frequently than expected by chance, and are enriched for pathway annotations indicative of roles in basic cell homeostasis. Thus, we have demonstrated thattrans-eQTLs can be accurately identified even in studies of limited sample size.
Cryptic diversity and multiple origins of the widespread mayfly species groupBaetis rhodani(Ephemeroptera: Baetidae) on northwestern Mediterranean islands
Authors: Bisconti Roberta , Canestrelli Daniele , Tenchini Roberta , Belfiore Carlo , Buffagni Andrea , Nascetti Giuseppe 
Published: June 2016

AbstractHow the often highly endemic biodiversity of islands originated has been debated for decades and it remains a fervid research ground. Here, using mitochondrial and nuclear gene sequence analyses, we investigate the diversity, phylogenetic relationships, and evolutionary history of the mayflyBaetis gr. rhodanion the three largest north-western Mediterranean islands (Sardinia, Corsica, Elba). We identify three distinct, largely co-distributed, and deeply differentiated lineages, with divergences tentatively dated back to the Eocene-Oligocene transition. Bayesian population structure analyses reveal a lack of gene exchange between them, even at sites where they are syntopic, indicating that these lineages belong to three putative species. Their phylogenetic relationships with continental relatives, together with the dating estimates, support a role for three processes contributing to this diversity: (1) vicariance, primed by microplate disjunction and oceanic transgression; (2) dispersal from the continent; and (3) speciation within the island group. Thus, our results do not point toward a prevailing role for any of the previously invoked processes. Rather, they suggest that a variety of processes equally contributed to shape the diverse and endemic biota of this group of islands.