bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Temporal trends in death causes in adults attending an urban HIV clinic in Uganda: a retrospective chart review
Authors: Cox Janneke A , Kiggundu Daniel , Elpert Lana , Meintjes Graeme , Colebunders Robert , Alamo Stella 
Published: January 2016

ObjectiveTo study temporal trends of mortality in HIV-infected adults who attended an HIV clinic in Kampala, Uganda, between 2002 and 2012.DesignDescriptive retrospective study.MethodsTwo doctors independently reviewed the clinic database that contained information derived from the clinic files and assigned one or more causes of death to each patient >18 years of age with a known date of death. Four cause-of-death categories were defined: ‘communicable conditions and AIDS-defining malignancies’, ‘chronic non-communicable conditions’, ‘other non-communicable conditions’ and ‘unknown’. Trends in cause-of-death categories over time were evaluated using multinomial logistic regression with year of death as an independent continuous variable.Results1028 deaths were included; 38% of these individuals were on antiretroviral therapy (ART). The estimated mortality rate dropped from 21.86 deaths/100 person years of follow-up (PYFU) in 2002 to 1.75/100 PYFU in 2012. There was a significant change in causes of death over time (p<0.01). Between 2002 and 2012, the proportion of deaths due to ‘communicable conditions and AIDS-defining malignancies’ decreased from 84% (95% CI 74% to 90%) to 64% (95% CI 53% to 74%) and the proportion of deaths due to ‘chronic non-communicable conditions’, ‘other non-communicable conditions’ and a combination of ‘communicable and non-communicable conditions’ increased. Tuberculosis (TB) was the main cause of death (34%). Death from TB decreased over time, from 43% (95% CI 32% to 53%) in 2002 to a steady proportion of approximately 25% from 2006 onwards (p<0.01).ConclusionsMortality rate decreased over time. The proportion of deaths from communicable conditions and AIDS-defining malignancies decreased and from non-communicable diseases, both chronic and non-chronic, increased. Nevertheless, communicable conditions and AIDS-defining malignancies continued to cause the majority of deaths, with TB as the main cause. Ongoing monitoring of cause of death is warranted and strategies to decrease mortality from TB and other common opportunistic infections are essential.
Effectiveness of varenicline and counselling for smoking cessation in an observational cohort study in China
Authors: Jiang Bin , He Yao , Zuo Fang , Wu Lei , Liu Qing-Hui , Zhang Li , Zhou Chang-Xi , Cheng K K , Chan Sophia S C , Lam Tai Hing 
Published: January 2016

ObjectivesTo evaluate the effectiveness of varenicline for smoking cessation in Chinese smokers in a real world cessation clinic practice.DesignA prospective observational study.SettingBeijing, China.ParticipantsA total of 924 smokers (883 men and 41 women) who attended a smoking cessation clinic of a large general hospital were assessed with data from structured questionnaires at baseline and follow-up at 1, 3 and 6 months. Trained physician counsellors provided free individual counselling for all subjects and follow-up interviews with brief counselling. 332 subjects additionally prescribed varenicline according to their own choice were compared with those without varenicline.Main Outcome MeasuresPrimary outcomes were self-reported 7-day point prevalence abstinence rate and 3-month continuous abstinence rate at 6-month follow-up. Secondary outcomes were 7-day point prevalence abstinence rates at 1 and 3-month follow-up, and 1-month continuous abstinence rate at 3-month follow-up.ResultsBy intention-to-treat, the 7-day point prevalence abstinence rate with varenicline and counselling at 6 months was significantly higher than counselling only (37.0% vs 23.1%; OR, 1.75; 95% CI 1.46 to 2.62; p=0.001). The 3-month continuous abstinence rate at 6 months was higher with varenicline (33.1% vs 18.4%; OR, 2.04; 95% CI 1.61 to 2.99; p<0.001). Varenicline also showed better secondary outcomes.ConclusionsVarenicline prescription in the smoking cessation clinic appeared to be effective with doubling of quit rates in Chinese smokers in a real world cessation clinic practice.Clinical trial registrationNCT01935505; Results.
Endoscopic totally extraperitoneal (TEP) hernia repair for inguinal disruption (Sportsman's hernia): rationale and design of a prospective observational cohort study (TEP-ID-study)
Authors: Voorbrood C E H , Goedhart E , Verleisdonk E J M M , Sanders F , Naafs D , Burgmans J P J 
Published: January 2016

IntroductionChronic inguinal pain is a frequently occurring problem in athletes. A diagnosis of inguinal disruption is performed by exclusion of other conditions causing groin pain. Up to now, conservative medical management is considered to be the primary treatment for this condition. Relevant large and prospective clinical studies regarding the treatment of inguinal disruption are limited; however, recent studies have shown the benefits of the totally extraperitoneal patch (TEP) technique.This study provides a complete assessment of the inguinal area in athletes with chronic inguinal pain before and after treatment with the TEP hernia repair technique.Methods and analysisWe describe the rationale and design of an observational cohort study for surgical treatment with the endoscopic TEP hernia repair technique in athletes with a painful groin (inguinal disruption).The study is being conducted in a high-volume, single centre hospital with specialty in TEP hernia repair. Patients over 18 years, suffering from inguinal pain for at least 3 months during or after playing sports, and whom have not undergone previous inguinal surgery and have received no benefit from physiotherapy are eligible for inclusion. Patients with any another cause of inguinal pain, proven by physical examination, inguinal ultrasound, X-pelvis/hip or MRI are excluded.Primary outcome is reduction in pain after 3 months. Secondary outcomes are pain reduction, physical functioning, and resumption of sport (in frequency and intensity).Ethics and disseminationAn unrestricted research grant for general study purposes was assigned to the Hernia Centre. This study itself is not directly subject to the above mentioned research grant or any other financial sponsorship. We intend to publish the outcome of the study, regardless of the findings. All authors will give final approval of the manuscript version to be published.
Acupuncture treatment for ischaemic stroke in young adults: protocol for a randomised, sham-controlled clinical trial
Authors: Chen Lifang , Fang Jianqiao , Jin Xiaoming , Keeler Crystal Lynn , Gao Hong , Fang Zhen , Chen Qin 
Published: January 2016

IntroductionStroke in young adults is not uncommon. Although the overall incidence of stroke has been recently declining, the incidence of stroke in young adults is increasing. Traditional vascular risk factors are the main cause of young ischaemic stroke. Acupuncture has been shown to benefit stroke rehabilitation and ameliorate the risk factors for stroke. The aims of this study were to determine whether acupuncture treatment will be effective in improving the activities of daily living (ADL), motor function and quality of life (QOL) in patients of young ischaemic stroke, and in preventing stroke recurrence by controlling blood pressure, lipids and body weight.Methods and analysisIn this randomised, sham-controlled, participant-blinded and assessor-blinded clinical trial, 120 patients between 18 and 45 years of age with a recent (within 1 month) ischaemic stroke will be randomised for an 8-week acupuncture or sham acupuncture treatment. The primary outcome will be the Barthel Index for ADL. The secondary outcomes will include the Fugl-Meyer Assessment for motor function; the World Health Organization Quality of Life BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) for QOL; and risk factors that are measured by ambulatory blood pressure, the fasting serum lipid, body mass index and waist circumference. Incidence of adverse events and long-term mortality and recurrence rate during a 10-year and 30-year follow-up will also be investigated.Ethics and disseminationEthics approval was obtained from the Ethics Committee of The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University. Protocol V.3 was approved in June 2013. The results will be disseminated in a peer-reviewed journal and presented at international congresses. The results will also be disseminated to patients by telephone during follow-up calls enquiring on the patient's post-study health status.Trial registration numberChiCTR-TRC- 13003317; Pre-results.
Development and testing of a text-mining approach to analyse patients’ comments on their experiences of colorectal cancer care
Authors: Wagland Richard , Recio-Saucedo Alejandra , Simon Michael , Bracher Michael , Hunt Katherine , Foster Claire , Downing Amy , Glaser Adam , Corner Jessica 
Published: January 2016

BackgroundQuality of cancer care may greatly impact on patients’ health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Free-text responses to patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) provide rich data but analysis is time and resource-intensive. This study developed and tested a learning-based text-mining approach to facilitate analysis of patients’ experiences of care and develop an explanatory model illustrating impact on HRQoL.MethodsRespondents to a population-based survey of colorectal cancer survivors provided free-text comments regarding their experience of living with and beyond cancer. An existing coding framework was tested and adapted, which informed learning-based text mining of the data. Machine-learning algorithms were trained to identify comments relating to patients’ specific experiences of service quality, which were verified by manual qualitative analysis. Comparisons between coded retrieved comments and a HRQoL measure (EQ5D) were explored.ResultsThe survey response rate was 63.3% (21 802/34 467), of which 25.8% (n=5634) participants provided free-text comments. Of retrieved comments on experiences of care (n=1688), over half (n=1045, 62%) described positive care experiences. Most negative experiences concerned a lack of post-treatment care (n=191, 11% of retrieved comments) and insufficient information concerning self-management strategies (n=135, 8%) or treatment side effects (n=160, 9%). Associations existed between HRQoL scores and coded algorithm-retrieved comments. Analysis indicated that the mechanism by which service quality impacted on HRQoL was the extent to which services prevented or alleviated challenges associated with disease and treatment burdens.ConclusionsLearning-based text mining techniques were found useful and practical tools to identify specific free-text comments within a large dataset, facilitating resource-efficient qualitative analysis. This method should be considered for future PROM analysis to inform policy and practice. Study findings indicated that perceived care quality directly impacts on HRQoL
Formative evaluation of a participatory women's group intervention to improve reproductive and women's health outcomes in rural Bangladesh: a controlled before and after study
Authors: Harris-Fry Helen A , Azad Kishwar , Younes Leila , Kuddus Abdul , Shaha Sanjit , Nahar Tasmin , Hossen Munir , Costello Anthony , Fottrell Edward 
Published: January 2016

BackgroundWomen's groups using participatory methods reduced newborn mortality in rural areas of low income countries. Our study assessed a participatory women's group intervention that focused on women's health, nutrition and family planning.MethodsThe study was conducted in three districts in Bangladesh between October 2011 and March 2013, covering a population of around 230 000. On the basis of allocation for the preceding cluster randomised trials, three unions per district were randomly allocated to receive a women's group intervention and three per district were control clusters. Outcomes included unmet need for family planning, morbidity, dietary diversity, night blindness, healthcare decision-making and knowledge of sexual and reproductive health, nutrition and anaemia. A difference-in-difference analysis was used to adjust for secular trends and baseline differences between women taking part in the intervention and a random sample from control clusters.ResultsWe interviewed 5355 (91% response rate) women before the intervention and 5128 after (96% response rate). There were significant improvements in women's dietary diversity score (increase of 0.2 (95% CI 0.1 to 0.3)) and participation in healthcare decision-making (proportion increase (95% CI) 14.0% (10.6% to 17.4%)). There were also increases in knowledge about: contraception (4.2% (2.0% to 6.3%)), ways to treat (55.4% (52.2% to 58.5%)) and prevent (71.0% (68.0% to 74.1%)) sexually transmitted infections, nutrition (46.6% (43.6% to 49.6%)) and anaemia prevention (62.8% (60.9% to 64.6%)). There were no significant differences in unmet need for family planning, morbidity or night blindness.ConclusionsParticipatory women's groups have considerable potential to improve women's health knowledge, but evidence of impact on certain outcomes is lacking. Further formative work and intervention development is needed to optimise the impact of this approach for women's health.
Prognostic Benefits of Carvedilol, Bisoprolol, and Metoprolol Controlled Release/Extended Release in Hemodialysis Patients with Heart Failure: A 10‐Year Cohort
Authors: Tang Chao‐Hsiun , Wang Chia‐Chen , Chen Tso‐Hsiao , Hong Chuang‐Ye , Sue Yuh‐Mou 
Published: January 2016

Background
Heart failure is a highly prevalent cardiovascular complication among patients receiving long‐term hemodialysis, but the benefits of carvedilol, bisoprolol, and metoprolol controlled release/extended release on the outcomes of these patients remain unclear. In this study, we address the use of these 3 β‐blockers and their associations with mortality.

Methods and Results

Long‐term hemodialysis patients, aged ≥35 years, with new‐onset heart failure and receiving various medications were identified through the use of 1999–2010 data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. From the total of 4435 heart failure patients, we selected 1700 new users of the 3 β‐blockers (study group) and 1700 nonusers (control group), by using matched cohorts according to their propensity scores, and then compared the 5‐year all‐cause mortality rates by using Cox proportional hazard regressions and time‐dependent covariate adjustment. During 3944 person‐years of follow‐up, 666 (39.2%) deaths occurred within the study group, compared with 918 (54%) deaths during 2893 person‐years of follow‐up in the control group. The 5‐year mortality rate for the study (control) group was 54.5% (70.3%);
P
<0.001. Adjusted hazard regression analyses revealed that the therapeutic effects of β‐blockers remained significant for all‐cause mortality (hazard ratio 0.80, 95%
CI
0.72 to 0.90). Subgroup analyses revealed that patients in the study group receiving β‐blockers plus renin‐angiotensin system antagonists exhibited the lowest mortality rate, while the highest mortality rate was found among patients in the control group receiving neither β‐blockers nor renin‐angiotensin system antagonists.

Conclusions
This study demonstrates that the 3 β‐blockers were associated with improved survival in long‐term hemodialysis patients with heart failure.
Decadal Modulations of Interhemispheric Global Atmospheric Circulations and Monsoons by the South Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation
Authors: Lopez Hosmay , Dong Shenfu , Lee Sang-Ki , Goni Gustavo 
Published: January 2016

Abstract
This study presents a physical mechanism on how low-frequency variability of the South Atlantic meridional heat transport (SAMHT) may influence decadal variability of atmospheric circulation. A multicentury simulation of a coupled general circulation model is used as basis for the analysis. The highlight of the findings herein is that multidecadal variability of SAMHT plays a key role in modulating global atmospheric circulation via its influence on interhemispheric redistributions of momentum, heat, and moisture. Weaker SAMHT at 30°S produces anomalous ocean heat divergence over the South Atlantic, resulting in negative ocean heat content anomalies about 15–20 years later. This forces a thermally direct anomalous interhemispheric Hadley circulation, transporting anomalous atmospheric heat from the Northern Hemisphere (NH) to the Southern Hemisphere (SH) and moisture from the SH to the NH, thereby modulating global monsoons. Further analysis shows that anomalous atmospheric eddies transport heat northward in both hemispheres, producing eddy heat flux convergence (divergence) in the NH (SH) around 15°–30°, reinforcing the anomalous Hadley circulation. The effect of eddies on the NH (SH) poleward of 30° depicts heat flux divergence (convergence), which must be balanced by sinking (rising) motion, consistent with a poleward (equatorward) displacement of the jet stream. This study illustrates that decadal variations of SAMHT could modulate the strength of global monsoons with 15–20 years of lead time, suggesting that SAMHT is a potential predictor of global monsoon variability. A similar mechanistic link exists between the North Atlantic meridional heat transport (NAMHT) at 30°N and global monsoons.
Un objet intelligent doit-il avoir l’air humain ? Etude de l’impact de l’anthropomorphisme d’un robot compagnon sur son acceptation
Authors: Goudey Alain , Bonnin Gaël 
Published: January 2016

Résumé Les produits intelligents devraient occuper une place centrale dans la vie des consommateurs au cours des prochaines années. Proches de l’humain par leur « intelligence », doivent-ils aussi ressembler physiquement à des humains ? L’objectif de cette recherche est de tester l’impact de l’anthropomorphisme anatomique d’un produit intelligent, le robot compagnon, sur son acceptation mesurée par l’utilité perçue, la facilité d’utilisation et l’intention d’utilisation. Les résultats de notre étude montrent que, contrairement aux principaux résultats des recherches antérieures, l’apparence humaine du robot compagnon ne favorise pas son acceptation par le consommateur. Nous montrons en revanche qu’un anthropomorphisme partiel favorise l’acceptation pour les personnes ayant une familiarité pratique avec une technologie proche (le smartphone) alors qu’elle la dégrade dans le cas contraire. Nos résultats mettent au jour les difficultés d’étendre les résultats des travaux menés en marketing sur l’impact de l’anthropomorphisme. Ils soulignent, par ailleurs, l’importance d’intégrer l’apparence dans les modèles d’acceptation. Ils témoignent également du rôle de l’expérience avec des produits proches du produit nouveau dans l’impact de l’apparence de ce dernier. Enfin, nous mettons en évidence le rôle du processus de catégorisation dans l’impact de l’apparence.
Hoxa cluster genes determine the proliferative activity of adult mouse hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells
Authors: Lebert-Ghali Charles-Étienne , Fournier Marilaine , Kettyle Laura , Thompson Alexander , Sauvageau Guy , Bijl Janet J. 
Published: January 2016

Key PointsDeletion of Hoxa genes reduces the engraftment potential of adult hematopoietic stem cells. Ectopic overexpression of Hoxa9 partially restores Hoxa−/− hematopoietic stem cell activity.
Fast and accurate branch lengths estimation for phylogenomic trees
Authors: Binet Manuel , Gascuel Olivier , Scornavacca Celine , P. Douzery Emmanuel J. , Pardi Fabio 
Published: January 2016

Abstract
Background
Branch lengths are an important attribute of phylogenetic trees, providing essential information for many studies in evolutionary biology. Yet, part of the current methodology to reconstruct a phylogeny from genomic information — namely supertree methods — focuses on the topology or structure of the phylogenetic tree, rather than the evolutionary divergences associated to it. Moreover, accurate methods to estimate branch lengths — typically based on probabilistic analysis of a concatenated alignment — are limited by large demands in memory and computing time, and may become impractical when the data sets are too large.

Results
Here, we present a novel phylogenomic distance-based method, named ERaBLE (Evolutionary Rates and Branch Length Estimation), to estimate the branch lengths of a given reference topology, and the relative evolutionary rates of the genes employed in the analysis. ERaBLE uses as input data a potentially very large collection of distance matrices, where each matrix is obtained from a different genomic region — either directly from its sequence alignment, or indirectly from a gene tree inferred from the alignment. Our experiments show that ERaBLE is very fast and fairly accurate when compared to other possible approaches for the same tasks. Specifically, it efficiently and accurately deals with large data sets, such as the OrthoMaM v8 database, composed of 6,953 exons from up to 40 mammals.

Conclusions
ERaBLE may be used as a complement to supertree methods — or it may provide an efficient alternative to maximum likelihood analysis of concatenated alignments — to estimate branch lengths from phylogenomic data sets.
Forming a joint dialogue among faith healers, traditional healers and formal health workers in mental health in a Kenyan setting: towards common grounds
Authors: Musyimi Christine W. , Mutiso Victoria N. , Nandoya Erick S. , Ndetei David M. 
Published: January 2016

Abstract
Background
Qualitative evidence on dialogue formation and collaboration is very scanty in Kenya. This study thus aimed at the formation of dialogue and establishment of collaboration among the informal (faith and traditional healers) and formal health workers (clinicians) in enhancing community–based mental health in rural Kenya.

Methods
Qualitative approach was used to identify barriers and solutions for dialogue formation by conducting nine Focus Group Discussions each consisting of 8–10 participants. Information on age, gender and role in health care setting as well as practitioners’ (henceforth used to mean informal (faith and traditional healers) and formal health workers) perceptions on dialogue was collected to evaluate dialogue formation. Qualitative and quantitative data analysis was performed using thematic content analysis and Statistical Package Social Sciences (SPSS) software respectively.

Results
We identified four dominant themes such as; (i) basic understanding about mental illnesses, (ii) interaction and treatment skills of the respondents to mentally ill persons, (iii) referral gaps and mistrust among the practitioners and (iv) dialogue formation among the practitioners. Although participants were conversant with the definition of mental illness and had interacted with a mentally ill person in their routine practice, they had basic information on the causes and types of mental illness. Traditional and faith healers felt demeaned by the clinicians who disregarded their mode of treatment stereotyping them as “dirty”. After various discussions, majority of practitioners showed interest in collaborating with each other and stated that they had joined the dialogue in order interact with people committed to improving the lives of patients.

Conclusion
Dialogue formation between the formal and the informal health workers is crucial in establishing trust and respect between both practitioners and in improving mental health care in Kenya. This approach could be scaled up among all the registered traditional and faith healers in Kenya.