bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Thyroid Function Within the Normal Range, Subclinical Hypothyroidism, and the Risk of Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: Baumgartner Christine , da Costa Bruno R. , Collet Tinh-Hai , Feller Martin , Floriani Carmen , Bauer Douglas C. , Cappola Anne R. , Heckbert Susan R. , Ceresini Graziano , Gussekloo Jacobijn , den Elzen Wendy P.J. , Peeters Robin P. , Luben Robert , Völzke Henry , Dörr Marcus , Walsh John P. , Bremner Alexandra , Iacoviello Massimo , Macfarlane Peter , Heeringa Jan , Stott David J. , Westendorp Rudi G. J. , Khaw Kay-Tee , Magnani Jared W. , Aujesky Drahomir , Rodondi Nicolas 
Published: October 2017

Background:
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a highly prevalent disorder leading to heart failure, stroke, and death. Enhanced understanding of modifiable risk factors may yield opportunities for prevention. The risk of AF is increased in subclinical hyperthyroidism, but it is uncertain whether variations in thyroid function within the normal range or subclinical hypothyroidism are also associated with AF.

Methods:
We conducted a systematic review and obtained individual participant data from prospective cohort studies that measured thyroid function at baseline and assessed incident AF. Studies were identified from MEDLINE and EMBASE databases from inception to July 27, 2016. The euthyroid state was defined as thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) 0.45 to 4.49 mIU/L, and subclinical hypothyroidism as TSH 4.5 to 19.9 mIU/L with free thyroxine (fT4) levels within reference range. The association of TSH levels in the euthyroid and subclinical hypothyroid range with incident AF was examined by using Cox proportional hazards models. In euthyroid participants, we additionally examined the association between fT4 levels and incident AF.

Results:

Of 30 085 participants from 11 cohorts (278 955 person-years of follow-up), 1958 (6.5%) had subclinical hypothyroidism and 2574 individuals (8.6%) developed AF during follow-up. TSH at baseline was not significantly associated with incident AF in euthyroid participants or those with subclinical hypothyroidism. Higher fT4 levels at baseline in euthyroid individuals were associated with increased AF risk in age- and sex-adjusted analyses (hazard ratio, 1.45; 95% confidence interval, 1.26–1.66, for the highest quartile versus the lowest quartile of fT4;
P
for trend ≤0.001 across quartiles). Estimates did not substantially differ after further adjustment for preexisting cardiovascular disease.

Conclusions:
In euthyroid individuals, higher circulating fT4 levels, but not TSH levels, are associated with increased risk of incident AF.
Incremental Prognostic Utility of Left Ventricular Global Longitudinal Strain in Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy Patients and Preserved Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction
Authors: Tower‐Rader Albree , Betancor Jorge , Popovic Zoran B. , Sato Kimi , Thamilarasan Maran , Smedira Nicholas G. , Lever Harry M. , Desai Milind Y. 
Published: October 2017

Background

In obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients with preserved left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction, we sought to determine whether
LV
global longitudinal strain (
LV
‐
GLS
) provided incremental prognostic utility.

Methods and Results

We studied 1019 patients with documented hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (mean age, 50±12 years; 63% men) evaluated at our center between 2001 and 2011. We excluded age <18 years, maximal
LV
outflow tract gradient <30 mm Hg, bundle branch block or atrial fibrillation, past pacemaker/cardiac surgery, including myectomy/alcohol ablation, and obstructive coronary artery disease. Average resting
LV
‐
GLS
was measured offline on 2‐, 3‐, 4‐chamber views using Velocity Vector Imaging (Siemens, Malvern,
PA
). Outcome was a composite of cardiac death and appropriate internal defibrillator (implantable cardioverter defibrillator) discharge. Maximal
LV
thickness, LV ejection fraction, indexed left atrial dimension, rest and maximal
LV
outflow tract gradient, and
LV
‐
GLS
were 2.0±0.2 cm, 62±4%, 2.2±4 cm/m
2
, 52±42 mm Hg, 103±36 mm Hg, and −13.6±4%. During 9.4±3 years of follow‐up, 668 (66%), 166 (16%), and 122 (20%), respectively, had myectomy, atrial fibrillation, and implantable cardioverter defibrillator implantation, whereas 69 (7%) had composite events (62 cardiac deaths). Multivariable competing risk regression analysis revealed that higher age (subhazard ratio, 1.04 [1.02–1.07]),
AF
during follow‐up (subhazard ratio, 1.39 [1.11–1.69]), and worsening
LV
‐
GLS
(subhazard ratio, 1.11 [1.05–1.22]) were associated with worse outcomes, whereas myectomy (subhazard ratio, 0.44 [0.25–0.72]) was associated with improved outcomes (all
P
<0.01). Sixty‐one percent of events occurred in patients with
LV
‐
GLS
worse than median (−13.7%).

Conclusions

In obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients with preserved LV ejection fraction, abnormal
LV
‐
GLS
was independently associated with higher events, whereas myectomy was associated with improved outcomes.
Contribution of Extra‐Cardiac Cells in Murine Heart Valves is Age‐Dependent
Authors: Anstine Lindsey J. , Horne Tori E. , Horwitz Edwin M. , Lincoln Joy 
Published: October 2017

Background
Heart valves are dynamic structures that open and close over 100 000 times a day to maintain unidirectional blood flow during the cardiac cycle. Function is largely achieved by highly organized layers of extracellular matrix that provide the necessary biomechanical properties. Homeostasis of valve extracellular matrix is mediated by valve endothelial and interstitial cell populations, and although the embryonic origins of these cells are known, it is not clear how they are maintained after birth. The goal of this study is to examine the contribution of extracardiac cells to the aortic valve structure with aging using lineage tracing and bone marrow transplantation approaches.

Methods and Results

Immunohistochemistry and fate mapping studies using

CD
45‐Cre

mice show that the contribution of hematopoietic‐derived cells to heart valve structures begins during embryogenesis and increases with age. Short‐term (6 weeks),
CD
45‐derived cells maintain
CD
45 expression and the majority coexpress monocyte markers (CD11b), whereas coexpression with valve endothelial (
CD
31) and interstitial (Vimentin) cell markers were infrequent. Similar molecular phenotypes are observed in heart valves of irradiated donor mice following transplantation of whole bone marrow cells, and engraftment efficiency in this tissue is age‐dependent.

Conclusions

Findings from this study demonstrate that the percentage of
CD
45‐positive extracardiac cells reside within endothelial and interstitial regions of heart valve structures increases with age. In addition, bone transplantation studies show that engraftment is dependent on the age of the donor and age of the tissue environment of the recipient. These studies create a foundation for further work defining the role of extracardiac cells in homeostatic and diseased heart valves.
Reconstructing the Western North Pacific Summer Monsoon since the Late Nineteenth Century
Authors: Vega Inmaculada , Gallego David , Ribera Pedro , de Paula Gómez-Delgado F. , García-Herrera Ricardo , Peña-Ortiz Cristina 
Published: October 2017

Abstract
A new index, the western North Pacific directional index (WNPDI), based on historical wind direction observations taken aboard sailing ships, has been developed to characterize the western North Pacific summer monsoon (WNPSM) since 1898. The WNPDI measures the persistence of the surface westerly winds in the region 5°–15°N, 100°–130°E and easterly winds in the region 20°–30°N, 110°–140°E, exhibiting a consistent relationship with the summer precipitation in the areas affected by the WNPSM throughout the entire twentieth century. Its length doubles that of the previous WNPSM index (1948–2014) based on reanalysis products, which allows uncovering different relevant features of the WNPSM variability. The WNPSM had a significant interdecadal variability throughout the twentieth century. In particular, the period 1918–48 was characterized by less variable and stronger monsoons than in recent decades. Additionally, the relationship between the WNPSM and ENSO or El Niño Modoki has been evaluated during the entire twentieth century for the first time. It is confirmed that the WNPSM tends to be strong (weak) when El Niño (La Niña) develops during the whole record. Nevertheless, the relationship during the ENSO-decaying phase is not stable in time. Thus, the WNPSM tended to be strong (weak) when La Niña (El Niño) decayed only since the late 1950s, with an opposite relationship in the earliest part of the record. El Niño Modoki shows a rather stable and high correlation with the WNPDI during the whole study period throughout the twentieth century.
A Model of the Ocean Overturning Circulation with Two Closed Basins and a Reentrant Channel
Authors: Ferrari Raffaele , Nadeau Louis-Philippe , Marshall David P. , Allison Lesley C. , Johnson Helen L. 
Published: October 2017

AbstractZonally averaged models of the ocean overturning circulation miss important zonal exchanges of waters between the Atlantic and Indo-Pacific Oceans. A two-layer, two-basin model that accounts for these exchanges is introduced and suggests that in the present-day climate the overturning circulation is best described as the combination of three circulations: an adiabatic overturning circulation in the Atlantic Ocean associated with transformation of intermediate to deep waters in the north, a diabatic overturning circulation in the Indo-Pacific Ocean associated with transformation of abyssal to deep waters by mixing, and an interbasin circulation that exchanges waters geostrophically between the two oceans through the Southern Ocean. These results are supported both by theoretical analysis of the two-layer, two-basin model and by numerical simulations of a three-dimensional ocean model.
A comparative study of negative life events and depressive symptoms among healthy older adults and older adults with chronic disease
Authors: Zhang Han , Gao Tingting , Gao Jinglei , Kong Yixi , Hu Yueyang , Wang Ruimei , Mei Songli 
Published: October 2017

Objective: This study aims to study internal relations and functionary mechanism between social support, coping style, negative life events and depressive symptoms and compare these relations in healthy older adults and older adults with chronic disease. Design: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2015. In total, 1,264 older adults with chronic disease and 749 healthy older adults participated in this investigation which consist of socio-demographic characters, negative life events, social support, coping style and depressive symptoms. Results: The path and direction of variable function in healthy older adults were inconsistent with older adults with chronic disease. Older adults with chronic disease had more severe depressive symptoms and negative life events, and lower social support and positive coping style. Negative life events, subjective support, positive coping style and negative coping style were significantly predicted depressive symptoms. Objective support may weaken the influence of negative life events on depressive symptoms in chronic disease group. Utilization of support and positive coping style worsen the effect of negative life events on depressive symptoms in healthy older adults. Conclusion: This study implied that to improve their mental health, attention should be paid to the role of biological, psychological and social stress factors and its inherent law of interaction.
Impact of economic crisis on the social representation of mental health: Analysis of a decade of newspaper coverage
Authors: Dias Neto David , Figueiras Maria João , Campos Sónia , Tavares Patrícia 
Published: October 2017

Background: Mass media plays a fundamental role in how communities understand mental health and its treatment. However, the effect of major events such as economic crises on the depiction of mental health is still unclear. Aims: This study aimed at analyzing representations of mental health and its treatment and the impact of the 2008 economic crisis. Methods: In total, 1,000 articles were randomly selected from two newspapers from a period before and after the economic crisis. These articles were analyzed with a closed coding system that classified the news as good or bad news according to the presence of themes associated with positive or stigmatizing representations. Results: The results show a positive representation of mental health and a negative representation of treatment. Furthermore, the economic crisis had a negative impact on the representation of mental health, but not on treatment. Conclusion: These findings suggest that the representation of mental health is multifaceted and may be affected differently in its dimensions. There is a need for stigma-reducing interventions that both account for this complexity and are sensitive to context and period.
Beneficial and detrimental effects of genetic explanations for addiction
Authors: Lebowitz Matthew S , Appelbaum Paul S 
Published: October 2017

Background: Addictions are highly stigmatized and increasingly construed as biomedical diseases caused by genes, partly to reduce stigma by deflecting blame. However, genetic explanations may have negative effects, which have been understudied in the context of addiction. How the effects of genetic explanations might differ for substance addictions versus behavioral addictions is also unknown. Aims: This study examined the impact of genetic explanations for addiction on measures of treatment expectancies, blame, and perceived agency and self-control, as well as whether these varied depending on whether the addiction was to a substance or a behavior. Methods: Participants read about a person (‘Charlie’) with either alcohol use disorder or gambling disorder, receiving either a genetic or nongenetic explanation of Charlie’s problem. They rated how much they blamed Charlie for his disorder, his likelihood of benefitting from medication or psychotherapy, and how much agency and self-control they ascribed to him. Results: Compared to the nongenetic explanation, the genetic explanation reduced blame and increased confidence in the effectiveness of pharmacotherapy. However, it also decreased the expected effectiveness of psychotherapy and reduced ascriptions of agency and self-control. Conclusion: Genetic explanations for addiction appear to be a ‘double-edged sword’, with beneficial effects that come at a cost.
Anatomical abnormalities of the pelvic venous system and their implications for endovascular management of pelvic venous reflux
Authors: Beckett David , Dos Santos Scott J , Dabbs Emma B , Shiangoli Irenie , Price Barrie A , Whiteley Mark S 
Published: October 2017

Background Pelvic venous reflux is often treated with pelvic vein embolisation; however, atypical pelvic venous anatomy may provide therapeutic challenges. Methods We retrospectively reviewed seven patient files and reported symptoms, diagnostic imaging, aberrant anatomy and means by which the interventional radiologist successfully completed the procedure. Any follow-up data were included if available. Results Four anatomical abnormalities were found: internal iliac veins draining into the contralateral common iliac vein, duplicated inferior vena cava, reverse-angle renal veins with atypical left ovarian vein drainage and direct drainage of the internal iliac vein to the inferior vena cava. All patients were successfully treated with pelvic vein embolisation. Conclusion Abnormal embryologic development may cause variable pelvic venous anatomy. Knowledge of this will enable interventional radiologists to successfully treat such patients.
Change in perception of sclerotherapy results after exposure to pre–post intervention photographs
Authors: Santiago Fabricio R , Piscoya Mario , Chi Yung-Wei 
Published: October 2017

Objective To evaluate patients’ self-perception of cosmetic improvement before and after they were presented with pre- and postprocedure photographs after sclerotherapy with 75% dextrose. Methods Treatments included sclerotherapy of reticular and varicose veins using 75% dextrose. All treated limbs were photographed and classified according to Clinical, Etiology, Anatomy, and Pathology classification and Venous Clinical Severity Score pre- and posttreatment. The patients were queried before and after viewing the photos during these visits and indicated if they were very unsatisfied, dissatisfied, satisfied, or very satisfied. Nonparametric kappa correlation coefficient and a Chi square test were used to measure associations among agreement (p < 0.05 indicated statistical significance). The paired Wilcoxon test was used to compare statistical differences in mean Venous Clinical Severity Scores measured at different times (p < 0.05 indicated statistical significance). Data were analyzed using STATA software (version 12). Results Individuals were more satisfied with the results of sclerotherapy after exposure to images portraying their limbs two months after the procedure (p = 0.0028). This effect was maintained six months after sclerotherapy (p = 0.0027). Conclusion Patient exposure to pre- and postsurgical photographs is a simple intervention with the potential of improving patient satisfaction up to six months after treatment with sclerotherapy.
Prevalence and Correlates of Autism Spectrum Disorders in Quebec
Authors: Diallo Fatoumata Binta , Fombonne Éric , Kisely Steve , Rochette Louis , Vasiliadis Helen-Maria , Vanasse Alain , Noiseux Manon , Pelletier Éric , Renaud Johanne , St-Laurent Danielle , Lesage Alain 
Published: October 2017

Objective: To estimate the prevalence, comorbidities, and service use of people with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) based on data from Quebec Integrated Chronic Diseases Surveillance System (QICDSS). Methods: We included all residents up to age 24 eligible for health plan coverage who were in Quebec for at least 1 day from January 1, 1996, to March 31, 2015. To be considered as having an ASD, an individual had to have had at least 1 physician claim or hospital discharge abstract from 2000 to 2015 indicating one of the following ASD diagnosis codes: ICD-9 codes 299.0 to 299.9 or their ICD-10 equivalents. Results: The QICDSS shows that the prevalence of ASD has risen steadily over the past decade to approximately 1.2% ( n = 16,940) of children and youths aged 1 to 17 years in 2014 to 2015. The same prevalence was obtained using Ministry of Education data. Common medical comorbidities included congenital abnormalities of the nervous system, particularly in the first year of life. Psychiatric comorbidity was much more highly prevalent, especially common mental disorders like anxiety and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Children and youths with ASDs made on average 2.3 medical visits per year compared with 0.2 in the general population. Between 18 and 24 years old, the mental health needs of individuals with ASDs were met less by medical specialists and more by general practitioners. Conclusion: Information derived from this database could support and monitor development of better medical services coordination and shared care to meet the continuous and changing needs of patients and families over time.
The involvement of galectin-3 in skin injury in systemic lupus erythematosus patients
Authors: Shi Z , Meng Z , Han Y , Cao C , Tan G , Wang L 
Published: October 2017

Objective Our previous research suggested that anti-galectin-3 antibody was highly associated with the development of lupus skin lesions in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In this study we aimed to investigate the involvement of galectin-3 in SLE skin damage. Methods The study consisted of 49 patients with SLE, 16 with dermatomyositis and 11 with systemic scleroderma and 20 healthy controls. Galectin-3 was examined by ELISA and immunohistochemical staining in serum and skin, respectively. Results Serum galectin-3 was significantly higher in patients with SLE than in those with dermatomyositis ( P < 0.01), systemic scleroderma ( P < 0.001) and healthy controls ( P < 0.001); however, it was comparable between SLE patients with and without skin lesions ( P = 0.2010 and was not correlated with cutaneous disease activity ( r = −0.020, P = 0.93) or damage score ( r = −0.380, P = 0.09). Galectin-3 expression was reduced in epidermis in lesional skin from patients with SLE, dermatomyositis and systemic scleroderma compared to healthy controls ( P = 0.0055), whereas it was comparable among diseases ( P > 0.05). As for subtypes of skin lesions in SLE, galectin-3 expression was lower in chronic cutaneous lupus erythematosus than in acute cutaneous lupus erythematosus ( P = 0.0439). Conclusion Serum galectin-3 is unlikely to play a role in the pathogenesis of lupus skin damage, but can be a potential biomarker for the measurement of SLE disease activity. Galectin-3 is greatly reduced in patients with lupus lesions compared with healthy controls, which may contribute to the recruitment of inflammatory cells in the skin.
Lower attendance rates in immigrant versus non-immigrant women in the Norwegian Breast Cancer Screening Programme
Authors: Bhargava Sameer , Tsuruda Kaitlyn , Moen Kåre , Bukholm Ida , Hofvind Solveig 
Published: October 2017

Objective The Norwegian Breast Cancer Screening Programme invites women aged 50–69 to biennial mammographic screening. Although 84% of invited women have attended at least once, attendance rates vary across the country. We investigated attendance rates among various immigrant groups compared with non-immigrants in the programme. Methods There were 4,053,691 invitations sent to 885,979 women between 1996 and 2015. Using individual level population-based data from the Cancer Registry and Statistics Norway, we examined percent attendance and calculated incidence rate ratios, comparing immigrants with non-immigrants, using Poisson regression, following women's first invitation to the programme and for ever having attended. Results Immigrant women had lower attendance rates than the rest of the population, both following the first invitation (53.1% versus 76.1%) and for ever having attended (66.9% versus 86.4%). Differences in attendance rates between non-immigrant and immigrant women were less pronounced, but still present, when adjusted for sociodemographic factors. We also identified differences in attendance between immigrant groups. Attendance increased with duration of residency in Norway. A subgroup analysis of migrants' daughters showed that 70.0% attended following the first invitation, while 82.3% had ever attended. Conclusions Immigrant women had lower breast cancer screening attendance rates. The rationale for immigrant women's non-attendance needs to be explored through further studies targeting women from various birth countries and regions.
The Impact of Total Factor Productivity on Economic Growth for Developed and Emerging Countries: A Second-generation Panel Data Analysis
Authors: Yalçınkaya Ömer , Hüseyni İbrahim , Çelik Ali Kemal 
Published: October 2017

This article investigates the determinants of economic growth and also seeks to determine whether or not the impact of total factor productivity (TFP) changes with respect to the level of development for selected countries. In this manner, the present study examines the impact of gross fixed capital formation, employed labour and the TFP of G-7, G-12 and G-20 countries on real GDP per capita using second-generation panel data analyses over the period 1992–2014. The results reveal that TFP has a greater impact on economic growth than fixed capital formation and employed labour for all country groups. Furthermore, the impact of TFP on economic growth was found to be greater for developed countries than for emerging countries. JEL Classification: C21, C22, C23