bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Cluster-randomised controlled trial to assess the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of an obesity prevention programme for Chinese primary school-aged children: the CHIRPY DRAGON study protocol
Authors: Li Bai , Liu Wei Jia , Adab Peymane , Pallan Miranda , Hemming Karla , Frew Emma , Lin Rong , Martin James , Liu Wei , Cheng Kar Keung 
Published: December 2017

IntroductionChildhood obesity in China has increased more rapidly and over a shorter time period than in other countries. However, there is a paucity of rigorously developed and evaluated prevention interventions. We aim to evaluate the clinical and cost-effectiveness as well as the implementation process of a complex multicomponent intervention developed using the UK Medical Research Council (MRC) framework. This study provides one of the first examples of rigorous development and evaluation of a childhood obesity prevention programme in a non-western population using the MRC methods.Methods and analysisA cluster-randomised controlled trial in 40 primary schools in Guangzhou, China, including children aged 6–7 years at baseline. Schools will be randomly allocated to either the usual practice (n=20) or intervention arm (n=20). The 12-month intervention consists of four components targeting diet and physical activity behaviours in and outside school, with family involvement. The primary objective is to compare the difference in mean body mass index (BMI) z-score between the intervention and control arms at the end of the intervention (starting March/April 2017). A sample size of 1640 pupils recruited from 40 schools is sufficient to detect a difference of 0.17 units in the mean BMI z-score with a power of 80% (ICC=0.01. ICC, intraclass correlation coefficient) and a significance level of 5%. Treatment effects will be tested using a mixed linear model in STATA adjusting for the child baseline BMI z-score and clustering by school. All analyses will be by intention to treat. Secondary analyses will additionally adjust for prespecified school-level and child-level covariates. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio for the intervention versus usual practice will be ‘cost per quality-adjusted life year (QALY)’. Cost per change in BMI z-score will also be assessed. A range of methods will be used to evaluate intervention implementation, mechanisms of impact and contextual factors.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval was obtained from the Life and Health Sciences Ethical Review Committee at the University of Birmingham and the Ethical Committee of Guangzhou Centre for Disease Control and Prevention. The primary, secondary, process evaluation and economic evaluation results of the trial will be disseminated through relevant international peer-reviewed journals and conferences.Trial registration numberISRCTN11867516; Pre-results.
Stereotactic EEG-guided laser interstitial thermal therapy for mesial temporal lobe epilepsy
Authors: Tao James X , Wu Shasha , Lacy Maureen , Rose Sandra , Issa Naoum P , Yang Carina W , Dorociak Katherine E , Bruzzone Maria , Kim Jisoon , Daif Ahmad , Choi Jason , Towle Vernon L , Warnke Peter C 
Published: November 2017

ObjectiveTo determine the outcomes of combined stereo-electroencephalography-guided and MRI-guided stereotactic laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) in the treatment of patients with drug-resistant mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (mTLE).MethodsWe prospectively assessed the surgical and neuropsychological outcomes in 21 patients with medically refractory mTLE who underwent LITT at the University of Chicago Medical Center. We further compared the surgical outcomes in patients with and without mesial temporal sclerosis (MTS).ResultsOf the 21 patients, 19 (90%) underwent Invasive EEG study and 11 (52%) achieved freedom from disabling seizures with a mean duration of postoperative follow-up of 24±11 months after LITT. Eight (73%) of 11 patients with MTS achieved freedom from disabling seizures, whereas 3 (30 %) of 10 patients without MTS achieved freedom from disabling seizures. Patients with MTS were significantly more likely to become seizure-free, as compared with those without MTS (P=0.002). There was no significant difference in total ablation volume and the percentage of the ablated amygdalohippocampal complex between seizure-free and non-seizure-free patients. Presurgical and postsurgical neuropsychological assessments were obtained in 10 of 21 patients. While there was no group decline in any neuropsychological assessment, a significant postoperative decline in verbal memory and confrontational naming was observed in individual patients.ConclusionsMRI-guided LITT is a safe and effective alternative to selective amygdalohippocampectomy and anterior temporal lobectomy for mTLE with MTS. Nevertheless, its efficacy in those without MTS seems modest. Large multicentre and prospective studies are warranted to further determine the efficacy and safety of LITT.
Gondwana Large Igneous Provinces (LIPs): distribution, diversity and significance
Authors: Sensarma Sarajit , Storey Bryan C. , Malviya Vivek P. 
Published: November 2017

Abstract

Gondwana, comprising >64% of the present-day continental mass, is home to 33% of Large Igneous Provinces (LIPs) and is key to unravelling the lithosphere–atmosphere system and related tectonics that mediated global climate shifts and sediment production conducive for life on Earth. Increased recognition of bimodal LIPs in Gondwana with significant, sometimes subequal, proportions of synchronous silicic volcanic rocks, mostly rhyolites to high silica rhyolites (±associated granitoids) to mafic volcanic rocks is a major frontier, not considered in mantle plume or plate process hypotheses. On a δ
18
O v. initial
87
Sr/
86
Sr plot for silicic rocks in Gondwana LIPs there is a remarkable spread between continental crust and mantle values, signifying variable contributions of crust and mantle in their origins. Caldera-forming silicic LIP events were as large as their mafic counterparts, and erupted for a longer duration (>20 myr). Several Gondwana LIPs erupted near the active continental margins, in addition to within-continents; rifting, however, continued even after LIP emplacements in several cases or was aborted and did not open into ocean by coeval compression. Gondwana LIPs had devastating consequences in global climate shifts and are major global sediment sources influencing upper continental crust compositions. In this Special Publication, papers cover diverse topics on magma emplacements, petrology and geochemistry, source characteristics, flood basalt–carbonatite linkage, tectonics, and the geochronology of LIPs now distributed in different Gondwana continents.
An experimental investigation into Martian gully formation: a slush-flow model
Authors: Auld Katherine S. , Dixon John C. 
Published: November 2017

Abstract
To understand the potential applicability of the process of ‘slush flow’ (a sediment-carrying flow with water and ice) to gullies on Mars, we undertook a series of flume experiments at Earth surface temperatures and pressures, which we subsequently scaled for Mars. Experiments were conducted in a 3 × 0.5 m hinged flume filled with medium-grain-size sand. The experiments were performed over a slope angle range of 10°–30°, corresponding to the slope range for gullies observed on Mars. A water ice mix, or ‘slush’, was flowed through a 19 mm-diameter silicone hose and released onto the surface at the top of the slope. A variety of morphometric parameters were measured on each form produced in the flume. The forms produced in our experiments developed the three principal morphological components of Martian gullies: alcove, channel and apron, and had a diversity of planimetric forms. The forms produced during simulations compared well to slush flows in terrestrial arctic climates, and open up the possibility that some Martian gullies may result from slush flows associated with the thawing of permafrost-active layers or surface frost under favourable thermal regimes.
New slope-normalized global gully density and orientation maps for Mars
Authors: Conway S. J. , Harrison T. N. , Soare R. J. , Britton A. W. , Steele L. J. 
Published: November 2017

Abstract
We reanalyse the global distribution of gullies in order to provide a set of observational constraints that models of gully formation must explain. We validate our results derived from the global data with four detailed case studies. We show that the availability of steep slopes is an essential factor to consider when assessing the spatial distribution and abundance of gullies. When the availability of steep slopes is taken into account, it reveals, with a few exceptions, that gullies are found almost uniformly across the whole 30°–90° latitude band. Our analysis also reveals that massive ice deposits are anti-correlated with gullies, and that the undulations in the equatorwards limits of the gully distribution could be explained by longitudinal variations in maximum surface temperatures (controlled by variations in surface properties, including thermal inertia and albedo). We find a sharp transition in both hemispheres between pole-facing gullies, which extend from 30° to 40°, to a more mixed, but dominantly equator-facing orientation of gullies polewards of 40°. We have no definitive explanation for this transition but, based on previous studies, we suggest it could be linked to the availability of near-surface ice deposits.
Antihypertensive Treatment With β‐Blockade in Patients With Asymptomatic Aortic Stenosis and Association With Cardiovascular Events
Authors: Bang Casper N. , Greve Anders M. , Rossebø Anne B. , Ray Simon , Egstrup Kenneth , Boman Kurt , Nienaber Christoph , Okin Peter M. , Devereux Richard B. , Wachtell Kristian 
Published: November 2017

Background

Patients with aortic stenosis (
AS
) often have concomitant hypertension. Antihypertensive treatment with a β‐blocker (Bbl) is frequently avoided because of fear of depression of left ventricular function. However, it remains unclear whether antihypertensive treatment with a Bbl is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular events in patients with asymptomatic mild to moderate
AS
.

Methods and Results

We did a post hoc analysis of 1873 asymptomatic patients with mild to moderate
AS
and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction in the SEAS (Simvastatin and Ezetimibe in Aortic Stenosis) study. Propensity‐matched Cox regression and competing risk analyses were used to assess risk ratios for all‐cause mortality, sudden cardiac death, and cardiovascular death. A total of 932 (50%) patients received Bbl at baseline. During a median follow‐up of 4.3±0.9 years, 545 underwent aortic valve replacement, and 205 died; of those, 101 were cardiovascular deaths, including 40 sudden cardiovascular deaths. In adjusted analyses, Bbl use was associated with lower risk of all‐cause mortality (hazard ratio 0.5, 95% confidence interval 0.3‐0.7,
P
<0.001), cardiovascular death (hazard ratio 0.4, 95% confidence interval 0.2‐0.7,
P
<0.001), and sudden cardiac death (hazard ratio 0.2, 95% confidence interval 0.1‐0.6,
P
=0.004). This was confirmed in competing risk analyses (all
P
<0.004). No interaction was detected with
AS
severity (all
P
>0.1).

Conclusions

In post hoc analyses Bbl therapy did not increase the risk of all‐cause mortality, sudden cardiac death, or cardiovascular death in patients with asymptomatic mild to moderate
AS
. A prospective study may be warranted to determine if Bbl therapy is in fact beneficial.

Clinical Trial Registration

URL
:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier:
NCT
00092677.
Clinical Outcomes After Ablation of the AV Junction in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation: Impact of Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy
Authors: Mittal Suneet , Musat Dan L. , Hoskins Michael H. , Prillinger Julie B. , Roberts Gregory J. , Nabutovsky Yelena , Merchant Faisal M. 
Published: November 2017

Background

Patients with atrial fibrillation (
AF
) often undergo AV junction ablation (
AVJA
) and pacemaker implantation. Right ventricular (
RV
) pacing contributes to increased risk of heart failure (
HF
), which may be mitigated by biventricular pacing. We sought to determine the impact of
AVJA
concurrent with
RV
versus biventricular pacemaker implantation on
AF
and
HF
hospitalizations.

Methods and Results

The MarketScan Commercial and Medicare Supplemental claims database was used to select 18‐ to 100‐year‐old patients with AF with pacemaker implantation. Patients were divided into those with an RV and a biventricular pacemaker and further into those who did (
AVJA
+
) or did not undergo concurrent ablation. Separately, the AVJA
+
group was divided into those receiving
RV
versus biventricular pacemakers.
AF
and
HF
hospitalization rates were compared between groups after matching on demographics, comorbidities, and baseline hospitalization rates. The study included 24 361 patients, with
RV
(n=23 377) or biventricular (n=984) pacemakers; 1611 patients underwent
AVJA
.
AVJA
+
was associated with reduced
AF
hospitalization risk (
RV
hazard ratio [
HR
], 0.31;
P
<0.001; biventricular
HR
, 0.20;
P
=0.003) compared with no AVJA. However,
HF
hospitalization risk was increased for
RV
(
HR
, 1.63;
P
=0.001), but not biventricular (
HR
, 0.98;
P
=0.942), pacemakers. In
AVJA
+
patients, biventricular pacing was associated with reduced risk of
HF
hospitalization versus
RV
pacing (
HR
, 0.62;
P
=0.017).

Conclusions

In a large cohort of patients with AF,
AVJA
+
significantly reduced
AF
hospitalizations, irrespective of whether an RV or a biventricular pacemaker was implanted. However,
AVJA
was associated with a marked
HF
hospitalization increase in patients with an
RV
pacemaker, which was ameliorated with biventricular pacing.
Body Mass Index and Vascular Disease in Men Aged 65 Years and Over: HIMS (Health In Men Study)
Authors: Lacey Ben , Yeap Bu B , Golledge Jonathan , Lewington Sarah , McCaul Kieran A , Norman Paul E , Flicker Leon , Almeida Osvaldo P , Hankey Graeme J 
Published: November 2017

Background
Understanding the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and vascular disease at older age has become increasingly important in the many countries where both average age and BMI are rising.

Methods and Results

In this prospective cohort study, 12 203 men (aged ≥65) were recruited in 1996–1999 from the general population in Perth, Australia. To limit reverse causality, analyses excluded those with past vascular disease and the first 4 years of follow‐up. During a further 8 (SD3) years of follow‐up, there were 1136 first‐ever major vascular events (nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, or death from any vascular cause). Cox regression (adjusted for age, education, and smoking) related BMI at recruitment to incidence of major vascular events. At ages 65 to 94, the lowest risk of major vascular events was at ≈ 22.5 to 25 kg/m
2
. In the higher BMI range (≥25 kg/m
2
), 5 kg/m
2
higher BMI was associated with 33% higher risk of major vascular events (hazard ratio, 1.33 [95% confidence interval, 1.18–1.49]): 24% higher risk of ischemic heart disease (1.24 [1.06–1.46]); 34% higher risk of stroke (1.34 [1.11–1.63]); and 78% higher risk of other vascular death (1.78 [1.32–2.41]). In the lower BMI range, there were fewer events and no strong evidence of an association (hazard ratio per 5 kg/m
2
higher BMI, 0.82 [95% confidence interval, 0.61–1.12]).

Conclusions

In this population of older men, risk of major vascular events was lowest at ≈ 22.5 to 25 kg/m
2
. Above this range, BMI was strongly related to incidence of major vascular events, with each 5 kg/m
2
higher BMI associated with ≈30% higher risk.
Incorporating peer support during in vivo exposure to reverse dropout from prolonged exposure therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder: Clinical outcomes
Authors: Hernandez-Tejada Melba A , Hamski Stephanie , Sánchez-Carracedo David 
Published: November 2017

Objective Prolonged exposure is characterized by reported dropout rates ranging from 25% to 40%. This premature attrition is also observed in other evidence-based treatments for posttraumatic stress disorder. While home-based telehealth delivery of prolonged exposure resolves logistical barriers to care such as travel time and cost, dropout appears unaffected. A previous study on dropouts from prolonged exposure delivered via telehealth found that Veterans, particularly those receiving care via telehealth, reported problems with in vivo exposure and that having a peer to offer support during in vivo exposure assignments might have prevented their attrition from treatment. Methods The present pilot study treatment was designed in a manner consistent with the aforementioned Veteran suggestions, specifically to involve peers offering verbal support and encouragement during in vivo exposure homework. Such a treatment modification might be particularly useful for those receiving care via telehealth, given increased difficulties with exposure reported when this treatment delivery modality is used. It was hypothesized that dropouts would agree to reengage in treatment with a peer and would subsequently evince improvement in posttraumatic stress disorder and depression scores as a result of this treatment reengagement. Results Of 82 dropouts from prolonged exposure, 29 reentered treatment when offered peer support during exposure (12 in telehealth and 17 in person). Conclusion Treatment reentry was effective insofar as indices of both posttraumatic stress disorder and depression were significantly reduced in both telehealth and in person groups, indicating that using peers in this way may be an effective means by which to return Veterans to care, and ultimately reduce symptomatology.
Fourth update on CT angiography of coronary stents: in vitro evaluation of 24 novel stent types
Authors: Hickethier Tilman , Wenning Justus , Doerner Jonas , Maintz David , Michels Guido , Bunck Alexander C 
Published: November 2017

Background Non-invasive evaluation of coronary stent patency by coronary computed tomography angiography (cCTA) remains challenging. Multiple studies showed that CT technology but also individual stent design strongly influence the assessability of coronary stents by cCTA. Purpose To expand the available data on cCTA characteristics of coronary stents by 24 novel types to help interpreting examinations of patients after stent placement and selecting which stents are suitable for assessment by cCTA. Material and Methods Twenty-four novel coronary stents (17 cobalt–chromium, six stainless-steel, one platinum–chromium) were examined in a coronary phantom. Standard cCTA parameters with stent-specific algorithms were used. Image quality was quantified for each stent using established parameters (in-stent attenuation alteration and visible lumen diameter). Results Most stents (n = 14) showed lumen visibilities of 45–55%. No severe restriction of lumen visibility (>60%) was found. The majority of stents (n = 13) caused only small intraluminal attenuation deviations and no severe alterations (>20%) were found. When grouped by manufacturing material, no significant differences were found between cobalt–chromium and stainless-steel with identical mean visible diameters (1.52 ± 0.17 mm vs. 1.52 ± 0.13 mm) and comparable attenuation alterations (35.04 ± 16.56 HU vs. 21.25 ± 14.60 HU). The only platinum–chromium stent showed a smaller visible diameter (1.23 mm) and higher attenuation alteration (41.70 HU), but was also deemed to be assessable by cCTA. Conclusion All 24 novel evaluated stents are eligible for non-invasive evaluation by cCTA without significant differences between cobalt–chromium and stainless-steel stents. This updated catalogue of CT appearances of current coronary stents may serve as reference when taking care of patients with stents in need of coronary imaging.
Life-Sustaining Treatment Status at the Time of Death in a Japanese Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
Authors: Suzuki Fumiko , Takeuchi Muneyuki , Tachibana Kazuya , Isaka Kanako , Inata Yu , Kinouchi Keiko 
Published: November 2017

Background: Substantial variability exists among countries regarding the modes of death in pediatric intensive care units (PICUs). However, there is limited information on end-of-life care in Japanese PICUs. Thus, this study aimed to elucidate the characteristics of end-of-life care practice for children in a Japanese PICU. Methods: We examined life-sustaining treatment (LST) status at the time of death based on medical chart reviews from 2010 to 2014. All deaths were classified into 3 groups: limitation of LST (limitation group, death after withholding or withdrawal of LST or a do not attempt resuscitation order), no limitation of LST (no-limitation group, death following failed resuscitation attempts), or brain death (brain death group). Results: Of the 62 patients who died, 44 (71%) had limitation of LST, 18 (29%) had no limitation of LST, and none had brain death. In the limitation group, the length of PICU stay was longer than that in the no-limitation group (13.5 vs 2.5 days; P = .01). The median time to death after the decision to limit LST was 2 days (interquartile range: 1-5.5 days), and 94% of the patients were on mechanical ventilation at the time of death in the limitation group. Conclusions: Although limiting LST was a common practice in end-of-life care in a Japanese PICU, a severe limitation of LST such as withdrawal from the ventilator was hardly practiced, and a considerable LST was still provided at the time of death.
Endoscopic Plantar Fasciotomy vs Open Radiofrequency Microtenotomy for Recalcitrant Plantar Fasciitis
Authors: Wang Weining , Rikhraj Inderjeet Singh , Chou Andrew Chia Chen , Chong Hwei Chi , Koo Kevin Oon Thien 
Published: November 2017

Background: Although usually self-limiting, around 10% of patients develop recalcitrant plantar fasciitis despite conservative treatment. In such cases, operative intervention can be offered. Traditionally, plantar fasciotomy has been the treatment of choice, but recently, there has been a push for more minimally invasive approaches. Radiofrequency microtenotomy has also been increasingly used as a treatment option. In this study, we compare the outcomes of endoscopic plantar fasciotomy and open radiofrequency microtenotomy. Methods: Patients treated in our institution with either procedure between 2007 and 2015 were included and interviewed at baseline and 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months postoperatively using the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) and 36-item Medical Outcomes Short Form (SF-36) questionnaires. They were asked questions to evaluate their expectation and satisfaction postoperatively. Demographic and clinicopathological data were prospectively collected from clinical charts and electronic records. Results: There was no difference in either treatment arms preoperatively and an overall improvement in all functional outcomes postoperatively. However, patients who had endoscopic plantar fasciotomy fared better at 3 months compared to patients who underwent open microtenotomy with the visual analog score component of the AOFAS hindfoot score (HINDVAS) and the social functioning and role-functioning–emotional reaching statistical significance ( P = .027, P = .03, and P = .03, respectively). There was no difference in functional outcomes at 6 or 12 months postoperatively. Conclusion: Endoscopic plantar fasciotomy was associated with an earlier improvement in functional outcome in our study. However, both treatments had equivalent outcomes at 1-year follow-up, suggesting that either method is reasonable in the treatment of chronic plantar fasciitis. Level of Evidence: Level III, comparative study.