bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Control of blood pressure and cardiovascular risk in Moroccan patients with newly diagnosed hypertension: a 3-month observational study in primary care
Authors: Alami Mohamed , El Hattaoui Mustapha , Seqat Mehdi , Sadik Jamaa , Aouad Aicha , Benghanem Gharbi Mohammed 
Published: November 2016

Background: Control of blood pressure and reduction of cardiovascular risk factors are mandatory in patients with hypertension. The aim of this study was to determine the proportion of patients with controlled hypertension and to describe the cardiovascular risk profile in hypertensive patients followed by general practitioners (GPs) in Morocco. Methods: This national, observational, multicentre, prospective, longitudinal study of patients with newly diagnosed hypertension was carried out between September 2011 and December 2011. The use of antihypertensive drugs was evaluated at inclusion and after 3 months of follow up. Uncontrolled hypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure (SBP) ⩾ 140 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) ⩾ 90 mmHg at 3 months of follow up. The SCORE scale issued by the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) was used to assess overall cardiovascular risk and probability of experiencing a cardiovascular event within 10 years. Results: A total of 909 hypertensive patients were recruited (62.4% female). Mean age was 56.8 ± 10.6 years. More than half of the patients (53.0%) were between 40–60 years and more than one-third (34.1%) were obese [body mass index (BMI) ⩾ 30 kg/m2]. There were significantly more obese females than males ( p < 0.001). Over half of the patients (52.5%) had a high or extremely high cardiovascular risk. Abdominal obesity (measured as waist circumference) was the most common cardiovascular risk factor (61.7%) followed by age (40.5%), dyslipidaemia (36.3%) and diabetes (34.3%). Mean SBP decreased from 168.1 ± 14.8 to 138.3 ± 13.2 mmHg ( p < 0.001) and mean DBP decreased from 93.0 ± 10.5 to 81.0 ± 8.6 mmHg ( p < 0.001) after 3 months of treatment. Control of blood pressure was achieved in only 46.8% of patients. Poor compliance (17.1%) and a lack of treatment efficacy (16.9%) were the two main reasons for not achieving the blood pressure target. Conclusions: More than half (53.2%) of the hypertensive patients in our study did not achieve adequate blood pressure control during the 3-month follow-up period and had a high cardiovascular risk. More effective management of hypertension is required in primary care.
Exploring the ambivalent evidence base of mobile health (mHealth): A systematic literature review on the use of mobile phones for the improvement of community health in Africa
Authors: Krah Eva FM , de Kruijf Johannes G 
Published: November 2016

Background Africa is labelled the world's fastest-growing ‘mobile region’. Considering such growth and the fragility of the continent's healthcare, mHealth has flourished. This review explores mHealth for community health in Africa in order to assess its still ambivalent evidence base. Methods Using PubMed, Web of Science, OvidSP and Google Scholar, a systematic review was conducted of one decade (2005–2015) of peer-reviewed literature on mHealth in Africa. Data analysis focused on qualifications of success and failure. Impact evaluations of project assessments ( n = 65) were complemented with general analyses/overviews of mHealth's effectiveness ( n = 35). Results Review of these texts reveals ambivalence in the appraisal of mHealth; essentially, the critical stance in general analyses/overviews is absent from project assessments. Especially weak evidence concerning sustainability and scalability is stressed in overviews. Project assessments are more optimistic. Their analysis suggests a causal connection between simplicity and success. Effective interventions are thus characterized by straightforward design and modest objectives. Greatest impediments of impact are general technology-related issues and intervention inappropriateness due to insufficient understanding of beneficiaries and specific context of use (circumstantial complications). Conclusion Distinguishing between these two categories of complications helps to break the deadlock that marks the mHealth debate and add nuance to claims that mHealth's evidence base is weak. Constructive realism – rather than unfounded optimism or pessimism without nuance – should guide the design of interventions. Besides anticipative of technology-related complications, such realism must lead to either basic interventions or to smart mHealth shaped by deep understanding of the context of implementation.
Coping strategies in relation to negative work events and accommodations in employed multiple sclerosis patients
Authors: van der Hiele K , van Gorp DAM , Benedict RHB , Jongen PJ , Arnoldus EPJ , Beenakker EAC , Bos HM , van Eijk JJJ , Fermont J , Frequin STFM , van Geel BM , Hengstman GJD , Hoitsma E , Hupperts RMM , Mostert JP , Pop PHM , Verhagen WIM , Zemel D , Frndak SE , Heerings MAP , Middelkoop HAM , Visser LH 
Published: November 2016

Background Job loss is common in multiple sclerosis (MS) and is known to exert a negative effect on quality of life. The process leading up to job loss typically includes negative work events, productivity losses and a need for accommodations. By using active coping strategies job loss may be prevented or delayed. Objective Our goal was to examine negative work events and accommodations in relation to coping strategies in employed relapsing–remitting MS patients. Methods Ninety-seven MS patients (77% females; 21–59 years old) completed questionnaires concerning the patient’s work situation, coping strategies, demographics, physical, psychological and cognitive functioning. Forward binary logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine coping strategies and other (disease) characteristics predictive of reported negative work events and accommodations. Results Nineteen per cent of the employed MS patients reported one or more negative work events, associated with a higher use of emotion-oriented coping and more absenteeism. Seventy-three per cent reported using one or more work accommodations, associated with a higher educational level and more presenteeism. MS patients reporting physical changes to the workplace employed more emotion-oriented coping, while flexible scheduling was associated with task-oriented coping. Conclusion Emotion-oriented and task-oriented coping strategies are associated with negative work events and the use of accommodations.
Randomized controlled trial of exercise interventions to improve sleep quality and daytime sleepiness in individuals with multiple sclerosis: A pilot study
Authors: Siengsukon Catherine F , Aldughmi Mayis , Kahya Melike , Bruce Jared , Lynch Sharon , Ness Norouzinia Abigail , Glusman Morgan , Billinger Sandra 
Published: November 2016

Background Nearly 70% of individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) experience sleep disturbances. Increasing physical activity in people with MS has been shown to produce a moderate improvement in sleep quality, and exercise has been shown to improve sleep quality in non-neurologically impaired adults. Objective The purpose of this pilot randomized controlled trial study was to examine the effect of two exercise interventions on sleep quality and daytime sleepiness in individuals with MS. Methods Twenty-eight individuals with relapsing–remitting or secondary progressive MS were randomized into one of two 12-week exercise interventions: a supervised, moderate-intensity aerobic exercise (AE) program or an unsupervised, low-intensity walking and stretching (WS) program. Only individuals who were ≥ 70% compliant with the programs were included in analysis ( n = 12 AE; n = 10 WS). Results Both groups demonstrated a moderate improvement in sleep quality, although only the improvement by the WS group was statistically significant. Only the AE group demonstrated a significant improvement in daytime sleepiness. Change in sleep quality and daytime sleepiness was not correlated with disease severity or with change in cardiovascular fitness, depression, or fatigue. Conclusion The mechanisms for improvement in sleep quality and daytime sleepiness need further investigation, but may be due to introduction of zeitgebers to improve circadian rhythm.
DREAM plays an important role in platelet activation and thrombogenesis
Authors: Kim Kyungho , Tseng Alan , Barazia Andrew , Italiano Joseph E. , Cho Jaehyung 
Published: December 2016

Key Points
Platelet DREAM is required for platelet thrombus formation at the site of arteriolar injury in mice. Platelet DREAM plays an important role in cell activation by regulation of PI3K class Iβ activity.
variancePartition: interpreting drivers of variation in complex gene expression studies
Authors: Hoffman Gabriel E. , Schadt Eric E. 
Published: November 2016

Abstract
Background
As large-scale studies of gene expression with multiple sources of biological and technical variation become widely adopted, characterizing these drivers of variation becomes essential to understanding disease biology and regulatory genetics.

Results
We describe a statistical and visualization framework, variancePartition, to prioritize drivers of variation based on a genome-wide summary, and identify genes that deviate from the genome-wide trend. Using a linear mixed model, variancePartition quantifies variation in each expression trait attributable to differences in disease status, sex, cell or tissue type, ancestry, genetic background, experimental stimulus, or technical variables. Analysis of four large-scale transcriptome profiling datasets illustrates that variancePartition recovers striking patterns of biological and technical variation that are reproducible across multiple datasets.

Conclusions
Our open source software, variancePartition, enables rapid interpretation of complex gene expression studies as well as other high-throughput genomics assays. variancePartition is available from Bioconductor: http://bioconductor.org/packages/variancePartition.
ampliMethProfiler: a pipeline for the analysis of CpG methylation profiles of targeted deep bisulfite sequenced amplicons
Authors: Scala Giovanni , Affinito Ornella , Palumbo Domenico , Florio Ermanno , Monticelli Antonella , Miele Gennaro , Chiariotti Lorenzo , Cocozza Sergio 
Published: November 2016

Abstract
Background
CpG sites in an individual molecule may exist in a binary state (methylated or unmethylated) and each individual DNA molecule, containing a certain number of CpGs, is a combination of these states defining an epihaplotype. Classic quantification based approaches to study DNA methylation are intrinsically unable to fully represent the complexity of the underlying methylation substrate. Epihaplotype based approaches, on the other hand, allow methylation profiles of cell populations to be studied at the single molecule level.
For such investigations, next-generation sequencing techniques can be used, both for quantitative and for epihaplotype analysis. Currently available tools for methylation analysis lack output formats that explicitly report CpG methylation profiles at the single molecule level and that have suited statistical tools for their interpretation.

Results
Here we present ampliMethProfiler, a python-based pipeline for the extraction and statistical epihaplotype analysis of amplicons from targeted deep bisulfite sequencing of multiple DNA regions.

Conclusions
ampliMethProfiler tool provides an easy and user friendly way to extract and analyze the epihaplotype composition of reads from targeted bisulfite sequencing experiments. ampliMethProfiler is written in python language and requires a local installation of BLAST and (optionally) QIIME tools. It can be run on Linux and OS X platforms. The software is open source and freely available at http://amplimethprofiler.sourceforge.net.
An update on semantic dementia: genetics, imaging, and pathology
Authors: Landin-Romero Ramon , Tan Rachel , Hodges John R. , Kumfor Fiona 
Published: November 2016

AbstractProgressive and relatively circumscribed loss of semantic knowledge, referred to as semantic dementia (SD) which falls under the broader umbrella of frontotemporal dementia, was officially identified as a clinical syndrome less than 50 years ago. Here, we review recent neuroimaging, pathological, and genetic research in SD. From a neuroimaging perspective, SD is characterised by hallmark asymmetrical atrophy of the anterior temporal pole and anterior fusiform gyrus, which is usually left lateralised. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies have revealed widespread changes in connectivity, implicating the anterior temporal regions in semantic deficits in SD. Task-related fMRI have also demonstrated the relative preservation of frontal and parietal regions alongside preserved memory performance. In addition, recent longitudinal studies have demonstrated that, with disease progression, atrophy encroaches into the contralateral temporal pole and medial prefrontal cortices, which reflects emerging changes in behaviour and social cognition. Notably, unlike other frontotemporal dementia subtypes, recent research has demonstrated strong clinicopathological concordance in SD, with TDP43 type C as the most common pathological subtype. Moreover, an underlying genetic cause appears to be relatively rare in SD, with the majority of cases having a sporadic form of the disease. The relatively clear diagnosis, clinical course, and pathological homogeneity of SD make this syndrome a promising target for novel disease-modifying interventions. The development of neuroimaging markers of disease progression at the individual level is an important area of research for future studies to address, in order to assist with this endeavour.
A simple, less invasive stripper micropipetter-based technique for day 3 embryo biopsy
Authors: Cedillo Luciano , Ocampo-Bárcenas Azucena , Maldonado Israel , Valdez-Morales Francisco J. , Camargo Felipe , López-Bayghen Esther 
Published: November 2016

Abstract
Background
Preimplantation genetic screening (PGS) is an important procedure for in vitro fertilization (IVF). A key step of PGS, blastomere removal, is abundant with many technical issues. The aim of this study was to compare a more simple procedure based on the Stipper Micropipetter, named S-biopsy, to the conventional aspiration method.

Methods
On Day 3, 368 high-quality embryos (>7 cells on Day3 with <10% fragmentation) were collected from 38 women. For each patient, their embryos were equally separated between the conventional method (n = 188) and S-biopsy method (n = 180). The conventional method was performed using a standardized protocol. For the S-biopsy method, a laser was used to remove a significantly smaller portion of the zona pellucida. Afterwards, the complete embryo was aspirated with a Stripper Micropipetter, forcing the removal of the blastomere. Selected blastomeres went to PGS using CGH microarrays. Embryo integrity and blastocyst formation were assessed on Day 5. Differences between groups were assessed by either the Mann-Whitney test or Fisher Exact test.

Results
Both methods resulted in the removal of only one blastomere. The S-biopsy and the conventional method did not differ in terms of affecting embryo integrity (95.0% vs. 95.7%) or blastocyst formation (72.7% vs. 70.7%). PGS analysis indicated that aneuploidy rate were similar between the two methods (63.1% vs. 65.2%). However, the time required to perform the S-biopsy method (179.2 ± 17.5 s) was significantly shorter (5-fold) than the conventional method.

Conclusion
The S-biopsy method is comparable to the conventional method that is used to remove a blastomere for PGS, but requires less time. Furthermore, due to the simplicity of the S-biopsy technique, this method is more ideal for IVF laboratories.
Detour sign in the diagnosis of subluxation of the long head of the biceps tendon with arthroscopic correlation
Authors: Khil Eun K , Cha Jang G , Yi Ji S , Kim Hyun-Joo , Min Kyung D , Yoon Young C , Jeon Chan H 
Published: November 2016

Objective:
To determine whether detection of the detour sign via MRI indicates subluxation of the long head of the biceps tendon (SLBT) in the shoulder joint and to investigate the association of SLBT with the degeneration of the long head of the biceps tendon (LBT) and rotator cuff tears.

Methods:
This retrospective study included 65 patients with shoulder pain who underwent shoulder MRI and arthroscopic surgery. When axial images revealed that the LBT was displaced over the inner rim of the bicipital groove with some remaining contact with the groove (Criterion 1), or demonstrated a “detour sign” of the biceps tendon (Criterion 2), the lesion was diagnosed as an SLBT. Shoulder arthroscopy was used as the reference standard.

Results:
Arthroscopy identified SLBT in 18 patients. When the MRI diagnosis was based on Criterion 1 alone, SLBT was diagnosed with a sensitivity of 44.4–55.6% and 75.4–80% accuracy. However, when the MRI diagnosis was based on Criteria 1 plus 2, SLBT was diagnosed with a sensitivity of 83.3–94.4% and 78.5–81.5% accuracy. There was a significant difference (p &lt; 0.05) in the diagnostic sensitivity of Criteria 1 and 2.

Conclusion:
The detour sign based on axial MRI may be regarded an additional useful anatomical feature that improves the diagnostic performance of MRI in the identification of SLBT lesions.

Advances in knowledge:
Recognition of the detour sign may enhance the diagnostic performance of the conventional MRI protocol over the MR arthrography protocol for SLBT.
Nomogram for radiation-induced hypothyroidism prediction in nasopharyngeal carcinoma after treatment
Authors: Luo Ren , Li Mei , Yang Zhining , Zhan Yizhou , Huang Baotian , Lu Jiayang , Xu Zhenxi , Lin Zhixiong 
Published: November 2016

Objective:
The aim of this study was to develop a nomogram for radiation-induced hypothyroidism (RHT) prediction.

Methods:
We collected data from 164 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) in our previous prospective study. Biochemical hypothyroidism was defined as a serum thyroid-stimulating hormone level greater than the normal value. We collected both clinical and dose–volume factors. A univariate Cox regression analysis was performed to identify RHT risk factors. Optimal predictors were selected according to the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO). We then selected the Cox regression models that best balanced the prediction performance and practicability to build a nomogram for RHT prediction.

Results:
There were 38 (23.2%) patients who developed RHT, and the median follow-up was 24 months. The univariate Cox regression analysis indicated that gender, minimum dose, mean dose (D mean) and V 25–V 60 [V x (%), the percentage of thyroid volume receiving &gt;x Gy] of the thyroid were significantly associated with RHT. The variables of gender, receiving chemotherapy or not (chemo), D mean and V 50 were selected using the LASSO analysis. A nomogram based on a three-variable (gender, chemo and V 50) Cox regression model was constructed, and its concordance index was 0.72. Good accordance between prediction and observation was showed by calibration curves in the probability of RHT at 18, 24 and 30 months.

Conclusion:
This study built a nomogram for RHT in NPC survivors by analyzing both clinical and dose–volume parameters using LASSO. Thus, the individual dose constraint could be achieved in a visual format.

Advances in knowledge:
This study used LASSO to more accurately address the multicollinear problem between variables. The resulting nomogram will help physicians predict RHT.
Dosimetric trade-offs in breast treatment with VMAT technique
Authors: Fogliata Antonella , Seppälä Jan , Reggiori Giacomo , Lobefalo Francesca , Palumbo Valentina , De Rose Fiorenza , Franceschini Davide , Scorsetti Marta , Cozzi Luca 
Published: November 2016

Objective:
Breast planning with volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) has been explored, especially for left-sided breast treatments, with the primary intent of lowering the heart dose and improving target dose homogeneity. As a trade-off, larger healthy tissue volumes would receive low dose levels, with the potential risk of increasing late toxicities and secondary cancer induction, although no clinical data are available today to confirm the risk level. The scope of this work is to explore the dosimetric trade-offs using two different VMAT plans.

Methods:
Two planning strategies for dual-partial-arc VMAT, RA_avoid and RA_full, with and without avoidance sectors, were explored in a cohort of 20 patients, for whole left breast irradiation for 40.05 Gy to the mean target dose in 15 fractions. Common dose objectives included a stringent dose homogeneity, mean dose to the heart &lt;5 Gy, ipsilateral lung (I lung) &lt;8 Gy, contralateral lung (C lung) &lt;2 Gy and contralateral breast (C breast) &lt;3 Gy.

Results:
RA_full showed a better dose conformity, lower high-dose spillage in the healthy tissue and lower skin dose. RA_avoid presented a reduction of the mean doses for all critical structures: 51% to the heart, 12% to the I lung, 81% to the C lung and 73% to the C breast. All differences were significant with p &lt; 0.0001.

Conclusion:
The adaptation of VMAT options to planning objectives reduced significantly the healthy tissue dose levels at the price of some high-dose spillage. Evaluation of the trade-offs for application to the different critical structures should drive in improving the usage of the VMAT technique for breast cancer treatment.

Advances in knowledge:
Different planning strategies in the same VMAT technique could give significant variations in dose distributions. The choice of the trade-offs would affect the possible future late toxicity and secondary cancer induction risk.
Early embryo mortality in natural human reproduction: What the data say
Authors: Jarvis Gavin E. 
Published: November 2016

It is generally accepted that natural human embryo mortality during pregnancy is high – losses of 70% and higher from fertilisation to birth are frequently claimed. The first external sign of pregnancy occurs two weeks after fertilisation with a missed menstrual period. Establishing the fate of embryos before this is challenging, and hampered by a lack of data on the efficiency of fertilisation under natural conditions. Four distinct sources are cited to justify quantitative claims regarding embryo loss: (i) a hypothesis published by Roberts & Lowe inTheLancet is widely cited but has no practical quantitative value; (ii) life table analyses give consistent assessments of clinical pregnancy loss, but cannot illuminate losses at earlier stages of development; (iii) studies that measure human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) reveal losses in the second week of development and beyond, but not before; and (iv) the classic studies of Hertig and Rock offer the only direct insight into the fate of human embryos from fertilisation under natural conditions. Re-examination of Hertig’s data demonstrates that his estimates for fertilisation rate and early embryo loss are highly imprecise and casts doubt on the validity of his numerical analysis. A recent re-analysis of hCG study data suggests that approximately 40-60% of embryos may be lost between fertilisation and birth, although this will vary substantially between individual women. In conclusion, it is clear that some published estimates of natural embryo mortality are exaggerated. Although available data do not provide a precise estimate, natural human embryo mortality is lower than is often claimed.