bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Impact of statin therapy on plasma levels of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1
Authors: Sahebkar Amirhossein , Catena Cristiana , Ray Kausik , Vallejo-Vaz Antonio , Reiner Željko , Sechi Leonardo , Colussi GianLuca 
Published: March 2016

SummaryElevated plasma levels of the pro-thrombotic and pro-inflammatory factor plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) may contribute to the pathogenesis of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Beyond their lipid-lowering effect, statins have been shown to modulate plasma PAI-1 levels but evidence from individual randomised controlled trials (RCTs) is controversial. Therefore, we aimed to assess the potential effects of statin therapy on plasma PAI-1 concentration through a meta-analysis of RCTs. We searched Medline and SCOPUS databases (up to October 3, 2014) to identify RCTs investigating the effect of statin therapy on plasma PAI-1 concentrations. We performed random-effects meta-analysis and assessed heterogeneity (I2 test, subgroup and sensitivity analyses) and publication bias (funnel plot, Egger and “trim and fill” tests). Sixteen RCTs (comprising 19 treatment arms) were included and pooled analyses showed a significant effect of statins in reducing plasma PAI-1 concentrations (weighted mean difference WMD: –15.72 ng/ml, 95 % confidence interval [CI]: –25.01, –6.43,). In subgroup analysis, this effect remained significant in with lipophilic statins (atorvastatin and simvastatin) (WMD: –21.32 ng/ml, 95 % CI: –32.73, –9.91, I2=99 %) and particularly atorvastatin (WMD: –20.88 ng/mL, 95 % CI: –28.79, –12.97, I2=97 %). In the meta-regression analysis, the impact of statins on PAI-1 did not correlate with the administered dose, duration of treatment and changes in plasma LDL-cholesterol concentrations. Finally, evidence of publication bias was observed. In conclusion, taking into account the limit of heterogeneity between studies, the present meta-analysis suggests that statin therapy (mainly atorvastatin) significantly lowers plasma PAI-1 concentrations.
Heart Failure and Midrange Ejection Fraction
Authors: Nadruz Wilson , West Erin , Santos Mário , Skali Hicham , Groarke John D. , Forman Daniel E. , Shah Amil M. 
Published: March 2016

Background—
Evidence-based therapies for heart failure (HF) differ significantly according to left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). However, few data are available on the phenotype and prognosis of patients with HF with midrange LVEF of 40% to 55%, and the impact of recovered systolic function on the clinical features, functional capacity, and outcomes of this population is not known.

Methods and Results—
We studied 944 patients with HF who underwent clinically indicated cardiopulmonary exercise testing. The study population was categorized according to LVEF as follows: HF with reduced LVEF (HFrEF; LVEF<40%; n=620); HF with midrange ejection fraction and no recovered ejection fraction (LVEF was consistent between 40% and 55%; n=107); HF with recovered midrange ejection fraction (LVEF, 40%–55% but previous LVEF<40%; n=170); and HF with preserved LVEF (HFpEF; LVEF>55%; n=47). HF with midrange ejection fraction and no recovered ejection fraction and HF with recovered midrange ejection fraction had similar clinical characteristics, which were intermediate between those of HFrEF and HFpEF, and comparable values of predicted peak oxygen consumption and minute-ventilation/carbon dioxide production slope, which were better than HFrEF and similar to HFpEF. After a median of 4.4 (2.9–5.7) years, there were 253 composite events (death, left ventricular assistant device implantation, or transplantation). In multivariable Cox-regression analysis, HF with recovered midrange ejection fraction had lower risk of composite events than HFrEF (hazard ratio, 0.25; 95% confidence interval, 0.13–0.47) and HF with midrange ejection fraction and no recovered ejection fraction (hazard ratio, 0.31; 95% confidence interval, 0.15–0.67), and similar prognosis when compared with HFpEF. In contrast, HF with midrange ejection fraction and no recovered ejection fraction tended to show intermediate risk of outcomes in comparison with HFpEF and HFrEF, albeit not reaching statistical significance in fully adjusted analyses.

Conclusions—
Patients with HF with midrange LVEF demonstrate a distinct clinical profile from HFpEF and HFrEF patients, with objective measures of functional capacity similar to HFpEF. Within the midrange LVEF HF population, recovered systolic function is a marker of more favorable prognosis.
An experimental study on foaming of linear low-density polyethylene/high-density polyethylene blends
Authors: Shahi Peyman , Behravesh Amir Hossein , Haghtalab Ali , Rizvi Ghaus , Goharpei Fatemeh 
Published: March 2016

In this research work, foaming behavior of selected polyethylene blends was studied in a solid-state batch process, using CO2 as the blowing agent. Special emphasis was paid towards finding a relationship between foamability and thermal and rheological properties of blends. Pure high-density polyethylene, linear low-density polyethylene, and their blends with two weight fraction levels of high-density polyethylene (10 and 25%wt.) were examined. The dry blended batches were mixed using an internal mixer in a molten state, and then the disk-shaped specimens, 1.8 mm in thickness, were produced for foaming purposes. The foaming step was conducted over a wide range of temperatures (120–170℃), and the overall expansion and cellular morphology were evaluated via density measurements and captured SEM micrographs, respectively. Three-dimensional structural images were also captured using a high resolution X-ray micro CT for different foamed samples and were compared. Rheological and DSC tests for the virgin and blends were also performed to seek for a possible correlation with the formability. Based on the results, blended polyethylene foams exhibited remarkable expansion and highly enhanced cell structure compared to pure polymers. Bulk density, as low as 0.33 g/cm3, was obtained for blends, while for the virgin high-density polyethylene and linear low-density polyethylene, bulk density lower than 0.5 g/cm3 was not attainable. The lowest density was observed at a foaming temperature of 10–20℃ above the melting (peak) temperature obtained via DSC test. Rheological characteristics, including storage modulus and cross-over frequency value, were also found to be the indicators for the materials foaming behavior. Moreover, blends with 25% wt. of high-density polyethylene exhibited the highest expansion values over a wider range of temperature compared with 90% linear low-density polyethylene/10% high-density polyethylene.
A 10-year follow-up of tailored behavioural treatment and exercise-based physiotherapy for persistent musculoskeletal pain
Authors: Emilson Christina , Demmelmaier Ingrid , Bergman Stefan , Lindberg Per , Denison Eva , Åsenlöf Pernilla 
Published: March 2016

Objective: To study the long-term outcomes of two interventions targeting patients with sub-acute and persistent pain in a primary care physiotherapy setting. Design: A 10-year follow-up of a two-armed randomised controlled trial, initially including 97 participants. Interventions: Tailored behavioural medicine treatment, applied in a physiotherapy context (experimental condition), and exercise-based physiotherapy (control condition). Main measures: Pain-related disability was the primary outcome. The maximum pain intensity, pain control, fear of movement, sickness-related absence (register data) and perceived benefit and confidence in coping with future pain problems were the secondary outcomes. Results: Forty-three (44%) participants responded to the follow-up survey, 20 in the tailored behavioural medicine treatment group and 23 in the exercise-based physiotherapy group. The groups did not differ in terms of the change in the scores for the primary outcome ( p=0.17) of pain-related disability between the experimental group (median: 2.5, Q1-Q3: -2.5-14.25), and the control group (median: 0, Q1-Q3: -5-6). Further, there were also no significant differences found for the secondary outcomes except for sickness-related absence, where the exercise-based physiotherapy group had more days of sickness-related absence three months before treatment ( p= 0.02), and at the 10-year follow-up ( p=0.03). Discussion: The beneficial effects favouring tailored behavioural medicine treatment that observed post-treatment and at the two-year follow-up were not maintained 10 years after treatment.
Incidence and clinical features of paediatric vasculitis in Eastern China: 14-year retrospective study, 1999–2013
Authors: Mao Youying , Yin Lei , Xia Hui , Huang Hua , Zhou Zhengyu , Chen Tongxin , Zhou Wei 
Published: March 2016

Objectives To determine the incidence and clinical features of paediatric primary vasculitis in patients from one centre in Eastern China. Methods Medical records of paediatric patients diagnosed with primary vasculitis between January 1999 and December 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. For Henoch–Schönlein purpura (HSP) and Kawasaki disease (KD), patients included in the analyses had data available for the previous 5 years. Results In total, 1896 patients were identified, of whom 1100 had HSP, 760 had KD, 23 had Takayasu arteritis, five had polyarteritis nodosa, four had cutaneous polyarteritis, three had Behçet’s disease and one had microscopic polyangiitis. Of the 615 patients with HSP included in the analyses, 49.8% had HSP nephritis (for 90% of whom it occurred within 1 week of disease onset). Of the 470 patients with KD included in the analyses, 13.8% were diagnosed with incomplete KD and 29.0% had a concurrent coronary artery lesion. For the 23 patients with Takayasu arteritis, the common clinical symptoms were hypertension, asphygmia/weak pulse and heart failure; only one of these patients had been diagnosed at an early disease stage. The five patients with polyarteritis nodosa received immunosuppressant therapy following diagnosis. Other vasculitides were uncommon. Conclusions The most common primary vasculitides in this population of children from Eastern China were HSP and KD; other vasculitides were rare. Paediatricians should be suspicious of vasculitis when there is evidence of systemic inflammation and multisystem disease that cannot be explained by one specific disorder.
Invasive pericranial nerve interventions
Authors: Ambrosini Anna , Schoenen Jean 
Published: March 2016

Background In many patients suffering from primary headaches, the available pharmacological and behavioural treatments are not satisfactory. This is a review of (minimally) invasive interventions targeting pericranial nerves that could be effective in refractory patients. Methods The interventions we will cover have in common pericranial nerves as targets, but are distinct according to their rationale, modality and invasiveness. They range from nerve blocks/infiltrations to the percutaneous implantation of neurostimulators and surgical decompression procedures. We have critically analysed the published data (PubMed) on their effectiveness and tolerability. Results and conclusions There is clear evidence for a preventative effect of suboccipital injections of local anaesthetics and/or steroids in cluster headache, while evidence for such an effect is weak in migraine. Percutaneous occipital nerve stimulation (ONS) provides significant long-term relief in more than half of drug-resistant chronic cluster headache patients, but no sham-controlled trial has tested this. The evidence that ONS has lasting beneficial effects in chronic migraine is at best equivocal. Suboccipital infiltrations are quasi-devoid of side effects, while ONS is endowed with numerous, though reversible, adverse events. Claims that surgical decompression of multiple pericranial nerves is effective in migraine are not substantiated by large, rigorous, randomized and sham-controlled trials.
Determinants of Persistent Anemia in Poor, Urban Pregnant Women of Chandigarh City, North India
Authors: Diamond-Smith Nadia G. , Gupta Madhu , Kaur Manmeet , Kumar Rajesh 
Published: March 2016

Background: Maternal anemia continues to be a public health problem in India, despite existence of multipronged governmental programs to combat it. Objective: This study explores the determinants of persistent anemia in poor pregnant women in an urban population in Chandigarh, India. Methods: A mixed method approach was used to examine the causes of maternal anemia. Three focus group discussions with pregnant women from different socioeconomic groups and 2 with female health workers were conducted to explore their perceptions and beliefs about maternal anemia and iron folic acid (IFA) tablets in urban settings in 2009. This was followed by interviews of 120 pregnant women about their nutrition knowledge and practices. Food frequency questionnaires were used to estimate daily consumption of nutrients. Finally, a follow-up survey in health clinics explored issues of stock-outs of IFA. Results: Sixty-five percent of respondents had hemoglobin less than 11g/dL and were anemic. Only 35% respondents obtained free IFA through public health programs. While 53% of respondents knew that they should eat green leafy vegetables, only 8% reported daily consumption of these vegetables. Focus group discussions highlighted issues around lack of food, especially for slum women, and low decision-making power in the household. Stock-outs of IFA in facilities often pushed women to purchase IFA from chemist shops. Conclusions: Clear gaps emerged in pregnant women’s knowledge and practice regarding diet and IFA tablet use. Lack of control over decision-making due to their low status of women was also hindering IFA use and healthy eating.
Suicide in Canada
Authors: Skinner Robin , McFaull Steven , Rhodes Anne E. , Bowes Matthew , Rockett Ian R. H. 
Published: March 2016

Objective: The aim of this study is to compare Canadian suicide rates with other external causes of death to examine potential poisoning misclassifications as a contributor to suicide underreporting. Method: The study used Statistics Canada mortality data from 2000 to 2011 to calculate sex-and age-specific ratios by external cause of injury codes. Results: The overall Canadian suicide rate, as well as the poisoning suicide rate, declined over the study timeframe by an average annual percentage change (AAPC) of 1.0% each year. However, unintentional and undetermined poisonings increased significantly during the timeframe. Unintentional poisoning mortality (primarily narcotics and hallucinogens, including opioids) increased in proportion to suicides for both sexes, although females were consistently higher. The undetermined death to suicide ratio was higher and increasing for females. Poisonings of undetermined intent increased over time to comprise 47% to 80% of the undetermined death category for males and females combined. Conclusions: Canadian poisoning suicide rates declined, in contrast to rising unintentional and undetermined poisoning mortality rates. This trend is similar to that of the United States, supporting the hypothesis that misclassification of poisoning deaths may also be an issue in Canada.
Physical activity is not associated with spirometric indices in lung-healthy German youth
Authors: Smith Maia P. , von Berg Andrea , Berdel Dietrich , Bauer Carl-Peter , Hoffmann Barbara , Koletzko Sibylle , Nowak Dennis , Heinrich Joachim , Schulz Holger 
Published: March 2016

In lung disease, physical activity improves lung function and reduces morbidity. However, healthy populations are not well studied. We estimate the relationship between spirometric indices and accelerometric physical activity in lung-healthy adolescents.895 nonsmoking German adolescents without chronic lung disease (45% male, mean±sdage 15.2±0.26 years) from the GINIplus and LISAplus cohorts completed questionnaires, spirometry, 7-day accelerometry and an activity diary. Physical activity was measured as minutes, quintiles and regularity of daily moderate, vigorous and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), participation in sport and active commuting to school. Primary outcomes were forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), FEV1/FVC and forced expiratory flow at 25–75% of FVC; they were separately correlated with physical activity and adjusted for confounders of respiratory function, including early-life exposures.Adolescents averaged 40 min MVPA per day, typical for European youth. 79% participated in sports and 51% commuted actively. An association was suggested between 3% higher FVC (∼100 mL) and either extreme MVPA quintile or percentage of days with >30 min MVPA (p<0.05). However, after Bonferroni correction all associations between spirometry, active lifestyle and physical activity were nonsignificant.Spirometric indices were not significantly associated with active lifestyle or measures of activity in lung-healthy adolescents after adjustment for confounding and multiple-comparison artefacts.
Rare Case of Vaginal Delivery in Giant Aortic Aneurysm
Authors: Luneva Ekaterina , Samokhvalova Maria , Pakhomov Artem , Mitrofanova Lubov , Malev Eduard , Uspenskiy Vladimir 
Published: March 2016

AbstractA 33-year-old woman underwent successful vaginal delivery despite previously unsuspected 8-cm ascending and 6-cm descending aortic aneurysms. These were repaired immediately after delivery.
Conference Reviews
Authors: Kowolik Leopold , McLachlan Ewen 
Published: March 2016

Abstract
Crafting Sustainability, OCAD University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 14–15 March 2015
International Conference 2015 of the Design Research Society Special Interest Group on Experiential Knowledge (ESKIG), Design School Kolding and University of Southern Denmark, Denmark, 25–26 November 2015
Reliability analysis of the heart autonomic control parameters during hemodialysis sessions
Authors: da Silva Débora Martins , Macedo Murilo Carneiro , Lemos Lucas Brasileiro , Vieira Fernando Costa , Pirôpo Uanderson Silva , Andrade Helder Brito , Wessel Niels , Pereira Rafael 
Published: March 2016

AbstractThe study of heart autonomic control (HAC) in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) undergoing dialysis treatment has been carried out, however, there are no studies reporting the reliability of measurements of HAC parameters involving the mentioned samples and conditions. The reliability of many HAC parameters was evaluated from patients with CKD during two sessions of hemodialysis. The successive R-R intervals were recorded during two sessions of hemodialysis from 14 CKD patients that were undergoing dialysis for at least 6 months and with no history of recurrent hypotensive events. HAC parameters were obtained with time and frequency domain analysis, as well as with nonlinear methods. The reliability was measured with the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). The results showed excellent reliability (ICC=0.90–0.98) for most heart rate variability (HRV) parameters, especially the parameters obtained in the time domain [square root of the mean squared differences between successive R-R intervals (RMSSD), percentage of adjacent R-R intervals that differ by more than 50 ms (pNN50), mean of the 5-min standard deviations of R-R intervals (SDNNi), and triangular index] and with non-linear methods [standard deviation of the instantaneous variability beat-to-beat (SD1), standard deviation in long-term continuous R-R intervals (SD2), detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA) α1 and α2, approximate and sample entropies, and correlation dimension (D2): ICC=0.86–0.96]. Among the parameters obtained in the frequency domain (normalized magnitude from the spectrum of low-frequency components (LFnu), normalized magnitude from the spectrum of high-frequency components (HFnu), and LF/HF ratio), the LF/HF ratio showed better reliability (ICC=0.96 vs. ICC=0.70). Measurements of HAC parameters have excellent test-retest reliability for the studied samples and conditions.
Furfurylated wood: impact onPostia placentagene expression and oxalate crystal formation
Authors: Alfredsen Gry , Fossdal Carl Gunnar , Nagy Nina E. , Jellison Jody , Goodell Barry 
Published: March 2016

AbstractModified wood can provide protection against a range of wood deteriorating organisms. Several hypotheses have been put forward regarding the protection mechanisms against wood decaying fungi including fungal enzyme inefficiency due to non-recognition, lower micropore size, and insufficient wood moisture content. The aim of this study was to obtain new insight into the protection manner of furfuryl alcohol (FA) modified Scots pine sapwood (WFA), and to examine biochemical mechanisms and adaptive changes in gene expression utilised byPostia placentaduring early colonisation of WFA. Samples were harvested after 2, 4, and 8 weeks of incubation. After 8 weeks, the mass loss (0.1%) and wood moisture content (21.0%) was lower inWFA, than in non-modified Scots pine sapwood samples (W), 26.1% and 46.1%, respectively. Microscopy revealed needle-shaped calcium oxalate crystals, at all harvesting points, most prominently present after 4 and 8 weeks, and only in the WFAsamples. Among the findings based on gene profiles were indications of a possible shift toward increased expression, or at least no down regulation, of genes related to oxidative metabolism and concomitant reduction of several genes related to the breakdown of polysaccharides in WFAcompared to W.
Crystal structure of the poly[(μ4-biphenyl-4,4′-dicarboxylato-κ4
O:O′:O′′:O′′′) bis(μ3-8-(11-(oxysulfonyl)-4-silbenyl)-2-(oxysulfonyl)stilbene-κ4
O:O′:O′′,O′′′) bis(1,10-phenanthroline-k2
N,N′) dipraseodymium(III)], C94H64N4O16Pr2S4
Authors: Qiao Mu , Wang Dehui , Lin-ping Sun 
Published: March 2016

Abstract
C94H64N4O16Pr2S4, monoclinic, P21/c (no. 14), a = 13.174(3) Å, b = 21.479(4) Å, c = 17.797(6) Å, β = 124.23(2)°, V = 4163.6(19) Å3, Z = 2, R
gt
(F) = 0.0599, wR
ref
(F
2
) = 0.1364, T = 293(2) K.
AGGrEGATOr: A Gene-based GEne-Gene interActTiOn test for case-control association studies
Authors: Emily Mathieu 
Published: March 2016

AbstractAmong the large of number of statistical methods that have been proposed to identify gene-gene interactions in case-control genome-wide association studies (GWAS), gene-based methods have recently grown in popularity as they confer advantage in both statistical power and biological interpretation. All of the gene-based methods jointly model the distribution of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) sets prior to the statistical test, leading to a limited power to detect sums of SNP-SNP signals. In this paper, we instead propose a gene-based method that first performs SNP-SNP interaction tests before aggregating the obtained