bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Outcomes of Aortic Surgery for Abdominal Aortic Graft Infections
Authors: Gupta Prateek K. , Ramanan Bala , Grossman Leonid , Gupta Himani , Fang Xiang , MacTaggart Jason N. , Lynch Thomas G. , Baxter B. Timothy , Pipinos Iraklis I. 
Published: April 2016

Background: Literature on postoperative outcomes following aortic surgery for aortic graft infection (AGI) is limited by relatively small sample sizes, resulting in lack of national benchmarks for quality of care. We report in-hospital outcomes following abdominal aortic surgery for AGI and identify factors associated with postoperative complications using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) database. Methods: Patients who underwent aortic graft resection for AGI were identified from the 2002 to 2008 NIS database, a multicenter database capturing 20% of all US admissions. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed. Results: Among 394 patients (men: 73.4%) who underwent abdominal aortic surgery for AGI, 53% of the admissions were emergent/urgent. A significant trend for decreasing number of abdominal aortic surgery for AGIs per year was observed (Pearson r correlation: −.96; P = .0006). Over the same time span, a significant correlation was also seen with decrease in open and increase in endovascular aortic aneurysm repairs in the NIS database. In-hospital rates of overall postoperative morbidity and mortality were 68.3% and 19.8%, respectively. In-hospital rates of postoperative respiratory failure, renal failure, and cardiac arrest were 35.5%, 14.2%, and 8.9%, respectively. Median length of stay was 26 days, with median hospital charges being US$184 162. On multivariable analysis, increase in age per year (odds ratio [OR] 1.07; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03-1.12) was independently associated with postoperative morbidity, while higher hospital volume for this procedure was protective (OR: 0.71; 95% CI: 0.56-0.89). No preoperative factors were independently associated with postoperative mortality. Conclusion: Incidence of abdominal aortic surgery for AGI has progressively declined over the span of our study in association with decreased open and increased endovascular aortic aneurysm repairs. Aortic surgery for AGI is associated with very high morbidity and mortality rates along with prolonged lengths of stay and elevated hospital charges. The outcomes of operations for AGI are better in younger patients and higher volume hospitals.
Glycaemic control in intensive care: Everything in moderation
Authors: Devanesan Arjun , Lloyd Jonathan , Samad Hanif , Saha Shibaji 
Published: April 2016

Introduction Glycaemic control is an important predictor of mortality in sepsis. Various international organizations including the Surviving Sepsis campaign recommend glycaemic control in critical illness with a glucose target between 6.1-10 mmol/L. The NICE-SUGAR Trial in 2009 was a landmark in the debate over tight versus liberal glycaemic control in the critically ill and subsequent guidelines have been adjusted to reflect a move towards moderate glycaemic control. Methods We conducted a nation-wide study comparing glucose targets used in intensive care units in the United Kingdom in 2007 with those used in 2014 to 2015 to see the impact of the NICE-SUGAR study and subsequent guideline changes. Results We received a combined response from 81% of intensive care units in the UK. There was an increase in the average median glucose target in 2014/2015 compared with 2007 (7.8 versus 7.2; p < 0.01). However, there is still much variability in glucose targets used in critical care in the UK. Conclusions There is an overall trend towards using a more moderate glucose target in critical care in the UK reflecting changes in international guidelines. However, it is likely that controversies, which still exist in the literature, are reflected in the variability of glycaemic control targets. It is possible that the advent of closed-loop or continuous glucose monitoring may have a further impact on this.
TNFRSF14 aberrations in follicular lymphoma increase clinically significant allogeneic T-cell responses
Authors: Kotsiou Eleni , Okosun Jessica , Besley Caroline , Iqbal Sameena , Matthews Janet , Fitzgibbon Jude , Gribben John G. , Davies Jeffrey K. 
Published: April 2016

Key Points
TNFRSF14 gene aberrations, common in FL, increase the ability of lymphoma cells to stimulate allogeneic T-cell responses. TNFRSF14 lesions were associated with increased acute GVHD supporting stratified transplantation approaches in the allogeneic setting.
Characterisation of patients with interstitial pneumonia with autoimmune features
Authors: Oldham Justin M. , Adegunsoye Ayodeji , Valenzi Eleanor , Lee Cathryn , Witt Leah , Chen Lena , Husain Aliya N. , Montner Steven , Chung Jonathan H. , Cottin Vincent , Fischer Aryeh , Noth Imre , Vij Rekha , Strek Mary E. 
Published: April 2016

Patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD) may have features of connective tissue disease (CTD), but lack findings diagnostic of a specific CTD. A recent European Respiratory Society/American Thoracic Society research statement proposed criteria for patients with interstitial pneumonia with autoimmune features (IPAF).We applied IPAF criteria to patients with idiopathic interstitial pneumonia and undifferentiated CTD-ILD (UCTD). We then characterised the clinical, serological and morphological features of the IPAF cohort, compared outcomes to other ILD cohorts and validated individual IPAF domains using survival as an endpoint.Of 422 patients, 144 met IPAF criteria. Mean age was 63.2 years with a slight female predominance. IPAF cohort survival was marginally better than patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, but worse than CTD-ILD. A non-usual interstitial pneumonia pattern was associated with improved survival, as was presence of the clinical domain. A modified IPAF cohort of those meeting the clinical domain and a radiographic or histological feature within the morphological domain displayed survival similar to those with CTD-ILD.IPAF is common among patients with idiopathic interstitial pneumonia and UCTD. Specific IPAF features can identify subgroups with differential survival. Further research is needed to replicate these findings and determine whether patients meeting IPAF criteria benefit from immunosuppressive therapy.
Cognitive Impairment and Depression in a Population of Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease in Colombia: A Prevalence Study
Authors: Rodríguez-Angarita Carlos Edgardo , Sanabria-Arenas Rafael Mauricio , Vargas–Jaramillo Juan Diego , Ronderos–Botero Izcay 
Published: April 2016

Background: Growth of the elderly population is linked to the increase of comorbid conditions such as chronic kidney disease (CKD), depression, and cognitive impairment (CI). Cognitive impairment can vary from minimal deficits in the normal aging, to mild cognitive impairment with a prevalence ranging from 1 to 29 % in people ≥ 65 years of age, up to severe impairment with a prevalence of 6 to 42 %. The CI induced by depression usually affects the functional performance of the elderly. Objective: The objective of the study is to describe the prevalence of CI and depression in patients ≥ 55 years with CKD stages 3 and 4, attending a secondary prevention program during 2012–2013. Design: The design of the study is a cross-sectional study of simple random sampling, and 308 patients were invited to participate. Setting: Patients were being treated in a CKD secondary prevention program in Bogotá, Colombia, during 2012–2013. Patients: Participants were over 54 years diagnosed with CKD in stages 3 to 4 according to the K/DOQI classification. Measurements: CI was assessed using NEUROPSI and modified Lawton Scale; depression was measured with Yesavage Geriatric Depression Scale and the MINI International Neuropsychiatric Interview. Methods: Through an interview with the subjects, information regarding age, occupation, civil status, educational level, and clinical baseline variables was collected. Clinical assessment with specific instruments was performed by a multidisciplinary team composed of nephrologists, a psychiatrist, a neurologist, and a neuropsychologist. Results: Two hundred and fifty-one patients agreed to participate. The average age was 76.3 (SD = 7.9) years, 67 % were males, and 86.5 % had CKD stage 3. Overall prevalence of CI was 51 % (95 % CI 44.7 to 57.2), and the prevalence of major depression reached 8 % (95 % CI 4.5 to 11.3); 4.8 % of the patients ( n = 12) had both CI and depression. Limitations: A limitation of the study is its design, which does not allow establishing the direction of the association between predictors and outcomes. Suggested associations must be interpreted cautiously as they are generated as hypothesis, which should be investigated in properly designed trials. Conclusions: CI and depression are prevalent conditions among patients with CKD stages 3–4, with the greatest occurrence of CI, affecting half of the investigated Colombian patients with age ≥ 55 years.
Heavy menstrual bleeding and dysmenorrhea are improved by Magnetic Resonance Guided Focused Ultrasound Surgery (MRgFUS) of adenomyosis
Authors: Jayaram Ramya , Subbarayan Kalpana , Mithraprabhu Sridurga , Govindarajan Mirudhubashini 
Published: April 2016

Abstract
Background
To assess reduction in heavy menstrual bleeding and dysmenorrhea following MRI guided Focused Ultrasound Surgery (MRgFUS) of focal and diffuse adenomyosis up to 12 months post-treatment a retrospective cohort study was done at a tertiary care academic medical center for obstetrics, gynecology and infertility.

Methods
MRgFUS for adenomyosis uterus was done for thirty-seven patients presenting with symptoms of heavy menstrual bleeding and dysmenorrhea with MRI-suspected adenomyosis. The main outcome measure, was reduction in heavy menstrual bleeding, dysmenorrhea and Symptom Severity Scoring (SSS) over a 3, 6 and 12 month period. Secondary outcome was evidence of fertility preservation post procedure. D’Agostino & Pearson omnibus normality test, one-way Ananova, Pearson’s correlation coefficient analysis was performed on the data. Statistical significances, p-value and r-value were determined.

Results
Out of 37 patients who were treated by MRgFUS, 26 had sufficient follow-up to be included in the analysis. SSS calculated at 3, 6 and 12 months was significantly over the baseline. Both heavy menstrual bleeding and dysmenorrhea, which were assessed separately, were found to significantly improve over time with a positive correlation between the two. No other intervention was required.

Conclusion
MRgFUS provides immediate and sustained relief for patients with focal and diffuse adenomyosis.
In the Aftermath: Attitudes of Anesthesiologists to Supportive Strategies After an Unexpected Intraoperative Patient Death
Authors: Heard Gaylene C. , Thomas Rowan D. , Sanderson Penelope M. 
Published: April 2016

BACKGROUND:
Although most anesthesiologists will have 1 catastrophic perioperative event or more during their careers, there has been little research on their attitudes to assistive strategies after the event. There are wide-ranging emotional consequences for anesthesiologists involved in an unexpected intraoperative patient death, particularly if the anesthesiologist made an error. We used a between-groups survey study design to ask whether there are different attitudes to assistive strategies when a hypothetical patient death is caused by a drug error versus not caused by an error. First, we explored attitudes to generalized supportive strategies. Second, we examined our hypothesis that the presence of an error causing the hypothetical patient death would increase the perceived social stigma and self-stigma of help-seeking. Finally, we examined the strategies to assist help-seeking.

METHODS:
An anonymous, mailed, self-administered survey was conducted with 1600 consultant anesthesiologists in Australia on the mailing list of the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists. The participants were randomized into “error” versus “no-error” groups for the hypothetical scenario of patient death due to anaphylaxis. Nonparametric, descriptive, parametric, and inferential tests were used for data analysis. P′ is used where P values were corrected for multiple comparisons.

RESULTS:
There was a usable response rate of 48.9%. When an error had caused the hypothetical patient death, participants were more likely to agree with 4 of the 5 statements about support, including need for time off (P′ = 0.003), counseling (P′ < 0.001), a formal strategy for assistance (P′ < 0.001), and the anesthesiologist not performing further cases that day (P′ = 0.047). There were no differences between groups in perceived self-stigma (P = 0.98) or social stigma (P = 0.15) of seeking counseling, whether or not an error had caused the hypothetical patient death. Finally, when an error had caused the patient death, participants were more likely to agree with 2 of the 5 statements about help-seeking, including the need for a formal, hospital-based process that provides information on where to obtain professional counseling (P′ = 0.006) and the availability of after-hours counseling services (P′ = 0.035).

CONCLUSIONS:
Our participants were more likely to agree with assistive strategies such as not performing further work that day, time off, counseling, formal support strategies, and availability of after-hours counseling services, when the hypothetical patient death from anaphylaxis was due to an error. The perceived stigma toward attending counseling was not affected by the presence or absence of an error as the cause of the patient death, disproving our hypothesis.
The Accuracy of Temperature Measurements Provided by the Edwards Lifesciences Pulmonary Artery Catheter
Authors: Launey Yoann , Larmet Raphaëlle , Nesseler Nicolas , Malledant Yannick , Palpacuer Clément , Seguin Philippe 
Published: April 2016

BACKGROUND:
Pulmonary artery catheters (PACs) are frequently used for monitoring patient temperatures in the intensive care unit. Nevertheless, data regarding the accuracy of these measurements are lacking, and few data testify to the accuracy of temperatures recorded after the PAC has been in place for several days. The absolute values of such measurements are relevant for critical care because patient temperatures are often used as diagnostic criteria for sepsis and antibiotic therapy. We thus hypothesized that the Edwards Lifesciences PAC would accurately measure blood temperature. To test our hypothesis, we compared temperature measurements obtained from PACs inserted in patients for different lengths of time with measurements of a reference platinum resistance thermometer (PRT).

METHODS:
PACs were removed and analyzed in 39 patients in whom PACs were inserted for 0 to 5 days. The PACs were placed in calibration baths, and 10 consecutive measurements at each of 7 different temperatures were obtained (36°C, 36.5°C, 37°C, 38°C, 38.3°C, 39°C, and 40°C). The temperature measurements obtained using PACs were compared with measurements obtained using a PRT. Bland-Altman statistical analyses were performed. Outliers, defined as PAC temperature measurements that varied more than ±0.3°C from PRT measurements, were identified. We considered a catheter unfit for clinical diagnostic or therapeutic use if ≥15% of data pairs were outliers.

RESULTS:
A total of 2730 data pairs were analyzed. Overall, the bias was −0.15°C; the precision was +0.13°C; and the limits of agreement were −0.45°C to +0.13°C. The bias and limits of agreement did not differ according to the age of the catheter or the temperature tested. One hundred fourteen data pairs (4.2% [95% confidence interval, 2.0%–6.4%]), involving 13 PACs and mostly from 4 PACs, were outliers.

CONCLUSIONS:
We conclude that temperature measurements obtained using the Edwards Lifesciences PACs are thus sufficiently accurate to be used for clinical temperature monitoring in critically ill patients.
Muscles provide protection during microbial infection by activating innate immune response pathways in Drosophila and zebrafish
Authors: Chatterjee Arunita , Roy Debasish , Patnaik Esha , Nongthomba Upendra 
Published: April 2016

ABSTRACT
Muscle contraction brings about movement and locomotion in animals. However, muscles have also been implicated in several atypical physiological processes including immune response. The role of muscles in immunity and the mechanism involved has not yet been deciphered. In this paper, using Drosophila indirect flight muscles (IFMs) as a model, we show that muscles are immune-responsive tissues. Flies with defective IFMs are incapable of mounting a potent humoral immune response. Upon immune challenge, the IFMs produce anti-microbial peptides (AMPs) through the activation of canonical signaling pathways, and these IFM-synthesized AMPs are essential for survival upon infection. The trunk muscles of zebrafish, a vertebrate model system, also possess the capacity to mount an immune response against bacterial infections, thus establishing that immune responsiveness of muscles is evolutionarily conserved. Our results suggest that physiologically fit muscles might boost the innate immune response of an individual.
Musculocontractural Ehlers–Danlos syndrome and neurocristopathies: dermatan sulfate is required for Xenopus neural crest cells to migrate and adhere to fibronectin
Authors: Gouignard Nadège , Maccarana Marco , Strate Ina , von Stedingk Kristoffer , Malmström Anders , Pera Edgar M. 
Published: April 2016

ABSTRACT
Of all live births with congenital anomalies, approximately one-third exhibit deformities of the head and face. Most craniofacial disorders are associated with defects in a migratory stem and progenitor cell population, which is designated the neural crest (NC). Musculocontractural Ehlers–Danlos syndrome (MCEDS) is a heritable connective tissue disorder with distinct craniofacial features; this syndrome comprises multiple congenital malformations that are caused by dysfunction of dermatan sulfate (DS) biosynthetic enzymes, including DS epimerase-1 (DS-epi1; also known as DSE). Studies in mice have extended our understanding of DS-epi1 in connective tissue maintenance; however, its role in fetal development is not understood. We demonstrate that DS-epi1 is important for the generation of isolated iduronic acid residues in chondroitin sulfate (CS)/DS proteoglycans in early Xenopus embryos. The knockdown of DS-epi1 does not affect the formation of early NC progenitors; however, it impairs the correct activation of transcription factors involved in the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) and reduces the extent of NC cell migration, which leads to a decrease in NC-derived craniofacial skeleton, melanocytes and dorsal fin structures. Transplantation experiments demonstrate a tissue-autonomous role for DS-epi1 in cranial NC cell migration in vivo. Cranial NC explant and single-cell cultures indicate a requirement of DS-epi1 in cell adhesion, spreading and extension of polarized cell processes on fibronectin. Thus, our work indicates a functional link between DS and NC cell migration. We conclude that NC defects in the EMT and cell migration might account for the craniofacial anomalies and other congenital malformations in MCEDS, which might facilitate the diagnosis and development of therapies for this distressing condition. Moreover, the presented correlations between human DS-epi1 expression and gene sets of mesenchymal character, invasion and metastasis in neuroblastoma and malignant melanoma suggest an association between DS and NC-derived cancers.
«Γρήγορη συμπτωματική μάθηση» και παγίωση νέων λέξεων μέσω της αφήγησης ιστοριών σε παιδιά πρώτης σχολικής ηλικίας
Authors: Καρούσου (Karousou) Αλεξάνδρα (Alexandra) , Κουτσιούκη (Koutsiouki) Μαντώ (Manto) , Τριανταφυλλίδου (Triantafyllidou) Άντισσα (Antissa) 
Published: April 2016

<p class="summary">H παρούσα μελέτη διερευνά τις συνθήκες κάτω από τις οποίες η αφήγηση ιστοριών στην τάξη μπορεί να αποτελέσει αποτελεσματική δραστηριότητα εμπλουτισμού του λεξιλογίου σε παιδιά πρώτης σχολικής ηλικίας. Πιο συγκεκριμένα, η έρευνα εξετάζει τη «Γρήγορη Συμπτωματική Μάθηση» νέων λέξεων, μετρώντας τις επιδόσεις 96 μαθητών Α, Β και Γ Δημοτικού στη χαρτογράφηση του νοήματος τεσσάρων ψευδολέξεων μετά από μία μόνο έκθεση σε αυτές στα πλαίσια ενός αφηγήματος. Επίσης, εξετάζει την συγκράτησή τους στη μνήμη μετά από τρεις εβδομάδες χωρίς τη μεσολάβηση κάποιας παρέμβασης/υπενθύμισης, καθώς και την αποτελεσματικότητα τριών διαφορετικών παρεμβάσεων (επαναφήγηση της ίδιας ιστορίας, αφήγηση μίας διαφορετικής ιστορίας με τις ίδιες ψευδολέξεις, και συνδυασμός των ανωτέρω) στην παγίωση των ψευδολέξεων. Τα αποτελέσματα δείχνουν αναπτυξιακές διαφορές στις επιδόσεις των παιδιών στη δοκιμασία γρήγορης συμπτωματικής μάθησης των ψευδολέξεων ανά τάξη, καθώς και ποιοτικές διαφορές στη χαρτογράφηση των διαφορετικών ψευδολέξεων. Επίσης, καταδεικνύουν βέλτιστη παγίωση των λέξεων στα παιδιά που παρακολούθησαν όλες τις παρεμβάσεις, ακολουθούμενα από τα παιδιά που παρακολούθησαν την ίδια ιστορία δύο φορές. Στα παιδιά που παρακολούθησαν δύο διαφορετικές ιστορίες όπως και σε αυτά που δεν έλαβαν καμία παρέμβαση καταγράφηκε, σε μικρότερο ή μεγαλύτερο βαθμό αντίστοιχα, λήθη των ψευδολέξεων.</p>
Choosing the Devil You Don’t Know: Evidence for Limited Sensitivity to Sample Size–Based Uncertainty When It Offers an Advantage
Authors: Kutzner Florian L. , Read Daniel , Stewart Neil , Brown Gordon 
Published: April 2016

Many decision makers seek to optimize choices between uncertain options such as strategies, employees, or products. When performance targets must be met, attending to observed past performance is not enough to optimize choices—option uncertainty must also be considered. For example, for stretch targets that exceed observed performance, more uncertain options are often better bets. A significant determinant of option uncertainty is sample size: for a given option, the smaller the sample of information we have about it, the greater the uncertainty. In two studies, choices were made between pairs of uncertain options with the goal of exceeding a specified performance target. Information about the options differed in the size of the sample drawn from them, sample size, and the observed performance of those samples, the proportion of successes or “hits” in the sample. We found people to be sensitive to sample size–based uncertainty only when differences in observed performance were negligible. We conclude that in the presence of performance targets, people largely fail to capitalize on the value advantages of small samples in the presence of stretch targets. This paper was accepted by Yuval Rottenstreich, judgment and decision making.
Race, Party, and American Voting Rights
Authors: Bateman David A. 
Published: April 2016

AbstractThere are few advanced democracies that simultaneously make voting as easy and as difficult as the US. This essay outlines some of the recent changes in voting rights and election law, with a particular attention to the causes and consequences of restrictive changes. I argue that both historically and today this pattern has been driven by strategic partisan calculation, which in the American context almost necessarily results in patterns of access and exclusion that fall sharply on lines of race, class, and civic status. The recent skirmishes in the “voting wars” are a continuation of this historical dynamic, enabled by the unique institutional context in which American elections take place, in which parties retain control over the parameters and administration of a highly fragmented electoral system. So long as this remains the case, and so long as there are relatively few institutions capable of checking the incentive to engage in partisan manipulation, the “voting wars” will continue and are likely even to intensify.