bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Impact of weight loss on waist circumference and the components of the metabolic syndrome
Authors: Rothberg Amy E , McEwen Laura N , Kraftson Andrew T , Ajluni Nevin , Fowler Christine E , Nay Catherine K , Miller Nicole M , Burant Charles F , Herman William H 
Published: February 2017

ObjectiveCentral adiposity is a component of the metabolic syndrome (MetS). Little is known about the impact of medical weight loss and decreased waist circumference (WC) on the MetS. Our objective was to assess the impact of changes in WC on blood pressure, lipids and glycemia.Research design and methodsWe studied 430 obese patients enrolled in a 2-year, intensive, behavioral, weight management program. We report results for participants who completed 6-month and 2-year follow-up.ResultsParticipants were 49±9 years of age (mean±SD), 56% were women and 85% were white. Baseline body mass index (BMI) was 41±6 kg/m2and baseline WC was 120±14 cm. At 6 months, BMI decreased by 6±3 kg/m2and WC by 14±9 cm. Relative change in WC was defined as the 6-month or 2-year WC minus the baseline WC divided by the baseline WC. Systolic blood pressure decreased by 8 mm Hg for the tertile of participants with the largest relative decrease in WC and by 2 mm Hg for those with the smallest relative decrease in WC (p=0.025). Similar patterns of improvement were observed in total cholesterol (−29 vs −12 mg/dL, p=0.017), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (−19 vs −4 mg/dL, p=0.033), and glycated hemoglobin (−1.2 vs −0.3%, p=0.006). At 2 years, BMI decreased by 5±4 kg/m2and WC by 11±11 cm and similar patterns of improvements were seen in components of the MetS. At both 6 months and 2 years, larger relative decreases in WC were associated with greater improvements in lipids and glycemia independent of sex.ConclusionsIn obese people, greater relative decreases in WC with medical weight loss are associated with greater improvements in components of the MetS independent of sex.
Evaluating investment in quality improvement capacity building: a systematic review
Authors: Mery Gustavo , Dobrow Mark J , Baker G Ross , Im Jennifer , Brown Adalsteinn 
Published: February 2017

PurposeLeading health systems have invested in substantial quality improvement (QI) capacity building, but little is known about the aggregate effect of these investments at the health system level. We conducted a systematic review to identify key steps and elements that should be considered for system-level evaluations of investment in QI capacity building.MethodsWe searched for evaluations of QI capacity building and evaluations of QI training programmes. We included the most relevant indexed databases in the field and a strategic search of the grey literature. The latter included direct electronic scanning of 85 relevant government and institutional websites internationally. Data were extracted regarding evaluation design and common assessment themes and components.Results48 articles met the inclusion criteria. 46 articles described initiative-level non-economic evaluations of QI capacity building/training, while 2 studies included economic evaluations of QI capacity building/training, also at the initiative level. No system-level QI capacity building/training evaluations were found. We identified 17 evaluation components that fit within 5 overarching dimensions (characteristics of QI training; characteristics of QI activity; individual capacity; organisational capacity and impact) that should be considered in evaluations of QI capacity building. 8 key steps in return-on-investment (ROI) assessments in QI capacity building were identified: (1) planning—stakeholder perspective; (2) planning—temporal perspective; (3) identifying costs; (4) identifying benefits; (5) identifying intangible benefits that will not be included in the ROI estimation; (6) discerning attribution; (7) ROI calculations; (8) sensitivity analysis.ConclusionsThe literature on QI capacity building evaluation is limited in the number and scope of studies. Our findings, summarised in aFramework to Guide Evaluations of QI Capacity Building, can be used to start closing this knowledge gap.
Interpretation and use of evidence in state policymaking: a qualitative analysis
Authors: Apollonio Dorie E , Bero Lisa A 
Published: February 2017

IntroductionResearchers advocating for evidence-informed policy have attempted to encourage policymakers to develop a greater understanding of research and researchers to develop a better understanding of the policymaking process. Our aim was to apply findings drawn from studies of the policymaking process, specifically the theory of policy windows, to identify strategies used to integrate evidence into policymaking and points in the policymaking process where evidence was more or less relevant.MethodsOur observational study relied on interviews conducted with 24 policymakers from the USA who had been trained to interpret scientific research in multiple iterations of an evidence-based workshop. Participants were asked to describe cases where they had been involved in making health policy and to provide examples in which research was used, either successfully or unsuccessfully. Interviews were transcribed, independently coded by multiple members of the study team and analysed for content using key words, concepts identified by participants and concepts arising from review of the texts.ResultsOur results suggest that policymakers who focused on health issues used multiple strategies to encourage evidence-informed policymaking. The respondents used a strict definition of what constituted evidence, and relied on their experience with research to discourage the use of less rigorous research. Their experience suggested that evidence was less useful in identifying problems, encouraging political action or ensuring feasibility and more useful in developing policy alternatives.ConclusionsPast research has suggested multiple strategies to increase the use of evidence in policymaking, including the development of rapid-response research and policy-oriented summaries of data. Our findings suggest that these strategies may be most relevant to the policymaking stream, which develops policy alternatives. In addition, we identify several strategies that policymakers and researchers can apply to encourage evidence-informed policymaking.
Parallel contagion phenomenon of concordant mental disorders among married couples: a nationwide cohort study
Authors: Wang Jong-Yi , Hsieh Ming-Hong , Lin Pei-Ching , Liu Chiu-Shong , Chen Jen-De 
Published: February 2017

BackgroundThe aggregation of mental disorders in couples, as reported by prior research, indicates the effect of familial environments and warrants attention. However, the concordant categories of mental disorders in couples remain unclear. This study investigated spousal concordance for the category of mental disorders among couples throughout Taiwan by using factors associated with such disorders.Methods5643 couples in the 2002–2013 Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database were analysed and compared with propensity-matched 5643 non-couples. Twelve independent variables, including spouse and shared characteristics, and the category of mental disorders were analysed, mainly by using multinomial logistic regression.ResultsThe determined prevalence rates for concordant categories of mental disorder were 0.19% for affective disorders, 6.96% for anxiety disorders, and 3.15% of other mental disorders. Multinomial logistic regression results revealed that two spouses were significantly more likely to be diagnosed with the same category of the aforementioned mental disorders (ORs=2.914, 1.776 and 1.727, respectively). Other associated factors included gender, age, occupation, comorbidity and region. The odds of concordances were significantly higher in couples than in non-couples.ConclusionsA category of mental disorder in one spouse is a determinant of that in the other spouse. This study extended the emotional contagion theory to the phenomenon of parallel contagion to reflect the three concordances, suggesting a direction of family-based mental health intervention, particularly prevention for the same category of mental disorders in couples. Policymakers should strengthen the coping strategies of the caring spouse and external support system to psychiatrically vulnerable families.
The availability of smoking-permitted accommodations from Airbnb in 12 Canadian cities
Authors: Kennedy Ryan David , Douglas Ornell , Stehouwer Lindsay , Dawson Jackie 
Published: February 2017

PurposeAirbnb is a web-based peer-to-peer (P2P) service that enables potential hosts and guests to broker accommodations in private homes as an alternative to traditional hotels. The hospitality sector has increasingly gone smoke-free over the last decade. This study identified the availability and cost of smoking-permitted accommodations identified on Airbnb.MethodsThe study team searched for Airbnb accommodations in 12 Canadian cities across each of Canada’s 10 provinces. Searches included availability for a single person for a private room, or double occupancy for an entire home/apartment; searches were for 1-night and 1-week stays.ResultsCities across Canada, including Regina, Fredericton and Charlottetown, had no smoking-permitted accommodations available for the searches conducted. The proportion of private rooms available for one night that permitted smoking ranged from 2% in Calgary, 4% in Winnipeg and St. John’s, 10% in Halifax and Victoria, 18% in Toronto, 45% in Vancouver and 69% in Montréal. The average cost for a private room for one night in Vancouver was $128, while the cost for a private room that permits smoking was $62; however, in other markets prices were more similar.DiscussionAcross Canada, there is a wide range of smoking-permitted accommodations available through Airbnb. In some markets, smoking-permitted accommodation may be significantly less expensive than smoke-free options. As hotel chains increasingly go smoke-free, it is possible that the marketplace will respond with offerings to fulfil consumer demand. As policy makers consider how to regulate P2P services like Airbnb, public health considerations should be included.
Mineral status in canine medial coronoid process disease: a cohort study using analysis of hair by mass spectrometry
Authors: Davies M. , West J. , Williams C. , Gardner D.S. 
Published: February 2017

In several species, developmental skeletal diseases involving abnormal endochondral ossification have been associated with imbalanced mineral intake. Hair analysis reflects long‐term mineral status. To determine the mineral content of hair from dogs with or without medial coronoid process disease (MCPD). Dogs with MCPD have a different profile of minerals known to influence metalloenzymes involved in endochondral ossification. After cleansing, chelation and acid digestion of hair samples (n=79 in total: control dogs, n=70 v MCPD, n=9), mineral profile (7 major and 25 trace elements) was determined by inductively coupled plasma‐mass spectrometry. Dogs were of similar age (control, 4.05 [1.85–7.70] v MCPD, 4.30 [3.25–6.53] median (IQR) years; P=0.78) and gender (control, n=43/27 v MCPD, n=4/5 males/females). 28/70 (40 per cent) of control and 8/9 (88 per cent) of MCPD dogs were neutered, respectively. Hair from dogs with MCPD contained significantly lower amounts (µg/g/DM) of copper, sulphur and zinc (all at P<0.001). Age, sex and neutered status had no effect on hair mineral status. Based on hair analysis, a role for mineral imbalance including copper, sulphur and zinc in the aetiopathogenesis of canine MCPD is suggested. Hair mineral analysis may prove useful as a biomarker for susceptible puppies.
Synthesis and magnetic property of Eu-doped barium vanadate microflowers
Authors: Zhuo Fengping , Wang Yue , Fu Ya , Yuan Jinhai , Xu Jing 
Published: February 2017

The Ba3V2O8and Ba3V2O8:Eu[Formula: see text] microflowers were synthesized by the composite-hydroxide-mediated (CHM) method from V2O5, BaCl2and Eu(NO[Formula: see text] without using any surface-capping agent. XRD, EDS and XPS spectra of the crystals indicated that Eu[Formula: see text] ions were incorporated into the Ba3V2O8lattices. The effect of doping Eu[Formula: see text] on the magnetic property of Ba3V2O8crystal has been investigated at room temperature. The Ba3V2O8:Eu[Formula: see text] crystals exhibited room-temperature ferromagnetic behavior with remanence magnetization (Mr) of about 5.411 × 10[Formula: see text] emu/g and coercivity (Hc) of 28.29 Oe. The mechanism of enhanced magnetic property of Eu-doped Ba3V2O8crystals has been discussed in detail.
ДОСВІД ОСВОЄННЯ ПРАКТИЧНИХ НАВИЧОК СТУДЕНТАМИ НА КАФЕДРІ ПРОПЕДЕВТИКИ ВНУТРІШНЬОЇ МЕДИЦИНИ В УМОВАХ СИМУЛЯЦІЙНОГО ЦЕНТРУ
Authors: Andreychyn S. M. , Bilkevych N. A. , Chernets T. Yu. , Buhai B. H. , Lykhatska V. O. , Vereshchahina N. Ya. , Kavetska N. A. , Kuziv P. P. , Ruda M. M. , Yarema N. Z. , Hanberher I. I. , Kucher S. V. 
Published: February 2017

У статті розглянуто можливості методу симуляційного навчання у світлі сучасних уявлень про процес засвоєння інформації та набуття практичних компетенцій. Проаналізовано власний досвід проведення практичних занять для студентів ІІ-ІІІ курсів медичного університету на основі наявних у наукових публікаціях даних про результати впровадження методу симуляційного навчання у медичних вищих навчальних закладах України.
Impact of Practice-Based Management of Pulmonary Artery Pressures in 2000 Patients Implanted With the CardioMEMS Sensor
Authors: Heywood J. Thomas , Jermyn Rita , Shavelle David , Abraham William T. , Bhimaraj Arvind , Bhatt Kunjan , Sheikh Fareed , Eichorn Eric , Lamba Sumant , Bharmi Rupinder , Agarwal Rahul , Kumar Charisma , Stevenson Lynne W. 
Published: February 2017

Background:
Elevated pulmonary artery (PA) pressures in patients with heart failure are associated with a high risk for hospitalization and mortality. Recent clinical trial evidence demonstrated a direct relationship between lowering remotely monitored PA pressures and heart failure hospitalization risk reduction with a novel implantable PA pressure monitoring system (CardioMEMS HF System, St. Jude Medical). This study examines PA pressure changes in the first 2000 US patients implanted in general practice use.

Methods:

Deidentified data from the remote monitoring Merlin.net (St. Jude Medical) database were used to examine PA pressure trends from the first consecutive 2000 patients with at least 6 months of follow-up. Changes in PA pressures were evaluated with an area under the curve methodology to estimate the total sum increase or decrease in pressures (mm Hg-day) during the follow-up period relative to the baseline pressure. As a reference, the PA pressure trends were compared with the historic CHAMPION clinical trial (CardioMEMS Heart Sensor Allows Monitoring of Pressure to Improve Outcomes in New York Heart Association [NYHA] Functional Class III Heart Failure Patients). The area under the curve results are presented as mean±2 SE, and
P
values comparing the area under the curve of the general-use cohort with outcomes in the CHAMPION trial were computed by the
t
test with equal variance.

Results:
Patients were on average 70±12 years old; 60% were male; 34% had preserved ejection fraction; and patients were followed up for an average of 333±125 days. At implantation, the mean PA pressure for the general-use patients was 34.9±10.2 mm Hg compared with 31.3±10.9 mm Hg for CHAMPION treatment and 32.0±10.5 mm Hg for CHAMPION control groups. The general-use patients had an area under the curve of −32.8 mm Hg-day at the 1-month time mark, −156.2 mm Hg-day at the 3-month time mark, and −434.0 mm Hg-day after 6 months of hemodynamic guided care, which was significantly lower than the treatment group in the CHAMPION trial. Patients consistently transmitted pressure information with a median of 1.27 days between transmissions after 6 months.

Conclusions:
The first 2000 general-use patients managed with hemodynamic-guided heart failure care had higher PA pressures at baseline and experienced greater reduction in PA pressure over time compared with the pivotal CHAMPION clinical trial. These data demonstrate that general use of implantable hemodynamic technology in a nontrial setting leads to significant lowering of PA pressures.
Impact of Coronary Artery Disease Severity Assessed With the SYNTAX Score on Outcomes Following Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement
Authors: Paradis Jean‐Michel , White Jonathon M. , Généreux Philippe , Urena Marina , Doshi Darshan , Nazif Tamim , Hahn Rebecca , George Isaac , Khalique Omar , Harjai Kishore , Lasalle Laura , Labbé Benoit M. , DeLarochellière Robert , Doyle Daniel , Dumont Éric , Mohammadi Siamak , Leon Martin B. , Rodés‐Cabau Josep , Kodali Susheel 
Published: February 2017

Background

The influence of coronary artery disease (CAD) on clinical and echocardiographic outcomes after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is still controversial. We sought to evaluate the impact of
CAD
severity as measured by the SYNTAX score (
SS
) on patients undergoing
TAVR
.

Methods and Results

A total of 377 patients who underwent
TAVR
in 2 high‐volume centers in North America were included in our retrospective analysis. A blinded angiographic core laboratory calculated the
SS
on all available coronary angiograms with the use of quantitative coronary analysis. Patients were stratified into 4 groups: (1) no
CAD
(
SS
=0); (2) low
SS
(
SS
between 1 and 22); (3) intermediate
SS
(
SS
between 23 and 32); and (4) high
SS
(
SS
≥33). Patients who had undergone percutaneous coronary intervention within 6 months prior to
TAVR
were separated into 2 categories based on their residual
SS
(<8 and ≥8). Patients with previous coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) were divided into 2 groups: (1) low
CABG SS
and (2) high
CABG SS
. The primary end point was a composite of all‐cause mortality, myocardial infarction, and stroke. At 30 days and 1 year, both the presence and the severity of
CAD
had no impact on the rate of the combined primary end point and on all‐cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, and myocardial infarction. Patients with less complete revascularization (residual
SS
≥8 versus residual
SS
<8 and low
CABG SS
versus high
CABG SS
, had similar rates of the combined primary end point, all‐cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality,
MI
, and stroke, at both 30 days and 1 year.

Conclusions

In our core laboratory–validated study, neither the severity of
CAD
nor completeness of revascularization after percutaneous coronary intervention or
CABG
were associated with clinical outcomes after
TAVR
, at both 30 days and 1 year.
Twenty‐Five‐Year Alcohol Consumption Trajectories and Their Association With Arterial Aging: A Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: O'Neill Darragh , Britton Annie , Brunner Eric J. , Bell Steven 
Published: February 2017

Background
Emerging evidence suggests that arterial stiffness, an important marker of cardiovascular health, is associated with alcohol consumption. However, the role of longer‐term consumption patterns in the progression of arterial stiffness over time remains unclear. A longitudinal cohort design was used to evaluate the association between alcohol consumption over 25 years and subsequent changes in arterial stiffness.

Methods and Results

Data (N=3869; 73% male) were drawn from the Whitehall
II
cohort study of British civil servants, in which participants completed repeat pulse wave velocity assessments of arterial stiffness across a 4‐ to 5‐year interval. Repeated alcohol intake measurements were used to categorize participants into alcohol consumer types, accounting for longitudinal variability in consumption. Sex‐stratified linear mixed‐effects modeling was used to investigate whether drinker types differed in their relationship to pulse wave velocity and its progression over time. Males with consistent long‐term heavy intake >112 g of ethanol/week had significantly higher baseline pulse wave velocity (b=0.26 m/s;
P
=0.045) than those who drank consistently moderately (1–112 g of ethanol/week). Male former drinkers showed significantly greater increases in arterial stiffness longitudinally compared to consistently moderate drinkers (b=0.11 m/s;
P
=0.009). All associations were nonsignificant for females after adjustment for body mass index, heart rate, mean arterial pressure, diabetes mellitus, high‐density lipoprotein, and triglycerides.

Conclusions
This work demonstrates that consistently heavy alcohol consumption is associated with higher cardiovascular risk, especially among males, and also provides new insights into the potential impact of changes in drinking levels over time. It discusses the additional insights possible when capturing longitudinal consumption patterns in lieu of reliance on recent intake alone.

Clinical Trial Registration

URL
:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier:
NCT
02663791.
Description of Globodera agulhasensis n. sp. (Nematoda: Heteroderidae) from South Africa
Authors: Knoetze Rinus , Swart Antoinette , Wentzel Ria , Tiedt Lourens R. 
Published: February 2017

A new cyst nematode, herein described asGloboderaagulhasensisn. sp., was found parasitisingSenecioburchelliin the Western Cape Province, South Africa. Second-stage juveniles are characterised by a well developed stylet of 23.5 (22.5-24.8)μm with rounded to anteriorly flattened knobs. The dorsal pharyngeal gland outlet is 4.4 (3.5-6.5)μm posterior to the stylet knobs. The tail is 56 (49-64)μm long and the length of the hyaline region is 25 (19-29)μm. The cysts are characterised by their ovate to spherical shape, short neck, the presence of subcuticular punctations over the entire body and the absence of bullae or vulval bodies. Six to 12 cuticular ridges/lines are present on the outer surface of the cyst between the anus and vulval basin. Granek’s ratio is 1.7 (1.0-3.0), the vulval basin diam. 17.6 (11.7-26.1)μm and the distance between vulval basin and anus is 28.6 (19.1-47.0)μm. Males have a stylet length of 26.1 (24.4-27.7)μm and spicule length of 30.3 (27.2-33.8)μm with a rounded tip. Females have a stylet length of 22.1 (19.0-24.4) μm, a large median bulb almost filling the body diam., and a short vulval slit 4.2 (3.2-6.6)μm long. Phylogenetic relationships ofG. agulhasensisn. sp. with other species of the genus, inferred from ITS-rRNA sequences by using the neighbour-joining (NJ), maximum likelihood (ML) and maximum parsimony method (MP), indicate thatG.agulhasensisn. sp. is included in the clade ofGloboderasp. that parasitise non-solanaceous plants, forming a monophyletic group with unidentifiedGloboderaspp. from Portugal,G. millefoliiandG. artemisiae. For diagnostic purposes, three restriction enzymes,Hpy8I,RsaI andXceI were selected as being able to discriminate betweenG. agulhasensisn. sp. and otherGloboderaspp. present in South Africa.