bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Genome-Wide Association Study to Find Modifiers for Tetralogy of Fallot in the 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome Identifies Variants in the
GPR98
Locus on 5q14.3
Authors: Guo Tingwei , Repetto Gabriela M. , McDonald McGinn Donna M. , Chung Jonathan H. , Nomaru Hiroko , Campbell Christopher L. , Blonska Anna , Bassett Anne S. , Chow Eva W.C. , Mlynarski Elisabeth E. , Swillen Ann , Vermeesch Joris , Devriendt Koen , Gothelf Doron , Carmel Miri , Michaelovsky Elena , Schneider Maude , Eliez Stephan , Antonarakis Stylianos E. , Coleman Karlene , Tomita-Mitchell Aoy , Mitchell Michael E. , Digilio M. Cristina , Dallapiccola Bruno , Marino Bruno , Philip Nicole , Busa Tiffany , Kushan-Wells Leila , Bearden Carrie E. , Piotrowicz Małgorzata , Hawuła Wanda , Roberts Amy E. , Tassone Flora , Simon Tony J. , van Duin Esther D.A. , van Amelsvoort Thérèse A. , Kates Wendy R. , Zackai Elaine , Johnston H. Richard , Cutler David J. , Agopian A.J. , Goldmuntz Elizabeth , Mitchell Laura E. , Wang Tao , Emanuel Beverly S. , Morrow Bernice E. 
Published: October 2017

Background—
The 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11.2DS; DiGeorge syndrome/velocardiofacial syndrome) occurs in 1 of 4000 live births, and 60% to 70% of affected individuals have congenital heart disease, ranging from mild to severe. In our cohort of 1472 subjects with 22q11.2DS, a total of 62% (n=906) have congenital heart disease and 36% (n=326) of these have tetralogy of Fallot (TOF), comprising the largest subset of severe congenital heart disease in the cohort.

Methods and Results—

To identify common genetic variants associated with TOF in individuals with 22q11.2DS, we performed a genome-wide association study using Affymetrix 6.0 array and imputed genotype data. In our cohort, TOF was significantly associated with a genotyped single-nucleotide polymorphism (rs12519770,
P
=2.98×10
−
8
) in an intron of the adhesion
GPR98
(G-protein–coupled receptor V1) gene on chromosome 5q14.3. There was also suggestive evidence of association between TOF and several additional single-nucleotide polymorphisms in this region. Some genome-wide significant loci in introns or noncoding regions could affect regulation of genes nearby or at a distance. On the basis of this possibility, we examined existing Hi-C chromatin conformation data to identify genes that might be under shared transcriptional regulation within the region on 5q14.3. There are 6 genes in a topologically associated domain of chromatin with
GPR98
, including
MEF2C
(Myocyte-specific enhancer factor 2C).
MEF2C
is the only gene that is known to affect heart development in mammals and might be of interest with respect to 22q11.2DS.

Conclusions—
In conclusion, common variants may contribute to TOF in 22q11.2DS and may function in cardiac outflow tract development.
Age, Sex, and Blood Pressure-Related Influences on Reference Values of Left Atrial Deformation and Mechanics From a Large-Scale Asian Population
Authors: Liao Jo-Nan , Chao Tze-Fan , Kuo Jen-Yuan , Sung Kuo-Tzu , Tsai Jui-Peng , Lo Chi-In , Lai Yau-Huei , Su Cheng-Huang , Hung Chung-Lieh , Yeh Hung-I , Chen Shih-Ann 
Published: October 2017

Background—
Left atrial (LA) function is tightly linked to several cardiovascular diseases and confers key prognostic information. Speckle tracking-based deformation as a feasible and sensitive LA mechanical assessment has proven its clinical significance beyond volume measures; however, the reference values remain largely unknown.

Methods and Results—
We studied 4042 participants undergoing annual cardiovascular survey. Among them, 2812 healthy participants (65% men; mean age, 47.4±9.9 years) were eligible for speckle tracking analysis. Peak atrial longitudinal systolic strain and strain rate (SR) at systolic (SRs), early diastolic (SRe), and late diastolic atrial contraction phases (SRa) were analyzed by dedicated software (EchoPAC, GE) and compared in terms of age, sex, and blood pressure. Overall, women demonstrated higher peak atrial longitudinal systolic strain (39.34±7.99% versus 37.95±7.96%; P<0.001) and showed age-dependent more pronounced peak atrial longitudinal systolic strain functional decay than those of men (P value for interaction, <0.05), with men showing higher SRs and SRa, although lower SRe (all P<0.001). Both increasing age and higher blood pressure were independently associated with deteriorated peak atrial longitudinal systolic strain, SRs, and SRe, although augmented LA SRa, even after accounting for baseline clinical covariates in multivariable models that incorporated LA volume, NT-proBNP (N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide), or left ventricular E/e′ (all P<0.001).

Conclusions—
Our findings suggest LA mechanical functional decays in association with increasing age and higher blood pressure, which seem to be compensated for by augmentation of atrial pump function. We have also provided age- and sex-stratified reference values for strain and SR based on a large-scale Asian population.
Statin Discontinuation, Reinitiation, and Persistence Patterns Among Medicare Beneficiaries After Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Booth John N. , Colantonio Lisandro D. , Chen Ligong , Rosenson Robert S. , Monda Keri L. , Safford Monika M. , Kilgore Meredith L. , Brown Todd M. , Taylor Benjamin , Dent Ricardo , Muntner Paul , Levitan Emily B. 
Published: October 2017

Background—
Although the benefits of statins accrue over time, treatment discontinuation is common. Examining the patterns of statin discontinuation, reinitiation, and persistence after reinitiation among Medicare beneficiaries after hospital discharge for a myocardial infarction may help increase statin use in high-risk patients.

Methods and Results—
Medicare beneficiaries with a statin fill claim within 30 days after hospital discharge for myocardial infarction in 2007 to 2012 (n=158 795) were followed for 182 days post-discharge to identify discontinuation, defined as 60 continuous days without statins available. Reinitiation, defined by a statin fill, was identified in the 365 days post-discontinuation. High persistence was defined as proportion of days covered ≥80% with ≥1 day of statin supply 182 days after reinitiation. Follow-up ended on December 31, 2014. In the 182 days after myocardial infarction hospital discharge, 15.4% of beneficiaries discontinued statins. Of this group, 53.7% reinitiated statins. On reinitiation, 27.1% changed statin type, 6.9% up-titrated intensity, 14.4% down-titrated intensity, and 66.0% had the same statin and intensity. In the 182 days after reinitiation, 45.8% had high persistence. Moderate- and high- versus low-intensity statins were associated with a lower risk for statin discontinuation (moderate intensity: relative risk [RR], 0.93; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.89–0.96; high-intensity: RR, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.91–0.99). High persistence was less common after reinitiating high- versus low-intensity statins (RR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.75–0.86), but no association was present for those reinitiating a moderate- versus low-intensity statin (RR, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.90–1.01). Down-titrating versus reinitiating the same statin intensity (RR, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.05–1.16) and reinitiating a different versus the same statin (RR, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.06–1.14) were associated with high persistence after treatment reinitiation.

Conclusions—
Although many people who discontinue a statin reinitiate treatment, statin persistence after reinitiation was low. Reinitiating therapy with moderate-intensity statins, down-titration, and using a different statin may promote persistence.
Association Between Urinary Sodium and Potassium Excretion and Blood Pressure Among Adults in the United States
Authors: Jackson Sandra L. , Cogswell Mary E. , Zhao Lixia , Terry Ana L. , Wang Chia-Yih , Wright Jacqueline , Coleman King Sallyann M. , Bowman Barbara , Chen Te-Ching , Merritt Robert , Loria Catherine M. 
Published: October 2017

Background:
Higher levels of sodium and lower levels of potassium intake are associated with higher blood pressure. However, the shape and magnitude of these associations can vary by study participant characteristics or intake assessment method. Twenty-four–hour urinary excretion of sodium and potassium are unaffected by recall errors and represent all sources of intake, and were collected for the first time in a nationally representative US survey. Our objective was to assess the associations of blood pressure and hypertension with 24-hour urinary excretion of sodium and potassium among US adults.

Methods:
Cross-sectional data were obtained from 766 participants age 20 to 69 years with complete blood pressure and 24-hour urine collections in the 2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a nationally representative survey of the US noninstitutionalized population. Usual 24-hour urinary electrolyte excretion (sodium, potassium, and their ratio) was estimated from ≤2 collections on nonconsecutive days, adjusting for day-to-day variability in excretion. Outcomes included systolic and diastolic blood pressure from the average of 3 measures and hypertension status, based on average blood pressure ≥140/90 and antihypertensive medication use.

Results:

After multivariable adjustment, each 1000-mg difference in usual 24-hour sodium excretion was directly associated with systolic (4.58 mm Hg; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.64–6.51) and diastolic (2.25 mm Hg; 95% CI, 0.83–3.67) blood pressures. Each 1000-mg difference in potassium excretion was inversely associated with systolic blood pressure (–3.72 mm Hg; 95% CI, –6.01 to –1.42). Each 0.5 U difference in sodium-to-potassium ratio was directly associated with systolic blood pressure (1.72 mm Hg; 95% CI, 0.76–2.68). Hypertension was linearly associated with progressively higher sodium and lower potassium excretion; in comparison with the lowest quartile of excretion, the adjusted odds of hypertension for the highest quartile was 4.22 (95% CI, 1.36–13.15) for sodium, and 0.38 (95% CI, 0.17–0.87) for potassium (
P
<0.01 for trends).

Conclusions:
These cross-sectional results show a strong dose-response association between urinary sodium excretion and blood pressure, and an inverse association between urinary potassium excretion and blood pressure, in a nationally representative sample of US adults.
Combined Salt and Caloric Restrictions: Potential Adverse Outcomes
Authors: Homma Tsuyoshi , Homma Mika , Huang Yuefei , Mayurasakorn Korapat , Rodi Nurul Mahamad , Hamid Anis Amalina Abdul , Hurwitz Shelley , Yao Tham , Adler Gail K. , Pojoga Luminita H. , Williams Gordon H. , Romero Jose R. 
Published: October 2017

Background

We hypothesized that caloric restriction (
CR
) and salt restriction (ResS) would have similar effects on reducing cardiovascular risk markers and that combining
CR
and ResS would be synergistic in modulating these markers.

Methods and Results

To test our hypothesis, rats were randomized into 2 groups: ad libitum liberal salt diet (ad libitum/high‐sodium, 1.6% sodium) or ResS diet (ad libitum/ResS, 0.03% sodium).
CR
was initiated in half of the rats in each group by reducing caloric intake to 60% while maintaining sodium intake constant (
CR
/high‐sodium, 2.7% sodium or
CR
/ResS, 0.05% sodium) for 4 weeks.
CR
in rats on a high‐sodium diet improved metabolic parameters, renal transforming growth factor‐β and collagen‐1α1 and increased plasma adiponectin and renal visfatin and
NAD
+
protein levels. Although
CR
produced some beneficial cardiovascular effects (increased sodium excretion and reduced blood pressure), it also was associated with potentially adverse cardiovascular effects. Adrenal zona glomerulosa cell responsiveness and aldosterone levels and activation were inappropriately increased for the volume state of the rodent. Like
CR
on
HS
,
CR
on a ResS diet also produced relative increased zona glomerulosa responsiveness and an increased blood pressure with no improvement in metabolic parameters.

Conclusions

These results suggest that combining
CR
and ResS may decrease the beneficial effects of each alone. Furthermore,
CR
, regardless of dietary salt intake, inappropriately activates aldosterone production. Thus, caution should be used in combining ResS and
CR
because the combination may lead to increased cardiovascular risk.
Prevalence and Outcomes of Left‐Sided Valvular Heart Disease Associated With Chronic Kidney Disease
Authors: Samad Zainab , Sivak Joseph A. , Phelan Matthew , Schulte Phillip J. , Patel Uptal , Velazquez Eric J. 
Published: October 2017

Background

Chronic kidney disease (
CKD
) is an adverse prognostic marker for valve intervention patients; however, the prevalence and related outcomes of valvular heart disease in
CKD
patients is unknown.

Methods and Results

Included patients underwent echocardiography (1999–2013), had serum creatinine values within 6 months before index echocardiogram, and had no history of valve surgery. CKD was defined as diagnosis based on the
International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision
or an estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min per 1.73 m
2
. Qualitative assessment determined left heart stenotic and regurgitant valve lesions. Cox models assessed
CKD
and aortic stenosis (
AS
) interaction for subsequent mortality; analyses were repeated for mitral regurgitation (
MR
). Among 78 059 patients, 23 727 (30%) had
CKD
; of these, 1326 were on hemodialysis. CKD patients were older; female; had a higher prevalence of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, history of coronary artery bypass grafting/percutaneous coronary intervention, atrial fibrillation, and heart failure ≥mild AS; and ≥mild MR (all
P
<0.001). Five‐year survival estimates of mild, moderate, and severe
AS
for
CKD
patients were 40%, 34%, and 42%, respectively, and 69%, 54%, and 67% for non‐CKD patients. Five‐year survival estimates of mild, moderate, and severe
MR
for
CKD
patients were 51%, 38%, and 37%, respectively, and 75%, 66%, and 65% for non‐CKD patients. Significant interaction occurred among
CKD
,
AS
/
MR
severity, and mortality in adjusted analyses; the
CKD
hazard ratio increased from 1.8 (non‐
AS
patients) to 2.0 (severe
AS
) and from 1.7 (non‐
MR
patients) to 2.6 (severe
MR
).

Conclusions

Prevalence of at least mild
AS
and
MR
is substantially higher and is associated with significantly lower survival among patients with versus without
CKD
. There is significant interaction among
CKD
,
AS
/
MR
severity, and mortality, with increasingly worse outcomes for
CKD
patients with increasing
AS
/
MR
severity.
Gramsci, No Longer a Communist?
Authors: Peretti Luca 
Published: October 2017

Abstract
In his last three books, Franco Lo Piparo (a philosopher of language who teaches in Palermo) presents fresh and contested interpretations of the last part of Gramsci’s life. In his view, the Sardinian thinker was distancing himself from the Communist world, not just from the Soviet Union. In the first part of the review-essay I will introduce the three books; in the second part I will then highlight some passages in the books that present Gramsci as a non-Communist thinker; in the final part, I will discuss the comparative analysis of Wittgenstein and Gramsci that the author traces in his last book. I believe that while this can open up new avenues, it is ultimately based on unconvincing and/or vague arguments.
The Xianggu Mushroom Industry in Xixia County, Henan: A Case Study (西峡香菇产业的个案研究)
Authors: Liu (刘昶) Chang , Bao (包诗卿) Shiqing , Pei (裴丹青) Danqing 
Published: October 2017

The xianggu (shiitake) mushroom industry in Xixia county, Henan, emerged and initially experienced rapid growth during the reform and opening up period. It has benefited from both the rapid expansion of the food consumption market in China and the guidance and support of the local government. After thirty years of sustained expansion, the growth of the mushroom market began to slow down and competition within the industry became fierce. Facing rich and powerful mushroom dealers, individual mushroom farmers have had to bear the brunt of market fluctuations. To break the predicament of farmers’ suffering from low prices (because of the bumper harvest paradox) and to help farmers protect their interests and gain a fair share of the industry’s profits, and thus to achieve sustained and healthy development of the mushroom industry, important institutional innovations are needed.
西峡县香菇产业在改革开放时期经历了从零开始的飞速增长，这既得益于食品消费市场的迅速扩张，也得益于地方政府的引导和扶持。在经历了三十年的持续扩张后，香菇市场增速开始放缓，业内竞争压力凸显。面对财大气粗的菇行，势孤力单的个体菇农首当其冲,受到市场的挤压。要破解菇贱伤农的困局，帮助菇农保护自己的利益和分享产业的利润，并实现香菇产业的健康持续发展，就需要在产业组织和制度上进行创新。 (This article is in English.)
From “Involution” to “Capitalization”: The “New Agriculture” and the “New Peasant”—A Case Study of Tobacco Growers in a Chinese Township (从“过密化”到“资本化”：“新农业”与“新农民”——以湖北省恩施市烟叶种植农户为例的讨论)
Authors: Jiao (焦长权) Changquan , Chen (陈莹骄) Yingjiao 
Published: October 2017

With the acceleration of the urbanization process and the transformation of the population structure, China’s small peasant economy is breaking away from involutionary growth. At the same time, capital investment in family farms is increasing, leading to the capitalization of family farms and the rise of “new agriculture.” Based on a case study of tobacco growers in a Chinese township, this article demonstrates how capital investment contributes to specialization and scale production in tobacco production and how a capitalized family farm operates, depending mainly on family labor and partly on rented land. As a typical new agriculture, tobacco production achieves the dual intensification of both capital and labor and manages to get out from the involution trap. This article argues that the capitalized family farm is not only a new type of economic subject but that it also shapes a new type of social subject. As the “new peasant,” the holder of a capitalized family farm is a member of a social elite in villages and serves as the crucial social force in the transformation of village society.
伴随城市化的快速发展和农村人口结构的转型，中国的小农经济正逐渐摆脱“过密化”陷阱。同时，农业生产中的资本投入日益增长，家庭农场日益“资本化”，“新农业”获得了空前的发展。文章以中国恩施地区烟叶生产为例，阐述了资本投入对烟叶专业化、规模化生产的关键作用，分析了资本化家庭农场的经营方式：其主要依赖家庭劳动力（少部分季节性雇佣劳动力），并通过土地流转实现适度规模经营。烟叶生产是一种典型的“新农业”，它在家庭农场中实现了资本和劳动的“双密集”，摆脱了“过密化”陷阱。作者认为，资本化的家庭农场不仅形成了一种“新农业”（新型经济主体），更塑造了一群“新农民”（新型社会主体），他们是村庄中的精英群体，对村庄社会转型具有重要意义。 (This article is in English.)
Impact of a medication reconciliation program on cardiac surgery patients
Authors: Al-Jazairi Abdulrazaq S , Al-Suhaibani Lujain Khalid , Al-Mehizia Rayd A , Al-Khani Salma , Lewis Glyn , De Vol Edward B , Saad Elias Juan 
Published: October 2017

Background Cardiac surgery patients are at high risk of medication errors. Resumption of home medications reduces the significance and number of medication errors. This could be achieved by implementing a medication reconciliation program. Patients and Methods Patients were eligible for inclusion in this prospective study if they were admitted, transferred, and/or discharged under cardiac surgery team care from September 2015 to March 2016. The primary outcome was the number and proportion of unintentional medication discrepancies. Secondary outcomes included the number of interventions to resolve discrepancies and their clinical significance, and the medication regimen complexity index and its correlation with discrepancies. Results There were 374 patients included and 1000 encounters tracked. Four-hundred and seventy (47%) of the included encounters were for adult patients. Of the 260 medication discrepancies detected, 181 (69.61%) were detected during admission. Discrepancies among adults were 0.913, 0.307, and 0.176 on admission, transfer, and discharge, respectively. Two-hundred (76.92%) of the interventions recommended by the pharmacy residents were accepted by the medical team, and the remaining were accepted with modifications, with no rejections. One-hundred and sixty-six (83%) of the accepted interventions were of high clinical significance. There was a significant correlation between the number of medication discrepancies and medication regimen complexity index on admission ( p < 0.0001, r = 0.34), transfer, and discharge. Conclusion Implementation of a medication reconciliation program in cardiac surgery units and its step-down units can be a powerful mean of identifying medication errors in post-cardiac surgery patients at admission and throughout the transition of care.
Shared decision-making at the end of life: A focus group study exploring the perceptions and experiences of multi-disciplinary healthcare professionals working in the home setting
Authors: Brogan Paula , Hasson Felicity , McIlfatrick Sonja 
Published: October 2017

Background: Globally recommended in healthcare policy, Shared Decision-Making is also central to international policy promoting community palliative care. Yet realities of implementation by multi-disciplinary healthcare professionals who provide end-of-life care in the home are unclear. Aim: To explore multi-disciplinary healthcare professionals’ perceptions and experiences of Shared Decision-Making at end of life in the home. Design: Qualitative design using focus groups, transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically. Setting/participants: A total of 43 participants, from multi-disciplinary community-based services in one region of the United Kingdom, were recruited. Results: While the rhetoric of Shared Decision-Making was recognised, its implementation was impacted by several interconnecting factors, including (1) conceptual confusion regarding Shared Decision-Making, (2) uncertainty in the process and (3) organisational factors which impeded Shared Decision-Making. Conclusion: Multiple interacting factors influence implementation of Shared Decision-Making by professionals working in complex community settings at the end of life. Moving from rhetoric to reality requires future work exploring the realities of Shared Decision-Making practice at individual, process and systems levels.
A retrospective study of a multicomponent rehabilitation programme for community-dwelling persons with dementia and their caregivers
Authors: Cornelis Elise , Gorus Ellen , Beyer Ingo , Van Puyvelde Katrien , Lieten Siddhartha , Versijpt Jan , Vande Walle Nathalie , Aerts Greet , De Roover Karen , De Vriendt Patricia 
Published: October 2017

Introduction This study determined whether the multicomponent rehabilitation programme of a memory clinic had positive outcomes on ameliorating everyday functioning, quality of life, mood and behavioural disturbances of persons with dementia and reducing distress and burden of caregivers. Method A retrospective pre-test–post-test study without control group was conducted on the first cohort of persons with dementia ( n = 30) and their caregivers ( n = 30), who participated in a programme lasting for a maximum of 1 year with 25 1-hour counselling sessions. The assessment contained an evaluation of everyday functioning in basic, instrumental and advanced activities of daily living, cognition, mood, emotional and behavioural disturbances, quality of life and caregiver burden. Results Eight participants dropped out prematurely. For persons with dementia ( n = 22), participating in the programme did not improve everyday functioning and cognition but ameliorated quality of life significantly ( Z = –2.7, p = 0.006, 95% CI (.003–.005)) and stabilized mood, emotional and behavioural disturbances for 60% or more of them. For caregivers ( n = 22), the mild to moderate burden of care remained stable or got better for 63.6% of the caregivers. Conclusion This programme appears to be promising and valuable, and might reduce institutionalization rates. Future explorations are recommended to research how participants evolve and to investigate which participants responded in a positive way.