bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Rotors exhibit greater surface ECG variation during ventricular fibrillation than focal sources due to wavebreak, secondary rotors, and meander
Authors: Ho Gordon , Villongco Christopher T. , Yousefian Omid , Bradshaw Aaron , Nguyen Andrew , Faiwiszewski Yonatan , Hayase Justin , Rappel Wouter‐Jan , McCulloch Andrew D. , Krummen David E. 
Published: July 2017

AbstractIntroductionVentricular fibrillation is a common life‐threatening arrhythmia. The ECG of VF appears chaotic but may allow identification of sustaining mechanisms to guide therapy.HypothesisWe hypothesized that rotors and focal sources manifest distinct features on the ECG, and computational modeling may identify mechanisms of such features.MethodsVF induction was attempted in 31 patients referred for ventricular arrhythmia ablation. Simultaneous surface ECG and intracardiac electrograms were recorded using biventricular basket catheters. Endocardial phase maps were used to mechanistically classify each VF cycle as rotor or focally driven. ECGs were analyzed from patients demonstrating both mechanisms in the primary analysis and from all patients with induced VF in the secondary analysis. The ECG voltage variation during each mechanism was compared. Biventricular computer simulations of VF driven by focal sources or rotors were created and resulting ECGs of each VF mechanism were compared.ResultsRotor‐based VF exhibited greater voltage variation than focal source‐based VF in both the primary analysis (n = 8, 110 ± 24% vs. 55 ± 32%, P = 0.02) and the secondary analysis (n = 18, 103 ± 30% vs. 67 ± 34%, P = 0.009). Computational VF simulations also revealed greater voltage variation in rotors compared to focal sources (110 ± 19% vs. 33 ± 16%, P = 0.001), and demonstrated that this variation was due to wavebreak, secondary rotor initiation, and rotor meander.ConclusionClinical and computational studies reveal that quantitative criteria of ECG voltage variation differ significantly between VF‐sustaining rotors and focal sources, and provide insight into the mechanisms of such variation. Future studies should prospectively evaluate if these criteria can separate clinical VF mechanisms and guide therapy.
Cytomegaloviral hypophysitis in a simian immunodeficiency virus‐infected rhesus macaque (Macacca mulatta)
Authors: Berg Melissa R. , Owston Michael A. , Gauduin Marie‐Claire , Assaf Basel T. , Lewis Anne D. , Dick Edward J. 
Published: July 2017

AbstractRhesus macaques experimentally infected with Simian Immunodeficiency Virus (SIV) experience immunosuppression and often opportunistic infection. Among the most common opportunistic infections are rhesus cytomegalovirus (RhCMV), a ubiquitous betaherpesvirus that undergoes continuous low‐level replication in immunocompetent monkeys. Upon SIV‐mediated immunodeficiency, RhCMV reactivates and results in lesions in numerous organ systems including the nervous and reproductive systems. We report the first case of cytomegaloviral hypophysitis in a SIV‐immunocompromised rhesus macaque.
Epithelial cadherin disassociates from the lateral plasma membrane of uterine epithelial cells throughout pregnancy in a marsupial
Authors: Dudley Jessica S. , Murphy Christopher R. , Thompson Michael B. , McAllan Bronwyn M. 
Published: July 2017

AbstractThe uterine luminal epithelium is the first site of contact between fetal and maternal tissues during therian pregnancy and must undergo specialised changes for implantation of the blastocyst to be successful. These changes, collectively termed the plasma membrane transformation (PMT), allow the blastocyst to attach to the uterine epithelium preceding the formation of a placenta. There are similarities in the morphological and molecular changes occurring in live‐bearing eutherian species during the PMT studied so far. Similar cellular remodelling occurs in a marsupial species, the fat‐tailed dunnart (Sminthopsis crassicaudata), despite the divergence of marsupials from eutherian mammals over 130 mya, which resulted in the evolution of distinct reproductive strategies. Adhesion molecules along the lateral plasma membrane of uterine epithelium provide a barrier to invasion by the embryo. We thus characterised the presence and change in distribution of epithelial cadherin (E‐cadherin) in uterine epithelium from non‐pregnant fat‐tailed dunnarts and compared it to dunnarts in early‐, mid‐ and late‐stage pregnancy. E‐cadherin staining is localised to the lateral plasma membrane in uterine epithelium from non‐pregnant and early‐stage pregnant dunnarts. The E‐cadherin staining is cytoplasmic in epithelium from uteri of mid‐ and late‐stage pregnant dunnarts. This loss of localised staining suggests that the adherens junction dissociates from the lateral plasma membrane, allowing for invasion between the epithelial cells by the blastocyst. As the changes during pregnancy to cadherin were similar in the laboratory rat with highly invasive (haemochorial) placentation, a live‐bearing lizard species with non‐invasive (epitheliochorial) placentation and a marsupial, the fat‐tailed dunnart, which has invasive (endotheliochorial) placentation, we suggest that the molecular mechanisms allowing for successful pregnancy are conserved among mammals during the early stages of pregnancy regardless of placental invasiveness.
Age is not a bar to PCI: Insights from the long‐term outcomes from off‐site PCI in a real‐world setting
Authors: Gerber Robert T. , Arri Satpal S. , Mohamed Mohamed O. , Dhillon Gurpreet , Bandali Alykhan , Harding Idris , Gifford Jeremy , Sandler Belinda , Corbo Ben , McWilliams Eric 
Published: July 2017

ObjectivesWe sought to analyze the percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) outcomes of very elderly patients (V. Eld. group, age >80 years) and compare their outcomes to a less elderly cohort (Eld. group, age 75‐80 years) traditionally reported in the literature.BackgroundLimited data exist on peri‐procedural and long‐term outcomes following PCI in the V. Eld. (age >80 years), with under‐representation of this cohort in randomized controlled trials. These patients present with advanced complex coronary disease and multiple comorbidities.MethodsAll 580 consecutive patients aged ≥75 years (age 80 ± 4.9 years, 57.4% males) undergoing PCI between April 2006 and November 2011 were included. A total of 624 consecutive lesions were identified and analyzed. All V. Eld. patients (n = 253) were subsequently selected, and their outcomes compared to Eld. patients (n = 327). Mean follow‐up was 30.8 ± 2.7 months with 98% clinical follow‐up achieved.ResultsAll comparative data are expressed as (V. Eld. vs Eld.) unless otherwise specified. All‐cause mortality was significantly higher in the V. Eld. group (11.9% vs 6.1%), although this did not translate into a significant difference in cardiac mortality (6.3% vs 3.7%) or major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (16.2% vs 12.5%). The composite incidence of myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, definite/probable stent thrombosis, and TIMI major bleed was 4.7%, 1.4% 1.9%, and 6.4%, respectively with no significant difference between both cohorts.ConclusionsThis study demonstrates an acceptable occurrence of MI, death, repeat intervention, and stent thrombosis in a high‐risk group of V. Eld. patients with de novo lesions. Age alone in the absence of other non‐cardiac factors should not prohibit a patient from access to PCI.
The economic burden of opioid prescription by dentists: A 12‐month survey of consumer expenditure in Brazil
Authors: Nogueira Tulio Eduardo , Lino Patrícia Azevedo , Martins Maria Auxiliadora Parreiras , Silva Maria Elisa Souza , Leles Claudio Rodrigues , Abreu Mauro Henrique Nogueira Guimarães 
Published: July 2017

AbstractObjectivesTo describe consumer expenditure on opioids prescribed by dentists in Brazil during a 12‐month period.MethodsWe surveyed individual dispensed prescriptions of opioids in private pharmacies from October 2012 to September 2013. A descriptive analysis of costs included a calculation of the overall and mean maximum price to consumers. Monetary costs were converted from local currency units (Brazilian Real – BRL) to international dollars using purchasing power parity (PPP) exchanging rates.Results129,708 prescriptions were retrieved from the database. The overall expenditure on opioids was R$4,316,383.46 BRL or $2,721,315.82 (PPP). The mean cost of an individual prescription was R$33.27 BRL ($20.98 PPP), ranging from 14.19 to 3,255.60 BRL. Codeine was frequently prescribed (87.2 percent).ConclusionsThe expenditure on opioids is a significant cost to Brazilian patients, especially given that the Brazilian Public Health System should dispense these drugs free of charge. Codeine was the most prescribed opioid.
Multiple phases of mg‐calcite in crustose coralline algae suggest caution for temperature proxy and ocean acidification assessment: lessons from the ultrastructure and biomineralization in Phymatolithon (Rhodophyta, Corallinales)1
Authors: Nash Merinda C. , Adey Walter 
Published: July 2017

Magnesium content, strongly correlated with temperature, has been developed as a climate archive for the late Holocene without considering anatomical controls on Mg content. In this paper, we explore the ultrastructure and cellular scale Mg‐content variations within four species of North Atlantic crust‐forming Phymatolithon. The cell wall has radial grains of Mg‐calcite, whereas the interfilament (middle lamella) has grains aligned parallel to the filament axis. The proportion of interfilament and cell wall carbonate varies by tissue and species. Three distinct primary phases of Mg‐calcite were identified: interfilament Mg‐calcite (mean 8.9 mol% MgCO3), perithallial cell walls Mg‐calcite (mean 13.4 mol% MgCO3), and hypothallium Mg‐calcite (mean 17.1 mol% MgCO3). Magnesium content for the bulk crust, an average of all phases present, showed a strongly correlated (R2 = 0.975) increase of 0.31 mol% MgCO3 per °C. Of concern for climate reconstructions is the potential for false warming signals from undetected postgrazing wound repair carbonate that is substantially enriched in Mg, unrelated to temperature. Within a single crust, Mg‐content of component carbonates ranged from 8 to 20 mol% MgCO3, representing theoretical thermodynamic stabilities from aragonite‐equivalent to unstable higher‐Mg‐calcite. It is unlikely that existing current predictions of ocean acidification impact on coralline algae, based on saturation states calculated using average Mg contents, provide an environmentally relevant estimate.
Predicting Cost Escalation Pathways and Deviation Severities of Infrastructure Projects Using Risk‐Based Econometric Models and Monte Carlo Simulation
Authors: Bhargava Abhishek , Labi Samuel , Chen Sikai , Saeed Tariq Usman , Sinha Kumares C. 
Published: July 2017

AbstractIn the past decade, infrastructure‐related legislation in the United States has consistently emphasized the need to measure the variation associated with infrastructure project cost estimates. Such cost variability is best viewed from the perspective of the project development phases and how the project cost estimate changes as it evolves across these phases. The article first identifies a few gaps in the cost overrun literature. Then it introduces a methodology that uses risk‐based multinomial models and Monte Carlo simulation involving random draws to predict the probability that a project will follow a particular cost escalation pathway across its development phases and that it will incur a given level of cost deviation severity. The article then uses historical data to demonstrate how infrastructure agencies could apply the proposed methodology. Statistical models are developed to estimate the probability that a highway project will follow any specific cost escalation pathway and ultimately, a given direction and severity of cost deviation. The case study results provided some interesting insights. For a given highway functional class, larger project sizes are associated with lower probability of underestimating the final cost; however, such a trend is not exhibited by very large projects (total cost exceeding $30M). For a given project size, higher class roads were generally observed to have a lower probability of underestimating the final cost, compared to lower class roads and this gap in probability narrows as the project size increases. It was determined that a project's most likely pathway of cost escalation is not a guarantee that it will yield any particular direction of cost deviation. The case study results also confirmed the findings of a few past studies that the probabilities of cost escalation pathways and the cost overruns differ significantly across highway districts, and attributed this to differences in administrative culture and work practices across the districts. Infrastructure managers can use the developed methodology to identify which projects are likely to experience a particular pathway of cost escalation, the direction and severity of cost deviation, and to develop more realistic project contingency estimates.
Effects of resveratrol on eNOS in the endothelium and the perivascular adipose tissue
Authors: Xia Ning , Förstermann Ulrich , Li Huige 
Published: July 2017

AbstractUnder physiological conditions, nitric oxide (NO) is produced in the vasculature mainly by the endothelial NO synthase (eNOS). Experiments using gene‐disrupted mice have demonstrated that eNOS has antihypertensive, antithrombotic, and antiatherosclerotic effects. Recent studies show that eNOS is expressed not only in the endothelium but also in the perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT). Resveratrol prevents eNOS uncoupling and upregulates eNOS expression and activity. These effects of resveratrol are well established for the eNOS enzyme in the endothelium. Interestingly, resveratrol also improves PVAT function. However, a causal role for eNOS in the effects of resveratrol on PVAT function has not yet been verified and needs to be studied in the future.
Acute kidney injury in congenital cardiac surgery: Pediatric risk–injury–failure–loss–end‐stage renal disease and Acute Kidney Injury Network
Authors: Tanyildiz Murat , Ekim Mesiha , Kendirli Tanil , Tutar Ercan , Eyileten Zeynep , Ozcakar Zeynep Birsin , Kavaz Asli , Yalcınkaya Fatos , Uysalel Adnan , Atalay Semra 
Published: July 2017

AbstractBackgroundAcute kidney injury (AKI) is associated with an increased risk of mortality, especially in pediatric intensive care units. The aim of this study was to determine the risk factors of AKI in children undergoing cardiac surgery for congenital heart disease and to compare two different classification systems: pediatric risk–injury–failure–loss–end‐stage renal disease (pRIFLE) and Acute Kidney Injury Network (AKIN).MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed 145 patients undergoing pediatric congenital heart surgery who were between 1 month and 18 years of years, and treated at a cardiovascular surgery department from January 2009 to October 2011.ResultsOne hundred and thirty‐seven patients (mean age, 36.6 ± 43.3 months) were enrolled: 84 (61.3%) developed AKI according to the pRIFLE criteria (25.5%, risk; 20.4%, injury; 15.3%, failure); and 65 patients (47.4%) developed AKI according to the AKIN criteria (15.3%, stage I; 18.2%, stage II; and 13.9%, stage III). Children younger than 11 months were more likely to develop AKI (P < 0.005). Longer cardiopulmonary bypass time was associated with an increased risk of AKI (P < 0.05). pRIFLE identified AKI more frequently than AKIN (P < 0.0005). pRIFLE may help in the early identification of patient at risk for AKI and seems to be more sensitive in pediatric patients (P < 0.05). Any degree of AKI in both classifications was associated with increased mortality (pRIFLE: OR, 15.1; AKIN: OR, 11.2; P = 0.007).ConclusionpRIFLE identified AKI more frequently than the AKIN criteria. pRIFLE identified patients at risk for AKI earlier, and was more sensitive in pediatric patients. Any degree of AKI in both classifications was associated with increased mortality. Both sets of criteria had the same association with mortality.
Incidence and risk factors of early surgical complications in young renal transplant recipients: A persistent challenge
Authors: Rodricks Nathan , Chanchlani Rahul , Banh Tonny , Borges Karlota , Vasilevska‐Ristovska Jovanka , Hebert Diane , Patel Viral , Lorenzo Armando J. , Parekh Rulan S. 
Published: July 2017

AbstractThere is a paucity of data on the rate of urological and vascular complications in very young children after kidney transplant. We conducted a study on the incidence and risk factors for early post‐transplant surgical complications in young recipients (<5 years) over three decades. The primary outcome was any urological or vascular complication within 30 days of transplant, and the secondary outcome was incidence rate of graft failure reported as per 1000 person‐years. Risk factors associated with surgical complications were analyzed by logistic regression. There were 22 (26.5%) complications in 21 children with vascular thrombosis being the most common complication. There was no significant difference in the number of complications in period 1 (1985‐1994) and period 2 (1995‐2014) (P=.1). The incidence rate of graft failure was higher in period 1 (IR 70.8, 95% CI 41.1, 121.9) compared to period 2 (IR 20.7, 95% CI 9.3, 46.0). Cumulative incidence of graft survival at 1, 3, and 5 years' post‐transplant was 96.5%, 92.6%, and 90%, respectively, in those without compared to 71%, 65.1%, and 58.6%, respectively, in children with complications. In conclusion, early surgical, especially vascular, complications are quite common in young renal transplant recipients and lead to significantly reduced graft survival.
Clinical practice patterns are relatively uniform between pediatric heart transplant centers: A survey‐based assessment
Authors: Castleberry Chesney , Ziniel Sonja , Almond Christopher , Auerbach Scott , Hollander Seth A. , Lal Ashwin K. , Fenton Matthew , Pahl Elfriede , Rossano Joseph W. , Everitt Melanie D. , Daly Kevin P. 
Published: July 2017

AbstractClinical practice variations are a barrier to the study of pediatric heart transplants and coordination of multicenter RCTs in this patient population. We surveyed centers to describe practice patterns, understand areas of variation, and willingness to modify protocol. Pediatric heart transplant centers were identified, and one survey was completed per center. Simple descriptive statistics were used. The response rate was 77% (40 responses from 52 contacted centers, 37 with complete responses). Median center volume of respondents was eight transplants/year (IQR 3‐19). Most centers reported tacrolimus (36/38, 95%) and mycophenolate mofetil (36/38, 95%) as maintenance immunosuppression. Other immunosuppression agents reported were cyclosporine (7/38, 18%), everolimus or sirolimus (3/38, 8%), and azathioprine (2/38, 5%). Overall, respondents answered similarly for questions regarding clinical practices including induction therapy, maintenance immunosuppression, and rejection treatment threshold (>85% agreement for all). Additionally, willingness to change clinical practices was over 70% for all practices surveyed (35 total respondents), and 97% of centers (36/37) were willing to participate in a RCT of maintenance immunosuppression. In conclusion, we found many similar clinical practice protocols. Most centers are willing to collaborate on a common protocol in order to participate in a RCT and support a trial investigating maintenance immunosuppression.
Oral health of pediatric liver transplant recipients
Authors: Sandoval Marίa José , Zekeridou Alkisti , Spyropoulou Vasiliki , Courvoisier Delphine , Mombelli Andrea , McLin Valérie , Giannopoulou Catherine 
Published: July 2017

AbstractTo evaluate oral health conditions in pediatric liver transplant recipients, with special focus on caries, green staining of the teeth, gingival bleeding, and gingival overgrowth. 40 patients (mean age 11.6 years) were examined at a routine follow‐up visit, 6 months to 16 years after liver transplantation at the Swiss Center for Liver Disease in Children. After the medical examination, participants were further examined for the presence of dental caries, periodontal disease, GE, and GTC. The mean decay, missing, and filled teeth (dmft/DMFT) score was 3.8. 45% of the participants presented at least one carious lesion. Two‐third of the participants had more than 20% of sites with the presence of plaque and gingival inflammation. Signs of GE were found in 18% and GTC in 30% of the participants. A positive correlation was identified between GTC and peak serum bilirubin (P<.001) and primary diagnosis of cholestatic disease (P=.04). Gingival inflammation was associated with plaque (P<.001), use of immunosuppressive medication (P=.04), and was more pronounced in children with cholestatic disease (P=.007). Children and young adults with liver transplants presented a rather poor oral health status. Liver transplant physicians should counsel patients for regular dental follow‐up in order to avoid serious dental infections.
Characteristics of the mass media's coverage of nuclear energy and its risk: A literature review
Authors: Kristiansen Silje 
Published: July 2017

AbstractMedia coverage of nuclear energy is a crucial source of information about the risk of nuclear energy for the general public. As a result, scholars of communication science are very interested in the media's coverage of the nuclear energy risk. This literature review provides an overview of the state of research in this field. This article will describe the findings of empirical research and focus on how much attention the nuclear energy issue receives from the media, the tone in which it is communicated, how it is framed, and how the media depict the risk of this technology. It also argues that empirical risk‐coverage studies would be more informative if they took a broader perspective on risk. Finally, it will discuss areas for future research.
Temporal and spatial transcriptomic and microRNA dynamics of CAM photosynthesis in pineapple
Authors: Wai Ching M. , VanBuren Robert , Zhang Jisen , Huang Lixian , Miao Wenjing , Edger Patrick P. , Yim Won C. , Priest Henry D. , Meyers Blake C. , Mockler Todd , Smith J. Andrew C. , Cushman John C. , Ming Ray 
Published: July 2017

SummaryThe altered carbon assimilation pathway of crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) photosynthesis results in an up to 80% higher water‐use efficiency than C3 photosynthesis in plants making it a potentially useful pathway for engineering crop plants with improved drought tolerance. Here we surveyed detailed temporal (diel time course) and spatial (across a leaf gradient) gene and microRNA (miRNA) expression patterns in the obligate CAM plant pineapple [Ananas comosus (L.) Merr.]. The high‐resolution transcriptome atlas allowed us to distinguish between CAM‐related and non‐CAM gene copies. A differential gene co‐expression network across green and white leaf diel datasets identified genes with circadian oscillation, CAM‐related functions, and source‐sink relations. Gene co‐expression clusters containing CAM pathway genes are enriched with clock‐associated cis‐elements, suggesting circadian regulation of CAM. About 20% of pineapple microRNAs have diel expression patterns, with several that target key CAM‐related genes. Expression and physiology data provide a model for CAM‐specific carbohydrate flux and long‐distance hexose transport. Together these resources provide a list of candidate genes for targeted engineering of CAM into C3 photosynthesis crop species.