bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Radiation therapy dose is associated with improved survival for unresected anaplastic thyroid carcinoma: Outcomes from the National Cancer Data Base
Authors: Pezzi Todd A. , Mohamed Abdallah S. R. , Sheu Tommy , Blanchard Pierre , Sandulache Vlad C. , Lai Stephen Y. , Cabanillas Maria E. , Williams Michelle D. , Pezzi Christopher M. , Lu Charles , Garden Adam S. , Morrison William H. , Rosenthal David I. , Fuller Clifton D. , Gunn G. Brandon 
Published: December 2016

BACKGROUNDThe outcomes of patients with unresected anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) from the National Cancer Data Base (NCDB) were assessed, and potential correlations were explored between radiation therapy (RT) dose and overall survival (OS).METHODSThe study cohort was comprised of patients who underwent either no surgery or grossly incomplete resection. Correlates of OS were explored using univariate analysis and multivariable analysis (MVA).RESULTSIn total, 1288 patients were analyzed. The mean patient age was 70.2 years, 59.7% of patients were women, and 47.6% received neck RT. The median OS was 2.27 months, and 11% of patients remained alive at 1 year. A positive RT dose‐survival correlation was observed for the entire study cohort, for those who received systemic therapy, and for those with stage IVA/IVB and IVC disease. On MVA, older age (hazard ratio [HR], 1.317; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.137‐1.526), ≥ 1 comorbidity (HR, 1.587; 95% CI, 1.379‐1.827), distant metastasis (HR, 1.385; 95% CI, 1.216‐1.578), receipt of systemic therapy (HR, 0.637; 95% CI, 0.547‐0.742), and receipt of RT compared with no RT (<45 grays [Gy]:HR, 0.843; 95% CI, 0.718‐0.988; 45‐59.9 Gy: HR, 0.596; 95% CI, 0.479‐0.743; 60‐75 Gy: HR, 0.419; 95% CI, 0.339‐0.517) correlated with OS. The RT dose‐survival correlation for patients who received higher (60‐75 Gy) versus lower (45‐59.9 Gy) therapeutic doses was confirmed by propensity‐score matching.CONCLUSIONSSurvival was poor in this cohort of patients with unresected ATC, and more effective therapies are needed. However, the association of RT dose with OS highlights the importance of identifying patients with unresected ATC who may still yet benefit from multimodal locoregional treatment that incorporates higher dose RT. Cancer 2017;123:1653–1661. © 2017 American Cancer Society.
Does hormonal therapy for fertility preservation affect the survival of young women with early‐stage endometrial cancer?
Authors: Greenwald Zoë R. , Huang Lina N. , Wissing Michel D. , Franco Eduardo L. , Gotlieb Walter H. 
Published: December 2016

BACKGROUNDThe incidence of endometrial cancer among young women is increasing. Some patients with low‐grade endometrial cancer receive hormone therapy (HT) before surgery to preserve fertility. It is unclear whether this adversely affects survival.METHODSPatients with localized, low‐grade endometrial cancer who were aged <45 years were selected from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database between 1993 and 2012. Propensity score matching was used to select comparable groups receiving HT or primary surgery. Cancer‐specific and overall survival were measured using Kaplan‐Meier methods. Hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were estimated using Cox models adjusted for age, period of diagnosis, marital status, race, tumor grade, morphology, and previous radiotherapy.RESULTSA total of 6339 women were included in the current study cohort, 161 of whom initially received HT and 6178 of whom received primary surgery. After 15 years of follow‐up, all‐cause mortality did not differ between the groups (HT group: 14.1% [95% CI, 6.7%‐28.4%] and propensity score‐matched primary surgery group: 9.3% [95% CI, 4.1%‐20.5%]). Cancer‐specific mortality appeared higher in patients treated with HT compared with those treated with primary surgery (9.2% [95% CI, 3.4%‐24.0%] vs 2.1% [95% CI, 1.5%‐2.8%]). However, this difference was driven by 3 late deaths in the HT group. Sensitivity analyses using a broader definition of cancer‐specific mortality provided no statistical evidence of a survival difference between the treatment groups. The hazard ratio for the overall risk of death was 1.45 (95% CI, 0.44‐4.74).CONCLUSIONSBased on this population‐based cohort, young patients with low‐grade endometrial cancer appear to have excellent survival, regardless of the primary therapy chosen (HT vs primary surgery). The current selection of patients for HT to preserve fertility, which is managed carefully by experienced clinicians, does not appear to significantly worsen clinical outcomes. Cancer 2017;123:1545–1554. © 2017 American Cancer Society.
Controlled Deposition and Performance Optimization of Perovskite Solar Cells Using Ultrasonic Spray‐Coating of Photoactive Layers
Authors: Chang Wei‐Chieh , Lan Ding‐Hung , Lee Kun‐Mu , Wang Xiao‐Feng , Liu Cheng‐Liang 
Published: December 2016

AbstractThis study investigated a new film‐deposition technique, ultrasonic spray‐coating, for use in the production of a photoactive layer of perovskite solar cells. Stable atomization and facile fabrication of perovskite thin films by ultrasonic spray‐coating were achieved in a one‐step method through manipulating the ink formulation (e.g., solution concentration, precursor composition, and mixing solvent ratio) and the drying kinetics (e.g., post‐annealing temperature). The performance of the perovskite solar cells was mainly influenced by the intrinsic film morphology and crystalline orientation of the deposited perovskite layer. By suitable optimization of the spreading and drying conditions of the ink, ultrasonic spray‐coated perovskite photovoltaic devices were obtained with a maximum power conversion efficiency of 11.30 %, a fill factor of 73.6 %, a short‐circuit current of 19.7 mA cm−1, and an open‐circuit voltage of 0.78 V, respectively. Notably, the average power efficiency reached above 10 %, attributed to the large flower‐like perovskite crystal with orientation along the (1 1 2)/(2 0 0) and (2 2 4)/(4 0 0) directions. Thus, the ultrasonic spray‐coating method for perovskite photoactive layers, combining advantages of good photovoltaic performance results and benefits from cost and processing, has the potential for large‐scale commercial production.
Robust design of CMOS amplifiers oriented to settling‐time specification
Authors: Giustolisi Gianluca , Palumbo Gaetano 
Published: December 2016

SummaryIn this paper, we propose a new approach for the robust design of complementary metal‐oxide‐semiconductor amplifiers based on settling‐time specifications. The approach is based on the definition of the separation factors and on the analysis of their role in the settling time. We define a design strategy for being certain that an OTA satisfies the settling‐time constraint under any statistical variation of process or design parameters. The proposed strategy is applied to the transistor level design of a two‐stage amplifier and a three‐stage one. Simulation results, in good agreement with theory, confirm the validity of the proposed approach. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Brain natriuretic peptide usefulness in very elderly dyspnoeic patients: the BED study
Authors: Plichart Matthieu , Orvoën Galdric , Jourdain Patrick , Quinquis Laurent , Coste Joël , Escande Michele , Friocourt Patrick , Paillaud Elena , Chedhomme François‐Xavier , Labourée Florian , Boully Clémence , Benetos Athanase , Domerego Jean‐Jacques , Komajda Michel , Hanon Olivier 
Published: December 2016

AbstractAimsTo evaluate the interest of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) for heart failure (HF) diagnosis in very old patients.Methods and resultsA total of 383 patients aged 80 years or older, hospitalized in geriatrics care for dyspnoea, had a BNP measurement at the acute phase. Independent cardiologists blinded to BNP values classified the patients into cardiac vs. respiratory aetiology according to the European Society of Cardiology guidelines. Mean (SD) age was 88.5 (5.4) years, 66% (n = 254) of patients were women, 62% (n = 238) had cardiac dyspnoea and 38% (n = 145) had respiratory dyspnoea. The BNP levels were significantly higher in the cardiac group (median = 385.5 ng/L, interquartile range = 174.0–842.0) than in the respiratory group (median = 172.0 ng/L, interquartile range = 70.8–428.0; P < 0.001). On its own, BNP showed poor discriminative ability [area under the curve (AUC) = 0.68; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.62–0.73] for the diagnostic. In multivariate analysis, BNP remained independently associated with the cardiac aetiology after full‐adjustment (odds ratio 1 log increase = 1.87; 95% CI 1.28–2.74), but did not improve the discrimination between the cardiac and the respiratory aetiologies (ΔAUC = 0.013, P = 0.16). In addition, although adding BNP to the other predictive covariates yielded a significant continuous NRI of 57.8% (95% CI 31.2–83.5%), the mean changes in individual predicted probabilities were too low (<3%) to be clinically relevant.ConclusionIn this population of very old patients with acute dyspnoea, despite being independently associated with the cardiac aetiology, BNP was not useful for better discriminating cardiac vs. respiratory origin.
Health Insurance Costs and Employee Compensation: Evidence from the National Compensation Survey
Authors: Anand Priyanka 
Published: December 2016

SummaryThis paper examines the relationship between rising health insurance costs and employee compensation. I estimate the extent to which total compensation decreases with a rise in health insurance costs and decompose these changes in compensation into adjustments in wages, non‐health fringe benefits, and employee contributions to health insurance premiums. I examine this relationship using the National Compensation Survey, a panel dataset on compensation and health insurance for a sample of establishments across the USA. I find that total hourly compensation reduces by $0.52 for each dollar increase in health insurance costs. This reduction in total compensation is primarily in the form of higher employee premium contributions, and there is no evidence of a change in wages and non‐health fringe benefits. These findings show that workers are absorbing at least part of the increase in health insurance costs through lower compensation and highlight the importance of examining total compensation, and not just wages, when examining the relationship between health insurance costs and employee compensation. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Structural Chemistry, Fuzzy Logic, and the Law
Authors: Bernstein Joel 
Published: December 2016

AbstractChemistry is generally considered to be one of the exact sciences, which implies that much of the thinking and reasoning can be governed by “always” and “never” laws and rules. However, in practice, much of chemistry involves concepts that invoke general rules with the exceptions to those rules arousing curiosity and generating new experiments and theories that facilitate the progress of chemical science. The lack of precision, in fact, requires a mode of thinking and operating that has been called “fuzzy logic”, not necessarily in a pejorative sense, but rather recognizing the fundamental nature of this experimental science and how it plays out in practice. We provide herein some examples of fuzzy logic in the practice of chemistry and demonstrate how these are manifested in the role and behavior of expert witnesses, particularly in pharmaceutical patent litigations that deal with the solid forms of active pharmaceutical ingredients.
Anorexia‐cachexia syndrome in hepatoma tumour‐bearing rats requires the area postrema but not vagal afferents and is paralleled by increased MIC‐1/GDF15
Authors: Borner Tito , Arnold Myrtha , Ruud Johan , Breit Samuel N. , Langhans Wolfgang , Lutz Thomas A. , Blomqvist Anders , Riediger Thomas 
Published: December 2016

AbstractBackgroundThe cancer‐anorexia‐cachexia syndrome (CACS) negatively affects survival and therapy success in cancer patients. Inflammatory mediators and tumour‐derived factors are thought to play an important role in the aetiology of CACS. However, the central and peripheral mechanisms contributing to CACS are insufficiently understood. The area postrema (AP) and the nucleus tractus solitarii are two important brainstem centres for the control of eating during acute sickness conditions. Recently, the tumour‐derived macrophage inhibitory cytokine‐1 (MIC‐1) emerged as a possible mediator of cancer anorexia because lesions of these brainstem areas attenuated the anorectic effect of exogenous MIC‐1 in mice.MethodsUsing a rat hepatoma tumour model, we examined the roles of the AP and of vagal afferents in the mediation of CACS. Specifically, we investigated whether a lesion of the AP (APX) or subdiaphragmatic vagal deafferentation (SDA) attenuate anorexia, body weight, muscle, and fat loss. Moreover, we analysed MIC‐1 levels in this tumour model and their correlation with tumour size and the severity of the anorectic response.ResultsIn tumour‐bearing sham‐operated animals mean daily food intake significantly decreased. The anorectic response was paralleled by a significant loss of body weight and muscle mass. APX rats were protected against anorexia, body weight loss, and muscle atrophy after tumour induction. In contrast, subdiaphragmatic vagal deafferentation did not attenuate cancer‐induced anorexia or body weight loss. Tumour‐bearing rats had substantially increased MIC‐1 levels, which positively correlated with tumour size and cancer progression and negatively correlated with food intake.ConclusionsThese findings demonstrate the importance of the AP in the mediation of cancer‐dependent anorexia and body weight loss and support a pathological role of MIC‐1 as a tumour‐derived factor mediating CACS, possibly via an AP‐dependent action.
Musculoskeletal decline and mortality: prospective data from the Geelong Osteoporosis Study
Authors: Pasco Julie A. , Mohebbi Mohammadreza , Holloway Kara L. , Brennan‐Olsen Sharon L. , Hyde Natalie K. , Kotowicz Mark A. 
Published: December 2016

AbstractBackgroundWe aimed to examine the relationship between musculoskeletal deterioration and all‐cause mortality in a cohort of women studied prospectively over a decade.MethodsA cohort of 750 women aged 50–94 years was followed for a decade after femoral neck bone mineral density (BMD) and appendicular lean mass (ALM) were measured using dual energy X‐ray absorptiometry, in conjunction with comorbidities, health behaviour data, and other clinical measures. The outcome was all‐cause mortality identified from the Australian National Deaths Index. Using Cox proportional hazards models and age as the time variable, mortality risks were estimated according to BMD groups (ideal‐BMD, osteopenia, and osteoporosis) and ALM groups (T‐scores > −1.0 high, −2.0 to −1.0 medium, <−2.0 low).ResultsDuring 6712 person years of follow‐up, there were 190 deaths, the proportions increasing with diminishing BMD: 10.7% (23/215) ideal‐BMD, 23.5% (89/378) osteopenia, 49.7% (78/157) osteoporosis; and with diminishing ALM: 17.0% (59/345) high, 26.2% (79/301) medium, 50.0% (52/104) low. In multivariable models adjusted for smoking, polypharmacy, and mobility, compared with those with ideal BMD, mortality risk was greater for those with osteopenia [hazard ratio (HR) 1.77, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.11–2.81] and osteoporosis (HR 2.61, 95%CI 1.60–4.24). Similarly, compared with those with high ALM, adjusted mortality risk was greater for medium ALM (HR 1.36, 95%CI 0.97–1.91) and low ALM (HR 1.65, 95%CI 1.11–2.45). When BMD and ALM groups were tested together in the model, BMD remained a predictor of mortality (HR 1.74, 95%CI 1.09–2.78; HR 2.82, 95%CI 1.70–4.70; respectively), and low ALM had borderline significance (HR 1.52, 95%CI 1.00–2.31), which was further attenuated after adjusting for smoking, polypharmacy, and mobility.ConclusionsPoor musculoskeletal health increased the risk for mortality independent of age. This appears to be driven mainly by a decline in bone mass. Low lean mass independently exacerbated mortality risk, and this appeared to operate through poor health exposures.
A de novo splice site mutation in EHMT1 resulting in Kleefstra syndrome with pharmacogenomics screening and behavior therapy for regressive behaviors
Authors: Mitra Amit Kumar , Dodge Jessica , Van Ness Jody , Sokeye Israel , Van Ness Brian 
Published: December 2016

AbstractBackgroundKleefstra syndrome (KS) is a rare autosomal dominant developmental disability, caused by microdeletions or intragenic mutations within the epigenetic regulator gene EHMT1 (euchromatic histone lysine N‐methyltransferase 1). In addition to common features of autism, young adult regressive behaviors have been reported. However, the genetic downstream effects of the reported deletions or mutations on KS phenotype have not yet been completely explored. While genetic backgrounds affecting drug metabolism can have a profound effect on therapeutic interventions, pharmacogenomic variations are seldom considered in directing psychotropic therapies.MethodsIn this report, we used next‐generation sequencing (exome sequencing and high‐throughput RNA sequencing) in a patient and his parents to identify causative genetic variants followed by pharmacogenomics‐guided clinical decision‐making for making positive changes toward his treatment strategies. The patient had an early autism diagnosis and showed significant regressive behaviors and physical aberrations at age 23.ResultsExome sequencing identified a novel, de novo splice site variant NM_024757.4: c.2750‐1G>T in EHMT1, a candidate gene for Kleefstra syndrome, in the patient that results in exon skipping and downstream frameshift and termination. Gene expression results from the patient showed, when compared to his parents, there was a significant decreased expression of several reported gene variants associated with autism risk. Further, using a pharmacogenomics genotyping panel, we discovered that the patient had the CYP2D6 nonfunctioning variant genotype *4/*4 that results in very low metabolic activity on a number of psychotropic drugs, including fluvoxamine which he was prescribed. As reported here, a change in psychotropic drugs and intense behavior therapies resulted in a significant reversal of the regressive behaviors and physical aberrations.ConclusionThese results demonstrate an individualized approach that integrated genetic information and behavior therapies, resulting in a dramatic improvement in regressive behaviors associated with KS.
Morphometry of a Pre‐Hispanic Dog from Northwestern Argentina (AD 800–1200)
Authors: Belotti López de Medina C. R. 
Published: December 2016

AbstractA detailed morphometric description of a dog skull from the pre‐Hispanic archaeological site La Isla de Tilcara (northwestern Argentina, ca AD 800–1200) is presented. The resulting data were compared with those of dog skulls from other South American archaeological sites to establish dog morphotype. The examined skull belonged to a small, long‐snouted dog, similar to the smallest morphotypes from the central Andes. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Method‐of‐use study of naltrexone sustained release (SR)/bupropion SR on body weight in individuals with obesity
Authors: Halseth Amy , Shan Kevin , Walsh Brandon , Gilder Kye , Fujioka Ken 
Published: December 2016

ObjectiveThis study assessed the effects of 32 mg naltrexone sustained release (SR)/360 mg bupropion SR (NB) on body weight in adults with obesity, with comprehensive lifestyle intervention (CLI), for 78 weeks.MethodsIn this phase 3b, randomized, open‐label, controlled study, subjects received NB + CLI or usual care (standard diet/exercise advice) for 26 weeks. NB subjects not achieving 5% weight loss at week 16 were discontinued, as indicated by product labeling. After week 26, usual care subjects began NB + CLI. Assessments continued through week 78. The primary end point was percent change in weight from baseline to week 26 in the per protocol population. Other end points included percentage of subjects achieving ≥5%, ≥10%, and ≥15% weight loss, percent change in weight at week 78, and adverse events (AEs) necessitating study medication discontinuation.ResultsNB + CLI subjects lost significantly more weight than usual care subjects at week 26 (8.52% difference; P < 0.0001). Weight loss persisted through 78 weeks. In total, 20.7% of subjects discontinued medication for AEs, including 7.0% for nausea.ConclusionsTreatment with NB, used as indicated by prescribing information and with CLI, significantly improved weight loss over usual care alone. NB‐facilitated weight loss was sustained for 78 weeks and was deemed safe and well tolerated.
Initial body fat gain is related to brain volume changes in adolescents: A repeated‐measures voxel‐based morphometry study
Authors: Yokum Sonja , Stice Eric 
Published: December 2016

ObjectiveIndividuals with obesity versus those within a healthy weight range show brain volume differences, but it is unclear whether these differences reflect initial vulnerability factors or are secondary to weight gain.MethodsOne hundred sixty‐two adolescents (M age = 15.3 ± 1.1; 81 females) with healthy weight were scanned at baseline. Sixty subjects (M baseline age: 15.2 ± 1.1; M follow‐up age: 17.7 ± 1.2; 34 females) completed a second scan at 2‐ or 3‐year follow‐up. Voxel‐based morphometry assessed global and regional gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM) volumes. Body fat percentage was assessed yearly over follow‐up.ResultsBaseline global/regional GM/WM volume did not predict body fat gain over follow‐up. Adolescents who gained body fat showed greater decreases in GM volume in the putamen compared with those who showed loss of body fat. Adolescents who gained body fat showed greater increases in WM volume in the anterior cingulate cortex compared with those who showed stability of or loss of body fat.ConclusionsBody fat gain versus stability and loss produce GM and WM volume changes, rather than baseline volumetric differences predicting body fat gain.
Weight loss and carotid intima‐media thickness—a meta‐analysis
Authors: Skilton Michael R. , Yeo Si Qin , Ne Jia Yi Anna , Celermajer David S. , Caterson Ian D. , Lee Crystal Man Ying 
Published: December 2016

ObjectiveObesity is a risk factor for clinical cardiovascular disease, putatively via increased burden of atherosclerosis. It remains contentious as to whether weight loss in people with obesity is accompanied by a reduction in intima‐media thickness, a noninvasive marker of subclinical atherosclerosis, consistent with a lowering of risk of cardiovascular events.MethodsA systematic literature search was performed to identify all surgical and nonsurgical weight loss interventions that reported intima‐media thickness. A meta‐analysis was undertaken to obtain pooled estimates for change in intima‐media thickness.ResultsFrom the 3,197 articles screened, 9 studies were included in the meta‐analysis, with a total of 393 participants who lost an average of 16 kg (95% CI 9.4–22.5) of body weight over an average follow‐up of 20 months. The pooled mean change in carotid intima‐media thickness was −0.03 mm (95% CI −0.05 to −0.01), which was similar between surgical and nonsurgical interventions.ConclusionsIn people with obesity, weight loss was associated with a reduction in carotid intima‐media thickness, consistent with a lowering in risk of cardiovascular events.