bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Patients' views on the causes of their polymyalgia rheumatica: a content analysis of data from the PMR Cohort Study
Authors: Tshimologo Maatla , Saunders Benjamin , Muller Sara , Mallen Christian D , Hider Samantha L 
Published: January 2017

ObjectiveTo explore primary care polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) patient beliefs about the causes of their PMR.DesignQualitative content analysis was conducted on patients' written responses to the question of what they thought had caused their PMR. All data were coded and emergent categories of causal beliefs identified.SettingCommunity patients receiving primary care at general practitioner (GP) practices across England.ParticipantsParticipants were recruited from a primary care PMR inception cohort (n=654). Between June 2012 and June 2014 GPs referred 739 people with a new PMR diagnosis in the past 3 years into the study. Patients were mailed a baseline self-completion questionnaire, which included the question, ‘What do you think caused your PMR?’. Responses to this question form the data set for the present study.Results296 (45%) patients gave a possible cause for their PMR, while 276 (42%) respondents wrote ‘no idea’. Common attributions include ageing (45, 18%), medication (18, 5%) and personal stress (53, 14%). 24 respondents (6%) thought their PMR was as a result of another medical condition.ConclusionsThis is the first study to examine causation beliefs in PMR, identifying a number of possible causes such as ageing, stress and as a complication of other medical problems. Understanding these patient beliefs may impact on treatment adherence and patient outcome.
Associations between prescribed Chinese herbal medicine and risk of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with chronic hepatitis B: a nationwide population-based cohort study
Authors: Tsai Tzung-Yi , Livneh Hanoch , Hung Tsung-Hsing , Lin I -Hsin , Lu Ming-Chi , Yeh Chia-Chou 
Published: January 2017

ObjectivePatients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) are reported to exhibit higher risk of subsequent hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, it remains unclear if Chinese herbal medicine (CHM), an important category of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), may lower HCC risk in this population. So this study aimed to investigate the effects of CHM on HCC risk among patients with CHB.MethodsThis cohort study used the Taiwanese National Health Insurance Research Database to identify 21 020 newly diagnosed patients with CHB from 1998 to 2007. Among them, 8640 received CHM products after CHB onset (CHM users), and the remaining 12 380 patients were designated as a control group (non-CHM users). All enrolees were followed until the end of 2012 to measure the incidence rate and HR of HCC.ResultsDuring 15 years of follow-up, 371 CHM users and 958 non-CHM users developed HCC, representing an incidence rate of 5.28% and 10.18% per 1000 person-years, respectively. CHM users had significantly lower HCC risk compared with non-CHM users (adjusted HR=0.63, 95% CI 0.56 to 0.72). The predominant effect was observed in those receiving CHM products for more than 180 days (adjusted HR=0.52). Some CHM products, such asHedyotis diffusa, Scutellaria barbata,Rehmannia glutinosa, Isatis tinctoria,Yi Guan Jian, Xiao Chai Hu Tang, Wu Ling San and Gan Lu Yin, were significantly associated with lower risk of HCC.ConclusionsThe use of CHM was associated with a significantly reduced HCC risk in patients with CHB, which supports the integration of TCM with CHM into clinical practice to influence a favourable prognosis.
The prevalence of visual symptoms in poppers users: a global survey
Authors: Davies Andrew J , Borschmann Rohan , Kelly Simon P , Ramsey John , Ferris Jason , Winstock Adam R 
Published: January 2017

Introduction and aimsThe use of ‘poppers’ (volatile alkyl nitrites) has been associated with the development of visual symptoms secondary to the development of maculopathy. There are currently no data regarding the prevalence of this condition among poppers users. The aim of this study was to quantify the presence of visual symptoms among poppers users from a global cohort.Design and methodsThe Global Drug Survey (GDS) conducts annual anonymous online surveys of drug and alcohol use. Within the 2012 GDS, questions were inserted regarding the presence of visual symptoms in poppers users.ResultsThe GDS received a total of 21 575 valid responses, with a total of 17 479 from the UK, Australia, USA and Eurozone. Within these areas, 5152 (29.5%) had used poppers within their lifetime and 1322 (7.6%) within the previous year. Of the ‘last year’ users, when asked the question: ‘Do you think poppers use has affected your eyesight?’, 29 (2.2%) people responded ‘yes’, 130 (10.0%) responded ‘maybe’ and 1146 (87.8%) responded ‘no (17 people did not answer). Both multiple choice and free-text responses regarding the nature of visual symptoms correlated with the central visual disturbance that would be expected from maculopathy. There was significant increased symptom prevalence with age (likelihood ratio (χ2)=19.0; p<0.001).Discussion and conclusionsThis study demonstrates that a small, yet significant from a public health perspective, proportion of poppers users have visual symptoms. Clinical correlation is required to determine whether these reported symptoms are due to poppers associated maculopathy, or an alternative cause.
Decreased left ventricular stroke volume is associated with low-grade exercise tolerance in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Authors: Inoue Sumito , Shibata Yoko , Kishi Hiroyuki , Nitobe Joji , Iwayama Tadateru , Yashiro Yoshinori , Nemoto Takako , Sato Kento , Sato Masamichi , Kimura Tomomi , Igarashi Akira , Tokairin Yoshikane , Kubota Isao 
Published: January 2017

BackgroundLow-grade exercise tolerance is associated with a poor prognosis in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The 6 min walk test (6MWT) is commonly used to evaluate exercise tolerance in patients with COPD. However, little is known regarding the relationship between cardiac function and exercise tolerance in patients with COPD. The aim of this study was to identify predictive factors in cardiac function for low-grade exercise tolerance in patients with stable COPD.MethodsWe recruited 57 patients with stable COPD (men 54, women 3) to perform the 6MWT. Patients with underlying orthopaedic disease or heart failure were excluded. Cardiac function was evaluated by echocardiography and contrast-enhanced cardiac CT. We also measured pulmonary function and the 6MWT distance.ResultsForced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and per cent predicted FEV, along with left ventricular end diastolic volume and left ventricular cardiac output as measured by cardiac CT, were significantly related to the 6MWT distance. On multivariate analysis, left ventricular stroke volume was the factor most closely associated with a decreased walked distance in the 6MWT.ConclusionsDecreased left ventricular stroke volume was associated with low-grade exercise tolerance in patients with stable COPD without heart failure.
Photochemical Water Oxidation Using {PMo12O40@Mo72Fe30}n Based Soft Oxometalate
Authors: Das Santu , Roy Soumyajit 
Published: January 2017

Finding an alternative energy resource which can produce clean energy at a low cost is one of the major concerns of our times. The conversion of light energy into chemical energy is one key step forward in the direction. With that end in view photochemical water oxidation to produce oxygen plays a crucial role. In the present paper we have synthesized a soft oxometalate {PMo[Formula: see text]O[Formula: see text]@Mo[Formula: see text]Fe[Formula: see text]}n(1) from its well-known precursor polyoxometalate constituent [Muller et al., Chem. Commun. 1, 657 (2001)]. It is known that in the matter of catalysis, high surface area, possibility of heterogenization, recoverability makes soft oxometalates (SOMs) attractive as catalytic materials. Here we exploit such advantages of SOMs. The SOM based material acts as an active catalyst for photochemical water oxidation reaction with a maximum turnover number of 20256 and turnover frequency of 24.11[Formula: see text]min[Formula: see text]. The catalyst material is stable under photochemical reaction conditions and therefore can be reused for multiple photo catalytic water oxidation reaction cycles.
Carotid β-stiffness index is associated with slower processing speed but not working memory or white matter integrity in healthy middle-aged/older adults
Authors: DuBose Lyndsey E. , Voss Michelle W. , Weng Timothy B. , Kent James D. , Dubishar Kaitlyn M. , Lane-Cordova Abbi , Sigurdsson Gardar , Schmid Phillip , Barlow Patrick B. , Pierce Gary L. 
Published: January 2017

Aging is associated with increased carotid artery stiffness, a predictor of incident stroke, and reduced cognitive performance and brain white matter integrity (WMI) in humans. Therefore, we hypothesized that higher carotid stiffness/lower compliance would be independently associated with slower processing speed, higher working memory cost, and lower WMI in healthy middle-aged/older (MA/O) adults. Carotid β-stiffness ( P < 0.001) was greater and compliance ( P < 0.001) was lower in MA/O ( n = 32; 64.4 ± 4.3 yr) vs. young ( n = 19; 23.8 ± 2.9 yr) adults. MA/O adults demonstrated slower processing speed (27.4 ± 4.6 vs. 35.4 ± 5.0 U/60 s, P < 0.001) and higher working memory cost (−15.4 ± 0.14 vs. −2.2 ± 0.05%, P < 0.001) vs. young adults. Global WMI was lower in MA/O adults ( P < 0.001) and regionally in the frontal lobe ( P = 0.020) and genu ( P = 0.009). In the entire cohort, multiple regression analysis that included education, sex, and body mass index, carotid β-stiffness index (B = −0.53 ± 0.15 U, P = 0.001) and age group (B = −4.61 ± 1.7, P = 0.012, adjusted R2 = 0.4) predicted processing speed but not working memory cost or WMI. Among MA/O adults, higher β-stiffness (B = −0.60 ± 0.18, P = 0.002) and lower compliance (B = 0.93 ± 0.26, P = 0.002) were associated with slower processing speed but not working memory cost or WMI. These data suggest that greater carotid artery stiffness is independently and selectively associated with slower processing speed but not working memory among MA/O adults. Carotid artery stiffening may modulate reductions in processing speed earlier than working memory with healthy aging in humans. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Previously, studies investigating the relation between large elastic artery stiffness, cognition, and brain structure have focused mainly on aortic stiffness in aged individuals with cardiovascular disease risk factors and other comorbidities. This study adds to the field by demonstrating that the age-related increases in carotid artery stiffness, but not aortic stiffness, is independently and selectively associated with slower processing speed but not working memory among middle-aged/older adults with low cardiovascular disease risk factor burden.
Respiratory muscle blood flow during exercise: Effects of sex and ovarian cycle
Authors: Smith Joshua R. , Hageman K. Sue , Harms Craig A. , Poole David C. , Musch Timothy I. 
Published: January 2017

Sex and ovarian cycle have been speculated to modify respiratory muscle blood flow control during exercise, but the findings are inconclusive. We tested the hypotheses that females would have higher respiratory muscle blood flow and vascular conductance (VC) compared with males during exercise and that this difference would be accentuated in proestrus vs. ovariectomized (OVA) females. Mean arterial pressure (carotid artery catheter) and respiratory muscle blood flow (radiolabeled microspheres) were measured during moderate-intensity (24 m/min, 10% grade) exercise in male ( n = 9), female ( n = 9), and OVA female ( n = 7) rats and near-maximal (60 m/min, 5% grade) exercise in male ( n = 5) and female ( n = 7) rats. At rest, diaphragm, intercostal, and transversus abdominis blood flow were not different ( P = 0.33) among groups. During moderate-intensity exercise, diaphragm (M: 124 ± 16; F: 140 ± 14; OVA: 140 ± 20 ml·min−1·100 g−1), intercostal (M: 33 ± 5; F: 34 ± 5; OVA: 30 ± 5 ml·min−1·100 g−1), and transversus abdominis blood flow (M: 24 ± 4; F: 35 ± 7; OVA: 35 ± 9 ml·min−1·100 g−1) significantly increased in all groups compared with rest but were not different ( P = 0.12) among groups. From rest to moderate-intensity exercise, diaphragm ( P < 0.03) and transversus abdominis ( P < 0.04) VC increased in all groups, whereas intercostal VC increased only for males and females ( P = 0.01). No differences ( P > 0.13) existed in VC among groups. During near-maximal exercise, diaphragm (M: 304 ± 62; F: 283 ± 17 ml·min−1·100 g−1), intercostal (M: 29 ± 8; F: 40 ± 6 ml·min−1·100 g−1), and transversus abdominis (M: 85 ± 14; F: 86 ± 9 ml·min−1·100 g−1) blood flow and VC were not different ( P > 0.27) between males and females. These data demonstrate that respiratory muscle blood flow and vascular conductance at rest and during exercise are not affected by sex or ovarian cycle in rats. NEW & NOTEWORTHY It has been proposed that sex and ovarian cycle modulate respiratory muscle blood flow control during exercise. We demonstrate herein that neither sex nor ovarian cycle influences respiratory muscle blood flow or vascular conductance at rest or during exercise in rats.
Nucleic acids as cofactors for factor XI and prekallikrein activation: Different roles for high-molecular-weight kininogen
Authors: Ivanov Ivan , Shakhawat Ruhama , Sun Mao-fu , Dickeson S. Kent , Puy Cristina , McCarty Owen , Gruber Andras , Matafonov Anton , Gailani David 
Published: January 2017

SummaryThe plasma zymogens factor XI (fXI) and prekallikrein (PK) are activated by factor XIIa (fXIIa) during contact activation. Polyanions such as DNA and RNA may contribute to thrombosis and inflammation partly by enhancing PK and fXI activation. We examined PK and fXI activation in the presence of nucleic acids, and determine the effects of the cofactor high molecular weight kininogen (HK) on the reactions. In the absence of HK, DNA and RNA induced fXI autoactivation. Proteases known to activate fXI (fXIIa and thrombin) did not enhance this process appreciably. Nucleic acids had little effect on PK activation by fXIIa in the absence of HK. HK had significant but opposite effects on PK and fXI activation. HK enhanced fXIIa activation of PK in the presence of nucleic acids, but blocked fXI autoactivation. Thrombin and fXIIa could overcome the HK inhibitory effect on autoactivation, indicating these proteases are necessary for nucleic acid-induced fXI activation in an HK-rich environment such as plasma. In contrast to PK, which requires HK for optimal activation, fXI activation in the presence of nucleic acids depends on anion binding sites on the fXI molecule. The corresponding sites on PK are not necessary for PK activation. Our results indicate that HK functions as a cofactor for PK activation in the presence of nucleic acids in a manner consistent with classic models of contact activation. However, HK has, on balance, an inhibitory effect on nucleic acid-supported fXI activation and may function as a negative regulator of fXI activation.Supplementary Material to this article is available online at www.thrombosis-online.com.
Apesar da noite: a materialidade da figura humana em Philippe Grandrieux
Authors: Costa Júnior Edson Pereira da 
Published: January 2017

No cinema de Philippe Grandrieux, o interesse em valorizar a presença da figura humana coexiste com um espaço pictórico crepuscular, na iminência de desaparecer na escuridão. Cria-se um regime aparentemente contraditório: o corpo ganha peso, materialidade, apesar do risco de sua diluição na imagem. Tendo isso em vista, o artigo discute como a modulação do negrume contribui para a sublimação visual e a restituição sensorial da figura humana em seus filmes, com foco em Sombra (Sombre, 1998) e mais brevemente em White epilepsy (2012). A partir do cotejo com as artes plásticas, sobretudo com obras de Pablo Picasso e de Paul Cézanne, busca-se pensar as particularidades de um programa que evoca o corpo a partir das sugestões espaciais e da circularidade na imagem.palavras-chave: figura humana; sombra; presença; cinema; pintura AbstractIn Philippe Grandrieux’s cinema, the interest in representing the presence of human figure coexists with a twilight pictorial space on the brink of fading into darkness. Therefore, we recognize a contradictory situation: the body gets materiality in spite of his possibility of dissolves in the image. In view of the above, the paper aims to discuss how the shadow contributes to a visual sublimation and a sensory restitution of human figure in Grandrieux’s cinema, especially in Sombre (1998) and briefly in White epilepsy (2012). In relation with plastic art, notably the works of Pablo Picasso and Paul Cézanne, we intend to discuss the specificities of a formal proposition that seeks to evoke the body by space indices and by the circularity in the image.keywords: human figure; shadow; presence; cinema; painting
<b>First record of the Woolly-necked Stork <I>Ciconia episcopus</I> Boddaert, 1783 (Aves: Ciconiiformes: Ciconiidae) breeding in the lowland wet zone of Sri Lanka</b>
Authors: Kularatne Hemachandra , Udagedara Susantha 
Published: January 2017

The Woolly-necked Stork Ciconia episcopus is a resident bird species commonly found breeding in the dry lowlands of Sri Lanka, preferably nesting in remote areas with minimal disturbance, although the breeding and nesting behavior has not yet been adequately documented. Here we report its nesting behavior, for the first time in lowland wet zone Sri Lanka, from Thalagolla, Beddawela in Kegalle District. Although its usual breeding season is in the dry zone from February to March with a second breeding cycle from November to early January, here we report breeding in the lowland wet zone from July–October in 2013–2014. Further, it was interesting to note presumably the same couple of birds used the same nest in 2014 with minimum renovation. In 2015 the nest had disintegrated and fallen due to continuous heavy rain and there have been no records till June 2016. Breeding was again recorded from June–September in 2016 with a new nest in a different platform of twigs in the same tree.
<b>First record of the Two-striped Box Crab <I>Calappa bilineata</I> Ng, Lai & Aungtonya, 2002 (Brachyura: Calappidae) from St. Martin’s Island, Bangladesh</b>
Authors: Akash Muntasir , Hossain Mostafa A.R. 
Published: January 2017

As part of survey of a BS (hons) study tour conducted by the Department of Zoology, University of Dhaka, two specimens of box crab were caught with a beach seine net from the northern beach in front of the Hotel Prince Heaven (20038’07.50”N & 92019’34.68”E) on new moon of 07th December 2012. Those box crabs were identified as the Two Striped Box Crab Calappa bilineata Ng, Lai & Aungtonya, 2002 which is turned out as a new record for Bangladesh and a record for the northern part of the Bay of Bengal.
Assessing the Therapeutic Impact of a Community Group on a Secure Hospital Ward
Authors: Beck Alison 
Published: January 2017

The constructs of ward staff and patients in a medium secure rehabilitation ward were assessed before and after an eight-month trial of a twice weekly community group. One of the aims of this group was to address day-to-day interpersonal issues and to encourage patients to take social responsibility for their actions and to learn to support one another. Another aim was to encourage staff and patients to consider the possibility of applying some therapeutic community principles on the ward. These aims were assessed using repertory grid techniques. The results were that over the eight-month pilot both staff and patient groups shifted towards viewing their ideal ward as a therapeutic community (TC). However qualitative information suggested that considerable difficulties arose in bringing about the necessary cultural changes. As a result both staff and patients felt confused and disempowered. Future attempts are highly recommended, however better resourcing, particularly in the form of employing a trained full-time individual to co-ordinate activities, is essential.
Prospective Study of Coroner's Autopsies in Benin City, Nigeria
Authors: Aligbe J U , Akhiwu W O , Nwosu S O 
Published: January 2017

A prospective study of 726 cases of coroner's autopsies carried out over a period of two years (1st January, 1996 − 31st December, 1997) was reviewed. The causes and circumstances of death are defined and classified into natural and unnatural deaths. Fifty cases (6.3%) were children while the remaining 676 cases (93.1%) were adults in a male to female ratio of 2.6 to 1. The most common indications for coroner's autopsies were sudden unnatural deaths (SUDs) accounting for 485 cases (66.8%) and also sudden unexpected natural deaths (SUNDs) (241 cases) accounting for 33.2%. In the first category, road traffic accidents accounted for 86.7% of cases with deaths involving motor vehicle drivers and their passengers (41.8%); pedestrians (37.1%); and motorcyclists and their passengers (18.6%). The commonest causes of death in all road traffic accidents were craniocerebral injuries and haemorrhagic shock. In the second category the most common causes of sudden unexpected natural death were cardiovascular diseases resulting from complications of hypertension (54.7%) occurring in apparently healthy individuals. Other causes of death were pneumonia, pulmonary tuberculosis, typhoid fever and neoplastic diseases. This study showed that in Nigeria, with an increasing acquisition of dietary and life style habits of the developed western world, there is becoming a concomitant risk of deaths from road traffic accidents and sudden unexpected natural deaths from hypertensive cardiovascular disease.
Mental Impairment in the West Midlands: 10 Years on
Authors: Perry David William , Benton Carl , Walsh Martin , Martin David , Corbett John 
Published: January 2017

In 1989, a survey was undertaken to describe the learning disabled population, originating from the West Midlands, classified as mentally impaired or severely mentally impaired under the Mental Health Act 1983. The results obtained were then used to help guide future service development within the region. Given the marked changes in service provision over the subsequent decade, the study was repeated in 1998–1999, looking at the same population on 1st December 1997 (prior to the Bournewood Ruling). Attempts were made to identify all people residing within the West Midlands region, or originating from it, and classified as mentally impaired or severely mentally impaired under the Mental Health Act (1983). This was achieved by contacting medical records departments, learning disability consultants and Health Authorities. The same data set as the original study was then collected from case notes to allow comparison. The current study however, collected extra information, relating to diagnosis, treatment and outcome. Ninety-three people were identified for the study. Over the 10 years, there has been approximately a 100% increase in the numbers of people detained under these categories of the Mental Health Act (1983). There has been a marked increase in the use of the private sector, as well as out-of-region placements. Sexual offending seemed a common reason for detention. The authors attempt to explain this phenomenon. They also highlight the need for future developments and greater systematic data collection.