bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Thirty-day hospital readmissions among mechanically ventilated emergency department patients
Authors: Page David B , Drewry Anne M , Ablordeppey Enyo , Mohr Nicholas M , Kollef Marin H , Fuller Brian M 
Published: January 2018

BackgroundUnplanned 30-day readmissions have a negative impact on patients and healthcare systems. Mechanically ventilated ED patients are at high risk for complications, but factors associated with readmission are unknown.Objective(1) Determine the rate of 30-day hospital readmission for ED patients receiving mechanical ventilation. (2) Identify associations between ED-based risk factors and readmission.DesignRetrospective cohort study.SettingTertiary-care, academic medical centre.PatientsAdult ED patients receiving mechanical ventilation.MeasurementsBaseline demographics, comorbid conditions, illness severity and treatment variables were collected, as were clinical outcomes occurring during the index hospitalisation. The primary outcome was 30-day hospital readmission rate. Multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate factors associated with the primary outcome.ResultsA total of 1262 patients were studied. The primary outcome occurred in 287 (22.7%) patients. There was no association between care in the ED and readmission. During the index hospitalisation, readmitted patients had shorter ventilator, hospital and intensive care unit duration (P<0.05 for all). The primary outcome was associated with African-American race (adjusted OR 1.34 (95% CI 1.02 to 1.78)), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (adjusted OR 1.52 (95% CI 1.12 to 2.06)), diabetes mellitus (adjusted OR 1.34 (95% CI 1.02 to 1.78)) and higher illness severity (adjusted OR 1.03 (95% CI 1.01 to 1.05)).ConclusionsAlmost one in four mechanically ventilated ED patients are readmitted within 30 days, and readmission is associated with patient-level and institutional-level factors. Strategies must be developed to identify, treat and coordinate care for the most at-risk patients.
HER2 is frequently overexpressed in hepatoid adenocarcinoma and gastric carcinoma with enteroblastic differentiation: a comparison of 35 cases to 334 gastric carcinomas of other histological types
Authors: Fujimoto Masakazu , Matsuzaki Ibu , Nishino Masaru , Iwahashi Yoshifumi , Warigaya Kenji , Kojima Fumiyoshi , Ono Kazuo , Murata Shin-Ichi 
Published: January 2018

Aimsα-Fetoprotein (AFP)-producing gastric carcinoma (AFPGC) is one of the most aggressive GC subtypes. Frequent expression of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) has previously been reported in hepatoid adenocarcinoma (HAC), a major histological subtype of AFPGC originating from common-type GC (CGC). However, HER2 expression levels in other AFPGC histological subtypes are unknown. In this study, we analysed HER2 expression in GCs with primitive phenotypes in addition to HAC.MethodsHER2 expression was evaluated in representative complete sections from 16 HACs, 19 GCs with enteroblastic differentiation (GCEDs) and 334 GCs of other histological types as controls. The Ruschoff/Hofmann method was used to score HER2 immunohistochemistry. Samples with a HER2 score of 2+ were further assessed using fluorescence in situ hybridisation. Oncofetal protein (OFP) expression in HAC and GCED was tested via immunohistochemical staining for AFP, glypican 3 and Sal-like protein 4.ResultsThirty of 35 HAC/GCED cases comprised more than two histological patterns. The HER2 positivity rates of each histological component in the HACs/GCEDs were 25.0% for HAC (n=16), 34.6% for GCED (n=26) and 48.1% for CGC (n=27), which were higher than those of the control group (13.8%). Additionally, the majority of CGC components in HACs/GCEDs were positive for OFP (88.9%).ConclusionsHER2 is frequently overexpressed not only in HAC but also in GCED and CGC components of HACs/GCEDs, which suggests an association between HER2 and OFP expression. Moreover, our findings suggest that HER2-positive CGC has a higher risk of progression to HAC/GCED than HER2-negative GC.
Elevated serum levels of cardiovascular biomarkers are associated with progression of renal cancer
Authors: Kamai Takao , Tokura Yuumi , Uematsu Toshitaka , Sakamoto Kazumasa , Suzuki Issei , Takei Kohei , Narimatsu Takahiro , Kambara Tsunehito , Yuki Hideo , Betsunoh Hironori , Abe Hideyuki , Fukabori Yoshitatsu , Yashi Masahiro , Yoshida Ken-Ichiro 
Published: January 2018

ObjectiveRenal cell carcinoma (RCC) is a hypervascular tumour due to high constitutive production of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which is activated by hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF). Elevated levels of cardiovascular peptides, including brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), have been reported in patients with cancer, regardless of whether they have overt cardiovascular disease. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that hypoxia stimulates BNP production by an HIF-dependent manner. However, the clinical implications of such cardiovascular peptides in patients with RCC have not been assessed.MethodsIn patients with clear cell RCC who underwent nephrectomy, we investigated the relationship between the serum level of BNP or N-terminal pro-BNP (NT-proBNP) and various clinicopathological characteristics, including serum VEGF and expression of BNP and HIF-2 alpha in the primary tumour.ResultsElevated preoperative serum levels of BNP, NT-proBNP and VEGF, as well as increased tumour expression of HIF-2 alpha, were associated with a worse performance status, local invasion, distant metastasis and shorter overall survival. HIF-2 alpha expression showed a positive correlation with the preoperative serum VEGF level, while there was no relation between the serum levels of BNP/NT-proBNP and VEGF or tumour expression of HIF-2 alpha. BNP expression was very low in both tumour tissues and normal kidney tissues. Serum levels of BNP, NT-proBNP and VEGF all decreased significantly after nephrectomy.ConclusionsOur findings suggested that the preoperative serum levels of BNP and NT-proBNP are markers of tumour progression, as well as indicators of subclinical functional and structural myocardial damage in patients with advanced RCC.
Blood pressure target achievement and antihypertensive medication use in women and men after first-ever myocardial infarction: the Tromsø Study 1994–2016
Authors: Hopstock Laila A , Eggen Anne Elise , Løchen Maja-Lisa , Mathiesen Ellisiv B , Nilsen Amalie , Njølstad Inger , Wilsgaard Tom 
Published: January 2018

BackgroundRecurrent cardiovascular events after myocardial infarction (MI) are frequent, and gender differences in blood pressure treatment have been reported. Despite increased focus on secondary prevention, recent reports indicate that treatment targets are not achieved. There is a need for gender-specific analyses of post-MI blood pressure treatment target achievement and antihypertensive medication adherence.DesignWe investigated the change in systolic and diastolic blood pressure and antihypertensive drug use after first-ever MI over two time periods in a Norwegian population-based study.MethodsWe followed 10 089 participants (55% women) attending the Tromsø Study in 1994–1995 (MI-cohort I) and 8412 participants (55% women) attending the Tromsø Study 2007–2008 (MI-cohort II) for first-ever MI up to their participation in 2007–2008 and 2015–2016, respectively. We used linear regression models to investigate sex and age differences in change in blood pressure.ResultsA total of 396 participants in MI-cohort I and 131 participants in MI-cohort II had a first-ever MI in the observation periods. In MI-cohort I, 35% of the women and 52% of the men achieved the treatment targets of blood pressure <140/90 mm Hg (130/80 mm Hg if diabetic), while the proportions for MI-cohort II were 50% and 54% for women and men, respectively. Antihypertensive use was reported in 88% of women and 87% of men in MI-cohort I, and 76% of women and 81% of men in MI-cohort II.ConclusionsWe found an overall low achievement of the treatment target. The findings call for better strategies for secondary prevention for both women and men.
Nonperturbative vacuum polarization effects in two-dimensional supercritical Dirac–Coulomb system I. Vacuum charge density
Authors: Davydov A. , Sveshnikov K. , Voronina Yu. 
Published: January 2018

Based on the original combination of analytical methods, computer algebra tools and numerical calculations, proposed recently in Refs. 1–3, the nonperturbative vacuum polarization effects in the 2+1[Formula: see text]D supercritical Dirac–Coulomb system with [Formula: see text] are explored. Both the vacuum charge density [Formula: see text] and vacuum energy [Formula: see text] are considered. The main result of the work is that in the overcritical region [Formula: see text] turns out to be a rapidly decreasing function [Formula: see text] with [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] being the size of the external Coulomb source. Due to a lot of details of calculation the whole work is divided into two parts I and II. In the present part I, we consider the evaluation and behavior of the vacuum density [Formula: see text], which further is used in part II for evaluation of the vacuum energy, with emphasis on the renormalization, convergence of the partial expansion for [Formula: see text] and behavior of the integral induced charge [Formula: see text] in the overcritical region.
A novel of PEG-conjugated phthalocyanine and evaluation of its photocytotoxicity and antibacterial properties for photodynamic therapy
Authors: Uslan Canan , İşleyen Naciye Durmuş , Öztürk Yetkin , Yıldız Burcu Turanlı , Çakar Z. Petek , Göksel Meltem , Durmuş Mahmut , Gürsel Yeşim Hepuzer , Sesalan B. Şebnem 
Published: January 2018

A poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-conjugated silicon(IV) phthalocyanine axially substituted with (PEG1000) chains (SiPc-PEG) was synthesized, and this novel phthalocyanine was characterized by [Formula: see text]H-NMR, FT-IR and UV-Vis spectrophotometric methods. Elemental analysis data were beneficial for the evaluation of the chemical structure of the new compound. The total number of (O–CH[Formula: see text]–CH[Formula: see text] units was calculated as 44 and the structure of the new PEG-conjugated silicon phthalocyanine was determined by the use of integral areas in [Formula: see text]H-NMR spectrum and the ratio of SiPc:PEG1000 was found as 1:2. The photophysical and photochemical properties were determined in both DMSO and aqueous solutions. In addition, the photocytotoxicity of the novel PEG-conjugated silicon(IV) phthalocyanine was also examined by testing against human cervical-carcinoma (HeLa) and hepato-carcinoma cells (HuH-7). The IC[Formula: see text] value for the SiPc-PEG compound was determined as 0.28 [Formula: see text]M for HeLa cells and 0.4 [Formula: see text]M for HuH-7 cells. These results imply that HeLa cells are apparently more responsive to photodynamic therapy (PDT) treatment by SiPc-PEG than HuH-7 cells at low concentrations (up to 0.5 [Formula: see text]M) of the studied photosensitizer. Additionally, SiPc-PEG showed antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli at 48 h of incubation, the viabilities of E.coli cultures exposed to 1000 [Formula: see text]g/mL and 2500 [Formula: see text]g/mL SiPc-PEG concentration were reduced by about 90%, and the additional growth inhibitory effect of photoactivation was also observed clearly at these efficient concentrations. To conclude, the novel compound may have a high potential for photodynamic therapy.
Global distribution and use of water from karst aquifers
Authors: Stevanović Zoran 
Published: January 2018

Abstract

Karst aquifers are some of the most important and well-used sources of water worldwide. The tapping of karst waters for use as drinking water has been important in the historical and economic development of many karst regions. Recent studies have found that karstified rocks and aquifer systems cover
c.
15% of the Earth's ice-free land. The greatest area of karst outcrops (>1 × 10
6
km
2
) is in Russia, the USA, China and Canada. In the Mediterranean basin, groundwater is generally more abundant in karst than in other aquifers and has been extensively exploited. Karst groundwater is also widely used in the Middle East, China, North America, and northern and eastern Africa and is of crucial importance for the sustainable development of tourism and the economy. Karst aquifers currently supply
c.
10% of the global population with drinking water and, in some zones, they are the only water resource available. However, the share of karst aquifers in the global supply of water will decrease with the predicted increase in population, concentrated in urban areas, and improvements in treatment technologies for water from other sources.
Palaeogeographical evolution of the Lower Jurassic: high-resolution biostratigraphy and sequence stratigraphy in the Central European Basin
Authors: Barth Gregor , Pieńkowski Grzegorz , Zimmermann Jens , Franz Matthias , Kuhlmann Gesa 
Published: January 2018

Abstract

Basin-scale stratigraphic correlation is the fundamental base for successful reservoir exploration, and especially when dealing with cross-border areas. Differences in lithostratigraphic and chronostratigraphic nomenclature between sub-basins and countries often result in problematic estimations of reservoir geometries and potential. This study combines available biostratigraphic, biofaunal and lithofacies data, together with sequence-stratigraphical correlations of the Lower Jurassic from the Central European Basin (CEB), to propose a genetic-based framework of transgressive and regressive depositional units. The determination of four major biofacies environments, composed of (I) polyhaline open-marine/offshore environments, (II) upper mesohaline marine–brackish environments, (III) lower mesohaline brackish environments and (IV) low oligohaline to freshwater continental environments comprising very rare marine phytoplankton and terrestrial spores and pollens, were translated into 12 biofacies reconstructions of ammonite (sub-) chronozone levels. Variations of biofacies reconstructions in time and space were supplemented by biostratigraphically constrained large-scale progradational and retrogradational sedimentary architecture. Retrogradation is accompanied by increasing polyhaline environments and pinpoint basinwide third-order flooding events, whereas progradation is accompanied by decreasing polyhaline environments pointing to third-order regressions. The outcomes of this study support exploration of Lower Jurassic deep geothermal reservoirs or CO
2
storage sites in the eastern CEB (especially Germany and Poland).
Exosomes Associated with Human Ovarian Tumors Harbor a Reversible Checkpoint of T-cell Responses
Authors: Shenoy Gautam N. , Loyall Jenni , Maguire Orla , Iyer Vandana , Kelleher Raymond J. , Minderman Hans , Wallace Paul K. , Odunsi Kunle , Balu-Iyer Sathy V. , Bankert Richard B. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractNano-sized membrane-encapsulated extracellular vesicles isolated from the ascites fluids of ovarian cancer patients are identified as exosomes based on their biophysical and compositional characteristics. We report here that T cells pulsed with these tumor-associated exosomes during TCR-dependent activation inhibit various activation endpoints including translocation of NFκB and NFAT into the nucleus, upregulation of CD69 and CD107a, production of cytokines, and cell proliferation. In addition, the activation of virus-specific CD8+ T cells that are stimulated with the cognate viral peptides presented in the context of class I MHC is also suppressed by the exosomes. The inhibition occurs without loss of cell viability and coincidentally with the binding and internalization of these exosomes. This exosome-mediated inhibition of T cells was transient and reversible: T cells exposed to exosomes can be reactivated once exosomes are removed. We conclude that tumor-associated exosomes are immunosuppressive and represent a therapeutic target, blockade of which would enhance the antitumor response of quiescent tumor-associated T cells and prevent the functional arrest of adoptively transferred tumor-specific T cells or chimeric antigen receptor T cells. Cancer Immunol Res; 6(2); 236–47. ©2018 AACR.
Thromboelastometry and Platelet Function during Acclimatization to High Altitude
Authors: Rocke Alistair , Paterson Gordon , Barber Matthew , Jackson Alexander , Main Shona , Stannett Calum , Schnopp Martin , Baillie J. , Horne Elizabeth , Moores Carl , Harrison Paul , Nimmo Alastair , Thompson A. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractInteraction between hypoxia and coagulation is important given the increased risk of thrombotic diseases in chronically hypoxic patients who reside at sea level and in residents at high altitude. Hypoxia alters the proteome of platelets favouring a prothrombotic phenotype, but studies of activation and consumption of specific coagulation factors in hypoxic humans have yielded conflicting results. We tested blood from 63 healthy lowland volunteers acclimatizing to high altitude (5,200 m) using thromboelastometry and assays of platelet function to examine the effects of hypoxia on haemostasis. Using data from two separate cohorts of patients following identical ascent profiles, we detected a significant delay in clot formation, but increased clot strength by day 7 at 5,200 m. The latter finding may be accounted for by the significant rise in platelet count and fibrinogen concentration that occurred during acclimatization. Platelet function assays revealed evidence of platelet hyper-reactivity, with shortened PFA-100 closure times and increased platelet aggregation in response to adenosine diphosphate. Post-expedition results were consistent with the normalization of coagulation following descent to sea level. These robust findings indicate that hypoxia increases platelet reactivity and, with the exception of the paradoxical delay in thromboelastometry clotting time, suggest a prothrombotic phenotype at altitude. Further work to elucidate the mechanism of platelet activation in hypoxia will be important and could impact upon the management of patients with acute or chronic hypoxic respiratory diseases who are at risk of thrombotic events.
Platelet Function in ITP, Independent of Platelet Count, Is Consistent Over Time and Is Associated with Both Current and Subsequent Bleeding Severity
Authors: Frelinger A. , Grace R. , Gerrits A. , Carmichael S. , Forde E. , Michelson A. 
Published: January 2018

Background Treatment decisions for patients with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) are difficult because patients with similarly low platelet counts differ in their bleeding tendency. We recently reported that platelet function tests, independent of platelet count, are associated with concurrent bleeding severity, suggesting that these tests may be useful indicators of future bleeding in ITP.
Objectives To test this hypothesis, we evaluated the consistency of these platelet function tests over time and their association with subsequent bleeding severity.
Methods Bleeding score and platelet biomarkers were evaluated in a cross-sectional study of children with ITP at two visits separated by a median of 10 months.
Results and Conclusions Correlations between Visit 1 and Visit 2 results for immature platelet fraction, circulating and agonist-stimulated platelet surface P-selectin, and activated GPIIb–IIIa and GPIbα indicated consistency of the platelet phenotype over time. Consistent with our previous findings, platelet biomarkers at each visit were significantly associated with the concurrent bleeding score. Furthermore, increased P-selectin on circulating platelets and reduced agonist-stimulated P-selectin and activated GPIIb–IIIa-positive platelets at Visit 1 were significantly associated with bleeding scores at Visit 2 and remained significantly associated with bleeding severity after adjustment for platelet count. These results suggest a mechanistic link between desensitization of agonist receptors and increased bleeding severity. In summary, platelet function in ITP, independent of platelet count, is consistent over time and is associated with both concurrent and subsequent bleeding severity. These findings support further evaluation of platelet function testing to help guide patient management in ITP.
Trends in Diagnosis‐Specific Work Disability Before and After Stroke: A Longitudinal Population‐Based Study in Sweden
Authors: Lallukka Tea , Ervasti Jenni , Lundström Erik , Mittendorfer‐Rutz Ellenor , Friberg Emilie , Virtanen Marianna , Alexanderson Kristina 
Published: January 2018

Background
Although a stroke event often leads to work disability, diagnoses behind work disability before and after stroke are largely unknown. We examined the pre‐event and postevent trends in diagnosis‐specific work disability among patients of working age.

Methods and Results
We included all new nonfatal stroke events in 2006–2008 from population‐based hospital registers in Sweden among women and men aged 25 to 60 years (n=12 972). Annual days of diagnosis‐specific work disability were followed for 4 years before and after stroke. Repeated measures negative binomial regression models using the generalized estimating equations method were fitted to examine trends in diagnosis‐specific work disability before and after the event. Already during the 4 pre‐event years, work disability attributed to circulatory diseases increased among women (rate ratio, 1.99; 95% confidence interval, 1.68–2.36) and men (rate ratio, 2.20; 95% confidence interval, 1.88–2.57). Increasing trends before stroke were also found for work disability attributed to mental disorders, musculoskeletal diseases, neoplasms, diseases of the nervous, respiratory, and digestive systems, injuries, and diabetes mellitus. As expected, a sharp increase in work disability days attributed to circulatory diseases was found during the first year after the event among both sexes. Overall, during 4 years after the stroke, there was a decreasing trend for circulatory diseases and injuries, whereas the trend was increasing for nervous diseases and diabetes mellitus.

Conclusions
Work disability attributed to several mental and somatic diagnoses is higher already before a stroke event.