bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Assessment of patient-reported outcome measures in pleural interventions
Authors: Psallidas Ioannis , Yousuf Ahmed , Talwar Ambika , Hallifax Rob J , Mishra Eleanor K , Corcoran John P , Ali Nabeel , Rahman Najib M 
Published: July 2017

IntroductionThere is a lack of data evaluating the clinical effect on symptoms of pleural intervention procedures. This has led to the development of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) to define what constitutes patient benefit. The primary aim of this paper was to prospectively assess the effect of pleural procedures on PROMs and investigate the relationship between symptom change and clinical factors.MethodsWe prospectively collected data as part of routine clinical care from 158 patients with pleural effusion requiring interventions. Specific questionnaires included two patient-reported scores (a seven-point Likert scale and a 100 mm visual analogue scale (VAS) to assess symptoms).ResultsExcluding diagnostic aspiration, the majority of patients (108/126, 85.7%) experienced symptomatic benefit from fluid drainage (mean VAS improvement 42.6 mm, SD 24.7, 95% CI 37.9 to 47.3). There was a correlation between symptomatic benefit and volume of fluid removed post aspiration. A negative association was identified between the number of septations seen on ultrasound and improvement in dyspnoea VAS score in patients treated with intercostal chest drain.ConclusionThe results of our study highlight the effect of pleural interventions from a patient’s perspective. The outcomes defined have the potential to form the basis of a clinical useful tool to appraise the effect, compare the efficiency and identify the importance of pleural interventions to the patients.
Frailty and patient-reported outcomes in subjects with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: are they independent entities?
Authors: Kusunose Masaaki , Oga Toru , Nakamura Saya , Hasegawa Yoshinori , Nishimura Koichi 
Published: July 2017

IntroductionThere is a hypothesis that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an accelerated ageing disease. Frailty is a geriatric syndrome characterised by physical, psychological and social vulnerability, thought to be a feature of ageing. The authors aimed to explore the relationship between frailty and physiological and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in subjects with stable COPD.MethodsWe administered the Kihon Checklist that has been validated for frailty screening. We also assessed patient-reported measurements of health status and dyspnoea using the COPD Assessment Test (CAT), the St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), the Hyland Scale, the Medical Outcomes Study 36-item short-form (SF-36), the Baseline Dyspnea Index (BDI) and the Dyspnea-12 (D-12). Pulmonary function was also measured.ResultsOf 79 consecutive COPD outpatients, 38 (48.1%), 24 (30.4%) and 17 (21.5%) patients were classified as robust, prefrail and frail, respectively. The total Kihon Checklist score was significantly weakly to moderately correlated with the CAT score (Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient (Rs)=0.38, p<0.01), the SGRQ total score (Rs=0.65, p<0.01), the Hyland Scale score (Rs=−0.54, p<0.01), all subscale scores of the SF-36 (Rs=−0.64 to −0.31, p<0.01), the BDI score (Rs=−0.46, p<0.01) and the D-12 score (Rs=0.41, p<0.01). We found no or only weak correlations between the total Kihon Checklist score and lung function measurements. We found statistically significant between-group (robust, prefrail and frail) differences in most PRO scores. Using stepwise multiple regression analyses to identify the variables that predicted the total Kihon Checklist score, the SGRQ total score alone significantly explained 49.1% of the variance (p<0.01).DiscussionFrailty was significantly correlated with PROs, especially health status, unlike lung function. Frailty should be assessed in addition to PROs separately from lung function as part of multidimensional analyses of COPD.
The Shearwater Field – understanding the overburden above a geologically complex and pressure-depleted high-pressure and high-temperature field
Authors: Jones D. W. , Taylor B. J. , Gill C. E. , Bevaart M. , van Bergen P. F. , Watson J. S. , De Gennaro S. , Hodzic M. 
Published: July 2017

Abstract

The Shearwater Field, located in Block 22/30b in the UK Central Graben, remains one of the best-known fields in the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS). At the time of the initial development, Shearwater represented one of the most complex and technically challenging high-pressure and high-temperature (HPHT) developments of its kind in the North Sea. During the early life of the field, pressure depletion resulted in compaction of the Fulmar reservoir, leading to mechanical failure of the development wells. The compaction also resulted in weakening of the overburden due to an effect known as stress arching. Over time, this resulted in
in situ
stress changes in the overburden which have been observed from 4D seismic datasets and are in line with geomechanical modelling. This is particularly true for the Hod Formation in the Chalk Group, and resulted in the need to make changes to infill well design, including the use of new drilling technologies, to ensure safe and effective well delivery. The insights presented here, which relate to the understanding of pore pressure and fluid fill in the overburden, and how the overburden has responded to stress changes over time, are of relevance to current and future HPHT field developments in both the UK North Sea and elsewhere.
Nuclear CD24 Drives Tumor Growth and Is Predictive of Poor Patient Prognosis
Authors: Duex Jason E. , Owens Charles , Chauca-Diaz Ana , Dancik Garrett M. , Vanderlinden Lauren A. , Ghosh Debashis , Leivo Mariah Z. , Hansel Donna E. , Theodorescu Dan 
Published: July 2017

Abstract
Elevated tumor expression of the cell surface GPI-linked CD24 protein signals poor patient prognosis in many tumor types. However, some cancer cells selected to be negative for surface CD24 (surCD24−) still retain aggressive phenotypes in vitro and in vivo. Here, we resolve this apparent paradox with the discovery of biologically active, nuclear CD24 (nucCD24) and finding that its levels are unchanged in surCD24− cells. Using the complementary techniques of biochemical cellular fractionation and immunofluorescence, we demonstrate a signal for CD24 in the nucleus in cells from various histologic types of cancer. Nuclear-specific expression of CD24 (NLS-CD24) increased anchorage-independent growth in vitro and tumor formation in vivo. Immunohistochemistry of patient tumor samples revealed the presence of nucCD24, whose signal intensity correlated positively with the presence of metastatic disease. Analysis of gene expression between cells expressing CD24 and NLS-CD24 revealed a unique nucCD24 transcriptional signature. The median score derived from this signature was able to stratify overall survival in four patient datasets from bladder cancer and five patient datasets from colorectal cancer. Patients with high scores (more nucCD24-like) had reduced survival. These findings define a novel and functionally important intracellular location of CD24; they explain why surCD24− cells can remain aggressive, and they highlight the need to consider nucCD24 in both fundamental research and therapeutic development. Cancer Res; 77(18); 4858–67. ©2017 AACR.
An Aggregate Biomarker Risk Score Predicts High Risk of Near‐Term Myocardial Infarction and Death: Findings From BARI 2D (Bypass Angioplasty Revascularization Investigation 2 Diabetes)
Authors: Ghasemzadeh Nima , Brooks Maria M. , Vlachos Helen , Hardison Regina , Sikora Sergey , Sperling Laurence , Quyyumi Arshed A. , Epstein Stephen E. 
Published: July 2017

Background

In a previous study, we found that a biomarker risk score (
BRS
) comprised of C‐reactive protein, fibrin‐degradation products, and heat shock protein‐70 predicts risk of myocardial infarction and death in coronary artery disease patients. We sought to: (1) validate the
BRS
in the independent BARI 2D (Bypass Angioplasty Revascularization Investigation 2 Diabetes) cohort, (2) investigate whether 1 year of intensive medical therapy is associated with improved
BRS
, and (3) elucidate whether an altered
BRS
parallels altered risk.

Methods and Results

Two thousand thirty‐two subjects with coronary artery disease were followed for 5.3±1.1 years for cardiovascular events. Biomarkers were measured at baseline and retested in 1304 subjects at 1 year.
BRS
was determined as the biomarker number above previously defined cut‐off values (C‐reactive protein >3 mg/L, heat shock protein‐70 >0.313 ng/mL, and fibrin‐degradation products >1 μg/mL). After adjustment for covariates, those with a
BRS
of 3 had a 4‐fold increased risk of all‐cause death and a 6.8‐fold increased risk of cardiac death compared with those with a
BRS
of 0 (95%
CI
, 2.9–16.0;
P
<0.0001). All individual biomarkers decreased by 1 year, with ≈80% of patients decreasing their
BRS
.
BRS
recalibrated at 1 year also predicted risk. Those with 1‐year
BRS
of 2 to 3 had a 4‐year mortality rate of 21.1% versus 7.4% for those with
BRS
of 0 to 1 (
P
<0.0001).

Conclusions

Our results validate the ability of the
BRS
to identify coronary artery disease patients at very high near‐term risk of myocardial infarction/death. After 1 year of intensive medical therapy, the
BRS
decreased significantly, and the reclassified
BRS
continued to track with risk. Our results suggest that repeated
BRS
measurements might be used to assess risk and recalibrate therapy.
Inhibition of IκB Kinase at 24 Hours After Acute Kidney Injury Improves Recovery of Renal Function and Attenuates Fibrosis
Authors: Johnson Florence L. , Patel Nimesh S. A. , Purvis Gareth S. D. , Chiazza Fausto , Chen Jianmin , Sordi Regina , Hache Guillaume , Merezhko Viktoria V. , Collino Massimo , Yaqoob Muhammed M. , Thiemermann Christoph 
Published: July 2017

Background

Acute kidney injury (
AKI
) is a major risk factor for the development of chronic kidney disease. Nuclear factor‐κB is a nuclear transcription factor activated post‐ischemia, responsible for the transcription of proinflammatory proteins. The role of nuclear factor‐κB in the renal fibrosis post‐
AKI
is unknown.

Methods and Results

We used a rat model of
AKI
caused by unilateral nephrectomy plus contralateral ischemia (30 minutes) and reperfusion injury (up to 28 days) to show impairment of renal function (peak: 24 hours), activation of nuclear factor‐κB (peak: 48 hours), and fibrosis (28 days). In humans,
AKI
is diagnosed by a rise in serum creatinine. We have discovered that the IκB kinase inhibitor
IKK
16 (even when given at peak serum creatinine) still improved functional and structural recovery and reduced myofibroblast formation, macrophage infiltration, transforming growth factor‐β expression, and Smad2/3 phosphorylation.
AKI
resulted in fibrosis within 28 days (Sirius red staining, expression of fibronectin), which was abolished by
IKK
16. To confirm the efficacy of
IKK
16 in a more severe model of fibrosis, animals were subject to 14 days of unilateral ureteral obstruction, resulting in tubulointerstitial fibrosis, myofibroblast formation, and macrophage infiltration, all of which were attenuated by
IKK
16.

Conclusions
Inhibition of IκB kinase at peak creatinine improves functional recovery, reduces further injury, and prevents fibrosis.
Implications for Trade, Especially with the Developing Countries, of Structural Reforms in the Soviet Economy
Authors: Shatalin S. 
Published: July 2017

The present analysis of the implications of structural adjustment in the Soviet economy for the trade of the USSR, especially trade with the developing countries, represents the author's own vision of the substance and methods of implementation of the economic reform in the USSR, including ways of transition to a market economy. The problems involved are analyzed with regard to growing economic interdependence and the greater influence of international trade and economic interaction upon decision-making in the context of national reforming activity. The author's views on how to reorient and readjust the foreign economic policies and management of the USSR (including policies vis-a-vis the developing countries) should be considered primarily against the background of Soviet efforts to ensure the USSR's integration into the world econo111y and international economic relations on the basis or extensive application of market mechanisms and incentives.
Trade and Development Report, 1992 An Overview
Authors: Dadzie K.K.S. 
Published: July 2017

The world economy has been suffering its most severe recession since the World War-II. Production has fallen in the United States and flattened in Japan. Western Europe is stagnating: the boost provided by German unification has petered out, while high interest rates remain. Growth has picked up in Latin America, but remains slow there and in other developing regions, other than parts of Asia. Central and Eastern Europe are suffering a precipitous fall in living standards; the transition process is proving much more painful than anticipated. Overall, signs of improvement are scant. The unexpected severity of the global recession reflects the presence of debt deflation in a number of industrialized economies - a process not experienced since the Great Depression. Household and business expenditures are being reduced, the flow of credit is shrinking, and confidence is being eroded. Econometric forecasts, by taking little or no account of the domestic debt overhang, have tended to paint an overoptimistic picture. A private sector weighed down by debt and high long-term interest rates will not generate stability or growth unaided. Governments must resume their responsibilities, by acting to foster a return to financial stability and to stimulate the level of economic activity. No single country can solve the macroeconomic problem on its own: the situation demands improved coordination. Without a swift policy response, cumulative forces may be unleashed, damaging all countries. World economic recovery is especially important for developing countries, for without sustained export growth further bouts of instability can be expected, including an intensification of threats to democratic institutions in countries where these have been established or re-established only recently. Many developing countries, as well as countries in transition, have unilaterally undertaken a fundamental change of direction towards greater openness in trade. For them to succeed in pursuing outward-oriented strategies, developed countries need to follow suit by relaxing their own import restrictions. A successful conclusion to the Uruguay Round is therefore highly important. Improved development performance will also require further policy effort at home. The need for reforms is inescapable, but these should be introduced thoughtfully, on the basis offa ct, not fiction.
Language and Play: a Study of the Relationship Between Functions and Structures in the Language of Five Year Old Children
Authors: Teece Cathleen 
Published: July 2017

The purpose of the study was to consider the value of 'play' activities in the infant school in relation to language development. Linguistic analyses were made of samples of the language of five year old children to determine functional and structural characteristics. Piaget's functional classification was applied together with a transformational analysis. Results confirmed the value of play activities for language development and illustrated the nature of linguistic interaction amoung groups of children. The transformational analysis gave a detailed description of the language sampled.
Intonation and Dialog Context as Constraints for Speech Recognition
Authors: Taylor Paul , King Simon , Isard Stephen , Wright Helen 
Published: July 2017

This paper describes a way of using intonation and dialog context to improve the performance of an automatic speech recognition (ASR) system. Our experiments were run on the DCIEM Maptask corpus, a corpus of spontaneous task-oriented dialog speech. This corpus has been tagged according to a dialog analysis scheme that assigns each utterance to one of 12 “move types,” such as “acknowledge,” “query-yes/no” or “instruct.” Most ASR systems use a bigram language model to constrain the possible sequences of words that might be recognized. Here we use a separate bigram language model for each move type. We show that when the “correct” move-specific language model is used for each utterance in the test set, the word error rate of the recognizer drops. Of course when the recognizer is run on previously unseen data, it cannot know in advance what move type the speaker has just produced. To determine the move type we use an intonation model combined with a dialog model that puts constraints on possible sequences of move types, as well as the speech recognizer likelihoods for the different move-specific models. In the full recognition system, the combination of automatic move type recognition with the move specific language models reduces the overall word error rate by a small but significant amount when compared with a baseline system that does not take intonation or dialog acts into account. Interestingly, the word error improvement is restricted to “initiating” move types, where word recognition is important. In “response” move types, where the important information is conveyed by the move type itself—for example, positive versus negative response—there is no word error improvement, but recognition of the response types themselves is good. The paper discusses the intonation model, the language models, and the dialog model in detail and describes the architecture in which they are combined.
Rethinking Race/Ethnicity, Income, and Childhood Asthma: Racial/Ethnic Disparities Concentrated among the Very Poor
Authors: Smith Lauren A. , Hatcher-Ross Juliet L. , Wertheimer Richard , Kahn Robert S. 
Published: July 2017

Objective. Past studies of the prevalence of childhood asthma have yielded conflicting findings as to whether racial/ethnic disparities remain after other factors, such as income, are taken into account. The objective of this study was to examine the association of race/ethnicity and family income with the prevalence of childhood asthma and to assess whether racial/ethnic disparities vary by income strata. Methods. Cross-sectional data on 14,244 children aged <18 years old in the 1997 National Health Interview Survey were examined. The authors used logistic regression to analyze the independent and joint effects of race/ethnicity and income-to-federal poverty level (FPL) ratio, adjusting for demographic covariates. The main outcome measure was parental report of the child having ever been diagnosed with asthma. Results. Bivariate analyses, based on weighted percentages, revealed that asthma was more prevalent among non-Hispanic black children (13.6%) than among non-Hispanic white children (11.2%; p<0.01), but the prevalence of asthma did not differ significantly between Hispanic children (10.1 %) and non-Hispanic white children (11.2%; p=0.13). Overall, non-Hispanic black children were at higher risk for asthma than non-Hispanic white children (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 1.20; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.03, 1.40), after adjustment for sociodemographic variables, including the ratio of annual family income to the FPL. Asthma prevalence did not differ between Hispanic children and non-Hispanic white children in adjusted analyses (adjusted OR=0.85; 95% CI 0.71, 1.02). Analyses stratified by income revealed that only among children from families with incomes less than half the FPL did non-Hispanic black children have a higher risk of asthma than non-Hispanic white children (adjusted OR=1.99; 95% CI 1.09, 3.64). No black vs. white differences existed at other income levels. Subsequent analyses of these very poor children that took into account additional potentially explanatory variables did not attenuate the higher asthma risk for very poor non-Hispanic black children relative to very poor non-Hispanic white children. Conclusions. Non-Hispanic black children were at substantially higher risk of asthma than non-Hispanic white children only among the very poor. The concentration of racial/ethnic differences only among the very poor suggests that patterns of social and environmental exposures must overshadow any hypothetical genetic risk.
Orofacial Pain: Patient Satisfaction and Delay of Urgent Care
Authors: Riley Joseph L. , Gilbert Gregg H. , Heft Marc W. 
Published: July 2017

Objective. Accomplishing the Healthy People 2010 goal of eliminating disparities in oral disease will require a better understanding of the patterns of health care associated with orofacial pain. This study examined factors associated with pain-related acute oral health care. Methods. The authors used data on 698 participants in the Florida Dental Care Study, a study of oral health among dentate adults aged 45 years and older at baseline. Results. Fifteen percent of the respondents reported having had at least one dental visit as the result of orofacial pain. The majority of the respondents reportedly delayed contacting a dentist for at least one day; however, there was no difference between respondents reporting pain as the initiating symptom and those with other problems. Once respondents decided that dental services were needed, those with a painful symptom were nearly twice as likely as those without pain to want to be seen immediately. Rural adults were more likely than urban adults to report having received urgent dental care for a painful symptom. When orofacial pain occurred, those who identified as non-Hispanic African American were more likely than those who identified as non-Hispanic white to delay care rather than to seek treatment immediately, and women were more likely then men. Having a pain-related oral problem was associated with significantly less satisfaction with the services provided; non-Hispanic African American respondents were less likely than non-Hispanic white respondents to report being very satisfied, and rural residents were less likely than urban residents. Furthermore, men were more likely than women to suffer with orofacial pain without receiving either scheduled dental care or an urgent visit. Conclusions. Barriers to care are complex and likely to be interactive, but must be understood before the goals of Healthy People 2010 can be accomplished.