bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The impact of direct observed therapy on daily living activities, quality of life and socioeconomic burden on patients with tuberculosis in primary care in Singapore
Authors: Lee Hwee Khim , Teo Stephanie Swee Hong , Barbier Sylvaine , Tang Siew Cheng , Yeo Guat Hoon , Tan Ngiap Chuan 
Published: June 2016

Introduction: The prevalence of tuberculosis (TB) is rising in Singapore. The affected patients are provided with free directly observed therapy (DOT) at local polyclinics. The impact of DOT on their daily living activities (DLA) and quality of life (QOL) may affect their treatment adherence. The study aimed to evaluate the effect of DOT on the DLA and QOL of patients with TB and to quantify their socioeconomic burden. Material and methods: This questionnaire survey recruited adult multi-ethnic Asian patients with TB who were on DOT at nine local polyclinics. The questionnaire collected data on their demographic characteristics and DLA, anti-TB medications, the validated WHOQOL-BREF instrument, and socioeconomic costs. The associations between DOT and independent variables were tested using Student’s t-test and ANOVA. Results: The 356 patients recruited comprised 63% males with mean age of 43 years; 73% of them were employed, 73% reported increased travel time (mean 41 minutes/DOT visit) and DOT-related cost (mean S$260–S$389 for 6–9 months’ treatment); 47% indicated reduced participation in social functions and 45% felt that DOT had caused disruptions to their work, especially among younger patients. The WHOQOL-BREF scores were 13.3/20 “Physical Health”, 12.6/20 “Psychological”, 13.4/20 “Social Relationships” and 12.3/20 “Environment” domains, respectively. Some 52% of them rated their QOL as “good” or “very good”, 47% reported satisfaction with their health but 74% experienced negative feelings such as despair, anxiety and depression. Conclusion: The DOT affected patients’ DLA, QOL and increased their socioeconomic burden, which should be addressed by appropriate mitigating measures in the community.
Support for immigration reduction and physician distrust in the United States
Authors: Samson Frank L 
Published: June 2016

Objectives: Health research indicates that physician trust in the United States has declined over the last 50 years. Paralleling this trend is a decline in social capital, with researchers finding a negative relationship between immigration-based diversity and social capital. This article examines whether physician distrust is also tied to immigration-based diversity and declining social capital. Methods: Data come from the 2012 General Social Survey, one of the gold standards of US public opinion surveys, using a national probability sample of 1080 adult US respondents. Key measures included support for reducing levels of immigration to the United States and multiple measures of physician trust. Results: The results of ordinary least squares regressions, using survey weights, indicate that support for reducing immigration is positively linked to physician distrust, bringing physician distrust into the orbit of research on diversity and declining social capital. Models controlled for age, education, income, gender, race, nativity, conservatism, unemployed status, lack of health insurance, and self-rated health. Furthermore, analyses of a subset of respondents reveal that measures of general trust and some forms of institutional trust do not explain away the association between support for immigration reduction and physician distrust, though confidence in science as an institution appears relevant. Conclusion: Consistent with diversity and social capital research, this article finds that an immigration attitude predicts physician distrust. Physician distrust may not be linked just to physician–patient interactions, the structure of the health care system, or health policies, but could also be tied to declining social trust in general.
Admission troponin-I predicts subsequent cardiac complications and mortality in acute stroke patients
Authors: Bustamante Alejandro , Díaz-Fernández Belén , Pagola Jorge , Blanco-Grau Albert , Rubiera Marta , Penalba Anna , García-Berrocoso Teresa , Montaner Joan 
Published: June 2016

Purpose The importance of troponin elevation at stroke presentation remains uncertain. We aimed to assess whether baseline ultrasensitive Troponin I (hs-TnI) predicts cardiac complications and outcome in acute stroke patients. Method Stroke patients admitted within 6 h were consecutively enrolled from May 2013 to March 2014. Blood samples were taken at admission to determine hs-TnI by chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay. hs-TnI > 34.2 pg/ml (male) and >15.6 pg/ml (female) were considered elevated. Complications during in-hospital stay and outcome at 90 days were prospectively recorded. Independent predictors of cardiac complications (heart failure and acute coronary syndrome) and mortality were determined by logistic regression. The additional predictive value of hs-TnI was evaluated by integrated discrimination improvement index. A subanalysis was performed after excluding patients with previous cardiac diseases. Findings From 174 patients, 39(22%) had elevated hs-TnI, having these patients higher incidence of cardiac complications (57% versus 19%, p = 0.004). hs-TnI was an independent predictor of cardiac complications (OR = 16.1 (1.7–150.3)) together with diastolic blood pressure (OR = 0.92 (0.86–0.99)). Addition of hs-TnI to clinical variables significantly improved discrimination (IDI = 15.2% (7.8–22.7)). Subanalysis in patients without previous cardiac diseases showed similar results. Elevated hs-TnI was independently associated with 90 days mortality (OR = 3.6 (1.3–9.4)), but addition of hs-TnI to clinical data did not result in an increased discrimination. Discussion The present study confers hs-TnI a 2b level of evidence as a diagnostic tool to predict cardiac complications in stroke. Absence of serial hs-TnI measurements and limited sample size are the main weaknesses of the study. Conclusion Patients with elevated baseline hs-TnI showed a higher frequency of cardiac complications and a higher mortality. Measurement of hs-TnI in acute stroke might be useful to identify patients at a high risk of cardiac complications and death.
Optimal Continuous Pricing with Strategic Consumers
Authors: Briceño-Arias Luis , Correa José R. , Perlroth Andrés 
Published: June 2016

An important economic problem is that of finding optimal pricing mechanisms to sell a single item when there are a random number of buyers who arrive over time. In this paper, we combine ideas from auction theory and recent work on pricing with strategic consumers to derive the optimal continuous time pricing scheme in this situation. Under the assumption that buyers are split among those who have a high valuation and those who have a low valuation for the item, we obtain the price path that maximizes the seller’s revenue. We conclude that, depending on the specific instance, it is optimal to either use a fixed price strategy or to use steep markdowns by the end of the selling season. As a complement to this optimality result, we prove that under a large family of price functions there is an equilibrium for the buyers. Finally, we derive an approach to tackle the case in which buyers’ valuations follow a general distribution. The approach is based on optimal control theory and is well suited for numerical computations. This paper was accepted by Yinyu Ye, optimization.
Discordance with 3 Cardiac Troponin I and T Assays: Implications for the 99th Percentile Cutoff
Authors: Ungerer Jacobus Petrus Johannes , Tate Jillian Russyll , Pretorius Carel Jacobus 
Published: June 2016

Abstract

BACKGROUND
We compared the 99th percentile reference intervals with 3 modern cardiac troponin assays in a single cohort and tested the hypothesis that the same individuals will be identified as above the cutoff and that differences will be explained by analytical imprecision.

METHODS
Blood was collected from 2005 apparently healthy blood donors. Cardiac troponin was measured with Abbott Architect STAT high sensitive troponin I, Beckman Coulter Access AccuTnI+3, and Roche Elecsys troponin T highly sensitive assays.

RESULTS
The 99th percentile cutoff limits were as follows: Abbott cardiac troponin I (cTnI) 28.9 ng/L; Beckman Coulter cTnI 31.3 ng/L; and Roche cardiac troponin T (cTnT) 15.9 ng/L. Correlation among the assays was poor: Abbott cTnI vs Beckman Coulter cTnI, R2 = 0.18; Abbott cTnI vs Roche cTnT, R2 = 0.04; and Beckman Coulter cTnI vs Roche cTnT R2 = 0.01. Of the results above the cutoff 50% to 70% were unique to individual assays, with only 4 out of 20 individuals above the cutoff for all 3 assays. The observed differences among assays were larger than predicted from analytical imprecision.

CONCLUSIONS
The 99th percentile cutoff values were in agreement with those reported elsewhere. The poor correlation and concordance amongst the assays were notable. The differences found could not be explained by analytical imprecision and indicate the presence of inaccuracy (bias) that is unique to sample and assay combinations. Based on these findings we recommend less emphasis on the cutoff value and greater emphasis on δ values in the diagnosis of myocardial infarction.
Synthesis, investigation on structural and electrical properties of cobalt doped Mn–Zn ferrite nanocrystalline powders
Authors: Bhuvaneswari M. , Sendhilnathan S. , Kumar M. , Tamilarasan R. , Giridharan N.V. 
Published: June 2016

Abstract
Synthesis of CoxMnyZnyFe2O4 (x = 0.1, 0.5, 0.9 and y = 0.45, 0.25, 0.05) nanocrystalline powders was done by chemical co-precipitation method. The crystal structure was determined by using X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies. The crystallite size and lattice parameters were calculated from the XRD data. The XRD results revealed that the crystallite size of the nanocrystalline powder was found to decrease from 37 nm to 28 nm with the substitution of cobalt. The effect of cobalt ions on the crystallization process, the lattice parameters and electrical properties of Mn–Zn ferrites has been also investigated. The AC conductivity increased with an increase in frequency but it decreased with an increase in cobalt content. The complex impedance analysis of the data showed that the resistive and capacitive properties of the Co–Mn–Zn ferrite are predominant due to the fact that the processes are associated with the grains and grain boundaries. The dielectric constant and dielectric loss dependence on doping level and frequency at room temperature were also studied.
Photodegradation of Organic Pollutants on TiO2 P25 Surfaces Investigated by Transmission FTIR Spectroscopy Under In Situ UV-Vis Irradiation
Authors: Mino Lorenzo , Negri Chiara , Zecchina Adriano , Spoto Giuseppe 
Published: June 2016

Abstract
A new transmission FTIR set-up has been developed to investigate photocatalytic reactions under in situ UV-Vis
illumination and in controlled atmosphere. This system was employed to study the evolution of the surface species during
the photodegradation of phenol and oxalic acid on TiO2 P25. As far as phenol is concerned, dosage from the gas
phase on the activated oxide surface resulted in dissociative adsorption for coverages below the monolayer and in
physisorption beyond this limit. Experiments under UV irradiation showed no relevant photocatalytic activity
in absence of O2, the only spectroscopic consequence being the increase of a monotonic IR absorption, covering
nearly the whole MIR range, related to UV-generated free conduction electrons. Only the contemporary addition of
O2 and H2O to the TiO2/phenol system allowed us to observe an efficient photodegradation
reaction and to highlight the IR manifestations of some of the photodegradation products which are formed. In particular,
oxalic acid appeared to be the main intermediate product adsorbed at the oxide surface during phenol photodegradation. For
this reason the photoreactivity of pure oxalic acid on TiO2 under UV irradiation was also investigated.
Prepubertal Adiposity, Vitamin D Status, and Insulin Resistance
Authors: Cediel Gustavo , Corvalán Camila , López de Romaña Daniel , Mericq Verónica , Uauy Ricardo 
Published: June 2016

OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the following from prepuberty to the puberty-onset: (1) changes in serum 25-hydroxyvitamin-D (25[OH]D), adiposity, and insulin resistance (IR); (2) the effect of prepubertal adiposity on serum 25(OH)D changes; and (3) the combined effect of prepubertal obesity and suboptimal-25(OH)D on IR at puberty-onset.METHODS:A total of 426 prepubertal children (∼54% girls) were followed during pubertal-onset assessing before and after puberty-onset serum 25(OH)D, adiposity (BMI and waist circumference) and IR indicators (homeostasis-model-assessment of IR [HOMA-IR]). Associations were tested using multiple and logistic regression models adjusted by age, gender, and seasonality.RESULTS:At puberty-onset, mean serum 25(OH)D decreased (32.2 ± 8.9 Tanner I vs 25.2 ± 8.3 ng/mL Tanner II) and total and central obesity increased (BMI-for-age-z-score ≥2 SD [%]: 16.4 vs 22.1; waist-circumference ≥75th percentile [%]: 27.2 vs 37.1, all P &lt; .05). Children with higher adiposity before puberty onset had higher risk of suboptimal-25(OH)D (&lt;30 ng/mL) in Tanner II (ie, odds ratio = 2.7 [1.1–6.7] for obesity and 2.7 [1.4–5.5] for central-obesity) after adjusting for relevant covariates. Children with higher adiposity and suboptimal-25(OH)D before puberty-onset had higher HOMA-IR compared with their counterparts in Tanner II (HOMA-IR: 2.8 [2.5–3.1] if central-obese and suboptimal-25[OH]D vs 2.1 [1.9–2.3] no central-obesity and optimal-25[OH]D).CONCLUSIONS:We found that serum 25(OH)D declined with puberty-onset, likely because of adiposity increase. Moreover, children with the combined condition of central-obesity and suboptimal-25(OH)D before puberty-onset had higher pubertal IR. These results highlight the need of ensuring adequate-25(OH)D status before pubertal-onset, particularly in obese children.
Highly sensitive UHPLC—MS/MS method for quantification of ethylenediamine-N,N′-di-2-(3-cyclohexyl) propanoic acid derivatives in mouse serum
Authors: Tubić Biljana K. , Marković Bojan D. , Vladimirov Sandra S. , Ristić Slavica M. , Ivković Branka M. , Savić Miroslav M. , Poljarević Jelena M. , Sabo Tibor J. 
Published: June 2016

A series of new (S,S)-ethylenediamine-N,N′-di-2-(3-cyclohexyl)propanoate esters has shown cytotoxic activity towards human leukemic cell lines. The aim of this study was to develop and validate a bioanalytical method for quantification of (S,S)-O,O-diethyl-ethylenediamine-N,N′-di-2-(3-cyclohexyl)propanoate dihydrochlorides (DE-EDCP) and its metabolite, substituted propanoic acid (EDCP), in mouse serum by ultra high-performance liquid chromatography—tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC—MS/MS). Structural analog, derivative of 1,3-propanediamine, was used as an internal standard (IS). Sample preparation employed protein precipitation by acetonitrile and subsequent centrifugation. Optimal UHPLC separation conditions were set to achieve simultaneous determination of both compounds in a short run time of 6 min. Additionally, the selected reaction monitoring (SRM) mode developed in this method allowed a highly sensitive, accurate, and precise identification of compounds of interest. The lower limit of quantitation (LOQ) was 1.3 ng mL−1 for DE-EDCP and 0.3 μg mL−1 for EDCP. The calibration curves were linear over the concentration range of 1.3–26.7 ng mL−1 and 0.3–6.7 μg mL−1 for DE-EDCP and EDCP, respectively. Precision (%CV) and accuracy (%RE) for DE-EDCP and EDCP ranged from 3.5% to 16.0% and from 1.8% to 14.4%, respectively.
The validation process was performed in accordance with the regulatory guidance/guideline, and all of the obtained results met the established acceptance criteria. The newly developed and validated UHPLC—MS/MS method is rapid, sensitive, and selective, and it can be successfully applied to drug monitoring in nonclinical studies.
Dracontium nivosum (Lem.) G.H.Zhu (Araceae): range extension from Amazonia to a brejo forest refugium in Northeast Brazil confirmed
Authors: De Andrade Ivanilza M. , Silva M. Francilene S. , Ribeiro Thales A. , Mayo Simon J. 
Published: June 2016

The 558 km range extension of the Amazonian aroid Dracontium nivosum (Lem.) G.H.Zhu into semi-arid Northeast Brazil is confirmed. This species occurs in Ceará in threatened fragments of brejo forest at ca. 580–870 m elevation. An illustrated taxonomic description is provided. The species’ Extent of Occurrence (EOO) is estimated as 356,392 km2 (meets Least Concern); the Area of Occupancy (AOO), 60 km2 using a 2×2 km cell (Endangered). Within Ceará the EOO is 41.4 km2 (Critically Endangered) and the AOO is 16 km2 (Endangered).
Comparison of Clinical Symptoms and Severity of Sleep Disordered Breathing in Children with and without Cleft Lip and/or Palate
Authors: Maclean Joanna E , Fitzsimons David , Fitzgerald Dominic , Waters Karen 
Published: June 2016

Objective To determine whether the clinical presentation or severity of sleep disordered breathing differs between children with or without a history of cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) presenting for sleep assessment. Design Retrospective chart review. Setting Tertiary care pediatric hospital cleft clinic, sleep clinic. Patients Children > 6 months of age presenting to the cleft clinic with sleep concerns and children without CL/P presenting to the sleep clinic in the same 2-year period. Main Outcomes Measures Clinical symptoms and overnight polysomnography (PSG) results. Results A total of 168 children (55 from cleft clinic, 113 from sleep clinic) were identified. Age at clinical review (6.6 ± 4.1 years versus 6.8 ± 4.0 years, P = ns), sex distribution (64.6% versus 58.4%, P = ns), and the presence of syndromes or significant medical conditions (12% versus 16%, P = ns) were similar between groups. Snoring was the reason for referral in 59% of children with CL/P and 69% of non-CL/P children ( P = ns). The only presenting feature that differentiated between the groups was a lower incidence of tonsillar enlargement in children with CL/P (33% versus 79%, chi-square 30.4, P < 0.001). Sleep study results showed similar apnea-hypopnea indices (6.2 ± 6.9 versus 7.9 ± 7.1 events/hr, P = ns) with more central apnea in children with CL/P (1.5 ± 1.5 versus 1.0 ± 1.0 events/hr, P = 0.017). Conclusions Snoring and obstructive sleep apnea are common in CL/P with less tonsillar enlargement than non-CL/P children. Children with CL/P have similar OSA severity compared to non-cleft children but more central apnea which may indicate differences in the control of breathing.
Efficacy and Safety of Vincristine Sulfate Liposome Injection in the Treatment of Adult Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia
Authors: Douer Dan 
Published: June 2016

Abstract
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a heterogeneous group of hematologic malignancies that arise from clonal proliferation of immature lymphoid cells in the bone marrow, peripheral blood, and other organs. The vinca alkaloid vincristine is a standard component of chemotherapy regimens used to treat ALL, because of its well-defined mechanism of action, demonstrated anticancer activity, and ability to be combined with other agents. However, the dosage of vincristine is frequently capped because of neurotoxicity concerns, and patients with large body surface areas are, therefore, almost always underdosed. Liposomal formulations have the ability to “passively” accumulate at sites of increased vasculature permeability and reduce the adverse effects of encapsulated relative to free drug. Vincristine sulfate liposome injection (VSLI) is a sphingomyelin/cholesterol-based liposome-encapsulated formulation that is delivered weekly in a 1-hour infusion. Based on the pharmacokinetics of the liposomal delivery system, vincristine is slowly released from the liposome and delivered into the tissues more efficiently than with the standard preparation, allowing a higher dose. This increase in therapeutic index from reduced toxicity is a valuable difference between the two formulations. VSLI is indicated for the treatment of adults with second or greater relapse and clinically advanced Philadelphia chromosome-negative ALL. For the first time, studies will be able to exploit the delivery of higher and uncapped doses of vincristine in randomized studies comparing first-line chemotherapy with standard vincristine versus VSLI in both ALL and lymphoma to determine whether VSLI is superior to conventional vincristine.
Bleomycin-Induced Pulmonary Changes on Restaging Computed Tomography Scans in Two Thirds of Testicular Cancer Patients Show No Correlation With Fibrosis Markers
Authors: den Hollander Martha W. , Westerink Nico-Derk L. , Lubberts Sjoukje , Bongaerts Alfons H.H. , Wolf Rienhart F.E. , Altena Renska , Nuver Janine , Oosting Sjoukje F. , de Vries Elisabeth G.E. , Walenkamp Anna M.E. , Meijer Coby , Gietema Jourik A. 
Published: June 2016

Abstract

Background.
In metastatic testicular cancer patients treated with bleomycin, etoposide, and cisplatin (BEP) chemotherapy, bleomycin-induced pneumonitis is a well-known and potentially fatal side effect. We sought to determine the prevalence of lesions as signs of bleomycin-induced pulmonary changes on restaging computed tomography (CT) scans after treatment and to ascertain whether fibrosis markers were predictive of these changes.

Patients and Methods.
This prospective nonrandomized cohort study included metastatic testicular cancer patients, 18–50 years of age, treated with BEP chemotherapy. Restaging CT scans were examined for lesions as signs of bleomycin-induced pulmonary changes by two independent radiologists and graded as minor, moderate, or severe. Plasma samples were collected before, during, and after treatment and were quantified for transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP).

Results.
In total, 66 patients were included: forty-five (68%) showed signs of bleomycin-induced pulmonary changes on the restaging CT scan, 37 of which were classified as minor and 8 as moderate. No differences in TGF-β1, GDF-15, or hs-CRP plasma levels were found between these groups.

Conclusion.
Bleomycin-induced pulmonary changes are common on restaging CT scans after BEP chemotherapy for metastatic testicular cancer. Changes in TGF-β1, GDF-15, and hs-CRP plasma levels do not differ between patients with and without radiological lesions as signs of bleomycin-induced pulmonary changes and are therefore not helpful as predictive biomarkers.