bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of early blood pressure reduction on cognitive function in patients with acute ischemic stroke
Authors: Bu Xiaoqing , Zhang Yonghong , Bazzano Lydia A , Xu Tan , Guo Libing , Wang Xuemei , Zhang Jintao , Cui Yong , Li Dong , Zhang Fengshan , Ju Zhong , Xu Tian , Chen Chung-Shiuan , Chen Jing , He Jiang 
Published: July 2016

Background The effect of early blood pressure reduction on cognitive function in patients with acute ischemic stroke remains unknown. Aim We tested whether antihypertensive treatment would reduce cognitive impairment in patients with acute ischemic stroke. Methods In the China Antihypertensive Trial in Acute Ischemic Stroke, patients with elevated blood pressure were randomly assigned to receive antihypertensive treatment or to discontinue all hypertensive medications within 48 h of onset. Cognitive function was measured by the Mini-Mental State Examination and Montreal Cognitive Assessment at 3 months after randomization in a subsample of 638 participants. Results Mean systolic blood pressure was reduced by 21.5 mmHg in the antihypertensive treatment group and 13.9 mmHg in the control group within 24 h after randomization ( P < 0.001). Mean systolic blood pressure was 134.9 mmHg in the antihypertensive treatment group and 141.6 mmHg in the control group at day 14 after randomization ( P < 0.001). Median Mini-Mental State Examination score was 26 and Montreal Cognitive Assessment score was 22 in both the antihypertensive treatment and control groups at 3 months. An Mini-Mental State Examination < 24 was present in 30.9% of patients in the antihypertensive treatment group compared with 29.7% in the control group (odds ratio = 1.06; 95% confidence interval 0.75–1.48; P = 0.75). Likewise, proportions of patients with Montreal Cognitive Assessment < 26 were similar between the antihypertensive treatment (70.6%) and control (70.7%) groups (odds ratio = 0.99; 95% confidence interval 0.70–1.40; P = 0.96). Conclusions These data indicated that early blood pressure reduction with antihypertensive medication in patients with acute ischemic stroke had no effect on cognitive impairment at 3 months.
Air, rail and road: Medical Guidelines for Employees with a History of Cerebrovascular Disease
Authors: Klein Rebecca , Menon Bijoy K , Rabi Doreen , Stell William , Hill Michael D 
Published: July 2016

Background An acute medical condition following a previous stroke among those who operate trains, airplanes, and commercial vehicles can result in serious accidents. There are guidelines in place to assist physicians and employers in assessing the risks of returning to work after stroke but the extent and comprehensiveness across nations and among safety-critical occupations are not widely known. Methods Medical guidelines currently in place to regulate safety critical occupations including railway engineers, pilots and commercial vehicle drivers were systematically reviewed. Electronic and hand literature searches as well as review of grey literature for Canada, the USA, the UK, and Australia were conducted. Results There is no consistent set of guidelines that address the risk of a second catastrophic event after an initial cerebrovascular event in those employed in safety critical occupations in the four countries assessed. Some broad principles existed between the different countries and occupations but there was major variation in the approach to cerebrovascular disease and its impact on those working in safety-critical occupations. Conclusions A synthesis of current knowledge would assist in establishing risks of a catastrophic event in those who have already suffered from cerebrovascular illness. This will allow the creation of medical guidelines which could be applied to any safety critical occupation in any nation.
Delivering Rural Health in a Changing Health Model
Authors: Pati Debajyoti , Gaines Kristi , Valipoor Shabboo 
Published: July 2016

Objectives: An exploratory examination of rural hospital staff experiences to determine whether the physical state of rural healthcare facilities influence the healthcare experience and perception of care quality. Background: Rural hospitals have served as the backbone of rural communities in the United States. Over time, these facilities have witnessed enhanced expectations, expanding their scope of operations from acute care to diversified services through linked provider networks and disaster management. Simultaneously, financial challenges, increasing emphasis on safety and quality, and the Affordable Care Act have introduced new challenges for rural hospitals. Currently, there is little empirical knowledge in this domain from a facility perspective. Methods: An exploratory qualitative study was conducted, involving semistructured interviews of upper and mid-level administrators in four rural hospitals located in West Texas. All questions attempted to obtain the subject’s knowledge, ideas, and opinions concerning the physical design of the hospitals and the hospital experience. Results: According to data on staff experiences, two classes of factors surfaced as potential influencers of hospital experience and care quality: (1) care configuration and (2) outdated building. Care configuration pertains to positioning facilities designed with inpatient care focus to a market expanding in outpatient services. Outdated buildings affect several issue including perceived provider quality and spatial accommodations for safe/efficient care and thereby also affecting the healthcare experience. Conclusions: Physical infrastructure of rural hospitals may have important and meaningful implications for population health performance in rural America.
Clinicogenetic risk models predict early progression of follicular lymphoma after first-line immunochemotherapy
Authors: Jurinovic Vindi , Kridel Robert , Staiger Annette M. , Szczepanowski Monika , Horn Heike , Dreyling Martin H. , Rosenwald Andreas , Ott German , Klapper Wolfram , Zelenetz Andrew D. , Barr Paul M. , Friedberg Jonathan W. , Ansell Stephen , Sehn Laurie H. , Connors Joseph M. , Gascoyne Randy D. , Hiddemann Wolfgang , Unterhalt Michael , Weinstock David M. , Weigert Oliver 
Published: July 2016

Key Points
The posttreatment end point progression of FL within 24 months (POD24) is strongly associated with OS. A pretreatment clinicogenetic risk model (m7-FLIPI) predicts POD24 and OS and identifies the smallest subgroup with highest unmet need.
A randomized trial of amlodipine in addition to standard chelation therapy in patients with thalassemia major
Authors: Fernandes Juliano L. , Loggetto Sandra R. , Veríssimo Monica P. A. , Fertrin Kleber Y. , Baldanzi Giorgio R. , Fioravante Luciana A. B. , Tan Doralice M. , Higa Tatiana , Mashima Denise A. , Piga Antonio , Coelho Otavio R. , Costa Fernando F. , Saad Sara T. 
Published: July 2016

Key Points
In thalassemia patients with cardiac siderosis, amlodipine combined with iron chelation resulted in more effective reduction of cardiac iron. The combined treatment did not have any effect on serum ferritin and left ventricular ejection fraction.
Direct Anastomosis Using Occipital Artery for Additional Revascularization in Moyamoya Disease After Combined Superficial Temporal Artery–Middle Cerebral Artery and Indirect Bypass
Authors: Kazumata Ken , Kamiyama Hiroyasu , Saito Hisayasu , Maruichi Katsuhiko , Ito Masaki , Uchino Haruto , Nakayama Naoki , Kuroda Satoshi , Houkin Kiyohiro 
Published: July 2016

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The posterior cerebral artery (PCA) is involved in approximately 30% of moyamoya disease (MMD) cases. However, there have been insufficient reports describing revascularization techniques in the posterior portion of the brain, particularly of direct anastomosis.

OBJECTIVE: To perform a technical assessment in patients with MMD who underwent either occipital artery (OA)–PCA bypass or OA–middle cerebral artery (MCA) bypass.

METHODS: A total of 428 revascularization procedures in 368 patients were retrospectively assessed by reviewing clinical charts and radiological data.

RESULTS: Ten patients (3.5%) were treated with direct bypass after the anterior revascularization with a median interval of 30 months (range, 5 months-16 years). Seven patients were < 18 years of age (average age, 17.5 ± 15.6 years). Preoperative symptoms included transient motor deficits involving the lower extremities (n = 5), visual disturbances (n = 6), and cerebral infarctions (n = 6). A favorable outcome (modified Rankin Scale score < 3) was achieved in 9 of these 10 patients. Direct anastomosis was performed in 3 hemispheres with an OA-MCA bypass and in 8 hemispheres with an OA-PCA bypass. Patency of the direct bypass was confirmed on angiogram in 7 of 7 patients who underwent conventional angiogram performed within 1 year after the surgery. None of the 10 patients demonstrated cerebral infarctions after the posterior revascularization.

CONCLUSION: In MMD, symptomatic PCA regression after anterior revascularization was found predominantly in children and young adults. Direct anastomosis in the posterior portion of the brain can be successfully achieved and is effective in preventing ischemic events.
Evaluation of Diffusion Tensor Imaging–Based Tractography of the Corticospinal Tract: A Correlative Study With Intraoperative Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Direct Electrical Subcortical Stimulation
Authors: Javadi Seyed A. , Nabavi Arya , Giordano Mario , Faghihzadeh Elham , Samii Amir 
Published: July 2016

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The accuracy of intraoperative diffusion tensor imaging (DTI)–based tractography of the corticospinal tract (CST) is crucial for its use in neurosurgical planning and its implementation in image-guided surgery. To the best of our knowledge, this is the largest prospective correlative study of the intraoperative DTI tractography of the CST and intraoperative direct electrical subcortical stimulation (DESS) of the CST, with application of intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging (iMR).

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate intraoperatively acquired DTI-based tractography of the CST in correlation with DESS.

METHODS: Twenty patients with gliomas (grades II-IV) adjacent to the CST were included in this prospective study. Bilateral DTI tractography of the CST was performed pre- and intraoperatively with application of 1.5-T iMRI and the results correlated and compared with the prevailing gold standard of DESS. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were considered to quantify the correlation of DTI tractography with DESS. The intensity of DESS was correlated with the distance from the CST. Moreover, the tissue quality of stimulation points at the wall of the resection cavity was evaluated with 5-aminolevulinic acid. The clinical and volumetric outcomes at postoperative and follow-up periods were also analyzed.

RESULTS: The mean ± SD age of the patients was 54.9 ± 12 years. A total of 40 CSTs were reconstructed and 36 stimulations were included at 20 pathological CSTs, resulting in 18 true-positive, 5 false-positive, and 13 true-negative responses. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of DTI tractography to localize the CST were 100%, 72%, 78%, and 100%, respectively. DTI-based tractography correlated well at 86% of DESSs, and a linear correlation was detected between the intensity of DESS and the distance. All of the patients improved clinically, and the mean extent of resection was 97.2%. 5-Aminolevulinic acid was valuable in visualizing tumor infiltration in the false-positive cases, suggesting an infiltration of the CST at stimulation points.

CONCLUSION: CST visualization in the iMRI setting appears to have a high sensitivity in accurately localizing the area of the CST adjacent to the resection cavity in glioma surgery. More prospective studies with a large sample size are needed to further support the results.
SCODE: A Cytoscape app for supervised complex detection in protein-protein interaction graphs
Authors: Mohamed Sarah , Janus Nick , Qi Yanjun 
Published: July 2016

Protein complexes are groups of interacting proteins unified by a common biological function. Identifying complexes amid a network of thousands of interacting proteins poses a difficult computational challenge. Traditional approaches to this problem rely on clique-like topography in order to identify complexes. Supervised learning is an alternative approach that leverages real-valued data in order to extract the features of protein complexes and identify candidates that do not conform to traditional, dense clique structures. SCODE (Supervised Complex Detection), an application for the Cytoscape App Store, implements a supervised learning algorithm for the detection of protein complexes in protein-protein interaction networks.
Demonstrations and Price Competition in New Product Release
Authors: Boleslavsky Raphael , Cotton Christopher S. , Gurnani Haresh 
Published: July 2016

We incorporate product demonstrations into a game theoretic model of price competition. Demonstrations may include product samples, trials, return policies, online review platforms, or any other means by which a firm allows consumers to learn about their value for a new product. In our model, demonstrations help individual consumers to learn whether they prefer an innovative product over an established alternative. The innovative firm controls demonstration informativeness. When the innovative firm commits to demonstration policies and there is flexibility in prices, the firm is best off offering fully informative demonstrations that divide the market and dampen price competition. In contrast, when a firm can adjust its demonstration strategy in response to prices, the firm prefers only partially informative demonstrations, designed to maximize its market share. Such a strategy can generate the monopoly profit for the innovative firm. We contrast the strategic role of demonstrations in our framework with the strategic role of capacity limits in models of judo economics, which also allow firms to divide a market and reduce competition. This paper was accepted by J. Miguel Villas-Boas, marketing.
Customer Referral Incentives and Social Media
Authors: Lobel Ilan , Sadler Evan , Varshney Lav R. 
Published: July 2016

We study how to optimally attract new customers using a referral program. Whenever a consumer makes a purchase, the firm gives her a link to share with friends, and every purchase coming through that link generates a referral payment. The firm chooses the referral payment function and consumers play an equilibrium in response. The optimal payment function is nonlinear and not necessarily monotonic in the number of successful referrals. If we approximate the optimal policy using a linear payment function, the approximation loss scales with the square root of the average consumer degree. Using a threshold payment, the approximation loss scales proportionally to the average consumer degree. Combining the two, using a linear payment function with a threshold bonus, we can achieve a constant bound on the approximation loss. This paper was accepted by Noah Gans, stochastic models and simulation.
The Comovement of Investor Attention
Authors: Drake Michael S. , Jennings Jared , Roulstone Darren T. , Thornock Jacob R. 
Published: July 2016

Prior literature has documented that investor attention and constraints on that attention are associated with the pricing of stocks. We introduce the concept of attention comovement, which is the extent to which investor attention to a firm is explained by attention paid to the firm’s industry and the market in general. We find that attention comovement is nontrivial for the average firm and is related to firm characteristics, such as size and visibility. We also find that the comovement of investor attention has market consequences, in that it is positively associated with excess stock return comovement. Finally, we show that a firm’s earnings announcement contributes to the transfer of attention from one firm to its peer firms. Our results provide insights about the information flows underlying return comovement and aid in understanding the micro and macronature of investor attention. This paper was accepted by Mary Barth, accounting.
GOTCHA! Network-Based Fraud Detection for Social Security Fraud
Authors: Van Vlasselaer Véronique , Eliassi-Rad Tina , Akoglu Leman , Snoeck Monique , Baesens Bart 
Published: July 2016

We study the impact of network information for social security fraud detection. In a social security system, companies have to pay taxes to the government. This study aims to identify those companies that intentionally go bankrupt to avoid contributing their taxes. We link companies to each other through their shared resources, because some resources are the instigators of fraud. We introduce GOTCHA!, a new approach to define and extract features from a time-weighted network and to exploit and integrate network-based and intrinsic features in fraud detection. The GOTCHA! propagation algorithm diffuses fraud through the network, labeling the unknown and anticipating future fraud while simultaneously decaying the importance of past fraud. We find that domain-driven network variables have a significant impact on detecting past and future frauds and improve the baseline by detecting up to 55% additional fraudsters over time. This paper was accepted by Lorin Hitt, information systems.
Bacteriophage treatment of intransigent diabetic toe ulcers: a case series
Authors: Fish R. , Kutter E. , Wheat G. , Blasdel B. , Kutateladze M. , Kuhl S. 
Published: July 2016

Objective: Diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) infections are a growing public health problem, with increasing prevalence, poor response to antibiotics and bacterial resistance to traditional antimicrobials leading to increased morbidity and mortality. Bacteriophages (phages), the viruses that target specific bacteria, are one option for addressing bacterial infections, especially where antibiotics fail. Of particular value is a class of virulent staphylococcal phages that hit almost all Staphylococcus aureus, including most methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains. Here we report a continuous case series assessing the effectiveness of treating infected and poorly vascularised toe ulcers with exposed bone, after failure of recommended antibiotic therapy, using topically applied Staphylococcus aureus-specific phage. Method: This was a compassionate-use case series of nine patients with diabetes and poorly perfused toe ulcers containing culture-proven Staphylococcus aureus infected bone and soft tissue, who had responded poorly to recommended antibiotic therapy. Six representative cases are presented here. The only generally accepted other option in each case was toe amputation. Exposed portions of the infected phalanges were removed in three cases and left in place in two cases. One case presented as a micro-clot induced gangrene following vascular stenting. In this case, phage were used to prevent infection. The phage used was a commercially available fully sequenced preparation of staphylococcal phage Sb-1. Phage solution was applied topically to the ulcerations once weekly, following standard good wound care. The amount of phage solution applied varied from 0.1 to 0.5 cc depending on volume and area of the ulceration. Results: All infections responded to the phage applications and the ulcers healed in an average of seven weeks with infected bone debridement. One ulcer, where vascularity was extremely poor and bone was not removed to preserve hallux function, required 18 weeks of treatment. In the case of the toe with the micro-clot gangrene, the toe was salvaged and healed in seven weeks without complications. Conclusion: Topical application of a staph mono-phage preparation can be used successfully to treat infected toe ulcerations with bone involvement, despite very poor vascularity and failure of antibiotic treatment. The success within this small series provides the groundwork for controlled clinical trials of staph phage for diabetic foot infections. Declaration of interest: The authors have no conflict of interest.
Immune and vascular dysfunction in diabetic wound healing
Authors: Ahmed A.S. , Antonsen E.L. 
Published: July 2016

The diminished capacity for wound healing in patients with diabetes contributes to morbidity through ulceration and recurrent infections, loss of function and decreased workplace productivity, increased hospitalisation rates, and rising health-care costs. These are due to diabetes' effects on signalling molecules, cellular cascades, different cell populations, and the vasculature. The function of multiple immune system components including cellular response, blood factors, and vascular tone are all negatively impacted by diabetes. The purpose of this paper is to review the current understanding of immune and vascular dysfunction contributing to impaired wound healing mechanisms in the diabetic population. Normal wound healing mechanisms are reviewed followed by diabetic aberrations to immune and inflammatory function and atherogenesis and angiopathy.Declaration of interest:The authors have no financial or personal relationships to people or organisations that could potentially and inappropriately influence their work and conclusions.
Treatment of diabetic foot ulcers with dehydrated amniotic membrane allograft: a prospective case series
Authors: Abdo R.J. 
Published: July 2016

Objective: A diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is one of the many potential complications associated with diabetes. If not effectively and rapidly treated, DFUs can result in lower extremity amputations. This prospective case series aimed to assess the effectiveness of a dehydrated amniotic-derived tissue allograft (DAMA), with regards to time to wound closure and total number of applications. Method: Patients were recruited with a neuropathic non-healing DFU(s) despite standard care for at least 4 weeks before the study. The number of DAMA applications and time between applications was based on the physician's judgment. For the majority of patients (n=13/14), offloading, usually total contact casting (TCC), was used in conjunction with DAMA. Wounds were assessed, measured, and photographed every 1–2 weeks. Results: Cases included 14 patients (11 men, 3 women; mean age 56.7±9.1 years) with 15 non-healing neuropathic DFUs with a mean baseline wound area of 6.5±11.6cm2 (median: 2.2cm2; range: 0.1–44.2cm2) and mean volume of 4.3±10.9cm3 (median: 0.3cm3; range: 0–39.8cm3). All patients in this series achieved complete wound closure within a median time of 5 weeks (range: 1–14 weeks). Wound area was reduced by a median of 58.3% at week 1 and 74.1% at week 3, and volume by a median of 62.8% at week 1, 97.4% at week 3 and by a median of 100% at week 5 and all time points thereafter. Patients received a median of 2 DAMA applications (range: 1–11). In those that required more than 1 application (n=12), DAMA was applied at intervals of 1 week (n=3) or ≥2 weeks (n=9). Smaller wounds (areas <2.2cm2) closed rapidly (<1 month, 1–2 applications), whereas larger wounds (>2.2cm2) required >2 weekly/biweekly applications. Conclusion: The use of DAMA, particularly when coupled with TCC, led to wound closure of DFUs in all patients in this case series, including complex patients with DFUs of ≥1 year in duration, lack of prior response to conservative treatment measures, area >10cm2 and/or multiple comorbidities. Prospective randomised trials would help to elucidate the precise role of DAMA in these encouraging results. Declaration of interest: Derma Sciences, Inc. (Princeton, NJ) funded editorial support services.