bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Poor monitoring of physical health in patients referred to a mood disorders service
Authors: Lack David , Holt Richard I. G. , Baldwin David S. 
Published: November 2014

Background: Severe mental illness is associated with significantly increased morbidity and mortality, most commonly from cardiovascular disease. Much of the risk is explicable by potentially modifiable factors such as diabetes and dyslipidaemia, and regular screening of patients with severe mental illness is recommended. Screening and intervention for physical illness among people with schizophrenia is often suboptimal, but little is known about monitoring physical health in patients with affective (mood and anxiety) disorders. Method: Electronic and paper records were examined for evidence of monitoring of cardiovascular disease risk factors in the 12 months prior to assessment in patients attending a tertiary referral specialist service for affective disorders over a period of 39 months. The number of contacts with healthcare services was calculated for each patient to provide an estimate of the opportunities for monitoring. Results: Notes for 113 patients were examined. The mean number of contacts with outpatient services in the 12 months before assessment was 6.9 (standard deviation 7.7). Documented evidence of physical-health monitoring was seen in only 29 patients: monitoring was more commonly undertaken in patients with recurrent unipolar depression and in those who had undergone recent inpatient treatment. Contacts that could have allowed monitoring of physical health were common. Discussion: Although most patients had multiple contacts with health services in the 12-month period before their assessment in the service, there was little evidence of use of primary-prevention measures to reduce the risks of diabetes and cardiovascular disease in this vulnerable population.
QT dynamics during treatment with sertindole
Authors: Nielsen Jimmi , Wang Fan , Graff Claus , Kanters Jørgen K. 
Published: November 2014

Objectives: Sertindole is a nonsedating atypical antipsychotic drug with low propensity to cause extrapyramidal side effects but it has been associated with a 20 ms QTc prolongation and increased risk of cardiac events. It is uncertain whether this drug-induced increase in cardiac risk might also be revealed by dynamic measures of the QT interval such as the ratio of QT variability to heart rate variability (variability ratio [VR]). The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of sertindole on QT dynamics. Methods: QTc and the VR were assessed in an observational study using 24-hour Holter monitoring at baseline and after 3 weeks of treatment with sertindole 16 mg. The VR was calculated by dividing the standard deviation of QT intervals with the standard deviation of heart rates. Outcome measures were compared using paired t-test. Results: A total of 18 patients participated in the study, two were excluded from further analysis due to low amplitude of the T-wave. When patients were shifted to sertindole, the VR increased from 0.192 (SD 0.045) to 0.223 (SD 0.061), p = 0.02. The QTcF interval increased from 388 (SD 16) to 403 ms (SD 14), p = 0.002. There was no difference in heart rate 78 bpm (SD 8) versus 80 bpm (SD 10), p = 0.3 or heart rate variability (SDNN) 127 (SD 40) versus 115 ms (SD 45), p = 0.4. Conclusion: Sertindole was associated with 19 ms QTc prolongation and an increased ratio of QT variability to heart rate variability. Both measures may contribute to the increased cardiovascular mortality found with sertindole.
Helicobacter pylori infection but not small intestinal bacterial overgrowth may play a pathogenic role in rosacea
Authors: Gravina AG , Federico A , Ruocco E , Lo Schiavo A , Masarone M , Tuccillo C , Peccerillo F , Miranda A , Romano L , de Sio C , de Sio I , Persico M , Ruocco V , Riegler G , Loguercio C , Romano M 
Published: November 2014

Background and aimsRecent studies suggest a potential relationship between rosacea and Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection or small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), but there is no firm evidence of an association between rosacea and H. pylori infection or SIBO. We performed a prospective study to assess the prevalence of H. pylori infection and/or SIBO in patients with rosacea and evaluated the effect of H. pylori or SIBO eradication on rosacea.MethodsWe enrolled 90 patients with rosacea from January 2012 to January 2013 and a control group consisting of 90 patients referred to us because of mapping of nevi during the same period. We used the 13 C Urea Breath Test and H. pylori stool antigen (HpSA) test to assess H. pylori infection and the glucose breath test to assess SIBO. Patients infected by H. pylori were treated with clarithromycin‐containing sequential therapy. Patients positive for SIBO were treated with rifaximin.ResultsWe found that 44/90 (48.9%) patients with rosacea and 24/90 (26.7%) control subjects were infected with H. pylori (p  = 0.003). Moreover, 9/90 (10%) patients with rosacea and 7/90 (7.8%) subjects in the control group had SIBO (p  = 0.6). Within 10 weeks from the end of antibiotic therapy, the skin lesions of rosacea disappeared or decreased markedly in 35/36 (97.2%) patients after eradication of H. pylori and in 3/8 (37.5%) patients who did not eradicate the infection (p  < 0.0001). Rosacea skin lesions decreased markedly in 6/7 (85.7%) after eradication of SIBO whereas of the two patients who did not eradicate SIBO, one (50%) showed an improvement in rosacea (p  = 0.284).ConclusionsPrevalence of H. pylori infection was significantly higher in patients with rosacea than control group, whereas SIBO prevalence was comparable between the two groups. Eradication of H. pylori infection led to a significant improvement of skin symptoms in rosacea patients.
Psychological morbidity of celiac disease: A review of the literature
Authors: Zingone Fabiana , Swift Gillian L , Card Timothy R , Sanders David S , Ludvigsson Jonas F , Bai Julio C 
Published: November 2014

BackgroundCeliac disease has been linked to decreased quality of life and certain mood disorders. The effect of the gluten free diet on these psychological aspects of the disease is still unclear.ObjectivesThe objective of this article is to review the literature on psychological morbidity of celiac disease.MethodsWe performed a PubMed search for the time period from 1900 until June 1, 2014, to identify papers on psychological aspects of celiac disease looking specifically at quality of life, anxiety, depression and fatigue.ResultsAnxiety, depression and fatigue are common complaints in patients with untreated celiac disease and contribute to lower quality of life. While aspects of these conditions may improve within a few months after starting a gluten‐free diet, some patients continue to suffer from significant psychological morbidity. Psychological symptoms may affect the quality of life and the dietary adherence.ConclusionHealth care professionals need to be aware of the ongoing psychological burden of celiac disease in order to support patients with this disease.
Size- and time-dependent alteration in metabolic activities of human hepatic cytochrome P450 isozymes by gold nanoparticles via microsomal coincubations
Authors: Ye Meiling , Tang Ling , Luo Mengjun , Zhou Jing , Guo Bin , Liu Yangyuan , Chen Bo 
Published: November 2014

Abstract
Nano-sized particles are known to interfere with drug-metabolizing cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes, which can be anticipated to be a potential source of unintended adverse reactions, but the mechanisms underlying the inhibition are still not well understood. Herein we report a systematic investigation of the impacts of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) on five major CYP isozymes under in vitro incubations of human liver microsomes (HLMs) with tannic acid (TA)-stabilized AuNPs in the size range of 5 to 100 nm. It is found that smaller AuNPs show more pronounced inhibitory effects on CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP2D6, and CYP3A4 in a dose-dependent manner, while 1A2 is the least susceptible to the AuNP inhibition. The size- and dose-dependent CYP-specific inhibition and the nonspecific drug-nanogold binding in the coincubation media can be significantly reduced by increasing the concentration ratio of microsomal proteins to AuNPs, probably via a noncompetitive mode. Remarkably, AuNPs are also found to exhibit a slow time-dependent inactivation of 2D6 and 3A4 in a β-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide 2′-phosphate reduced tetrasodium salt hydrate (NADPH)-independent manner. During microsomal incubations, UV–vis spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, and zeta-potential measurements were used to monitor the changes in particle properties under the miscellaneous AuNP/HLM/CYP dispersion system. An improved stability of AuNPs by mixing HLM with the gold nanocolloid reveals that the stabilization via AuNP-HLM interactions may occur on a faster time scale than the salt-induced nanoaggregation by incubation in phosphate buffer. The results suggest that the AuNP induced CYP inhibition can be partially attributed to its adhesion onto the enzymes to alter their structural conformations or onto the HLM membrane therefore impairing the integral membrane proteins. Additionally, AuNPs likely block the substrate pocket on the CYP surface, depending on both the particle characteristics and the structural diversity of the isozymes. These findings may represent additional mechanisms for the differential inhibitory effects arising from the coincubated AuNPs on the metabolic activities of the hepatic CYP isozymes.
Solvent-free fabrication of thermally conductive insulating epoxy composites with boron nitride nanoplatelets as fillers
Authors: Wang Zifeng , Fu Yuqiao , Meng Wenjun , Zhi Chunyi 
Published: November 2014

Abstract
A solvent-free method for the fabrication of thermally conductive epoxy-boron nitride (BN) nanoplatelet composite material is developed in this study. By this method, polymer composites with nearly any filler fractions can be easily fabricated. The maximum thermal conductivity reaches 5.24 W/mK, which is 1,600% improvement in comparison with that of pristine epoxy material. In addition, the as-fabricated samples exhibit excellent overall performances with great mechanical property and thermal stability well preserved.
Electrical conductivity of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):p-toluene sulfonate films hybridized with reduced graphene oxide
Authors: Lee Jun-Taek , Choi Sul-Hwa , Kim Jin-Yeol 
Published: November 2014

AbstractReduced graphene oxide-poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):p-toluene sulfonate (rGO-PEDOT:PTS) hybrid electrode films were synthesized directly on a substrate by interfacial polymerization between an oxidizing solid layer and liquid droplets of 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) produced by electrospraying. The EDOT reduced the graphene oxide by donating electrons during its transformation into PEDOT:PTS, and hybrid films consisting of rGO distributed in a matrix of PEDOT:PTS were obtained. These rGO-PEDOT:PTS hybrid films showed excellent electrical conductivities as high as 1,500 S/cm and a sheet resistance of 70 Ω sq-1. The conductivity values are up to 50% greater than those of films containing conductive PEDOT:PTS alone. These results confirm that highly conductive rGO-PEDOT:PTS hybrid films can potentially be used as organic transparent electrodes.
Designed nitrogen doping of few-layer graphene functionalized by selective oxygenic groups
Authors: Chen Ying , Xie Bingqiao , Ren Yingtao , Yu Mengying , Qu Yang , Xie Ting , Zhang Yong , Wu Yucheng 
Published: November 2014

Abstract
Few-layer nitrogen doped graphene was synthesized originating from graphene oxide functionalized by selective oxygenic functional groups (hydroxyl, carbonyl, carboxyl etc.) under hydrothermal conditions, respectively. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) observation evidenced few-layer feature of the graphene oxide. X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern confirmed phase structure of the graphene oxide and reduced graphene oxide. Nitrogen doping content and bonding configuration of the graphene was determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), which indicated that different oxygenic functional groups were evidently different in affecting the nitrogen doping process. Compared with other oxygenic groups, carboxyl group played a crucial role in the initial stage of nitrogen doping while hydroxyls exhibited more evident contribution to the doping process in the late stage of the reaction. Formation of graphitic-like nitrogen species was controlled by a synergistic effect of the involved oxygenic groups (e.g., -COOH, -OH, C-O-C, etc.). The doping mechanism of nitrogen in the graphene was scrutinized. The research in this work may not only contribute to the fundamental understandings of nitrogen doping within graphene but promote the development of producing novel graphene-based devices with designed surface functionalization.
Cardiac echo-lab productivity in times of economic austerity
Authors: Katsi Vasiliki K , Vrachatis Dimitrios A , Politi Anastasia , Papageorgiou Manto , Koumoulidis Anastasios , Vlasseros Ioannis , Vavuranakis Manolis , Tousoulis Dimitrios , Stefanadis Christodoulos , Kallikazaros Ioannis , Souliotis Kyriakos 
Published: November 2014

Abstract
The present study attempts to offer insight into the volume, cost, and productivity of the operation of a cardiac echocardiographic laboratory (echo-lab) in a major public hospital of Greece and thus to contribute, on a practical level, to the widening of knowledge in the strategic field of secondary and tertiary healthcare management. The conducted research includes the basic step of the deployment of a primary data registry in the echo-lab and unfolds in three levels, i.e. the variability measurement of the quantity and cost of medical services provided to different patient populations, the assessment of operating costs and the development of productivity indexes. The results show that the mean costs of provision do change among distinct patient populations. The most important, from a financial standpoint, population cluster appears to be the one corresponding to outpatients. Productivity indices presented in this analysis constitute an essential piece of information which the public healthcare system is currently largely lacking, and which, combined with the pricing and the diagnosis-related group coding system of hospitals, can be used to improve efficiency in the management of secondary and tertiary care.
Accuracy of invasive arterial pressure monitoring in cardiovascular patients: an observational study
Authors: Romagnoli Stefano , Ricci Zaccaria , Quattrone Diego , Tofani Lorenzo , Tujjar Omar , Villa Gianluca , Romano Salvatore M , De Gaudio A Raffaele 
Published: November 2014

Abstract
Introduction
Critically ill patients and patients undergoing high-risk and major surgery, are instrumented with intra-arterial catheters and invasive blood pressure is considered the “gold standard” for arterial pressure monitoring. Nonetheless, artifacts due to inappropriate dynamic response of the fluid-filled monitoring systems may lead to clinically relevant differences between actual and displayed pressure values. We sought to analyze the incidence and causes of resonance/underdamping phenomena in patients undergoing major vascular and cardiac surgery.

Methods
Arterial pressures were measured invasively and, according to the fast-flush Gardner’s test, each patient was attributed to one of two groups depending on the presence (R-group) or absence (NR-group) of resonance/underdamping. Invasive pressure values were then compared with the non-invasive ones.

Results
A total of 11,610 pulses and 1,200 non-invasive blood pressure measurements were analyzed in 300 patients. Ninety-two out of 300 (30.7%) underdamping/resonance arterial signals were found. In these cases (R-group) systolic invasive blood pressure (IBP) average overestimation of non-invasive blood pressure (NIBP) was 28.5 (15.9) mmHg (P <0.0001) while in the NR-group the overestimation was 4.1(5.3) mmHg (P <0.0001). The mean IBP-NIBP difference in diastolic pressure in the R-group was −2.2 (10.6) mmHg and, in the NR-group −1.1 (5.8) mmHg. The mean arterial pressure difference was 7.4 (11.2) mmHg in the R-group and 2.3 (6.4) mmHg in the NR-group. A multivariate logistic regression identified five parameters independently associated with underdamping/resonance: polydistrectual arteriopathy (P =0.0023; OR = 2.82), history of arterial hypertension (P =0.0214; OR = 2.09), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (P =0.198; OR = 2.61), arterial catheter diameter (20 vs. 18 gauge) (P <0.0001; OR = 0.35) and sedation (P =0.0131; OR = 0.5). The ROC curve for the maximal pressure–time ratio, showed an optimum selected cut-off point of 1.67 mmHg/msec with a specificity of 97% (95% CI: 95.13 to 99.47%) and a sensitivity of 77% (95% CI: 67.25 to 85.28%) and an area under the ROC curve by extended trapezoidal rule of 0.88.

Conclusion
Physicians should be aware of the possibility that IBP can be inaccurate in a consistent number of patients due to underdamping/resonance phenomena. NIBP measurement may help to confirm/exclude the presence of this artifact avoiding inappropriate treatments.
Levosimendan attenuates multiple organ injury and improves survival in peritonitis-induced septic shock: studies in a rat model
Authors: Tsao Cheng-Ming , Li Kai-Yi , Chen Shiu-Jen , Ka Shuk-Man , Liaw Wen-Jinn , Huang Hsieh-Chou , Wu Chin-Chen 
Published: November 2014

Abstract
Introduction
The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of levosimendan on rodent septic shock induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP).

Methods
Three hours after peritonitis-induced sepsis, male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to receive an intravenous infusion of levosimendan (1.2 μg/kg/min for 10 min and then 0.3 μg/kg/min for 6 h) or an equivalent volume of saline and vehicle (5% dextrose) solution.

Results
The levosimendan-treated CLP animals had significantly higher arterial pressure and lower biochemical indices of liver and kidney dysfunction compared to the CLP animals (P < 0.05). Plasma interleukin-1β, nitric oxide and organ superoxide levels in the levosimendan-treated CLP group were less than those in CLP rats treated with vehicle (P < 0.05). In addition, the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in lung and caspase-3 expressions in spleen were significantly lower in the levosimendan-treated CLP group (P < 0.05). The administration of CLP rats with levosimendan was associated with significantly higher survival (61.9% vs. 40% at 18 h after CLP, P < 0.05). At postmortem examination, the histological changes and neutrophil filtration index in liver and lung were significantly attenuated in the levosimendan-treated CLP group (vs. CLP group, P < 0.05).

Conclusions
In this clinically relevant model of septic shock induced by fecal peritonitis, the administration of levosimendan had beneficial effects on haemodynamic variables, liver and kidney dysfunction, and metabolic acidosis. (1) Lower levels of interleukin-1β, nitric oxide and superoxide, (2) attenuation of iNOS and caspase-3 expressions, and (3) decreases of neutrophil infiltration by levosimendan in peritonitis-induced sepsis animals suggest that anti-inflammation and anti-apoptosis effects of levosimendan contribute to prolonged survival.
Determining the mechanisms underlying augmented renal drug clearance in the critically ill: use of exogenous marker compounds
Authors: Udy Andrew A , Jarrett Paul , Stuart Janine , Lassig-Smith Melissa , Starr Therese , Dunlop Rachel , Wallis Steven C , Roberts Jason A , Lipman Jeffrey 
Published: November 2014

Abstract
Introduction
The aim of this study was to explore changes in glomerular filtration (GFR) and renal tubular function in critically ill patients at risk of augmented renal clearance (ARC), using exogenous marker compounds.

Methods
This prospective, observational pharmacokinetic (PK) study was performed in a university-affiliated, tertiary-level, adult intensive care unit (ICU). Patients aged less than or equal to 60 years, manifesting a systemic inflammatory response, with an expected ICU length of stay more than 24 hours, no evidence of acute renal impairment (plasma creatinine concentration <120 μmol/L) and no history of chronic kidney disease or renal replacement therapy were eligible for inclusion. The following study markers were administered concurrently: sinistrin 2,500 mg (Inutest; Laevosan, Linz, Austria), p-aminohippuric acid (PAH) 440 mg (4% p-aminohippuric acid sodium salt; CFM Oskar Tropitzsch, Marktredwitz, Germany), rac-pindolol 5 or 15 mg (Barbloc; Alphapharm, Millers Point, NSW, Australia) and fluconazole 100 mg (Diflucan; Pfizer Australia Pty Ltd, West Ryde, NSW, Australia). Plasma concentrations were then measured at 5, 10, 15, 30, 60 and 120 minutes and 4, 6, 12 and 24 hours post-administration. Non-compartmental PK analysis was used to quantify GFR, tubular secretion and tubular reabsorption.

Results
Twenty patients were included in the study. Marker administration was well tolerated, with no adverse events reported. Sinistrin clearance as a marker of GFR was significantly elevated (mean, 180 (95% confidence interval (CI), 141 to 219) ml/min) and correlated well with creatinine clearance (r =0.70, P <0.01). Net tubular secretion of PAH, a marker of tubular anion secretion, was also elevated (mean, 428 (95% CI, 306 to 550) ml/min), as was net tubular reabsorption of fluconazole (mean, 135 (95% CI, 100 to 169) ml/min). Net tubular secretion of (S)- and (R)-pinodolol, a marker of tubular cation secretion, was impaired.

Conclusions
In critically ill patients at risk of ARC, significant alterations in glomerular filtration, renal tubular secretion and tubular reabsorption are apparent. This has implications for accurate dosing of renally eliminated drugs.
Decision support tool for differential diagnosis of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) vs Cardiogenic Pulmonary Edema (CPE): a prospective validation and meta-analysis
Authors: Schmickl Christopher N , Pannu Sonal , Al-Qadi Mazen O , Alsara Anas , Kashyap Rahul , Dhokarh Rajanigandha , Herasevich Vitaly , Gajic Ognjen 
Published: November 2014

Abstract
Introduction
We recently presented a prediction score providing decision support with the often-challenging early differential diagnosis of acute lung injury (ALI) vs cardiogenic pulmonary edema (CPE). To facilitate clinical adoption, our objective was to prospectively validate its performance in an independent cohort.

Methods
Over 9 months, adult patients consecutively admitted to any intensive care unit of a tertiary-care center developing acute pulmonary edema were identified in real-time using validated electronic surveillance. For eligible patients, predictors were abstracted from medical records within 48 hours of the alert. Post-hoc expert review blinded to the prediction score established gold standard diagnosis.

Results
Of 1,516 patients identified by electronic surveillance, data were abstracted for 249 patients (93% within 48 hours of disease onset), of which expert review (kappa 0.93) classified 72 as ALI, 73 as CPE and excluded 104 as “other”. With an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.81 (95% confidence interval =0.73 to 0.88) the prediction score showed similar discrimination as in prior cohorts (development AUC = 0.81, P = 0.91; retrospective validation AUC = 0.80, P = 0.92). Hosmer-Lemeshow test was significant (P = 0.01), but across eight previously defined score ranges probabilities of ALI vs CPE were the same as in the development cohort (P = 0.60). Results were the same when comparing acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS, Berlin definition) vs CPE.

Conclusion
The clinical prediction score reliably differentiates ARDS/ALI vs CPE. Pooled results provide precise estimates of the score’s performance which can be used to screen patient populations or to assess the probability of ALI/ARDS vs CPE in specific patients. The score may thus facilitate early inclusion into research studies and expedite prompt treatment.