bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Ideal Cardiovascular Health Predicts Functional Status Independently of Vascular Events: The Northern Manhattan Study
Authors: Dhamoon Mandip S. , Dong Chuanhui , Elkind Mitchell S. V. , Sacco Ralph L. 
Published: February 2015

Background

We hypothesized that the American Heart Association's metric of ideal cardiovascular health (
CVH
) predicts improved long‐term functional status after adjusting for incident stroke and myocardial infarction.

Methods and Results

In the prospective, multiethnic Northern Manhattan Study, stroke‐free individuals in northern Manhattan aged ≥40 years had annual assessments of the primary outcome of functional status with the Barthel index (
BI
), for a median of 13 years. Ideal
CVH
was calculated as a composite of 7 measures, each scored on a scale of 0 to 2. Primary predictors were (1) number of ideal
CVH
metrics, and (2) total score of all
CVH
metrics. Of 3219 participants, mean age was 69 years (
SD
10), 63% were female, 21% were white, 25% were non‐Hispanic black, and 54% were Hispanic. Twenty percent had 0 to 1 ideal
CVH
metrics, 32% had 2, 30% had 3, 14% had 4, and 4% had 5 to 7. Both number of ideal
CVH
categories and higher
CVH
metric scores were associated with higher mean
BI
scores at 5 and 10 years. 0047 Gradients persisted when results were adjusted for incident stroke and myocardial infarction, when mobility and nonmobility domains of the
BI
were analyzed separately, and when
BI
was analyzed dichotomously. At 10 years, in a fully adjusted model, differences in mean
BI
score were lower for poor versus ideal physical activity (3.48 points,
P
<0.0001) and fasting glucose (4.58 points,
P
<0.0001).

Conclusions

Ideal
CVH
predicts functional status, even after accounting for incident vascular events. Vascular functional impairment is an important outcome that can be reduced by optimizing vascular health.
Impact of Duration of Mitral Regurgitation on Outcomes in Asymptomatic Patients With Myxomatous Mitral Valve Undergoing Exercise Stress Echocardiography
Authors: Naji Peyman , Asfahan Fadi , Barr Tyler , Rodriguez L. Leonardo , Grimm Richard A. , Agarwal Shikhar , Thomas James D. , Gillinov A. Marc , Mihaljevic Tomislav , Griffin Brian P. , Desai Milind Y. 
Published: February 2015

Background

Significant mitral regurgitation (
MR
) typically occurs as holosystolic (
HS
) or mid‐late systolic (
MLS
), with differences in volumetric impact on the left ventricle (
LV
). We sought to assess outcomes of degenerative
MR
patients undergoing exercise echocardiography, separated based on
MR
duration (
MLS
versus
HS
).

Methods and Results

We included 609 consecutive patients with ≥
III
+myxomatous
MR
undergoing exercise echocardiography:
HS
(n=487) and
MLS
(n=122).
MLS MR
was defined as delayed appearance of
MR
signal during mid‐late systole on continuous‐wave Doppler while
HS MR
occurred throughout systole. Composite events of death and congestive heart failure were recorded. Compared to
MLS MR
,
HS MR
patients were older (60±14 versus 53±14 years), more were males (72% versus 53%), and had greater prevalence of atrial fibrillation (16% versus 7%; all
P
<0.01).
HS MR
patients had higher right ventricular systolic pressure (
RVSP
) at rest (33±11 versus 27±9 mm Hg), more flail leaflets (36% versus 6%), and a lower number of metabolic equivalents (
MET
s) achieved (9.5±3 versus 10.5±3), compared to the
MLS MR
group (all
P
<0.05). There were 54 events during 7.1±3 years of follow‐up. On step‐wise multivariable analysis,
HS
versus
MLS MR
(
HR
4.99 [1.21 to 20.14]), higher
LV
ejection fraction (hazard ratio [
HR
], 0.94 [0.89 to 0.98]), atrial fibrillation (
HR
, 2.59 [1.33 to 5.11]), higher
RVSP
(
HR
, 1.05 [1.03 to 1.09]), and higher percentage of age‐ and gender‐predicted
MET
s (
HR
, 0.98 [0.97 to 0.99]) were independently associated with adverse outcomes (all
P
<0.05).

Conclusion

In patients with ≥
III
+myxomatous
MR
undergoing exercise echocardiography, holosystolic
MR
is associated with adverse outcomes, independent of other predictors.
Neuroimaging Markers for Early Neurologic Deterioration in Single Small Subcortical Infarction
Authors: Jeong Han-Gil , Kim Beom Joon , Yang Mi Hwa , Han Moon-Ku , Bae Hee-Joon 
Published: February 2015

Background and Purpose—
Early neurological deterioration (END) occurs in ≥20% of single small subcortical infarctions (SSSIs; axial diameter ≤20 mm in the perforator territories) and deters functional recovery. Both microvasculopathies and atherosclerosis have been proposed to independently contribute to the occurrence of END in SSSI cases. We hypothesized that the occurrence of END in SSSIs differs according to the pathological process.

Methods—
We collected data from 587 patients with SSSI within 48 hours of onset from a prospective stroke registry containing 4961 case records. Independent reviewers, blinded to END information, rated neuroimaging characteristics, including relevant artery stenosis (0% to 50% stenosis of the adjacent arteries on magnetic resonance angiography), branch atheromatous lesions (≥4 consecutive axial cuts or extensions from the basal surface of the pons), white matter hyperintensities, old lacunar infarctions, and cerebral microbleeds.

Results—
END occurred in 79 (13.5%) cases, including 6 recurrences, 68 progressions, 1 symptomatic hemorrhagic transformation, 1 others, and 3 unknowns. END increased the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score by 2.3±1.4 points. Patients with END showed higher frequencies of modified Rankin Scale scores of 3 to 6 after 3 months compared with patients without END (49% versus 23%). Patients with relevant artery stenosis (adjusted odds ratio, 1.91; 95% confidence interval, 1.13–3.21) and branch atheromatous lesions (adjusted odds ratio, 2.98; 95% confidence interval, 1.80–4.93) had significantly higher odds of exhibiting END. However, such an association was not detected with small vessel disease markers.

Conclusions—
Our analysis indicated a potential contribution of the localized atherosclerotic process to END in SSSIs. Precautionary measures might be used for SSSIs suggestive of atherosclerotic pathologies.
Significance of Intraventricular Hemorrhage in Acute Intracerebral Hemorrhage
Authors: Chan Edward , Anderson Craig S. , Wang Xia , Arima Hisatomi , Saxena Anubhav , Moullaali Tom J. , Heeley Emma , Delcourt Candice , Wu Guojun , Wang Jinchao , Chen Guofang , Lavados Pablo M. , Stapf Christian , Robinson Thompson , Chalmers John , Huang Yining 
Published: February 2015

Background and Purpose—
Intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage indicates a poor prognosis but uncertainty exists over the pattern of association. We aimed to elucidate risk associations of IVH and outcome in the Intensive Blood Pressure Reduction in Acute Cerebral Hemorrhage Trial (INTERACT2) data set.

Methods—
INTERACT2 was an international prospective, open-blinded end point, randomized controlled trial in 2839 patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (<6 hours) with elevated systolic blood pressure randomly assigned to intensive (target systolic blood pressure <140 mm Hg) or guideline-based (systolic blood pressure <180 mm Hg) blood pressure management. Associations of baseline IVH in 740 of 2613 (28%) patients and poor outcomes (death and major disability defined on the modified Rankin Scale) at 90 days were determined in linear and logistic regression models.

Results—

Patients with IVH were significantly older and with greater neurological impairment, history of ischemic stroke, and larger hematomas more often deep hemisphere located at presentation, after adjustment for other baseline variables. Death or major disability occurred in 66% with IVH versus 49% in intracerebral hemorrhage–alone patients (adjusted odds ratio, 1.68; 95% confidence interval, 1.38–2.06;
P
<0.01). Associations of IVH volume and clinical outcomes were strong and near continuous. Adjusted analyses by thirds of IVH volume indicate thresholds of ≈5 and 10 mL for significantly increased odds of death and death or major disability, respectively.

Conclusions—
A strong association exists between the amount of IVH and poor outcome in intracerebral hemorrhage. An IVH volume of 5 to 10 mL emerges as a significant threshold for decision making on prognosis in these patients.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT00716079.
A new Mexican species of Megarthrus Curtis (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Proteininae)
Authors: RODRÍGUEZ WILLIAM DAVID , NAVARRETE-HEREDIA JOSÉ LUIS 
Published: February 2015

The genus Megarthrus Curtis with about 140 species described, is the largest of the subfamily Proteininae (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) (Cuccodoro 2011; López-García et al. 2011). It is distributed worldwide (Cuccodoro 1999) and has an amphipolar distribution, being more diverse in Holarctic region (Newton 1985). In the tropics, the ecological requirements of Megarthrus species restrict their presence to mountain areas, showing high levels of endemism, making a taxon potentially informative for biogeographic analysis (Cuccodoro 1998). In Mexico there was only one described species: Megarthrus altivagans Bernhauer, 1929, but it is known that there are several undescribed species (Navarrete-Heredia et al. 2002). Cuccodoro (2011), recognised “eleven species from Mexico, eleven species from Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama, and fifteen species from Bolivia, southern Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela”. In this paper we describe a new species of Mexican Megarthrus from the State of Jalisco.
Changes of Early Summer Precipitation in the Korean Peninsula and Nearby Regions Based on RCP Simulations
Authors: Hong Ja-Young , Ahn Joong-Bae 
Published: February 2015

Abstract
In this study, the projected regional precipitation changes over northeast Asia (NEA) during early summer [May–July (MJJ)] for the late twenty-first century (2071–2100) were investigated using a high-resolution regional climate model (WRF3.4) based on the representative concentration pathways (RCPs) induced by the global circulation model (HadGEM2-AO). The increased horizontal resolution of the regional model with a 12.5-km horizontal resolution enabled it to reproduce the terrain-following features reasonably well compared to low-resolution reanalysis and HadGEM2-AO model data. The results of a regionally downscaled historical (1981–2010) experiment (D_Historical) demonstrated the model’s ability to capture the spatial and temporal variations of rainband migrating meridionally during MJJ over NEA. According to the regional model projection, intensive precipitation will increase and the rainband will affect the Korean Peninsula approximately 10 days earlier than in the D_Historical cases in both RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 (2071–2100). The precipitation will also increase in most of the domain, particularly in the southern Korean Peninsula and Kyushu, Japan. These increases in precipitation are attributed to increases in the northward moist transport coming from the lower latitudes and moist static instability in the lower atmosphere. According to this study, the convective precipitation contributes mainly to the increase in total precipitation. On the other hand, the large-scale nonconvective precipitation related to the stationary front will not change significantly but even tends to decrease approximately from the middle of July. The extreme precipitation intensity is also projected to increase by at least 22% (38%) in RCP4.5 (RCP8.5).
L’(in)efficacia dell’amore in Non ti muovere di Margaret Mazzantini
Authors: Alfano Barbara 
Published: February 2015

Questo saggio si occupa del significato dell’amore passionale nel romanzo di Margaret Mazzantini Non ti muovere (2001). Narratore e protagonista della storia è Timoteo, chirurgo di successo, sposato con Elsa, la cui figlia adolescente, Angela, si trova in ospedale tra la vita e la morte. Ad Angela, che non può ascoltarlo, Timo racconta la storia della relazione extraconiugale che ebbe nel periodo della nascita della ragazza e che cambiò il suo modo di guardare all’umanità. Quella storia iniziò con uno stupro. Nel romanzo, l’amore è rappresentato come forza rivoluzionaria che diventa strumento critico di conoscenza dell’altro e agisce spingendo il protagonista fuori dalla sua vita altoborghese, costringendolo a ripensare la sua umanità. Timoteo si apre così a una comprensione del genere umano più profonda, laddove norme e pratiche sociali della sua classe d’appartenenza avevano invece fallito. Eppure, a dispetto del potere che esercita sull’individuo, l’amore lascia inalterate le strutture sociali che sfida e si propone di cambiare. In questa prospettiva, lo stupro resta un elemento non poco problematico della lettura critica del testo.
Who Makes Voting Convenient? Explaining the Adoption of Early and No-Excuse Absentee Voting in the American States
Authors: Biggers Daniel R. , Hanmer Michael J. 
Published: February 2015

AbstractRecent elections have witnessed substantial debate regarding the degree to which state governments facilitate access to the polls. Despite this newfound interest, however, many of the major reforms aimed at increasing voting convenience (i.e., early voting and no-excuse absentee voting) were implemented over the past four decades. Although numerous studies examine their consequences (on turnout, the composition of the electorate, and/or electoral outcomes), we know significantly less about the factors leading to the initial adoption of these policies. We attempt to provide insights into such motivations using event history analysis to identify the impact of political and demographic considerations, as well as diffusion mechanisms, on which states opted for easier ballot access. We find that adoption responded to some factors signaling the necessity of greater voting convenience in the state, and that partisanship influenced the enactment of early voting but not no-excuse absentee voting procedures.
Effects of vitamin D supplementation on intestinal permeability, cathelicidin and disease markers in Crohn's disease: Results from a randomised double‐blind placebo‐controlled study
Authors: Raftery Tara , Martineau Adrian R , Greiller Claire L , Ghosh Subrata , McNamara Deirdre , Bennett Kathleen , Meddings Jon , O’Sullivan Maria 
Published: February 2015

BackgroundVitamin D (vitD) supplementation may prolong remission in Crohn's disease (CD); however, the clinical efficacy and mechanisms are unclear.AimTo determine changes in intestinal permeability (IP), antimicrobial peptide (AMP) concentrations and disease markers in CD, in response to vitD supplementation.MethodsIn a double‐blind randomised placebo‐controlled study, we assigned 27 CD patients in remission to 2000 IU/day vitD or placebo for 3 mos. We determined IP, plasma cathelicidin (LL‐37 in ng/mL), human‐beta‐defensin‐2 (hBD2 in pg/mL), disease activity (Crohn's Disease Activity Index (CDAI)), C‐reactive protein (CRP in mg/L), fecal calprotectin (µg/g), Quality of Life (QoL) and serum 25‐hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D in nmol/L) at 0 and 3 mos.ResultsAt 3 mos., 25(OH)D concentrations were significantly higher in those whom were treated (p  < 0.001). Intra‐group analysis showed increased LL‐37 concentrations (p  = 0.050) and maintenance of IP measures in the treated group. In contrast, in the placebo group, the small bowel (p  = 0.018) and gastro‐duodenal permeability (p  = 0.030) increased from baseline. At 3 mos., patients with 25(OH)D ≥ 75 nmol/L had significantly lower CRP (p  = 0.019), higher QoL (p  = 0.037), higher LL‐37 concentrations (p  < 0.001) and non‐significantly lower CDAI scores (p  = 0.082), compared to those with levels <75 nmol/L.ConclusionShort‐term treatment with 2000 IU/day vitD significantly increased 25(OH)D levels in CD patients in remission and it was associated with increased LL‐37 concentrations and maintenance of IP. Achieving 25(OH)D ≥ 75 nmol/l was accompanied by higher circulating LL‐37, higher QoL scores and reduced CRP. Registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT01792388).
Lung parenchyma-derived IL-6 promotes IL-17A–dependent acute lung injury after allogeneic stem cell transplantation
Authors: Varelias Antiopi , Gartlan Kate H. , Kreijveld Ellen , Olver Stuart D. , Lor Mary , Kuns Rachel D. , Lineburg Katie E. , Teal Bianca E. , Raffelt Neil C. , Cheong Melody , Alexander Kylie A. , Koyama Motoko , Markey Kate A. , Sturgeon Elise , Leach Justine , Reddy Pavan , Kennedy Glen A. , Yanik Gregory A. , Blazar Bruce R. , Tey Siok-Keen , Clouston Andrew D. , MacDonald Kelli P. A. , Cooke Kenneth R. , Hill Geoffrey R. 
Published: February 2015

Key Points
IL-6 is dysregulated after experimental allogeneic SCT and promotes alloantigen-dependent Th17 expansion within the lung. IL-6 is dysregulated in patients with IPS after clinical allogeneic SCT.
Acute granulomatous iridocyclitis in a child with tubulointerstitial nephritis and uveitis syndrome
Authors: Barut Kenan , Rzayev Turkay , Canpolat Nur , Ozluk Yasemin , Tugal-Tutkun Ilknur , Kasapcopur Ozgur 
Published: February 2015

Abstract

Background
Tubulointerstitial nephritis and uveitis [TINU] syndrome is a rare disorder that may also be underdiagnosed. Patients with TINU syndrome typically present with an acute bilateral nongranulomatous anterior uveitis following symptoms of systemic illness.

Findings
We report the case of a 15-year-old girl who presented with acute granulomatous iridocyclitis and was diagnosed with TINU syndrome based on renal biopsy findings. Both her uveitis and interstitial nephritis promptly responded to high-dose corticosteroid treatment, and there were no relapses during follow-up of 20 months.

Conclusions
TINU should be included in the differential diagnosis of patients who present with acute granulomatous uveitis.
Neurally adjusted ventilatory assist and proportional assist ventilation both improve patient-ventilator interaction
Authors: Schmidt Matthieu , Kindler Felix , Cecchini Jérôme , Poitou Tymothée , Morawiec Elise , Persichini Romain , Similowski Thomas , Demoule Alexandre 
Published: February 2015

Abstract
Introduction
The objective was to compare the impact of three assistance levels of different modes of mechanical ventilation; neurally adjusted ventilatory assist (NAVA), proportional assist ventilation (PAV), and pressure support ventilation (PSV) on major features of patient-ventilator interaction.

Methods
PSV, NAVA, and PAV were set to obtain a tidal volume (VT) of 6 to 8 ml/kg (PSV100, NAVA100, and PAV100) in 16 intubated patients. Assistance was further decreased by 50% (PSV50, NAVA50, and PAV50) and then increased by 50% (PSV150, NAVA150, and PAV150) with all modes. The three modes were randomly applied. Airway flow and pressure, electrical activity of the diaphragm (EAdi), and blood gases were measured. VT, peak EAdi, coefficient of variation of VT and EAdi, and the prevalence of the main patient-ventilator asynchronies were calculated.

Results
PAV and NAVA prevented the increase of VT with high levels of assistance (median 7.4 (interquartile range (IQR) 5.7 to 10.1) ml/kg and 7.4 (IQR, 5.9 to 10.5) ml/kg with PAV150 and NAVA150 versus 10.9 (IQR, 8.9 to 12.0) ml/kg with PSV150, P <0.05). EAdi was higher with PAV than with PSV at level100 and level150. The coefficient of variation of VT was higher with NAVA and PAV (19 (IQR, 14 to 31)% and 21 (IQR 16 to 29)% with NAVA100 and PAV100 versus 13 (IQR 11 to 18)% with PSV100, P <0.05). The prevalence of ineffective triggering was lower with PAV and NAVA than with PSV (P <0.05), but the prevalence of double triggering was higher with NAVA than with PAV and PSV (P <0.05).

Conclusions
PAV and NAVA both prevent overdistention, improve neuromechanical coupling, restore the variability of the breathing pattern, and decrease patient-ventilator asynchrony in fairly similar ways compared with PSV. Further studies are needed to evaluate the possible clinical benefits of NAVA and PAV on clinical outcomes.

Trial registration
Clinicaltrials.gov NCT02056093. Registered 18 December 2013.
Selenium prevents microparticle-induced endothelial inflammation in patients after cardiopulmonary resuscitation
Authors: Fink Katrin , Moebes Monica , Vetter Caroline , Bourgeois Natascha , Schmid Bonaventura , Bode Christoph , Helbing Thomas , Busch Hans-Jörg 
Published: February 2015

AbstractIntroductionMicroparticles are elevated in patients after successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and may play a role in the development of endothelial dysfunction seen in post-cardiac arrest syndrome (PCAS), a life threatening disease with high mortality. To identify mechanisms of endothelial activation and to develop novel approaches in the therapy of PCAS, the impact of selenium, a trace element with antioxidative properties, was characterized in endothelial dysfunction induced by microparticles of resuscitated patients. Additionally, course of plasma selenium levels was characterized in the first 72 hours post-CPR.MethodsEndothelial cells were exposed to microparticles isolated of the peripheral blood of resuscitated patients, and leukocyte-endothelial interaction was measured by dynamic adhesion assay. Expression of adhesion molecules was assessed by immunoblotting and flow chamber. Blood samples were drawn 24, 48 and 72 hours after CPR for determination of plasma selenium levels in 77 resuscitated patients; these were compared to 50 healthy subjects and 50 patients with stable cardiac disease and correlated with severity of illness and outcome.ResultsMicroparticles of resuscitated patients enhance monocyte-endothelial interaction by up-regulation of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1. Selenium administration diminished ICAM-1 and VCAM-1-mediated monocyte adhesion induced by microparticles of resuscitated patients, suggesting that selenium has anti-inflammatory effects after CPR. Lowered selenium plasma levels were observed in resuscitated patients compared to controls and selenium levels immediately and 24 hours after CPR, inversely correlated with clinical course and outcome after resuscitation.ConclusionsEndothelial dysfunction is a pivotal feature of PCAS and is partly driven by microparticles of resuscitated patients. Administration of selenium exerted anti-inflammatory effects and prevented microparticle-mediated endothelial dysfunction. Decline of selenium was observed in plasma of patients after CPR and is a novel predictive marker of ICU mortality, suggesting selenium consumption promotes inflammation in PCAS.