bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Repeated head trauma is associated with smaller thalamic volumes and slower processing speed: the Professional Fighters’ Brain Health Study
Authors: Bernick Charles , Banks Sarah J , Shin Wanyong , Obuchowski Nancy , Butler Sam , Noback Michael , Phillips Michael , Lowe Mark , Jones Stephen , Modic Michael 
Published: January 2015

ObjectivesCumulative head trauma may alter brain structure and function. We explored the relationship between exposure variables, cognition and MRI brain structural measures in a cohort of professional combatants.Methods224 fighters (131 mixed martial arts fighters and 93 boxers) participating in the Professional Fighters Brain Health Study, a longitudinal cohort study of licensed professional combatants, were recruited, as were 22 controls. Each participant underwent computerised cognitive testing and volumetric brain MRI. Fighting history including years of fighting and fights per year was obtained from self-report and published records. Statistical analyses of the baseline evaluations were applied cross-sectionally to determine the relationship between fight exposure variables and volumes of the hippocampus, amygdala, thalamus, caudate, putamen. Moreover, the relationship between exposure and brain volumes with cognitive function was assessed.ResultsIncreasing exposure to repetitive head trauma measured by number of professional fights, years of fighting, or a Fight Exposure Score (FES) was associated with lower brain volumes, particularly the thalamus and caudate. In addition, speed of processing decreased with decreased thalamic volumes and with increasing fight exposure. Higher scores on a FES used to reflect exposure to repetitive head trauma were associated with greater likelihood of having cognitive impairment.ConclusionsGreater exposure to repetitive head trauma is associated with lower brain volumes and lower processing speed in active professional fighters.
Study quality on groin injury management remains low: a systematic review on treatment of groin pain in athletes
Authors: Serner Andreas , van Eijck Casper H , Beumer Berend R , Hölmich Per , Weir Adam , de Vos Robert-Jan 
Published: January 2015

BackgroundGroin pain in athletes is frequent and many different treatment options have been proposed. The current level of evidence for the efficacy of these treatments is unknown.ObjectiveSystematically review the literature on the efficacy of treatments for groin pain in athletes.MethodsNine medical databases were searched in May 2014. Inclusion criteria: treatment studies in athletes with groin pain; randomised controlled trials, controlled clinical trials or case series; n>10; outcome measures describing number of recovered athletes, patient satisfaction, pain scores or functional outcome scores. One author screened search results, and two authors independently assessed study quality. A best evidence synthesis was performed. Relationships between quality score and outcomes were evaluated. Review registration number CRD42014010262.Results72 studies were included for quality analysis. Four studies were high quality. There is moderate evidence that, for adductor-related groin pain, active exercises compared with passive treatments improve success, multimodal treatment with a manual therapy technique shortens the time to return to sports compared with active exercises and adductor tenotomy improves treatment success over time. There is moderate evidence that for athletes with sportsman's hernia, surgery results in better treatment success then conservative treatment. There was a moderate and inverse correlation between study quality and treatment success (p<0.001, r=−0.41), but not between study quality and publication year (p=0.09, r=0.20).ConclusionsOnly 6% of publications were high quality. Low-quality studies showed significantly higher treatment success and study quality has not improved since 1985. There is moderate evidence for the efficacy of conservative treatment (active exercises and multimodal treatments) and for surgery in patients with adductor-related groin pain. There is moderate evidence for efficacy of surgical treatment in sportsman's hernia.
Why do some people with type 2 diabetes who are using insulin have poor glycaemic control? A qualitative study
Authors: Tong Wen Ting , Vethakkan Shireene Ratna , Ng Chirk Jenn 
Published: January 2015

ObjectiveTo explore factors influencing poor glycaemic control in people with type 2 diabetes using insulin.Research designA qualitative method comprising in-depth individual interviews. A semistructured interview guide was used. The interviews were audiorecorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using a thematic approach.ParticipantsSeventeen people with type 2 diabetes using insulin with glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) ≥9% for >1 year.SettingThe Primary Care Clinic and Diabetes Clinic in the University of Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC), Malaysia.ResultsData analysis uncovered four themes: lifestyle challenges in adhering to medical recommendations; psychosocial and emotional hurdles; treatment-related factors; lack of knowledge about and self-efficacy in diabetes self-care.ConclusionsFactors that explain the poor glycaemic control in people with type 2 diabetes using insulin were identified. Healthcare providers could use these findings to address patients’ concerns during consultations and help to improve glycaemic control.
The use of an IV to PO clinical intervention form to improve antibiotic administration in a community based hospital
Authors: Thompson Cameron , Zahradnik Michelle , Brown Allison , Gina Fleming Dimitra , Law Madelyn 
Published: January 2015

AbstractAntimicrobials are among the most commonly prescribed medications in acute care settings, with 50% of antimicrobial use deemed inappropriate. Antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASP) aim to optimize antibiotic use in order to improve patient clinical outcomes while minimizing unwanted effects of therapy including Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) and the emergence of resistant organisms. Antimicrobial Stewardship involves a coordinated set of interventions that ensure patients who require antimicrobial therapy receive the most appropriate agent at the correct dose, by the correct route for the correct duration. This project focused on the appropriate conversion from intravenous (IV) to oral (PO) antibiotics. The purpose of the project was to determine whether antibiotic prescribing patterns improved following the implementation of an IV to PO conversion clinical intervention form.A collaborative approach was used by an interprofessional team to review medical records and design a clinical intervention form that adheres to evidence-based guidelines to promote appropriate conversion for patients on intravenous antibiotics. Education efforts were made to inform health system staff about the goal of the intervention and to gather feedback for the improvement of the clinical intervention form. A five-week pilot intervention period trial was carried out with a specific focus on the fluoroquinolone class of antibiotics, specifically ciprofloxacin, moxifloxacin, and levofloxacin.Data from the intervention phase, including overall antibiotic use, ratio of intravenous:oral antibiotic time and compliance with the clinical intervention form were assessed. The ratio of intravenous to oral fluoroquinolone use changed from 39.4% IV: 60.6% PO before the intervention, to 34.7% IV: 65.3% PO during the intervention, indicating an overall increase in the usage of oral fluoroquinolones during the intervention phase. In patients eligible to receive the clinical intervention form, physician compliance with the form was 50%. IV duration decreased by 42% in patients with physician compliance.Further refinement of this form and the process for implementation will further enhance the conversion of intravenous to oral therapy. Based on these findings and the lessons learned, this process will be considered for further refinements, spread, and sustainability.
Endovascular therapy of wake-up strokes in the modern era of stent retriever thrombectomy
Authors: Mokin Maxim , Kan Peter , Sivakanthan Sananthan , Veznedaroglu Erol , Binning Mandy J , Liebman Kenneth M , Jethwa Pinakin R , Turner Raymond D , Turk Aquilla S , Natarajan Sabareesh K , Siddiqui Adnan H , Levy Elad I 
Published: January 2015

BackgroundEndovascular treatment of wake-up strokes (WUS) has been previously described, mostly with the use of pharmacological thrombolysis or first generation thrombectomy devices.ObjectiveTo describe outcomes of WUS treated with modern endovascular therapy since the Food and Drug Administration approval of stent retrievers, and to identify predictors of good clinical outcome in this population of stroke patients.MethodsWe performed a multicenter retrospective analysis of consecutive patients with WUS who underwent thrombectomy with stent retrievers Trevo (Stryker, Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA) and Solitaire FR (Covidien, Irvine, California, USA), or primary aspiration thrombectomy. We correlated favorable clinical outcomes with demographic, clinical, and technical characteristics.Results52 patients were included in this study; 46 (88%) cases were treated with stent retrievers and 6 (12%) were treated with primary aspiration thrombectomy alone. Successful recanalization (Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction (TICI) 2b/3) was achieved in 36 (69%) patients. Favorable clinical outcome at 3 months, defined as a modified Rankin Scale score of 0–2, was achieved in 25 (48%) patients. Duration of intervention <30 min and its success, defined as TICI 2b/3 recanalization, were strong predictors of favorable clinical outcome at 90 days (p<0.001 and p<0.0001, respectively).ConclusionsOur study indicates that endovascular treatment of WUS with stent retrievers and aspiration thrombectomy is safe and effective.
Tumor Endothelial Cells with Distinct Patterns of TGFβ-Driven Endothelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition
Authors: Xiao Lin , Kim Dae Joong , Davis Clayton L. , McCann James V. , Dunleavey James M. , Vanderlinden Alissa K. , Xu Nuo , Pattenden Samantha G. , Frye Stephen V. , Xu Xia , Onaitis Mark , Monaghan-Benson Elizabeth , Burridge Keith , Dudley Andrew C. 
Published: January 2015

Abstract
Endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) occurs during development and underlies the pathophysiology of multiple diseases. In tumors, unscheduled EndMT generates cancer-associated myofibroblasts that fuel inflammation and fibrosis, and may contribute to vascular dysfunction that promotes tumor progression. We report that freshly isolated subpopulations of tumor-specific endothelial cells (TEC) from a spontaneous mammary tumor model undergo distinct forms of EndMT in response to TGFβ stimulation. Although some TECs strikingly upregulate α smooth muscle actin (SMA), a principal marker of EndMT and activated myofibroblasts, counterpart normal mammary gland endothelial cells (NEC) showed little change in SMA expression after TGFβ treatment. Compared with NECs, SMA+ TECs were 40% less motile in wound-healing assays and formed more stable vascular-like networks in vitro when challenged with TGFβ. Lineage tracing using ZsGreenCdh5-Cre reporter mice confirmed that only a fraction of vessels in breast tumors contain SMA+ TECs, suggesting that not all endothelial cells (EC) respond identically to TGFβ in vivo. Indeed, examination of 84 TGFβ-regulated target genes revealed entirely different genetic signatures in TGFβ-stimulated NEC and TEC cultures. Finally, we found that basic FGF (bFGF) exerts potent inhibitory effects on many TGFβ-regulated genes but operates in tandem with TGFβ to upregulate others. ECs challenged with TGFβ secrete bFGF, which blocks SMA expression in secondary cultures, suggesting a cell-autonomous or lateral-inhibitory mechanism for impeding mesenchymal differentiation. Together, our results suggest that TGFβ-driven EndMT produces a spectrum of EC phenotypes with different functions that could underlie the plasticity and heterogeneity of the tumor vasculature. Cancer Res; 75(7); 1244–54. ©2015 AACR.
Interaction of BARD1 and HP1 Is Required for BRCA1 Retention at Sites of DNA Damage
Authors: Wu Wenwen , Nishikawa Hiroyuki , Fukuda Takayo , Vittal Vinayak , Asano Masahide , Miyoshi Yasuo , Klevit Rachel E. , Ohta Tomohiko 
Published: January 2015

Abstract
Stable retention of BRCA1/BARD1 complexes at sites of DNA damage is required for the proper response to DNA double-strand breaks (DSB). Here, we demonstrate that the BRCT domain of BARD1 is crucial for its retention through interaction with HP1. In response to DNA damage, BARD1 interacts with Lys9-dimethylated histone H3 (H3K9me2) in an ATM-dependent but RNF168-independent manner. This interaction is mediated primarily by HP1γ. A conserved HP1-binding motif in the BARD1 BRCT domain directly interacted with the chromoshadow domain of HP1 in vitro. Mutations in this motif (or simultaneous depletion of all three HP1 isoforms) disrupted retention of BARD1, BRCA1, and CtIP at DSB sites and allowed ectopic accumulation of RIF1, an effector of nonhomologous end-joining, at damaged loci in S-phase. UNC0638, a small-molecule inhibitor of histone lysine methyltransferase (HKMT), abolished retention and cooperated with the PARP inhibitor olaparib to block cancer cell growth. Taken together, our findings show how BARD1 promotes retention of the BRCA1/BARD1 complex at damaged DNA sites and suggest the use of HKMT inhibitors to leverage the application of PARP inhibitors to treat breast cancer. Cancer Res; 75(7); 1311–21. ©2015 AACR.
Cancer Fear: Facilitator and Deterrent to Participation in Colorectal Cancer Screening
Authors: Vrinten Charlotte , Waller Jo , von Wagner Christian , Wardle Jane 
Published: January 2015

AbstractBackground: Cancer fear has been associated with higher and lower screening uptake across different studies, possibly because different aspects of cancer fear have different effects on intentions versus behavior. The present study examined associations of three aspects of cancer fear with intention and uptake of endoscopic screening for colorectal cancer.Methods: A subsample of UK Flexible Sigmoidoscopy (FS) Trial participants received a baseline questionnaire that included three cancer fear items from a standard measure asking if: (i) cancer was feared more than other diseases, (ii) cancer worry was experienced frequently, and (iii) thoughts about cancer caused discomfort. Screening intention was assessed by asking participants whether, if invited, they would accept an invitation for FS screening. Positive responders were randomized to be invited or not in a 1:2 ratio. The behavioral outcome was clinic-recorded uptake. Control variables were age, gender, ethnicity, education, and marital status.Results: The questionnaire return rate was 60% (7,971/13,351). The majority (82%) intended to attend screening; 1,920 were randomized to receive an invitation, and 71% attended. Fearing cancer more than other diseases (OR = 2.32, P &lt; 0.01) and worrying a lot about cancer (OR = 2.34, P &lt; 0.01) increased intentions to attend screening, but not uptake. Finding thoughts about cancer uncomfortable did not influence intention, but predicted lower uptake (OR = 0.72, P &lt; 0.01).Conclusions: Different aspects of cancer fear have different effects on the decision and action processes leading to screening participation.Impact: Knowledge of the different behavioral effects of cancer fear may aid the design of effective public health messages. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 24(2); 400–5. ©2015 AACR.
Cancer Risk and Subsequent Survival after Hospitalization for Intermittent Claudication
Authors: Onega Tracy , Baron John A. , Johnsen Søren P. , Pedersen Lars , Farkas Dóra K. , Sørensen Henrik T. 
Published: January 2015

Abstract
Background: Intermittent claudication, muscle ischemia due to reduced arterial circulation, may be associated with an increased risk of cancer risk and death due to neoplasm-induced hypercoagulability and angiogenesis, or to shared risk factors, but the relation is not well understood.
Methods: We conducted a population-based cohort study using the Danish National Registry of Patients to identify patients with intermittent claudication from 1980 to 2011 and no history of cancer. We followed these patients for incident cancers using the Danish Cancer Registry and compared cancer incidence among patients with intermittent claudication to that expected in the general population. We also compared the survival of patients with cancer with and without claudication, matched for sex, cancer site, stage, age at diagnosis, and diagnosis year.
Results: A total of 53,762 patients with intermittent claudication were identified. We observed 6,270 incident cancers over a total 269,430 years of follow-up (mean, 5.0), compared with 4,306 cancer cases expected [standardized incidence ratio = 1.46; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.42–1.49]. Cancer risk also increased after the exclusion of patients with a prior diagnosis of cerebrovascular disease, myocardial infarction, or diabetes, particularly for tobacco-related cancers. The elevated cancer risk persisted over 10 years of follow-up. For patients with cancer, diagnosis of intermittent claudication within 3 months preceding the cancer diagnosis did not influence survival, but before 3 months, was associated with modestly worse survival (mortality rate ratio = 1.19; 95% CI, 1.14–1.25).
Conclusions: Intermittent claudication is associated with an increased risk of cancer and poorer subsequent survival.
Impact: Clinical attention following intermittent claudication diagnosis may reveal incident cancers. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 24(4); 744–8. ©2015 AACR.
Cytomegalovirus-Based Vaccine Expressing a Modified Tumor Antigen Induces Potent Tumor-Specific CD8+ T-cell Response and Protects Mice from Melanoma
Authors: Qiu Zhijuan , Huang Huakang , Grenier Jeremy M. , Perez Oriana A. , Smilowitz Henry M. , Adler Barbara , Khanna Kamal M. 
Published: January 2015

AbstractThe presence of tumor-infiltrating CD8+ T cells is associated with tumor regression and better prognosis. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection elicits a robust and long-lasting CD8+ T-cell response, which makes CMV a potentially promising vaccine vector against cancer. In the current study, we used recombinant murine CMV (MCMV) strains as prophylactic and therapeutic vaccines in an aggressive B16 lung metastatic melanoma model. Immunization with MCMV-expressing ovalbumin (OVA) induced a potent OVA-specific CD8+ T-cell response and was effective in protecting mice from OVA-expressing B16 melanoma in an antigen-dependent manner. We engineered MCMV to express a modified B16 melanoma antigen gp100 (MCMV-gp100KGP). Immunization with MCMV-gp100KGP was highly effective in overcoming immune tolerance to self-antigen and induced a strong, long-lasting gp100-specific CD8+ T-cell response even in the presence of preexisting anti-CMV immunity. Furthermore, both prophylactic and therapeutic vaccinations of mice with MCMV-gp100KGP effectively protected mice from highly aggressive lung B16-F10 melanoma, and the protection was mediated by gp100-specific CD8+ T cells. We showed that MCMV is a superior vaccine vector compared with a commonly used vesicular stomatitis virus vector. Collectively, our studies demonstrate that CMV is a promising vaccine vector to prevent and treat tumors. Cancer Immunol Res; 3(5); 536–46. ©2015 AACR.
Comparison of a Novel Biodegradable Polymer Sirolimus-Eluting Stent With a Durable Polymer Everolimus-Eluting Stent
Authors: Windecker Stephan , Haude Michael , Neumann Franz-Josef , Stangl Karl , Witzenbichler Bernhard , Slagboom Ton , Sabaté Manel , Goicolea Javier , Barragan Paul , Cook Stéphane , Piot Christophe , Richardt Gert , Merkely Béla , Schneider Henrik , Bilger Johannes , Erne Paul , Waksman Ron , Zaugg Serge , Jüni Peter , Lefèvre Thierry 
Published: January 2015

Background—
Biodegradable polymers for release of antiproliferative drugs from drug-eluting stents aim to improve vascular healing. We assessed noninferiority of a novel ultrathin strut drug-eluting stent releasing sirolimus from a biodegradable polymer (Orsiro, O-SES) compared with the durable polymer Xience Prime everolimus-eluting stent (X-EES) in terms of the primary end point in-stent late lumen loss at 9 months.

Methods and Results—

A total of 452 patients were randomly assigned 2:1 to treatment with O-SES (298 patients, 332 lesions) or X-EES (154 patients, 173 lesions) in a multicenter, noninferiority trial. The primary end point was in-stent late loss at 9 months. O-SES was noninferior to X-EES for the primary end point (0.10±0.32 versus 0.11±0.29 mm; difference=0.00063 mm; 95% confidence interval, −0.06 to 0.07;
P
noninferiority
<0.0001). Clinical outcome showed similar rates of target-lesion failure at 1 year (O-SES 6.5% versus X-EES 8.0%; hazard ratio=0.82; 95% confidence interval, 0.40–1.68; log-rank test:
P
=0.58) without cases of stent thrombosis. A subgroup of patients (n=55) underwent serial optical coherence tomography at 9 months, which demonstrated similar neointimal thickness among lesions allocated to O-SES and X-EES (0.10±0.04 mm versus 0.11±0.04 mm; −0.01 [−0.04, −0.01];
P
=0.37). Another subgroup of patients (n=56) underwent serial intravascular ultrasound at baseline and 9 months indicating a potential difference in neointimal area at follow-up (O-SES, 0.16±0.33 mm
2
versus X-EES, 0.43±0.56 mm
2
;
P
=0.04).

Conclusions—
Compared with durable polymer X-EES, novel biodegradable polymer–based O-SES was found noninferior for the primary end point in-stent late lumen loss at 9 months. Clinical event rates were comparable without cases of stent thrombosis throughout 1 year of follow-up.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT01356888.
Ischemic Stroke Phenotype in Patients With Nonsustained Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: Arsava Ethem M. , Bas Demet F. , Atalar Enver , Has Arzu C. , Oguz Kader K. , Topcuoglu Mehmet A. 
Published: January 2015

Background and Purpose—
The widespread use of ambulatory cardiac monitoring has not only increased the detection of high-risk arrhythmias like persistent and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF), but also made it possible to identify other aberrations such as short-lasting (<30 seconds) irregular runs of supraventricular tachycardia. Ischemic stroke phenotype might be helpful in understanding whether these nonsustained episodes play a similar role in stroke pathophysiology like their persistent and paroxysmal counterparts.

Methods—
In a consecutive series of patients with ischemic stroke, we retrospectively determined clinical and imaging features associated with nonsustained AF (n=126), defined as <30-second-lasting supraventricular tachyarrhythmias with irregular RR interval on 24-hour Holter monitoring, and compared them to patients with persistent/paroxysmal AF (n=239) and no AF (n=246).

Results—
Patients with persistent/paroxysmal AF significantly differed from patients with nonsustained AF by a higher prevalence of female sex (odds ratio [95% confidence interval], 1.8 [1.1–2.9]), coronary artery disease (1.9 [1.1–3.0]), and embolic imaging features (2.7 [1.1–6.5]), and lower frequency of smoking (0.4 [0.2–0.8]) and hyperlipidemia (0.5 [0.3–0.8]). In contrast, patients with no AF were younger (0.5 [0.4–0.6] per decade) and more likely to be male (1.7 [1.0–2.8]) in comparison with nonsustained AF population. The prevalence of nonsustained AF was similar among cryptogenic and noncryptogenic stroke patients (32% versus 29%). Voxel-wise comparison of lesion probability maps revealed no significant difference between cryptogenic stroke patients with and without nonsustained AF.

Conclusions—
Clinical features of patients with nonsustained AF exhibited an intermediary phenotype in between patients with persistent/paroxysmal AF and no AF. Furthermore, imaging features did not entirely resemble patterns observed in patients with longer durations of AF.