bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Sex Is Associated With Differences in Individual Trajectories of Change in Social Health After Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator
Authors: Lauck Sandra B. , Sawatzky Richard , Johnson Joy L. , Humphries Karin , Bennett Matthew T. , Chakrabarti Santabhanu , Kerr Charles R. , Tung Stanley , Yeung-Lai-Wah John A. , Ratner Pamela A. 
Published: February 2015

Background—
Social health is a dimension of quality of life, and refers to people’s involvement in, and satisfaction with social roles, responsibilities, and activities. The implantable cardioverter-defibrillator is associated with changes in overall quality of life, but little is known about sex differences in individual trajectories of change in social health.

Methods and Results—

We prospectively measured changes in 3 subscales of the SF-36v2 generic health questionnaire (role physical, role emotional, and social functioning), 2 Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System short forms (satisfaction with participation in social roles and satisfaction with participation in discretionary social activities), and the Florida Patient Acceptance Survey before and at 1, 2, and 6 months after implantation. Individual growth models of temporal change were estimated. The scores of the 6 indicators improved with time. The unconditional model demonstrated significant (fixed effects:
P
<0.05; covariance parameters:
P
<0.10) residual variability in the individual trajectories. In the conditional model, men and women differed significantly in their rates of change in the scores of 3 of the 6 measures. Although men’s mean scores exceeded women’s mean scores on all indicators at baseline (range of relative mean difference: 11.0% to 17.8%), the rate of women’s change resulted in a reversal in relative standing at 6 months after implantation, with the mean scores of women exceeding the men’s by 4.5% to 5.6%.

Conclusions—
Men and women differed in their trajectories of change in social health, both in terms of their starting points (ie, baseline scores) and their rates of change.
Characteristics and Outcomes of Women Veterans Undergoing Cardiac Catheterization in the Veterans Affairs Healthcare System
Authors: Davis Melinda B. , Maddox Thomas M. , Langner Paula , Plomondon Mary E. , Rumsfeld John S. , Duvernoy Claire S. 
Published: February 2015

Background—
The number of women veterans is increasing, yet little is known about their cardiovascular risk factors, coronary anatomy, cardiac treatments, and outcomes after cardiac catheterization. Prior studies have shown that nonveteran women have more risk factors, receive less aggressive treatment, and have worse outcomes, despite having less obstructive coronary artery disease than men. Whether these differences exist among women veterans in the veterans affairs healthcare system is unknown.

Methods and Results—

Data on 85 936 veterans (3181 women) undergoing initial cardiac catheterization between October 1, 2007, and September 30, 2012, were examined using the national veterans affairs Clinical Assessment Reporting and Tracking (CART) Program. Sex differences in demographics, indications, coronary anatomy, cardiac treatments, and outcomes were analyzed. Women veterans were younger (56.9 versus 63.0 years,
P
<0.0001) with fewer traditional cardiovascular risk factors, but with more obesity, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder than men. Women had lower rates of obstructive coronary artery disease than men (22.6% versus 53.3%). Rates of procedural complications were similar in both genders. Adjusted outcomes at 1 year showed women had lower mortality (hazard ratio, 0.74; confidence interval, 0.60–0.92) and less all-cause rehospitalization (hazard ratio, 0.87; confidence interval, 0.82–0.93), but no difference in rates of unplanned percutaneous coronary intervention.

Conclusions—
Women veterans undergoing catheterization are younger, have more obesity, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder, less obstructive coronary artery disease, and similar long-term outcomes, compared with men. These findings suggest a significant portion of women veterans may have chest pain not attributable to obstructive coronary artery disease. Further research into possible causes, such as endothelial dysfunction or concurrent psychological comorbidities, is needed.
ADAMTS-7 Inhibits Re-endothelialization of Injured Arteries and Promotes Vascular Remodeling Through Cleavage of Thrombospondin-1
Authors: Kessler Thorsten , Zhang Lu , Liu Ziyi , Yin Xiaoke , Huang Yaqian , Wang Yingbao , Fu Yi , Mayr Manuel , Ge Qing , Xu Qingbo , Zhu Yi , Wang Xian ,   German Mouse Clinic Consortium, Schmidt Kjestine , de Wit Cor , Erdmann Jeanette , Schunkert Heribert , Aherrahrou Zouhair , Kong Wei 
Published: February 2015

Background—
ADAMTS-7, a member of the disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs (ADAMTS) family, was recently identified to be significantly associated genomewide with coronary artery disease. However, the mechanisms that link ADAMTS-7 and coronary artery disease risk remain elusive. We have previously demonstrated that ADAMTS-7 promotes vascular smooth muscle cell migration and postinjury neointima formation via degradation of a matrix protein cartilage oligomeric matrix protein. Because delayed endothelium repair renders neointima and atherosclerosis plaque formation after vessel injury, we examined whether ADAMTS-7 also inhibits re-endothelialization.

Methods and Results—

Wire injury of the carotid artery and Evans blue staining were performed in
Adamts7
–/–
and wild-type mice. Adamts-7 deficiency greatly promoted re-endothelialization at 3, 5, and 7 days after injury. Consequently, Adamts-7 deficiency substantially ameliorated neointima formation in mice at days 14 and 28 after injury in comparison with the wild type. In vitro studies further indicated that ADAMTS-7 inhibited both endothelial cell proliferation and migration. Surprisingly, cartilage oligomeric matrix protein deficiency did not affect endothelial cell proliferation/migration and re-endothelialization in mice. In a further examination of other potential vascular substrates of ADAMTS-7, a label-free liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry secretome analysis revealed thrombospondin-1 as a potential ADAMTS-7 target. The subsequent studies showed that ADAMTS-7 was directly associated with thrombospondin-1 by its C terminus and degraded thrombospondin-1 in vivo and in vitro. The inhibitory effect of ADAMTS-7 on postinjury endothelium recovery was circumvented in
Tsp1
–/–
mice.

Conclusions—
Our study revealed a novel mechanism by which ADAMTS-7 affects neointima formation. Thus, ADAMTS-7 is a promising treatment target for postinjury vascular intima hyperplasia.
Implantable Cardioverter‐Defibrillator Therapy in Patients With Ventricular Fibrillation out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest Secondary to Acute Coronary Syndrome
Authors: Madhavan Malini , Friedman Paul A. , Lennon Ryan J. , Prasad Abhiram , White Roger D. , Sriram Chenni S. , Gulati Rajiv , Gersh Bernard J. 
Published: February 2015

Background

Survivors of ventricular fibrillation out of hospital cardiac arrest (
VF
‐
OHCA
) due to a potentially reversible cause such as acute myocardial infarction (MI) or ischemia are considered to be at low risk of recurrent arrhythmia. Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (
ICD
) are not routinely recommended in such patients. However, the outcome of these patients in the era of rapid coronary revascularization and
ICD
therapy is not known.

Methods and Results

We examined the outcome of 114 consecutive survivors of
VF OHCA
due to acute
MI
or ischemia in Olmsted County,
MN
from 1990 to 2011. An
ICD
was implanted in 45/114 patients.
ICD
recipients had lower
EF
[median (
IQR
) 38 (26 to 54) versus 48 (35 to 58) %,
P
=0.04]. During a median (
IQR
) follow‐up of 9.9 (4.4 to 14.6) years,
ICD
implantation was associated with reduced cardiac mortality (
HR
0.24 [0.07 to 0.88],
P
=0.031) and a trend towards reduced all‐cause mortality (
HR
0.56 [0.30 to 1.02],
P
=0.059) after adjusting for the first principal component. One or more appropriate
ICD
therapies were delivered in 19/45, with half of the patients receiving therapy within 1 year. Patients with
EF
≤35% at discharge continued to be at long‐term risk for
ICD
therapy compared with those with
EF
>35% who were at increased risk predominantly in the first 8 months.
EF
and revascularization were not significantly associated with
ICD
therapy in the multivariable analysis.

Conclusions

Patients with
VF
‐
OHCA
in the setting of acute
MI
or myocardial ischemia remain at high risk of recurrent ventricular arrhythmias, particularly if
EF
≤35%. This suggests that
ICD
implantation may be reasonable if
EF
≤35%.
Effective cryopreservation of golden Syrian hamster embryos by open pulled straw vitrification
Authors: Fan Z , Meng Q , Bunch TD , White KL , Wang Z 
Published: February 2015

Golden Syrian hamster embryos are difficult to cryopreserve due to their high sensitivity to cryoprotectants and in vitro handling. The objective of this study is to develop a robust open pulled straw (OPS) vitrification technique for cryopreserving hamster embryos at various developmental stages. We first systematically tested the concentrations of cryoprotectants and the exposure times of two-cell embryos to various vitrification solutions. We identified pretreatment of two-cell embryos with 10% (v/v) ethylene glycol (EG) + 10% (v/v) dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) for 30 s followed by exposure in the vitrification solution, EDFS30 (containing 15% EG + 15% DMSO), for 30 s before plunging into liquid nitrogen (two-step exposure method) as the optimal OPS vitrification protocol. We then investigated the resourcefulness of this protocol for vitrifying hamster embryos at different developmental stages. The results showed that high blastocyst rates from embryos vitrified at two-cell, four-cell, eight-cell, or morula stage (62%, 78%, 80%, or 72%, respectively), but not those verified at pronuclear (0%) or blastocyst stage (24%; P < 0.05), were achieved by this protocol. When embryos vitrified at the two-cell stage were recovered and then directly transferred to recipient females, 29% of them developed to term, a development rate not significantly different ( P > 0.05) from the 40% birth rate of the unvitrified controls. In conclusion, we have developed an effective two-step OPS vitrification protocol for hamster embryos.
A case study to examine the imputation of missing data to improve clustering analysis of building electrical demand
Authors: Inman Daniel , Elmore Ryan , Bush Brian 
Published: February 2015

Building performance data are widely used for daily operation, improving building efficiency, identifying and diagnosing performance problems, and commissioning. In this study, the authors explore the use of missing data imputation and clustering on an electrical demand dataset. The objective was to compare four approaches of data imputation and clustering analysis. Results of this study suggest that using multiple imputation to fill in missing data prior to performing clustering analysis results in more informative clusters. Commonly used methods to fill in missing data lead to changes in cluster membership that are not suggestive of a change in the building's performance, but instead is a result of the choice of imputation method used. Practical application: The authors demonstrate, through the use of a case study, the application of a statistically sound method for filling in missing data in large buildings performance datasets. The methods used in this analysis are available through the open-source programming language R and are straight forward to implement. The approach demonstrated in this case study could aid buildings analysts with fault detection and continuous commissioning of large commercial buildings.
Meaning of Illness and Self-Care in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Strom Williams Joni , Walker Rebekah J. , Lynch Cheryl P. , Voronca Delia , Egede Leonard E. 
Published: February 2015

Purpose The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between meaning of illness, diabetes knowledge, self-care understanding, and behaviors in a group of individuals with type 2 diabetes. Methods Patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes completed questionnaires with measures for diabetes knowledge, self-care understanding, diet adherence, and control problems based on the validated Diabetes Care Profile, as well as a 5-factor Meaning of Illness Questionnaire (MIQ) measure. Linear regression investigated the associations between self-care outcomes and the 5 MIQ factors. Results After adjustment for possible confounders, both diabetes self-care understanding and diet adherence were negatively and significantly associated with little effect of illness. Control problems were negatively associated with degree of stress/change in commitments. Diabetes knowledge was not significantly associated with meaning of illness. Conclusion Aspects of the meaning attributed to illness were significantly associated with self-care in patients with type 2 diabetes. Therefore, cognitive appraisals may explain variances observed in self-care understanding and behaviors. Based on these results, it is important to understand the negative effect that diabetes could have when promoting self-care understanding and diet adherence. In addition, it shows that helping patients address the stress and changing commitments that result from diabetes may help decrease the amount of diabetes control problems, even if there is little effect on diabetes understanding. Taking these differences into account may help in creating more personalized and effective self-care education plans.
Minimally Invasive Surgery for Osseointegrated Auditory Implants
Authors: Gordon Steven A. , Coelho Daniel H. 
Published: February 2015

Objectives(1) To describe the benefits of the minimally invasive punch technique without soft tissue reduction (PT) for the placement of percutaneous osseointegrated auditory implants. (2) To compare and contrast techniques and outcomes from PT with the linear technique with soft tissue reduction (LT).Study DesignCase series with chart reviewSettingPerformed at a tertiary otology practice at an academic medical center.Subjects and MethodsLT was used until 2012 when a switch was made for all patients to PT. Preoperative variables recorded included age, sex, BMI, smoking status, indication, device selected, and abutment length. Outcomes measures included surgical time, skin reaction grading by Holgers score at 1 week and at most recent follow‐up, and any other complications. Two‐sample t test and χ2 was used to compare.ResultsA total of 51 patients (34 LT, 17 PT) were identified. Surgical time was found to be significantly shorter for the PT group (LT, 49.2 min; PT, 13.4 min; P <. 001). There were no statistically significant differences between LT and PT for mean Holgers at first (LT, 0.24; PT, 0.47; P =. 87) or final follow‐up (LT, 0.62; PT, 0.41; P =. 22).ConclusionsThe punch technique offers several potential surgical and cosmetic advantages over the linear technique without compromising skin‐reactivity outcomes. This study supports a growing trend toward minimally invasive percutaneous auditory implant surgery.
Effects of Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Therapy on Subjective Bother and Neural Connectivity in Chronic Tinnitus
Authors: Roland Lauren T. , Lenze Eric J. , Hardin Frances Mei , Kallogjeri Dorina , Nicklaus Joyce , Wineland Andre M. , Fendell Ginny , Peelle Jonathan E. , Piccirillo Jay F. 
Published: February 2015

ObjectiveTo evaluate the impact of a Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program in patients with chronic bothersome tinnitus on the (1) severity of symptoms of tinnitus and (2) functional connectivity in neural attention networks.Study DesignOpen‐label interventional pilot study.SettingOutpatient academic medical center.SubjectsA total of 13 adult participants with a median age of 55 years, suffering from bothersome tinnitus.MethodsAn 8‐week MBSR program was conducted by a trained MBSR instructor. The primary outcome measure was the difference in patient‐reported tinnitus symptoms using the Tinnitus Handicap Index (THI) and Tinnitus Functional Index (TFI) between pre‐intervention, post‐MBSR, and 4‐week post‐MBSR assessments. Secondary outcomes included change in measurements of depression, anxiety, mindfulness, and cognitive abilities. Functional connectivity magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed at pre‐ and post‐MBSR intervention time points to serve as a neuroimaging biomarker of critical cortical networks.ResultsScores on the THI and TFI showed statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement over the course of the study with a median ΔTHI of −16 and median ΔTFI of −14.8 between baseline and 4‐week follow‐up scores. Except for depression, there was no significant change in any of the secondary outcome measures. Analysis of the resting state functional connectivity MRI (rs‐fcMRI) data showed increased connectivity in the post‐MBSR group in attention networks but not the default network.ConclusionParticipation in an MBSR program is associated with decreased severity in tinnitus symptoms and depression and connectivity changes in neural attention networks. MBSR is a promising treatment option for chronic bothersome tinnitus that is both noninvasive and inexpensive.
The road to recovery: Experiences of driving with bipolar disorder
Authors: McNamara Carole , Buckley Sherrie E 
Published: February 2015

Introduction It has been suggested that bipolar disorder impairs cognitive, psychomotor and emotional regulation abilities which could impact an individual’s driving behaviour. This research aimed to investigate experiences of driving with a diagnosis of a bipolar disorder, as a study on this subject has not been located in the literature. Method Two focus groups were conducted during a bipolar day programme in an independent psychiatric hospital in the Republic of Ireland ( n = 18). Data was analysed using thematic analysis. Results Themes emerging from the data include: the meaning of driving, the impact of bipolar disorder on driving behaviour and the management of driving behaviour when unwell. An unexpected theme was the perceived discriminatory nature of the Irish Road Safety Authority’s fitness to drive guidelines. Conclusion Driving is a meaningful activity, enabling engagement in areas of occupation. Participants’ desire to implement their own compensatory strategies when unwell can be viewed as a process of taking control in their recovery and minimising the effects of occupational disruption. Their view that fitness to drive guidelines are inequitable could be related to perceptions that mental illness has a lasting influence on their life narratives.
Plantar Loading Forces While Walking in a Below-Knee Cast With an Attached Loadbearing Frame
Authors: Berwin James Theo , Burton Thomas Michael Weston , Taylor Jonathan , McGregor Alison H. , Roche Andy 
Published: February 2015

Background: We measured loading forces across different points of the plantar foot surface to examine how different types of casts affect load distribution through the foot and ankle. The patella tendon-bearing (PTB) or Sarmiento cast is the current “gold-standard” casting method for offloading force through the foot and ankle. We aimed to determine if a rocker bottom frame attached to a below-knee cast (Beagle Böhler Walker) would be as effective or better at reducing load distribution during full weightbearing. Method: We applied TekScan FlexiForce A201 force sensors to the first and fifth metatarsal heads and the plantar surface of the calcaneus of 14 healthy volunteers. All volunteers had force measurements taken without a cast applied and then with a traditional Sarmiento cast, a standard below-knee cast, and a below-knee cast with the Böhler Walker frame fitted. Results: Compared with a standard below-knee cast, the Böhler Walker frame reduced the mean peak force through the head of the first metatarsal by 58.9% ( P < .0001), 73.1% through the head of the fifth metatarsal ( P < .0001), and 32.2% ( P < .0001) through the calcaneus. The Sarmiento cast demonstrated a mean percentage reduction in peak force of 8.6% ( P = .39) and 4.4% ( P = .87) through the first and fifth metatarsal heads, respectively, but increased the mean peak force by 5.9% ( P = .54) through the calcaneus. Conclusion: Using a Böhler Walker frame applied to a below-knee cast significantly reduced weight transfer through the foot compared with a Sarmiento cast or standard below-knee cast. Clinical Relevance: This reduction in force through the foot could mean early weightbearing would be safer in patients with a wide variety of foot and ankle pathologies such as ankle fractures or operative fixations. This may reduce the incidence of immobility-dependent morbidity.
Telepsychology for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: A systematic review
Authors: Bolton AJ , Dorstyn DS 
Published: February 2015

Summary The effectiveness of psychological services provided remotely, telepsychology, for the management of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) was evaluated. Eleven studies ( n = 472 participants) were identified from electronic database searches. Study quality was assessed, with studies characterised by small and underpowered samples. Effect sizes and associated confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to determine the direction and magnitude of treatment change. Short-term treatment gains were reported for internet and video-based interventions. This included significant medium to large improvements ( d range = 0.66–3.22) in cognitive and behavioural symptoms of depression, generalised anxiety and posttraumatic stress. However, the equivalence of telepsychology and face-to-face psychotherapy could not be determined, with few comparative studies available. Both treatment gains and deterioration were noted 1 to 6 months following treatment cessation, although this was based on limited follow-up data. Further larger scale and longitudinal research will help to ascertain the minimum requirements for the management and treatment of PTSD in a technology-supported environment.
A bed sheet is not as effective as a pelvic circumferential compression device in generating pelvic compression in patients with a suspected pelvic fracture
Authors: Sinha Shrestha , Ellicott Helen , Gee Ed , Steel Alistair 
Published: February 2015

Introduction The Advanced Trauma Life Support protocol for emergent management of pelvic ring disruptions includes advising circumferential application of a bed sheet. A number of purpose-designed pelvic circumferential compression devices are commercially available. We assessed whether the Advanced Trauma Life Support-recommended simple bed sheet was able to generate the same pelvic pressure as provided by a pelvic circumferential compression device. Methods A healthy volunteer was laid supine on an examination trolley and a pressure transducer was placed overlying the volunteer’s greater trochanters. Two pelvic compression devices, a commercially available SAM Pelvic Sling II™ and a standard hospital bed sheet, were applied single handedly. The SAM Sling was applied according to the manufacturer’s instructions and the bed sheet was applied in the way the participant felt best. The pressures generated at the level of the greater trochanters were measured at 2 min. The mean of the left and right pressures was recorded. Following removal of the first device, the second device was then placed and the pressures were again recorded at 2 min. Results Twelve participants completed the study. The mean (standard deviation) pressure generated by the SAM sling was 107 (28.4) mmHg and by the bed sheet 54 (26.3) mmHg; the SAM sling generated significantly greater pressure ( p < 0.0001). A variety of different methods for applying the bed sheet were observed. Conclusion In patients with a suspected pelvic fracture, a bed sheet is unable to reliably generate pressures approaching those of a commercially available pelvic circumferential compression device.