bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility and sedimentary cycle data from Permo-Carboniferous rhythmites (Paraná Basin, Brazil): a multiple proxy record of astronomical and millennial scale palaeoclimate change in a glacial setting
Authors: Franco Daniel R. , Hinnov Linda A. 
Published: November 2012

Abstract
In this study we examine glaciogenic rhythmites from the Late Palaeozoic Itararé Group, Paraná Basin, Brazil. We conduct spectral analysis on lithological cycle (‘couplet’) thickness series, and declination of maximum axis of anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility ellipsoidal tensor (K1) data. We tested the efficiency of K1 as a palaeoclimatic proxy. To constrain the timescale of harmonic features in the data, we analysed the couplet thickness spectra, converting the spectra to the time domain using an astronomical calibration based on Milankovitch frequency ratios. Comparison of the two rhythmites provides insights into their sedimentation rate evolution and cyclicity. Millennial-scale mechanisms of climatic origin influenced the deposition of both rhythmites, generating the lithological couplets, and are consistent with millennial-scale variations recognized as triggers for large-scale climatic changes during the Late Pleistocene. The common harmonic features in the couplet thickness and K1 spectra support the view that the azimuth of the K1 axis in sedimentary fabric is a useful palaeoclimatic proxy, reflecting sedimentation processes that were directly influenced by flow-induced, sediment transport, which is linked to external climate factors.
Creating a General (Family) Practice Epidemiological Database in Ireland - Data Quality Issue Management
Authors: Collins Claire , Janssens Kelly 
Published: November 2012

In Ireland, while detailed information is available regarding hospital attendance, little is known regarding general (family) practice attendance. However, it is conservatively estimated that there are almost nine times as many general practice encounters than there are hospital encounters each year in Ireland. This represents a very significant gap in health information. Indeed, general practice has been shown in other countries to be an important and rich source of information about the health of the population, their behaviors and their utilization of health services. Funded by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA), the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP) undertook a feasibility study of diagnostic coding of routinely entered patient data and the creation of a national general practice morbidity and epidemiological database (GPMED project). This article outlines the process of data quality issue management undertaken.
The study’s findings suggest that the quality of data collection and reporting structures available in general practice throughout Ireland at the outset of this project were not adequate to permit the creation of a database of sufficient quality for service planning and policy or epidemiological research. Challenges include the dearth of a minimum standard of data recorded in consultations by GPs and the absence of the digital data recording and exporting infrastructure within Irish patient management software systems. In addition, there is at present a lack of recognition regarding the value of such data for patient management and service planning---including importantly, data collectors who do not fully accept the merit of maintaining data, which has a direct consequence for data quality. The work of this project has substantial implications for the data available to the health sector in Ireland and contributes to the knowledge base internationally regarding general practice morbidity data.
Improving the Data Quality of Drug Databases using Conditional Dependencies and Ontologies
Authors: Curé Olivier 
Published: November 2012

Many health care systems and services exploit drug related information stored in databases. The poor data quality of these databases, e.g. inaccuracy of drug contraindications, can lead to catastrophic consequences for the health condition of patients. Hence it is important to ensure their quality in terms of data completeness and soundness.
In the database domain, standard Functional Dependencies (FDs) and INclusion Dependencies (INDs), have been proposed to prevent the insertion of incorrect data. But they are generally not expressive enough to represent a domain-specific set of constraints. To this end, conditional dependencies, i.e. standard dependencies extended with tableau patterns containing constant values, have been introduced and several methods have been proposed for their discovery and representation. The quality of drug databases can be considerably improved by their usage.
Moreover, pharmacology information is inherently hierarchical and many standards propose graph structures to represent them, e.g. the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical classification (ATC) or OpenGalen’s terminology. In this article, we emphasize that the technologies of the Semantic Web are adapted to represent these hierarchical structures, i.e. in RDFS and OWL. We also present a solution for representing conditional dependencies using a query language defined for these graph oriented structures, namely SPARQL. The benefits of this approach are interoperability with applications and ontologies of the Semantic Web as well as a reasoning-based query execution solution to clean underlying databases.
Data Management within mHealth Environments
Authors: O’Donoghue John , Herbert John 
Published: November 2012

Pervasive environments generate large quantities of data, originating from backend servers, portable devices, and wireless mobile sensors. Pervasive sensing devices that monitor properties of the environment (including human beings) can be a large data source. Unprocessed datasets may include data that is faulty and irrelevant, and data that is important and useful. If not managed correctly the large amount of data from a data-rich pervasive environment may result in information overload or delivery of incorrect information.
Context-sensitive quality data management aims to gather, verify, process, and manage the multiple data sources in a pervasive environment in order to deliver high quality, relevant information to the end-user. Managing the quality of data from different sources, correlating related data, and making use of context, are all essential in providing end users with accurate and meaningful data in real time. This requirement is especially true for critical applications such as in a medical environment.
This article presents the Data Management System (DMS) architecture. It is designed to deliver quality data service to its users. The DMS architecture employs an agent-based middleware to intelligently and effectively manage all pervasive data sources, and to make use of context to deliver relevant information to the end-user. Two of the DMS components are presented: (1) data validation and (2) data consistency. The DMS components have been rigorously evaluated using various medical-based test cases.
This article demonstrates a careful, precise approach to data based on the quality of the data and the context of its use. It emphasises the DMS architecture and the role of software agents in providing quality data management.
SOX2 Autoantibodies As Noninvasive Serum Biomarker for Breast Carcinoma
Authors: Sun Yu , Zhang Rui , Wang Minjie , Zhang Yuan , Qi Jun , Li Jinming 
Published: November 2012

Abstract
Background: A clear association has been established between antibodies to the transcription factor sex-determining region Y (SRY)-box 2 (SOX2) and small cell lung cancer. In light of the pathologic role of SOX2 and its aberrant expression in breast cancer, we measured serum SOX2 autoantibodies (SOX2-Abs) in breast cancer patients.
Methods: The presence of SOX2-Abs was determined by an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in sera from 282 patients with breast cancer, 78 patients with benign breast disease, and 194 healthy women.
Results: SOX2-Abs were more prevalent in patients with breast cancer (18.4%) compared with healthy women (2.6%, P &lt; 0.0001), and patients with benign breast disease (6.4%, P = 0.011). The concentrations of circulating SOX2-Abs were found to discriminate between breast cancer patients and healthy controls (P &lt; 0.001) and between breast cancer patients and those with benign breast disease (P &lt; 0.001). In addition, measurement of SOX2-Abs was more effective than assays of serum tissue polypeptide-specific antigen, carcinoembryonic antigen, carbohydrate antigen (CA) 125, and CA 15-3 in distinguishing between malignant and benign breast disease. In breast cancer patients, the prevalence of SOX2-Abs was associated with a higher tumor grade (P = 0.021) and positive nodal status (P = 0.021).
Conclusion: The presence of SOX2-Abs in breast cancer may be of clinical value.
Impact: This study provides the first evidence for the presence of circulating SOX2-Abs in breast cancer and shows their potential clinical application. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 21(11); 2043–7. ©2012 AACR.
Interpretation of Single and Serial Measures of HE4 and CA125 in Asymptomatic Women at High Risk for Ovarian Cancer
Authors: Urban Nicole , Thorpe Jason , Karlan Beth Y. , McIntosh Martin W. , Palomares Melanie R. , Daly Mary B. , Paley Pamela , Drescher Charles W. 
Published: November 2012

Abstract
Background: Human epididymis protein 4 (HE4) is approved for clinical use with CA125 to predict epithelial ovarian cancer in women with a pelvic mass or in remission after chemotherapy. Previously reported reference ranges for HE4 are inconsistent.
Methods: We report positivity thresholds yielding 90%, 95%, 98%, and 99% specificity for age-defined populations of healthy women for HE4, CA125, and Risk of Ovarian Malignancy Algorithm (ROMA), a weighted average of HE4 and CA125. HE4 and CA125 were measured in 1,780 samples from 778 healthy women aged &gt;25 years with a documented deleterious mutation, or aged &gt;35 years with a significant family history. Effects on marker levels of a woman's age, ethnicity, and epidemiologic characteristics were estimated, as were the population-specific means, variances, and within- and between-woman variances used to generate longitudinal screening algorithms for these markers.
Results: CA125 levels were lower with Black ethnicity (P = 0.008). Smoking was associated with higher HE4 (P = 0.007) and ROMA (P &lt; 0.019). Continuous oral contraceptive use decreased levels of CA125 (P = 0.041), and ROMA (P = 0.12). CA125 was lower in women age ≥55, and HE4 increased with age (P &lt; 0.01), particularly among women age ≥55.
Conclusions: Because of the strong effect of age on HE4, thresholds for HE4 are best defined for women of specific ages. Age-specific population thresholds for HE4 for 95% specificity ranged from 41.4 pmol/L for women age 30 to 82.1 pmol/L for women age 80.
Impact: Incorporation of serial marker values from screening history reduces personalized thresholds for CA125 and HE4 but is inappropriate for ROMA. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 21(11); 2087–94. ©2012 AACR.
Mental and Physical Health–Related Quality of Life among U.S. Cancer Survivors: Population Estimates from the 2010 National Health Interview Survey
Authors: Weaver Kathryn E. , Forsythe Laura P. , Reeve Bryce B. , Alfano Catherine M. , Rodriguez Juan L. , Sabatino Susan A. , Hawkins Nikki A. , Rowland Julia H. 
Published: November 2012

Abstract
Background: Despite extensive data on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among cancer survivors, we do not yet have an estimate of the percentage of survivors with poor mental and physical HRQOL compared with population norms. HRQOL population means for adult-onset cancer survivors of all ages and across the survivorship trajectory also have not been published.
Methods: Survivors (N = 1,822) and adults with no cancer history (N = 24,804) were identified from the 2010 National Health Interview Survey. The PROMIS® Global Health Scale was used to assess HRQOL. Poor HRQOL was defined as 1 SD or more below the PROMIS® population norm.
Results: Poor physical and mental HRQOL were reported by 24.5% and 10.1% of survivors, respectively, compared with 10.2% and 5.9% of adults without cancer (both P &lt; 0.0001). This represents a population of approximately 3.3 million and 1.4 million U.S. survivors with poor physical and mental HRQOL. Adjusted mean mental and physical HRQOL scores were similar for breast, prostate, and melanoma survivors compared with adults without cancer. Survivors of cervical, colorectal, hematologic, short-survival, and other cancers had worse physical HRQOL; cervical and short-survival cancer survivors reported worse mental HRQOL.
Conclusion: These data elucidate the burden of cancer diagnosis and treatment among U.S. survivors and can be used to monitor the impact of national efforts to improve survivorship care and outcomes.
Impact: We present novel data on the number of U.S. survivors with poor HRQOL. Interventions for high-risk groups that can be easily implemented are needed to improve survivor health at a population level. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 21(11); 2108–17. ©2012 AACR.
Patterns of Bone Sarcomas as a Second Malignancy in Relation to Radiotherapy in Adulthood and Histologic Type
Authors: Wu Lindsey C. , Kleinerman Ruth A. , Curtis Rochelle E. , Savage Sharon A. , de González Amy Berrington 
Published: November 2012

Abstract
Background: Radiotherapy decreases cancer mortality, but is associated with an increased incidence of second primary cancers, including osteosarcomas, especially after exposure in childhood. It remains uncertain whether radiation is related to other histologic types of bone sarcomas such as chondrosarcomas that are more common in adulthood.
Methods: Using data from 1973 to 2008 Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results registries, we evaluated long-term risk of bone cancer in 1,284,537 adult 5-year cancer survivors. We used standardized incidence ratios (SIR) to compare second bone sarcoma rates to the general population for each histologic type. We also used multivariate Poisson regression to estimate the relative risk (RR) associated with radiotherapy for the most common subtypes, osteosarcoma and chondrosarcoma.
Results: By the end of 2008, 159 second bone sarcomas were reported. Compared with the general population, the risk of developing any bone sarcoma was increased by 25% in patients with no history of radiotherapy [Observed (O) = 89, SIR = 1.25 (1.00–1.54)] and by 257% in patients with a history of radiotherapy [O = 70, SIR = 3.57 (2.78–4.50)]. For each histologic subtype, SIRs were higher among patients who had previously received radiotherapy than among those who had not. The RR for radiotherapy for osteosarcoma (n = 63) was 5.08 (3.05–8.59) and for chondrosarcoma (n = 69) was 1.54 (0.88–2.59), and these risks were even greater for second sarcomas that arose in the radiotherapy field used to treat the first cancer [osteosarcoma, RR = 10.35 (4.96–23.66); chondrosarcoma RR = 8.21 (2.09–39.89)].
Conclusions: Our findings provide the first evidence of a likely association between radiation exposure and chondrosarcoma.
Impact: These results further our understanding of radiotherapy-related cancer risks and will potentially direct practices in long-term surveillance of cancer survivors. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 21(11); 1993–9. ©2012 AACR.
Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial Testing the Efficacy of a Culturally Targeted and a Generic Video on Mammography Screening among Chinese-American Immigrants
Authors: Wang Judy Huei-yu , Schwartz Marc D. , Brown Roger L. , Maxwell Annette E. , Lee Marion M. , Adams Inez F. , Mandelblatt Jeanne S. 
Published: November 2012

AbstractBackground: Research comparing the effects of culturally targeted and generic but linguistically appropriate intervention programs is limited. We conducted a randomized controlled trial comparing the efficacy of a culturally targeted video, a generic video, and a fact sheet (control) in promoting mammography screening among Chinese-American immigrants.Methods: We randomized 664 Chinese-American women from the Washington, DC, and New York City areas who were older than 40 years and nonadherent to annual mammography screening guidelines to three study arms (each with ∼221 women). The outcome was self-reported mammography screening 6 months post intervention. Measures of knowledge, Eastern cultural views, and health beliefs were administered before and after the intervention.Results: The culturally targeted video, the generic video, and the fact sheet increased mammography use by 40.3%, 38.5%, and 31.1% from baseline, respectively. A significant intervention effect was observed only in one subgroup: The culturally targeted video significantly increased mammography screening among low-acculturated women over the fact sheet [OR, 1.70; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.04–2.78]. Overall, women who obtained a mammogram during the follow-up period reported significantly fewer barriers to screening after intervention than those who had not obtained screening. Both of the video groups reported fewer barriers after intervention than the control group.Conclusions: Both theoretically guided videos increased the likelihood of mammography use to a similar extent. Cultural targeting was only effective for low-acculturated women. Both videos reduced perceived barriers to screening and consequently increased screening behavior.Impact: The results of this study provide empirical evidence on the efficacy of cultural targeting for minority immigrants. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 21(11); 1923–32. ©2012 AACR.
A Recombinant Immunotoxin against the Tumor-Associated Antigen Mesothelin Reengineered for High Activity, Low Off-Target Toxicity, and Reduced Antigenicity
Authors: Weldon John E. , Xiang Laiman , Zhang Jingli , Beers Richard , Walker Dawn A. , Onda Masanori , Hassan Raffit , Pastan Ira 
Published: November 2012

Abstract
SS1P is a recombinant immunotoxin (RIT) engineered for the targeted elimination of malignant cells that express the tumor-associated antigen mesothelin. It is composed of an antimesothelin antibody variable fragment (Fv) linked to a cytotoxic fragment of Pseudomonas exotoxin A (PE) that includes domains II and III of native PE. The clinical use of SS1P is limited by its propensity to induce neutralizing antibodies and to cause a dose-limiting capillary leak syndrome (CLS) in patients. In this article, we describe a reengineered SS1P with improved properties that overcome these deficits. The redesign of SS1P consists of (i) removing the bulk of PE domain II (residues 251–273 and 284–394 of native PE), leaving only an 11-residue furin cleavage site, (ii) adding a Gly–Gly–Ser peptide linker after the furin cleavage site, and (iii) replacing eight highly solvent-exposed residues in the catalytic domain of PE. The new molecule, SS1-LR/GGS/8M, has cytotoxic activity comparable with SS1P on several mesothelin-expressing cell lines and remarkably improved activity on primary cells from patients with mesothelioma. In a mouse xenograft tumor model, high doses of SS1-LR/GGS/8M elicit antitumor activity superior to the activity of SS1P at its maximum-tolerated dose. In addition, SS1-LR/GGS/8M has greatly decreased ability to cause CLS in a rat model and reduced antigenicity or reactivity with antibodies to the sera of patients previously treated with SS1P. Mol Cancer Ther; 12(1); 48–57. ©2012 AACR.
How Small Is Too Small? A Systematic Review of Center Volume and Outcome After Cardiac Transplantation
Authors: Pettit Stephen J. , Jhund Pardeep S. , Hawkins Nathaniel M. , Gardner Roy S. , Haj-Yahia Saleem , McMurray John J.V. , Petrie Mark C. 
Published: November 2012

Background—
The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between the volume of cardiac transplantation procedures performed in a center and the outcome after cardiac transplantation.

Methods and Results—
PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane library were searched for articles on the volume–outcome relationship in cardiac transplantation. Ten studies were identified, and all adopted a different approach to data analysis and varied in adjustment for baseline characteristics. The number of patients in each study ranged from 798 to 14401, and observed 1-year mortality ranged from 12.6% to 34%. There was no association between the continuous variables of center volume and observed mortality. There was a weak association between the continuous variables of center volume and adjusted mortality up to 1 year and a stronger association at 5 years. When centers were grouped in volume categories, low-volume centers had the highest adjusted mortality, intermediate-volume centers had lower adjusted mortality, and high-volume centers had the lowest adjusted mortality but were not significantly better than intermediate-volume centers. Category limits were arbitrary and varied between studies.

Conclusions—
There is a relationship between center volume and mortality in heart transplantation. The existence of a minimum acceptable center volume or threshold is unproven. However, a level of 10 to 12 heart transplants per year corresponds to the upper limit of low-volume categories that may have relatively higher mortality. It is not known whether outcomes for patients treated in low-volume transplant centers would be improved by reorganizing centers to ensure volumes in excess of 10 to 12 heart transplants per year.
Effects of Interleukin-1β Inhibition With Canakinumab on Hemoglobin A1c, Lipids, C-Reactive Protein, Interleukin-6, and Fibrinogen
Authors: Ridker Paul M , Howard Campbell P. , Walter Verena , Everett Brendan , Libby Peter , Hensen Johannes , Thuren Tom 
Published: November 2012

Background—
To test formally the inflammatory hypothesis of atherothrombosis, an agent is needed that reduces inflammatory biomarkers such as C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, and fibrinogen but that does not have major effects on lipid pathways associated with disease progression.

Methods and Results—

We conducted a double-blind, multinational phase IIb trial of 556 men and women with well-controlled diabetes mellitus and high cardiovascular risk who were randomly allocated to subcutaneous placebo or to subcutaneous canakinumab at doses of 5, 15, 50, or 150 mg monthly and followed over 4 months. Compared with placebo, canakinumab had modest but nonsignificant effects on the change in hemoglobin A1c, glucose, and insulin levels. No effects were seen for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, or non–high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, although triglyceride levels increased ≈10% in the 50-mg (
P
=0.02) and 150-mg (
P
=0.03) groups. By contrast, the median reductions in C-reactive protein at 4 months were 36.4%, 53.0%, 64.6%, and 58.7% for the 5-, 15-, 50-, and 150-mg canakinumab doses, respectively, compared with 4.7% for placebo (all
P
values ≤0.02). Similarly, the median reductions in interleukin-6 at 4 months across the canakinumab dose range tested were 23.9%, 32.5%, 47.9%, and 44.5%, respectively, compared with 2.9% for placebo (all
P
≤0.008), and the median reductions in fibrinogen at 4 months were 4.9%, 11.7%, 18.5%, and 14.8%, respectively, compared with 0.4% for placebo (all
P
values ≤0.0001). Effects were observed in women and men. Clinical adverse events were similar in the canakinumab and placebo groups.

Conclusions—
Canakinumab, a human monoclonal antibody that neutralizes interleukin-1β, significantly reduces inflammation without major effect on low-density lipoprotein cholesterol or high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. These phase II trial data support the use of canakinumab as a potential therapeutic method to test directly the inflammatory hypothesis of atherosclerosis.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT00900146.