bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Deaths by Lightning in Mexico (1979–2011): Threat or Vulnerability?
Authors: Raga G. B. , de la Parra M. G. , Kucienska Beata 
Published: May 2014

Abstract
This paper presents evidence of the geographical distribution of deaths due to lightning over Mexico for the period 1979–2011. Over 7300 deaths occurred during this period, an average of 230 per year, which translates into an average fatality rate per million inhabitants of 2.72 (1979–2011). A total of 60% of the fatal victims occur in only 7 out of the 32 states in Mexico, with the largest fraction occurring in the state of Estado de México (24%). The largest death toll is found in the young male population, in rural regions of the states of Estado de México, Michoacán, and Oaxaca, where the population density is low. The results have indicated a clear bias in the fatal victims toward boys and young males (under the age of 25), with more than 45% of the total deaths in that segment of the population. While female deaths constitute a small fraction of the total number, the under-25 age segment also has the largest number of fatal victims.
A county-level analysis of socioeconomic indicators clearly suggests that the geographical distribution of deaths is not correlated with population density nor with the maximum lightning density, but rather with vulnerability. The spatial distribution of deaths is better correlated with exposure to thunderstorms, agricultural activities, and low education levels. The large social vulnerability of those regions combined with the lack of recognition of the problem by society and the government are more likely responsible for the large death toll.
Progression from mild cognitive impairment to dementia: A 3-year longitudinal study
Authors: Brodaty Henry , Connors Michael H , Ames David , Woodward Michael ,   on behalf of the PRIME study group
Published: May 2014

Objective: To examine characteristics that predict the progression from mild cognitive impairment to dementia. Methods: Of 970 patients recruited from nine memory clinics around Australia, 185 had mild cognitive impairment diagnosed. Measures of cognitive ability, functional ability, and neuropsychiatric symptoms were completed at baseline and over 3 years of follow up. Results: Over 3 years, 52 (28%) patients with mild cognitive impairment developed dementia. Older age, lower cognitive ability at baseline, and faster decline in cognitive ability over the first 6 months of follow up, but not depression, predicted progression to dementia. Conclusions: The findings confirm that simple clinical data such as age, cognitive ability at baseline, and rate of cognitive decline are important predictors of progression from mild cognitive impairment to dementia over 3 years.
Bisphosphonate release profiles from magnetite microspheres
Authors: Miyazaki Toshiki , Inoue Tatsuya , Shirosaki Yuki , Kawashita Masakazu , Matsubara Takao , Matsumine Akihiko 
Published: May 2014

Hyperthermia has been suggested as a novel, minimally invasive cancer treatment method. After implantation of magnetic nano- or microparticles around a tumour through blood vessels, irradiation with alternating magnetic fields facilitates the efficient in situ hyperthermia even for deep-seated tumours. On the basis of this idea, if the microspheres are capable of delivering drugs, they could be promising multifunctional biomaterials effective for chemotherapy as well as hyperthermia. In the present study, magnetite microspheres were prepared by aggregation of the iron oxide colloid in water-in-oil (W/O) emulsion. The release behaviour of alendronate, a typical bisphosphonate, from the microspheres was examined in vitro as a model of the bone tumour prevention and treatment system. The alendronate was successfully incorporated onto the porous magnetite microspheres in vacuum conditions. The drug-loaded microspheres maintained their original spherical shapes even after shaking in ultrapure water for 3 days, suggesting that they have sufficient mechanical integrity for clinical use. It was attributed to high aggregation capability of the magnetite nanoparticles through van der Waals and weak magnetic attractions. The microspheres showed slow release of the alendronate in vitro, resulting from tight covalent or ionic interaction between the magnetite and the alendronate. The release rate was diffusion-controlled type and well controlled by the alendronate concentration in drug incorporation to the microspheres.
Blood miRNA expression pattern is a possible risk marker for natalizumab-associated progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy in multiple sclerosis patients
Authors: Muñoz-Culla M , Irizar H , Castillo-Triviño T , Sáenz-Cuesta M , Sepúlveda L , Lopetegi I , de Munain A López , Olascoaga J , Baranzini SE , Otaegui D 
Published: May 2014

Background: Natalizumab has shown its efficacy in reducing multiple sclerosis (MS) relapses and progression of disability; however, it has been associated with an increased risk of developing progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). The differential expression of microRNA (miRNA), the small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression, in natalizumab-treated patients has been reported and miRNA have also been described as good candidates for disease biomarkers. Objective: To characterize the effect of natalizumab therapy on the miRNA expression pattern and to search for miRNAs that can predict PML on an individual basis. Methods: The expression of 754 microRNAs was measured in blood samples from 19 relapsing–remitting MS patients at three time points during natalizumab therapy, using TaqMan OpenArray panels. Two patients included in this study developed PML after more than 2 years of therapy. Results: We found that the expression level of three miRNAs (let-7c, miR-125a-5p and miR-642) was affected after 6 months of therapy (t6). Furthermore, we observed a differential expression of another three miRNAs (miR-320, miR-320b and miR-629) between the PML and non-PML groups after 12 months of treatment (t12); and a positive correlation was found between therapy time and the expression of miR-320. Conclusions: Natalizumab modified the expression levels of three miRNAs after a 6-month treatment. We suggest miR-320, miR-320b and miR-629 as possible biomarkers for individual PML risk assessment.
Multiple sclerosis, solitary sclerosis or something else?
Authors: Lattanzi Simona , Logullo Francesco , Di Bella Paolo , Silvestrini Mauro , Provinciali Leandro 
Published: May 2014

Background: Inflammatory demyelinating diseases of the central nervous system represent a wide spectrum of entities and their classification cannot currently be regarded complete. Objective: Our aim is to describe a series of patients presenting with progressive myelopathy associated to a single demyelinating lesion of the spinal cord. Methods: We identified the patients affected by chronic progressive spinal cord dysfunction related to a single spinal cord lesion not satisfying the diagnostic criteria for any of the currently defined diseases. Results: Seven females and one male were included. The median age at onset of symptoms was 53 years (range 42–68) and the median follow-up was 8 years (range 5–12). Brain and spinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans detected only one single, circumscribed, T2 hyperintense, non-longitudinally extensive lesion at level of cervico-medullary junction or cervical cord, in the absence of Gadolinium enhancement or swelling. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) examination displayed neither oligoclonal bands nor raised IgG index. A response to immunosuppressive agents was observed in some of the patients. Serial control brain and spinal MRI did not reveal accumulation of new lesions. Conclusion: New entities or variants should be included among the inflammatory demyelinating diseases of the central nervous system, and their characterization may have relevant prognostic and treatment implications.
An observational comparison of natalizumab vs. fingolimod using JCV serology to determine therapy
Authors: Carruthers Robert L , Rotstein Dalia L , Healy Brian C , Chitnis Tanuja , Weiner Howard L , Buckle Guy J 
Published: May 2014

Background: The lack of prospective trial data comparing certain multiple sclerosis (MS) therapies could be addressed with observational research. Objective: The objective of this paper is to investigate outcomes of natalizumab versus fingolimod treatment in an MS cohort using a novel method of patient selection. Methods: We reviewed entries from our clinic’s database for all relapsing–remitting MS patients started on fingolimod and natalizumab where JCV serology was used to determine treatment. We analyzed each group for time to first relapse and in a second analysis, time to first relapse or gadolinium-enhancing lesion. Results: Sixty-nine patients on natalizumab and 36 on fingolimod met our inclusion criteria and had adequate follow-up for analysis. The baseline clinical characteristics at the time of treatment switch were similar. With a mean follow-up of 1.5 years for both treatment groups, there was a trend favoring natalizumab in time to first relapse, although this was not statistically significant (2.20 (0.87, 5.55) p = 0.095). There was a significant difference in the secondary outcome, time to relapse or gadolinium-enhancing lesion (2.31 (1.03, 5.17) p = 0.041), favoring natalizumab. Adjusted analyses favored natalizumab for both outcomes ( p < 0.05). Conclusion: This work employed an observational study design where treatment allocation by JCV serology allowed for treatment groups with well-balanced characteristics.
Transfusions and patient burden in chemotherapy-induced anaemia in France
Authors: Corey-Lisle Patricia K. , Desrosiers Marie-Pierre , Collins Helen , De La Orden Margarita , Payne Krista A. , Levaché Charles Briac , Dumont Patrick 
Published: May 2014

Objectives: To estimate the patient burden in terms of the time spent on outpatient red blood cell (RBC) transfusions indicated for chemotherapy induced-anaemia (CIA) in patients with cancer in France. Methods: A retrospective chart review of patients with cancer receiving an outpatient RBC transfusion was conducted at seven treatment centres in France. Total treatment time for one transfusion visit per patient was measured as the elapsed time between pre- and post-transfusion vital sign assessment, including time from transfusion start to stop. Elapsed time from haemoglobin (Hb) level testing to transfusion start and from blood draw for compatibility testing to transfusion start were recorded. In addition, estimated travel time and distance to the transfusion centre, and clinical and demographic information were collected. Results: A total of 103 patients [63.1% men; mean age 66.2 years, standard deviation (SD) 11.9] were enrolled in the study (1 August 2010–31 October 2010). The four most frequent diagnoses were lung cancer (31.1%), urological cancer (15.5%), gynecological cancer (14.6%) and gastrointestinal/colorectal cancer (14.6%). Mean elapsed time between prevital and postvital sign assessment was 4.0 h [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.9–6.1], including a mean of 3.4 h (95% CI 2.5–4.2) for the transfusion itself. Hb level testing (mean pre-transfusion Hb level 8.0 g/dl, SD 0.8) and blood draw for compatibility testing were completed in a mean of 28.8 h (95% CI 1.3–56.2) and 9.4 h (95% CI 0–21.4) prior to transfusion respectively. Patients’ one-way mean travel time to the transfusion centre was 32.9 min (95% CI 28.5–37.4) and mean distance travelled was 25.4 km (95% CI 11.6–39.3). Conclusion: In France, CIA treatment with RBC transfusion is a time-consuming activity for patients that includes multiple trips to a medical facility, blood testing and the transfusion procedure itself. This burden is important to consider in the context of optimizing proactive monitoring and planning for supportive oncology care.
SIRT1 prevents genotoxic stress-induced p53 activation in acute myeloid leukemia
Authors: Sasca Daniel , Hähnel Patricia S. , Szybinski Jakub , Khawaja Kaml , Kriege Oliver , Pante Saskia V. , Bullinger Lars , Strand Susanne , Strand Dennis , Theobald Matthias , Kindler Thomas 
Published: May 2014

Key Points
SIRT1 is highly expressed in subsets of patients with acute myeloid leukemia harboring activating mutations in signaling pathways and is regulated at the protein levels. Targeting SIRT1 sensitizes leukemic blast to tyrosine kinase inhibitor treatment or chemotherapy via restoration of p53 activity.
Non-Archimedean and random HUR-approximation of a Cauchy-Jensen additive mapping
Authors: Park Choonkil , Azadi Kenary Hassan , Sahami Najmeh 
Published: May 2014

Abstract
In this paper, using the fixed point and direct methods, we prove the Hyers-Ulam-Rassias approximation (briefly, HUR-approximation) of a Cauchy-Jensen additive (briefly, CJA) functional equation in various normed spaces.

MSC:39B52, 39B82, 47H10, 46S10.
Health-service performance of TB treatment for indigenous and non-indigenous populations in Brazil: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Lemos Everton Ferreira , Alves Aline Mara da Silva , Oliveira Giovana de Castro , Rodrigues Marcella Paranhos , Martins Natália Daiane Garoni , Croda Julio 
Published: May 2014

Abstract

Background
Health-service evaluation studies are fundamental for proposing interventions and ensuring improvements in healthcare quality. The present study assesses the performance of health services for indigenous and non-indigenous populations with regard to tuberculosis (TB) control.

Methods
Interviews with TB patients who underwent treatment between 2009 and 2011 were conducted using the Primary Care Assessment Tool adapted for TB care in Brazil.

Results
Primary healthcare (PHC) was the first treatment for most patients at symptom onset, and the diagnoses were typically performed by specialized services. Many patients experienced delayed TB diagnoses that required more than three medical appointments (51% and 47% for indigenous and non-indigenous populations, respectively). Indigenous people received social support, such as basic-needs grocery packages (2.19 ± 1.63 vs. 1.13 ± 0.49 for non-indigenous people, p < 0.01) and home visits from health professionals, with an emphasis on the performance of directly observed treatment strategies (DOT; 4.57 ± 0.89 vs. 1.68 ± 1.04 for non-indigenous people, p < 0.01).

Conclusions
Regardless of the differences between indigenous and non-indigenous populations, the time needed to receive a TB diagnosis was unsatisfactory for both groups. Furthermore, DOT must be performed with better coverage among non-indigenous patients.
Spinal manipulation and exercise for low back pain in adolescents: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Schulz Craig , Leininger Brent , Evans Roni , Vavrek Darcy , Peterson Dave , Haas Mitchell , Bronfort Gert 
Published: May 2014

AbstractBackgroundLow back pain is among the most common and costly chronic health care conditions. Recent research has highlighted the common occurrence of non-specific low back pain in adolescents, with prevalence estimates similar to adults. While multiple clinical trials have examined the effectiveness of commonly used therapies for the management of low back pain in adults, few trials have addressed the condition in adolescents. The purpose of this paper is to describe the methodology of a randomized clinical trial examining the effectiveness of exercise with and without spinal manipulative therapy for chronic or recurrent low back pain in adolescents.Methods/designThis study is a randomized controlled trial comparing twelve weeks of exercise therapy combined with spinal manipulation to exercise therapy alone. Beginning in March 2010, a total of 184 participants, ages 12 to 18, with chronic or recurrent low back pain are enrolled across two sites. The primary outcome is self-reported low back pain intensity. Other outcomes include disability, quality of life, improvement, satisfaction, activity level, low back strength, endurance, and motion. Qualitative interviews are conducted to evaluate participants’ perceptions of treatment.DiscussionThis is the first randomized clinical trial assessing the effectiveness of combining spinal manipulative therapy with exercise for adolescents with low back pain. The results of this study will provide important evidence on the role of these conservative treatments for the management of low back pain in adolescents.Trial registration(ClinicalTrials.govNCT01096628).
Mitochondrial dysfunction in obesity: potential benefit and mechanism of Co-enzyme Q10 supplementation in metabolic syndrome
Authors: Alam Md Ashraful , Rahman Md Mahbubur 
Published: May 2014

AbstractCo-enzyme Q10 (Co-Q10) is an essential component of the mitochondrial electron transport chain. Most cells are sensitive to co-enzyme Q10 (Co-Q10) deficiency. This deficiency has been implicated in several clinical disorders such as heart failure, hypertension, Parkinson’s disease and obesity. The lipid lowering drug statin inhibits conversion of HMG-CoA to mevalonate and lowers plasma Co-Q10 concentrations. However, supplementation with Co-Q10 improves the pathophysiological condition of statin therapy. Recent evidence suggests that Co-Q10 supplementation may be useful for the treatment of obesity, oxidative stress and the inflammatory process in metabolic syndrome. The anti-inflammatory response and lipid metabolizing effect of Co-Q10 is probably mediated by transcriptional regulation of inflammation and lipid metabolism. This paper reviews the evidence showing beneficial role of Co-Q10 supplementation and its potential mechanism of action on contributing factors of metabolic and cardiovascular complications.
Profile of metabolic abnormalities seen in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and their first degree relatives with metabolic syndrome seen in Benin City, Edo state Nigeria
Authors: Ogedengbe Stephen O , Ezeani Ignatius U 
Published: May 2014

Abstract
Background
To determine the profile of metabolic abnormalities in T2DM persons with metabolic syndrome and their non-diabetic first-degree relatives who also had metabolic syndrome in Benin City.

Methodology
This was a cross sectional case controlled study in which convenience sampling technique was used to recruit 106 persons with T2DM, 96 people who are first degree relatives of type 2 diabetic persons and 96 controls using a interviewer administered questionnaire technique. The following were assessed: anthropometric indices, blood pressure, serum lipid profile, fasting blood sugar, proteinuria, and microalbuminuria. The data obtained were analyzed using the statistical software-Statistical package for social sciences [SPSS] version 16. A p-value of less than 0.05 was taken as statistically significant.

Results
The mean age (SD) of the study groups were: persons living with T2DM: 58.6 ± 11.2 years, control: 57.69 ± 60.8 years and FDR: 57.4 ± 10.6 years. No significant age and sex differences were observed in these groups. There were more females (59.7%) than males (40.3%) with T2DM. The prevalence of MS was 13.5%, 16.7%, and 87.1% in the control, FDR and T2DM patients respectively. For the T2DM group of subjects, impaired fasting glycaemia was the commonest metabolic abnormality followed by microalbuminuria, low HDL cholesterol, high LDL cholesterol, hypercholesterolaemia and hypertriglyceridaemia in decreasing frequency. For the FDR group, low HDL cholesterol was the commonest metabolic abnormality followed by hypertriglyceridaemia, impaired fasting glucose, high LDL cholesterol, hypertriglyceridaemia and microalbuminuria in decreasing frequency. Hypercholesterolemia and low HDL cholesterol were the commonest metabolic abnormalities in the control group.

Conclusion
The prevalence of the MS in persons with T2DM in Nigeria appears to be high. Secondly, there is a high prevalence of lipid abnormalities in all the study groups.
Relationship between HER2 expression and efficacy with first-line trastuzumab emtansine compared with trastuzumab plus docetaxel in TDM4450g: a randomized phase II study of patients with previously untreated HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer
Authors: Perez Edith A , Hurvitz Sara A , Amler Lukas C , Mundt Kirsten E , Ng Vivian , Guardino Ellie , Gianni Luca 
Published: May 2014

Abstract
Introduction
The purpose of this study was to retrospectively explore the relationship between human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) messenger RNA (mRNA) expression and efficacy in patients receiving trastuzumab plus docetaxel (HT) or trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1).

Methods
Patients with HER2-positive, locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer (MBC) were randomly assigned to HT (n = 70) or T-DM1 (n = 67). HER2 status was assessed locally using immunohistochemistry or fluorescence in situ hybridization and confirmed retrospectively by central testing. HER2 mRNA expression was assessed using quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction.

Results
HER2 mRNA levels were obtained for 116/137 patients (HT = 61; T-DM1 = 55). Median pretreatment HER2 mRNA was 8.9. The risk of disease progression in the overall population was lower with T-DM1 than with HT (hazard ratio (HR) = 0.59; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.36 to 0.97). This effect was more pronounced in patients with HER2 mRNA ≥ median (HR = 0.39; 95% CI 0.18 to 0.85) versus < median (HR = 0.85; 95% CI 0.44 to 1.67). In the T-DM1 arm, median progression-free survival (PFS) was not reached in patients with HER2 mRNA ≥ median and was 10.6 months in patients with HER2 mRNA < median. In the HT arm, PFS was 8.8 versus 9.8 months in patients with HER2 mRNA ≥ median versus < median, respectively. The effect of HER2 mRNA expression on objective response rates was less pronounced.

Conclusions
This exploratory analysis suggests that while overall, patients with HER2-positive MBC show improved PFS with T-DM1 relative to HT, the effect is enhanced in patients with tumor HER2 mRNA ≥ median.

Trial registration
ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00679341