bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Tuberculosis: a missed opportunity for early diagnosis at the front line?
Authors: Lad Tanuj S , Packe Geoffrey E 
Published: October 2013

IntroductionThe incidence of tuberculosis (TB) has increased over the last two decades. Many patients with TB preferentially access healthcare via the emergency department (ED) prediagnosis, presenting an early opportunity for diagnosis.MethodsWe looked at the number of patients who presented to ED in the 3 months prior to TB notification, and their outcomes.Results42% of all notifications had accessed ED prior to notification. The majority were hospitalised, with a proportion of these patients previously attending ED only to be discharged. 37% of patients were discharged from ED with many having TB symptoms, and only a minority referred onto TB clinic.ConclusionsThe ED is often the first contact that urban TB patients have with healthcare. Healthcare professionals should ensure this diagnosis is not missed in high incidence areas as it has significant clinical and infection control consequences.
Mechanical thrombectomy with the Solitaire stent: is there a learning curve in achieving rapid recanalization times?
Authors: Eesa M , Burns P A , Almekhlafi M A , Menon B K , Wong J H , Mitha A , Morrish W , Demchuk A M , Goyal M 
Published: October 2013

MethodsIn acute ischemic stroke, good outcome following successful recanalization is time dependent. In patients undergoing endovascular therapy at our institution, recanalization times with the Solitaire stent were retrospectively evaluated to assess for the presence of a learning curve in achieving rapid recanalization.MethodsWe reviewed patients who presented to our stroke center and achieved successful recanalization with the Solitaire stent exclusively. Time intervals were calculated (CT to angiography arrival, angiography arrival to groin puncture, groin puncture to first deployment, and deployment to recanalization) from time stamped images and angiography records. Patients were divided into three sequential groups, with overall CT to recanalization time and subdivided time intervals compared.Results83 patients were treated with the Solitaire stent from May 2009 to February 2012. Recanalization (Thrombolyis in Cerebral Infarction score 2A) occurred in 75 (90.4%) patients. CT to recanalization demonstrated significant improvement over time, which was greatest between the first 25 and the most recent 25 cases (161–94 min; p<0.01). The maximal contribution to this was from improvements in first stent deployment to recanalization time (p=0.001 between the first and third groups), with modest contributions from moving patients from CT to the angiography suite faster (p=0.02 between the first and third groups) and from groin puncture to first stent deployment (p=0.02 between the first and third groups).ConclusionsThere is a learning curve involved in the efficient use of the Solitaire stent in endovascular acute stroke therapy. Along with improvements in patient transfer to angiography and improved efficiency with intracranial access, mastering this device contributed significantly towards reducing recanalization times.
Sex-Related Differences in Fractional Flow Reserve–Guided Treatment
Authors: Li Jing , Rihal Charanjit S. , Matsuo Yoshiki , Elrashidi Muhamad Y. , Flammer Andreas J. , Lee Moo-Sik , Cassar Andrew , Lennon Ryan J. , Herrmann Joerg , Bell Malcolm R. , Holmes David R. , Bresnahan John F. , Hua Qi , Lerman Lilach O. , Lerman Amir 
Published: October 2013

Background—
Sex-specific differences affect the evaluation, treatment, and prognosis of coronary artery disease. We tested the hypothesis that long-term outcomes of fractional flow reserve (FFR)–guided percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are different between women and men.

Methods and Results—

Consecutive 1090 patients, referred for PCI and undergoing FFR measurements at the Mayo Clinic between October 2002 and December 2009, were included in this registry study. Clinical events were compared between the sexes during a median follow-up of 50.9 months. Of all patients, women had higher FFR adjusted by visual coronary stenosis than men (
P
=0.03). The Kaplan–Meier percent of major adverse cardiac events at 5 years was 35% in women and 38% in men (
P
=0.54). Interestingly, in patients undergoing PCI with an FFR <0.75, the incidence of death or myocardial infarction was significantly higher in women than in men (hazard ratio, 2.16; 95% confidence interval, 1.04–4.51;
P
=0.04). Moreover, compared with patients with FFR >0.80, deferral of PCI for those with FFR between 0.75 and 0.80 was associated with an increased rate of major adverse cardiac events, particularly death or myocardial infarction in women (hazard ratio, 3.25; 95% confidence interval, 1.56–6.74;
P
=0.002) and revascularization in men (hazard ratio, 2.66; 95% confidence interval, 1.66–4.54;
P
<0.001).

Conclusions—
Long-term outcome differs between women and men undergoing FFR-guided PCI. Our data suggest that the sex-based treatment strategy is necessary to further optimize prognosis of patients with coronary artery disease.
Dynamic Prediction Modeling Approaches for Cardiac Surgery
Authors: Hickey Graeme L. , Grant Stuart W. , Caiado Camila , Kendall Simon , Dunning Joel , Poullis Michael , Buchan Iain , Bridgewater Ben 
Published: October 2013

Background—
The calibration of several cardiac clinical prediction models has deteriorated over time. We compare different model fitting approaches for in-hospital mortality after cardiac surgery that adjust for cross-sectional case mix in a heterogeneous patient population.

Methods and Results—
Data from >300 000 consecutive cardiac surgery procedures performed at all National Health Service and some private hospitals in England and Wales between April 2001 and March 2011 were extracted from the National Institute for Cardiovascular Outcomes Research clinical registry. The study outcome was in-hospital mortality. Model approaches included not updating, periodic refitting, rolling window, and dynamic logistic regression. Covariate adjustment was made in each model using variables included in the logistic European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation model. The association between in-hospital mortality and some variables changed with time. Notably, the intercept coefficient has been steadily decreasing during the study period, consistent with decreasing observed mortality. Some risk factors, such as operative urgency and postinfarct ventricular septal defect, have been relatively stable over time, whereas other risk factors, such as left ventricular function and surgery on the thoracic aorta, have been associated with lower risk relative to the static model.

Conclusions—
Dynamic models or periodic model refitting is necessary to counteract calibration drift. A dynamic modeling framework that uses contemporary and available historic data can provide a continuously smooth update mechanism that also allows for inferences to be made on individual risk factors. Better models that withstand the effects of time give advantages for governance, quality improvement, and patient-level decision making.
USP9X expression correlates with tumor progression and poor prognosis in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Peng Jing , Hu Qian , Liu Weiping , He Xiaoli , Cui Ling , Chen Xinlian , Yang Mei , Liu Hongqian , Wei Wei , Liu Shanling , Wang He 
Published: October 2013

AbstractBackgroundUbiquitination is a reversible process of posttranslational protein modification through the action of the family of deubiquitylating enzymes which contain ubiquitin-specific protease 9x (USP9X). Recent evidence indicates that USP9X is involved in the progression of various human cancers. The aim was to detect the expression of USP9X in the progression from normal epithelium to invasive esophageal squamous cell cancer (ESCC) and evaluate the relevance of USP9X expression to the tumor progression and prognosis.MethodsIn this study, USP9X immunohistochemical analysis was performed on tissues constructed from ESCC combined with either normal epithelium or adjacent precursor tissues of 102 patients. All analyses were performed by SPSS 13.0 software.ResultsWe observed that the level of high USP9X expression increased gradually in the transformation from normal epithelium (4.0%), to low grade intraepithelial neoplasia (10.5%), then to high grade intraepithelial neoplasia (28.6%), and finally to invasive ESCC (40.2%). The expression of USP9X was found to be significantly different between the normal mucosa and ESCC (P < 0.001), and between low grade intraepithelial neoplasia and high grade intraepithelial neoplasia (p = 0.012). However, no difference was observed between the high expression of USP9X in normal mucosa and low grade intraepithelial neoplasia (P = 0.369), nor between high grade intraepithelial neoplasia and ESCC (p = 0.115). Interestingly, the most intensive staining for USP9X was usually observed in the basal and lower spinous layers of the esophageal epithelium with precursor lesions which often resulted in the earliest malignant lesion. USP9X expression status was positively associated with both depth of invasion (p = 0.046) and lymph node metastasis (p = 0.032). Increased USP9X expression was significantly correlated to poorer survival rate in ESCC patients (p = 0.001). When adjusted by multivariate analysis, USP9X expression (HR 2.066, P = 0.005), together with TNM stage (HR 1.702, P = 0.042) was an independent predictor for overall survival.ConclusionsUp-regulation of USP9X plays an important role in formation and progression of precancerous lesions in ESCC and USP9X expression levels were significantly correlated with the survival of ESCC patients. Thus, USP9X could be considered as a potential biomarker and prognostic predictor for ESCC.Virtual slidesThe virtual slides for this article can be found here:http://www.diagnosticpathology.diagnomx.eu/vs/1945302932102737
Lack of change in urate deposition by dual-energy computed tomography among clinically stable patients with long-standing tophaceous gout: a prospective longitudinal study
Authors: Rajan Ashwin , Aati Opetaia , Kalluru Ramanamma , Gamble Gregory D , Horne Anne , Doyle Anthony J , McQueen Fiona M , Dalbeth Nicola 
Published: October 2013

Abstract
Introduction
Dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) has potential for monitoring urate deposition in patients with gout. The aim of this prospective longitudinal study was to analyse measurement error of DECT urate volume measurement in clinically stable patients with tophaceous gout.

Methods
Seventy-three patients with tophaceous gout on stable therapy attended study visits at baseline and twelve months. All patients had a comprehensive clinical assessment including serum urate testing and DECT scanning of both feet. Two readers analysed the DECT scans for the total urate volume in both feet. Analysis included inter-reader intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) and limits of agreement, and calculation of the smallest detectable change.

Results
Mean (standard deviation) serum urate concentration over the study period was 0.38 (0.09) mmol/L. Urate-lowering therapy was prescribed in 70 (96%) patients. The median (interquartile range) baseline DECT urate volume was 0.49 (0.16, 2.18) cm3, and change in DECT urate volume was -0.01 (-0.40, 0.28) cm3. Inter-reader ICCs were 1.00 for baseline DECT volumes and 0.93 for change values. Inter-reader bias (standard deviation) for baseline volumes was -0.18 (0.63) cm3 and for change was -0.10 (0.93) cm3. The smallest detectable change was 0.91 cm3. There were 47 (64%) patients with baseline DECT urate volumes <0.91 cm3. Higher serum urate concentrations were observed in patients with increased DECT urate volumes above the smallest detectable change (P = 0.006). However, a relationship between changes in DECT urate volumes and serum urate concentrations was not observed in the entire group.

Conclusions
In patients with tophaceous gout on stable conventional urate-lowering therapy the measurement error for DECT urate volume assessment is substantially greater than the median baseline DECT volume. Analysis of patients commencing or intensifying urate-lowering therapy should clarify the optimal use of DECT as a potential outcome measure in studies of chronic gout.
Palladium-catalyzed Cycloaddition of Alkynyl Aryl Ethers to Allenes to Form a 2,3-Bismethylidene-2,3-dihydro-4H-1-benzopyran Framework
Authors: Minami Yasunori , Kanda Mayuko , Hiyama Tamejiro 
Published: October 2013

Abstract
Palladium-catalyzed cycloaddition of alkynyl aryl ethers to allenes proceeds through o-C–H activation to give 2,3-dihydro-4H-1-benzopyran derivatives containing 2,3-exo-double bonds. These benzopyran derivatives further cycloadd stereoselectively to dienophiles to give condensed polycycles.
Synthesis and Enantioselective Permeability of One-handed Helical Multihydroxy Poly(phenylacetylene) Membrane by In Situ Removal of the Original Chiral Substituents
Authors: Liu Lijia , Mottate Kazuomi , Aoki Toshiki , Kaneko Takashi , Teraguchi Masahiro 
Published: October 2013

Abstract
An insoluble chiral membrane of one-handed helical multihydroxy poly(phenylacetylene) without the coexistence of any other chiral moieties has been synthesized by in situ complete removal of a one-handed helical poly(phenylacetylene) having multihydroxymethyl groups and chiral pinanyl groups in each polymeric unit in the membrane state. Although the enantiopermselectivity was decreased, the permeability increased four times by removing the chiral groups. In comparison with the corresponding poly(phenylacetylene) having no hydroxymethyl groups and chiral pinanyl groups, the loss of enantiopermselectivity was much lower. It is believed that the multihydroxy groups could maintain the main-chain chirality or enhanced interaction with permeant.
The expression profile of miR-23b is not altered in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies
Authors: Remakova Martina , Svitalkova Tana , Skoda Marek , Vencovsky Jiri , Novota Peter 
Published: October 2013

Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) belong to a group of autoimmune disorders, primarily characterized by chronic inflammation of human skeletal muscle tissue. The etiology of these diseases is unknown, however, genetic predisposition plays a significant role in disease onset. Beside the known genetic risk located in the MHC complex, the epigenetic modifications including changes in miRNAs expression profiles have been recently implicated recently in many autoimmune diseases. Micro RNA molecules are involved in many physiological processes, including the regulation of the immune response.In our study we have focused on the miR-23b, as it represents a novel promising autoimmunity regulator molecule. Downregulation of miR-23b was recently described in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus. We have measured the expression miR-23b peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with dermatomyositis and polymyositis. No meaningful difference was found in comparison with healthy controls.
A note on the Hausdorff dimension of the singular set
for minimizers of the Mumford–Shah energy
Authors: De Lellis Camillo , Focardi Matteo , Ruffini Berardo 
Published: October 2013

Abstract
We give a more elementary proof of a result by Ambrosio, Fusco and Hutchinson to estimate
the Hausdorff dimension of the singular set of minimizers of the Mumford–Shah energy
(see [Calc. Var. Partial Differential Equations 16 (2003), no. 2, 187–215, Theorem 5.6]). On the one hand, we follow the strategy of the above mentioned paper;
but on the other hand our analysis greatly simplifies the argument since it relies
on the compactness result proved by the first two authors in [J. Math. Pures Appl. 100 (2013), 391–409, Theorem 13] for sequences of
local minimizers with vanishing gradient energy, and the regularity theory of minimal
Caccioppoli partitions, rather than on the corresponding results for Almgren's area
minimizing sets.
On the relaxation of variational integrals in metric Sobolev spaces
Authors: Anza Hafsa Omar , Mandallena Jean-Philippe 
Published: October 2013

Abstract
We give an extension of the theory of relaxation of variational integrals in classical Sobolev spaces to the setting of metric Sobolev spaces. More precisely, we establish a general framework to deal with the problem of finding an integral representation for “relaxed” variational functionals of variational integrals of the calculus of variations in the setting of metric measure spaces. We prove integral representation theorems, both in the convex and non-convex case, which extend and complete previous results in the setting of euclidean measure spaces to the setting of metric measure spaces. We also show that these integral representation theorems can be applied in the setting of Cheeger–Keith's differentiable structure.
The Effect of Language Proficiency on
Focus on Form in Doing Dictogloss Task
Authors: Bao Tianmei , Zhou Binglan , Gu Weijun 
Published: October 2013

Abstract
Focus on form has received much attention since 1991 when Long first proposed it. However,
it has been little researched in China. The present study reveals how both upper-intermediate
and lower-intermediate learners focus on form in the process of doing dictogloss. The study
was intended to find whether dictogloss is an effective focus on form task for Chinese EFL
students and whether proficiency is related to the extent to which these learners pay attention
to form. The results were compared and interpreted in relation to those of other major studies
concerning this particular area. It was found that dictogloss was an effective task for Chinese
EFL students and there did exist differences between proficiency groups, and these differences
seemed to be more complicated among Chinese EFL students.
Once More to Mendelssohn's Scotland: The Laws of Music, the Double Tonic, and the Sublimation of Modality
Authors: Gelbart Matthew 
Published: October 2013

Abstract
Many of Mendelssohn's letters and statements demonstrate his aversion to any music, including the traditions he encountered on his travels in Scotland and other destinations, when it stood outside certain aesthetic and technical teachings that in his student years he took to heart as universal axioms. Friction becomes evident between this rejection of rule-breaking styles and his Romantic desire to be connected to folk music, furthered by his visual and literary attraction to Scotland particularly. I argue that this cognitive dissonance spurred Mendelssohn to transform folk modality—real and imagined—into a personalized form in his work. A striking example is the “double tonic” effect associated with many Scottish modal melodies: the rapid alternation between outlined triads a whole step apart. Though this tool could potentially create the type of exoticism the composer tried to avoid in his mature work, he nevertheless later adapted the feature to articulate all the main cadential passages of his “Scottish” Symphony's first movement; but he found a way to rework the double tonic's inherent melodic dynamism into harmonic stasis, thus preserving the artistic laws he valued while creating a special sound at the same time. Inflecting some theories by other scholars on Mendelssohn's “Scottish” style(s), I examine how this and his other altered evocations of modality temper or even displace functional harmonic tension, and elements of this style permeate some of the composer's other works to become a topos. Nevertheless, the “Scottish” music, especially the Symphony, is more deeply affected than the other works—reflecting a unique set of circumstances.
Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Endothelial Progenitor Cells Stimulate Bone Regeneration and Mineral Density
Authors: Zigdon‐Giladi Hadar , Bick Tova , Lewinson Dina , Machtei Eli E. 
Published: October 2013

Background: Alveolar bone deficiency is a major clinical problem in maxillofacial reconstructive surgery. The available surgical techniques to enhance extracortical bone augmentation are generally unpredictable and not satisfying. The aim of the present study is to quantify extracortical bone augmentation and tissue mineral density (TMD) after cotransplantation of peripheral blood‐derived endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) by microcomputed tomography (micro‐CT).Methods: Bone regeneration was tested in the guided bone regeneration rat calvaria model. Gold domes filled with beta tricalcium phosphate (β‐TCP; control [CNT]) or β‐TCP mixed with 5 × 105 rat EPCs and 5 × 105 rat osteogenic transformed MSCs (EPC/otMSCs) were fixed to the exposed calvaria. Rats were sacrificed after 3 months. Bone volume fraction (BV/TV) and TMD were analyzed using micro‐CT. In the middle of the dome, a cylindrical region of interest was defined (it represents the area in which implants are placed) and subdivided into bottom, middle, and top to analyze the effect of the distance from the calvaria on bone formation.Results: In the whole cylinder, BV/TV and TMD were higher in the EPC/otMSC group compared with CNT (BV/TV: 22.9% ± 4.4% versus 29.1 ± 2.2%, P = 0.02; TMD: 937.79 ± 18.68 versus 960.78 ± 5.8 mgHA/ccm, P = 0.03; CNT versus EPC/otMSC, respectively). In each of the three subregions, BV/TV was higher in the EPC/otMSC group compared with CNT (top: 20.25% ± 2.4% versus 23.74% ± 1.5%, P = 0.007; middle: 23.2% ± 4.8% versus 28% ± 2.2%, P = 0.05; bottom: 25.3% ± 7.6% versus 35.7% ± 4.9%, P = 0.02; CNT versus EPC/otMSC, respectively).Conclusion: Three‐dimensional quantification by micro‐CT demonstrated that cotransplantation of EPC/otMSCs significantly improved bone formation and mineral density.
A convenient synthesis of new NSAID esters containing amino acid, urea and amide moieties
Authors: Perković Ivana , Džolić Zrinka Rajić , Zorc Branka 
Published: October 2013

Abstract
A convenient synthetic method for the preparation of novel NSAID twin esters 6a-i containing amino acid residue, urea and amide moieties has been developed. The synthetic pathway applied for the preparation of target compounds and key intermediates 1-benzotriazolecarboxylic acid chloride (1), NSAID benzotriazolides 2a-c and N-(1-benzotriazolecarbonyl)-amino acids 3a-d involved benzotriazole as a synthetic auxiliary. The final preparation step of esters 6a-i included the solvent-free reaction of compounds 2a-c with amino acid derivatives 5a-g, bearing two hydroxyl groups, one at each terminal, beside urea and amide functionalities.
Off-time higher education as a risk factor in identity formation
Authors: Educational Research Institute, War Konrad , Kaczan Radosław , Rękosiewicz Małgorzata 
Published: October 2013

Abstract
One of the important determinants of development during the transition to adulthood is the undertaking of social roles characteristic of adults, also in the area of finishing formal education, which usually coincides with beginning fulltime employment. In the study discussed in this paper, it has been hypothesized that continuing full-time education above the age of 26, a phenomenon rarely observed in Poland, can be considered as an unpunctual event that may be connected with difficulties in the process of identity formation. Relationships between identity dimensions and identity statuses, and age and educational context were analyzed. 693 individuals aged 19-35 took part in the study. The participants attended three types of educational institutions: (1) full-time university studies (BA or MA level), (2) part-time university studies (BA or MA level), and (3) full-time post-secondary school (certificate courses such as: medical rescue, massage therapy, cosmetology, occupational therapy). Among the students of full-time university studies predictable dependencies, also in respect of highlevels of indicators of identity crisis and a high frequency of diffused identity occurrence, were observed. Such dependencies were not found in the group of full-time post-secondary school students.