bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Oral Contraceptive Use and Risk of Breast, Cervical, Colorectal, and Endometrial Cancers: A Systematic Review
Authors: Gierisch Jennifer M. , Coeytaux Remy R. , Urrutia Rachel Peragallo , Havrilesky Laura J. , Moorman Patricia G. , Lowery William J. , Dinan Michaela , McBroom Amanda J. , Hasselblad Vic , Sanders Gillian D. , Myers Evan R. 
Published: September 2013

AbstractOral contraceptives may influence the risk of certain cancers. As part of the AHRQ Evidence Report, Oral Contraceptive Use for the Primary Prevention of Ovarian Cancer, we conducted a systematic review to estimate associations between oral contraceptive use and breast, cervical, colorectal, and endometrial cancer incidence. We searched PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Study inclusion criteria were women taking oral contraceptives for contraception or ovarian cancer prevention; includes comparison group with no oral contraceptive use; study reports quantitative associations between oral contraceptive exposure and relevant cancers; controlled study or pooled patient-level meta-analyses; sample size for nonrandomized studies ≥100; peer-reviewed, English-language; published from January 1, 2000 forward. Random-effects meta-analyses were conducted by estimating pooled ORs with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). We included 44 breast, 12 cervical, 11 colorectal, and 9 endometrial cancers studies. Breast cancer incidence was slightly but significantly increased in users (OR, 1.08; CI, 1.00–1.17); results show a higher risk associated with more recent use of oral contraceptives. Risk of cervical cancer was increased with duration of oral contraceptive use in women with human papillomavirus infection; heterogeneity prevented meta-analysis. Colorectal cancer (OR, 0.86; CI, 0.79–0.95) and endometrial cancer incidences (OR, 0.57; CI, 0.43–0.77) were significantly reduced by oral contraceptive use. Compared with never use, ever use of oral contraceptives is significantly associated with decreases in colorectal and endometrial cancers and increases in breast cancers. Although elevated breast cancer risk was small, relatively high incidence of breast cancers means that oral contraceptives may contribute to a substantial number of cases. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 22(11); 1931–43. ©2013 AACR.
Colorectal Adenoma Stem-like Cell Populations: Associations with Adenoma Characteristics and Metachronous Colorectal Neoplasia
Authors: Bartley Angela N. , Parikh Nila , Hsu Chiu-Hsieh , Roe Denise J. , Buckmeier Julie A. , Corley Lynda , Phipps Ron A. , Gallick Gary , Lance Peter , Thompson Patricia A. , Hamilton Stanley R. 
Published: September 2013

Abstract
Cancer stem cells have tumor-initiation and tumor-maintenance capabilities. Stem-like cells are present in colorectal adenomas, but their relationship to adenoma pathology and patient characteristics, including metachronous development of an additional adenoma (“recurrence”), has not been studied extensively. We evaluated the expression of aldehyde dehydrogenase isoform 1A1 (ALDH1A1), a putative stem cell marker, in baseline adenomas from the placebo arm of chemoprevention trial participants with colonoscopic follow-up. An exploratory set of 20 baseline adenomas was analyzed by ALDH1A1 immunohistochemistry with morphometry, and a replication set of 89 adenomas from 76 high-risk participants was evaluated by computerized image analysis. ALDH1A1-labeling indices (ALI) were similar across patient characteristics and in advanced and nonadvanced adenomas. There was a trend toward higher ALIs in adenomas occurring in the right than left colon (P = 0.09). ALIs of synchronous adenomas were correlated (intraclass correlation coefficient 0.67). Participants in both sample sets who developed a metachronous adenoma had significantly higher ALIs in their baseline adenoma than participants who remained adenoma free. In the replication set, the adjusted odds for metachronous adenoma increased 1.46 for each 10% increase in ALIs (P = 0.03). A best-fit algorithm–based cutoff point of 22.4% had specificity of 75.0% and positive predictive value of 70.0% for metachronous adenoma development. A larger population of ALDH1A1-expressing cells in an adenoma is associated with a higher risk for metachronous adenoma, independent of adenoma size or histopathology. If confirmed, ALDH1A1 has potential as a novel biomarker in risk assessment and as a potential stem cell target for chemoprevention. Cancer Prev Res; 6(11); 1162–70. ©2013 AACR.
Transient Ischemic Dilation in Patients With Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Petretta Mario , Acampa Wanda , Daniele Stefania , Petretta Maria Piera , Plaitano Monica , Cuocolo Alberto 
Published: September 2013

Background—
We prospectively evaluated the incremental prognostic value of transient ischemic dilation (TID) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus during long-term follow-up and estimated cardiac death and nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI) using traditional approaches of prognostication to more recent methods.

Methods and Results—

A total of 672 consecutive diabetic patients with available rest and stress gated myocardial perfusion single-photon emission computed tomographic data were enrolled. Stepwise Cox regression analysis was used to estimate cardiac death or nonfatal MI. Risk reclassification was calculated, and an exploratory analysis was performed to evaluate the effect of coronary revascularization on event-free survival. Adding TID to a multivariable model, including age, history of MI, stress type, poststress left ventricular ejection fraction, and stress-induced myocardial ischemia, improved discrimination of cardiac death or nonfatal MI (C statistic, 0.74–0.82;
P
=0.01; adjusted hazard ratio, 3.6;
P
<0.0001) and led to a net reclassification improvement of 0.39 (95% confidence interval, 0.14–0.64). Revascularization had a significant effect on event-free survival (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.25;
P
<0.001), with significant interactions between revascularization and poststress left ventricular ejection fraction, revascularization and stress-induced myocardial ischemia, and revascularization and TID (all
P
<0.01)

Conclusions—
TID provides independent and incremental prognostic information for the prediction of cardiac death or nonfatal MI in patients with diabetes mellitus. The addition of TID to a prediction model based on cardiovascular risk factors, left ventricular ejection fraction, and ischemia significantly improves risk discrimination and reclassification for incident cardiac events. The effect of revascularization seems to be influenced by left ventricular systolic function, stress-induced myocardial ischemia, and TID.
Endothelial Microparticle–Mediated Transfer of MicroRNA-126 Promotes Vascular Endothelial Cell Repair via SPRED1 and Is Abrogated in Glucose-Damaged Endothelial Microparticles
Authors: Jansen Felix , Yang Xiaoyan , Hoelscher Marion , Cattelan Arianna , Schmitz Theresa , Proebsting Sebastian , Wenzel Daniela , Vosen Sarah , Franklin Bernardo S. , Fleischmann Bernd K. , Nickenig Georg , Werner Nikos 
Published: September 2013

Background—
Repair of the endothelium after vascular injury is crucial for preserving endothelial integrity and preventing the development of vascular disease. The underlying mechanisms of endothelial cell repair are largely unknown. We sought to investigate whether endothelial microparticles (EMPs), released from apoptotic endothelial cells (ECs), influence EC repair.

Methods and Results—
Systemic treatment of mice with EMPs after electric denudation of the endothelium accelerated reendothelialization in vivo. In vitro experiments revealed that EMP uptake in ECs promotes EC migration and proliferation, both critical steps in endothelial repair. To dissect the underlying mechanisms, Taqman microRNA array was performed, and microRNA (miR)-126 was identified as the predominantly expressed miR in EMPs. The following experiments demonstrated that miR-126 was transported into recipient human coronary artery endothelial cells by EMPs and functionally regulated the target protein sprouty-related, EVH1 domain-containing protein 1 (SPRED1). Knockdown of miR-126 in EMPs abrogated EMP-mediated effects on human coronary artery endothelial cell migration and proliferation in vitro and reendothelialization in vivo. Interestingly, after simulating diabetic conditions, EMPs derived from glucose-treated ECs contained significantly lower amounts of miR-126 and showed reduced endothelial repair capacity in vitro and in vivo. Finally, expression analysis of miR-126 in circulating microparticles from 176 patients with stable coronary artery disease with and without diabetes mellitus revealed a significantly reduced miR-126 expression in circulating microparticles from diabetic patients.

Conclusions—
Endothelial microparticles promote vascular endothelial repair by delivering functional miR-126 into recipient cells. In pathological hyperglycemic conditions, EMP-mediated miR-126–induced EC repair is altered.
Estimating Three-Dimensional Cloud Structure via Statistically Blended Satellite Observations
Authors: Miller Steven D. , Forsythe John M. , Partain Philip T. , Haynes John M. , Bankert Richard L. , Sengupta Manajit , Mitrescu Cristian , Hawkins Jeffrey D. , Vonder Haar Thomas H. 
Published: September 2013

AbstractThe launch of the NASA CloudSat in April 2006 enabled the first satellite-based global observation of vertically resolved cloud information. However, CloudSat’s nonscanning W-band (94 GHz) Cloud Profiling Radar (CPR) provides only a nadir cross section, or “curtain,” of the atmosphere along the satellite ground track, precluding a full three-dimensional (3D) characterization and thus limiting its utility for certain model verification and cloud-process studies. This paper details an algorithm for extending a limited set of vertically resolved cloud observations to form regional 3D cloud structure. Predicated on the assumption that clouds of the same type (e.g., cirrus, cumulus, and stratocumulus) often share geometric and microphysical properties as well, the algorithm identifies cloud-type-dependent correlations and uses them to estimate cloud-base height and liquid/ice water content vertical structure. These estimates, when combined with conventional retrievals of cloud-top height, result in a 3D structure for the topmost cloud layer. The technique was developed on multiyear CloudSat data and applied to Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) swath data from the NASA Aqua satellite. Data-exclusion experiments along the CloudSat ground track show improved predictive skill over both climatology and type-independent nearest-neighbor estimates. More important, the statistical methods, which employ a dynamic range-dependent weighting scheme, were also found to outperform type-dependent near-neighbor estimates. Application to the 3D cloud rendering of a tropical cyclone is demonstrated.
Working with the grain for reforming the public service: a live example from Sierra Leone
Authors: Srivastava Vivek , Larizza Marco 
Published: September 2013

Development practitioners still lack a critical mass of empirical evidence that can help identify the set of interventions that are most likely to work, and inform the design and implementation of feasible reforms. This article contributes to filling this gap by looking at the case of the ‘Sierra Leone Pay and Performance Project’, a World Bank-supported initiative to reform the civil service. It analyzes the functional problems characterizing the civil service and discusses what factors account for the observed dysfunctions. The central argument is that the current dysfunctions might be difficult to reverse as they define a sub-optimal equilibrium which serves political purposes ( dysfunctions by design). However, politics is not all that matters. This equilibrium is further reinforced by systemic dysfunctions that may not be the consequence of any strategic design or the outcome of elite preferences ( dysfunctions by default). This is where there is scope for change, even in the short run. Accordingly, the chances of successful civil service reforms are likely to be maximized if reform initiatives support modest and incremental changes that ‘work with the grain’ of existing incentives and are consistent with government preferences. The Sierra Leone Pay and Performance Project aims to do so by adopting a limited and targeted focus on pay reform, performance management and recruitment and staffing. In addition, the use of the results-based lending instrument is expected to help mitigate the current dysfunctions by aligning the incentives of the various players and, in this way, create the conditions for greater coordination across government agencies. Although the suggested approach is not without risks, recent dynamics suggest that the chances of success are greater today than in the past. Points for practitioners The article shows how project design can be improved by identifying the functional problems underlying civil service performance, with a special focus on the interests and purposes that they serve. Such ‘prospective’ political economy analysis can inform Bank efforts to (i) identify the context-appropriate and politically salient reform solutions; (ii) design the critical path for achieving these reform objectives; and, most importantly, (iii) select the appropriate lending instrument. The Sierra Leone example also suggests that results-based lending approaches are more amenable to ‘working with the grain’ and provide a promising way forward on public service reforms in difficult political environments.
Patient-Reported Knee Function, Quality of Life, and Activity Level After Bilateral Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries
Authors: Fältström Anne , Hägglund Martin , Kvist Joanna 
Published: September 2013

Background: About 12% of patients who have undergone primary anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction sustain a contralateral ACL injury within 5 years. Purpose: To investigate patient-reported knee function, quality of life, and activity level in patients with bilateral ACL injuries. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: A search of hospital records identified 147 patients, aged 18 to 45 years, with bilateral ACL injuries. Of these, 83 met the inclusion criteria, having had their first ACL injury up to 12 years ago with no other major injuries to the knee joint. Sixty-six of these patients (80% of total; 47% female; mean age, 29.1 ± 7.2 years) answered a questionnaire packet. Patients who had undergone unilateral ACL reconstruction (n = 182) were used for comparison. Results: Patients with bilateral ACL injuries had a median Lysholm knee score of 82 (range, 34-100). The mean EuroQol index (EQ-5D) score of the overall health status was 0.77 ± 0.22, and the mean EQ-5D visual analog scale score was 75.5 ± 17.6. The median Tegner activity level was 9 (range, 1-9) before any injuries, 7 (range, 1-9) before the second ACL injury, and 4 (range, 1-9) at the time of follow-up. The activity level before the second injury was higher compared with the follow-up for patients who had undergone unilateral ACL reconstruction. At follow-up, 23% of the patients with bilateral ACL injuries returned to their previous activity, and 12% of patients returned to the same level as before their injuries compared with 43% ( P = .004) and 28% ( P = .01) in patients who had undergone unilateral ACL reconstruction, respectively. Patients with bilateral ACL injuries had significantly lower values in the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) subscales for pain, function in sports and recreation, and knee-related quality of life as well as the ACL Deficiency Quality of Life (ACL-QOL) score compared with patients who had undergone unilateral ACL reconstruction. Conclusion: Patients with bilateral ACL injuries reported poorer knee function and quality of life compared with those who had undergone unilateral ACL reconstruction. Their activities had changed, and they were dissatisfied with their current activity level. They had a high activity level before their first and second ACL injuries but an impaired activity level after their contralateral injury at follow-up.
Biomechanical Evaluation of Different Suture Techniques for Arthroscopic Transtibial Pull-out Repair of Posterior Medial Meniscus Root Tears
Authors: Feucht Matthias J. , Grande Eduardo , Brunhuber Johannes , Burgkart Rainer , Imhoff Andreas B. , Braun Sepp 
Published: September 2013

Background: A tear of the posterior medial meniscus root (PMMR) is increasingly recognized as a serious knee joint injury. Several suture techniques for arthroscopic transtibial pull-out repair have been described; however, only limited data about the biomechanical properties of these techniques are currently available. Hypothesis: There are significant differences between the tested suture techniques, with more complex suture configurations providing superior biomechanical properties. Study Design: Controlled laboratory study. Methods: A total of 40 porcine medial menisci were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 groups (10 specimens each) according to suture technique: two simple stitches (TSS), horizontal mattress suture (HMS), modified Mason-Allen suture (MMA), and two modified loop stitches (TLS). Meniscus-suture constructs were subjected to cyclic loading followed by load-to-failure testing in a servohydraulic material testing machine. Results: During cyclic loading, the HMS and TLS groups showed a significantly higher displacement after 100, 500, and 1000 cycles compared with the TSS and MMA groups. After 1000 cycles, the highest displacement was found for the TLS group, with significant differences compared with all other groups. During load-to-failure testing, the highest maximum load and yield load were observed for the MMA group, with statistically significant differences compared with the TSS and TLS groups. With regard to stiffness, the TSS and MMA groups showed significantly higher values compared with the HMS and TLS groups. Conclusion: The MMA technique provided the best biomechanical properties with regard to cyclic loading and load-to-failure testing. The TSS technique seems to be a valuable alternative. Both the HMS and TLS techniques have the disadvantage of lower stiffness and higher displacement during cyclic loading. Clinical Relevance: Using a MMA technique may improve healing rates and avoid progressive extrusion of the medial meniscus after transtibial pull-out repair of PMMR tears. The TSS technique may be used as an alternative that is easier to perform, but a more careful rehabilitation program is possibly necessary to avoid early failure.
Early detection of neutralizing antibodies to interferon-beta in multiple sclerosis patients: binding antibodies predict neutralizing antibody development
Authors: Hegen H , Millonig A , Bertolotto A , Comabella M , Giovanonni G , Guger M , Hoelzl M , Khalil M , Killestein J , Lindberg R , Malucchi S , Mehling M , Montalban X , Polman CH , Rudzki D , Schautzer F , Sellebjerg F , Sørensen PS , Deisenhammer F 
Published: September 2013

Background: Neutralizing antibodies (NAb) affect efficacy of interferon-beta (IFN-b) treatment in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. NAbs evolve in up to 44% of treated patients, usually between 6–18 months on therapy. Objectives: To investigate whether early binding antibody (BAb) titers or different IFN-b biomarkers predict NAb evolution. Methods: We included patients with MS or clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) receiving de novo IFN-b treatment in this prospective European multicenter study. Blood samples were collected at baseline, before and after the first IFN-b administration, and again after 3, 12 and 24 months on that therapy; for determination of NAbs, BAbs, gene expression of MxA and protein concentrations of MMP-9, TIMP-1, sTRAIL, CXCL-10 and CCL-2. Results: We found that 22 of 164 (13.4%) patients developed NAbs during a median time of 23.8 months on IFN-b treatment. Of these patients, 78.9% were BAb-positive after 3 months. BAb titers ≥ 1:2400 predicted NAb evolution with a sensitivity of 74.7% and a specificity of 98.5%. Cross-sectionally, MxA levels were significantly diminished in the BAb/NAb-positive samples; similarly, CXCL-10 and sTRAIL concentrations in BAb/NAb-positive and BAb-positive/NAb-negative samples, respectively, were also diminished compared to BAb/NAb-negative samples. Conclusions: BAb titers reliably predict NAbs. CXCL-10 is a promising sensitive biomarker for IFN-b response and its abrogation by anti-IFN-b antibodies.
Regulation of vascular leak and recovery from ischemic injury by general and VE-cadherin–restricted miRNA antagonists of miR-27
Authors: Young Jennifer A. , Ting Ka Ka , Li Jia , Moller Thorleif , Dunn Louise , Lu Ying , Lay Angelina J. , Moses Joshua , Prado-Lourenço Leonel , Khachigian Levon M. , Ng Martin , Gregory Philip A. , Goodall Gregory J. , Tsykin Anna , Lichtenstein Ilana , Hahn Christopher N. , Tran Nham , Shackel Nicholas , Kench James G. , McCaughan Geoffrey , Vadas Mathew A. , Gamble Jennifer R. 
Published: September 2013

Key Points
Blockmirs are designed against the miR-27 binding site in VE-cadherin and display restricted specificity. Blockmirs regulate VE-cadherin and endothelial cell junctions, inhibit edema, and promote angiogenesis associated with ischemia.
MicroRNA-146a regulates survival and maturation of human plasmacytoid dendritic cells
Authors: Karrich Julien J. , Jachimowski Loes C. M. , Libouban Marion , Iyer Anand , Brandwijk Kim , Taanman-Kueter Esther W. , Nagasawa Maho , de Jong Esther C. , Uittenbogaart Christel H. , Blom Bianca 
Published: September 2013

Key Points
MiR-146a expression is induced by TLR ligation expressed in pDCs. MiR-146a regulates pDC effector functions, including cytokine production and costimulatory capacity.
The interaction between factor H and VWF increases factor H cofactor activity and regulates VWF prothrombotic status
Authors: Rayes Julie , Roumenina Lubka T. , Dimitrov Jordan D. , Repessé Yohann , Ing Mathieu , Christophe Olivier , Jokiranta T. Sakari , Halbwachs-Mecarelli Lise , Borel-Derlon Annie , Kaveri Srinivas V. , Frémeaux-Bacchi Véronique , Lacroix-Desmazes Sébastien 
Published: September 2013

Key PointsComplement factor H and von Willebrand factor colocalize in the Weibel-Palade bodies of endothelial cells and interact in normal plasma. Formation of the complex enhances FH cofactor activity and VWF-mediated platelet aggregation.
Platelets mediate increased endothelium permeability in dengue through NLRP3-inflammasome activation
Authors: Hottz Eugenio D. , Lopes Juliana F. , Freitas Carla , Valls-de-Souza Rogério , Oliveira Marcus F. , Bozza Marcelo T. , Da Poian Andrea T. , Weyrich Andrew S. , Zimmerman Guy A. , Bozza Fernando A. , Bozza Patricia T. 
Published: September 2013

Key PointsDengue infection triggers functional inflammasome assembly in platelets. Platelets may contribute to increased vascular permeability in dengue virus infection by synthesis and release of IL-1β.
Lymphocyte cytosolic protein 1 is a chronic lymphocytic leukemia membrane-associated antigen critical to niche homing
Authors: Dubovsky Jason A. , Chappell Danielle L. , Harrington Bonnie K. , Agrawal Kitty , Andritsos Leslie A. , Flynn Joseph M. , Jones Jeffrey A. , Paulaitis Michael E. , Bolon Brad , Johnson Amy J. , Byrd John C. , Muthusamy Natarajan 
Published: September 2013

Key PointsThe authors developed a novel method for isolating tumor membrane antigens. LCP1 is functionally relevant to leukemia chemokine induced migration.