bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A review of the effectiveness of psychological interventions used for anxiety and depression in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Authors: Smith Sheree M S , Sonego Sandra , Ketcheson Leah , Larson Janet L 
Published: December 2014

BackgroundAnxiety and depression are recognised co-morbidities associated with COPD and have been related to poor health outcomes. Therapies to relieve anxiety and depression are currently not detailed in clinical guidelines.MethodsA systematic review of psychological interventions for anxiety and depression in adults with COPD was conducted. Meta-analysis utilising the random effects model was undertaken for 4 studies that employed the same psychological intervention type, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).ResultsSeven studies met the inclusion criteria. Four studies used CBT. Included studies utilised psychotherapy, uncertainty management and minimal psychological therapy. 70% of participants were male. Many studies had poor methodological quality. The meta-analysis showed a small decrease in symptoms for both anxiety (SMD −0.49, 95% CI −1.04, 0.06, P=0.08, n=193) and depression (SMD −0.37, 95% CI −0.86, 0.11, P=0.13, n=193). No change occurred when sensitivity analyses were conducted.ConclusionAnxiety and depression in COPD patients are known to impact on health outcomes. Effective psychological interventions such as CBT may assist people with COPD in reducing psychological burden. There remains a need for well-designed studies to provide substantive evidence for the use of psychological interventions in this patient population.
Productivity losses in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a population-based survey
Authors: Erdal Marta , Johannessen Ane , Askildsen Jan Erik , Eagan Tomas , Gulsvik Amund , Grønseth Rune 
Published: December 2014

ObjectivesWe aimed to estimate incremental productivity losses (sick leave and disability) of spirometry-defined chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in a population-based sample and in hospital-recruited patients with COPD. Furthermore, we examined predictors of productivity losses by multivariate analyses.MethodsWe performed four quarterly telephone interviews of 53 and 107 population-based patients with COPD and controls, as well as 102 hospital-recruited patients with COPD below retirement age. Information was gathered regarding annual productivity loss, exacerbations of respiratory symptoms and comorbidities. Incremental productivity losses were estimated by multivariate quantile median regression according to the human capital approach, adjusting for sex, age, smoking habits, education and lung function. Main effect variables were COPD/control status, number of comorbidities and exacerbations of respiratory symptoms.ResultsAltogether 55%, 87% and 31% of population-based COPD cases, controls and hospital patients, respectively, had a paid job at baseline. The annual incremental productivity losses were 5.8 (95% CI 1.4 to 10.1) and 330.6 (95% CI 327.8 to 333.3) days, comparing population-recruited and hospital-recruited patients with COPD to controls, respectively. There were significantly higher productivity losses associated with female sex and less education. Additional adjustments for comorbidities, exacerbations and FEV1% predicted explained all productivity losses in the population-based sample, as well as nearly 40% of the productivity losses in hospital-recruited patients.ConclusionsAnnual incremental productivity losses were more than 50 times higher in hospital-recruited patients with COPD than that of population-recruited patients with COPD. To ensure a precise estimation of societal burden, studies on patients with COPD should be population-based.
From integration to fusion: the challenges ahead
Authors: Sutherland J. , Townend I. H. , Harpham Q. K. , Pearce G. R. 
Published: December 2014

Abstract
The increasing complexity of numerical modelling systems in environmental sciences has led to the development of different supporting architectures. Integrated environmental modelling can be undertaken by building a ‘super model’ simulating many processes or by using a generic coupling framework to dynamically link distinct separate models during run-time. The application of systemic knowledge management to integrated environmental modelling indicates that we are at the onset of the norming stage, where gains will be made from consolidation in the range of standards and approaches that have proliferated in recent years. Consolidation is proposed in six topics: metadata for data and models; supporting information; Software-as-a-service; linking (or interface) technologies; diagnostic or reasoning tools; and the portrayal and understanding of integrated modelling. Consolidation in these topics will develop model fusion: the ability to link models, with easy access to information about the models, interface standards such as OpenMI and software tools to make integration easier. For this to happen, an open software architecture will be crucial, the use of open source software is likely to increase and a community must develop that values openness and the sharing of models and data as much as its publications and citation records.
Practical concurrent binary search trees via logical ordering
Authors: Drachsler Dana , Vechev Martin , Yahav Eran 
Published: December 2014

We present practical, concurrent binary search tree (BST) algorithms that explicitly maintain logical ordering information in the data structure, permitting clean separation from its physical tree layout. We capture logical ordering using intervals, with the property that an item belongs to the tree if and only if the item is an endpoint of some interval. We are thus able to construct efficient, synchronization-free and intuitive lookup operations. We present (i) a concurrent non-balanced BST with a lock-free lookup, and (ii) a concurrent AVL tree with a lock-free lookup that requires no synchronization with any mutating operations, including balancing operations. Our algorithms apply on-time deletion; that is, every request for removal of a node, results in its immediate removal from the tree. This new feature did not exist in previous concurrent internal tree algorithms.
We implemented our concurrent BST algorithms and evaluated them against several state-of-the-art concurrent tree algorithms. Our experimental results show that our algorithms with lock-free contains and on-time deletion are practical and often comparable to the state-of-the-art.
Diode Laser for the Treatment of Telangiectasias following Hemangioma Involution
Authors: Cerrati Eric W. , O Teresa M. , Chung Hoyun , Waner Milton 
Published: December 2014

ObjectiveInfantile hemangiomas are well known for their rapid growth during the first 6 to 9 months of life, followed by a spontaneous but slow involution. The standard of care is to treat these lesions at an early age with propranolol to expedite the involution process; however, surgery still remains an active component in the management. Medical treatment with propranolol or natural involution will often result in residual telangiectasias. We evaluated the efficacy of using a diode laser as a treatment for telangiectasias following cervicofacial infantile hemangioma involution.Study DesignCase series with chart review.SettingTertiary care hospital and practice specializing in the care of vascular anomalies.Subjects and MethodsTwenty patients, aged 4 months to 11 years (average 2.69 years), underwent treatment with a 532‐nm diode laser to treat the residual telangiectasias following hemangioma involution. All procedures were performed in the operating room. To assess the efficacy, we independently evaluated pre‐ and posttreatment digital photographs and ranked them on a 0‐ to 4‐point scale (0 = no change and 4 = complete response). Adverse reactions were also recorded.ResultsThe telangiectasias showed considerable improvement following treatment. In more than half of the patients treated, the affected area demonstrated a complete response. No adverse reactions were noted.ConclusionA 532‐nm diode laser effectively treats the remaining telangiectasias following hemangioma involution. Whether used independently or in conjunction with other treatment modalities, the diode laser should be part of the surgical armamentarium when treating infantile hemangiomas.
A Population‐Based Study on the Association between Statin Use and Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Authors: Chung Shiu‐Dong , Chen Chao‐Hung , Hung Shih‐Han , Lin Herng‐Ching , Wang Li‐Hsuan 
Published: December 2014

ObjectivesNo study has reported the relationship between statin use and sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL). In this study, we examined the association between statin use and SSNHL using a population‐based dataset.Study DesignA case‐control study.SettingTaiwan.Subjects and MethodsThe study sample was selected from the Taiwan Longitudinal Health Insurance Database. We identified 1263 subjects aged ≥40 years with SSNHL and 6315 sex‐, age‐, hypertension‐, and coronary heart disease–matched controls. We used conditional logistic regression to compute the odds ratio (OR) for having been a previous statin user between cases and controls. Furthermore, we performed conditional logistic regression to explore the relationship of regular and irregular statin users with SSNHL.ResultsThere was a significant difference in the prevalence of statin use between cases and controls (27.2% vs 21.3%, respectively; P <. 001). The OR of statin use before the index date for cases was 1.36 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.18‐1.57) compared to controls after taking gender, age group, hypertension, coronary heart disease, diabetes, renal disease, and hyperlipidemia into consideration. Furthermore, compared to controls, the adjusted ORs of regular and irregular statin use for cases were 1.30 (95% CI, 1.11‐1.52) and 1.49 (95% CI, 1.11‐1.93), respectively, compared to controls.ConclusionThis study found that SSNHL was significantly associated with previous statin use.
Simulating the Nasal Cycle with Computational Fluid Dynamics
Authors: Patel Ruchin G. , Garcia Guilherme J. M. , Frank‐Ito Dennis O. , Kimbell Julia S. , Rhee John S. 
Published: December 2014

Objectives(1) To develop a method to account for the confounding effect of the nasal cycle when comparing preoperative and postoperative objective measures of nasal patency. (2) To illustrate this method by reporting objective measures derived from computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models spanning the full range of mucosal engorgement associated with the nasal cycle in 2 subjects.Study DesignRetrospective.SettingAcademic tertiary medical center.Subjects and MethodsA cohort of 24 patients with nasal airway obstruction was reviewed to select the 2 patients with the greatest reciprocal change in mucosal engorgement between preoperative and postoperative computed tomography (CT) scans. Three‐dimensional anatomic models were created based on the preoperative and postoperative CT scans. Nasal cycling models were also created by gradually changing the thickness of the inferior turbinate, middle turbinate, and septal swell body. Moreover, CFD was used to simulate airflow and to calculate nasal resistance and the average heat flux.ResultsBefore accounting for the nasal cycle, patient A appeared to have a paradoxical worsening nasal obstruction in the right cavity postoperatively. After accounting for the nasal cycle, patient A had small improvements in objective measures postoperatively. The magnitude of the surgical effect also differed in patient B after accounting for the nasal cycle.ConclusionBy simulating the nasal cycle and comparing models in similar congestive states, surgical changes in nasal patency can be distinguished from physiological changes associated with the nasal cycle. This ability can lead to more precise comparisons of preoperative and postoperative objective measures and potentially more accurate virtual surgery planning.
Geriatric and physically oriented rehabilitation improves the ability of independent living and physical rehabilitation reduces mortality: a randomised comparison of 538 patients
Authors: Lahtinen Antti , Leppilahti Juhana , Harmainen Samppa , Sipilä Jaakko , Antikainen Riitta , Seppänen Maija-Liisa , Willig Reeta , Vähänikkilä Hannu , Ristiniemi Jukka , Rissanen Pekka , Jalovaara Pekka 
Published: December 2014

Objective: To examine effects of physical and geriatric rehabilitation on institutionalisation and mortality after hip fracture. Design: Prospective randomised study. Setting: Physically oriented (187 patients), geriatrically oriented (171 patients), and health centre hospital rehabilitation (180 patients, control group). Subjects: A total of 538 consecutively, independently living patients with non-pathological hip fracture. Main measures: Patients were evaluated on admission, at 4 and 12 months for social status, residential status, walking ability, use of walking aids, pain in the hip, activities of daily living (ADL) and mortality. Results: Mortality was significantly lower at 4 and 12 months in physical rehabilitation (3.2%, 8.6%) than in geriatric rehabilitation group (9.6%, 18.7%, P=0.026, P=0.005, respectively) or control group (10.6%, 19.4%, P=0.006, P=0.004, respectively). At 4 months more patients in physical (84.4%) and geriatric rehabilitation group (78.0%) were able to live at home or sheltered housing than in control group (71.9%, P=0.0012 and P<0.001, respectively). No significant difference was found between physical rehabilitation and geriatric rehabilitation ( P=0.278). Analysis of femoral neck and trochanteric fractures showed that significant difference was true only for femoral neck fractures (physical rehabilitation vs geriatric rehabilitation P=0.308, physical rehabilitation vs control group P<0,001 and geriatric rehabilitation vs control group P<0.001). Effects of intensified rehabilitations disappeared at 12 months. No impact on walking ability or ADL functions was observed. Conclusions: Physical rehabilitation reduced mortality. Physical and geriatric rehabilitation significantly improved the ability of independent living after 4 months especially among the femoral neck fracture patients but this effect could not be seen after 12 months.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament and Knee Injury Prevention Programs for Soccer Players
Authors: Grimm Nathan L. , Jacobs John C. , Kim Jaewhan , Denney Brandon S. , Shea Kevin G. 
Published: December 2014

Background: Soccer has one of the highest incidences of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries for both males and females. Several injury prevention programs have been developed to address this concern. However, an analysis of the pooled effect has yet to be elicited. Purpose: To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of ACL and knee injury prevention programs for soccer players, assess the heterogeneity among the studies, and evaluate the reported effectiveness of the prevention programs. Study Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods: A systematic search of the literature was conducted on PubMed (Medline), Embase, CINAHL, and Central-Cochrane Database. Studies were limited to randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of injury prevention programs specific to the knee and/or ACL in soccer players. The Cochrane Q test and I2 index were independently used to assess heterogeneity among the studies. The pooled risk difference, assessing knee and/or ACL injury rates between intervention and control groups, was calculated by random-effects models with use of the DerSimonian-Laird method. Publication bias was assessed with a funnel plot and Egger weighted regression technique. Results: Nine studies met the inclusion criteria as RCTs. A total of 11,562 athletes were included, of whom 7889 were analyzed for ACL-specific injuries. Moderate heterogeneity was found among studies of knee injury prevention ( P = .041); however, there was insignificant variation found among studies of ACL injury prevention programs ( P = .222). For studies of knee injury prevention programs, the risk ratio was 0.74 (95% CI, 0.55-0.89), and a significant reduction in risk of knee injury was found in the prevention group ( P = .039). For studies of ACL injury prevention programs, the risk ratio was 0.66 (95% CI, 0.33-1.32), and a nonsignificant reduction in risk of ACL injury was found in the prevention group ( P = .238). No evidence of publication bias was found among studies of either knee or ACL injury prevention programs. Conclusion: This systematic review and meta-analysis of ACL and knee injury prevention program studies found a statistically significant reduction in injury risk for knee injuries but did not find a statistically significant reduction of ACL injuries.
Cost-effectiveness Analysis of the Diagnosis of Meniscus Tears
Authors: Mather Richard C. , Garrett William E. , Cole Brian J. , Hussey Kristen , Bolognesi Michael P. , Lassiter Tally , Orlando Lori A. 
Published: December 2014

Background: Diagnostic imaging represents the fastest growing segment of costs in the US health system. This study investigated the cost-effectiveness of alternative diagnostic approaches to meniscus tears of the knee, a highly prevalent disease that traditionally relies on MRI as part of the diagnostic strategy. Purpose: To identify the most efficient strategy for the diagnosis of meniscus tears. Study Design: Economic and decision analysis; Level of evidence, 1. Methods: A simple-decision model run as a cost-utility analysis was constructed to assess the value added by MRI in various combinations with patient history and physical examination (H&P). The model examined traumatic and degenerative tears in 2 distinct settings: primary care and orthopaedic sports medicine clinic. Strategies were compared using the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER). Results: In both practice settings, H&P alone was widely preferred for degenerative meniscus tears. Performing MRI to confirm a positive H&P was preferred for traumatic tears in both practice settings, with a willingness to pay of less than US$50,000 per quality-adjusted life-year. Performing an MRI for all patients was not preferred in any reasonable clinical scenario. The prevalence of a meniscus tear in a clinician’s patient population was influential. For traumatic tears, MRI to confirm a positive H&P was preferred when prevalence was less than 46.7%, with H&P preferred above that. For degenerative tears, H&P was preferred until the prevalence reaches 74.2%, and then MRI to confirm a negative was the preferred strategy. In both settings, MRI to confirm positive physical examination led to more than a 10-fold lower rate of unnecessary surgeries than did any other strategy, while MRI to confirm negative physical examination led to a 2.08 and 2.26 higher rate than H&P alone in primary care and orthopaedic clinics, respectively. Conclusion: For all practitioners, H&P is the preferred strategy for the suspected degenerative meniscus tear. An MRI to confirm a positive H&P is preferred for traumatic tears for all practitioners. Consideration should be given to implementing alternative diagnostic strategies as well as enhancing provider education in physical examination skills to improve the reliability of H&P as a diagnostic test. Clinical Relevance: Alternative diagnostic strategies that do not include the use of MRI may result in decreased health care costs without harm to the patient and could possibly reduce unnecessary procedures.
Meniscal Root Tears
Authors: LaPrade Christopher M. , James Evan W. , Cram Tyler R. , Feagin John A. , Engebretsen Lars , LaPrade Robert F. 
Published: December 2014

Background: Meniscal root tears present in many forms and can have profound consequences on the health of knee articular cartilage. While the biomechanics, natural history, and treatment of root tears have been increasingly investigated, the spectrum of meniscal root tear patterns observed during arthroscopic examination has yet to be defined and categorized. Purpose: To establish a classification system for meniscal root tears by reporting the morphology of meniscal root tears from a consecutive series of arthroscopic surgeries. It was hypothesized that meniscal root tears could be grouped into types by distinct tear patterns and that recognition of tear pattern would affect treatment choice. Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: All patients who underwent arthroscopic surgery from April 2010 to May 2014 by a single orthopaedic surgeon were included. After arthroscopic examination, data regarding the integrity of the meniscal roots were prospectively recorded in a data registry. Tear morphology and treatment received were subsequently extracted by 2 independent reviewers from operative notes and arthroscopic surgical photos. Results: A total of 71 meniscal root tears in 67 patients were grouped into tear types with similar tear morphologies. Meniscal root tear patterns were categorized into partial stable root tears (type 1; n = 5); complete radial tears within 9 mm of the bony root attachment (type 2; n = 48), further subclassified into types 2A, 2B, and 2C, located 0 to <3 mm, 3 to <6 mm, and 6 to 9 mm from the root attachment, respectively; bucket-handle tears with a complete root detachment (type 3; n = 4); complex oblique tears with complete root detachments extending into the root attachment (type 4; n = 7); and bony avulsion fractures of the root attachments (type 5; n = 7). Conclusion: This study demonstrated that it was possible to establish a concise classification system to group patients with meniscal root tears by tear morphology. Treatments received varied across tear types.
Amlodipine Passage into Breast Milk in Lactating Women with Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension and Its Estimation of Infant Risk for Breastfeeding
Authors: Naito Takafumi , Kubono Naoko , Deguchi Shuhei , Sugihara Masahisa , Itoh Hiroaki , Kanayama Naohiro , Kawakami Junichi 
Published: December 2014

Background: Few clinical reports have been published on amlodipine passage into breast milk in lactating women. Objectives: The aims of this study were to evaluate the plasma concentration of amlodipine and its passage into breast milk in lactating women with pregnancy-induced hypertension and to estimate the risk for breastfeeding infants. Methods: Thirty-one lactating women receiving oral amlodipine once daily for pregnancy-induced hypertension were enrolled. Pre-dose plasma and milk concentrations of amlodipine were determined at day 6 or later after starting the medication. Relative infant dose (RID) as an infant risk for breastfeeding was calculated by dividing the infant dose via milk by the maternal dose. Results: The mean maternal dose of amlodipine was 6.0 mg. The medians of the plasma and milk concentrations of amlodipine were 15.5 and 11.5 ng/mL, respectively. Interindividual variation was observed in the amlodipine dose and body weight–adjusted milk concentrations (interquartile range [IQR], 96.7-205 ng/mL per mg/kg). The median and IQR of the amlodipine concentration ratio of milk to plasma were 0.85 and 0.74 to 1.08, respectively. The medians of infant birth weight and daily amlodipine dose via milk were 2170 g and 4.2 μg/kg, respectively. The median of the RID of amlodipine was 4.2% (IQR, 3.1%-7.3%). Conclusion: Lactating women with pregnancy-induced hypertension had higher plasma concentrations of amlodipine during the early postpartum period. Oral amlodipine transferred into breast milk at the same level as that of plasma. However, the RID of amlodipine in most patients was less than 10%.