bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The effect of pregnancy on venous valve repair to the sapheno-femoral junction for varicose veins
Authors: Dijkstra Martijn L , Khin Nyan Y , Coroneos John C , Hazelton Stuart , Lane Rodney J 
Published: March 2014

Objectives: Pregnancy represents a special situation where both the mechanical and hormonal instigating factors of varicose veins are reversible with the venous valve cusps preserved. Exostent venous valve repairs are a physiological alternative which minimises stimulus to collateral growth (recurrence). The study purpose was to assess the effect of pregnancy on the durability of valve repairs. Methods: In a prospective study of 36 limbs, 20 young females (30 ± 4.7 years) had an exostent implanted to the terminal valve of the saphenofemoral junction for varicose veins. At routine long-term follow up (9.7 ± 3.8 years), 38 pregnancies were completed (mean: 1.8, range: 1–4). The controls were a non-pregnant group of limbs ( n = 386). Results: At 9.7 years, the internal diameter of the greater saphenous vein (GSV) changed from 7.8 ± 2.8 mm preoperatively to 4.5 ± 1.4 mm post-operatively. Recurrence was associated with reflux, preoperative deep system and ovarian vein involvement. Pregnancy induced 33.3% recurrences compared with non-pregnant controls (4.7%) similarly treated or 22.8% compared with non-pregnant ablative controls. At 9.7 years, symptomatic improvement continued with significantly better CEAP status (described later) (31CSEAP preoperative to 6CSEAP) with no further truncal ablation (strip, laser) required. Conclusions: Venous valve repairs can withstand the special stresses of pregnancy. There is no need to ablate the GSV. This approach is contrary to the traditional dictum; the treatment of varicose veins should be delayed until the family is completed.
Risk adjustment of health-care performance measures in a multinational register-based study: A pragmatic approach to a complicated topic
Authors: Moger Tron Anders , Peltola Mikko 
Published: March 2014

Objectives: Health-care performance comparisons across countries are gaining popularity. In such comparisons, the risk adjustment methodology plays a key role for meaningful comparisons. However, comparisons may be complicated by the fact that not all participating countries are allowed to share their data across borders, meaning that only simple methods are easily used for the risk adjustment. In this study, we develop a pragmatic approach using patient-level register data from Finland, Hungary, Italy, Norway, and Sweden. Methods: Data on acute myocardial infarction patients were gathered from health-care registers in several countries. In addition to unadjusted estimates, we studied the effects of adjusting for age, gender, and a number of comorbidities. The stability of estimates for 90-day mortality and length of stay of the first hospital episode following diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction is studied graphically, using different choices of reference data. Logistic regression models are used for mortality, and negative binomial models are used for length of stay. Results: Results from the sensitivity analysis show that the various models of risk adjustment give similar results for the countries, with some exceptions for Hungary and Italy. Based on the results, in Finland and Hungary, the 90-day mortality after acute myocardial infarction is higher than in Italy, Norway, and Sweden. Conclusion: Health-care registers give encouraging possibilities to performance measurement and enable the comparison of entire patient populations between countries. Risk adjustment methodology is affected by the availability of data, and thus, the building of risk adjustment methodology must be transparent, especially when doing multinational comparative research. In that case, even basic methods of risk adjustment may still be valuable.
A Reevaluation of the Effectiveness of Homoeoprophylaxis Against Leptospirosis in Cuba in 2007 and 2008
Authors: Golden Isaac , Bracho Gustavo 
Published: March 2014

Objectives: In 2007 and 2008, Cuban health officials conducted large homoeoprophylaxis interventions against rising rates of leptospirosis caused by extensive hurricane damage. Published results showed that the interventions were highly successful, but some questions regarding possible confounders were raised. The objective of this research was to assess the influence of potential confounders on initial results. Design: Weekly leptospirosis reporting data entries for 9 years were checked to ensure data consistency. Some errors in weekly reports for 2000-2008 were discovered, and corrected, and the changes incorporated in this analysis. The corrected data was reanalyzed to investigate the impact of potential confounders. Results: New analyses of the timing and extent of vaccination and chemoprophylaxis in 2007 and 2008 and changes in leptospirosis notifications were presented. Conclusions: The results support the previous conclusions that homoeoprophylaxis can be used to effectively immunize people against targeted infectious diseases such as leptospirosis.
Biology of tissue factor pathway inhibitor
Authors: Wood Jeremy P. , Ellery Paul E. R. , Maroney Susan A. , Mast Alan E. 
Published: March 2014

AbstractRecent studies of the anticoagulant activities of the tissue factor (TF) pathway inhibitor (TFPI) isoforms, TFPIα and TFPIβ, have provided new insight into the biochemical and physiological mechanisms that underlie bleeding and clotting disorders. TFPIα and TFPIβ have tissue-specific expression patterns and anticoagulant activities. An alternative splicing event in the 5′ untranslated region allows for translational regulation of TFPIβ expression. TFPIα has 3 Kunitz-type inhibitor domains (K1, K2, K3) and a basic C terminus, whereas TFPIβ has the K1 and K2 domains attached to a glycosylphosphatidyl inositol–anchored C terminus. TFPIα is the only isoform present in platelets, whereas endothelial cells produce both isoforms, secreting TFPIα and expressing TFPIβ on the cell surface. TFPIα and TFPIβ inhibit both TF–factor VIIa–dependent factor Xa (FXa) generation and free FXa. Protein S enhances FXa inhibition by TFPIα. TFPIα produces isoform-specific inhibition of prothrombinase during the initiation of coagulation, an anticoagulant activity that requires an exosite interaction between its basic C terminus and an acidic region in the factor Va B domain. Platelet TFPIα may be optimally localized to dampen initial thrombin generation. Similarly, endothelial TFPIβ may be optimally localized to inhibit processes that occur when endothelial TF is present, such as during the inflammatory response.
HHV-8-negative, idiopathic multicentric Castleman disease: novel insights into biology, pathogenesis, and therapy
Authors: Fajgenbaum David C. , van Rhee Frits , Nabel Christopher S. 
Published: March 2014

Abstract
Multicentric Castleman's disease (MCD) describes a heterogeneous group of disorders involving proliferation of morphologically benign lymphocytes due to excessive proinflammatory hypercytokinemia, most notably of interleukin-6. Patients demonstrate intense episodes of systemic inflammatory symptoms, polyclonal lymphocyte and plasma cell proliferation, autoimmune manifestations, and organ system impairment. Human herpes virus-8 (HHV-8) drives the hypercytokinemia in all HIV-positive patients and some HIV-negative patients. There is also a group of HIV-negative and HHV-8-negative patients with unknown etiology and pathophysiology, which we propose referring to as idiopathic MCD (iMCD). Here, we synthesize what is known about iMCD pathogenesis, present a new subclassification system, and propose a model of iMCD pathogenesis. MCD should be subdivided into HHV-8-associated MCD and HHV-8-negative MCD or iMCD. The lymphocyte proliferation, histopathology, and systemic features in iMCD are secondary to hypercytokinemia, which can occur with several other diseases. We propose that 1 or more of the following 3 candidate processes may drive iMCD hypercytokinemia: systemic inflammatory disease mechanisms via autoantibodies or inflammatory gene mutations, paraneoplastic syndrome mechanisms via ectopic cytokine secretion, and/or a non-HHV-8 virus. Urgent priorities include elucidating the process driving iMCD hypercytokinemia, identifying the hypercytokine-secreting cell, developing consensus criteria for diagnosis, and building a patient registry to track cases.
The impact of a weight reduction program with and without meal-replacement on health related quality of life in middle-aged obese females
Authors: Koohkan Sadaf , Schaffner Denise , Milliron Brandy J , Frey Ingrid , König Daniel , Deibert Peter , Vitolins Mara , Berg Aloys 
Published: March 2014

Abstract

Background
In addition to an increased risk for chronic illnesses, obese individuals suffer from social stigmatization and discrimination, and severely obese people may experience greater risk of impaired psychosocial and physical functioning. Lower health-related quality of life (HRQOL) has been reported among obese persons seeking intensive treatment for their disease. To aid in the treatment of obesity, meal replacements have been recommended as an effective therapeutic strategy for weight loss, particularly when consumed in the beginning of an intervention. Hence, the objective of this study was to assess the impact of two 12-month weight reduction interventions (one arm including a meal replacement) on changes in HRQOL among obese females.

Methods
This controlled trial compared two versions of a standardized 12-month weight reduction intervention: the weight-reduction lifestyle program without a meal replacement (LS) versus the same lifestyle program with the addition of a soy-based meal replacement product (LSMR). 380 women (LS: n = 190, LSMR: n = 190) were matched by age, gender, and weight (51.4 ± 7.0 yrs., 35.5 ± 3.03 kg/m2). This sample of women all completed the 12-month lifestyle intervention that was part of a larger study. The lifestyle intervention included instruction on exercise/sport, psychology, nutrition, and medicine in 18 theoretical and 40 practical units. Led by a sport physiologist, participants engaged in group-based exercise sessions once or twice a week. To evaluate HRQOL, all participants completed the SF-36 questionnaire pre- and post-intervention. Anthropometric, clinical, physical performance (ergometric stress tests), and self-reported leisure time physical activity (hours/day) data were collected.

Results
The LSMR sample showed lower baseline HRQOL scores compared to the LS sample in six of eight HRQOL dimensions, most significant in vitality and health perception (p < 0.01). After the intervention, body weight was reduced in both lifestyle intervention groups (LS: -6.6±6.6 vs. LSMR -7.6±7.9 kg), however, weight loss and HRQOL improvements were more pronounced in the LSMR sample (LSMR: seven of eight, LS: four of eight dimensions).

Conclusions
Our results show that HRQOL may improve among middle-aged obese females during a standardized lifestyle weight reduction program and may be enhanced by consuming a soy-based meal replacement product.

Trial registration
ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00356785
Village health volunteers’ social capital related to their performance in Lao People’s Democratic Republic: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Sato Yu , Pongvongsa Tiengkham , Nonaka Daisuke , Kounnavong Sengchanh , Nansounthavong Phetsomphone , Moji Kazuhiko , Phongmany Panom , Kamiya Yasuhiko , Sato Miho , Kobayashi Jun 
Published: March 2014

Abstract

Background
Improving the performance of community health workers (CHWs) is a global issue. The relationship between CHWs and their community may impact their performance. In Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), CHW are called village health volunteers (VHV). Lao PDR has a problem with VHV inactivity, especially in rural areas. This study focused on which aspects of social capital are related to VHV performance.

Methods
This research represents a cross-sectional study with a quantitative survey based primarily on interviews using a semi-structured questionnaire. Interviews were conducted with 149 VHVs living and working in the Sepon District. VHV performance evaluation was measured with scores on a 5-point scale, and the cutoff point for designating performance as good or poor was set at the median score. This evaluation of VHV performance was conducted as a self-evaluation by VHVs and by health center staff who were supervisors of the VHVs. Measurement of social capital was accomplished using the short version of the Adapted Social Capital Assessment Tool (SASCAT). For statistical analyses, logistic regression was used to calculate adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI).

Results
The results of multiple logistic regression adjusted by moderator variables showed that citizenship activities in the structural social capital component of SASCAT were significantly related to performance in self-evaluation by VHVs (adjusted OR: 2.10, 95% CI: 1.19-3.71) and the evaluations by health center staff (adjusted OR: 1.67, 95% CI: 1.01-2.77). Support from groups (adjusted OR: 1.87, 95% CI: 1.27-2.76) and cognitive social capital (adjusted OR: 7.48, 95% CI: 2.14-26.10) were found to be significantly associated but only for VHV self-evaluation.

Conclusions
The results suggest that individuals who interact with important figures in the community and who cooperate with other villagers whenever problems arise, i.e., have social capital, exhibit good performance as VHVs. These findings suggest that increasing citizenship activities could increase the retention rate of CHWs and help improve their performance. Citizenship activities could also be used as a predictive indicator when selecting new CHWs.
Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel Expression in Mouse DRG after SNI Leads to Re-Evaluation of Projections of Injured Fibers
Authors: Laedermann Cédric J , Pertin Marie , Suter Marc R , Decosterd Isabelle 
Published: March 2014

Background: Dysregulation of voltage-gated sodium channels (Navs) is believed to play a major role in nerve fiber hyperexcitability associated with neuropathic pain. A complete transcriptional characterization of the different isoforms of Navs under normal and pathological conditions had never been performed on mice, despite their widespread use in pain research. Navs mRNA levels in mouse dorsal root ganglia (DRG) were studied in the spared nerve injury (SNI) and spinal nerve ligation (SNL) models of neuropathic pain. In the SNI model, injured and non-injured neurons were intermingled in lumbar DRG, which were pooled to increase the tissue available for experiments. Results: A strong downregulation was observed for every Navs isoform expressed except for Nav1.2; even Nav1.3, known to be upregulated in rat neuropathic pain models, was lower in the SNI mouse model. This suggests differences between these two species. In the SNL model, where the cell bodies of injured and non-injured fibers are anatomically separated between different DRG, most Navs were observed to be downregulated in the L5 DRG receiving axotomized fibers. Transcription was then investigated independently in the L3, L4 and L5 DRG in the SNI model, and an important downregulation of many Navs isoforms was observed in the L3 DRG, suggesting the presence of numerous injured neurons there after SNI. Consequently, the proportion of axotomized neurons in the L3, L4 and L5 DRG after SNI was characterized by studying the expression of activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3). Using this marker of nerve injury confirmed that most injured fibers find their cell bodies in the L3 and L4 DRG after SNI in C57BL/6 J mice; this contrasts with their L4 and L5 DRG localization in rats. The spared sural nerve, through which pain hypersensitivity is measured in behavioral studies, mostly projects into the L4 and L5 DRG. Conclusions: The complex regulation of Navs, together with the anatomical rostral shift of the DRG harboring injured fibers in C57BL/6 J mice, emphasize that caution is necessary and preliminary anatomical experiments should be carried out for gene and protein expression studies after SNI in mouse strains.
Noncovalent Functionalization of Graphene with Spiropyran Molecular Switches via a Specially Designed Perylenediimide Adsorption Anchor
Authors: Song Yawei , He Jingwen , Peng Chang , Hu Ding , Ou Encai , Li Yefei , Peng Hua , Bao Lin , Shu Chen , Gao Tao , Xu Weijian 
Published: March 2014

Abstract
A spiropyran derivative, which is a well-known photochromic molecule, is attached noncovalently to graphene via a specially designed perylenediimide adsorption anchor group. To explore the feasibility of functionalization, several characterizations were used to prove the π–π interaction between graphene and spiropyran–perylenediimide. This facile and effective noncovalent functionalization strategy provides a new way of introducing various functional molecules to graphene without disturbing its electronic network. The graphene hybrid shows excellent switching ability after modification with spiropyran derivative; furthermore, the switching performance is stable over many cycles. This hybrid has potential application in optical electronic devices and sensors.
Methods of adaptation of the OpenTS parallel programming system runtime for the hybrid computing clusters.
Authors: Осипов Валерий , Osipov Valeriy , Матвеев Герман , Matveev German , Кузнецов Антон , Kuznetsov Anton , Роганов Владимир , Roganov Vladimir 
Published: March 2014

Methods of adaptation of the OpenTS parallel programming system
runtime for the hybrid computing clusters.
Weekly and 90-Minute Biological Variations in Cardiac Troponin T and Cardiac Troponin I in Hemodialysis Patients and Healthy Controls
Authors: Aakre Kristin M , Røraas Thomas , Petersen Per Hyltoft , Svarstad Einar , Sellevoll Hilde , Skadberg Øyvind , Sæle Kristin , Sandberg Sverre 
Published: March 2014

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Myocardial infarction (MI) is diagnosed by the finding of a single cardiac troponin value above the 99th percentile and a significant time-dependent change in cardiac troponin concentration. The aim of this study was to determine the 90-min and weekly biological variations, the reference change value (RCV), and the index of individuality (II) of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) (Roche Diagnostics) and hs-cTnI (Abbott Diagnostics) in patients receiving hemodialysis (HD) and in healthy individuals.

METHOD
Blood samples were collected from 19 HD patients (on an HD-free day) and 20 healthy individuals at 90-min intervals over a 6-h period (between 08:30 and 14:30) and before the midweek HD treatment for 10 weeks. The within-person variation (CVi), between-person variation, RCV, and II were calculated.

RESULTS
During the 6-h sampling period, the concentrations of hs-cTnT (both groups) and hs-cTnI (HD patients only) decreased on average by 0.8% to 1.7% per hour, respectively. These declining trends were included in the calculation of a 90-min asymmetric RCV: −8%/+5% in HD patients (hs-cTnT), −18%/+21% in HD patients (hs-cTnI), −27%/+29% in healthy individuals (hs-cTnT), and −39%/+64% in healthy individuals (hs-cTnI). The II was low in both groups for both assays. The weekly CVi values were approximately 8% (hs-cTnT) and 15% (hs-cTnI) in both groups.

CONCLUSIONS
When using a cardiac troponin change of 20%–50% to diagnose an MI, the false-positive rate is likely to be lower for the hs-cTnT assay than for the hs-cTnI assay. The low II suggests that use of a diagnostic cutoff value can be omitted.
Influence of cellulose supramolecular structure on strength properties of chemical pulp
Authors: Larsson Per Tomas , Salmén Lennart 
Published: March 2014

Abstract
The industrially produced chemical pulps have lower strength properties than those obtained under laboratory conditions, and this difference is referred to as the strength delivery (SD) problem. In this study, the hypothesis was put forward that the SD could, at least in part, be accounted for by the supramolecular structure of the cellulose microfibrils of the fiber wall. To test the hypothesis, two bleached softwood kraft pulps (BSKP) were manufactured from the same starting material with different degrees of cellulose aggregation, but the pulps were otherwise as similar as possible in other controllable respects. The chemical and physical properties, including the pulp strength, were tested. A selective increase of the degree of cellulose microfibril aggregation resulted in a pulp with a decreased tear index (TI) at a specified tensile index, and this decrease was similar in magnitude to what is typically encountered in SD. Accordingly, the current experimental study succeeded in mimicking the SD problem. The lateral fibril aggregate dimensions (LFAD) seem to play a pivotal role and it can be safely concluded in general that the supramolecular structure of cellulose in the fibers may be an important factor contributing to the SD problem.
Atypical Rho GTPases RhoD and Rif integrate cytoskeletal dynamics and membrane trafficking
Authors: Aspenström Pontus 
Published: March 2014

Abstract
The Rho GTPases are essential regulators of basic cellular processes, including cell migration, cell contraction and cell division. Most studies still involve just the three canonical members, RhoA, Rac1 and Cdc42, although the Rho GTPases comprise at least 20 members. The aim of this review is to highlight some of the recent advances in our knowledge regarding the less-studied Rho members, with the focus on RhoD and Rif. The phenotypic alterations to cell behaviour that are triggered by RhoD and Rif suggest that they have unique impacts on cytoskeletal dynamics that distinguish them from the well-studied members of the Rho GTPases. In addition, RhoD has a role in the regulation of intracellular transport of vesicles. Taken together, the available data indicate that RhoD and Rif have functions as master regulators in the integration of cytoskeletal reorganisation and membrane trafficking.
An Evaluation of Mental Health Simulation with Standardized Patients
Authors: Doolen Jessica , Giddings Michelle , Johnson Michael , Guizado de Nathan Gigi , O Badia Lysander 
Published: March 2014

AbstractInterviewing standardized patients (SPs) trained to model psychiatric disorders can promote student nurses’ interview skills and therapeutic communication, while at the same time increasing their confidence and decreasing anxiety. From a constructivist view of education and Kolb’s (1984; Experiential learning: Experience as the source of learning and development. Edgewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall) theory of experiential learning, this article describes the development and use of SPs as a learning strategy. The use of SPs helps faculty in overcoming some of the challenges of competing for clinical sites and meeting objectives in limited clinical time. In this simulation, baccalaureate nursing students had the opportunity to interact with SPs, who had been trained to demonstrate symptoms of bipolar disorder, anxiety, and schizophrenia. During debriefing, students critiqued their performances, identifying strengths and weaknesses. The advantage to nursing students was the ability to improve their interviewing skills in a safe educational environment before encountering these patients in a clinical experience. Both faculty and student evaluations of this experience support its integration into psychiatric undergraduate courses.