bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Prevalence and correlates of obstructive sleep apnoea among patients with and without HIV infection
Authors: Kunisaki KM , Akgün KM , Fiellin DA , Gibert CL , Kim JW , Rimland D , Rodriguez‐Barradas MC , Yaggi HK , Crothers K 
Published: September 2014

ObjectivesIn HIV‐uninfected populations, obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is commonly associated with cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, and cognitive impairment. These comorbidities are common in HIV‐infected patients, but there are scarce data regarding OSA in HIV‐infected patients. Therefore, we examined the prevalence and correlates of OSA in a cohort of HIV‐infected and uninfected patients.MethodsAn observational cohort study was carried out. Electronic medical record and self‐report data were examined in patients enrolled in the Veterans Aging Cohort Study (VACS) between 2002 and 2008 and followed until 2010. The primary outcome was OSA diagnosis, determined using International Classification of Diseases, 9th edition (ICD‐9) codes, in HIV‐infected compared with uninfected individuals. We used regression analyses to determine the association between OSA diagnosis, symptoms and comorbidities in adjusted models.ResultsOf 3683 HIV‐infected and 3641 uninfected patients, 143 (3.9%) and 453 (12.4%) had a diagnosis of OSA (p < 0.0001), respectively. HIV‐infected patients were more likely to report symptoms associated with OSA such as tiredness and fatigue. Compared with uninfected patients with OSA, HIV‐infected patients with OSA were younger, had lower body mass indexes (BMIs), and were less likely to have hypertension. In models adjusting for these traditional OSA risk factors, HIV infection was associated with markedly reduced odds of OSA diagnosis (odds ratio 0.48; 95% confidence interval 0.39‐0.60).ConclusionsHIV‐infected patients are less likely to receive a diagnosis of OSA. Future studies are needed to determine whether the lower prevalence of OSA diagnoses in HIV‐infected patients is attributable to decreased screening and detection or to a truly decreased likelihood of OSA in the setting of HIV infection.
Stereolithographic Ceramic Manufacturing of High Strength Bioactive Glass
Authors: Gmeiner Robert , Mitteramskogler Gerald , Stampfl Jürgen , Boccaccini Aldo R. 
Published: September 2014

Bioactive glasses and glass ceramics like the 45S5 formulation have been studied toward biocompatibility and biodegradability for years. Nevertheless, clinical applications as bone substitute or scaffold material are highly limited because of the often poor mechanical behavior of bioactive glasses. In this study, we are able to provide a new production alternative for 45S5 bioactive glass structures resulting in parts with high density and strength. Using the stereolithographic ceramic manufacturing (SLCM) process, it is possible to additively produce solid bulk glass ceramics as well as delicate scaffold structures. Recent developments in SLCM slurry preparation together with an appropriate selection of raw materials led to 3D parts with a very homogeneous microstructure and a density of about 2.7 g/cm³. Due to the low number and small size of defects, a high biaxial bending strength of 124 MPa was achieved. Weibull distribution also underlines good process control showing a Weibull modulus of 8.6 and a characteristic strength of 131 MPa for the samples tested here. By reaching bending strength values of natural cortical bone, bioactive glasses processed with SLCM could eventually advance to be an interesting bone substitute material even in load‐bearing applications, valuing the huge efforts undertaken to understand their bioactive behavior.
Adolescents with severe obesity: outcomes of participation in an intensive obesity management programme
Authors: Luca P. , Dettmer E. , Khoury M. , Grewal P. , Manlhiot C. , McCrindle B. W. , Birken C. S. , Hamilton J. K. 
Published: September 2014

SummaryBackgroundMost interventions for childhood obesity are randomized controlled studies. Less is known about the effectiveness of clinical obesity programmes.ObjectiveTo assess outcomes in adolescents participating in the SickKids Team Obesity Management Program (STOMP) vs. a comparison group of obese adolescents.MethodsSeverely obese adolescents (n = 75) in STOMP (15.1 ± 1.8 years, body mass index [BMI] 44.8 ± 7.8 kg m−2) were compared with adolescents (n = 41) not in the programme (14.9 ± 2.0 years, BMI 34.5 ± 8.0 kg m−2). Outcomes were change in BMI, cardiometabolic, psychological and health behaviour measures.ResultsAt 6 months, STOMP patients' BMI was unchanged (0.08 ± 0.3; P = 0.79) and they reported improvements in quality of life and depression (−3.6 ± 1.4; P = 0.009), and increases in measures of readiness to change (RTC). Between‐group differences in change between 0 and 6 months, in favour of STOMP patients, were observed for homeostatic measurement assessment‐insulin resistance (HOMA‐IR; −2.7 ± 1.0; P = 0.007), depression scores (−3.5 ± 1.7; P = 0.04), diet‐RTC (0.6 ± 0.2; P < 0.001) and physical activity (1.7 ± 0.9; P = 0.05). At 12 months, STOMP patients increased BMI (0.8 ± 0.5; P = 0.07), but they exhibited decreased waist circumference (−7.4 ± 2.1 cm; P = 0.001) and HOMA‐IR (−1.9 ± 0.6; P = 0.002). Between‐group differences in change between 0 and 12 months, in favour of STOMP patients, were observed for waist circumference (−5.9 ± 2.4 cm; P = 0.01), HOMA‐IR (−2.9 ± 0.7; P < 0.001) and diet‐RTC (0.9 ± 0.2; P < 0.001).ConclusionsSTOMP participants did not experience a significant reduction in BMI but did have improvements in cardiometabolic, psychological and health behaviour outcomes. Evaluation of paediatric clinical obesity programmes using multiple measures is essential to understanding real‐world outcomes.
Cardiac Sarcoidosis: Contemporary Review
Authors: KRON JORDANA , ELLENBOGEN KENNETH A. 
Published: September 2014

Cardiac SarcoidosisCardiac sarcoidosis can occur in up to 25% of patients with sarcoidosis in other organ systems and may present with conduction abnormalities, ventricular arrhythmias, or heart failure. This review will summarize the state of current knowledge and key questions that remain to be answered. Because cardiac sarcoidosis is a rare, complex disease, the most meaningful research will include interdisciplinary, multicenter collaborations.
Facilitators and barriers to weight loss and weight loss maintenance: a qualitative exploration
Authors: Metzgar C. J. , Preston A. G. , Miller D. L. , Nickols‐Richardson S. M. 
Published: September 2014

AbstractBackgroundThe present study aimed to explore facilitators and barriers to weight loss (WL) and weight loss maintenance (WLM) in women who participated in a primary, 18‐week comparative trial that promoted WL with an energy‐restricted diet.MethodsTwenty‐three women participated in seven focus groups conducted by a moderator and co‐facilitator using open‐ended questions and probes. Focus groups were held in a private room and audio tape‐recorded. Tapes were transcribed verbatim and thematic analysis was used to evaluate transcripts for common themes.ResultsAccountability to others, social support, planning ahead, awareness and mindfulness of food choices, basic nutrition education, portion control, exercise, and self‐motivation were perceived as key facilitators for WL and WLM by women. Identified barriers included life transitions, health status changes, internal factors, environmental pressures, lack of accountability and an absence of social support.ConclusionsFuture interventions should address these salient facilitators and barriers to promote sustainable changes in women across their WL and WLM journeys.
Combining Life Cycle Assessment with Data Science to Inform Portfolio‐Level Value‐Chain Engineering
Authors: Meinrenken Christoph J. , Sauerhaft Beth C. , Garvan Anthony N. , Lackner Klaus S. 
Published: September 2014

SummaryLife cycle assessment (LCA)‐based analyses of company value chains can inspire profound modifications to products’ design, material procurement, manufacturing, energy/water use, distribution, use, and disposal. However, such modifications often create trade‐offs, improving some aspects while worsening others. How can firms decide whether or not to carry out such modifications? Or prioritize between different options to choose the one delivering the most competitive advantage? Typically, firms’ metrics fall into two groups: (1) product‐level metrics across the life cycle, including up‐ and downstream of facilities (e.g., product carbon footprints); and (2) facility‐level metrics (e.g., plants’ annual energy cost). Neither is sufficient for firm‐wide cost‐benefit analyses of modifications that affect multiple products and value‐chain stages. Whereas facility‐level metrics do not capture up‐ and downstream effects—where often most cost and environmental impacts originate—life cycle methodologies are currently not mature enough to be applied at the scale of entire product portfolios. We present a pilot system of key performance indicators (KPIs) that evaluate 3,337 products across 211 brands and five countries of PepsiCo, Inc. KPIs are firm‐wide, annual figures (environmental, operational, and financial) across the value chain (cradle to grave) and can be determined at any level (single product, brands, or regions). Uncertainty analysis is included. In addition to KPIs for base cases, the system characterizes KPI impacts for any considered modifications (what‐if scenarios). In a detailed case study, we present background about how and why PepsiCo used the system to evaluate all aspects of a strategic value‐chain modification. For 7 of the 211 brands, this resulted in avoiding an 8% increase in greenhouse gas emissions and a 7% to 10% increase in procurement costs. It also saved PepsiCo an estimated ∼200 years full‐time equivalent employee time (or alternatively ∼US$30 million in LCA consultant fees) had the LCAs of the 3,337 SKUs been carried out by traditional methods. This cost efficiency of the KPI system enables considering environmental impacts with more‐traditional business metrics side by side. As a result, environmental impacts can be considered on a routine basis as part of integrated strategy and business planning. We discuss implementation considerations of the KPI methodology and future improvements.
Organ‐specific effects of brassinosteroids on stomatal production coordinate with the action of TOO MANY MOUTHS
Authors: Wang Ming , Yang Kezhen , Le Jie 
Published: September 2014

AbstractIn Arabidopsis, stomatal development initiates after protodermal cells acquire stomatal lineage cell fate. Stomata or their precursors communicate with their neighbor epidermal cells to ensure the “one cell spacing” rule. The signals from EPF/EPFL peptide ligands received by TOO MANY MOUTHS (TMM) and ERECTA‐family receptors are supposed to be transduced by YODA MAPK cascade. A basic helix‐loop‐helix transcription factor SPEECHLESS (SPCH) is another key regulator of stomatal cell fate determination and asymmetric entry divisions, and SPCH activity is regulated by YODA MAPK cascade. Brassinosteroid (BR) signaling, one of the most well characterized signal transduction pathways in plants, contributes to the control of stomatal production. But opposite organ‐specific effects of BR on stomatal production were reported. Here we confirm that stomatal production in hypocotyls is controlled by BR levels. YODA and CYCD4 are not essential for BR stomata‐promoting function. Furthermore, we found that BR could confer tmm hypocotyls clustered stomatal phenotype, indicating that the BR organ‐specific effects on stomatal production might coordinate with the TMM organ‐specific actions.
Emergent, After Hours Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Spine
Authors: Black David F. , Wood Christopher P. , Wells Michael L. , Erickson Bradley J. , Diehn Felix E. , Kaufmann Timothy J. , Rydberg Charlotte H. , Gilbertson Julie R. , Hunt Christopher H. 
Published: September 2014

ABSTRACTBACKGROUND AND PURPOSERequests for after‐hours emergent spine MR imaging seem to be increasing. We sought to review the trend in after hours spine MRI utilization at our institution and to determine how these results impacted therapeutic intervention.METHODSFollowing Institutional Review Board approval, reports from 179 after hours spinal MRI's performed over the past 13 years were obtained and the relevant electronic medical records were reviewed.RESULTSEmergent after hours spine MRI utilization increased from 7 per year to 23 over 13 years. Fifty‐eight percent (104/179) had significant findings. Twenty‐nine percent (52/179) of all patients imaged underwent surgery to treat pathologies identified on MR. Surgery was performed in only 2% (4/179) of these patients within 3 hours and 6% (10/179) within 6 hours of MRI completion. Five percent (8/179) had findings that were treated with radiation therapy and in 78% of these it was performed within 6–12 hours. Of those in whom steroids or antibiotics were initiated, 41% and 50% were treated within 3 hours of MR scanning, respectively.DISCUSSIONClinical use of emergent after hours spine MRI is steadily increasing at our institution. While MR imaging often discerned significant pathologies, performing these emergent studies rarely resulted in immediate surgical or radiotherapeutic intervention.
Neurofibromatosis Type 1 Associated with Vertebrobasilar Dolichoectasia and Pontine Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Giannantoni Nadia Mariagrazia , Broccolini Aldobrando , Frisullo Giovanni , Pilato Fabio , Profice Paolo , Morosetti Roberta , Di Lella Giuseppe , Zampino Giuseppe , Marca Giacomo Della 
Published: September 2014

ABSTRACTNeurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a heterogeneous, common, neurocutaneous disorder presenting different complications during a life span, including cerebrovascular dysplasia. To our knowledge this is the first reported case of NF1 associated with vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia and pontine ischemic stroke. We describe a 57‐year‐old man with NF1 who presented an acute onset right‐sided facial palsy and hemiplegia, dysarthria, and gait imbalance. Magnetic resonance imaging showed an acute left paramedian pontine infarct and a hypoplastic right vertebral artery. Brain Computed Tomography Angiography revealed the occurrence of vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia. Co‐occurrence of VBD and NF1 might not be merely casual and it may significantly heighten the mortality rate in this multisystem disorder. We suggest a possible role of VBD in the genesis of our patient's clinical‐radiological features and prompt the early detection of asymptomatic arteriopathy in individuals with NF1 in order to ameliorate patients’ quality of life and life expectancy.
Rehabilitation of irradiated patients with chemically modified and conventional SLA implants: five‐year follow‐up
Authors: Nack C. , Raguse J.‐D. , Stricker A. , Nelson K. , Nahles S. 
Published: September 2014

SummaryThe aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical and radiological parameters of standard SLA surface implants compared to chemically modified hydrophilic SLActive implants in irradiated patients after the initial 12‐month loading period up to 5 years. Twenty patients with a mean age of 61·1 years were treated with dental implants after ablative surgery and radio‐chemotherapy of oral cancer. All patients were non‐smokers. The placement of 102 implants (50 SLA, 52 SLActive) was performed bilaterally according to a split‐mouth design. Mean crestal bone changes were evaluated using standardised orthopantomographies and clinical parameters. Data were analysed using a Kaplan–Meier curve, Mann–Whitney U‐test and two‐factorial non‐parametric analysis. The average observation period was 60 months. The amount of bone loss at the implant shoulder of SLA implants was mesial and distal 0·7 mm. The SLActive implants displayed a bone loss of mesial 0·6 mm as well as distal 0·7 mm after 5 years. Two SLA implants were lost before loading. One patient lost five implants due to recurrence of a tumour. The overall cumulative 12‐month, 3‐year and 5‐year survival rate of SLA implants was 92%, 80% and 75·8% and of SLActive implants 94·2%, 78·8% and 74·4%, respectively. Eighteen implants were considered lost because the patients had died. Sandblasted acid‐etched implants with or without a chemically modified surface can be used in irradiated patients with a high predictability of success. Lower implant survival rates in patients with irradiated oral cancer may be associated with systemic effects rather than peri‐implantitis.
Estimating danofloxacin withdrawal time in broiler chickens based on physiologically based pharmacokinetics modeling
Authors: Yang F. , Sun N. , Liu Y. M. , Zeng Z. L. 
Published: September 2014

In this study, a physiologically based pharmacokinetics (PBPK) model was firstly developed for danofloxacin in healthy broiler chickens after a single oral administration at 5 mg/kg bw. Then, the model extrapolation from healthy chickens to those infected with Pasteurella multocidaones was performed. The healthy model was validated through a comparison of predicted and previously published concentrations, which indicated that the healthy PBPK model had good predictive ability in plasma, lung, muscle, liver, and kidney, especially at the later sampling time points. Multiple dosing of administration was incorporated into the healthy and infected models. In addition, a Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) included 1000 iterations was further incorporated into both models to predict the withdrawal times of danofloxacin in healthy and infected chickens, which were estimated to be 3 and 2 days, respectively.
Neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio predicts mortality in patients listed for liver transplantation
Authors: Leithead Joanna A. , Rajoriya Neil , Gunson Bridget K. , Ferguson James W. 
Published: September 2014

AbstractBackground & AimsIn the absence of overt infection, the systemic inflammatory response is increasingly recognised as a pathogenetic factor in the circulatory dysfunction of advanced cirrhosis. Our aim was to determine whether the neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio, a marker of systemic inflammation, is predictive of mortality in patients with end‐stage cirrhosis listed for liver transplantation.MethodsA single centre study of 570 patients listed for first elective single‐organ liver transplantation January 2007–June 2011.ResultsThe median listing neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio was 2.9 (IQR 1.9–4.7). Neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio demonstrated a positive correlation with listing serum bilirubin (P < 0.001), negative correlation with serum sodium (P < 0.001), and positive correlation with the MELD score (P < 0.001). Neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio increased with increasing severity of ascites (P < 0.001). A higher neutrophil count (P < 0.001) and lower lymphocyte count (P = 0.001) were predictors of wait‐list death. In a multivariate competing risk Cox model, neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio remained independently associated with mortality (HR 1.10; 95% CI 1.05–1.15, P < 0.001). The proportion of patients with a neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio <2, 2–4.9, and ≥5 who had died by 3 months of listing was 3%, 13.8% and 37.3% respectively (P < 0.001). After adjusting for MELD, increasing increments of neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio were predictive of death by 3 months (P = 0.043).ConclusionsThe blood neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio, a simple and readily available marker of systemic inflammation, is an independent predictor of mortality in patients with liver failure listed for liver transplantation.
Malaysian weedy rice shows its true stripes: wild Oryza and elite rice cultivars shape agricultural weed evolution in Southeast Asia
Authors: Song Beng‐Kah , Chuah Tse‐Seng , Tam Sheh May , Olsen Kenneth M. 
Published: September 2014

AbstractWeedy rice is a close relative of domesticated rice (Oryza sativa) that competes aggressively with the crop and limits rice productivity worldwide. Most genetic studies of weedy rice have focused on populations in regions where no reproductively compatible wild Oryza species occur (North America, Europe and northern Asia). Here, we examined the population genetics of weedy rice in Malaysia, where wild rice (O. rufipogon) can be found growing in close proximity to cultivated and weedy rice. Using 375 accessions and a combined analysis of 24 neutral SSR loci and two rice domestication genes (sh4, controlling seed shattering, and Bh4, controlling hull colour), we addressed the following questions: (i) What is the relationship of Malaysian weedy rice to domesticated and wild rice, and to weedy rice strains in the USA? (ii) To what extent does the presence of O. rufipogon influence the genetic and phenotypic diversity of Malaysian weeds? (iii) What do the distributions of sh4 and Bh4 alleles and associated phenotypes reveal about the origin and contemporary evolution of Malaysian weedy rice? Our results reveal the following: independent evolutionary origins for Malaysian weeds and US strains, despite their very close phenotypic resemblance; wild‐to‐weed gene flow in Malaysian weed populations, including apparent adaptive introgression of seed‐shattering alleles; and a prominent role for modern Malaysian cultivars in the origin and recent proliferation of Malaysian weeds. These findings suggest that the genetic complexity and adaptability of weedy crop relatives can be profoundly influenced by proximity to reproductively compatible wild and domesticated populations.
In Candida albicans hyphae, Sec2p is physically associated with SEC2 mRNA on secretory vesicles
Authors: Caballero‐Lima David , Hautbergue Guillaume M. , Wilson Stuart A. , Sudbery Peter E. 
Published: September 2014

SummaryCandida albicans hyphae grow in a highly polarized fashion from their tips. This polarized growth requires the continuous delivery of secretory vesicles to the tip region. Vesicle delivery depends on Sec2p, the Guanine Exchange Factor (GEF) for the Rab GTPase Sec4p. GTP bound Sec4p is required for the transit of secretory vesicles from the trans‐Golgi to sites of polarized growth. We previously showed that phosphorylation of Sec2p at residue S584 was necessary for Sec2p to support hyphal, but not yeast growth. Here we show that on secretory vesicles SEC2 mRNA is physically associated with Sec2p. Moreover, we show that the phosphorylation of S584 allows SEC2 mRNA to dissociate from Sec2p and we speculate that this is necessary for Sec2p function and/or translation. During hyphal extension, the growing tip may be separated from the nucleus by up to 15 μm. Transport of SEC2 mRNA on secretory vesicles to the tip localizes SEC2 translation to tip allowing a sufficient accumulation of this key protein at the site of polarized growth.
Mating ecology of beluga (Delphinapterus leucas) and narwhal (Monodon monoceros)as estimated by reproductive tract metrics
Authors: Kelley Trish C. , Stewart Robert E. A. , Yurkowski David J. , Ryan Anna , Ferguson Steven H. 
Published: September 2014

AbstractNarwhal and beluga whales are important species to Arctic ecosystems, including subsistence hunting by Inuit, and little is understood about their mating ecology. Reproductive tract metrics vary across species in relation to mating strategy, and have been used to infer mating ecology. Reproductive tracts from beluga and narwhal were collected between 1997 and 2008 from five beluga stocks and two narwhal stocks across the Canadian Arctic. Tract length for males and females, relative testes mass for males, and tusk length for male narwhal were measured. We assessed variation relative to species, body size, stock, maturity, and season. Significant variation was found in testes mass across month and stock for beluga, and no significant difference between stock or date of harvest for narwhal. Beluga had significantly larger testes relative to body size than narwhal, suggesting they were more promiscuous than narwhal. A significant relationship was found between narwhal tusk length and testes mass, indicating the tusk may be important in female mate choice. No significant differences were found between narwhal and beluga reproductive tract length for males or females. The mating systems suggested for narwhal and belugas by our results mean the two species may respond differently to climate change.