bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Time-Trend Analyses of Bleeding and Mortality After Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention During Out of Working Hours Versus In-Working Hours
Authors: Iqbal M. Bilal , Khamis Ramzi , Ilsley Charles , Mikhail Ghada , Crake Tom , Firoozi Sam , Kalra Sundeep , Knight Charles , Archbold Andrew , Lim Pitt , Mathur Anthony , Meier Pascal , Rakhit Roby D. , Redwood Simon , Whitbread Mark , Bromage Dan , Rathod Krishna , Jones Daniel A. , Wragg Andrew , Dalby Miles , MacCarthy Phil , Malik Iqbal S. 
Published: June 2015

Background—
Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) is the treatment of choice for ST-segment–elevation myocardial infarction. Resources are limited during out of working hours (OWH). Whether PPCI outside working hours is associated with worse outcomes and whether outcomes have improved over time are unknown.

Methods and Results—

We analyzed 11 466 patients undergoing PPCI between 2004 and 2011 at all 8 tertiary cardiac centers in London, United Kingdom. We defined working hours as 9
am
to 5
pm
(Monday to Friday). We analyzed in-hospital bleeding and all-cause mortality ≤3 years, comparing OWH versus in-working hours. A total of 7494 patients (65.3%) were treated during OWH. Multivariable analyses demonstrated that PPCI during OWH was not a predictor for bleeding (odds ratio, 1.47; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.97–2.24;
P
=0.071) or 3-year mortality (hazard ratio, 1.11; 95% CI, 0.94–1.32;
P
=0.20). This was confirmed in propensity-matched analyses. Time-stratified analyses demonstrated that PPCI during OWH was a predictor for bleeding (odds ratio, 2.00; 95% CI, 1.06–3.80;
P
=0.034) and 3-year mortality during 2005 to 2008 (hazard ratio, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.00–1.50;
P
=0.050), but this association was lost during 2009 to 2011. During 2005 to 2008, transradial access was predominantly used during in-working hours and PPCI during OWH was predictive of reduced transradial access use (odds ratio, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.71–0.98;
P
=0.033), but this association was lost during 2009 to 2011.

Conclusions—
In this study of unselected patients with ST-segment–elevation myocardial infarction, PPCI during OWH versus in-working hours had comparable bleeding and mortality. Time-stratified analyses demonstrated a reduction in adjusted bleeding and mortality during OWH over time. This may reflect the improved service provision, but the increased adoption of transradial access during OWH may also be contributory.
Homocysteine, Ischemic Stroke, and Coronary Heart Disease in Hypertensive Patients
Authors: Han Liyuan , Wu Qunhong , Wang Changyi , Hao Yanhua , Zhao Jinshun , Zhang Lina , Fan Rui , Liu Yanfen , Li Runhua , Chen Zhongwei , Zhang Tao , Chen Sihan , Ma Jianping , Liu Shengyuan , Peng Xiaolin , Duan Shiwei 
Published: June 2015

Background and Purpose—
Total homocysteine level (tHcy) is a risk factor of ischemic stroke (IS) and coronary heart disease. However, the results are conflicting and mainly focused on healthy individuals in developed countries.

Methods—
A prospective, population-based cohort study was conducted among 5935 participants from 60 communities in the city of Shenzhen, China. A Cox regression analysis was applied to evaluate the contribution of tHcy to the risk of IS and coronary heart disease. The effect of folic acid supplementation on tHcy levels was also evaluated among 501 patients with essential hypertension, who received an average of 2.5 years of folic acid supplementation.

Results—
After adjustment for confounding factors, the hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) of IS caused by hyperhomocysteinemia were 2.18 (1.65–2.89), 2.40 (1.56–3.67), and 2.73 (1.83–4.08) in the total, male, and female participants, respectively. Compared with normal levels of tHcy (<15 μmol/L), the hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) for IS in the highest tHcy category (≥30 μmol/L) were 4.96 (3.03–8.12), 6.11 (3.44–10.85), and 1.84 (0.52–6.46) in the total, males, and females participants, respectively. However, we did not observe a significant relationship between tHcy and the risk of coronary heart disease. The 2.5 years of folic acid supplementation reduced tHcy levels by 6.7 μmol/L (27.92%) in patients with essential hypertension.

Conclusions—
Hyperhomocysteinemia in Chinese hypertensive patients is significantly associated with IS risk but not coronary heart disease susceptibility, and folic acid supplementation can efficiently reduce tHcy levels.
The Validity of Dvorak Intensity Change Constraints for Tropical Cyclones
Authors: Cangialosi John P. , Kimberlain Todd B. , Beven John L. , Demaria Mark 
Published: June 2015

AbstractThe Dvorak technique is used operationally worldwide for tropical cyclone intensity analysis. This study tests Dvorak intensity change constraints, using a database of simultaneous aircraft and satellite fixes for tropical cyclones (TCs) in the 1998–2012 period. Results indicate that, in the vast majority of cases, Dvorak intensity constraints are valid with only a small percentage of strengthening TCs violating the constraints. Of the small sample that broke the constraints, most had initial intensities ranging from moderately strong tropical storms to minimal hurricanes.
Why people co-produce within activation services: the necessity of motivation and trust – an investigation of selection biases in a municipal activation programme in the Netherlands
Authors: Fledderus Joost , Honingh Marlies 
Published: June 2015

Activation services that aim at re-employment of jobseekers often suffer from ‘creaming’, i.e. selecting those who have the best qualifications to re-enter the labour market. New ways of delivery, such as co-production, are supposed to be less subject to selection mechanisms. To analyse whether co-produced activation programmes suffer from selection biases, participants in a local innovative activation programme ( n = 60) were compared to non-participants ( n = 18). Participants are more motivated in general and showed higher levels of generalized, municipal and interpersonal trust. Moreover, high general motivation relates to high levels of trust and perceived control. This indicates that there is indeed a selection bias within co-produced activation programmes. Therefore, it remains uncertain whether co-production is more successful in dealing with creaming than common types of service delivery. Points for practitioners Public services, in the field of activation policies for instance, are increasingly delivered in a fashion that requires more responsibility and effort from users. This study shows that such demands elicit a selection of users. Professionals dealing with co-produced services should be aware that when they choose clients they are likely to leave out vulnerable individuals. In particular, when intrinsic motivation is an important selection criterion, those who have low levels of trust and perceived control will not be involved. Consequently, seemingly inclusive strategies could in fact lead to exclusion.
Public and Private Spheres of Neighborhood Disorder
Authors: O’Brien Daniel Tumminelli , Sampson Robert J. 
Published: June 2015

Objectives: “Broken windows” theory is an influential model of neighborhood change, but there is disagreement over whether public disorder leads to more serious crime. This article distinguishes between public and private disorder, arguing that large-scale administrative data provide new opportunities to examine broken windows theory and alternative models of neighborhood change. Method: We apply an ecometric methodology to two databases from Boston: 1,000,000+ 911 dispatches and indicators of physical disorder from 200,000+ requests for nonemergency services. Both distinguish between disorder in public and private spaces. A cross-lag longitudinal analysis was conducted using two full years of data (2011–2012). Results: The two databases provided six dimensions of physical and social disorder and crime. The cross-lag model revealed eight pathways by which one form of disorder or crime in 2011 predicted a significant increase in another in 2012. Although traditional interpretations of broken windows emphasize the role of public disorder, private conflict most strongly predicted future crime. Conclusions: Our results describe a social escalation model where future disorder and crime emerge not from public cues but from private disorder within the community, demonstrating how “big data” from administrative records, when properly measured and interpreted, represent a growing resource for studying neighborhood change.
Urban heat island analysis of Greater Manchester, UK using sky view factor analysis
Authors: Cheung HKW , Coles D , Levermore GJ 
Published: June 2015

The sky view factor has been used as an indicator of the amount of sky that can be seen from the ground in an urban area. It was also found to be correlated to the formation of urban heat island effect. Sky view factors can be calculated by analysing photographs taken with a camera with a fisheye lens. However, calculations of sky view factor can vary; therefore, a detailed and more accurate method was developed in this paper to analyse photos and to calculate sky view factors. This method can process the now available higher resolution black and white JPEG (the commonly used digital photo standard created by the Joint Photographic Experts Group) photos and can give more accurate sky view factor values than the previous methods. Sky view factor values were calculated for 59 sites where air temperatures were measured and logged in Manchester, UK. Urban heat island intensities were calculated and linear relationships between sky view factors and urban heat island intensities were found for both summer and winter. However, the linearity tended to be stronger with sites having sky view factor values smaller than 0.65, i.e. the deeper canyons. Practical application: The new method can be used to calculate sky view factors from photographs taken from a camera with a fisheye lens with the original JPGE format. Compared to the other two methods, this new method can deal with photographs with a higher resolution. The SVF values calculated can then be used with canyon models to estimate the maximum urban heat island effect of a particular building site. The SVFs were found to be useful indicators in Manchester, UK.
Visual cues combined with treadmill training to improve gait performance in Parkinson’s disease: a pilot randomized controlled trial
Authors: Schlick Cornelia , Ernst Alina , Bötzel Kai , Plate Annika , Pelykh Olena , Ilmberger Josef 
Published: June 2015

Objective: To evaluate the effects of visual cues combined with treadmill training on gait performance in patients with Parkinson’s disease and to compare the strategy with pure treadmill training. Design: Pilot, exploratory, non-blinded, randomized controlled trial. Setting: University Hospital of Munich, Germany. Subjects: Twenty-three outpatients with Parkinson’s disease (Hoehn and Yahr stage II–IV). Interventions: Patients received 12 training sessions within five weeks of either visual cues combined with treadmill training ( n = 12) or pure treadmill training ( n = 11). Main measures: Outcome measures were gait speed, stride length and cadence recorded on the treadmill. Functional tests included the Timed Up and Go Test, the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale and the Freezing of gait-questionnaire. Assessments were conducted at baseline, after the training period and at two months follow-up. Results: After the training period ( n = 20), gait speed and stride length had increased in both groups ( p ⩽ 0.05). Patients receiving the combined training scored better in the Timed Up and Go Test compared with the patients receiving pure treadmill training ( p ⩽ 0.05). At two months follow-up ( n = 13), patients who underwent the combined training sustained better results in gait speed and stride length ( p ⩽ 0.05) and sustained the improvement in the Timed Up and Go Test ( p ⩽ 0.05). Conclusions: This pilot study suggests that visual cues combined with treadmill training have more beneficial effects on gait than pure treadmill training in patients with a moderate stage of Parkinson’s disease. A large-scale study with longer follow-up is required.
Home care by general practitioners for cancer patients in the last 3 months of life: An epidemiological study of quality and associated factors
Authors: Pivodic Lara , Harding Richard , Calanzani Natalia , McCrone Paul , Hall Sue , Deliens Luc , Higginson Irene J , Gomes Barbara 
Published: June 2015

Background: Stronger generalist end-of-life care at home for people with cancer is called for but the quality of end-of-life care delivered by general practitioners has been questioned. Aim: To determine the degree of and factors associated with bereaved relatives’ satisfaction with home end-of-life care delivered by general practitioners to cancer patients. Design: Population-based mortality followback survey. Setting/participants: Bereaved relatives of people who died of cancer in London, United Kingdom (identified from death registrations in 2009–2010), were invited to complete a postal questionnaire surveying the deceased’s final 3 months of life. Results: Questionnaires were completed for 596 decedents of whom 548 spent at least 1 day at home in the last 3 months of life. Of the respondents, 55% (95% confidence interval: 51%–59%) reported excellent/very good home care by general practitioners, compared with 78% (95% confidence interval: 74%–82%) for specialist palliative care providers and 68% (95% confidence interval: 64%–73%) for district/community/private nurses. The odds of high satisfaction (excellent/very good) with end-of-life care by general practitioners doubled if general practitioners made three or more compared with one or no home visits in the patient’s last 3 months of life (adjusted odds ratio: 2.54 (95% confidence interval: 1.52–4.24)) and halved if the patient died at hospital rather than at home (adjusted odds ratio: 0.55 (95% confidence interval: 0.31–0.998)). Conclusion: There is considerable room for improvement in the satisfaction with home care provided by general practitioners to terminally ill cancer patients. Ensuring an adequate offer of home visits by general practitioners may help to achieve this goal.
Autoimmune markers and autoimmune disorders in patients with postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS)
Authors: Blitshteyn S 
Published: June 2015

Objective In recent years, there have been a number of studies suggesting that POTS may have an autoimmune etiology. This study examined whether the prevalence of antinuclear antibodies (ANA), other markers of autoimmunity and co-morbid autoimmune disorders is higher in patients with POTS than in the general population. Methods and results Medical records of 100 consecutive patients with POTS evaluated at our clinic were reviewed. In this cohort (90% females, mean age 32, range 13–54 years), 25% had positive ANA, 7% had at least one positive aPL antibody and 31% had markers of autoimmunity. When compared to the general population, patients with POTS had a higher prevalence of ANA (25% vs. 16%, OR 1.8, CI 1.1–2.8, p < 0.05), aPL antibody (7% vs. 1%, OR 7.5, CI 3.4–16.1, p < 0.001) and co-morbid autoimmune disorders (20% vs. highest estimated 9.4%, OR 2.4, CI 1.5–3.9, p < 0.001). The most prevalent autoimmune disorder was Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (11% vs. up to 2%, OR 6.1, CI 3.2–11.3, p < 0.001), followed by RA (4% vs. up to 1%, OR 4.1, CI 1.5–11.2, p < 0.01) and SLE (2% vs. up to 0.12%, OR 17, CI 4.1–69.7, p < 0.001). The prevalence of CVID was very high (2% vs. 0.004%, OR 510.2, CI 92.4–2817.8, p < 0.001), while celiac disease showed a nonsignificant trend toward increased prevalence. Conclusion Patients with POTS have a higher prevalence of autoimmune markers and co-morbid autoimmune disorders than the general population. One in four patients have positive ANA, almost one in three have some type of autoimmune marker, one in five have a co-morbid autoimmune disorder, and one in nine have Hashimoto’s thyroiditis.
Use of oral trazodone for sedation in cats: a pilot study
Authors: Orlando Jillian M , Case Beth C , Thomson Andrea E , Griffith Emily , Sherman Barbara L 
Published: June 2015

Objectives Resistance to transportation and stressful veterinary visits are major causes for a decrease in feline veterinary care. Few options exist for oral sedatives to reduce cats’ anxiety prior to veterinary visits. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of oral trazodone for use as a single dose agent for sedation in cats. Methods Six laboratory cats were given single 50, 75 and 100 mg doses of trazodone and placebo. Trazodone 100 mg and placebo treatments were randomized. Pre- and post-study laboratory values and physical examinations were compared. During each 4 h period post-treatment, sedation was measured via accelerometers and video observations scored by an observer blinded to treatment. Examinations were performed on the cats 90 mins after treatment, and their behavioral responses scored by the same blinded observer. Results No adverse effects or changes in physical examinations or laboratory values were detected as a result of trazodone administration. Accelerometer data showed trazodone 50, 75 and 100 mg caused sedation as measured by activity reduction (83%, 46% and 66%, respectively). In contrast, there was a 14% activity increase after placebo. There was a significant reduction in video observation scores when cats were given trazodone 100 mg compared with placebo. Mean latency to peak sedation for trazodone 100 mg occurred at 2 h. Scores for behavioral response to examination, performed at 90 mins post-treatment, were not significantly different between cats receiving trazodone 100 mg and placebo. Conclusions and relevance Trazodone was well tolerated in this population of cats and caused appreciable sedation at all doses. Behavior during examination was not significantly different when cats received trazodone 100 mg compared with placebo. Further studies are recommended to investigate the use of oral trazodone in cats for the purpose of decreasing anxiety assocaited with transportation and examination.
The impact of culturally responsive self-management interventions on health outcomes for minority populations: A systematic review
Authors: Ehrlich Carolyn , Kendall Elizabeth , Parekh Sanjoti , Walters Caroline 
Published: May 2015

Objectives The health of people from Indigenous and ethnic minorities is poorer than the remainder of the population. Frequently, Westernized health systems respond by introducing self-management interventions to improve chronic illness health outcomes. The aim of this study was to answer the research question: “Can self-management programs that have been adapted or modified still be effective for ethnic minority and Indigenous populations?” Methods A systematic review across four databases was conducted. Results Twenty-three publications met the inclusion criteria. As the studies were heterogeneous, meta-analysis was not possible. Overall, interventions resulted in more positive health outcomes than usual care, but findings were inconsistent. Discussion We argue that rather than focusing on individual skills, knowledge, self-efficacy, and attitudes toward self-management, it may be more important to explore the structures and processes that underpin the sharing of information and skills within clinical or education encounters. Given that self-management is a Western cultural construct, creating empathic and responsive systems might be more effective for improving health of Indigenous and ethnic minority groups rather than relying predominantly on individual skill development.
Inhaled therapy in cystic fibrosis: agents, devices and regimens
Authors: Agent Penny , Parrott Helen 
Published: June 2015

Key pointsThere have been significant advances in both inhalation medicines and delivery devices with “intelligent nebulisers” and “dry-powder inhalers” becoming commonplace in CF care.Inhaled medicines generate high levels of a drug within the airways with limited systemic effects, offering safe and convenient antibiotic and mucolytic therapy for individuals with CF.Variations in adherence are not unique to CF; however, treatment burden is high and therefore fast inhaled drug delivery devices may assist individuals in completing the prescribed treatment regimes.Prescribers of inhaled medicines have a responsibility to consider, in addition to efficacy, the appropriated drug/device combination for each individual in order to promote adherence and achieve the desired clinical benefit.SummaryThe recognised mainstay daily treatments for cystic fibrosis (CF) focus on inhaled and oral medications, airway clearance and optimised nutrition. This review discusses recent advances in inhaled therapies for the management of CF, including devices such as intelligent nebulisers, drug formulations and supporting evidence for inhaled antibiotics (for the management of chronicPseudomonas aeruginosa) and muco-active drugs. We include practical advice for clinicians regarding the optimisation of inhalation technique and education. The influence of adherence on the use of inhaled therapies in CF is also reviewed.Educational aimsTo inform readers about the history and progression of inhaled therapies for people with CF with reference to the literature supporting current practice.To highlight the factors that may impact the success of inhaled therapies, including those which are device specific such as drug deposition and those which influence adherence.
A Facile One-Pot Synthesis of Au/Cu2O Nanocomposites for Nonenzymatic Detection of Hydrogen Peroxide
Authors: Chen Ting , Tian Liangliang , Chen Yuan , Liu Bitao , Zhang Jin 
Published: June 2015

Abstract
Au/Cu2O nanocomposites were successfully synthesized by a facile one-pot redox reaction without additional reducing agent under room temperature. The morphologies and structures of the as-prepared products were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The electrocatalytic performance of Au/Cu2O nanocomposites towards hydrogen peroxide was evaluated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and chronoamperometry (CA). The prepared Au/Cu2O nanocomposite electrode showed a wide linear range from 25 to 11.2 mM (R = 0.9989) with a low detection limit of 1.05 μM (S/N = 3) and high sensitivity of 292.89 mA mM−1 cm−2. The enhanced performance for H2O2 detection can be attributed to the introduction of Au and the synergistic effect between Au and Cu2O. It is demonstrated that the Au/Cu2O nanocomposites material could be a promising candidate for H2O2 detection.