bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Risk of overall mortality and cardiovascular events in patients with type 2 diabetes on dual drug therapy including metformin: A large database study from the Cleveland Clinic
Authors: Kannan Subramanian , Pantalone Kevin M. , Matsuda Simone , Wells Brian J. , Karafa Matthew , Zimmerman Robert S. 
Published: April 2015

AbstractBackgroundThe aim of the present study was to assess the risk of overall mortality, coronary artery disease (CAD), and congestive heart failure (CHF) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) treated with metformin (MF) and an additional antidiabetic agent.MethodsA retrospective cohort study was conducted using an academic health center enterprise‐wide electronic health record (EHR) system to identify 13 185 adult patients (>18 years) with T2DM from January 2008 to June 2013 and received a prescription for MF in combination with a sulfonylurea (SU; n = 9419), thiazolidinedione (TZD; n = 1846), dipeptidyl peptidase‐4 inhibitor (DPP‐4i; n = 1487), or a glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonist (GLP‐1a; n = 433). Multivariate Cox models with propensity analysis were used to compare cohorts, with MF+SU serving as the comparator group.ResultsThe mean (±SD) age was 60.6 ± 12.6 years, with 54.6% male and 75.8% Caucasians. The median follow‐up was 4 years. There were 1077 deaths, 1733 CAD events, and 528 CHF events in 55 100 person‐years of follow‐up. A higher risk of CHF was observed with MF+DPP‐4i use (hazard ratio [HR] 1.104; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04–1.17; P = 0.001). A trend towards improved overall survival for users of MF+TZD (HR 0.86; 95% CI 0.74–1.0; P = 0.05) and MF+GLP‐1a (HR 0.569; 95% CI 0.30–1.07; P = 0.08) was observed. No significant differences in the risk of CAD were identified.ConclusionsConsistent with recent studies, our results raise concern for an increased risk of CHF with use of DPP‐4i.
Association of smoking and concomitant metformin use with cardiovascular events and mortality in people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes
Authors: Paul Sanjoy K. , Klein Kerenaftali , Majeed Azeem , Khunti Kamlesh 
Published: April 2015

AbstractBackgroundThe cardiovascular and mortality risk in patients with incident type 2 diabetes (T2D) in relation to smoking status and concurrent use of metformin is not well known.MethodsA cohort study was performed in 82 205 incident T2D patients from the UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink. In the present study, the risks of myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, and mortality in incident T2D patients were evaluated in relation to their smoking status with and without concurrent use of metformin.ResultsOver a median 5.4 years of follow‐up, of patients without a history of cardiovascular disease (CVD) before a diagnosis of diabetes (n = 63 166), current smokers with and without metformin had an 8% (hazard ratio [HR] 1.08; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.81, 1.45) and 32% (HR 1.32; 95% CI 1.07, 1.65) increased risk of MI or stroke, respectively, compared with non‐smokers without metformin treatment. The respective HRs (95% CI) for mortality in these patients were 0.96 (0.83, 1.11) and 1.86 (1.68, 2.07). The HR for mortality among ex‐smokers with and without concurrent metformin treatment was 0.92 (95% CI 0.83, 1.11) and 1.19 (95% CI 1.10, 1.30), respectively. Similar beneficial modifiable effects of metformin among ex‐ and current smokers were observed in patients with CVD before diagnosis of diabetes (n = 19 039).ConclusionsIn T2D patients, concurrent treatment with metformin attenuates the observed higher cardiovascular and mortality risk in ex‐ and current smokers. In addition to smoking cessation support, treatment with metformin, particularly in ex‐ and current smokers, should be encouraged.
Diamond Discovered in High‐Al Chromitites of the Sartohay Ophiolite, Xinjiang Province, China
Authors: Yazhou TIAN , Jingsui YANG , ROBINSON Paul T. , Fahui XIONG , Yuan LI , Zhongming ZHANG , Zhao LIU , Fei LIU , Xiaolu NIU 
Published: April 2015

AbstractIn recent years diamonds and other exotic minerals have been recovered from mantle peridotites and high‐Cr chromitites of a number of ophiolites of different age and different tectonic environments. Here we report a similar collection of minerals from the Sartohay ophiolite of Xinjiang Province, western China, which is characterized by having high‐Al chromitites. Several samples of massive podiform chromitite with an aggregate weight of nearly 900 kg yielded diamonds, moissanite and other highly reduced minerals, as well as common crustal minerals. Thus far, more than 20 grains each of diamond and moissanite have been recovered from heavy mineral separates of the chromitites. The diamonds are all 100–200 μm in size and range in color from pale yellow to reddish‐orange to colorless. Most of the grains are anhedral to subhedral octahedra, commonly with elongate forms exhibiting well‐developed striations. They all display characteristic Raman spectra with shifts between 1325 cm−1 and 1333 cm−1, mostly 1331.51 cm−1 or 1326.96 cm−1. The moissanite grains are light blue to dark blue, broken crystals, 50–150 μm across, commonly occurring as small flakes or fragments. Their typical Raman spectra have shifts at 762 cm−1, 785 cm−1, and 966 cm−1. This investigation extends the occurrence of diamonds and moissanite to a Paleozoic ophiolite in the Central Asian Orogenic Belt and demonstrates that these minerals can also occur in high‐Al chromitites. We conclude that diamonds and moissanite are likely to be ubiquitous in ophiolitic mantle peridotites and chromitites.
Deep Seismogenic Environment in the Southern Section of the Longmenshan Fault Zone on the Eastern Margin of the Tibetan Plateau and Lushan Ms 7.0 Earthquake
Authors: Dahu LI , Zhifeng DING , Yan ZHAN , Pingping WU , Qingdong YE 
Published: April 2015

AbstractThe 2,026 earthquake events registered by the Sichuan regional digital seismic network and mobile seismic array after the April 20th, 2013 Lushan earthquake and 28,188 pieces of data were selected to determine direct P waves arrival times. We applied the tomographic method to inverse the characteristics of the velocity structure for the three–dimensional (3D) P wave in the mid‐upper crust of the seismic source region of the Lushan earthquake. The imaging results were combined with the apparent magnetization inversion and magnetotelluric (MT) sounding retest data to comprehensively study the causes of the deep seismogenic environment in the southern section of the Longmenshan fault zone and explore the formation of the Lushan earthquake. Research has shown that there are obvious differences in velocity structure and magnetic distribution between the southern and northern sections of the Longmenshan fault zone. The epicenter of the Lushan earthquake is located near the boundary of the high and low‐velocity anomalies and favorable for a high‐velocity section. Moreover, at the epicenter of the Lushan earthquake located on the magnetic dome boundary of Ya'an, the development of high velocity and magnetic solid medium favors the accumulation and release of strain energy. Low‐velocity anomalies are distributed underneath the are of seismogenic origin, The inversion results of the MT retest data after the April 20th Lushan earthquake also indicate that there a high‐conductor anomaly occurs under the area of seismogenic origin of the Lushan earthquake, Therefore, we speculated that the presence of a high‐conductivity anomaly and low‐velocity anomaly underneath the seismogenic body of the Lushan earthquake could be related to the existence of fluids. The role of fluids caused the weakening of the seismogenic layer inside the mid‐upper crust and resulted in a seismogenic fault that was prone to rupture and played a triggering role in the Lushan earthquake.
The Metallogenetic Regularities of Lithium Deposits in China
Authors: Jiankang LI , Tianren ZOU , Xifang LIU , Denghong WANG , Xin DING 
Published: April 2015

AbstractLithium resources support the development of high‐technology industries. China has abundant lithium resources which are mainly distributed in Tibet, Qinghai, Sichuan and Jiangxi. Salt lakes in China have significant lithium reserves, but lithium is mainly produced from hard rock lithium deposits because the extraction from salt lakes requires further improvements. The hard rock lithium deposits mainly occur in granitic pegmatite in the Altay region of Xinjiang and the Jiajika deposit in western Sichuan Province; they mainly formed in the Mesozoic and occurred in a relatively stable stage during orogenic processes. On the basis of the information from 151 lithium deposits or spots, 14 lithium metallogenic series were identified, and granitic pegmatite, granite, and sedimentary types were considered to be the main prediction types of lithium resources. Twelve lithium mineralization belts were divided and a series of maps showing the lithium metallogenetic regularity in China were drawn. We conclude that the hard rock and brine type of lithium resources possibly have a similar lithium source related to magmatism. The metallogenic features of the lithium in China were related with the distinct history of tectonic‐magmatic activity in China. This study benefits the assessment of, and prospecting for, lithium resources in China.
Ureteric vasculitis, an unusual presentation of polyarteritis nodosa: a case report
Authors: Jois Ramesh , Gupta Anant , Krishnamurthy Santosh 
Published: April 2015

AbstractA 22 year old female presented with vasculitic skin rash. She was incidentally found to be hypertensive and had proteinuria. Skin biopsy showed leuco‐cytoclastic vasculitis. On Imaging, there was left hydronephrosis, hydroureter with bilateral multiple foci of ureteric stenosis and micro‐aneurysms in relation to interlobar arteries of kidney. A diagnosis of classical Polyarteritis Nodosa (cPAN) with multi‐level ureteric stenosis was made. She was treated with Glucocorticoids, Cyclophosphamide, following which Azathioprine was given.
Does low bone density influence symptoms and functional status in patients with fibromyalgia? Observations from rural South India
Authors: Babu Abraham Samuel , Ikbal Faizal M. , Noone Manjula Sukumari , Joseph Anupama Naomi , Danda Debashish 
Published: April 2015

AbstractIntroductionThe presence of more than one musculoskeletal disease has been found to impair quality of life (QoL). The influence of low bone mineral density (BMD) on symptoms and function in those with fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is unknown.MethodologyA cross sectional study was carried out on 158 patients attending camps in rural South India. BMD was determined using quantitative ultrasound of the distal radius. Symptoms and function were assessed using a visual analogue scale (VAS) and the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ).ResultsLow BMD was seen in 81.6% (129/158) of the persons screened. FMS was seen in 37/158 persons, of which 31/37 (83.7%) had low BMD.ConclusionFMS with low bone density leads to higher levels of pain and a poorer QoL compared to those without FMS. Coexisting musculoskeletal problems could also contribute to this. Therefore, medical practitioners and rehabilitation specialists should consider screening for bone density among those with FMS and should use this information to decide appropriate therapies to reduce pain and improve QoL.
Reduced interhemispheric resting‐state functional connectivity in unmedicated bipolar II disorder
Authors: Wang Y. , Zhong S. , Jia Y. , Zhou Z. , Zhou Q. , Huang L. 
Published: April 2015

ObjectiveAbnormalities in structural and functional brain connectivity have been increasingly reported in patients with bipolar disorder (BD) by recent neuroimaging studies. However, relatively little is known about the changes in functional interaction between the cerebral hemispheres in BD. The present study aimed to examine the interhemispheric functional connectivity of the whole brain in patients with BD II during resting state.MethodTwenty‐six patients with unmedicated BD II depression and 40 normal controls underwent the resting‐state functional magnetic resonance imaging. The functional connectivity between any pair of symmetrical interhemispheric voxels (i.e., functional homotopy) was measured by voxel‐mirrored homotopic connectivity (VMHC).ResultsThe patients with BD II showed lower VMHC than normal controls in the medial prefrontal cortex and inferior temporal gyrus. No regions of increased VMHC were detected in patients. There were no significant correlations between the VMHC values in these regions and clinical severity of BD symptoms.ConclusionThese findings suggest substantial impairment of interhemispheric coordination in BD II.
Early clinical experience of cell‐free DNA‐based aneuploidy screening: A survey of obstetric sonologists in Australia and New Zealand
Authors: Hui Lisa , Teoh Mark , Piessens Sofie , Walker Susan P. 
Published: April 2015

BackgroundCell‐free DNA‐based non‐invasive prenatal testing for aneuploidy (NIPT) is now established as the most accurate screening test for trisomy 21. This test became clinically available on a patient‐funded basis in Australia and New Zealand in 2013.AimTo investigate the clinical implementation of NIPT use by members of the Australian Association of Obstetrical and Gynaecological Ultrasonologists (AAOGU) during its first year of local availability.MethodEmail invitations with an embedded link to an anonymous online survey were sent to all 140 members of the AAOGU in December 2013.ResultsWe received 54 responses to the survey (39% response rate). Two thirds of respondents were subspecialists in obstetric and gynaecological ultrasound or maternal fetal medicine. The majority of respondents had already used NIPT in their practice (94%). There was no significant difference in the proportion of respondents offering NIPT to high‐risk women in private versus public practice (95 versus 82%, P = 0.14). However, inequity of access due to cost was the most common ethical issue encountered. The vast majority continued to offer an 11–13 week ultrasound in addition to NIPT. Almost all respondents (96%) were also willing to offer NIPT to low‐risk women in December 2013 after appropriate genetic counselling.ConclusionsNon‐invasive prenatal testing was introduced into clinical care by obstetric sonologists with confidence and in accordance with the current recommended guidelines. These results may help inform future prenatal screening policy and cost‐effectiveness analyses.
Why birthplace still matters for infants born before 32 weeks: Infant mortality associated with birth at 22–31 weeks’ gestation in non‐tertiary hospitals in Victoria over two decades
Authors: Boland Rosemarie Anne , Dawson Jennifer Anne , Davis Peter Graham , Doyle Lex William 
Published: April 2015

BackgroundVery preterm infants born in non‐tertiary hospitals (‘outborn’) are known to have higher mortality rates compared with infants ‘inborn’ in tertiary centres.AimThe aim of this study was to report changes over time in the incidence of outborn livebirths, 22–31 weeks and infant mortality rates for outborn compared with inborn births.MethodsWe conducted a population‐based cohort study of consecutive livebirths, 22–31 weeks’ gestation in Victoria from 1990 to 2009. The relationship between birthplace, gestational age, birthweight, sex and infant mortality were analysed by logistic regression.ResultsThere were 13,760 livebirths, 22–31 weeks: 14% were outborn. The proportion of outborn livebirths fell from 19% in 1991 to a nadir of 9% in 1997, but climbed to 17% by 2009. At all times, outborns had higher mortality rates compared with inborns. The overall infant mortality rate was 250.6 per 1000 outborn compared with 113.3 per 1000 inborn livebirths (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 2.76 (95% CI 2.32, 3.27, P < 0.001). There were no differences between outborn and inborn mortality risks for 22‐week livebirths (OR 7.04, 95% CI 0.87, 56.8, P = 0.067), but there were at 23–27 weeks (aOR 3.16, 95% CI 2.52, 3.96, P < 0.001) and at 28–31 weeks (aOR 1.66, 95% CI 1.19, 2.31, P = 0.003). Over time, mortality rates fell for inborn 23–27 week infants. Mortality rates fell for outborn 23–27 week infants in 1990–2005, but rose in 2006–2009.ConclusionsOutborn livebirths at 22–31 weeks’ gestation occur too frequently and are associated with a significantly increased risk of mortality. Strategies to reduce outborn livebirths are required.
The ethics of a formula: Calculating a financial–humanitarian price for water
Authors: BALLESTERO ANDREA 
Published: April 2015

ABSTRACTWhen Costa Rican regulators set water rates, they effectively transform the human right to water into a price. I propose the notion of a “calculation grammar” to grasp the inventive patterns and vibrant social engagements that fuse the ethical investments, ontological assumptions, and quantified expressions involved in this process. This grammar governs the relative weights and proportions of the elements in numeric propositions, giving them distinct meanings and political valences. The liveliness of these propositions derives from the power of numeric techniques in their inevitably place‐specific expressions as well as from the legal principles of sociality that enable them. I follow the mathematical formula regulators use to set water prices to reveal the inconspicuous financialization of human rights and the humanitarization of finance as they currently unfold across technocratic centers of calculation. I also argue for an ethnographic approach that remains committed to the ontological indivisibility of the technical and the cultural in any quantification effort. [human rights, prices, water, calculation, regulation, finance, Costa Rica]
Does meat come from animals? A multispecies approach to classification and belonging in highland Guatemala
Authors: YATES‐DOERR EMILY 
Published: April 2015

ABSTRACTIn the Guatemalan highlands, distinctions between human and animal are often irrelevant to the treatment of an object as meat. I draw from my ethnographic fieldwork on eating practices in that region to suggest that if the recent social science turn to species is to be a departure from the limitations of Euro‐American humanism, it must take species not as a genealogically mappable identity but as a coherence situated amid ever‐transforming divisions and connections. Stable distinctions between human and other species are precisely what deserve to be called into question. The power of multispecies scholarship thus lies not in how it “centers the animal” but in its challenge to conventional taxonomic formulations of classification and belonging. That meat takes various, situated forms has implications for multicultural politics as well as anthropological method and inquiry.
Technology‐enhanced learning in college mathematics remediation
Authors: Foshee Cecile M. , Elliott Stephen N. , Atkinson Robert K. 
Published: April 2015

AbstractUS colleges presently face an academic plight; thousands of high school graduates are performing below the expected ability for college‐level mathematics. This paper describes an innovative approach intended to improve the mathematics performance of first‐year college students, at a large US university. The innovation involved the integration of faculty‐led instruction with technology‐enhanced learning (TEL). In this case, TEL refers to a sophisticated software program that delivers mathematics education using an adaptive, self‐paced, individualized, mastery‐based approach. The purpose of this investigation was to examine the extent to which TEL met the educational requirements of college students in need of remediation and to explore the effects of TEL on students' beliefs about their academic ability and academic behaviors (academic competence). The sample of 2880 included all the students enrolled in a single semester of remedial mathematics. Results suggested successful remediation, as indicated by the end‐of‐semester course completion rate, with 75% of students eligible to enroll in a first‐year sequence mathematics course and an additional 18% on track for eligibility by the following semester. TEL also appeared to have a positive, statistically significant effect on students' learning and academic competence. For these findings, we discuss study limitations and implications for future research.
Particulate Matter in Mangrove Forests and Seagrass Beds as a Nitrogen Source in Tropical Coastal Ecosystems
Authors: Gillis Lucy G. , Bouma Tjeerd J. , Cathalot Cecile , Ziegler Alan D. , Herman Peter M. 
Published: April 2015

AbstractWe show in laboratory and field investigations that in the short‐term seagrasses obtain most of their required nitrogen from the degradation of seagrass leaves, rather than degradation of leaves exported from adjacent mangroves. Mangrove forests at our Thailand site retain the majority of their nutrients, and therefore potentially buffer seagrasses from nutrients.
Amyloid‐β hypothesis in Alzheimer's disease and neurotoxicity of oligomeric amyloid through glial cells
Authors: Asakura Kunihiko 
Published: April 2015

AbstractAmyloid hypothesis is considered to be the most feasible hypothesis for the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Based on this hypothesis, various therapeutic approaches were examined for AD. In this issue, Horiuchi et al. showed oligomeric amyloid‐β causes glia‐mediated excitotoxicity in vitro, which might introduce another approach for the treatment of AD.
Glycoarray: A savior in an arduous sea?
Authors: Koga Michiaki 
Published: April 2015

AbstractGlycoarray is a dot‐blot assay for screening up to 300 antibodies against glycolipids. This powerful technique can identify anti‐glycolipid antibodies as biomarkers from candidate pools, and help discover new ones. In this issue of the journal, Delmont et al. compare glycoarrays with enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay for routine neuroimmunological diagnostic testing.
Duration of symptoms does not correlate with results of T‐cell gene rearrangement studies in patients evaluated for cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma
Authors: Larson Allison R. , Rodig Scott , Granter Scott R. 
Published: April 2015

ObjectivesWe aimed to determine if clonality on T‐cell gene rearrangement studies correlated with duration of cutaneous symptoms in patients with skin disease who are being evaluated for cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma (CTCL). Specifically, our goal was to determine if symptom duration could help better optimize sample selection for T‐cell gene rearrangement studies.MethodsBiopsies were reviewed from patients within both general dermatology clinic and CTCL specialty clinic for clonality results in relation to disease duration.ResultsWe did not find an association between duration and clonality in any group.ConclusionsThe yield of T‐cell gene rearrangement studies is similar between shorter and longer duration of disease implying that there is not an optimal duration range in which T‐cell gene rearrangement studies are more likely to give a positive result.
Stellenwert der Basistherapie bei Psoriasis
Authors: Thaçi Diamant , Augustin Matthias , Krutmann Jean , Luger Thomas 
Published: April 2015

ZusammenfassungDie Basistherapie spielt bei Psoriasis vulgaris eine wichtige Rolle. Dies gilt unabhängig vom Schweregrad der Erkrankung oder dem angewendeten Therapiekonzept. Sie trägt dazu bei, Symptome wie Juckreiz und Schuppenbildung zu vermindern, Exazerbationen zu reduzieren und somit die Remission nach einer erfolgreichen Therapie zu verlängern. Entsprechend kann durch eine adäquate Basistherapie auch die stark beeinträchtigte Lebensqualität von Psoriasis‐Patienten positiv beeinflusst werden. Bedauerlicherweise wird jedoch der Stellenwert einer Basistherapie bei Psoriasis noch immer unterschätzt. Im folgenden Review wird anhand von Studiendaten die Effizienz und das Potenzial der Basistherapie aufgezeigt und auf neue Daten und Entwicklungen in diesem Bereich eingegangen.