bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of Candesartan in Acute Stroke on Cognitive Function and Quality of Life
Authors: Hornslien Astrid G. , Sandset Else C. , Bath Philip M. , Wyller Torgeir B. , Berge Eivind 
Published: May 2013

Background and Purpose—
High blood pressure is common in the acute phase of stroke and is associated with poor outcome. We examined whether blood pressure–lowering treatment with candesartan in the acute phase affects long-term cognitive function and quality of life.

Methods—
Scandinavian Candesartan Acute Stroke Trial was a randomized-controlled and placebo-controlled trial of candesartan in 2029 patients with acute stroke and raised blood pressure. At 6 months, cognitive function was assessed by the Mini Mental State Examination and quality of life by the EuroQol instrument. We used ordinal logistic and multiple linear regression for statistical analysis, adjusting for predefined key variables.

Results—

Median Mini Mental State Examination score was 28 in both groups, and there was no significant difference between the distribution of Mini Mental State Examination scores in the 2 groups (common odds ratio, 1.11; 95% confidence interval, 0.91–1.34;
P
=0.32). Median EuroQol-5D index were 0.74 and 0.78 (
P
=0.034), and the mean EuroQol-visual analogue scale scores were 66.0 and 67.3 in the candesartan and placebo groups, respectively (
P
=0.11).

Conclusions—
Candesartan did not improve cognitive function or quality of life. Rather, there were signs of harmful effects. These findings support the conclusion from our previous report that there is no indication for routine blood pressure–lowering treatment with candesartan in the acute phase of stroke.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT00120003.
Cardiovascular Biomarkers and Subclinical Brain Disease in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study
Authors: Dadu Razvan T. , Fornage Myriam , Virani Salim S. , Nambi Vijay , Hoogeveen Ron C. , Boerwinkle Eric , Alonso Alvaro , Gottesman Rebecca F. , Mosley Thomas H. , Ballantyne Christie M. 
Published: May 2013

Background and Purpose—
Cerebrovascular and cardiovascular disease share common risk factors. Our goal was to determine whether levels of N-terminal brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and cardiac troponin T measured with a highly sensitive assay (hs-cTnT) are associated with silent brain infarcts (BIs) and white matter lesions (WMLs) on MRI in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study.

Methods—
At ARIC visit 3 (1993–1995), 1920 participants had brain MRI. NT-proBNP and hs-cTnT were measured in all individuals at ARIC visit 4 (1996–1998). Of 1920 individuals, 1112 had a follow-up MRI [2004–2006]). We analyzed the association of NT-proBNP and hs-cTnT with MRI-defined BI and WML on the initial MRI and incident BI and WML progression on the follow-up MRI in participants without heart failure, coronary heart disease, or stroke.

Results—
In the adjusted model, individuals in the highest NT-proBNP quartile had significantly more BI (odds ratio, 3.50; 95% confidence interval, 2.03–6.20), and WML (β-coefficient, 0.09; SE, 0.03) on the baseline MRI and more incident BI (odds ratio, 2.18; 95% confidence interval, 1.38–3.47) and WML progression (β-coefficient, 0.22; SE, 0.10) on the follow-up MRI. Individuals in the highest hs-cTnT category had more BI (odds ratio, 3.03; 95% confidence interval, 1.57–5.82) and WML (β-coefficient, 0.11; SE, 0.04) on the initial MRI and more WML progression (β-coefficient, 0.43; SE, 0.17) on the follow-up MRI.

Conclusions—
NT-proBNP and hs-cTnT are independently associated with silent MRI-defined BI and WML, suggesting that cardiovascular biomarkers may be useful to identify individuals with subclinical cerebral injury.
Objects and Categories: Feature Statistics and Object Processing in the Ventral Stream
Authors: Tyler Lorraine K. , Chiu Shannon , Zhuang Jie , Randall Billi , Devereux Barry J. , Wright Paul , Clarke Alex , Taylor Kirsten I. 
Published: May 2013

AbstractRecognizing an object involves more than just visual analyses; its meaning must also be decoded. Extensive research has shown that processing the visual properties of objects relies on a hierarchically organized stream in ventral occipitotemporal cortex, with increasingly more complex visual features being coded from posterior to anterior sites culminating in the perirhinal cortex (PRC) in the anteromedial temporal lobe (aMTL). The neurobiological principles of the conceptual analysis of objects remain more controversial. Much research has focused on two neural regions—the fusiform gyrus and aMTL, both of which show semantic category differences, but of different types. fMRI studies show category differentiation in the fusiform gyrus, based on clusters of semantically similar objects, whereas category-specific deficits, specifically for living things, are associated with damage to the aMTL. These category-specific deficits for living things have been attributed to problems in differentiating between highly similar objects, a process that involves the PRC. To determine whether the PRC and the fusiform gyri contribute to different aspects of an object's meaning, with differentiation between confusable objects in the PRC and categorization based on object similarity in the fusiform, we carried out an fMRI study of object processing based on a feature-based model that characterizes the degree of semantic similarity and difference between objects and object categories. Participants saw 388 objects for which feature statistic information was available and named the objects at the basic level while undergoing fMRI scanning. After controlling for the effects of visual information, we found that feature statistics that capture similarity between objects formed category clusters in fusiform gyri, such that objects with many shared features (typical of living things) were associated with activity in the lateral fusiform gyri whereas objects with fewer shared features (typical of nonliving things) were associated with activity in the medial fusiform gyri. Significantly, a feature statistic reflecting differentiation between highly similar objects, enabling object-specific representations, was associated with bilateral PRC activity. These results confirm that the statistical characteristics of conceptual object features are coded in the ventral stream, supporting a conceptual feature-based hierarchy, and integrating disparate findings of category responses in fusiform gyri and category deficits in aMTL into a unifying neurocognitive framework.
A True Maverick: The Political Career of Dr. Oswald E. Anderson, 1919-1944
Authors: Altink Henrice 
Published: May 2013

Abstract
This article examines the political career of the African-Jamaican Dr. Oswald E. Anderson from his entry into local politics in 1919 till his defeat in the first election under universal suffrage in 1944. It will demonstrate that Anderson differed from other black politicians at the time because of his criticism of Crown Colony government, commitment to the welfare of the masses, nationalist fervour and above all his outspokenness about racial discrimination. In addition to describing and explaining why Anderson was such a ‘true maverick’, the article will also demonstrate that Anderson was a highly ambiguous politician.
Bayesian Tree Substitution Grammars as a Usage-based Approach
Authors: Post Matt , Gildea Daniel 
Published: May 2013

Tree substitution grammar (TSG) is a generalization of context-free grammar (CFG) that permits non-terminals to rewrite as fragments of arbitrary size, instead of just depth-one productions. We discuss connections between the TSG framework and the larger family of usage-based approaches to language, showing how TSG allows us to make some of the claims of these approaches sufficiently concrete for computational modeling. A fundamental difficulty in defining a TSG is to determine the set of fragments for the grammar, because the set of possible fragments is exponential in the size of the parse trees from which TSGs are typically learned. We describe a model-based approach that learns a TSG using Gibbs sampling with a non-parametric prior to control fragment size, yielding grammars that contain mostly small fragments but that include larger ones as the data permits. We evaluate these grammars on two tasks (parsing accuracy and grammaticality classification), and find that these Bayesian TSGs achieve excellent performance on two tasks relative to a set of heuristically extracted TSGs spanning the spectrum of representations, from a standard depth-one context-free Treebank grammar to explicit approximations of the Data-Oriented Parsing model.
Development of multilayered woven panels with integrated stiffeners in the transverse and longitudinal directions for thermoplastic lightweight applications
Authors: Mountasir Adil , Hoffmann Gerald , Cherif Chokri 
Published: May 2013

Weaving technique offers a large potential for the highly productive manufacture of woven 3D-preform structures in lightweight applications. This research work reports on the technological modification to the construction of a double-rapier weaving machine for the low damage production of double-walled shell structures made from glass/polypropylene hybrid yarn multilayered woven fabrics. On this basis, 3D-woven preform structures with integrated stiffeners in the longitudinal and transverse directions for high composite strength and rigidity within a single weaving process were developed and implemented. Furthermore, textile engineering solutions were acquired for the required reinforcement of the gusset area between the stiffener and the skin. This broadens the range of uses for large-scale fiber-reinforced plastics with integrated stiffeners made from 3D-woven preform structures.
Radiologic–pathologic correlation of renal cell carcinoma associated with Xp11.2 translocation
Authors: Koo Hyun Jung , Choi Hyuck Jae , Kim Mi-hyun , Cho Kyoung-Sik 
Published: May 2013

Background The prognosis of translocation RCCs in adult patients is relatively poor compared to that of other subtypes of RCCs. Although there have been several reports regarding radiologic findings of translocation RCC, studies with histologic correlation could help to understand the imaging features. Purpose To explore the correlation between radiologic and pathologic findings in Xp11.2 translocation renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and provide clues for translocation RCC diagnosis. Material and Methods CT scans of six patients (one man and five women; age range, 8–71 years; mean age, 34 years) with histologically-proven Xp11.2 translocation RCCs were retrospectively evaluated in consensus by two radiologists. Tumor size, presence of necrosis, hemorrhage, fat or calcification, enhancement patterns of the tumor, presence of lymphadenopathy, and distant metastases were evaluated. Results The average size of the tumors was 6 cm (range, 2.7–12 cm). All six tumors appeared as well-defined masses with areas of low attenuation representing hemorrhage or necrosis. Four tumors contained high attenuating solid portions, compared to the surrounding renal cortex seen on unenhanced images, where representing dense cellular component on microscopic examination. Peripheral rim enhancement pattern that correlated with histologic finding of a fibrous capsule was seen in five cases. In two patients who underwent kidney MR, the masses showed low signal intensity on T2-weighted images. One patient had lymphadenopathy. No distant metastasis was noted in any patient. Conclusion Translocation RCC appeared as a well-defined mass that contain high attenuating solid portions on unenhanced images and low attenuating necrotic or hemorrhagic foci; the tumor also showed gradual peripheral rim enhancement due to a fibrous capsule surrounding the tumor.
Septic liver: clinical relevance of early inhomogeneous enhancement of the liver in patients with acute pyelonephritis
Authors: Han Ga Jin , Lee Nam Kyung , Kim Suk , Kim Tae Un , Song Sang Heon , Kim Hyun Sung , Jo Hong Jae 
Published: May 2013

Background CT scans of patients with febrile illness occasionally show hepatobiliary changes, although infection does not originate in the hepatobiliary system. These findings may cause radiologists and clinicians to misrecognize hepatobiliary diseases and initiate an inappropriate treatment. Thus, it is important to recognize hepatobiliary CT findings in cases of extrahepatobiliary infectious disease. Purpose To evaluate extrarenal CT manifestations in patients with acute pyelonephritis and to determine the correlation between these extrarenal CT findings and septic liver based on laboratory parameters of sepsis. Material and Methods This study included 157 retrospectively identified patients with confirmed acute pyelonephritis based on CT imaging and urine test, and who had also undergone multi-phase dynamic contrast-enhanced CT scan. Two radiologists reviewed CT findings including early inhomogeneous enhancement of the liver, periportal low density and gallbladder edema, which were correlated with laboratory data including liver function enzymes, albumin, C-reactive protein, white blood cell count, and results of a blood culture by using the Fisher's exact test and Mann-Whitney U test. Results Forty-six patients (29.3%) showed early inhomogeneous enhancement of the liver, which was associated with increased C-reactive protein ( P < 0.001), a positive blood culture ( P < 0.005), and decreased albumin level ( P < 0.002). The periportal low density and gallbladder wall edema were noted in 15 patients (9.6%) and six patients (3.8%), respectively. These two CT findings were significantly associated with only decreased albumin level ( P < 0.001 and P < 0.040). Conclusion Early inhomogeneous enhancement of the liver in patients with acute pyelonephritis was significantly associated with increased CRP level, a positive blood culture and decreased albumin level, reflecting sepsis and sepsis-associated liver dysfunction, requiring rapid and appropriate intensive treatment.
Computed tomography for pulmonary embolism: assessment of a 1-year cohort and estimated cancer risk associated with diagnostic irradiation
Authors: Niemann T , Zbinden I , Roser HW , Bremerich J , Remy-Jardin M , Bongartz G 
Published: May 2013

Background The principal concern of any radiation exposure in computed tomography (CT) is the induction of stochastic risks of developing a radiation-induced cancer. The results given in this manuscript will allow to (re-)calculate yield of chest CT. Purpose To demonstrate a method to evaluate the lifetime attributable risk (LAR) of cancer incidence/mortality due to a single diagnostic investigation in a 1-year cohort of consecutive chest CT for suspected pulmonary embolism (PE). Material and Methods A 1-year cohort of consecutive chest CT for suspected PE using a standard scan protocol was analyzed retrospectively (691 patients, 352 men, 339 women). Normalized patient-specific estimations of the radiation doses received by individual organs were correlated with age- and sex-specific mean predicted cancer incidence and age- and sex-specific predicted cancer mortality based on the BEIR VII results. Additional correlation was provided for natural occurring risks. Results LAR of cancer incidence/mortality following one chest CT was calculated for cancer of the stomach, colon, liver, lung, breast, uterus, ovaries, bladder, thyroid, and for leukemia. LAR remains very low for all age and sex categories, being highest for cancer of the lungs and breasts in 20-year-old women (0.61% and 0.4%, respectively). Summation of all cancer sites analyzed raised the cumulative relative LAR up to 2.76% in 20-year-old women. Conclusion Using the method presented in this work, LAR of cancer incidence and cancer mortality for a single chest CT for PE seems very low for all age groups and both sexes, but being highest for young patients. Hence the risk for radiation-induced organ cancers must be outweighed with the potential benefit or a treatment and the potential risks of a missed and therefore untreated PE.
Delayed, life-threatening hemorrhage after self-expandable metallic biliary stent placement: clinical manifestations and endovascular treatment
Authors: Hyun Dongho , Park Kwang Bo , Hwang Jae Cheol , Shin Byung Seok 
Published: May 2013

Background Life-threatening, delayed hemorrhage after self-expandable metallic stent (SEMS) insertion for malignant biliary obstruction is very rare. Clinical manifestations, radiologic characteristics, treatment, and prognosis of this complication are not well-known. Purpose To present the clinical manifestations, radiologic findings, and endovascular treatment of life-threatening, delayed hemorrhage secondary to SEMS placement. Material and Methods A total of six patients (five men and one woman; mean age, 65.5 years) with life-threatening, delayed arterial bleeding after SEMS placement for malignant bile duct obstruction were recruited between 2000 and 2011 from three different hospitals in Korea. The original SEMS placement in all patients utilized either percutaneous ( n = 3) or endoscopic approaches ( n = 3). We retrospectively reviewed the clinical presentations, computed tomography (CT) and angiographic findings, endovascular treatments, and prognoses of these patients. Results All patients presented with life-threatening gastrointestinal bleeding such as melena ( n = 4), hematochezia ( n = 1), and hematemesis ( n = 1). Mean time period between biliary metallic stent insertion and presentation with bleeding was 75 days (range, 15–152 days). All stents were encased by primary or metastatic cancer along with nearby arteries on CT images. Digital subtraction angiogram (DSA) revealed pseudoaneurysm close to the stent ( n = 2), in-stent pseudoaneurysm ( n = 2), arteriobiliary fistula ( n = 1), or pseudoaneurysm with arteriobiliary fistula ( n = 1). The origins of hemorrhage were the gastroduodenal artery ( n = 3), the aberrant right posterior hepatic artery from the gastroduodenal artery ( n = 2), and the right hepatic artery ( n = 1). Hemorrhages were successfully controlled after intra-arterial coil embolization in five patients followed by placement of a stent graft and direct puncture N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate (NBCA) embolization in one patient. Conclusion Life-threatening, delayed hemorrhage within a metallic biliary stent may occur if a stent is placed across the bulky bile duct tumor or tumor encases the stent. Bleeding can be successfully treated with endovascular treatment. However, the overall prognosis was poor.
Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging in metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST): a pilot study on the assessment of treatment response in comparison with 18F-FDG PET/CT
Authors: Schmidt Sabine , Dunet Vincent , Koehli Melanie , Montemurro Michael , Meuli Reto , Prior John O 
Published: May 2013

Background Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is increasingly being used for assessing the treatment succes in oncology, but the real clinical value needs to evaluated by comparison with other, already established, metabolic imaging techniques. Purpose To prospectively evaluate the clinical potential of diffusion-weighted MRI with apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) mapping for gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) response to targeted therapy compared with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG PET/CT). Material and Methods Eight patients (mean age, 56 ± 11 years) known to have metastatic GIST underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT and MRI (T1Gd, DWI [b = 50,300,600], ADC mapping) simultaneously, before and after change in targeted therapy. MR and PET/CT examinations were first analyzed blindly. Second, PET/CT images were co-registered with T1Gd-MR images for lesion detection. Only 18F-FDG avid lesions were considered. Maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) and the corresponding minimum ADCmin were measured for the six largest lesions per patient, if any, on baseline and follow-up examinations. The relationship between changes in SUVmax and ADCmin was analyzed (Spearman's correlation). Results Twenty-four metastases (12 hepatic, 12 extra-hepatic) were compared on PET/CT and MR images. SUVmax decreased from 7.7 ± 8.1 g/mL to 5.5 ± 5.4 g/mL ( P = 0.20), while ADCmin increased from 1.2 ± 0.3 × 10−3mm2/s to 1.5 ± 0.3 × 10−3mm2/s ( P = 0.0002). There was a significant association between changes in SUVmax and ADCmin (rho = − 0.62, P = 0.0014), but not between changes in lesions size ( P = 0.40). Conclusion Changes in ADCmin correlated with the response of 18F-FDG avid GIST to targeted therapy. Thus, diffusion-weighted MRI may represent a radiation-free alternative for follow-up treatment for metastatic GIST patients.
Comparison of ramosetron with combined ramosetron and midazolam for preventing postoperative nausea and vomiting in patients at high risk following laparoscopic gynaecological surgery
Authors: Park Eun Young , Lee Soo Kyung , Kang Mae Hwa , Lim Kyung Jee , Kim Yi Seul , Choi Eunjoo , Park Young-Han 
Published: May 2013

Objectives This randomized, double-blind study compared the antiemetic efficacy of ramosetron with that of ramosetron combined with midazolam, and investigated whether the timing of midazolam administration affected the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV). Methods Nonsmoking female patients undergoing laparoscopic gynaecological surgery were randomized to three groups: group R received intravenous (i.v.) normal saline at induction of anaesthesia and 30 min before the end of surgery; group RM1 received midazolam i.v. at induction of anaesthesia and normal saline i.v. 30 min before the end of surgery; group RM2 received normal saline i.v. at induction of anaesthesia and midazolam i.v. 30 min before the end of the surgery. All patients received 0.3 mg ramosetron i.v. at the end of surgery. Incidence of PONV and need for rescue antiemetics were assessed during the 48-h postoperative period. Results A total of 126 patients were included in the analyses. There was no significant difference in the incidence of severe nausea, emetic episodes or use of antiemetics among the three groups. The incidence of complete response (no PONV and no rescue antiemetics) was significantly higher in the RM1 (30/41; 73%) and RM2 (30/42; 71%) groups compared with group R (19/43; 44%). Conclusions Midazolam given at induction of anaesthesia or at the end of the surgery, combined with ramosetron, was more effective than ramosetron alone in reducing the incidence of PONV.
A chronic animal model of migraine, induced by repeated meningeal nociception, characterized by a behavioral and pharmacological approach
Authors: Melo-Carrillo Agustin , Lopez-Avila Alberto 
Published: May 2013

Background Migraine is a chronic neurovascular disease characterized by recurrent unilateral headache, which induces incapacity. Despite all the progress that migraine research has provided, the neural mechanisms underlying the onset and maintenance of migraine attacks are poorly understood. Due to the complex characteristics of the disorder, it is difficult to develop a proper animal model that mimics all the clinical manifestations in humans. Objective Taking into account the principal characteristics of the disease, the aim of this study is to develop a chronic animal model of migraine in which we can reproduce behavioral and pharmacological phenomena similar to those displayed by migraineurs. Results Our animal model displayed behavioral and pharmacological results similar to those experienced by migraineurs. Specifically, there was a decrease in routine physical activity and an increase in resting behavior. Also, the animals exhibited a novel behavior that we called ipsilateral facial grooming behavior provoked by the meningeal nociception. Moreover, one of the drugs used as treatment for migraine reduced the manifestations previously described. Our results determine that the model mimics many of the clinical features that patients exhibit during migraine attacks. This model can contribute to further understanding of the pathophysiology and the study of novel therapeutic approaches.