bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Efficacy of a Couple-Based Randomized Controlled Trial to Help Latino Fathers Quit Smoking during Pregnancy and Postpartum: The Parejas Trial
Authors: Pollak Kathryn I. , Lyna Pauline , Bilheimer Alicia K. , Gordon Kristina C. , Peterson Bercedis L. , Gao Xiaomei , Swamy Geeta K. , Denman Susan , Gonzalez Alicia , Rocha Pilar , Fish Laura J. 
Published: November 2014

Abstract
Background: Although many Latinos in the United States smoke, they receive assistance to quit less often than non-Latinos. To address this disparity, we recruited Latino couples into a randomized controlled trial and provided a smoking cessation program during a teachable moment, when men's partners were pregnant.
Methods: We compared two interventions: (i) written materials plus nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) to (ii) materials, NRT, and couple-based counseling that addressed smoking cessation and couples communication. We recruited 348 expectant fathers who smoked via their pregnant partners from county health departments. Our primary outcome was 7-day point prevalence smoking abstinence and was collected from November 2010 through April 2013 and analyzed in February 2014.
Results: We found high rates of cessation but no arm differences in smoking rates at the end of pregnancy (0.31 vs. 0.30, materials only vs. counseling, respectively) and 12 months after randomization (postpartum: 0.39 vs. 0.38). We found high quit rates among nondaily smokers but no arm differences (0.43 vs. 0.46 in pregnancy and 0.52 vs. 0.48 postpartum). Among daily smokers, we found lower quit rates with no arm differences but effects favoring the intervention arm (0.13 vs. 0.16 in pregnancy and 0.17 vs. 0.24 postpartum).
Conclusions: A less intensive intervention promoted cessation equal to more intensive counseling. Postpartum might be a more powerful time to promote cessation among Latino men.
Impact: Less intensive interventions when delivered during teachable moments for Latino men could result in a high smoking cessation rate and could reduce disparities. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 24(2); 379–85. ©2014 AACR.
A Vaccinia Virus Armed with Interleukin-10 Is a Promising Therapeutic Agent for Treatment of Murine Pancreatic Cancer
Authors: Chard Louisa S. , Maniati Eleni , Wang Pengju , Zhang Zhongxian , Gao Dongling , Wang Jiwei , Cao Fengyu , Ahmed Jahangir , El Khouri Margueritte , Hughes Jonathan , Wang Shengdian , Li Xiaozhu , Denes Bela , Fodor Istvan , Hagemann Thorsten , Lemoine Nicholas R. , Wang Yaohe 
Published: November 2014

AbstractPurpose: Vaccinia virus has strong potential as a novel therapeutic agent for treatment of pancreatic cancer. We investigated whether arming vaccinia virus with interleukin-10 (IL10) could enhance the antitumor efficacy with the view that IL10 might dampen the host immunity to the virus, increasing viral persistence, thus maximizing the oncolytic effect and antitumor immunity associated with vaccinia virus.Experimental Design: The antitumor efficacy of IL10-armed vaccinia virus (VVLΔTK-IL10) and control VVΔTK was assessed in pancreatic cancer cell lines, mice bearing subcutaneous pancreatic cancer tumors and a pancreatic cancer transgenic mouse model. Viral persistence within the tumors was examined and immune depletion experiments as well as immunophenotyping of splenocytes were carried out to dissect the functional mechanisms associated with the viral efficacy.Results: Compared with unarmed VVLΔTK, VVLΔTK-IL10 had a similar level of cytotoxicity and replication in vitro in murine pancreatic cancer cell lines, but rendered a superior antitumor efficacy in the subcutaneous pancreatic cancer model and a K-ras-p53 mutant-transgenic pancreatic cancer model after systemic delivery, with induction of long-term antitumor immunity. The antitumor efficacy of VVLΔTK-IL10 was dependent on CD4+ and CD8+, but not NK cells. Clearance of VVLΔTK-IL10 was reduced at early time points compared with the control virus. Treatment with VVLΔTK-IL10 resulted in a reduction in virus-specific, but not tumor-specific CD8+ cells compared with VVLΔTK.Conclusions: These results suggest that VVLΔTK-IL10 has strong potential as an antitumor therapeutic for pancreatic cancer. Clin Cancer Res; 21(2); 405–16. ©2014 AACR.
Ventricular Arrhythmia Risk Stratification in Patients With Tetralogy of Fallot at the Time of Pulmonary Valve Replacement
Authors: Sabate Rotes Anna , Connolly Heidi M. , Warnes Carole A. , Ammash Naser M. , Phillips Sabrina D. , Dearani Joseph A. , Schaff Hartzell V. , Burkhart Harold M. , Hodge David O. , Asirvatham Samuel J. , McLeod Christopher J. 
Published: November 2014

Background—
Most patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot require pulmonary valve replacement (PVR), but the evaluation for and management of ventricular arrhythmia remain unclear. This study is aimed at clarifying the optimal approach to this potentially life-threatening issue at the time of PVR.

Methods and Results—

A retrospective analysis was performed on 205 patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot undergoing PVR at our institution between 1988 and 2010. Median age was 32.9 (range, 25.6) years. Previous ventricular tachycardia occurred in 16 patients (8%) and 37 (16%) had left ventricular dysfunction, defined as left ventricular ejection fraction <50%. Surgical right ventricular outflow tract cryoablation was performed in 22 patients (10.7%). The primary outcome was a combined event including ventricular tachycardia, out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, appropriate implantable cardioverter defibrillator therapy, and sudden cardiac death. Freedom from the combined event at 5, 10, and 15 years was 95%, 90%, and 79%, respectively. In the first year after PVR, 2 events occurred. Conversely, in the 22 patients who underwent surgical cryoablation, a single event occurred 7 years after PVR. A history of ventricular tachycardia and left ventricular dysfunction was associated with higher risk for the combined event (hazard ratio, 4.7;
P
=0.004 and hazard ratio, 0.8;
P
=0.02, respectively).

Conclusions—
Patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot undergoing PVR with history of ventricular tachycardia or left ventricular dysfunction appear to be associated with a higher risk of arrhythmic events after operation. Events in the first year after PVR are rare, and in select high-risk patients, surgical cryoablation does not seem to increase arrhythmic events and may be protective.
Prevention of Neointimal Formation After Angioplasty Using Nuclear Factor-κB Decoy Oligodeoxynucleotide-Coated Balloon Catheter in Rabbit Model
Authors: Miyake Takashi , Ihara Shinya , Miyake Tetsuo , Tsukada Yusuke , Watanabe Hajime , Matsuda Hiroaki , Kiguchi Hideki , Tsujimoto Hiroyuki , Nakagami Hironori , Morishita Ryuichi 
Published: November 2014

Background—
Despite the advent of drug-eluting stents, restenosis after endovascular intervention is still a major limitation in the treatment of cardiovascular disease. To regulate the multiple biological mechanisms underlying restenosis, we focused on inhibition of an important transcription factor, nuclear factor-kappaB (NFκB), using a decoy strategy.

Methods and Results—
For site-specific application of NFκB decoy oligodeoxynucleotides into target vessels during angioplasty, we developed a balloon catheter–based delivery system combined with biocompatible nanoparticles as oligodeoxynucleotides carriers. To clarify the therapeutic effect at the site of neointima, balloon angioplasty of the rabbit carotid arteries was performed at 4 weeks after initial endothelial denudation. This delivery system exhibited successful transfer of fluorescence-labeled nanospheres into the neointima in short-term contact with target vessels, and fluorescence could be detected ≥1 week after angioplasty. Consistently, local application of NFκB decoy oligodeoxynucleotides -loaded nanospheres resulted in significant inhibition of neointimal formation, associated with inhibition of NFκB binding activity in the injured arteries. The therapeutic effects were caused by inhibition of macrophage recruitment through the suppression of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, and CC chemokine ligand 4 expression and inhibition of vascular smooth muscle cell growth via a decrease in the expression of cyclin A and proliferating cell nuclear antigen. Importantly, application of NFκB nanospheres accelerated restoration of the endothelial cell monolayer, associated with enhanced expression of phosphorylated Bcl-2 in endothelial cells.

Conclusions—
A drug-coated balloon catheter using NFκB decoy oligodeoxynucleotides significantly inhibited the development of neointimal hyperplasia in rabbits. The present study indicates the possibility of a novel therapeutic option to prevent restenosis after angioplasty.
Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection
Authors: Tweet Marysia S. , Eleid Mackram F. , Best Patricia J.M. , Lennon Ryan J. , Lerman Amir , Rihal Charanjit S. , Holmes David R. , Hayes Sharonne N. , Gulati Rajiv 
Published: November 2014

Background—
Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is a nonatherosclerotic acute coronary syndrome for which optimal management remains undefined.

Methods and Results—

We performed a retrospective study of 189 patients presenting with a first SCAD episode. We evaluated outcomes according to initial management: (1) revascularization versus conservative therapy and (2) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) versus conservative therapy stratified by vessel flow at presentation. Demographics were similar in revascularization versus conservative (mean age, 44±9 years; women 92% both groups), but vessel occlusion was more frequent in revascularization (44/95 versus 18/94). There was 1 in-hospital death (revascularization) and 1 late death (conservative). Procedural failure rate was 53% in those managed with PCI. In the subgroup of patients presenting with preserved vessel flow, rates of PCI failure were similarly high (50%), and 6 (13%) required emergency coronary artery bypass grafting. In the conservative group, 85 of 94 (90%) had an uneventful in-hospital course, but 9 (10%) experienced early SCAD progression requiring revascularization. Kaplan–Meier estimated 5-year rates of target vessel revascularization and recurrent SCAD were no different in revascularization versus conservative therapy (30% versus 19%;
P
=0.06 and 23% versus 31%;
P
=0.7).

Conclusions—
PCI for SCAD is associated with high rates of technical failure even in those presenting with preserved vessel flow and does not protect against target vessel revascularization or recurrent SCAD. A strategy of conservative management with prolonged observation may be preferable.
International Geographic Variation in Event Rates in Trials of Heart Failure With Preserved and Reduced Ejection Fraction
Authors: Kristensen Søren L. , Køber Lars , Jhund Pardeep S. , Solomon Scott D. , Kjekshus John , McKelvie Robert S. , Zile Michael R. , Granger Christopher B. , Wikstrand John , Komajda Michel , Carson Peter E. , Pfeffer Marc A. , Swedberg Karl , Wedel Hans , Yusuf Salim , McMurray John J. V. 
Published: November 2014

Background—
International geographic differences in outcomes may exist for clinical trials of heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HF-REF), but there are few data for those with preserved ejection fraction (HF-PEF).

Methods and Results—

We analyzed outcomes by international geographic region in the Irbesartan in Heart Failure with Preserved systolic function trial (I-Preserve), the Candesartan in Heart failure Assessment of Reduction in Mortality and morbidity (CHARM)-Preserved trial, the CHARM-Alternative and CHARM–Added HF-REF trials, and the Controlled Rosuvastatin Multinational Trial in HF-REF (CORONA). Crude rates of heart failure hospitalization varied by geographic region, and more so for HF-PEF than for HF-REF. Rates in patients with HF-PEF were highest in the United States/Canada (HF hospitalization rate 7.6 per 100 patient-years in I-Preserve; 8.8 in CHARM-Preserved), intermediate in Western Europe (4.8/100 and 4.7/100), and lowest in Eastern Europe/Russia (3.3/100 and 2.8/100). The difference between the United States/Canada versus Eastern Europe/Russia persisted after adjustment for key prognostic variables: adjusted hazard ratios 1.34 (95% confidence interval, 1.01–1.74;
P
=0.04) in I-Preserve and 1.85 (95% confidence interval, 1.17–2.91;
P
=0.01) in CHARM-Preserved. In HF-REF, rates of HF hospitalization were slightly lower in Western Europe compared with other regions. For both HF-REF and HF-PEF, there were few regional differences in rates of all-cause or cardiovascular mortality.

Conclusions—
The differences in event rates observed suggest there is international geographic variation in 1 or more of the definition and diagnosis of HF-PEF, the risk profile of patients enrolled, and the threshold for hospitalization, which has implications for the conduct of future global trials.
Regional Variation in Patients and Outcomes in the Treatment of Preserved Cardiac Function Heart Failure With an Aldosterone Antagonist (TOPCAT) Trial
Authors: Pfeffer Marc A. , Claggett Brian , Assmann Susan F. , Boineau Robin , Anand Inder S. , Clausell Nadine , Desai Akshay S. , Diaz Rafael , Fleg Jerome L. , Gordeev Ivan , Heitner John F. , Lewis Eldrin F. , O’Meara Eileen , Rouleau Jean-Lucien , Probstfield Jeffrey L. , Shaburishvili Tamaz , Shah Sanjiv J. , Solomon Scott D. , Sweitzer Nancy K. , McKinlay Sonja M. , Pitt Bertram 
Published: November 2014

Background—
Treatment of Preserved Cardiac Function Heart Failure With an Aldosterone Antagonist (TOPCAT) patients with heart failure and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction assigned to spironolactone did not achieve a significant reduction in the primary composite outcome (time to cardiovascular death, aborted cardiac arrest, or hospitalization for management of heart failure) compared with patients receiving placebo. In a post hoc analysis, an ≈4-fold difference was identified in this composite event rate between the 1678 patients randomized from Russia and Georgia compared with the 1767 enrolled from the United States, Canada, Brazil, and Argentina (the Americas).

Methods and Results—

To better understand this regional difference in clinical outcomes, demographic characteristics of these populations and their responses to spironolactone were explored. Patients from Russia/Georgia were younger, had less atrial fibrillation and diabetes mellitus, but were more likely to have had prior myocardial infarction or a hospitalization for heart failure. Russia/Georgia patients also had lower left ventricular ejection fraction and creatinine but higher diastolic blood pressure (all
P
<0.001). Hyperkalemia and doubling of creatinine were more likely and hypokalemia was less likely in patients receiving spironolactone in the Americas with no significant treatment effects in Russia/Georgia. All clinical event rates were markedly lower in Russia/Georgia, and there was no detectable impact of spironolactone on any outcomes. In contrast, in the Americas, the rates of the primary outcome, cardiovascular death, and hospitalization for heart failure were significantly reduced by spironolactone.

Conclusions—
This post hoc analysis demonstrated greater potassium and creatinine changes and possible clinical benefits with spironolactone in patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction from the Americas.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT00094302.
Plaque Echolucency and Stroke Risk in Asymptomatic Carotid Stenosis
Authors: Gupta Ajay , Kesavabhotla Kartik , Baradaran Hediyeh , Kamel Hooman , Pandya Ankur , Giambrone Ashley E. , Wright Drew , Pain Kevin J. , Mtui Edward E. , Suri Jasjit S. , Sanelli Pina C. , Mushlin Alvin I. 
Published: November 2014

Background and Purpose—
Ultrasonographic plaque echolucency has been studied as a stroke risk marker in carotid atherosclerotic disease. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to summarize the association between ultrasound-determined carotid plaque echolucency and future ipsilateral stroke risk.

Methods—
We searched the medical literature for studies evaluating the association between carotid plaque echolucency and future stroke in asymptomatic patients. We included prospective observational studies with stroke outcome ascertainment after baseline carotid plaque echolucency assessment. We performed a meta-analysis and assessed study heterogeneity and publication bias. We also performed subgroup analyses limited to patients with stenosis ≥50%, studies in which plaque echolucency was determined via subjective visual interpretation, studies with a relatively lower risk of bias, and studies published after the year 2000.

Results—

We analyzed data from 7 studies on 7557 subjects with a mean follow-up of 37.2 months. We found a significant positive relationship between predominantly echolucent (compared with predominantly echogenic) plaques and the risk of future ipsilateral stroke across all stenosis severities (0% to 99%; relative risk, 2.31; 95% confidence interval, 1.58–3.39;
P
<0.001) and in subjects with ≥50% stenosis (relative risk, 2.61; 95% confidence interval, 1.47–4.63;
P
=0.001). A statistically significant increased relative risk for future stroke was preserved in all additional subgroup analyses. No statistically significant heterogeneity or publication bias was present in any of the meta-analyses.

Conclusions—
The presence of ultrasound-determined carotid plaque echolucency provides predictive information in asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis beyond luminal stenosis. However, the magnitude of the increased risk is not sufficient on its own to iden tify patients likely to benefit from surgical revascularization.
A new species of Lophophysema (Porifera, Hexactinellida, Hyalonematidae) from the South China Sea
Authors: GONG LIN , LI XINZHENG , QIU JIAN-WEN 
Published: November 2014

We describe Lophophysema eversa sp. nov. (Porifera, Hexactinellida, Hyalonematidae) based on a single specimen collected from the South China Sea at a depth of 3683 m. The new species can be distinguished from the three known congeners by its unusual body shape with basalia on the side of the body, the lack of macramphidiscs, the combination of the pinular pentactins having spiny tangential rays and the pinular ray of atrialia longer than dermalia and canalaria. This is the first record of the genus Lophophysema from the South China Sea. We also use a partial sequence of the 16S rRNA gene to confirm the family assignment of the new specimen.
Development and Formation Mechanism of the Southeast Asian Winter Heavy Rainfall Events around the South China Sea. Part II: Multiple Interactions*
Authors: Chen Tsing-Chang , Tsay Jenq-Dar , Matsumoto Jun 
Published: November 2014

Abstract
About 44% of the cold-season heavy rainfall/flood (HRF) events around the South China Sea require six days or longer to develop from the formation time of their parent cold surge vortices (CSVs). Formations for both the parent CSV and HRF event are involved with interactions of the concerned vortices with two different cold surge flows. The occurrence frequency of the East Asian cold surge flow varies from 4.5 to 6 days. The longevous CSVs enable their developments to interact with the second cold surge flows between formations of these CSVs and HRF events. Two requirements for the formation of HRF events are 1) synchronized occurrence of the HRF event and the northwestern Pacific explosive cyclone and 2) simultaneous occurrence of the maximum speeds among westerlies of the northwestern Pacific explosive cyclone and easterlies of the tropical trade winds and the HRF event. These requirements cannot be met by the CSV at its second maximum peak intensity, but the CSV at this stage plays an indispensible role for the formation of the HRF event to make its intensity and rainfall amount larger than those HRF events without this relay intensification. The development of an HRF event through multiple interactions of CSVs with sequential cold surge flows may pose difficulties to numerically simulate/predict the occurrence of these HRF events over the cold-season rainfall centers around the South China Sea.
Altitudinal Precipitation Gradients in the Tropics from Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Precipitation Radar
Authors: Anders Alison M. , Nesbitt Stephen W. 
Published: November 2014

Abstract
A Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) climatology shows variability in surface precipitation rate–elevation relationships across the tropics. Vertical profiles of radar reflectivity and profiles of specific humidity and cross-barrier moisture fluxes during precipitation events from the Interim European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts Re-Analysis reveal four precipitation regimes with distinct precipitation mechanisms: 1) a tropical regime with a broad precipitation maximum at ~1500 m where convection is triggered by orographic lifting; 2) a trade winds regime with a near–sea level precipitation maximum dominated by forced ascent due to prevailing winds and the presence of dry air aloft; 3) a wet monsoon regime with a low-elevation precipitation maximum driven by efficient precipitation generation, large low-level cross-barrier moisture fluxes, and multiple convective modes; and 4) a dry monsoon regime with a high-elevation precipitation maximum reflecting intense convection and stratiform rain with a strong evaporation signature. In general, surface precipitation–elevation relationships across the tropics feature lower-elevation precipitation maxima relative to typical midlatitude regimes.
Global Wavenumber Spectrum with Corrections for Altimeter High-Frequency Noise
Authors: Zhou Xiao-Hui , Wang Dong-Ping , Chen Dake 
Published: November 2014

AbstractThe altimetry wavenumber spectra of sea surface height (SSH) provide a unique dataset for testing of geostrophic turbulence. While SSH spectral slopes of k−11/3 and k−5 are expected from theories and numerical simulations, the altimetry spectra from the original unfiltered and instrument noise–corrected data often are too shallow, falling between k−2 and k−3. In this study, the possibility that the flattened spectral slopes are partly due to contamination by unresolved high-frequency (<10 days) motions is tested. A spatiotemporal filter based on empirical orthogonal function expansion (EOF) is used to remove the temporally incoherent signals. The resulting spectral slopes are much steeper than in the previous studies. Over 70% of the revised global spectral estimates, excluding the tropics, are above k−3. Moreover, in high energy regions like the Gulf Stream and Kuroshio, the spectral slopes are about k−5, which is consistent with the classical quasigeostrophic (QG) turbulence. The spectral slopes are validated with the eddy kinetic energy (EKE) spectra from shipboard acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) measurements in the high and low energy regions.
Improving quality through performance-based financing in district hospitals in Rwanda between 2006 and 2010: A 5-year experience
Authors: Janssen Willy , de Dieu Ngirabega Jean , Matungwa Michel , Van Bastelaere Stefaan 
Published: November 2014

Introduction Since 2000 performance-based financing (PBF) made its way to sub-Saharan health systems in an attempt to improve service delivery. In Rwanda initial experiences in 2001 and 2002 led to a scaling up of the initiative to all health centres (HC) and district hospitals (DH). In 2008 PBF became national strategy. Methods PBF was introduced in Rwanda in 2006 at the DH level. Evaluation on their service delivery was carried out quarterly in the following areas: hospital management, support to the health centres and clinical activities. We studied four DHs. Results After 5 years, an improvement in the quantity of clinical activities was observed, as well as quality in hospital management, in HC support and in clinical activities. Conclusion PBF proves to be a promising approach in strengthening and maintaining quality service delivery in the sub-Saharan district hospitals.