bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of Sildenafil on Ventricular and Vascular Function in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction
Authors: Borlaug Barry A. , Lewis Gregory D. , McNulty Steven E. , Semigran Marc J. , LeWinter Martin , Chen Horng , Lin Grace , Deswal Anita , Margulies Kenneth B. , Redfield Margaret M. 
Published: March 2015

Background—
Early studies showed beneficial effects of phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors on cardiovascular function in heart failure (HF) patients, but the RELAX trial observed no improvement in exercise capacity with sildenafil treatment in subjects with HF and preserved ejection fraction.

Methods and Results—

A subgroup of participants in the RELAX trial (n=48) underwent comprehensive noninvasive cardiovascular assessment before and after treatment with sildenafil or placebo in a prospective ancillary study. Left ventricular contractility was assessed by peak power index and stroke work index. Systemic arterial load was assessed by arterial elastance (Ea) and right ventricular afterload by pulmonary artery systolic pressure. Endothelial function was assessed by reactive hyperemia index after upper arm cuff occlusion. Compared with placebo (n=25), sildenafil (n=23) decreased Ea (−0.29±0.28 mm Hg/mL versus +0.02±0.29,
P
=0.008) and tended to improve reactive hyperemia index (+0.30±0.45 versus −0.17±0.30,
P
=0.054). In contrast, left ventricular contractility was reduced by 11% to 16% with sildenafil compared with placebo (ΔPWR/EDV −52±70 versus +0±40 mm Hg/s,
P
=0.006; ΔSW/EDV +0.3±5.8 versus −6.0±5.1 mm Hg,
P
=0.04). Sildenafil had no effect on pulmonary artery systolic pressure.

Conclusions—
In subjects with HF and preserved ejection fraction, sildenafil displayed opposing effects on ventricular and vascular function. We speculate that beneficial effects of phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors in the systemic vasculature and endothelium were insufficient to improve clinical status or that the deleterious effects on left ventricular function offset any salutary vascular effects, contributing to the absence of benefit observed with sildenafil in subjects with HF and preserved ejection fraction in the RELAX trial.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT00094302.
Fixed-Dose Combination Treatment After Stroke for Secondary Prevention in China
Authors: Longde Wang , Ling Yin , Yang Hua , Yi Zuo , Yongjun Wang , Xunming Ji , Xiaoyuan Niu , Qiumin Qu , Li He , Yuming Xu , Mei Li , Jiayi Sun , Jing Liu , Dong Zhao 
Published: March 2015

Background and Purpose—
There is evidence and international consensus on the advantages and potential of a polypill for established cardiovascular disease patients to improve adherence in the secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease. This study aimed to estimate the numbers of stroke patients who would be eligible for the polypill strategy in China, and the suitable composition of a polypill, based on data of the China National Stroke Prevention Project.

Methods—
A total of 717 620 residents aged ≥40 years from 6 Chinese representative provinces were screened for prevalent stroke from 2011 to 2012 with an 84.4% response rate. Participants with a history of stroke received further investigation of risk factors and treatments. The potential need for treatment was classified according to the guidelines. Rates were standardized using the population composition of the Sixth National Population Census of China.

Results—
The standardized prevalence rate of stroke was 1.9%. Up to 93.1% of stroke patients were eligible for a polypill containing at least 2 types of medications, with 75.3% eligible for a statin and antiplatelet agent and 70.6% for antihypertensive and antiplatelet medications. Considering 3 therapies, 54% were eligible for antihypertensive, statin, and antiplatelet medications. The current treatment rate with all required combinations of separate pills was only 6.9%.

Conclusions—
A huge number of stroke patients in China require preventive therapy and would be eligible for a polypill. This study indicates that it would be reasonable to consider and assess the value of a polypill strategy to improve secondary prevention of stroke in China.
Bellevalia koyuncui sp. nova (Asparagaceae): a new species from South Eastern Anatolia, Turkey
Authors: KARABACAK OSMAN , YILDIRIM HASAN , MARTİN ESRA 
Published: March 2015

Bellevalia Lapeyrouse (1808: 425) is a genus comprising about 65 species and subspecies distributed over the Mediterranean region (Bareka et al. 2008, Jafari & Maassoumi 2008, Borzatti von Loewenstern et al. 2013). Wendelbo (1984) reported 18 taxa, seven of which endemic to the country. In further studies, Wendelbo (1985) reduced Bellevalia latifolia Feinbrun (1940: 369) to a synonym of B. olivieri (Baker 1874: 8) Wendelbo (1985: 120). Since then, three species were published by Özhatay (2000), while Johnson (2003) reduced B. pycnantha (Koch 1849: 255) Losinskaja (1935: 310) to a synonym of B. paradoxa (Fischer & Meyer 1835: 30) Boissier (1882: 308). In recent years, four more species, B. leucantha Persson (2006: 253), B. malatyaensis Uzunh. & H.Duman in Uzunhisarcıklı et al. (2013: 652), B. chrisii Yıldırım & B.Şahin in Yıldırım et al. (2015: in press) and B. pseudolongipes Karabacak & Yıldırım in Karabacak et al. (2014: 210) were described. In this study, we present a further new species, Bellevalia koyuncui, endemic to Turkey.
Sensitivity of Precipitation Accumulation in Elevated Convective Systems to Small Changes in Low-Level Moisture
Authors: Schumacher Russ S. 
Published: March 2015

Abstract
Using a method for initiating a quasi-stationary, heavy-rain-producing elevated mesoscale convective system in an idealized numerical modeling framework, a series of experiments is conducted in which a shallow layer of drier air is introduced within the near-surface stable layer. The environment is still very moist in the experiments, with changes to the column-integrated water vapor of only 0.3%–1%. The timing and general evolution of the simulated convective systems are very similar, but rainfall accumulation at the surface is changed by a much larger fraction than the reduction in moisture, with point precipitation maxima reduced by up to 29% and domain-averaged precipitation accumulations reduced by up to 15%. The differences in precipitation are partially attributed to increases in the evaporation rate in the shallow subcloud layer, though this is found to be a secondary effect. More importantly, even though the near-surface layer has strong convective inhibition in all simulations and the convective available potential energy of the most unstable parcels is unchanged, convection is less intense in the experiments with drier subcloud layers because less air originating in that layer rises in convective updrafts. An additional experiment with a cooler near-surface layer corroborates these findings. The results from these experiments suggest that convective systems assumed to be elevated are, in fact, drawing air from near the surface unless the low levels are very stable. Considering that the moisture differences imposed here are comparable to observational uncertainties in low-level temperature and moisture, the strong sensitivity of accumulated precipitation to these quantities has implications for the predictability of extreme rainfall.
On the Crossover of Boundary Currents in an Idealized Model of the Red Sea
Authors: Zhai Ping , Pratt Larry J. , Bower Amy 
Published: March 2015

AbstractThe west-to-east crossover of boundary currents has been seen in mean circulation schemes from several past models of the Red Sea. This study investigates the mechanisms that produce and control the crossover in an idealized, eddy-resolving numerical model of the Red Sea. The authors also review the observational evidence and derive an analytical estimate for the crossover latitude. The surface buoyancy loss increases northward in the idealized model, and the resultant mean circulation consists of an anticyclonic gyre in the south and a cyclonic gyre in the north. In the midbasin, the northward surface flow crosses from the western boundary to the eastern boundary. Numerical experiments with different parameters indicate that the crossover latitude of the boundary currents changes with f0, β, and the meridional gradient of surface buoyancy forcing. In the analytical estimate, which is based on quasigeostrophic, β-plane dynamics, the crossover is predicted to lie at the latitude where the net potential vorticity advection (including an eddy component) is zero. Various terms in the potential vorticity budget can be estimated using a buoyancy budget, a thermal wind balance, and a parameterization of baroclinic instability.
An Initialization Method for Idealized Channel Simulations
Authors: Terpstra Annick , Spengler Thomas 
Published: March 2015

Abstract
Idealized model simulations have long been established as valuable tools to gain insight into atmospheric phenomena by providing a simplified, easier to comprehend version of the complex atmospheric system. A specific subgroup of idealized simulations, such as baroclinic channel models, requires the initialization of the model with balanced atmospheric fields to investigate the evolution of an introduced perturbation. The quality of these simulations depends on the degree of balance of the initial state, as imbalances result in geostrophic and hydrostatic adjustment processes that potentially skew the results. In this paper, a general method to create geostrophically and hydrostatically balanced initial conditions is introduced. The major benefit of this method is the possibility to directly define a basic state wind field with the pertinent atmospheric fields being derived given appropriate boundary conditions. Application of the method is exemplified by constructing initial conditions for a baroclinic test case with WRF and analyzing a perturbed and unperturbed numerical simulation. The unperturbed simulation exhibits weak inertia–gravity wave activity and minimal adjustment of the initial state during a 5-day simulation, which confirms the high degree of initial balance provided by the initialization technique. In the perturbed simulation, baroclinic instability is initiated, resulting in a cyclogenesis event similar to previous idealized baroclinic channel simulations. The proposed method is compared with initial conditions formulated in a Boussinesq framework, illustrating the difference in imbalances and their effect on perturbation growth.
Self-harm and ethnicity: A systematic review
Authors: Al-Sharifi Ali , Krynicki Carl R , Upthegrove Rachel 
Published: March 2015

Aims: This review will focus on the rates, clinical characteristics, risk factors and methods of self-harm and suicide in different ethnic groups in the United Kingdom, providing an update synthesis of recent literature. Methods: Studies that met the inclusion criteria between 2003 and 2013 were reviewed using the following databases: MEDLINE, PsycINFO, EMBASE and CINAHL. The methodological quality of each study was then assessed using a structured scoring system. Results: A total of 2,362 articles were retrieved, 10 of which matched the inclusion criteria were reviewed. Significant differences were found in the rates of self-harm between ethnic groups with Asian males being least likely to self-harm and Black females being most likely to self-harm. Also, Black and South Asian people were less likely to repeat self-harm. Factors that may help protect or predispose individuals to self-harm or attempt suicide (such as religion, mental health and coping styles) also differ between ethnic groups. Conclusions: There are clear ethnic differences in self-harm and suicide, which may be affected by factors such as cultural pressures and prevalence of mental illness. An awareness of these differences is vital to help prevent further attempts of self-harm and suicide. Further research into differences between ethnic and cultural groups and self-harm continues to be important.
A treacherous case of primary non-Hodgkin lymphoma of the bone: appearances can be deceptive
Authors: Anyfanti Panagiota , Gouridou Eugenia , Tsinaridis Apostolos , Bekiaropoulos Dimitrios , Argyropoulos Eleftherios , Sousos Nikolaos , Petrou Ioannis , Papathanasiou Maria , Morichovitou Anthi , Damianidis Georgios , Bakatselos Spyros 
Published: March 2015

Introduction Primary lymphoma of the bone constitutes an extremely rare but distinctive clinical entity, accounting for approximately 3% of all primary bone malignancies and less than 1% of all non-Hodgkin lymphomas. Case presentation We report a rare case of a male patient with an atypical clinical presentation of non-Hodgkin primary lymphoma of the bone, initially misdiagnosed as ankylosing spondylitis. To our knowledge, this is the first case in the literature in which magnetic resonance imaging was contra-indicated. The atypical radiological imaging of the tumor, despite its aggressiveness, rendered the diagnostic approach a challenging but strenuous process. Conclusion Plain radiographs and even computerized tomography images of primary lymphoma of the bone may appear as normal, but other imaging modalities should be used including radionuclide scans, especially when imaging techniques of greater accuracy such as magnetic resonance imaging are contraindicated. A patient-centred approach with emphasis on the main symptoms is the key to the diagnostic challenge of revealing the extremely unusual cases of primary lymphoma of the bone.
Concussions Are Associated With Decreased Batting Performance Among Major League Baseball Players
Authors: Wasserman Erin B. , Abar Beau , Shah Manish N. , Wasserman Daniel , Bazarian Jeffrey J. 
Published: March 2015

Background: Concussions impair balance, visual acuity, and reaction time—all of which are required for high-level batting performance—but the effects of concussion on batting performance have not been reported. The authors examined this relationship between concussion and batting performance among Major League Baseball (MLB) players. Hypothesis: Batting performance among concussed MLB players will be worse upon return to play than batting performance among players missing time for noninjury reasons. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: The authors identified MLB players who sustained a concussion between 2007 and 2013 through league disabled-list records and a Baseball Prospectus database. For a comparison group, they identified players who went on paternity or bereavement leave during the same period. Using repeated-measures generalized linear models, the authors compared 7 batting metrics between the 2 groups for the 2 weeks upon return, as well as 4 to 6 weeks after return, controlling for pre-leave batting metrics, number of days missed, and position. Results: The authors identified 66 concussions and 68 episodes of bereavement/paternity leave to include in the analysis. In the 2 weeks after return, batting average (.235 vs .266), on-base percentage (.294 vs .326), slugging percentage (.361 vs .423), and on-base plus slugging (.650 vs .749) were significantly lower among concussed players relative to the bereavement/paternity leave players (time × group interaction, P < .05). In weeks 4 to 6 after leave, these metrics were slightly lower in concussed players but not statistically significantly so. Conclusion: Although concussed players may be asymptomatic upon return to play, the residual effects of concussion on the skills required for batting may still be present. Further work is needed to clarify the mechanism through which batting performance after concussion is adversely affected and to identify better measures to use for return-to-play decisions.
The Relationship Between Dermatologist- and Patient-Reported Acne Severity Measures and Treatment Recommendations
Authors: Tan Jerry , Frey Marc P. , Knezevic Sanja , Poulin Yves , Lynde Charles W. , Gulliver Wayne P. , Gupta Aditya K. , Sebaldt Rolf J. , Thomas David R. , Sapra Sheetal 
Published: March 2015

Background: Acne treatment recommendations for individual patients may be derived from multiple factors including dermatologist- and patient-reported constructs. Objectives: To evaluate the effects of dermatologist- and patient-reported measures on acne treatment recommendations by dermatologists. Methods: An observational cross-sectional survey of acne patients was conducted with patient-reported quality of life and dermatologist-reported measures of primary and secondary (scar) acne severity using 3 assessment approaches: maximal regional grade, total grade, and facial grade. Results: The most highly associated factors with acne treatment recommendations were patient emotions, maximal regional acne severity, and total acne scar grade. Better acne-specific quality of life was negatively related to acne treatment recommendation intensity, while all 3 grading approaches were positively related to acne treatment recommendations. Conclusions: For dermatologists, overall acne severity is most highly associated with maximal regional acne grade, total scar grade, and patient’s emotional response to acne.
Alphabetically Ordered Ballots and the Composition of American Legislatures
Authors: Edwards Barry C. 
Published: March 2015

AbstractAlthough research demonstrates that favorable ballot position can deliver candidates a small windfall of votes in local, nonpartisan, and primary elections, it is not clear whether ballot order laws have had any impact on the composition of U.S. legislatures. In this article, I estimate the substantive significance of ballot order rules by comparing the legislators of states that alphabetically order ballots to those elected by states that randomize or rotate ballot order. I also compare legislators elected by states that started or stopped alphabetically ordering ballots in recent decades. I find that states that alphabetically order ballots disproportionately elect candidates with early alphabet surnames. My research challenges the prevailing belief that ballot order affects only minor elections and suggests that seemingly innocuous rules have altered our political landscape. I conclude that arbitrary ballot ordering rules should be reformed to remedy their substantial impact on political representation.
BC Medication Management Project
Authors: Henrich Natalie , Tsao Nicole , Gastonguay Louise , Lynd Larry , Marra Carlo A. 
Published: March 2015

Background: The BC Medication Management Project (BCMMP) was developed by the BC Ministry of Health and the BC Pharmacy Association. This pilot project ran from September 2010 to January 2012. Pharmacists reviewed patients’ medication histories, discussed best use of medications, provided education and monitored for adverse effects, developed a plan to deal with medication issues and created a best possible medication history. Methods: To evaluate the experience of participating in the BCMMP, challenges and strengths of the project and the alignment of these experiences with the overarching goals, focus groups and interviews were conducted with 6 stakeholder groups. Themes were compared within and across stakeholder type and descriptively analyzed. Results: A total of 88 people participated in the focus groups/interviews. Pharmacists stated that providing BCMMP services was professionally satisfying and concurred with patients that the service did benefit them. However, participating in the BCMMP was not seen as financially sustainable by pharmacy owners, and there were concerns about patient selection. Physicians expressed concerns about increased workload associated with the BCMMP, for which they were not compensated. The computer system and burden of documentation were identified as the greatest problems. Conclusions: The BCMMP pilot project was enthusiastically received by pharmacists and patients who felt that it benefited patients and moved the pharmacy profession in a positive direction. It was widely felt that the BCMMP could be successful and sustainable if the identified challenges are addressed.
Urinary tract infections in women with stress urinary incontinence treated with transobturator suburethral tape and benefit gained from the sublingual polibacterial vaccine
Authors: Lorenzo Gómez María F. , Collazos Robles Rafael E. , Virseda Rodríguez Álvaro J. , García Cenador María B. , Mirón Canelo José A. , Padilla Fernández Bárbara 
Published: March 2015

Introduction and objectives: Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and recurrent urinary tract infections (RUTIs) are highly prevalent diseases. Our purpose was to investigate the relationship between RUTIs and surgical correction of SUI with transobturator suburethral tape (TOT) and to describe the benefit gained from a sublingual polibacterial preparation on RUTIs developed after TOT. Materials and methods: A retrospective study was performed on 420 women who underwent TOT surgery due to SUI between April 2003 and October 2011. Group A: patients without urinary tract infections (UTIs) before TOT ( n = 294). Group B: patients with UTIs before TOT ( n = 126). Variables: age, personal history, number of UTIs/month prior to and after surgery, appearance of urgent urinary incontinence (UUI) with or without UTIs, response to International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Short Form (ICIQ-SF) and Short Form 36 (SF-36) questionnaires. Results: Group A: 85% dry; 5% UUI; 4% de novo UTIs with good response to antibiotics over 6 days. No RUTIs during the follow-up period, 2% with sporadic UTIs. Group B: 47.61% RUTIs; 52.39% sporadic UTIs; greater incidence of diabetes mellitus ( p < 0.0025) and smoking ( p < 0.0031) than group A. After TOT: 79.36% dry; 10% RUTIs. After treatment with antibiotics for 6 days and bacterial preparation for 3 months, 82% of patients did not have a UTI anymore. Postoperative cystourethrogram revealed 38% of nondiagnosed cystoceles before TOT. No patient had a postvoiding volume greater than 100 cm3 after TOT. Improvement of ICIQ-SF ( p < 0.001) and SF-36 ( p < 0.0004) in both groups. Conclusion: After eliminating bias associated with the tape, the technique and the surgeon’s skills, SUI correction may decrease the number of UTIs and improve the quality of life. UTIs disappeared in 82% of patients with RUTIs after TOT.