bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Urinary albumin excretion as a marker of endothelial dysfunction in migraine sufferers: the HUNT study, Norway
Authors: Jacobsen Line M , Winsvold Bendik S , Romundstad Solfrid , Pripp Are H , Holmen Jostein , Zwart John-Anker 
Published: August 2013

ObjectiveTo investigate urine albumin leakage as a marker of endothelial dysfunction in migraine patients.DesignA population-based health study.Participants303 patients with migraine, 1009 patients with non-migraine headache and 5287 headache-free controls.OutcomesThe association between urine albumin- to-creatine ratio (ACR) and headache status was investigated in the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT-2). Patients were selected in two strata, based on either (1) self-reported hypertension/diabetes (morbid sample) or (2) a random sample. Analyses were performed using analysis of covariance.ResultsThere was no association between headache status and ACR in the study population (p=0.23, mean ACR for migraine 1.66, 95% CI 1.31 to 2.01, for non-migraine headache 1.90, 95% CI 1.71 to 2.09 and for no headache 1.73, 95% CI 1.64 to 1.81) after relevant adjustments. Similarly, no association between headache status and ACR was seen when the analysis was stratified for morbid and random samples, or for migraine with and without aura.ConclusionsWe found no evidence of increased urine albumin leakage in migraine sufferers when compared with headache-free controls. This could indicate that systemic endothelial dysfunction is not a prominent feature of migraine.
Statin use and asthma control in patients with severe asthma
Authors: Zeki Amir A , Oldham Justin , Wilson Machelle , Fortenko Olga , Goyal Vishal , Last Michael , Last Andrew , Patel Ayan , Last Jerold A , Kenyon Nicholas J 
Published: August 2013

ObjectivesWe hypothesised that severe asthmatics taking a statin drug, in addition to inhaled corticosteroids/long-acting β-agonist inhaler therapy, would have better asthma symptom control and improved lung function compared to their controls.Study designA retrospective, cross-sectional study of 165 patients with severe asthma seen from 2001–2008. Hierarchical linear and logistic regression models were used for modelling fitting.SettingUniversity of California, Davis Medical Center (Sacramento, California, USA). Academic, single-centre, severe asthma subspecialty clinic.Participants612 screened, 223 eligible and 165 adult patients were included in the final study (N=165; 31 statin users and 134 non-users).Primary and secondary outcome measuresThe primary endpoint was asthma control as measured by the Asthma Control Test (ACT). The secondary endpoints included lung function, symptoms and the need for corticosteroid burst and peripheral eosinophil count.ResultsAt baseline, statin users compared to non-users were older, had lower lung function (FEV1% predicted, FEV1, forced vital capacity and FEF25–75%) and had a higher prevalence of comorbid conditions. Statin use was associated with more aspirin and ipratropium inhaler use than in non-users. Patients in both groups were obese (body mass index ≥ 30). Statin users had better asthma symptom control compared to non-users (higher adjusted mean ACT score by 2.2±0.94 points, p<0.02). Median statin use was for 1 year. There were no statistically significant differences in lung function, corticosteroid or rescue bronchodilator use or peripheral eosinophilia between the two groups.ConclusionsIn our severe asthma referral population, statin users already taking inhaled controller therapy achieved better asthma control compared to non-users. The implications of this study is that patients with severe asthma could potentially benefit from added statin treatment. Because our study population was on average obese, the obese severe asthmatic may be a viable asthma subphenotype for further studies. Prospective randomised clinical trials evaluating the safety and efficacy of statins in severe asthma are warranted.
Assessing remedies for missing weekly individual exposure in sport injury studies
Authors: Kang Jian , Yuan Yan , Emery Carolyn 
Published: August 2013

BackgroundIn sport injury epidemiology research, the injury incidence rate (IR) is defined as the number of injuries over a given length of participation time (exposure, eg, game hours). However, it is common that individual weekly exposure is missing due to requirements of personnel at every game to record exposure information. Ignoring this issue will lead to an inflated injury rate because the total exposure serves as the denominator of IR, where the number of injury cases were captured accurately.PurposeThis paper used data collected from a large community cohort study in youth ice hockey as an example, and compared six methods to handle missing weekly exposure of individual players.MethodsThe six methods to handle missing weekly exposures include available case analysis, last observation carried forward, mean imputation, multiple imputation, bootstrapping and best/worst case analysis. To estimate injury rate ratios (IRRs) between Alberta and Quebec, as in the original study, three statistical models were applied to the imputed datasets: Poisson, zero-inflated Poisson and negative binomial regression models.ResultsThe final sample for imputation included 2098 players for whom 12.5% of weekly game hours were missing. Estimated IRs and IRRs with CIs from different imputation methods were similar when the proportion of missing was small. Simulations showed that mean and multiple imputations provide the least biased estimates of IRR when the proportion of missing was large.ConclusionsComplicated methods, like multiple imputation or bootstrap, are not superior over the mean imputation, a much simpler method, in handling missing weekly exposure of injury data where exposures were missing at random.
Modified murine intracranial aneurysm model: aneurysm formation and rupture by elastase and hypertension
Authors: Hosaka Koji , Downes Daniel P , Nowicki Kamil W , Hoh Brian L 
Published: August 2013

IntroductionCerebral aneurysms occur in up to 5% of the population. There are several murine models of aneurysms; however, all have limitations and none reproducibly model aneurysm rupture. To fulfill this need, we modified two current rodent aneurysm models to create a murine model which reproducibly produces intracranial aneurysms and rupture.MethodsThe left common carotid arteries and the right renal arteries were ligated in C57BL/6 female mice with a hypertensive diet. One week later, small burr holes were created with a stereotactic frame using the following stereotactic measurements: 1.2 mm rostral and 0.7 mm lateral to the right of the bregma. A 26 G needle was gradually advanced via the burr hole until contact with the skull base, upon which the needle was pulled back 0.3 mm. Five, 10 and 20 μL of 10 U/mL elastase solution and 10 μL of 1 U/mL elastase solution were stereotactically injected into the basal cisterns. Angiotensin II was then continually infused at a dose of 1000 ng/kg/min via an osmotic pump placed subcutaneously. In the control mice, 20 μL bromophenol blue solution was injected. Three weeks later, or earlier if mice expired prior to 3 weeks, the circle of Willis was inspected by microscopy for aneurysm formation and/or signs of rupture. Histological analyses were then performed to evaluate elastic lamina destruction, inflammatory cell and macrophage infiltration, absence of intimal endothelial cells and thickening of the smooth muscle layer within the aneurysm wall. To compare with human aneurysms, human aneurysm specimens (n=35; 34 unruptured and 1 ruptured) and normal control superficial temporal arteries (STAs) (n=9) were examined.ResultsAll mice given 5, 10 and 20 μL of 10 U/mL elastase solution developed intracranial aneurysms within the circle of Willis; 40%, 60% and 50% of mice had ruptured aneurysms, respectively. In mice given 10 μL of 1.0 U/mL elastase solution, 90% developed intracranial aneurysms and 20% had ruptured aneurysms. Aneurysms were confirmed by examining the destruction of the elastic lamina. Aneurysms consistently demonstrated CD45 positive inflammatory cell and F4/80 positive macrophage infiltration within the aneurysm wall which was not present in the circle of Willis of normal sham-operated mice. These results were similar to those in human aneurysms and STA control arteries.ConclusionsWe modified two current rodent aneurysm models to create a murine model that produces consistent aneurysms and rupture and can be used for studying cerebral aneurysm formation, rupture and treatment.
Identification of Lethal microRNAs Specific for Head and Neck Cancer
Authors: Lindenbergh-van der Plas Marlon , Martens-de Kemp Sanne R. , de Maaker Michiel , van Wieringen Wessel N. , Ylstra Bauke , Agami Reuven , Cerisoli Francesco , Leemans C. René , Braakhuis Boudewijn J.M. , Brakenhoff Ruud H. 
Published: August 2013

Abstract
Purpose: The prognosis of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) remains disappointing and the development of novel anti-cancer agents is urgently awaited. We identified by a functional genetic screen microRNAs that are selectively lethal for head and neck cancer cells but not for normal cells. We further investigated the genes targeted by these microRNAs.
Experimental Design: A retroviral expression library of human microRNAs was introduced in HNSCC cell lines and normal oropharyngeal keratinocytes to identify tumor-selective lethal microRNAs. Potential downstream gene targets of these microRNAs were identified by gene expression profiling and validated by functional assays.
Results: We identified six microRNAs that selectively inhibit proliferation of head and neck cancer cells. By gene expression profiling and 3′-untranslated region (UTR) luciferase reporter assays, we showed that the ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) gene is a common target for at least two and likely three of these microRNAs. Specific inhibition of ATM resulted in a similar tumor-specific lethal effect, whereas the phenotype was reverted in rescue experiments.
Conclusions: These six microRNAs might be developed as novel anti-cancer agents and highlight ATM as an interesting novel therapeutic target for head and neck cancer. Clin Cancer Res; 19(20); 5647–57. ©2013 AACR.
Aortic Regurgitation and Left Ventricular Remodeling After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation
Authors: Merten Constanze , Beurich Hans-Wilko , Zachow Dirk , Mostafa Ahmad E. , Geist Volker , Toelg Ralph , Richardt Gert , Abdel-Wahab Mohamed 
Published: August 2013

Background—
Aortic regurgitation (AR) after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has been associated with poor outcomes, but little is known about how it evolves over time. We evaluated left ventricular (LV) function, remodeling, and the occurrence and evolution of AR after TAVI by using cardiac MRI.

Methods and Results—

Forty-three patients treated with transfemoral TAVI underwent cardiac MRI 1 week and 6 months after TAVI. LV volumes and function were assessed by using standard cine MRI sequences. Phase-contrast imaging was performed to quantify the degree of AR. The mean age of the evaluated patients was 80 years, and 65% of patients were women. At baseline MRI, the median LV ejection fraction was 58.1%, which improved significantly at follow-up to 63.4% (
P
<0.0001). A significant reduction of LV end-diastolic volume (149.7±41.4–140.1±43.9 mL;
P
=0.014) and of LV mass (156.3±32.8–142.7±39.3 g;
P
<0.001) was observed. Over time, aortic regurgitant fraction increased slightly but significantly from 5.2% to 7.8% (
P
=0.04). Subgroup analysis revealed that significant changes of LV ejection fraction, volumes, and mass only occurred in patients with no or mild AR at baseline MRI, whereas those parameters remained unchanged in patients with AR more than or equal to grade II.

Conclusions—
By using cardiac MRI in patients with TAVI, a significant improvement of LV function, volume, and mass can be documented. Mild-to-moderate AR is commonly seen, and AR shows a small increase over time. More-than-mild AR seems to prevent LV functional and structural recovery after TAVI.
Triple Antithrombotic Therapy Is the Independent Predictor for the Occurrence of Major Bleeding Complications
Authors: Naruse Yoshihisa , Sato Akira , Hoshi Tomoya , Takeyasu Noriyuki , Kakefuda Yuki , Ishibashi Mayu , Misaki Masako , Abe Daisuke , Aonuma Kazutaka 
Published: August 2013

Background—
Triple antithrombotic therapy increases the risk of bleeding events in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention. However, it remains unclear whether good control of percent time in therapeutic range is associated with reduced occurrence of bleeding complications in patients undergoing triple antithrombotic therapy.

Methods and Results—

This study included 2648 patients (70±11 years; 2037 men) who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention with stent in the Ibaraki Cardiovascular Assessment Study registry and received dual antiplatelet therapy with or without warfarin. Clinical end points were defined as the occurrence of major bleeding complications (MBC), major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular event, and all-cause death. Among these 2648 patients, 182 (7%) patients received warfarin. After a median follow-up period of 25 months (interquartile range, 15–35 months), MBC had occurred in 48 (2%) patients, major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular event in 484 (18%) patients, and all-cause death in 206 (8%) patients. Multivariable Cox regression analysis revealed that triple antithrombotic therapy was the independent predictor for the occurrence of MBC (hazard ratio, 7.25; 95% confidence interval, 3.05–17.21;
P
<0.001). The time in therapeutic range value did not differ between the patients with and without MBC occurrence (83% [interquartile range, 50%–90%] versus 75% [interquartile range, 58%–87%];
P
=0.7). However, the mean international normalized ratio of prothrombin time at the time of MBC occurrence was 3.3±2.1. Triple antithrombotic therapy did not have a predictive value for the occurrence of all-cause death (
P
=0.1) and stroke (
P
=0.2).

Conclusions—
Triple antithrombotic therapy predisposes patients to an increased risk of MBC regardless of the time in therapeutic range.
Calibration and Validation of the Integrated Biosphere Simulator (IBIS) for a Brazilian Semiarid Region
Authors: Cunha Ana Paula M. A. , Alvalá Regina C. S. , Sampaio Gilvan , Shimizu Marília Harumi , Costa Marcos Heil 
Published: August 2013

AbstractThe reliability of predictions from climate and weather models is linked to an adequate representation of the land surface processes. To evaluate performance and to improve predictions, land surface models are calibrated against observed data. Despite an extensive literature describing methods of land surface model calibration, few studies have applied a calibration method for semiarid natural vegetation, especially for the semiarid northeast of Brazil, which presents caatinga as its natural vegetation. Caatinga is a highly dynamic ecosystem with the physics at the land surface–atmosphere interface still poorly understood. Therefore, in this study a multiobjective hierarchical method, which provides means to estimate optimal values of the model parameters through calibration, is evaluated. This method is applied to caatinga by using the Integrated Biosphere Simulator (IBIS). Results demonstrated that the calibrated set of vegetation parameters produced a considerably different energy balance from the default parameters. In general, the model was able to simulate the partition of the available energy into sensible and latent heat fluxes when the calibrated parameters were used. The IBIS model was not able to capture short-term, intense changes in latent heat flux from a dry condition to a wetter condition, however, even when the new set of calibrated parameters was used. Therefore, the parameter optimization may not be sufficient if processes are missing or misrepresented. This study is one of the first to understand the physics at the land surface–atmosphere interface in the caatinga ecosystem and to evaluate the ability of the IBIS model to represent the biophysical interactions in this important ecosystem.
Intense Summer Heat in Tokyo and Its Suburban Areas Related with Variation in the Synoptic-Scale Pressure Field: A Statistical Analysis
Authors: Yoshikado Hiroshi 
Published: August 2013

AbstractIntense summer heat in Tokyo, Japan, and its suburban areas between 1990 and 2010 was statistically analyzed. Sample days were selected from among days with a sea breeze and sufficient sunshine duration, because sea breeze is the dominant summertime meteorological system in the region. Excess in the daily maximum temperature of an inland urban site in Tokyo over a site facing the outer sea where the sea breeze originates was selected as a key index. A comparison of a group of days for which the temperature excess was large with an opposing group of days for which it was small revealed a distinct difference in diurnal wind variations: persistent southwesterly winds overwhelmed the sea breeze in areas facing the outer sea in the former case, whereas in the latter case a diurnal sea-breeze cycle was typically observed in those areas as well as in the inland areas. This difference could furthermore be connected to differences in the pressure gradient in the region, that is, differences in the synoptic-scale pressure field. As a result, slight shifts in the pressure field affect urban heat, suggesting that, in addition to general warming, changes in the pressure field resulting from future climate change can be of great importance.
Arctic Sea Ice Reduction and Extreme Climate Events over the Mediterranean Region
Authors: Grassi Barbara , Redaelli Gianluca , Visconti Guido 
Published: August 2013

Abstract
During the last decade, Arctic sea ice cover has experienced an accelerated decline that has been suggested to drive the increased occurrence of extremely cold winter events over continental Europe. Observations and modeling studies seem to support the idea that Mediterranean climate is also changing. In this work, the authors estimate potential effects on the Mediterranean Basin, during the winter period, of Arctic sea ice reduction. Two sets of simulations have been performed by prescribing different values of sea ice concentrations (50% and 20%) on the Barents–Kara Seas in the NCAR Community Atmosphere Model, version 3 (CAM3), as representative of idealized present and future sea ice conditions. Global model simulations have then been used to run the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) Regional Climate Model, version 4 (RegCM4), over central Europe and the Mediterranean domain. Simulations provide evidence for a large-scale atmospheric circulation response to sea ice reduction, resembling the negative phase of the Arctic Oscillation (AO) and characterized by a wave activity flux from the North Atlantic toward the Mediterranean Basin, during winter months. An increase in the occurrence and intensity of extreme cold events, over continental Europe, and extreme precipitation events, over the entire Mediterranean Basin, was found. In particular, simulations suggest an increased risk of winter flooding in southern Italy, Greece, and the Iberian Peninsula.
Comparison of the Annual Cycles of Moisture Supply over Southwest and Southeast China
Authors: Li Xiuzhen , Zhou Wen , Li Chongyin , Song Jie 
Published: August 2013

Abstract
The variation in regional precipitation over southeast and southwest China depends strongly on externally imported moisture rather than local evaporation. Associated with the different climate over the two regions, great discrepancies appear in the annual cycles of the moisture supply. Stationary moisture transport dominates externally imported moisture to a large extent, with transient transport being much weaker. The stationary moisture sink over southeast China is strong during spring and summer due to strong moisture input via the southern boundary and weak during fall and winter due to the offset between the output via the southern boundary and the net zonal boundary atmospheric flux. Zonal stationary moisture transport dominates the variation in moisture supply over southwest China. Negative net zonal boundary atmospheric flux countervails (collaborates) with positive meridional transport during the dry (wet) season.
Stationary moisture circulations dominate regional atmospheric moisture convergence anomalies over both southeast and southwest China. Weak cold air activity is favorable for a strong moisture sink over southeast China, while the reverse appears over southwest China in spring. The east-to-west location of the abnormal anticyclone determines whether strong moisture converges over southeast China or southwest China in fall. The anticyclonic circulation anomaly over the Philippine Sea, remotely forced by El Niño, is crucial to the strong moisture sink over southeast China from winter to spring, while it does not play a role in the abnormal moisture sink over southwest China.
The Antarctic Atmospheric Energy Budget. Part II: The Effect of Ozone Depletion and its Projected Recovery
Authors: Smith Karen L. , Previdi Michael , Polvani Lorenzo M. 
Published: August 2013

Abstract
In this study the authors continue their investigation of the atmospheric energy budget of the Antarctic polar cap (the region poleward of 70°S) using integrations of the Whole Atmosphere Community Climate Model from the years 1960 to 2065. In agreement with observational data, it is found that the climatological mean net top-of-atmosphere (TOA) radiative flux is primarily balanced by the horizontal energy flux convergence over the polar cap. On interannual time scales, changes in the net TOA radiative flux are also primarily balanced by changes in the energy flux convergence, with the variability in both terms significantly correlated (positively and negatively, respectively) with the southern annular mode (SAM). On multidecadal time scales, twentieth-century stratospheric ozone depletion produces a negative trend in the net TOA radiative flux due to a decrease in the absorbed solar radiation within the atmosphere–surface column. The negative trend in the net TOA radiative flux is balanced by a positive trend in energy flux convergence, primarily in austral summer. This negative (positive) trend in the net TOA radiation (energy flux convergence) occurs despite a positive trend in the SAM, suggesting that the effects of the SAM on the energy budget are overwhelmed by the direct radiative effects of ozone depletion. In the twenty-first century, ozone recovery is expected to reverse the negative trend in the net TOA radiative flux, which would then, again, be balanced by a decrease in the energy flux convergence. Therefore, over the next several decades, ozone recovery will, in all likelihood, mask the effect of greenhouse gas warming on the Antarctic energy budget.