bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Risk Adjustment of Ischemic Stroke Outcomes for Comparing Hospital Performance
Authors: Katzan Irene L. , Spertus John , Bettger Janet Prvu , Bravata Dawn M. , Reeves Mathew J. , Smith Eric E. , Bushnell Cheryl , Higashida Randall T. , Hinchey Judith A. , Holloway Robert G. , Howard George , King Rosemarie B. , Krumholz Harlan M. , Lutz Barbara J. , Yeh Robert W. 
Published: January 2014

Background and Purpose—
Stroke is the fourth-leading cause of death and a leading cause of long-term major disability in the United States. Measuring outcomes after stroke has important policy implications. The primary goals of this consensus statement are to (1) review statistical considerations when evaluating models that define hospital performance in providing stroke care; (2) discuss the benefits, limitations, and potential unintended consequences of using various outcome measures when evaluating the quality of ischemic stroke care at the hospital level; (3) summarize the evidence on the role of specific clinical and administrative variables, including patient preferences, in risk-adjusted models of ischemic stroke outcomes; (4) provide recommendations on the minimum list of variables that should be included in risk adjustment of ischemic stroke outcomes for comparisons of quality at the hospital level; and (5) provide recommendations for further research.

Methods and Results—
This statement gives an overview of statistical considerations for the evaluation of hospital-level outcomes after stroke and provides a systematic review of the literature for the following outcome measures for ischemic stroke at 30 days: functional outcomes, mortality, and readmissions. Data on outcomes after stroke have primarily involved studies conducted at an individual patient level rather than a hospital level. On the basis of the available information, the following factors should be included in all hospital-level risk-adjustment models: age, sex, stroke severity, comorbid conditions, and vascular risk factors. Because stroke severity is the most important prognostic factor for individual patients and appears to be a significant predictor of hospital-level performance for 30-day mortality, inclusion of a stroke severity measure in risk-adjustment models for 30-day outcome measures is recommended. Risk-adjustment models that do not include stroke severity or other recommended variables must provide comparable classification of hospital performance as models that include these variables. Stroke severity and other variables that are included in risk-adjustment models should be standardized across sites, so that their reliability and accuracy are equivalent. There is a pressing need for research in multiple areas to better identify methods and metrics to evaluate outcomes of stroke care.

Conclusions—
There are a number of important methodological challenges in undertaking risk-adjusted outcome comparisons to assess the quality of stroke care in different hospitals. It is important for stakeholders to recognize these challenges and for there to be a concerted approach to improving the methods for quality assessment and improvement.
Body Mass Index and Height From Infancy to Adulthood and Carotid Intima-Media Thickness at 60 to 64 Years in the 1946 British Birth Cohort Study
Authors: Johnson William , Kuh Diana , Tikhonoff Valerie , Charakida Marietta , Woodside John , Whincup Peter , Hughes Alun D. , Deanfield John E. , Hardy Rebecca 
Published: January 2014

Objective—
Atherosclerosis begins early in life and obesity is a key determinant. We investigated the role of body mass index (BMI) and height from infancy to adulthood in presenting with high adulthood carotid intima-media thickness.

Approach and Results—

Odds ratios of BMI, and height
Z
scores at 2, 4, 6, 7, 11, 15, and 20 years, and changes between 2 and 4, 4 and 7, 7 and 15, and 15 and 20 years, for carotid intima-media thickness at 60 to 64 years in the upper quartile were estimated for 604 men and 669 women. Confounding by early-life environments, mediating by body size and cardiometabolic measures at 60 to 64 years, and effect modification were investigated. In men, there was positive association of BMI at 4 years (odds ratio, 1.256; 95% confidence interval, 1.026–1.538) and 20 years (1.282; 1.022–1.609), negative association of height at 4 years (0.780; 0.631–0.964), and negative association of height growth between 2 and 4 years (0.698; 0.534–0.913) with high carotid intima-media thickness. The childhood estimates were robust, but the estimate for BMI at 20 years was attenuated by adjustment for BMI at 60 to 64 years. The protective influence of greater early childhood height was strongest in those with the lowest systolic blood pressure at 60 to 64 years. In women, there was no pattern of association and all confidence intervals crossed 1.

Conclusions—
Early childhood in men might be a sensitive developmental period for atherosclerosis, in which changes in BMI and height represent 2 distinct biological mechanisms. The maintenance of healthy weight in men from adolescence onward may be a useful strategy to avoid the atherosclerotic complications of adiposity tracking.
Interleukin 1 Receptor 1 and Interleukin 1β Regulate Megakaryocyte Maturation, Platelet Activation, and Transcript Profile During Inflammation in Mice and Humans
Authors: Beaulieu Lea M. , Lin Elaine , Mick Eric , Koupenova Milka , Weinberg Ellen O. , Kramer Carolyn D. , Genco Caroline A. , Tanriverdi Kahraman , Larson Martin G. , Benjamin Emelia J. , Freedman Jane E. 
Published: January 2014

Objective—
Interleukin 1 Receptor 1 (IL1R1) and its ligand, IL1β, are upregulated in cardiovascular disease, obesity, and infection. Previously, we reported a higher level of IL1R1 transcripts in platelets from obese individuals of the Framingham Heart Study (FHS), but its functional effect in platelets has never been described. Additionally, IL1β levels are increased in atherosclerotic plaques and in bacterial infections. The aim of this work is to determine whether IL1β, through IL1R1, can activate platelets and megakaryocytes to promote atherothrombosis.

Approach and Results—

We found that IL1β-related genes from platelets, as measured in 1819 FHS participants, were associated with increased body mass index, and a direct relationship was shown in wild-type mice fed a high-fat diet. Mechanistically, IL1β activated nuclear factor-κB and mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways in megakaryocytes. IL1β, through IL1R1, increased ploidy of megakaryocytes to 64+ N by 2-fold over control. IL1β increased agonist-induced platelet aggregation by 1.2-fold with thrombin and 4.2-fold with collagen. IL1β increased adhesion to both collagen and fibrinogen, and heterotypic aggregation by 1.9-fold over resting. High fat diet-enhanced platelet adhesion was absent in IL1R1
−/−
mice. Wild-type mice infected with
Porphyromonas gingivalis
had circulating heterotypic aggregates (1.5-fold more than control at 24 hours and 6.2-fold more at 6 weeks) that were absent in infected IL1R1
−/−
and IL1β
−/−
mice.

Conclusions—
In summary, IL1R1- and IL1β-related transcripts are elevated in the setting of obesity. IL1R1/IL1β augment both megakaryocyte and platelet functions, thereby promoting a prothrombotic environment during infection and obesity; potentially contributing to the development of atherothrombotic disease.
Association Between Arterial Calcifications and Nonlacunar and Lacunar Ischemic Strokes
Authors: van Dijk Anouk C. , Fonville Susanne , Zadi Taihra , van Hattem Antonius M.G. , Saiedie Ghesrouw , Koudstaal Peter J. , van der Lugt Aad 
Published: January 2014

Background and Purpose—
Nonlacunar cerebral infarcts are presumed to be caused by thromboembolism from the heart or extracranial arteries, whereas lacunar infarcts are thought to be caused by small vessel disease. We investigated to what extent arterial calcifications differ between nonlacunar and lacunar ischemic strokes.

Methods—
We studied 820 consecutive patients with transient ischemic attack or ischemic stroke in the anterior circulation who underwent multidetector computed tomography angiography and had no rare cause of stroke. The presence of likely cardioembolic pathogenesis was determined according to the Trial of Org 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment criteria. The remaining 708 patients were categorized as nonlacunar or lacunar strokes, either transient ischemic attacks or strokes, based on clinical symptoms corrected by brain imaging results. We measured volume of calcifications in the aortic arch, symptomatic extracranial and intracranial carotid artery using multidetector computed tomography angiography. The difference in calcifications between nonlacunar and lacunar strokes was assessed with a multivariable logistic regression analysis. We adjusted for degree of symptomatic carotid artery stenosis and cardiovascular risk factors.

Results—
We found an independent association between volume of aortic arch calcifications and nonlacunar ischemic strokes (adjusted odds ratio [95% confidence interval], 1.11 [1.02–1.21]). No independent associations between extracranial and intracranial carotid artery calcifications and nonlacunar strokes were present.

Conclusions—
The only difference we found between nonlacunar and lacunar strokes was a higher calcification volume in the aortic arch in nonlacunar strokes. Our findings only partially confirm the notion of distinct etiologies and suggest that the potential role of other plaque components, plaque morphology, and aortic arch calcifications in ischemic stroke subtypes awaits further evaluation.
Facial Expressions and the Evolution of the Speech Rhythm
Authors: Ghazanfar Asif A. , Takahashi Daniel Y. 
Published: January 2014

AbstractIn primates, different vocalizations are produced, at least in part, by making different facial expressions. Not surprisingly, humans, apes, and monkeys all recognize the correspondence between vocalizations and the facial postures associated with them. However, one major dissimilarity between monkey vocalizations and human speech is that, in the latter, the acoustic output and associated movements of the mouth are both rhythmic (in the 3- to 8-Hz range) and tightly correlated, whereas monkey vocalizations have a similar acoustic rhythmicity but lack the concommitant rhythmic facial motion. This raises the question of how we evolved from a presumptive ancestral acoustic-only vocal rhythm to the one that is audiovisual with improved perceptual sensitivity. According to one hypothesis, this bisensory speech rhythm evolved through the rhythmic facial expressions of ancestral primates. If this hypothesis has any validity, we expect that the extant nonhuman primates produce at least some facial expressions with a speech-like rhythm in the 3- to 8-Hz frequency range. Lip smacking, an affiliative signal observed in many genera of primates, satisfies this criterion. We review a series of studies using developmental, x-ray cineradiographic, EMG, and perceptual approaches with macaque monkeys producing lip smacks to further investigate this hypothesis. We then explore its putative neural basis and remark on important differences between lip smacking and speech production. Overall, the data support the hypothesis that lip smacking may have been an ancestral expression that was linked to vocal output to produce the original rhythmic audiovisual speech-like utterances in the human lineage.
Recognizing an Object from the Sum of Its Parts: An Intracranial Study on Alpha Rhythms
Authors: Bertrand Josie-Anne , Tremblay Julie , Lassonde Maryse , Vannasing Phetsamone , Nguyen Dang Khoa , Robert Manon , Bouthillier Alain , Lepore Franco 
Published: January 2014

AbstractLittle is known about the relation of alpha rhythms and object recognition. Alpha has been generally proposed to be associated with attention and memory and to be particularly important for the mediation of long-distance communication between neuronal populations. However, how these apply to object recognition is still unclear. This study aimed at describing the spatiotemporal dynamics of alpha rhythms while recognizing fragmented images of objects presented for the first time and presented again 24 hr later. Intracranial electroencephalography was performed in six epileptic patients undergoing presurgical evaluation. Time–frequency analysis revealed a strong alpha activity, mainly of the evoked type, propagating from posterior cerebral areas to anterior regions, which was similar whether the objects were recognized or not. Phase coherence analysis, however, showed clear phase synchronization specific for the moment of recognition. Twenty-four hr later, frontal regions displayed stronger alpha activity and more distributed phase synchronization than when images were presented for the first time. In conclusion, alpha amplitude seems to be related to nonspecific mechanism. Phase coherence analysis suggests a communicational role of alpha activity in object recognition, which may be important for the comparison between bottom–up representations and memory templates.
Did Climate Change–Induced Rainfall Trends Contribute to the Australian Millennium Drought?
Authors: Cai Wenju , Purich Ariaan , Cowan Tim , van Rensch Peter , Weller Evan 
Published: January 2014

AbstractThe Australian decade-long “Millennium Drought” broke in the summer of 2010/11 and was considered the most severe drought since instrumental records began in the 1900s. A crucial question is whether climate change played a role in inducing the rainfall deficit. The climate modes in question include the Indian Ocean dipole (IOD), affecting southern Australia in winter and spring; the southern annular mode (SAM) with an opposing influence on southern Australia in winter to that in spring; and El Niño–Southern Oscillation, affecting northern and eastern Australia in most seasons and southeastern Australia in spring through its coherence with the IOD. Furthermore, the poleward edge of the Southern Hemisphere Hadley cell, which indicates the position of the subtropical dry zone, has possible implications for recent rainfall declines in autumn. Using observations and simulations from phase 5 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP5), it is shown that the drought over southwest Western Australia is partly attributable to a long-term upward SAM trend, which contributed to half of the winter rainfall reduction in this region. For southeast Australia, models simulate weak trends in the pertinent climate modes. In particular, they severely underestimate the observed poleward expansion of the subtropical dry zone and associated impacts. Thus, although climate models generally suggest that Australia’s Millennium Drought was mostly due to multidecadal variability, some late-twentieth-century changes in climate modes that influence regional rainfall are partially attributable to anthropogenic greenhouse warming.
Combined Effect of Rotation and Topography on Shoaling Oceanic Internal Solitary Waves
Authors: Grimshaw Roger , Guo Chuncheng , Helfrich Karl , Vlasenko Vasiliy 
Published: January 2014

Abstract
Internal solitary waves commonly observed in the coastal ocean are often modeled by a nonlinear evolution equation of the Korteweg–de Vries type. Because these waves often propagate for long distances over several inertial periods, the effect of Earth’s background rotation is potentially significant. The relevant extension of the Kortweg–de Vries is then the Ostrovsky equation, which for internal waves does not support a steady solitary wave solution. Recent studies using a combination of asymptotic theory, numerical simulations, and laboratory experiments have shown that the long time effect of rotation is the destruction of the initial internal solitary wave by the radiation of small-amplitude inertia–gravity waves, and the eventual emergence of a coherent, steadily propagating, nonlinear wave packet. However, in the ocean, internal solitary waves are often propagating over variable topography, and this alone can cause quite dramatic deformation and transformation of an internal solitary wave. Hence, the combined effects of background rotation and variable topography are examined. Then the Ostrovsky equation is replaced by a variable coefficient Ostrovsky equation whose coefficients depend explicitly on the spatial coordinate. Some numerical simulations of this equation, together with analogous simulations using the Massachusetts Institute of Technology General Circulation Model (MITgcm), for a certain cross section of the South China Sea are presented. These demonstrate that the combined effect of shoaling and rotation is to induce a secondary trailing wave packet, induced by enhanced radiation from the leading wave.
Defining older adults’ perceived causes of hypertension in the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire
Authors: Duwe Elise AG , Koerner Kari M , Madison Anna M , Falk Nikki A , Insel Kathleen C , Morrow Daniel G 
Published: January 2014

Objectives: This study sought to make the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (BIPQ) to be more informative about illness representation among older adults with hypertension. The authors developed categories for coding the open-ended question regarding cause of illness in the BIPQ – a pervasive quantitative measure for illness representation. Methods: Using inductive thematic analysis, the authors described categories which emerged from analysing the open-ended question of the BIPQ applied to patients with hypertension. Then using deductive thematic analysis, we applied known categories in the literature to causes for hypertension elicited by the BIPQ. Our categories are: behavioural, natural, physical, psychosocial, supernatural, and other. Results: We established inter-coder reliability by applying the coding scheme to a sample of suburban central Illinois ( n=197) and urban Tucson, Arizona ( n=299) older adults with hypertension (initial kappa=0.61, revised kappa after decision rules=0.987). To demonstrate the utility of the coding scheme we found that both Illinois and Arizona nonwhite patients differ from white patients in how they understand the cause of their hypertension. Conclusion: A more complete illness representation can now be quantified and statistically analysed through the BIPQ using the categories we revised for cause of hypertension. Assessment of causal beliefs through the BIPQ and the authors’ coding scheme may enable tailored and efficient patient education, resulting in more effective provider–patient relationships.
Group memory rehabilitation for people with multiple sclerosis: a feasibility randomized controlled trial
Authors: Carr Sara E , das Nair Roshan , Schwartz Annette F , Lincoln Nadina B 
Published: January 2014

Objective: To assess the feasibility and effectiveness of a group memory rehabilitation programme combining compensation and restitution strategies. Design: Randomized controlled trial. Setting: Community. Participants: People with multiple sclerosis who reported memory difficulties were recruited. Interventions: A group memory rehabilitation programme, comprising ten 1.5-hour sessions, was compared with a waiting list control. Main measures: The primary outcome was the Everyday Memory Questionnaire. Secondary outcomes included the General Health Questionnaire 28 and MS Impact Scale administered four and eight months after randomization. In addition, those in the intervention group gave feedback about the intervention. Results: Forty-eight participants were recruited. They were aged 34–72 years (mean 54.3, SD 11.0) and 33 (69%) were women. There were no significant differences between the two groups on the Everyday Memory Questionnaire or MS Impact Scale ( P > 0.05) at four or eight months after randomization. However, the intervention group reported significantly better mood than controls on the GHQ-28 at eight months ( P = 0.04). Participants showed minimal benefit from the memory rehabilitation programme on quantitative measures but the intervention was well received, as indicated by positive feedback at the end of the intervention. Conclusions: There was no significant effect of the intervention on memory but there was a significant effect on mood. The results suggest a larger scale study is justified.
The Restore4Stroke self-management intervention ‘Plan ahead!’: rationale and description of the treatment protocol based on proactive action planning
Authors: Tielemans Nienke S , Schepers Vera PM , Visser-Meily Johanna MA , van Erp Jos , Eijkenaar Mariette , van Heugten Caroline M 
Published: January 2014

Objective: To describe the rationale behind and description of a group-based self-management intervention developed for stroke patients and their partners. Rationale: Based on the assumption that proactive coping strategies are beneficial for the re-uptake of daily life by stroke patients and partners, we developed a new stroke-specific, group-based self-management intervention based on proactive action planning. A first concept of the treatment protocol was developed based on the proactive coping theory, the Health Action Process Approach model, existing interventions and expert consultations. Further adjustments were based on two pilot studies, including addition of solution-based therapeutic techniques. Description of the intervention: ‘Plan ahead!’ is a 10-week group-based self-management intervention, consisting of six 2-hour sessions in the first six weeks and a 2-hour booster session in the 10th week. It is offered in an outpatient setting by two rehabilitation professionals with experience in group counselling and working with stroke patients. It is provided to groups of four stroke patients living at home (stroke ≥2 months ago) and their partners. The main features are (1) proactive action planning as the main constituent, (2) stroke-specific elements and (3) considering partners as full participants. Discussion: This stroke-specific intervention is expected to increase the use of proactive action planning and thus improve the participation of stroke patients and their partners. It is innovative in its aim to change behaviour patterns of participants directly, teaching participants a general action planning strategy and considering partners as full participants with their own goals and opportunities.
Calcitonin gene-related peptide and migraine with aura: A systematic review
Authors: Hansen Jakob M , Ashina Messoud 
Published: January 2014

Background Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is a key molecule in migraine pathophysiology. Most studies have focused on CGRP in relation to migraine without aura (MO). About one-third of migraine patients have attacks with aura (MA), and this is a systematic review of the current literature on CGRP and MA. Methods We performed a systematic literature search on MEDLINE for reports of CGRP and MA, covering basic science, animal and human studies as well as randomized clinical trials. Results The literature search identified 594 citations, of which 38 contained relevant, original data. Plasma levels of CGRP in MA patients are comparable to MO, but CGRP levels varied among studies. A number of animal studies, including knock-ins of familial hemiplegic migraine (FHM) genes, have examined the relationship between CGRP and cortical spreading depression. In patients, CGRP does not trigger migraine in FHM, but is a robust trigger of migraine-like headache both in MA and MO patients. The treatment effect of CGRP antagonists are well proven in the treatment of migraine, but no studies have studied the effect specifically in MA patients. Conclusion This systematic review indicates that the role of CGRP in MA is less studied than in MO. Further studies of the importance of CGRP for auras and migraine are needed.