bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Translational approaches to functional platelet production ex vivo
Authors: Buduo Christian A. Di , Balduini Alessandra , Kaplan David L. 
Published: September 2015

SummaryPlatelets, which are released by megakaryocytes, play key roles in haemostasis, angiogenesis, immunity, tissue regeneration and wound healing. The scarcity of clinical cures for life threatening platelet diseases is in a large part due to limited insight into the mechanisms that control the developmental process of megakaryocytes and the mechanisms that govern the production of platelets within the bone marrow. To overcome these limitations, functional human tissue models have been developed and studied to extrapolate ex vivo outcomes for new insight on bone marrow functions in vivo. There are many challenges that these models must overcome, from faithfully mimicking the physiological composition and functions of bone marrow, to the collection of the platelets generated and validation of their viability and function for human use. The overall goal is to identify innovative instruments to study mechanisms of platelet release, diseases related to platelet production and new therapeutic targets starting from human progenitor cells.
Management of Brugada Syndrome
Authors: Belhassen Bernard , Rahkovich Michael , Michowitz Yoav , Glick Aharon , Viskin Sami 
Published: September 2015

Background—
Information on long-term clinical outcome of patients with Brugada syndrome treated with electrophysiologically guided class 1A antiarrhythmic drugs (AAD) is limited.

Methods and Results—
An aggressive protocol of programmed ventricular stimulation was performed in 96 patients with Brugada syndrome (88% males; mean age, 39.8±15.9 years). Ten patients were cardiac arrest survivors, 27 had presented with syncope, and 59 were asymptomatic. Ventricular fibrillation was induced in 66 patients, including 100%, 74%, and 61% of patients with cardiac arrest, syncope, and no symptoms, respectively. All but 6 of the 66 patients with inducible ventricular fibrillation underwent electrophysiological testing on quinidine (n=54), disopyramide (n=2), or both (n=4). Fifty-four (90%) patients were electrophysiological responders to >1 AAD with similar efficacy rates (≈90%) in all patients groups. Patients with no inducible ventricular fibrillation at baseline were left on no therapy. After a mean follow-up of 113.3±71.5 months, 92 patients were alive, whereas 4 died from noncardiac causes. No arrhythmic event occurred during class 1A AAD therapy in any of electrophysiological drug responders and in patients with no baseline inducible ventricular fibrillation. Arrhythmic events occurred in only 2 cardiac arrest survivors treated with implantable cardioverter–defibrillator alone but did not recur on quinidine. All cases of recurrent syncope (n=12) were attributed to a vasovagal (n=10) or nonarrhythmic mechanism (n=2). Class 1A AAD therapy resulted in 38% incidence of side effects that resolved after drug discontinuation.

Conclusions—
Our data suggest that electrophysiologically guided class 1A AAD treatment has a place in our therapeutic armamentarium for all types of patients with Brugada syndrome.
Current Clinical Features of New Patients With Takayasu Arteritis Observed From Cross-Country Research in Japan
Authors: Watanabe Yoshiko , Miyata Tetsuro , Tanemoto Kazuo 
Published: September 2015

Background—
The clinical features of newly diagnosed Japanese patients with Takayasu arteritis and its age or sex specificities are unknown.

Methods and Results—

We analyzed information from nationwide registration forms submitted by patients with Takayasu arteritis between April 2001 and March 2011 as part of a research program by the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. Among the 7779 patients who submitted their forms, 1372 newly registered patients with Takayasu arteritis were enrolled; 83.8% were female. The median age at onset was 35 years, which was significantly higher in male patients (median, 43.5 years) than in female patients (median, 34 years;
P
<0.001). Local symptoms and findings were most commonly observed in the cervicobrachial area, with more complaints in the head or neck than in the upper limbs. Approximately 85% of the patients had vascular involvements in the aortic arch or its major branches; many young female patients had localized lesions. Although male patients had extensive aortic lesions or aneurysms with more complications, localized abdominal lesions were relatively more frequent in male patients with age at onset >40 years than in other age-sex groups. Disease statuses were severe in patients who registered at ≥1 year after onset.

Conclusions—
The proportions of male patients and patients with elderly onset increased in newly diagnosed patients with Takayasu arteritis. Their clinical and angiographic features differed according to onset age and sex.
Efficacy of Biological-Targeted Treatments in Takayasu Arteritis
Authors: Mekinian Arsene , Comarmond Cloé , Resche-Rigon Mathieu , Mirault Tristan , Kahn Jean Emmanuel , Lambert Marc , Sibilia Jean , Néel Antoine , Cohen Pascal , Hie Miguel , Berthier Sabine , Marie Isabelle , Lavigne Christian , Anne Vandenhende Marie , Muller Géraldine , Amoura Zahir , Devilliers Hervé , Abad Sébastien , Hamidou Mohamed , Guillevin Loïc , Dhote Robin , Godeau Bertrand , Messas Emmanuel , Cacoub Patrice , Fain Olivier , Saadoun David 
Published: September 2015

Background—
The goal of this work was to assess the safety and efficacy of biologics (ie, tumor necrosis factor-α antagonists and tocilizumab) in patients with Takayasu arteritis.

Methods and Results—

This was a retrospective, multicenter study of the characteristics and outcomes of 49 patients with Takayasu arteritis (80% female; median age, 42 years [20–55 years] treated by tumor necrosis factor-α antagonists [80%] or tocilizumab [20%]) and fulfilling American College of Rheumatology or Ishikawa criteria. Factors associated with complete response were assessed. Eighty-eight percent of patients with Takayasu arteritis were inadequately controlled with or were intolerant to conventional immunosuppressive therapy (median number, 3 [1–5]). Overall response (ie, complete and partial) to biological-targeted treatments at 6 and 12 months was 75% and 83%, respectively. There were significantly lower C-reactive protein levels at the initiation of biological-targeted treatments (22 mg/L [10–46 mg/L] versus 58 mg/L [26–76 mg/L];
P
=0.006) and a trend toward fewer immunosuppressants drugs used before biologics (
P
=0.054) in responders (ie, complete or partial responders) relative to nonresponders to biological-targeted treatments. C-reactive protein levels and daily prednisone dose significantly decreased after 12 months of biological-targeted treatments (30 versus 6 mg/L [
P
<0.05] and 15 versus 7.5 mg [
P
<0.05] at baseline and 12 months, respectively). The 3-year relapse-free survival was 90.9% (83.5%–99%) over the biological treatment period compared with 58.7% (43.3%–79.7%;
P
=0.0025) with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs. No difference in efficacy was found between tumor necrosis factor-α antagonists and tocilizumab. After a median follow-up of 24 months (2–95 months), 21% of patients experienced adverse effects, with biological-targeted treatments discontinued in 6.6% of cases.

Conclusion—
This nationwide study shows a high efficacy of biological-targeted treatments in refractory patients with Takayasu arteritis with an acceptable safety profile.
Effect of Aerosols on Freezing Drops, Hail, and Precipitation in a Midlatitude Storm
Authors: Ilotoviz Eyal , Khain Alexander P. , Benmoshe Nir , Phillips Vaughan T. J. , Ryzhkov Alexander V. 
Published: September 2015

Abstract
A midlatitude hail storm was simulated using a new version of the spectral bin microphysics Hebrew University Cloud Model (HUCM) with a detailed description of time-dependent melting and freezing. In addition to size distributions of drops, plate-, columnar-, and branch-type ice crystals, snow, graupel, and hail, new distributions for freezing drops as well as for liquid water mass within precipitating ice particles were implemented to describe time-dependent freezing and wet growth of hail, graupel, and freezing drops.
Simulations carried out using different aerosol loadings show that an increase in aerosol loading leads to a decrease in the total mass of hail but also to a substantial increase in the maximum size of hailstones. Cumulative rain strongly increases with an increase in aerosol concentration from 100 to about 1000 cm−3. At higher cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) concentrations, the sensitivity of hailstones’ size and surface precipitation to aerosols decreases. The physical mechanism of these effects was analyzed. It was shown that the change in aerosol concentration leads to a change in the major mechanisms of hail formation and growth. The main effect of the increase in the aerosol concentration is the increase in the supercooled cloud water content. Accordingly, at high aerosol concentration, the hail grows largely by accretion of cloud droplets in the course of recycling in the cloud updraft zone. The main mechanism of hail formation in the case of low aerosol concentration is freezing of raindrops.
Langmuir Turbulence and Surface Heating in the Ocean Surface Boundary Layer
Authors: Pearson Brodie C. , Grant Alan L. M. , Polton Jeff A. , Belcher Stephen E. 
Published: September 2015

AbstractThis study uses large-eddy simulation to investigate the structure of the ocean surface boundary layer (OSBL) in the presence of Langmuir turbulence and stabilizing surface heat fluxes. The OSBL consists of a weakly stratified layer, despite a surface heat flux, above a stratified thermocline. The weakly stratified (mixed) layer is maintained by a combination of a turbulent heat flux produced by the wave-driven Stokes drift and downgradient turbulent diffusion. The scaling of turbulence statistics, such as dissipation and vertical velocity variance, is only affected by the surface heat flux through changes in the mixed layer depth. Diagnostic models are proposed for the equilibrium boundary layer and mixed layer depths in the presence of surface heating. The models are a function of the initial mixed layer depth before heating is imposed and the Langmuir stability length. In the presence of radiative heating, the models are extended to account for the depth profile of the heating.
Positive association between serious psychiatric outcomes and complications of diabetes mellitus in patients with depressive disorders
Authors: Kim Gyung-Mee , Woo Jong-Min , Jung Sun-Young , Shin Sangjin , Song Hyun Jin , Park Jooyeon , Ahn Jeonghoon 
Published: September 2015

Objectives Depression and diabetes are closely biologically and behaviorally intertwined. We examined the impact of comorbid diabetes mellitus on the incidence of serious psychiatric outcomes among patients with depression. Methods We used claims data from the Korean Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service database of patients who were diagnosed with depression within one year of an index prescription for antidepressants between January 2007 and June 2008. We investigated the association between the comorbidity of diabetes mellitus and serious psychiatric outcomes of depression, such as psychiatric hospitalization, psychiatric emergency room visits, and suicide attempts. Results Among 200,936 patients with depression, 74,160 (36.9%) had diabetes mellitus, including 57,418 (28.6%) with complications. The incidence of serious psychiatric outcomes was 3.3% in patients with depression without diabetes and 6.7% in patients with depression and diabetes mellitus. Patients with depression and diabetes mellitus complications showed higher rates of serious outcomes than that did those without diabetes mellitus complications (odds ratio, 1.19; 95% confidence interval, 1.11–1.13). Similarly, depressed patients with micro and macrovascular diabetic complications were more likely to experience serious outcomes than those without diabetes mellitus complications (odds ratio, 2.2; 95% confidence interval, 2.07–2.34). Conclusions Our results showed that comorbid diabetes mellitus can increase the risk of serious outcomes of depression, such as suicide and hospitalization, and thus may alter the antidepressants prescription patterns and healthcare service use among patients with depressive disorders.
Cell Taught, Self Taught
Authors: Chase Robert T. 
Published: September 2015

This essay places the Chicano Movement at the center of a struggle over prisoners’ rights and the construction of carceral states. It chronicles the prisoners’ rights movement through the lens of two urban Chicano prisoner activists incarcerated on rural prison farms - Fred Cruz and David Ruíz. It recounts the intellectual and political evolution of Fred Cruz, a native of San Antonio, who promoted social justice by embracing the law, traditions of civic nationalism, and American constitutionalism. It also considers the more politicized path of David Ruíz, a native of Austin and the author of the nation’s longest civil rights trial, Ruiz v. Estelle (1978-1980). His turn to radicalization linked the legal effort for prisoners’ rights with the wider Chicano movement outside of prison walls. As a study of urban Chicanos incarcerated on rural prison farms, this article demonstrates how geographical dislocation allowed Chicano prisoners to imagine their coerced geographic dislocation as analogous to the ways in which slavery uprooted African communities. In the American southwest, the coerced dislocation of urban minorities meant that rural prisons received a rising number of Mexican American prisoners who carried with them into prison their experience as city dwellers exposed to an urban Chicano radicalism and also as exploited workers for the vast agricultural empire of the Southwest. By offering an analysis of the ways in which Mexican Americans pioneered the prisoners’ rights movement in Texas, this article serves as a reminder that Latino/a prisoners constitute an essential cornerstone to social justice movements that confronted the construction of carceral states.
Simultaneous Sketching Aids the Haptic Identification of Raised Line Drawings
Authors: Cecchetto S. , Lawson R. 
Published: September 2015

Haptically identifying raised line drawings is difficult. We investigated whether a major component of this difficulty lies in acquiring, integrating, and maintaining shape information from touch. Wijntjes, van Lienen, Verstijnen, and Kappers reported that drawings which participants had failed to identify by touch alone could often subsequently be named if they were sketched. Thus, people sometimes needed to externalize haptically acquired information by making a sketch in order to be able to use it. We extended Wijntjes et al.’s task and found that sketching while touching improved drawing identification even more than sketching after touching, but only if people could see their sketches. Our results suggest that the slow, serial nature of information acquisition seriously hampers the haptic identification of raised line drawings relative to visually identifying line drawings. Simultaneous sketching may aid identification by reducing the burden on working memory and by helping to guide haptic exploration. This conclusion is consistent with the finding reported by Lawson and Bracken that 3-D objects are much easier to identify haptically than raised line drawings since, unlike for vision, simultaneously extracting global shape information is much easier haptically for 3-D stimuli than for line drawings.
Research-Supported Intervention and Discretion Among Frontline Workers Implementing Home Visitation Services
Authors: Willging Cathleen E. , Trott Elise M. , Fettes Danielle , Gunderson Lara , Green Amy E. , Hurlburt Michael S. , Aarons Gregory A. 
Published: September 2015

Objective: We examine how frontline workers and supervisors delivering a research-supported intervention (RSI) to reduce child neglect negotiated system-related challenges, the pragmatics of RSI implementation, and their professional identities and relationships with clients. Methods: We conducted semi-structured interviews, small group discussions, and focus groups with frontline workers and supervisors in one large county over two time periods. We used iterative coding to analyze qualitative data. Results: Frontline workers navigated several aspects of RSI implementation and sustainment: (1) contract requirements and information dissemination, (2) fidelity, (3) competing demands and crises, (4) structure versus creativity, and (5) relationships with clients. Conclusions: Workers dynamically negotiated multiple system- and provider-level (or outer- and inner-contextual) demands influencing RSI provision for clients with complex service needs. Results affirm the need to attend to the unintended consequences of implementing new contract, reimbursement, and other system or organizational processes and to address the “committed work” supporting RSI delivery.
Effect of Ankaferd Blood Stopper on Skin Superoxide Dismutase and Catalase Activities in Warfarin-Treated Rats
Authors: Aktop Sertaç , Emekli-Alturfan Ebru , Gönül Onur , Göçmen Gökhan , Garip Hasan , Yarat Ayşen , Göker Kamil 
Published: September 2015

Aim: Ankaferd Blood Stopper (ABS) is a new promising local hemostatic agent, and its mechanism on hemostasis has been shown by many studies. However, the effects of ABS on skin superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities have not been investigated before. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of this new generation local hemostatic agent on warfarin-treated rats focusing on its the antioxidant potential in short-term soft tissue healing. Methods: Twelve systemically warfarin treated (warfarin group) and 12 none treated Wistar Albino rats (control group) were selected for the trial. Rats in the warfarin group were treated intraperitonally with 0.1 mg/kg warfarin, and rats in the control group were given 1 mL/kg saline 3 days earlier to surgical procedure and continued until killing. All rats had incisions on dorsal dermal tissue, which was applied ABS or no hemostatic agent before suturing. Six of each group were killed on day 4, and the other 6 were killed on day 8. Blood and skin samples were taken. Prothrombin time (PT) in blood samples, CAT, and SOD activities in skin samples were determined. Results: Warfarin treatment dose was found to be convenient and warfarin treatment increased the PT levels as expected. Warfarin treatment decreased CAT activity significantly compared to the control group. The ABS treatment significantly increased SOD activities in the warfarin group at the end of the eighth day. Conclusion: Ankaferd Blood Stopper acted positively in short-term tissue healing by increasing SOD activity in warfarin-treated rats. Therefore, ABS may be suggeted as a promoting factor in tissue healing.
Current Practices Regarding Perioperative Management of Patients With Fracture on Antiplatelet Therapy
Authors: Pean Christian A. , Goch Abraham , Christiano Anthony , Konda Sanjit , Egol Kenneth 
Published: September 2015

Objective: There continues to be controversy over whether operative delay is necessary for patients on antiplatelet therapy, particularly for elderly patients with hip fractures. This study sought to assess current clinical practices of orthopedic surgeons regarding perioperative management of these patients. Methods: A 12-question, Web-based survey was distributed to orthopedic surgeons via e-mail. Questions regarding timing of surgery assumed patients were on antiplatelet therapy and assessed attitudes toward emergent and nonemergent orthopedic cases as well as operative delay for specific closed fracture types. Responses were compared using unpaired, 2-tailed Student t tests for continuous variables and Pearson chi-square tests with odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for categorical variables. Statistical significance was defined as a P value <.05. Results: Overall 67 orthopedic surgeons responded. Fifty-two percent (n = 35) of the respondents described their practice as academic. Thirty-nine percent (n = 25) of the surgeons indicated that no delay was acceptable for urgent but nonemergent surgery, and 78% (n = 50) reported no delay for emergent surgery was acceptable. Sixty-eight percent (n = 46) of respondents felt patients on antiplatelet therapy with closed hip fractures did not require operative delay. Surgeons who opted for surgical delay in hip fractures were more likely to delay surgery in other lower extremity fracture types (OR = 16.4, 95% CI 4.48-60.61, P < .001). Sixty-four percent (n = 41) of the surgeons indicated there was no protocol in place at their institution. Conclusions: There continues to be wide variability among orthopedic surgeons with regard to management of patients with fracture on antiplatelet therapy. Over a quarter of surgeons continue to opt for surgical delay in patients with hip fracture. This survey highlights the need to formulate and better disseminate practice management guidelines for patients with fracture on antiplatelet therapy, particularly given the aging population in the United States.
Coagulation factor XIIIa is inactivated by plasmin
Authors: Hur Woosuk S. , Mazinani Nima , Lu X. J. David , Britton Heidi M. , Byrnes James R. , Wolberg Alisa S. , Kastrup Christian J. 
Published: September 2015

Key Points
Plasmin inactivates the enzyme FXIIIa, but not the zymogen FXIII. FXIIIa is inactivated during clot lysis.
Patient perceptions of foot disability in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: a comparison of the juvenile arthritis foot disability index and the Oxford ankle foot questionnaire for children
Authors: Ferrari Jill 
Published: September 2015

AbstractBackgroundThe Juvenile Arthritis Foot Disability Index (JAFI) and the Oxford Ankle Foot Questionnaire for Children (OxAFQ‐C) are two region‐specific paediatric outcome tools that measure the impact on well‐being in children with foot pathology. The aim of this study was to establish the level of agreement between the JAFI and the OxAFQ‐C in a group of children diagnosed with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA).MethodsChildren with JIA accessed the questionnaire via a website. The OxAFQ‐C questionnaire and the JAFI questionnaire were combined into one document consisting of 42 statements with Likert‐scale responses. A further question regarding duration of disease was added. On completion, the web‐linked questionnaire was returned by e‐mail.ResultsThirty five participants were included. Individual domain and composite score analysis was undertaken. The JAFI participation domain was compared to the OxAFQ‐C school domain and showed no significant difference between the median scores of each participant (z = ‐1.33, p = 0.181). The JAFI activity and the OxAFQ‐C physical domains were compared and showed that a significant difference between the median scores existed (z = ‐4.29, p < 0.001). Agreement between the two PROMs was tested using Bland Altman Levels of Agreement based upon the percentage summed composite scores. Levels of agreement between the scores were considered to be poor based on the Bland Altman plot, despite a low mean difference in scores (mean difference = ‐3.88, SD of difference = 9.93, p = 0.027). Pearson correlation was undertaken to measure the relationship between the summed composite score and disease duration. No relationship was found (JAFI: r = ‐0.08, p = 0.672; OxAFQ‐C: r = 0.037, p = 0.871).ConclusionsThis study has shown that despite some agreement between the individual domains, overall there is poor agreement between the OxAFQ‐C and the JAFI percentage summed composite scores. The study is not able to determine if one score is superior to the other but both scores could be of value when used in this population.