bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A Prospective and Randomized Comparison of Limited Versus Extensive Atrial Substrate Modification After Circumferential Pulmonary Vein Isolation in Nonparoxysmal Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: LIN YENN‐JIANG , CHANG SHIH‐LIN , LO LI‐WEI , HU YU‐FENG , CHONG ERIC , CHAO TZE‐FAN , CHUNG FA‐PO , LIAO JONAN , LI CHENG‐HUNG , TSAO HSUAN‐MING , KAO TSAIR , CHEN YUN‐YU , HUANG JIN‐LONG , CHEN SHIH‐ANN 
Published: March 2014

Substrate Modification in Persistent Atrial FibrillationIntroductionThe optimal substrate ablation approach in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation (Per AF) remains unclear. This was a prospective randomized study comparing the efficacy of limited (continuous complex fractionated atrial electrogram, CFAE: <60 milliseconds) versus extensive (continuous CFAE plus variable CFAE: <120 milliseconds) atrial substrate modification in Per AF patients.Methods and ResultsWe enrolled 120 Per AF patients in the study, and 30 patients with AF termination after pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) were excluded. In the remaining 90 patients, 45 were treated with limited approach (Group 1) and 45 with an extensive approach (Group 2). The end point of the study was the incidence of an atrial arrhythmia recurrence postblanking period. The patients were followed up for 15 months with 3‐month clinical reviews, electrograms (ECGs), Holter recordings, and echocardiographic monitoring. Procedural AF termination and the single procedural efficacy were statistically comparable between the 2 groups (48.9% vs. 63.4% in Groups 1 and 2, respectively, P = 0.289). During the follow‐up, patients who received limited ablation had a lower incidence of recurrent AFL (P = 0.04), and better reverse remodeling of the left atrium (LA, P = 0.04). After 2 procedures, the freedom from any atrial arrhythmia was better in Group 2 (62.2% vs. 87.8%, P = 0.009). Those with longstanding AF and a larger baseline LA size responded better to the extensive ablation.ConclusionsIn the Per AF patients who failed to achieve AF termination after PVI alone, a specific atrial substrate modification approach targeting only continuous CFAEs could be considered as an initial ablation strategy.
Trends in Hypertension Prevalence, Awareness, Treatment, and Control Among US Adults 80 Years and Older, 1988–2010
Authors: Bromfield Samantha G. , Bowling C. Barrett , Tanner Rikki M. , Peralta Carmen A. , Odden Michelle C. , Oparil Suzanne , Muntner Paul 
Published: March 2014

The authors examined trends in systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and the prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension in 1988–1994 (n=1164), 1999–2004 (n=1,026), and 2005–2010 (n=1048) among US adults 80 years and older in serial National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys. Hypertension was defined as SBP ≥140 mm Hg, DBP ≥90 mm Hg, or use of antihypertensive medication. Awareness and treatment were defined by self‐report and control as SBP/DBP<140/90 mm Hg. Mean SBP decreased from 147.3 mm Hg to 140.1 mm Hg and mean DBP from 70.2 mm Hg to 59.4 mm Hg between 1988–1994 and 2005–2010. The prevalence, awareness, and treatment of hypertension each increased over time. Controlled hypertension increased from 30.4% in 1988–1994 to 53.1% in 2005–2010. The proportion of patients taking 3 classes of antihypertensive medication increased from 7.0% to 30.9% between 1988–1994 and 2005–2010. Increases in awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension and antihypertensive polypharmacy have been observed among very old US adults.
THE MONETARY ENVIRONMENT AND LONG‐RUN REVERSALS IN STOCK RETURNS
Authors: Garcia‐Feijoo Luis , Jensen Gerald R. 
Published: March 2014

AbstractPrevious research attributes long‐run reversals to investor overreaction or tax‐motivated trading; we offer an alternative explanation based on the monetary environment. Prices rebound for stocks that have performed poorly over the past several years (losers); however, the rebound occurs only during expansive monetary conditions. Winners only reverse course when monetary conditions are restrictive. Past research shows that the three‐factor model explains long‐run stock reversals; we show that the monetary environment plays an instrumental role in the observation. Finally, we show that reversal patterns are closely linked to both the monetary environment and a firm's level of financial constraints.
THE MARKET RESPONSE TO INSIDER SALES OF RESTRICTED STOCK VERSUS UNRESTRICTED STOCK
Authors: Franzen Laurel , Li Xu , Urcan Oktay , Vargus Mark E. 
Published: March 2014

AbstractInsiders holding both restricted and unrestricted stock must decide which type of equity to trade. We investigate the relation between this choice and the market response to insider sales. If insiders choose restricted stock, the sale must be preannounced, but if they choose unrestricted stock, the sale is disclosed after the sale occurs. Preannounced trades are less likely to reflect informed trades. Consistent with this, in the pre‐Sarbanes–Oxley (SOX) period, we find a more negative market response to unrestricted stock sales than preannounced restricted stock sales. The result does not hold for our post‐SOX period when reporting times were accelerated. Our results suggest researchers who examine data over the pre‐SOX period should consider the effect of restricted stock sales in tests of informed insider trading.
Validation of a short food frequency questionnaire specific for iodine in UK females of childbearing age
Authors: Combet E. , Lean M. E. J. 
Published: March 2014

AbstractBackgroundWidespread subclinical iodine insufficiency has recently been reported in Europe, based on urinary iodine using World Health Organization/Food and Agriculture Organization criteria, in particular among young women. Although urinary iodine concentration (UIC) is a useful measurement of the iodine status in a population, it does not provide an insight into the habitual iodine intake of this population. This is compounded by the fact that very few iodine‐specific food frequency questionnaires (FFQ) have been validated so far. The present study aimed to develop and validate a new, simple, rapid survey tool to assess dietary iodine exposure in females of childbearing age.MethodsIodine was measured in a duplicate 24‐h urine collection. Iodine intake was measured with duplicate 4‐day semi‐quantitative food diaries and the FFQ. Correlation, cross‐classification and Bland–Altman analyses were used to estimate agreement, bias and the reliability of the method. The triangular (triad) method was used to calculate validity coefficients.ResultsForty‐three women, aged 19–49 years, took part in the validation of the 17‐items FFQ. Median (interquartile range) UIC was 74 (47–92) μg L−1, which is indicative of mild iodine insufficiency. The FFQ showed good agreement with food diaries with respect to classifying iodine intake (82% of subjects were classified in the same or adjacent quartile). The FFQ was moderately correlated with the food diaries (rs = 0.45, P = 0.002) and urinary excretion in μg L−1 (rs = 0.34, P = 0.025) but not in μg day−1 (P = 0.316). The validity coefficients were 0.69, 0.66 and 0.52 for the food diaries, FFQ and urinary iodine excretion, respectively.ConclusionsThe FFQ provides a rapid and reliable estimate of dietary iodine exposure to identify those population subgroups at risk of iodine deficiency.
Ovarian development and related changes in steroid hormones in female wild common carp (Cyprinus carpio carpio), from the south‐eastern Caspian Sea
Authors: Vazirzadeh A. , Mojazi Amiri B. , Fostier A. 
Published: March 2014

SummaryWild common carp (Cyprinus carpio carpio) is a native valuable but threatened species from the south‐eastern Caspian Sea in which the endocrine control of its reproduction has not been studied. The objectives of this research were to study the reproductive strategy and changes in steroid hormones during ovarian development. From October 2009 to June 2010, 65 adult females were caught from the Golestan coast (Iran) and the ovarian histology, and gonadosomatic and hepatosomatic indices (GSI and HSI) were studied. Also, the plasma profiles of steroid hormones including testosterone (T), 17β‐estradiol (E2) and 17α‐, 20β‐dihydroxyprogesterone (DHP) were measured by radioimmunoassay. The GSI increased gradually during sampling times and reached maximum value at the peak of reproduction season, but the HSI decreased during spawning season. All stages of ovarian development, except the stage of Balbiani bodies, were recorded macro‐ and microscopically. Spent fish were caught at six of nine sampling times. The peaks of spawning were at late winter and early spring. The results of this study showed that the majority of wild carp collected during the sampling period displayed asynchronous oocyte development. Plasma T showed no significant differences during sampling times or at different stages of ovarian development. The level of E2 decreased gradually during sampling times reached minimum value at the spawning season, and highest value was recorded at tertiary vitellogenesis stage. The plasma levels of DHP during late winter and early spring were significantly higher than those of other sampling periods and its maximum level associated with oocyte maturation stage.
Serum Uric Acid as a Risk Predictor for Erectile Dysfunction
Authors: Salem Sepehr , Mehrsai Abdolrasoul , Heydari Reza , Pourmand Gholamreza 
Published: March 2014

Abstract

Introduction
Serum uric acid (UA) is now beginning to be considered a risk predictor for cardiovascular diseases. However, little is known about the effect of hyperuricemia on the risk of developing other systemic vascular disorders, especially erectile dysfunction (ED).

Aim
To evaluate whether serum UA is a predicting factor for ED while adjusting for other common risk factors.

Methods
Two hundred fifty-one patients aged 45.2 ± 10.1 years with newly diagnosed and documented ED and 252 age-matched participants without ED (aged 45.1 ± 8.4 years) were enrolled in this case–control study. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed to assess the effect of serum UA on ED; odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated. Adjustments were made for potential confounding factors, including obesity, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, serum triglyceride, and smoking.

Main Outcome Measurement
Serum UA concentration and the distribution of potential ED risk factors (age, smoking, lipid profile, hypertension, obesity, and diabetes mellitus) were evaluated. Serum UA levels were organized into tertiles. The five-item International Index of Erectile Function was used to evaluate the presence and the severity of ED.

Results
The mean serum UA levels in ED-positive and ED-negative groups were 6.12 ± 1.55 mg/dL and 4.97 ± 1.09 mg/dL, respectively (P&lt; 0.001). On analysis of unadjusted variables, statistically significant differences were found for all variables, including serum UA, between ED-positive and ED-negative groups. After adjustment for major risk factors, a significant trend of increasing risk was found for serum UA concentration (OR 5.95, 95% CI 2.96–11.97;P&lt; 0.001, comparing the highest with the lowest tertile). An increase of 1 mg/dL in serum UA level was associated with an approximately twofold increase in risk of ED (OR 2.07; 95% CI 1.63–2.64).

Conclusions
Our findings reveal that serum UA can be considered a risk predictor for ED. Furthermore, hyperuricemia can be regarded as an independent risk factor in addition to the established ones.
Safety and immunogenicity of therapeutic DNA vaccine with antiviral drug in chronic HBV patients and its immunogenicity in mice
Authors: Yoon Seung Kew , Seo Yong Bok , Im Se Jin , Bae Si Hyun , Song Myeong Jun , You Chan Ran , Jang Jung Won , Yang Se Hwan , Suh You Suk , Song Ji Soo , Kim Byong Moon , Kim Chae Young , Jeong Sook Hyang , Sung Young Chul 
Published: March 2014

AbstractBackground & AimsHere, we evaluated the safety and immunogenicity of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA vaccine, HB‐110, in mice and Korean patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) undergoing adefovir dipivoxil (ADV) treatment.MethodsFor animal study, mice (BALB/c or HBV transgenic) were immunized with mHB‐110, and T‐cell and antibody responses were evaluated. For clinical study, 27 patients randomly received either ADV alone or ADV in combination with HB‐110. Liver function tests, serum HBV DNA levels and the presence of HBeAg/anti‐HBe were analysed. T‐cell responses were estimated by ELISPOT and FACS analysis.ResultsmHB‐110 induced higher T‐cell and antibody responses than mHB‐100 in mice. No adverse effects were observed by HB‐110 cotreated with ADV. HBV‐specific T‐cell responses were induced in a portion of patients in medium to high dose of HB‐110. Interestingly, HB‐110 exhibited positive effects on ALT normalization and maintenance of HBeAg seroconversion. One patient, who received high dose of HB‐110 exhibited HBeAg seroconversion during vaccination, which correlated with vaccine‐induced T‐cell responses without ALT elevation.ConclusionsHB‐110 was safe and tolerable in CHB patients. In contrast to results in animal models, HB‐110 in Korean patients exhibited weaker capability of inducing HBV‐specific T‐cell responses and HBeAg seroconversion than HB‐100 in Caucasian patients. As Asian patients, who are generally infected via vertical transmission, appeared to have higher level of immune tolerance than Caucasian, novel approaches for breaking immune tolerance rather than enhancing immunogenicity may be more urgently demanded to develop effective therapeutic HBV DNA vaccines.
Luliconazole: a review of a new antifungal agent for the topical treatment of onychomycosis
Authors: Scher Richard K. , Nakamura Norifumi , Tavakkol Amir 
Published: March 2014

SummaryLuliconazole is a novel, broad‐spectrum, imidazole antifungal under development in the USA as a treatment for dermatophytic skin and nail infections. In vitro, luliconazole is one of the most potent antifungal agents against filamentous fungi including dermatophytes. Luliconazole has been formulated in a 10% solution with unique molecular properties, which allow it to penetrate the nail plate and rapidly achieve fungicidal levels in the nail unit. These properties make luliconazole a potent compound in the treatment of onychomycosis. This article reviews the development of luliconazole solution, 10% its molecular properties, preclinical and clinical data and its future perspectives for the treatment of fungal infections.
Omeprazole‐induced acute interstitial nephritis: A possible Th1–Th17‐mediated injury?
Authors: Berney‐Meyer Linda , Hung Noelyn , Slatter Tania , Schollum John BW , Kitching A Richard , Walker Robert J 
Published: March 2014

AbstractBackgroundOmeprazole is an important cause of drug‐induced acute interstitial nephritis (AIN). How omeprazole induces injury is unknown.Methods and ResultsDetailed clinical assessment of 25 biopsy‐proven cases of omeprazole‐induced AIN showed that all patients presented with impaired renal function, sterile pyuria with varying amounts of proteinuria but no eosinophiluria and no systemic symptoms to suggest a vasculitis. Histological analyses were characteristic of an acute tubulitis with an inflammatory cellular infiltrate. Using modified Banff scheme criteria, mild tubulitis (t1) was present in 56% of cases, a moderate tubulitis (t2) in 24% of cases, and a severe tubulitis in 20% of cases. Most (78%) of cases had mononuclear cell infiltrates, no significant eosinophilic infiltrates were found, and glomeruli were not involved. Immunostaining for CD4, CD8, IL‐17A, IL‐17F, Foxp3 and T‐bet (T cell subsets), CD20 and CD163 defined the cellular infiltrates. The predominant inflammatory cells were CD4+ lymphocytic aggregates (77% of cases), combined with co‐staining of CD4 IL and 17A/F in 44–48% of all cases, suggesting a Th17‐mediated inflammatory process. T‐bet+ cell infiltrates were present to a lesser degree, suggesting additional Th1 involvement. How omeprazole induces this inflammatory response is unclear, but may include direct effects by IL‐17 expressing CD4+ cells on renal tubular cells.ConclusionThis large biopsy series of omeprazole‐induced AIN demonstrates the features of acute tubulitis, with significant interstitial infiltrates consistent with immunopathological Th17 and Th1 processes.
New Historicism, Historical Criticism, and Reading the Pentateuch
Authors: Erisman Angela Roskop 
Published: March 2014

AbstractThis article surveys the development of Pentateuchal scholarship, from the emergence of historical criticism in the 19th century as a tool for understanding how the Pentateuch might be used to reconstruct the religious and social history of ancient Israel, to its abandonment in favor of literary criticism in the late 20th century by scholars concerned to establish an aesthetics of biblical literature that can help modern readers engage meaningfully with the Pentateuch. Historical criticism and literary criticism are now practiced largely in isolation, which is problematic because residue of the Pentateuch's composition history and the historical references it contains are part of the experience of reading the Pentateuch. Other disciplines have gone through the same turn from historicism to formalism that biblical studies has, and this article explores what students of the Pentateuch might gain from a critical orientation callednew historicism. New historicism has been tapped in synchronic studies of biblical literature but never applied to questions of composition history. This article outlines the assumptions, strategies, and techniques that characterize new historicism and articulates its potential for providing 21st century answers to the classic questions of historical criticism.
Education and informed consent about increased risk donor kidneys: a national survey of non‐physician transplant providers
Authors: Gordon E.J. , Mullee J. , Beauvais N. , Warren E. , Theodoropoulos N. , McNatt G. , Rassiwala J. , Ison M.G. ,   the Increased Risk Organ and Informed Consent (IROIC) Workgroup
Published: March 2014

AbstractIntroductionTransplant providers must understand the definition of increased risk donor (IRD) organs to effectively educate transplant candidates and obtain informed consent. This study surveyed non‐physician providers from 20 transplant centers about their educational and informed consent practices of IRD kidneys.MethodsAn anonymous, web‐based survey about the content and timing of education and informed consent for potential recipients of IRD kidneys, providers' knowledge of IRD kidneys, and provider and center characteristics was completed by most (67%; 90 of 135) of those invited to participate; 87 responses were included in analysis.ResultsMost (80%) reported understanding the concept of IRD kidneys. However, few reported sufficient knowledge of the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network definition of IRDs, risk factors, screening tests, window periods, and infection transmission rates. Most (56%) felt uncomfortable with obtaining specific informed consent for IRD kidneys. Most respondents received informal education about IRD kidneys (78%), and recognized the need for (98%) and were interested in receiving (99%) further education on this topic.ConclusionNon‐physician transplant providers need and are interested in better education about IRD kidneys to effectively educate patients and obtain patients' informed consent.
UL54 foscarnet mutation in an hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipient with cytomegalovirus disease
Authors: Gregg K. , Hakki M. , Kaul D.R. 
Published: March 2014

AbstractWe present a case of foscarnet (FOS) resistance arising from a UL54 mutation after a short duration of FOS exposure, which has not been previously described in a stem cell transplant recipient, to our knowledge. We discuss the use of FOS to treat other viral infections and the implications this may have for the development of resistance mutations and treatment of cytomegalovirus disease.
A Novel Braid-Twist Scaffold for ACL Repair: Control of Stress-Relaxation Properties
Authors: Freeman Joseph W. , Woods Mia D. , Cromer Damond A. , Wright Lee D. , Laurencin Cato T. 
Published: March 2014

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is critical for knee stability when walking or running. Unfortunately, it does not heal well after significant tearing or rupture and surgery is often necessary to reconstruct the injured ligament. Though ACL ruptures are quite common, the surgical repair of this ligament has inconsistent success rates [1]. The goal of this study was to characterize a biomimetic tissue engineered ACL scaffold using a novel combination braid-twist technique. The braid-twist scaffolds were made using the following procedure:
• Nine groups of six 160 mm length PLLA fibers were selected.
• Each group of six fibers was twisted in a counter-clockwise manner to form a fiber bundle (a total of nine fiber bundles/scaffold).
• Three of these bundles were twisted around one another counter-clockwise to form a yarn (a total of three yarns/scaffold).
• These three yarns were braided together to form one scaffold. This technique is based on the structure of ACL tissue and is designed to reduce scaffold fatigue and accurately mimic ACL behavior.
Identification and Differentiation of Candida parapsilosis Complex Species by Use of Exon-Primed Intron-Crossing PCR
Authors: Feng Xiaobo , Wu Zengbin , Ling Bo , Pan Shuming , Liao Wanqing , Pan Weihua , Yao Zhirong 
Published: March 2014

ABSTRACT

The
Candida parapsilosis
complex is composed of
Candida parapsilosis
sensu stricto
,
Candida orthopsilosis
,
Candida metapsilosis
, and the closely related species
Lodderomyces elongisporus
. An exon-primed intron-crossing PCR assay was developed here to distinguish the members of the species complex on the basis of the distinct sizes of amplicons, and
Candida orthopsilosis
and
Candida metapsilosis
were further discriminated by restriction enzyme analysis.
Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification Test for Detection of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in Urine Samples and Tolerance of the Assay to the Presence of Urea
Authors: Edwards Thomas , Burke Patricia A. , Smalley Helen B. , Gillies Liz , Hobbs Glyn 
Published: March 2014

ABSTRACT

A loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay for open reading frame 1 (ORF1) of the glutamine synthetase gene of
Neisseria gonorrhoeae
was able to tolerate urea concentrations of ≤1.8 M, compared with a PCR assay that was functional at concentrations of <100 mM. The LAMP assay was as sensitive as the PCR assay while being faster and simpler to perform.
Improved Detection of Bacterial Central Nervous System Infections by Use of a Broad-Range PCR Assay
Authors: Meyer T. , Franke G. , Polywka S. K. A. , Lütgehetmann M. , Gbadamosi J. , Magnus T. , Aepfelbacher M. 
Published: March 2014

ABSTRACT
A universal PCR assay for bacteria and fungi detected meningitis pathogens in 65% of 20 cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from patients with suspected central nervous system (CNS) infections compared to a 35% detection rate by culture and/or microscopy methods. Thus, the PCR assay can improve the diagnosis rate of infective meningitis when standard methods provide a negative result.