bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Reassessing Noninducibility as Ablation Endpoint of Post-Infarction Ventricular Tachycardia
Authors: de Riva Marta , Piers Sebastiaan R.D. , Kapel Gijs F.L. , Watanabe Masaya , Venlet Jeroen , Trines Serge A. , Schalij Martin J. , Zeppenfeld Katja 
Published: May 2015

Background—
Noninducibility is frequently used as procedural end point of ventricular tachycardia (VT) ablation after myocardial infarction. We investigated the influence of left ventricular (LV) function on the predictive value of noninducibility for VT recurrence and cardiac mortality.

Methods and Results—

Ninety-one patients (82 men, 67±10 years) with post–myocardial infarction VT underwent ablation between 2009 and 2012. Fifty-nine (65%) had an LV ejection fraction (EF) >30% (mean 41±7) and 32 (35%) an LVEF≤30% (mean 20±5). Thirty patients (51%) with EF>30% and 13 (41%) with EF≤30% were noninducible after ablation (
P
=0.386). During a median follow-up of 23 (Q1–Q3 16–36) months, 35 patients (38%) experienced VT recurrences and 17 (18%) cardiac death. At 1 year follow-up, survival free from VT recurrence and cardiac death for patients with LVEF>30% was 80% (95% confidence interval [CI], 70–90) compared with 42% (95% CI, 33–51) for those with LVEF≤30% (
P
=0.001). Noninducible patients with LVEF>30% had a recurrence-free survival from cardiac death of 90% (95% CI, 71–100) compared with 65% (95% CI, 47–83) for inducible patients (
P
=0.015). In the subgroup of patients with LVEF≤30%, the survival free from VT recurrence and cardiac death was 31% (95% CI, 0%–60%) for noninducible compared with 39% (95% CI, 27–52) for those who remained inducible (
P
=0.842).

Conclusions—
Noninducible patients with moderately depressed LV function have a favorable outcome compared with patients who remained inducible after ablation. On the contrary, patients with severely depressed LV function have a poor prognosis independent of the acute procedural outcome.
Wire-Interwoven Nitinol Stent Outcome in the Superficial Femoral and Proximal Popliteal Arteries
Authors: Garcia Lawrence , Jaff Michael R. , Metzger Christopher , Sedillo Gino , Pershad Ashish , Zidar Frank , Patlola Raghotham , Wilkins Robert G. , Espinoza Andrey , Iskander Ayman , Khammar George S. , Khatib Yazan , Beasley Robert , Makam Satyaprakash , Kovach Richard , Kamat Suraj , Leon Luis R. , Eaves William Britton , Popma Jeffrey J. , Mauri Laura , Donohoe Dennis , Base Carol C. , Rosenfield Kenneth 
Published: May 2015

Background—

Stent-based therapy in the superficial femoral and popliteal arteries in patients with peripheral artery disease i
s
compromised by restenosis and risk of stent fracture or distortion. A novel self-expanding nitinol stent was developed that incorporates an interwoven-wire design (Supera stent, IDEV Technologies, Inc, Webster, TX) to confer greater radial strength, flexibility, and fracture resistance.

Methods and Results—

This prospective, multicenter, investigational device exemption, single-arm trial enrolled 264 patients with symptomatic peripheral artery disease undergoing percutaneous treatment of de novo or restenotic lesions of the superficial femoral or proximal popliteal (femoropopliteal) artery. Freedom from death, target lesion revascularization, or any amputation of the index limb at 30 days (+7 days) postprocedure was achieved in 99.2% (258/260) of patients (
P
<0.001). Primary patency at 12 months (360±30 days) was achieved in 78.9% (180/228) of the population (
P
<0.001). Primary patency by Kaplan–Meier analysis at 12 months (360 days) was 86.3%. No stent fracture was observed by independent core laboratory analysis in the 243 stents (228 patients) evaluated at 12 months. Clinical assessment at 12 months demonstrated improvement by at least 1 Rutherford–Becker category in 88.7% of patients.

Conclusions—
The SUPERB Trial, an investigational device exemption study using an interwoven nitinol wire stent in the femoropopliteal artery, achieved the efficacy and safety performance goals predesignated by the Food and Drug Administration. On the basis of the high primary patency rate, absence of stent fracture, and significant improvements in functional and quality-of-life measures, the Supera stent provides safe and effective treatment of femoropopliteal lesions in symptomatic patients with peripheral artery disease.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT00933270.
Perioperative Management of Dabigatran
Authors: Schulman Sam , Carrier Marc , Lee Agnes Y.Y. , Shivakumar Sudeep , Blostein Mark , Spencer Frederick A. , Solymoss Susan , Barty Rebecca , Wang Grace , Heddle Nancy , Douketis James D. 
Published: May 2015

Background—
The perioperative management of dabigatran in clinical practice is heterogeneous. We performed this study to evaluate the safety of perioperative management of dabigatran using a specified protocol.

Methods and Results—
Patients treated with dabigatran and planned for an invasive procedure were eligible for inclusion. The timing of the last dose of dabigatran before the procedure was based on the creatinine clearance and procedure-related bleeding risk. Resumption of dabigatran was prespecified according to the complexity of the surgery and consequences of a bleeding complication. Patients were followed up for 30 days for major bleeding (primary outcome), minor bleeding, arterial thromboembolism, and death. We included 541 cases: 324 procedures (60%) with standard risk of bleeding and 217 procedures (40%) with increased risk of bleeding. The last dose of dabigatran was at 24, 48, or 96 hours before surgery according to the protocol in 46%, 37%, and 6%, respectively, of the patients. Resumption was timed according to protocol in 77% with 75 mg as the first dose on the day of procedure in 40% of the patients. Ten patients (1.8%; 95% confidence interval, 0.7–3.0) had major bleeding, and 28 patients (5.2%; 95% confidence interval, 3.3–7.0) had minor bleeding events. The only thromboembolic complication was transient ischemic attack in 1 patient (0.2%; 95% confidence interval, 0–0.5), and there were 4 deaths unrelated to bleeding or thrombosis. Bridging was not used preoperatively but was administered in 9 patients (1.7%) postoperatively.

Conclusion—
Our protocol for perioperative management of dabigatran appears to be effective and feasible.
Larval description of Drusus bosnicus Klapálek 1899 (Trichoptera: Limnephilidae), with distributional, molecular and ecological features
Authors: KUČINIĆ MLADEN , PREVIŠIĆ ANA , GRAF WOLFRAM , MIHOCI IVA , ŠOUFEK MARIN , STANIĆ-KOŠTROMAN SVJETLANA , LELO SUVAD , VITECEK SIMON , WARINGER JOHANN 
Published: May 2015

In this study we present morphological, molecular and ecological features of the last instar larvae of Drusus bosnicus with data about distribution of this species in Bosnia and Herzegovina. We also included the most important diagnostic features enabling separation of larvae of D. bosnicus from larvae of the other European Drusinae and Trichoptera species.
Extraction of Internal Tidal Currents and Reconstruction of Full-Depth Tidal Currents from Mooring Observations
Authors: Cao An-Zhou , Li Bing-Tian , Lv Xian-Qing 
Published: May 2015

AbstractTo obtain internal tidal currents and full-depth tidal currents from limited mooring observations, a method is put forward combining harmonic analysis and modal decomposition. Harmonic analysis is used to separate tidal currents of different constituents, and modal decomposition is used to calculate full-depth tidal currents of each mode. By adding the barotropic tidal currents to all the baroclinic ones, the full-depth tidal currents of each constituent are reconstructed. The feasibility and accuracy of the proposed method is tested by twin experiments. Then, the method is used to extract tidal currents of each mode and to reconstruct full-depth tidal currents for M2 and K1 from a 3-month-long time series of acoustic Doppler current data observed at a station in the northern South China Sea. Results indicate that the total kinetic energy (KE) of M2 is 25% larger than that of K1. For M2, the first baroclinic mode is the dominant one, followed by the barotropic one, and the sum of these modes accounts for more than 90% of the total M2 KE. Tidal constituent K1 is dominated by the barotropic mode, which accounts for more than 90% of the total K1 KE.
On the Impact of Additive Noise in Storm-Scale EnKF Experiments
Authors: Sobash Ryan A. , Wicker Louis J. 
Published: May 2015

Abstract
Storm-scale ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF) studies routinely use methods to accelerate the spinup of convective structures when assimilating convective-scale radar observations. This typically involves adding coherent perturbations into analyses at regular intervals in regions where radar observations indicate convection is ongoing. Significant uncertainty remains as to the most effective use of these perturbations, including appropriate perturbation magnitudes, spatial scales, fields, and smoothing kernels, as well as flexible strategies that can be applied across a spectrum of convective events with negligible a priori tuning. Here, several idealized experiments were performed to elucidate the impact and sensitivity of adding coherent perturbations into storm-scale analyses of convection. Through the use of toy experiments, it is demonstrated that various factors exhibit substantial influence on the postsmoothed perturbation magnitudes, making tuning challenging. Several OSSEs were performed to document the impact of these perturbations on the analyses, particularly thermodynamic analyses within convection. The repeated addition of coherent perturbations produced temperature and moisture biases that are most pronounced in analyses of the surface cold pool and aloft near the tropopause, and eventually lead to biases in the dynamic fields. In an attempt to reduce these biases and make the noise procedure more adaptive, reflectivity innovations were used to restrict the addition of noise to areas where these innovations are large. This produced analyses with reduced thermodynamic biases and RMSE values comparable to the best-performing experiment where the noise magnitudes were manually adjusted. The impact of these findings on previous and future convective-scale EnKF analyses and forecasts are discussed.
Olfactory Function Assessment of Blind Subjects Using the Sniffin’ Sticks Test
Authors: Çomoğlu Şenol , Orhan Kadir Serkan , Kocaman Selin Ünsaler , Çelik Mehmet , Keleş Nesil , Değer Kemal 
Published: May 2015

ObjectiveIn recent years, a growing number of studies have focused on the olfactory abilities of blind individuals as well as their tactile and auditory senses. In this study, we aimed to investigate possible alterations in the sense of smell in early‐ and late‐blind subjects as compared with sighted controls, using a Sniffin’ Sticks test battery.Study DesignProspective clinical study.SettingTertiary referral center.Subjects and MethodsA total of 66 subjects were included in the study. The subjects were divided into 2 groups: blind subjects—who were then subgrouped as subjects with congenital blindness (n = 17) and those with acquired blindness (n = 16)—and sighted subjects (n = 33). We compared both congenitally and acquired blind subjects with sighted counterparts using the Sniffin’ Sticks test for odor threshold, odor discrimination, odor identification, and total odor scores.ResultsThe blind subjects were more successful than their sighted counterparts in odor discrimination and odor threshold tasks. There was no statistically significant difference between the blind participants and the sighted individuals in terms of odor identification value. Another important finding was that the difference between individuals with congenital blindness and those with acquired blindness was not significant in any of the parameters.ConclusionThis finding may suggest that odor discrimination and odor threshold in blind people were superior to those of controls. There was no difference in any of the results of tasks among congenital and acquired blind subjects.
Customization of a Severity of Illness Score Using Local Electronic Medical Record Data
Authors: Lee Joon , Maslove David M. 
Published: May 2015

Purpose: Severity of illness (SOI) scores are traditionally based on archival data collected from a wide range of clinical settings. Mortality prediction using SOI scores tends to underperform when applied to contemporary cases or those that differ from the case-mix of the original derivation cohorts. We investigated the use of local clinical data captured from hospital electronic medical records (EMRs) to improve the predictive performance of traditional severity of illness scoring. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis using data from the Multiparameter Intelligent Monitoring in Intensive Care II (MIMIC-II) database, which contains clinical data from the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts. A total of 17 490 intensive care unit (ICU) admissions with complete data were included, from 4 different service types: medical ICU, surgical ICU, coronary care unit, and cardiac surgery recovery unit. We developed customized SOI scores trained on data from each service type, using the clinical variables employed in the Simplified Acute Physiology Score (SAPS). In-hospital, 30-day, and 2-year mortality predictions were compared with those obtained from using the original SAPS using the area under the receiver–operating characteristics curve (AUROC) as well as the area under the precision-recall curve (AUPRC). Test performance in different cohorts stratified by severity of organ injury was also evaluated. Results: Most customized scores (30 of 39) significantly outperformed SAPS with respect to both AUROC and AUPRC. Enhancements over SAPS were greatest for patients undergoing cardiovascular surgery and for prediction of 2-year mortality. Conclusions: Custom models based on ICU-specific data provided better mortality prediction than traditional SAPS scoring using the same predictor variables. Our local data approach demonstrates the value of electronic data capture in the ICU, of secondary uses of EMR data, and of local customization of SOI scoring.
Adherence to online monitoring of patient-reported outcomes by patients with chronic inflammatory diseases: a feasibility study
Authors: Jamilloux Y , Sarabi M , Kérever S , Boussely N , le Sidaner A , Valgueblasse V , Carrier P , Loustaud-Ratti V , Sautereau D , Fauchais A-L , François B , Vidal E , Collaborators  
Published: May 2015

Objectives The objective of this report is to investigate the feasibility of collecting patient-reported outcomes (PROs) via e-questionnaires delivered to patients with chronic inflammatory diseases (CIDs). Methods Consecutive outpatients with a confirmed diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus, primary Sjögren’s syndrome or inflammatory bowel disease were followed at two medical departments. Patients received monthly e-mails containing the SF36, Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale and an analogue symptom scale over a six-month period. Participation rate, socio-demographic characteristics and patients’ satisfaction were analysed. Results A total of 128 patients were included (79% female; mean age: 42 ± 12 years). Eighty-two per cent of questionnaires were returned. The monthly participation rate ranged from 89% to 77%, with a six-month attrition rate of 13%. The mean completion rate of questionnaires was 98%. Factors significantly associated with increased answer rate were: married/couple status, greater number of children at home and previous participation in online surveys. The main reasons for non-response were: ‘too busy to participate’ (35%) and ‘away from home Internet access’ (31%). Overall, 68% of the participants found the study convenient and 96% agreed to continue at a monthly or bimonthly frequency. Conclusion Online home self-assessment of PROs was feasible in the setting of CIDs. Patients were satisfied and willing to continue the survey. The Internet allows immediate and sophisticated presentation of PROs to clinicians. Future studies are warranted to determine how PRO monitoring may contribute to routine care in CIDs and other diseases.
Aberrant expression of regulatory cytokine IL-35 in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Cai Z , Wong C K , Kam N W , Dong J , Jiao D , Chu M , Lam C W K , Tam L S 
Published: May 2015

Objective This study characterizes an IL-35-mediated regulatory role in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods Plasma of SLE patients and healthy controls (HCs) was analyzed for the concentrations of IL-35 and soluble gp130 by using ELISA. mRNA expression of IL-35 subunit (p35 and EBI3) and its receptor (gp130 and IL-12Rβ2) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was assessed by RT-qPCR. Flow cytometry was performed to evaluate the number of CD4+CD25highCD127−Treg cells and the expression of IL-35 receptor on the CD4+ helper (Th) cells and CD19+ B cells. Plasma collected from SLE patients and HCs was assayed for cytokine and chemokine expression by Luminex multiplex assay. Results Plasma IL-35 and soluble gp130 levels positively correlated with each other and were significantly higher in patients with severe SLE compared with HCs. Significantly higher levels of inflammatory cytokines/chemokines CCL2, CXCL8, IL-6, interferon (IFN)-γ, IL-10 and IL-17A were observed in plasma of SLE patients than HCs. mRNA levels of IL-35 and its receptor were significantly positively correlated in PBMCs from SLE patients and their levels were higher in SLE than HCs. The increase significantly correlated with changes in SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) (all p < 0.05). In addition, the number of Treg cells in severe and moderate SLE patients were both significantly lower than HCs, where the ratio of CD4+CD25−effector T cell %/CD4+CD25highCD127−Treg % was found to be significantly higher in severe SLE patients. Furthermore, the expression of gp130 on CD4+ Th cells and percentage of Tregs were positively correlated with each other, and both were negatively correlated with SLEDAI. Conclusion Our findings indicate that high level of plasma IL-35 in active SLE patients expressed with low level of IL-35 receptor (gp130) on CD4+ Th cells. These data raise the possibility that the level of IL-35 expression in SLE patients is not sufficient to induce the production of CD4+CD25highCD127−Tregs, and subsequently suppress the release of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines upon inflammation.
Participation rates for organized colorectal cancer screening programmes: an international comparison
Authors: Klabunde Carrie , Blom Johannes , Bulliard Jean-Luc , Garcia Montse , Hagoel Lea , Mai Verna , Patnick Julietta , Rozjabek Heather , Senore Carlo , Törnberg Sven 
Published: May 2015

Objective Participation, an indicator of screening programme acceptance and effectiveness, varies widely in clinical trials and population-based colorectal cancer (CRC) screening programmes. We aimed to assess whether CRC screening participation rates can be compared across organized guaiac fecal occult blood test (G-FOBT)/fecal immunochemical test (FIT)-based programmes, and what factors influence these rates. Methods Programme representatives from countries participating in the International Cancer Screening Network were surveyed to describe their G-FOBT/FIT-based CRC screening programmes, how screening participation is defined and measured, and to provide participation data for their most recent completed screening round. Results Information was obtained from 15 programmes in 12 countries. Programmes varied in size, reach, maturity, target age groups, exclusions, type of test kit, method of providing test kits and use, and frequency of reminders. Coverage by invitation ranged from 30–100%, coverage by the screening programme from 7–67.7%, overall uptake/participation rate from 7–67.7%, and first invitation participation from 7–64.3%. Participation rates generally increased with age and were higher among women than men and for subsequent compared with first invitation participation. Conclusion Comparisons among CRC screening programmes should be made cautiously, given differences in organization, target populations, and interpretation of indicators. More meaningful comparisons are possible if rates are calculated across a uniform age range, by gender, and separately for people invited for the first time vs. previously.
Rate of Union After Segmental Midshaft Shortening Osteotomy of the Lesser Metatarsals
Authors: DeSandis Bridget , Ellis Scott J. , Levitsky Matthew , O’Malley Quinn , Konin Gabrielle , O’Malley Martin J. 
Published: May 2015

Background: Current literature reports excellent rates of union following various lesser metatarsal osteotomy techniques. However, it is our experience that segmental midshaft shortening osteotomies heal very slowly and have a greater potential for nonunion than has previously been reported. The purpose of this study was to assess union rates and report the time required for segmental midshaft shortening osteotomies to achieve radiographic union. Methods: We reviewed the charts and postoperative radiographs of 58 patients (representing 91 osteotomies) who underwent segmental midshaft shortening osteotomies with internal fixation between January 2009 and December 2013. Radiographs were reviewed to determine when union was achieved. Union was defined as the bridging of 2 or more cortices in the anteroposterior, lateral, and oblique radiographic views. Osteotomies were classified as delayed union if they were not healed at 3 months postoperatively and nonunions if they were not healed at 6 months postoperatively. Results: Overall, 27 of 91 osteotomies met our radiographic classification of union and were healed by 3 months (29.7%). Sixty-nine of the 91 osteotomies healed by 6 months (75.8%) and were considered delayed unions. Twenty-two osteotomies were not healed yet and therefore were considered nonunions (24.2%). Of the 22 nonunions, 7 healed in an additional 2 months (8 months) for an overall healing percentage of 83.5%, (76 of 91). By 10 months, 6 more nonunions were healed (overall healing percentage of 90.1%, 82 of 91). Three additional nonunions went on to heal by 12.9 months, yielding a final union rate of 93.4% (85 of 91), while 6 were still considered nonunions (6.6%). Conclusion: We report that a significant percentage of segmental midshaft metatarsal shortening osteotomies experienced delayed unions and nonunions. These findings contrast those previously reported in the literature that metatarsal osteotomies have very low nonunion rates. These results support our hypothesis that these osteotomies require a prolonged amount of time to achieve bony healing and that they have a higher tendency to develop delayed and nonunions than previously reported. Level of Evidence: Level IV, retrospective case series.