bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
High Incidence of Low Catheter‐Tissue Contact Force at the Cavotricuspid Isthmus During Catheter Ablation of Atrial Flutter: Implications for Achieving Isthmus Block
Authors: KUMAR SAURABH , MORTON JOSEPH B. , LEE GEOFFREY , HALLORAN KAREN , KISTLER PETER M. , KALMAN JONATHAN M. 
Published: May 2015

Contact Force During Cavotricuspid Isthmus AblationIntroductionRecurrent atrial flutter following cavotricuspid isthmus (CTI) ablation remains a significant problem. The prevalence of low contact force (CF) during CTI ablation using standard tools is unknown. Our aim was to characterize the prevalence of low CF applications when experienced operators performed CTI ablation using “traditional” markers of contact blinded to CF measurements.Methods and ResultsAverage CF (grams, g) and force‐time integral (FTI) was analyzed in 458 lesions in 17 patients undergoing CTI ablation. The isthmus was divided into the annular, mid and caval segments for region‐specific analysis. Despite “good” contact using traditional markers, there was significant variability in CF within each isthmus segment (e.g., annular CTI 1–57 g). A high proportion of lesions had a CF <10 g (40%). Lowest CF was the annular (median 9 g), followed by the mid (12 g) and the caval CTI (18 g, P < 0.001). Sites of acute CTI re‐connection had a lower average CF and FTI than nonreconnected sites (P < 0.05). Each 1 g increase in CF was associated with a 16% reduction in risk of recovered CTI conduction (95% confidence interval: 4–27%, P = 0.01).ConclusionUse of surrogate markers of “good contact” during ablation by experienced operators in the absence of real‐time CF sensing resulted in nearly half of all lesions being delivered with low CF with marked region‐specific variability in CF. Low CF was implicated in longer time to achieve conduction block and increased risk of acute reconnection. These findings underscore the importance of real‐time CF measurements for optimizing ablation of typical atrial flutter.
Efficacy and safety of focused ultrasound versus microwave therapy for cervical ectopy: a meta‐analysis
Authors: Tang Xueli , Gao Zhan , Li Youping , Yu Jiajie , Li Xianglian 
Published: May 2015

AbstractObjectivesTo assess the efficacy and safety of focused ultrasound therapy (FU) and microwave therapy (MW) for cervical ectopy (CE).MethodsWe searched PubMed, EMbase, the Cochrane Library, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), Chinese Scientific Journals Database (VIP), China Academic Journals Full‐text Database (CNKI), and WanFang Data for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing FU with MW for women with symptomatic CE from inception to 30 August 2014. Two review authors (Tang XL and Gao Z) independently screened for eligible studies according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, extracted data and assessed risk of bias of included RCTs. Then, meta‐analysis was performed using the RevMan 5.2 software. Funnel plots were used to evaluate publication bias.ResultsA total of 33 RCTs with 11,759 participants were included. All studies had high risk of bias. The results of meta‐analysis indicated that compared to MW, FU significantly reduced the risk of vaginal bleeding (RR = 0.09, 95%CI 0.05 to 0.17, P < 0.00001) and vaginal discharge (RR = 0.10, 95%CI 0.04 to 0.24, P < 0.00001), increased the cure rate (RR = 1.10, 95%CI 1.05 to 1.15, P < 0.0001) and the total effectiveness rate (RR = 1.04, 95%CI 1.02 to 1.06, P = 0.0005), and decreased the recurrence rate (RR = 0.13, 95%CI 0.02 to 1.00, P = 0.05); however, this last difference was not statistically significant.ConclusionCurrent available evidence suggests that FU is safer and more effective than MW for treating CE. However, some limitations will reduce the reliability of our results. Further well‐designed clinical trials are needed to provide further clarification.
Testing treatments interactive (TTi): helping to equip the public to promote better research for better health care
Authors: Chen Yaolong , Chalmers Iain 
Published: May 2015

AbstractTesting Treatments is a book written to help everyone understand why testing treatments is so important, why treatment tests have to be fair, and how everyone can help to promote better research for better health care. The book proved to be very popular and its second edition has already been translated into a dozen languages, with more translations in the pipeline. The texts of the original English and all the translations are feely downloadable from Testing Treatments interactive at www.testingtreatments.org. The editors of all the different language websites have established an TTi Editorial Alliance, to share experiences and provide each other with mutual support. The TTi Editorial Alliance seeks to promote a world in which health professionals, patients and the public use reliable research to inform their health decisions. Its missions are (i) To promote a global network, involving members of the public in partnership with professionals, to communicate and discuss basic principles and general knowledge about testing treatments; (ii) to help the public increase critical thinking and skills in accessing, apprehending, appraising and using research evidence; and (iii) to help patients and the public to participate more actively in health research.
Striatal‐enriched protein tyrosine phosphatase regulates the PTPα/Fyn signaling pathway
Authors: Xu Jian , Kurup Pradeep , Foscue Ethan , Lombroso Paul J. 
Published: May 2015

AbstractThe tyrosine kinase Fyn has two regulatory tyrosine residues that when phosphorylated either activate (Tyr420) or inhibit (Tyr531) Fyn activity. Within the central nervous system, two protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) target these regulatory tyrosines in Fyn. PTPα dephosphorylates Tyr531 and activates Fyn, while STEP (STriatal‐Enriched protein tyrosine Phosphatase) dephosphorylates Tyr420 and inactivates Fyn. Thus, PTPα and STEP have opposing functions in the regulation of Fyn; however, whether there is cross talk between these two PTPs remains unclear. Here, we used molecular techniques in primary neuronal cultures and in vivo to demonstrate that STEP negatively regulates PTPα by directly dephosphorylating PTPα at its regulatory Tyr789. Dephosphorylation of Tyr789 prevents the translocation of PTPα to synaptic membranes, blocking its ability to interact with and activate Fyn. Genetic or pharmacologic reduction in STEP61 activity increased the phosphorylation of PTPα at Tyr789, as well as increased translocation of PTPα to synaptic membranes. Activation of PTPα and Fyn and trafficking of GluN2B to synaptic membranes are necessary for ethanol (EtOH) intake behaviors in rodents. We tested the functional significance of STEP61 in this signaling pathway by EtOH administration to primary cultures as well as in vivo, and demonstrated that the inactivation of STEP61 by EtOH leads to the activation of PTPα, its translocation to synaptic membranes, and the activation of Fyn. These findings indicate a novel mechanism by which STEP61 regulates PTPα and suggest that STEP and PTPα coordinate the regulation of Fyn.

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STEP61, PTPα, Fyn, and NMDA receptor (NMDAR) have been implicated in ethanol intake behaviors in the dorsomedial striatum (DMS) in rodents. Here, we report that PTPα is a novel substrate for STEP61. Upon ethanol exposure, STEP61 is phosphorylated and inactivated by protein kinase A (PKA) signaling in the DMS. As a result of STEP61 inhibition, there is an increase in the phosphorylation of PTPα, which translocates to lipid rafts and activates Fyn and subsequent NMDAR signaling. The results demonstrate a synergistic regulation of Fyn‐NMDAR signaling by STEP61 and PTPα, which may contribute to the regulation of ethanol‐related behaviors. NMDA, N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate; PTPα, receptor‐type protein tyrosine phosphatase alpha; STEP, STriatal‐Enriched protein tyrosine Phosphatase.
Self‐Concept Clarity in Adolescents and Parents: A Six‐Wave Longitudinal and Multi‐Informant Study on Development and Intergenerational Transmission
Authors: Crocetti Elisabetta , Rubini Monica , Branje Susan , Koot Hans M. , Meeus Wim 
Published: May 2015

The purpose of this study was twofold: (a) to disentangle patterns of change and stability in self‐concept clarity (SCC) in adolescents and in their parents and (b) to examine processes of intergenerational transmission of SCC in families with adolescents.Participants were 497 Dutch families including the father (baseline Mage = 46.74), the mother (baseline Mage = 44.41), and their adolescent child (56.9% males; baseline Mage = 13.03). Each family member completed the SCC scale for six waves, with a one‐year interval between each wave.Latent growth curve analyses indicated that adolescent boys reported higher SCC than girls. Furthermore, fathers and mothers reported higher SCC than their children, and it increased over time. Indices of SCC rank‐order stability were high and increased from T1 to T2, T2 to T3, etc., for each family member, especially for adolescents. Multivariate latent growth curve analyses and cross‐lagged models highlighted a unidirectional transmission process, with fathers’ and mothers’ SCC influencing adolescents’ SCC. This result was not moderated by adolescent gender. These findings indicate that self‐concept clarity is transmitted from parents to children.
The Prognostic Value of Perioperative Profiles of ACTH and Cortisol for Recurrence after Transsphenoidal Hypophysectomy in Dogs with Corticotroph Adenomas
Authors: van Rijn S.J. , Hanson J.M. , Zierikzee D. , Kooistra H.S. , Penning L.C. , Tryfonidou M.A. , Meij B.P. 
Published: May 2015

BackgroundTranssphenoidal hypophysectomy is an effective treatment for dogs with pituitary‐dependent hypercortisolism (PDH). However, long‐term recurrence of hypercortisolism is a well‐recognized problem, indicating the need for reliable prognostic indicators.ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of perioperative plasma ACTH and cortisol concentrations for identifying recurrence of hypercortisolism after transsphenoidal hypophysectomy.AnimalsA total of 112 dogs with PDH that underwent transsphenoidal hypophysectomy met the inclusion criteria of the study.MethodsHormone concentrations were measured preoperatively and 1–5 hours after surgery. Both absolute hormone concentrations and postoperative concentrations normalized to preoperative concentrations were included in analyses. The prognostic value of hormone concentrations was studied with Cox's proportional hazard analysis.ResultsMedian follow‐up and disease‐free period were 1096 days and 896 days, respectively. Twenty‐eight percent of patients had recurrence, with a median disease‐free period of 588 days. Both absolute and normalized postoperative cortisol concentrations were significantly higher in dogs with recurrence than in dogs without recurrence. High ACTH 5 hours after surgery, high cortisol 1 and 4 hours after surgery, high normalized ACTH 3 hours after surgery, high normalized cortisol 4 hours after surgery and the random slope of cortisol were associated with a shorter disease‐free period.Conclusions and clinical importanceIndividual perioperative hormone curves provide valuable information about the risk of recurrence after hypophysectomy. However, because no single cutoff point could be identified, combination with other variables, such as the pituitary height/brain area (P/B) ratio, is still needed to obtain a good estimate of the risk for recurrence of hypercortisolism after hypophysectomy.
Altered viscerotopic cortical innervation in patients with irritable bowel syndrome
Authors: Irimia A. , Labus J. S. , Torgerson C. M. , Van Horn J. D. , Mayer E. A. 
Published: May 2015

AbstractBackgroundStudies have demonstrated the existence of regional gray matter and white matter (WM) alterations in the brains of patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), but the extent to which altered anatomical connectivity between brain regions is altered in IBS remains incompletely understood.MethodsIn this study, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) were used to identify significant brain connectivity differences between IBS patients and healthy control (HC) subjects. Based on MRI and DTI volumes acquired from 66 IBS patients and 23 HC subjects, multivariate regression was used to investigate whether subject age, sex, cortical thickness, or the mean fractional anisotropy (FA) of WM connections innervating each location on the cortex could predict IBS diagnosis.Key ResultsHC and IBS subjects were found to differ significantly within both left and right viscerotopic portions of the primary somatosensory cortex (S1), with the mean FA of WM bundles innervating S1 being the predictor variable responsible for these significant differences.Conclusions & InferencesThese preliminary findings illustrate how a chronic visceral pain syndrome and brain structure are related in the cohort examined, and because of their indication that IBS diagnosis is associated with anatomic neuropathology of potential neurological relevance in this patient sample.
Development of facial sexual dimorphism in children aged between 12 and 15 years: a three‐dimensional longitudinal study
Authors: Koudelová J. , Brůžek J. , Cagáňová V. , Krajíček V. , Velemínská J. 
Published: May 2015

Structured AbstractObjectivesTo evaluate sexual dimorphism of facial form and shape and to describe differences between the average female and male face from 12 to 15 years.Setting and Sample PopulationOverall 120 facial scans from healthy Caucasian children (17 boys, 13 girls) were longitudinally evaluated over a 4‐year period between the ages of 12 and 15 years.Materials and MethodsFacial surface scans were obtained using a three‐dimensional optical scanner Vectra‐3D. Variation in facial shape and form was evaluated using geometric morphometric and statistical methods (DCA, PCA and permutation test). Average faces were superimposed, and the changes were evaluated using colour‐coded maps.ResultsThere were no significant sex differences (p > 0.05) in shape in any age category and no differences in form in the 12‐ and 13‐year‐olds, as the female faces were within the area of male variability. From the age of 14, a slight separation occurred, which was statistically confirmed. The differences were mainly associated with size. Generally boys had more prominent eyebrow ridges, more deeply set eyes, a flatter cheek area, and a more prominent nose and chin area.ConclusionThe development of facial sexual dimorphism during pubertal growth is connected with ontogenetic allometry.
Catheter Ablation of Premature Ventricular Contractions Originating in the Aortic Sinus Cusp or Great Cardiac Vein: Two QRS Morphologies with One Origin
Authors: WANG YU‐BIN , MA JUAN , DONG JIAN‐ZENG , BAI RONG , WANG JING , LI SONG‐NAN , YU RONG‐HUI , LONG DE‐YONG , MA CHANG‐SHENG , CHU JIAN‐MIN 
Published: May 2015

BackgroundPremature ventricular contractions (PVCs) originating from aortic sinus cusps (ASCs) can exhibit preferential conduction to right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT).ObjectivesThis study aimed to examine the electrophysiological characteristics for guiding catheter ablation in patients with two morphological types of PVCs that originate from ASCs or the great cardiac vein (GCV).MethodsWe analyzed electrocardiogram from 10 patients with PVCs of two QRS morphologies. The patients who exhibited dominant left bundle branch block (LBBB) QRS morphology and less right bundle branch block (RBBB) morphology were designated as group 1 (n = 7), and those with dominant RBBB QRS morphology were designated as group 2 (n = 3). During PVCs, electroanatomical mapping was performed in both RVOT and ASC in group 1 and only performed in ASC or GCV in group 2.ResultsIn group 1, the earliest ventricular activation preceding the onset of the QRS complex (V‐QRS) was recorded for 27 ± 6 ms (range 18–36 ms) in RVOT and 25 ± 6 ms (range 18–34 ms) in the ASC, while V‐QRS was recorded for 28 ms, 42 ms, 40 ms in the ASC or GCV in group 2. All patients were successfully ablated at one site finally, including left coronary cusp in seven, left‐right coronary cusp commissure in two, and GCV in one. None of the patients experienced recurrence or complications during the 18.4 ± 5.1 (range 6–24 months) months of follow‐up.ConclusionsTwo QRS morphologies (LBBB and RBBB with inferior axis) in PVCs could be a predictor of PVCs originating from ASC or GCV.
Does regulation kill jobs?: The limits of quantification
Authors: Driesen David M. 
Published: May 2015

AbstractThis essay reviews a new edited volume entitled Does Regulation Kill Jobs? It concludes that this book brings much needed data and realism to the debate about jobs and the environment, showing that government regulation generally has minor impacts on employment. This essay focuses much of its attention on the suggestion, discussed by several of the contributors to this book, that cost–benefit analysis should include a dollar value representing an estimate of the value of employment changes a proposed regulation might cause. It discusses concerns about double counting, ex ante estimates of employment impacts, monetization of the value of employment impacts, and potentially misleading asymmetric analysis.
Understanding the Shift in Demand for Cash Value Life Insurance
Authors: Mulholland Barry , Finke Michael , Huston Sandra 
Published: May 2015

AbstractOwnership of cash value life insurance in the United States has fallen in recent decades. Changes in age cohorts, family composition, and tax laws may have contributed to this decline. We identify factors that influence the demand for cash value life insurance and test whether they alone can explain the sharp decline in ownership. Demographic and tax code changes do not explain the decrease in permanent insurance. There is a consistent downward trend in demand from 1992 to 2010—particularly among middle‐age and younger households. The fewer households who own cash value policies are on average wealthier and more financially sophisticated, suggesting that permanent life insurance is increasingly being used as a tax shield rather than as a hedge against a loss in human capital.
Estimation of a Copula when a Covariate Affects only Marginal Distributions
Authors: Gijbels Irène , Omelka Marek , Veraverbeke Noël 
Published: May 2015

AbstractThis paper is concerned with studying the dependence structure between two random variables Y1 and Y2 in the presence of a covariate X, which affects both marginal distributions but not the dependence structure. This is reflected in the property that the conditional copula of Y1 and Y2 given X, does not depend on the value of X. This latter independence often appears as a simplifying assumption in pair‐copula constructions. We introduce a general estimator for the copula in this specific setting and establish its consistency. Moreover, we consider some special cases, such as parametric or nonparametric location‐scale models for the effect of the covariate X on the marginals of Y1 and Y2 and show that in these cases, weak convergence of the estimator, at
‐rate, holds. The theoretical results are illustrated by simulations and a real data example.
Adaptive Bayesian Procedures Using Random Series Priors
Authors: Shen Weining , Ghosal Subhashis 
Published: May 2015

AbstractWe consider a general class of prior distributions for nonparametric Bayesian estimation which uses finite random series with a random number of terms. A prior is constructed through distributions on the number of basis functions and the associated coefficients. We derive a general result on adaptive posterior contraction rates for all smoothness levels of the target function in the true model by constructing an appropriate ‘sieve’ and applying the general theory of posterior contraction rates. We apply this general result on several statistical problems such as density estimation, various nonparametric regressions, classification, spectral density estimation and functional regression. The prior can be viewed as an alternative to the commonly used Gaussian process prior, but properties of the posterior distribution can be analysed by relatively simpler techniques. An interesting approximation property of B‐spline basis expansion established in this paper allows a canonical choice of prior on coefficients in a random series and allows a simple computational approach without using Markov chain Monte Carlo methods. A simulation study is conducted to show that the accuracy of the Bayesian estimators based on the random series prior and the Gaussian process prior are comparable. We apply the method on Tecator data using functional regression models.
Globalization and the Ethnic Divide: Recent Longitudinal Evidence*
Authors: Wunnava Phanindra V. , Mitra Aniruddha , Prasch Robert E. 
Published: May 2015

ObjectiveThis article investigates the impact of increasing global integration on economic growth, emphasizing its interaction with the level of ethnic heterogeneity in a society.MethodsWe perform a feasible generalized least squares estimation of a random effects model on a longitudinal sample of 103 countries taken over the period 1992–2005.ResultsWe find that economic globalization has generally had a beneficial impact on economic growth. We also find that societies marked by greater ethnic heterogeneity have gained more from global integration. Further, while ethnic heterogeneity has been a significant impediment to growth over the sample period, religious and linguistic heterogeneity have not. Finally, we find that democracies have significantly outperformed autocracies over this period.ConclusionOur results suggest that globalization may have a role in redressing the detrimental impact of ethnic cleavages in a society.
Chryseobacterium indologenes in four patients with leukemia
Authors: Deng L. , Li M.F. , Li Y.H. , Yang J.L. , Zhou X. 
Published: May 2015

AbstractChryseobacterium indologenes is a rare opportunistic pathogen causing hospital‐acquired infection. We present 4 patients with leukemia associated with C. indologenes infection. Two of the patients, undergoing peripheral blood allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (alloHSCT) from human leukocyte antigen‐identical sibling donors, died of pneumonia caused by C. indologenes with or without Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Blood infection with C. indologenes was found in the other 2 patients during chemotherapy, 1 of which was a central venous catheter‐related bloodstream infection. Both patients were cured with or without the sensitive antibiotic. Three of these 4 isolates were susceptible to trimethoprim‐sulfamethoxazole only in vitro. Although C. indologenes has a weak toxicity, it can be lethal for the super‐immunocompromised patients, such as those treated with alloHSCT.
Regulators and effectors of bone morphogenetic protein signalling in the cardiovascular system
Authors: Luo Jiang‐Yun , Zhang Yang , Wang Li , Huang Yu 
Published: May 2015

AbstractBone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) play key roles in the regulation of cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis in various tissues and organs, including the cardiovascular system. BMPs signal through both Smad‐dependent and ‐independent cascades to exert a wide spectrum of biological activities. Cardiovascular disorders such as abnormal angiogenesis, atherosclerosis, pulmonary hypertension and cardiac hypertrophy have been linked to aberrant BMP signalling. To correct the dysregulated BMP signalling in cardiovascular pathogenesis, it is essential to get a better understanding of how the regulators and effectors of BMP signalling control cardiovascular function and how the dysregulated BMP signalling contributes to cardiovascular dysfunction. We hence highlight several key regulators of BMP signalling such as extracellular regulators of ligands, mechanical forces, microRNAs and small molecule drugs as well as typical BMP effectors like direct downstream target genes, mitogen‐activated protein kinases, reactive oxygen species and microRNAs. The insights into these molecular processes will help target both the regulators and important effectors to reverse BMP‐associated cardiovascular pathogenesis.