bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Plasma Nesfatin-1 Level in Obese Patients after Acupuncture: A Randomised Controlled Trial
Authors: Guo Yongfang , Xing Mingqing , Sun Wenjuan , Yuan Xiaoyan , Dai Hongyan , Ding Huamin 
Published: May 2014

Background Nesfatin-1 is an anorexigenic hormone suggested to regulate obesity. Objective To investigate the relationship between nesfatin-1 level and anthropometric and metabolic parameters in obese patients, and examine the change in plasma nesfatin-1 level after acupuncture treatment. Methods 64 obese adult patients without diabetes and 58 normal weight control subjects were enrolled in this study. The obese patients were randomly divided into an acupuncture plus diet group (n=32) and a diet only group (n=32). Measurements were repeated after 45 days. Results Body mass index (BMI), waist and hip circumferences, serum insulin, lipoprotein and insulin resistance measures were significantly higher, and plasma nesfatin-1 level was significantly lower, in obese patients than in normal weight controls. In addition, negative correlations were found between plasma nesfatin-1 level and BMI, waist and hip circumferences. Weight reduction in participants after acupuncture and diet restriction was 7.0% and 4.3%, respectively. Plasma nesfatin-1 level increased from 2.75±1.16 to 3.44±1.28 ng/mL and from 2.86±1.07 to 3.23±1.06 ng/mL in acupuncture and diet groups, respectively; the difference was significant, p<0.05. Conclusions Plasma nesfatin-1 level is reduced in obese adults, and is increased after acupuncture. The beneficial effect of acupuncture on obesity is associated with increased plasma nesfatin-1 level.
Intervening to reduce workplace sitting time: how and when do changes to sitting time occur?
Authors: Stephens Samantha K , Winkler Elisabeth A H , Trost Stewart G , Dunstan David W , Eakin Elizabeth G , Chastin Sebastien F M , Healy Genevieve N 
Published: May 2014

ObjectiveTo investigate how and when changes in workplace sitting time occurred following a workplace intervention to inform evaluation of intervention success.MethodThe 4-week Stand Up Comcare study (June–September 2011) aimed to reduce workplace sitting time via regularly interrupting and replacing sitting time throughout the day. Activity monitor (activPAL3) workplace data from control (n=22) and intervention participants (n=21) were analysed. Differences in the number and usual duration of sitting bouts were used to evaluate how change occurred. To examine when change occurred, intervention effects were compared by hour since starting work and hour of the workday. Change in workplace activity (sitting, standing, stepping) was examined to further inform alignment with intervention messages. Individual variability was examined in how and when the change occurred.ResultsOverall, behavioural changes aligned with intervention aims. All intervention participants reduced total workplace sitting time, though there was wide individual variability observed (range −29 to −262 min per 8 h workday). On average, intervention participants reduced number of sitting bouts (−4.6 bouts (95% CI −10.1 to 1.0), p=0.106) and usual sitting bout duration (−5.6 min (95% CI −9.8 to −1.4, p=0.011)) relative to controls. Sitting time reductions were observed across the workday, though intervention effects varied by hour of the day (p=0.015). The intervention group successfully adopted theStand UpandSit Lessintervention messages across the day.ConclusionThese analyses confirmed that this workplace intervention successfully modified sitting behaviour as intended (ie, fewer and shorter sitting bouts, with changes occurring throughout the day).
Value of antibodies to free light chains in immunoperoxidase studies of renal biopsies
Authors: Owen-Casey Mared P , Sim Rosalind , Cook H Terence , Roufosse Candice A , Gillmore Julian D , Gilbertson Janet A , Hutchison Colin A , Howie Alexander J 
Published: May 2014

AimsBecause immunoglobulin abnormalities may affect the kidney, investigation of renal biopsies requires immunohistological study of light chains. A problem is that most antibodies to light chains react with whole immunoglobulins as well as free light chains, and there are generally many more whole immunoglobulins than free light chains. The usefulness of antibodies that only detected free light chains was investigated.MethodsAntibodies to free light chains were used in an immunoperoxidase method on paraffin sections of 198 renal biopsies, and compared with conventional antibodies against light chains examined by immunofluorescence on 13 frozen sections and by immunoperoxidase on 46 paraffin sections.ResultsImmunofluorescence and immunoperoxidase were concordant on 10 of 13 biopsies. Immunofluorescence detected slight deposition of light chains in three biopsies not shown by immunoperoxidase, of undetermined clinical significance. Using immunoperoxidase, the free light chain antibodies were more sensitive than conventional antibodies, giving much cleaner staining and better detection of deposits in AL amyloid, light chain deposition disease and cryoglobulinaemic glomerulonephritis. The free light chain antibodies showed discordance or ambiguity between immunohistological and clinical findings in seven (4%) of 185 patients with known immunoglobulin status. These included two of 28 cases of AL amyloid that showed no light chain deposition. The method was not designed for detection of light chain restriction in neoplastic plasma or lymphoplasmacytic cells.ConclusionsPolyclonal antibodies to free light chains are an improvement on conventional antibodies in immunoperoxidase study of paraffin sections of renal biopsies and are useful in everyday practice.
Management of complex abdominal wall defects associated with penetrating abdominal trauma
Authors: Arul G Suren , Sonka B J , Lundy J B , Rickard R F , Jeffery S L A 
Published: May 2014

IntroductionThe paradigm of Damage Control Surgery (DCS) has radically improved the management of abdominal trauma, but less well described are the options for managing the abdominal wall itself in an austere environment. This article describes a series of patients with complex abdominal wall problems managed at the UK-led Role 3 Medical Treatment Facility (MTF) in Camp Bastion, Afghanistan.MethodContemporaneous review of a series of patients with complex abdominal wall injuries who presented to the Role 3 MTF between July and November 2012.ResultsFive patients with penetrating abdominal trauma associated with significant damage to the abdominal wall were included. All patients were managed using DCS principles, leaving the abdominal wall open at the end of the first procedure. Subsequent management of the abdominal wall was determined by a multidisciplinary team of general and plastic surgeons, intensivists and specialist nurses. The principles of management identified included minimising tissue loss on initial laparotomy by joining adjacent wounds and marginal debridement of dead tissue; contraction of the abdominal wall was minimised by using topical negative pressure dressing and dermal-holding sutures. Definitive closure was timed to allow oedema to settle and sepsis to be controlled. Closure techniques include delayed primary closure with traction sutures, components separation, and mesh closure with skin grafting.DiscussionA daily multidisciplinary team discussion was invaluable for optimal decision making regarding the most appropriate means of abdominal closure. Dermal-holding sutures were particularly useful in preventing myostatic contraction of the abdominal wall. A simple flow chart was developed to aid decision making in these patients. This flow chart may prove especially useful in a resource-limited environment in which returning months or years later for closure of a large ventral hernia may not be possible.
Assessment of Elastin Deficit in a Marfan Mouse Aneurysm Model Using an Elastin-Specific Magnetic Resonance Imaging Contrast Agent
Authors: Okamura Homare , Pisani Laura J. , Dalal Alex R. , Emrich Fabian , Dake Benjamin A. , Arakawa Mamoru , Onthank David C. , Cesati Richard R. , Robinson Simon P. , Milanesi Matteo , Kotek Gyula , Smit Henk , Connolly Andrew J. , Adachi Hideo , McConnell Michael V. , Fischbein Michael P. 
Published: May 2014

Background—

Ascending aortic dissection and rupture remain a life-threatening complication in patients with Marfan syndrome. The extracellular matrix provides strength and elastic recoil to the aortic wall, thereby preventing radial expansion. We have previously shown that ascending aortic aneurysm formation in Marfan mice (
Fbn1
C1039G/+
) is associated with decreased aortic wall elastogenesis and increased elastin breakdown. In this study, we test the feasibility of quantifying aortic wall elastin content using MRI with a gadolinium-based elastin-specific magnetic resonance contrast agent in
Fbn1
C1039G/+
mice.

Methods and Results—

Ascending aorta elastin content was measured in 32-week-old
Fbn1
C1039G/+
mice and wild-type (n=9 and n=10, respectively) using 7-T MRI with a T1 mapping sequence. Significantly lower enhancement (ie, lower R1 values, where R1=1/T1) was detected post–elastin-specific magnetic resonance contrast agent in
Fbn1
C1039G/+
compared with wild-type ascending aortas (1.15±0.07 versus 1.36±0.05;
P
<0.05). Post–elastin-specific magnetic resonance contrast agent R1 values correlated with ascending aortic wall gadolinium content directly measured by inductively coupled mass spectroscopy (
P
=0.006).

Conclusions—
Herein, we demonstrate that MRI with elastin-specific magnetic resonance contrast agent accurately measures elastin bound gadolinium within the aortic wall and detects a decrease in aortic wall elastin in Marfan mice compared with wild-type controls. This approach has translational potential for noninvasively assessing aneurysm tissue changes and risk, as well as monitoring elastin content in response to therapeutic interventions.
Randomized, Controlled Trial to Improve Self-Care in Patients With Heart Failure Living in Rural Areas
Authors: Dracup Kathleen , Moser Debra K. , Pelter Michele M. , Nesbitt Thomas S. , Southard Jeffrey , Paul Steven M. , Robinson Susan , Cooper Lawton S. 
Published: May 2014

Background—
Patients with heart failure (HF) who live in rural areas have less access to cardiac services than patients in urban areas. We conducted a randomized, clinical trial to determine the impact of an educational intervention on the composite end point of HF rehospitalization and cardiac death in this population.

Methods and Results—

Patients (n=602; age, 66±13 years; 41% female; 51% with systolic HF) were randomized to 1 of 3 groups: control (usual care), Fluid Watchers LITE, or Fluid Watchers PLUS. Both intervention groups included a face-to-face education session delivered by a nurse focusing on self-care. The LITE group received 2 follow-up phone calls, whereas the PLUS group received biweekly calls (mean, 5.3±3.6; range, 1–19) until the nurse judged the patient to be adequately trained. Over 2 years of follow-up, 35% of patients (n=211) experienced cardiac death or hospitalization for HF, with no difference among the 3 groups in the proportion who experienced the combined clinical outcome (
P
=0.06). Although patients in the LITE group had reduced cardiac mortality compared with patients in the control group over the 2 years of follow-up (7.5% and 17.7%, respectively;
P
=0.003), there was no significant difference in cardiac mortality between patients in the PLUS group and the control group.

Conclusions—
A face-to-face education intervention did not significantly decrease the combined end point of cardiac death or hospitalization for HF. Increasing the number of contacts between the patient and nurse did not significantly improve outcome.

Clinical Trial Registration—

http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT00415545.
The Effect of Insomnia on Tinnitus
Authors: Miguel George S. , Yaremchuk Kathleen , Roth Thomas , Peterson Ed 
Published: May 2014

Objective: The objective is to see how chronic tinnitus sufferers who are unmanageable to maximized medical therapy can benefit by decreasing their subjective complaints from a sleep evaluation and treatment. However, the proper identification of these particular patients has not been described well in the literature when attempting to correlate these 2 diagnoses. Thus, tinnitus patients with and without insomnia, based on ICD-9 diagnosis, were evaluated using the Tinnitus Reaction Questionnaire and Insomnia Severity Index to determine correlations between insomnia and tinnitus. Methods: Patients with a diagnosis of tinnitus and tinnitus along with insomnia who were treated at our institution from 2009 to 2011 were identified. Tinnitus Reaction Questionnaire and Insomnia Severity Index responses were obtained through written and telephone interviews. A Pearson product moment correlation was used to determine the effect of insomnia on tinnitus. Additional analyses identified whether Tinnitus Reaction Questionnaire scores were associated with a possible benefit from an evaluation for insomnia in tinnitus patients. Results: A total of 117 patients met inclusion criteria. A significant correlation was found between the Insomnia Severity Index score and Tinnitus Reaction Questionnaire severity ( r = 0.64; P = .001). Tinnitus Reaction Questionnaire severity was shown to be a good predictor of sleep disturbance and good in predicting group association, especially the “emotional” subscore component (sensitivity 96.9% and specificity 55.3% for identifying tinnitus patients with insomnia). The greater the insomnia disability as exhibited by an elevated Insomnia Severity Index score, the more severe the patient’s complaints were regarding the tinnitus. Conclusion: Results suggest that if the emotional score on the Tinnitus Reaction Questionnaire is ≥ 15, the Insomnia Severity Index may be useful to identify patients who may benefit from further treatment and evaluation of insomnia. The robust correlation between the Tinnitus Reaction Questionnaire and Insomnia Severity Index objectively showed that patients with insomnia have an increased emotional distress associated with their tinnitus. Both questionnaires can be used together with a high degree of specificity and sensitivity in predicting tinnitus patients with an underlying sleep disturbance.
Resuscitation decisions for patients dying in the community: A qualitative interview study of general practitioner perspectives
Authors: Miller Sarah , Dorman Saskie 
Published: May 2014

Background: Most patients dying at home do not have a Do Not Attempt Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation decision and may have inappropriate attempts at resuscitation made when they die. Aim: To investigate how general practitioners think and feel about making and communicating Do Not Attempt Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation decisions for patients dying in the community. Design: Qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with general practitioners. The interviews were recorded and analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Setting/participants: Purposive sampling was used to recruit 10 general practitioners from urban and rural practices in Southern England and of various ages and experience. Interviews were carried out either in their home or in their practice. Results: General practitioners often wait until the patient has clearly deteriorated to communicate and document the Do Not Attempt Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation decision. They consider the chance of success of a resuscitation attempt, quality of life, dignity and the patient’s and family’s wishes. General practitioners feel they should discuss the decision with the patient but have anxieties about this. They vary widely in how much they guide patients and families in decision-making. Timing and the avoidance of conflict are important. Teamwork provides support in decision-making. Conclusion: Resuscitation decisions are important in facilitating a peaceful death, but can be difficult for general practitioners to discuss. General practitioners might benefit from clearer guidance on when an attempt at resuscitation is unlikely to be successful, especially in non-malignant disease. Team discussions including Gold Standards Framework meetings can give confidence and support in making difficult end-of-life decisions.
A Synthesis of New Perspectives on Virtual HRD
Authors: McWhorter Rochell R. 
Published: May 2014

The Problem A number of new perspectives of virtual human resource development (VHRD) have been provided in this issue of Advances in Developing Human Resources ( ADHR) that warrant further discussion. As VHRD is still a nascent area of inquiry in HRD, professionals need more explanatory examples and solutions to consider for determining their own role in working with people and technology. The Solution This article offers a synthesis of key constructs of VHRD from the articles in this special issue. Also, it provides a discussion around two different modes of technology development (TD) needed by HRD professionals in the contemporary technology-enabled environment afforded by VHRD. And, the integration of TD in addition to career development, training and development, and organization development is essential to the future of HRD and is discussed herein. The Stakeholders This article targets primarily practitioners interested in VHRD interventions and processes. It encourages the reader to examine the commonalities across the articles in this issue of ADHR and also to consider the new skills required for HRD professionals when seeking to align organizational mission with all levels of the organization.
Migraine among medical students in Kuwait University
Authors: Al-Hashel Jasem Y , Ahmed Samar Farouk , Alroughani Raed , Goadsby Peter J 
Published: May 2014

Abstract

Background
Medical students routinely have triggers, notably stress and irregular sleep, which are typically associated with migraine. We hypothesized that they may be at higher risk to manifest migraine. We aimed to determine the prevalence of migraine among medical students in Kuwait University.

Methods
This is cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study. Participants who had two or more headaches in the last 3 months were subjected to two preliminary questions and participants with at least one positive response were asked to perform the validated Identification of Migraine (ID Migraine™) test. Frequency of headache per month and its severity were also reported.

Results
Migraine headache was suggested in 27.9% subjects based on ID-Migraine™. Migraine prevalence (35.5% and 44%, versus 31.1%, 25%, 21.1%, 14.8%, 26.5%, p < 0.000), frequency (5.55 + 1.34 and 7.23 + 1.27, versus 3.77 ± 0.99, 2.88 ± 0.85, 3.07 ± 0.96, 2.75 ± 0.75, 4.06 ± 1.66, p < 0.000); and severity of headache (59.1% and 68.2%, versus 28.3%,8.3%, 6.7%,16.7%, p < 0.000; were significantly increased among students in the last 2 years compared to first five years of their study. Stress 43 (24.9%), irregular sleep 36 (20.8%), and substantial reading tasks 32 (18.5%), were the most common triggering factors cited by the students.

Conclusion
The prevalence of migraine is higher among medical students in Kuwait University compared to other published studies. The migraine prevalence, frequency and headache severity, all increased in the final two years of education.
Migraine without aura is not associated with incomplete circle of Willis: a case–control study using high-resolution magnetic resonance angiography
Authors: Ezzatian-Ahar Shabnam , Amin Faisal Mohammad , Obaid Hayder Ghani , Arngrim Nanna , Hougaard Anders , Larsson Henrik B W , Ashina Messoud 
Published: May 2014

Abstract

Background
The circle of Willis is an important source of collateral blood flow to maintain adequate cerebral perfusion, particularly in the posterior circulation. Some studies report a relationship between incomplete circle of Willis and migraine, whereas other studies show no difference between the prevalence of incomplete circle of Willis in migraineurs and controls. In the present study we compared the prevalence of incomplete circle of Willis in female migraine patients without aura to female healthy non-migraine controls.
Using 3-Tesla magnetic resonance angiography we recorded three-dimensional time-of-flight angiograms in 85 female participants (48 migraine patients without aura [median age 28 years] and 37 healthy controls [median age 25 years]). The images were subsequently analysed blindly by a neuroradiologist to detect incomplete circle of Willis.

Findings
We found no difference between the prevalence of incomplete circle of Willis in patients, 20/47 (43%), and controls, 15/37 (41%), p = 0.252. Post hoc analysis showed a significant relationship between age and prevalence of incomplete circle of Willis, p = 0.003.

Conclusion
We found no relationship between migraine without aura and incomplete circle of Willis.
A rotation-translation invariant molecular descriptor of partial charges and its use in ligand-based virtual screening
Authors: Berenger Francois , Voet Arnout , Lee Xiao Yin , Zhang Kam YJ 
Published: May 2014

AbstractBackgroundMeasures of similarity for chemical molecules have been developed since the dawn of chemoinformatics. Molecular similarity has been measured by a variety of methods including molecular descriptor based similarity, common molecular fragments, graph matching and 3D methods such as shape matching. Similarity measures are widespread in practice and have proven to be useful in drug discovery. Because of our interest in electrostatics and high throughput ligand-based virtual screening, we sought to exploit the information contained in atomic coordinates and partial charges of a molecule.ResultsA new molecular descriptor based on partial charges is proposed. It uses the autocorrelation function and linear binning to encode all atoms of a molecule into two rotation-translation invariant vectors. Combined with a scoring function, the descriptor allows to rank-order a database of compounds versus a query molecule. The proposed implementation is calledACPC(AutoCorrelation of Partial Charges) and released in open source. Extensive retrospective ligand-based virtual screening experiments were performed and other methods were compared with in order to validate the method and associated protocol.ConclusionsWhile it is a simple method, it performed remarkably well in experiments. At an average speed of 1649 molecules per second, it reached an average median area under the curve of 0.81 on 40 different targets; hence validating the proposed protocol and implementation.