bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Comparison of glistenings in intraocular lenses with three different materials: 12‐year follow‐up
Authors: Rønbeck Margrethe , Behndig Anders , Taube Mikaela , Koivula Annemari , Kugelberg Maria 
Published: October 2011

Abstract.Purpose:  To compare the degree of lens glistenings associated with three intraocular lenses (IOLs) of different materials and examine the relationship between the dioptric power of the optics and lens glistenings in a long‐term study.Setting:  St. Erik Eye Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.Methods:  Forty‐six eyes of 46 patients underwent standard phacoemulsification and implantation with a heparin‐surface‐modified (HSM) polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) IOL, a silicone IOL or a hydrophobic acrylic IOL. Evaluations of the patients and the glistenings were conducted 11.3–13.4 years postoperatively. The glistenings were examined using Scheimpflug imaging and subsequently analysed using an image analysis program.Results:  The median follow‐up time was 12.2 years (range, 11.3–13.4). The hydrophobic acrylic IOL had significantly more lens glistenings than the silicone (p = 0.003) and the PMMA (p = 0.000) IOLs. The silicone IOL had significantly more lens glistenings than the PMMA lens (p = 0.048). The IOL power did not affect the degree of lens glistenings in the hydrophobic acrylic IOL group (p = 0.64). The other groups had too little lens glistenings to evaluate the relationship.Conclusion:  In this long‐term follow‐up study, the hydrophobic acrylic IOL had a significantly higher degree of lens glistenings compared to the silicone and PMMA IOLs. The PMMA IOL had almost no lens glistenings. The IOL dioptric power was not significantly correlated with the degree of lens glistenings associated with the hydrophobic acrylic IOL.
Opinions of community pharmacists on the value of a cardiovascular polypill as a means of improving medication compliance
Authors: Burns Khari , Turnbull Fion , Patel Anushk , Peiris Davi 
Published: October 2011

Abstract

Objective
Cardiovascular disease is a major public health problem despite established treatment guidelines and significant healthcare expenditure worldwide. Poor medication compliance accounts in part for some of the observed evidence/practice gaps. Trials of fixed-dose combination pills are currently underway, but the attitudes of relevant health professionals to the routine use of a cardiovascular polypill are generally unknown. Pharmacists are a group of providers who play an important role in patient compliance with long-term medications. The objective was to identify the main perceived barriers to compliance and to investigate pharmacists' opinions regarding the routine use of a cardiovascular polypill.

Methods
The setting was community pharmacies in the metropolitan and greater areas of New South Wales, Australia. Structured questionnaires were administered to a random sample of community pharmacists and peer-to-peer, semi-structured interviews were conducted with a sub-sample. Quantitative data were analysed using SPSS V16.0 and interviews were analysed thematically.

Key findings
Questionnaires were completed by 72 of the 250 pharmacists invited to participate. The major barrier to cardiovascular medication compliance identified by respondents was polypharmacy. Other barriers included patient disinterest, time constraints and costs. Most pharmacists agreed that a cardiovascular polypill could be one potential solution to poor compliance by simplifying the treatment regimen (73.6% agreed) and reducing patient costs (79.2% agreed). Inability to tailor treatment and to ascribe side effects was among some of the identified concerns.

Conclusion
The use of a cardiovascular polypill as a means of increasing patient compliance with long-term cardiovascular preventive therapies is seen as potentially valuable by community pharmacists.
Fluorescence diffuse optical tomography using the split Bregman method
Authors: Abascal J. F. P.‐J. , Chamorro‐Servent J. , Aguirre J , Arridge S. , Correia T. , Ripoll J. , Vaquero J. J. , Desco M. 
Published: October 2011

Purpose:Standard image reconstruction methods for fluorescence Diffuse Optical Tomography (fDOT) generally make use of L2‐regularization. A better choice is to replace the L2 by a total variation functional that effectively removes noise while preserving edges. Among the wide range of approaches available, the recently appeared Split Bregman method has been shown to be optimal and efficient. Furthermore, additional constraints can be easily included. We propose the use of the Split Bregman method to solve the image reconstruction problem for fDOT with a nonnegativity constraint that imposes the reconstructed concentration of fluorophore to be positive.Methods:The proposed method is tested with simulated and experimental data, and results are compared with those yielded by an equivalent unconstrained optimization approach based on Gauss–Newton (GN) method, in which the negative part of the solution is projected to zero after each iteration. In addition, the method dependence on the parameters that weigh data fidelity and nonnegativity constraints is analyzed.Results:Split Bregman yielded a reduction of the solution error norm and a better full width at tenth maximum for simulated data, and higher signal‐to‐noise ratio for experimental data. It is also shown that it led to an optimum solution independently of the data fidelity parameter, as long as the number of iterations is properly selected, and that there is a linear relation between the number of iterations and the inverse of the data fidelity parameter.Conclusions:Split Bregman allows the addition of a nonnegativity constraint leading to improve image quality.
Whole-Genome Sequence of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis PAT10 Strain Isolated from Sheep in Patagonia, Argentina
Authors: Cerdeira Louise Teixeira , Pinto Anne Cybelle , Schneider Maria Paula Cruz , de Almeida Sintia Silva , dos Santos Anderson Rodrigues , Barbosa Eudes Guilherme Vieira , Ali Amjad , Barbosa Maria Silvanira , Carneiro Adriana Ribeiro , Ramos Rommel Thiago Jucá , de Oliveira Rodrigo Santos , Barh Debmalya , Barve Neha , Zambare Vasudeo , Belchior Silvia Estevão , Guimarães Luis Carlos , de Castro Soares Siomar , Dorella Fernanda Alves , Rocha Flavia Souza , de Abreu Vinicius Augusto Carvalho , Tauch Andreas , Trost Eva , Miyoshi Anderson , Azevedo Vasco , Silva Artur 
Published: October 2011

ABSTRACT

In this work, we report the complete genome sequence of a
Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis
PAT10 isolate, collected from a lung abscess in an Argentine sheep in Patagonia, whose pathogen also required an investigation of its pathogenesis. Thus, the analysis of the genome sequence offers a means to better understanding of the molecular and genetic basis of virulence of this bacterium.
Genome Sequence of Multidrug-Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa NCGM1179
Authors: Tada Tatsuya , Kitao Tomoe , Miyoshi-Akiyama Tohru , Kirikae Teruo 
Published: October 2011

ABSTRACT

We report the annotated genome sequence of multidrug-resistant
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
strain NCGM1179, which is highly resistant to carbapenems, aminoglycosides, and fluoroquinolones and is emerging at medical facilities in Japan.
Genome Sequence of Bacillus pumilus S-1, an Efficient Isoeugenol-Utilizing Producer for Natural Vanillin
Authors: Su Fei , Hua Dongliang , Zhang Zhaobin , Wang Xiaoyu , Tang Hongzhi , Tao Fei , Tai Cui , Wu Qiulin , Wu Geng , Xu Ping 
Published: October 2011

ABSTRACT

Bacillus pumilus
S-1 is an efficient isoeugenol-utilizing producer of natural vanillin. The genome of
B. pumilus
S-1 contains the epoxide hydrolase and six candidate monooxygenases that make it possible to explore the mechanism involved in conversion of isoenguenol to vanillin in the
B. pumilus
strain.
Revised Genome Sequence of Brucella suis 1330
Authors: Tae Hongseok , Shallom Shamira , Settlage Robert , Preston Dale , Adams L. Garry , Garner Harold R. 
Published: October 2011

ABSTRACT

Brucella suis
is a causative agent of porcine brucellosis. We report the resequencing of the original sample upon which the published sequence of
Brucella suis
1330 is based and describe the differences between the published assembly and our assembly at 12 loci.
Genome Sequence of Brachybacterium squillarum M-6-3
T
, Isolated from Salt-Fermented Seafood
Authors: Park Seong-Kyu , Roh Seong Woon , Whon Tae Woong , Bae Jin-Woo 
Published: October 2011

ABSTRACT

Brachybacterium squillarum
M-6-3
T
was isolated from salt-fermented seafood in Korea and belongs to the
Dermabacteraceae
, a rather isolated family within the actinobacterial suborder
Micrococcineae
. Here, we present the draft genome sequence of the type strain
Brachybacterium squillarum
M-6-3
T
(3,191,479 bp), a Gram-positive bacterium with high (72.8%) G+C content.
Postoperative atrial fibrillation predicts long-term survival after aortic-valve surgery but not after mitral-valve surgery: a retrospective study
Authors: Girerd Nicolas , Magne Julien , Pibarot Philippe , Voisine Pierre , Dagenais François , Mathieu Patrick 
Published: October 2011

BackgroundPostoperative atrial fibrillation (POAF) has been reported to be associated with reduced long-term survival after isolated coronary artery bypass grafting surgery. The objective of this study was to determine the impact of POAF on long-term survival after valvular surgery.MethodsThe authors retrospectively analysed the preoperative and operative data of 2986 consecutive patients with no preoperative history of atrial fibrillation undergoing first valvular surgery (aortic-valve replacement (AVR), mitral valve replacement or mitral valve repair (MVR/MVRp) with or without coronary artery bypass grafting surgery) in their institution between 1995 and 2008 (median follow-up 5.31 years, range 0.1–15.0). The authors investigated the impact of POAF on survival using multivariable Cox regression.ResultsPatients with POAF were older, and were more likely to have hypertension or renal failure when compared with patients without POAF. The 12-year survival in patients with POAF was 45.7±2.8% versus 61.4±2.1% in patients without POAF (p<0.001). On a multivariable analysis, when adjusting for age and other potential confounding factors, POAF tended to be associated with lower long-term survival (HR for all-cause death (HR)=1.17, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.38, p=0.051). The authors also analysed this association separately in patients with AVR and those with MVR/MVRp. In the multivariable analysis, POAF was a significant predictor of higher long-term mortality in patients with AVR (HR=1.22, CI 1.02 to 1.45, p=0.03) but not in patients with MVR/MVRp (HR=0.87, CI 0.58 to 1.29, p=0.48).ConclusionsPOAF is significantly associated with long-term mortality following AVR but not after MVR/MVRp. The underlying factors involved in the pathogenesis of POAF after MVR/MVRp may partially account for the lack of association between POAF and survival in these patients.
A drunk and disorderly country: a nationwide cross-sectional survey of alcohol use and misuse in Great Britain
Authors: Craig D G , Dakkak M , Gilmore I T , Hawkey C J , Rhodes J M , Sheron N ,   the British Society of Gastroenterology
Published: October 2011

ObjectivesTo explore current alcohol drinking patterns, behaviours and attitudes in Great Britain.Design and settingIndependent online cross-sectional survey.Patients and interventionsSurvey of 2221 individuals from a representative panel.Main outcome measures and resultsExcessive alcohol consumption is a widespread problem across Great Britain. Binge-drinking is common among 18–24 year olds, with 19% reporting drinking 10+ drinks on the same drinking day. ‘Pre-loading’ with alcohol at home before going out was reported by 30% of 18–24-year-old drinkers, of whom 36% get drunk twice or more a month, with 27% having injured themselves while drunk. Among older drinkers, 25% regularly drink to excess, 8% drink seven or more drinks on a typical drinking day and 9% self-reported drink-driving. Male gender was an independent risk factor for heavy (>40 units/week) alcohol abuse (odds ratio 3.05 (95% CI 1.82 to 5.10)). Men (19%) were more likely than women (8%, p<0.001) to report binge-drinking, drink-driving (11% vs 3%, p<0.001), or to have missed work owing to alcohol consumption (12% vs 7%, p<0.001). Young drinkers said they were heavily influenced by overall alcohol price and drink promotions. Increasing average weekly alcohol consumption, age <55 years, male gender, never having been married and being in full-time employment were all independently associated with a history of alcohol-related self-harm. Alcohol abuse was not related to socioeconomic status.ConclusionsAlcohol abuse remains common across all socioeconomic strata and geographical areas of Great Britain. Minimum pricing strategies and interventions that target cheap on-trade alcohol products seem likely to bring major public health benefits.
Benzodiazepine use and risk of dementia: evidence from the Caerphilly Prospective Study (CaPS)
Authors: Gallacher John , Elwood Peter , Pickering Janet , Bayer Antony , Fish Mark , Ben-Shlomo Yoav 
Published: October 2011

BackgroundBenzodiazepine use is widespread in older people, although its benefit is uncertain.AimTo investigate the long-term effect of benzodiazepine use upon dementia risk.MethodsA prospective cohort of men seen on five occasions over 22 years with full medication histories, repeat measures of cognitive function and a clinical diagnosis of dementia.ResultsOf 1134 men with complete data, 103 (9.1%) had been taking benzodiazepines regularly at one or more phases. These men showed a marked increased incidence of dementia (OR=3.50, 95% CI 1.57 to 7.79, p=0.002), which persisted despite adjustment for psychological distress and other covariates. Men exposed in earlier phases showed a greater association than more recent exposure, counter to what one would expect if this was due to reverse causation, though we failed to demonstrate a dose–response effect with drug duration.ConclusionThe taking of benzodiazepines is associated with an increased risk of dementia.
Calcified Atherosclerosis in Different Vascular Beds and the Risk of Mortality
Authors: Allison Matthew A. , Hsi Stephanie , Wassel Christina L. , Morgan Cindy , Ix Joachim H. , Wright C. Michael , Criqui Michael H. 
Published: October 2011

Objective—
The goal of this study was to determine differences in risks for total and cause-specific mortality related to calcified atherosclerosis in different vascular beds.

Methods and Results—
A total of 4544 patients underwent computed tomography scans that were interrogated for calcium in different vascular beds. Mortality assessment was conducted by death certificate adjudication. At baseline, the mean age was 56.8 years, and 43% were female. After an average of 7.8 years, there were 163 deaths. With full adjustment, the presence of calcium in the thoracic aorta (hazard ratio [HR], 2.1; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.2–3.5), carotids (HR, 1.60; CI, 1.1–2.5), and iliac (HR, 1.67; CI, 1.0–2.9) arteries were associated with total mortality, whereas the presence of coronary calcium was associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality (HR, 3.4; CI, 0.8–10.9). For severity of calcium burden, a 1-SD increment in the iliac arteries was the strongest predictor for all types of mortality. C-statistics were not significantly larger when noncoronary vascular beds were added to models with CVD risk factors or CVD risk factors plus coronary artery calcium.

Conclusion—
The associations between calcified atherosclerosis and mortality differ by vascular bed, suggesting that the location and severity of calcification in different vascular beds provide unique information for mortality.
Transglutaminase 2–Mediated Activation of β-Catenin Signaling Has a Critical Role in Warfarin-Induced Vascular Calcification
Authors: Beazley Kelly E. , Deasey Stephanie , Lima Florence , Nurminskaya Maria V. 
Published: October 2011

Objective—
Accumulating experimental evidence implicates β-catenin signaling and enzyme transglutaminase 2 (TG2) in the progression of vascular calcification, and our previous studies have shown that TG2 can activate β-catenin signaling in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Here we investigated the role of the TG2/β-catenin signaling axis in vascular calcification induced by warfarin.

Methods and Results—
Warfarin-induced calcification in rat A10 VSMCs is associated with the activation of β-catenin signaling and is independent of oxidative stress. The canonical β-catenin inhibitor Dkk1, but not the Wnt antagonist Wif-1, prevents warfarin-induced activation of β-catenin, calcification, and osteogenic transdifferentiation in VSMCs. TG2 expression and activity are increased in warfarin-treated cells, in contrast to canonical Wnt ligands. Vascular cells with genetically or pharmacologically reduced TG2 activity fail to activate β-catenin in response to warfarin. Moreover, warfarin-induced calcification is significantly reduced on the background of attenuated TG2 both in vitro and in vivo.

Conclusion—
TG2 is a critical mediator of warfarin-induced vascular calcification that acts through the activation of β-catenin signaling in VSMCs. Inhibition of canonical β-catenin pathway or TG2 activity prevents warfarin-regulated calcification, identifying the TG2/β-catenin axis as a novel therapeutic target in vascular calcification.
Child-Mediated Stroke Communication
Authors: Williams Olajide , DeSorbo Alexandra , Noble James , Gerin William 
Published: October 2011

Background and Purpose—
Low thrombolysis rates for acute ischemic stroke are linked to delays in seeking immediate treatment due to low public stroke awareness. We aimed to assess whether “Child-Mediated Stroke Communication” could improve stroke literacy of parents of children enrolled in a school-based stroke literacy program called Hip Hop Stroke.

Methods—
Parents of children aged 9 to 12 years from 2 public schools in Harlem, New York City, were recruited to participate in stroke literacy questionnaires before and after their child's participation in Hip Hop Stroke, a novel Child-Mediated Stroke Communication intervention delivered in school auditoriums. Parental recall of stroke information communicated through their child was assessed 1-week after the intervention.

Results—

Fifth and sixth grade students (n=182) were enrolled into Hip Hop Stroke. One hundred two parents were approached in person to participate; 75 opted to participate and 71 completed both the pretest and post-test (74% response rate and 95% retention rate). Parental stroke literacy improved after the program; before the program, 3 parents of 75 (3.9%) were able to identify the 5 cardinal stroke symptoms, distracting symptom (chest pains), and had an urgent action plan (calling 911) compared with 21 of 71 parents (29.6%) postintervention (
P
<0.001). The FAST mnemonic was known by 2 (2.7%) of participants before the program versus 29 (41%) after program completion (
P
<0.001).

Conclusions—
Knowledge of stroke signs and symptoms remains low among residents of this high-risk population. The use of Child-Mediated Stroke Communication suggests that school children aged 9 to 12 years may be effective conduits of critical stroke knowledge to their parents.
Brain Arteriovenous Malformation Multiplicity Predicts the Diagnosis of Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia
Authors: Bharatha Aditya , Faughnan Marie E. , Kim Helen , Pourmohamad Tony , Krings Timo , Bayrak-Toydemir Pinar , Pawlikowska Ludmila , McCulloch Charles E. , Lawton Michael T. , Dowd Christopher F. , Young William L. , Terbrugge Karel G. 
Published: October 2011

Background and Purpose—
The purpose of this study was to quantitatively estimate the relationship between multiplicity of brain arteriovenous malformations (bAVMs) and the diagnosis of hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT).

Methods—
We combined databases from 2 large North American bAVM referral centers, including demographics, clinical presentation, and angiographic characteristics, and compared patients with HHT with non-HHT patients. Logistic regression analysis was performed to quantify the association between bAVM multiplicity and odds of HHT diagnosis. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value, and positive and negative likelihood ratios were calculated to determine accuracy of bAVM multiplicity for screening HHT.

Results—

Prevalence of HHT was 2.8% in the combined group. bAVM multiplicity was present in 39% of patients with HHT and was highly associated with diagnosis of HHT in univariate (OR, 83; 95% CI, 40–173;
P
<0.0001) and multivariable (OR, 86; 95% CI, 38–195;
P
<0.001) models adjusting for age at presentation (
P
=0.013), symptomatic presentation (
P
=0.029), and cohort site (
P
=0.021). bAVM multiplicity alone was associated with high specificity (99.2%; 95% CI, 98.7%–99.6%) and negative predictive value (98.3%; 95% CI, 97.6%–98.8%) and low sensitivity (39.3%; 95% CI, 26.5%–53.2%) and positive predictive value (59.5%; 95% CI, 42.1%–75.2%). Positive and negative likelihood ratio was 51 and 0.61, respectively, for diagnosis of HHT. HHT bAVMs were also more often smaller in size (<3 cm), noneloquent in location, and associated with superficial venous drainage compared with non-HHT bAVMs.

Conclusions—
Multiplicity of bAVMs is highly predictive of the diagnosis of HHT. The presence of multiple bAVMs should alert the clinician to the high probability of HHT and lead to comprehensive investigation for this diagnosis.
Natural analcime zeolite modified with 2,3,5,6-tetra(2-pyridyl)pyrazine for preconcentration and determination of trace amounts of cadmium by flame atomic absorption spectrometry
Authors: Saljooghi Amir Shokooh , Saljoghi Zoheir Shokouh 
Published: October 2011

An analytical method using natural analcime zeolite modified with tppz (2,3,5,6-tetra-pyridylpyrazine) for preconcentration of cadmium, in a column system, and their sequential determination by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS), was developed. In this work, cadmium was adsorbed onto natural analcime zeolite modified with tppz and then was recovered by nitric acid. Solutions of cadmium were passed through a glass column packed with 100 mg of the sorbent material, at pH 5.0, and cadmium was eluted with 2.0 M HNO3 at a flow rate of 2.0 ml min−1. The relative standard deviation (RSD) for eight replicate determinations at the 2.5 μg of cadmium was ±0.94%. The calibration curve using the preconcentration system was linear from 0.01 to 4 μg ml−1 in final solution with a correlation coefficient of 0.9993. This method was successfully applied for the determination of cadmium in various samples.