bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Factors Related to Morbidity and Mortality in Patients With Chronic Heart Failure With Systolic Dysfunction
Authors: O'Connor Christopher M. , Whellan David J. , Wojdyla Daniel , Leifer Eric , Clare Robert M. , Ellis Stephen J. , Fine Lawrence J. , Fleg Jerome L. , Zannad Faiez , Keteyian Steven J. , Kitzman Dalane W. , Kraus William E. , Rendall David , Piña Ileana L. , Cooper Lawton S. , Fiuzat Mona , Lee Kerry L. 
Published: November 2011

Background—
We aimed to develop a multivariable statistical model for risk stratification in patients with chronic heart failure with systolic dysfunction, using patient data that are routinely collected and easily obtained at the time of initial presentation.

Methods and Results—

In a cohort of 2331 patients enrolled in the HF-ACTION (Heart Failure: A Controlled Trial Investigating Outcomes of Exercise TraiNing) study (New York Heart Association class II–IV, left ventricular ejection fraction ≤0.35, randomized to exercise training and usual care versus usual care alone, median follow-up of 2.5 years), we performed risk modeling using Cox proportional hazards models and analyzed the relationship between baseline clinical factors and the primary composite end point of death or all-cause hospitalization and the secondary end point of all-cause death alone. Prognostic relationships for continuous variables were examined using restricted cubic spline functions, and key predictors were identified using a backward variable selection process and bootstrapping methods. For ease of use in clinical practice, point-based risk scores were developed from the risk models. Exercise duration on the baseline cardiopulmonary exercise test was the most important predictor of both the primary end point and all-cause death. Additional important predictors for the primary end point risk model (in descending strength) were Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire symptom stability score, higher serum urea nitrogen, and male sex (all
P
<0.0001). Important additional predictors for the mortality risk model were higher serum urea nitrogen, male sex, and lower body mass index (all
P
<0.0001).

Conclusions—
Risk models using simple, readily obtainable clinical characteristics can provide important prognostic information in ambulatory patients with chronic heart failure with systolic dysfunction.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT00047437.
Taking Stock of the State
Authors: Pardue Derek 
Published: November 2011

In 2003, Gilberto Gil, the new Brazilian minister of culture and legendary Brazilian popular music icon, announced a new project of cultural networking. Gil pitched the Cultural Points program to the Workers’ Party administration and to the public at large as a fundamental resource for revealing and circulating the various forms of expressive culture for all Brazilians to access. This program has had a direct impact on local hip-hoppers as they have found new, legitimized spaces for employment and artistic expression. An analysis based on experience with the Casa de Cultura Hip Hop in the São Paulo metropolitan area over the past decade sheds light on the relationship between the “left” turn in Latin American politics since 2000 and the role of popular culture in the contemporary formation of citizenship. En 2003, Gilberto Gil, el nuevo Ministro de Cultura de Brasil y legendario ícono de la música popular brasileña, anunció un nuevo proyecto de creación de redes culturales. Gil propuso el programa Puntos de Cultura a la administración del Partido de los Trabajadores y al público en general como un recurso fundamental para revelar y difundir diversas formas de expresión cultural que estuvieran al acceso de todos los brasileños. Este programa ha tenido un impacto directo sobre los raperos locales, quienes han encontrado nuevos y legítimos espacios de empleo y expresión artística. Un análisis basado en los últimos diez años de experiencia de la Casa de Cultura Hip Hop, localizada en el área metropolitana de São Paulo, examina la relación entre el giro “izquierdista” de la política latinoamericana a partir del año 2000 y el papel de la cultura popular en la formación contemporánea de la ciudadanía.
Manufacturing Identities
Authors: Taube Rhonda 
Published: November 2011

At their patron saints’ annual fiestas, the Maya and the Ladinos of western highland Guatemala perform dances in costumes that take their inspiration from film, television, music, and the Internet. The two groups adapt the costume dance to their own interests, and the tension between them is evident in the different types of costumes they rent and purchase. Ladino costumes distinguish their wearers as modern consumers, while K’iche’ costumes stress communitas, adding to the borrowed images to connect with indigenous forms of subsistence and lifestyle and to allow comment on proper forms of behavior and on social ills. The costume makers act as cultural intermediaries, producing both the context and the meaning of the dances and enabling performers and spectators alike to construct different identities through them. Durante las fiestas anuales de sus santos patrones, los mayas y ladinos de los altos occidentales de Guatemala llevan a cabo danzas con vestuarios basados en el cine, la televisión, el ámbito musical y el Internet. Ambos grupos adaptan la vestimenta de acuerdo a sus intereses y la tensión entre ellos se hace evidente en el tipo de ropas que rentan y compran. Los vestuarios ladinos identifican a sus portadores como consumidores modernos, mientras que los K’iche’ enfatizan un sentido de comunidad, añadiendo imágenes prestadas que se conectan con formas de subsistencia y vida indígena a la vez que comentan sobre formas sancionadas de comportamiento y males sociales. Los fabricantes de vestuario fungen como intermediarios culturales, produciendo tanto el contexto como el significado de las danzas y permitiendo que tanto participantes como espectadores construyan diversas identidades a través de éste.
The Effect of Nurse-led Diabetes Self-management Education on Glycosylated Hemoglobin and Cardiovascular Risk Factors
Authors: Tshiananga Jacques Kande Tshiang , Kocher Serge , Weber Christian , Erny-Albrecht Katrina , Berndt Karsten , Neeser Kurt 
Published: November 2011

Purpose The purpose of this meta-analysis was to determine the effect of nurse-led diabetes self-management education (DSME) on blood glucose control and cardiovascular risk factors. Methods The electronic databases PubMed and ISIS Knowledge were searched for relevant randomized controlled studies published between 1999 and 2009. Effect size was calculated for change in A1C, blood pressure, and lipid levels using both fixed- and random-effects models. Subgroup analyses were performed on patient age, gender, diabetes type, baseline A1C, length of follow-up, and study setting. Results A total of 34 randomized controlled trials with a combined cohort size of 5993 patients was identified. Mean patient age was 52.8 years, 47% were male, and mean A1C at baseline was 8.5%. Mean change in A1C was a reduction by −0.70% for nurse-led DSME versus −0.21% with usual care (UC). This corresponded to an effect size of 0.506, using a random-effects model for nurse-led DSME versus UC. Effect size was significantly associated with patient age older than 65 years and with duration of follow-up. Nurse-led DSME was also associated with improvements in cardiovascular risk factors, particularly among male patients, among those with good glycemic control, and in studies conducted in the United States. Conclusions Nurse-led DSME is associated with improved glycemic control, demonstrating that programs are most effective among seniors and with follow-up periods of 1 to 6 months. Future programs tailored to the needs of patients younger than 65 years may improve the impact of DSME on blood glucose.
IFNγ induces monopoiesis and inhibits neutrophil development during inflammation
Authors: de Bruin Alexander M. , Libregts Sten F. , Valkhof Marijke , Boon Louis , Touw Ivo P. , Nolte Martijn A. 
Published: November 2011

AbstractSteady-state hematopoiesis is altered on infection, but the cellular and molecular mechanisms driving these changes are largely unknown. Modulation of hematopoiesis is essential to increase the output of the appropriate type of effector cell required to combat the invading pathogen. In the present study, we demonstrate that the pro-inflammatory cytokine IFNγ is involved in orchestrating inflammation-induced myelopoiesis. Using both mouse models and in vitro assays, we show that IFNγ induces the differentiation of monocytes over neutrophils at the level of myeloid progenitors. Infection with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus induces monopoiesis in wild-type mice, but causes increased neutrophil production in IFNγ−/− mice. We demonstrate that IFNγ enhances the expression of the monopoiesis-inducing transcription factors IRF8 and PU.1 in myeloid progenitor cells, whereas it reduces G-CSF–driven neutrophil differentiation via a SOCS3-dependent inhibition of STAT3 phosphorylation. These results establish a critical role for IFNγ in directing monocyte versus neutrophil development during immune activation.
Inhibition of the MUC1-C oncoprotein induces multiple myeloma cell death by down-regulating TIGAR expression and depleting NADPH
Authors: Yin Li , Kosugi Michio , Kufe Donald 
Published: November 2011

AbstractThe MUC1-C oncoprotein is aberrantly expressed in most multiple myeloma cells. However, the functional significance of MUC1-C expression in multiple myeloma is not known. The present studies demonstrate that treatment of multiple myeloma cells with a MUC1-C inhibitor is associated with increases in reactive oxygen species (ROS), oxidation of mitochondrial cardiolipin, and loss of the mitochondrial transmembrane potential. The MUC1-C inhibitor-induced increases in ROS were also associated with down-regulation of the p53-inducible regulator of glycolysis and apoptosis (TIGAR). In concert with the decrease in TIGAR expression, which regulates the pentose phosphate pathway, treatment with the MUC1-C inhibitor reduced production of NADPH, and in turn glutathione (GSH) levels. TIGAR protects against oxidative stress-induced apoptosis. The suppression of TIGAR and NADPH levels thus contributed to ROS-mediated late apoptosis/necrosis of multiple myeloma cells. These findings indicate that multiple myeloma cells are dependent on MUC1-C and TIGAR for maintenance of redox balance and that targeting MUC1-C activates a cascade involving TIGAR suppression that contributes to multiple myeloma cell death.
FEPI-MB: identifying SNPs-disease association using a Markov Blanket-based approach
Authors: Han Bing , Chen Xue-wen , Talebizadeh Zohreh 
Published: November 2011

Abstract

Background
The interactions among genetic factors related to diseases are called epistasis. With the availability of genotyped data from genome-wide association studies, it is now possible to computationally unravel epistasis related to the susceptibility to common complex human diseases such as asthma, diabetes, and hypertension. However, the difficulties of detecting epistatic interaction arose from the large number of genetic factors and the enormous size of possible combinations of genetic factors. Most computational methods to detect epistatic interactions are predictor-based methods and can not find true causal factor elements. Moreover, they are both time-consuming and sample-consuming.

Results
We propose a new and fast Markov Blanket-based method, FEPI-MB (Fast EPistatic Interactions detection using Markov Blanket), for epistatic interactions detection. The Markov Blanket is a minimal set of variables that can completely shield the target variable from all other variables. Learning of Markov blankets can be used to detect epistatic interactions by a heuristic search for a minimal set of SNPs, which may cause the disease. Experimental results on both simulated data sets and a real data set demonstrate that FEPI-MB significantly outperforms other existing methods and is capable of finding SNPs that have a strong association with common diseases.

Conclusions
FEPI-MB algorithm outperforms other computational methods for detection of epistatic interactions in terms of both the power and sample-efficiency. Moreover, compared to other Markov Blanket learning methods, FEPI-MB is more time-efficient and achieves a better performance.
Do resting brain dynamics predict oddball evoked-potential?
Authors: Lee Tien-Wen , Yu Younger W-Y , Wu Hung-Chi , Chen Tai-Jui 
Published: November 2011

AbstractBackgroundThe oddball paradigm is widely applied to the investigation of cognitive function in neuroscience and in neuropsychiatry. Whether cortical oscillation in the resting state can predict the elicited oddball event-related potential (ERP) is still not clear. This study explored the relationship between resting electroencephalography (EEG) and oddball ERPs. The regional powers of 18 electrodes across delta, theta, alpha and beta frequencies were correlated with the amplitude and latency of N1, P2, N2 and P3 components of oddball ERPs. A multivariate analysis based on partial least squares (PLS) was applied to further examine the spatial pattern revealed by multiple correlations.ResultsHigher synchronization in the resting state, especially at the alpha spectrum, is associated with higher neural responsiveness and faster neural propagation, as indicated by the higher amplitude change of N1/N2 and shorter latency of P2. None of the resting quantitative EEG indices predict P3 latency and amplitude. The PLS analysis confirms that the resting cortical dynamics which explains N1/N2 amplitude and P2 latency does not show regional specificity, indicating a global property of the brain.ConclusionsThis study differs from previous approaches by relating dynamics in the resting state to neural responsiveness in the activation state. Our analyses suggest that the neural characteristics carried by resting brain dynamics modulate the earlier/automatic stage of target detection.
A double blind randomized trial of wound infiltration with ropivacaine after breast cancer surgery with axillary nodes dissection
Authors: Vigneau Axelle , Salengro Anne , Berger Joelle , Rouzier Roman , Barranger Emmanuel , Marret Emmanuel , Bonnet Francis 
Published: November 2011

Abstract

Background
The effect of local infiltration after breast surgery is controversial. This prospective double blind randomized study sought to document the analgesic effect of local anaesthetic infiltration after breast cancer surgery.

Methods
Patients scheduled for mastectomy or tumorectomy and axillary nodes dissection had immediate postoperative infiltration of the surgical wound with 20 ml of ropivacaine 7.5 mg.ml-1 or isotonic saline. Pain was assessed on a visual analogue scale at H2, H4, H6, H12, H24, H72, and at 2 month, at rest and on mobilization of the arm. Patient'comfort was evaluated with numerical 0-3 scales for fatigue, quality of sleep, state of mood, social function and activity.

Results
Twenty-two and 24 patients were included in the ropivacaine and saline groups respectively. Postoperative pain was lower at rest and on mobilization at 2, 4 and 6 hour after surgery in the ropivacaine group. No other difference in pain intensity and patient 'comfort scoring was documented during the first 3 postoperative days. Patients did not differ at 2 month for pain and comfort scores.

Conclusion
Single shot infiltration with ropivacaine transiently improves postoperative pain control after breast cancer surgery.

Trial registration number

NCT01404377
Pro-inflammatory gene expression and neurotoxic effects of activated microglia are attenuated by absence of CCAAT/enhancer binding protein β
Authors: Straccia Marco , Gresa-Arribas Núria , Dentesano Guido , Ejarque-Ortiz Aroa , Tusell Josep M , Serratosa Joan , Solà Carme , Saura Josep 
Published: November 2011

AbstractBackgroundMicroglia and astrocytes respond to homeostatic disturbances with profound changes of gene expression. This response, known as glial activation or neuroinflammation, can be detrimental to the surrounding tissue. The transcription factor CCAAT/enhancer binding protein β (C/EBPβ) is an important regulator of gene expression in inflammation but little is known about its involvement in glial activation. To explore the functional role of C/EBPβ in glial activation we have analyzed pro-inflammatory gene expression and neurotoxicity in murine wild type and C/EBPβ-null glial cultures.MethodsDue to fertility and mortality problems associated with the C/EBPβ-null genotype we developed a protocol to prepare mixed glial cultures from cerebral cortex of a single mouse embryo with high yield. Wild-type and C/EBPβ-null glial cultures were compared in terms of total cell density by Hoechst-33258 staining; microglial content by CD11b immunocytochemistry; astroglial content by GFAP western blot; gene expression by quantitative real-time PCR, western blot, immunocytochemistry and Griess reaction; and microglial neurotoxicity by estimating MAP2 content in neuronal/microglial cocultures. C/EBPβ DNA binding activity was evaluated by electrophoretic mobility shift assay and quantitative chromatin immunoprecipitation.ResultsC/EBPβ mRNA and protein levels, as well as DNA binding, were increased in glial cultures by treatment with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or LPS + interferon γ (IFNγ). Quantitative chromatin immunoprecipitation showed binding of C/EBPβ to pro-inflammatory gene promoters in glial activation in a stimulus- and gene-dependent manner. In agreement with these results, LPS and LPS+IFNγ induced different transcriptional patterns between pro-inflammatory cytokines and NO synthase-2 genes. Furthermore, the expressions of IL-1β and NO synthase-2, and consequent NO production, were reduced in the absence of C/EBPβ. In addition, neurotoxicity elicited by LPS+IFNγ-treated microglia co-cultured with neurons was completely abolished by the absence of C/EBPβ in microglia.ConclusionsThese findings show involvement of C/EBPβ in the regulation of pro-inflammatory gene expression in glial activation, and demonstrate for the first time a key role for C/EBPβ in the induction of neurotoxic effects by activated microglia.
The Global Fund's resource allocation decisions for HIV programmes: addressing those in need
Authors: Avdeeva Olga , Lazarus Jeffrey V , Aziz Mohamed Abdel , Atun Rifat 
Published: November 2011

BackgroundBetween 2002 and 2010, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria's investment in HIV increased substantially to reach US$12 billion. We assessed how the Global Fund's investments in HIV programmes were targeted to key populations in relation to disease burden and national income.MethodsWe conducted an assessment of the funding approved by the Global Fund Board for HIV programmes in Rounds 1‐10 (2002‐2010) in 145 countries. We used the UNAIDS National AIDS Spending Assessment framework to analyze the Global Fund investments in HIV programmes by HIV spending category and type of epidemic. We examined funding per capita and its likely predictors (HIV adult prevalence, HIV prevalence in most‐at‐risk populations and gross national income per capita) using stepwise backward regression analysis.ResultsAbout 52% ($6.1 billion) of the cumulative Global Fund HIV funding was targeted to low‐ and low‐middle‐income countries. Around 56% of the total ($6.6 billion) was channelled to countries in sub‐Saharan Africa. The majority of funds were for HIV treatment (36%; $4.3 billion) and prevention (29%; $3.5 billion), followed by health systems and community systems strengthening and programme management (22%; $2.6 billion), enabling environment (7%; $0.9 billion) and other activities. The Global Fund investment by country was positively correlated with national adult HIV prevalence. About 10% ($0.4 billion) of the cumulative HIV resources for prevention targeted most‐at‐risk populations.ConclusionsThere has been a sustained scale up of the Global Fund's HIV support. Funding has targeted the countries and populations with higher HIV burden and lower income. Prevention in most‐at‐risk populations is not adequately prioritized in most of the recipient countries. The Global Fund Board has recently modified eligibility and prioritization criteria to better target most‐at‐risk populations in Round 10 and beyond. More guidance is being provided for Round 11 to strategically focus demand for Global Fund financing in the present resource‐constrained environment.
CHEK2 contribution to hereditary breast cancer in non-BRCAfamilies
Authors: Desrichard Alexis , Bidet Yannick , Uhrhammer Nancy , Bignon Yves-Jean 
Published: November 2011

Abstract
Background
Mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are responsible for only a part of hereditary breast cancer (HBC). The origins of "non-BRCA" HBC in families may be attributed in part to rare mutations in genes conferring moderate risk, such as CHEK2, which encodes for an upstream regulator of BRCA1. Previous studies have demonstrated an association between CHEK2 founder mutations and non-BRCA HBC. However, very few data on the entire coding sequence of this gene are available.

Methods
We investigated the contribution of CHEK2 mutations to non-BRCA HBC by direct sequencing of its whole coding sequence in 507 non-BRCA HBC cases and 513 controls.

Results
We observed 16 mutations in cases and 4 in controls, including 9 missense variants of uncertain consequence. Using both in silico tools and an in vitro kinase activity test, the majority of the variants were found likely to be deleterious for protein function. One variant present in both cases and controls was proposed to be neutral. Removing this variant from the pool of potentially deleterious variants gave a mutation frequency of 1.48% for cases and 0.29% for controls (P = 0.0040). The odds ratio of breast cancer in the presence of a deleterious CHEK2 mutation was 5.18.

Conclusions
Our work indicates that a variety of deleterious CHEK2 alleles make an appreciable contribution to breast cancer susceptibility, and their identification could help in the clinical management of patients carrying a CHEK2 mutation.