bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Perception of Discomfort Caused by a Unilateral Hearing Loss in People Suffering from a Total Bilateral Vestibular Loss
Authors: Gay Annietta , Guinand Nils , Miffon Maëva , Guyot Jean-Philippe
Published: September 2015

The quality of life of patients suffering from a bilateral vestibular loss is severely altered. Patients mainly complain of oscillopsia, imbalance, and spatial disorientation. Up to now, there is no efficient treatment. Some teams around the world are working on the development of a vestibular implant for the restoration of the vestibular function based on the concept similar to that of a cochlear implant, stimulating the neural vestibular pathways through electrical pulses. There are different potential stimulation sites of the vestibular system, all raising the major concern about a potential hearing loss in the implanted ear. As this implant does not exist yet, patients cannot be informed of the risk of hearing loss due to the surgical intervention versus the benefits brought by the vestibular prosthesis. In order to better inform future vestibular implant candidates, we need to evaluate the handicap of patients with an actual unilateral hearing loss, and to compare it to the way that patients suffering from a bilateral vestibular loss perceive a potential unilateral hearing loss. For this, we used the HHIA questionnaire (Hearing Handicap Inventory for Adults) on 3 groups of participants, i.e. patients with a unilateral hearing loss, patients suffering from a bilateral vestibular loss but having normal hearing, and healthy subjects. The scores reported by patients with a unilateral hearing loss were much lower than those of the other 2 groups, indicating that people whose hearing is normal overstate the disability related to a unilateral hearing loss. Patients to whom a vestibular implant is proposed in order to correct their balance disorders may use this information to decide whether or not to choose an operation.
Difficulties Faced by Patients Suffering from Total Bilateral Vestibular Loss
Authors: Miffon Maëva , Guyot Jean-Philippe
Published: September 2015

A unilateral sudden loss of function generates intense and frightening symptoms urging patients to see a doctor. Generally, the symptoms and signs of the deficit are so obvious that doctors make the diagnosis quickly. The situation is quite different if the deficit is gradual and affects both sides. To better understand the difficulties faced by patients suffering from total bilateral vestibular loss, 19 subjects were interviewed in a semistructured talk. The discussion focused on five main topics: (1) symptoms, (2) the medical trajectory from the earliest symptoms to the diagnosis, (3) the prescribed treatments, (4) the impact of the disease on work, and (5) the impact on social functioning and recreational activities. The symptoms reported by patients are insidious, and they may suggest a neurological deficit or a cardiocirculatory or psychiatric disorder. The diagnosis is often made after several consultations with several doctors from different specialties. When the diagnosis is made, all kinds of treatment are undertaken, in particular vestibular rehabilitation. Indeed, most physicians believe that it can promote central compensation processes, even though it has been demonstrated that vestibular exercises are ineffective in most of these patients. Two thirds of our subjects were obliged to modify or even stop their professional activities due the bilateral vestibular loss. In some patients, the disability is such that they almost constantly require the presence of their spouse. In conclusion, the symptoms of bilateral vestibular loss are sometimes misleading. They are often not recognized by doctors. The deficit has an obvious impact on patients' social functioning and professional activities.
Integrating Imaging into Clinical Practice in Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Authors: Rogler Gerhard , Vavricka Stephan R. , Biedermann Luc
Published: September 2015

Imaging is an important component for the monitoring of therapeutic success and disease control in patients with IBD. Colonoscopy is still the gold standard for imaging of disease activity. It is questionable, however, whether ‘standard' or ‘routine' imaging procedures max contribute to improved IBD therapy. There are good arguments for a problem driven imaging approach in IBD. Subsequently, the schedule of monitoring examinations should depend on the disease course (mild vs. severe) and the treatment used. Bowel ultrasound where available may substitute for endoscopy in many circumstances. New endoscopic techniques will be available at specialized centers for specific management questions. Applying these individualized strategies, imaging/monitoring will pay off for better disease control and better quality of life for IBD patients in the future.
The IL-12/23/STAT Axis as a Therapeutic Target in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Mechanisms and Evidence in Man
Authors: Marafini Irene , Angelucci Erika , Pallone Francesco , Monteleone Giovanni
Published: September 2015

Background: In inflamed tissues of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), many immune and non-immune cells produce a vast array of cytokines, which contribute to expand and maintain the pathologic process. Key Message: Interleukin (IL)-12 and IL-23, 2 heterodimeric cytokines sharing the common p40 subunit, are over-produced in IBD and supposed to play a major role in promoting and/or sustaining the pro-inflammatory cytokine response in these disorders. IL-12 targets mostly T cells and innate lymphoid cells and through activation of Stat4 promotes T helper (Th)1 cell polarization, interferon-γ and IL-21 production, while IL-23 activates Stat3 thus amplifying Th17 cell programs. These observations together with the demonstration that IL-12 and IL-23 drive pathogenic responses in animal models of colitis have paved the way for the development of IL-12p40 blockers. Two monoclonal antibodies (ustekinumab and briakinumab) targeting p40 have been tested in Crohn's disease (CD) patients. Blockade of IL-12p40 is beneficial in CD patients resistant to tumor necrosis factor (TNF) antagonists and promotes resolution of psoriatic lesions that develop in IBD patients following anti-TNF therapy. Conclusions: The available human data support the pathogenic role of IL-12/IL-23 in IBD and suggest that IL-12p40 blockers could help manage some subsets of IBD patients.
Integration and Modulation of Intercellular Signaling Underlying Blood Flow Control
Authors: Segal Steven S.
Published: September 2015

Vascular resistance networks control tissue blood flow in concert with regulating arterial perfusion pressure. In response to increased metabolic demand, vasodilation arising in arteriolar networks ascends to encompass proximal feed arteries. By reducing resistance upstream, ascending vasodilation (AVD) increases blood flow into the microcirculation. Once initiated, e.g. through local activation of K+ channels in endothelial cells (ECs), hyperpolarization is conducted through gap junctions along the endothelium. Via EC projections through the internal elastic lamina, hyperpolarization spreads into the surrounding smooth-muscle cells (SMCs) through myoendothelial gap junctions (MEGJs) to promote their relaxation. Intercellular signaling through electrical signal transmission (i.e. cell-to-cell conduction) can thereby coordinate vasodilation along and among the branches of microvascular resistance networks. Perivascular sympathetic nerve fibers course through the adventitia and release norepinephrine to stimulate SMCs via α-adrenoreceptors to produce contraction. In turn, SMCs can signal ECs through MEGJs to activate K+ channels and attenuate sympathetic vasoconstriction. Activation of K+ channels along the endothelium will dissipate electrical signal transmission and inhibit AVD, thereby restricting blood flow into the microcirculation while maintaining peripheral resistance and perfusion pressure. This review explores the origins and nature of the intercellular signaling that governs blood flow control in skeletal muscle with respect to the interplay between AVD and sympathetic innervation. Whereas these interactions are integral to daily activity and athletic performance, determining the interplay between respective signaling events provides insight into how selective interventions can improve tissue perfusion and oxygen delivery during vascular disease.
Intra-Arterial Chemotherapy for Retinoblastoma: A Single-Center Experience
Authors: Akyüz Canan , Kıratlı Hayyam , Şen Hilal , Aydın Burça , Tarlan Berçin , Varan Ali
Published: September 2015

Background: Studies conducted in recent years have reported promising results regarding the treatment of retinoblastoma with the intra-arterial use of melphalan. In the present study, we intended to report the results of intra-arterial chemotherapy with melphalan (IACT) in the treatment of newly diagnosed or relapsed-refractory retinoblastoma patients at the Department of Pediatric Oncology of Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective study of patients with intraocular retinoblastoma who were treated with IACT from December 2011 to May 2014. A total of 56 eyes of 46 consecutive patients (30 males and 16 females) were included in the study. Forty-four eyes received systemic chemotherapy upon diagnosis (systemic chemotherapy group, SCG), and 12 eyes were those of newly diagnosed patients (primary intra-arterial melphalan group, PIAG). The choice of the IACT dose was based on age. Tumor control and globe salvage with IACT were analyzed. Complete blood counts were examined 7 days after the IACT for systemic toxicity. Ocular toxicities such as proptosis, eyelid edema, ocular motility, and retinal and optic atrophy were assessed by an ocular oncologist with regular ophthalmologic examinations. Results: Enucleation was avoided overall in 66% (37/56) of the eyes, including 75% (9/12) in the PIAG and 64% (28/44) in the SCG patients. The 1-year enucleation-free survival rate was 56.7% at a median follow-up time of 11.9 months (range 0.27-27.6). IACT was administered in a total of 124 cycles (ranging from 1 to 7 cycles, mean 2.3). The responses were as follows: regression of the retinal tumor in 27 eyes and improvements in vitreous seeding in 5 of 15 eyes. The further treatment requirements after IACT were as follows: enucleation in 19 eyes (10 with vitreous seeding), radiotherapy in 3 eyes, systemic chemotherapy in 1 eye, and local therapy in 1 eye. No severe systemic side effects occurred. Transient swelling of the eyelids (22 patients), conjunctival chemosis (12 patients), upper eyelid ptosis (5 patients), redness over the frontal area (3 patients), limitation of ocular motility (3 patients) and mild proptosis (1 patient) were detected. Retinal pigment epithelial alterations (30 patients) and optic atrophy (3 patients) were seen in the late follow-up. Conclusions: Globe salvage and avoidance of radiotherapy may be achieved by IACT with limited toxicity. This treatment is efficient, repeatable and safe.
Os mistérios da cidade moderna: a propósito de Os Mistérios de Nova York (1914) e seus congêneres brasileiros
Authors: Carvalho Danielle Crepaldi
Published: September 2015

O artigo mapeia a circulação brasileira da série cinematográfica e folhetinesca norte-americana Os Mistérios de Nova York (1914), bem como analisa suas congêneres nacionais. Seu sucesso no Brasil determinou a produção de dois Mistérios do Rio de Janeiro: a série cinematográfica (por Coelho Netto em 1917) e a série cronística (por Benjamin Costallat em 1924). O trabalho pensa a relação entre cinema e jornal nos anos de 1910-20 e a influência do cinema na mise-en-scène do gênero folhetinesco.
Da atualidade do pensamento de Peirce
Authors: Pinto Julio César Machado
Published: September 2015

O presente trabalho propõe a visitação de alguns conceitos de C. S. Peirce à luz de recentes avanços em neurociência, tais como evidenciados em pesquisa em curso sobre audiodescrição de materiais audiovisuais para não-videntes.
Punição preventiva para coibir negação de coberturas
Authors: Bahia Ligia
Published: September 2015

Processos de definição e redefinição de normas de acesso a ações de serviços de saúde não são lineares nem desprovidos de ambiguidades. Os conflitos de interesses e os lobbies estão presentes na vida social. As barreiras judiciais para conter influências de agentes e racionalidades contrários ao uso de procedimentos essenciais para a garantia da vida foram reunidas em súmulas orientadoras sobre litigâncias em torno de atendimentos de emergência. A reincidência da principal empresa brasileira de planos de saúde em negar coberturas obrigatórias foi objeto de punição preventiva. O reconhecimento do dano individual e a reversão da maior parcela da multa aplicada para um hospital público conferiram à decisão um inequívoco estatuto social.
TRANSPORTE PÚBLICO E DESENVOLVIMENTO URBANO: ASPECTOS JURÍDICOS DA POLÍTICA NACIONAL DE MOBILIDADE
Authors: Marrara Thiago
Published: September 2015

O presente artigo relaciona o problema dos transportes e da mobilidade urbana com o desenvolvimento. A partir disso, aponta o conceito de mobilidade e debate três fatores responsáveis por sua queda nas cidades brasileiras. Trata então de normas trazidas pela Lei de Mobilidade Urbana e discute, especificamente, alguns aspectos do regime jurídico do transporte público coletivo e o transporte individual de interesse público.
VINCULAÇÃO DA ADMINISTRAÇÃO PÚBLICA AOS PRECEDENTES JUDICIAIS: UMA ANÁLISE DO PAPEL DA ADVOCACIA PÚBLICA NA EFETIVAÇÃO DE DIREITOS FUNDAMENTAIS
Authors: Pereira Aline Carvalho , Ferreira Fernanda Macedo
Published: September 2015

Esse presente artigo discute a vinculação da Administração Pública aos precedentes judiciais, conferindo destaque para o papel do advogado público na atualidade, em harmonia com os novos paradigmas do Direito Administrativo, principalmente com uma atuação conforme ao princípio da juridicidade administrativa. Essa atuação deve acontecer, essencialmente, com o propósito de garantir uma tutela efetiva e igualitária dos direitos fundamentais formalmente ou materialmente incorporados pela Constituição Federal de 1988. Essa vinculação aos precedentes judiciais, por sua vez, teve como fundamento, no estudo, os princípios da igualdade e da segurança jurídica. Toda essa análise serviu como base para delimitar uma atuação do advogado público em consonância com o interesse público eminentemente primário e, consequentemente, na direção da efetivação de direitos fundamentais.
COOPERAÇÃO INTERFEDERATIVA NA GESTÃO DE SERVIÇOS PÚBLICOS: O CASO DOS RESÍDUOS SÓLIDOS
Authors: Souza Rodrigo Pagani de
Published: September 2015

O artigo aponta o fenômeno do renascimento da cooperação interfederativa na gestão de serviços públicos, incentivada por diversas leis, de caráter geral e setorial, reveladoras de verdadeira tendência do direito administrativo brasileiro. O ponto é ilustrado com descrição e análise do caso na nova legislação federal e estadual sobre resíduos sólidos, cujo forte sentido é, justamente, a viabilização da cooperação neste relevante setor.
ACORDOS DE LENIÊNCIA NO PROCESSO ADMINISTRATIVO BRASILEIRO: MODALIDADES, REGIME JURÍDICO E PROBLEMAS EMERGENTES
Authors: Marrara Thiago
Published: September 2015

O presente artigo trata da definição do acordo de leniência e suas características centrais. Em seguida, examina e compara as três modalidades de leniência existentes no direito administrativo brasileiro. Em primeiro lugar, aborda-se a leniência no direito administrativo da concorrência. Em segundo, a leniência para infrações de corrupção e, em terceiro, a leniência para infrações licitatórias.
REPERCUSSÕES FUNCIONAIS E FINANCEIRAS DECORRENTES DO EXERCÍCIO DO DIREITO DE GREVE PELOS SERVIDORES PÚBLICOS CIVIS
Authors: Tonelli Junior Renato Adolfo
Published: September 2015

O presente trabalho tem por objetivo apresentar o atual entendimento jurisprudencial acerca do exercício do direito de greve pelos servidores públicos civis, previsto no artigo 37, VII, da Constituição Federal de 1988, sobretudo no que concerne aos efeitos funcionais e financeiros em decorrência de eventuais paralisações no âmbito do serviço público.
Trends and Spatial Variability in Dry Spells across the South-Central United States
Authors: Trepanier Jill C. , Roberts Michael J. , Keim Barry D.
Published: September 2015

Annual average and maximum spells with no precipitation in the southern United States are analyzed. In this study, dry spells are defined as consecutive days with no measurable rainfall. The study area includes 70 weather stations in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Tennessee. Interarrival times between daily precipitation records for each station provide the data for this analysis. All 70 stations were analyzed from 1950 to 2013. Six stations that each have data for more than 100 years were analyzed for the period from 1908 to 2013. Approximately 25% of stations in the region show significant negative trends through time, indicating that dry spells have become shorter through time at these locations. The strongest geographical indicator for the number of consecutive dry days across this region was longitude. Dry spells tend to have had longer durations at the westernmost stations because of natural climatological controls.
Statewide Responses to a Proposed Realignment of Juvenile Corrections in Arizona
Authors: Taylor Melanie , Decker Scott , Katz Charles
Published: September 2015

As states face shrinking budgets, new options for correctional supervision are being sought. One solution has been to shift the responsibility for custody from the state to county level through a process of realignment. The current article uses a case study methodology to examine proposed solutions and opinions of various stakeholders in juvenile justice following a 2010 announcement that the Department of Juvenile Corrections would be closed in Arizona. The findings show that the manner in which the realignment was proposed would have been a difficult model to adopt but that a well-planned and adequately funded reform would benefit juveniles and counties across Arizona.
Determinants of Foreign Direct Investment in Sri Lanka
Authors: Ravinthirakumaran K. , Selvanathan E.A. , Selvanathan S. , Singh T.
Published: September 2015

Foreign direct investment (FDI) can play a significant role in achieving rapid economic growth in developing countries such as Sri Lanka. Even after the 30-year-long war that ended in 2009, the economy is still struggling to convince domestic and foreign investors that Sri Lanka is ‘ready for business’. In the light of this situation, identifying the factors that could influence FDI inflows into Sri Lanka is crucial to design policies aimed at attracting more FDI. This article empirically investigates the determinants of FDI inflows into Sri Lanka using annual data for the period 1978–2013 and applying the latest econometric techniques in time series analysis. As expected, market size, trade openness and infrastructure level have a positive impact, while wage and political instability have a negative impact on FDI. From a policy point of view, the results suggest that, to attract FDI inflows, Sri Lanka should develop and introduce policies that would improve the level of market size, trade openness, infrastructure and political stability but reduce the cost of labour.
Hand/foot splitting and the ‘re-evolution’ of mesopodial skeletal elements during the evolution and radiation of chameleons
Authors: Diaz Raul E. , Trainor Paul A.
Published: September 2015

Background

One of the most distinctive traits found within Chamaeleonidae is their split/cleft autopodia and the simplified and divergent morphology of the mesopodial skeleton. These anatomical characteristics have facilitated the adaptive radiation of chameleons to arboreal niches. To better understand the homology of chameleon carpal and tarsal elements, the process of syndactyly, cleft formation, and how modification of the mesopodial skeleton has played a role in the evolution and diversification of chameleons, we have studied the Veiled Chameleon (Chamaeleo calyptratus). We analysed limb patterning and morphogenesis throughin situhybridization,in vitrowhole embryo culture and pharmacological perturbation, scoring for apoptosis, clefting, and skeletogenesis. Furthermore, we framed our data within a phylogenetic context by performing comparative skeletal analyses in 8 of the 12 currently recognized genera of extant chameleons.

Results

Our study uncovered a previously underappreciated degree of mesopodial skeletal diversity in chameleons. Phylogenetically derived chameleons exhibit a ‘typical’ outgroup complement of mesopodial elements (with the exception of centralia), with twice the number of currently recognized carpal and tarsal elements considered for this clade. In contrast to avians and rodents, mesenchymal clefting in chameleons commences in spite of the maintenance of a robust apical ectodermal ridge (AER). Furthermore,Bmpsignaling appears to be important for cleft initiation but not for maintenance of apoptosis. Interdigital cell death therefore may be an ancestral characteristic of the autopodium, however syndactyly is an evolutionary novelty. In addition, we find that the pisiform segments from the ulnare and that chameleons lack an astragalus-calcaneum complex typical of amniotes and have evolved an ankle architecture convergent with amphibians in phylogenetically higher chameleons.

Conclusion

Our data underscores the importance of comparative and phylogenetic approaches when studying development. Body size may have played a role in the characteristic mesopodial skeletal architecture of chameleons by constraining deployment of the skeletogenic program in the smaller and earliest diverged and basal taxa. Our study challenges the ‘re-evolution’ of osteological features by showing that ‘re-evolving’ a ‘lost’ featurede novo(contrary to Dollo’s Law) may instead be due to so called ‘missing structures’ being present but underdeveloped and/or fused to other adjacent elements (cryptic features) whose independence may be re-established under changes in adaptive selective pressure.
Improving documentation and coding for acute organ dysfunction biases estimates of changing sepsis severity and burden: a retrospective study
Authors: Rhee Chanu , Murphy Michael V. , Li Lingling , Platt Richard , Klompas Michael ,   for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Epicenters Program
Published: September 2015

Introduction

Claims-based analyses report that the incidence of sepsis-associated organ dysfunction is increasing. We examined whether coding practices for acute organ dysfunction are changing over time and if so, whether this is biasing estimates of rising severe sepsis incidence and severity.

Methods

We assessed trends from 2005 to 2013 in the annual sensitivity and incidence of discharge ICD-9-CM codes for organ dysfunction (shock, respiratory failure, acute kidney failure, acidosis, hepatitis, coagulopathy, and thrombocytopenia) relative to standardized clinical criteria (use of vasopressors/inotropes, mechanical ventilation for ≥2 consecutive days, rise in baseline creatinine, low pH, elevated transaminases or bilirubin, abnormal international normalized ratio or low fibrinogen, and decline in platelets). We studied all adult patients with suspected infection (defined by ≥1 blood culture order) at two US academic hospitals.

Results

Acute organ dysfunction codes were present in 57,273 of 191,695 (29.9 %) hospitalizations with suspected infection, most commonly acute kidney failure (60.2 % of cases) and respiratory failure (28.9 %). The sensitivity of all organ dysfunction codes except thrombocytopenia increased significantly over time. This was most pronounced for acute kidney failure codes, which increased in sensitivity from 59.3 % in 2005 to 87.5 % in 2013 relative to a fixed definition for changes in creatinine (p = 0.019 for linear trend). Acute kidney failure codes were increasingly assigned to patients with smaller creatinine changes: the average peak creatinine change associated with a code was 1.99 mg/dL in 2005 versus 1.49 mg/dL in 2013 (p <0.001 for linear decline). The mean number of dysfunctional organs in patients with suspected infection increased from 0.32 to 0.59 using discharge codes versus 0.69 to 0.79 using clinical criteria (p <0.001 for both trends and comparison of the two trends). The annual incidence of hospitalizations with suspected infection and any dysfunctional organ rose an average of 5.9 % per year (95 % CI 4.3, 7.4 %) using discharge codes versus only 1.1 % (95 % CI 0.1, 2.0 %) using clinical criteria.

Conclusions

Coding for acute organ dysfunction is becoming increasingly sensitive and the clinical threshold to code patients for certain kinds of organ dysfunction is decreasing. This accounts for much of the apparent rise in severe sepsis incidence and severity imputed from claims.
Prevalence of Chronic Kidney Disease among the High Risk Population in South-Western Ghana; A Cross Sectional Study
Authors: Ephraim Richard KD , Biekpe Sylvester , Sakyi Samuel A. , Adoba Prince , Agbodjakey Hope , Antoh Enoch O.
Published: September 2015

Background:

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a major global health problem. CKD is one of the most common complications of diabetes mellitus and hypertension and carries a risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality and progression to end-stage kidney disease.

Objectives:

This study sought to use the 2012 Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) definitions to establish the prevalence and risk factors for CKD among a high risk population in the Sekondi-Takoradi metropolis.

Design:

Cross sectional study.

Setting:

Effia-Nkwanta regional and the Takoradi Government hospitals in South Western Ghana.

Patients:

Two hundred eight consecutive adults with diabetes, hypertension or both.

Measurements:

Serum creatinine and urine albumin-creatinine ratio respectively. The Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) was used to estimate glomerular filtration rate (GFR).

Methods:

CKD was classified according to KDIGO.

Results:

The prevalence of CKD was 30 %: 27 % in patients with diabetes, 22 % in patients with hypertension only and 74 % in patients with both diabetes and hypertension. GFR category G3a CKD was most prevalent stage (9 %). Albuminuria was highest among people with diabetes (39 %).

Limitations:

A convenience sample of patients attending clinics.

Conclusion:

CKD was prevalent in these high-risk patients.
Efficient Activation of Pathogenic ΔPhe501 Mutation in Monocarboxylate Transporter 8 by Chemical and Pharmacological Chaperones
Authors: Braun Doreen , Schweizer Ulrich
Published: September 2015

Monocarboxylate transporter 8 (MCT8) is a thyroid hormone transmembrane transporter expressed in many cell types, including neurons. Mutations that inactivate transport activity of MCT8 cause severe X-linked psychomotor retardation in male patients, a syndrome originally described as the Allan-Herndon-Dudley syndrome. Treatment options currently explored the focus on finding thyroid hormone-like compounds that bypass MCT8 and enter cells through different transporters. Because MCT8 is a multipass transmembrane protein, some pathogenic mutations affect membrane trafficking while potentially retaining some transporter activity. We explore here the effects of chemical and pharmacological chaperones on the expression and transport activity of the MCT8 mutant ΔPhe501. Dimethylsulfoxide, 4-phenylbutyric acid as well as its sodium salt, and the isoflavone genistein increase T3 uptake into MDCK1 cells stably transfected with mutant MCT8-ΔPhe501. We show that ΔPhe501 represents a temperature-sensitive mutant protein that is stabilized by the proteasome inhibitor MG132. 4-Phenylbutyrate has been used to stabilize ΔPhe508 mutant cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator protein and is in clinical use in patients with urea cycle defects. Genistein is enriched in soy and available as a nutritional supplement. It is effective in stabilizing MCT8-ΔPhe501 at 100 nM concentration. Expression of the L471P mutant is increased in response to phenylbutyrate, but T3 uptake activity is not induced, supporting the notion that the chaperone specifically increases membrane expression. Our findings suggest that certain pathogenic MCT8 mutants may be responsive to (co-)treatment with readily available compounds, which increase endogenous protein function.
Reversible Structural Changes Accompanying the Two-Electron Redox Reaction of Pt(tacn) (tacn: 1,4,7-triazacyclononane) Complexes
Authors: Wada Tohru , Enami Koki , Kojima Ryohei , Okada Tomoki , Ishikawa Yuki , Miyazato Yuji , Horn Ernst , Mochizuki Yuji
Published: September 2015

Platinum complexes with 1,4,7-triazacyclononane (tacn) as facial ligands, [PtIVCl3(tacn)](ClO4), [PtIVCl(bpy)(tacn)](ClO4)3 ([1](ClO4), and [2](ClO4)3, bpy: 2,2′-bipyridine) were prepared, and their hexa-coordinated octahedral structures were determined via single-crystal X-ray analysis. In aqueous solutions containing NaCl as the electrolyte, [2]3+ exhibited a quasi-reversible two-electron redox wave at +0.22 V (vs. SCE) with a large peak separation (ΔE = Epc − Epa = 0.28 V). In addition, controlled-potential reduction of [2]3+ at −0.30 V in aqueous solutions containing NaCl afforded [PtII(bpy)(tacn)]2+ ([3]2+), which was then re-oxidized to regenerate [2]3+. X-ray analysis of [3]2+ revealed a tetra-coordinated square-planar structure in which both tacn and bpy were bound to the central Pt as bidentate ligands. The redox potential of this reaction is coupled with dissociation/association of Cl− from/to Pt in the solution. MO/DFT calculations indicate that structural changes in tacn promote the reversible two-electron redox reaction between the octahedral Pt(IV) and square planar Pt(II) complexes.
Interlayer Condensation of Protonated Layered Silicate Magadiite through Refluxing in N-Methylformamide
Authors: Asakura Yusuke , Hosaka Nami , Osada Shimon , Terasawa Taichi , Shimojima Atsushi , Kuroda Kazuyuki
Published: September 2015

Interlayer-condensed materials of protonated layered silicate (magadiite) are synthesized by refluxing in N-methylformamide (NMF) and the subsequent calcination. The obtained materials possess 2–3 times higher surface areas than calcined protonated magadiite, depending on the time of refluxing. NMF molecules in the interlayer spaces are converted to organic substances with higher thermal stability during the refluxing, which is useful for the control of the stacking sequence of silicate layers and for the following interlayer condensation to increase the microporosity. The microporosity of the material obtained by the treatment of protonated magadiite with NMF at r.t. and the subsequent calcination is similar to that of simply calcined protonated magadiite, indicating that the retention of thermally stable substances in the interlayer is critical for the increase in the pore volume and surface area of the derivative from magadiite. The method reported here will stimulate re-estimation of a large number of known layered silicate–organic intercalation compounds as possible candidates for the preparation of porous silica by interlayer condensation.
Film compression bandage
Authors: Ragg J. C.
Published: September 2015

Purpose: Textile compression stockings or bandages are limited in comfort; they do not allow uninterrupted wearing. A novel elastic film bandage was evaluated regarding practicability, patient comfort and effect on vein regression. Main endpoint was the frequency of symptomatic inflammatory reactions.

Methods: In a comparative pilot study, a compression film bandage (CFB, investigational) comprising an elastic, self-adhesive breathable polymer film of d <20 µm was continuously worn for 14 d after foam sclero-therapy. Inclusion: 62 patients (26–68 y.) frequently doing sports and taking daily showers, 90 legs with superficial varicosities, 5–12 mm ø (MW: 7.3 mm), randomized to A) CFB + medical compression stocking (MCS), B) MCS alone, C) CFB alone. Follow-up examinations including ultrasound and photography were performed after 2, 4 and 8 weeks.

Results: Continuous wearing time of 14 days was completed in 57/60 cases with CFB (95.0 %, A+C), while 3/60 (5.0 %) finished wearing after 8–10 d. There were no adverse skin reactions except minor irritations at the upper edge (n = 2). Vein diameters were reduced within 14 days by 29–54 % (mean: 43.5 %) in group A, 16–44% (mean: 39.1 %) in group B, and 24–50 % (mean: 37.3 %) in group C. Symptomatic inflammation, indu-ration or discolouration was observed within 28 days in 5/60 cases (8.3 %) when using CFB (A, C) versus 19/30 (63.3%) related to stocking compression (B). Comfort was rated by the patients 6.6 (A), 4.3 (B) and 9.2 (C) on a 10 degree scale. This difference was statistically highly significant (p <0.01).

Conclusions: The film bandage is an effective and safe compression modality. For superficial varicosities the adhesive bond to the skin seems to be relevant additional to the elastic properties. The device significantly improves vein regression of foam-treated superficial varicosities when combined with compression stockings or even as stand-alone modality. Continuous wearing for two weeks is well tolerated. The bandage may also offer an alternative for patients not tolerating textile compression media, or during summer.
Feedback Mechanism Development: MIOE Experience
Authors: ������������  , Rastashanskaya Tatyana , �����������  , Tabarovskaya Kseniya
Published: September 2015

The article deals with the learners� satisfaction monitoring practiced in MIOE. All educational bodies providing Additional Professional Programs (APP)

are obliged by the Federal Law to do so, but are free to choose the method of monitoring.

The article concerns MIOE approach to quality assurance in APP implementation, shows the way from ascertaining experiment to the forming one, and

reveals the methods applied. Principles that underpin communication between MIOE departments are explained. The procedure of survey is detailed with

particular attention to transformation of survey instruments.
Cattle Review
Authors: Barrett David C
Published: September 2015

Introduction:

This Cattle Review considers antimicrobial resistance and farmers' attitudes to antimicrobial use, the effects of liver fluke on the dairy herd and devices to predict calving.
Exertional rhabdomyolysis: recent advances in knowledge
Authors: Naylor Rosie J
Published: September 2015

Our understanding of exertional rhabdomyolysis in the horse has advanced considerably over the past 10 years. Not long ago, this syndrome was considered to be a single disease entity, also known as azoturia or Monday morning disease. Now, several distinct and very different conditions that result in this common clinical presentation have been recognised. The most documented of these conditions are recurrent exertional rhabdomyolysis (RER) and polysaccharide storage myopathy (PSSM), the latter having been recently classified into type 1 and type 2 PSSM. The availability of genetic testing and widespread use of muscle biopsy sampling have facilitated clinical diagnosis of underlying myopathies in the field.
Where are you headed?
Authors: Haigh Gerald
Published: September 2015

Is this the year when you will make that next step up the ladder? Or are you set on staying as you are? Gerald Haigh offers some advice
Efter Festen (After The Celebration): A Review
Authors: Rosin Leslie
Published: September 2015

This 2002 feature is a masterpiece of our genre. On one level, the story examines how a young man called Allan told on Danish radio how he confronted his father at his 60th birthday celebration with the devastating fact that the father had abused him and his twin sister as children. But Allan’s story is also the subject of the successful Danish film The Celebration by Thomas Vinterberg, part of the Dogma Film Group founded by Lars von Trier. The feature’s title, Efter Festen, (After the Celebration) is ambiguous in Danish, the Danish word 'efter' being translatable as either 'after' or 'based on'. So knowing that The Celebration is the title of the fictional film, emphasises the referential and literary quality of the material being treated. What is narrative and what is reality?
Lisbeth Jessen spent almost two years looking for the 'real Allan'. But the most interesting aspect of this fascinating multi-layered story is how Lisbeth tells the story – the dramaturgy. Even if Lisbeth- the- author sometimes knows more than both Lisbeth-the-journalist and Lisbeth- the-narrator, she nevertheless structures the feature very cleverly so as to let us in on her thoughts on the events. Lisbeth Jessen produces this as a classic three-act drama, an intimate piece of theatre with just four protagonists: Allan, Thomas Vinterberg, Kjeld Koplev (the radio presenter) and herself as the journalist with a quest but also as the reflecting narrator, (talking to the audience). It is this concentration on the essential that makes this feature so strong and impressive. As a narrator she is in search of truth, but as an author she believes in the power of narrative. This story is about family secrets, about a childhood trauma and its psychological effects. She believes every narrative follows its own logic and most of all - it is already an interpretation of reality. It ends as it began, with Allan’s story, which leaves many questions unanswered, and which holds a mirror up to us.
AUDIO (in Danish) here: starts at 2.26.
SCRIPT (English) here:
Golden Boy - ZĹOTY CHĹOPAK: A Review
Authors: Sekudewicz Anna
Published: September 2015

This feature is a story woven from the lives of two people: Abraham, the son of a tailor from Łódź, and Kasia Michalak, who’s also from Łódź and whose grandfather was a tailor. How do you present Abraham Tuszyński without pigeon-holing his story as yet another tragic Holocaust narrative – particularly since the programme-maker wanted to avoid making a strictly historical feature? Where and how to find excitement, tension, heat and feelings in material that is by nature informational, objective, cold and factual? Despite posing a huge risk, the collision of the two stories, or realities, creates a new perspective, a heightened quality. This is the approach Kasia employed to construct the story of Abraham Tuszyński in the feature entitled "Golden Boy".
The assistance of Simon Elmes in translating from French to this English version of the review is gratefully acknowledged.
1. TRANSCRIPT in ENGLISH/POLISH and AUDIO LINK is in WORD DOC BELOW.
2. ORIGINAL REVIEW in POLISH is in WORD DOC BELOW
Investigation of endothelial growth using a sensors-integrated microfluidic system to simulate physiological barriers
Authors: Rajabi Taleieh , Ahrens Ralf , Huck Volker , März Martin , Gantenbein Hanna , Schneider Stefan W. , Schroten Horst , Guber Andreas E.
Published: September 2015

In this paper we present a microfluidic system based on transparent biocompatible polymers with a porous membrane as substrate for various cell types which allows the simulation of various physiological barriers under continuous laminar flow conditions at distinct tunable shear rates. Besides live cell and fluorescence microscopy, integrated electrodes enable the investigation of the permeability and barrier function of the cell layer as well as their interaction with external manipulations using the Electric Cell-substrate Impedance Sensing (ECIS) method.
Energy harvesting for active implants: powering a ruminal pH-monitoring system
Authors: Machts R. , Reuter T. , Prokop P.V. , Schewtschenko O. , Stubenrauch M. , Schilling C. , Witte H.
Published: September 2015

Energy harvesting is a feasible method to prolong service life of implanted devices. We present a thermal energy harvesting approach for a ruminal pH-monitoring probe in cattle. Thermoelectric generators utilize the temperature gradient between the probe and the ruminal fluid during water intake. The in vivo experiment yielded a maximum electric power of 32 μW.
Detecting phase singularities and rotor center trajectories based on the Hilbert transform of intraatrial electrograms in an atrial voxel model
Authors: Unger Laura Anna , Rottmann Markus , Seemann Gunnar , Dössel Olaf
Published: September 2015

This work aimed at the detection of rotor centers within the atrial cavity during atrial fibrillation on the basis of phase singularities. A voxel based method was established which employs the Hilbert transform and the phase of unipolar electrograms. The method provides a 3D overview of phase singularities at the endocardial surface and within the blood volume. Mapping those phase singularities from the inside of the atria at the endocardium yielded rotor center trajectories. We discuss the results for an unstable and a more stable rotor. The side length of the areas covered by the trajectories varied from 1.5 mm to 10 mm. These results are important for cardiologists who target rotors with RF ablation in order to cure atrial fibrillation.
The impact of baseline wander removal techniques on the ST segment in simulated ischemic 12-lead ECGs
Authors: Pilia N.A. , Lenis G. , Loewe A. , Schulze W.H.W. , Dössel O.
Published: September 2015

Baseline wander removal is one important part of electrocardiogram (ECG) filtering. This can be achieved by many different approaches. This work investigates the influence of three different baseline wander removal techniques on ST changes. The chosen filters were phase-free Butterworth filtering, median filtering and baseline correction with cubic spline interpolation. 289 simulated ECGs containing ischemia were used to determine the influence of these filtering processes on the ST segment. Synthetic baseline wander and offsets were added to the simulated signals. All methods proved to be good approaches by removing most of the baseline wander in all signals. Correlation coefficients between the original signals and the filtered signals were greater than 0.93 for all ECGs. Cubic spline interpolation performed best regarding the preservation of the ST segment amplitude change when compared to the original signal. The approach modified the ST segment by 0.10 mV±0.06 mV at elevated K points. Median filtering introduced a variation of 0.33 mV±0.29 mV, Butterworth filtering reached 0.16 mV±0.14 mV at elevated K points. Thus, all methods manipulate the ST segment.
Next-generation vision testing: the quick CSF
Authors: Dorr Michael , Wille Manuel , Viulet Tiberiu , Sanchez Edward , Bex Peter J , Lu Zhong-Lin , Lesmes Luis
Published: September 2015

The Contrast Sensitivity Function relates the spatial frequency and contrast of a spatial pattern to its visibility and thus provides a fundamental description of visual function. However, the current clinical standard of care typically restricts assessment to visual acuity, i.e. the smallest stimulus size that can be resolved at full contrast; alternatively, tests of contrast sensitivity are typically restricted to assessment of the lowest visible contrast for a fixed letter size. This restriction to one-dimensional subspaces of a two-dimensional space was necessary when stimuli were printed on paper charts and simple scoring rules were applied manually. More recently, however, computerized testing and electronic screens have enabled more flexible stimulus displays and more complex test algorithms. For example, the quick CSF method uses a Bayesian adaptive procedure and an information maximization criterion to select only informative stimuli; testing times to precisely estimate the whole contrast sensitivity function are reduced to 2-5 minutes. Here, we describe the implementation of the quick CSF method in a medical device. We make several usability enhancements to make it suitable for use in clinical settings. A first usability study shows excellent results, with a mean System Usability Scale score of 86.5.
Evaluating the microsoft kinect skeleton joint tracking as a tool for home-based physiotherapy
Authors: Phommahavong Somphong , Haas Dominik , Yu Jing , Krüger-Ziolek Sabine , Möller Knut , Kretschmer Jörn
Published: September 2015

In physiotherapy, rehabilitation outcome is majorly dependent on the patient to continue exercises at home. To support a continuous and correct execution of exercises composed by the physiotherapist it is important that the patient stays motivated. With the emergence of game consoles such as Nintendo Wii, PlayStation Eye or Microsoft Kinect that employ special controllers or camera based motion recognition as means of user input those technologies have also been found to be interesting for other real-life applications such as providing individual physiotherapy exercises and an encouraging rehabilitation routine. Due to the intended use of those motion tracking systems in a computer-game environment it remains questionable if the accuracy of the skeleton joint tracking hardware and algorithms is suflicient for physiotherapy applications. We present a basic evaluation of the joint tracking accuracy where angles between various body extremities calculated by a Kinect system were compared with a high resolution motion capture system. Results show promising results with tracking deviations between 2.7° and 14.2° with a mean of the absolute deviations of 8.7°.
GPU-based real-time generation of large ultrasound volumes from freehand 3D sweeps
Authors: Jauer Philipp , Hainer Franziska , Ernst Floris
Published: September 2015

In the recent past, 3D ultrasound has been gaining relevance in many biomedical applications. One main limitation, however, is that typical ultrasound volumes are either very poorly resolved or only cover small areas. We have developed a GPU-accelerated method for live fusion of freehand 3D ultrasound sweeps to create one large volume. The method has been implemented in CUDA and is capable of generating an output volume with 0.5 mm resolution in real time while processing more than 45 volumes per second, with more than 300.000 voxels per volume. First experiments indicate that large structures like a whole forearm or high-resolution volumes of smaller structures like the hand can be combined efficiently. It is anticipated that this technology will be helpful in pediatric surgery where X-ray or CT imaging is not always possible.
Identification of surgical instruments using UHF-RFID technology
Authors: Bourouah Mohamed , Goridko Vadim , Schumacher Dietmar , Scheithauer Hermann , Knappmann Stephan , Nommensen Peter
Published: September 2015

The paper presents research, development and advantage of Radio Frequency IDentification (RFID) technology based system for medical instrument management and safe usage. The system is developed for two scenarios. In the first scenario, a Ultra High Frequency (UHF) is used and the UHF–interrogator system with UHF-antennas is constructed to work as conveyor-belt and instruments are placed between two antennas. Second scenario, suitable for the operating rooms, includes four antennas, placed under the table with instruments, system’s phase shifter, inserted between the antenna and reader in order to reduce the effect of dead spots, caused by the electromagnetic reflections. High reliable identification rate is achieved by synchronizing phase shifters with particular interrogator. The system is software calibrated and can be re-calibrated at run-time to achieve high efficiency of power transmission to the antenna and in order to enable the receiver to decode the tag signals. With currently on the market available RFID tags and previously mentioned technology approaches, detection rate of 87.5% can be achieved.