bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Understanding the mechanisms through which spatial attention acts on nociception
Authors: Torta Diana M. E.
Published: June 2015

Previous studies have shown that spatial attention can influence the magnitude of brain responses to nociceptive inputs. In their recent article (Franz M, Nickel MM, Ritter A, Miltner WH, Weiss T. J Neurophysiol 113: 2760–2768, 2015), Franz and colleagues expand this observation by showing that spatial attention is further able to modify the chronometry of nociceptive processing by modulating the latency and temporal jitter of the recorded responses. The mechanisms through which attention could possibly modulate nociceptive processing are discussed here, with a particular focus on novel findings and future perspectives.
Cataract Surgery with a Refractive Corneal Inlay in Place
Authors: Stojanovic N. R. , Panagopoulou S. I. , Pallikaris I. G.
Published: June 2015

Purpose. To present a case of cataract surgery performed in a patient with a refractive corneal inlay in place.Methods. A 48-year-old female patient presented to our institute with bilateral cataract. The patient had undergone refractive corneal inlay implantation three years ago in her right, nondominant eye for presbyopia correction. Biometry and intraocular lens (IOL) power calculation were performed without removing the inlay. Phacoemulsification and IOL insertion were carried out in both eyes in a usual manner.Results. On day one postoperatively, the patient achieved binocular uncorrected distance visual acuity 20/20 and uncorrected near visual acuity J1. The vision remained stable during the one-year follow-up period.Conclusion. Cataract surgery was performed in a standard manner in a patient with Presbia Microlens corneal inlay in place. Visual outcomes for both near and distance vision were satisfactory.
Codon Optimization Significantly Improves the Expression Level ofα-Amylase Gene fromBacillus licheniformisinPichia pastoris
Authors: Wang Jian-Rong , Li Yang-Yuan , Liu Dan-Ni , Liu Jing-Shan , Li Peng , Chen Li-Zhi , Xu Shu-De
Published: June 2015

α-Amylase as an important industrial enzyme has been widely used in starch processing, detergent, and paper industries. To improve expression efficiency of recombinantα-amylase fromBacillus licheniformis(B. licheniformis), theα-amylase gene fromB. licheniformiswas optimized according to the codon usage ofPichia pastoris(P. pastoris) and expressed inP. pastoris. Totally, the codons encoding 305 amino acids were optimized in which a total of 328 nucleotides were changed and the G+C content was increased from 47.6 to 49.2%. The recombinants were cultured in 96-deep-well microplates and screened by a new plate assay method. Compared with the wild-type gene, the optimized gene is expressed at a significantly higher level inP. pastorisafter methanol induction for 168 h in 5- and 50-L bioreactor with the maximum activity of 8100 and 11000 U/mL, which was 2.31- and 2.62-fold higher than that by wild-type gene. The improved expression level makes the enzyme a good candidate forα-amylase production in industrial use.
WozARd: A Wizard of Oz Method for Wearable Augmented Reality Interaction—A Pilot Study
Authors: Alce Günter , Wallergård Mattias , Hermodsson Klas
Published: June 2015

Head-mounted displays and other wearable devices open up for innovative types of interaction for wearable augmented reality (AR). However, to design and evaluate these new types of AR user interfaces, it is essential to quickly simulate undeveloped components of the system and collect feedback from potential users early in the design process. One way of doing this is the wizard of Oz (WOZ) method. The basic idea behind WOZ is to create the illusion of a working system by having a human operator, performing some or all of the system’s functions. WozARd is a WOZ method developed for wearable AR interaction. The presented pilot study was an initial investigation of the capability of the WozARd method to simulate an AR city tour. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected from 21 participants performing a simulated AR city tour. The data analysis focused on seven categories that can have an impact on how the WozARd method is perceived by participants: precision, relevance, responsiveness, technical stability, visual fidelity, general user-experience, and human-operator performance. Overall, the results indicate that the participants perceived the simulated AR city tour as a relatively realistic experience despite a certain degree of technical instability and human-operator mistakes.
Automating Quality Metrics in the Era of Electronic Medical Records: Digital Signatures for Ventilator Bundle Compliance
Authors: Lan Haitao , Thongprayoon Charat , Ahmed Adil , Herasevich Vitaly , Sampathkumar Priya , Gajic Ognjen , O’Horo John C.
Published: June 2015

Ventilator-associated events (VAEs) are associated with increased risk of poor outcomes, including death. Bundle practices including thromboembolism prophylaxis, stress ulcer prophylaxis, oral care, and daily sedation breaks and spontaneous breathing trials aim to reduce rates of VAEs and are endorsed as quality metrics in the intensive care units. We sought to create electronic search algorithms (digital signatures) to evaluate compliance with ventilator bundle components as the first step in a larger project evaluating the ventilator bundle effect on VAE. We developed digital signatures of bundle compliance using a retrospective cohort of 542 ICU patients from 2010 for derivation and validation and testing of signature accuracy from a cohort of random 100 patients from 2012. Accuracy was evaluated against manual chart review. Overall, digital signatures performed well, with median sensitivity of 100% (range, 94.4%–100%) and median specificity of 100% (range, 100%–99.8%). Automated ascertainment from electronic medical records accurately assesses ventilator bundle compliance and can be used for quality reporting and research in VAE.
The Unified Hydrodynamics and the Pseudorapidity Distributions in Heavy Ion Collisions at BNL-RHIC and CERN-LHC Energies
Authors: Jiang Z. J. , Wang J. , Ma K. , Zhang H. L.
Published: June 2015

The charged particles produced in nucleus-nucleus collisions are divided into two parts. One is from the hot and dense matter created in collisions. The other is from leading particles. The hot and dense matter is assumed to expand according to unified hydrodynamics and freezes out into charged particles from a space-like hypersurface with a fixed proper time ofτFO. The leading particles are conventionally taken as the particles which inherit the quantum numbers of colliding nucleons and carry off most of incident energy. The rapidity distributions of the charged particles from these two parts are formulated analytically, and a comparison is made between the theoretical results and the experimental measurements performed in Au-Au and Pb-Pb collisions at the respective BNL-RHIC and CERN-LHC energies. The theoretical results are well consistent with experimental data.
Role of Metals Content in Spinach in Enhancing the Conductivity and Optical Band Gap of Chitosan Films
Authors: Nainggolan Irwana , Shantini Devi , Nasution Tulus Ikhsan , Derman Mohd Nazree
Published: June 2015

Blend of chitosan and spinach extract has been successfully prepared using acetic acid as a solvent medium to produce chitosan-spinach films. The conductivity measurements showed that chitosan-spinach films for all ratios of 95 : 5, 90 : 10, 85 : 15, and 80 : 20 had better conductivity than the chitosan film. The optical band gap reduced with the addition of the spinach extract into chitosan. Chitosan-spinach film with the ratio of 85 : 15 gave the best electrical properties in this work with the conductivity of 3.41 × 10−6 S/m and optical band gap of 2.839 eV. SEM-EDX spectra showed the existence of potassium, phosphorus, sulphur, iron, and oxygen in chitosan-spinach films. AFM image showed that the surface morphology of the films became rougher as the spinach incorporated into chitosan. The minerals which exist in spinach extract play a role in enhancing electrical properties of chitosan film.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome with Wrist Trigger Caused by Hypertrophied Lumbrical Muscle and Tenosynovitis
Authors: Shimizu Ayuko , Ikeda Masayoshi , Kobayashi Yuka , Saito Ikuo , Mochida Joji
Published: June 2015

We present a case of carpal tunnel syndrome involving wrist trigger caused by a hypertrophied lumbrical muscle with flexor synovitis. The case was a 40-year-old male heavy manual worker complaining of numbness and pain in the median nerve area. On active flexion of the fingers, snapping was observed at the carpal area, and forceful full grip was impossible. Tinel’s sign was positive and an electromyographic study revealed conduction disturbance of the median nerve at the carpal tunnel. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed edematous lumbrical muscle with synovial proliferation around the flexor tendons. Open carpal tunnel release was performed under local anesthesia. Synovial proliferation of the flexor tendons was found and when flexing the index and middle fingers, the lumbrical muscle was drawn into the carpal tunnel with a triggering phenomenon. After releasing the carpal tunnel, the triggering phenomenon and painful numbness improved.
Novel Approaches to Treatment of Advanced Melanoma: A Review on Targeted Therapy and Immunotherapy
Authors: Niezgoda Anna , Niezgoda Piotr , Czajkowski Rafał
Published: June 2015

The incidence of malignant melanoma is increasing. The majority of patients are diagnosed in early stages when the disease is highly curable. However, the more advanced or metastatic cases have always been a challenge for clinicians. The poor prognosis for patients with melanoma is now changing as numerous of promising approaches have appeared recently. The discovery of aberrations of pathways responsible for intracellular signal transduction allowed us to introduce agents specifically targeting the mutated cascades. Numerous clinical studies have been conducted to improve effectiveness of melanoma treatment. From 2011 until now, the U.S. FDA has approved seven novel agents, such as BRAF-inhibitors (vemurafenib 2011, dabrafenib 2013), MEK-inhibitors (trametinib 2013), anti-PD1 antibodies (nivolumab 2014, pembrolizumab 2014), anti-CTLA-4 antibody (ipilimumab 2011), or peginterferon-alfa-2b (2011) intended to be used in most advanced cases of melanoma. Nevertheless, clinicians continue working on new possible methods of treatment as resistance to the novel drugs is a commonly observed problem. This paper is based on latest data published until the end of January 2015.
Energy Dependence of Slope Parameter in Elastic Nucleon-Nucleon Scattering
Authors: Okorokov V. A.
Published: June 2015

The diffraction slope parameter is investigated for elastic proton-proton and proton-antiproton scattering based on all the available experimental data at low and intermediate momentum transfer values. Energy dependence of the elastic diffraction slope is approximated by various analytic functions. The expanded “standard” logarithmic approximations with minimum number of free parameters allow description of the experimental slopes in all the available energy range reasonably. The estimations of asymptotic shrinkage parameterαP′are obtained for various|t|domains based on all the available experimental data. Various approximations differ from each other both in the low energy and very high energy domains. Predictions for diffraction slope parameter are obtained for elastic proton-proton scattering from NICA up to future collider (FCC/VLHC) energies, for proton-antiproton elastic reaction in FAIR energy domain for various approximation functions.
Prevalence of Hypertension in Akwa Ibom State, South-South Nigeria: Rural versus Urban Communities Study
Authors: Akpan Effiong Ekong , Ekrikpo Udeme E. , Udo Aniema I. A. , Bassey Bassey Edet
Published: June 2015

Recent studies have shown an increasing trend in the prevalence of hypertension in rural communities compared to that of the urban communities. This study was therefore carried out to determine the prevalence of hypertension and its predictors (if any) in both urban and rural communities of Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria.Subjects and Method. This was a cross-sectional study of urban and rural communities of Akwa Ibom State for the prevalence of hypertension and its predictors. Two urban cities and two rural communities were randomly selected from the three senatorial districts of the state. Hypertension was defined based on the Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on the Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of Hypertension.Results. Nine hundred and seventy-eight (978) participants were recruited from rural areas and five hundred and ninety (590) from urban centers. The rural populace had higher systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial blood pressure than the urban populace (P<0.001, < 0.002, < 0.001, resp.). The prevalence of hypertension was significantly higher in the rural populace than in the urban populace [44.3% (95% CI 41.1–47.4%) versus 28.6% (95% CI 24.9–32.3%)]. Age, BMI, and proteinuria were independent predictors of hypertension occurrence.Conclusion. There is an epidemiologic change in the prevalence of hypertension in the rural communities of Nigeria.
Efficacy and Tolerability of a GD2-Directed Trifunctional Bispecific Antibody in a Preclinical Model: Subcutaneous Administration Is Superior to Intravenous Delivery
Authors: Deppisch Nina , Ruf Peter , Eissler Nina , Neff Frauke , Buhmann Raymund , Lindhofer Horst , Mocikat Ralph
Published: June 2015

Trifunctional bispecific antibodies (trAb) are novel anticancer drugs that recruit and activate different types of immune effector cells at the targeted tumor. Thus, tumor cells are effectively eliminated and a long-lasting tumor-specific T-cell memory is induced. The trAb Ektomab is directed against human CD3 on T cells and the tumor-associated ganglioside GD2, which is an attractive target for immunotherapy of melanoma in humans. To optimize clinical applicability, we studied different application routes with respect to therapeutic efficacy and tolerability by using the surrogate trAb Surek (anti-GD2 × anti-murine CD3) and a murine melanoma engineered to express GD2. We show that subcutaneous injection of the trAb is superior to the intravenous delivery pathway, which is the standard application route for therapeutic antibodies. Despite lower plasma levels after subcutaneous administration, the same tumor-protective potential was observed in vivo compared with intravenous administration of Surek. However, subcutaneously delivered Surek showed better tolerability. This could be explained by a continuous release of the antibody leading to constant plasma levels and a delayed induction of proinflammatory cytokines. Importantly, the induction of counter-regulatory mechanisms was reduced after subcutaneous application. These findings are relevant for the clinical application of trifunctional bispecific antibodies and, possibly, also other immunoglobulin constructs. Mol Cancer Ther; 14(8); 1877–83. ©2015 AACR.
Sensitization of Glioblastoma Cells to Irradiation by Modulating the Glucose Metabolism
Authors: Shen Han , Hau Eric , Joshi Swapna , Dilda Pierre J. , McDonald Kerrie L.
Published: June 2015

Because radiotherapy significantly increases median survival in patients with glioblastoma, the modulation of radiation resistance is of significant interest. High glycolytic states of tumor cells are known to correlate strongly with radioresistance; thus, the concept of metabolic targeting needs to be investigated in combination with radiotherapy. Metabolically, the elevated glycolysis in glioblastoma cells was observed postradiotherapy together with upregulated hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α and its target pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 1 (PDK1). Dichloroacetate, a PDK inhibitor currently being used to treat lactic acidosis, can modify tumor metabolism by activating mitochondrial activity to force glycolytic tumor cells into oxidative phosphorylation. Dichloroacetate alone demonstrated modest antitumor effects in both in vitro and in vivo models of glioblastoma and has the ability to reverse the radiotherapy-induced glycolytic shift when given in combination. In vitro, an enhanced inhibition of clonogenicity of a panel of glioblastoma cells was observed when dichloroacetate was combined with radiotherapy. Further mechanistic investigation revealed that dichloroacetate sensitized glioblastoma cells to radiotherapy by inducing the cell-cycle arrest at the G2–M phase, reducing mitochondrial reserve capacity, and increasing the oxidative stress as well as DNA damage in glioblastoma cells together with radiotherapy. In vivo, the combinatorial treatment of dichloroacetate and radiotherapy improved the survival of orthotopic glioblastoma-bearing mice. In conclusion, this study provides the proof of concept that dichloroacetate can effectively sensitize glioblastoma cells to radiotherapy by modulating the metabolic state of tumor cells. These findings warrant further evaluation of the combination of dichloroacetate and radiotherapy in clinical trials. Mol Cancer Ther; 14(8); 1794–804. ©2015 AACR.
Different Preference of Degradome in Invasion versus Angiogenesis
Authors: Ghaffari-Tabrizi-Wizsy Nassim , Cvitic Silvija , Tam-Amersdorfer Carmen , Bilban Martin , Majali-Martinez Alejandro , Schramke Karin , Desoye Gernot , Hiden Ursula
Published: June 2015

Proteases are required for a multitude of cellular processes including homeostatic tissue remodelling, invasion and angiogenesis. The physiological function of a cell or tissue is reflected by the set of proteases expressed, also termed degradome. The role of proteases in invasion and angiogenesis has been studied intensively, mostly in cancer. We aimed to compare the set of proteases required for physiological invasion versus physiological angiogenesis from cells deriving from the same organ, and to identify the proteases specific for each process. The human placenta comprises trophoblasts that invade the maternal uterus in a regulated, physiological manner, and it is the source of primary endothelial cells. We isolated the trophoblasts and endothelial cells and verified their invasive phenotype and angiogenic properties, respectively. We then performed gene expression analysis of the degradome, e.g. cysteine, metallo, serine, threonine and aspartic proteases, identified the differentially expressed proteases among the trophoblasts and endothelial cells, and clustered them hierarchically. The results revealed that the set of proteases in trophoblasts versus in endothelial cells overlaps, with a total of 69% in common. Nevertheless, 42% of the studied degradomes differed, with a fold change ≥2. For instance, metalloproteinases were predominantly expressed in trophoblasts, and 31% of the proteases were exclusively expressed in either trophoblasts or endothelial cells; this suggests particular roles for these proteases in either invasion or angiogenesis. Our data identify common and distinct proteases in cells capable of performing invasion and angiogenesis, and may provide basic information for the design of techniques to specifically investigate invasion or angiogenesis.
Multimodal Imaging of Cotton Wool Spots in Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion
Authors: Munk Marion R. , Matt Gerlinde , Baratsits Magdalena , Dunavoelgyi Roman , Huf Wolfgang , Montuoro Alessio , Buehl Wolf , Schmidt-Erfurth Ursula , Sacu Stefan ,   on behalf of the Macula Study Group
Published: June 2015

Purpose: To describe and follow cotton wool spots (CWS) in branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) using multimodal imaging. Methods: In this prospective cohort study including 24 patients with new-onset BRVO, CWS were described and analyzed in color fundus photography (CF), spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), infrared (IR) and fluorescein angiography (FA) every 3 months for 3 years. The CWS area on SD-OCT and CF was evaluated using OCT-Tool-Kit software: CWS were marked in each single OCT B-scan and the software calculated the area by interpolation. Results: 29 central CWS lesions were found. 100% of these CWS were visible on SD-OCT, 100% on FA and 86.2% on IR imaging, but only 65.5% on CF imaging. CWS were visible for 12.4 ± 7.5 months on SD-OCT, for 4.4 ± 3 months and 4.3 ± 3.4 months on CF and on IR, respectively, and for 17.5 ± 7.1 months on FA. The evaluated CWS area on SD-OCT was larger than on CF (0.26 ± 0.17 mm2 vs. 0.13 ± 0.1 mm2, p < 0.0001). The CWS area on SD-OCT and surrounding pathology such as intraretinal cysts, avascular zones and intraretinal hemorrhage were predictive for how long CWS remained visible (r2 = 0.497, p < 0.002). Conclusions: The lifetime and presentation of CWS in BRVO seem comparable to other diseases. SD-OCT shows a higher sensitivity for detecting CWS compared to CF. The duration of visibility of CWS varies among different image modalities and depends on the surrounding pathology and the CWS size.
Monomicrobial Necrotizing Fasciitis Caused by Aeromonas hydrophila and Klebsiella pneumoniae
Authors: Tsai Yao-Hung , Shen Shih-Hsun , Yang Tien-Yu , Chen Po-Han , Huang Kuo-Chin , Lee Mel S.
Published: June 2015

Objective: To compare specific characteristics and clinical outcomes of monomicrobial necrotizing fasciitis caused by Aeromonashydrophila and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Material and Methods: Cases of monomicrobial necrotizing fasciitis caused by A. hydrophila (n = 11) and K. pneumoniae (n = 7) over an 8-year period were retrospectively reviewed. Differences in mortality, patient characteristics, clinical presentations, and laboratory data were compared between the A. hydrophila and the K. pneumoniae groups. Results: The clinical signs and symptoms at the time of presentation did not differ significantly (p > 0.05) between the two groups. The A. hydrophila group had a significantly shorter interval between contact and admission (1.55 ± 0.52 vs. 5.14 ± 2.12 days, p < 0.001) and significant lower total white blood cell counts (10,245 ± 5,828 vs. 19,014 ± 11,370 cells/mm3, p < 0.045) than the K. pneumoniae group in the emergency room. Hepatic dysfunction was associated with mortality in patients with A. hydrophila infection, while diabetes mellitus was associated with mortality in patients with K. pneumoniae infection. Overall, 5 (45.5%) patients in the A. hydrophila group and 3 (42.8%) in the K. pneumoniae group died. Conclusion: The initial clinical course of A. hydrophila monomicrobial necrotizing fasciitis was characterized by more rapidly progressive disease than that of the K. pneumoniae infection. Patients with hepatic dysfunction and necrotizing fasciitis should be suspected of having A. hydrophila infection, and diabetic patients with necrotizing fasciitis should be suspected of having K. pneumoniae infection initially.
Urodynamic Findings and Renal Function in Children with Neurogenic Bladder after Myelomeningocele
Authors: Korzeniecka-Kozerska Agata , Porowski Tadeusz , Bagińska Joanna , Wasilewska Anna
Published: June 2015

Introduction: Myelomeningocele (MMC) is a congenital central nervous system malformation caused by a failure of the neurulation process in early pregnancy. Patients with MMC present many abnormalities and the nervous, skeletal and urinary systems are the most affected. The aim of this study was to clinically evaluate patients with MMC, estimate renal and lower urinary tract (LUT) function and to ascertain whether urodynamic findings can predict the deterioration of urinary tract function. Materials and Methods: Medical records of 112 patients were gathered from a database and evaluated retrospectively. The data included age, sex, BMI Z-score WHO, physical activity, urodynamic parameters and diagnosis and renal function. Results: A total of 112 patients with MMC were enrolled in the study. There were no differences in age, sex, BMI Z-score WHO, physical activity, renal function and urodynamic findings (apart from cystometric capacity) between boys and girls. Detrusor overactivity was the most frequent urodynamic diagnosis in all groups of physical activity, level of lesion and in catheterized and non-catheterized children. The correlations between urodynamic findings and renal function tests were found. Conclusions: Patients with neurogenic bladder after MMC most often present detrusor overactivity. LUT function is disturbed in all MMC patients independent of lesion level and physical activity.
Edoxaban versus placebo, aspirin, or aspirin plus clopidogrel for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation
Authors: Rasmussen Lars , Larsen Torben , Blann Andrew , Skjøth Flemming , Lip Gregory
Published: June 2015

As non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF) brings a risk of stroke, oral anticoagulants (OAC) are recommended. In ‘real world’ clinical practice, many patients (who may be, or perceived to be, intolerant of OACs) are either untreated or are treated with anti-platelet agents. We hypothesised that edoxaban has a better net clinical benefit (NCB, balancing the reduction in stroke risk vs increased risk of haemorrhage) than no treatment or anti-platelet agents. We performed a network meta-analysis of published data from 24 studies of 203,394 AF patients to indirectly compare edoxaban with aspirin alone, aspirin plus clopidogrel, and placebo. Edoxaban 30 mg once daily significantly reduced the risk of all stroke, ischaemic stroke and mortality compared to placebo and aspirin. Compared to aspirin plus clopidogrel, there was a lower risk of intra-cranial haemorrhage (ICH). Edoxaban 60 mg once-daily had a reduced risk of any stroke and systemic embolism compared to placebo, aspirin, and aspirin plus clopidogrel. Mortality rates for both edoxaban doses were estimated to be lower compared to any anti-platelet, and significantly lower compared to placebo. With overall reduced risk of ischemic stroke and ICH, both edoxaban doses bring a NCB of mean (SD) 1.68 (0.15) saved events per 100 patients per year compared to anti-platelet drugs in a clinical trial population. The NCB was demonstrated to be lower, at 0.77 (0.12) events saved (p< 0.01) when modeled to data from a ‘real world’ cohort of AF patients. In conclusion, edoxaban is likely to provide even better protection from stroke and ICH than placebo, aspirin alone, or aspirin plus clopidogrel in both clinical trial populations and unselected community populations. Both edoxaban doses would also bring a positive NCB compared to anti-platelet drugs or placebo/non-treatment based on ‘real world’ data.

Note: The review process for this paper was fully handled by Christian Weber, Editor in Chief.
Обгрунтування об’єктивності семестрового тестування для оцінювання знань з патоморфології
Authors: Марценюк В. П. , Сельський П. Р.
Published: June 2015

The article is dedicated to implementation of innovative methods in teaching Pathomorphology in I. Ya. Horbachevsky Ternopil State Medical University. According to the subject evaluation results, the objectivity of semester exam test has been substantiated.
ІНФОРМАЦІЙНІ ТЕХНОЛОГІЇ В ОЦІНЮВАННІ РИНКУ ЛІКАРСЬКИХ ЗАСОБІВ
Authors: Babintseva L. Yu.
Published: June 2015

An analytical study of methodologies of integral pharmaceutical market analysis is undertaken. It’s offered to use as an additional indicator of the pharmaceutical market state the trend of morbidity indexes of socially significant diseases. High informational value has also distribution curve of rendering harm risks of patients in the dynamics. A new approach to the analysis of the pharmaceutical market based on the trend characteristics’ may become the main in the decision- making.
КІРЛІАНОГРАФІЧНЕ ОЦІНЮВАННЯ БІОДОСТУПНОСТІ РЕЧОВИНИ
Authors: Kuryk M. V. , Pesotska L. A. , Hlukhova N. V. , Horova А. I.
Published: June 2015

The ratio between water molecules associated to the clusters in cell structures, which is the conformational catalyst for the exchange processes, and non-associated or free water participating in free-radical reactions is very important for the normal functioning of the organs of living beings.

The aim of the study was to compare Kirlian glow of apple samples before and after t h e sanctification during the Christian holiday The Saviour to detect the possibility of the bioavailability signs establishing of the product for the body.

The kirlianographic study of 10 samples of whole and cut apples with the same sort and size before and after the sanctification was made. Radiographic film and standard methods of its development as well as the instrument “REK-1”, designed by Ukrainian Research Institute of Machine Building Technology (D nepropetrovsk) were used. Mathematical processing of scanned Kirlianograms was performed using standard software package for th e construction of histograms and pixel brightness profile of the picture.

The method of classical kirlianography with X ray film allows assessing the bioavailability condition, which is important for the prediction of absorption and physiological effects of a man consumed food and phytomedicines. Therefore, these studies are relevant and require further development. Used such standard methods of mathematical processing as histograms and pixel brightness profile for the analysis of Kirlian images are informative enough for the individual samples, and can be the basis for the batch processing of data.
Anger in Search of Justice: Reflections on the Gezi Revolt in Turkey
Authors: Koçan Gürcan , Öncü Ahmet
Published: June 2015

This paper focuses on the underlying motivation behind the participation of individuals in what came to be known as the Gezi Revolt. The Gezi Revolt was the expression of anger in response to a perceived social injustice. Those who participated in the uprising aimed not only to enforce political change but also to restore justice in their society through struggle and moral expression. Gezi represents the weaving together of moral, cognitive, and emotional responses. Anger and fury were the two particular emotions that provided a sense of urgency among a large section of people across the land and led to the building of a social network of individuals through which sharing stories and expressing feelings turned into practices of moral progress. The paper discusses how the participants of “the Gezi Community” were able to put aside their before identities and hold back their unpleasant and dividing emotions to one another.
The Muslim Brotherhood: Between Democracy, Ideology and Distrust
Authors: Mohamed Eid , Momani Bessma
Published: June 2015

Following the Arab Spring, democracy exercised through free and fair elections had allowed Islamist political parties to gain power in Egypt. There was a transformation happening in the ideology of Islamists, who were increasingly trying to influence legislation through democratic processes and social activism. It could be argued that for a time, the u.s. and other Western governments no longer viewed Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood as a threat comparable with Jihadist groups such as Al-Qaeda. This did not translate into a domestic political success, however, once Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood was elected into power in 2012, it simplified good governance to a single and effective slogan: “Islam is the solution!” Yet, it had no real solution to the everyday problems of Egyptians and the sheer chaos that characterizes the daily lives of its people. In a devout region with growing inequality and poverty, religious credentials will matter less than offering specific solutions to these growing social issues. This paper argues that the myth of political Islam has been exposed in Egypt and that the Muslim Brotherhood’s identity, torn between political pragmatism and religious conservatism, shaped its political actions under Morsi’s rule.
Taxonomy on Quedius euryalus group (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Staphylinini: Quediina) from China with description of eight new species
Authors: CAI YAN-PENG , ZHAO ZONG-YI , ZHOU HONG-ZHANG
Published: June 2015

Eight new species of the subgenus Microsaurus Dejean, 1833 of the genus Quedius Stephens, 1829 are described based on specimens collected in China, namely Q. aculeatus sp. nov., Q. acutulus sp. nov., Q. altus sp. nov., Q. capillus sp. nov., Q. perlucidus sp. nov., Q. postangulus sp. nov., Q. subwrasei sp. nov. from Sichuan and Q. arcus sp. nov. from Ningxia. The female of Q. songpanoides Smetana, 2009 is described for the first time. These new species belong to the Quedius euryalus group and the fauna of this species group is thus increased to 53 species. In addition, this paper reviews the taxonomic history of the Quedius euryalus group and reports the sexual dimorphism in the hind wing length, i.e. male with longer hind wings in many species of the Quedius euryalus group. Line drawings and color illustrations of adults and genitalia of the new species and some other ones are provided, along with a key to all the known species of the euryalus group.
Social Networks in East and Southeast Asia I
Authors: Chua Vincent , Wellman Barry
Published: June 2015

These articles examine social networks in the context of Asia. Their pages contain numerous examples showcasing the primacy of social context in the patterning, accumulation, role, and value of social networks and social capital. Network characteristics follow from national and institutional characteristics: In China, kinship networks are prominent all throughout the life course. Meanwhile, guanxi continues to be an important factor in the labor market and academic success of Chinese individuals, despite the shift from socialism to capitalism. In Japan, mutual monitoring among kin and coworkers make for a society based on strong ties. In Korea, voluntary associations are important communal spaces for meeting diverse contacts. In China’s neighborhoods, cooperation between neighbors coexists with social control from above to reinforce social hierarchy. The issue ends with a note about the importance of cultivating guanxi in organizations and in everyday life.
Pituitary volumes of the patients with borderline personality disorder are not changed
Authors: Atmaca Murad , Karakoc Tevfik , Mermi Osman , Kilic Faruk , Gurkan Gurok M , Yildirim Hanefi
Published: June 2015

Although it has important relationships with psychiatric symptoms via the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis, there have been limited investigations of pituitary neuroimaging in psychiatric disorder. Moreover, there have been no studies of borderline personality disorder. In the present investigation, we examined pituitary gland volumes in patients with borderline personality disorder. Seventeen right-handed female patients with borderline personality disorder, selected among the patients who had presented to Firat University School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry outpatient and inpatient clinics, and the same number of healthy control subjects were included in the present investigation. Pituitary gland volumes were manually detected. The results demonstrated that the mean volumes of the gland of the patients with borderline personality disorder were not significantly different than those of healthy control subjects (mean volume of 0.79 cm3 in the patient group, with a value of SD ± 0.11 and 0.81 cm3 in the healthy control group, with a value of SD ± 0.23; t = −0.21; p > 0.05).
Partial retraction: Legacy of Elisabeth Noelle-Neumann: The spiral of silence and other controversies
Authors: Splichal Slavko
Published: June 2015

The following article has been partially retracted and a previously published electronic version has been removed for legal reasons at the request of Dr Ralph Erich Schmidt. If you have a concern about this, please contact SAGE.

Splichal S (2015) Legacy of Elisabeth Noelle-Neumann: The spiral of silence and other controversies. European Journal of Communication 30 (3): 353-363. doi: 10.1177/0267323115589265

The retracted part of Slavko Splichal’s article reviewed Jörg Becker’s biography of Elisabeth Noelle-Neumann. Since this biography was published in Germany in 2013, Jörg Becker has retracted a series of statements in the legally binding form of cease-and-desist declarations subject to penalty.
Angiographic Estimation of Poststenotic Jet Kinetics in Aortic Valve Stenosis
Authors: Henriksson L.
Published: June 2015

The poststenotic jet phenomenon in aortic valve stenosis observed during angiography was studied by a kinetic model. The model allowed to estimate the linear momentum and the kinetic pressure of the jet, which were found to correlate to the poststenotic width of the ascending aorta indicating that the degree of poststenotic widening may be due to the pressure release from the jet.
Ischemia of the Childhood Femoral and Humeral Head Epiphyses following Osteomyelitis
Authors: Mortensson W. , Nybonde T.
Published: June 2015

Two cases are reported of osteomyelitis in the proximal end of the femur and humerus, respectively, with subsequent reduction of the blood supply to the corresponding head. A hypothesis is presented to explain the genesis of the ischemia, and the implications on treatment of osteomyelitis of the hip and shoulder regions.
Ultrasonography in the Diagnosis of Acute Cholecystitis
Authors: Kurol M. , Forsberg L.
Published: June 2015

Eighty-two patients with right upper quadrant pain and a clinical suggestion of acute cholecystitis had their gallbladder and biliary ducts ultrasonographically examined in the period immediately following admission to the hospital. Biliary calculi or signs of cholecystitis, or both, were found in 65 per cent of the cases at ultrasound examination. An additional 10 per cent had pathologic changes unrelated to the biliary tract. In 44 of 48 cases the presence of calculi or inflammation could be confirmed at surgery, autopsy or endoscopic retrograde cholangiopan-creaticography. Only one patient with a normal ultrasound examination was later found to have a small calculus in a common bile duct of normal caliber.
Thoracic Neuroblastoma of the Neonate
Authors: Eklöf O. , Friis M.
Published: June 2015

Five cases of neonatal thoracic neuroblastoma were either clinically asymptomatic or presented as uncharacteristic respiratory distress. Chest radiography demonstrated a spectrum of abnormalities varying from a lobulated, apical thoracic mass with or without evidence of expansion, to a spindle-shaped paraspinal soft tissue widening, or a homogeneously dense hemithorax. In the newborn a neoplasm in the posterior mediastinum most likely represents a neuroblastoma, either primary or metastatic. In a high percentage of cases the primary tumour as well as possible skeletal metastases have an increased uptake of radiopharmaceuticals. Therefore a bone scan should be the next step for evaluation of the neoplasm. Supplementary sonographic screening of the retroperitoneum and lesser pelvis is easily performed and may contribute significant information. Urography is hardly mandatory any longer. Metrizamide CT myelography, highly recommended in infants and children, may be omitted in the neonate with no neurologic deficit. Urinary excretion of catecholamine metabolites is usually elevated and must always be determined.
Metrizamide Compared with Metrizoate in Cardioangiography in High-Risk Patients with Coronary Artery Disease
Authors: Levorstad K. , Vatne K. , Simonsen S. , Nitter-Hauge S. , Andrew E.
Published: June 2015

In a double-blind, randomized, two-group study of 99 ‘high-risk’ patients mainly with coronary artery disease, the non-ionic contrast medium, Amipaque (metrizamide), was compared with the ionic medium, Isopaque Coronar (meglumine-Na-Ca-metrizoate) in cinecardioangiography. In evaluating the influence of the contrast media on the left ventricular end diastolic pressure (LVEDP), the material was divided into 2 groups, 55 patients with a basal LVEDP of 15 mmHg or less and 44 with an LVEDP above this level. In the former group LVEDP increased significantly after injection of the contrast medium into the left ventricle, but significantly less (p=0.006) after Amipaque than after Isopaque Coronar. In the patients with a basal LVEDP above 15 mmHg, no significant change occurred in LVEDP after left ventriculography with any of the 2 contrast media. No serious complications occurred.
Pulmonary Edema following High Intravenous Doses of Diatrizoate in the Rat
Authors: Måre K. , Violante M. , Zack A.
Published: June 2015

Serious adverse reactions to intravenous contrast media are rare but of major concern. Corticosteroids are the most commonly used drugs for prophylaxis but there is little documentation of their effectiveness. Controversy also exists about the optimum regime for these drugs. A rat model was used to evaluate the effect of methylprednisolone pretreatment for contrast media-induced pulmonary edema. Rats were given 40 mg methylprednisolone/kg intravenously at various time intervals before the intravenous injection of a high dose of diatrizoate (6 g I/kg). The combination of one dose of methylprednisolone at 24 hours plus another dose at 0.5 hours was the only regimen that caused a significant reduction in the degree of pulmonary edema induced by contrast media. This result provides support for the clinical regimen utilizing iterated doses of corticosteroids over a prolonged period of time.
Accuracy of Repeated Kidney Size Estimation by Ultrasonography and Urography in Children
Authors: Hederström E. , Forsberg L.
Published: June 2015

The accuracy of repeated sonographic and urographic kidney length measurements in kidney size evaluation was investigated in 80 children 0 to 14 years of age, mean age 4.5 years. At sonography 250 kidney lengths were compared. A difference of 0 to 1.0 cm in repeated length measurement was considered to be good accuracy and 94 per cent of right and 96 per cent of left kidney lengths were found within this interval—a better result than for urography with 76 per cent of repeated right kidney and 79 per cent of kidney lengths within the same interval (94 lengths). Both methods display a variation of kidney length which may lead to under- and overestimation of kidney size and growth. The investigation thus indicates good accuracy for repeated sonographic kidney size assessment which should be repeated often enough to establish a growth chart displaying the trend rather than rely too much on single measurements. Sonography can be highly recommended as a convenient and harmless alternative to urography.
Suprarenal Haematoma versus Neuroblastoma Complicated by Haemorrhage
Authors: Eklöf O. , Mortensson W. , Sandstedt B.
Published: June 2015

Concomitant neonatal suprarenal haemorrhage and neuroblastoma is rare. The clinical and radiologic manifestations recorded in 11 patients with this entity are compared with the findings in 32 cases with simple adrenal haemorrhage. Because of the many similarities in presentation the combined lesion must always be considered when a neonate is found to have a retroperitoneal, extra-renal mass. Our present approach to the investigation includes conventional chest and abdominal radiography aimed to demonstrate possible paravertebral widening. Serial ultrasonographies are easy to carry out and indispensable. The low specificity of urography makes us refrain from this modality as a routine. Scintigraphy, in infants and children considered useful in demonstrating extent and spread of neuroblastoma, has hardly been employed in neonates. The true value of the modality in this particular age group remains to be settled. CT scanning does not seem to provide essential information additional to that of sonography and may therefore be excluded from the protocol. Determination of urinary excretion of catecholamine metabolites is of crucial significance and a compulsory part of the investigation.
Vascular Neoplasm of the Esophagus with Life-Threatening Hemorrhage
Authors: Hoevels J. , Raute-Kreinsen U. , Reiter J. , Manegold B. C.
Published: June 2015

A rare case of life-threatening hemorrhage from a vascular neoplasm of the esophagus is presented. The exact nature of the lesion remained obscure in spite of careful histomorphologic analysis. After tumor extirpation no signs of recurrence were observed during a four-year follow-up period.
Radiologic Evaluation of the Oral Stage of Swallowing
Authors: Ekberg O. , Hillarp B.
Published: June 2015

The oral stage of swallowing was radiologically evaluated in 19 patients with swallowing complaints. Eight patients had had surgical resection and reconstruction due to tumours of the tongue, floor of the mouth or mandible. Eleven patients had suffered from cerebrovascular disease. All patients had incoordination of tongue movements including defective initiation of pharyngeal swallow. In patients who had undergone surgical resection, oral dysfunction correlated with the extension of resection as well as type of reconstruction, and was more profound compared with the disorder present in patients with cerebrovascular disease. Moreover, muscular derangement due to surgery of the floor of the mouth interfered with the elevation of the hyoid bone, larynx and pharynx and thereby the pharyngeal stage of swallowing also became abnormal. Cineradiography seems to be an appropriate method for evaluation of the oral stage of swallowing in patients with deglutition complaints.
Space Orientation of Total Hip Prosthesis
Authors: Herrlin K. , Selvik G. , Pettersson H.
Published: June 2015

A method for in vivo determination of orientation and relation in space of components of total hip prosthesis is described. The method allows for determination of the orientation of the prosthetic components in well defined anatomic planes of the body. Furthermore the range of free motion from neutral position to the point of contact between the edge of the acetabular opening and the neck of the femoral component can be determined in various directions. To assess the accuracy of the calculations a phantom prosthesis was studied in nine different positions and the measurements of the space oriented parameters according to the present method correlated to measurements of the same parameters according to Selvik's stereophotogrammetric method. Good correlation was found. The role of prosthetic malpositioning and component interaction evaluated with the present method in the development of prosthetic loosening and displacement is discussed.
Comparison of the Accumulation Kinetics of L-(Methyl-11C)-Methionine and D-(Methyl-11C)-Methionine in Brain Tumors Studied with Positron Emission Tomography
Authors: Bergström M. , Lundqvist H. , Ericson K. , Lilja A. , Johnström P. , Långström B. , von Holst H. , Eriksson L. , Blomqvist G.
Published: June 2015

Five patients with glioma were examined with positron emission tomography after the administration of 11C-L-methionine and at a following day with 11C-D-methionine. The rates of accumulation of the tracers were determined in the tumor and in the normal brain tissue according to a graphical technique of Patlak et coll. (24). The accumulation rates for L-methionine were on the average 2.4 times higher than those of D-methionine in the tumors. The corresponding ratio for normal brain tissue was 2.3. It is concluded that in this group of tumors without obvious blood-tumor-barrier breakdown, a stereospecific process with similar properties as in the normal brain tissue, is responsible for the accumulation of the labelled methionine.