bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The role of miR-92b in cholangiocarcinoma patients
Authors: Zhou Min-hang , Zhou Hong-wei , Liu Mo , Sun Jun-zhong
Published: May 2018

Purpose:

The role of microRNA (miRNA) in cholangiocarcinoma was not clear. The aim of this study was to find the potential diagnostic and prognostic miRNA in cholangiocarcinoma patients.

Methods:

The miRNA expression profiles in cholangiocarcinoma patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas and Gene Expression Omnibus (GSE53870) were analyzed. The comparison of overall survival was performed using the Kaplan–Meier method. The targeted genes of prognostic miRNA were identified in miRanda, PicTar, or TargetScan, and their cell signaling pathways were analyzed by the Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery.

Results:

In The Cancer Genome Atlas and the Gene Expression Omnibus miRNA dataset, miR-92b and miR-99a were found with concordant directionality, up-regulated and down-regulated, respectively. In The Cancer Genome Atlas survival data, patients with the high level of miR-99b had obviously shorter overall survival time ( P=0.038). However, the level of miR-99a was not found to be significant. The 17 shared target genes of miR-92b were identified, such as DAB21IP, BCL21L11, SPHK2, PER2, and TSC1. The related pathways included positive regulation of transcription, positive regulation of cellular biosynthetic process, regulation of programmed cell death, etc.

Conclusion:

miR-92b was up-regulated in cholangiocarcinoma compared with normal controls. The high level of miR-92b was associated with adverse outcomes in cholangiocarcinoma patients, which might be partly explained by the targeted genes of miR-92b and their signaling pathways.
Revitalising professional learning for experienced principals: Energy versus ennui
Authors: O’Neill Michael R , Glasson Shane
Published: May 2018

This article contributes to the limited body of literature pertaining to attempts by educational systems to satisfy the professional learning needs of experienced principals, defined as those with more than 10 years of experience in at least two schools. Specifically, this article illustrates the Catholic Education Office of Western Australia’s endeavour to create an innovative, integrated, cross-sectoral program to enhance the leadership capabilities and health and wellbeing outcomes of experienced principals from Catholic, Government and Independent schools in that state. The program comprised four integrated pillars: a 360-degree review of participant leadership capabilities followed by executive coaching to effect improvement; an executive health assessment and coaching with an exercise physiologist to enhance participant health and wellbeing outcomes; a theoretical program based on a nationally accepted standard for principals, developed by the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership; and a group project transacted in a non-educational setting. The article begins with a synopsis of existing literature related to the professional learning needs of experienced principals and the few reported evaluations of programs designed to cater for the unique needs of this cohort. Participant feedback collected at the commencement of the program, its midpoint and conclusion are presented. The article concludes with recommended changes that could be implemented to enhance the efficacy of future program iterations.
Outcomes of scapholunate intercarpal ligamentoplasty for chronic scapholunate dissociation: a prospective study in 26 patients
Authors: Athlani Lionel , Pauchard Nicolas , Dautel Gilles
Published: May 2018

We report the outcomes of scapholunate intercarpal ligamentoplasty in 26 wrists. For 15 wrists with static instability and 11 with dynamic instability, we used a free palmaris longus graft to reconstruct the dorsal part of the scapholunate interosseous ligament and the dorsal intercarpal ligament. These patients were evaluated for pain and active wrist range of motion, grip strength and radiological appearance after a mean follow-up of 36 months (range 12–54) after surgery. Pain score was improved from 4.5 to 1.4 at rest and 6.7 to 1.9 during hand use. The average wrist flexion was 57°, extension 56°. Grip strength was 89% of the contralateral side. The mean scapholunate angle decreased from 76° to 62°, and static scapholunate gap reduced from 3.2 mm to 2.3 mm and the dynamic gap from 4.6 mm to 3.0 mm. Scaphoid subluxation was corrected. We conclude that this procedure led to satisfactory clinical and radiological results in a short- to mid-term follow-up.

Level of evidence: II
The prognostic value of concurrent Horner syndrome in surgical decision making at 3 months in total-type neonatal brachial plexus palsy
Authors: Yoshida Kiyoshi , Kawabata Hidehiko
Published: May 2018

We investigated the prognostic value of concurrent Horner syndrome for predicting spontaneous motor recovery in surgical decision making at 3 months with neonatal brachial plexus palsy. Medical records of 129 neonates with total-type brachial plexus palsy were reviewed, and clinical and follow-up data of patients with or without Horner syndrome were compared. Twenty-seven of 129 newborn babies with total-type palsy (21%) had concurrent Horner syndrome. Poor spontaneous motor recovery was observed in 21 (78%) neonates with concurrent Horner syndrome and in 84 (82%) without concurrent Horner syndrome. Concurrent Horner syndrome in neonates with brachial plexus palsy has no prognostic value in predicting poor spontaneous motor recovery of the brachial plexus in patients with total-type palsy.

Level of evidence: III
Exploring impact of economic cost of violence on internationalization
Authors: Pejić Bach Mirjana , Dumičić Ksenija , Jaković Božidar , Nikolić Helena , Žmuk Berislav
Published: May 2018

Companies have to deal with many different challenges in their environment every day. In this article, focus is given to inspecting the impact of the economic costs of violence on 119 countries worldwide. In the analysis, the CAGE model, which consists of four complex domains: Cultural, Administrative, Geographic, and Economic differences, is used to group countries according to their development level and the level of violence costs. However, in the clustering analysis, except the CAGE variable, 10 additional variables describing development level and the economic costs of violence are used as well. According to the conducted nonhierarchical cluster analysis, in which a k-means approach was used, six groups of countries are recognized. Most countries can be found in the cluster of developing countries with low economic costs of violence. So, the results pointed out that, despite the low economic costs of violence, a large number of countries are still struggling with other key environmental challenges that prevent them from achieving their full economic development potential.
Composition and Diversity of Woody Plants in Tree Plantations Versus Secondary Forests in Costa Rican Lowlands
Authors: Longworth J. Benjamin , Williamson G. Bruce
Published: May 2018

Efforts to sequester carbon through tree plantations and natural regeneration in the tropics may also provide an opportunity to restore native forest ecosystems. However, the degree to which species composition of native species differs between tree plantations and secondary forests is unknown. In this study, we conducted surveys of woody plants (≥2 cm dbh) in 20 secondary forest and tree plantation plots (30 × 30 m) in a tropical lowland forest landscape. Sites were 8 to 21 years old and were either abandoned cattle pastures (secondary forests) or monoculture tree plantations ( Hieronyma alchorneoides and Vochysia guatemalensis) planted for carbon sequestration. We compared species composition, ecological traits, and diversity of woody plants in secondary forests and tree plantations, while accounting for distance from primary forest. Species composition, but not species richness, of the natural regeneration was significantly different in tree plantations and secondary forests. The abundances of understory species, short-lived pioneers, and bat-dispersed species were all higher in secondary forests than in tree plantations. Abundances of canopy species, long-lived pioneers, shade-tolerant species, and dispersal categories besides bats were not associated with forest type. We conclude that tree plantations can alter species composition of regeneration compared with secondary forests perhaps by altering composition of seed disperser assemblages or inhibiting early successional species.
Development of a vancomycin dosing approach for critically ill patients receiving hybrid hemodialysis using Monte Carlo simulation
Authors: Lewis Susan J , Mueller Bruce A
Published: May 2018

Objectives:

Prolonged intermittent renal replacement therapy is an increasingly popular treatment for acute kidney injury in critically ill patients that runs at different flow rates and durations than conventional hemodialysis or continuous renal replacement therapies. Pharmacokinetic studies conducted in patients receiving prolonged intermittent renal replacement therapy are scarce; consequently, clinicians are challenged to dose antibiotics effectively. The purpose of this study was to develop vancomycin dosing recommendations for patients receiving prolonged intermittent renal replacement therapy.

Methods:

Monte Carlo simulations were performed in thousands of virtual patients derived from previously published demographic, pharmacokinetic, and dialytic information derived from critically ill patients receiving vancomycin and other forms of renal replacement therapy. We conducted “in silico” vancomycin pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamics analyses in these patients receiving prolonged intermittent renal replacement therapy to determine what vancomycin dose would achieve vancomycin 24-h area under the curve (AUC24h) of 400–700 mg·h/L, a target associated with positive clinical outcomes. Nine different vancomycin dosing regimens were tested using four different, commonly used prolonged intermittent renal replacement therapy modalities. A dosing nomogram based on serum concentration data achieved after the third dose was developed to individualize vancomycin therapy.

Results:

An initial vancomycin dose of 15 or 20 mg/kg immediately followed by 15 mg/kg after subsequent prolonged intermittent renal replacement therapy treatments achieved AUC24h of ≥400 mg·h/L for ≥90% of patients regardless of prolonged intermittent renal replacement therapy duration, modality, or time of vancomycin dose relative to prolonged intermittent renal replacement therapy. Many patients experienced AUC24h of ≥700 mg·h/L, but once the dosing nomogram was applied to serum concentrations obtained after the third vancomycin dose, 67%–88% of patients achieved AUC24h of 400–700 mg·h/L.

Conclusion:

An initial loading dose of 15–20 mg/kg followed by a maintenance regimen of 15 mg/kg after every prolonged intermittent renal replacement therapy session coupled with serum concentration monitoring should be used to individualize vancomycin dosing. These predictions need clinical verification.
At the “threshold” of certainty: Risk stratification and clinical assessment incongruity in the diagnosis of aortic dissection
Authors: Zlatopolsky Maxim , Brancheau Daniel , Zughaib Marcel
Published: May 2018

The use of D-dimer assay to screen for aortic dissection has become routine in clinical practice. Although an uncommon disease entity, aortic dissection is rapidly fatal without prompt diagnosis, and biochemical detection in the proper clinical context is crucial. We performed a retrospective chart review of all aortic dissections presenting to a community tertiary care center between 2000 and 2016 and identified three patients in whom laboratory D-dimer testing was positive and a diagnosis of Stanford Type A aortic dissection was confirmed with computed tomography angiography based on clinical assessment and a newly validated risk stratification tool.
Triaging patients to primary biopsy or prostate MRI based on digital rectal examination improves the detection rate of TRUS biopsy and avoids unnecessary biopsies
Authors: Day Elizabeth , Nalagatla Sarika , Shin Je Song , Nair Biju , Gurun Murat , Meddings Bob , McLaughlin George , Chanock David , Clark Ross
Published: May 2018

Objective:

The objective of this study is to describe how the use of digital rectal exam to triage patients to standard transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) biopsies or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) then MRI fusion biopsies impacts cancer detection rates, departmental resources and the diagnostic journey.

Patients and methods:

A retrospective analysis of all patients undergoing prostate biopsies in a 15-month period following the introduction of triage digital rectal exam (DRE) and MRI at Ayr University Hospital was conducted. MRI usage and patient journeys were also examined.

Results:

A total of 95.5% of patients proceeding directly to TRUS had malignant histology and less than 1% required further investigation. Forty-nine per cent of patients who underwent triage MRI avoided biopsy and over one-third of patients with previously benign TRUS biopsies had clinically significant malignancy on MRI fusion biopsies. The pathway eliminated repeat TRUS biopsy and the number of biopsies a month decreased. MRI usage doubled and waiting times to diagnostic biopsy increased when compared to a one-stop diagnostic clinic.

Conclusion:

Triaging according to DRE avoided delays in cases of overt malignancy and increased the detection rate of standard TRUS. For those patients with a benign DRE, MRI enabled half to avoid biopsy. The increase in demand on MRI was mitigated, in part, by using a shorter detection protocol but institutions must be aware of the potential for delays to diagnosis.

Level of evidence:

4
Feasibility of synthetic MRI in knee imaging in routine practice
Authors: Boudabbous Sana , Neroladaki Angeliki , Bagetakos Ilias , Hamard Marion , Delattre Bénédicte MA , Vargas Maria Isabel
Published: May 2018

Background

Synthetic magnetic resonance (MR) is a method allowing reduction of examination time and access to quantitative imaging.

Purpose

This study sought to assess the image quality and diagnostic accuracy of synthetic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) compared to standard MRI in patients with knee pain.

Material and Methods

In total, 22 patients underwent standard 1.5 knee MRI with an added synthetic sequence. Quantitative T1, T2, and proton density (PD) images were generated synthetically; T1, PD, and short tau inversion recovery (STIR) weighted images were created with chosen echo time (TE), repetition time (TR), and inversion time (TI). Two blinded musculoskeletal radiologists evaluated the overall sequence quality, visualization of anatomic structures, and presence of artifacts using a 3-point score.

Results

The synthetic sequence was acquired in 39% less time than the conventional MRI. Synthetic PD, T1, and STIR images were rated fair (2%, 5%, and 2%, respectively) or good quality (98%, 95%, and 98%, respectively), despite the presence of popliteal artery artifacts. Cartilage and meniscus were well visualized in all cases. Anterior cruciate ligament visualization was rated poor in 7%, 14%, and 30% of PD, STIR, and T1 images, respectively.

Conclusion

Our pilot study confirmed the feasibility of synthetic MRI in knee examinations, proving faster and achieving appropriate quality and good diagnostic confidence.
Multiple intra-hepatic and abdominal splenosis: an easy call if you know about it
Authors: Vergara Doriana , Ginolfi Francesco , Moscati Stefano , Giordano Beniamino , Ferrara Nicola , Panico Camilla , Imbriaco Massimo
Published: May 2018

Hepatic splenosis represents the heterotopic implantation of splenic tissue caused by the spillage of cells from the spleen usually after splenectomy or splenic trauma. This condition is usually an incidental finding during surgery and its real incidence is unknown. Splenic implants, which can be placed anywhere in the abdominal cavity, are usually multiple and may be confused with different benign and malignant conditions such as renal tumors, abdominal lymphomas, and endometriosis. We hereby report an unusual case of multiple abdominal splenosis, with a particular intra-hepatic location, that could be misinterpreted as an hepato-cellular carcinoma.
Changing Schools, Changing Counselors: A Qualitative Study of School Administrators’ Conceptions of the School Counselor Role
Authors: Amatea Ellen S. , Clark Mary Ann
Published: May 2018

This qualitative study utilized a grounded theory methodology to assess the conceptions about the school counselor role held by 26 administrators employed in public elementary, middle, or high schools. The study was designed to build a deeper understanding of how school administrators conceptualized the school counselor role. Four distinctive role sets were found. They were differentiated in terms of primary work activities valued, extent of counselor-staff work role coordination, and type of specialized knowledge required. Findings suggest that there is a need for a more conscious development of counselor leadership skills and role expectations by counselors themselves and by counselor preparation programs.
A Closer Examination of Bipolar Disorder in School-Age Children
Authors: Bardick Angela D. , Bernes Kerry B.
Published: May 2018

Children who present with severe behavioral concerns may be diagnosed as having other commonly diagnosed childhood disorders, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, and/or conduct disorder, among others, when they may be suffering from early-onset bipolar disorder. Awareness of the symptoms of early-onset bipolar disorder may lead to appropriate referrals for assessment and treatment, as well as collaborative program planning for children with bipolar disorder. Implications and recommendations for school counselors are discussed.
The ASCA National Model, Accountability, and Establishing Causal Links between School Counselors’ Activities and Student Outcomes: A Reply to Sink
Authors: Brown Duane , Trusty Jerry
Published: May 2018

Sink takes exception to two of the assertions made in the article “School Counselors, Comprehensive School Counseling Programs, and Academic Achievement: Are School Counselors Promising More Than They Can Deliver?” In this article, the authors respond to Sink's concerns and reassert their contentions that the focus of research dealing with school counseling should be on establishing causal links between school counselors’ interventions and outcomes rather than school counseling programs.
Collective Self-Esteem and Burnout in Professional School Counselors
Authors: Butler S. Kent , Constantine Madonna G.
Published: May 2018

The authors examined the relationship between collective self-esteem (i.e., the extent to which school counselors possess favorable perceptions of their professional or social group) and professional burnout in a sample of 533 school counselors. They also explored whether there were significant differences in professional burnout in school counselors by sex, geographic location of work setting, and number of years employed as a school counselor. Results indicated that higher collective self-esteem generally was associated with lower professional burnout. Moreover, the authors found that school counselors working in urban school envi-ronments reported significantly higher levels of burnout than did their peers working in other types of school environments. Furthermore, school counselors who had been employed in their roles for 20 years or longer reported higher levels of burnout than did their counterparts working fewer than 10 years. Implications of the findings are discussed.
Collaborative Action Research and School Counselors
Authors: Rowell Lonnie L.
Published: May 2018

Collaborative action research is an effective tool for helping school counselors to strengthen the link between practice and research. Action research methods for school counselors are summarized, and a model for collaborative action research linking counselor training and school counselor practitioners is presented. The model is based on ongoing action research projects currently being carried out in several school districts. Examples of action research projects based on this model are illustrated.
Resources for School Counselors and Counselor Educators: The Center for School Counseling Outcome Research
Authors: Carey John C. , Dimmitt Carey
Published: May 2018

The Center for School Counseling Outcome Research (CSCOR) was founded in January 2003 to provide leadership in promoting quality school counseling research and to give practicing school counselors ready access to relevant research in order for them to make effective program decisions. CSCOR currently is the foremost national research facility supporting the school counseling profession. It sponsors the activities of the National Panel for School Counseling Evidence-Based Practice, conducts major outcome research studies, develops and disseminates outcome measures, reviews the research literature, and conducts yearly leadership academies about issues in evidence-based practice. CSCOR disseminates its work broadly through its Web site and listserv.
Identification of School Bullies by Survey Methods
Authors: Cole Joanna C.M. , Cornell Dewey G. , Sheras Peter
Published: May 2018

How can middle school counselors identify bullies? This study compared two methods of identifying bullies in a sample of 386 middle school students. A peer nomination survey identified many more bullies than did student self-report. Moreover, self-reported and peer-nominated bullies differed in their types of bullying behaviors, level of general self-concept, attitudes toward aggression, and disciplinary infractions. Overall, this study raises concern about reliance on student self-report and supports the use of peer nomination as a means of identifying school bullies. These findings have implications for school counselors in undertaking efforts to reduce school bullying.
A High School Counselor's Leadership in Providing School-Wide Screenings for Depression and Enhancing Suicide Awareness
Authors: Erickson Anne , Abel Nicholas R.
Published: May 2018

The prevalence of mental health issues and suicidal thoughts and actions among school-aged children and adolescents is a serious issue. This article examines the scope of the problem nationwide and provides a brief overview of the literature regarding the effectiveness of school-wide screening programs for depression and suicide risk. The authors describe a suicide prevention program that has been implemented by the first author (a high school counselor in Minnesota) that combines classroom guidance, screening, and referrals for outside mental health services. This article includes recommendations for school counselors interested in implementing a school-wide screening and prevention program.
Play Therapy in School Counseling
Authors: Trice-Black Shannon , Lynn Bailey Carrie , Kiper Riechel Morgan E.
Published: May 2018

Play therapy is an empirically supported intervention used to address a number of developmental issues faced in childhood. Through the natural language of play, children and adolescents communicate feelings, thoughts, and experiences. Schools provide an ideal setting for play therapy in many ways; however, several challenges exist in implementing play therapy as a preventative or responsive intervention in the school setting. This article presents a brief overview of play therapy as a component of a comprehensive developmental school counseling program. The authors present a case study outlining how child-centered play therapy as a theoretical approach to play therapy can be used to effectively work with a child experiencing emotional and academic issues in the school setting.
Addressing Student Mental Health Needs by Providing Direct and Indirect Services and Building Alliances in the Community
Authors: Kaffenberger Carol J. , O'Rorke-Trigiani Judith
Published: May 2018

Given that 20% of students experience mental health issues that interfere with school performance and most of these students will turn first to their school for help, school counselors need to consider how they can best serve this population. This article describes how school counselors can address the mental health needs of students by providing direct services, accessing community resources, and working with school staff and community service providers. The article provides case examples and guidelines for building alliances.
Mental Health Services in Public Schools: A Preliminary Study of School Counselor Perceptions
Authors: Carlson Laurie A. , Kees Nathalie L.
Published: May 2018

This descriptive survey research study (N = 120) examined the self-reported comfort level of school counselors in addressing the mental health needs of their students and school counselor perceptions regarding working relationships with school-based therapists. Survey results indicated that school counselors are generally confident in their counseling skills and comfortable addressing common issues brought to them by their students. However, these same school counselors indicated that they experience some discomfort in working with students living with DSM diagnoses and that specific courses within counselor training programs may have a mitigating effect on this discomfort. Results also revealed that school counselors are willing to lead and work with cross-disciplinary teams and school-based therapists to better meet the mental health needs of their students.
Students with Anxiety: Implications for Professional School Counselors
Authors: Thompson E. Heather , Robertson Phyllis , Curtis Russ , Frick Melodie H.
Published: May 2018

Anxiety is one of the most pervasive mental health concerns affecting students, yet a significant number of students with anxiety disorders remain underserved. If left untreated, anxiety can hinder students’ personal/social, academic, and career development. The purpose of this article is to provide professional school counselors with helpful information about the etiology of anxiety disorders and brief, evidence-based prevention and intervention options. The authors discuss specific recommendations for the identification, assessment, and treatment of anxiety that fit within the unique school environment.
Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Research Review for School Counselors
Authors: Auger Richard W.
Published: May 2018

The number of students with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) has risen significantly in recent years (CDC, 2012), and students with ASD present unique challenges to schools and school counselors. This article presents a synthesis of recent research literature related to ASD for the purpose of providing school counselors with assistance in understanding and addressing the needs of students with ASD. Specific areas of focus include the prevalence, developmental course, and defining characteristics of ASD, and research on the effectiveness of interventions for students with ASD. Students with ASD are at increased risk for a range of problems, including social deficits and limitations, anxiety, aggression, peer victimization, and underachievement (Ashburner, Ziviani, & Rodger, 2010). Interventions to address the social deficits of students with ASD have shown promise but also have been found to lack results that are generalizable and that persist over time (Schreiber, 2011). This article provides specific recommendations for school counselors.
Outcomes of Fusions From the Cervical Spine to the Pelvis
Authors: Iyer Sravisht , Kim Han Jo , Theologis Alexander , Nemani Venu M. , Albert Todd J. , Lenke Lawrence G. , Burch Shane , Boachie-Adjei Oheneba , Deviren Vedat , Protopsaltis Themistocles S. , Smith Justin S. , Scheer Justin K. , Mizutani Jun , Kleinberg Eric O. , Ames Christopher P.
Published: May 2018

Study Design:

Retrospective cohort study.

Objective:

Determine the indications, complications, and clinical outcomes in patients requiring fusions from the cervical spine to the pelvis. Several investigators have examined fusions from the thoracic spine to the sacrum, but no similar study has been performed for cervical-to-pelvis fusions.

Methods:

Patients from 2003 to 2014 with an upper instrumented vertebrae (UIV) in the cervical spine (any level) and a lower instrumented vertebrae (LIV) in the sacrum or pelvis were included in the study. Those with infectious or acute trauma-related deformities were excluded. Patient demographics, medical history, diagnosis, operative procedure, and health-related quality of life measures were analyzed. Student’s t test, Kruskal-Wallis test, and χ2 test were used as appropriate; significance was set at P < .05 for all tests.

Results:

Fifty-five patients met inclusion criteria for the study. Average follow-up was 2.8 years. Proximal junctional kyphosis was the most common indication for cervical-to-pelvis fusions (36%). The most common UIV was C2 (29%) followed by C7 (24%). There was an average 31° correction in maximum kyphosis and a 3.3 cm improvement in sagittal vertical axis. In adults, the rate of complication was 71.4%, with a major complication rate of 39.3% and reoperation rate of 53.6%. There was significant improvement in the Scoliosis Research Society (SRS-22r) score (3.0 to 3.5; P < .01).

Conclusion:

Proximal junctional kyphosis is the most common indication for patients requiring fusion to the cervical spine. Adult patients incur a significant risk of major complications and reoperations. However, significant improvement in SRS-22r outcomes are noted in these patients.
The Effects of Chronic Preoperative Steroid Therapy on Perioperative Complications Following Elective Posterior Lumbar Fusion
Authors: Ranson William A. , White Samuel J. W. , Cheung Zoe B. , Mikhail Christopher , Ye Ivan , Kim Jun S. , Cho Samuel K.
Published: May 2018

Study Design:

Retrospective cohort study.

Objectives:

Chronic steroid therapy is used in the treatment of various inflammatory and autoimmune conditions, but it is known to be associated with adverse effects. There remains a gap in the literature regarding the role of chronic steroid therapy in predisposing patients to perioperative complications following elective posterior lumbar fusion (PLF). We aimed to identify the effects of chronic preoperative steroid therapy on 30-day perioperative complications in patients undergoing PLF.

Methods:

A retrospective analysis was performed using the 2011-2014 American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) database. We identified 22 903 patients who underwent elective PLF. There were 849 patients (3.7%) who received chronic preoperative steroid therapy. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to examine steroid therapy as an independent risk factor for 30-day perioperative complications. A subgroup analysis of patients on chronic steroid therapy was then performed to identify additional patient characteristics that further increased the risk for perioperative complications.

Results:

Chronic preoperative steroid therapy was an independent risk factor for 7 perioperative complications, including superficial surgical site infection (SSI), deep SSI, wound dehiscence, urinary tract infection, pulmonary embolism, nonhome discharge, and readmission. Subgroup analysis demonstrated that morbid obesity further predisposed patients on chronic steroid therapy to an increased risk of superficial SSI and wound dehiscence.

Conclusions:

Patients on chronic preoperative steroid therapy are at increased risk of multiple perioperative complications following elective PLF, particularly surgical site complications and venous thromboembolic events. This risk is further elevated in patients who are morbidly obese.
Endometriosis and food habits: Can diet make the difference?
Authors: Soave Ilaria , Occhiali Tommaso , Wenger Jean-Marie , Pluchino Nicola , Caserta Donatella , Marci Roberto
Published: May 2018

Endometriosis is a chronic, inflammatory, estrogenic-dependent disease characterized by the presence of endometrial glands outside the uterine cavity, affecting approximately 2%–10% of women in reproductive age and 30%–50% of women in general. Despite the high prevalence of the disease, not much is known about etiology, possible risk factors, and an adequate and satisfactory therapy. In the past years, many studies have focused on food intake (nutrients and food groups) and on its possible correlation with endometriosis, demonstrating how diet could be identified as a possible risk factor. Comprehensive searches in the largest medical information databases (Medline-PubMed, Embase, Lilacs, and Cochrane Library) were conducted using the Medical Subject Heading terms “diet,” “food,” “nutrition,” “fatty acids,” vitamins,” “fruit,” “vegetables,” “coffee,” “caffeine,” “fish,” “soy food,” “dairy products,” “tea,” “curcumin” combined with “endometriosis.” Purpose of this review is to revise the literature, in order to determine potential modifiable risk factors of the disease.
Epidemiology of Hip and Groin Injuries in Collegiate Athletes in the United States
Authors: Kerbel Yehuda E. , Smith Christopher M. , Prodromo John P. , Nzeogu Michael I. , Mulcahey Mary K.
Published: May 2018

Background:

Hip and groin pain is a common complaint among athletes. Few studies have examined the epidemiology of hip and groin injuries in collegiate athletes across multiple sports.

Purpose:

To describe the rates, mechanisms, sex-based differences, and severity of hip/groin injuries across 25 collegiate sports.

Study Design:

Descriptive epidemiology study.

Methods:

Data from the 2009-2010 through 2013-2014 academic years were obtained from the National Collegiate Athletic Association Injury Surveillance Program (NCAA ISP). The rate of hip/groin injuries, mechanism of injury, time lost from competition, and need for surgery were calculated. Differences between sex-comparable sports were quantified using rate ratios (RRs) and injury proportion ratios (IPRs).

Results:

In total, 1984 hip/groin injuries were reported, giving an overall injury rate of 53.06 per 100,000 athlete-exposures (AEs). An adductor/groin tear was the most common injury, comprising 24.5% of all injuries. The sports with the highest rates of injuries per 100,000 AEs were men’s soccer (110.84), men’s ice hockey (104.90), and women’s ice hockey (76.88). In sex-comparable sports, men had a higher rate of injuries per 100,000 AEs compared with women (59.53 vs 42.27, respectively; RR, 1.41 [95% CI, 1.28-1.55]). The most common injury mechanisms were noncontact (48.4% of all injuries) and overuse/gradual (20.4%). In sex-comparable sports, men had a greater proportion of injuries due to player contact than women (17.0% vs 3.6%, respectively; IPR, 4.80 [95% CI, 3.10-7.42]), while women had a greater proportion of injuries due to overuse/gradual than men (29.1% vs 16.7%, respectively; IPR, 1.74 [95% CI, 1.46-2.06]). Overall, 39.3% of hip/groin injuries resulted in time lost from competition. Only 1.3% of injuries required surgery.

Conclusion:

Hip/groin injuries are most common in sports that involve kicking or skating and sudden changes in direction and speed. Most hip/groin injuries in collegiate athletes are noncontact and do not result in time lost from competition, and few require surgery. This information can help guide treatment and prevention measures to limit such injuries in male and female collegiate athletes.
Hydro-nation, Discourse and Discontent in Northeast India: The Case of Tipaimukh Dam, Manipur
Authors: Roluahpuia
Published: May 2018

Hydropower is now emerging as an important economic driver in Northeast India. A rapid drive for damming the rivers of the region is underway which is speeding up at a rapid pace after the post-reform period in particular. This article uses the framework of securitisation to analyse the broader development politics in Northeast India. It does so by taking the case of hydropower projects with a specific focus on Tipaimukh Dam in Manipur. Developmental efforts, the article argues, in the Northeast are embedded within the securitised discourse exacerbating conflicts between the state and the people over rights and resources. This article will emphasise on the continuing imposition of securitised discourse in the region and explicates the people’s response to it.
From a Mission Statement to a Sense of Mission: Emotion Coding to Strengthen Digital Engagements
Authors: Straker Karla , Wrigley Cara
Published: May 2018

The emergence of new technologies has revolutionized the way companies interact and build relationships with customers. This study aims to understand the emotion behind the company strategy and how they can be used to inform the design of digital channel engagements.

A content analysis of 100 international companies from a range of industries and sectors was conducted with multiple data sources to develop an emotional coding scheme, for clarifying and refining the meaning behind a company’s strategy and its relationship to corresponding digital channels.

This study identifies 10 distinct emotional channel typologies across 16 sectors through the analysed companies.

This research contributes a theoretical and empirical understanding of emotion as a strategy. Outcomes guide practitioners on the selection and design of digital engagements based on the emotion code of their strategy as well as an industry sector.

This article provides a novel approach to understanding and designing digital channel engagements by starting with meaning and purpose of the company.
Modern Roman Catholic Mission and the Legacy of Uganda’s Emmanuel Cardinal Nsubuga
Authors: Carney J. J.
Published: May 2018

Arguably the most important Roman Catholic leader in postcolonial Uganda, Emmanuel Cardinal Nsubuga is largely unknown outside the country. As archbishop of Kampala between 1966 and 1990, Nsubuga hosted the first papal visit to sub-Saharan Africa in 1969 and started the Uganda Martyrs’ Shrine, now the largest pilgrimage destination in East Africa. Living under the authoritarian regimes of Milton Obote and Idi Amin, Nsubuga embodied three key emphases in modern Catholic mission in the public sphere: the option for the poor, ecumenism, and resistance to political dictatorship.
How and when I do allogeneic transplant in CLL
Authors: Gribben John G.
Published: May 2018

Allogenic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) has been considered the treatment of choice for high-risk patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and the only approach offered with curative intent in this disease. The availability novel agents, including the B-cell receptor inhibitors ibrutinib, acalabrutinib, and idelalisib, as well as venetoclax, which targets the BCL2 pathway, and the success of these agents in treating high-risk disease patients have made it more difficult to assess who should be considered for allo-SCT and when in the treatment course. In this review, I will discuss the different treatment options available for the treatment of high-risk CLL and how allo-SCT fits into the treatment algorithm in the era of novel agents.
Phase 2 study of everolimus for relapsed or refractory classical Hodgkin lymphoma
Authors: Johnston Patrick B. , Pinter-Brown Lauren C. , Warsi Ghulam , White Kristen , Ramchandren Radhakrishnan
Published: May 2018

Background

The current standard of care for classical Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is multiagent chemotherapy with or without radiation. In patients who relapse or fail to respond, additional high-dose chemotherapy with autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT) can improve progression-free survival (PFS). Novel therapies are required for patients refractory to chemotherapy and AHSCT. The mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitor everolimus has shown preliminary activity in preclinical models of HL and promising efficacy in patients with relapsed or refractory HL.

Methods

This was an open-label, two-stage, phase 2 study that enrolled 57 patients aged ≥ 18 years with classic HL that had progressed after standard therapy. Patients received everolimus 10 mg daily until disease progression, intolerable toxicity, withdrawal of consent, or investigator decision. The primary endpoint was overall response rate; secondary endpoints included PFS, overall survival, time to response, duration of response, and safety.

Results

Overall response rate was 45.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 32.4–59.3%); five patients (8.8%) experienced a complete response and 21 patients had a partial response (36.8%). Median PFS was 8.0 months (95% CI 5.1–11.0 months). Seven patients (12%) were long-term responders (≥ 12 months). The most common study drug-related adverse events were thrombocytopenia (45.6%), fatigue (31.6%), anemia (26.3%), rash (24.6%), and stomatitis (22.8%).

Conclusions

Everolimus 10 mg/day demonstrated favorable results in patients with heavily pretreated, relapsed, or refractory classical HL. These findings support the further evaluation of everolimus in this indication.

Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01022996. Registered November 25, 2009
Working and Learning in a Field Excursion
Authors: Hole Torstein Nielsen
Published: May 2018

This study aimed to discern sociocultural processes through which students learn in field excursions. To achieve this aim, short-term ethnographic techniques were employed to examine how undergraduate students work and enact knowledge (or knowing) during a specific field excursion in biology. The students participated in a working practice that employed research methods and came to engage with various biological phenomena over the course of their work. A three-level analysis of the students’ experiences focused on three processes that emerged: participatory appropriation, guided participation, and apprenticeship. These processes derive from advances in practice-oriented theories of knowing. Through their work in the field, the students were able to enact science autonomously; they engaged with peers and teachers in specific ways and developed new understandings about research and epistemology founded on their experiences in the field. Further discussion about the use of “practice” and “work” as analytical concepts in science education is also included.
Contemporary Issues in Group Learning in Undergraduate Science Classrooms: A Perspective from Student Engagement
Authors: Hodges Linda C.
Published: May 2018

As the use of collaborative-learning methods such as group work in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics classes has grown, so has the research into factors impacting effectiveness, the kinds of learning engendered, and demographic differences in student response. Generalizing across the range of this research is complicated by the diversity of group-learning approaches used. In this overview, I discuss theories of how group-work formats support or hinder learning based on the ICAP (interactive, constructive, active, passive) framework of student engagement. I then use this model to analyze current issues in group learning, such as the nature of student discourse during group work, the role of group learning in making our classrooms inclusive, and how classroom spaces factor into group learning. I identify key gaps for further research and propose implications from this research for teaching practice. This analysis helps identify essential, effective, and efficient features of group learning, thus providing faculty with constructive guidelines to support their work and affirm their efforts.
How to Identify the Research Abilities That Instructors Anticipate Students Will Develop in a Biochemistry Course-Based Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE)
Authors: Irby Stefan Mark , Pelaez Nancy J. , Anderson Trevor R.
Published: May 2018

Course-based undergraduate research experiences (CUREs) have been described in a range of educational contexts. Although various anticipated learning outcomes (ALOs) have been proposed, processes for identifying them may not be rigorous or well documented, which can lead to inappropriate assessment and speculation about what students actually learn from CUREs. In this essay, we offer a user-friendly and rigorous approach based on evidence and an easy process to identify ALOs, namely, a five-step Process for Identifying Course-Based Undergraduate Research Abilities (PICURA), consisting of a content analysis, an open-ended survey, an interview, an alignment check, and a two-tiered Likert survey. The development of PICURA was guided by four criteria: 1) the process is iterative, 2) the overall process gives more insight than individual data sources, 3) the steps of the process allow for consensus across the data sources, and 4) the process allows for prioritization of the identified abilities. To address these criteria, we collected data from 10 participants in a multi-institutional biochemistry CURE. In this essay, we use two selected research abilities to illustrate how PICURA was used to identify and prioritize such abilities. PICURA could be applied to other CUREs in other contexts.
A new method for NMR data inversion based on double-parameter regularization
Authors: Guo Jiangfeng , Xie Ranhong , Zou Youlong , Jin Guowen , Gao Lun , Xu Chenyu
Published: May 2018

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technology plays a significant role in petroleum exploration. NMR data can be processed using inversion methods to reflect the relaxation information of all the components. We have developed a new double-parameter regularization (DPR) method for the inversion of NMR data, whose regularization terms consist of Tikhonov regularization and maximum entropy regularization. The objective function for the DPR method was solved using the Levenberg-Marquardt method, the proportional coefficient of the regularization parameter was obtained using an iteration procedure, and the optimum regularization parameter of the DPR method was selected using an S-curve. The relationship between the optimum regularization parameter and the signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) of the data was evaluated. Moreover, we compared the results of the NMR inversion obtained from the norm smooth method, the maximum entropy method, and the DPR method for simulated data. We evaluated how the proportional coefficient of the regularization parameter affected the inverted [Formula: see text] distributions and processed field NMR log data for a tight sandstone reservoir using the DPR method. The results indicated that the optimum regularization parameter for the DPR method gradually decreases with increasing data S/N. The accuracy is higher for the DPR method than for the norm smooth method and the maximum entropy method under low-S/N conditions. It is of great importance to select the proportional coefficient for the DPR method. The inverted [Formula: see text] distributions are similar for the DPR method and the norm smooth method when the proportional coefficient is small, and this is similar for the DPR method and the maximum entropy method when the proportional coefficient is large.
Seismic resolution enhancement in shale-oil reservoirs
Authors: Liu Xiwu , Gao Fengxia , Zhang Yuanyin , Rao Ying , Wang Yanghua
Published: May 2018

We developed a case study of seismic resolution enhancement for shale-oil reservoirs in the Q Depression, China, featured by rhythmic bedding. We proposed an innovative method for resolution enhancement, called the full-band extension method. We implemented this method in three consecutive steps: wavelet extraction, filter construction, and data filtering. First, we extracted a constant-phase wavelet from the entire seismic data set. Then, we constructed the full-band extension filter in the frequency domain using the least-squares inversion method. Finally, we applied the band extension filter to the entire seismic data set. We determined that this full-band extension method, with a stretched frequency band from 7–70 to 2–90 Hz, may significantly enhance 3D seismic resolution and distinguish reflection events of rhythmite groups in shale-oil reservoirs.