bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An Interpretable Classification Framework for Information Extraction from Online Healthcare Forums
Authors: Gao Jun , Liu Ninghao , Lawley Mark , Hu Xia
Published: August 2017

Online healthcare forums (OHFs) have become increasingly popular for patients to share their health-related experiences. The healthcare-related texts posted in OHFs could help doctors and patients better understand specific diseases and the situations of other patients. To extract the meaning of a post, a commonly used way is to classify the sentences into several predefined categories of different semantics. However, the unstructured form of online posts brings challenges to existing classification algorithms. In addition, though many sophisticated classification models such as deep neural networks may have good predictive power, it is hard to interpret the models and the prediction results, which is, however, critical in healthcare applications. To tackle the challenges above, we propose an effective and interpretable OHF post classification framework. Specifically, we classify sentences into three classes: medication, symptom, and background. Each sentence is projected into an interpretable feature space consisting of labeled sequential patterns, UMLS semantic types, and other heuristic features. A forest-based model is developed for categorizing OHF posts. An interpretation method is also developed, where the decision rules can be explicitly extracted to gain an insight of useful information in texts. Experimental results on real-world OHF data demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed computational framework.
Gastric Medullary Carcinoma with Sporadic Mismatch Repair Deficiency and a TP53 R273C Mutation: An Unusual Case with Wild-Type BRAF
Authors: Lowenthal Brett M. , Chan Theresa W. , Thorson John A. , Kelly Kaitlyn J. , Savides Thomas J. , Valasek Mark A.
Published: August 2017

Medullary carcinoma has long been recognized as a subtype of colorectal cancer associated with microsatellite instability and Lynch syndrome. Gastric medullary carcinoma is a very rare neoplasm. We report a 67-year-old male who presented with a solitary gastric mass. Total gastrectomy revealed a well-demarcated, poorly differentiated carcinoma with an organoid growth pattern, pushing borders, and abundant peritumoral lymphocytic response. The prior cytology was cellular with immunohistochemical panel consistent with upper gastrointestinal/pancreaticobiliary origin. Overall, the histopathologic findings were consistent with gastric medullary carcinoma. A mismatch repair panel revealed a mismatch repair protein deficient tumor with loss of MLH1 and PMS2 expression. BRAF V600E immunostain (VE1) and BRAF molecular testing were negative, indicating a wild-type gene. Tumor sequencing of MLH1 demonstrated a wild-type gene, while our molecular panel identified TP53 c.817C>T (p.R273C) mutation. These findings were compatible with a sporadic tumor. Given that morphologically identical medullary tumors often occur in Lynch syndrome, it is possible that mismatch repair loss is an early event in sporadic tumors with p53 mutation being a late event. Despite having wild-type BRAF, this tumor is sporadic and unrelated to Lynch syndrome. This case report demonstrates that coordinate ancillary studies are needed to resolve sporadic versus hereditary rare tumors.
Variants of Interleukin-22 Gene Confer Predisposition to Autoimmune Thyroid Disease
Authors: Song Rong-hua , Li Qian , Wang Wen , Yao Qiu-ming , Shao Xiao-qing , Zhang Jin-an
Published: August 2017

As there are no previous studies on the interleukin-22 (IL-22) variants in autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD), the present study aimed to explore the association between polymorphisms of IL-22 and the predisposition to AITD. The study had 975 AITD patients, including 639 Graves’ disease (GD) and 336 Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) individuals and 851 healthy cohorts. Ligase detection reaction (LDR) and direct sequencing method were used for genotyping the IL-22 gene polymorphisms at rs2046068, rs2227478, rs2227485, rs11611206, and rs1179251. In comparison to female controls, genotype CC of rs1179251 was increased in the female AITD patients. Alleles C at rs2046068, C at rs2227478, and C at rs1179251 linked to the susceptibility of HT males. Genotype CC in rs1179251 was higher in male HT. Variants at rs2046068, rs2227478, and rs1179251 were associated with the AITD teenagers. Besides, genotype GG in rs11611206 was correlated with thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO). Moreover, allele G at rs11611206 was associated with decreased risk for TAO by 28.9%. Similarly, genotype CC of rs1179251 and genotype GG of rs11611206 were associated with Graves’ ophthalmopathy (GO). Allele G in rs11611206 increased people with HT towards the predisposition of hypothyroidism. In conclusion, genetic variants of IL-22 are associated with the occurrence of AITD.
Recalcitrant Lateral Premalleolar Bursitis of the Ankle Associated with Lateral Ankle Instability
Authors: Naito Masashi , Matsumoto Takumi , Chang Song Ho , Ikegami Masachika , Hirose Jun , Tanaka Sakae
Published: August 2017

Lateral premalleolar bursitis of the ankle is a rarely reported disorder in the English literature although it is not uncommon in Asian countries where people commonly sit on their feet. Here, we present the case of a 66-year-old woman with recalcitrant lateral premalleolar bursitis associated with lateral ankle instability which was successfully treated with surgical resection of the bursa and repair of the anterior talofibular ligament. Operative findings revealed a communication between the bursa and articular cavity of the ankle joint via the sheath of the extensor digitorum longus tendon, which was considered to act as a check valve leading to a large and recalcitrant bursitis. This report provides a novel concept about the etiology of recalcitrant lateral premalleolar bursitis of the ankle.
Recurrence of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia during Pregnancy Subsequently Achieving Complete Medical Remission
Authors: Mikhael Sasha , Pascoe Ashlee , Prezzato Joseph
Published: August 2017

The treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in reproductive-aged women poses major dilemmas concerning its associated teratogenicity as observed in many animal studies. Much controversy exists regarding continuation versus discontinuation of its use in pregnancy with some studies suggesting safety of TKIs before and during pregnancy and others reporting toxicity and adverse outcomes. TKIs have become a well-established treatment option for CML, significantly improving prognosis, and yet have been reported to be fetotoxic. We present a case of a 25-year-old woman who achieved successful pregnancy and delivery after withholding treatment, meanwhile relapsing, eventually achieving complete molecular remission after reinitiation of high dose dasatinib.
A Pilot Genome-Wide Association Study in Postmenopausal Mexican-Mestizo Women Implicates the RMND1/CCDC170 Locus Is Associated with Bone Mineral Density
Authors: Villalobos-Comparán Marisela , Jiménez-Ortega Rogelio F. , Estrada Karol , Parra-Torres Alma Y. , González-Mercado Anahí , Patiño Nelly , Castillejos-López Manuel , Quiterio Manuel , Fernandez-López Juan Carlos , Ibarra Bertha , Romero-Hidalgo Sandra , Salmerón Jorge , Velázquez-Cruz Rafael
Published: August 2017

To identify genetic variants influencing bone mineral density (BMD) in the Mexican-Mestizo population, we performed a GWAS for femoral neck (FN) and lumbar spine (LS) in Mexican-Mestizo postmenopausal women. In the discovery sample, 300,000 SNPs were genotyped in a cohort of 411 postmenopausal women and seven SNPs were analyzed in the replication cohort (n=420). The combined results of a meta-analysis from the discovery and replication samples identified two loci, RMND1 (rs6904364, P=2.77×10−4) and CCDC170 (rs17081341, P=1.62×10−5), associated with FN BMD. We also compared our results with those of the Genetic Factors for Osteoporosis (GEFOS) Consortium meta-analysis. The comparison revealed two loci previously reported in the GEFOS meta-analysis: SOX6 (rs7128738) and PKDCC (rs11887431) associated with FN and LS BMD, respectively, in our study population. Interestingly, rs17081341 rare in Caucasians (minor allele frequency < 0.03) was found in high frequency in our population, which suggests that this association could be specific to non-Caucasian populations. In conclusion, the first pilot Mexican GWA study of BMD confirmed previously identified loci and also demonstrated the importance of studying variability in diverse populations and/or specific populations.
Surgeon Training in Telerobotic Surgery via a Hardware-in-the-Loop Simulator
Authors: Li Xiao , Alemzadeh Homa , Chen Daniel , Kalbarczyk Zbigniew , Iyer Ravishankar K. , Kesavadas Thenkurussi
Published: August 2017

This work presents a software and hardware framework for a telerobotic surgery safety and motor skill training simulator. The aims are at providing trainees a comprehensive simulator for acquiring essential skills to perform telerobotic surgery. Existing commercial robotic surgery simulators lack features for safety training and optimal motion planning, which are critical factors in ensuring patient safety and efficiency in operation. In this work, we propose a hardware-in-the-loop simulator directly introducing these two features. The proposed simulator is built upon the Raven-II™ open source surgical robot, integrated with a physics engine and a safety hazard injection engine. Also, a Fast Marching Tree-based motion planning algorithm is used to help trainee learn the optimal instrument motion patterns. The main contributions of this work are (1) reproducing safety hazards events, related to da Vinci™ system, reported to the FDA MAUDE database, with a novel haptic feedback strategy to provide feedback to the operator when the underlying dynamics differ from the real robot’s states so that the operator will be aware and can mitigate the negative impact of the safety-critical events, and (2) using motion planner to generate semioptimal path in an interactive robotic surgery training environment.
Optimal Trajectory Determination and Mission Design for Asteroid/Deep-Space Exploration via Multibody Gravity Assist Maneuvers
Authors: Fritz Sean , Turkoglu Kamran
Published: August 2017

This paper discusses the creation of a genetic algorithm to locate and optimize interplanetary trajectories using gravity assist maneuvers to improve fuel efficiency of the mission. The algorithm is implemented on two cases: (i) a Centaur-class target close to the ecliptic plane and (ii) a Centaur-class target with a high inclination to the ecliptic plane. Cases for multiple numbers of flybys (up to three) are discussed and compared. It is shown that, for the targets considered here, a single flyby of Jupiter is the most efficient trajectory to either target with the conditions and limitations discussed in this paper. In this paper, we also iterate on possible reasons for certain results seen in the analysis and show how these previously observed behaviors could be present in any trajectory found. The parameters and methods used in the algorithm are explained and justified over multiple real-life interplanetary missions to provide deeper insights into the development choices.
Analysis and Design of an Energy Efficient Differential Coherent Chaos Based System in Additive White Gaussian Noise Environment
Authors: Al Bassam Nizar , Jerew Oday D.
Published: August 2017

A new differential coherent chaos based scheme is proposed and named as Differential Chaos ON-OFF Keying (DCOOK). The proposed scheme provides reduction in bit energy and better bit error performance at large spreading factor. This is achieved by presenting each transmitted bit by either identical segment or no transmission within same bit duration. The receiver performs simple correlation between the received signal and its delayed version to determine the transmitted information utilizing the low correlation between the noise signals. The bit error rate (BER) performance of the proposed scheme is evaluated analytically using Gaussian Approximation (GA) method and compared with the simulation results. The results show excellent agreement between the derived expression and simulation. Moreover, the BER of DCOOK scheme is compared with the standard chaos systems: Chaos ON-OFF Keying (COOK), Differential Chaos Shift Keying (DCSK), and Correlation Delay Shift Keying (CDSK). The comparison results show that DCOOK scheme can always achieve superior performance compared to COOK and CDSK schemes and even exceeds the performance of DCSK scheme at typical spreading factor values.
Complete Laparoscopic Extirpation of a Giant Ovarian Cyst in an Adolescent
Authors: Baradwan Saeed , Sendy Feras , Sendy Sameer
Published: August 2017

The giant ovarian serous cystadenoma is a rare finding and often benign. The use of the laparoscopic approach versus open approach for the management of huge ovarian cysts is controversial. We report a case of a 27-year-old woman with a history of increasing abdominal girth over a period of two years along with radiological investigations revealed a large tumor arising from the right ovary treated by complete laparoscopic extirpation of a giant ovarian cyst. The complete laparoscopic approach for huge cyst is a feasible treatment when having a normal tumor marker profile and benign imaging appearance. In addition to the advantages of laparoscopic surgery, it is less invasive, with perfect cosmetic outcome and shorter hospital stay, which are particularly important for young women.
Cosmetic Remodeling of the Smile: Combining Composite Resin and Ceramics over Teeth and Implants
Authors: da Cunha Leonardo Fernandes , Gaião Ubiracy , Silva Rafael Coutinho , Gonzaga Carla Castiglia , Correr Gisele Maria
Published: August 2017

The aim of this paper is to describe a restorative approach to the cosmetic remodeling of the teeth of a young adult patient with right maxillary lateral hypodontia and left lateral microdontia. A conservative restorative management was proposed to improve smile esthetics by combining direct composite resins and ceramics. Initially, periodontal therapy and dental bleaching were performed. Subsequently, direct composite resins were applied to the central incisors and canines to reestablish the sizes and shapes of these teeth. Finally, ceramics were placed on the implant and the microdontia to unite with the new alignment and color of the anterior teeth. Thus, conservative remodeling to improve the harmony of the smile was provided.
Fabrication of Core-Shell PLGA-Chitosan Microparticles Using Electrospinning: Effects of Polymer Concentration
Authors: Hiep Nguyen Thi , Hai Nguyen Dai , Toi Vo Van
Published: August 2017

This investigation aims to fabricate the core-shell microparticles composed of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) and chitosan (PLGA-CS MPs) using electrospinning. The challenge of using electrospinning is that it has many parameters which change product outcome if any single parameter is changed. However, the advantage of this system is that we can fabricate either micro/nanofibers or micro/nanoparticles. To learn about the effect of liquid concentration, the electrospinning parameters (voltage, needle sizes, distance from needle to collector, and ejection speed) were fixed while the concentration of PLGA or chitosan was varied. The results showed that PLGA microparticles can be fabricated successfully when the concentration of PLGA is smaller than 10 wt%. Presence of the chitosan shell was confirmed by zeta potential measurements, FT-IR, optical observation, and fluorescence observation. Thickness of the chitosan shell can be controlled by changing the concentration of chitosan and measured by fluorescamine labeling method. Moreover, SEM observation showed that concentration of chitosan affected the size of PLGA-CS microparticles. The MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) assay test showed that PLGA-CS microparticles possess excellent biocompatibility.
Primary Corneoscleral Cyst in a Pediatric Patient
Authors: Kalamkar Charudutt , Mukherjee Amrita
Published: August 2017

Purpose: Primary corneoscleral cyst is a rare disease occurring in the pediatric age group. We report a case of corneoscleral cyst with visual diminution. Methods: We conducted a case report. Results: A 7-year-old girl presented with corneal opacity in the left eye. Examination revealed a corneoscleral cyst. The corneal part of the cyst involved visual axis. Surgical excision with a scleral graft was performed, leading to an improvement in visual acuity. No recurrences were observed until the last follow-up at 18 months. Conclusions: Corneoscleral cyst should be considered in the differential diagnosis of cystic ocular surface disorders in the pediatric age group.
Development of Auditory Evoked Responses in Normally Developing Preschool Children and Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Authors: Stephen Julia M. , Hill Dina E. , Peters Amanda , Flynn Lucinda , Zhang Tongsheng , Okada Yoshio
Published: August 2017

The cortical responses to auditory stimuli undergo rapid and dramatic changes during the first 3 years of life in normally developing (ND) children, with decreases in latency and changes in amplitude in the primary peaks. However, most previous studies have focused on children >3 years of age. The analysis of data from the early stages of development is challenging because the temporal pattern of the evoked responses changes with age (e.g., additional peaks emerge with increasing age) and peak latency decreases with age. This study used the topography of the auditory evoked magnetic field (AEF) to identify the auditory components in ND children between 6 and 68 months (n = 48). The latencies of the peaks in the AEF produced by a tone burst (ISI 2 ± 0.2 s) during sleep decreased with age, consistent with previous reports in awake children. The peak latencies of the AEFs in ND children and children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) were compared. Previous studies indicate that the latencies of the initial components of the auditory evoked potential (AEP) and the AEF are delayed in children with ASD when compared to age-matched ND children >4 years of age. We speculated whether the AEF latencies decrease with age in children diagnosed with ASD as in ND children, but with uniformly longer latencies before the age of about 4 years. Contrary to this hypothesis, the peak latencies did not decrease with age in the ASD group (24-62 months, n = 16) during sleep (unlike in the age-matched controls), although the mean latencies were longer in the ASD group as in previous studies. These results are consistent with previous studies indicating delays in auditory latencies, and they indicate a different maturational pattern in ASD children and ND children. Longitudinal studies are needed to confirm whether the AEF latencies diverge with age, starting at around 3 years, in these 2 groups of children.
High Frequency of Human Leukocyte Antigen-B*57:01 Allele Carriers among HIV-Infected Patients in Serbia
Authors: Siljic Marina , Salemovic Dubravka , Cirkovic Valentina , Pesic-Pavlovic Ivana , Todorovic Marija , Ranin Jovan , Dragovic Gordana , Jevtovic Djordje , Stanojevic Maja
Published: August 2017

Abacavir is an effective antiretroviral drug and one of the most commonly used nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors in Serbia. А percentage of the treated patients experience a potentially life-threatening hypersensitivity reaction, which was shown to be associated with the presence of the class I MHC allele, HLA-B*57:01; hence genotyping for HLA-B*57:01 prior to starting abacavir is nowadays recommended in international HIV treatment guidelines. In Serbia, this testing became available in 2013. This study was designed to estimate the prevalence of the HLA-B*57:01 allele in Serbian HIV-1-infected patients. The presence of the HLA-B*57:01 allele was analyzed in 273 HIV-1-infected patients aged 18 years or more, who were abacavir naïve. Buccal swab samples were obtained from all participants and assayed for the presence of HLA-B*57:01 using a commercially available HLA-B*57:01 real-time PCR kit. The presence of the HLA-B*57:01 allele was found in 22 of 273 tested individuals (8%; 95% CI 5.4-11.9%). This is the first study that estimated the HLA-B*57:01 prevalence among HIV-infected patients in Serbia. The very high prevalence of HLA-B*57:01 found in our study strongly supports HLA-B*57:01 genotyping, which should be implemented prior to the initiation of an abacavir-containing therapy to reduce the risk of potentially life-threatening hypersensitivity reactions.
A Case of Aplasia Cutis Congenita Type VI: Bart Syndrome
Authors: Alfayez Yasmin , Alsharif Sahar , Santli Adel
Published: August 2017

Aplasia cutis congenita type VI, also known as Bart syndrome, is a rare genetic mechanobullous disorder characterized by congenital localized absence of skin, mucocutaneous blistering lesions, and nail abnormalities. We present the case of a 4-h-old male newborn who presented with complete absence of skin over the anteromedial aspect of both lower legs associated with nail dystrophy since birth. After a few days, he developed blisters that were consistent with epidermolysis bullosa in histopathological examination. There was no systemic involvement such as pyloric atresia, ureteral stenosis, renal abnormalities, or arthrogryposis. All laboratory work and imaging studies were normal. A diagnosis of Bart syndrome was made based on previous presentation. We managed the patient with conservative methods. Complete epithelialization occurred after several weeks.
Recurrence of Melanoma after Starting Apremilast for Psoriasis
Authors: Salopek Thomas G.
Published: August 2017

This is a report on a 32-year-old man with a history of two previous melanomas with concurrent plaque-type psoriasis. His history dates to 2009, when he was diagnosed with his first melanoma on the right occiput, Clark’s level IV, tumor thickness 1.53 mm, nonulcerated, mitotic index 1/mm2. He subsequently developed nodal recurrence after an initial negative sentinel lymph node biopsy and was treated with complete lymph node dissection. In 2012, he was diagnosed with a second primary melanoma on the right upper chest, Clark’s level IV, tumor thickness 0.9 mm, nonulcerated, mitotic index 3/mm2. Due to worsening longstanding plaque-type psoriasis in 2015 he was placed on apremilast, with a dramatic improvement in his psoriasis within 4 months of starting therapy. Shortly thereafter the patient developed multiple blue-colored skin papules on the scalp near his first melanoma and on the trunk and upper limbs that on biopsy proved to be due to cutaneous metastasis of melanoma. The patient discontinued the apremilast as there was a concern that his tumor had recurred because of the drug. Apremilast is a phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitor that impairs the innate immune system, which mediates cancer immunosurveillance. It is postulated that the use of apremilast in our patient resulted in impaired cancer immunosurveillance and led to a recurrence of his melanoma. Although one cannot exclude the possibility of coincidental recurrence of an already metastatic melanoma (to the lymph nodes), caution should be exercised when considering apremilast in the context of patients with known malignancy, in particular melanoma.
Corneal Neovascularization with Associated Lipid Keratopathy in a Patient with Obstructive Sleep Apnea-Hypopnea Syndrome Using a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Machine
Authors: Oikonomakis Konstantinos , Petrelli Myrsini , Andreanos Konstantinos , Mouchtouris Andreas , Petrou Petros , Georgalas Ilias , Papaconstantinou Dimitrios , Kymionis George
Published: August 2017

Objective: To report a case of corneal neovascularization with secondary lipid keratopathy in a patient treated with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) for obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS). Case Report: A 49-year-old male had been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome 10 years ago and has been treated with the application of a CPAP machine during night sleep ever since. For the past year, the patient had been complaining for ocular irritation and excessive tearing of the left eye on awakening. Slit-lamp biomicroscopy revealed the presence of neovascularization and lipid exudation in the inferior third of the cornea of the left eye. Ocular patching during night sleep resulted in recession of the reported symptoms and shrinkage of the neovascularization, while the area of lipid exudation ceased to enlarge. Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of corneal neovascularization in a patient using a CPAP machine for OSAHS.
Contrast-Induced Nephropathy Is Less Common in Patients with Good Coronary Collateral Circulation
Authors: Avci Eyup , Yildirim Tarik , Kadi Hasan
Published: August 2017

Background/Aims: Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) is a typically reversible type of acute renal failure that develops after exposure to contrast agents; underlying endothelial dysfunction is thought to be an important risk factor for CIN. Although the mechanism of coronary collateral circulation (CCC) is not fully understood, a pivotal role of the endothelium has been reported in many studies. The aim of this study was to investigate whether there is a relationship between CCC and CIN. Methods: Patients with at least one occluded major coronary artery and blood creatinine analyses performed before and on the second day after angiography were included in the study. CIN was defined as a 25% or greater elevation of creatinine on the second day after exposure to the contrast agent. Collateral grading was performed according to the Rentrop classification. Patients were grouped according to whether they developed CIN or not, i.e., CIN(-) and CIN(+) group. Results: A total of 214 patients who met the inclusion criteria were included in the study. CIN was diagnosed in 43 patients (20.1%) in the study population. Good CCC was identified in 112 patients (65.5%) in the CIN(-) group, whereas it was identified in 13 patients (30.2%) in the CIN(+) group. In the CIN(-) group, good CCC was significantly more frequent (p < 0.001). Furthermore, collateral circulation was an independent predictor of CIN. Conclusion: Good collateral circulation was associated with a lower frequency of CIN, and poor collateral circulation was an independent predictor of CIN.
Co-injection of mesenchymal stem cells with endothelial progenitor cells accelerates muscle recovery in hind limb ischemia through an endoglin-dependent mechanism
Authors: Rossi Elisa , Goyard Céline , Cras Audrey , Dizier Blandine , Bacha Nour , Lokajczyk Anna , Guerin Coralie , Gendron Nicolas , Planquette Benjamin , Mignon Virginie , Bernabeu Carmelo , Sanchez Olivier , Smadja David
Published: August 2017

Endothelial colony-forming cells (ECFCs) are progenitor cells committed to endothelial lineages and have robust vasculogenic properties. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been described to support ECFC-mediated angiogenic processes in various matrices. However, MSC-ECFC interactions in hind limb ischemia (HLI) are largely unknown. Here we examined whether co-administration of ECFCs and MSCs bolsters vasculogenic activity in nude mice with HLI. In addition, as we have previously shown that endoglin is a key adhesion molecule, we evaluated its involvement in ECFC/MSC interaction. Foot perfusion increased on day 7 after ECFC injection and was even better at 14 days. Co-administration of MSCs significantly increased vessel density and foot perfusion on day 7 but the differences were no longer significant at day 14. Analysis of mouse and human CD31, and in situ hybridization of the human ALU sequence, showed enhanced capillary density in ECFC+MSC mice. When ECFCs were silenced for endoglin, coinjection with MSCs led to lower vessel density and foot perfusion at both 7 and 14 days (p<0.001). Endoglin silencing in ECFCs did not affect MSC differentiation into perivascular cells or other mesenchymal lineages. Endoglin silencing markedly inhibited ECFC adhesion to MSCs. Thus, MSCs, when combined with ECFCs, accelerate muscle recovery in a mouse model of hind limb ischemia, through an endoglindependent mechanism.

Supplementary Material to this article is available online at www.thrombosis-online.com.
Comparison of clinical probability-adjusted D-dimer and age-adjusted D-dimer interpretation to exclude venous thromboembolism
Authors: Julian Jim , Linkins Lori-Ann , Bates Shannon , Kearon Clive , Lapner Sarah Takach
Published: August 2017

Two new strategies for interpreting D-dimer results have been proposed: i) using a progressively higher D-dimer threshold with increasing age (age-adjusted strategy) and ii) using a D-dimer threshold in patients with low clinical probability that is twice the threshold used in patients with moderate clinical probability (clinical probability-adjusted strategy). Our objective was to compare the diagnostic accuracy of age-adjusted and clinical probability-adjusted D-dimer interpretation in patients with a low or moderate clinical probability of venous thromboembolism (VTE). We performed a retrospective analysis of clinical data and blood samples from two prospective studies. We compared the negative predictive value (NPV) for VTE, and the proportion of patients with a negative D-dimer result, using two D-dimer interpretation strategies: the age-adjusted strategy, which uses a progressively higher D-dimer threshold with increasing age over 50 years (age in years × 10 µg/L FEU); and the clinical probability-adjusted strategy which uses a D-dimer threshold of 1000 µg/L FEU in patients with low clinical probability and 500 µg/L FEU in patients with moderate clinical probability. A total of 1649 outpatients with low or moderate clinical probability for a first suspected deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism were included. The NPV of both the clinical probability-adjusted strategy (99.7%) and the age-adjusted strategy (99.6%) were similar. However, the proportion of patients with a negative result was greater with the clinical probability-adjusted strategy (56.1% vs, 50.9%; difference 5.2%; 95% CI 3.5% to 6.8%). These findings suggest that clinical probability-adjusted D-dimer interpretation is a better way of interpreting D-dimer results compared to age-adjusted interpretation.
Low Endothelial Shear Stress Predicts Evolution to High-Risk Coronary Plaque Phenotype in the Future
Authors: Yamamoto Erika , Siasos Gerasimos , Zaromytidou Marina , Coskun Ahmet U. , Xing Lei , Bryniarski Krzysztof , Zanchin Thomas , Sugiyama Tomoyo , Lee Hang , Stone Peter H. , Jang Ik-Kyung
Published: August 2017

Background—

Low endothelial shear stress (ESS) is associated with plaque progression and vulnerability. To date, changes in plaque phenotype over time in relation to ESS have not been studied in humans. The aim of this study was to investigate whether local ESS can predict subsequent changes to plaque phenotype using optical coherence tomography.

Methods and Results—

A total of 25 coronary arteries from 20 patients who underwent baseline and 6-month follow-up optical coherence tomography were included. Arteries were divided into serial 3-mm segments, and plaque characteristics were evaluated in each segment. A total of 145 segments were divided into low-ESS group (ESS <1 Pa) and higher-ESS group (ESS ≥1 Pa) based on baseline computational flow dynamics analyses. At baseline, low-ESS segments had significantly thinner fibrous cap thickness compared with higher-ESS segments (128.2±12.3 versus 165.0±12.0 μm;
P
=0.03), although lipid arc was similar. At follow-up, fibrous cap thickness remained thin in low-ESS segments, whereas it significantly increased in higher-ESS segments (165.0±12.0 to 182.2±14.1 μm;
P
=0.04). Lipid arc widened only in plaques with low ESS (126.4±15.2° to 141.1±14.0°;
P
=0.01). After adjustment, baseline ESS was associated with fibrous cap thickness (β, 9.089; 95% confidence interval, 2.539–15.640;
P
=0.007) and lipid arc (β, −4.381; 95% confidence interval, −6.946 to −1.815;
P
=0.001) at follow-up.

Conclusions—

Low ESS is significantly associated with baseline high-risk plaque phenotype and progression to higher-risk phenotype at 6 months.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT01110538.
Factors Associated With Time to Site Activation, Randomization, and Enrollment Performance in a Stroke Prevention Trial
Authors: Demaerschalk Bart M. , Brown Robert D. , Roubin Gary S. , Howard Virginia J. , Cesko Eldina , Barrett Kevin M. , Longbottom Mary E. , Voeks Jenifer H. , Chaturvedi Seemant , Brott Thomas G. , Lal Brajesh K. , Meschia James F. , Howard George
Published: August 2017

Background and Purpose—

Multicenter clinical trials attempt to select sites that can move rapidly to randomization and enroll sufficient numbers of patients. However, there are few assessments of the success of site selection.

Methods—

In the CREST-2 (Carotid Revascularization and Medical Management for Asymptomatic Carotid Stenosis Trials), we assess factors associated with the time between site selection and authorization to randomize, the time between authorization to randomize and the first randomization, and the average number of randomizations per site per month. Potential factors included characteristics of the site, specialty of the principal investigator, and site type.

Results—

For 147 sites, the median time between site selection to authorization to randomize was 9.9 months (interquartile range, 7.7, 12.4), and factors associated with early site activation were not identified. The median time between authorization to randomize and a randomization was 4.6 months (interquartile range, 2.6, 10.5). Sites with authorization to randomize in only the carotid endarterectomy study were slower to randomize, and other factors examined were not significantly associated with time-to-randomization. The recruitment rate was 0.26 (95% confidence interval, 0.23–0.28) patients per site per month. By univariate analysis, factors associated with faster recruitment were authorization to randomize in both trials, principal investigator specialties of interventional radiology and cardiology, pre-trial reported performance >50 carotid angioplasty and stenting procedures per year, status in the top half of recruitment in the CREST trial, and classification as a private health facility. Participation in StrokeNet was associated with slower recruitment as compared with the non-StrokeNet sites.

Conclusions—

Overall, selection of sites with high enrollment rates will likely require customization to align the sites selected to the factor under study in the trial.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT02089217.
MicroRNA Changes in Cerebrospinal Fluid After Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
Authors: Bache Søren , Rasmussen Rune , Rossing Maria , Laigaard Finn Pedersen , Nielsen Finn Cilius , Møller Kirsten
Published: August 2017

Background and Purpose—

Delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) accounts for a major part of the morbidity and mortality after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are pathophysiologically involved in acute cerebral ischemia. This study compared miRNA profiles in cerebrospinal fluid from neurologically healthy patients, as well as SAH patients with and without subsequent development of DCI.

Methods—

In a prospective case–control study of SAH patients treated with external ventricular drainage and neurologically healthy patients, miRNA profiles in cerebrospinal fluid were screened and validated using 2 different high-throughput real-time quantification polymerase chain reaction techniques. The occurrence of DCI was documented in patient charts and subsequently reviewed independently by 2 physicians.

Results—

MiRNA profiles from 27 SAH patients and 10 neurologically healthy patients passed quality control. In the validation, 66 miRNAs showed a relative increase in cerebrospinal fluid from SAH patients compared with neurologically healthy patients (
P
<0.001); 2 (miR-21 and miR-221) showed a relative increase in SAH patients with DCI compared with those without (
P
<0.05) in both the screening and validation.

Conclusions—

SAH is associated with marked changes in the cerebrospinal fluid miRNA profile. These changes could be associated to the development of DCI.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT01791257.
A Human Rights Approach to Access to Land and Land Dispossession: An Examination of Ethiopian Laws and Practices
Authors: Reta Demelash Shiferaw
Published: August 2017

For many people, access to land is necessary to realizing human rights. Although not clearly recognized in international human rights law, the right to land might be inferred from many of its provisions. In the Ethiopian context, the Constitution guarantees access to land. However, this right is being eroded because of the government’s measures to satisfy the ever-increasing demand for land through expropriation and the allocation of ‘vacant’ land. This article argues the former gives the government extensive power while the latter neglects traditional communal landholding system. This desk research based on literature review, legal analysis and secondary data, demonstrates how the government’s actions are impinging on the human rights of the people in the rural areas and recommends reform in the land-tenure system as well as the harmonization of the subsidiary expropriation laws through the Constitution.
The story of The Selfish Gene
Authors: Rodgers Michael
Published: August 2017

The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins, published in 1976, famously became a bestseller and is still selling more than 40 years later. This behind-the-scenes account of its publication recounts the story as seen through the eyes of the book’s commissioning editor, from the initial experience of reading early draft chapters to publication eight months later. Elements of the story include the different views and lively debates on the right title for the book; choosing the Desmond Morris painting for the jacket; deciding whether or not to include illustrations; and the role television played when the book was launched. An American dimension places the book in the context of the fiercely fought sociobiology controversy at that time. The characteristics of the best popular science writing and publishing are discussed. Finally, The Selfish Gene is seen in relation to the books Dawkins went on to publish over the following 30 years.
Podocarpoxylon Gothan reviewed in the light of a new species from the Eocene of Patagonia
Authors: Pujana Roberto R. , Ruiz Daniela P.
Published: August 2017

A new species of Podocarpoxylon Gothan is described based on samples collected from sediments of the Río Turbio Formation. The fossil-bearing strata are lower Eocene (47–46 Mya) according to recent geochronological ages. The new species has indistinct growth ring boundaries, abundant and frequently tangentially zonate axial parenchyma, uniseriate pitting on radial walls, one half-bordered pit (= oculipore) with reduced borders and vertical aperture inclination per cross-field and medium height uniseriate rays. The new material is compared with all fossil-species of Podocarpoxylon and an inventory of all Podocarpoxylon species previously described is provided. Cross-field characters of the new species indicate affinity to the Podocarpaceae. The presence of Podocarpaceae wood augments other evidence of this family from the same stratigraphic unit.
Two new species of amphipods (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Photidae) from Korean waters with a redescription of Gammaropsis longipropodi
Authors: JUNG TAE WON , CHOI HYUN KI , KIM MIN-SEOP , YOON SEONG MYEONG
Published: August 2017

Three amphipods of the family Photidae collected from Korean waters are reported here with detailed descriptions and illustrations. The Korean materials of Gammaropsis examined in this study are readily assigned to G. longipropodi by the characteristic shape of gnathopod 2 in males: not slenderly produced posterior margin of the carpus, uniform width of very elongate propodus, and the transverse palm. Among the species of genus Photis, P. fischmanni is only one species bearing stridulation ridges of the basis on gnathopod 2 and coxa 3 simultaneously in females, until now. However, Photis stridulus sp. nov. also show this characteristic but is clearly distinguishable from P. fischmanni by the weak setation of the appendages, smaller eye on the anterior cephalic lobe, and the slender carpus and propodus on gnathopod 1. The genus Podoceropsis is recorded from Korean waters for the first time with the discovery of P. clavapes sp. nov. This new species is characterized by its elongate propodus and dactylus on gnathopod 2 and the shape of the posterior lobe of the basis on pereopod 5 in mature males.
Processing of Ice Cloud In Situ Data Collected by Bulk Water, Scattering, and Imaging Probes: Fundamentals, Uncertainties, and Efforts toward Consistency
Authors: McFarquhar Greg M. , Baumgardner Darrel , Bansemer Aaron , Abel Steven J. , Crosier Jonathan , French Jeff , Rosenberg Phil , Korolev Alexei , Schwarzoenboeck Alfons , Leroy Delphine , Um Junshik , Wu Wei , Heymsfield Andrew J. , Twohy Cynthia , Detwiler Andrew , Field Paul , Neumann Andrea , Cotton Richard , Axisa Duncan , Dong Jiayin
Published: August 2017

In situ observations of cloud properties made by airborne probes play a critical role in ice cloud research through their role in process studies, parameterization development, and evaluation of simulations and remote sensing retrievals. To determine how cloud properties vary with environmental conditions, in situ data collected during different field projects processed by different groups must be used. However, because of the diverse algorithms and codes that are used to process measurements, it can be challenging to compare the results. Therefore it is vital to understand both the limitations of specific probes and uncertainties introduced by processing algorithms. Since there is currently no universally accepted framework regarding how in situ measurements should be processed, there is a need for a general reference that describes the most commonly applied algorithms along with their strengths and weaknesses. Methods used to process data from bulk water probes, single-particle light-scattering spectrometers and cloud-imaging probes are reviewed herein, with emphasis on measurements of the ice phase. Particular attention is paid to how uncertainties, caveats, and assumptions in processing algorithms affect derived products since there is currently no consensus on the optimal way of analyzing data. Recommendations for improving the analysis and interpretation of in situ data include the following: establishment of a common reference library of individual processing algorithms, better documentation of assumptions used in these algorithms, development and maintenance of sustainable community software for processing in situ observations, and more studies that compare different algorithms with the same benchmark datasets.
Longitudinal Perioperative Pain Assessment in Head and Neck Cancer Surgery
Authors: Buchakjian Marisa R. , Davis Andrew B. , Sciegienka Sebastian J. , Pagedar Nitin A. , Sperry Steven M.
Published: August 2017

Objective:

To evaluate perioperative pain in patients undergoing major head and neck cancer surgery and identify associations between preoperative and postoperative pain characteristics.

Methods:

Patients undergoing head and neck surgery with regional/free tissue transfer were enrolled. Preoperative pain and validated screens for symptoms (neuropathic pain, anxiety, depression, fibromyalgia) were assessed. Postoperatively, patients completed a pain diary for 4 weeks.

Results:

Twenty-seven patients were enrolled. Seventy-eight percent had pain prior to surgery, and for 38%, the pain had neuropathic characteristics. Thirteen patients (48%) completed at least 2 weeks of the postoperative pain diary. Patients with moderate/severe preoperative pain report significantly greater pain scores postoperatively, though daily pain decreased at a similar linear rate for all patients. Patients with more severe preoperative pain consumed greater amounts of opioids postoperatively, and this correlated with daily postoperative pain scores. Patients who screened positive for neuropathic pain also reported worse postoperative pain.

Conclusion:

Longitudinal perioperative pain assessment in head and neck patients undergoing surgery suggests that patients with worse preoperative pain continue to endorse worse pain postoperatively and require more narcotics. Patients with preoperative neuropathic pain also report poor pain control postoperatively, suggesting an opportunity to identify these patients and intervene with empiric neuropathic pain treatment.
Wavelength Selection Method Based on Differential Evolution for Precise Quantitative Analysis Using Terahertz Time-Domain Spectroscopy
Authors: Li Zhi , Chen Weidong , Lian Feiyu , Ge Hongyi , Guan Aihong
Published: August 2017

Quantitative analysis of component mixtures is an important application of terahertz time-domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS) and has attracted broad interest in recent research. Although the accuracy of quantitative analysis using THz-TDS is affected by a host of factors, wavelength selection from the sample’s THz absorption spectrum is the most crucial component. The raw spectrum consists of signals from the sample and scattering and other random disturbances that can critically influence the quantitative accuracy. For precise quantitative analysis using THz-TDS, the signal from the sample needs to be retained while the scattering and other noise sources are eliminated. In this paper, a novel wavelength selection method based on differential evolution (DE) is investigated. By performing quantitative experiments on a series of binary amino acid mixtures using THz-TDS, we demonstrate the efficacy of the DE-based wavelength selection method, which yields an error rate below 5%.
The Internationalisation of Chinese NGOs and Their Engagement with the United Nations
Authors: Zhang Wenjuan
Published: August 2017

Recent data and policy analysis show that a positive policy and political culture towards non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have been developed in China which will lay the foundation for the internationalisation of Chinese NGOs. The changes in global governance, both in terms of a power shift from Western countries to emerging powers and in terms of the Chinese government’s more assertive role in global governance, require that Chinese NGOs play a more active role in global affairs. In responding to the changes, the Chinese government has developed a new strategy on public diplomacy that is expected to create some political and policy support for Chinese NGOs, especially for grass-roots NGOs’ (G-R NGOs) internationalisation. However, at this initial stage, the Chinese government and G-R NGOs might not share the same understanding of the purpose and method of achieving a global role for Chinese NGOs. Meanwhile, the United Nations (UN) has made many notable efforts to pave the way for engaging with NGOs. The article argues that the UN platform would be a good starting place for Chinese G-R NGOs’ experimentation with global participation. However, their strategy will determine how far they can go.
An Alternate Path: The Experience of High-Potential Individuals Who Left School
Authors: Ritchotte Jennifer A. , Graefe Amy K.
Published: August 2017

Dropping out of school represents the culmination of a process that begins long before a student enters high school. It is estimated that a quarter of students with high potential leave school without a high school diploma; however, research on how high-potential students uniquely experience dropping out of school is in its beginning stages. This study sought to acquire a rich understanding of how 14 gifted individuals who did not complete high school interpreted this experience and the meaning they attributed to it. Six major themes emerged from the data: (a) significant external circumstances, (b) need for support, (c) social influences, (d) outlets, (e) an alternate path, and (f) reflecting on the path. This exploratory study enhances our understanding of why gifted students choose to leave school and supports the validity of alternate paths to success.