bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Detecting topological phases in silicene by anomalous Nernst effect
Authors: Xu Yafang , Zhou Xingfei , Jin Guojun
Published: May 2016

Silicene undergoes various topological phases under the interplay of intrinsic spin-orbit coupling, perpendicular electric field, and off-resonant light. We propose that the abundant topological phases can be distinguished by measuring the Nernst conductivity even at room temperature, and their phase boundaries can be determined by differentiating the charge and spin Nernst conductivities. By modulating the electric and light fields, pure spin polarized, valley polarized, and even spin-valley polarized Nernst currents can be generated. As Nernst conductivity is zero for linear polarized light, silicene can act as an optically controlled spin and valley field-effect transistor. Similar investigations can be extended from silicene to germanene and stanene, and a comparison is made for the anomalous thermomagnetic figure of merits between them. These results will facilitate potential applications in spin and valley caloritronics.
Changes in photosynthesis and carbohydrate metabolism in sugarcane during the development of Yellow Canopy Syndrome
Authors: Marquardt Annelie , Scalia Gerard , Joyce Priya , Basnayake Jaya , Botha Frederik C.
Published: May 2016

Photosynthesis, stomatal conductance, electron transport, internal CO2 and sugar levels were determined in the leaves of Yellow Canopy Syndrome (YCS) symptomatic sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) plants. Two varieties from two different geographic regions in Australia, KQ228 and Q200 were used. Although visual yellowing was only evident in the lower leaves of the canopy (older than Leaf 5), photosynthesis and stomatal conductance were lower in both the yellowing leaves and those not yet showing any visible symptoms. On a canopy basis, photosynthesis was reduced by 14% and 36% in YCS symptomatic KQ228 and Q200 plants, respectively. Sucrose levels increased significantly in the leaves, reflecting some of the earliest changes induced in YCS symptomatic plants. The electron transport characteristics of dark-adapted leaves showed disruptions on both the electron acceptor and donor side of PSII. Some of these changes are characteristic of a degree of disruption to the protein structure associated with the electron transport chain. Based on the results, we propose that the first change in metabolism in the YCS symptomatic plants was an increase in sucrose in the leaves and that all the other changes are secondary effects modulated by the increased sugar levels.
Effects of fetal genotype and sex on developmental response to maternal malnutrition
Authors: Cogollos Laura , Garcia-Contreras Consolacion , Vazquez-Gomez Marta , Astiz Susana , Sanchez-Sanchez Raul , Gomez-Fidalgo Ernesto , Ovilo Cristina , Isabel Beatriz , Gonzalez-Bulnes Antonio
Published: May 2016

The present study aimed to determine whether developmental patterns, adiposity level and fatty-acid composition of fetuses exposed to maternal malnutrition are driven by their sex or their genotype, or both, as these may modulate the adaptive response to the intrauterine environment independently of the maternal genotype. We used a single maternal genotype (purebred Iberian (IB) sows), which was inseminated with heterospermic semen (obtained by mixing semen from Iberian and Large White (LW) boars), to obtain four different subsets of fetuses (male and female, purebred (IB × IB) and crossbred (IB × LW)) in Iberian purebred sows. Analysis of fetal phenotypes indicated a better adaptive response of the female offspring, which was modulated by their genotype. When faced with prenatal undernutrition, females prioritised the growth of vital organs (brain, liver, lungs, kidneys and intestine) at the expense of bone and muscle. Moreover, the analysis of fat composition showed a higher availability of essential fatty acids in the female sex than in their male counterparts and also in the Iberian genotype than in crossbred fetuses. These results are of high translational value for understanding ethnic differences in prenatal programming of postnatal health and disease status, and show evidence that prenatal development and metabolic traits are primarily determined by fetal sex and strongly modulated by fetal genotype.
Time discounting and criminal behavior
Authors: Åkerlund David , Golsteyn Bart H. H. , Grönqvist Hans , Lindahl Lena
Published: May 2016

Significance

One of the most fundamental predictions of almost any model of crime is that individual time preferences matter. However, empirical evidence on this basic property of the model is essentially nonexistent. We empirically investigate whether individual time discounting measured at age 13 predicts subsequent criminal involvement up to age 31. We show that time discounting significantly predicts criminal activity and that high discount rates predict crime more strongly at the extensive margin rather than for total crime. The link is much stronger for property crime and among males with low intelligence.
Memories of unethical actions become obfuscated over time
Authors: Kouchaki Maryam , Gino Francesca
Published: May 2016

Significance

We identify a consistent reduction in the clarity and vividness of people’s memory of their past unethical actions, which explains why they behave dishonestly repeatedly over time. Across nine studies using diverse sample populations and more than 2,100 participants, we find that, as compared with people who engaged in ethical behavior and those who engaged in positive or negative actions, people who acted unethically are the least likely to remember the details of their actions. That is, people experience unethical amnesia: unethical actions tend to be forgotten and, when remembered, memories of unethical behavior become less clear and vivid over time than memories of other types of behaviors. Our findings advance the science of dishonesty, memory, and decision making.
Biodiversity enhances reef fish biomass and resistance to climate change
Authors: Duffy J. Emmett , Lefcheck Jonathan S. , Stuart-Smith Rick D. , Navarrete Sergio A. , Edgar Graham J.
Published: May 2016

Significance

Marine fisheries provide a major global source of protein, feeding billions of people, but they face destabilization in many regions from overexploitation and climate change. Using the most comprehensive dataset of fish diversity and abundance, encompassing over 4,500 surveys from nearshore habitats around the world, we show that biodiversity is among the strongest predictors of reef fish community biomass, comparable in importance to global temperature gradients and human impacts. Importantly, diverse fish communities were more resistant to rising and variable temperature, suggesting that high biodiversity also buffers against changing climate. Maintaining taxonomically and functionally diverse fish communities can thus stabilize fisheries’ yields in a changing ocean.
Aliens Are Just Like Us: Personal Names in The Legion of Super-Heroes
Authors: Sutton Laurel
Published: May 2016

Names created for alien comic-book characters in the 1960s provide an insight into cultural naming norms of the time; personal names had to be structurally familiar, so that readers could relate to them, yet different enough to seem other-worldly and/or futuristic. This analysis focuses on the personal names of The Legion of Super-Heroes, a team of super-powered teenagers from the thirty-first century. Their invented names conform sharply to English-speaking US American norms in terms of gender marking through syllable count and phonetic choice. The names of the future are very much like those of mid-twentieth-century American comic-book readers.
Measuring Consumer Responses to a Bottled Water Tax Policy
Authors: Berck Peter , Moe‐Lange Jacob , Stevens Andrew , Villas‐Boas Sofia
Published: May 2016

Using panel data of retail purchases, we measure the effects of the introduction, and later removal, of a bottled‐water tax in the state of Washington. We use a difference‐in‐differences approach to measure effects of the tax against untreated stores (in comparable control states) and untreated weeks (the pre‐period). We further estimate triple‐difference specifications comparing bottled water to juice and milk substitute products. Our results show that, when imposed, the tax causes bottled water sales to drop by nearly 6% in our preferred specification. Sales never fully recover, even after the tax removal. In terms of the heterogeneity of this effect, we find larger quantity drops in high tax rate areas and in the lowest and highest quintile income areas.
Identifying the ‘true’ radius of the hot sub-Neptune CoRoT-24b by mass-loss modelling
Authors: Lammer H. , Erkaev N. V. , Fossati L. , Juvan I. , Odert P. , Cubillos P. E. , Guenther E. , Kislyakova K. G. , Johnstone C. P. , Lüftinger T. , Güdel M.
Published: May 2016

For the hot exoplanets CoRoT-24b and CoRoT-24c, observations have provided transit radii RT of 3.7 ± 0.4R⊕ and 4.9 ± 0.5R⊕, and masses of ≤5.7M⊕ and 28 ± 11M⊕, respectively. We study their upper atmosphere structure and escape applying an hydrodynamic model. Assuming RT ≈ RPL, where RPL is the planetary radius at the pressure of 100 mbar, we obtained for CoRoT-24b unrealistically high thermally driven hydrodynamic escape rates. This is due to the planet's high temperature and low gravity, independent of the stellar EUV flux. Such high escape rates could last only for <100 Myr, while RPL shrinks till the escape rate becomes less than or equal to the maximum possible EUV-driven escape rate. For CoRoT-24b, RPL must be therefore located at ≈1.9–2.2R⊕ and high altitude hazes/clouds possibly extinct the light at RT. Our analysis constraints also the planet's mass to be 5–5.7M⊕. For CoRoT-24c, RPL and RT lie too close together to be distinguished in the same way. Similar differences between RPL and RT may be present also for other hot, low-density sub-Neptunes.
The Canarias Einstein ring: a newly discovered optical Einstein ring
Authors: Bettinelli M. , Simioni M. , Aparicio A. , Hidalgo S. L. , Cassisi S. , Walker A. R. , Piotto G. , Valdes F.
Published: May 2016

We report the discovery of an optical Einstein ring in the Sculptor constellation, IAC J010127-334319, in the vicinity of the Sculptor dwarf spheroidal galaxy. It is an almost complete ring (∼300°) with a diameter of ∼4.5 arcsec. The discovery was made serendipitously from inspecting Dark Energy Camera (DECam) archive imaging data. Confirmation of the object nature has been obtained by deriving spectroscopic redshifts for both components, lens and source, from observations at the 10.4 m Gran Telescopio CANARIAS (GTC) with the spectrograph OSIRIS. The lens, a massive early-type galaxy, has a redshift of z = 0.581, while the source is a starburst galaxy with redshift of z = 1.165. The total enclosed mass that produces the lensing effect has been estimated to be Mtot = (1.86 ± 0.23) × 1012 M⊙.
Optical variability properties of mini-BAL and NAL quasars
Authors: Horiuchi Takashi , Misawa Toru , Morokuma Tomoki , Koyamada Suzuka , Takahashi Kazuma , Wada Hisashi
Published: May 2016

While narrow absorption lines (NALs) are relatively stable, broad absorption lines (BALs) and mini-BAL systems usually show violent time variability within a few years via a mechanism that is not yet understood. In this study, we examine the variable ionization state (VIS) scenario as a plausible mechanism, as previously suspected. Over three years, we performed photometric monitoring observations of four mini-BAL and five NAL quasars at zem ∼ 2.0–3.1 using the 105 cm Kiso Schmidt Telescope in u, g, and i bands. We also performed spectroscopic monitoring observation of one of our mini-BAL quasars (HS 1603+3820) using the 188 cm Okayama Telescope over the same period as the photometric observations. Our main results are as follows: (1) Structure function (SF) analysis revealed that the quasar UV flux variability over three years was not large enough to support the VIS scenario, unless the ionization condition of outflow gas is very low. (2) There was no crucial difference between the SFs of mini-BAL and NAL quasars. (3) The variability of the mini-BAL and quasar light curves was weakly synchronized with a small time delay for HS 1603+3820. These results suggest that the VIS scenario may need additional mechanisms such as variable shielding by X-ray warm absorbers.
Introduction of Enhanced Recovery for Elective Cesarean Section Enabling Next Day Discharge: A Tertiary Centre Experience
Authors: Wrench I.J. , Allison A. , Galimberti A. , Radley S. , Wilson M.J.
Published: May 2016

(Int J Obstet Anesth. 2015;24(2):124–130)

Enhanced recovery programs (fast-track surgery) are designed to optimize aspects of patient care after surgery in order to improve recovery and facilitate earlier discharge without reducing quality of care or patient satisfaction. There is mounting evidence linking enhanced recovery programs to improved patient outcomes postoperatively, including reduced patient morbidity, reduced length of stay, and earlier return to normal activities.
Influenza Virus Infection in Pregnancy: A Review
Authors: Meijer W.J. , van Noortwijk A.G. , Bruinse H.W. , Wensing A.M.
Published: May 2016

(Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2015;94:797–819)

In most patients, the influenza virus is a self-limiting infection. However, this common infection can lead to more serious complications among pregnant women.
Emergency Peripartum Hysterectomy: Results From the Prospective Nordic Obstetric Surveillance Study (NOSS)
Authors: Jakobsson M. , Tapper A.M. , Colmorn L.B. , Lindqvist P.G. , Klungsøyr K. , Krebs L. , Børdahl P.E. , Gottvall K. , Källén K. , Bjarnadóttir R.I. , Langhoff-Roos J. , Gissler M.
Published: May 2016

(Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica. 94 (2015) 745–754)

When hemorrhage is so severe and uncontrollable that it threatens the life of a parturient, an emergency peripartum hysterectomy may be performed. Emergency hysterectomies are used only after conservative treatments have failed and are the last option to prevent maternal morbidity or even death.
Monitoring Obstetric Anesthesia Safety Across Hospitals Through Multilevel Modeling
Authors: Guglielminotti J. , Li G.
Published: May 2016

(Anesthesiology. 2015;122(6):1268–1279)

In 2001, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality released a list of 27 patient safety indicators. The number 1 indicator was the rate of complications of anesthesia. To ensure that this indicator remains relevant and reliable across hospitals, logistic models are used for risk adjustment that take into account patient characteristics and the types of procedures.
Delivery of Breech Presentation at Term Gestation in Canada, 2003 to 2011
Authors: Lyons J. , Pressey T. , Bartholomew S. , Liu S. , Liston R.M. , Joseph K.S.
Published: May 2016

(Obstet Gynecol. 2015;125:1153–1161)

Publication of the Term Breech Trial led to an immediate decline in vaginal breech delivery in many countries, as the trial found that perinatal mortality and serious neonatal morbidity was significantly lower after planned cesarean delivery than after planned vaginal delivery.
Carbetocin at Cesarean Delivery for Labour Arrest: A Sequential Allocation Trial to Determine the Effective Dose
Authors: Nguyen-Lu N. , Carvalho J.C. , Farine D. , Seaward G. , Ye X.Y. , Balki M.
Published: May 2016

(Can J Anesth. 2015;62:866–874)

Currently, oxytocin is the primary drug used to reduce the incidence of postpartum hemorrhage. However, oxytocin does have limitations, including a half-life of only 4 to 10 minutes, administration by means of an intravenous infusion, and a high rate of dose-dependent adverse effects. In contrast, carbetocin is administered as a single intravenous dose, but the recommended dosages are not well established. The authors of this study sought to determine an effective dose of carbetocin to provide satisfactory uterine tone following an intrapartum cesarean delivery in parturients whose labors were augmented.
Hemostatic Resuscitation in Postpartum Hemorrhage—A Supplement to Surgery
Authors: Ekelund K. , Hanke G. , Stensballe J. , Wikkelsøe A. , Albrechtsen C.K. , Afshari A.
Published: May 2016

(Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2015;94:680–692)

Although postpartum hemorrhage is preventable, it remains a highly prevalent cause of maternal death in poorer countries and seems to be increasingly common in higher income countries as well. Although surgical options can be the most beneficial course of treatment, these measures may fail to stop the hemorrhage. The use of uterotonic agents, controlled cord traction, uterine massage, intrauterine balloon tamponade, or uterine artery embolization can also prove ineffective when health care professionals are faced with a persistent hemorrhage. It is therefore important to determine effective and affordable treatments that can be used in addition to surgical options and uterotonic agents to ensure that hemostasis is achieved. The authors of this review examined the existing literature to evaluate other supplemental methods that are currently used to treat postpartum hemorrhage.
Maternal Hypertensive Disorders, Antihypertensive Medication Use, and the Risk of Birth Defects: A Case-Control Study
Authors: Van Gelder M.M. , Van Bennekom C.M. , Louik C. , Werler M.M. , Roeleveld N. , Mitchell A.A.
Published: May 2016

(BJOG. 2015;122(7):1002–1009)

Both hypertensive disorders and antihypertensive medication use in early pregnancy may affect fetal development directly either through vascular dysfunction or teratogenic mechanisms. Studies have evaluated the possible link between the prevalence of specific birth defects and hypertension or its treatment. This case-control study tested hypotheses from previous studies to investigate whether defects associated with pharmacological treatment of hypertension might actually be associated with the underlying hypertension itself. Specific kinds of hypertensive disorders during different time windows during pregnancy were investigated.
Auditory Function following Post-dural Puncture Headache Treated with Epidural Blood Patch: A Long-term Follow-up
Authors: Darvish B. , Dahlgren G. , Irestedt L. , Magnuson A. , Möller C. , Gupta A.
Published: May 2016

(Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica. 59 (2015) 1340–1354)

Epidural analgesia is commonly used to manage pain during labor, and in roughly 1% of cases an accidental dural puncture (ADP) results. When ADP occurs, patients frequently experience a severe post-dural puncture headache (PDPH) and can also suffer transient hearing loss. One of the methods used to treat PDPH is an epidural blood patch (EBP). The short- and long-term effects that ADP and this treatment have on auditory function are not known, but the authors of this study hypothesized that there could be residual hearing loss. The study examined the long-term changes in auditory function for patients who suffered ADP and were treated with an EBP.

The data for the study were collected from a group of sixty Swedish women, without documented hearing problems, who had experienced an ADP during labor and were treated with an EBP between 2005 and 2011. These women were tested in 2013 for hearing function and given a questionnaire on perceived hearing impairments. The control group consisted of twenty healthy, non-pregnant women of similar age who had not received a neuraxial block during their previous pregnancies. Each subject answered a general health and a specific hearing questionnaire. Otoscopy examination and pure tone and speech audiometry tests were performed on patients in both the study and control groups. Hearing levels were summarized by the mean and standard deviation using a 3-way analysis of variance model.
Small-for-Gestational-Age Birth and Maternal Plasma Antioxidant Levels in Mid-Gestation: A Nested Case-Control Study
Authors: Cohen J.M. , Kahn S.R. , Platt R.W. , Basso O. , Evans R.W. , Kramer M.S.
Published: May 2016

(BJOG. 2015;122:1313–1321)

This is one of only a few prospective studies to assess antioxidant levels during pregnancy and the risk of small-for-gestational-age (SGA) birth. It includes the largest number of cases and most comprehensive set of antioxidants measured in studies published to date. The aim of the study was to prospectively measure a broad panel of maternal plasma antioxidant biomarker levels in mid-pregnancy and assess their association with the risk of SGA birth. It is hypothesized that higher levels of antioxidants in maternal blood may provide some protection from SGA birth.
The Effect of β2-Andrenoceptor Genotype on Phenylephrine Dose Administered During Spinal Anesthesia for Cesarean Delivery
Authors: Odekon L. , Landau R. , Blouin J.L. , Brodow D. , Wang S. , Smiley R.
Published: May 2016

(Anesth Analg. 2015;120:1309–1316)

Cesarean delivery is the most common major operation in the world. Spinal anesthesia has become the anesthetic technique of choice for both elective and nonelective cases. Without proper treatment or preventive measures, most women experience hypotension, often to such an extent that uteroplacental blood flow is compromised and adverse maternal or fetal effects occur. Previous work by the authors has demonstrated an effect of genetic variants of the β2-andrenoceptor (β2AR; ADRB2 gene) on the ephedrine dose required to maintain blood pressure during spinal anesthesia for cesarean delivery, but the mechanism by which this occurs is unclear.
Immediate Delivery Versus Expectant Monitoring for Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy Between 34 and 37 Weeks of Gestation (HYPITAT-II): An Open-label, Randomized-Controlled Trial
Authors: Broekhuijsen K. , van Baaren G.J. , van Pampus M.G. , Ganzevoort W. , Sikkema J.M. , Woiski M.D. , Oudijk M.A. , Bloemenkamp K.W. , Scheepers H.C. , Bremer H.A. , Rijnders R.J. , van Loon A.J. , Perquin D.A. , Sporken J.M. , Papatsonis D.N. , van Huizen M.E. , Vredevoogd C.B. , Brons J.T. , Kaplan M. , van Kaam A.H. , Groen H. , Porath M.M. , van den Berg P.P. , Mol B.W. , Franssen M.T. , Langenveld J.
Published: May 2016

(Lancet. 2015;385(9986):2492–2501)

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy occur in approximately 10% of all pregnancies. Although the first Hypertension and Preeclampsia Intervention Trial At Term (HYPITAT) study demonstrated that immediate delivery reduces the risk of adverse maternal outcomes for women with mild gestational hypertension or preeclampsia past 37 weeks of gestation, little is known about the risks and benefits of immediate delivery versus continuing the pregnancy for women at 34 to 37 weeks of gestation who have hypertensive disorders. This open-label, randomized-controlled trial investigated the effect of immediate delivery versus expectant management on maternal and neonatal outcomes for women with hypertensive disorders at 34 to 37 weeks’ gestation.
The Importance of the Cerebroplacental Ratio in the Evaluation of Fetal Well-Being in SGA and AGA Fetuses
Authors: DeVore G.R.
Published: May 2016

(Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2015;213(1):5–15)

The cerebroplacental ratio (CPR) is becoming an important way to assess fetal well-being and risk of adverse pregnancy outcome in fetuses diagnosed as small for gestational age (SGA) and appropriate for gestational age (AGA). Recent reports have indicated that abnormal CPR scores are associated with adverse perinatal events, fetal distress, and a higher rate of emergency cesarean deliveries. This article reviews studies where CPR has been used to evaluate SGA and AGA fetuses to predict adverse outcomes during labor and subsequent neonatal complications.
Nulliparous Women in the Second Stage of Labor: Changes in Delivery Outcomes Between 2 Cohorts From 2000 to 2011
Authors: Fitzwater Joseph L. , Owen John , Ankumah Nana-Ama , Campbell Sukhkamal B. , Biggio Joseph R. , Szychowski Jeff M. , Edwards Rodney K.
Published: May 2016

Obstet Gynecol. 2015;126:81–86

A prolonged second stage of labor has been associated with increased maternal risk for complications such as puerperal infection, perineal lacerations, and postpartum hemorrhage. It is also associated with neonatal morbidities including admission to the intensive care unit, sepsis, and low Apgar scores. However, ending the second stage of labor based solely on its duration might not be necessary, according to existing research. This retrospective cohort study examined the changes that have occurred over the past decade in both the modes of delivery and the delivery outcomes for women who have not previously given birth.
Transthoracic Echocardiographic Assessment of Haemodynamics in Severe Preeclampsia and HIV in South Africa
Authors: Dennis A.T. , Dyer R.A. , Gibbs M. , Nel L. , Castro J.M. , Swanevelder J.L.
Published: May 2016

(Anaesthesia. 2015, 70, 1028–1038)

Preeclampsia and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection are 2 serious global health problems for women. Although preeclampsia affects 6.5 million women each year, HIV infection affects 1.5 million pregnant women globally, with thousands of maternal deaths complicated by HIV infection. In South Africa, both are significant health problems. The objectives of this study were: to determine hemodynamics using transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) in women with preeclampsia, both untreated and treated; and to determine the differences, if any, in hemodynamics between healthy term pregnant women and term women with HIV, using TTE.
Self-Hypnosis for Intrapartum Pain Management in Pregnant Nulliparous Women: A Randomized-Controlled Trial of Clinical Effectiveness
Authors: Downe S. , Finlayson K. , Melvin C. , Spiby H. , Ali S. , Diggle P. , Gyte G. , Hinder S. , Miller V. , Slade P. , Trepel D. , Weeks A. , Whorwell P. , Williamson M.
Published: May 2016

(BJOG. 2015; 122:1226–1234)

There has been a rising demand from the parturient population for alternative forms of labor pain relief beyond epidural analgesia. One of these alternatives, hypnosis, might be able to reduce the use of epidural analgesia for labor and potentially decrease the need for interventions (eg, instrumental birth, neonatal antibiotic administration related to maternal fever). Subsequently, in this multicenter, nonblinded, randomized-controlled trial, undertaken in the United Kingdom, the authors established a self-hypnosis group program for nulliparous women in their third trimester of pregnancy (27 to 32 wk gestation) and examined the program’s effect on epidural use during labor.
A Comparison of Fentanyl With Pethidine for Pain Relief During Childbirth: A Randomized-Controlled Trial
Authors: Fleet J. , Belan I. , Jones M.J. , Ullah S. , Cyna A.M.
Published: May 2016

(BJOG. 2015 Jun;122(7):983–992)

Pethidine (meperidine) is the most commonly administered opioid for labor pain in women unable or unwilling to undergo epidural analgesia. It has a slow onset and the potential for adverse effects, due in part to the active metabolite norpethidine (normeperidine), which has been associated with neuronal depression in the neonate for up to 60 hours after birth. The faster-acting opioid fentanyl has shown promise as an alternative to pethidine, with the advantages of rapid onset, short duration, and no active metabolite. In studies comparing intravenous (IV) fentanyl with IV pethidine in the obstetric setting, IV fentanyl resulted in fewer adverse effects in both mother and baby. Less invasive intranasal (IN) and subcutaneous (SC) fentanyl have been shown to be efficacious in nonobstetric settings, but few studies have examined the administration of fentanyl by these routes in laboring parturients. This randomized-controlled trial compared the efficacy of fentanyl administered intranasally or subcutaneously with intramuscular (IM) pethidine for labor analgesia, as measured by pain scores 30 minutes after treatment. Important secondary maternal outcomes included the rating of perceived feelings of control during labor using the Labor Agentry Scale (LAS) questionnaire, and satisfaction with the treatment intervention, determined by the participant’s willingness to use the treatment again.
Spinal Ultrasound Versus Palpation for Epidural Catheter Insertion in Labour: A Randomized-Controlled Trial
Authors: Arzola C. , Mikhael R. , Margarido C. , Carvalho J.C.
Published: May 2016

(Eur J Anaesthesiol. 2015 Jul;32(7):499–505)

Ultrasound guidance has gained increasing acceptance among anesthesiologist as a means to improve the efficacy and safety of various procedures, including vascular access, peripheral nerve blockade, and neuraxial anesthesia. Although several studies have been published on the use of spinal ultrasound, a common limitation is that a single expert investigator or selected group of anesthesiologists performed the ultrasound scanning while an experienced or novice operator carried out the neuraxial technique, This may affect the generalizability of the existing data and raises the question of whether the same benefits would be observed if clinicians performed both the ultrasound scanning and the neuraxial procedure. This randomized-controlled trial investigated the impact of ultrasound usage on the ease of insertion of labor epidurals by a mixed group of trainees after they participated in a comprehensive teaching program on ultrasound assessment of the spine. The investigators hypothesized that the use of preprocedural spinal ultrasound would improve the ease of insertion of labor epidural catheters when compared with the conventional palpation technique.
Spinal Anaesthesia With Low-dose Bupivacaine in Marginally Hyperbaric Solutions for Caesarean Section: A Randomized-Controlled Trial
Authors: Tang W.X. , Li J.J. , Bu H.M. , Fu Z.J.
Published: May 2016

(Eur J Anaesthesiol. 2015;32(7):493–498)

Studies involving spinal anesthesia in nonobstetric situations have demonstrated that marginally hyperbaric bupivacaine solutions (containing ≤0.8% glucose but still denser than cerebrospinal fluid) produce a more consistent block albeit a lower sensory level than the conventional hyperbaric solution containing 8% glucose. The marginally hyperbaric solution has also been found to have a lower rate of hypotension in the nonobstetric setting. However, the efficacy of spinal anesthesia with marginally hyperbaric low-dose bupivacaine has not been studied during cesarean section (CS). This randomized, controlled trial compared the efficacy of 3 different marginally hyperbaric solutions of low-dose (7.2 mg) bupivacaine with that of the conventional hyperbaric solution in women undergoing elective CS The investigators hypothesized that the marginally hyperbaric low-dose bupivacaine solutions would be associated with a reduced cephalad spread and a reduced incidence of side effects compared with the conventional hyperbaric solution.
Undiagnosed Vertebral Hemangioma Causing a Lumbar Compression Fracture and Epidural Hematoma in a Parturient Undergoing Vaginal Delivery Under Epidural Analgesia: A Case Report
Authors: Staikou C. , Stamelos M. , Boutas I. , Koutoulidis V.
Published: May 2016

(Can J Anesth. (2015) 62:901–906)

Vertebral hemangiomas are benign vascular tumors that tend to develop within the vertebra and occur in roughly 10% of the population. These tumors do not typically grow quickly and do not cause any symptoms as long as they remain within the vertebra. However, if these tumors grow beyond the spine’s bony structures, they can produce symptoms related to nerve root compression or compression of the spinal cord. Similarly aggressive development of vertebral hemangiomas can become apparent in pregnant patients, especially during the third trimester when previously undiagnosed tumors may begin to cause a number of neurological symptoms, including radicular pain, sensory and motor deficits, and incontinence. This article details an atypical case in which vertebral hemangiomas resulted in a vertebral fracture that presented at first as postpartum back pain following epidural analgesia.

The patient in question was a 32-year-old North African pregnant woman who was at 40+4 weeks gestation. She had previously experienced 3 uncomplicated deliveries without epidural analgesia. At 162 cm in height and weighing 96 kg, she had gained roughly 27 kg during this pregnancy, which was significantly more than what she had gained with her other pregnancies. The patient did not have a history of back pain or trauma and did not suffer from any neurological or coagulation disorders. She had never received general or neuraxial anesthesia before this pregnancy.
Case 29-2015: A 38-Year-Old Pregnant Woman With Headache and Visual Symptoms
Authors: Feske Steven K. , Goldberg Marcia , Dudzinski David M. , Gonzalez Ramon Gilberto , Kovach Alexandra E.
Published: May 2016

(N Engl J Med. 2015;373:1154–1164)

In this case report, a 38-year-old pregnant woman (gravid 2, para 0) was admitted to the hospital at 33 weeks 3 days of gestation because of occipital headache, vomiting, a 2-minutes spell with visual symptoms (tunnel vision, spots in the visual field, unsteadiness, and vertigo) and hyperventilation.
Conservative treatment of pediatric thoracic and lumbar spinal fractures: outcomes in the sagittal plane
Authors: Angelliaume Audrey , Simon Anne-Laure , Boissière Louis , Bouty Aurore , Sales de Gauzy Jérôme , Vital Jean-Marc , Gille Olivier , Tournier Clément , Aunoble Stéphane , Pontailler Jean-Roger , Lefèvre Yan
Published: May 2016

To assess sagittal plane spinopelvic balance and functional outcomes in a pediatric cohort of patients with a thoracic and/or a lumbar fracture treated conservatively. A multicentric study retrospectively reviewed radiological and functional outcomes (mean follow-up 49 months) of 48 patients (mean age 12 years) with thoracic and/or lumbar spinal fractures that occurred between 1996 and 2014. Demographic data and radiological spinopelvic parameters were analyzed. Functional outcome was evaluated by a telephone interview. First, a comparison between the initial and the last follow-up full-spine radiographs was performed for the assessment of bone remodeling and sagittal plane balance. Then, patients were classified into two groups (group 1: Risser≤2 and group 2, Risser>2) to assess the influence of skeletal maturity on the restoration of a correct sagittal balance. A total of 62% of the patients were at skeletal maturity at the final follow-up (Risser 4 and 5). Patients with a Risser grade of 2 or less had a higher remodeling potential. The mean residual local kyphosis in thoracic and lumbar fractures was, respectively, 8.2° and 8.7°. The mean thoracic global kyphosis remains stable at the last follow-up, in contrast to lumbar lordosis, which increased significantly. Sagittal plane global measurements on the basis of the C7-plumbline remained unchanged at the last follow-up. There was no change in the pelvic parameters, except for the sacral slope in the group 1 for patients with a lumbar fracture. The current study confirms a greater correction in younger patients (Risser≤2) in spinal fractures and reported that thoracic fractures have a higher remodeling potential than lumbar fracture. A local kyphosis of almost 10° remained at the last follow-up. However, no deterioration in the sagittal plane balance was found. This suggests compensatory mechanisms in adjacent structures for children and adolescents and excludes the only hypothesis of bone remodeling.
Current Status of Tissue-engineered Scaffolds for Rotator Cuff Repair
Authors: Chainani Abby , Little Dianne
Published: May 2016

Rotator cuff tears continue to be at significant risk for retear or for failure to heal after surgical repair despite the use of a variety of surgical techniques and augmentation devices. Therefore, there is a need for functionalized scaffold strategies to provide sustained mechanical augmentation during the critical first 12 weeks after repair, and to enhance the healing potential of the repaired tendon and tendon-bone interface. Tissue-engineered approaches that combine the use of scaffolds, cells, and bioactive molecules toward promising new solutions for rotator cuff repair are reviewed. The ideal scaffold should have adequate initial mechanical properties, be slowly degrading, or nondegradable, have nontoxic degradation products, enhance cell growth, infiltration and differentiation, promote regeneration of the tendon-bone interface, be biocompatible, and have excellent suture retention and handling properties. Scaffolds that closely match the inhomogeneity and nonlinearity of the native rotator cuff may significantly advance the field. Although substantial preclinical work remains to be done, continued progress in overcoming current tissue engineering challenges should allow for successful clinical translation.
Biomechanics Versus Biology: The Effect of Rotator Cuff Repair Constructs on Healing and Outcomes
Authors: Johnston Peter S.
Published: May 2016

Innovation in rotator cuff repair technique has driven our understanding of the biomechanical attributes necessary for optimizing tendon-bone healing. Despite these advances, rotator cuff repair failure and retear rates still remain high. With the evolution of arthroscopic technique and instrumentation, transosseous, single-row, double-row, and transosseous-equivalent repair configurations have all been shown to be effective clinically. Biomechanical studies have identified significant strengths and weaknesses when comparing current repair configurations. Limitations do exist when extrapolating laboratory data and correlating clinically. The biological milieu at the tendon-bone interface and patient-specific factors out of the surgeon’s control can determine the successful healing of a rotator cuff repair. Ultimately, the goals of rotator cuff repair include identifying the superior construct to provide the biomechanical environment to optimize biological healing within the constraints of the underlying pathology.
Role of the Remaining Rotator Cuff Following Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty
Authors: Knapik Derrick M. , Voos James E. , Salata Michael J. , Gillespie Robert J.
Published: May 2016

Rotator cuff degeneration and cuff tear arthropathy result from chronic degeneration and wear, representing a significant clinical and financial burden in the elderly population. Reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) has proven to be superior in restoring clinical and functional outcomes in patients not amendable to direct rotator cuff repair when compared with total shoulder arthroplasty. However, the design of the reverse shoulder prosthesis fails to restore external rotation in the setting of massive posterior rotator cuff tears with a dislocation rates as high as 9%. This necessitates a review of the role of the remaining posterior rotator cuff (infraspinatus and teres minor) and subscapularis on postoperative clinical and functional outcomes after RSA. On the basis of the available literature, the health of the posterior rotator cuff, reflected in the degree of fatty infiltration and tearing, is essential for maintenance and restoration of external rotation postoperatively, with the integrity of the teres minor being more critical. Proper tensioning of the posterior cuff using increased offset designs is necessary to achieve optimal outcomes. However, tendon transfers using the latissimus dorsi, with or without the teres major, make the contribution of the remaining posterior rotator cuff on postoperative outcomes negligible. Meanwhile, subscapularis repair and integrity are not critical to postoperative stability of the prosthesis or internal rotation. Further investigations are warranted to determine the amount of remaining rotator cuff and the extent of degeneration necessary to impact postoperative outcomes after RSA.
Rotator Cuff Reconstruction and Augmentation Using Polymer, Allograft, and Xenograft Constructs
Authors: Choi J. H. James , Alentorn-Geli Eduard , Stuart Joseph J. , Garrigues Grant E. , Toth Alison P.
Published: May 2016

Rotator cuff pathology is an increasingly common diagnosis as the overall population ages and has the potential to cause significant disability due to loss of function and pain. Patients who have rotator cuff tears that classically have been considered “massive” or “irreparable” represent a specific subset that historically has been a difficult treatment challenge with variable outcomes reported in the literature. A myriad of treatment options have been proposed ranging from nonoperative approaches such as physical therapy extending to major procedures such as tendon transfers and reverse total shoulder arthroplasty. Each of these options presents a distinct set of advantages and disadvantages. Over the past 10 years, progress has been made in the use of polymer, allograft, and xenograft augmentation and reconstruction of rotator cuff tears. Although results for these products have been somewhat variable, it is likely that tissue and synthetic matrices will become increasingly more significant and relevant in the treatment of massive rotator cuff tears.
Menopausal women requesting egg/embryo donation: examining health screening guidelines for assisted reproductive technology
Authors: MacArthur Taleen , Bachmann Gloria , Ayers Charletta
Published: May 2016

Objective:

As more postreproductive women opt to pursue pregnancy with advanced assisted reproductive technologies (ART), the menopausal practitioner will become more involved in counseling, screening, and referral of premenopausal, perimenopausal, and postmenopausal women for these services. This review was conducted with the aim of (1) evaluating ART screening practices as they pertain to postreproductive women, and (2) reviewing the outcomes of ART using oocyte donation in postreproductive women.

Methods:

A total of 950 unique records were found on PubMed, Clinical Key, and Google Scholar. Of these, 252 records were screened for relevance based on their titles and abstracts. With further review of these 252 records, 93 full-text articles were assessed for eligibility, and 63 were excluded based on relevance to our study. Finally, 30 studies were included in our qualitative synthesis.

Results:

Despite the increasing use of ART in postreproductive women, there are limited guidelines for determining candidacy with regard to maternal health, the most comprehensive of which are the guidelines from the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM). Although the American Society for Reproductive Medicine guidelines state that healthy women over 50 who are prepared for parenthood are candidates for ART through oocyte donation, they note that older women should be counseled as to the increased obstetric risk associated with advanced maternal age. With aging, particularly for those women who are menopausal and postmenopausal, the woman and her fetus, however, are at risk of increased morbidity and mortality as compared with younger, healthy pregnant women. Because national trends suggest that women are delaying childbearing, the cohort of postreproductive women looking toward ART using donor oocytes as a fertility option will expand and menopausal practitioners will often participate in the ART counseling of these women.

Conclusions:

Because maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality increase in postmenopausal women who become pregnant through ART, practitioners caring for this cohort should provide input into developing standardized, comprehensive guidelines for this population so that screening is consistent for all older women seeking this intervention and risks are objectively outlined and considered.
Effects of ospemifene, a novel selective estrogen-receptor modulator, on human breast tissue ex vivo
Authors: Eigeliene Natalija , Kangas Lauri , Hellmer Christina , Kauko Tommi , Erkkola Risto , Härkönen Pirkko
Published: May 2016

Objective:

Ospemifene (Osp) is a novel selective estrogen-receptor modulator (SERM) accepted for the treatment of dyspareunia, a symptom of postmenopausal vulvovaginal atrophy. We aimed to analyze the effects of Osp on human breast tissue (HBT), in comparison with the clinically established SERMs raloxifene (Ral) and tamoxifen (Tam), using ex vivo explant cultures.

Methods:

HBT samples were obtained from postmenopausal women undergoing mammoplasty and cultured with or without Osp, Ral, Tam, or 17β-estradiol (E2) for 7 and 14 days, and studied for morphology, proliferation, and apoptosis. The expression of epithelial markers, the estrogen-receptor alpha (ERα), the androgen receptor (AR), TFF1, and apolipoprotein D was evaluated using immunohistochemistry and quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The PvuII polymorphism of ERS1 was determined.

Results:

Osp, similar to Ral and Tam, decreased the number of proliferating cells in a concentration-dependent manner (at 100 nM, P < 0.01) and strongly opposed 10 nM E2-stimulated proliferation (P < 0.001). Corresponding effects were observed in the proportions of cells expressing ERα and TFF1 (P < 0.001). At 14 days apoptosis was increased by 100 nM SERMs (P < 0.01), but, notably, decreased by 1 nM Osp and Ral at day 7 (P < 0.05). The SERMs exerted ER-agonist effects on AR-positive cell populations at 1 nM (P < 0.05), but not at 100 nM concentrations. The effects on proliferation and ERα expressing cell numbers were associated with the ERS1 PvuII genotype.

Conclusions:

In summary, Osp inhibited proliferation and opposed E2 stimulation in normal HBT in an efficacious, but less potent way than Ral and Tam. The ESR1 PvuII polymorphisms may influence the responsiveness of HBT to E2 and SERMs.
Binge-eating disorder: emerging treatments for a new diagnosis
Authors: Tsappis Michael , Freizinger Melissa , Forman Sara F.
Published: May 2016

Purpose of review

This review provides an update on the new Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) diagnosis of binge-eating disorder (BED) by presenting diagnostic criteria, associated risk factors and co-morbidities, and tools for assessment. An update on the currently available evidence-based treatments for adolescent BED is provided to help with the coordination of treatment planning for identified patients with this condition.

Recent findings

BED is now officially included in the DSM. Research with youth has begun to show improvement from treatments such as cognitive behavioral therapy, previously shown to be useful in adults.

BED is common and often begins during youth. The availability of diagnostic criteria, along with increasing knowledge about the condition and available treatments, is expected to result in improved identification and management in younger patients.
Anatomic Invasive Depth Predicts Delayed Cervical Lymph Node Metastasis of Tongue Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Mitani Sohei , Tomioka Toshifumi , Hayashi Ryuichi , Ugumori Toru , Hato Naohito , Fujii Satoshi
Published: May 2016

Delayed cervical lymph node metastasis (CLNM) is the most negative prognostic factor of tongue squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). This study analyzed the relationship between clinicopathologic factors, including anatomic invasive depth (AID), and CLNM. A total of 212 patients with clinically node-negative (cN0) tongue SCC who had undergone partial glossectomy through the mouth were eligible for this retrospective study. The deepest portions where tongue SCC cells invaded as determined by microscopic analyses were classified into 5 categories, including epithelial and submucosal tissue, lateral extrinsic tongue muscle (ETM), intrinsic tongue muscles (ITM), paralingual and sublingual spaces, and medial ETM according to AID. We examined the relationship between clinicopathologic factors including AID and delayed CLNM. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that AID was an independent predictive factor for delayed CLNM (P=0.0022; odds ratio=7.1). Deeper invasion than ITM, including ITM, paralingual and sublingual spaces, and medial ETM, had high sensitivity and negative predictive value for delayed CLNM (94.4% and 95.7%, respectively). Precise elucidation of AID may be useful for the preoperative decision for performing elective neck dissection. None of 11 patients in whom the deepest portion where tumor invaded to lateral ETM (according to AID) showed delayed CLNM, although tongue SCC T4a tumor is defined by the presence of invasion of cancer cells to ETM. Tumors with invasion to lateral ETM might have to be excluded from the pathologic T4a category.