bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Systematic Review of the Clinical Utility of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Nasal Screening for MRSA Pneumonia
Authors: Smith Melanie N. , Brotherton Amy L. , Lusardi Katherine , Tan Carrie A. , Hammond Drayton A.
Published: January 2019

Objective: To describe the diagnostic performance characteristics of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) nasal screening for patients with pneumonia. Data Sources: PubMed and Scopus were searched from 1 January 1990 to 12 December 2018 using terms methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus AND (screening OR active surveillance OR surveillance culture OR targeted surveillance OR chromogenic OR PCR OR polymerase chain reaction OR rapid test) AND (nares OR nasal) AND (pneumonia OR respiratory). Study Selection and Data Extraction: Relevant studies in humans and English were considered. Data Synthesis: In all, 19 studies, including 21 790 patients, were included. Nasal screening for MRSA had a high negative predictive value (NPV; 76% to 99.4% for relevant studies) across all types of pneumonia. Time from nasal screening to culture varied across studies. Relevance to Patient Care and Clinical Practice: MRSA nasal screening has a high NPV for MRSA involvement in pneumonia. Utilizing this test for antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP) purposes can provide a valuable tool for reducing unwarranted anti-MRSA agents and may provide additional cost benefits. A cutoff of 7 days between nasal swab and culture or infection onset seems most appropriate for use of this test for anti-MRSA agent de-escalation for ASP purposes. Conclusions: Consideration for the inclusion of the utility of MRSA nasal screening in MRSA pneumonia should be made for future pneumonia and ASP guidelines. Additional studies are warranted to fully evaluate specific pneumonia classifications, culture types, culture timing, and clinical outcomes associated with the use of this test in patients with pneumonia.
Effect of Rosuvastatin in Preventing Chemotherapy-Induced Cardiotoxicity in Women With Breast Cancer: A Randomized, Single-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial
Authors: Nabati Maryam , Janbabai Ghasem , Esmailian Jamil , Yazdani Jamshid
Published: January 2019

Objective:

Chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity is a major and leading cause of death in breast cancer survivors. It can present decades after chemotherapy and can manifest in different ways; some chemotherapeutic agents have a powerful dose-dependent relationship with cardiotoxicity. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of rosuvastatin on preventing chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity in patients with breast cancer.

Methods:

Our study was a randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled trial that involved 89 women with newly diagnosed breast cancer who were scheduled to receive chemotherapy. Patients were randomly assigned to receive rosuvastatin or a placebo in a 1:1 ratio for 6 months. Echocardiography, using 2-dimensional (2D) Doppler, tissue Doppler, and speckle-tracking methods, was used to determine the absolute changes in the left ventricular systolic ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV), left ventricular end-systolic volume (LVESV), left atrial (LA) diameter, transmitral Doppler early diastolic velocity (E wave), tissue Doppler early diastolic (e′) and peak systolic (s′) mitral annular velocities, E/e′ ratio, and global longitudinal systolic strain.

Results:

The LVEF was significantly reduced in the placebo group at the end of the study when compared with the baseline value. However, there was no significant difference in the LVEF in the intervention group (intergroup P = .012). Furthermore, compared with the intervention group at the end of the study, there was a significant increase in the 4- and 2-chamber LVESV, LA diameter, and E/e′ ratio in the placebo group (intergroup P = .019, P = .024, P < .001, and P = .021, respectively) and a significant decrease in the e′ and s′ velocities in the placebo group (intergroup P < .001 and P < .006, respectively).

Conclusions:

The present study showed that the prophylactic use of rosuvastatin may prevent the development of chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity.
Analyzing Urban Politics: A Mobilization–Governance Framework
Authors: McGovern Stephen J.
Published: January 2019

This paper begins by examining recent scholarship on the carceral state and its political consequences as an opportunity to reassess the study of urban politics. Along with illuminating how race structures local power relations, research on the carceral state exposes gaps in the long-standing, political–economy paradigm, and in particular regime theory, concerning the political lives of ordinary people and the role of ideas, values, and ideology in shaping political behavior. At the same time, this paper recognizes the powerful impact of market forces on urban governance, as well as regime theory’s emphasis on organizational resources, intergroup collaboration, and coalition building in accounting for business influence over city policymaking. A new analytical approach is proposed—the mobilization–governance framework—that seeks to build on the insights of scholarship on the carceral state while retaining still-valuable aspects of regime theory. A case study of contemporary politics in Philadelphia is presented to illustrate how the mobilization–governance framework might be applied.
Bone Marrow Morphology Associated With Germline RUNX1 Mutations in Patients With Familial Platelet Disorder With Associated Myeloid Malignancy
Authors: Chisholm Karen M , Denton Christopher , Keel Sioban , Geddis Amy E , Xu Min , Appel Burton E , Cantor Alan B , Fleming Mark D , Shimamura Akiko
Published: January 2019

Germline mutations in RUNX1 result in autosomal dominant familial platelet disorder with associated myeloid malignancy (FPDMM). To characterize the hematopathologic features associated with a germline RUNX1 mutation, we reviewed a total of 42 bone marrow aspirates from 14 FPDMM patients, including 24 cases with no cytogenetic clonal abnormalities, and 18 with clonal karyotypes or leukemia. We found that all aspirate smears had ≥10% atypical megakaryocytes, predominantly characterized by small forms with hypolobated and eccentric nuclei, and forms with high nuclear-to-cytoplasmic ratios. Core biopsies showed variable cellularity and variable numbers of megakaryocytes with similar features to those in the aspirates. Granulocytic and/or erythroid dysplasia (≥10% cells per lineage) were present infrequently. Megakaryocytes with separate nuclear lobes were increased in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and acute leukemia. Comparison to an immune thrombocytopenic purpura cohort confirms increased megakaryocytes with hypolobated eccentric nuclei in FPDMM patients. As such, patients with FPDMM often have atypical megakaryocytes with small hypolobated and eccentric nuclei even in the absence of clonal cytogenetic abnormalities; these findings are related to the underlying RUNX1 germline mutation and not diagnostic of MDS. Isolated megakaryocytic dysplasia in patients with unexplained thrombocytopenia should raise the possibility of an underlying germline RUNX1 mutation.
Neuroblastoma of the Bone and Bone Marrow Without an Apparent Primary Site: Report of 4 Cases With Long-term Follow-up
Authors: Rainusso Nino , Seghers Victor , Egler Rachel , Hicks John , Russell Heidi V
Published: January 2019

Children with neuroblastoma rarely present with metastatic disease without identifiable primary tumors. We describe the clinical and histopathologic characteristics of 4 patients aged 1, 7, 7, and 11 years with neuroblastoma involving bone or bone marrow without an apparent primary site. One patient presented with a periorbital bone lesion, 1 presented with a distal femoral lesion, and 2 presented with diffuse bone marrow involvement. All tumors were negative for MYCN amplification. All patients were alive without evidence of disease 5 years after completion of multimodality therapy. Patients with neuroblastoma of the bone and bone marrow without an apparent primary site may constitute a unique group characterized by older age at diagnosis, nonamplified MYCN tumors, and good response to treatment.
Affect in governmentality: Top executives managing the affective milieu of market liberalisation
Authors: Kantola Anu , Seeck Hannele , Mannevuo Mona
Published: January 2019

This article explores the role of affect in governmentality and develops the concept of the ‘affective milieu’ to better understand liberal forms of managerial control in market environments. Taking Foucault’s writings on consent, security and technologies of self as a vantage point, we suggest that the regimes of governmentality are both rational and affective milieus and propose that the Spinozan–Deleuzian affect theory provides an entry point for exploring how regimes of governmentality operate as affective milieus. The Spinozan–Deleuzian affect theory helps in understanding affective complexities and attempts to create affective alliances in governmentality. Elucidating this point, we explore how top executives at globally operating paper and metal companies entered a new affective milieu when going through market liberalisation. The affective milieu oscillates between the dangers and promises of the market. Using the notion of priming, we analyse how the top executives use the affective threats and promises of the opening markets and how they attempted to develop managerial techniques to incite and orient employees in the new milieu.
The anthropology of traps: Concrete technologies and theoretical interfaces
Authors: Corsín Jiménez Alberto , Nahum-Claudel Chloe
Published: January 2019

Traps connect not only predator and prey, but mind and materiality, technology and landscape, and infrastructure and ecology. Through them, bodies, knowledge practices, materials and environments are assembled in transformative encounters which, because of their lethal agency, have emotive and moral force. In this Introduction to the Special Issue, the authors explore the conceptual bridges and disciplinary admixtures invited by ethnographic attention to traps. They review a history of attention to traps, which is in the main a history of neglect and epistemological bias. As humble hunting technologies, traps have been secondary in status to the heroic chase, and the lifeways of trappers at the frontiers of empires have been neglected. Meanwhile traps have featured as archetypes and prototypes in evolutionist discourses focusing on technology, and human crafty intelligence in its invention and advancement. The authors trace these threads from the 19th century to contemporary anthropology and archaeology, and propose conceptual and practical lines for future analysis and research collaboration.
From Anxiety to Confidence: Exploring the Measurement of Statistics Confidence and its Relationship with Experience, Knowledge and Competence within Psychology Undergraduate Students
Authors: Paltoglou Aspasia E , Morys-Carter Wakefield L , Davies Emma L
Published: January 2019

Psychology students often feel anxious about learning statistics, which can impact their performance. However, little research has explored statistics confidence, which may be an important way to reduce the negative connotations of associating statistics with anxiety. We aimed to explore whether modifying an existing measure of statistics anxiety (the STARS scale) and reframing the questions so students rated their confidence instead, would be associated with competence, prior knowledge and experience. A total of 104 undergraduate students completed an online questionnaire comprising these measures. The factor structure of the STARS scale was predominantly maintained when wording was changed to measure confidence instead of anxiety. Confidence was related to experience and competence, but not knowledge. Two aspects of confidence (interpretation of statistics and exam confidence) plus initial experiences were significant predictors of competence. Confidence was a mediator of the relationship between experience and competence. These findings suggest statistics confidence can be measured in a similar way to anxiety, and highlight areas that could be addressed to increase competence. Future research is needed to explore the relationship between statistics anxiety and statistics confidence, as well as to determine their individual impact on performance in assessments.
The Differential Effects of Insecure Attachment on Post-Traumatic Stress: A Systematic Review of Extant Findings and Explanatory Mechanisms
Authors: Lim Ban Hong , Hodges Mikhaella A. , Lilly Michelle M.
Published: January 2019

It is well-documented that insecure attachment poses substantial risks to post-trauma recovery. Although attachment anxiety reliably predicts and is associated with elevated post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), the attachment avoidance–PTSS link has been far less consistent. This suggests both attenuating and enhancing connections between attachment difficulties and post-trauma outcomes. The goal of this study is 2-fold: (a) to review and summarize extant evidence concerning the relation between insecure attachment and PTSS and (b) to review mechanism(s) underlying attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance that may explain the development of PTSS. Following a systematic review of the empirical literature investigating attachment, trauma, and post-trauma reactions, a total of 138 studies were identified and summarized. The review further identifies explanatory mechanisms underlying the association between insecure attachment and PTSS, including stress appraisals, cognitive factors, self-esteem, emotion regulation strategies, social factors, and trauma-specific factors (i.e., type of trauma, extreme stress). Implications for practice, policy, and research are discussed.
A National Survey of Attitudes of the Zionist Ultra-Orthodox Community in Israel to Organ Donation
Authors: Ashkenazi Tamar , Steinberg Avraham , Cohen Jonathan
Published: January 2019

Background:

The Council of the Chief Rabbinate formally accepted neurologically declared death as an indication of death for all legal and religious purposes following changes made to practice parameters in order to comply with Jewish Law (halacha). This removed Jewish-legal barriers for organ donation. We surveyed the Zionist ultra-Orthodox community to identify the reasons for their continued reluctance to donate.

Methods:

A questionnaire was designed to assess personal, cultural, religious, and system-related considerations relating to organ donation. A telephone survey of persons identifying themselves with the Zionist ultra-Orthodox community was conducted to include 300 respondents (150 males and 150 females).

Results:

The response rate was 5.5% (300 of 6799 approached). While most participants (79%) agreed that organ donation improved or saved lives, a minority (25%) expressed willingness to donate. The most important inhibiting factors were related to religion, namely, importance of being buried intact (84%) and donation being against halacha (46%). Most respondents (67%) would approach a religious figure for advice, and willingness to donate increased when informed that donation was permitted (68%) and supported (63%) by orthodox religious authorities. Finally, a minority (37%) perceived the allocation process to be fair and adequately supervised (36%).

Conclusions:

This study identified religious and system-related constraints as important inhibiting factors to donation, factors which were potentially modifiable. Since this community relies on their religious leaders for guidance, public support by authoritative and accepted religious leaders is required to reassure the community of the legitimacy and positive aspects of organ donation.
YouTube’s Operational Logic: “The View” as Pervasive Category
Authors: van Es Karin
Published: January 2019

Launched in 2005 as a platform for user-generated content (UGC), YouTube is one of the most popular websites in the world. In this article, I focus on the site’s use of “the view,” which I argue serves as a pervasive category enacted through the platform, in its information regimes and beyond. The view supports a myth of viewer intentionality and satisfaction and serves as the operational logic of the platform as a whole. It is a category in Durkheim’s sense, ordering practices and naturalizing hierarchies and inequalities. These hierarchies concern, and impact on, participation, financial compensation, visibility, and popularity. In making my claims, I demonstrate how the celebratory discourse around YouTube as an empowering tool that levels the media playing field was positively misguided. I make a plea for a critical reading of the view, which can enhance our understanding of the platform and its culture.
Running With the Dead: Speedruns and Generative Rupture in Left 4 Dead 1 and 2
Authors: McKissack Fraser , May Lawrence
Published: January 2019

Distinctive narrative conditions arise when “speedrunning” the zombie narrative in Valve Corporation’s cooperative first-person shooter games Left 4 Dead (2008) and Left 4 Dead 2 (2009). Close analyses of two live speedruns recorded at the biannual Games Done Quick charity marathon, guided by concepts from Deleuze and Guattari, explain how the player’s narrative body, space, and time are impacted by the optimizations and exploits of the Left 4 Dead series’ zombie narrative. While the zombie story preprogrammed for players is largely bypassed, speedrunning through the Left 4 Dead series’ environments is a generative act of rupture that activates and deepens storytelling tendencies within zombie media that embrace chaos and decay. The speedrun is itself a form of collapse, where scripted meaning and intentionality fall away, replaced by the chance and ephemeral story of an emergent, optimized engagement.
The HOTSHOT taxonomy and a signature pedagogy framework for operating department practice: The juxtaposition to the academic apartheid surrounding higher order thinking
Authors: Beckwith Philip T
Published: January 2019

Bloom’s insistence on using verbs and Anderson and Karthwohl’s juxtaposition with nouns creates an academic apartheid, where there is only black and white with no grey when addressing the parts of speech used to define Higher Order Thinking. This paper embraces the grey and by draining the conceptual swamp surrounding traditional perceptions of Higher Order Thinking, creates fertile new ground which in turn feeds emergent notions, and allows pioneering characterisation of Higher Order Thinking to propagate.
Headaches in children
Authors: Bryant Michael , Bryant Bethany Laura
Published: January 2019

Headaches are extremely common, affecting over 75% of school-aged children. Most are benign and resolve as the child grows older, particularly tension-type headaches. There is often a close interaction between the child’s headache and their environment and lifestyle. A detailed history is the key to making a diagnosis; it will also allow caregivers and children to express their concerns and identify red flag symptoms. A focussed neurological examination is also essential. Many headaches occur a secondary to other conditions, such as infections or injuries and these conditions should not be overlooked. Although the majority of these conditions can be addressed in primary care, GPs should be aware of when to refer and the appropriate urgency.
Peer Support Through a Diabetes Social Media Community
Authors: Gavrila Valerie , Garrity Ashley , Hirschfeld Emily , Edwards Breann , Lee Joyce M.
Published: January 2019

Background:

Caregivers and individuals living with type 1 diabetes (T1D) who are members of CGM in the Cloud, a Facebook group associated with the Nightscout Project, were interviewed to assess how the online community impacted peer support.

Methods:

Semistructured qualitative interviews were conducted with caregivers and patients who are part of CGM in the Cloud Facebook group. Interview transcripts were analyzed to identify various themes related to peer support in the online group.

Results:

Members of the CGM in the Cloud Facebook group identified peer support through giving and receiving technical, emotional, and medical support, as well as giving back to the larger community by paying it forward. Peer support also extended beyond the online forum, connecting people in person, whether they were local or across the country.

Conclusions:

An online community can provide many avenues for peer support through emotional and technical support, as well as serve as a tool of empowerment. The community as a whole also had a spirit of altruism that bolstered confidence in others as well as those who paid it forward.
Patellar and Achilles Tendon Stiffness in Elite Soccer Players Assessed Using Myotonometric Measurements
Authors: Cristi-Sánchez Iver , Danes-Daetz Claudia , Neira Alejandro , Ferrada Wilson , Yáñez Díaz Roberto , Silvestre Aguirre Rony
Published: January 2019

Background:

Tendon overuse injuries are an issue in elite footballers (soccer players) and may affect tendon function. Achilles and patellar tendinopathy are the most frequent pathologies. Tendon stiffness, the relationship between the force applied to a tendon and the displacement exerted, may help represent tendon function. Stiffness is affected by training and pathology. Nevertheless, information regarding this mechanical property is lacking for elite soccer athletes.

Hypothesis:

Achilles and patellar tendon stiffness assessed using myotonometric measurements will be greater in elite soccer athletes than in control participants.

Study Design:

Cross-sectional study.

Level of Evidence:

Level 4.

Methods:

Forty-nine elite soccer athletes and 49 control participants were evaluated during the 2017 preseason. A handheld device was used to measure Achilles and patellar tendon stiffness. Dominant and nondominant limbs were assessed for both groups.

Results:

A significantly stiffer patellar tendon was found for both the dominant and the nondominant limb in the elite soccer athletes compared with the control group. Nevertheless, no differences were found in Achilles tendon stiffness between groups. When comparing between playing positions in soccer athletes, no significant differences were found for both tendons.

Conclusion:

Greater patellar tendon stiffness may be related to an improvement in force transmission during muscle contraction. On the other hand, it seems that after years of professional training, Achilles tendon stiffness does not change, conserving the storing-releasing function of elastic energy. The nonsignificant differences between positions may be attributable to the years of homogeneous training that the players underwent.

Clinical Relevance:

The present study shows another technique for measuring mechanical properties of tendons in soccer athletes that could be used in clinical settings. In the future, this technique may help clinicians choose the best exercise protocol to address impairments in tendon stiffness.
Engaging patients and caregivers in establishing research priorities for aortic dissection
Authors: Acosta Stefan , Kumlien Christine , Forsberg Anna , Nilsson Johan , Ingemansson Richard , Gottsäter Anders
Published: January 2019

Objectives:

The aim of this study was to establish the top 10 research uncertainties in aortic dissection together with the patient organization Aortic Dissection Association Scandinavia using the James Lind Alliance concept.

Methods:

A pilot survey aiming to identify uncertainties sent to 12 patients was found to have high content validity (scale content validity index = 0.91). An online version of the survey was thereafter sent to 30 patients in Aortic Dissection Association Scandinavia and 45 caregivers in the field of aortic dissection. Research uncertainties of aortic dissection were gathered, collated and processed.

Results:

Together with research priorities retrieved from five different current guidelines, 94 uncertainties were expressed. A shortlist of 24 uncertainties remained after processing for the final workshop. After the priority-setting process, using facilitated group format technique, the ranked final top 10 research uncertainties included diagnostic tests for aortic dissection; patient information and care continuity; quality of life; endovascular and medical treatment; surgical complications; rehabilitation; psychological consequences; self-care; and how to improve prognosis.

Conclusion:

These ranked top 10 important research priorities may be used to justify specific research in aortic dissection and to inform healthcare research funding decisions.
Disability Self-Identification and Well-Being in Emerging Adults
Authors: Chalk Holly McCartney , Barlett Christopher P. , Barlett Natalie D.
Published: January 2019

Research suggests that emerging adults (EAs) with a disabling impairment experience poor psychosocial outcomes and delayed markers of adulthood. Given the numbers of EA with a disabling impairment who do not self-identify as having a disability, we examine a multigroup structural model of positive disability identity based on disability self-identification. Participants ( n = 2,016) completed assessments of positive disability identity, psychosocial outcomes, and markers of adulthood. Most participants with a disabling impairment did not self-identify as having a disability (68%). Positive disability identity, maintaining a positive view of disability, was associated with increased life satisfaction, regardless of whether EA self-identify as having a disability. Exploratory analyses suggest that EA with psychiatric disabilities experience the most negative psychosocial outcomes. Findings suggest that maintaining a positive view of disability is associated with favorable outcomes. However, intervention with EA who do not self-identify is challenging, as they may not seek support services.
What ecotechnologies exist for recycling carbon and nutrients from domestic wastewater? A systematic map protocol
Authors: Haddaway Neal R. , Johannesdottir Solveig L. , Piniewski Mikołaj , Macura Biljana
Published: January 2019

Background

Pollution of the Baltic Sea continues to be a problem. Major terrestrial sources of nutrient emissions to the Baltic Sea are agriculture and wastewater, both major causes of eutrophication. Wastewater contains nutrients and organic matter that could constitute valuable products such as agricultural fertilizers and source of energy. With the EU’s action plan for circular economy, waste management and resource utilization is central. Thus the integration of resource recovery to wastewater management could create benefits beyond the wastewater sector. There is a growing interest in resource recovery from wastewater. However, there is no systematic overview of the literature on technologies to recover nutrients and carbon from wastewater sources done to date.

Methods

This systematic map will identify a representative list of studies on ecotechnologies for reusing carbon and nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) from domestic wastewater, which includes e.g. sewage sludge and wastewater fractions. Searches will be performed in five bibliographic databases, one search engine and 38 specialist websites. Searches will mainly be performed in English, search for literature in specialist websites will also include Finnish, Polish and Swedish. Coding and meta-data extraction will include information on ecotechnology name and short description, reuse outcome (i.e. reuse of carbon, nitrogen and/or phosphorus), type of reuse (i.e. whether it is explicit or implicit), study country and location, latitude and longitude. All screening and coding will be done after initial consistency checking. The outcomes of this systematic map will be a searchable database of coded studies. Findings will be presented in a geo-informational system (i.e. an evidence atlas) and knowledge gaps and clusters will be visualised via heat maps.
Stochastic inversion by trace matching for carbonate reservoir property prediction: A Mishrif Reservoir case study
Authors: Grant Sara R. , Hughes Matthew J. , Olatoke O. J. , Philip Neil
Published: January 2019

Estimation of reservoir properties and facies from seismic data is a well-established technique, and there are numerous methods in common usage. Our 1D stochastic inversion process (ODiSI), based on matching large numbers of pseudowells to color-inverted angle stacks, produces good estimations of reservoir properties, facies probabilities, and associated uncertainties. Historically, ODiSI has only been applied to siliciclastic reservoir intervals. However, the technique is equally suited to carbonate reservoirs, and ODiSI gives good results for the Mishrif Reservoir interval in the Rumaila Field in Iraq. Of course, a thorough awareness of the quality of all input well data and detailed validation of the parameters input to the inversion process is crucial to understanding the accuracy of the results.
Optimum source-receiver orientations to capture PP, PS, SP, and SS reflected wave modes
Authors: Pugin Andre , Yilmaz Öz
Published: January 2019

We conducted a field experiment at the geotechnical research soil site #1 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, and recorded 9-C seismic data along a short line traverse 90 m in length using a multicomponent vibrator source named Microvibe and a landstreamer receiver array with 48 3-C 28-Hz geophones at 0.75-m intervals. The receiver spread length is 35.25 m, and the near-offset is 1.50 m. We used three source and three receiver orientations — vertical (V), inline-horizontal (H1), and transverse-horizontal (H2). We identified several reflection wave modes in the field records — PP, PS, SP, and SS, in addition to refracted waves, and Rayleigh-mode and Love-mode surface waves. We computed the semblance spectra of the selected shot records and ascertained the wave modes based on the semblance peaks. We then performed CMP stacking of each of the 9-C data sets using the PP, PS/SP, and SS stacking velocities. This field test convincingly demonstrates that there is no pure P- or S-wave land seismic source — any source type can generate any combination of wave modes — PP, PS, SP, and SS, and partitioning of the source energy depends on the source orientation and VP/VS ratio. All three receiver orientations will capture all reflected wave modes — PP, PS, SP, and SS — but with varying strength. The magnitude of the reflection amplitude captured by one of the three receiver orientations will depend on the reflector depth, source-receiver offset, and the near-surface P- and S-wave velocities in the vicinity of the receiver location. The most prominent PP reflection energy is recorded by the VV source-receiver orientation, whereas the most prominent SS reflection energy is recorded by the H2H2 source-receiver orientation. Additionally, the optimum source-receiver orientation for PS reflection mode is VH1, and the optimum source-receiver orientation for SP reflection mode is H1V.
Honoring volunteers and sharing knowledge on the SEG Wiki
Authors: Geary Andrew
Published: January 2019

The SEG Wiki serves as a key foundation of the Society to engage the membership, the geoscience community, and the public in all-things applied geophysics. The wiki's main mission is to supply scientific material to the geoscience community and the public through online books, geophysical tutorials, geoscience articles, and biographies of geoscientists. SEG's two best-selling books are provided open and free of charge on the wiki. They include the Encyclopedic Dictionary of Applied Geophysics by Robert E. Sheriff and Seismic Data Analysis by Öz Yilmaz. A third book, Problems in Exploration Seismology and Their Solutions by L. P. Geldart and Robert E. Sheriff, will be added soon.
Long-term outcome of a randomized phase III trial exploring the significance of extensive intraoperative peritoneal lavage in addition to standard treatment for ≥ T3 resectable gastric cancer: CCOG 1102.
Authors: Morimoto Daishi , Misawa Kazunari , Mochizuki Yoshinari , Sakai Mitsuru , Teramoto Jin , Takase Tsunenobu , Nakayama Hiroshi , Ishigure Kiyoshi , Matsui Takanori , Kobayashi Daisuke , Ito Seiji , Morita Satoshi , Kodera Yasuhiro
Published: January 2019

1

Background: Extensive intraoperative peritoneal lavage (EIPL) for gastric cancer reportedly improved survival by physically removing and reducing intraperitoneal-free cancer cells in a small-scale randomized trial (Ann Surg 2009). To confirm this, we conducted a multicenter randomized Phase III trial. Methods: Eligibility criteria: (i) histologically confirmed primary gastric adenocarcinoma, (ii) clinically T3(SS), T4a(SE) or T4b(SI), (iii) clinically M0, and (iv) scheduled for total or distal gastrectomy. Patients were intraoperatively randomized to either the EIPL group or the non-EIPL group after confirming the ≥T3 status and resectability. In the EIPL group, peritoneal lavage was conducted at least 10 times using 1L of saline before the closure of the abdomen. In the non-EIPL group, the lavage was conducted with ≤3L of saline. The primary end-point was disease-free survival (DFS). To detect the difference of 15% in 3-year DFS with a both-sided alpha of 5% and 80% power, the planned sample size was 300 cases. This study was registered as UMIN000005907. Results: Between July 2011 and January 2014, 314 patients were registered from 15 institutions. After excluding the R1/R2 resection cases, 295 patients (145 in the EIPL group and 150 in the non-EIPL group) were analyzed. There were no significant differences between the groups in clinicopathologic characteristics. The median volume of saline for the peritoneal lavage was 10.0 L (10 - 12) for the EIPL group and 3.0 L (1 - 4) for the non-EIPL group. No difference was observed in the incidence of postoperative complications. The 3-year DFS was 63.9% in the EIPL group and 59.7% in the non-EIPL group (p = 0.25, Hazard ratio 0.81 [95% CI 0.57-1.16]). The overall survival rate of the EIPL group and non-EIPL group were 75.0%, 73.7% (3 years), and 62.5%, 57.1% (5 years), respectively (p = 0.65). In the subset analysis, no subgroup with significant difference in survival was identified. Conclusions: Although EIPL for advanced gastric cancer was safe and suggested some efficacy, the primary endpoint designed based on the previous small-scale trial was not met. Clinical trial information: 000005907.
Changes in bone metabolism after gastric cancer surgery in men: A prospective observational study.
Authors: Atsumi Yosuke , Rino Yasushi , Wada Hiroo , Kitani Yuichi , Ozawa Yukihiro , Sato Tsutomu , Oshima Takashi , Yukawa Norio , Yoshikawa Takaki , Masuda Munetaka
Published: January 2019

10

Background: Several reports have showed that bone disorders occur after gastric cancer surgery, however there are few studies that compared pre- and postoperative bone mineral density of the same patient. The purpose of this study was to assess changes in bone metabolism after gastric cancer surgery prospectively. Methods: We prospectively enrolled 39 men undergoing gastrectomy for early gastric cancer. We excluded women to avoid the effect of menopause. Patients with severe kidney disease requiring dialysis treatment, patients with severe liver disease and patients with treatment with bisphosphonates or any other bone-active drugs were also excluded. Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) was performed before and 1 and 2 years after surgery to evaluate bone mineral density (BMD). The serum levels of 1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D (1,25(OH)2VD), 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)VD), estradiol, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were measured before surgery and every three months until two years after surgery. Results: DEXA revealed that BMD was significantly decreased by 0.036±0.033 g/cm2 at 12 months after gastrectomy (P < 0.001). The serum ALP was significantly increased by 38.88±6.42 IU/l at 24 months after surgery (P = 0.013), and there was a marginally significant correlation between the changes in BMD and the changes in the serum ALP at 24 months after surgery; the correlation coefficient was -0.30 (P = 0.090). The serum 25(OH)VD was significantly decreased by 4.88±6.42 ng/ml at 24 months after surgery (P < 0.001), however there was no significant correlation between the changes in BMD and the changes in the serum 25(OH)VD. The serum 1,25(OH)2VD and estradiol were not significantly changed before and after surgery. The factor significantly correlated to the reductions of BMD at 12 months after surgery included preoperative lower body mass index (BMI); the correlation coefficients was 0.37 (P = 0.025). Conclusions: This study showed a significant reduction in the BMD of gastric cancer patients at 12 months after gastrectomy and suggested that low preoperative BMI could be a high risk factor for the bone disorder after gastric cancer surgery.
Apatinib as third-line or beyond therapy in patients with chemotherapy-refractory advanced or metastatic adenocarcinoma of stomach or gastroesophageal junction: An open-label, multicenter, post-marketing phase IV study (Ahead-G201).
Authors: Qin Shukui , Deng Wenying , Wen Lu , Wang Junsheng , Zhang Guifang , Zhong Haijun , Jia Tongfu , Yang Jianwei , Ba Yi , Bai Yuxian , Lin Xiaoyan , Wang Mei , Wang Lin , Liu Likun , He Yifu , Tao Min , Xie Congying , Ye Feng , Wu Xiang-yuan , Li Jin
Published: January 2019

103

Background: The clinical benefit and safety profile of apatinib in advanced gastric cancer have been established in the randomised controlled phase III clinical trial (J Clin Oncol. 34(13):1448-54). A post-marketing study to confirm the safety and efficacy of apatinib is ongoing in a broad range of patients (pts). Methods: This is a single-arm, open-label, multi-center, Phase IV trial with the target sample size of 2000+ (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02426034). Pts were recruited to receive oral apatinib until disease progression, death or unacceptable toxicity. The primary objective was safety, and the secondary objectives included overall response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Results: Herein, we report the preliminary data as documented in the EDC System. As of Jul 10, 2017, 1037 pts were enrolled from 138 hospitals across China. Pts characteristics were: median age 59 yrs, male/female 72.0/28.0%, ECOG PS 0/1/≥2 16.6/66.2/17.2%, stage IV 91.0%. 336 (32.4%) pts interrupted treatment and dose modification occurred in 172 (16.6%) pts (reduction 132/12.7%; rise 87/8.4%). Eventually, the mean dosage was 526.2 mg/d. 652 (62.9%) pts had 4407 drug-related adverse events (DRAEs). Grade ≥3 DRAEs occurred in 300 (28.9%) pts. Severe AEs were reported by 221 (21.3%) pts. The most common DRAEs were proteinuria (19.3%), hypertension (18.8%), leukocyte decrease (16.4%), fatigue (14.2%), platelet decrease (13.6%), hand-foot-skin reaction (11.1%) and neutrophil decrease (10.1%). 820 pts were evaluable for efficacy analysis. The best ORR and DCR were 10.7% and 70.0%, respectively. The median PFS and OS were 4.60 (95%CI, 3.25–4.73) and 6.57 (95%CI, 5.78–7.59) months, respectively. Conclusions: Apatinib monotherapy is effective and has a favorable toxicity profile in real-world clinical setting. The preliminary results of this Phase IV study confirmed the safety and efficacy of apatinib demonstrated in the Phase II and III trials. Updated results will be discussed. Clinical trial information: NCT02426034.
Development of a radiomic signature for prediction of pathological complete response following neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in esophageal cancer.
Authors: Rishi Anupam , Eaford India , Zhang Geoffrey , Viera Alexander , Latifi Kujtim , Frakes Jessica M. , Pimiento Jose Mario , Fontaine Jacques-Pierre , Hoffe Sarah E.
Published: January 2019

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Background: Pivotal to personalized therapy is accurate pre-treatment patient selection based on predictive biomarkers. We developed a radiomic signature model to predict pathological complete response (pCR) following neoadjuvant chemo-radiotherapy (NACRT) in esophageal cancers. Methods: We retrospectively identified 68 patients with esophageal cancer, treated with NACRT followed by esophagectomy, with baseline 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography (PET) and computed tomography (CT) scans performed at our institution. In-house data-characterization algorithm was used to extract 3D radiomics features from the segmented primary disease. Prediction models were constructed and internally validated (2/3rd training, 1/3rd validation) using machine learning software. Cox regression hazard used to assess association with relapse free survival (RFS). Results: pCR was observed in 34 (50%) patients. A total of 126 features were extracted individually from PET and CT scans. On univariate analysis, 16 PET and 14 CT features were found to independently predict pCR. Three separate predictive models were built for CT, PET and combined CT+PET. Individually, both CT and PET had a good predictive power with AUC 0.74 and 0.730, respectively. Combined CT+PET radiomic features resulted in a significant improvement of predicting power, with AUC 0.856. Good discrimination (82.6%) was observed in validation dataset. Final model was: 13.439-34.632(CT-eccentricity)-2.469(CT-LRLGE)+10.626(CT-Gnorm_HIE)-2.094(CT-SD_Lac2)-19.337(CT-FD_SD)-0.344(PET-Contrast), where eccentricity is shape feature, LRLGE a gray level run length feature, Gnorm_HIE gray-level size zone feature, SD_Lac2 a fractal dimension feature. Stratifying patients with low vs. high radiomic signature score predicted RFS: median RFS 80.1 vs. 40.1 months; and 2-year RFS 77.4% vs. 52.6% [Hazard Ratio: 2.24, 95% CI 1.01-5.58], respectively. Conclusions: The developed radiomics signature models were highly predictive of pCR following NACRT. Further validation in larger data sets is needed to determine whether the model can predict clinical outcomes.
Comparison of S-1 and S-1 plus cisplatin as post-operative chemotherapy for gastric carcinoma with peritoneal lavage cytology positive or localized peritoneum metastasis: A multicenter retrospective study.
Authors: Aizawa Masaki , Yamaguchi Toshifumi , Takashima Atsuo , Nagashima Kengo , Ema Akira , Yuasa Yasuhiro , Haruta Shusuke , Taniguchi Hiroki , Kobayashi Daisuke , Nishikawa Kazuhiro , Yunome Gen , Takagi Masakazu , Niwa Hirotaka , Yamada Takanobu , Hato Shinji , Fukagawa Takeo , Boku Narikazu , Katai Hitoshi
Published: January 2019

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Background: Peritoneal lavage cytology of class V and localized peritoneum metastasis of gastric cancer (GC) are defined as CY1 and P1 in the 14th edition of the Japanese Classification of GC. Because patients (pts) with CY1 and/or P1 have poor prognosis after resecting all macroscopically visible disease by standard surgical resection, post-operative chemotherapy (post-Cx) is commonly performed in the clinical practice in Japan. However, no standard chemotherapy has not been established. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of post-Cx in patients with CY1 and/or P1. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the GC pts who were diagnosed to have CY1 and/or P1 at 34 institutions participating in the Stomach Cancer Group of Japan Clinical Oncology Group between 2007 and 2012. Inclusion criteria were: PS 0-2, histology of adenocarcinoma, no distant metastasis other than CY1 or P1, no prior treatment for GC. The subject of this study was the patients who received surgery followed by post-Cx. Results: A total of 824 pts were collected from 34 institutions. Of the 506 eligible pts, 444 pts underwent standard gastrectomy followed by post-Cx: S-1 (n=267), S1 plus cisplatin (SP) (n=114) or others (n=63). 62 pts did not receive post-Cx (non-Cx). Median age for the S1/SP/Others/non-Cx group were 69/63/66/75. In the S-1 group, pts with P0CY1/P1CY0/P1CY1 were 197/44/26, and those were 81/21/12 in SP, 45/9/9 in Others, and 44/7/11 in non-Cx. Conclusions: Post-Cx may have survival benefit after surgery for GC with CY1 or P1, while there seems no additional benefit over S-1. [Table: see text]
The effect of adjuvant chemotherapy in patients without local nodal metastases following neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and esophagectomy for locally advanced esophageal cancer.
Authors: Nevala-Plagemann Christopher Duane , Francis Samual , Cavalieri Courtney Christine , Lloyd Shane , Garrido-Laguna Ignacio
Published: January 2019

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Background: Neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy (CRT) followed by esophagectomy is the current standard of care for patients with locally advanced esophageal cancer. The potential benefit of additional postoperative chemotherapy is still under investigation. In this study, we utilized the National Cancer Database to assess the effect of adjuvant chemotherapy in patients who were found to have node negative disease (pN0) following surgery. Methods: Patients with locally advanced esophageal cancer who received neoadjuvant CRT followed by esophagectomy from 2004 to 2014 were retrospectively identified using the National Cancer Database. Patients who were postoperatively staged as pN0 were then separated based on whether or not they received adjuvant chemotherapy. Using Kaplan-Meier estimation and a multivariate cox regression analysis, the overall survival of those who received adjuvant therapy was then compared to those who received neoadjuvant CRT alone. Results: 3,159 patients with locally advanced esophageal cancer underwent neoadjuvant CRT and were found to be pN0 following surgery. 119 of these patients received postoperative chemotherapy. The 1, 5, and 8-year overall survival in those receiving adjuvant therapy was 95.9%, 49.9%, and 47.7% compared to 85.8%, 44.6%, and 33.0% in those receiving neoadjuvant CRT alone, respectively (p = 0.019). Based on multivariate analysis, receiving adjuvant chemotherapy was independently associated with increased overall survival (p = 0.011; HR 0.658; 95% CI, 0.476 to 0.908). Conclusions: Adjuvant chemotherapy may improve survival in patients with locally advance esophageal cancer who have no evidence of local nodal metastases following surgery. Additional clinical trials are needed to further confirm which patients may benefit from adjuvant therapy and to determine the optimal postoperative therapeutic regimen.