bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analogy in Language and Linguistics
Authors: Fischer Olga
Published: May 2019

Analogy (from Ancient Greek αναλογια, “reasoning from one point to another”) is a cognitive process involving comparison whereby the information concerning one element is linked to another element through observed similarities. Analogy is related to “iconicity” (both involve parallels of form/meaning): the strong drive language users have to describe their world through signs that have some natural connection with the object the sign refers to. Analogy is concerned with (1) similarities between observable properties (material or horizontal analogy) and (2) causal similarities, i.e., the relations between a material property and a function of that property (vertical analogy). It enables language learning, is involved in language change, and helps in seeking explanations in science (including linguistics) through the spotting of parallels, e.g., the discovery of sound waves on the basis of water waves. Analogy is omnipresent in language but its working through speakers in language use and language change can only be captured after the fact; there are no fixed “rules” to “predict” analogy. It plays an important role in streamlining (“oiling”) the “machinery” (i.e., the “rules” or “patterns”) of language: without analogy, languages may develop too many exceptions, caused by internal changes elsewhere in the system or external factors, such as contact. The cognitive ability people have to analogize is the concern of cognitive scientists. In linguistics proper, a distinction is often made between this ability and the mechanism of analogy, which is concerned with the effects it has on language output, with specific patterns and constraints. This more narrow approach bears most fruit on the morpho-phonological level, where formal similarities play an important role. As soon as higher lexical and grammatical levels are involved, similarities become looser, more associative, making it more difficult to constrain the workings of analogy. Some linguists make a distinction between proportional and non-proportional analogy: the former is seen as more systematic, more concerned with form, and the result of interference from a productive morphological system (as in analogical extension/leveling), while the latter concerns innovations in individual items and constructions, with meaning playing a large(r) role. In morphological studies, analogy is usually seen as strictly proportional, making use of the formula A : B :: C : D, with more sporadic forms of analogy excluded as being non-proportional. Linguists interested in analogy on higher levels (syntax, lexis, semantics), also consider analogy to be proportional but in a less strict sense; here too there is symmetry between the forms and functions of source and target. For example, in the metaphorical use of foot, when there is a symmetry in meaning between referent A (“bottom part of a human body”) and B (“bottom part of a mountain”), this may result in a new formal symmetry between the signs: thus C foot leads to the new use of foot in D (just like work: worked leads to help: helped (replacing earlier holp).
Language Contact
Authors: Epps Patience L.
Published: May 2019

The study of language contact addresses the dynamics and outcomes of multilingual interaction. Accordingly, it intersects with many branches of linguistics, including sociolinguistics, historical linguistics, and psycholinguistics. It also engages with the full range of areas of linguistic investigation, from discourse to lexicon to grammar, and spanning phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, and semantics/pragmatics. Despite its wide relevance and a relatively long pedigree, language contact as a field of study in its own right is relatively young, having come into its own only in the latter half of the 20th century. This bibliography focuses on language contact from the perspective of its effects on the languages involved; in other words, the approach taken here is grounded primarily in the study of language variation and change, although it necessarily keeps social and psycholinguistic considerations in view. The vast literature on new languages that arise in contact conditions is not directly addressed here; the reader may consult the separate Oxford Bibliographies in Linguistics articles “Pidgins”, “Creoles”, “Grammatical Categories in Creoles”, and “Mixed Languages” for information on those topics. Further coverage of areas relating to language contact is also provided in the Oxford Bibliographies in Linguistics articles “Bilingualism and Multilingualism”, “Psycholinguistic Perspectives on Second Language Acquisition and Bilingualism”, “Language Shift”, and “Linguistic Areas”.
International Territorial Administration
Authors: Tzouvala Ntina
Published: May 2019

Few legal developments have been so closely associated with the end of the Cold War and the perceived renewal of international law as the proliferation of schemes of international territorial administration (ITA) in the 1990s and early 2000s. Schemes of ITA were implemented in a diverse range of post-conflict settings, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, and East Timor. Since then, ITA has been closely associated with the revival of the United Nations Security Council, its adoption of expansive interpretations of threats to “international peace and security” for the purposes for Chapter VII of the UN Charter, and the authorization of the use of force as well as of schemes of internationalized administration of varying degrees of comprehensiveness. Relatedly, the revival of interstate competition and the increasingly frequent usage of veto powers, coupled with growing unrest against the post-1990 global order, has raised doubts about the future of the practice. As both critics and supporters of ITA point out, modern ITA is not without precedent. Rather, notions of trusteeship, protectorate, mandated territories, and colonialism have been mobilized to situate the practice historically. Conceptually, international territorial administration is also associated with “robust peacekeeping,” which decisively moves away from ideas of minimal interference and neutrality, as well as with the concepts of “state-building,” “peace-building,” and “liberal peace-building.” Relatedly, the theory and practice of international territorial administration after the 1990s has been informed by ideas about “liberal peace,” the conviction that liberal democracies do not go to war with each other and, therefore, the spread of this particular form of government is a precondition for peace. Rising concerns about “weak” or “rogue” states as the breeding grounds for ethnic conflict, genocide, and terrorism also form the background of the practice. The ad hoc character of ITA has meant that the international organizations and states that are involved in each experiment vary greatly as does their mandate and lawful authority. As a result, multiple legal issues surrounding ITA remain contested and unresolved. For example, the applicability of the international law of occupation in the context of ITA is still fiercely debated, and so are issues about the human rights obligations owed by and the immunities enjoyed by international actors when they exercise de facto governmental functions.
Superior Cerebellar Artery Aneurysms Causing Facial Pain: A Comprehensive Review
Authors: Ros de San Pedro Javier
Published: May 2019

BACKGROUND

Trigeminal neuralgia caused by superior cerebellar artery aneurysms (TGN-SCAAs) is a rare event without previous analysis.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the features of TGN-SCAA based on 8 cases (7 from literature +1 illustrative case).

METHODS

All cases were thoroughly studied with gathering of their epidemiological, radiological, clinical, therapeutic, and outcome data.

RESULTS

The mean age at diagnosis was 61 yr. Gender distribution showed a female predominance (M: F = 2:6). Side distribution had a left dominance (75%). The aneurysms mean size was 15.4 mm (range: 5-27). All 5 proximal SCAAs (SCA-Basilar junction) presented a lateral-posterior projection, while all 3 distal SCAAs (s2 segment) had variable projections but constant direct trigeminal nerve (TN) contact. No hemorrhage occurred. TGN was the clinical onset in all 8 cases. The most frequent pain distribution was V1-2-3 (n = 3), followed by V1-2 (n = 1) and V1 alone (n = 1). Proximal SCAAs caused TGN through direct TN compression (n = 1), third nerve compression (n = 1), cavernous sinus compression (n = 1), or a combination thereof (n = 2). However, all distal SCAAs caused TGN by direct TN compression (n = 3). Two different treatment options were used: clipping (n = 4) and coiling (n = 4). The post-treatment Barrow Neurological Institute score for pain control was I in all cases (100%). The mRS score was 0 in 75% of cases.

CONCLUSION

TGN-SCAAs are infrequent lesions, characterized by large size, variable TGN mechanisms depending on their anatomic location, and mostly affecting the first and second trigeminal divisions. Both SCAA clipping and coiling were used equally, providing good neurological and pain relief results.
Feeding ecology of early life stages of striped bass (Morone saxatilis) along an estuarine salinity-turbidity gradient, St. Lawrence Estuary, Canada
Authors: Vanalderweireldt L , Sirois P , Mingelbier M , Winkler G
Published: May 2019

After being extirpated from the St. Lawrence River in the 1960s, striped bass (Morone saxatilis) were reintroduced to the estuary in 2002 and by 2008, they were naturally reproducing. To document the habitat use and feeding ecology of this reintroduced population, we examined the gut contents of 333 larvae and juveniles. Samples were collected in four estuarine habitats in 2014: the upstream freshwater section (UP), the oligohaline (O-ETM) and the mesohaline (M-ETM) estuarine turbidity maximum zones, and the downstream polyhaline section (DOWN). In June, pelagic larvae developed in the UP and the O-ETM, feeding mainly on copepods such as Eurytemora affinis. The O-ETM exhibited better suitable feeding conditions compared to the UP, likely due to the presence of Bosmina sp. as a primary prey. After July, striped bass shifted to larger prey items, consuming mainly dipteran pupa in upstream littoral habitats and gammarids and mysids in downstream habitats. In the early summer, the UP provided a high-quality nursery habitat and as the season progressed, the smallest juveniles dispersed downstream and improved their feeding success by exploiting a new feeding niche. This observation suggests that being distributed throughout the estuary may increase the potential survival of striped bass early life stages.
The Importance of Political Knowledge for Effective Citizenship
Authors: Kleinberg Mona S , Lau Richard R
Published: May 2019

General political knowledge is a central variable in American politics research. Individuals with high political knowledge exhibit behaviors that are consequential to a well-functioning democracy, including holding more stable political opinions, exhibiting greater ideological constraint, knowing more about political candidates, and being more likely to vote correctly. In this paper, we examine whether the internet revolution, enabling citizens to look up anything at any time, has changed the relative importance of political knowledge in American politics. We show that important generational differences exist between Americans raised during the broadcast era and Americans raised with the presence and accessibility of the internet. Internet access can be a substitute for political knowledge stored in long-term memory, particularly among this younger generation, who may be relying on the internet to store knowledge for them.
Toxicoproteomic Analysis of Poly(ADP-Ribose)-Associated Proteins Induced by Oxidative Stress in Human Proximal Tubule Cells
Authors: Islas-Robles Argel , Yedlapudi Deepthi , Lau Serrine S , Monks Terrence J
Published: May 2019

2,3,5-Tris-(glutathion-S-yl)hydroquinone (TGHQ) is a nephrotoxic and nephrocarcinogenic metabolite of hydroquinone. TGHQ generates reactive oxygen species (ROS), causing DNA-strand breaks, hyperactivation of PARP-1, increases in intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i), and cell death. PARP-1 catalyzes the attachment of ADP-ribose polymers (PAR) to target proteins. In human kidney proximal tubule cells, ROS-mediated PARP-1 hyperactivation and elevations in [Ca2+]i are reciprocally coupled. The molecular mechanism of this interaction is unclear. The aim of the present study was to identify ROS-induced PAR-associated proteins to further understand their potential role in cell death. PAR-associated proteins were enriched by immunoprecipitation, identified by LC-MS/MS, and relative abundance was obtained by spectral counting. A total of 356 proteins were PAR-modified following TGHQ treatment. A total of 13 proteins exhibited gene ontology annotations related to calcium. Among these proteins, the general transcription factor II-I (TFII-I) is directly involved in the modulation of [Ca2+]i. TFII-I binding to phospholipase C (PLC) leads to calcium influx via the TRPC3 channel. However, inhibition of TRPC3 or PLC had no effect on TGHQ-mediated cell death, suggesting that their loss of function may be necessary but insufficient to cause cell death. Nevertheless, TGHQ promoted a time-dependent translocation of TFII-I from the nucleus to the cytosol concomitant with a decrease in tyrosine phosphorylation in α/β-TFII-I. Therefore it is likely that ROS have an important impact on the function of TFII-I, such as regulation of transcription, and DNA translesion synthesis. Our data also shed light on PAR-mediated signaling during oxidative stress, and contributes to the development of strategies to prevent PAR-dependent cell death.
Understanding Retirement Requires Getting Inside People’s Stories: A Call for More Qualitative Research
Authors: Amabile Teresa M
Published: May 2019

Quantitative research, using surveys and archival data, has contributed much to the field’s understanding of the retirement transition, the factors influencing it, and its consequences. In this commentary, I argue that, in order to move to a deeper understanding of retirement decisions, retirement processes, and retirement experiences, researchers must add rigorous qualitative studies to their portfolios. Only by asking open-ended questions of people approaching, moving through, or living in retirement can we illuminate deeper psychological issues such as identity maintenance and change, the reconstruction of life narratives and structures, the reciprocal influence of relationships on individual decisions and experiences, and the confrontation of existential questions about the meaning of one’s life.
Effectiveness of Fungicides and Their Application Timing for the Management of Sorghum Foliar Anthracnose in the Mid-Atlantic United States
Authors: Acharya Bhupendra , O’Quinn Thomas N. , Everman Wesley , Mehl Hillary L.
Published: May 2019

Sorghum anthracnose (Colletotrichum sublineola) reduces grain yield up to 50% but suggested management tactics have not yet been developed for the mid-Atlantic United States, where warm, wet conditions favor disease. Under factorial arrangement, five fungicides plus a nontreated control and four application timings were compared for foliar anthracnose control, yield, and profitability of fungicide use in grain sorghum over eight site-years in Virginia and North Carolina. Anthracnose severity was rated at the hard dough stage, and grain yield was determined at harvest. Every percent increase in disease severity resulted in yield losses of 27 to 85 kg/ha. Pyraclostrobin and pyraclostrobin plus fluxapyroxad reduced anthracnose (P < 0.01), and three applications resulted in less disease and greater yield compared with single applications (P < 0.01). However, three applications exceed the labeled maximum application for the fungicides and are not economical. Among single applications, boot or flowering timings reduced disease, and flowering applications resulted in the overall greatest yield. Results suggest that when disease onset occurs at or prior to boot, a single application of pyraclostrobin-containing fungicide at or just prior to flowering reduces anthracnose, protects yield, and increases income. However, when disease is absent or severity is low prior to flowering, fungicide application may not be profitable.
Comparing Novel and Existing Measures of Sensitivity to Physical Activity Among People With Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain
Authors: Woznowski-Vu Arthur , Uddin Zakir , Flegg Daniel , Aternali Andrea , Wickens Rebekah , Sullivan Michael J.L. , Sweet Shane N. , Skou Søren T. , Wideman Timothy H.
Published: May 2019

Objectives:

Increasing pain during physical activity is an important, but often poorly assessed, barrier to engaging in activity-based rehabilitation among people with chronic musculoskeletal pain. Preliminary work has addressed this problem by developing new clinical measures of sensitivity to physical activity (SPA). Indices of SPA are generated by evaluating how pain changes in relation to brief physical tasks. Three strategies have been identified for structuring SPA-related physical tasks (self-paced, standardized, and tailored). This cross-sectional study aimed to comparatively estimate the extent of the 3 SPA tasks’ evoked pain responses, predictive value of pain severity and pain interference, and their underlying psychological and sensory constructs, among 116 adults with chronic musculoskeletal pain.

Materials and Methods:

Testing included questionnaires, quantitative sensory testing, and the 3 SPA measures (self-paced, standardized, and tailored). The primary analysis estimated the predictive value of each SPA measure for pain severity and pain interference. Correlational analyses were first conducted between all variables of interest to determine what variables will be included in the hierarchical regression analysis, which in turn was conducted for each outcome.

Results:

Analyses revealed that the tailored SPA index was most effective at evoking activity-related pain, was uniquely associated with temporal summation of pain, and was a unique predictor of pain and pain-related interference, even when controlling for established psychological and sensory risk factors.

Discussion:

This study further emphasizes SPA as an important and unique attribute of the pain experience and reveals the added value of using a tailored approach to assess SPA.
Further Examination of the Pain Stages of Change Questionnaires Among Chronic Low Back Pain Patients
Authors: Mun Chung Jung , Otis John D. , Concato John , Reid M. Carringotn , Burg Matthew M. , Czlapinski Rebecca , Kerns Robert D.
Published: May 2019

Objectives:

In order to maximize the therapeutic benefits of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for chronic pain, individuals need to be motivated to adopt a self-management approach. The Pain Stages of Change Questionnaire (PSOCQ) was developed to measure patients’ readiness to adopt a self-management approach to chronic pain. The present study examined whether pretreatment and posttreatment PSOCQ change scores among chronic low back pain patients could predict 6- and 12-month follow-up outcomes, and the stability of posttreatment PSOCQ scores during follow-up.

Methods:

Participants were recruited from a VA primary care clinic. Data from 60 participants assigned to either regular CBT or a modified CBT (ie, PRIME CBT) condition were analyzed in the present study. Self-report measures including PSOCQ, pain severity, disability, and depressive symptom severity were administered at pretreatment, 10 weeks posttreatment, 6-month and follow-up assessments.

Results:

Multiple regression analyses showed that pretreatment and posttreatment changes in the Action/Maintenance scores significantly predicted pain severity at 6 months, and changes in the Precontemplation scores significantly predicted disability at 6 months. None of the PSOCQ change scores significantly predicted depressive symptom severity. Posttreatment Precontemplation and Action/Maintenance scores were quite stable, even at 12-month follow-up.

Conclusions:

Changes in patients’ attitudes toward adopting a pain self-management approach may serve as one of the therapeutic mechanisms and predict long-term function. This study also revealed that changed attitudes toward chronic pain self-management remain quite stable over time. Adoption of beliefs consistent with chronic pain self-management during treatment may promote sustained benefits.
Validity and Reliability of the Banff Patellofemoral Instability Instrument 2.0 in an Adolescent Population
Authors: Lafave Mark R. , Hiemstra Laurie A. , Parikh Shital N. , Peterson Devin , Kerslake Sarah
Published: May 2019

Background:

Lateral patellofemoral instability is a relatively common problem in the adolescent population. Subjective and objective patient outcomes are commonly used to evaluate treatment success or failure. The Banff Patellofemoral Instability Instrument (BPII) and Paediatric International Knee Documentation Committee (Pedi-IKDC) Subjective Knee Form are patient-reported outcome measures that have been used with an adolescent population previously. The BPII 2.0 is a shortened version of the BPII and has not been validated in an adolescent population. The purpose of the current study was to validate the BPII 2.0 with an adolescent population.

Methods:

This was a multicenter study where patients were recruited from 3 tertiary orthopaedic surgery clinics. A convenience sample (n=140 adolescent patients) with a confirmed diagnosis of lateral patellofemoral instability and who had failed conservative treatment was referred to one of the 3 orthopaedic surgeons. All patients completed the BPII 2.0 and Pedi-IKDC before their clinic appointment. Cronbach’s alpha and floor/ceiling effects were used to determine the content validity of both instruments. Patients were also interviewed to ask questions about the BPII 2.0 comprehension and importance of items. One clinic site sent out the BPII 2.0 to 30 additional patients twice in 2 weeks to measure the test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient 2,k). A Pearson r correlation coefficient was used to determine the relationship between the BPII 2.0 and the Pedi-IKDC and criterion validity.

Results:

Cronbach’s alpha values were 0.95 and 0.76 for the BPII 2.0 and Pedi-IKDC, respectively. There was no evidence of floor or ceiling effects for either the BPII 2.0 or the Pedi-IKDC. The Pearson r correlation coefficient between the BPII 2.0 and IKDC baseline scores taken at the initial consultation was 0.65 (P<0.001; 95% confidence interval, 0.94-0.97). The intraclass correlation coefficient (2,k) for the test-retest subsample (n=30) was 0.94. Patient interviews revealed that they thought the BPII 2.0 questions were both important and comprehensible.

Conclusions:

The BPII 2.0 is a valid, reliable, and disease-specific patient-reported outcome measure that can be used with an adolescent population with lateral patellofemoral instability. The BPII 2.0 has demonstrated criterion validity through its moderately strong correlation to the Pedi-IKDC for adolescents.
Variation of Programmed Death Ligand 1 Expression After Platinum-based Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Lung Cancer
Authors: Guo Lei , Song Peng , Xue Xuemin , Guo Changyuan , Han Liankui , Fang Qing , Ying Jianming , Gao Shugeng , Li Wenbin
Published: May 2019

The effect of chemotherapy on programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression has been previously studied in lung cancer, while the results remain controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate the variation of PD-L1 expression after neoadjuvant chemotherapy and explore the association between chemotherapy response, prognosis and the variation of PD-L1 expression in lung cancer patients. A total of 63 lung cancer patients who received platinum-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy and subsequently underwent surgical resection were selected. PD-L1 expression on tumor cells (TC) and tumor-infiltrating immune cells (IC) was assessed by immunohistochemistry using 22C3 monoclonal antibody in these 63 matched lung cancer specimens before and after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The positivity of PD-L1 on TC changed from 17.5% to 39.7% after neoadjuvant chemotherapy and the positivity of PD-L1 on IC changed from 19.0% to 71.4% after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The elevation of PD-L1 expression on TC after neoadjuvant chemotherapy was more frequently observed in patients achieving stable disease or progressive disease than in patients achieving partial response (P=0.026). Patients with elevated PD-L1 expression on TC after neoadjuvant chemotherapy showed a trend to have a shorter progression-free survival than patients without elevated PD-L1 expression on TC, although the difference was not statistically significant in multivariate analysis (hazard ratio=2.38, 95% confidence interval=0.99–5.73, P=0.053). PD-L1 expression can be elevated by chemotherapy in lung cancer. Furthermore, elevation of PD-L1 expression on TC after neoadjuvant chemotherapy was associated with reduced chemotherapy response and inferior progression-free survival in patients with lung cancer.
Lichen Planus Pemphigoides Mimicking Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis
Authors: Ondhia Chandni , Kaur Charanjit , Mee John , Natkunarajah Janakan , Singh Manuraj
Published: May 2019

Lichen planus pemphigoides (LPP) is an immunobullous disorder characterized by a combination of lesions resembling bullous pemphigoid and lichen planus (LP). Immunofluorescence studies typically show linear deposition of IgG and C3 along the basement membrane zone and circulating antibodies to the hemidesmosome protein BP180 also known as type XVII collagen. It is now recognized that drug-induced linear IgA disease may present with lesions mimicking toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN). However, to date, there have been no reported cases of LPP presenting with TEN-like lesions. This report describes a 70-year-old woman with LPP who presented with extensive erosions mimicking TEN. This case also highlights the need to consider important etiologies such as drug-induced and paraneoplastic LPP.
Data Analysis Software in Qualitative Research
Authors: Cypress Brigitte S.
Published: May 2019

Research shows that more and more qualitative researchers now use computer software for qualitative data analysis. However, concerns, problems, and misunderstandings continue among developers themselves and researchers about its merits, their preconceptions, expectations, and adoption of the technology. This article examines the role of computer-assisted qualitative data analysis software focusing on the methodological issues surrounding program use and identifies the factors that result to unrealistic expectations of the innovation as a methodology in itself. The secondary aim is to help guide both the expert and novice qualitative critical care researchers on their decision making whether to use or not to use computer-assisted qualitative data analysis software in their studies. A brief review of 2 very common and widely used qualitative data analysis software packages will be presented. A section on making good use of supervision and mentorship in conducting a qualitative inquiry is included. Implications for its adoption and to qualitative research as a whole will be discussed.
The PEST Model
Authors: Lin Yongxing Patrick , Wu Man
Published: May 2019

Background

Self-extubation is an adverse patient event that can lead to severe complications. Gaps in clinical practice from the lack of nursing awareness and decision making capacity have often resulted in cases of preventable self-extubation. Review of current evidence suggests that initiatives to support nursing clinical decision making can help prevent adverse patient events such as self-extubation.

Aims

The aim of this study was to reduce the incidence of self-extubation by 50% in a cardiology intensive care unit over 1 year.

Methods

A quality improvement project was undertaken with a PEST model of nursing care introduced from January 2017 to December 2017 in the cardiology intensive care unit to guide nursing staff to assess and render appropriate interventions along patient domains such as pain, endotracheal tube securement, sedation, and tie to prevent incidences of self-extubation.

Results

Incidences of self-extubation have reduced to 5 cases in 2017, reflecting a 50% improvement from 10 cases in 2016.

Conclusions

Formalizing practice standards into an easy-to-remember mnemonics or framework can improve patient outcomes. Policy makers must be aware that initiatives to facilitate decision making can improve patient safety.
Interventions for the Management of Respiratory Distress in Late Preterm and Term Infants Experiencing Delayed Respiratory Transition
Authors: Bedwell Susan , Leasure A. Renee , Gibson Theresa L.
Published: May 2019

Objectives

To examine the best available evidence for interventions used to manage mild to moderate respiratory distress in late preterm and term infants experiencing delayed respiratory transition.

Data Sources

EMBASE, MEDLINE, Cochrane Review, Joanna Briggs, PubMed, CINAHL, and Google Scholar online databases were searched for articles related to delayed respiratory transition. Reference lists were reviewed to identify additional articles for inclusion.

Study Selections

Randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled, randomized prospective, prospective observational, and retrospective cohort studies published in English-language, peer-reviewed journals between 2007 and August 2017 were reviewed for inclusion. Studies were included if they examined respiratory focused interventions that could potentially prevent admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of the term or late preterm infant transitioning to extrauterine life.

Data Extraction

The CASP tools were utilized for appraisal of individual studies. Data were extracted from the 5 studies included in this review.

Data Synthesis

In 4 of the 5 studies, prevention of NICU admission was the primary aim. The observational study observed videos of newborn resuscitations and described the effect of early intervention with continuous positive-airway pressure (CPAP) ventilation on prevention of NICU admission for respiratory distress. One randomized controlled trial used adrenaline injections to prevent development of respiratory distress. The 3 remaining randomized controlled trials used prophylactic CPAP or sustained inflation as a method for preventing development of delayed respiratory transition. Three of the 5 studies focused exclusively on cesarean born infants. Among the interventions studied, early or prophylactic CPAP shows the most promise for prevention of NICU admission in late preterm and term infants with mild to moderate respiratory distress.

Conclusion

The lack of safety and efficacy data for either adrenaline injections or prophylactic CPAP precludes either method for current use in the prevention of respiratory distress for the late preterm or term infant transitioning to extrauterine life. Two randomized trials, both using prophylactic CPAP, had a significant decrease in NICU admissions. Both studies were conducted at a single center and exclusive to infants born by cesarean delivery. A single study using sustained lung inflation showed no significant difference in the need for respiratory support or NICU admission. A single study using adrenaline also showed no benefit to the prevention of respiratory distress related to transition. Further multicenter randomized controlled trials are needed before broad adoption of early or prophylactic CPAP can be recommended.
Cross-sectional International Multicenter Study on Quality of Life and Reasons for Abandonment of Upper Limb Prostheses
Authors: Yamamoto Michiro , Chung Kevin C. , Sterbenz Jennifer , Shauver Melissa J. , Tanaka Hirotaka , Nakamura Takashi , Oba Jumpei , Chin Takaaki , Hirata Hitoshi
Published: May 2019

Background:

This multicenter study aimed to examine the reasons for prosthesis rejection and assess the quality of life (QOL) among patients with upper limb deficiency.

Methods:

Three rehabilitation centers in Japan and 1 academic medical center in the United States participated. Patients between the age of 12 and 75 years with unilateral or bilateral upper limb absence from the level of wrist to shoulder disarticulation were included. Two questionnaires were used, an original questionnaire on prosthesis use and the EQ-5D, which were completed by both the participant and a live-in proxy.

Results:

Of the 367 patients with upper limb loss invited, 174 patients participated in this study. Eighty percent of the study population were male patients. The most common amputation level was transradial. Trauma was the most common cause of limb loss. The prosthesis rejection rate was 9% (n = 16). The most common reason for abandonment was a lack of prosthesis functionality. Ten of 16 prosthesis nonusers (63%) and 59 prosthesis users (38%) were unemployed or students. The mean EQ-5D utility score was significantly higher in prosthesis users than in nonusers (0.762 versus 0.628, P < 0.01). Live-in proxies significantly overestimated QOL in male patients (0.77 versus 0.807, P=0.01).

Conclusions:

The current prosthesis rejection rate is low. QOL was significantly higher in prosthesis users than in nonusers. More prosthesis users were employed compared with nonusers. Care should be taken not to overestimate the QOL of male patients with upper limb loss as their proxies often did.
Real-time Indocyanine Green Videolymphography Navigation for Lymphaticovenular Anastomosis
Authors: Seki Yukio , Kajikawa Akiyoshi , Yamamoto Takumi , Takeuchi Takayuki , Terashima Takahiro , Kurogi Norimitsu
Published: May 2019

Indocyanine green (ICG) lymphography is a useful imaging modality for evaluation of lymphedema and detection of lymphatic vessels. It also allows us to ensure patency of the anastomosed vessels intraoperatively. However, strong light from the operating microscope usually disturbs ICG fluorescence imaging. Only some built-in ICG camera systems with specific operating microscopes make real-time ICG lymphography possible in lymphaticovenular anastomosis (LVA). We applied a new high-resolution ICG videolymphography system, which is separated from the operating microscope. Because the system can divide near-infrared fluorescence light of ICG from visible light of the operating microscope, real-time ICG videolymphography-navigated LVA under operating microscope illumination is possible regardless types of operating microscopes. The study involved 10 patients with upper extremity lymphedema characterized by International Society of Lymphology stage 2 and treated by 3 lymphaticovenular anastomoses at the forearm (30 lymphaticovenular anastomoses incorporating 30 lymphatic vessels) under real-time ICG videolymphography. The rate of intraoperative detection of lymphatic vessels using real-time ICG videolymphography was 86.7% (0.25–0.85 mm in diameter), and that of lymph flow through the lymphaticovenular anastomoses was 76.7%. None of lymphatic vessels and no flow were detected under the microscope light by means of another non-built-in ICG lymphography camera. Real-time ICG videolymphography in LVA is beneficial, because the surgeon could find lymphatic vessels easily by checking dual images of original view and ICG fluorescent view and ensure accuracy of the LVA in a suture by a suture without any pauses of the surgical procedures.
Extra-articular Metacarpal Fractures: Closed Reduction and Percutaneous Pinning Versus Open Reduction and Internal Fixation
Authors: Vasilakis Vasileios , Sinnott Catherine J. , Hamade Malack , Hamade Hassan , Pinsky Brian A.
Published: May 2019

Background:

There is no consensus on the optimal operative treatment of isolated closed metacarpal fractures as every technique is associated with advantages and shortcomings. This retrospective study aims to compare the outcomes of single metacarpal, extra-articular fractures treated with closed reduction and percutaneous pinning (CRPP) versus open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF).

Methods:

The charts of all patients who underwent surgical repair of closed metacarpal fractures at our institutions from 2009 to 2016 were reviewed. 70 patients met the inclusion criteria, 44 had undergone CRPP and 26 ORIF with plate or lag screws. Subgroup analyses of all patients stratified by both fracture pattern and fracture location were performed. Additionally, subgroup analyses of outcomes based on the time from injury to surgery were conducted. Clinical outcomes included immobilization time, total active motion, stiffness, complication and reoperation rates, as well as occupational therapy referral rates and duration. Functional outcomes were determined using the Quick-DASH (Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand) score via telephone questionnaire administered retrospectively.

Results:

Overall, there was no significant difference in functional outcome parameters including total active motion (CRPP 91% of normal vs. ORIF 87% of normal), stiffness, therapy referrals, and complications between treatment groups. Patients treated with CRPP, regardless of fracture pattern or location, were operated on earlier than those treated with ORIF (avg. 7 days vs. 15 days). The immobilization time for patients treated with ORIF was significantly less than those treated with CRPP (19.7 vs. 30.7 days; p=0.001). This difference in the immobilization time also reflected the outcomes of the subgroup analyses based on the post-injury time of surgery. When transverse shaft fractures were examined independently as a subgroup, ORIF resulted in improved post-operative range of motion vs. CRPP (100% normal vs. 91% normal). The mean DASH score for each group was satisfactory and the difference was not statistically significant (16.3 for the CRPP and 18.7 for the ORIF group, p=0.805).

Conclusion:

Both CRPP and ORIF are viable techniques with good clinical outcomes and low complication rates. ORIF of closed metacarpal fractures allowed for earlier mobilization when compared with CRPP without compromising fracture stability, clinical or functional short-term outcomes.
Outcome of Beveled versus Vertical IncisionTechnique after Reconstructive or Aesthetic Facial Surgery
Authors: Feinendegen Dominik L. , Waldkircher Natascha J. , Bannwart Fridolin , Kalbermatten Daniel F. , Tremp Mathias
Published: May 2019

Background:

We suggest that the degree of scar improvement with a beveled incision technique with an angle of about 20 degrees to the skin can be translated for various reconstructions on the face and can be verified by a validated clinical assessment scale and histology.

Methods:

A total of 5 patients (2 men and 3 women) with a mean age of 68 years (range 54–84 years) undergoing elective surgeries on the face for tumor excision or cosmetic procedures were included. The beveled incision technique was compared with the conventional vertical incision (control group). Outcome measures were major and minor complications, pain and scar quality using the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale, and histomorphologic scar assessment.

Results:

After a mean follow-up of 7.6 months (range 6–13 months), all patients healed uneventfully without pain, hypertrophic scars, or infection. We found a better overall Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale score in the beveled incision technique group (15 ± 3.4) compared with the conventional vertical incision group (18.4 ± 7.8, P = 0.7). Histomorphologic analyses showed after 6 months less scar zone, less inflammatory reaction, fewer macrophages, less foreign body reaction, and more hair follicles in the beveled incision technique group compared with the vertical incision group.

Conclusion:

We showed that the beveled incision technique using a 20-degree angle in elective surgeries on the face yields a cosmetic pleasant result for both the patient and the surgeon, which also goes in line with our histomorphologic analyses.
Correction of Irregular Astigmatism With New-Generation Hybrid Contact Lenses
Authors: Uçakhan Ömür Ö. , Yeşiltaş Yağmur Seda
Published: May 2019

Purpose:

To evaluate the safety, efficacy, and on-eye performance of new-generation hybrid contact lenses (HCLs) in visual rehabilitation of eyes with irregular astigmatism and rigid gas-permeable (RGP) contact lens intolerance or failure.

Methods:

The charts of patients who had been fit with new-generation HCLs were retrospectively reviewed. The reason for HCL fit and previous method of correction were noted. After the initial on-eye evaluation, visual and refractive outcomes, slit-lamp biomicroscopy, and lens comfort were evaluated at the last follow-up examination.

Results:

Forty-seven eyes of 33 patients could be fit successfully with EyeBrid silicone (LCS, Cane, France) or Airflex (SwissLens, Prilly, Switzerland) lenses. The mean number of trial lenses required for ideal fit was 1.4±0.6 (range; 1–3) lenses. The reason for fit was either centration problems with RGP lenses or RGP intolerance. Twenty-nine eyes of 20 patients (72.5%) continued wearing their lenses more than 10 hr a day and for more than 3 months. In these successful wearers, the visual acuity (VA) improved significantly compared with the baseline uncorrected and spectacle-corrected VA (P<0.01), and no serious adverse events were encountered during the mean follow-up period of 10.1±6.4 months. At the last follow-up examination, patients preferred the new-generation HCLs over their habitual correction in regard to both VA and quality (P<0.05).

Conclusion:

New-generation HCLs seem to provide a viable alternative for visual rehabilitation of irregular astigmatism in selected eyes with RGP intolerance or RGP failure. The ease of the fitting process similar to fitting soft toric lenses and high patient satisfaction seem to be major advantages of these designs.
Short-Term Results of Trial of Topical Insulin for Treatment of Dry Eyes in Diabetics
Authors: Aniah Azmi Noor , Bastion Mae-Lynn Catherine
Published: May 2019

Objectives:

To assess the short-term effects of topical insulin (TI) 1 unit/drop 4 times per day for 4 weeks on the symptoms and signs of diabetic with dry eye disease (DED).

Methods:

In this randomized, double-blind interventional study, diabetics with DED aged 18 to 60 years were randomly assigned to TI or standard artificial tears (SAT). Baseline Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI), Schirmer I test (ST), tear break-up time (TBUT), and ocular Sjögren's International Collaborative Clinical Alliance (SICCA) score were compared 4 weeks after treatment.

Results:

A total of 160 participants (involving 320 eyes) received either TI (n=80) or SAT (n=80). After 4 weeks of treatment, a significant number of participants in both TI and SAT groups showed improvement in their OSDI score, 66% and 63%, respectively (P=0.0001), but were not significantly better than each other (P=0.453). However, most participants in both groups showed worsening of ST and TBUT (P>0.05). Most of the participants in both groups showed no change in their ocular SICCA score (P>0.05).

Conclusion:

The study has shown a significant and similar improvement in the OSDI score for TI 1 unit/drop four times daily and SAT in treating diabetics with DED. Further research is required to understand the long-term effects of TI on the ocular surface.
Structural and functional alterations in the retrosplenial cortex following neuropathic pain
Authors: Barrière David André , Hamieh Al Mahdy , Magalhães Ricardo , Traoré Amidou , Barbier Julie , Bonny Jean-Marie , Ardid Denis , Busserolles Jérôme , Mériaux Sébastien , Marchand Fabien
Published: May 2019

Human and animal imaging studies demonstrated that chronic pain profoundly alters the structure and the functionality of several brain regions. In this article, we conducted a longitudinal and multimodal study to assess how chronic pain affects the brain. Using the spared nerve injury model which promotes both long-lasting mechanical and thermal allodynia/hyperalgesia but also pain-associated comorbidities, we showed that neuropathic pain deeply modified the intrinsic organization of the brain functional network 1 and 2 months after injury. We found that both functional metrics and connectivity of the part A of the retrosplenial granular cortex (RSgA) were significantly correlated with the development of neuropathic pain behaviours. In addition, we found that the functional RSgA connectivity to the subiculum and the prelimbic system are significantly increased in spared nerve injury animals and correlated with peripheral pain thresholds. These brain regions were previously linked to the development of comorbidities associated with neuropathic pain. Using a voxel-based morphometry approach, we showed that neuropathic pain induced a significant increase of the gray matter concentration within the RSgA, associated with a significant activation of both astrocytes and microglial cells. Together, functional and morphological imaging metrics of the RSgA could be used as a predictive biomarker of neuropathic pain.
The contribution of obesity to prescription opioid use in the United States
Authors: Stokes Andrew , Berry Kaitlyn M. , Collins Jason M. , Hsiao Chia-Wen , Waggoner Jason R. , Johnston Stephen S. , Ammann Eric M. , Scamuffa Robin F. , Lee Sonia , Lundberg Dielle J. , Solomon Daniel H. , Felson David T. , Neogi Tuhina , Manson JoAnn E.
Published: May 2019

The prevalence of obesity has grown rapidly over the past several decades and has been accompanied by an increase in the prevalence of chronic pain and prescription opioid use. Obesity, through its association with pain, may represent an important contributor to opioid use. This cross-sectional study investigated the relationship between obesity and prescription opioid use among adults aged 35 to 79 years using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES, 2003-2016). Relative to normal weight, body mass indices in the overweight {odds ratio (OR), 1.11 (confidence interval [CI], 0.88-1.39)}, obese I (OR, 1.26 [CI, 1.01-1.57]), obese II (OR, 1.69 [CI, 1.34-2.12]), and obese III (OR, 2.33 [CI, 1.76-3.08]) categories were associated with elevated odds of prescription opioid use. The association between excess weight and opioid use was stronger for chronic opioid use than for use with a duration of less than 90 days (P-value, <0.001). We estimated that 14% (CI, 9%-19%) of prescription opioid use at the population level was attributable to obesity, suggesting there might have been 1.5 million fewer opioid users per year under the hypothetical scenario where obese individuals were instead nonobese (CI, 0.9-2.0 million users). Back pain, joint pain, and muscle/nerve pain accounted for the largest differences in self-reported reasons for prescription opioid use across obesity status. Although interpretation is limited by the cross-sectional nature of the associations, our findings suggest that the obesity epidemic may be partially responsible for the high prevalence of prescription opioid use in the United States.