bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Estimating the Cost of Illness in Colorectal Cancer Patients Who Were Hospitalized for Severe Chemotherapy-Induced Diarrhea
Authors: Dranitsaris George , Maroun Jean , Shah Amil
Published: March 2016

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have suggested that grade III/IV diarrhea is a common complication in colorectal cancer, occurring in 20% to 30% of patients receiving chemotherapy. In some of these patients, hospitalization for supportive care is often required. However, the impact that these hospitalized patients have on overall use of health care resources has not been quantified. In the present study, a cost of illness analysis was conducted to estimate the overall cost of patients with colorectal cancer who were hospitalized for supportive care secondary to severe diarrhea.

METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study consisting of patients with colorectal cancer that had received fluoropyrimidines, irinotecan or oxaliplatin (or a combination thereof) and had developed grade III or IV diarrhea that resulted in hospital admission for supportive care. Data collection included patient demographics, disease-related information and use of health care resources to manage the grade III/IV diarrhea event.

RESULTS: Patients had a mean age of 64.2 years, and 32 of 63 (50.8%) were receiving adjuvant chemotherapy with a curative intent. The severe diarrhea developed after the first cycle of chemotherapy in 58% of the patients and contributed to a dose reduction, change or discontinuation of chemotherapy in 9.5%, 15.9% and 34.2% of patients, respectively. Overall, the median length of hospital stay was eight days (range one to 49 days) translating to a mean cost of $8,230 per patient (95% CI $6,519 to $9,942). The diarrhea successfully resolved in 54 of 63 patients (85.7%).

CONCLUSIONS: Severe diarrhea requiring hospital admission is a costly and potentially fatal complication of chemotherapy in colorectal cancer. The identification of predictive factors and the implementation of prophylactic measures could reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with diarrhea.
Modulation of Host Cell Signal Transduction Pathways by Helicobacter Pylori Infection
Authors: Ceponis Peter JM , Jones Nicola L
Published: March 2016

Bacterial pathogens modulate host cell signal transduction responses to establish infection and cause disease. The purpose of the present summary, first presented at the Canadian Helicobacter Study Group meeting, is to discuss current knowledge of specific Helicobacter pylori factors, including the vacuolating cytotoxin, cytotoxin-associated gene A and the type four secretion system encoded by the cytotoxin-associated gene pathogenicity island and review the host cell signal transduction cascades that they modulate.
Human Gastric Mucosal Hydrophobicity Does dot Decrease with Helicobacter Pylori Infection or Chronological Age
Authors: Al-Marhoon Mohammed S , Nunn Sheila , Soames Roger W
Published: March 2016

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Infection with cytotoxin-associated gene A (cagA) Helicobacter pylori is associated with severe gastric diseases. Previous studies in humans have reported a decreased gastric hydrophobicity with H pylori infection. The aim of the present study was to differentiate between the effect of cagA+ and cagA- strains on gastric mucus hydrophobicity.

METHODS: One hundred patients without peptic ulcers and not on medication were randomly recruited from endoscopy clinics; each patient had six biopsies. Contact angle measurements were performed using a goniometer assisted by computer software. H pylori status was assessed by histology, Campylobacter-like organism test and culture, and cagA+ status was determined by polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTS: In age- and sex-matched patients, there was no significant difference (P=0.27) in contact angle between H pylori-positive (61±2.8°) and H pylori-negative patients (65.5±3.0°). There was also no significant difference (P=0.36) in contact angle among H pylori-negative, cagA- and cagA+ patients (65.5±3.0°, 58.6±3.6° and 63.4±4.9°, respectively). However, a trend of increased mean contact angles in cagA+ compared with cagA- and H pylori-negative patients was observed in patients 50 years and younger (68.3±8.3°, 61.1±6.1° and 63.6±2.2°, respectively; P=0.70) and in patients without atrophy (71.1±8°, 59.6±4° and 66±2°, respectively; P=0.30). In addition, there was no significant correlation between contact angles and patient age (r=0.104, P=0.306).

CONCLUSIONS: The present study shows that H pylori infection and the chronological age have no effect on the gastric mucus hydrophobicity, but it highlights a trend of increased mucus hydrophobicity with cagA+ infection that needs to be supported by future studies.
Parvovirus B19 in an Immunocompetent Adult Patient with Acute Liver Failure: An Underdiagnosed Cause of Acute Non-A-E Viral Hepatitis
Authors: Ho J Kee , Tha Susan PL , Coupland Robert , Dalal Bakul I , Bowie William R , Sreenivasan Gayatri M , Krajden Mel , Yoshida Eric M
Published: March 2016

There are occasional pediatric reports of parvovirus B19-associated transient acute hepatitis and hepatic failure. A case of a 34-year-old immunocompetent woman who developed severe and prolonged but self-limited acute hepatitis and myelosuppression following acute parvovirus B19 infection is reported. Parvovirus B19 may be the causative agent in some adult cases of acute non-A-E viral hepatitis and acute liver failure.
Host Epithelial Interactions with Helicobacter Pylori: A Role for Disrupted Gastric Barrier Function in the Clinical Outcome of Infection?
Authors: Buret Andre G , Fedwick Jason P , Flynn Andrew N
Published: March 2016

Infection of the human stomach with Helicobacter pylori may develop into gastritis, ulceration, adenocarcinoma and mucosal lymphomas. The pathogenic mechanisms that determine the clinical outcome from this microbial-epithelial interaction remain poorly understood. An increasing number of reports suggests that disruptions of epithelial barrier function may contribute to pathology and postinfectious complications in a variety of gastrointestinal infections. The aim of this review is to critically discuss the implications of H pylori persistence on gastric disease, with emphasis on the role of myosin light chain kinase, claudins and matrix metalloproteinases in gastric permeability defects, and their contribution to the development of cancer. These mechanisms and the associated signalling events may represent novel therapeutic targets to control disease processes induced by H pylori, a microbial pathogen that colonizes the stomach of over 50% of the human population.
Nongastrointestinal Symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome: An Office-Based Clinical Survey
Authors: Hershfield NB
Published: March 2016

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is the most prevalent gastrointestinal problem faced by practicing gastroenterologists. For many years, nongastrointestinal symptoms have been documented in IBS patients, but the medical literature does not emphasize them. The present study explored how IBS and inflammatory bowel disease patients differ in their reporting of nongastrointestinal symptoms. Information from 200 consecutive patients with IBS and a similar number of patients with Crohn's disease (in a single gastroenterology practice) was obtained at the initial visit using a simple questionnaire. Comparison of the data revealed that IBS patients describe certain nongastrointestinal symptoms far more frequently than do those with inflammatory bowel disease. It is recommended that these symptoms be considered along with the generally accepted criteria for making a positive diagnosis of IBS.
Endosalpingiosis of Axillary Lymph Nodes: A Rare Histopathologic Pitfall with Clinical Relevance for Breast Cancer Staging
Authors: Nomani Laila , Calhoun Benjamin C. , Biscotti Charles V. , Grobmyer Stephen R. , Sturgis Charles D.
Published: March 2016

Establishment of accurate axillary lymph node status is of essential importance in determining both prognosis and the potential need for adjuvant therapy in patients with invasive breast cancer. Axillary lymph node heterotopias can in some cases result in overdiagnosis of metastatic disease. Nodal endosalpingiosis is perhaps the least commonly reported type of axially lymph node heterotopia. We herein illustrate a case in which second opinion pathologic interpretation combined with ancillary immunohistochemical studies allowed for a specific diagnosis of axillary nodal müllerian-type inclusions, confirming ypN0 staging and resulting in appropriate disease management and prognostication.
Adalimumab: Another Medication Related to Osteonecrosis of the Jaws?
Authors: Cassoni Andrea , Romeo Umberto , Terenzi Valentina , Della Monaca Marco , Rajabtork Zadeh Oriana , Raponi Ingrid , Fadda Maria Teresa , Polimeni Antonella , Valentini Valentino
Published: March 2016

Objective.The acronym MRONJ has been created in order to identify “Medication-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw,” observed after the use of Bisphosphonates, RANK ligand inhibitor, and antiangiogenic medications. Only a case of osteonecrosis of the jaw in a Chron’s disease patient following a course of Bisphosphonate and Adalimumab therapy has been recently described, so that it has been supposed that also this medication could promote manifestation of osteonecrosis.Clinical Case. On August, 2014, a 63-year-old female with a history of idiopathic arthritis treated with medical treatment with Adalimumab from 2010 to 2013 presented referring pain in the right mandible.Results. This patient presented with nonexposed osteonecrosis of the jaw after placement, on September, 2010, of four titanium fixtures in the mandible.Conclusions. The authors suggest that the biologic therapy with an anti-TNF-αantibody might promote the manifestation of osteonecrosis and compromise oral healing capacity of the bone.
A Very Compact and Low Profile UWB Planar Antenna with WLAN Band Rejection
Authors: Syed Avez , Aldhaheri Rabah W.
Published: March 2016

A low-cost coplanar waveguide fed compact ultrawideband (UWB) antenna with band rejection characteristics for wireless local area network (WLAN) is proposed. The notch band characteristic is achieved by etching half wavelength C-shaped annular ring slot in the radiating patch. By properly choosing the radius and position of the slot, the notch band can be adjusted and controlled. With an overall size of 18.7 mm × 17.6 mm, the antenna turns out to be one of the smallest UWB antennas with band-notched characteristics. It has a wide fractional bandwidth of 130% (2.9–13.7 GHz) with VSWR < 2 and rejecting IEEE 802.11a and HIPERLAN/2 frequency band of 5.1–5.9 GHz. Stable omnidirectional radiation patterns in theHplane with an average gain of 4.4 dBi are obtained. The band-notch mechanism of the proposed antenna is examined by HFSS simulator. A good agreement is found between measured and simulated results indicating that the proposed antenna is well suited for integration into portable devices for UWB applications.
Long-Term Follow-Up of the Telemonitoring Weight-Reduction Program “Active Body Control”
Authors: Stumm Gabriele , Blaik Alexandra , Kropf Siegfried , Westphal Sabine , Hantke Tanja Katrin , Luley Claus
Published: March 2016

The Active Body Control (ABC) weight-reduction program is based on telemonitoring of physical activity and nutrition together with telecoaching by weekly counseling letters sent by post or by e-mail. The study presented here reports the results of a 1-year follow-up of 49 patients with the metabolic syndrome who had lost weight with the aid of the ABC program in the preceding year. The weight regain after the second year in patients not receiving any further care (“ABC discontinued” group;n=24) and the potential benefit of continuing with the ABC program with monthly counseling letters (“ABC continued” group;n=25) were investigated. The relative weight changes after the first year had been, respectively, −13.4% and −11.4% in the “ABC discontinued” and “ABC continued” groups, and after the second year they decreased by, respectively, 4.4 and 2.8%. However, this difference in weight regains between the two groups was not statistically significant. It is concluded that three-quarters of the weight loss after 1 year is maintained after the second year. The decision whether to continue with the ABC program after 1 year should be made individually.
Substitutes for Bear Bile for the Treatment of Liver Diseases: Research Progress and Future Perspective
Authors: Li Sha , Tan Hor Yue , Wang Ning , Hong Ming , Li Lei , Cheung Fan , Feng Yibin
Published: March 2016

Bear bile has been a well‐known Chinese medicine for thousands of years. Because of the endangered species protection, the concept on substitutes for bear bile was proposed decades ago. Based on their chemical composition and pharmacologic actions, artificial bear bile, bile from other animals, synthetic compounds, and medicinal plants may be the promising candidates to replace bear bile for the similar therapeutic purpose. Accumulating research evidence has indicated that these potential substitutes for bear bile have displayed the same therapeutic effects as bear bile. However, stopping the use of bear bile is a challenging task. In this review, we extensively searched PubMed and CNKI for literatures, focusing on comparative studies between bear bile and its substitutes for the treatment of liver diseases. Recent research progress in potential substitutes for bear bile in the last decade is summarized, and a strategy for the use of substitutes for bear bile is discussed carefully.
Effect of Thermal Treatment on Fractals in Acoustic Emission of Rock Material
Authors: Zhang Z. Z. , Xu X. L. , Sun Q. P. , Dong Y.
Published: March 2016

Acoustic emission (AE) series on time and location distributions on space are all fractal during the failure process of rock material. In this paper, AE signals of heated rock samples at different temperature under uniaxial compression were captured, and the correlation fractal dimensions (CFDs) of AE counts series at different stress level were calculated using Grassberger-Procaccia algorithm. The temperature effect on AE fractal behavior was revealed. The results show that as the heat temperature increases, the total AE counts are more, while the peak value is less. With the increase of external loading, the AE CFD increases fast to a peak at first and then decreases to a bottom and, after that, increases again but within a narrow range. 200°C and 800°C are two thresholds. As the heat temperature rises, the maximum CFD value and the corresponding stress level both increase from 25°C to 200°C and decrease from 200°C to 800°C and then increase again from 800°C to 1200°C. The CFD value at the failure point shows polynomial decline with rising heat temperature.
Laser Evoked Potentials in Early and Presymptomatic Huntington’s Disease
Authors: de Tommaso Marina , Franco Giovanni , Ricci Katia , Montemurno Anna , Sciruicchio Vittorio
Published: March 2016

Pain was rarely studied in Huntington’s disease (HD). We presently aimed to extend our previous study on pain pathways functions by laser evoked potentials (LEPs) to a larger cohort of early unmedicated HD patients and a small group of presymptomatic HD (PHD) subjects. Forty-two early HD patients, 10 PHD patients, and 64 controls were submitted to LEPs by right-hand stimulation. Two series of 30 laser stimuli were delivered, and artifact-free responses were averaged. The N1, N2, and P2 latencies were significantly increased and the N2P2 amplitude significantly reduced in HD patients compared to controls. In the HD group, the LEPs abnormalities correlated with functional decline. PHD subjects showed a slight and insignificant increase in LEPs latencies, which was inversely correlated with the possible age of HD clinical onset. Data of the present study seem to suggest that the functional state of nociceptive pathways as assessed by LEPs may be a potential biomarker of disease onset and progression. The assessment of pain symptoms in premanifest and manifest HD may also open a new scenario in terms of subtle disturbances of pain processing, which may have a role in the global burden of the disease.
Adjacent Zero Communication Parallel Cloud Computing Method and Its System forN-Body Problem with Short-Range Interaction Domain Decomposition
Authors: Zhu Dingju
Published: March 2016

Although parallel computing is used in the existing numerical solutions ofN-body problem, tons of communications betweenNparticles render the parallel efficiency extremely low. Despite the fact that domain decomposition based on short-range interaction is used, whenNis exceedingly large and lots of communications exist between particles in adjacent areas, the parallel efficiency remains terribly low. This paper puts forward adjacent zero communication parallel cloud computing method forN-body problem with short-range interaction domain decomposition. According to this method, the adjacent subblock data are exchanged and redundantly stored without acquiring data from other subblocks in the parallel processing, so the waiting time for data transmission can be saved and hence the parallel processing efficiency can be enhanced substantially.
Carcinoid Syndrome-Induced Ventricular Tachycardia
Authors: Rupp Austin B. , Ahmadjee Abdulmohsin , Morshedzadeh Jack H. , Ranjan Ravi
Published: March 2016

Introduction.Carcinoid tumors are rare neuroendocrine malignancies that secrete multiple bioactive substances. These bioactive substances are responsible for the carcinoid syndrome characterized by diarrhea, flushing, syncope, and right-sided valvular heart disease. Previous case reports have described carcinoid syndrome associated with coronary vasospasm and the well-characterized carcinoid heart disease.Case.Our patient is a 73-year-old female with complex past medical history most notable for metastatic carcinoid tumors diagnosed in 2013-05. She initially presented in 2014-09 with syncope and dizziness associated with sinus pause on an event monitor. She received a pacemaker given normal left ventricular function and was discharged. However, she was readmitted with similar symptoms corresponding to multiple episodes of ventricular tachycardia. She was started on high-dose beta blockade and has had no recurrence of arrhythmia over a follow-up period of 12 months.Conclusion.We hypothesize that the patient’s ventricular tachycardia was mediated by the multiple bioactive substances secreted by her carcinoid tumors. Her carcinoid tumor biomarkers were elevated and other explanations for arrhythmia were investigated and ruled out. To our knowledge, this is the first case of ventricular tachycardia mediated by carcinoid syndrome and suppressed by beta-blocker. Further investigation into this relationship is needed.
Study of Dielectric Properties and Ultrasonic Attenuation in KDP-Type Ferroelectrics
Authors: Bist Vijay Singh , Panwar Narayan Singh
Published: March 2016

The soft mode dynamical model has been used to study dielectric properties and ultrasonic attenuation in KDP-type ferroelectric crystals. The model Hamiltonian proposed by Blinc and Zeks has been modified by considering lattice anharmonicity up to fourth-order. The correlations appearing in the dynamical equation have been evaluated using double-time thermal retarded Green’s functions method and Dyson’s equation. Without any decoupling, the higher order correlations, appearing in the dynamical equation, have been evaluated using the renormalized Hamiltonian. The expressions for collective frequencies, width, dielectric constant, ultrasonic attenuation, and tangent loss have been calculated. The dielectric properties and ultrasonic attenuation strongly depend on the relaxational mode behavior of stochastic motion of H2PO4 group in KDP-type ferroelectrics. By fitting model values of physical quantities, the temperature dependence of Sqz and Sqx for different value of four-body coupling coefficient and dielectric constant and loss tangent has been calculated. The calculated and observed results have been found in good agreement.
Perceived Image Quality on Mobile Phones with Different Screen Resolution
Authors: Zou Wenjie , Song Jiarun , Yang Fuzheng
Published: March 2016

The diverse display screen imposes significant challenges for assessing the perceptual media quality across different mobile devices. In this paper, the perceived image quality on different mobile phones is investigated. Firstly, subjective experiments for image quality evaluation are implemented on 9 popular mobile phones and a broadcast-quality monitor to evaluate the impact on perceived image quality regarding the screen resolution, screen size, image resolution, and image coding quality. Furthermore, the effect of mutual interaction between the image resolution and screen resolution is analyzed and an integrated assessment parameter is proposed to establish a device-dependent image quality assessment model. This model can be used to predict the user’s perceptual quality of the images displayed on different mobile devices. Experimental results using twofold cross-validation indicate that the proposed model can accurately estimate users’ perceived image quality on mobile devices.
Der Gewöhnliche Beifuss (Artemisia vulgaris) - eine Pflanze im Wandel der Zeit
Authors: Mann Christina
Published: March 2016

Weltbild und Heilverständnis haben einen ganz wesentlichen Einfluss auf den Stellenwert und die Verwendungsmöglichkeiten von klassischen Heilpflanzen. Am Beispiel Artemisiavulgaris lässt sich eindrucksvoll belegen, wie wechselvoll sich ein solches Heilpflanzenschicksal abgespielt hat und wie die Bedeutung einer einst sehr hoch geschätzten Pflanze sich aktuell stark auf die blosse Nutzung als würzende Beigabe zu Speisen reduziert hat. Ausgehend von der Beschreibung historischer Medizinkonzepte hin zu neuzeitlichen Medizinkonzepten wird auf die besondere Bedeutung von A. vulgaris als Arznei-, Gewürz- und Ritualpflanze in den verschiedenen Zeiten und Konzepten eingegangen. Dabei wird anhand zahlreicher zu Wort kommender Zeitzeugen und Interpreten deutlich, wie sehr sich das Verständnis dieser Pflanze verändert hat. Vom bedeutenden Geburts- und Frauenheilkraut über die wohl noch bedeutendere Verwendung als rituelles magisches Kraut bis hin zur heilsamen Verwendung für Magen und Darm spannt sich der Bogen. Zumindest aus Sicht der klassischen Medizin endet dieser bei der aktuellen, nahezu ausschliesslichen Verwendung als Gewürz, unter weitgehender Missachtung ursprünglicher historischer und erfahrungsmedizinischer Verwendungen. Abschliessend werden die mögliche Bedeutung der Pflanze für den menschlichen Gebrauch als Bitterstoffdroge und die daraus erwachsenden Vorteile angesprochen.
Dietary Advanced Glycation End Products and Their Potential Role in Cardiometabolic Disease in Children
Authors: Gupta Anshu , Uribarri Jaime
Published: March 2016

The rising incidence of obesity and metabolic diseases such as diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease in adolescents and young adults is of grave concern. Recent studies favor a role of lifestyle factors over genetics in the perpetuation of inflammation, insulin resistance and oxidative stress, which are pathophysiologic processes common to the above diseases; furthermore, the importance of dietary factors in addition to calories and physical activity in these processes is being increasingly recognized. Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) belong to a category of dietary oxidants which have been implicated in the pathogenesis of inflammation, oxidative stress, insulin resistance, β-cell failure and endothelial dysfunction. This paper reviews the studies of AGEs with a focus on their role in cardiometabolic disease in children. A Medline search was performed using the key words ‘childhood obesity', ‘metabolic syndrome' and ‘advanced glycation end products'. Articles published in English between 1975 and 2015 and their references were reviewed. While most studies were performed in adults, a few studies also demonstrated a role of AGEs in obesity and associated cardiometabolic comorbidities in the younger population. Available evidence suggests an involvement of AGEs in the pathogenesis of adiposity and β-cell failure in children. Potential areas for further research to investigate underlying mechanisms are proposed.
Effect of Vagus Nerve Injury on the Outcome of Antireflux Surgery: An Extensive Literature Review
Authors: van Rijn Selwyn , Roebroek Yvonne G.M. , Conchillo Jose M. , Bouvy Nicole D. , Masclee Adrian A.M.
Published: March 2016

Background: Vagus nerve injury (VNI) is a feared complication of antireflux surgery (ARS). The impact of VNI on the functional outcomes of ARS has not yet been evaluated systematically. The aim of this review was to evaluate the impact of VNI on functional and clinical outcome of ARS. Methods: A systematic search was performed until March 2015, using the following online databases: MEDLINE, Embase and the Cochrane Register of Controlled Clinical Trials. Eight studies remained available for assessment. Articles were divided into 2 groups: (a) one with unintended, accidental VNI and (b) one group comparing ARS with and without intended vagotomy. Results: The prevalence of unintended, accidental VNI ranged from 10 to 42% after ARS. No clear differences were seen in outcome for reflux control between the VNI and vagus nerve intact group. A higher prevalence of diarrhea, nausea and vomiting was observed in the VNI group. Conclusion: VNI is a feared but neglected complication of ARS. Larger prospective studies that objectively assess vagus nerve integrity before and after ARS are needed.
A Cross-Sectional Study on the Use of Urinalysis for Screening Early-Stage Renal Insufficiency
Authors: Xue Ning , Zhang Xiaoyan , Teng Jie , Fang Yi , Ding Xiaoqiang
Published: March 2016

Background/Aims: Proteinuria and hematuria detected by routine urinalysis can indicate impaired renal function. This study evaluated the effect of routine urinalysis in screening out patients with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <60 ml/min/1.73 m2 at an early stage and investigated its associated factors. Methods: Healthy adults who underwent physical examination between September 2008 and September 2013 were enrolled in the study (n = 43,516). Urine was analyzed for protein, and red and white blood cells. Ten milliliter blood samples were collected for serum creatinine, urea, albumin and other parameters for the estimation of eGFR and renal function. Results: Abnormal routine urinalysis was found in 7.1% and eGFR <60 ml/min/1.73 m2 was found in 0.9% of subjects. Age and gender were similar in the overall and abnormal urinalysis populations (43 vs. 43 years and 36.7 vs. 38.2% females, respectively), but the eGFR <60 ml/min/1.73 m2 group were older (64 years, p < 0.001) with increased females (46.4%, p = 0.002). Sensitivity for predicting eGFR <60 ml/min/1.73 m2 was 0.110 and specificity was 0.928. Univariate and multivariate analyses in 6,318 subjects with more detailed clinical data suggested significant associations of sex (OR 0.058, 95% CI 0.030-0.113), age (OR 1.045, 95% CI 1.027-1.064), and high density lipoprotein (HDL) (OR 0.158, 95% CI 0.043-0.587) with eGFR <60 ml/min/1.73 m2. Conclusion: Routine urinalysis showed a poor performance in the screening for early-stage renal insufficiency. In future, other screening methods should be considered. Age, gender and HDL were associated with eGFR <60 ml/min/1.73 m2.
Spontaneous Closure of a Full-Thickness Macular Hole Associated with Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy and Persistent Vitreomacular Traction
Authors: Reinherz Benjamin J. , Rubin Jeffrey S.
Published: March 2016

Diabetic retinopathy worsens the prognosis of macular holes compared to those of idiopathic etiology. While spontaneous closure of idiopathic macular holes is a well-documented phenomenon, spontaneous closure of macular holes associated with proliferative diabetic retinopathy is rare. We report a case of spontaneous closure of a macular hole associated with proliferative diabetic retinopathy and persistent vitreomacular traction.
Intestinal Fibrosis and Liver Fibrosis: Consequences of Chronic Inflammation or Independent Pathophysiology?
Authors: Rieder Florian , Bettenworth Dominik , Imai Jin , Inagaki Yutaka
Published: March 2016

Background: Intestinal fibrosis and liver fibrosis represent a significant burden for our patients and health-care systems. Despite the severe clinical problem and the observation that fibrosis is reversible, no specific antifibrotic therapies exist. Summary: In this review, using an ‘East-West' scientific collaboration, we summarize the current knowledge on principal mechanisms shared by intestinal fibrosis and liver fibrosis. We furthermore discuss inflammation as the cause of fibrogenesis in both entities, depict unique features of intestinal and hepatic fibrosis, and provide a future outlook on the development of antifibrotic therapies. Key Messages: A collaborative effort in the field of fibrosis, covering multiple organ systems, will have the highest chance of leading to the development of a successful antifibrotic intervention.
Síndrome de fragilidade em idosos da comunidade: características socioeconômicas e de saúde - um estudo observacional
Authors: Buranello Mariana C. , Pegorari Maycon S. , Castro Shamyr S. de , Patrizzi Lislei J.
Published: March 2016

Modelo do estudo: Transversal, observacional e analítico. Objetivo: Verificar a associação da síndrome de fragilidade com as condições socioeconômicas e de saúde em idosos residentes na comunidade. Metodologia: Amostra composta por 54 idosos adscritos à Equipe Saúde da Família do município de Uberaba/MG. A coleta de dados consistiu na avaliação do estado cognitivo, variáveis socioeconômicas, percepção de saúde, morbidades, número de medicamentos e fenótipo de fragilidade, categorizados em não frágil (GN) (nenhum item do fenótipo), pré-frágil (GP) (dois itens do fenótipo) e frágil (GF) (três ou mais itens do fenótipo). Resultados: Constatou-se que 11,1% dos idosos eram frágeis, 46,3% pré-frá- geis e 42,6% não frágeis. Não houve diferença significativa para as variáveis socioeconômicas e de saúde entre os grupos, exceto para a maior proporção do número de medicamentos no grupo frágil quando comparado ao pré-frágil e não frágil (p<0,0028). O GF apresentou maior percentual de mulheres, sem escolaridade, viúvos e que moravam com filhos; enquanto que no GP observou-se que a maioria pertencia à faixa etária de 75 anos e mais, 1 a 4 anos de escolaridade e renda de até 1 salário mínimo. Conclusões: O consumo de medicamentos foi maior para os idosos frágeis, indicando a necessidade de atenção especial a essa característica, dado o perfil apresentado. Além disso, os achados da pesquisa ressaltam a relevância dos componentes socioeconômicos e de saúde do idoso em condição de fragilidade><0,0028). O GF apresentou maior percentual de mulheres, sem escolaridade, viúvos e que moravam com filhos; enquanto que no GP observou-se que a maioria pertencia à faixa etária de 75 anos e mais, 1 a 4 anos de escolaridade e renda de até 1 salário mínimo. Conclusões: O consumo de medicamentos foi maior para os idosos frágeis, indicando a necessidade de atenção especial a essa característica, dado o perfil apresentado. Além disso, os achados da pesquisa ressaltam a relevância dos componentes socioeconômicos e de saúde do idoso em condição de fragilidade.
Disfunção sexual em endometriose: uma revisão sistemática
Authors: Marqui Alessandra B. Trovó de , Silva Maria Paula C. , Irie Gabriela R. F.
Published: March 2016

Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a função sexual das pacientes com endometriose, bem como a participação de fatores de risco. Foi realizada uma pesquisa bibliográfica no PubMed, em março de 2014, empregando os seguintes descritores: quality of sex life and endometriosis, sexual life and endometriosis, female sexual dysfunction and endometriosis e sexual functioning and endometriosis. Foram encontrados 152 artigos e de acordo com os critérios de inclusão e exclusão previamente estabelecidos, 20 foram selecionados. Treze estudos investigaram a contribuição do tratamento na disfunção sexual feminina. Ansiedade e depressão são fatores que também influenciam a função sexual, mas foram investigadas em apenas três estudos. As pacientes com endometriose exibem comprometimento da função sexual e, portanto, a investigação sobre sua vida sexual deve ser averiguada, tendo em vista os prejuízos causados pela disfunção na qualidade de vida das mulheres.
Percutaneous Lymphatic Embolization of Abnormal Pulmonary Lymphatic Flow as Treatment of Plastic Bronchitis in Patients With Congenital Heart Disease
Authors: Dori Yoav , Keller Marc S. , Rome Jonathan J. , Gillespie Matthew J. , Glatz Andrew C. , Dodds Kathryn , Goldberg David J. , Goldfarb Samuel , Rychik Jack , Itkin Maxim
Published: March 2016

Background—

Plastic bronchitis is a potentially fatal disorder occurring in children with single-ventricle physiology, and other diseases, as well, such as asthma. In this study, we report findings of abnormal pulmonary lymphatic flow, demonstrated by MRI lymphatic imaging, in patients with plastic bronchitis and percutaneous lymphatic intervention as a treatment for these patients.

Methods and Results—

This is a retrospective case series of 18 patients with surgically corrected congenital heart disease and plastic bronchitis who presented for lymphatic imaging and intervention. Lymphatic imaging included heavy T2-weighted MRI and dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance lymphangiogram. All patients underwent bilateral intranodal lymphangiogram, and most patients underwent percutaneous lymphatic intervention. In 16 of 18 patients, MRI or lymphangiogram or both demonstrated retrograde lymphatic flow from the thoracic duct toward lung parenchyma. Intranodal lymphangiogram and thoracic duct catheterization was successful in all patients. Seventeen of 18 patients underwent either lymphatic embolization procedures or thoracic duct stenting with covered stents to exclude retrograde flow into the lungs. One of the 2 patients who did not have retrograde lymphatic flow did not undergo a lymphatic interventional procedure. A total of 15 of 17(88%) patients who underwent an intervention had significant symptomatic improvement at a median follow-up of 315 days (range, 45–770 days). The most common complication observed was nonspecific transient abdominal pain and transient hypotension.

Conclusions—

In this study, we demonstrated abnormal pulmonary lymphatic perfusion in most patients with plastic bronchitis. Interruption of the lymphatic flow resulted in significant improvement of symptoms in these patients and, in some cases, at least temporary resolution of cast formation.
Islamic Book Culture through the Lens of Two Private Libraries, 1850–1940
Authors: El Shamsy Ahmed
Published: March 2016

This paper uses the libraries of two prominent Azharī scholars of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries as a window to the literary horizons of Islamic scholarship at the cusp of the print revolution. A comparative analysis of the two libraries’ holdings in law, theology, philosophy, literature, and Quranic exegesis reveals that the late manuscript tradition was overwhelmingly focused on a small number of curriculum texts and extensive commentaries on them, while ignoring most of the works that we today consider the classics of these fields. Only in the early twentieth century were these classics rediscovered and popularized through print. Further, the vast majority of the printed works in the two libraries was produced in Egypt, but they also contained significant numbers of works from Istanbul, Iran, and India. Books printed in Europe, however, were nearly absent.
A new large species of Bitis Gray, 1842 (Serpentes: Viperidae) from the Bale Mountains of Ethiopia
Authors: GOWER DAVID J. , WADE EDWARD O. Z. , SPAWLS STEPHEN , BÖHME WOLFGANG , BUECHLEY EVAN R. , SYKES DANIEL , COLSTON TIMOTHY J.
Published: March 2016

A new species of viperine viperid snake is described, Bitis harenna sp. nov. The new species is a member of the subgenus Macrocerastes based on it having three scales separating the nasal and rostral shields, and on the combination of ‘divisions’ of dorsal scale rows on the upper flanks and ‘fusions’ of rows on the lower flanks. Bitis harenna sp. nov. is distinguished from other members of the subgenus by its unique colour pattern, posterior parietal flange on the lateral wall of the braincase, and possibly by differences in scalation and head proportions. Only a single museum specimen is known, a female collected from ‘Dodola’ in Ethiopia probably in the late 1960s and previously identified as a possibly unusually coloured and patterned B. parviocula. A live, presumably male, specimen very closely resembling the holotype of Bitis harenna sp. nov. was photographed on the Harenna escarpment of the Bale Mountains National Park, Ethiopia in 2013, providing secure occurrence data and evidence that the holotype is not a uniquely aberrant specimen. A revised key to the species of Bitis in Ethiopia is presented. Aspects of body scalation are compared among species of the subgenus Macrocerastes and between species of Macrocerastes and Bitis, and several systematic characters are highlighted and clarified.
A new species of Spiroberotha Adams 1989 (Neuroptera: Berothidae) and the first record of the genus in Brazil
Authors: MACHADO RENATO JOSE PIRES , KROLOW TIAGO KÜTTER
Published: March 2016

The genus Spiroberotha Adams, 1989 is classified in Berothidae (Neuroptera) with two described species: S. fernandezi Adams, 1989 from Venezuela and S. sanctarosae Adams, 1989 from Colombia, Costa Rica and Venezuela. Here we describe a new species, S. tocantinensis n. sp., from Palmas, Tocantins, Brazil. This is the first record of the genus in Brazil, extending its geographical distribution.
Digital Punishment’s Tangled Web
Authors: Lageson Sarah Esther
Published: March 2016

Online mugshots and crime reports comprise an emerging—and sticky—form of extralegal punishment.
The Challenge of Diverse Public Schools
Authors: Parcel Toby L. , Hendrix Joshua A. , Taylor Andrew J.
Published: March 2016

Decades of successful integration efforts are at stake when one school district fights over school proximity and school “balancing.”
Improved in situ mineral and petrophysical interpretation with neutron-induced gamma-ray spectroscopy elemental logs
Authors: Ajayi Oyinkansola , Torres-Verdín Carlos
Published: March 2016

Neutron logs are routinely expressed as apparent neutron porosity based on the assumption of a freshwater-saturated homogeneous formation with solid composition equal to either sandstone, limestone, or dolomite. Rock formations are often extremely heterogeneous and consist of different minerals and fluids in varying proportions, which cause simultaneous matrix and fluid effects on neutron logs. Detailed quantification of formation mineral composition enables the correction of matrix effects on measured neutron logs to unmask fluid effects; this in turn enables accurate quantification of porosity and water saturation. Neutron-induced gamma-ray spectroscopy is one of the most direct means available to quantify in situ formation mineralogy but available spectroscopy-based interpretation methods are usually tool dependent and incorporate empirical correlations. We have developed a new interpretation method to quantify mineral concentrations through the joint nonlinear matrix inversion of measured spectroscopy elemental weight concentrations and matrix-sensitive logs, such as gamma ray, matrix photoelectric factor, matrix sigma (neutron capture cross section), and matrix density. The estimated mineralogy was used in the correction of matrix effects on porosity logs and subsequent calculation of true formation porosity. The water saturation was quantified through joint petrophysical interpretation of matrix-corrected porosities and resistivity measurements using an appropriate saturation model. The developed inversion-based interpretation method is applicable to a wide range of formation lithologies, well trajectories, and borehole environments (including open and cased hole environments), and it is independent of tool and neutron source type. Verification results with synthetic and field cases confirm that the spectroscopy-based algorithm is reliable and accurate in the quantification of mineral concentrations, matrix properties, porosity, and hydrocarbon saturation.
Mycoplasma infections in calves
Authors: Potter Tim
Published: March 2016

Mycoplasma bovis is an important pathogen of calves causing respiratory disease, otitis and arthritis. Management of outbreaks can be difficult due to the variable response to treatment and rapid spread between in-contact animals, so it is vital that the disease is rapidly identified and the appropriate control measures are implemented.
Memahami Transformasi Urban di Asia: Belajar dari Kasus Jakarta
Authors: Santoso Jo
Published: March 2016

<span style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Amasis MT','serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-ansi-language: EN-AU; mso-fareast-language: IN; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;" lang="EN-AU">Urbanization is not a new phenomenon anymore, yet the ongoing worldwide urbanization now, seen from its dimension, acceleration, and complexity, is incomparable to the previous one. In many Asian countries, most people believe that creating a city as an economic growth machine is the only way to overcome the problem of urbanization development. This trend has pushed the cities away from their primary function as a human habitat which is built based on the coexistence among social groups that live there. One of the factors which likely aggravates the social situation, if the economic crisis happens, is the weakened social relation among the society due to the occurrence of global economic. In this paper discusses the three processes which serve as a catalyst to the process of city restructuring that are commodification, privatization and commercialization. The result of the development is that the city functions as a social institution is increasingly ignored and worsens the social inequality.
Spatial development of sports facilities in Hungarian cities of county rank
Authors: Kozma Gábor , Pénzes János , Molnár Ernő
Published: March 2016

Nowadays more and more attention is devoted to the spatial development of the location of sports facilities within cities. The main aim of our paper is to observe the most important spatial characteristics of their development in Hungarian cities of county rank. In these cities three main periods of development of sports facilities can be observed. Larger sports facilities were constructed especially on the edge of cities or in the suburbs, while in the case of smaller facilities a bigger role was played by locations within the city boundaries. As regards the factors influencing the location of sports facilities, the most important role was played by the location of available land areas, besides accessibility and from the mid-1960s links to existing facilities can be mentioned as well.
Disjunct perceptions? Climate change threats in two-low lying South African coastal towns
Authors: Hoogendoorn Gijsbert , Grant Bronwyn , Fitchett Jennifer M.
Published: March 2016

Coastal towns rely heavily on the quality and expanse of their beaches to attract tourists. Climate is an important tourism determinant, controlling the length and timing of peak arrivals. South African tourism is particularly reliant on these factors. Perceptions of tourists and tourist accommodation establishment regarding climate change threats to tourism are explored for the towns of St Francis Bay and Cape St Francis. Tourism accommodation establishments were predominantly concerned with day-to-day changes in weather, investing in small-scale infrastructural changes to improve the comfort of their guests. By contrast, tourists demonstrated greater concern for the risk of flooding, sea-level rise and the degeneration of the beaches. This reflects concerning disjunctures between perceptions of tourists and accommodation establishments regarding climate change threats. This may portray to tourists insufficient investment in adaptation at accommodation establishments, resulting in decreased tourist visitations in the short-term in favour of destinations perceived as better prepared.
The dynamics of sex-age structure of the population in urban and rural areas in the Republic of Kazakhstan in the years 1991-2013
Authors: Nyussupova Gulnara , Kalimurzina Aisulu
Published: March 2016

In this article we discuss and analyse changes in the sex-age structure of both the urban and the rural population of the Republic of Kazakhstan since independence (1991) and until 2013. Spatial analysis by age and sex was carried out for the urban and rural population of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The article focuses on the population of Astana and Almaty as cities of “republican subordination”. The aim of this article is to study and analyse the sex-age structure of the total population taking the urban and rural population from 1991 to 2013 separately. For comparison and analysis of statistical data in the dynamics, the data by sex and age of the urban and rural population for 1991, 2001 and 2011 were examined. Thus changes over 10 years are considered. The age groups for which the data were collected were based on differentiation of the population by economic status: pre-working (0-14 years), working (15-64), and post-working age (over 65 years).
Approximating actual flows in physical infrastructure networks: the case of the Yangtze River Delta high-speed railway network
Authors: Zhang Weiyang , Derudder Ben
Published: March 2016

Previous empirical research on urban networks has used data on infrastructure networks to guesstimate actual inter-city flows. However, with the exception of recent research on airline networks in the context of the world city literature, relatively limited attention has been paid to the degree to which the outline of these infrastructure networks reflects the actual flows they undergird. This study presents a method to improve our estimation of urban interaction in and through infrastructure networks by focusing on the example of passenger railways, which is arguably a key potential data source in research on urban networks in metropolitan regions. We first review common biases when using infrastructure networks to approximate actual inter-city flows, after which we present an alternative approach that draws on research on operational train scheduling. This research has shown that ‘dwell time’ at train stations reflects the length of the alighting and boarding process, and we use this insight to estimate actual interaction through the application of a bimodal network projection function. We apply our method to the high-speed railway (HSR) network within the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) region, discuss the difference between our modelled network and the original network, and evaluate its validity through a systemic comparison with a benchmark dataset of actual passenger flows.
The night vision distance measurement method dedicated for mobile robots
Authors: Fastowicz Jarosław , Lech Piotr
Published: March 2016

The paper presents a vision based visual servoing system and active laser triangulation method for distance measurement. The proposed hybrid system is dedicated to mobile robot operating in difficult lighting conditions. The problems caused by the use of the video system in extremely underexposured 3D scene have been discussed and two devices performing the distance measurement together with an analysis measurements have been analyzed.