bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Self-Microemulsifying Drug Delivery Systems: An Attractive Strategy for Enhanced Therapeutic Profile
Authors: Akula Samatha , Gurram Aravind Kumar , Devireddy Srinivas Reddy
Published: December 2014

Ease of administration and painless approach made oral route the most preferred. Poor oral bioavailability is pronounced with the majority of recent active ingredients because of dissolution rate limited absorption. Failure to attain intended therapeutic effect of the poor water soluble drugs by this route led to development of novel drug delivery systems which will fulfill therapeutic needs with minimum dose. Although many formulation approaches like solid dispersions, complexation, pH modification, and cocrystals exist, lipid based delivery systems finding increased appliance with the apparent increase in absorption of drug. Among lipid based formulations, self-microemulsifying formulations (droplet size < 100 nm) are evident to improve the oral bioavailability of hydrophobic drugs primarily due to their efficiency in facilitating solubilization and in presenting the hydrophobic drug in solubilized form whereby dissolution process can be circumvented. Various components that are used to formulate these dosage forms like surfactants and lipids contribute to the overall improvement in oral bioavailability via promoting the lymphatic transport; thereby hepatic first pass metabolism can be surmounted. The present paper gives exhaustive information on the formulation design and characterization of SMEDDS along with the probable mechanisms by which the bioavailability can be improved with SMEDDS.
Anaphylaxis to Peanut in a Patient Predominantly Sensitized to Ara h 6
Authors: Asarnoj A. , Glaumann S. , Elfström L. , Lilja G. , Lidholm J. , Nilsson C. , Wickman M.
Published: December 2014

Diagnosis of peanut allergy has improved thanks to component-resolved diagnostics. Peanut allergen component Ara h 2 is considered to indicate true peanut allergy. The component Ara h 6 is structurally similar to Ara h 2, but the diagnostic value of analyzing IgE antibodies to Ara h 6 is unclear. A boy sensitized (≥0.35 kUA/l) to Ara h 8 but not to Ara h 1, Ara h 2 and Ara h 3 was challenged with peanut and developed grade II anaphylaxis. In serum collected at the time of challenge a doubling of IgE to the peanut allergen extract was observed compared to allergy testing 9 months earlier. In contrast, IgE levels to Ara h 1, Ara h 2, Ara h 3 and to Ara h 8 were rather unchanged. After another 2 months, Ara h 6 was analyzed and revealed a level of 24 kUA/l whilst Ara h 2 was 0.12 kUA/l. We suggest that IgE sensitization to Ara h 6 caused the reaction and conclude that analyses of IgE levels to peanut and peanut components should be performed in connection with a challenge. Furthermore, levels to Ara h 2 below 0.35 kUA/l may still indicate a risk of severe reaction at the time of challenge since in rare cases, Ara h 6 IgE antibodies may be present without occurrence of IgE antibodies to Ara h 2.
Innovation in Surfactant Therapy I: Surfactant Lavage and Surfactant Administration by Fluid Bolus Using Minimally Invasive Techniques
Authors: Dargaville Peter A.
Published: December 2014

Innovation in the field of exogenous surfactant therapy continues more than two decades after the drug became commercially available. One such innovation, lung lavage using dilute surfactant, has been investigated in both laboratory and clinical settings as a treatment for meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS). Studies in animal models of MAS have affirmed that dilute surfactant lavage can remove meconium from the lung, with resultant improvement in lung function. In human infants both non-randomised studies and two randomised controlled trials have demonstrated a potential benefit of dilute surfactant lavage over standard care. The largest clinical trial, performed by our research group in infants with severe MAS, found that lung lavage using two 15-ml/kg aliquots of dilute surfactant did not reduce the duration of respiratory support, but did appear to reduce the composite outcome of death or need for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. A further trial of lavage therapy is planned to more precisely define the effect on survival. Innovative approaches to surfactant therapy have also extended to the preterm infant, for whom the more widespread use of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) has meant delaying or avoiding administration of surfactant. In an effort to circumvent this problem, less invasive techniques of bolus surfactant therapy have been trialled, including instillation directly into the pharynx, via laryngeal mask and via brief tracheal catheterisation. In a recent clinical trial, instillation of surfactant into the trachea using a flexible feeding tube was found to reduce the need for subsequent intubation. We have developed an alternative method of brief tracheal catheterisation in which surfactant is delivered via a semi-rigid vascular catheter inserted through the vocal cords under direct vision. In studies to date, this technique has been relatively easy to perform, and resulted in rapid improvement in lung function and reduced need for subsequent ventilation and duration of oxygen therapy. We are now commencing large-scale clinical trials of this method in preterm infants on CPAP.
Classic Anthropometric and Body Composition Indicators Can Predict Risk of Metabolic Syndrome in Elderly
Authors: Paula Hudsara Aparecida de Almeida , Ribeiro Rita de Cássia Lanes , Rosado Lina Enriqueta Frandsen Paez de Lima , Abranches Monise Viana , Franceschini Sylvia do Carmo Castro
Published: December 2014

Background/Aims: Although a variety of classical body measurements have been used to assess adiposity, it is still uncertain which is the best indicator to predict effects arising from the accumulation of body fat (BF) in the elderly. The objective of this study was to analyze different classical anthropometric and body composition measurements and their potential for predicting metabolic syndrome (MS) in elderly women. Methods: There were 113 women (60–83 years old) participating in the study, all of whom had their anthropometric, biochemical, hemodynamic and health conditions evaluated. Statistical analysis consisted of correlation coefficient and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, and calculation of the area under the curve. Results: The waist-hip ratio (WHR) and waist circumference correlated with three (hyperglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia and low concentrations of high density lipoprotein-cholesterol) of the seven cardiometabolic risk factors studied. Body mass index, BF, percentage of BF, and the sum of skinfolds were less related to metabolic risk factors. Among the indicators used to characterize central adiposity, WHR was the index that showed the greatest area under the ROC curve. Conclusions: It is suggested that the WHR, an indicator of abdominal adiposity, should be incorporated into the identification of risk of MS in elderly women.
Tissue Engineering Strategies for Fetal Myelomeningocele Repair in Animal Models
Authors: Watanabe Miho , Kim Aimee G. , Flake Alan W.
Published: December 2014

Myelomeningocele (MMC), the most severe form of spina bifida, is a common and devastating malformation. Over two decades of experimental work in animal models have led to the development and clinical application of open fetal surgery for the repair of the MMC defect. This approach offers improved neurofunctional outcomes and is now a clinical option for the management of prenatally diagnosed MMC in selected patients. However, there are still opportunities for further improvement in the prenatal treatment of MMC. A less invasive approach would allow for an application earlier in gestation, with a reduction in maternal and fetal risks and the potential for reduced neurological injury. Tissue engineering offers a realistic and appealing alternative approach for the prenatal treatment of MMC. This review discusses the rationale for tissue engineering in MMC, addresses recent experimental progress and describes potential future directions.
The Diagnostic Features of Spina Bifida: The Role of Ultrasound
Authors: Coleman Beverly G. , Langer Jill E. , Horii Steven C.
Published: December 2014

Myelomeningocele (MMC) is one of the most devastating, nonlethal congenital anomalies worldwide. The live birth prevalence of MMC changed dramatically in the 1980s with the introduction of maternal serum screening and the widespread use of prenatal ultrasound imaging. The high-resolution ultrasound affordable today with state-of-the-art equipment allows us to make a very accurate diagnosis of MMC, including details related to the entire fetal central nervous system. Ultrasound can accurately localize the site of the osseous and soft tissue defects. Congenital spinal defects can be characterized definitively as open or closed, which are treated very differently with in utero repair, which is done in some cases, compared to only conservative follow-up with postnatal therapy for occult defects. Additional findings of kyphosis, scoliosis and anomalous vertebrate and associated conditions such as cervical syrinx can be identified. The state of the intracranial structures, including the presence or absence of ventriculomegaly and hindbrain herniation, as well as unexpected complications such as intracranial hemorrhage can be diagnosed. The severity of neurological compromise in some fetuses can be estimated by detailed examination of the lower extremities. As well as searching for talipes, we also now routinely characterize flexion and extension motions at the hip, knee and ankle joints. The information provided by ultrasound plays a crucial role, now more than ever, in patient counseling and pregnancy management. This article emphasizes how we utilize ultrasound in the evaluation of patients with suspected MMC at the Center for Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
Is the Prefrontal Cortex Especially Enlarged in the Human Brain? Allometric Relations and Remapping Factors
Authors: Passingham Richard E. , Smaers Jeroen B.
Published: December 2014

There has been no agreement as to whether the prefrontal cortex is especially enlarged in the human brain. To answer this question, we analyzed the only two datasets that provide information on total prefrontal cortex volume based on cytoarchitectonic criteria. One delineated the prefrontal cortex proper on the basis of cytoarchitectonic criteria; the other used a proxy of the prefrontal cortex based on a cytoarchitectonic delineation of the frontal lobe. To investigate whether all cortical association areas, including the prefrontal cortex, are enlarged in the human brain, we scaled the different areas to a common reference, the primary visual cortex. To investigate whether the prefrontal cortex is more enlarged than other association areas, we scaled it relative to its inputs from and outputs to other nonprimary areas. We carried out separate regression analyses using different data samples as a predictive baseline group: data for monkeys alone informs us on whether great apes are different from monkeys; data for all non-human anthropoids, including great apes, informs us on whether humans are different from all other primates. The analyses show that the value for the human prefrontal cortex is greater than expected, and that this is true even when data for the great apes are included in the analysis. They also show that the chimpanzee prefrontal cortex is greater than expected for a monkey with a similar sized cortex. We discuss possible functional consequences.
Surgical Aspects of Decompression Craniectomy in Malignant Stroke: Review
Authors: Zweckberger Klaus , Juettler Eric , Bösel Julian , Unterberg W. Andreas
Published: December 2014

Background: Space-occupying malignant stroke of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) is associated with a high mortality rate of up to 80% under conservative treatment. Although there is convincing evidence that decompression craniectomy can significantly reduce mortality rate and improve neurological outcome in young patients (<60 years), many surgeons are still hesitant to recommend hemicraniectomy for stroke patients. Summary: This review addresses some major issues that appear to be an obstacle to decompression craniectomy, in particular, indicating surgery for patients >60 years or with infarcts of the dominant hemisphere. Furthermore, it emphasizes technical issues such as timing and size of the craniectomy, additional temporal lobectomy, and resection of the temporal muscle, as well as duraplasty and cranioplasty. According to the current literature, decompression craniectomy in older patients can increase survival without most severe disabilities, although, most survivors need assistance in most bodily needs. Involvement of the dominant hemisphere results in aphasia that might partly recover in younger patients, although, considering the neuropsychological deficits caused by infarctions of the nondominant hemisphere, involvement of the dominant hemisphere does not pose as a contraindication for decompression craniectomy. Furthermore, there is convincing evidence that surgery should be performed within 48 h after the onset of symptoms and the size of the craniectomy should be at least 12 cm as a minimum. An additional lobectomy or the resection of the temporal muscle, however, can only be part of individual treatment options. Conceding the weak evidence, it is recommended to close the dura by some form of a duraplasty avoiding cerebrospinal fluid leakages or scarring between the cortex and the scalp leading to injuries during reimplantation of the bone-flap. Complications associated with decompression surgery (hemorrhages, infections, ‘sinking skin-flap syndrome', cerebrospinal fluid leakages, hydrocephalus, seizures), with the infarction itself, or with those that occur during the ICU course (cardiac and pulmonary complications) appear acceptable and are mostly treatable, especially considering the fatal course of conservative treatment. Key Message: This review summarizes the current state of the literature about decompression craniectomy of patients with malignant stroke addressing, in particular, critical surgical issues, and thus, help surgeons to make decisions confidently for/or against performing surgery.
Hemodynamic Changes and Baroreflex Sensitivity Associated with Carotid Endarterectomy and Carotid Artery Stenting
Authors: Cao Qinqin , Zhang Jun , Xu Gelin
Published: December 2014

Atherosclerotic carotid lesion is a major cause of stroke which accounts for up to 20% of ischemic stroke. Aggressive treatment of carotid stenosis may prevent stroke. Currently, carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and carotid artery stenting (CAS) are the first-line treatments for severe carotid stenosis. CEA is superior to medical therapy in preventing stroke and cardiovascular death. CAS has emerged as an alternative to CEA in recent years due to its less invasive nature. However, both CEA and CAS may be associated with adverse hemodynamic changes as well as a variation of carotid baroreflex sensitivity. There is no consensus on which of these two methods is more advantageous concerning the procedure-related hemodynamic changes. This article reviews the hemodynamic changes and baroreflex sensitivity after CEA and CAS.
Eruptive Disseminated Superficial Basal Cell Carcinomas 24 Years after Bone Marrow Transplantation
Authors: Almudimeegh Almuntsrbellah , Guegan Sarah , Moguelet Philippe , Aractingi Sélim
Published: December 2014

Secondary cutaneous malignancies are often reported after treatment of malignant haemopathies using allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Within the spectrum of such secondary skin carcinomas, basal cell carcinomas (BCC) appear the most frequent. We report here the case of a 67- year-old male patient who developed 24 years after BMT more than 40 superficial BCC as well as a few nodular BCC. These tumours were mainly found on the lower limbs at sites without sun exposure. The patient was treated with surgical excision of nodular BCC while photodynamic therapy was used for the superficial BCC. No recurrences were reported at 5-year follow-up. To our knowledge, this is the first case of a patient presenting eruptive and non-recurring BCC so long after BMT. Only two similar cases have been reported in other circumstances. There is no clear explanation to this peculiar non-recurrence. We speculate that repair of DNA mutations may have occurred.
The Optimal Pallidal Target in Deep Brain Stimulation for Dystonia: A Study Using a Functional Atlas Based on Nonlinear Image Registration
Authors: Tolleson Christopher , Pallavaram Srivatsan , Li Chen , Fang John , Phibbs Fenna , Konrad Peter , Hedera Peter , D''Haese Pierre-François , Dawant Benoit M. , Davis Thomas L.
Published: December 2014

Background: Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the globus pallidus internus is established as efficacious for dystonia, yet the optimal target within this structure is not well defined. Published evidence suggests that spatial normalization provides a better estimate of DBS lead location than traditional methods based on standard stereotactic coordinates. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed our pallidal implanted dystonia population. Patient imaging scans were morphed into an MRI atlas using a nonlinear image registration algorithm. Active contact locations were projected onto the atlas and clusters analyzed for the degree of variance in two groups: (1) good and poor responders and (2) cervical (CD) and generalized dystonia (GD). Results: The average active contact location between CD and GD good responders was distinct but not significantly different. The mean active contact for CD poor responders was significantly different from CD responders and GD poor responders in the dorsoventral direction. Conclusions: A normalized imaging space is arguably more accurate in visualizing postoperative leads. Despite some separation between groups, this data suggests there was not an optimal pallidal target for common dystonia patients. Degrees of variance overlapped due to a large degree of individual target variation. Patient selection may ultimately be the key to maximizing patient outcomes. © 2014 S. Karger AG, Basel
The Application of sEMG in Aging: A Mini Review
Authors: Boccia Gennaro , Dardanello Davide , Rosso Valeri , Pizzigalli Luisa , Rainoldi Alberto
Published: December 2014

The aim of this mini-review is to describe the potential application of surface electromyography (sEMG) techniques in aging studies. Aging is characterized by multiple changes of the musculoskeletal system physiology and function. This paper will examine some of the innovative methods used to monitor age-related alterations of the neuromuscular system from sEMG signals. A description of critical assumptions which underlie some of these approaches is emphasized. The first part focuses on the evolution of the recording techniques and describes some methodological issues. The second part focuses on how to use the following techniques to characterize aging: amplitude and spectral sEMG signal analysis, muscle fiber conduction velocity estimation, and myoelectric fatigue assessment. The last part describes a number of advanced sEMG approaches which seem promising in the geriatric population to estimate motor unit number, size, recruitment thresholds, and firing rates.
Clinical Epidemiology of Eosinophilic Pustular Folliculitis: Results from a Nationwide Survey in Japan
Authors: Yamamoto Yosuke , Nomura Takashi , Kabashima Kenji , Miyachi Yoshiki
Published: December 2014

Background: No epidemiological study has examined the clinical characteristics, including medication use, of patients with eosinophilic pustular folliculitis (EPF). Objective: To describe the clinical characteristics for EPF and to examine the factors associated with the effectiveness of oral indomethacin for EPF. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed of patients with EPF who visited the dermatology departments of the 67 main teaching facilities in Japan. We documented the patient characteristics and examined factors associated with the effectiveness of oral indomethacin. Results: A total of 145 patients with EPF were enrolled; 62.8% were prescribed oral indomethacin. A multivariable analysis revealed that female patients were more likely to exhibit complete response to oral indomethacin after adjustment for confounders (adjusted proportion ratio = 1.93, p = 0.04). Conclusion: Oral indomethacin has been accepted as a first-line treatment in EPF. Our results suggest that there is a sex difference in the treatment response to oral indomethacin.
Treatment of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease by Dual Bronchodilation with Coformulation of Indacaterol/Glycopyrronium
Authors: Pelaia Girolamo , Maselli Rosario , Matera Maria Gabriella
Published: December 2014

Bronchodilators are the cornerstone of the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In particular, the most commonly used drugs are inhaled long-acting agents, including long-acting F2-adrenergic agonists (LABAs) and long-acting muscarinic receptor antagonists (LAMAs). The combination of a LABA with a LAMA, i.e. of molecules characterized by different mechanisms of action, results in a synergistic enhancement of their clinical and functional effects. Therefore, this combined treatment can be implemented in a number of cases in which disease control is not adequately achieved by a single active agent such as a LABA or a LAMA. Several LABA/LAMA fixed-dose combinations, mainly made up of newly developed compounds, are currently in advanced phases of experimental evaluation. Within such a context, the aim of this review is to outline the pharmacological basis of dual bronchodilation as well as to discuss the results of the main trials carried out using the drug combination consisting of indacaterol and glycopyrronium, a LABA and a LAMA recently introduced in the treatment of COPD. i 2014 S. Karger AG, Basel
Troubleshooting Distraction Osteogenesis for Craniosynostosis
Authors: Akai Takuya , Shiraga Syunsuke , Sasagawa Yasuo , Iizuka Hideaki , Yamashita Masanobu , Kawakami Shigehiko
Published: December 2014

Purpose: We previously reported that distraction osteogenesis is less invasive and gives greater skull advancement compared to conventional cranioplasty [Akai et al: Pediatr Neurosurg 2006;42:288-292]. In this study, we analyzed the distraction osteogenesis process and tried to identify and solve various technical problems. Patients and Results: We operated on 22 patients, 5 syndromic and 17 nonsyndromic. During treatment, we encountered several problems: (i) dural laceration during craniotomy (2 cases), solution: repair by suturing with fascia; (ii) skull fracture at sphenofrontal or coronal sutures (2 cases), solution: completed distraction; (iii) device dislocation during distraction (1 case), solution: the device was secured to the skull with stainless wire; (iv) wound issues around shaft and device (3 cases), solution: treated with antibiotic ointment. Discussion: (1) Extra caution is needed to avoid dural damage at frontal bottom burr holes. (2) Completion of craniotomy should be confirmed by checking if the bone flap moves in sync with brain pulsation. The craniotomy line should be placed forward of coronal sutures. (3) For patients younger than 2 years, employ clamp-type devices. (4) Shafts should be cut short enough to prevent their tips from exerting pressure or puncturing the scalp from beneath. Conclusions: The distraction osteogenesis technique has complications that may not occur in conventional one-stage cranioplasty. In this study, neither age at operation nor distraction distance were significant causes of complications during distraction osteogenesis.
Risk Associated with Pulse Pressure on Out-of-Office Blood Pressure Measurement
Authors: Gu Yu-Mei , Aparicio Lucas S. , Liu Yan-Ping , Asayama Kei , Hansen Tine W. , Niiranen Teemu J. , Boggia José , Thijs Lutgarde , Staessen Jan A.
Published: December 2014

Background: Longitudinal studies have demonstrated that the risk of cardiovascular disease increases with pulse pressure (PP). However, PP remains an elusive cardiovascular risk factor with findings being inconsistent between studies. The 2013 ESH/ESC guideline proposed that PP is useful in stratification and suggested a threshold of 60 mm Hg, which is 10 mm Hg higher compared to that in the 2007 guideline; however, no justification for this increase was provided. Methodology: Published thresholds of PP are based on office blood pressure measurement and often on arbitrary categorical analyses. In the International Database on Ambulatory blood pressure in relation to Cardiovascular Outcomes (IDACO) and the International Database on HOme blood pressure in relation to Cardiovascular Outcome (IDHOCO), we determined outcome-driven thresholds for PP based on ambulatory or home blood pressure measurement, respectively. Results: The main findings were that for people aged <60 years, PP did not refine risk stratification, whereas in older people the thresholds were 64 and 76 mm Hg for the ambulatory and home PP, respectively. However, PP provided little added predictive value over and beyond classical risk factors. © 2014 S. Karger AG, Basel
Dose Escalation and Pharmacokinetic Study of Carboplatin plus Pemetrexed for Elderly Patients with Advanced Nonsquamous Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer: Kumamoto Thoracic Oncology Study Group Trial 1002
Authors: Sakata Shinya , Sasaki Jiichiro , Saeki Sho , Hamada Akinobu , Kishi Hiroto , Nakamura Kazuyoshi , Tanaka Hideyuki , Notsute Daisuke , Sato Ryo , Saruwatari Koichi , Iriki Toyohisa , Akaike Kimitaka , Fujii Shinji , Hirosako Susumu , Kohrogi Hirotsugu
Published: December 2014

Objectives: This study was designed to determine the recommended dose of carboplatin and pemetrexed for elderly (≥70-year-old) chemotherapy-naïve patients with advanced nonsquamous non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and to investigate the pharmacokinetics of pemetrexed. Methods: The patients were treated with 4-6 cycles of carboplatin plus a fixed dose of pemetrexed (500 mg/m2) every 3 weeks; the dose of carboplatin was escalated [from area under the curve (AUC) 4 to AUC 6]. To examine the pharmacokinetics of pemetrexed, blood samples were collected before and after pemetrexed infusion, and the blood levels of pemetrexed were measured by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Results: Grade 3 infection as a dose-limiting toxicity was observed at a carboplatin dose of AUC 6. We therefore determined a carboplatin dose of AUC 5 and a pemetrexed dose of 500 mg/m2 as the recommended doses from this study. The pharmacokinetic study showed a significant inverse correlation between the AUC of pemetrexed and the creatinine clearance. Conclusions: For elderly chemotherapy-naïve patients with advanced nonsquamous NSCLC, the combination of carboplatin AUC 5 plus pemetrexed 500 mg/m2 is recommended as a promising regimen; however, a reduction of the pemetrexed dose may be required for patients with renal dysfunction because of the high risk of hematotoxicities. © 2014 S. Karger AG, Basel
Nonsurgical Therapeutic Options in Portal Vein Thrombosis
Authors: Schultheiß Michael , Bettinger Dominik , Thimme Robert
Published: December 2014

Background: Portal vein thrombosis (PVT) is a rare but severe vascular disorder with an acute and a chronic course. Most patients have underlying liver cirrhosis; furthermore, thrombophilia is an important risk factor. However, idiopathic forms are also known. Methods: This review discusses nonsurgical treatment options in PVT. Results and Conclusion: Therapy of acute PVT is based on anticoagulation with heparin that is switched to oral anticoagulants, if applicable. Catheter-guided invasive therapy should be considered; however, patients with liver cirrhosis should be screened for portal hypertension before anticoagulation is mandatory. Therapy of chronic PVT is discussed controversially; therefore, a strict patient selection and an individual therapeutic decision are warranted depending on the etiology of PVT. Special forms of PVT including septic and malignant thrombosis as well as PVT in patients waiting for liver transplantation require particular therapy algorithms.
Neotropical Hemerodromia Meigen (Diptera: Empididae), a world of discovery I: new generic record and new species from Brazilian Amazon Basin
Authors: CÂMARA J. T. , PLANT A. R. , RAFAEL J. A.
Published: December 2014

Ten new species of Hemerodromia Meigen, 1822 are described and illustrated from the Brazilian state of Amazonas: H. amazonensis sp. nov., H. breviradia sp. nov., H. cercusdilatata sp. nov., H. collini sp. nov., H. epandriocurvialis sp. nov., H. jauensis sp. nov., H. lamellata sp. nov., H. longilamellata sp. nov., H. maturaca sp. nov., H. smithi sp. nov. This is the first record of the genus from the Brazilian Amazon Basin.
Taxonomy of Eumenes punctatus-complex (Hymenoptera: Vespidae: Eumeninae) from Korea with DNA barcoding and key to Far Eastern species of the genus Eumenes Latreille, 1802
Authors: YOON TAE JOONG , KIM JEONG-KYU
Published: December 2014

Based on DNA barcoding analysis and morphological comparison, new synonymy is proposed for Eumenes punctatus de Saussure, 1852 =E. asioboreus Kim & Sk. Yamane, 2001, syn. nov. Independent status of the Far Eastern species E. rubrofemoratus Giordani Soika, 1941 from the transpalearctic E. coarctatus (Linnaeus, 1758) is supported, suggesting their recent origin with comparatively low genetic divergence. A revised key to the Far Eastern species of the genus Eumenes is provided. Distribution of E. quadratus Smith, 1852 is corrected and E. rubrofemoratus Giordani Soika, 1941 is newly recorded from South Korea. For future taxonomic comprehension of the Far Eastern Eumenes, problematic species pairs requiring additional molecular tests are hereby suggested and discussed.
On the identity of Prochyliza nigrimana (Meigen) and Prochyliza nigricornis (Meigen) (Diptera: Piophilidae), with a synopsis of Prochyliza Walker and description of a new species
Authors: MARTÍN-VEGA DANIEL
Published: December 2014

With representatives distributed throughout the Holarctic and Neotropical regions, the genus Prochyliza Walker (Diptera: Piophilidae) is known from eight species. There has been, however, considerable controversy over the identity of two of them: the common, synanthropic species Prochyliza nigrimana (Meigen), and the rarely collected Prochyliza nigricornis (Meigen). The described differences between both species were only based on body colouration but, since a wide colour variation has been documented among P. nigrimana individuals, several authors had suggested that both taxa might be just extreme colour variants of the same species. Recent collections from central Spain showed that the colouration characters described for P. nigricornis certainly apply to dark P. nigrimana individuals, but also to other Prochyliza specimens showing distinct morphological characters and genitalia. In order to solve this controversy, the holotypes of both P. nigrimana and P. nigricornis were studied, concluding that both specimens are conspecific and instating P. nigricornis as a subjective junior synonym (syn. nov.). A new species, Prochyliza georgekaplani sp. nov., is described from specimens collected in central Spain. A synopsis and an updated identification key to the known species of the genus Prochyliza are also provided.
Redescription of Leptohyphes cornutus Allen, 1967 (Ephemeroptera: Leptohyphidae) and description of three related new species
Authors: NASCIMENTO JEANE M. C. , MOLINERI CARLOS , SALLES FREDERICO F.
Published: December 2014

Leptohyphes cornutus Allen from Brazil (Santa Catarina) and Misiones, Argentina is re-studied from new material and newly diagnosed as follows: tubercles on head (two pairs), pronotum (two pairs, anterior pair very small), and mesonotum (two pairs), abdominal terga without paired tubercles, nor remnants of them; fore femur length/maximum width, 1.4–1.8; tarsal claws denticulation 4–11+1; hind wing pads present in females; gill formula 3/10/8/8/5. Three new species are described from the nymphal stage: 1) Leptohyphes airuoca sp. nov. from Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) characterized by: i) two paired tubercles on head, two pairs on pronotum, and one pair on mesonotum, abdominal terga VI–IX with single medial tubercle projecting from hind margin; ii) fore femur length/maximum width, 1.7–2.0; iii) tarsal claws denticulation 4+0; iv) hind wing pads absent in female; v) gill formula 3/9/9/7/6. 2) Leptohyphes cornutillus sp. nov. from Espirito Santo (Brazil), with: i) paired tubercles on head (two pairs), pronotum (two pairs, anterior pair very small), and mesonotum (three pairs), abdominal terga with remnants of paired tubercles on hind margin (blunt and short undulations in dorsal view); ii) fore femur length/maximum width, 2.1–2.3; iii) tarsal claws denticulation 6+1; iv) hind wing pads present in females; v) gill formula 3/11/9/9/6. And 3) Leptohyphes nebulosus sp. nov. from Espirito Santo (Brazil), with: i) two paired tubercles on head, one pair on pronotum, and one pair on mesonotum, abdominal terga VI–VII with paired submedian tubercles on hind margin; ii) fore femur length/maximum width, 1.6; iii) tarsal claws denticulation 5+1; iv) hind wing pads present in females; v) gill formula 3/9/9/9/6.
Description of Helicoconis tatricus sp. n. (Neuroptera, Coniopterygidae) from Slovakia (Central Europe) and key for determination of all Palaearctic species of subgenus Helicoconis
Authors: VIDLIČKA ĽUBOMÍR
Published: December 2014

A new species of dustywings, Helicoconis tatricus sp. n., is described from the foothills of the Tatra Mountains in Slovakia. The new species differs from other species of the subgenus Helicoconis by structure of male genitalia—unfurcated styli and wide and short apophyses. The key for determination of all Palaearctic species of the subgenus Helicoconis is added and the distribution of Palaearctic species is discussed.
Non-leukodepleted red blood cell transfusion in sepsis patients: beyond oxygenation, is there a risk of inflammation?
Authors: Garraud Olivier , Chabert Adrien , Pozzetto Bruno , Zeni Fabrice , Cognasse Fabrice , Hamzeh-Cognasse Hind
Published: December 2014

No abstract
Prehospital treatment of sepsis: what really makes the “golden hour” golden?
Authors: Sterling Sarah A , Puskarich Michael A , Jones Alan E
Published: December 2014

The early recognition of severe sepsis is important; however, early identification of severe sepsis can be challenging, especially in the prehospital setting. As previous research has shown, advanced notification of time-sensitive disease states by prehospital personnel can improve outcomes and time to initiation of treatments. Prehospital personnel can potentially impact outcomes in sepsis through early identification and treatment implementations, improving processes of care and transition of care. Further research is needed for a full evaluation of prehospital treatment effects of identification of sepsis and treatment by prehospital personnel and the impact on outcomes.
Common law marriage and couple formation
Authors: Grossbard Shoshana , Vernon Victoria
Published: December 2014

ᅟ

The Current Population Survey is used to investigate effects of Common Law Marriage (CLM) on whether young US-born adults live in couples in the US CLM effects are identified through cross-state and time variation, as some states repealed CLM over the period examined. Analysis based on Gary Becker’s marriage economics helps explain why CLM affects couple formation and does so differently depending on education, sex ratios, age, and parent status. CLM reduces in-couple residence, and more so for childless adults and where there are fewer men per woman. Effects are larger for college-educated men and women without college. CLM effects on likelihood of marriage and cohabitation and likelihood of being divorced if ever-married are also estimated.

JEL

J10; J12; J16
Potential migration and subjective well-being in Europe
Authors: Lovo Stefania
Published: December 2014

By examining the preferences over migration destinations of those revealing a desire to permanently leave their country, this paper provides new evidence on the relevance of subjective measures for cross country comparisons. While hard statistics such as GDP per capita and unemployment rates are commonly used to measure a country’s success, this analysis reveals that people’s preferences over alternative migration destinations are better explained by average levels of life satisfaction in the destination country. Aggregated measures of subjective well-being are, therefore, useful for international comparisons as they better reflect what makes some countries more attractive than others.

JEL: F22; I30
Effects of laser-assisted cosmetic smile lift gingivectomy on postoperative bleeding and pain in fixed orthodontic patients: a controlled clinical trial
Authors: Sobouti Farhad , Rakhshan Vahid , Chiniforush Nasim , Khatami Maziar
Published: December 2014

Background and objective

Diode lasers are becoming popular in gingival treatment following orthodontic treatments. Despite their merit and clinical implications, postoperative pain and bleeding after surgery with diode lasers are not assessed except in few controversial studies.

Method

This controlled clinical trial was conducted on 30 healthy orthodontic patients aged 17–29 years, needing esthetic-only gingivectomy in the anterior maxilla. The patients were randomly divided into two groups of 15 each: experimental (laser-assisted surgery) and control (traditional surgery using scalpels). The bleeding rate following the surgery was assessed using the bleeding criteria established by the World Health Organization. The postsurgical pain level was recorded using visual analog scales immediately after the surgery and in patients who consumed analgesics, also 2 h after the analgesic consumption. The data were analyzed using the independent-samplest, Mann-Whitney U, and chi-square tests (α = 0.05).

Results

The average bleeding rates were 1.15 and 0.36 in the conventional and laser groups, respectively (Mann-Whitney UP < 0.05). Experimental patients had no postsurgical pain (VAS1 and VAS2 = 0). In the control group, the average VAS1 pain was 5.2 out of 10. The difference between VAS1 values in the control/experimental groups was significant (Mann-Whitney UP < 0.001).

Conclusion

940-nm diode laser seems promising in reducing postoperative bleeding and pain of patients needing cosmetic smile lift surgeries.
Writing the Anthropocene
Authors: Boes Tobias , Marshall Kate
Published: December 2014

This introduction to the focus section on “Writing the Anthropocene” examines the challenges that the entry of our species into a new geological epoch poses for the humanities in general and for literary and media theory in particular. It proposes the hypothesis that the Anthropocene can best be understood as a form of writing, a process by which humankind inscribes permanent messages into the geological, climatological, and biochemical records of our planet and is forced, in turn, to study those records for messages pertaining to its future. It discusses the relationship of the Anthropocene to the wider discourse of posthumanism and also touches upon the importance of speculative realism as well as genres like the science-fiction novel to help us conceptualize our new condition. A brief summary of each of the ten essays in the focus section follows.
Predicting the End of History
Authors: Pulizzi James J.
Published: December 2014

The word Anthropocene purposely draws our attention to the anthropos, the humans who are now changing the planet’s climate. We must not forget, however, what media theorists and philosophers like Marshall McLuhan, Friedrich Kittler, and Bernard Stiegler have pointed out—humans are inherently technological. It is not mere humans that have reached out and changed the climate but humans extended by planet-scale economies and industries. The computed climate models that show us the climate has changed are just another way we’ve come to rely on automated devices to understand what is happening before our very eyes. The problem of the Anthropocene is not simply one of scale (whether geologic or temporal) but of a change in the very way we order our world. If history is text, then history is over—numbers have replaced text.
Anthropocene Air
Authors: Menely Tobias
Published: December 2014

Considering examples from Benjamin, Marx, and Hobbes, “Anthropocene Air” reflects on the conceptual difficulty that the atmosphere, the Earth’s gaseous envelope, poses for a materialist account of history. Against the backdrop of the systemic condition definitive of the Anthropocene—the amplifying feedback loop between surplus value and the surplus energy derived from fossil fuels, which effects a rift in the biospheric carbon cycle—I track a metaphoric drift in materialist invocations of air toward ideality and ahistoricity: atmosphere as allegory of the outside. The atmospheric figures discussed in this essay—air as what remains still or as what gives way; air as the medium of remembrance or as the element of a haunted forgetting—fail to capture the decisive temporality of the Anthropocene: the delayed and disaggregated effect of fossil capitalism, the accumulation of greenhouse gases, the acidification and heating of the oceans, the “long tail” of atmospheric carbon dioxide.
Anthropogenic Poetics
Authors: Ronda Margaret
Published: December 2014

“Anthropogenic Poetics” considers the new implications for conceiving literary tropes such as personification, apostrophe, and prosopopoeia in light of the ecological relations of the Anthropocene Era, where the nonhuman environment is imbued with signs of human determination. The essay examines one contemporary mode, ecopoetics, as an emergent literature of the Anthropocene and highlights the new questions of voice, relation, and address that it explores. Through readings of poems by Brenda Hillman, Juliana Spahr, Evelyn Reilly, and Michael Leong, “Anthropogenic Poetics” argues that these texts illuminate the intensified problem of anthropocentrism under ecological crisis, pointing, via the mediating work of poetic language, to the ways in which this anthropogenic agency extends into and reshapes nonhuman forms.
Scale Critique for the Anthropocene
Authors: Woods Derek
Published: December 2014

The Anthropocene demands new concepts of scale for social, cultural, and aesthetic theory. The first concept of scale critique is scale variance, which means that variable physical constraints produce disjunctures among scales. This article explicates this concept in a reading of Ray Eames and Charles Eames’s animation Powers of Ten, drawing on examples from biology, ecology, and engineering. Scale variance is the opposite of fractal self-similarity and the smooth zoom effect apparent in Powers of Ten. Scale critique shows that the “human species” is not the subject of the Anthropocene. Smoothly scaled concepts of the human install a nature/culture opposition that mystifies the causes of climate change, centering them in the figure of “the species.” A scale-critical narrative of the Anthropocene points to terraforming assemblages of humans, nonhuman species, and technical systems.
Restless legs syndrome
Authors: Dziunycz P. , Frauchiger A.L. , Gräni N. , Kaufmann F. , Jaberg-Bentele N. , Luder C. , Mohanna M.T. , Stieger P. , Weber B. , Mayer D.O. , Läuchli S. , Buset C. , Hafner J.
Published: December 2014

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is characterised by an uncontrollable urge to move, in particular the lower limbs, often accompanied by discomfort or a painful sensation that occurs typically at night. It is categorized under the ICD-Classification of extrapyramidal and movement disorders. As patients often suffer from insomnia due to the involuntary nocturnal leg movements and irritable sensations in the legs, RLS is also classified as a sleep-related movement disorder. The incidence of a mild form of RLS is frequent, although it often remains undiagnosed.

After the exclusion of other diseases by differential diagnosis, RLS is diagnosed on the basis of a clinical test administering a single dose of levodopa. There are two forms of RLS: idiopathic and secondary. The secondary form is encountered in an astonishing number of diseases, including renal insufficiency, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and iron deficiency. The treatment of RLS is complex and the benefits and risks of pharmacotherapy should be considered carefully. Non-ergoline dopamine agonists (e.g. ropinirole, pramipexole) are the first-line treatment in severe cases of RLS. Transdermal rotigotine is also a promising treatment option. Opioids in combination with naloxone are recommended for patients suffering from severe pain. In mild cases of RLS, patients benefit from a balanced lifestyle with gentle physical activity and avoiding the excessive consumption of caffeine or alcohol.
Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS)
Authors: Buset C. , Dziunycz P. , Gräni N. , Kaufmann F. , Jaberg-Bentele N. , Luder C. , Mohanna M.T. , Stieger P. , Weber B. , Mayer D.O. , Läuchli S. , Frauchiger A.L. , Hafner J.
Published: December 2014

Introduction: Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a relatively rare disorder, but one that is extremely serious for the affected patient. It usually occurs in the area distal to a primary limb injury. The clinical symptoms and the pain are out of all proportion to the inciting event and in approximately 10 % of CRPS patients, there is no triggering event at all. CRPS leads to long-term disability and high treatment and follow-up costs In about half of those affected.

Clinical symptoms: Two forms exist. In CRPS type 1, no nerve lesions are present, whereas in CRPS type 2, injury has occurred to a nerve or the main branch of a nerve. However, in terms of their clinical course, there is no difference between the two forms. Approximately 90 % of all cases involve CRPS type 1, formerly known as “Sudeck’s atrophy”. The cardinal symptom is pain. In addition, trophic disturbances, such as swelling, local skin discolouration or asymmetric skin temperatures, can also occur. Impaired mobility and function of the affected limb also occur frequently and are very difficult to treat.

Diagnosis: Initially, it can be difficult to distinguish between CRPS and a normal post-traumatic course. Subsequently, the severe symptoms are out of all proportion to the inciting event. The diagnosis of CRPS is based mainly on the clinical symptoms. The Budapest criteria help to confirm the diagnosis.

Therapy: Early and interdisciplinary rehabilitation is of crucial importance in CRPS treatment. Occupational therapy and physiotherapy are supplemented by good analgesic management and psychological support, if required. Analgesia should be based on the WHO pain ladder. Methadone is of proven efficacy in cases of severe hyperalgesia and gabapentin or pregabalin are used to treat refractory pain. Bisphosphonates have shown a good analgesic effect, particularly in patients with confirmed bone lesions. Chronic oedema and inflammation may require short-term steroid administration. A further clinical goal is the avoidance of sequelae, such as osteoporosis. Patients with suspected CRPS should be referred to a multidisciplinary treatment team, preferably one with considerable experience in treating this clinical presentation. One physician should coordinate the patient’s treatment. The earlier the treatment is started, the better the prognosis.
1/3 SUBHARMONIC RESPONSE OF DUFFING OSCILLATOR UNDER PERIODIC AND RANDOM EXCITATIONS
Authors: Anh N. D. , Zakovorotny Vilor Lavrentyevich , Hao D. N. , Chiem N. Х.
Published: December 2014

The subharmonic response of one third order of Duffing oscillator under harmonic and random excitations is investigated for the first time by a technique combining the stochastic averaging method, the equivalent linearization method, and the technique of auxiliary function for Fokker-Planck equation. The averaged equations are linear zed so that the stationary density function of the approximate response can be found exactly by the technique of auxiliary function. The one third order subharmonic response obtained by the present technique is validated by numerical simulation. The significant contribution of this work is that it may lead to a new trend in investigating subharmonic oscillators in random nonlinear systems.