bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Interactions between injectable anticancer drugs and polyvinyl chloride bags: Evaluation of the adsorption phenomenon after reconstitution
Authors: Baye Fall Diop Boubacar , Cheikh Amine , Mefetah Hafid , Rahali Younes , Oulad Bouyahya Idrissi Mohammed , Draoui Mustapha , Bouatia Mustapha
Published: June 2018

Introduction

During the reconstitution of a drug and during its storage, there are risks of interactions between the drug and the bag used for the preparation. Polyvinyl chloride is a material used in the manufacture of a large part of chemotherapy infusion bags. It is subject to many interactions like sorption of drugs and release of phthalate additives.

Material and Methods

Seven anticancer drugs used in pediatric oncology were involved in our study. After reconstitution of the anticancer agents in polyvinyl chloride bags, the adsorption phenomenon between the container and the contents is evaluated by infrared spectroscopy by analyzing the inner surface of the polyvinyl chloride. Subsequently, for the anticancer agents which exhibited an adsorption–container–content, the analysis was carried out by ultraviolet–visible spectrophotometry in order to examine the kinetics of the concentration of reconstituted anticancer drugs.

Results

All the polyvinyl chloride bags gave a spectrum identical to the spectrum of the reference bag, except the bags used to reconstitute etoposide whose spectra showed 12 additional peaks. With the absorbances measured by ultraviolet–visible spectrophotometry at different times, the analysis of variance statistical analysis shows that there is a significant difference in absorbances between t0 and all the other measurement times.

Conclusion

This study testifies to the existence of a container–content interaction between etoposide and polyvinyl chloride. Thus, reconstitution of etoposide for intravenous infusion into a polyvinyl chloride bag should be used immediately. For etoposide preparations intended for storage beyond 24 h, it is recommended to use a container other than the polyvinyl chloride bag.
Exploring N-Back Cognitive Training for Children With ADHD
Authors: Jones Masha R. , Katz Benjamin , Buschkuehl Martin , Jaeggi Susanne M. , Shah Priti
Published: June 2018

Objective: The efficacy of n-back training for children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) was tested in a randomized controlled trial. Method: 41 children aged 7 to 14 years with ADHD were trained on an n-back task, and their performance was compared with that of an active control group ( n = 39) who were trained on a general knowledge and vocabulary task. Results: The experimental group demonstrated transfer of training to a nontrained n-back task as well as to a measure of inhibitory control. These effects were correlated with the magnitude of training gains. Conclusion: Our results suggest that n-back training may be useful in addressing some of the cognitive and behavioral issues associated with ADHD.
Single-pass four-throw pupilloplasty for secondary angle-closure glaucoma associated with silicon oil tamponade
Authors: Narang Priya , Agarwal Ashar , Agarwal Amar
Published: June 2018

Purpose:

To describe the feasibility and efficacy of performing single-pass four-throw pupilloplasty for secondary angle-closure glaucoma post silicon oil tamponade.

Methods:

The procedure was performed in five eyes of five patients. All the cases underwent silicon oil removal with single-pass four-throw pupilloplasty. Single-pass four-throw procedure involves a single pass of needle through the iris tissue that is to be apposed followed by taking four throws by passing the suture end through the loop that is withdrawn from the anterior chamber as in a modified Siepser’s slip-knot technique. Both the suture ends are pulled and this leads to sliding of the loop into the anterior chamber. Surgical pupilloplasty stretches the peripheral iris tissue and helps in breaking the peripheral anterior synechia. Intraoperative gonioscopy and anterior segment optical coherence tomography were performed in all the cases.

Results:

Intraoperative gonioscopy and anterior segment optical coherence tomography demonstrated opening of the anterior chamber angles with breakage of peripheral anterior synechia. The mean preoperative and postoperative best-corrected visual acuity in logarithm of minimum angle of resolution was 1.24 ± 0.23 and 0.56 ± 0.18, respectively (p < 0.001). The mean preoperative and postoperative intraocular pressure was 38.2 ± 4.97 and 13.0 ± 2.35 mm Hg, respectively. There was a significant decrease in intraocular pressure and marked improvement in visual acuity in all the cases.

Conclusion:

Surgical pupilloplasty helps to relieve the post-silicon oil-induced secondary angle-closure glaucoma by breaking peripheral anterior synechia and significantly opening the anterior chamber angles.
The effect of precautions on early dislocations post total hip arthroplasty: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Allen Felix C , Skinner Daniel L , Harrison Jane , Stafford Giles H
Published: June 2018

Introduction:

The efficacy of hip precautions in preventing dislocation post total hip arthroplasty (THA) has been questioned in recent literature. From 2014 our centre ceased routinely prescribing them due to lack of evidence. We investigate the effect of stopping these precautions on dislocation rate, patient satisfaction and Oxford hip score (OHS).

Methods:

Patients who underwent primary total hip arthroplasty prior to this change in protocol ( n = 2551) and for 1 year subsequently ( n = 673) were identified. Operative records were used to identify key demographic and operative data. Incidence of dislocation, OHS and patient satisfaction were extracted from the centre’s electronic database. Subset analysis of those patients dislocating within 6 weeks was performed.

Results:

Rate of dislocation at 6 weeks in those prescribed and not prescribed precautions was 0.71% and 0.89% respectively ( p = 0.618). At 1 year this rose to 1.25% and 1.49% ( p = 0.406). Satisfaction ( p = 0.332) and OHS ( p = 0.441) at 1 year was not significantly different between cohorts.

Conclusions:

Cessation of prescribing routine hip precautions post primary THA does not appear to significantly affect overall dislocation rate, patient satisfaction or functional status at 1 year post-operatively.
Tribological study of OH- and N-containing imidazoline derivatives as additives in water–glycol
Authors: Xiong Liping , He Zhongyi , Han Sheng , Hu Jianqiang , Xu Xin , Tang Jun , Wu Yinglei
Published: June 2018

Tribological properties of two hydroxyl- and only active nitrogen-containing water-soluble imidazoline derivatives, benzotriazole-containing imidazoline (BML) and caprylic acid-containing imidazoline (CML), as lubrication additive in water–glycol hydraulic fluid were evaluated with a four-ball tester. And the antirust and anticorrosion behaviors were also investigated. Results show that BML and CML were able to remarkably improve the antirust properties of water–glycol fluid when added at a low adding concentration, and also these performances of BML was better than CML. All additives exhibited good extreme pressure and antiwear properties, and BML showed better tribological properties than CML. Besides, the difference in the tribological and anticorrosion properties of these derivatives was closely related to their different molecular structures. There exists a synergistic tribological effect between benzotriazole and imidazoline group in the tribological and antiwear performances. Furthermore, significant improvement in the tribological performances of BML was detected and attributed to organic nitrogen compounds, iron oxide, and so on in tribofilm on the worn surfaces.
Missing a S-STEP? How self-study of teacher education practice can support the language teacher education knowledge base
Authors: Peercy Megan Madigan , Sharkey Judy
Published: June 2018

Inspired by the recognition of teachers and teacher learning in the knowledge base and the calls for greater attention to the pedagogies and development of teacher educators, in this brief essay we posit that a deeper understanding of the teacher educator as scholar, as practitioner, as researcher, is critical to the LTE knowledge base.
Reframing the space between: Teachers and learners in context
Authors: Teemant Annela
Published: June 2018

New audiences, new theoretical understandings of cognitive development and teaching, and the moral imperative to reach all learners and teachers require reframing how we assess our effectiveness in ELT. In this article, I present four areas of LTE that require reframing: (1) Who we prepare (2) with what content (3) to competently participate in personal and social change, (4) by making the space between teacher and students active with responsive assistance that improves learner outcomes.
When we want them to fear us: The motivation to influence outgroup emotions in collective action
Authors: Hasan-Aslih Siwar , Netzer Liat , van Zomeren Martijn , Saguy Tamar , Tamir Maya , Halperin Eran
Published: June 2018

Prior work has shown that the experience of group-based emotions can motivate disadvantaged group members to engage in collective action. In the current research, we tested whether such action can also be driven by the motivation to induce certain emotions among the outgroup to the extent that disadvantaged group members believe this would help them attain their social change goals. We tested this hypothesis in three studies (two correlational and one experimental) within the context of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. Study 1 showed that individuals’ motivation to induce outgroup regret was associated with nonviolent collective action tendencies, whereas the motivation to induce outgroup fear was related to violent action. Study 2 moved beyond Study 1 by assessing corrective and punitive goals of social change. We found that preferences for inducing outgroup regret mediated the relationship between endorsement of corrective goals and nonviolent action tendencies, whereas preferences for outgroup fear mediated the relationship between punitive goals and violent action. Study 3 provided experimental support for the causal effect of goals on emotion motivations and collective action tendencies. Together, our findings are in line with the notion of instrumental emotion regulation as applied to collective action.
Behavior of partially encased composite members under various load conditions: Experimental and analytical models
Authors: Ebadi Jamkhaneh Mehdi , Kafi Mohammad Ali , Kheyroddin Ali
Published: June 2018

This study addresses the experimental behavior of octagonal partially encased composite column under axial and bending load conditions. The complementary study on axial and combined axial–torsional behavior is done through finite element analysis. The main parameters for the experiment part are reinforcement details and failure modes. The six parameters of this analytical analysis include width-to-thickness ratio of flange, transverse links spacing and diameter, welding line arrangements, and different types of retrofit of cross-shaped steel (concrete encasement, use of stiffener plates and transverse links). To verify accuracy of the proposed three-dimensional finite element model, the axial behavior of the numerical models was compared with test specimens. Experimental results of the axial study show that concrete crushing phenomena and local buckling behavior occurred for all specimens under ultimate stage of loading. It should be noted that local buckling behavior occurred after crushing phenomena. The analysis of bending assessment demonstrated that the use of stirrups has no remarkable effect on increasing the effective bending moment strength of octagonal partially encased composite columns. Meanwhile, an equation was developed based on comprehensive parametric study of octagonal partially encased composite column using detailed finite element analyses. Under axial–torsional load conditions, one could conclude that steel shear plates should be placed at the end zones of column to heighten torsional resistance of member. Meanwhile, transverse links were found to exert marginal effect on torsional behavior of octagonal partially encased composite column.
Same, same but different: Perceptions of patients’ online access to electronic health records among healthcare professionals
Authors: Wass Sofie , Vimarlund Vivian
Published: June 2018

In this study, we explore how healthcare professionals in primary care and outpatient clinics perceive the outcomes of giving patients online access to their electronic health records. The study was carried out as a case study and included a workshop, six interviews and a survey that was answered by 146 healthcare professionals. The results indicate that professionals working in primary care perceive that an increase in information-sharing with patients can increase adherence, clarify important information to the patient and allow the patient to quality-control documented information. Professionals at outpatient clinics seem less convinced about the benefits of patient accessible electronic health records and have concerns about how patients manage the information that they are given access to. However, the patient accessible electronic health record has not led to a change in documentation procedures among the majority of the professionals. While the findings can be connected to the context of outpatient clinics and primary care units, other contextual factors might influence the results and more in-depth studies are therefore needed to clarify the concerns.
Elements of constructive journalism: Characteristics, practical application and audience valuation
Authors: Hermans Liesbeth , Gyldensted Cathrine
Published: June 2018

This article begins by describing the recently created classifications of elements of constructive journalism and present examples of the media profession applying these elements. Constructive journalism draws on behavioural sciences, specifically positive psychology. From this, it is assumed that including constructive elements such as solution orientation, future orientation, depolarising techniques and seeking co-creation with the public contribute to the well-being of individuals as well as society. Following a public-oriented perspective, audience research is performed to understand how people value the incorporation of constructive elements in the news. Using an online survey, data were gathered from 3263 people in the Netherlands, aged 20–65. Results show an overall positive valuation, with some constructive elements appreciated more than others. Age, educational background and news interest seem to play a role in the nature of this valuation. Constructive journalism is steadily finding its way into journalism practice. There are also indications that people value news that incorporates constructive elements. It is important to further develop and define the concept in the coming years.
A sensitive and specific solid-phase extraction–gas chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method for the determination of 11 haloacetic acids in aqueous samples
Authors: Kinani Aziz , Olivier Jérôme , Roumiguières Adrien , Bouchonnet Stéphane , Kinani Said
Published: June 2018

A method for the analysis of 11 haloacetic acids in water samples has been developed. It involves enrichment of the target analytes from water samples by solid-phase extraction, derivatization to methyl esters, and gas chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry determination. Gas chromatography conditions were optimized for a good separation of all haloacetic acids in a short runtime. Data were acquired in the multiple reaction monitoring mode. Six solid-phase extraction sorbents among the most widely used in environmental analysis were tested. Bakerbond SDB was retained because it has been shown to provide the best results for a large class of targeted haloacetic acids. The performances of the developed method have been assessed according to the French Standard NF T 90-210. The calibration curves for all the studied haloacetic acids had consistent slopes with r2 values > 0.99. Quantification limits between 0.01 and 0.50 µg l−1 were achieved. Satisfactory repeatability (relative standard deviation ≤ 14.3%) and intermediate precision (relative standard deviation ≤ 15.7%) were obtained. Applied to the analysis of 15 untreated water samples collected from three rivers, the method allowed the detection of five haloacetic acids including monochloroacetic acid (in 100% of the samples, <0.5–1.85 µg l−1), dichloroacetic acid (87%, <0.05–0.22 µg l−1), trichloroacetic acid (93%, <0.05–0.52 µg l−1), dibromoacetic acid (53%, <0.01–0.40 µg l−1), tribromoacetic acid (20%, <0.05–0.14 µg l−1), and bromodichloroacetic acid (6%, < 0.05 µg l−1).
Kinematics and dynamics of a novel 3-degree-of-freedom wave energy converter
Authors: Chen Weixing , Gao Feng , Meng Xiangdun
Published: June 2018

A wide range of wave energy converter technologies has been proposed so far. Oscillating body systems are an important class of wave energy converters, which typically harvest wave energy from a single degree-of-freedom response. This article presents a novel 3-degree-of-freedom (heave, pitch and roll) wave energy converter which extracts and converts wave power efficiently. The 3-degree-of-freedom mechanism is invented to absorb and convert wave energy, no matter which direction the waves propagate. The hydraulic power take-off system comprises novel energy conversion devices which can be superposed to realize high-power conversion to produce electricity. First, the power conversion principle of the wave energy converter is proposed, and the kinematics of the 3-degree-of-freedom mechanism is derived. Then, the governing equations of the 3-degree-of-freedom wave energy converter are established. Linear time-domain simulations are performed to calculate instantaneous and mean power outputs. The numerical results show that the rated power absorbed by the wave energy converter is up to 4.2 MW and the efficiency is over 80%. And the power matrix of the wave energy converter is obtained from a range of simulations under different sea states. Finally, directional performance of the wave energy converter is investigated, and the numerical results show that the wave energy converter can operate across a range of incident wave directions, but is most efficient in head, beam and following seas.
Physicians’ communication patterns for motivating rectal cancer patients to biomarker research: Empirical insights and ethical issues
Authors: Wöhlke Sabine , Perry Julia , Schicktanz Silke
Published: June 2018

In clinical research – whether pharmaceutical, genetic or biomarker research – it is important to protect research participants’ autonomy and to ensure or strengthen their control over health-related decisions. Empirical–ethical studies have argued that both the ethical concept and the current legalistic practice of informed consent should be adapted to the complexity of the clinical environment. For this, a better understanding of recruitment, for which also the physician–patient relationship plays an important role, is needed.

Our aim is to ethically reflect communication processes by identifying patterns used by physicians to motivate patients’ participation in clinical research and to assess whether patients also use these patterns in formulating their own research motivation. We conducted a secondary analysis with empirical data from a research project involving physicians and patients in a clinical research setting of a biomarker study for rectal cancer treatment. Our empirical data included observations of physician–patient consultations ( n = 54) and semi-structured interviews with patients ( n = 40). Overall, we collected 93 interviews.

We found two dominant communication patterns, which physicians applied for motivating patients to take part in this research study. Some forms of these patterns tend to mislead patients’ understanding, while others could justifiably be applied in this consultation setting without undermining patients’ autonomy. This insight that the physician–patient communication has a strong influence on patients increases the importance to strengthen physicians’ ethically acceptable communication patterns regarding research participation.

We further suggest that there is a need for a critical reflection of the ethics committee’s requirements for information regarding research participation.
Opinions of nurses on the ethical problems encountered while working as a team in intensive care units
Authors: Ögenler Oya , Dağ Ahmet , Doğan Havva , Genç Talip , Kuzgun Hürmüs , Çelik Tülay , Yıldırım Didem Derici
Published: June 2018

Background

The intensive care unit entails working as a team in rescuing patients from life-threatening conditions. The care being given by the team could also be done by nurses and other health professionals through the coordinated use of all medical practices.

Objective

To determine the opinion of nurses on the ethical problems they experienced while working as a team in the intensive care units of a university hospital.

Method

The descriptive research was conducted on nurses working in intensive care units (n = 96). A 56-item data collection form consisting of two parts developed by the researchers was used. Frequency (percent) and median were evaluated, and statistical calculations were used for group comparisons.

Results

Out of the 82 (85.4%) nurses who participated in the study, 65 (82.3%) were university graduates. About 52 (66.7%) of the participants were female with a mean age of 28.12 ± 5.84; 26 (31.6%) had intensive care certification, and 54 (65.1%) had ethical training. The internal intensive care unit nurses were less satisfied with their jobs, able to use tools, said that they had the right to refuse the patient compared to the surgical intensive care unit nurses. Discussion and conclusions: It is a positive situation for the participants to score low with ethical problems based on suggestion as the probability of meeting with their teammates. However, it is important that the problems that affect the motivation of the nurses are different according to the intensive care unit and the employees.
Danger in the Air: Air Pollution and Cognitive Dysfunction
Authors: Cipriani Gabriele , Danti Sabrina , Carlesi Cecilia , Borin Gemma
Published: June 2018

Background:

Clean air is considered to be a basic requirement for human health and well-being.

Objective:

To examine the relationship between cognitive performance and ambient pollution exposure.

Methods:

Studies were identified through a systematic search of online scientific databases, in addition to a manual search of the reference lists from the identified papers.

Results:

Air pollution is a multifaceted toxic chemical mixture capable of assaulting the central nervous system. Despite being a relatively new area of investigation, overall, there is mounting evidence implicating adverse effects of air pollution on cognitive function in both adults and children.

Conclusions:

Consistent evidence showed that exposure to air pollution, specifically exposure to particulate matter, caused poor age-related cognitive performance. Living in areas with high levels of air pollution has been linked to markers of neuroinflammation and neuropathology that are associated with neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease-like brain pathologies.
Bisphenol-A alters microbiota metabolites derived from aromatic amino acids and worsens disease activity during colitis
Authors: DeLuca Jennifer AA , Allred Kimberly F , Menon Rani , Riordan Rebekah , Weeks Brad R , Jayaraman Arul , Allred Clinton D
Published: June 2018

Inflammatory bowel disease is a complex collection of disorders. Microbial dysbiosis as well as exposure to toxins including xenoestrogens are thought to be risk factors for inflammatory bowel disease development and relapse. Bisphenol-A has been shown to exert estrogenic activity in the colon and alter intestinal function, but the role that xenoestrogens, such as bisphenol-A , play in colonic inflammation has been previously described but with conflicting results. We investigated the ability of bisphenol-A to exacerbate colonic inflammation and alter microbiota metabolites derived from aromatic amino acids in an acute dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis model. Female C57BL/6 mice were ovariectomized and exposed to bisphenol-A daily for 15 days. Disease activity measures include body weight, fecal consistency, and rectal bleeding. Colons were scored for inflammation, injury, and nodularity. Alterations in the levels of microbiota metabolites derived from aromatic amino acids known to reflect phenotypic changes in the gut microbiome were analyzed. Bisphenol-A exposure increased mortality and worsened disease activity as well as inflammation and nodularity scores in the middle colon region following dextran sulfate sodium exposure. Unique patterns of metabolites were associated with bisphenol-A consumption. Regardless of dextran sulfate sodium treatment, bisphenol-A reduced levels of tryptophan and several metabolites associated with decreased inflammation in the colon. This is the first study to show that bisphenol-A treatment alone can reduce microbiota metabolites derived from aromatic amino acids in the colon which may be associated with increased colonic inflammation and inflammatory bowel disease.

Impact statement

As rates of inflammatory bowel disease rise, discovery of the mechanisms related to the development of these conditions is important. Environmental exposure is hypothesized to play a role in etiology of the disease, as are alterations in the gut microbiome and the metabolites they produce. This study is the first to show that bisphenol-A alone alters tryptophan and microbiota metabolites derived from aromatic amino acids in a manner consistent with autoimmune diseases, specifically inflammatory bowel diseases, regardless of dextran sulfate sodium treatment. These findings indicate a potential mechanism by which bisphenol-A negatively affects gut physiology to exacerbate inflammation.
Baltimore’s Thurgood Marshall Alliance
Authors: Alexander Karl
Published: June 2018

How an academic research became a public school reformer, applying sociological insights as he works toward meaningful racial and socioeconomic integration and the revitalization of urban schools.
Education’s Limitations and its Radical Possibilities
Authors: Carter Prudence L.
Published: June 2018

Public education aims to grow generations of literate, critical, creative, and civically engaged students who edify and build a living democracy. Somewhere, that purpose has faltered.
Making Men into “Responsible” Fathers
Authors: Randles Jennifer
Published: June 2018

Responsible fatherhood programs are the rare issue that can boast decade of bipartisan support, and interviews reveal the unintended yet powerful lessons they impart
Admitting Bias in Doctoral Programs
Authors: Rivera Lauren A.
Published: June 2018

Lauren A. Rivera reviews Inside Graduate Admissions.
Building Women’s Empowerment in India
Authors: Chaudhuri Soma
Published: June 2018

Soma Chaudhuri on Indian efforts to stem domestic abuse.
Freedom to Discriminate
Authors: Powell Brian , Schnabel Landon , Apgar Lauren
Published: June 2018

Brian Powell, Landon Schnabel, and Lauren Apgar on Americans’ attitudes about denial of service.
A Long-Time Follow-Up Study of a Single-Center Endovascular Aneurysm Repair (Evar) Endoleak Outcomes
Authors: Andersen Rosa Marie , Henriksen Daniel P. , Mafi Hossein Mohit , Langfeldt Sten , Budtz-Lilly Jacob , Graumann Ole
Published: June 2018

Purpose:

The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence, risk factors, and outcome of endoleaks related to endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) procedure at a single center with up to 10 years’ surveillance.

Materials and Methods:

All patients treated with EVAR for an abdominal aorta or iliac aneurysm in a 10-year period at a single cardiovascular center in Denmark were included. Data were collected from a national database and patient journals. Follow-up computed tomography angiography and plain abdominal X-ray reports were reviewed.

Results:

A total of 421 patients were included. There were 125 endoleaks observed in 117 (27.8%) patients after a median 95 days (interquartile range: 90-106 days). There were 16 type I, 107 type II, 1 type III, and 1 type V endoleaks. A total of 33 (7.8%) patients had at least 1 reintervention. Patients with type II endoleaks had significantly fewer active smokers and lower plasma creatinine at baseline. They also more often had one, or both, internal iliac arteries embolized as well as an identified endoleak at the procedural completion angiogram. Non-type II endoleaks were associated with internal iliac artery embolization. There was no association between the occurrence of endoleaks and increased mortality.

Conclusion:

Type II endoleaks are common after EVAR, yet few lead to reintervention. Absence of smoking, low plasma creatinine, embolized iliac arteries, and endoleak on completion angiogram were associated with type II endoleaks, whereas only embolized iliac arteries were associated with non-type II endoleaks. Overall, endoleaks are not associated with increased mortality.
Comparative Effectiveness of Conservative Management Compared to Cryotherapy in Localized Prostate Cancer Patients
Authors: Shah Surbhi , Young Henry N. , Cobran Ewan K.
Published: June 2018

The high frequency of treatment-related side effects for men with localized prostate cancer creates uncertainty for treatment outcomes. This study assessed the comparative effectiveness of treatment-related side effects associated with conservative management and cryotherapy in patients with localized prostate cancer. A retrospective longitudinal cohort study was conducted, using the linked data of the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results and Medicare, which included patients diagnosed from 2000 through year 2013, and their Medicare claims information from 2000 through 2014. To compare the differences in baseline characteristics and treatment-related side effects between the study cohorts, χ2 tests were conducted. Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess the association between treatment selection and side effects. There were 7,998 and 3,051 patients in the conservative management and cryotherapy cohort, respectively. The likelihood of erectile dysfunction, lower urinary tract obstruction, urinary fistula, urinary incontinence, and hydronephrosis was reported to be significantly lower (53%, 35%, 69%, 65%, and 36%, respectively) in the conservative management cohort. Conservative management had a lower likelihood of treatment-related side effects compared to cryotherapy. However, further research is needed to compare other significant long-term outcomes such as costs associated with these treatment choices and quality of life.
Modeling of the temperature regime and stress state in the thermal sensitive pad-disk brake system
Authors: Yevtushenko Aleksander , Kuciej Michal , Och Ewa
Published: June 2018

An analytical–numerical nonlinear model to investigate temperature fields and thermal stresses in a pad and a disk for a single braking with a constant deceleration has been proposed. For this purpose, the boundary-value heat conduction problem for a tribosystem strip–semi-space has been formulated, which takes into account the temperature dependence of the thermophysical properties of materials. The solution to this problem has been obtained by a partial linearization through the Kirchhoff substitution, and next with a subsequent use of the method of linearizing parameters. Knowing the distribution of temperature fields in the elements of a friction pair, the thermal stresses have been established within the theory of thermal bending of plates. In this case, the temperature dependence of the Young’s modulus, Poisson’s ratio, and linear thermal expansion of the pad and disk materials have been additionally taken into account. The numerical analysis has been performed for a friction pair consisting of a titanium alloy pad and a steel disk.
Prognostic significance of pretreatment plasma fibrinogen level in patients with digestive system tumors: a meta-analysis
Authors: Ji Rui , Ren Qian , Bai Suyang , Wang Yuping , Zhou Yongning
Published: June 2018

High pretreatment levels of plasma fibrinogen have been widely reported to be a potential predictor of prognosis in digestive system tumors; however, the conclusions are not consistent. Therefore, we performed a meta-analysis to comprehensively assess the prognostic roles of high pretreatment plasma fibrinogen levels in digestive system tumors. We searched for eligible studies in the PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science electronic databases for publications from the database inception to 1 September 2017. The endpoints of interest included overall survival, disease-free survival, and recurrence-free survival. We investigated the relationship between fibrinogenemia and overall survival in colorectal cancer (10 studies), gastric cancer (6), pancreatic cancer (6), hepatocellular carcinoma (7), and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (10); the pooled results indicated that fibrinogenemia was significantly related to a worse overall survival (hazard ratio (HR) 1.73; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.52, 1.97; P <0.001; HR 1.71; 95% CI 1.28, 2.28; P <0.001; HR 1.57; 95% CI 1.13, 2.17; P = 0.007; HR 1.89; 95% CI 1.57, 2.27; P <0.001, and HR 1.67; 95% CI 1.35, 2.07; P <0.001). Taken together, an increased pretreatment plasma fibrinogen level was related to worse survival in digestive system tumors, indicating that it could be a useful prognostic marker in these types of tumors.
Diagnostic value of serum dihydrodiol dehydrogenase 2 levels in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer
Authors: Xu Chun-Hua , Ren Ding-Yu , Wang Yu-Chao , Zhang Qian , Zhang Xiu-Wei , Qian Li-Hua , Shao Jie-Bao
Published: June 2018

Objectives:

Dihydrodiol dehydrogenase 2 (DDH2) plays an important role in pathogenesis of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This study aimed to evaluate the value of serum DDH2 levels in NSCLC patients.

Methods:

Serum samples were obtained from 863 NSCLC patients and 439 healthy controls. The samples were randomly divided into a training set and a test set. Serum DDH2 levels were assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Results:

The levels of DDH2 in NSCLC patients were significantly higher than those in healthy controls ( P < 0.001). The diagnostic use of DDH2 in lung adenocarcinoma was significantly greater than that of carcinoembryonic antigen, cytokeratin 19 fragment (CYFRA21-1), and carbohydrate antigen 125 ( P < 0.001). Combining DDH2 with carcinoembryonic antigen, CYFRA21-1, and carbohydrate antigen 125 was more effective for lung adenocarcinoma diagnosis than DDH2 alone. In addition, the levels of DDH2 could contribute to the diagnosis of lung squamous cell carcinoma.

Conclusions:

The measurement of serum DDH2 is a valuable diagnostic marker for NSCLC patients.
Plasma cholesterol and lipoprotein levels in relation to tumor aggressiveness and survival in HCC patients
Authors: Carr Brian I. , Giannelli Gianluigi , Guerra Vito , Giannini Edoardo G , Farinati Fabio , Rapaccini Gian Ludovico , Marco Maria Di , Zoli Marco , Caturelli Eugenio , Masotto Alberto , Virdone Roberto , Sacco Rodolfo , Trevisani Franco
Published: June 2018

Background and Aims:

Hepatocellular carcinoma is associated with several chronic liver diseases, especially chronic hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, and alcoholism. It is increasingly appreciated that obesity/metabolic syndrome is also associated with chronic liver disease and subsequent hepatocellular carcinoma.

Methods:

We retrospectively investigated the serum lipid profiles in a large hepatocellular carcinoma cohort, associated predominantly with the hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, alcohol or nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. The cohort was examined both as a whole, as well as stratified by etiology.

Results:

We found significant associations between parameters of hepatocellular carcinoma biology such as maximum tumor diameter, portal vein thrombosis, tumor multifocality or alpha-fetoprotein levels and individual lipid components, including total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides and body mass index. In a final multiple linear regression model considering all lipid variables together, only high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was significantly associated with the tumor Tumor Aggressiveness Index. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol was found to have a statistically higher hazard ratio for death than low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (Cox). On examination by etiological group, alpha-fetoprotein levels were significantly higher in patients with hepatitis C virus compared to those with alcohol or nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, but maximum tumor diameter, tumor multifocality and portal vein thrombosis were similar across etiological groups. Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis patients had significantly less cirrhosis than other groups and hepatitis B virus patients had significantly higher cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels than hepatitis C virus patients.

Conclusions:

This is the first report, to our knowledge, of a relationship between serum lipid parameters and indices of hepatocellular carcinoma growth, invasion and aggressiveness, as well as with survival.
Prognostic implications of hepatitis B virus infection in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma treated with first-line gemcitabine plus cisplatin
Authors: Chae Heejung , Cho Hyungwoo , Yoo Changhoon , Kim Kyu-pyo , Jeong Jae Ho , Chang Heung-Moon , Kang Jihoon , Lee Han Chu , Lim Young-Suk , Kim Kang Mo , Shim Ju Hyun , Lee Sang Soo , Park Do Hyun , Song Tae Jun , Hwang Shin , Song Gi-Won , Moon Deok-Bog , Lee Young-Joo , Lee Jae Hoon , Ryoo Baek-Yeol
Published: June 2018

Purpose:

Hepatitis B virus infection is a well-known risk factor for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. However, its prognostic impact has rarely been investigated in advanced intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

Methods:

Between April 2010 and May 2015, 296 patients with unresectable or metastatic intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma who received gemcitabine plus cisplatin (GemCis) were categorized into a hepatitis B virus group (n=62; 21%) and a non-hepatitis B virus group (n=234; 79%). Clinicopathological features and survival outcomes were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed.

Results:

The median age of patients was 59 years (range, 27–78). The median overall survival with first-line GemCis was 9.4 months (95% CI 8.4, 10.4). Compared to the non-hepatitis B virus group, the hepatitis B virus group was younger (median age, 57 vs. 61 years, P = 0.001), mainly male (74% vs. 57%, P = 0.02), and had lower frequency of elevated cancer antigen (CA) 19-9 (34% vs. 59%, P = 0.001) and alkaline phosphatase (43% vs. 61%, P = 0.01). In a univariate analysis, the hepatitis B virus infection showed a marginal relationship with poor overall survival compared to the non-hepatitis B virus infection (median, 8.3 vs. 10.0 months; P=0.13). A multivariate analysis of potential prognostic factors revealed a significant association with poor overall survival in the hepatitis B virus group (hazard ratio (HR) =1.50, P = 0.02). Initial metastatic disease (vs. recurrent/unresectable disease; HR=1.50), metastatic sites ⩾ 2 (vs. 0–1; HR=1.51), Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status ⩾ 2 (vs. 0–1; HR=1.93), elevated total bilirubin (vs. normal; HR=1.83), and low albumin (vs. normal; HR=1.52) were significantly related to an unfavorable overall survival.

Conclusions:

This study suggests that the hepatitis B virus infection may be associated with distinctive clinicopathological characteristics and poor outcome in advanced intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma treated with GemCis.
Morphometric changes over the whole brain in caffeine-containing combination-analgesic-overuse headache
Authors: Chen Xiaoyan , Chen Zhiye , Dong Zhao , Liu Mengqi , Yu Shengyuan
Published: June 2018

Objective

To investigate brain morphometric changes in medication-overuse headache with excessive intake of caffeine-containing combination analgesics.

Materials and methods

We recruited 32 medication-overuse headache patients overusing caffeine-containing combination analgesics and 26 normal controls with matched sex and age. Magnetic resonance T1-weighted images were processed by automatic volume algorithm of brain regions over the whole brain according to the neuromorphometrics template. We explored the volume differences between groups and correlation with clinical variables.

Results

Medication-overuse headache patients demonstrated decreased volume in cerebellum, optic chiasm, and increased volume in right lateral orbital gyrus, left calcarine, bilateral middle occipital gyrus, right superior parietal lobe, and right temporal transverse gyrus compared with normal controls. The increased volume was primarily contributed by patients of lower headache frequency (10–20 days/month) and with no psychological comorbidities. In regression analyses, the volume of bilateral middle occipital gyrus had negative association with migraine duration, and the volume of right lateral orbital gyrus and right superior parietal lobe was negatively correlated with number of medications per month.

Conclusions

Volume changes of brain regions involved in affective and cognitive processing, visual and auditory perception, and pain sensory/discrimination suggested a particular role of those regions in the pathogenesis of medication-overuse headache overusing caffeine-containing combination analgesics. Morphometric changes in multiple visual processing areas and volume gain in lower headache frequency and less anxiety and depression may be specific features related to overusing caffeine-containing combination analgesics.
A new spectral conjugate gradient method and ARIMA combined forecasting model and application
Authors: Shan Rui , Wang Guofang , Huang Wei , Zhao Jingyi , Liu Wen
Published: June 2018

It is of great practical significance to fit and predict actual time series. Based on the theories of time series analysis and unconstrained optimization, a new spectral conjugate gradient method–autoregressive integrated moving average combined model (FHS spectral CG–ARIMA combined model) is proposed to fit and predict the actual time series. First, combining the characteristics and advantages of different CG methods, we propose Fang–Hestenes–Stiefel algorithm (FHS). FHS satisfies the automatic descent property and has global convergence under the reasonable assumptions and Wolfe search. Second, many numerical results have been given there: compared with other related algorithms, FHS algorithm has obvious advantages. Third, FHS spectral CG–ARIMA combined model is given in detail. Fourth, the combined model is applied to fit the actual time series and the fitting effect is found to be remarkable.
Filmic representations of radicalization and terrorism: The silver screen as a catalyst for social science
Authors: Cantey Seth
Published: June 2018

Recent years have seen increased attention to depictions of terrorism in film and, as a consequence, scholars have learned a great deal about why and how such films are made. Too often, however, work in this area has been confined to examination of the film(s) in question, where links between what appears on the silver screen and lived experience are implied but not fully explored. Grounded in the rapidly-growing literature on pop culture and world politics, this article seeks to bridge that gap by showing that comparative film analysis can serve as a catalyst for social scientific inquiry into terrorism. By exploring how Third Cinema films communicate motivations for and doubts about the use of violence, it generates questions for social scientific inquiry that might otherwise go unasked.
Capitate osteotomy and transposition for type III Kienböck’s disease
Authors: Li Jianbing , Pan Zhijun , Zhao Yunzhen , Hu Xinlei , Zhao Xiang
Published: June 2018

The aim of this study was to assess the results of capitate osteotomy and transposition for stage III Kienböck’s disease. Capitate osteotomy and transposition combined with an autologous iliac bone graft was carried out in 17 patients. At the final follow-up for a mean of 68 months (range 16–127 months) after surgery, the mean visual analogue scale score was 0.6 (range 0–5). The mean Wrightington wrist function score was 8. The mean grip strength was 79% of the unaffected side. There were 16 satisfactory results. The one unsatisfactory result occurred in a woman who developed a nonunion of the osteotomy. There were no other complications of the surgery. Our results show that capitate osteotomy and transposition is a simple and reliable method for the management of stage III Kienböck’s disease.

Level of evidence: IV
Procyanidin B2 prevents lupus nephritis development in mice by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation
Authors: He Junhui , Sun Mingchong , Tian Sujian
Published: June 2018

Lupus nephritis (LN) is a multifactorial event that contributes to the long-term mortality of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Activation of NLRP3 inflammasome has been known to play a role in SLE pathogenesis. We evaluated the renal protection effects of procyanidin B2 (PCB2) and the involvement of NLRP3 in a mouse model involving MRL/lpr and MRL/MpJ mice. Kidney injury was evaluated by measuring the renal clinical and pathological features, renal immune complex deposition, and serum anti-double-stranded (anti-dsDNA) Abs. ELISA and Western blotting were used to detect NLRP3 inflammasome activation and IL-1β/IL-18 production. NLRP3 gene silencing was introduced into MRL/lpr mice by short hairpin RNA, and the renal damage was compared with the treatment of PCB2. PCB2 remarkably reduced renal damage in MRL/lpr mice, reflected by the reduced proteinuria, and serum levels of blood urea nitrogen and creatinine, as well as pathological features with less renal injury. PCB2 significantly reduced renal immune complex deposition and serum anti-dsDNA levels, notably inhibited the NLRP3 inflammasome activation, and reduced the renal and serum levels of IL-1β and IL-18 in MRL/lpr mice compared with those of NLRP3 gene-silenced MRL-lpr mice. PCB2 significantly suppressed LN in MRL-lpr mice by inhibiting the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome and subsequent IL-1β and IL-18 production. This finding explores a novel mechanism by which procyanidin exerts inflammatory suppression effects and its clinical benefits in LN prevention.
The clinical potential of romosozumab for the prevention of fractures in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis
Authors: Sølling Anne Sophie Koldkjær , Harsløf Torben , Langdahl Bente
Published: June 2018

The glycoprotein sclerostin inhibits activation of the canonical Wnt pathway and thereby suppresses bone formation by inhibiting the osteoblasts. Additionally, sclerostin increases bone resorption by stimulating the production of receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-β-ligand (RANKL). Romosozumab (ROMO) is a monoclonal antibody against sclerostin. Phase III clinical trials in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis have shown that ROMO increases bone mineral density at the lumbar spine and hip and reduces the risk of vertebral and clinical fractures in comparison with placebo. In women with severe osteoporosis, ROMO reduces the risk of vertebral, nonvertebral and clinical fractures in comparison with alendronate. ROMO is the first treatment for osteoporosis with dual action, and may become a valuable tool for improving the treatment of osteoporosis. At present, the approval of ROMO by the authorities is awaiting further investigations of a potential increased risk of cardiovascular events associated with ROMO treatment.