bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Spectrum of Types of Thalassemias and Hemoglobinopathies: Study in a Tertiary Level Children Hospital in Bangladesh
Authors: Khan Waqar A. , Banu Bilquis , Sadiya Salma , Sarwardi Golam
Published: July 2018

Thalassemias and hemoglobinopathies are the most common hemolytic congenital disorders in Bangladesh as in many parts of the world. This study was done to find the common types of thalassemias and abnormal hemoglobin variants seen in Bangladeshi populations. A total of 4813 samples were analyzed for hemoglobin disorders out of which 2308 (49.95%) showed abnormalities. The samples were analyzed by Bio Rad D 10 Analyzer in 3914 (81.32%) cases, BIORAD VARIANTβ thalassemia short program using the principle of high performance liquid chromatography in 474 (9.85%) cases and by CAPILLARYS 2 FLEX PIERCING utilizing capillary electrophoresis in 425 (8.83%) cases. The samples were analyzed in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Dhaka Shishu (Children) Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh. The common hemoglobin disorders seen were β trait 863 (17.94%), Hb E trait 601 (12.50%), Hb E β thalassemia 524 (10.87%), β thalassemia major 192 (4.00 %), Hb E disease 99 (2.05%). Other Hb abnormalities detected were Hb D trait 17 (0.35%), Sickle cell trait 4 (0.08%), hereditary persistence of fetal hemoglobin (HPFH) 2 (0.04%), and Hb Lepore, δ β thalassemia, sickle cell β thalassemia, Sickle cell disease, compound heterozygote for HbE+D and Hb Q band one case each (0.02%).
Fertility Assessment in Thalassemic Men
Authors: Ansari Shahla , Kiumarsi Azadeh , Azarkeivan Azita , Allameh Mohammad Mahdi , Amir kashani Davood , Razaghi Azar Maryam
Published: July 2018

Male infertility in β-thalassemia patients is typically considered to be the consequence of iron deposition in the endocrine glands. Adult male patients with β-thalassemia, on regular blood transfusions, are prone to developing acquired hypogonadism. The aim of this study was to evaluate the fertility indicators in male patients with β-thalassemia major and intermedia. In this study we evaluated testicular volume, semen parameters and serum FSH, LH, and Testosterone concentrations in 62 male patients in reproductive age, with major and intermedia thalassemia, at a tertiary care hospital in Tehran, Iran. The range of serum ferritin level in our patients was from 182 to 11053 ng/mL (mean 2067 ng/mL). The mean concentration of sperm was 61.04 million per milliliter. The mean volume of right and left testes was 11.4 cc and 11.7 cc, respectively. Those patients who had lower testicular volumes significantly had lower sperm concentration, lower percents of motile and also lower percents of normal morphologic sperms (p = 0.04). The frequency of hypogonadism was significantly higher in patients whose testicular volume was lower (p = 0.02). Hypogonadism and hypothyroidism were seen in 22.6% and 17.7% of patients, respectively. Patients with hypogonadism had significantly lower ejaculate volume, lower sperm concentration, lower percents of motile and progressively motile sperms and also lower percents of normal morphologic sperms (p = 0.001). This study suggests that in thalassemic men, concentrations of serum testosterone, LH, FSH has significant correlation with sperm parameters and testicular volume.
Two Familial Cases of Hb Tyne Confirm Instability as Cause of Low Expression
Authors: Pullon Beverley M. , Brennan Stephen O.
Published: July 2018

We report a second occurrence of hemoglobin (Hb) Tyne, [β5 (A2) Pro>Ser] HBB:c.16C>T(p.Pro6Ser), which like the first case was associated with normal hematology. We verified the variant was mildly unstable by showing it was greatly enriched in isopropanol precipitates. This minor instability accounts for the slightly decreased expression of the new β chain. The variant was picked up as an interfering component on HbA1c testing using cation exchange high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). However, this may be an advantage in detecting electrophoretically silent variants. Furthermore, this report also highlights the importance of uneven or sloping baselines on HPLC, which could reflect the presence of a variant hemoglobin even in the presence of normal electrophoresis and full blood count.
Errata Corrige, Thalassemia Reports 2017; 7:6392
Authors: Office Editorial
Published: July 2018

Referring to the article [...]
Patients as Equal Partners in Decision-Making: The Global Reality
Authors: Mukherjee Anubha Taneja
Published: July 2018

Decision making is an inherently complicated procedure, which by its very nature requires the decision-maker to co-opt all the stakeholders concerned [...]
New Challenges in Diagnosis of Haemoglobinopathies: Migration of Populations
Authors: Old John , Timbs Adele , McCarthy Janice , Gallienne Alice , Proven Melanie , Rugless Michelle , Lopez Herminio , Eglinton Jennifer , Dziedzic Dariusz , Beardsall Matthew , Khalila Mohamed S.M. , Henderson Shirley
Published: July 2018

The current influx of economic migrants and asylum seekers from countries with a high prevalence of haemoglobinopathies creates new challenges for health care systems and diagnostic laboratories. The migration of carriers introduces new and novel haemoglobinopathy mutations to the diagnostic repertoire of a laboratory, often creating new pressures to improve and update the carrier screening technology and diagnostic scope. For antenatal screening programmes, the marriage of partners from different ethnic groups can lead to the risk of compound heterozygote children being born novel mutation combinations, creating problems in the provision of accurate advice regarding the expected phenotype of the thalassaemia or haemoglobinopathy disorder. In the UK, the impact of immigration required the National Haemoglobinopathy Reference laboratory to change the strategy and techniques used for the molecular diagnosis of thalassaemia and the haemoglobinopathies. In 2005, due to the increasingly large range of β-thalassaemia mutations that needed to be diagnosed, the laboratory switched from a three-step screening procedure using ARMS-PCR to a simpler but more expensive one-step strategy of DNA sequencing of the beta and alpha globin genes for all referrals. After ten years of employing this strategy, a further 57 novel thalassaemia and haemoglobionpopthy alleles were discovered (11 new β-chain variants, 15 α-chain variants, 19 β-thalassaemia mutations and 12 α+-thalassaemia mutations), increasing further the extremely heterogeneous spectrum of globin gene mutations in the UK population.
Optimal Blood Transfusion Therapy in Haemoglobinopathies
Authors: Porter John
Published: July 2018

For reasons of time, this short talk will be confined to the optimal frequency, timing, indications and dosing of blood transfusion [...]
Iron Overload and Chelation Therapy in Hemoglobinopathies
Authors: Bou-Fakhredin Rayan , Elias Joseph , Taher Ali T.
Published: July 2018

Iron overload (IOL) is highly prevalent among patients with hemoglobinopathies; both transfusion dependent thalassemia (TDT) and non-transfusion dependent thalassemia (NTDT). Whether IOL is secondary to regular transfusions like in TDT, or develops from increased intestinal absorption like in NTDT, it can cause significant morbidity and mortality. In TDT patients, iron accumulation in organ tissues is highly evident, and leads to organ toxicity and dysfunction. IOL in NTDT patients is cumulative with advancing age, and concern with secondary morbidity starts beyond the age of 10 years, as shown by the OPTIMAL CARE study. Several modalities are available for the diagnosis and monitoring of IOL. Serum ferritin (SF) assessment is widely available and heavily relied on in resource-poor countries. Non-invasive iron monitoring using MRI has become the gold standard to diagnose IOL. Three iron chelators are currently available for the treatment of IOL: deferoxamine (DFO) in subcutaneous or intravenous injection, oral deferiprone (DFP) in tablet or solution form, and oral deferasirox (DFX) in dispersible tablet (DT) and film-coated tablet (FCT). Today, the goal of ICT is to maintain safe levels of body iron at all times. Appropriate tailoring ICT with chelator choices and dose adjustment must be implemented in a timely manner. Clinical decision to initiate, adjust and stop ICT is based on SF, MRI-LIC and cardiac T2*. In this article, we review the mechanism of IOL in both TDT and NTDT, the pathophysiology behind it, its complications, and the different ways to assess and quantify it. We will also discuss the different ICT modalities available, and the emergence of novel therapies.
Endocrine Complications
Authors: de Sanctis Vincenzo
Published: July 2018

More than five decades ago, thalassemia major (TM) was fatal in the first decade of life [...]
Patient Care: Unmet Needs Globally
Authors: Angastiniotis Michael , Eleftheriou Androulla
Published: July 2018

Literature demonstrates that long survival and a good quality of life are achieved where the patients’ needs for holistic care are recognised and the appropriate services are offered [...]
Osteoporosis in Thalassaemia
Authors: Voskaridou Ersi , Dimopoulou Maria , Terpos Evangelos
Published: July 2018

Osteoporosis is a prominent cause of morbidity in patients with thalassaemia major (TM) with a complex pathophysiology. Patients with TM and osteoporosis have elevated markers of bone resorption. This increased osteoclast activity seems to be at least partially due to an imbalance in the receptor–activator of nuclear factor-kappa B ligand (RANKL)/osteoprotegerin (OPG) system, which is of great importance for the regulation of osteoclast differentiation and function. Denosumab is a fully human monoclonal antibody that binds to RANKL and thereby inhibits the activation of osteoclasts by RANKL. By blocking RANKL, denosumab inhibits osteoclast formation, function and survival, thereby decreasing bone resorption and increasing bone mass in postmenopausal women and patients with thalassaemia-induced osteoporosis.
The Role of the Clinical Nurse Specialist in Haemoglobinopathies
Authors: Hylton Bernadette
Published: July 2018

The role of the Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) is an everdeveloping role that is integral in the care of individuals with haemoglobinopathies [...]
PIGI ZOIS: Pioneering with Credibility
Authors: Perifanis Vasilios , Pantelidou Ourania , Charikleia Nousiou , Athanassiou-Metaxa Miranda , Kolokytha-Grammatikopoulou Electra
Published: July 2018

Annual transfusion requirements in Greece exceed 600000 blood units and nearly 20% of them are used for the transfusion of 3.000 patients with Thalassemia. Thalassemia patients need to be transfused properly at the right time and with safe, fresh blood. PIGI ZOIS is a nonprofit organization that tries to improve the lives of patients through providing proper voluntary blood units to patients and enhancing the Voluntary Blood Donation policy, in Thessaloniki area, which has 350 patients. The mission of PIGI ZOIS is to organize and manage almost 7.000 volunteers to donate their blood for the thalassemic patients. This is achieved by using a phone call reminder, so that the blood volunteer will donate his/her blood to a compatible young patient. All matches are done by a specialized computer program. PIGI ZOIS has donated 90.000 blood units over a period of twenty years. PIGI ZOIS also aims to raise awareness of Thalassemia through an educational program with children in primary schools, with the ultimate goal of encouraging the children to become donors when they reach adulthood. PIGI ZOIS also runs informative campaigns to the public about disease prevention and the general promotion of voluntary blood donation.
TIF 2.0: The Thal e-Course and TIF Expert Patients’ Programme for Disease-Related Education and Self-Management Skills in Thalassaemia
Authors: Antoniadou Victoria , Angastiniotis Michael , Eleftheriou Androulla
Published: July 2018

In response to the fundamental shift that has been taking place in the way chronic diseases are perceived and managed and the increasingly established role of patients as equal partners in the management of their condition, the Thalassaemia International Federation (TIF) has undertaken the design and development of a comprehensive online Expert Patients’ Programme (EPP) for patients with thalassaemia. Focusing particularly on β-thalassaemia, the most severe form of thalassaemia, the goal of the programme is to develop patients’ disease-related knowledge and self-care skills and enable them to co-manage their disease in a meaningful partnership with their treating physicians. An important goal of this ecourse is to empower patients to advocate for the improvement of national treatment services in every affected country. The aim of this article is threefold: (1) Relate TIF’s EPP with the goals and outcomes of other EPPs, as they are made available in the literature. (2) Describe the rationale and distinguishing features of TIF’s EPP on the basis of learning theories of knowledge acquisition and attrition, and best practices from the scientific disciplines of Human Computer Interaction (HCI) and Technology-Assisted Learning (TEL). (3) Relay the objectives of TIF’s EPP and the intended international impact in relation to TIF’s mission.
Polycaprolactone nanofiber mesh with adhered liposomes as a simple delivery system for bioactive growth factors
Authors: Staffa Andrea , Vocetkova Karolina , Sovkova Vera , Rampichova Michala , Filova Eva , Amler Evzen
Published: July 2018

Polycaprolactone (PCL) nanofibers were prepared using electrospinning and functionalized with liposomes containing growth factors by simple surface adhesion. A tight interaction between the liposomes and PCL nanofibers has been clearly demonstrated. Additionally, the interaction of the liposomes with the PCL nanofibers was visualized by FESEM. The potential of the liposome-immobilized scaffold as a delivery system for synthetic growth factors, and as a suitable system for mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) adhesion and proliferation, was evaluated by confocal microscopy, DNA synthesis rate and dsDNA amount determination. The results showed that the growth factors adhered to the surface of the PCL nanofibers stimulated cell proliferation mainly up to day 7, and that afterwards their effect was significantly lower. By contrast, the release of growth factors from liposomes resulted in gradual proliferation of MSCs throughout the whole experiment. Moreover, the functionalized nanofibers stimulated type II collagen production, which was confirmed by immunohistochemical staining using monoclonal antibody against type II collagen. The study has indicated that growth factor-enriched liposomes adhered to the PCL nanofiber system could be useful as a drug delivery tool in various biomedical applications.
Ultrasonographic, quantitative comparison of lower extremity lymphedema versus normal control. Technical note with case reports
Authors: Carvalho Vanessa Lôbo de , Salles-Cunha Sergio Xavier , Braga Filipe Amorim , Moreira Rita de Cássia Dos Santos , Santos Joyce Annenberg Araújo dos , Araújo Thayná Lucilla Santos de , Pitta Guilherme Benjamin Brandão
Published: July 2018

Characterization of tissue by ultrasonography (CATUS) is a modern-day research endeavor intended to improve visual perception and image quantification. Visual perception increases with color. Quantification focuses on pixel echo brightnesses. A previously presented case report demonstrated reappearance of lymphatic channels a few days after manual drainage. Ultrasonographic images (US) of lymphatic leg and foot were quantitated and compared to a normal extremity based on proportions of pixels in specific brightness intervals. Anatomy evaluated included control- subcutaneous and lymphatic compartments. US with 256 brightness levels were obtained at the proximal, mid and distal leg and foot. Control and lymphatic Gray Scale Medians (GSM) and histograms were compared using t-test and Chi-square statistics. Average GSM was 97±9 (SD) (82-114, n=12 images) for control, greater than 51±15 (24-69, n=12) for lymphedematous leg/foot (P99% of pixels with brightness in the muscle-fiber range (41-196), in contrast to 62% for the lymphatic extremity (P<0.001). Lymphedema averaged 7%, 3%, 15% and 14% of pixels in blood, blood/fat, fat and fat/muscle-like regions (0-4, 5-7, 8-26, 27- 40 brightness intervals). Such regions were visually interpreted as lymphatic channels or lakes. Visual perception by colorization is subjective, but most people perceives details better, for example, during the day than at night. Furthermore, US images have 16 times more shades of gray, 256, than that perceived by the human visual system, 16 on average. Colorization improved perception of lymphatic channels and lakes by transforming blood echoes into red and lymphatic liquid with echoes similar to fat into yellow. Pixel proportions in low brightness intervals were higher in the lymphatic than in the normal extremity. Lymphedema severity was quantified. The CATUS technique may be used to monitor treatment effects or disease evolution.
Nanobiomaterials for vascular biology and wound management: A review
Authors: Singh Ajay Vikram , Gemmati Donato , Kanase Anurag , Pandey Ishan , Misra Vatsala , Kishore Vimal , Jahnke Timotheus , Bill Joachim
Published: July 2018

Nanobiomaterials application into tissue repair and ulcer management is experiencing its golden age due to spurring diversity of translational opportunity to clinics. Over the past years, research in clinical science has seen a dramatic increase in medicinal materials at nanoscale those significantly contributed to tissue repair. This chapter outlines the new biomaterials at nanoscale those contribute state of the art clinical practices in ulcer management and wound healing due to their superior properties over traditional dressing materials. Designing new recipes for nanobiomaterials for tissue engineering practices spanning from micro to nano-dimension provided an edge over traditional wound care materials those mimic tissue in vivo. Clinical science stepped into design of artificial skin and extracellular matrix components emulating the innate structures with higher degree of precision. Advances in materials sciences polymer chemistry have yielded an entire class of new nanobiomaterials ranging from dendrimer to novel electrospun polymer with biodegradable chemistries and controlled molecular compositions assisting wound healing adhesives, bandages and controlled of therapeutics in specialized wound care. Moreover, supportive regenerative medicine is transforming into rational, real and successful component of modern clinics providing viable cell therapy of tissue remodeling. Soft nanotechnology involving hydrogel scaffold revolutionized the wound management supplementing physicobiochemical and mechanical considerations of tissue regeneration. Moreover, this chapter also reviews the current challenges and opportunities in specialized nanobiomaterials formulations those are desirable for optimal localized wound care considering their in situ physiological microenvironment.
A renewed interest for surgery of the large veins
Authors: Rich Norman M.
Published: July 2018

Not available
Comparison of clinical signs and bacterial isolates of postpartum endometritis in holstein dairy cows in Iran
Authors: Ahmadi Mohammad Rahim , Haghkhah Masoud , Gheisari Hamid Reza , Yavari Morteza
Published: July 2018

The aim of this study was to determine the uterine bacteria in cows with endometritis and to compare other characteristics in cases of endometritis without bacterial growth, with Trueperella pyogenes (Arcanobacterium pyogenes) or other bacteria. In total, 86 Holstein cows with postpartum endometritis from 13 commercial dairy herds were sampled once between 21-35 days postpartum. We used several diagnostic techniques for endometritis such as external observation, vaginal exam, rectal palpation, ultrasonography, and cervical and uterine cytological examination. Clear mucus with flakes of pus (E1), mucopurulent discharge (E2), and purulent discharge (E3) are three groups of endometritis. A transcervical double-guarded swab was used for bacterial sampling. The samples were cultured aerobic and anaerobically and biochemical tests were used for differentiation. Measurements were compared between groups: A, no growth (n=47); B, positive bacterial growth without T. pyogenes (n=21); and C, positive bacterial growth with T. pyogenes (n=18). There were no differences (P>0.05) in uterine wall thickness, body condition score (BCS) and milk yield between the groups. The uterine horn diameter was largest in groups A (4.30±0.88) in comparison with groups B (4.81±1.17) and C (5.53±2.17) (P<0.05). The percentage of neutrophiles in smears of the uterine discharge (45.7±33.4) in group C was higher (P<0.05) than in groups A (14.5±22.7) and B (23.5±24.0). Eighty-three percent of group C have shown purulent discharge. In conclusion, the facultative anaerobe T. pyogenes may be the most common bacterial agent of postpartum endometritis in Holstein dairy cows in Iran.
Drying/encapsulation of red wine to produce ingredients for healthy foods
Authors: Alvarez Gaona Izmari Jasel , Rocha-Parra Diego , Zamora Maria C. , Chirife Jorge
Published: July 2018

Epidemiological evidence indicates that moderate consumption of red wine reduces the incidence of coronary disease, atherosclerosis, and platelet aggregation. Wine is very rich in antioxidant compounds because of their phenolic components. However, many people for ethnic, social or religious reasons do not consume wine. Drying/encapsulation of red wine in the presence of adequate carbohydrates leads to water and more than 99% of alcohol removal; a glassy amorphous microstructure is obtained in which the wine’s phenolic compounds are entrapped. The resulting product is a free flowing powder which could be used for the polyphenol enrichment of healthy foods and/or drink powders, as well as in the pharmaceutical industry. The wine industry may take advantage of the dried/encapsulated red wine using as a raw material red wines which have little commercial value for different reasons; i.e. poor quality due to raw material, unfavourable climatic conditions, or wines that suffered some alteration during the wine making process. Dry encapsulated wine may be a new alternative to red wines that cannot be sold as such for different reasons, and open new opportunities to diversify wine products.
Do weak stationary magnetic fields affect the perceived astringency of red wine?
Authors: Rowcliffe Stephen Wesley
Published: July 2018

To investigate claims that products containing weak stationary magnets can reduce the astringency of tannic red wine, a double- blind randomized trial was carried out, in which 96 paired tastings were conducted of magnetized and non-magnetized samples of a young Nebbiolo. The data showed no association between reported differences in astringency and actual difference in the magnetic treatments given to the wine (χ2=0.135, degrees of freedom=1, P=0.71). This study confirms an earlier work that magnets have no observable effect on red wine.
Thiamethoxam Actara® induced alterations in kidney liver cerebellum and hippocampus of male rats
Authors: Khaldoun-Oularbi Hassina , Bouzid Noura , Boukreta Soumia , Makhlouf Chahrazed , Derriche Fariza , Djennas Nadia
Published: July 2018

Thiamethoxam (TMX), a second-generation neonicotinoid insecticide, is one of the most widely used insecticides in Algeria. The present study assessed the effects of repeated subchronic exposure to the commercial formulation of thiamethoxam (Actara®, 25% WG) in albino male rats. The toxic effects of thiamethoxam (TMX) were studied biochemically and histopathologically. Twenty-eight male albino rats weighing between 226 and 243 g were randomly assigned to four groups. One group served as control, and the other three were served as experimental groups administered a neonicotinoid thiamethoxam (TMX; 26, 39 and 78 mg/kg/day) for 6 weeks. The effects of the insecticide on various biochemical parameters were evaluated at 2, 4 and 6 weeks. Histopathological studies were carried out in the liver, kidney, cerebellum and hippocampus at the end of the experiment. Changes in biochemical parameters glucose, ALT (alanine aminotransferase), AST (aspartate aminotransferase), γGT (gamma-glutamyltransferase) ALP (alkaline phosphatase) urea and creatinine were observed in treated-groups in a dose dependent manner when compared to the control. Histopathological alterations were more intense in male rats from the TMX high dose group than those from group 2 and 3. Based on these results, subchronic oral administration of thiamethoxam altered the biochemical parameters, which correlated with histopathological changes in the liver kidney and brain.
Preferred rehabilitation setting among stroke survivors in Nigeria and associated personal factors
Authors: Vincent-Onabajo Grace , Mohammed Zulaiha
Published: July 2018

Background: Incorporating patients’ preferences in the care they receive is an important component of evidence-based practice and patient-centred care.Objective: This study assessed stroke patients’ preferences regarding rehabilitation settings.Methods: A cross-sectional design was used to examine preferences of stroke patients receiving physiotherapy at three hospitals in Northern Nigeria. Personal factors and preferred rehabilitation setting data were obtained using the Modified Rankin Scale (to assess global disability) and a researcher-developed questionnaire. Associations between preferences and personal factors were explored using bivariate statistics.Results: Sixty stroke patients whose mean age was 53.6 ± 14.8 years participated in the study. Most of the participants (38.3%) preferred an outpatient setting, 19 (31.7%) preferred rehabilitation in their homes, 14 chose inpatient rehabilitation (23.3%), while 4 (6.7%) preferred the community. Age and source of finance were significantly associated with preferences. The majority (66.7%) of those aged ≥ 65 years expressed a preference for rehabilitation in the home or community (X2 = 6.80; p = 0.03). Similarly, most of the participants (53.3%) who depended on family finances preferred home- or community-based rehabilitation, while most of those who depended on employment income for finances preferred an outpatient rehabilitation setting (X2 = 16.80; p = 0.01).Conclusion: A preference for rehabilitation in outpatient facilities predominated followed by home-based rehabilitation, and preferences varied based on age and source of finance. These variations in preferences have implications for making rehabilitation decisions.
Clinical profile and treatment outcomes of metastatic neuroendocrine carcinoma: A single institution experience
Authors: Lokesh K. N. , Anand Abhishek , Lakshmaiah K. C. , Babu K. Govind , Lokanatha Dasappa , Jacob Linu Abraham , Suresh Babu M. C. , Rudresha A.H. , Rajeev L.K. , Saldanha Smitha C. , Giri G.V. , Panwar Dipti , Koppaka Deepak , Patidar Rajesh
Published: July 2018

Background: Neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) is a rare tumor arising from the diffuse neuroendocrine system. Most of these present in the advanced stage and palliative chemotherapy remains the only option. The prognosis remains poor with the standard chemotherapy regimen of platinum and etoposide (EP) providing modest survival benefit. Methods: The study was done for 3 years at a tertiary cancer center in South India. Patients with a diagnosis of metastatic NEC were analyzed for clinical and pathological characteristics. The treatment outcomes and prognostic factors were evaluated using appropriate statistical test. Results: A total of 114 patients of metastatic NEC satisfied the inclusion criteria and were analyzed. Gastrointestinal including hepatobiliary tract (33%) was the most common site of primary disease followed by lung (26%), genitourinary (15%), head and neck (14%), and unknown primary (9%). On analysis of pattern of metastasis, liver (65%) was the most common site followed by bone (54%) and lung (42%). The median overall survival was 11 months with a statistically significant difference between pulmonary and extrapulmonary disease (8 vs. 13 months; P = 0.003). Ki67% value was strongly associated with prognosis (hazard ratio 0.517, 95% confidence interval; 0.318–0.840, P = 0.008) whereas age, sex, and lactate dehydrogenase level did not show any relation with survival. Conclusion: The outcome of advanced NEC with standard chemotherapy remains poor. Larger studies with other therapeutic and novel agents are warranted to improve the treatment outcomes.
Robotic radiosurgery treatment in liver tumors: Early experience from an Indian center
Authors: Dutta Debnarayan , Krishnamoorthy Sathiya , Sudahar H. , Muthukumaran M. , Ramkumar T. , Govindraj Jayraj
Published: July 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to report CyberKnife experience in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and liver metastasis (LM). Materials and Methods: Fifty liver lesions in 31 consecutive patients with liver lesion [mean age 54.5 years (range 32-81 years), 77% were male patient, GTV <10cc in 5 patients, 11-90cc in 18 & >90cc in 8 patients respectively. Eighty percentage (25/31) had prior treatment (chemotherapy 18 patient & TACE in 7 patients). Dosage schedule was 21-45Gy/3# (mean PTV dose 33Gy, Prescription isodose 84%, target coverage 94%). Mean CI, nCI & HI were 1.19, 1.31 & 1.18 respectively. Mean liver dose was 5.4 Gy, 800 cc liver dose 11.1 Gy; Results: At mean follow-up of 12.5 months (range 1.9–44.6 months), 19 patients were expired and 12 were alive (nine patient with stable disease, two local progression, and one with metastasis). Median overall survival (OS) of all patients are 9 months (1.9–44.6 months), in HCC patients 10.5 months (2.1–44.6 months) and MT 6.5 months (1.9–24.6 months) respectively. Gr-I-II GI toxicities were in 11/50 (22%) patients. OS was influenced by PS (Karnofsky Performance Status 70–80 vs. 90–100: 9.9 vs. 16.4; P = 0.024), Child-Pugh (CP A/B vs. C: 23.6 vs. 6.5; P = 0.069), cirrhosis (only fatty liver vs. diffuse cirrhosis: 17.8 vs. 10.6; P = 0.003), prior treatment (no Rx vs. prior Rx: 30.1 vs. 8.2; P = 0.08), number of lesions (single vs. multiple: 16.4 vs. 6.9; P = 0.001), and target volume (<10 cc vs. >90 cc: 24.6 vs. 11.2; P = 0.03). Conclusion: Stereotactic body radiation therapy is a safe and effective treatment. Patient related factors such as performance status, Child-Pugh classification, cirrhosis status, prior treatment, number of liver lesion & target volume (GTV) influence the survival functions.
Patterns of epidermal growth factor receptor testing across 111 tertiary care centers in India: Result of a questionnaire-based survey
Authors: Prabhash Kumar , Parikh Purvish M. , Rajappa Senthil J. , Noronha Vanita , Joshi Amit , Aggarwal Shyam , Bondarde Shailesh , Patil Shekar , Desai Chirag , Dattatreya Palanki Satya , Naik Rajesh , Anand Sohit , Chacko Raju Titus , Biswas Ghanshyam , Sahoo Tarini P. , Dabkara Deepak , Patil Vijay , Chandrakant M.V , Das Pratap K. , Vaid Ashok K. , Doval Dinesh C.
Published: July 2018

The resounding success of imatinib (IM) as front line treatment in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) has certainly made a paradigm shift in the therapeutic algorithm of this disorder. The precise targeting of the BCR-ABL oncogene in CML has entitled it to be the poster child of translational medicine with a well-deserved Oscar ovation from the oncology community. Clinicians are now empowered with first-, second- and third-generation tyrosine kinases, as well as advanced molecular tools to monitor disease and characterize resistance. We have come a long way in successfully managing these patients, but there are still a significant few unmet clinical needs which need addressing and targeting to optimize clinical outcomes. This review focuses on 4 such pertinent and relevant clinical issues, which still need ironing out to fulfill our ambition of achieving ′perfection′ in this patient cohort.
Chaining, interpolation, and convexity
Authors: van Handel Ramon
Published: July 2018

We show that classical chaining bounds on the suprema of random processes in terms of entropy numbers can be systematically improved when the underlying set is convex: the entropy numbers need not be computed for the entire set, but only for certain “thin” subsets. This phenomenon arises from the observation that real interpolation can be used as a natural chaining mechanism. Unlike the general form of Talagrand’s generic chaining method, which is sharp but often difficult to use, the resulting bounds involve only entropy numbers but are nonetheless sharp in many situations in which classical entropy bounds are suboptimal. Such bounds are readily amenable to explicit computations in specific examples, and we discover some old and new geometric principles for the control of chaining functionals as special cases.
Regularity lemma for distal structures
Authors: Chernikov Artem , Starchenko Sergei
Published: July 2018

It is known that families of graphs with a semialgebraic edge relation of bounded complexity satisfy much stronger regularity properties than arbitrary graphs, and can be decomposed into very homogeneous semialgebraic pieces up to a small error (see e.g. [33, 2, 16, 18]). We show that similar results can be obtained for families of graphs with the edge relation uniformly definable in a structure satisfying a certain model-theoretic property called distality, with respect to a large class of generically stable measures. Moreover, distality characterizes these strong regularity properties. This applies in particular to graphs definable in arbitrary o-minimal structures and in

p

-adics.
Mujeres cineastas y mujeres representadas en el cine comercial español (2001-2016)
Authors: Bernárdez-Rodal Asunción , Padilla-Castillo Graciela
Published: July 2018

Se investigan las mujeres en el cine comercial español: directoras y personajes. Metodología. Se estudian fuentes primarias y secundarias; se analizan, de forma cuantitativa y diacrónica, las películas españolas más taquilleras, entre 2001 y 2016; se examinan, de manera cualitativa y descriptiva, protagonistas, tramas y estereotipos, de un corpus de 26 películas. Resultados. El género dominante es la comedia. Hay 36 protagonistas masculinos y 23 femeninos. El grupo gira en torno a los deseos de varones. Discusión. Ellos mueven la acción y son antihéroes, con sentimentalidad infrarrepresentada. Las mujeres son acompañantes, con acciones de cuidados y mediación familiar. Conclusiones. En España, ninguna mujer ha dirigido película que haya recaudado más de 10 millones de euros. La realidad no cambiará mientras no cambie la representación. El cine comercial puede construir ciudadanos cívicos, respetuosos, humanos; y no meros consumidores, que respondan a intereses mercantiles de la industria cinematográfica.
La mirada epicúrea de Bernard Rudofsky: los dibujos de sus viajes
Authors: Linares García Fernando , Gallego Fernández Pedro Luis
Published: July 2018

Este artículo rinde homenaje a la figura y trayectoria del polifacético arquitecto Bernard Rudofsky, destacado teórico del diseño contemporáneo, cuando están a punto de cumplirse tres décadas de su fallecimiento, incidiendo en aquellos aspectos relacionados con sus dibujos y viajes que más han influido en su vida y su pensamiento crítico; en particular, su estancia en la isla griega de Santorini en 1929.
La adjetivación de la mirada a través del dibujo
Authors: Bolívar Montesa Carmen
Published: July 2018

En los dibujos, el registro de la mirada va más allá del punto de vista, comprende la organización y estructuración del campo óptico físico, del imaginario personal y muestran un envés orgánico. Esta es una reflexión sobre la forma de incorporar la individualidad orgánica a la obra desde el dibujo. Nos acercamos a la obra de Aalto, Siza, De la Sota, Miralles y Navarro Baldeweg a través de sus dibujos mediante la adjetivación de sus miradas, estableciendo un vínculo entre la representación y la experiencia del espacio que se construye en la obra concreta de cada arquitecto.
Cuestiones sobre el polígono no construible de Leon Battista Alberti
Authors: Samper Sosa Albert
Published: July 2018

Es conocido el proceso geométrico trazado por Leon Battista Alberti al diseñar armónicamente la composición de la fachada de Santa María de la Novella en Florencia. Además, en ella encontramos 48 detalles ornamentales elaborados mediante la construcción de polígonos regulares, concretamente: 7 realizados con base pentagonal, 3 con base hexagonal, 36 con base octogonal y 2 con base icosakaihexágonal –26 lados–. Es, a nuestro entender, interesante que Alberti, después de trazar de manera precisa la configuración de la fachada, decidiera rematar las volutas laterales con un diseño circular a partir de un polígono regular de 26 lados; pues se trata de un polígono regular no construible “con regla y compás”. Por ello, en esta investigación comparamos, de forma teórica y con técnicas matemáticas, métodos geométricos aproximados de construcción del Icosakaihexágono para determinar cuál de ellos es el que más se ajusta a la configuración de esta especial decoración renacentista.
Una utopía fallida: El cementerio de San Martín en San Sebastián
Authors: Laborda Yneva José
Published: July 2018

Este artículo desea afrontar el análisis del proceso de un proyecto académico de arquitectura a través de documentos inéditos. Pretende también servir de referencia a los acercamientos que puedan llegar a encontrar en el análisis y la interpretación de los dibujos del academicismo un cauce para la mejor comprensión del origen del proyecto contemporáneo de arquitectura. Su finalidad, por tanto, es expositiva y didáctica al mismo tiempo.

En ese sentido, el ejemplo del fallido proyecto del arquitecto vasco Pedro-Manuel de Ugartemendía para el cementerio de San Martín en San Sebastián, va permitir reconocer cuantos factores intervienen en la utopía académica de la arquitectura. Se trata del acercamiento a un hecho arquitectónico en su propio contexto temporal y de la aportación de una solución viable que pueda completar la coherencia de la propuesta original.
Análisis lingüístico y valoración de la eficacia de los nombres de marca de las ONG españolas
Authors: Ampuero-Canellas Olga , Gonzalez-del-Rio Jimena , Jorda-Albiñana Begoña , Tarazona-Belenguer Nereida
Published: July 2018

The brand name is the origin of any commercial strategy. As a verbal element, its effectiveness can be evaluated through linguistics. Taking a sample of 158 organizations accredited by the Fundación Lealtad, a content analysis of their linguistic characteristics is carried out, analyzing phonetic, morphological and semantic aspects associated with obtaining a greater memory and, therefore, with greater efficiency. Subsequently, we proceed to check whether the effectiveness differs depending on the cause supported by each NGO and its annual budget. The results show a mediocre performance of the proposed efficacy criteria, as well as the variation of the linguistic characteristics according to the cause supported by the NGO but not according to its budget. The evaluation model based on the linguistic characteristics of the name could be used to study the brand names of other sectors.
The first translation of an academic article (Philosophical Transactions, 6 march, 1665)
Authors: Banks David
Published: July 2018

The first two academic periodicals were the Journal des Sçavans and the Philosophical Transactions which appeared within two months of each other in early 1665. At that time France was totally stable and centralized, while England was just emerging from a half-century of chaos. The first issue of the Philosophical Transactions included an item translated from the Journal des Sçavans. Study of these two texts shows that the English translator (Oldenburg) attempted to tidy up the French text. Analysis of the thematic structure, in comparison with a larger sample for the year 1665, shows that Oldenburg aligns his translation with his source text. Analysis of the process types shows that the percentages of process types are similar for the two texts, with the exception of verbal process. This seems to indicate a desire on the part of Oldenburg the attribute the discourse to someone else. These two texts are of particular importance as the first example of the translation of an academic article.
El cuento como recurso didáctico en la enseñanza del francés lengua extranjera
Authors: Badenas Roig Sonia Rut
Published: July 2018

This article offers a pragmatic reflection on the use of short stories in the teaching of French as a foreign language. After analyzing the use of short stories in the foreign language classroom as didactic material, we briefly assess the different advantages of short stories and inquire about the validity of this genre as a suitable material for the teaching of written expression in the light of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFRL). On this basis, we propose a practical approach in which short stories are integrated to the teaching of written expression within a communicative context.
Sistema de faltas de pronunciación y corrección fonética en un corpus oral FLE
Authors: Tomé Díez Mario
Published: July 2018

In this article we will discuss the description, organization and operation of the first oral corpus available online on the audiovisual productions of Spanish students of French as a foreign language. This set of sound sequences has allowed us to identify and compile the system of pronunciation errors of the Spanish speakers that was not available until today. The didactic consequences of this system of errors can be decisive for the practice of phonetic correction. For an efficient acquisition of pronunciation it is necessary to attend to the main difficulties and errors of the students and at the same time proceed to a simplification of the normative vowel system of French which had already been suggested by some authors. Numerous examples are proposed, accompanied by the sound files that allow us to understand the context and the process of phonetic correction that characterize the oral productions of the students. Several important improvement factors are noted (vocal warm-up, reinforcement and articulatory effort, autocorrection, collaborative corrections). The pedagogical potential of this corpus is open to the scientific and academic community for its future applications to the teaching and learning of the pronunciation of French.
An empirical study on word order in predicates: on syntax, processing and information in native and learner English
Authors: Pérez-Guerra Javier
Published: July 2018

This study focuses on the linearisation of verbal complements (or arguments) and adjuncts (or modifiers) in learner advanced English. The analysis is based on minimal pairs of sequences of complements and adjuncts in predicates, as in He will investigate [the construction] [in a somewhat strange way which will lead to odd results] versus He will investigate [in a somewhat strange way which will lead to odd results] [the construction]. Constituent linearisation has been claimed to be potentially subject to lexical, syntactic, processing and informative determinants. This paper analyses the influence of the verbal heads and the principles ‘complements-first’, ‘end-weight’ and ‘given-new’ on the production of predicates containing two dependents. The study has two objectives: first, to determine in which areas the ordering of such constituents in English by non-native speakers is particularly influenced by their first language (Spanish); second, to assess the plausibility of the Interface Hypothesis in a pattern which affects the so-called internal and external interfaces. Results show that internal constraints such as the length of the dependents (end-weight) and the learner’s source language (i.e. compliance with complements-first) are strong predictors of ordering choices.
Physical activity, motor competence, and perceived physical competence: what is their relationship in children aged 6–9 years?
Authors: Afthentopoulou Anastasia-Evangelia , Venetsanou Fotini , Zounhia Aikaterini , Petrogiannis Konstantinos
Published: July 2018

Purpose

This study investigated the association between physical activity (PA), motor competence (MC), and perceived physical competence (PPC) in 56 boys and 65 girls aged 6–9 years.

Methods

PA was recorded by Omron HJ-720IT pedometers, MC was assessed with the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency, second edition, and PPC was determined with the physical competence subscale of the Pictorial Scale of Perceived Competence and Social Acceptance for Young Children, Greek version.

Results

ANCOVA (with age as a covariate) revealed that boys were significantly more active than girls. Correlations among PA, MC, and PPC were not significant in either gender.

Conclusions

It seems that between 6 and 9 years of age, the relation among PA, MC, and PPC has not been formed yet. This age range is offered for interventions targeting these factors in order for their relationship to be enhanced later in life. However, further research for the investigation of other variables that may associate with PA at this age is needed.
Does anthropometry influence technical factors in competitive mixed martial arts?
Authors: Kirk Christopher
Published: July 2018

Purpose

Previous research has found grappling and strikes to the head to be the determining factors for success in MMA, whilst anthropometry in the form of stature and wingspan has been found to have a negligible effect. The current study was designed to determine if a relationship between technique use and anthropometry exists in MMA.

Methods

The in-competition technique data of 461 elite, professional MMA bouts were compared using Bayes factor t-tests (BF10) to determine which techniques display the highest likelihood of distinguishing between winners and losers. The differences in technique numbers between winners and losers was also compared to the anthropometric differences between winners and losers using either Bayesian Pearson’s r or Bayesian Kendall’s Tau. Simple linear regression (p < 0.05) was used to calculate predictive ability of anthropometrics on chosen fighting techniques.

Results

Heavyweight competitors were distinguished by striking only (BF10 = 399 – 10). Light heavyweight, middleweight, featherweight, bantamweight, women’s bantamweight and women’s straw weight competitors were distinguished predominately by striking (BF10 = 791661 - 7) and moderately by grappling (BF10 = 75 - 7). Welterweight, lightweight and flyweight competitors were distinguished by striking techniques (BF10 = 3.533e+6 – 221) to achieve dominant grappling positions (BF10 = 17100 – 50). In turn, it was found that stature and/or wingspan are correlated to and can predict key technique variables at heavyweight, welterweight, lightweight and featherweight.

Conclusions

The results provide evidence of which techniques are influenced by the anthropometric differences between competitors, allowing coaches and competitors to make more informed tactical decisions in competition preparation.