bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparison of Serum IgG Antibody Test with Gastric Biopsy for the Detection of Helicobacter Pylori Infection among Egyptian Children
Authors: Abu Shady Mones M. , Fathy Hanan A. , Ali Alaa , Galal Essam M. , Fathy Gihan A. , Sibaii Hiba
Published: June 2015

BACKGROUND: In developing countries, Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is mainly acquired during childhood and may be a predisposing factor for peptic ulcer or gastric cancer later in life. Noninvasive diagnostic tools are particularly useful in children for screening tests and epidemiological studies. Data on serologic testing of children are lacking. Accurate noninvasive tests for diagnosing Helicobacter pylori infection in children are strongly required.AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of a serological test (serum IgG antibody for H. pylori) in Egyptian children with recurrent abdominal pain necessitating endoscopy.SUBJECTS AND METHODS: One hundred children, referred to the endoscopy unit at Mansoura University. Upper endoscopy was done for each with rapid urease test (RUT) and histological examination as the gold standard test for detection of H. pylori infection. Serum samples were collected for detecting IgG for H. pylori infection.RESULTS: The mean age of the subjects included in the study was 7.23 Â± 1.94 year. Serological test (IgG to H. pylori) was positive in 60% of all cases. A highly significant association between the standard test and the serological test at a cutoff > 10 U/ml at p = 0.001 were detected for the diagnosis of H. pylori infection. The sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio, and negative likelihood ratio for the IgG antibody a cutoff > 10 U/ml, were 96.5%, 93%, 13.83, 0.038 respectively.CONCLUSION: Serum IgG antibody to H. pylori infection has a high diagnostic value and can be considered as a suitable and reliable noninvasive test for detection of H. pylori infection.
Sleep Deficiency is a Modifiable Risk Factor for Obesity and Cognitive Impairment and Associated with Elevated Visfatin
Authors: Kazem Yusr M. I. , El Shebini Salwa M. , Moaty Maha I. A. , Fouad Suzanne , Tapozada Salwa T.
Published: June 2015

AIM: To study the interaction between sleep deprivation, obesity and cognitive functions, and the effect of following a balanced low caloric diet and increasing sleep duration on those variables.SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Ninety two obese females with mean age 47.00 Â± 2.00 years and body mass index (BMI) 36.14 Â± 3.00 kg/mÂ² were divided into 3 groups according to their sleeping hours. They followed balanced low-caloric diet and were instructed to increase sleeping hours. Full clinical examination, 24 hours dietary intake recall, anthropometric measurements, mini mental state test, questionnaire for subjective sleep and life style evaluation were performed at baseline and after 2 months. Serum visfatin, fasting blood glucose and C-peptide were assessed; Modified homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance was calculated.RESULTS: About one third of our sample slept less than 6 hours daily, group (1), all patients had elevated visfatin serum level (33.87 Â± 2.8 ng/ml) with the highest level in group (1). At base line, group (1) showed the highest BMI, lowest cognitive functions, highest visfatin level and highest insulin resistance (P < 0.05). After 2 months of intervention, improvement was recorded in all variables, with the best improvement in group (1) after extending sleep duration (P < 0.05).CONCLUSION: Sleep deprivation may be a modifiable risk factor for obesity, cognitive impairment and visfatin elevation.
Fine Needle Aspiration in Thyroid Nodules - One Year Experience
Authors: Ahmeti Irfan , Simonovska Lliljana , Krstevska Branka , Ristevska Nevena
Published: June 2015

AIM: To estimate suspect nodule for benign or malignant characteristics, and to verify cytological features of the node with the fine needle aspiration (FNA) under ultrasound.DESIGN: A total of 106 patients were analyzed. FNA biopsy was performed at outpatient clinic via ultrasound. Inform consent was signed for each patient. Preparation of procedure with local anaesthesia was made by assistant nurse.PROCEDURE: Parallel approach of ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration (USGFNA) was used for each patient. This approach allows the operator to observe needle penetration, location and pathway of the entire needle within the neck, thyroid and nodule, which remain visible on the monitor. As a side effect commonly noticed mild pain and dizziness were recorded.RESULTS: General findings: According the gender, 96 (90.5%) of them were women and 10 (9.5%) men. Median age was 47 Â± 9 years. Cytological findings: 5 patients were with papillary carcinoma, 3 with Hurtle cell metaplasia, 1 follicular tumour and 1 with unclear differentiation.CONCLUSION: Close collaboration between endocrinologists, morphologists and surgeons in a multidisciplinary frame is the key to correct preoperative thyroid cancer diagnosis and optimal treatment. FNA biopsy remains the most accurate diagnostic method in detecting thyroid cancer.
Bristow-Latarjet Technique: Still a Very Successful Surgery for Anterior Glenohumeral Instability - A Forty Year One Clinic Experience
Authors: Ruci Vilson , Duni Artid , Cake Alfred , Ruci Dorina , Ruci Julian
Published: June 2015

AIM: To evaluate the functional outcomes of the Bristow-Latarjet procedure in patients with recurrent anterior glenohumeral instability.PATIENTS AND METHODS: Personal clinical records of 42 patients with 45 operated shoulders were reviewed retrospectively. Patient age at time of first dislocation, injury mechanism, and number of recurring dislocations before surgery were recorded. The overall function and stability of the shoulder was evaluated.RESULTS: Thirty five (78%) of the scapulohumeral humeral instabilities were caused by trauma. The mean number of recurring dislocations was 9 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0â€“18); one patient had had 17 recurrences. Mean follow-up 46 months (95% CI, 16-88). No dislocation happened postoperatively. Four patients have fibrous union (9%). Only two had clinical sign of pain and discomfort. One of them was reoperated for screw removal with very good post-operative result. The overall functional outcome was good, with a mean Rowe score of 88 points (95% CI, 78â€“100). Scores of 27 (64%) of the patients were excellent, 9 (22%) were good, 4 (9.5%) were fair, and 2 (4.5%) were poor.CONCLUSION: The Bristow-Latarjet procedure is a very good surgical treatment for recurrent anterior-inferior instability of the glenohumeral joint. It must not be used for multidirectional instability or psychogenic habitual dislocations.
An Assessment of Mental Health Status of Undergraduate Medical Trainees in the University of Calabar, Nigeria: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Oku Afiong , Oku Oboko , Owoaje Eme , Monjok Emmanuel
Published: June 2015

BACKGROUND: The mental health status of medical students has been proven to be poor compared to their peers in other disciplines and has led to grave personal and professional consequences. This subject has however remained largely unexplored in our medical school.AIM: The study was therefore conducted to assess the prevalence of mental health of medical students in the University of Calabar, Cross river state, Nigeria.METHODOLOGY: A descriptive cross-sectional survey of 451 randomly selected medical students from the pre-clinical and clinical levels of study in the University of Calabar. A self administered questionnaire including the GHQ12 was used to elicit information from the respondents. A score of â‰¥ 3 suggested poor mental while a score < 3 represented good mental health. Data were summarized using proportions, and c2 test was used to explore associations between categorical variables. Level of significance was set at p < 0.05.RESULTS: The mean age of the respondents was 23.4 Â± 4.3 years, 63.8% were males, 34.8% were from the preclinical and 65.2% from clinical levels of study. Based on the GHQ categorisation, 39.2% had a poor mental health status, compared to 60.8% with good mental health status. The factors significantly associated with poor mental health, were recent experience of mistreatment by trainers or colleagues, perceived inadequate monthly allowance and perception that medical training is stressful (p < 0.05).Â  CONCLUSION: With more than a third of undergraduate medical trainees with traits of poor mental health, provision of accessible mental health services/counselling is strongly recommended early in their training.
Antifan activism as a response to MTV's "The Valleys"
Authors: Jones Bethan
Published: June 2015

MTV has launched several reality TV shows in the United Kingdom, but one, The Valleys (2012–14), about youth moving from the South Wales Valleys to Cardiff, has received much criticism. Grassroots criticism of the show arose, and a Valleys-centric campaign, The Valleys Are Here, took direct action. I adopt Jonathan Gray's definition of antifans to complicate ideas of fan activism. I utilize comments and posts made on the Valleys Are Here Twitter feed and Facebook account, as well as the organization's Web site, to examine the ways in which they encourage activism among antifans of the series. I pay particular attention to activist calls for MTV to be held accountable for its positioning of Wales and the Valleys, and to how it encourages participation among varied groups of people whose common denominator is their dislike of the series. Fan activism is not exclusive to people who consider themselves fans, and notions of fan activism can be complicated by drawing in antifans.
Online Italian fandoms of American TV shows
Authors: Benecchi Eleonora
Published: June 2015

The Internet has changed media fandom in two main ways: it helps fans connect with each other despite physical distance, leading to the formation of international fan communities; and it helps fans connect with the creators of the TV show, deepening the relationship between TV producers and international fandoms. To assess whether Italian fan communities active online are indeed part of transnational online communities and whether the Internet has actually altered their relationship with the creators of the original text they are devoted to, qualitative analysis and narrative interviews of 26 Italian fans of American TV shows were conducted to explore the fan-producer relationship. Results indicated that the online Italian fans surveyed preferred to stay local, rather than using geography-leveling online tools. Further, the sampled Italian fans' relationships with the show runners were mediated or even absent.
creation of football slash fan fiction
Authors: Waysdorf Abby
Published: June 2015

Although sports fandom and fan fiction are often thought of as different worlds, in the contemporary media environment, this is not the case. Sport is a popular source text for fan fiction, and high-level European football, one of the world's most watched sports, has long had an online fan fiction presence. In a study of the LiveJournal community Footballslash over the 2011–12 European football season, I investigate what makes football a suitable source text for fan fiction, especially slash fan fiction; what fan fiction authors are doing with football; and what this suggests about how football and fan fiction are used in the present day. I present a new understanding of football as a media text to be transformed as well as provide an in-depth look into how this type of real person slash is developed and thought of by its practitioners. In doing so, I show what happens when fandoms and fan practices converge in the 21st century.
Springsteen fans, #bruceleeds, and the tweeting of locality
Authors: Wolff Bill
Published: June 2015

This article presents a case study of one Springsteen-affiliated hashtag, #bruceleeds, which emerged from the Springsteen fan community to organize tweets about Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band's July 24, 2013, concert at First Direct Arena in Leeds, England. A grounded theory analysis of #bruceleeds tweets from before the start of the Leeds concert shows significant interaction among fans and local businesses. By using the concert-specific hashtag #bruceleeds, fans and others who used the hashtag co-create an emerging concert experience grounded in a physical space. Drawing on theories on social interactions, classification systems, and mapping, I suggest that the #bruceleeds hashtag facilitates the metaphorical representation of a physical space—in this case, Leeds, England—and the emergence of a complex system sharing features of an information ecology consisting of fans, local businesses, civic organizations, and the technologies they use.
Cultural differences: Polish fandom of "Welcome to Night Vale"
Authors: Włodarczyk Agata , Tyminska Marta
Published: June 2015

Welcome to Night Vale (2012–) is an intertextual podcast in the tradition of popular horror and weird tales. Listeners are meant to be part of a (fictional) community, listening to the radio in the small desert town of Night Vale in the Southwestern United States, although neither the state nor the exact time are specified. We follow the host of the program, Cecil Palmer, as he describes the town's community life, although the events presented in the show are far from normal. The first episode was published online June 15, 2012, with no marketing to accompany the event. Many had first heard about Welcome to Night Vale through fan art available via social media, including Tumblr, Soup.io, blog communities, Facebook groups, and deviantArt. Although the production is available in English only, it has a Polish fandom. We describe the difference in perception of this popular text based on differences in the cultural background and literary knowledge of the listeners. We also attend to fan practices such as fan art surrounding Welcome to Night Vale because their content correlates with the creator's culture of origin, as well as the issue of funding the free podcast among fans from different countries and different economies.
Finding Poland: Negotiating the local and the global and the semiperipheral identity of Polish SF&F fandom
Authors: Kucharska Joanna , Sterczewski Piotr , Schweiger Bartłomiej , Płaszewska Joanna , Janik Justyna
Published: June 2015

An analysis of Polish science fiction, fantasy, and role-playing game fandom brings to the fore problems of Polish identity and patriotism, as well as views on Polish fandom as a specific local phenomenon and as a part of global pop culture. Polish fandom may be framed as a semiperipheral culture, with fans expressing Polish identity and engaging in strategies of negotiating the global and the local.
Representation of American versus non-American fans in Baillie Walsh's "Springsteen & I"
Authors: Wilkinson Maryn Claire
Published: June 2015

This article explores the representation of American versus non-American fans in Baillie Walsh's 2013 crowd/fan-sourced documentary Springsteen & I. The film—as much as it was fed by a wide and international range of fan-produced material—ultimately produced and presented one particular type of fan as privileged and appropriate to speak for all: the American Springsteen fan. The film does so in three main ways: by presenting American fans as more authentically connected to Springsteen's language and lyrics (they truly "understand" his work); by showing that American fans relate to Springsteen's world and themes in more authentic ways; and by presenting American fans as experiencing a better, closer, more authentic Springsteen when seeing him perform live. The essay thus reexamines fan stereotyping from the perspective of national identity. It aims to rearticulate the necessity of the vigilance and scrutiny of crowd-sourced fan texts because they have profound effects on how fans are taught to view themselves in and by the media.
Case study of French and Spanish fan reception of "Game of Thrones"
Authors: Bourdaa Mélanie , Lozano Delmar Javier
Published: June 2015

The reception of the American TV show Game of Thrones (2011–) by French and Spanish fans and nonfans is addressed via a qualitative methodology, the goal of which is to understand how European viewers perceive themselves as fans and what it means for them to be fans. Analysis of characteristics of a specifically European reception helps us learn what fan studies tell us about fans and what fans really think about fandoms.
Slash fandom, sociability, and sexual politics in Putin's Russia
Authors: Rajagopalan Sudha
Published: June 2015

Russian slash practices are much more than a protest subculture—a reductionist term that implies an unchanging isolation from other public realms. The political significance of slash practices on the Russian-language Internet, Runet, is more effectively understood by examining how slash and slashers travel from fannish to other public spaces to shape everyday political conversations about sexual politics in Russia.
connected country: Sweden—Fertile ground for digital fandoms
Authors: Olin-Scheller Christina , Sundqvist Pia
Published: June 2015

We discuss the spread of fans and fandoms within Sweden. With a specific focus on fan fiction and video games, we describe Swedish fan activities in relation to the fact that Sweden is a connected country—that is, a highly technologically developed society. We also describe fan activities in relation to the fact that the level of English-language proficiency is high among Swedish children and teenagers.
brief history of fan fiction in Germany
Authors: Cuntz-Leng Vera , Meintzinger Jacqueline
Published: June 2015

Because the history of fan fiction in Germany is not congruent with the more dominant Anglo-American history of fan fiction, it requires separate revision and evaluation. By outlining the history of fan fiction in Germany, we present and discuss certain national aspects in the development of the phenomenon, arguing that although the Internet globally links fans, the production of fan fiction is still strongly rooted in a national writing community.
Watching "Dallas" again 1: Doing retro audience research
Authors: Gilroy Amanda
Published: June 2015

This essay and the audience reception projects it introduces alleviate the desperation of seeking the television audience by recourse to Ien Ang's influential book, Watching Dallas ([1982] 1985). Within the context of a unit on audience research in a master's-level course on media, two groups of students explored the possibilities of remixing Ang in the present digital media landscape via informants' comments on the first season of the new series of Dallas (2012–14). Discourses of nostalgia circulate within and around the text, as well as the project itself. Retro audience research generates not only data about the affective memories and critical reflections of informants but also insights into research methods and the production of new nostalgic subjects.
"Online games, social narratives," by Esther MacCallum-Stewart
Authors: Lamerichs Nicolle
Published: June 2015

Book review of Esther MacCallum-Stewart.  Online games, social narratives. New York: Routledge, 2014. Hardcover, $115.68 (208p) ISBN 978-0-415-89190-5.
Watching "Dallas" again 2: Locating viewing pleasures—An audience study of the new "Dallas"
Authors: Raj Raquel L. , Wale Mabel , Spoellmink Joscha-Nicolai , Dania Arelis , Gilroy Amanda
Published: June 2015

This audience reception project performs a study of the first season of the new Dallas (2012–14) in terms of its lack of ironic viewing, which relegates the show to a restorative form of nostalgia.
The PIC-TDD Framework of Test Data Design for Pattern Recognition Systems
Authors: Wang Xiangdong , Yang Ying , Liu Hong , Qian Yueliang
Published: June 2015

In this paper, a new approach is proposed for the design of test data for pattern recognition systems. In the theoretical framework put forward, performance on the population of data is viewed as expectation of a random variable, and the purpose of test is to estimate the parameter. While the most popular method of test data design is random sampling, a novel approach based on performance influencing classes is proposed, which can achieve unbiased estimation and the variance of estimation is much lower than that from random sample. The method is applied to the evaluation of systems for broadcasting news segmentation, and experimental results show the advantages over the random sampling approach.
Discovering Hidden Concepts in Predictive Models for Texts' Polarization
Authors: Liberati Caterina , Camillo Furio
Published: June 2015

The growth of Internet and the information technology has generated big changes in subjects' communication, which, nowadays, occurs through social media or via thematic forums. This challenges the traditional notion of Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and pushes businesses to prompt and accurate understanding of sentiments expressed, in order to address their marketing actions. In this paper, the authors propose a combined application of a supervised Sentiment Analysis (SA) with a probabilistic kernel discriminant to provide a robust classifier of texts polarization. The partition obtained is also described by means of a statistical characterization of the texts. Such an approach is very promising, not only in terms of classification accuracy, but also in terms of knowledge extraction. A real case study is illustrated in order to test and show the effectiveness of the proposed strategy.
Multiplayer Kinect Serious Games
Authors: Alshammari Ali , Whittinghill David
Published: June 2015

Single and multiplayer serious Kinect games have been used in many different areas, including education. Due to its relative newness as a technology, a dearth of literature exists concerning the requirements for the use of Kinect games in educational settings. A comprehensive review was conducted to include various perspectives in order to provide background information on the existing research base that upholds the educational uses of these games. The review was built on empirical and theoretical studies conducted in the area of multiplayer Kinect games. A total of (748) articles were screened and (71) coded. While an abundance of convergent evidence from closely related domains has been produced on the subject, providing a set of recommendations for its proper usage; few studies have focused specifically on the role, development and effects of multiplayer Kinect games in educational settings. The potential for Kinect games to enhance learning experiences within educational contexts is promising; however, care must be taken to account for physical safety, emotional safety, and activity structure. Specific recommendations for addressing these important aspects of the use of multiplayer Kinect games are described in detail in the body of this manuscript.
A Firegroup Mechanism to Provide Intrusion Detection and Prevention System Against DDos Attack in Collaborative Clustered Networks
Authors: Poongodi M. , Bose S.
Published: June 2015

Distributed Denial of Service (DDOS) attacks are the major concern for security in the collaborative networks. Although non DDOS attacks are also make the network performances poor, the effect of DDOS attacks is severe. In DDOS attacks, flooding of the particular node as victim and jam it with massive traffic happens and the complete network performance is affected. In this paper, a novel Intrusion Detection and Prevention System is designed which detects the flooding DDOS attacks based on Firecol and prevents the attacks based on Dynamic Growing Self Organizing Tree (DGSOT) for collaborative networks. Simulation results in NS2 shows that DGSOT with Firecol (Firegroup) produces better intrusion detection and prevention system. Performance metrics based on the parameters delay, throughput, average path length, packet data ratio and energy conservation are better in Firegroup than the traditional Firecol system.
Classification of DOS Attacks Using Visualization Technique
Authors: Cheikh Mohamed , Hacini Salima , Boufaida Zizette
Published: June 2015

A denial-of-service attack (DoS attack) or distributed denial-of-service attack (DDoS attack) is an attempt to make a machine or network resource unavailable to its intended users. In this paper, a new technique for detecting DoS attacks is proposed; it detects DOS attacks using a set of classifiers and visualizes them in real time. This technique is based on the collection of network parameter values (data packets) which are automatically represented by simple geometric graphs form in order to highlight relevant elements. The effectiveness of the proposed technique has been proven through a MATLAB simulation of network traffic drawn from the 10% KDD, and a comparison with other classification techniques for intrusion detection.
Rethinking Knowledge Sharing Barriers
Authors: Cleveland Simon , Ellis Timothy J.
Published: June 2015

The current work force will not only lose 3.6 million “baby boomers” by 2020, but also a substantial organizational knowledge. Presently, there is a gap in understanding how to promote effective organizational knowledge sharing due to the limited awareness of factors that inhibit knowledge sharing behaviors. The focus of this article is to explore the most commonly noted barriers to employees' knowledge seeking and knowledge contributing practices and extract potential factors that influence these barriers. A content analysis study is performed on 103 knowledge management articles from ten computer and information science databases. The results demonstrate a clear division between the barriers limiting each specific behavior: knowledge seeking behaviors depend largely on the time availability of knowledge seekers, while poor communication skills and lack of trust appear to be the major inhibitors to knowledge contribution. Three main factors were found to influence these barriers: role conflict, role ambiguity and locus of control. The findings are consistent with the information foraging and social exchange theories. Implications for future research are proposed.
Analysis of Footbridges under Human Induced Loads
Authors: Kratochvil Ondrej , Krizan Jiri
Published: June 2015

The paper deals with a dynamic response of footbridge structure which is loaded by a movement of pedestrians. Interaction between crowd and footbridge structure is a complex problem. It is important to take into account load generated by the movement of pedestrians during the computation, but also change of load influenced by a response of the structure. It means practically that the response of the structure has influence on the movement of pedestrians. Computation of the response has to be performed in several steps. The first step is backward modification of load represented by the crowd movement. Next step is recalculation of the structure with newly compiled load. This approach can bring near the real behaviour of the structure which is exposed by the continuous movement of pedestrians..
Specific Aspects of Tensile Structures
Authors: Lang Rostislav , Nemec Ivan , Martinasek Josef
Published: June 2015

The aim of this paper is an introduction to a very specific area of civil engineering, which is known as tensile structures (structures acting only in tension). These structures are associated with unique aspects of their design. As a result of practically zero bending stiffness, it is not possible to separate the shape and the static analysis of these structures. Shape generation is the aim of the process well known as form-finding. As a consequence of these and many other facts, it is necessary in this case to use a special way of design process, which abounds in many differences in comparison with usual design process.
Influence Imperfections on the Difference between the Numerical and Experimental Investigations of a Punching in the Central Slab-Column Connections of RC Structures
Authors: Wieczorek Barbara
Published: June 2015

This paper presents the results of laboratory tests concerning the central connection of the slab with the column, in which an additional reinforcement ensuring the structure against a progressive collapse was applied as to recommended in the standard PN-EN 1991-1-7:2008 as well as in PN-EN 1992-1-1:2008. Regulations concerning the necessity of such a reinforcement are also contained in the American and Australian standard as well as in the Bulletin FIB. The obtained results of investigations have been compared with calculations based on a spatial numerical model representing the analyzed phenomenon. The numerical model bases on predefined material models of steel and concrete, taking into account non-linear dependences of the strength of these materials. The values of displacements of the upper surface of the slab depending on the exerted load were compared with the values of numerical calculations.
Effect of Inclination of Columns on the Change of the Stiffness of a High-Rise Building
Authors: Medvecka Sona , Ivankova Olga
Published: June 2015

This article describes the effect of inclination of columns on the change of stiffness of high-rise buildings with circular floor plan. Analysis was made for the building loaded by forces induced by wind and seismic loads. Various high-rise buildings with columns with different inclinations and buildings with vertical columns were analyzed from the viewpoint of horizontal displacements. The results were compared. The comparison was made with horizontal displacements of the building, where columns were inclined.
Chalazia Development in Multiple Myeloma: A New Complication Associated with Bortezomib Therapy
Authors: Yun Charles , Mukhi Nikhil , Kremer Valerie , Shinder Roman , Verma Vaibhav , Batuman Olcay
Published: June 2015

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a neoplasm of plasma cells within the bone marrow. A major impact on improving survival in MM has been the use of the boronic acid-derived proteasome inhibitor bortezomib, a first-in-class selective inhibitor of the 26S proteasome. Ocular side effects of bortezomib are rare. In this report, we present 2 patients with active MM in whom persistent chalazia became a therapy-interfering complication of treatment with bortezomib. Both patients had relapsed ISS III B kappa light chain myeloma, and they were responding to treatment with bortezomib until chalazia−which caused intolerable discomfort−started. In both patients discontinuation of bortezomib was necessary for chalazia to heal, and restarting of bortezomib was associated with relapse of chalazia.
Lemierre Syndrome Presenting as Acute Mastoiditis in a 2-Year-Old Girl with Congenital Dwarfism
Authors: Fischer Jason B. , Prout Andrew , Blackwood R. Alexander , Warrier Kavita
Published: June 2015

Lemierre syndrome is defined by septic thrombophlebitis of the internal jugular vein caused by Fusobacterium. Historically, these infections originate from the oropharynx and typically are seen in older children, adolescents and young adults. More recently, otogenic sources in younger children have been described with increasing frequency. We present a case of a two-year old, who initially developed an otitis media with perforation of the tympanic membrane and went on to develop mastoiditis and non-occlusive thrombosis of the venous sinus and right internal jugular vein. Fusobacterium necrophorum was grown from operative cultures of the mastoid, ensuing computed tomography scan revealed occlusion of the internal jugular vein and the patient was successfully treated with clindamycin, ciprofloxacin and enoxaparin. This case demonstrates the importance of considering Fusobacterium in otogenic infections and the consideration of Lemierre syndrome when F. necrophorum is identified.
Characterisation of the microflora contaminating the wooden vats used for traditional Sicilian cheese production
Authors: Scatassa Maria Luisa , Cardamone Cinzia , Miraglia Viviana , Lazzara Fabrizio , Fiorenza Gerlando , Macaluso Giusi , Arcuri Luigi , Settanni Luca , Mancuso Isabella
Published: June 2015

Traditional Sicilian cheese productions are carried out employing traditional wooden vats, called tina. Many studies have highlighted the beneficial role of wooden dairy equipment by contributing to enriching the milk microflora and improving the acidification processes. The present work was undertaken to evaluate the safety of the wooden vats used to coagulate milk. To this purpose, the different microbial populations hosted onto the internal surfaces of the vats used to produce two different stretched cheeses, namely Caciocavallo Palermitano and Vastedda della valle del Belìce DOP, were investigated for the presence of spoilage and pathogenic microorganisms as well as for bacteria with inhibitory effect in vitro against pathogenic microorganisms. A wide biodiversity of protechnological lactic acid bacteria (LAB), in terms of species, was revealed. Several LAB inhibited the growth of Listeria monocytogenes ATCC 7644. The wooden vats analysed resulted safe for three main findings: absence of the main pathogenic species, presence of high levels of LAB, anti-Listeria activity of many LAB.
Detection and molecular characterisation of swine Hepatitis E virus in Brescia province, Italy
Authors: Pavoni Enrico , Barbieri Ilaria , Bertasi Barbara , Lombardi Guerino , Cordioli Paolo , Losio Marina Nadia
Published: June 2015

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is an important public health concern in many developing countries and it occurs in sporadic forms in industrialized areas. With the discovery of swine HEV in pigs, which is genetically closely related to human HEV, hepatitis E is considered to be a zoonotic disease. To investigate the circulation of HEV within a distinct area of Lombardy region (Northern Italy), 17 pig farms were subjected to monitoring study by collection of fresh stool samples each represented by ground-pooled specimens. In particular, three distinct types of breeding farms were focused, represented by farrow to weaning, farrow to finish and fattening farms, respectively. Epidemiological data confirm that in Europe the seroprevalence in pigs, more than 9 month of age, ranges from 51.4 to 75%, while in 3-9 months fatteners is about 38%. In France and Italy, the positivity among farms is respectively 30 and 97.4% and the seroprevalence in Italy is 50.2%. Since HEV viremia was typically observed in the early period of life in swine, faeces were collected in boxes containing weaning pigs. For the study, 183 stool samples were collected and amplifications were performed with universal primers specific for the ORF2 region of genome. Twentyeight samples resulted positive to HEV RNA and genotyping demonstrated that they were closely related to HEV strains belonging to genotype 3 and circulating in Europe. Comparison with reference strains from GenBank excluded their similarity to genotype 1, 2 or 4 confirming that genotype 3 strains are circulating in Europe. Since it was demonstrated that swine act as a reservoir for HEV, and since many strains into HEV genotype 3 share a strong molecular similarity to human HEV, it was important to detect the presence of HEV in a restricted area with a very high density of pigs.
Sarcocystis spp. prevalence in bovine minced meat: a histological and molecular study
Authors: Meistro Serena , Peletto Simone , Pezzolato Marzia , Varello Katia , Botta Mario , Richelmi Guia , Biglia Claudio , Baioni Elisa , Modesto Paola , Acutis Pierluigi , Bozzetta Elena
Published: June 2015

Sarcosporidiosis is caused by ingestion of contaminated raw or undercooked bovine meat and, although considered a minor zoonosis, it can represent a threath for immunocompromised people. Aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of Sarcocystis spp. in bovine minced meat intended for raw consumption collected from butcher shops and retail stores in Turin’s province (Piedmont region, Northwest Italy). Twenty-five samples were examined in parallel by histology and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The prevalence of infestation of Sarcocystis spp. resulted to be 64% [confidence interval (CI) 95% 42-82] and 88% (CI 95% 69-97) respectively by histology and PCR. In detail, the prevalence resulted 80% for S. cruzi (CI 95% 59-93), 68% for S. hominis (CI 95% 46-85) and 4% for S. hirsuta (CI 95% 0.10-20). The high prevalence of S. hominis highlights that sarcosporidiosis may constitute a public health problem in Italy, particularly in regions like Piedmont, that has traditional dishes prepared from raw or undercooked bovine meat.
Estimation of the presence of small dense lipoprotein cholesterol in acute ischemic stroke
Authors: Manabe Yasuhiro , Morihara Ryuta , Matsuzono Kosuke , Nakano Yumiko , Takahashi Yoshiaki , Narai Hisashi , Omori Nobuhiko , Abe Koji
Published: June 2015

Small dense low-density lipoprotein (sdLDL) is an established risk factor in ischemic heart disease. However, its clinical significance in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) is uncertain. This study evaluates the prognostic value of the presence of sdLDL in patients with AIS by determining whether it contributes to clinical outcome or not. We studied 530 consecutive patients admitted within the first 48 hours after onset of ischemic stroke and 50 corresponding controls. Serum lipid parameters were measured on admission by standard laboratory methods. The percentage of AIS patients with sdLDL was significantly higher than the one of matched controls with sdLDL. Concerning comparisons between AIS patients with or without sdLDL, the percentages of males and patients with histories of smoking, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease were significantly higher in AIS patients with sdLDL. Concerning the grade of severity, modified Rankin Scale (mRS) on discharge was significantly higher in AIS patients with sdLDL. On logistic regression analysis, age (OR=2.29, P3). Our study showed that the presence of sdLDL might be independently associated with a poor prognosis after AIS.
Risk Factors for Intestinal Obstruction After Ladd Procedure
Authors: Mitsunaga Tetsuya , Saito Takeshi , Terui Keita , Nakata Mitsuyuki , Ohno Sachie , Mise Naoko , Oita Satoru , Yoshida Hideo
Published: June 2015

Intestinal obstruction is a common complication after Ladd procedure. Ninety-three cases who had undergone the Ladd procedure between 1977 and 2013 treated at our own institution were retrospectively reviewed to identify the causes and risk factors for intestinal obstruction. The Ladd procedure has been performed without any intestinal fixing. Of the 87 cases who survived to discharge, intestinal obstruction was observed in 22 (25.3%). Among the cases with intestinal obstruction, 13 (59.1%) showed intestinal ischemia at the initial operation; this incidence was notably high, although it is low when only those cases with another concurrent surgical digestive disease are considered. All cases of intestinal obstruction were caused not by recurrent volvulus, but by adhesion between the intestine and the mesentery. Intestinal fixing is not required to prevent recurrent volvulus, but it is important to achieve adequate widening of the mesenteric base. The risk of intestinal obstruction after the Ladd procedure, on the other hand, is high. Moreover, patients with intestinal ischemia have an increased risk of intestinal obstruction.
The ultra low frequency electromagnetic radiation observed in the topside ionosphere above boundaries of tectonic plates
Authors: Athanasiou Michael A. , Anagnostopoulos Gergios C. , David Constantinos N. , Machairides Gregorios G.
Published: June 2015

In this paper we present results of a comparison between ultra low frequency (ULF) electromagnetic (EM) radiation, recorded by an electric field instrument onboard the satellite detection of electromagnetic emissions transmitted from earthquake regions in the topside ionosphere, and the seismicity of regions with high and low seismic activity. In particular, we evaluated the energy variations of the ULF Ezelectric field component during a period of four years (2006-2009), in order to examine the possible relation of ULF EM radiation with seismogenic regions located in Central America, Indonesia, the Eastern Mediterranean Basin and Greece. As a tool for evaluating the ULF Ez energy variations we used singular spectrum analysis techniques. The results of our analysis clearly show a significant increase of the ULF EM energy emitted from regions of highest seismic activity at the boundaries tectonic plates. Furthermore, we found that higher electromagnetic radiation was detected in a region above the northern- western Greek Arc (R1) than above the adjacent region including Athens and its urban area. We interpret these results of the present study as suggesting that: i) the seismogenic regions at the boundary of tectonic plates radiate ULF EM emissions observed by satellites in the topside ionosphere; and ii) that this EM radiation is not only related with the occurrence time of great (M≥5) earthquakes, but it is often present in intermediate times and it appears as a quasi-permanent phenomenon.
Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology of Chondroid Tenosynovial Giant Cell Tumor of the Hand
Authors: Abdou Asmaa Gaber , Aiad Hayam , Youssef Asaad Nancy
Published: June 2015

Giant cell tumor (GCT) of tendon sheath is a localized form of tenosynovial GCT, which preferentially affects the joints of hands and feet. Chondroid metaplasia is a rare phenomenon in tenosynovial GCT either in localized or diffuse types. The current case investigates the cytological and histopathological features of chondroid GCT of tendon sheath in a 22-year-old female presenting with wrist swelling.
Reconstruction after Partial Duodenectomy Using a Roux-en-Y Lateral Duodenojejunostomy: A Single Center Retrospective Analysisd
Authors: Narayanan Sumana , Herlitz Georg , Gomez Daniela , Melstrom Laleh , August David , Carpizo Darren
Published: June 2015

Oncologic resections of the second and third portions of the duodenum (D2 and D3) via partial duodenectomy can pose a challenging clinical problem. The duodenum must be repaired primarily or reconstructed. We have adopted a method of reconstruction using a Roux-en-Y duodenojejunostomy (D-J) in patients with extensive duodenal wall loss. We report our results in the first series of these cases. A retrospective review of patients who underwent post partial duodenectomy with reconstruction between June 2004 and March 2014 was performed. Five patients underwent partial duodenectomy with reconstruction. Two had resection for extrinsic tumors (colonic adenocarcinoma). Three had intrinsic duodenal tumors (one tubular adenoma, one adenocarcinoma and one gastrointestinal stromal tumor). All patients were reconstructed via retrocolic Roux-en-Y D-J. Mean estimated blood loss was 470 mL with median length of stay of 11 days. Post-operative complications included three intra-abdominal abscesses, one superficial wound infection and one gastrointestinal bleed. There were no anastomotic leaks, injuries to the ampulla of Vater or mortalities. In conclusion, partial duodenectomy of lateral D2/D3 with Roux-en-Y D-J is a relatively safe and effective alternative to partial duodenectomy with primary repair or pancreaticoduodenectomy for certain tumors of the duodenum.
Together is better. Experience of simultaneous fermentation of yeast and bacteria as a possible strategy to prevent stuck fermentation in difficult wines
Authors: Guzzon Raffaele , Malacarne Mario , Moser Sergio , Larcher Roberto
Published: June 2015

In the field of winemaking, malolactic fermentation is a key aspect in obtaining high quality wines. Unfortunately, in some oenological contexts effective evolution does not take place because of the occurrence of certain limiting factors for malolactic bacteria in wine. Simultaneous alcoholic and malolactic fermentation in grape must is a promising alternative that promotes the survival of bacteria, due to the absence of certain limiting factors such as ethanol or other toxic substances produced by yeasts in the native grape must. The risk of wine depreciation due to the spoilage activity of malolactic bacteria can be reduced by using selected strains of Oenococcus oeni, with proven behaviour in terms of malolactic fermentation occurring in the presence of sugars. In this work we compared the activity of a strain of Oenococcus oeni in malolactic fermentation of a Chardonnay grape must, using different winemaking protocols characterised by sequential or simultaneous inoculums of microbial starters. The results are discussed both in terms of fermentative behaviour and the quality of the wines obtained, with careful analysis of the main chemical parameters of the wines and of 47 different volatile compounds, giving an exhaustive overview of the opportunities and the risks related to different wine fermentation strategies.
Improvised external ventricular drain in neurosurgery: A Nigerian tertiary hospital experience
Authors: Ojo O. A. , Asha M. A. , Bankole O. B. , Kanu O. O.
Published: June 2015

Background: The most common type of hydrocephalus in developing countries is post infective hydrocephalus. Infected cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) however cannot be shunted for the reason that it will block the chamber of the ventriculo-peritoneal (VP) shunt due to its high protein content. In centers where standard external ventricular drain (EVD) sets are not available, improvised feeding tube can be used. Aim: The main focus of this study is to encourage the use of improvised feeding tube catheters for EVD when standard sets are not available to improve patients′ survival. Methodology: This was a prospective study. Consecutive patients with hydrocephalus that cannot be shunted immediately for high chances of shunt failure or signs of increasing intracranial pressure were recruited into the study. Other inclusion criteria were preoperative brain tumor with possibility of blocked CSF pathway and massive intraventricular hemorrhage necessitating ventricular drainage as a salvage procedure. Standard EVD set is not readily available and too expensive for most of the parents to afford. Improvised feeding tube is used to drain/divert CSF using the standard documented procedure for EVD insertion. Outcome is measured and recorded. Results: A total of 28 patients were recruited into the study over a time frame of 2 years. There were 19 (67.9%) male and 9 (32.1%) females with a ratio of about 2:1. Age ranges varied from as low as 7 days to 66 years. The median age of the study sample was 6.5 months while the mean was 173.8 months. Duration of EVD varied from 2 days to 11 days with a median of 7 while the average was 6 days. Eventual outcome following the procedure of EVD showed that 19 (67.9%) survived and were discharged either to go home or to have VP shunt afterwards while 8 (28.6%) of the patients died. Conclusions: External ventricular drain can and should be done when it is necessary. Potential mortalities could be reduced by the improvised drainage using a standard feeding tube as described.
A Serum Analysis before and after Antidepressant Treatment in Major Depression: A Pilot Study
Authors: Girard Murielle , Vuilliers-Devillers Karine , Pinault Emilie , Bessette Barbara , Plansont Brigitte , Malauzat Dominique
Published: June 2015

We investigated the serum protein profiles of subjects with major depressive disorder (MDD), with (n = 4) and without clinical improvement (n = 4), at the initiation of antidepressant treatment (venlafaxine) (T0) and 4 weeks later (T28), by difference gel electrophoresis in two dimensions (2D-DIGE) and mass spectrometry. The nine proteins displaying differences in composition between the two time points in the group with clinical improvement between T0 and T28 included gelsolin, clusterin, and the activated fragment of complement C3 (C3a). We then analyzed serum samples from MDD subjects receiving different antidepressants between T0 and T28. Subjects were classified into two groups, with (n = 17) or without (n = 14) clinical improvement (>50% decrease in baseline Hamilton Depression Rating Scale score), at T28. Clusterin levels did not differ between groups at either time point. Gelsolin and C3a levels differed between T0 and T28 only in the group presenting clinical improvement. A comparison with serum samples from controls suggested that the levels of these two proteins changed during MDD and were potentially modified after successful antidepressant treatment. Despite the small sample size, the results of this pilot study suggest that several changes in the expression of some serum proteins occur in association with the clinical relevance of the treatment, and indicate changes to general pathways requiring further study.