bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Aliskiren An overview
Authors: Neki NS
Published: September 2015

The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) or the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) is a major endocrine/ paracrine system that regulates blood pressure (BP) via angiotensin release as well as fluid and electrolyte homeostasis via aldosterone release. RAAS should be constantly suppressed and any degree of activity may lead to hypertension (HTN) and associated target organ damage. Activation of the RAAS in the pathogenesis of hypertension, cardiovascular disease(CVD) and renal disease is well documented. Also benefits of inhibition of RAAS, as an effective way to intervene in the pathogenesis of HTN, CVD and chronic renal failure(CRF) has been well recognized. Inhibition of renin activity and the blockage of RAAS cascade at its primary steps, has long been proposed as the optimal means of RAAS inhibition. Renin inhibitor provides more effective means of RAAS Inhibition. Aliskiren is the first in a new class of orally active, non-peptide, low molecular weight direct renin inhibitor (DRI) available for clinical use and potential new approach to the blockade of the RAAS.Bangladesh J Medicine Jan 2014; 25 (1) : 21-24
Chronic Eosinophilic Leukaemia Presenting With A Cardiac Mass: A Case Report
Authors: Kabir Ahmedul , Amin Md Robed , Hasan Pratyay , Mukerrama Shegufta Mishket , Farhad Muhammad Nurul , Deb Sudip Ranjan , Hossain Anwar
Published: September 2015

Chronic eosinophilic leukaemia is a rare disorder. It can cause irreversible target organ damage which can be life threatening,so early diagnosis of the disease is a necessity.It may pose as a diagnostic dilemma. Active consideration of the possibility of the disease is necessary. We intend to report a case of a boy of 13 years who presented with hepato-splenomegaly, generalized lymphadenopathy, a cardiac mass and a very high eosinophil count. He was ultimately diagnosed with chronic eosinophilic leukaemia.Though rare, this disease can occur in our country, too. Unavailability of confirmatory tests warrants more vigilance and awareness among physicians.Bangladesh J Medicine Jan 2014; 25 (1) : 25-28
Dyke-Davidoff-Masson Syndrome: An Uncommon Cause of Refractory Epilepsy
Authors: Hanif Mohammad , Ahmed Kazi Giasuddin , Sarkar Devendra Nath , Hossain Md Ismail , Amin Robed
Published: September 2015

A rare syndrome, Dyke-Davidoff-Masson Syndrome (DDMS), with a diagnostic conundrum, and the way it was solved is presented. DDMS is one among the syndromes associated with refractory epilepsy. We have come across a case of Dyke-Davidoff-Masson syndrome while investigating a case of refractory epilepsy. When cerebral hemi atrophy is associated with the radiological features of osseous hypertrophy of calvarium, hyper-pneumatisation of sinuses dilatation, DDMS is to be considered.Bangladesh J Medicine Jan 2014; 25 (1) : 31-34
Menetriers Disease
Authors: Kabir Ahmedul , Amin Md Robed
Published: September 2015

Abstract not availableBangladesh J Medicine Jan 2014; 25 (1) : 35
Professor Abul Hasnat Mohammad Firoz
Authors: Editor The
Published: September 2015

Abstract not availableBangladesh J Medicine Jan 2014; 25 (1) : 37
Professor K A Khaleque
Authors: Editor The
Published: September 2015

Abstract not availableBangladesh J Medicine Jan 2014; 25 (1) : 38
Dr. A E M Mazharul Islam
Authors: Editor The
Published: September 2015

Abstract not availableBangladesh J Medicine Jan 2014; 25 (1) : 39
Next-Generation Sequencing Approaches in Cancer: Where Have They Brought Us and Where Will They Take Us?
Authors: LeBlanc Veronique G. , Marra Marco A.
Published: September 2015

Next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies and data have revolutionized cancer research and are increasingly being deployed to guide clinicians in treatment decision-making. NGS technologies have allowed us to take an “omics” approach to cancer in order to reveal genomic, transcriptomic, and epigenomic landscapes of individual malignancies. Integrative multi-platform analyses are increasingly used in large-scale projects that aim to fully characterize individual tumours as well as general cancer types and subtypes. In this review, we examine how NGS technologies in particular have contributed to “omics” approaches in cancer research, allowing for large-scale integrative analyses that consider hundreds of tumour samples. These types of studies have provided us with an unprecedented wealth of information, providing the background knowledge needed to make small-scale (including “N of 1”) studies informative and relevant. We also take a look at emerging opportunities provided by NGS and state-of-the-art third-generation sequencing technologies, particularly in the context of translational research. Cancer research and care are currently poised to experience significant progress catalyzed by accessible sequencing technologies that will benefit both clinical- and research-based efforts.
Synthesis and Pharmacological Evaluation of Novel Benzenesulfonamide Derivatives as Potential Anticonvulsant Agents
Authors: Wang Zhiming , Li Jinping , Zeng Xiao-Dong , Hu Xian-Ming , Zhou Xiaoju , Hong Xuechuan
Published: September 2015

A novel series of benzenesulfonamide derivatives containing 4-aminobenzenesul-fonamide and α-amides branched valproic acid or 2,2-dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylic acid moieties were synthesized and screened for their anticonvulsant activities in mice maximal electroshock seizure (MES) and subcutaneous pentylenetetrazole (scPTZ) test. The activity experimental study showed that 2,2-dipropyl-N1-(4-sulfamoylphenyl)malonamide (18b) had the lowest median effective dose (ED50) of 16.36 mg/kg in MES test, and 2,2-dimethyl-N-(4-sulfamoylphenyl)cyclopropane-1,1-dicarboxamide (12c) had the lowest ED50 of 22.50 mg/kg in scPTZ test, which resulted in the protective indexe (PI) of 24.8 and 20.4, respectively. These promising data suggest the new compounds have good potential as new class of anticonvulsant agents with high effectiveness and low toxicity for the treatment of epilepsy.
Comparative Incorporation of PNA into DNA Nanostructures
Authors: Pedersen Ronnie , Kong Jing , Achim Catalina , LaBean Thomas
Published: September 2015

DNA has shown great promise as a building material for self-assembling nanoscale structures. To further develop the potential of this technology, more methods are needed for functionalizing DNA-based nanostructures to increase their chemical diversity. Peptide nucleic acid (PNA) holds great promise for realizing this goal, as it conveniently allows for inclusion of both amino acids and peptides in nucleic acid-based structures. In this work, we explored incorporation of a positively charged PNA within DNA nanostructures. We investigated the efficiency of annealing a lysine-containing PNA probe with complementary, single-stranded DNA sequences within nanostructures, as well as the efficiency of duplex invasion and its dependence on salt concentration. Our results show that PNA allows for toehold-free strand displacement and that incorporation yield depends critically on binding site geometry. These results provide guidance for the design of PNA binding sites on nucleic acid nanostructures with an eye towards optimizing fabrication yield.
Research on the Sensing Performance of the Tuning Fork-Probe as a Micro Interaction Sensor
Authors: Gao Fengli , Li Xide
Published: September 2015

The shear force position system has been widely used in scanning near-field optical microscopy (SNOM) and recently extended into the force sensing area. The dynamic properties of a tuning fork (TF), the core component of this system, directly determine the sensing performance of the shear positioning system. Here, we combine experimental results and finite element method (FEM) analysis to investigate the dynamic behavior of the TF probe assembled structure (TF-probe). Results from experiments under varying atmospheric pressures illustrate that the oscillation amplitude of the TF-probe is linearly related to the quality factor, suggesting that decreasing the pressure will dramatically increase the quality factor. The results from FEM analysis reveal the influences of various parameters on the resonant performance of the TF-probe. We compared numerical results of the frequency spectrum with the experimental data collected by our recently developed laser Doppler vibrometer system. Then, we investigated the parameters affecting spatial resolution of the SNOM and the dynamic response of the TF-probe under longitudinal and transverse interactions. It is found that the interactions in transverse direction is much more sensitive than that in the longitudinal direction. Finally, the TF-probe was used to measure the friction coefficient of a silica–silica interface.
Le visage de l’étranger et la matrice du négatif chez Albert Camus
Authors: Roussillon René
Published: September 2015

Albert Camus est un auteur majeur de l’écriture sur et autour de la question de l’étranger, pas seulement parce qu’il a écrit un roman éponyme mais parce que la question de l’étranger traverse, sous des formes différentes, toute son œuvre. La réflexion de l’auteur porte ici non seulement sur L’Étranger de Camus mais plus généralement sur la question de l’étranger chez Camus.
Statut de la subjectivité et problématique de la santé : un chemin à rebours à travers l’œuvre de Georges Canguilhem
Authors: Canino Rémi
Published: September 2015

En opposant la notion de santé chez Canguilhem aux concepts de défense et de normalité soutenus par la psychodynamique du travail, la clinique de l’activité procède à une lecture dualiste et erronée du rapport entre santé et maladie élaboré par le philosophe. Rien dans son œuvre n’est formalisé pour soutenir la critique d’une pensée qui vient de l’intérieur. Au contraire, il est établi qu’il est resté affilié au courant de philosophie réflexive incarné par son maître Alain. Selon cette perspective, il soutient que l’action mobilise toujours une part de soi irrationnelle et affective où le corps est engagé dans un travail d’opposition conflictuelle et polémique pour s’affranchir de ce qui résiste dans le monde. Canguilhem a constamment situé la subjectivité dans la capacité de choisir et de juger selon des valeurs. Avec la praxis médicale, il affirme que la santé n’est pas un concept normatif, mais une expérience de la maladie dans un mouvement de lutte et de dépassement qui transforme la santé en valeur. Cette proposition prend en compte la vulnérabilité et rétablit la question de la contingence et de l’identité, ainsi que la psychodynamique du travail l’a toujours défendue.
Retrospective Comparison of Freehand and Ultrasound-Guided Shoulder Steroid Injections
Authors: Elkousy Hussein , Gartsman Gary M. , Drake Gregory , Sola Wilson , O’Connor Daniel , Edwards T. Bradley
Published: September 2015

The objective of this study was to assess the clinical benefits and financial feasibility of using ultrasound for steroid injections of the shoulder. A retrospective chart review and telephone survey of patients in a clinical shoulder practice were performed. ICD-9 codes and CPT codes identified patients who received shoulder injections without (2006) and with (2007) ultrasound guidance during 2 consecutive years. Results were assessed by patient assessment of relief and duration of that relief via telephone survey or from chart review. Financial data was assessed by reviewing the patients’ accounts. One hundred fifty-seven injections were given in 2006 and 159 in 2007. In 2006, 126 unique patients were injected compared to 99 unique patients in 2007 (
P
<.001). Clinical data was collected on 272 patients (86.1%). Ultrasound had no significant effect on the amount of pain relief following injection (
P
=.468). One hundred thirty-six patients (50.0%) reported significant pain relief, 72 (26.5%) reported moderate, 39 (14.3%) reported mild, and 25 (9.2%) reported no pain relief following injection. During both years, 92.4% of patients had subacromial injections with no significant difference in injection sites (subacromial vs glenohumeral) between the 2 years (
P
=.252). Neither the injection site (subacromial or glenohumeral,
P
=.152) nor diagnosis (
P
=.540) had a significant effect on pain relief. Financial collections from injections increased as expected due to the use of ultrasound.

Ultrasound guidance did not change the efficacy of steroid injections, the number of injections, or the type of injections. Steroid injections are useful for managing pain in several shoulder conditions and ultrasound guidance may not be necessary.
Does Colonialism Explain Everything in North Africa? What Historians Can Bring to the Table
Authors: Grangaud Isabelle , Oualdi M’hamed
Published: September 2015

Colonialism in North Africa, because of its violence and the huge transformations it caused within its societies, shaped a historical vision of the North African past that obscured other, far more deeply rooted processes. This paper not only aims to emphasize the impact of these other, deeper historical processes, it also suggests that by taking in to account this longue durée, our analytical frameworks would be expanded and so too would our understanding of Maghreb history in general and its colonial history in particular. The first section of the paper analyzes the outlines of colonial history; it examines the limitations of the spatial framework and the timeline markers used within this field of research. The second section examines the new vistas of research opened through serious consideration of the legacy and persistent effects of early modern history in North Africa. It explores these new perspectives in terms of time and space and interpretations of North African primary sources.
Histoire contemporaine des modèles animaux en médecine
Authors: Barbara Jean-Gaël
Published: September 2015

Un modèle animal n’est pas seulement un animal modifié parce qu’il est également intégré dans un système expérimental. À présent, les pathologies humaines sont étudiées par des systèmes de modèles complémentaires. Ces évolutions démarrent au cours des années cinquante. Des critiques des modèles animaux utilisant des souris mutantes, puis des animaux transgéniques ou knockout se multiplient et l’on aboutit à l’idée que tous les facteurs géniques, environnementaux et sociaux doivent être pris en compte dans les modèles animaux pour rendre compte de tous les aspects des pathologies humaines poly factorielles.
Lettre ouverte à François Hollande
Authors: Enguehard Chantal
Published: September 2015

A propos de deux décrets sur les fichiers STIC et JUDEX
Smart Textile as a Creative Environment to Engage Girls in Technology
Authors: Reimann Daniela
Published: September 2015

In the context of the convergening media technologies, the concept of mobile media embedded in wearable material was introduced. The terms of Wearable Computing, Fashionable Technology, and Smart Textile became key words at the intersection of media, art, design, computer science, engineering and the shaping of technology by the users themselves. Though media artists and designers explore wearable computing for some time now, only little research has been undertaken into Smart Textile in education in Germany (e.g., the after school workshop program held at DiMeB at the University of Bremen). However, Smart Textile is not common at school, especially not in the context of artistic processes in general MINT (MINT is a German acronym for the subjects of Mathematics, Computer Science, and Technology) education in classroom settings. In order to research the interplay of electronic textiles, wearable technology, hard and software tools, such as the Arduino LilyPad, a programmable board designed for stitching into clothing and flexible applications, are scrutinized. In the research project, contemporary media art works in the field of Fashionable Technology are explored to inpire interdisciplinary technology education form an artistic perspective. A learning-through-design-approach using electronic media for sewing, hacking the traditional model of technology education (Reimann, Daniela, Fütterer Werner, Biefang, & Sebastian, 2010). In the paper, the conceptual framework for the research project “Artistic approaches to Engage Girls and Young Women in Technology and Engineering in Education at School and University (Acronym: IBP-GirlsLab)” is presented. It aims to engage girls in technology and engineering by integrating artistic processes as well as a more playcentric approach to technology and engineering education in order to engage girls in shaping technology, is discussed.
Physicality in Technological Interface Design
Authors: Wodehouse Andrew J. , Marks Jonathon
Published: September 2015

This research explores emotional response to gesture in order to inform future product interaction design. After describing the emergence and likely role of full-body interfaces with devices and systems, the importance of emotional reaction to the necessary movements and gestures is outlined. A gestural vocabulary for the control of a web page is then presented, along with a semantic differential questionnaire for its evaluation. An experiment is described where users undertook a series of web navigation tasks using the gestural vocabulary, then recorded their reaction to the experience. A number of insights were drawn on the context, precision, distinction, repetition and scale of gestures when used to control or activate a product. These insights will be of help in interaction design, and provide a basis for further development of gestural vocabularies.
Organizational Factors Influencing the Use of Clinical Decision Support for Improving Cancer Screening Within Community Health Centers
Authors: Carney Timothy Jay , Weaver Michael , McDaniel Anna M. , Jones Josette , Haggstrom David A.
Published: September 2015

Adoption of clinical decision support (CDS) systems leads to improved clinical performance through improved clinician decision making, adherence to evidence-based guidelines, medical error reduction, and more efficient information transfer and to reduction in health care disparities in under-resourced settings. However, little information on CDS use in the community health care (CHC) setting exists. This study examines if organizational, provider, or patient level factors can successfully predict the level of CDS use in the CHC setting with regard to breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screening. This study relied upon 37 summary measures obtained from the 2005 Cancer Health Disparities Collaborative (HDCC) national survey of 44 randomly selected community health centers. A multi-level framework was designed that employed an all-subsets linear regression to discover relationships between organizational/practice setting, provider, and patient characteristics and the outcome variable, a composite measure of community health center CDS intensity-of-use. Several organizational and provider level factors from our conceptual model were identified to be positively associated with CDS level of use in community health centers. The level of CDS use (e.g., computerized reminders, provider prompts at point-of-care) in support of breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screening rate improvement in vulnerable populations is determined by both organizational/practice setting and provider factors. Such insights can better facilitate the increased uptake of CDS in CHCs that allows for improved patient tracking, disease management, and early detection in cancer prevention and control within vulnerable populations.
Information Architecture for Pervasive Healthcare Information Provision with Technological Implementation
Authors: Tan Chekfoung , Liu Shixiong
Published: September 2015

The Pervasive Healthcare Information Provision (PHIP) is a concept that ensures patients are covered with healthcare services with the appropriate information provision together with the technical infrastructure when needed. Clinicians can obtain the real-time information by accessing the electronic patient record that supports decision-making in providing health services. PHIP aims to provide comprehensive healthcare services to its stakeholders covering the social and technical aspect. Information architecture is a high-level map of information requirements of an organisation that possesses business processes and information flows. Organisational semiotics, a fundamental theory for information and communication, helps in understanding the nature of information. It deals with information and information systems in a balanced way, taking account of both the physical space (when physical actions take place) and the information space (which are mainly characterised by information and communication using signs, symbols, and data). Information sharing among multi-stakeholders in decision-making is essential for pervasive healthcare. The information architecture can be reflected in information systems implementation such as Electronic Patient Record (EPR) and other forms. The aim of this chapter is to derive a conceptual model of information architecture for PHIP, including technological implementation via wireless technology. The information architecture serves as requirement engine that covers social and technical needs from both patients and clinicians. The contribution of this research is two fold: 1) establishing the theoretical perspective of information architecture, which serves as backbone to support PHIP, and 2) implementing PHIP via wireless technology and agent-based system.
Monitoring and Assisting Maternity-Infant Care in Rural Areas (MAMICare)
Authors: Lavariega Juan C. , Córdova Gustavo A. , Gómez Lorena G. , Avila Alfonso
Published: September 2015

Presented is the project called MAMICare, which is motivated by the alarming number of maternity and infant deaths in rural areas due mainly to a poor monitoring of pregnancy progress and lack of appropriate alerting mechanism in case of abnormal gestation evolution. This work proposes an information technology solution based on mobile devices, and health sensors such as ECG (electrocardiogram), stethoscope, pulse-oximeter, and blood-glucose meter to collect automatically relevant health data for a better monitoring of pregnant women. This article addresses the status of the maternity infant death problem especially in rural areas of Mexico. It reviews some applications of IT in health systems (known also as Electronic Health or simply e-Health) and discusses how these are related to the presented proposal and how they differ. The article presents the proposed solution and discuss the current status of the work.
Ambulance Dispatching System with Integrated Information and Communication Technologies on Cloud Environment
Authors: Li Jian-Wei , Chang Chia-Chi , Chang Yi-Chun , Huang Yung-Fa
Published: September 2015

The quality of emergency medical services (EMS) prior to a patient's arrival at a hospital is directly affected by the efficiency to dispatch an ambulance for first aid. In this paper, we created an ambulance dispatching system for first aid, which is integrated with Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and performed on a cloud platform. In virtue of ICT, the system can readily monitor the movements of ambulance with Geographic Information System (GIS) and determine any ambulance dispatching task and saves more time spent in transporting an accident victim to a hospital. Furthermore, the system running on a cloud platform is characteristic of integrated medical resources and terminal equipment with or without powerful hardware that is flexibly added into or removed from the system for supporting dispatch.
The Role and Use of Telemedicine by Physicians in Developing Countries
Authors: Alajmi Dana , Khalifa Mohamed , Jamal Amr , Zakaria Nasria , Alomran Suleiman , El-Metwally Ashraf , Al-Salamah Majed , Househ Mowafa
Published: September 2015

As technological advance leaps into the developing world, telemedicine is expected to significantly grow in many developing countries. It is important to investigate the awareness, preferences, requirements, perceptions and attitudes of physicians in Saudi Arabia towards the use of telemedicine technology. In order to promote the use of telemedicine among physicians, training should be focused on older professionals and those who show lower levels of IT knowledge and experience. This chapter uses the results of a survey that was conducted in the city of Al-Dammam, Saudi Arabia, which gathered information about physicians' awareness and attitude towards telemedicine. Most physicians reported high level of awareness of telemedicine and showed interest in using telemedicine technology in their work. Physicians' preference of using such technology was predicted by their awareness, knowledge and previous experience, using telemedicine and technology affinity. Physicians' willingness to use telemedicine was influenced by age, technology preparedness and practice.
Using Mobile Technology to Address the ‘Three Delays' to Reduce Maternal Mortality in Zanzibar
Authors: Deussom Rachel Hoy , Mitchell Marc , Ruben Julia Dae
Published: September 2015

The hallmark article by Thaddeus and Maine (1994) presented a framework to reducing maternal mortality by addressing the delays: (1) deciding to seek care; (2) reaching care; and (3) receiving adequate care. This project developed a phone-based system used by traditional birth attendants to address the three delays in two districts in rural Zanzibar. Mobile phones provided: clinical algorithms to screen pregnant mothers for danger signs; phone numbers and mobile banking to arrange and pay for transportation; and contacts for health facility staff to alert them of referrals. 938 mothers participated in the “mHealth for Safer Deliveries” project. The intervention achieved a 71.0% facility delivery rate in the project zone, compared to the regional average of 32.0% (NBS and ICF Macro, 2011). This project demonstrated the effectiveness of mobile technology in addressing childbirth's three delays and its potential to impact maternal mortality in low-income countries.
CoSeMed
Authors: Kliem Andreas
Published: September 2015

E-health systems need to dynamically integrate heterogeneous types of medical sensors and provide access to streams of sensed medical data in order to properly support patient treatment. Treatment processes usually include several steps and medical departments, which means that sensors could be moved between networks of Care Delivery Operators instead of being reattached every time. Therefore, the authors propose a novel approach that allows sharing medical devices among different operators in this chapter. This means that each operator books a medical device as long as it delivers required data and is present in the operator's network, which the authors call the medical device cloud. Besides cost effectiveness, this approach can extend traditional cloud-based e-health systems, usually designed to share Electronic Health Records, by sharing the devices that emit the data. This mitigates judicial constraints because only the data sources and not the data itself are shared, and allows for more real-time access to mission-critical data.
A Pharmaco-Cybernetics Approach to Patient Safety
Authors: Yap Kevin Yi-Lwern
Published: September 2015

Pharmaco-cybernetics is an upcoming interdisciplinary field that supports our use of medicines and drugs through the combined use of computational technologies and techniques with human-computer-environment interactions to reduce or prevent drug-related problems. The advent of pharmaco-cybernetics has led to the development of various software, tools, and Internet applications that can be used by healthcare practitioners to deliver optimum pharmaceutical care and health-related outcomes. Patients are becoming more informed through health information on the Internet, which empowers them to better participate in the management of their own conditions. Focusing on patients with cancer, this chapter describes the use of a pharmaco-cybernetics approach to identify clinically relevant predictors of two debilitating adverse drug reactions, which are a cause of patient safety – chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting and febrile neutropenia. The early identification of such clinical predictors enables clinicians to prevent or reduce the occurrence of adverse drug reactions in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy through appropriate management strategies. The computational methods used in this approach involve two unsupervised machine-learning techniques – principal component and multiple correspondence analyses. Using two case examples, this chapter shows the potential of machine-learning techniques for identifying patients who are at greater risks of these adverse drug reactions, thus enhancing patient safety. This chapter also aims to increase the awareness among healthcare professionals and clinician-scientists about the usefulness of such techniques in clinical patient populations, so that these can be considered as part of clinical care pathways to enhance patient safety and effectively manage cancer patients on chemotherapy.
Business Intelligence for Healthcare
Authors: Cook Jack S. , Neely Pamela A.
Published: September 2015

Using an interpretive case study approach, this chapter describes the data quality problems in two companies: (1) a Multi-Facility Healthcare Medical Group (MHMG), and (2) a Regional Health Insurance Company (RHIS). These two interpretive cases examine two different processes of the healthcare supply chain and their integration with a business intelligence system. Specifically, the issues examined are MHMG's revenue cycle management and RHIS's provider enrollment and credentialing process. A Data and Information Quality (DIQ) assessment of the revenue cycle management process demonstrates how a framework, referred to as PGOT, can identify improvement opportunities within any information-intensive environment. Based on the assessment of the revenue cycle management process, data quality problems associated with the key processes and their implications for the healthcare organization are described. This chapter provides recommendations for DIQ best practices and illustrates these best practices within this real world context of healthcare.
Analysis and Linkage of Data from Patient-Controlled Self-Monitoring Devices and Personal Health Records
Authors: Paton Chris
Published: September 2015

This chapter outlines the recent advances in self-tracking technology both for wellness and healthcare purposes. It addresses one of the key challenges in mobile health: how to link the data from self-tracking devices with data in clinical data systems, such as Personal Health Records and Electronic Health Records systems. This chapter also discusses advances in visualisation and analysis for personally controlled data from self-tracking and PHR systems.
B-Cell-Rich T-Cell Lymphoma Associated with Epstein-Barr Virus-Reactivation and T-Cell Suppression Following Antithymocyte Globulin Therapy in a Patient with Severe Aplastic Anemia
Authors: Hanaoka Nobuyoshi , Murata Shogo , Hosoi Hiroki , Shimokado Aiko , Mushino Toshiki , Kuriyama Kodai , Hatanaka Kazuo , Nishikawa Akinori , Kurimoto Miwa , Sonoki Takashi , Muragaki Yasuteru , Nakakuma Hideki
Published: September 2015

B-cell lymphoproliferative disorder (B-LPD) is generally characterized by the proliferation of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV-infected B lymphocytes. We here report the development of EBV-negative B-LPD associated with EBV-reactivation following antithymocyte globulin (ATG) therapy in a patient with aplastic anemia. The molecular autopsy study showed the sparse EBV-infected clonal T cells could be critically involved in the pathogenesis of EBV-negative oligoclonal B-LPD through cytokine amplification and escape from T-cell surveillances attributable to ATG-based immunosuppressive therapy, leading to an extremely rare B-cell-rich T-cell lymphoma. This report helps in elucidating the complex pathophysiology of intractable B-LPD refractory to rituximab.
Selective Regulation of Oocyte Meiotic Events Enhances Progress in Fertility Preservation Methods
Authors: Celik Onder , Celik Nilufer , Gungor Sami , Haberal Esra Tustas , Aydin Suleyman
Published: September 2015

Following early embryonic germ cell migration, oocytes are surrounded by somatic cells and remain arrested at diplotene stage until luteinizing hormone (LH) surge. Strict regulation of both meiotic arrest and meiotic resumption during dormant stage are critical for future fertility. Intercellular signaling system between the somatic compartment and oocyte regulates these meiotic events and determines the follicle quality. As well as the collected number of eggs, their qualities are also important for in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcome. In spontaneous and IVF cycles, germinal vesicle (GV)–stage oocytes, premature GV breakdown, and persistence of first meiotic arrest limit the reproductive performance. Likewise, both women with premature ovarian aging and young cancer women are undergoing chemoradiotherapy under the risk of follicle loss because of unregulated meiotic events. Understanding of oocyte meiotic events is therefore critical for the prevention of functional ovarian reserve. High levels of cyclic guanosine monophophate (cGMP), cyclic adenosine monophophate (cAMP) and low phosphodiesterase (PDE) 3A enzyme activity inside the oocyte are responsible for maintaining of meiotic arrest before the LH surge. cGMP is produced in the somatic compartment, and natriuretic peptide precursor C (Nppc) and natriuretic peptide receptor 2 (Npr2) regulate its production. cGMP diffuses into the oocyte and reduces the PDE3A activity, which inhibits the conversion of cAMP to the 5′AMP, and cAMP levels are enhanced. In addition, oocyte itself has the ability to produce cAMP. Taken together, accumulation of cAMP inside the oocyte induces protein kinase activity, which leads to the inhibition of maturation-promoting factor and meiotic arrest also continues. By stimulating the expression of epidermal growth factor, LH inhibits the Nppc/Npr2 system, blocks cGMP synthesis, and initiates meiotic resumption. Oocytes lacking the functional of this pathway may lead to persistence of the GV oocyte, which reduces the number of good quality eggs. Selective regulation of somatic cell signals and oocyte meiotic events enhance progress in fertility preservation methods, which may give us the opportunity to prevent follicle loss in prematurely aging women and young women with cancer are undergoing chemoradiotherapy.
Arabinosylation Plays a Crucial Role in Extensin Cross-linking In Vitro
Authors: Chen Yuning , Dong Wen , Tan Li , Held Michael A. , Kieliszewski Marcia J.
Published: September 2015

Extensins (EXTs) are hydroxyproline-rich glycoproteins (HRGPs) that are structural components of the plant primary cell wall. They are basic proteins and are highly glycosylated with carbohydrate accounting for >50% of their dry weight. Carbohydrate occurs as monoga-lactosyl serine and arabinosyl hydroxyproline, with arabinosides ranging in size from ~1 to 4 or 5 residues. Proposed functions of EXT arabinosylation include stabilizing the polyproline II helix structure and facilitating EXT cross-linking. Here, the involvement of arabinosylation in EXT cross-linking was investigated by assaying the initial cross-linking rate and degree of cross-linking of partially or fully dearabinosylated EXTs using an in vitro cross-linking assay followed by gel permeation chromatography. Our results indicate that EXT arabinosylation is required for EXT cross-linking in vitro and the fourth arabinosyl residue in the tetraarabinoside chain, which is uniquely α-linked, may determine the initial cross-linking rate. Our results also confirm the conserved structure of the oligoarabinosides across species, indicating an evolutionary significance for EXT arabinosylation.
Human Cancer Immunotherapy with PD-1/PD-L1 Blockade
Authors: Zheng Peilin , Zhou Zhiguang
Published: September 2015

The ligation of programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) to its ligands PD-L1 and PD-L2 counteracts T-cell activation, which is critical in immune tolerance. The persistent high expression of PD-1 and PD-L1 are also observed on tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and various tumor cells, maintaining the highly suppressive microenvironment in tumor sites and promoting tumor malignancies. The blockade of PD-1 axis with PD-L2 fusion protein or monoclonal antibodies against either PD-1 or PD-L1 has been clinically evaluated in various tumor types. This short review summarizes the progress of PD-1 axis blockade in clinical trials to evaluate its effectiveness in the antitumor immunotherapy.
TIN: An R Package for Transcriptome Instability Analysis
Authors: Johannessen Bjarne , Sveen Anita , Skotheim Rolf I.
Published: September 2015

Alternative splicing is a key regulatory mechanism for gene expression, vital for the proper functioning of eukaryotic cells. Disruption of normal pre-mRNA splicing has the potential to cause and reinforce human disease. Owing to rapid advances in high-throughput technologies, it is now possible to identify novel mRNA isoforms and detect aberrant splicing patterns on a genome scale, across large data sets. Analogous to the genomic types of instability describing cancer genomes (eg, chromosomal instability and microsatellite instability), transcriptome instability (TIN) has recently been proposed as a splicing-related genome-wide characteristic of certain solid cancers. We present the R package TIN, available from Bioconductor, which implements a set of methods for TIN analysis based on exon-level microarray expression profiles. TIN provides tools for estimating aberrant exon usage across samples and for analyzing correlation patterns between TIN and splicing factor expression levels.
Role of Physical Evaluation in the Early Identification of Axial Spondyloarthritis: A Research Proposal
Authors: Castro Marcelo P. , Stebbings Simon M. , Milosavljevic Stephan , Bussey Melanie D.
Published: September 2015

The aim of this study was to present a rationale to explore the use of clinical tests for the sacroiliac joints to detect early axial spondyloarthritis (SpA) and to suggest a protocol to validate these clinical tests. Based on the European Guidelines for Diagnosis and Treatments of Pelvic Girdle Pain, we propose a set of six clinical tests to identify the likely presence of inflammation in the sacroiliac joints associated with early axial SpA. As magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the current gold standard used to identify inflammation in the sacroiliac joints, the results of the proposed set of clinical tests are compared with those from the MRI examinations. We hypothesize that specific clinical tests, which combine pain provocation and functional tests, for assessing the sacroiliac joints will help to identify early active inflammation at the sacroiliac joints in axial SpA. If such tests prove to be sensitive and specific, they could add further value to the diagnostic classification criteria for axial SpA.
Effectiveness of Liraglutide in Type II Diabetes Mellitus Management: Experience in Emirati Patients
Authors: Ghuman Nasrullah K. , Saadah Loai M. , Al Najjar Majdi S. , Shaheen Duha Y. , AM Shady I. , Al Ali Mouza M.
Published: September 2015

Objective

To measure effectiveness of liraglutide in reducing glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C), weight, and systolic blood pressure (SBP) in Emirati patients.

Design

A retrospective cohort study.

Setting

Endocrinology clinic in a 300-bed military hospital.

Patients

A total of 152 patients who qualified for liraglutide between September 21, 2012, (first patient visit) and May 5, 2014 (last patient visit).

Methods

Team collected demographic and clinical data using a standard form. Data keeper performed univariate analyses to measure the effect of liraglutide in reducing the three outcomes of interest; namely, HbA1C, weight, and SBP.

Results

One hundred patients had at least the first visit in the clinic and 98 patients came for a second follow-up visit while on the medication. Adherence of clinicians to the internal criteria for prescribing liraglutide was 92%. Patients' ages were 47.9 ± 11.7 years. Male-to-female ratio was almost 1:1. Overall, in the paired analyses, HbA1C decreased from first to second visits (8.7 ± 1.9 vs. 7.6 ± 1.8, P < 0.0001) and remained unchanged in subsequent visits (eg, in visit 3, HbA1C was 7.4 ± 1.8). Patients lost an average of 1.3 kg between the first and second visits (99.3 ± 19.3 vs. 98.0 ± 19.5, P = 0.0003). The reduction in SBP between visits 1 and 2 was less (130.9 ± 15.8 vs. 129.9 ± 16.5, P = 0.5896). ANOVA yielded a significant reduction in HbA1C at 4 months and 6 months ( P values < 0.05). SBP dropped by about 3.6 mmHg and weight by about 2.3 kg ( P values > 0.05).

Conclusions

Liraglutide is effective in reducing HbA1C, weight, and to a lesser extent, SBP in Emirati patients.
Clinical Prediction Rule for Patient Outcome after In-Hospital CPR: A New Model, Using Characteristics Present at Hospital Admission, to Identify Patients Unlikely to Benefit from CPR after In-Hospital Cardiac Arrest
Authors: Merja Satyam , Lilien Ryan H. , Ryder Hilary F.
Published: September 2015

Background

Physicians and patients frequently overestimate likelihood of survival after in-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Discussions and decisions around resuscitation after in-hospital cardiopulmonary arrest often take place without adequate or accurate information.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective chart review of 470 instances of resuscitation after in-hospital cardiopulmonary arrest. Individuals were randomly assigned to a derivation cohort and a validation cohort. Logistic Regression and Linear Discriminant Analysis were used to perform multivariate analysis of the data. The resultant best performing rule was converted to a weighted integer tool, and thresholds of survival and nonsurvival were determined with an attempt to optimize sensitivity and specificity for survival.

Results

A 10-feature rule, using thresholds for survival and nonsurvival, was created; the sensitivity of the rule on the validation cohort was 42.7% and specificity was 82.4%. In the Dartmouth Score (DS), the features of age (greater than 70 years of age), history of cancer, previous cardiovascular accident, and presence of coma, hypotension, abnormal PaO2, and abnormal bicarbonate were identified as the best predictors of nonsurvival. Angina, dementia, and chronic respiratory insufficiency were selected as protective features.

Conclusions

Utilizing information easily obtainable on admission, our clinical prediction tool, the DS, provides physicians individualized information about their patients’ probability of survival after in-hospital cardiopulmonary arrest. The DS may become a useful addition to medical expertise and clinical judgment in evaluating and communicating an individual's probability of survival after in-hospital cardiopulmonary arrest after it is validated by other cohorts.
Article Commentary: Prenatal Substance Use: Exploring Assumptions of Maternal Unfitness
Authors: Terplan Mishka , Kennedy-Hendricks Alene , Chisolm Margaret S.
Published: September 2015

In spite of the growing knowledge and understanding of addiction as a chronic relapsing medical condition, individuals with substance use disorders (SUD) continue to experience stigmatization. Pregnant women who use substances suffer additional stigma as their use has the potential to cause fetal harm, calling into question their maternal fitness and often leading to punitive responses. Punishing pregnant women denies the integral interconnectedness of the maternal-fetal dyad. Linking substance use with maternal unfitness is not supported by the balance of the scientific evidence regarding the actual harms associated with substance use during pregnancy. Such linkage adversely impacts maternal, child, and family health by deterring pregnant women from seeking both obstetrical care and SUD treatment. Pregnant women who use substances deserve compassion and care, not pariah-status and punishment.
The Department of Pathology at the German Primate Center from 1973 to 1999
Authors: Brack M.
Published: September 2015

Abstract. The Department of Pathology was the first scientific unit established at the German Primate Center (DPZ) already in its planning phase. At that early time the planning of administrative duties was also necessary, including the financial framework of the laboratory equipment of the then-envisioned three departments of pathology, virology and physiology, in order to get the DPZ off the ground. Otherwise the functions of the Department of Pathology were both service duties and scientific evaluations. The service functions after the establishment of the DPZ included pathological, bacteriological and parasitological examinations/surveys and the veterinary care of nonhuman primates at the DPZ and other primate colonies. On an international level its service functions were reflected by the collaboration within the Office International de Epizooties (OIE, Paris) (Dollinger et al., 1996) and the Infectious Diseases Working Group of the European Association of Zoo and Wildlife Veterinarians, and the establishment of a bacteriological laboratory in Iquitos, Peru, at the request of the Pan American Health Organization. Parallel to those administrative and service duties to the DPZ and to international communities, the different scientific activities started, which in a pathology department always are a combination of service and research. They are documented by a total of almost 120 publications, including 3 doctoral theses and 116 publications by the author from 1973 to 1999; the most important ones are summarized in the following examples.
Trials and Tribulations
Authors: Machielsen Jan
Published: September 2015

The previous chapter explored some of the unique features of the Disquisitiones that help to explain its unusual longevity compared to its rivals. The present chapter studies two very different criticisms levelled at the Disquisitiones by contemporary Catholics. Neither of these challenged the reality of witchcraft in themselves. Indeed, one criticism levelled at the Disquisitiones was that its discussion of these issues was rather too explicit and that it might bring its readers to ideas. A second criticism had its origins in a debate in Munich between advocates of witch-hunting and their opponents. The fact that both sides invoked the Disquisitiones in support of their views shows how a work of textual scholarship could offer very little in the way of useful guidance. Delrio’s reply to questions from the Bavarian court shows him abandoning his apparently moderate position and relying ever more on the discretion and discernment of individual magistrates.
The Ottoman Caliphate and Muslims of the Philippine Archipelago during the Early Modern Era
Authors: Donoso Isaac
Published: September 2015

This chapter examines the Ottoman role in politics in the Philippines with especial reference to the sixteenth to nineteenth centuries, when much of the Philippine Archipelago came under Spanish control. Spanish documents analysed here suggest that colonial policy-makers were profoundly concerned about potential Ottoman influence over the Muslim sultanates of the Philippines—Sulu and Maguindanao. The Spanish archival and literary sources also contain records of attempts by the Philippine sultanates to contact the Ottoman Caliph in Istanbul, not merely to counter the Spanish threat but also to intervene in internal disputes. These efforts never seem to have met with success. Eventually, instead of gaining Ottoman protection, and despite adopting Caliphal titles, at the end of the nineteenth century the Philippine sultanates were forced to accept Spanish suzerainty.