bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effectiveness and safety of herbal medicines for induction of labour: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Zamawe Collins , King Carina , Jennings Hannah Maria , Mandiwa Chrispin , Fottrell Edward
Published: October 2018

Objective

The use of herbal medicines for induction of labour (IOL) is common globally and yet its effects are not well understood. We assessed the efficacy and safety of herbal medicines for IOL.

Design

Systematic review and meta-analysis of published literature.

Data sources

We searched in MEDLINE, AMED and CINAHL in April 2017, updated in June 2018.

Eligibility criteria

We considered experimental and non-experimental studies that compared relevant pregnancy outcomes between users and non-user of herbal medicines for IOL.

Data extraction and synthesis

Data were extracted by two reviewers using a standardised form. A random-effects model was used to synthesise effects sizes and heterogeneity was explored through I2statistic. The risk of bias was assessed using ‘John Hopkins Nursing School Critical Appraisal Tool’ and ‘Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool’.

Results

A total of 1421 papers were identified through the searches, but only 10 were retained after eligibility and risk of bias assessments. The users of herbal medicine for IOL were significantly more likely to give birth within 24 hours than non-users (Risk Ratio (RR) 4.48; 95% CI 1.75 to 11.44). No significant difference in the incidence of caesarean section (RR 1.19; 95% CI 0.76 to 1.86), assisted vaginal delivery (RR 0.73; 95% CI 0.47 to 1.14), haemorrhage (RR 0.84; 95% CI 0.44 to 1.60), meconium-stained liquor (RR 1.20; 95% CI 0.65 to 2.23) and admission to nursery (RR 1.08; 95% CI 0.49 to 2.38) was found between users and non-users of herbal medicines for IOL.

Conclusions

The findings suggest that herbal medicines for IOL are effective, but there is inconclusive evidence of safety due to lack of good quality data. Thus, the use of herbal medicines for IOL should be avoided until safety issues are clarified. More studies are recommended to establish the safety of herbal medicines.
Protocol for a gender-sensitised weight loss and healthy living programme for overweight and obese men delivered in Australian football league settings (Aussie-FIT): A feasibility and pilot randomised controlled trial
Authors: Quested Eleanor , Kwasnicka Dominika , Thøgersen-Ntoumani Cecilie , Gucciardi Daniel F , Kerr Deborah A , Hunt Kate , Robinson Suzanne , Morgan Philip J , Newton Robert U , Gray Cindy , Wyke Sally , McVeigh Joanne , Malacova Eva , Ntoumanis Nikos
Published: October 2018

Introduction

Overweight and obesity are highly prevalent among Australian men. Professional sports settings can act as a powerful ‘hook’ to engage men in weight loss programmes; the Football Fans in Training programme delivered in professional UK soccer clubs was successful and cost-effective in helping men lose weight. The Australian Football League (AFL) is a potentially attractive setting to engage men in a weight loss programme. We aim to develop, pilot and evaluate the feasibility of a weight loss intervention for overweight/obese middle-aged men, delivered in AFL settings, to promote weight loss and healthier lifestyles and determine its suitability for a future randomised control trial.

Methods and analysis

120 overweight/obese male fans will complete baseline physical and psychological health measures and objective measures of physical activity (PA), weight, waist size and blood pressure prior to randomisation into the intervention or waitlist comparison group. The intervention group will receive 12 weekly 90 min workshops incorporating PA, nutrition education, behaviour change techniques and principles of effective motivation. Four community coaches will be trained to deliver Aussie-FIT at two AFL clubs in Western Australia. Measurements will be repeated in both groups at 3 months (post-intervention) and 6 months (follow-up). Outcomes will include programme uptake, attendance, changes in lifestyle and weight variables to inform power calculations for a future definitive trial, fidelity of programme delivery, acceptability, satisfaction with the programme and perceptions of effectiveness. We will also determine trial feasibility and potential to gather cost-effectiveness data.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethics approval was granted by Curtin University’s Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC2017-0458). Results will be disseminated via peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations and reports. A multicomponent dissemination strategy will include targeted translation and stakeholder engagement events to establish strategies for sustainability and policy change.

Trial registration number

ACTRN12617000515392; Pre-results.
Cardiac cephalalgia: severe, non-exertional headache presenting as unstable angina
Authors: Lazari Jonathan , Money-Kyrle Andrew , Wakerley Benjamin R
Published: October 2018

Cardiac cephalalgia is a migraine-like headache that occurs during episodes of myocardial ischaemia. Clinical characteristics of the headache vary widely but are often severe in intensity, worsen with reduced myocardial perfusion and resolve with reperfusion. It can present along with typical symptoms of angina pectoris, although not always. We present a 64-year-old man with a 6-month history of severe, non-exertional headaches occurring with increasing frequency. A resting ECG showed ST elevation in the inferior leads. His serum troponin I was not elevated. Coronary angiography showed severe stenosis of his right coronary artery, which was successfully stented by percutaneous coronary intervention. He remains headache free at 2-year follow-up.
Antiphospholipid syndrome: state of the art on clinical practice guidelines
Authors: Limper Marteen , Scirè Carlo Alberto , Talarico Rosaria , Amoura Zahir , Avcin Tadej , Basile Martina , Burmester Gerd , Carli Linda , Cervera Ricard , Costedoat-Chalumeau Nathalie , Doria Andrea , Dörner Thomas , Fonseca João Eurico , Galetti Ilaria , Hachulla Eric , Launay David , Lourenco Filipa , Macieira Carla , Meroni Pierluigi , Montecucco Carlo Maurizio , Moraes-Fontes Maria Francisca , Mouthon Luc , Nalli Cecilia , Ramoni Veronique , Tektonidou Maria , van Laar Jacob M , Bombardieri Stefano , Schneider Matthias , Smith Vanessa , Vieira Ana , Cutolo Maurizio , Mosca Marta , Tincani Angela
Published: October 2018

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is a rare disease characterised by venous and/or arterial thrombosis, pregnancy complications and the presence of specific autoantibodies called antiphospholipid antibodies. This review aims to identify existing clinical practice guidelines (CPG) as part of the ERN ReCONNET project, aimed at evaluating existing CPGs or recommendations in rare and complex diseases. Seventeen papers providing important data were identified; however, the literature search highlighted the scarceness of reliable clinical data to develop CPGs. With no formal clinical guidelines in place, diagnosis and treatment of APS is largely based on consensus and expert opinion. Patients’ unmet need refers to the understanding of the disease and its clinical picture and implications, the need of education for patients, family members and healthcare providers, as well as to the development of monitoring pathways involving multiple healthcare providers.
Chern–Simons forms for ℝ-linear connections on Lie algebroids
Authors: Balcerzak Bogdan
Published: October 2018

This paper considers the Chern–Simons forms for [Formula: see text]-linear connections on Lie algebroids. A generalized Chern–Simons formula for such [Formula: see text]-linear connections is obtained. We apply it to define the Chern character and secondary characteristic classes for [Formula: see text]-linear connections of Lie algebroids.
A Hamiltonian formalism for the universe and its implications
Authors: Das Abhishek
Published: October 2018

In this paper, we develop a Hamiltonian formulation for the universe and show that it conforms with the accelerated expansion of the universe. We obtain some novel relations from this formulation which, though phenomenological, might be auspicious regarding a better perception of our universe.
MULTIDIMENSIONAL CALIBRATION OF CRUDE OIL AND REFINED PRODUCTS VIA SEMIDEFINITE PROGRAMMING TECHNIQUES
Authors: SALDIVAR CAROLINA EFFIO , HERSKOVITS JOSÉ , LUNA JUAN PABLO , SAGASTIZÁBAL CLAUDIA
Published: October 2018

To describe the joint dynamics of prices of crude oil and refined products we extend two-factor models to a multidimensional setting. The new model captures directly the general correlation structure between the different commodities in the form of certain covariance matrix. Since the associated state-space formulation makes use of such correlations, the feasible set of the resulting estimation problem includes the cone of positive semidefinite matrices. Tractability is ensured by means of an interior point method, specially tailored for nonlinear semidefinite programming problems. For different sets of historical prices of crude oil, heating oil, and gasoline, the empirical out-of-sample forecasts obtained with the approach proposed in this work systematically provide an excellent fit to data.
A class of representations of Artin braid hypergroups
Authors: Al Tahan M. , Davvaz B.
Published: October 2018

Hypergroup is the generalized concept of group introduced first by Marty. Since then, the study of it and its applications has been of great importance. This paper deals with representations of the hypergroup associated to the braid group [Formula: see text]. First, we define our hypergroup [Formula: see text] and our semihyperring [Formula: see text] over the set of non-negative integers. Next, we construct non-trivial matrix representations of [Formula: see text] of degree [Formula: see text], for all [Formula: see text]. Finally, we find all matrix representations of [Formula: see text] with degree less than [Formula: see text] and classify them according to irreducibility and unitarizability.
Transportation Planning through GIS and Multicriteria Analysis: Case Study of Beijing and XiongAn
Authors: Farooq Asim , Xie Mowen , Stoilova Svetla , Ahmad Firoz , Guo Meng , Williams Edward J. , Gahlot Vimal Kr. , Yan Du , Mahamat Issa Ahmat
Published: October 2018

Urban population growth and urbanization with its impact on urban planning require continuous research in order to address the challenges posed by transportation requirements. Identifying transportation capacity (road and railways) is an important task that can identify whether the network is capable of sustaining the present volume of traffic and whether it can handle the future intended traffic flow. A new city, XiongAn, will be built in the coming years in order to relieve the pressure of population on Beijing and disperse the economic growth, business activity, and opportunities across the country. The focus of this research is to generate a transportation model between Beijing and XiongAn, in order to increase connection and connectivity, reduce travel time, and increase transfer capacity between the two hubs (Beijing-XiongAn). The existing transportation network between two cities is analyzed and a network which can handle future demand has been proposed. The first stage has been the investigation of a variety of options using geographic information system (GIS). Planning and implementing a mass transit system requires choosing among options such as an existing intercity railway line, a new high-speed railway line, and/or motorway options. In the second phase of our analysis, we assess these options relative to multiple criteria, using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP). The options were evaluated using various criteria responsible for selection of alternative; it is found that travel time, cost of travel, safety, reliability, accessibility, and environment are key criteria for selecting the best alternative. The GIS and multicriteria analysis suggested that the best option is to build a new high speed railway line.
Performance Analysis of PN Code Acquisition with MIMO Scheme for an UWB TH/CDMA System
Authors: Hwang Yu Min , Kim Eun Cheol , Kim Jin Young
Published: October 2018

This paper presents performance and its simulation results of pseudonoise (PN) code acquisition scheme with MIMO scheme for an ultra‐wideband time‐hopping/code‐division‐multiple‐access (UWB TH/CDMA) system. The transmission channel is modelled as a frequency selective lognormal fading channel. In almost practical PN code acquisition system, the existence of more than two synchronous cells in the uncertainty region of the search process is possible due to multipath effect. Therefore, based on deriving the detection probability, false alarm rate, miss detection probability, and mean acquisition time, the acquisition performance is analyzed under the hypothesis of multiple synchronous states (cells) in the uncertainty region of the PN code. And the code acquisition performance is evaluated when the correlator outputs are noncoherently combined by using equal gain combining (EGC) scheme. In this procedure, the closed form for the conditional probability of decision variable is derived using the Gauss‐Hermite quadrature formula. The performance comparison of the scheme mentioned above shows that the code acquisition performance with the diversity combining technique, especially when increasing the number of antenna, is more robust than that using no diversity. And code acquisition performance comparison also shows that if the detection threshold is set inappropriately, the performance might be degraded, even if an antenna diversity method is applied. It is also shown that Tx diversity can improve the acquisition performance but not as much as Rx diversity does. And Rx diversity can be applied to the acquisition system for additional diversity gain if the complexity of the receiver can be accepted.
A Comparative Study of Characteristics and Outcomes of Patients with Proved and Suggested Sarcoid Uveitis Occurring after Ophthalmic Procedure
Authors: Jamilloux Yvan , Taleb Aude , De Parisot Audrey , Pérard Laurent , Burillon Carole , Broussolle Christiane , Kodjikian Laurent , Sève Pascal
Published: October 2018

Purpose. To describe patients with new onset sarcoid uveitis occurring after an ophthalmic procedure and compare them with patients with sarcoid uveitis without ocular procedure. Methods. Retrospective analysis of case records from patients with postophthalmic procedure sarcoid uveitis seen at our institution between April 2004 and October 2016. Patients with a previous history of uveitis were not included. Each patient was randomly matched with four controls from our incident cohort of new onset sarcoid uveitis without ophthalmic procedure. Results. We identified 11 patients (8.5%) from our incident cohort of sarcoid uveitis (n=130), who were all women, with a postophthalmic procedure uveitis (mostly after cataract surgery (36%)). These patients were older (69.7 vs 52.7 years) and presented more synechiae than controls. After a mean follow-up of 30 (3–60) months, there was no significant difference between the postprocedure and the control group with regard to demography, clinical presentation, disease course, treatment, and outcome. Conclusions. Sarcoid uveitis has similar characteristics in patients with new onset sarcoid uveitis after or without ophthalmic procedure. As a consequence, ophthalmic intervention should be seen as a potential trigger of latent sarcoidosis.
Beyond the Dual Paraneoplastic Syndromes of Small-Cell Lung Cancer with ADH and ACTH Secretion: A Case Report with Literature Review and Future Implications
Authors: Agarwal Krishna Adit , Soe Myat Han
Published: October 2018

We present a case of small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) with syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH) in which serum sodium gradually normalized with the onset of hypertension, refractory hypokalemia, and chloride-resistant metabolic alkalosis due to ectopic adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) secretion (EAS). In this case report, we discuss the diagnostic challenges of dual paraneoplastic syndromes with SIADH and EAS, management of SCLC with paraneoplastic endocrinopathies, and their prognostic impact on SCLC. In addition, we discuss neuroendocrine differentiation and ectopic hormone production in relation to intratumoral heterogeneity in SCLC and propose tumor microenvironment and hormonal and metabolic dependence as important determinants of tumor growth and survival.
Experimental Research of Continuous Concrete Beams with GFRP Reinforcement
Authors: Baša Nikola , Ulićević Mladen , Zejak Radomir
Published: October 2018

Continuous beams are often used within RC structures, which are exposed to aggressive environmental impact. The use of the fiber‐reinforced polymer (FRP) reinforcement in these objects and environments has a big significance, taking into account tendency of steel reinforcement to corrode. The main aim of these research studies is to estimate ability of continuous beams with glass FRP (GFRP) reinforcement to redistribute internal forces, as a certain way of ductility and desirable behaviour of RC structures. This paper gives the results of experimental research of seven continuous beams, over two spans of 1850 mm length, cross‐section of 150 × 250 mm, that are imposed to concentrated forces in the middle of spans until failure. Six beams were reinforced with different longitudinal GFRP and same transverse GFRP reinforcements, and one steel‐reinforced beam was adopted as a control beam. The main varied parameters represent the type of GFRP reinforcement and ratio of longitudinal reinforcement at the midspan and at the middle support, i.e., design moment redistribution. The results of the research have shown that moment redistribution in continuous beams of GFRP reinforcement is possible, without decreasing the load‐carrying capacity, compared to elastic analysis. The test results have also been compared to current code provisions, and they have shown that the American Concrete Institute (ACI) 440.1R‐15 well predicted the failure load for continuous beams with GFRP reinforcement. On the contrary, current design codes underestimate deflection of continuous beams with GFRP reinforcement, especially for higher load levels. Consequently, a modified model for calculation of deflection is proposed.
Optimization of Cell Size in Ultra‐Dense Networks with Multiattribute User Types and Different Frequency Bands
Authors: Wei Yiqiao , Hwang Seung-Hoon
Published: October 2018

Ultra‐dense cellular networks (UDNs) represent the trend for 5G networks in dense urban environments. With the aim of exploring the optimal extent of network densification under different performance requirements and the trade‐off between the network capacity and deployment cost in UDNs, a multiple‐objective optimization model is proposed. This novel optimization design consists of a multiattribute user type in which users are grouped based on their propagation conditions and an infinitesimal dividing modeling method termed the ring method for network capacity dimensioning. The optimal cell size is estimated to maximize the total network capacity and minimize the deployment cost under different levels of user capacity demand. Additionally, the corresponding total network capacity and the required number of base stations are presented. Furthermore, two conventional frequency bands, 800 MHz and 1.8 GHz, and two new bands, 3.5 GHz and mmWave 28 GHz, are considered to investigate their feasibility and the potential of higher frequency bands in the 5G network.
Nanobeams and AFM Subject to Piezoelectric and Surface Scale Effects
Authors: Claeyssen Julio , Copetti Rosemaira , Tonetto Leticia , Carvalho Joao
Published: October 2018

Vibration dynamics of elastic beams that are used in nanotechnology, such as atomic force microscope modeling and carbon nanotubes, are considered in terms of a fundamental response within a matrix framework. The modeling equations with piezoelectric and surface scale effects are written as a matrix differential equation subject to tip-sample general boundary conditions and to compatibility conditions for the case of multispan beams. We considered a quadratic and a cubic eigenvalue problem related to the inclusion of smart materials and surface effects. Simulations were performed for a two stepped beam with a piezoelectric patch subject to pulse forcing terms. Results with Timoshenko models that include surface effects are presented for micro- and nanoscale. It was observed that the effects are significant just in nanoscale. We also simulate the frequency effects of a double-span beam in which one segment includes rotatory inertia and shear deformation and the other one neglects both phenomena. The proposed analytical methodology can be useful in the design of micro- and nanoresonator structures that involve deformable flexural models for detecting and imaging of physical and biochemical quantities.
Dynamic Characteristics of Deeply Buried Spherical Biogas Digesters in Viscoelastic Soils
Authors: Hou Hongwei , Gao Shihu , Guo Qianqian , Chen Long , Wu Bing , Wang Lei
Published: October 2018

The harmonic vibration characteristics of a deeply buried spherical methane tank in viscoelastic soil subjected to cyclic loading in the frequency domain are investigated. The dynamic behavior of the soil is described based on the theory of fractional derivatives. By introducing potential functions, the closed-form expressions for the displacement and the stress of the viscoelastic soil surrounding the deeply buried spherical methane tank are obtained. Two die structures are considered: a homogeneous elastic medium and a shell structure. Based on the theory of elastic motion and the Flügge theory, analytic solutions for the dynamic responses of the spherical methane tank in a fractional-derivative viscoelastic soil are derived explicitly. Analytic solution expressions of the undetermined coefficients are determined by using the continuum boundary conditions. The system dynamic responses to the homogeneous elastic medium and the shell structure and the influences of the parameters of the fractional derivative, soil, and die on the dynamic characteristic of the system are compared and analyzed. The results indicate a significant difference between the dynamic responses of the die structures for the two models.
Gastrointestinal Bleeding Secondary to Portal Hypertensive Duodenopathy in a Patient with Decompensated Liver Cirrhosis
Authors: Krishna Rohini , Igbinedion Samuel O. , Diaz Richie , Hussain Nazneen , Boktor Moheb
Published: October 2018

With alcoholic cirrhosis and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease continuously on the rise in the United States, there is also a corresponding rise in portal hypertension. Portal hypertensive duodenopathy (PHD) is a complication of portal hypertension not commonly seen in cirrhotic patients. We present a case of a 46-year-old man who presented with decompensated liver cirrhosis secondary to gastrointestinal bleed. The patient underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) with findings indicative of PHD. Patient subsequently underwent transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) with resolution of gastrointestinal bleed. We highlight TIPS as a management strategy in patients with PHD for whom less invasive measures are not effective.
Assessing Magnetic Susceptibility Profiles of Topsoils under Different Occupations
Authors: Bouhsane N. , Bouhlassa S.
Published: October 2018

Magnetic susceptibility measurements at low and high frequencies (χlf, χhf) were carried out on topsoil samples from reforested, cultivated, and pasture lands from a catchment located at the north of Morocco. The aims of this study were to investigate the impact of land use or human activity on χlf of soil overlying the same substrate, to discriminate allochthonous material or pollution from autochthonous or inherited ones, and to assess the origin and contribution of superparamagnetic (SP) grains to the global magnetic susceptibility χlf. Measurements of χlf indicated significant enhancement, with values ranging from 12.4 to 252.82 × 10-8 m3 kg−1 with a mean value of 107.087 × 10-8 m3 kg−1 for the reforested lands. In the cultivated lands, χlf were from 8.4 to 88.65 × 10-8 m3 kg1 with a mean value of 42.69 × 10-8 m3 kg−1, while in the pasture lands, χlf was comprised between 14.34 × 10-8 m3 kg−1 and 133.35 × 10-8 m3 kg−1 with a mean value of 57.33 × 10-8 m3 kg−1. The magnetic enhancement indicates high concentration of ferrimagnetic minerals in the top soil. The magnetic susceptibility enhancement decreases as the human activity increases, while the underlying bedrock is almost the same: reforested land > pastures land > cultivated land. The analysis of the variations of χlf and frequency dependent susceptibilities (χfd and %χfd), along the profiles of soil, indicate a pedogenic origin of the topsoil magnetic susceptibility enhancement.
A Rare Case of Multiorgan Calciphylaxis in a Patient with Stage 5 Chronic Kidney Disease
Authors: Ahmad Abdulrahman , Albaghli Ali , Michael Adel , Refaat Khaled , Omar Mohammad , Ibrahim Ahmad , Elmenshawy Bahaa , Maher Ashraf , Alramah Rasha , Mikhail Sami , Almahmid Mustafa , Alenezi Husain , Elshebiney Yahya
Published: October 2018

Calciphylaxis or calcific uremic arteriolopathy (CUA) is a potentially life-threatening vasculopathy involving the skin and subcutaneous tissues. It is usually associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and rarely with acute renal failure or predialysis patients. The clinical diagnosis of calcific uremic arteriolopathy relies on high index of suspicion. CUA is commonly associated with secondary hyperparathyroidism and high serum calcium and phosphate products. Moreover, using biopsy as a diagnostic tool is controversial, due to the high risk of poor wound healing and sepsis. Radiological studies usually reveal extensive calcification of branching vessels such as penile arteries, eventually leading to gangrene formation in extremities and penis. Histopathological analysis confirms the diagnosis of calcific uremic arteriolopathy and rules out the presence of malignancy. CUA is a systematic disease that involves multiple organs, and to the best of our knowledge this is the first reported case involving the penis, bladder, and eyes.
Current Perspectives and Mechanisms of Relationship between Intestinal Microbiota Dysfunction and Dementia: A Review
Authors: Welcome Menizibeya O.
Published: October 2018

Background: Accumulating data suggest a crucial role of the intestinal microbiota in the development and progression of neurodegenerative diseases. More recently, emerging reports have revealed an association between intestinal microbiota dysfunctions and dementia, a debilitating multifactorial disorder, characterized by progressive deterioration of cognition and behavior that interferes with the social and professional life of the sufferer. However, the mechanisms of this association are not fully understood. Summary: In this review, I discuss recent data that suggest mechanisms of cross-talk between intestinal microbiota dysfunction and the brain that underlie the development of dementia. Potential therapeutic options for dementia are also discussed. The pleiotropic signaling of the metabolic products of the intestinal microbiota together with their specific roles in the maintenance of both the intestinal and blood-brain barriers as well as regulation of local, distant, and circulating immunocytes, and enteric, visceral, and central neural functions are integral to a healthy gut and brain. Key Messages: Research investigating the effect of intestinal microbiota dysfunctions on brain health should focus on multiple interrelated systems involving local and central neuroendocrine, immunocyte, and neural signaling of microbial products and transmitters and neurohumoral cells that not only maintain intestinal, but also blood brain-barrier integrity. The change in intestinal microbiome/dysbiome repertoire is crucial to the development of dementia.
C9orf72 Repeat Expansion Frequency among Patients with Huntington Disease Genetic Testing
Authors: Ida Cristiane M. , Butz Malinda L. , Lundquist Patrick A. , Dawson D. Brian
Published: October 2018

Background: European studies identified the C9orf72 repeat expansion as the most frequent genetic alteration in patients with Huntington disease (HD)-like phenotypes but negative HD genetic testing. Objective: To investigate C9orf72 repeat expansion frequency in individuals tested for HD in a North American tertiary referral laboratory. Methods: Three hundred and seventy-three cases (115 positive and 258 negative for HD) were evaluated by genotyping PCR, with follow-up Southern blot and 5′ repeat methylation status assessment by combined repeat-primed and methylation-specific PCR in a subset. Results: Three cases (all HD-negative) tested positive: 2 had > 2,000 repeats and were methylated, 1 had 80–100 repeats and was unmethylated. Two cases (1 HD-positive and 1 HD-negative) had intermediate alleles (20–29 repeats) and were unmethylated. The remaining 368 cases were negative (< 20 repeats). C9orf72 repeat expansion was absent in patients with HD and was identified in a small subset (1.2%) of patients with negative HD genetic testing. Conclusion: These findings suggest that C9orf72 repeat expansion does not coexist with HTT repeat expansion and that C9orf72 repeat expansion testing is unnecessary for patients with HD. In addition, C9orf72 evaluation may be considered for individuals negative for HD genetic testing. Similar to in previous studies, methylation of C9orf72 repeat expansion was limited to large expansions.
Differences in the Efficacies of Pazopanib and Gemcitabine/Docetaxel as Second-Line Treatments for Metastatic Soft Tissue Sarcoma
Authors: Kim Jee Hung , Park Hyung Soon , Heo Su Jin , Kim Sang Kyum , Han Jung Woo , Shin Kyoo-Ho , Kim Seung Hyun , Hur Hyuk , Kim Kyung Sik , Choi Young Deuk , Kim Sunghoon , Lee Young Han , Suh Jin-Suck , Ahn Joong-Bae , Chung Hyun Cheol , Noh Sung Hoon , Rha Sun Young , Kim Hyo Song
Published: October 2018

Background: We retrospectively investigated the treatment outcomes of second-line treatment with pazopanib or gemcitabine/docetaxel in patients with advanced soft tissue sarcoma (STS). Methods: Ninety-one patients who were treated with pazopanib or gemcitabine/docetaxel for advanced STS between 1995 and 2015 were analyzed. Results: Forty-six and 45 patients received pazopanib and gemcitabine/docetaxel, respectively. The median progression-free survival for the group treated with pazopanib was 4.5 months compared with 3.0 months for the gemcitabine/docetaxel group (p = 0.593). The median overall survival for the group treated with pazopanib was 12.6 months compared with 14.2 months for the gemcitabine/docetaxel group (p = 0.362). The overall response rates (ORRs) were 6.5 and 26.7% in the pazopanib and gemcitabine/docetaxel groups, respectively. The following parameters had ORRs favoring gemcitabine/docetaxel: age ≥50 years (31.6 vs. 2.9%, p = 0.006), histologic grade 1–2 (40.9 vs. 0%, p = 0.001), and poor first-line treatment response (23.3 vs. 3.0%, p = 0.022). Gemcitabine/docetaxel was associated with better ORRs for the following histologic subtypes: leiomyosarcoma (p = 0.624), malignant fibrous histiocytoma/undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (p = 0.055), and angiosarcoma (p = 0.182). However, the ORR of synovial sarcoma favored pazopanib (p = 0.99). Conclusions: The efficacies of pazopanib and gemcitabine/docetaxel as second-line treatments after doxorubicin or ifosfamide failure differed among clinical and histologic subgroups and appeared to facilitate a more personalized treatment approach for advanced STS.
Atypical Presentation of PHACE Syndrome: Hidden Facial Hemangioma
Authors: Demartini Jr. Zeferino , Gatto Luana A.M. , Lages Roberto Oliver , Francisco Alexandre Novicki , Maeda Adriano Keijiro , Koppe Gelson Luis
Published: October 2018

PHACE(S) syndrome is a neurocutaneous syndrome with a wide array of presentations. The most known and present trait is facial hemangioma > 5 cm. The name is an acronym for Posterior fossa malformations, infantile Hemangiomas, Arterial anomalies, aortic Coarctation, Eye abnormalities, and middle-line malformations of the Sternum. The exact etiopathogenic mechanism of this syndrome is not fully understood, and its treatment depends on detailed and individualized assessment. The aim of this paper is to describe a child with a throat hemangioma, vascular malformations, cognitive delay, and other anomalies to illustrate the neuroimaging found in this syndrome.
Detection of Candida Endophthalmitis in a Newborn Using Handheld Spectral-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography
Authors: Dulanto-Reinoso Carlos M. , Martinez-Castellanos Maria Ana
Published: October 2018

In a newborn with candidemia, two retinal lesions were seen without external inflammatory signs or reaction in the anterior chamber or vitreous. However, handheld spectral domain-optical coherence tomography (HH SD-OCT) images show that one of the retinal lesions had a “firework display” projecting to the vitreous that was not identified in indirect ophthalmoscopy. This finding suggested a Candida endophthalmitis. HH SD-OCT findings allowed us to make an accurate diagnosis and, therefore, modified the decision-making process in the treatment of the pathology.
Glutamate-Related Antibodies and Peripheral Insulin-Like Growth Factor in Bipolar Disorder and Lithium Prophylaxis
Authors: Ferensztajn-Rochowiak Ewa , Kaczmarek Mariusz , Wójcicka Marlena , Kaufman-Szukalska Elzbieta , Dziuda Sebastian , Remlinger-Molenda Agnieszka , Szeliga-Neymann Agnieszka , Losy Jacek , Rybakowski Janusz K.
Published: October 2018

Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate serum levels of the antineuronal antibodies anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) and anti-glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD), and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), in patients with bipolar disorder (BD), during manic and depressive episodes and in remission compared to euthymic patients receiving long-term lithium therapy. Methods: Serum levels of anti-NMDAR and anti-GAD 450/620 antibodies, as well as IGF-1, were measured using the ELISA method in 19 manic and 17 depressed patients both in an acute episode and in remission after the episode. All of the subjects were under pharmacological treatment. The control group included 18 euthymic BD patients receiving lithium for 9–44 years (mean 22 ± 11) in whom a single measurement was performed. Results: Serum levels of anti-NMDAR antibodies were higher in acute manic episodes than in lithium-treated patients. Serum levels of anti-GAD 450/620 antibodies were higher in acute manic and depressive episodes compared to remission after the respective episode. Their values in both acute manic and depressive episodes were higher than those in lithium-treated patients. Serum levels of IGF-1 were higher in acute manic episodes and in remission after mania than in lithium-treated patients. Conclusion: Higher levels of anti-NMDAR and anti-GAD antibodies during episodes may point to an abnormality in the glutamatergic system in BD. Increased levels of IGF-1 during an acute manic episode and in remission after mania may constitute a compensatory mechanism against excitotoxicity. Lower levels of anti-NMDAR, anti-GAD antibodies, and IGF-1 during long-term lithium treatment may reflect normalization of this processes, contributing to mood stabilization.
Bilateral Spontaneous Hyphemas in a Patient with Aplastic Anemia
Authors: Siddiqui Mohammad Z. , Gebhard Grant , Behrens Alice , Sallam Ahmed , Uwaydat Sami
Published: October 2018

Bilateral spontaneous hyphemas are a rare ophthalmic event. Aplastic anemia is a hematologic condition with well-documented manifestations in the posterior segment but not the anterior segment. We present a patient with aplastic anemia without obvious risk factors for hyphema who developed bilateral spontaneous hyphemas. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of bilateral spontaneous hyphemas in a patient with aplastic anemia.
Change in metabolic and cognitive state among people of the Aral zone of ecological disaster
Authors: Namazbaeva Zulkiya , Battakova Sharbanu , Ibrayeva Lyazat , Sabirov Zhanbol
Published: October 2018

Risk factors in Aral Sea region include toxic metals that competitively interact with essential elements influencing their metabolism, affecting metabolic and cognitive functions. According to epidemiological data, cerebrovascular disease and thyroid function abnormality are the leading disorders. Cognitive and metabolic disorders are considered as risk factors in cerebrovascular diseases. Thus, the objective of current work was to determine the metabolic and cognitive state of people in Aralsk, associated with an imbalance of essential trace elements and find correlation between toxic metals load and psychoemotional status. 275 people between the ages of 21 and 45 years were involved. In evaluating cognitive state, a decrease in short-term memory for numbers and an increase in depression among subjects was found. An inverse correlation between the copper level in blood and short-term memory for numbers, between depression and iodine level in blood, between the zinc level in blood and the “attentional capacity” was also found. The results showed a significant metabolic stress among subjects during adaptation to a high chemical load. Data represent a cross-sectional age-dependent review of metabolic and cognitive processes and microelement metabolism among population, living in the Aral Sea region for a long time.
A new species of the genus Allopsontus Silvestri (Archaeognatha: Machilidae) from the Eastern Kazakhstan
Authors: KAPLIN VLADIMIR M.
Published: October 2018

A new bristletail species, Allopsontus ilyai sp. nov., is described from Eastern Kazakhstan. It is most similar to A. smelyanskii Kaplin described from Orenburg Region (Russia). The main differences between these species consist in the color of the eyes, structure of the paired ocelli, legs, urosternites, urocoxites VIII and IX. A key to the subgenera and species of the genus Allopsontus from Kazakhstan is given.
Morphology and description of infraciliary bands pattern in four Metadinium Awerinzew & Mutafowa, 1914 species (Ciliophora, Entodiniomorphida, Ophryoscolecidae) with taxonomic notes on the genus
Authors: CEDROLA FRANCIANE , ROSSI MARIANA FONSECA , MARTINELE ISABEL , D’AGOSTO MARTA , DIAS ROBERTO JÚNIO PEDROSO
Published: October 2018

The genus Metadinium includes ophryoscolecid ciliates, with two retractile ciliary zones in the anterior body portion, two broad skeletal plates, a lobed macronucleus and two contractile vacuoles. Species belonging to this genus were recorded in several geographical locations and in different host species. However, they were mostly described based on a single ciliatological technique, and until now, there is only one description of the infraciliary pattern in Metadinium ciliates (Metadinium medium). The present study performs the morphological and infraciliature characterization of four species belonging to Metadinium: M. esalqum, M. minorum, M. rotundatum and M. ypsilon; and presents taxonomic notes on the genus. The oral infraciliature in these four Metadinium species corresponds to the Diplodinium-type, pattern shared with genera Diplodinium, Diploplastron, Eudiplodinium, Eremoplastron and Polyplastron. A brief review conducted highlights the difficulty of delimiting Metadinium species due to the morphological similarity among them.
Description of Neptosternus haibini sp. nov. from China (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae: Laccophilinae)
Authors: PENG YUNFEI , JI LANZHU , BIAN DONGJU , HÁJEK JIŘÍ
Published: October 2018

Neptosternus haibini sp. nov. is described from Guangdong Province, China. The new species is very similar to N. wewalkai Balke, Hendrich & Yang, 1997, from which it can be recognised only by the shape of the male genitalia. The habitus and genitalia of both species are illustrated. Neptosternus pocsi Satô, 1972 is recorded from China (Yunnan province), and the Palaearctic region, for the first time. Currently, eight species of Neptosternus are known from China; a key to Chinese Neptosternus is provided.
Local Finite-Amplitude Wave Activity as a Diagnostic for Rossby Wave Packets
Authors: Ghinassi Paolo , Fragkoulidis Georgios , Wirth Volkmar
Published: October 2018

Upper-tropospheric Rossby wave packets (RWPs) are important dynamical features, because they are often associated with weather systems and sometimes act as precursors to high-impact weather. The present work introduces a novel diagnostic to identify RWPs and to quantify their amplitude. It is based on the local finite-amplitude wave activity (LWA) of Huang and Nakamura, which is generalized to the primitive equations in isentropic coordinates. The new diagnostic is applied to a specific episode containing large-amplitude RWPs and compared with a more traditional diagnostic based on the envelope of the meridional wind. In this case, LWA provides a more coherent picture of the RWPs and their zonal propagation. This difference in performance is demonstrated more explicitly in the framework of an idealized barotropic model simulation, where LWA is able to follow an RWP into its fully nonlinear stage, including cutoff formation and wave breaking, while the envelope diagnostic yields reduced amplitudes in such situations.
Creating Partnerships to Achieve Health Care Reform: Moving Beyond a Politics of Scale?
Authors: Hanlon Neil , Reay Trish , Snadden David , MacLeod Martha
Published: October 2018

This article critically exams efforts to achieve primary health care reform using a consultative and relationship-building approach. The study is set in a predominantly rural region of British Columbia, Canada, and concerns the efforts of a regional health authority to engage actively with community members to develop more integrated and patient-centered primary health care delivery. We examine points of tension between providers and administrators engaged in the reform process and show how these are often expressed discursively as a binary opposition involving central and local interests. We offer a critical examination of this politics of scale and seek to unpack claims of hierarchy and power as a means to offer insight into health care reform processes more generally.
Low pay but still we stay: Retention in early childhood education and care
Authors: McDonald Paula , Thorpe Karen , Irvine Susan
Published: October 2018

A professional, skilled and engaged early childhood workforce is critical to economic and social productivity and positive life trajectories for children. Yet high staff turnover, skill loss and unmet standards of staff qualification pervade the sector, limiting optimal outcomes. For many early childhood educators, alternatives of better paid and less challenging sources of employment are available in other employment sectors, a fact that explains turnover rates as high as 30%. However, this study reverses the emphasis on why early childhood educators leave the sector and asks instead ‘Why do so many stay?'. This question is a significant one when it is considered that the remuneration of educators in early childhood barely meets minimum wage thresholds, and that they face challenging working conditions and few opportunities for career progression. The findings of the study contribute to an understanding of retention in early childhood education and care occupations specifically, and in feminised, low-paid occupational groups more broadly. The study also informs policy and strategy responses to low retention in the early childhood sector in Australia and internationally.
Book review: Vijaya Ramaswamy (ed.), Women and Work in Precolonial India: A Reader
Authors: Bal Gurpreet
Published: October 2018

Vijaya Ramaswamy (ed.), Women and Work in Precolonial India: A Reader. New Delhi: SAGE Publications, 2016, 446 pp., ₹1,095 (paperback). ISBN: 978-93-515-0741-3.
Book review: Mihir Shah and P. S. Vijayshankar (eds), Water: Growing Understanding, Emerging Perspectives
Authors: Das Amiya Kumar
Published: October 2018

Mihir Shah and P. S. Vijayshankar (eds), Water: Growing Understanding, Emerging Perspectives. Hyderabad: Orient BlackSwan, 2016, xiv + 559 pp., ₹760 (paperback). ISBN: 978-81-250-6292-9.
Book review: Adam Ziegfeld, Why Regional Parties? Clientelism, Elites, and the Indian Party System
Authors: Beri Suraj
Published: October 2018

Adam Ziegfeld, Why Regional Parties? Clientelism, Elites, and the Indian Party System. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press, 2016, xix + 288 pp., ₹1,780 (hardback). ISBN: 978-1-107-11868-3.
What future awaits couples Living Apart Together (LAT)?
Authors: Ayuso Luis
Published: October 2018

In recent years there has been increased interest in couples Living Apart Together (LAT) within the sociology of the family in Europe. One of the main questions concerns understanding their evolution over time. Given the lack of longitudinal data, the present study focuses as a proxy to study the perception LATs hold of their future and the influencing factors. Based on data from the Generations and Gender Survey (GGS), a sample of 5253 people in LAT relationships was taken from seven European countries. The results show that the future intentions of these couples are conditioned by the understanding of the family in different European countries, the age of its members and, above all, the social pressure exerted by family and friends to live together and/or marry.
Non-invasive monitoring of longitudinal changes in cerebral hemodynamics in acute ischemic stroke using BOLD signal delay
Authors: Khalil Ahmed A , Villringer Kersten , Filleböck Vivien , Hu Jiun-Yiing , Rocco Andrea , Fiebach Jochen B , Villringer Arno
Published: October 2018

Relative delays in blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) signal oscillations can be used to assess cerebral perfusion without using contrast agents. However, little is currently known about the utility of this method in detecting clinically relevant perfusion changes over time. We investigated the relationship between longitudinal BOLD delay changes, vessel recanalization, and reperfusion in 15 acute stroke patients with vessel occlusion examined within 24 h of symptom onset (D0) and one day later (D1). We created BOLD delay maps using time shift analysis of resting-state functional MRI data and quantified perfusion lesion volume changes (using the D1/D0 volume ratio) and severity changes (using a linear mixed model) over time. Between baseline and follow-up, BOLD delay lesions shrank (median D1/D0 ratio = 0.2, IQR = 0.03–0.7) and BOLD delay severity decreased (b = −4.4 s) in patients with recanalization, whereas they grew (median D1/D0 ratio = 1.47, IQR = 1.1–1.7) and became more severe (b = 4.3 s) in patients with persistent vessel occlusion. Clinically relevant changes in cerebral perfusion in early stroke can be detected using BOLD delay, making this non-invasive method a promising option for detecting tissue at risk of infarction and monitoring stroke patients following recanalization therapy.