bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hip Reconstruction in Children With Unilateral Cerebral Palsy and Hip Dysplasia
Authors: Abousamra Oussama , Er Mehmet S. , Rogers Kenneth J. , Nishnianidze Tristan , Dabney Kirk W. , Miller Freeman
Published: June 2015

Background:

Highly functioning children with unilateral cerebral palsy (CP) who have hip involvement (type IV hemiplegia) may present with hip dysplasia during their adolescence. The aim of this report is to assess the outcomes of combined femoral and acetabular reconstruction in this population.

Methods:

This study is a retrospective review of all patients with unilateral CP, Gross Motor Function Classification System types I and II, who had hip reconstruction for unilateral dysplasia between 1989 and 2013. Clinical variables (pain and hip passive range of motion) were reviewed. Hip morphology was assessed radiographically according to Melbourne Cerebral Palsy Hip Classification System. Three-dimensional gait analyses were also reviewed to evaluate the effect of surgery on these patients’ gaits.

Results:

Twelve patients were included with a mean age at surgery of 14 years (range, 7 to 19 y) and follow-up mean of 4 years (range, 1 to 8 y). Nine hips were improved according to Melbourne Cerebral Palsy Hip Classification System. Migration percentage decreased significantly (P<0.001) from 45% (30% to 86%) to 15% (0% to 28%). Neck shaft angle decreased (P<0.001) from 144 degrees (range, 129 to 156 degrees) to 125 degrees (range, 114 to 139 degrees). Tonnis angle and Sharp angle also decreased significantly. All patients were pain free at the last visit. Overall level of gait function as measured by Gait Deviation Index and Gait Profile Score [78 (61 to 89) and 12 (8 to 16), respectively] for all patients was maintained without significant changes.

Conclusions:

In hemiplegic type IV CP, with high functional level (Gross Motor Function Classification System I and II), hip dysplasia is a rare occurrence during adolescent years. Combined hip reconstruction improves hip morphology, relieves pain, and maintains a high level of function.

Level of Evidence:

Level IV—therapeutic study.
Association Analysis of SLC6A20 Polymorphisms With Hirschsprung Disease
Authors: Lee Jin Sol , Oh Jung‐Tak , Kim Jeong‐Hyun , Seo Jeong‐Meen , Kim Dae‐Yeon , Park Kwi‐Won , Kim Hyun‐Young , Jung Kyuwhan , Park Byung Lae , Koh InSong , Shin Hyoung Doo
Published: June 2015

Purpose:

Hirschsprung disease (HSCR) is a congenital and heterogeneous disorder, which is caused by no neuronal ganglion cells in part or all of distal gastrointestinal tract. Recently, our genome‐wide association study has identified solute carrier family 6, proline IMINO transporter, member 20 (SLC6A20) as one of the potential risk factors for HSCR development. This study performed a replication study for the association of SLC6A20 polymorphisms with HSCR and an extended analysis to investigate further associations for subgroups and haplotypes.

Methods:

For the replication study, a total of 40 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of SLC6A20 were genotyped in 187 HSCR subjects composed of 121 short‐segment HSCR, 45 long‐segment HSCR (L‐HSCR), 21 total colonic aganglionosis, and 283 unaffected controls. Imputation was performed using genotype data from our genome‐wide association study and this replication study.

Results:

Imputed meta‐analysis revealed that 13 SLC6A20 SNPs (minimum P = 0.0002 at rs6770261) were significantly associated with HSCR even after correction for multiple comparisons using false discovery rate (FDR) (minimum PFDR = 0.005). In further subgroup analysis, SLC6A20 polymorphisms appeared to have increased associations with L‐HSCR. Moreover, haplotype analysis also showed significant associations between 2 haplotypes (BL3_ht2 and BL4_ht2) and HSCR susceptibility (PFDR < 0.05).

Conclusions:

Although further replications and functional evaluations are required, our results suggest that SLC6A20 may have roles in HSCR development and in the extent of aganglionic segment during enteric nervous system development.
Demographic superiority with increased logging in tropical understorey insectivorous birds
Authors: Srinivasan Umesh , Hines James E. , Quader Suhel
Published: June 2015

Selective logging is pervasive in the tropics and is among the most urgent threats to tropical biodiversity. The vast areas of logged tropical forest are often vulnerable to relogging, clear‐felling, burning or conversion to plantations, despite evidence that logged forests retain a large proportion of tropical forest species at high abundances compared with alternate land uses. However, the demographic processes (e.g. survival, fecundity) that drive community or species properties (e.g. occurrence, density) in response to logging have never been examined.

We used a novel capture–recapture‐based sampling design to separate in situ reproduction from immigration‐fuelled recruitment to investigate the demographic vital rates of six forest‐dependent understorey insectivorous bird species along a logging continuum in the Eastern Himalaya Global Biodiversity Hotspot. We expected a positive relationship between forest intactness and reproductive rates, and that intact patches would contribute ‘excess’ individuals to logged patches from natal dispersal.

Contrary to our expectations, we found: (i) a positive relationship between logging intensity and reproduction, and (ii) evidence of natal dispersal from more logged to less logged and intact forest patches. Our results indicate that for certain forest‐dependent species in particular contexts, selectively logged habitats can have surprising and hitherto unrecognized demographic value that might be superior even to primary forest.

Synthesis and applications. In most tropical settings, logged forests can not only support a greater subset of forest biodiversity than other forms of land use (for instance, agriculture), but can also play an important role in supporting populations of certain forest‐dependent species. The ongoing conversion of large swathes of logged forest to non‐forest habitat (such as oil palm plantation) because of their perceived lack of importance for biodiversity is a cause for serious concern for the conservation of tropical biodiversity.
Relationship between cytokine expression patterns and clinical outcomes: two population‐based birth cohorts
Authors: Wu J. , Prosperi M. C. F. , Simpson A. , Hollams E. M. , Sly P. D. , Custovic A. , Holt P. G.
Published: June 2015

Background

Models that incorporate patterns of multiple cytokine responses to allergens, rather than individual cytokine production, may better predict sensitization and asthma.

Objective

To characterize the patterns of peripheral blood mononuclear cells’ (PBMCs) cytokine responses to house dust mite (HDM) allergens among children from two population‐based birth cohorts using machine learning techniques.

Methods

PBMCs collected at 8 years of age from the UK Manchester Asthma and Allergy Study (n = 268) and at 14 years of age from the Australian Raine Study (n = 1374) were cultured with HDM extract (10 μg/ml). Cytokine expression (IL‐13, IL‐5, IFN‐γ, and IL10) was measured in the supernatant. Cytokine patterns were identified using a Gaussian mixture model clustering, and classification stability was assessed by bootstrapping.

Results

A six‐class model indicated complex latent structure of cytokine expression. Based on the characteristics of each class, we designated them as follows: ‘Nonresponders’ (n = 905, 55%); ‘IL‐10 responders’ (n = 49, 3%); ‘IFN‐γ and IL‐13 medium responders’ (n = 56, 3.4%); ‘IL‐13 medium responders’ (n = 351, 21.4%); ‘IL‐5 and IL‐13 medium responders’ (n = 77, 4.7%); and ‘IL‐13 and IL‐5 high responders’ (n = 204, 12.4%). ‘IL‐13 and IL‐5 high responders’ were at much higher risk of HDM sensitization and asthma compared to all other classes, with 88% of children assigned to this class being sensitized and 28.5% having asthma.

Conclusion

Using model‐based clustering, we identified several distinct patterns of cytokine response to HDM and observed interplay between cytokine expression level, cytokine patterns (especially IL‐13 and IL‐5), and clinical outcomes. ‘IL‐13 and IL‐5 high responders’ class was strongly associated with HDM sensitization. However, among HDM‐sensitized children, one‐third showed no PBMC response to HDM, and the majority of HDM‐sensitized children did not have asthma or wheeze. Our findings suggest that positive HDM ‘allergy tests’ and asthma are associated with a broad range of immunophenotypes, which may have important implications for the use of cytokine‐targeted treatment approaches.
Role of Bottom‐Up Decision Processes in Improving the Quality of Health Care Delivery: A Contingency Perspective
Authors: Senot Claire , Chandrasekaran Aravind , Ward Peter T.
Published: June 2015

Recent changes to health care reimbursements policy mandate hospitals to improve simultaneously on conformance and experiential quality. Conformance quality measures the level of caregivers' adherence to evidence‐based standards of care while experiential quality measures the level of interaction between caregivers and patients. Hospitals operate in regulated environments characterized by heavy top‐down control mechanisms that are conducible for improving conformance quality. However, mechanisms that propel experiential quality, which emerges from the operational‐level interactions between caregivers and patients, remain unclear. This study employs a two‐phase multi‐method research to investigate this issue. The first phase uses qualitative data from five U.S. acute care hospitals involving 49 semi‐structured interviews and develops hypotheses on the effect of bottom‐up and top‐down decision processes on hospitals' ability to simultaneously improve on conformance and experiential quality. These hypotheses are then tested and refined using secondary data for a sample of 3,124 U.S. acute care hospitals between the years of 2006 and 2012. Results from the case analyses suggest that Magnet status, a sign of bottom‐up decision processes, is associated with hospitals' ability to improve on both conformance and experiential quality. However, hospitals' administrative intensity, which relates to top‐down decision processes, appears to mitigate the effect of Magnet status on simultaneous improvement. Testing this framework using large‐scale secondary data supports the positive effect of Magnet status on simultaneous improvement. However, we do not find support for a negative moderating effect of administrative intensity. A follow‐up analysis reveals that this moderation is in fact curvilinear (inverted U‐shape), which indicates that a moderate level of administrative intensity is most beneficial to the relationship between Magnet status and simultaneous improvement. Taken together, our results provide new insights into the complementary between top‐down and bottom‐up decision processes in hospitals.
The Influence of Carbohydrate Mouth Rinse on Self-Selected Intermittent Running Performance
Authors: Rollo Ian , Homewood George , Williams Clyde , Carter James , Goosey-Tolfrey Vicky L.
Published: June 2015

This study investigated the influence of mouth rinsing a carbohydrate solution on self-selected intermittent variable-speed running performance. Eleven male amateur soccer players completed a modified version of the Loughborough Intermittent Shuttle Test (LIST) on 2 occasions separated by 1 wk. The modified LIST allowed the self-selection of running speeds during Block 6 of the protocol (75–90 min). Players rinsed and expectorated 25 ml of noncaloric placebo (PLA) or 10% maltodextrin solution (CHO) for 10 s, routinely during Block 6 of the LIST. Self-selected speeds during the walk and cruise phases of the LIST were similar between trials. Jogging speed was significantly faster during the CHO (11.3 ± 0.7 km·h−1) than during the PLA trial (10.5 ± 1.3 km · h−1) (p = .010); 15-m sprint speeds were not different between trials (PLA: 2.69 ± 0.18 s: CHO: 2.65 ± 0.13 s) (F(2, 10), p = .157), but significant benefits were observed for sprint distance covered (p = .024). The threshold for the smallest worthwhile change in sprint performance was set at 0.2 s. Inferential statistical analysis showed the chance that CHO mouth rinse was beneficial, negligible, or detrimental to repeated sprint performance was 86%, 10%, and 4%, respectively. In conclusion, mouth rinsing and expectorating a 10% maltodextrin solution was associated with a significant increase in self-selected jogging speed. Repeated 15-m sprint performance was also 86% likely to benefit from routinely mouth rinsing a carbohydrate solution in comparison with a taste-matched placebo.
A Guided Reflection Intervention for High Performance Basketball Coaches
Authors: Koh Koon Teck , Mallett Clifford J. , Camiré Martin , Wang Chee Keng John
Published: June 2015

The purpose of this study was to conduct a guided reflection intervention for high performance basketball coaches. The study participants included two head basketball coaches and 10 of their players who were part of elite youth teams in Singapore. The coaches were highly experienced, each with 17 and 20 years of coaching experience respectively, and the players from both teams (one male and one female) reported on average three years of playing experience at the national youth level. The Singapore coaching behavior scale for sport (CBS-S basketball), on-site observations, and interviews were used to gather data from the coaches and players. Coaches also kept a reflective journal throughout the intervention. The results showed how the coaches responded differently to the guided reflection intervention (implemented by the first author) in terms of their willingness to adapt and integrate new perspectives into their coaching practice. The coaches’ level of reflection was found to be contingent upon a) their motivation and desire to be engaged in the process and b) the worth they saw in the learning facilitator’s recommendations to improve their athletes’ technical and tactical development. The results also showed how the coaches’ behaviors were linked to players’ satisfaction level with their work. The results are discussed using the coaching science literature and practical implications are proposed to optimize coaches’ use of reflection as a learning tool to improve their coaching practice.
Elite Athletes Refine Their Internal Clocks: A Bayesian Analysis
Authors: Chen Yin-Hua , Verdinelli Isabella , Cesari Paola
Published: June 2015

This paper carries out a full Bayesian analysis for a data set examined in Chen & Cesari (2015). These data were collected for assessing people’s ability in evaluating short intervals of time. Chen & Cesari (2015) showed evidence of the existence of two independent internal clocks for evaluating time intervals below and above the second. We reexamine here, the same question by performing a complete statistical Bayesian analysis of the data. The Bayesian approach can be used to analyze these data thanks to the specific trial design. Data were obtained from evaluation of time ranges from two groups of individuals. More specifically, information gathered from a nontrained group (considered as baseline) allowed us to build a prior distribution for the parameter(s) of interest, and data from the trained group determined the likelihood function. This paper’s main goals are (i) showing how the Bayesian inferential method can be used in statistical analyses and (ii) showing that the Bayesian methodology gives additional support to the findings presented in Chen & Cesari (2015) regarding the existence of two internal clocks in assessing duration of time intervals.
Associations of epithelial c-kit expression in phyllodes tumours of the breast
Authors: Tawasil John , Go Edna May L , Tsang Julia Y S , Ni Yun-Bi , Ko Chun-Wai , Tse Gary M
Published: June 2015

Background

Mammary phyllodes tumours (PT) are rare biphasic neoplasms but have important clinical significance. Both epithelial and stromal components participate in PT development. Despite a number of studies on stromal c-kit in PT, little is known about the role of its epithelial expression.

Objective

To further evaluate the stromal and epithelial expression of c-kit in a cohort of patients with PT.

Method and results

Expression of c-kit in both epithelial and stromal components was examined and correlated with histological features in PT. Stromal c-kit expression was associated positively with stromal cellularity (median expression=10.0, 30.0 and 50.0 from mild to severe cellularity; p=0.019). Conversely, a significant negative trend between epithelial c-kit expression with stromal pleomorphism (median expression=55.0, 30.0 and 2.5 from mild to severe pleomorphism; p=0.043) and mitosis (median expression=70.0 and 20.0 for low and high mitosis respectively; p=0.003); and a trend of negative correlation with increased PT grade was found. Despite these reverse associations, epithelial and stromal c-kit expressions were positively correlated with each other. Notably, the correlation of stromal c-kit expression with malignant histological features appeared to be stronger in cases with low epithelial c-kit expression but not in those with high epithelial c-kit expression.

Conclusions

This study demonstrated the association of epithelial c-kit expression with stromal histological features and stromal c-kit. Interestingly, epithelial c-kit expression affected the strength of the correlation of stromal c-kit with these histological features. These findings provide further evidence of the interaction between the epithelial and stromal components in PT.
Narratives of neoliberalism: ‘clinical labour’ in context
Authors: Parry Bronwyn
Published: June 2015

Cross-border reproductive care has been thrust under the international spotlight by a series of recent scandals. These have prompted calls to develop more robust means of assessing the exploitative potential of such practices and the need for overarching and normative forms of national and international regulation. Allied theorisations of the emergence of forms of clinical labour have cast the outsourcing of reproductive services such as gamete donation and gestational surrogacy as artefacts of a wider neoliberalisation of service provision. These accounts share with many other narratives of neoliberalism a number of key assertions that relate to the presumed organisation of labour relations within this paradigm. This article critically engages with four assumptions implicit in these accounts: that clinical labourers constitute a largely homogeneous underclass of workers; that reproductive labour has been contractualised in ways that disembed it from wider social and communal relations; that contractualisation can provide protection for clinical labour lessening the need for formal regulatory oversight; and that the transnationalisation of reproductive service labour is largely unidirectional and characterised by a dynamic of provision in which ‘the rest’ services ‘the West’. Drawing on the first findings of a large-scale ethnographic research project into assisted reproduction in India I provide evidence to refute these assertions. In so doing the article demonstrates that while the outsourcing and contractualisation of reproductive labour may be embedded in a wider neoliberal paradigm these practices cannot be understood nor their impacts be fully assessed in isolation from their social and cultural contexts.
Critical neuroscience meets medical humanities
Authors: Slaby Jan
Published: June 2015

This programmatic theory paper sketches a conceptual framework that might inspire work incriticalMedical Humanities. For this purpose, Kaushik Sunder Rajan's account of biocapital is revisited and discussed in relation to the perspective of acritical neuroscience. Critical neuroscience is an encompassing positioning towards the recent public prominence of the brain and brain-related practices, tools and discourses. The proposed analytical scheme has five focal nodes: capital, life, technoscience, (neoliberal) politics and subjectivity. A special emphasis will be placed on contemporary framings of subjectivity, as it is here where deep-reaching entanglements of personhood with scientific practice and discourse, medical and informational technologies, and economic formations are most evident. Notably, the emerging subject position of the ‘prospective health consumer’ will be discussed as it figures prominently in the terrain between neuroscience and other medico-scientific disciplines.
Predictors and prognostic value of left atrial remodelling after acute myocardial infarction
Authors: Kyhl Kasper , Vejlstrup Niels , Lønborg Jacob , Treiman Marek , Ahtarovski Kiril Aleksov , Helqvist Steffen , Kelbæk Henning , Holmvang Lene , Jørgensen Erik , Saunamäki Kari , Søholm Helle , Andersen Mads J , Møller Jacob E , Clemmensen Peter , Engstrøm Thomas
Published: June 2015

Purpose

Left atrial (LA) volume is a strong prognostic predictor in patients following ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). However, the change in LA volume over time (LA remodelling) following STEMI has been scarcely studied. We sought to identify predictors for LA remodelling and to evaluate the prognostic importance of LA remodelling.

Methods

This is a subgroup analysis from a randomised clinical trial that evaluated the cardioprotective effect of exenatide treatment. A total of 160 patients with STEMI underwent a cardiovascular MR (CMR) 2 days after primary angioplasty and a second scan 3 months later. LA remodelling was defined as changes in LA volume or function from baseline to 3 months follow-up. Major adverse cardiac events were registered after a median of 5.2 years.

Results

Adverse LA minimum volume (LAmin) remodelling was correlated to the presence of hypertension, larger infarct size by CMR, higher peak troponin T, larger area at risk and adverse left ventricular (LV) remodelling. LA maximum volume (LAmax) remodelling was correlated to larger infarct size by CMR, higher peak troponin T, larger area at risk, larger LV mass, impaired LV function and adverse LV remodelling. Kaplan-Meier and Log Rank analyses showed that patients in the highest tertiles of LAmin or LAmax remodelling are at higher risk (0.030 and p=0.018).

Conclusions

After a myocardial infarction, LA remodelling reflects a parallel ventricular-atrial remodelling. Infarct size is a major determinant of LA remodelling following STEMI and adverse LA remodelling is associated with an unfavourable prognosis.
Differential privacy preserving clustering using Daubechies-2 wavelet transform
Authors: Dishabi Mohammad Reza Ebrahimi , Azgomi Mohammad Abdollahi
Published: June 2015

Most of the existing privacy preserving clustering (PPC) algorithms do not consider the worst case privacy guarantees and are based on heuristic notions. In addition, these algorithms do not run efficiently in the case of high dimensionality of data. In this paper, to alleviate these challenges, we propose a new PPC algorithm, which is based on Daubechies-2 wavelet transform (D2WT) and preserves the differential privacy notion. Differential privacy is the strong notion of privacy, which provides the worst case privacy guarantees. On the other hand, most of the existing differential-based PPC algorithms generate data with poor utility. If we apply differential privacy properties over the original raw data, the resulting data will offer lower quality of clustering (QOC) during the clustering analysis. Therefore, we use D2WT for the preprocessing of the original data before adding noise to the data. By applying D2WT to the original data, the resulting data not only contains lower dimension compared to the original data, but also can provide differential privacy guarantee with high QOC due to less noise addition. The proposed algorithm has been implemented and experimented over some well-known datasets. We also compare the proposed algorithm with some recently introduced algorithms based on utility and privacy degrees.
THE WHITE ROMAN GOOSE AS A HOST FOR INFECTION AND VIRAL SHEDDING OF MUSCOVY DUCK PARVOVIRUS
Authors: Yen Ting-Ying , Li Kuang-Po , Ou Shan-Chia , Shien Jui-Hung , Chang Poa-Chun
Published: June 2015

Waterfowl parvoviruses are divided into two groups: the goose parvovirus (GPV) group and the Muscovy duck parvovirus (MDPV) group. Previous study shows that GPV causes the disease in both geese and Muscovy ducks whereas MDPV causes the disease only in ducks but not in geese. However, the possibility remains that MDPV might cause asymptomatic infection in geese. In this study, the white Roman geese were experimentally inoculated with MDPV. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis showed that the geese inoculated with MDPV shed virus from cloaca from one to four weeks post-inoculation. Western blot analysis showed that these geese also produced antibodies against MDPV from three weeks post-inoculation. In addition, the presence of MDPV in field samples collected from geese was confirmed by PCR and sequencing analysis. Taken together, these results indicated that the goose is a host for infection and viral shedding of MDPV. This finding is important for the control of MDPV infection in the field.
Numerical Simulation of the Direct Radiative Effects of Dust Aerosol on the East Asian Winter Monsoon
Authors: Sun Hui , Liu Xiaodong
Published: June 2015

Variations of the East Asian winter monsoon (EAWM) induced by dust aerosol are studied by using a regional climate model (RegCM4/Dust). Dust coupled and uncoupled experiments are carried out for the past decade (2000–2009). The coupled RegCM4 captures three centers of dust mixing ratio (DMR) located in the Taklamakan Desert, western Inner Mongolia, and northern Xinjiang, respectively, with maximum values greater than 500 µg kg−1in winter. The surface total radiation change induced by dust is negative, and its central value of −8 W m−2results in surface temperature cooling by 1.5°C in winter. Dust induced radiation change at the top of the atmosphere (TOA) is also negative in Northern China, except over the Tibetan Plateau (TP), and up to −5 W m−2in Central China. Dust cooling effects increase the sea level pressure (SLP) gradient between land and ocean, the cold surge frequency, and the East Asian jet stream (EAJ) intensity and then enhance the EAWM. The dry and cold wind pervade most areas of East Asia, suppressing large-scale precipitation and eventually leading to a rainfall decrease of about 10–30% in Northern China and the middle Yangtze River Valley.
Healing Relationships: A Qualitative Study of Healers and Their Clients in Germany
Authors: Stöckigt B. M. H. , Besch F. , Jeserich F. , Holmberg C. , Witt C. M. , Teut M.
Published: June 2015

Background. The aim of this study was to investigate the nature of the relationships between healers and their clients in Germany.Methods. An interdisciplinary research team performed semistructured interviews with healers and clients and participatory observation of healing sessions. All interviews were digitally recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using content analysis.Results. Fifteen healers and sixteen clients were included. The healer-client relationship was described as a profound and unique experience, which brought forth interpersonal and spiritual connections. The healers were seen as role models for healing to occur and support for being connected spiritually. The clients had to be open-minded and responsible. The importance of the healers’ empathy was emphasized.Discussion. The relationship between healer and client can be seen as a triangular connection between client, healer, and a transcendent source which is not the case in typical patient-doctor relationships. The spiritual connection is also said to enhance the empathetic understanding of the healer. The personality and a partner-like attitude of the healer supported the client in giving a more positive meaning to his life, in reconnecting to his spirituality, and in taking responsibility. Future studies should address the role of spirituality in health care and the development of enduring healer-client relationships.
HULC and H19 Played Different Roles in Overall and Disease-Free Survival from Hepatocellular Carcinoma after Curative Hepatectomy: A Preliminary Analysis from Gene Expression Omnibus
Authors: Yang Zongguo , Lu Yunfei , Xu Qingnian , Tang Bozong , Park Cheol-Keun , Chen Xiaorong
Published: June 2015

Objective. This study aimed to evaluate the relationships between long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in tumor tissues and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) aggressiveness and survival.Methods. We correlated the lncRNAs in tumor tissues with HCC survival and clinicopathological features based on Gene Expression Omnibus expression profile GSE36376.Results. Eight lncRNAs and 240 HCC patients were included. Cox regression analysis indicated that HULC was a positive factor for HCC overall survival (HR = 0.885, 95% CI = 0.797–0.983, andP=0.023) and disease-free survival time (HR = 0.913, 95% CI = 0.835–0.998, andP=0.045). H19 and UCA1 were both demonstrated to be risk factors of HCC disease-free survival in multivariate Cox model (HR = 1.071, 95% CI = 1.01–1.137, andP=0.022and HR = 2.4, 95% CI = 1.092–5.273, andP=0.029, resp.). But Kaplan-Meier method showed no significant association between UCA1 and HCC disease-free survival (log rankP=0.616). Logistic regression demonstrated that H19 was overexpressed in HBV-infected patients (OR = 1.14, 95% CI = 1.008–1.29, andP=0.037). HULC had a significant association with vascular invasion (OR = 0.648, 95% CI = 0.523–0.803, andP<0.001). H19 and MEG3 were both considered to be risk factors for high AFP level (OR = 1.45, 95% CI = 1.277–1.646, andP<0.001and OR = 1.613, 95% CI = 1.1–2.365, andP=0.014, resp.).Conclusions. Contributing to decreased susceptibility to vascular invasion, upregulation of HULC in tumor tissues was positively associated with HCC survival. In contrast, H19 overexpression might be risk factor for HCC aggressiveness and poor outcomes.
Liver Trauma in the Kitchen: Preparing Whipped Cream with a Siphon Is Not without Risk
Authors: Bourenne Jeremy , Eon Béatrice , Bouzana Fouad , Lambert Dominique , Jean Estelle , Michelet Pierre , Gainnier Marc
Published: June 2015

We report the case of a 36-year-old woman suffering from liver injury caused by the malfunction of a whipped cream siphon. When this patient handled the whipped cream siphon, the screwed metallic upper part of the siphon was suddenly dissociated from its base and came violently striking her right hypochondrium. At first, the severity of injury was underestimated. Subsequently, due to the persistence of pain experienced by the patient, an abdominal CT scan was performed. It highlighted a severe liver injury with rupture of a branch of the hepatic artery. The evolution was favorable after completion of an embolization and a secondary capsular rupture.
Meniscal Bearing Dislocation of Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty with Faint Symptom
Authors: Fujii Tadashi , Matsui Yoshio , Noboru Marehoshi , Inagaki Yusuke , Kadoya Yoshinori , Tanaka Yasuhito
Published: June 2015

We experienced two cases of atypical lateral dislocations of meniscal bearing in UKA (unicompartmental knee arthroplasty) without manifest symptoms. The dislocated bearing, which jumped onto the wall of tibial components, was found on radiographs in periodic medical examination although they could walk. Two thicker size bearing exchanges were promptly performed before metallosis and loosening of components. Continual examination is important to mobile bearing type of UKA because slight or less symptoms may disclose such unique dislocation. One case showed malrotation of the femoral component on 3D image. Anteroposterior view hardly disclosed the malrotation of the femoral component. Epicondylar view is an indispensable view of importance, and it can demonstrate the rotation of the femoral component. The the femoral distal end is wedge shaped and is wider posteriorly. If the femoral component is set according to the shape of medial condyle, the femoral component shifts to medial site compared with tibial component in flexion. It can account for such rare dislocation as follows. If excessive force applies on most medial side of the bearing during flexion, the lateral part of the bearing pops and the force squeezes it laterally simultaneously. Finally, the bearing jumps onto the lateral wall of the tibial component.
45,X/47,XXX Mosaicism and Short Stature
Authors: Everest Erica , Tsilianidis Laurie A. , Haider Anzar , Rogers Douglas G. , Raissouni Nouhad , Schweiger Bahareh
Published: June 2015

We describe the case of a ten-year-old girl with short stature and 45,X/47,XXX genotype. She also suffered from vesicoureteric reflux and kidney dysfunction prior to having surgery on her ureters. Otherwise, she does not have any of the characteristics of Turner nor Triple X syndrome. It has been shown that this mosaic condition as well as other varieties creates a milder phenotype than typical Turner syndrome, which is what we mostly see in our patient. However, this patient is a special case, because she is exceptionally short. Overall, one cannot predict the resultant phenotype in these mosaic conditions. This creates difficulty in counseling parents whose children or fetuses have these karyotypes.
Testing Van Gool’s Hypothesis: A Method to Predict Side Effects of Cholinesterase Inhibitors in Patients with Cellular Degenerative and Vascular Dementia
Authors: van Eijk Liza , Groot Erwin R. , van Spronsen Maritza , Maas Yvonne J. , Keeser Daniel , Pogarell Oliver , Engelbregt Hessel J.
Published: June 2015

This study investigates a method to predict medical outcome of cholinesterase inhibitors in patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VaD). Van Gool predicts that patients with cholinergic deficit symptoms will benefit from treatment whereas patients without will experience side effects because of overstimulation of the cholinergic system. We predicted that AD and VaD patients with a longer RT experience fewer side effects than patients with a faster response and that VaD patients have a longer RT than AD patients. A number of 71 patients with AD or VaD diagnosis were included. A sustained attention task was administered, as well as the MMSE and a questionnaire about side effects. Results indicated that VaD patients with a longer RT reported fewer side effects. Furthermore, patients with VaD had a longer RT than patients with AD. MMSE was negatively correlated with RT in the VaD group. Thus, the performance on the attention task seems associated with suffering from side effects and thus tends to predict medical outcome in VaD, but not in AD. Perhaps this attention task was not sensitive enough to measure cholinergic deficit symptoms in AD patients. Furthermore, different doses of medication might confound the effect for the AD group.
NDN-CRAHNs: Named Data Networking for Cognitive Radio Ad Hoc Networks
Authors: Rehman Rana Asif , Kim Jong , Kim Byung-Seo
Published: June 2015

Named data networking (NDN) is a newly proposed paradigm for future Internet, in which communication among nodes is based on data names, decoupling from their locations. In dynamic and self-organized cognitive radio ad hoc networks (CRAHNs), it is difficult to maintain end-to-end connectivity between ad hoc nodes especially in the presence of licensed users and intermittent wireless channels. Moreover, IP-based CRAHNs have several issues like scalability, inefficient-mapping, poor resource utilization, and location dependence. By leveraging the advantages of NDN, in this paper, we propose a new cross layer fine-grained architecture called named data networking for cognitive radio ad hoc networks (NDN-CRAHNs). The proposed architecture provides distinct features such as in-networking caching, security, scalability, and multipath routing. The performances of the proposed scheme are evaluated comparing to IP-based scheme in terms of average end-to-end delay and packet delivery ratio. Simulation results show that the proposed scheme is effective in terms of average contents download time and packet delivery ratios comparing to conventional cognitive radio ad hoc networks.
Analysis on Global Asymptotical Stability of Genetic Regulatory Networks with Time-Varying Delays via Convex Combination Method
Authors: Liu Yang , Wu Haixia
Published: June 2015

The global asymptotical stability analysis for genetic regulatory networks with time delays is concerned. By using Lyapunov functional theorem, LMIs, and convex combination method, a new delay-dependent stability criterion has been presented in terms of LMIs to guarantee the delayed genetic regulatory networks to be asymptotically stable. The restriction that the derivatives of the time-varying delays are less than one is removed. Our result is applicable to both fast and slow time-varying delays. The stability criterion has less conservative and wider application range. Experimental result has been used to demonstrate the usefulness of the main results and less conservativeness of the proposed method.
Association betweenAKT1Gene Polymorphism rs2498794 and Smoking-Related Traits with reference to Cancer Susceptibility
Authors: Nishizawa Daisuke , Kasai Shinya , Hasegawa Junko , Sato Naomi , Tanioka Fumihiko , Sugimura Haruhiko , Ikeda Kazutaka , Dobashi Yoh
Published: June 2015

To clarify the potential role of variability within and around theAKT1gene in smoking behaviors, we performed a single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis of theAKT1gene in an elderly Japanese cohort. Genotypes of the rs2498794 SNP, which is located in the fifth intron region of theAKT1gene, were marginally but significantly associated with smoking duration in the total 999 samples of former and current smokers. Interestingly, this SNP had a marginally significant association with individual cancer history (past and current), especially in groups with a shorter smoking duration (<44 years) and fewer cigarettes per day (≤20). These data suggest that the rs2498794 polymorphism of theAKT1gene is associated with a long smoking duration and may be involved in the predisposition to cancer when the smoking duration is short or the cigarettes per day is rate low.
Acute Anterior Myocardial Infarction Accompanied by Acute Inferior Myocardial Infarction: A Very Rare Coronary Artery Anomaly
Authors: Alsancak Y. , Sezenöz B. , Duran M. , Unlu S. , Turkoglu S. , Yalcın R.
Published: June 2015

Coronary artery anomalies are rare and mostly silent in clinical practice. First manifestation of this congenital abnormality can be devastating as syncope, acute coronary syndrome, and sudden cardiac death. Herein we report a case with coronary artery anomaly complicated with ST segment myocardial infarction in both inferior and anterior walls simultaneously diagnosed during primary percutaneous coronary intervention.
Primary Amyloidosis Manifesting as Cholestatic Jaundice after Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy
Authors: Misiakos Evangelos P. , Bagias George , Tiniakos Dina , Roditis Konstantinos , Zavras Nick , Papanikolaou Ioannis , Tsirigotis Panagiotis , Liakakos Theodore , Machairas Anastasios
Published: June 2015

A 71-year-old female patient with cholelithiasis who had undergone laparoscopic cholecystectomy was admitted with obstructive jaundice (total bilirubin ~6 mg/dL) three months later. An ERCP was performed, in which a gallstone was found, followed by a sphincterotomy and cleansing of the bile duct. Due to deterioration of jaundice (>25 mg/dL), a new, unsuccessful ERCP and stent placement was carried out. Because of ongoing cardiac failure, she underwent an echocardiogram which revealed restrictive cardiomyopathy possibly due to amyloidosis. A liver biopsy was performed, which was positive for amyloid deposits in the liver, and the diagnosis was confirmed by the detection of monoclonalλIgG protein in urine. The patient’s jaundice gradually deteriorated and she died one week later from hepatic insufficiency.
Photovoltaic and Impedance Properties of Hierarchical TiO2 Nanowire Based Quantum Dot Sensitized Solar Cell
Authors: Fatehmulla Amanullah , Manthrammel M. Aslam , Farooq W. A. , Ali Syed Mansoor , Atif M.
Published: June 2015

Growth and characterization of TiO2 nanowire (NW) assemblies on FTO glass using a typical hydrothermal synthesis have been reported. CdS quantum dots (QDs) have been deposited on TiO2 nanowires by successive ion layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) method. FESEM image exhibits the flower‐like hierarchical TiO2 bunch of nanowires. HRTEM image confirms the size of CdS QDs between 5 and 6 nm. XRD and absorption studies revealed proper growth of CdS quantum dots on TiO2 nanowires. At AM 1.5 illumination intensity, the solar cell, with the configuration FTO/TiO2‐NW/CdS‐QDs/Pt‐FTO, displays a short circuit current (Jsc) of 1.295 mA and an open circuit voltage (Voc) of 0.38 V. The Voc and Jsc showed linear behavior at higher illumination intensities. The peak in power‐voltage characteristics at various illuminations showed a shift towards higher Voc values. Capacitance‐voltage (C-V), conductance‐voltage (G-V), and series resistance‐voltage (Rs‐V) measurements of the cell in the frequency ranging from 5 kHz to 5 MHz showed decreasing trend of capacitance with increase of frequency whereas increase in conductance and decrease in resistance have been noticed with increase of frequency. All the results including the individual behavior of the plots of capacitance, conductance, and series resistance as a function of bias voltage have been discussed.
Simplified Tai Chi Resistance Training versus Traditional Tai Chi in Slowing Bone Loss in Postmenopausal Women
Authors: Wang Huiru , Yu Bo , Chen Wenhua , Lu Yingzhi , Yu Dinghai
Published: June 2015

Background.This study examined whether simplified Tai Chi resistance training is superior to traditional Tai Chi in slowing bone loss in postmenopausal women.Methods.This prospective trial included 119 postmenopausal women (age: 52–65 years). Subjects were randomly assigned to participate in a traditional Tai Chi program (TTC,n=40), a simplified Tai Chi resistance training program (TCRT,n=40), or a blank control group (routine activity,n=39). The TTC involved traditional Yang Style Tai Chi. The primary outcome was the change of lumbar bone mass density (L2–L4) at 12 months over the baseline. Femoral neck and Ward’s triangle were also measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.Results.The L2–L4 density was significantly lower at 12 months in comparison to the baseline in the blank control group. In both the TCRT and TTC groups, the L2–L4 density was comparable to the baseline. There was a trend for less bone loss in the TCRT than in the TTC group. Similar findings were observed with femoral neck and Ward’s triangle.Conclusion.Simplified Tai Chi resistance training could slow bone loss in menopausal women. The results also suggested, but did not confirm, superiority to traditional Tai Chi.
Potent Antiproliferative Effect on Liver Cancer of Medicinal Plants Selected from the Thai/Lanna Medicinal Plant Recipe Database “MANOSROI III”
Authors: Manosroi Aranya , Akazawa Hiroyuki , Kitdamrongtham Worapong , Akihisa Toshihiro , Manosroi Worapaka , Manosroi Jiradej
Published: June 2015

Thai/Lanna medicinal plant recipes have been used for the treatment of several diseases including liver cancer. In this study, methanolic extracts (MEs) of 23 plants were tested for antiproliferative activity on human hepatoma cell line (Hep G2) by the sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay. Nine MEs with potent antiproliferative activity (IC50< 100 µg/mL) were obtained and further semipurified by liquid/liquid partition extraction. The semipurified fractions were tested for the antiproliferative and antioxidative activities. ME ofStemona collinsaeand the semipurified extract and methanol-water fraction (MF) ofGloriosa superbagave the highest antiproliferative activity on HepG2 which were 4.79- and 50.07-fold cisplatin, respectively. The semipurified fractions showed an increased antiproliferative activity. MF ofCaesalpinia sappanand HF ofSenna alatashowed the highest free radical scavenging and metal chelating activities, respectively. The compound inn-hexane fraction (HF) ofVentilago denticulatawhich showed an increase in antiproliferative activity comparing to its ME was isolated and identified as emodin. This study has demonstrated the potential of the ME fromS. collinsae, MF fromG. superba, and emodin isolated fromV. denticulata, for further development as an antiliver cancer agent.
DNAseq Workflow in a Diagnostic Context and an Example of a User Friendly Implementation
Authors: Wolf Beat , Kuonen Pierre , Dandekar Thomas , Atlan David
Published: June 2015

Over recent years next generation sequencing (NGS) technologies evolved from costly tools used by very few, to a much more accessible and economically viable technology. Through this recently gained popularity, its use-cases expanded from research environments into clinical settings. But the technical know-how and infrastructure required to analyze the data remain an obstacle for a wider adoption of this technology, especially in smaller laboratories. We present GensearchNGS, a commercial DNAseq software suite distributed by Phenosystems SA. The focus of GensearchNGS is the optimal usage of already existing infrastructure, while keeping its use simple. This is achieved through the integration of existing tools in a comprehensive software environment, as well as custom algorithms developed with the restrictions of limited infrastructures in mind. This includes the possibility to connect multiple computers to speed up computing intensive parts of the analysis such as sequence alignments. We present a typical DNAseq workflow for NGS data analysis and the approach GensearchNGS takes to implement it. The presented workflow goes from raw data quality control to the final variant report. This includes features such as gene panels and the integration of online databases, like Ensembl for annotations or Cafe Variome for variant sharing.
The Impact Analysis of Water Body Landscape Pattern on Urban Heat Island: A Case Study of Wuhan City
Authors: Yang Bohan , Meng Fen , Ke Xinli , Ma Caixue
Published: June 2015

Based on the LST and the landscape metrics of water body with remote sensing technique and spatial analysis, the relationship between the mean LST and the attributes of water body was revealed via Pearson’s correlation analysis and multiple stepwise regression analysis. Result showed that, in 32 class-based metrics we selected, the proportion of water body, average water body size, the isolation and fragmentation of water body, and other eight metrics have high correlation with the LST. As a resultant force, the quantity, shape, and spatial distribution of water body affect the forming of temperature. We found that the quantity and spatial pattern of city water body could be allocated reasonably to maximize its cooling effect.
Downscaling MODIS Surface Reflectance to Improve Water Body Extraction
Authors: Che Xianghong , Feng Min , Jiang Hao , Song Jia , Jia Bei
Published: June 2015

Inland surface water is essential to terrestrial ecosystems and human civilization. Accurate mapping of surface water dynamic is vital for both scientific research and policy-driven applications. MODIS provides twice observation per day, making it perfect for monitoring temporal water dynamic. Although MODIS provides two bands at 250 m resolution, accurately deriving water area always depends on observations from the spectral bands with 500 m resolution, which limits its discrimination ability over small lakes and rivers. The paper presents an automated method for downscaling the 500 m MODIS surface reflectance (SR) to 250 m to improve the spatial discrimination of water body extraction. The method has been tested at Co Ngoin and Co Bangkog in Qinghai-Tibet plateau. The downscaled SR and the derived water bodies were compared to SR and water body mapped from Landsat-7 ETM+ images were acquired on the same date. Consistency metrics were calculated to measure their agreement and disagreement. The comparisons indicated that the downscaled MODIS SR showed significant improvement over the original 500 m observations when compared with Landsat-7 ETM+ SR, and both commission and omission errors were reduced in the derived 250 m water bodies.