bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Sounded Poetics of the Black Southern Pacific
Authors: Birenbaum Quintero Michael
Published: January 2019

Chapter 1 examines how the poetics of sound construct, mediate, and enact the black southern Pacific world. The palpable proximity of the divine and the supernatural is a central organizing principle of this world, as well as the role of music-making within it. By the same token, deeply felt epistemologies, affectivities, and forms of sociality that characterize this world structure the ways that sound is understood and used. The discussion presents an introduction to how the black communities that live on the riverbanks of Colombia’s southern Pacific coast use musical practice to mediate and model this complex soundworld. These sonic structures of feeling are a constant reference, and a lived reality, in the periods covered by the other chapters in this book as well.
Modernities and Nonmodernities in Black Pacific Music
Authors: Birenbaum Quintero Michael
Published: January 2019

This chapter focuses on how ideas about modernity influenced musical ideologies in the Pacific during the period from the late nineteenth to the mid-twentieth centuries. The discussion maps three black positions on the project of modernity in the region, as well as the integral role of musical practice in both their construction and their maintenance: namely, traditional sociality, aspirational respectability, and cosmopolitan blackness. In addition, it describes the musical practices that each entails, including traditional, urban, cosmopolitan, and hybrid forms. The chapter describes these stances and repertoires as existing in relation with one another as part of a repertoire of responses to modernity.
Between Legibility and Alterity
Authors: Birenbaum Quintero Michael
Published: January 2019

Chapter 5 discusses how, in the past three decades, black southern Pacific traditional music has been recast as a touchstone for cultural difference through its mobilization by black artists, activists, and intellectuals and the Colombian state. Positing black identity in Colombia depended on what might be called a politics of resemblance, the couching of local black cultural practices in such a way as to be recognizable as legitimate bearers of credible difference. Once adopted by the state in the 1991 multicultural Constitution, the music of the Pacific has been taken up in a context of neoliberal multiculturalism, as a resource for a variety of divergent and even contradictory agendas, including economic development, social amelioration, governance, and local activism.
Reflection
Authors: Adamson Glenn
Published: January 2019

What does a healthy artist look like? Perhaps artists themselves are not the ones to tell us. Oftentimes, it’s true, they have presented themselves as respectable and entirely well-adjusted, suited, or smocked, standing at the easel with palette in hand. But the more indelible images left to us by art history, particularly since the onset of Romanticism in the nineteenth century, are more vivid and less peaceful of mind. Take, for example, Theodore Géricault, an early nineteenth-century painter who defined the Romantic sensibility both in his work and life. In one of his earliest works, Géricault showed himself slouched in a chair with a skull perched on the shelf above him. The pictorial analogy between his own youthful, handsome visage and the death’s head was clear: the artist was haunted by his own eventual demise. In 1824, shortly after completing a series of sensitive portrayals of “monomanics” (the inhabitants of asylums), which form a visual canon of mental disturbance, he would make good on the prediction of his early self-portrait, showing himself hollow-eyed and ghoulish, a dying man, as indeed he was. Géricault was soon to pass away at the age of thirty-two of tuberculosis....
The Outcome of Pulsed Radiofrequency Treatment According to Electodiagnosis in Patients with Intractable Lumbosacral Radicular Pain
Authors: Park Chan Hong , Lee Sang Ho
Published: January 2019

Background

Radicular pain is related to lesions that either directly compromise the dorsal root ganglion (DRG) or indirectly compromise the spinal nerve and its roots by causing ischemia or inflammation of the axons.

Objective

Our study aimed to assess the outcomes of pulsed readiofrequency treatment (PRF) according to electrodiagnosis results in patients with chronic intractable lumbosacral radicular pain.

Methods

A total of 82 failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS) patients were included in this study. All of them underwent electromyography/nerve conduction studies before pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) treatment at the DRG, and they were classified according to the electrodiagnostic results as: group 1, no definite finding (normal); group 2, radiculopathy; and group 3, neuropathy. Pain intensity was assessed according to a numeric rating scale score and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) before treatment and at one, three, six, and 12 months after treatment, and successful treatment was defined as a pain score reduction of ≥50% at 12 months, as compared with the pretreatment score.

Results

Pretreatment electrodiagnosis identified 28 patients with no definite findings, 31 patients with radiculopathy, and 23 patients with neuropathy. The patients with neuropathy had less pain relief after treatment than those with no definite findings and those with radiculopathy. The prevalence of pain reduction of at least 50% was lower in the neuropathy group than in the other groups. There was no statistically significant difference in ODI between group.

Conclusion

Outcomes after PRF at the DRG did not show strong differences according to electrodiagnostic findings in FBSS patients with chronic intractable lumbosacral radicular pain.
Editor's Miscellany
Authors: Kennedy Maureen Shawn
Published: January 2019

Looking back often brings fresh insights.
Truth, Voice, and Resiliency
Authors: Lewis-O'Connor Annie
Published: January 2019

Reflections from a nurse and survivor on Christine Blasey Ford's recent testimony.
New Advice on Antibiotics for Hospitalized Children
Authors: Potera Carol
Published: January 2019

The American Academy of Pediatrics targets antibiotic resistance.
Vitamin D, Omega-3 Fatty Acids Don't Lower Rates of Cancer or CVD
Authors: Zolot Joan
Published: January 2019

And evidence doesn't support limiting salt to reduce cardiovascular mortality in patients with heart failure.
Is Labor Induction at 39 Weeks Linked to Adverse Outcomes?
Authors: Nelson Roxanne
Published: January 2019

A new study says no, although concerns remain.
Lower vs. Standard Blood Pressure Targets in People with Hypertension and CVD
Authors: Lockwood Craig
Published: January 2019

Editor's note: This is a summary of a nursing care–related systematic review from the Cochrane Library. For more information, see http://nursingcare.cochrane.org.
Approval of New Opioid Raises Concerns
Authors: Aschenbrenner Diane S.
Published: January 2019

A new form of the opioid sufentanil has been approved under the trade name Dsuvia. It is administered sublingually using a special applicator. The drug can only be sold and administered in certified medically supervised health care settings.

Dsuvia carries a black box warning that it may cause respiratory depression; addiction, abuse, and misuse; and drug interactions with benzodiazepines and other central nervous system depressants. The warning also states that concomitant use of Dsuvia with cytochrome P-450 (CYP) isoenzyme CYP3A4 inhibitors (or, conversely, discontinuing drugs that induce this isoenzyme), can dangerously increase the circulating levels of Dsuvia and be fatal.

Approval of Dsuvia has been controversial, with critics claiming that a new opioid is not warranted given the deaths from the current opioid epidemic.
Acute Flaccid Myelitis: An Ongoing Investigation
Authors: Todd Betsy
Published: January 2019

This polio-like illness typically affects children.
Antihypertensive Treatment Doesn't Reduce Mortality in Patients with Mild Hypertension
Authors: Rosenberg Karen
Published: January 2019

According to this study:

In low-risk patients with mild hypertension, no evidence was found of an association between antihypertensive treatment and mortality or cardiovascular disease.

Antihypertensive treatment may increase the risk of adverse events.
Patient Safety Still of Serious Concern to Nurses and Patients
Authors: Rosenberg Karen
Published: January 2019

According to this study:

Surveys of hospital nurses and patients show that, despite some improvements, patient safety remains a serious concern.

In hospitals in which clinical care environments improved, patient safety indicators also improved.
CHOROIDAL VASCULARITY INDEX QUANTIFICATION IN GEOGRAPHIC ATROPHY USING BINARIZATION OF ENHANCED-DEPTH IMAGING OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHIC SCANS
Authors: Giannaccare Giuseppe , Pellegrini Marco , Sebastiani Stefano , Bernabei Federico , Moscardelli Fabiana , Iovino Claudio , Napoli Pietro E. , Campos Emilio
Published: January 2019

Purpose:

To evaluate choroidal structural changes occurring over time in geographic atrophy (GA) secondary to age-related macular degeneration using choroidal vascularity index (CVI).

Methods:

Enhanced-depth imaging optical coherence tomography scans of 34 patients with GA and 32 control subjects were retrospectively analyzed. Data were collected at baseline and after a mean follow-up of 18.3 ± 8.3 months. Choroidal images were binarized using the ImageJ software, and the luminal area and stromal area were segmented. Choroidal vascularity index was defined as the ratio of luminal area to total choroid area.

Results:

Patients with GA showed significantly lower values of CVI, total choroid area, luminal area, and subfoveal choroidal thickness compared to control subjects (65.83 ± 3.95 vs. 69.33 ± 3.11, P < 0.001; 0.400 ± 0.239 mm2 vs. 0.491 ± 0.132, P = 0.006; 0.263 ± 0.152 mm2 vs. 0.340 ± 0.094, P = 0.002; 185.2 ± 79.8 µm vs. 216.8 ± 58.8 µm, P = 0.036, respectively). Best-corrected visual acuity was significantly correlated only with choroidal thickness (R = −0.509; P = 0.002). During the follow-up period in patients with GA, subfoveal choroidal thickness decreased from 185.2 ± 79.8 to 152.2 ± 73.1 (P = 0.001), stromal area increased from 0.138 ± 0.090 mm2 to 0.156 ± 0.068 (P = 0.028), and CVI decreased from 65.83 ± 3.95 to 62.24 ± 3.63 (P < 0.001).

Conclusion:

This study showed for the first time that CVI is reduced in patients with GA, and that this metric further worsened during the follow-up period.
Impact of prehospital mechanical ventilation
Authors: El Sayed Mazen J. , Tamim Hani , Mailhac Aurelie , Mann N. Clay
Published: January 2019

Prehospital use of ventilators by emergency medical services (EMS) during 911 calls is increasing. This study described the impact of prehospital mechanical ventilation on prehospital time intervals and on mortality.

This retrospective matched-cohort study used 4 consecutive public releases of the US National Emergency Medical Services Information System dataset (2011–2014). EMS activations with recorded ventilator use were randomly matched with activations without ventilator use (1 to 1) on age (range ± 2 years), gender, provider's primary impression, urbanicity, and level of service.

A total of 5740 EMS activations were included (2870 patients per group). Patients in the ventilator group had a mean age of 69.1 (±17.3) years with 49.4% males, similar to the non-ventilator group. Activations were mostly in urban settings (83.8%) with an advanced life support level of care (94.5%). Respiratory distress (77.8%) and cardiac arrest (6.8%) were the most common provider's primary impressions. Continuous positive airway pressure was the most common mode of ventilation used (79.2%).

Mortality was higher at hospital discharge (29.0% vs 21.1%, P = .01) but not at emergency department (ED) discharge (8.4% vs 7.4%, P = .19) with prehospital ventilator use. Both total on-scene time and total prehospital time intervals increased with reported ventilator use (4.10 minutes (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.71–5.49) and 3.59 minutes (95% CI: 3.04–4.14), respectively).

Ventilator use by EMS agencies in 911 calls in the US is associated with higher prehospital time intervals without observed impact on survival to ED discharge. More EMS outcome research is needed to provide evidence-based prehospital care guidelines and targeted resource utilization.
A case report of metastatic lung adenocarcinoma with long-term survival for over 11 years
Authors: Matsuzaki Tatsu , Iwami Eri , Sasahara Kotaro , Kuroda Aoi , Nakajima Takahiro , Terashima Takeshi
Published: January 2019

Rationale:

This is the first known report in the English literature to describe a case of metastatic non-small cell lung cancer that has been controlled for >11 years.

Patient concerns:

A 71-year-old man visited our hospital because of dry cough.

Diagnosis:

Chest computed tomography revealed a tumor on the left lower lobe with pleural effusion, and thoracic puncture cytology indicated lung adenocarcinoma.

Interventions:

Four cycles of carboplatin and docetaxel chemotherapy reduced the size of the tumor; however, it increased in size after 8 months, and re-challenge chemotherapy (RC) with the same drugs was performed. Repeated RC controlled disease activity for 6 years. After the patient failed to respond to RC, erlotinib was administered for 3 years while repeating a treatment holiday to reduce side effects. The disease progressed, and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene mutation analysis of cells from the pleural effusion detected the T790 M mutation. Therefore, osimertinib was administered, which has been effective for >1 year.

Outcomes:

The patient has survived for >11 years since the diagnosis of lung cancer.

Lessons:

Long-term survival may be implemented by actively repeating cytotoxic chemotherapy and EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitor administration.
Myocardial infarction following a blunt chest trauma
Authors: Li Xiangdong , Wang Zhiyuan , Yang Yushuang , Meng Fanbo , He Yuquan , Yang Ping
Published: January 2019

Rationale:

Blunt cardiac injury (BCI) is a common complication after blunt chest trauma, which can lead to mild arrhythmia, severe chamber or valvular rupture, or even death. Myocardial infarction following blunt chest trauma is a rare but fatal condition.

Patient concerns:

A 38-year-old, previously healthy, man was admitted to our hospital with a complaint of dyspnea. He had a history of being hit in the chest by a high-speed screw while working in a factory 3 months before he was admitted to the hospital.

Diagnosis:

After performing coronary angiography and echocardiography, he was finally diagnosed with myocardial infarction.

Interventions:

He received optimized medications, including diuretics, β-blockers, and cardiac stimulants.

Outcomes:

At the 4-year follow-up, the patient was diagnosed as having chronic heart failure with a reduced ejection fraction.

Lessons:

Owing to the first doctor's lack of experience and knowledge with this case, the patient was misdiagnosed and treatment was delayed, which subsequently led to heart failure.

BCI can lead to myocardial infarction if patients are misdiagnosed and treatment is delayed. Thus, surgeons and physicians should consider cardiac complications in patients with chest trauma to reduce the incidence of its misdiagnosis.
Changes in glaucoma medication numbers after cataract and glaucoma surgery
Authors: Chen Hsin-Yi , Lin Cheng-Li , Kao Chia-Hung
Published: January 2019

To determine whether cataract or glaucoma and combined cataract and glaucoma surgery (CGS) affect glaucoma medication usage.

We recruited patients who received new diagnoses of glaucoma, either primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) (International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification [ICD-9-CM] code 365.1) or primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG) (ICD-9-CM code 365.2), between 1998 and 2011 and had undergone cataract surgery alone (CS), glaucoma surgery alone (GS), or CGS under the National Health Insurance program in Taiwan. CS, GS, and CGS in all the patients were performed after the glaucoma diagnosis date. The patients were subdivided into CS, CGS, and GS groups. The number of glaucoma medications, including prostaglandin analogs, β-blockers, carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, α-agonists, pilocarpine, and a combination of drugs, in each prescription, were compared before and after surgery.

The mean number of glaucoma medications in each prescription before the surgery increased from approximately 0.5/1 (CS/CGS + GS) to a peak of 1.75/3 within 3 months before the index date. The mean number of glaucoma medications in each prescription reduced to 0 (CS group) and to approximately 0.5 (CGS and GS) at the end of the 3-year follow-up period. The mean number of glaucoma medications in each prescription significantly reduced at the time points within 6 months, between 6 months and 2 years, and during 2 to 3 years after surgery in each group. At the end of the 3-year period, the reduction effect was most evident in the CS group. Similar trends were also observed in the POAG and PACG group.

CS, GS, and CGS significantly reduced the number of glaucoma medications used by the glaucoma patients.
Identification of a novel mutation of FGFR3 gene in a large Chinese pedigree with hypochondroplasia by next-generation sequencing
Authors: Yao Guixiang , Wang Guangxin , Wang Dawei , Su Guohai
Published: January 2019

Rationale:

Hypochondroplasia (HCH) is the mildest form of chondrodysplasia characterized by disproportionate short stature, short extremities, and variable lumbar lordosis. It is caused by mutations in fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3) gene. Up to date, at least thirty mutations of FGFR3 gene have been found to be related to HCH. However, mutational screening of the FGFR3 gene is still far from completeness. Identification of more mutations is particularly important in diagnosis of HCH and will gain more insights into the molecular basis for the pathogenesis of HCH.

Patient concerns:

A large Chinese family consisting of 53 affected individuals with HCH phenotypes was examined.

Diagnoses:

A novel missense mutation, c.1052C>T, in FGFR3 gene was identified in a large Chinese family with HCH. On the basis of this finding and clinical manifestations, the final diagnosis of HCH was made.

Interventions:

Next-generation sequencing (NGS) of DNA samples was performed to detect the mutation in the chondrodysplasia-related genes on the proband and her parents, which was confirmed by Sanger sequencing in the proband and most of other living affected family members.

Outcomes:

A novel missense mutation, c.1052C>T, in the extracellular, ligand-binding domain of FGFR3 was identified in a large Chinese family with HCH. This heterozygous mutation results in substitution of serine for phenylalanine at amino acid 351 (p.S351F) and co-segregates with the phenotype in this family. Molecular docking analysis reveals that this unique FGFR3 mutation results in an enhancement of ligand-binding affinity between FGFR3 and its main ligand, fibroblast growth factor 9.

Lessons:

This novel mutation is the first mutation displaying an increase in ligand-binding affinity, therefore it may serve as a model to investigate ligand-dependent activity of FGF-FGFR complex. Our data also expanded the mutation spectrum of FGFR3 gene and facilitated clinic diagnosis and genetic counseling for this family with HCH.
Significant response of low-dose apatinib monotherapy in brain metastases of triple-negative breast cancer
Authors: Li Ting , Wang Shan-Bing , Lei Kai-Jian , Jiang Mao-Qiong , Jia Yu-Ming
Published: January 2019

Rationale:

The potential efficacy of apatinib in patients with advanced triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) has been observed in a previous phase II clinical study. However, there is no study to evaluate its efficacy and safety in TNBC patients with brain metastasis (BM). Here we report one case that apatinib exhibited excellent antitumor effects in a breast cancer patient with brain metastasis, with no serious treatment-associated with adverse event.

Patient concerns:

In this case report, one Chinese woman who was diagnosed with stage IV TNBC with multiple bone, lung, and brain metastases was unable to tolerate chemotherapy and refused whole-brain radiation therapy (WBRT) due to her poor physical condition. She had previously undergone radical mastectomy and intravenous chemotherapy.

Diagnoses:

Triple-negative breast cancer.

Interventions:

The patient underwent left radical mastectomy with ipsilateral axillary lymph node dissection, and the following adjuvant chemotherapy, but developed multiple bone, lung, and brain metastases. Due to her poor physical condition, chemotherapy was not eligible for her. And she refused WBRT and chose to take low-dose apatinib (250 mg, oral, daily) monotherapy.

Outcomes:

After 2 months of treatment, the symptom of headache and vomiting relieved and all the brain metastases (BMs) lesions disappeared.

Lessons:

Low-dose apatinib monotherapy may be an alternative treatment for patients with poor physical condition. Preclinical and clinical studies should be conducted to further evaluate the mechanism and efficacy of apatinib in the treatment of BM from TNBC, as well as to explore the optimal dose of the drug.
An uncommon spontaneous right distal tubal pregnancy post bilateral laparoscopic sterilization
Authors: Lin Ching-Min , Ku Yu-Lun , Cheng Yu-Tzu , Giin Ngo Yeh , Ou Yu-Che , Lee Meng-Chih , Lee Chung-Yuan
Published: January 2019

Rationale:

Tubal sterilization as a contraception method has a high success rate; however, it also carries a low risk of incidental pregnancy. A majority of these pregnancies are ectopic. In this study, we report a rare case of spontaneous right distal tubal pregnancy after bilateral laparoscopic tubal sterilization.

Patient concerns:

A 36-year-old woman who had undergone bilateral laparoscopic tubal sterilization presented with abdominal pain and a positive test for pregnancy.

Diagnosis:

Ectopic pregnancy was suspected based on absence of gestational sac in the uterine cavity on ultrasound and elevated beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) level.

Intervention:

Since the patient had unstable vitals, emergency laparoscopic surgery was performed, which revealed a right distal fallopian tube pregnancy. We performed a complete bilateral residual tubal stump excision.

Outcomes:

The patient recovered well after surgery, with a reduction in β-hCG level, and was discharged after 3 days.

Lessons:

To ensure complete sterilization, the gap at the excised end needs to be adequately widened and enhanced with electro-destruction to prevent formation of a fistula.
Free bipaddled anterolateral thigh flap for simultaneous reconstruction of large larynx and prelaryngeal skin defects after resection of the local recurrent laryngeal cancer invading the cricoid cartilage and prelaryngeal skin
Authors: Liu Jun , Lv Dan , Deng Di , Wang Ji , Li Linke , Chen Fei
Published: January 2019

Rationale:

After total or near-total laryngectomy and resection of prelaryngeal skin, laryngeal defects and prelaryngeal skin defects often remain a great challenge for head and neck surgeons when considering simultaneous reconstruction of. In this case report, a free bipaddled anterolateral thigh (ALT) was used for such defects reconstruction.

Patient concerns:

For this 50-year-old male patient whose recurrent tumor invaded the cricoid cartilage and the prelaryngeal skin, supracricoid partial laryngectomy with a cricohyoidepiglottopexy would no longer be an option. However, the patient had a strong requirement of preserving lung-power speech, making total laryngectomy and chemoradiotherapy not acceptable.

Diagnosis:

Pathologic result demonstrated well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. A PET-CT of the whole body showed extralaryngeal extension of the tumor invading the cricoids cartilage and prelaryngeal ribbon muscles and skin. Meanwhile, the video-laryngoscpy showed smooth laryngeal mucosa.

Interventions:

A near-total laryngectomy and resection of prelaryngeal skin were performed. The resultant defects were reconstructed with a free bipaddled ALT flap.

Outcomes:

The patient is 18 months postsurgery with no locoregion tumor recurrence, taking oral feeds, partial lung-power speech and not decannulated. Laryngostenosis was shown by the videolaryngoscopy, MRI and CT scan.

Lessons:

A free bipaddled ALT flap could be utilized for simultaneous reconstruction of large larynx and prelaryngeal skin defects, and allows partial laryngeal function preservation in selected local recurrent laryngeal cancer invading the cricoid cartilage and prelaryngeal skin.
Concomitant cryoglobulinemic vasculitis and cold agglutinin disease successfully treated with bortezomib
Authors: Liu Xiao-hang , Liu Mei-xi , Jin Fan , Zhang Meng , Zhang Lu
Published: January 2019

Rationale:

Concomitant cryoglobulinemic vasculitis and cold agglutinin disease (CAD) is an extremely uncommon clinical scenario. The role of bortezomib in the treatment of cryoglobulinemic vasculitis needs further investigation.

Patient concerns:

A 72-year-old Chinese woman presented with a 25-year history of cyanosis of the extremities after cold exposure, which worsened and was accompanied with purpuric skin lesions and proteinuria in recent years. Laboratory data demonstrated hemolysis. Cold agglutinin and cryoglobulin tests were positive. There was no evidence for malignancies after blood, image, and pathologic tests.

Diagnoses:

Concomitant cryoglobulinemic vasculitis and CAD.

Interventions:

The patient was treated with bortezomib-based regimen, including bortezomib, cyclophosphamide, and dexamethasone.

Outcomes:

The patient responded well to the treatment. Both symptoms and laboratory tests significantly improved. The patient's condition was in a state of sustained remission in the 6-month follow-up.

Lessons:

This rare case promotes further understanding of these 2 diseases and suggests that bortezomib is a promising treatment in type I cryoglobulinemic vasculitis.
Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor of the nasal cavity and nasopharynx in a child
Authors: Li Qian , Pan Hongguang , Li Lan , Cao Juan
Published: January 2019

Rationale:

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs) are rare neoplasms with only a few reported cases affecting the nasal cavity, paranasal sinuses, and anterior skull base.

Patient concerns:

A 12-year-old girl with a mass in her nose was admitted to the Department of Otorhinolaryngology of Shenzhen Children's Hospital. She had a 4-month history of progressive, unilateral right nasal obstruction, unilateral mucopurulent rhinorrhea, foul nasal odor, snoring, hyposmia, occasional epistaxis, and no headache, no facial numbness, without eye swelling and vision loss.

Diagnose:

A computed tomography (CT) scan of the paranasal sinuses showed a mass (right inflammatory polyp and calcification) involving the nasal cavity, the right maxillary sinusitis, ethmoid sinusitis. There was no nasal septum, orbital, or skull base involvement. On the basis of pathological and immunohistological findings, the tumor was diagnosed as an MPNST with heterogeneous components (cartilage and bone) mesenchymal differentiation after the operation.

Interventions:

The girl was treated by surgery and chemotherapy.

Outcomes:

The postoperative course was uneventful. There was no recurrence observed during the 3-year follow-up.

Lessons:

The primary MPNST in the nasal cavity is rare, if nasal neoplasms do not respond well to vasoconstrictors and glucocorticoids in children, the possibility of a tumor should be considered. If new organisms grow rapidly with hemorrhagic necrosis, the possibility of a malignant tumor is greater.
Vision-related quality of life and depression in rhegmatogenous retinal detachment patients
Authors: Du Yi , Mo Xiang-Hong , Li Xiao-Li , Zeng Jin , Luo Wenjing , Huang Min-Li
Published: January 2019

The aim of this cross-sectional study is to evaluate vision-related quality of life (VRQoL) and depression in patients with rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD).

The VRQoL and depression were evaluated in 58 patients with unilateral RRD and 58 healthy controls, using the Chinese version of the National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (CHI-VFQ-25) and the Chinese version of Beck Depression Inventory-II, respectively.

Composite scores of the CHI-VFQ-25 were significantly lower in the RRD patients, compared with the healthy controls (P < .001). Lower composite scores were associated with older age (P < .01), severer visual loss (P < .05), longer duration of the disease (P < .05), and macular involved (P < .05). The proportion of depression was significantly higher in RRD patients than healthy controls (39.66% vs 5.17%, P < .001). The depression of RRD patients was associated with the longer duration of the disease (r=0.268, P < .001).

The RRD patients suffer from poor VRQoL and a high proportion of depression. Physicians should pay more attention to mental health in RRD patients.
Brain metastasis in pancreatic cancer
Authors: Sasaki Takashi , Sato Tatsuya , Nakai Yousuke , Sasahira Naoki , Isayama Hiroyuki , Koike Kazuhiko
Published: January 2019

Rationale:

Brain metastases are extremely rare for patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma due to the poor prognoses. In the present study, we reported 2 cases of pancreatic adenocarcinoma with brain metastases.

Patient concerns:

The 1st patient was diagnosed asymptomatic brain metastasis by a follow-up brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) due to a medical history of subarachnoid hemorrhage. The 2nd patient experienced dizziness, neck pain, and seizure. Computed tomography (CT) was used for the diagnosis of brain metastasis because he was inserted a pacemaker.

Diagnosis:

In case 1, brain MRI revealed that a solitary brain metastasis 14-mm in size was identified at the cortico-medullary junction in the left frontal lobe. In case 2, brain enhanced CT revealed multiple brain metastases with calcification at the cerebral cortex. Times to develop central nervous system metastasis were 19 months and 33 months, respectively.

Interventions:

The 1st patient was treated with 45.2 Gy γ-knife irradiation for the solitary brain metastasis, and the 2nd patient was treated with supportive care due to the poor general condition.

Outcomes:

The prognoses of these 2 patients were 13 months, and 32 days from the diagnosis of brain metastasis. The 1st patient did not experience complication of a γ-knife irradiation and brain metastasis was controlled until death.

Lessons:

The incidence of brain metastases from pancreatic adenocarcinoma is expected to increase due to prolonged survival from improved treatment. Therefore, increased awareness of brain involvement is necessary when neurological disorder is suspected in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer.
Effects of seating education and cushion management for adaptive sitting posture in spinal cord injury
Authors: Park Myoung-Ok , Lee Sang-Heon
Published: January 2019

Rationale:

Pressure ulcers can frequently occur in spinal cord injured patients living in wheelchairs. Therefore, to manage the cushion in sitting posture is important for preventing ulcers.

Patient concerns:

The patients visited seating clinic in rehabilitation hospital for uncomfortable sitting posture. The patients were asked for posture control and cushion air management training in a sitting posture to prevent sores.

Diagnosis:

The diagnosis was spinal cord injury.

Interventions:

Two patients with spinal cord injury were subjected to posture training while the quantity of air in the cushion was being modulated to minimize gluteal pressure by measuring the pressure in the sitting position in the driver's seat using an X-sensor.

Outcomes:

In Case 1, as a result of air control, contact area showed 1108.06 cm2, average pressure 45.20 mmHg, contact area increased, and mean pressure decreased. In Case 2, the contact area 974.19 cm2 and the average area 41.00 mmHg were measured by applying the change to the ROHO low-Quardro type, showing a decrease in the average body pressure from the initial stage.

Lessons:

From the results of this study, it was found that measurement of body pressure and posture training using a sensor that provides visual feedback is effective in preventing pressure ulcer. Therefore, it is necessary to perform routine control of the sitting pressure in the clinic and management training of the air cell cushion.
Encysted hydrocele of the canal of Nuck in an 11-month-old child with a past history of duodenal atresia and Arnold-Chiari malformation
Authors: Zvizdic Zlatan , Milisic Emir , Chikha Adisa , Sefic Irmina , Dzananovic Amra , Vranic Semir
Published: January 2019

Rationale:

Hydrocele of the canal of Nuck is a rare developmental disorder and represents of a homolog of hydrocele of spermatic cord in males. Hydrocele of the canal of Nuck is a very rare cause of inguinal swelling in female infants and children. It results from the failure of obliteration of the distal portion of evaginated parietal peritoneum within the inguinal canal, which forms a sac containing fluid.

Patient concerns:

We describe a case of hydrocele of the canal of Nuck in an 11-month-old girl with a past medical history of duodenal atresia and Arnold-Chiari malformation.

Diagnosis:

Physical examination and ultrasound revealed a soft, cystic, noncompressible, and non-fluctuant labial mass measuring approximately 5 cm.

Interventions:

The patient underwent surgical exploration through a right skin crease incision. The cystic lesion was histologically confirmed to be a non-communicated hydrocele of canal of Nuck.

Outcomes:

The child is doing well at 1-year follow-up with no swelling or recurrence on the operated side.

Lessons:

Hydrocele of the canal of Nuck is a rare developmental disorder but should be considered in a differential diagnosis in young girls with an inguino-labial swelling.
Bilateral kidneys involvement of collecting duct carcinoma with cystic change
Authors: Gong Guanghui , Lin Ting , Yuan Yishu , Li Yulai , Liu Ruijie
Published: January 2019

Rationale

Collecting duct carcinoma (CDC) is a rare neoplasm arising from the collecting duct and should be distinguished from other renal cell carcinomas that mostly originated from the proximal tubular epithelium and tumors originated from the urothelium. It usually occurs in unilateral kidney, sometimes found with cystic change.

Patient concerns

We present the case of a 53-year-old male suffering from repeated bilateral flank pain for 6 months, increased pain with dysuria for 5 days.

Diagnosis

Ultrasound showed 2 similar hybrid echo masses in bilateral kidneys with enlarged lymph nodes surrounded, which accords with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and intraoperative biopsy reported malignancy.

Interventions

An exploratory operation was performed and the mass on the left kidney was removed, but pathological result reported collecting duct carcinoma according to the morphological features and immunohistochemical tests. Also postsurgery positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) confirmed the mass on the left kidney is also a lesion of CDC.

Outcomes

The patient refused chemotherapy and had an overall survival of 7 months.

Lessons

We presented a case of CDC involving bilateral kidneys with cystic change; this is the first case of bilateral renal occurrence with cystic change to our knowledge. Because of CDC's rapid growth and the lack of effective adjuvant treatment after surgery, the prognosis is poor and the diagnosis should be made carefully.
A study of affecting the recovery of Chinese patients with Bell palsy
Authors: Zhang Hongbo , Du Haixia , Qian Mingjing , Wang Yu , Zhou Shenghua , Chen Jing , Wan Haitong , Yang Jiehong
Published: January 2019

We explored the risk factors for preventing recovery of Bell palsy (BP) in Chinese inpatients. Five hundred thirteen patients were included. The two end-points of assessment were the discharge and final follow-up results. Relationship between discharge and baseline: long patients delay (unhealed 4.03 ± 1.16 d vs improved 2.24 ± 1.0 d, P < .001), combined diseases (yes 77.06% vs no 86.71%, P = .01), and early use of acupuncture (yes 47.46% vs no 97.62%, P < .001) were bad factors. Therapeutic factors and discharge: only use of steroids was a positive factor (yes 92.54% vs no 57.30%, P < .001). Binary logistic regression found that early use of steroids was a favorable factor (P = .001), while early use of acupuncture (P < .001) and long patient delay (P < .001) were adverse factors. Subgroups analysis showed early use of steroids plus antivirals (steroids + antivirals vs antivirals + mecobalamin, P < .001) and early use of steroids plus mecobalamin were good choices (steroids + antivirals vs steroids + mecobalamin, P = .745), while early use of antivirals plus mecobalamin was a bad choice (vs other 2 groups, P < .001). Effect of drug dose and treatment course on discharge: long time use of steroids didn’t mean good efficacy (unhealed 10.80 ± 1.53 d vs improved 10.38 ± 1.21 d, P = .026). Final follow-up results: improved patients were better than that of unhealed at discharge (P < .001). Risk factors of discharge included long patient delay, combined diseases, and early use of acupuncture. Steroids plus antivirals or steroids plus mecobalamin were good choices for treatment. Long time use of steroids didn’t mean good effect. Improved patients at discharge had better results finally.
First occurrence of pediatric urinary tract infections caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae in a teaching hospital in Tunisia
Authors: Mabrouk Walid , Tilouch Lamia , Mabrouk Sameh , Jaidane Nadia , Chaouch Cherifa , Boujaafar Noureddine
Published: January 2019

Streptococcus pneumoniae is not a usual agent of urinary tract infections. We report here two cases of urinary tract infections occurred in pediatrics patients with vesicoureteral reflux and renal stones. It becomes essential to consider pneumococcal UTI in the presence of clinical signs and symptoms associated co-existing predisposing factors.
Thermal Injury Deaths of Community-dwelling Older People With Dementia
Authors: Bicknell Ross , Kennedy Briohny , Pham Tony , Bugeja Lyndal , Ibrahim Joseph E.
Published: January 2019

Although people with dementia are prone to the risk of fire and burn injuries, the relationship between fatal thermal injuries and dementia has not been investigated. We examined coronial files in the state of Victoria, Australia between July 1, 2000 and December 31, 2014, for unintentional thermal injury causing deaths of community dwelling people, aged 65 years and older to identify those with dementia. Mortality for Victorian populations with and without dementia was calculated using direct age standardization. In total, 105 deaths were identified of which 18 (17%) had dementia. Mortality was more than 3-fold greater for people with dementia (3.0 vs. 0.8 per 100,000 person-years) and they more often lived with others when the injury occurred (56%, n=10 vs. 29% n=25, P=0.028). Our results suggest that older people with dementia are at greater risk of death through thermal injury. Further research should consider investigating a larger population through combining databases across multiple jurisdictions.
Experimental evidence that female rhesus macaques (
Macaca mulatta
) perceive variation in male facial masculinity
Authors: Rosenfield Kevin A. , Semple Stuart , Georgiev Alexander V. , Maestripieri Dario , Higham James P. , Dubuc Constance
Published: January 2019

Among many primate species, face shape is sexually dimorphic, and male facial masculinity has been proposed to influence female mate choice and male–male competition by signalling competitive ability. However, whether conspecifics pay attention to facial masculinity has only been assessed in humans. In a study of free-ranging rhesus macaques,
Macaca mulatta
, we used a two-alternative look-time experiment to test whether females perceive male facial masculinity. We presented 107 females with pairs of images of male faces—one with a more masculine shape and one more feminine—and recorded their looking behaviour. Females looked at the masculine face longer than at the feminine face in more trials than predicted by chance. Although there was no overall difference in average look-time between masculine and feminine faces across all trials, females looked significantly longer at masculine faces in a subset of trials for which the within-pair difference in masculinity was most pronounced. Additionally, the proportion of time subjects looked toward the masculine face increased as the within-pair difference in masculinity increased. This study provides evidence that female macaques perceive variation in male facial shape, a necessary condition for intersexual selection to operate on such a trait. It also highlights the potential impact of perceptual thresholds on look-time experiments.
Widespread latitudinal asymmetry in marginal population performance
Authors: Pulido Fernando , Castagneyrol Bastien , Rodríguez-Sánchez Francisco , Cáceres Yónatan , Pardo Adhara , Moracho Eva , Kollmann Johannes , Valladares Fernando , Ehrlén Johan , Jump Alistair S. , Svenning Jens-Christian , Hampe Arndt
Published: January 2019

Aim

Range shifts are expected to occur when populations at one range margin perform better than those at the other margin, yet no global trend in population performances at range margins has been demonstrated empirically across a wide range of taxa and biomes. Here we test the prediction that, if impacts of ongoing climate change on population performance are widespread, then populations from the high-latitude margin (HLM) should perform as well as or better than central populations, whereas populations at low-latitude margins (LLM) populations should perform worse.

Location

Global

Time period

1898–2020

Major taxa studied

Plants and animals

Methods

To test our prediction, we used a meta-analysis quantifying the empirical support for asymmetry in the performance of high- and low-latitude margin populations compared to central populations. Performance estimates were derived from 51 papers involving 113 margin-centre comparisons from 54 species and 705 populations. We then related these performance differences to climatic differences among populations. We also tested whether patterns are consistent across taxonomic kingdoms (plants vs. animals) and across habitats (marine vs. terrestrial).

Results

Populations at margins performed significantly worse than central populations and this trend was primarily driven by the low-latitude margin. Although the difference was of small magnitude, it was largely consistent across biological kingdoms and habitats. The differences in performance were positively related to the difference in average temperatures between populations during the period 1985–2016.

Major conclusions

The observed asymmetry in marginal population performance confirms predictions about the effects of global climate change. It indicates that changes in demographic rates in marginal populations, despite extensive short-term variation, can serve as early-warning signals of impending range shifts.
Molecular Biology Information Service: An innovative medical library-based bioinformatics support service for biomedical researchers
Authors: Chattopadhyay Ansuman , L. Iwema Carrie , A. Epstein Barbara , V. Lee Adrian , S. Levine Arthur
Published: January 2019

Biomedical researchers are increasingly reliant on obtaining bioinformatics training in order to conduct their research. Here we present a model that academic institutions may follow to provide such training for their researchers, based on the Molecular Biology Information Service (MBIS) of the Health Sciences Library System, University of Pittsburgh. The MBIS runs a four-facet service with the following goals: (1) identify, procure, and implement commercially-licensed bioinformatics software, (2) teach hands-on workshops using bioinformatics tools to solve research questions, (3) provide in-person and email consultations on software/databases, and (4) maintain a web portal providing overall guidance on the access and use of bioinformatics resources and MBIS-created webtools. This paper describes these facets of MBIS activities from 2006-2018, including outcomes from a survey measuring attitudes of University of Pittsburgh researchers about MBIS service and performance.
TRANSFER LEARNING FROM NUCLEUS DETECTION TO CLASSIFICATION IN HISTOPATHOLOGY IMAGES
Authors: Yousefi Safoora , Nie Yao
Published: January 2019

Despite significant recent success, modern computer vision techniques such as Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) are expensive to apply to cell-level prediction problems in histopathology images due to difficulties in providing cell-level supervision. This work explores the transferability of features learned by an object detection CNN (Faster R-CNN) to nucleus classification in histopathology images. We detect nuclei in these images using class-agnostic models trained on small annotated patches, and use the CNN representations of detected nuclei to cluster and classify them. We show that with a small training dataset, the proposed pipeline can achieve superior nucleus detection and classification performance, and generalizes well to unseen stain types.
Functional potential of bacterial strains in the premature infant gut microbiome is associated with gestational age
Authors: Rahman Sumayah F. , Olm Matthew R. , Morowitz Michael J. , Banfield Jillian F.
Published: January 2019

The gut microbiota of premature and full-term infants have many known differences, but the extent to which the degree of prematurity influences the structure and functional potential of the microbiome has not been deeply explored. Here, we used genome-resolved metagenomics to address how gestational age impacts the premature infant gut microbiome. We found that gestational age is associated with species richness, with more premature infants having lower species richness; this effect lasts until the fourth week of life. NovelClostridiumspecies and strains related toStreptococcus salivariusandEnterococcus faecaliscolonize infants of different gestational ages, and the metabolic potential of these organisms can be distinguished. Thus, we conclude that the extent of prematurity, or directly linked factors, can be an important influence on the microbiome and its functions.
Macrocyclic colibactin induces DNA double-strand breaks via copper-mediated oxidative cleavage
Authors: Li Zhong-Rui , Li Jie , Cai Wenlong , Lai Jennifer Y. H. , McKinnie Shaun M. K. , Zhang Wei-Peng , Moore Bradley S. , Zhang Wenjun , Qian Pei-Yuan
Published: January 2019

Colibactin is an as-yet-uncharacterized human gut bacterial genotoxin, whose biosynthesis is linked toclbgenomic island that distributes widespread in pathogenic and commensal human enterobacteria. Colibactin-producing gut microbes promote colon tumor formation and enhance progression of colorectal cancer (CRC) via DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs)-induced cellular senescence and death; however, the chemical basis contributing to the pathogenesis at the molecular level remains elusive. Here we report the discovery and the mechanism of action of colibactin-645 as the highly sought final colibactin metabolite with a novel molecular scaffold. Colibactin-645 recapitulates its previously assumed genotoxicity and cytotoxicity, exhibiting a strong DNA DSBs activityin vitroand in human cell cultures via a unique copper-mediated oxidative mechanism. We also present a complete model for colibactin biosynthesis, revealing an unprecedented dual function of the aminomalonate-utilizing polyketide synthases. This work thus provides the first molecular basis for colibactin’s genotoxic activity and facilitates further mechanistic study of colibactin-related CRC incidence and prevention.