bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Clonidine exposures in children under 6 (2004–2017): a retrospective study
Authors: Cairns Rose , Brown Jared A , Buckley Nicholas A
Published: November 2018

Objective

To describe trends in clonidine exposures in children under 6. Clonidine has become increasingly popular for management of paediatric behavioural disorders. Clonidine has a narrow therapeutic index, and toxicity can occur with inadvertent double dosing. Clonidine is not recommended for use in children under 6 years.

Design and setting

A retrospective review of clonidine exposures in children under 6 reported to the New South Wales Poisons Information Centre (NSWPIC, Australia’s largest poison centre), 2004–2017. This was compared with community clonidine utilisation using dispensing data from Australian Statistics on Medicines, 2004–2015. Australian trends were compared with clonidine exposure calls to US poison centres, 2006–2016.

Main outcome measures

Trends in poisonings and dispensing; demographics, dose, exposure type, clonidine source, symptoms, disposition.

Results

There were 802 clonidine exposures in the NSWPIC database, increasing 4.9% per year, 2004–2017 (95% CI 3.1% to 6.7%, p<0.001), correlated with increased dispensing, r=0.846 (95% CI 0.529 to 0.956, p<0.001). 78.6% were hospitalised and medical toxicologists were consulted in 7.2%, indicating high risk and/or morbidity. Clonidine was prescribed for the patient in at least 27.8%, providing evidence for prescribing outside of recommendations. US data reveals 19 056 clonidine exposures, with 3.7% increase per year, 2006–2016 (95% CI 2.2% to 5.3%, p<0.001).

Conclusions

Clonidine exposures in children under 6 are increasing, and this trend is not isolated to Australia. Exposures have a high hospital referral rate and high morbidity. Caution should be exercised when prescribing clonidine, and parent/carer education is important for safe storage and increased vigilance when dosing.
Rare diseases under different levels of economic analysis: current activities, challenges and perspectives
Authors: Cannizzo Sara , Lorenzoni Valentina , Palla Ilaria , Pirri Salvatore , Trieste Leopoldo , Triulzi Isotta , Turchetti Giuseppe
Published: November 2018

Rare diseases imply clinical and economic burden as well as a significant challenge for health systems. One relevant objective of the activities planned within the European Reference Network on Rare and Complex Connective Tissue and Musculoskeletal Diseases (ERN ReCONNET) is to address the economic dimensions of rare diseases to identify, develop and suggest strategies to improve research and patients’ access to orphan drugs (ODs) and highly specialised health technologies. This paper presents a preliminary review of the existing policies on rare diseases in the countries of the Network members. It also introduces and discusses the theme ofhow to perform health economic evaluationsof rare diseases and of existing or new treatments for rare diseases. To obtain a preliminary overview aiming at defining the state of the art of rare diseases policies and initiatives in ERN ReCONNET countries, we collected and analysed the rare diseases national plans of all the eight countries of the ERN ReCONNET participants. The preliminary overview that has been performed showed that in all the ERN ReCONNET countries are in place national plans for rare diseases; however, heterogeneity exists in the reimbursement of ODs, direct provision by the healthcare system, involvement of patients’ associations in decision making and implementation of clinical practice guidelines.
Parametric study of fully grouted cable bolts subjected to axial loading
Authors: Li Danqi , Masoumi Hossein , Saydam Serkan , Hagan Paul C. , Asadizadeh Mostafa
Published: November 2018

The laboratory short encapsulation pull-out test (LSEPT) has been widely accepted as the most efficient method to characterize the mechanical behaviour of cable bolts under axial loading. In this study, a number of LSEPTs was performed on conventional (Plain SuperStrand) and modified (MW9S) cable bolts using the improved pull-out test design. The effects of several parameters including the uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) of the confining medium and grout and the borehole diameter on the mechanical behaviour of MW9S and Plain SuperStrand cable bolts were investigated. Response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to quantify the contribution of these parameters on the responses including peak and residual loads and initial stiffness. RSM revealed that the UCS of the confining medium is a key contributing factor to the mechanical behaviour of both cable bolts. Also, it was demonstrated that the borehole diameter had a negligible impact on the overall behaviour of the MW9S cable bolt while the peak load of the SuperStrand cable bolt was increased due to an increase in the diameter of the borehole. Finally, from a comparative analysis, it was confirmed that the improved design can better represent the field mechanical behaviour of cable bolts through maintenance of the embedment length during large deformation.
Explicit formula for evolution semigroup for diffusion in Hilbert space
Authors: Remizov Ivan D.
Published: November 2018

A parabolic partial differential equation [Formula: see text] is considered, where [Formula: see text] is a linear second-order differential operator with time-independent (but dependent on [Formula: see text]) coefficients. We assume that the spatial coordinate [Formula: see text] belongs to a finite- or infinite-dimensional real separable Hilbert space [Formula: see text]. The aim of the paper is to prove a formula that expresses the solution of the Cauchy problem for this equation in terms of initial condition and coefficients of the operator [Formula: see text]. Assuming the existence of a strongly continuous resolving semigroup for this equation, we construct a representation of this semigroup using a Feynman formula (i.e. we write it in the form of a limit of a multiple integral over [Formula: see text] as the multiplicity of the integral tends to infinity), which gives us a unique solution to the Cauchy problem in the uniform closure of the set of smooth cylindrical functions on [Formula: see text]. This solution depends continuously on the initial condition. In the case where the coefficient of the first-derivative term in [Formula: see text] is zero, we prove that the strongly continuous resolving semigroup indeed exists (which implies the existence of a unique solution to the Cauchy problem in the class mentioned above), and that the solution to the Cauchy problem depends continuously on the coefficients of the equation.
Optimized entanglement for quantum parameter estimation from noisy qubits
Authors: Chapeau-Blondeau François
Published: November 2018

For parameter estimation from an [Formula: see text]-component composite quantum system, it is known that a separable preparation leads to a mean-squared estimation error scaling as [Formula: see text] while an entangled preparation can in some conditions afford a smaller error with [Formula: see text] scaling. This quantum superefficiency is however very fragile to noise or decoherence, and typically disappears with any small amount of random noise asymptotically at large [Formula: see text]. To complement this asymptotic characterization, here we characterize how the estimation efficiency evolves as a function of the size [Formula: see text] of the entangled system and its degree of entanglement. We address a generic situation of qubit phase estimation, also meaningful for frequency estimation. Decoherence is represented by the broad class of noises commuting with the phase rotation, which includes depolarizing, phase-flip and thermal quantum noises. In these general conditions, explicit expressions are derived for the quantum Fisher information quantifying the ultimate achievable efficiency for estimation. We confront at any size [Formula: see text] the efficiency of the optimal separable preparation to that of an entangled preparation with arbitrary degree of entanglement. We exhibit the [Formula: see text] superefficiency with no noise, and prove its asymptotic disappearance at large [Formula: see text] for any nonvanishing noise configuration. For maximizing the estimation efficiency, we characterize the existence of an optimum [Formula: see text] of the size of the entangled system along with an optimal degree of entanglement. For nonunital noises, maximum efficiency is usually obtained at partial entanglement. Grouping the [Formula: see text] qubits into independent blocks formed of [Formula: see text] entangled qubits restores at large [Formula: see text] a nonvanishing efficiency that can improve over that of [Formula: see text] independent qubits optimally prepared. Also, one inactive qubit included in the entangled probe sometimes stands as the most efficient setting for estimation. The results further attest with new characterizations the subtlety of entanglement for quantum information in the presence of noise, showing that when entanglement is beneficial, maximum efficiency is not necessarily obtained by maximum entanglement but instead by a controlled degree and finite optimal amount of it.
Fast Captions
Authors: Pantula Muralidhar , Kuppusamy K. S.
Published: November 2018

With the ongoing prolific expansion of the size of the World Wide Web, the quantity of video content is also expanding. With this massive increase in size, users encounter a serious problem when trying to decide which videos to spend their time on. Moreover, as a result of our modern-day faster lifestyles, users wish to consume the contents of the video as quickly as possible. This article proposes a model, entitled
Fast Captions
, that enables users to consume the video more quickly with the help of closed captions. The proposed model incorporates a temporal summarization of the captions that helps in understanding the contents of the video more quickly. A prototype implementation of the proposed Fast Captioning model is developed with the Facilitas media player, which allows the user to select the playing speed and renders the video with summarized captions. The results of the experiments conducted with the implementation confirms the acceptance of the proposed Fast Captions model with an acceptance rate of 92%.
How to Get Things Done When You Don’t Feel Like It
Authors: Matsudaira Kate
Published: November 2018

If you want to be successful, then it serves you better to rise to the occasion no matter what. That means learning how to push through challenges and deliver valuable results.
IL-33 Protects Mice against DSS-Induced Chronic Colitis by Increasing Both Regulatory B Cell and Regulatory T Cell Responses as Well as Decreasing Th17 Cell Response
Authors: Zhu Jun-feng , Xu Ying , Zhao Jian , Li Xue , Meng Xinrui , Wang Tian-qi , Zou Ben-yao , Zhao Peng-yan , Liu Qi , Lu Chang-long , Zheng Fang-liang , Liu Hong-sheng
Published: November 2018

Background. Previously, we have reported that IL-33 functioned as a protective modulator in dextran sulfate sodium- (DSS-) induced chronic colitis by suppressing Th17 cell response in colon lamina propria and IL-33 induced both regulatory B cells (Bregs) and regulatory T cells (Tregs) in mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs) of mice with DSS-induced acute colitis. Moreover, we speculated that IL-33 would promote the Treg or Breg responses leading to the attenuation of DSS-induced chronic colitis. So, we investigated the role of IL-33 on Bregs and Tregs in the MLN of DSS-induced chronic colitis mice.Methods. IL-33 was administered by intraperitoneal injection to mice with DSS-induced chronic colitis. Clinical symptoms, colon length, and histological changes were determined. The production of cytokines was measured by ELISA. The T and B cell subsets were measured by flow cytometry. The expression of mRNA of transcription factors was measured by quantitative real-time PCR.Results. We show that IL-33 treatment increases both Breg and Treg responses in the MLN of mice with DSS-induced chronic colitis. Moreover, IL-33 treatment also decreases Th17 cell response in the MLN of mice with DSS-induced chronic colitis.Conclusion. Our data provide clear evidence that IL-33 plays a protective role in DSS-induced chronic colitis, which is closely related to increasing Breg and Treg responses in the MLN of mice as well as suppressing Th17 cell responses.
The Contribution of Endogenous Modulatory Systems to TMS- and tDCS-Induced Analgesia: Evidence from PET Studies
Authors: DosSantos Marcos F. , Oliveira Aleli T. , Ferreira Natália R. , Carvalho Antônio C. P. , Rosado de Castro Paulo Henrique
Published: November 2018

Chronic pain is an important public health issue. Moreover, its adequate management is still considered a major clinical problem, mainly due to its incredible complexity and still poorly understood pathophysiology. Recent scientific evidence coming from neuroimaging research, particularly functional magnetic resonance (fMRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) studies, indicates that chronic pain is associated with structural and functional changes in several brain structures that integrate antinociceptive pathways and endogenous modulatory systems. Furthermore, the last two decades have witnessed a huge increase in the number of studies evaluating the clinical effects of noninvasive neuromodulatory methods, especially transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), which have been proved to effectively modulate the cortical excitability, resulting in satisfactory analgesic effects with minimal adverse events. Nevertheless, the precise neuromechanisms whereby such methods provide pain control are still largely unexplored. Recent studies have brought valuable information regarding the recruitment of different modulatory systems and related neurotransmitters, including glutamate, dopamine, and endogenous opioids. However, the specific neurocircuits involved in the analgesia produced by those therapies have not been fully elucidated. This review focuses on the current literature correlating the clinical effects of noninvasive methods of brain stimulation to the changes in the activity of endogenous modulatory systems.
A Dynamic Model of PI3K/AKT Pathways in Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Authors: Adi Yudi Ari , Adi-Kusumo Fajar , Aryati Lina , Hardianti Mardiah S.
Published: November 2018

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a malignant hematopoietic disorder characterized by uncontrolled proliferation of immature myeloid cells. In the AML cases, the phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3K)/AKT signaling pathways are frequently activated and strongly contribute to proliferation and survival of these cells. In this paper, a mathematical model of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathways in AML is constructed to study the dynamics of the proteins in these pathways. The model is a 5-dimensional system of the first-order ODE which describes the interaction of the proteins in AML. The interactions between those components are assumed to follow biochemical reactions, which are modelled by Hill’s equation. From the numerical simulations, there are three potential components targets in PI3K/AKT pathways to therapy in the treatment of AML patient.
Sofosbuvir-Based Therapies for Patients with Hepatitis C Virus Infection: Real-World Experience in China
Authors: Hu Chengguang , Yuan Guosheng , Liu Junwei , Huang Huaping , Ren Yanyu , Li Yinping , Chen Xuefu , Li Wei , Wu Tao , Deng Hong , Peng Yanzhong , Zhang Yong-Yuan , Zhou Yuanping
Published: November 2018

Background and Aims. There is scarcity of data in literature regarding the treatment response to sofosbuvir- (SOF-) based therapies in Chinese patients with chronic Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infection. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of SOF-based regimens for chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients without cirrhosis in a real-world setting in mainland China.Methods. A total of 226 patients receiving SOF plus daclatasvir (DCV), ledipasvir (LDV), or velpatasvir (VEL) were enrolled from December 2014 to June 2017. The primary observation point was the percentage of patients with a sustained virologic response (SVR) at posttreatment week 12 (SVR12), and all adverse events were monitored during treatment and follow-up period.Results. The overall SVR12 rate was 96% (216/226), and individual SVR12 ranged from 93% to 100% in different treatment groups. No significant differences of efficacy were detected between genotypes 1b and 6a (98% for GT 1b versus 100% for GT 6a, P=0.322). Comparing the high success rates in GT 1b and 6a patients, SVR12 was relatively low in GT 3a and 3b patients. A significant difference in efficacy was observed between GT 3 and not GT 3 patients (77% versus 98%, respectively, P<0.001). No significant differences in efficacy were detected among different regimens (93% versus 97% versus 100%, respectively, P=0.153), gender (95% for male versus 96% for female, P=0.655), or baseline HCV RNA lever (96% versus 95%, respectively, P=0.614). Similar SVR rates were also obtained in naïve and previously treated patients (98% versus 93%, respectively, P=0.100).Conclusions. NS5B polymerase inhibitor SOF plus one of the NS5A inhibitors, such as DCV, LDV, or VEL for 12 weeks was associated with high SVR12 rates and well tolerated in HCV-infected patients without cirrhosis. Moreover, patients with DAAs failure should be retreated with more effective regimens like SOF/VEL.
A Novel Approach for Objective Assessment of White Blood Cells Using Computational Vision Algorithms
Authors: Rodríguez Barrero Cesar Mauricio , Romero Gabalan Lyle Alberto , Roa Guerrero Edgar Eduardo
Published: November 2018

In the field of medicine, the analysis of blood is one of the most important exams to determine the physiological state of a patient. In the analysis of the blood sample, an important process is the counting and classification of white blood cells, which is done manually, being an exhaustive, subjective, and error-prone activity due to the physical fatigue that generates the professional because it is a method that consumes long laxes of time. The purpose of the research was to develop a system to identify and classify blood cells, by the implementation of the networks of Gaussian radial base functions (RBFN) for the extraction of its nucleus and subsequently their classification through the morphological characteristics, its color, and the distance between objects. Finally, the results obtained with the validation through the coefficient of determination showed an overall accuracy of 97.9% in the classification of the white blood cells per individual, while the precision in the classification by type of cell evidenced results in 93.4% for lymphocytes, 97.37% for monocytes, 79.5% for neutrophils, 73.07% for eosinophils, and a 100% in basophils with respect to the professional. In this way, the proposed system becomes a reliable technological support that contributes to the improvement of the analysis for identification of blood cells and therefore would benefit the low-level hematology establishments as well as to the processes of research in the area of medicine.
Synthesis and Thermomechanical Characterization of Nylon 6/Cu Nanocomposites Produced by an Ultrasound‐Assisted Extrusion Method
Authors: Sierra-Ávila Rubén , Pérez-Alvarez Marissa , Valdez-Garza Janett , Avila-Orta Carlos Alberto , Jiménez-Regalado Enrique Javier , Mata-Padilla José M. , Soto-Castruita Enrique , Cadenas-Pliego Gregorio
Published: November 2018

A nylon 6 nanocomposite with copper nanoparticles processed by ultrasound‐assisted extrusion was prepared at concentrations between 0.01 and 0.50 wt.%, and its thermal and mechanical properties were determined. The presence of the crystalline phase α (α1 and α2) in the polymer matrix was confirmed by X‐ray diffraction, and the presence of the α2 phase showed a greater increase than the α1 phase as a function of the copper nanoparticle concentration. This process was attributed to secondary crystallization. Furthermore, it was determined that the chemical composition of the nanoparticles is a blend of metallic copper and cupric oxide. The formation of copper nanowires was observed by scanning electron microscopy, and the concentration of 0.10% exhibited the best dispersion in comparison with the other concentrations. The melting temperature of the nanocomposites underwent a slight decrease in comparison with the nylon 6, while thermal stability, crystallization temperature, and crystallinity were increased in relation to the pure polymer. This behavior is attributed to an efficient dispersion of the nanoparticles and to their functionality as crystal nucleation sites. For the 0.10% concentration nanocomposite, higher mechanical properties were obtained; tensile strength increased by 8.9%, and the tensile modulus increased by 25.4%; as a consequence, elongation at break was 62% less than that of the polymer matrix.
Local Anesthetic Wound Infiltration after Osteosynthesis of Extracapsular Hip Fracture Does Not Reduce Pain or Opioid Requirements: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind Clinical Trial in 49 Patients
Authors: Bech Rune D. , Ovesen Ole , Lauritsen Jens , Emmeluth Claus , Lindholm Peter , Overgaard Søren
Published: November 2018

Background and purpose. Local infiltration analgesia (LIA) supports early mobilization after hip and knee arthroplasty. Inspired by this, we studied the effectiveness of wound infiltration with the long acting local anesthetic ropivacaine in an effort to decrease the need for postoperative opioids after osteosynthesis of extracapsular hip fracture. Methods. Forty-nine patients undergoing osteosynthesis with a sliding hip screw were randomized into two groups in a double-blind study (ClinicalTrials.gov:NCT01119209). The patients received intraoperative infiltration followed by 6 postoperative injections through a wound catheter in eight-hour intervals. 23 patients received ropivacaine and 26 received saline. The intervention period was 2 days, and the observation period was 5 days. In both groups, there were no restrictions on the total daily dose of opioids. Pain was assessed at specific postoperative time points, and the daily opioid usage was registered. Results. Intraoperative infiltration with 200 mg ropivacaine and postoperative repeated infiltration with 100 mg ropivacaine did not result in statistically significant difference between the groups regarding postoperative opioid consumption or pain. Interpretation. Ropivacaine as single component in postoperative treatment of pain after hip fracture is not effective. In our setup, wound infiltration with ropivacaine is not statistically significantly better than placebo.
Continuum Dynamic Traffic Assignment Model for Autonomous Vehicles in a Polycentric Urban City with Environmental Consideration
Authors: Rong Bosheng , Zhao Hui , Cui Shaohua , Zhang Cuiping
Published: November 2018

This paper proposed a continuum dynamic model for autonomous vehicles in a polycentric urban city by considering the environment impact of traffic emission. The model assumes that homogeneous autonomous vehicles are continuously distributed over the urban areas which tend to choose a path to minimize their total travel cost from origin to destination. To describe the path choice behavior of travelers, we presented the continuum dynamic traffic assignment model which consists of a two-dimensional hyperbolic system of nonlinear conservation laws with source terms and an Eikonal-type equation. The elastic demand is considered using a function which associating each copy of flow with its total instantaneous travel cost. For the environmental impacts, here we consider the influence of CO emission and include the cost of emission into the actual transportation cost. A solution algorithm for the model is designed as a cell-centered finite volume method for conservation law equations and a fast sweeping method for Eikonal-type equations on unstructured grids. Numerical examples are given to demonstrate the model and the proposed solution algorithm. Further, the results of the travel cost considering CO emissions and not considering CO emissions are compared.
No Survival Benefit in Octogenarians and Nonagenarians with Extended Hemodialysis Treatment Time
Authors: Ko Gang Jee , Obi Yoshitsugu , Soohoo Melissa , Chang Tae Ik , Choi Soo Jeong , Kovesdy Csaba P. , Streja Elani , Rhee Connie M. , Kalantar-Zadeh Kamyar
Published: November 2018

Background: The population of elderly end-stage renal disease patients initiating dialysis is rapidly growing. Although longer treatment is supposed to benefit for hemodialysis (HD) patients through more solute clearance and slower fluid removal, it is not yet clear how treatment session length affects mortality risk in octogenarians and nonagenarians. Methods: In a cohort of 112,026 incident HD patients between 2007 and 2011, we examined the association of treatment session length with all-cause mortality, adjusting for demographics and comorbid conditions. We also used restricted spline functions for age to evaluate continuous changes in the association of short (< 210 min) and extended (≥240 min) HD treatment (vs. 210 to < 240 min) with all-cause mortality over continuous age. Results: During the first 91 days of dialysis, patients aged ≥80 years tended to have the lowest treatment session length (median [interquartile range] 211 [193–230] min, r > 0.5). Longer treatment was associated with better survival in patients < 65 and 65 to < 80 years but not in octogenarians/nonagenarians. The association of extended treatment (≥240 min) with better survival was attenuated across age and not significant among patients aged ≥80 years with a hazard ratio of 1.10 (95% CI 0.99–1.20). Shorter treatment sessions (< 210 min) was associated with higher mortality across all age groups. Conclusion: Extended HD was not associated with lower mortality among octogenarians and nonagenarians, while it was associated with better survival among younger patients. Further studies are needed to determine the optimal treatment session length in elderly incident HD patients.
ГЕНДЕРНІ ОСОБЛИВОСТІ ПОЄДНАННЯ СТАБІЛЬНОЇ ІШЕМІЧНОЇ ХВОРОБИ СЕРЦЯ ТА ХРОНІЧНОГО ОБСТРУКТИВНОГО ЗАХВОРЮВАННЯ ЛЕГЕНЬ
Authors: Mostovoy Y. M. , Rasputina L. V. , Didenko D. V.
Published: November 2018

Дослідження демонструють динаміку гендерних особливостей ішемічної хвороби серця протягом останніх років. У випадку поєднання з хронічним обструктивним захворюванням легень клінічний перебіг патологій може змінюватись, що потребує оцінки залежно від статі пацієнтів.

Мета дослідження – визначити клініко-функціональні особливості перебігу стабільної ішемічної хвороби серця та хронічного обструктивного захворювання легень при їх поєднанні, залежно від статі пацієнтів.

Матеріали і методи. Обстежено 98 пацієнтів із поєднанням стабільної ішемічної хвороби серця та хронічного обструктивного захворювання легень, з них 78 чоловіків та 20 жінок. Проаналізовано дані загальноклінічного обстеження, тяжкість задишки за шкалою Medical Research Council (mMRC), тест з оцінки хронічного обструктивного захворювання легень (ТОХ), ЕКГ, показники спірографії, добового моніторування ЕКГ, ехокардіографії, параметри якості життя за анкетою MOS SF 36.

Результати досліджень та їх обговорення. Гендерних відмінностей за клінічними формами ішемічної хвороби серця, ступенем ураження коронарних артерій та групами хронічного обструктивного захворювання легень не встановлено. Показники функції зовнішнього дихання не відрізнялись у чоловіків та жінок, але для жінок характерна більш виражена задишка за даними анкетування mMRC (р=0,007) та ТОХ (р=0,009). Сумарний показник фізичного статусу якості життя у жінок нижче, ніж у чоловіків – 25,8±2,8 проти 38,1±2,3 відповідно (р=0,005). Визначено тенденцію до більшої кількості шлуночкових екстрасистол у чоловіків – 428 (91; 1361) на добу, тоді як у жінок, – 247 (7; 496) на добу. В усіх пацієнтів наявні ознаки ремоделювання лівих та правих камер серця, але достовірної гендерної відмінності не встановлено.

Висновки. У жінок із поєднанням стабільної ішемічної хвороби серця та хронічного обструктивного захворювання легень спостерігаються нижчі показники якості життя, більша потреба у медичній допомозі, порівняно з чоловіками, хоча достовірної відмінності між інструментальними показниками не виявлено.
МОЖЛИВОСТІ ПОКРАЩЕННЯ КРОВОПОСТАЧАННЯ ЕНДОМЕТРІЯ У ЖІНОК ЗІ ЗНИЖЕНИМ ОВАРІАЛЬНИМ РЕЗЕРВОМ
Authors: Prodan T. A.
Published: November 2018

На межі ХХ–ХХІ ст. у клінічну практику було введено високоефективні допоміжні репродуктивні технології (ДРТ), що дозволило різко підвищити ефективність подолання безпліддя, незалежно від його причин. Методи допоміжних репродуктивних технологій (ДРТ) є найефективнішими в подоланні різних форм чоловічого і жіночого безпліддя.

Мета дослідження – вивчити ефективність скретчингу ендометрія для покращення його кровопостачання у жінок зі зниженим оваріальним резервом та невдалими спробами екстракорпорального запліднення (ЕКЗ) в анамнезі.

Матеріали і методи. Обстежено 120 пацієнток репродуктивного віку з безпліддям зі зниженим оваріальним резервом та невдалими спробами ЕКЗ в анамнезі. Усіх жінок поділили на 2 групи: основну (група О, n=60) та порівняння (група П, n=60). У кожній групі були 2 підгрупи: підгрупи 1 включали пацієнток зі зниженим оваріальним резервом у зв’язку з оперативними втручаннями на яєчниках в минулому (О1 та П1) та підгрупи 2 – з генетично зниженим оваріальним резервом (О2 та П2). Усім жінкам на 7–8 дні менструального циклу, що передував кріоембріопереносу, виконували діагностичну гістероскопію з біопсією ендометрія. Жінкам основної групи під час втручання проводили скретчинг ендометрія. З метою визначення стану кровопостачання ендометрія проводили ехографію органів малого таза в динаміці двох циклів (попереднього до кріоембріотрансферу та в лікувальному циклі) на 7; 14 та 21 дні. Дослідження включало двовимірну ехографію, тривимірну ехографію і тривимірну енергетичну доплерографію.

Результати досліджень та їх обговорення. За отриманими двними об’єм ендометрія збільшувався в динаміці лікувального циклу, причому це зростання було статистично значуще, порівняно з попереднім циклом в основній групі ((2,85±0,06) см3, порівняно з (2,69±0,05) см3 у підгрупі О1, та (2,88±0,03) см3 порівняно з (2,74±0,06) см3 в підгрупі О2, p<0,05). На 21-й день було відмічено подальшу тенденцію до його збільшення лише у жінок з оперованими яєчниками та проведеним скретчингом ендометрія в попередньому циклі ((2,81±0,07) см3 порівняно з (2,53±0,11) см3, p<0,05). Визначення індексу васкуляризації на 21-й день циклу ЕТ показало його подальше зростання в групі О як порівняно з попереднім циклом, так і в динаміці: (33,85±1,17) % порівняно з (27,33±2,25) % в попередньому циклі у підгрупі О1; (33,56±1,36) % та (26,43±2,17) % відповідно в підгрупі О2 (p<0,05). У групі П індекс васкуляризації (VI) суттєво не змінювався. Васкуляризаційно-потоковий індекс у пацієнток підгрупи О1 на 7-й день циклу ембріотрансферу був вірогідно вище за аналогічний в підгрупах О2, П1 та П2 ((1,83±0,04) порівняно з (1,14±0,02), (1,18±0,03) та (0,91±0,04), p<0,05). На 21-й день циклу ЕТ він залишався вірогідно вище за такий у попередньому циклі в обох підгрупах групи О (p<0,05) без суттєвих змін у групі П (p>0,05).

Висновки. Проведене дослідження показало, що виконання скретчингу ендометрія в циклі, що передував ембріотрансферу, покращує його кровопостачання у жінок зі зниженим оваріальним резервом та невдалими спробами ЕКЗ у минулому.
СТАТЕВІ ОСОБЛИВОСТІ ГЕМОГРАМИ ТА ЛІПІДОГРАМИ У ХВОРИХ ІЗ ГОСТРИМ КОРОНАРНИМ СИНДРОМОМ БЕЗ ПІДЙОМУ СЕГМЕНТА ST НА ТЛІ ЕСЕНЦІАЛЬНОЇ АРТЕРІАЛЬНОЇ ГІПЕРТЕНЗІЇ, ІНФІКОВАНИХ HELICOBACTER PYLORI
Authors: Shved М. I.
Published: November 2018

Гострий коронарний синдром (ГКС) є важливою причиною інвалідизації та смерті пацієнтів, незважаючи на значні успіхи в діагностиці та лікуванні, причому ГКС без елевації сегмента ST спостерігають частіше і характеризується він удвічі вищими показниками смертності у віддаленому періоді, ніж ГКС з елевацією сегмента ST. До важливих факторів ризику розвитку ГКС відносять есенціальну артеріальну гіпертензію (ЕАГ), дисліпідемію і системне запалення.

Мета дослідження – вивчити статеві особливості гемограми та ліпідограми у хворих із гострим коронарним синдромом без підйому сегмента ST на тлі есенціальної артеріальної гіпертензії, інфікованих Helicobacter pylori.

Матеріали і методи. Обстежено 134 хворих віком 45–83 роки з діагнозом гострого коронарного синдрому без підйому сегмента ST на тлі есенціальної артеріальної гіпертензії із диспептичними скаргами відповідно до діючих протоколів ведення гострого коронарного синдрому без підйому сегмента ST, есенціальної артеріальної гіпертензії і диспепсії. Пацієнтів поділили на групи: чоловіків та жінок, інфікованих і неінфікованих Helicobacter pylori. Контрольну групу склали 30 практично здорових осіб відповідного віку та статі.

Результати досліджень та їх обговорення. За наявності інфекції Helicobacter pylori спостерігали достовірно вираженіше збільшення печінки і вищі показники відношення тромбоцитів до лімфоцитів серед чоловіків, порівняно з жінками, разом з тим, як у групах пацієнтів, неінфікованих Helicobacter pylori, достовірних статевих відмінностей серед цих показників ми не виявили. Показники ШОЕ, загального холестеролу, ліпопронеїнів низької щільності, тригліцеридів та коефіцієнт атерогенності плазми були достовірно вищими серед пацієнтів обох статей, інфікованих Helicobacter pylori, порівняно з неінфікованими. Крім того, виявлено достовірно вираженіше збільшення печінки, нижчу фракцію викиду, підвищення ШОЕ і відношення тромбоцитів до лімфоцитів у чоловіків, інфікованих Helicobacter pylori, порівняно з неінфікованими, чого не спостерігали серед жінок.

Висновки. Отримані дані вказують на можливе поглиблення серцевої недостатності, дисліпідемії і системного запалення у чоловіків, інфікованих Helicobacter pylori, порівняно з неінфікованими, а також порівняно з жінками, незалежно від фактора інфекції Helicobacter pylori.
Taxonomy of European Damaeidae (Acari: Oribatida) III.Species of the Kunstidamaeus tenuipes (Michael, 1885) group, with a description of Kunstidamaeus fraterculus n. sp. from East Slovakia
Authors: MIKO LADISLAV
Published: November 2018

Modern redescriptions and new diagnoses of three species of genus Kunstidamaeus, belonging to the “tenuipes” group— K. tenuipes (Michael, 1885), K. granulatus (Willmann, 1951), K. nivalis (Kulczynski, 1902) are given. Another species of this group, K. fraterculus n.sp., is described, based on individuals from Dreveník hill in East Slovakia. The group is characterized by relatively short, at least partly barbed, slightly club-shaped sensillus.
The advertisement call of the Hoogmoed’s harlequin toad Atelopus hoogmoedi Lescure, 1974 from northern Brazil (Anura, Bufonidae)
Authors: COSTA-CAMPOS CARLOS EDUARDO , DE CARVALHO THIAGO RIBEIRO
Published: November 2018

Harlequin toads (Atelopus) are distributed over a wide range in the Amazon Rainforest, mostly associated with streamlets in dense ombrophilous forests in lowland and sub-montane regions. Atelopus hoogmoedi Lescure, 1974a was considered as bearing full species status by Lötters et al. (2005), although until that moment this species had been assigned to a subspecies of A. pulcher (Boulenger, 1882) (Lescure 1974a, 1976) or of A. spumarius Cope, 1871 (Lescure et al. 1980; Lescure & Marty 2000; Lötters et al. 2002). More recently, Noonan & Gaucher (2005) subscribed to Lötters et al. (2005)’s statement that A. s. hoogmoedi should belong to a distinctive species (A. hoogmoedi), based on phylogeographic evidence. The species’ range is currently restricted to the Guiana Shield of French Guiana, Suriname, Guyana, and in adjacent regions of northern Brazil (Lötters et al. 2005).
Description of Kumatoeides gen. nov. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae, Eumolpinae) from New Caledonia
Authors: GÓMEZ-ZURITA JESÚS
Published: November 2018

In this article, I describe a new endemic genus of New Caledonian Eumolpinae, Kumatoeides gen. nov. (tribe Eumolpini), and eight new species currently conforming the genus: K. anomala sp. nov., K. aulacia sp. nov. (generic type), K. leptalei sp. nov., K. megale sp. nov., K. metallica sp. nov., K. millei sp. nov., K. tarsalis sp. nov. and K. wanati sp. nov. Some easily recognizable defining traits of this new genus of fairly small species (2.23–3.20 mm) are the glabrous dorsum, aligned punctures on elytra in eight regular striae plus short scutellar and a subhumeral striae, convex elytral intervals, and the enlarged and elongate first pro- and mesotarsomeres of males. One species originally described in the genus Montrouzierella Jolivet, Verma et Mille is transferred to the new genus as Kumatoeides costata (Jolivet, Verma et Mille) nov. comb. A preliminary phylogenetic analysis using partial cox1 and rrnS mtDNA sequences of five species of Kumatoeides gen. nov. together with a representative sample of species of Eumolpinae from New Caledonia supports the monophyly of the genus and the existence of two main groups as recognized based on morphological traits. However, data are not conclusive about the relationship of the new genus with other New Caledonian lineages, although suggest a closest relationship with some unidentified species most similar to some representatives of the genus Samuelsonia Jolivet, Verma et Mille but with morphological similarities with Kumatoeides gen. nov., including dilated male protarsomeres, similar antennomere proportions and tendency to aligned rows of punctures on elytra, at least apically.
The tadpole of Afrixalus knysnae (Loveridge) (Anura: Hyperoliidae), with comments on reproductive biology
Authors: LANGE FERDI DE , PREEZ LOUIS DU
Published: November 2018

Leaf–folding frogs of the genus Afrixalus comprise 33 species across South-East, Central and West Africa (Frost 2018) with tadpoles being described for Afrixalus aureus Pickersgill, A. delicatus Pickersgill, A. dorsalis (Peters), A. fornassinii (Bianconi), A. fulvovittatus (Cope), A. laevis (Ahl), A. morerei Dubois, A. nigeriensis Schiøtz, A. spinifrons (Cope), A. stuhlmanni (Pfeffer), A. uluguruensis (Barbour & Loveridge), A. vibekensis Schiøtz, A. vittiger Peters, and A. weidholzi (Mertens) (see Pickersgill 2005; Channing et al. 2012). Members of the genus have a unique approach to egg deposition, laying their eggs on soft-leaved hydrophytes. The male folds or rolls the leaf with his hind legs into a sheath following oviposition and fertilisation (Rose 1950; Wager 1954; Du Preez & Carruthers 2017), excreting an adhesive substance and enclosing the eggs within while the “glue” cures (Rose 1950, Wager 1954, authors pers. obs.).
Diathermal Heat Transport in a Global Ocean Model
Authors: Holmes Ryan M. , Zika Jan D. , England Matthew H.
Published: November 2018

The rate at which the ocean moves heat from the tropics toward the poles, and from the surface into the interior, depends on diabatic surface forcing and diffusive mixing. These diabatic processes can be isolated by analyzing heat transport in a temperature coordinate (the diathermal heat transport). This framework is applied to a global ocean sea ice model at two horizontal resolutions (1/4° and 1/10°) to evaluate the partioning of the diathermal heat transport between different mixing processes and their spatial and seasonal structure. The diathermal heat transport peaks around 22°C at 1.6 PW, similar to the peak meridional heat transport. Diffusive mixing transfers this heat from waters above 22°C, where surface forcing warms the tropical ocean, to temperatures below 22°C where midlatitude waters are cooled. In the control 1/4° simulation, half of the parameterized vertical mixing is achieved by background diffusion, to which sensitivity is explored. The remainder is associated with parameterizations for surface boundary layer, shear instability, and tidal mixing. Nearly half of the seasonal cycle in the peak vertical mixing heat flux is associated with shear instability in the tropical Pacific cold tongue, highlighting this region’s global importance. The framework presented also allows for quantification of numerical mixing associated with the model’s advection scheme. Numerical mixing has a substantial seasonal cycle and increases to compensate for reduced explicit vertical mixing. Finally, applied to Argo observations the diathermal framework reveals a heat content seasonal cycle consistent with the simulations. These results highlight the utility of the diathermal framework for understanding the role of diabatic processes in ocean circulation and climate.
Bringing urban space back in: A multilevel analysis of environmental inequality in Germany
Authors: Rüttenauer Tobias
Published: November 2018

Various studies have shown that minorities bear a disproportionate exposure to environmental pollution. To understand the causes of this environmental inequality, it is important to analyse which structural conditions foster environmental inequality. This study uses an original dataset by combining the German 2011 census with georeferenced pollution data to analyse the variation in environmental inequality between German cities. While structural characteristics derived from standard theories of environmental inequality do a rather poor job of explaining regional differences, an overlooked indicator correlates strongly with environmental inequality: the geographic centrality of polluting facilities within the urban space. Including this structural measure into the city-fixed effects multilevel analysis accounts for more than 25% of the variation between cities. This highlights the importance of taking geographic conditions into account when analysing environmental inequality.
The burden of chronic elbow dislocations in Cambodia and early results of a cost-effective surgical approach
Authors: Mortimer Alice E , Nicholls Alex , Rawal Aziz , Noor Saqib , Oy Heang , Gollogly James G
Published: November 2018

Chronic elbow dislocation presents a surgical challenge and there is difficulty in balancing stability with early mobilisation. We present a series of 103 patients treated with open reduction via a posterior approach and provide early results of an alternative combined medial and lateral approach (Soddo technique, Anderson et al.).

Of the 103 patients, 81% initially consulted a traditional healer and the mean dislocation period was 11 weeks. There was significant loss to follow-up. Only 12 patients having undergone the posterior approach had complete datasets. The mean preoperative arc of movement was 10° and the postoperative arc was 65° at a mean follow-up of 16 weeks. Five patients treated with the Soddo technique had sufficient follow-up data. The mean preoperative arc was 20° and the mean postoperative arc was 95° (mean follow-up of 20 days). Those having undergone the Soddo technique achieved a 20° greater increase in range of movement and no re-dislocations.
Unmet need for contraception among HIV-positive women in Ile-Ife, Nigeria
Authors: Okunola Temitope Omoladun , Ijaduola Kayode T , Adejuyigbe Ebunoluwa A
Published: November 2018

As mother-to-child transmission of HIV is difficult to predict and also hard to prevent in practice, pregnancy among women living with HIV/AIDS (WHA) needs to be taken with considerable aforethought. The prevention of unwanted pregnancy among WHA is therefore a public health issue. The aim of our study was to determine the unmet need for contraception among HIV-positive women and the associated factors. Ours was a cross-sectional study involving 425 non-pregnant WHA attending an adult HIV clinic in Nigeria. Interviewer-administered, structured questionnaires designed for the study were used to obtain data. The contraceptive uptake was 47% while the unmet need for contraception was 20%. There were significant associations between unmet need for contraception and age group ( P < 0.001), religion ( P < 0.001), ethnic group ( P < 0.001), knowledge about contraceptives ( P = 0.02), educational status ( P = 0.01) and partners’ retroviral status ( P = 0.008) The unmet need for contraception was high. Advocacy programs should perhaps be focused on older women, Christians and those with little or no education.
Theorizing Desecularization of the Military: The United States and Israel
Authors: Levy Yagil
Published: November 2018

This article addresses scholarly deficiencies in identifying the conditions under which the desecularization of militaries takes place. To theorize this process, two militaries are studied, the United States and Israel. Arguably, six drivers sequentially generate the desecularization of the militaries: (1) Militaries largely mirror the growing influence of religion in the broader society. However, intramilitary drivers play their role in promoting/mitigating the extra-military mechanisms of desecularization. Thus, (2) organizational interests along with external constraints drive militaries to promote religious diversity, which may (3) lead to the empowerment of religious actors, and thereby to further desecularization through religious intolerance, and to (4) reliance on the spiritual and religious services provided by military chaplains, and jointly stimulate (5) the use of religion to motivate military sacrifice. By religiously increasing the symbolic value of military sacrifice, (6) religiosity becomes more naturally associated with good soldiering, thereby reshaping intramilitary hierarchies and, hence, further triggering desecularization.
Patronal politics, judicial networks and collective judicial autonomy in post-Soviet Ukraine
Authors: Trochev Alexei
Published: November 2018

How and why do networks of judges make a difference in judicial politics in patronage-based systems? Judicial networks provide important benefits to both patrons and judges by sharing information about the exchange of concrete rewards and sanctions, generating expectations about the staying power of the patrons and mobilizing judges when needed. These informational and mobilizing practices are at the heart of collective judicial autonomy. Yet judges exercise this autonomy in different ways depending on the presence of a dominant patronage network, the rigidity of the judicial hierarchy with the supreme court on top, and the intensity of intra-judicial conflict. I explore the informational and mobilizing practices of judicial associations – the most visible judicial networks – in post-Soviet Ukraine, a country with a large number of these associations, varying numbers of ruling patronage networks and two attempts at the abolition of the supreme court. Lessons from Ukraine’s judicial clientelism may help explain why competitive politics with vibrant judicial associationalism fail to entrench judicial independence.
Optimization of the cellular morphology of biaxially stretched thin polyethylene foams produced by extrusion film blowing
Authors: Hamdi Ouassim , Mighri Frej , Rodrigue Denis
Published: November 2018

This work presents the production of cellular polymer films using extrusion blowing to impose biaxial stretching on the cellular structure while processing. The materials selected are linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) and low density polyethylene (LDPE) as the matrix, azodicarbonamide as the chemical blowing agent, and talc as the nucleating agent. The processing parameters, namely, the temperature profile, screw speed, feed rate, take-up ratio, blow-up ratio, and the matrix composition were all optimized to produce a homogeneous cellular structure with defined morphologies. The optimized films had a thickness below 300 µm, a relative density around 0.6, a cell density above 2 × 106 cells/cm3, and biaxially stretched cells with aspect ratios above 4 longitudinally and 3.8 transversally.
What is urban violence?
Authors: Pavoni Andrea , Tulumello Simone
Published: November 2018

Considering the absence of an agreed definition of urban violence, this article suggests that exploring the violence-security nexus in the context of planetary urbanisation provides some necessary steps for theorisation. Moving from the analytical toward the conceptual, we offer three conceptual shifts, intended as steps toward a theory of urban violence: first, from violence in the city to violence in/of/through an age of planetary urbanisation; second, beyond the dichotomous thinking about the violence-security nexus; third, from manifestations of violence in the city to the ‘threshold’ (of visibility) beyond which a city is understood, and depicted, as violent.