bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The groundhopper fauna (Orthoptera: Tetrigidae) of Shiwanshan (Guangxi, China) with description of three new species
Authors: DENG WEI-AN , ZHENG ZHE-MIN , LI XIAO-DONG , LIN MIN-PING , WEI SHI-ZHEN , YUAN BAO-DONG , LIN LI-LIANG
Published: March 2015

This paper deals with 7 subfamilies, 30 genera and 82 species of Tetrigidae from Shiwanshan, Guangxi in China. Among them three new species of the subfamily Metrodorinae are described, namely Mazarredia convexaoides Deng & Zheng sp. nov., Mazarredia shiwanshanensis Deng & Zheng sp. nov. and Bolivaritettix shiwanshanensis Deng & Zheng sp. nov. Also, new synonyms are presented: Miriatroides quadrivertex Zheng & Jiang, 2002 syn.nov. is synonymized with Spadotettix hainanensis Günther, 1939, thus genus Miriatroides Zheng & Jiang, 2002 with the genus Spadotettix Hancock, 1910. Finally, brief comments on faunistic characters of Tetrigidae from Shiwanshan are given.
New species from the genera Kansua and Anatlanticus (Orhtoptera: Tettigoniidae) in China
Authors: LIU CHUNXIANG
Published: March 2015

The genus Kansua Uvarov was only known in East Asian, and is considered to approach Tettigonia Linnaeus or Glyphonotus Redtenbacher. After comparing male and female specimens of Kansua with other genera of the subfamily Tettigoniinae, we find that Kansua is very similar to Anatlanticus Bei-Bienko and Mongolodectes Bei-Bienko in pronotum, legs, and tegmen rather than Tettigonia and Glyphonotus. Description of one new species Kansua diebua Liu sp. n., of two new species of one newly recorded genus Anatlanticus from China, and first description of male of Mongolodectes alashanicus are presented.
Revision of the Palaearctic and Oriental species of the genus Naarda Walker, 1866 (Lepidoptera: Erebidae, Hypeninae). Part 5. Description of 13 new species from Asia
Authors: TÓTH BALÁZS , RONKAY LÁSZLÓ
Published: March 2015

Descriptions of 13 new Naarda species, N. cingulata (Thailand), N. imitata (Cambodia), N. hallasana (Korea), N. calligrapha (India, Burma and Indonesia: Buru Island), N. felinopsis (Vietnam), N. furcipalpa (Brunei), N. uthanti (Burma), N. capreola (Cambodia), N. leptosigna (Sri Lanka), N. nigrissima (Cambodia, Thailand and Taiwan), N. bicolora (Cambodia), N. gigaloba (Sri Lanka) and N. numismata (India) spp. n. are given. With 50 figures.
Chordodes combiareolatus, a new species of horsehair worms (Nematomorpha) from Nagaland, India, with further comments on Chordodes moutoni
Authors: Schmidt-Rhaesa Andreas , LimaTEMJEN LimaTEMJEN , Yadav Arun K.
Published: March 2015

The currently known diversity of horsehair worms (Nematomorpha) from India is only 17 species. We report here two female specimens found on two occasions on a terrace paddy field in Tsupo, Viswema, Kohima, Nagaland, India. Although found at the same location, both species differ in their cuticular structures. One is determined as Chordodes moutoni, a species known from China, Malaysia and India. The other specimen shows a new type of cuticular structure, the areoles, which combines characters of both simple areoles and tubercle areoles. This specimen is described as a new species, C. combiareolatus. Both specimens show arrangements on the cuticle, in which a circle of areoles surrounds a region of “naked” cuticle. We interpret these regions as artifacts caused by the breaking off of the central crowned areoles, leaving only the circumcluster areoles behind.
Description of a new genus and a new species of gaeticine crab (Crustacea: Brachyura: Varunidae) from the Ryukyu Islands, and a review of Acmaeopleura Stimpson, 1858, and Sestrostoma Davie & N.K. Ng, 2007
Authors: NARUSE TOHRU
Published: March 2015

Acmaeopleura parvula Stimpson, 1858, the type species of the varunid Acmaeopleura Stimpson, 1858, is redescribed, and a neotype is designated. Examination of all three species of the gaeticine Sestrostoma Davie & N.K. Ng, 2007, revealed that, although the diagnostic characters of Sestrostoma proposed by the previous study are variable and mostly overlap with those of Acmaeopleura, they can still be distinguished from each other by the characters of the carapace, the thoracic sternite 2, the third maxillipeds, and the ambulatory legs. The subfamilial position of Acmaeopleura was assessed by comparing it with all gaeticine genera. Gaetice Gistel, 1848, the type genus of the subfamily, has a very characteristic structure of the third maxilliped and the anterior sternal plate, which are partially shared with Gopkittisak Naruse & Clark, 2009, Brankocleistostoma Števčić, 2011, Sestrostoma and Acmaeopleura in different combinations. The generic diagnostic characters of these four genera are unique among Varunidae and they are tentatively placed in Gaeticinae. A new genus and new species, which is allied to Sestrostoma but clearly distinguishable from all varunine genera, is described from Iriomote Island, Ryukyu Islands, Japan.
Diversity of Piophilidae (Diptera) in northern Canada and description of a new Holarctic species of Parapiophila McAlpine
Authors: ROCHEFORT SABRINA , WHEELER TERRY A.
Published: March 2015

Piophilidae (Diptera) were inventoried at 12 sites in boreal and arctic Canada as part of the 1947–1962 Northern Insect Survey and 2010–2011 Northern Biodiversity Program. Seventeen species were identified, including a new Holarctic species: Parapiophila kugluktuk sp. n. which is widespread in North America and northern Sweden. Allopiophila calceata Duda is considered a junior synonym of Parapiophila atrifrons (Melander & Spuler) syn. n. based on morphological and molecular evidence. Parapiophila baechlii Merz, previously known from Switzerland, is newly recorded in the Nearctic region, as well as Sweden and northeastern Russia (Cherskiy). Parapiophila pectiniventris (Duda), previously known from the Palaearctic region and Greenland, is newly recorded from North America. Species richness was highest in mainland subarctic sites (16 species, 246 specimens). Five species (13 specimens) were collected in boreal sites, and five species (701 specimens) were collected on the high arctic island sites.
A new bathyal mysid of the family Petalophthalmidae (Crustacea: Mysida)
from the Bismarck Sea (Western Tropical Pacific Ocean)
Authors: VICENTE CARLOS SAN , CORBARI LAURE
Published: March 2015

A new species of the genus Petalophthalmus (Crustacea: Mysida: Petalophthalmidae) is described, based on one specimen collected from the Bismarck Sea (Papua New Guinea, Western Pacific Ocean). This species can be distinguished from the other species of the genus Petalophthalmus by the globular cornea and the armature of the telson. This new species lives between 800 and 1065 m depth. A discussion on the geographic and bathymetric distribution and an identification key to world species of Petalophthalmus are provided.
New Dicranoptycha Osten Sacken, 1859 Crane flies (Diptera: Limoniidae) of North and South Korea
Authors: PODENAS SIGITAS , BYUN HYE-WOO , KIM SAM-KYU
Published: March 2015

Two new species of Dicranoptycha Osten Sacken, 1859, crane flies (Diptera, Limoniidae) from the Korean peninsula are described, illustrated and compared with already known and related species. An identification key and check-list of all Korean Dicranoptycha is presented.
The Maluti Mystery revisited: Taxonomy of African River Frogs (Pyxicephalidae, Amietia) on the Drakensberg Mountains in southern Africa
Authors: CHANNING ALAN
Published: March 2015

The taxonomy of two similar frogs from the top of the Drakensberg escarpment, the Maluti River Frog and the Phofung River Frog is not settled. I examine the relevant types and type descriptions, and discover a number of errors in the literature. Some of the recent taxonomic changes were found to be unsupported. The Maluti River Frog is assigned to Amietia vertebralis (Hewitt, 1927), and the Phofung River Frog to Amietia hymenopus (Boulenger, 1920).
The genus Folsomides Stach (Collembola, Isotomidae) in Kermanshah Province (W Iran) with the description of two new species
Authors: ARBEA JAVIER I. , KAHRARIAN MORTEZA
Published: March 2015

The genus Folsomides Stach, 1922 is represented by four species in the Iranian fauna, two of which are new to the science. Folsomides halshinicus sp. nov. and Folsomides subvinosus sp. nov. are found in Kermanshah Province (Western Iran). The new species belong to the Folsomides angularis (Axelson, 1905) group and they are distinguishable from other congeneric species by the macrochaetotaxy (11/22233 macrochaetae on thoracic II to abdominal V tergites) and the number of chaetae on dens. A table with the diagnostic characters for the identification of Iranian species of Folsomides is given. Some figures of F.vinosus Fjellberg, 1993 from Canary Island was given after study of type specimens.
A new species of the water mite genus Hygrobates Koch, 1837 (Acari: Hydrachnidia: Hygrobatidae) from the ancient Lake Ohrid
Authors: PEŠIĆ VLADIMIR
Published: March 2015

A new water mite species, Hygrobates zawali n. sp., is described from material collected in the ancient Lake Ohrid on the Balkan Peninsula. This species has been confused for a long time with the rhithrobiontic H. diversiporus Sokolow, 1927, known from the Caucasus (Russia) and Turkey. The new species closely resembles H. quanaticola Schwoerbel & Sepasgozarian, 1976, a little documented species described from Iran, which is here illustrated based on re-examination of the type material. Furthermore, a key for the identification of species of the subgenus Rivobates Thor, 1897, from the Western Palaearctic is given.
Chan-Vese segmentation model for faster and accurate evaluation of yarn packing density
Authors: Eldessouki Mohamed , Ibrahim Sayed
Published: March 2015

Yarn packing density is an important parameter in correlating the internal structure of the yarn to its final properties and performance. The current methods of determining the yarn packing density have three main drawbacks: they are labor dependent, they are time consuming, and they approximate many parameters of the fibers and the yarn. The current work utilizes the Chan-Vese (CV) segmentation model to detect the actual contours of the yarn and the fibers inside its cross-section. This algorithm allows the automation of the process which reduces the time required for the analysis and makes it independent from the human element. The method also avoids the approximations involved in the traditional methods by calculating the actual areas of the fibers and the yarn which makes it more precise in determining the yarn packing density. A user-friendly graphical user interface (GUI) was developed to utilize the CV algorithm and calculate different yarn parameters such as the yarn's radial packing density, the yarn's effective diameter, and the yarn's effective packing density. The area ratio factor (ARF) was used as a quick indicator of the accuracy of fiber segmentation. The CV algorithm was described in detail and tested with ring-spun yarns from different materials and the results were found to be in agreement with the reported values of such yarns. The introduced method can be extended to the evaluation of fibrous materials other than yarns.
Failure modes of conducting yarns in electronic-textile applications
Authors: de Kok Margreet , de Vries Hans , Pacheco Katharine , van Heck Gert
Published: March 2015

Integration of electronic functionalities into textiles adds to the value of textiles. It allows measuring, detecting, actuating and treating or communicating with a body or object. These added values can render the smart textiles very useful, fun, supporting, protecting or even lifesaving. It is, however, important for the comfort, acceptance and functionality to have integration of electronics as unobtrusive as possible. One elegant unobtrusive method of integration is to have circuitry included in the textile and mount components to this circuitry. Conducting yarns introduced by weaving, knitting or embroidery are attractive candidates to compose the circuitry as they do not disturb the textile nature of the system and are processable by the mentioned conventional textile technologies. In the case that these smart textiles are worn by humans under dynamic circumstances, the system is exposed to mechanical stress. In this paper we report the results of studies on the failure modes of Ag-coated nylon yarns, which are applied on textile carriers by means of stitching or soutache embroidery. The test methods varied in combinations of mechanical stress, such as shearing, bending and tension, and support to better understand the process of deterioration of the yarns when these are mechanically stressed. The delamination of the Ag coating from the yarns leads to unstable resistance values in non-static conditions. The mechanical forces, such as shearing, bending and tension, cause progressively more damage to the filaments of the yarns. This leads to a reduction of the electrical conductivity.
The role of psychosocial school conditions in adolescent prosocial behaviour
Authors: Plenty Stephanie , Östberg Viveca , Modin Bitte
Published: March 2015

This study examined how psychosocial conditions at school are associated with prosocial behaviour, a key indicator of positive mental health. Participants were 3,652 Swedish Grade 9 students from the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study. Structural equation modelling demonstrated that students who experience more manageable school demands and greater social support from teachers and classmates are more likely to display caring, sharing, and cooperative behaviours. However, those that feel acutely stressed, particularly girls, also reported greater prosocial behaviour. Teacher support played a greater role in girls' prosocial behaviour and perceptions of school demands than boys'. The findings extend knowledge of the importance of psychosocial work conditions for adolescent health to positive mental health.
Evaluating the risks of school dropout amongst children in the care of the French child protection system: An exploratory study
Authors: Derivois Daniel , Guillier-Pasut Nathalie , Karray Amira , Cénat Jude-Mary , Brolles Lisbeth , Matsuhara Hanae
Published: March 2015

The aim of this pilot study is to identify the best way of preventing and assessing the livelihood and risk of school dropout amongst children entrusted to the care of the French child protection system in the Département of Rhone. The sample comprised 91 children and adolescents aged 4- to 17-years-old, of whom 45 were girls. The data were gathered using a unique report including the items evaluating sociodemographic data and the School Dropout Risk Evaluation Questionnaire. The results show that the older these children get, the more they see their academic problems as revolving around themselves. The youngest amongst them attribute their problems to the quality of approach adopted in the environment while the older children tend to view themselves as the reason for their failure. Collaborative efforts are therefore necessary between all actors in order to prevent school dropout and to provide intervention as early as possible.
Diagnostic imaging of pelvic congestive syndrome
Authors: Arnoldussen CWKP , de Wolf MAF , Wittens CHA
Published: March 2015

Many female patients are affected by chronic pelvic pain and a significant number of referrals to the gynecology department result in a clinical suspicion of pelvic congestion syndrome. Additionally, patients referred to the vascular surgery department for venous disease can also present with complaints of a persistent dull lower abdominal pain in addition to typically distributed leg varicosities (that extend from the leg through the pelvic floor) which should be evaluated for the presence of pelvic congestion syndrome. In this article, we focus on imaging pelvic vein insufficiency and related (extending) varicosities: how should we evaluate the pelvic veins, what are the signs to look for, and what are the currently established criteria for (pre-interventional) imaging.
Clinical outcome after treatment of pelvic congestion syndrome: Sense and nonsense
Authors: Meissner MH , Gibson K
Published: March 2015

Chronic pelvic pain accounts for approximately 10% of outpatient gynecologic visits and among the varied causes, pelvic congestion syndrome is second only to endometriosis in frequency. Manifestations may include pelvic pain, dyspareunia, dysuria, and dysmenorrhea as well as external varices and a number of psychosocial symptoms. Although a variety of treatments have been proposed—including pharmacologic ovarian suppression, hysterectomy with or without oophorectomy, and ovarian vein resection—transcatheter embolization is the least invasive and most efficacious management option. Complete or partial symptom improvement has been reported in 68.2–100% of patients and there has been a consistent reduction in visual analog pain scores after treatment. Based upon these results, recommendation of either pharmacotherapy or other surgical procedures is difficult to justify. However, it is also clear that 6–31.8% of patients do not get substantial relief from pelvic venous embolization. Potential explanations for an inadequate response to treatment include patient variability, procedural variability, and inadequate outcome measures. The latter are particularly important and future investigation should focus on the development of disease-specific quality of life measures as well as identifying those aspects of the procedure, such as choice of embolic agents and extent of embolization, associated with the best clinical outcomes.
Arteriovenous fistula geometry in hybrid recanalisation of post-thrombotic venous obstruction
Authors: Kurstjens RLM , de Graaf R , Barbati ME , de Wolf MAF , van Laanen JHH , Wittens CHA , Jalaie H
Published: March 2015

Introduction

Post-thrombotic obstruction can be adequately treated by percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stenting. When post-thrombotic trabeculations extend below the femoral confluence, proper inflow can be facilitated by endophlebectomy and creation of an arteriovenous fistula. The aim of this study was to investigate whether it is more favourable to place the arteriovenous fistula at the cranial or caudal end of the endophlebectomy to prevent stenosis or occlusion.

Methodology

We retrospectively analysed the clinical data of all patients who underwent a hybrid procedure in our two centres. Demographics, interventional details and post-operative imaging were collected.

Results

Data on 42 limbs with cranially and 23 limbs with caudally placed arteriovenous fistulas were collected. Post-thrombotic disease of the profunda femoral vein alone or in combination with the femoral vein was observed more often in the cranial group. The caudal group more often received a smaller sized and straight polytetrafluoroethylene fistula, while the cranial group comprised a significantly higher amount of stented segments. Logistic regression showed that only reduced femoral inflow (hazard ratio 2.934 (95%CI, 1.148–7.494)) was a significant predictor of stent stenosis and/or occlusion. Logistic regression for risk of occlusion showed a significant influence of stent-related complications (hazard ratio 4.691 (95%CI, 1.205–18.260)) and a tendency towards influence of arteriovenous fistula geometry in favour of the cranially placed fistula.

Conclusion

Placement of the arteriovenous fistula in the cranial part of the endophlebectomy during hybrid recanalisation may result in a more favourable outcome, yet this tendency was not statistically significant. Moreover, femoral inflow is pivotal in maintaining patency and should thus be adequately assessed pre-operatively.
Deep venous thrombosis and postthrombotic syndrome: Invasive management
Authors: Comerota AJ
Published: March 2015

Invasive management of postthrombotic syndrome encompasses the two ends of the deep vein thrombosis spectrum, patients with acute iliofemoral deep vein thrombosis and those with chronic postthrombotic iliofemoral venous obstruction. Of all patients with acute deep vein thrombosis, those with involvement of the iliofemoral segments have the most severe chronic postthrombotic morbidity. Catheter-based techniques now permit percutaneous treatment to eliminate thrombus, restore patency, potentially maintain valvular function, and improve quality of life. Randomized trial data support an initial treatment strategy of thrombus removal. Failure to eliminate acute thrombus from the iliofemoral system leads to chronic postthrombotic obstruction of venous outflow. Debilitating chronic postthrombotic symptoms of the long-standing obstruction of venous outflow can be reduced by restoring unobstructed venous drainage from the profunda femoris vein to the vena cava.
Progression in venous pathology
Authors: Pannier F , Rabe E
Published: March 2015

Aim

To review epidemiologic data on progression of venous pathology in varicose veins and from varicose veins towards chronic venous insufficiency.

Methods

We searched Medline and PubMed for epidemiologic studies concerning progression of venous pathology.

Results

The data suggest that reflux progression may develop from segmental to multisegmental superficial reflux. In younger age, reflux in tributaries and non-saphenous veins is more frequent. In older age, more saphenous reflux develops and more proximal sites seem to be affected. A high proportion of uncomplicated varicose vein (C2) develops skin changes and chronic venous insufficiency (C3–C6). Significant risk factors for the progression of varicose vein towards venous leg ulcers are skin changes, corona phlebectatica, higher body mass index and popliteal vein reflux. During a 13.4-year follow-up period, 57.8% (4.3%/year) of all chronic venous disease patients showed progression of the disease.

Studies on the progression of venous pathology show a high progression rate of chronic venous disease. More follow-up studies are still needed to get better information about the risk of varicose vein patients for progression to venous leg ulcers and to answer the question which patients may benefit from early varicose vein interventions.
Conservative versus surgical treatment of venous leg ulcers: 10-year follow up of a randomized, multicenter trial
Authors: van Gent WB , Catarinella FS , Lam YL , Nieman FHM , Toonder IM , van der Ham AC , Wittens CHA
Published: March 2015

Introduction

Leg ulcers have a large socio-economic impact. Treatment modalities are either conservative or surgical. Conservative treatment involves local treatment and compression therapy. Surgical treatment of venous ulcers is based on correcting venous hypertension, by treating incompetent superficial, deep, and perforating veins. A prospective randomized multicenter trial comparing surgical treatment (combined superficial and perforating vein surgery) with ambulatory compression therapy was conducted during 1998 and 2001. This paper presents the results of a 10-year follow-up period of this trial.

Materials and methods

All patients enrolled in the original prospective trial were approached and invited for additional examination and duplex ultrasound evaluation. Secondary, disease specific and generic quality-of-life (QoL) was assessed. Current ulcer state and recurrence during the follow-up period was assessed.

Results

After a mean of 97 months follow up, 80 (41%) out of 196 legs could be inspected. The incidence of “ulcer-free”, the main outcome, was significantly ( p = 0.007) higher in the surgical group (58.9%), compared to the conservative group (39.6%). Observed ulcer recurrence was 48.9% for the surgical group and 94.3% for the conservative group. The number of incompetent perforating veins appears to be a significant ( p < 0.001) risk factor for not being ulcer-free. Disease specific QoL showed no significant difference between the surgical and conservative groups.

Conclusions

The addition of surgical treatment in patients with venous ulceration leads to a significantly higher chance of being ulcer-free, than just ambulatory compression therapy. This effect persists after 10 years of follow up. The number of incompetent perforating veins has a significant effect on the ulcer-state and recurrence.
Embolization is essential in the treatment of leg varicosities due to pelvic venous insufficiency
Authors: Hartung O
Published: March 2015

Purpose

Pelvic venous insuffiency (PVI) can be responsible for pelvic congestion syndrome (PCS) and also lower limb varicose veins.

Material and methods

Charts of all women who had pelvic venography for PVI from September 2013 to August 2014 were reviewed. The procedure was performed under local anesthesia through left femoral approach. In case of reflux without associated obstructive lesions, embolization with coils and polidocanol foam was performed during the same procedure.

Results

119 women, with median age 39 years were explored (86 with PCS and 102 with lower limb venous disease). Of these, 78 had an isolated reflux and were embolized and 41 had an obstructive disease (29 iliocaval obstructive lesions (ICOL), 4 nutcracker syndrome (NCS), and 8 with an association of both). Median follow-up was 4 months. Of the 12 NCS, 5 had surgical treatment and 7 had stenting of the left iliac vein without embolization. All patients with ICOL without NCS were treated by stenting in 28 and by a Palma procedure in 1 (failure to recanalize). Primary and secondary patency rates were 97% at 12 months. Embolization led to improvement of PCS in 91% (60% without any pain) and of lower limb varicose veins in 51% by itself. If 82% need an additional treatment of lower limb varicose veins, embolization allowed a switch of strategy from surgery to sclerosis.

Conclusion

PVI can cause lower limb symptoms. In most cases, it is due to reflux and can be treated under local anesthesia by embolization. This technique is safe and efficient. Obstructive lesions must be recognized and treated.
Validation of the LET classification
Authors: Strijkers RHW , Arnoldussen CWKP , Wittens CHA
Published: March 2015

Introduction

Acute thrombus removal therapies may reduce post-thrombotic syndrome in certain deep venous thrombosis patients. The LET classification is designed to identify patients at high risk for developing post-thrombotic syndrome in the acute phase using thrombus location and extent. This study evaluates the use of the LET classification to predict post-thrombotic syndrome in a cohort of patients after deep venous thrombosis.

Methods

A cohort of 660 deep venous thrombosis patients was invited to participate and fill out a questionnaire with Quality of life questionnaires, basic information, a modified self-assessment version of the Villalta scale for post-thrombotic syndrome and potential confounders. Original data on thrombus extension was available, and the LET classes were determined. Obtained information was analysed using ANOVA and in a multiple logistic regression model to correct for confounders. All different LET classes were compared to post-thrombotic syndrome occurrence, post-thrombotic syndrome prediction and disease specific quality of life scores (VEINES-Sym/Qol).

Results

Three hundred and fifteen patients responded, and in 309 a post-thrombotic syndrome score was distilled. LET I,II,III ( n = 63) had an odds ratio of 3.4(1.2–9.2) for predicting severe post-thrombotic syndrome, and LET II ( n = 17) had an odds ratio of 5.1(1.3–20.8) compared to LET class I ( n = 97). Both the VEINES-Sym and VEINES-Qol score were significantly lower for LET I,II,III compared to LET I, and LET II compared to LET I.

Conclusion

The LET classification can be used to classify patients according to acute thrombus location and extent. Extensive and centrally located (LET I,II,III) deep venous thrombosis showed the highest probability in developing severe post-thrombotic syndrome and lower disease specific quality of life.
Persistent incompetent truncal veins should not be treated immediately
Authors: Pittaluga P , Chastanet S
Published: March 2015

Background

The traditional attitude for the treatment of chronic venous disorder is to systematically treat incompetent truncal veins. We wanted to evaluate the outcomes of not treating all incompetent truncal veins with regard to our experience of focusing the treatment to the varicose tributaries.

Methods

Retrospective study on all procedures of surgical treatment consecutively performed for varicose veins by single phlebectomy with preservation of a refluxing great saphenous vein (GSV), according to the principles of the ambulatory selective varices ablation under local anesthesia (ASVAL) during four years of practice. The clinical and hemodynamic outcomes have been evaluated at eight days, one year, and once a year.

Results

We have included 1212 lower limbs (LLs) that underwent consecutive ASVAL procedures in 816 patients (611 women and 205 men) aged between 19 and 93 years (mean age 53.7 years). The CEAP Class C classification was C0–C1 = 0%; C2 = 85.6%; C3 = 5.4%; C4 = 7.8%; C5 = 0.7%; C6 = 0.7%. Symptoms were present in 854 cases (70.5%). A thrombosis of the GSV was diagnosed at eight days postoperative in 13 cases (1.1%). A total of 1010 LLs were followed after the first postoperative year (mean follow-up of 44.5 months). A secondary major procedure was done in 30 cases during the follow-up: a striping of the GSV in nine cases and a redo phlebectomy in 21 cases. The cumulative incidence of a persistent or recurrent GSV reflux, of a varicose recurrence, and of secondary major procedure at five years after life table analysis was 33.8%, 13%, and 4.5%, respectively. A GSV reflux extended above plus below the knee and multiple connections of the varicose tributaries to the GSV at the calf were associated with a varicose recurrence (respectively 66.7% versus 55.3% p < 0.05 and 46.7% versus 12.8% p < 0.05).

Conclusion

A treatment limited to the varicose tributaries by phlebectomy is safe and efficient at midterm with preservation of the main veins of the superficial venous system. It can be performed in a large group of patients thanks to a proper exclusion of cases with advanced chronic venous disorder. Therefore, the systematic treatment of an incompetent truncal vein is not relevant in the majority of the cases.
Position of the European College of Phlebology
Authors: Onida S , Shalhoub J , Davies AH
Published: March 2015

Chronic venous disease is a common condition, bearing significant morbidity to patients. It is predicted that the population suffering from this disease will significantly increase in the coming years, with a growing demand for specialists in the field of phlebology.

Training and delivery of services are highly heterogeneous in the European Union. The establishment of the European College of Phlebology marks the opportunity to address these differences from a European perspective, with the aim of providing all patients with standardised, high-quality, accessible medical care.

In this paper, we review the current status of phlebology from a European and an international perspective, as well as highlighting the current and future roles of the European College of Phlebology.
Embolization is not essential in the treatment of leg varices due to pelvic venous insufficiency
Authors: Rabe E , Pannier F
Published: March 2015

Aim

To consider if it is essential to perform embolization in the treatment of leg varices due to pelvic venous insufficiency.

Methods

Review of the current literature concerning treatment options of leg varicose veins of pelvic origin.

Results

Pelvic venous insufficiency, vulvar and pudendal varicose veins as well as pelvic congestive syndrome are under diagnosed entities. Embolization of ovarian and pelvic veins is well established in patients with pelvic congestive syndrome. In varicose veins of pelvic origin but without pelvic congestive syndrome, comparative studies comparing the outcome of embolization or treatment of varicose veins by sclerotherapy or phlebectomy alone are missing. Foam sclerotherapy or phlebectomy shows good results in patients with varicose veins of pelvic origin.

Conclusions

Embolization is not essential in the treatment of leg varices of pelvic origin without pelvic congestive syndrome. Foam sclerotherapy or phlebectomy shows good results in patients with vulvar or pudendal varicose veins. Randomized comparative studies using embolization of incompetent pelvic veins or sclerotherapy of varicose veins with pelvic origin should be performed.
Pathophysiology of venous thrombosis
Authors: Myers DD
Published: March 2015

In this chapter, an overview of some of the prominent risk factors that contribute to the pathophysiology of venous thrombosis will be discussed. In 1856, Dr Rudolf Virchow developed the concept outlining the genesis of intravascular thrombosis. Dr Virchow hypothesized that circulatory stasis due to interrupted blood flow, changes in the blood leading to blood coagulation, and irritation or damage to the vascular endothelium would initiate acute venous thrombus generation. Presently, it is known that these above-mentioned risk factors are influenced by increasing age, gender, and obesity. The current chapter will focus on recent preclinical and clinical investigations that will give the reader insight into the prothrombotic mechanisms that lead to acute venous thrombosis.
Quality-of-life in interventionally treated patients with post-thrombotic syndrome
Authors: Catarinella FS , Nieman FHM , de Wolf MAF , Toonder IM , de Graaf R , Wittens CHA
Published: March 2015

Introduction

New developments in the treatment of complex deep venous disease have become available in the last decade. Besides analysing patencies as a surrogate outcome for these treatments we analysed the Quality-of-Life (QoL) changes for successful and failed deep venous treatments.

Materials and methods

Patients with proven venous occlusive disease, referred to our department of Venous Surgery at the Maastricht University Medical Centre, were included. After inclusion patients were treated by percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stenting and when indicated endophlebectomy with an arteriovenous fistula. QoL was assessed with the disease specific VEINES-QOL/Sym and the generic Short-Form (SF)-36 questionnaires preoperatively at baseline and post-operatively after 3, 12 and 24 months.

Results

One hundred fifty-three interventions were analysed, showing a primary, assisted primary and secondary patency of respectively 65%, 78% and 89% at 24 months. The VEINES-QOL and Sym scores improved at 3, 12 and 24 months. The overall improvement at 24 months is 22.7 for QoL and 18.18 for Sym with respective p values of 0.013 and 0.016. The improvement of the VEINES-QOL and Sym scores after a successful (patent) treatment remained highly significant (QoL: p < 0.001, Sym: p = 0.004). Also the generic QoL (Short-Form 36v2) shows significant improvement after 12 months for physical functioning ( p = 0.004) and role physical ( p = 0.004) scales.

Conclusions

The overall patencies of interventions for deep venous pathology are exceptionally good after two years. Concomitantly the VEINES-Sym and VEINES-QOL scores improve significantly for 3, 12, and 24 months when compared to the baseline (T0) after treatment. Successful interventions showed, as expected, a significant greater QoL improvement between T0 and T3, T12, T24 for both VEINES-QOL and VEINES-Sym scores when compared to the failed interventions. The one-year linear improvement of two SF-36 scales (PF and RP) is also significant.
Debate: Should persistent incompetent truncal veins be treated immediately? The case in support of the statement
Authors: Smith P Coleridge
Published: March 2015

Background

Debate continues as to the best method of treating patients with varicose veins and which will lead to durable clinical outcomes. Many modern techniques of treating varicose veins rely on ablation of the saphenous vein alone or in combination with phlebectomy or sclerotherapy of varices. However, it has been suggested that methods which leave the saphenous trunk untreated may result in similar outcomes.

Methods

A search of medical databases was made for literature which compared the outcomes of saphenous vein stripping, sclerotherapy and modern methods of vein ablation.

Synthesis

Surgical methods which have been used range from simple phlebectomy, ligation of the saphenous trunk to stripping of the saphenous vein. Systematic comparison of striping of the saphenous vein in addition to ligation of the sapheno-femoral junction appears to improve the outcome of varicose veins surgery compared to saphenous ligation alone. The 21st century endovenous treatments for varicose veins all rely on ablating the saphenous trunk. Duplex ultrasound studies show some variation in the efficacy of saphenous ablation with these methods. However, a randomised clinical trial shows similar patient reported outcomes with all endovenous techniques and surgical stripping of the saphenous vein. A clinical series shows that after endovenous thermal ablation recurrent varices arise in residual sections of saphenous trunk, accessory veins and residual tributaries.

Conclusions

Studies based on clinical criteria require follow-up of about six years to yield reliable data. Before this time varices may be forming but cannot be detected clinically and over-optimistic results of treatment are reported. Data from surgical and endovenous treatment studies suggest that the more extensive and effective the ablation of saphenous trunks, accessory veins and tributaries, the better the long-term outcome that is achieved.
Hemodynamic significance of collateral blood flow in chronic venous obstruction
Authors: Kurstjens RLM , de Wolf MAF , van Laanen JHH , de Haan MW , Wittens CHA , de Graaf R
Published: March 2015

Introduction

Complaints related to the post-thrombotic syndrome do not always correlate well with the extent of post-thrombotic changes on diagnostic imaging. One explanation might be a difference in development of collateral blood flow. The aim of this study is to investigate the hemodynamic effect of collateralisation in deep venous obstruction.

Methodology

Resting intravenous pressure of the common femoral vein was measured bilaterally in the supine position of patients with unilateral iliofemoral post-thrombotic obstruction. In addition, pressure in control limbs was also measured in the common femoral vein after sudden balloon occlusion in the external iliac vein.

Results

Fourteen patients (median age 42 years, 12 female) were tested. In eleven limbs post-thrombotic disease extended below the femoral confluence. Median common femoral vein pressure was 17.0 mmHg in diseased limbs compared to 12.8 mmHg in controls (p = 0.001) and 23.5 mmHg in controls after sudden balloon occlusion (p = 0.009). Results remained significant after correcting for non-occlusive post-thrombotic disease.

Conclusion

This study shows that common femoral vein pressure is increased in post-thrombotic iliofemoral deep venous obstruction, though not as much as after sudden balloon occlusion. The latter difference could explain the importance of collateralisation in deep venous obstructive disease and the discrepancy between complaints and anatomical changes; notwithstanding, the presence of collaterals does not eliminate the need for treatment.
Thrombus age is ideally measured by history or MRV prior to thrombus removal
Authors: Bækgaard N , Foegh P , Wittens CHA , Arnoldussen C
Published: March 2015

Many factors are known to be important in order to achieve optimal results after thrombus removal for iliofemoral DVT. Not much is published in the literature about timing the treatment, though many guidelines recommend treatment within 14 days. This time span lies within the phrase of acute DVT according to the definition given in many reporting standards. This article will highlight the value of information acquired from patients directly regarding onset of symptoms versus information acquired from imaging with the purpose of a more precise selection of patients for catheter-directed thrombolysis for iliofemoral DVT. What is the value of clinical information acquired from patients and does the information from imaging have additional value?
Valve reconstructions
Authors: Rosales A
Published: March 2015

The history of venous valve reconstruction extends back to 1968 when Robert L Kistner performed the first internal valve plasty to treat deep venous axial reflux. Throughout the past 50 years other techniques of reconstructive deep venous surgery (RDVS) were developed, not only to repair but also to replace venous valves. And the fact that several surgeons and centers have undertaken RDVS in the treatment of chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) reporting outcomes, has added knowledge to define more clearly the role of this kind of specialized surgery. Patients who may benefit from RDVS are among those where conventional treatment with compression stockings combined with superficial surgery has failed. Ulcer-healing rates of up to 70% have been reported after RDVS and ulcer-free periods of up to 36 months have been generated. But during five-year follow-up, freedom from ulceration period and clinical improvement rates were reduced significantly. This raises then the issue and challenge of durability of RDVS since the average age of patients who can benefit from it is about 50 years.
Conceptions of gender and age in Swedish Victim Support
Authors: Jägervi Lotta , Svensson Kerstin
Published: March 2015

The aim of this article is to unpack how the categories ‘gender’ and ‘age’ are understood among Swedish Victim Support organizations. This is done through a study of how individuals who work in Swedish Victim Support organizations talk about victims as well as about their own role. In an analysis of 12 focus groups from Swedish Victim Support organizations, where one part was based on vignettes and the other part on open discussion, we focus on how the supporters understand gender and age. By working with three categorical pairs – victim and supporter, male and female as well as young and old – we show that gender is a dominant categorization in understanding both victims and victim supporters. Age seemed to have more importance in how women are understood, as female victims were described quite differently depending on age, and the ideal helper was described as a mature woman. Male helpers were regarded as a homogenous group and age did not matter. Conclusively, we found that, while gender as a category was important in the understanding of how people are perceived in Victim Support, the intersection of the categories of gender and age were important in supporting and enhancing this understanding. This article points at the importance of understanding how these specific categories work.
Damage monitoring of polymer-lined carbon fibre-reinforced plastic using small-diameter fibre Bragg grating sensors
Authors: Takeda Shin-ichi , Yokozeki Tomohiro , Ogasawara Toshio
Published: March 2015

Small-diameter fibre Bragg grating sensors were embedded in liquid crystalline polymer-lined carbon fibre-reinforced plastics to detect internal microscopic damages that are barely visible in operation. The coupon specimen caused matrix cracks and liner debonding under tensile loading, which represented distinctive damages in a composite overwrapped pressure vessel. The reflection spectra from the fibre Bragg grating sensors were measured in the loading–unloading tests. As the number of matrix cracks increased, the width of the spectrum gradually increased. The change in the measured results were validated by spectra simulated using the axial strain distribution in the fibre Bragg grating sensor. Moreover, the influence of damage morphology on the reflection spectrum was investigated on the basis of the analytical results for both embedded and surface-bonded fibre Bragg grating sensors. The embedded fibre Bragg grating sensor was less sensitive than the surface-bonded fibre Bragg grating sensor for distinguishing among the damage modes, such as matrix cracks, liner debonding and liner failure. The effectiveness of strain-based monitoring using fibre Bragg grating sensor was demonstrated for evaluation of the microscopic damages in polymer-lined carbon fibre-reinforced plastics.
Media, Gender, and Fear of Crime
Authors: Callanan Valerie , Rosenberger Jared S.
Published: March 2015

Few studies have examined how the intersection of gender and race/ethnicity may manifest differences in the effects of crime-related media on fear of crime. This study examines the relationships between various forms of crime-related media on fear of crime with a sample disaggregated by gender to ascertain if crime-related media consumption works differently for women and men. Race/ethnic differences within gender were also examined. Only slight differences between men and women were found and differences across race/ethnicity within gender groups were minor. Therefore, despite the prevalence of White female victims in crime-related media, media messages of risk, and fear seem to influence viewers similarly regardless of gender or race, providing additional support for cultivation theory and mainstreaming effects.
Adaptive rapidly-exploring random tree for efficient path planning of high-degree-of-freedom articulated robots
Authors: Kim Dong-Hyung , Choi Youn-Sung , Kim Sang-Ho , Wu Jing , Yuan Chao , Luo Lu-Ping , Lee Ji Yeong , Han Chang-Soo
Published: March 2015

This article proposes a method for the path planning of high-degree-of-freedom articulated robots with adaptive dimensionality. For efficient path planning in a high-dimensional configuration space, we first describe an adaptive body selection that selects the robot bodies depending on the complexity of the path planning. Then, the involved joints of the selected body are included in the planning process. That is, it builds the C-space (configuration space) with adaptive dimensionality for sampling-based path planner. Next, by using adaptive body selection, the adaptive rapidly-exploring random tree (RRT) algorithm is introduced, which incrementally grows RRTs in the adaptive dimensional C-space. We show through several simulation results that the proposed method is more efficient than the basic RRT-based path planner, which requires full-dimensional planning.
A life test method and result analysis for slewing bearings in wind turbines
Authors: Zong Haiyong , Wang Hua , Tian Shuhua , Gao Xuehai
Published: March 2015

Slewing bearings generally consist of the rotational connection between two substructures and are usually used for complex load at very low speeds. If the slewing bearing has some faults during the working lifecycle, the machine will have to be stopped and the slewing bearing will be disassembled for checking the internal surface damage of the rings or rolling elements to prevent serious accidents. However, this is a very difficult process and will cost a lot of manpower, time, and money. Although there is a large number of traditional or modern techniques used widely in general bearings, they may not be able to predict the remaining service life of slewing bearings precisely due to the huge difference between the general bearings and the slewing bearings, thus, the experiments are the most effective and reliable methods. In this paper, a special test table for slewing bearings applied in wind turbine generators is presented and an accelerating fatigue life test method based on the test equipment is proposed to study the fatigue properties and predict the remaining service life of the slewing bearings used in wind turbines. It is shown that the presented test equipment can realistically reflect the state of slewing bearings under the actual working conditions. What’s more, the experimental results show that the proposed method is conservative and provides a more accurate prediction of the fatigue life for the slewing bearings and also can meet the high reliability requirements of the slewing bearings in wind turbines.