bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Estimating Causal Effects of Particulate Matter Regulation on Mortality
Authors: Sanders Nicholas J. , Barreca Alan I. , Neidell Matthew J. 
Published: December 2019

Background:
Estimating the causal effect of pollution on human health is integral for evaluating returns to pollution regulation, yet separating out confounding factors remains a perennial challenge.

Methods:
We use a quasi-experimental design to investigate the causal relationship between regulation of particulate matter smaller than 2.5 micrograms per cubic meter (PM2.5) and mortality among those 65 years of age and older. We exploit regulatory changes in the Clean Air Act Amendments (CAAA). Regulation in 2005 impacted areas of the United States differentially based on pre-regulation air quality levels for PM2.5. We use county-level mortality data, extracted from claims data managed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, merged to county-level average PM2.5 readings and attainment status as classified by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Results:
Based on estimates from log-linear difference-in-differences models, our results indicate after the CAAA designation for PM2.5 in 2005, PM2.5 levels decreased 1.59 micrograms per cubic meter (95% CI = 1.39, 1.80) and mortality rates among those 65 and older decreased by 0.93% (95% CI = 0.10%, 1.77%) in nonattainment counties, relative to attainment ones. Results are robust to a series of alternate models, including nearest-neighbor matching based on propensity score estimates.

Conclusion:
This analysis suggests large health returns to the 2005 PM2.5 designations, and provides evidence of a causal association between pollution and mortality among the Medicare population.
Split-skin Paddle Anterolateral Thigh Flap for Reconstruction of Giant Dermatofibrosarcoma Protuberans in Groin
Authors: Fukuta Taro , Ichikawa Yuichi , Mizuno Hiroshi , Hayashi Ayato 
Published: December 2019

Summary:
Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is a slow-growing superficial sarcoma. Due to its high late local recurrence, thin skin graft is usually recommended for reconstruction after resection of the tumor. In this report, we present a case of giant DFSP in the groin region of young woman. Reconstruction of large groin defect after DFSP resection was performed by “split-skin paddle anterolateral thigh flap” instead of skin graft considering that the patient was a 29-year-old woman. This method enabled the primary closure of the donor site and provided the positive functional and esthetic outcomes. In the present case, the surgical scar is less conspicuous and the patient can climb and descend stairs without any trouble at 4 years after the surgery. With careful monitoring of the tumor recurrence, this technique may become a reliable reconstruction option for patients with large groin defect after resection of the malignant tumor.
A Nanofiber Sheet Incorporating Vitamin B12 Promotes Nerve Regeneration in a Rat Neurorrhaphy Model
Authors: Miyamura Satoshi , Iwahashi Toru , Sayanagi Junichi , Hirai Yukio , Okada Kiyoshi , Oka Kunihiro , Niiyama Eri , Uto Koichiro , Ebara Mitsuhiro , Yoshikawa Hideki , Murase Tsuyoshi , Tanaka Hiroyuki 
Published: December 2019

Background:
Outcomes of peripheral nerve repair after injury are often suboptimal. Therefore, developing biological approaches to augment nerve regeneration is important. In this in vivo study, we tested the hypothesis that augmentation with an electrospun nanofiber sheet incorporating methylcobalamin (MeCbl) would be effective for regeneration after peripheral nerve transection and repair.

Methods:
Rats were divided into 3 groups that either underwent sciatic nerve repair with or without the MeCbl sheet, or a sham operation. At 4 and/or 8 weeks after the operation, sensory and motor functional recovery, along with histological findings, were compared among the groups using the toe-spreading test, mechanical and thermal algesimetry tests, tibialis anterior muscle weight measurements, electrophysiological analyses, which included nerve conduction velocity (NCV), compound muscle action potential (CMAP), and terminal latency (TL), and histological analyses involving the myelinated axon ratio, axon diameter, and total axon number.

Results:
Compared with the repair group without the MeCbl sheet, the repair group with the MeCbl sheet showed significant recovery in terms of tibialis anterior muscle weight, NCV and CMAP, and also tended to improve in the toe-spreading test, mechanical and thermal algesimetry tests, and TL. Histological analyses also demonstrated that the myelinated axon ratios and axon diameters were significantly higher. Among these findings, the repair group with the MeCbl sheet demonstrated the same recovery in NCV as the sham group.

Conclusion:
This study demonstrated that electrospun nanofiber MeCbl sheets promoted nerve regeneration and functional recovery, indicating that this treatment strategy may be viable for human peripheral nerve injuries.
Mixed Tumor of the Nasal Root
Authors: Ebisudani Shogo , Inagawa Kiichi , Suzuki Yoshinori , Osugi Ikuko , Takasu Miori , Hara Naoki 
Published: December 2019

Summary:
We reported the case of a 53-year-old man who presented with over 25-year history of a soft tissue on the nasal root. The tumor with a diameter of 4 cm was observed on the nasal root, the mass was soft, freely mobile, and painless on palpation. No adhesion with the nasal bone was observed. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed multiple nodular solid tumor masses. There was a region with low contrast in the tumor, and adipose tissue was confirmed. We performed total excision. Histopathological examination revealed that the tumor had multiple nodular lesions, and epithelial component had glandular features and a myxoid stromal component. So, we diagnosed mixed tumor of the skin. To the best of our knowledge, it seems to be the largest in the mixed tumor of the skin that occurred in the nasal root in the previous reports.
Retinal arteriolar wall-to-lumen ratios at 16–17 years in the Copenhagen Child Cohort 2000 Study
Authors: Laigaard Poul P. , Larsen Michael , Hansen Mathias H. , Jeppesen Jørgen , Olsen Else Marie , Skovgaard Anne Mette , Munch Inger C. 
Published: December 2019

Purpose:
To study the thickness of retinal arteriolar walls in a population-based cohort of adolescents.

Methods:
This cross-sectional, observational study included 1217 participants aged 16–17 years from the Copenhagen Child Cohort 2000 Study. The wall thickness and lumen diameter of a major branch retinal arteriole were measured using adaptive optics imaging. The wall-to-lumen ratio was analyzed in relation to blood pressure and body composition variables using a general linear model. Overall in the study population, wall-to-lumen ratio was found to decrease by 0.49% per μm increase in arteriole diameter (P < 0.0001) and all subsequent analyzes were adjusted accordingly.

Results:
The average outer and inner arteriole diameters were 117 ± 19 and 96.6 ± 18 μm (mean ± SD), corresponding to a wall-to-lumen ratio of 0.21 ± 0.024. There was no detectable difference between sexes. A higher wall-to-lumen ratio was associated with a higher BMI (+0.21% per kg/m2, P = 0.0018), higher body fat percentage (+0.097% per 1% increase, P = 0.0052), wider hip circumference (+1.1% per 10 cm increase, P = 0.0006), wider waist circumference (+0.92% per 10 cm increase, P = 0.0009), higher SBP in girls (+1.1% per 10 mmHg increase, P = 0.0005), longer axial length (+0.70% per mm increase, P = 0.013), and younger age (+4.9% per year younger, P < 0.0001), adjusted for arteriole diameter, age, sex, and height.

Conclusion:
A higher retinal arteriolar wall-to-lumen ratio was associated with all registered indices of body fat proportion.
Registry of Plutonium-induced Lung Fibrosis in a Russian Nuclear Worker Cohort
Authors: Azizova Tamara , Moseeva Maria , Grigoryeva Evgeniya , Zhuntova Galina , Bannikova Maria , Sychugov Gleb , Kazachkov Evgeny 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
A registry of plutonium-induced lung fibrosis diagnosed in members of a cohort of the first Russian nuclear industry facility Mayak Production Association was established. The registry includes 188 plutonium-induced lung fibrosis diagnoses: 117 (62.23%) in males and 71 (37.77%) in females. This paper describes the structure and detailed characteristics of the registry. Plutonium-induced lung fibrosis was shown to have no association with cumulative lung absorbed dose from external gamma rays as of the date of diagnosis. On the contrary, the plutonium-induced lung fibrosis rate was shown to be associated with cumulative lung absorbed dose from incorporated alpha particles and to increase significantly with increasing dose from internal radiation exposure. This paper discusses potential applications of the registry to scientific investigations in the future.
A Review on Evidence-Based Treatments for Meibomian Gland Dysfunction
Authors: Lam Pun Yuet , Shih Kendrick Co , Fong Pak Yui , Chan Tommy Chung Yan , Ng Alex Lap-Ki , Jhanji Vishal , Tong Louis 
Published: December 2019

Objectives:
To evaluate recent studies on available therapies for meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD).

Methods:
A literature search on recent publications, within the last five years, concerning treatment options for MGD was performed.

Results:
A total of 35 articles were reviewed after curation by the authors for relevance. In general, all modalities of treatments were shown to have clinical efficacy in alleviating dry eye signs and symptoms, although the extent of improvement and persistency of outcomes varied between the different treatments. Evidence from published studies demonstrate that thermal pulsation produces the longest lasting effect per treatment, but it also incurs the highest per-treatment cost. Reusable methods for warm compress with lipid/semi-fluorinated alkane-containing eye drops are recommended as first-line treatment for mild-to-moderate dry eye patients, because this option is most technically feasible and cost-effective in clinical practice. Intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy and thermal pulsation may be suitable as second line for patients unresponsive to warm compress therapy; however, their respective limitations need to be considered. For refractory MGD with features of periductal fibrosis or severe blepharitis, supplementary treatment with meibomian gland probing or oral antibiotics may be used.

Conclusions:
All eight forms of treatments, including self-applied eyelid warming, thermal pulsation, IPL, MG probing, antibiotics, lipid-containing eye drops, and perfluorohexyloctane, were effective against MGD, although with varying extent of clinical improvements. A better understanding on the mechanisms of actions may guide physicians to make better treatment decisions targeting the root causes.
Detangling red hair from pain: phenotype-specific contributions from different genetic variants in melanocortin-1 receptor
Authors: Zorina-Lichtenwalter Katerina , Maixner William , Diatchenko Luda 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
Genetic variation in melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R) has a known role in red hair. Studies on responses to noxious stimuli in red-haired individuals have also been conducted, with mixed findings. To investigate a possible divergence between variants responsible for red hair and pain sensitivity, we performed a genewide association analysis in the Orofacial Pain: Prospective Evaluation and Risk Assessment cohort. All genotyped (17) MC1R variants were tested for association with heat pain temporal summation and sensitivity. Our analyses showed an association for pain sensitivity with the 5′-UTR, tagged by rs3212361, and 1 missense variant, rs885479 (R163Q), previously shown to be weakly associated with red hair. For both variants, the minor allele was protective. These results were validated in the 500,000-person UK Biobank cohort, where the minor alleles of rs3212361 and rs885479 were associated with a reduced count of persistent pain conditions as well as individual pain conditions. Haplotype association analysis revealed a possible joint effect from the 2 individual variants. The 5′-UTR variant rs3212361 was further identified as an expression quantitative trait locus, associated with reduced transcript levels of MC1R in the brain and in the peripheral tibial nerve. Hair colour association analysis of the loss-of-function 5′-UTR rs3212361 allele identified association with red hair, and red hair colour itself was associated with a reduced count of persistent pain conditions. Together, our results suggest that primarily different mechanisms—affecting expression levels vs protein activity—mediated by different genetic variants in the MC1R locus contribute to red hair and pain.
Small Business Employees’ Perceptions of Leadership Are Associated With Safety and Health Climates and Their Own Behaviors
Authors: Shore Erin , Schwatka Natalie , Dally Miranda , Brown Carol E. , Tenney Liliana , Newman Lee S. 
Published: December 2019

Objective:
Leadership is an important factor in creating a safe and healthy work environment. Little is known about its influence in small organizations. This study assessed the relationship between leadership, climate, and employee behavior in organizations with less than 500 employees.

Methods:
We examined organizational factors and worker perceptions of leadership and safety/health behaviors in an analysis of 1271 employees in 53 Colorado small organizations. Cross-sectional relationships were assessed using multivariable linear regression models.

Results:
Perceived leadership commitment to safety was associated with safety climate (β = 0.67) and safety behaviors among employees (β = 0.45). Perceived leadership commitment to worksite wellness was associated with health climate (β = 0.66) and health behaviors (β = 0.42).

Conclusions:
Leadership plays an important role in creating a positive work environment around safety and health.
Comparison of prognostic significance between serum fibrinogen and Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events score for prognosis of patients with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndromes undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention
Authors: Song Jia , Yu Tongtong , Sun Zhijun , Li Zhichao , He Dongxu , Sun Zhaoqing 
Published: December 2019

Objective
An elevated fibrinogen level has been demonstrated to be a predictor of adverse coronary heart disease outcome. This study aimed to assess whether fibrinogen is a useful marker to predict the prognosis of patients with non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndromes (NSTE-ACS) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Additionally, the prognostic accuracy of fibrinogen level was compared with that of the Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE) score.

Methods
A total of 1211 patients with NSTE-ACS undergoing PCI were analyzed in a prospective cohort study. The enrolled patients were divided into a low fibrinogen group (n = 826, fibrinogen ≤ 3.49 mg/dl) and a high fibrinogen group (n = 385, fibrinogen > 3.49 mg/dl) based on a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. The clinical endpoints were death and death/nonfatal reinfarction. An ROC curve analysis was performed and the area under the curve with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was derived and compared with those for the GRACE score to determine the diagnostic value of the serum fibrinogen level.

Results
Multivariate analysis showed that an elevated baseline fibrinogen level was an independent predictor of death/nonfatal reinfarction (hazard ratio = 1.498, 95% CI: 1.030–2.181, P = 0.035). The prognostic performance of fibrinogen was equivalent to that of the GRACE system in predicting clinical endpoints (C-statistic: z = 1.486, P = 0.14).

Conclusion
Fibrinogen is an independent predictor of death/nonfatal reinfarction in patients with NSTE-ACS undergoing PCI, and its accuracy is similar to that of the GRACE system.
Use of pinhole dual-phase Tc-99m sestamibi vs combined Tc-99m sestamibi and Tc-99m pertechnetate scintigraphy in patients with hyperparathyroidism where single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography is unavailable
Authors: Juweid Malik Eid , Omari Yanal , Khawaja Nahla , AlSharif Abedallatif , Al-Monyer Suhad , Jwaied Sara , Shaban Liza , Laham Cathrina , Alajlony Eyad , Karkash Ahmad , Ajlouni Kamel 
Published: December 2019

Objective
To compare the sensitivity and positive predictive value (PPV) of pinhole dual-phase Tc-99m sestamibi vs combined Tc-99m sestamibi and Tc-99m pertechnetate scintigraphy in patients with hyperparathyroidism where single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)/CT is unavailable.

Methods
All patients with biochemically proven hyperparathyroidism who underwent both pinhole Tc-99m sestamibi and Tc-99m pertechnetate scintigraphy between January 2012 and December 2017 with surgery performed within 3 months of imaging were analyzed. Tc-99m sestamibi images alone and combined with Tc-99m pertechnetate images were interpreted by two nuclear medicine physicians. The sensitivity and PPV of the two imaging approaches were determined based on the surgical findings.

Results
Of the 38 patients included, surgery revealed 33 single parathyroid adenomas (PA), one double adenoma and four parathyroid hyperplasia (PH). On a per-patient basis, the sensitivity and PPV for detection of PA or PH were 76% and 100%, respectively, with Tc-99m sestamibi alone vs 84% and 100% using the combined approach. For PA, the sensitivity and PPV were 82% and 100%, respectively, with Tc-99m sestamibi alone vs. 91% and 100% with the combined approach. PH was identified in only one of four patients with Tc-99m sestamibi alone or in combination. There were no significant differences in sensitivity (P = 0.08) and PPV (P > 0.99) between Tc-99m sestamibi alone and Tc-99m sestamibi with Tc-99m pertechnetate.

Conclusion
Pinhole dual-phase Tc-99m sestamibi alone has high accuracy in the detection of PA. The routine addition of Tc-99m pertechnetate to Tc-99m sestamibi does not result in significant improvement in the detection of PA or PH and should be reserved for equivocal cases.
Stem-cell therapy for bronchopulmonary dysplasia
Authors: Collins Amélie 
Published: December 2019

Purpose of review
Clinical trials of mesenchymal stem/stromal cell (MSC) therapy for bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) are underway. A thorough understanding of the preclinical work that underpins these trials is critical for neonatal practitioners to properly evaluate them.

Recent findings
Significant progress has been made in understanding that MSCs have anti-inflammatory and proangiogenic effects, and that these can be mediated by the noncellular exosome fraction of MSCs.

Summary
In rodent hyperoxia models of BPD, MSCs have a proangiogenic effect mediated largely by vascular endothelial growth factor and shift the balance of endogenous lung cells from a proinflammatory to a prohealing phenotype. MSC-derived exosomes can recapitulate these effects.
Kidney stones and the opioid epidemic: recent developments and review of the literature
Authors: Krughoff Kevin , Pais Vernon M. 
Published: December 2019

Purpose of review
A public health emergency has been declared in response to rising opioid addiction and opioid-related deaths in the United States. As kidney stones have been identified as an important source of initial and repeated opioid exposures, this review seeks to describe the scope of the problem and report relevant alternatives to opioid analgesia for stones.

Recent findings
Recent literature summarizing the extent of opioid use among those with stones is reviewed. A number of opioid-minimizing strategies and analgesic regimens have been proposed and studied. A review of these modifications and alternatives is provided.

Summary
Both symptomatic renal colic and surgical interventions to address stones may prompt need for analgesia. Reducing prescribed opioids reduces both patient use and risk of diversion. Modifications in surgical technique, administration of local anesthetics, and use of systemic nonopioid analgesics have all been successfully employed.
Transcutaneous Carbon Dioxide Monitoring During Apnea Testing for Determination of Neurologic Death in Children: A Retrospective Case Series*
Authors: Sochet Anthony A. , Bingham Ladonna , Sreedhar Sue , Teppa Beatriz , Vose Laura A. , Nakagawa Thomas A. 
Published: December 2019

Objectives:Determination of neurologic death in children is a clinical diagnosis based on absence of neurologic function with irreversible coma and apnea. Apnea testing during determination of neurologic death assesses spontaneous respiration when Paco2increases to greater than or equal to 60 and greater than or equal to 20 mm Hg above pre-apneic baseline. The utility of transcutaneous carbon dioxide measurements during apnea testing in children is unknown. We seek to determine the degree of correlation between paired transcutaneous carbon dioxide and Paco2values during apnea testing for determination of neurologic death.Design:Single-center, retrospective case series.Setting:Twenty-eight bed PICU in a 259-bed, tertiary care, referral center.Patients:Children 0–18 years old undergoing determination of neurologic death between May 2017 and December 2018.Interventions:None.Measurements and Main Results:Primary outcomes were paired transcutaneous carbon dioxide and Paco2values obtained during determination of neurologic death. Primary analyses included Pearson correlation coefficient, Bland-Altman bias and limits of agreement, and comparative statistics. Descriptive data included demographics, admission diagnoses, hemodynamics, Vasoactive Inotropic Scores, and arterial blood gas measurement. Eight children underwent 15 determination of neurologic death examinations resulting in 31 paired transcutaneous carbon dioxide and Paco2values for study. Transcutaneous carbon dioxide and Paco2correlated well (r= 0.94;p< 0.01). Bias between transcutaneous carbon dioxide and Paco2was –3.29 ± 7.14 mm Hg. Differences in means did not correlate with Vasoactive Inotropic Score (r= 0.2) or patient temperature (r= 0.11). Receiver operator characteristic curve of transcutaneous carbon dioxide after 3–10 minutes of apnea to discriminate positive apnea testing by the standard of Paco2yielded an area under the curve of 0.91 and threshold of greater than or equal to 64 mm Hg (sensitivity, 91.7%; specificity, 100%; positive predictive value, 100%; negative predictive value, 92.3%; accuracy, 95.9%).Conclusions:During apnea testing for determination of neurologic death in children, noninvasive transcutaneous carbon dioxide monitoring demonstrated high correlation, accuracy, and minimal bias when compared with Paco2. Further validation is required before any recommendation to replace Paco2with noninvasive transcutaneous carbon dioxide monitoring can be proposed. However, concurrent transcutaneous carbon dioxide data may limit unnecessary apnea time and associated hemodynamic instability or respiratory decompensation by approximating goal arterial blood sampling to document target Paco2.