bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Differences in Functional Treadmill Tests in Patients With Adult Symptomatic Lumbar Scoliosis Treated Operatively and Nonoperatively
Authors: Carreon Leah Y. , Glassman Steven D. , Yanik Elizabeth L. , Kelly Michael P. , Lurie Jon D. , Bridwell Keith H. 
Published: August 2020

Study Design.
Prospective longitudinal cohort.

Objectives.
The aim of this study was to determine whether functional treadmill testing (FTT) demonstrates differences between patients treated operatively and nonoperatively for adult symptomatic lumbar scoliosis (ASLS).

Summary of Background Data.
ASLS has become increasingly prevalent as the population ages. ASLS can be accompanied by neurogenic claudication, leading to difficulty walking. FTT may provide a functional tool to evaluate patients with ASLS.

Methods.
One hundred and eighty-seven patients who underwent nonoperative (n = 88) or operative treatment (n = 99) of ASLS with complete baseline and 2-year post-treatment FTTs and concurrent patient-reported outcomes were identified. FTT parameters included maximum speed, time to onset of symptoms, distance ambulated, time ambulated, and Back and Leg pain severity before and after testing.

Results.
At baseline, patients treated operatively reported worse post-FTT back pain (4.39 vs. 3.45, P = 0.032) than those treated nonoperatively, despite similar ODI, SRS-22 Pain and Activity domain scores. Mean time ambulated (+2.15 vs. −1.20 P = 0.001), pre-FTT back pain (+0.19 vs. −1.60, P < 0.000) and leg pain (+0.25 vs. −0.54, P = 0.024) improved in the operative group but deteriorated in the nonoperative group. On the 2-year follow-up FTT, both groups showed improvement in post-FTT back pain (−0.53 vs. −2.64, P < 0.000) and leg pain (−0.13 vs. −1.54, P = 0.001) severity but the improvement was statistically significantly greater in the operative compared to the nonoperative group.

Conclusion.
FTT results at baseline were worse in patients treated operatively than those treated non-operatively. FTT may be a useful adjunct to assess treatment outcomes in patients with ASLS and may help surgeons counsel patients regarding expectations 2 years after operative or nonoperative treatment for ASLS. At 2-year follow-up, time ambulated deteriorated in patients treated nonoperatively but improved in patients treated operatively. Although both groups showed improvement in post-FTT Back and Leg pain at 2 years, the improvement was greater in the operative compared to the nonoperative group.

Level of Evidence: 2
Cost-Benefit Analysis of Routine Bone Biopsy During Augmentation of Osteoporotic Vertebral Compression Fractures
Authors: Hershkovich Oded , Bayley Edward , Rudik Oren , Alexandrovsky Vitaly , Friedlander Alon , Daglen Efrat , Lotan Raphael 
Published: August 2020

Study Design.
Multi-center prospective study.

Objective.
To analyze the cost of routine biopsy during augmentation of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (VCF) and the affect it has on further treatment.

Summary of Background Data.
Vertebroplasty (VP) and Balloon Kyphoplasty (BKP) are accepted treatments for VCF. Bone biopsy is routinely performed during every VCF surgery in many centers around the world to exclude an incidental finding of malignancy as the cause of the pathological VCF. The incidence been reported as 0.7% to 7.3%, however the published cohorts are small and do not discuss cost-benefit aspects.

Methods.
From 2008 to 2016 we performed 122 vertebral biopsies routinely on 116 patients in three hospitals. Twenty-three patients had history of malignancy (26 biopsies) and four were suspected of having malignancy based on imaging findings. The remaining 86 patients (99 biopsies) were presumed osteoporotic VCF.

Results.
Out of 99 biopsies in the VCF cohort group only one yielded an unsuspected malignancy (1.16%), positive for multiple myeloma (MM). The ability of clinical assessment and imaging alone to diagnose malignancy was found to be 91.7% sensitive and 84.2% specific in our cohort.

Conclusion.
Routine bone biopsy during vertebral augmentation procedure is a safe option for evaluating the cause of the VCF but has significant cost to the health system. The cost of one diagnosed case of unsuspected malignancy was $31,000 in our study. The most common pathology was MM, which has not been proven to benefit from early diagnosis. When comparing clinical diagnosis with imaging, a previous history of malignancy was found in only 40.7% of VCF patients, while imaging was 100% accurate in predicting presence of malignancy on biopsy. This study reassures spine surgeons in their ability to diagnose malignant VCFs and does not support the significant cost of routine bone biopsies.

Level of Evidence: 3
Heart rate and blood pressure dependence of aortic distensibility in rats: comparison of measured and calculated pulse wave velocity
Authors: Spronck Bart , Tan Isabella , Reesink Koen D. , Georgevsky Dana , Delhaas Tammo , Avolio Alberto P. , Butlin Mark 
Published: August 2020

Objectives:
When assessing arterial stiffness, heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) are potential confounders. It appears that the HR/BP dependences of pulse wave velocity (PWV) and distensibility are different, even though both assess arterial stiffness. This study aims to compare aortic PWV as measured using pulse transit time (PWVTT) and as calculated from distensibility (PWVdist) at the same measurement site and propose a solution to the disparity in dependences of PWVTT and PWVdist.

Methods:
Adult anaesthetized rats (n = 24) were randomly paced at HRs 300–500 bpm, at 50 bpm steps. At each step, aortic PWVTT (two pressure-tip catheters) and PWVdist (pressure-tip catheter and ultrasound wall-tracking; abdominal aorta) were measured simultaneously while BP was varied pharmacologically.

Results:
HR dependence of PWVdist paradoxically decreased at higher levels of BP. In addition, BP dependence of PWVdist was much larger than that of PWVTT. These discrepancies are explained in that standard PWVdist uses an approximate derivative of pressure to diameter, which overestimates PWV with increasing pulse pressure (PP). In vivo, PP decreases as HR increases, potentially causing a PWVdist decrease with HR. Estimating the full pressure-diameter curve for each HR corrected for this effect by enabling calculation of the true derivative at diastolic BP. This correction yielded a PWVdist that shows HR and BP dependences similar to those of PWVTT. As expected, BP dependence of all PWV metrics was much larger than HR dependence.

Conclusion:
Measured and calculated PWV have different dependences on HR and BP. These differences are, at least in part, because of approximations made in using systolic and diastolic values to calculate distensibility.
Pulmonary Alterations Among Workers in a Dental Prosthesis Laboratory
Authors: Quintal-Méndez José Rodolfo , Soledad Ariel Rojas , López-Hernández Enrique , Sánchez-Monroy Virginia 
Published: August 2020

Objective:To evaluate the pulmonary alterations in workers from a dental prosthesis laboratory and explore dust and bacterial dissemination generated in the laboratory.Methods:Spirometry and computerized axial tomography were performed on 67 workers. Dust in workplace air was determined using the filtration-gravimetric method, and bacterial detection was explored using 16S rDNA gene sequencing.Results:Pulmonary alterations were detected in 37% of the workers. Airborne dust concentrations were determined to be higher than the maximum permissible exposure limit, and bacterial detection analysis revealed 23 bacterial genera. The most frequently detected bacterial genus wasSphingomonassp., which has been described as microbiota associated with disease of the oral cavity.Conclusions:The results of this study highlight the importance of the implementation of biosecurity measures, improvement of ventilation systems, and routine disinfection of dental impressions.
A systematic review of the management of acute superior mesenteric vein thrombosis in adults
Authors: Phoenix Eimear , Beck Jonathan , Patterson Timothy J. , Spence Robert A.J. , Taylor Mark A. , Spence Gary M. 
Published: August 2020

Abstract

Background:
Acute thrombosis of the superior mesenteric vein (SMV) is a rare but potentially catastrophic condition. Clinically separate from portal venous thrombosis due to a higher proportion of associated thrombophilic disorders and intestinal infarction, SMV thrombosis warrants a distinct approach to management. The aim of this review is to report the evidence for current practice.

Methods:
A systematic review was carried out in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Four clinical trials databases and 4 trial registries were searched. This search was not limited by language or study type, but was limited to an adult population (18 years and above). The search period was between January 1, 2000 and February 28, 2019. The review was registered in the PROSPERO database: CRD42018116825. Bias was assessed using the ROBINS-I tool.

Results:
A total of 7989 studies were identified, resulting in 19 observational studies being analyzed. Eighteen studies reported on anti-coagulation, 1 reported on anti-coagulation plus endovascular thrombectomy, 9 reported on thrombolysis, and 10 reported on the role of surgery. Bias assessment showed that confounding was a significant area of potential bias. This review has reported that the management of SMV thrombosis is centered around a patients’ perceived hemodynamic stability. If there is evidence of perforation or peritonism then surgical intervention is advocated. Otherwise, anti-coagulation or thrombolysis is preferred.

Conclusions:
The data reported were compared with, and added to, that presented by the European Society for Vascular Surgery 2017 guidelines. Overall the source data were heterogenous, with multiple sources of bias and statistical comparison was not achievable.
William F. Hoyt and the Neuro-Ophthalmology of Superior Oblique Myokymia and Ocular Neuromyotonia
Authors: Rasool Nailyn , Hoyt Creig S. 
Published: August 2020

Abstract:
The contributions of William F. Hoyt, MD, to the field of neuro-ophthalmology are immense. His precision in history-taking and examination skills provided the foundation to fully understand a clinical disorder—determining its underlying pathophysiology, prognosis, and management. We describe two unusual eye movement disorders, superior oblique myokymia and ocular neuromyotonia, and how Dr. Hoyt's contributions shaped our understanding of these clinical entities.
Acute Idiopathic Blind Spot Enlargement and Acute Zonal Occult Outer Retinopathy: Potential Mimics of Neuro-Ophthalmic Disease
Authors: Fletcher William A. , Imes Richard K. 
Published: August 2020

Abstract:
In 1988, William Hoyt, MD, et al described “acute idiopathic blind spot enlargement” (AIBSE) in 7 symptomatic patients who had no apparent abnormalities of the optic disc or surrounding retina. With the use of multifocal electroretinography, they showed that the scotoma was caused by occult retinal dysfunction. In 1992, J. Donald Gass, MD, described “acute zonal occult outer retinopathy” (AZOOR) in 13 patients who had sudden loss of often large zones of visual field without fundus abnormalities. Most patients developed zonal atrophy of retinal pigment epithelium and had no improvement in vision. Gass believed that AZOOR, multiple evanescent white dot syndrome, multifocal choroiditis, and AIBSE were all variants of the same disorder. Despite over 3 decades of numerous reports, the classification of these entities, their pathogenesis, and treatment remain controversial. AIBSE and AZOOR may be mistaken for an acute optic neuropathy, so it behooves the neuro-ophthalmologist to be familiar with these disorders. This review describes the initial recognition of AIBSE and its relationship to AZOOR.
A Pilot Study on the Effects of Medically Supervised, Water-Only Fasting and Refeeding on Cardiometabolic Risk
Authors: Scharf Eugene L , Kolbe Patricia , Hwang Su-Yeon , Thompson Natasha , Gilbert Mara , Alexandrakis Faye , Bonjour Matthieu , Zeiler Evelyn , Myers Toshia 
Published: August 2020

AbstractThe Fasting for Brain and Heart Health Study was a prospective, single-center, observational study examining the effects of medically supervised, water-only fasting followed by an exclusively whole-plant-food refeeding diet on accepted measures of cardiovascular risk and metabolic health. The study enrolled 48 overweight/obese, non-diabetic participants of which 26 completed the full study protocol. The participants fasted according to an established protocol at an independent medical center that reported mean fast and refeed lengths of 17 and 7 days, respectively. The primary endpoint was to describe mean glucose tolerance as indicated by Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) scores at baseline, end-of-fast (EOF), and end-of-refeed (EOR) visits. Secondary endpoints were to describe the effects of fasting and refeeding on accepted markers of cardiovascular risk. Here we show that medically supervised, water-only fasting and/or whole-plant-food refeeding reduced resting systolic blood pressure (SBP), abdominal circumference, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) after refeeding. An increase in HOMA-IR scores at EOR was also observed.
Negative correlation between mean female age at first birth and rates of molecular evolution in primates, with predictions of the reproductive age in early hominins
Authors: Bajdek Piotr 
Published: August 2020

ABSTRACTmtDNA-based phylogenetic trees of the order Primates were constructed by the minimum evolution (ME) and maximum likelihood (ML) methods. Branch lengths were compared with the mean female age at first birth in the taxa studied. Higher reproductive age in females triggers a lower number of generations through time and, on average, at the molecular level smaller evolutionary distances between related taxa. However, this relationship is significant when the phylogeny is resolved by the ME method rather than the ML method. Reliability of the minimum evolution approach is discussed. In contrast to most studies, the ME tree recoversTarsius bancanus(Tarsiiformes) as a member of the Strepsirrhini, which phylogeny is supported by a strong branch length–reproductive age relationship and which is proposed as a novel heuristic method to test phylogeny. However, branches of certain taxa on the constructed phylogenetic tree show anomalous lengths relative to the mean female age at first birth, such as e.g. the human branch. As estimated in this paper, early members of the human lineage have likely reproduced at higher rates than modern humans, some forms possibly giving first birth at the mean age of 10–12 years, which is more comparable to the mean age at first birth in extant gorillas than to that typical of living humans and chimpanzees. Probable early reproduction in human ancestors is also supported by the comparably more evolved mitochondrial DNA in Denisovans than in modern humans, and by a smaller body mass in most fossil hominins, which often triggers fast maturation in primates.
Impaired cellular immunity to SARS-CoV-2 in severe COVID-19 patients
Authors: Ni Ling , Cheng Meng-Li , Zhao Hui , Feng Yu , Liu Jingyuan , Ye Fang , Ye Qing , Zhu Gengzhen , Li Xiaoli , Wang Pengzhi , Shao Jing , Deng Yong-Qiang , Wei Peng , Chen Fang , Qin Cheng-Feng , Wang Guoqing , Li Fan , Zeng Hui , Dong Chen 
Published: August 2020

SUMMARYThe World Health Organization has declared SARS-CoV-2 virus outbreak a world-wide pandemic. Individuals infected by the virus exhibited different degrees of symptoms, the basis of which remains largely unclear. Currently, though convalescent individuals have been shown with both cellular and humoral immune responses, there is very limited understanding on the immune responses, especially adaptive immune responses, in patients with severe COVID-19. Here, we examined 10 blood samples from COVID-19 patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The majority of them (70%) mounted SARS-CoV-2-specific humoral immunity with production of neutralizing antibodies. However, compared to healthy controls, the percentages and absolute numbers of both NK cells and CD8+ T cells were significantly reduced, accompanied with decreased IFNγ expression in CD4+ T cells in peripheral blood from severe patients. Most notably, we failed in detecting SARS-CoV-2-specific IFNγ production by peripheral blood lymphocytes from these patients. Our work thus indicates that COVID-19 patients with severe symptoms are associated with defective cellular immunity, which not only provides insights on understanding the pathogenesis of COVID-19, but also has implications in developing an effective vaccine to SARS-CoV-2.
Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) non-operative treatment in HUCSK of Kosova- a 7 month study
Authors: Lokaj Gresa 
Published: August 2020

I.AbstractIntroductionScoliosis is defined as a deviation from midline in the frontal plane, and rotation of the apex of the curve from ≥10° in AP radiography. Treatment of scoliosis is based in type of scoliosis, region of scoliotic curve, curve magnitude, bone maturity, gender, risk of scoliotic curve progression, other symptoms like and patient’s opinion about his spine shape. Treatment choices of AIS are observation, physical therapy, corsets and surgical treatment.PurposeResearch of patients with AIS focusing in its characteristics, clinical presentation, diagnosis and a detalized research in non-operative treatment of AIS focusing in treatment choices and criteria of treatment.Material and methodsThe study is based in retrospective research September 2018-March 2019 (7 months) in HUCSK- Specialized outpatient clinics of Orthopaedics. Data is taken with special permission from Personal Data ProtectionOffice and Ethico-Professional Commity from specialized outpatient clinics of Orthopaedics system’s archive for patients with AIS of 10-18 years old.ResultsDuring September 2018-March 2019 period in specialized outpatient clinics of Orthopaedics-HUCSK, 250 cases with AIS of 10-18 years old with Cobb angle ≥10° are diagnosed and treated. The disease has a prevalence 1.40%. Based in gender women are more affected than men in a ratio 2.01:1. Most common form of AIS is the one that affects thoraco-lumbal region of spine with 60.8% of cases. There’s found a correlation between scoliosis and kyphosis in higher levels of spine.About 89.7% of cases are light scoliotic curves according to Cobb angle and the female\male ratio increases at women with increasement of Cobb’s angle. Patients are treated with one or more forms of non-operative treatment: observation 10.4% of cases, observation and physical therapy 89.6% of cases and observation, physical treatment and corset TLSO 25.6% of cases. Cases that have undergone three forms of non-operative treatment are with Cobb angle ≥20°.DiscussionThe results of this study are supported from many studies made in Germany, Singapor, Grece, Turkey and USA, from the earlier and later years, with data exactly or closely to this study results.
Dengue emergence in the temperate Argentinian province of Santa Fe, 2009-2020
Authors: López María S. , Jordan Daniela I. , Blatter Evelyn , Walker Elisabet , Gómez Andrea A. , Müller Gabriela V. , Mendicino Diego , Robert Michael A. , Estallo Elizabet L. 
Published: August 2020

AbstractDengue virus (DENV) transmission occurs primarily in tropical and subtropical climates, but within the last decade it has extended to temperate regions. Santa Fe, a temperate province in Argentina, has experienced an increase in dengue cases and virus circulation since 2009, with the recent 2020 outbreak being the largest in the province to date. The aim of this work is to describe spatio-temporal fluctuations of dengue cases from 2009 to 2020 in Santa Fe Province. The data presented in this work provide a detailed description of DENV transmission for Santa Fe Province by department. These data are useful to assist in investigating drivers of dengue emergence in Santa Fe Province and for developing a better understanding of the drivers and the impacts of ongoing dengue emergence in temperate regions across the world. This work provides data useful for future studies including those investigating socio-ecological, climate, and environmental factors associated with DENV transmission, as well as those investigating other variables related to the biology and the ecology of vector-borne diseases.
The McdAB system positions α-carboxysomes in proteobacteria
Authors: MacCready Joshua S. , Tran Lisa , Basalla Joseph L. , Hakim Pusparanee , Vecchiarelli Anthony G. 
Published: August 2020

SummaryCarboxysomes are protein-based organelles essential for carbon fixation in cyanobacteria and proteobacteria. Previously, we showed that the cyanobacterial nucleoid is utilized as a surface for the equidistant-spacing of β-carboxysomes across cell lengths by a two-component system (McdAB) in the model cyanobacteriumSynechococcus elongatusPCC 7942. More recently, we found that McdAB systems are widespread among β-cyanobacteria, which possess β-carboxysomes, but are absent in α-cyanobacteria, which possess structurally distinct α-carboxysomes. Since cyanobacterial α-carboxysomes are thought to have arisen in proteobacteria and were subsequently horizontally transferred into cyanobacteria, this raised the question whether α-carboxysome containing proteobacteria possess a McdAB system for positioning α-carboxysomes. Here, using the model chemoautotrophic proteobacteriumH. neapolitanus, we show that a McdAB system distinct from that of β-cyanobacteria operates to position α-carboxysomes across cell lengths. We further show that this system is widespread among α-carboxysome containing proteobacteria and that cyanobacteria likely inherited an α-carboxysome operon from a proteobacterium lacking themcdABlocus. These results demonstrate that McdAB is a cross-phylum two-component system necessary for positioning α- and β-carboxysomes. The findings have further implications for understanding the positioning of other bacterial protein-based organelles involved in diverse metabolic processes.
Perceptions and use of cloud services: an empirical study on the students of a public university in Bangladesh
Authors: Atikuzzaman Md. , Islam Md. Anwarul 
Published: August 2020

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to measure the perceptions and use of cloud services by the students of the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh. The specific objective of this study is to know what perceptions students have about cloud services, why and how they use cloud for academic activities.Design/methodology/approachFor understanding the use of cloud services among the students of Dhaka University, a quantitative survey was carried out to collect data. Printed questionnaires were distributed among the students in different departments and university library. Both open- and close-ended questions were included in the questionnaire. A total of 329 students responded in this survey and the response rate was 85.5%. The collected data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences.FindingsFindings revealed that students are generally aware of cloud services and majority of the respondents use cloud for different purposes. Students used cloud for storage, back up and collaboration purposes and some of Google features are widely used by majority of the students for academic purposes.Originality/valueTo the best of authors’ knowledge, this is the first time an effort has been made to measure the use of cloud services among the students of University of Dhaka. This study will help to raise cloud service awareness among the students and encourage the authorities to adopt appropriate strategies and policies to resolve cloud adoption in university setting. Specially, Center of Excellence in Teaching and Learning of Dhaka University can take some initiatives in this case.