bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Three-Stage Masquelet Technique and One-Stage Reconstruction to Treat Foot and Ankle Tuberculosis
Authors: Qu Wenqiang , Wei Chi , Yu Li , Deng Yu , Fu Panfeng , Kang Zhe , Zhu Shaobo 
Published: December 2019

Background: The purpose of this article was to report the feasibility and effectiveness of 3-stage Masquelet technique and 1-stage operation for different stages of foot and ankle tuberculosis (TB). Methods: Ten consecutive patients with foot and ankle TB were retrospectively analyzed between January 2014 and December 2018. Five patients were treated with the 3-stage Masquelet technique, including thorough debridement with vacuum sealing drainage, implantation of antibiotic cement spacer, and subsequent reconstruction. Five patients were treated with a 1-stage reconstruction. The American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (AOFAS) and visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores were recorded at the last follow-up. The follow-up was 30.3 ± 17.8 months. Results: No reactivation of TB was observed in any patients. For the 3-stage operation group, 1 patient developed a distal tibia fracture. The duration of anti-TB therapy was 12.0 ± 0.8 months. The AOFAS score increased from 39.5 ± 9.9 preoperatively to 75.3 ± 7.0 postoperatively ( P < .05). The VAS pain score decreased from 6.3 ± 1.9 to 1.5 ± 1.3 ( P < .05). For the 1-stage operation, 1 patient had wound necrosis. The duration of anti-TB therapy was 13.8 ± 1.1 months. The AOFAS score increased from 51.8 ± 15.0 to 81.8 ± 6.3 ( P < .05). The VAS pain score decreased from 5.4 ± 1.1 to 1.0 ± 0.7 ( P < .05). Conclusion: Three-stage operation was effective for foot and ankle TB with stage IV, sinus tracts or other infections, and 1-stage reconstruction was effective for early-stage TBs. Level of Evidence: Level IV, case series.
Large choroidal excavation in pachychoroid disease: A case report
Authors: Iacono Pierluigi , Battaglia Parodi Maurizio , Saviano Sandro , Parravano Mariacristina , Varano Monica 
Published: December 2019

Purpose: To report the morphological and clinical features of a case of pachychoroid disease with focal choroidal excavation and large choroidal excavation complicated by choroidal neovascularization. Methods: The patient underwent a complete ophthalmologic examination including best-corrected visual acuity assessment, anterior segment and dilated fundus examination, fluorescein and indocyanine green angiography, and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. Results: During the previous follow-up, the 57-year-old man received a diagnosis of central serous chorioretinopathy in the right eye with a late appearance of a choroidal neovascularization. The best-corrected visual acuity was 20/125 and 20/20 in the right and left eye, respectively. Dilated fundus examination, fluorescein angiography, and indocyanine green angiography confirmed a large subretinal fibrosis corresponding to the evolution of the choroidal neovascularization in the right eye. Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography clearly demonstrated in the right eye a large choroidal excavation below the fibrotic neovascular lesion with multiple hyperreflective foci inside the cavity, and in the left eye, a conforming focal choroidal excavation, bowl-shape type, associated with increased choroidal thickness with pachyvessels. Conclusion: Large choroidal excavation has been rarely reported. Although the pathogenetic mechanisms leading to the formation of large choroidal excavation are still only hypotheses, a combination of primary degenerative inflammatory factors sustaining the focal choroidal excavation formation and disruptive process of the choroidal neovascularization could be retained responsible for the large choroidal excavation.
A Randomized Trial of Intravenous Thyroxine for Brain-Dead Organ Donors With Impaired Cardiac Function
Authors: Dhar Rajat , Stahlschmidt Emily , Marklin Gary 
Published: December 2019

Rationale: Brain death (BD) precipitates cardiac dysfunction impairing the ability to transplant hearts from eligible organ donors. Retrospective studies have suggested that thyroid hormone may enhance myocardial recovery and increase hearts transplanted. We performed a randomized trial evaluating whether intravenous thyroxine (T4) improves cardiac function in BD donors with impaired ejection fraction (EF). Methods: All heart-eligible donors managed at a single-organ procurement organization (OPO) underwent protocolized fluid resuscitation. Those weaned off vasopressors underwent transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) within 12 hours of BD and, if EF was below 60%, were randomized to T4 infusion or no T4 for 8 hours, after which TTE was repeated. Results: Of 77 heart-eligible donors, 36 were weaned off vasopressors. Ejection fraction was depressed in 30, of whom 28 were randomized to T4 (n = 17) vs control (n = 11). Baseline EF was comparable (45%, interquartile range [IQR] 42.5-47.5 vs 40%, 40-50, P = .32). Ejection fraction did not improve more with T4 (10%, IQR 5-15 vs 5%, 0-12.5, P = .24), although there was a trend to more hearts transplanted (59% vs 27%, P = .14). This difference appeared to be accounted for by more donors with a history of drug use in the T4 group, who exhibited greater improvements in EF (15% vs 0% without drug use, P = .01) and more often had hearts transplanted (12 of 19 vs 1 of 9, P = .01). Conclusions: In this small randomized study of BD donors with impaired cardiac function, T4 infusion did not result in greater cardiac recovery. A larger randomized trial comparing T4 to placebo appears warranted but would require collaboration across multiple OPOs.
Treatment of chronic noncancer pain in patients on opioid therapy in primary care: A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Barry Arden R. , Chris Chantal E. 
Published: December 2019

Background: This study sought to characterize the real-world treatment of chronic noncancer pain (CNCP) in patients on opioid therapy in primary care. Methods: A retrospective cohort study from 2014-18 was conducted at a multidisciplinary primary care clinic in Chilliwack, British Columbia. Included were adults on daily opioid therapy for CNCP. Patients receiving palliative care or ≤1 visit were excluded. Outcomes of interest included use of opioid/nonopioid pharmacotherapy, number/frequency of visits and proportion of patients able to reduce/discontinue opioid therapy. Results: Seventy patients (mean age 53 years, 53% male, 51% back pain) were included. Median follow-up was 6 visits over 12 months. Sixty-two patients (89%) reduced their opioid dose, 6 patients had no change and 2 patients required a dose increase. Mean opioid dose was reduced from 183 to 70 mg morphine equivalents daily. Twenty-four patients (34%) discontinued opioid therapy, 6 patients (9%) transitioned to opioid agonist therapy and 6 patients (9%) breached their opioid treatment agreement. Nonopioid pharmacotherapy included nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (64%), gabapentinoids (63%), tricyclic antidepressants (56%) and nabilone (51%). Discussion: Over half of patients were no longer on opioid therapy by the end of the study. Most patients had a disorder (e.g., back pain) for which opioids are generally not recommended. Overall mean opioid dose was reduced from baseline by approximately 60% over 1 year. Lack of access to specialized pain treatments may have accounted for high nonopioid pharmacotherapy usage. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that treatment of CNCP and opioid tapering can successfully be achieved in a primary care setting. Can Pharm J (Ott) 2020;153:xx-xx.
Newly registered nurses’ experiences of delivering patient education in an acute care setting: an exploratory study
Authors: Fawkes Karen , Moore Jaqualyn 
Published: December 2019

Background Nurses’ education of patients is important for building the knowledge and skills necessary for self-management. Little is known of newly registered nurses’ preparedness to deliver patient education, or of their experiences in clinical contexts where they may encounter barriers. Aims The aim of this study was to explore newly registered nurses’ patient education role in an acute hospital setting. Methods A purposive sample of seven newly registered nurses from an NHS teaching hospital in England were interviewed to explore their understanding and experiences of educating patients. An interpretive phenomenological approach was used to analyse responses. Results Three superordinate themes were identified: the professional self; the ward environment; and the nurse-patient relationship. Tensions existed between the ideals newly registered nurses brought to registered practice and the practice-based realities of patient education, which was often delivered informally with limited patient involvement in collaborative goal setting. Few newly registered nurses recalled more than superficial preparation in university for the role and some were encouraged by senior colleagues to downplay the importance of patient education. Conclusions The patient-education aspirations of newly registered nurses need to be nurtured. Educational institutions have an important role to play as do experienced nurses, making explicit the education they routinely deliver and supporting newly registered nurses to build their own pedagogic expertise.
Heterogeneity of Cause, Care, and Prognosis in Severe Acute Kidney Injury in Hospitalized Patients: A Prospective Observational Study
Authors: Aglae Cedric , Muller Laurent , Reboul Pascal , Cariou Sylvain , Saber Davide Barbar , Trusson Remi , Messikh Ziyad , De Brauwere David-Paul , Lefrant Jean-Yves , Moranne Olivier 
Published: December 2019

Background: KDIGO (Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes) defines acute kidney injury (AKI) solely by serum creatinine (SCr) and urine output variation. Severe AKI is a syndrome covering various clinical situations. Objective: To describe severe AKI heterogeneity by department of hospitalization. Design: This is a prospective observational single-center study. Setting: Adult patients hospitalized in a French tertiary hospital from August 2016 to December 2017. Patients: All adults with severe AKI, defined by dialysis for AKI or an increase in SCr above 354 μmol/L. Measurements: Patient characteristics, clinical and laboratory presentation, AKI cause, medical indication for renal replacement therapy (RRT), planned palliative care, and vital status 30 days after severe AKI. Methods: A global description of patient characteristics, care, and prognosis and comparison by department of hospitalization: intensive care unit (ICU), nephrology, and others. Results: The study included 480 patients (73% men, median age: 72 years, range: 64-83), with medical histories including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, and chronic kidney disease. Principal causes were sepsis (104; 22%), hypovolemia (98; 20%), obstructive AKI (84; 18%), acute tubular necrosis (ATN; 74; 15%), and cardiorenal syndrome (51; 11%). Severe AKI was diagnosed in the ICU for 188 (39%) patients, the nephrology department for 130 (27%), and in other wards for 162 (34%). Patient characteristics differed by department for age, comorbidity, cause, and RRT use and indications. Palliative care was planned for 72 (15%) patients, most frequently in other wards. Limitations: We studied a subgroup of stage 3 KDIGO AKI patients in a single center without cardiac surgery. Conclusion: Patients hospitalized for severe AKI have frequent and various comorbidities, different clinical presentations, care, hospitalization in various departments, and different prognosis. The heterogeneity of this severe AKI implies the need for personalized care, which requires prognostic tools that include information besides SCr and diuresis.
Treatment Costs of Matrix-Associated Autologous Chondrocyte Implantation Compared With Microfracture: Results of a Matched-Pair Claims Data Analysis on the Treatment of Cartilage Knee Defects in Germany
Authors: Niemeyer Philipp , Schubert Tino , Grebe Marco , Hoburg Arnd 
Published: December 2019

Background: Articular cartilage damage is caused by traumatic sport accidents or age-related degeneration and might lead to osteoarthritis, which represents a socioeconomic burden to society. Cartilage damage in the knee is commonly treated surgically with microfracture (MFX) or matrix-associated autologous chondrocyte implantation (MACI). Purpose: To quantify the initial and follow-up costs associated with MFX and MACI treatments from the viewpoint of statutory health insurance in Germany. Study Design: Economic decision analysis; Level of evidence, 2. Methods: This comparative study was based on an anonymized representative claims data set of 4 million patients covered by statutory health insurance in Germany. Patients undergoing outpatient or inpatient treatment with MACI or MFX for cartilage damage in the knee between January 1, 2012, and December 31, 2013, were included and evaluated over 5 years. Groups (MACI and MFX) were adjusted via propensity score matching before initial treatment. The matched groups were compared regarding their outpatient, inpatient, pharmaceutical, and other costs during the 5-year period. Results: In total, 127 patients per group were analyzed (59.1% male, 40.9% female; mean age, 37 years). In the year of the initial surgical procedure, costs were €14,804.13 in the MACI group and €5458.59 in the MFX group. In years 2 and 3 after initial surgery, treatment costs were comparable between patients treated with MACI (€2897.97 and €2114.87, respectively) and MFX (€2842.66 and €1967.42, respectively), with slightly higher treatment costs for those treated with MACI. In years 4 and 5 after surgery, costs were less in patients treated with MACI (€2154.79 and €1478.08, respectively) than in those treated with MFX (€2232.57 and €2061.63, respectively). Costs related to revision surgery were, on average, €3732 for MACI and €3765 for MFX. Thus, additional costs in years with revision surgery were €1672 for MACI and €1915 for MFX. Conclusion: This was the first study to analyze a large representative population claims database with propensity score matching, and results indicated that follow-up costs of patients treated with MACI and MFX began to converge over time. We found that total costs for MACI were higher than for MFX but that additional costs for MACI were lower than previously reported. Perceived morbidity may have little to do with cost.
Safety of dabigatran etexilate for the secondary prevention of venous thromboembolism in children
Authors: Brandão Leonardo R. , Albisetti Manuela , Halton Jacqueline , Bomgaars Lisa , Chalmers Elizabeth , Mitchell Lesley G. , Nurmeev Ildar , Svirin Pavel , Kuhn Tomas , Zapletal Ondrej , Tartakovsky Igor , Simetzberger Monika , Huang Fenglei , Sun Zhichao , Kreuzer Jörg , Gropper Savion , Brueckmann Martina , Luciani Matteo 
Published: December 2019

Abstract
This open-label, single-arm, prospective cohort trial is the first phase 3 safety study to describe outcomes in children treated with dabigatran etexilate for secondary venous thromboembolism (VTE) prevention. Eligible children aged 12 to &lt;18 years (age stratum 1), 2 to &lt;12 years (stratum 2), and &gt;3 months to &lt;2 years (stratum 3) had an objectively confirmed diagnosis of VTE treated with standard of care (SOC) for ≥3 months, or had completed dabigatran or SOC treatment in the DIVERSITY trial (NCT01895777) and had an unresolved clinical thrombosis risk factor requiring further anticoagulation. Children received dabigatran for up to 12 months, or less if the identified VTE clinical risk factor resolved. Primary end points included VTE recurrence, bleeding events, and mortality at 6 and 12 months. Overall, 203 children received dabigatran, with median exposure being 36.3 weeks (range, 0-57 weeks); 171 of 203 (84.2%) and 32 of 203 (15.8%) took capsules and pellets, respectively. Overall, 2 of 203 children (1.0%) experienced on-treatment VTE recurrence, and 3 of 203 (1.5%) experienced major bleeding events, with 2 (1.0%) reporting clinically relevant nonmajor bleeding events, and 37 (18.2%) minor bleeding events. There were no on-treatment deaths. On-treatment postthrombotic syndrome was reported for 2 of 162 children (1.2%) who had deep vein thrombosis or central-line thrombosis as their most recent VTE. Pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic relationships of dabigatran were similar to those in adult VTE patients. In summary, dabigatran showed a favorable safety profile for secondary VTE prevention in children aged from &gt;3 months to &lt;18 years with persistent VTE risk factor(s). This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT02197416.
Stroke and myocardial infarction in hereditary thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura: similarities to sickle cell anemia
Authors: Borogovac Azra , George James N. 
Published: December 2019

Key Points
Stroke is common in hereditary thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) patients, occurring in 25% to 31% of patients. In hereditary TTP patients, the age of occurrence of first stroke (median, 19 years) is similar to that for sickle cell anemia patients.
Targeting treatable traits in severe asthma: a randomised controlled trial
Authors: McDonald Vanessa M. , Clark Vanessa L. , Cordova-Rivera Laura , Wark Peter A.B. , Baines Katherine J. , Gibson Peter G. 
Published: December 2019

RationaleTreatable traits have been proposed as a new paradigm for airway disease management.ObjectivesTo characterise treatable traits in a severe asthma population and to determine the efficacy of targeting treatments to these treatable traits in severe asthma.MethodsParticipants (n=140) with severe asthma were recruited to a cross-sectional study and underwent a multidimensional assessment to characterise treatable traits. Eligible participants with severe asthma (n=55) participated in a 16-week parallel-group randomised controlled trial to determine the feasibility and efficacy of management targeted to predefined treatable traits, compared to usual care in a severe asthma clinic. The patient-reported outcome of health-related quality of life was the trial's primary end-point.Main resultsParticipants with severe asthma had a mean±sdof 10.44±3.03 traits per person, comprising 3.01±1.54 pulmonary and 4.85±1.86 extrapulmonary traits and 2.58±1.31 behavioural/risk factors. Individualised treatment that targeted the traits was feasible and led to significantly improved health-related quality of life (0.86 units, p<0.001) and asthma control (0.73, p=0.01).ConclusionsMultidimensional assessment enables detection of treatable traits and identifies a significant trait burden in severe asthma. Targeting these treatable traits using a personalised-medicine approach in severe asthma leads to improvements in health-related quality of life, asthma control and reduced primary care acute visits. Treatable traits may be an effective way to address the complexity of severe asthma.
A New System to Evaluate Comprehensive Performance of Hard-Rock Tunnel Boring Machine Cutterheads
Authors: Zhu Ye , Sun Wei , Huo Junzhou , Meng Zhichao 
Published: December 2019

AbstractThe accurate performance evaluation of a cutterhead is essential to improving cutterhead structure design and predicting project cost. Through extensive research, this paper evaluates the performance of a tunnel boring machine (TBM) cutterhead for cutting ability and slagging ability. This paper propose cutting efficiency, stability, and continuity of slagging as the evaluation indexes of comprehensive cutterhead performance. On the basis of research of true TBM engineering applications, this paper proposes a calculation method for each index. A slagging efficiency index with a ratio of the maximum difference between the slagging amount and average slagging is established. And a slagging stability index with a ratio of the maximum slagging fluctuation and average slagging is presented. Meanwhile, a cutting efficiency index by the weighed average value of multistage rock fragmentation of a cutter’s specific energy is established. The Robbins and China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC) cutterheads are evaluated. The results show that under the same thrust and torque, the slagging stability of the CRCC scheme is worse, but the slagging continuity of the CRCC scheme is better. The cutting ability index shows that the CRCC cutterhead is more efficient.
Nonlinear Static and Dynamic Stiffness Characteristics of Support Hydraulic System of TBM
Authors: Tao Jianfeng , Lei Junbo , Liu Chengliang , Yuan Wei 
Published: December 2019

AbstractFull-face hard rock tunnel boring machines (TBM) are essential equipment in highway and railway tunnel engineering construction. During the tunneling process, TBM have serious vibrations, which can damage some of its key components. The support system,an important part of TBM, is one path through which vibrational energy from the cutter head is transmitted. To reduce the vibration of support systems of TBM during the excavation process, based on the structural features of the support hydraulic system, a nonlinear dynamical model of support hydraulic systems of TBM is established. The influences of the component structure parameters and operating conditions parameters on the stiffness characteristics of the support hydraulic system are analyzed. The analysis results indicate that the static stiffness of the support hydraulic system consists of an increase stage, stable stage and decrease stage. The static stiffness value increases with an increase in the clearances. The pre-compression length of the spring in the relief valve affects the range of the stable stage of the static stiffness, and it does not affect the static stiffness value. The dynamic stiffness of the support hydraulic system consists of a U-shape and reverse U-shape. The bottom value of the U-shape increases with the amplitude and frequency of the external force acting on the cylinder body, however, the top value of the reverse U-shape remains constant. This study instructs how to design the support hydraulic system of TBM.