bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Current Venous Thromboembolism Prevention Practices Following Endovascular Electrophysiological Procedures in the UK: A pilot study
Authors: Saunderson Christopher , Hickman Sally , Wilkinson Elaine , Tayebjee Muzahir 
Published: December 2018

Objectives: This pilot study aimed to evaluate the incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) cases at the Leeds General Infirmary, Leeds, UK, as well as to survey current VTE practices and preventative strategies at other UK-based electrophysiology (EP) centres. Methods: This retrospective pilot study involved all patients who underwent EP studies at Leeds General Infirmary from January 2014 to December 2016. In addition, a telephone survey was conducted of 35 other UK-based EP centres. Results: Of 1,020 patients who underwent EP studies at Leeds General Infirmary, 0.3% developed a post-procedural VTE. In addition, 28 other EP centres were surveyed (response rate: 80%), of which 18% reported VTE cases in the last two years. There were wide variations in VTE prevention strategies and the use of post-procedural thromboprophylaxis. Conclusion: Despite the low incidence of VTE cases, many UK centres continue to experience this complication with no consensus on optimal preventative strategies. As current VTE guidelines do not recommend antithrombotics, further research is needed.Keywords: Venous Thromboembolism; Cardiac Electrophysiological Techniques; Catheter Ablation; Heparin; Postoperative Complications; Risk Assessment; United Kingdom.
Primary Plasma Cell Leukaemia: Case report and review of the literature
Authors: Singh Sarika , Rath Ashutosh , Yadav Surekha 
Published: December 2018

Plasma cell leukaemia (PCL) is one of the most aggressive and rarest forms of plasma cell dyscrasia. However, the diagnostic criteria for this condition have not yet been revised and there is no specific treatment to significantly improve the course of the disease. We report a 69-year-old male who presented to the Lok Nayak Hospital, New Delhi, India, in 2017 with dyspnoea and chest pain. A peripheral blood smear showed an absolute plasma cell count of 2.16 × 109/L. A bone marrow examination showed 61% atypical plasma cells exhibiting kappa light chain restriction. Biochemical investigations were consistent with a diagnosis of primary PCL with renal involvement. Bortezomib-based chemotherapy was initiated, which resulted in an improvement in the patient’s haematological and biochemical parameters. This case report includes a comprehensive review of the clinical and diagnostic features, pathobiology and treatment of PCL.Keywords: Plasma Cell Leukemia; Multiple Myeloma; Plasma Cells; Case Report; India.
A Probable Case of Mucosal Fixed Drug Eruption Following Treatment with Silodosin
Authors: Klimi Eleni 
Published: December 2018

A fixed drug eruption consists of erythematous patches that appear on the skin and/or mucous membranes following administration of a drug which, once healed, leaves residual hyperpigmentation. We report a 76-year-old male who presented to the Thriasio General Hospital, Athens, Greece, in 2016 with erythema, oedema and blistering of the lower lip and glans penis following the administration of silodosin for benign prostatic hyperplasia. The eruption regressed two weeks after silodosin was discontinued.Keywords: Drug Eruption; Mucous Membranes; Erythema; Blister; Silodosin; Case Report; Greece.
MULTIMODAL LITERACY IN A BLENDED LEARNING SETTING: TEACHER’S AND STUDENTS’ PERSPECTIVES
Authors: Masyhudianti Ummy Khoirunisya’ , Fauziati Endang 
Published: December 2018

Technology takes crucial part in this 21st century, hence the educators have to deal with it and implement it in teaching and learning process. Blended learning emerges as fresh air for educators who want to maximize the advantages of face-to-face and e-learning environment. Nowadays, they should also adapt with the contemporary literacy called multimodal literacy to enhance meaning-making by using multimodal text in teaching and learning process. This is a case study that has aims to explore teacher’s and students’ perspectives in empowering students’ multimodal literacies in blended learning setting in teaching-learning writing as well as the reflection of teacher’s perspective in implementation. The participants of the research are a teacher and 24 students of English education department from one of undergraduate schools in Indonesia. Data includes classroom observation and interview. The finding of this study revealed that the use of multimodal text in a blended learning setting gives many advantages for teacher and students in empowering students’ multimodal literacy. This study also found that the teacher’s perspective reflected the implementation of multimodal text in a blended learning setting. It also had contribution to support the development of educational technology and to improve students’ writing ability.
An Efficient power utilization approach with secure data transmission to maximize the life time of wireless sensor network with the help of duty cycle mechanism
Authors: V Bhagyashree A , Moinuddin Khaja 
Published: December 2018

Lifetime enhancement has always been a crucial issue as most of the wireless sensor networks (WSNs) operate in unattended environment where human access and monitoring are practically infeasible. Clustering is one of the most powerful techniques that can arrange the system operation in associated manner to attend the network scalability, minimize energy consumption and achieve prolonged network lifetime. An efficient path selection will reduce energy utilization on data transmission phase at this time data should be secure, by using RSA algorithm. In this paper, clustering mechanism and improvement in security is proposed. These two methods are used to decrease the energy consumption at data transmission phase and ensuring the security of the sensor data over wireless sensor .Key based security mechanism is used to secure the data. To ensure that any energy consumption associated with the role of the cluster head (CH) is shared between the nodes, the cluster head (CH) role is alternated between the nodes using duty cycle mechanism.
Clinical Outcomes of Adult Medulloblastoma: A Retrospective Analysis at a Single Institute
Authors: Jiang Tao , Zhu Jin , Dong Jing , Wang Junmei , Du Jiang , Li Chunde , Zhang Yuqi 
Published: December 2018

Objectives Adult medulloblastoma is a rare tumor, and few retrospective studies on medulloblastoma have been published to date. A standard treatment regimen has not yet been established. Accordingly, this study was designed to determine the treatment outcomes and prognostic factors for patients with adult medulloblastoma. Methods We retrospectively reviewed all cases of adult medulloblastoma at the Beijing Tiantan Hospital between 2004 and 2007. There were 33 patients in total. Tumor removal followed by radiotherapy was performed in all patients. Five patients received maintenance chemotherapy after radiotherapy. Statistical analysis was performed using the log-rank test, Kaplan–Meier method, and Cox regression analysis. Results The median follow-up period was 73 months. The 5-year progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) rates were 45.5% ± 8.7% and 51.5% ± 8.7%, respectively. Recurrence or progression was observed in 21 patients, and 14 patients were still alive. Tumor location at the midline with infiltration to the floor of the fourth ventricle was associated with the worst PFS and OS (P = 0.032). Hemispheric desmoplastic/nodular medulloblastomas (DNMBs) were associated with a better outcome than midline DNMB. The average-risk group tended to have a better 5-year PFS rate than the high-risk group (P = 0.065). Conclusions Tumor location is an important prognostic marker for adulthood MB. We propose a molecular and clinical staging system should be established for adulthood MB. Further prospective clinical trials should be performed to draw a conclusion.
Remote Multi-Wave Radioneuroengineering: An Innovative Technology for Non-Contact Radio Restoration of Damaged Nervous Tissue of the Human Brain and Spinal Cord
Authors: Bryukhovetskiy Andrey S. , Bryukhovetskiy Igor S. 
Published: December 2018

Objectives Significant advances in neurosciences will result from research focused on the non-contact treatment of the nervous tissue (NT). The objective of the article is to describe a novel non-contact method of restoration of damaged NT of the human brain and spinal cord that was termed multi-wave neuro-bioengineering. Methods The method includes a purposeful complex program of different therapeutic ionizing and non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation effects on the damaged NT, which is approved for clinical practice. Exposure of the human brain to a stepwise algorithmized combination of different ionizing and non-ionizing radiations and simultaneous application of various types of electromagnetic radiation at the specific site of restoration considerably reduce the adverse effects of all types of radiation on NT. Results The technology for non-contact restoration of the injured tissue of brain or spinal cord was appiled in 30 cases of neurological disorders using the stereotaxic system, structural resonance therapy, radiotherapy and focused ultrasound. The applied methods are approved for humans and theorem programmed combination opens new perspective for the treatment of brain and spinal cord disorders. Conclusions The approach provides quick restoration of the disordered function of damaged brain tissue and establishes a new paradigm of radio non-contact neurorestoration of the brain and spinal cord.
Differentiated Cells Derived from Fetal Neural Stem Cells Improve Motor Deficits in a Rat Model of Parkinson's Disease
Authors: Wang Wei , Song Hao , Shen Aifang , Chen Chao , Liu Yanming , Dong Yabing , Han Fabin 
Published: December 2018

Objective Parkinson's disease (PD), which is one of the most common neurodegenerative disorders, is characterized by the loss of dopamine (DA) neurons in the substantia nigra in the midbrain. Experimental and clinical studies have shown that fetal neural stem cells (NSCs) have therapeutic effects in neurological disorders. The aim of this study was to examine whether cells that were differentiated from NSCs had therapeutic effects in a rat model of PD. Methods NSCs were isolated from 14-week-old embryos and induced to differentiate into neurons, DA neurons, and glial cells, and these cells were characterized by their expression of the following markers: βIII-tubulin and microtubule-associated protein 2 (neurons), tyrosine hydroxylase (DA neurons), and glial fibrillary acidic protein (glial cells). After a 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-lesioned rat model of PD was generated, the differentiated cells were transplanted into the striata of the 6-OHDA-lesioned PD rats. Results The motor behaviors of the PD rats were assessed by the number of apomorphine-induced rotation turns. The results showed that the NSCs differentiated in vitro into neurons and DA neurons with high efficiencies. After transplantation into the striata of the PD rats, the differentiated cells significantly improved the motor deficits of the transplanted PD rats compared to those of the control nontransplanted PD rats by decreasing the apomorphine-induced turn cycles as early as 4 weeks after transplantation. Immunofluorescence analyses showed that the differentiated DA neurons survived more than 16 weeks. Conclusions Our results showed that cells that were differentiated from NSCs had therapeutic effects in a rat PD model, which suggests that differentiated cells may be an effective treatment for patients with PD.
Why Does a Little Mean a Lot When you Have Nothing? A Brief Review of Cell Therapy Strategies for Spinal Cord Injury
Authors: Wang Dajue 
Published: December 2018

Without an understanding of functional musculoskeletal system recovery, the translation of knowledge concerning neurological recovery from laboratory discoveries to bedside applications will be incomplete. Because improvements in neurological function after cell transplantation are minor and can be easily ignored, this article draws attention to the minimal improvements required to allow a spinal cord injury patient or person to live a relatively independent life. These minimal improvements include (1) the key muscle power required for trunk stability; (2) the key muscle power required to allow a paraplegic to walk; and (3) the key muscle power required for hand usefulness or functionality. The system of muscle power grading promoted by the British Medical Research Council (MRC) is more sensitive and delicate than the ASIA Standards, as the latter only accept the full range of movement of a joint. The MRC system seems to be preferable to the ASIA Standards in clinical trials of cell transplantation, wherein minute improvements in function might result in large differences in the quality of life. The threshold of function is a grade 3 power level. Even if all relevant muscles fail to achieve a power higher than grade 3, the patient can be minimally functional and hence relatively independent. These relevant muscles include the latissimus dorsi, hip flexors, hip abductors, shoulder abductors and flexors, elbow flexors and extensors, and wrist extensors. These muscles are innervated by the C5–7 spinal cord segments except the latissimus dorsi, for which innervation extends to C8.
Looking for Positive Viewpoints for Alzheimer's Caregivers: Case Evaluation of a Positive Energy Group
Authors: Hsieh Wenchien , Chen Qinying , Sun Qingling , Chen Peixuan , Chen Yijia , Xu Wenting , Zhang Yiting , Yu Yiqian , Huang Yimei 
Published: December 2018

Objective As estimated in a report of global Alzheimer's disease published by Alzheimer's Disease International in 2015, there will be 9.9 million new patients worldwide with Alzheimer's disease in 2015, with a new Alzheimer's patient diagnosed, on average, every 3 seconds. Since Alzheimer's disease is an irreversible disease, the most that can be done for Alzheimer's patients is to merely delay the onset of disease, which to date cannot be completely cured. Therefore, even though great effort is put into caring for the patient, caregivers should not expect any substantial changes. The caring process is a dynamic process that contains negative and positive experiences. During the caring period, not only do caregivers spend a lot of effort and work very hard to help the patient, but in fact care recipients themselves also give energy to caregivers. This study attempts to take a positive energy viewpoint to explore and design a program that is suitable for Alzheimer's caregivers. The aims of the study were as follows: (a) to explore the needs and burdens of Alzheimer's caregivers in the treatment process of patients, (b) to design a program that meets the needs of the caregivers, and (c) to evaluate the effects of implementing a program. Methods The study is a qualitative study employing in-depth interviews. Interviews were conducted from September 2015 to December 2015; the interview results were reviewed and a positive energy group program was designed. Pre-test and post-test interviews were carried out for the program so as to evaluate the effects of the program. Results According to the caregiver interview results, we understand the caring needs and caring process of caregivers. From the interview results, we now know that caregivers' continuous care mainly comes from positive energy in psychological, social and relationship aspects. Positive energy seems to have been affecting caregivers' caring ability and willingness. Therefore, a two-stage group activity program was designed to provide a recollective handmade craft group and an art therapy group. Research results of the study show that when the main caregivers of Alzheimer's patients took part in group activities, positive energy in social and relationship aspects increased for the caregiver group too. Conclusions From these intervention programs caregivers could obtain more knowledge of patient care and these activities could effectively lighten caregivers' burdens.
A New Drainage Tube Device
Authors: He Chao , Zhao Ming , Yang Dong , Wu Tianya , Qiu Leiyu 
Published: December 2018

Objective Drainage tubes (e.g., intracranial, abdominal cavity and thoracic) are commonly used to drain blood and fluid collections after surgery. It usually fails due to the lack of fixation perpendicular to the skin and the variety of tube materials. The objective of the article is to describe a new drainage tube device. Methods This new device consists of a drainage tube fixator and diverter with a rotating handle. The fixator and diverter are fixed to the skin with a pair of wings, and the base comprises acircular arc with chamfering of the edge. The removable stopper and plastic diverter have a memory function. There are 2 holes on either side of the wings, by which they can be sewn to the skin or stapled for strength and stability. Results The removable limiting stopper and plastic diverter with memory function work together to ensure that the drainage tube is firmly fixed. Therefore, the tube will not move either vertically or horizontally on the skin. Moreover, the device is fit for drainage tubes with different specifications and materials. Conclusions The limiting stopper can be moved easily, which is conducive to local skin disinfection around the drainage tube. The device deserves clinical promotion.
Effects of Aging on Working Memory Performance and Prefrontal Cortex Activity: A Time-Resolved Spectroscopy Study
Authors: Shi Jie , Zhou Wenjing , Geng Tongchao , Zuo Huancong , Tanida Masahiro , Sakatani Kaoru 
Published: December 2018

Objective This study aimed to employ time-resolved spectroscopy (TRS) to explore age-related differences in prefrontal cortex (PFC) activity while subjects performed a working memory task. Methods We employed TRS to measure PFC activity in ten healthy younger and ten healthy older subjects while they performed a working memory (WM) task. All subjects performed the Sternberg test (ST) in which the memory-set size varied between one and six digits. Using TRS, we recorded changes in cerebral blood oxygenation as a measure of changes in PFC activity during the task. In order to identify left/right asymmetry of PFC activity during the working memory task, we calculated the laterality score, i.e., Δoxy-Hb (right Δoxy-Hb—left Δoxy-Hb); positive values indicate greater activity in the right PFC, while negative values indicate greater activity in the left PFC. Results During the ST, statistical analyses showed no significant differences between the younger and older groups in accuracy for low memory-load and high memory-load. In high memory-load tasks, however, older subjects were slower than younger subjects (P < 0.05). We found that the younger group showed right lateral responses with a stronger right than left activation in the frontal pole, whereas the older group showed bilateral responses (P < 0.05). Conclusions The present results are consistent with the hemispheric asymmetry reduction in older adults (HAROLD) model; working memory tasks cause asymmetrical PFC activation in younger adults, while older adults tend to show reduced hemispheric lateralization.
Effects of Regional Cerebral Blood Flow Perfusion on Learning and Memory Function and Its Molecular Mechanism in Rats
Authors: Xu Cunli , Wu Wenhua , Kong Lingbin 
Published: December 2018

Objective To study the effects of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) perfusion on learning and memory function in special brain areas and its molecular mechanism in rat. Methods Sixty-four adult male healthy Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into two groups: A false operation group and an operation group. The false operation group was randomly divided into four subgroups (A0, B0, C0, and D0) and the operation group was randomly divided into four subgroups (A, B, C, and D), with eight rats in each subgroup. The operation group underwent bilateral common carotid artery permanent ligation, while the other group only underwent a skin incision without the bilateral common carotid artery permanent ligation. Learning memory function of rats in each subgroup was measured using a Y-maze at 4 h, 8 h, 24 h, and 3 days after surgery. The rCBF in the right frontal lobe and hippocampus was detected using the Periflux PF model laser Doppler flowmetry and c-fos, c-jun, Bcl-2, and Bax protein expression in the right frontal lobe and hippocampus was measured using immunohistochemistry. Results The rCBF in the right frontal lobule division and right hippocampus division was significantly lower in the operation group than in the false operation group (P < 0.05). The error number (EN), time to reach the target, and total reaction time (TRT) for the learning index using the Y-type labyrinth test in the operation group were significantly higher than that in the false operation group (P < 0.05); however, the active avoid rate in the operation group was significantly lower than that of the false operation group. Expression of c-fos and c-jun as well as the average absorbency in the right frontal lobule division and right hippocampus division in the operation group were significantly higher than those in the false operation group (P < 0. 05). The number of Bax and Bcl-2-positive cells was significantly higher in the operation group, and the expression ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 in the operation group was significantly higher than that in the false operation group (P < 0.01). Conclusions rCBF decrease can impair learning and memory function in rats, which may be related to the increased expression of c-fos, c-jun, Bcl-2, and Bax proteins in the frontal cortex and hippocampus.
An Association between the Location of White Matter Changes and the Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia in Alzheimer's Disease Patients
Authors: Lin Tzuchou , Lin Yihui , Kao Linli , Kao Yihui , Yang Yuanhan , Chou Pingsong , Wu Mengni 
Published: December 2018

Objective The frontal lobe may be involved in circuits associated with depression, apathy, aggression, and other psychiatric symptoms. Although white matter changes (WMC) are related to the severity of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), it is unclear which part of the WMC may play the most important role in BPSD. This study was designed to investigate the relationship between the location of WMC and the severity of BPSD in AD patients. Methods Among patients diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease between 2009 and 2014, 387 patients were retrospectively reviewed after those with pre-existing organic brain syndrome, psychiatric diseases, or toxic-metabolic encephalopathy were excluded. Patients' demographic and laboratory data, WMC measured with brain computed tomography and scored using the age-related white matter changes (ARWMC) scale, and neuropsychological tests, including the cognitive abilities screening instrument (CASI), the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), the clinical dementia rating scale with sum-box (CDR-SB), and the neuropsychiatric inventory (NPI) were analyzed. Results There was no significant difference in the NPI between patients with and without a history of stroke, hypertension, and diabetes. No significant difference in the NPI was identified between different sexes or different Apolipoprotein E (APOE) alleles. The NPI score was significantly correlated with the duration of education (r = −0.4515, P = 0.0172), CASI (r = −0.2915, P < 0.0001), MMSE (r = −0.8476, P < 0.0001), and CDR-SB (r = 2.2839, P < 0.0001). WMC in the right frontal lobe showed a significant difference in NPI in comparison to those without WMC (P = 0.0255). After adjusting for age, duration of education, and CASI, WMC in the right frontal lobe remained significantly associated with the NPI score (β = 3.8934, P = 0.042). Conclusions WMC involving the right frontal lobe may play an important role in the BPSD in AD patients during their dementia diagnosis. Further studies are necessary to confirm whether controlling the risk factors of WMC can slow the progression of BPSD.