bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Lumboperitoneal and Ventriculoperitoneal Shunting for Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Demonstrate Comparable Failure and Complication Rates
Authors: Azad Tej D , Zhang Yi , Varshneya Kunal , Veeravagu Anand , Ratliff John K , Li Gordon 
Published: February 2019

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Idiopathic intracranial hypertension results in increased intracranial pressure leading to headache and visual loss. This disease frequently requires surgical intervention through lumboperitoneal (LP) or ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunting.

OBJECTIVE
To compare postoperative outcomes between LP and VP shunts, including failure and complication rates.

METHODS
A retrospective analysis was conducted using a national administrative database (MarketScan) to identify idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) patients who underwent LP or VP shunting from 2007 to 2014. Multivariate logistic and Cox regressions were performed to compare rates of shunt failure and time to shunt failure between LP and VP shunts while controlling for demographics and comorbidities.

RESULTS
The analytic cohort included 1082 IIH patients, 347 of whom underwent LP shunt placement at index hospitalization and 735 of whom underwent VP shunt placement. Rates of shunt failure were similar among patients with LP and VP shunt (34.6% vs 31.7%; P = .382). Among patients who experienced shunt failure, the mean number of shunt failures was 2.1 ± 1.6 and was similar between LP and VP cohorts. Ninety-day readmission rates, complication rates, and costs did not differ significantly between LP and VP shunts. Patients who experienced more than two shunt failures tended to have an earlier time to first shunt failure (hazard ratio 1.41; 95% confidence interval 1.08-1.85; P = .013).

CONCLUSION
These findings suggest that LP and VP shunts may have comparable rates of shunt failure and complication. Regardless of shunt type, earlier time to first shunt failure may be associated with multiple shunt failures.
Breadwinner Models Revisited: How a Couple’s Combined Work Histories Influence the Retirement Transition
Authors: Komp-Leukkunen Kathrin 
Published: February 2019

Abstract
As populations age, policymakers seek to stabilize pensions systems by encouraging late retirement and discouraging early economic inactivity. This study takes a novel approach to exploring an individual’s retirement transition into pension or early economic inactivity, locating individual choices in relation to their breadwinner status. It explores gender and country differences in Dutch, Spanish, and Swedish life-history data, which show that men who work less than their partners and dual earners retire into pension. Breadwinner status is particularly relevant in the Netherlands and for early retirement.
Using STACK to support student learning at masters level: a case study
Authors: Lowe T W , Mestel B D 
Published: February 2019

Abstract
The development of six online quizzes to support students’ study of an introductory mathematics masters module at The Open University is described and their use evaluated. The quizzes were implemented using the STACK online e-assessment system, which is powered by a computer-algebra engine. Evaluation of student feedback and an initial quantitative study of the effect of engaging with the quizzes on the final examinations marks suggest that further development of e-assessment at mathematics masters level is warranted.
Usefulness of virtual bronchoscopic navigation combined with endobronchial ultrasound guided transbronchial lung biopsy for solitary pulmonary nodules
Authors: Xu Chunhua , Yuan Qi , Wang Yuchao , Wang Wei , Chi Chuanzhen , Zhang Qian , Yu Like , Zhang Xiuwei 
Published: February 2019

Abstract

Background:
The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic utility of virtual bronchoscopic navigation (VBN) combined with endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) guided transbronchial lung biopsy for solitary pulmonary nodules (SPN).

Methods:
A total of 115 patients with suspected SPN who underwent transbronchial lung biopsy were evaluated. The patients were randomly divided into an EBUS (EBUS) group and a virtual bronchoscopic navigation combined with endobronchial ultrasound (VBN+EBUS) group. The diagnostic yield and examination time were compared.

Results:
There was no significant difference in the diagnostic yield between the VBN+EBUS group and the EBUS group (83.6% vs 66.7%, P = .419). When the lesions less than 20 mm in diameter of the lesions were analyzed, the diagnostic yield was higher in the VBN+EBUS group than in the EBUS group (80.0% vs 53.6%, P = .041). The time for positioning lesions in VBN+EBUS group was less than that in EBUS group (5.67 ± 2.48 min vs 8.65 ± 2.23 min, P = .015). But the total examination time was not significantly different between the 2 groups (20.59 ± 2.12 min vs 21.53 ± 1.62 min, P = .236). The incidence of complications did not differ between the 2 groups.

Conclusions:
In conclusion, VBN can shorten the positioning time and it is a safe and effective technique for pulmonary nodules.
The triad of diabetes ketoacidosis, hypertriglyceridemia and acute pancreatitis. How does it affect mortality and morbidity?
Authors: Simons-Linares C. Roberto , Jang Sunguk , Sanaka Madhusudan , Bhatt Amit , Lopez Rocio , Vargo John , Stevens Tyler , Chahal Prabhleen 
Published: February 2019

Abstract
The triad of acute pancreatitis (AP) coexisting with diabetes ketoacidosis (DKA) and hypertriglyceridemia (HTG) has been reported, but no impact on mortality has been found to date. We aim to assess if patients with this triad are at a higher inpatient mortality compared to patients with acute pancreatitis only.
Retrospective cohort. The National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database from 2003 to 2013 was queried for patients with a discharge diagnosis of AP and presence of DKA and HTG was ascertained based on International Classification of Diseases, 9th revision (ICD9) codes. Adjusted for age, gender, race, Charlson comorbidity index (CCI), median income quartile, and hospital characteristics.
Over 2.8 million AP patients were analyzed. When compared with patients with AP-only, patients with the triad of AP + DKA + HTG had higher inpatient mortality (aOR 2.8, P < .001; CI: 1.9 - 4.2), Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) (aOR 4.1, P < .001; CI: 3.6-4.6), Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS) (aOR 4.9, P < .001), Shock (aOR 4.3, P < .001), Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) (aOR 3.0, P < .001), sepsis (aOR 2.6, P < .001), ileus (aOR 2.1, P < .001), parenteral nutrition requirement (aOR 1.8, P < .001), inflation-adjusted hospital charges (US$ 17,704.1), and had longer length of stay (LOS) (aOR 2.0, P < .001; CI 1.8–2.3). Furthermore, when compared to AP-only, patients with AP + HTG had lower mortality, which is different from the current AP knowledge. Finally, it appears that the driving force for the increased in mortality of patients with the triad (AP, DKA, HTG) is the DKA rather than the HTG.
Patients with the triad of AP, DKA, and HTG constitute a unique subgroup of patients that has higher inpatient mortality, multi-organ failure, hospital charges, and longer hospital length of stay. Therefore, hospital protocols targeting this subgroup of AP patients could improve mortality and outcomes.
Intracoronary administration of nicorandil-induced cardiac arrest during primary percutaneous coronary intervention
Authors: Wei Shu-Jian , Luan Fang-Yun , He Da-yu , Xu Feng , Chen Yu-Guo 
Published: February 2019

Abstract

Rationale:
Primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) is the most effective therapy for patients with an acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). However, up to half of STEMI patients suffer from coronary microvascular dysfunction, presenting as the slow flow or no-reflow phenomenon.

Patients concerns:
A 78-year-old man was admitted to the chest pain center with sudden chest pain and tightness for about an hour.

Diagnoses:
Electrocardiography demonstrated ST-segment elevation in leads II, III, aVF, and third-degree atrioventricular block. Coronary angiography showed acute total occlusion in the distal right coronary artery (RCA).

Interventions:
PPCI was performed on the patient. After thrombus aspiration, a stent was placed in the distal RCA. As coronary angiography showed TIMI grade 2 flow in RCA, 6 mg nicorandil was intracoronary administrated in twice. Immediately, cardiac arrest occurred and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was performed.

Outcomes:
The patient survived and had a good outcome during follow-up for >6 months.

Lessons:
Up to now, there has been no case report of cardiac arrest caused by nicorandil. Although intracoronary nicorandil is one of the most commonly used methods to improve coronary flow, much more attention should be paid to side effects of nicorandil.
Bloodletting therapy for treating patients with chronic urticaria
Authors: Yao Qin , Zhang Xinyue , Mu Yunnong , Liu Yajie , An Yu , Zhao Baixiao 
Published: February 2019

Abstract

Background:
Chronic urticaria is a common disease affecting patients’ quality of life, and leading to substantial burden to both patients and society. Many trials have shown that bloodletting therapy is effective in treating chronic urticaria. There are currently no systematic reviews of bloodletting therapy for chronic urticaria. This protocol aims to present the methods used to assess the effectiveness and safety of bloodletting therapy for patients with chronic urticaria.

Methods:
The following databases will be searched from their inception: the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), PubMed, EMBASE, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), Chinese Scientific Journal Database (VIP database), and Wan-Fang Database. Clinical randomised controlled trials related to bloodletting therapy for treating chronic urticaria will be included, regardless of publication status and languages. Study selection, data collection, and quality assessment will be independently conducted by 2 researchers. For data synthesis, we will select either the fixed-effects or random-effects model according to heterogeneity assessment. Disease activity control will be assessed as the primary outcomes. Response rate, recurrence rate and adverse events will be evaluated as secondary outcomes. If it is appropriate for meta-analysis, RevMan V.5.3 statistical software will be used. Otherwise, a systematic narrative synthesis will be conducted. The results will be presented as risk ratio (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for dichotomous data and weight mean difference (WMD) or standard mean difference (SMD) 95% CIs for continuous data.

Dissemination and ethics:
The protocol of this systematic review will be disseminated in a peer-reviewed journal and presented at relevant conferences. It is not necessary for a formal ethical approval because the data are not individualised.

Trial registration number:
PROSPERO CRD42018111143.
Randomized, open-label, multicenter study of azithromycin compared with doxycycline for treating anorectal Chlamydia trachomatis infection concomitant to a vaginal infection (CHLAZIDOXY study)
Authors: Peuchant Olivia , Lhomme Edouard , Krêt Marion , Ghezzoul Bellabes , Roussillon Caroline , Bébéar Cécile , Perry Frédéric , de Barbeyrac Bertille 
Published: February 2019

Abstract

Background:

Chlamydia trachomatis can lead to a persistent infection in the lower gastrointestinal tract, suggesting a potential role of autoinoculation of cervical chlamydial infection from the rectal site, contributing to repeat infections. Moreover, around 75% of women with urogenital C. trachomatis have concurrent anorectal infection. Current treatment guidelines for urogenital C. trachomatis infection recommend either a single 1 g dose of azithromycin or doxycycline 100 mg twice daily for 7 days. Doxycycline appears to be more effective in treating anorectal infections as suggested in a population of men who have sex with men, but no randomized controlled trial (RCT) had directly compared azithromycin with doxycycline for the treatment of rectal infections. We propose an open-label RCT to compare the microbial cure obtained with a single 1 g dose of azithromycin versus 100 mg of doxycycline twice daily for 7 days, for the treatment of anorectal C. trachomatis infection concurrent to urogenital infection in women.

Methods and study design:
A total of 460 women with C. trachomatis urogenital infection will be enrolled in the study. Women will be asked to provide self-collected anorectal swabs and will be randomized to receive either a 1 g single dose of azithromycin or doxycycline 100 mg twice daily for 7 days. Clinical and biological data will be collected and patients will complete questionnaires about their sexual behavior. The primary outcome is the microbial cure rate, defined as a C. trachomatis negative nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT) result in the anorectal specimens 6 weeks after treatment initiation among women with a C. trachomatis positive urogenital and anorectal NAAT result at the baseline. The secondary outcome is autoinoculation from the rectum to the vagina, which will be evaluated based on the number of women with the same C. trachomatis genotype profile that will be identified in an anorectal-positive specimen obtained 6 weeks after treatment initiation and in a vaginal-positive specimen obtained four months after treatment.

Discussion:
The results of this trial will establish which treatment is more efficacious against anorectal infection and could affect recommendations for the treatment of urogenital C. trachomatis infection, taking into account concurrent anorectal infection.

Trial registration numbers:
EudraCT number: 2017-002595-15.

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
NCT03532464. Date of registration: May 31, 2018.

World Health Organisation International Clinical Trials Registry:
NTC03532464. Secondary ID: CHUBX 2016/26. Date of registration: May 09, 2018.
Evolving swaps in transplantation: global exchange, vouchers, liver, and trans-organ paired exchange
Authors: Lo Alexis L. , Sonnenberg Elizabeth M. , Abt Peter L. 
Published: February 2019

Purpose of review
With the ongoing organ shortage, several mechanisms to facilitate organ exchanges and expand the scope of living kidney or liver donation have been proposed. Although each addresses at least one barrier to transplantation, these innovative programs raise important ethical, logistical, and regulatory considerations.

Recent findings
This review addresses four recent proposals to expand living donor transplantation. For kidney transplantation, we discuss global paired exchange and advanced donation programs (’vouchers’) and for liver transplantation, liver paired exchange. Lastly, this review considers trans-organ exchange. We explore the conceptual framework of the exchange, current status, benefits, and concerns for implementation among each of these evolving pathways.

Summary
Through highlighting novel mechanisms in organ exchange, greater awareness, discussion, or support can occur to create more avenues for transplantation. These innovative mechanisms require regulations and safeguards for donors to ensure informed consent, and proper follow-up is maintained.
The recurrent relations for the electronic band structure of the multilayer graphene
Authors: Davydov V. N. 
Published: February 2019

The structure of the electronic energy bands for stacked multilayer graphene is developed using the tight-binding approximation (TBA). The spectra of the Dirac electrons are investigated in vicinity of the Brillouin zone minima. The electron energy dependence on quasi-momentum is established for an arbitrary number of the graphene layers for multilayer graphene having even number of layers
N
= 2
n
, (
n
= 2, 3, 4, …) with the Bernal stacking ABAB … AB; or for odd number of layers
N
= 2
n
+ 1, (
n
= 1, 2, 3, …) with stacking ABAB … A. It is shown that four non-degenerate energy branches of the electronic energy spectrum are present for any number of layers. Degeneracy is considered of graphene-like energy branches with linear dispersion law. Dependences of such branches number and their degeneracy are found on number of layers. The recurrent relations are obtained for the electronic band structure of the stacked ABA…, ABC… and AAA… multilayer graphene. The flat electronic bands are obtained for ABC-stacked multilayer graphene near the
K
-point at the Fermi level. Such an approach may be useful in the study of multivarious aspects of graphene's physics and nanotechnologies. Also paper gives new hints for deeper studies of graphite intercalation compounds.
Fenoxaprop-p-ethyl Susceptibility and Mutation Point Detection of Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase (ACCase) in Different Wild oat (Avena fatua L.) Populations from China
Authors: Liu Jun-jie , Lu Liuyang , Zhang Bai-zhong , Chen Xi-ling 
Published: February 2019

AbstractTo explore resistant mechanism of wild oat to fenoxaprop-p-ethyl, the susceptibility of Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase (ACCase) from 24 wild oat populations to fenoxaprop-p-ethyl, the level of gene expression, and mutation site of ACCase were conducted. In vitro ACCase activities were solated and measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit (ELISA) assays, the results indicated that the IC50 value of the ACCase of the most unsusceptible to fenoxaprop-p-ethyl in the wild oat population from Yexian2017 (W24) was 7206.557-fold compared to that of the ACCase of most susceptible to fenoxaprop-p-ethyl in the wild oat population from Queshan (W11). The differential expression of genes in wild oat treated by the IC50 fenoxaprop-p-ethyl concentration (6.9 mg/L) for 24 hours using RNA-seq, digital gene expression (DGE) profling was conducted. We found that 8 unigenes annotated as ACCase genes, 0 up-regulaed expression and 3 down-regulated expression were observed. The down-regulaed expressed ACCase was selected for qPCR in the relative susceptible population were significantly more suppressed than the three relative resistant populations. The mutations point of ACCase, Ile-1781-Leu, Trp-1999-Cys, Trp-2027-Cys, Ile-2041-Asn, Asp-2078-Gly, Cys-2088-Arg published were not found in the populations tested by multiple sequence alignment with a model complete ACCase sequence of Alopecurus myosuroides. These findings suggest that ACCase plays a critical role in the development of wild oat resistance to fenoxaprop-p-ethyl.
Transcriptomic changes resulting fromSTK32Boverexpression identifies pathways potentially relevant to essential tremor
Authors: Liao Calwing , Sarayloo Faezah , Rochefort Daniel , Akçimen Fulya , Diamond Greer S. , Laporte Alexandre D. , Spiegelman Dan , He Qin , Catoire Hélène , Dion Patrick A. , Rouleau Guy A. 
Published: February 2019

AbstractEssential tremor (ET) is a common movement disorder that has a high heritability. A number of genetic studies have associated different genes and loci with ET, but few have investigated the biology of any of these genes.STK32Bwas significantly associated with ET in a large GWAS study and was found to be overexpressed in ET cerebellar tissue. Here, we overexpressedSTK32Bin human cerebellar DAOY cells and used an RNA-Seq approach to identify differentially expressed genes by comparing the transcriptome profile of these cells to the one of control DAOY cells. Pathway and gene ontology enrichment identified axon guidance, olfactory signalling and calcium-voltage channels as significant. Additionally, we show that overexpressingSTK32Baffects transcript levels of previously implicated ET genes such asFUS. Our results investigate the effects of overexpressedSTK32Band suggest that it may be involved in relevant ET pathways and genes.
Tbx1interacts genetically withVegfr3to regulate cardiac lymphangiogenesis in mice
Authors: Martucciello Stefania , Turturo Maria Giuseppina , Cioffi Sara , Chen Li , Baldini Antonio , Illingworth Elizabeth 
Published: February 2019

ABSTRACTThe transcription factorTBX1is the major gene implicated in 22q11.2 deletion syndrome. The complex clinical phenotype includes vascular anomalies and a recent report presented new cases of primary lymphedema in 22q11.2DS patients. We have previously shown that Tbx1 activates Vegfr3 gene expression in lymphatic endothelial cells and that this activation is critical for lymphatic vessel development in prenatal mice and for their survival post-natally. Using loss-of-function genetics and transgenesis, we show a strong genetic interaction betweenTbx1andVegfr3in cardiac lymphangiogenesis that causes cardiac lymphatic vessel anomalies in compound heterozygotes. Intriguingly, different aspects of the cardiac lymphatic phenotype were regulated independently by the two genes.Tbx1Cre-activated Vegfr3 transgene expression was able to rescue the morphological abnormalities in the cardiac lymphatic vessels of compound heterozygotes, but it did not rescue the severe cardiac lymphatic vessel hypoplasia observed inTbx1homozygotes. Moreover, our study revealed a differential sensitivity between the ventral and dorsal cardiac lymphatic networks to the effects of alteredTbx1andVegfr3gene dosage. Overall, our study demonstrates that a fine dosage balance betweenTbx1andVegfr3is required to regulate the number and morphology of cardiac lymphatic vessels.
Optimization of the cultivation conditions of indigenous wild yeasts and evaluation of their leavening capacity
Authors: Gebreslassie Elsa Beyene , Tefera Anteneh T. , Muleta Diriba , Fantaye Solomon K. , Wessel Gary M. 
Published: February 2019

AbstractEthiopia has a high demand for baker’s yeast in the bread and beverage industries. Unfortunately, Ethiopia has no producing plant for baker’s yeast and instead relies on costly imports. The objective of this work was to identify the most productive and useful indigenous baker’s yeasts isolated from local fermented foods and drinks, honey and Molasses using leavening ability as the major metric. Six of the test isolates produced a maximum cell mass at 30°C, pH of 5.5 and 48 hours of incubation. Isolate AAUTf1 did not produce hydrogen sulfide, while isolates AAUTf5, AAUTj15 and AAUSh17 produced low levels of this chemical, and isolates AAUMl20 and AAUWt21 produced high levels of hydrogen sulfide, neglecting their utility in baking. The leavening performance of isolates AAUTf1 (Candida humilis) and AAUTf5 (Kazachstania bulderi) had the highest dough volume of 131 cm3and 128 cm3respectively in 120 min. Isolates AAUSh17 (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and AAUTj15 (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) raised the dough volume of 127 cm3and 125 cm3respectively, at 60 min compared to commercial yeast (117 cm3in 90 min). The study also revealed that mixed cultures of indigenous yeasts had better leavening capacity than single cultures. The co-inoculated cultures of AAUTf1 + AAUTf5 + AAUTj15, AAUTf5 + AAUTj15, and AAUTf1 + AAUTj15 + AAUSh17 reached 143 cm3at 90 min, 141 cm3and 140 cm3both at 60 min, respectively. Thus, the indigenous isolates are candidates for optimizing utilization of yeast for fast promotion and utilization in the bakery industries.