bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Long‐term outcome of anorectal biofeedback for treatment of fecal incontinence
Authors: Mazor Y. , Ejova A. , Andrews A. , Jones M. , Kellow J. , Malcolm A. 
Published: June 2018

AbstractBackgroundLong‐term outcome data for anorectal biofeedback (BF) for fecal incontinence (FI) is scarce. Our aims were to describe the long‐term symptom profile, quality of life, and need for surgery in FI patients following BF.MethodsOne hundred and eight consecutive female patients with FI who completed an instrumented BF course were identified for long‐term follow‐up. In 61 of 89 contactable patients, outcome measures were assessed at short‐term (end of BF), mid‐term (9 months median), and long‐term (7 years median) follow‐up after treatment.Key ResultsLong‐term response rate (50% or more reduction in FI episodes/wk compared to before BF and not requiring surgical intervention) was seen in 33/61 (54%) patients. Thirteen of these had complete continence. Improvement was seen at short, mid, and long‐term follow‐up for patients’ satisfaction and control of bowel function. In contrast, fecal incontinence severity index and quality of life measures, which improved in short and mid‐term, were no different from baseline by long‐term follow‐up. Patients classified as short‐term responders were far more likely to display a long‐term response compared to short‐term non‐responders (68% vs 18%, P < .001).Conclusions & InferencesLong‐term symptom improvement was observed in more than half of FI patients at 7 year post BF follow‐up. Quality of life improvements, however, were not maintained. Patients improving during the initial BF program have a high chance of long‐term improvement, while patients who do not respond to BF should be considered early for other therapies.
Diagnostic evaluation and management of culture‐negative cardiovascular implantable electronic device infections
Authors: Esquer Garrigos Zerelda , George Merit P. , Farid Saira , Abu Saleh Omar M. , Vijayvargiya Prakhar , Mahmood Maryam , Friedman Paul A. , Steckelberg James M. , DeSimone Daniel C. , Wilson Walter R. , Baddour Larry M. , Sohail M. Rizwan 
Published: June 2018

AbstractBackgroundCulture‐negative (CN) cardiovascular implantable electronic device (CIED) infections represent a significant management challenge for clinicians with no specific guidelines addressing this subgroup of patients. The aim of the current investigation is to report our institutional experience of CN CIED infections and propose a systematic approach to diagnostic evaluation and management of these complicated cases based on our observations.MethodsWe retrospectively screened all CIED infection cases at Mayo Clinic from 2005 through 2017. Using standardized criteria to define significant microbial growth, all patients with positive blood or pocket/device cultures were excluded.ResultsA total of 835 cases of CIED infection were screened, and of these, 47 (6%) met CN‐CIED infection criteria. Majority of patients (77%) in this cohort had received antimicrobial therapy prior to device cultures with a median duration of 8 days. The most common presentation was device pocket infection (81%). All patients underwent device removal. Route of antibiotics was switched from oral to parenteral and spectrum of activity expanded from initial therapy in 23% of patients despite negative cultures. Majority of patients (80%) were dismissed on parenteral therapy. Adverse events attributed to intravenous antibiotic therapy were documented in 63% of the cases. No recurrence was reported and 6‐month survival was 94.8%.ConclusionsPocket and device cultures in suspected CIED infections may be negative due to preextraction oral antibiotics. However, frequently these patients are managed with broad‐spectrum parenteral therapy postextraction.
Animals and Aztec religion: Keepers and cultivators of nature
Authors: Bassett Molly H. 
Published: June 2018

AbstractAztecs are known as formidable warriors and religious specialists, but they were also accomplished folkbiologists. Aztec priests, for example, employed specialized knowledge of the natural world in ritual activities. In the following, I highlight Aztec perceptions of a few key species as examples of animals' overall significance in pre‐ and post‐Contact Mesoamerican cultures. In particular, I examine the description of the jaguar in the Florentine Codex to ground an understanding of indigenous folkbiology after Contact. Then I introduce recent archeological findings that underscore the importance of birds and feathers in Aztec religion. Finally, I suggest that studying animals as a point of reference for indigenous adaptations to colonial life highlights creatures' cosmological agency. Each example demonstrates the centrality of animals in Aztec cosmology.
Learning from a lot: Empirical Bayes for high‐dimensional model‐based prediction
Authors: van de Wiel Mark A. , Te Beest Dennis E. , Münch Magnus M. 
Published: June 2018

AbstractEmpirical Bayes is a versatile approach to “learn from a lot” in two ways: first, from a large number of variables and, second, from a potentially large amount of prior information, for example, stored in public repositories. We review applications of a variety of empirical Bayes methods to several well‐known model‐based prediction methods, including penalized regression, linear discriminant analysis, and Bayesian models with sparse or dense priors. We discuss “formal” empirical Bayes methods that maximize the marginal likelihood but also more informal approaches based on other data summaries. We contrast empirical Bayes to cross‐validation and full Bayes and discuss hybrid approaches. To study the relation between the quality of an empirical Bayes estimator andp, the number of variables, we consider a simple empirical Bayes estimator in a linear model setting. We argue that empirical Bayes is particularly useful when the prior contains multiple parameters, which model a priori information on variables termed “co‐data”. In particular, we present two novel examples that allow for co‐data: first, a Bayesian spike‐and‐slab setting that facilitates inclusion of multiple co‐data sources and types and, second, a hybrid empirical Bayes–full Bayes ridge regression approach for estimation of the posterior predictive interval.
Non‐uniformity in pre‐insertional Achilles tendon is not influenced by changing knee angle during isometric contractions
Authors: Bogaerts S. , De Brito Carvalho C. , De Groef A. , Suetens P. , Peers K. 
Published: June 2018

Achilles tendinopathy remains a prevalent condition among recreational and high‐level athletes. Mechanical loading has become the gold standard in managing these injuries, but exercises are often generic and prescribed in a “one‐size‐fits‐all” principle. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of knee angle changes and different levels of force production on the non‐uniform behavior in the Achilles tendon during isometric contractions. It was hypothesized that a flexed knee position would lead to a more distinct non‐uniform behavior, due to greater differential loading of soleus vs gastrocnemius, and that this effect would be attenuated by higher levels of force production. Contrary to the hypotheses, it was found that the non‐uniform deformation, that is, superficial‐to‐deep variation in displacement with highest displacement in the deep layer, is consistently present, irrespective of the level of force production and knee angle (n = 19; mean normalized displacement ratio 6.32%, 4.88%, and 4.09% with extended knee vs 5.47%, 2.56%, and 6.01% with flexed knee, at 25%, 50%, and 75% MVC, respectively; P > .05). From tendon perspective, aside from the influence on muscle behavior, this might question the mechanical rationale for a change in knee angle during eccentric heel drops. Additionally, despite reaching high levels of plantar flexion force, the relative contribution of the AT sometimes appears to be decreased, potentially due to compensatory actions by agonist muscle groups. These results are relevant for optimizing AT rehabilitation as the goal is to reach specific local tendon loading.
Social forces and decision‐making by gatekeepers in arts organizations
Authors: Kordsmeier Gregory T. 
Published: June 2018

AbstractGatekeepers in arts organizations have an important role to play in determining which artistic works the public gets to experience. Performing arts organizations provide a good example of how these decisions made by gatekeepers necessarily delimit the art that the audiences will experience. This article catalogs the social forces that influence individual decision‐makers. Individual level forces like social background, embeddedness in social networks, and perceptions of the organization and organizational level forces like organizational structure, funding, and size all affect what they ultimately produce. This, in turn, allows us to better understand the work these companies produce form a sociological perspective.
THE WICKED PROBLEM OF OUR FAILING SOCIAL COMPACT
Authors: Rubens Jim 
Published: June 2018

AbstractThe United States is an outlier among nations in its failure to adopt robust climate policy. The underlying cause is not unique to the climate issue. Climate, like growing national debt, embodies a trade‐off between individual consumption now versus investment yielding long‐term societal gain. Over human history, social norms favoring one over the other wax and wane with the pervasiveness of transcendental values as embodied in personal virtue, social connectedness, spirituality, and religious faith. Over the past few decades, many indicators show that American social norms and extended cooperation have weakened. Given entrenched political corruption and continuing institutional failure to address multiple long‐term societal challenges, individuals are called upon personally to practice and to enforce pro‐social norms and to advance high‐leverage systemic changes, some identified in this article, which will allow extended cooperation to once again flourish.
RE‐ENVISIONING HOPE: ANTHROPOGENIC CLIMATE CHANGE, LEARNED IGNORANCE, AND RELIGIOUS NATURALISM
Authors: White Carol Wayne 
Published: June 2018

AbstractIn this essay, I introduce religious naturalism as one contemporary religious response to anthropogenic climate change; in so doing, I offer a concept of hope associated with the beauty of ignorance, of not knowing ourselves in the usual manner. Reframing humans as natural processes in relationship with other forms of nature, religious naturalism encourages humans’ processes of transformative engagement with each other and with the more‐than‐human worlds that constitute our existence. Hope in this context is anticipating what possibilities may occur when human organisms enact our evolutionary capacities as relational organisms who can love, engaging in multilayered processes of changing behaviors, values, and relationships that promote the betterment of myriad nature.
CLIMATE CHANGE, LAUDATO SI', CREATION SPIRITUALITY, AND THE NOBILITY OF THE SCIENTIST'S VOCATION
Authors: Fox Matthew 
Published: June 2018

AbstractThis exploration into spirituality and climate change employs the “four paths” of the creation spirituality tradition. The author recognizes those paths in the rich teachings of Pope Francis’s encyclical, Laudato Si' and applies them in considering the nobility of the scientist's vocation. Premodern thinkers often resisted any split between science and religion. The author then lays out the basic archetypes for recognizing the sacredness of creation, namely, the Cosmic Christ (Christianity); the Buddha Nature (Buddhism); the Image of God (Judaism); the “Primordial Man” (Hinduism), as well as the premodern universal teaching of “God as Beauty.” He addresses the subject of evil which deserves serious attention in the face of the realities posed by climate change and the resistance to addressing them. In the concluding section, the author speaks of a new Order of the Sacred Earth that was launched in fall 2017 to gather persons of whatever spiritual tradition or none to devote themselves to preserving Mother Earth.
THEOLOGY AND SCIENCE OF MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL‐BEING
Authors: Watts Fraser 
Published: June 2018

AbstractThe approach to mental health and well‐being taken here illustrates the complementary perspectives approach and assumes that there are useful and intersecting contributions from science (including medicine) and from religion and spirituality. What counts as poor mental well‐being depends on the interaction of relatively objective criteria with culturally contingent value judgments. I then discuss theological perspectives on depression, including a consideration of sources of hope and tolerance of dysphoria, and argue that depression can be part of a spiritual journey. I then look at the relationship between psychosis and religion, including the work of Isabel Clarke, arguing that a spiritual approach to psychosis can complement a medical approach. Finally, I present a pastoral case study illustrating the interface between neurological and spiritual aspects of the sense of presence. A religious perspective can challenge and complement current assumptions about mental health in a potentially fruitful way.
Intraocular pressure and myopia progression in Chinese children: the Anyang Childhood Eye Study
Authors: Li Shi-Ming , Iribarren Rafael , Li He , Kang Meng-Tian , Liu Luoru , Wei Shi-Fei , Stell William K. , Martin Gabriel , Wang Ningli 
Published: June 2018

Purpose
To explore the relationship between intraocular pressure (IOP) at baseline and myopia progression in Chinese children from the Anyang Childhood Eye Study.

Design
Prospective school-based cohort study.

Methods
A total of 1558 grade 7 students completed the entire 2-year study. Ocular biometry, cycloplegic refractions and pneumotonometry were performed. Three years of follow-up have been completed for the children aged 12 years. The refractive groups and the tertiles of IOP were assessed by analysis of variance, to look for differences in mean values of spherical equivalent and IOP, respectively.

Results
The children’s mean baseline IOP was 15.87±3.42 mm Hg. Mean IOP was significantly higher in girls by 0.57 mm Hg (p=0.024). In the whole sample, there was a mean change in spherical equivalent of −1.05 D over 2 years. The baseline IOP was 15.69 mm Hg in those progressing 1 D or more vs 16.09 mm Hg for those progressing <1 D (p=0.022). In the myopic group, myopes progressing >1 D had mean IOP of 15.94 vs 16.42 mm Hg for those myopes progressing 1 D or less (p=0.024).

Conclusions
In this sample of Chinese children, myopia progression over 2 years was inversely related to IOP, suggesting that IOP had essentially no relationship with myopia progression in school children. The lower IOP in progressing myopic eyes may indicate more compliant sclerae.
Delayed surgical treatment of orbital trapdoor fracture in paediatric patients
Authors: Su Yun , Shen Qin , Bi Xiaoping , Lin Ming , Fan Xianqun 
Published: June 2018

BackgroundTrapdoor fracture is a special type of orbital blowout fracture. Although early surgery is recommended, there still remain some patients delayed by various reasons. In this study, we analysed the clinical characteristics of delayed paediatric patients, especially those with different levels of ocular motility restriction before surgery.MethodsThirty patients (3 to 14 years old) who underwent delayed surgery for trapdoor fractures between January 2008 and September 2016 were enrolled. Their demographics, causes of injury and delay, clinical features, imaging data and follow-up information were collected.ResultsMuscular entrapment was found in 17 patients (group A) and soft-tissue entrapment in 13 patients (group B). 12 (7 in group A) presented with severe motility restriction and 18 (10 in group A) with mild restriction before surgery. 41.7% with severe restriction recovered after surgery, compared with 83.3% with mild restriction. Four (23.7%) in group A (all with severe restriction) and six (46.2%) in group B (half with severe restriction) presented with persistent diplopia.ConclusionsLong recovery time and a high percentage of persistent diplopia are the main problems of delayed trapdoor fracture in children. A prompt surgery within 48 hours is strongly recommended in patients with muscular entrapment even if an urgent treatment is hard to achieve. So are patients with soft-tissue entrapment and significant motility restriction. In the other patients without such indications, even though some recovery might be possible in the long term, a prompt surgery right after diagnosis is still preferable regardless of the entrapped contents.
Evaluation of amnion-derived mesenchymal stem cells for treatment-resistant moderate Crohn’s disease: study protocol for a phase I/II, dual-centre, open-label, uncontrolled, dose–response trial
Authors: Otagiri Shinsuke , Ohnishi Shunsuke , Miura Arisa , Hayashi Hiroshi , Kumagai Izumi , Ito Yoichi M , Katsurada Takehiko , Nakamura Shiro , Okamoto Rika , Yamahara Kenichi , Cho Kyu Yong , Isoe Toshiyuki , Sato Norihiro , Sakamoto Naoya 
Published: June 2018

IntroductionThe medical treatment options for patients with Crohn’s disease (CD) are limited and patients resistant to those therapies are left requiring surgical operations that usually only achieve some symptomatic relief. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) have been shown to be effective for the treatment of CD, and we have demonstrated in animal experiments that human amnion-derived MSCs (AMSC) are a potential new therapeutic strategy. Therefore, we designed this study to investigate the safety and efficacy of AMSCs in patients with treatment-resistant CD.Methods and analysisThis is the protocol for an ongoing phase I/II, dual-centre, open-label, uncontrolled, dose–response study. The estimated enrolment is 6–12 patients with treatment-resistant, moderate CD. A dose of 1.0×106cells/kg will be administered intravenously in the low-dose group at days 0 and 7. After confirming the safety of low-dose administration, a dose of 4.0×106cells/kg will be administered intravenously in the high-dose group on days 0 and 7. The primary endpoint will measure the occurrence of adverse events related to acute infusion toxicity, and secondary endpoints will include long-term adverse events and efficacy of AMSC administration.Ethics and disseminationThe Institutional Review Board of Hokkaido University Hospital approved this study protocol (approval number H29-6). A report releasing study results will be submitted to an appropriate journal.DiscussionThis study is the first to investigate the safety and efficacy of AMSC use for CD treatment. Our results will advance studies on more efficient and convenient methods to overcome the limits of available CD treatments.Trial registration numberUMIN000029841.
Putative biomarkers of vedolizumab resistance and underlying inflammatory pathways involved in IBD
Authors: Soendergaard Christoffer , Seidelin Jakob Benedict , Steenholdt Casper , Nielsen Ole Haagen 
Published: June 2018

ObjectivesCharacterise the circulating inflammatory cytokine pattern among patients failing consecutive anti-tumour necrosis factor (anti-TNF) and anti-integrin treatments to identify predictors of response.MethodsA retrospective single-centre cohort study of 28 patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) receiving anti-integrin therapy (vedolizumab) subsequent to the failure of anti-TNF treatment was conducted. Blood samples were obtained immediately prior to initiation of vedolizumab therapy, and the response to treatment was evaluated after completion of the 14-week induction regimen. Multiplex ELISA was applied to quantify 47 preselected plasma proteins based on their putative involvement in the inflammatory process in IBD.ResultsAnti-TNF and vedolizumab non-responders (n=20) had significantly higher levels of circulating interleukin (IL)-6 than anti-TNF non-responders with subsequent response to vedolizumab (n=8): median 9.5 pg/mL versus 5.9 pg/mL, p<0.05. Following stratification by diagnosis, patients with Crohn’s disease who failed vedolizumab therapy (n=7) had higher soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L) than responders (n=4): 153.0 pg/mL versus 45.5 pg/mL, p<0.01; sensitivity 100% (95% CI 59% to 100%), specificity 100% (95% CI 40% to 100%). Osteocalcin was higher among patients with ulcerative colitis responding to vedolizumab (n=4) compared with those not responding (n=13): 4219 pg/mL versus 2823 pg/mL, p=0.01; sensitivity 85% (95% CI 55% to 98%), specificity 100% (95% CI 40% to 100%).ConclusionsPatients with IBD failing vedolizumab induction and anti-TNF therapy have persistent IL-6 pathway activity, which could be a potential alternative treatment target. sCD40L, osteocalcin and the IL-6 pathway activity might be predictors for response to vedolizumab.
Combined antihypertensive and statin therapy for the prevention of cardiovascular events in patients with hypertension without complications: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Wang Ying , Kuang Ze-Min , Feng Shu-Jun , Jiang Long , Chen Qiu-Xian , Ji Xiao-Yun , Cheng Wen-Li , Hu Hong-Juan 
Published: June 2018

IntroductionHigh blood pressure (BP) affects over 40% of adults over the age of 25 worldwide and is the leading global risk factor for death or disability. Hypertension is also the most important risk factor for endovascular atherosclerosis, which, when combined with other cardiovascular risk factors, leads to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Statins are one of the most widely used drugs for the prevention of ASCVD. The recently announced study of Heart Outcomes Prevention Evaluation-3 suggests that cholesterol-lowering agents combined with antihypertensive therapy can prevent cardiovascular events and reduce the combined endpoint. We plan to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate whether combined antihypertensive and statin therapy is more beneficial than antihypertensive therapy alone in patients with hypertension without complications.Methods and analysisWe will perform a comprehensive search for randomised controlled trials evaluating combined antihypertensive and statin therapy for the treatment of patients with hypertension. The following English electronic databases will be searched: The Cochrane Library, EMBASE and PubMed. Outcomes will be categorised as short-term (≤6 months) or long-term (>6 months). When evaluating the effects of combined antihypertensive and statin therapy, a short-term outcome is usually defined as a change in BP or lipid levels, while a long-term outcome is usually defined as cardiovascular benefits or risks. The data screening and extraction will be conducted by two different reviewers. The quality of the RCTs will be assessed according to the Cochrane handbook risk of bias tool.Ethics and disseminationThis review does not require ethics approval and the results of the meta-analysis will be submitted to a peer-review journal.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42017071935.