bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Harnessing and Optimizing the Interplay between Immunotherapy and Radiotherapy to Improve Survival Outcomes
Authors: Mujoo Kalpana , Hunt Clayton R. , Pandita Raj K. , Ferrari Mauro , Krishnan Sunil , Cooke John P. , Hahn Stephen , Pandita Tej K. 
Published: March 2018

AbstractIn the past, radiotherapy was primarily used to control local disease, but recent technological advances in accurate, high-dose ionizing radiation (IR) delivery have not only increased local tumor control but in some cases reduced metastatic burden. These “off target” therapeutic effects of IR at nonirradiated tumor sites, also known as abscopal effects, are thought to be mediated by tumor antigen–primed T cells that travel to metastatic sites and promote tumor regression. Similarly, early indications reveal that IR in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors, such as ipilimumab (anti–CTLA-4) and nivolumab (anti–PD-1), can provide superior therapeutic responses. These observations suggest that local radiotherapy results in altered gene expression, exposure of new antigens, or cell death that can interact with immunotherapy. As such, radiotherapy enhancement of immune responses offers a promising synergy with the potential for substantial clinical benefit. This review focuses on the biology that underlies the mechanisms for the interaction between radiation-induced tumor cell death and enhanced immunologic response. Mol Cancer Res; 16(8); 1209–14. ©2018 AACR.
Thalidomide Reduces Hemorrhage of Brain Arteriovenous Malformations in a Mouse Model
Authors: Zhu Wan , Chen Wanqiu , Zou Dingquan , Wang Liang , Bao Chen , Zhan Lei , Saw Daniel , Wang Sen , Winkler Ethan , Li Zhengxi , Zhang Meng , Shen Fanxia , Shaligram Sonali , Lawton Michael , Su Hua 
Published: March 2018

Background and Purpose—
Brain arteriovenous malformation (bAVM) is an important risk factor for intracranial hemorrhage. Current treatments for bAVM are all associated with considerable risks. There is no safe method to prevent bAVM hemorrhage. Thalidomide reduces nose bleeding in patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia, an inherited disorder characterized by vascular malformations. In this study, we tested whether thalidomide and its less toxic analog, lenalidomide, reduce bAVM hemorrhage using a mouse model.

Methods—

bAVMs were induced through induction of brain focal activin-like kinase 1 (
Alk1
, an AVM causative gene) gene deletion and angiogenesis in adult
Alk1
-floxed mice. Thalidomide was injected intraperitoneally twice per week for 6 weeks, starting either 2 or 8 weeks after AVM induction. Lenalidomide was injected intraperitoneally daily starting 8 weeks after AVM induction for 6 weeks. Brain samples were collected at the end of the treatments for morphology, mRNA, and protein analyses. The influence of
Alk1
downregulation on PDGFB (platelet-derived growth factor B) expression was also studied on cultured human brain microvascular endothelial cells. The effect of PDGFB in mural cell recruitment in bAVM was explored by injection of a PDGFB overexpressing lentiviral vector to the mouse brain.

Results—

Thalidomide or lenalidomide treatment reduced the number of dysplastic vessels and hemorrhage and increased mural cell (vascular smooth muscle cells and pericytes) coverage in the bAVM lesion. Thalidomide reduced the burden of CD68
+
cells and the expression of inflammatory cytokines in the bAVM lesions. PDGFB expression was reduced in ALK1-knockdown human brain microvascular endothelial cells and in mouse bAVM lesion. Thalidomide increased Pdgfb expression in bAVM lesion. Overexpression of PDGFB mimicked the effect of thalidomide.

Conclusions—
Thalidomide and lenalidomide improve mural cell coverage of bAVM vessels and reduce bAVM hemorrhage, which is likely through upregulation of Pdgfb expression.
Precipitation Intensity Changes in the Tropics from Observations and Models
Authors: Gu Guojun , Adler Robert F. 
Published: March 2018

Tropical (30°N–30°S) interdecadal precipitation changes and trends are explored for the satellite era using GPCP monthly analyses and CMIP5 outputs and focusing on precipitation intensity distributions represented by percentiles (Pct) and other parameters. Positive trends occur for the upper percentiles (Pct ≥ 70th), and become statistically significant for Pct ≥ 80th. Negative trends appear for the middle one-half percentiles (~20th–65th) and are statistically significant for the 20th–40th percentiles. As part of these trends there is a decadal shift around 1998, indicating the presence of an interdecadal [Pacific decadal oscillation (PDO)] signal. For the lower percentiles (Pct ≤ 10th), positive trends occur, although weakly. The AMIP-type simulations generally show similar trend results for their respective time periods. Precipitation intensity changes are further examined using four precipitation categories based on the climatological percentiles: Wet (Pct ≥ 70th), Intermediate (70th > Pct ≥ 30th), Dry (30th > Pct ≥ 5th), and No Rain (5th > Pct ≥ 0th). Epoch differences of occurrence frequency between 1988–97 and 1998–2015 have spatial features generally reflecting the combined effect of the PDO and external forcings, specifically the anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG)-related warming based on comparisons with both AMIP and CMIP results. Furthermore, precipitation intensity over Wet zones shows much stronger changes than mean precipitation including a more prominent change around 1998 associated with the PDO phase shift. Trends also appear in the sizes of Intermediate and Dry zones, especially over ocean. However, changes in the sizes of Wet and No Rain zones are generally weak. AMIP simulations reproduce these changes relatively well. Comparisons with the CMIP5 historical experiments further confirm that the observed changes and trends are a combination of the effect of the PDO phase shift and the impact of anthropogenic GHG-related warming.
Spectrally Resolved Ultraviolet (UV) Absorption Cross-Sections of Alkali Hydroxides and Chlorides Measured in Hot Flue Gases
Authors: Weng Wubin , Leffler Tomas , Brackmann Christian , Aldén Marcus , Li Zhongshan 
Published: March 2018

Spectrally resolved ultraviolet (UV) absorption cross-sections of gas-phase sodium chloride (NaCl), potassium hydroxide (KOH), and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) were measured, for the first time, in hot flue gases at different temperatures. Homogenous gas-phase NaCl, KCl (potassium chloride), NaOH, and KOH at temperatures 1200 K, 1400 K, 1600 K, and 1850 K were prepared in the post-flame zone of laminar flames by seeding nebulized droplets out of aqueous solution of corresponding alkali species. The amount of droplets seeded into the flame was kept constant, so the relative concentration of different alkali species can be derived. The broadband UV absorption cross-section of KCl vapor reported by Leffler et al. was adopted to derive the absorption cross-section curves of NaCl, NaOH, and KOH with the corresponding measured spectrally resolved absorbance spectra. No significant changes in the spectral structures in the absorption cross-sections were found as the temperature varied between 1200 K and 1850 K, except for NaOH at around 320 nm. The difference between the absorption spectral curves of alkali chlorides and hydroxides is significant at wavelengths above 300 nm, which thus can be used to distinguish and obtain the concentrations of alkali chlorides and hydroxides in the broadband UV absorption measurements.
Classifying “Micro” Routine Activities of Street-level Drug Transactions
Authors: Olaghere Ajima , Lum Cynthia 
Published: March 2018

Objectives: Routine activities theory attempts to link the intersection of individuals’ everyday routine activities to crime events at particular places. This study examines crime events not just as the product of intersecting macroroutine activities but also microroutines (similar to crime “scripts”) that occur immediately before, during, and after a crime event occurs. Method: Closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage was accessed through Baltimore City Police Department from 2010 to 2011. Ethnographic techniques and systematic social observation of CCTV footage were used to categorize the microroutines of 74 street-level illicit drug transactions. Results: The findings illuminate eight microroutines of drug crime events that classify behaviors associated with illicit drug activity. Conclusions: This study advances our understanding of the link between routine activities and drug crime by examining how illicit transactions unfold from microroutines using a rarely employed, but fruitful source of data (CCTV footage).
Text Messaging to Improve Disease Management in Patients With Painful Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy
Authors: Bauer Victoria , Goodman Nancy , Lapin Brittany , Cooley Camille , Wang Ed , Craig Terri L. , Glosner Scott E. , Juhn Mark S. , Cappelleri Joseph C. , Sadosky Alesia B. , Masi Christopher 
Published: March 2018

Purpose The purpose of the study was to determine the impact of educational text messages on diabetes self-management activities and outcomes in patients with painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy (pDPN). Methods Patients with pDPN identified from a large integrated health system who agreed to participate were randomized to 6 months of usual care (UC) or UC plus twice-daily diabetes self-management text messages (UC+TxtM). Outcomes included the Pain Numerical Rating Scale, Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities (SDSCA), questions on diabetes health beliefs, and glycated hemoglobin (A1C). Changes from baseline were evaluated at 6 months and compared between groups. Results Demographic characteristics were balanced between groups (N = 62; 53% female, mean age = 63 years, 94% type 2 diabetes), as were baseline measures. After 6 months, pain decreased with UC+TxtM from 6.3 to 5.5 and with UC from 6.5 to 6.0, with no difference between groups. UC+TxtM but not UC was associated with significant improvements from baseline on all SDSCA subscales. On diabetes health beliefs, UC+TxtM patients reported significantly increased benefits and reduced barriers and susceptibility relative to UC at 6 months. A1C declined in both groups, but neither change was significant relative to baseline. Conclusions Patients with pDPN who receive twice-daily text messages regarding diabetes management reported reduced pain relative to baseline, although this change was not significant compared with usual care. In addition, text messaging was associated with increased self-management activities and improved diabetes health beliefs and total self-care. These results warrant further investigation.
The Head Start Mental Health Research Consortium: New Directions for Research Partnerships
Authors: Boyce Cheryl A. , Hoagwood Kimberly , Lopez Michael L. , Tarullo Louisa B. 
Published: March 2018

The Head Start Mental Health Research Consortium (HSMHRC) Is a research partnership between the Administration on Children, Youth and Families (ACYF) and the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Funded jointly by these two agencies, a research consortium with five core sites brought together a range of disciplinary perspectives with three primary goals: (1) to develop assessment strategies for identifying young children's social and emotional development; (2) to assess Head Start families' access to mental health services; and (3) to investigate the effectiveness of both universal and targeted intervention models for Head Start children, including those with co-occurring language and behavioral problems. This collaborative mental health research will yield information about the types of mental health needs of children from low-income families, the optimal approaches for assessing these needs, and the impact of research-based intervention models delivered within a Head Start context.
Choice or Chance: Career Development and Girls with Emotional or Behavioral Disorders
Authors: Stuart Shannon K. 
Published: March 2018

This study examined the career aspirations of young women with behavioral disorders and the life experiences that contributed to those aspirations. Data, including open-ended interviews and written questionnaires, were collected via qualitative techniques. A grounded theory methodology was used to identify, categorize, and connect themes. The study confirms the importance of career development for women with behavioral disorders. Three overriding issues stand out from these personal stories. First, school experiences are important to career development. Although most participants were disengaged with the academic components of their educational plans, they were highly engaged with their school-supported vocational experiences. Second, family cohesion had a significant effect on career aspirations. Third, participants believe they have little control over their lives, including their career choices. Implications for practitioners are discussed.
Exploring moral problems and moral competences in midwifery: A qualitative study
Authors: Oelhafen Stephan , Monteverde Settimio , Cignacco Eva 
Published: March 2018

Background: Most undergraduate midwifery curricula comprise ethics courses to strengthen the moral competences of future midwives. By contrast, surprisingly little is known about the specific moral competences considered to be relevant for midwifery practice. Describing these competences not only depends on generic assumptions about the moral nature of midwifery practice but also reflects which issues practitioners themselves classify as moral. Objective: The goal of this study was to gain insight into the ethical issues midwives encounter in their daily work, the key competences and resources they consider indispensable to understand and deal with them, and to assess phenomena linked to moral distress. Methods: We conducted individual semi-structured interviews with eight midwives and two other health professionals, varying in terms of years of experience and work setting. Interview transcripts were analyzed in an interdisciplinary research group, following thematic analysis. Ethical considerations: This study was not subject to approval according to the Swiss Law on Research with Humans. Participants were informed about the study goals and gave written informed consent prior to participation. Results: External constraints limiting the midwife’s and the patient’s autonomy and resulting interpersonal conflicts were found to be the most relevant ethical issues encountered in clinical practice and were most often associated with moral distress. These conflicts often arise in the context of medical interventions midwives consider as not appropriate and situations in which less experienced midwives in particular observe a lack of both interprofessional communication and trust in their professional competence. Ethical issues related to late abortions or prenatal diagnostics and selective abortions were also frequently addressed, but many midwives involved had learned to cope with them. Discussion: In the light of the ethical issues and factors contributing to phenomena of moral distress, an empirically grounded profile of moral competences is drafted. Curricular implications in the light of possible adaptations within undergraduate midwifery education are critically discussed.
Short-Term Complications, Reoperations, and Radiographic Outcomes of a New Fixed-Bearing Total Ankle Arthroplasty
Authors: Saito Guilherme H. , Sanders Austin E. , de Cesar Netto Cesar , O’Malley Martin J. , Ellis Scott J. , Demetracopoulos Constantine A. 
Published: March 2018

Background: With the increasing use of total ankle arthroplasty (TAA), new implants with varied configurations are being developed every year. This study aimed to assess the early complications, reoperations, and radiographic and clinical outcomes of the Infinity TAA. To date, clinical results of this novel implant have not been published. Methods: A retrospective analysis of 64 consecutive ankles that underwent a primary Infinity TAA from July 2014 to April 2016 was performed. Patients had an average follow-up of 24.5 (range, 18-39) months. Medical records were reviewed to determine the incidence of complications, reoperations, and revisions. Radiographic outcomes included preoperative and postoperative tibiotalar alignment, tibial implant positioning, the presence of periprosthetic radiolucency and cysts, and evidence of subsidence or loosening. Additionally, patient-reported outcomes were analyzed with the Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS). Results: Survivorship of the implant was 95.3%. Fourteen ankles (21.8%) presented a total of 17 complications. A total of 12 reoperations were necessary in 11 ankles (17.1%). Revision surgery was indicated for 3 ankles (4.7%) as a result of subsidence of the implant. Tibiotalar coronal deformity was significantly improved after surgery ( P < .0001) and maintained during latest follow-up ( P = .81). Periprosthetic radiolucent lines were observed around the tibial component in 20 ankles (31%) and around the talar component in 2 ankles (3.1%). A tibial cyst was observed in 1 ankle (1.5%). Outcome scores were significantly improved for all FAOS components analyzed ( P < .0001), from 39.0 to 83.3 for pain, from 34.0 to 65.2 for symptoms, from 52.3 to 87.5 for activities of daily living, and from 15.7 to 64.2 for quality of life. Conclusion: Most complications observed in the study were minor and successfully treated with a single reoperation procedure or nonoperatively. Failures and radiographic abnormalities were most commonly related to the tibial implant. Further studies with longer follow-up are needed to evaluate the survivorship of the tibial implant in the long term. Level of evidence: Level IV, retrospective case series.
Retinal vascular speed <0.5 disc diameter per week as an early sign of retinopathy of prematurity requiring treatment
Authors: Solans Pérez de Larraya Ana M , Ortega Molina José M , Fernández José Uberos , Escudero Gómez Júlia , Salgado Miranda Andrés D , Chaves Samaniego Maria J , García Serrano José L 
Published: March 2018

Purpose: To analyse the speed of temporal retinal vascularisation in preterm infants included in the screening programme for retinopathy of prematurity. Material and methods: A total of 185 premature infants were studied retrospectively between 2000 and 2017 in San Cecilio University Hospital of Granada, Spain. The method of binocular indirect ophthalmoscopy with indentation was used for the examination. The horizontal disc diameter was used as a unit of length. Speed of temporal retinal vascularisation (disc diameter/week) was calculated as the ratio between the extent of temporal retinal vascularisation (disc diameter) and the time in weeks. Results: The weekly temporal retinal vascularisation (0–1.25 disc diameter/week, confidence interval) was significantly higher in no retinopathy of prematurity (0.73 ± 0.22 disc diameter/week) than in stage 1 retinopathy of prematurity (0.58 ± 0.22 disc diameter/week). It was also higher in stage 1 than in stages 2 (0.46 ± 0.14 disc diameter/week) and 3 of retinopathy of prematurity (0.36 ± 0.18 disc diameter/week). The rate of temporal retinal vascularisation (disc diameter/week) decreases when retinopathy of prematurity stage increases. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.85 (95% confidence interval: 0.79–0.91) for retinopathy of prematurity requiring treatment versus not requiring treatment. The best discriminative cut-off point was a speed of retinal vascularisation <0.5 disc diameter/week, with a sensitivity and a specificity of 84.8% and 77%, respectively. Conclusion: The rate of temporal retinal vascularisation is a quantifiable observation that can help to alert a clinician that treatment of retinopathy of prematurity may be required. However, before becoming a new standard of care for treatment, it requires careful documentation, with agreement between several ophthalmologists.
Clinical outcomes of Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation in pediatric glaucoma
Authors: Pakravan Mohammad , Esfandiari Hamed , Yazdani Shahin , Doozandeh Azadeh , Dastborhan Zahra , Gerami Ebrahim , Kheiri Bahareh , Pakravan Parastou , Yaseri Mehdi , Hassanpour Kiana 
Published: March 2018

Purpose: To evaluate the outcomes of Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation in refractory primary congenital glaucoma as well as primary procedure in aphakic glaucoma. Method: In this retrospective study, medical records of patients who underwent Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation for refractory glaucoma and aphakic glaucoma were reviewed. Primary outcome measures were the surgical success defined as intraocular pressure ≤21 mm Hg and decreased ≥20% and no secondary glaucoma surgery. Secondary outcome measures were the number of glaucoma medications, complications, best corrected visual acuity, and intraocular pressure. Results: A total of 62 eyes of refractory primary congenital glaucoma patients (group 1) and 33 eyes of aphakic glaucoma patients (group 2) were included in our study. Mean follow-up was 51 ± 33 months in group 1 and 49 ± 41 months in group 2 (p = 0.82). The cumulative probability of success was 90% in both groups at the first year; however, the success rate was 52.5% in group 1 and 71.5% in group 2 at 5 years’ follow-up visit. In group 1, the mean intraocular pressure ± standard deviation was 33.1 ± 8.6 mm Hg at the baseline and decreased to 17.1 ± 5.3 mm Hg at 1 year and 18.5 ± 6.4 at 3 years postoperatively (all p’s < 0.001). Corresponding values for group 2 were 28.9 ± 6.1, 15.2 ± 4.6, and 16.0 ± 5.9 mm Hg, respectively (all p’s < 0.001). The baseline number of glaucoma medications was 3 ± 0.7 that decreased to 2 ± 0.8 at final follow-up (p = 0.02). Conclusion: Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation has a moderate success rate in the management of refractory primary congenital glaucoma with an increased chance of tube-related complications. The surgical success rate is higher in case of primary Ahmed glaucoma valve implant for aphakic glaucoma with acceptable safety profile.
Graft-free glaucoma drainage device implantation: Short tunnel small flap technique
Authors: Pakravan Mohammad , Hekmat Vahid Reza , Pakravan Parto , Hassanpour Kiana , Esfandiari Hamed 
Published: March 2018

Purpose: To introduce a new technique of short tunnel small flap graft-free glaucoma drainage device implantation and report our early experience. Methods: In a retrospective study, patients with uncontrolled primary open-angle glaucoma underwent short tunnel small flap graft-free Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation. In this technique, plate is sutured 8–10 mm posterior to the limbus and a partial thickness flap is made at 1 or 11 o’clock position, 1 mm posterior the limbus. Tube was passed through a tunnel immediately anterior to the plate into the proximal edge of the flap and then inserted into the anterior chamber via a route underneath the flap. Flap then covered the distal end of the tube and conjunctiva was sutured. Patients were followed for a minimum of 12 months for any sign of tube exposure and rise of intraocular pressure. Results: A total of 16 consecutive patients with refractory primary open-angle glaucoma and uncontrolled intraocular pressure were included in this study. Mean age of participants was 59 ± 8.3 years and nine (56%) were male. Mean intraocular pressure at the time of presentation was 26 ± 6.2 mm Hg, which dropped to 16 ± 4.5 at 12 months postoperative follow-up. The number of medications at baseline was 3 ± 1 eye drops, which was decreased to 1 ± 1.2 at 12 months. There were no conjunctival and flap-related complications or any sign of tube exposure during 1-year postoperative period. Conclusion: Short tunnel small flap graft-free glaucoma drainage device implantation technique combines advantages of both tunneling and flap techniques. Also, it may result in better tube positioning and more favorable cosmetic outcomes.