bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Breakthrough cancer pain: The importance of the right treatment at the right time
Authors: O'Hagan P. , Mercadante S. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractBackgroundConfusion remains over the definition of breakthrough cancer pain (BTcP) potentially leading to delayed diagnosis and treatment.MethodsAn on‐line survey was conducted in four EU countries among relevant healthcare professionals and cancer patients diagnosed with BTcP. The roles of healthcare professionals (HCPs) were examined and their knowledge and use of available medications recorded. Patients were questioned on how BTcP affected their lives and on the medications they had received/were receiving.ResultsThere was a ‘time lag’ of 58 and 13 weeks in Germany and Spain respectively between the initial diagnosis of BTcP and its treatment. Four in ten oncologists across the four countries considered themselves not fully confident in their choice of the appropriate therapy. A quarter of patients in Germany, Italy and Spain and four in ten in France were treated only with increased dosages of the therapy already prescribed for their background pain – often morphine. Almost another quarter received morphine in addition to their treatment for background pain. Oncologists indicated a need for faster‐acting treatments revealing a potential lack of awareness of rapid onset oral opioids and patients expressed a desire for more effective pain relief and better psychological support.ConclusionsThere is a need for a universal definition of BTcP to facilitate earlier and more accurate diagnosis. It is essential that BTcP is treated immediately on diagnosis with therapies that more closely mirror its temporal characteristics to ensure that patients’ desire for more effective pain relief is fulfilled.SignificanceMany cancer patients suffered episodes of BTcP needlessly over many months due to missed diagnosis. Even after diagnosis, many physicians were not fully confident in their choice of ‘rescue’ therapy which perhaps is not surprising given the very low level of awareness of treatment guidelines, both national and international.
Do the potential benefits outweigh the risks? An update on the use of ziconotide in clinical practice
Authors: Bäckryd E. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractZiconotide is a selective and potent blocker of N‐type voltage‐gated calcium channels. It was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2004 and by the European Medicines Agency in 2005 for the treatment of severe chronic pain in patients needing intrathecal analgesia (ITA). The aim of this paper is to provide a practitioner‐oriented, educational, narrative, up‐to‐date review on the use of ziconotide in clinical pain medicine. Of special concern regarding safety is the partial incongruity between dosing statements in the Summary of Product Characteristics and novel low‐dosage, slow uptitration recommendations. Even though ziconotide has obvious advantages compared to opioids, pain practitioners pondering the use of ziconotide nonetheless have to balance its proved potential analgesic effect against its neurological side effects, with special consideration being given to dosing and neuropsychiatric dangers. Using a seesaw analogy, the paper discusses what factors pain physicians should weigh in when considering ziconotide asITAdrug, the non‐opioid advantages of ziconotide being counterbalanced by its potential psychiatric side effects. Ziconotide is an important part of the armamentarium of modern interventional pain medicine. IfITAis deemed necessary, ziconotide is a rational alternative, at least in chronic (neuropathic) non‐cancer pain. However, in many European countries, ziconotide treatment is only available in a few (if any) centres. The safety profile of ziconotide is not fundamentally more worrying than that of opioids or cannabinoids; it is just different. This paper provides a concise, up‐to‐date and clinically‐oriented summary of the use of ziconotide in clinical practice, not least concerning safety and dosage issues.
Short‐term swimming exercise attenuates the sensitization of dorsal horn neurons in rats with NGF‐induced low back pain
Authors: de Azambuja G. , Hortscht U. , Hoheisel U. , Oliveira Fusaro M.C. , Mense S. , Treede R.‐D. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractBackgroundPhysical exercise has been shown to be an effective therapy for non‐specific low back pain. The study investigated if swimming exercise is a means to reduce the spinal sensitization in an animal model of non‐specific low back pain.MethodsIn deeply anesthetized rats, dorsal horn neurons were recorded in spinal segment L2. To induce sensitization of dorsal horn neurons, two injections of nerve growth factor were made into the lumbar multifidus muscle at an interval of 5 days. Swimming exercise for 30 min was performed on the 5 days between both NGF injections. A control group received the NGF injections without exercise treatment.ResultsSwimming exercise caused a significant decrease in the NGF‐induced hyperexcitability of dorsal horn neurons. Compared to control, the proportion of neurons with input from deep somatic tissues and of convergent neurons with input from at least two types of different tissues decreased significantly (50% vs. 25% and 37% vs. 15%; both p < 0.05). Swimming exercise also reduced the NGF‐induced increase in neuronal resting activity. Both the proportion of active neurons and the mean discharge frequency of all neurons decreased significantly (60%, 76.3 ± 23.1 imp/min; vs. 25%, 51.7 ± 35.1 imp/min; both p < 0.01).ConclusionsIn our animal model of low back pain, short‐term swimming exercise effectively reduced the latent sensitization of spinal dorsal horn neurons. Swimming exercise decreased the hyperexcitability of the neurons to low back input and lowered the resting activity of sensitized neurons.SignificancePhysical exercise is a common treatment for low back pain. The possible mechanisms underlying the effects of exercise are probably multifold. This work shows that swimming exercise prevents sensitization of dorsal horn neurons, which may be one mechanism for the positive effects of exercise.
Socioeconomic status is not judged equally: Target race shifts standards in interpersonal judgments of SES
Authors: Weeks Matthew 
Published: April 2018

AbstractAcross three studies, respondents made SES judgments of targets varying in Race (White or Black) and SES (Low or High), including global subjective SES, financial success, and educational attainment. As Whites and Blacks are stereotypically associated with upper and lower SES, respectively, the Shifting Standards Model (SSM) of stereotype judgments predicted the pattern of interpersonal objective and subjective judgments. In Study 1, in a between‐subjects design, respondents rated Black targets significantly higher on subjective measures than White targets, even as the targets were rated as comparable on objective measures. Study 2 replicated these effects with a broader range of stimulus materials. In Study 3, the shifting standards effect was replicated using a within‐subjects design, further supporting the effect. The findings support the application of the SSM to race‐based shifts in interpersonal judgments of SES and are discussed regarding their implications for intergroup relations and workplace evaluations.
Multivariate Determination of Total Sugar Content and Ethanol in Bioethanol Production Using Carbon Electrodes Modified with MWCNT/MeOOH and Chemometric Data Treatment
Authors: Cardoso de Sá Acelino , Cipri Andrea , González‐Calabuig Andreu , Stradiotto Nelson Ramos , del Valle Manel 
Published: April 2018

AbstractThis work reports the characterization and application of a voltammetric electronic tongue using an array of glassy carbon electrodes modified with multi‐walled carbon nanotubes containing metal (Pd, Au, Cu) and oxy‐hydroxide nanoparticles (MetalsOOH of Ni, Co) towards the determination of total sugar content in products related with sugarcane‐bioethanol production. The prediction model based on Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) has given satisfactory results for the carbohydrate sum and the obtained response had shown an adequate accuracy. Voltammetric data was first adapted for the computation using the Fast Fourier transform, and results from the electronic tongue approach were compared with use of different electrodes alone. Final performance was better using uniquely the Ni oxy‐hydroxide modified electrode, especially in the quantification of ethanol, a side‐effect of counter‐balancing its interference.
Mechanistic Pathways and Identification of the Electrochemically Generated Oxidation Products of Flavonoid Eriodictyol in the Presence of Glutathione
Authors: Newair Emad F. , Nafady Ayman , Abdel‐Hamid Refat , Al‐Enizi Abdullah M. , Garcia François 
Published: April 2018

AbstractThe metabolic oxidation pathways of dietary flavonoid eriodictyol (Er) are not very well‐probed. In the present work, the electrochemical oxidation behavior of Er was studied in aqueous Britton‐Robinson (B‐R) buffer solution using cyclic voltammetry (CV), chronoamperometry (CA), and bulk‐electrolysis (BE). The oxidation products and reaction pathways of Er in the absence and the presence of glutathione (GSH) were proposed and identified in view of the results obtained by ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (UPLC‐MS). In the absence of GSH, eriodictyol shows one quasi‐reversible oxidation process at E1/2=0.305 V, followed by a totally irreversible anodic peak at a more positive potential (Epa=1.05 V vs. Ag/AgCl, 3 M KCl). Putatively, the first process corresponds to the oxidation of the catechol moiety on the B ring of Er while the second one is attributed to the oxidation of the resorcinol moiety on the A ring. In the presence of GSH, however, the anodic oxidation of Er was proposed to be an ECEC‐type mechanism. The Er molecule first underwent a two‐electron oxidation coupled with loss of two‐proton to generate the corresponding quinone, which was either reduced to the original Er molecule by GSH, or further interacted with GSH to produce mono‐ and bi‐ glutathione conjugates of Er. The proposed mechanism was confirmed by digital simulation of the cyclic voltammograms.
Characterization of White Wines by Electrochemical Indexes Obtained Using Carbon Nanotube‐modified Electrodes
Authors: Sánchez Arribas Alberto , Moreno Mónica , Moreno Gabriel A. , Bermejo Esperanza , Zapardiel Antonio , Chicharro Manuel 
Published: April 2018

AbstractIn this study, the development of a fast electroanalytical method for the characterization of wines through the evaluation of their phenolic content has been reported. A critical analysis of the influence of some experimental conditions on the efficient dispersion of carbon nanotubes (CNT) in water was carried out. The selected procedure consisted of: 1) 2.0 mg CNT were dispersed in 4.0 mL of 0.25 % (w/v) PEI solution by ultrasonic treatment of 2000‐J energy; 2) dispersions were centrifuged at 2500 rpm for 20 min and sedimented CNT were subsequently washed with pure water; and 3) recovered CNT were re‐dispersed in 4.0 mL of water by ultrasonic treatment of 2000‐J energy. Glassy carbon electrodes modified with CNT films produced from these dispersions showed excellent electrochemical performance for the detection of different polyphenols usually found in wine using flow injection analysis, with good sensitivity, wide linear range and excellent stability. This behaviour allowed the estimation of total polyphenol content in white wines with a remarkable long‐term stability in the measurements. In addition, different polyphenols fractions, expressed as “electrochemical indexes” (EI), can be obtained just by tuning the detection potential. These EI might be employed as characteristic markers of wines related to grape varietal, with potential application for classification purposes as suggested after the analysis of white wines produced using “verdejo” and “airén” grapes.
A Novel Electrochemical Aptasensor for Carcinoembryonic Antigen Detection Based on Target‐induced Bridge Assembly
Authors: Taghdisi Seyed Mohammad , Danesh Noor Mohammad , Ramezani Mohammad , Emrani Ahmad Sarreshtehdar , Abnous Khalil 
Published: April 2018

AbstractThe present study describes a novel electrochemical aptasensor for detection of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), a key cancer biomarker. The sensing strategy relied on the CEA‐induced bridge assembly, as a physical barrier, on the surface of gold electrode, resulting in a significant increase of the sensor sensitivity. Under optimal conditions, the aptasensing platform showed a wide linear range (3 pg/mL to 40 ng/mL) and a low detection limit (0.9 pg/mL). Some possible interfering materials were also assessed and the results indicated that the designed aptasensor had good specificity toward CEA. The quantitation of CEA in the spiked human serum samples confirmed the reliability and applicability of the electrochemical aptasensor. So, the developed sensing method has a potential application in the clinical diagnosis.
Fast and Simple Electrochemical Analysis Kit for Quality Control of Narrow Therapeutic Index Drugs
Authors: de Jesus Guedes Tiago , Pio dos Santos Wallans Torres 
Published: April 2018

AbstractThe use of multiple‐pulse amperometry (MPA) for the determination of narrow therapeutic index (NTI) drugs using batch injection analysis (BIA) with carbon screen‐printed electrodes (SPE) is proposed, seeking to develop a practical and low‐cost analysis kit for application in routine quality control of these drugs. The electrochemical behaviors of aminophylline, carbamazepine, clindamycin, colchicine, minoxidil, prazosin, procainamide, theophylline, warfarin and verapamil were evaluated in different electrolytes, but just one, the 0.1 mol L−1phosphate buffer, pH 7.0, was chosen for determination of all the analytes. The amperometric detection was optimized as a function of the best oxidation potential for carbon SPE for each analyte, which was in a range from 0.7 to 1.1 V. The injection conditions were determined as a function of the velocity and the volume injected by the BIA system, which were 92.5 μL s−1and 100 μL, respectively. Under these conditions, a good repeatability (RSD<3 %), high analytical frequency (>215 determinations per hour), large linear ranges and low LOD (<0.42 μmol L−1) for all the NTI drugs were obtained. Furthermore, the proposed method provided an easy qualitative analysis of the investigated analytes using MPA detection. The addition‐recovery studies in pharmaceutical samples containing NTI drugs and the comparison with official methods showed that the proposed analysis Kit is a very fast, simple and efficient alternative for quantification of these analytes.
Performance of Amperometric Platinized‐Nafion Based Gas Phase Sensor for Determining Nitric Oxide (NO) Levels in Exhaled Human Nasal Breath
Authors: Zajda Joanna , Schmidt Nicholas J. , Zheng Zheng , Wang Xuewei , Meyerhoff Mark E. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractNitric oxide (NO) levels in exhaled breath are a non‐invasive marker that can be used to diagnose various respiratory diseases and monitor a patient's response to given therapies. A portable and inexpensive device that can enable selective NO concentration measurements in exhaled breath samples is needed. Herein, the performance of an amperometric Pt‐Nafion‐based gas phase sensor for detection of NO in exhaled human nasal breath is examined. Enhanced selectivity over carbon monoxide and ammonia is achieved via an in‐line zinc oxide‐based filter. Exhaled nasal NO levels measured in 21 human samples with the sensor are shown to correlate well with those obtained using a chemiluminescence reference method (R2=0.9836).
MR lymphography for sentinel lymph node detection in patients with oral cavity cancer: Preliminary clinical study
Authors: Bae Sohi , Lee Ho‐Joon , Nam Woong , Koh Yoon Woo , Choi Eun Chang , Kim Jinna 
Published: April 2018

AbstractBackgroundThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of MR lymphography with interstitial injection of a gadolinium‐based contrast agent for identifying sentinel lymph nodes in patients with oral cavity cancer and clinically negative neck.MethodsPretreatment MR lymphography with a differential subsampling with cartesian ordering (DISCO) sequence was performed in 26 patients with resectable oral cavity cancer and clinically negative neck, after peritumoral injection of 1‐mL diluted gadobutrol. The accuracy of sentinel lymph node identification by MR lymphography was assessed and compared with the final histopathological results.ResultsThe MR lymphography consistently visualized the 44 sentinel lymph nodes in all 26 patients. In all but 1 patient with pathologically positive neck, assumed sentinel lymph nodes revealed metastatic involvement.ConclusionPretreatment MR lymphography is a safe and feasible imaging technique that can help clinicians identify sentinel lymph nodes with a high risk of occult metastases in patients with oral cavity cancer, enabling focused preoperative biopsy in these high‐risk patients.
Social health insurance in Nepal: A health system departure toward the universal health coverage
Authors: Pokharel Rajani , Silwal Pushkar Raj 
Published: April 2018

SummaryThe World Health Organization has identified universal health coverage (UHC) as a key approach in reducing equity gaps in a country, and the social health insurance (SHI) has been recommended as an important strategy toward it. This article aims to analyze the design, expected benefits and challenges of realizing the goals of UHC through the recently launched SHI in Nepal. On top of the earlier free health‐care policy and several other vertical schemes, the SHI scheme was implemented in 2016 and has reached population coverage of 5% in the implemented districts in just within a year of implementation. However, to achieve UHC in Nepal, in addition to operationalizing the scheme, several other requirements must be dealt simultaneously such as efficient health‐care delivery system, adequate human resources for health, a strong information system, improved transparency and accountability, and a balanced mix of the preventive, health promotion, curative, and rehabilitative services including actions to address the social determinants of health. The article notes that strong political commitment and persistent efforts are the key lessons learnt from countries achieving progressive UHC through SHI.
Out of the shadows and 6000 reasons to celebrate: An update from FIGO's fistula surgery training initiative
Authors: Slinger Gillian , Trautvetter Lilli , Browning Andrew , Rane Ajay 
Published: April 2018

AbstractObstetric fistula is a devastating childbirth injury caused by unrelieved obstructed labor. Obstetric fistula leads to chronic incontinence and, in most cases, significant physical and emotional suffering. The condition continues to blight the lives of 1–2 million women in low‐resource settings, with 50 000–100 000 new cases each year adding to the backlog. A trained, skilled fistula surgeon is essential to repair an obstetric fistula; however, owing to a global shortage of these surgeons, few women are able to receive life‐restoring treatment. In 2011, to address the treatment gap, FIGO and partners released the Global Competency‐Based Fistula Surgery Training Manual, the first standardized curriculum to train fistula surgeons. To increase the number of fistula surgeons, the FIGO Fistula Surgery Training Initiative was launched in 2012, and FIGO Fellows started to enter the program to train as fistula surgeons. Following a funding boost in 2014, the initiative has grown considerably. With 52 fellows involved and a new Expert Advisory Group in place, the program is achieving major milestones, with a record‐breaking number of fistula repairs performed by FIGO Fellows in 2017, bringing the total number of repairs since the start of the project to more than 6000.
A caninein vitromodel for evaluation of marrow‐derived mesenchymal stromal cell‐based bone scaffolds
Authors: Gharat Tanmay P. , Diaz‐Rodriguez Patricia , Erndt‐Marino Josh D. , Jimenez Vergara Andrea Carolina , Munoz Pinto Dany J. , Bearden Robert N. , Huggins Shannon S. , Grunlan Melissa , Saunders W. Brian , Hahn Mariah S. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractTissue engineered bone grafts based on bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are being actively developed for craniomaxillofacial (CMF) applications. As for all tissue engineered implants, the bone‐regenerating capacity of these MSC‐based grafts must first be evaluated in animal models prior to human trials. Canine models have traditionally resulted in improved clinical translation of CMF grafts relative to other animal models. However, the utility of canine CMF models for evaluating MSC‐based bone grafts rests on canine MSCs (cMSCs) responding in a similar manner to scaffold‐based stimuli as human MSCs (hMSCs). Herein, cMSC and hMSC responses to polyethylene glycol (PEG)‐based scaffolds were therefore compared in the presence or absence of osteoinductive polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). Notably, the conjugation of PDMS to PEG‐based constructs resulted in increases in both cMSC and hMSC osteopontin and calcium deposition. Based on these results, cMSCs were further used to assess the efficacy of tethered bone morphogenic protein 2 (BMP2) in enhancing PEG‐PDMS scaffold osteoinductivity. Addition of low doses of tethered BMP2 (100 ng/mL) to PEG‐PDMS systems increased cMSC expression of osterix and osteopontin compared to both PEG‐PDMS and PEG‐BMP2 controls. Furthermore, these increases were comparable to effects seen with up to five‐times higher BMP2 doses noted in literature. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 106A:2382–2393, 2018.
Prediction of taper performance using quasi static FE models: The influence of loading, taper clearance and trunnion length
Authors: Raji Halimat Y. , Shelton Julia C. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractThe head‐neck taper junction has been widely reported to corrode leading to adverse tissue reactions. Taper corrosion is a poorly understood phenomenon but has been associated with oxide layer damage and ingress of corrosive physiological fluids. Micromotion may damage the oxide layer; although little is understood about the prevailing stresses which cause this. The ingress of fluid around the joint space into the taper will depend on the taper contact position and the separation of the interfaces during loading. The current work reports on the effect of taper clearances and trunnion length on the taper surface stresses and the taper gap opening. These were determined for CoCr/Ti taper interfaces using FE under loading conditions including walking and stair climb as well as hip simulator load profiles. Shorter trunnions and stair climb loading were shown to generate the greatest taper gaps (82 µm) and also the largest surface stresses (1200 MPa) on the head taper. The largest taper gaps were associated with smaller taper contact areas. Clearances within ±0.1° had no effect on the taper gaps generated, as the tapers engaged over comparable lengths; the taper gap opening was dependent upon the taper engagement length rather than location (proximal or distal) of contact. The walking profile or variants applied by hip simulators, was insufficient to differentiate between taper designs and evaluate differences in the magnitudes of taper gaps. The use of more demanding activity such as stair climb during in vitro evaluations could provide better predictions of taper performance in vivo. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 107B: 138–148, 2019.