bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Genetic diversity and matrilineal genetic origin of fat-rumped sheep in Ethiopia
Authors: Nigussie Helen , Mwacharo Joram M. , Osama Sarah , Agaba Morris , Mekasha Yoseph , Kebede Kefelegn , Abegaz Solomon , Pal Sanjoy Kumar 
Published: February 2019

AbstractEthiopia is home to a diverse gene pool of indigenous sheep populations. Therefore, a better understanding of genetic variation holds the key to future utilization through conservation. Three of these breeds, Afar, Blackhead Somali, and Hararghe Highland, are found in eastern Ethiopia where they contribute significantly to the livelihood of most pastoralist, agro-pastoralist, and smallholder farmers. These indigenous sheep are recognized on the basis of morphotype and their genetic distinction remains unknown. Here, to assess genetic variation, and matrilineal genetic origin and relationship of fat-rumed sheep found in eastern Ethiopia, 300 individuals from the three breeds were genotyped for 22 microsatellite markers and sequenced for the mitochondrial DNA displacement loop (mtDNA d-loop) region. The overall HO and HE were 0.57 and 0.75, respectively. Differentiation statistics revealed that a high proportion (97%) of the total genetic variation was explained by differences between individuals within populations. Genotype assignment independent of the population of origin showed K = 2 to be the optimum number of genetic backgrounds present in the dataset. This result was further confirmed by mtDNA D-loop sequences comparison in which the matrilineal genetic origin of eastern Ethiopia sheep is from two haplotype groups (types A and B) among the five haplotypes globally observed. Taken together, our findings suggest that the sheep populations from three breeds originated from two ancestral genetic backgrounds that may have diverged prior to their introduction to Ethiopia. However, to obtain a complete picture of the evolutionary dynamics of Ethiopian indigenous sheep, more samples and populations from within and outside of the country will need to be analyzed.
Breadth and depth of working memory and executive function compromises in mild cognitive impairment and their relationships to frontal lobe morphometry and functional competence
Authors: Garcia‐Alvarez Leticia , Gomar Jesus J. , Sousa Amber , Garcia‐Portilla Maria P. , Goldberg Terry E. 
Published: February 2019

AbstractIntroductionThe extent of working memory (WM) and executive function (EF) impairment in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is not well‐characterized.MethodsWe compared 48 patients with MCI, 124 noncognitively impaired elderly healthy controls, and 57 patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) on multiple WM/EF measures, frontal lobe integrity indexes, and functioning.ResultsPatients with MCI demonstrated worse performance on nearly all WM/EF tests. This profile of impairment was refined in a factor analysis that identified three primary WM/EF constructs: WM storage; speed and controlled visual search; and manipulation of information and problem solving. EF impairments were associated with reductions in prefrontal cortical thickness. WM/EF accounted for over 50% of the variance in functional competence.DiscussionIn MCI, WM/EF impairments are far from rare, based on specific compromises to frontal cortex circuitry, and are associated with loss of everyday functioning. WM/EF impairments, even at this potentially prodromal stage of AD, have clinically deleterious consequences.
Phenotypic characterization of malignant progenitor cells in patients with idiopathic myelofibrosis
Authors: Bao Yonghua , Hu Wenyang , Guo Yongchen , Yang Wancai 
Published: February 2019

Objective/Background:
Idiopathic myelofibrosis (IM) is a clonal hematological malignancy originating from pluripotent hematopoietic stem cells (HSC). HSC are very rare potent cells that reside in the bone marrow (BM) and at a lower level in peripheral blood (PB). Previous studies showed that IM PB CD34+ cells contain not only BM repopulating cells belonging to the malignant clone but also residual normal HSC.

Methods:
In the current study, we separated the subpopulations of IM PB CD34+ cells using IL-3Rα/CD123 labeling and further characterized them by genetic and functional analyses.

Results:
We differentiated IM PB CD34+ cells into three subpopulations (IL-3Rαhigh, IL-3Rαlow, and IL-3Rαnegative). IL-3Rαhigh CD34+ cell subgroup represents a small population in IM PB CD34+ cells which was not seen in normal G-CSF mobilized CD34+ cells. IM IL-3Rαhigh CD34+ cells contained significant higher percentage of cells bearing marker chromosome detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis. In the absence of growth factors, IM IL-3Rαhigh CD34+ cells exhibited abnormal colony forming ability and carried greater percentage of JAK2V617F mutant allele compared with IL-3Rαlow and IL-3Rαnegative CD34+ cells.

Conclusion:
These data indicate that IL-3Rαhigh CD34+ cells from IM enriched for the malignant progenitor cells and IL-3Rα/CD123 may be a potential biomarker and therapeutic target for IM. Our findings will be further validated in future studies with a larger sample size and serial transplant in murine models.
The prevalence and prognostic significance of autoimmune cytopenias in a cohort of Egyptian patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia
Authors: Atef Basma , Azmy Emad , Aladle Doaa , Mabed Mohamed 
Published: February 2019

Objective/Background:
The impact of autoimmune cytopenias (AICs) on the chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) clinical course and its prognostic significance remain a matter of controversial debate. This could be due to exclusion of patients with cytopenia from most clinical trials for this particular complication and the lack of standard diagnostic criteria and treatment approaches. We herein evaluate the prevalence and the prognostic significance of AICs among patients with CLL.

Methods:
This is an observational retrospective study. Data on 101 patients with CLL were derived from the Oncology Center, Mansoura University, Egypt, database, which contains information on demographic and clinical characteristics at diagnosis and follow-up records.

Results:
The prevalence of immune cytopenias was 11.9% among patients studied. Autoimmune hemolytic anemia was the most common autoimmune form in patients with cytopenia due to pure immune etiology (C immune group) with a prevalence of 6.9%. Patients with AICs and those in the C immune subgroup presented with more unfavorable parameters. Besides, patients with AICs showed lesser response to treatment and on restaging after initial treatment, significantly more patients without AICs moved to a more favorable stage. However, no parallel significant difference in the overall survival was found between patients without AICs and those with AICs or with immune and combined or infiltrative cytopenia.

Conclusion:
We have shown a prevalence of 11.8% for AIC among our CLL patients. AIC was associated with unsatisfactory normalization of the hematological parameters even with therapy and lower number of patients with CLL downstaging in comparison with patients without AIC. These results suggest that AIC is a fingerprint of a biologically more aggressive disease even if no significant impact on overall survival was found.
Factors associated with outpatient follow-up after a pediatric inpatient stay at a community hospital
Authors: Jani Shuchi , Fogel Joshua , Kelly Clare 
Published: February 2019

Background and objectives
Pediatric settings often use a patient-centered medical home model in caring for patients in the outpatient setting and for attempting to connect inpatient care with outpatient follow-up. This medical home model has proven to be beneficial in many aspects of patient care, but there needs to be a good transition between inpatient and outpatient services. Our goal in this study is to determine the association of particular variables with adherence to outpatient follow-up after a general inpatient stay, in the pediatric population.

Methods
In a retrospective sample of 221 patients, we study the association of variables such as demographics, medical history, hospital discharge and appointments, and caregiver information, with patient adherence to outpatient appointments after discharge from pediatric inpatient treatment.

Results
We found that increased length of hospital stay and a non English-speaking caregiver were each associated with increased odds for adherence. Discharge diagnosis of respiratory illness and that of neurology/psychiatry/toxicology were associated with decreased odds for adherence. None of the demographic and medical history variables were associated with adherence.

Conclusions
Our findings offer guidance to clinicians for the types of patients who may need closer follow-up and interventions set in place to remind these patients of the importance of attending an outpatient appointment.
Hybrid mode control for wide range soft‐switched full‐bridge converter with auxiliary parallel inductor networks
Authors: Tang Yuanhong , Wu Yunfeng , Chen Zhangyong , Zhang Chenyu , Hu Weihao 
Published: February 2019

Aiming at the limitations of conventional phase‐shifted full‐bridge (PSFB) converter, such as, narrow zero‐voltage switching (ZVS) range and large duty cycle losses, here, a wide range soft‐switched full‐bridge (FB) converter using hybrid mode control is proposed. Given using of two auxiliary inductors under light load, the energy that required for soft switching is satisfied and thus, ZVS can be achieved, and, therefore, efficiency of converter can be improved significantly under light load. Furthermore, the duty cycle losses of the secondary side are reduced by using a transformer with the small leakage inductor. Based on these merits, the proposed converter has some advantage for the wide range load variation applications without duty cycle losses. This paper presents the circuit configuration of the proposed converter and analyses its operating principles. Experimental results of an 800 W 200/50 V prototype are presented to validate the effectiveness of the proposed converter.
Accuracy improvement of positioning data in greenhouse for agricultural machinery via optimisation algorithm
Authors: Geng Jing , Wang Xiang , Zhu Saihua , Lin Xiangze 
Published: February 2019

Although several indoor positioning systems for greenhouse have been developed in automated agricultural machinery monitoring, the data measured by positioning systems still has large errors. In order to solve the problem, in this study, improved weighted‐centroid algorithm and maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) algorithm were developed to optimise positioning data of agricultural machinery in the greenhouse, which is measured by ultra‐wide band‐based indoor positioning system according to different agricultural machinery working states. Compared with real coordinate data, when agricultural machinery stays still, the average static error of the data was 66.4 mm with the improved weighted‐centroid algorithm; when the machinery is in dynamic state, the average dynamic error of the data was 61 mm and the probability that error <60 mm was 0.848 according to the MLE. Hence, the optimisation algorithms presented in this study improve the positioning accuracy significantly and the position of agricultural machinery is able to be estimated better compared with the raw data.
Effect of Aflibercept on Cystoid Macular Edema Associated with Central Retinal Vein Occlusion. Results from a District Hospital in the United Kingdom
Authors: Panos Georgios , Kostakis Vassileios , Porter Grazyna 
Published: February 2019

Abstract
Purpose The purpose of this study was to report the efficiency and safety of intravitreal aflibercept for the treatment of cystoid macular edema (CME) secondary to central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO).
Methods This is a retrospective cohort study. Ten naive eyes of ten patients with CME secondary to CRVO were included. All eyes received a loading dose of 3 monthly aflibercept injections followed by as-needed injections at monthly follow-up visits. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and central retinal thickness (CRT) were evaluated at baseline and at the end of the follow-up period.
Results The median follow-up period was 6 months (range: 6 – 9). The median number of injections was 4 (range: 3 – 5). Median BCVA improved from 1.05 LogMAR units (range: 0.7 – 1.6) at baseline to 0.65 (range: 0.4 – 1.6) at the end of the follow-up period (p = 0.02). Median CRT improved from 690 µm (range: 561 – 1235) at baseline to 243 µm (range: 207 – 531) at the end of the follow-up period (p = 0.002). The power of all statistical tests was greater than 0.8. No adverse effects or complications were documented.
Conclusion Intravitreal aflibercept treatment for CME secondary to CRVO significantly improved both macular anatomy and visual acuity without adverse effects.
Bedeutung der selektiven Lebensqualitätsanalyse nach Sympathikus-Clipping bei Patienten mit lokaler Hyperhidrose
Authors: Schreiner Waldemar , Mykoliuk Iurii , Dudek Wojciech , Sirbu Horia 
Published: February 2019

Zusammenfassung
Einleitung Die Hyperhidrose (HH) geht mit einer physischen und psychischen Einschränkung einher. Die Behandlung umfasst sowohl konservative als auch operative Methoden und strebt eine dauerhafte Verbesserung der Lebensqualität (LQ) der Betroffenen an. Die endoskopische Sympathikusblockade (ESB) stellt eine etablierte operative Therapiemethode dar und gilt als ein effektives chirurgisches Verfahren bei Versagen der konservativen Therapieoptionen. Das Ziel unserer Studie war, die LQ-Veränderung und die Patientenzufriedenheit nach ESB durch umfangreiche Analyseverfahren zu untersuchen und entsprechende Einflussfaktoren zu identifizieren.
Methoden Von Juli 2008 bis April 2016 wurden 105 Patienten wegen therapierefraktärer HH operiert. In allen Fällen wurde ein ESB entsprechend vorliegenden Hyperhidroseform und dem STS-Expertenkonsens (STS: Society of Thoracic Surgeons) durchgeführt. Die LQ und das Hyperhidrosestatus wurden anhand von detaillierten Fragebogen (ein selbst entwickelter Fragebogen, SF36, DLQI, Hyperhidrose LQ (HidroQoL)) selektiv prä- und postoperativ analysiert und bewertet. Die statistische Bearbeitung erfolgte anhand SPSS Statistics Version 21.0.0.2 für Windows (Armonk, NY: IBM Corp.). Die statistische Analyse erfolgte anhand deskriptiver Analyse und nicht parametrischer Tests.
Ergebnisse 105 Patienten zwischen Juli 2008 bis April 2016 wurden mittels bilateralem ESB operiert und evaluiert: 73 Frauen (69,5%) und 31 Männer (29,5%) im Medianalter von 26 Jahren (16 – 64), mit fokaler palmarer und axillarer (HPA) 13 (12,4%), palmoplantarer (PPH) 20 (19%), palmoplantarer und axillarer (PPAH) 47 (44,8%), axillarer Hyperhidrose (HA) 11 (10,5%) und Gesichtshyperhidrose (HF) 14 (13,3%). HydroQoL-Score zeigte eine Verbesserung in allen HH-Formen. Das DLQI wies eine Verbesserung in allen Patientengruppen auf, während die LQ-Analyse mittels SF36 eine Verbesserung in sozialer Funktionsfähigkeit und dem psychischen Wohlbefinden in allen HH-Formen außer HA aufzeigte. Mit postoperativem Ergebnis waren 86,7% (91) Patienten zufrieden. Das kompensatorische Schwitzen (KS) wurde in 76,2% (80) der Fälle beobachtet ohne einen eindeutigen LQ-Einfluss. Keine signifikante Korrelation zwischen KS und der Hyperhidroseform war feststellbar.
Schlussfolgerungen Die ESB geht mit einer dauerhaften LQ-Verbesserung in der sozialen Funktionsfähigkeit, dem psychologischen Wohlbefinden und der hohen Patientenzufriedenheit einher. Das Auftreten vom KS hat keine eindeutige Korrelation zu LQ und Patientenzufriedenheit.
Occult Urinary Incontinence Treatment: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis—Brazilian Guidelines
Authors: Matsuoka Priscila Katsumi , Castro Rodrigo Aquino , Baracat Edmund Chada , Haddad Jorge Milhem 
Published: February 2019

Objective To evaluate if performing anti-incontinence procedures during surgical anterior and/or apical prolapse correction in women with asymptomatic urinary incontinence (UI) may prevent stress urinary incontinence (SUI) postoperatively.
Methods We have performed a systematic review of articles published in the PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Lilacs databases until March 31, 2016. Two reviewers performed the data collection and analysis, independently. All of the selected studies were methodologically analyzed. The results are presented as relative risk (RR), with a 95% confidence interval (CI).
Results After performing the selection of the studies, only nine trials fulfilled the necessary prerequisites. In the present review, 1,146 patients were included. Altogether, the review included trials of three different types of anti-incontinence procedures. We found that performing any anti-incontinence procedure at the same time of prolapse repair reduced the incidence of SUI postoperatively (RR = 0.50; 95% CI: 0.28–0.91). However, when we performed the analysis separately by the type of anti-incontinence procedure, we found different results. In the subgroup analysis with midurethral slings, it is beneficial to perform it to reduce the incidence of SUI (RR = 0.08; 95% CI: 0.02–0.28). On the other hand, in the subgroup analysis with Burch colposuspension, there was no significant difference with the control group (RR = 1.47; 95% CI: 0.28–7.79]).
Conclusion Performing any prophylactic anti-incontinence procedure at the same time as prolapse repair reduced the incidence of SUI postoperatively. The Burch colposuspension did not show any decrease in the incidence of SUI postoperatively.
Three-Dimensional Surface Reconstruction of the Human Cochlear Nucleus: Implications for Auditory Brain Stem Implant Design
Authors: Tarabichi Osama , Kanumuri Vivek V. , Klug Julian , Vachicouras Nicolas , Duarte Maria J. , Epprecht Lorenz , Kozin Elliott D. , Reinshagen Katherine , Lacour Stéphanie P. , Brown M Christian , Lee Daniel J. 
Published: February 2019

Abstract
Objective The auditory brain stem implant (ABI) is a neuroprosthesis placed on the surface of the cochlear nucleus (CN) to provide hearing sensations in children and adults who are not candidates for cochlear implantation. Contemporary ABI arrays are stiff and do not conform to the curved brain stem surface. Recent advancements in microfabrication techniques have enabled the development of flexible surface arrays, but these have only been applied in animal models. Herein, we measure the surface curvature of the human CN and adjoining regions to assist in the design and placement of next-generation conformable clinical ABI arrays. Three-dimensional (3D) reconstructions from ultrahigh T1-weighted brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequences and histologic reconstructions based on postmortem adult human brain stem specimens were used.
Design This is a retrospective review of radiologic data and postmortem histologic axial sections.
Setting This is set at the tertiary referral center.
Participants Data were acquired from healthy adults.
Main Outcome Measures The main outcome measures are principal curvature values (Kmin and Kmax) and global radius of curvature.
Results The CN was successfully extracted and rendered as a 3D surface in all cases. Significant curvatures of the CN in both histologic and radiographic reconstructions were found with global radius of curvature ranging from 2.08 to 8.5 mm. In addition, local curvature analysis revealed that the surface is highly complex.
Conclusion Detailed rendering of the human CN is feasible using histology and 3D MRI reconstruction and highlights complex surface topography that is not recapitulated by contemporary stiff ABI arrays.
Thymic Epithelial Tumors: Prognostic Significance and Relationship between Histology and the New TNM Staging System
Authors: Tamburini Nicola , Maniscalco Pio , Migliorelli Andrea , Nigim Fares , Quarantotto Francesco , Maietti Elisa , Cavallesco Giorgio 
Published: February 2019

Background This study aims to describe the relationship between the new tumor nodes metastasis (TNM) staging and World Health Organization (WHO) classification and to identify how these two variables relate to each other and whether they possess a prognostic value in predicting survival and recurrence of disease.
Methods Medical records of 54 patients who underwent surgery for thymic epithelial tumors between 1996 and 2015 were reviewed.The histologic type of neoplasm was classified according to the criteria of WHO and staging was evaluated using the new TNM classification system.
Results A significant correlation between the TNM stages and the histological classification was found (p < 0.001). Complete resection is related to both TNM stage and histological grading (p < 0.001). Evaluation of the 5- and 10-year survival curves shows how these are significantly correlated only at the stage (p = 0.03 and = 0.04, respectively). The risk of death at 5 and 10 years for stages III to IV is six and three times higher than in stages I to II, respectively. Regarding the disease-free survival, there is significant correlation with both staging and histology (p = 0.001 and = 0.02, respectively).
Conclusions There is a significant correlation between the new TNM staging and the histological grade WHO. The ability to implement a complete resection, the overall and disease-free survival is closely related to the thymoma stage. Furthermore, both histotype and stage correlate with disease-free survival. In fact, the least aggressive stages, both WHO and TNM, have a free time out of disease superior to advanced stages.
The Role of Stroke as a Trigger for Incident Venous Thromboembolism: Results from a Population-based Case-Crossover Study
Authors: Morelli Vânia , Sejrup Joakim , Småbrekke Birgit , Rinde Ludvig , Grimnes Gro , Isaksen Trond , Hansen John-Bjarne , Hindberg Kristian , Brækkan Sigrid 
Published: February 2019

AbstractStroke is associated with a short-term increased risk of subsequent venous thromboembolism (VTE). It is unclear to what extent this association is mediated by stroke-related complications that are potential triggers for VTE, such as immobilization and infection. We aimed to investigate the role of acute stroke as a trigger for incident VTE while taking other concomitant VTE triggers into account. We conducted a population-based case-crossover study with 707 VTE patients. Triggers were registered during the 90 days before a VTE event (hazard period) and in four preceding 90-day control periods. Conditional logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for VTE according to triggers. Stroke was registered in 30 of the 707 (4.2%) hazard periods and in 6 of the 2,828 (0.2%) control periods, resulting in a high risk of VTE, with odds ratios of 20.0 (95% CI: 8.3–48.1). After adjustments for immobilization and infection, odds ratios for VTE conferred by stroke were attenuated to 6.0 (95% CI: 1.6–22.1), and further to 4.0 (95% CI: 1.1–14.2) when other triggers (major surgery, red blood cell transfusion, trauma, and central venous catheter) were added to the regression model. A mediation analysis revealed that 67.8% of the total effect of stroke on VTE risk could be mediated through immobilization and infection. Analyses restricted to ischemic stroke yielded similar results. In conclusion, acute stroke was a trigger for VTE, and the association between stroke and VTE risk appeared to be largely mediated by immobilization and infection.