bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Common femoral artery endarterectomy in the age of endovascular therapy
Authors: Elsherif Mohamed , Tawfick Wael , Elsharkawi Mohamed , Campell Ruth , Hynes Niamh , Sultan Sherif 
Published: May 2018

Objectives Common femoral artery endarterectomy (CFE) is the standard treatment for common femoral artery occlusive disease. We aim to assess the medium term outcomes of CFE with or without further concomitant procedures. Design A retrospective observational study. Methods All patients who underwent either isolated CFE (ICFE), CFE with angioplasty for occlusive arterial disease (CFEA) or concomitant CFE with endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (CFEE) were included. Patient demographics follow up, clinical improvement, types of CFE closure, patency rates, and survival-free amputation were noted. Results From 2002 to 2015, 1512 patients were referred with a diagnosis of critical limb ischemia. Of those, 1134 required revascularization. Sixty-one patients underwent 66 CFE. Ten limbs underwent an ICFE, 35 had CFEA, and 21 underwent CFEE. Demographics were comparable in all groups. Twenty-seven were closed primarily, while 39 required patch closure (12 venous, 8 Dacron, 19 biological). Technical success was 100% in ICFEs, 94% in CFEA, and 100% for CFEE ( p = 0.274). Immediate clinical success was 100% in both CFE and CFEE, but was 85.7% in CFEA ( p = 0.035). Immediate hemodynamic success was similar in all three groups ( p = 0.73). Sustained hemodynamic success was 30% in ICFE, 54.3% in CFEA, and 23.8% in CFEE ( p = 0.056). At two years, the primary patency was 90% in ICFE, 74.3% in CFEA, and 100% in CFEE ( p = 0.049). Primary-assisted patency was 90% in ICFE, 82.9% in CFEA, and 100% in CFEE ( p = 0.17). Secondary patency was 90% in ICFE, 94.3% in CFEA, and 100% in CFEE ( p = 0.409). Re-intervention was required in 26.9% of primary closures, versus 12.8% with patch closures ( p = 0.279). Amputation-free survival was 100% in ICFE, 80% in CFEA, and 100% in CFEE ( p = 0.056). Conclusion CFE is a reliable and dependable procedure, even in the absence of good distal runoff.
Association between comorbid cancer and outcomes among admissions for acute ischemic stroke receiving systemic thrombolysis
Authors: Weeda Erin R , Bohm Nicole 
Published: May 2018

Background The impact of cancer on outcomes was not assessed in major trials of systemic thrombolysis in acute ischemic stroke. Aims To evaluate the association between comorbid cancer and hospital outcomes among patients receiving systemic thrombolysis for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke. Methods The 2013 and 2014 United States National Inpatient Sample was used to identify adult patients hospitalized for acute ischemic stroke who received systemic thrombolysis. Identified admissions were stratified into two cohorts based on the presence or absence of comorbid cancer. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to determine the association between comorbid cancer and the odds of in-hospital mortality and intracerebral hemorrhage after adjustment for age ≥75 years and comorbid atrial fibrillation. Results A total of 13,993 acute ischemic stroke admissions were treated with systemic thrombolysis. Of these, 3.0% ( n = 416) had comorbid cancer. The overall incidence of in-hospital mortality was 7.0% and intracerebral hemorrhage occurred in 7.6% of patients. Upon multivariable adjustment, comorbid cancer was not associated with an increased odds of in-hospital mortality (odds ratio = 1.24; 95% confidence interval = 0.88–1.76). However, the adjusted odds of intracerebral hemorrhage were higher among those with comorbid cancer (odds ratio = 1.60; 95% confidence interval = 1.17–2.17). Conclusions In this retrospective study of admissions for acute ischemic stroke receiving thrombolysis, comorbid cancer was not associated with a higher odds of in-hospital mortality but was associated with an increased odds of intracerebral hemorrhage. Factors driving this observed association should be explored in data sets containing clinical variables.
Upper limb congenital muscular hypertrophy and aberrant muscle syndrome in children
Authors: Dahan Emmanuel , Chaves Camilo , Bachy Manon , Fitoussi Frank 
Published: May 2018

Congenital muscle hypertrophy of the upper limb is a very rare condition with unknown aetiology. This descriptive observational and retrospective series included eight children followed by a multidisciplinary team from 2005 to 2017. The diagnosis was based on a cluster of clinical and radiological characteristics after elimination of differential diagnoses. Patients were categorized according to: anomalies of the wrist, anomalies of long fingers of intrinsic or extrinsic origin; and anomalies of the thumb with or without first web space contracture. Treatment begins in young children with hand orthoses to limit muscle contraction and joint malposition. The purpose of surgical treatment was to release contractures and to restore muscle balance through, in the main, finger intrinsic releases and first web releases. At the 2-year follow-up, we found that limited surgical procedures improved finger, thumb and wrist positions. We conclude that muscle hypertrophy is the main cause of deformity and that selective releases of contracted musculo-tendinous units and skin lengthening are effective. Level of evidence: IV
Development of a Core Outcome Set for research on critically ill obstetric patients: A study protocol
Authors: Viau-Lapointe Julien , D’Souza Rohan , Rose Louise , Lapinsky Stephen E 
Published: May 2018

Background Current data on critical illness during pregnancy are insufficient for evidence-based decision making. Core outcome sets are promoted to improve reporting of outcomes important to decision makers. We aim to develop a Core Outcome Set for research on critically ill obstetric patients (COSCO study). Methods We will perform a systematic review of studies on critical illness in pregnancy and focus groups or interviews with women who were critically ill while being pregnant. These data will inform an international Delphi survey where stakeholders will rank proposed outcomes. Selected outcomes will be brought forward to a consensus meeting where core outcomes will be defined. We will then complete a second consensus process to define measures for each core outcome. Conclusion The Core Outcome Set on Critically ill Obstetric patients study aims to develop a set of core outcomes to be part of all studies on critically ill obstetric patients. Implementation of this core outcome set will help improve future research efforts. Trial registration: This study is registered on the COMET-initiative website (COS #916). This systematic review is registered on PROSPERO (CRD #42017071944).
Direct and indirect costs associated with nonoperative treatment for shoulder instability: an observational study in 132 patients
Authors: van der Linde Just A , Bosmans Judith E , ter Meulen Dirk P , van Kampen Derk A , van Deurzen Derek FP , Haverlag Robert , Saris Daniel BF , van den Bekerom Michel PJ 
Published: May 2018

Background Shoulder instability is associated with decreased functioning. The associated costs could be substantial and interesting to clinicians, researchers, and policy makers. This prospective observational study aims to (1) estimate productivity losses and healthcare expenses following the nonoperative treatment of shoulder instability and (2) identify patient characteristics that influence societal costs. Methods One hundred and thirty-two patients completed a questionnaire regarding production losses and healthcare utilization following consecutive episodes of shoulder instability. Productivity losses were calculated using the friction cost approach. Healthcare utilization was evaluated using standard costs. analysis of variance test was used to assess which patient characteristics are related to productivity losses and healthcare expenses. Societal costs were assessed using multilevel analyses. Bootstrapping was used to estimate statistical uncertainty. Results Mean productivity losses are €1469, €881, and €728 and mean healthcare expenses are €3759, €3267, and €2424 per patient per dislocation for the first, second, and third dislocation. Productivity losses decrease significantly after the second (mean difference €−1969, 95%CI= −3680 to −939) and third (mean difference €−2298, 95%CI= −4092 to −1288) compared to the first dislocation. Conclusions Nonoperative treatment of shoulder instability has substantial societal costs. Level of Evidence III, economic analysis.
A pilot study investigating whether quantitative sensory testing alters after treatment in patients with fibromyalgia
Authors: Wodehouse Theresa , Poply Kavita , Ramaswamy Shankar , Snidvongs Saowarat , Bourke Julius , Tahir Hasan , Ullrich Kristin , Mehta Vivek 
Published: May 2018

Background: Fibromyalgia is a chronic musculoskeletal pain condition that is often associated with sleep disturbances and fatigue. The pathophysiology of fibromyalgia is not understood, but indirect evidence suggests a central dysfunction of the nociceptive modulating system. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether quantitative sensory testing detects a change in pain thresholds in fibromyalgia patient receiving pregabalin treatment. Methods: A total of 25 patients were recruited for the study and received routine pregabalin, but only 14 patients completed the treatment. Assessment of pressure pain thresholds and changes in conditioned pain modulation using ischaemic pain as a conditioning stimulus were measured at baseline and every 4 weeks for 12 weeks. Fibromyalgia impact questionnaire, PainDETECT and SF-12 were also completed. Results: Patients with fibromyalgia demonstrated a less-efficient conditioned pain modulation at baseline. An efficient conditioned pain modulation was observed at 1 month and this was maintained until the final visit. Pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) showed a significant improvement from baseline. Patients also reported a similar magnitude of improvements in PainDETECT, fibromyalgia impact questionnaire (FIQ) and its impact on daily life and change in outcome for SF-12. Conclusion: This pilot study reports an increase in PPTs and improved conditioned pain modulation response after commencing pregabalin, which was maintained at 12 weeks, and this was supported by positive pain scores. Pregabalin is a licenced treatment for fibromyalgia in Europe, and its response to central sensitisation, particularly ‘dynamic responses’, has not been reported. We conclude that pregabalin has the potential to reduce peripheral and central sensitisation in patients with fibromyalgia, as measured using quantitative sensory testing.
Differentiating overlapping symptoms of vulvodynia and pudendal neuralgia
Authors: Ghizzani Anna , Carta Serafino , Casoni Annalisa , Ferrata Paolo , Luisi Stefano , Fortina Mattia 
Published: May 2018

Context: Vulvodynia is defined as a chronic vulvar pain non-associated with infectious, inflammatory, neoplastic or hormonal disorders. Objectives: To present a case demonstrating the difficulty in assessing concomitant disease in vulvodynia. Methods: A 26-year-old woman, presented with persistent vulvodynia. She received oral and topical medications and behavioural interventions to lessen sexual pain and restore sexuality. As sexual pain decreased, the patient reported symptoms previously not mentioned: continuous, intense periclitoral pain and numbness at the perineum when sitting for a long time. These new symptoms suggest the involvement of the peripheral neural system. The physical evaluation confirmed right-side pelvic distortion, and pathological increase in lumbar lordosis, which caused neuralgia radiating to the external genitalia and perineum, and overlapping with sexual pain. After diagnosing pudendal neuralgia according to the Nantes criteria, physical treatment and relaxation exercises to de-contract the spine were added to the vulvodynia regimen. Results: During treatment, vulvodynia was sometimes present but never unbearable, allowing satisfactory sex. With physical therapy, the symptoms of pudendal neuralgia decreased. Conclusion: Differentiating the presence of two conditions with overlapping symptoms is difficult because the vestibular pain had shadowed pudendal neuralgia symptoms at initial assessment. Syndromes of chronic pain tend to associate with each other and one syndrome may shadow symptoms of the concomitant condition affecting adjacent anatomical areas. Only the accurate identification of all the syndromes involved allows adopting the correct treatment.
Patient-Related Risk Factors for Infection Following Ulnar Nerve Release at the Cubital Tunnel: An Analysis of 15,188 Cases
Authors: Camp Christopher L. , Tebo Collin C. , Degen Ryan M. , Dines Joshua S. , Altchek David W. , Werner Brian C. 
Published: May 2018

Background: Although cubital tunnel release is a commonly performed orthopaedic procedure, the overall incidence of and independent risk factors for infection largely remain undefined in the current literature. Purpose: To establish the rate of postoperative infection after isolated cubital tunnel release and define relevant patient-related risk factors. Study Design: Case-control study; Level 3. Methods: All Medicare-insured patients undergoing ulnar nerve decompression at the cubital tunnel from 2010 through 2012 were identified. A multivariate binomial logistic regression analysis was utilized to evaluate the impact of patient-related risk factors for postoperative infection. Results: A total of 330 (2.17%) postoperative infections were identified in 15,188 cases. The majority (87%) were managed nonoperatively, while 13% required surgical debridement. The most significant risk factors for infection included hemodialysis use (odds ratio [OR], 2.47), chronic anemia (OR, 2.24), age <65 years (OR, 2.08), tobacco use (OR, 1.65), morbid obesity (OR, 1.53), inflammatory arthritis (OR, 1.43), depression (OR, 1.36), hyperlipidemia (OR, 1.33), male sex (OR, 1.32), and chronic lung disease (OR, 1.29). Conclusion: The present study was adequately powered to determine numerous patient-related risk factors for infection following cubital tunnel release.
Pyronaridine–artesunate and artemether–lumefantrine for the treatment of uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Kenyan children: a randomized controlled non-inferiority trial
Authors: Roth Johanna M. , Sawa Patrick , Makio Nicodemus , Omweri George , Osoti Victor , Okach Selpha , Choy Felix , Schallig Henk D. F. H. , Mens Pètra 
Published: May 2018

Abstract
Background
Pyronaridine–artesunate is a novel artemisinin-based combination therapy. The efficacy and safety of pyronaridine–artesunate were compared with artemether–lumefantrine for the treatment of uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria in children.

Methods
This phase III open-label randomized controlled non-inferiority trial was conducted in Western Kenya. Children aged 6 months to ≤ 12 years with a bodyweight > 5 kg and microscopically confirmed P. falciparum malaria were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to orally receive pyronaridine–artesunate or artemether–lumefantrine, dosed according to bodyweight, for 3 days.

Results
Of 197 participants, 101 received pyronaridine–artesunate and 96 received artemether–lumefantrine. The day-28 adequate clinical and parasitological response in the per-protocol population, PCR-corrected for reinfections, was 98.9% (93/94, 95% CI 94.2–99.8) for pyronaridine–artesunate and 96.4% (81/84, 95% CI 90.0–98.8) for artemether–lumefantrine. Pyronaridine–artesunate was found to be non-inferior to artemether–lumefantrine: the treatment difference was 2.5% (95% CI − 2.8 to 9.0). Adverse events occurred in 41.6% (42/101) and 34.4% (33/96) of patients in the pyronaridine–artesunate group and the artemether–lumefantrine group, respectively. No participants were found to have alanine or aspartate aminotransferase levels > 3 times the upper limit of normal.

Conclusions
Pyronaridine–artesunate was well tolerated, efficacious and non-inferior to artemether–lumefantrine for the treatment of uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria in Kenyan children. Results are in line with previous reports and inclusion of pyronaridine–artesunate in paediatric malaria treatment programmes should be considered.
This study is registered at clinicaltrials.gov under NCT02411994. Registration date: 8 April 2015. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02411994?term=pyronaridine–artesunate&cond=Malaria&cntry=KE&rank=1
Medical Transition without Social Transition
Authors: Rachlin Katherine 
Published: May 2018

Abstract
People who want gender-affirming surgery without a change in social role represent a range of unique perspectives and use a range of self-descriptive terms, including transgender, transsexual, genderqueer, gender nonconforming, TGNC, nonbinary, and cross-dresser. They may seek surgery to reduce gender dysphoria or to enhance gender euphoria. Professional literature and medical protocols such as the World Professional Association for Transgender Health's (WPATH) Standards of Care, version 7 (SOC-7), have been developed to reflect the needs of people who want to change their social role as well as their body. Medical protocols including SOC-7 recommend a period of “real-life experience” as a criterion for some surgeries, which is not appropriate for people who want medical without social transition, who may want a private expression of gender, and who are at high risk for self-treatment and self-injury. This article describes the many factors that may affect transition and surgical choices. A composite case example is presented to illustrate how surgery without social transition might enhance the life of a female-identified person who lives socially as a man. Medical and mental health providers do provide treatment for people who want medical transition without social transition, but the practice has yet to be well documented.
Preparation of organotypic brain slice cultures for the study of Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Croft Cara L. , Noble Wendy 
Published: May 2018

Alzheimer's disease, the most common cause of dementia, is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterised by amyloid-beta deposits in extracellular plaques, intracellular neurofibrillary tangles of aggregated tau, synaptic dysfunction and neuronal death. There are no cures for AD and current medications only alleviate some disease symptoms.Transgenic rodent models to study Alzheimer’s mimic features of human disease such as age-dependent accumulation of abnormal beta-amyloid and tau, synaptic dysfunction, cognitive deficits and neurodegeneration. These models have proven vital for improving our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying AD and for identifying promising therapeutic approaches. However, modelling neurodegenerative disease in animals commonly involves aging animals until they develop harmful phenotypes, often coupled with invasive procedures.In vivo studies are also resource, labour, time and cost intensive.We have developed a novel organotypic brain slice culture model to study Alzheimer’ disease which brings the potential of substantially reducing the number of rodents used in dementia research from an estimated 20,000 per year. We obtain 36 brain slices from each mouse pup, considerably reducing the numbers of animals required to investigate multiple stages of disease. This tractable model also allows the opportunity to modulate multiple pathways in tissues from a single animal. We believe that this model will most benefit dementia researchers in the academic and drug discovery sectors.We validated the slice culture model against aged mice, showing that the molecular phenotype closely mimics that displayedin vivo, albeit in an accelerated timescale. We showed beneficial outcomes following treatment of slices with agents previously shown to have therapeutic effectsin vivo,and we also identified new mechanisms of action of other compounds. Thus, organotypic brain slice cultures from transgenic mouse models expressing Alzheimer’s disease-related genes may provide a valid and sensitive replacement forin vivostudies that do not involve behavioural analysis.
Diurnal variation in the proinflammatory activity of urban fine particulate matter (PM2.5) by in vitro assays
Authors: Lovett Christopher , Cacciottolo Mafalda , Shirmohammadi Farimah , Haghani Amin , Morgan Todd E. , Sioutas Constantinos , Finch Caleb E. 
Published: May 2018

Background: Ambient particulate matter (PM) smaller than 2.5 µm in diameter (PM2.5) undergoes diurnal changes in chemical composition due to photochemical oxidation. In this study we examine the relationships between oxidative activity and inflammatory responses associated with these diurnal chemical changes. Because secondary PM contains a higher fraction of oxidized PM species, we hypothesized that PM2.5 collected during afternoon hours would induce a greater inflammatory response than primary, morning PM2.5. Methods: Time-integrated aqueous slurry samples of ambient PM2.5 were collected using a direct aerosol-into-liquid collection system during defined morning and afternoon time periods. PM2.5 samples were collected for 5 weeks in the late summer (August-September) of 2016 at a central Los Angeles site. Morning samples, largely consisting of fresh primary traffic emissions (primary PM), were collected from 6-9am (am-PM2.5), and afternoon samples were collected from 12-4pm (pm-PM2.5), when PM composition is dominated by products of photochemical oxidation (secondary PM). The two diurnally phased PM2.5 slurries (am- and pm-PM2.5) were characterized for chemical composition and BV-2 microglia were assayed in vitro for oxidative and inflammatory gene responses. Results: Contrary to expectations, the am-PM2.5 slurry had more proinflammatory activity than the pm-PM2.5 slurry as revealed by nitric oxide (NO) induction, as well as the upregulation of proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, and CCL2 (MCP-1), as assessed by messenger RNA production. Conclusions: The diurnal differences observed in this study may be in part attributed to the greater content of transition metals and water-insoluble organic carbon (WIOC) of am-PM2.5 (primary PM) vs. pm-PM2.5 (secondary PM), as these two classes of compounds can increase PM2.5 toxicity.
Budget Feasible Procurement Auctions
Authors: Anari Nima , Goel Gagan , Nikzad Afshin 
Published: May 2018

We consider a simple and well-studied model for procurement problems and solve it to optimality. A buyer with a fixed budget wants to procure, from a set of available workers, a budget feasible subset that maximizes her utility: Any worker has a private reservation price and provides a publicly known utility to the buyer in case of being procured. The buyer’s utility function is additive over items. The goal is designing a direct revelation mechanism that solicits workers’ reservation prices and decides which workers to recruit and how much to pay them. Moreover, the mechanism has to maximize the buyer’s utility without violating her budget constraint. We study this problem in the prior-free setting; our main contribution is finding the optimal mechanism in this setting, under the “small bidders” assumption. This assumption, also known as the “small bid to budget ratio assumption,” states that the bid of each seller is small compared with the buyer’s budget. We also study a more general class of utility functions: submodular utility functions. For this class, we improve the existing mechanisms significantly under our assumption. The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/opre.2017.1693 .