bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Assessment of Pain-related Disability in Pediatric Chronic Pain
Authors: Stahlschmidt Lorin , Friedrich Yvonne , Zernikow Boris , Wager Julia 
Published: August 2018

Objectives:
The assessment of pain-related disability in pediatric chronic pain patients plays an important role in research on the effectiveness of pain treatment. The present study aimed to compare the 2 available measures of pain-related disability in the German language, the Functional Disability Inventory (FDI) and Pediatric Pain Disability Index (PPDI), in terms of psychometric properties and convergent validity. In addition, associations between FDI/PPDI scores and sex, age, and pain locations were investigated.

Materials and Methods:
Data of N=250 pediatric pain patients (M
age=14.4, SD=1.8) were collected at the patients’ initial presentation to a specialized pediatric pain center.

Results:
The results revealed similarly sound psychometric properties in terms of model fit, item difficulties, corrected item-total correlations, and missing values for both measures. However, item difficulties for the FDI were rather low. Both measures displayed good convergent validity in terms of associations with pain intensity, pain-related school absence, and emotional functioning (anxiety, depression). In both measures, girls had significantly higher scores than boys. No associations were found between the FDI/PPDI total scores and age or pain location.

Discussion:
In conclusion, both measures are equally suited to assess pain-related disability in adolescents with chronic pain. The FDI should be used with caution in epidemiological studies due to the risk of floor effects. Further research is needed with regard to the relationship between pain-related disability and sex.
Approach-based Comparative and Predictor Analysis of 30-day Readmission, Reoperation, and Morbidity in Patients Undergoing Lumbar Interbody Fusion Using the ACS-NSQIP Dataset
Authors: Katz Austen David , Mancini Nickolas , Karukonda Teja , Greenwood Matthew , Cote Mark , Moss Isaac L. 
Published: August 2018

Study Design.
A retrospective cohort study.

Objective.
The aim of this study was to determine the difference in 30-day readmission, reoperation, and morbidity for patients undergoing either posterior or anterior lumbar interbody fusion.

Summary of Background Data.
Despite increasing utilization of lumbar interbody fusion to treat spinal pathology, few studies compare outcomes by surgical approach, particularly using large nationally represented cohorts.

Methods.
Patients who underwent lumbar interbody fusion were identified using the NSQIP database. Rates of readmission, reoperation, morbidity, and associated predictors were compared between posterior/transforaminal (PLIF/TLIF) and anterior/lateral (ALIF/LLIF) lumbar interbody fusion using multivariate regression. Bonferroni-adjusted alpha-levels were utilized whereby variables were significant if their P values were less than the alpha-level or trending if their P values were between 0.05 and the alpha-level.

Results.
We identified 26,336 patients. PLIF/TLIF had greater operative time (P = 0.015), transfusion (P < 0.001), UTI (P = 0.008), and stroke/CVA (P = 0.026), but lower prolonged ventilation (P < 0.001) and DVT (P = 0.002) rates than ALIF/LLIF. PLIF/TLIF independently predicted greater morbidity on multivariate analysis (odds ratio: 1.155, P = 0.0019).
In both groups, experiencing a complication and, in PLIF/TLIF, ASA-class ≥3 predicted readmission (P < 0.001). Increased age trended toward readmission in ALIF/LLIF (P = 0.003); increased white cell count (P = 0.003), dyspnea (P = 0.030), and COPD (P = 0.005) trended in PLIF/TLIF. In both groups, increased hospital stay and wound/site-related complication predicted reoperation (P < 0.001). Adjunctive posterolateral fusion predicted reduced reoperation in ALIF/LLIF (P = 0.0018). ASA-class ≥3 (P = 0.016) and age (P = 0.021) trended toward reoperation in PLIF/TLIF and ALIF/LLIF, respectively. In both groups, age, hospital stay, reduced hematocrit, dyspnea, ASA-class ≥3, posterolateral fusion, and revision surgery and, in PLIF/TLIF, bleeding disorder predicted morbidity (P < 0.001). Female sex (P = 0.010), diabetes (P = 0.042), COPD (P = 0.011), and disseminated cancer (P = 0.032) trended toward morbidity in PLIF/TLIF; obesity trended in PLIF/TLIF (P = 0.0022) and ALIF/LLIF (P = 0.020).

Conclusion.
PLIF/TLIF was associated with a 15.5% increased odds of morbidity; readmission and reoperation were similar between approaches. Older age, higher ASA-class, and specific comorbidities predicted poorer 30-day outcomes, while procedural-related factors predicted only morbidity. These findings can guide surgical approach given specific factors.

Level of Evidence: 3
Evaluation of Percutaneous Intradiscal Amniotic Suspension Allograft in a Rabbit Model of Intervertebral Disc Degeneration
Authors: Luo Tianyi David , Vines Jeremy B. , Zabarsky Zachary K. , Mowry Katie C. , Marquez-Lara Alejandro , Jinnah Alexander H. , Ma Xue , Berwick Benjamin W. , Willey Jeffrey S. , Smith Thomas L. , Li Zhongyu , O’Gara Tadhg J. 
Published: August 2018

Study Design.
A laboratory study using a rabbit annular puncture model of intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD).

Objective.
The aims of this study were to assess whether an amniotic suspension allograft (ASA) containing particulated human amnion and amniotic fluid derived cells regains intervertebral disc height and morphology and improves histologic scoring in a rabbit model of IDD.

Summary of Background Data.
In contrast to current surgical interventions for IDD, in which the primary goal is to relieve symptomatic pain, one novel strategy involves the direct injection of anabolic cytokines. Current therapies for IDD are limited by both the short half-life of therapeutic proteins and general decline in anabolic cell populations.

Methods.
Intervertebral discs in New Zealand white rabbits were punctured using 18-gauge needle under fluoroscopic guidance. Four weeks post-puncture, two groups of rabbits were injected with either ASA or a vehicle/sham control, while a third group was untreated. Weekly radiographs were obtained for 12 weeks to assess disc height index (DHI). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) T2 relaxation time was evaluated at weeks 4 and 12 to assess morphological changes. Histologic sections were evaluated on a semi-quantitative grading scale.

Results.
Before treatment at week 4, DHIs and normalized T2 relaxation times between the three groups were not significantly different. At week 12, ASA-treated rabbits exhibited significantly greater DHIs and MRI T2 relaxation times than vehicle and untreated control groups. The ASA group had higher mean histologic score than the vehicle group, which demonstrated extensive fiber disorganization and delamination with reduced proteoglycan staining on histology.

Conclusion.
Minimally invasive intervention with intradiscal injection of ASA was successful in reducing IDD in a reproducible rabbit model, with significant improvement in disc height and morphology when compared with vehicle and untreated control groups on radiographic and MRI analyses.

Level of Evidence: N/A
CMV-specific Cell-mediated Immunity at 3-month Prophylaxis Withdrawal Discriminates D+/R+ Kidney Transplants at Risk of Late-onset CMV Infection Regardless the Type of Induction Therapy
Authors: Jarque Marta , Melilli Edoardo , Crespo Elena , Manonelles Anna , Montero Nuria , Torras Joan , Cruzado Josep M. , Luque Sergi , Gil-Vernet Salvador , Grinyó Josep M. , Bestard Oriol 
Published: August 2018

Background
Whether cytomegalovirus (CMV)-specific cell-mediated immunity (CMI) at prophylaxis cessation predicts D+/R+ kidney transplants at risk of late-onset CMV infection after receiving distinct induction therapies is still not well characterized.

Methods
We prospectively assessed CMV-specific CMI predicting late-onset CMV infection at prophylaxis withdrawal and at earlier time-points, in 96 consecutive D+/R+ patients receiving either anti-interleukin 2-receptor antibody (anti-IL2RA; n = 50) or rabbit antithymoglobulin (n = 46). CMV-specific CMI was evaluated against CMV antigens (IE-1, pp65) using an IFN-γ ELISpot assay.

Results
Fourteen (14.6%) of 96 patients developed late-onset CMV infection and 2 (2.1%) of 96 displayed disease. At 3 months, CMV-specific CMI frequencies were significantly lower in patients developing late-onset CMV infection (P < 0.001 for IE-1, P = 0.030 for pp65), regardless the type of induction therapy. Receiver operating characteristic curve analyses showed accurate CMV-specific CMI cutoffs (25 and 130 IFN-γ spots for IE-1 and pp65, respectively) classifying patients into high risk, intermediate risk, or low risk (log-rank = 0.006; hazard ratio, 4.084; 95% confidence interval, 1.431-11.651; P = 0.009), being IE-1 CMI the strongest predictor (odds ratio, 5.554; 95% confidence interval, 1.486-20.766; P = 0.011). Although the profound posttransplant CMV-specific CMI inhibition among rabbit antithymocyte globulin–treated patients precludes its use for risk stratification both before and early after kidney transplant, a similar proportion of at-risk patients could be identified before month 3 within anti-interleukin 2-receptor antibody–treated patients.

Conclusions
Monitoring CMV-specific CMI at 3-month prophylaxis cessation discriminates kidney transplant recipient at risk of late-onset CMV infection, regardless the type of induction therapy.
Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome in Kidney Transplantation: The Role of Dietary Fructose and Systemic Endotoxemia
Authors: Chan Winnie , Smith Byron , Stegall Mark , Borrows Richard 
Published: August 2018

Background
The concepts that obesity is merely a consequence of overeating, and that metabolic health then reflects obesity, may be insufficient and potentially flawed. The role of fructose intake and metabolic endotoxemia has gained attention recently, but data in kidney transplantation are lacking. This study evaluated the risk factors for metabolic syndrome (MS), its components, and other associated markers in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs), focusing particularly on fructose intake and systemic endotoxemia.

Methods
This cross-sectional observational study enrolled 128 KTRs longer than 1 year posttransplantation. Clinical, biochemical, anthropometric, and questionnaire assessments were undertaken.

Results
Obesity (body mass index, ≥30 kg/m2) and MS (International Diabetes Federation Definition) were found in 36.7% and 50% of KTRs, respectively. Both increased fructose intake (P = 0.01) and endotoxin level (P = 0.02) were independently associated with MS; and higher fructose intake was independently associated with obesity (P < 0.001). Specifically, increased fructose intake was associated with the central obesity (P = 0.01) and hyperglycemia (P < 0.001) criteria of MS, whereas higher endotoxin level was associated with the hypertriglyceridemia (P = 0.003) and low HDL cholesterol concentration (P = 0.002) criteria of MS. Neither saturated fat nor total caloric intakes were independently associated with obesity and MS; and neither obesity nor central obesity were independently associated with the dyslipidemia and hyperglycemia criteria of MS. Principal component analysis demonstrated relationships between higher levels of endotoxin, soluble endothelial selectin, triglycerides, and insulin resistance (r > 0.6), as well as relationships between increased fructose intake, inflammation, and blood glucose (r > 0.6).

Conclusions
Dietary modifications through decreasing fructose intake and addressing systemic endotoxemia are plausible targets for improving metabolic health of KTRs.
Factors Associated With Mortality and Response to Extracorporeal Photopheresis in Lung Allograft Recipients With Bronchiolitis Obliterans Syndrome
Authors: Karnes Hope E. , Schindler Emily I. , Morrell Matt , Hachem Ramsey R. , Berman Keith , Vedantham Suresh , Atkinson Jeff , Spitznagel Edward , Despotis George John 
Published: August 2018

Background.
This study was designed to identify factors associated with clinical response to extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) and mortality after ECP in lung allograft recipients with bronchiolitis obliterans.

Methods.
Forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) values obtained 6 months before (baseline) and 6 months after initiation of ECP were used to plot the linear relationship between FEV1 versus time before and after ECP. Response to ECP was assigned when a positive integer was derived after subtracting the baseline rate of decline from the rate of decline 6 months after ECP. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify demographic, treatment-related factors or spirometric parameters that may be associated with response to ECP or mortality at either 6 or 16 months after initiation of ECP.

Results.
Forced expiratory volume in 1 second just before ECP was associated with mortality (P = 0.007) at 16 months after ECP initiation. An FEV1 of 1.50 L or less had a sensitivity of 87% and specificity of 60% to identify patients who died within 16 months after ECP initiation. Patients whose FEV1 decline exceeded 40 mL/month were 12 times more likely to have a response to ECP (P = 0.0001). Patients whose decline in FEV1 before ECP was statistically significant (P < 0.05) were nearly 10 times (P = 0.008) more likely to respond to ECP.

Conclusions.
Forced expiratory volume in 1 second is an important predictor of mortality, and the response to ECP is influenced by both the extent (>40 mL/mo) and statistical significance of the relationship between FEV1 versus time before ECP initiation. Therefore, earlier bronchiolitis obliterans detection and more timely implementation of ECP (ie, when FEV1 values >1.5 L) should be considered especially in patients with a more aggressive rate of decline of lung function.
Vectashield-induced fluorescence quenching hinders conventional and super resolution microscopy
Authors: Arsić Aleksandra , Stajković Nevena , Spiegel Rainer , Nikić-Spiegel Ivana 
Published: August 2018

AbstractFinding the right combination of a fluorescent dye and a mounting medium is crucial for optimal microscopy of fixed samples. It was recently shown that Vectashield, one of the most commonly used mounting media for conventional microscopy, can also be applied to super-resolution direct stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (dSTORM). dSTORM utilizes conventional dyes and starts with samples in a fluorescent ON state. This helps identifying structures of interests. Subsequently, labelled samples are brought to blinking, which is necessary for localization of single molecules and reconstruction of super-resolution images. This is only possible with certain fluorescent dyes and imaging buffers. One of the most widely used dyes for dSTORM, Alexa Fluor (AF) 647, blinks in Vectashield. However, after adding Vectashield to our samples, we noticed that the fluorescence intensity of AF647 and its improved variant, AF647+, is quenched. Since structures of interest cannot be identified in quenched samples, loss of fluorescence intensity hinders imaging of AF647 in Vectashield. This has consequences for both conventional and dSTORM imaging. To overcome this, we provide: 1) a quantitative analysis of AF647 intensity in different imaging media, 2) practical advice on how to use Vectashield for dSTORM imaging of AF647 and AF647+.
Network analysis of lymphocyte nucleus staining image —Data mining of lymphocyte image
Authors: Li Da-Dong , Yang Xing-Lin , Xiong Qian-Yu , Liang Yue-Dong , Liu Shui-Qing , Hu Hai-Yan , Zhou Xiang-hong , Huang Hai 
Published: August 2018

AbstractBackground: A complex network has been studied and applied in various disciplines. As network analysis and image processing are based on matrices, this research analysed the changes in the chromatin image of lymphocyte nuclei in peripheral blood of humans using a network motif and static features (static parameters), so as to complete image classification with network method.Methods: Image processing technology was used to establish a chromatin image network of a cell nucleus; Network analysis tool Pajek was used to display the special motif of an isolated structural hole with different symmetric line values; afterwards, the frequency of occurrence of this structural hole in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma and AIDS, and healthy people was computed. Then by applying the network static features as variables, the chromatin images of stained lymphocytes from the three groups of people were classified and recognised by using an extreme learning machine (ELM).Results: The frequency of occurrence of the isolated structural hole with different symmetric line values was adopted to distinguish the structures of the chromatins of peripheral blood lymphocytes in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma and AIDS, and healthy people. Similarly, The static features of the chromatin image network of a cell nucleus were applied to classify and recognise the morphological and structural changes in chromatins for peripheral blood lymphocytes in the three groups of people.Conclusion: The surface chemical and physical characteristics, as well as the polymerisation link status of biomacromolecules such as DNA, RNA, and protein in the lymphocyte nucleus change under certain pathological conditions. The change influences the combination of small molecular staining materials and any associated biomacromolecules. Therefore, various macroscopic and microscopic changes were found in the chromatin images of the cell nucleus. The microscopic changes include the variations of the extent of staining of chromatin in the nuclei, coarseness and direction of the texture therein, the size of stained conglomerations,etc. These changes contribute to the differences in chromatin image networks among the same type of cells across the three groups. Based on this, the model can be used to classify and reorganise certain diseases. The results prove that using complex network to analyse the chromatin structure of a cell nucleus is of significance.
Mindfulness meditators show altered distributions of early and late neural activity markers of attention in a response inhibition task
Authors: Bailey NW , Freedman G , Raj K , Sullivan CM , Rogasch NC , Chung SW , Hoy KE , Chambers R , Hassed C , Van Dam NT , Fitzgerald PB 
Published: August 2018

AbstractAttention is a vital executive function, since other executive functions are largely dependent on it. Mindfulness meditation has been shown to enhance attention. However, the components of attention altered by meditation and the related neural activities are underexplored. In particular, the contributions of inhibitory processes and sustained attention are not well understood. Additionally, it is not clear whether improvements in attention are related to increases in the strength of typically activated brain areas, or the recruitment of additional or alternative brain areas. To address these points, 34 meditators were compared to 28 age and gender matched controls during electroencephalography (EEG) recordings of neural activity during a Go/Nogo response inhibition task. This task generates a P3 event related potential, which is related to response inhibition processes in Nogo trials, and attention processes across both trial types. Compared with controls, meditators were more accurate at responding to Go and Nogo trials. Meditators showed a more frontally distributed P3 to both Go and Nogo trials, suggesting more frontal involvement in sustained attention rather than activity specific to response inhibition. Unexpectedly, meditators also showed increased positivity over the right parietal cortex prior to visual information reaching the occipital cortex. Both results were positively related to increased accuracy across both groups. The results suggest that meditators have an increased capacity to modulate a range of neural processes in order to meet task requirements, including higher order processes, and sensory anticipation processes. This increased capacity may underlie the improved attentional function observed in mindfulness meditators.
Little variation in the morphology of the atria across 13 orders of birds
Authors: Kroneman Jelle G. H. , Faber Jaeike W. , Wolschrijn Claudia F. , Christoffels Vincent M. , Jensen Bjarke 
Published: August 2018

AbstractMammals and birds acquired high performance hearts and endothermy during their independent evolution from amniotes with many reptile characters. A literature review shows that the variation in atrial morphology is greater in mammals than in ectothermic reptiles. We therefore hypothesized that the transition from ectothermy to endothermy associated with greater variation in cardiac structure. We tested the hypothesis in birds, by assessing the variation in 15 characters in hearts from 13 orders of birds. Hearts were assessed by gross morphology and histology, and we focused on the atria as they have multiple features that lend themselves to quantification. We found bird hearts to have multiple features in common with ectothermic reptiles (synapomorphies), for instance the presence of three sinus horns. Convergent features were shared with crocodylians and mammals, such as the cranial offset of the left atrioventricular junction. Other convergent features like the compact organization of the atrial walls were shared with mammals only. Sinus myocardium expressing Isl1 was node-like (Mallard), thickened (chicken), or anatomically indistinct from surrounding myocardium (Lesser redpoll). Some features were distinctively avian (apomorphies), including the presence of a left atrial antechamber, and the ventral merger of the left and right atrium, which was found in parrots and passerine birds. Most features, however, exhibited little variation. For instance, there were always three systemic veins and two pulmonary veins, whereas among mammals there are 2-3 and 1-7, respectively. Our findings suggest that the transition to high cardiac performance does not necessarily lead to greater variation in cardiac structure.
Relaxed constraint and thermal desensitization of the cold-sensing ion channel TRPM8 in mammoths
Authors: Chigurapati Sravanthi , Sulak Mike , Miller Webb , Lynch Vincent J. 
Published: August 2018

AbstractUnlike the living elephants, which live in warm tropical and subtropical habitats, mammoths lived in extreme cold environments where average winter temperatures ranged from −30° to −50°C. Like other cold adapted and artic species, mammoths evolved of suite of morphological and molecular adaptations that facilitated life in the cold. Here we reanalyze mammoth genomes and find that genes with mammoth-specific amino acid substitutions are enriched in functions related to temperature sensation. Among the genes with mammoth-specific amino acid substitutions is TRPM8, which mediates sensitivity to nonnoxious cool temperatures from 25– 28°C and cooling sensations induced by the chemical agonists menthol and icilin. We find that TRPM8 evolved rapidly in the mammoth stem-lineage, likely because of an episode of relaxed purifying selection. Functional characterization of resurrected mammoth and ancestral TRPM8 indicates that the mammoth TRPM8 is desensitized to cold but maintains sensitivity to menthol and icilin. These data suggest that as mammoths evolved into a cold tolerant species they lost the need for a cold-sensitive TRPM8.