bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Ultraviolet Corneal Crosslinking
Authors: Bikbov M. M. , Khalimov A. R. , Usubov E. L. 
Published: July 2016

This review presents basic information on UV corneal crosslinking. The method is widely used in ophthalmology to treat various types of ectasia, which are characterized by progressive degenerative changes in the cornea, associated with its thinning , hazing and scarring, which leads to a significant reduction in visual acuity. Crosslinking is based on ultraviolet (UV) irradiation of the cornea wavelength 370 nm in the presence of riboflavin, leading to photochemical intracorneal interactions. As a result of crosslinking of collagen treatments, an increase of strength and mechanical properties of the cornea, stops the progression of the disease. The article displays the steps of the method development and the ways of its implementation are described especially occurring biomechanical, biochemical, morphological and ultrastructural changes, as well as the main areas of clinical application of riboflavin-UV-A-induced crosslinking of cornea.
The Possibilities of Cell Technologies in the Treatment of Cicatricial Lesions of the Vocal Folds
Authors: Svistushkin V. M. , Starostina S. V. , Lyundup A. V. , Dedova M. G. , Budeikina L. S. , Svistushkin M. V. , Krasheninnikov M. E. , Baranovskiy D. S. 
Published: July 2016

The article is a brief review of publications devoted to the problem of persistent dysphonia. The main cause of voice disorders is the scarring of the vocal folds resulting from trauma, surgical manipulation, inflammatory process. Treatment of cicatricial lesions of the vocal folds remains a challenge, as far as existing methods do not ensure the recovery of the ultrastructure of the vocal folds. The authors present modern data on the structure of the vocal folds at the cellular level. Considered pathologic processes occur in different stages of scarring. Applied technologies of phonosurgery and conservative treatment, their effectiveness and shortcomings are covered. Analysis of experimental research conducted in the world demonstrates the promise of using the methods of tissue engineering to treat scarring of the vocal folds and to restore the microstructure of the latter. Identified current issues remain unresolved, which leads to the need for further experimental and clinical studies in the treatment of this pathology.
Serum Myokines Levels in Patients with Endogenous Cushing Syndrome and Acromegaly: Cross-Sectional Case−Control Study
Authors: Tsoriev T. T. , Belaya Z. E. , Rozhinskaya L. Y. , Melnitchenko G. A. , Grebennikova T. A. , Ilyin A. V. , Nikankina L. V. , Dedov I. I. 
Published: July 2016

Background: Myokines are produced and released by muscle cells in response to muscular contractions. Endogenous Cushing syndrome (CS) and acromegaly cause significant changes in muscle tissue leading to atrophy or hypertrophy. However, there is no data whether these endocrine abnormalities influence myokine secretion. Aims: To evaluate serum levels of myostatin, interleukin-6 (IL6) and irisin in patients with CS and acromegaly. Materials and methods: Fasting serum samples were taken and stored in aliquot at ≤-20°C from consecutive subjects with clinically evident and biochemically confirmed active CS, acromegaly and healthy volunteers matched by age, sex and body mass index (BMI). Commercially available kits were used to assay serum myokine levels. Grip strength was measured by a dynamometer. Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF1) was measured by immunochemiluminescence assay (Liaison), twenty-four hours urine free cortisol (24hUFC) ― by immunochemiluminescence assay (Vitros ECi), salivary free cortisol ― by electrochemiluminescence assay (Cobas). One-way ANOVA was utilized to assess the difference between groups. Results: We enrolled 88 subjects: 30 patients suffered from CS (group 1), 28 ― acromegaly (2) and 30 matched healthy controls (3) with no difference among the groups in sex, age and BMI (p=0.492, 0.062 and 0.174 respectively). Mean 24hUFC in subjects with CS and mean IGF1 in subjects with acromegaly were significantly higher as compared to other groups (p0.001). Right-hand grip strength was lower in patients with CS as compared to both patients with acromegaly and healthy subjects (p=0.04). However, among these young adults we did not find statistically significant differences in measured myokines levels: irisin ― p=0.15; IL6 ― p=0.34; myostatin ― p=0.50. There was a significant correlation between myostatin and irisin in the whole group of people and in every separately analyzed subset of patients (p0.001), but no correlation was found between any measured myokines and 24hUFC or IGF1.Conclusions: Hypercortisolism or supraphysiological IGF1 levels do not significantly influence serum levels of myostatin, IL6 and irisin in young adults.
Generation of Antibiotic Tolerant Bacterial Persisters in Immunocompromized Patients with Hematologic and Malignant Diseases: A New Problem of Health-Care Associated Infections
Authors: Tutelyan A. V. , Pisarev V. M. , Minaeva N. Z. , Gaponov A. M. , Gracheva A. N. , Solopova G. G. 
Published: July 2016

Background: Antibiotic tolerance (AT) represents one of the causes of the phenomenon of antibiotic resistance that allows escape of non-replicating metabolically inert microorganisms (persisters) from any antibiotics attack because molecular targets of antibiotics are lacking thereby creating the potential for chronic infections. Aims:Determine the heterogeneity of the strains of opportunistic pathogens E. coli and P. aeruginosa isolates from children with hematologic malignancies containing bacterial persisters that cause the AT phenomenon. Methods: Children with hematological malignancies were divided into 2 groups according to the intensity of antibiotic treatment of infectious complications. Ciprofloxacin-induced persisters were quantitatively determined in the biological materials obtained from sick children. Results: Within the clinical isolates of E. coli and P. aeruginosa, about a third of the strains belong to high-persisting. The numbers of persistent forms of bacteria did not correlate with a minimal inhibitory concentration values ciprofloxacin (r=0.148, n=25, p0.05). Interestingly, higher level of formation of persistent E. coli and P. aeruginosa, is associated with higher frequencies of infection attacks, massive antibiotic use and unfavorable course of the disease in children. Conclusions: Therefore, detecting the persistent forms of bacterial pathogens including those associated with the health-care associated infection, specifically, in immunocompromised patients, should be included into the contemporary algorithms of microbiological observation and monitoring of patients and intrahospital environment.
Autopercepción del ejercicio de liderazgo ético de dirigentes universitarios
Authors: Unda Sofía 
Published: July 2016

.There is a clear shortage in academic research on ethical leadership, specially at an educational context, whatever its level. Therefore, it has been detected the need for an specific research on how university managers perceive themselves exercising their ethical leadership in such a context. In this sense, this work offers definite results obtained through the research developed in April 2013 with 31 university managers working in Social Councils, University Boards as well as other university teams, both at public and private national universities all over Spain. These results have shown that their self-perceptions are basically supported by a possitive conception of their decisions. In fact, 20 out of 29 university managers interviewed have declared being totally aware of the integrity of their decision-making processes. They had been previously interviewed through semi-structured surveys whose contents have been analysed according to the ATLAS.ti.7 Programme.Finally, by means of a mixed-analytical strategy previous codes were defined and structured, in order to organize the answers given by the university managers, whilst new codes were emerging from the discussion. As a result, five general codes defining the appropiate categories for university managers self-perception were analyzed in detail: a) possitive self-perception, b) possitive but partial self-perception, c) negative self-perception/cooperative, d) negative self-perception/leader and e) unable to self-perception.
Liderazgo estudiantil y ramas de conocimiento:Un estudio aproximativo en la Universidad de Granada
Authors: El Homrani Mohammed , Conde Lacárcel Alfonso , Ávalos Ruiz Inmaculada 
Published: July 2016

Presentamos una investigación descriptiva realizada en la Universidad de Granada que tiene como objetivo principal: Conocer, describir, analizar y valorar las percepciones de los líderes estudiantiles universitarios sobre sí mismos, según los diferentes Centros y cargos, y realizar propuestas de mejora que fomenten la participación de los estudiantes en los procesos electorales y en la vida política universitaria. Hemos llevado a cabo un diseño no experimental, y realizado la recogida de información por medio de cuestionarios, entrevistas semi-estructuradas y grupos de discusión sobre una muestra intencional de 73 representantes y líderes estudiantiles pertenecientes a las distintas ramas de conocimiento a la que hemos podido acceder. El análisis de los datos obtenidos nos ha permitido obtener una descripción de los distintos cargos de representación estudiantil y la vida política en la Universidad de Granada, así como establecer futuras líneas de mejora en base a las percepciones, expectativas, desarrollo de sus funciones y valoraciones de los propios representantes. Como conclusiones a este estudio, proponemos la necesidad de fomentar la participación y el liderazgo estudiantil a través del reconocimiento de créditos de libre configuración, y certificaciones por actividades de gestión y representación del alumnado, así como una mejora de las infraestructuras para realizar sus labores representativas.
Let plant hydraulics catch the wave
Authors: Cochard Hervé , Torres-Ruiz José M. , Delzon Sylvain 
Published: July 2016

In September 2015, INRA-Aquitaine organized the second international meeting of the Xylem group in Bordeaux.This group gathers scientists interested on structural, functional and ecological aspects of the xylem tissue in plants. The group first organized French meetings between 1999 and 20131 but turned international in 2014. For this second international event, more than 100 scientists from 17 different countries attended the meeting for 3-days. While the majority of the attendees were from the field of plant hydraulics, it is noteworthy that many participants were from different disciplines such as molecular biology, genomics, physiology, physics and ecosystem biology. This is an illustration of the dynamism and of the attractiveness of plant hydraulics. Our objective here is to stress some points that we think are important to consider in order to promote further this discipline in the future and let xylem hydraulics catch the wave.
Response to Torres-Ruiz et al., 2016, “Why do trees take more risks in the Amazon?” <sup>&dagger; </sup>
Authors: Rowland Lucy , Mencuccini Maurizio , Oliveira Rafael , Meir Patrick 
Published: July 2016

Torres-Ruiz et al. (2016) commented the publication of Rowland et al. (2015). The authors reply to this comment.
El Sistema Nacional de Áreas Protegidas de Argentina
Authors: López Alfonsín Marcelo , Berra Elisabeth I 
Published: July 2016

En el presente trabajo se analiza en forma pormenorizada el régimen legal concerniente al sistema nacional de áreas protegidas, teniendo principalmente en consideración las disposiciones contenidas en las antiguas leyes de áreas protegidas y el espíritu que se tuvo en miras al sancionar la Ley N° 22.351.A tal fin, se entiende imprescindible hacer hincapié en los dispositivos legales referidos a las tres categorías de protección que establece la citada norma: parques nacionales, reservas nacionales y monumentos naturales, las que, a su vez, deberán ser aggiornadas con las categorías que fueron creadas mediante decretos; tal es el caso de las reservas naturales estrictas, las reservas naturales silvestres y las reservas naturales educativas.También se torna relevante desarrollar el funcionamiento y estructura de la autoridad de aplicación, es decir, la Administración de Parques Nacionales —en adelante la APN—, toda vez que no puede soslayarse que la autarquía de esta entidad fue uno de los fundamentos que motivó la modificación de la antigua Ley de Parques Nacionales Nº 12.103, de 1934.En otro orden de ideas, se examinarán las particularidades del sistema de áreas protegidas de España. Ello por cuanto no puede sortearse la trascendental influencia que tuvo la Constitución de 1978 de este país en la reforma de 1994, específicamente en lo que a la materia ambiental respecta. Es innegable el preponderante rol que ocupa la cláusula española como fuente del artículo 41 de nuestra Carta Magna.Se hará especial hincapié en la notable descentralización legislativa y administrativa —sin duda la particularidad más importante del sistema español—. Específicamente, el régimen normativo se complementa, por un lado, con lo que se denomina la “legislación marco” de conservación de espacios naturales, y por el otro, con las restantes leyes específicas, teniendo ambas reglamentaciones igual jerarquía normativa. Si bien en un principio, el Estado español tenía jurisdicción exclusiva — y excluyente— sobre la gestión de los parques nacionales, posteriormente se establecieron competencias compartidas entre éste y las comunidades autónomas.A su vez, tampoco puede soslayarse que uno de los principales modelos para la creación de los sistemas de áreas protegidas lo constituye el Servicio Nacional de Parques de los Estados Unidos de América, dado que fue en este país donde se estableció el primer parque nacional. Se trata de un parámetro de referencia para el resto de las modalidades existentes en el Derecho comparado al momento de determinar un régimen legal para la conservación de la naturaleza, ya sea por las capacidades técnicas de ese organismo rector, por los recursos económicos con los que cuenta o bien por la extensión del sistema nacional de referencia.Palabras clave: áreas protegidas, parques nacionales, reservas naturales, monumentos naturales.
Fall in C-Peptide During First 4 Years From Diagnosis of Type 1 Diabetes: Variable Relation to Age, HbA1c, and Insulin Dose
Authors: Hao Wei , Gitelman Steven , DiMeglio Linda A. , Boulware David , Greenbaum Carla J. ,   for the Type 1 Diabetes TrialNet Study Group
Published: July 2016

OBJECTIVE
We aimed to describe the natural history of residual insulin secretion in Type 1 Diabetes TrialNet participants over 4 years from diagnosis and relate this to previously reported alternative clinical measures reflecting β-cell secretory function.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS
Data from 407 subjects from 5 TrialNet intervention studies were analyzed. All subjects had baseline stimulated C-peptide values of ≥0.2 nmol/L from mixed-meal tolerance tests (MMTTs). During semiannual visits, C-peptide values from MMTTs, HbA1c, and insulin doses were obtained.

RESULTS
The percentage of individuals with stimulated C-peptide of ≥0.2 nmol/L or detectable C-peptide of ≥0.017 nmol/L continued to diminish over 4 years; this was markedly influenced by age. At 4 years, only 5% maintained their baseline C-peptide secretion. The expected inverse relationships between C-peptide and HbA1c or insulin doses varied over time and with age. Combined clinical variables, such as insulin-dose adjusted HbA1c (IDAA1C) and the relationship of IDAA1C to C-peptide, also were influenced by age and time from diagnosis. Models using these clinical measures did not fully predict C-peptide responses. IDAA1C ≤9 underestimated the number of individuals with stimulated C-peptide ≥0.2 nmol/L, especially in children.

CONCLUSIONS
Current trials of disease-modifying therapy for type 1 diabetes should continue to use C-peptide as a primary end point of β-cell secretory function. Longer duration of follow-up is likely to provide stronger evidence of the effect of disease-modifying therapy on preservation of β-cell function.
Effect of Adherence to Protocolized Targeted Intensifications of Disease-modifying Antirheumatic Drugs on Treatment Outcomes in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Results from an Australian Early Arthritis Cohort
Authors: Wabe Nasir T. , Sorich Michael J. , Wechalekar Mihir D. , Cleland Leslie G. , McWilliams Leah , Lee Anita T.Y. , Spargo Llewellyn D. , Metcalf Robert G. , Hall Cindy , Proudman Susanna M. , Wiese Michael D. 
Published: July 2016

Objective.To investigate the association between adherence to treat-to-target (T2T) protocol and disease activity, functional outcomes, and radiographic outcomes in early rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Methods.Data from a longitudinal cohort of patients with early RA were used. Adherence was determined at each followup visit over 3 years according to predefined criteria. The primary endpoint was remission according to Disease Activity Score in 28 joints (DAS28) and Simplified Disease Activity Index (SDAI) criteria. Functional and radiographic outcomes measured by modified Health Assessment Questionnaire and modified total Sharp score, respectively, were secondary endpoints.Results.A total of 198 patients with 3078 clinic visits over 3 years were included in this analysis. After adjusting for relevant variables, although there was no significant association between adherence to T2T and remission rate after 1 year, the associations reached significance after 3 years for both DAS28 (OR 1.71, 95% CI 1.16–2.50; p = 0.006) and SDAI criteria (OR 1.94, 95% CI 1.06–3.56; p = 0.033). After 3 years, adherence was also associated with improvement in physical function (β=0.12, 95% CI 0.06–0.18; p < 0.0001). None of the radiographic outcomes were associated with adherence after either 1 or 3 years, although there was a trend for higher adherence to be associated with less radiographic progression at the end of the study (p = 0.061).Conclusion.Increased adherence to T2T was associated with better longterm disease activity and functional outcomes, which suggests that the benefit of a T2T protocol may be enhanced by ensuring adequate adherence.
Serum C-reactive Protein Levels Demonstrate Predictive Value for Radiographic and Magnetic Resonance Imaging Outcomes in Patients with Active Ankylosing Spondylitis Treated with Golimumab
Authors: Braun Jürgen , Baraliakos Xenofon , Hermann Kay-Geert A. , Xu Stephen , Hsu Benjamin 
Published: July 2016

Objective.Serum C-reactive protein (CRP) associates with radiographic progression in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) untreated with tumor necrosis factor (TNF) antagonists. We assessed correlations between serum CRP and radiographic progression/magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-detected inflammation after 2 years of anti-TNF therapy.Methods.Patients with active AS receiving golimumab (GOL)/placebo through Week 16 (early escape) or Week 24 (crossover by design), followed by GOL through 4 years, had sera/images obtained through Week 208. Lateral spinal radiographs and spinal MRI were scored with the modified Stoke AS Spine Score (mSASSS) and the AS spine MRI activity (ASspiMRI-a) score, respectively. ANOVA assessed differences based on CRP levels and mSASSS progression. The relationships between CRP levels and mSASSS/ASspiMRI-a were assessed by Spearman correlation and logistic regression.Results.Of the randomized GO-RAISE patients, 299 (84.0%) had pre- and posttreatment spinal radiographs. Larger proportions of patients with Week 104 CRP ≥ 0.5 mg/dl (n = 47) versus < 0.5 mg/dl (n = 236, 40.4% vs 22.9%, p = 0.0121) had mSASSS changes ≥ 2 at Week 104. Across several visits, serum CRP demonstrated weak associations with mSASSS change (rs≤ 0.21, p < 0.05, n = 262–293) and moderate associations with ASspiMRI-a change (rs= −0.33 to 0.54, p < 0.05, n = 65–89). Higher baseline CRP was associated with increased risk for syndesmophytes at Week 104/Week 208, and large, short-term decreases in CRP from baseline to Week 14/Week 24 also yielded increased syndesmophyte formation risk.Conclusion.Elevated CRP after 2 years of anti-TNF treatment correlated with greater radiographic progression risk at 4 years. Elevated CRP at baseline or Week 14/Week 24 of anti-TNF treatment weakly predicted subsequent radiographic progression and modestly predicted residual spinal inflammation in patients with AS treated with anti-TNF. Findings are useful regarding new treatment options in patients treated with anti-TNF.ClinicalTrials.gov:NCT00265083.
Attainment of Minimal Disease Activity Using Methotrexate in Psoriatic Arthritis
Authors: Sheane Barry J. , Thavaneswaran Arane , Gladman Dafna D. , Chandran Vinod 
Published: July 2016

Objective.An international task force has recommended that disease remission or minimal disease activity (MDA) be the target of treatment for psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and that remission or MDA should be attained within 6 months of initiating medication. The aim of this study was to establish the proportion of patients with PsA who achieve MDA after 6 months of methotrexate (MTX) treatment.Methods.Patients who initiated MTX and were naive to biologics between 2004 and 2014 were included. The primary outcome was the achievement of MDA after 6 months of MTX, defined as the presence of at least 5 out of the following 7: tender joint count ≤ 1, swollen joint count (SJC) ≤ 1, Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) ≤ 1 or body surface area ≤ 3%, tender entheseal points ≤ 1, Health Assessment Questionnaire score ≤ 0.5, patient global disease activity visual analog scale (VAS) score ≤ 20, and patient pain VAS ≤ 15. Of 204 patients identified, 167 were treated with MTX for at least 3 months and had sufficient data for analysis at 6 months.Results.At 6 months, 29 patients (17.4%) achieved MDA; 97 patients (58.1%) achieved an SJC ≤ 1 and 138 (82.6%) a PASI ≤ 1. Only 22 (13.2%) achieved the patient global disease activity criterion. Lower back pain and dactylitis were associated with a lower probability of achieving MDA.Conclusion.MTX use achieves MDA by 6 months in < 20% of patients. This compares unfavorably with data for tumor necrosis factor inhibitor use.
Adoption des technologies de l’information et de la communication en microfinance : expériences sénégalaises
Authors: Fall François-Seck , Birba Ousmane 
Published: July 2016

Cette contribution analyse les déterminants de l’adoption des technologies de l’information et de la communication (TIC) dans l’industrie sénégalaise de la microfinance. Elle tente également de mettre en évidence l’incidence de leur intégration en microfinance sur la mission sociale des institutions de microfinance (IMF). Nous utilisons les données de l’enquête « NTIC, croissance et pauvreté au Sénégal », une enquête probabiliste menée en 2010 par le Consortium pour la recherche économique et sociale (CRES). Nous effectuons cette analyse en mobilisant deux principales approches : une analyse descriptive bivariée complétée par une ACM, et un modèle explicatif. Les résultats montrent que l’adoption des TIC est fonction des caractéristiques de l’IMF comme l’âge et le sexe du gérant, le mode d’organisation, la taille, etc. Elle dépend également de la nature de son offre de produits et services financiers. Certains services intensifs en technologie favorisent l’investissement des IMF en TIC, tandis que d’autres non. L’investissement en TIC augmente significativement la probabilité que l’IMF soit performante socialement.