bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of sperm DNA quality in men presenting with testicular cancer and lymphoma using alkaline and neutral Comet assays
Authors: Kumar K. , Lewis S. , Vinci S. , Riera‐Escamilla A. , Fino M.‐G. , Tamburrino L. , Muratori M. , Larsen P. , Krausz C. 
Published: September 2017

SummaryDespite more cancers in young men over the past two decades, improvements in therapies give a greater chance to live full lives following treatment. Sperm genomic quality is variable following cancer diagnosis, so its assessment is important if sperm cryopreservation is being considered. Here, we evaluated DNA damage using two DNA damage assays: an alkaline and for the first time, a neutral Comet assays in men presenting with testicular cancer (n = 19 for alkaline and 13 for neutral group) and lymphoma (n = 13 for alkaline and 09 for neutral group) compared with fertile donors (n = 20 for alkaline and 14 for neutral group). No significant differences were observed in any semen analysis parameters. In contrast, sperm DNA damage was higher in men with testicular cancer than in donors as assessed by both the alkaline (12.4% vs. 37.4%, p < 0.001) and neutral (7.5% vs. 13.4%; p < 0.05) Comet assays. Similar trends were observed in men with lymphoma. Here, sperm DNA damage was higher using both the alkaline (35.0% vs. 12.4%) and neutral (10.7% against 7.5% (p < 0.05) Comet assays. Moreover, the DNA strand breaks (particularly double‐strand breaks) were significantly more prominent in men with cancer having abnormal seminal parameters than normozoospermic ones. This study showed that sperm DNA testing using alkaline and neutral Comet assays is more sensitive than semen analysis in detecting impaired sperm quality in men presenting with cancer. It may provide a useful adjunct when considering storage prior to cancer investigations and assisted reproductive techniques (ART)‐based treatment.
Robotic surgery for rectal cancer
Authors: Nozawa Hiroaki , Watanabe Toshiaki 
Published: September 2017

AbstractLaparoscopic surgery has gained acceptance as a less invasive approach in the treatment of colon cancer. However, laparoscopic surgery for rectal cancer, particularly cancer of the lower rectum, is still challenging because of limited accessibility. Robotic surgery overcomes the limitations of laparoscopy associated with anatomy and offers certain advantages, including 3‐D imaging, dexterity and ambidextrous capability, lack of tremors, motion scaling, and a short learning curve. Robotic rectal surgery has been reported to reduce conversion rates, particularly in low anterior resection, but it is associated with longer operative times than the conventional laparoscopic approach. Postoperative morbidities are similar between the robotic and conventional laparoscopic approaches, and oncological outcomes such as the quality of the mesorectum and the status of resection margins are also equivalent. The possible superiority of robotic surgery in terms of the preservation of autonomic function has yet to be established in research based on larger numbers of patients. Although robotic rectal surgery is safe, feasible, and appears to overcome some of the technical limitations associated with conventional laparoscopic surgery, the advantages provided by this technical innovation are currently limited. To justify its expensive cost, robotic surgery is more suitable for select patients, such as obese patients, men, those with cancer of the lower rectum, and those receiving preoperative chemoradiotherapy.
Mitigating depression among orphaned and vulnerable adolescents: a randomized controlled trial of interpersonal psychotherapy for groups in South Africa
Authors: Thurman Tonya R. , Nice Johanna , Taylor Tory M. , Luckett Brian 
Published: September 2017

BackgroundChildren and adolescents affected by HIV are at elevated risk of depression, yet research on related interventions in this population is scarce in sub‐Saharan Africa. This study sought to examine the effects of interpersonal psychotherapy for groups (IPTG) on depressive symptomology among orphaned and vulnerable adolescents in South Africa.MethodA cluster randomized controlled trial wherein adolescents ages 14–17 enrolled in community‐based programming for HIV‐affected and vulnerable families were randomly assigned by geographic cluster to participate in a 16‐session IPTG intervention or the standard of care (n = 489). Baseline and postintervention surveys conducted with enrollees included standardized depression screening. Utilizing an intent‐to‐treat design, mixed effects models were performed to examine treatment effects for all participants and potential moderators including gender and baseline depression level (Clinical Trials registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02386878).ResultsWhile 23% of adolescents in the intervention group did not attend any IPTG sessions, average attendance was 12 out of 16 possible sessions among participants. The intervention was not associated with changes in depression symptomology.ConclusionsResults underscore the importance of mitigating participation barriers prior to intervention roll‐out and the need for increased evidence for psychological health interventions to mitigate depression among orphaned and vulnerable adolescents. This intervention and the study selectively targeted at‐risk adolescents versus using diagnostic mental health criteria for enrollment; more research is needed to identify the potential benefits and disadvantages of these approaches.
Parathyroid hormone: Data mining for age‐related reference intervals in adults
Authors: Farrell Christopher‐John L. , Nguyen Lan , Carter Andrew C. 
Published: September 2017

SummaryObjectiveAge‐related changes in parathyroid hormone (PTH) have been previously documented in adults. However, because of the limitations of traditional approaches to establishing reference intervals, age‐related reference intervals have not been defined. We sought to use a data mining approach to derive age‐related PTH reference intervals.Design and ParticipantsResults from patients undergoing PTH testing over a 4‐year period were extracted from the database of a private pathology laboratory in New South Wales, Australia. Patients were included in the study if they were 18 years or older and had simultaneous determination of PTH, serum calcium, estimated glomerular filtration rate and 25‐hydroxyvitamin D (25‐OHD). Patients with abnormalities of serum calcium or renal function were excluded.MeasurementsBhattacharya analysis of log‐transformed data was used to derive age‐related PTH reference intervals across adulthood.ResultsResults were available for 33 652 subjects. Among patients with optimal 25‐OHD status, older age was associated with higher PTH concentrations. Age‐related reference intervals were derived and showed a 63% increase in the upper and lower reference limits between the youngest (18‐29 years of age) and the oldest (80 years of age or older) age partitions. The appropriateness of using a single reference interval for patients of all ages was evaluated against objective criteria and was found to be unsatisfactory.ConclusionsData mining was demonstrated to be a useful tool for establishing age‐related PTH reference intervals. The technique demonstrated that increasing age is associated with higher PTH concentrations and that age‐related reference intervals are important for accurate result interpretation.
Outcomes of an international volunteer surgical project for patients with cleft lip and/or cleft palate: A mission in developing Laos
Authors: Goto Takahiro , Nishihara Kazuhide , Kataoka Keiichi , Goto Shinpei , Maruyama Tessho , Sunakawa Hajime , Natsume Nagato , Arasaki Akira 
Published: September 2017

ABSTRACTCleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) is a common birth defect of complex etiology. CL/P surgery is generally performed in infancy to allow for improvements in esthetics, suckling, and speech disorders as quickly as possible. We have engaged in activities such as free‐of‐charge surgery for CL/P a total of 12 times from 2001 to 2016 in Lao People's Democratic Republic (Laos). The United Nations has designated Laos as a Least Developed Country; it is one of the poorest countries in Asia. We have carried out our activities for a long time, primarily in CL/P patients who cannot undergo surgery for financial reasons, and we have performed CL/P‐related surgeries for 283 patients up to 2016. When we began our activities in 2001, the mean age at first cheiloplasty was 11.6 years, which dropped over time until 2016 when the mean age was 1.8 years. A linear regression analysis showed a significant difference between the age at first lip plasty and the year of first operation (β = −0.35; P < 0.001). This was likely an effect of continuing to train local medical staff in surgical techniques and donating surgical tools and facilities over a period of 16 years while building a good relationship with local staff. However, the healthcare system in Laos is an obstacle to some patients who still cannot undergo CL/P surgery in infancy for financial reasons. We therefore need to support Laos to provide treatment on their own as we continue to carry out our activities for CL/P patients.
On the evaluation of a superpower sound processor for bone‐anchored hearing
Authors: Bosman A.J. , Kruyt I.J. , Mylanus E.A.M. , Hol M.K.S. , Snik A.F.M. 
Published: September 2017

ObjectivesPerformance of a superpower bone‐anchored hearing aid (Baha), the Baha Cordelle from Cochlear Bone‐Anchored Solutions (BCD1), was compared to its successor, the Baha 5 SuperPower (BCD2).DesignA comparative study in which each patient served as its own control.SettingTertiary clinic.ParticipantsTen experienced BCD1 users with profound mixed hearing loss. For comparison, data from another study with 10 experienced users with a severe mixed hearing loss using a Cochlear Baha 5 power sound processor (BCD‐P) were included.Main outcome measuresSpeech reception thresholds in noise and APHAB and SSQ questionnaires.ResultsSpeech reception thresholds for the digits‐in‐noise (DIN) test were significantly lower (P < 5%), that is more favourable, for BCD2 in the speech and noise frontal condition and in the speech frontal and noise contralateral condition than for BCD1. For the group with severe mixed loss fitted with BCD‐P, the SRTs were not significantly different (P > 5%) from the BCD2 values.With the APHAB questionnaire scores were significantly lower, that is more favourable, for the ease of communication (P < 5%) and the background noise (P < 1%) domains for BCD2 than for BCD1. APHAB scores for the aversiveness of loud sounds domain were not significantly different for both devices (P > 5%). Scores for the speech and quality domains of the SSQ questionnaire were significantly higher, that is more favourable, for BCD2 than for BCD1. APHAB and SSQ scores for BCD‐P were not significantly different from those for BCD2 (P > 5%).ConclusionsData for BCD2 in profound mixed loss are similar to those for BCD‐P and a severe mixed loss. Of 10 patients, 2 expressed a strong preference for BCD2 over BCD1, and 7 patients had a preference for BCD2 over BCD1. One patient preferred BCD1 because of its built‐in telecoil facility.
Safety, quality and effect of complete mesocolic excision vs non‐complete mesocolic excision in patients with colon cancer: a systemic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Wang C. , Gao Z. , Shen K. , Shen Z. , Jiang K. , Liang B. , Yin M. , Yang X. , Wang S. , Ye Y. 
Published: September 2017

AbstractAimThe application of complete mesocolic excision (CME) in colon cancer is controversial. We performed a meta‐analysis to compare the safety, quality and effect of CME with non‐complete mesocolic excision (NCME) in patients with colon cancer.MethodWe searched PubMed, ScienceDirect, the Cochrane Library and Scopus to identify studies comparing CME with NCME in colon cancer. We focused on three study outcome areas: safety (operation time, blood loss, complications, mortality); quality (large bowel length, distance from the tumour to the high vascular tie, area of mesentery, total lymph nodes); and effect (long‐term survival).ResultsA total of 8586 patients from 12 studies were included in the meta‐analysis. CME was associated with greater intra‐operative blood loss [weighted mean difference (WMD) 79.87, 95% CI: 65.88–93.86], more postoperative surgical complications (relative risk 1.23, 95% CI: 1.08–1.40), longer large bowel resection (WMD 47.06, 95% CI: 10.49–83.62), greater distance from the tumour to the high vascular tie (WMD 17.51, 95% CI: 15.16–19.87), larger area of mesentery (WMD 36.09, 95% CI: 18.06–54.13) and more lymph nodes (WMD 6.13, 95% CI: 1.97–10.28) than NCME. CME also had positive effects on 5‐year survival [hazard ratio (HR) 0.33, 95% CI: 0.13–0.81], 3‐year survival (HR 0.58, 95% CI: 0.39–0.86) and 3‐year survival for Stage III disease (HR 0.69, 95% CI: 0.60–0.80) compared with NCME.ConclusionLimited evidence suggests that CME is a more effective strategy for improving specimen quality and survival but with a higher complication rate.
Subthalamic nucleus and globus pallidus interna influence firing of tonically active neurons in the primate striatum through different mechanisms
Authors: Nakajima Asuka , Shimo Yasushi , Uka Takanori , Hattori Nobutaka 
Published: September 2017

AbstractBoth the subthalamic nucleus (STN) and the globus pallidus pars interna (GPi) are major targets for neuromodulation therapy for movement disorders. An example of such a therapy is deep brain stimulation (DBS). The striatum is the primary target for pharmacological treatment of these disorders. To further our understanding of both the functional relationships among motor nuclei and the mechanisms of therapies for movement disorders, it is important to clarify how changing the neuronal activity of one target, either by medication or by artificial electrical stimulation, affects the other connected nuclei. To investigate this point, we recorded single‐unit activity from tonically active neurons (TANs), which are putative cholinergic interneurons in the striatum, of healthy monkeys (Macaca fuscata) during electrical stimulation of the STN or GPi. Both STN stimulation and GPi stimulation reduced the TAN spike rate. Local infusion of a D2 receptor antagonist in the striatum blocked the reduction in spike rate induced by STN stimulation but not that induced by GPi stimulation. Further, STN stimulation induced phasic dopamine release in the striatum as revealed by in vivo fast‐scan cyclic voltammetry. These results suggest the presence of multiple, strong functional relationships among the STN, GPi, and striatum that have different pathways and imply distinct therapeutic mechanisms for STN‐ and GPi‐DBS.
Emotional well‐being in children with epilepsy: Family factors as mediators and moderators
Authors: Goodwin Shane W. , Wilk Piotr , Karen Campbell M. , Speechley Kathy N. 
Published: September 2017

SummaryObjectiveOur objective was to examine the relationships of factors associated with children's emotional well‐being 2 years after diagnosis, and to examine if these relationships are mediated or moderated by family factors.MethodsData came from a multicenter prospective cohort study of children with newly diagnosed epilepsy from across Canada (Health‐Related Quality of Life in Children with Epilepsy Study; HERQULES, n = 373). Emotional well‐being was assessed using the Quality of Life in Childhood Epilepsy Questionnaire (QOLCE‐55). The relationships between clinical factors, family factors, and emotional well‐being were assessed using multiple regression analyses.ResultsFamily functioning, family stress, and repertoire of resources that the families had to adapt to stressful events were significantly associated with poor emotional well‐being 2 years after diagnosis (p < 0.05) in the multivariable analysis. The effect of parental depressive symptoms was partially mediated by family functioning and family stress (p < 0.01 and p = 0.02, respectively). Family resources acted as a moderator in the relationship between severity of epilepsy and emotional well‐being (p < 0.05).SignificanceBased on our findings, efforts to strengthen the family environment may warrant attention. We suggest that clinicians take a family centered care approach by including families in treatment planning. Family centered care has been shown to improve family well‐being and coping and in turn may reduce the impact of clinical factors on emotional well‐being to improve long‐term health‐related quality of life.
Bimodal coupling of ripples and slower oscillations during sleep in patients with focal epilepsy
Authors: Song Inkyung , Orosz Iren , Chervoneva Inna , Waldman Zachary J. , Fried Itzhak , Wu Chengyuan , Sharan Ashwini , Salamon Noriko , Gorniak Richard , Dewar Sandra , Bragin Anatol , Engel Jerome , Sperling Michael R. , Staba Richard , Weiss Shennan A. 
Published: September 2017

SummaryObjectiveDifferentiating pathologic and physiologic high‐frequency oscillations (HFOs) is challenging. In patients with focal epilepsy, HFOs occur during the transitional periods between the up and down state of slow waves. The preferred phase angles of this form of phase‐event amplitude coupling are bimodally distributed, and the ripples (80–150 Hz) that occur during the up‐down transition more often occur in the seizure‐onset zone (SOZ). We investigated if bimodal ripple coupling was also evident for faster sleep oscillations, and could identify the SOZ.MethodsUsing an automated ripple detector, we identified ripple events in 40–60 min intracranial electroencephalography (iEEG) recordings from 23 patients with medically refractory mesial temporal lobe or neocortical epilepsy. The detector quantified epochs of sleep oscillations and computed instantaneous phase. We utilized a ripple phasor transform, ripple‐triggered averaging, and circular statistics to investigate phase event‐amplitude coupling.ResultsWe found that at some individual recording sites, ripple event amplitude was coupled with the sleep oscillatory phase and the preferred phase angles exhibited two distinct clusters (p < 0.05). The distribution of the pooled mean preferred phase angle, defined by combining the means from each cluster at each individual recording site, also exhibited two distinct clusters (p < 0.05). Based on the range of preferred phase angles defined by these two clusters, we partitioned each ripple event at each recording site into two groups: depth iEEG peak‐trough and trough‐peak. The mean ripple rates of the two groups in the SOZ and non‐SOZ (NSOZ) were compared. We found that in the frontal (spindle, p = 0.009; theta, p = 0.006, slow, p = 0.004) and parietal lobe (theta, p = 0.007, delta, p = 0.002, slow, p = 0.001) the SOZ incidence rate for the ripples occurring during the trough‐peak transition was significantly increased.SignificancePhase‐event amplitude coupling between ripples and sleep oscillations may be useful to distinguish pathologic and physiologic events in patients with frontal and parietal SOZ.
Using fuzzy logic to determine the vulnerability of marine species to climate change
Authors: Jones Miranda C. , Cheung William W. L. 
Published: September 2017

AbstractMarine species are being impacted by climate change and ocean acidification, although their level of vulnerability varies due to differences in species' sensitivity, adaptive capacity and exposure to climate hazards. Due to limited data on the biological and ecological attributes of many marine species, as well as inherent uncertainties in the assessment process, climate change vulnerability assessments in the marine environment frequently focus on a limited number of taxa or geographic ranges. As climate change is already impacting marine biodiversity and fisheries, there is an urgent need to expand vulnerability assessment to cover a large number of species and areas. Here, we develop a modelling approach to synthesize data on species‐specific estimates of exposure, and ecological and biological traits to undertake an assessment of vulnerability (sensitivity and adaptive capacity) and risk of impacts (combining exposure to hazards and vulnerability) of climate change (including ocean acidification) for global marine fishes and invertebrates. We use a fuzzy logic approach to accommodate the variability in data availability and uncertainties associated with inferring vulnerability levels from climate projections and species' traits. Applying the approach to estimate the relative vulnerability and risk of impacts of climate change in 1074 exploited marine species globally, we estimated their index of vulnerability and risk of impacts to be on average 52 ± 19 SD and 66 ± 11 SD, scaling from 1 to 100, with 100 being the most vulnerable and highest risk, respectively, under the ‘business‐as‐usual' greenhouse gas emission scenario (Representative Concentration Pathway 8.5). We identified 157 species to be highly vulnerable while 294 species are identified as being at high risk of impacts. Species that are most vulnerable tend to be large‐bodied endemic species. This study suggests that the fuzzy logic framework can help estimate climate vulnerabilities and risks of exploited marine species using publicly and readily available information.
Novel KIR genotypes and gene copy number variations in northeastern Thais
Authors: Chaisri Suwit , Traherne James A. , Jayaraman Jyothi , Romphruk Amornrat , Trowsdale John , Leelayuwat Chanvit 
Published: September 2017

SummaryKIR (Killer Immunoglobulin‐like Receptor) variants influence immune responses and are genetic factors in disease susceptibility. Using sequence‐specific priming PCR, we have previously described the diversity of KIR genes in term of presence/absence in northeastern Thais (NETs). To provide additional resolution beyond conventional methods, quantitative PCR was applied to determine KIR copy number profiles. Novel expanded and contracted KIR copy number profiles were identified at cumulatively high frequencies. These all comprise haplotypes with duplication (6·9%) or deletion (2·7%) of KIR3DL1/S1 along with adjacent genes. Five expanded KIR profiles comprised haplotypes with duplications of KIR2DP1, 2DL1, 3DP1, 2DL4, 3DL1/S1 and 2DS1/4, whereas two contracted profiles contained only a single copy of KIR3DP1, 3DL1/S1 and 2DL4. Using a KIR haplotype prediction program (KIR Haplotype Identifier), 14% of NET haplotypes carried atypical haplotypes based on the gene copy number data.
Context matters: Explicit and implicit reminders of ingroup privilege increase collective guilt among foreigners in a developing country
Authors: Greenaway Katharine H. , Fisk Kylie , Branscombe Nyla R. 
Published: September 2017

AbstractWe test three ways context matters in the study of intergroup inequality: where participants are approached, who interacts with participants, and how researchers ask participants questions. Regarding how, we replicate a finding that framing intergroup inequality as outgroup disadvantage rather than ingroup privilege reduces collective guilt in a novel context. Regarding where, we go beyond the laboratory to test foreigners in Nepal—a country where inequality is highly salient. Regarding who, we had participants approached by an ingroup (foreign) experimenter or an outgroup (Nepalese) experimenter. We found an outgroup disadvantage framing reduced collective guilt relative to ingroup privilege framing, but only when delivered by an ingroup member. This highlights the importance of taking where, who, and how into account to fully understand the contextual nature of intergroup emotion.