bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Retroperitoneoscopic Resection of a Lumbosacral Plexus Schwannoma: Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Freitas Bruno , Figueiredo Rui , Carrerette Fabrício , Acioly Marcus 
Published: December 2017

Background and Study Aims Schwannomas are benign tumors derived from the Schwann cells of the peripheral nerve sheath that rarely affect the retroperitoneum. When symptomatic, surgical resection is usually recommended via open surgery or the laparoscopic transperitoneal approach. We discuss the retroperitoneoscopic resection of lumbosacral plexus schwannomas through an illustrative case and literature review. A new management classification is also proposed.
Patients A 61-year-old woman affected by schwannomatosis presented with neuropathic pain in her right inguinocrural area for the past 4 years before admission. Preoperative imaging revealed a 2-cm right retroperitoneal tumor lateral to the psoas muscle. The diagnosis of a schwannoma of the ilioinguinal nerve was then suggested. The patient underwent complete tumor resection through retroperitoneoscopy, and no recurrence was observed over the long term. A review of the relevant literature revealed that surgical strategy depends on tumor location, and therefore patients are divided into three groups by tumor position to guide trocar placement: type 1 (paravertebral or over the psoas muscle), type 2 (lateral to the psoas muscle), and type 3 (sacral or pelvic).
Results Four patients were classified as type 1, one as type 2, and three as type 3, thereby guiding trocar placement to a lateral, anterior, or inferior montage, respectively.
Conclusions Retroperitoneoscopy is a minimally invasive technique that offers some potential advantages in approaching retroperitoneal masses. This new classification is useful to group patients and thus provide guidance on the best retroperitoneoscopic surgical strategy.
Transforaminal Percutaneous Endoscopic Lumbar Diskectomy for Downmigrated Disk Herniations: Lever-Up, Rotate, and Tilt Technique
Authors: Eun Sang Soo , Lee Sang-Ho , Erken H. 
Published: December 2017

Background and Study Aims Although transforaminal percutaneous endoscopic lumbar diskectomy (PELD) offers certain advantages in the treatment of disk herniations, it used to be limited to nonmigrated or low-migrated herniations. With improvements in endoscopic spinal surgery, the range of indications for PELD has expanded. Various techniques including transforaminal and interlaminar approaches for migrated disk herniations are described in the literature. This study describes a transforaminal PELD approach to address downmigrated intracanal soft disk herniations effectively using the lever-up, rotate, and tilt technique.
Patients and Methods We performed a retrospective review of 18 patients who had been operated on with the described technique between October 2012 and December 2015. We assessed clinical outcomes using the visual analog scale (VAS) for back and leg pain and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) preoperatively at their respective clinical visits and postoperatively at the patients' final follow-up examinations.
Results The mean preoperative VAS scores for back and leg pain were 3.75 + 1.34 (range: 2–6) and 8.3 + 0.6 (range: 8–10), respectively. The mean preoperative ODI was 67.3 + 15.3 (range: 48–90). The mean VAS scores for back and leg pain improved to 1.38 + 1.58 (range: 0–6) and 1.19 + 0.75 (range: 0–3), respectively, at the last follow-up. The mean ODI also improved to 14.1 + 6.2 (range: 8–30) at the last follow-up. All differences between the preoperative and last follow-up scores were statistically significant (p < 0.05), Two surgeries failed because of a remnant disk fragment.
Conclusions The lever-up, rotate, and tilt technique for transforaminal PELD is an effective maneuver to treat downmigrated disk herniations in selected patients by experienced surgeons.
Cerebellopontine Angle Schwannoma and Meningioma in Contiguity: Surgical Implications in Neurofibromatosis
Authors: Nehete Lokesh , Nandeesh B.N. , Bharath Rose , Rao Malla , Arimappamagan Arivazhagan 
Published: December 2017

AbstractConcurrent occurrence of brain tumors in the same location is very unusual and has been noted in patients with neurofibromatosis. Two lesions, occurring in close contact but of different histology, are called contiguous tumors. Schwannoma and meningioma are the two common histologies reported to present as contiguous tumor. We present two patients with contiguous tumors in the cerebellopontine angle. The magnetic resonance imaging characteristics in both cases demonstrate important findings that should be identified to raise the possibility of contiguous tumors. We discuss the surgical implications in identifying the facial nerve in this complex tumor morphology and steps we took to preserve function. Variable displacement of the facial nerve in the presence of multiple tumors needs to be kept in mind during surgical management and can be significantly aided by intraoperative monitoring.
Sex Difference in Mortality for Premature and Low Birth Weight Neonates: A Systematic Review
Authors: Dickinson Corrine , Kandasamy Yogavijayan , Vu Huy 
Published: December 2017

Objective Advances in neonatology have made possible the survival of neonates with lower gestational ages and birth weights. Nevertheless, findings remain of a sex difference in mortality for premature and low birth weight (LBW) neonates with male sex often associated with poorer outcome (the “male disadvantage”). Through literature review, this article will seek clarification of the existing evidence regarding the association between sex and mortality at discharge from neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) for premature and LBW neonates.
Methods A systematic review was conducted in Medline and Google Scholar with subsequent search of study reference lists.
Results The database search yielded 349 articles and an additional 11 were identified from study reference lists. A final 32 studies were reviewed. Of these, 26 studies demonstrated worse male mortality outcome and 6 studies reported no sex difference in mortality.
Conclusion The majority of reviewed studies found poorer male mortality outcome. A small number of studies maintained a null association between sex and mortality. This indicates male premature and LBW neonates experience higher risk of mortality by discharge compared with females, an observation which may inform clinical decision making in the NICU.
Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy Refractory to Multiple Medical Therapies and Plasmapheresis
Authors: Covach Adam , Rose William 
Published: December 2017

Objectives We report on a patient suffering from intractable itching secondary to intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) unresponsive to conventional medical therapies. She was started on a regimen of therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE), which is often efficacious in relieving patient's itching from all causes of cholestasis, including ICP.
Methods We performed a retrospective review of a patient's medical record.
Results Following initial TPE, the patient reported dramatic relief of her itching and consequent insomnia. However, this effect was short lived, as subsequent TPE provided minimal relief, and may have actually worsened her itching. Out of concern for poor fetal outcomes, delivery was induced at 34 weeks gestational age. The child had an uncomplicated neonatal intensive care unit stay following delivery, and the mother reported > 90% relief of her symptoms 2 weeks after delivery.
Conclusion TPE often provides longer term relief of itching because of ICP; however, it is not a panacea for these symptoms, and sometimes only delivery of the fetus can relieve maternal symptoms. In addition to the refractoriness to TPE, the case is also unusual for the early onset of ICP symptoms and the comorbidity of hepatitis C.
Systematic Review of Oral Therapy for the Treatment of Symptoms of Bladder Pain Syndrome: The Brazilian Guidelines
Authors: Santos Thaís Guimarães dos , Miranda Isabela Albuquerque Severo de , Nygaard Christiana Campani , Schreiner Lucas , Castro Rodrigo de Aquino , Haddad Jorge Milhen 
Published: December 2017

AbstractInterstitial cystitis (IC), including bladder pain syndrome (BPS), is a chronic and debilitating disease that mainly affects women. It is characterized by pelvic pain associated with urinary urgency, frequency, nocturia and negative urine culture, with normal cytology. In 2009, the Society for Urodynamics and Female Urology (SUFU) defined the term IC/BPS as “an unpleasant sensation (pain, pressure, and discomfort) perceived to be related to the urinary bladder, associated with lower urinary tract symptoms for more than 6 weeks duration, in the absence of infection or other identifiable causes.” This is the definition used by the American Urological Association (AUA) in the most recent guidelines on IC/BPS. Interstitial cystitis may be sufficiently severe to have a devastating effect on the quality of life, but it may also be associated with moderate symptoms whose effects are less debilitating. Although there are several clinical trials to assess oral and intravesical therapies, the treatment for IC remains far from ideal. This systematic assessment evaluates published randomized clinical trials on oral medications used to treat symptoms of BPS. This study was performed according to the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) method. Two independent reviewers screened the studies to determine their inclusion or exclusion and to perform the methodological analysis. The inclusion criteria included randomized studies published between April of 1988 and April of 2016 that used oral medications to treat symptoms of BPS or IC. According to the systematic review performed, we should consider pentosan polysulfate as one of the best options of oral drugs for the treatment of BPS symptoms. However, this drug is not an available option in Brazil. Orally administered amitriptyline is an efficacious medical treatment for BPS, and it should be the first treatment offered.
Comparison of Locking and Frag-Loc Screws for Fixation of Die-Punch Fragments
Authors: Tomita Kazunari , Kawasaki Keikichi , Yagi Toshio , Tanabe Yuji , Inagaki Katsunori , Kanazawa Takaaki 
Published: December 2017

Background The Frag-Loc (FL) compression screw system was designed to stabilize dorsally displaced intra-articular dorsoulnar (die-punch) fragments in distal radius fractures.
Purpose Comparison of the biomechanical properties of fixation of the die-punch fragment (stiffness, ultimate strength, and displacement ratio of the fragment), using the FL and traditional locking screw (LS), and using simulated distal radial fractures in cadaveric specimens under axial compressive loading. Both screws were used with a volar locking plate (VLP).
Materials and Methods Eight matched pairs of formalin-fixed cadaveric specimens of the radius were used to simulate distal radius fractures with die-punch fragments. The die-punch fragment was fixed using VLP with either FL group or LS group. Biomechanical properties for the two fixation systems were evaluated under axial compression loading, applied at a constant rate of 0.5 mm/min until failure. Load data were recorded and the ultimate strength and change in the gap between the die-punch and proximal fragments measured, with the displacement ratio calculated by dividing the value of the gap before loading by the gap after loading. Failure was defined as 10 mm or more of fragment displacement, or screw failure.
Results There were no differences in ultimate strength (p = 0.47) or stiffness (p = 0.061) between the two fragment fixation systems. However, the displacement ratio was lower for the FL than for the LS system (p = 0.049).
Conclusion Compared with LS, the FL system lowers the displacement of die-punch fragments under compressive loading.
Clinical Relevance The FL system is effective for the treatment of distal radius fractures with die-punch fragments.
How Reliable is the Radiographic Diagnosis of Mild Madelung Deformity?
Authors: Guitton Thierry , Ring David , Farr Sebastian ,   Science of Variation Group
Published: December 2017

Background Patients with Madelung deformity exhibit a spectrum of mild to severe deformity and distortion of wrist geometry. It may be difficult to reliably distinguish mild Madelung deformity from normal.
Purpose This study thus tested the reliability of the diagnosis of mild Madelung deformity on a single posteroanterior (PA) radiograph.
Materials and Methods An online survey was sent to hand and wrist surgeons of the Science of Variation Study Group for evaluation of 25 PA wrist radiographs comprising five adults with suspected mild Madelung deformity and 20 radiographs without any evident wrist pathology. Interobserver agreement was evaluated both via average percent agreement and Fleiss' kappa. To evaluate the relationship of rater characteristics and accuracy, a linear regression model was computed.
Results The interobserver agreement among the 69 participating surgeons was low (Κ = 0.12). The overall sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 0.30, 0.86, and 0.75, respectively. The mean confidence was 7.4 ± 0.4 for mild Madelung and 7.8 ± 0.5 for normal (p = 0.112). The observers' confidence level was the only factor which had a mild but significant effect on the accuracy of the ratings.
Conclusion The diagnosis of mild Madelung deformity on a single PA radiograph is unreliable.
Level of Evidence The level of evidence is II, diagnostic study.
Rauchfreie Psychiatrie: Eine Bestandsaufnahme
Authors: Linhardt Andrea , Haider Raphael , Rampeltshammer Verena , Kröger Christoph , Rüther Tobias 
Published: December 2017

Zusammenfassung
Ausgangspunkt und Fragestellung Im Zuge der Nichtraucherschutzgesetze wurden in Deutschland weitreichende Rauchverbote ausgesprochen.
Die Akutpsychiatrie wird in einigen dieser Ländergesetze als Ausnahme gehandhabt. Somit bleibt es den Einrichtungen mitunter selbst
überlassen, diesbezügliche Regelungen auszugestalten und durchzusetzen. Ziel dieser Studie ist es, eine Bestandsaufnahme der aktuellen
Nichtraucherschutz-Regelungen in akutpsychiatrischen Einrichtungen zu erstellen.
Methode Auf Basis eines bereits evaluierten Fragebogens wurde eine Online Umfrage erstellt, die aus 53 Fragen bestand. Insgesamt
wurden 289 Kliniken kontaktiert. Die Teilnehmer wurden via Mail zur Umfrage eingeladen.
Ergebnisse 59 Kliniken (20,4 %) nahmen an der Umfrage teil. Über verbindliche Regelungen verfügen 48 (81,4 %) Kliniken, in 26 (44,1 %)
ist das Rauchen auf den offenen Stationen vollständig verboten. In drei Kliniken (5,1 %) gilt absolutes Rauchverbot auf beschützten
Stationen. Medikamentöse Unterstützung gibt es in 31 (55,3 %) Klinken. 19 (32,2 %) bieten Tabakentwöhnungsmaßnahmen an. 22 (37,3 %) Kliniken
haben einen Arbeitskreis zum Thema eingerichtet.
Schlussfolgerung Aktuell wird dem Thema Rauchen in der Akutpsychiatrie noch zu wenig Aufmerksamkeit gewidmet. Die physische und
psychische Gesundheit psychiatrischer Patienten würde jedoch von einer restriktiveren Rauchfrei-Politik profitieren. Um diese durchzusetzen,
bedarf es einer angemessenen Unterstützung des Personals und der Patienten.
Effects of providing explicit negative evidence on students’ perception of ungrammatical sentences using –le
Authors: Li Yan , Yan Lei 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThis study investigates the effects of the use of explicit negative evidence in teaching on students’ perception of two types of ungrammatical Chinese sentences in which –leshould not be used. Two groups of advanced learners of Chinese were pre-tested immediately before receiving instruction that included explicit negative evidence about the use of -le, and post-tested twice: once directly after the completion of the instruction, and again four weeks later, using a grammaticality judgment test. The results of the grammaticality judgment test indicated that including explicit negative evidence in teaching helps advanced English-speaking learners of Chinese identify sentences in which –leis used incorrectly. The implication is that including negative evidence in teaching can reduce errors caused by negative transfer from a student’s native language.
Use of green fluorescent protein to monitor fungal growth in biomass hydrolysate
Authors: Nichols Nancy N , Quarterman Joshua C , Frazer Sarah E 
Published: December 2017

Abstract
A reporter gene encoding green fluorescent protein (GFP) was introduced into the ascomycete Coniochaeta ligniaria NRRL30616, and fluorescence of cultures was monitored as a measure of cell growth. Fluorescence in the GFP-expressing strain was measured during growth of cells in defined and complex media as well as in the liquor derived from pretreatment of corn stover, an agricultural residue. Fluorescence mirrored growth of cultures, as measured by optical density and counts of colony forming units. Because traditional methods to monitor growth cannot be used in biomass liquors due to its fibrous, dark-colored nature, the speed and convenience of using GFP to monitor growth is advantageous. Fluorescence of cultures in biomass hydrolysate also correlated with the concentration of furfural in hydrolysate. Furfural and other compounds, present in hydrolysate due to physico-chemical pretreatment of biomass, are inhibitory to fermenting microbes. Therefore, measurement of fluorescence in GFP-expressing C. ligniaria is a proxy for measures of microbial growth and furfural consumption, and serves as a convenient indicator of metabolism of fermentation inhibitors in biomass hydrolysate.
Single-molecule sequencing and optical mapping yields an improved genome of woodland strawberry (Fragaria vesca) with chromosome-scale contiguity
Authors: Edger Patrick P , VanBuren Robert , Colle Marivi , Poorten Thomas J , Wai Ching Man , Niederhuth Chad E , Alger Elizabeth I , Ou Shujun , Acharya Charlotte B , Wang Jie , Callow Pete , McKain Michael R , Shi Jinghua , Collier Chad , Xiong Zhiyong , Mower Jeffrey P , Slovin Janet P , Hytönen Timo , Jiang Ning , Childs Kevin L , Knapp Steven J 
Published: December 2017

Abstract

Background
Although draft genomes are available for most agronomically important plant species, the majority are incomplete, highly fragmented, and often riddled with assembly and scaffolding errors. These assembly issues hinder advances in tool development for functional genomics and systems biology.

Findings
Here we utilized a robust, cost-effective approach to produce high-quality reference genomes. We report a near-complete genome of diploid woodland strawberry (Fragaria vesca) using single-molecule real-time sequencing from Pacific Biosciences (PacBio). This assembly has a contig N50 length of ~7.9 million base pairs (Mb), representing a ~300-fold improvement of the previous version. The vast majority (&gt;99.8%) of the assembly was anchored to 7 pseudomolecules using 2 sets of optical maps from Bionano Genomics. We obtained ~24.96 Mb of sequence not present in the previous version of the F. vesca genome and produced an improved annotation that includes 1496 new genes. Comparative syntenic analyses uncovered numerous, large-scale scaffolding errors present in each chromosome in the previously published version of the F. vesca genome.

Conclusions
Our results highlight the need to improve existing short-read based reference genomes. Furthermore, we demonstrate how genome quality impacts commonly used analyses for addressing both fundamental and applied biological questions.
Genome assembly of the Pink Ipê (Handroanthus impetiginosus, Bignoniaceae), a highly valued, ecologically keystone Neotropical timber forest tree
Authors: Silva-Junior Orzenil Bonfim , Grattapaglia Dario , Novaes Evandro , Collevatti Rosane G 
Published: December 2017

Abstract

Background
Handroanthus impetiginosus (Mart. ex DC.) Mattos is a keystone Neotropical hardwood tree widely distributed in seasonally dry tropical forests of South and Mesoamerica. Regarded as the “new mahogany,” it is the second most expensive timber, the most logged species in Brazil, and currently under significant illegal trading pressure. The plant produces large amounts of quinoids, specialized metabolites with documented antitumorous and antibiotic effects. The development of genomic resources is needed to better understand and conserve the diversity of the species, to empower forensic identification of the origin of timber, and to identify genes for important metabolic compounds.

Findings
The genome assembly covers 503.7 Mb (N50 = 81 316 bp), 90.4% of the 557-Mbp genome, with 13 206 scaffolds. A repeat database with 1508 sequences was developed, allowing masking of ~31% of the assembly. Depth of coverage indicated that consensus determination adequately removed haplotypes assembled separately due to the extensive heterozygosity of the species. Automatic gene prediction provided 31 688 structures and 35 479 messenger RNA transcripts, while external evidence supported a well-curated set of 28 603 high-confidence models (90% of total). Finally, we used the genomic sequence and the comprehensive gene content annotation to identify genes related to the production of specialized metabolites.

Conclusions
This genome assembly is the first well-curated resource for a Neotropical forest tree and the first one for a member of the Bignoniaceae family, opening exceptional opportunities to empower molecular, phytochemical, and breeding studies. This work should inspire the development of similar genomic resources for the largely neglected forest trees of the mega-diverse tropical biomes.
Bioeconomic modelling of grey seal predation impacts on the West of Scotland demersal fisheries
Authors: Trijoulet Vanessa , Dobby Helen , Holmes Steven J , Cook Robin M 
Published: December 2017

Abstract
The role grey seals have played in the performance of fisheries is controversial and a cause of much debate between fishers and conservationists. Most studies focus on the effects of seal damage to gears or fish and on prey population abundance but little attention is given to the consequences of the latter for the fisheries. We develop a model that quantifies the economic impact of grey seal predation on the West of Scotland demersal fisheries that traditionally targeted cod, haddock and whiting. Three contrasting fishing strategy scenarios are examined to assess impacts on equilibrium fleet revenues under different levels of seal predation. These include status quo fishing mortality (SQF, steady state with constant fishing mortality), open access fishing (bioeconomic equilibrium, BE) and the maximum economic yield (MEY). In all scenarios, cod emerges as the key stock. Large whitefish trawlers are most sensitive to seal predation due to their higher cod revenues but seal impacts are minor at the aggregate fishery level. Scenarios that consider dynamic fleet behaviour also show the greatest effects of seal predation. Results are sensitive to the choice of seal foraging model where a type II functional response increases sensitivity to seal predation. The cost to the fishery for each seal is estimated.