bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
VEPTR Implantation to Treat Children With Early-Onset Scoliosis Without Rib Abnormalities: Early Results From a Prospective Multicenter Study
Authors: El-Hawary Ron , Kadhim Muayad , Vitale Michael , Smith John , Samdani Amer , Flynn John M. 
Published: February 2017

Background:
Thoracoplasty and insertion of vertical expandable prosthetic titanium rib (VEPTR) for thoracic and spine distraction has been found to be effective in the treatment of early-onset scoliosis (EOS) with ribs anomalies and congenital vertebral anomalies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of VEPTR in preventing further progression of scoliosis without impeding spinal growth in children with progressive EOS without rib abnormalities.

Methods:
This is a prospective, multicenter, observational cohort study. Erect radiographs were analyzed for coronal and sagittal curve and height measurements at preimplant, immediate postoperative, and at 2-year follow-up.

Results:
Sixty-three patients met inclusion: 35 males and 28 females. Mean age at time of implantation was 6.1±2.4 years. Etiologies included congenital (n=6), neuromuscular (n=36), syndromic (n=4), and idiopathic (n=17). The mean follow-up was 2.2±0.4 years. Scoliosis (72±18 degrees) decreased after implant surgery (47±17 degrees) followed by slight increase at 2-year follow-up (57±18 degrees), P<0.0001. Kyphosis (48±22 degrees) also showed significant decrease after implantation (40±14 degrees), but increased after 2 years (48±16 degrees), P<0.0001. Coronal spine height measurements including T1-T12 (15.7±3 cm) and T1-S1 (25±6 cm) showed significant increases after implantation surgery (17.7±4 cm and 28.6±6 cm, respectively) and at 2 years (18.4±4 cm and 29.1±5 cm, respectively), P<0.0001. The increase in coronal spine height represented 144% of expected age-matched T1-T12 growth and 193% of expected age-matched T1-S1 growth. Similarly, sagittal spine length of T1-T12 and T1-S1 increased from 16.9±2.7 cm and 27.1±3.9 cm, respectively preoperatively to 19.7±3.5 cm and 31.9±5.1 cm, respectively at 2-year follow-up, P<0.0001. The instrumented spine segment continued growth from 25.8±5.2 cm after implantation to 27.4±5.3 cm at 2-year follow-up, P<0.0001. Thirty-one patients (49%) had at least 1 complication with total of 58 complications.

Conclusions:
At 2-year follow-up, VEPTR was effective in treating EOS without rib abnormalities with 86% of patients having an improvement in scoliosis and 94% of patients having an increased spinal height as compared with preoperative values. This study proved that spine continues to grow after VEPTR instrumentation during the distraction phase. This amount of growth represents about 40% for T1-T12 and 31% for T1-S1 spine of the expected age-matched growth based on Dimeglio reference numbers. We find this growth important as it proves continuous spine growth with VEPTR treatment.

Level of Evidence:
Level II.
IMPACT Score for Traumatic Brain Injury: Validation of the Prognostic Tool in a Spanish Cohort
Authors: Egea-Guerrero Juan José , Rodríguez-Rodríguez Ana , Gordillo-Escobar Elena , Fernández-Delgado Esperanza , Martínez-Roldán Ángela , Roldán-Reina Álvaro , Durán-Martínez Pilar , de Vega-Ríos Enrique , Freire-Aragón María Dolores , Vilches-Arenas Ángel , Murillo-Cabezas Francisco , Quintana-Díaz Manuel 
Published: February 2017

Background:
The aim of this work was to validate the IMPACT (International Mission for Prognosis and Analysis of Clinical Trials in TBI) model in a Spanish cohort of patients with moderate-severe TBI (traumatic brain injury).

Setting:
Two level I neurotrauma centers.

Participants:
Patients admitted to these hospitals between 2011 and 2014 with a diagnosis of TBI and a Glasgow Coma Scale score of 12 or less.

Design:
Prospective observational study.

Main Measures:
We collected prospectively the clinical variables included in the IMPACT models. Outcome evaluation was prospectively done at 6-month follow-up according to the Glasgow Outcome Scale.

Results:
A total of 290 patients were included in the study. Forty-seven patients (16.2%) died within 6 months post-TBI, and 74 patients (25.5%) had an unfavorable outcome. The Hosmer-Lemeshow test revealed that there was no difference between observed and predicted outcomes; hence, the 3 models displayed adequate calibration for predicting 6-month mortality or unfavorable outcome. The receiver operating characteristic curve indicated that the 3 models (Core, Extended, and Lab) could accurately discriminate between favorable and unfavorable outcomes, as well as between survival and mortality (P < .001).

Conclusion:
The IMPACT model validates prediction of 6-month outcomes in a Spanish population of moderate-severe TBI. IMPACT Lab model is the one that presents a higher discriminative capacity. These results encourage the implementation of the IMPACT model as a prognostic tool in the management of patients with TBI.
Group-Based Trajectory Analysis of Emotional Symptoms Among Survivors After Severe Traumatic Brain Injury
Authors: Ren Dianxu , Fan Jun , Puccio Ava M. , Okonkwo David O. , Beers Sue R. , Conley Yvette 
Published: February 2017

Objectives:
Depressive symptoms and anxiety are fairly common emotional outcomes after severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). Life satisfaction is a main factor in the general construct of subjective well-being. However, there is limited literature available on the interrelationship between emotional outcomes and life satisfaction post–severe TBI over time. The purpose of this study was to characterize distinct patterns of change in depressive symptoms, anxiety, and life satisfaction over 24 months after severe TBI and evaluate the interrelationship of different trajectory groups among them as well as associated subject characteristics.

Methods:
This prospective study used longitudinal data collected from the University of Pittsburgh Brain Trauma Research Center from survivors of severe TBI (N = 129). In addition to demographic and injury-related data, depressive symptoms, anxiety, and life satisfaction were collected at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months postinjury. A group-based trajectory model was performed to identify distinct longitudinal patterns of depressive symptoms, anxiety, and life satisfaction. The interrelationships of distinct trajectory groups were examined using χ2 tests. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to examine the predictors of different emotional symptom trajectories.

Results:
The group-based trajectory model identified 2 distinct patterns of each of 3 outcomes: constantly low and constantly high depressive symptoms group (70.4% vs 29.6%), constantly low and constantly high anxiety group (69.1% vs 30.9%), and low-decreasing and high-stable life satisfaction groups (56.3% vs 43.7%). A strong pairwise association was observed between trajectory group membership for depressive symptoms and anxiety (P < .0001), depressive symptoms and life satisfaction (P < .0001), and anxiety and life satisfaction (P < .001). Subjects with increased severe injury were more likely to belong to the high-stable depressive symptoms group, while there were no significant associations between age, gender, race, education, marriage status and distinct depressive symptoms, anxiety, and life satisfaction trajectory groups.

Conclusions:
A group-based trajectory model revealed patterns of emotional symptoms that have not been fully explored among survivors of severe TBI. There appear to be distinct trajectory patterns for depressive symptoms, anxiety, and life satisfaction, respectively. There was strong interrelationship among emotional symptoms. The findings add to our understanding of psychosocial outcomes experienced over time after severe TBI.
MACULAR DEGENERATION AND ASPIRIN USE
Authors: Small Kent W. , Garabetian Christine A. , Shaya Fadi S. 
Published: February 2017

Purpose:
To review current literature of the benefits that aspirin provides for patients' cardiovascular health compared with the risk of AMD worsening.

Methods:
We performed a review and critically analyzed six cardiovascular and four ophthalmological trials regarding risks and benefits of aspirin use. The prospective randomized cardiovascular trials had a cumulative 167,580 while the 3 smaller ophthalmological data sets had a cumulative 12,015 subjects.

Results:
The reviewed meta-analysis literature demonstrated a statistically significant 32% reduction in the risk of nonfatal stroke with regular aspirin users. The study also documented that aspirin users decreased the risk of fatal vascular deaths by 15%. Of the three ophthalmological studies highlighting the adverse affects of aspirin association with AMD, all suggested an exacerbation of AMD without statistical significance and broad confidence bands.

Conclusion:
Overall, the number, size, and quality of the cardiovascular studies recommending aspirin use are far superior to the fewer, smaller and conflicting studies suggesting a possible adverse effect of aspirin use in relation to AMD. The benefits of aspirin usage include preserving the duration and quality of life by decreasing stroke and heart attack risk. These benefits seem to far outweigh the theoretical risks of possibly exacerbating wet AMD, which can be reasonably controlled with anti-VEGF therapy.
INFLUENCE OF VITRECTOMY SURGERY ON THE INTEGRITY OF OUTER RETINAL LAYERS IN DIABETIC MACULAR EDEMA
Authors: Uji Akihito , Murakami Tomoaki , Suzuma Kiyoshi , Yoshitake Shin , Arichika Shigeta , Ghashut Rima , Fujimoto Masahiro , Yoshimura Nagahisa 
Published: February 2017

Purpose:
To investigate the influence of pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) on the integrity of photoreceptor layers in eyes with diabetic macular edema (DME) by using parallelism (a parameter that comprehensively reflects photoreceptor–retinal pigment epithelium [RPE] complex alterations) in spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) imaging.

Methods:
A consecutive series of 64 eyes in 55 patients with diabetic macular edema who underwent pars plana vitrectomy were recruited into the study. Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography images were obtained preoperatively and 6 months after surgery. The morphologic features of the outer retinal layers were assessed quantitatively using parallelism and qualitatively by graders, including continuity of the external limiting membrane (ELM) line, continuity of the photoreceptor inner and outer segment (IS/OS) junction line, and the presence of hyperreflective foci in the outer retinal layers. The relationships between parallelism, visual acuity (VA), and photoreceptor layer status were evaluated.

Results:
After surgery, foveal thickness significantly decreased (P < 0.0001) and visual acuity improved (P < 0.0001) from baseline level. Postoperative parallelism (0.632 ± 0.137) was significantly higher than preoperative parallelism (0.531 ± 0.172) (P < 0.0001). A number of eyes with hyperreflective foci reduced after surgery, while separate evaluation of the inner and outer segment junction and external limiting membrane lines did not show significant changes. Moreover, preoperative and postoperative parallelism values showed significant correlations with postoperative visual acuity and serum lipid levels. Foveal thickness and logMAR visual acuity did not show significant correlations with any blood test data.

Conclusion:
Pars plana vitrectomy might be effective for resolution of hyperreflective foci in outer retinal layers. Parallelism is a potential marker for localization of hyperreflective foci and useful as a predictive factor for postoperative visual acuity.
FEATURES OF THE MACULA AND CENTRAL VISUAL FIELD AND FIXATION PATTERN IN PATIENTS WITH RETINITIS PIGMENTOSA
Authors: Sayman Muslubas Isil , Karacorlu Murat , Arf Serra , Hocaoglu Mumin , Ersoz Mehmet Giray 
Published: February 2017

Purpose:
To evaluate macular features and fixation pattern in patients with retinitis pigmentosa (RP) compared with healthy controls, using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography and MP-1 microperimetry.

Methods:
Eighty-one eyes of 81 patients with RP and 90 eyes of 90 healthy subjects were assessed. The central foveal thickness, subfoveal choroidal thickness, ellipsoid zone length, and the mean retinal sensitivities and fixation characteristics were evaluated by spectral-domain optical coherence tomography and MP-1 microperimetry.

Results:
Compared with healthy subjects, patients with central macular thinning had lower best corrected visual acuity, central foveal thickness, ellipsoid zone length, retinal sensitivity, and visual field than patients with cystoid macular edema or no macular change (all P < 0.001). Correlations between fixation characteristics and best corrected visual acuity, central foveal thickness, ellipsoid zone length, retinal sensitivity, and visual field were statistically significant (all P < 0.001). Patients with no macular change had more centralized and stabilized fixation than patients with central foveal thinning and cystoid macular edema.

Conclusion:
The spectrum of macular features from the nearly normal retina to complete chorioretinal atrophy can be seen in RP patients without associations with age or duration of symptoms. Unlike other macular degenerations, most patients with RP obtained at least a central 2° of visual field, with foveal and stable fixation.
A Meta-Analysis on the Diagnostic Performance of Non-Echoplanar Diffusion-Weighted Imaging in Detecting Middle Ear Cholesteatoma: 10 Years On
Authors: Lingam Ravi K. , Bassett Paul 
Published: February 2017

Objective:
To describe via a meta-analysis of the published literature, the performance of non-echo-planar diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) in detecting middle ear cholesteatoma.

Methodology:
A systematic review of the published literature was performed to identify original studies evaluating the diagnostic performance of non-echo-planar DWI in detecting middle ear cholesteatoma. Only studies with surgical correlation were included. A bi-variate meta-analysis and hierarchical summary receiver operating characteristic model was performed.

Results:
A total of 26 studies (1,152 patient episodes) were included. Pooled sensitivity and specificity of 0.91 (95% CI: 0.87–0.95) and 0.92 (95% CI: 0.86–0.96), respectively were obtained. Separate subgroup analysis performed for primary cholesteatoma, postoperative cholesteatoma, pediatric cases, and adult cases all showed high sensitivities (range, 0.86–0.93) and specificities (0.88–0.97). There was a statistically significant degree of heterogeneity in terms of sensitivity between all studies (I
2 value 46%) and in the pediatric subgroup (I
2 value 78%). There was no evidence of significant heterogeneity between the specificity measurements.

Conclusions:
Non-echo-planar DWI is highly sensitive and specific in detecting cholesteatoma. A large prospective multicentre randomized controlled study could validate the findings and evaluate the cost-effectiveness of DWI as an alternative for second-look surgery (control arm) in managing cases of postoperative cholesteatoma.
The maternal genetic make-up of the Iberian Peninsula between the Neolithic and the Early Bronze Age
Authors: Szécsényi-Nagy Anna , Roth Christina , Brandt Guido , Rihuete-Herrada Cristina , Tejedor-Rodríguez Cristina , Held Petra , García-Martínez-de-Lagrán íñigo , Magallón Héctor Arcusa , Zesch Stephanie , Knipper Corina , Bánffy Eszter , Friederich Susanne , Meller Harald , Ramírez Primitiva Bueno , Bermejo Rosa Barroso , Balbín Behrmann Rodrigo de , Herrero-Corral Ana M. , Fernández Raúl Flores , Fernández Carmen Alonso , Jiménez Echevarria Javier , Rindlisbacher Laura , Oliart Camila , Fregeiro María-Inés , Soriano Ignacio , Vicente Oriol , Micó Rafael , Lull Vicente , Díaz Jorge Soler , López Padilla Juan Antonio , Togores Muñoz Consuelo Roca de , Hernández Pérez Mauro S. , Maestre Francisco Javier Jover , Maurandi Joaquín Lomba , Fernández Azucena Avilés , Lillios Katina T. , Silva Ana Maria , Ramalho Miguel Magalhães , Oosterbeek Luiz Miguel , Cunha Claudia , Waterman Anna J. , Buxó Jordi Roig , Martínez Andrés , Martínez Juana Ponce , Ortiz Mark Hunt , Mejías-García Juan Carlos , Espín Juan Carlos Pecero , Briones Rosario Cruz-Auñón , Tomé Tiago , Ballestero Eduardo Carmona , Cardoso João Luís , Araújo Ana Cristina , Lettow-Vorbeck Corina Liesau von , Bosqued Concepción Blasco , Ríos Mendoza Patricia , Pujante Ana , Royo-Guillén José I. , Esquembre Beviá Marco Aurelio , Santos Goncalves Victor Manuel Dos , Parreira Rui , Hernández Elena Morán , Izquierdo Elena Méndez , Miguel Jorge Vega de , García Roberto Menduiña , Calvo Victoria Martínez , Jiménez Oscar López , Krause Johannes , Pichler Sandra L. , Garrido-Pena Rafael , Kunst Michael , Risch Roberto , Rojo-Guerra Manuel A. , Haak Wolfgang , Alt Kurt W. 
Published: February 2017

AbstractAgriculture first reached the Iberian Peninsula around 5700 BCE. However, little is known about the genetic structure and changes of prehistoric populations in different geographic areas of Iberia. In our study, we focused on the maternal genetic makeup of the Neolithic (∼ 5500-3000 BCE), Chalcolithic (∼ 3000-2200 BCE) and Early Bronze Age (∼ 2200-1500 BCE). We report ancient mitochondrial DNA results of 213 individuals (151 HVS-I sequences) from the northeast, central, southeast and southwest regions and thus on the largest archaeogenetic dataset from the Peninsula to date. Similar to other parts of Europe, we observe a discontinuity between hunter-gatherers and the first farmers of the Neolithic. During the subsequent periods, we detect regional continuity of Early Neolithic lineages across Iberia, however the genetic contribution of hunter-gatherers is generally higher than in other parts of Europe and varies regionally. In contrast to ancient DNA findings from Central Europe, we do not observe a major turnover in the mtDNA record of the Iberian Late Chalcolithic and Early Bronze Age, suggesting that the population history of the Iberian Peninsula is distinct in character.
A high-resolution mRNA expression time course of embryonic development in zebrafish
Authors: White Richard J. , Collins John E. , Sealy Ian M. , Wali Neha , Dooley Christopher M. , Digby Zsofia , Stemple Derek L. , Murphy Daniel N. , Hourlier Thibaut , Füllgrabe Anja , Davis Matthew P. , Enright Anton J. , Busch-Nentwich Elisabeth M. 
Published: February 2017

AbstractWe have produced an mRNA expression time course of zebrafish development across 18 time points from 1-cell to 5 days post-fertilisation sampling individual and pools of embryos. Using poly(A) pulldown stranded RNA-seq and a 3′ end transcript counting method we characterise the temporal expression profiles of 23,642 genes. We identify temporal and functional transcript co-variance that associates 5,024 unnamed genes with distinct developmental time points. Specifically, a class of over 100 previously uncharacterised zinc finger domain containing genes, located on the long arm of chromosome 4, is expressed in a sharp peak during zygotic genome activation. The data reveal complex and widespread differential use of exons and previously unidentified 3′ ends across development, new primary microRNA transcripts and temporal divergence of gene paralogues generated in the teleost genome duplication. To make this dataset a useful baseline reference, the data are accessible to browse and download at Expression Atlas and Ensembl.
Neural decoding of visual stimuli varies with fluctuations in global network efficiency
Authors: Cocchi Luca , Zhengyi Yang , Andrew Zalesky , Johannes Stelzer , Hearne Luke , Leonardo L. Gollo , Mattingley Jason B 
Published: February 2017

AbstractFunctional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies have shown that neural activity fluctuates spontaneously between different states of global synchronization over a timescale of several seconds. Such fluctuations generate transient states of high and low correlation across distributed cortical areas. It has been hypothesized that such fluctuations in global efficiency might alter patterns of activity in local neuronal populations elicited by changes in incoming sensory stimuli. To test this prediction, we used a linear decoder to discriminate patterns of neural activity elicited by face and motion stimuli presented periodically while participants underwent time-resolved fMRI. As predicted, decoding was reliably higher during states of high global efficiency than during states of low efficiency, and this difference was evident across both visual and non-visual cortical regions. The results indicate that slow fluctuations in global network efficiency are associated with variations in the pattern of activity across widespread cortical regions responsible for representing distinct categories of visual stimulus. More broadly, the findings highlight the importance of understanding the impact of global fluctuations in functional connectivity on specialised, stimulus driven neural processes.
The reliability, use and evaluation of sources of information on foodstuffs
Authors: Szlachciuk Julita , Ozimek Irena 
Published: February 2017

Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to investigate how young Polish consumers perceive the selected sources of information on foodstuffs. The authors have also taken into account the consumers’ comprehension, hierarchy of importance and use of labels on food products.

Design/methodology/approach
The survey sample consisted of a group of respondents aged 16-24. The participants were students of secondary schools and universities located in Poland, on the territory of Mazovian Voivodeship. The questionnaires were distributed among the respondents: the χ2 test was used to show the impact of demographic variables, while the Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient was applied to examine the relationship between the respondents’ attentiveness to the information contained on the food packaging and its legibility and comprehensibility.

Findings
The study ascertained the existence of differences in the perception of the reliability of sources of information on foodstuffs and the declared frequency of using them. In the respondents’ opinion, the most reliable information can be obtained from nutrition consultants, family members, physicians or pharmacists. Furthermore, the analysis of the frequency of use of individual sources of information by the respondents proved that most often they relied on the recommendations from their family members, the information contained in the label and advice offered by their acquaintances.

Originality/value
The research findings indicate that the key action should be to carry out further educational activities aimed at young consumers in order to enable them to execute their rights to fair information and education, in the foodstuffs market, as well as to increase their consumer activity.