bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Menopause and postmenopausal hormone therapy and risk of hearing loss
Authors: Curhan Sharon G. , Eliassen A. Heather , Eavey Roland D. , Wang Molin , Lin Brian M. , Curhan Gary C. 
Published: May 2017

Abstract

Objective:
Menopause may be a risk factor for hearing loss, and postmenopausal hormone therapy (HT) has been proposed to slow hearing decline; however, there are no large prospective studies. We prospectively examined the independent relations between menopause and postmenopausal HT and risk of self-reported hearing loss.

Methods:
Prospective cohort study among 80,972 women in the Nurses’ Health Study II, baseline age 27 to 44 years, followed from 1991 to 2013. Baseline and updated information was obtained from detailed validated biennial questionnaires. Cox proportional-hazards regression models were used to examine independent associations between menopausal status and postmenopausal HT and risk of hearing loss.

Results:
After 1,410,928 person-years of follow-up, 18,558 cases of hearing loss were reported. There was no significant overall association between menopausal status, natural or surgical, and risk of hearing loss. Older age at natural menopause was associated with higher risk. The multivariable-adjusted relative risk of hearing loss among women who underwent natural menopause at age 50+ years compared with those aged less than 50 years was 1.10 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.03, 1.17). Among postmenopausal women, oral HT (estrogen therapy or estrogen plus progestogen therapy) was associated with higher risk of hearing loss, and longer duration of use was associated with higher risk (P trend < 0.001). Compared with women who never used HT, the multivariable-adjusted relative risk of hearing loss among women who used oral HT for 5 to 9.9 years was 1.15 (95% CI 1.06, 1.24) and for 10+ years was 1.21 (95% CI 1.07, 1.37).

Conclusions:
Older age at menopause and longer duration of postmenopausal HT are associated with higher risk of hearing loss.
VASCULAR DISTORTION AND DRAGGING RELATED TO APPARENT TISSUE CONTRACTION IN MACULAR TELANGIECTASIS TYPE 2
Authors: Spaide Richard F. , Marco Rosa D. , Yannuzzi Lawrence A. 
Published: May 2017

Purpose:
To examine the alterations in retinal vascular morphology over an extended follow-up in eyes with macular telangiectasis Type 2 (MacTel2).

Methods:
Eyes with high-quality digital photographs were evaluated. The geometric distortion in baseline images required to emulate the follow-up images was determined and vectors were made that represented the direction and magnitude of changes, to create a warp field. Optical coherence tomography and optical coherence tomography angiography evaluation of the retina was performed.

Results:
There were 7 eyes of 4 patients, who had a mean age of 70.25 years, which were followed for a mean of 8.8 years. The eyes showed increasing grayish opacification in the temporal macula with straightening and displacement of the macular vessels, even those in the nasal macula. The warp field vectors pointed to the temporal juxtafoveal macula. There was never any cavitation at the epicenter of the retinal distortion in any patient, although cavitations were found around this area. Optical coherence tomography imaging showed a circumscribed region of hyperreflectivity in the temporal macula. Optical coherence tomography angiography showed a deep angular condensed network of vessels within the hyperreflective region. One eye showed marked atrophic changes including full-thickness macular hole formation, but no increase in graying of the retina, loss of retinal laminations, pigmentary infiltration, or alteration in the retinal vessels.

Conclusion:
Tissue contraction with retinal vascular displacement and contortion seem to be integral aspects of disease manifestation in MacTel2. The induced vascular changes may lead to secondary effects that increase morbidity in this disease.
CLINICAL FINDINGS OF EYES WITH MACULAR EDEMA ASSOCIATED WITH BRANCH RETINAL VEIN OCCLUSION REFRACTORY TO RANIBIZUMAB
Authors: Hasegawa Taiji , Kawano Taizo , Maruko Ichiro , Koizumi Hideki , Iida Tomohiro 
Published: May 2017

Purpose:
To determine the relationship between the clinical findings and the response to ranibizumab therapy in eyes with macular edema associated with branch retinal vein occlusion.

Methods:
We reviewed the medical records of 68 patients with macular edema associated with a branch retinal vein occlusion. The patients were placed in the refractory group if the central foveal thickness remained more than 250 μm throughout the 6-month study period despite the ranibizumab therapy; otherwise, they were placed in the responsive group.

Results:
Sixty (88.2%) of 68 eyes were placed in the responsive group and the other 8 eyes (11.8%) were placed in the refractory group. At the pretreatment examination, fluorescein angiography showed extensive leakage from occluded vessels in 52 (86.7%) of the 60 eyes in the responsive group and focal leakages from microaneurysms or dilated capillaries in the other 8 eyes (13.3%). In the refractory group, 7 (87.5%) of 8 eyes had only focal leakage and 1 eye (12.5%) had extensive leakage (P < 0.0001). The mean initial subfoveal choroidal thickness in the eyes with branch retinal vein occlusion in the responsive group was significantly thicker than that in the fellow eyes (278.0 ± 90.5 μm, 249.9 ± 94.4 μm; P < 0.0001). On the other hand, the mean initial subfoveal choroidal thickness in the refractory group was not significantly different from that of the fellow eyes (P = 0.4002).

Conclusion:
The dye leakage pattern in the fluorescein angiography images and choroidal thickness may be associated with response to ranibizumab therapy.
Comparison of Tear Osmolarity in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients With and Without Secondary Sjogren Syndrome
Authors: Ng Alex L. K. , Choy Bonnie N. K. , Chan Tommy C. Y. , Wong Ian Y. H. , Lai Jimmy S. M. , Mok Mo Yin 
Published: May 2017

Purpose:
To compare tear osmolarity (TO) and other dry eye parameters in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with or without secondary Sjogren syndrome (sSS).

Methods:
Consecutive patients with RA were divided into a sSS group and no-sSS group using conventional diagnostic criteria by rheumatologists using symptomatology, Schirmer test score, and anti-Ro or anti-La autoantibody status. The TO, Ocular Surface Disease Index, dry eye disease (DED) parameters [such as tear breakup time (TBUT) and corneal staining score] and the systemic inflammatory markers [erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP)] were compared. Correlation analyses between TO and the DED parameters and inflammatory markers were also performed.

Results:
A total of 42 cases with mean age 54.8 ± 12.3 were included, with 12 patients (29%) having sSS and 30 (71%) without sSS. TO was increased in both groups (329 ± 20 and 319 ± 25 mOsm/L, respectively), but no statistically significant difference was found between the 2 groups (P = 0.126). RA with sSS had significantly shorter TBUT, higher corneal staining score, and ESR CRP levels (P < 0.05). TO did not correlate with the Schirmer test score, but had significant positive correlations with age, corneal staining score, ESR, and CRP levels, and a significant negative correlation with TBUT.

Conclusions:
TO was increased in RA patients with or without sSS. There was no significant correlation between TO and the Schirmer test score, and the physician could not use TO to diagnose sSS. However, TO correlated well with both DED parameters (TBUT and corneal staining score) and systemic inflammatory markers (ESR and CRP).
Evaluation of Optic Nerve Head and Peripapillary Choroidal Vasculature Using Swept-source Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography
Authors: Na Kyeong Ik , Lee Won June , Kim Young Kook , Jeoung Jin Wook , Park Ki Ho 
Published: May 2017

Purpose:
The authors visualized arterioles from the peripapillary choroid to the optic nerve head in vivo, using swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography.

Methods and Results:
In this case series, we present 3 eyes with visible centripetal branches from the peripapillary choroid. The 3 eyes were diagnosed as glaucoma suspect, normal-tension glaucoma, and primary open-angle glaucoma. In the en face projection images of the choroidal layer, obtained by swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography, the vessels from the peripapillary choroid to the optic nerve head were observed in all 3 eyes; one of them was further evaluated by indocyanine green angiography using the Heidelberg retina angiograph. The filling pattern, as viewed on high-speed indocyanine green angiographic video, confirmed that the vessels were arterioles originating from the peripapillary choroid and supplying the prelaminar region of the optic nerve head.

Conclusions:
The prelaminar region of the optic nerve head might be supplied by the peripapillary choroid in addition to the known major blood supply from the short posterior ciliary arteries.
A Novel Method for Assessing Lamina Cribrosa Structure Ex Vivo Using Anterior Segment Enhanced Depth Imaging Optical Coherence Tomography
Authors: Chien Jason L. , Ghassibi Mark P. , Mahadeshwar Pooja , Li Pengcheng , Liebmann Jeffrey M. , Ritch Robert , Milman Tatyana , Park Sung Chul 
Published: May 2017

Purpose:
The purpose of this study is to investigate the use of anterior segment enhanced depth imaging (EDI) optical coherence tomography (OCT) for ex vivo lamina cribrosa (LC) imaging.

Materials and Methods:
After removing anterior segment and vitreous, the optic nerve head (ONH) tissue of porcine eyes was placed on a customized eye holder for imaging. Serial EDI OCT B-scans (interval, ∼35 μm) of the ONH were obtained using anterior segment module of spectral-domain OCT. Various conditions were tested for better quality LC images. After EDI OCT, serial histologic sections were obtained (distance between sections, ∼5 μm). LC structures in OCT scans were compared with those in histologic sections. Three-dimensional LC reconstructions created using serial OCT scans were compared with LC structures in disc photographs.

Results:
ONHs of 3 enucleated eyes were examined. The LC was more clearly imaged when the retina and part of the prelaminar tissue were removed (quality score, 39.01±3.30 vs. 26.40±5.85; P<0.001) and when the tissue was kept moist during imaging (quality score, 38.70±2.11 vs. 36.18±5.98; P<0.001). LC image quality was similar before and after fixation (quality score, 38.84±6.57 vs. 39.21±9.69; P=0.79). LC beams and part of retrolaminar glial columns identified in OCT scans matched those in histologic sections. LC beams and pores in 3-dimensional reconstructions matched those in disc photographs.

Conclusions:
High-resolution cross-sectional images of the LC, comparable to histologic sections, can be obtained using anterior segment EDI OCT in ex vivo eyes with proper tissue preparation.
Japanese and Korean Nursing Students' Motivation for Joining Disaster Relief Activities as Nurses in the Future
Authors: Choe Myoung-Ae , Kuwano Noriko , Bang Kyung-Sook , Cho Mi-Kyoung , Yatsushiro Rika , Kawata Yuki 
Published: May 2017

The purpose of this study was to identify differences in motivation for joining disaster relief activities as a nurse in the future between Japanese and Korean nursing students. A descriptive 2-group comparative study design was used. The participants were 721 first- to fourth-year nursing students (Japanese, n = 324; Korean, n = 397). From June to September 2014, data were collected through a researcher-administered questionnaire and self-reported answers. The collected data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, the χ2 test, and the t test.
No significant difference was found between Japanese and Korean students in motivation to join domestic relief activities should a disaster occur in the area in which they lived. Compared with Korean students, Japanese students strongly agreed that it is necessary to carry out relief work across borders when disasters occur in foreign countries (p = .001). Meanwhile, Japanese students showed less motivation than Korean students to join relief activities in other domestic areas and foreign countries (p = .020).
The results of this study suggest that the motivation of Japanese students to join disaster relief activities as nurses in the future should a disaster occur in other domestic areas and foreign countries needs to be increased. The results also suggest that undergraduate students should be well prepared for disasters through disaster nursing education, including practical training, disaster drills, and simulation.
Temporary Seizure in an Infant Who Had Been Exposed to G-Amino Butyric Acid Receptor Antagonist Thiocolchicoside
Authors: Havali Cengiz , Gucuyener Kivilcim , Gurkas Esra , Demir Ercan 
Published: May 2017

Abstract
Seizure is the most common presentation of neurological disorder in the pediatric emergency care setting. In evaluating the child after a first seizure, the first consideration should be determining if the seizure was provoked or unprovoked. Investigation listing the causes of the first seizure is considerably long, and adverse drug reactions must be in mind. Epileptic seizures after using thiocolchicoside (TCC) have been reported in several adult patients with epilepsy and acute brain injury. We present a previously healthy 3-month-old female infant who was admitted to the emergency department with a generalized seizure after exposure to TCC. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of a child who had an epileptic seizure after TCC intake via breastfeeding in the literature.
Early Intervention With Live Donor Liver Transplantation Reduces Resource Utilization in NASH: The Toronto Experience
Authors: Barbas Andrew S. , Goldaracena Nicolas , Dib Martin J. , Al-Adra David P. , Aravinthan Aloysious D. , Lilly Leslie B. , Renner Eberhard L. , Selzner Nazia , Bhat Mamatha , Cattral Mark S. , Ghanekar Anand , McGilvray Ian D. , Sapisochin Gonzalo , Selzner Markus , Greig Paul D. , Grant David R. 
Published: May 2017

Background
In parallel with the obesity epidemic, liver transplantation for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is increasing dramatically in North America. Although survival outcomes are similar to other etiologies, liver transplantation in the NASH population has been associated with significantly increased resource utilization. We sought to compare outcomes between live donor liver transplantation (LDLT) and deceased donor liver transplantation (DDLT) at a high volume North American transplant center, with a particular focus on resource utilization.

Methods
The study population consists of primary liver transplants performed for NASH at Toronto General Hospital from 2000 to 2014. Recipient characteristics, perioperative outcomes, graft and patient survivals, and resource utilization were compared for LDLT versus DDLT.

Results
A total of 176 patients were included in the study (48 LDLT vs 128 DDLT). LDLT recipients had a lower model for end-stage liver disease score and were less frequently hospitalized prior to transplant. Estimated blood loss and early markers of graft injury were lower for LDLT. LDLT recipients had a significantly shorter hospitalization (intensive care unit, postoperative, and total hospitalization).

Conclusions
LDLT for NASH facilitates transplantation of patients at a less severe stage of disease, which appears to promote a faster postoperative recovery with less resource utilization.
The population genomics of archaeological transition in west Iberia: Investigation of ancient substructure using imputation and haplotype-based methods
Authors: Martiniano Rui , Cassidy Lara M , Ó’Maoldúin Ros , McLaughlin Russell , Silva Nuno M , Manco Licinio , Fidalgo Daniel , Pereira Tania , Coelho Maria J , Serra Miguel , Burger Joachim , Parreira Rui , Moran Elena , Valera Antonio C , Porfirio Eduardo , Boaventura Rui , Silva Ana M , Bradley Daniel G 
Published: May 2017

AbstractWe analyse new genomic data (0.05-2.95x) from 14 ancient individuals from Portugal distributed from the Middle Neolithic (4200-3500 BC) to the Middle Bronze Age (1740-1430 BC) and impute genomewide diploid genotypes in these together with published ancient Eurasians. While discontinuity is evident in the transition to agriculture across the region, sensitive haplotype-based analyses suggest a significant degree of local hunter-gatherer contribution to later Iberian Neolithic populations. A more subtle genetic influx is also apparent in the Bronze Age, detectable from analyses including haplotype sharing with both ancient and modern genomes, D-statistics and Y-chromosome lineages. However, the limited nature of this introgression contrasts with the major Steppe migration turnovers within third Millennium northern Europe and echoes the survival of non-Indo-European language in Iberia. Changes in genomic estimates of individual height across Europe are also associated with these major cultural transitions, and ancestral components continue to correlate with modern differences in stature.Author SummaryRecent ancient DNA work has demonstrated the significant genetic impact of mass migrations from the Steppe into Central and Northern Europe during the transition from the Neolithic to the Bronze Age. In Iberia, archaeological change at the level of material culture and funerary rituals has been reported during this period, however, the genetic impact associated with this cultural transformation has not yet been estimated. In order to investigate this, we sequence Neolithic and Bronze Age samples from Portugal, which we compare to other ancient and present-day individuals. Genome-wide imputation of a large dataset of ancient samples enabled sensitive methods for detecting population structure and selection in ancient samples. We revealed subtle genetic differentiation between the Portuguese Neolithic and Bronze Age samples suggesting a markedly reduced influx in Iberia compared to other European regions. Furthermore, we predict individual height in ancients, suggesting that stature was reduced in the Neolithic and affected by subsequent admixtures. Lastly, we examine signatures of strong selection in important traits and the timing of their origins.
Fast Periodic Stimulation (FPS): A highly effective approach in fMRI brain mapping
Authors: Gao Xiaoqing , Gentile Francesco , Rossion Bruno 
Published: May 2017

SummaryFunctional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is a major technique for human brain mapping. We present a Fast Periodic Stimulation (FPS) fMRI approach, demonstrating its high effectiveness in defining category-selective brain regions. Observers see a dynamic stream of widely variable natural object images alternating at a fast rate (6 images/sec). Every 9 seconds, a short burst of variable face images contrasting with objects in pairs induces an objective 0.111 Hz face-selective neural response in the ventral occipito-temporal cortex and beyond. A model-free Fourier analysis achieves a two-fold increase in signal-to-noise ratio compared to a conventional block-design approach with identical stimuli. Periodicity of category contrast and random variability among images minimize low-level visual confounds while preserving naturalness of the stimuli, leading to the highest values (80-90%) of test-retest reliability yet reported in this area of research. FPS-fMRI opens a new avenue for understanding brain function with low temporal resolution methods.HighlightsFPS-fMRI achieves a two-fold increase in peak SNR over conventional approachFPS-fMRI reveals comprehensive extended face-selective areas including ATLFPS-fMRI achieves high specificity by minimizing influence of low-level visual cuesFPS-fMRI achieves very high test-retest reliability (80%-90%) in spatial activation mapeTOC BlurbIn BriefGao et al. present a novel FPS-fMRI approach, which achieves a two-fold increase in peak signal-to-noise ratio in defining the neural basis of visual categorization while preserving ecological validity, minimizing low-level visual confounds and reaching very high (80%-90%) test-retest reliability.
Crosslink: A fast, scriptable genetic mapper for outcrossing species
Authors: Vickerstaff Robert J. , Harrison Richard J. 
Published: May 2017

AbstractSummaryCrosslink is genetic mapping software for outcrossing species designed to run efficiently on large datasets by combining the best from existing tools with novel approaches. Tests show it runs much faster than several comparable programs whilst retaining a similar accuracy.Availability and implementationAvailable under the GNU General Public License version 2 fromhttps://github.com/eastmallingresearch/crosslinkContactrobert.vickerstaff@emr.ac.ukSupplementary informationSupplementary data are available atBioinformaticsonline and fromhttps://github.com/eastmallingresearch/crosslink/releases/tag/v0.5.
Excitatory Motor Neurons are Local Central Pattern Generators in an Anatomically Compressed Motor Circuit for Reverse Locomotion
Authors: Gao Shangbang , Guan Sihui Asuka , Fouad Anthony D. , Meng Jun , Kawano Taizo , Huang Yung-Chi , Li Yi , Alcaire Salvador , Hung Wesley , Lu Yangning , Qi Yingchuan Billy , Jin Yishi , Alkema Mark , Fang-Yen Christopher , Zhen Mei 
Published: May 2017

AbstractCentral pattern generators are cell‐ or network-driven oscillators that underlie motor rhythmicity. The existence and identity ofC. elegansCPGs remain unknown. Through cell ablation, electrophysiology, and calcium imaging, we identified oscillators for reverse locomotion. We show that the cholinergic and excitatory class A motor neurons exhibit intrinsic and oscillatory activity, and such an activity can drive reverse locomotion without premotor interneurons. Regulation of their oscillatory activity, either through effecting an endogenous constituent of oscillation, the P/Q/N high voltage-activated calcium channel UNC-2, or, via dual regulation – inhibition and activation ‐ by the descending premotor interneurons AVA, determines the propensity, velocity, and sustention of reverse locomotion. Thus, the reversal motor executors themselves serve as oscillators; regulation of their intrinsic activity controls the reversal motor state. These findings exemplify anatomic and functional compression: motor executors integrate the role of rhythm generation in a locomotor network that is constrained by small cell numbers.
Spinal cholinergic interneurons differentially control motoneuron excitability and alter the locomotor network operational range
Authors: Bertuzzi Maria , Ampatzis Konstantinos 
Published: May 2017

SummaryWhile cholinergic neuromodulation is important for locomotor circuit operation, the specific neuronal mechanisms that acetylcholine employs to regulate and fine-tune the speed of locomotion are largely unknown. Here, we show that cholinergic interneurons are present in the zebrafish spinal cord and differentially control the excitability of distinct classes of motoneurons (slow, intermediate and fast) in a muscarinic dependent manner. Moreover, we reveal that m2-type muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChRs) are present in fast and intermediate motoneurons, but not in the slow motoneurons, and that their activation decreases neuronal firing. We also provide evidence that this configuration of motoneuron muscarinic receptors serves as the main intrinsic plasticity mechanism to alter the operational range of motoneuron modules. These unexpected findings provide new insights into the functional flexibility of motoneurons and how they execute locomotion at different speeds.