bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Disability Impact and Associated Cost per Disability in Women Who Underwent Surgical Revision of Transvaginal Mesh Kits for Prolapse Repair
Authors: Javadian Pouya , Shobeiri S. Abbas 
Published: September 2017

Objectives
The aim of this study was to investigate disability impact in patients and cost to the families of patients who have had complications of transvaginal prolapse mesh kits and underwent surgical revision.

Methods
Patients who developed complications of transvaginal mesh kits for prolapse and who had undergone vaginal prolapse mesh surgical revision/removal in 2009 to 2014 at a single institution were identified by Current Procedural Terminology codes. The group was invited to complete a phone survey pertaining to the initial vaginal mesh used for prolapse surgery utilizing Sheehan Disability Scale (scale 0–10) and Years of life Lived with Disability (YLDs) questionnaires. The data collected were used to estimate the disability and cost analysis. We used our data to estimate the economic and quality-of-life impact of vaginal mesh complications on patients in the United States

Results
Sixty-two patients (62/198 [31.2%]) were consented to participate and completed the questionnaires by phone. Extremely disabled patients were 18 (29%) of 62 of whole cases, and 5 (8%) of 62 reported that they had no disability after vaginal mesh surgery. The median for overall disability score after vaginal mesh procedure was 8 (which reflects marked disability on a scale of 0–10). The majority of patients missed a median of 12 months of their school or work because of their mesh complications. Thirty-seven (59.6%) of 62 did not improve after mesh removal. Twenty-one (33.9%) of 62 stated that their family income dropped because of productivity loss related to mesh complications. The mean time between vaginal mesh surgery and mesh removal procedure was 4.7 years. Sheehan Disability Scale scores are significantly correlated with YLDs outcomes. Patients' overall disability score showed a significant correlation with YLDs scores (P < 0.0001).

Conclusions
Vaginal mesh for prolapse reduction complications had a sustained disability impact that continued despite mesh removal. Likewise, the complications were associated with increased economic burden on the families of the effected individuals and a drop in the family income in more than one third of the families.
A novel hybrid stress meshless method for two-dimension elastic structure with a traction-free circular boundary
Authors: Cao Zilong , Guan Yupu , Chen Wei 
Published: September 2017

Purpose
To increase the use of the meshless method, a hybrid stress method is introduced into the meshless method.

Design/methodology/approach
The method is based on the radial point interpolation method (RPIM). According to the Hellinger Reissner principle, stress functions are introduced into the solution procedure. Finite elements are used as background cells for integration. All cells are divided into two types – the H cells, which are around the traction-free circular boundary, and the G cells. For the H cells, stress functions in polar coordinates are created. For the G cells, 12-parameter stress functions in Cartesian coordinates are used. Stress functions are based on equilibrium equations and stress compatible equation.

Findings
Numerical results show that this method is reliable.

Originality/value
Hybrid stress methods have been applied to finite element methods, but the finite element methods have not been applied into meshless methods.
Validation of patient‐reported global severity of atopic dermatitis in adults
Authors: Vakharia P. P. , Chopra R. , Sacotte R. , Patel N. , Immaneni S. , White T. , Kantor R. , Hsu D. Y. , Silverberg J. I. 
Published: September 2017

AbstractBackgroundAtopic dermatitis (AD) is associated with a heterogeneous presentation and clinical course. There is a lack of simple and validated severity assessments that are feasible for clinical practice and epidemiological research.ObjectivesWe sought to validate patient‐reported global AD severity in adults.MethodsWe performed a prospective dermatology practice‐based study using questionnaires and evaluation by a dermatologist (n = 265).ResultsAt baseline and follow‐up, patient‐reported global AD severity significantly correlated with oSCORAD (Spearman ρ = 0.56 and 0.49), SCORAD (0.64 and 0.56), EASI (0.56 and 0.50), BSA (0.52 and 0.45), NRS‐itch (0.60 and 0.53), POEM (0.50 and 0.48), and DLQI (0.50 and 0.49) (P < .0001 for all). Patient‐reported moderate and severe AD vs mild AD were associated with significantly higher oSCORAD, SCORAD, EASI, BSA, NRS‐itch, POEM, and DLQI (P < .0001 for all). There was moderate concordance between patient‐reported AD severity (mild, moderate, and severe) and previously developed severity strata for oSCORAD (κ = 0.39), SCORAD (κ = 0.47), EASI (κ = 0.37), NRS‐itch (κ = 0.49), POEM (κ = 0.37), and DLQI (κ = 0.40). Among patients with severe disease at baseline, those who reported mild or moderate disease on follow‐up had significantly greater absolute reductions of oSCORAD (−23.4/−9.7/−1.8), SCORAD (−33.0/−13.2/−2.3), EASI (−17.1/−9.8/−3.2), BSA (−46%/−15%/−4%), NRS‐itch (−5/−2/0), POEM (−5/−2/0), and DLQI (−8/−6/−1) than those who continued to report severe disease (Kruskal‐Wallis, P ≤ .0003 for all).ConclusionsPatient‐reported AD severity appears to be sufficiently valid for assessing AD severity in the clinical and epidemiological setting.
Revealing hidden talents: The development, use, and benefit of VESPARCH
Authors: Badger Julia R. , Mellanby Jane 
Published: September 2017

BackgroundSchool attainment tests and Cognitive Abilities Tests are used in the United Kingdom to set targets for educational outcome. Whilst these are good predictors, they depend not only on basic ability but also on learnt knowledge and skills, such as reading.Method and AimsVESPARCH is an online group test of verbal and spatial reasoning, which we propose gives a measure that more closely approximates to basic ability – fluid intelligence. The verbal test contains highly familiar words, does not require the child to read them, is untimed, and provides detailed feedback on five practice questions for each part of the test. The tests – one suitable and standardized for children aged 7–9 years and one for children aged 10–12 years – have good test–retest reliability and validity and conform to the Rasch model. Comparison of VESPARCH scores with school attainment measures allows identification of those students who are underachieving academically relative to their potential. The matched nature of the verbal and spatial tests allows reasoning ability in the two domains to be compared; those with much higher spatial scores might be expected to do well in STEM subjects.ConclusionVESPARCH can be used alongside current school tests to ensure targeted teaching and encouragement for every child.
Primary hyperparathyroidism: Dynamic postoperative metabolic changes
Authors: Kaderli Reto M. , Riss Philipp , Geroldinger Angelika , Selberherr Andreas , Scheuba Christian , Niederle Bruno 
Published: September 2017

SummaryObjectiveLittle is known about the natural changes in parathyroid function after successful parathyroid surgery for primary hyperparathyroidism. The association of intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) and calcium (Ca) with “temporary hypoparathyroidism” and “hungry bone syndrome” (HBS) was evaluated.DesignPotential risk factors for temporary hypoparathyroidism and HBS were evaluated by taking blood samples before surgery, intra‐operatively, at postoperative day (POD) 1, at POD 5 to 7, in postoperative week (POW) 8 and in postoperative month (POM) 6.PatientsOf 425 patients, 43 (10.1%) had temporary hypoparathyroidism and 36 (8.5%) had HBS.MeasurementsThe discriminative ability of iPTH and Ca on POD 1 for temporary hypoparathyroidism and HBS.ResultsIntact parathyroid hormone (IPTH) on POD 1 showed the highest discriminative ability for temporary hypoparathyroidism (C‐index = 0.952), but not for HBS. IPTH was helpful in diagnosing HBS between POD 5 and 7 (C‐index = 0.708). Extending the model by including Ca resulted in little improvement of the discriminative ability for temporary hypoparathyroidism (C‐index = 0.964) and a decreased discriminative ability for HBS (C‐index = 0.705). Normal parathyroid metabolism was documented in 139 (32.7%) patients on POD 1 and in 423 (99.5%) 6 months postoperatively, while 2 (0.5%) patients had persistent hyperparathyroidism, one diagnosed between POD 5 and 7 and another at POW 8. No patients suffered from permanent hypoparathyroidism.ConclusionsThe necessity for Ca and vitamin D3 substitution cannot be predicted with certainty before POD 5 to 7 without serial laboratory measurements. Based on the results, a routine 8‐week course of Ca and vitamin D3 treatment seems reasonable and its necessity should be evaluated in a follow‐up study.
Superiority of occipital donor sites for split‐thickness skin grafting in dermatosurgery: Results of a prospective randomized controlled study
Authors: Kovacs Maximilian , Karsai Syrus , Podda Maurizio 
Published: September 2017

SummaryBackgroundSplit‐thickness skin grafts are commonly used in dermatosurgery. For occipital donor sites, retrospective studies have shown good results with respect to graft take and healing rates. Nevertheless, the majority of grafts in dermatosurgery are harvested from the thigh. To date, there has been no prospective randomized controlled study comparing occipital versus femoral donor sites.Patients and methodsFollowing micrographically controlled R0 tumor resection, 108 patients were randomized prior to undergoing split‐thickness skin grafting (donor site: occiput vs. thigh). Follow‐up examinations were carried out on day 3, 5, 7, and 14, as well as one month and three months after surgery. Documented data included graft take rates, re‐epithelialization rates at the donor site, pain, cosmetic outcome, Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS), and complications.ResultsOccipital donor sites showed significantly faster reepithelization, less pain, fewer complications, a better cosmetic outcome, and better results on the VSS. With regard to graft take rates, grafts harvested from the occiput were significantly superior on days 3 and 5.ConclusionsThis is the first randomized controlled trial showing a significant superiority of occipital compared to femoral donor sites regarding re‐epithelialization, pain, cosmetic outcome and the Vancouver Scar Scale.
Adipose tissue content of saturated fatty acids and atrial fibrillation: A case‐cohort study
Authors: Dinesen Pia T. , Rix Thomas A. , Joensen Albert M. , Tjønneland Anne , Lundbye‐Christensen Søren , Overvad Kim , Schmidt Erik B. 
Published: September 2017

AbstractObjectivesThe aim of this study was to investigate the association between adipose tissue content of total saturated fatty acids including myristic (C14:0), palmitic (C16:0) and stearic (C18:0) acid, as a measure of exposure to saturated fatty acids and the risk of incident atrial fibrillation.Materials and methodsA total of 57 053 Danish men and women aged 50‐64 years participating in the Diet, Cancer and Health cohort had an adipose tissue biopsy taken at baseline, and this was analysed for saturated fatty acids content by gas chromatography. Follow‐up was registry based and in this case‐cohort study we used all cases and a randomly drawn subcohort of 3500 participants representative for the entire cohort.ResultsData were analysed using weighted Cox proportional hazards regression. During a median follow‐up of 14.6 years, a total of 4722 cases of incident atrial fibrillation were diagnosed. For both men and women, no association between adipose tissue content of total saturated fatty acids and the risk of atrial fibrillation could be demonstrated.ConclusionWe did not find an association between adipose tissue content of total saturated fatty acids and the risk of incident atrial fibrillation.
Electrostatic interactions drive native‐like aggregation of human alanine:glyoxylate aminostransferase
Authors: Dindo Mirco , Conter Carolina , Cellini Barbara 
Published: September 2017

Protein aggregate formation is the basis of several misfolding diseases, including those displaying loss‐of‐function pathogenesis. Although aggregation is often attributed to the population of intermediates exposing hydrophobic surfaces, the contribution of electrostatic forces has recently gained attention. Here, we combined computational and in vitro studies to investigate the aggregation process of human peroxisomal alanine:glyoxylate aminotransferase (AGT), a pyridoxal 5′‐phosphate (PLP)‐dependent enzyme involved in glyoxylate detoxification. We demonstrated that AGT is susceptible to electrostatic aggregation due to its peculiar surface charge anisotropy and that PLP binding counteracts the self‐association process. The two polymorphic mutations P11L and I340M exert opposite effects. The P11L substitution enhances the aggregation tendency, probably by increasing surface charge anisotropy, while I340M plays a stabilizing role. In light of these results, we examined the effects of the most common missense mutations leading to primary hyperoxaluria type I (PH1), a rare genetic disorder associated with abnormal calcium oxalate precipitation in the urinary tract. All of them endow AGT with a strong electrostatic aggregation propensity. Moreover, we predicted that pathogenic mutations of surface residues could alter charge distribution, thus inducing aggregation under physiological conditions. A global model describing the AGT aggregation process is provided. Overall, the results indicate that the contribution of electrostatic interactions in determining the fate of proteins and the effect of amino acid substitutions should not be underestimated and provide the basis for the development of new therapeutic strategies for PH1 aimed at increasing AGT stability.
Size‐based interactions across trophic levels in food webs of shallow Mediterranean lakes
Authors: Brucet Sandra , Tavşanoğlu Ülkü Nihan , Özen Arda , Levi Eti Ester , Bezirci Gizem , Çakıroğlu Ayşe İdil , Jeppesen Erik , Svenning Jens‐Christian , Ersoy Zeynep , Beklioğlu Meryem 
Published: September 2017

Abstract

Body size is a key trait of an organism which determines the dynamics of predator–prey interactions. Most empirical studies on the individual size distribution of the aquatic community have focused on the variations in body size of a single trophic level as a response to certain environmental variables or biotic factors. Few studies, however, have evaluated how individual size structure is altered simultaneously across interacting trophic levels and locations. Such comparative examinations of the size distribution in predator and prey communities may bring insight into the strength of the interactions between adjacent trophic levels.

We assessed the potential predation effect of size‐structured predators (i.e. predation by individuals of different sizes) on prey size structure using data from 30 shallow Turkish lakes spanning over five latitudinal degrees. We correlated size diversity and size evenness of predator and prey assemblages across the planktonic food web after accounting for the confounding effects of temperature and resource availability which may also affect size structure. We expected to find a negative relationship between size diversity of predators and prey due to the enhanced strength of top‐down control with increasing predator size diversity. We also hypothesised that competitive interactions for resources in less productive systems would promote a higher size diversity. We further expected a shift towards reduced size diversity and evenness at high temperatures.

In contrast to our hypothesis, we found a positive correlation between size structures of two interacting trophic levels of the planktonic food web; thus, highly size‐diverse fish assemblages were associated with highly size‐diverse zooplankton assemblages. The size evenness of fish and phytoplankton assemblages was negatively and positively related to temperature, respectively. Phytoplankton size diversity was only weakly predicted by the resource availability.

Our results suggest that size structure within a trophic group may be controlled by the size structure at adjacent trophic levels, as well as by temperature and resource availability. The positive relationship between the size diversity of fish and zooplankton suggests that higher diversity of the resources drives a higher size diversity of consumers or vice versa, and these effects are beyond those mediated by taxonomic diversity. In contrast, the size diversity and size evenness of phytoplankton are mainly influenced by physical factors in this region and perhaps in warm shallow lakes in general.
Intermittent everolimus administration for renal angiomyolipoma associated with tuberous sclerosis complex
Authors: Hatano Takashi , Inaba Hiroyuki , Endo Katsuhisa , Egawa Shin 
Published: September 2017

ObjectivesTo evaluate the effects and utility of intermittent everolimus treatment for renal angiomyolipoma associated with tuberous sclerosis complex.MethodsWe investigated a total of 26 patients with tuberous sclerosis complex who had angiomyolipoma ≥4 cm in diameter. For each patient, we analyzed the reduction in the size of the angiomyolipoma, the change in size after everolimus withdrawal, the size reduction rate on everolimus readministration and adverse events caused by everolimus. The volume of angiomyolipoma was measured using abdominal computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. Adverse events were evaluated according to CTCAE v4.0‐JCOG.ResultsThe average size reduction rate of angiomyolipoma in the initial treatment with everolimus was 67%. Eight patients (31%) did not have enlarged angiomyolipoma after everolimus withdrawal. The other 18 patients (69%) restarted everolimus treatment because of enlargement of the angiomyolipoma. The average size reduction rate of angiomyolipoma in the everolimus retreatment group was 61%, which was equivalent to the rate for the initial treatment. There were fewer adverse events during everolimus retreatment than in the initial treatment.ConclusionsThis is the first report regarding intermittent everolimus treatment for renal angiomyolipoma associated with tuberous sclerosis complex. This treatment is effective for tumor control and adverse event management. This beneficial treatment option for patients can minimize the drug dosage and the occurrence of adverse events.
Daring ‘life‐return projects’ to post‐Dayton Bosnia and Herzegovina
Authors: Porobić Selma 
Published: September 2017

AbstractThis article discusses the prospects for realization of rights‐based return against the backdrop of a twenty years‐long (inter)nationally managed return process to post‐Dayton Bosnia and Herzegovina. It draws on 42 in‐depth interviews with two different waves of returnees: early assisted returns (1997‐2005), and later self‐organised returns (2005‐2013). Our findings show that realization of return implicates the courageous well‐planned and self‐orchestrated life return projects, closely inter‐linked with the construction of the complex micro‐social structures buffering against the unpredictable macro‐social context of post‐Dayton BiH. Instead of being propelled by formal and assisted return programmes, it is rather the intricate relational practices with space(s) and people – continuously investing in the multisite local and transnational social networks, and flexible mobility and settlement patterns ‐ shaped by social agency of the returnees that lead to realization of the return projects.
NORMAL VALUES FOR THE RED CELLS IN AUSTRALIA
Authors: LANCASTER H. O. , BANKS NINA P. 
Published: September 2017

SUMMARYThe means and standard deviations of the red blood cell indices of healthy Australian adults have been found to be as follows : Mean corpuscular volume (cubic micra) : 89·1±2·9 for males, 87·9±6·4 for females. Mean corpuscular hmoglobin (micromicrogrammes per cell) : 33·2±1·1 for males, 32·4±2·0 for females. Mean corpuscular hmoglobin concentration (grammes of hmoglobin per roo millilitres of packed cells) : 37·4±1·4 for males, 37·1±1·9 for females.The estimated mean red cell counts per cubic millimetre corresponding to the hmoglobin values of the main survey of Walsh et alii (1953) are 4·73 million for males and 4·29 million for females, using the above figures for mean corpuscular hmoglobin.
HÆMOGLOBIN AS A SOURCE OF IRON IN NUTRITION
Authors: BRADING ILSE , KALDOR I. , GEORGE E. P. 
Published: September 2017

SUMMARYThe absorption of iron from haemoglobin introduced into the gastro‐intestinal tract was investigated in rats. It was found that a greater amount of iron was absorbed from heat‐denatured hæmoglobin than from hæmoglobin administered in its native state. Approximately half as much was absorbed from hæmoglobin administered into the jejunum as from hæmoglobin administered into the stomach.
DE MOTU CORDIS : CELLULAR PHYSICS AND CHEMISTRY
Authors: MACFARLANE W. V. 
Published: September 2017

SUMMARYWilliam Harvey regarded himself as an anatomist although he provided the first physiological analysis of the circulation. In this he used the physical concepts which Galileo taught while Harvey was at Padova, as well as the experimental method and inductive‐deductive sequence of logic which the New Philosophy recommended as an approach to understanding. His hypothesis was supported shortly after his death by Malpighi's discovery of the capillaries in 1661. The circulation of the blood was expounded in medical schools in physical terms. It was not until late in the eighteenth century that quantitative chemistry began, and at that time the first suggestion that the heart might require energy for its pumping action was made by Felice Fontana of Bologna. During the nineteenth century physical analysis of heart action in terms of pressures, velocities, sound and electrical activity went forward. The metabolic background was, however, slow to develop, and only in the nineteen‐thirties was it clear that oxygen and lactate were the energy sources of heart action.In the last ten years some attempt at synthesis of the physical and the chemical background of heart action has been made. Single cells studied chemically and physically yield a picture of the heart as a whole. Using intracellular electrodes and metabolic blocking agents it is found that the duration of the refractory period is lessened in the absence of oxygen or in the presence of agents decoupling oxidative phosphorylation. The rest pause before any particular action potential of the cell determines the length of that action potential and therefore of the refractory period. High energy phosphate is probably necessary for the maintenance of refractoriness.Agents (dinitrophenol, digitalis glycosides, sodium azide or hypoxia) which reduce the duration of the action potential also slow the heart, when innervation of the heart has been interrupted. It is possible that the initiation of heart beat is an active process of ion transfer employing the same energy sources as those producing the refractory period.The physical manifestations of heart action studied by Harvey thus meet the chemical sources of energy at the cellular level where analysis of the motion of the heart must ultimately take place.
A CASE OF AMAUROTIC FAMILY IDIOCY WITH LIPID STORAGE DISEASE OF BONE
Authors: GLASGOW GAVIN L. 
Published: September 2017

SUMMARYA case of amaurotic family idiocy is described in which lipid storage disease of bone marrow closely resembling Gaucher's disease developed. The bone changes became evident at the age of twenty‐one years, thirteen years after the neurological condition had been recognized.The literature relevant to the case is reviewed and its significance discussed.