bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Serum netrin-1 in relation to gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging in early multiple sclerosis
Authors: Voortman MM , Pekar T , Bachmayer D , Archelos J-J , Stojakovic T , Scharnagl H , Ropele S , Pichler A , Enzinger C , Fuchs S , Fazekas F , Seifert-Held T , Khalil M 
Published: August 2017

Background Netrin-1, a secreted laminin-related protein, is known to regulate not only axonal guidance and neuronal cell migration, but also blood–brain barrier integrity and inflammation. Two preliminary studies reported altered serum netrin-1 levels in multiple sclerosis; however, associations with longitudinal clinical and magnetic resonance imaging activity have not been investigated. Objectives We aimed to assess serum netrin-1 in multiple sclerosis and controls with respect to disease activity and its temporal dynamics. Methods Serum netrin-1 was assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 79 patients with clinically isolated syndrome or multiple sclerosis, and 30 non-inflammatory neurological disease controls. In patients, serum samples were collected immediately prior to gadolinium-enhanced 3 T magnetic resonance imaging at two time points (initial contrast-enhancing gadolinium+ n = 47, non-enhancing gadolinium– n = 32; reference gadolinium– n = 70; median time-lag 1.4, interquartile range 1.0–2.3 years). Results Serum netrin-1 levels were similar in clinically isolated syndrome, multiple sclerosis and controls, and gadolinium+ and gadolinium– patients. Among gadolinium+ patients, serum netrin-1 was decreased in clinically active ( n = 8) vs non-active patients ( n = 39; p = 0.041). Serum netrin-1 showed no temporal dynamics in multiple sclerosis and was unrelated to clinical data. Conclusions Serum netrin-1 levels show no multiple sclerosis specific changes and are not sensitive for detection of subclinical disease activity. Netrin-1 changes during relapses may deserve further examination.
Genetic Factors in Tendon Injury: A Systematic Review of the Literature
Authors: Vaughn Natalie H. , Stepanyan Hayk , Gallo Robert A. , Dhawan Aman 
Published: August 2017

Background: Tendon injury such as tendinopathy or rupture is common and has multiple etiologies, including both intrinsic and extrinsic factors. The genetic influence on susceptibility to tendon injury is not well understood. Purpose: To analyze the published literature regarding genetic factors associated with tendon injury. Study Design: Systematic review; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: A systematic review of published literature was performed in concordance with the Preferred Reporting Items of Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines to identify current evidence for genetic predisposition to tendon injury. PubMed, Ovid, and ScienceDirect databases were searched. Studies were included for review if they specifically addressed genetic factors and tendon injuries in humans. Reviews, animal studies, or studies evaluating the influence of posttranscription factors and modifications (eg, proteins) were excluded. Results: Overall, 460 studies were available for initial review. After application of inclusion and exclusion criteria, 11 articles were ultimately included for qualitative synthesis. Upon screening of references of these 11 articles, an additional 15 studies were included in the final review, for a total of 26 studies. The genetic factors with the strongest evidence of association with tendon injury were those involving type V collagen A1, tenascin-C, matrix metalloproteinase–3, and estrogen-related receptor beta. Conclusion: The published literature is limited to relatively homogenous populations, with only level 3 and level 4 data. Additional research is needed to make further conclusions about the genetic factors involved in tendon injury.
NOX5 and p22phox are 2 novel regulators of human monocytic differentiation into dendritic cells
Authors: Marzaioli Viviana , Hurtado-Nedelec Margarita , Pintard Coralie , Tlili Asma , Marie Jean-Claude , Monteiro Renato C. , Gougerot-Pocidalo Marie-Anne , Dang Pham My-Chan , El-Benna Jamel 
Published: August 2017

Key PointsNOX5 and p22phox are both involved in Mo-DC differentiation. In Mo-DC, NOX5 and p22phox create a complex on the outer membrane of the mitochondria.
Clonal chromosomal abnormalities appearing in Philadelphia chromosome–negative metaphases during CML treatment
Authors: Issa Ghayas C. , Kantarjian Hagop M. , Gonzalez Graciela Nogueras , Borthakur Gautam , Tang Guilin , Wierda William , Sasaki Koji , Short Nicholas J. , Ravandi Farhad , Kadia Tapan , Patel Keyur , Luthra Raja , Ferrajoli Alessandra , Garcia-Manero Guillermo , Rios Mary Beth , Dellasala Sara , Jabbour Elias , Cortes Jorge E. 
Published: August 2017

Key Points
Clonal chromosomal abnormalities in Ph− metaphases not including –Y predict decreased FFS, EFS, TFS, and OS in patients with CML. They affect TFS independently of baseline variables, although this is abrogated by inclusion of early response in multivariate models.
Discussing Health Care Expenses in the Oncology Clinic: Analysis of Cost Conversations in Outpatient Encounters
Authors: Hunter Wynn G. , Zafar S. Yousuf , Hesson Ashley , Davis J. Kelly , Kirby Christine , Barnett Jamison A. , Ubel Peter A. 
Published: August 2017

Purpose: ASCO identified oncologist-patient conversations about cancer costs as an important component of high-quality care. However, limited data exist characterizing the content of these conversations. We sought to provide novel insight into oncologist-patient cost conversations by determining the content of cost conversations in breast cancer clinic visits. Methods: We performed content analysis of transcribed dialogue from 677 outpatient appointments for breast cancer management. Encounters featured 677 patients with breast cancer visiting 56 oncologists nationwide from 2010 to 2013. Results: Cost conversations were identified in 22% of visits (95% CI, 19 to 25) and had a median duration of 33 seconds (interquartile range, 19 to 62). Fifty-nine percent of cost conversations were initiated by oncologists (95% CI, 51 to 67), who most commonly brought up costs for antineoplastic agents. By contrast, patients most frequently brought up costs for diagnostic tests. Thirty-eight percent of cost conversations mentioned cost-reducing strategies (95% CI, 30 to 46), which most commonly sought to lower patient costs for endocrine therapies and symptom-alleviating treatments. The three most commonly discussed cost-reducing strategies were: switching to a lower-cost therapy/diagnostic, changing logistics of the intervention, and facilitating copay assistance. Conclusion: We identified cost conversations in approximately one in five breast cancer visits. Cost conversations were mostly oncologist initiated, lasted < 1 minute, and dealt with a wide range of health care expenses. Cost-reducing strategies were mentioned in more than one third of cost conversations and often involved switching antineoplastic agents for lower-cost alternatives or altering logistics of diagnostic tests.
Assessment of structural similarity in CT using filtered backprojection and iterative reconstruction: a phantom study with 3D printed lung vessels
Authors: Joemai Raoul M. S. , Geleijns Jacob 
Published: August 2017

Objective:
To compare the performance of three generations of CT reconstruction techniques using structural similarity (SSIM) as a measure of image quality for CT scans of a chest phantom with 3D printed lung vessels.

Methods:
CT images of the chest phantom were acquired at seven dose levels by changing the tube current while other acquisition parameters were kept constant. Three CT reconstruction techniques were applied on each acquisition. The first technique was filtered backprojection (FBP), the second technique was FBP with iterative filtering (adaptive iteration dose reduction in 3 dimensions (AIDR 3D)) and the third technique was model-based iterative reconstruction (Forward projected model-based Iterative Reconstruction SoluTion (FIRST)). Image quality of the CT data was quantified in terms of SSIM. The SSIM index was used for image quality comparison between the dose levels and different reconstruction techniques. The SSIM index gives a value between 0 and 1, with 0 as the lowest image quality and 1 as an excellent image quality.

Results:
The lowest SSIM index was observed for FBP at all dose levels. The reconstruction technique with the highest SSIM depends on the dose level. For tube currents higher than 80 mA, AIDR 3D showed the highest SSIM index, and for tube currents lower or equal to 80 mA FIRST showed the highest SSIM index.

Conclusion:
SSIM index is a robust quantity and is correlated to the image quality as perceived by the humans. Advanced CT reconstruction techniques provide better image quality in all conditions compared to FBP.

Advances in knowledge:
SSIM is a robust measure to compare CT image quality for advanced reconstruction techniques relative to a reference.
The 3D print technology is an useful method for the development of dedicated phantoms for CT image quality evaluation.
Sciatic neuromuscular variants on MR neurography: frequency study and interobserver performance
Authors: Eastlack Jason , Tenorio Lulu , Wadhwa Vibhor , Scott Kelly , Starr Adam , Chhabra Avneesh 
Published: August 2017

Abstract

Objective:
To evaluate the frequency of sciatic neuromuscular variants on MR neurography and determine the interobserver variability.

Methods:
A retrospective evaluation of 137 consecutive lumbosacral plexus magnetic resonance neurography examinations was performed. All examinations were performed using nerve selective 3D imaging and independently reviewed by two readers for the presence of sciatic neuromuscular variants and piriformis muscle asymmetry. Inter- and intraobserver performance were evaluated.

Results:
There were a total of 44/268 (16.4%) extremities with sciatic neuromuscular variants. The interobserver performance in the identification of sciatic nerve variants was excellent (kappa values from 0.8–0.9). There was a total of 45/134 (33.6%) patients with piriformis muscle asymmetry. Of these, 7/134 (5.2%) had piriformis muscle atrophy and 38/134 (28.4%) had piriformis muscle hypertrophy. The interobserver performance in the identification of piriformis muscle atrophy and hypertrophy was moderate to good (kappa values from 0.39–0.61). The intraobserver performance revealed kappa values of 0.735 and 0.821 on right and left, respectively.

Conclusion:
Sciatic neuromuscular variants and piriformis muscle asymmetry are frequent on lumbosacral plexus MRN with moderate to excellent interobserver performance.

Advances in knowledge:
Sciatic neuromuscular variants and piriformis asymmetry on MR neurography are frequent and the prevalence is similar to cumulative prevalence from available scientific series. Interobserver performance for identification of sciatic neuromuscular variants is excellent, and moderate-good for piriformis muscle asymmetry.
Prediction of high-grade ureteral urothelial carcinoma on CT urography
Authors: Sung Tae Hwang , Deuk Jae Sung , Kyung Sook Yang , Ki Choon Sim , Na Yeon Han , Beom Jin Park , Min Ju Kim , Sung Bum Cho 
Published: August 2017

Objective:
To evaluate the correlation between CT urography (CTU) findings and histological grade of ureteral urothelial carcinoma (UUC), and to identify predictors of high-grade UUC.

Methods:
CTU images of 73 patients with pathologically proven UUC via nephroureterectomy were independently reviewed by two radiologists for tumour size, tumour location, hydronephrosis grade, periureteral infiltration, presence of enlarged retroperitoneal lymph nodes and tumour enhancement value. Interobserver agreement was assessed with kappa statistics. Histological grade was classified as either low or high according to the WHO 2004 classification system and pathologic T stage was assessed according to the TNM staging system. Binary logistic regression, Spearman correlation analysis and receiver operating characteristic curves were used to evaluate relationships between CTU findings and histological grade.

Results:
58 patients had high-grade UUCs and 15 had low-grade UUCs. Among CTU features, only hydronephrosis grade was significantly correlated with high tumour grade for both readers (p &lt; 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression revealed that hydronephrosis of Grade 3 or higher was a significantly independent predictor of high-grade UUC for both readers (p ≤ 0.004). Interobserver agreement was excellent for hydronephrosis grade (к = 0.862). With the cut-off value of hydronephrosis Grade 3, the sensitivity, specificity and area under the curve for predicting high-grade UUC were, respectively, 88%, 79% and 0.830 for reader 1 and 86%, 80% and 0.763 for reader 2.

Conclusion:
Hydronephrosis of Grade 3 or higher on CTU may be predictive of high-grade UUC.

Advances in knowledge:
Radical surgery should be considered for UUC causing hydronephrosis of Grade 3 or higher on CTU, even in small tumours without periureteral infiltration.
Is liver perfusion CT reproducible? A study on intra- and interobserver agreement of normal hepatic haemodynamic parameters obtained with two different software packages
Authors: Bretas Elisa Almeida Sathler , Torres Ulysses S. , Torres Lucas Rios , Bekhor Daniel , Saito Filho Celso Fernando , Racy Douglas Jorge , Faggioni Lorenzo , D'Ippolito Giuseppe 
Published: August 2017

Objective:
To evaluate the agreement between the measurements of perfusion CT parameters in normal livers by using two different software packages.

Methods:
This retrospective study was based on 78 liver perfusion CT examinations acquired for detecting suspected liver metastasis. Patients with any morphological or functional hepatic abnormalities were excluded. The final analysis included 37 patients (59.7 ± 14.9 y). Two readers (1 and 2) independently measured perfusion parameters using different software packages from two major manufacturers (A and B). Arterial perfusion (AP) and portal perfusion (PP) were determined using the dual-input vascular one-compartmental model. Inter-reader agreement for each package and intrareader agreement between both packages were assessed with intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) and Bland-Altman statistics.

Results:
Inter-reader agreement was substantial for AP using software A (ICC = 0.82) and B (ICC = 0.85–0.86), fair for PP using software A (ICC = 0.44) and fair to moderate for PP using software B (ICC = 0.56–0.77). Intrareader agreement between software A and B ranged from slight to moderate (ICC = 0.32–0.62) for readers 1 and 2 considering the AP parameters, and from fair to moderate (ICC = 0.40–0.69) for readers 1 and 2 considering the PP parameters.

Conclusion:
At best there was only moderate agreement between both software packages, resulting in some uncertainty and suboptimal reproducibility.

Advances in knowledge:
Software-dependent factors may contribute to variance in perfusion measurements, demanding further technical improvements. AP measurements seem to be the most reproducible parameter to be adopted when evaluating liver perfusion CT.
Pulmonary mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma: 18F-FDG PET/CT and CT findings in 28 patients
Authors: Albano Domenico , Borghesi Andrea , Bosio Giovanni , Bertoli Mattia , Maroldi Roberto , Giubbini Raffaele , Bertagna Francesco 
Published: August 2017

Objective:
The aim of the study was to evaluate the CT and fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/CT (18F-FDG PET/CT) imaging findings of lung mucosa associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma.

Methods:
28 patients with histologically confirmed pulmonary MALT lymphoma who underwent a chest CT and 18F-FDG PET/CT for staging were retrospectively analysed. The CT images were evaluated to determine morphological pattern of appearance, laterality, localization, number, size, presence of thoracic lymphadenopaties and secondary/combined findings. PET images were analysed visually and semi-quantitatively by measuring the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), lesion-to-liver SUVmax ratio and lesion-to-blood pool SUVmax ratio. The relationship between qualitative and semi-quantitative features at 18F-FDG PET/CT and CT findings were also analysed.

Results:
A total of 57 pulmonary lesions were identified by CT: 37 areas of consolidation, 4 masses, 12 nodules and 4 ground-glass opacities. Solitary and multiple lesions were detected in 10 and 18 patients, respectively; among patients with multiple lesions, 16 were bilateral and 2 unilateral. 18F-FDG PET/CT revealed increased 18F-FDG uptake in 47/57 lesions, in 26/28 patients. 18F-FDG avidity was significantly associated only with tumour size.

Conclusions:
Pulmonary MALT lymphoma is 18F-FDG avid in most cases and 18F-FDG avidity is correlated with tumour size. Consolidation is the most frequent morphological pattern of disease presentation.

Advances in knowledge:
This study demonstrated that lung MALT lymphoma are 18F-FDG avid in most cases depending on tumour size. Single or multiple areas of consolidation are the most common pattern of presentation of lung MALT lymphoma at CT.
CT patterns of acute type A aortic arch dissection: longer, higher, more anterior
Authors: Ardellier François-Daniel , D’Ostrevy Nicolas , Cassagnes Lucie , Ouchchane Lemlih , Dubots Emilie , Chabrot Pascal , Boyer Louis , Camilleri Lionel 
Published: August 2017

Objectives:
This study analysed CT patterns of the acute dissected aortic arch using original biometric features along with comparison with normal aortas.

Methods:
The diagnostic CT scans of 57 patients (42 males, age (mean ± SD: 64.5 ± 13.8 years) admitted with acute Stanford type A dissection involving the aortic arch were analysed by semi-automatic detection protocol of the true lumen of the dissection. We measured the distances from the apex to the ascending and descending aorta, the curvilinear length of the entire arch and of its segments (especially between the brachiocephalic artery trunk and the left subclavian artery), as well as the surface area, angle, height and shift of the arch. These measurements were compared with results previously obtained in a healthy cohort in an analysis adjusted for age, sex and weight. The surface area and rotation of the false lumen were also analysed.

Results:
Compared to normal aortic arches (N), dissected aortic arches (D) were longer (D: 155 ± 26  mm, N: 135 ± 25  mm, p = 0.002), higher (D: 51 ± 10  mm, N: 45 ± 9  mm, p = 0.04), and with a more anterior apex (shift: D: 1.19 ± 0.56, N: 1.40 ± 0.62, p = 0.007). False lumen occupied between 47–65% of the aorta, turned preferentially clockwise and its rotation decreased progressively along the arch.

Conclusions:
The morphology of the dissected aortic arch differs from that of the normal arch. Thus, our compilation of aortic arch measurements may help improve existing endovascular devices and/or design of new endoprostheses.

Advances in knowledge:
In this article, we provide a comprehensive set of measurements of the dissected aortic arch, and show that dissected aortic arches are longer, higher, and with a more anterior apex than normal arches.
First visual record of rare purple-colored dogwhelks (Nucella lapillus) on the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia, Canada
Authors: Ehlers Sonja M. , Ellrich Julius A. 
Published: August 2017

The dogwhelk Nucella lapillus is a rocky intertidal gastropod of the North Atlantic coast. Individual shell color varies. Common colors range between white and brown, with darker dogwhelks being more affected by heat stress than lighter-colored conspecifics. Other reported shell colors are purple, black, mauve, pink, yellow, and orange from UK coasts, red and gray from the Bay of Fundy coast of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia (Canada), and purple, black, gray, yellow, and orange from the coasts of Maine and Massachusetts (USA), with purple being considered as a rare color. On the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia, dogwhelks are active from April until November, but information on dogwhelk shell color is missing for this coast. On 16 June 2016, we found two purple-colored dogwhelks in the mid-to-high intertidal zone of a moderately wave-exposed rocky shore near Duncans Cove, on the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia while collecting dogwhelks (n= 1000) during low tide for manipulative field experiments. All other dogwhelks collected on that day were of common white and brown colors. During earlier dogwhelk collections in Atlantic Nova Scotia (between 2011-2013) and field surveys in Duncans Cove (between 2014-2016), we did not find any purple-colored dogwhelks, indicating the rareness of this color in that region. Apparently, our observations provide the first visual record of rare purple-colored dogwhelks on the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia, Canada.
Approximations for the Queue Length Distributions of Time-Varying Many-Server Queues
Authors: Pender Jamol , Ko Young Myoung 
Published: August 2017

This paper presents a novel and computationally efficient methodology for approximating the queue length (the number of customers in the system) distributions of time-varying non-Markovian many-server queues (e.g., Gt/Gt/nt queues), where the number of servers (nt) is large. Our methodology consists of two steps. The first step uses phase-type distributions to approximate the general interarrival and service times, thus generating an approximating Pht/Pht/nt queue. The second step develops strong approximation theory to approximate the Pht/Pht/nt queue with fluid and diffusion limits whose mean and variance can be computed using ordinary differential equations. However, by naively representing the Pht/Pht/nt queue as a Markov process by expanding the state space, we encounter the lingering phenomenoneven when the queue is overloaded. Lingering typically occurs when the mean queue length is equal or near the number of servers, however, in this case it also happens when the queue is overloaded and this time is not of zero measure. As a result, we develop an alternative representation for the queue length process that avoids the lingering problem in the overloaded case, thus allowing for the derivation of a Gaussian diffusion limit. Finally, we compare the effectiveness of our proposed method with discrete event simulation in a variety parameter settings and show that our approximations are very accurate. The online supplement is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/ijoc.2017.0760 .
Managing Customer Arrivals in Service Systems with Multiple Identical Servers
Authors: Zacharias Christos , Pinedo Michael 
Published: August 2017

We analyze a discrete multiserver model for scheduling customer arrivals under no-shows. The challenge is to assign customers to time slots so that the service system utilizes its resources efficiently and customers experience short waiting times. We provide theoretical and heuristic guidelines for an effective practice of appointment overbooking to offset no-shows. Recursive and explicit expressions for the performance measures of interest are derived based on the random evolution of the system’s workload in transient state. We prove discrete convexity properties of the optimization problem that restrict our search to a contained solution space and guarantee that a local search algorithm terminates with a globally optimal schedule. Extensive computational experiments reveal additional properties and patterns that appear in the optimal schedule and motivate the development of two very well-performing and computationally inexpensive heuristic solutions. The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/msom.2017.0629 .