bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Arthrofibrotic remodeling after knee replacement surgery, a stress-related disease? - Clinic, biochemical model, therapy, research -
Authors: Traut Philip , Faust Isabel 
Published: March 2016

Aims and Objectives: The predicted incidence of arthrofibrosis after knee replacement surgery is 5 - 10%. Arthrofibrosis is defined as painful impairment of joint flexibility occurring postoperatively. To counteract symptoms and to accomplish quality standards (E/F 0-0-90) several therapeutic strategies as for instance physiotherapy or mobilization under anaesthesia are applied. Although it is known that mechanical and emotional stress induce myofibroblast differentiation, extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis and xylosyltransferase (XT) activity, biochemical processes of fibrotic diseases receive little attention in orthopaedics. Until today, neither an adequate disease model nor a diagnostic marker for arthrofibrosis has been described. Materials and Methods: Surgical procedures (e.g. endoprosthesis, cruciate ligament replacement) initiate physiological wound healing and the release of inflammatory mediators from platelets, damaged tissue and other cells of the immune system. Secreted cytokines such as transforming growth factor (TGF-beta 1) or platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) promote myofibroblast proliferation and differentiation. Mechanical strain (stretching exercises with pain inhibition) leads to activation of latent TGF-beta 1, which triggers scarring via ECM/XT synthesis and prevents myofibroblast apoptosis. Our recent study carried out a decreased platelet count in arthrofibrosis patients compared to healthy controls. Thus, an elevated platelet consumption might take place. Analogous to TGF-beta 1, PDGF also inhibits myofibroblast apoptosis and expression of matrix metalloproteinase expression, which degrade ECM. Emotional stress might not only matter in other fibrotic diseases e.g. tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy (TTC) but also in arthrofibrosis. Sympathicotonic destabilization (due to pain, frustration or social burden) results in increased catecholamine synthesis and sympathetic activity. These effects are recognizable by vegetative symptoms (e.g. insomnia, sweating, muscle tension). Catecholamines directly activate fibroblasts and increase ECM synthesis by binding to Beta 2-adrenergic receptors. In TTC, a decrease in catecholamines and profibrotic cytokines restores organ functionality. Results: Causal therapy Several therapeutic approaches might exert a positive influence on degradation of fibrotic tissue: less of postisometric stretching, avoidance of emotional workload, positive expectations due to medical consultation about reversibility of fibrotic mechanisms, appropriate medication as well as osteopathy. Conclusion: Research Operating surgeons are able to detect an unfavorable development of arthrofibrosis relatively early. Nevertheless, they are afraid to name the possible complication. Therefore, quantification of a reliable biomarker would bring great advantages for diagnostics of pre- and after-treatment. Our current studies examine whether increased XT activity might display a biomarker in synovial fluid.
Ulnar Collateral Ligament Reconstruction; the Rush Experience
Authors: Erickson Brandon J. , Bach Bernard R. , Cohen Mark S. , Bush-Joseph Charles A. , Cole Brian J. , Verma Nikhil N. , Nicholson Gregory P. , Romeo Anthony A. 
Published: March 2016

Objectives: Background: Ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction (UCLR) is now a common surgery performed in both professional, as well as high level athletes Purpose: To report the patient demographics, surgical techniques, and outcomes of all UCLR performed at a single institution from 2004-2014 Hypothesis: UCLR will be performed mostly in male pitchers and will have a complication rate of less than 5%. Methods: Methods: The surgical database of one institution was searched from January 1st 2004-December 31st 2014 for the current procedural terminology (CPT) code 24346 “Reconstruction medial collateral ligament, elbow, with tendon graft (includes harvesting of graft)”. Charts were reviewed to determine patient age, gender, date of surgery, sport played, athletic level, surgical technique, graft type, and complications were recorded. Patients were contacted via phone calls to obtain the return to sport rate, Conway-Jobe score, Timmerman & Andrews score, and Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic (KJOC) Shoulder and Elbow score. Results: Results: One hundred eighty-nine patients underwent UCLR during the study period (92% male, average age 19.6 +/- 4.9 years, 77.8% were right elbows). There were 166 baseball players (87.8% of all patients), 156 of which were pitchers (82.5% of all patients). Ninety-eight (51.6%) were college athletes, 62 (36%) were high school athletes, and 25 (13.2%) were professional athletes at the time of surgery. The docking technique was used in 111 (58.7%) patients while the double docking technique was used in 78 (41.3%). An ipsilateral palmaris longus graft was used in 111 (58.7%) of patients while a hamstring autograft was used in 48 (25.4%) patients. The ulnar nerve was subcutaneously transposed in 79 (41.8%) patients. Overall 95.7% of patients were able to return to sport and had a Conway-Jobe score of good/excellent while 4.3% had a score of fair. The average KJOC score was 94.7 +/- 5.7 and average Timmerman-Andrews score was 93.7 +/- 7.7. Subsequent surgeries were performed in 5.8% of patients. Conclusion: Conclusion: Overall 95.7% of patients who underwent UCLR were able to return to sport with an average KJOC score of 94.7 and Timmerman Andrews Score of 93.7.
Lifelong aspect extraction from big data: knowledge engineering
Authors: Khan M. Taimoor , Durrani Mehr , Khalid Shehzad , Aziz Furqan 
Published: March 2016

Abstract
Traditional machine learning techniques follow a single shot learning approach. It includes all supervised, semi-supervised, transfer learning, hybrid and unsupervised techniques having a single target domain known prior to analysis. Learning from one task is not carried to the next task, therefore, they cannot scale up to big data having many unknown domains. Lifelong learning models are tailored for big data having a knowledge module that is maintained automatically. The knowledge-base grows with experience where knowledge from previous tasks helps in current task. This paper surveys topic models leading the discussion to knowledge-based topic models and lifelong learning models. The issues and challenges in learning knowledge, its abstraction, retention and transfer are elaborated. The state-of-the art models store word pairs as knowledge having positive or negative co-relations called must-links and cannot-links. The need for innovative ideas from other research fields is stressed to learn more varieties of knowledge to improve accuracy and reveal more semantic structures from within the data.
Satisfaction with in vitro fertilization treatment: patients’ experiences and professionals’ perceptions
Authors: Gonen Limor Dina 
Published: March 2016

Abstract
Background
This paper investigates patients’ satisfaction with various aspects of fertility care and seeks to determine to what extent fertility specialists are able to assess patient satisfaction. Patients’ experiences with in-vitro fertilization (IVF) services and facilities have been compiled and examined in order to discover whether patients’ satisfaction is correlated to psychological factors and demographic, socio-economic, and health characteristics, and whether patients’ satisfaction has an influence on the willingness to pay (WTP) for IVF treatment.

Methods
The study was carried out on 204 patients and 19 fertility professionals from 8 public IVF units in Israel.

Results
The study found that, overall, infertile patients are satisfied with the care they received. Several demographic variables (age; education; income; number of fertility treatments) and psychological factors (‘Pessimism’ and ‘Activeness’), were found to be significantly correlated with patient satisfaction with IVF.
The results yielded a negative correlation between the WTP for IVF treatment and the satisfaction with access to care and physical conditions.

Conclusions
Patient satisfaction is an important component in the evaluation of fertility treatments as well as other medical interventions. Insights into the quality of care as seen from the patients’ perspective may help healthcare staff better meet patients’ needs, wishes, and priorities.
Response of garlic (Allium sativum L.) bolting and bulbing to temperature and photoperiod treatments
Authors: Wu Cuinan , Wang Mengyi , Cheng Zhihui , Meng Huanwen 
Published: March 2016

ABSTRACT
This research was conducted to evaluate the effect of temperature and photoperiod treatments on the bolting and bulb formation of three local garlic cultivars (cvs) in two consecutive years. Naturally vernalized plants of cvs G107, G025 and G064 were transplanted into growth chambers and subjected to various combinations of temperature [T15/10, 15°C/10°C; T20/15, 20°C/15°C and T25/18, 25°C/18°C (day/night)] and photoperiod (L8, 8 h and L14,14 h) treatments. Plant growth, endogenous phytohormone and methyl jasmonate (MeJA) levels, along with the bolting and yield of garlic were evaluated. The experimental results from two consecutive years indicated that higher temperature (20°C or 25°C) and longer photoperiod (14 h) treatments significantly enhanced the garlic bolting, bulbing and cloving with a shorter growth period and a higher bulb weight. Moreover, the endogenous phytohormone and MeJA levels in the test plants were significantly increased by the higher temperature (25°C for the phytohormone level; 20°C for the MeJA level) and longer photoperiod [14 h, except for abscisic acid (ABA), which had the highest level at 8 h] conditions and were decreased by the lowest test temperature (15°C) and shorter photoperiod (8 h, except for ABA) conditions. This response coincided with that of the bulbing index, bolting rate, growth period and bulb weight. In addition, plants treated under the conditions of 20°C/15°C–14 h and 25°C/18°C–14 h produced the highest phytohormone levels (except for ABA) for cvs G025 and G064, respectively, and showed the best bolting and bulbing behavior. It is reasonable to assume that endogenous phytohormone (especially gibberellic acid) and MeJA levels are highly related to garlic bolting and bulbing, which might lead to the different responses of the three studied cultivars to the combination of temperature and photoperiod treatments. Furthermore, cvs G107 and G025 bolt well and have better bulb formation under 20°C–14 h conditions, while the conditions of 25°C–14 h are critical for the bolting and bulbing of cv. G064.
Getting membrane proteins on and off the shuttle bus between the endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi complex
Authors: Borgese Nica 
Published: March 2016

ABSTRACT
Secretory proteins exit the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) in coat protein complex II (COPII)-coated vesicles and then progress through the Golgi complex before delivery to their final destination. Soluble cargo can be recruited to ER exit sites by signal-mediated processes (cargo capture) or by bulk flow. For membrane proteins, a third mechanism, based on the interaction of their transmembrane domain (TMD) with lipid microdomains, must also be considered. In this Commentary, I review evidence in favor of the idea that partitioning of TMDs into bilayer domains that are endowed with distinct physico-chemical properties plays a pivotal role in the transport of membrane proteins within the early secretory pathway. The combination of such self-organizational phenomena with canonical intermolecular interactions is most likely to control the release of membrane proteins from the ER into the secretory pathway.
Stuck in gear: age-related loss of variable gearing in skeletal muscle
Authors: Holt Natalie C. , Danos Nicole , Roberts Thomas J. , Azizi Emanuel 
Published: March 2016

ABSTRACT
Skeletal muscles power a broad diversity of animal movements, despite only being able to produce high forces over a limited range of velocities. Pennate muscles use a range of gear ratios, the ratio of muscle shortening velocity to fiber shortening velocity, to partially circumvent these force–velocity constraints. Muscles operate with a high gear ratio at low forces; fibers rotate to greater angles of pennation, enhancing velocity but compromising force. At higher forces, muscles operate with a lower gear ratio; fibers rotate little so limiting muscle shortening velocity, but helping to preserve force. This ability to shift gears is thought to be due to the interplay of contractile force and connective tissue constraints. In order to test this hypothesis, gear ratios were determined in the medial gastrocnemius muscles of both healthy young rats, and old rats where the interaction between contractile and connective tissue properties was assumed to be disrupted. Muscle fiber and aponeurosis stiffness increased with age (P&lt;0.05) from 19.1±5.0 kPa and 188.5±24.2 MPa, respectively, in young rats to 39.1±4.2 kPa and 328.0±48.3 MPa in old rats, indicating a mechanical change in the interaction between contractile and connective tissues. Gear ratio decreased with increasing force in young (P&lt;0.001) but not old (P=0.72) muscles, indicating that variable gearing is lost in old muscle. These findings support the hypothesis that variable gearing results from the interaction between contractile and connective tissues and suggest novel explanations for the decline in muscle performance with age.
Plastic chronic wound management with Cellutome
Authors: Seip G. U. 
Published: March 2016

SummaryChronic wounds continue to present a significant challenge to health-care providers around the globe. Unlike acute wounds, chronic wounds do not proceed through an orderly process of repair. In recent years many new modalities of modern wound treatment systems have been promoted. However, until recently there were few modalities designed to promote epithelialisation of a fully granulated wound. Mesh graft procedures have long been the gold standard for the management of acute wounds and chronic wounds but have also many disadvantages like discomfort associated with the donor site and the creation of a second painful wound (donor site).The increase of chronical wounds in Germany due to the average age of patients, the aggressiveness of medical treatment and increase of numbers of patients with diabetes and severe polymorbidity requires specialized wound treatment and plastic surgery. Since 2014 there was a new innovative system introduced in the market called Cellutome epidermal harvesting system. The Cellutome system is a epidermal harvesting system for skin grafting and can replace in many cases the traditional meshgraft procedure with a classic dermatoma. The skin donor section on the patient`s thigh heals within days without scarring. The system offers a precise, simplified and minimal invasive option for skin grafting in the treatment of especially chronic wounds.
Characterization of Merbau Wood Extract Used as an Adhesive in Glued Laminated Lumber
Authors: Santoso Adi , Hadi Yusuf Sudo , Pizzi Antonio , Lagel Marie-Christine 
Published: March 2016

Abstract
Polyphenolic chemical compounds were extracted from merbau (Intsia spp.) wood with an aqueous medium at a 1:4 ratio (wt/wt) heated to 80°C for 3 hours. The extracted compounds were characterized by matrix assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight spectrometry and included oligomers with up to six repeating flavonoid units, with resorcinol being the dominant compound paired with a minor amount of catechin units. The extract had a Stiasny number of 92.4 percent. The extract was combined with formaldehyde to produce a resin that was used to manufacture five-layer glued laminated lumber using four wood species, namely, pangsor (Ficus callosa), mindi (Melia azedarach), pine (Pinus merkusii), and mangium (Acacia mangium). The modulus of rupture and shear strength of mangium glued laminated lumber met the requirements of the Japanese standard (“Japanese Agricultural Standard for Structural Glued Laminated Timber,” 2003), and all products had a low formaldehyde emission.
Evolution of Patient-Controlled Analgesia: From Intravenous to Sublingual Treatment
Authors: Golembiewski Julie , Dasta Joseph , Palmer Pamela P. 
Published: March 2016

Opioid administration delivered intravenously (IV) by patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) devices has been an important development in addressing insufficient management of acute pain in the postsurgical setting. However, IV PCA has several disadvantages, including operator error, risk of patient exposure to analgesic gaps, IV line patency issues, and risk of catheter-related infection, all of which contribute to the total cost of care. Morphine, the most commonly used opioid in IV PCA, has a relatively slow onset of analgesia, which may leave patients with inadequate initial pain control and at risk of opioid dose-stacking. Sufentanil is an opioid with no major active metabolites and a rapid onset of analgesia. The sufentanil sublingual tablet system (SSTS) with a 20-minute lockout and other safety features is a novel noninvasive PCA system in development for on-demand relief of moderate to severe acute pain in the hospital setting. Data from phase 3 trials of the use of SSTS after elective major open abdominal and orthopedic surgery show that analgesia is rapidly achieved, with a longer mean interdosing interval compared with IV PCA morphine (81 vs 47 minutes) and a high level of patient and nurse satisfaction. These data suggest that SSTS may also aid in the avoidance of some of the pitfalls inherent with IV PCA, which may help reduce hospital costs associated with IV PCA–related issues. This article describes the evolution, benefits, issues, and costs associated with IV PCA and reviews data from preclinical studies of sufentanil through SSTS phase 3 trials.
Determining the Need for Standardized Infusions and Concentrations at Hospitals within North Carolina
Authors: Lucas Andrew T. , Rowe Erinn , Eckel Stephen F. 
Published: March 2016

Background In 2013, the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) endorsed a policy recommending the development of nationally standardized drug concentrations and dosing units. Although many hospitals have started standardizing their intravenous (IV) solutions, few have taken the practice beyond their institutions or local geographical areas. Objective This project evaluates the current IV standardization practices for adult patients across hospitals in North Carolina and compares them with each other. In addition, this project proposed standards and evaluated them for their impact on reducing observed variability. Methods In the fall of 2013, an e-mail request was sent to select hospital pharmacy leaders in North Carolina asking them to voluntarily submit a copy of their adult IV standard concentrations and dosing guidelines. From these lists, the data were summarized and compiled to evaluate trends and compare the various policies. Results A total of 18 different hospitals and health systems responded. Survey results showed more than 255 concentrations for 84 unique drugs. Of these, 37 were high-risk medications, with 135 unique drug concentrations. From this list, a single proposed concentration was developed for each medication. If utilized, this standardization would result in a greater than 65% reduction in potential drug concentrations in use. A single dosing unit was also proposed for all medications reviewed, resulting in a greater than 21% reduction in variation. Conclusions Standardization of IV drug concentrations and dosing units statewide could reduce the variability in IV therapies and promote safer and more consistent practices in medication administration.
Enzymatic Stability of Alteplase Solution for Injection: Effect of Various Methods of Thawing Frozen Solutions
Authors: Cutshall Brandon T. , Gorman Gregory S. , Freeman Maisha Kelly , Kyle Jeffrey A. 
Published: March 2016

Objective To modify and evaluate an established chromogenic assay protocol for measuring plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 (PAI-1) activity to measure tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) activity and compare the enzymatic activity of alteplase as a function of the conditions under which it is thawed. Methods A 50 mg vial of alteplase was reconstituted with sterile water to make a 1 mg/mL stock solution (nominal concentration). Plastic syringes were loaded with 0.5 mL of alteplase stock solution and stored at −20°C. After 8 days, samples were thawed by 3 methods – via body temperature (37°C), room temperature (20°C), or in a refrigerator (2°C). Thaw times were recorded. The thawed solutions, along with a freshly prepared alteplase solution, were assayed using the modified protocol of the Spectrolyse PAI-1 kit to determine residual tPA enzyme activity. Results Validation of the modified protocol for the Spectrolyse PAI-1 kit used to measure tPA activity produced a linear response with coefficients of determination (R 2 ) of greater than 0.9977 when assayed on 2 separate days, which corresponded to an enzymatic activity accuracy between 98.3% and 108.3%. The average percent residual tPA enzyme activity of samples from each group compared to the freshly prepared solution was 106%, 98.7%, and 91.5% for samples thawed at body temperature, room temperature, and refrigerated, respectively. Conclusion Modifications to the standard procedure for the Spectrolyse PAI-1 kit allows for accurate determination of tPA activity in aqueous based reconstituted solutions of alteplase. Under thawed conditions, alteplase retained greater than 91% enzyme activity as compared to a freshly prepared control.
“Teaches People That I'm More Than a Disability”: Using Nominal Group Technique in Patient-Oriented Research for People With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
Authors: Spassiani Natasha A. , Sawyer Amanda R. , Chacra Megan S. Abou , Koch Kimberley , Muñoz Yasmin A. , Lunsky Yona 
Published: March 2016

Abstract
Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) have complex healthcare needs, which are often unmet. Nominal group technique (NGT) uses a mixed-methods approach, which may engage the IDD population in the research process in a person-centered manner and address the shortcomings of traditional research methods with this population. NGT was used with a group of 10 self-advocates to evaluate a series of healthcare tools created by and for individuals with IDD. Participants provided helpful input about the strengths of these tools and suggestions to improve them. NGT was found to be an effective way to engage all participants in the research process.
Frailty as a Predictor of Institutionalization Among Adults With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
Authors: McKenzie Katherine , Ouellette-Kuntz Hélène , Martin Lynn 
Published: March 2016

Abstract
Adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) frequently become frail earlier than the general population, resulting in higher care needs. This population is at risk for institutionalization, or re-institutionalization, into long-term care (LTC). Using a retrospective cohort design to follow 3,034 individuals (18-99 years) living in Ontario, Canada, and assessed with the Resident Assessment Instrument–Home Care, individuals were characterized with a frailty index (FI) for persons with IDD. Survival analyses determined differences in rates of admission to LTC and survival in the community. Frail individuals had greater rates of admission than non-frail individuals, adjusted HR = 2.19, 95% CI [1.81, 2.64]. The FI predicts institutionalization.
Ergebnisse der Leserumfrage von "Ökologisches Wirtschaften"
Authors: Garthe Christopher 
Published: March 2016

In der Ausgabe 01/2015 von ÖkologischesWirtschaften haben wir eine große Leserumfrage durchgeführt. Hier präsentieren wir Ihnen die zentralen Ergebnisse der Umfrage.