bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Practical urinalysis in the cat
Authors: Reppas George , Foster Susan F 
Published: May 2016

Series outline: This is the second article in a two-part series on urinalysis in the cat. The specific focus is urine microscopic examination. Part 1, which appeared in the March 2016 issue, discussed urine macroscopic examination. Practical relevance: Urinalysis is an essential procedure in feline medicine but often little attention is paid to optimising the data yielded or minimising factors that can affect the results. Clinical challenges: For the best results, appropriately collected urine should be prepared promptly by specialist laboratory personnel for the relevant tests and assessed by a clinical pathologist. This is invariably impractical in clinical settings but careful attention can minimise artefacts and allow maximum useful information to be obtained from this seemingly simple process. Audience: Clinical pathologists would be familiar with the information provided in this article, but it is rarely available to general or specialist practitioners, and both groups can potentially benefit. Equipment: Most of the required equipment is routinely available to veterinarians. However, instructions have been provided to give practical alternatives for specialist procedures in some instances. Evidence base: The evidence base for feline microscopic urinalysis is quite poor and information has largely been extrapolated from the human literature. Information from feline studies has been included where available. In addition, practical clinicopathological and clinical observations are provided.
Case-based clinical reasoning in feline medicine
Authors: Whitehead Martin L , Canfield Paul J , Johnson Robert , O’Brien Carolyn R , Malik Richard 
Published: May 2016

Aim: This is Article 3 of a three-part series on clinical reasoning that encourages practitioners to explore and understand how they think and make case-based decisions. It is hoped that, in the process, they will learn to trust their intuition but, at the same time, put in place safeguards to diminish the impact of bias and misguided logic on their diagnostic decision-making. Series outline: Article 1, published in the January 2016 issue of JFMS, discussed the relative merits and shortcomings of System 1 thinking (immediate and unconscious) and System 2 thinking (effortful and analytical). In Article 2, published in the March 2016 issue, ways of managing cognitive error, particularly the negative impact of bias, in making a diagnosis were examined. This final article explores the use of heuristics (mental short cuts) and illness scripts in diagnostic reasoning.
2016 AAFP Guidelines for the Management of Feline Hyperthyroidism
Authors: Carney Hazel C , Ward Cynthia R , Bailey Steven J , Bruyette David , Dennis Sonnya , Ferguson Duncan , Hinc Amy , Rucinsky A Renee 
Published: May 2016

Clinical context: Since 1979 and 1980 when the first reports of clinical feline hyperthyroidism (FHT) appeared in the literature, our understanding of the disease has evolved tremendously. Initially, FHT was a disease that only referral clinicians treated. Now it is a disease that primary clinicians routinely manage. Inclusion of the measurement of total thyroxine concentration in senior wellness panels, as well as in diagnostic work-ups for sick cats, now enables diagnosis of the condition long before the cat becomes the classic scrawny, unkempt, agitated patient with a bulge in its neck. However, earlier recognition of the problem has given rise to several related questions: how to recognize the health significance of the early presentations of the disease; how early to treat the disease; whether to treat FHT when comorbid conditions are present; and how to manage comorbid conditions such as chronic kidney disease and cardiac disease with treatment of FHT. The 2016 AAFP Guidelines for the Management of Feline Hyperthyroidism (hereafter referred to as the Guidelines) will shed light on these questions for the general practitioner and suggest when referral may benefit the cat. Scope: The Guidelines explain FHT as a primary disease process with compounding factors, and provide a concise explanation of what we know to be true about the etiology and pathogenesis of the disease. The Guidelines also: Distill the current research literature into simple recommendations for testing sequences that will avoid misdiagnosis and separate an FHT diagnosis into six clinical categories with associated management strategies. Emphasize the importance of treating all hyperthyroid cats, regardless of comorbidities, and outline the currently available treatments for the disease. Explain how to monitor the treated cat to help avoid exacerbating comorbid diseases. Dispel some of the myths surrounding certain aspects of FHT and replace them with an evidence-based narrative that veterinarians and their practice teams can apply to feline patients and communicate to their owners. Evidence base: To help ensure better case outcomes, the Guidelines reflect currently available, evidenced-based knowledge. If research is lacking, or if a consensus does not exist, the expert panel of authors has made recommendations based on their extensive, cumulative clinical experience.
Serum advanced glycation endproducts are associated with left ventricular dysfunction in normal glucose metabolism but not in type 2 diabetes: The Hoorn Study
Authors: Linssen Pauline BC , Henry Ronald MA , Schalkwijk Casper G , Dekker Jacqueline M , Nijpels Giel , Brunner-La Rocca Hans-Peter , Stehouwer Coen DA 
Published: May 2016

Objective: To investigate whether serum advanced glycation endproducts are associated with left ventricular systolic and diastolic function in participants with normal glucose metabolism, impaired glucose metabolism and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methods: Participants from a cross-sectional, population-based study ( n = 280 with normal glucose metabolism, n = 171 with impaired glucose metabolism, n = 242 with type 2 diabetes mellitus) underwent echocardiography. Serum protein-bound advanced glycation endproducts [i.e. Nε-(carboxymethyl)lysine, pentosidine and Nε-(carboxyethyl)lysine] were measured. Linear regression analyses were used and stratified according to glucose metabolism status. Results: In normal glucose metabolism, higher Nε-(carboxymethyl)lysine and pentosidine levels were associated with worse diastolic function (left atrial volume index and left atrial volume × left ventricular mass index product term) and higher Nε-(carboxymethyl)lysine and Nε-(carboxyethyl)lysine levels with worse systolic function (ejection fraction). In impaired glucose metabolism, a similar pattern emerged, though less consistent. In type 2 diabetes mellitus, these associations were non-existent for diastolic function or even reversed for systolic function. Conclusion: This suggests that serum advanced glycation endproducts are associated with impaired left ventricular function in normal glucose metabolism, but that with deteriorating glucose metabolism status, serum advanced glycation endproducts may not mirror heart failure risk.
The role of antioxidants and zinc in minimal hepatic encephalopathy: a randomized trial
Authors: Mousa Nasser , Abdel-Razik Ahmed , Zaher Ashraf , Hamed Magdy , Shiha Gamal , Effat Narmin , Elbaz Sherif , Elhelaly Rania , Hafez Mohamed , El-Wakeel Niveen , Eldars Waleed 
Published: May 2016

Background: Minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) has a far-reaching impact on quality and function ability in daily life and may progress to overt hepatic encephalopathy. There is a synergistic effect between systemic oxidative stress and ammonia that is implicated in the pathogenesis of hepatic encephalopathy. The aim of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of oral supplementation of antioxidants and zinc gluconate on MHE versus lactulose. Methods: Our study included 58 patients with cirrhosis diagnosed as having MHE by neuropsychometric tests, including number connection test part A (NCT-A), digit symbol test (DST) and block design tests (BDTs). Patients were randomized to receive 175 mg zinc gluconate, 50,000 IU vitamin A, 500 mg vitamin C and 100 mg vitamin E once daily plus lactulose, dose 30–60 ml/day for 3 months [group A ( n = 31)] or initiated and maintained on lactulose dose 30–60 ml/day for 3 months [group B ( n = 27)]. Neuropsychometric tests and laboratory investigations were repeated after 3 months of therapy. Results: Compared with the baseline neuropsychometric tests, a significant improvement was reported in patients with MHE after 3 months of antioxidant and zinc therapy (group A) versus patients with lactulose therapy (group B) (NCT-A, p <0.001; DST, p = 0.006; BDT, p < 0.001). Antioxidant and zinc supplementation significantly decreased arterial ammonia level, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) ( p < 0.001) and improved Child–Pugh score in MHE after 3 months of therapy ( p= 0.024). Conclusion: Antioxidant and zinc supplementation can improve MHE in patients with liver cirrhosis.
Selective Use of the Blalock-Taussig Shunt and Right Ventricle-to-Pulmonary Artery Conduit During the Norwood Procedure
Authors: Murthy Raghav , Sebastian Vinod A. , Huang Rong , Guleserian Kristine J. , Forbess Joseph M. 
Published: May 2016

Background: The single ventricle reconstruction trial showed better one-year transplant-free survival for the right ventricle-to-pulmonary artery (RV-to-PA) conduit over the modified Blalock-Taussig shunt (mBTS) at Norwood operation. However, concerns remain about the long-term effects of a neonatal ventriculotomy. In our institution, we have used specific selection criteria for the use of mBTS in the Norwood operation. Methods: We reviewed 122 consecutive neonates undergoing the Norwood procedure from December 2006 to December 2013. We used the following criteria to select our source of pulmonary blood flow: (1) presence of a dominant morphologic left ventricle; (2) presence of antegrade blood in an ascending aorta that is greater than 3 mm; and (3) presence of significant large “crossing coronaries” on ventricle. All patients who met any of the above 3 criteria underwent an mBTS while the remaining patients underwent an RV-to-PA conduit. Results: Seventy-five (61.5%) patients had the RV-to-PA conduit and 47 (38.5%) patients had an mBTS. The overall surgical mortality was 9%. Mean follow-up interval was 23.5 months. Actuarial transplant-free survival was similar at 12, 24, 36, and 48 months in both the mBTS group and the RV-to-PA conduit group. In the RV-to-PA conduit group, actuarial transplant-free survival was 73% at 12 months, 71% at 24 months, 71% at 36 months, and 67% at 48 months, while in the mBTS group, actuarial transplant-free survival was 82% at 12 months, 75% at 24 months, 75% at 36 months, and 75% at 48 months. Conclusion: Our selection criteria for mBTS have allowed us to obtain equivalent transplant-free survival at 12, 24, 36, and 48 months when compared to the RV-to-PA conduit group.
Utility of Multimodality Imaging in the Morphologic Characterization of Anomalous Aortic Origin of a Coronary Artery
Authors: Lee Simon , Uppu Santosh C. , Lytrivi Irene D. , Sanz Javier , Weigand Justin , Geiger Miwa K. , Shenoy Rajesh U. , Farooqi Kanwal , Nguyen Khanh H. , Parness Ira A. , Srivastava Shubhika 
Published: May 2016

Background: Anomalous aortic origin of a coronary artery from the wrong Sinus of Valsalva (AAOCA) is a rare congenital anomaly and is associated with sudden cardiac death. Morphologic features considered to be “high risk” are significant luminal narrowing, acute coronary angulation at its origin, intramural course, and long interarterial course. A consistent approach for characterization of these features is lacking. Methods: A retrospective single-center review of all patients diagnosed with AAOCA using echocardiogram and computed tomography (CT)/magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies was performed. Twenty-nine patients were identified (25 using CT and 4 using MRI) with subsequent three-dimensional data sets. The MRI data sets lacked adequate resolution and were excluded. Twenty-five patients (median age 15.1, range 10-39.5 years, 72% male) were further analyzed using echocardiogram and CT. Morphologic assessment focused on luminal stenosis, coronary angulation, and interarterial length. Additional morphologic features focusing on cross-sectional area and degree of ellipticity were also assessed. Results: Echocardiography tended to yield smaller measurements compared to CT and had poor interobserver reproducibility for measurements pertaining to the narrowest proximal and distal coronary segments. Computed tomography showed good inter-/intraobserver reproducibility for the same. Agreement between both modalities for coronary angulation at its origin was excellent. There was good agreement for measurements of interarterial length between echocardiography and CT, but echocardiography had superior reproducibility. Assessment of luminal cross-sectional area and elliptical shape by CT had excellent inter-/intraobserver reproducibility. Conclusion: The combination of echocardiography and CT characterizes morphologic features of anomalous origin of the coronary artery more reliably than either modality alone.
Surgical Repair of 115 Patients With Anomalous Aortic Origin of a Coronary Artery From a Single Institution
Authors: Mainwaring Richard D. , Murphy Daniel J. , Rogers Ian S. , Chan Frandics P. , Petrossian Edwin , Palmon Michal , Hanley Frank L. 
Published: May 2016

Objectives: Anomalous aortic origin of a coronary artery (AAOCA) has been associated with myocardial ischemia and sudden death. The past decade has provided important insights into the natural history and typical patterns of presentation. However, there are also a number of unresolved controversies regarding the indications for surgery and the efficacy of that surgery. The purpose of this study was to review our surgical experience with AAOCA in 115 patients at a single institution. Design: One hundred and fifteen patients have undergone surgical repair of AAOCA at our institution. There were 82 males and 33 females, and the median age at surgery was 16 years. Fifty-nine patients had preoperative symptoms of myocardial ischemia, including 56 with exertional chest pain or syncope and 3 sudden death events. Twenty-four patients had associated congenital heart defects. Seven patients had an associated myocardial bridge. Results: Surgical repair was accomplished by unroofing of an intramural coronary in 86, reimplantation in 9, and pulmonary artery translocation in 20. There has been no early or late mortality. Fifty-seven (97%) of the 59 symptomatic patients have been free of any cardiac symptoms postoperatively. Two patients had recurrent symptoms and underwent reoperation (one had revision of the initial repair and one had repair of a myocardial bridge). Conclusions: Surgical repair of AAOCA can be safely performed and is highly efficacious in relieving symptoms of myocardial ischemia. The two “surgical failures” in this series had an anatomic basis and underscore the need to reassess both the proximal and distal anatomy in these patients.
Human neutrophil kinetics: modeling of stable isotope labeling data supports short blood neutrophil half-lives
Authors: Lahoz-Beneytez Julio , Elemans Marjet , Zhang Yan , Ahmed Raya , Salam Arafa , Block Michael , Niederalt Christoph , Asquith Becca , Macallan Derek 
Published: May 2016

Key PointsMechanistic modeling of stable isotope labeling verifies human neutrophil half-lives of 13-19 h in contrast to recent estimates of >3 days. Human neutrophil kinetics can be measured using a single-dose deuterium-labeled glucose protocol.
Hierarchical classification strategy for Phenotype extraction from epidermal growth factor receptor endocytosis screening
Authors: Cao Lu , Graauw Marjo de , Yan Kuan , Winkel Leah , Verbeek Fons J. 
Published: May 2016

Abstract
Background
Endocytosis is regarded as a mechanism of attenuating the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling and of receptor degradation. There is increasing evidence becoming available showing that breast cancer progression is associated with a defect in EGFR endocytosis. In order to find related Ribonucleic acid (RNA) regulators in this process, high-throughput imaging with fluorescent markers is used to visualize the complex EGFR endocytosis process. Subsequently a dedicated automatic image and data analysis system is developed and applied to extract the phenotype measurement and distinguish different developmental episodes from a huge amount of images acquired through high-throughput imaging. For the image analysis, a phenotype measurement quantifies the important image information into distinct features or measurements. Therefore, the manner in which prominent measurements are chosen to represent the dynamics of the EGFR process becomes a crucial step for the identification of the phenotype. In the subsequent data analysis, classification is used to categorize each observation by making use of all prominent measurements obtained from image analysis. Therefore, a better construction for a classification strategy will support to raise the performance level in our image and data analysis system.

Results
In this paper, we illustrate an integrated analysis method for EGFR signalling through image analysis of microscopy images. Sophisticated wavelet-based texture measurements are used to obtain a good description of the characteristic stages in the EGFR signalling. A hierarchical classification strategy is designed to improve the recognition of phenotypic episodes of EGFR during endocytosis. Different strategies for normalization, feature selection and classification are evaluated.

Conclusions
The results of performance assessment clearly demonstrate that our hierarchical classification scheme combined with a selected set of features provides a notable improvement in the temporal analysis of EGFR endocytosis. Moreover, it is shown that the addition of the wavelet-based texture features contributes to this improvement. Our workflow can be applied to drug discovery to analyze defected EGFR endocytosis processes.
Effective cleaning of rust stained marble
Authors: Spile Sanne , Suzuki Takayoshi , Bendix Jesper , Simonsen Kim Pilkjær 
Published: May 2016

Abstract

Background
Calcareous materials, like marble used in connection with cultural heritage objects such as statues and pedestals, or as wall facings on buildings, often show a brownish staining owing to contact with iron metal or iron-containing minerals in the stone. The discolouration alters the appearance of the stone, which is undesirable from an aesthetic point of view. Despite rust staining being a conspicuous phenomenon and numerous works that have dealt with the problem of removing rust stains, a simple and non-toxic method has so far been missing. This paper describes a highly efficient method for cleaning rust stains from marble by introducing the chelating amino acid cysteine in a Laponite poultice in combination with the strong reducing agent sodium dithionite.

Results
Cleaning experiments were performed on artificially discoloured samples of various types of Carrara Bianco marble and on naturally rust stained marble. To begin with, solutions of cysteine in combination with sodium dithionite and ammonium carbonate were tested by immersion of samples into the different solutions. Secondly, solutions of cysteine and sodium dithionite with and without buffering were used in a poultice consisting of Laponite® RD, Arbocel® BC1000 and CMC. The poultice was applied on three different marble types: Carrara Fabricotti, Carrara Vagli and Carrara La Piana. Thirdly, the optimized method was tested on original rust stained material of Greenlandic marble, which has been used as wall facing, and finally in situ in Copenhagen on a larger area of The Marble Church showing rust stains due to pyrite oxidation. The cleaning results were evaluated by visual observations, cross sections, and etching of the surface by testing on high gloss marble.

Conclusion
Cleaning of iron-discoloured marble surfaces has been investigated and a new method for removal of rust stained marble has been developed. A solution of 0.1 M cysteine and 0.1 M sodium dithionite in a poultice consisting of Laponite® RD/Arbocel® BC1000/CMC = 10:10:1 has shown to be a fast, simple, cheap, and non-toxic, do-it-yourself method.
Deinstitutionalised patients, homelessness and imprisonment: Systematic review
Authors: Winkler Petr , Barrett Barbara , McCrone Paul , Csémy Ladislav , Janousková Miroslava , Höschl Cyril 
Published: May 2016

BackgroundReports linking the deinstitutionalisation of psychiatric care with homelessness and imprisonment have been published widely.AimsTo identify cohort studies that followed up or traced back long-term psychiatric hospital residents who had been discharged as a consequence of deinstitutionalisation.MethodA broad search strategy was used and 9435 titles and abstracts were screened, 416 full articles reviewed and 171 articles from cohort studies of deinstitutionalised patients were examined in detail.ResultsTwenty-three studies of unique populations assessed homelessness and imprisonment among patients discharged from long-term care. Homelessness and imprisonment occurred sporadically; in the majority of studies no single case of homelessness or imprisonment was reported.ConclusionsOur results contradict the findings of ecological studies which indicated a strong correlation between the decreasing number of psychiatric beds and an increasing number of people with mental health problems who were homeless or in prison.
Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Survival Among Patients With Young-Onset Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Holowatyj Andreana N. , Ruterbusch Julie J. , Rozek Laura S. , Cote Michele L. , Stoffel Elena M. 
Published: May 2016

Purpose Racial disparities in colorectal cancer (CRC) persist, despite overall reductions in morbidity and mortality. In addition, incidence is rising among individuals younger than 50 years of age. We compared the survival of young-onset CRC among non-Hispanic black (NHB), non-Hispanic white (NHW), and Hispanic individuals. Patients and Methods Using the National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program data, we identified individuals between the ages of 20 and 49 years, diagnosed with CRC between 2000 and 2009. Survival rates and Cox proportional hazards models were used to compare stage-specific 5-year survival among NHBs, NHWs, and Hispanics. Results We identified 28,145 patients with young-onset CRC (19,497 NHW; 4,384 NHB; 4,264 Hispanic) during the 10-year study period. Overall survival at 5 years after CRC diagnosis was 54.9% among NHB, 68.1% among NHW, and 62.9% among Hispanic individuals (P < .001). NHB individuals had a significantly higher hazard of cancer-specific death compared with NHWs after adjusting for age, sex, race, stage, county-level poverty, and treatment history in cases of colon (hazard ratio [HR], 1.35; 95% CI 1.26 to 1.45) and rectum/rectosigmoid junction (HR, 1.51; 95% CI, 1.37 to 1.68) cancers, whereas there was no significant difference in survival between NHWs and Hispanics. The greatest racial disparities in cancer-specific survival were observed among NHB and NHW patients diagnosed with stage II cancers of the colon (HR, 1.69; 95% CI, 1.33 to 2.14) and stage III cancers of the rectum (HR, 1.98; 95% CI, 1.63 to 2.40). Conclusion Survival after CRC diagnosis at a young age is significantly worse among NHBs compared with NHWs, even among patients with early-stage disease. Further study is needed to determine whether differences in tumor biology and/or treatment are associated with racial disparities in outcomes, which would have implications for CRC treatment and prevention.