bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of endocervical curettage with conization in diagnosis of endocervical lesions
Authors: Suzuki Yukio , Cho Tamaki , Mogami Tae , Yokota Naho Ruiz , Matsunaga Tatsuya , Asai‐Sato Mikiko , Hirahara Fumiki , Nojima Masanori , Mori Mitsuru , Miyagi Etsuko 
Published: February 2017

AbstractAimEndocervical curettage (ECC) at the time of conization has been reported to be effective for diagnosing cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and/or early stage cervical cancer. We aimed to verify the accuracy of ECC with conization.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the records of 540 patients with suspected neoplastic cervical lesions who underwent conization at the Yokohama City University Hospital from January 2008 to December 2015. To validate the effectiveness of ECC for evaluating endocervical lesions, histopathologic findings from ECC samples were compared with those from endocervical specimens obtained by conization. In patients who subsequently underwent hysterectomy, specimens of residual endocervical stump lesions were compared with the specimens obtained by ECC.ResultsECC was performed in 58.9% of patients who underwent conization. Positive findings were only observed in 7.9%, while negative findings were found in 67.3% of ECC samples; however, 24.8% of the samples were inadequate for diagnosis. None of the patients had an upgraded diagnosis according to ECC results. The sensitivity of ECC in predicting endocervical stump lesions that were identified by conization specimens was 25.0%, the specificity was 94.2% and the positive predictive value was 55.0% (κ = 0.238; P < 0.001). ECC samples yielded a sensitivity of 42.9%, a specificity of 83.9%, and positive predictive value of 54.5% (κ = 0.284; P = 0.053) in predicting residual endocervical lesions in the uterus.ConclusionsAs it offers low sensitivity and positive predictive value, ECC at the time of conization is of limited benefit for evaluating endocervical lesions.
Impact of risk factors for perinatal events in Japan: Introduction of a newly created perinatal event score
Authors: Matsuda Yoshio , Sasaki Kemal , Kakinuma Kaoru , Kakinuma Toshiyuki , Tagawa Miki , Imai Ken , Nonaka Hiroaki , Ohwada Michitaka , Satoh Shoji 
Published: February 2017

AbstractAimA cohort study was performed to clarify the influence of risk factors on perinatal events (obstetric complications and/or perinatal deaths).MethodsThis cohort study reviewed 395 785 births from 2011 to 2013. Women with singleton pregnancies delivered after 22 weeks of gestation were included. The OR were determined on multivariate analysis. The perinatal event score (PES) for risk factors, which is the product of the OR of risk factors for obstetric complications, OR of risk factors for perinatal death, and OR of obstetric complications for perinatal death, was introduced to clarify the impact of each risk combination.ResultsThere were 20 risk factors such as maternal age and medical complications relating to the 11 obstetric complications, including pregnancy‐induced hypertension and preterm labor. As a result, 77 combinations of risk factors and obstetric complications were found to be significant. Six obstetric complications such as preterm labor and cervical insufficiency were found to be related to perinatal death. Two factors were found to be directly related to perinatal death: age >40 years old (OR, 1.24; 95%CI: 1.11–1.39) and essential hypertension (OR, 1.56; 95%CI: 1.19–2.05). As a result, PES ranged from 1.07 (primipara for premature rupture of membrane) to 40.1 (essential hypertension for placental abruption), and high PES (≥8) was identified in 21 combinations of risk factors and obstetric complications.ConclusionThis newly created score for perinatal events, PES, can be used as an indicator of the impact of risk factors on perinatal events.
Intracranial Posterior Circulation Large Artery Thrombi Visualized Using Susceptibility‐Weighted MRI
Authors: Wang Naidong , Hu Qimin , Wang Qiaoshu , Zhao Jinglong , Dedhia Nikita , Caplan Louis R. 
Published: February 2017

ABSTRACTPURPOSETo identify thrombi in patients with posterior circulation large artery occlusion using susceptibility‐weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).METHODSAll patients hospitalized with intracranial posterior circulation occlusion from January 2003 to September 2013 were included. MRI and computed tomography angiography were reviewed to determine the presence of arterial occlusion and identify thrombi. Eighty‐one patients were analyzed to investigate susceptibility vessel sign (SVS) that was identified as blooming artifact (BA) on T2*‐weighted gradient echo imaging.RESULTSWe identified 21 of 63 (33.3%) patients with BA in symptomatic patients, and 1 of 18 (5.6%) in the asymptomatic group with significant difference (P = .019). BAs were found in 6 of 10 (60.0%) patients with cardioembolism, 5 of 13 (38.5%) with dissection, 9 of 34 (26.5%) with large artery atherosclerotic disease, and 1 of 6 (16.7%) with undetermined cause.CONCLUSIONIdentifying SVS may be useful in exploring the fresh thrombi and the mechanism of posterior circulation stroke.
Social Psychology, Consumer Culture and Neoliberal Political Economy
Authors: McDonald Matthew , Gough Brendan , Wearing Stephen , Deville Adrian 
Published: February 2017

AbstractConsumer culture and neoliberal political economy are often viewed by social psychologists as topics reserved for anthropologists, economists, political scientists and sociologists. This paper takes an alternative view arguing that social psychology needs to better understand these two intertwined institutions as they can both challenge and provide a number of important insights into social psychological theories of self‐identity and their related concepts. These include personality traits, self‐esteem, social comparisons, self‐enhancement, impression management, self‐regulation and social identity. To illustrate, we examine how elements of consumer culture and neoliberal political economy intersect with social psychological concepts of self‐identity through three main topics: ‘the commodification of self‐identity’, ‘social categories, culture and power relations’ and the ‘governing of self‐regulating consumers’. In conclusion, we recommend a decommodified approach to research with the aim of producing social psychological knowledge that avoids becoming enmeshed with consumer culture and neoliberalism.
Transobturator Tape Operation for the Treatment of Stress Urinary Incontinence in Postmenopausal Women Aged Over 65 Years
Authors: YASA Cenk , GUNGOR UGURLUCAN Funda , DURAL Ozlem , YUMRU Harika , GUNAYDIN Cansu , YALCIN Onay 
Published: February 2017

ObjectiveWe compared success rates and complication rates in women aged less then and equal to or more than 65 years who had undergone transobturator tape (TOT) surgery for stress urinary incontinence (SUI).MethodsThis was a retrospective cohort study that included patients who underwent surgery to treat SUI. We separated patients into two groups according to age: younger than 65 years and equal to or older than 65 years. Exclusion criteria were patients with history of incontinence surgery, history of radical pelvic surgery, concomitant pelvic organ prolapse repair, detrusor overactivity, and less than 1 year of postoperative follow‐up. The surgical procedures and pre‐ and postoperative evaluations including urodynamics were performed in a tertiary center. The primary objective was to assess the success rate, patient‐reported satisfaction after surgery, and improvement in quality of life (QOL). The secondary outcome the assessment of complications.ResultsA total of 123 women, including 53 (43.1%) women aged less than 65 years, and 70 (56.9%) women aged 65 years and over with SUI who underwent TOT surgery between January 2004, and March 2013. After a median follow‐up of 52 (IQR 31) months for the older patients and 54 (IQR 42) months for younger patients, cure rates and patients satisfaction rates were similar in both group (82.9 vs. 81.1%, P = 0.81 and 87.2 vs. 88.6%, P = 0.79, respectively). The improvement in QOL, which was confirmed with changes in Kings Health Questionnaire (KHQ) scores, was similar in both the older and younger women −209.6 (IQR 420.9) vs. −191.1 (IQR 379.4), P = 0.62, respectively). Postoperative complications were similar in both age groups.ConclusionsTransobturator tape surgery in the management of SUI is safe and efficient in improving QOL, has high success and patient satisfaction, and low postoperative morbidity rates even in women aged ≥65 years.
Optimal transport to cold chain in perishable hand‐picked agriculture
Authors: Manuel Devasia , Sowers Richard B. 
Published: February 2017

AbstractWe develop and analyze a model for scheduling transport for perishable products. Once the harvest is picked, its quality starts to deteriorate, eventually having no value. In hand‐picked crops, the rate of picking often varies during the day. One would like to transport the harvest to a cooling station (cold chain), but to do so according to an optimal policy. This optimal policy should reflect a trade‐off between the loss of quality and the rate of harvest, and the fact that only a finite number of transports can be scheduled. We model the harvest and loss of quality and arrive at a computationally solvable optimization problem.
Recent updates on electronic cigarette aerosol and inhaled nicotine effects on periodontal and pulmonary tissues
Authors: Javed F , Kellesarian SV , Sundar IK , Romanos GE , Rahman I 
Published: February 2017

E‐cigarette‐derived inhaled nicotine may contribute to the pathogenesis of periodontal and pulmonary diseases in particular via lung inflammation, injurious, and dysregulated repair responses. Nicotine is shown to have antiproliferative properties and affects fibroblasts in vitro, which may interfere in tissue myofibroblast differentiation in e‐cig users. This will affect the ability to heal wounds by decreasing wound contraction. In periodontics, direct exposure to e‐vapor has been shown to produce harmful effects in periodontal ligament and gingival fibroblasts in culture. This is due to the generation of reactive oxygen species/aldehydes/carbonyls from e‐cig aerosol, leading to protein carbonylation of extracellular matrix and DNA adducts/damage. A limited number of studies regarding the effects of e‐cig in oral and lung health are available. However, no reports are available to directly link the deleterious effects on e‐cigs, inhaled nicotine, and flavorings aerosol on periodontal and pulmonary health in particular to identify the risk of oral diseases by e‐cigarettes and nicotine aerosols. This mini‐review summarizes the recent perspectives on e‐cigarettes including inhaled nicotine effects on several pathophysiological events, such as oxidative stress, DNA damage, innate host response, inflammation, cellular senescence, profibrogenic and dysregulated repair, leading to lung remodeling, oral submucous fibrosis, and periodontal diseases.
Topical tacrolimus, triamcinolone acetonide, and placebo in oral lichen planus: a pilot randomized controlled trial
Authors: Siponen M , Huuskonen L , Kallio‐Pulkkinen S , Nieminen P , Salo T 
Published: February 2017

ObjectiveTo carry out a double‐blind randomized controlled trial (RCT) to compare the effectiveness of topical tacrolimus (TAC), triamcinolone acetonide (TRI), and placebo (PLA) in symptomatic oral lichen planus (OLP).Subjects and MethodsA clinical score (CS, range 0–130) was developed to measure the clinical signs and symptoms of OLP. Twenty‐seven OLP patients with a CS of ≥20 were randomly allocated to receive 0.1% TAC ointment (n = 11), 0.1% TRI paste (n = 7), or Orabase® paste as PLA (n = 9) for 3 weeks. If the CS dropped ≥20% (interpreted as response), the patients continued the same medication for another 3 weeks. If the CS dropped <20% or increased (non‐response), the patients were switched to TAC for 6 weeks. A 6‐month follow‐up period ensued. The primary outcome variable was the change in CS from baseline to week 3. In primary outcome analysis, CS values between the treatment arms were compared.ResultsTacrolimus and TRI were more effective (P = 0.012 and 0.031, respectively) than PLA in reducing the CS at week 3. No difference in the efficacy was noted between TAC and TRI (P = 0.997).ConclusionsThis pilot RCT provides evidence for the effectiveness of TAC and TRI over PLA in the management of OLP.
Modulation of host immune responses to Toxoplasma gondii by microRNAs
Authors: Cai Y. , Shen J. 
Published: February 2017

SummaryTo survive successfully, Toxoplasma counteracts the strictly regulated host innate response to downregulate inflammation that could be deleterious for the parasite. MicroRNAs are vital regulators of both innate and adaptive immunity, controlling the maintenance and development of immune progenitors as well as the differentiation and the functions of host mature immune cells. Thus, the complexity of mechanisms underlying the connection between Toxoplasma and host immunity has led to investigations of miRNAs as additional key molecular players. The knowledge acquired from these studies will be useful for aiding the discovery of new targets for diagnosis or therapeutic approaches for toxoplasmosis and insight into the interaction between host and parasite.
Influence of acute stress on response inhibition in healthy men: An ERP study
Authors: Dierolf Angelika Margarete , Fechtner Julia , Böhnke Robina , Wolf Oliver T. , Naumann Ewald 
Published: February 2017

AbstractThe current study investigated the influence of acute stress and the resulting cortisol increase on response inhibition and its underlying cortical processes, using EEG. Before and after an acute stressor or a control condition, 39 healthy men performed a go/no‐go task while ERPs (N2, P3), reaction times, errors, and salivary cortisol were measured. Acute stress impaired neither accuracy nor reaction times, but differentially affected the neural correlates of response inhibition; namely, stress led to enhanced amplitudes of the N2 difference waves (N2d, no‐go minus go), indicating enhanced response inhibition and conflict monitoring. Moreover, participants responding to the stressor with an acute substantial rise in cortisol (high cortisol responders) showed reduced amplitudes of the P3 of the difference waves (P3d, no‐go minus go) after the stressor, indicating an impaired evaluation and finalization of the inhibitory process. Our findings indicate that stress leads to a reallocation of cognitive resources to the neural subprocesses of inhibitory control, strengthening premotor response inhibition and the detection of response conflict, while concurrently diminishing the subsequent finalization process within the stream of processing.
Financial incentive does not affect P300 (in response to certain episodic and semantic probe stimuli) in the Complex Trial Protocol (CTP) version of the Concealed Information Test (CIT) in detection of malingering
Authors: Rosenfeld J. Peter , Labkovsky Elena , Davydova Elena , Ward Anne , Rosenfeld Lauren 
Published: February 2017

AbstractPrevious research indicated that the skin conductance response of the autonomic nervous system in the Concealed Information Test (CIT) is typically increased in subjects who are financially and otherwise incentivized to defeat the CIT (the paradoxical “motivational impairment” effect). This is not the case for RT‐based CITs, nor P300 tests based on the three‐stimulus protocol for detection of cognitive malingering (although these are not the same as CITs). The present report is the first attempt to study the effect of financial motivation on the P300‐based Complex Trial Protocol using both episodic and semantic memory probe and irrelevant stimuli. The Test of Memory Malingering (TOMM) was used to validate behavioral differences between the two groups we created by offering one (paid) group but not another (unpaid) group a financial reward for beating our tests. Group behavioral differences on the TOMM did confirm group manipulations. Probe‐minus‐irrelevant P300 differences did not differ between groups, although as previously, semantic memory‐evoked P300s were larger than episodic memory‐evoked P300s.
Analgesia induced by self‐initiated electrotactile sensation is mediated by top‐down modulations
Authors: Zhao Ke , Tang Zhengyu , Wang Huiquan , Guo Yifei , Peng Weiwei , Hu Li 
Published: February 2017

AbstractIt is well known that sensory perception can be attenuated when sensory stimuli are controlled by self‐initiated actions. This phenomenon is explained by the consistency between forward models of anticipated action effects and actual sensory feedback. Specifically, the brain state related to the binding between motor processing and sensory perception would have inhibitory function by gating sensory information via top‐down control. Since the brain state could casually influence the perception of subsequent stimuli of different sensory modalities, we hypothesize that pain evoked by nociceptive stimuli following the self‐initiated tactile stimulation would be attenuated as compared to that following externally determined tactile stimulation. Here, we compared psychophysical and neurophysiological responses to identical nociceptive‐specific laser stimuli in two different conditions: self‐initiated tactile sensation condition (STS) and nonself‐initiated tactile sensation condition (N‐STS). We observed that pain intensity and unpleasantness, as well as laser‐evoked brain responses, were significantly reduced in the STS condition compared to the N‐STS condition. In addition, magnitudes of alpha and beta oscillations prior to laser onset were significantly larger in the STS condition than in the N‐STS condition. These results confirmed that pain perception and pain‐related brain responses were attenuated when the tactile stimulation was initiated by subjects’ voluntary actions, and exploited neural oscillations reflecting the binding between motor processing and sensory feedback. Thus, our study elaborated the understanding of underlying neural mechanisms related to top‐down modulations of the analgesic effect induced by self‐initiated tactile sensation, which provided theoretical basis to improve the analgesic effect in various clinical applications.
Immunity in Filarial Infections: Lessons from Animal Models and Human Studies
Authors: Kwarteng A. , Ahuno S. T. 
Published: February 2017

AbstractOur understanding of immunity to filarial infection is enigmatic and continues to be passionately debated. The mechanisms whereby filarial nematodes are killed in vivo and how these parasites avoid these mechanisms are poorly understood. Although vaccination studies in permissive animals took off seven decades ago, the exact mechanisms driving protective immunity are extensively being investigated. Currently, little is known regarding the collective functions or counter‐regulatory mechanisms of the antibody isotypes in filarial infection with respect to protective immunity. Establishing the functional role of antibody isotypes and cytokines in the various infection phenotypes can contribute immensely to current knowledge in filarial immunology. This paper reviews insight into protective immunity in filarial infection with focus on humoral and cellular responses from animal models and human studies.
Diagnostic potential of interferon‐gamma release assay to detect latent tuberculosis infection in kidney transplant recipients
Authors: Edathodu Jameela , Varghese Bright , Alrajhi Abdulrahman A , Shoukri Mohammed , Nazmi Ahmad , Elgamal Hazem , Aleid Hassan , Alrabiah Fahad , Ashraff Attia , Mahmoud Ihab , Al‐Hajoj Sahal 
Published: February 2017

AbstractBackgroundLatent tuberculosis (TB) infection (LTBI) is screened by using clinical assessment, tuberculin skin test (TST), chest radiography, and recently by interferon‐gamma release assays (IGRA). The objective of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic potential of QuantiFERON®‐TB Gold In‐Tube test (QFT) for diagnosing LTBI in patients planned for kidney transplantation.MethodsAll adult patients with end‐stage renal disease, evaluated for kidney transplantation in a referral center from August 2008 till May 2013, were enrolled, after consenting in a prospective, observational, non‐interventional study. LTBI diagnosis was conducted by TST, chest x‐ray, and clinical assessment, followed by IGRA by QFT.ResultsOverall, 278 patients were enrolled and kidney transplantation was performed in 173 patients. Contributed follow‐up was 836.5 patient‐years, and TB‐free transplant duration was 478.5 patient‐years. By standard methods, LTBI was diagnosed in 14 patients. Peri‐transplant chemoprophylaxis was given to 53 patients, which included recipients of organs from all deceased donors and living donors with LTBI. QFT was positive in 70 patients, negative in 200 patients, and indeterminate in 8 patients. The agreement between LTBI diagnosis using standard methods and IGRA by QFT was poor (kappa: 0.089+0.046, P‐value=.017). Twenty‐seven of the QFT‐positive patients were transplanted and only one was given isoniazid preventive therapy. None of the transplant recipients developed TB after a median follow‐up of 25 months (range 2‐58 months, mean 27 months).ConclusionsThe agreement of the QFT with standard diagnosis of LTBI in kidney transplant recipients was poor.
Pyrethroids and DDT tolerance of Anopheles gambiae s.l. from Sengerema District, an area of intensive pesticide usage in north‐western Tanzania
Authors: Philbert Anitha , Lyantagaye Sylvester Leonard , Pradel Gabriele , Ngwa Che Julius , Nkwengulila Gamba 
Published: February 2017

AbstractObjectiveTo assess the susceptibility status of malaria vectors to pyrethroids and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), characterise the mechanisms underlying resistance and evaluate the role of agro‐chemical use in resistance selection among malaria vectors in Sengerema agro‐ecosystem zone, Tanzania.MethodsMosquito larvae were collected from farms and reared to obtain adults. The susceptibility status of An. gambiae s.l. was assessed using WHO bioassay tests to permethrin, deltamethrin, lambdacyhalothrin, etofenprox, cyfluthrin and DDT. Resistant specimens were screened for knock‐down resistance gene (kdr), followed by sequencing both Western and Eastern African variants. A gas chromatography–mass spectrophotometer (GC‐MS) was used to determine pesticide residues in soil and sediments from mosquitoes’ breeding habitats.ResultsAnopheles gambiae s.l. was resistant to all the insecticides tested. The population of Anopheles gambiae s.l was composed of Anopheles arabiensis by 91%. The East African kdr (L1014S) allele was found in 13 of 305 specimens that survived insecticide exposure, with an allele frequency from 0.9% to 50%. DDTs residues were found in soils at a concentration up to 9.90 ng/g (dry weight).ConclusionThe observed high resistance levels of An. gambiae s.l., the detection of kdr mutations and pesticide residues in mosquito breeding habitats demonstrate vector resistance mediated by pesticide usage. An integrated intervention through collaboration of agricultural, livestock and vector control units is vital.