bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Preoperative Blood Tests Conducted Before Low-Risk Surgery in Japan: A Retrospective Observational Study Using a Nationwide Insurance Claims Database
Authors: Yonekura Hiroshi , Seto Kahori , Ide Kazuki , Kawasaki Yohei , Tanaka Shiro , Nahara Isao , Takeda Chikashi , Kawakami Koji 
Published: December 2017

BACKGROUND:
Routine preoperative testing is discouraged before low-risk surgery because testing does not provide any beneficial effect in terms of patient outcome. However, few studies have assessed the utilization of hospital health care resources in terms of preoperative tests in a real-world setting. Here, we aimed to assess the prevalence and factors associated with preoperative blood tests before low-risk surgery in Japan.

METHODS:
In this retrospective observational study, we used the nationwide insurance claims data of Japan. Patients who underwent low-risk surgeries between April 1, 2012 and March 31, 2016, were included. Our primary outcome was the receipt of any preoperative tests within 60 days before an index procedure: complete blood count, basic metabolic panel, coagulation tests, and liver function tests. We performed a descriptive analysis to estimate the proportions of preoperative blood tests, and examined the associations between patient-level and institutional-level factors and preoperative blood tests, using multilevel logistic regression analysis. Interinstitutional variation in the utilization of preoperative tests was summarized using the median odds ratio (OR).

RESULTS:
The study sample included 59,818 patients (mean [standard deviation] age, 44.0 [11.3] years; 33,574 [56.1%] women) from 9746 institutions. The overall proportion of each test was: complete blood count, 58.7%; metabolic panel, 47.8%; coagulation tests, 36.6%; and liver function tests, 48.5%. The proportion receiving any preoperative tests in the overall sample was 59.5%. Multilevel logistic regression analysis indicated that preoperative blood tests were associated with the Charlson comorbidity index score (score ≥3: adjusted OR, 4.21; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.69–4.80), anticoagulant use (adjusted OR, 4.12; 95% CI, 2.35–7.22), type of anesthesia (general anesthesia: adjusted OR, 5.69; 95% CI, 4.85–6.68; regional anesthesia: adjusted OR, 3.76; 95% CI, 3.28–4.30), surgical setting (inpatient procedure: adjusted OR, 3.64; 95% CI, 3.30–4.00), and number of beds (≥100 beds: adjusted OR, 3.61; 95% CI, 3.19–4.08). The median institutional-specific proportion of preoperative tests was 40.0% (interquartile range, 0%–100%). The median OR for interinstitutional variation in ordering preoperative tests was 4.34. These findings were consistent across a sensitivity analysis.

CONCLUSIONS:
Preoperative blood tests were performed before 59.5% of low-risk surgeries. Preoperative tests were associated with the type of anesthesia, patient characteristics, and medical facility status. There was a substantial interinstitutional variation in the utilization of preoperative tests.
Sophisticated lessons from simple organisms: appreciating the value of curiosity-driven research
Authors: Duronio Robert J. , O'Farrell Patrick H. , Sluder Greenfield , Su Tin Tin 
Published: December 2017

ABSTRACT
For hundreds of years, biologists have studied accessible organisms such as garden peas, sea urchins collected at low tide, newt eggs, and flies circling rotten fruit. These organisms help us to understand the world around us, attracting and inspiring each new generation of biologists with the promise of mystery and discovery. Time and time again, what we learn from such simple organisms has emphasized our common biological origins by proving to be applicable to more complex organisms, including humans. Yet, biologists are increasingly being tasked with developing applications from the known, rather than being allowed to follow a path to discovery of the as yet unknown. Here, we provide examples of important lessons learned from research using selected non-vertebrate organisms. We argue that, for the purpose of understanding human disease, simple organisms cannot and should not be replaced solely by human cell-based culture systems. Rather, these organisms serve as powerful discovery tools for new knowledge that could subsequently be tested for conservation in human cell-based culture systems. In this way, curiosity-driven biological research in simple organisms has and will continue to pay huge dividends in both the short and long run for improving the human condition.
Implant-supported prosthetic rehabilitation after surgical management of an odontogenic tumour of the mandible
Authors: Ofluoglu Duygu , Ergun Sertan , Guzelbey Burcu , Tanyeri Hakki 
Published: December 2017

An adenomatoid odontogenic tumour (AOT) is an uncommon, benign, slow-growing tumour which is usually located in the anterior region of the maxilla without pain and represents 2.2–7.1% of all odontogenic tumours. An AOT often causes expansion of surrounding bone and displacement of adjacent teeth. The tumour is usually associated with an unerupted tooth, frequently canines or lateral incisors. Radiographically, they usually appear unilocular and may contain calcifications, and frequently resemble other odontogenic lesions such as dentigerous cysts or ameloblastoma. Treatment is conservative and the prognosis is excellent. The surgical management and implant-supported prosthodontic rehabilitation of an extrafollicular AOT case that occurred in the left premolar region of the mandible, causing painless swelling in a 25-year-old female patient, is presented. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first extrafollicular type AOT case rehabilitated with dental implants following the total surgical enucleation. CPD/Clinical Relevance: This article illustrates the healing capacity of jaw bones, which enables subsequent implant placement.
Guided growth: Preliminary results of a multinational study of 967 physes in 537 patients
Authors: Danino B. , Rödl R. , Herzenberg J. E. , Shabtai L. , Grill F. , Narayanan U. , Segev E. , Wientroub S. 
Published: December 2017

Background Guided growth by tension band plating is commonly used to correct coronal plane deformity. The purpose of this study was to measure the effect and further define parameters that influence results in coronal plane deformity around the knee. Methods The retrospective multicentre study included data on 967 physes in 537 patients, with an average follow-up of 16 months after plate insertion. Alignment analysis was compared preoperatively and in at least two measurements postoperatively, as well as with parameters that influence the rate and amount of correction. Results Average age at plate implantation was 11.35 years (SD 3.29). Of those with femoral deformities, 85% of the patients finished the treatment and of those, 70% were corrected to standard alignment, while 14% have not yet achieved correction, and are still growing. Of those with tibial deformities, 75% of the patients finished the treatment and of those 80% were corrected to standard alignment, while 25% have not yet achieved correction and are still growing. The calculated rate of correction was 0.77°/month for the femur and 0.79°/month for the tibia. In terms of complications, the overall rate of infection was 1.48%. In three patients (0.55%) screw breakage was recorded. Factors found to significantly influence the amount of correction were age at plate implantation and direction of deformity. Conclusion Temporary hemiepiphysiodesis takes the advantage of physiological physeal growth to effectively treat angular deformities. Success of treatment is influenced by the age of the patient at plate implantation and direction of deformity. Level of Evidence IV
CAUTION, PRECAUTION & COMMON SENSE: SOME THOUGHTS ON GMOS, ECOSYSTEMS, AND REGULATING THE UNKNOWN
Authors: Cassuto David N. , Levinson Drew 
Published: December 2017

As of 2014, genetically modified crops occupied 448 million acres globally, representing a global market value of 15.7 billion dollars. The United States planted 170 million acres of genetically engineered crops in 2012, including 95% of the nation's sugar beets, 94% of the soybeans, 90% of the cotton and 88% of the feed corn. While many argue that biotechnology is essential to ensuring long-term food security in the climate change era, little is known of its impact on ecosystems. Potential risks such as changes in adaptive characteristics, gene flow, pest resistance, genotypic or phenotypic instability and adverse effects on non-target organisms must be balanced with the benefits of genetically modified crops. Despite much perseveration about the risks and benefits of GMOs, the United States regulatory regime has remained stagnant, unable to adapt to new innovations in the field. This lack of adequate oversight cannot go on. We propose shifting responsibility to a single agency charged with implementing science-based regulations that embrace the precautionary principle and promote early collaboration among stakeholders, multidisciplinary research, and well-designed monitoring. Part I of this Article provides an overview of biotechnology in modern agriculture. More specifically, it evaluates potential benefits and risks associated with genetically modified crops. Part II outlines the United States regulatory regime as it applies to genetically modified crops. Part III analyzes the current regulatory process, focusing specifically on the Department of Agriculture’s ineffective role in the environmental review process. Last, Part IV offers several potential adjustments to improve our ability to identify and mitigate the unforeseeable consequences of implementing this revolutionary technology.
Storing Clean Energy for a Cleaner World
Authors: von Friedeburg Christoph 
Published: December 2017

The relentless advance of global climate change is requiring all countries to either restructure their existing energy systems, or find new ways of building and expanding them. Ongoing reliance on fossil fuels has been demonstrated to be unsustainable, especially if we are to avoid global temperatures to rise by more than 2 degrees. Renewable energies have developed and matured to a point where not only has grid parity been reached, but also where individual countries have already managed to run on renewables alone for several consecutive days (e.g., Portugal in 2016). However, the intermittency of renewables is the single greatest impediment to meeting demand continuously, and thus to increasing their shares in national electricity systems in order to reduce the dependence on, and burning of, fossil fuels and stave off climate change. Energy that is not needed at the precise moment of generation needs to be stored, for use later when there is increasing demand with respect to generation.

Renewable Energy - Storage brings together a systematic collection of research articles addressing the key challenges of storing energy - electricity, heat, or energy for transport. Research and review papers, and selected conference papers addressing many of the important ways to store energy are considered, including chemical, electrical, thermal, and mechanical technologies. This collection is meant to provide researchers and advanced students with an orientation of the field, to point them to relevant workgroups, and to address current challenges. The collection will grow over time as new research is published, and the research community engages with it. There will be synergies with other collections within the
Renewable Energy Super Collection
.
Contribuições para avaliação pós-ocupação
Authors: Bitencourt Monteiro Mg. Arq. Deyvid Alex , Gomes Miron Dra. Arq. Luciana Inês 
Published: December 2017

Avaliações Pós-Ocupação têm sido desenvolvidas buscando investigar a qualidade do produto habitação de interesse social que está sendo entregue aos usuários. A análise do número de avaliações desenvolvidas no meio acadêmico e a verificação dos problemas identificados ao longo dos anos têm evidenciado que as informações obtidas por meio dessas avaliações não estão sendo devidamente consideradas para melhoria de futuros empreendimentos habitacionais de interesse social. Nesse contexto, a área de marketing tem sido identificada com potencial para subsidiar melhorias no processo de desenvolvimento das APOs por meio da abordagem dos conceitos de satisfação e de retenção (ou permanência). O principal objetivo desta pesquisa é propor contribuições para Avaliação Pós-Ocupação (APO) em Empreendimentos Habitacionais de Interesse Social (EHIS), a partir da análise conjunta da satisfação e da retenção dos usuários (moradores). A população-alvo desta pesquisa faz parte do empreendimento habitacional de interesse social Bela Vista pertencente ao Programa Integrado Entrada da Cidade (PIEC), em Porto Alegre/RS. O processo de pesquisa envolveu a construção do questionário, planejamento amostral, coleta e análise de dados. A principal contribuição desta pesquisa está relacionada à abordagem conjunta de tais conceitos, o que permitiu uma compreensão mais aprofundada acerca da percepção dos usuários. Ainda, os resultados aqui apontados, permitiram evidenciar a clara relação entre os conceitos de satisfação e de retenção (ou permanência) dos usuários de empreendimentos habitacionais de interesse social.
Serum MicroRNA-27b as a Screening Biomarker for Left Ventricular Hypertrophy
Authors: Wang Yan , Chen Shuyan , Gao Yanhong , Zhang Song 
Published: December 2017

MicroRNA-27b (miR-27b) is frequently upregulated in pressure-overloaded hypertrophic hearts. The clinical implications of aberrant circulating miR-27b in the diagnosis and management of left ventricular hypertrophy warrant study. We investigated whether serum miR-27b is a biomarker for left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH).
We used stem-loop reverse-transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction techniques to analyze serum miR-27b levels in 200 hypertensive patients with LVH, 100 hypertensive patients without LVH, and 100 healthy volunteers. We found that serum miR-27b levels were significantly higher in the hypertensive patients with LVH than in the hypertensive patients without LVH and in the healthy volunteers. Upon receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, serum miR-27b had an area under the curve of 0.885 with 91% sensitivity and 73% specificity in distinguishing hypertensive patients with LVH from healthy volunteers (P=0.021), and an area under the curve of 0.818 with 79.1% sensitivity and 70.3% specificity in distinguishing hypertensive patients with LVH from those without LVH (P=0.036). We conclude that circulating miR-27b might serve as a specific, noninvasive biomarker in screening for LVH.
Constrictive Pericarditis 5 Months after Radiation Therapy in a 62-Year-Old Woman with Esophageal Cancer
Authors: Yeneneh Beeletsega T. , Allen Sorcha , Panse Prasad , Mookadam Farouk , Rule William 
Published: December 2017

Most pericardial changes appear within a few weeks in patients who have undergone radiation therapy for thoracic neoplasms. Chronic pericardial constriction typically occurs decades later, consequent to fibrosis. Early constrictive pericarditis after chest irradiation is quite rare. We report the case of a 62-year-old woman who underwent radiation therapy for esophageal cancer and presented with constrictive pericarditis 5 months later.
We searched the English-language medical literature from January 1986 through December 2015 for reports of early constrictive pericarditis after irradiation for thoracic malignancies. We defined “early” as a diagnosis within one year after radiation therapy. Five cases fit our criteria, and we summarize the findings here. To our knowledge, ours is the first definitive report of a patient with esophageal cancer to present with early radiation-induced constrictive pericarditis.
We conclude that constrictive pericarditis can occur early after radiation for thoracic malignancies, albeit rarely. When planning care for cancer patients, awareness of this sequela is helpful.
Ruptured Sinus of Valsalva Aneurysm Associated with Situs Ambiguus, Isolated Levocardia, and Polysplenia
Authors: Golestaneh Safieh , Kashef Mohammad Amin , Hiser William L. , Lotfi Amir S. , Egan Timothy G. 
Published: December 2017

Aneurysm of the sinus of Valsalva, a rare cardiac condition, results from dilation of an aortic sinus. Sudden aneurysm rupture can trigger rapidly progressive heart failure.
We discuss the case of a 57-year-old woman with situs ambiguus, isolated levocardia, and polysplenia who presented with acute-onset heart failure. Transesophageal echocardiograms revealed an aneurysm of the right coronary sinus of Valsalva that had ruptured into the right atrial cavity. The patient underwent successful surgical repair.
To our knowledge, this is the first report of a sinus of Valsalva aneurysm in a patient with this combination of congenital abnormalities. We briefly review the association between congenital heart disease, situs ambiguus, and ciliary dysfunction.
Fighting in women’s clothes The pictorial evidence of Walpurgis in Ms. I.33
Authors: Gräf Julia 
Published: December 2017

Abstract
Ms. I.33 is not only the oldest of the known fencing treatises in European context, it is also the only one showing a woman fighting equally with contemporary men. The author presents her research about the garments this female fencer wears, including her shirt, dress and overdress, hairstyle and footwear. Special consideration is given to the questions whether Walpurgis wears a belt, the length and hem circumference of her garments as well as the methods of draping them in the way depicted. The results of the analysis are compared with contemporary pictorial and archaeological sources of the early 14th century. Some personal insights gathered by the author while fighting in this kind of clothes shed light on the possibilities of moving without being disturbed by them. The clothes and hairstyle worn by Walpurgis, give clues about her social status and thus help to understand the context and dating of the whole manuscript.
Critical Efficiencies as Upward Pricing Pressure with Feedback Effects
Authors: Neurohr Bertram 
Published: December 2017

AbstractFarrell and Shapiro’s upward pricing pressure (‘UPP’) is widely used in merger analysis due to its intuitiveness, despite not accounting for the interdependence between the merging firms’ pricing incentives (‘feedback effects’). However, ignoring feedback effects can have an impact on the way competition authorities rank mergers. The main result of this article is that UPP with feedback effects is equivalent to Werden’s critical efficiencies. Importantly, this link allows for the derivation of an expression that combines the intuition of UPP as the ‘value of diverted sales’ with the accuracy of critical efficiencies. Throughout, the focus is on the static unilateral effects of horizontal mergers with differentiated Bertrand competition.
Bone plate-screw constructs for osteosynthesis – recommendations for standardized mechanical torsion and bending tests
Authors: Schorler Hendrik , Wendlandt Robert , Jürgens Christian , Schulz Arndt-Peter , Kaddick Christian , Capanni Felix 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThis paper follows up on a recent systematic review of test methods and parameters for biomechanical testing of bone plates and it is the first study that contains recommendations for standardized mechanical testing of bone plate-screw constructs for osteosynthesis. Following the testing philosophy of ASTM F382 and ISO 9585, we have developed standardized quasi-static and dynamic testing methods for straight linear and anatomically shaped plates, including locked type and conventional systems. The test specification comprises torsion and bending tests along the implant axis and therefore modifies and extends the methods proposed by ASTM F382. We present specific test setups in order to determine product-specific characteristics of the mechanical construct, consisting of the bone plate with corresponding screws (such as construct stiffness, yield strength, ultimate strength and fatigue properties) under the condition that it is rigidly fixed to “healthy bone”. We also address specific testing requirements that are important for the purpose of standardization, such as the positioning of the construct for testing or the number of screws in the diaphysis and metaphysis. Finally, we define the outcome parameters and associated failure criteria related to quasi-static and dynamic testing for comparative purposes. This paper does not intend to replace biomechanical testing of those devices under physiological loading conditions.
Serum exosomal hnRNPH1 mRNA as a novel marker for hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Xu Hong , Dong Xueyan , Chen Yueming , Wang Xianjun 
Published: December 2017

Abstract

Background:
Distinctive exosomal contents could be useful for cancer diagnosis and prognosis. However, little is known about whether serum exosomal heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein H1 (hnRNPH1) mRNA is a satisfactory biomarker for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods:
Two hundred and ninety-one participants divided into four age- and gender-matched groups, including a HCC group (n=88), a liver cirrhosis (LC) group (n=67), a chronic hepatitis B (CHB) group (n=68) and a healthy control group (n=68), were enrolled. Serum exosomal hnRNPH1 mRNA and GAPDH mRNA were measured using TaqMan real-time PCR, and the relative expression levels were calculated. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed to evaluate the effectiveness of hnRNPH1 mRNA alone and in combination with α-fetoprotein (AFP) in the diagnosis of HCC. The correlation between hnRNPH1 mRNA levels and clinicopathological characteristics and overall survival (OS) in HCC was determined.

Results:
The serum exosomal hnRNPH1 mRNA levels in HCC patients were remarkably higher than in the other groups (p<0.05). The hnRNPH1 mRNA discriminated HCC from CHB with an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.865, with sensitivity of 85.2% and specificity of 76.5% at cut-off value of 0.670. The AUC for hnRNPH1 mRNA in combination with AFP was further improved. The exosomal hnRNPH1 mRNA levels in HCC patients were associated with the Child-Pugh classification, portal vein tumor emboli, lymph node metastasis, TNM stage and OS (p<0.05).

Conclusions:
These findings suggested that serum exosomal hnRNPH1 mRNA could be an effective marker for HCC in high HBV prevalence areas.
Thymidylate synthase gene variants as predictors of clinical response and toxicity to fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy for colorectal cancer
Authors: Castro-Rojas Carlos A. , Esparza-Mota Antonio R. , Hernandez-Cabrera Francisco , Romero-Diaz Viktor J. , Gonzalez-Guerrero Juan F. , Maldonado-Garza Hector , Garcia-Gonzalez Irma S. , Buenaventura-Cisneros Sergio , Sanchez-Lopez Josefina Y. , Ortiz-Lopez Rocio , Camacho-Morales Alberto , Barboza-Quintana Oralia , Rojas-Martinez Augusto 
Published: December 2017

AbstractBackground:Fluoropyrimidines form the chemotherapy backbone of advanced and metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC). These drugs are frequently associated with toxicity events that result in dose adjustments and even suspension of the treatment. The thymidylate synthase (Methods:Variants namely rs45445694, rs183205964, rs2853542 and rs151264360 ofResults:The 2R/2R (rs45445694) was associated with clinical response (p=0.05, odds ratio (OR)=3.45) and severe toxicity (p=0.0014, OR=5.21, from pooled data). Expression analysis in tumor tissues suggested a correlation between the 2R/2R genotype and lowConclusions:The allele 2R (rs45445694) predicts severe toxicity and objective response in advanced CRC patients. In addition, the alleles G(rs2853542) and 6bp-(rs151264360) are independent predictors of response failure to chemotherapy. This is the first study made on a Latin American population that points out