bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Comparative study of laparoscopic and mini‐incision open donor nephrectomy: have we heard the last word in the debate?
Authors: Yadav Kunal , Aggarwal Sandeep , Guleria Sandeep , Kumar Rajeev 
Published: January 2016

AbstractObjectiveLaparoscopic donor nephrectomy (LDN) is generally considered a better option than open donor nephrectomy (ODN) as it is associated with better cosmesis, less post‐operative pain and faster recovery. Mini‐incision donor nephrectomy (MDN) has proven to be an effective and less invasive modification of classic ODN. Our aim was to compare the peri‐operative outcomes and quality of life of donors following laparoscopic and mini‐incision ODN.MethodsOne hundred patients, underwent donor nephrectomy using laparoscopic approach (n = 50) or open mini‐incision approach (n = 50) over a period of 18 months. Data were entered into a prospective database and analyzed retrospectively.ResultsThe mean operative (skin to skin) time for MDN, 53.9 min (range, 40–75 min), was significantly shorter than the 93.7 min (range, 75–140 min) for LDN. The laparoscopic donors had a longer hospital stay, warm ischemia time and higher operative and post‐operative cost. There was no significant difference in the pain scores, graft function, or quality of life between the two groups.ConclusionsMDN compares well with the laparoscopic approach in terms of post‐operative pain, graft function and quality of life of donors. Significantly less operative time along with the reduced cost makes it a better option in our predominantly lower BMI patient population.
Differential effects of hunger and satiety on insular cortex and hypothalamic functional connectivity
Authors: Wright Hazel , Li Xiaoyun , Fallon Nicholas B. , Crookall Rebecca , Giesbrecht Timo , Thomas Anna , Halford Jason C.G. , Harrold Joanne , Stancak Andrej 
Published: January 2016

AbstractThe insula cortex and hypothalamus are implicated in eating behaviour, and contain receptor sites for peptides and hormones controlling energy balance. The insula encompasses multi‐functional subregions, which display differential anatomical and functional connectivities with the rest of the brain. This study aimed to analyse the effect of fasting and satiation on the functional connectivity profiles of left and right anterior, middle, and posterior insula, and left and right hypothalamus. It was hypothesized that the profiles would be altered alongside changes in homeostatic energy balance. Nineteen healthy participants underwent two 7‐min resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging scans, one when fasted and one when satiated. Functional connectivity between the left posterior insula and cerebellum/superior frontal gyrus, and between left hypothalamus and inferior frontal gyrus was stronger during fasting. Functional connectivity between the right middle insula and default mode structures (left and right posterior parietal cortex, cingulate cortex), and between right hypothalamus and superior parietal cortex was stronger during satiation. Differences in blood glucose levels between the scans accounted for several of the altered functional connectivities. The insula and hypothalamus appear to form a homeostatic energy balance network related to cognitive control of eating; prompting eating and preventing overeating when energy is depleted, and ending feeding or transferring attention away from food upon satiation. This study provides evidence of a lateralized dissociation of neural responses to energy modulations.
Biomarkers and personalized medicine: current status and further perspectives with special focus on dermatology
Authors: Landeck Lilla , Kneip Christoph , Reischl Joachim , Asadullah Khusru 
Published: January 2016

AbstractBiomarkers are of increasingly high importance in medicine, particularly in the realm of ‘personalized medicine’. They are valuable for predicting prognosis and dose selection. Moreover, they may be helpful in detecting therapeutic and adverse responses and in patient stratification based on efficacy or safety prediction. Thus, biomarkers are essential tools for the selection of appropriate patients for treatment with certain drugs to and enable personalized medicine, that is ‘providing the right treatment to the right patient, at the right dose at the right time’. Currently, there are six drugs approved for dermatological indications with recommended or mandatory biomarker testing. Most of them are used to treat melanoma and human immunodeficiency virus infection. In contrast to the few fully validated biomarkers, many exploratory biomarkers and biomarker candidates have potential applications. Prognostic biomarkers are of particular significance for malignant conditions. Similarly, diagnostic biomarkers are important in autoimmune diseases. Disease severity biomarkers are helpful tools in the treatment for inflammatory skin diseases. Identification, qualification and implementation of the different kinds of biomarkers are challenging and frequently necessitate collaborative efforts. This is particularly true for stratification biomarkers that require a companion diagnostic marker that is co‐developed with a certain drug. In this article general definitions and requirements for biomarkers as well as for the impact of biomarkers in dermatology are reviewed and opportunities and challenges are discussed.
Lichen striatus versus linear lichen planus: a comparison of clinicopathological features, immunoprofile of infiltrated cells, and epidermal proliferation and differentiation
Authors: Zhou Ying , Yu Zuo‐Zhong , Peng Jing , Yang Pei‐Pei , Li Shi‐Jie , Fan Yi‐Ming 
Published: January 2016

AbstractBackgroundLichen striatus (LS) and linear lichen planus (LLP) are separate uncommon disorders belonging to linear inflammatory dermatoses. The immunotyping of inflammatory cells has been investigated in LS and lichen planus (LP), but epidermal proliferation and differentiation have little been described in LS and LLP.MethodsThe clinical and pathological data of eight patients with LS and seven with LLP were retrospectively collected. Immunotyping of infiltrated cells and expression of Ki‐67, K16, involucrin, and filaggrin were stained by immunohistochemistry in skin lesions of these patients and normal skin of eight healthy controls.ResultsDermal infiltrates contained primarily CD3+ and CD68+ cells in three groups. CD4+ cells were predominantly located in the perivascular area, while CD8+ cells were frequently close to the junctional zone. Compared with control skin, epidermal and dermal CD1a+ cells, and dermal CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, and CD68+ cells were increased in LS and LLP (P < 0.05), while Ki‐67+ cells were significantly high in LLP (P < 0.05) but not in LS. K16 and involucrin expression in LLP were more extensive than in LS, and filaggrin expression was similar between both entities.ConclusionsOur results indicate that the predominance of CD8+ cells and increased epidermal proliferation and abnormal keratinization are present in both dermatoses, although the levels of the above indexes are mild in LS as compared to LLP. These two entities might be due to the interaction of infiltrated cells and keratinocytes, and CD8+ cells could play a pivotal role in their pathogenesis.
Development of a global hospital self-assessment tool and prioritization tier system based on FIP's Basel Statements
Authors: Lyons Kayley , Blalock Susan J , Brock Tina Penick , Manasse Henri R , Eckel Stephen F 
Published: January 2016

Abstract

Objectives
The objective of this study was to develop and pilot a hospital self-assessment tool and prioritization system for hospitals to evaluate their pharmacy practice performance against the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP)'s Basel Statements.

Methods
To develop the self-assessment tool, we reviewed the Basel statements to identify characteristics that could be measured at the individual hospital level and finalized these based on feedback from five cognitive interviews. The survey instrument was pilot tested in four countries; two high-, one lower middle- and one low-income country. Participants were electronically sent the survey tool and enrolled through the snowball sampling method. Tiers were developed by investigators to assist hospitals in prioritizing the achievement of Basel Statement practices. Tiers were validated by the Hospital Section chairs of FIP through a card sorting exercise. Simple agreement and Cohen's kappa was used to characterize inter-rater reliability. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize the responses.

Key findings
Forty-four survey responses were collected from 36 hospitals in four countries. The survey response rate was 29% and took an average of 26 minutes to complete. The overall average agreement of constructs was 83%. The survey characterized how far a hospital was to achieving the Basel Statement practices with an average achievement rate of 57% (ranging from 30% to 90%). The survey highlighted medication safety challenges facing the pharmacy profession. The results produced a benchmarking report for each respondent.

Conclusions
The results support the validity and reliability of the survey tool. This comprehensive survey tool can be used by institutions to track their progress towards achieving the Basel Statement practices.
Surgical comparison of subinguinal and high inguinal microsurgical varicocelectomy for adolescent varicocele
Authors: Shiraishi Koji , Oka Shintaro , Matsuyama Hideyasu 
Published: January 2016

ObjectiveTo compare the surgical outcomes of subinguinal and high inguinal approaches for microsurgical varicocelectomy.MethodsA total of 81 patients with left varicocele were randomly assigned to undergo microsurgical left varicocelectomy by the subinguinal (n = 41) or high inguinal (n = 40) approach. These two techniques were compared with regard to the operative parameters, complications and testicular growth. Anatomical parameters, including the numbers and diameters of internal spermatic arteries, veins and lymphatic vessels, were recorded.ResultsThe microsurgical step was significantly shorter for the high inguinal approach compared with the subinguinal approach (25.5 vs 33.3 min, respectively, P < 0.01). The numbers of preserved arteries and ligated veins were significantly greater and the artery size was significantly smaller for the subinguinal (1.6 arteries, 11.5 veins and 1.1 mm, respectively) compared with the high inguinal approach (1.2 arteries, 7.3 veins and 1.3 mm; P < 0.001, <0.0001 and <0.01, respectively). There was one patient with postoperative hydrocele, and three with persistent scrotal pain after treatment with the subinguinal approach. The postoperative catch‐up growth rates at 24 months were 70% and 78% for the subinguinal and high inguinal approaches, respectively.ConclusionsThe microsurgical subinguinal and high inguinal approaches seem to yield similar success rates in terms of testicular growth. However, the high inguinal approach is easier to carry out, as it requires fewer divisions of veins and is associated with a larger diameter of the spermatic artery.
Homeland (Dis)Integrations: Educational Experience, Children and Return Migration to Albania
Authors: Vathi Zana , Duci Veronika , Dhembo Elona 
Published: January 2016

AbstractBased on empirical research conducted in Albania, this article reports that educational experience and performance, and hence, integration of the children of (returned) migrants in their parents' homeland is obstructed by structural factors linked to the educational system. A finding such as this challenges the centrality of an essentialized notion of ethnicity in models of “second generation” integration and evidences the centrality of the nation‐state, and the education system as one of its pillars, in the integration of migrants and their children. Comparative integration context theory appears to apply to the integration of children of returned migrants; yet it needs to take into account the mobile lives of migrants and their children, the transnational disjuncture between different educational systems, and the role of locality within the nation‐state. Moreover, including children in analyses of integration, in the context of education, calls for the inclusion of life‐course and scale in integration theories.
Clinical nursing and midwifery research: grey literature in African countries
Authors: Sun C. , Dohrn J. , Omoni G. , Malata A. , Klopper H. , Larson E. 
Published: January 2016

AimThis study reviewed grey literature to assess clinical nursing and midwifery research conducted in southern and eastern African countries over the past decade.BackgroundThe shortage of published nursing research from African countries severely limits the ability of practicing nurses and midwives to base clinical decisions on solid evidence. However, little is known regarding unpublished or unindexed clinical research (‘grey literature’), a potentially rich source of information. Identifying these sources may reveal resources to assist nurses in providing evidence‐based care.IntroductionThis scoping review of grey literature on clinical nursing and midwifery research in southern and eastern African countries helped to identify gaps in research and assess whether these gaps differ from published research.MethodsSystematic searches of grey literature were performed. Research was included if it was conducted by nurses in 1 of 25 southern or eastern African countries, between 2004 and 2014 and included patient outcomes. Data were extracted on location, institution, research topic, institutional connections and author information. Chi‐square tests were performed to compare differences between indexed and non‐indexed literature.ResultsWe found 262 studies by 287 authors from 17 southern and eastern African countries covering 13 topics. Although all topics were also found in indexed literature and there were statistically significant differences between the number of times, fewer topics were covered in grey literature vs. indexed.DiscussionPatient satisfaction and experience and traditional health practices were more likely to be published, whereas chronic disease, assault and paediatric‐related research were less often published.Conclusions and Implications for Nursing and Health PolicyGenerally, there is a paucity of clinical nursing research in this region. This could reflect the shortage of nurses prepared to conduct research in this region. Nurses may find additional resources for evidence in the grey literature. A complete understanding of the state of nursing science in southern and eastern African countries will help nurses and midwives to understand gaps in clinical research knowledge, potentially direct their research to more critical topics, and inform funding bodies and policy‐makers of the situation of nursing science in southern and eastern African countries.
The Accelerating Effect of CaSO4 Within CMAS (CaO–MgO–Al2O3–SiO2) and Its Effect on the Infiltration Behavior in EB‐PVD 7YSZ
Authors: Naraparaju Ravisankar , Mechnich Peter , Schulz Uwe , Mondragon Rodriguez Guillermo Cesar 
Published: January 2016

Infiltration and deposition of CaSO4 in thermal barrier coatings (TBC) in addition to the CMAS deposits was found in many occasions on real aviation engines. The source and role of CaSO4 on the degradation of TBC is not well understood. CaSO4 containing CMAS was synthesized and a systematic study of its role on the CMAS infiltration behavior in EB‐PVD 7YSZ is presented in this work. Its influence on the melting and crystallization behavior of CMAS was studied with the help of differential scanning calorimetry. The decomposition of CaSO4 into CaO and SO3 was observed at 1050°C in laboratory air under the presence of CMAS using mass spectroscopy and in situ high‐temperature XRD. The same amount of CaO is brought into the CMAS system by means of adding CaCO3, which will eventually decompose into CaO and CO2 at 700°C. CMAS infiltration tests were carried out at different temperatures with and without CaSO4/CaCO3 and the results demonstrate that the sulfur has no direct effect on the aggressiveness of the anhydrite containing CMAS with regard to its infiltration behavior in EB‐PVD 7YSZ at high temperatures. The extra amount of calcia added to CMAS that is introduced by the evaporating species is responsible for enhanced infiltration of the deposits into the TBC.
Survival Prognosis in Very Old Adults
Authors: Thinggaard Mikael , McGue Matt , Jeune Bernard , Osler Merete , Vaupel James W. , Christensen Kaare 
Published: January 2016

ObjectivesTo determine whether simple functional indicators are predictors of survival prognosis in very old adults.DesignIn‐person survey conducted over a 3‐month period in 1998; assessment of survival over a 15‐year follow‐up period.SettingDenmark.ParticipantsAll 3,600 Danes born in 1905 and living in Denmark in 1998, were invited to participate regardless of residence and health; 2,262 (63%) participated in the survey: 1,814 (80.2%) in person and 448 (19.8%) through a proxy.MeasurementsSocioeconomic factors, medications and diseases, activities of daily living, physical performance, cognition, depression symptomatology, self‐rated health, and all‐cause mortality, evaluated as average remaining lifespan and chance of surviving to 100 years.ResultsMen aged 92 to 93 had an overall 6.0% chance of surviving to 100 years, whereas the chance for women was 11.4%. Being able to rise without use of hands increased the chance for men to 11.2% (95% confidence interval (CI) = 7.7–14.7) and for women to 22.0% (95% CI = 18.9–25.1). When combining this with a Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores from 28 to 30, the chances were 21.7% (95% CI = 11.5–31.9) for men and 34.2% (95% CI = 24.8–43.5) for women.ConclusionChair stand score combined with MMSE score is a quick and easy way to estimate overall chance of survival in very old adults, which is particularly relevant when treatment with potential side effects for nonacute diseases is considered.
Association Between Random Measured Glucose Levels in Middle and Old Age and Risk of Dementia‐Related Death
Authors: Rosness Tor Atle , Engedal Knut , Bjertness Espen , Strand Bjørn Heine 
Published: January 2016

ObjectivesTo investigate the association between random measured glucose levels in middle and old age and dementia‐related death.DesignPopulation‐based cohort study.SettingNorwegian Counties Study (middle‐aged individuals; 35–49) and Cohort of Norway participants (older individuals; 65–80).ParticipantsIndividuals without (n = 74,630) and with (n = 3,095) known diabetes mellitus (N = 77,725); 67,865 without and 2,341 with diabetes mellitus were included in the complete case analyses (nonmissing for all included covariates), of whom 1,580 without and 131 with diabetes mellitus died from dementia‐related causes.MeasurementsDementia‐related death was ascertained according to the Norwegian Cause of Death Registry. Cox regression was used to assess the relationship between random glucose levels (nonfasting) in individuals without and with diabetes mellitus and dementia‐related death. Education, smoking, cardiovascular disease, body mass index, cholesterol, blood pressure, and physical activity were adjusted for.ResultsIndividuals without diabetes mellitus at midlife with glucose levels between 6.5 and 11.0 mmol/L had a significantly greater risk of dementia‐related death than those with levels less than 5.1 mmol/L (hazard ratio = 1.32, 95% confidence interval = 1.04–1.67) in a fully adjusted model. A dose‐response relationship (P = .02) was observed. No significant association between high glucose levels in individuals aged 65 to 80 and dementia‐related death was detected.ConclusionHigh random glucose levels measured in middle‐aged but not older age persons without known diabetes mellitus were associated with greater risk of dementia‐related death up to four decades later.
Falls and Parkinson's Disease: Evidence from Video Recordings of Actual Fall Events
Authors: Weaver Tyler B. , Robinovitch Stephen N. , Laing Andrew C. , Yang Yijian 
Published: January 2016

ObjectivesTo compare the fall characteristics of individuals with and without Parkinson's disease (PD) through the analysis of real‐life falls captured on video.DesignObservational cohort study.SettingTwo long‐term care facilities in British Columbia, Canada.ParticipantsIndividuals living in long‐term care (N = 306; 16 with PD).MeasurementsFalls captured on video and analyzed (N = 906; 71 in participants with PD). Generalized estimating equation models were used to examine differences in fall characteristics between participants with and without PD.ResultsIndividuals with PD were 1.3 times as likely as those without PD to fall because of incorrect weight shifting (95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.03–1.65). Secondary steps during the fall event were 1.5 times as likely to be short in individuals with PD as in those without (95% CI = 1.23–1.78). Individuals with PD were also 1.6 times as likely to attempt to recover balance by reaching to grasp an external object (95% CI = 1.13–2.15) and 5.0 times as likely to secure grasp of the object (95% CI = 1.23–20.0).ConclusionAlong with greater likelihood for individuals with PD to fall because of incorrect weight shifting, differences between groups were found in reactive stepping responses. This first detailed evidence of the characteristics of falls in PD should help to inform fall and injury prevention approaches for clinicians and rehabilitation professionals working with individuals with PD.
A cross‐sectional study exploring the different roles of individual and group assessment methods in assessing public health nutrition competence
Authors: Palermo C. , Davidson Z. E. , Hay M. 
Published: January 2016

AbstractBackgroundCompetency in the practice of public health is essential for dietitians, yet little is known about credible and dependable assessment in this field. The present study aimed to investigate the role of individual and group assessment tasks as elements of a public health nutrition competency‐based assessment system.MethodsAssessment performance data from 158 dietetics students (three group tasks and one individual task) who had completed a practical placement learning experience in a public health nutrition setting were examined using nonparametric techniques. All 158 students were deemed individually ‘competent’ on completion of the placement.ResultsThe median mark was significantly lower for the individual compared to the group task, with a greater range of marks achieved in the individual assessment. There was a weak relationship between individual and group marks for the whole cohort (n = 158) (Spearman's rho correlation coefficient = 0.193, P = 0.015). Bland–Altman analysis showed that the mean (SD) agreement between the two assessment tasks was −5.9 (17.7) marks. Systematic bias between the two tasks was also demonstrated, indicating that students with the lowest average mark of the two assessments scored lower on the individual assessment task compared to their group task and those who had a higher average mark scored higher on the individual group assessment compared to their group task.ConclusionsStudent performance in public health differs between individual and group assessment. Individual assessment appears to differentiate between students, yet group work is essential for the development of teamwork skills. Both should be considered in the judgement of public health nutrition competency.