bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Ophthalmological outcomes of patients treated for pineal region tumors
Authors: Hankinson Elizabeth V. , Lyons Christopher J. , Hukin Juliette , Cochrane David D. 
Published: January 2016

OBJECTIVE
The ophthalmological outcomes of children treated for pineal tumors have received limited attention in the literature.

METHODS
This paper reviews the outcomes of 29 children treated for pineal and posterior third ventricular tumors in the contemporary era using chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and resection as defined by the histology and/or marker profile of the tumor.

RESULTS
At the time of diagnosis, all patients except 1 had hydrocephalus and all had ophthalmological involvement. Papilledema was found in 69% of patients. Seventy-five percent of patients had partial or complete Parinaud's syndrome, and diplopia or blurred vision was noted in the remaining patients. Visual acuity was impaired in 8 patients. Outcomes were dependent on the histology of the tumor and the treatment required. Those patients who did not requiring resection showed a lower rate of ophthalmological worsening during treatment and greater long-term improvement, in particular with respect to up-gaze palsy. Patients who underwent resection for postchemotherapy residual disease or primary resection showed greater worsening during treatment and lesser degrees of recovery. All patients with impaired visual acuity improved with treatment.

CONCLUSIONS
As the mortality of germ cell and other pineal tumors decreases, posttreatment morbidity remains, specifically that related to convergence nystagmus, accommodation, and diplopia. In addition to survival, ophthalmological morbidity should be reported in studies concerning the outcomes of treatment for pineal neoplasms.
Beta-blocker therapy and impact on outcome after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: a cohort study
Authors: Chalouhi Nohra , Daou Badih , Okabe Toshimasa , Starke Robert M. , Dalyai Richard , Bovenzi Cory D. , Anderson Eliza Claire , Barros Guilherme , Reese Adam , Jabbour Pascal , Tjoumakaris Stavropoula , Rosenwasser Robert , Kraft Walter K. , Rincon Fred 
Published: January 2016

OBJECTIVE
Cerebral vasospasm (cVSP) is a frequent complication of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH), with a significant impact on outcome. Beta blockers (BBs) may blunt the sympathetic effect and catecholamine surge associated with ruptured cerebral aneurysms and prevent cardiac dysfunction. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between preadmission BB therapy and cVSP, cardiac dysfunction, and in-hospital mortality following aSAH.

METHODS
This was a retrospective cohort study of patients with aSAH who were treated at a tertiary high-volume neurovascular referral center. The exposure was defined as any preadmission BB therapy. The primary outcome was cVSP assessed by serial transcranial Doppler with any mean flow velocity ≥ 120 cm/sec and/or need for endovascular intervention for medically refractory cVSP. Secondary outcomes were cardiac dysfunction (defined as cardiac troponin-I elevation > 0.05 μg/L, low left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF] < 40%, or LV wall motion abnormalities [LVWMA]) and in-hospital mortality.

RESULTS
The cohort consisted of 210 patients treated between February 2009 and September 2010 (55% were women), with a mean age of 53.4 ± 13 years and median Hunt and Hess Grade III (interquartile range III–IV). Only 13% (27/210) of patients were exposed to preadmission BB therapy. Compared with these patients, a higher percentage of patients not exposed to preadmission BBs had transcranial Doppler-mean flow velocity ≥ 120 cm/sec (59% vs 22%; p = 0.003). In multivariate analyses, lower Hunt and Hess grade (OR 3.9; p < 0.001) and preadmission BBs (OR 4.5; p = 0.002) were negatively associated with cVSP. In multivariate analysis, LVWMA (OR 2.7; p = 0.002) and low LVEF (OR 1.1; p = 0.05) were independent predictors of in-hospital mortality. Low LVEF (OR 3.9; p = 0.05) independently predicted medically refractory cVSP. The in-hospital mortality rate was higher in patients with LVWMA (47.4% vs 14.8%; p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS
The study data suggest that preadmission therapy with BBs is associated with lower incidence of cVSP after aSAH. LV dysfunction was associated with higher medically refractory cVSP and in-hospital mortality. BB therapy may be considered after aSAH as a cardioprotective and cVSP preventive therapy.
Gamma Knife surgery for patients with jugular foramen schwannomas: a multiinstitutional retrospective study in Japan
Authors: Hasegawa Toshinori , Kato Takenori , Kida Yoshihisa , Sasaki Ayaka , Iwai Yoshiyasu , Kondoh Takeshi , Tsugawa Takahiko , Sato Manabu , Sato Mitsuya , Nagano Osamu , Nakaya Kotaro , Nakazaki Kiyoshi , Kano Tadashige , Hasui Koichi , Nagatomo Yasushi , Yasuda Soichiro , Moriki Akihito , Serizawa Toru , Osano Seiki , Inoue Akira 
Published: January 2016

OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to explore the efficacy and safety of stereotactic radiosurgery in patients with jugular foramen schwannomas (JFSs).

METHODS
This study was a multiinstitutional retrospective analysis of 117 patients with JFSs who were treated with Gamma Knife surgery (GKS) at 18 medical centers of the Japan Leksell Gamma Knife Society. The median age of the patients was 53 years. Fifty-six patients underwent GKS as their initial treatment, while 61 patients had previously undergone resection. At the time of GKS, 46 patients (39%) had hoarseness, 45 (38%) had hearing disturbances, and 43 (36%) had swallowing disturbances. Eighty-five tumors (73%) were solid, and 32 (27%) had cystic components. The median tumor volume was 4.9 cm3, and the median prescription dose administered to the tumor margin was 12 Gy. Five patients were treated with fractionated GKS and maximum and marginal doses of 42 and 21 Gy, respectively, using a 3-fraction schedule.

RESULTS
The median follow-up period was 52 months. The last follow-up images showed partial remission in 62 patients (53%), stable tumors in 42 patients (36%), and tumor progression in 13 patients (11%). The actuarial 3- and 5-year progression-free survival (PFS) rates were 91% and 89%, respectively. The multivariate analysis showed that pre-GKS brainstem edema and dumbbell-shaped tumors significantly affected PFS. During the follow-up period, 20 patients (17%) developed some degree of symptomatic deterioration. This condition was transient in 12 (10%) of these patients and persistent in 8 patients (7%). The cause of the persistent deterioration was tumor progression in 4 patients (3%) and adverse radiation effects in 4 patients (3%), including 2 patients with hearing deterioration, 1 patient with swallowing disturbance, and 1 patient with hearing deterioration and hypoglossal nerve palsy. However, the preexisting hoarseness and swallowing disturbances improved in 66% and 63% of the patients, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS
GKS resulted in good tumor control in patients with either primary or residual JFSs. Although some patients experienced some degree of symptomatic deterioration after treatment, persistent adverse radiation effects were seen in only 3% of the entire series at the last follow-up. Lower cranial nerve deficits were extremely rare adverse radiation effects, and preexisting hoarseness and swallowing disturbances improved in two-thirds of patients. These results indicated that GKS was a safe and reasonable alternative to surgical resection in selected patients with JFSs.
Low-flow and high-flow neurosurgical bypass and anastomosis training models using human and bovine placental vessels: a histological analysis and validation study
Authors: Belykh Evgenii , Lei Ting , Safavi-Abbasi Sam , Yagmurlu Kaan , Almefty Rami O. , Sun Hai , Almefty Kaith K. , Belykh Olga , Byvaltsev Vadim A. , Spetzler Robert F. , Nakaji Peter , Preul Mark C. 
Published: January 2016

OBJECTIVE
Microvascular anastomosis is a basic neurosurgical technique that should be mastered in the laboratory. Human and bovine placentas have been proposed as convenient surgical practice models; however, the histologic characteristics of these tissues have not been compared with human cerebral vessels, and the models have not been validated as simulation training models. In this study, the authors assessed the construct, face, and content validities of microvascular bypass simulation models that used human and bovine placental vessels.

METHODS
The characteristics of vessel segments from 30 human and 10 bovine placentas were assessed anatomically and histologically. Microvascular bypasses were performed on the placenta models according to a delineated training module by “trained” participants (10 practicing neurosurgeons and 7 residents with microsurgical experience) and “untrained” participants (10 medical students and 3 residents without experience). Anastomosis performance and impressions of the model were assessed using the Northwestern Objective Microanastomosis Assessment Tool (NOMAT) scale and a posttraining survey.

RESULTS
Human placental arteries were found to approximate the M2–M4 cerebral and superficial temporal arteries, and bovine placental veins were found to approximate the internal carotid and radial arteries. The mean NOMAT performance score was 37.2 ± 7.0 in the untrained group versus 62.7 ± 6.1 in the trained group (p < 0.01; construct validity). A 50% probability of allocation to either group corresponded to 50 NOMAT points. In the posttraining survey, 16 of 17 of the trained participants (94%) scored the model's replication of real bypass surgery as high, and 16 of 17 (94%) scored the difficulty as “the same” (face validity). All participants, 30 of 30 (100%), answered positively to questions regarding the ability of the model to improve microsurgical technique (content validity).

CONCLUSIONS
Human placental arteries and bovine placental veins are convenient, anatomically relevant, and beneficial models for microneurosurgical training. Microanastomosis simulation using these models has high face, content, and construct validities. A NOMAT score of more than 50 indicated successful performance of the microanastomosis tasks.
Intraneural ganglion cysts: a systematic review and reinterpretation of the world's literature
Authors: Desy Nicholas M. , Wang Huan , Elshiekh Mohanad Ahmed Ibrahim , Tanaka Shota , Choi Tae Woong , Howe B. Matthew , Spinner Robert J. 
Published: January 2016

OBJECTIVE
The etiology of intraneural ganglion cysts has been controversial. In recent years, substantial evidence has been presented to support the articular (synovial) theory for their pathogenesis. The authors sought to 1) perform a systematic review of the world's literature on intraneural cysts, and 2) reinterpret available published MR images in articles by other authors to identify unrecognized joint connections.

METHODS
In Part 1, all cases were analyzed for demographic data, duration of symptoms, the presence of a history of trauma, whether electromyography or nerve conduction studies were performed, the type of imaging, surgical treatment, presence of a joint connection, intraneural cyst recurrence, and postoperative imaging. Two univariate analyses were completed: 1) to compare the proportion of intraneural ganglion cyst publications per decade and 2) to assess the number of recurrences from 1914 to 2003 compared with the years 2004–2015. Three multivariate regression models were used to identify risk factors for intraneural cyst recurrence. In Part 2, the authors analyzed all available published MR images and obtained MR images from selected cases in which joint connections were not identified by the original authors, specifically looking for unrecognized joint connections. Two univariate analyses were done: 1) to determine a possible association between the identification of a joint connection and obtaining an MRI and 2) to assess the number of joint connections reported from 1914 to 2003 compared with 2004 to 2015.

RESULTS
In Part 1, 417 articles (645 patients) were selected for analysis. Joint connections were identified in 313 intraneural cysts (48%). Both intraneural ganglion cyst cases and cyst recurrences were more frequently reported since 2004 (statistically significant difference for both). There was a statistically significant association between cyst recurrence and percutaneous aspiration as well as failure to disconnect the articular branch or address the joint. In Part 2, the authors identified 43 examples of joint connections that initially went unrecognized: 27 based on their retrospective MR image reinterpretation of published cases and 16 of 16 cases from their sampling of original MR images from published cases. Overall, joint connections were more commonly found in patients who received an MRI examination and were more frequently reported during the years 2004 to 2015 (statistically significant difference for both).

CONCLUSIONS
This comprehensive review of the world's literature and the MR images further supports the articular (synovial) theory and provides baseline data for future investigators.
Outcomes after surgical treatment of meningioma-associated proptosis
Authors: Bowers Christian A. , Sorour Mohammed , Patel Bhupendra C. , Couldwell William T. 
Published: January 2016

OBJECTIVE
Meningioma-associated proptosis (MAP) can be cosmetically and functionally debilitating for patients with sphenoorbital and other skull base meningiomas, and there is limited information on the quantitative improvement in proptosis after surgery. Because less extensive removals of tumor involving the orbit fail to reduce proptosis, the senior author has adopted an aggressive surgical approach to the removal of tumor involving the periorbita and orbit. The authors of this study retrospectively reviewed outcomes of this surgical approach.

METHODS
All surgeries for MAP performed by a single surgeon between January 1, 2002, and May 1, 2015, were reviewed. Age, sex, visual symptoms, number and types of surgical treatments, cavernous sinus involvement, complications, duration of follow-up, residual tumor, use of adjuvant radiation therapy, and extent of proptosis resolution as measured by the exophthalmos index (EI) pre- and postoperatively and at the final follow-up were recorded.

RESULTS
Thirty-three patients (24 female [73%]) with an average age of 51.6 years were treated for MAP. Of the 22 patients with additional visual symptoms (for example, loss of visual acuity, field cut, or diplopia), 15 had improved vision and 7 had stable vision. No patients had worse proptosis after treatment. The average preoperative EI was 1.39, the average immediate postoperative EI was 1.23, and the average final EI at the most recent follow-up was 1.13. Thus, average overall EI improvement was 0.26, but the average immediate EI reduction was 0.16, demonstrating that proptosis progressively improved during the postoperative period. Residual cavernous sinus involvement was present in 17 of 18 patients who had had preoperative cavernous sinus meningioma involvement. Only 2 patients in the series had recurrent tumor at the orbital region, and their proptosis improved again after reoperation. One case of delayed vasospasm and 2 cases of postoperative trigeminal numbness (V2) were recorded. The average follow-up was 4.5 years (53.8 months).

CONCLUSIONS
In this series, all patients experienced proptosis improvement and none had worse visual symptoms at the final follow-up, although proptosis resolution occurred over time. Only 2 patients had tumor recurrence at the orbit that required surgery. Surgical complications were uncommon. Study results suggest that aggressive resection of MAP is well tolerated and offers superior proptosis elimination with infrequent recurrence at the orbit. Importantly, no cases of enophthalmos were noted despite the lack of formal reconstruction of the orbit.
Future Climate Change Scenario at Hot Semi-arid Climate of Ahmedabad (23.04°N, 72.38°E), India Based on Statistical Downscaling by LARS-WG Model
Authors: Sarkar Jayanta , Chicholikar J.R. 
Published: January 2016

General Circulation Models (GCMs) are widely used nowadays to simulate future climate scenarios. However, present GCMs have limited skills in simulating the complex and local climate features and to provide reliable information on precipitation and temperature data which are the principal inputs to hydrologic impact assessment models. Furthermore, the outputs provided by GCMs are too coarse to be used by such hydrologic models, as they require information at much finer scales. Downscaling of GCMs output is, therefore, a necessity. Keeping this in view, the present study aimed at verifying the skills of LARS-WG, a popular downscaling tool, in downscaling weather data in hot semi-arid climate of Ahmedabad and predict and analyze the future changes of temperature (daily maximum and minimum) and precipitation based on IPCC SRA2 scenario generated by seven GCMs’ predictions for the near (2011–2030), medium (2046–2065) and far (2080–2099) future periods. For this purpose, daily rainfall, maximum and minimum temperature data for the study site Ahmedabad for 1969–2013 have been utilized. LARS-WG showed excellent skill in downscaling maximum and minimum temperature and reasonably good skill in downscaling daily rainfall data at Ahmedabad. The downscaled precipitation from the predictions of seven GCMs indicated no coherent change trends among various GCMs’ predictions of precipitation during near, medium and far future periods. Predicted rainfall in monsoon season (JJAS) based on the ensemble mean of seven GCMs showed a decrease in rainfall in near future i.e. 2011–2030 by about 2%; however, during medium future (2046–2065) it is predicted to increase and remain close to the baseline value; and during far future (2080–2099) period it is predicted to increase by about 5% compared to the baseline value. Summer maximum temperature is predicted to increase by 0.7, 2.0 and 4.0 deg. Celsius during 2011–2030, 2046–2065 and 2080–2099 respectively at the study site. Winter minimum temperature is predicted to increase by 1.0, 2.5 and 5.0 deg. Celsius during 2011–2030, 2046–2065 and 2080–2099 respectively at Ahmedabad.
Antibacterial activity of seneciolactone isolated from <i>Senecio scandens</i> against some common gastrointestinal tract disease causing bacterial pathogens
Authors: Zheng Yi , Wang Yu , Shang Yuan-Hong 
Published: January 2016

<p class="Abstract">The objective of the present investigation was to study the antibacterial effect of seneciolactone isolated from the methanolic extract of <em>Senecio scandens</em> against five bacterial pathogens which are known to cause several gastrointestinal tract diseases. Disc diffusion assay and agar well diffusion assays were used to examine the antibacterial efficacy of this compound by measuring zones of inhibition and MIC/MBC values. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was involved to study the effect of this compound on cellular morphology of <em>Shigella dysenteriae</em>. Results revealed that seneciolactone exhibited moderate to potent antibacterial activity against different bacterial strains. Zones of inhibition and MIC/MBC values indicated that seneciolactone was most potent against<em> S. dysenteriae</em> followed by <em>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</em> and <em>E. coli</em>. SEM results indicated that seneciolactone induced potent damage to the cell membrane of the tested bacteria. As compared to the untreated control which exhibited normal cellular morphology, the seneciolactone treated bacterial cells revealed severe damage to the cellular membrane particularly at the higher doses.</p><p> </p>
La population du Soudan au XIXe siècle et au début du XXe siècle
Authors: J. Krotki Karol 
Published: January 2016

A brief historical review surveys the ethnic composition of the populations of the Sudan, but the rarity and unreliability of the sources must be underlined. Given an original population of unknown size, a probably weak growth rate seems to lead to a peak of eight or nine million souls between 1820 and 1880. The first demographic estimates, slightly more reliable than the preceding, date from 1882, the beginning of a religious and nationalist revolt against the Anglo-Egyptian occupier. In fifteen years, the population drops to two million, according to all appearances. Evidence is présents to elucidate the mechanism of this catastrophic decline.
After the reconquest in 1900 by the Anglo-Egyptian armed forces, the population begins to climb to the figure of ten million reached at the first census in 1955-1956. The growth of the entire country and each of the nine constituent provinces is compatible with most of the measurements based on the so-called quasi-stable population theory, and with the accounts of travellers and administrators. Obviously the estimates of the first such travellers and administrators were not as far from the reality — such as it emerges from quasi-stable population estimates — as their successors, whose accounts treat the period just before the 1956 census.
By way of comparison, the available figures of the 1973 census are indicated, but they présent no new or useful elements for the study of the past of the Sudan population and its censuses. That would require a more elaborate analysis, beyond the limits of the présent contribution.
La surmortalité des petites-filles en Belgique aux XIXe et XXe siècles
Authors: Poulain Michel , Tabutin Dominique 
Published: January 2016

La surmortalité des petites filles est incontestable en Belgique au milieu du XIXe siècle. Dès l'âge de un an, la mortalité des filles devient supérieure à celle des garçons. Et le phénomène va en s'accentuant avec l'âge : 20 % à 5-10 ans, 51 % à 10-15 ans... pour retomber à 38 % à 15-20 ans. C'est au cours de la décennie 1840 que cette surmortalité a été maximale.
Si l'on recherche les causes, on s'aperçoit que cette surmortalité est significative pour la variole, la coqueluche, la tuberculose, la pneumonie... malgré des variations suivant les âges. L'écart le plus important concerne la tuberculose : la mortalité féminine est deux fois plus élevée à 7-15 ans.
Il faut se tourner vers des hypothèses causales de nature socio-économiques : normes culturelles, rôle de l'alimentation, de l'instruction, du travail... Il faut également affiner les analyses statistiques par milieu d'habitat et par région.
La famille Bertillon et la naissance d'une nouvelle science sociale
Authors: Dupâquier Michel 
Published: January 2016

Cet article retrace la biographie, le vocabulaire et l'analyse démographique de la famille BertillonGuillard.
Si A. Guillard a créé le mot de démographie, son gendre Louis-Adolphe Bertillon donne à la science nouvelle toute son extension, avec le Congrès international de démographie, les Annales de démographie internationale, et les premiers cours de démographie. L'analyse du vocabulaire montre qu'A. Guillard reste un amateur, tandis que son gendre Louis-Adolphe Bertillon fait progresser l'analyse de la mortalité, dans la ligne de W. Farr. Quant à Jacques Bertillon, fils de Louis-Adolphe, très au courant des recherches internationales sur la fécondité, il publie en 1890 le premier Traité de démographie digne de ce nom, et fonde l'Alliance nationale pour l'accroissement de la population française.
Il reste surtout connu pour sa nomenclature des causes de décès, devenue internationale en 1900, qu'il a repris en grande partie du Congrès international de statistique de 1855.