bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Nematode eggs observed in cytology of cerebrospinal fluid diagnostic for intramedullary Spirocerca lupi spinal cord migration
Authors: Klainbart Sigal , Chai Orit , Vaturi Rafael , Rapoport Kira , Aroch Itamar , Shamir Merav Hagar 
Published: January 2018

AbstractSpinal spirocercosis due to aberrant Spirocerca lupi nematode migration is an emerging etiology for acute myelitis in dogs in Israel, causing severe, mostly nonsymmetrical hind limb paresis or paralysis, and sometimes tetraparesis or tetraparalysis. So far, incidental identification of parasites during spinal surgery or at necropsy provides the only definite diagnosis, while antemortem diagnosis of this condition has been uncertain. Specifically, antemortem diagnosis is based on the typical clinical presentation of acute, progressive, asymmetrical hind limb paresis or paralysis, with moderate to severe eosinophilic to mixed cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pleocytosis and increased CSF protein concentration. Exclusion of other differential diagnoses also requires using spinal cord imaging. In this novel report, we document a case of an intradural spinal spirocercosis in a dog, diagnosed antemortem, by detecting S lupi eggs in the CSF, and subsequent treatment, resulting in the resolution of the clinical signs.
Evaluation of a point‐of‐care blood glucose monitor in healthy goats
Authors: Quandt Jane E. , Barletta Michele , Cornell Karen K. , Giguère Steeve , Hofmeister Erik H. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractObjectiveTo assess agreement between a point‐of‐care glucometer (POCG) and a laboratory chemistry analyzer for blood glucose measurements in goats.DesignProspective study.SettingUniversity teaching hospital.AnimalsEighteen healthy adult goats.InvestigationsWhole blood samples were obtained via jugular venipuncture prior to premedication with xylazine and butorphanol (T0), following premedication (T20), and after 1 hour of inhalant anesthesia (T60). Each sample was tested with a POCG and a laboratory analyzer (HITA). Agreement was assessed using concordance correlation coefficients and calculation of bias and 95% limits of agreement.Measurements and Main ResultsMean blood glucose concentration at T0 was 3.9 ± 0.6 mmol/L (70 ± 10 mg/dL; POCG) and 2.9 ± 0.4 mmol/dL (53 ± 8 mg/dL; HITA). Glucose concentrations at T20 were 6.7 ± 2.4 mmol/L (121 ± 43 mg/dL) and 5.4 ± 2.1 mmol/L (97 ± 37 mg/dL) and at T60 were 5.7 ± 1.7 mmol/L (102 ± 31 mg/dL) and 4.7 ± 1.3 mmol/L (85 ± 24 mg/dL) when measured with the POCG and HITA, respectively. The POCG overestimated blood glucose compared to the HITA. The bias ± SD was 1.08 ± 0.53 mmol/L (19.4 ± 9.5 mg/dL) (95% LOA 0.04 to 2.11 mmol/L [0.7 to 38.0 mg/dL]) and the concordance correlation coefficient was 0.82. After correcting the results of the POCG using a mixed‐effects linear model, the bias was 0.0 ± 0.38 mmol/L (0.0 ± 6.8 mg/dL) (95% LOA ± 0.74 mmol/L [± 13.4 mg/dL]) and the concordance correlation coefficient was 0.98.ConclusionsThe POCG overestimated blood glucose concentrations in goats, compared to the HITA, but when the POCG concentrations were corrected, the agreement was excellent.
Extracorporeal shockwave therapy for treatment of keloid scars
Authors: Wang Ching‐Jen , Ko Jih‐Yang , Chou Wen‐Yi , Cheng Jai‐Hong , Kuo Yur‐Ren 
Published: January 2018

AbstractThe purpose of this investigation was to study the effectiveness of extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) for the treatment of keloid scars, and compared the results with intralesional steroid injection. Thirty‐nine patients were randomly divided into 22 in ESWT group and 17 in steroid group. The ESWT group received 3 ESWT treatments in 6 weeks. The steroid group received three intra‐lesional triamcinolone injections in 6 weeks. The evaluations included gross morphology, functional outcome, local blood flow perfusion, biopsy for histopathological examination, and immunohistochemical analysis. Both groups showed significant improvements in appearance with less discoloration, flattening and softer consistency, and more elasticity of the lesions. There is a significant reduction in keloid height after treatment in both groups, and significant differences are noticed between two groups after treatment. The volume of keloid was decreased after treatment but there is no statistically significant difference between two groups. Both groups showed comparable functional scores, POSAS patient, and observer scales. The blood flow perfusion rates were statistically not significant between two groups before and after treatments. Histopathological findings revealed no significant difference in cell count, cell activity, and cell concentration between two groups. After ESWT, the significant decreases in collagen type I, type III, and Masson Trichrome stain were observed as compared with steroid group. However, very little changes were noticed in angiogenesis, inflammatory cytokines, proliferating and regeneration, and apoptosis, with no statistical significance noticed between two groups before and after treatment. This study revealed that ESWT showed comparable functional outcome and POSAS patient and observer scales as compared with steroid injection for keloid scars. Treatment of keloid scars with ESWT resulted in significant decreases in collagen fibers and increases in MMP‐13 enzyme.
Human phenotypes caused by PIEZO1 mutations; one gene, two overlapping phenotypes?
Authors: Martin‐Almedina Silvia , Mansour Sahar , Ostergaard Pia 
Published: January 2018

AbstractPIEZO1 is a large mechanosensitive ion channel protein. Diseases associated with PIEZO1 include autosomal recessive generalised lymphatic dysplasia of Fotiou (GLDF) and autosomal dominant dehydrated hereditary stomatocytosis with or without pseudohyperkalemia and/or perinatal oedema (DHS). The two disorders show overlapping features, fetal hydrops/perinatal oedema have been reported in both. Electrophysiological studies suggest opposite mechanisms of action: the mutations identified in GLDF patients cause a loss‐of‐function mechanism of disease and mutations in DHS patients cause gain of function. This raises the question: Is the pathogenic disease mechanism behind the fetal oedema the same in the two phenotypes? In this Symposium Review, we will discuss the two conditions and highlight key questions that remain to be answered. For instance, the perinatal oedema often resolves soon after birth and we are still at a loss to understand why. Are there any mechanisms which could compensate for the faulty PIEZO1 in these patients? Are there physiological changes at birth that are less reliant on the function of PIEZO1? Thus, there is a clear need for further studies into the two disorders, in order to fully understand the role of PIEZO1 in health and disease.
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Workspace of Multifingered Hands Using Monte Carlo Method
Authors: Chaudhury Arkadeep Narayan , Ghosal Ashitava 
Published: January 2018

AbstractMultifingered hands have the capability of dexterous manipulation of grasped objects and thus significantly increase the capabilities of a robot equipped with multifingered hands. Inspired by a multijointed human finger and the hand, we propose a six degree-of-freedom (DOF) model of a three-fingered robotic hand as a parallel manipulator. Two kinds of contact, namely point contact with friction and rolling without slipping between the fingertips and the grasped object, are considered. The point contact with friction is modeled as a three DOF spherical joint, and for rolling without slipping, we use the resultant nonholonomic constraints between the grasped object and the fingers. With realistic limits on the joints in the fingers and dimensions of finger segments, we obtain the well-conditioned manipulation workspace of the parallel manipulator using a Monte Carlo-based method. Additionally, we present two new general results—it is shown that maximum position and orientation workspace is obtained when the cross-sectional area of the grasped object is approximately equal to the area of the palm of the hand and when rolling without slipping is ensured the size of the well-conditioned workspace is significantly larger (∼1.2–1.5 times). We also present representative experiments of manipulation by a human hand and show that the experimental results are in reasonable agreement with those obtained from simulations.
Rheumatoid disease: an unusual cause of relapsing meningoencephalitis
Authors: Alexander Sian K , Di Cicco Maria , Pohl Ute , Cifelli Alberto 
Published: January 2018

A 73-year-old man presented with three episodes of dysphasia and disinhibited behaviour, a single seizure and transient ischaemic attack-like events characterised by right arm and/or leg weakness. These episodes were separated by month-long asymptomatic intervals. Medical history included rheumatoid arthritis, which was clinically quiescent on leflunomide.Repeated cerebrospinal fluid examination showed a persistent lymphocytosis with mildly reduced glucose and elevated protein; oligoclonal bands and viral PCR were negative. MRI of the brain was initially normal, but 7 months after initial presentation revealed meningeal enhancement with bifrontal cortical hyperintensities on T2/fluid-attenuated inversion recovery. Brain biopsy demonstrated necrotising granulomatous meningitis with mixed T cell and B cell infiltrates and without evidence of vasculitis or infection. Serum anticyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies were strongly positive.The diagnosis of rheumatoid meningoencephalitis was made on the basis of brain biopsy findings and serological evidence of active rheumatoid disease. Steroids and rituximab therapy were started leading to clinical stabilisation.
Inter-relationship between ocular perfusion pressure, blood pressure, intraocular pressure profiles and primary open-angle glaucoma: the Singapore Epidemiology of Eye Diseases study
Authors: Tham Yih-Chung , Lim Sing-Hui , Gupta Preeti , Aung Tin , Wong Tien Y , Cheng Ching-Yu 
Published: January 2018

ObjectiveTo elucidate the inter-relationship between ocular perfusion pressure (OPP), blood pressure (BP), intraocular pressure (IOP) profiles and primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) in a multiethnic Asian population.MethodsParticipants were recruited from the Singapore Epidemiology of Eye Diseases Study and underwent standardised ocular and systemic examinations. POAG was defined according to the International Society for Geographical and Epidemiological Ophthalmology criteria. Logistic regression analyses with generalised estimating equation models were performed and used to account for correlation between eyes.ResultsA total of 9877 participants (19 587 eyes), including 213 POAG cases (293 eyes) were included. Eyes with lowest quartile levels of systolic OPP (SOPP <110 mm Hg) were 1.85 times (95% CI 1.16 to 2.95) likely to have POAG, compared with eyes with mid-range SOPP levels (123–137 mm Hg; third quartile), after adjusting for relevant covariates and IOP. Consistently, we found that lowest quartile of systolic BP (SBP <124 mm Hg) was 1.69 times (95% CI 1.08 to 2.66) likely to have POAG, compared with mid-range SBP levels (138–153 mm Hg; third quartile). Furthermore, the effect of lower SBP on POAG was more pronounced in eyes with IOP ≥21 mm Hg (OR 3.90; 95% CI 1.24 to 12.30). Both the mean and diastolic profiles of OPP and BP were not significantly associated with POAG, after adjusting for relevant covariates and IOP.ConclusionsIn this population-based sample of nearly 10 000 Asian individuals, we showed that low SOPP was associated with POAG. This association was potentially in part secondary to low SBP and high IOP. Our findings provide further clarity on the roles of OPP surrogates and BP profiles in POAG.
Economic burden of neonatal sepsis in sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Ranjeva Sylvia L , Warf Benjamin C , Schiff Steven J 
Published: January 2018

Background and significanceThe third Sustainable Development Goal for child health, which aims to end preventable deaths of newborns and children less than 5 years of age by 2030, cannot be met without substantial reduction of infection-specific neonatal mortality in the developing world. Neonatal infections are estimated to account for 26% of annual neonatal deaths, with mortality rates highest in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Reliable and comprehensive estimates of the incidence and aetiology surrounding neonatal sepsis in SSA remain incompletely available. We estimate the economic burden of neonatal sepsis in SSA.MethodsData available through global health agencies and in the medical literature were used to determine population demographics in SSA, as well as to determine the incidence, disease burden, mortality and resulting disabilities associated with neonatal sepsis. The disability-adjusted life years (DALY) associated with successful treatment or prevention of neonatal sepsis in SSA for 1 year were calculated. The value of a statistical life (VSL) methodology was estimated to evaluate the economic burden of untreated neonatal sepsis in SSA.ResultsWe conservatively estimate that 5.29–8.73 million DALYs are lost annually in SSA due to neonatal sepsis. Corresponding VSL estimates predict an annual economic burden ranging from $10 billion to $469 billion.ConclusionsOur results highlight and quantify the scope of the public health and economic burden posed by neonatal sepsis in SSA. We quantify the substantial potential impact of more successful treatment and prevention strategies, and we highlight the need for greater investment in strategies to characterise, diagnose, prevent and manage neonatal sepsis and its long-term sequelae in SSA.
Effectiveness and safety of oral sedation in adult patients undergoing dental procedures: protocol for a systematic review
Authors: Araújo Jimmy de Oliveira , Motta Rogério Heládio Lopes , Bergamaschi Cristiane de Cássia , Guimarães Caio Chaves , Ramacciato Juliana Cama , de Andrade Natalia Karol , Fiqueiró Mabel Fernandes , Lopes Luciane Cruz 
Published: January 2018

IntroductionThe management of anxious patients undergoing dental procedures is still a challenge in clinical practice. Despite a wide variety of drugs for oral sedation in adult patients, there are relatively few systematic reviews that compare the effectiveness and safety of different drugs administered via this route. Thus, this study will evaluate the effectiveness and safety of oral sedation with benzodiazepines and other agents to patients undergoing dental surgical procedures.Method/designWe will conduct a systematic review and, if appropriate, a meta-analysis of randomised controlled clinical trials that will evaluate the use of conscious sedation administered orally to adult patients undergoing oral surgery. The search will be conducted using electronic databases, such as the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE (via Ovid), EMBASE (via Ovid), CINAHL (via Ovid), Lilacs (SciELO) and Capes database, without restriction of languages or date of publication. Primary outcomes include anxiety, sedation, treatment satisfaction, pain and adverse effects. Secondary outcomes include vital parameters (heart rate, respiratory rate and blood pressure) and patient cooperation during intervention. A team of reviewers will independently assess each citation for eligibility and in duplicates. For eligible studies, the same reviewers will perform data extraction, risk of bias assessment and determination of the overall quality of evidence using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation classification system.Ethics and disseminationThe evidence gathered from this study should provide dental surgeons with knowledge on the effectiveness and safety of oral sedation in adults requiring dental surgical procedures. This in turn should contribute towards the decision-making process in dental practice, minimising the risks of anxiety and ineffective pain control in clinical procedures, as well as possible side effects. Ethics approval is not required in protocols for systematic reviews. The systematic review will be published in a peer-reviewed journal and presented at conferences.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42017057142.
Temporal trends in antithrombotic treatment of real-world UK patients with newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation: findings from the GARFIELD-AF registry
Authors: Apenteng Patricia N , Gao Haiyan , Hobbs FD Richard , Fitzmaurice David A 
Published: January 2018

ObjectiveTo investigate evolving patterns in antithrombotic treatment in UK patients with newly diagnosed non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF).DesignProspective, multicentre, international registry.Setting186 primary care practices in the UK.Participants3482 participants prospectively enrolled in four sequential cohorts (cohort 2 (C2) n=830, diagnosed September 2011 to April 2013; cohort 3 (C3) n=902, diagnosed April 2013 to June 2014; cohort 4 (C4) n=850, diagnosed July 2014 to June 2015; cohort 5 (C5) n=900, diagnosed June 2015 to July 2016). Participants had newly diagnosed non-valvular AF and at least one risk factor for stroke, were aged ≥18, and provided informed consent.Main outcome measuresAntithrombotic treatment initiated at diagnosis, overall and according to stroke and bleeding risks. Stroke risk was retrospectively calculated using CHA2DS2-VASc (cardiac failure, hypertension, age ≥75 (doubled), diabetes, stroke (doubled)–vascular disease, age 65–74 and sex category (female)) and bleeding risk using HAS-BLED (hypertension, abnormal renal/liver function (1 point each), stroke, bleeding history or predisposition, elderly (>65), drugs/alcohol concomitantly (1 point each)).Results42.7% were women and the mean age was 74.5 years. The median CHA2DS2-VASc score was 3 in all cohorts and the median HAS-BLED score was 2 in all cohorts. There was a statistically significant increase in the use of anticoagulant therapy from C2 to C5 (C2 54.7%, C3 60.3%, C4 73.1%, C5 73.9%; P value for trend <0.0001). The increase in the use of anticoagulant was mainly in patients with CHA2DS2-VASc ≥2. The use of vitamin K antagonists (VKAs)±antiplatelet (AP) drugs decreased from C2 to C5 (C2 53.3%, C3 52.1%, C4 50.3%, C5 30.6%), while the use of non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs)±AP increased (C2 1.3%, C3 8.0%, C4 22.7%, C5 43.3%). The use of AP only decreased (C2 36.4%, C3 25.5%, C4 11.9%, C5 10.5%), as did the combination therapy of VKA+AP (C2 13.6%, C3 11.0%, C4 9.6%, C5 5.8%).ConclusionThere has been a progressive increase in the proportion of patients newly diagnosed with AF receiving guideline-recommended therapy in the UK, potentially driven by the availability of NOACs.Trial registration numberNCT01090362; Pre-results.
Cohort profile: the Comparative Outcomes And Service Utilization Trends (COAST) Study among people living with and without HIV in British Columbia, Canada
Authors: Eyawo Oghenowede , Hull Mark W , Salters Kate , Samji Hasina , Cescon Angela , Sereda Paul , Lima Viviane D , Nosyk Bohdan , Whitehurst David G T , Lear Scott A , Montaner Julio S G , Hogg Robert S 
Published: January 2018

PurposeThe Comparative Outcomes And Service Utilization Trends (COAST) Study in British Columbia (BC), Canada, was designed to evaluate the determinants of health outcomes and health care services use among people living with HIV (PLHIV) as they age in the period following the introduction of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART). The study also assesses how age-associated comorbidities and health care use among PLHIV may differ from those observed in the general population.ParticipantsCOAST was established through a data linkage between two provincial data sources: The BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS Drug Treatment Program, which centrally manages cART dispensation across BC and contains prospectively collected data on demographic, immunological, virological, cART use and other clinical information for all known PLHIV in BC; and Population Data BC, a provincial data repository that holds individual event-level, longitudinal data for all 4.6 million BC residents. COAST participants include 13 907 HIV-positive adults (≥19 years of age) and a 10% random sample inclusive of 516 340 adults from the general population followed from 1996 to 2013.Findings to dateFor all participants, linked individual-level data include information on demographics, health service use (eg, inpatient care, outpatient care and prescription medication dispensations), mortality, and HIV diagnostic and clinical data. Publications from COAST have demonstrated the significant mortality reductions and dramatic changes in the causes of death among PLHIV from 1996 to 2012, differences in the amount of time spent in a healthy state by HIV status, and high levels of injury and mood disorder diagnosis among PLHIV compared with the general population.Future plansTo capture the dynamic nature of population health parameters, regular data updates and a refresh of the data linkage are planned to occur every 2 years, providing the basis for planned analysis to examine age-associated comorbidities and patterns of health service use over time.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease associated with biomass fuel use in women: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Sana Adama , Somda Serge M A , Meda Nicolas , Bouland Catherine 
Published: January 2018

IntroductionChronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major and growing cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The global prevalence of COPD is growing faster in women than in men. Women are often exposed to indoor pollutants produced by biomass fuels burning during household activities.MethodsWe conducted a meta-analysis to establish the association between COPD and exposure to biomass smoke in women.Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, we searched MEDLINE and Scopus databases in 31December 2016, with the terms: “wood”, “charcoal”, “biomass”, “solid fuels”, “organic fuel”, “biofuel”, “female”, “women”, “COPD”, “chronic bronchitis”, “emphysema”, “chronic obstructive pulmonary disease”. Studies were eligible if they were case–control or cross-sectional studies involving exposure to indoor biomass smoke, conducted at any time and in any geographic location. Fixed-effects or random-effects meta-analysis was used to generate pooled OR.Results24 studies were included: 5 case–control studies and 19 cross-sectional studies. Biomass-exposed individuals were 1.38 times more likely to be diagnosed with COPD than non-exposed (OR 1.38, 95% CI 1.28 to 1.57).Spirometry-diagnosed COPD studies failed to show a significant association (OR 1.20, 95% CI 0.99 to 1.40). Nevertheless, the summary estimate of OR for chronic bronchitis (CB) was significant (OR 2.11, 95% CI 1.70 to 2.52). The pooled OR for cross-sectional studies and case–control studies were respectively 1.82 (95% CI 1.54 to 2.10) and 1.05 (95% CI 0.81 to 1.30). Significant association was found between COPD and biomass smoke exposure for women living as well in rural as in urban areas.ConclusionsThis study showed that biomass smoke exposure is associated with COPD in rural and urban women.In many developing countries, modern fuels are more and more used alongside traditional ones, mainly in urban area. Data are needed to further explore the benefit of the use of mixed fuels for cooking on respiratory health, particularly on COPD reduction.