bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Acupuncture in Menopause (AIM) study: a pragmatic, randomized controlled trial
Authors: Avis Nancy E. , Coeytaux Remy R. , Isom Scott , Prevette Kristen , Morgan Timothy 
Published: March 2016

Abstract

Objective:
The aim of the study was to evaluate the short and long-term effects of acupuncture on vasomotor symptoms (VMS) and quality of life-related measures.

Methods:
A total of 209 perimenopausal and postmenopausal women aged 45 to 60 years, experiencing four or more VMS per day, were recruited from the community and randomized to receive up to 20 acupuncture treatments within the first 6 months (acupuncture group) or the second 6 months (waitlist control group) of the 12-month study period. The primary outcome was mean daily frequency of VMS. Secondary outcomes were VMS interference with daily life, sleep quality, depressive symptoms, somatic and other symptoms, anxiety, and quality of life.

Results:
The VMS frequency declined by 36.7% at 6 months in the acupuncture group and increased by 6.0% in the control group (P < 0.001 for between-group comparison). At 12 months, the reduction from baseline in the acupuncture group was 29.4% (P < 0.001 for within-group comparison from baseline to 12 months), suggesting that the reduction was largely maintained after treatment. Statistically significant clinical improvement was observed after three acupuncture treatments, and maximal clinical effects occurred after a median of eight treatments. Persistent improvements were seen in many quality of life-related outcomes in the acupuncture group relative to the control group.

Conclusions:
We found that a course of acupuncture treatments was associated with significant reduction in VMS, and several quality-of-life measures, compared with no acupuncture, and that clinical benefit persisted for at least 6 months beyond the end of treatment.
Flexible parametric survival models built on age-specific antimüllerian hormone percentiles are better predictors of menopause
Authors: Ramezani Tehrani Fahimeh , Mansournia Mohammad Ali , Solaymani-Dodaran Masoud , Steyerberg Ewout , Azizi Fereidoun 
Published: March 2016

AbstractObjective:This study aimed to improve existing prediction models for age at menopause.Methods:We identified all reproductive aged women with regular menstrual cycles who met our eligibility criteria (n = 1,015) in the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study—an ongoing population-based cohort study initiated in 1998. Participants were examined every 3 years and their reproductive histories were recorded. Blood levels of antimüllerian hormone (AMH) were measured at the time of recruitment. Age at menopause was estimated based on serum concentrations of AMH using flexible parametric survival models. The optimum model was selected according to Akaike Information Criteria and the realness of the range of predicted median menopause age.Results:We followed study participants for a median of 9.8 years during which 277 women reached menopause and found that a spline-based proportional odds model including age-specific AMH percentiles as the covariate performed well in terms of statistical criteria and provided the most clinically relevant and realistic predictions. The range of predicted median age at menopause for this model was 47.1 to 55.9 years. For those who reached menopause, the median of the absolute mean difference between actual and predicted age at menopause was 1.9 years (interquartile range 2.9).Conclusions:The model including the age-specific AMH percentiles as the covariate and using proportional odds as its covariate metrics meets all the statistical criteria for the best model and provides the most clinically relevant and realistic predictions for age at menopause for reproductive-aged women.
Risk of Stroke Among Older Medicare Antidepressant Users With Traumatic Brain Injury
Authors: Khokhar Bilal , Simoni-Wastila Linda , Albrecht Jennifer S. 
Published: March 2016

Objective:
To estimate the risk of stroke associated with new antidepressant use among older adults with traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Participants:
A total of 64 214 Medicare beneficiaries aged 65 years or older meeting inclusion criteria and hospitalized with a TBI during 2006 to 2010.

Design:
New user design. Generalized estimating equations were used to estimate the relative risks (RRs) of stroke.

Main Measures:
Primary exposure was new antidepressant use following TBI identified through Medicare part D claims. The primary outcome was stroke following TBI. Ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes were secondary outcomes.

Results:
A total of 20 859 (32%) beneficiaries used an antidepressant at least once following TBI. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors accounted for the majority of antidepressant use. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor use was associated with an increased risk of hemorrhagic stroke (RR, 1.26; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.06-1.50) but not ischemic stroke (RR, 1.04; 95% CI, 0.94-1.15). The selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors escitalopram (RR, 1.33; 95% CI, 1.02-1.74) and sertraline (RR, 1.46; 95% CI, 1.10-1.94) were associated with an increase in the risk of hemorrhagic stroke.

Conclusion:
Findings from this study will aid prescribers in choosing appropriate antidepressants to treat depression in older adults with TBI.
Improvement of Fat Graft Survival with Autologous Bone Marrow Aspirate and Bone Marrow Concentrate: A One-Step Method
Authors: Xing Wenshan , Mu Dali , Wang Qian , Fu Su , Xin Minqiang , Luan Jie 
Published: March 2016

Background:
Stem cells have proven to be beneficial to fat graft survival, but a one-step method of cell-assisted lipotransfer is still missing. In the present work, the authors improved the fat graft survival using bone marrow aspirate and bone marrow concentrate, to ensure that both liposuction and cell-assisted lipotransfer were included in the same procedure.

Methods:
Bone marrow aspirate was collected from the iliac crest of the rabbits. Bone marrow concentrate was obtained using density gradient centrifugation and labeled with PKH26 fluorescent cell linker. Rabbits were divided into three groups: group A, bone marrow aspirate; group B, bone marrow concentrate; and group C, phosphate-buffered saline buffer as a blank control. The implanted mixture contained 1.5 ml of adipose granule and 1 ml of bone marrow aspirate or bone marrow concentrate. The rabbits were subjected to fluorescence imaging in vivo at four time points. Grafts were harvested and analyzed at 4 weeks and 12 weeks after fat grafting.

Results:
Bone marrow cell fluorescence signals were observed in the rabbits’ injection regions during a follow-up of 12 weeks. The fat grafts of group A and B showed a better weight and volume retention, living quality, adipocyte viability, and angiogenesis after transplantation. The results of living tissue imaging also showed that the implanted bone marrow cells could contribute to fat graft survival by multilineage differentiation and could also contribute to adipogenesis and angiogenesis.

Conclusion:
Both bone marrow aspirate and bone marrow concentrate improved the survival and angiogenesis of grafted fat tissue.
A Comparative Assessment of Three Formulations of Botulinum Toxin Type A for Facial Rhytides: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analyses
Authors: Bonaparte James P. , Ellis David , Quinn Jason G. , Rabski Jessica , Hutton Brian 
Published: March 2016

Background:
Three formulations of botulinum toxin are available for facial rhytides. It is unclear which formulation offers the greatest balance of benefits and harms. The objective of this study was to conduct a systematic review with meta-analyses to compare formulations of botulinum toxin for reduction of facial rhytides at the glabella.

Methods:
The authors’ protocol was registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (CRD4201200377). A systematic literature search was performed identifying double-blind studies. The authors assessed 1-, 3-, and 4-month follow-up. The authors performed pairwise meta-analyses using random effects models to compare response rates among the three botulinum formulations and a network meta-analysis.

Results:
A total of 18 studies (3082 patients) were included. At 30-, 90-, and 120-day follow-up, all medications with available data showed statistically significantly increased treatment response versus placebo. Only high-dose onabotulinum toxin (compared to standard-dose onabotulinum toxin) offered additional benefit at 30 days. Exploratory analysis using network meta-analysis mostly suggested insufficient evidence of incremental benefits when comparing specific formulations.

Conclusions:
Evidence supporting benefits versus placebo of the different formulations was clear over time. Comparisons between active formulations were rare and typically based on single trials of small to moderate sample size. The data suggest some gains with high-dose onabotulinum toxin (relative to standard dose), whereas exploratory indirect comparisons between active formulations were largely associated with inconclusive findings. Future studies should undertake head-to-head comparisons of the different formulations and ensure longer follow-up to best inform the accumulating evidence base.

CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:
Therapeutic, II.
Transcription Profile in Sporadic Multiple Symmetric Lipomatosis Reveals Differential Expression at the Level of Adipose Tissue–Derived Stem Cells
Authors: Prantl Lukas , Schreml Julia , Gehmert Sebastian , Klein Silvan , Bai Xiaowen , Zeitler Katharina , Schreml Stephan , Alt Eckhard , Gehmert Sanga , Felthaus Oliver 
Published: March 2016

Background:The cause of the rare fat distribution disorder multiple symmetric lipomatosis is unknown. Independent reports suggest a higher proliferative activity, hormone resistance, and involvement of mitochondrial function in the disease.Methods:The authors performed morphologic comparison of affected and unaffected tissues in five unrelated patients and generated adipose-derived stem cell cultures from the tissue samples and characterized them as a possible cellular model of multiple symmetric lipomatosis evolution. The authors investigated proliferative activity and the expression of genes relevant to disease processes.Results:There was no difference in the morphologic appearance and the surface marker profile. Stem cells from lipomatous tissue showed significantly higher proliferative activity. Polymerase chain reaction arrays showed marked changes in genes associated with proliferation, hormonal regulation, and mitochondria. The authors show that multiple symmetric lipomatosis tissue is morphologically and histologically different from regular subcutaneous fat.Conclusions:This study indicates an involvement of mesenchymal stem cells in the pathogenesis of multiple symmetric lipomatosis and that the evolution of multiple symmetric lipomatosis tissue is a process driven by an inherent defect of the respective cell clone(s). Further molecular genetics and functional analysis will be required to unravel the pathogenetic mechanism underlying the derailment in fat cell metabolism and proliferation. Here, the authors show for the first time that adipose-derived stem cells exhibit many characteristics previously described for native multiple symmetric lipomatosis fat tissue and propose that they are therefore an excellent tool for further functional investigations in multiple symmetric lipomatosis and other disorders of the fat tissue.CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:Risk, V.
Ibuprofen May Not Increase Bleeding Risk in Plastic Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Kelley Brian P. , Bennett Katelyn G. , Chung Kevin C. , Kozlow Jeffrey H. 
Published: March 2016

Background:
Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen are common medications with multiple useful effects, including pain relief and reduction of inflammation. However, surgeons commonly withhold all nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs perioperatively because of bleeding concerns. However, not all nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs irreversibly block platelet function. The authors hypothesized that the use of ibuprofen would have no effect on postoperative bleeding in plastic surgery patients.

Methods:
A literature review was performed using MEDLINE (PubMed), EMBASE, and the Cochrane Collaboration Library for primary research articles on ibuprofen and bleeding. Inclusion criteria were primary journal articles examining treatment of acute postoperative pain based on any modality. Data related to pain assessment, postoperative recovery, and complications were extracted. Bias assessment and meta-analysis were performed.

Results:
A total of 881 publications were reviewed. Four primary randomized controlled trials were selected for full analysis. Articles were of high quality by bias assessment. No significant difference was noted regarding bleeding events (p = 0.32), and pain control was noted to be equivalent.

Conclusions:
Ibuprofen is a useful medication in the setting of surgery, with multiple beneficial effects. This meta-analysis represents a small set of high-quality studies suggesting that ibuprofen provides pain control equivalent to narcotics. Importantly, ibuprofen was not associated with an increased risk of bleeding. Further large studies will be necessary to elucidate this issue further, but ibuprofen is a safe postoperative analgesic in patients undergoing common plastic surgery soft-tissue procedures.

CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:
Therapeutic, II.
Away Rotations and Matching in Integrated Plastic Surgery Residency: Applicant and Program Director Perspectives
Authors: Drolet Brian C. , Brower Jonathan P. , Lifchez Scott D. , Janis Jeffrey E. , Liu Paul Y. 
Published: March 2016

Background:
Although nearly all medical students pursuing integrated plastic surgery residency participate in elective rotations away from their home medical school, the value and costs of these “away” rotations have not been well studied.

Methods:
The authors surveyed all integrated plastic surgery program directors and all applicants in the 2015 National Residency Matching Program.

Results:
Forty-two program directors and 149 applicants (64 percent and 70 percent response rate, respectively) completed the survey. Applicants reported 13.7 weeks spent on plastic surgery rotations during medical school, including a mean of 9.2 weeks on away rotations. Average reported cost for away rotations was $3591 per applicant. Both applicants and program directors most commonly reported “making a good impression” (44.6 percent and 36.6 percent, respectively) or finding a “good-fit” program (27.7 percent and 48.8 percent, respectively) as the primary goal for away rotations. Almost all applicants (91.1 percent) believed an away rotation made them more competitive for matching to a program at which they rotated. Program directors ranked a strong away rotation performance as the most important residency selection criterion. Twenty-seven percent of postgraduate year–1 positions were filled by an away rotatorm and an additional 17 percent were filled by a home medical student.

Conclusions:
Away rotations appear to be mutually beneficial for applicants and programs in helping to establish a good fit between students and training programs through an extended interaction with the students, residents, and faculty. In addition, making a good impression on a senior elective rotation (home or away) may improve an applicant’s chance of matching to a residency program.
Validated Assessment Tools and Maintenance of Certification in Plastic Surgery: Current Status, Challenges, and Future Possibilities
Authors: Janis Jeffrey E. , Vedder Nicholas B. , Reid Christopher M. , Gosman Amanda , Mann Karen 
Published: March 2016

Background:
The transition to the Next Accreditation System is well underway, and a shift toward competency-based assessment in the form of milestones is now the standard. A significant effort has been completed by the Plastic Surgery Milestones Working Group to develop specific milestones and assessment tools for plastic surgery training.

Methods:
The history of the development toward competency-based assessment was reviewed. Data regarding the trends and regulations associated with board certification and the role of maintenance of certification were reviewed.

Results:
The work of the Plastic Surgery Milestones Working Group has sparked interest in assessment and created an opportunity for further development. The efforts toward validating assessment tools by our colleagues working in other surgical specialties serve as a suitable roadmap for further progress. Board certification is an integral part of successful practice and should be regarded as an expectation. Despite the burdens associated with maintenance of certification, it serves a valuable function in ensuring optimal patient care and is often retrospectively seen as an important component of practice.

Conclusions:
The competency-based milestones are the new standard, and work on this new methodology of assessing plastic surgery trainees is expected to continue. Accurate assessment is critical to the pathways for board certification and maintenance of certification, which serve important roles for all parties involved in the delivery of medical care.
The Evolution of Free Vascularized Bone Transfer: A 40-Year Experience
Authors: Taylor G. Ian , Corlett Russell J. , Ashton Mark W. 
Published: March 2016

Background:
The first successful free vascularized bone flap was performed on June 1, 1974 (and reported in 1975), using the fibula. This was followed by the iliac crest based on the superficial circumflex iliac artery in 1975 and then the deep circumflex iliac artery in 1978.

Methods:
A total of 384 transfers using fibula (n = 198), iliac crest (n = 180), radius (n = 4), rib (n = 1), and metatarsal (n = 1) were used between June of 1974 and June of 2014 for reconstruction of the mandible (n = 267), maxilla (n = 20), clavicle (n = 1), humerus (n = 8), radius and ulna (n = 21), carpus (n = 3), pelvis (n = 2), femur (n = 11), tibia (n = 47), and foot bones (n = 4). Indications were tumor ablation (n = 286), trauma (n = 84), osteomyelitis (n = 2), and the congenital deformities hemifacial microsomia (n = 2) and pseudarthrosis of the tibia (n = 9) and ulna (n = 1).

Results:
Successful transfer was achieved in 95 percent of patients. Union varied with the recipient bone, from 6 to 8 weeks in the jaw, 2 to 3 months in the upper limb, and 3 to 4 months in the femur and tibia. Union was fastest with iliac crest. The fibula provided easier dissection; it could be raised on either peroneal or anterior tibial vessels; the skin flap could be designed distally; it could be placed centrally in the medullary cavity of long bones; and hairline stress fracture in the lower limb frequently preceded rapid subperiosteal hypertrophy. The fibula lacks sufficient height for osseointegration, whereas iliac crest is ideal. Osteotomies of either bone are possible to straighten or increase curvature.

Conclusions:
The fibula is best for long bone or angle-to-angle jaw reconstruction, especially in edentulous patients. Iliac crest is best for hemimandible, curved bones (pelvis, carpus, and metacarpus), and as an alternative for short, straight, 6- to 8-cm-long bone defects.
Has the time come for preprints in biology?
Authors: Bhalla Needhi 
Published: March 2016

AbstractPreprints, non-peer reviewed drafts of manuscripts available on the internet, have been used in conjunction with peer review and publication in journals in the physical sciences for almost 25 years. Recently, more scientists have been discussing whether preprints can play a similar role in biological and biomedical research. Here, I discuss my excitement and concerns about the role that preprints can play in disseminating research findings in the life sciences.
Multi-site internal modification of long DNA substrates for single-molecule studies
Authors: de la Torre Armando , Kim Yoori , Leal Andrew A. , Finkelstein Ilya J. 
Published: March 2016

AbstractSingle-molecule studies of protein-nucleic acid interactions frequently require site-specific modification of long DNA substrates. DNA isolated from bacteriophage λ (λ-DNA) is a convenient source of high quality long (48.5 kb) DNA. However, introducing specific DNA sequences, tertiary structures, and chemical modifications into λ-DNA remains technically challenging. Most current approaches rely on multi-step ligations with low yields and incomplete products. Here, we describe a molecular toolkit for rapid preparation of modified λ-DNA. A set of PCR cassettes facilitates the introduction of recombinant DNA sequences into λ-DNA with 90-100% yield. Furthermore, various DNA structures and chemical modifications can be inserted at user-defined sites via an improved nicking enzyme-based strategy. As a proof-of-principle, we explore the interactions of Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen (PCNA) with modified DNA sequences and structures incorporated within λ-DNA. Our results demonstrate that PCNA can load on both 5’-ssDNA flaps and a 13xCAG triplet repeat. However, PCNA remains trapped on the 13xCAG structure, confirming a proposed mechanism for triplet repeat expansion. Although we focus on λ-DNA, this method is applicable to all long DNA substrates. We anticipate that this molecular toolbox will be broadly useful for both ensemble‐ and single-molecule studies that require site-specific modification of long DNA substrates.
Association of NQO1 C609T (Pro187Ser) with risk of Oral Submucous Fibrosis in Eastern Indian population
Authors: Mukherjee Sanjit , Mohanty Sweta , Katarkar Atul , Dhariwal Richa , Mahato Basudev , Ray Jay Gopal , Chaudhuri Keya 
Published: March 2016

AbstractOral submucous fibrosis (OSF) is a debilitating disease mainly attributed to chewing areca nut with a 7.4-13% malignant transformation rate. Present study explores the role of NADPH quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) C609T (Pro187Ser) polymorphism in susceptibility to OSF among habitual areca nut chewers in an eastern Indian population. Overall, about 18% of the total OSF cases were detected carrying minor TT allele (Ser/Ser) p=0.026. When categorized by age, both CT (Pro/Ser) and TT (Ser/Ser) alleles were significantly higher (p= 0.003 & 0.004 respectively) in cases above 40years of age. NQO1 protein was 42% reduced in buccal tissues of heterozygous (Pro/Ser) carriers, whereas a 70% reduction was observed in TT (Ser/Ser) OSF cases. Our study suggests that the NQO1 C609T polymorphism confers increased risk for OSF in habitual chewers.
Nanocall: An Open Source Basecaller for Oxford Nanopore Sequencing Data
Authors: David Matei , Dursi L.J. , Yao Delia , Boutros Paul C. , Simpson Jared T. 
Published: March 2016

ABSTRACTMotivationThe highly portable Oxford Nanopore MinlON sequencer has enabled new applications of genome sequencing directly in the field. However, the MinlON currently relies on a cloud computing platform, Metrichor (metrichor.com), for translating locally generated sequencing data into basecalls.ResultsTo allow offline and private analysis of MinlON data, we created Nanocall. Nanocall is the first freely-available, open-source basecaller for Oxford Nanopore sequencing data and does not require an internet connection. On twoE.coliand two human samples, with natural as well as PCR-amplified DNA, Nanocall reads have ~68% identity, directly comparable to Metrichor ”1D” data. Further, Nanocall is efficient, processing ~500Kbp of sequence per core hour, and fully parallelized. Using 8 cores, Nanocall could basecall a MinlON sequencing run in real time. Metrichor provides the ability to integrate the ”1D” sequencing of template and complement strands of a single DNA molecule, and create a ”2D” read. Nanocall does not currently integrate this technology, and addition of this capability will be an important future development. In summary, Nanocall is the first open-source, freely available, off-line basecaller for Oxford Nanopore sequencing data.AvailabilityNanocall is available atgithub.com/mateidavid/nanocall, released under the MIT license.Contactmatei.david at oicr.on.ca