bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Postoperative Complications Associated With rhBMP2 Use in Posterior/Posterolateral Lumbar Fusion
Authors: Esmail Nabil , Buser Zorica , Cohen Jeremiah R. , Brodke Darrel S. , Meisel Hans-Joerg , Park Jong-Beom , Youssef Jim A. , Wang Jeffrey C. , Yoon S. Tim 
Published: April 2017

Study Design: Retrospective database review. Objective: Posterior/posterolateral lumbar fusion (PLF) is an effective treatment for a variety of spinal disorders; however, variations in surgical technique have different complication profiles. The aim of our study was to quantify the frequency of various complications in patients undergoing PLF with and without human recombinant bone morphogenetic protein 2 (rhBMP2). Methods: We queried the orthopedic subset of the Medicare database (PearlDiver) between 2005 and 2011 for patients undergoing PLF procedures with and without rhBMP2. Complication and reoperation rates were analyzed within 1 year of the index procedure. Complications assessed include: acute renal failure, deep vein thrombosis, dural tear, hematoma, heterotopic ossification, incision and drainage, cardiac complications, nervous system complications, osteolysis, pneumonia, pseudarthrosis, pulmonary embolism, radiculopathy, respiratory complications, sepsis, urinary retention, urinary tract infection, mechanical, and wound complications. Chi-square analysis was used to calculate the complication differences between the groups. Results: Our data revealed higher overall complication rates in patients undergoing PLF with rhBMP2 versus no_rhBMP2 (76.9% vs 68.8%, P < .05). Stratified by gender, rhBMP2 males had higher rates of mechanical complications, pseudarthrosis, and reoperations compared with no_rhBMP2 males ( P < .05), whereas rhBMP2 females had higher rates of pseudarthrosis, urinary tract infection, and urinary retention compared with no_rhBMP2 females ( P < .05). Conclusion: Our data revealed higher overall complication rates in PLF patients given rhBMP2 compared with no_rhBMP2. Furthermore, our data suggests that rhBMP2-associated complications may be gender specific.
Corticosteroid Treatment for Metastatic Spinal Cord Compression: A Review
Authors: Skeoch Gordon D. , Tobin Matthew K. , Khan Sajeel , Linninger Andreas A. , Mehta Ankit I. 
Published: April 2017

Study Design: Narrative review. Objective: Metastatic spinal cord compression (MSCC) is a very frequent complication among cancer patients. Presenting commonly as nocturnal back pain, MSCC typically progresses to lower extremity paresis, loss of ambulatory capabilities, and paraplegia. In addition to standard treatment modalities, corticosteroid administration has been utilized in preclinical and clinical settings as adjunctive therapy to reduce local spinal cord edema and improve clinical symptoms. This article serves as a review of existing literature regarding corticosteroid management of MSCC and seeks to provide potential avenues of research on the topic. Methods: A literature search was performed using PubMed in order to consolidate existing information regarding dexamethasone treatment of MSCC. Of all search results, 7 articles are reviewed, establishing the current understanding of metastatic spine disease and dexamethasone treatment in both animal models and in clinical trials. Results: Treatment with high-dose corticosteroids is associated with an increased rate of potentially serious systemic side effects. For this reason, definitive guidelines for the use of dexamethasone in the management of MSCC are unavailable. Conclusions: It is still unclear what role dexamethasone plays in the treatment of MSCC. It is evident that new, more localizable therapies may provide more acceptable treatment strategies using corticosteroids. Looking forward, the potential for more targeted, localized application of the steroid through the use of nanotechnology would decrease the incidence of adverse effects while maintaining the drug’s efficacy.
Incidence, Impact, and Risk Factors for 30-Day Wound Complications Following Elective Adult Spinal Deformity Surgery
Authors: Lee Nathan J. , Shin John I. , Kothari Parth , Kim Jun S. , Leven Dante M. , Steinberger Jeremy , Guzman Javier Z. , Skovrlj Branko , Caridi John M. , Cho Samuel K. 
Published: April 2017

Study Design: Case-control study. Objective: To determine the incidence, impact, and risk factors for wound complications within 30 days following elective adult spinal deformity surgery. Methods: Current Procedural Terminology and International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Edition, diagnosis codes were used to query the database for adults who underwent spinal deformity surgery from 2010 to 2014. Patients were separated into groups of those with and without wound complications. Univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression were used to analyze the influence of patient factors, operative variables, and clinical characteristics on the incidence of postoperative wound complication. This study was qualified as exempt by the Mount Sinai Hospital Institutional Review Board. Results: A total of 5803 patients met the criteria for this study. Wound complications occurred in 140 patients (2.4%) and were significantly associated with other adverse outcomes, including higher rates of unplanned reoperation ( P < .0001) and prolonged length of stay ( P < .0001). Regardless of fusion length, wound complication rates were higher with a posterior approach (short = 2.7%; long = 3.7%) than an anterior one (short = 2.2%; long = 2.7). According to the multivariate analysis, posterior fusion (odds ratio [OR] = 1.8; P = .010), obese class II (OR = 1.7; P = .046), obese class III (OR = 2.8; P < .0001), preoperative blood transfusion (OR = 6.1; P = .021), American Society of Anesthesiologists class ≥3 (OR = 1.7; P = .009), and operative time >4 hours (OR = 1.8; P = .006) were statistically significant risk factors for wound complications. Conclusion: The 30-day incidence of wound complication in adult spinal deformity surgery is 2.4%. The risk factors for wound complication are multifactorial. This data should provide a step toward developing quality improvement measures aimed at reducing complications in high-risk adults.
Accelerated Return to Sport After Osteochondral Autograft Plug Transfer
Authors: Werner Brian C. , Cosgrove Chris T. , Gilmore C. Jan , Lyons Matthew L. , Miller Mark D. , Brockmeier Stephen F. , Diduch David R. 
Published: April 2017

Background: Previous studies have reported varying return-to-sport protocols after knee cartilage restoration procedures. Purpose: To (1) evaluate the time for return to sport in athletes with an isolated chondral injury who underwent an accelerated return-to-sport protocol after osteochondral autograft plug transfer (OAT) and (2) evaluate clinical outcomes to assess for any consequences from the accelerated return to sport. Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: An institutional cohort of 152 OAT procedures was reviewed, of which 20 competitive athletes met inclusion and exclusion criteria. All patients underwent a physician-directed accelerated rehabilitation program after their procedure. Return to sport was determined for all athletes. Clinical outcomes were assessed using International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) and Tegner scores as well as assessment of level of participation on return to sport. Results: Return-to-sport data were available for all 20 athletes; 13 of 20 athletes (65%) were available for clinical evaluation at a mean 4.4-year follow-up. The mean time for return to sport for all 20 athletes was 82.9 ± 25 days (range, 38-134 days). All athletes were able to return to sport at their previous level and reported that they were satisfied or very satisfied with their surgical outcome and ability to return to sport. The mean postoperative IKDC score was 84.5 ± 9.5. The mean Tegner score prior to injury was 8.9 ± 1.7; it was 7.7 ± 1.9 at final follow-up. Conclusion: Competitive athletes with traumatic chondral defects treated with OAT managed using this protocol had reduced time to preinjury activity levels compared with what is currently reported, with excellent clinical outcomes and no serious long-term sequelae.
Dynamics of picoplankton community from coastal waters to the open sea in the Central Adriatic
Authors: ŠANTIĆ D. , ŠESTANOVIĆ S. , ŠOLIĆ M. , KRSTULOVIĆ N. , KUŠPILIĆ G. , ORDULJ M. , GLADAN Ž. N. 
Published: April 2017

Flow cytometry was used to describe seasonal cycles of Prochlorococcus (Prochl), Synechococcus (Syn), picoeukaryotes and heterotrophic bacteria in the central Adriatic Sea along the trophic gradient from January to December 2010. All picoplankton parameters decreased from eutrophic to oligotrophic areas, while the biomass ratio of bacterial to autotrophic picoplankton showed an increase along the trophic gradient. Bacterial biomass ranged from 5.28 to 21.20 μg C l-1. Increased values were present during warmer seasons with the domination of low nucleic acid (LNA) group of bacteria. The high nucleic acid (HNA) bacterial group dominated during the winter and the spring. Bacterial production ranged from 0.09 -0.45 × 104 cells ml-1 h-1 .At coastal stations increased production was present during the winter and the spring and was more or less uniform at open sea stations. Biomasses of Syn and Prochl ranged from 0.16 to 11.47 µg C-1 l-1 and from 0.01 to 3.08 µg C l-1, respectively. They were elevated during the summer and the autumn at coastal stations and during the late winter at the open sea. Syn biomass always dominated over Prochl participating with 61.6-97.2% in biomass of cyanobacteria. Biomass of picoeukaryotes ranged from 1.21 to 21.85 µg C l-1 and was the highest during the winter. Their biomass notably prevailed in autotrophic picoplankton (APP) biomass over that of picocyanobacteria during the whole year. Autotrophic components (Prochl, Syn and picoeukaryotes) made greater contribution to the picoplankton biomass in mesotrophic and eutrophic areas, while heterotrophic bacteria became more important under oligotrophic conditions.
Development of a BNP1-32 Immunoassay That Does Not Cross-React with proBNP
Authors: Lewis Lynley K , Raudsepp Sara D , Yandle Tim G , Prickett Timothy C , Richards A Mark 
Published: April 2017

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) concentration reflects cardiac dysfunction and assists in determining the diagnosis and prognosis of heart failure (HF). Current BNP assays overestimate circulating bioactive BNP1-32 concentrations as they also detect less active BNP metabolites and proBNP. A specific BNP1-32 assay with negligible cross-reactivity to proBNP and/or BNP metabolites may be advantageous.

METHODS
We developed a Luminex-based specific BNP1-32 immunoassay and compared results obtained from 3 other BNP assays (a Luminex-based total-BNP assay, our BNP RIA, and the commercially available Abbott Architect BNP assay) in plasma from 42 patients with HF and 22 healthy controls.

RESULTS
The BNP1-32 assay showed 57% cross-reactivity with BNP2-32, but ≤0.1% cross-reactivity to BNP3-32, other BNP metabolites, and proBNP; its detection limit was 0.35 ng/L; and intra- and interassay CVs were &lt;15%. BNP immunoreactivity increased with HF severity (median concentrations being 0.3, 0.8, 26.2, and 17.3 ng/L in healthy controls and 40.7, 139, 465, and 1778 ng/L in HF patients for the BNP1-32, total-BNP, BNP RIA, and Abbott BNP assays respectively). The fold increase between HF cases with the New York Heart Association (NYHA) class IV was significantly greater with the BNP1-32 assay than the Abbott BNP (P = 0.026) and the BNP RIA (P &lt; 0.0001) but not the total-BNP assay.

CONCLUSIONS
We have developed the first assay that measures BNP1-32 in plasma without interference by proBNP. Analysis of larger patient cohorts is now required to compare the performance of this assay with current less specific assays for the diagnosis or prognosis of HF.
Rigid polyboxes and keller's conjecture
Authors: Kisielewicz Andrzej P. 
Published: April 2017

Abstract
A cube tiling of ℝ
d
is a family of axis-parallel pairwise disjoint cubes [0,1)
d
+ T = {[0,1)
d
+t : t ∈ T} that cover ℝ
d
. Two cubes [0,1)
d
+ t, [0,1)
d
+ s are called a twin pair if their closures have a complete facet in common. In 1930, Keller conjectured that in every cube tiling of ℝ
d
there is a twin pair. Keller's conjecture is true for dimensions d ≤ 6 and false for all dimensions d ≥ 8. For d = 7 the conjecture is still open. Let x ∈ ℝ
d
, i ∈ [d], and let L(T, x, i) be the set of all ith coordinates ti
of vectors t ∈ T such that ([0,1)
d
+t) ∩ ([0,1]
d
+x) ≠ ø and ti
≤ xi
. Let r
−(T) = min
x∈ℝ

d
max1≤i≤d
|L(T,x,i)| and r
+(T) = max
x∈ℝ

d
max1≤i≤d
|L(T,x,i)|. It is known that Keller's conjecture is true in dimension seven for cube tilings [0,1)7 + T for which r
−(T) ≤ 2. In the present paper we show that it is also true for d = 7 if r
+(T) ≥ 6. Thus, if [0,1)
d
+ T is a counterexample to Keller's conjecture in dimension seven, then r
−(T), r
+(T) ∈ {3, 4, 5}.
Research Article. Comparative Analysis of Hepcidin-25 and Inflammatory Markers in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease with and without Anemia
Authors: Căldăraru Carmen Denise , Tarta Dorin Ionuţ , Gliga Mirela Liana , Tarta Cristina , Caraşca Emilian , Albu Sorin , Huţanu Adina , Dogaru Maria , Dogaru Grigore 
Published: April 2017

Abstract
Introduction: Hepcidin is a regulatory protein in iron metabolism; we do not know the role in chronic kidney disease anemia. Methods: 22 patients with CKD anemia and 15 patients with CKD without anemia were investigated. CKD anemia-inclusion criteria: over 18 years, hemoglobin ≤12 g/dl for women and ≤13 g/dl for men, no treatment for anemia 6 months before enrollment, glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <60 ml/min/1.73m2 and stable creatinine three months before enrollment. Exclusion criteria: infection, bleeding, malignancy, systemic or liver disease, immunosuppression, renal replacement therapy. CKD without anemia-inclusion criteria: over 18 years, no anemia or treatment for anemia, CKD with stable creatinine values three months before enrollment. Exclusion criteria: medical conditions known to have a role in the development of polycythemia. Hepcidin-25 and ferritin were measured by ELISA method. Erythropoietin (EPO), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6 were evaluated using chemiluminescent enzyme immunometric assays. Unpaired T test, Pearson correlation and multiple regression were used for statistical analysis. Results: Hemoglobin values were significantly lower in anemia group. There were no differences in terms of eGFR, age, body mass index, serum hepcidin, erythropoietin, fibrinogen, IL-6, and TNF-α between CKD patients with and without anemia. Serum hepcidin correlated positively with ferritin (r=0.45 p<0.05), TNF-α (r=0.54, p<0.05) and negatively with erythropoietin (r=-0.51, p<0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis demonstrated that TNF-α is an independent predictor of serum hepcidin in our patients (p=0.003, R=0.71). Conclusion: We found no differences in serum hepcidin, erythropoietin and inflammatory markers in non-dialysis CKD patients with and without anemia.
Solution of inverse heat conduction equation with the use of Chebyshev polynomials
Authors: Joachimiak Magda , Frąckowiak Andrzej , Ciałkowski Michał 
Published: April 2017

AbstractA direct problem and an inverse problem for the Laplace’s equation was solved in this paper. Solution to the direct problem in a rectangle was sought in a form of finite linear combinations of Chebyshev polynomials. Calculations were made for a grid consisting of Chebyshev nodes, what allows us to use orthogonal properties of Chebyshev polynomials. Temperature distributions on the boundary for the inverse problem were determined using minimization of the functional being the measure of the difference between the measured and calculated values of temperature (boundary inverse problem). For the quasi-Cauchy problem, the distance between set values of temperature and heat flux on the boundary was minimized using the least square method. Influence of the value of random disturbance to the temperature measurement, of measurement points (distance from the boundary, where the temperature is not known) arrangement as well as of the thermocouple installation error on the stability of the inverse problem was analyzed.
Molecular identification of Thelandros scleratus and Thelastoma icemi (Nematoda: Oxyruida) using mitochondrial cox 1 sequences
Authors: Chaudhary Anshu , Kansal Garima , Singh Neetu , Shobhna Kumari , Verma Manu , Singh Hridaya S. 
Published: April 2017

AbstractTwo species of parasitic nematodes collected from the intestine of Brook’s House Gecko,
The role of domestic dogs in the transmission of zoonotic helminthes in a rural area of Mekong river basin
Authors: Otake Sato Marcello , Sato Megumi , Yoonuan Tippayarat , Pongvongsa Tiengkham , Sanguankiat Surapol , Kounnavong Sengchanh , Maipanich Wanna , Chigusa Yuichi , Moji Kazuhiko , Waikagul Jitra 
Published: April 2017

AbstractDogs have been bred since ancient times for companionship, hunting, protection, shepherding and other human activities. Some canine helminth parasites can cause significant clinical diseases in humans as
Nematode parasites of the Chilean Flamingo, Phoenicopterus chilensis (Phoenicopteridae) from Central Argentina, with a description of a new species of Tetrameres (Tetrameridae)
Authors: Núñez Verónica , Drago Fabiana B. , Digiani María Celina , Lunaschi Lia I. 
Published: April 2017

AbstractDuring the summer of 2013, several specimens of
Detection of Echinococcus multilocularis DNA in fruit, vegetable, and mushroom samples collected in the non-endemic territory of the Pomerania province and comparison of the results with data from rural areas of the neighbouring highly endemic Warmia-Masuria province, Poland
Authors: Lass Anna , Szostakowska Beata , Myjak Przemyslaw , Korzeniewski Krzysztof 
Published: April 2017

Abstractis a tapeworm that may cause alveolar echinococcosis (AE), one of the most dangerous parasitic zoonoses. As in the case of some foodborne diseases, unwashed fruits and vegetables contaminated with eggs of
Population Reduction, Unification of Curriculum and Diversification of Financial Support of Secondary Education in the Czech Republic: The Situation in the Years 2006 – 2016
Authors: Kočvarová Ilona 
Published: April 2017

Abstract
Introduction: The article focuses on the situation in the area of secondary education in the Czech Republic. Its aim is to reflect three topics: population reduction, unification of curriculum and diversification of financial support of secondary education in the Czech Republic in 2006 - 2016.
Methods: The results are underlined by available data from the national statistics. The data are collected annually and are accessible on the website of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports. They contain the entire population of secondary schools, teachers and pupils. Analysis was provided with the use of SPSS, version 24.
Results: There is a reduction of vocational and apprentice schools, but at the same time we are increasing financial support to their fields of study. Under the 2004 law, each school has an individual school educational program, but realistically, we see that the curriculum at secondary school level of education rather standardises. On the labour market, we need graduates of vocational and apprentice schools, but we still strongly support grammar schools and other theoretically oriented schools, whose graduates are not motivated for manual professions.
Discussion: Closer analysis focused on reflection of selected trends in the area of secondary education is needed for the purposes of education policy and for planning future research studies in this area.
Limitations: Continuous development takes place in the field of education. All comparisons in the years 2006-2016 are therefore limited. The data were used in their original form, in some cases were not available and therefore they could not be included in the analysis.
Conclusions: Educational policy is very complicated, because education is difficult to control and it is based on freedom of access. Therefore, the most important target for the future is to stabilize the situation and be able to reflect maximum of factors influencing secondary education in our society. Although current trends clearly support lifelong learning and its unification, we should not forget the specific fields of apprentice and vocational schools, which are needed on the labour market.
Identifying of Homoneura (Diptera: Lauxaniidae) females by means of geometric morphometrics
Authors: Semelbauer Marek 
Published: April 2017

Abstract
The females of the European species Homoneura consobrina, H. patelliformis and H. thalhammeri are not easy to discern. A possible method of identifying females is to apply geometric morphometrics to the wing shape, when we expect females of certain species to have wing shape more similar to conspecific males, than to other species. For this purpose, 94 specimens of the three species were collected mainly by means of Malaise trap in western and central Slovakia and Montenegro. The combination of morphological and distribution data allowed for the females to be divided into three groups. In next step, wings of both males and females were digitized, aligned by Generalized Procrustes Analysis and analyzed via multivariate methods (principal component analysis, multivariate analysis of variance, linear discriminant analysis). Results of the analysis clearly suggest that females with large and convex 8th sternite belong to H. patelliformis, while females with reduced 8th sternite belong to either H. thalhammeri or H. consobrina.
Solvent-free, improved synthesis of pure bixbyite phase of iron and manganese mixed oxides as low-cost, potential oxygen carrier for chemical looping with oxygen uncoupling
Authors: Mungse Pallavi B. , Saravanan Govindachetty , Nishibori Maiko , Subrt Jan , Labhsetwar Nitin K. 
Published: April 2017

Abstract
Chemical looping with oxygen uncoupling (CLOU) is the tendency of releasing gaseous oxygen of an oxygen carrier upon heating, which is the key property for the efficient and cleaner combustion of solid fuels for their wide exploitation for thermal power applications. The solvent-free, improved synthesis method was developed for the synthesis of pure bixbyite, FeMnO3 (Ia3̅, a=b=c=0.94 nm) as a low-cost, oxygen carrier by exposing of the abundantly available precursors (Fe3O4 and MnO) under inert- or reduction- atmosphere followed by air at 900°C. The bixbyite FeMnO3 showed the enhanced, stable multi-cycle CLOU performance than that of the physical mixture and it is converted into FeMn2O4 after the complete exhaustion of reactive oxygen under CLOU conditions. FeMnO3 showed the uniform elemental distribution of Fe, Mn and O, which facilitate the regeneration in air upon heating for multi-cycle performance. 3.2 wt.% of reactive oxygen can be obtained compared to the mass of FeMnO3 which is almost equal to the theoretical value under CLOU conditions. The lattice of FeMnO3 is altered linearly above 100°C with the increase of temperature, however; without the decomposition of the bixbyite phase and it was reinstated virtually upon cooling in air.