bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluating the success of Nd: YAG laser ablation in the treatment of recalcitrant verruca plantaris and a cautionary note about local anaesthesia on the plantar aspect of the foot
Authors: Smith E.A. , Patel S.B. , Whiteley M.S. 
Published: June 2014

AbstractBackgroundThere are various methods advocated for the treatment of verruca plantaris. However, many verrucas do not respond to simple treatment.ObjectiveThis study presents our results using Nd: YAG laser ablation therapy for such recalcitrant cases.MethodsWe performed a retrospective audit by sending a questionnaire to all patients with recalcitrant verrucas who had been treated with Nd:YAG laser ablation over the previous 12 months. The questionnaire asked whether treatment had been successful, successful but new lesions had emerged, partially successful with improvement or unsuccessful. A Fontana Nd:YAG laser was used at the following specifications; long pulsed mode with pulse width 25 ms, frequency 1.0 Hz; fluence 240 J/cm2 and spot size 2 mm. Some patients requested local anaesthesia and had direct infiltration with 0.5% plain lidocaine.ResultsFifty‐three of the original 87 patients responded (60.9% response rate) with a male to female ratio of 24:29, mean age of 47 years and an age range between 22–72. Thirty‐seven patients reported complete success post treatment (69.8%) and a further five reported improvement. The remaining 11 felt their treatment was unsuccessful. The cure rate was 81.8% in unilateral single cases, 68.1% in unilateral multiple cases and 65% in bilateral cases. Ten patients requested sublesional lidocaine injections of which 4 had skin breakdown after Nd: YAG ablation.ConclusionNd:YAG laser ablation is effective in the treatment of recalcitrant verruca plantaris. However, we caution against the use of direct local anaesthesia infiltration before laser treatment.
Racial disparities and colorectal cancer survival in older adults with and without diabetes mellitus
Authors: Waheed Salman , Azad Nilofer , Waheed Sehrish , Yeh Hsin‐Chieh 
Published: June 2014

AbstractBackground and AimTo investigate whether pre‐existing diabetes modifies racial disparities in colorectal cancer (CRC) survival.MethodsWe analyzed prospective data from 16 977 patients (age ≥ 67 years) with CRC from the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER)‐Medicare database. SEER registries included data on demographics, tumor characteristics, and treatment. Medicare claims were used to define pre‐existing diabetes and comorbid conditions. Mortality was confirmed in both sources.ResultsAt baseline, 1332 (8%) were African Americans and 26% had diabetes (39% in blacks; 25% in whites). From 2000 to 2005, more than half of the participants died (n = 8782, 52%). This included 820 (62%) deaths (23.8 per 100 person‐years) among blacks, and 7962 (51%) deaths (16.6 per 100 person‐years) among whites. Among older adults with diabetes, blacks had significantly higher risk of all‐cause and CRC mortality after adjustments for demographic characteristics (hazard ratio [HR], 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.21 [1.08–1.37] and 1.21 [1.03–1.42]), respectively, but these associations attenuated to null after additional adjustments for cancer stage and grade. Among adults without diabetes, the risk of all‐cause mortality (HR [95% CI]: 1.14 [1.04–1.25]) and CRC mortality (HR [95% CI]: 1.21 [1.08–1.36]) remained higher in blacks than whites in fully adjusted models that included demographic variables, cancer stage, grade, treatments, and comorbidities.ConclusionsAmong older adults with CRC, diabetes is an effect modifier on the relationship between race and mortality. Racial disparities in survival were explained by demographics, cancer stage, and grade in patients with diabetes.
Celecoxib attenuates hepatic cirrhosis through inhibition of epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition of hepatocytes
Authors: Wen Shi‐Lei , Gao Jin‐Hang , Yang Wen‐Juan , Lu Yao‐Yao , Tong Huan , Huang Zhi‐Yin , Liu Zhang‐Xu , Tang Cheng‐Wei 
Published: June 2014

AbstractBackground and AimThe epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) of hepatocytes is a key step for hepatic fibrosis and cirrhosis. Long‐term administration of celecoxib, a selective cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2) inhibitor, can ameliorate hepatic fibrosis. This research aimed to examine the effect of celecoxib on the EMT of hepatocytes during the development of liver cirrhosis.MethodsCirrhotic liver model of rat was established by peritoneal injection of thiacetamide (TAA). Thirty‐six rats were randomly assigned to control, TAA, and TAA + celecoxib groups. Hepatic expressions of tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α), interleukin 6 (IL‐6), COX‐2, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)‐2 and ‐9, transforming growth factor‐β1 (TGF‐β1), Phospho‐Smad2/3, Snail1, α‐smooth muscle actin (α‐SMA), vimentin, collagen I, fibroblast‐specific protein (FSP‐1), E‐cadherin and N‐cadherin were quantitated. Hepatic fibrosis was assessed by the visible hepatic fibrotic areas and Ishak's scoring system.ResultsExposed to TAA treatment, hepatocytes underwent the process of EMT during hepatic fibrosis. Compared with those in TAA group, celecoxib significantly downregulated the hepatic expressions of TNF‐α, IL‐6, COX‐2, PGE2, MMP‐2, MMP‐9, TGF‐β1, Phospho‐Smad2/3, Snail1, α‐SMA, FSP‐1, and vimentin while greatly restoring the levels of E‐cadherin. The fibrotic areas and collagen I levels of TAA + celecoxib group were much lower than those in TAA group.ConclusionsCelecoxib could ameliorate hepatic fibrosis and cirrhosis in TAA‐rat model through suppression of the mesenchymal biomarkers in the hepatocytes while restoring the levels of their epithelial biomarkers. The inhibitory effect of celecoxib on the EMT of hepatocytes is associated with reduction of intrahepatic inflammation, preservation of normal basement matrix, and inhibition of TGF‐β1/Smad pathway.
Altered microRNA expression in inflamed and non‐inflamed terminal ileal mucosa of adult patients with active Crohn's disease
Authors: Guo Zhen , Wu Rong , Gong Jianfeng , Zhu Weiming , Li Yi , Wang Zhiming , Li Ning , Li Jieshou 
Published: June 2014

AbstractBackground and AimsMicroRNAs (miRNAs) play an important role in inflammation. Several studies have reported the unique miRNA profiles in colonic mucosa and peripheral blood of patients with active Crohn's disease (CD). But there is limited data about the miRNA profiles of the terminal ileum, the most commonly involved location, especially the non‐inflamed mucosa. We aimed to investigate the miRNA expression of both inflamed and non‐inflamed terminal ileal mucosa in adult patients with active CD.MethodsTotal RNA of all mucosal samples was extracted. MiRNA expression profile was assessed using microarray technology, and then selected miRNAs were evaluated using quantitative reverse‐transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR) to confirm the results of the microarray investigation.ResultsSixteen CD patients and 10 healthy adults were included. Samples of six patients and six controls were used for the microarray analysis. Samples of all participants were used for the validation of qRT‐PCR. Results of the microarray showed miRNA expressions of both inflamed and non‐inflamed mucosa were altered compared with controls. The differential expressions of hsa‐miR‐192‐5p, hsa‐miR‐495‐5p, hsa‐let‐7b‐5p, hsa‐miR‐361‐3p, and hsa‐miR‐124‐3p were confirmed by qRT‐PCR.ConclusionBoth inflamed and non‐inflamed terminal ileal mucosa in adult patients with active CD have their distinct miRNA expression patterns compared with healthy controls. Dysregulated miRNAs may be responsible for pathogenesis of CD.
Systematic review with meta‐analysis: Accuracy of interferon‐gamma releasing assay and anti‐Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibody in differentiating intestinal tuberculosis from Crohn's disease in Asians
Authors: Ng Siew C , Hirai Hoyee W , Tsoi Kelvin K F , Wong Sunny H , Chan Francis K L , Sung Joseph J Y , Wu Justin C Y 
Published: June 2014

AbstractBackground and AimsDistinguishing Crohn's disease (CD) from intestinal tuberculosis (ITB) is a clinical challenge. This meta‐analysis assessed the clinical usefulness of Interferon‐gamma releasing assay (IGRA) and anti‐Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibody (ASCA) in the diagnosis of ITB and CD, respectively.MethodsSystematic search without language restriction was conducted in AMED, EBM, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Google Scholar until September 2013. Studies that have evaluated performance of IGRA (QuantiFERON‐TB Gold or T‐SPOT.TB) or ASCA in distinguishing ITB from CD were eligible. Main outcome measures included sensitivity and specificity. Random‐effects models were used to combine estimates from studies with significant heterogeneity. Area under the curve (AUC) was used to measure accuracy of the tests.ResultsEleven studies (five IGRA, three ASCA, three IGRA and ASCA) involving 1081 subjects were included. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio, and negative likelihood ratio of IGRA for the diagnosis of ITB was 81% (95% CI, 75–86%), 85% (95% CI, 81–89%), 6.02 (95% CI: 4.62–7.83), and 0.19 (95% CI: 0.10–0.36), respectively. The AUC was 0.92. The pooled sensitivity and specificity of ASCA for the diagnosis of CD was 33% (95% confidence interval [CI], 27%–38%) and 83% (95% CI, 77–88%), respectively with an AUC of 0.58. T‐SPOT.TB showed a higher sensitivity than QuantiFERON‐TB Gold for the diagnosis of ITB.ConclusionsIGRA and ASCA have a high specificity for the diagnosis of ITB. Both IGRA and ASCA may have a supplementary role in the differential diagnosis between ITB and CD when conventional workup is not diagnostic.
Pretreatment prediction of the outcome of response‐guided peginterferon‐α and ribavirin therapy for chronic hepatitis C
Authors: Masaki Naohiko , Sugiyama Masaya , Shimada Noritomo , Tanaka Yasuhito , Nakamuta Makoto , Izumi Namiki , Watanabe Sumio , Tsubota Akihito , Komatsu Masafumi , Masaki Tsutomu , Enomoto Nobuyuki , Yoneda Masashi , Murata Kazumoto , Ito Kiyoaki , Koike Kazuhiko , Mizokami Masashi 
Published: June 2014

AbstractBackground and AimThe accuracy for predicting virological outcomes of peginterferon‐α and ribavirin therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C is limited to approximately 80%, even with IL28B genotyping. Our in vitro study revealed that the numbers of (TA) dinucleotide repeats [(TA)n] of rs72258881, which is located in the promoter region of IL28B gene, might regulate IL28B transcription. We aimed to evaluate the usefulness of these host factors for predicting virological outcomes of this therapy in response‐guided clinical settings.MethodsA nationwide, multi‐center prospective study in Japan determined IL28B (rs8099917) genotype, (TA)n of rs72258881, and amino acid substitutions of hepatitis C virus and used these for multivariate analysis together with other parameters at pretreatment.ResultsAfter enrolling 215 patients with genotype 1 and high viral load from 23 hospitals between October 2009 and February 2011, intent‐to‐treat analysis identified 202 patients in whom the final virological outcomes could be determined. Non‐virological response by non‐TT genotype was predicted with 79.7% accuracy. When combined with the (TA)n, the incidences of virological response tended to be higher in the longer (TA)n group, regardless of rs8099917 genotype. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that rs8099917 non‐TT genotype (P < 0.001), shorter (TA)n (P = 0.011), mutation of amino acid 70 in the virus core region (P = 0.029), and lower levels of serum albumin (P = 0.036) were independently associated with non‐virological response.ConclusionsIL28B genotype and (TA)n of rs72258881 may independently affect virological outcomes of peginterferon‐α and ribavirin as host factors, even in response‐guided therapy.
Prevention and management of biliary anastomotic stricture in right‐lobe living‐donor liver transplantation
Authors: Chok Kenneth S H , Lo Chung Mau 
Published: June 2014

AbstractBiliary strictures can be categorized according to technical factor as anastomotic or nonanastomotic strictures. Biliary anastomotic stricture is a common complication after living‐donor liver transplantation, occasionally causing deaths. The two most commonly used methods for biliary anastomosis are duct‐to‐duct anastomosis and hepaticojejunostomy.Before presenting a description of the latest techniques of duct‐to‐duct anastomosis and hepaticojejunostomy, this review first relates the technique of donor right hepatectomy, as most biliary complications suffered by recipients of living‐donor liver transplantation originate from donor operations. Three possible causes of biliary anastomotic stricture, namely impaired blood supply, biliary anomaly, and technical flaw, are then discussed. Lastly, the review focuses on the latest management of biliary anastomotic stricture. Treatment modalities include endoscopic retrograde cholangiography with dilatation, percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage with dilatation, conversion of duct‐to‐duct anastomosis to hepaticojejunostomy, and revision hepaticojejunostomy. End‐to‐side versus side‐to‐side hepaticojejunostomy is also discussed.
Microscopic bio‐corrosion evaluations of magnesium surfaces in static and dynamic conditions
Authors: BONTRAGER J. , MAHAPATRO A. , GOMES A.S. 
Published: June 2014

SummaryBiodegradable materials including biodegradable metals are continuously being investigated for the development of next generation cardiovascular stents. Predictive in vitro tests are needed that could evaluate potential materials while simulating in vivo conditions. In this manuscript we report the microscopic bio‐corrosion evaluations of magnesium surfaces in static and dynamic conditions. A corrosion test bench was designed and fabricated and static and dynamic corrosion tests were carried out with samples of magnesium alloy. The fluid wall shear stress equation and the Churchill's friction factor equation were used to calculate the fluid velocity required to generate the desired shear stress on samples in the test bench. Static and dynamic corrosion tests at 24 and 72 h were carried out at 0.88 Pa shear stress mimicking the in vivo shear stress. Microscopic evaluations of the corroded surfaces were carried out by optical, scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy to evaluate the corrosion behaviour and surface properties of the test samples. The surface and interface analysis of magnesium samples post test indicated that dynamic conditions prevented the build‐up of corrosion by‐products on the sample surface and the corrosion mechanism was uniform as compared to static conditions. The use of a masking element to restrict the exposed area of the sample didn't result in increased corrosion at the boundary. Thus, we have demonstrated the feasibility of the designed test bench as a viable method for bio‐corrosion surface analysis under dynamic corrosion conditions for potential biodegradable cardiovascular stent materials.
Multipoint and multilevel injection technique of botulinum toxin A in facial aesthetics
Authors: Iozzo Ivano , Tengattini Vera , Antonucci Valentina A 
Published: June 2014

SummaryBotulinum toxin represents one of the most frequently requested cosmetic procedures. We treated 223 patients with facial wrinkles using a new technique of injection of botulinum toxin A (BTA) called multipoint and multilevel injection technique (MMIT). The aim of MMIT was to relax the muscle and not paralyze it. Patient satisfaction was evaluated by Facial Line Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire (FTSQ). Treatment with botulinum toxin determined a good response in all patients. Facial rhytids were completely resolved in case of young skin and well reduced in case of aged skin, leaving a natural aspect both in static and dynamic wrinkles. Patient mean overall satisfaction evaluated with FTSQ was 6.4 ± 1.1. In our experience, the use of botulin toxin by MMIT consents a better calibration of action with a soft and natural result. This can be achieved by distributing the BTA dose through various injection points for each area (“multipoint injections”). Furthermore, injections can be performed at different levels (“multilevel injections”). The level of injections regulates the potency of effect on the muscle: if the level is deep (intramuscular), the effect will be strong while if it is medium or superficial (subcutaneous and intradermal), the effect will be soft. This consents a fine calibration of action on muscle activity with a personal aesthetic result.
Exploratory factor analysis of the Oral Health Impact Profile
Authors: John M. T. , Reissmann D. R. , Feuerstahler L. , Waller N. , Baba K. , Larsson P. , Čelebić A. , Szabo G. , Rener‐Sitar K. 
Published: June 2014

SummaryAlthough oral health‐related quality of life (OHRQoL) as measured by the Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP) is thought to be multidimensional, the nature of these dimensions is not known. The aim of this report was to explore the dimensionality of the OHIP using the Dimensions of OHRQoL (DOQ) Project, an international study of general population subjects and prosthodontic patients. Using the project's Learning Sample (n = 5173), we conducted an exploratory factor analysis on the 46 OHIP items not specifically referring to dentures for 5146 subjects with sufficiently complete data. The first eigenvalue (27·0) of the polychoric correlation matrix was more than ten times larger than the second eigenvalue (2·6), suggesting the presence of a dominant, higher‐order general factor. Follow‐up analyses with Horn's parallel analysis revealed a viable second‐order, four‐factor solution. An oblique rotation of this solution revealed four highly correlated factors that we named Oral Function, Oro‐facial Pain, Oro‐facial Appearance and Psychosocial Impact. These four dimensions and the strong general factor are two viable hypotheses for the factor structure of the OHIP.
Association between leukaemia and X‐ray in children: A nationwide study
Authors: Shih Tian‐Yu , Wu Jay , Muo Chin‐Shin , Kao Chia‐Hung 
Published: June 2014

AimThe frequency of employing radiography is increasing. Long‐term risks of performing X‐ray procedures on children and adolescents for medical diagnosis have raised significant concerns.MethodsIn this study, we adopt the case‐control methodology to evaluate the relationship between the incidence rate of acute leukaemia and exposure to radiation during diagnostic X‐ray examinations for children. Based on 1998–2010 data obtained from the Taiwan Bureau of National Health Insurance database, we selected 58 children with leukaemia and randomly selected an additional 232 children as the control group.ResultsThe mean age of children with leukaemia is 8.92 ± 5.24 years. The risk of leukaemia in children who underwent X‐ray examinations increased 2.14‐fold (95% CI, 1.18–3.87). In this study, we identified that, when undergoing X‐ray examinations, the risk of leukaemia in children increased for both sex and age groups. Specifically, the relationship between leukaemia and X‐ray in boys (OR = 3.28, 95%CI, 1.33–8.07) and in ages of 6 to 11 years (OR = 2.58, 95%CI, 1.09–6.10) was significant. Overall, the risk of leukaemia in children who underwent X‐ray examinations progressively increased from a ratio of 1.65 to 3.14. Moreover, an identical trend was observed for boys (1.85 to 6.42).ConclusionExposure to X‐ray increased the risk of leukaemia in children.
Montreal Archive of Sleep Studies: an open‐access resource for instrument benchmarking and exploratory research
Authors: O'Reilly Christian , Gosselin Nadia , Carrier Julie , Nielsen Tore 
Published: June 2014

SummaryManual processing of sleep recordings is extremely time‐consuming. Efforts to automate this process have shown promising results, but automatic systems are generally evaluated on private databases, not allowing accurate cross‐validation with other systems. In lacking a common benchmark, the relative performances of different systems are not compared easily and advances are compromised. To address this fundamental methodological impediment to sleep study, we propose an open‐access database of polysomnographic biosignals. To build this database, whole‐night recordings from 200 participants [97 males (aged 42.9 ± 19.8 years) and 103 females (aged 38.3 ± 18.9 years); age range: 18–76 years] were pooled from eight different research protocols performed in three different hospital‐based sleep laboratories. All recordings feature a sampling frequency of 256 Hz and an electroencephalography (EEG) montage of 4–20 channels plus standard electro‐oculography (EOG), electromyography (EMG), electrocardiography (ECG) and respiratory signals. Access to the database can be obtained through the Montreal Archive of Sleep Studies (MASS) website (http://www.ceams-carsm.ca/en/MASS), and requires only affiliation with a research institution and prior approval by the applicant's local ethical review board. Providing the research community with access to this free and open sleep database is expected to facilitate the development and cross‐validation of sleep analysis automation systems. It is also expected that such a shared resource will be a catalyst for cross‐centre collaborations on difficult topics such as improving inter‐rater agreement on sleep stage scoring.
PCDH20 functions as a tumour‐suppressor gene through antagonizing the Wnt/β‐catenin signalling pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Lv J. , Zhu P. , Yang Z. , Li M. , Zhang X. , Cheng J. , Chen X. , Lu F. 
Published: June 2014

SummarySeveral members of protocadherins have been found involved in human carcinogenesis, but little is known about PCDH20 in HCC. Here in this study, using quantitative real‐time RT‐PCR assay, we demonstrated the downregulation of PCDH20 expression in 6 of 7 HCC cell lines tested. Similarly, PCDH20 expression in primary HCC tissues was also significantly downregulated in comparison with that in either disease‐free normal liver tissues or the adjacent nontumour liver tissues (P < 0.001, respectively). Among HCC tumour tissues studied, about 48% (51/107) of them showed reduced PCDH20 mRNA level. Further statistic analysis revealed that the reduced PCDH20 mRNA level in tumour tissues was much more common in younger patients group (aged <50 years) than that in older group (≥50 years) (60% vs 33%, P = 0.0303). Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) and promoter hypermethylation analysis revealed that deletion and/or aberrant epigenetic modulation of PCDH20 gene account for its downregulation, at least in a fraction of tumour specimens. Moreover, ectopic expression of PCDH20 in HCC cells significantly suppressed cell proliferation, clonogenicity, migration and tumour formation. Notably, we proved for the first time that, via activating GSK‐3β, PCDH20 could inhibit Wnt/β‐catenin signalling pathway. Furthermore, our data suggest that PCDH20 may conduct its Wnt/β‐catenin signalling antagonizing function through suppressing Akt and Erk activities and promoting GSK‐3β signalling activities. However, the detailed mechanism remained undiscovered. In conclusion, our data here strongly suggested that PCDH20 may act as a candidate tumour suppressor in HCC.