bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Measuring benefits of opioid misuse treatment for economic evaluation: health‐related quality of life of opioid‐dependent individuals and their spouses as assessed by a sample of the US population
Authors: Wittenberg Eve , Bray Jeremy W. , Aden Brandon , Gebremariam Achamyeleh , Nosyk Bohdan , Schackman Bruce R. 
Published: October 2015

AbstractAimsTo understand how the general public views the quality of life effects of opioid misuse and opioid use disorder on an individual and his/her spouse, measured in terms used in economic evaluations.DesignCross‐sectional internet survey of a US population‐representative respondent panel conductedDecember2013–January2014.SettingUnited States.ParticipantsA total of 2054 randomly selected adults; 51.1% male (before weighting).MeasurementsMean (95% confidence interval) and median health ‘utility’ for six opioid misuse and treatment outcomes: active injection misuse; active prescription misuse; methadone maintenance therapy at initiation and when stabilized in treatment; and buprenorphine therapy at initiation and when stabilized. Utility is a numerical representation of health‐related quality of life used in economic evaluations to ‘adjust’ estimated survival to include peoples’ preferences for health states. Utilities are determined by surveying the general population to estimate the value they assign to particular health states on a scale where 0 = the value of being dead and 1.0 = the value of being in perfect health. Spouse spillover utility is assigned to a spouse of an individual who is in a particular health state.FindingsMean individual utility ranged from 0.574 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.538, 0.611] for active injection opioid misuse to 0.766 for stabilized buprenorphine therapy (95% CI = 0.738, 0.795), with other states in between. Female respondents assigned higher utility to the active prescription misuse and buprenorphine therapy at initiation states than did males (P < 0.05); all other states did not differ by respondent gender. Mean spousal utilities were significantly lower than 1.0 but mostly higher than individual utility, and were similar between male and female respondents.ConclusionsIn the opinion of the US public, injection opioid misuse results in worse health‐related quality of life than prescription misuse, and methadone therapy results in worse health‐related quality of life than buprenorphine therapy. Spouses are negatively affected by their partner's opioid misuse and early treatment.
Pretreatment With Inactivated Bacillus Calmette–Guerin Increases CD4+CD25+ Regulatory T Cell Function and Decreases Functional and Structural Effects of Asthma Induction in a Rat Asthma Model
Authors: Gong Ping , Li Yun , Tan Yu‐Pin , Li Hong 
Published: October 2015

AbstractBacillus Calmette–Guerin (BCG) has been shown to have therapeutic effects on asthma through CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells (Tregs). We sought to assess pretreatment with inactivated BCG on CD4+CD25+ Tregs and its functional and structural effects in rat asthma model. The rat asthma model was established using ovalbumin (OVA) sensitization and challenge. Ten rats were pretreated with BCG prior to OVA and received continued BCG injections during OVA challenge (BCG+OVA group), 10 rats were treated with OVA alone (OVA group), and 10 rats were treated with saline (control group). After 9 weeks, histamine dihydrochloride effect on airway resistance was measured. Number of CD4+CD25+ Tregs was measured by flow cytometry, expression of Foxp3 and CTLA‐4 mRNA was measured, and serum TGF‐β levels were determined. Differential cell count in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was determined, and lung tissue was processed and stained with hematoxylin and eosin, Masson's trichrome, and alcine blue and periodic acid Schiff's reaction to evaluate inflammatory cell infiltration, collagen deposition, and presence of goblet cells, respectively. BCG treatment led to an increase in CD4+CD25+ Tregs, as well as an increase in Foxp3 and CTLA‐4 expression and serum TGF‐β levels. In addition, we observed a decrease in histamine dihydrochloride–induced airway resistance, a decrease in inflammatory leukocytes in BALF, and a decrease in airway remodeling indicators in BCG+OVA‐treated rats compared with OVA‐treated rats. Intradermally injected inactivated BCG has the potential to improve airway inflammation, airway resistance, and airway remodeling through a mechanism that may involve CD4+CD25+ Tregs.
Risk of thromboembolic disease in men with prostate cancer undergoing androgen deprivation therapy
Authors: O'Farrell Sean , Sandström Karin , Garmo Hans , Stattin Pär , Holmberg Lars , Adolfsson Jan , Van Hemelrijck Mieke 
Published: October 2015

ObjectivesTo investigate the risk of thromboembolic disease (TED) in men with prostate cancer (PCa) on androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), while accounting for known TED risk factors.Materials and MethodsWe assessed TED risk for 42 263 men with PCa who were receiving ADT compared with a matched cohort of 190 930 without PCa. The associations between ADT and deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE) were analysed using multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression models, while accounting for previous PCa‐related surgeries and the following proxies for disease progression: transurethral resection of the prostate, palliative radiotherapy and nephrostomy.ResultsBetween 1997 and 2013, 11 242 men with PCa received anti‐androgen monotherapy, 26 959 men received gonadotropin‐releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists, 1 091 men received combined androgen blockade and 3 789 men underwent orchiectomy. When accounting for previous surgeries and proxies of disease progression, GnRH agonist users and surgically castrated men had a higher risk of TED than the comparison cohort: hazard ratios (HRs) 1.67 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.40–1.98) and 1.61 (95% CI 1.15–2.28), respectively. Men on anti‐androgen monotherapy had a lower risk: HR for DVT 0.49 (95% CI 0.33–0.74). TED risk was highest among those who switched from anti‐androgen to GnRH agonists: HR for PE 2.55 (95% CI 1.76–3.70). This increased from 2.52 (95% CI 1.54–4.12) in year 1, to 4.05 (95% CI 2.51–6.55) in year 2.ConclusionThe incidence of TED among men on ADT increased with the duration of therapy and the risk was highest for those who switched regimen, suggesting that disease progression as well as ADT contribute to the propagation of TED risk. Nonetheless, these findings support the hypothesis that only men with a relevant indication should receive systemic ADT.
Surgimesh M‐SLING® transobturator and prepubic four‐arm urethral sling for post‐prostatectomy stress urinary incontinence: clinical prospective assessment at 24 months
Authors: Le Portz Benoit , Haillot Olivier , Brouziyne Majid , Saussine Christian 
Published: October 2015

ObjectiveTo assess tolerance and mid‐term clinical outcomes of treatment, with a new four‐arm mesh sling, of post‐prostatectomy incontinence (PPI) in men.Material and MethodsThis was a French multicentre prospective study that included 93 patients who underwent radical prostatectomy at least 1 year before Surgimesh M‐SLING® implantation for the treatment of PPI. Data were collected preoperatively, and patients were followed at 3, 12 and 24 months postoperatively. Objective outcome measures included number of pads per day, 24‐h pad‐test, maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax) and urinary retention. We also analysed Urinary Symptom Profile (USP®) score, degree of erectile dysfunction, patients' satisfaction level, postoperative pain and procedure complications. Length of catheterization and hospitalization periods were also recorded. Patients were considered cured if no protection was used and/or daily pad weight was <2 g. Patients whose condition was considered to have improved reduced their daily urinary losses by >50%. Those not included in any of the aforementioned groups were assessed as unchanged or to have deteriorated, and were considered as treatment failures.ResultsThe mean hospitalization period was 1.57 ± 0.70 days. All patients remained catheterized for 1.17 ± 0.48 days. Intention‐to‐treat analysis at 24 months showed that 34.4% of patients were cured, 27.1% had improved, and 19.4% were considered failures. Two patients experienced transient urinary retention. USP questionnaire scores showed a significant decrease in incontinence and prevalence of hyperactive bladder. There was a nonsignificant tendency for reduced severe erectile dysfunction (ED), and a shift towards moderate ED was observed. No severe complications occurred.ConclusionThe Surgimesh M‐SLING transobturator and prepubic four‐arm urethral sling represents an easy‐to‐deploy, safe and durable therapeutic alternative for mild to moderate PPI. Its implantation did not have a negative influence on sexual performance outcomes.
Outcomes of kidney retransplantation in recipients with prior post‐transplant lymphoproliferative disorder
Authors: Rouphael Bassem , Lankireddy Srilakshmi , Lazaryan Aleksandr , Kukla Aleksandra , Ibrahim Hassan N. , Matas Arthur J. , Issa Naim 
Published: October 2015

AbstractPost‐transplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD) is an uncommon but serious complication of solid organ transplantation. Reduction in immunosuppression is the mainstay of PTLD treatment, but it may precipitate graft loss. Retransplantation remains controversial, as immunosuppression resumption may trigger PTLD relapse. Herein, we describe the experience of eight patients who underwent kidney retransplantation after successful PTLD treatment. Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) serology was not known before the first transplantation. PTLD was diagnosed 62.5 months (range 5–323 months) after transplantation and was confined to the renal allograft (n = 1), lymph nodes (n = 2), gastrointestinal tract (n = 4), or central nervous system (n = 1). Immunosuppression tapering (8/8), chemotherapy (6/8), oral cavity lymphoma excision (1/8), and allograft nephrectomy (1/8) led to hematological remission in all patients. Retransplantation was performed at a median of 55.5 months (range 29–95 months) after PTLD diagnosis. After a median follow‐up of 62.5 months (range 2–125 months) allograft survival was 87.5% (seven functioning grafts, one failed graft from chronic rejection), with no recurrence of PTLD. In all, five patients remain alive; the other three died from causes other than PTLD. In conclusion, kidney retransplantation appears to be safe in patients with prior PTLD and without major risk of hematological recurrence provided that PTLD has remitted.
Incidence, etiology, and significance of acute kidney injury in the early post‐kidney transplant period
Authors: Panek Romuald , Tennankore Karthik K. , Kiberd Bryce A. 
Published: October 2015

AbstractLittle is known about the incidence, causes, and significance of acute kidney injury (AKI) in the early transplant period. This study used a definition as >26 μmol/L increase in creatinine within 48 h or >50% increase over a period >48 h. In 326 adult consecutive recipients of a solitary kidney transplant from 2006 to 2014 followed at this center, 21% developed AKI within the first six months. Most etiologies were CNI toxicity (33%) or unknown (26%), whereas acute rejection accounted for 17% and urinary tract obstruction for 10%. Those with AKI had a significantly lower glomerular filtration rate (GFR) at one‐yr post‐transplant (adjusted beta coefficient −5.5 mL/min/1.73 m2, 95% CI: −10.4, −0.7, p = 0.025) in a multivariable linear regression model. However, the AKI definition missed 6 of 19 episodes of acute rejection and 4 of 10 episodes of urinary tract obstruction. When acute rejection (including those that did not satisfy AKI criteria) was included in the model, other causes of AKI were not significantly associated with GFR at year 1. Although AKI, using current criteria, is likely to be a significant predictor of later outcomes, important causes are missed and the criteria are not sensitive for clinical decision‐making.
Temporal Trends of Cardiac Chambers Function with Trastuzumab in Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor II–Positive Breast Cancer Patients
Authors: Moustafa Sherif , Murphy Katie , Nelluri Bhargava K. , Northfelt Donald , Shah Parth , Lee Howard , Wilansky Susan , Naqvi Tasneem Z. , Meyer Susan , Mookadam Farouk 
Published: October 2015

BackgroundTrastuzumab has substantially improved overall survival and reduced the risk of disease recurrence in patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor type II (HER‐II)–positive breast cancer. However, this benefit may be at the increased risk of cardiotoxicity. We aimed to explore the early subclinical left and right ventricular as well as atrial dysfunction, in trastuzumab‐treated patients with HER‐II–positive breast cancer, using velocity vector imaging.MethodsEchocardiography images were acquired in 50 patients with HER‐II–positive breast cancer undergoing trastuzumab therapy. All patients had baseline and 3–6 months and 12–15 months of follow‐up echocardiograms after initiation of trastuzumab therapy. Subendocardial borders of all the cardiac chambers were traced from the apical views to obtain volumetric and deformation indices.ResultsMean age was 60 ± 13 years. Left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction as well as conventional indices of right ventricular (RV) function did not change with trastuzumab. The RV peak systolic global longitudinal strain (GLε) significantly decreased (−24.53 ± 6.03 vs. −21.28 ± 5.11 vs. −21.84 ± 5.15, baseline vs. first and second follow‐ups, P = 0.01). LV peak systolic GLε was reduced by 1.19 at early follow‐up (P < 0.05). Left atrial reservoir and booster pump functions as well as right atrial reservoir function were reduced through follow‐up as well.ConclusionsThe RV exhibited greater change in strain after trastuzumab treatment when compared to the LV. Atria function was reduced by trastuzumab as well. The repercussion of these findings and their potential implication will warrant further study.
Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy: Identifying risk and preventing mortality
Authors: Lhatoo Samden , Noebels Jeffrey , Whittemore Vicky ,   The NINDS Center for SUDEP Research
Published: October 2015

SummaryPremature death among individuals with epilepsy is higher than in the general population, and sudden unexpected death is the most common cause of this mortality. A new multisite collaborative research consortium, the Center for sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) Research (CSR), has received major funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to examine the possible biologic mechanisms underlying this potentially preventable comorbidity and develop predictive biomarkers for interventions that could lower SUDEP incidence. This inaugural report describes the structure of the CSR, its priorities for human and experimental research, and the strategic collaborations and advanced tools under development to reduce this catastrophic outcome of epilepsy. The CSR Partners Program will work closely with committed volunteer agencies, industry, and academic institutions to accelerate and communicate these advances to the professional and lay community.
A clinical report of Chediak–Higashi syndrome in infancy with a novel genotype from the Indian subcontinent
Authors: Singh Ankur , Bryan Melanie M. , Roney Joseph C. , Cullinane Andrew R. , Gahl William A. , Khurana Nita , Kapoor Seema 
Published: October 2015

AbstractChediak–Higashi syndrome (CHS; OMIM no. 214500) is an inherited multisystem disorder presenting with hypopigmentation and a propensity to infections due to immunological dysfunction. CHS generally presents in infancy with a fatal outcome, but less severe cases can present in adulthood. Treatment with bone marrow transplantation can be life‐saving, so establishing a correct diagnosis is critical. The presence of large granules on examination of peripheral blood smears is suggestive of the diagnosis of CHS in most centers. However, sequencing of the lysosomal trafficking, LYST, gene confirms the diagnosis and can provide a prognosis regarding disease severity. In the case presented here, we performed molecular testing to identify the causative mutation and tabulated published mutation data from 2009 to 2014. We found a novel frameshift mutation in our case and concluded that frameshift and nonsense are the most common types of mutation in CHS, but this may be biased due to underdiagnosis of the milder and atypical forms of the disease.
Self‐efficacy and progression of periodontal disease: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Mizutani Shinsuke , Ekuni Daisuke , Tomofuji Takaaki , Irie Koichiro , Azuma Tetsuji , Iwasaki Yoshiaki , Morita Manabu 
Published: October 2015

AbstractAimThe purpose of this longitudinal study was to investigate whether self‐efficacy scale for self‐care (SESS) was related to changes in oral health behaviours and progression of periodontal disease in Japanese university students.Material and MethodsStudents (n = 533) who were interested in receiving oral health examinations before entering the university and before graduation were included in the analysis. Self‐efficacy was assessed using SESS, which uses three subscales: self‐efficacy for brushing of the teeth (SE‐BR), for dentist consultations (SE‐DC) and for dietary habits. The informations about oral health behaviours were also collected. For all participants, oral hygiene instructions was performed at baseline. After 3 years, the oral health behaviours and the periodontal condition were re‐assessed.ResultsThe progression of periodontal disease was related to low baseline SE‐BR. Logistic regression analysis showed that progression of periodontal disease risk during a 3‐year period was associated with low baseline SE‐BR (OR: 1.516; 95% CI: 1.010–2.275; p < 0.05). The increase in the score of SE‐DC was related to the increase in regular dental checkups (p < 0.05).ConclusionLow SESS was associated with progression of periodontal disease and improvement of oral health behaviours in university students who received oral hygiene instructions at baseline.
A commentary on ‘Amplitude spectra of natural images’
Authors: Tolhurst David J. 
Published: October 2015

AbstractTolhurst, Tadmor and Tang Chao (Ophthalmic Physiol Opt 1992; 12: 229‐232)published their analyses of the Fourier spectra of 135 digitised monochrome photographs of everyday scenes. In 2015, this would be a trivial exercise, but in 1992, this stretched emerging computer technology to its desktop limits. The short paper made an impact because it provided a handle for extending vision science beyond laboratory stimuli such as sinewave gratings into a real world of real visual scenes and real visual tasks.
Refractive plasticity of the developing chick eye: a summary and update
Authors: Irving Elizabeth L. , Sivak Jacob G. , Callender Murchison G. 
Published: October 2015

AbstractPurposeTo summarize the OPO 1992 Classic Paper: Refractive plasticity of the developing chick eye (12: 448–452) and discuss recent findings in refractive development.Summary and recent findingsThe classic paper shows that when lightweight plastic goggles with rigid contact lens inserts are applied to the eyes of newly hatched chicks, the eye responds accurately to defocus between −10 and +20 D, although hyperopia develops more rapidly. While the changes largely are due to change in axial length, high levels of hyperopia are associated with corneal flattening. Also, newly hatched chicks are better able to compensate for the induced defocus than chicks that are 9 days old. In addition, astigmatism of 2–6 D can be produced by applying 9 D toric inducing lenses on the day of hatching, and the most myopic meridian coincides with the power meridian of the inducing lens. This astigmatism appears to be primarily due to corneal toricity. Furthermore, the greatest magnitude was produced when the plano meridian of the inducing lens was placed 45° from the line of the palpebral fissure.Since our publication in 1992, it has been shown that similar results can be produced in a variety of species, including; tree shrews, marmosets, monkeys and fish. Considerable effort has been spent in trying to determine what the eye uses, if not the brain, as the signal to the sign of the defocus. Accommodation, chromatic aberration, diurnal variation, astigmatism and higher order monochromatic aberrations have all been considered. Choroidal thinning and thickening play a role in myopia and hyperopia development, respectively, in chicks. High light levels (15,000 lux) increase the rate at which chicks compensate for positive lenses and decrease the compensation rate for negative lenses. However these light levels do not prevent the eye from fully compensating for either type of lens. It has also been shown that brief periods of normal vision prevent the development of form deprivation myopia. Finally, the importance of the peripheral retina in refractive development has been explored and lenses designed to reduce relative peripheral hyperopia have resulted in variable effects as far as myopia control is concerned.ConclusionsA growing body of evidence, from both animal models and human clinical trials indicates that the development of myopia is related both to genetics and environment / lifestyle. Nevertheless, we are far from understanding how this interaction takes place.
Kant and Women
Authors: Varden Helga 
Published: October 2015

AbstractKant's conception of women is complex. Although he struggles to bring his considered view of women into focus, a sympathetic reading shows it not to be anti‐feminist and to contain important arguments regarding human nature. Kant believes the traditional male‐female distinction is unlikely to disappear, but he never proposes the traditional gender idealasthe moral ideal; he rejects the idea that such considerations of philosophical anthropology can set the framework for morality. This is also why his moral works clarifies that all citizens, including women have the right, and should be encouraged to strive towards an active condition.
Melanopsin and the Non‐visual Photochemistry in the Inner Retina of Vertebrates
Authors: Díaz Nicolás M. , Morera Luis P. , Guido Mario E. 
Published: October 2015

AbstractMelanopsin (Opn4), a member of the G‐protein‐coupled receptor family, is a vitamin A‐based opsin in the vertebrate retina that has been shown to be involved in the synchronization of circadian rhythms, pupillary light reflexes, melatonin suppression and other light‐regulated tasks. In nonmammalian vertebrates there are two Opn4 genes, Opn4m and Opn4x, the mammalian and Xenopus orthologs respectively. Opn4x is only expressed in nonmammalian vertebrates including reptiles, fish and birds, while Opn4m is found in a subset of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), the intrinsically photosensitive (ip) RGCs of the inner retina of both mammals and nonmammalian vertebrates. All opsins described utilize retinaldehyde as chromophore, photoisomerized from 11‐cis‐ to all‐trans‐retinal upon light exposure. Visual retinal photoreceptor cones and rods, responsible for day and night vision respectively, recycle retinoids through a process called the visual cycle that involves the retinal pigment epithelium or glial Müller cells. Although Opn4 has been characterized as a bistable photopigment, little is known about the mechanism/s involved in its chromophore regeneration. In this review, we will attempt to shed light on the visual cycle taking place in the inner retina and discuss the state of the art in the nonvisual photochemistry of vertebrates.