bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Vulvodynia—An Evidence‐Based Literature Review and Proposed Treatment Algorithm
Authors: De Andres Jose , Sanchis‐Lopez Nerea , Asensio‐Samper Juan Marcos , Fabregat‐Cid Gustavo , Villanueva‐Perez Vicente L. , Monsalve Dolz Vicente , Minguez Ana 
Published: January 2015

AbstractObjectiveWe searched the medical literature from the last 15 years (1998 to 2013) relating to the etiology, diagnosis, and treatment of vulvodynia. The evidence was reviewed supporting the therapeutic proposals currently in use and propose the incorporation of novel, minimally invasive, interventional therapies, within the context of a multidisciplinary approach.MethodsThis was a systematic review of all relevant studies with no language restrictions. Studies were identified through Medline/PubMed (1998 to March 2013), the Cochrane Library (2001 to 2013), and conference records and book chapters. The keywords used included “chronic pelvic pain,” “vulvodynia,” “vestibulodynia,” and search terms “etiology,” “diagnosis,” and “treatment” were added. The levels of evidence were assessed using grading system for “Therapy/Prevention/Etiology/Harm” developed by the Centre for Evidence‐Based Medicine (CEBM). The grading system assists in clinical decision‐making, and we decided to use “The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE).”ResultsA total of 391 papers were assessed. Of these, 215 were analyzed and 175 were excluded, as they pertained to areas not directly related to the disease under review.ConclusionThe optimal therapy for vulvar pain syndrome remains elusive, with low percentages of therapeutic success, using either local or systemic pharmacological approaches. Surgery involving invasive and often irreversible therapeutic procedures has resulted in success for certain subtypes of vulvodynia. We present a multidisciplinary approach whereby pain treatment units may provide an intermediate level of care between standard medical and surgical treatments.
Pain Assessment with Short Message Service and Interactive Voice Response in Outpatients with Cancer and Pain: A Feasibility Study
Authors: Besse Kees T. C. , Faber‐te Boveldt Nienke D. , Janssen Ge H. P. , Vernooij‐Dassen Myrra , Vissers Kris C. P. , Engels Yvonne 
Published: January 2015

AbstractBackgroundPain assessment and monitoring is a prerequisite for its adequate treatment in patients with cancer. We performed a feasibility study on the use of short message service (SMS) and interactive voice response (IVR) to improve pain management in patients with cancer, including terminally ill patients.MethodsDuring 4 weeks, palliative patients received a daily IVR asking to provide their pain score on a numeric rating scale (NRS) with their mobile phone. If pain was moderate or high, the nurse contacted the patient the same day and, if required, adapted the treatment.ResultsThirteen of the 17 invited patients agreed to participate (79%), four died during the study period. IVR/SMS provides a reliable assessment of the pain intensity, and if required, treatment can be rapidly adapted. All patients were satisfied with the intervention. There were no difficulties for the, mainly older, patients in handling this communication way on pain intensity. The mean pain score decreased from 4.78 to 3.33 (P = 0.07). The pain scale of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ‐C30) decreased significantly from 56 to 35 (P = 0.047).DiscussionMonitoring and managing pain with IVR/SMS in patients with cancer at home appeared acceptable and feasible, even in terminally ill patients. The reluctance for actively contacting the professional in case of increased pain intensity is circumvented in this setting. Further research, preferably in a controlled study, is needed to establish the use of this intervention in a larger patient population.
Safety and Utility of Quantitative Sensory Testing among Adults with Sickle Cell Disease: Indicators of Neuropathic Pain?
Authors: Ezenwa Miriam O. , Molokie Robert E. , Wang Zaijie Jim , Yao Yingwei , Suarez Marie L. , Pullum Cherese , Schlaeger Judith M. , Fillingim Roger B. , Wilkie Diana J. 
Published: January 2015

AbstractObjectivesPain is the hallmark symptom of sickle cell disease (SCD), yet the types of pain that these patients experience, and the underlying mechanisms, have not been well characterized. The study purpose was to determine the safety and utility of a mechanical and thermal quantitative sensory testing (QST) protocol and the feasibility of utilizing neuropathic pain questionnaires among adults with SCD.MethodsA convenience sample (N = 25, 18 women, mean age 38.5 ± 12.5 [20–58 years]) completed self‐report pain and quality‐of‐life tools. Subjects also underwent testing with the TSA‐II NeuroSensory Analyzer and calibrated von Frey microfilaments.ResultsWe found that the QST protocol was safe and did not stimulate a SCD pain crisis. There was evidence of central sensitization (n = 15), peripheral sensitization (n = 1), a mix of central and peripheral sensitization (n = 8), or no sensitization (n = 1). The neuropathic pain self‐report tools were feasible with evidence of construct validity; 40% of the subjects reported S‐LANSS scores that were indicative of neuropathic pain and had evidence of central, peripheral or mixed sensitization.DiscussionThe QST protocol can be safely conducted in adults with SCD and provides evidence of central or peripheral sensitization, which is consistent with a neuropathic component to SCD pain. These findings are novel, warrant a larger confirmatory study, and indicate the need for normative QST data from African American adults and older adults.
Enhanced resistance to soybean cyst nematode Heterodera glycines in transgenic soybean by silencing putative CLE receptors
Authors: Guo Xiaoli , Chronis Demosthenis , De La Torre Carola M. , Smeda John , Wang Xiaohong , Mitchum Melissa G. 
Published: January 2015

SummaryCLE peptides are small extracellular proteins important in regulating plant meristematic activity through the CLE‐receptor kinase‐WOX signalling module. Stem cell pools in the SAM (shoot apical meristem), RAM (root apical meristem) and vascular cambium are controlled by CLE signalling pathways. Interestingly, plant‐parasitic cyst nematodes secrete CLE‐like effector proteins, which act as ligand mimics of plant CLE peptides and are required for successful parasitism. Recently, we demonstrated that Arabidopsis CLE receptors CLAVATA1 (CLV1), the CLAVATA2 (CLV2)/CORYNE (CRN) heterodimer receptor complex and RECEPTOR‐LIKE PROTEIN KINASE 2 (RPK2), which transmit the CLV3 signal in the SAM, are required for perception of beet cyst nematode Heterodera schachtii CLEs. Reduction in nematode infection was observed in clv1, clv2, crn, rpk2 and combined double and triple mutants. In an effort to develop nematode resistance in an agriculturally important crop, orthologues of Arabidopsis receptors including CLV1, CLV2, CRN and RPK2 were identified from soybean, a host for the soybean cyst nematode Heterodera glycines. For each of the receptors, there are at least two paralogues in the soybean genome. Localization studies showed that most receptors are expressed in the root, but vary in their level of expression and spatial expression patterns. Expression in nematode‐induced feeding cells was also confirmed. In vitro direct binding of the soybean receptors with the HgCLE peptide was analysed. Knock‐down of the receptors in soybean hairy roots showed enhanced resistance to SCN. Our findings suggest that targeted disruption of nematode CLE signalling may be a potential means to engineer nematode resistance in crop plants.
Correlation Between Waist:Height Ratio and Serum Nitric Oxide Level in Children with Atopic Dermatitis
Authors: Abdallah Wafaa I. , Abd El Maksoud Rania A. S. , Hashad Doaa I. , El Azhary Nesrine M. , Al Saied Abonayeem Shaimaa M. 
Published: January 2015

AbstractAtopic dermatitis (AD) is the most common chronic inflammatory disease of early childhood. This study shows that nitric oxide levels positively correlate with the clinical severity of AD, waist:height ratio, and weight.
One‐Pot Synthesis of Cu2O/ZnO Nanoparticles at Present of Folic Acid to ImproveUV‐Protective Effect of Cotton Fabrics
Authors: Noorian Seyyed Abbas , Hemmatinejad Nahid , Bashari Azadeh 
Published: January 2015

AbstractIn this study, the effect of using folic acid on the in situ synthesis process of nanostructures has been investigated. Folic acid, as a biotemplate for synthesis of Cu2O/ZnO, was used to improve the reducing and stabilizing the ability of cotton fabric and avoid agglomeration of the particles. Scanning electron microscopy images revealed that using folic acid caused the formation of particles with smaller sizes on the cotton fabric and X‐ray diffraction confirmed the same crystalline pattern of nanoparticles in comparison with the previous synthesis process. The effect of using this biotemplate on different properties of treated fabrics includingUV‐protection effect, hydrophilicity, crease recovery angle, softness, thickness and mechanical properties has been evaluated. The folic acid had a great influence onUV‐protection effect, in synthesis procedure, decreasing the droplet absorption time, bending length and improving the wrinkle resistance and mechanical properties. Interestingly, the higher tensile strength of the treated cotton fabrics proved the incorporation of nanoparticles into the cotton fibers. An in situ, green and rapid method can be provided by using folic acid for the synthesis of the nanostructures with controlled size.
Time‐frequency theta and delta measures index separable components of feedback processing in a gambling task
Authors: Bernat Edward M. , Nelson Lindsay D. , Baskin‐Sommers Arielle R. 
Published: January 2015

AbstractPrevious work using gambling tasks indicate that the feedback negativity (FN) reflects primary or salient stimulus attributes (often gain vs. loss), whereas the feedback‐P300 appears sensitive to secondary stimulus information. A recent time‐frequency approach has characterized separable theta (3–7 Hz) and delta (0–3 Hz) feedback processes, independently sensitive to primary feedback attributes, specifically loss and gain outcomes, respectively. The current study extends this time‐frequency work to evaluate both primary and secondary (relative outcome and outcome magnitude) feedback attributes. Consistent with previous reports, theta indexed an initial, lower‐level response sensitive to the primary (most salient) feedback attributes (specifically losses), while delta was sensitive to both primary attributes (specifically gains) and assessed secondary stimulus features.
Toward a post‐conflict Colombia: restoring to the future
Authors: Aguilar Mauricio , Sierra Jorge , Ramirez Wilson , Vargas Orlando , Calle Zoraida , Vargas William , Murcia Carolina , Aronson James , Barrera Cataño José I. 
Published: January 2015

AbstractAt an historic moment, when Colombia is emerging from 60 years of armed conflict, the 7‐year‐old Colombian Network for Ecological Restoration (Red Colombiana de Restauración Ecológica [REDCRE]) has created four subnational nodes, and is actively developing several more. All of this is taking place in the context of the Ibero‐American and Caribbean Society for Ecological Restoration (Sociedad Ibero‐Americana y del Caribe de la Restauración Ecológica [SIACRE]). In mid‐November 2014, over 200 representatives of government agencies, academia, private enterprises, and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) from the entire country attended a symposium to launch the Antioquia Province node, and take stock and plan the way forward. There are bright prospects of transdisciplinary and public–private collaborations in Colombia for ecological restoration and restoration of natural capital as part of a strategy to transition smoothly to a post‐conflict era. We suggest some goals and guidelines to help move forward an ambitious agenda to mainstream ecological restoration.
Wishful Thinking: The Surprisingly Sparse Evidence for a Relationship between Oxidative Stress and Cardiovascular Disease in Hemodialysis Patients
Authors: Bossola Maurizio , Tazza Luigi 
Published: January 2015

AbstractThe increased frequency of cardiovascular disease observed in hemodialysis patients is secondary to the combination of many traditional (age, male sex, hypertension, smoking, diabetes mellitus, and dyslipidemia) and novel and uremia‐related (inflammation, uremic toxins, adipokine imbalance, coagulation disorders, protein‐energy wasting, volume overload, endothelial dysfunction, hyperparathyroidism, and subclinical hypothyroidism) risk factors. Usually, in the latter group, oxidative stress is included. However, after decades of research, it remains essentially unknown if oxidative stress has a causative role in the development of cardiovascular disease in long‐term hemodialysis patients because adequate longitudinal studies are lacking. Data deriving from cross‐sectional studies suggest that biomarkers of oxidative stress are associated with cardiovascular disease prevalence. Conversely, conflicting and inconclusive results have been obtained on the association between oxidative stress and coronary artery calcification, atherosclerosis, and all‐cause and cardiovascular disease‐related outcome. It is desirable that further studies are conducted on this topic in the near future.
A case report of differentiating staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis by optical coherence tomography
Authors: Hussain A. A. , Banzhaf C. A. , Themstrup L. , Nielsen P. L. , Jemec G. B. E. 
Published: January 2015

BackgroundStaphylococcal scalded skin syndrome (SSSS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) both present with acute onset, high morbidity and significant mortality. Rapid diagnosis is therefore of importance. The aim of this study was to investigate and compare the presentation of these diseases using optical coherence tomography (OCT).MethodsTwo male patients with bullous diseases, SSSS and TEN, respectively, were photographed digitally, examined using dermoscopy, OCT scanned and subsequently biopsied in the said order.ResultsThe bullous skin was visualized by OCT showing two distinct images: the SSSS‐patient displayed superficial hyporefletive flaccid structures with a split high in the thickened (0.51 mm vs. 0.12 mm) epidermis while the TEN‐patient demonstrated a larger hyporeflective ovoid structure with a split right below the thickened epidermis (0.18 mm vs. 0.06 mm).ConclusionThese findings suggest that there is a potential for the application of OCT scanning in the acute phase of SSSS and TEN in order to distinguish them for a faster diagnosis and better management and treatment.
Antiretroviral blood levels in HIV/HCV‐coinfected patients with cirrhosis after liver transplant: a report of three cases
Authors: Righi E. , Londero A. , Pea F. , Bonora S. , Nasta P. , Della Siega P. , Delle Foglie P. , Villa G. , Giglio O. , Dal Zoppo S. , Baccarani U. , Bassetti M. 
Published: January 2015

AbstractSince the introduction of combined antiretroviral therapy, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is no longer a contraindication for solid organ transplantation. In HIV/hepatitis C virus (HCV)‐coinfected patients undergoing liver transplantation, HCV‐related cirrhosis, drug‐drug interactions, and calcineurin inhibitors‐related toxicity affect clinical outcomes. Therapeutic drug monitoring can be useful to assess antiretroviral over‐ or underexposure in this cohort. We report the clinical characteristics along with antiretroviral trough levels of maraviroc, darunavir, and etravirine in 3 HIV/HCV‐coinfected liver transplant recipients who developed post‐transplant liver cirrhosis.
Fluid shifts, vasodilatation and ambulatory blood pressure reduction during long duration spaceflight
Authors: Norsk Peter , Asmar Ali , Damgaard Morten , Christensen Niels Juel 
Published: January 2015

Key points
Weightlessness in space induces initially an increase in stroke volume and cardiac output, accompanied by unchanged or slightly reduced blood pressure.
It is unclear whether these changes persist throughout months of flight.
Here, we show that cardiac output and stroke volume increase by 35–41% between 3 and 6 months on the International Space Station, which is more than during shorter flights.
Twenty‐four hour ambulatory brachial blood pressure is reduced by 8–10 mmHg by a decrease in systemic vascular resistance of 39%, which is not a result of the suppression of sympathetic nervous activity, and the nightly dip is maintained in space.
It remains a challenge to explore what causes the systemic vasodilatation leading to a reduction in blood pressure in space, and whether the unexpectedly high stroke volume and cardiac output can explain some vision acuity problems encountered by astronauts on the International Space Station.
AbstractAcute weightlessness in space induces a fluid shift leading to central volume expansion. Simultaneously, blood pressure is either unchanged or decreased slightly. Whether these effects persist for months in space is unclear. Twenty‐four hour ambulatory brachial arterial pressures were automatically recorded at 1–2 h intervals with portable equipment in eight male astronauts: once before launch, once between 85 and 192 days in space on the International Space Station and, finally, once at least 2 months after flight. During the same 24 h, cardiac output (rebreathing method) was measured two to five times (on the ground seated), and venous blood was sampled once (also seated on the ground) for determination of plasma catecholamine concentrations. The 24 h average systolic, diastolic and mean arterial pressures (mean ± se) in space were reduced by 8 ± 2 mmHg (P = 0.01; ANOVA), 9 ± 2 mmHg (P < 0.001) and 10 ± 3 mmHg (P = 0.006), respectively. The nightly blood pressure dip of 8 ± 3 mmHg (P = 0.015) was maintained. Cardiac stroke volume and output increased by 35 ± 10% and 41 ± 9% (P < 0.001); heart rate and catecholamine concentrations were unchanged; and systemic vascular resistance was reduced by 39 ± 4% (P < 0.001). The increase in cardiac stroke volume and output is more than previously observed during short duration flights and might be a precipitator for some of the vision problems encountered by the astronauts. The spaceflight vasodilatation mechanism needs to be explored further.
Evaluation of Matrix9 silicon photomultiplier array for small‐animal PET
Authors: Du Junwei , Schmall Jeffrey P. , Yang Yongfeng , Di Kun , Roncali Emilie , Mitchell Gregory S. , Buckley Steve , Jackson Carl , Cherry Simon R. 
Published: January 2015

Purpose:The MatrixSL‐9‐30035‐OEM (Matrix9) from SensL is a large‐area silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) photodetector module consisting of a 3 × 3 array of 4 × 4 element SiPM arrays (total of 144 SiPM pixels) and incorporates SensL's front‐end electronics board and coincidence board. Each SiPM pixel measures 3.16 × 3.16 mm2 and the total size of the detector head is 47.8 × 46.3 mm2. Using 8 × 8 polished LSO/LYSO arrays (pitch 1.5 mm) the performance of this detector system (SiPM array and readout electronics) was evaluated with a view for its eventual use in small‐animal positron emission tomography (PET).Methods:Measurements of noise, signal, signal‐to‐noise ratio, energy resolution, flood histogram quality, timing resolution, and array trigger error were obtained at different bias voltages (28.0–32.5 V in 0.5 V intervals) and at different temperatures (5 °C–25 °C in 5 °C degree steps) to find the optimal operating conditions.Results:The best measured signal‐to‐noise ratio and flood histogram quality for 511 keV gamma photons were obtained at a bias voltage of 30.0 V and a temperature of 5 °C. The energy resolution and timing resolution under these conditions were 14.2% ± 0.1% and 4.2 ± 0.1 ns, respectively. The flood histograms show that all the crystals in the 1.5 mm pitch LSO array can be clearly identified and that smaller crystal pitches can also be resolved. Flood histogram quality was also calculated using different center of gravity based positioning algorithms. Improved and more robust results were achieved using the local 9 pixels for positioning along with an energy offset calibration. To evaluate the front‐end detector readout, and multiplexing efficiency, an array trigger error metric is introduced and measured at different lower energy thresholds. Using a lower energy threshold greater than 150 keV effectively eliminates any mispositioning between SiPM arrays.Conclusions:In summary, the Matrix9 detector system can resolve high‐resolution scintillator arrays common in small‐animal PET with adequate energy resolution and timing resolution over a large detector area. The modular design of the Matrix9 detector allows it to be used as a building block for simple, low channel‐count, yet high performance, small animal PET or PET/MRI systems.
Mechanistic Analytical Modeling of Superscalar In-Order Processor Performance
Authors: Breughe Maximilien B. , Eyerman Stijn , Eeckhout Lieven 
Published: January 2015

Superscalar in-order processors form an interesting alternative to out-of-order processors because of their energy efficiency and lower design complexity. However, despite the reduced design complexity, it is nontrivial to get performance estimates or insight in the application--microarchitecture interaction without running slow, detailed cycle-level simulations, because performance highly depends on the order of instructions within the application’s dynamic instruction stream, as in-order processors stall on interinstruction dependences and functional unit contention. To limit the number of detailed cycle-level simulations needed during design space exploration, we propose a mechanistic analytical performance model that is built from understanding the internal mechanisms of the processor.
The mechanistic performance model for superscalar in-order processors is shown to be accurate with an average performance prediction error of 3.2% compared to detailed cycle-accurate simulation using gem5. We also validate the model against hardware, using the ARM Cortex-A8 processor and show that it is accurate within 10% on average. We further demonstrate the usefulness of the model through three case studies: (1) design space exploration, identifying the optimum number of functional units for achieving a given performance target; (2) program--machine interactions, providing insight into microarchitecture bottlenecks; and (3) compiler--architecture interactions, visualizing the impact of compiler optimizations on performance.