bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The effect of two different doses of remifentanil on postoperative pain and opioid consumption after cardiac surgery – a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Florkiewicz P. , Musialowicz T. , Pitkänen O. , Lahtinen P. 
Published: April 2015

BackgroundRemifentanil, an ultra‐short‐acting opioid, provides intensive analgesia without prolonged respiratory depression and is widely used in cardiac surgery. Diminished dosing may also offer stable hemodynamics, even during sternotomy and sternal retraction. However, increased postoperative pain and induced opioid tolerance after remifentanil dosing during abdominal surgery was reported. We tested whether remifentanil 0.3 μg/kg/min infusion increased postoperative opioid consumption and pain compared to 0.1 μg/kg/min dosing.MethodsNinety coronary artery bypass grafting or heart valve surgery patients were randomized to remifentanil 0.1 μg/kg/min or 0.3 μg/kg/min infusions during surgery. All patients received oxycodone bolus 0.15 μg/kg postoperatively, and patient‐controlled analgesia (PCA) with oxycodone thereafter. Postoperative pain was estimated thrice daily by visual analogue scale, and 48‐h opioid consumption was recorded from the PCA‐device.ResultsTotal remifentanil dosing was 64 μg/kg in the higher and 22 μg/kg in the lower dosing group during the 3‐h cardiac operations. Mean postoperative opioid consumption was 107 (SD 36) mg in the lower and 104 (SD 33) mg in the higher dose remifentanil groups. Postoperative pain did not differ between groups, at rest or during deep breathing, at any time (P = 0.110 and 0.941, respectively).ConclusionsRemifentanil 0.3 μg/kg/min infusion did not increase postoperative pain or opioid consumption after cardiac surgery compared to the 0.1 μg/kg/min infusion. Remifentanil infusion 0.1–0.3 μg/kg/min during cardiac surgery was safe, with no exaggerated postoperative pain or opioid consumption.
Serum β‐hCG levels post‐treatment of ectopic pregnancy with a single dose of intramuscular methotrexate
Authors: Hadinata Ignatius E. , Doyle Lex W. , Thompson Derrick , Reti Leslie 
Published: April 2015

BackgroundThe cytotoxic management of ectopic pregnancy using a single dose of intramuscular methotrexate injection has been well established as effective for a select number of women with unruptured tubal ectopic pregnancy where there are minimal symptoms.AimThe purpose of this study was to create centile curves of serum β‐hCG levels following successful treatment with a single dose of 50 mg/m2 of intramuscular methotrexate to treat ectopic pregnancy.Material and MethodsData were retrieved from women treated at the Royal Women's Hospital for ectopic pregnancy between 2006 and 2012. Only women with minimal symptoms, initial serum β‐hCG ≤5000 IU/L and ectopic mass size of ≤35 mm on ultrasound were included. Two hundred and fifty‐three cases of ectopic pregnancy were analysed.ResultsInitial β‐hCG of women in the study ranged from 18 to 3995 IU/L with a median of 497 (25th to 75th centiles; 222–1160) IU/L. The median levels of β‐hCG levels at day 4, 7 and 14 postmethotrexate injection were 73.8, 47.2 and 10.4% of the initial β‐hCG level, respectively. The 90th centiles of β‐hCG levels at day 4, 7 and 14 were 124.7, 93.8 and 40.0% of initial β‐hCG level, respectively.ConclusionsWhilst no comparison with those unsuccessfully treated was made, pending further validation studies, the use of these curves may reduce the reliance on specialist units and streamline care for many women with ectopic pregnancy, such as those whose β‐hCG regress in line with centile values without crossing a certain threshold.
Transthoracic echocardiographic assessment of haemodynamics in severe pre‐eclampsia and HIV in South Africa
Authors: Dennis A. T. , Dyer R. A. , Gibbs M. , Nel L. , Castro J. M. , Swanevelder J. L. 
Published: April 2015

SummaryHaemodynamic and cardiac structural changes in severe pre‐eclampsia and in pregnant women with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection have not been clearly established. We performed transthoracic echocardiography on 105 women. Women with pre‐eclampsia demonstrated (mean (SD), untreated vs treated) preserved fractional shortening (40 (7.1)% vs 41 (8.6)%), a non‐dilated left ventricle (4.5 (0.49) cm vs 4.4 (0.44) cm), increased mitral valve E/septal e′ (10.5 (3.3) vs 10.6 (2.8)), and preserved tricuspid annular plane systolic exertion (2.6 (0.36) cm vs 2.4 (0.51) cm). Women with HIV infection demonstrated (mean (SD), HIV‐positive vs healthy) a reduced cardiac index (2.8 (0.64) ml.min−1.m−2 vs 3.1 (0.7) ml.min−1.m−2, p = 0.029), reduced septal s′ tissue Doppler velocity (8.5 (1.5) cm.s−1 vs 9.3 (1.7) cm.s−1, p = 0.042), increased left ventricular end‐diastolic area (7.6 (2.1) cm2 vs 6.3 (1.7) cm2, p = 0.004), and reduced right ventricular s′ and e′ velocity (s′ velocity 14.7 (3.1) cm.s−1 vs 7.0 (2.9) cm.s−1 p = 0.001, e′ velocity 16.3 (4.1) cm.s−1 vs 18.7 (3.4) cm.s−1, p = 0.013). The mitral value E/septal e′ was > 8 in 39% of patients with HIV. Fractional shortening (< 28%) was reduced in 10% of healthy women, and mitral valve E/septal e′ ratios were > 8 in 38% of that group. Women with pre‐eclampsia demonstrated preserved systolic function, with diastolic dysfunction. Women with HIV demonstrated reduced left and right ventricular systolic function, with increased ventricular dilatation.
Prenatal acquired cytomegalovirus infection should be considered in children with autism
Authors: Engman Mona‐Lisa , Sundin Mikael , Miniscalco Carmela , Westerlund Joakim , Lewensohn‐Fuchs Ilona , Gillberg Christopher , Fernell Elisabeth 
Published: April 2015

AbstractAimThe aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of congenital cytomegalovirus infection (CMV) in a representative sample of children with autism spectrum disorder.MethodsIn a representative group of 115 preschool children with autism spectrum disorder, of whom 33 also had intellectual disability, the dried blood spots from the newborn metabolic screening were analysed for CMV DNA using TaqMan polymerase chain reaction.ResultsOne of the 33 children with autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disability – 3% of that group – had congenital CMV infection. The corresponding prevalence in newborn infants in Sweden is 0.2%. None of the 82 children without intellectual disability had congenital CMV.ConclusionThe finding lends some further support for congenital CMV being one of the many aetiologies underlying autism spectrum disorder with intellectual disability. The rate of 3% of congenital CMV in children with autism spectrum disorder with intellectual disability has implications for the medical work‐up. The finding of congenital CMV also indicates the need for repeated hearing assessments in the child. There is a need for similar studies with much larger samples.
Systematic review with meta‐analysis: Saccharomyces boulardii supplementation and eradication of Helicobacter pylori infection
Authors: Szajewska H. , Horvath A. , Kołodziej M. 
Published: April 2015

SummaryBackgroundUnsatisfactory Helicobacter pylori eradication rates and therapy‐associated side effects remain a problem.AimTo update our 2010 meta‐analysis on the effects of Saccharomyces boulardii as supplementation to a standard eradication regimen on H. pylori eradication rates and therapy‐associated side effects.MethodsThe Cochrane Library, MEDLINE and EMBASE databases were searched from July 2010 (end date of last search) to February 2015, with no language restrictions, for randomised controlled trials (RCTs); additional references were obtained from reviewed articles. Quality of evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) guidelines.ResultsEleven RCTs (2200 participants, among them 330 children) met the inclusion criteria. Of the 853 patients in the S. boulardii group, 679 (80%, 95% CI 77–82) experienced eradication compared with 608 of the 855 patients (71%, 95% CI 68–74) in the control group [relative risk (RR) 1.11, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.06–1.17; moderate quality evidence]. S. boulardii compared with control reduced the risk of overall H. pylori therapy‐related adverse effects (RR 0.44, 95% CI 0.31–0.64; moderate quality evidence), particularly of diarrhoea (RR 0.51, 95% CI 0.42–0.62; high quality evidence) and nausea [RR 0.6, 95% CI 0.44–0.83 (moderate quality of evidence)].ConclusionsIn the populations studied, the effectiveness of standard triple therapy was unsatisfactory. The addition of S. boulardii significantly increased the eradication rate, but it was still below the desired level of success. Saccharomyces boulardii significantly decreased some therapy‐related side effects.
Evolving transcriptomic fingerprint based on genome‐wide data as prognostic tools in prostate cancer
Authors: Alshalalfa Mohammed , Schliekelman Mark , Shin Heesun , Erho Nicholas , Davicioni Elai 
Published: April 2015

Background InformationProstate cancer (PCa) is a common disease but only a small subset of patients are at risk of developing metastasis and lethal disease, and identifying which patients will progress is challenging because of the heterogeneity underlying tumour progression. Understanding this heterogeneity at the molecular level and the resulting clinical impact is a critical step necessary for risk stratification. Defining genomic fingerprint elucidates molecular variation and may improve PCa risk stratification, providing more accurate prognostic information of tumour aggressiveness (or lethality) for prognostic biomarker development. Therefore, we explored transcriptomic differences between patients with indolent disease outcome and patients who developed metastasis post‐radical prostatectomy using genome‐wide expression data in the post radical prostatectomy clinical space before metastatic spread.ResultsBased on differential expression analysis, patients with adverse pathological findings who are at higher risk of developing metastasis have a distinct transcriptomic fingerprint that can be detected on surgically removed prostate specimens several years before metastasis detection. Nearly half of the transcriptomic fingerprint features were non‐coding RNA highlighting their pivotal role in PCa progression. Protein‐coding RNA features in the fingerprint are involved in multiple pathways including cell cycle, chromosome structure maintenance and cytoskeleton organisation. The metastatic transcriptomic fingerprint was determined in independent cohorts verifying the association between the fingerprint and metastatic patients. Further, the fingerprint was confirmed in metastasis lesions demonstrating that the fingerprint represents early metastatic transcriptomic changes, suggesting its utility as a prognostic tool to predict metastasis and provide clinical value in the early radical prostatectomy setting.ConclusionsHere, we show that transcriptomic patterns of metastatic PCa exist that can be detected early after radical prostatectomy. This metastatic fingerprint has potential prognostic ability that can impact PCa treatment management potentially circumventing the requirements for unnecessary therapies.
Narrowing in categorical responding to other‐race face classes by infants
Authors: Quinn Paul C. , Lee Kang , Pascalis Olivier , Tanaka James W. 
Published: April 2015

AbstractInfants can form object categories based on perceptual cues, but their ability to form categories based on differential experience is less clear. Here we examined whether infants filter through perceptual differences among faces from different other‐race classes and represent them as a single other‐race class different only from own‐race faces. We used a familiarization/novelty‐preference procedure to investigate category formation for two other‐race face classes (Black vs. Asian) by White 6‐ and 9‐month‐olds. The data indicated that while White 6‐month‐olds categorically represented the distinction between Black and Asian faces, White 9‐month‐olds formed a broad other‐race category inclusive of Black and Asian faces, but exclusive of own‐race White faces. The findings provide evidence that narrowing can occur for mental processes other than discrimination: category formation is also affected. The results suggest that frequency of experience with own‐race versus other‐race classes of faces may propel infants to contrast own‐race faces with other‐race faces, but not different classes of other‐race faces with each other.
Safety and outcome of allogeneic stem cell transplantation in myelofibrosis
Authors: Markiewicz Miroslaw , Dzierzak Mietla Monika , Wieczorkiewicz Agata , Mizia Sylwia , Helbig Grzegorz , Kopera Malgorzata , Bialas Krzysztof , Rybicka Malwina , Matyja Mariusz , Koclega Anna , Sedlak Lech , Oleksy Tomasz , Raman Sundar , Kyrcz‐Krzemien Slawomira 
Published: April 2015

AbstractObjectivesWe evaluated the safety and outcome of allo‐HSCTs in myelofibrosis (MF).MethodsA total of 27 patients with primary (n = 20) or secondary (n = 7) MF, aged 51 (21–63) yr, transplanted from HLA‐matched related (59%) or unrelated (41%) donors were analyzed. Conditioning was reduced in 26 and myeloablative in one patient; and ATG was used in 25. Sources of stem cells were as follows: peripheral blood (21), bone marrow (4) or both (2).ResultsPrognostic factors that adversely affected overall survival (OS) in the multivariate analysis were as follows: recipient age >45 yr (HR = 10.55, P = 0.025) and unrelated donor (HR=3.73, P = 0.026). Post‐transplant transfusion dependence adversely affected OS in the univariate analysis: dependence from either both RBCs and platelets (HR = 33.26, P = 0.001) or from either of them (HR = 10.53, P = 0.043). Of 16 JAK2V617F‐positive patients evaluated post‐transplant, it was eradicated in 69% and decreased in 25%. Acute GVHD III‐IV developed in 19% and extensive chronic GVHD in 26% of patients; the relapse in four patients was treated with second allo‐HSCT. Spleen decreased in all evaluated patients (n = 24). Fibrotic changes improved or disappeared in 80% of evaluated patients (n = 10).ConclusionsAllo‐HSCT may prolong survival, provide disease regression and improve quality of life in MF, especially in patients ≤45 yr transplanted from matched related donors. Achieving transfusion independence post‐transplant indicates the favorable outcome.
Anxiety‐provoked gait changes are selectively dopa‐responsive in Parkinson's disease
Authors: Ehgoetz Martens Kaylena A. , Ellard Colin G. , Almeida Quincy J. 
Published: April 2015

AbstractIn order to understand how dopamine modulates the effect of anxiety on gait, the goal of this study was to use virtual reality to provoke anxiety in Parkinson's disease (PD) (in both ON and OFF states) and quantify its effect on gait. Seventeen participants with PD and 20 healthy age‐matched controls were instructed to walk in a virtual environment in two anxiety‐provoking conditions: (i) across a plank that was located on the GROUND and (ii) across an ELEVATED plank. All participants with PD completed this experiment in both the ON and OFF states, and were then striated into groups based on baseline trait anxiety scores for further analyses. Anxiety (skin conductance and self‐report) and spatiotemporal aspects of gait were measured. Overall, the ELEVATED condition resulted in greater skin conductance levels and self‐reported anxiety levels. Additionally, all participants demonstrated slower gait with increased step‐to‐step variability when crossing the ELEVATED plank compared with the plank on the GROUND. The results showed that dopaminergic treatment selectively improved gait in only the highly anxious PD group, by significantly improving velocity, step length, step time and step‐to‐step variability specifically when walking across the ELEVATED plank (ON vs. OFF comparison). In conclusion, only highly trait anxious participants with PD benefitted from dopaminergic treatment, specifically when walking in the anxiety‐provoking environment. Improvements to gait during anxious walking might be a result of dopaminergic medication acting in two ways: (i) improving the basal ganglia's capacity to process information and (ii) reducing the load from anxiety and subsequently making more resources available to effectively process other competing inputs.
Sox4 participates in the modulation of Schwann cell myelination
Authors: Bartesaghi Luca , Arnaud Gouttenoire Estelle , Prunotto Andrea , Médard Jean‐Jacques , Bergmann Sven , Chrast Roman 
Published: April 2015

AbstractIn order to identify new regulators of Schwann cell myelination potentially playing a role in peripheral nervous system (PNS) pathologies, we analysed gene expression profiling data from three mouse models of demyelinating neuropathies and from the developing PNS. This analysis revealed that Sox4, which encodes a member of the Sry‐related high‐mobility group box protein family, was consistently upregulated in all three analysed models of neuropathy. Moreover, Sox4 showed a peak in its expression during development that corresponded with the onset of myelination. To gain further insights into the role of Sox4 in PNS development, we generated a transgenic mouse that specifically overexpresses Sox4 in Schwann cells. Sox4 overexpression led to a temporary delay in PNS myelination without affecting axonal sorting. Importantly, we observed that, whereas Sox4 mRNA could be efficiently overexpressed, Sox4 protein expression in Schwann cells was strictly regulated. Finally, our data showed that enforced expression of Sox4 in the mouse model for Charcot–Marie–Tooth 4C aggravated its neuropathic phenotype. Together, these observations reveal that Sox4 contributes to the regulation of Schwann cell myelination, and also indicates its involvement in the pathophysiology of peripheral neuropathies.
Influence of arachidonyl‐2′‐chloroethylamide, a selective cannabinoid CB1 receptor agonist, on the anticonvulsant and acute side‐effect potentials of clobazam, lacosamide, and pregabalin in the maximal electroshock‐induced seizure model and chimney test in mice
Authors: Florek‐Luszczki Magdalena , Zagaja Miroslaw , Luszczki Jarogniew J. 
Published: April 2015

AbstractThe influence of arachidonyl‐2′‐chloroethylamide (ACEA – a selective cannabinoid CB1 receptor agonist) on the anticonvulsant potency and acute adverse‐effect potentials of clobazam, lacosamide, and pregabalin was determined in the maximal electroshock‐induced seizure model and chimney test in mice. ACEA (2.5 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly enhanced the anticonvulsant potency of pregabalin in the mouse maximal electroshock‐induced seizure model by decreasing the median effective dose (ED50) of pregabalin from 125.39 to 78.06 mg/kg (P < 0.05). In contrast, ACEA (2.5 mg/kg) had no significant impact on the anticonvulsant potency of clobazam and lacosamide in the mouse maximal electroshock‐induced seizure model. On the other hand, ACEA (2.5 mg/kg) did not affect acute adverse effects of clobazam, lacosamide or pregabalin, and the median toxic doses (TD50) for the studied anti‐epileptic drugs in combination with ACEA did not differ from the TD50 values as determined for the drugs administered alone in the chimney test. In conclusion, ACEA ameliorates the pharmacological profile of pregabalin, when considering both the anticonvulsant and the acute adverse effects of the drug in preclinical study on animals. The combination of pregabalin with ACEA can be of pivotal importance for patients with epilepsy as a potentially advantageous combination if the results from this study translate into clinical settings.
Basin‐scale fluid movement patterns revealed by veins: Wessex Basin, UK
Authors: Worden R. H. , Benshatwan M. S. , Potts G. J. , Elgarmadi S. M. 
Published: April 2015

AbstractCalcite veins at outcrop in the Mesozoic, oil‐bearing Wessex Basin, UK, have been studied using field characterization, petrography, fluid inclusions and stable isotopes to help address the extent, timing and spatial and stratigraphic variability of basin‐scale fluid flow. The absence of quartz shows that veins formed at low temperature without an influence of hydrothermal fluids. Carbon isotopes suggest that the majority of vein calcite was derived locally from the host rock but up to one quarter of the carbon in the vein calcite came from CO2 from petroleum source rocks. Veins become progressively enriched in source‐rock‐derived CO2 from the outer margin towards the middle, indicating a growing influence of external CO2. The carbon isotope data suggest large‐scale migration of substantial amounts of CO2 around the whole basin. Fluid inclusion salinity data and interpreted water‐δ18O data show that meteoric water penetrated deep into the western part of the basin after interacting with halite‐rich evaporites in the Triassic section before entering fractured Lower and Middle Jurassic rocks. This large‐scale meteoric invasion of the basin probably happened during early Cenozoic uplift. A similar approach was used to reveal that, in the eastern part of the basin close to the area that underwent most uplift, uppermost Jurassic and Cretaceous rocks underwent vein formation in the presence of marine connate water suggesting a closed system. Stratigraphically underlying Upper Jurassic mudstone and Lower Cretaceous sandstone, in the most uplifted part of the basin, contain veins that resulted from intermediate behaviour with input from saline meteoric water and marine connate waters. Thus, while source‐rock‐derived CO2 seems to have permeated the entire section, water movement has been more restricted. Oil‐filled inclusions in vein calcite have been found within dominant E‐W trending normal faults, suggesting that these may have facilitated oil migration.
Hydrogeology of the Krafla geothermal system, northeast Iceland
Authors: Pope E. C. , Bird D. K. , Arnórsson S. , Giroud N. 
Published: April 2015

AbstractThe Krafla geothermal system is located in Iceland's northeastern neovolcanic zone, within the Krafla central volcanic complex. Geothermal fluids are superheated steam closest to the magma heat source, two‐phase at higher depths, and sub‐boiling at the shallowest depths. Hydrogen isotope ratios of geothermal fluids range from −87‰, equivalent to local meteoric water, to −94‰. These fluids are enriched in 18O relative to the global meteoric line by +0.5–3.2‰. Calculated vapor fractions of the fluids are 0.0–0.5 wt% (~0–16% by volume) in the northwestern portion of the geothermal system and increase towards the southeast, up to 5.4 wt% (~57% by volume). Hydrothermal epidote sampled from 900 to 2500 m depth has δD values from −127 to −108‰, and δ18O from −13.0 to −9.6‰. Fluids in equilibrium with epidote have isotope compositions similar to those calculated for the vapor phase of two‐phase aquifer fluids. We interpret the large range in δDEPIDOTE and δ18OEPIDOTE across the system and within individual wells (up to 7‰ and 3.3‰, respectively) to result from variable mixing of shallow sub‐boiling groundwater with condensates of vapor rising from a deeper two‐phase reservoir. The data suggest that meteoric waters derived from a single source in the northwest are separated into the shallow sub‐boiling reservoir, and deeper two‐phase reservoir. Interaction between these reservoirs occurs by channelized vertical flow of vapor along fractures, and input of magmatic volatiles further alters fluid chemistry in some wells. Isotopic compositions of hydrothermal epidote reflect local equilibrium with fluids formed by mixtures of shallow water, deep vapor condensates, and magmatic volatiles, whose ionic strength is subsequently derived from dissolution of basalt host rock. This study illustrates the benefits of combining phase segregation effects in two‐phase systems during analysis of wellhead fluid data with stable isotope values of hydrous alteration minerals when evaluating the complex hydrogeology of volcano‐hosted geothermal systems.