bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Gender Differences in Refractive Prediction in Refractive Lens Exchange Surgery
Authors: Lundqvist Oskar , Westin Oscar , Koskela Timo , Behndig Anders 
Published: November 2014

Purpose To compare the refractive outcomes after refractive lens exchange (RLE) surgery with regards to gender and intraocular lens (IOL) power calculation formula. Methods A cohort of consecutive patients operated with bilateral same-day RLE surgery at a private eye clinic (n = 512) was studied. Target refraction was emmetropia in all cases and Haigis formula was used for all IOL power calculations. One month after surgery, subjective refraction was assessed and the absolute refractive prediction error (RPEAbs), as well as the refractive prediction error with correct signs (RPESign), was calculated, as were the refractive outcomes with the SRK/T formula. Results For the whole cohort, the Haigis formula rendered a significantly smaller RPEAbs than the SRK/T formula (0.16 ± 0.26 D vs 0.32 ± 0.30 D; p<0.001). No gender difference in RPEAbs was seen. A slight myopic error was seen with the SRK/T formula in women, and a slight hyperopic error in men (-0.06 ± 0.47 D vs + 0.16 ± 0.39 D; p<0.001). No similar gender difference was seen with the Haigis formula (+0.05 ± 0.29 D vs +0.05 ± 0.31 D; p = NS). Axial length, anterior chamber depth, and corneal steepness differed significantly between the sexes. Conclusions The Haigis formula generally performed better in this RLE cohort. The SRK/T formula generates a small myopic error in women and a hyperopic error in men, associated with flatter corneas, longer axial lengths, and deeper anterior chambers in the latter.
Interchangeability between Pentacam and IOLMaster in Phakic Intraocular Lens Calculation
Authors: Sayed Khulood M. , Alsamman Alahmady H. 
Published: November 2014

Purpose To evaluate the agreement and interchangeability between IOLMaster and Pentacam in phakic intraocular lens (IOL) calculations. Methods This was a prospective study involving measurement of the anterior segment parameters anterior chamber depth (ACD), white to white (WTW) line, and average anterior corneal curvature (K-reading) on 108 healthy eyes of 56 consecutive patients. Interdevice agreement and interchangeability in phakic IOL calculations was evaluated. Results Pentacam measured significantly longer ACD measurements (3.54 ± 0.35 mm) than the IOLMaster (3.40 ± 0.37 mm) (p<0.0001); on the other hand, it measured significantly shorter WTW line measurements (11.61 ± 0.44 mm) than the IOLMaster (11.66 ± 0.42 mm) (p = 0.016). No difference was found regarding the average K-readings. For biometry and phakic IOL power calculation, there was no clinically significant difference between the devices, but for phakic IOL diameter calculation the difference was clinically significant. Conclusions There is a good agreement in ACD and K-readings between Pentacam and IOLMaster, making them interchangeable in biometry and phakic IOL power calculation, but they are not interchangeable regarding WTW line measurement; the difference will affect the phakic IOL diameter, which would affect lens safety.
Correlation of MCM2 Detection with Stage and Virology of Cervical Cancer
Authors: Amaro Filho Sérgio Menezes , Nuovo Gerard Jerry , Cunha Cynthia B , De Oliveira Ramos Pereira Luiza , Oliveira-Silva Michelle , Russomano Fábio , Pires Andrea , Nicol Alcina F 
Published: November 2014

The highly conserved mini-chromosome maintenance proteins (MCM) are important in the initiation of DNA replication. Few studies have correlated MCM expression with the progression of cancer. Objectives (i) To analyze the expression of MCM2 in cervical cancer; (ii) to correlate MCM2 expression with the clinical tumor staging according to FIGO classification, and (iii) to relate HPV type to MCM2 expression. Methods Tissue micro-arrays (TMA) from patients with invasive cervical cancer and controls were analyzed. Human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA detection and HPV types were determined by in situ hybridization, PCR, and sequencing. MCM2 expression was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. Results The most prevalent HPV types found in invasive cancer were HPV 16 (66.6%), followed by HPV 33 (11.8%), and HPV 35 (3.6%). An increased (p<0.05) expression of MCM2 was found in invasive cervical cancers compared to controls. Moreover, a strong correlation was found between the MCM2-positive cells and the presence of HPV DNA detected by in situ hybridization. No statistically significant difference was observed between MCM2 expression and FIGO stage. Conclusions The present study shows that HPV-infected cells strongly express MCM2; nevertheless, our data suggests that MCM2 is not a good biomarker when comparing the different clinical stages of cervical cancer.
Genetic Instability in Peripheral Lymphocytes as Biological Marker for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients in the South Indian State of Andhra Pradesh
Authors: Peddireddy Vidyullatha , Badabagni Siva Prasad , Gundimeda Sandhya Devi , Sultana Shehnaz , Kadali Kanakadurga , Gudala Suresh , Penagaluru Pardhanandana Reddy , Hema Prasad Mundluru 
Published: November 2014

Objectives This study aims, first, at evaluating the DNA and chromosomal damage in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients from the South Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, and then at correlating these results with possible confounding factors that might potentially play a role in causing genetic damage. Methods The study included 246 NSCLC patients (177 men and 69 women) and 250 healthy controls (180 men and 70 women) for the analysis of DNA and chromosomal damage using the comet assay and micronucleus test. Results Both DNA and chromosomal damage were found to be increased in NSCLC patients compared to healthy controls, and the extent of the damage was higher in males than female patients. The smoking status had a profound effect on the extent of DNA and chromosomal damage in NSCLC patients. The degree of genetic damage correlated with the stage of the disease. However, the histological status had no effect on the extent of DNA and chromosomal damage among NSCLC patients. Conclusions We here report, for the first time, that the NSCLC patients selected form the Andhra Pradesh population had increased DNA damage and higher mean micronucleus frequencies in peripheral lymphocytes, indicating a strong background level of genetic instability.
Sensitivity and Specificity of Dickkopf-1 Protein in Serum for Diagnosing Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Zhang Jie , Zhao Ying , Yang Qin 
Published: November 2014

Objective This meta-analysis evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of positive serum Dickkopf-1 (DKK1) for diagnosing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Material and methods Articles listed on Embase, PubMed, Wanfang, Weipu Periodical Database or the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and published up to July 10, 2013, were searched in either English or Chinese. The pooled sensitivity (SEN), specificity (SPE), positive and negative likelihood ratios (PLR and NLR), diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) and summary receiver operating characteristic (sROC) curve were calculated to summarize the overall test performance. Results Four articles (6 studies) provided DKK1 diagnostic data. The pooled SEN, SPE, PLR, NLR, DOR and area under the sROC curve of DKK1 for the diagnosis of HCC were 0.65 (95% confidence interval [95% CI], 0.52-0.76), 0.94 (95% CI, 0.82-0.98), 10.1 (95% CI, 3.68-27.74), 0.38 (95% CI, 0.28-0.51), 26.90 (95% CI, 10.45-69.19) and 0.84 (95% CI, 0.81-0.87), respectively. Three articles (5 studies) provided DKK1 and α-fetoprotein (AFP) combined test data. The pooled SEN, SPE, PLR, NLR, DOR and area under the sROC curve of combined detection for the diagnosis of HCC were 0.81 (95% CI, 0.76-0.85), 0.85 (95% CI, 0.78-0.91), 5.52 (95% CI, 3.76-8.10), 0.22 (95% CI, 0.19-0.27), 24.60 (95% CI, 17.69-34.19) and 0.88 (95% CI, 0.85-0.91), respectively. Conclusion Both DKK1 and DKK1 plus AFP had high diagnostic accuracy for diagnosis of HCC.
Suppression of C6 Gliomas via Application of Rat Hyperplasia Gene
Authors: Gao Peng , Wang Zhanwei , Zhang Bin , Zou Yourui , Guo Hui , Liu Haibo , Yang Qiang , Fang Zhihao , Jiang Shucai , Shen Bing , Chow Louis W.C. , Loo Wings Tjing-yung , Ng Elizabeth L.Y. , Tsang William W.N. 
Published: November 2014

Background Among all neurological tumors, tumor incidence of the neuroepithelial tissue is the highest, where 50% are gliomas. Treatment for gliomas has traditionally included surgery and adjuvant therapy. With advancements in medicine, gene therapy has entered the clinical setting, in which control of tumor growth, tumor volume and decrease of supply of blood to the tumor have been observed. Rat hyperplasia suppressor gene (rHSG) has been proven to inhibit the injury-mediated proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells. Methods A recombinant adenovirus, Adv-rHSG-GFP, was constructed and characterized by in vitro and in vivo studies. The function of rHSG on cell proliferation was determined in vitro by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) exclusion assay and plate clone formation, while a C6/Sprague Dawley rat glioma model was established to observe the effect of rHSG in vivo. Results Overexpression of rHSG displayed a strong effect on suppressing C6 cells proliferation in vitro and growth of glioma in vivo, which suggests the use of rHSG as a possible treatment strategy for glioma. p21Cip1, p27Kip1 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen were found to be involved in the tumor suppression mechanism of rHSG. Conclusions rHSG can markedly inhibit of the growth of rat glioma cells. The suppression mechanism of rHSG may be related to cell cycle regulation, which shows that rHSG is a potential therapeutic target of glioma tumor. This preclinical study supports a further in-depth study on the effect of rHSG on cell proliferation, migration and change in the extracellular matrix component of glioma cells.
Useful Equation for Proper Estimate of Left Side Peripherally Inserted Central Venous Catheter Length in Relation to the Height
Authors: Jeon Eui-Yong , Koh Sung Hye , Lee In Jae , Ha Hong-il , Park Bum Jung 
Published: November 2014

Purpose Direct measurement of venous length is easy to cause contamination during bedside insertion of peripherally inserted central venous catheter (PICC). It is necessary to provide an equation for proper estimate of catheter length in case of bedside insertion of PICC in relation to patient height. Methods For 165 PICC cases through left arm vein in 151 adult patients (male: female = 72:79), the cubital crease to carina length (CCL) was calculated as follows: CCL = (distance from cubital crease to puncture point) + (length of PICC inside body) – (distance from carina to catheter tip on post-procedural chest radiograph). We analyzed the relationship between CCL and height with regression analysis and suggest a new equation of CCL based on height. Results The mean CCL through the left arm vein was 47.1 ± 2.6 cm in male and 44.0 ± 2.9 cm in female. CCL was significantly correlated with patient height. Equation of CCL (cm) based on height was as follows: CCL = height* 0.19 + 14. Conclusions The equation of our study would provide a new equation for proper estimation of catheter length in case of bedside insertion of left arm PICC in relation to height and be helpful for optimal positioning of catheter tip of PICC.
Distal Tourniquet-Facilitated Radial Arterial Cannulation in Adults—a Double-Blinded, Prospective, Randomized and Controlled Study
Authors: Zhou Quanhong , Yao Jun , Chen Yongzhu , Lu Jie , Zhang Xiaoli , Jiang Wei 
Published: November 2014

Purpose Relatively small radial artery may be challenging for cannulation. We investigated whether a distal tourniquet would inflate the proximal radial artery and therefore facilitate cannulation in adults. Methods There were two stages of the study. The first was to measure the characteristics of radial artery by ultrasound imaging before and after tourniquet in volunteers. The second was a prospective, randomized, double blind study. Forty patients (American Society of Anesthesiologists I-III) who needed artery cannulation during operation were enrolled. Patients were assigned into two groups: loosen or tightened tourniquet for proximal radial artery cannulation by traditional palpation technique. The primary endpoints were the success rates and time of first attempt success by traditional palpation technique. The time of success after two to three attempts, failure rates and complications were collected. Results For volunteers, the distal tourniquet significantly expanded the cross-sectional up-forward diameter (p<0.001) and the area (p<0.05), but had no effect on cross-sectional lateral-lateral diameter or circumference of proximal radial artery (p>0.05). The success rate of first attempt was higher in the tighten group (75%) than in the loosen group (15%, p<0.05), but the time for success of first attempt/two to three attempts was similar (19.33 ± 1.12/62.11 ± 37.03 sec loosen group vs. 19.07 ± 12.75/45.55 ± 8.98 sec tightened group, p>0.05). Both groups had same failure rates of 10%. No complication was observed. Conclusions Distal tourniquet could inflate the proximal radial artery and facilitate palpation of radial artery cannulation.
Barriers to Adopting a Fistula-First Policy in Europe: An International Survey among National Experts
Authors: van der Veer Sabine N. , Ravani Pietro , Coentrão Luis , Fluck Richard , Kleophas Werner , Labriola Laura , Hoischen Susanne H. , Noordzij Marlies , Jager Kitty J. , van Biesen Wim 
Published: November 2014

Purpose The purpose of this study is to explore how vascular access care was reimbursed, promoted, and organised at the national level in European and neighbouring countries. Methods An electronic survey among national experts to collect country-level data. Results Forty-seven experts (response rate, 76%) from 37 countries participated. Experts from 23 countries reported that 50% or less of patients received routine pre-operative imaging of vessels. Nephrologists placed catheters and created fistulas in 26 and 8 countries, respectively. Twenty-one countries had a fee per created access; the reported fee for catheter placement was never higher than for fistula creation. As the number of haemodialysis patients in a centre increased, more countries had a dedicated coordinator or multidisciplinary team responsible for vascular access maintenance at the centre-level; in 11 countries, responsibility was always with individual nephrologists, independent of a centre's size. In 23 countries, dialysis centres shared vascular access care resources, with facilitation from a service provider in 4. In most countries, national campaigns (n = 35) or educational programmes (n = 29) had addressed vascular access-related topics; 19 countries had some form of training for creating fistulas. Forty experts considered the current evidence base robust enough to justify a fistula-first policy, but only 13 believed that more than 80% of nephrologists in their country would attempt a fistula in a 75-year-old woman with comorbidities. Conclusions Suboptimal access to surgical resources, lack of dedicated training of clinicians, limited routine use of pre-operative diagnostic imaging and patient characteristics primarily emerged as potential barriers to adopting a fistula-first policy in Europe.
Chemotherapy Drug Extravasation in Totally Implantable Venous Access Port Systems: How Effective is Early Surgical Lavage?
Authors: Azaïs Henri , Bresson Lucie , Bassil Alfred , Katdare Ninad , Merlot Benjamin , Houpeau Jean-Louis , Bedoui Sophie El , Meurant Jean-Pierre , Tresch Emmanuelle , Narducci Fabrice 
Published: November 2014

Purpose Totally implantable venous access port systems (TIVAPS) are a widely used and an essential tool in the efficient delivery of chemotherapy. Chemotherapy drug extravasation (CDE) can have dire consequences and will delay treatment. The purpose of this study is to both clarify the management of CDE and show the effectiveness of early surgical lavage (ESL). Methods Patients who had presented to the Cancer Center of Lille (France) with TIVAPS inserted between January 2004 and April 2013 and CDE had their medical records reviewed retrospectively. Results Thirty patients and 33 events were analyzed. Implicated agents were vesicants (51.5%), irritants (45.5%) and non-vesicants (3%). Huber needle malpositionning was involved in 27 cases. Surgery was performed in 97% of cases, 87.5% of which were for ESL with 53.1% of the latter requiring TIVAPS extraction. Six patients required a second intervention due to adverse outcomes (severe cases). Vesicants were found to be implicated in four out of six severe cases and oxaliplatin in two others. Extravasated volume was above 50 ml in 80% of cases. Only one patient required a skin graft. Conclusions CDEs should be managed in specialized centers. ESL allows for limited tissue contact of the chemotherapy drug whilst using a simple, widely accessible technique. The two main factors that correlate with adverse outcome seem to be the nature of the implicated agent (vesicants) and the extravasated volume (above 50 ml) leading to worse outcomes. Oxaliplatin should be considered as a vesicant.
Een kansloze minderheid in de marge?
Authors: Vermeersch P. 
Published: November 2014

An underprivileged minority in the margin? The socio-economic and political situation of the Roma in Europe
This article provides an overview of the current socio-economic and political situation of the Roma in Europe, the continent's largest and most marginalized minority. While a host of new regulations and initiatives on different levels of government have been issued in order to foster the social inclusion of the Roma in various areas of life, the situation on the ground remains far from hopeful. Poverty and discrimination continue to be huge problems in most of the countries where Roma live. New avenues for political and social mobilization have become available to Roma activists and politicians. Yet also in this area important challenges remain. The recent popularity of extreme right-wing populist responses to Roma mobilization and migration has created important obstacles to the full participation and equal citizenship of Roma in our contemporary societies.
Participatie, veiligheid en beeldvorming van Romaminderheden
Authors: van Baar H. 
Published: November 2014

Participation, security and representation of Roma minority groups. A critical reflection on Dutch policies
This article critically evaluates the recent developments in Dutch policy formation regarding Roma minorities from the perspective of the increased attention paid to their position at European level. First, the author discusses the so-called ‘Europeanization of Roma representation’, that is the post-1989 representation of the Roma as a European minority and the simultaneous large-scale, Europe-wide devising of development, inclusion, and empowerment programs meant for them. Thereafter, the author argues that some of the risks of the Roma’s Europeanization – such as the isolation and culturalization of policy formation and the diminishing of democratic accountability – have also and ambiguously affected Dutch policies meant for Roma, Sinti and caravan dwellers. By means of a brief analysis of recent policy developments, the author demonstrates that the Dutch shift towards a policy that, at least in name, encourages social participation, has actually tended to result into a one-sided focus on the Roma as a ‘problem group’ and ‘security threat’.
Scripts, de voertuigen van kennis
Authors: Weyers Heleen , van Tol Donald 
Published: November 2014

Scripts, the hidden cargo of stories
This article presents the results of a study into the knowledge of doctors regarding three kinds medical treatment regulation at the end of life, the so-called KOPPEL study. One of the findings of this study is that most doctors know the law that regulates ending life at request (euthanasia) and guideline for palliative sedation quite well. However, hardly any of them know Book 7, Section 450.3 of the Dutch Civil Code, the section that regulates written treatment refusals. Apart from the description of the findings, we elaborate on three reasons that Aubert distinguishes for knowledge of the law: the period the regulation exists, the congruence between habits and norms of the law, and experience with the law. We conclude that Aubert’s factors do indeed explain the differences in knowledge of the doctors. In the discussion we come to the conclusion that sociology of law should not only pay attention to ‘what knowledge of the law is’ (Griffiths, Van Tol) and ‘which factors influence this knowledge’ (Aubert) but also to ‘how knowledge of law can be ascertained’. In our opinion the idea of scripts, as introduced by Schank and Abelson, can be of great help in this respect.
Enhanced normalisation of CD4/CD8 ratio with early antiretroviral therapy in primary HIV infection
Authors: Thornhill John , Inshaw Jamie , Oomeer Soonita , Kaleebu Pontiano , Cooper David , Ramjee Gita , Schechter Mauro , Tambussi Giuseppe , Fox Julie , Maria Miro Jose , Weber Jonathan , Babiker Abdel , Porter Kholoud , Fidler Sarah 
Published: November 2014

IntroductionDespite normalization of total CD4 counts, ongoing immune dysfunction is noted amongst those on antiretroviral therapy (ART). Low CD4/CD8 ratio is associated with a high risk of AIDS and non‐AIDS events and may act as a marker of immune senescence [1]. This ratio is improved by ART although normalization is uncommon (~7%) [2]. The probability of normalization of CD4 count is improved with immediate ART initiation in primary HIV infection (PHI) [3]. We examined whether CD4/CD8 ratio similarly normalized in immediate vs. deferred ART at PHI.Material and MethodsUsing data from the SPARTAC trial and the UK Register of HIV Seroconverters, we examined the effect of ART with time (continuous) from HIV seroconversion (SC) on CD4/CD8 ratio (≥1) adjusted for sex, risk group, ethnicity, enrolment from an African site and both CD4 count and age at ART initiation. We also examined that effect by dichotomizing HIV duration at ART initiation (ART started within six months of SC: early ART; ART initiated>six months after SC: deferred). We also considered time to CD4 count normalization (≥900 cells/mm3).ResultsIn total, 353 initiated ART with median (IQR) 97.9 (60.5, 384.5) days from estimated seroconversion; 253/353 early ART, 100 deferred ART. At one year after starting ART, 114/253 (45%) early ART had normalized CD4/8 ratio, compared with 11/99 (11%) in the deferred group, whilst 83/253 (33%) of early ART had normalized CD4 counts, compared with 3/99 (3%) in the deferred group. Individuals initiating within six months of PHI were significantly more likely to reach normal ratio than those initiating later (HR, 95% CI 2.96, 1.75 – 5.01, p<0.001). The longer after SC ART was initiated, the reduced likelihood of achieving normalization of CD4/CD8 ratio (HR 0.98, 95% CI 0.96 – 0.99 for each 30‐day increase). CD4 count at ART initiation was also associated with normalization, as expected (HR 1.002, 95% CI 1.001 – 1.002, p<0.001). There was an association between normal CD4/CD8 ratio and being virally suppressed (<400 copies HIV RNA/ml) p<0.001. CD4 count normalization was also significantly more likely for those initiating early (HR 5.00, 95% CI 1.52 – 16.41, p=0.008).ConclusionsThe likelihood of achieving normalization of CD4/CD8 ratios was increased if ART was initiated within six months of PHI. Higher CD4/CD8 ratio may reflect a more “normal” immune phenotype conferring enhanced prognosis and predict post‐treatment control.