bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Site‐specific clinical disease onset in multiple sclerosis
Authors: Willis M. D. , Harding K. E. , Wardle M. , Pickersgill T. P. , Tomassini V. , Loveless S. , Robertson N. P. 
Published: September 2014

Background and purposeMultiple sclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the central nervous system characterized by acute episodes of neurological dysfunction thought to reflect focal areas of demyelination occurring in clinically eloquent areas. These symptomatic relapses are generally considered to be random clinical events occurring without discernible pattern. The hypothesis that relapses may follow a predetermined sequence and may provide insights into underlying pathological processes was investigated.MethodsEmploying prospective clinical database data from 1482 patients who had experienced one or more consecutive relapses were analysed. Using regression analysis, site and symptom of index event were compared with those of first relapse.ResultsIt is demonstrated that following disease ignition subsequent relapses may not be random events but dependent on characteristics of the index event. All anatomical sites were more likely to be affected in the first relapse if that site had been involved in the index event with a similar association observed when comparing by symptoms.ConclusionThese findings have importance in understanding the evolution of the disease and predicting individual disease progression and may aid with patient counselling and management.
The incidence and triggers of adult‐onset Guillain−Barré syndrome in southwestern Finland 2004–2013
Authors: Sipilä J. O. T. , Soilu‐Hänninen M. 
Published: September 2014

Background and purposeA Swiss study recently reported surgery as a potential risk factor for developing Guillain−Barré syndrome (GBS). It was sought to establish this in the Finnish adult population.MethodsPersons over 16 years of age who received a diagnosis of GBS in 2004–2013 were identified from the patient register of Turku University Hospital and their patient records were analyzed to identify possible triggers.ResultsA cohort of 69 adult patients with GBS (63.8% men) was identified giving an annual incidence of 1.82/100 000. Of these, four (5.8%) had experienced a surgical procedure during the preceding 6 weeks with a relative risk of 6.28 (95% confidence interval 4.15–9.47, P < 0.001) compared with the general study population or a risk of 1.25/100 000 operations. No difference between genders was found. Only two (2.9%) patients had received a vaccination [one against seasonal influenza (P = 0.888) and one against pandemic influenza (Pandemrix®, GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals, Rixensart, Belgium, relative risk 2.85, 95% confidence interval 1.27–6.38, P = 0.011)] during the preceding 6 weeks. The most common GBS triggers identified were respiratory tract infections in 30 cases (43.5%) and gastroenteritis in 16 cases (23.2%) whilst two patients (2.9%) had had both.ConclusionsThe overall incidence of GBS in the adult population of southwestern Finland was similar to previous studies worldwide and the most common triggers were respiratory tract infections and gastroenteritis. Surgery was a rare risk factor and of vaccinations only the one against pandemic influenza raised the risk of GBS.
The Changing Costs of Hospital Treatment for Colic: A Preliminary Audit
Authors: Bates A. , Whiting M. , Witte T.H. 
Published: September 2014

Reasons for performing studyTreatment of colic can be expensive and may exceed the owners’ financial limitations. This may result in premature euthanasia prior to treatment on rectifiable financial grounds rather than for welfare reasons. It is therefore important to ensure appropriate business model auditing to identify where costs may limit expected treatment options.ObjectivesThis study investigated how the costs of treatment for equine colic at a single university referral hospital have changed over a 10‐year period between 2003 and 2013. The aim was to analyse which costs have changed excessively or disproportionately between different treating services, consumables and professional fees, which may render treatment of colic financially prohibitive.Study designRetrospective study.MethodsAll charges billed against cases undergoing treatment for colic between 2003 and 2013 were accessed from hospital records. Horses were identified as having surgery or purely medical management. Charges were categorised by service (medicine, surgery, anaesthesia), type (consumable, livery, professional fee), and consumable type (e.g. NSAID, opiate, antibiotic, fluid therapy, lab fee, surgery consumables).ResultsThere was a significant association between year and the frequency of medically and surgically treated colic (Chi‐square test, P<0.001). Between 2003 and 2012, median total treatment costs increased in both medically (42%) and surgically treated (46%) cases. Costs attributable to consumables increased (surgical cases 28%, medical cases 14%), while those attributable to livery (surgical ‐19%, medical ‐21%) and professional fees decreased (surgical ‐22%, medical ‐8%). The greatest increase in consumable cost was attributable to fluids (surgical 94%, medical 182%).ConclusionsThis study demonstrates areas where the cost of colic treatment are disproportionately changing and thus highlights potential targets where business models may be optimised in the interest of patient survival. The substantial increase in costs attributable to fluids correlates with increasing emphasis on fluid therapy in the management of colic.Ethical animal research: Ethical committee oversight not currently required by this congress: retrospective study of clinical records. Explicit owner informed consent for participation in this study was not stated. Sources of funding: Not stated. Competing interests: None.
Topical Ophthalmic Atropine in Horses – An Experimental Study
Authors: Ström L. , Dalin F. , Domberg M. , Haubro Andersen P. , Ekesten B. 
Published: September 2014

Reasons for performing studyTopical administration of atropine is an important part of the treatment of equine uveitis. However, very high doses of topically administered atropine have been associated with decreased gut motility and colic in horses.ObjectivesTo evaluate systemic effects of topical atropine in doses used clinically in horses, with emphasis on gut motility and ability to induce colic.Study designRandomised, blinded, controlled crossover study.MethodsFour horses received placebo eye drops (saline) and 2 different protocols of topical atropine administration during 120 h with 35 days washout periods in between different treatments. One drop of 1% atropine solution was administered unilaterally at 3‐h intervals for 48 h and at 12‐h intervals for another 72 h (high dose), whereas the low dose group was given alternating treatment with atropine and saline according to the same protocol. In the placebo group, saline was administered at 3‐h intervals for 48 h and at 12‐h intervals for another 72 h. All horses were walked for 10 min 3 times a day. Pupillary light reflexes, heart rate, respiratory rate, gut sounds and clinical signs of abdominal pain were monitored every 3 h and faecal output once daily.ResultsNone of the horses showed any signs of abdominal pain. Gut sounds were present at every auscultation in all horses. Gut sound scores were significantly lower during the high dose regime (P = 0.0007) compared to placebo, but not during the low dose regime (P = 0.17).ConclusionsTopically administered atropine in clinically relevant doses temporarily reduced gut motility, but did not cause ileus or colic in healthy horses receiving a small amount of daily exercise. However, this effect may be additive to other factors that reduce gut motility in horses with uveitis, such as pain and stress in relation to hospitalisation.Ethical animal research: The regional Ethical Committee (Uppsala Djurförsöksetiska nämnd, Sweden, Dnr C372/12) approved the use of the horses in this study. Sources of funding: None. Competing interests: None.
Strong influence of the littoral zone on sedimentary lipid biomarkers in a meromictic lake
Authors: Bovee R. J. , Pearson A. 
Published: September 2014

AbstractPlanktonic sulfur bacteria growing in zones of photic zone euxinia (PZE) are important primary producers in stratified, sulfur‐rich environments. The potential for export and burial of microbial biomass from anoxic photic zones remains relatively understudied, despite being of fundamental importance to interpreting the geologic record of bulk total organic carbon (TOC) and individual lipid biomarkers. Here we report the relative concentrations and carbon isotope ratios of lipid biomarkers from the water column and sediments of meromictic Mahoney Lake. The data show that organic matter in the central basin sediments is indistinguishable from material at the lake shoreline in both its lipid and carbon isotopic compositions. However, this material is not consistent with either the lipid profile or carbon isotope composition of biomass obtained directly from the region of PZE. Due to the strong density stratification and the intensive carbon and sulfur recycling pathways in the water column, there appears to be minimal direct export of the sulfur‐oxidizing planktonic community to depth. The results instead suggest that basinal sediments are sourced via the littoral environment, a system that integrates an indigenous shoreline microbial community, the degraded remains of laterally rafted biomass from the PZE community, and detrital remains of terrigenous higher plants. Material from the lake margins appears to travel downslope, traverse the strong density gradient, and become deposited in the deep basin; its final composition may be largely heterotrophic in origin. This suggests an important role for clastic and/or authigenic minerals in aiding the burial of terrigenous and mat‐derived organic matter in euxinic systems. Downslope or mineral‐aided transport of anoxygenic, photoautotrophic microbial mats may have been a significant sedimentation process in early Earth history.
Mechanical control of biofilm in children with cerebral palsy: a randomized clinical trial
Authors: Ferraz Nayara Kelly Lyrio , Tataounoff Juliana , Nogueira Lilian Capanema , Ramos‐Jorge Joana , Ramos‐Jorge Maria Leticia , Pimenta Pinheiro Marcos Luciano 
Published: September 2014

BackgroundDental biofilm removal is difficult and can be ineffective in individuals with cerebral palsy.ObjectiveDetermine the effectiveness of brushing with an electric toothbrush on and off in comparison with manual brushing for the removal of biofilm in children aged four to 16 years with cerebral palsy.MethodsA crossover, randomized, simple‐blind, clinical trial was conducted. The examiner was blinded to the brushing method (G1: manual; G2: electric toothbrush on; and G3: electric toothbrush off). The order was determined randomly. The participants (n = 40) were examined before and after brushing performed by caregivers using the Turesky–Quigley–Hein biofilm index. Statistical analysis involved the paired t‐test, Wilcoxon, Kruskal–Wallis, and anova tests.ResultsBiofilm was significantly reduced with the three brushing methods (P < 0.001) (mean reductions: 47.6% in G1; 47.4% in G2; 44.5% in G3). Significant differences were found between G1 and G3 (P < 0.001) and between G2 and G3 (P = 0.007). No significant difference was found between G1 and G2 (P = 0.06).ConclusionAll methods reduced biofilm. Effectiveness was similar between manual brushing and with the electric toothbrush on, whereas both these methods achieved better results in comparison with the electric toothbrush switched off.
Single‐machine common flow allowance scheduling with aging effect, resource allocation, and a rate‐modifying activity
Authors: Ji Min , Yao Danli , Yang Qinyun , Cheng T.C.E. 
Published: September 2014

AbstractIn this paper, we consider scheduling of deteriorating jobs on a single machine with slack (SLK) due date assignment, resource allocation, and a rate‐modifying activity. The rate‐modifying activity can change jobs’ processing rates such that the actual processing time of a job depends on whether the job is processed before or after the rate‐modifying activity. In addition, the actual processing time of a job also depends on its position in a processing sequence (i.e., the aging effect) and the amount of resource allocated to it. The objective is to determine the optimal sequence, optimal common flow allowance, optimal resource allocation, and optimal location of the rate‐modifying activity to minimize a total penalty function comprising the earliness, tardiness, common flow allowance, and resource allocation costs. We consider two variants of the problem associated with two different processing time functions and provide a polynomial‐time algorithm to solve each variant.
A pilot study investigating lactic acid bacterial symbionts from the honeybee in inhibiting human chronic wound pathogens
Authors: Butler Éile , Oien Rut F. , Lindholm Christina , Olofsson Tobias C. , Nilson Bo , Vásquez Alejandra 
Published: September 2014

AbstractTreatment and management of chronic wounds is a large burden on the health sector and causes substantial suffering for the patients. We believe that 13 lactic acid bacteria (LAB) symbionts isolated from the honey crop of the honeybee are important players in the antimicrobial action of honey, by producing antimicrobial substances and can be used in combination with heather honey as an effective treatment in wound management. A total of 22 patients with chronic ulcers were included; culture‐dependent and molecular‐based (MALDI‐MS and 16S rRNA gene sequencing) techniques were used to identify bacteria from chronic wounds. These clinical isolates were used for in vitro antimicrobial testing with standardised viable LAB and sterilised heather honey mixture. Twenty of the patients' wounds were polymicrobial and 42 different species were isolated. Patient isolates that were tested in vitro were inhibited by the LAB and honey combination with inhibitory zones comparable with different antibiotics. LAB and heather honey in combination presents a new topical option in chronic wound management because of the healing properties of honey, antimicrobial metabolite production from the LAB and their bactericidal effect on common chronic wound pathogens. This new treatment may be a stepping stone towards an alternative solution to antibiotics.
Efficacy of a new multifunctional surfactant‐based biomaterial dressing with 1% silver sulphadiazine in chronic wounds
Authors: Zölß Christoph , Cech Jürgen D 
Published: September 2014

AbstractChronic wounds represent a large and growing segment of health care and add considerably to human suffering and economic burden as populations age. More effective materials, especially those promoting ease of use and economy, are needed to treat this increasing number of patients. A case series conducted at a European outpatient tertiary wound centre used a novel surfactant‐based biomaterial dressing containing 1% silver sulphadiazine on 226 chronic wound patients with various aetiologies. Eighty‐eight patients had been undergoing standard of care treatment at the facility, while the remainder (n = 138) began treatment with the surfactant‐based biomaterial dressing on enrollment. A total of 73% of the first group healed or showed improvement, with 60% healing by a median of 17 weeks after beginning treatment, and 86% of the group of new enrollees healed or showed improvement, with 73% healing within a median of 12 weeks of beginning treatment with the new product. Patient and clinician reports showed improved compliance, reduced pain and a favourable side‐effect profile. Limited economic analysis showed markedly reduced treatment costs compared with standard of care. Further research is recommended.
Evaluating ‘FREDA Challenge’: A Coproduced Human Rights Board Game in Services for People With Intellectual Disabilities
Authors: Montenegro Miguel , Greenhill Beth 
Published: September 2014

BackgroundA serious board game called ‘FREDA Challenge’ was co‐produced with people with intellectual disabilities (PWID) as a tool for human rights (HR) education and increase positive attitudes towards HR in healthcare settings. The current study evaluated ‘FREDA Challenge’ with PWID and their carers.MethodEighteen PWID and 13 carers participated in a repeated measures design whereby changes in attitudes and knowledge of HR were measured.ResultsAnalysis revealed statistically significant differences (P = 0.02) between PWID and carers in their knowledge of HR. The same was not evident for attitudes towards HR. The positive attitudes and knowledge in the PWID group significantly increased after playing the game (P ≤ 0.02), but not for the carers/professionals group.ConclusionsFindings suggest that playing the board game can positively change the attitudes and knowledge of PWID towards HR. The board game seems to elicit positive interpersonal dynamics between PWID and carers/professionals.
Periodontal findings in individuals with newly identified pre‐diabetes or diabetes mellitus
Authors: Lamster Ira B. , Cheng Bin , Burkett Sandra , Lalla Evanthia 
Published: September 2014

AbstractAimTo assess the periodontal status and number of missing teeth in patients with newly identified pre‐diabetes or diabetes mellitus.MethodsA total of 1097 subjects with previously undiagnosed diabetes were available for study, and were categorized into normoglycaemic, potentially pre‐diabetes or potentially diabetes groups based on a point‐of‐care (POC) HbA1c test.ResultsIn fully adjusted models, significant differences were observed between all groups for the per cent of teeth with at least one site with a probing depth of ≥5 mm. For bleeding on probing, there were significant differences between diabetes and pre‐diabetes (p = 0.001), and between diabetes and normoglycaemic groups (p = 0.002). For missing teeth, there were significant differences between the pre‐diabetes and normoglycaemic groups (p = 0.034), and the diabetes and normoglycaemic groups (p = 0.004).ConclusionsIndividuals with previously unidentified pre‐diabetes demonstrate a level of periodontal destruction between that observed for normoglycaemic individuals and persons with diabetes. These data emphasize the association of oral findings to dysglycaemia, and suggest that periodontal disease and tooth loss can be early complications of diabetes mellitus.
Influence of genetic and environmental factors on oral diseases and function in aged twins
Authors: Kurushima Y. , Ikebe K. , Matsuda K. , Enoki K. , Ogata S. , Yamashita M. , Murakami S. , Hayakawa K. , Maeda Y. 
Published: September 2014

SummaryThis study was conducted to quantify the genetic and environmental contributions to oral disease and function in twins. Participants were middle‐aged and old twins, 116 monozygotic and 16 dizygotic pairs whose mean age was 66·1 ± 10·3 (SD) years. Number of teeth, percentage of decayed, filled and missing teeth and periodontal status were recorded as indicators of oral disease. The widths of upper and lower dental arch served as indicators of morphological figures. Furthermore, stimulated salivary flow rate, occlusal force and masticatory performance were measured as indicators of oral function. Univariate genetic analysis with monozygotic and dizygotic twin pairs was conducted to detect the fittest structural equation model of each outcome. Both number of teeth and periodontal status fitted the model composed of common environmental factor and unique environmental factor. Decayed, filled and missing teeth, morphological figures and measurements of oral function fitted the model composed of additive genetic factor and unique environmental factor. The model fitting of each measurement suggested that periodontal disease was mainly affected by environmental factors, while morphological figures and oral functions were influenced by both genetic and environmental factors.
Depression is not associated with peripheral insulin resistance in patients with chronic hepatitis C infection
Authors: Shah S. C. , Kornak J. , Khalili M. 
Published: September 2014

SummaryDepression is common in individuals infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV), and both depression and HCV infection are independently associated with insulin resistance (IR). To evaluate the relationship between depression and IR, among other factors, in an HCV‐infected cohort. In this cross‐sectional analysis, seventy‐four non‐type 2 diabetic, noncirrhotic, HCV‐infected patients underwent comprehensive clinical, histologic and metabolic evaluation. IR was assessed directly with an insulin suppression test by measuring steady‐state plasma glucose (SSPG) levels during continuous infusions of octreotide, glucose and insulin. Logistic regression modelling was used to evaluate predictors associated with depression. Thirty‐nine (53%) patients were depressed, and 21 (54%) depressed patients were on at least one antidepressant. A higher estimated proportion of depressed patients were Caucasian (51% vs 20%, P = 0.005), unemployed (69% vs 49%, P = 0.07), heavier smokers (18 pack‐years vs 13 pack‐years, P = 0.07), on substance abuse therapy (16% vs 3%, P = 0.06) and had lower HDL levels (1.2 mmol/L vs 1.4 mmol/L, P = 0.01). The mean SSPG levels in depressed and nondepressed patients were 7.3 and 8.3 mmol/L (P = 0.45), respectively. In multipredictor adjusted analysis, only Caucasian race (OR 4.19, 95% CI 1.42–12.35, P = 0.009) and lower HDL (OR 0.95, 95% CI 0.89–0.99, P = 0.046) were associated with depression. In conclusion, although prevalent, depression was not associated with peripheral IR in this HCV‐infected cohort. Attention to other modifiable factors associated with depression in the HCV‐infected population is warranted.
Machinamentum X: Marvell and Technology
Authors: Werlin Julianne 
Published: September 2014

AbstractRecent scholarship in the history of technology has provided new insights into the early modern investigation of nature, troubling fixed boundaries between invention and discovery, and more broadly, between art and knowledge. Drawing on such research, as well as literary scholars' discussions of parallels between Renaissance poetics and technics, I suggest that further inquiries into the role of technology in Andrew Marvell's poetry may yield new insights into his depiction of nature, his politics, and the relation of the two. I conclude with a reading of ‘Music's Empire’, a poem that reveals how deeply Marvell considered the role of technology in culture.