bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Direct percutaneous transorbital puncture under fluoroscopic guidance with a 3D skull reconstruction overlay for embolisation of intraorbital and cavernous sinus dural arteriovenous fistulas
Authors: Lv Ming , Jiang Chuhan , Liu Dong , Ning Zhiguang , Yang Jun , Wu Zhongxue 
Published: May 2015

Objective To describe the direct percutaneous transorbital puncture technique for embolisation of the selected intraorbital and cavernous sinus dural arteriovenous fistula, which failed to be treated by conventional endovascular techniques. Methods One case of intraorbital and five cases of cavernous sinus dural arteriovenous fistula were embolised through direct percutaneous transorbital puncture in 2012, and the clinical data were reviewed. Under fluoroscopic guidance with a three-dimensional (3D) skull reconstruction overlay, the cavernous sinus or ophthalmic vein was punctured via the superior orbital fissure. Then a microcatheter was inserted via the needle, and Onyx was injected to embolise the fistula with or without a combination of coils. Results Complete obliteration of the fistula was achieved in all six patients. After operation all the patients experienced transient swelling of the punctured orbit persisting for three to five days. No other complications occurred. Follow-up of six patients at three to six months showed resolution of their initial neuro-ophthalmological symptoms in five and left visual loss in one did not recover. Six months follow-up angiogram showed no recurrence of these fistulas. Conclusion Direct percutaneous transorbital puncture provides an option for the intraorbital and cavernous sinus dural arteriovenous fistulas, particularly when the conventional transvenous routes are inaccessible. Overlay of the 3D skull reconstruction can facilitate the precise puncture of the superior orbital fissure.
Endovascular repair of posterior communicating artery aneurysms, associated with oculomotor nerve palsy: A review of nerve recovery
Authors: Sheehan Mark John , Dunne Ruth , Thornton John , Brennan Paul , Looby Seamus , O’Hare Alan 
Published: May 2015

Purpose Oculomotor nerve palsy (ONP) is often the presenting symptom in patients with posterior communicating artery (PCOMM) aneurysms with variable recovery of oculomotor nerve function following treatment. In this study we report the ophthalmologic outcome of 20 patients treated by endovascular coiling for PCOMM aneurysm-induced ONP. Methods We performed 230 PCOMM aneurysm endovascular coilings between the years 2006 and 2011, of which 20 cases presented with ONP. We recorded the degree of nerve recovery – complete, partial or none – while also documenting other predictive factors, such as degree of pre-intervention nerve deficit, presence of subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH), size and location of the PCOMM aneurysm and length of follow-up. Results Of the 20 patients, 9 (45%) presented with complete ONP and 11 (55%) with partial ONP. After an average follow-up period of 16 months, all patients achieved oculomotor nerve recovery; 9 (45%) patients had complete recovery and 11 (55%) patients had partial recovery. Of the 9 patients who presented with complete ONP, 5 (56%) patients made a complete recovery and 4 (44%) made a partial recovery. Of the 11 patients who initially presented with partial ONP, 4 (36%) made a complete recovery and 7 (64%) made a partial recovery. 7 (35%) patients also had a SAH, of whom 3 (43%) made a complete recovery with 4 (57%) making a partial recovery. Conclusions ONP can occur with PCOMM aneurysm with or without SAH. Endovascular coiling is an effective treatment for ONP due to PCOMM aneurysms.
Usefulness of interventional embolization of the middle meningeal artery for recurrent chronic subdural hematoma: Five cases and a review of the literature
Authors: Tempaku Akira , Yamauchi Shigeru , Ikeda Hidetoshi , Tsubota Nobuyuki , Furukawa Hironori , Maeda Daisuke , Kondo Kimito , Nishio Akimasa 
Published: May 2015

Purpose Although several strategies against recurrent chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) have been proposed, no consensus has been established. Recently, middle meningeal artery (MMA) embolization has been proposed as radical treatment for recurrent CSDH. We wanted to estimate the usefulness of MMA embolization for recurrent CSDH. Methods From February 2012 to June 2013, 110 patients with CSDH underwent single burr-hole surgery with irrigation and drainage. Among these patients, 13 showed recurrent hematoma formation and were retreated surgically. Furthermore, repeated recurrence of CSDH was observed in six patients. Five of these six patients underwent middle meningeal artery (MMA) embolization with polyvinyl alcohol particles. All five patients with interventional treatment were observed for four to 60 weeks. Results No more recurrence of CSDH was observed in any of the patients. During the follow-up period, no patients suffered from any side effects or complications from the interventional treatment. Conclusion MMA embolization with careful attention paid to the procedure might be a treatment of choice for recurrent CSDH.
Risk of intracranial hypertension with intrauterine levonorgestrel
Authors: Etminan Mahyar , Luo Hao , Gustafson Paul 
Published: May 2015

Objectives: The objective of this study was to quantify the risk of intracranial hypertension (ICH) with the intrauterine levonorgestrel (IUL) device Mirena®. Methods: We used the United States Food and Drug Administration’s Adverse Events Reporting System (FAERS) database to quantify a reporting odds ratio (ROR) for ICH and Mirena®. We also conducted a retrospective cohort study using the IMS LifeLink® database, comparing the risk of two oral contraceptives ethinyl estradiol (EE) with Mirena®. A Bayesian sensitivity analysis was performed to account for the effect of body mass index (BMI). Results: The reported odds ratios (ORs) for ICH and papilledema with Mirena® were 1.78 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.41–2.25) and 1.50 (95% CI 1.10–2.05), respectively. In the cohort study, the OR for ICH and EE-norgestimate and EE-norethindrone compared with Mirena® were 1.29 (95% CI 0.83–2.00) and 0.31 (95% CI 0.04–2.29), respectively. The presence of a strong confounder BMI did not affect the estimated OR (OR = 1.31, 95% CI 0.73–2.41 for EE-norgestimate; OR = 0.18, 95% CI 0.01–1.27 for EE-norethindrone). Conclusion: We found a higher than expected number of reports of ICH with Mirena® in the FAERS database. We also found a similar risk of ICH with Mirena® compared with the oral contraceptive EE-norgestimate. The higher risk of ICH with EE-norethindrone, another oral contraceptive should be further investigated.
Preventing ‘same-day’ cancellations in elective urological surgery: Are different strategies needed for inpatient, day case and procedural admissions?
Authors: O’Dwyer AJ , Pridgeon S , Green JSA 
Published: May 2015

Background: Late surgical cancellations adversely impact patients and efficient use of hospital resources. Non-clinical reasons have a cancellation rate of 0.77%, but when including clinical reasons this rate rises to 13%–15%.1–4 Objectives: The objectives of this article are to identify reasons for cancellations of elective urological procedures at a single centre across different procedure types and to make recommendations for prevention. Methods: Rates and reasons for late cancellation of urological surgery were retrospectively audited for the period April 2009 to April 2012. For each cancellation, reasons were classified: Patient-related, Facility-related, Work-up, Change in medical condition, Process-related, Miscellaneous. Results: During the study period, 9039 elective operations were reviewed to find 2804 cancellations: 580, 450, 1774 (rates = 15.6%, 21.7% and 29.3%) for inpatient, day case and procedure-room cases, respectively. Thirty per cent of inpatient cancellations were due to process-related factors, and 35% due to change in medical condition, of which 78% were urinary tract infection (UTI). Patient-related factors accounted for the majority (52%) of day case and procedural cancellations. Conclusions: Causes for cancellations vary according to procedure type, suggesting tailored strategies are needed for prevention. Change in medical condition caused similar rates of cancellation across procedure type (35%, 28% and 25%). Inpatient procedures were prone to process-related cancellations especially over-run theatre sessions. Patient surveys and reminders closer to time of operation, improvements in preoperative UTI detection and treatment and further process mapping is recommended to identify exact reasons behind and decrease cancellations.
Understanding Urban–Rural Patterns of BJP Campaigning in UP (Lok Sabha Elections 2014)
Authors: Mukerji Siddhartha 
Published: May 2015

The electoral patterns in Lok Sabha as well as state assembly elections reflect perceptible differences and variations across regions, groups, communities and constituencies. One such significant variation is found in urban and rural pattern of voting and party campaigning. The rural voter turnout in Uttar Pradesh stood at 58.5 per cent as compared to 54.7 per cent in urban localities. The difference also lies in party support in urban and rural areas, issues of campaigning and finally strategies to connect with rural and urban masses. Is the recent Lok Sabha election also a testimony to such variations? Or has the gap reduced due to predominance of other kinds of polarizations, especially religion? BJP’s landslide victory in recent Lok Sabha elections and above all its ability to secure 71 out of 80 in Uttar Pradesh, the state with largest number of seats in Lok Sabha, marked a decisive shift in the electoral verdict of the masses. Its vote share in the state increased by 25 per cent. The article would engage with a comparative study of urban and rural electoral patterns by accounting for variations in vote share, strategies used by political parties to attract rural and urban voters, issues of relevance for women voters and areas where religious polarization made the rural–urban divide immaterial as both urban and rural voters responded equally to religious appeals.
Rapid determination of anti-tuberculosis drug resistance from whole-genome sequences
Authors: Coll Francesc , McNerney Ruth , Preston Mark D , Guerra-Assunção José Afonso , Warry Andrew , Hill-Cawthorne Grant , Mallard Kim , Nair Mridul , Miranda Anabela , Alves Adriana , Perdigão João , Viveiros Miguel , Portugal Isabel , Hasan Zahra , Hasan Rumina , Glynn Judith R , Martin Nigel , Pain Arnab , Clark Taane G 
Published: May 2015

AbstractMycobacterium tuberculosis drug resistance (DR) challenges effective tuberculosis disease control. Current molecular tests examine limited numbers of mutations, and although whole genome sequencing approaches could fully characterise DR, data complexity has restricted their clinical application. A library (1,325 mutations) predictive of DR for 15 anti-tuberculosis drugs was compiled and validated for 11 of them using genomic-phenotypic data from 792 strains. A rapid online ‘TB-Profiler’ tool was developed to report DR and strain-type profiles directly from raw sequences. Using our DR mutation library, in silico diagnostic accuracy was superior to some commercial diagnostics and alternative databases. The library will facilitate sequence-based drug-susceptibility testing.
RNA interference approaches for treatment of HIV-1 infection
Authors: Bobbin Maggie L , Burnett John C , Rossi John J 
Published: May 2015

AbstractHIV/AIDS is a chronic and debilitating disease that cannot be cured with current antiretroviral drugs. While combinatorial antiretroviral therapy (cART) can potently suppress HIV-1 replication and delay the onset of AIDS, viral mutagenesis often leads to viral escape from multiple drugs. In addition to the pharmacological agents that comprise cART drug cocktails, new biological therapeutics are reaching the clinic. These include gene-based therapies that utilize RNA interference (RNAi) to silence the expression of viral or host mRNA targets that are required for HIV-1 infection and/or replication. RNAi allows sequence-specific design to compensate for viral mutants and natural variants, thereby drastically expanding the number of therapeutic targets beyond the capabilities of cART. Recent advances in clinical and preclinical studies have demonstrated the promise of RNAi therapeutics, reinforcing the concept that RNAi-based agents might offer a safe, effective, and more durable approach for the treatment of HIV/AIDS. Nevertheless, there are challenges that must be overcome in order for RNAi therapeutics to reach their clinical potential. These include the refinement of strategies for delivery and to reduce the risk of mutational escape. In this review, we provide an overview of RNAi-based therapies for HIV-1, examine a variety of combinatorial RNAi strategies, and discuss approaches for ex vivo delivery and in vivo delivery.
Laminin-rich blood vessels display activated growth factor signaling and act as the proliferation centers in Dupuytren’s contracture
Authors: Viil Janeli , Maasalu Katre , Mäemets-Allas Kristina , Tamming Liis , Lõhmussaar Kadi , Tooming Mikk , Ingerpuu Sulev , Märtson Aare , Jaks Viljar 
Published: May 2015

Abstract
Introduction
Dupuytren’s contracture (DC) is a chronic fibroproliferative disease of the hand, which is characterized by uncontrolled proliferation of atypical myofibroblasts at the cellular level. We hypothesized that specific areas of the DC tissue are sustaining the cell proliferation and studied the potential molecular determinants that might contribute to the formation of such niches.

Methods
We studied the expression pattern of cell proliferation marker Ki67, phosphorylated AKT (Ak mouse strain thymoma) kinase, DC-associated growth factors (connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF-2)) and extracellular matrix components (laminins, fibronectin, collagen IV) in DC tissue and normal palmar fascia using immunofluorescence microscopy and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR).

Results
We found that proliferative cells in the DC nodules were concentrated in the immediate vicinity of small blood vessels and localized predominantly in the myofibroblast layer. Correspondingly, the DC-associated blood vessels contained increased levels of phosphorylated AKT, a hallmark of activated growth factor signaling. When studying the expression of potential activators of AKT signaling we found that the expression of bFGF was confined to the endothelium of the small blood vessels, IGF-2 was present uniformly in the DC tissue and CTGF was expressed in the DC-associated sweat gland acini. In addition, the blood vessels in DC nodules contained increased amounts of laminins 511 and 521, which have been previously shown to promote the proliferation and stem cell properties of different cell types.

Conclusions
Based on our findings, we propose that in the DC-associated small blood vessels the presence of growth factors in combination with favorable extracellular matrix composition provide a supportive environment for sustained proliferation of myofibroblasts and thus the blood vessels play an important role in DC pathogenesis.
Evaluation and design of highly reliable and highly utilized cloud computing systems
Authors: Snyder Brett , Ringenberg Jordan , Green Robert , Devabhaktuni Vijay , Alam Mansoor 
Published: May 2015

Abstract
Cloud computing paradigm has ushered in the need to provide resources to users in a scalable, flexible, and transparent fashion much like any other utility. This has led to a need for developing evaluation techniques that can provide quantitative measures of reliability of a cloud computing system (CCS) for efficient planning and expansion. This paper presents a new, scalable algorithm based on non-sequential Monte Carlo Simulation (MCS) to evaluate large scale cloud computing system (CCS) reliability, and it develops appropriate performance measures. Also, a new iterative algorithm is proposed and developed that leverages the MCS method for the design of highly reliable and highly utilized CCSs. The combination of these two algorithms allows CCSs to be evaluated by providers and users alike, providing a new method for estimating the parameters of service level agreements (SLAs) and designing CCSs to match those contractual requirements posed in SLAs. Results demonstrate that the proposed methods are effective and applicable to systems at a large scale. Multiple insights are also provided into the nature of CCS reliability and CCS design.
Talimogene Laherparepvec Improves Durable Response Rate in Patients With Advanced Melanoma
Authors: Andtbacka Robert H.I. , Kaufman Howard L. , Collichio Frances , Amatruda Thomas , Senzer Neil , Chesney Jason , Delman Keith A. , Spitler Lynn E. , Puzanov Igor , Agarwala Sanjiv S. , Milhem Mohammed , Cranmer Lee , Curti Brendan , Lewis Karl , Ross Merrick , Guthrie Troy , Linette Gerald P. , Daniels Gregory A. , Harrington Kevin , Middleton Mark R. , Miller Wilson H. , Zager Jonathan S. , Ye Yining , Yao Bin , Li Ai , Doleman Susan , VanderWalde Ari , Gansert Jennifer , Coffin Robert S. 
Published: May 2015

Purpose Talimogene laherparepvec (T-VEC) is a herpes simplex virus type 1–derived oncolytic immunotherapy designed to selectively replicate within tumors and produce granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) to enhance systemic antitumor immune responses. T-VEC was compared with GM-CSF in patients with unresected stage IIIB to IV melanoma in a randomized open-label phase III trial. Patients and Methods Patients with injectable melanoma that was not surgically resectable were randomly assigned at a two-to-one ratio to intralesional T-VEC or subcutaneous GM-CSF. The primary end point was durable response rate (DRR; objective response lasting continuously ≥ 6 months) per independent assessment. Key secondary end points included overall survival (OS) and overall response rate. Results Among 436 patients randomly assigned, DRR was significantly higher with T-VEC (16.3%; 95% CI, 12.1% to 20.5%) than GM-CSF (2.1%; 95% CI, 0% to 4.5%]; odds ratio, 8.9; P < .001). Overall response rate was also higher in the T-VEC arm (26.4%; 95% CI, 21.4% to 31.5% v 5.7%; 95% CI, 1.9% to 9.5%). Median OS was 23.3 months (95% CI, 19.5 to 29.6 months) with T-VEC and 18.9 months (95% CI, 16.0 to 23.7 months) with GM-CSF (hazard ratio, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.62 to 1.00; P = .051). T-VEC efficacy was most pronounced in patients with stage IIIB, IIIC, or IVM1a disease and in patients with treatment-naive disease. The most common adverse events (AEs) with T-VEC were fatigue, chills, and pyrexia. The only grade 3 or 4 AE occurring in ≥ 2% of T-VEC–treated patients was cellulitis (2.1%). No fatal treatment-related AEs occurred. Conclusion T-VEC is the first oncolytic immunotherapy to demonstrate therapeutic benefit against melanoma in a phase III clinical trial. T-VEC was well tolerated and resulted in a higher DRR (P < .001) and longer median OS (P = .051), particularly in untreated patients or those with stage IIIB, IIIC, or IVM1a disease. T-VEC represents a novel potential therapy for patients with metastatic melanoma.
BEYOND: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Multicenter, Phase III Study of First-Line Carboplatin/Paclitaxel Plus Bevacizumab or Placebo in Chinese Patients With Advanced or Recurrent Nonsquamous Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Zhou Caicun , Wu Yi-Long , Chen Gongyan , Liu Xiaoqing , Zhu Yunzhong , Lu Shun , Feng Jifeng , He Jianxing , Han Baohui , Wang Jie , Jiang Guoliang , Hu Chunhong , Zhang Hao , Cheng Gang , Song Xiangqun , Lu You , Pan Hongming , Zheng Wenjuan , Yin Anny-Yue 
Published: May 2015

Purpose The phase III BEYOND trial was undertaken to confirm in a Chinese patient population the efficacy seen with first-line bevacizumab plus platinum doublet chemotherapy in globally conducted studies. Patients and Methods Patients age ≥ 18 years with locally advanced, metastatic, or recurrent advanced nonsquamous non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) were randomly assigned to receive carboplatin (area under the curve, 6) intravenously and paclitaxel (175 mg/m2) intravenously (CP) on day 1 of each 3-week cycle, for ≤ six cycles, plus placebo (Pl+CP) or bevacizumab (B+CP) 15 mg/kg intravenously, on day 1 of each cycle, until progression, unacceptable toxicity, or death. The primary end point was progression-free survival (PFS); secondary end points were objective response rate, overall survival, exploratory biomarkers, safety. Results A total of 276 patients were randomly assigned, 138 to each arm. PFS was prolonged with B+CP versus Pl+CP (median, 9.2 v 6.5 months, respectively; hazard ratio [HR], 0.40; 95% CI, 0.29 to 0.54; P < .001). Objective response rate was improved with B+CP compared with Pl+CP (54% v 26%, respectively). Overall survival was also prolonged with B+CP compared with Pl+CP (median, 24.3 v 17.7 months, respectively; HR, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.50 to 0.93; P = .0154). Median PFS was 12.4 months with B+CP and 7.9 months with Pl+CP (HR, 0.27; 95% CI, 0.12 to 0.63) in EGFR mutation–positive tumors and 8.3 and 5.6 months, respectively (HR, 0.33; 95% CI, 0.21 to 0.53), in wild-type tumors. Safety was similar to previous studies of B+CP in NSCLC; no new safety signals were observed. Conclusion The addition to bevacizumab to carboplatin/paclitaxel was well tolerated and resulted in a clinically meaningful treatment benefit in Chinese patients with advanced nonsquamous NSCLC.
Late Mortality After Dexrazoxane Treatment: A Report From the Children's Oncology Group
Authors: Chow Eric J. , Asselin Barbara L. , Schwartz Cindy L. , Doody David R. , Leisenring Wendy M. , Aggarwal Sanjeev , Baker K. Scott , Bhatia Smita , Constine Louis S. , Freyer David R. , Lipshultz Steven E. , Armenian Saro H. 
Published: May 2015

Purpose Given concerns that dexrazoxane may reduce treatment efficacy, induce second cancers, and thus compromise overall survival among children, we examined long-term overall and cause-specific mortality and disease relapse rates from three randomized clinical trials. Patients and Methods Children's Oncology Group trials P9404 (T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma; n = 537), P9425 (intermediate/high-risk Hodgkin lymphoma; n = 216), and P9426 (low-risk Hodgkin lymphoma; n = 255) were conducted between 1996 and 2001. Each trial randomly assigned patients to doxorubicin with or without dexrazoxane. The dexrazoxane:doxorubicin dose ratio was 10:1, and the cumulative protocol-specified doxorubicin dose was 100 to 360 mg/m2. Dexrazoxane was given as an intravenous bolus before each doxorubicin dose. Data from all three trials were linked with the National Death Index to determine overall and cause-specific mortality by dexrazoxane status. Results Among 1,008 patients (507 received dexrazoxane) with a median follow-up of 12.6 years (range, 0 to 15.5 years), 132 died (67 received dexrazoxane). Overall mortality did not vary by dexrazoxane status (12.8% with dexrazoxane at 10 years v 12.2% without; hazard ratio [HR], 1.03; 95% CI, 0.73 to 1.45). Findings were similar when each trial was examined separately. Dexrazoxane also was not significantly associated with differential causes of death. The original cancer caused 76.5% of all deaths (HR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.61 to 1.32) followed by second cancers (13.6% of deaths; HR, 1.24; 95% CI, 0.49 to 3.15). Specifically, dexrazoxane was not associated with deaths from acute myeloid leukemia/myelodysplasia or cardiovascular events. Conclusion Among pediatric patients with leukemia or lymphoma, after extended follow-up, dexrazoxane use did not seem to compromise long-term survival.