bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Quantitative fluorescence using 5-aminolevulinic acid-induced protoporphyrin IX biomarker as a surgical adjunct in low-grade glioma surgery
Authors: Valdés Pablo A. , Jacobs Valerie , Harris Brent T. , Wilson Brian C. , Leblond Frederic , Paulsen Keith D. , Roberts David W. 
Published: July 2015

OBJECT
Previous studies in high-grade gliomas (HGGs) have indicated that protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) accumulates in higher concentrations in tumor tissue, and, when used to guide surgery, it has enabled improved resection leading to increased progression-free survival. Despite the benefits of complete resection and the advances in fluorescence-guided surgery, few studies have investigated the use of PpIX in low-grade gliomas (LGGs). Here, the authors describe their initial experience with 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA)-induced PpIX fluorescence in a series of patients with LGG.

METHODS
Twelve patients with presumed LGGs underwent resection of their tumors after receiving 20 mg/kg of ALA approximately 3 hours prior to surgery under an institutional review board-approved protocol. Intraoperative assessments of the resulting PpIX emissions using both qualitative, visible fluorescence and quantitative measurements of PpIX concentration were obtained from tissue locations that were subsequently biopsied and evaluated histopathologically. Mixed models for random effects and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis for diagnostic performance were performed on the fluorescence data relative to the gold-standard histopathology.

RESULTS
Five of the 12 LGGs (1 ganglioglioma, 1 oligoastrocytoma, 1 pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma, 1 oligodendroglioma, and 1 ependymoma) demonstrated at least 1 instance of visible fluorescence during surgery. Visible fluorescence evaluated on a specimen-by-specimen basis yielded a diagnostic accuracy of 38.0% (cutoff threshold: visible fluorescence score ≥ 1, area under the curve = 0.514). Quantitative fluorescence yielded a diagnostic accuracy of 67% (for a cutoff threshold of the concentration of PpIX [CPpIX] > 0.0056 μg/ml, area under the curve = 0.66). The authors found that 45% (9/20) of nonvisibly fluorescent tumor specimens, which would have otherwise gone undetected, accumulated diagnostically significant levels of CPpIX that were detected quantitatively.

CONCLUSIONS
The authors’ initial experience with ALA-induced PpIX fluorescence in LGGs concurs with other literature reports that the resulting visual fluorescence has poor diagnostic accuracy. However, the authors also found that diagnostically significant levels of CPpIX do accumulate in LGGs, and the resulting fluorescence emissions are very often below the detection threshold of current visual fluorescence imaging methods. Indeed, at least in the authors’ initial experience reported here, if quantitative detection methods are deployed, the diagnostic performance of ALA-induced PpIX fluorescence in LGGs approaches the accuracy associated with visual fluorescence in HGGs.
Factors affecting survival in 43 consecutive patients after surgery for spinal metastases from thyroid carcinoma
Authors: Sellin Jonathan N. , Suki Dima , Harsh Viraat , Elder Benjamin D. , Fahim Daniel K. , McCutcheon Ian E. , Rao Ganesh , Rhines Laurence D. , Tatsui Claudio E. 
Published: July 2015

OBJECT
Spinal metastases account for the majority of bone metastases from thyroid cancer. The objective of the current study was to analyze a series of consecutive patients undergoing spinal surgery for thyroid cancer metastases in order to identify factors that influence overall survival.

METHODS
The authors retrospectively reviewed the records of all patients who underwent surgery for spinal metastases from thyroid cancer between 1993 and 2010 at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

RESULTS
Forty-three patients met the study criteria. Median overall survival was 15.4 months (95% CI 2.8–27.9 months) based on the Kaplan-Meier method. The median follow-up duration for the 4 patients who were alive at the end of the study was 39.4 months (range 1.7–62.6 months). On the multivariate Cox analysis, progressive systemic disease at spine surgery and postoperative complications were associated with worse overall survival (HR 8.98 [95% CI 3.46–23.30], p < 0.001; and HR 2.86 [95% CI 1.30–6.31], p = 0.009, respectively). Additionally, preoperative neurological deficit was significantly associated with worse overall survival on the multivariate analysis (HR 3.01 [95% CI 1.34–6.79], p = 0.008). Conversely, preoperative embolization was significantly associated with improved overall survival on the multivariate analysis (HR 0.43 [95% CI 0.20–0.94], p = 0.04). Preoperative embolization and longer posterior construct length were significantly associated with fewer and greater complications, respectively, on the univariate analysis (OR 0.24 [95% CI 0.06–0.93] p = 0.04; and OR 1.24 [95% CI 1.02–1.52], p = 0.03), but not the multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSIONS
Progressive systemic disease, postoperative complications, and preoperative neurological deficits were significantly associated with worse overall survival, while preoperative spinal embolization was associated with improved overall survival. These factors should be taken into consideration when considering such patients for surgery. Preoperative embolization and posterior construct length significantly influenced the incidence of postoperative complications only on the univariate analysis.
Preoperative opioid strength may not affect outcomes of anterior cervical procedures: a post hoc analysis of 2 prospective, randomized trials
Authors: Kelly Michael P. , Anderson Paul A. , Sasso Rick C. , Riew K. Daniel 
Published: July 2015

OBJECT
The aim of this study is to evaluate the relationship between preoperative opioid strength and outcomes of anterior cervical decompressive surgery.

METHODS
A retrospective cohort of 1004 patients enrolled in 1 of 2 investigational device exemption studies comparing cervical total disc arthroplasty (TDA) and anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) for single-level cervical disease causing radiculopathy or myelopathy was selected. At a preoperative visit, opioid use data, Neck Disability Index (NDI) scores, 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36) scores, and numeric rating scale scores for neck and arm pain were collected. Patients were divided into strong (oxycodone/morphine/meperidine), weak (codeine/propoxyphene/hydrocodone), and opioid-naïve groups. Preoperative and postoperative (24 months) outcomes scores were compared within and between groups using the paired t-test and ANCOVA, respectively.

RESULTS
Patients were categorized as follows: 226 strong, 762 weak, and 16 opioid naïve. The strong and weak groups were similar with respect to age, sex, race, marital status, education level, Worker’s Compensation status, litigation status, and alcohol use. At 24-month follow-up, no differences in change in arm or neck pain scores (arm: strong −52.3, weak −50.6, naïve −54.0, p = 0.244; neck: strong −52.7, weak −50.8, naïve −44.6, p = 0.355); NDI scores (strong −36.0, weak −33.3, naïve −32.3, p = 0.181); or SF-36 Physical Component Summary scores (strong: 14.1, weak 13.3, naïve 21.7, p = 0.317) were present. Using a 15-point improvement in NDI to determine success, the authors found no between-groups difference in success rates (strong 80.6%, weak 82.7%, naïve 73.3%, p = 0.134). No difference existed between treatment arms (TDA vs ACDF) for any outcome at any time point.

CONCLUSIONS
Preoperative opioid strength did not adversely affect outcomes in this analysis. Careful patient selection can yield good results in this patient population.
Utilization of laser interstitial thermotherapy guided by real-time thermal MRI as an alternative to separation surgery in the management of spinal metastasis
Authors: Tatsui Claudio E. , Stafford R. Jason , Li Jing , Sellin Jonathan N. , Amini Behrang , Rao Ganesh , Suki Dima , Ghia Amol J. , Brown Paul , Lee Sun-Ho , Cowles Charles E. , Weinberg Jeffrey S. , Rhines Laurence D. 
Published: July 2015

OBJECT
High-grade malignant spinal cord compression is commonly managed with a combination of surgery aimed at removing the epidural tumor, followed by spinal stereotactic radiosurgery (SSRS) aimed at local tumor control. The authors here introduce the use of spinal laser interstitial thermotherapy (SLITT) as an alternative to surgery prior to SSRS.

METHODS
Patients with a high degree of epidural malignant compression due to radioresistant tumors were selected for study. Visual analog scale (VAS) scores for pain and quality of life were obtained before and within 30 and 60 days after treatment. A laser probe was percutaneously placed in the epidural space. Real-time thermal MRI was used to monitor tissue damage in the region of interest. All patients received postoperative SSRS. The maximum thickness of the epidural tumor was measured, and the degree of epidural spinal cord compression (ESCC) was scored in pre- and postprocedure MRI.

RESULTS
In the 11 patients eligible for study, the mean VAS score for pain decreased from 6.18 in the preoperative period to 4.27 within 30 days and 2.8 within 60 days after the procedure. A similar VAS interrogating the percentage of quality of life demonstrated improvement from 60% preoperatively to 70% within both 30 and 60 days after treatment. Imaging follow-up 2 months after the procedure demonstrated a significant reduction in the mean thickness of the epidural tumor from 8.82 mm (95% CI 7.38–10.25) before treatment to 6.36 mm (95% CI 4.65–8.07) after SLITT and SSRS (p = 0.0001). The median preoperative ESCC Grade 2 was scored as 4, which was significantly higher than the score of 2 for Grade 1b (p = 0.04) on imaging follow-up 2 months after the procedure.

CONCLUTIONS
The authors present the first report on an innovative minimally invasive alternative to surgery in the management of spinal metastasis. In their early experience, SLITT has provided local control with low morbidity and improvement in both pain and the quality of life of patients.
Impact of epilepsy surgery on development of preschool children: identification of a cohort likely to benefit from early intervention
Authors: Shurtleff Hillary A. , Barry Dwight , Firman Timothy , Warner Molly H. , Aguilar-Estrada Rafael L. , Saneto Russell P. , Kuratani John D. , Ellenbogen Richard G. , Novotny Edward J. , Ojemann Jeffrey G. 
Published: July 2015

OBJECT
Outcomes of focal resection in young children with early-onset epilepsy are varied in the literature due to study differences. In this paper, the authors sought to define the effect of focal resection in a small homogeneous sample of children who were otherwise cognitively intact, but who required early surgical treatment. Preservation of and age-appropriate development of intelligence following focal resection was hypothesized.

METHODS
Cognitive outcome after focal resection was retrospectively reviewed for 15 cognitively intact children who were operated on at the ages of 2–6 years for lesion-related, early-onset epilepsy. Intelligence was tested prior to and after surgery. Effect sizes and confidence intervals for means and standard deviations were used to infer changes and differences in intelligence between 1) groups (pre vs post), 2) left versus right hemisphere resections, and 3) short versus long duration of seizures prior to resection.

RESULTS
No group changes from baseline occurred in Full Scale, verbal, or nonverbal IQ. No change from baseline intelligence occurred in children who underwent left or right hemisphere surgery, including no group effect on verbal scores following surgery in the dominant hemisphere. Patients with seizure durations of less than 6 months prior to resection showed improvement from their presurgical baseline in contrast to those with seizure duration of greater than 6 months prior to surgery, particularly in Wechsler Full Scale IQ and nonverbal intelligence.

CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that surgical treatment of focal seizures in cognitively intact preschool children is likely to result in seizure remediation, antiepileptic drug discontinuation, and no significant decrement in intelligence. The latter finding is particularly significant in light of the longstanding concern associated with performing resections in the language-dominant hemisphere. Importantly, shorter seizure duration prior to resection can result in improved cognitive outcome, suggesting that surgery for this population should occur sooner to help improve intelligence outcomes.
Noninvasive screening for intracranial hypertension in children with acute, severe traumatic brain injury
Authors: O’Brien Nicole F. , Maa Tensing , Reuter-Rice Karin 
Published: July 2015

OBJECT
The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between transcranial Doppler (TCD) derived pulsatility index (PI), end diastolic flow velocity (Vd), and intracranial pressure (ICP). The subjects in this study were 36 children admitted after severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) (postresuscitation Glasgow Coma Scale ≤ 8) undergoing invasive ICP monitoring.

METHODS
Subjects underwent a total of 148 TCD studies. TCD measurements of systolic flow velocity (Vs), Vd, and mean flow velocity (Vm) were performed on the middle cerebral artery (MCA) ipsilateral to the ICP monitor. The PI was calculated by the TCD software (Vs-Vd/Vm). ICP registrations were made in parallel with TCD measurements.

RESULTS
Using a PI threshold of 1.3, postinjury Day 0–1 PI had 100% sensitivity and 82% specificity at predicting an ICP ≥ 20 mm Hg (n = 8). During this time frame, a moderately strong relationship was observed between the MCA PI and actual ICP (r = 0.611, p = 0.01). When using a threshold of < 25 cm/sec, postinjury Day 0-1 Vd had a 56% sensitivity to predict an ICP ≥ 20 mm Hg. Beyond the initial 24 hours from injury, the sensitivity of an MCA PI of 1.3 to detect an ICP ≥20 mm Hg was 47%, and a weak relationship between actual ICP values and MCA PI (r = 0.376, p = 0.01) and MCA Vd (r = -0.284, p = 0.01) was found.

CONCLUSIONS
Postinjury Day 0-1 MCA PI > 1.3 has good sensitivity and specificity at predicting an ICP ≥ 20 mm Hg. In those children with TBI who initially do not meet clear criteria for invasive ICP monitoring but who are at risk for development of intracranial hypertension, TCD may be used as a noninvasive tool to screen for the development of elevated ICP in the first 24 hours following injury.
PCPOR: Public and constant-cost proofs of retrievability in cloud
Authors: Yuan Jiawei , Yu Shucheng 
Published: July 2015

Abstract For data storage outsourcing services, it is important to allow users to efficiently and securely verify that cloud storage servers store their data correctly. To address this issue, a number of Proof of Retrievability (POR) and Proof of Data Possession (PDP) schemes have been proposed wherein servers must prove to a verifier that data are stored correctly. While existing POR and PDP schemes offer decent solutions addressing various practical issues, they either have non-trivial (linear or quadratic) communication and computational complexity, or only consider private verification. In this paper, we propose the first POR scheme with public verifiability, constant communication and computational costs on users. In our scheme, messages exchanged between cloud servers and users are composed of a constant number of group elements and random numbers; computational tasks required on users are also constant; batch auditing of multiple tasks is also efficiently supported. We achieved these by a unique design based on our novel polynomial-based authenticators. Extensive experiments on Amazon EC2 cloud and different client devices (contemporary and mobile devices) show that our design allows a user to audit the integrity of a file of any size with a constant computational cost of 150 ms on PC (2.11 s on mobile device) and a communication cost of 2.34 kB for 99% error detection probability when employing an erasure coding with 1% fault tolerance rate. We prove the security of our scheme based on the Computational Diffie–Hellman problem, the t-Strong Diffie–Hellman problem and the Static Diffie–Hellman problem.
Bacterial RNA: An Underestimated Stimulus for Innate Immune Responses
Authors: Eigenbrod Tatjana , Dalpke Alexander H. 
Published: July 2015

Abstract
Although DNA of bacterial and viral origin, as well as viral RNA, have been intensively studied as triggers of innate immune responses, the stimulatory properties of bacterial RNA and its role during infections have just begun to be deciphered. Bacterial RNA is a strong inducer of type I IFN and NF-κB–dependent cytokines, and it also can activate the Nlrp3 inflammasome. In this review, we focus on the receptors and signaling pathways involved in innate immune activation by bacterial RNA and analyze the physiological relevance of bacterial RNA recognition during infections. Furthermore, we present the concept that RNA modifications can impair RNA-dependent immune activation. RNA modifications differ between eukaryotes and prokaryotes; thus, they can serve to define the innate pattern that is recognized. In this regard, we discuss the role of ribose 2′-O-methylation as a potential immune-escape mechanism.
NEW INSIGHT ON EPIDEMIOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT OF BACTERIAL BLOODSTREAM INFECTION IN PATIENTS WITH HEMATOLOGICAL MALIGNACIES
Authors: Lo Menzo Sara , La Martire Giulia , Ceccarelli Giancarlo , Venditti Mario 
Published: July 2015

Bloodstream infections (BSI) are an important cause of morbidity and mortality in onco-hematologic patients. The Gram-negative etiology was the main responsible of the febrile neutropenia in the sixties and its impact declined due to the use of fluoroquinolone prophylaxis; this situation was followed by the gradual emergence of Gram-positive bacteria also following of the increased use of intravascular devices and the introduction of new chemotherapeutic strategies. In the last decade the Gram-negative etiology is raising again because of the emergence of resistant strains that make questionable the usefulness of currentstrategies for prophylaxis and empirical treatment. Gram-negative BSI attributable mortality is relevant and the appropriate empirical treatment significantly improves the prognosis; on the other hand the delayed adequate treatment of Gram-positive BSI does not seem to have an high impact on survival. The clinician has to be aware of the epidemiology of his institution and of colonizations of his patients in order to choose the most appropriate empiric therapy. Ina setting of high endemicity of multidrug-resistant infections, even the choice of a targeted therapy can be a challenge, often requiring strategies based on off-label prescriptions and low grade evidences.In this review we summarize the current evidences for the best targeted therapies for difficult to treat bacteria BSIs and future perspectives in this topic. We also provide a flow chart for a rational approach to the empirical treatment of febrile neutropenia in a multidrug resistant high prevalence setting.
DISTRIBUTION OF DNA DAMAGE REPAIR GENE POLYMORPHISM hOGG1, XRCC1 and p53 AMONG SICKLE CELL DISEASE PATIENTS IN INDIA
Authors: Nishank Sudhansu Sekhar 
Published: July 2015

Background– Defect in DNA damage repair genes due to oxidative stress predispose the humans to malignancies. There are many cases of association of malignancies with sickle cell disease patients (SCD) throughout the world, the molecular cause of which has never been investigated. DNA damage repair genes such as hOGG1, XRCC1 and p53 play significant role in repair of DNA damage during oxidative stress but the distribution and clinical effect of these genes are not known till date in SCD patients who are associated with oxidative stress related clinical complications. Objective – The aim of the study was to characterize the distribution and clinical effect of DNA damage gene polymorphisms p53 (codon 72 Arg> Pro), hOGG1 (codon 326 Ser>Cyst) and XRCC1 (codons 194 Arg>Trp, codon 280 Arg> His, codon 399 Arg> Gln) among SCD patients of central India. Methods- A case control study of 250 SCD patients and 250 normal individuals were investigated by PCR-RFLP techniques. Result- The prevalence of mutant alleles of hOGG1 gene, XRCC1 codon 280 Arg>His were found to be significantly high among SCD patients as compared to controls. However, SCD patients did not show clinical association with any of these DNA repair gene polymorphisms. Conclusion- This indicates that hOGG1, p53 and XRCC1 gene polymorphisms may not have any clinical impact among SCD patients in India.
Some Members of the Sphaeropsidales from South Africa
Authors: Cejp Karel 
Published: July 2015

Seventeen isolates of Sphaeropsidaceous fungi from South Africa are described. Of these, nine are described as new species: Phyllosticta cussoniae, P. vannucriae, Ascochyia grewiae, Septoria combretiana, S. eueleae, S. lanneae, S. selariae, S. transvaaliana and S. triptcridis.
A Note on the Acacia giraffae x A. haematoxylon Hybrid
Authors: Ross J. H. 
Published: July 2015

Over twenty years ago the first specimens of a hybrid between Acacia giraffae Willd. and A. haematoxylon Willd. were collected in the Hay district of the Cape Province. From an examination of all available herbarium specimens the characteristics of A. giraffae, A. haematoxylon, and the hybrid are tabulated. Some of the characters displayed by the hybrid, for example number of pinna pairs, are found to be intermediate between the values recorded for the parent species, while other characters, for example the degree of pubescence and the presence of glands, tend to be inherited from one parent species only. It appears, therefore, that there is a marked tendency for certain characters associated together in a parent to be associated in the hybrid.
New and Interesting Records of South African Fungi, Part VII
Authors: Marasas W. F. O. , Van der Westhuizen G. C. A. 
Published: July 2015

Four species of fungi recorded for the first time in South Africa, are described and illustrated. These are: Acremoniella verrucosa Togn. from roots of Medicago sativa; Coniella pulchella Hohn. from roots of pine-apple; Periconia igniaria Mason Ellis from seed of Medicago sativa; and Stachybotrys subsimplex Cooke from the cocoon of Parastizopus armaticeps.
Acacia brevispica and A. schweinfurthii
Authors: Ross J. H. 
Published: July 2015

Recently Brenan. in Kew Bull. 21 : 477-480 (1968). upheld Acacia brevispica Harms and A. schweinfurthii Brenan Exell as distinct species and recognized two subspecies within A. brevispica. These conclusions differ from earlier results published by Ross Gordon- Gray in Brittonia 18: 44-63 (1966). Consequently it was considered necessary to re-examine these species in preparation for the account of Acacia for the Flora of Southern Africa. Distribution maps of the two species are provided and the differences between the species tabulated and discussed. Despite certain difficulties in Natal. Brenan's taxonomic conclusions are adopted. A map showing the distribution of A. schweinfurthii and A. brevispica subsp. dregeana in Natal is provided and a selection of Natal specimens cited.
The Mycoflora of Wheat Field Debris, Part I
Authors: Papendorf M. C. , Jooste W. J. 
Published: July 2015

Descriptions are given of five fungus species isolated from stubble of a wheat field in the Heibron district: Acremonium strictum Gams, Acremonium persicinun (Nicot) Gams, Acremonium curvulumGams, Tricellula curvata Haskins and Ulocladium consortiale (Thum.) Simmons.
The taxonomy of Paspalum paspalodes and P. vaginatum as represented in South Africa
Authors: Loxton A. E. 
Published: July 2015

The taxonomy and distribution of two species of the subgenus Disticha of Paspalum, as re­presented in South Africa, are presented. Two distinct, closely related species are recognized, namelyPaspalum paspatodes (Michx.) Scribn. (previously known as P. distichum L., the name being rejected as a no men confusum), and P. vaginatum Swartz.