bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Validity of Self‐reported Recent Smoking in Head and Neck Cancer Surgical Patients
Authors: Alberg Anthony J. , Worley Mitchell L. , Tooze Janet A. , Hatcher Jeanne L. , Carpenter Matthew J. , Day Terry A. , Sullivan Christopher A. , Warren Graham W. , Sterba Katherine R. , Weaver Kathryn E. 
Published: July 2015

ObjectiveIn cancer patients, cigarette smoking causes poorer response to treatment, treatment toxicity, increased risk of recurrence, higher surgical complication rates, and poorer overall survival. As such a significant determinant of patient prognosis, accurate classification of current smoking status is important. Self‐reported smoking status may lead to misclassification if patients conceal their true status. The purpose of this study was to assess the validity of self‐reported tobacco use during the previous 48 hours in head and neck cancer patients on the day of surgery.Study DesignCross‐sectional.SettingTwo academic medical centers in the southeastern United States.Subjects and MethodsOn the day of surgery, 108 head and neck cancer patients completed a survey asking about tobacco use during the past 48 hours and had semi‐quantitative levels of urinary cotinine measured to biochemically validate self‐reported recent smoking.ResultsSelf‐reported smoking yielded a sensitivity of 60.9% (95% CI, 45.4%‐74.9%) and a specificity of 98.4% (95% CI, 91.3%‐100.0%). The sensitivity increased to 76.1% (95% CI, 61.2%‐87.4%) when allowing for the possibility that exposure to secondhand smoke or use of nicotine‐containing products could have caused a positive cotinine test.ConclusionIn this patient population, self‐reported recent smoking yielded a high (39%) proportion of false‐negatives, and even 24% remained false‐negatives after allowing for other sources of nicotine exposure. This magnitude of underreporting combined with the importance of tobacco use to patient prognosis supports the need for routinely biochemically verifying recent tobacco use in self‐reported nonsmokers within the clinical setting.
Epithelial‐Myoepithelial Carcinoma of the Salivary Glands
Authors: Vázquez Alejandro , Patel Tapan D. , D’Aguillo Christine M. , Abdou Rami Y. , Farver William , Baredes Soly , Eloy Jean Anderson , Park Richard Chan W. 
Published: July 2015

ObjectiveEpithelial‐myoepithelial carcinoma (EMC) is a rare neoplasm of the salivary glands. In this study, we aim to examine the demographic, clinicopathologic, and survival features of EMC using a population‐based approach.Study Design and SettingRetrospective cohort study.Subjects and MethodsThe Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Result (SEER) database (1973‐2010) was queried for EMC of the major salivary glands. Data were analyzed with respect to various demographic and clinicopathologic factors. Survival was analyzed using the Kaplan‐Meier and Cox proportional hazards models.ResultsIn total, 246 cases were available for frequency analysis and 207 for survival analysis. Mean ± SD age at diagnosis was 63.8 ± 15.4 years. EMC affected females more frequently (57.3%). Distant metastases were present at diagnosis in only 4.5% of cases. Overall disease‐specific survival (DSS) at 60, 120, and 180 months was 91.3%, 90.2%, and 80.7%, respectively. Patients with low‐grade histology had significantly better survival at 180 months relative to those with high‐grade tumors (90.6% vs 0.0%, P =. 0246). When stratified by tumor size, patients with lesions >4 cm had the worst survival at 180 months (58.8%, P =. 0003). All but 9 of the 207 cases available for survival analysis underwent surgery. A total of 85 patients (41.1%) received radiotherapy in addition to surgery. No survival benefit was noted for patients who received radiotherapy compared with those who did not (P =. 4832).ConclusionThis report represents the largest series of EMC to date. Despite being regarded as a low‐grade, indolent tumor, a significant fraction of our cohort underwent radiotherapy in addition to surgery, with no apparent added survival benefit.
Improvement of hand sensibility resulting from application of anaesthetic cream on the forearm: importance of dose and time
Authors: Saleem Shifa , Rosén Birgitta , Engblom Johan , Björkman Anders 
Published: July 2015

Introduction A local anaesthetic cream, EMLA®, applied temporarily to the forearm can improve sensory functions in the hands, both in healthy individuals and in patients with nerve injury. The treatment concept is an example of guided plasticity where the dynamic capacity of the central nervous system is used for therapeutic purposes. However, the optimal dose and duration of the anaesthetic cream is not known and this is addressed here. Methods Sixty healthy volunteers participated in this experimental study. They were randomised to one of six groups of 10 and received either 10 g or 20 g of EMLA® on the volar part of the forearm for either 60, 90 or 120 min, respectively. Outcome measures were touch thresholds and discriminative touch in digits II and V. Results There was a statistically significant improvement in touch threshold as well as discriminative touch in all six groups. However, there were no statistically significant differences between the six different dose and duration combinations. Conclusions It is concluded that 10 g of EMLA® applied to the volar part of the forearm for 60 min may be adequate to induce improved hand sensibility.
Headache disorders and public ill-health in India: prevalence estimates in Karnataka State
Authors: Kulkarni Girish B , Rao Girish N , Gururaj Gopalkrishna , Stovner Lars J , Steiner Timothy J 
Published: July 2015

Abstract

Background
Primary headache disorders are among the commonest disorders, affecting people in all countries. India appears to be no exception, although reliable epidemiological data on headache in this highly populous country are not available. Such information is needed for health-policy purposes. Our aim was to estimate the prevalence of each of the headache disorders of public-health importance, and examine their sociodemographic associations, in urban and rural populations of Karnataka, south India.

Methods
In a door-to-door survey, 2,329 biologically unrelated adults (aged 18–65 years) were randomly sampled from urban (n = 1,226) and rural (n = 1,103) areas in and around Bangalore and interviewed by trained researchers using a pilot-tested, validated, structured questionnaire. ICHD-II diagnostic criteria were applied.

Results
The observed 1-year prevalence of any headache was 63.9 %, with a female preponderance of 4:3. The age-standardised 1 year prevalence of migraine was 25.2 %; prevalence was higher among females than males (OR: 2.1 [1.7-2.6]) and among those from rural areas than urban (OR = 1.5 [1.3-1.8]). The age-standardized 1 year prevalence of TTH was 35.1 %, higher among younger people. The estimated prevalence of all headache on ≥15 days/month was 3.0 %; that of pMOH was 1.2 %, five-times greater among females than males and with a rural preponderance.

Conclusions
There is a very high 1 year prevalence of migraine in south India (the mean global prevalence is estimated at 14.7 %). Explanations probably lie in cultural, lifestyle and/or environmental factors, although the observed associations with female gender and rural dwelling are usual. Levels of TTH, pMOH and other headache on ≥15 days/month are similar to global averages, while the very strong association of pMOH with female gender requires explanation. Until another study is conducted in the north of the country, these are the best data available for health policy in a population of over 1.2 billion people.
Transcutaneous supraorbital neurostimulation in “de novo” patients with migraine without aura: the first Italian experience
Authors: Russo Antonio , Tessitore Alessandro , Conte Francesca , Marcuccio Laura , Giordano Alfonso , Tedeschi Gioacchino 
Published: July 2015

Abstract

Background
Transcutaneous supraorbital neurostimulation (tSNS) has been recently found superior to sham stimulation for episodic migraine prevention in a randomized trial. We evaluated both the safety and efficacy of a brief period of tSNS in a group of patients with migraine without aura (MwoA).

Methods
We enrolled 24 consecutive patients with MwoA experiencing a low frequency of attacks, which had never taken migraine preventive drugs in the course of their life. Patients performed a high frequency tSNS and were considered “compliant” if they used the tSNS for ≥ 2/3 of the total time expected. For this reason, four patients were excluded from the final statistical analysis. Primary outcome measures were the reduction migraine attacks and migraine days per month (p < 0.05). Furthermore, we evaluated the percentage of patients having at least 50 % reduction of monthly migraine attacks and migraine days. Secondary outcome measures were the reduction of headache severity during migraine attacks and HIT-6 (Headache Impact Test) rating as well as in monthly intake of rescue medication (p < 0.05). Finally, compliance and satisfaction to treatment and potential adverse effects related to tSNS have been evaluated.

Results
Between run-in and second month of tSNS treatment, both primary and secondary endpoints were met. Indeed, we observed a statistically significant decrease in the frequency of migraine attacks (p < 0.001) and migraine days (p < 0.001) per month. We also demonstrated at least 50 % reduction of monthly migraine attacks and migraine days in respectively 81 and 75 % of patients. Furthermore, a statistically significant reduction in average of pain intensity during migraine attacks (p = 0.002) and HIT-6 rating (p < 0.001) and intake of rescue medication (p < 0.001) has been shown. All patients showed good compliance levels and no relevant adverse events.

Conclusion
In patients experiencing a low frequency of attacks, significant improvements in multiple migraine severity parameters were observed following a brief period of high frequency tSNS. Therefore, tSNS may be considered a valid option for the preventive treatment of migraine attacks in patients who cannot or are not willing to take daily medications, or in whom low migraine frequency and/or intensity would not require pharmacological preventive therapies.
G Protein-Gated Inwardly Rectifying Potassium Channel Subunits 1 and 2 are Down-Regulated in Rat Dorsal Root Ganglion Neurons and Spinal Cord after Peripheral Axotomy
Authors: Lyu Chuang , Mulder Jan , Barde Swapnali , Sahlholm Kristoffer , Zeberg Hugo , Nilsson Johanna , Århem Peter , Hökfelt Tomas , Fried Kaj , Shi Tie-Jun Sten 
Published: July 2015

Background Increased nociceptive neuronal excitability underlies chronic pain conditions. Various ion channels, including sodium, calcium and potassium channels have pivotal roles in the control of neuronal excitability. The members of the family of G protein-gated inwardly rectifying potassium (GIRK) channels, GIRK1–4, have been implicated in modulating excitability. Here, we investigated the expression and distribution of GIRK1 and GIRK2 in normal and injured dorsal root ganglia (DRGs) and spinal cord of rats. Results We found that ~70% of the DRG neurons expressed GIRK1, while only <10% expressed GIRK2. The neurochemical profiles of GIRK1- and GIRK2-immunoreactive neurons were characterized using the neuronal markers calcitonin gene-related peptide, isolectin-B4 and neurofilament-200, and the calcium-binding proteins calbindin D28k, calretinin, parvalbumin and secretagogin. Both GIRK subunits were expressed in DRG neurons with nociceptive characteristics. However, while GIRK1 was widely expressed in several sensory neuronal subtypes, GIRK2 was detected mainly in a group of small C-fiber neurons. In the spinal dorsal horn, GIRK1- and −2-positive cell bodies and processes were mainly observed in lamina II, but also in superficial and deeper layers. Abundant GIRK1-, but not GIRK2-like immunoreactivity, was found in the ventral horn (laminae VI–X). Fourteen days after axotomy, GIRK1 and GIRK2 were down-regulated in DRG neurons at the mRNA and protein levels. Both after axotomy and rhizotomy there was a reduction of GIRK1- and −2-positive processes in the dorsal horn, suggesting a presynaptic localization of these potassium channels. Furthermore, nerve ligation caused accumulation of both subunits on both sides of the lesion, providing evidence for anterograde and retrograde fast axonal transport. Conclusions Our data support the hypothesis that reduced GIRK function is associated with increased neuronal excitability and causes sensory disturbances in post-injury conditions, including neuropathic pain.
Pulmonary ultrasound and pulse oximetry versus chest radiography and arterial blood gas analysis for the diagnosis of acute respiratory distress syndrome: a pilot study
Authors: Bass Cameron M. , Sajed Dana R. , Adedipe Adeyinka A. , West T. Eoin 
Published: July 2015

Abstract
Introduction
In low-resource settings it is not always possible to acquire the information required to diagnose acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Ultrasound and pulse oximetry, however, may be available in these settings. This study was designed to test whether pulmonary ultrasound and pulse oximetry could be used in place of traditional radiographic and oxygenation evaluation for ARDS.

Methods
This study was a prospective, single-center study in the ICU of Harborview Medical Center, a referral hospital in Seattle, Washington, USA. Bedside pulmonary ultrasound was performed on ICU patients receiving invasive mechanical ventilation. Pulse oximetric oxygen saturation (SpO2), partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2), fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO2), provider diagnoses, and chest radiograph closest to time of ultrasound were recorded or interpreted.

Results
One hundred and twenty three ultrasound assessments were performed on 77 consecutively enrolled patients with respiratory failure. Oxygenation and radiographic criteria for ARDS were met in 35 assessments. Where SpO2 ≤ 97 %, the Spearman rank correlation coefficient between SpO2/FiO2 and PaO2/FiO2 was 0.83, p < 0.0001. The sensitivity and specificity of the previously reported threshold of SpO2/FiO2 ≤ 315 for PaO2/FiO2 ≤ 300 was 83 % (95 % confidence interval (CI) 68–93), and 50 % (95 % CI 1–99), respectively. Sensitivity and specificity of SpO2/FiO2 ≤ 235 for PaO2/FiO2 ≤ 200 was 70 % (95 % CI 47–87), and 90 % (95 % CI 68–99), respectively. For pulmonary ultrasound assessments interpreted by the study physician, the sensitivity and specificity of ultrasound interstitial syndrome bilaterally and involving at least three lung fields were 80 % (95 % CI 63–92) and 62 % (95 % CI 49–74) for radiographic criteria for ARDS. Combining SpO2/FiO2 with ultrasound to determine oxygenation and radiographic criteria for ARDS, the sensitivity was 83 % (95 % CI 52–98) and specificity was 62 % (95 % CI 38–82). For moderate–severe ARDS criteria (PaO2/FiO2 ≤ 200), sensitivity was 64 % (95 % CI 31–89) and specificity was 86 % (95 % CI 65–97). Excluding repeat assessments and independent interpretation of ultrasound images did not significantly alter the sensitivity measures.

Conclusions
Pulse oximetry and pulmonary ultrasound may be useful tools to screen for, or rule out, impaired oxygenation or lung abnormalities consistent with ARDS in under-resourced settings where arterial blood gas testing and chest radiography are not readily available.
Quantifying the broader economic consequences of quadrivalent human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination in Germany applying a government perspective framework
Authors: Kotsopoulos Nikolaos , Connolly Mark P , Remy Vanessa 
Published: July 2015

Abstract
HPV infections can cause substantial burden in females and males as it is associated with several genital cancers, in addition to genital warts. Traditional economic evaluations often focus on quantifying cost-effectiveness, however, it is increasingly recognized that vaccinations may generate broader benefits not captured in cost-effectiveness analysis. Τhe aim of this study was to evaluate the broader economic consequences associated with HPV vaccination in males and females and to conduct a lifetime cost-benefit analysis of investing in universal vaccination in Germany from the perspective of government. Methodologies from generational accounting, human capital and health economics were combined to estimate the broader economic consequences of HPV vaccination including the fiscal impact for the government. A cohort model was developed simulating the medical costs and average lifetime fiscal transfers between the government and 12-year-old immunized and non-immunized males and females. To estimate tax revenue attributed to vaccination-related changes in morbidity and mortality, direct and indirect tax rates were linked to differences in age- and gender-specific earnings. Based on HPV vaccination costs, the base case cost-benefit analysis demonstrated that investing €1 in universal HPV vaccination could yield €1.7 in gross tax revenue over the lifetime of the cohorts. After taking into consideration the governmental transfers, universal HPV vaccination in Germany could result in incremental positive net discounted taxes (i.e. tax revenue-transfers) from €62 million for the German government. The vaccination of males and females with the quadrivalent HPV vaccine is likely to have positive effects on public finances.
On some fixed point theorems under $(\alpha,\psi,\phi)$-contractivity conditions in metric spaces endowed with transitive binary relations
Authors: Shahzad Naseer , Karapınar Erdal , Roldán-López-de-Hierro Antonio-Francisco 
Published: July 2015

AbstractAfter the appearance of Nieto and Rodríguez-López’s theorem, the branch of fixed point theory devoted to the setting of partially ordered metric spaces have attracted much attention in the last years, especially when coupled, tripled, quadrupled and, in general, multidimensional fixed points are studied. Almost all papers in this direction have been forced to present two results assuming two different hypotheses: the involved mapping should be continuous or the metric framework should be regular. Both conditions seem to be different in nature because one of them refers to the mapping and the other one is assumed on the ambient space. In this paper, we unify such different conditions in a unique one. By introducing the notion of continuity of a mapping from a metric space into itself depending on a function α, which is the case that covers the partially ordered setting, we extend some very recent theorems involving control functions that only must be lower/upper semi-continuous from the right. Finally, we use metric spaces endowed with transitive binary relations rather than partial orders.
Personalized fitting recommendation based on support vector regression
Authors: Li Weimin , Li Xunfeng , Yao Mengke , Jiang Jiulei , Jin Qun 
Published: July 2015

AbstractCollaborative filtering (CF) is a popular method for the personalized recommendation. Almost all of the existing CF methods rely only on the rating data while ignoring some important implicit information in non-rating properties for users and items, which has a significant impact on the preference. In this study, considering that the average rating of users and items has a certain stability, we firstly propose a personalized fitting pattern to predict missing ratings based on the similarity score set, which combines both the user-based and item-based CF. In order to further reduce the prediction error, we use the non-rating attributes, such as a user’s age, gender and occupation, and an item’s release date and price. Moreover, we present the deviation adjustment method based on the support vector regression. Experimental results on MovieLens dataset show that our proposed algorithms can increase the accuracy of recommendation versus the traditional CF.
Development of junction temperature estimation system for light-emitting LED using pulsed-laser Raman scattering
Authors: Horiuchi Makoto , Yamagata Yukihiko , Tsutsumi Shin-ichi , Tomita Kentaro , Manabe Yoshio 
Published: July 2015

Abstract
A new method by using a pulsed-laser Raman scattering technique was employed to estimate junction temperature of a fluorescence-resin-less blue-LED package. Temperature dependent Raman shift of E
2
H mode of GaN layer in the blue-LED were obtained and were in good agreement with the experimental data published by the other researchers. This technique was applied to estimation of a junction temperature of the light-emitting blue-LED. The junction temperature was successfully estimated even under the strong stray light and LED light emission. It is considered that the proposed technique would be a remote and standard system for measuring the junction temperature of light-emitting white-LEDs.
Distribution and dependence of extremes in network sampling processes
Authors: Avrachenkov Konstantin , Markovich Natalia M. , Sreedharan Jithin K. 
Published: July 2015

Abstract
We explore the dependence structure in the sampled sequence of complex networks. We consider randomized algorithms to sample the nodes and study extremal properties in any associated stationary sequence of characteristics of interest like node degrees, number of followers, or income of the nodes in online social networks, which satisfy two mixing conditions. Several useful extremes of the sampled sequence like the kth largest value, clusters of exceedances over a threshold, and first hitting time of a large value are investigated. We abstract the dependence and the statistics of extremes into a single parameter that appears in extreme value theory called extremal index (EI). In this work, we derive this parameter analytically and also estimate it empirically. We propose the use of EI as a parameter to compare different sampling procedures. As a specific example, degree correlations between neighboring nodes are studied in detail with three prominent random walks as sampling techniques.