bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A positive diagnosis of functional (psychogenic) tics
Authors: Demartini B. , Ricciardi L. , Parees I. , Ganos C. , Bhatia K. P. , Edwards M. J. 
Published: December 2014

Background and purposeFunctional tics, also called psychogenic tics or pseudo‐tics, are difficult to diagnose because of the lack of diagnostic criteria and their clinical similarities to organic tics. The aim of the present study was to report a case series of patients with documented functional tics and to describe their clinical characteristics, risk factors and psychiatric comorbidity. Also clinical tips are suggested which might help the differential diagnosis in clinical practice.Methods and resultsEleven patients (mean age at onset 37.2, SD 13.5; three females) were included with a documented or clinically established diagnosis of functional tics, according to consultant neurologists who have specific expertise in functional movement disorders or in tic disorders. Adult onset, absent family history of tics, inability to suppress the movements, lack of premonitory sensations, absence of pali‐, echo‐ and copro‐phenomena, presence of blocking tics, the lack of the typical rostrocaudal tic distribution and the coexistence of other functional movement disorders were common in our patients.ConclusionsOur data suggest that functional tics can be differentiated from organic tics on clinical grounds, although it is also accepted that this distinction can be difficult in certain cases. Clinical clues from history and examination described here might help to identify patients with functional tics.
Surviving 10 years with deep brain stimulation for Parkinson's disease – a follow‐up of 79 patients
Authors: Bang Henriksen M. , Johnsen E. L. , Sunde N. , Vase A. , Gjelstrup M. C. , Østergaard K. 
Published: December 2014

Background and purposeDeep brain stimulation (DBS) for severe Parkinson's disease (PD) outperforms the best medical treatment in controlling motor symptoms and improving quality of life. Nevertheless disease progression cannot be controlled, and the development of dementia over time is nearly inevitable, often resulting in nursing home placement. Ten‐year survival, development of hallucinations, dementia and nursing home placement were examined and adverse events were assessed.MethodPatient files were scrutinized from baseline up to 10 years of treatment or death on all 79 PD patients treated with DBS of the subthalamic nucleus from 1998 to 2003 at Aarhus University Hospital.ResultsTwenty‐four patients died during the follow‐up period of 10 years. Age above 60 years at surgery increased mortality 2.3‐fold (P = 0.04). Of the 55 surviving patients 29 (53%) were demented and 19 (35%) were in nurs‐ing homes. Average time from operation to dementia was 5.6 ± 2.9 years. Hallucinations and nursing home placement were associated with increased mortality.ConclusionSurvival of 70% after a mean of 25 years of PD including 10 years with DBS illustrates that this is a selected group of PD patients. The prevalence of dementia steadily increased after surgery as expected from disease progression and can be an early event. Compared with the few similar long‐term studies, the present study presents a larger cohort followed at the same DBS center for a longer period of time and none was lost to follow‐up, making conclusions more valid. The present findings are of significant prognostic help for the patient, caregiver and physician when treatment with DBS has to be decided.
Better object recognition and naming outcome withMRI‐guided stereotactic laser amygdalohippocampotomy for temporal lobe epilepsy
Authors: Drane Daniel L. , Loring David W. , Voets Natalie L. , Price Michele , Ojemann Jeffrey G. , Willie Jon T. , Saindane Amit M. , Phatak Vaishali , Ivanisevic Mirjana , Millis Scott , Helmers Sandra L. , Miller John W. , Meador Kimford J. , Gross Robert E. 
Published: December 2014

SummaryObjectivesPatients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) experience significant deficits in category‐related object recognition and naming following standard surgical approaches. These deficits may result from a decoupling of core processing modules (e.g., language, visual processing, and semantic memory), due to “collateral damage” to temporal regions outside the hippocampus following open surgical approaches. We predicted that stereotactic laser amygdalohippocampotomy (SLAH) would minimize such deficits because it preserves white matter pathways and neocortical regions that are critical for these cognitive processes.MethodsTests of naming and recognition of common nouns (Boston Naming Test) and famous persons were compared with nonparametric analyses using exact tests between a group of 19 patients with medically intractable mesialTLEundergoingSLAH(10 dominant, 9 nondominant), and a comparable series ofTLEpatients undergoing standard surgical approaches (n = 39) using a prospective, nonrandomized, nonblinded, parallel‐group design.ResultsPerformance declines were significantly greater for the patients with dominantTLEwho were undergoing open resection versusSLAHfor naming famous faces and common nouns (F = 24.3, p < 0.0001, η2 = 0.57, and F = 11.2, p < 0.001, η2 = 0.39, respectively), and for the patients with nondominantTLEundergoing open resection versusSLAHfor recognizing famous faces (F = 3.9, p < 0.02,η2 = 0.19). When examined on an individual subject basis, noSLAHpatients experienced any performance declines on these measures. In contrast, 32 of the 39 patients undergoing standard surgical approaches declined on one or more measures for both object types (p < 0.001, Fisher's exact test). Twenty‐one of 22 left (dominant)TLEpatients declined on one or both naming tasks after open resection, while 11 of 17 right (nondominant)TLEpatients declined on face recognition.SignificancePreliminary results suggest (1) naming and recognition functions can be spared inTLEpatients undergoingSLAH, and (2) the hippocampus does not appear to be an essential component of neural networks underlying name retrieval or recognition of common objects or famous faces.
Oxcarbazepine and its active metabolite, (S)‐licarbazepine, exacerbate seizures in a mouse model of genetic generalized epilepsy
Authors: Kim Tae Hwan , Reid Christopher A. , Petrou Steven 
Published: December 2014

SummaryOxcarbazepine (OXC), widely used to treat focal epilepsy, is reported to exacerbate seizures in patients with generalized epilepsy. OXC is metabolized to monohydroxy derivatives in two enantiomeric forms: (R)‐licarbazepine and (S)‐licarbazepine. Eslicarbazepine acetate is a recently approved antiepileptic drug that is rapidly metabolized to (S)‐licarbazepine. It is not known whether (S)‐licarbazepine exacerbates seizures. Here, we test whether OXC or either of its enantiomers exacerbates the number of spike‐and‐wave discharges (SWDs) in mice harboring the human γ‐aminobutyric acid A receptor (GABAA)γ2(R43Q) mutation. OXC (20 mg/kg), (S)‐licarbazepine (20 mg/kg), and (R)‐licarbazepine (20 mg/kg) all significantly increased the number of SWDs, while their duration was unaffected. The potential for (S)‐licarbazepine to exacerbate SWDs suggests that eslicarbazepine acetate should be used with caution in generalized epilepsy. Furthermore, generalized seizure exacerbation for first‐, second‐, and third‐generation carbamazepine‐based compounds is likely to occur through a common mechanism.
Should consciousness describe seizures and what terms should be applied? Epilepsia's survey results
Authors: Mathern Gary W. , Beninsig Laurie , Nehlig Astrid 
Published: December 2014

SummaryObjectiveFrom May to September 2014, Epilepsia conducted an online survey seeking opinions on whether consciousness should be used in describing focal and generalized seizures, and what terms should be applied to describe focal seizures with loss of awareness and amnesia. This study reports the findings of that survey.MethodsTwo questions asked if consciousness should be used to classify seizures and what terms should be applied. Another four questions addressed demographic information.ResultsOf 209 individuals that started the poll, 147 (70.3%) completing it, and most that completed it were epileptologists (66%) from Europe (41%) and North America (27%). A majority (64%) indicated that the presence or absence of consciousness should be used to describe focal and generalized seizures, whereas 23% said it should not be used. When asked what term should be used to describe focal seizures with altered awareness and amnesia, 36% said focal impaired consciousness seizures (FICS), 30% selected complex partial seizures (CPS), and 16% answered focal dyscognitive seizures.SignificanceThis survey indicates that most responders prefer that consciousness be considered in the description of focal and generalized seizures, despite the difficulty in determining awareness clinically. Furthermore, responders could not agree on a single term that could be used to define focal seizures with loss of awareness and amnesia.
The Impact of Sovereign Rating News on European Banks
Authors: Caselli Stefano , Gandolfi Gino , Soana Maria Gaia 
Published: December 2014

AbstractThis paper examines the spillover effect of Eurozone sovereign rating changes announced by Standard and Poor's, Moody's, and Fitch on domestic bank share prices in the period 2002–2012. This spillover effect appears negative in the case of downgrades, but insignificant for upgrades. Surprisingly, announcement of sovereign negative credit watches results in increased bank stock returns. Bank share price losses following sovereign downgrades increase as bank leverage, efficiency, and equity performance increase, and they decrease as bank systematic risk and payout ratio increase. On the contrary, bank share prices rise following sovereign negative credit watches, as leverage and bank size decrease and as bank systematic risk increases.
Evapotranspiration of annual and perennial biofuel crops in a variable climate
Authors: Abraha Michael , Chen Jiquan , Chu Housen , Zenone Terenzio , John Ranjeet , Su Yahn‐Jauh , Hamilton Stephen K. , Robertson G. Philip 
Published: December 2014

AbstractEddy covariance measurements were made in seven fields in the Midwest USA over 4 years (including the 2012 drought year) to estimate evapotranspiration (ET) of newly established rain‐fed cellulosic and grain biofuel crops. Four of the converted fields had been managed as grasslands under the USDA's Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) for 22 years, and three had been in conventional agriculture (AGR) soybean/corn rotation prior to conversion. In 2009, all sites were planted to no‐till soybean except one CRP grassland that was left unchanged as a reference site; in 2010, three of the former CRP sites and the three former AGR sites were planted to annual (corn) and perennial (switchgrass and mixed‐prairie) grasslands. The annual ET over the 4 years ranged from 45% to 77% (mean = 60%) of the annual precipitation (848–1063 mm; November–October), with the unconverted CRP grassland having the highest ET (622–706 mm). In the fields converted to annual and perennial crops, the annual ET ranged between 480 and 639 mm despite the large variations in growing‐season precipitation and in soil water contents, which had strong effects on regional crop yields. Results suggest that in this humid temperate climate, which represents the US Corn Belt, water use by annual and perennial crops is not greatly different across years with highly variable precipitation and soil water availability. Therefore, large‐scale conversion of row crops to perennial biofuel cropping systems may not strongly alter terrestrial water balances.
Are soil‐adjusted vegetation indices better than soil‐unadjusted vegetation indices for above‐ground green biomass estimation in arid and semi‐arid grasslands?
Authors: Ren H. , Feng G. 
Published: December 2014

AbstractAccurate estimation of grassland biomass has been a central focus due to its importance in ecosystem processes and carbon cycles. This study aimed to examine whether the performance of soil‐adjusted vegetation indices for estimating above‐ground green biomass was better than that of soil‐unadjusted vegetation indices in arid and semi‐arid grasslands. Above‐ground green biomass in desert steppe of Inner Mongolia and corresponding moderate‐resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) surface reflectance 8‐day composite MOD09Q1 data were collected during late September of 2013. Results showed that soil‐adjusted SAVI (soil‐adjusted vegetation index), MSAVI (modified soil‐adjusted vegetation index), OSAVI (optimized soil‐adjusted vegetation index), TSAVI (transformed soil‐adjusted vegetation index), ATSAVI (adjusted transformed soil‐adjusted vegetation index) and PVI (perpendicular vegetation index) did not improve estimation accuracy over soil‐unadjusted simple ratio (SR) and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), due to low green vegetation cover (<30%) in the study area. Our results suggest that these soil‐adjusted vegetation indices may be not suitable for describing green vegetation information in arid and semi‐arid grasslands with low green vegetation cover (<30%).
Construction and validation of a scale of assessment of self‐care behaviors with arteriovenous fistula in hemodialysis
Authors: Sousa Clemente Neves , Apóstolo João Luís Alves , Figueiredo Maria Henriqueta Jesus Silva , Dias Vanessa Filipa Ferreira , Teles Paulo , Martins Maria Manuela 
Published: December 2014

AbstractSeveral guidelines recommend the importance of educating the patient about the care of vascular access. Nurses have a key role in promoting the development of self‐care behaviors by providing the necessary knowledge to patients, so that they develop the necessary skills to take care of the arteriovenous fistula (AVF). This article describes the process of building a scale of assessment of self‐care behaviors with arteriovenous fistula in hemodialysis (ASBHD‐AVF). This is a cross‐sectional study in which the development, construction, and validation process followed the directions of the authors Streiner and Norman. This is a convenience sample, sequential, and nonprobabilistic constituted by 218 patients. The study was conducted in two stages during 2012–2014. The first phase corresponds to the scale construction process, 64 patients participated, while the second corresponds to the evaluation of metric properties and 154 patients participated. The principal component analysis revealed a two‐factor structure, with factorial weights between 0.805 and 0.511 and between 0.700 and 0.369, respectively, explaining 39.12% of the total variance of the responses. The Cronbach's alpha of the subscale management of signs and symptoms is 0.797 and from the subscale prevention of complications is 0.722. The ASBHD‐AVF revealed properties that allow its use to assess the self‐care behaviors in the maintenance and conservation of the AVF.
Relationship of treatment satisfaction to health‐related quality of life: findings from a cross‐sectional survey among hypertensive patients in Palestine
Authors: Al‐Jabi Samah W. , Zyoud Sa'ed H. , Sweileh Waleed M. , Wildali Aysha H. , Saleem Hanan M. , Aysa Hayat A. , Badwan Mohammad A. , Awang Rahmat 
Published: December 2014

AbstractBackgroundEvaluation of the association between treatment satisfaction and health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) may enable health‐care providers to understand the issues that influence quality of life and to recognize the aspects of hypertension treatment that need improvement to enhance the long‐term treatment outcomes.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to determine the relationship between HRQoL and treatment satisfaction in a sample of Palestinian hypertensive patients.MethodsA cross‐sectional study was conducted, adopting the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication (TSQM 1.4) for the assessment of treatment satisfaction and using the European Quality of Life scale (EQ‐5D‐5L) for the assessment of HRQoL. Descriptive and comparative statistics were used to describe socio‐demographic and disease‐related characteristics of the patients. All analyses were performed using SPSS v 15.0.ResultsFour hundred and ten hypertensive patients were enrolled in the study. This study findings indicate a positive correlation between all satisfaction domains and HRQoL. Significant differences were observed between this study variables (P < 0.001). After adjustment for covariates using multiple linear regression, an increase of one point in the global satisfaction scale was associated with a 0.16 increase in EQ‐5D index scores (r = 0.16; P < 0.001).ConclusionsPatients with reportedly higher satisfaction scores have reported relatively higher EQ‐5D‐5L index values. These study findings could be helpful in clinical practice, mainly in the early treatment of hypertensive patients, at a point where improving treatment satisfaction and HRQoL is still possible.
Central European cities maintain substantial dragonfly species richness – a chance for biodiversity conservation?
Authors: Goertzen Diana , Suhling Frank 
Published: December 2014

Abstract

This study investigates whether cities have the potential of hosting high species diversity of dragonflies (Odonata), a target group in freshwater conservation.

We reviewed the dragonfly fauna of 30 cities in Central Europe and analysed their species richness compared to the regional species pools in the hinterlands, i.e. estimated the amount of regional diversity represented in cities. In particular, we examined the occurrence of species of conservation concern at the European scale.

Results revealed that 92.6% of all 81 Central European dragonfly species occurred in cities, as well as 85.7% of 14 species of conservation concern. As expected, assemblages of city species were subsets of the regional species pool and city species richness increased with regional species numbers. Some cities hosted the complete regional species pool.

Ten species of conservation concern established autochthonous populations and six of them, such as Aeshna viridis and Ophiogomphus cecilia, were abundant at least in single cities.

We conclude that there is good potential for cities to host high dragonfly diversity and even to promote species of conservation concern. To exploit this potential we recommend city planners to focus on the needs of regionally characteristic species.
Synergistic effect of 2% chlorhexidine combined with proteolytic enzymes on biofilm disruption and killing
Authors: Niazi S. A. , Al‐Ali W. M. , Patel S. , Foschi F. , Mannocci F. 
Published: December 2014

AbstractAimTo investigate the dynamics of a disinfection regimen using 1% trypsin and 1% proteinase K in combination with 2% chlorhexidine (with or without ultrasonics) using a nutrient‐stressed endodontic multispecies model biofilm.MethodologyNutrient‐stressed biofilms (Propionibacterium acnes, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Actinomyces radicidentis, Streptococcus mitis and Enterococcus faecalis OMGS 3202) were grown in prepared root canals of single‐rooted teeth. The treatment groups included 1% trypsin and 2% chlorhexidine (CHX), 1% proteinase K and 2% CHX (with and without ultrasonics). 2% CHX was the positive control and untreated group, and sterile saline (with and without ultrasonics) was the negative control. The biofilms were investigated using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) with live/dead staining and quantitative microbial culture.ResultsThe trypsin and CHX group with ultrasonics was significantly more effective in reducing viable counts and the substratum coverage than those of all other groups (P < 0.05). The viable counts of the proteinase K and CHX group used with (4.26 ± 0.58 log10 cfu mL−1) or without ultrasonics (5.05 ± 1.36 log10 cfu mL−1) were significantly reduced (P < 0.05) as compared with the untreated control (7.67 ± 0.84 log10 cfu mL−1) and saline groups used with (6.57 ± 0.73 log10 cfu mL−1) and without ultrasonics (6.74 ± 0.10 log10 cfu mL−1). The CHX group was less effective in biofilm disruption compared to when used in combination with trypsin and proteinase K.ConclusionThe trypsin and CHX group with ultrasonics was significantly more effective at reducing bacterial viable counts and disrupting biofilm.
Measurement of pulp blood flow rates in maxillary anterior teeth using ultrasound Doppler flowmetry
Authors: Cho Y.‐W. , Park S.‐H. 
Published: December 2014

AbstractAimTo measure pulp blood flow rates of clinically normal maxillary anterior teeth of healthy adults using ultrasound Doppler flowmetry (UDF).MethodologyA total of 359 anterior teeth from 63 patients (mean age, 29.8 years; range, 22–52 years; 26 females and 36 males) were included. The data were collected according to tooth type (three groups: central incisors, lateral incisors and canines). An MM‐D‐K (Minimax, Moscow, Russia) ultrasound Doppler imaging instrument was used to measure pulp blood flow. Differences between the tooth types were analysed with one‐way anova and a Bonferroni correction at the 95% confidence level.ResultsThe mean average linear velocities during the systolic period (Vams) of the central incisors, lateral incisors and canines were 0.58, 0.58 and 0.52 cm s−1, respectively. There were no significant differences in the mean Vams between the tooth types (P > 0.05).ConclusionsWithin the limitations of this study, the pulp blood velocities of clinically normal, maxillary anterior teeth of healthy adults were between 0.5 and 0.6 cm s−1. There were no significant differences in mean blood flow rates between maxillary central incisors, lateral incisors and canines.
Killer cell immunoglobulin receptor profile on CD4+ CD28− T cells and their pathogenic role in non‐dialysis‐dependent and dialysis‐dependent chronic kidney disease patients
Authors: Zal Behnam , Chitalia Nihil , Ng Yin Sing , Trieu Verna , Javed Sana , Warrington Rachelle , Kaski Juan Carlos , Banerjee Debasish , Baboonian Christina 
Published: December 2014

SummaryThere is a progressive increase in cardiovascular disease with declining renal function, unexplained by traditional risk factors. A CD4+ T‐cell subpopulation (CD4+ CD28−), activated by human heat‐shock protein 60 (hHSP 60), expands in patients with acute coronary syndrome and is associated with vascular damage. These cells exhibit cytotoxicity via expression of activating killer cell‐immunoglobulin‐like receptor KIR2DS2, mainly in the absence of inhibitory KIR2DL3. We investigated expansion of these cells and the pathogenic role of the KIR in non‐dialysis‐dependent chronic kidney disease (NDD‐CKD) and end‐stage haemodialysis‐dependent renal disease (HD‐ESRD) patients. CD4+ CD28− cells were present in 27% of the NDD‐CKD and HD‐ESRD patients (8–11% and 10–11% of CD4+ compartment, respectively). CD4+ CD28− cells were phenotyped for KIR and DAP12 expression. Cytotoxicity was assessed by perforin and pro‐inflammatory function by interferon‐γ expression on CD4+ CD28− clones (NDD‐CKD n = 97, HD‐ESRD n = 262). Thirty‐four per cent of the CD4+ CD28− cells from NDD‐CKD expressed KIR2DS2 compared with 56% in HD‐ESRD patients (P = 0·03). However, 20% of clones expressed KIR2DL3 in NDD‐CKD compared with 7% in HD‐ESRD patients (P = 0·004). DAP12 expression in CD28− 2DS2+ clones was more prevalent in HD‐ESRD than NDD‐CKD (92% versus 60%; P < 0·001). Only 2DS2+ 2DL3− DAP12+ clones were cytotoxic in response to hHSP 60. CD4+ CD28− cells exhibited increased KIR2DS2, reduced KIR2DL3 and increased DAP12 expression in HD‐ESRD compared with NDD‐CKD patients. These findings suggest a gradual loss of expression, functionality and protective role of inhibitory KIR2DL3 as well as increased cytotoxic potential of CD4+ C28− cells with progressive renal impairment. Clonal expansion of these T cells may contribute to heightened cardiovascular events in HD‐ESRD.