bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Functional Electrical Stimulation in Spinal Cord Injury: Clinical Evidence Versus Daily Practice
Authors: Bersch Ines , Tesini Stefani , Bersch Ulf , Frotzler Angela 
Published: October 2015

AbstractFunctional electrical stimulation (FES) has clinical evidence in the rehabilitation of patients with spinal cord injury as indicated by several studies. Both inpatients and outpatients benefit from the therapeutic effect of the FES. The application areas are multifaceted and can be customized on the need for patients. This is represented by the individuality of the programmability of the stimulators and the variety of stimulation schedules that are based on the knowledge about the effects of FES on structural and functional level. Nevertheless, looking into daily clinical practice, the use of FES is rather poor. Expenditure of time, complexity of technical equipment, and compliance and acceptance of therapists and patients should be taken into account as limiting factors.
Cardiorespiratory and Muscle Metabolic Responses During Conventional Versus Motion Sensor‐Assisted Strategies for Functional Electrical Stimulation Standing After Spinal Cord Injury
Authors: Braz Gustavo P. , Russold Michael F. , Fornusek Ché , Hamzaid Nur Azah , Smith Richard M. , Davis Glen M. 
Published: October 2015

AbstractThis is a case series study with the objective of comparing two motion sensor automated strategies to avert knee buckle during functional electrical stimulation (FES)—standing against a conventional hand‐controlled (HC) FES approach. The research was conducted in a clinical exercise laboratory gymnasium at the University of Sydney, Australia. The automated strategies, Aut‐A and Aut‐B, applied fixed and variable changes of neurostimulation, respectively, in quadriceps amplitude to precisely control knee extension during standing. HC was an “on‐demand” increase of stimulation amplitude to maintain stance. Finally, maximal FES amplitude (MA) was used as a control condition, whereby knee buckle was prevented by maximal isometric muscle recruitment. Four AIS‐A paraplegics undertook 4 days of testing each, and each assessment day comprised three FES standing trials using the same strategy. Cardiorespiratory responses were recorded, and quadriceps muscle oxygenation was quantified using near‐infrared spectroscopy. For all subjects, the longest standing times were observed during Aut‐A, followed by Aut‐B, and then HC and MA. The standing times of the automated strategies were superior to HC by 9–64%. Apart from a lower heart rates during standing (P = 0.034), the automation of knee extension did not promote different cardiorespiratory responses compared with HC. The standing times during MA were significantly shorter than during the automated or “on‐demand” strategies (by 80–250%). In fact, the higher isometric‐evoked quadriceps contraction during MA resulted in a greater oxygen demand (P < 0.0001) and wider arteriovenous oxygen extraction (P = 0.08) when compared with the other strategies. In conclusion, even though increased standing times were demonstrated using automated control of knee extension, physiological benefits compared with HC were not evident.
Comparison of Twitch Responses During Current‐ or Voltage‐Controlled Transcutaneous Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation
Authors: Vargas Luna José Luis , Krenn Matthias , Löfler Stefan , Kern Helmut , Cortés R. Jorge A. , Mayr Winfried 
Published: October 2015

AbstractNeuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) is an established method for functional restoration of muscle function, rehabilitation, and diagnostics. In this work, NMES was applied with surface electrodes placed on the anterior thigh to identify the main differences between current‐controlled (CC) and voltage‐controlled (VC) modes. Measurements of the evoked knee extension force and the myoelectric signal of quadriceps and hamstrings were taken during stimulation with different amplitudes, pulse widths, and stimulation techniques. The stimulation pulses were rectangular and symmetric biphasic for both stimulation modes. The electrode‐tissue impedance influences the differences between CC and VC stimulation. The main difference is that for CC stimulation, variation of pulse width and amplitude influences the amount of nerve depolarization, whereas VC stimulation is only dependent on amplitude variations for pulse widths longer than 150 μs. An important remark is that these findings are strongly dependent on the characteristics of the electrode‐skin interface. In our case, we used large stimulation electrodes placed on the anterior thigh, which cause higher capacitive effects. The controllability, voltage compliance, and charge characteristics of each stimulation technique should be considered during the stimulators design. For applications that require the activation of a large amount of nerve fibers, VC is a more suitable option. In contrast, if the application requires a high controllability, then CC should be chosen prior to VC.
Effects of Functional Electrical Stimulation on Denervated Laryngeal Muscle in a Large Animal Model
Authors: Cheetham Jon , Perkins Justin D. , Jarvis Jonathan C. , Cercone Marta , Maw Martin , Hermanson John W. , Mitchell Lisa M. , Piercy Richard J. , Ducharme Norm G. 
Published: October 2015

AbstractBilateral vocal fold paralysis (BVCP) is a life‐threatening condition that follows injury to the Recurrent Laryngeal nerve (RLn) and denervation of the intrinsic laryngeal musculature. Functional electrical stimulation (FES) enables restoration and control of a wide variety of motor functions impaired by lower motor neuron lesions. Here we evaluate the effects of FES on the sole arytenoid abductor, the posterior cricoarytenoid (PCA) muscle in a large animal model of RLn injury. Ten horses were instrumented with two quadripolar intramuscular electrodes in the left PCA muscle. Following a 12‐week denervation period, the PCA was stimulated using a once‐daily training session for 8 weeks in seven animals. Three animals were used as unstimulated controls. Denervation produced a significant increase in rheobase (P < 0.001). Electrical stimulation produced a 30% increase in fiber diameter in comparison with the unstimulated control group (33.9 ± 2.6 µm FES+, 23.6 ± 4.2 µm FES−, P = 0.04). A trend toward a decrease in the proportion of type 1 (slow) fibers and an increase in type 2a (fast) fibers was also observed. Despite these changes, improvement in PCA function at rest was not observed. These data suggest that electrical stimulation using a relatively conservative set of stimulation parameters can reverse the muscle fiber atrophy produced by complete denervation while avoiding a shift to a slow (type 1) fiber type.
Nitric oxide and Na,K‐ATPase activity in rat skeletal muscle
Authors: Juel C. 
Published: October 2015

AbstractAimIt has been suggested that nitric oxide (NO) stimulates the Na,K‐ATPase in cardiac myocytes. Therefore, the aims of this study were to investigate whether NO increases Na,K‐ATPase activity in skeletal muscle and, if that is the case, to identify the underlying mechanism.MethodThe study used isolated rat muscle, muscle homogenates and purified membranes as model systems. Na,K‐ATPase activity was quantified from phosphate release due to ATP hydrolysis.ResultsExposure to the NO donor spermine NONOate (10 μm) increased the maximal Na,K‐ATPase activity by 27% in isolated glycolytic muscles, but had no effect in oxidative muscles. Spermine NONOate increased the maximal Na,K‐ATPase activity by 58% (P < 0.05) in homogenates from glycolytic muscle, but had no effect in oxidative muscle. The stimulatory effect of NONOate was not related to one specific Na,K‐ATPase α‐isoform. Incubation with cGMP (1 mm) increased the maximal Na,K‐ATPase activity in homogenates from glycolytic muscle by 16% (P < 0.05), but had no effect on homogenates from oxidative muscle. cGMP had no effect on phospholemman phosphorylation at serine 68. Spermine NONOate had no effect in muscle membranes in which the ATPase activity was depressed by oxidized glutathione.ConclusionNO and cGMP stimulate the Na,K‐ATPase in glycolytic skeletal muscle. Direct S‐nitrosylation and interference with S‐glutathionylation seem to be excluded. In addition, phosphorylation of phospholemman at serine 68 is not involved. Most likely, the NO/cGMP/protein kinase G signalling pathway is involved.
Systematic review with meta‐analysis: self‐expanding metal stents in patients with cirrhosis and severe or refractory oesophageal variceal bleeding
Authors: Marot A. , Trépo E. , Doerig C. , Moreno C. , Moradpour D. , Deltenre P. 
Published: October 2015

SummaryBackgroundThe prognosis of patients with cirrhosis and acute variceal bleeding is very poor when the standard‐of‐care fails to control bleeding. New treatment modalities are needed in these patients.AimTo synthesise the available evidence on the efficacy of self‐expanding metal stents (SEMS) in patients with cirrhosis and severe or refractory oesophageal variceal bleeding.MethodsMeta‐analysis of trials evaluating SEMS in patients with cirrhosis and severe or refractory oesophageal variceal bleeding.ResultsThirteen studies were included. The pooled estimate rates were 0.40 (95% confidence interval, CI = 0.31–0.49) for death, 0.41 (95% CI = 0.29–0.53) for liver‐related death and 0.36 (95% CI = 0.26–0.47) for death at day 30, with low heterogeneity between studies. The pooled estimate rates were 0.12 (95% CI = 0.07–0.21) for mortality related to variceal bleeding, and 0.18 (95% CI = 0.11–0.29) for failure to control bleeding with SEMS, with no or low heterogeneity between studies. The pooled estimate rate were 0.16 (95% CI = 0.04–0.48) for rebleeding after stent removal and 0.28 (95% CI = 0.17–0.43) for stent migration, with high heterogeneity. A significant proportion of patients had access to liver transplantation or to TIPSS [pooled estimate rate 0.10 (95% CI = 0.04–0.21) and 0.26 (95% CI = 0.18–0.36), respectively].ConclusionsFewer than 40% of patients treated with SEMS were dead at 1 month. SEMS can be used as a bridge to TIPSS or to liver transplantation in a significant proportion of patients. Additional studies are required to identify potential risk factors leading to a poor prognosis in patients with acute variceal bleeding in whom the use of SEMS could be considered.
Comparison of active dry yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and yeast culture for growth performance, carcass traits, meat quality and blood indexes in finishing bulls
Authors: Geng Chun‐Yin , Ren Li‐Ping , Zhou Zhen‐Ming , Chang Ying , Meng Qing‐Xiang 
Published: October 2015

AbstractThis study was conducted to compare the effect of active dry yeasts (ADY) and yeast cultures (YC), two typical products of yeast preparations, on growth performance, carcass characteristics, meat quality and blood indexes in finishing bulls fed a high‐concentrate diet. Forty‐five finishing bulls (mean body weight (BW) ± standard deviation: 505 ± 29 kg BW) were allocated to three groups of 15 bulls and assigned randomly to one of three diets which were CON diet (basal diet), ADY diet (basal diet + Levucell SC) and YC diet (basal diet + Diamond V XP), respectively. After 98 days of trial, all bulls were slaughtered. The result showed that ADY rather than YC improved growth performance and carcass traits of bulls compared to CON. Moreover, both ADY and YC improved beef tenderness and changed blood indexes related to fat metabolism. In conclusion, ADY had more pronounced effect on growth performance of bulls fed high‐concentrate diet, and both ADY and YC improved the beef quality by intensive fat metabolism.
Darier disease in Israel: combined evaluation of genetic and neuropsychiatric aspects
Authors: Dodiuk-Gad R.P. , Cohen-Barak E. , Khayat M. , Milo H. , Amariglio-Diskin L. , Danial-Faran N. , Sah M. , Ziv M. , Shani-Adir A. , Amichai B. , Zlotogorski A. , Borochowitz Z. , Rozenman D. , Shalev S. 
Published: October 2015

SummaryBackgroundDarier disease (DD) is a rare genodermatosis caused by heterozygous mutations in the ATP2A2 gene. It has been associated with neuropsychiatric manifestations.ObjectivesTo investigate the genetic basis of Israeli patients with DD, and its association with the neuropsychiatric phenotype.MethodsA cohort of 32 families comprising 74 affected individuals and 13 unaffected family members was recruited from the Haemek Dermatology Department and other dermatology clinics in Israel. The individuals were evaluated by detailed questionnaires, physical examination and genetic analysis. The main outcome measures were genetic mutations, psychiatric profile and their association.ResultsTwenty-three mutations in ATP2A2 were scattered over the entire gene, 14 of them novel. Two families shared the same mutation. Twenty-one patients (28%) had a history of psychiatric disorders, most of them mood disorders. Another seven patients (9%) were highly suspected of having a psychiatric disorder; 21 (28%) reported suicidal thoughts and five (7%) had attempted suicide. The psychiatric phenotype demonstrated inter- and intrafamilial variability, and was not associated with disease severity, family history of psychiatric disease or mutation location.ConclusionsThe cohort demonstrated genetic heterogeneity with no mutation cluster along the gene, and a high prevalence of psychiatric disorders. Although no clear genotype–phenotype correlation was found, the results point to a major effect of genetic background on psychiatric phenotype, together with other modifiers.
Efficacy and safety of follow-up field treatment of actinic keratosis with ingenol mebutate 0·015% gel: a randomized, controlled 12-month study
Authors: Garbe C. , Basset-Seguin N. , Poulin Y. , Larsson T. , Østerdal M.L. , Venkata R. , Lear J.T. 
Published: October 2015

SummaryBackgroundIngenol mebutate (IngMeb) is a novel patient-applied topical field therapy for actinic keratosis.ObjectivesTo demonstrate the efficacy and safety of follow-up IngMeb field treatment of actinic keratoses (AKs) present at 8 weeks after initial treatment or emerging in a previously cleared field.MethodsIn this phase III, randomized, double-blind study in patients with 4–8 clinically visible AKs within a contiguous 25-cm2 treatment area on the face or scalp, all patients were treated initially with IngMeb 0·015% gel for three consecutive days. If lesions were present in the field at 8 weeks, or emerged at weeks 26 or 44, patients were randomized (2 : 1) to follow-up IngMeb or vehicle gel for three consecutive days. The main outcome was complete clearance rates of AKs 8 weeks after randomization.ResultsOf 450 patients who received initial treatment with IngMeb, 61·6% demonstrated complete clearance at 8 weeks. Patients with AKs present at 8 weeks or emerging at weeks 26 or 44 were randomized to IngMeb (n = 134) or vehicle (n = 69). IngMeb achieved a higher complete clearance rate than vehicle 8 weeks after randomization in AKs present at 8 weeks (46·7% vs. 18·4%; P &lt; 0·01) and in emergent AKs (59·5% vs. 25·0%; P = 0·01). Based on those who completed 12 months of follow-up (n = 340), the overall 12-month clearance rate was estimated at 50·0%. Follow-up IngMeb treatment was well tolerated.ConclusionsThis study demonstrated the long-term benefit of IngMeb 0·015% gel for initial and follow-up therapy of AKs.
Nicastrin mutations in familial acne inversa impact keratinocyte proliferation and differentiation through the Notch and phosphoinositide 3-kinase/AKT signalling pathways
Authors: Xiao X. , He Y. , Li C. , Zhang X. , Xu H. , Wang B. 
Published: October 2015

SummaryBackgroundAcne inversa (AI) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease with an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern. Mutations of the gene encoding nicastrin (NCSTN), a cofactor subunit of γ-secretase, are responsible for familial AI. However, whether deficiency of nicastrin is functionally implicated in the biological behaviours of human keratinocytes and related molecular mechanisms remains unknown.ObjectivesTo study alterations of biological traits and related signalling pathways modulated by nicastrin knockdown in keratinocytes.MethodsA human immortalized keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT) was treated with efficient small interfering (si)RNA-targeted NCSTN. Cell proliferation was measured by CCK-8 assay; cell-cycle and cell apoptosis analyses were detected by flow cytometry. Microarray analysis was applied to uncover impacts of NCSTN silencing on whole-genome expression of HaCaT cells. Altered signalling pathways were further confirmed by real-time polymerase chain reaction, Western blotting and immunohistochemistry in both HaCaT cells and lesions of a patient with AI with NCSTN mutation.ResultsNCSTN knockdown in HaCaT cells impaired γ-secretase activity, leading to increased cell proliferation and S-phase population. Microarray data also showed that numerous genes and pathways implicated in proliferation and differentiation of keratinocytes were statistically changed. Among these genes, expression levels of several Notch pathway molecules, known as γ-secretase substrates, were validated to be significantly attenuated in both nicastrin-silencing HaCaT cells and the lesion of the patient. Furthermore, a remarkable elevation of expression of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), AKT and its activated form pAKT was illustrated in siRNA-treated HaCaT cells.ConclusionsDeficiency of the NCSTN in familial AI may regulate proliferation and differentiation of keratinocytes mainly through the Notch and PI3K/AKT signalling pathways.
Continuous positive airway pressure-associated cutaneous amoebiasis in an immunosuppressed patient
Authors: Sells R.E. , Chen C.A. , Wong M.T. , Zimarowski M.J. , Kirby J.E. , Joyce R.M. , Wu P.A. 
Published: October 2015

SummaryOrganisms of the genus Acanthamoeba are environmentally ubiquitous and colonizers of the oral mucosa in humans. While largely asymptomatic in healthy persons, Acanthamoeba infection can cause disseminated disease with poor prognosis in immunosuppressed populations. Here we report a unique case of cutaneous amoebiasis associated with continuous positive airway pressure use in an immunosuppressed patient.
Propranolol in the treatment of infantile haemangiomas: lessons from the European Propranolol In the Treatment of Complicated Haemangiomas (PITCH) Taskforce survey
Authors: Wedgeworth E. , Glover M. , Irvine A.D. , Neri I. , Baselga E. , Clayton T.H. , Beattie P.E. , Bjerre J.V. , Burrows N.P. , Foelster-Holst R. , Hedelund L. , Hernandez-Martin A. , Audrain H. , Bhate K. , Brown S.J. , Baryschpolec S. , Darne S. , Durack A. , Dvorakova V. , Gach J. , Goldstraw N. , Goodyear H. , Grabczynska S. , Greenblatt D. , Halpern J. , Hearn R.M.R. , Hoey S. , Hughes B. , Jayaraj R. , Johansson E.K. , Lam M. , Leech S. , O'Regan G.M. , Morrison D. , Porter W. , Ramesh R. , Schill T. , Shaw L. , Taylor A.E.M. , Taylor R. , Thomson J. , Tiffin P. , Tsakok M. , Janmohamed S.R. , Laguda B. , McPherson T. , Oranje A.P. , Patrizi A. , Ravenscroft J.C. , Shahidullah H. , Solman L. , Svensson A. , Wahlgren C.F. , Hoeger P.H. , Flohr C. 
Published: October 2015

SummaryBackgroundOral propranolol is widely prescribed as first-line treatment for infantile haemangiomas (IHs). Anecdotally, prescribing practice differs widely between centres.ObjectivesThe Propranolol In the Treatment of Complicated Haemangiomas (PITCH) Taskforce was founded to establish patterns of use of propranolol in IHs.MethodsParticipating centres entered data on all of their patients who had completed treatment with oral propranolol for IHs, using an online data capture tool.ResultsThe study cohort comprised 1097 children from 39 centres in eight European countries. 76·1% were female and 92·8% had a focal IH, with the remainder showing a segmental, multifocal or indeterminate pattern. The main indications for treatment were periocular location (29·3%), risk of cosmetic disfigurement (21·1%) and ulceration and bleeding (20·6%). In total 69·2% of patients were titrated up to a maintenance regimen, which consisted of 2 mg kg−1 per day (85·8%) in the majority of cases. 91·4% of patients had an excellent or good response to treatment. Rebound growth occurred in 14·1% upon stopping, of whom 53·9% were restarted and treatment response was recaptured in 91·6% of cases. While there was no significant difference in the treatment response, comparing a daily maintenance dose of &lt; 2 mg kg−1 vs. 2 mg kg−1 vs. &gt; 2 mg kg−1, the risk of adverse events was significantly higher: odds ratio (OR) 1 vs. adjusted OR 0·70, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0·33–1·50, P = 0·36 vs. OR 2·38, 95% CI 1·04–5·46, P = 0·04, Ptrend &lt; 0·001.ConclusionsThe PITCH survey summarizes the use of oral propranolol across 39 European centres, in a variety of IH phases, and could be used to inform treatment guidelines and the design of an interventional study.
Confirmatory factor analysis of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire in Singaporean kindergartners
Authors: Bull R. , Lee K. , Koh I. H. C , Poon K. K. L 
Published: October 2015

SummaryBackgroundThe Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) assesses behavioural adjustment in children aged 3 to 16 years. To ascertain the appropriateness of the scale for a specific population, it is important to examine whether the distinctiveness of the scale dimensions can be verified empirically.AimsConfirmatory factor analysis was used to test explicitly which of three models better explain our data, and whether model fit was improved by the addition of method factors.MethodsParents of 411 Singaporean kindergartners completed the SDQ.ResultsA four‐factor multi‐trait multi‐method model (Prosocial, Conduct, Hyperactivity, Internalizing and two method factors) provided the best fit to the data. There was strong evidence for convergent and discriminant validity. However, differences in configural loading pattern indicated gender‐related differences in the mapping of the SDQ items.DiscussionDifferences in factor structure across countries and gender may reflect differing conceptions of the underlying dimensions, as well as differences in normative expectations. However, our findings may allow its use as a screening tool to identify Singaporean children at risk of emotional and behavioural difficulties.
Associations of family characteristics with perceptions of care among parents of children with autism
Authors: Sobotka S. A. , Francis A. , Vander Ploeg Booth K. 
Published: October 2015

AbstractBackgroundAlthough autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is an increasingly common chronic disability, primary care provider (PCPs) report deficits in providing primary care for children with ASD, and parents report lapses in receipt of medical home services. In this study, we describe parental experiences with specific medical home components for their children with ASD.MethodsWe analysed data from all children within the National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs database with ASD and a usual place for care (n = 2859). We evaluated the receipt of core medical home components: accessible, comprehensive, coordinated, family centred and compassionate and culturally sensitive care.ResultsChildren were mean age 10.1 years, and respondents were 75% mothers and 95% reported having a primary care provider (PCP). Seventy‐one percent reported care to be usually comprehensive, over three‐fourths of respondents reported care to be family centred and compassionate and 87% reported care to be culturally sensitive. Of the parents who reported a need for care coordination (n = 1049), only 14% of parents reported usually getting the help they needed. More educated, English‐speaking, non‐Hispanic White mothers of older children supported by private insurance were more likely to report never getting as much help coordinating care as desired. Coordination with education services are especially important for children with ASD, yet 27% of parents reported dissatisfaction with PCPs' communication with schools or early intervention.ConclusionAlthough parents report a high level of access to PCPs and places for care as well as receiving most core components of the medical home, care coordination activities are lacking for children with ASD. More resourced families are particularly likely to report unmet needs.