bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Concurrent central nervous system and endobronchial tuberculosis mimicking a metastatic lung cancer
Authors: Ciftci Fatma , Shimbori Naoto , Karnak Demet 
Published: April 2015

AbstractBackground and AimsEarly diagnosis and treatment of central nervous system tuberculosis are important because of high mortality and morbidity. Airways must be carefully evaluated in differential diagnosis.MethodsWe present a rare case of intracranial‐endobronchial tuberculosis mimicking lung cancer with brain metastasis.ResultsA vegetative mass lesion, confirmed as necrotic granulomatous inflammation, originating from the entrance of the right upper lobe entry, was coagulated and extracted by argon plasma coagulation and cryotherapy to prevent permanent upper lobe atelectasis. Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex was detected in bronchoscopic material. A four‐drug initial anti‐tuberculous treatment regimen was given in 2 months. The upper lobe atelectasis was resolved at the fourth month of therapy despite upper lobar bronchus patency. The patient was doing well and completed the two‐drug maintenance therapy of 7 months with complete resolution.ConclusionIn such cases, tissue diagnosis should be achieved as early as possible and anti‐tuberculous treatment was commenced along with advanced interventional techniques.
Bronchial thermoplasty: a non‐pharmacological approach
Authors: Singh Saurabh Kumar , Tiwari Kamlesh Kumar 
Published: April 2015

AbstractIntroductionAsthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airway characterized by the episodic symptoms of breathlessness, wheezes and cough. Even with the use of maximum anti‐asthmatic pharmacological treatment sometimes it remains uncontrolled. For such patients, bronchial thermoplasty is the new mode of treatment.ObjectiveTo review published article on bronchial thermoplasty.MethodsWe identified 102 English articles on PubMed, and 56 were excluded by the abstract. The remaining articles were retrieved for full‐text detailed evaluation by authors, and 28 relevant articles were selected for final review.ResultsBronchial thermoplasty is the radiofrequency ablation of the airway smooth muscle with the help of flexible fiberoptic bronchoscope. It reduces the smooth muscle mass of the bronchial wall and decreases its contractility.ConclusionBronchial thermoplasty causes improvement in the quality of life, and causes reduction in the emergency room visit and exacerbation due to asthma. Long‐term safety has been established by various prospective studies.
Preliminary comparison of diffusion‐weighted MRI and PET/CT in predicting histological type and malignancy of lung cancer
Authors: Liu Li‐Peng , Zhang Xin‐Xin , Cui Long‐Biao , Li Jie , Yang Juan‐Li , Yang Hai‐Nan , Zhang Yan , Zhou Ying , Tang Xing , Qi Shun , Fang Yuan , Zhang Jian , Yin Hong 
Published: April 2015

AbstractIntroductionEmerging evidence shows that diffusion‐weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW MRI) and fluorine 18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F‐FDG PET/CT) might be useful in predicting histological type and malignancy of lung cancer, and even in specifically detecting the types of gene mutation.ObjectiveWe assessed whether DW MRI is equivalent to PET/CT in lung cancer diagnosis and evaluation.MethodsThe institutional review board approved this study, and written informed consent was obtained from all patients. DW MRI and FDG PET/CT were performed before therapy in 15 lung cancer patients diagnosed by pathological examination. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), ratio of ADC (rADC = ADC in tumor/ADC in spinal cord) and maximal standardized uptake value (SUVmax) were assessed.ResultsADC, rADC and SUVmax did not reveal significant differences among different types of lung cancer. Sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of ADC, rADC and SUVmax proved to be not significantly different in the detection of adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. Difference in the abilities of the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of ADC, rADC and SUVmax to detect adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma proved to be insignificant. Although Ki‐67 score did not show correlation with ADC, rADC and SUVmax, significant positive correlation was found between ADC and rADC, and ADC and SUVmax.ConclusionsBoth DW MRI and FDG PET/CT had similar limited diagnostic capability of predicting different histological types and malignancy of lung cancer. This study may help provide a novel insight into diagnostic and therapeutic strategies of lung cancer based on DW MRI.
Plant‐mediated effects of butterfly egg deposition on subsequent caterpillar and pupal development, across different species of wild Brassicaceae
Authors: PASHALIDOU FOTEINI G. , FATOUROS NINA E. , VAN LOON JOOP J. A. , DICKE MARCEL , GOLS RIETA 
Published: April 2015

1. Herbivory can change plant quality, which may have consequences for interactions between the inducing herbivore and other insect community members.2. Studies investigating the effects of plant quality on herbivore performance often have neglected the egg stage, and instead introduced larvae onto the plant. Recently, we reported that herbivore oviposition by Pieris brassicae (Linnaeus) (Large Cabbage White Butterfly) reduced the plant quality of Brassica nigra L. (black mustard) for subsequent herbivores.3. It remains unclear how persistent and common these plant‐mediated effects of oviposition are. Here, five species of wild Brassicaceae were used (B. nigra L., Brassica oleracea L., Sinapis arvensis L., Moricandia arvensis L., and Moricandia moricandioides Boiss). The response to oviposition by the specialist P. brassicae was determined by following the natural sequence of events: oviposition, egg, larval, and pupal development. All tested plant species are known to interact with P. brassicae in nature. Caterpillar, pupal mass, and development time on plants exposed to butterfly eggs were assessed compared with egg‐free plants.4. It was shown that the plant‐mediated effects of oviposition are not specific for B. nigra but occur in most of the tested plant species except for M. arvensis. However, the strength of the plant‐mediated effect on caterpillar growth depended on plant species. Thus, across different members of the Brassicaceae family, oviposition can influence plant quality and has negative consequences on P. brassicae growth. Further studies are needed to assess to what extent this trait might be phylogenetically conserved.
Indirect effects of grazing intensity on pollinators and floral visitation
Authors: TADEY MARIANA 
Published: April 2015

1. The introduction of livestock in natural areas is a common disturbance that affects both plant and pollinator diversity and might affect their interaction. Understanding whether livestock affect a food resource for pollinators (i.e. flower abundance) and/or a pollinator assemblage (i.e. abundance and richness) has important implications for plant–pollinator interactions and still needs deeper investigation.2. This study investigated how pollinator communities and flower abundance determined floral visitation frequency along a grazing gradient, using seven large paddocks in Patagonian Monte Desert that varied in livestock densities. Pollinator visitation frequency was measured in five of the most abundant native plant species of the region, present in all the paddocks, but that differed in reproductive strategy ranging from insect‐pollinated self‐compatible and self‐incompatible to wind‐pollinated. The influence of livestock density, insect, and flower abundance on visitation frequency was evaluated using D‐separation hierarchical path models.3. Intermediate stocking densities showed the highest insect richness and abundance. Livestock density showed a negative quadratic relationship with insect richness; hymenopterans being the main insect group in the region. Flower density decreased with the increase in livestock density. The five plant species shared several pollinator species although each one supported a distinct assemblage.4. The path model showed that livestock was not directly associated with pollinator visitation frequency; however, this apparent lack of association was as a result of opposite forces acting together. An increase in livestock density reduced visitation frequency through a decrease in insect abundance, yet, livestock simultaneously increased the pollinator visitation rate through decreased flower abundance.5. This study describes how changes in the density of exotic mammals can affect pollinator and flower abundance, resulting in contrasting effects on flower visitation rates with, apparently, neutral net consequences. This illustrates the complexity of responses to plant–pollinator interactions to anthropogenic disturbances that alter the ecological context.
The effects of cross‐orientation masking on the visual gamma response in humans
Authors: Perry Gavin 
Published: April 2015

AbstractElectrophysiological recordings in primates indicate that visual gamma contains distinct broad‐ and narrowband components that reflect different neuronal processes. Evidence suggests that cross‐orientation masking of luminance‐defined gratings should differentially modulate these two components. To test this we measured the effect of cross‐orientation masking on the gamma response in 12 human participants using magentoencephalography (MEG). Although both the amplitude and the frequency of gamma were modulated by the presence of a cross‐orientation mask, we failed to find evidence for distinguishable components: both broadband gamma at stimulus onset and sustained narrowband gamma were similarly modulated by mask contrast. However, we could not confirm the presence of masking effects due to mask contrast being confounded with the contrast of the stimulus as a whole. We therefore tested a further 12 participants in a second experiment in which the stimuli were: a plaid stimulus, the two component gratings which formed the plaid and the same two gratings but with Michelson contrast matched to the plaid. We found that gamma amplitude was reduced and gamma frequency increased to the plaid stimulus when compared with the contrast‐matched gratings or with the sum of the two component gratings, indicating that visual gamma was indeed modulated by cross‐orientation masking. Surprisingly, masking did not affect the pattern‐onset evoked response, challenging previous hypotheses that cross‐orientation suppression – the phenomenon by which the response to an orientated grating is suppressed by a cross‐orientation mask – is driven by feedforward inputs to V1.
Artificial neural network approach to predict the fracture parameters of the size effect model for concrete
Authors: Yan Y. , Ren Q. , Xia N. , Shen L. , Gu J. 
Published: April 2015

AbstractThe fracture parameters (the fracture energy and the effective length of the fracture process zone for an infinitely large specimen) in the size effect model of concrete exhibit a large scatter as measured in most of the experimental studies. This phenomenon is ubiquitous and has presented a great challenge to characterize the structural failure over the last decade. In order to remove the perplexing issue, this paper develops two models to predict the two fracture parameters using the artificial neural network (ANN) methodology. The proposed models are verified by using 77 experimental data collected from the literature. The results demonstrate that the two ANN‐based size effect model models (ANN‐I and ANN‐II) are viable for predicting the fracture parameters and yield more accurate results than those obtained from the conventional regression formulations. Additionally, a parametric study is employed to evaluate the impact of each independent material parameter on the fracture parameters.
Carbon storage capacity of semi‐arid grassland soils and sequestration potentials in northern China
Authors: Wiesmeier Martin , Munro Sam , Barthold Frauke , Steffens Markus , Schad Peter , Kögel‐Knabner Ingrid 
Published: April 2015

AbstractOrganic carbon (OC) sequestration in degraded semi‐arid environments by improved soil management is assumed to contribute substantially to climate change mitigation. However, information about the soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration potential in steppe soils and their current saturation status remains unknown. In this study, we estimated the OC storage capacity of semi‐arid grassland soils on the basis of remote, natural steppe fragments in northern China. Based on the maximum OC saturation of silt and clay particles <20 μm, OC sequestration potentials of degraded steppe soils (grazing land, arable land, eroded areas) were estimated. The analysis of natural grassland soils revealed a strong linear regression between the proportion of the fine fraction and its OC content, confirming the importance of silt and clay particles for OC stabilization in steppe soils. This relationship was similar to derived regressions in temperate and tropical soils but on a lower level, probably due to a lower C input and different clay mineralogy. In relation to the estimated OC storage capacity, degraded steppe soils showed a high OC saturation of 78–85% despite massive SOC losses due to unsustainable land use. As a result, the potential of degraded grassland soils to sequester additional OC was generally low. This can be related to a relatively high contribution of labile SOC, which is preferentially lost in the course of soil degradation. Moreover, wind erosion leads to substantial loss of silt and clay particles and consequently results in a direct loss of the ability to stabilize additional OC. Our findings indicate that the SOC loss in semi‐arid environments induced by intensive land use is largely irreversible. Observed SOC increases after improved land management mainly result in an accumulation of labile SOC prone to land use/climate changes and therefore cannot be regarded as contribution to long‐term OC sequestration.
Insulin‐like growth factor‐1 receptor is associated with better prognosis in classical Hodgkin's lymphoma: Correlation with MET expression
Authors: Koh Young Wha , Yoon Dok Hyun , Suh Cheolwon , Cha Hee Jeong , Huh Jooryung 
Published: April 2015

SummaryThe purpose of this study was to examine the prognostic significance of insulin‐like growth factor‐1 receptor (IGF‐1R) expression alone and in relation to the expression of the MET‐ receptor and the MET‐homologous receptor RON, in classical Hodgkin's lymphoma (cHL). Tumour samples from patients with cHL (n = 202; median age 37.5 years) were analysed retrospectively for IGF‐R1, MET or RON expression by immunohistochemistry using tissue microarrays. The median follow‐up time was 3.7 years (range, 0.1–20 years). Twenty‐nine patients (14.3%) expressed IGF‐1R protein in Hodgkin/Reed–Sternberg (HRS) cells, which was associated with a better overall survival (OS) (P = 0.036). IGF‐1R expression was closely associated with MET receptor expression and low level of lactate dehydrogenase. In patients with cHL receiving doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine and dacarbazine, those expressing IGF‐1R showed a trend towards better OS and event‐free survival than IGF‐1R‐negative patients (P = 0.129 and P = 0.115 respectively), but statistical significance was not reached. This study suggests that IGF‐1R expression could be associated with better clinical outcome in cHL but is significantly associated with the expression of MET receptor.
Southern Hemisphere Influenza and Vaccine Effectiveness Research and Surveillance
Authors: Huang Qiu Sue , Turner Nikki , Baker Michael G. , Williamson Deborah A. , Wong Conroy , Webby Richard , Widdowson Marc‐Alain 
Published: April 2015

The 2009 influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 pandemic highlighted the need for improved scientific knowledge to support better pandemic preparedness and seasonal influenza control. The Southern Hemisphere Influenza and Vaccine Effectiveness Research and Surveillance (SHIVERS) project, a 5‐year (2012–2016) multiagency and multidisciplinary collaboration, aimed to measure disease burden, epidemiology, aetiology, risk factors, immunology, effectiveness of vaccination and other prevention strategies for influenza and other respiratory infectious diseases of public health importance. Two active, prospective, population‐based surveillance systems were established for monitoring influenza and other respiratory pathogens among those hospitalized patients with acute respiratory illness and those enrolled patients seeking consultations at sentinel general practices. In 2015, a sero‐epidemiological study will use a sample of patients from the same practices. These data will provide a full picture of the disease burden and risk factors from asymptomatic infections to severe hospitalized disease and deaths and related economic burden. The results during the first 2 years (2012–2013) provided scientific evidence to (a) support a change to NZ's vaccination policy for young children due to high influenza hospitalizations in these children; (b) contribute to the revision of the World Health Organization's case definition for severe acute respiratory illness for global influenza surveillance; and (c) contribute in part to vaccine strain selection using vaccine effectiveness assessment in the prevention of influenza‐related consultations and hospitalizations. In summary, SHIVERS provides valuable international platforms for supporting seasonal influenza control and pandemic preparedness, and responding to other emerging/endemic respiratory‐related infections.
Acute and Long‐Term Outcomes of Catheter Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation Using the Second‐Generation Cryoballoon versus Open‐Irrigated Radiofrequency: A Multicenter Experience
Authors: ARYANA ARASH , SINGH SHELDON M. , KOWALSKI MARCIN , PUJARA DEEP K. , COHEN ANDREW I. , SINGH STEVE K. , ALEONG RYAN G. , BANKER RAJESH S. , FUENZALIDA CHARLES E. , PRAGER NELSON A. , BOWERS MARK R. , D'AVILA ANDRÉ , O'NEILL PADRAIG GEAROID 
Published: April 2015

Second‐Generation Cryoballoon versus RFIntroductionThere are limited comparative data on catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (CAAF) using the second‐generation cryoballoon (CB‐2) versus point‐by‐point radiofrequency (RF). This study examines the acute/long‐term CAAF outcomes using these 2 strategies.Methods and ResultsIn this multicenter, retrospective, nonrandomized analysis, procedural and clinical outcomes of 1,196 patients (76% with paroxysmal AF) undergoing CAAF using CB‐2 (n = 773) and open‐irrigated, non‐force sensing RF (n = 423) were evaluated. Pulmonary vein isolation was achieved in 98% with CB‐2 and 99% with RF (P = 0.168). CB‐2 was associated with shorter ablation time (40 ± 14 min vs. 66 ± 26 min; P < 0.001) and procedure time (145 ± 49 minutes vs. 188 ± 42 minutes; P < 0.001), but greater fluoroscopic utilization (29 ± 13 minutes vs. 23 ± 14 minutes; P < 0.001). While transient (7.6% vs. 0%; P < 0.001) and persistent (1.2% vs. 0%; P = 0.026) phrenic nerve palsy occurred exclusively with CB‐2, other adverse event rates were similar between CB‐2 (1.6%) and RF (2.6%); P = 0.207. However, freedom from AF/atrial flutter/tachycardia at 12 months following a single procedure without antiarrhythmic therapy was greater with CB‐2 (76.6%) versus RF (60.4%); P < 0.001. While this difference was evident in patients with paroxysmal AF (P < 0.001), it did not reach significance in those with persistent AF (P = 0.089). Additionally, CB‐2 was associated with reduced long‐term need for antiarrhythmic therapy (16.7% vs. 22.0%; P = 0.024) and repeat ablations (14.6% vs. 24.1%; P < 0.001).ConclusionIn this multicenter, retrospective, nonrandomized study, CAAF using CB‐2 coupled with RF as occasionally required was associated with greater freedom from atrial arrhythmias at 12 months following a single procedure without antiarrhythmic therapy when compared to open‐irrigated, non‐force sensing RF, alone.
nMARQ Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation: Results from a Multicenter Study
Authors: MAHIDA SAAGAR , HOOKS DARREN A. , NENTWICH KARIN , NG G. ANDRE , GRIMALDI MASSIMO , SHIN DONG‐IN , DERVAL NICOLAS , SACHER FREDERIC , BERTE BENJAMIN , YAMASHITA SEIGO , DENIS ARNAUD , HOCINI MÉLÈZE , DENEKE THOMAS , HAISSAGUERRE MICHEL , JAIS PIERRE 
Published: April 2015

nMARQ AF AblationBackgroundnMARQ is a multipolar catheter designed to simultaneously ablate at multiple sites around the pulmonary vein (PV) circumference with a single radiofrequency application. We sought to define the safety and efficacy of atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation with the nMARQ catheter.MethodsIn a multicenter study, patients with drug‐refractory AF were included. Procedural outcomes were documented at 1 year.Results374 patients underwent PV isolation using nMARQ (age 60 ± 10 years, 264 male), of whom 263 patients had paroxysmal AF (PAF), while 111 patients had persistent AF. A total of 1,468 of 1,474 veins (99.6%) were isolated with the nMARQ catheter alone. Thirty‐five (13%) PAF patients and 30 (27%) persistent AF patients underwent additional ablation at non‐PV sites (2.4 ± 1.4 non‐PV sites). Procedure time for PV isolation only was 1.9 ± 0.7 hours (fluoroscopy 24 ± 14 minutes). Procedure time for PV isolation and non‐PV ablation was 2.4 ± 1.0 hours (fluoroscopy 30 ± 23 minutes). Major adverse events occurred in two patients (0.5%); one esophago‐pericardial fistula and a second, mortality due to sepsis of unknown cause. One‐year follow‐up data were available in 65 (25%) PAF and 20 (18%) persistent AF patients. Forty‐two (65%) PAF and 13 (65%) persistent AF patients were free of arrhythmia at 1 year. In patients undergoing repeat procedures (n = 17) the most frequent points of PV reconnection were: anterior RSPV, inferior RIPV, and superior LSPV.ConclusionsAF ablation with nMARQ is associated with short procedure times and high acute success rates. Further research is necessary to more clearly define long‐term outcome.
Shock Reduction With Multiple Bursts of Antitachycardia Pacing Therapies to Treat Fast Ventricular Tachyarrhythmias in Patients With Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators: A Multicenter Study
Authors: ANGUERA IGNASI , DALLAGLIO PAOLO , MARTÍNEZ‐FERRER JOSE , RODRÍGUEZ ANÍBAL , ALZUETA JAVIER , PÉREZ‐VILLACASTÍN JULIÁN , PORRES JOSÉ MANUEL , VIÑOLAS XAVIER , FONTENLA ADOLFO , FERNÁNDEZ‐LOZANO IGNACIO , GARCÍA‐ALBEROLA ARCADIO , SABATÉ XAVIER 
Published: April 2015

Multiple Bursts for Fast Ventricular TachycardiaIntroductionAn empirical sequence of burst antitachycardia pacing (ATP) is effective in terminating fast ventricular tachycardias (FVT) in patients with implantable cardioverter‐defibrillators (ICDs). We aimed to determine whether multiple ATP bursts for termination of FVT results in shock reduction compared to a single ATP burst.Methods and ResultsWe analyzed data from the Umbrella trial, a multicenter prospective observational study of ICD patients followed by the CareLink Monitoring System. We compared the safety and effectiveness of a single ATP burst (Group 1) with a strategy of successive ATP sequences (Group 2) for termination of FVT episodes (cycle lengths 250–320 milliseconds) before shock therapy. Over a mean follow‐up of 35 months, a total of 650 FVT episodes were detected in 154 patients (mean cycle length: 299 ± 18 milliseconds). Effectiveness of the first burst ATP in Group 1 was 73% and shocks were required in 27% of episodes. Effectiveness of the first burst ATP in Group 2 was 77%, and this increased to 91% with the third or successive ATP bursts. Shocks were required in 9% of episodes in group 2, representing a 67% reduction in the need of high‐energy shocks. Median duration of FVT episodes and mortality in both groups were similar. Multivariate analysis indicated that programming multiple ATP bursts (OR 3.4, 95%CI 1.7–6.8, P = 0.001) was an independent predictor of ATP effectiveness.ConclusionThis study provides first evidence that a strategy of multiple burst ATP sequences for termination of FVT episodes leads to a clinically meaningful reduction in the need for shocks.