bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Factors related to thrombosis of gastric varix during balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration
Authors: Yoshimatsu Rika , Yamagami Takuji , Miura Hiroshi , Hashiba Mitsuoki 
Published: May 2014

Background Balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration (B-RTO) has become known as an effective treatment for gastric varices with a gastrorenal shunt. However, the appropriate duration to maintain inflation of the catheter balloon for sufficient thrombosis has been unknown. Purpose To evaluate retrospectively the factors related to the development of thrombus in gastric varices by evaluating the necessity of the addition of a sclerosing agent on the second day in overnight B-RTO. Material and Methods Sixty-five patients who underwent B-RTO for gastric varices with a gastrorenal shunt were studied. The B-RTO catheter was retained overnight in all patients. Incidence of and factors influencing the necessity of additional injections of a sclerosing agent on the second day were investigated. Results In all 65 patients (100%), B-RTO was technically successful and in 61 patients (93.8%) complete thrombosis of the gastric varices was achieved. In 46 of the 65 patients (70.8%), the sclerosing agent was added on the second day. Higher Child-Pugh score, in particular, lower serum albumin level, and higher prothrombin time-international normalized ratio (PT-INR) were significantly associated with the need for the addition of the sclerosing agent on the second day. Optimal cut-off values for the serum albumin level and PT-INR were 3.6 g/dL and 1.13, respectively. Conclusion Liver function might influence the development of thrombosis of gastric varices in B-RTO. Serum albumin and PT-INR levels would provide information for deciding on the duration of retention of the B-RTO catheter to obtain sufficient therapeutic effectiveness.
Latinos in the United States on the HIV/AIDS care continuum by birth country/region: a systematic review of the literature
Authors: Sheehan Diana M , Trepka Mary Jo , Dillon Frank R 
Published: May 2014

Summary Twenty percent of Latinos with HIV in the US are unaware of their HIV status, 33% are linked to care late, and 74% do not reach viral suppression. Disparities along this HIV/AIDS care continuum may be present between various ethnic groups historically categorised as Latino. To identify differences along the HIV/AIDS care continuum between US Latinos of varying birth countries/regions a systematic review of articles published in English between 2002 and 2013 was conducted using MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and Web of Science. Studies that reported on one or more steps of the HIV/AIDS care continuum and reported results by birth country/region for Latinos were included. Latinos born in Mexico and Central America were found to be at increased risk of late diagnosis compared with US-born Latinos. No studies were found that reported on linkage to HIV care or viral load suppression by country/region of birth. Lower survival was found among Latinos born in Puerto Rico compared with Latinos born in mainland US. Inconsistent differences in survival were found among Latinos born in Mexico, Cuba, and Central America. Socio/cultural context, immigration factors, and documentation status are discussed as partial explanations for disparities along the HIV/AIDS care continuum.
Douching practices among female sex workers in Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Authors: Bui Thanh Cong , Tran Ly TH , Ross Michael W , Markham Christine M 
Published: May 2014

Summary Several studies indicate that douching has few benefits but numerous adverse health outcomes, including increased risk for sexually transmitted infections and HIV. No published study explores douching practices among Cambodian female sex workers. This report provides preliminary data about the prevalence and frequency of douching among female sex workers in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Survey data were obtained from 81 female sex workers who were taken into custody due to engagement in commercial sex from March to June 2011. Results showed that 91% of participants douched. The mean numbers of times douched before sex and after sex per 10 sex episodes were 4.43 (SD = 3.87) and 4.63 (SD = 3.94), respectively. Half of the participants thought that douching could help to prevent sexually transmitted infections including HIV; 24% were unsure about this. Usually, douching after sex was associated with ever obtaining an HIV test ( p = .012) and was marginally associated (although not statistically significant) with a higher average number of clients per week ( p =. 063) and consistent condom use with clients ( p = .053). This suggests that these practices may be related to individual perceptions of sexually transmitted infections/HIV risk or susceptibility. Given the commonness of douching and related misperceptions among Cambodian female sex workers, future studies and interventions are needed to prevent adverse health problems.
Applying semi-synchronised task farming to large-scale computer vision problems
Authors: McDonagh Steven , Beyan Cigdem , Huang Phoenix X , Fisher Robert B 
Published: May 2014

Distributed compute clusters allow the computing power of heterogeneous (and homogeneous) resources to be utilised to solve large-scale science and engineering problems. One class of problem that has attractive scalability properties, and is therefore often implemented using compute clusters, is task farming (or parameter sweep) applications. A typical characteristic of such applications is that no communication is needed between distributed subtasks during the overall computation. However, interesting large-scale task farming problem instances that do require global communication between subtask sets also exist. We propose a framework called semi-synchronised task farming in order to address problems requiring distributed formulations containing subtasks that alternate between independence and synchronisation. We apply this framework to several large-scale contemporary computer vision problems and present a detailed performance analysis to demonstrate framework scalability. Semi-synchronised task farming splits a given problem into a number of stages. Each stage involves firstly distributing independent subtasks to be completed in parallel. Following subtask set completion, a set of synchronised global decisions, based on information retrieved from the distributed results, is made. The results influence the following subtask distribution stage. This subtask distribution followed by result collation process is iterated until overall problem solutions are obtained. We construct a simplified Bulk Synchronous Parallel (BSP) model to formalise this framework and with this formalisation, we develop a predictive model for overall task completion time. We present experimental benchmark results comparing the performance observed by applying our framework to solve real-world problems on compute clusters with that of solving the tasks in a serial fashion. Furthermore by assessing the predicted time savings that our framework provides in simulation and validating these predictions on a range of complex problems drawn from real-world computer vision tasks, we are able to reliably predict the performance gain obtained when using a compute cluster to tackle resource intensive computer vision tasks.
The influence of patient demographics, disease characteristics and treatment on brain volume loss in Trial Assessing Injectable Interferon vs FTY720 Oral in Relapsing–Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (TRANSFORMS), a phase 3 study of fingolimod in multiple sclerosis
Authors: Barkhof Frederik , de Jong Remko , Sfikas Nikolaos , de Vera Ana , Francis Gordon , Cohen Jeffrey ,   on behalf of the TRANSFORMS study group
Published: May 2014

Background: Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) lose brain volume (BV) faster than healthy individuals. Objective: Our purpose, within the 12-month phase 3 TRANSFORMS study, was to examine the effect of treatment on BV loss in patient subgroups, establish correlations between baseline normalized BV (NBV) and baseline disease parameters, to identify variables predictive of baseline NBV and on-study percentage BV change (PBVC), and to establish correlations between on-study PBVC and on-study efficacy outcomes. Methods: Patients received fingolimod 0.5 mg or 1.25 mg, or intramuscular (IM) interferon β-1a (IFNβ-1a) for 12 months. The effect of treatment on PBVC was examined in patient demographic, disease and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) characteristic subgroups. Pearson’s correlation analyses and a stepwise linear regression model were used to identify variables predictive of NBV and PBVC. Results: Fingolimod reduced BV loss over 12 months versus IFNβ-1a IM in all patient subgroups assessed, including individuals with or without gadolinium (Gd)-enhancing lesions at baseline. Baseline T1 hypointense lesion volume had the strongest correlation with baseline NBV. Baseline Gd-enhancing T1 lesion count was most predictive of change in PBVC over 12 months. Conclusions: Our results improve understanding of the contributions of different baseline demographic, clinical and MRI characteristics to NBV, including factors that may be predictive of future BV loss
What criteria guide national entrepreneurs’ policy decisions on user fee removal for maternal health care services? Use of a best–worst scaling choice experiment in West Africa
Authors: Torbica Aleksandra , De Allegri Manuela , Belemsaga Danielle , Medina-Lara Antonieta , Ridde Valery 
Published: May 2014

Objective Several countries in sub-Saharan Africa have implemented policies to remove or reduce user fees. Our aim was to identify criteria guiding such decisions among national policy entrepreneurs, those who link up problem definition, solution development and political processes. Methods We administered a best–worst scaling (BWS) experiment to 89 policy entrepreneurs, asking them to identify the most and the least important criteria on a series of predefined sets. Sets were compiled using a Balance Incomplete Block Design which generated random combinations of all 11 criteria included in the experiment. In turn, those had emerged from a prior set of focus group discussions organized among policy entrepreneurs. Ordered logit models were used to investigate the value of single criteria as well as heterogeneity of preferences. Results Political commitment was identified as the most important criterion guiding policy decisions on user fee abolition or reduction to the overall sample, but particularly so for more experienced respondents aged over 50 years. International pressure and donor money were identified as least important while equity and institutional capacity were deemed of relatively little importance. Respondents more involved in advising on policy than on formulating policy rated economic issues such as financial sustainability and cost-effectiveness as less important. Conclusions It is feasible to apply BWS experiments in low-income countries, although whether the technique can be adjusted to elicit preferences among non-literate respondents in these settings is unclear.
Reduction Mammaplasty as an Outpatient Procedure: A Retrospective Analysis of Outcome and Success Rate
Authors: Carpelan A. , Kauhanen S. , Mattila K. , Jahkola T. , Tukiainen E. 
Published: May 2014

Background and Aims: Reduction mammaplasty is an increasingly common plastic surgical procedure. In the United States, majority of breast reductions are performed as outpatient surgery. In European public health care, outpatient breast reductions have still been rare. Our aim was to retrospectively determine clinical outcome and the success rate of outpatient reduction mammaplasty. Material and Methods: A total of 110 consecutive patients underwent bilateral reduction mammaplasty with a minimum resection of 200 g per breast in an outpatient unit between 2006 and 2009. A comparison group consisted of 28 inpatients. Demographic data and pre-, intra-, and postoperative events as well as complications were recorded. Results: A total of 83 outpatients (75%) were successfully discharged on the day of operation. Reasons for unexpected overnight admission were lack of adult company for the first postoperative night (13 patients, 12%), surgeon’s wish (4 patients, 4%), hematoma requiring evacuation (5 patients, 5%), nausea (3 patients, 3%), and pain (2 patients, 2%). Minor complications, especially delayed healing, were common (45 patients, 41%), but major complications were rare (18 patients, 16%). Complication rate was not increased in the outpatient group. Increased duration of operation correlated with increasing complications. Conclusion: Reduction mammaplasty can be successfully and safely performed as an outpatient procedure in European public health care.
Endovascular Therapy And Controversies In The Management Of Vascular Trauma
Authors: Jacks R. , Degiannis E. 
Published: May 2014

Aim: To review the advent of endovascular treatment of vascular injuries and its controversies. Methods: Literature review over the past 13 years using the PubMed search engine. Results: The management of vascular trauma has changed dramatically over the last decade. This is mainly due to the advent of advanced endovascular techniques and technologies. There are, however, a limited number of publications with a correspondingly small number of patients and lack of long-term follow-up. In this article, we discuss the injuries to different vessel groups and their respective endovascular approaches. Of the literature available, the endovascular management of aortic injuries still holds the most experience and has shown favorable results. Conclusion: Endovascular management of vascular injuries is a new addition to the armamentarium of the surgeon. The fact that it is minimally invasive is a major advantage and the published data are encouraging. However, in order to determine which anatomical sites and circumstances are most appropriate for this method versus open surgery, more reports are necessary.
Epidemiology of electrical injury: Differences between low- and high-voltage electrical injuries during a 7-year study period in South Korea
Authors: Kym D. , Seo D. K. , Hur G. Y. , Lee J. W. 
Published: May 2014

Background and Aims: Electrical burns are uncommon, but they result in high morbidity and mortality due to severe tissue damage. The purpose of this study is to analyze epidemiological variables of electrical injuries and identify preventable measures through them. Material and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical records of 625 patients admitted to Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital’s Department of Plastic Surgery from January 2005 to December 2011. We divided the patients into two groups: (1) low-voltage injury (under 1000 V) and (2) high-voltage injury (over 1000 V). We reviewed the following variables: age, sex, total burn surface area, injury type and mode, and surgical modalities. Results and Conclusions: The mean age of all patients was 33.4 ± 18.2 years. The ratio of males to females was 13.5 in the whole group. The mean total body surface are burned was 14.0% ± 13.8% in total. The majority of electrical burns in the low-tension group and high-tension group occurred in patients under 20 years and in patients aged 40–59 years, respectively. Steel chopstick insertions and high-voltage electrical work/repair were the most common injury modes in the low-tension group and the high-tension group, respectively. Groin and abdominal distant flap surgeries were commonly performed in both groups. It is recommended that these risks be prevented through education and safety measures to reduce the incidence of electrical injuries.
Introducing New Perspectives on Virtual Human Resource Development
Authors: Bennett Elisabeth E. 
Published: May 2014

The Problem Initial explorations of virtual human resource development (VHRD) were published in the 12(6) issue of Advances, but these articles were only an initial step toward conceptualization. New perspectives on VHRD have developed over the past 4 years, particularly about human resource development’s (HRD) role in the development of new technology. The Solution This article provides a brief overview of existing published literature on VHRD, offers new conceptualizations of HRD’s role with technology development, and introduces the articles in this issue that advance their own new perspectives. This article argues that HRD must adopt new skills and develop explanatory models for growing organizational learning capacity in virtual work. The Stakeholders This article is of interest to practitioners and managers who lead technology projects and work within technology-enabled professional environments, as well as scholars interested in studying VHRD.
MicroRNA-30a promotes invasiveness and metastasis in vitro and in vivo through epithelial–mesenchymal transition and results in poor survival of nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients
Authors: Wang Hai-Yun , Li Yang-Yang , Fu Sha , Wang Xiao-Pai , Huang Ma-Yan , Zhang Xiao , Shao Qiong , Deng Ling , Zeng Mu-Sheng , Zeng Yi-Xin , Shao Jian-Yong 
Published: May 2014

Although microRNA-30a (miR-30a) has been shown to regulate cancer metastasis, the molecular mechanism has not yet been clearly elucidated in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). The present study was to investigate the miR-30a expression pattern and its potential functions and further to identify its target gene and corresponding clinical applications in NPC. MiR-30a was identified to be down-regulated in NPC primary tumors compared with metastatic tumors using quantitative real-time PCR. Furthermore, over-expression of miR-30a transfected with precursor increased the ability of metastasis and invasion of NPC tumor cells in vivo and in vitro. E-cadherin was screened as a putative target gene of miR-30a by computational algorithms. Luciferase reporter assays showed that over-expression of miR-30a directly reduced the activity of a luciferase transcript combined with the 3′-untranslated region (3′-UTR) of E-cadherin. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis and log-rank test were analyzed for 1077 NPC patients for overall survival, indicating that a high expression of E-cadherin was beneficial for NPC prognosis ( P = 0.001). Importantly, NPC patients with high expression of E-cadherin had much lower risk of poor prognosis (hazard ratio = 0.757, P = 0.017) using multivariate analysis. In conclusion, miR-30a could play an important role in regulating NPC metastasis and potentially provide useful guidelines for individualized therapy.
Unilateral hypoplastic kidney - a novel highly penetrant feature of familial juvenile hyperuricaemic nephropathy
Authors: Plumb Lucy A , Marlais Matko , Bierzynska Agnieszka , Martin Howard , Brugger Kim , Abbs Stephen , Saleem Moin A 
Published: May 2014

Abstract

Background
Familial juvenile hyperuricaemic nephropathy is a rare inherited nephropathy with genetic heterogeneity. Categorised by genetic defect, mutations in uromodulin (UMOD), renin (REN) and hepatocyte nuclear factor-1β (HNF-1β) genes as well as linkage to chromosome 2p22.1-21 have previously been identified. Knowledge of the genetics of this phenotype has provided important clues to developmental pathways in the kidney.

Case presentation
We report a novel phenotype, with the typical features of hyperuricemia and renal deterioration, but with the additional unexpected feature of unilateral renal hypoplasia. Mutation analyses of the existing known genes and genetic loci were negative indicating a new monogenic cause. Interestingly two cousins of the index case did not share the latter feature, suggesting a modifier gene effect.

Conclusion
Unilateral renal hypo/aplasia is usually sporadic and relatively common, with no genetic cause to date identified. This reported pedigree reveals the possibility that a new, unknown renal developmental gene may be implicated in the FJHN phenotype.
European Adrenal Insufficiency Registry (EU-AIR): a comparative observational study of glucocorticoid replacement therapy
Authors: Ekman Bertil , Fitts David , Marelli Claudio , Murray Robert D , Quinkler Marcus , Zelissen Pierre MJ 
Published: May 2014

Abstract

Background
Increased morbidity and mortality associated with conventional glucocorticoid replacement therapy for primary adrenal insufficiency (primary AI; estimated prevalence 93–140/million), secondary AI (estimated prevalence, 150–280/million, respectively) or congenital adrenal hyperplasia (estimated prevalence, approximately 65/million) may be due to the inability of typical glucocorticoid treatment regimens to reproduce the normal circadian profile of plasma cortisol. A once-daily modified-release formulation of hydrocortisone has been developed to provide a plasma cortisol profile that better mimics the daytime endogenous profile of cortisol. Here, we describe the protocol for the European Adrenal Insufficiency Registry (EU-AIR), an observational study to assess the long-term safety of modified-release hydrocortisone compared with conventional glucocorticoid replacement therapies in routine clinical practice (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01661387).

Methods
Patients enrolled in EU-AIR have primary or secondary AI and are receiving either modified-release or conventional glucocorticoid replacement therapy. The primary endpoints of EU-AIR are the incidence of intercurrent illness, adrenal crisis and serious adverse events (SAEs), as well as the duration of SAEs and dose changes related to SAEs. Data relating to morbidity, mortality, adverse drug reactions, dosing and concomitant therapies will be collected. Patient diaries will record illness-related dose changes between visits. All decisions concerning medical care are made by the registry physician and patient. Enrolment is targeted at achieving 3600 patient-years of treatment (1800 patient-years per group) for the primary analysis, which is focused on determining the non-inferiority of once-daily modified-release replacement therapy compared with conventional glucocorticoid therapy.

Results
Recruitment began in August 2012 and, as of March 2014, 801 patients have been enrolled. Fifteen centres are participating in Germany, the UK and Sweden, with recruitment soon to be initiated in the Netherlands.

Conclusions
EU-AIR will provide a unique opportunity not only to collect long-term safety data on a modified-release preparation of glucocorticoid but also to evaluate baseline data on conventional glucocorticoid replacement. Such data should help to improve the treatment of AI.