Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Intercept of minute ventilation versus carbon dioxide output relationship as an index of ventilatory inefficiency in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Background Ventilatory inefficiency contributes to exercise intolerance in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The intercept of the minute ventilation (V˙ E) vs. carbon dioxide output (V˙ CO2) plot is a key ventilatory inefficiency parameter. However, its relationships with lung hyperinflation (LH) and airflow limitation are not known. This study aimed to evaluate correlations between the V˙ E/V˙ CO2 intercept and LH and airflow limitation to determine its physiological interpretation as an index of functional impairment in COPD. Methods We conducted a retrospective analysis of data from 53 COPD patients and 14 healthy controls who performed incremental cardiopulmonary exercise tests (CPETs) and resting pulmonary function assessment. Ventilatory inefficiency was represented by parameters reflecting the V˙ E/V˙ CO2 nadir and slope (linear region) and the intercept of V˙ E/V˙ CO2 plot. Their correlations with measures of LH and airflow limitation were evaluated. Results Compared to control, the slope (30.58±3.62, P<0.001) and intercept (4.85±1.11 L/min, P<0.05) were higher in COPDstages1-2, leading to a higher nadir (31.47±4.47, P<0.01). Despite an even higher intercept in COPDstages3-4 (7.16±1.41, P<0.001), the slope diminished with disease progression (from 30.58±3.62 in COPDstages1-2 to 26.84±4.96 in COPDstages3-4, P<0.01). There was no difference in nadir among COPD groups and higher intercepts across all stages. The intercept was correlated with peak V˙ E/maximal voluntary ventilation (MVV) (r=0.489, P<0.001) and peak V˙ O2/Watt (r=0.354, P=0.003). The intercept was positively correlated with residual volume (RV) % predicted (r=0.571, P<0.001), RV/total lung capacity (TLC) (r=0.588, P<0.001), peak tidal volume (VT)/FEV1 (r=0.482, P<0.001) and negatively correlated with rest inspiratory capacity (IC)/TLC (r=−0.574, P<0.001), peak VT/TLC (r=−0.585, P<0.001), airflow limitation forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) % predicted (r=−0.606, P<0.001), and FEV1/forced vital capacity (FVC) (r=−0.629, P<0.001). Conclusions V˙ E/V˙ CO2 intercept was consistently correlated with worsening static and dynamic LH, pulmonary gas exchange, and airflow limitation in COPD. The V˙ E/V˙ CO2 intercept emerged as a useful index of ventilatory inefficiency in COPD patients.
Cosmetic outcomes following wide local excision of impalpable breast cancer: is radioguided occult lesion localization using iodine‐125 seeds better than hookwire localization?

Hookwire localization (HWL) is the gold standard for localizing impalpable tumours for breast conserving surgery. An alternative technique, radioguided occult lesion localization using iodine‐125 seeds (ROLLIS), has been associated with lower re‐excision rates. This paper investigates if cosmetic outcomes differ in women undergoing breast conserving surgery with HWL or ROLLIS.
Perioperative changes in respiratory impedance in lobectomy and their clinical impact

Background Respiratory function declines after lung resection. However, perioperative changes in respiratory impedance and their clinical significance are unclear. The forced oscillation technique can measure respiratory impedance during quiet breathing and possibly early after surgery. We investigated respiratory impedance changes before and after lung lobectomy and examined the correlation of impedance with clinical factors. Methods We prospectively included patients who underwent lobectomy between February 2018 and March 2020 and measured respiratory impedance by forced oscillation preoperatively and postoperative days 1 and 7. We statistically analyzed changes in perioperative forced oscillation measurements and their correlation with clinical factors, including subjective symptoms. The modified British Medical Research Council scale and the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) assessment test were used for scoring subjective symptoms. Results Forty-four subjects were included, in whom respiratory impedance could be measured from postoperative day 1. The respective mean values for forced oscillation measurements preoperatively and at postoperative days 1 and 7 were as follows: respiratory resistance, 5 Hz: 2.28, 2.77, and 2.75; respiratory resistance, 20 Hz: 2.00, 2.36, and 2.32; difference in respiratory resistance at 5 and 20 Hz: 0.28, 0.40, and 0.43; respiratory reactance, 5 Hz: −0.31, −0.65, and −0.56; resonant frequency: 7.45, 10.41, and 9.81; and low-frequency reactance area: 1.33, 3.27, and 2.84. These changes were statistically significant (P<0.01). Besides the difference in respiratory resistance at 5 and 20 Hz, all other measurements on postoperative day 7 were relatively weakly correlated with the modified Medical Research Council scale score at this time point (all P<0.05). Respiratory complications correlated with the respiratory resistance difference, respiratory reactance, and resonant frequency on day 7 (R =0.415, −0.421, and 0.441), while the latter also correlated with postoperative hypoxemia on day 1 (R =0.433). Conclusions Respiratory impedance was measurable even early after surgery and significantly changed postoperatively. As the sample size was small and appeared to be biased, assessing respiratory impedance and clinical factors in detail was difficult. Since respiratory impedance is suggested to be associated with clinical factors that affect the postoperative course, it is necessary to accumulate cases and observe them over longer periods.
Vaccine hesitancy in the global south: Towards a critical perspective on global health

ABSTRACT The complex phenomenon of vaccine hesitancy has been causing increasing global concern. This systematic review aims at analysing the state of art of scientific literature concerning vaccine hesitancy in Latin America and Africa, observing if: (i) they use the same research trends as the global North; and (ii) the parameters recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and taken from the experience of the global North are adequate to the Global South’s context. This review analyses empirical, qualitative, quantitative, or mixed-study publications, from 2015 to 2020, available at five different databases. The studies produced in the Global South bring up important context-specific issues, such as issues of access (that are not included in the WHO’s definition of vaccine hesitancy), cultural and religious issues, reactions to governments, reactions to recent episodes of vaccine tests on populations, and reactions to past of colonial violence. Initiatives to understand the phenomenon based on methodological and conceptual frameworks from the global North alone can cause wrongful conclusions.
Thermochromatography of Heavy Actinides - Determination of the Sublimation Enthalpy of Es

The adsorption of Cf, Es, and Fm on several metals was studied thermochromatographically. In all systems investigated Es is adsorbed between the Cf and Fm, due to the increasing metallic divalency in the second half of the actinide series. Based on the adsorption data and the experimentally proved correlation between adsorption and sublimation heats we calculated the Es sublimation enthalpy of 167 kj/mol. This is significantly higher than the value obtained by direct vapour pressure measurements (133 kJ/mol [1]). However, this value fits better to theory.
Anxiety impact during COVID-19: a systematic review.

INTRODUCTION The COVID-19 epidemic has been causing serious physical, but also psychological effects in society. This systematic review sought to identify studies that describe COVID-19 related anxiety, and to understand the impact of anxiety assessment in defining strategies to be implemented in future studies. METHODOLOGY This systematic review included cross-sectional studies with no publication year limit. It was performed a systematic search through three databases, namely, PubMed, Science Direct and Web of Science using the descriptors "COVID-19" and "anxiety". PRISMA criteria reporting of systematic reviews and meta-analyses were applied. Eligible articles were selected in accordance with inclusion and exclusion criteria. The inclusion criteria were: research articles related with anxiety measurement during the COVID-19 outbreak; interventions to reduce anxiety; and published in English. RESULTS From 44 references, just four scientific articles were accepted for inclusion within this review. These studies were analyzed regarding their sample, methodology, instruments used, and its results. CONCLUSIONS This systematic review was based on published data at the onset of the pandemic, and it could serve as a basis for the development of implementations plans to improve anxiety disorders. The importance of this theme, the implications and potential directions for future investigations will be discussed.
Optimal gestational weight gain in Chinese pregnant women by Chinese-specific BMI categories: a multicentre prospective cohort study

Abstract Objective: To establish optimal gestational weight gain (GWG) in Chinese pregnant women by Chinese-specific BMI categories and compare the new recommendations with the Institute of Medicine (IOM) 2009 guidelines. Design: Multicentre, prospective cohort study. Unconditional logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the OR, 95 % CI and the predicted probabilities of adverse pregnancy outcomes. The optimal GWG range was defined as the range that did not exceed a 1 % increase from the lowest predicted probability in each pre-pregnancy BMI group. Setting: From nine cities in mainland China. Participants: A total of 3731 women with singleton pregnancy were recruited from April 2013 to December 2014. Results: The optimal GWG (ranges) by Chinese-specific BMI was 15·0 (12·8–17·1), 14·2 (12·1–16·4) and 12·6 (10·4–14·9) kg for underweight, normal weight and overweight pregnant women, respectively. Inappropriate GWG was associated with several adverse pregnancy outcomes. Compared with women gaining weight within our proposed recommendations, women with excessive GWG had higher risk for macrosomia, large for gestational age and caesarean section, whereas those with inadequate GWG had higher risk for low birth weight, small for gestational age and preterm delivery. The comparison between our proposed recommendations and IOM 2009 guidelines showed that our recommendations were comparable with the IOM 2009 guidelines and could well predict the risk of several adverse pregnancy outcomes. Conclusions: Inappropriate GWG was associated with higher risk of several adverse pregnancy outcomes. Optimal GWG recommendations proposed in the present study could be applied to Chinese pregnant women.
Predictors of persistence in patients with schizophrenia treated with aripiprazole once-monthly long-acting injection in the Spanish clinical practice: a retrospective, observational study

Abstract Background Poor adherence to antipsychotic drugs is a major problem in schizophrenia management and one of the most important risk factors for relapse and hospitalization. To date, there is little evidence on persistence predictors with long-acting injectable antipsychotics, especially with aripiprazole once-monthly (AOM). This study (NCT03130478) aimed to describe the impact of demographic and clinical characteristics on persistence with AOM treatment in real-world setting. Methods This was an observational, retrospective, non-interventional study that included adult patients with schizophrenia who were initiated on AOM during a schizophrenia-related hospitalization. Data were retrospectively collected from patients’ medical records. The primary variable was persistence with AOM, measured as the number of days from AOM initiation up to all-cause AOM discontinuation during the first six months after treatment index. Results 140 patients were enrolled and 91 fulfilled the selection criteria. Six months after AOM initiation, 65 (71.4%) patients were still receiving AOM treatment, whereas 26 (28.6%) were not. The mean (standard deviation) time to AOM treatment discontinuation in the first six months was 138.1 (6.8) days, with most of the patients discontinuing at the first 28 days. The risk of AOM discontinuation in the first six months increases 1.05-fold annually since schizophrenia diagnosis (p=0.003); moreover, this risk increases 2.86-fold in patients with concomitant schizophrenia medication at AOM initiation compared to patients without concomitant schizophrenia treatments (p=0.02). Conclusions Main factors predicting persistence with AOM treatment at six months in clinical practice are fewer years since schizophrenia diagnosis and not receiving concomitant schizophrenia treatments at AOM initiation.
Moving the Goalpost Toward Remission: The Case for Combination Immunomodulatory Therapies in Psoriatic Arthritis

Following the pivotal manuscript that outlined unique disease features half a century ago, investigators in the field of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) have extrapolated clinical trial data and molecular insights from the more expansive experience in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). As a result, many of the diagnostic approaches, imaging modalities, therapeutics and outcome measures paralleled (and at times became identical to) those developed for RA.
Mechanisms restraining break‐induced replication at two‐ended DNA double‐strand breaks

DNA synthesis during homologous recombination is highly mutagenic and prone to template switches. Two‐ended DNA double‐strand breaks (DSBs) are usually repaired by gene conversion with a short patch of DNA synthesis, thus limiting the mutation load to the vicinity of the DSB. Single‐ended DSBs are repaired by break‐induced replication (BIR), which involves extensive and mutagenic DNA synthesis spanning up to hundreds of kilobases. It remains unknown how mutagenic BIR is suppressed at two‐ended DSBs. Here, we demonstrate that BIR is suppressed at two‐ended DSBs by proteins coordinating the usage of two ends of a DSB: (i) ssDNA annealing proteins Rad52 and Rad59 that promote second end capture, (ii) D‐loop unwinding helicase Mph1, and (iii) Mre11‐Rad50‐Xrs2 complex that promotes synchronous resection of two ends of a DSB. Finally, BIR is also suppressed when Sir2 silences a normally heterochromatic repair template. All of these proteins are particularly important for limiting BIR when recombination occurs between short repetitive sequences, emphasizing the significance of these mechanisms for species carrying many repetitive elements such as humans.
Small-area contextual effects on children’s dental caries in Alberta: a multilevel analysis

Objectives The objective of this study was to examine the presence of small-area-level effects on children’s dental caries in Alberta, Canada, where dental public health programming is targeted in nature, based on an area-level measure of socio-economic circumstances. Methods This cross-sectional study included data on tooth decay (from an intra-oral examination conducted by dental hygienists at school) and socio-demographic and behavioural information (from a parent questionnaire) from 5677 grade 1 and 2 schoolchildren attending schools in public or Catholic school systems in Calgary and Edmonton in 2013/2014. Area-level socio-economic circumstances were quantified using the Pampalon Material Deprivation Index derived from census data, applied to the dissemination area (DA) of the child’s school. The outcome variable was presence (vs. absence) of tooth decay (cavitation). Data were analyzed using multilevel modeling with two levels: individual level (level 1) and school dissemination area (DA) (level 2). Results We observed a small but statistically significant area-level effect on children’s caries experience, above and beyond individual-level characteristics. Conclusion Study findings are relevant to dental public health programming in Alberta and other jurisdictions that use targeted strategies. Multilevel interventions, including universal approaches, are necessary to reduce inequities in children’s dental caries. Objectifs Examiner la présence d’effets de petite région sur les caries dentaires des enfants en Alberta, au Canada, où les programmes publics de santé dentaire sont ciblés de nature, d’après un indicateur régional de la situation socioéconomique. Méthode Cette étude transversale a inclus des données sur la carie dentaire (venant d’un examen intra-buccal mené par des hygiénistes dentaires dans les écoles) et des informations sociodémographiques et comportementales (venant d’un questionnaire auprès des parents) concernant 5 677 enfants d’âge scolaire de 1 e et de 2 e année fréquentant les écoles du système public ou du système catholique de Calgary et d’Edmonton en 2013-2014. La situation socioéconomique régionale a été chiffrée à l’aide de l’indice de défavorisation matérielle de Pampalon dérivé des données du Recensement, lesquelles ont été appliquées à l’aire de diffusion (AD) des écoles des enfants. Le résultat a été la présence (c. l’absence) de carie dentaire (cavitation). Les données ont été analysées par modélisation multiniveaux selon deux niveaux : la personne (niveau 1) et l’AD de l’école (niveau 2). Résultats Nous avons observé un effet régional léger mais significatif sur l’expérience de caries des enfants, au-delà des caractéristiques individuelles. Conclusion Les constatations de l’étude sont pertinentes pour les programmes de santé dentaire en Alberta et dans d’autres administrations qui utilisent des stratégies ciblées. Des interventions multiniveaux, y compris des approches universelles, sont nécessaires pour réduire les iniquités dans les caries dentaires des enfants.
Can collagenase effectiveness in Dupuytren’s contracture be improved by using ultrasound-guided Injection? A comparative study

Abstract The objective of this study was to compare the effectiveness of ultrasound-guided injection of collagenase Clostridium histolyticum (CCH) in patients with Dupuytren’s contracture (DC), with the standard injection. We hypothesised that the ultrasound-guided Injection of CCH is more effective than the standard injection. A prospective cohorts study in patients with DC was done. We treated consecutively 47 fingers with the standard injection and 43 with the ultrasound-guided. Patients in both groups had the same inclusion criteria. The degrees of contracture of the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) and proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joints were measured before treatment and after three months. We compared the effectiveness of each type of injection in respect to obtaining a complete finger extension and to the percentage of improvement in each finger and in each joint. With ultrasound-guided injection, complete finger extension was obtained in 54% of cases and an 81% mean percentage of correction of the finger contracture; with standard injection 49% and 77%, respectively. In the MCP joint, the mean percentage of correction was 92.5 % in the ultrasound-guided Injection group and 84% in the standard injection group. In the PIP joint, it was 75.1% in the ultrasound-guided injection group and 65.3% in the standard injection group. These results showed no statistical significance. Hand surgeons must balance the possible benefits of the ultrasound-guided injection with the complexity and resources needed to perform the technique.
The digit triplet test: a scoping review

Abstract Objective This review article presents an overview of all Digit Triplet Tests (DTT) and digits-in-noise tests (DIN) and their variations in language, speech material, masking noise, test procedures, and targeted population. The effects on aspects of validity, reliability, and feasibility are investigated. Design Scoping review. Study sample All studies referring to the DTT and DIN were collected from Pubmed and Embase. Search terms “digit triplet test” and “digits in noise” were used. Citations of selected articles were scanned backwards in time (the bibliography of the already selected research article) and forward in time (articles that cited the already selected research article). The search terms yielded 95 results in total. Eventually, 39 papers were selected. Results Analyses showed psychometric reference-curves with steep slopes and speech reception thresholds with high measurement precision which are strongly associated with pure tone audiometry. High sensitivity and specificity to detect elevated pure tone thresholds were noted for test variants. Certain procedural modifications of the DTT and DIN can further improve the test. Additionally, large-scale application of the DTT and DIN is feasible. Conclusion The DTT and DIN are a very valuable tool for screening and diagnostics for a wide variety of populations.
Hot spots and trends in knee revision research since the 21st century: a bibliometric analysis

Background With the popularization of knee replacement surgery in the treatment of the advanced lesions of knee joint, the amount of knee revision surgery is increasing unceasingly. Meanwhile, the continuous introduction of new clinical concepts and new technology poses a challenge to researchers and surgeons. Our study aims to inform the future scientific research and clinical treatment, by investigating the hot spots and trends of the knee revision research field with the method of bibliometric analysis. Methods Publications on knee revision included in the database of Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) between 2000 and 2018 were reviewed and MeSH terms of them were extracted from PubMed. Online bibliometric analysis website (http://bibliometric.com/), two pieces of software called “CiteSpace” and “Bibliographic Item Co-Occurrence Matrix Builder” (BICOMB) were used to analyze the publications reviewed at quantitative level. Another piece of software called “gCLUTO”, was used to investigate the hot spots with visualization techniques at qualitative level. Results A total of 906 publications were retrieved between 2000 and 2018. There is an increasing number of publications, from 15 in 2000 to 86 in 2018. Journal of Arthroplasty is the leading journal which has the most publications on knee revision. The United States has been the biggest contributor. Mayo Clinic became the leader among the institutions which have conducted correlational researches. David G. Lewallen, Robert L. Barrack and Michael A. Mont should be regarded as the scholars who have made outstanding contribution. Hot spots were summed up in six clusters, respectively, the solutions for infection, prostheses, the adverse effects, the surgical techniques, epidemiological characters, and the pathophysiology of the revision knee. Conclusions We found a growing trend in knee revision research and extracted the most contributive researchers, institutions, countries, journals, and most-cited articles worldwide. The solutions for complications, surgical applications and analysis for epidemiological characters have been the hot spots. Multi-disciplinary integration is becoming the time-trend of hot spots. Minimally invasive and navigation are directions of revision surgery. They together constitute a solid foundation and set up a fingerpost for the future scientific research and clinical treatment.