bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Novel Circulating Tumour Cell-Related Risk Model Indicates Prognosis and Immune Infiltration in Lung Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Liang Lu , Liu Yueying , Jiang Shiyao , Huang Jingjing , He Hua , Shen Li , Cong Li , Jiang Yiqun
Published: May 2022

Background. Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is the most common histological subtype of lung cancer (LC) and one of the leading causes of cancer-related death worldwide. LUAD has a low survival rate owing to tumour invasion and metastasis. Circulating tumour cells (CTCs) are precursors of distant metastasis, which are considered to adopt the characteristics of cancer stem cells (CSCs). Therefore, analysing the risk factors of LUAD from the perspective of CTCs may provide novel insights into the metastatic mechanisms and may help to develop diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Methods. A total of 447 patients from TCGA dataset were included in the training cohort, and 460 patients from the GEO dataset were included in the validation cohort. A CTC-related-gene risk model was constructed using LASSO penalty–Cox analysis, and its predictive value was further verified. Functional enrichment analysis was performed on differentially expressed genes (DEGs), followed by immune correlation analysis based on the results. In addition, western blot, CCK-8 and colony formation assays were used to validate the biological function of RAB26 in LUAD. Results. A novel in-silico CTC-related-gene risk model, named the CTCR model, was constructed, which successfully divided patients into the high- and low-risk groups. The prognosis of the high-risk group was worse than that of the low-risk group. ROC analysis revealed that the risk model outperformed traditional clinical markers in predicting the prognosis of patients with LUAD. Further study demonstrated that the identified DEGs were significantly enriched in immune-related pathways. The immune score of the low-risk group was higher than that of the high-risk group. In addition, RAB26 was found to promote the proliferation of LUAD. Conclusion. A prognostic risk model based on CTC-related genes was successfully constructed, and the relationship between DEGs and tumour immunity was analysed. In addition, RAB26 was found to promote the proliferation of LUAD cells.
Big Data Technology Oriented to Wetland Resource Ecosystem Value Evaluation
Authors: Fan Lifang
Published: May 2022

In order to study a big data technology research for the evaluation of wetland resource ecosystem value. This paper proposes a wetland dimension oriented to the evaluation of wetland ecosystem services space attribute through big data coupling analysis framework. The framework used China’s coastal wetlands as a case for empirical research and summarized the future direction of the research on the value evaluation of wetland ecosystem services in the era of big data. The result shows: Wetland Ecosystem Observation Network can obtain long-term series of dynamic data, remote sensing Earth observation can realize the integrated observation of space, space, and Earth, the combination of the two will help to build a wetland ecological big data observation system. The service value of China’s coastal wetland ecosystem is 5010.32 × 108 yuan. The research results can effectively solve the problem of geographical heterogeneity and have reference value for the protection and management of the wetland ecosystem.
Green Energy Economic Efficiency and Enterprise Environmental Cost Control Based on the Internet of Things
Authors: Gong Yajie , Gu Wenhui , Ren Weifeng
Published: May 2022

In order to implement the green transformation strategy that follows the sustainable development concept as the guiding ideology, this paper combines the Internet of Things technology to construct green energy economic efficiency and enterprise environmental cost control system. Moreover, according to the current situation of economic, social, and environmental development, this paper establishes a scientific, complete, and systematic comprehensive evaluation index system. When choosing system assessment indicators, make sure they represent the coupling connection between the three. Furthermore, this article employs Internet of Things technologies to gather and monitor data on company energy usage and emissions, as well as to construct an intelligent model. According to the results of the simulation experiment, it can be seen that the green energy economic efficiency and enterprise environmental cost control system based on the Internet of Things proposed in this paper has good green economic efficiency.
Near-Infrared Confocal Reflectance Scanning Laser Ophthalmoscopy (SLO) and Short-Wavelength Autofluorescence Imaging in Cystic Diabetic Macular Edema
Authors: Ghassemi Fariba , Bazvand Fatemeh , Faghihi Houshang , Roohipourmoallai Ramak , Masoumi Maryam , Jamali Sepide , Mohebbi Masoumeh , Sabour Siamak
Published: May 2022

Objective. To characterize results of short-wavelength autofluorescent (SW-AF) and near-infrared confocal reflectance scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (NIR-cR SLO) imaging in cystic diabetic macular edema (DME). Design. Cross-sectional study. Participants: 104 eyes from 52 naïve treatment patients with DME and mild to moderate nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) Methods: complete ocular examination, best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), and imaging were performed. Results. In NIR-cR SLO, small/medium and large-sized cysts presented with decreased and increased reflectance, respectively. In SW-AF, increased and decreased autofluorescence, corresponding to medium-/large- and small-sized cysts were noted. Mainly, the lower NIR reflectance was associated with petaloid edema pattern in SW-AF (

P
=
0.011

), BCVA (logMAR) (

P
=
0.056

), subretinal fluid (

P
=
0.035

), and the involved layers of retina by cysts (

P
<
0.001

) in Pearson chi-square test. Fair agreement of 0.31 (

P
<
0.001

) between NIR-cR SLO and late FA leakage was found by the weighted kappa test. In regression analysis, NIR-cR SLO abnormality is highly correlated with outer and inner nuclear layers location of the cystic changes. Conclusions. The size of cysts and involved layers affect presenting features of SW-AF and NIR reflectance.
Feature Extraction of Plant Leaf Using Deep Learning
Authors: Ahmad Muhammad Umair , Ashiq Sidra , Badshah Gran , Khan Ali Haider , Hussain Muzammil
Published: May 2022

Half a million species of plants could be existing in the world. Classification of plants based on leaf features is a critical job as feature extraction (includes shape, margin, and texture) from binary images of leaves may result in duplicate identification. However, leaves are an effective means of differentiating plant species because of their unique characteristics like area, diameter, perimeter, circularity, aspect ratio, solidity, eccentricity, and narrow factor. This paper presents the extraction of plant leaf gas alongside other features from the camera images or a dataset of images by applying a convolutional neural network (CNN). The extraction of leaf gas enables identification of the actual level of chlorophyll (Ch) and nitrogen (N) which may help to interpret future predictions. Our contribution includes the study of texture and geometric features, analyzing ratio of Ch and N in both healthy and dead leaves, and the study of color‐based methods via CNN. Several steps are included to obtain the results: image preprocessing, testing, training, enhancement, segmentation, feature extraction, and aggregation of results. A vital contrast of the results can be seen by considering the kind of image, whether a healthy or dead leaf.
Innovative Mode of Logistics Management of “Internet of Things + Blockchain”-Integrated E-Commerce Platform
Authors: Yujie Hou , Qiuxia Hao
Published: May 2022

The innovation of logistics management mode plays a great role in promoting the operation timeliness of an e-commerce platform. The question of how to realize the research on the innovation mode of logistics management of the e-commerce platform with the integration of “Internet of things + blockchain” is the current development trend. Based on this, this paper studies the influencing factors of logistics management of an e-commerce platform under the discrete analysis strategy of “Internet of things + blockchain.” First, the logistics management analysis model of an e-commerce platform integrating “Internet of things + blockchain” is proposed. The dynamic correlation function is used to simulate the logistics information in the e-commerce platform. Through the extreme value of the dynamic correlation function curve in the detection process, the operation signal is restored, and then its logistics management is analyzed. Second, the influencing factors in the logistics management of the e-commerce platform are analyzed, comprehensive analysis is done by using the “Internet of things + blockchain” integration model, the dynamic logistics information in the operation of the e-commerce platform is accurately gathered, and the multidimensional hierarchical method is used for quality evaluation. Finally, the effectiveness of the logistics management analysis model of the e-commerce platform is verified by many experiments.
Investigations of CNN for Medical Image Analysis for Illness Prediction
Authors: Nirmala K. , Saruladha K. , Dekeba Kenenisa
Published: May 2022

When it comes to diabetic retinopathy, exudates are the most common sign; alarms for early screening and diagnosis are suggested. The images taken by cameras and high-definition ophthalmoscopes are riddled with flaws and noise. Overcoming noise difficulties and pursuing automated/computer-aided diagnosis is always a challenge. The major objective of this approach is to obtain a better prediction rate of diabetic retinopathy analysis. The accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and prediction rate improvement are focused on the objective view. The images are separated into relevant patches of various sizes and stacked for use as inputs to CNN, which is then trained, tested, and validated. The article presents a mathematical approach to determine the prevalence, shape in precise, color, and density in the populations among image patches to operate and discover the fact the image collection consists of symptoms of exudates and methods to comprehend the diagnosis and suggest risks of early hospital treatment. The experimental result analysis of malignant quality shows the accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and predictive value. Here, 78% of accuracy, 78.8% of sensitivity, and 78.3% of specificity are obtained, and both positive and negative predictive values are obtained.
Effects of Knee Flexion Angles on the Joint Force and Muscle Force during Bridging Exercise: A Musculoskeletal Model Simulation
Authors: Takeshita Yasufumi , Kawada Masayuki , Miyazaki Takasuke , Nakai Yuki , Araki Sota , Nakatsuji Shintaro , Matsuzawa Yuta , Nakashima Shobu , Kiyama Ryoji
Published: May 2022

Bridging exercise is commonly used to increase the strength of the hip extensor and trunk muscles in physical therapy practice. However, the effect of lower limb positioning on the joint and muscle forces during the bridging exercise has not been analyzed. The purpose of this study was to use a musculoskeletal model simulation to examine joint and muscle forces during bridging at three different knee joint angle positions. Fifteen healthy young males (average age: 23.5 ± 2.2 years) participated in this study. Muscle and joint forces of the lumbar spine and hip joint during the bridging exercise were estimated at knee flexion angles of 60°, 90°, and 120° utilizing motion capture data. The lumbar joint force and erector spinae muscle force decreased significantly as the angle of the knee joint increased. The resultant joint forces were 200.0 ± 23.2% of body weight (%BW), 174.6 ± 18.6% BW, and 150.5 ± 15.8% BW at 60°, 90°, and 120° knee flexion angles, respectively. On the other hand, the hip joint force, muscle force of the gluteus maxims, and adductor magnus tended to increase as the angle of the knee joint increased. The resultant joint forces were 274.4 ± 63.7% BW, 303.9 ± 85.8% BW, and 341.1 ± 85.7% BW at a knee flexion angle of 60°, 90°, and 120°, respectively. The muscle force of the biceps femoris decreased significantly with increased knee flexion during the bridging exercise. In conclusion, the knee flexion position during bridging exercise has different effects on the joint and muscle forces around the hip joint and lumbar spine. These findings would help clinicians prescribe an effective bridging exercise that includes optimal lower limb positioning for patients who require training of back and hip extensor muscles.
Identification of Flight Area Identification Plate Based on an Improved MSER Algorithm
Authors: Liu Hao , Zhu Daiwu , Zhu Yuran , Xie Xiaofan , Zhao Haodi
Published: May 2022

In this study, an algorithm based on improved maximum stable extremum region (MSER) was used to match and recognize the content of signage in the airfield, so as to overcome unrecognizable signage caused by low visibility or an overlapping field of view of multiple aircrafts. Firstly, the MSER algorithm was employed to combine regional structure similarity with feature space to realize the matching and recognition of signage in airport flight areas and improve the stability of signage content recognition. Secondly, the threshold of repeated recognition content was eliminated using the NMS algorithm to handle the repeated recognition caused by the MSER algorithm. Finally, an identification card of the taxiing paths in an airport flight area was selected for simulation. The experimental results demonstrated that the accuracy of identification card content can be improved by the optimized MSER algorithm.
[Retracted] Assessment of the Knowledge Level of First Aid among Medical Students in Work Environment
Authors: Alanazi Asma , Algethami Saad , Alnafisah Mohammed , Alhussayen Saoud , Almutairi Fares , Almureef Sultan , Albalawi Maram , Habib Farida
Published: May 2022

First aid is one of the most important life‐saving skills a health provider specifically or anybody generally must have. It can be defined as the first treatment one provides at the site of the accident to the injured person until full medical treatment is available. In some emergency situations, simple first aid can make a life‐or‐death difference. Aim. This study is designed to evaluate the knowledge of first aid among medical students at KSAU‐HS in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Methods. The cross‐sectional study is conducted in KSAU‐HS, Riyadh, about the knowledge of first aid among medical students. A self‐administered structured questionnaire is used for the purpose of data collection. The main variables are as follows: to compare the knowledge of first aid between male and female medical students, among different years of study, and identify the percentage that have knowledge of first aid. Results. Out of 326 students, 10 students (3.1%) scored excellent, 99 (30.4%) good, 136 (41.7%) average, 75 (23%) poor, and 6 (1.8%) very poor. Conclusion. The level of knowledge improved with the advancement in years, but this was not sufficient, and more training should be given to all medical students on first aid.
Evaluation of Safety and Efficacy of Traction, Closed Reduction, and Subsequent Hip Fixation in Hilgenreiner Brace in Patients with Severe Forms of Hip Developmental Dysplasia
Authors: Gharaibeh Ahmad , Sepitka Rastislav , Pobeha Jan , Schreierova Daniela , Habinakova Martina , Vasko Gabriel , Lacko Marek
Published: May 2022

Background. Hilgenreiner brace (Hb) was developed to improve hip reduction rate and reduce the incidence of femoral head avascular necrosis (AVN). In children under the age of 18 months with unstable hip joints or a dislocated hip joint, the treatment method involves nonsurgical treatment in most cases. Objectives. To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of traction, closed reduction, and hip fixation in Hb in patients with severe forms of hip developmental dysplasia (DDH) in follow-up. Materials and Methods. Prospective, clinical, cohort observation and retrospective matched-pair analysis. Analysis of medical records was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of using Hb for treatment of dislocated hip joints in <18-month-old children. The investigated cases were of the dislocated hip joint since DDH was confirmed through clinical and imaging diagnosis and treated by the application of the close reduction method together with Hb, in a nonhuman position (hip joint in 90 degrees of flexion and 80 degrees of abduction). Analysis was carried out using the modified Berkeley’s Mckay criteria and hip joint centralization, and evaluation was done using X-ray images according to the basic modified Severin classification system. Results. The use of Hb applied after overhead traction to (mean 22.8 days, confidence level (95%)) 68 hip joints showed a significant improvement (92%) in the treated hips. In summary, only one brace replacement was performed due to swelling of the thigh and fixation pressure, three cases suffered from hip joint redislocation after removing the Hb (5%), and one patient had bilateral avascular necrosis (2.8%). Conclusions. The use of Hb reduced avascular necrosis of the femur head, maintained higher hygiene conditions, and lowered both the risk of cast breakage and skin complications over the use of hip spica as compared to Hb. Hb is more cost-effective, and radiolucency is an additional advantage for this technique. Closed reduction and application of Hb after oral administration of a bolus dose of chlorpromazine chloride or phenobarbital resulted in complication avoidance of total anaesthesia.
Citrus maxima (Brum.) Merr. (Rutaceae): Bioactive Chemical Constituents and Pharmacological Activities
Authors: Sapkota Biswash , Devkota Hari Prasad , Poudel Prakash
Published: May 2022

Citrus maxima (Burm). Merr. (family Rutaceae), commonly known as Pomelo, is an ethnomedicinally, pharmacologically, and phytochemically valued species. Various ethnomedicinal reports have revealed the use of C. maxima for cough, fever, asthma, diarrhea, ulcer, and diabetes and as a sedative. Numerous phytochemicals have been reported from C. maxima such as polyphenols, terpenoids, sterols, carotenoids, vitamins, and amino acids. The plant possesses significant bioactivities like antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anticancer, antidiabetic, anti-Alzheimer’s disease, insecticidal, anxiolytic, hepatoprotective, antimalarial, and antiobesity. Extensive research is necessary to explore the detailed mechanism of action of extracts and compounds to design effective medicines, herbal products, and functional foods.
Research on Dynamic Compressive Performance of Polypropylene Fiber-Reinforced High-Strength Concrete under Freeze-Thaw Environment
Authors: Zhao Jingshuo , Yang Xiaolin , Fan Jiang , Gao Shiwu , Ma Hongwei
Published: May 2022

Existing studies have proved that the incorporation of polypropylene fiber can effectively improve the impact resistance of concrete. In this paper, the split Hopkinson pressure bar and digital pulse shaping technology are used to further study the dynamic compression performance and constitutive relationship of concrete in the cold regions under the deteriorating effect of freeze-thaw cycle, and obtain the dynamic increase factor. Studies have shown that polypropylene fiber-reinforced high-strength concrete has a strain rate enhancement effect. The number of freeze-thaw cycle times at low strain rates has an obvious effect on concrete deterioration, and the effect is weaker at higher strain rates. By comparing three typical dynamic strength growth factor models with the test results, after revising the model, the dynamic increase factor equations under different freeze-thaw circulation times were fitted. This research provides a basis for the design of durability and robustness of building structures in cold regions.
An ROI Extraction Method of Finger Vein Images Based on Large Receptive Field Gradient Operator for Accurate Localization of Joint Cavity
Authors: Lu Huimin , Wang Yifan , Liu Weiye , Li Yupeng , Ning Jingfeng
Published: May 2022

Region of interest (ROI) extraction is a key step in finger vein recognition preprocessing. The current method takes the finger region in the vein image as the ROI, but this method cannot obtain better recognition accuracy because it only removes the background noise of the image and ignores factors such as the position and shape of the finger. To solve this problem, we limited the ROI to a fixed region between two finger joint cavities, proposed a new large receptive field gradient operator, and designed and implemented a new method for ROI extraction. It uses a large receptive field to search the target, which is similar to human vision, thus solving the problem of difficult ROI localization for images with large gradient areas. Moreover, for external factors such as noise and uneven illumination in the vein image, the interference factors can be eliminated by averaging them to a larger range with a larger size operator to improve the accuracy of the subsequent matching recognition. To verify the effectiveness of the proposed method, we conducted sufficient matching experiments on three public finger vein datasets. On various datasets, our method significantly reduced the identified EER value, with the lowest EER value reaching 0.96%. The experimental results show that the proposed ROI extraction method can effectively eliminate the influence of finger position, finger shape, and other factors on the subsequent recognition performance, accurately locate the finger joint cavity, and effectively improve the recognition performance.
Visual Detection Application of Lightweight Convolution and Deep Residual Networks in Wood Production
Authors: Chen Zhijie , He Zhihui , Chao Bao , Guo Hongfei
Published: May 2022

In order to improve the production capacity of traditional wood manufacturing industry, efficient wood quality and thickness detection is a challenging issue. This paper firstly carries out digital twin modeling for a drawer side panel processing line of a wood company and explores the efficiency problems existing in the links of quality inspection and thickness inspection of wood by means of value stream mapping. Therefore, we adopted a lightweight convolution neural network MobileNetV2 for wood quality detection, which realized efficient wood quality identification. In contrast, traditional convolution neural network has many weighting parameters and large scale of generating detection model, which makes it difficult to apply in situations with limited computing power and memory. Secondly, due to the stronger robustness and generalization ability of the residual network, we used ResNet to detect the wood thickness and obtain reliable performance. Finally, we reasonably embedded them in the whole wood production process and established the simulation model of production line before and after improvement in FlexSim simulation software. The experimental results show that the improved plan can simplify the workshop production process, increase the production balance rate by 29.07%, increase the product value-added rate from 0.08% to 0.11%, and shorten the production cycle by 2 hours. Performance indicators such as product inventory, number of people, and equipment utilization also improve significantly. Based on the above results, the validity of the production process improvement model proposed by US based on lightweight convolution and deep residual network is demonstrated.
The Effect of Oxytocin plus Carboprost Methylate in Preventing Postpartum Hemorrhage in High-Risk Pregnancy and Its Effect on Blood Pressure
Authors: Wei Lin , Yang Haiping , Sun Xiaoli
Published: May 2022

Objective. This study aimed to explore and analyze the effectiveness of oxytocin plus carboprost methylate in preventing postpartum hemorrhage in high-risk pregnancies and its effect on blood pressure. A total of 60 women with high-risk pregnancies who gave birth in our hospital from January 2020 to May 2021 were recruited and assigned via random number table method (1 : 1) to receive either oxytocin (control group) or oxytocin plus carboprost methylate (observation group). Outcome measures included hemorrhage and blood pressure. The bleeding volume of the women in the observation group (210.55 ± 45.98, 45.21 ± 9.27, and 73.74 ± 12.18) was significantly less than that in the control group during delivery and 2h and 24h after the delivery (276.91 ± 49.21, 72.98 ± 19.68, and 92.61 ± 15.67) (all

P
<
0.05

). The observation group showed a significantly lower bleeding rate (6.67%) than the control group (16.67%) (

P
<
0.05

). The two groups showed similar diastolic and systolic blood pressures (

P
>
0.05

). Oxytocin plus carboprost methylate suppository effectively prevents postpartum hemorrhage in high-risk pregnancies, significantly reduces the amount of postpartum hemorrhage in high-risk pregnancies, and has little effect on the blood pressure of patients. Given its favorable treatment efficiency and high safety profile, this treatment protocol shows great potential for clinical application.
Sentiment Classification of Tourism Reviews Based on Visual and Textual Multifeature Fusion
Authors: Wei Shujun , Song Song
Published: May 2022

Most of the traditional tourism review sentiment analysis methods ignore the complementary role between review text and images and do not pay attention to the differences in the sentimental expression of different users and the characteristics of the text content of tourism reviews other than the plain text such as emojis. For this reason, a sentiment analysis method for tourism online reviews based on multifeature fusion of images and text is proposed. Firstly, a text sentiment classification model is constructed, and a variety of sentiment features are combined to form a multi-input matrix, and then, it is input into a multichannel CNN (convolutional neural network) to extract sentiment features in order to complete the text sentiment classification. In addition, an image sentiment classification model is constructed by merging the global image and the face image. On the basis of the CNN, the supervision module with weighted loss is added to extract the facial sentiment features, and the facial target sentiment is fused with the sentiment directly recognized by the whole image, and the sentiment polarity of the image in the posted tourism review is determined. Finally, a decision fusion method is designed to fuse the output of the text and image sentiment classification models. The experimental results show that the proposed image-text fusion sentiment classification model effectively enhances the ability of the model to capture sentimental semantics of tourism reviews through the combination of text content features and image sentiment features and achieves excellent results in multiple performance metrics, with better sentiment classification performance than other state-of-the-art models.
Effects of Bilateral Cochlear Implantation on Binaural Listening Tasks for Younger and Older Adults
Authors: Smeal Molly , Snapp Hillary , Ausili Sebastian , Holcomb Meredith , Prentiss Sandra
Published: May 2022

Purpose: This study investigated the objective and subjective benefit of a second cochlear implant (CI) on binaural listening tasks of speech understanding in noise and localization in younger and older adults. We aimed to determine if the aging population can utilize binaural cues and obtain comparable benefits from bilateral CI (BIL_CI) when compared to the younger population. Methods: Twenty-nine adults with severe to profound bilateral sensorineural hearing loss were included. Participants were evaluated in two conditions, better CI (BE_CI) alone and BIL_CI using AzBio and Bamford-Kowal-Bench (BKB) sentence in noise tests. Localization tasks were completed in the BIL_CI condition using a broadband stimulus, low-frequency stimuli, and high-frequency stimuli. A subjective questionnaire was administered to assess satisfaction with CI. Results: Older age was significantly associated with poorer performance on AzBio +5 dB signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and BKB-speech in noise (SIN); however, improvements from BE_CI to BIL_CI were observed across all ages. In the AzBio +5 condition, nearly half of all participants achieved a significant improvement from BE_CI to BIL_CI with the majority of those occurring in patients younger than 65 years of age. Conversely, the majority of participants who achieved a significant improvement in BKB-SIN were adults >65 years of age. Years of BIL_CI experience and time between implants were not associated with performance. For localization, mean absolute error increased with age for low and high narrowband noise, but not for the broadband noise. Response gain was negatively correlated with age for all localization stimuli. Neither BIL_CI listening experience nor time between implants significantly impacted localization ability. Subjectively, participants report reduction in disability with the addition of the second CI. There is no observed relationship between age or speech recognition score and satisfaction with BIL_CI. Conclusion: Overall performance on binaural listening tasks was poorer in older adults than in younger adults. However, older adults were able to achieve significant benefit from the addition of a second CI, and performance on binaural tasks was not correlated with overall device satisfaction. The significance of the improvement was task and stimulus dependent but suggested a critical limit may exist for optimal performance on SIN tasks for CI users. Specifically, older adults require at least a +8 dB SNR to understand 50% of speech postoperatively; therefore, solely utilizing a fixed +5 dB SNR preoperatively to qualify CI candidates is not recommended as this test condition may introduce limitations in demonstrating CI benefit.
Skewed X-Chromosome Inactivation as a Possible Marker of X-Linked CNV in Women with Pregnancy Loss
Authors: Fonova Elizaveta A. , Tolmacheva Ekaterina N. , Kashevarova Anna A. , Sazhenova Elena A. , Nikitina Tatyana V. , Lopatkina Maria E. , Vasilyeva Oksana Yu. , Zarubin Aleksei А. , Aleksandrova Tatyana N. , Yuriev Sergey Yu. , Skryabin Nikolay A. , Stepanov Vadim A. , Lebedev Igor N.
Published: May 2022

Skewed X-chromosome inactivation (sXCI) can be a marker of lethal genetic variants on the X chromosome in a woman since sXCI modifies the pathological phenotype. The aim of this study was to search for CNVs in women with miscarriages and sXCI. XCI was assayed using the classical method based on the amplification of highly polymorphic exon 1 of the androgen receptor (AR) gene. The XCI status was analysed in 313 women with pregnancy loss and in 87 spontaneously aborted embryos with 46,XX karyotype, as well as in control groups of 135 women without pregnancy loss and 64 embryos with 46,XX karyotype from induced abortions in women who terminated a normal pregnancy. The frequency of sXCI differed significantly between women with miscarriages and women without pregnancy losses (6.3% and 2.2%, respectively; p = 0.019). To exclude primary causes of sXCI, sequencing of the XIST and XACT genes was performed. The XIST and XACT gene sequencing revealed no known pathogenic variants that could lead to sXCI. Molecular karyotyping was performed using aCGH, followed by verification of X-linked CNVs by RT-PCR and MLPA. Microdeletions at Xp11.23 and Xq24 as well as gains of Xq28 were detected in women with sXCI and pregnancy loss.
A Unique Constellation of Multiple Cranial Neuropathies in a Patient with Preeclampsia
Authors: Zarifkar Pardis , Hansen Klaus , Crone Clarissa , Svenstrup Kirsten , Larsen Vibeke Andrée , Karlsson William Kristian
Published: May 2022

A 36-year-old nullipara at 35 weeks of gestation woke up with slurred speech and dysphagia. The next day, she developed abruption of the placenta, underwent an acute cesarean, and was diagnosed with severe preeclampsia. Neurologic examination revealed flaccid dysarthria, bilateral soft palate palsy, reduced taste of the left posterior tongue, left-sided tongue deviation, and paralysis of the left sternocleidomastoid and trapezius muscles. MRI revealed left-sided tongue edema compatible with acute left hypoglossal nerve denervation and electromyography of the left trapezius and glossal muscles showed profuse denervation potentials. In conclusion, multiple cranial neuropathies may occur in and even be a presenting symptom of preeclampsia. In this study, we report the first case of multiple cranial neuropathies involving cranial nerves IX, X, XI, and XII in a patient with preeclampsia. Possible pathogenic mechanisms of cranial neuropathy in preeclampsia include immune-mediated neuropathy with or without demyelination, microvascular thromboses, and perineural edema.
Uterine Sarcoma Presenting as Hypercapnic Respiratory Failure
Authors: Boldig Kimberly , Montanarella Matthew , Marji Noor , Siddiqi Anwer
Published: May 2022

Thyroid cancer is a type of malignancy that is considered to have a low morbidity and an indolent disease course in most patients. Though some of its pathologic variants such as anaplastic carcinoma may present with advanced disease staging, it is important to consider the possibility of metastasis to thyroid which may present like a thyroid primary. Solid organ carcinomas form the bulk of the uncommon metastasis to the thyroid, though sarcomas from various organs also rarely exhibit this activity. Literature demonstrating sound diagnostic criteria for these occurrences is sparse. We present a case of uterine sarcoma with distant metastasis to the thyroid gland that initially presented as hypercapnic respiratory failure. Only an inpatient episode of uterine bleeding prompted our team to explore the potential of a metastatic process. Our diagnosis was made utilizing a multidisciplinary approach that we feel is important for clinicians dealing with metastatic disease to the thyroid. In addition to sound physical exam, and use of appropriate imaging modality, we feel it is essential to utilize a detailed cytohistologic specimen evaluation, immunohistochemistry, and genetic sequencing to effectively work up such patients. Although our patient did not survive her hospital stay, we hope this paper brings greater awareness of this malignancy and acts as a benchmark for diagnosing such an unusual remote primary.
Evolution of Web-Based Training Videos Provided by the German Respiratory League for the Correct Inhalation Technique
Authors: Wollsching-Strobel Maximilian , Butt Uta , Majorski Daniel Sebastian , Mathes Tim , Magnet Friederike Sophie , Berger Melanie Patricia , Schwarz Sarah Bettina , Windisch Wolfram
Published: May 2022

Background/Objective: To assess whether and how the use of scientifically established Web-based training videos for teaching correct inhalation technique in patients with chronic airway diseases has become accepted among the wider population. Methods: The viewing trends of 141 freely available YouTube videos (full playing time, 01:31–04:37 min:s) provided by the German Respiratory League, covering a broad range of internationally prescribed devices, were analyzed over a 10-year period. Specific emphasis was placed both on German and international videos. Results: The total number of views was 3,350,678. Non-German videos (English, Russian, Turkish, Greek, Arabic, Farsi, and Slovakian) accounted for 23.2% of the views. The number of views steadily increased between 2011 and 2020 with a mean annual increase of 54.0% (range 24.5/119.9%) compared to the respective previous year. By 2020, the incidence of views per 100,000 German inhabitants was 725 for German videos only and 1,030 for all videos. In terms of the annual trend, there were two peak viewing periods, namely in spring and late fall, while the lowest amount of views occurred in summer. Conclusion: This study highlights the rising impact of Web-based training videos used for teaching the correct use of inhalation devices, with a steady increase in the number of annual views and a clear seasonal peaking of views in spring and late fall.
Alexithymia and Cutaneous Disease Morbidity: A Systematic Review
Authors: Holmes Alexis , Marella Pooja , Rodriguez Carlos , Glass, II Donald , Goerlich Katharina S.
Published: May 2022

Background: Alexithymia is a psychological construct that describes one’s difficulty in understanding and describing their own emotions as well as differentiating feelings from bodily signals of arousal. In the general population, alexithymia’s prevalence is approximately 10%. Alexithymia may act as a triggering factor for many medical and psychiatric disorders. In patients with physical disease, alexithymia’s prevalence reaches up to 63%. Additionally, alexithymia is associated with worse outcomes and heightened psychosocial comorbidities. Objective: This review continues where an earlier review (Willemsen, 2008) left off to (1) clarify alexithymia’s prevalence in dermatology patients and (2) further investigate alexithymia’s impact on disease burden, psychosocial comorbidities, and treatment. Methods: Systematic searches on alexithymia and dermatologic conditions were conducted using PubMed, Embase, PsycInfo, and Web of Science databases from March 8, 2021, to March 12, 2021. Data from eligible publications, which were full-text, clinical studies published after September 1, 2008, and available in English, were extracted by two medical students and summarized. Results: Despite a small number of publications (n = 37), data showed a markedly greater prevalence and severity of alexithymia in patients with alopecia, vitiligo, psoriasis, hidradenitis suppurativa, atopic dermatitis, chronic idiopathic urticaria, and primary focal hyperhidrosis compared to healthy controls. Further, data consistently demonstrate a complex interplay between alexithymia, disease burden, and psychosocial comorbidity. Conclusions: Identifying and addressing alexithymia in dermatology patients may improve treatment outcomes, associated comorbidities, and health-related quality of life.
7th Update on Fabry Disease: Biomarkers, Progression and Treatment Opportunities in 2022
Authors: Warnock David G.
Published: May 2022

no abstract
EMT-Related Gene Signature: A New Method for Personalized Risk Assessment in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Cao Dan , Liu Huan , Bai Lang , Tang Hong
Published: May 2022

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide, accounting for more than 700,000 deaths annually. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is posited to contribute to HCC progression. We, therefore, aimed to elucidate the relationship between EMT-related gene (ERG) expression and prognosis in patients with HCC. Methods: Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed to identify prognostic-related differentially expressed EMT-related genes (DE-ERGs). Time-dependent receiver operating characteristic and Kaplan-Meier curves were used to assess the prognostic performance of the EMT-related signature. pRRophetic R package was used to evaluate sorafenib sensitivity in the GSE14520 cohort. Gene expression in Huh7 and L02 cell lines was detected by real-time PCR and Western blotting. Differential expression of the three genes between HCC tissues and normal tissues was validated using immunohistochemical analyses. Results: Of the 76 identified DE-ERGs, 29 were associated with overall survival. Three prognosis-related ERGs (GOLM1, SOX4, and CD14) were screened out by multivariate Cox regression. A gene signature was identified based on the three prognostic-related ERGs. HCC patients with a low-risk score had a better prognosis and were more sensitive to sorafenib compared to those with a high-risk score. Moreover, we further confirmed increased expression of GOLM1 and SOX4, and decreased expression of CD14, in liver cancer cell line and HCC tissue. Conclusions: The results of the present study demonstrate the utility of an ERG signature as a potential biomarker informing prognosis in patients with HCC, which may contribute to the implementation of personalized therapies.
Hanseníase virchowiana e eritema nodoso hanseníco em gestante de 34 semanas sem diagnóstico prévio
Authors: Amorim Gustavo Moreira , Maestri Thaynara , Oppitz Amanda , Leye Matheus , Merini Filipe Luis , Vignatti Luan Junior
Published: May 2022

Relatamos um caso de uma paciente feminina, gestante de terceiro trimestre, em acompanhamento pré-natal regular na unidade básica de saúde, com boa evolução gestacional, porém apresentando lesões de pele há cerca de um ano, acompanhadas de alteração de sensibilidade, além de fáscies infiltrada e madarose. Sendo o Brasil um país endêmico em Hanseníase, ocupando o 2º lugar no mundo em número de novos casos, chama a atenção o diagnóstico tardio da paciente em questão. Aproveitamos este emblemático relato de caso para discutir aspectos importantes em relação à terapêutica no período gestacional (poliquimioterapia conforme manual do ministério, sem nenhuma alteração por conta da gestação), desfecho obstétrico, orientações quanto à lactação (não contra-indicada com a mãe em tratamento; pelo contrário, devendo ser estimulada) e cuidado ao recém nato.
Amiloidose pulmonar com apresentação traqueobrônquica: relato de caso clínico
Authors: Dal Maso Vinícius Buaes , Dalbosco Ana Katharina , Carneiro Carlos André dos Santos , Oliveira Isadora de , Silva Luiza Ventura Penteado da , Pegoraro Junior Marcelo Roque , Vedana Marinna , Borelli Nathália , Marcon Rodrigo Fichbein
Published: May 2022

Introdução: Amiloidose é o termo utilizado para designar doenças que fazem deposição extracelular de proteínas fibrilares patológicas em órgãos e tecidos, podendo ser sistêmica ou restrita a um único órgão. As manifestações clínicas são diversas, como cardiomiopatia, falência renal, esplenomegalia, problemas intestinais, neuropatias, problemas pulmonares, entre outros. Objetivo: relatar um caso clínico de paciente com amiloidose traqueobrônquica. Metodologia: revisão de bibliografias em comparação ao relato de caso, o qual foi descrito a partir de dados retirados do prontuário e de exames complementares da paciente. Caso clínico: paciente do sexo feminino, 70 anos, procurou assistência médica por dorsalgia, apresentando também chiado, tosse seca, dispneia paroxística noturna e ortopneia. Realizou-se investigação diagnóstica durante a internação, na qual biópsia da mucosa traqueobrônquica e coleta de lavado alveolar foram positivos para o teste Vermelho Congo, o que confirmou o diagnóstico de amiloidose. A paciente, então, foi encaminhada para terapia de ablação a laser. Conclusão: portanto, diante de um paciente com quadro clínico inspecífico e suspeita diagnóstica principal de amiloidose pulmonar, é imprescindível investigar e descartar diagnósticos diferenciais como neoplasia ou discrasia de células plasmáticas. Para isso, é necessário que haja alta precisão na análise dos exames de imagem, de modo a sugerir esse diagnóstico, o qual deve ser confirmado através da fibrobroncoscopia com biópsia de tecido brônquico, que através da coloração Vermelho do Congo, evidenciará presença de substância amorfa e birrefringente, compatível com substância amiloide.
Recomendações para profilaxia de COVID-19 em cirurgias eletivas: revisão de literatura
Authors: Gregolin Valentina Lacerda de Oliveira , Schwam Marcela , Toscano Mariana Mendes , Solera André Luis Perez
Published: May 2022

A pandemia do coronavírus (COVID-19) tornou necessárias adaptações organizacionais e de segurança, visando impedir a contaminação de pacientes e equipes durante procedimentos cirúrgicos. O objetivo da presente revisão é apontar as principais recomendações necessárias para que os procedimentos cirúrgicos sejam realizados com segurança durante a pandemia. Foram selecionados artigos restritos ao ano de 2020 nas bases de dados PUBMED, LILACS e MEDLINE, utilizando os descritores “Coronavirus” e “Coronavirus infections” e o qualificador “/surgery”, além de recomendações do Colégio Brasileiro de Cirurgiões. Destaca-se a obrigatoriedade do uso de Equipamentos de Proteção Individual (EPIs) por toda a equipe, restringindo-se apenas aos essenciais, adiamento de procedimentos eletivos visando poupar recursos, leitos e EPIs, higienização minuciosa e sistematizada, restrição de espaços para pacientes COVID-positivos e evitar uso de objetos pessoais que possam propagar o vírus. É necessário cuidado especial no manejo de vias aéreas, devido sua alta associação com a geração de aerossóis, buscando realizá-lo de forma mais precisa e rápida possível. Devem-se priorizar procedimentos minimamente invasivos e que possuam menor risco de aerossolização quando não for possível o adiamento de tais procedimentos, como em casos de cirurgias de emergência e oncológicas. Ressalta-se a importância da prevenção da disseminação do vírus, sendo crucial a responsabilidade dos profissionais de saúde e setor cirúrgico em desenvolver e cumprir as normas de segurança e controle. Diante disso, fez-se necessária maior aplicabilidade e consolidação de protocolos efetivos, aliado à fiscalização de sua implementação.
Effects of Companion Dogs on Adult Attachment, Emotion Regulation, and Mental Wellbeing in Hong Kong
Authors: Chan Hiu Wo , Wong Daniel Fu Keung
Published: May 2022

This study utilized attachment theory to explore the functions of companion animals (pets) and the influence of secure human-pet bond on attachment security and emotion regulation among companion-animal guardians (pet owners) in Hong Kong. Hierarchical regression analyses were conducted exploring the relative influence of adult attachment and pet attachment on mental wellbeing, and the moderating effect of pet attachment on emotion regulation. Results revealed a consistent attachment pattern across human-human and human-pet bonds. A secure human-pet bond can act as a positive catalyst that exerts a moderating effect on emotion reappraisal. Treating pets as family members/friends helps pet owners receive the security that they lack in adult attachment. This study verified the role of pets as a “security supplement” (an additional supply of security) rather than a complete substitute for a human attachment figure. Implications for theory, service practice, and policy are discussed.
Altitudinal variation in flower color and attraction pattern of Rhododendron arboreum Sm. in central Himalayan Region of Uttarakhand, India
Authors: Mamgain Akshay
Published: May 2022

This study highlights the importance of flower color variation and attraction as a mechanism for pollination and protection of floral parts. As part of this study, a survey relating to flower color variation and differences in spotting pattern (nectar guides) was conducted on Rhododendron arboreum, a widespread tree species in the mountainous region of Uttarakhand state, at 43 different altitudinal locations. Seven original color morphs of flowers and five types of spot variation in the nectar guide were observed. The study underlines the role of flower color polymorphism in both pollination and adaptation to varied environmental conditions. Further, the significance of nectar guides in directing the visitor to the reward is discussed. This study has the potential to enhance existing knowledge about flower color variation and attraction to the environment.