bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Auto‐Substitutions to Optimize Perioperative Antimicrobial Prophylaxis: Pre‐Post Intervention Study
Authors: Tunio Suhaima , Dzioba Agnieszka , Dhami Rita , Elsayed Sameer , Strychowsky Julie E.
Published: May 2023

Background

Appropriate administration of perioperative antibiotics can prevent antimicrobial resistance, adverse drug events, surgical site infections, and increased costs to the health care system for many surgeries in Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery (OHNS).

Objective

The objective of the study is to achieve 90% compliance with evidence‐based perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis guidelines among elective surgical procedures in OHNS.

Methods

The pre‐intervention group consisted of patients undergoing elective surgical procedures in the 13 months prior to the interventions (September 2019–2020) whereas the post‐intervention group comprised patients undergoing elective procedures during the 8 months following the implementation (October 2020–May 2021). The 4 Es of knowledge translation and the Donabedian framework were used to frame the study. Components of the intervention included educational grand rounds and automatic substitutions in electronic health records. In June 2021, a survey of staff and residents assessed the self‐reported perception of following evidence‐based guidelines.

Results

Compliance with antimicrobial prophylaxis guidelines were evaluated based on agent and dose. The overall compliance improved from 38.8% pre‐intervention to 59.0% post‐intervention (p < 0.001). Agent compliance did not improve from pre‐ to post‐intervention, that is, 60.7% to 62.8%, respectively, (p = 0.68), whereas dose compliance improved from 39.6% to 89.2% (p < 0.001). Approximately 78.5% of survey respondents felt that they strongly agreed or agreed with always following evidence‐based antimicrobial prophylaxis guidelines.

Conclusion

Compliance with antimicrobial prophylaxis guidelines improved, primarily due to increased dosing compliance. Future interventions will target agent compliance and selected procedures with lower compliance rates.

Level of Evidence

3 Laryngoscope, 133:3403–3408, 2023
High‐Speed Mid‐Infrared Single‐Photon Upconversion Spectrometer
Authors: Zheng Tingting , Huang Kun , Sun Ben , Fang Jianan , Chu Yongyuan , Guo Hairun , Wu E , Yan Ming , Zeng Heping
Published: May 2023

Sensitive and fast mid‐infrared (MIR) spectroscopy is highly attractive in a variety of applications including astronomical observation, pharmaceutical synthesis, and environmental monitoring. However, the performance of conventional MIR spectrometers has long been hindered by the limited sensitivity of narrow‐bandgap detectors and/or the deficient brightness of broadband light sources. Here, an ultra‐sensitive and broadband MIR upconversion spectrometer, which integrates a supercontinuum source covering 1.5–4.2 m based on a silicon nitride nanophotonic waveguide, is devised and integrated. High‐efficiency and low‐noise nonlinear frequency upconversion is realized based on coincidence pulsed pumping with spectro‐temporal optimization, which enables leverage of silicon detectors for facilitating MIR single‐photon spectroscopy at 0.2 photons/nm/pulse. Furthermore, the upconversion‐based array spectrometer is manifested with high‐speed spectral acquisition rates beyond 200 kHz, which is about tenfold faster than the state‐of‐the‐art scan rates for FTIR‐based spectrometers at a comparable spectral resolution. The achieved features of broadband spectral coverage, single‐photon sensitivity, and sub‐MHz refreshing rate might open up new possibilities for infrared transient spectral measurements in combustion analysis, high‐throughput sorting, and reaction tracking, among others.
Activity of a TIE2 inhibitor (rebastinib) in a patient with a life‐threatening cervicofacial venous malformation
Authors: Triana Paloma , Lopez‐Gutierrez Juan Carlos
Published: May 2023

Targeted therapy has become the first therapeutic option in many patients with vascular anomalies. A male 28‐year‐old patient presented a severe cervicofacial venous malformation involving half‐lower face, anterior neck, and oral cavity with progression despite multiple previous treatments, with a somatic variant in TEK (endothelial‐specific protein receptor tyrosine kinase) (c.2740C>T; p.Leu914Phe). The patient had facial deformity, daily episodes of pain and inflammation needing massive amount of medication, and difficulty in speech and swallowing, so rebastinib (a TIE2 kinase inhibitor) was approved for compassionate use. After 6 months of treatment, venous malformation had decreased in size and lightened, as well as improved quality‐of‐life scores.
A phase 1 study of simvastatin in combination with topotecan and cyclophosphamide in pediatric patients with relapsed and/or refractory solid and CNS tumors
Authors: Cash Thomas , Jonus Hunter C. , Tsvetkova Maya , Beumer Jan H. , Sadanand Arhanti , Lee Jasmine Y. , Henry Curtis J. , Aguilera Dolly , Harvey R. Donald , Goldsmith Kelly C.
Published: May 2023

Background

3‐Hydroxy‐3‐methylglutaryl‐coenzyme A (HMG‐CoA) reductase inhibitors (statins) can inhibit tumor proliferation, angiogenesis, and restore apoptosis in preclinical pediatric solid tumor models. We conducted a phase 1 trial to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of simvastatin with topotecan and cyclophosphamide in children with relapsed/refractory solid and central nervous system (CNS) tumors.

Methods

Simvastatin was administered orally twice daily on days 1–21, with topotecan and cyclophosphamide intravenously on days 1–5 of a 21‐day cycle. Four simvastatin dose levels (DLs) were planned, 140 (DL1), 180 (DL2), 225 (DL3), 290 (DL4) mg/m2/dose, with a de‐escalation DL of 100 mg/m2/dose (DL0) if needed. Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic analyses were performed during cycle 1.

Results

The median age of 14 eligible patients was 11.5 years (range: 1–23). The most common diagnoses were neuroblastoma (N = 4) and Ewing sarcoma (N = 3). Eleven dose‐limiting toxicity (DLT)‐evaluable patients received a median of four cycles (range: 1–6). There were three cycle 1 DLTs: one each grade 3 diarrhea and grade 4 creatine phosphokinase (CPK) elevations at DL1, and one grade 4 CPK elevation at DL0. All patients experienced at least one grade 3/4 hematologic toxicity. Best overall response was partial response in one patient with Ewing sarcoma (DL0) and stable disease for four or more cycles in four patients. Simvastatin exposure increased with higher doses and may have correlated with toxicity. Plasma interleukin 6 (IL‐6) concentrations (N = 6) showed sustained IL‐6 reductions with decrease to normal values by day 21 in all patients, indicating potential on‐target effects.

Conclusions

The MTD of simvastatin with topotecan and cyclophosphamide was determined to be 100 mg/m2/dose.
Fetal hydrops caused by a novel pathogenic MECOM variant
Authors: Wall Elizabeth , Forsyth Joan , Kinning Esther , Marton Tamás
Published: May 2023

We report a fetus with hydrops, congenital heart disease and bilateral radioulnar synostosis caused by a novel pathogenic MECOM variant. The female fetus was referred for post‐mortem examination after fetal hydrops and intrauterine death was diagnosed at 20 weeks gestation. Post‐mortem examination confirmed fetal hydrops, pallor, truncus arteriosus and bilateral radioulnar synostosis. Trio whole genome sequencing analysis detected a novel de novo heterozygous pathogenic loss‐of‐function variant in MECOM (NM_004991), associated with a diagnosis of Radioulnar Synostosis with Amegakaryocytic Thrombocytopenia 2 (RUSAT‐2). RUSAT‐2 is a variable condition associated postnatally with bone marrow failure, radioulnar synostosis and congenital anomalies. RUSAT‐2 is not currently associated with a prenatal phenotype or fetal demise, and was not present on diagnostic NHS prenatal gene panels at time of diagnosis. This case highlights the diagnostic value of detailed phenotyping with post‐mortem examination, and of using a broad sequencing approach.
Early and severe tricuspid valve dysplasia in a fetus with cardiospondylocarpofacial syndrome due to a variant c.616T>G p.(Tyr206Asp) in MAP3K7
Authors: Vasishta Subrahmanya , Teli Akkatai S. , Vasudeva Akhila , Girisha Katta M. , Nayak Shalini S.
Published: May 2023

Cardiospondylocarpofacial syndrome (CSCF; MIM#157800) is a rare condition caused by monoallelic variants in the MAP3K7 gene. The characteristic features of CSCF include growth retardation, facial dysmorphism, carpal‐tarsal fusion, dorsal spine synostosis, deafness, inner ear malformation, cardiac septal defect and valve dysplasia. We present here a 20‐week‐old fetus with cardiospondylocarpofacial syndrome arising from a de novo variant c.616T>G p.(Tyr206Asp) in the MAP3K7 (NM_145331.3) gene with early and severe tricuspid valve dysplasia as a prenatal manifestation. Fetal echocardiography revealed tricuspid regurgitation with valve prolapse. Fetus had facial dysmorphism and dilated right atrium and right ventricle with tricuspid valve dysplasia on perinatal evaluation. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report mentioning the prenatal manifestation of cardiospondylocarpofacial syndrome.
Noisy Random Quantum Circuit Sampling and its Classical Simulation
Authors: Zhang Meng , Wang Chao , Han Yongjian
Published: May 2023

Demonstrating quantum advantage on noisy quantum devices is one of the most important tasks of quantum computing research in the near future. Random quantum circuit sampling is proposed as the most promising approach to the task and has been implemented in experiments for achieving quantum advantage. A series of encouraging computational complexity results, based on some plausible assumptions, show that this task is impossible to complete efficiently by classical computers. However, in practical experiments on noisy quantum devices, the approximate average‐case hardness and the effects of the noise need to be further checked. The competition between the classical simulation algorithm (mainly based on tensor network algorithms) and noisy quantum devices is the explicit way to understand quantum advantage in practice. This review briefly overviews the computational complexity arguments for the hardness of classical simulation of random quantum circuits sampling, then focus on various methods of classical simulation of quantum circuits based on tensor network method.
Event‐triggered cooperative control for uncertain multi‐agent systems and applications
Authors: Wang Shihao , Zheng Shiqi , Ahn Choon Ki , Shi Peng , Jiang Xiaowei
Published: May 2023

This paper investigates the event‐triggered cooperative output regulation problem for uncertain multi‐agent systems, demonstrating that the output regulation error of the uncertain multi‐agent system can converge to a small neighborhood of the origin. The proposed method has several notable features. Firstly, both the leader and follower systems contain unknown parameters, and follower systems can be heterogeneous. Secondly, the controller only requires the relative output of each agent, rather than the absolute output or state. Thirdly, the controller is fully distributed, which implies that it does not rely on any global information. In order to achieve the above purpose, a fully distributed reduced‐order observer is proposed with new adaptive laws. Furthermore, new adaptive event‐triggered mechanisms are designed on the basis of the neighborhood regulation error (NRE) and the observational regulation error (ORE). Finally, the proposed approach is validated through simulation and experiment on a multi‐joint robot manipulator.
Data‐driven control for networked systems with multiple packet dropouts
Authors: Chen Wenli , Li Xiaojian
Published: May 2023

This paper investigates data‐driven control for a class of networked control systems with multiple packet dropouts and unknown system parameters. Here, multiple packet dropouts occur randomly in the controller‐to‐actuator (C/A) and sensor‐to‐controller (S/C) channels, where successive packet dropouts are limited by known upper bounds. By introducing the summation inequality, a model‐based mean‐square asymptotic stability condition is established for the closed‐loop networked control system with the potential to migrate to a data‐driven solution. Then, the data‐driven mean‐square asymptotic stability condition for the closed‐loop system is presented by merging the model‐based stability condition with noisy data‐parameterized representations. On this basis, the data‐driven controller gain design approaches for combining unknown and known input gain matrices are presented in turn. Finally, two simulation examples are provided to show the applicability of the developed approaches.
Investigation of Biological Activities of Tetra‐substituted Phthalocyanines Bearing Tetraethyleneglycol Monomethyl Ether Chains at Peripheral and Non‐peripheral Positions
Authors: Samsunlu Taylan , Akkoç Berkay , Özçeşmeci Mukaddes , Akın Mustafa , Şaki Neslihan , Hamuryudan Esin
Published: May 2023

This study describes the synthesis and characterization of peripherally and non‐peripherally substituted copper(II) and cobalt(II) phthalocyanines bearing tetraethyleneglycol monomethyl ether chains. In addition, the metal‐free and zinc(II) phthalocyanine derivatives were prepared according to the referred procedure. All newly synthesized phthalocyanines were characterized using some spectroscopic techniques such as elemental analysis and fourier transform infrared, ultraviolet‐visible, and mass spectroscopies. The effects of solvent type and concentration on aggregation properties of phthalocyanines were studied, as well. The biological activities of a series of these peripherally and non‐peripherally tetra‐substituted phthalocyanines were investigated. The effects of the central metal ion and the position of the substituent on biological activities of phthalocyanines were also compared. When the antioxidant activities of the synthesized molecules were evaluated by the 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl method, 1,8/11,15/18,22/25‐tetrakis[2‐(2‐(2‐(2‐methoxyethoxy)ethoxy)ethoxy)ethoxy]phthalocyaninatocobalt(II) (63.17±0.012 %) showed the highest activity. The highest reducing power activity was obtained with the 2,9/10,16/17,23/24‐tetrakis[2‐(2‐(2‐(2‐methoxyethoxy)ethoxy)ethoxy)ethoxy]phthalocyaninatozinc(II) molecule. In the antibacterial activity studies using the disc diffusion method, 2,9/10,16/17,23/24‐tetrakis[2‐(2‐(2‐(2‐methoxyethoxy) ethoxy)ethoxy)ethoxy]phthalocyaninatocopper(II) exhibited the highest inhibition activity on both gram negative (18±0.23 mm) and gram positive (23±0.07 mm) strains. On the other hand, 2,9/10,16/17,23/24‐tetrakis[2‐(2‐(2‐(2‐methoxyethoxy)ethoxy) ethoxy)ethoxy]phthalocyaninatozinc(II) and 1,8/11,15/18,22/25‐tetrakis[2‐(2‐(2‐(2‐methoxyethoxy)ethoxy)ethoxy)ethoxy]phthalo‐cyaninatozinc(II) compounds presented hemolytic activity against sheep blood in the hemolytic activity studies. The results confirmed that the synthesized molecules demonstrated average antioxidant activity compared to standard antioxidants. 2,9/10,16/17,23/24‐Tetrakis[2‐(2‐(2‐(2‐methoxyethoxy)ethoxy)ethoxy)ethoxy]phthalo‐cyaninatocopper(II), 2,9/10,16/17,23/24‐tetrakis[2‐(2‐(2‐(2‐methoxy ethoxy)ethoxy)ethoxy)ethoxy]phthalocyaninatozinc(II) and 1,8/11, 15/18,22/25‐tetrakis[2‐(2‐(2‐(2‐methoxyethoxy)ethoxy)ethoxy) ethoxy]phthalocyaninatozinc(II) complexes could remarkably inhibit S. aureus and CuPc‐1 complex E. coli growth.
Samarium(III) Triflate in Organic Synthesis: a Mild and Efficient Catalyst
Authors: Dey Asish Kumar , Majhi Sasadhar
Published: May 2023

Lanthanides have shown great potential in the field of magnetic materials, telecommunications, hard‐disk drives, catalysis, medicine, agriculture, and more. Recently, lanthanide complexes have gained significant attention in cancer diagnosis and therapy because of the multifunctional chemical and magnetic activities of the lanthanide‐ion 4 f electronic configuration. Among lanthanides, samarium metal and its derivatives have been the subject of many applications in organic transformations. Various metal triflates such as Bi(OTf)3, Yb(OTf)3, In(OTf)3, Sc(OTf)3, Er(OTf)3, Ce(OTf)3, Sm(OTf)3, and others play a profound role in developing novel eco‐friendly protocols in organic synthesis with excellent efficiency and selectivity. Among lanthanide triflate, samarium(III) triflate has a remarkable contribution in synthesizing promising organic molecules as it has been shown to be moisture tolerant and a reusable Lewis catalyst under mild conditions. The present review aims to focus on different useful protocols using samarium(III) triflate as an efficient catalyst for the first time elegantly.
Design, Synthesis, Characterization and Biological Activities of Novel S‐(Acyloxy)butyl‐N,N‐Diethyldithiocarbamate Compounds
Authors: Karimov Aliverdi , Taslimi Parham , Orujova Arzu , Mammadova Khuraman , Kısa Dursun , Farzaliyev Vagif , Sujayev Afsun , Sadeghian Nastaran , Taskin‐Tok Tugba , Alwasel Saleh , Gulcin Ilhami
Published: May 2023

In this study, S‐(Acyloxy)butyl‐N,N‐Diethyldithiocarbamate compounds (P1‐P7) were synthesized by s‐alkylation of N,N‐diethyldithiocarbamate sodium trihydrate with 4‐chlorobutylcarboxylates. P1–P7 were characterized by full infrared, NMR spectroscopy and elemental analyses. Additionally, the impacts of these compounds were investigated on some metabolic enzymes and then compared to the reference compounds. It was observed that the DEDTCA esters generally had lower IC50 and Ki values. Among them, P4 and P6 molecules had lower IC50 with 112.47 and 111.55 μM; and Ki values: 105.53±7.17 and 102.06±5.08 μM against AChE, respectively. Furthermore, molecular docking simulations approved the binding interaction patterns and structural orientations of N,N‐diethyldithiocarbamic acid derivatives within the binding sites of AChE, BChE and α‐glucosidase. Taken together, the compound P6 performs strong distant bond interactions against tacrine for AChE and BChE enzymes within the scope of in silico study. The compound P4, on the other hand, exhibits good interactions with the target by making hydrophobic, pi‐sulfur and pi‐sigma bonds as well as hydrogen bonds compared to acarbose as standard compound against α‐glucosidase. These can be further analyzed as potent candidate compounds in biological studies of the respective enzymes.
Longitudinal validation of the Fear of COVID‐19 Scale in a nationwide United States sample: An item response theory model across three inflection points of the pandemic
Authors: Waddimba Anthony C. , DeSpain Sydney , Bennett Monica M. , Douglas Megan E. , Warren Ann Marie
Published: May 2023

The COVID‐19 pandemic's global emergence/spread caused widespread fear. Measurement/tracking of COVID‐19 fear could facilitate remediation. Despite the Fear of COVID‐19 Scale (FCV‐19S)'s validation in multiple languages/countries, nationwide United States (U.S.) studies are scarce. Cross‐sectional classical test theory‐based validation studies predominate. Our longitudinal study sampled respondents to a 3‐wave, nationwide, online survey. We calibrated the FCV‐19S using a unidimensional graded response model. Item/scale monotonicity, discrimination, informativeness, goodness‐of‐fit, criterion validity, internal consistency, and test‐retest reliability were assessed. Items 7, 6, and 3 consistently displayed very high discrimination. Other items had moderate‐to‐high discrimination. Items 3, 6, and 7 were most (items 1 and 5 the least) informative. [Correction added on 18 May 2023, after first online publication: In the preceding sentence, the term ‘items one‐fifth least’ has been changed to ‘items 1 and 5 the least’.] Item scalability was 0.62–0.69; full‐scale scalability 0.65–0.67. Ordinal reliability coefficient was 0.94; test‐retest intraclass correlation coefficient 0.84. Positive correlations with posttraumatic stress/anxiety/depression, and negative correlations with emotional stability/resilience supported convergent/divergent validity. The FCV‐19S validly/reliably captures temporal variation in COVID‐19 fear across the U.S.
Hot Brownian Motion of Thermoresponsive Microgels in Optical Tweezers Shows Discontinuous Volume Phase Transition and Bistability
Authors: Fernandez‐Rodriguez Miguel Angel , Orozco‐Barrera Sergio , Sun Wei , Gámez Francisco , Caro Carlos , García‐Martín María L. , Rica Raúl Alberto
Published: May 2023

Microgels are soft microparticles that often exhibit thermoresponsiveness and feature a transformation at a critical temperature, referred to as the volume phase transition temperature. Whether this transformation occurs as a smooth or as a discontinuous one is still a matter of debate. This question can be addressed by studying individual microgels trapped in optical tweezers. For this aim, composite particles are obtained by decorating  Poly‐N‐isopropylacrylamide (pNIPAM) microgels with iron oxide nanocubes. These composites become self‐heating when illuminated by the infrared trapping laser, performing hot Brownian motion within the trap. Above a certain laser power, a single decorated microgel features a volume phase transition that is discontinuous, while the usual continuous sigmoidal‐like dependence is recovered after averaging over different microgels. The collective sigmoidal behavior enables the application of a power‐to‐temperature calibration and provides the effective drag coefficient of the self‐heating microgels, thus establishing these composite particles as potential micro‐thermometers and micro‐heaters. Moreover, the self‐heating microgels also exhibit an unexpected and intriguing bistability behavior above the critical temperature, probably due to partial collapses of the microgel. These results set the stage for further studies and the development of applications based on the hot Brownian motion of soft particles.
Real‐Time Crossing‐Gate Rod Breakage Detection Based on Sequential‐Dataset Classification for the Railway‐Telemeter System
Authors: Kashiwao Tomoaki , Kawakami Kota , Ikoma Takeshi , Takagi Kazuhiko , Tanaka Daisuke , Ikeda Kenji
Published: May 2023

In our previous studies, we proposed crossing‐gate rod breakage detection methods based on machine learning techniques for the telemeter system installed by the Shikoku Railway Company (JR Shikoku) on railway lines in the Shikoku area to collect real‐time equipment data. However, these methods involve batch processing of many training data over several days, making them unsuitable for real‐time detection because of the long computation time. Therefore, this study improves these methods by performing sequential processing for real‐time detection for installation in the railway field. A one‐class support vector machine‐based detection method was applied to sequential processing to perform detection at each sampling period every few seconds. The proposed method is evaluated and its effectiveness is demonstrated in two representative cases of crossing‐gate rod breakage. © 2023 Institute of Electrical Engineer of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC.
Uncertainties in measuring and estimating water‐budget components: Current state of the science
Authors: Levin Sara B. , Briggs Martin A. , Foks Sydney S. , Goodling Phillip J. , Raffensperger Jeff P. , Rosenberry Donald O. , Scholl Martha A. , Tiedeman Claire R. , Webb Richard M.
Published: May 2023

Reducing uncertainty in quantifying basin‐scale water‐budget components is one of the most vexing problems for water‐resource managers. Although a vast literature addresses methods and scales of component estimates, uncertainty associated with these estimates is often lacking. Here we review sources of uncertainty and compile reported uncertainty estimates for measurement and estimation methods for six water‐budget components: precipitation, streamflow, evapotranspiration, subsurface discharge, infiltration, and recharge. Quantifying the uncertainty in each water‐budget component data is required before total water‐budget uncertainty can be determined.

This article is categorized under:

Science of Water > Hydrological Processes

Science of Water > Methods
Evolutionary psychiatry: foundations, progress and challenges
Authors: Nesse Randolph M.
Published: May 2023

Evolutionary biology provides a crucial foundation for medicine and behavioral science that has been missing from psychiatry. Its absence helps to explain slow progress; its advent promises major advances. Instead of offering a new kind of treatment, evolutionary psychiatry provides a scientific foundation useful for all kinds of treatment. It expands the search for causes from mechanistic explanations for disease in some individuals to evolutionary explanations for traits that make all members of a species vulnerable to disease. For instance, capacities for symptoms such as pain, cough, anxiety and low mood are universal because they are useful in certain situations. Failing to recognize the utility of anxiety and low mood is at the root of many problems in psychiatry. Determining if an emotion is normal and if it is useful requires understanding an individual's life situation. Conducting a review of social systems, parallel to the review of systems in the rest of medicine, can help achieve that understanding. Coping with substance abuse is advanced by acknowledging how substances available in modern environments hijack chemically mediated learning mechanisms. Understanding why eating spirals out of control in modern environments is aided by recognizing the motivations for caloric restriction and how it arouses famine protection mechanisms that induce binge eating. Finally, explaining the persistence of alleles that cause serious mental disorders requires evolutionary explanations of why some systems are intrinsically vulnerable to failure. The thrill of finding functions for apparent diseases is evolutionary psychiatry's greatest strength and weakness. Recognizing bad feelings as evolved adaptations corrects psychiatry's pervasive mistake of viewing all symptoms as if they were disease manifestations. However, viewing diseases such as panic disorder, melancholia and schizophrenia as if they are adaptations is an equally serious mistake in evolutionary psychiatry. Progress will come from framing and testing specific hypotheses about why natural selection left us vulnerable to mental disorders. The efforts of many people over many years will be needed before we will know if evolutionary biology can provide a new paradigm for understanding and treating mental disorders.
Substance use disorders: a comprehensive update of classification, epidemiology, neurobiology, clinical aspects, treatment and prevention
Authors: Volkow Nora D. , Blanco Carlos
Published: May 2023

Substance use disorders (SUDs) are highly prevalent and exact a large toll on individuals’ health, well‐being, and social functioning. Long‐lasting changes in brain networks involved in reward, executive function, stress reactivity, mood, and self‐awareness underlie the intense drive to consume substances and the inability to control this urge in a person who suffers from addiction (moderate or severe SUD). Biological (including genetics and developmental life stages) and social (including adverse childhood experiences) determinants of health are recognized factors that contribute to vulnerability for or resilience against developing a SUD. Consequently, prevention strategies that target social risk factors can improve outcomes and, when deployed in childhood and adolescence, can decrease the risk for these disorders. SUDs are treatable, and evidence of clinically significant benefit exists for medications (in opioid, nicotine and alcohol use disorders), behavioral therapies (in all SUDs), and neuromodulation (in nicotine use disorder). Treatment of SUDs should be considered within the context of a Chronic Care Model, with the intensity of intervention adjusted to the severity of the disorder and with the concomitant treatment of comorbid psychiatric and physical conditions. Involvement of health care providers in detection and management of SUDs, including referral of severe cases to specialized care, offers sustainable models of care that can be further expanded with the use of telehealth. Despite advances in our understanding and management of SUDs, individuals with these conditions continue to be stigmatized and, in some countries, incarcerated, highlighting the need to dismantle policies that perpetuate their criminalization and instead develop policies to ensure support and access to prevention and treatment.
Candidate biomarkers in psychiatric disorders: state of the field
Authors: Abi‐Dargham Anissa , Moeller Scott J. , Ali Farzana , DeLorenzo Christine , Domschke Katharina , Horga Guillermo , Jutla Amandeep , Kotov Roman , Paulus Martin P. , Rubio Jose M. , Sanacora Gerard , Veenstra‐VanderWeele Jeremy , Krystal John H.
Published: May 2023

The field of psychiatry is hampered by a lack of robust, reliable and valid biomarkers that can aid in objectively diagnosing patients and providing individualized treatment recommendations. Here we review and critically evaluate the evidence for the most promising biomarkers in the psychiatric neuroscience literature for autism spectrum disorder, schizophrenia, anxiety disorders and post‐traumatic stress disorder, major depression and bipolar disorder, and substance use disorders. Candidate biomarkers reviewed include various neuroimaging, genetic, molecular and peripheral assays, for the purposes of determining susceptibility or presence of illness, and predicting treatment response or safety. This review highlights a critical gap in the biomarker validation process. An enormous societal investment over the past 50 years has identified numerous candidate biomarkers. However, to date, the overwhelming majority of these measures have not been proven sufficiently reliable, valid and useful to be adopted clinically. It is time to consider whether strategic investments might break this impasse, focusing on a limited number of promising candidates to advance through a process of definitive testing for a specific indication. Some promising candidates for definitive testing include the N170 signal, an event‐related brain potential measured using electroencephalography, for subgroup identification within autism spectrum disorder; striatal resting‐state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) measures, such as the striatal connectivity index (SCI) and the functional striatal abnormalities (FSA) index, for prediction of treatment response in schizophrenia; error‐related negativity (ERN), an electrophysiological index, for prediction of first onset of generalized anxiety disorder, and resting‐state and structural brain connectomic measures for prediction of treatment response in social anxiety disorder. Alternate forms of classification may be useful for conceptualizing and testing potential biomarkers. Collaborative efforts allowing the inclusion of biosystems beyond genetics and neuroimaging are needed, and online remote acquisition of selected measures in a naturalistic setting using mobile health tools may significantly advance the field. Setting specific benchmarks for well‐defined target application, along with development of appropriate funding and partnership mechanisms, would also be crucial. Finally, it should never be forgotten that, for a biomarker to be actionable, it will need to be clinically predictive at the individual level and viable in clinical settings.
Prevalence and trends of common mental disorders from 2007‐2009 to 2019‐2022: results from the Netherlands Mental Health Survey and Incidence Studies (NEMESIS), including comparison of prevalence rates before vs. during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: ten Have Margreet , Tuithof Marlous , van Dorsselaer Saskia , Schouten Frederiek , Luik Annemarie I. , de Graaf Ron
Published: May 2023

Up‐to‐date information on the prevalence and trends of common mental disorders is relevant to health care policy and planning, owing to the high burden associated with these disorders. In the first wave of the third Netherlands Mental Health Survey and Incidence Study (NEMESIS‐3), a nationally representative sample was interviewed face‐to‐face from November 2019 to March 2022 (6,194 subjects; 1,576 interviewed before and 4,618 during the COVID‐19 pandemic; age range: 18‐75 years). A slightly modified version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview 3.0 was used to assess DSM‐IV and DSM‐5 diagnoses. Trends in 12‐month prevalence rates of DSM‐IV mental disorders were examined by comparing these rates between NEMESIS‐3 and NEMESIS‐2 (6,646 subjects; age range: 18‐64 years; interviewed from November 2007 to July 2009). Lifetime DSM‐5 prevalence estimates in NEMESIS‐3 were 28.6% for anxiety disorders, 27.6% for mood disorders, 16.7% for substance use disorders, and 3.6% for attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Over the last 12 months, prevalence rates were 15.2%, 9.8%, 7.1%, and 3.2%, respectively. No differences in 12‐month prevalence rates before vs. during the COVID‐19 pandemic were found (26.7% pre‐pandemic vs. 25.7% during the pandemic), even after controlling for differences in socio‐demographic characteristics of the respondents interviewed in these two periods. This was the case for all four disorder categories. From 2007‐2009 to 2019‐2022, the 12‐month prevalence rate of any DSM‐IV disorder significantly increased from 17.4% to 26.1%. A stronger increase in prevalence was found for students, younger adults (18‐34 years) and city dwellers. These data suggest that the prevalence of mental disorders has increased in the past decade, but this is not explained by the COVID‐19 pandemic. The already high mental disorder risk of young adults has particularly further increased in recent years.
Therapist‐supported Internet‐based cognitive behaviour therapy yields similar effects as face‐to‐face therapy for psychiatric and somatic disorders: an updated systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Hedman‐Lagerlöf Erik , Carlbring Per , Svärdman Frank , Riper Heleen , Cuijpers Pim , Andersson Gerhard
Published: May 2023

Providing therapist‐guided cognitive behaviour therapy via the Internet (ICBT) has advantages, but a central research question is to what extent similar clinical effects can be obtained as with gold‐standard face‐to‐face cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT). In a previous meta‐analysis published in this journal, which was updated in 2018, we found evidence that the pooled effects for the two formats were equivalent in the treatment of psychiatric and somatic disorders, but the number of published randomized trials was relatively low (n=20). As this is a field that moves rapidly, the aim of the current study was to conduct an update of our systematic review and meta‐analysis of the clinical effects of ICBT vs. face‐to‐face CBT for psychiatric and somatic disorders in adults. We searched the PubMed database for relevant studies published from 2016 to 2022. The main inclusion criteria were that studies had to compare ICBT to face‐to‐face CBT using a randomized controlled design and targeting adult populations. Quality assessment was made using the Cochrane risk of bias criteria (Version 1), and the main outcome estimate was the pooled standardized effect size (Hedges’ g) using a random effects model. We screened 5,601 records and included 11 new randomized trials, adding them to the 20 previously identified ones (total n=31). Sixteen different clinical conditions were targeted in the included studies. Half of the trials were in the fields of depression/depressive symptoms or some form of anxiety disorder. The pooled effect size across all disorders was g=0.02 (95% CI: –0.09 to 0.14) and the quality of the included studies was acceptable. This meta‐analysis further supports the notion that therapist‐supported ICBT yields similar effects as face‐to‐face CBT.
Long‐term efficacy of antipsychotic drugs in initially acutely ill adults with schizophrenia: systematic review and network meta‐analysis
Authors: Leucht Stefan , Schneider‐Thoma Johannes , Burschinski Angelika , Peter Natalie , Wang Dongfang , Dong Shimeng , Huhn Maximilian , Nikolakopoulou Adriani , Salanti Georgia , Davis John M.
Published: May 2023

Most acute phase antipsychotic drug trials in schizophrenia last only a few weeks, but patients must usually take these drugs much longer. We examined the long‐term efficacy of antipsychotic drugs in acutely ill patients using network meta‐analysis. We searched the Cochrane Schizophrenia Group register up to March 6, 2022 for randomized, blinded trials of at least 6‐month duration on all second‐generation and 18 first‐generation antipsychotics. The primary outcome was change in overall symptoms of schizophrenia; secondary outcomes were all‐cause discontinuation; change in positive, negative and depressive symptoms; quality of life, social functioning, weight gain, antiparkinson medication use, akathisia, serum prolactin level, QTc prolongation, and sedation. Confidence in the results was assessed by the CINeMA (Confidence in Network Meta‐Analysis) framework. We included 45 studies with 11,238 participants. In terms of overall symptoms, olanzapine was on average more efficacious than ziprasidone (standardized mean difference, SMD=0.37, 95% CI: 0.26‐0.49), asenapine (SMD=0.33, 95% CI: 0.21‐0.45), iloperidone (SMD=0.32, 95% CI: 0.15‐0.49), paliperidone (SMD=0.28, 95% CI: 0.11‐0.44), haloperidol (SMD=0.27, 95% CI: 0.14‐0.39), quetiapine (SMD=0.25, 95% CI: 0.12‐0.38), aripiprazole (SMD=0.16, 95% CI: 0.04‐0.28) and risperidone (SMD=0.12, 95% CI: 0.03‐0.21). The 95% CIs for olanzapine versus aripiprazole and risperidone included the possibility of trivial effects. The differences between olanzapine and lurasidone, amisulpride, perphenazine, clozapine and zotepine were either small or uncertain. These results were robust in sensitivity analyses and in line with other efficacy outcomes and all‐cause discontinuation. Concerning weight gain, the impact of olanzapine was higher than all other antipsychotics, with a mean difference ranging from –4.58 kg (95% CI: –5.33 to –3.83) compared to ziprasidone to –2.30 kg (95% CI: –3.35 to –1.25) compared to amisulpride. Our data suggest that olanzapine is more efficacious than a number of other antipsychotic drugs in the longer term, but its efficacy must be weighed against its side effect profile.
The status of psychodynamic psychotherapy as an empirically supported treatment for common mental disorders – an umbrella review based on updated criteria
Authors: Leichsenring Falk , Abbass Allan , Heim Nikolas , Keefe John R. , Kisely Steve , Luyten Patrick , Rabung Sven , Steinert Christiane
Published: May 2023

To assess the current status of psychodynamic therapy (PDT) as an empirically supported treatment (EST), we carried out a pre‐registered systematic umbrella review addressing the evidence for PDT in common mental disorders in adults, based on an updated model for ESTs. Following this model, we focused on meta‐analyses of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published in the past two years to assess efficacy. In addition, we reviewed the evidence on effectiveness, cost‐effectiveness and mechanisms of change. Meta‐analyses were evaluated by at least two raters using the proposed updated criteria, i.e. effect sizes, risk of bias, inconsistency, indirectness, imprecision, publication bias, treatment fidelity, and their quality as well as that of primary studies. To assess the quality of evidence we applied the GRADE system. A systematic search identified recent meta‐analyses on the efficacy of PDT in depressive, anxiety, personality and somatic symptom disorders. High quality evidence in depressive and somatic symptom disorders and moderate quality evidence in anxiety and personality disorders showed that PDT is superior to (inactive and active) control conditions in reducing target symptoms with clinically meaningful effect sizes. Moderate quality evidence suggests that PDT is as efficacious as other active therapies in these disorders. The benefits of PDT outweigh its costs and harms. Furthermore, evidence was found for long‐term effects, improving functioning, effectiveness, cost‐effectiveness and mechanisms of change in the aforementioned disorders. Some limitations in specific research areas exist, such as risk of bias and imprecision, which are, however, comparable to those of other evidence‐based psychotherapies. Thus, according to the updated EST model, PDT proved to be an empirically‐supported treatment for common mental disorders. Of the three options for recommendation provided by the updated model (i.e., “very strong”, “strong” or “weak”), the new EST criteria suggest that a strong recommendation for treating the aforementioned mental disorders with PDT is the most appropriate option. In conclusion, PDT represents an evidence‐based psychotherapy. This is clinically important since no single therapeutic approach fits all psychiatric patients, as shown by the limited success rates across all evidence‐based treatments.
Feinstaubemissionen trockenlaufender Friktionssysteme in Fahrzeugen
Authors: Sutschet Alexander , Bause Katharina , Bischofberger Arne , Ott Sascha
Published: May 2023

Nicht nur der Verbrennungsmotor eines Fahrzeuges emittiert Feinstaub, auch durch das Bremsen und Abrollen des Reifens entstehen solche gesundheitsschädlichen Kleinstpartikel. Deshalb rücken wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen des Bremsenstaubes immer mehr in den Fokus. Im PMP (Particle Measurement Program) wird daher bereits an einer Regulierung der Bremsemissionen von PKW und leichten Fahrzeugen gearbeitet. Auch existieren bereits technische Lösungen wie bspw. Filter [1], Absauganlagen [2] oder auch andere Bremsenbauformen wie Trommelbremsen [3] oder nasslaufende Systemen [4] um Feinstaubemissionen von Bremsen zu minimieren oder gar zu eliminieren. Die bisherigen Lösungen sind jedoch entweder kostenintensiv, aufwendig oder befinden sich noch in der Konzeptphase. Auch die Verlagerung der Bremsfunktion in den Antriebsstrang, wie in [5] ist ein möglicher Ansatz, um der Feinstaubemission in die Umweltentgegenzuwirken. Dies bringt jedoch den Nachteil mit sich, dass es bisher keine gesetzlichen Grundlagen für solche Ansätze gibt. Allein auf Deutschlands Straßen befinden sich derzeit knapp 60 Mio. Fahrzeuge [6] mit konventionellem Radbremssystemen. Daher ist es von essenzieller Bedeutung die Partikelentstehungsmechanismen bestehender Systeme zu verstehen. Dazu gehört die Betrachtung wann, wie, und unter welchen Bedingungen Feinstaub entsteht. Mit diesem Wissen kann dann ein Nutzen für die Entwicklung von Bremssystemen geschaffen werden und ggf. Anpassungen für Fahrzeuge im Feld ermöglicht werden. Durch die Analyse der Verschleißpartikel können auch Erkenntnisse über Reibvorgänge im Friktionssystem gewonnen werden. In diesem Beitrag wird eine Methode zur Messung und Beschreibung von Verschleißpartikel vorgestellt. Mit der Methode soll tiefergehendes Wissen über die Entstehungsmechanismen von Verschleißpartikeln im Friktionskontakt gewonnen werden. Des Weiteren soll zukünftig der Einsatz der Methode die Messung von Verschleißpartikeln als Informationsquelle für das vorliegende Reibverhalten im Friktionskontakt dienen. Dafür erweitern die Autoren den (Kupplungs- und) Bremsprüfstand des IPEK – Institut für Produktentwicklung um ein Probenahmesystem von Verschleißpartikel. Das zu untersuchende Friktionssystem wird in einer Blechkonstruktion umschlossen und so gegen die Umwelt abgeschirmt. Das Gehäuse wird über ein Rohrsystem zur Partikelführung an die Partikelmesseinheiten angebunden. Ein Gebläse erzeugt ein Volumenstrom in dem Rohrsystem, wodurch sich die entstehenden Partikel während einer Bremsung in dem Rohrsystem fortbewegen und dort gemessen werden können. Mit dieser Methode können Einflussparameter auf die Feinstaubentstehung ermittelt und gezielt Maßnahmen zur Reduktion dieser Emissionen abgeleitet werden: Denkbar sind betriebszustandsabhängige Anpassungen der Steuerung und Regelung des Betätigungsvorganges sowie konstruktive Maßnahmen inklusiver der Anpassung der Reibpartner.
An observational study on the safety of COVID-19 vaccination in patients with myasthenia gravis
Authors: Wang H.Y. , Qiu L. , Ou C.Y. , Lin Z.Q. , Huang Z.D. , Chen P. , Ma Q. , Lu Y.R. , Ran H. , Liu W.B.
Published: May 2023

Objective

There is concern that the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine may trigger or worsen autoimmune diseases. The objective of this study was to determine the impacts of COVID-19 vaccination on symptom severity in patients with myasthenia gravis (MG).

Methods

A total of 106 enrolled patients with MG who were vaccinated against COVID-19 were followed up, and a questionnaire was used to document in detail the exacerbation of muscle weakness after vaccination and all other uncomfortable reactions after vaccination. Demographic, clinical characteristics, medication, and vaccination data were collected by follow-up interview. The main observation outcome was whether the MG symptoms of patients were exacerbated. The definition of exacerbation is according to the subjective feeling of the patient or a 2-point increase in daily life myasthenia gravis activity score relative to before vaccination, within 30 days after vaccination.

Results

Of 106 enrolled patients [median age (SD) 41.0 years, 38 (35.8%) men, 53 (50.0%) with generalized MG, 74 (69.8%) positive for acetylcholine receptor antibody, and 21 (19.8%) with accompanying thymoma], muscle weakness symptoms were stable in 102 (96.2%) patients before vaccine inoculation. Muscle weakness worsened in 10 (9.4%) people after vaccination, of which 8 patients reported slight symptom worsening that resolved quickly (within a few days). Two (1.9%) of patients showed serious symptom aggravation that required hospitalization.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that inactivated virus vaccines against COVID-19 may be safe for patients with MG whose condition is stable. Patients with generalized MG may be more likely to develop increased muscle weakness after vaccination.
Artificial intelligence for waste management in smart cities: a review
Authors: Fang Bingbing , Yu Jiacheng , Chen Zhonghao , Osman Ahmed I. , Farghali Mohamed , Ihara Ikko , Hamza Essam H. , Rooney David W. , Yap Pow-Seng
Published: May 2023

The rising amount of waste generated worldwide is inducing issues of pollution, waste management, and recycling, calling for new strategies to improve the waste ecosystem, such as the use of artificial intelligence. Here, we review the application of artificial intelligence in waste-to-energy, smart bins, waste-sorting robots, waste generation models, waste monitoring and tracking, plastic pyrolysis, distinguishing fossil and modern materials, logistics, disposal, illegal dumping, resource recovery, smart cities, process efficiency, cost savings, and improving public health. Using artificial intelligence in waste logistics can reduce transportation distance by up to 36.8%, cost savings by up to 13.35%, and time savings by up to 28.22%. Artificial intelligence allows for identifying and sorting waste with an accuracy ranging from 72.8 to 99.95%. Artificial intelligence combined with chemical analysis improves waste pyrolysis, carbon emission estimation, and energy conversion. We also explain how efficiency can be increased and costs can be reduced by artificial intelligence in waste management systems for smart cities.