bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evidence-based recommendations for communicating the impacts of climate change on health
Authors: Peters Ellen , Boyd Patrick , Cameron Linda D , Contractor Noshir , Diefenbach Michael A , Fleszar-Pavlovic Sara , Markowitz Ezra , Salas Renee N , Stephens Keri K
Published: May 2022

Climate change poses a multifaceted, complex, and existential threat to human health and well-being, but efforts to communicate these threats to the public lag behind what we know how to do in communication research. Effective communication about climate change’s health risks can improve a wide variety of individual and population health-related outcomes by: (1) helping people better make the connection between climate change and health risks and (2) empowering them to act on that newfound knowledge and understanding. The aim of this manuscript is to highlight communication methods that have received empirical support for improving knowledge uptake and/or driving higher-quality decision making and healthier behaviors and to recommend how to apply them at the intersection of climate change and health. This expert consensus about effective communication methods can be used by healthcare professionals, decision makers, governments, the general public, and other stakeholders including sectors outside of health. In particular, we argue for the use of 11 theory-based, evidence-supported communication strategies and practices. These methods range from leveraging social networks to making careful choices about the use of language, narratives, emotions, visual images, and statistics. Message testing with appropriate groups is also key. When implemented properly, these approaches are likely to improve the outcomes of climate change and health communication efforts.
Climate change, behavior change and health: a multidisciplinary, translational and multilevel perspective
Authors: Edmondson Donald , Conroy David , Romero-Canyas Rainer , Tanenbaum Molly , Czajkowski Susan
Published: May 2022

The climate crisis provides a critical new lens through which health and health behaviors need to be viewed. This paper has three goals. First, it provides background on the climate crisis, the role of human behavior in creating this crisis, and the health impacts of climate change. Second, it proposes a multilevel, translational approach to investigating health behavior change in the context of the climate crisis. Third, it identifies specific challenges and opportunities for increasing the rigor of behavioral medicine research in the context of the climate crisis. The paper closes with a call for behavioral medicine to be responsive to the climate crisis.
The Detriment of Salicylic Acid to the Pseudomonas savastanoi pv. phaseolicola Proteome
Authors: Cooper Bret
Published: May 2022

Salicylic acid (SA), a natural product, is the major hormonal regulator of the plant immune system. SA also has antibacterial activity that is not completely elucidated. To gain a better understanding of this, Pseudomonas savastanoi pv. phaseolicola, a bacterial pathogen of beans, was exposed to sub-inhibitory amounts of SA and was then examined using quantitative mass spectrometry. Among the 2,185 proteins quantified, there were pronounced increases in p-hydroxybenzoic acid efflux pumps and multidrug efflux pumps. By contrast there were significant decreases in porin proteins, high-osmolarity response proteins, and protein components of the type VI secretion system. In addition, there were alterations in enzymes likely affecting the production of alginate, which is needed for infection. Furthermore, there was a decrease in an enzyme needed to detoxify methylglyoxal. Assays confirmed a reduction in alginate production and an increase in cellular methylglyoxal concentrations after SA treatment. Culture assays demonstrated that SA altered bacterial growth curves more so than other hydroxylated benzoic acid isomers. These data reveal that SA is antibiotic and that P. savastanoi pv. phaseolicola significantly alters its proteome in response to SA in vitro. Similar alterations to the bacterial proteome occur in beans during an immune reaction when SA increases at the site of infection. Thus, in beans, SA likely deters bacterial infection by adversely altering the bacterial proteome.

[Formula: see text] The author(s) have dedicated the work to the public domain under the Creative Commons CC0 “No Rights Reserved” license by waiving all of his or her rights to the work worldwide under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights, to the extent allowed by law, 2022.
The Impact of Fungicide Application Method on Soybean Canopy Coverage, Frogeye Leaf Spot, and Yield
Authors: Viggers Joshua N. , Kandel Yuba R. , Mueller Daren S.
Published: May 2022

Field trials were conducted across Iowa from 2017 to 2020 to investigate the effect of fungicide application methods (traditional and undercover) on coverage, disease severity, and yield. Foliar fungicides were applied at the soybean (R3) growth stage by a traditional ground sprayer with an overhead spray boom or a ground sprayer with 360 undercover sprayers that hang down into the canopy. Fungicide coverage was measured as milliliters per liter of pyrenetetrasulfonic acid dye detected on soybean leaves and as a percent coverage of water-sensitive spray cards from three canopy zones (upper, middle, and lower). Both detection methods showed that the upper canopy received significantly more coverage through the traditional sprayer than the undercover sprayer. The percent coverage in the middle canopy was not different between the two application methods. The tracer dye detected greater fungicide distribution in the lower canopy by the undercover than the traditional method ( P = 0.034). Greater disease severity was observed in 2018 and 2019 than in 2017 and 2020. Regardless of the year or application method, no location in the canopy had a significant difference in foliar disease control, nor did fungicide application affect yield. Results from these trials show adequate coverage of fungicide, but disease severity was not reduced, and yield was not improved.
Molecular Characterization of Phospholipase C in Infection Structure Differentiation Induced by Pear Fruit Surface Signals, Stress Responses, Secondary Metabolism, and Virulence ofAlternaria alternata
Authors: Huang Yi , Li Yong-Cai , Li Dong-Mei , Bi Yang , Liu Yong-Xiang , Mao Ren-Yan , Zhang Miao , Jiang Qian-Qian , Wang Xiao-Jing , Prusky Dov
Published: May 2022

Fungal pathogens use plant surface physiochemical signals to trigger specific developmental processes. To assess the role of phospholipase C (PLC) in mediating plant stimuli sensing of Alternaria alternata, the function of three PLC genes was characterized by constructing Δ AaPLC mutants. Here we showed that fruit wax-coated surfaces significantly induced appressorium formation in A. alternata and mutants. Germination of Δ AaPLC mutants did not differ from the wild type. Deletion of AaPLC1 led to the decrease of appressorium formation and infected hyphae, but the degree of reduction varies between the different types of waxes, with the strongest response to pear wax. Appressorium formation and infected hyphae of the Δ AaPLC1 mutant on dewaxed onion epidermis mounted with pear wax (θ4) were reduced by 14.5 and 65.7% after 8 h incubation, while Δ AaPLC2 and Δ AaPLC3 formed the same infection hyphae as wild type. In addition, AaPLC1 mutation caused pleiotropic effects on fungal biological function, including growth deficiency, changes in stress tolerance, weakening of pathogenicity to the host, as well as destruction of mycotoxin synthesis. Both AaPLC2 and AaPLC3 genes were found to have some effects on stress response and mycotoxin production. Taken together, AaPLC genes differentially regulate the growth, stress response, pathogenicity, and secondary metabolism of A. alternata.
The Purpose, Design, and Promise of Medical Education Research Labs
Authors: Gisondi Michael A. , Michael Sarah , Li-Sauerwine Simiao , Brazil Victoria , Caretta-Weyer Holly A. , Issenberg Barry , Giordano Jonathan , Lineberry Matthew , Olson Adriana Segura , Burkhardt John C. , Chan Teresa M.
Published: May 2022

Medical education researchers are often subject to challenges that include lack of funding, collaborators, study subjects, and departmental support. The construct of a research lab provides a framework that can be employed to overcome these challenges and effectively support the work of medical education researchers; however, labs are relatively uncommon in the medical education field. Using case examples, the authors describe the organization and mission of medical education research labs contrasted with those of larger research team configurations, such as research centers, collaboratives, and networks. They discuss several key elements of education research labs: the importance of lab identity, the signaling effect of a lab designation, required infrastructure, and the training mission of a lab. The need for medical education researchers to be visionary and strategic when designing their labs is emphasized, start-up considerations and the likelihood of support for medical education labs is considered, and the degree to which department leaders should support such labs is questioned.
Integrated Holistic Student Affairs: A Personalized, Equitable, Student-Centered Approach to Student Affairs
Authors: Grieco C. Alexander , Currence Princess , Teraguchi Daniel H. , Monroe Alicia , Palermo Ann-Gel S.
Published: May 2022

Medical education has reached a critical juncture—the structural racism that has permeated the fabric of its systems and institutions for centuries can no longer be ignored. The destructive, disproportionate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and unabated violence targeting individuals who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) exact an incalculable toll on BIPOC students and students from other groups that are historically underrepresented in medicine (UIM). Failing to recognize and act on the well-documented differential experience of BIPOC medical students impedes medical educators’ ability to cultivate learning environments where all learners have an equitable opportunity to thrive. Holistic review admission processes, now widely accepted, have challenged admissions committees to consider the “whole applicant” to diversify matriculating classes. While gaining admission is critical, it is merely the first step for BIPOC students, who may face marginalization within what the authors have termed a “sink-or-swim” culture in medical education. For the tremendous potential afforded by holistic review to be realized, the medical education community must extend the holistic approach throughout the medical education continuum, beginning with student affairs practices and support. The authors propose the use of Integrated Holistic Student Affairs (IHSA), a systems-based model that fosters the reexamining and reengineering of existing student affairs structures, policies, and processes to promote a personalized, equitable student-centered approach. The IHSA Model consists of 4 strategic actions—establish vertical and horizontal collaboration, conduct systems thinking analysis, target leverage points for change, and operationalize the change process—and 4 areas of priority for collaboration with student diversity affairs staff and faculty. The IHSA Model provides student affairs staff and faculty with a framework for shifting from reactive, deficit-oriented practices to proactive, empowering, equitable practices, with the goal of allowing BIPOC and all other UIM students to thrive during their journey from matriculation to graduation.
Drinking water sources and water quality in a prospective agricultural cohort
Authors: Manley Cherrel K. , Spaur Maya , Madrigal Jessica M. , Fisher Jared A. , Jones Rena R. , Parks Christine G. , Hofmann Jonathan N. , Sandler Dale P. , Beane Freeman Laura , Ward Mary H.
Published: May 2022

We describe drinking water sources and water quality for a large agricultural cohort. We used questionnaire data from the Agricultural Health Study (N = 89,655), a cohort of licensed pesticide applicators and their spouses in Iowa (IA) and North Carolina (NC), to ascertain drinking water source at enrollment (1993–1997). For users of public water supplies (PWS), we linked participants’ geocoded addresses to contaminant monitoring data [five haloacetic acids (HAA5), total trihalomethanes (TTHM), and nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N)]. We estimated private well nitrate levels using random forest models accounting for well depth, soil characteristics, nitrogen inputs, and other predictors. We assigned drinking water source for 84% (N = 74,919) of participants. Among these, 69% of IA and 75% of NC participants used private wells; 27% in IA and 21% in NC used PWS. Median PWS nitrate concentrations (NO3-N) were higher in IA [0.9 mg/L, interquartile range (IQR): 0.4–3.1 mg/L] than NC (0.1 mg/L, IQR: 0.1–0.2 mg/L), while median HAA5 and TTHM concentrations were higher in NC (HAA5: 11.9 µg/L, IQR: 5.5–33.4 µg/L; TTHM: 37.7 µg/L, IQR: 10.7–54.7 µg/L) than IA (HAA5: 5.0 µg/L, IQR: 3.7–10.7 µg/L; TTHM: 13.0 µg/L, IQR: 4.2–32.4 µg/L). Private well nitrate concentrations in IA (1.5 mg/L, IQR: 0.8–4.9 mg/L) and NC (1.9 mg/L, IQR: 1.4–2.5 mg/L) were higher than PWS. More private wells in IA (12%) exceeded 10 mg/L NO3-N (regulatory limit for PWS) than NC (<1%). Due to the proximity of their drinking water sources to farms, agricultural communities may be exposed to elevated nitrate levels.
The Learning Curve of an Absorbable Subcuticular Stapling Device in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Authors: Singhal Shaani , Taylor Kim O. , Bloom Richard
Published: May 2022

Background:

Learning curves can reflect a surgical trainee’s rate of progress and competence in acquiring new skills. The INSORB subdermal staple device has been well established to facilitate decreased closure time across various surgical procedures, with similar cosmesis, healing, and consistency as those of standard subdermal sutures. This study is unique, as it demonstrated an observable learning curve with this device when used by a junior surgeon.

Methods:

Sixty-six patients underwent a cosmetic procedure during the second half of 2019 under the care of a single plastic surgeon in Melbourne, Australia. This corresponded to 254 unique linear incisions. Subdermal closure was done either with interrupted 3-0 Monocryl sutures or with the INSORB device. The consultant closed the incisions on one side, with the contralateral incision closed by the assistant using the same closure method. Data were then compared retrospectively, and closure times were compared over the ensuing 6 months.

Results:

Overall, consultant closure speed is 25% faster than assistant speed. When using 3-0 Monocryl, the difference is 33%, whereas the difference is reduced to 21% when using the INSORB. Furthermore, a mild learning curve could be appreciated with the assistant’s use of the INSORB over the comparatively short 6-month study period.

Conclusions:

In addition to improved speed, cost, outcome, and ergonomics, subdermal absorbable staples may also garner a faster learning curve than standard closure with 3-0 Monocryl. This study supported the learning curve of a surgical device as another innovative benefit and an important aspect of developing surgical technology.
Management of Contralateral Breast and Axillary Nodes Silicone Migration after Implant Rupture
Authors: Elahi Leslie , Meuwly Marie-Garance , Meuwly Jean-Yves , Raffoul Wassim , Koch Natalie
Published: May 2022

Background:

Silicone implants were developed in 1962 for breast augmentation and became essential in reconstruction after mastectomy. Silicone “bleeding” has been described from both ruptured and intact implants and can induce disseminated granulomatosis due to the component's high fat solubility. If not adequately treated, they can lead to disastrous cosmetic and functional consequences. Because they may mimic malignancy, prompt and reliable diagnosis should be made as early as possible.

Methods:

We present a clinical case description of multiple intraparenchymal and ipsi/contralateral intraganglionic siliconomas in a woman who had undergone breast reconstruction, and a literature review of the pathophysiology of siliconomas and their diagnosis and management.

Results:

Silicone migration to the contralateral breast and lymph node is rare and has seldom been described. The mechanism is still debated. Excluding malignancy is a priority, and systematic management must be respected to avoid misdiagnosis or unnecessary investigations.

Conclusions:

A multidisciplinary approach is essential for siliconoma management. Silicone-related lymphadenopathies do not require follow-up or special treatment unless they interfere with the diagnosis of tumor recurrence. Careful observation is sufficient for asymptomatic siliconomas; however, symptomatic ones should be treated depending on skin involvement and the patient's eligibility for intervention.
Nationwide Trends in Contralateral Prophylactic Mastectomies: An Analysis of 55,060 Unilateral Breast Cancer Patients
Authors: Shaheen Mohammed S. , Momeni Arash
Published: May 2022

Background:

The effects of recent initiatives to better educate unilateral breast cancer (UBC) patients about contralateral prophylactic mastectomy (CPM) have not been fully examined. The purpose of this study was to update and examine recent annual CPM trends by evaluating 2015–2020 data from a large administrative claims database. We also sought to determine if there were any variations in trends among different age groups and reconstructive modalities.

Methods:

Patients diagnosed with UBC between 2015 and 2019 were identified in Optum Clinformatics DataMart. Patients were then categorized by age group, whether they underwent CPM, whether they underwent breast reconstruction (BR), timing of any BR (immediate or delayed), and type of BR (implant-based or autologous).

Results:

Of 55,060 patients who were diagnosed with UBC, 2625 (4.8%) underwent CPM. After a slight decline from 2015 to 2016, the CPM rate among UBC patients increased significantly from 3.4% in 2016 to 6.8% in 2019. Although this upward trend remained consistent across all age groups examined, younger UBC patients represented a significantly higher and faster growing percentage of those undergoing CPM. BR rates among those who underwent CPM also increased between 2015 and 2019, with implant-based and immediate BR becoming more heavily favored over autologous and delayed BR.

Conclusions:

CPM rates continued to rise between 2016 and 2019 and younger women represented a substantially higher and faster growing percentage of UBC patients undergoing CPM than older women. In addition, implant-based and immediate BR are becoming more heavily favored over autologous and delayed BR.
Analysis of ICNIRP 2020 Basic Restrictions for Localized Radiofrequency Exposure in the Frequency Range above 6 GHz
Authors: Lemay Eric , Gajda Gregory B. , McGarr Gregory W. , Zhuk Mykola , Paradis Jonathan
Published: May 2022

ICNIRP 2020 guidelines have defined a practical temperature elevation threshold for human health effects, namely the operational adverse health effect threshold that forms the basis of the absorbed power and energy density basic restrictions. These basic restrictions for localized exposures at frequencies above 6 GHz were evaluated by comparing numerically computed temperature rise against the target temperature rise of 2.5 oC, which is the operational adverse health effect threshold divided by the occupational safety factor of 2. The numerical model employs the maximum absorbed power and energy density levels allowed by the occupational basic restriction for both pulsed and continuous wave exposures. These analyses were performed considering 3- and 4-tissue layer models and a variety of beam diameters, frequencies, and exposure durations. The smallest beam diameters were based on a study of theoretically achievable beam widths from half-wave resonant dipoles and show the impact of the averaging area on the computed temperature elevation. The results demonstrated that ICNIRP’s assumed occupational safety factors in the frequency range above 6 GHz were not sufficiently maintained for all exposure scenarios and particularly for short pulse exposures at frequencies of 30 GHz or higher with small beam diameters. Worst-case tissue temperature elevations were estimated to be as much as 3.6 times higher than ICNIRP’s target temperature increases. Consequently, the authors suggest a small modification in the application of the ICNIRP 2020 localized basic restrictions, thereby limiting the worst-case tissue temperature increases to 1.4 times the target value.
Correction of accommodative esotropia using hyperopic implantable collamer lenses
Authors: Gonzalez-Lubcke Eduardo , Navas Alejandro , Graue-Hernandez Enrique O. , Ramirez-Miranda Arturo , Gomez-Bastar Arturo
Published: May 2022

Introduction:

To report a case of accommodative esotropia and high hyperopia managed with the Visian implantable collamer lens (ICL) phakic intraocular lens.

Patient and Clinical Findings:

The patient is a 21-year-old man with cycloplegic refraction of +7.50 −2.00 × 180 in both eyes. In addition, he presented a 30 prism diopters (PD) esotropia for both distance and near, which improved to 5 PD wearing his full cycloplegic prescription.

Diagnosis, Intervention, and Outcomes:

A patient with high hyperopia and accommodative esotropia with unchanged ocular alignment along with stable cycloplegic refraction for 2 years underwent bilateral ICL implantation. No intraoperative or postoperative complications were observed during the 12-month follow-up. The manifest refraction improved to +0.75 −0.75 × 180 postoperatively in the right eye and to +0.25 −0.50 × 180 in the left eye. No eyes lost lines of visual acuity. The esotropia improved to 5 PD at both distance and near without the need for spectacles.

Conclusions:

Hyperopic ICL implantation for accommodative esotropia may be considered a viable option to achieve spectacle independence and maintain proper eye alignment.
The History and Applications of the Veterans RAND 12-Item Health Survey (VR-12)
Authors: Selim Alfredo J. , Rothendler James A. , Qian Shirley X. , Bailey Hannah M. , Kazis Lewis E.
Published: May 2022

There has been an increasing emphasis on placing patients at the center of clinical care and health care research and, in particular, assessing outcomes and experiences from the patient's perspective. One of the most widely used patient-reported outcome instruments is the Veterans RAND 12-item Health Survey (VR-12). This article reviews the VR-12 development and its applications over the last 2 decades, including research and potential uses in clinical care.
Automated Spontaneity Assessment after Smile Reanimation: A Machine Learning Approach
Authors: Dusseldorp Joseph R. , Guarin Diego L. , van Veen Martinus M. , Miller Matt , Jowett Nate , Hadlock Tessa A.
Published: May 2022

Background:

Recreation of a spontaneous, emotional smile remains a paramount goal of smile reanimation surgery. However, optimal techniques to reliably restore spontaneity remain unknown. Dual automated machine-learning tools were used to develop an objective tool to analyze spontaneous smiling. The feasibility of this tool was tested in a sample of functional free muscle transfers.

Methods:

Validated humorous videos were used to elicit spontaneous smiles. Automated facial landmark recognition (Emotrics) and emotion detection software (Affdex) were used to analyze video clips of spontaneous smiling in nine normal subjects and 39 facial reanimation cases. Emotionality quotient was used to quantify the ability of spontaneous smiles to express joy.

Results:

The software could analyze spontaneous smiling in all subjects. Spontaneous smiles of normal subjects exhibited median 100 percent joy and 0 percent negative emotion (emotional quotient score, +100/0). Spontaneous smiles of facial palsy patients after smile reanimation, using cross-facial nerve graft, masseteric nerve, and dual innervation, yielded median emotional quotient scores of +82/0, 0/−48, and +10/−24 respectively (joy, p = 0.006; negative emotion, p = 0.034).

Conclusions:

Computer vision software can objectively quantify spontaneous smiling outcomes. Of the retrospective sample of cases reviewed in this study, cross-facial nerve graft–innervated gracilis functional free muscle transfer achieved a greater degree of emotionality during spontaneous smiling than masseteric or dually innervated transfer. Quantification of spontaneous smiling from standard video clips could facilitate future, blinded, multicenter trials with sufficient long-term follow-up to definitively establish the rates of spontaneity from a range of reanimation procedures.

CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:

Diagnostic, IV.
Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Vasculitis and COVID-19
Authors: İnce Burak , Bektaş Murat , Koca Nevzat , Ağargün Besim Fazıl , Zarali Sibel , Güzey Damla Yenersu , Durak Görkem , Yalçinkaya Yasemin , Artim-Esen Bahar , Gül Ahmet , İnanç Murat
Published: May 2022

Objective

The aim of this study was to evaluate incidence rates, prognoses, and disease-related factors associated with poor outcomes in patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV) who had coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Methods

Patients with AAV were questioned for a history of COVID-19 in the outpatient setting. Cumulative clinical findings and treatment history were obtained from the patients' medical records. The clinical, laboratory, and imaging findings of inpatients with COVID-19 were recorded. The data of patients who developed symptomatic COVID-19 and/or died of the disease were used for comparison.

Results

Eighty-nine patients (47.2% female; mean age, 56 ± 12.5 years) were included. The diagnosis was granulomatosis with polyangiitis in 56 patients (62.9%) and microscopic polyangiitis in 33 (37.1%). Sixty-one (68.2%) and 21 patients (23.6%) had renal and peripheral nerve involvement, respectively. Ten patients had a history of diffuse alveolar hemorrhage. Fifteen patients (16.9%) had COVID-19, including 9 (60%) with severe pneumonia. Twelve patients (85.7%) were hospitalized, 6 (42.9%) were admitted to the intensive care unit, and 5 (35.7%) died. All deceased patients had hypogammaglobulinemia (IgG levels <700 mg/dL) during hospital admission. Symptomatic COVID-19 was associated with higher disease activity, glucocorticoid and rituximab treatments, and glomerular filtration rate <30 mL/min. A history of peripheral nerve involvement, higher organ damage scores, and hypogammaglobulinemia was associated with mortality.

Conclusions

The prognosis was poor in our patients with AAV who had COVID-19, especially those with severe multisystem involvement. Hypogammaglobulinemia was associated with mortality. Serum IgG level monitoring in patients with AAV would be beneficial during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Clinical and Serological Features in Latin American IgG4-Related Disease Patients Differ According to Sex, Ethnicity, and Clinical Phenotype
Authors: Martín-Nares Eduardo , Baenas Diego Federico , Cuellar Gutiérrez María Carolina , Hernández-Molina Gabriela , Ortiz Alberto Christian , Neira Oscar , Gutiérrez Miguel A. , Calvo Romina , Saad Emanuel José , Elgueta Pinochet Sergio , Gallo Jesica , Herrera Moya Alejandra , Mansilla Aravena Bellanides Agustina , Crespo Espíndola María Elena , Cairoli Ernesto , Bertoli Ana María , Córdoba Mercedes , Wurmann Kiblisky Pamela , Basualdo Arancibia Washington Javier , Badilla Piñeiro María Natalia , Gobbi Carla Andrea , Berbotto Guillermo Ariel , Pisoni Cecilia N. , Juárez Vicente , Cosatti Micaela Ana , Aste Nora María , Airoldi Carla , Llanos Carolina , Vergara Melian Cristian Fabián , Erlij Opazo Daniel , Goecke Annelise , Pastenes Montaño Paula Andrea , Tate Patricio , Pirola Juan Pablo , Stange Núñez Lilith , Burgos Paula I. , Mezzano Robinson María Verónica , Michalland H. Susana , Silva Labra Francisco , Labarca Solar Cristián Humberto , Lencina María Verónica , Izquierdo Loaiza Jorge Hernán , Del Castillo Gil David Julián , Caeiro Francisco , Paira Sergio
Published: May 2022

Background/Objective

Data on IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) come almost exclusively from cohorts from Asia, Europe, and North America. We conducted this study to describe the clinical presentation, phenotype distribution, and association with sex, ethnicity, and serological markers in a large cohort of Latin American patients with IgG4-RD.

Methods

We performed a multicenter medical records review study including 184 Latin American IgG4-RD patients. We assigned patients to clinical phenotypes: group 1 (pancreato-hepato-biliary), group 2 (retroperitoneal/aortic), group 3 (head and neck–limited), group 4 (Mikulicz/systemic), and group 5 (undefined). We focused the analysis on how sex, ethnicity, and clinical phenotype may influence the clinical and serological presentation.

Results

The mean age was 50.8 ± 15 years. Men and women were equally affected (52.2% vs 48.8%). Fifty-four patients (29.3%) were assigned to group 1, 21 (11.4%) to group 2, 57 (30.9%) to group 3, 32 (17.4%) to group 4, and 20 (10.8%) to group 5. Male sex was associated with biliary tract (odds ratio [OR], 3.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.36–8.26), kidney (OR, 3.4; 95% CI, 1.28–9.25), and retroperitoneal involvement (OR, 5.3; 95% CI, 1.45–20). Amerindian patients presented more frequently with atopy history and gallbladder involvement. Group 3 had a female predominance.

Conclusions

Latin American patients with IgG4-RD were younger, and men and women were equally affected compared with White and Asian cohorts. They belonged more commonly to group 1 and group 3. Retroperitoneal and aortic involvement was infrequent. Clinical and serological features differed according to sex, ethnicity, and clinical phenotype.
Artery Reconstruction in Right Lobe Living Donor Liver Transplantation
Authors: Lin Shin-Lung , Lin Ching-Min , Hung Yu-Ju , Lin Ping-Yi , Ko Chih-Jan , Hsieh Chia-En , Chen Yao-Li
Published: May 2022

Background

The aims of this study were to investigate if recipient artery choice in right lobe living donor liver transplant affects postoperative complications and discuss solutions accordingly.

Methods

Three hundred fourteen right lobe living donor liver transplantation patients were divided into 2 groups: 163 patients using right hepatic artery as the recipient vessel and 151 patients using left hepatic artery as the recipient vessel. Cases involving 2 recipient blood vessels or the use of other blood vessels as recipient vessels were excluded.

Results

Overall vascular embolism rate in both groups was 1.3%, and our complication rate was lower than those in previous studies. There was no significant difference in complication rate between the groups, but a significant difference in recipient/donor artery size ratio was noted.

Conclusions

Although left hepatic artery's anatomical position makes it less affected by bile duct anastomosis and thus fewer postoperative complications, we believe that the ratio of the donor-recipient blood vessel size and the length of the anastomosis vessel stumps are the key factors that affect the outcome of the vascular anastomosis.
Temperature preferences drive additive biotic homogenization of Orthoptera assemblages
Authors: Thorn Simon , König Sebastian , Fischer-Leipold Othmar , Gombert Julia , Griese Josline , Thein Jürgen
Published: May 2022

The degradation of natural habitats is causing ongoing homogenization of biological communities and declines in terrestrial insect biodiversity, particularly in agricultural landscapes. Orthoptera are focal species of nature conservation and experienced significant diversity losses over the past decades. However, the causes underlying these changes are not yet fully understood. We analysed changes in Orthoptera assemblages surveyed in 1988, 2004 and 2019 on 198 plots distributed across four major grassland types in Central Europe. We demonstrated compositional differences in Orthoptera assemblages found in wet, dry and mesic grasslands, as well as ruderal habitats decreased, indicating biotic homogenization. However, mean α-diversity of Orthoptera assemblages increased over the study period. We detected increasing numbers of species with preferences for higher temperatures in mesic and wet grasslands. By analysing the temperature, moisture and vegetation preferences of Orthoptera, we found that additive homogenization was driven by a loss of species adapted to extremely dry and nitrogen-poor habitats and a parallel spread of species preferring warmer macroclimates.
The hawkmoth wingbeat is not at resonance
Authors: Gau Jeff , Wold Ethan S. , Lynch James , Gravish Nick , Sponberg Simon
Published: May 2022

Flying insects have elastic materials within their exoskeletons that could reduce the energetic cost of flight if their wingbeat frequency is matched to a mechanical resonance frequency. Flapping at resonance may be essential across flying insects because of the power demands of small-scale flapping flight. However, building up large-amplitude resonant wingbeats over many wingstrokes may be detrimental for control if the total mechanical energy in the spring-wing system exceeds the per-cycle work capacity of the flight musculature. While the mechanics of the insect flight apparatus can behave as a resonant system, the question of whether insects flap their wings at their resonant frequency remains unanswered. Using previous measurements of body stiffness in the hawkmoth,
Manduca sexta
, we develop a mechanical model of spring-wing resonance with aerodynamic damping and characterize the hawkmoth's resonant frequency. We find that the hawkmoth's wingbeat frequency is approximately 80% above resonance and remains so when accounting for uncertainty in model parameters. In this regime, hawkmoths may still benefit from elastic energy exchange while enabling control of aerodynamic forces via frequency modulation. We conclude that, while insects use resonant mechanics, tuning wingbeats to a simple resonance peak is not a necessary feature for all centimetre-scale flapping flyers.
Identifying cell-to-cell variability in internalization using flow cytometry
Authors: Browning Alexander P. , Ansari Niloufar , Drovandi Christopher , Johnston Angus P. R. , Simpson Matthew J. , Jenner Adrianne L.
Published: May 2022

Biological heterogeneity is a primary contributor to the variation observed in experiments that probe dynamical processes, such as the internalization of material by cells. Given that internalization is a critical process by which many therapeutics and viruses reach their intracellular site of action, quantifying cell-to-cell variability in internalization is of high biological interest. Yet, it is common for studies of internalization to neglect cell-to-cell variability. We develop a simple mathematical model of internalization that captures the dynamical behaviour, cell-to-cell variation, and extrinsic noise introduced by flow cytometry. We calibrate our model through a novel distribution-matching approximate Bayesian computation algorithm to flow cytometry data of internalization of anti-transferrin receptor antibody in a human B-cell lymphoblastoid cell line. This approach provides information relating to the region of the parameter space, and consequentially the nature of cell-to-cell variability, that produces model realizations consistent with the experimental data. Given that our approach is agnostic to sample size and signal-to-noise ratio, our modelling framework is broadly applicable to identify biological variability in single-cell data from internalization assays and similar experiments that probe cellular dynamical processes.
Expanding the measurement of culture with a sample of two billion humans
Authors: Obradovich Nick , Özak Ömer , Martín Ignacio , Ortuño-Ortín Ignacio , Awad Edmond , Cebrián Manuel , Cuevas Rubén , Desmet Klaus , Rahwan Iyad , Cuevas Ángel
Published: May 2022

Culture has played a pivotal role in human evolution. Yet, the ability of social scientists to study culture is limited by the currently available measurement instruments. Scholars of culture must regularly choose between scalable but sparse survey-based methods or restricted but rich ethnographic methods. Here, we demonstrate that massive online social networks can advance the study of human culture by providing quantitative, scalable and high-resolution measurement of behaviourally revealed cultural values and preferences. We employ data across nearly 60 000 topic dimensions drawn from two billion Facebook users across 225 countries and territories. We first validate that cultural distances calculated from this measurement instrument correspond to traditional survey-based and objective measures of cross-national cultural differences. We then demonstrate that this expanded measure enables rich insight into the cultural landscape globally at previously impossible resolution. We analyse the importance of national borders in shaping culture and compare subnational divisiveness with gender divisiveness across countries. Our measure enables detailed investigation into the geopolitical stability of countries, social cleavages within small- and large-scale human groups, the integration of migrant populations and the disaffection of certain population groups from the political process, among myriad other potential future applications.
Impacts of a delayed and slow-paced vaccination on cases and deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic: a modelling study
Authors: Barbosa Libotte Gustavo , dos Anjos Lucas , Célia Cerqueira de Almeida Regina , Mara Cardoso Malta Sandra , de Andrade Medronho Roberto
Published: May 2022

In Brazil, vaccination has always cut across party political and ideological lines, which has delayed its start and brought the whole process into disrepute. Such divergences put the immunization of the population in the background and create additional hurdles beyond the pandemic, mistrust and scepticism over vaccines. We conduct a mathematical modelling study to analyse the impacts of late vaccination along with slowly increasing coverage, as well as how harmful it would be if part of the population refused to get vaccinated or missed the second dose. We analyse data from confirmed cases, deaths and vaccination in the state of Rio de Janeiro in the period between 10 March 2020 and 27 October 2021. We estimate that if the start of vaccination had been 30 days earlier, combined with efforts to drive vaccination rates up, about 31 657 deaths could have been avoided. In addition, the slow pace of vaccination and the low demand for the second dose could cause a resurgence of cases as early as 2022. Even when reaching the expected vaccination coverage for the first dose, it is still challenging to increase adherence to the second dose and maintain a high vaccination rate to avoid new outbreaks.
Patterns of air pressure, wind speed, and temperature are correlated with an increased risk of clinical infection from Vibrio vulnificus in endemic areas
Authors: Ayala Andrea J. , Munyenyembe Ketty , Almagro-Moreno Salvador , Ogbunugafor C. Brandon
Published: May 2022

Vibrio vulnificus remains one of the deadliest waterborne pathogens, yet little is known of the ecology that drive outbreaks. As a nationally notifiable disease, all cases of Vibrio vulnificus diagnosed in the United States are reported to the state in which they occurred, as well as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia. Given that the state of Florida is a ‘hotspot’ for Vibrio vulnificus in the United States, we examined the prevalence and incidence of cases reported to the Florida Department of Health (2008-2020). Using a dataset comprised of 448 cases of disease caused by Vibrio vulnificus infection, we identified environmental variables that were associated with clinical cases and deaths. Combined with data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), we developed statistical models to examine the relationship between meteorological measurements such as wind speed, air temperature, water temperature, and sea-level pressure. We then examined the association of those meteorological variables with coastal cases of Vibrio vulnificus, including the outcome, survival, or death. Between 2008 and 2020, Vibrio vulnificus cases generally increased over time, peaking in 2017. Not surprisingly, there appears to be a strong correlation between water temperature and air temperature in Florida. However, as water temperature and air temperature increased, so too did the likelihood that an infection with Vibrio vulnificus would lead to patient death. Interestingly, we also found that as mean wind speed and sea-level pressure decreased, the probability that a Vibrio vulnificus case would be reported increased. Given these results, we discuss the potential factors that may contribute to the observed correlations. We further speculate that the meteorological variables we measured may increase in importance as they relate to the incidence of Vibrio vulnificus in light of rising global temperatures.
Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine Analysis of the current state of acupuncture clinical trial registration and reporting: for the past 9 years
Authors: Zhang Quanai , Lv Huijuan , Fu Yun , Chen Benlu , Cai Yingying , Zhang Qiwen
Published: May 2022

Background

An increasing number of acupuncture clinical trials are registered, but the reports of results and data transparency are unclear. We aim to analyze and evaluate the current state of registration and reports of acupuncture clinical trials.

Methods

This paper focused on the acupuncture clinical trials that met the criteria in relevant studies registered and published during the period between 1 Jan 2013 to 31 Dec 2021. We traced by email to leaders that the report could not be searched. Besides, questionnaire investigation was chosen to acupuncture clinicians around by WeChat.

Results

The overall reporting rate of acupuncture clinical trial results from the two registration centers was 25%. Clinicaltrials.gov reporting rate was 12% and that from ChiCTR was 41%. Only a small proportion of trials were available on the registry website. Only the NIH clinical registry platform has records on the status of studies. We only received 3 replies that indicated the project was due to be ended but not completed. According to questionnaire, 157 clinicians have led clinical projects in Acupuncture. It shows that 84% projects were ended but not completed or not completed by the due date. About the reasons that caused the failure to find articles after the end of the project, 85% participants thought projects were ended but not completed or not completed by the due date. 15% participants thought projects were manuscript rejected, manuscript accepted but not in print, results protected, registration number unmarked, project delayed or negative results not submitted.

Conclusion

The number of acupuncture clinical trial registrations is steadily increasing, but the reporting rate of trial results is relatively low and the transparency of data is not ideal. Therefore, first of all, researchers should put more attention on trials designed, trial reported and respect to science. Secondly, set up a research progress tracker on registration platforms accessible to the public users. At the same time, the journal is suggested that adjust the evaluation criteria for reporting the negative results. Researchers with negative results are encouraged to show. Most importantly, the funders are recommended to optimize the ended review.
Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2-associated perioperative ketoacidosis: a protocol for SAPKA systematic review
Authors: Seki Hiroyuki , Ideno Satoshi , Shiga Toshiya , Watanabe Hidenobu , Ono Motoaki , Motoyasu Akira , Noguchi Hikari , Kondo Kazuya , Yoshikawa Takahiro , Hoshijima Hiroshi , Hyuga Shunsuke , Shishii Miho , Nagai Ai , Higashi Midoriko , Ouchi Takashi , Yasuda Kazuki , Kuratani Norifumi
Published: May 2022

Background

In recent years, reports have increased regarding patients treated with sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) who develop severe ketoacidosis during the perioperative period. This systematic review aims to extrapolate precipitating factors from case reports of SGLT2i-associated perioperative ketoacidosis.

Methods

Two independent researchers will search PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science, up to June 1, 2022, with no language restrictions, to identify reports of perioperative ketoacidosis associated with SGLT2i use. We will include case reports/series describing patients taking SGLT2i who developed ketoacidosis (defined as blood pH < 7.3 and blood or urine ketone positivity) pre-, intra-, or postoperatively up to 30 days following surgery. Patients for whom SGLT2i was newly prescribed postoperatively and those for whom the diagnosis of ketoacidosis does not fulfill our criteria will be excluded.

Competing interest statement

Dr. Yasuda reports receiving grants from Ono Pharmaceutical and Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation.

Funding statement

The Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C) (Grant Number 21K06676) funded this study.
Mental health, longitudinal ART adherence, and viral suppression among adolescents and adults living with HIV in South Africa: a cohort study
Authors: Haas Andreas D. , Lienhard Raphael , Didden Christiane , Cornell Morna , Folb Naomi , Boshomane Tebatso M. G. , Salazar-Vizcaya Luisa , Ruffieux Yann , Nyakato Patience , Wettstein Anja E. , Tlali Mpho , Davies Mary-Ann , von Groote Per , Wainberg Milton , Maartens Gary , Joska John A.
Published: May 2022

Introduction

Mental disorders are highly prevalent among people living with HIV and are associated with adverse HIV treatment outcomes. We assessed HIV treatment outcomes in patients with and without mental health diagnoses by sex and age.

Methods

Using hospital, outpatient and pharmacy claims and laboratory data from 2011 to 2020, we followed HIV-positive adolescents and adults aged ≥15 years who enrolled in a South African private sector HIV treatment programme. We performed a longitudinal trajectory analysis to identify patients with similar adherence patterns and examined associations between mental health diagnoses and adherence patterns using multinomial logistic regression. We examined non-adherence and viral non-suppression (VNS, viral load >400 copies/mL) in patients with and without mental health diagnoses by sex and age using mixed-effects Poisson regression models.

Results

54,378 patients were followed for a median of 3.5 years (IQR 1.9-6.4), 20,743 (38%) of whom had received a mental health diagnosis. 90% of patients had HIV viral load <400 copies/mL, 73% had continuously high adherence, 13% had decreasing adherence, 6% had increasing adherence, and 7% were continuously non-adherent. Mental health diagnoses were associated with decreasing adherence (aRR 1.41, 95% CI 1.28-1.55), increasing adherence (aRR 1.59, 95% 1.41-1.79), and continuous non-adherence (aRR 2.02, 95% 1.81-2.25). The risk of VNS was increased among patients with organic mental disorders (aRR 1.55, 95% CI 1.22-1.96), substance use disorders (aRR 1.53 95% CI 1.19-1.97), serious mental disorders (aRR 1.30, 95% CI 1.09-1.54), and depression (aRR 1.19, 95% CI 1.10-1.28) compared to patients without mental health diagnoses. The risk of VNS was also increased among men (aRR 1.48, 95% CI: 1.31-1.67), adolescents (15-19 years, aRR 2.72, 95% CI 2.29-3.24) and young adults (20-24 years, aRR 2.29, 95% CI 1.83-2.85) compared to adults aged 25-34 years. Adolescents and young adults with and without mental health diagnoses had low viral suppression rates (≤66%); women aged 45 or older with mental health diagnoses had suppression rates of 92-95%.

Conclusion

Our study highlights the need for psychosocial interventions to improve HIV treatment outcomes, particularly for adolescents and young adults, and supports strengthening mental health services in paediatric and general HIV treatment programs.