bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tree species richness and ash density have variable effects on emerald ash borer biological control by woodpeckers and parasitoid wasps in post-invasion white ash stands
Authors: Wilson Caleb J , Petrice Toby R , Poland Therese M , McCullough Deborah G
Published: June 2024

Emerald ash borer (EAB) (Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire) (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) is the most destructive insect to invade North American forests. Identifying habitat features that support EAB natural enemies is necessary to enhance EAB biological control. In many forest ecosystems, tree species diversity has been linked with reduced pest abundance and increases in natural enemy abundance. We assessed the influence of tree species richness, ash density, and proportion of total ash basal area on ash canopy condition, EAB larval densities, and biocontrol by woodpeckers and parasitoids in pairs of healthy and declining overstory (DBH > 10 cm) and recruit-sized ash (DBH 2–10 cm) in 4 post-invasion forests in Michigan, USA. Tree species richness and ash density were not significantly associated with EAB larval densities, ash canopy dieback and transparency, and woodpecker predation of EAB larvae. In declining and healthy overstory ash, woodpeckers killed 38.5 ± 3.9% and 13.2 ± 3.7% of larvae, respectively, while the native parasitoid Phasgonophora sulcata Westwood killed 15.8 ± 3.8% and 8.3 ± 3.0% and the introduced parasitoid Spathius galinae Belokobylskij & Strazanac killed 10.8 ± 2.5% and 5.0 ± 2.6% of EAB larvae. Parasitism by P. sulcata was inversely related to ash density while parasitism by S. galinae was positively associated with ash density. Ash density, but not tree diversity, appears to differentially influence biological control of EAB by parasitoids, but this effect is not associated with reduced EAB densities or improved canopy condition.
Practice pattern and risk of not receiving planned surgery after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Hong Tae Hee , Kim Tae Ho , Lee Genehee , Yun Jeonghee , Jeon Yeong Jeong , Lee Junghee , Shin Sumin , Park Seong Yong , Cho Jong Ho , Choi Yong Soo , Shim Young Mog , Sun Jong-Mu , Oh Dongryul , Kim Hong Kwan
Published: June 2024

OBJECTIVES

Unlike the initial plan, some patients with oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma cannot or do not receive surgery after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT). This study aimed to report the epidemiology of patients not receiving surgery after nCRT and to evaluate the potential risk of refusing surgery.

METHODS

We analysed patients with clinical stage T3-T4aN0M0 or T1-T4aN1-N3M0 oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma who underwent nCRT as an initial treatment intent between January 2005 and March 2020. Patients not receiving surgery were categorized using predefined criteria. To evaluate the risk of refusing surgery, a propensity-matched comparison with those who received surgery was performed. Recurrence-free (RFS) and overall survival (OS) was compared between groups, according to clinical response to nCRT.

RESULTS

Among the study population (n = 715), 105 patients (14.7%) eventually failed to reach surgery. There were three major patterns of not receiving surgery: disease progression before surgery (n = 25), functional deterioration at reassessment (n = 47), and patient’s refusal without contraindications (n = 33). After propensity-score matching, the RFS curves of the surgery group and the refusal group were significantly different (P < 0.001), while OS curves were not significantly different (P = 0.069). In patients who achieved clinical complete response on re-evaluation, no significant difference in the RFS curves (P = 0.382) and in the OS curves (P = 0.290) was observed between the surgery group and the refusal group. However, among patients who showed partial response or stable disease on re-evaluation, the RFS and OS curves of the refusal group were overall significantly inferior compared to those of the surgery group (both P < 0.001). The 5-year RFS rates were 10.3% for the refusal group and 48.2% for the surgery group, and the 5-year OS rates were 8.2% for the refusal group and 46.1% for the surgery group.

CONCLUSIONS

Patient’s refusal remains one of the major obstacles in completing the trimodality therapy for oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Refusing surgery when offered may jeopardize oncological outcome, particularly in those with residual disease on re-evaluation after nCRT. These results provide significant implications for consulting patients who are reluctant to oesophagectomy after nCRT.
Adaptive radiation during the evolution of complex multicellularity
Authors: Stoy Kayla S , Bingham Emma , Burnetti Anthony , Datta Sayantan , Pineau Rozenn , Peterson Autumn , Ratcliff William C
Published: June 2024

The evolution of multicellularity led to the origin of new kinds of organisms and, in several lineages, massive adaptive radiations through the formation of entirely new ecosystems. This paper examines three key mechanisms underpinning parallel adaptive radiations within the five clades of ‘complex’ multicellularity: animals, land plants, fungi, red algae, and brown algae. First, the evolution of key multicellular innovations permitted diversification into new ecological roles. Second, the evolution of large multicellular organisms with strong genetic bottlenecks between generations fundamentally changed the population genetic context of evolution, greatly reducing effective population size and increasing the role of genetic drift. This may be beneficial during adaptive radiations, underpinning nonadaptive expansions of genome size and allowing broader exploration of multicellular trait space. Finally, we explore how evolutionary priority effects provide a first-mover advantage, maintaining ancient adaptive radiations over long time periods by suppressing competition from convergently evolving multicellular taxa. Investigating parallel patterns of diversification across independent origins of complex multicellularity provides insight into the principles underpinning these crucially important adaptive radiations.
Screening for primary aldosteronism in primary care: a scoping review
Authors: Tsan Kirsten , Yang Jun , Nainani Abhir , Libianto Renata , Russell Grant
Published: June 2024

Background

Primary aldosteronism (PA) is the most common treatable and potentially curable cause of secondary hypertension. Prompt diagnosis and management by primary care physicians (PCPs) is important given the increased risk of cardiovascular complications however screening rates are low in primary care. Our aim was to identify factors that influence screening behaviour for PA among PCPs.

Method

A rigorous scoping review of seven databases between 16/08/22 and 09/08/23 was used to investigate PA screening practices. Articles written in English from peer-reviewed literature within the last 20 years were eligible for inclusion if an aspect of their study was conducted in primary care.

Results

A total of 1380 titles and abstracts, and 61 full texts were screened, with 20 studies selected for data extraction. We identified three broad categories of factors influencing screening by PCPs—the patient, the clinician, and the healthcare system. Some studies targeted these factors to improve screening rates although there is little data on implementation and outcomes.

Conclusion

Low awareness, inadequate guidelines, and poor access to testing were identified as key barriers to PA screening. Targeted education sessions for PCPs, clear guidelines, and closer proximity to diagnostic centres may be required to improve PA detection in primary care.
GenBase: A Nucleotide Sequence Database
Authors: Bu Congfan , Zheng Xinchang , Zhao Xuetong , Xu Tianyi , Bai Xue , Jia Yaokai , Chen Meili , Hao Lili , Xiao Jingfa , Zhang Zhang , Zhao Wenming , Tang Bixia , Bao Yiming
Published: June 2024

The rapid advancement of sequencing technologies poses challenges in managing the large volume and exponential growth of sequence data efficiently and on time. To address this issue, we present GenBase (https://ngdc.cncb.ac.cn/genbase), an open-access data repository that follows the International Nucleotide Sequence Database Collaboration (INSDC) data standards and structures, for efficient nucleotide sequence archiving, searching, and sharing. As a core resource within the National Genomics Data Center (NGDC) of the China National Center for Bioinformation (CNCB; https://ngdc.cncb.ac.cn), GenBase offers bilingual submission pipeline and services, as well as local submission assistance in China. GenBase also provides a unique Excel format for metadata description and feature annotation of nucleotide sequences, along with a real-time data validation system to streamline sequence submissions. As of April 23, 2024, GenBase received 68,251 nucleotide sequences and 689,574 annotated protein sequences across 414 species from 2319 submissions. Out of these, 63,614 (93%) nucleotide sequences and 620,640 (90%) annotated protein sequences have been released and are publicly accessible through GenBase’s web search system, File Transfer Protocol (FTP), and Application Programming Interface (API). Additionally, in collaboration with INSDC, GenBase has constructed an effective data exchange mechanism with GenBank and started sharing released nucleotide sequences. Furthermore, GenBase integrates all sequences from GenBank with daily updates, demonstrating its commitment to actively contributing to global sequence data management and sharing.
Continuous dependence of linear differential systems on polynomial matrices
Authors: Lomadze Vakhtang
Published: June 2024

Linear differential systems, as it is known, are parameterized by means of polynomial matrices. Introducing appropriate topologies, it is shown that this parametrization becomes a quotient map.
Description of a new species of Stenula Barnard, 1962 (Amphipoda: Stenothoidae) from British Columbia, Canada associated with Bouillonia sp. (Cnidaria: Hydrozoa: Tubulariidae), with a key to the world species of Stenula
Authors: Tandberg Anne Helene S , Vader Wim
Published: June 2024

A new species of the amphipod family Stenothoidae found living in association with tubulariid hydroids in British Columbia, Canada is described. Stenula traudlaesp. nov., which has a rounded naked telson, a rounded posterodistal tooth on Ep3, and a heavily spinose P5, is described morphologically. We also include an updated key to world species of Stenula s.l. Associations of amphipods with tubulariids and other small hosts are discussed.
Battles between ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): a review
Authors: Champer Jackson , Schlenoff Debra
Published: June 2024

With their unique colony structure, competition between ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) can be particularly intense, with colonies potentially willing to sacrifice large number of individuals to obtain resources or territory under the right circumstances. In this review, we cover circumstances in which ant competition escalates into combat, battle strategies and tactics, and analysis methods for these battles. The trends for when colonies choose to fight can vary greatly dependent on the species and situation, which we review in detail. Because of their large group sizes, ant conflicts can follow different patterns than many other species, with a variety of specialist adaptations and battle strategies, such as specialized worker classes and the need to rapidly recruit large number of compatriots. These same large group sizes also can make ant fighting amenable to mathematical analysis, particularly in the context of Lanchester’s laws that consider how total numbers influence the outcome of a confrontation. Yet, dynamic behavior can often disrupt idealized mathematical predictions in real-world scenarios, even though these can still shed light on the explanations for such behavior. We also systematically cover the literature on battles between groups of ants, presenting several other interesting studies on species with unique colony organization, such as army ants and leafcutter ants.
Association of Serum Thyroxine and Atrial Fibrillation in Patients on Levothyroxine
Authors: Kravchenko Maria , Forbes Whitney , Graybill Sky
Published: June 2024

Introduction

Excess thyroid hormone is a well-documented risk factor for the development of atrial fibrillation (AF). The purpose of the study is to assess incidence of AF in patients taking levothyroxine for hypothyroidism and correlate it with biochemical thyroid function.

Materials and Methods

This was a retrospective cohort study of patients aged 18 years and older who were treated with levothyroxine. Exclusion criteria were pre-existing diagnosis of AF and use of amiodarone in the prior year. Patients were followed 2012 through 2019 and stratified into 4 groups based on mean thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) value or mean fT4 value in 2012. Primary outcome was incidence of AF. Rates of AF between groups were assessed via Poisson regression with control of underlying confounders.

Results

Of 21,035 patients, 1091 (5.2%) developed AF during follow-up. Thyroid-stimulating hormone at baseline was not significantly associated with incident AF. Higher fT4 levels at baseline were associated with increased AF risk in age- and sex-adjusted analyses (hazard ratio 1.22; 95% CI, 1.03-1.44) for the highest quartile versus the lowest quartile of fT4.

Conclusions

In hypothyroid patients treated with levothyroxine, higher circulating fT4 levels are associated with increased risk of incident AF. There is no association of serum TSH with risk of AF. In patients at risk for AF, consideration should be given to avoiding fT4 levels in the highest quartile.
How Much Does Intravenous Fluid Cause Hematocrit to Drop? Improving Interpretation of Hematocrit Toward Better Post-Hemorrhage Care
Authors: Qureshi Nabeel , Bloom Matthew , Pevnick Joshua
Published: June 2024

Introduction

Hemorrhage is assessed, at least in part, via hematocrit testing. To differentiate unexpected drops in hematocrit because of ongoing hemorrhage versus expected drops as a result of known hemorrhage and intravenous fluid administration, we model expected post-operative hematocrit values accounting for fluid balance and intraoperative estimated blood loss (EBL) among patients without substantial post-operative bleeding.

Materials and Methods

We reviewed patient-level data from the electronic health record of an academic medical center for all non-pregnant adults admitted for elective knee or hip arthroplasty from November 2013 to September 2022 who did not require blood products. We used linear regression to evaluate the association between post-operative hematocrit and predictor variables including pre-operative hematocrit, intraoperative net fluid intake, blood volume, time from surgery to lab testing, EBL, patient height, and patient weight.

Results

We included 6,648 cases. Mean (SD) estimated blood volume was 4,804 mL (1023), mean net fluid intake was 1,121 mL (792), and mean EBL was 144 mL (194). Each 100 mL of EBL and 1,000 mL net positive fluid intake was associated with a decrease of 0.52 units (95% CI, 0.51-0.53) and 2.4 units (2.2-2.7) in post-operative hematocrit. Pre-operative hematocrit was the strongest predictor of post-operative hematocrit. Each 1-unit increase in pre-operative hematocrit was associated with a 0.70-unit increase (95% CI, 0.67-0.73) in post-operative hematocrit. Our estimates were robust to sensitivity analyses, and all variables included in the model were statistically significant with P <.005.

Conclusion

Patient-specific data, including fluid received since the time of initial hemorrhage, can aid in estimating expected post-hemorrhage hematocrit values, and thus in assessing for the ongoing hemorrhage.
The Human Developing Cerebral Cortex Is Characterized by an Elevated De Novo Expression of Long Noncoding RNAs in Excitatory Neurons
Authors: Morales-Vicente David A , Tahira Ana C , Woellner-Santos Daisy , Amaral Murilo S , Berzoti-Coelho Maria G , Verjovski-Almeida Sergio
Published: June 2024

The outstanding human cognitive capacities are computed in the cerebral cortex, a mammalian-specific brain region and the place of massive biological innovation. Long noncoding RNAs have emerged as gene regulatory elements with higher evolutionary turnover than mRNAs. The many long noncoding RNAs identified in neural tissues make them candidates for molecular sources of cerebral cortex evolution and disease. Here, we characterized the genomic and cellular shifts that occurred during the evolution of the long noncoding RNA repertoire expressed in the developing cerebral cortex and explored putative roles for these long noncoding RNAs in the evolution of the human brain. Using transcriptomics and comparative genomics, we comprehensively annotated the cortical transcriptomes of humans, rhesus macaques, mice, and chickens and classified human cortical long noncoding RNAs into evolutionary groups as a function of their predicted minimal ages. Long noncoding RNA evolutionary groups showed differences in expression levels, splicing efficiencies, transposable element contents, genomic distributions, and transcription factor binding to their promoters. Furthermore, older long noncoding RNAs showed preferential expression in germinative zones, outer radial glial cells, and cortical inhibitory (GABAergic) neurons. In comparison, younger long noncoding RNAs showed preferential expression in cortical excitatory (glutamatergic) neurons, were enriched in primate and human-specific gene co-expression modules, and were dysregulated in neurodevelopmental disorders. These results suggest different evolutionary routes for older and younger cortical long noncoding RNAs, highlighting old long noncoding RNAs as a possible source of molecular evolution of conserved developmental programs; conversely, we propose that the de novo expression of primate- and human-specific young long noncoding RNAs is a putative source of molecular evolution and dysfunction of cortical excitatory neurons, warranting further investigation.
Dose delay, dose reduction, and early treatment discontinuation in Black and White women receiving chemotherapy for nonmetastatic breast cancer
Authors: Forster Moriah , Deal Allison M , Page Annie , Vohra Sanah , Wardell Alexis C , Pak Joyce , Lund Jennifer L , Nyrop Kirsten A , Muss Hyman B
Published: June 2024

Background

To describe reasons for deviations from planned chemotherapy treatments in women with nonmetastatic breast cancer that contribute to less-than-planned receipt of chemotherapy.

Methods

Electronic medical records for patients receiving chemotherapy were reviewed for adverse events and treatment modifications. Log-binomial regression models were used to estimate relative risks (RRs) with 95% CIs to examine associations between chemotherapy modifications, patient characteristics, and treatment modalities.

Results

Delays in chemotherapy initiation (7%) were for surgical complications (58%), personal reasons (16%), and other (26%; port malfunction, infections, and obtaining extra imaging). Delays during chemotherapy (38%) were for infections (20%), neutropenia (13%), and personal reasons (13%). Dose reductions (38%) were for neuropathy (36%), unknown causes (9%), anemia (9%), and neutropenia (8%). Early treatment discontinuations (23%) were for neuropathy (29%). Patients receiving paclitaxel/nab-paclitaxel (RR 2.05; 95% CI, 1.47-2.87) and an anthracycline (RR 1.89; 95% CI, 1.39-2.57) reported more dose delays during chemotherapy. Black race (RR 1.46; 95% CI, 1.07-2.00), stage 3 (RR 1.79; 95% CI, 1.09-2.93), and paclitaxel/nab-paclitaxel receipt (RR 1.39; 95% CI, 1.02-1.90) increased the likelihood of dose reduction. Both Black race (RR 2.06; 95% CI, 1.35-3.15) and receipt of paclitaxel/nab-paclitaxel (RR 1.93; 95% CI, 1.19-3.13) increased the likelihood of early discontinuation. Patients receiving anthracyclines had higher rates of hospitalizations during chemotherapy (RR: 1.79; 95% CI, 1.11-2.89).

Conclusion

Toxicities are the most common reason for treatment modifications and need close monitoring in high-risk groups for timely intervention. Dose reductions and early treatment discontinuations occurred more for Black patients and need further study.
Visualizing Music with Video Game Technologies
Authors: Weinel Jonathan
Published: June 2024

Jonathan Weinel examines the use of video game engines for purposes other than gaming: specifically, how the software can be used for the purposes of visualizing music in scenarios such as audiovisual installations and concerts. The chapter outlines the early history of music visualization and music visualization’s relationship to multimodal perception and synesthesia, and then shows how video game engines can be used for the visualization of music in pedagogical contexts far removed from game development education. Weinel identifies a new paradigm emerging where older means of visualizing music are reinvigorated with the interactive possibilities and mechanics offered by video game engines.
Beyond Nerdcore
Authors: Lumumba-Kasongo Enongo
Published: June 2024

Using interviews with practitioners, while also drawing on personal experience, Enongo Lumumba-Kasongo explores the vibrant music subgenre of gamer-rap, focusing on the experiences of artists of color. As Lumumba-Kasongo uncovers, in the past decade, such artists had to navigate a path that risked either alienating non-Black audiences (due to the subgenre’s proximity to nerd/geek rap) or undermining their credibility in the wider world of hip-hop. As gamer-rap becomes more mainstream through lucrative deals with game studios and record labels, Lumumba-Kasongo sets out to bear witness to those artists who laid the foundation for this growth but have been largely ignored in academic scholarship and the nerd/geek rap scene.
Game Noir
Authors: Collins Jacob
Published: June 2024

Jazz soundtracks in film-noir-inspired detective video games are the focus of Jacob Collins’s chapter. The use of jazz in such games is leveraged by game developers to quickly convey framing information to players, a device adapted from the use of jazz in cinematic genres such as film noir and the later neonoir, but, as Collins notes, such tropes and clichés can be problematic. The chapter demonstrates how jazz is used to frame these games in the noir genre, but Collins also shows how the use of jazz in game noir can all too often reinforce and play to the racist and misogynistic stereotypes that came to be associated with the music through its representation in early film noir.
Taking a Pop at Ludonarratology
Authors: Ivănescu Andra
Published: June 2024

Andra Ivănescu’s chapter examines the relevance of narrative theories to an understanding of music in video games. Ivănescu acknowledges the debates and criticism surrounding the relationships between narrative and the fields of musicology and game studies, while arguing that narrative theories and narratological approaches can serve to enrich the field of ludomusicology. Concentrating on the use of popular music in games, Ivănescu shows that this use not only provides worthwhile ludic and musical experiences to players but also narrative experiences, and thus narrative, at least in the intersection between popular music and video games, is a productive field of inquiry for researchers.
Embeddedness and the psychological nature of default reason: On how particularists should address the flattening objection
Authors: Tsu Peter Shiu-Hwa
Published: June 2024

Particularism is widely conceived to endorse the view that moral reason is context-dependent. This being so, it is often accused of flattening the moral landscape—treating the feature of promise-keeping as constituting no more of a (moral) reason for action than the feature of wearing a yellow shoelace in advance of the considerations of the contexts. In reply, Dancy maintains that his particularism allows some features such as promise-keeping to have a reason status by default, ontologically speaking; it is just that their default reason status might get ‘switched off’ in some contexts. In this paper, I will argue that Dancy's ontological understanding of default reason wouldn't help the particularists address the flattening objection, due to a violation of what Tsu calls ‘the embedded thesis’, which is a general constraint on how moral reason behaves. However, once the nature of default reason is correctly understood as psychological, particularism will be enabled to deflate the flattening objection, or so I will argue.
Identifying oncology caregivers' pretreatment educational and emotional needs to inform future virtual reality educational interventions
Authors: Birkhoff Susan D. , Donovan Heidi , Lee Young Ji
Published: June 2024

Purpose:

To identify oncology caregivers' unmet educational needs for the development of a virtual reality experience.

Methods:

A qualitative descriptive methodology was used; data were collected via online surveys.

Results:

Eighteen participants said their educational experiences were overwhelming and emotionally exhausting. They suggested a need to deliver educational information through different modalities and provide more clinician-based resources and support.

Conclusion:

This study identified opportunities to complement traditional pretreatment education tailored to the caregivers' needs and experiences, such as specific procedural information and emotional management while being a caregiver. Creating virtual reality experiences exclusively for oncology caregivers is a novel nurse-led approach that is currently not in existence.
Nepali Translation, Validity and Reliability Study of the Cohen-Hoberman Inventory of Physical Symptoms for Utilization With Bhutanese Refugees
Authors: Walton Lori Maria , Hakim Renee , Schwartz Jennifer , Raigangar Veena , Zaaeed Najah , Neff-Futrell Sarah
Published: June 2024

Background and Objectives:

Language-appropriate outcome measurements help to improve health equity. The purpose of this study was to translate and validate the Cohen-Hoberman Inventory of Physical Symptoms (CHIPS) in Nepali for Bhutanese refugee utilization.

Methods:

English-Nepali forward and back translations of CHIPS were completed by an official translator and evaluated by three content experts. A scaled rubric measured the following constructs: neurogenic stress response (NSR), somatic stress response (SSR), and visceral stress response (VSR). Data were analyzed using SPSS 26.0.

Results:

The Nepali version of CHIPS reported good content validity, strong internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = .94), and inter-rater reliability (ICC = 0.91). Kappa statistic reported 88% to 96% agreement. Constructs of NSR (0.91), SSR (0.94), and VSR (0.94) reported strong internal consistency.

Conclusions:

The Nepali translated version of CHIPS showed strong validity and reliability for utilization in the Bhutanese refugee population and improves health access to outcome measurements for a vulnerable population.
Update on Managing the Risks of Exposure to Lentiviral and Retroviral Vectors
Authors: Fujimoto Gary R. , Wooley Dawn P. , Byers Karen B. , Yang Otto O. , Behrman Amy J. , Winters Thomas H. , Hudson T. Warner
Published: June 2024

Objective

This paper aims to review the risks associated with using lentiviral and retroviral vectors in research and clinical settings and to propose an update to an effective treatment plan.

Methods

Risks of exposure were evaluated based on vector design, safety features, viral tropism, transgene, and means and modes of transmission. These risks were weighed against the potential risks and benefits of current HIV medications.

Results

We recommend the following postexposure prophylactic treatment for significant lentiviral vector exposures: 1) dolutegravir 50 mg taken once a day for 7 days and 2) tenofovir disoproxil fumarate 300 mg taken once a day for 7 days (28 days of both medications for replication-competent vectors).

Conclusions

Because of the highly efficient delivery of transgenes by modern lentiviral and retroviral vectors, postexposure prophylaxis is indicated to prevent vector integration and oncogenic risks.
Safety and efficacy of intrawound vancomycin powder in the prevention of lumbar surgical site infection: a prospective, double-blind, randomized controlled study
Authors: Han Bo , Lu Hongyi , Pan Aixing , Guan Li , Cheng Fengqi , Zhao Mingzheng , Chu Shuilian , Hai Yong , Liu Yuzeng
Published: June 2024

Background:

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of intrawound vancomycin powder in reducing surgical site infections (SSIs) after spine surgery.

Design:

A prospective, double-blind, randomized controlled study.

Participants:

Patients who underwent posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) surgery from May 2021 to September 2022.

Methods:

Patients who underwent PLIF surgery between May 2021 and September 2022 were included. Participants were randomized to the vancomycin treatment or control groups using block randomization (block size 4). Except for baseline and surgical data, the plasma levels of white blood cells, C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and serum vancomycin concentration in the groups were analyzed on postoperative days (PODs) 1, 3, and 5. Vancomycin concentration was measured daily until the drainage tubes were removed. The primary outcomes were the 90-day vancomycin-related adverse reactions and SSI rates. Secondary outcomes were perioperative hematological parameters and vancomycin serum (drain) concentrations.

Results:

A total of 156 participants (78 each in each group) were analyzed by an independent researcher. The follow-up rate was 91%. All participants were followed up for at least 90 days. The 90-day SSI rate in the vancomycin group was 1.3% (1/78), comprising one case of superficial infection. The SSI rate in the control group was 10.3% (8/78), comprising seven cases of superficial infection and one case of deep infection. Compared with that in the control group, the SSI rate in the vancomycin group was decreased by 87.5%, with a statistically significant difference (RR=0.125, 95% CI=0.016–0.976). Additionally, the vancomycin group demonstrated a statistically significant decrease in serum ESR on POD 3 (P=0.039) and CRP on POD 5 (P=0.024) compared to the control group. The local plasma concentration of vancomycin remained elevated for at least 4 days postoperatively, while the serum concentration of vancomycin remained low. Vancomycin-associated adverse reactions were not observed.

Conclusion:

Intrawound application of vancomycin powder is a safe and effective procedure for reducing the risk of SSI during PLIF surgery.
Prognostic factors of extracorporeal shockwave therapy in the treatment of nonunion in long bones: a retrospective study
Authors: Wu Kuan-Ting , Cheng Jai-Hong , Jhan Shun-Wun , Chen Po-Cheng , Wang Ching-Jen , Chou Wen-Yi
Published: June 2024

Background:

Nonunion of long bone fractures is a significant complication following surgical fixation, with an incidence ranging from 5 to 10%. Surgical intervention is the standard treatment for nonunions, but it may come with potential complications. Nonoperative approaches, such as Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT), have been advocated as alternatives.

Methods:

In the retrospective study conducted between January 2004 and January 2018, 91 patients who underwent ESWT for tibia or femur nonunions were included. Nonunion was defined based on radiographic criteria and clinical symptoms. The nonunion morphology was categorized as hypertrophic, oligotrophic, or atrophic. ESWT was administered using the OssaTron device in a single treatment session. Bony union was defined as the presence of a bridging callus over the fracture site with more than three-fourths of the circumference in both planes within the 12-month postoperative period.

Results:

The study included 91 patients, with an overall union rate of 62.6%. A higher healing rate was observed in trophic nonunion(69.9%) than in atrophic nonunion(33.3%). Multivariate analysis identified the number of surgeries, maximum fracture gap, and atrophic nonunion as independent factors influencing the risk of fracture nonunion after ESWT. The receiver operating characteristic curves were generated for these factors, providing more than one surgical intervention, and fracture gap greater than 3.94 mm as negative predictors of ESWT for long bone nonunions.

Conclusion:

The study’s primary findings suggest that ESWT is effective in achieving bony union for nonunions in long bones(62.6%). Despite the overall positive results, the study highlights that atrophic nonunions, larger fracture gaps of more than 3.94 mm, and multiple surgeries are associated with poorer outcomes.
The dynamics of drowning
Authors: Lareau Stephanie A. , Haines Carver , Sotelo Matthew , Davis Christopher A.
Published: June 2024

Drowning is the process of respiratory impairment from immersion or submersion in a liquid. Worldwide, approximately 360,000 deaths annually can be attributed to drowning. Morbidity and mortality are a result of hypoxia, so the focus during resuscitation should be on airway management and optimizing oxygenation. This article describes several drowning scenarios and discusses appropriate response and treatment algorithms.
Vision-related quality of life, photoaversion, and optical rehabilitation in achromatopsia
Authors: Andersen Mette Kjøbæk Gundestrup , Jordana Joaquim Torner , Nielsen Hanne , Gundestrup Svend , Kessel Line
Published: June 2024

SIGNIFICANCE

We report on photoaversion and patient-reported quality of life in Danish patients with achromatopsia and evaluate the best optical rehabilitation. Our results contribute to the evaluation of outcome measures in therapy trials and aid in providing the best optical rehabilitation for patients with this and clinically similar conditions.

PURPOSE

This study aimed to investigate the vision-related quality of life, the impact of photoaversion on daily living, and the best optical rehabilitation in a cohort of achromatopsia patients, including testing the hypothesis that red light-attenuating filters are generally preferred.

METHODS

Patients with genetically verified achromatopsia were recruited. Investigations included the 25-item Visual Function Questionnaire and supplementary questions regarding photoaversion and visual aids. Patients were evaluated by a low vision optometrist and given the choice between different light-attenuating filters. First, two specially designed red and gray filters both transmitting 6% light, and then a pre-defined broader selection of filters. Best-corrected visual acuity and contrast sensitivity were measured without filters and with the two trial filters.

RESULTS

Twenty-seven patients participated. Median 25-item Visual Function Questionnaire composite score was 73, with the lowest median score in the subscale near vision (58) and the highest in ocular pain (100). The majority of patients (88%) reported that light caused them discomfort, and 92% used aid(s) to reduce light. Ninety-six percent (26 of 27) preferred the gray filter to the red indoors; 74% (20 of 27) preferred the gray filter. Contrast sensitivity was significantly better with the gray filter compared with no filter (p=0.003) and the red filter (p=0.002).

CONCLUSIONS

Our cohort has a relatively high vision-related quality of life compared with other inherited retinal diseases, but photoaversion has a large impact on visual function. Despite what could be expected from a theoretical point of view, red filters are not generally preferred.
Synchronous Endometrial and Ovarian Endometrioid Carcinoma With MUTYH Germline Mutation: A Case Report With Genetic Analysis
Authors: Zhao Xiaoya , Song Zixiu , Liu Yan , Zheng Xianjing , Zheng Wei , Liu Congrong
Published: June 2024

Synchronous endometrial and ovarian endometrioid carcinoma, which simultaneously involves the endometrium and ovary, is a relatively rare entity among gynecological cancers. Precise diagnosis and risk stratification are crucial for disease management. We present a unique case of a 40-year-old woman diagnosed with synchronous endometrial and ovarian endometrioid carcinoma carrying a monoallelic pathogenic MUTYH germline variant. Despite the histological morphology of the right ovarian tumor exhibiting some differences compared to the uterine tumor, we identified three identical somatic mutations shared between the uterine tumor and right ovarian tumor, along with four additional mutations exclusive to the uterine tumor, through the utilization of massively parallel sequencing of a 196-gene panel. These findings enabled us to elucidate the clonal relatedness and potential clonal evolution of the tumor across the two anatomical sites. Furthermore, in accordance with the 2023 FIGO staging system, the patient was diagnosed with Stage IIIB2 uterine cancer, and consequently, adjuvant radiation and chemotherapy were administered after surgery. She is being followed periodically and is normal 15 months after surgery. To the best of our knowledge, this study presents the first case of a patient with synchronous endometrial and ovarian endometrioid carcinoma harboring a monoallelic pathogenic MUTYH germline variant.
Metabolic MRI With Hyperpolarized 13C-Pyruvate for Early Detection of Fibrogenic Kidney Metabolism
Authors: Bøgh Nikolaj , Bertelsen Lotte B. , Rasmussen Camilla W. , Bech Sabrina K. , Keller Anna K. , Madsen Mia G. , Harving Frederik , Thorsen Thomas H. , Mieritz Ida K. , Hansen Esben SS. , Wanders Alkwin , Laustsen Christoffer
Published: June 2024

Objectives

Fibrosis is the final common pathway for chronic kidney disease and the best predictor for disease progression. Besides invasive biopsies, biomarkers for its detection are lacking. To address this, we used hyperpolarized 13C-pyruvate MRI to detect the metabolic changes associated with fibrogenic activity of myofibroblasts.

Materials and Methods

Hyperpolarized 13C-pyruvate MRI was performed in 2 pig models of kidney fibrosis (unilateral ureteral obstruction and ischemia-reperfusion injury). The imaging data were correlated with histology, biochemical, and genetic measures of metabolism and fibrosis. The porcine experiments were supplemented with cell-line experiments to inform the origins of metabolic changes in fibrogenesis. Lastly, healthy and fibrotic human kidneys were analyzed for the metabolic alterations accessible with hyperpolarized 13C-pyruvate MRI.

Results

In the 2 large animal models of kidney fibrosis, metabolic imaging revealed alterations in amino acid metabolism and glycolysis. Conversion from hyperpolarized 13C-pyruvate to 13C-alanine decreased, whereas conversion to 13C-lactate increased. These changes were shown to reflect profibrotic activity in cultured epithelial cells, macrophages, and fibroblasts, which are important precursors of myofibroblasts. Importantly, metabolic MRI using hyperpolarized 13C-pyruvate was able to detect these changes earlier than fibrosis-sensitive structural imaging. Lastly, we found that the same metabolic profile is present in fibrotic tissue from human kidneys. This affirms the translational potential of metabolic MRI as an early indicator of fibrogenesis associated metabolism.

Conclusions

Our findings demonstrate the promise of hyperpolarized 13C-pyruvate MRI for noninvasive detection of fibrosis development, which could enable earlier diagnosis and intervention for patients at risk of kidney fibrosis.
FDG PET in a Patient on a GLP-1 Agonist/Insulin Secretagogue
Authors: Oldan Jorge D. , Landman Paula G. , Schroeder Jennifer A. , Khandani Amir H. , Solnes Lilja B. , Lee Carrie B. , Rowe Steven P.
Published: June 2024

With the increase in use of GLP-1 receptor agonists such as semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus) in the population, nuclear medicine physicians should be aware of the possibility of nondiagnostic FDG PET scans due to these medications, which work partly by increasing insulin secretion. We demonstrate a case where a patient’s use of such a medication presumptively led to muscular and myocardial uptake, complicating scan interpretation considerably. Clinicians should be aware of the presence of these drugs and their potential effect on biodistribution in FDG PET. Further study is needed to best understand the effects of these medications on FDG biodistribution.
Metastatic Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma of the Bartholin Gland
Authors: Gray Benjamin Cole , Gellatly Matthew James , Oldan Jorge Daniel
Published: June 2024

Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of the Bartholin gland is an exceedingly rare neoplasm. A 56-year-old woman with remote ACC resection (plus neoadjuvant chemoradiation and adjuvant chemotherapy) presented to an outside institution with shortness of breath. CT showed bilateral pulmonary nodules and mediastinal lymphadenopathy. With high clinical suspicion for metastatic disease, 18F-FDG PET/CT was performed and showed scattered nodules with mild FDG uptake along with FDG-avid mediastinal, bilateral hilar, and bilateral cervical chain lymphadenopathy. Lung biopsy of a hypermetabolic nodule confirmed metastatic ACC.
18F-FDG PET/CT Findings of a Patient With Stercoral Colitis
Authors: Şahin Özlem , Aydın Zeynep , Kerimoğlu Ülkü , Karakaşoğlu Cennet Cansel , Kaya Buğra
Published: June 2024

Stercoral colitis is a colonic inflammation caused by fecal impaction. It is now more commonly discussed in the literature due to its clinical significance, which has gained recognition in recent years. Delayed diagnosis may result in complications such as sepsis and perforation, which have a high mortality rate. Reporting incidentally detected stercoral colitis on FDG PET/CT can help prevent mortality and morbidity by enabling early diagnosis and treatment. In this case, we report on a patient with gastric cancer who was identified with stercoral colitis using FDG PET/CT data.
Unusual Achalasia Presentation Detected on 131I SPECT/CT in a Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma Patient
Authors: Hu Shengqing , Lan Xiaoli , Cao Wei , Gao Zairong , Xia Xiaotian
Published: June 2024

Various factors leading to unexpected false-positive 131I uptake have been extensively studied in patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma. In this case, we present a patient who underwent achalasia surgery and subsequently exhibited abnormal 131I uptake on SPECT/CT imaging. The patient was a known case of papillary thyroid carcinoma that suggested to 131I therapy. 131I SPECT/CT showed linear increased activity in the distended esophagus.
Brain Nocardiosis Mimicking Intracerebral Invasion on 68Ga-Pentixafor PET/CT in a Patient With Multiple Myeloma
Authors: Zhao Xiujuan , Dai Meng , Li Nuo , Zhang Jingmian , Zhao Xinming
Published: June 2024

Brain nocardiosis is an uncommon but severe disease associated with high mortality. We present a case of brain nocardiosis with elevated tracer uptake on both 68Ga-pentixafor and 18F-FDG PET/CT, mimicking intracerebral invasion of multiple myeloma. This case demonstrates that nocardiosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of brain lesions found on PET/CT with increased tracer accumulation in immunocompromised patients.
The evolution of passive dispersal versus habitat selection have differing emergent consequences in metacommunities
Authors: McPeek Mark A. , Resetarits William J. , Holt Robert D.
Published: June 2024

Dispersal among local communities is fundamental to the metacommunity concept but is only important to the metacommunity structure if dispersal causes distortions of species abundances away from what local ecological conditions favour. We know from much previous work that dispersal can cause such abundance distortions. However, almost all previous theoretical studies have only considered one species alone or two interacting species (e.g. competitors or predator and prey). Moreover, a systematic analysis is needed of whether different dispersal strategies (e.g. passive dispersal versus demographic habitat selection) result in different abundance distortion patterns, how these distortion patterns change with local food web structure, and how the dispersal propensities of the interacting species might evolve in response to one another. In this article, we show using computer simulations and analytical models that abundance distortions occur in simple food webs with both passive dispersal and habitat selection, but habitat selection causes larger distortions. Additionally, patterns in the evolution of dispersal propensity in interacting species are very different for these two dispersal strategies. This study identifies that the dispersal strategies employed by interacting species critically shape how dispersal will influence metacommunity structure.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Diversity-dependence of dispersal: interspecific interactions determine spatial dynamics’.
Landscape configuration can flip species–area relationships in dynamic meta-food-webs
Authors: Ryser Remo , Chase Jonathan M. , Gauzens Benoit , Häussler Johanna , Hirt Myriam R. , Rosenbaum Benjamin , Brose Ulrich
Published: June 2024

Spatial and trophic processes profoundly influence biodiversity, yet ecological theories often treat them independently. The theory of island biogeography and related theories on metacommunities predict higher species richness with increasing area across islands or habitat patches. In contrast, food-web theory explores the effects of traits and network structure on coexistence within local communities. Exploring the mechanisms by which landscape configurations interact with food-web dynamics in shaping metacommunities is important for our understanding of biodiversity. Here, we use a meta-food-web model to explore the role of landscape configuration in determining species richness and show that when habitat patches are interconnected by dispersal, more species can persist on smaller islands than predicted by classical theory. When patch sizes are spatially aggregated, this effect flattens the slope of the species–area relationship. Surprisingly, when landscapes have random patch-size distributions, the slope of the species–area relationships can even flip and become negative. This could be explained by higher biomass densities of lower trophic levels that then support species occupying higher trophic levels, which only persist on small and well-connected patches. This highlights the importance of simultaneously considering landscape configuration and local food-web dynamics to understand drivers of species–area relationships in metacommunities.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Diversity-dependence of dispersal: interspecific interactions determine spatial dynamics’.