bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of tonsillectomy in a child with obesity and obstructive sleep apnea: A case report and review of the literature
Authors: Di Filippo Paola , Orlandi Greta , Neri Giampiero , Di Pillo Sabrina , Chiarelli Francesco , Rossi Nadia , Attanasi Marina
Published: January 2023

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is an increasingly recognized disorder in children. Adenotonsillectomy is the primary surgical treatment for OSA in children with adenotonsillar hypertrophy (ATH). We present the case of an obese 4-year-old boy hospitalized for severe desaturation during sleep and severe ATH. Nasal steroid therapy proved ineffective with persistent symptoms. Polygraphy documented severe OSA with an apnea–hypopnea index (AHI) equal to 11. Tonsillectomy resulted in prompt symptom improvement and a substantial reduction of the AHI (2.2). In this case, tonsillectomy alone resulted effective in treating OSA, despite obesity. We concluded that the presence of obesity should not postpone/exclude surgical treatment of preschool children for whom ATH is the most important cause of OSA.
Application of a novel index for understanding vascular health following pharmacological intervention in a pre-clinical model of metabolic disease
Authors: Menon Nithin J. , Halvorson Brayden D. , Alimorad Gabrielle H. , Frisbee Jefferson C. , Lizotte Daniel J. , Ward Aaron D. , Goldman Daniel , Chantler Paul D. , Frisbee Stephanie J.
Published: January 2023

While a thorough understanding of microvascular function in health and how it becomes compromised with progression of disease risk is critical for developing effective therapeutic interventions, our ability to accurately assess the beneficial impact of pharmacological interventions to improve outcomes is vital. Here we introduce a novel Vascular Health Index (VHI) that allows for simultaneous assessment of changes to vascular reactivity/endothelial function, vascular wall mechanics and microvessel density within cerebral and skeletal muscle vascular networks with progression of metabolic disease in obese Zucker rats (OZR); under control conditions and following pharmacological interventions of clinical relevance. Outcomes are compared to “healthy” conditions in lean Zucker rats. We detail the calculation of vascular health index, full assessments of validity, and describe progressive changes to vascular health index over the development of metabolic disease in obese Zucker rats. Further, we detail the improvement to cerebral and skeletal muscle vascular health index following chronic treatment of obese Zucker rats with anti-hypertensive (15%–52% for skeletal muscle vascular health index; 12%–48% for cerebral vascular health index; p < 0.05 for both), anti-dyslipidemic (13%–48% for skeletal muscle vascular health index; p < 0.05), anti-diabetic (12%–32% for cerebral vascular health index; p < 0.05) and anti-oxidant/inflammation (41%–64% for skeletal muscle vascular health index; 29%–42% for cerebral vascular health index; p < 0.05 for both) drugs. The results present the effectiveness of mechanistically diverse interventions to improve cerebral or skeletal muscle vascular health index in obese Zucker rats and provide insight into the superiority of some pharmacological agents despite similar effectiveness in terms of impact on intended targets. In addition, we demonstrate the utility of including a wider, more integrative approach to the study of microvasculopathy under settings of elevated disease risk and following pharmacological intervention. A major benefit of integrating vascular health index is an increased understanding of the development, timing and efficacy of interventions through greater insight into integrated microvascular function in combination with individual, higher resolution metrics.
Evaluation of edge detection algorithm of frontal image of facial contour in plastic surgery
Authors: Yang Chunxia
Published: January 2023

With the improvement of medical levels and the continuous improvement of people’s living standards, the demand for beauty by the general public is increasing. The plastic surgery industry has also developed by leaps and bounds. People’s dissatisfaction with their own facial appearance, facial injuries and some other reasons have prompted people to carry out facial reconstruction, and facial plastic surgery has developed rapidly. However, in the current facial plastic surgery, the edge detection effect on the contour image is general. In order to improve the edge detection effect of facial contour lines in medical images, this paper proposed a facial contour line generation algorithm. First, the detection effects of four operators were compared. After comparing the effects, the Sobel operator was used as the input data to generate an edge detection algorithm. Then, the grayscale features of the tissue in the image and the symmetry of the image were used to perform bidirectional contour tracking on the detected image to extract facial contour lines. In addition, for facial contour features, the midpoint method can be used to generate auxiliary contours. The algorithm was verified by a set of facial CT (Computed Tomography) images in the experiment. The results showed that the new generation algorithm accelerated the edge detection speed, had good denoising performance, and enhanced the edge detection effect by about 12.05% compared with the traditional edge detection algorithm. The validity and practicability of facial edge detection were verified, and it provided a theoretical basis for further realizing the design of a facial contour digital image processing system.
Combining ability and heterosis studies for grain iron and zinc concentrations in pearl millet [Cenchrus americanus (L). Morrone]
Authors: Thribhuvan R. , Singh S. P. , Sankar Mukesh S. , Singh Anju M. , Mallik M. , Singhal Tripti , Meena Jitendra Kumar , Satyavathi C. Tara
Published: January 2023

Iron (Fe) and zinc (Zn) deficiency has been identified as a major food-related health issue, affecting two billion people globally. Efforts to enhance the Fe and Zn content in food grains through plant breeding are an economic and sustainable solution to combat micronutrient deficiency in resource-poor populace of Asia and Africa. Pearl millet, Cenchrus americanus (L). Morrone, considered as a hardy nutri-cereal, is the major food crop for millions of people of these nations. As an effort to enhance its grain mineral content, an investigation was conducted using line × tester analysis to generate information on the extent of heterosis, gene action, combining ability for grain yield potential, and grain mineral nutrients (Fe and Zn). The partitioning of variance attributable to parents indicated that the lines and testers differed significantly for the traits studied. For most of the attributes, hybrids that were superior to the parents in the desired direction in terms of per se performance were identified. The analysis of combining ability variance indicated the preponderance of both additive and non-additive genetic effects. Thus, reciprocal recurrent selection can be used to develop a population with high–grain Fe and Zn contents. The Fe and Zn content in grain exhibited a highly significant and positive association between them, whereas the Fe and Zn contents individually showed a negative, albeit weak, correlation with grain yield and a moderate positive relation with grain weight. This indicates that mineral nutrient contents in grains can be improved without significant compromise on yield. The consistency of these trends across the environment suggests that these findings could be directly used as guiding principles for the genetic enhancement of Fe and Zn grain content in pearl millet.
Memory or acclimation of water stress in pea rely on root system's plasticity and plant's ionome modulation
Authors: Jacques Cécile , Girodet Sylvie , Leroy Fanny , Pluchon Sylvain , Salon Christophe , Prudent Marion
Published: January 2023

Introduction

Peas, as legume crops, could play a major role in the future of food security in the context of worldwide human nutrient deficiencies coupled with the growing need to reduce consumption of animal products. However, pea yields, in terms of quantity and quality (i.e. grain content), are both susceptible to climate change, and more specifically to water deficits, which nowadays occur more frequently during crop growth cycles and tend to last longer. The impact of soil water stress on plant development and plant growth is complex, as its impact varies depending on soil water availability (through the modulation of elements available in the soil), and by the plant’s ability to acclimate to continuous stress or to memorize previous stress events.

Method

To identify the strategies underlying these plant responses to water stress events, pea plants were grown in controlled conditions under optimal water treatment and different types of water stress; transient (during vegetative or reproductive periods), recurrent, and continuous (throughout the plant growth cycle). Traits related to water, carbon, and ionome uptake and uses were measured and allowed the identification typical plant strategies to cope with water stress.

Conclusion

Our results highlighted (i) the common responses to the three types of water stress in shoots, involving manganese (Mn) in particular, (ii) the potential implications of boron (B) for root architecture modification under continuous stress, and (iii) the establishment of an “ecophysiological imprint” in the root system via an increase in nodule numbers during the recovery period.
Divergent adaptations of leaf functional traits to light intensity across common urban plant species in Lanzhou, northwestern China
Authors: Yang Ketong , Chen Guopeng , Xian Junren , Chang Hailong
Published: January 2023

Leaves are the most important photosynthetic organs in plants. Understanding the growth strategy of leaves in different habitats is crucial for elucidating the mechanisms underlying plant response and adaptation to the environment change. This study investigated the scaling relationships of the laminar area (LA), leaf fresh mass (LFM), leaf dry mass (LDM), and explored leaf nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) content in leaves, and the relative benefits of these pairwise traits in three common urban plants (Yulania denudata, Parthenocissus quinquefolia, and Wisteria sinensis) under different light conditions, including (full-sun and canopy-shade). The results showed that: the scaling exponent of LDM vs LA (> 1, p < 0.05) meant that the LDM increased faster than LA, and supported the hypothesis of diminishing returns. The LFM and LDM had isometric relationships in all the three species, suggesting that the leaf water content of the leaves was nearly unaltered during laminar growth. Y. denudata and W. sinensis had higher relative benefit in full-sun habitats, while the reverse was observed in P. quinquefolia. The N and P content and the N:P ratio in full-sun leaves were generally higher than those of canopy-shade leaves. The leaves of the three urban plants exhibited a shift in strategy during transfer from the canopy shaded to the sunny habitat for adapting to the lower light conditions. The response of plant leaves to the environment shapes the rich variations at the leaf level, and quantification of the relative benefits of plants in different habitats provides novel insights into the response and adaptation strategies of plants.
Running to get “lost”? Two types of escapism in recreational running and their relations to exercise dependence and subjective well-being
Authors: Stenseng Frode , Steinsholt Ingvild Bredvei , Hygen Beate Wold , Kraft Pål
Published: January 2023

Escapism is a fundamental motivation in many forms of activity engagements. At its core, escapism is “a habitual diversion of the mind … as an escape from reality or routine”. Accordingly, escapism may entail many adaptive and maladaptive psychological antecedents, covariates, and outcomes. However, few studies have been conducted on escapism as a motivational mindset in running. Here, in a sample of recreational runners (N = 227), we applied a two-dimensional model of escapism, comprising self-expansion (adaptive escapism) and self-suppression (maladaptive escapism), and examined how they were related to exercise dependence and subjective well-being. First, confirmatory factor analyses showed that the escapism dimensions were highly diversifiable in the sample. Then, correlational analyses showed that self-expansion was positively correlated to subjective well-being, whereas self-suppression was negatively related to well-being. Self-suppression was more strongly related to exercise dependence compared to self-expansion. Finally, path analyses evidenced an explanatory role of self-expansion and self-suppression in the inverse relationship between exercise dependence and well-being. In conclusion, the present findings support escapism as a relevant framework for understanding the relationship between exercise dependence in running and subjective well-being.
Exploring the relative contributions of learning motivations and test perceptions to autonomous English as a foreign language learning and achievement
Authors: Liu Xiaohua , Dong Manxia
Published: January 2023

Past studies on the contributions of language learning motivations and test perceptions to language learning have been conducted relatively independently, with few simultaneously gauging the relative effects of these two types of variables on learning behaviors and outcome. In contexts where testing plays a significant role in language education, it is argued that both types of variables are likely to influence language learning. Through a series of multiple regression analyses, this study juxtaposed the relative effects of three types of language learning motivation (i.e., integrative, development and requirement motivation) and two types of perception of a high-stakes English test on Chinese high school students’ (n = 3,105) EFL learning practice and achievement, casting fresh lights on the motivational factors that may drive EFL learning. More specifically, it was found that integrative and development motivations were the major drives behind students’ overall effort expenditure on EFL learning for Year 1 students. For students from higher grades who were more closely confronted with the test, however, the effect of development motivation diminished and that of perceived test validity increased. The same pattern applied to students’ reported learning achievement. The motivational profiles behind each specific type of learning practice and their variational patterns across grades were also found to differ. Implications for both research and educational practice are discussed.
Research on the design and application of “MOOC + flipped classroom” for basketball courses in colleges and universities from the perspective of education modernization
Authors: Hu Ti , Liu Hong , Xia Fan
Published: January 2023

Background

The wave of education information based on the “Internet+” has swept the world, and the traditional teaching mode can no longer meet the new needs of education teaching, so the teaching mode of “MOOC+ flipped classroom” has attracted widespread attention educators.

Objective

This study explores the effect of “MOOC+ flipped classroom” on the teaching design and application of basketball courses in colleges and universities from the perspective of education modernization in order to promote the development of students’ core literacy and provide a more theoretical basis and practical support for the in-depth research and promotion of “MOOC+ flipped classroom” teaching mode.

Methods

This study adopts a quasi-experimental design to study the teaching of basketball courses in colleges and universities based on “MOOC +flipped classroom.” The experimental class adopted “MOOC+ flipped classroom” teaching (34 students), and the control group adopted traditional classroom teaching (30 students). Before and after the 16-week intervention, the student’s learning effects were measured by basketball skill level assessment, Cooperation Ability Scale for University Students, Utrecht Work Engagement Scale-student, and Self-regulated Learning Scale, and the data were analyzed by independent sample t-test and repeated-measures ANOVA.

Conclusion

(1) Compared with the traditional classroom teaching mode, the “MOOC+ flipped Classroom” teaching mode is innovative in terms of teaching philosophy, teaching resources, and teaching methods, which promotes the change of education informatization and further promotes the realization of education modernization. (2) The “MOOC+ flipped classroom”-based teaching design for basketball courses benefits students’ basketball skill level, study engagement, cooperation ability, and self-regulated learning ability, thus effectively promoting the students’ core literacy.
Family and social class differences in sports behavior motivation among college students: An empirical study based on the latent class model
Authors: Liu Liping , Chen Shanping , Yang Xueyan , Yang Yuqing
Published: January 2023

Objective

This article aims to explore the potential categories of college students’ sports behavior motivation and the differences between different family social classes on potential categories.

Participants

In total, 1,092 college students were investigated in this study.

Methods

This article used the “College Students’ Sports Behavior Motivation Questionnaire” to survey 1,092 college students using the whole group sampling method. The potential profile analysis method was applied to classify the types of college students’ sports behavior motivation and further analyze the characteristics of different family social classes and sports behavior motivation.

Results

College students’ sports behavior motivation types can be divided into the following four categories: “low motivation type” (0.82%), “healthy appearance type” (11.45%), “healthy fun type” (37.36%), and “high motivation type” (50.37%). The higher the family’s social class, the more the sports behavior motivation of college students tends to be healthy appearance, health, fun, and high motivation. The lower the family social class, the more motivational sports behavior of college students tends to be low motivation. The better the perception of health, the higher the probability that college students belong to the high-motivation type. The fewer chronic diseases that college students have are associated with a healthy appearance and high motivation.

Conclusion

There is a certain relationship between the type of college students’ sports behavior motivation and their family social class. Therefore, in school physical education, we should open all kinds of sports activities according to college students’ sports behavior motivation needs and focus on college students with lower family social class in order to intervene precisely on their motivation for sports behaviors, improve participation, and promote the overall health of college students.
Investigating accountability for Artificial Intelligence through risk governance: A workshop-based exploratory study
Authors: Hohma Ellen , Boch Auxane , Trauth Rainer , Lütge Christoph
Published: January 2023

Introduction

With the growing prevalence of AI-based systems and the development of specific regulations and standardizations in response, accountability for consequences resulting from the development or use of these technologies becomes increasingly important. However, concrete strategies and approaches of solving related challenges seem to not have been suitably developed for or communicated with AI practitioners.

Methods

Studying how risk governance methods can be (re)used to administer AI accountability, we aim at contributing to closing this gap. We chose an exploratory workshop-based methodology to investigate current challenges for accountability and risk management approaches raised by AI practitioners from academia and industry.

Results and Discussion

Our interactive study design revealed various insights on which aspects do or do not work for handling risks of AI in practice. From the gathered perspectives, we derived 5 required characteristics for AI risk management methodologies (balance, extendability, representation, transparency and long-term orientation) and determined demands for clarification and action (e.g., for the definition of risk and accountabilities or standardization of risk governance and management) in the effort to move AI accountability from a conceptual stage to industry practice.
The mediating effect of resilience on mental health literacy and positive coping style among Chinese empty nesters: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Song Li , Wang Yujie , Zhang Qinghua , Yin Jinyu , Gan Wei , Shang Siyi , Qi Lingxia , Chen Shengguang , Liu Tongtong
Published: January 2023

Objectives

Empty nesters in China have limited mental health literacy (MHL), which may lead to poorer health outcomes. Studies demonstrate that MHL is associated with both resilience and positive coping style. However, the potential mechanism of MHL, resilience and positive coping style remain unclear. Therefore, the study aims to investigate the possible mediating role of resilience in the relationship between MHL and positive coping style.

Method

In this cross-sectional study, a total of 363 empty nesters from Huzhou, China were surveyed in 2022. The Chinese version of Mental Health Literacy Scale (C-MHLS), the Chinese version of 10-item Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC-10) and the Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire (SCSQ-19) were used to assess MHL, resilience, and positive coping style, respectively.

Results

Positive coping style was significantly correlated with MHL and resilience, and MHL was positively correlated with resilience (p < 0.01). MHL can significantly and positively predict the positive coping style, and resilience played a partial intermediary role between MHL and positive coping style, with the intermediary effect of 77.36%.

Conclusion

This study indicates that MHL not only directly affected positive coping style, but also indirectly influences positive coping style by increasing the resilience of empty nesters. The results provide an empirical evidence for the development of intervention programs to improve positive coping style directly and indirectly. Consequently, community health servicers should take targeted measures which focus on MHL and resilience as breakthrough points to stimulate positive coping style of empty nesters, and ultimately achieve their overall well-being.
Efficacy of a multimodal lifestyle intervention (The Lift Project) for improving the mental health of individuals with an affective mood disorder living in South Africa
Authors: Oakes-Cornellissen Amanda , Morton Darren , Rankin Paul , Renfrew Melanie
Published: January 2023

Background

Affective disorders are becoming more pervasive worldwide, including in Southern Africa, where treating patients with these conditions is challenging due to social and financial constraints. A variety of non-pharmacological approaches including lifestyle medicine (e.g., exercise, nutrition, sleep) and positive psychology practices (e.g., gratitude, service), are effective for treating mental health (MH) conditions.

Methods

Twenty-six individuals from South Africa with a diagnosed MH condition participated in a 10-week multimodal intervention incorporating a diverse range of non-pharmacological strategies for improving MH. MH metrics were assessed pre-and post-intervention, including general MH, vitality/energy (VIT), depression, anxiety, stress, and satisfaction with life. MH and VIT were also measured weekly.

Results

Improvements were observed in all mental metrics from pre-to post-intervention: MH (59%, p < 0.001, Cohen’s D = 1.36), VIT (110%, p < 0.001, Cohen’s D = 1.71), depression (−46%, p < 0.001, Cohen’s D = −1.06), anxiety (−48%, p < 0.001, Cohen’s D = −1.21), stress (−36%, p < 0.001, Cohen’s D = −1.08) and life satisfaction (23%, p < 0.001, Cohen’s D = 0.66). Significant improvements in MH and VIT were observed after only 1 week of the intervention and progressively increased until the seventh week, after which further improvements were not statistically significant.

Conclusion

The findings of this cohort study indicate that a multimodal intervention that incorporates lifestyle and positive psychology practices may benefit individuals living with an affective disorder. Non-pharmacological, multimodal interventions might offer a stigma-free way of providing MH promotion and treatment at a population level.
Lived experiences matter: The role of mental health professionals’ psychological crises and vulnerability in shaping their health beliefs and concepts
Authors: Ponew Angel , Brieger Anna , Lust Christian , Speerforck Sven , von Peter Sebastian , Stuetzle Stefan
Published: January 2023

Background

Mental health professionals are often affected by mental health problems and disorders. Yet, the effects of these lived experiences on their causal beliefs and health concepts have not been investigated. The current study investigates how professionals’ lived depressive experiences and their perceived vulnerability to mental illness affect their causal beliefs about mental disorders, their general concept of mental health and their specific concepts of depression and burnout.

Methods

An online survey was conducted with 218 mental health professionals from 18 psychiatric clinic departments in the German federal states of Berlin and Brandenburg, investigating their experiences with depression, self-assessed vulnerability, their causal beliefs of mental illness, their general health concept and specific illness concepts of depression and burnout. A path model was calculated to examine the relationships between these variables. Participants with and without lived experience of depression were grouped.

Results

Lived experience of depression was indicated by 126 participants. For participants with no experience of depression, perceived vulnerability negatively predicted beliefs in biological causation, which positively predicted higher differentiation between depression and burnout. For participants with previous depression experiences, perceived vulnerability positively predicted beliefs in psychological and social causation. Continuum belief was predicted only in this group by the three variables of causal beliefs. Psychological and social causation was positively associated, while biological causes were negatively associated with continuum beliefs.

Conclusion

Mental health professionals are not external to the clinical situation. Their lived experiences do matter, shaping their beliefs and concepts and, thus, possibly also their actions toward patients.
Sexually transmitted infections on the border between Brazil and French Guiana
Authors: Nacher Mathieu , Divino Flavia , Leborgne Cyril , Correa Valmir , Rabier Sébastien , Lucarelli Aude , Rhodes Sophie , Gaillet Mélanie , Malafaia Dorinaldo , Rousseau Cyril , Sanna Alice , Gomes Margarete , Adenis Antoine , Peiter Paulo , Michaud Céline
Published: January 2023

Purpose

The border between the State of Amapa, Brazil, and French Guiana is mostly primary forest. In the Oyapock basin, socioeconomic circumstances have fueled sex work, gold mining and the circulation of sexually transmitted infections. Given the lack of comprehensive data on this border area, we describe the different sexually transmitted infections along the Brazil/French Guiana border and the testing and care activity.

Methods

We conducted a review of the available scientific and technical literature on sexually transmitted infections in this complex border area. Temporal trends were graphed and for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) we estimated incidence using the European Center for prevention and Disease Control modeling tool.

Results

Until 2019, 26 of the 46 HIV-infected patients followed and treated in Saint Georges de l'Oyapock were residing on the Brazilian side in Oiapoque. Virological suppression was only achieved for 75% of treated patients; but dropped to 62% during the COVID-19 epidemic. In 2019, cooperation efforts allowed HIV care in Oiapoque, resulting in the transfer of Brazilian patients previously followed on the French side and a substantial increase in the number of patients followed in Oiapoque. The average yearly HIV serological testing activity at the health center in Saint Georges was 16 tests per 100 inhabitants per year; in Camopi it was 12.2 per 100 inhabitants. Modeling estimated the number of persons living with HIV around 170 persons, corresponding to a prevalence of 0.54% and about 40 undiagnosed infections. The model also suggested that there were about 12 new infections per year in Saint Georges and Oiapoque, representing an HIV incidence rate of 3.8 cases per 10,000 per year. HPV prevalence in Saint Georges ranges between 25 and 30% and between 35 and 40% in Camopi. Testing activity for other sexually transmitted infections markedly increased in the past 5 years; the introduction of PCR for chlamydiasis and gonorrhea also had a substantial impact on the number of diagnoses.

Conclusions

The ongoing cooperation between multiple partners on both sides of the border has led to remarkable progress in primary prevention, in testing efforts, in treatment and retention on both sides of the border. In a region with intense health professional turnover, nurturing cooperation and providing accurate assessments of the burden of sexually transmitted infections is essential to tackle a problem that is shared on both sides of the border.
Braces versus casts for post-operational immobilization of ankle fractures: A meta-analysis
Authors: Li Bin , Xie Jianying , Zhang Zhengmao , Liu Quanyong , Xu Jialie , Yang Chenxi
Published: January 2023

Background and aims

Both casts and braces can be used for post-operational immobilization of ankle fractures. This meta-analysis aimed to assess the complications and functional effects of the two types of immobilization.

Material and methods

PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, and CNKI was searched for randomized controlled trials (published between Jan 1, 1950, and March 2022). Relative risk (RR) or standard mean difference (SMD) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to present the outcomes. The pooled data were assessed by using the fixed-effects model or random-effects model.

Results

A total of 5 randomized controlled studies involving 930 subjects were included according to our inclusion criteria. On the ankle score at 6w,12w and 52w, there was no statistically significant difference between the two groups. In terms of 6w, the brace group showed better ankle dorsiflexion (MD = 6.78, 95% CI 0.56–13.00, p = 0.03) and plantar flexion (MD = 6.58, 95% CI 1.60–11.55, p = 0.01) than the cast group. The wound complications (RR = 3.49, 95% CI 1.32 to 9.24, p = 0.01) and total complications (RR = 3.54, 95% CI 1.92 to 6.50, p < 0.0001) in the brace group were three times more than that in the cast group. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in the non-wound complications. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in the time of going back to work, swelling of the ankle, and atrophy of the calf muscle.

Conclusion

The short-term and long-term functional outcomes after postoperative treatment of adult ankle fractures with braces are similar to those with casts. The usage of braces may cause three times more wound complications than that of casts.
The mid-term outcomes of mobile bearing unicompartmental knee arthroplasty versus total knee arthroplasty in the same patient
Authors: Ma Jinlong , Zhang Liang , Wang Cui , Xu Kuishuai , Ren Zhongkai , Wang Tianrui , Zhang Yingze , Zhao Xia , Yu Tengbo
Published: January 2023

Objective

To compare the mid-term outcomes of unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) that was performed in one knee and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) performed in the other knee in the same stage.

Methods

This is a retrospective study. A total of 63 patients (126 knees) scheduled for one-stage knee surgery due to osteoarthritis of both knees were selected, and all patients underwent one-stage mobile platform UKA and TKA of the other knee. Differences in general clinical data, functional recovery, complications, and prosthesis revision rates were assessed after UKA and TKA, respectively. The evaluation indicators for knee joint function recovery included the hospital for special surgery knee score (HSS), Joint Forgotten Score (JFS), Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), and Visual analog scale (VAS). Patient preference between UKA and TKA was also recorded.

Results

During a mean follow-up of 76.95 months (range, 65.00 to 87.00 months), there were no significant differences in postoperative complications between the two groups (P = 0.299); however, the prosthesis revision rate was higher in the UKA group than in the TKA group (P = 0.023). The incision length, operation time, blood loss, and postoperative drainage volume in the UKA group were significantly (P < 0.001) lower than those in the TKA group: JFS, ROM, and VAS in the UKA group were higher than those in the TKA group (P < 0.001,P = 0.023,P = 0.032), HSS and KOOS in TKA group were significantly (P < 0.001) higher than those in UKA group. At the last follow-up, 40% and 24% of patients preferred TKA and UKA, respectively.

Conclusions

TKA was found to be superior to UKA in terms of HSS, KOOS, and VAS, while UKA had more significant advantages in terms of less surgical trauma, better ROM, and higher JFS. Complications were not different between groups, but UKA had a higher rate of prosthesis revision. After a follow-up of at least 5 years, more patients preferred TKA.
A complete, evidence-based review on novichok poisoning based on epidemiological aspects and clinical management
Authors: Charejoo Amirhosein , Arabfard Masoud , Jafari Amir , Nourian Yazdan Hasani
Published: January 2023

Background: The whole world has learned about the existence of a highly toxic neuro-paralytic substance called Novichok. A wide range of neuro-paralytic toxins were used during the wars of decades ago, which also had harmful and irreversible effects. Fortunately, the establishment of conventions prohibiting the use of these weapons prevented the adverse clinical consequences of these compounds. What we did in the present study was to evaluate the clinical features of Novichok, how to manage exposure to it, and to evaluate the prognostic aspects associated with this poisoning agent.

Methods: The manuscript especial databases including Medline, Web of knowledge, Google scholar, and Scopus were deeply searched by the two blinded investigators for all eligible studies based on the considered keywords. Initially 98 articles were initially collected by database searching that considering eligibility criteria, 83 articles were finally eligible for the final assessment. There is a lack of clinical trials and case-cohort studies on general population about treatment and side effects when it comes to human nerve agents and most of the data in our search is based on animal studies.

Results: In evaluating various clinical, auto physiological and prognostic aspects of exposure to these substances, special attention was necessary to the following points. First, Novichok agents are considered more potent than other toxic agents. Pathophysiologically, these agents irreversibly bind acetylcholinesterase and produce a rapid cholinergic toxidrome which is responsible for the clinical manifestations as well as the potential dangerous and life threatening side effects caused by these agents. Uniquely, these agents are thought to also target every neuron in the central and peripheral nervous system. As a managerial and therapeutic approach, early and timely treatment of its related complication along with prevents massive exposure and decontamination in addition to rapid resuscitation can prohibit debilitating neuropathy and death due to facing it.

Conclusion: The present review highlights the importance of recognizing the potential acute toxic effects of Novichok agents, diagnostic and therapeutic approaches (life-saving antidotal therapy) to complications and ultimately the application of guidelines to improve the prognosis of exposure to these agents for both victims and medical community.
A multi gene-approach genotyping method identifies 24 genetic clusters within the genotype II-European African swine fever viruses circulating from 2007 to 2022
Authors: Gallardo Carmina , Casado Nadia , Soler Alejandro , Djadjovski Igor , Krivko Laura , Madueño Encarnación , Nieto Raquel , Perez Covadonga , Simon Alicia , Ivanova Emiliya , Donescu Daniel , Milicevik Vesna , Chondrokouki Eleni , Nurmoja Imbi , Frant Maciej , Feliziani Francesco , Václavek Petr , Pileviciene Simona , Marisa Arias
Published: January 2023

Introduction

African swine fever (ASF) is a contagious viral disease of pigs and wild boar that poses a major threat to the global swine industry. The genotype II African swine fever virus (ASFV) entered the European Union (EU) in 2014 and since then fourteen countries have been affected, Italy and North Macedonia being the last in 2022. While whole genome sequencing remains the gold standard for the identification of new genetic markers, sequencing of multiple loci with significant variations could be used as a rapid and cost-effective alternative to track outbreaks and study disease evolution in endemic areas.

Materials and methods

To further our understanding of the epidemiology and spread of ASFV in Europe, 382 isolates collected during 2007 to 2022 were sequenced. The study was initially performed by sequencing the central variable region (CVR), the intergenic region (IGR) between the I73R and I329L genes and the O174L and K145R genes. For further discrimination, two new PCRs were designed to amplify the IGR between the 9R and 10R genes of the multigene family 505 (MGF505) and the IGR between the I329L and I215L genes. The sequences obtained were compared with genotype II isolates from Europe and Asia.

Results

The combination of the results obtained by sequencing these variable regions allowed to differentiate the European II-ASFV genotypes into 24 different groups. In addition, the SNP identified in the IGR I329L-I215L region, not previously described, grouped the viruses from North Macedonia that caused the 2022 outbreaks with viruses from Romania, Bulgaria, Serbia and Greece, differentiating from other genotype II isolates present in Europe and Asia. Furthermore, tandem repeat sequence (TRS) within the 9R-10R genes of the multigene family 505 (MGF505) revealed eight different variants circulating.

Discussion

These findings describe a new multi-gene approach sequencing method that can be used in routine genotyping to determine the origin of new introductions in ASF-free areas and track infection dynamics in endemic areas.
Supercritical Injection Modeling by an Incompressible but Variable Density Approach
Authors: Magalhães Leandro B. , Silva André R. R. , Barata Jorge M. M.
Published: January 2023

Supercritical nitrogen jet behavior is modeled using an incompressible but variable density approach developed for variable density jets. Following mechanical and thermal breakup concepts, several injection conditions relevant to liquid rocket propulsion are analyzed, considering heat transfer in the injector. Regarding axial density distributions, different levels of agreement with experimental data are encountered for potential core, subsided core, and plateau formations. Further comparisons with compressible formulations from the literature are a good indicator of the proposed methodology’s suitability for the simulation of supercritical injection behavior.
Toward the Design of a Representative Heater for Boiling Flow Characterization under PWR’s Prototypical Thermalhydraulic Conditions
Authors: Bernadou Louise , François Fabrice , Bottin Manon , Djeridi Henda , Barre Stephane
Published: January 2023

In order to improve the understanding of the phenomena underlying the boiling occurrence, CEA Cadarache (France) is designing a new experimental setup, intended to operate for pressures ranging from atmospheric to PWR conditions. This will allow optical access to the convective boiling flow as well as thermal imaging (infrared thermography) of the heated surface. A two-step methodology for designing the heater (particularly its thickness since it directly influences the boiling mechanisms) was developed. This approach is based on solving the heat conduction problem within the heater, considering realistic time-dependent boundary conditions representative of the boiling process. Since those boundary conditions are measured on the external face of the heater, this heat transfer problem is known as an inverse problem that is difficult to solve because of its ill-posedness and high sensitivity to boundary condition uncertainties. In the first stage, we considered one-dimensional modeling to determine the order of magnitude of the heater’s thickness that guaranteed a correct reconstruction of the wet temperature from the measured dry temperature in terms of uncertainties. This value was confirmed in the second stage using a two-dimensional model that accounted for the presence of multiple bubbles on the wet side.
Dynamics of the Magnetotail Plasma Sheet Current
Authors: Lui Anthony Tat Yin
Published: January 2023

Magnetospheric plasma can be investigated as a continuum by adopting magnetic field B and plasma flow u as primary parameters in the Bu paradigm or as a collection of individual particles by adopting electric field E and electrical current j as primary parameters in the Ej paradigm. It is pointed out that each paradigm has its merits and limitations. This viewpoint is illustrated further by examining several topics in magnetospheric research. The magnetic flux transport in substorm dipolarization is examined with the Ej paradigm to show why the Bu paradigm may be inappropriate in some cases due to the violation of the frozen-in condition for the validity of the Bu paradigm. There is no guarantee that large-scale plasma dynamics can always be treated accurately by the Bu paradigm. The disturbance revealed in the current disruption (CD) phenomenon has unique characteristics that can be more readily understood with the Ej paradigm. In a case study, the power dissipation in CD is evaluated to about an order of magnitude higher than that in the electron diffusion region associated with magnetic reconnection (MR). Two prominent plasma instabilities, namely tearing instability (TI) and cross-field current instability (CCI), are discussed and their relevance to substorm onset is evaluated. The mating instability developed conceptually is also briefly discussed. The development of azimuthal auroral beads (ABs) on auroral arcs formed prior to substorm onset is analyzed to show that CCI can predict well their wavelength, growth rate, and period simultaneously. In contrast, the observed azimuthal structures in ABs are inconsistent with TI that produces only meridian structures in the ionosphere. Overall, the physical insights gained in the Ej paradigm are helpful in achieving a deep understanding of several magnetospheric phenomena.
Advances in the Pharmacological Management of Diabetic Nephropathy: A 2022 International Update
Authors: Giglio Rosaria Vincenza , Patti Angelo Maria , Rizvi Ali Abbas , Stoian Anca Panta , Ciaccio Marcello , Papanas Nikolaos , Janez Andrej , Sonmez Alper , Banach Maciej , Sahebkar Amirhossein , Rizzo Manfredi
Published: January 2023

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is the leading cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) worldwide. Its pathogenesis encompasses functional alterations involving elevated intraglomerular and systemic pressure, increased activity of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) and oxidative stress, and the eventual development of renal fibrosis. The management of DN involves the optimization of blood pressure (BP) and blood glucose targets. However, treatment of these risk factors slows down but does not stop the progression of DN. Innovative pharmacologic therapies for dyslipidemia and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) could play a key role in bridging this gap and attenuating the residual risk of DN beyond traditional risk factor management. Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs), sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT-2is), and inhibitors of mineralocorticoid receptor-mediated sodium reabsorption are recently introduced drug classes that have been shown to have positive effects on kidney function in individuals with T2DM. The aim of this review is to provide an update on the therapeutic options available in order to prevent or slow the onset and progression of DN in diabetic patients.
Fluorescence Angiography with Dual Fluorescence for the Early Detection and Longitudinal Quantitation of Vascular Leakage in Retinopathy
Authors: Pomeroy Benjamin , Venanzi Alexander W. , Li Wei , Hackam Abigail S. , Abdulreda Midhat H.
Published: January 2023

Background: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) afflicts more than 93 million people worldwide and is a leading cause of vision loss in working adults. While DR therapies are available, early DR development may go undetected without treatment due to the lack of sufficiently sensitive tools. Therefore, early detection is critically important to enable efficient treatment before progression to vision-threatening complications. A major clinical manifestation of early DR is retinal vascular leakage that may progress from diffuse to more localized focal leakage, leading to increased retinal thickness and diabetic macular edema (DME). In preclinical research, a hallmark of DR in mouse models is diffuse retinal leakage without increased thickness or DME, which limits the utility of optical coherence tomography and fluorescein angiography (FA) for early detection. The Evans blue assay detects diffuse leakage but requires euthanasia, which precludes longitudinal studies in the same animals. Methods: We developed a new modality of ratiometric fluorescence angiography with dual fluorescence (FA-DF) to reliably detect and longitudinally quantify diffuse retinal vascular leakage in mouse models of induced and spontaneous DR. Results: These studies demonstrated the feasibility and sensitivity of FA-DF in detecting and quantifying retinal vascular leakage in the same mice over time during DR progression in association with chronic hyperglycemia and age. Conclusions: These proof-of-concept studies demonstrated the promise of FA-DF as a minimally invasive method to quantify DR leakage in preclinical mouse models longitudinally.
Intravenous Infusion of High Dose Selenite in End-Stage Cancer Patients: Analysis of Systemic Exposure to Selenite and Seleno-Metabolites
Authors: Breuer Olof , Brodin Ola , Razaghi Ali , Brodin David , Gammelgaard Bente , Björnstedt Mikael
Published: January 2023

Cancer is one of the main causes of human death globally and novel chemotherapeutics are desperately required. As a simple selenium oxide, selenite is a very promising chemotherapeutic because of pronounced its dose-dependent tumor-specific cytotoxicity. We previously published a first-in-man systematic phase I clinical trial in patients with cancer (from IV to end-stage) (the SECAR trial) showing that selenite is safe and tolerable with an unexpectable high maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and short half-life. In the present study, we analyzed the selenium species in plasma samples, from the patients participating in the SECAR trial and from various time points and dose cohorts using LC-ICP-MS. In conclusion, selenite, selenosugars, and 1–2 unidentified peaks that did not correspond to any standard, herein denoted ui-selenium, were detected in the plasma. However, trimethylated selenium (trimethylselenonoium) was not detected. The unidentified ui-selenium was eluting close to the selenium-containing amino acids (selenomethionine and selenocysteine) but was not part of a protein fraction. Our data demonstrate that the major metabolite detected was selenosugar. Furthermore, the identification of selenite even long after the administration is remarkable and unexpected. The kinetic analysis did not support that dosing per the body surface area would reduce interindividual variability of the systemic exposure in terms of trough concentrations.