bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analysis of occupational radiation dose data and determination of suitable probability distribution
Authors: Patil Sandeep , Bakshi Ashok
Published: June 2023

The first study on fitting dose data for workers was performed by Gale(  1) in 1965 where log-normal and normal distributions were used. Since then, various models of dose distribution have been proposed. The log-normal distribution and its different forms have been widely used for fitting the dose data. Most of the studies included one or two distributions under consideration. In this study five distributions are considered for fitting and four distributions are selected based on observation of Cullen–Frey graph. The Akaike’s Information criteria (AIC) and Bayesian Information criteria (BIC) are applied to find the suitable distribution to fit the occupational dose data. The maximum likelihood method was used for calculation of AIC, BIC values and parameter estimation. A computer code is written in R-language and environment for statistical computing and graphics for analysis of occupational dose data of three institutions.
Analysis of distributions reveals real differences on dichotic listening scores between left- and right-handers
Authors: Karlsson Emma M , Hugdahl Kenneth , Hirnstein Marco , Carey David P
Published: June 2023

About 95% of right-handers and 70% of left-handers have a left-hemispheric specialization for language. Dichotic listening is often used as an indirect measure of this language asymmetry. However, while it reliably produces a right-ear advantage (REA), corresponding to the left-hemispheric specialization of language, it paradoxically often fails to obtain statistical evidence of mean differences between left- and right-handers. We hypothesized that non-normality of the underlying distributions might be in part responsible for the similarities in means. Here, we compare the mean ear advantage scores, and also contrast the distributions at multiple quantiles, in two large independent samples (Ns = 1,358 and 1,042) of right-handers and left-handers. Right-handers had an increased mean REA, and a larger proportion had an REA than in the left-handers. We also found that more left-handers are represented in the left-eared end of the distribution. These data suggest that subtle shifts in the distributions of DL scores for right- and left-handers may be at least partially responsible for the unreliability of significantly reduced mean REA in left-handers.
Dissecting the effects of paraquat-induced pulmonary injury in rats using UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS-based metabonomics
Authors: Liu Xiehong , Li Chi , Hou Changmiao , Jiang Yu , Chen Fang , Zhu Yimin , Zou Lianhong
Published: June 2023

Objective

Paraquat (PQ) is a toxic compound that selectively accumulates in the lungs, inducing severe pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis. However, data on the metabolomic changes induced by the PQ remain scant. This study aimed to determine the metabolic changes in Sprague–Dawley rats subjected to PQ using UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS.

Methods

We established groups of PQ-induced pulmonary injury rats for 14 or 28 days.

Results

Our data showed that PQ decreased the survival of the rats and induced pulmonary inflammation at day 14 or pulmonary fibrosis at day 28. There was upregulation of IL-1β expression in the inflammation group as well as upregulation of fibronectin, collagen and α-SMA in the pulmonary fibrosis group. OPLS-DA revealed differential expression of 26 metabotites between the normal and the inflammation groups; 31 plasma metabotites were also differently expressed between the normal and the fibrosis groups. There was high expression of lysoPc160-, hydroxybutyrylcarnitine, stearic acid, and imidazolelactic acid in the pulmonary injury group compared to the normal group.

Conclusion

Metabolomics analysis confirmed that the PQ-induced lung injury was not only related to the aggravation of inflammation and apoptosis but also to mediated histidine, serine, glycerophospholipid, and lipid metabolism. This study gives insights into the mechanisms of PQ-induced lung injury and highlights the potential therapeutic targets.

Nonstructured abstract

The effect of PQ on lung injury in rats was detected by metabonomics, and the possible metabolic mechanism was investigated by KEGG analysis. OPLS-DA revealed the differential expression of 26 metabotites and 31 plasma metabotites between the normal and the pulmonary injury groups. Metabolomics analysis confirmed that the PQ-induced lung injury was not only related to the aggravation of inflammation and apoptosis but also to mediated histidine, serine, glycerophospholipid, and lipid metabolism. Oleoylethanolamine, stearic acid, and imidazolelactic acid are potential molecular markers in PQ-induced pulmonary injury.
Machine learning noise exposure detection of rail transit drivers using heart rate variability
Authors: Sun Zhiqiang , Liu Haiyue , Jiao Yubo , Zhang Chenyang , Xu Fang , Jiang Chaozhe , Yu Xiaozhuo , Wu Gang
Published: June 2023

Previous studies have found that drivers’ physiological conditions can deteriorate under noise conditions, which poses a potential hazard when driving. As a result, it is crucial to identify the status of drivers when exposed to different noises. However, such explorations are rarely discussed with short-term physiological indicators, especially for rail transit drivers. In this study, an experiment involving 42 railway transit drivers was conducted with a driving simulator to assess the impact of noise on drivers’ physiological responses. Considering the individuals’ heterogeneity, this study introduced drivers’ noise annoyance to measure their self-noise-adaption. The variances of drivers’ heart rate variability (HRV) along with different noise adaptions are explored when exposed to different noise conditions. Several machine learning approaches (support vector machine, K-nearest neighbour and random forest) were then used to classify their physiological status under different noise conditions according to the HRV and drivers’ self-noise adaptions. Results indicate that the volume of traffic noise negatively affects drivers’ performance in their routines. Drivers with different noise adaptions but exposed to a fixed noise were found with discrepant HRV, demonstrating that noise adaption is highly associated with drivers’ physiological status under noises. It is also found that noise adaption inclusion could raise the accuracy of classifications. Overall, the random forests classifier performed the best in identifying the physiological status when exposed to noise conditions for drivers with different noise adaptions.
Changes in Bacterial Communities and Functions Associated with Litter Degradation During Forest Succession Caused by Forest Disease
Authors: Liu Kang , Meng Wen-jing , Qu Zhao-lei , Zhang Yue-mei , Liu Bing , Ma Yang , Chang Lin , Sun Hui
Published: June 2023

Forest succession affects aboveground vegetation and belowground microbial community composition, in which litter degradation plays an important role in nutrient cycling. However, limited information is available on how microbial communities change during litter degradation in forests undergoing succession due to disease. In this study, the bacterial communities and functions in litter degradation during the forest succession from pure Pinus forest (PPF), mixed Pinus and Liquidambar forest (MPF and MLF), and pure Liquidambar forest (PLF) were investigated. The results showed that the bacterial community richness and diversity in both needles or leaves and branch litters increased progressively with forest succession. Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Acidobacteria were the most abundant bacterial phyla in the litter degradation during forest succession. The abundance of Bacteroidetes in branches increased significantly, while the abundance of genus Paraburkholderia decreased during forest succession. The different forests formed distinct bacterial community structures during litter decomposition. Functionally, chemoheterotrophy was the most abundant functional guild, followed by nitrogen fixation, intracellular parasitism, and urealysis. The abundance of nitrogen fixation decreased significantly during forest succession. Similarly, the different forests formed distinct bacterial functional structures in the needle or leaf during the succession. However, only two functional structures were formed in the branch. These results suggest that the bacterial community and its functions undergo significant changes during forest succession, particularly from the pure-pine to mixed-pine forest. These results provide a clear understanding of the changes in bacterial communities and functions during litter degradation in forests undergoing disease-induced succession.
The Complete Genome Sequence of Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidifoliorum ICMP 18803
Authors: Templeton Matthew D. , Arshed Saadiah , Andersen Mark T. , Jayaraman Jay
Published: June 2023

The genome of Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidifoliorum ICMP18803 (Pfm) was sequenced using the Oxford Nanopore MinION platform to an average read depth of 123-fold. The genome assembled into a single chromosome of 6,353,853 bp after error correction with Illumina short reads using Pilon. No plasmids were detected. Despite Pfm only being a relatively weak pathogen of kiwifruit, a set of 31 effectors, 26 of which were full length, was identified by mapping the comprehensive effector library generated by previous researchers to the assembled chromosome. A revised Pfm genome with the effector complement correctly named and annotated was resubmitted to GenBank (CP081457).

[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license .
Targeted metabolomics unravels altered phenylalanine levels in piglets receiving total parenteral nutrition
Authors: Jiang Lu , Liu Yang , Zhou Yongchang , Xu Qingyang , Cheng Siyang , Yan Junkai , Xiao Yongtao , Han Lianshu , Wang Ying , Cai Wei
Published: June 2023

Parenteral nutrition, received by many patients with intestinal failure, can induce hepatobiliary complications, which is termed as parenteral nutrition‐associated liver disease (PNALD). The spectrum of PNALD ranges from cholestasis and steatosis to fibrosis and cirrhosis. Although many factors contribute to the pathogenesis of PNALD, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we performed targeted metabolomics to characterize the metabolomic profile in neonatal piglets receiving total parenteral nutrition (TPN) or enteral nutrition (EN) for 1 or 2 weeks. Overall, the metabolomic signature of TPN groups differed from EN groups at both time points. Among the 20 acylcarnitines identified, a majority of them were significantly reduced in TPN groups. KEGG pathway analysis showed that phenylalanine metabolism‐associated pathways were dysregulated accompanied by more progressive liver steatosis associated with TPN. Next, we evaluated phenylalanine catabolism and its association with fatty acid oxidation in piglets and rats with PNALD. We showed that the hepatic expression of phenylalanine‐degrading enzyme phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) was reduced and systemic phenylalanine levels were increased in both animal models of PNALD. Moreover, carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1A, a central regulator of fatty acid oxidation, was downregulated and its expression was negatively correlated with phenylalanine levels in TPN‐fed animals. To explore the effects of phenylalanine accumulation on lipid metabolism, we treated HepG2 cells with phenylalanine co‐cultured with sodium palmitate or soybean oil emulsion to induce lipid accumulation. We found that phenylalanine treatment exacerbated lipid accumulation by inhibiting fatty acid oxidation without affecting fatty acid synthesis. In summary, our findings establish a pathogenic role of increased phenylalanine levels in driving liver steatosis, linking dysregulation of phenylalanine catabolism with lipid accumulation in the context of PNALD.
The surgical management of scheurmann’s kyphosis: Efficacy and safety of a low density posterior pedicle screw construct
Authors: Khattab Mohamed Fawzy , Saad Moustafa Mohamed , El Hawary Youssry
Published: June 2023

Background:

To see if employing a low pedicle screw density in the posterior therapy of Scheuermann kyphosis is safe, radiologically effective, and clinically effective.

Methods:

Patients with Scheuermann kyphosis underwent posterior surgical correction between 2016 and 2019. Low Screw Density, peri apical Ponte osteotomies and cantilever correction maneuver were our surgical technique for deformity correction. Two observers performed a radiological evaluation of the before and postoperative Spinopelvic parameters. Validated Arabic version of Scoliosis Research Society 22 questionnaire were used to assess the preoperative and postoperative clinical results. Cost saving analysis was performed.

Results:

This study enlisted the participation of thirty patients. The patients mean age 21.8 ±3.4 years and mean follow up 34.8±7.9 months. The mean surgical time was 165.33 ±17.9 minutes , the mean number of osteotomies was 4.2± 0.8 , and the mean blood loss was 770± 139.3cc.The mean preoperative dorsal kyphosis 87.5°±4.6 °and the mean postoperative dorsal kyphosis 43.1°± 3.7° at final follow up (P<0.001).The mean preoperative scoliosis research society 22 questionnaire 2.8±0.4 and the mean postoperative scoliosis research society 22 questionnaire 4.3±0.8 at final follow up (P<0.001).

Conclusions:

Posterior Surgical Intervention with low Screw Density construct and periapical Ponte osteotomies is safe , radiologically , clinically and cost effective way in surgical management of Scheuermann kyphosis.

Study Design:

Prospective Cohort Study.

Level of Evidence:

Level IV.
Postoperative Radiculitis After L5-S1 Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion
Authors: Araghi Kasra , Fourman Mitchell S. , Merrill Robert , Maayan Omri , Zhao Eric , Pajak Anthony , Subramanian Tejas , Kim David , Kamil Robert , Shahi Pratyush , Sheha Evan , Dowdell James , Iyer Sravisht , Qureshi Sheeraz
Published: June 2023

Study Design.

Retrospective chart review.

Objective.

This study aimed to examine postoperative radiculitis after isolated L5-S1 ALIF, determine which factors contribute to its development, and investigate the comparative outcomes of patients with vs. without postoperative radiculitis.

Summary of Background Data.

Both stand-alone and traditional anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) are common and safe lumbar spine fusion techniques. Although optimal safety and effectiveness are achieved through appropriate patient selection, postoperative radiculitis after L5-S1 ALIF is a potential complication that appears to be the least predictable in the absence of iatrogenic injury.

Methods.

All adult patients (18–80 y) with preoperative radiculopathies who underwent L5-S1 ALIF by nine board-certified spine surgeons at a single academic institution from January 2016 to December 2021 with a minimum of 3-months follow-up were included. Patient records were assessed for data on clinical characteristics and patient-reported outcome scores (PROMs). All patient records were evaluated to determine whether postoperative radiculitis developed. Radiographic measurements using X-rays were completed using all available pre-& post-operative imaging. Multivariable logistic regressions were performed utilizing radiculitis as the dependent variable and various independent predictor variables.

Results.

140 patients were included, 48 (34%) patients developed postoperative radiculitis, with symptom onset and resolution occurring at 14.5 and 83 days, respectively. The two groups had no differences in preoperative or postoperative radiographic parameters. Multivariable regression showed three independent predictors of postoperative radiculitis: methylprednisolone use [OR: 6.032; (95% CI: 1.670–25.568)], increased implant height [OR: 1.509; (95% CI: 1.189–1.960)], and no posterior fixation [OR: 2.973; (95% CI: 1.353–.806)].

Conclusion.

Of the 34% of patients who developed postoperative radiculitis following L5-S1 ALIF, it resolved on average within 3 months of surgery. These findings may help reduce the risk of undue short-term morbidity following isolated L5-S1 ALIF by informing preoperative counseling and intraoperative decision-making.
A Biological Perspective of TLR8 Signaling in Host Defense and Inflammation
Authors: Bian Funing , Yan Dong , Wu Xiaopeng , Yang Chao
Published: June 2023

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play important roles in immune responses against pathogens and tumors. Recently, TLR8 has gained attention because of its association with multiple inflammatory diseases, infections and anti-tumor responses. TLR8 senses the degradation products of single-stranded RNA from microbes and self-released RNA to induce type I interferons (IFN-Is), inflammatory gene expression and nucleotide-binding and oligomerization domain (NOD)-, leucine-rich repeat (LRR)- and pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation. So far, the understanding of TLR8 function in vivo is still limited, partially because of lacking a reliable rodent animal model. Murine Tlr8 cannot sense the ligands of human TLR8. In mammals, TLR8 distinguishes live bacteria from dead bacteria to regulate the magnitude of immune responses. Recently, TLR8 has been reported to recognize severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA to induce inflammatory responses, suggesting that TLR8 participates in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In this review, we discuss the mechanism of ligand recognition by TLR8, TLR8-mediated signaling pathways and signaling crosstalk between TLR8 and other molecules, and untangle the contribution of TLR8 to inflammatory diseases, infectious diseases, anti-tumor immunity and vaccination.
Acute upper respiratory infections admissions in England and Wales
Authors: Al Rajeh Ahmed M. , Naser Abdallah Y. , Siraj Rayan , Alghamdi Abdulrhman , Alqahtani Jaber , Aldabayan Yousef , Aldhahir Abdulelah , Al Haykan Ahmed , Elmosaad Yousif Mohammed
Published: June 2023

Acute respiratory infections block the bronchial and/or nasal systems’ airways. These infections may present in a variety of ways, from minor symptoms like the common cold to more serious illnesses like pneumonia or lung collapse. Acute respiratory infections cause over 1.3 million infant deaths under the age of 5 each year throughout the world. Among all illnesses, respiratory infections make for 6% of the worldwide disease burden. We aimed to examine the admissions related to acute upper respiratory infections admissions in England and Wales for the period between April 1999 and April 2020. This was an ecological study using publicly available data extracted from the Hospital Episode Statistics database in England, and the Patient Episode Database for Wales for the period between April 1999 and April 2020. The acute upper respiratory infections-related hospital admissions were identified using the Tenth Revision of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems 5th Edition (used by National Health Service [NHS] to classify diseases and other health conditions) (J00–J06). The total annual number of admissions for various reasons increased by 1.09-fold (from 92,442 in 1999 to 193,236 in 2020), expressing an increase in hospital admission rate of 82.5% (from 177.30 [95% confidence interval {CI}: 176.15–178.44] in 1999 to 323.57 [95%CI: 322.13–325.01] in 2020 per 100,000 persons, P < .01). The most common causes were acute tonsillitis and acute upper respiratory infections of multiple and unspecified sites, which accounted for 43.1% and 39.4%, respectively. Hospital admissions rate due to acute upper respiratory infections increased sharply during the study period. The rates of hospital admissions were higher among those in the age group below 15 and 75 years and above for the majority of respiratory infections, with a higher incidence in females.
Diagnosis and treatment of varicella-zoster virus infection with herpetic visceral neuralgia without rash: A case report
Authors: Zeng Jin , Yang Yuanyuan
Published: June 2023

Rationale:

Herpes zoster (HZ) is an infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus reactivation, often leading to peripheral nervous system infection and pain. This case report aimed to present 2 patients with damaged sensory nerves originating from the visceral neurons of the lateral horn of the spinal cord.

Patient concerns:

Two patients presented intractable, severe lower back pain and abdominal pain, but without rash or herpes. A female patient was admitted 2 months after symptom onset. She was presented with paroxysmal, acupuncture-like pain in the right upper quadrant and around the umbilicus without apparent incentives. A male patient was presented with recurrent episodes of paroxysmal and spastic colic in the left waist and left middle abdomen for 3 days. Abdominal examination showed no tumors or organic lesions in their intra-abdominal tissues or organs.

Diagnoses:

After excluding organic lesions on the waist and in abdominal organs, patients were diagnosed with herpetic visceral neuralgia without rash.

Intervention:

The treatment for herpes zoster neuralgia or postherpetic neuralgia was applied for 3 to 4 weeks.

Outcome:

Antibacterial and anti-inflammatory analgesics were not effective in either patient. The therapeutic effects of herpes zoster neuralgia or postherpetic neuralgia treatment were satisfactory.

Lessons:

Herpetic visceral neuralgia can be easily misdiagnosed due to the absence of a rash or herpes, resulting in delayed treatment. When patients have severe, intractable pain but no rash or herpes, and the biochemical and imaging examinations are normal, the treatment method for HZ neuralgia can be used. If the treatment is effective, HZ neuralgia is diagnosed. If not, shingles neuralgia can be ruled out. Further investigations are required to elucidate the mechanisms of pathophysiological changes in varicella-zoster virus-induced peripheral HZ neuralgia or visceral neuralgia without herpes.
Effects of patient support group on health literacy: a study using the Multidimensional Health Literacy Questionnaire
Authors: Wu Ming-Ju , Chen Cheng-Hsu , Tsai Shang-Feng
Published: June 2023

Health literacy is important for patient care. Patient support group (PSG) is also crucial for patient education. Little is known about the effect of PSG on health literacy. We studied scores of health literacy before and after the intervention of a PSG. We also collected patient characteristics like age, gender, first-time participation or not, source of participants, and major diseases. We then identified factors associated with improved health literacy. A total of 43 participants (including patients and family) were studied with 100% response rate on questionnaires. Before PSG intervention, the highest score was the subscale 2 (understanding) (12.10 ± 1.53), followed by subclass 4 (application) (10.74 ± 2.34) and subclass 1 (accessing) (10.72 ± 2.32). The lowest score was subclass 3 (appraisal) (9.77 ± 2.39). After the statistical analyses, the final results in difference comparisons were subclass 2 = 5 > 4 = 1 = 3. The improved score of PSG was only noticed in subclass 3 (appraisal) after PSG intervention (9.77 ± 2.39 vs 10.74 ± 2.55, P = .015). Health literacy scores improvements were noticed in “Evaluate whether the health information can be used to solve medical problems” (2.51 ± 0.68 vs 2.74 ± 6.78, P = .048), and in “Evaluate the reliability of medical information from network” (2.28 ± 0.83 vs 2.64 ± 0.78, P = .006) (Table 3). Both scores belonged to subclass 3 (appraisal). We found no factor being associated with improved health literacy. This is the first study regarding the effect of PSG on health literacy. In all 5 dimensions of health literacy, the ability of appraising medical information is lacking in the current era. With suitable design of PSG, the PSG may improve health literacy improved literacy, including the dimension of appraisal.
Novel vs. modified platelet-rich plasma therapy for hair loss treatment: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Fatima Kaneez , Ovais Haziq , Anwar Zainab , Abdul Latif Motan Maaz , Masood Khan Maaz , Khowaja Aly H. , Shahriyar Ghazanfar Altamash , Khalid Muhammad A. , Jamil Ayesha , Ismail Mujtaba Yahya , Kumar Sahil , Rashid Ahmed M.
Published: June 2023

Background:

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy, is a stand-alone therapy or is used in combination with other treatments for the treatment of androgenic alopecia. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to compare the improvement in hair density seen, when PRP was used alone and when used as an adjunct.

Methods:

Conforming to systematic review and meta-analysis recommendations, we performed a meta-analysis of relevant articles in multiple databases, from inception till May 2022. Randomized clinical trials were included that evaluated the use of PRP alone or used PRP as an adjuvant with previously used therapies. Hair density data at the start of treatment and follow-up after 3 and 6 months was used for analysis.

Results:

A review of 255 articles included nine studies, for a cumulative data set of 230 individuals. In comparison to the placebo, stand-alone PRP therapy resulted in a significant increase in hair density (MD=25.39, P<0.00001.) PRP combination therapy also showed marked improvement in hair density compared to placebo (MD=34.38, P=0.002.) When comparing stand-alone PRP to combination therapy, MD=36.16, and MD=34.63 was observed for the two groups, respectively.

Conclusions:

The results of this meta-analysis reaffirm previous studies that suggest the role of PRP in improving hair density in AGA; however, the results cannot justify the use of PRP-combined therapy. Stand-alone PRP therapy should be considered in the management protocols for both men and women, whereas more studies and may be, different combination therapies are required before combined therapy can be included in the management guidelines for AGA.
Disastrous evolution of ollier disease: a rare case report
Authors: Fadili Omar , El Khaymy Khalid , Bouzid Youssef , El Adaoui Oussama , El Andaloussi Yassir , Fadili Mustapha
Published: June 2023

Introduction:

Ollier disease is a rare genetic disorder characterized by the development of multiple enchondromas. The clinical manifestations of the disease vary widely, but patients often present with bone deformities and an increased risk of developing chondrosarcoma. Here, the authors present a case report of a 25-year-old male patient with a devastating and historic evolution of Ollier disease.

Case presentation:

At the age of 10, the patient developed a sub-centimeter mass in the first phalanx of the left middle finger, which subsequently grew in size. A biopsy was performed at the age of 14, which confirmed the diagnosis of chondroma. At the age of 14, the patient developed multiple large masses on the left hand, resulting in the amputation of his left hand. At 25 years old, the patient developed new masses in his contralateral hand and left foot.

Discussion:

Ollier disease is caused by somatic mutations in the PTH/PTHrP receptor gene, leading to the formation of multiple enchondromas. Patients with Ollier disease are at an increased risk of developing chondrosarcoma, which can be life-threatening. The diagnosis of Ollier disease is usually made based on clinical and radiographic findings, and genetic testing can confirm the diagnosis. Treatment is typically focused on managing the symptoms and preventing the development of chondrosarcoma.

Conclusion:

The authors presented a case report of a patient with a devastating and historic evolution of Ollier disease. This case highlights the importance of early diagnosis and management of this disease to prevent the development of chondrosarcoma and minimize the risk of complications. Further research is needed to better understand the underlying mechanisms of the disease and develop effective treatments.
Medial minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis for humeral shaft fractures: a case series
Authors: Liu Da-Peng , Liang Jing-Hao
Published: June 2023

Background:

Minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis (MIPO) is increasingly favored for treating humeral shaft fractures (HSFs). However, conventional MIPO techniques pose challenges in fixing fractures near the fossa olecrani and carry a high risk of iatrogenic radial nerve palsy. This study was aimed to report the clinical outcomes of a series of patients who underwent MIPO through a medial approach for HSFs and describe our treatment algorithm.

Patients and Method:

This is a study conducted in our university hospital, which is a Level 1 academic trauma center. A retrospective analysis of 21 patients with HSFs who received minimally invasive treatment using plate osteosynthesis through a medial approach over a 5-year period was conducted. The outcomes measured included time for radiographic consolidation, disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand score, and complications such as infection, iatrogenic radial nerve injury, loss of reduction or fixation, and nonunion.

Results:

Twenty-one patients who underwent the procedure were identified. Bone healing was achieved in all patients with an early and aggressive range of motion. There were no cases of infection or iatrogenic radial nerve injury. The mean radiographic fracture union time was 15.76 weeks (range: 8–40 weeks). The mean disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand score was 3.29 (range: 0–14.17) at the time of the last follow-up. The mean screw density was 0.43.

Conclusion:

The proposed algorithm is effective in addressing the challenges of iatrogenic nerve injury and extra-articular distal fixation of HSFs with conventional MIPO techniques.
Concerns over cardiovascular manifestations associated with monkeypox immunization: a literature review
Authors: Shrestha Abhigan Babu , Mehta Aashna , Zahid Muhammad Jawad , Candelario Katherine , Shrestha Sajina , Pokharel Pashupati
Published: June 2023

Background:

Following the recent surge in monkeypox cases worldwide, vaccines have gained popularity due to their protective role against the disease in the absence of specific pharmacological therapies for the disease. This article explores the possible challenges associated with the treatment and prevention of monkeypox with special emphasis on cardiovascular concerns relating to vaccines, warranting further investigation and research.

Methods:

Multiple electronic databases from inception till October 2022 were searched to find articles reporting the cardiovascular adverse events associated with monkeypox immunization.

Results:

Smallpox vaccines ACAM2000, JYNNEOS, and modified vaccinia Ankara have been used for monkeypox. ACAM2000 has been reported to have major cardiovascular adverse events such as myocarditis, dilated cardiomyopathy, and heart failure. Whereas JYNNEOS and modified vaccinia Ankara are associated with minor cardiovascular adverse events such as tachycardia, palpitation, electrocardiogram changes such as T wave inversion, and ST elevation.

Conclusions:

Despite having cardiovascular issues with the existing vaccines, clinicians and public health experts should measure the risk benefit aspect of smallpox vaccines to decide whether to go for mass immunization or not. Based on the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, immunization will be a better strategy to halt the monkeypox spread throughout the globe. However, further research is needed to determine the exact incidence and susceptibility to develop cardiovascular complications among monkeypox immunized individuals.
Mammary Spindle Cell Proliferations on Core Needle Biopsy
Authors: Pun Cherry , Turashvili Gulisa , Mulligan Anna Marie , Slodkowska Elzbieta
Published: June 2023

Mammary spindle cell proliferations (SCPs) encompass a wide range of lesions and can be challenging to accurately diagnose on core needle biopsies (CNBs). Most SCPs are excised for definitive diagnosis. In the era of minimally invasive therapy, some SCP may be followed conservatively. We aim to examine the spectrum of SCP diagnosed on CNB and evaluate if excision of benign/indeterminate SCP is always required. We identified patients with SCP across 3 institutions. The CNB were classified into benign, indeterminate, or malignant. Available excisional specimens were used to classify the lesion as benign or malignant. Clinical variables were reviewed. A total of 197 SCP met the inclusion criteria, including 100 (53%) CNB classified as benign, 52 (26%) indeterminate, and 36 (19%) malignant. Nine patients had excisions without a preceding CNB. Excision was performed in 47% of benign, 87% of indeterminate, and 86% malignant CNB. Of 123 excised SCP, 77 (63%) were benign, while 44 (36%) were malignant. Most benign lesions were not suspicious radiologically (67%), while indeterminate and malignant lesions were more likely to be suspicious (44% and 75%, respectively; P<0.001). Malignant lesions tended to present as larger, rapidly growing, masses. Most mammary SCP are benign (63% of excisions). Appropriate ancillary tests can safely exclude some malignant entities. We encourage narrowing down the differential diagnosis to pertinent entities based on clinical presentation, imaging, histology, immunohistochemistry, and molecular studies, if applicable. Patients with mammary SCP may be spared surgery provided accurate pathologic diagnosis and appropriate correlation with imaging and clinical data.
The Relationship of Prolonged Grief Disorder Symptoms With Hemodynamic Response to Grief Recall Among Bereaved Adults
Authors: Palitsky Roman , Wilson Da’Mere T. , Friedman Sydney E. , Ruiz John M. , Sullivan Daniel , O’Connor Mary-Frances
Published: June 2023

Objective

Bereavement is among the most impactful psychosocial stressors for cardiovascular health, and hypertensive episodes accompanying bereavement-related distress are one putative mechanism for this effect. The present study examined hemodynamic responses to the Grief Recall (GR), a promising method for studying the effects of acute grief on cardiovascular function, and the relationship of grief severity to blood pressure (BP) response.

Methods

N = 59 participants within 1 year of the loss of a close loved one completed the GR, a semistructured interview protocol for eliciting bereavement-related distress (a “grief pang”) and cardiovascular response. Systolic (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) were measured at two time points: a) an attention-control baseline and (2) after a 10-minute GR interview. Baseline versus post-GR SBP and DBP differences (i.e., BP response) were measured. Grief severity was examined as a predictor of SBP and DBP response, as well as BP recovery

Results

SBP and DBP increased significantly after GR (SBP, +21.10 mm Hg; DBP, +8.10 mm Hg). Adjusting for variables relevant to cardiovascular function and bereavement (antihypertensive medication use, days since death, gender, age), grief severity predicted the magnitude of increase after GR in SBP but not DBP. No relationship of grief severity and recovery was observed.

Conclusions

The observed association between hemodynamic response and grief severity suggests a mechanistic contribution from hemodynamic effects of acute grief episodes to the cardiovascular impact of grief. This is the first study to show that increased symptoms of prolonged grief disorder are associated with an elevated SBP response. The GR may have further utility for research examining physiological responses to bereavement-related emotions.
Wastewater-based epidemiology for surveillance of infectious diseases in healthcare settings
Authors: Hassard Francis , Bajón-Fernández Yadira , Castro-Gutierrez Víctor
Published: June 2023

Purpose of review

Wastewater-based surveillance (WBS) (epidemiology) using near-source sampling (NSS) in large buildings, hospitals and care homes is reviewed covering three main areas: state-of-the-art WBS, benefits/opportunities NSS has for hospital infection control systems and new insights from hospital wastewater surveillance and policy implications.

Recent findings

Wastewater provides aggregate, anonymous sources of data where the spatial resolution can be linked to populations being served. In hospitals, clear links established between wastewater RNA-fragments signal to nosocomial COVID-19 cases/outbreaks. Detecting other targets from hospital wastewater such as antimicrobial resistance markers is considered a substantial opportunity for this technology. Other clinically relevant infections, that is influenza and monkeypox, can be perceived, and sub-variant resolution to target public health response in near real time to benefit hospital infection control. WBS can reduce hospitals’ clinical testing requirements, as diagnostic costs are aggregated into fewer samples while still detecting single cases.

WBS using NSS can inform infectious disease monitoring earlier, faster and cheaper than conventional monitoring. Routine sampling using wastewater provides a platform for risk-based sampling and enables smarter allocation of resources. Finally, hospital wastewater can be used for the benefit of the wastewater surveillance field as a promising source to monitor emerging threats and resolve longstanding questions on faecal shedding. Hospital monitoring in low-income settings is considered a priority for future research.
Rare Complication of Massive Depigmentation After Postoperative Treatment of Giant Keloid Combined With Strontium-90
Authors: Liu Jingyi , Zhang Zheng , Wang Xueying , Li Jisen , Zhang Wei , Wang Yanhua
Published: June 2023

Post-acne keloids have become a serious problem affecting the physical and mental health of adolescents. However, traditional single-treatment methods have a high recurrence rate and are highly susceptible to a variety of complications. Postoperative radiotherapy has rapidly become a popular choice for comprehensive postoperative treatment because of its painlessness, non-invasiveness, convenience, low recurrence rate, and few complications.1 In the available literature, no serious complications have been reported. Here we introduce a case of keloid after acne with isotope strontium-90 as a comprehensive treatment regimen, which leads to extensive depigmentation in the maxillofacial region. Combined with knowledge of the relevant literature, the mechanisms, types, and timing and dose, and reflect on balancing of recurrence rates and complications to deepen our understanding of the disease.
Salmonella Weltevreden lung abscess and empyema without preceding gastrointestinal symptoms. An emerging pathogen in Australia?
Authors: Grey Victoria , Tee Ernest , Phillips Lauren , Micalizzi Gino , Armstrong Mark
Published: June 2023

Non-typhoidal Salmonella lung infections are rare and are usually confined to immunocompromised hosts. Previous case reports have found that usually patients have either gastroenteritis or bacteraemia in addition to pulmonary involvement. We present the first known reported case of a Salmonella Weltevreden lung abscess and empyema in an immunocompetent patient without gastroenteritis. Despite use of antimicrobials active against the pathogen, the patient needed surgical intervention to achieve adequate source control. Whilst S. Weltevreden has previously been associated with returned travellers, especially from South-East Asia, its incidence in Queensland is now increasing. Therefore, it is important for clinicians to be aware of its potential severity as well as range of presentations.
Lipid A modification-induced colistin-resistant Klebsiella variicola from healthy adults
Authors: Kim Sun Ju , Jo Jeongwoo , Ko Kwan Soo
Published: June 2023

Background.

Klebsiella variicola

was once recognised as a benign plant-endosymbiont but recent case reports suggest that it is a newly emerging Gram-negative pathogen related to opportunistic infection of multiple sites in humans.

Methods. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using broth microdilution method. To identify colistin resistance mechanisms, phoPQ, pmrAB, and mgrB were sequenced and their mRNA expression was analysed using quantitative real-time PCR. In addition, we tried to detect crrAB and mcr. The lipid A moieties of colistin-susceptible and -resistant isolates were analysed using MALDI-TOF.

Results. Among the two

K. variicola

isolates, one is colistin-resistant, and another is colistin-susceptible. The colistin-resistant

K. variicola

isolate showed no mutations in phoPQ, pmrAB, and mgrB, and crrAB and mcr were not identified. However, its phoQ and pbgP expression was significantly higher and amino-arabinosylated lipid A with hexa-acylated species in lipopolysaccharide was identified.

Conclusions. We found that colistin resistance in

K. variicola

was mediated by the modification of lipid A. Although the isolate was obtained from faecal samples of healthy adults, colistin-resistant

K. variicola

challenges public health as an opportunistic pathogen.
Unravelling the flexibility of Mycobacterium tuberculosis: an escape way for the bacilli
Authors: Sau Shashikanta , Roy Arnab , Agnivesh Puja Kumari , Kumar Sunil , Guru Santosh kumar , Sharma Sandeep , Kalia Nitin Pal
Published: June 2023

The persistence of

Mycobacterium tuberculosis

makes it difficult to eradicate the associated infection from the host. The flexible nature of mycobacteria and their ability to adapt to adverse host conditions give rise to different drug-tolerant phenotypes. Granuloma formation restricts nutrient supply, limits oxygen availability and exposes bacteria to a low pH environment, resulting in non-replicating bacteria. These non-replicating mycobacteria, which need high doses and long exposure to anti-tubercular drugs, are the root cause of lengthy chemotherapy. Novel strategies, which are effective against non-replicating mycobacteria, need to be adopted to shorten tuberculosis treatment. This not only will reduce the treatment time but also will help prevent the emergence of multi-drug-resistant strains of mycobacteria.
Novel emm4 lineage associated with an upsurge in invasive group A streptococcal disease in the Netherlands, 2022
Authors: van der Putten Boas C.L. , Bril-Keijzers Wendy C.M. , Rumke Lidewij W. , Vestjens Stefan M.T. , Koster Linda A.M. , Willemsen Marloes , van Houten Marlies A. , Rots Nynke Y. , Vlaminckx Bart J.M. , de Gier Brechje , van Sorge Nina M.
Published: June 2023

Invasive group A streptococcal (iGAS) disease cases increased in the first half of 2022 in the Netherlands, with a remarkably high proportion of emm4 isolates. Whole-genome sequence analysis of 66 emm4 isolates, 40 isolates from the pre-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic period 2009–2019 and 26 contemporary isolates from 2022, identified a novel

Streptococcus pyogenes

lineage (M4NL22), which accounted for 85 % of emm4 iGAS cases in 2022. Surprisingly, we detected few isolates of the emm4 hypervirulent clone, which has replaced nearly all other emm4 in the USA and the UK. M4NL22 displayed genetic differences compared to other emm4 strains, although these were of unclear biological significance. In publicly available data, we identified a single Norwegian isolate belonging to M4NL22, which was sampled after the isolates from this study, possibly suggesting export of M4NL22 to Norway. In conclusion, our study identified a novel S. pyogenes emm4 lineage underlying an increase of iGAS disease in early 2022 in the Netherlands and the results have been promptly communicated to public health officials.
Abnormality Detection for Medical Images Using Self-Supervision and Negative Samples
Authors: Rafiee Nima , Gholamipoor Rahil , Kollmann Markus
Published: June 2023

Recent progress in computer-aided technologies has had a considerable impact on helping experts with a reliable and fast diagnosis of abnormal samples. In particular, self-supervised and self-distillation techniques have advanced automated out-of-distribution (OOD) detection in the image domain. Further improvements in OOD detection have been observed by including negative samples derived from shifting transformations of real images. In this work, we study different ways of creating negative samples for medical images and how effective they are when leveraging them in a self-supervised self-distillation framework. We investigate the impact of various types of negative examples by applying different shifting transformations on samples when they are derived from in-distribution training data, from an auxiliary dataset, or a combination of both. For the case of the auxiliary dataset, we compare the OOD detection performance when auxiliary samples are extracted from an indomain or an out-domain. Our approach uses only data belonging to healthy people during the training procedure and does not require any additional information from labels. We demonstrate the efficiency of our technique by comparing abnormality detection performance on diverse medical datasets, setting new benchmarks for pneumonia, polyp, and glaucoma detection from X-ray, colonoscopy, and ophthalmology images.
Restoring declining species through translocations: A test case using flightless grasshoppers in an urban setting
Authors: Yagui Hiromi , Kearney Michael R. , Hoffmann Ary A.
Published: June 2023

Population translocations are used increasingly as a conservation strategy for vertebrates. However, relatively few attempts have been made to translocate invertebrates despite their potential benefits for food webs, and despite the practicality of undertaking such translocations in small areas including urban environments where space is limited.

We conducted 36 translocations of 1851 individuals of the generalist flightless grasshopperVandiemenella viaticaacross urban Melbourne, where 93% of its original habitat has been lost.

We aimed to understand characteristics essential for grasshopper persistence and to investigate detection, occupancy, dispersal, and habitat suitability throughout its active period to improve insect translocation success in urban settings using revegetated sites and small remnant habitats. We also measured movement and detection probability after one week in short-term trials.

The one-week trial indicated that grasshopper sex and colour morph did not influence the probability of detection, and there was no evidence of directional movement by females and males.

One year after translocation,V. viaticawere found in 28 out of 36 translocation sites. These surveys showed that detection probability changed across survey seasons and was influenced by soil temperature. Also, soil temperature positively affected detection in the winter surveys. Occupancy probability was influenced by graminoid cover, plant species richness and weed cover. We found no evidence of directional movement by females and males in the F1 generation. Abundance and presence/absence data were best explained by graminoid cover and plant species richness.

Our findings suggest that wingless grasshopper translocations are feasible in small urban patches of suitable habitat, helping to restore invertebrate biodiversity and ecological services.
Visualizing scRNA-Seq Data at Population Scale with GloScope
Authors: Wang Hao , Torous William , Gong Boying , Purdom Elizabeth
Published: June 2023

Increasingly, scRNA-Seq studies explore cell populations across different samples and the effect of sample heterogeneity on organism’s phenotype. However, relatively few bioinformatic methods have been developed which adequately address the variation between samples for such population-level analyses. We propose a framework for representing the entire single-cell profile of a sample, which we call a GloScope representation. We implement GloScope on scRNA-Seq datasets from study designs ranging from 12 to over 300 samples and demonstrate how GloScope allows researchers to perform essential bioinformatic tasks at the sample-level, in particular visualization and quality control assessment.