bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Efficacy of Versajet hydrosurgery system in chronic wounds: A systematic review
Authors: Shimada Kazuki , Ojima Yosuke , Ida Yukiko , Matsumura Hajime
Published: March 2021

Studies demonstrating the effectiveness of hydrosurgery for chronic wounds are extremely limited. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the efficacy of hydrosurgery compared with conventional debridement in chronic wounds, skin ulcers, and non‐acute wounds. This PROSPERO‐registered review was performed following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses statement. A systematic search was performed in PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane Library databases. Abstracts of all studies were screened independently by two reviewers. The bias of prospective randomised controlled studies was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration's tool for assessing the risk of bias and RevMan 5.4 software, whereas the bias of retrospective comparative studies was evaluated using the Risk of Bias Assessment Tool for Non‐randomised Studies. Two prospective randomised controlled trials, two retrospective comparative studies, and three prospective non‐comparative studies were included. Hydrosurgery enabled rapid debridement. The Versajet Hydrosurgery System saved 8.87 minutes compared with the conventional methods. Similarly, the debridement quality was high with this system. The debridement number needed to achieve adequate wound beds was fewer in the hydrosurgery group than in the conventional group. These superiorities lead to subsequent success and cost‐effectiveness. As there were only two prospective randomised controlled studies, and much information was missing, the risk of bias was unclear. This review confirmed that hydrosurgery is useful for the debridement of chronic wounds, considering the procedural speed and quality.
Piloting the use of global health measures in a Down syndrome clinic
Authors: Santoro Stephanie L. , Campbell Ashlee , Cottrell Clorinda , Donelan Karen , Majewski Ben , Oreskovic Nicolas M. , Patsiogiannis Vasiliki , Torres Amy , Skotko Brian G.
Published: March 2021

Purpose

People with Down syndrome (DS) have a unique medical profile which may impact views of health. We aimed to explore the use of global health measures in DS.

Methods

Prospective survey in the Mass General Hospital Down Syndrome Program (MGH DSP) from December 2018 to July 2019 with Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS)® instruments of global health. Analyses included use of scoring manuals, descriptive statistics and dependent samples t test.

Results

Seventeen adolescents, 48 adults with DS and 88 caregivers returned surveys; 137 were complete. Incomplete responses and notes showed limitations of the instruments in this population. Global health T‐scores did not differ from the available comparative standardized scores to these measures from PROMIS® reference population (p > 0.05).

Conclusions

In the MGH DSP, pilot global health instruments were completed by some adults with DS and caregivers, with some limitations and scores similar to the PROMIS® reference population.
Left atrial thickness and acute thermal injury in patients undergoing ablation for atrial fibrillation: Laser versus radiofrequency energies
Authors: Gao Xu , Chang Dong , Bilchick Kenneth C. , Hussain Sarah K. , Petru Jan , Skoda Jan , Sediva Luci , Neuzil Petr , Mangrum J. Michael
Published: March 2021

Introduction

Thermally induced cardiac lesions result in necrosis, edema, and inflammation. This tissue change may be seen with ultrasound. In this study, we sought to use intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) to evaluate pulmonary vein tissue morphology and assess the acute tissue changes that occur following radiofrequency (RF) or laser ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF).

Methods and Results

Patients with AF underwent pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) using irrigated RF or laser balloon. Pre‐ and post‐ablation ICE imaging was performed from within each pulmonary vein (PV). At least 10 transverse imaging planes per PV were evaluated and each plane was divided into eight segments. The PV/atrial wall thickness and the luminal area were measured at each segment. Twenty‐seven patients underwent PVI (15 with laser, 12 with RF). Ninety‐eight pulmonary veins were analyzed (58 PVs laser; 40 PVs RF). At baseline, there were no regional differences in PV wall thickness in the right‐sided veins. The anterior regions of left superior pulmonary vein (LSPV) and left inferior pulmonary vein (LIPV) were significantly thicker compared with the posterior and inferior regions (p < .01). Post‐ablation, PV wall thickness in RF group increased 24.1% interquartile range (IQR) (17.2%–36.7%) compared with 1.2% IQR (0.4%–8.9%) in laser group, p = .004. In all PVs, RF ablation resulted in significantly greater percent increase in wall thickness compared with laser. Additionally, RF resulted in more variable changes in regional PV wall thickness; with more increases in wall thickness in anterior versus posterior LSPV (75.4 ± 58.5% vs. 46.8 ± 55.6%, p < .01), anterior versus posterior right superior pulmonary vein (RSPV) (62.9 ± 63.9% vs. 44.6 ± 51.7%, p < .05), and superior versus inferior RSPV (69.1 ± 45.4% vs. 35.9 ± 45%, p < .05). There were no significant regional differences in PV wall thickness changes for the laser group.

Conclusions

Rotational ICE can be used to measure acute tissue changes with ablation. Regional variability in baseline wall thickness was nonuniformly present in PVs. Acute tissue changes occurred immediately post‐ablation. Compared with laser balloon, RF shows markedly more thickening post‐ablation with significant regional variations.
METTL3 attenuates proliferative vitreoretinopathy and epithelial‐mesenchymal transition of retinal pigment epithelial cells via wnt/β‐catenin pathway
Authors: Ma Xinqi , Long Chongde , Wang Fangyu , Lou Bingsheng , Yuan Miner , Duan Fang , Yang Yao , Li Jiaqing , Qian Xiaobing , Zeng Jieting , Lin Shuibin , Shen Huangxuan , Lin Xiaofeng
Published: March 2021

Proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) is a refractory vitreoretinal fibrosis disease, and epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells is the key pathological mechanism of PVR. However, few studies focused on the role of METTL3, the dominating methyltransferase for m6A RNA modification in PVR pathogenesis. Immunofluorescence staining and qRT‐PCR were used to determine the expression of METTL3 in human tissues. Lentiviral transfection was used to stably overexpress and knockdown METTL3 in ARPE‐19 cells. MTT assay was employed to study the effects of METTL3 on cell proliferation. The impact of METTL3 on the EMT of ARPE‐19 cells was assessed by migratory assay, morphological observation and expression of EMT markers. Intravitreal injection of cells overexpressing METTL3 was used to assess the impact of METTL3 on the establishment of the PVR model. We found that METTL3 expression was less in human PVR membranes than in the normal RPE layers. In ARPE‐19 cells, total m6A abundance and the METTL3 expression were down‐regulated after EMT. Additionally, METTL3 overexpression inhibited cell proliferation through inducing cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 phase. Furthermore, METTL3 overexpression weakened the capacity of TGFβ1 to trigger EMT by regulating wnt/β ‐catenin pathway. Oppositely, knockdown of METTL3 facilitated proliferation and EMT of ARPE‐19 cells. In vivo, intravitreal injection of METTL3‐overexpressing cells delayed the development of PVR compared with injection of control cells. In summary, this study suggested that METTL3 is involved in the PVR process, and METTL3 overexpression inhibits the EMT of ARPE‐19 cells in vitro and suppresses the PVR process in vivo.
What do we mean, ‘necessary’?—Achieving balance and recognizing limits in primary healthcare and universal healthcare
Authors: Young Richard A.
Published: March 2021

Sturmberg and Martin make a compelling case for primary healthcare (PHC) to be the foundation for universal healthcare (UHC). They state that a system should have necessary resources, but what does that mean? Basic economic theory postulates that all resources are limited and that choices must be made between competing options. For a UHC system to be successful and resilient, it must accept that healthcare is a limited right, there will always be inequalities in healthcare delivery and outcomes, primary care physicians and their teams must accept the added burden of balancing the needs of their personal patients with the greater system, leaders and observers of healthcare systems must accept that moderation and balance will often be the best outcome even though they are difficult to measure, and leaders of healthcare systems must accept that they cannot control the system, but contribute by providing context and limited constraints, information, and resources. A deeper understanding of complex adaptive systems will best guide these necessary changes.
Does a pharmacist‐led medication use review improve medication adherence in polymedicated aged patients? Methodological choices matter!
Authors: Wuyts Joke , Maesschalck Joris , Hamelinck Wouter , De Wulf Isabelle , Foulon Veerle
Published: March 2021

Rationale, aims and objectives

The rise in chronic diseases urges for an identification of interventions that improve adherence. However, no golden standard exists for evaluating adherence in polymedicated patients. The objectives were to investigate the impact of a pharmacist‐led medication use review (MUR) service on adherence implementation rates for chronic medication, and to evaluate the appropriateness of two adherence calculation approaches in this regard.

Method

Before‐after study (SIMENON study) including ambulatory, aged, polymedicated patients. Refill data were used to calculate the proportion of days covered (PDC) per medication before and after the MUR. Adherence was assessed for chronic, solid, oral medication using a prescription‐based and interval‐based approach, and the performance of both approaches was compared.

Results

Adherence was evaluated for 1483 medications from 316 patients. The median baseline PDC per medication was 0.95 (prescription‐based method) and 0.91 (interval‐based approach). Pearson correlation between both approaches was 0.616 (P < .0001). The prescription‐based approach found less medication below the adherence threshold of 0.80 (319 medications; 21.5% vs 481 medications; 32.4%). Using the prescription‐based approach, the proportion of non‐adherent patients at baseline was 61.7% (195/316 patients), of which 54.9% (107/195 patients) was only non‐adherent for one medication. Median PDC scores increased significantly from 0.95 to 0.99 and 0.91 to 0.99 with the prescription‐based and interval‐based approach respectively (both P < .0001). Only considering the 319 medications with baseline PDC scores <0.8 using the prescription‐based approach, the median PDC scores significantly increased from 0.67 to 0.84 (P < .0001), with a median score improvement of 18.3%.

Conclusions

Although baseline adherence was high in this population of polymedicated aged patients, both calculation methods showed the MUR significantly improved adherence. The prescription‐based approach was considered the most appropriate method. Based on these findings and literature evidence, it is recommended to implement the MUR service in Belgium and target non‐adherent patients for maximal effect.
How well can today's tooth‐colored dental restorative materials reproduce the autofluorescence of human teeth? – Ambition and reality!
Authors: Klein Christian , Connert Thomas , von Ohle Christiane , Meller Christian
Published: March 2021

Objectives

The autofluorescence of dental hard tissues has been known for over 100 years. Thus, manufacturers add fluorophores to dental restorative materials to improve the esthetic properties of these materials. So far, there has been no study evaluating the ability of these fluorophores to reproduce the autofluorescence of dental hard tissues.

Materials and Methods

A total of 240 different color shades representing 17 different brands of fluorescent light‐curing RBC and CAD/CAM restorative materials were analyzed with a monochromator‐based microplate reader. Additionally, combined enamel‐dentin specimens (n = 11) were analyzed as “gold standard”. The total fluorescence (TF) and the physiologically relevant luminous efficiency function adjusted total fluorescence (TFa) were determined. The differences between the brands and the enamel‐dentin specimens were further evaluated and visualized as contour plots.

Results

Merely the TFa of the brands CERASMART™, Filtek Supreme XTE™, KZR‐CAD HD 2, and LuxaCam composite were not significantly different to the enamel‐dentin specimens. The analysis of the contour plots revealed that even these four materials showed a fluorescence excess for the excitation wavelengths below about 400 nm and a deficit above this wavelength.

Conclusion

None of the materials analyzed in this study were able to reproduce the natural fluorescence spectrum of the enamel‐dentin specimens.

Clinical Significance

Unlike the statements and images of blue fluorescent materials in the manufacturers' brochures, none of the materials examined here is fully capable of reproducing the natural autofluorescence of teeth.
Keeping close to the river, shore and surface: the first marine migration of brown trout (Salmo trutta) and Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) post‐smolts
Authors: Atencio Benjamin J. , Thorstad Eva B. , Rikardsen Audun H. , Jensen Jenny L. A.
Published: March 2021

Acoustic telemetry was utilized to track 49 brown trout (Salmo trutta) and 37 Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) first‐time migrants of wild origin [post‐smolts; mean LF (fork length): 169 and 172 mm] in a large fjord in northern Norway. The S. trutta were registered at sea for more than twice the time of the S. alpinus (medians of 54 and 22 days, respectively). Both species were mostly detected near river mouths (>80% of detections) and almost exclusively spent their time (>95%) within the interior 18 km of the fjord. They were surface oriented, with most detections at <1 m depth and S. trutta deeper on average (median mean depths of 0.7 and 0.5 m, respectively). This study concludes that post‐smolts of both species stay closer to the surface and to river mouths than larger veteran migrants. This study emphasizes the importance of river mouths and upper water layers for the survival of both species during their first marine migration.
Ultrasonography study of the skin wound healing process in gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata)
Authors: Ceballos‐Francisco Diana , García‐Carrillo Nuria , Cuesta Alberto , Esteban María Ángeles
Published: March 2021

This work aimed to carry out an in vivo study of the skin healing process in gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) after being experimentally wounded. Firstly, the structure of normal skin was studied by real‐time ultrasonography (Vevo Lab, VisualSonics) and light microscopy. Besides this, experimental wounds were made on the left flank of each fish with a circular biopsy punch (8 mm diameter) below the lateral line. The healing process was assessed on live fish at 0, 6, 11 and 23 days post‐wounding using the real‐time ultrasonography in B‐mode and Power Doppler mode (Vevo 3100 FUJIFILM, VisualSonics). Through the ultrasonography images, both the skin structure and the evolution of the changes that wounds originated in the surrounding tissues were studied in vivo over time. Concomitantly, the pattern of neovascularization in the wounded area was followed during the healing process and it was demonstrated that, although the neovascularization started very early after the skin damage, it was increased in wounded areas from day 11 post‐wounding onwards. The results obtained proved the utility and power of using ultrasounds in fish to evaluate in vivo complex biological processes in real time, which are difficult to study by other methodologies. The present data shed some light on the reparation of external injuries in aquatic vertebrates.
The impact of intersectionality on nursing leadership, empowerment and culture: A case study exploring nurses and managers’ perceptions in an acute care hospital in Aotearoa, New Zealand
Authors: Aspinall Cathleen , Jacobs Stephen , Frey Rosemary
Published: March 2021

Aim

This study determines whether the culture within an acute care hospital empowers ‘all’ nurses to be leaders by exploring intersectionality and nursing leadership in the context of the social environment.

Background

Nurses practice leadership in their day‐to‐day activities as clinical leaders alongside traditional roles of management and leadership. However, some nurses do not acknowledge nursing work as leadership activity, nor is it seen so by others where hierarchical leadership approaches remain prevalent. Social constructs of gender and race are barriers to accessing formal leadership positions for some, while dominant power structures such as class diminish the value of bedside nursing work. Unexplored is the impact of the intersection of these and other social identities on nurses being leaders.

Design

An embedded case study design.

Methods

Thirty‐one participants participated in semi‐structured interviews. Four levels of analysis including inductive and deductive approaches were applied to the data. The research complied with COREQ guidelines for reporting qualitative research.

Results

This study shows nurses do not identify themselves as leaders without an associated title and the pathway to leadership varies depending on intersecting social constructions.

Conclusion

The impact of the organisational structures and the experience of navigating intersecting social constructions on nurses being leaders goes unseen, privileging some while disadvantaging others.

Relevance to clinical practice

Health organisations need to be aware of intersectionality in the workplace and explore equity in their structures to be genuinely empowering. Nursing leadership must examine strategies that challenge and decolonise the nursing profession. Bedside nurses should be given more power and respected as leaders of the patient experience, achievable through a renewed emphasis on the fundamentals of care and resonant leadership, which can neutralise a culture of managerialism. Intersectionality can inform the development of new nursing leadership roles that enable nurses to remain clinically active, widening opportunities.
Psychological stress associated with the COVID‐19 pandemic in postpartum women in Yokohama, Japan
Authors: Hiiragi Kazuya , Obata Soichiro , Misumi Toshihiro , Miyagi Etsuko , Aoki Shigeru
Published: March 2021

Aim

This study aimed to clarify how the COVID‐19 pandemic impacts psychological stress levels in postpartum women in Yokohama, Japan.

Methods

We retrospectively compared the rates of positive screening tests for postpartum depression (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale score of 9 or more or self‐injury factors) and liaison/psychiatric intervention rates between pre‐pandemic and pandemic groups of postpartum women who delivered a live birth at our tertiary perinatal center in Yokohama, Japan between January 2019 and May 2020. Those whose postpartum health screening was performed in 2019 (March–June 2019) were considered the pre‐pandemic group, and those whose screening was performed between March and June 2020 were considered the pandemic group. Adjustments were made for maternal background, pregnancy, and delivery outcomes, including a history of psychiatric disorders, complications, preterm delivery, NICU admission, and maternal postpartum complications, and the data were analyzed using a logistic regression analysis.

Results

Postpartum health screenings were performed on 339 women before the pandemic and 279 women during the pandemic. Positive screening rates for postpartum depression did not change before and during the pandemic (adjusted odds ratio 1.48, 95% confidence interval 0.885–2.46).

Conclusions

There was no apparent increase in maternal psychological stress due to the COVID‐19 pandemic in Yokohama, Japan. Postpartum women responded differently in settings with varied levels of disease severity and social restrictions.
Expanding the clinical spectrum of cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis: Implications for newborn screening, follow‐up and treatment
Authors: Hollak C. E. M.
Published: March 2021

Linked to: B. M. L. Stelten et al. J Intern Med 2021; https://doi.org/10.1111/joim.13277
Contamination rates of different methods of urine culture collection in children: A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Guri Alex , Hurvitz Florenthal Michal , Scheier Eric , Mahlab‐Guri Keren , Balla Uri
Published: March 2021

Aim

Urinary tract infection is a common cause of paediatric morbidity. However, there is no consensus on the default method for urine culture collection in children. This study aimed to examine the contamination rates of different urine collection methods.

Methods

This was a retrospective cohort study in a paediatric emergency department. Data were collected from electronic health records on all children whose urine culture samples were obtained in the paediatric emergency department between March 2018 and March 2019. Different methods of urine collection included the midstream (MS) method, clean catch (CC), transurethral bladder catheterisation and suprapubic aspiration. Contamination rates and positive urine culture rates were calculated and compared for sex, age, and collection method.

Results

Urine culture samples were collected from 1507 children. There were 284 (18.8%) cultures that were positive with significant growth and 52 (3.5%) that were defined as ‘contaminated’. The contamination rates for the midstream method in toilet‐trained children were 1.6% (10/609), 4.9% (17/348) for CC in pre‐continent children, 4.9% (25/515) for transurethral bladder catheterisation and 0% (0/35) (P = 0.006) for suprapubic aspiration. There was no significant difference in contamination rates of urine cultures collected by CC and catheterisation in the compared groups. The rates of positive cultures in the subgroup of children with high suspicion for Urinary tract infection were also found to be similar.

Conclusions

Our study shows that CC is non‐inferior to catheterisation for collecting urine cultures in young children.
Predictors of the Attitudes of Preservice Teachers Toward Teaching Students With Down Syndrome in Regular Schools in Ghana
Authors: Opoku Maxwell Peprah , Nketsia William , Odame Lois , Agyei‐Okyere Elvis
Published: March 2021

While research suggests that the inclusion of students with Down syndrome (DS) in regular classrooms has a positive impact on their learning, in general, a supportive teacher with a positive attitude is fundamental in shaping these students' school experiences. In Ghana, despite a large number of children with DS, there is little research exploring preservice teachers' attitudes toward including students with DS in regular schools. In this study, we recruited preservice teachers from teacher training institutions to understand the predictors of their attitudes toward teaching students with DS in regular classrooms. Using the revised Sentiment, Attitude, and Concern about Inclusive Education scale (SACIE‐R), 855 preservice teachers were recruited from three colleges of education (n = 524) and two campuses of a public university (n = 331). Although the preservice teachers were ambivalent about teaching students with DS, several demographic variables—such as preservice training in inclusive education, practice experience, and confidence teaching students with disabilities—emerged as significant predictors of attitudes. The study limitations, recommendations for future research and implications for policymaking are discussed.
Evolution of estimated glomerular filtration rate in human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis C virus‐coinfected patients receiving sofosbuvir‐based direct‐acting antivirals and antiretroviral therapy
Authors: Liu Chen‐Hua , Sun Hsin‐Yun , Hsieh Szu‐Min , Liu Wen‐Chun , Sheng Wang‐Hui , Liu Chun‐Jen , Su Tung‐Hung , Tseng Tai‐Chung , Chen Pei‐Jer , Hung Chien‐Ching , Kao Jia‐Horng
Published: March 2021

The nephrotoxicity of sofosbuvir (SOF) on human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis C virus (HIV/HCV)‐coinfected patients receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) remains controversial. We prospectively compared the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) changes in 167 patients receiving SOF‐based direct‐acting antivirals (DAAs) who also received tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TFV)‐based (n = 116) and TFV‐free ART (n = 51). The eGFR was assessed by the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD‐EPI) equation, and the eGFR changes between ART regimens were compared by the generalized estimated equation. During DAA treatment, participants on TFV‐based ART had a higher eGFR decline than those on TFV‐free ART (slope coefficient difference: −0.82 ml/min/1.73 m2/month [95% CI: −1.21 to −0.43]; p < 0.001), whereas the eGFR changes did not differ between groups (slope coefficient difference: 0.13 ml/min/1.73 m2/month [95% CI: −0.32 to 0.58]; p = 0.42) after discontinuing DAAs. Participants on TFV TDF‐based ART had a higher eGFR decline than those on TFV alafenamide fumarate (TAF)‐based ART (slope coefficient difference: −0.31 ml/min/1.73 m2/month [95% CI: −0.50 to −0.12]; p = 0.01). After discontinuing DAAs, the eGFR changes did not differ between groups (slope coefficient difference: 0.06 ml/min/1.73 m2/month [95% CI: −0.98 to 1.10]; p = 0.91). In conclusion, HIV/HCV‐coinfected patients on TFV‐based ART had a slight eGFR decline compared to those on TFV‐free ART during SOF‐based DAA therapy. A similar trend between TDF‐based and TAF‐based ART was also observed. Because the differences of eGFR changes are limited, the physicians should not discourage the use of SOF‐based DAAs in HIV‐positive patients on TFV‐based ART.
Temporally limited late accretion after core formation in the Moon
Authors: Day James M. D. , Paquet Marine
Published: March 2021

Highly siderophile element (HSE: Au, Re, Pd, Pt, Rh, Ru, Ir, Os) abundances in planetary silicate mantles provide constraints on accretion and differentiation, as well as late accretion additions after core formation. The first in situ analyses of the HSE in mare basalt sulfide and metal phases enable the determination of the distribution of these elements during fractional crystallization processes. Metals have low Ni/Co (<8) and strong HSE inter‐element fractionation (Pd/Ir = 18–100) and, with troilite (Ni/Co < 4.2, Pd/Ir = 14–74), host 75–100% of the HSE in mare basalts. The compositions of these metal and sulfide grains are inconsistent with assimilation of impact‐contaminated HSE‐rich regolith materials. Furthermore, regolith contamination cannot explain the threshold of abundances of iridium (~50 ppt) in mare basalt bulk rock compositions. Instead, bulk rock mare basalts have HSE patterns consistent with inheritance from partial melting of mantle sources with no residual metal or sulfide. Mare basalt HSE and siderophile element abundances can be accounted for by their mantle sources recording prior separation of a small lunar core, fractionating Ni/Co and Hf/W and removing ~99% of the HSE after lunar formation. Following this event, late accretion of ~0.02% of lunar mass led to limited enrichment of the HSE in chondritic‐relative abundances. Signatures of core formation preclude elevated HSE abundances in the lunar silicate interior and indicate that disproportional late accretion in the Earth–Moon system may, in part, be due to later core formation in the Moon relative to Earth.
Multiple paths to the same destination: Influence of gene flow on convergent evolution
Authors: Yamasaki Yo Y. , Kitano Jun
Published: March 2021

Elucidation of the genetic mechanisms of convergent evolution, the evolution of similar or the same phenotypes in phylogenetically independent lineages, helps predict how populations will respond to the same selective pressures. Convergent evolution can be caused by either the fixation of identical‐by‐descent alleles, independent mutations at the same gene, or mutations in different genes controlling the same trait. To what extent does the fixation of identical‐by‐descent alleles lead to convergent evolution in isolated populations where inflow of adaptive alleles from other populations is limited? In a From the Cover article in this issue of Molecular Ecology, Kemppainen et al. (2021) compared the genetic basis for the reduction of pelvic structures in three isolated freshwater populations of nine‐spined stickleback (Pungitius pungitius) from Northern Europe. The authors used quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping to reveal that the pelvic reduction in these three populations was caused by mutations at different genetic loci. In contrast to studies in three‐spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus), where independently derived Pitx1 mutations were shown to be responsible for plate reduction across multiple freshwater populations, Kemppainen et al. (2021) found Pitx1 to be the candidate causative gene for only one population of P. pungitius. This study highlights the importance of genetic studies of convergent evolution, not only in the presence of gene flow but also in its absence for a better understanding of the genetic architecture of convergent evolution.
Joseph Margolis on Pragmatism
Authors: Campbell James
Published: March 2021

This paper begins with a memoir of the author’s interactions with Joseph Margolis that delineates both Margolis’s importance as a teacher and their disagreements on aspects of American philosophy. It then turns to Margolis’s discussions of pragmatism as a philosophical movement, with an emphasis on his understanding of John Dewey. The paper considers, third, Margolis’s account of the decline and rebirth of pragmatism, the latter process attributed largely to the work of Richard Rorty. The paper concludes with an examination of what it sees as Margolis’s most valuable work: his explorations of the nature of the self and of human society.
Comparison of the Sensititre YeastOne® and CLSI M38‐A2 microdilution methods in determining the activity of nine antifungal agents against dermatophytes
Authors: Chang Wenqian , Bao Fangfang , Wang Zhenzhen , Liu Hong , Zhang Furen
Published: March 2021

Background

Dermatophytes are the most common fungal pathogens causing superficial infections in humans with a high prevalence worldwide. The treatment of these infections is based on the use of topical and systemic antifungal agents. A convenient method with a high predictive value for testing the susceptibilities of dermatophytes is necessary.

Objective

To evaluate the ability of the Sensititre YeastOne® in testing the activity of nine antifungal agents against dermatophytes.

Methods

We compared Sensititre® with reference procedure for anidulafungin (ANID), micafungin sodium (MCF), caspofungin acetate (CAS), 5‐fluorocytosine (5FC), posaconazole (PCZ), voriconazole (VCZ), itraconazole (ITZ), fluconazole (FLZ) and amphotericin B (AMB) against 79 dermatophyte isolates, the essential agreement (EA) and categorical agreement (CA) between the two methods were obtained.

Results

The MICs or MECs obtained by the Sensititre® were usually lower than those obtained by the M38‐A2. The overall EA between the two methods of nine antifungals was best for 5FC (100%), followed by MCF (94.9%), PCZ (84.8%), AMB (67.1%), FLZ (65.8%), VCZ (63.3%), ANID (29.1%), ITZ (20.3%) and CAS (2.5%). The overall CA between the two methods for all drugs was 100% except for ANID (97.4%), MCF (95%) and PCZ (92.5%). Substantial discrepancies were observed with all drugs except for VCZ and 5FC. The results of M38‐A2 in terms of GMIC (or GMEC) and MIC90 (or MEC90) were, in increasing order, as follows: MCF, PCZ, VCZ, ANID, ITZ, CAS, AMB, FLZ and 5FC.

Conclusions

The Sensititre YeastOne® shows poor EA with the reference method for dermatophytes; therefore, M38‐A2 should remain the reference procedure for antifungal susceptibility testing against dermatophytes.
Invasive aspergillosis in critically ill patients: Review of definitions and diagnostic approaches
Authors: Jenks Jeffrey D. , Nam Hannah H. , Hoenigl Martin
Published: March 2021

Invasive aspergillosis (IA) is an increasingly recognised phenomenon in critically ill patients in the intensive care unit, including in patients with severe influenza and severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) infection. To date, there are no consensus criteria on how to define IA in the ICU population, although several criteria are used, including the AspICU criteria and new consensus criteria to categorise COVID‐19‐associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA). In this review, we describe the epidemiology of IA in critically ill patients, most common definitions used to define IA in this population, and most common clinical specimens obtained for establishing a mycological diagnosis of IA in the critically ill. We also review the most common diagnostic tests used to diagnose IA in this population, and lastly discuss the most common clinical presentation and imaging findings of IA in the critically ill and discuss areas of further needed investigation.
Natural variation identifies a Pxy gene controlling vascular organisation and formation of nodules and lateral roots in Lotus japonicus
Authors: Kawaharada Yasuyuki , Sandal Niels , Gupta Vikas , Jin Haojie , Kawaharada Maya , Taniuchi Makoto , Ruman Hafijur , Nadzieja Marcin , Andersen Kasper R. , Schneeberger Korbinian , Stougaard Jens , Andersen Stig U.
Published: March 2021

Forward and reverse genetics using the model legumes Lotus japonicus and Medicago truncatula have been instrumental in identifying the essential genes governing legume–rhizobia symbiosis. However, little information is known about the effects of intraspecific variation on symbiotic signalling.

Here, we use quantitative trait locus sequencing (QTL‐seq) to investigate the genetic basis of the differentiated phenotypic responses shown by the Lotus accessions Gifu and MG20 to inoculation with the Mesorhizobium loti exoU mutant that produces truncated exopolysaccharides.

We identified through genetic complementation the Pxy gene as a component of this differential exoU response. Lotus Pxy encodes a leucine‐rich repeat receptor‐like kinase similar to Arabidopsis thaliana PXY, which regulates stem vascular development. We show that Lotus pxy insertion mutants displayed defects in root and stem vascular organisation, as well as lateral root and nodule formation.

Our work links Pxy to de novo organogenesis in the root, highlights the genetic overlap between regulation of lateral root and nodule formation, and demonstrates that natural variation in Pxy affects nodulation signalling.
Extracellular vesicles from M1‐polarized macrophages promote inflammation in the temporomandibular joint via miR‐1246 activation of the Wnt/β‐catenin pathway
Authors: Peng Sisi , Yan Yin , Li Rui , Dai Hongwei , Xu Jie
Published: March 2021

Macrophage‐mediated regulation of chondrocytes plays an important role in promoting temporomandibular joint (TMJ) inflammation. We investigated whether extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from M1 macrophages (M1‐EVs) have a proinflammatory effect on TMJ inflammation and what the associated mechanisms are. In vitro, purified THP‐1 cell–derived M1‐EVs were applied to human TMJ condylar chondrocytes, and in vivo M1‐EVs derived from bone marrow–derived macrophages (BMDMs) were injected into rat TMJs. The levels of IL‐6, IL‐8, IL‐1β, and matrix metalloproteinase were then evaluated and found to be upregulated in the chondrocytes and rat TMJs. MicroRNA sequencing analysis was performed to identify differential expression of miRNAs, including miR‐1246. High expression of miR‐1246 in M1‐EVs from synovial fluid of patients with TMJ osteoarthritis and synovitis was verified by RT‐PCR. We then identified miR‐1246 targets GSK3β and Axin2 and found that miR‐1246 inhibits GSK3β and Axin2 expression, causing activation of the Wnt/β‐catenin pathway and inflammation in condylar chondrocytes. Our study found that M1‐EVs promote inflammation by transfer of miR‐1246 to condylar chondrocytes, thus providing new insight into one mechanism that can promote TMJ inflammation.
A New Unit Root Test for Unemployment Hysteresis Based on the Autoregressive Neural Network*
Authors: Yaya OlaOluwa S. , Ogbonna Ahamuefula E. , Furuoka Fumitaka , Gil‐Alana Luis A.
Published: March 2021

This paper proposes a nonlinear unit root test based on the autoregressive neural network process for testing unemployment hysteresis. In this new unit root testing framework, the linear, quadratic and cubic components of the neural network process are used to capture the nonlinearity in a given time series data. The theoretical properties of the test are developed, while the size and the power properties are examined in a Monte Carlo simulation study. Various empirical applications with unemployment and inflation rates across a number of countries are carried out at the end of the article.
BMP4/ALK3 deficiency leads to Meckel's cartilage truncation mimicking the mandible Tessier 30 cleft
Authors: Zhang Jian , Lin Chensheng , Song Yingnan , Chen Jiang
Published: March 2021

Objective

In chondrogenesis, BMP signaling was inferred to exhibit regional specificity during Meckel's cartilage morphogenesis. This study aimed to explore the differences in BMP signaling activity between different parts of Meckel's cartilage and the impacts of BMP4 or ALK3 deficiency on the development of Meckel's cartilage during embryogenesis.

Materials and methods

The BRE‐gal reporter mouse line was utilized to gain an overall picture of canonical BMP signaling activity, as assessed by X‐gal staining. Mouse models lacking either Bmp4 or Alk3 in neural crest cells (Wnt1‐Cre;Bmp4fl/fl and Wnt1‐Cre;Alk3fl/fl) were generated to explore the morphogenesis of Meckel's cartilage and the mandibular symphysis, as assessed by skeletal staining, histology, and immunostaining.

Results

Different parts of Meckel's cartilage exhibited activation of different combinations of BMP signaling pathways. In Wnt1‐Cre;Bmp4fl/fl mutants, Sox9+ condensation of the chondrogenic rostral process failed to form, and the V‐shaped Runx2+ tissue was split in the median mandibular symphysis. The Wnt1‐Cre;Bmp4fl/fl and Wnt1‐Cre;Alk3fl/fl mouse models both exhibited truncated Meckel's cartilage, aberrant mandibular intramembranous bone, and tongue muscle abnormalities.

Conclusions

The central hard‐tissue loss of both mutant mouse models led to a mandibular symphysis cleft, mimicking the typical sign of the median mandible Tessier 30 cleft in humans.
The role of the environment in shaping the trends of childhood asthma – An Asian perspective
Authors: Leung Agnes S. Y. , Tham Elizabeth Huiwen , Li Jing , Pacharn Punchama , Takizawa Takumi , Lee Eun , Xing Yuhan , Leung Ting‐Fan , Hong Soo‐Jong , Wong Gary W. K.
Published: March 2021

Asthma has now become one of the most common atopic disorders not only in developed countries but also in many developing countries. The etiology is likely due to a complex interaction between genetic and environmental factors. In many Asian countries, the prevalence of asthma has also been documented by validated instruments to be increasing rapidly over the past two decades. However, studies in rural areas in Asia with a traditional farming environment revealed markedly lower asthma prevalence when compared with residents in nearby cities despite having similar genetic background. Among the environmental factors implicated in the pathogenesis of asthma, air pollution, dietary patterns, viral infections, and early microbial exposure have been studied extensively around the world. Asia provides many opportunities to study these potential factors as there are many ethnic groups living in distinctly different environments. The understanding of the roles of these factors in affecting the early immune system and subsequent development of asthma will enable us to develop potential primary preventive strategies against a disease which affects millions worldwide.
Outcomes of Interdisciplinary Pain Rehabilitation Across Subgroups of the Multidimensional Pain Inventory – A Study From the Swedish Quality Registry for Pain Rehabilitation
Authors: Gerdle Björn , Cervin Matti , Rivano Fischer Marcelo , Ringqvist Åsa
Published: March 2021

Introduction

The Multidimensional Pain Inventory (MPI) is frequently used in the assessment of chronic pain. Three subgroups have been derived from MPI: adaptive coper (AC), dysfunctional (DYS), and interpersonally distressed (ID). The primary aim of this study was to examine whether outcome of Interdisciplinary Multimodal Pain Rehabilitation Programs (IMMRPs) differed across the MPI subgroups.

Methods

Patients with chronic pain (N = 34,513), included in the Swedish Quality Registry for Pain Rehabilitation, were classified into MPI subgroups and a subset that participated in IMMRPs (N = 13,419) was used to examine overall treatment outcomes using a previously established Multivariate Improvement Score (MIS) and 2 retrospective patient‐evaluated benefits from treatment.

Results

The subgroups differed on sociodemographic characteristics, pain duration, and spatial spreading of pain. DYS and ID had the best overall outcomes to MIS. AC had the best outcomes according to the 2 retrospective items. Transition into other subgroups following IMMRP was common and most prominent in DYS and least prominent in AC.

Conclusion

The validity of the MPI subgroups was partially confirmed. DYS and ID had the most severe clinical presentations at baseline and showed most improvement following IMMRP, but overall severity in DYS and ID at post‐treatment was still higher than in the AC group. Future studies should examine how processes captured by MPI interact with neurobiological, medical, sociodemographic, and adaptation/coping factors and how these interactions impact severity of chronic pain and treatment outcome.
Abortion Referendums: Is There a Recipe for Success?
Authors: Silagadze Nanuli
Published: March 2021

The topic of abortion has been among the most salient and polarizing issues on the European continent since the 1960s. However, abortion referendums have not received much attention from political scientists—to date, there is no comparative analysis of such popular votes. This article goes beyond the usual models of single case/country analyses and examines nationwide referendums on this policy in four European countries from the last four decades. The analysis focuses on twelve referendums and aims to identify the factors behind the pro‐choice or pro‐life outcome of a referendum by exploring the impact of relative consensus within the parliament, support of the head of government and medical experts, and the level of secularization of the country. The findings suggest that these factors have a substantial influence on the outcome.

Related Articles

Carmines, Edward G., Jessica C. Gerrity, and Michael W. Wagner. 2010. “How Abortion Became a Partisan Issue: Media Coverage of the Interest Group‐Political Party Connection.” Politics & Policy 38 (6): 1135‐1158. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1747‐1346.2010.00272.x

Doan, Alesha E., and Corinne Schwarz. 2020. “Father Knows Best: ‘Protecting’ Women through State Surveillance and Social Control in Anti‐Abortion Policy.” Politics & Policy 48 (1): 6‐37. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12337

LaFrance, T. Casey, and Brian Frederick. 2007. “Economic Status versus Same‐Sex Marriage Referenda in the 2004 Democratic Presidential Vote in ‘Appalachian’ Counties.” Politics & Policy 35 (2): 298‐317. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1747‐1346.2007.00061.x
Re‐reading a quatrain by Mary Queen of Scots
Authors: Wingfield Emily
Published: March 2021

Contributing both to work on Mary Queen of Scots’ poetry in particular, and to the growing field of early modern women’s marginalia more broadly, in this article I draw renewed attention to an overlooked autograph copy of a quatrain by Mary Queen of Scots (‘Si ce Lieu est’) in Sheffield, Guild of St George, MS R.3546. Mary’s verse appears here below an image of Christ’s wounded heart and opposite an image of a priest celebrating the Eucharist. In the first half of the article I discuss the manuscript’s provenance and its association with female members of Mary’s family, and I also assess the poem’s editorial history and critical heritage. I then propose a new translation and offer original readings of Mary’s self‐consciously meta‐textual wordplay. Most significantly, I make a case for the importance of reading ‘Si ce Lieu est’, like other examples of Mary’s poetry, not just in isolation but very much alongside the visual material it accompanies.
Impacts of management training on workers: Evidence from Central America and the Caribbean region
Authors: Shimada Go , Sonobe Tetsushi
Published: March 2021

There is an increasing interest in the impact assessment of management training programs. Among various types of training, this study focuses on those featuring Kaizen, a standard approach to production management and quality control whose name derives from the Japanese word meaning “improvement.” Previous studies of Kaizen training programs evaluate training impacts on management practices, business performance, and the willingness to pay for training, and do not pay attention to impacts on workers. Using the firm‐level data, this study attempts to assess the impacts of an onsite training program held at small and medium enterprises in eight Central American and Caribbean countries. Treated firms are compared with those firms that are selected by the sponsor organization according to the same criteria as the treated counterparts but not yet treated. Propensity score matching is employed to increase comparability between the two groups. This paper presents suggestive evidence that the training program improved work practices and the attitude of workers toward work. It also suggests that the treated firms weaken the linkage between sales revenues and wages, probably to induce workers to pay attention to activities that do not immediately increase sales, such as maintenance and coaching of other workers.
Neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte and platelet‐to‐lymphocyte ratios in dogs and cats with acute pancreatitis
Authors: Neumann Stephan
Published: March 2021

Background

Neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (PLR) have been described as prognostic markers in cancer and inflammatory diseases. The use of these measurements in dogs and cats with acute pancreatitis has not yet been investigated.

Objective

The objective was to evaluate NLR and PLR for usefulness as biomarkers for severity and clinical course of acute pancreatitis in dogs and cats.

Methods

In this prospective study, we investigated 67 dogs and 41 cats with acute pancreatitis and 17 healthy dogs and cats as controls. We compared the NLR and PLR of dogs and cats with acute pancreatitis with control animals. The severity of disease was measured using a modified “bedside index of severity in acute pancreatitis” (BISAP) score in humans, and the course of the disease was measured with the time to clinical recovery.

Results

NLR and PLR were significantly higher in dogs and cats with pancreatitis than in healthy controls. However, no significant relationship between NLR or PLR and disease severity was found, as assessed with the modified BISAP score. Dogs and cats with pancreatitis and prolonged recovery displayed a significantly increased PLR, and those same cats also displayed a significantly increased NLR.

Conclusions

We conclude that increased NLR and PLR provide information regarding the course of pancreatitis in dogs and cats.
Could Eremotherium laurillardi (Lund, 1842) (Megatheriidae, Xenarthra) be an Omnivore Species?
Authors: Dantas Mário André Trindade , Omena Érica Cavalcante , Silva Jorge Luiz Lopes da , Sial Alcides
Published: March 2021

We present carbon (δ13Ccollagen = -10.1 ‰) and nitrogen (δ15N = 6.8 ‰) isotopic data for E. laurillardi from Brejo da Madre de Deus, Pernambuco (Brazil) and discuss the possibility of an omnivore diet for it. Our data, although ponctual, reinforce the hypothesis that E. laurillardi was a herbivore species.