bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analysis of occupational stress and its correlation with oxidative-antioxidant levels among employees of a power grid enterprise in Guangdong
Authors: Zhang Lingyu , Liu Bin , Zhou Linqian , Cai Yashi , Guo Weizhen , Huang Weixu , Yan Xuehua , Chen Huifeng
Published: September 2022

Background

Occupational stress and its health effects on occupational populations have attracted extensive attention from researchers in public health. The stressors faced by employees of power grid enterprises are increasing progressively, which is easy to cause occupational stress. The balance of the body’s oxidative-antioxidant levels plays an essential role in maintaining the body’s health status. This study aims to explore occupational stress and its correlation with oxidative-antioxidant levels in employees of a power grid enterprise.

Methods

A cluster random sampling method was used to investigate the basic information of 528 employees in a power grid enterprise and investigate the two occupational stress models of employees by using the Job Content Questionnaire based on the job demand-control-support (JDC) model, and the Effort-Reward Imbalance Questionnaire based on the effort-reward imbalance (ERI) model, respectively. Peripheral blood samples were collected from the employees to measure the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and superoxide dismutase (SOD). The correlation between different models of occupational stress level and the body’s oxidation-antioxidation level was further explored.

Results

The detection rate of high JDC model occupational stress was 50.6% and the detection rate of high ERI model occupational stress was 50.9%. The JDC model occupational stress was significantly associated with high-temperature and high-altitude operation, visual display terminal operation, monthly income, and exercise (all P < 0.05). The ERI model occupational stress was significantly associated with visual display terminal operation (all P < 0.05). The results of the generalized additive model showed that SOD levels had a non-linear relationship with the D/C ratio as well as the E/R ratio. With the D/C ratio close to 1, SOD levels raised rapidly. When the E/R ratio exceeded 1, the SOD level raised rapidly (all P<0.05) . TAC levels were negatively associated with the E/R ratio (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

The detection rates of occupational stress in both models among employees in a power grid enterprise are higher. ERI model occupational stress was associated with body TAC and SOD levels, and JDC model occupational stress was associated with body SOD levels.
Aerosol reduction efficacy of different intra-oral suction devices during ultrasonic scaling and high-speed handpiece use
Authors: Piela Krystyna , Watson Paddy , Donnelly Reuben , Goulding Marilyn , Henriquez Fiona L. , MacKay William , Culshaw Shauna
Published: September 2022

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic led to significant changes in the provision of dental services, aimed at reducing the spread of respiratory pathogens through restrictions on aerosol generating procedures (AGPs). Evaluating the risk that AGPs pose in terms of SARS-CoV-2 transmission is complex, and measuring dental aerosols is challenging. To date, few studies focus on intra-oral suction. This study sought to assess the effectiveness of commonly used intra-oral suction devices on aerosol mitigation.

Methods

Ultrasonic scaling and high-speed handpiece procedures were undertaken to generate aerosol particles. Multiple particle sensors were positioned near the oral cavity. Sensor data were extracted using single board computers with custom in-house Bash code. Different high-volume and low-volume suction devices, both static and dynamic, were evaluated for their efficacy in preventing particle escape during procedures.

Results

In all AGPs the use of any suction device tested resulted in a significant reduction in particle counts compared with no suction. Low-volume and static suction devices showed spikes in particle count demonstrating moments where particles were able to escape from the oral cavity. High-volume dynamic suction devices, however, consistently reduced the particle count to background levels, appearing to eliminate particle escape.

Conclusions

Dynamic high-volume suction devices that follow the path of the aerosol generating device effectively eliminate aerosol particles escaping from the oral cavity, in contrast to static devices which allow periodic escape of aerosol particles. Measuring the risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission in a dental setting is multi-factorial; however, these data suggest that the appropriate choice of suction equipment may further reduce the risk from AGPs.
Nurse, midwife and patient perspectives and experiences of diabetes management in an acute inpatient setting: a mixed-methods study
Authors: Holton Sara , Rasmussen Bodil , Turner Joy , Steele Cheryl , Ariarajah Deepa , Hamblin Shane , Crowe Shane , Schutte Sandy , Wynter Karen , Hussain Ilyana Mohamed
Published: September 2022

Background

In an acute hospital setting, diabetes can require intensive management with medication modification, monitoring and education. Yet little is known about the experiences and perspectives of nursing/midwifery staff and patients. The aim of this study was to investigate diabetes management and care for patients with diabetes in an acute care setting from the perspectives of nursing/midwifery staff and patients.

Methods

A convergent mixed-methods study design. Patients with diabetes (Type 1, Type 2 or gestational diabetes) recruited from a public health service in Melbourne, Australia completed a survey and nurses and midwives employed at the health service participated in focus groups. Descriptive statistics were used to summarise the survey data. Thematic analysis was used for the free-text survey comments and focus group data.

Results

Surveys were completed by 151 patients. Although more than half of the patients were satisfied with the diabetes care they had received (n = 96, 67.6%), about a third felt the hospital nursing/midwifery staff had ignored their own knowledge of their diabetes care and management (n = 43, 30.8%). Few reported having discussed their diabetes management with the nursing/midwifery staff whilst in hospital (n = 47, 32.6%) or thought the nurses and midwives had a good understanding of different types of insulin (n = 43, 30.1%) and their administration (n = 47, 33.3%). Patients also reported food related barriers to their diabetes management including difficulties accessing appropriate snacks and drinks (n = 46, 30.5%), restricted food choices and timing of meals (n = 41, 27.2%). Fourteen nurses and midwives participated in two focus groups. Two main themes were identified across both groups: 1. challenges caring for patients with diabetes; and 2. lack of confidence and knowledge about diabetes management.

Conclusions

Patients and nursing/midwifery staff reported challenges managing patients’ diabetes in the hospital setting, ensuring patients’ optimal self-management, and provision of suitable food and timing of meals. It is essential to involve patients in their diabetes care and provide regular and up-to-date training and resources for nursing/midwifery staff to ensure safe and high-quality inpatient diabetes care and improve patient and staff satisfaction.
Device-measured physical activity and incident affective disorders
Authors: Ho Frederick K. , Petermann-Rocha Fanny , Parra-Soto Solange , Boonpor Jirapitcha , Gill Jason M. R. , Gray Stuart R. , Pell Jill P. , Celis-Morales Carlos
Published: September 2022

Background

Studies on physical activity (PA) and mental health are largely limited to self-reported PA. This study aims to use prospective cohort data to investigate the association between device-measured PA and affective disorders.

Methods

A total of 37,327 participants from UK Biobank who had not had any prior affective disorder diagnoses were included in this prospective cohort study. Wrist-worn accelerometers were used to measure total, light (LPA), moderate (MPA), and vigorous (VPA) PA. Associations between PA domains and affective disorders were analysed using penalised splines in Cox proportional hazard models. Analyses were adjusted for other intensity-specific PA and sociodemographic and lifestyle factors. Sensitivity analyses were conducted adjusting for body mass index and longstanding illnesses as well as excluding events in the first 2 years of follow-up. Preventable fractions for the population were estimated for MPA and VPA.

Results

Over a median follow-up of 6.8 years, 1262 (3.4%) individuals were diagnosed with affective disorders. Replacing 30 min of sedentary behaviour in a week with MPA (HR 0.95, 95% CI 0.94–0.97) or VPA (HR 0.91, 95% CI 0.85–0.98) was associated with lower risk of affective behaviours, up to 500 and 120 min of MPA and VPA. Assuming causality, 5.14% and 18.88% of affective disorders could have been prevented if MPA ≥150 min/week and VPA ≥75 min/week were achieved, respectively, across the study population.

Conclusions

Device-measured MPA and VPA were associated with lower risk of affective disorders. The potential mental health benefits of MPA continue to accrue above the current World Health Organization recommendation.
Cigarette smoke exposed airway epithelial cell-derived EVs promote pro-inflammatory macrophage activation in alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency
Authors: Khodayari Nazli , Oshins Regina , Mehrad Borna , Lascano Jorge E. , Qiang Xiao , West Jesse R. , Holliday L. Shannon , Lee Jungnam , Wiesemann Gayle , Eydgahi Soroush , Brantly Mark
Published: September 2022

Background

Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) is a genetic disorder most commonly secondary to a single mutation in the SERPINA1 gene (PI*Z) that causes misfolding and accumulation of alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) in hepatocytes and mononuclear phagocytes which reduces plasma AAT and creates a toxic gain of function. This toxic gain of function promotes a pro-inflammatory phenotype in macrophages that contributes to lung inflammation and early-onset COPD, especially in individuals who smoke cigarettes. The aim of this study is to determine the role of cigarette exposed AATD macrophages and bronchial epithelial cells in AATD-mediated lung inflammation.

Methods

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from AATD and healthy individuals were differentiated into alveolar-like macrophages and exposed to air or cigarette smoke while in culture. Macrophage endoplasmic reticulum stress was quantified and secreted cytokines were measured using qPCR and cytokine ELISAs. To determine whether there is “cross talk” between epithelial cells and macrophages, macrophages were exposed to extracellular vesicles released by airway epithelial cells exposed to cigarette smoke and their inflammatory response was determined.

Results

AATD macrophages spontaneously produce several-fold more pro-inflammatory cytokines as compared to normal macrophages. AATD macrophages have an enhanced inflammatory response when exposed to cigarette smoke-induced extracellular vesicles (EVs) released from airway epithelial cells. Cigarette smoke-induced EVs induce expression of GM-CSF and IL-8 in AATD macrophages but have no effect on normal macrophages. Release of AAT polymers, potent neutrophil chemo attractants, were also increased from AATD macrophages after exposure to cigarette smoke-induced EVs.

Conclusions

The expression of mutated AAT confers an inflammatory phenotype in AATD macrophages which disposes them to an exaggerated inflammatory response to cigarette smoke-induced EVs, and thus could contribute to progressive lung inflammation and damage in AATD individuals.
Ferroptosis is involved in regulating perioperative neurocognitive disorders: emerging perspectives
Authors: Song Yanhong , Wu Ziyi , Xue Hang , Zhao Ping
Published: September 2022

Since the twenty-first century, the development of technological advances in anesthesia and surgery has brought benefits to human health. However, the adverse neurological effects of perioperative-related factors (e.g., surgical trauma, anesthesia, etc.) as stressors cannot be ignored as well. The nervous system appears to be more “fragile” and vulnerable to damage in developing and aging individuals. Ferroptosis is a novel form of programmed cell death proposed in 2012. In recent years, the regulation of ferroptosis to treat cancer, immune system disorders, and neurodegenerative diseases have seen an unprecedented surge of interest. The association of ferroptosis with perioperative neurocognitive disorders has also received much attention. Cognitive impairment can not only affect the individual’s quality of life, but also impose a burden on the family and society. Therefore, the search for effective preventive and therapeutic methods to alleviate cognitive impairment caused by perioperative-related factors is a challenge that needs to be urgently addressed. In our review, we first briefly describe the connection between iron accumulation in neurons and impairment of brain function during development and aging. It is followed by a review of the pathways of ferroptosis, mainly including iron metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and lipid metabolism pathway. Furthermore, we analyze the connection between ferroptosis and perioperative-related factors. The surgery itself, general anesthetic drugs, and many other relevant factors in the perioperative period may affect neuronal iron homeostasis. Finally, we summarize the experimental evidence for ameliorating developmental and degenerative neurotoxicity by modulating ferroptosis. The suppression of ferroptosis seems to provide the possibility to prevent and improve perioperative neurocognitive impairment.
Lysophosphatidic acid as a CSF lipid in posthemorrhagic hydrocephalus that drives CSF accumulation via TRPV4-induced hyperactivation of NKCC1
Authors: Toft-Bertelsen Trine L. , Barbuskaite Dagne , Heerfordt Eva Kjer , Lolansen Sara Diana , Andreassen Søren Norge , Rostgaard Nina , Olsen Markus Harboe , Norager Nicolas H. , Capion Tenna , Rath Martin Fredensborg , Juhler Marianne , MacAulay Nanna
Published: September 2022

Background

A range of neurological pathologies may lead to secondary hydrocephalus. Treatment has largely been limited to surgical cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) diversion, as specific and efficient pharmacological options are lacking, partly due to the elusive molecular nature of the CSF secretion apparatus and its regulatory properties in physiology and pathophysiology.

Methods

CSF obtained from patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and rats with experimentally inflicted intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) was analyzed for lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) by alpha-LISA. We employed the in vivo rat model to determine the effect of LPA on ventricular size and brain water content, and to reveal the effect of activation and inhibition of the transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4) ion channel on intracranial pressure and CSF secretion rate. LPA-mediated modulation of TRPV4 was determined with electrophysiology and an ex vivo radio-isotope assay was employed to determine the effect of these modulators on choroid plexus transport.

Results

Elevated levels of LPA were observed in CSF obtained from patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and from rats with experimentally-inflicted intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH). Intraventricular administration of LPA caused elevated brain water content and ventriculomegaly in experimental rats, via its action as an agonist of the choroidal transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4) channel. TRPV4 was revealed as a novel regulator of ICP in experimental rats via its ability to modulate the CSF secretion rate through its direct activation of the Na+/K+/2Cl− cotransporter (NKCC1) implicated in CSF secretion.

Conclusions

Together, our data reveal that a serum lipid present in brain pathologies with hemorrhagic events promotes CSF hypersecretion and ensuing brain water accumulation via its direct action on TRPV4 and its downstream regulation of NKCC1. TRPV4 may therefore be a promising future pharmacological target for pathologies involving brain water accumulation.
Long-term efficacy of glycopyrrolate on sialorrhea in Goldenhar syndrome: a case report
Authors: Della Bella Gessica , Castelli Enrico , Vigevano Federico
Published: September 2022

Background

Goldenhar syndrome (GS) is a rare congenital disease characterized by impaired development of different facial structures and deformations of the teeth structures. Sialorrhea, which can cause difficulties in breathing and language impairment, is very common in GS and often difficult to treat. This case report highlights the short- and long-term importance of the therapeutic choice – glycopyrronium in oral solution - for the treatment of sialorrhea in children with poly-malformative syndrome, complicated by outcomes of post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus.

Case presentation

We report the case of a 6-year-old child with GS, carrying a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy after tracheostomy. The child also presented developmental dysfunction of oral motor skills of feeding, complicated by severe sialorrhea, related to the maxillo-facial dysmorphism. Sialorrhea caused several respiratory tract infections and led to an increase in the care burden. Both the inoculations of botulinum toxin and the treatment with scopolamine transdermal patch have shown mild and transient efficacy. The therapeutic choice of glycopyrronium in oral solution was the most suitable for this patient, leading to long-term sialorrhea control.

Conclusions

This clinical experience represents the first long-term efficacy and tolerability evaluation in using glycopyrrolate oral solution in treating drooling in children with GS. The reduction of drooling over time and the lack of clinically relevant adverse events have contributed to the decrease of respiratory tract infections, the development of oral motor skills, and determining a positive psycho-social impact on the patient's quality of life and her family.
Intraosseous infusion of acyclovir in a neonate
Authors: De Marca Saverio , Calafatti Matteo , Romaniello Luciana , Pesce Simona , Lapolla Rosa , Gizzi Camilla
Published: September 2022

Intraosseous (IO) access offers a fast and reliable route for administration of fluids and drugs when intravenous (IV) accesses like umbilical, peripheral, or peripherally inserted central lines fail in critically ill neonates. Several medications can be successfully administered via the IO route, however only limited information is available regarding IO administration of antiviral agents.

We present the case of a 2-week-old neonate, admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) due to suspected meningitis, who received acyclovir through IO infusion after the venous access was lost and a new one could not be established. No complications were reported within 12 months of follow up.

This report highlights the feasibility of IO acyclovir infusion when IV accesses fail in a critically ill neonate.
Low-level constitutional mosaicism of BRCA1 in two women with young onset ovarian cancer
Authors: Speight B. , Colvin E. , Epurescu E. D. , Drummond J. , Verhoef S. , Pereira M. , Evans D. G. , Tischkowitz M.
Published: September 2022

Germline pathogenic variants in BRCA1 and BRCA2 cause hereditary breast and ovarian cancer. The vast majority of these variants are inherited from a parent. De novo constitutional pathogenic variants are rare. Even fewer cases of constitutional mosaicism have been reported and these have mostly been described in women with breast cancer. Here we report low-level constitutional mosaicism identified by Next Generation Sequencing in two women with ovarian cancer. A BRCA1 c.5074G > A p.(Asp1692Asn) variant detected in the first female at 42 years, classed as likely pathogenic, was found in ~ 52% of reads in DNA extracted from tumour, ~ 10% of reads in DNA extracted from peripheral blood leukocytes and ~ 10% of reads in DNA extracted from buccal mucosa. The second BRCA1 c.2755_2758dupCCTG p.(Val920AlafsTer6) variant was detected in a female aged 53 years, classed as pathogenic, and was found in ~ 59% of reads in DNA extracted from tumour, ~ 14% of reads in DNA extracted from peripheral blood leukocytes and similarly in ~ 14% of reads in both DNA extracted from buccal mucosa and urine sample. Sanger sequencing confirmed the presence of these variants at a corresponding low level consistent with mosaicism that may not have been detected by this method alone. This report demonstrates the clinical benefit for two women of BRCA1/BRCA2 germline NGS testing at a depth that can detect low-level mosaicism. As well as informing appropriate treatments, tumour sequencing results may facilitate the detection and interpretation of low-level mosaic variants in the germline. Both results have implications for other cancer risks and for relatives when providing a family cancer risk assessment and reproductive risk. The implications for laboratory practice, clinical genetics management and genetic counselling for constitutional mosaicism of BRCA1/BRCA2 are discussed.
Renal outcomes according to renal replacement therapy modality and treatment protocol in the ATN and RENAL trials
Authors: Naorungroj Thummaporn , Neto Ary Serpa , Wang Amanda , Gallagher Martin , Bellomo Rinaldo
Published: September 2022

Background

In critically ill patients with acute kidney injury, renal replacement therapy (RRT) modality and treatment protocols may affect kidney recovery. This study explored whether RRT modality and treatment protocol affected RRT dependence in the ‘Randomized Evaluation of Normal versus Augmented Level of RRT’ and the ‘Acute Renal Failure Trial Network’ (ATN) trials.

Methods

Primary outcome was 28-day RRT dependence. Secondary outcomes included RRT dependence among survivors and in different SOFA-based treatment protocol groups. We used the Fine-Gray competing-risk model sub-distribution hazard ratio (SHR) to assess the primary outcome. Analyses were adjusted for confounders.

Results

Of 2542 patients, 2175 (85.5%) received continuous RRT (CRRT) and 367 (14.4%) received intermittent hemodialysis (IHD) as first RRT modality. CRRT-first patients had greater illness severity. After adjustment, there was no between-group difference in 28-day RRT dependence (SHR, 0.96 [95% CI 0.84–1.10]; p = 0.570) or hospital mortality (odds ratio [OR], 1.14 [95% CI 0.86–1.52]; p = 0.361) However, among survivors, CRRT-first was associated with decreased 28-day RRT dependence (OR, 0.54 [95% CI 0.37–0.80]; p = 0.002) and more RRT-free days (common OR: 1.38 [95% CI 1.11–1.71]). Moreover, among CRRT-first patient, the ATN treatment protocol was associated with fewer RRT-free days, greater mortality, and a fourfold increase in RRT dependence at day 28.

Conclusions

There was no difference in RRT dependence at day 28 between IHD and CRRT. However, among survivors and after adjustment, both IHD-first and the ATN treatment protocol were strongly associated with greater risk of RRT dependence at 28 days after randomization.

Trial registration NCT00221013 registered September 22, 2005, and NCT00076219 registered January 19, 2004.
Characterising lower-body musculoskeletal morphology and whole-body composition of elite female and male Australian Football players
Authors: McCaskie Callum J. , Sim Marc , Newton Robert U. , Heasman Jarryd , Rogalski Brent , Hart Nicolas H.
Published: September 2022

Background

Physical demands and injury rates differ between elite female and male Australian Football (AF) players. To improve understanding of contributing physical factors to these differences, the purpose of this study was to investigate lower-body morphology and whole-body composition of elite footballers competing in the Australian Football League (AFL) and Australian Football League Women’s (AFLW).

Methods

Lower-body morphology and whole-body composition of 23 AFL players and 23 AFLW players were assessed using peripheral Quantitative Computed Tomography and Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry at the beginning of pre-season. Differences between cohorts, with sub-analyses of kicking vs. support limbs, and experienced vs. inexperienced player status were assessed using two-sample independent t-tests. Magnitude of differences were assessed using Cohen’s d effect sizes.

Results

AFL players had greater absolute (p < 0.001; ES = 3.28) and relative (p < 0.001; ES = 2.29) whole body lean soft-tissue mass, with less absolute (p = 0.004; ES = 0.91) and relative (p < 0.001; ES = 2.29) fat mass than AFLW players. For AFLW players, no significant differences existed between kicking and support limbs with few differences observed between experienced and inexperienced players.

Conclusions

Greater emphasis on physical development in AFLW players may be required to enable increases in muscle mass and skeletal robustness, to ensure they can tolerate the loads of elite competition.
Staphylococcus aureus nasal carriage and bloodstream infection among conventional hemodialysis patients in Thailand: a prospective multicenter cohort study
Authors: Techasupaboon Tanyanop , Vasikasin Vasin , Varothai Narittaya , Raknaisil Navee , Nasomsong Worapong
Published: September 2022

Objective

Staphylococcus aureus nasal carriage screening among hemodialysis patients is not standard practice in Thailand, because of data lacking regarding prevalence and correlation with subsequent infection. We aimed to investigate the prevalence of S. aureus nasal carriage and its association with bloodstream infection among hemodialysis patients. In this prospective multicenter cohort study, participants were screened for S. aureus nasal carriage over 2 consecutive weeks. Incidence of S. aureus bloodstream infection over the next 12 months was observed.

Results

The prevalence of S. aureus nasal carriage was 11.67%. Incidence of S. aureus bacteremia among participants with and without S. aureus nasal carriage were 7.1% and 3.8%, respectively. The odds ratio for nasal carriage and subsequent bacteremia was 1.96 (95% CI 0.04–21.79; p = 0.553). Survival analysis showed that time to bacteremia among participants in the two groups did not significantly differ (p = 0.531). Prevalence of S. aureus nasal carriage among hemodialysis patients in Thailand was low. Patients presenting with S. aureus nasal carriage did not have increased risk of S. aureus bacteremia after 12-month follow-up. Nasal S. aureus screening and decolonization should not be encouraged in this setting.
Knockout of a key gene of the nicotine biosynthetic pathway severely affects tobacco growth under field, but not greenhouse conditions
Authors: Smith William A. , Matsuba Yuki , Dewey Ralph E.
Published: September 2022

Objective

There is great interest in developing tobacco plants containing minimal amounts of the addictive compound nicotine. Quinolate phosphoribosyltransferase (QPT) is an important enzyme both for primary (NAD production) and secondary (pyridine alkaloid biosynthesis) metabolism in tobacco. The duplication of an ancestral QPT gene in Nicotiana species has resulted in two closely related QPT gene paralogs: QPT1 which is expressed at modest levels throughout the plant, and QPT2 which is coordinately regulated with genes dedicated to alkaloid biosynthesis. This study evaluated the utility of knocking out QPT2 function as a means for producing low alkaloid tobacco plants.

Results

CRISPR/Cas9 vectors were developed to specifically mutate the tobacco QPT2 genes associated with alkaloid production. Greenhouse-grown qpt2 plants accumulated dramatically less nicotine than controls, while displaying only modest growth differences. In contrast, when qpt2 lines were transplanted to a field environment, plant growth and development was severely inhibited. Two conclusions can be inferred from this work: (1) QPT1 gene function alone appears to be inadequate for meeting the QPT demands of the plant for primary metabolism when grown in a field environment; and (2) the complete knockout of QPT2 function is not a viable strategy for producing agronomically useful, low nicotine tobaccos.
Clinical application of a double-modified sulfated bacterial cellulose scaffold material loaded with FGFR2-modified adipose-derived stem cells in urethral reconstruction
Authors: Zhu Zhenpeng , Yang Jiayu , Ji Xing , Wang Zicheng , Dai Chengxiang , Li Suke , Li Xuesong , Xie Yajie , Zheng Yudong , Lin Jian , Zhou Liqun
Published: September 2022

Background

Urethral stricture and reconstruction are one of the thorny difficult problems in the field of urology. The continuous development of tissue engineering and biomaterials has given new therapeutic thinking to this problem. Bacterial cellulose (BC) is an excellent biomaterial due to its accessibility and strong plasticity. Moreover, adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) could enhance their wound healing ability through directional modification.

Methods

First, we used physical drilling and sulfonation in this study to make BC more conducive to cell attachment and degradation. We tested the relevant mechanical properties of these materials. After that, we attached Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor 2 (FGFR2)-modified ADSCs to the material to construct a urethra for tissue engineering. Afterward, we verified this finding in the male New Zealand rabbit model and carried out immunohistochemical and imaging examinations 1 and 3 months after the operation. At the same time, we detected the potential biological function of FGFR2 by bioinformatics and a cytokine chip.

Results

The results show that the composite has excellent repairability and that this ability is correlated with angiogenesis. The new composite in this study provides new insight and therapeutic methods for urethral reconstruction. The preliminary mechanism showed that FGFR2 could promote angiogenesis and tissue repair by promoting the secretion of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A (VEGFA) from ADSCs.

Conclusions

Double-modified sulfonated bacterial cellulose scaffolds combined with FGFR2-modified ADSCs provide new sight and treatments for patients with urethral strictures.
TLGRU: time and location gated recurrent unit for multivariate time series imputation
Authors: Wang Ruimin , Zhang Zhenghui , Wang Qiankun , Sun Jianzhi
Published: September 2022

Multivariate time series are widely used in industrial equipment monitoring and maintenance, health monitoring, weather forecasting and other fields. Due to abnormal sensors, equipment failures, environmental interference and human errors, the collected multivariate time series usually have certain missing values. Missing values imply the regularity of data, and seriously affect the further analysis and application of multivariate time series. Conventional imputation methods such as statistical imputation and machine learning-based imputation cannot learn the latent relationships of data and are difficult to use for missing values imputation in multivariate time series. This paper proposes a novel Time and Location Gated Recurrent Unit (TLGRU), which takes into account the non-fixed time intervals and location intervals in multivariate time series and effectively deals with missing values. We made necessary modifications to the architecture of the end-to-end imputation model $${E}^{2}$$

E

2

GAN and replaced Gated Recurrent Unit for Imputation (GRUI) with TLGRU to make the generated fake sample closer to the original sample. Experiments on a public meteorologic dataset show that our method outperforms the baselines on the imputation accuracy and achieves a new state-of-the-art result.
Point matching based on affine invariant centroid trees
Authors: Wang Wei , Yan Xingwei , Zhao Ge , Shi Jianhua , Liu Jin
Published: September 2022

Object detection can be formulated as a point matching problem when objects are modeled by point sets. Moments, which have been widely used for point matching, are limited to affine transformations as their support point sets cannot keep invariant. To address this problem, we developed an affine invariant centroid tree (AICT) to obtain a rigorous affine invariant support point set (SPS). The algorithm is constructed by a recursive process: the point set is first divided by the vector from the certain point to the centroid of the point set, and the centroids of subsets are used to generate vectors for renewed partitions. In addition, the centroids of the subsets are stored to form an AICT. The AICT represents the inherent structure of the point set. It is highly tolerant to noise and outliers due to the partitions on the whole point set. More importantly, it is affine invariant owing to the affine invariance of partition. Therefore, we can get rigorous affine invariant descriptors while moments are combined with AICT. The experimental results on synthesized and real data verify that our proposed algorithm outperforms the state-of-the-art point matching methods including shape context, iterative closet point, and the method adopting thin plate spline for rigid robust point matching (TPS-RPM).
A hierarchical path-segmentation movement ecology framework
Authors: Getz Wayne M.
Published: September 2022

This paper lays out a hierarchical, appropriate-complexity framework for conceptualizing movement-path segments at different spatiotemporal scales in a way that facilitates comparative analyses and bridges behavior and mathematical concepts. It then outlines a process for generating a multimode, multiscale stochastic simulation model that can be used to test animal movement hypotheses and make predictions of movement responses to management and global change. Many methods for analyzing movement data begin by generating step-length (SL) and turning-angle (TA) distributions from relocation time-series data, some of which are linked to ecological, landscape, and environmental covariates. The frequency at which these data are collected may vary from sub-seconds to several hours. The kinds of questions that may be asked of these data, however, are very much scale dependent. The hierarchical path-segmentation (HPS) framework presented here clarifies how the scale at which SL and TA data are collected relates to other sub- and super-diel scales. Difficulties arise because the information contained in SL and TA time series are often not directly relatable to the physiological, ecological, and sociological factors that drive the structure of movement paths at longer scales. These difficulties are overcome by anchoring the classification of movement types around the concept of fixed-period (24 h) diel activity routines and providing a bridge between behavioral/ecological and stochastic-walk concepts (means, variances, correlations, individual-state and local environmental covariates). This bridge is achieved through the generation of relatively short segments conceived as characteristic sequences of fundamental movement elements. These short segments are then used to characterize longer canonical-activity-mode segments that emerge through movement at behaviorally relevant sub-diel scales. HPS thus provides a novel system for integrating sub-minute movement sequences into canonical activity modes (CAMs) that, in turn, can be strung together into various types of diel activity routines (DARs). These DARs both vary among individuals within a given day, and for any given individual across time and under the influence of landscape factors. An understanding of how DARs are influenced by environmental inputs will help us predict the response of supra-diel lifetime movement phases (LiMPs) of individuals, as well as their complete lifetime tracks (LiTs), to anthropogenically induced global change.
Sociocultural drivers of body image and eating disorder risk in rural Nicaraguan women
Authors: Thornborrow T. , Evans E. H. , Tovee M. J. , Boothroyd L. G.
Published: September 2022

Objective

Technological and economic globalisation has been suggested as a cause of increasing rates of body dissatisfaction and eating disorders globally, especially as regards the impact of mass media on internalised body ideals. This process is rarely observed in action, however. The current work investigates multiple aspects of body ideals, body image, sociocultural attitudes and eating attitudes in 62 Creole and Mestizo women living in communities at differing stages of technological development on the Caribbean coast of Nicaragua

Method/results

In Study 1, women used 3D avatar software to create their own ‘ideal’ body without the constraints of ready-made stimuli. Analyses of resulting avatars showed that components of the ideal body shape (upper and lower body curvaceousness) but not body size (body mass) were associated with levels of film and television consumption. In Study 2, women completed measures of variables in the sociocultural model of eating disorder risk. As expected, body dissatisfaction mediated the relationship between internalisation of sociocultural body ideals and pathological eating attitudes. In contrast, body appreciation reduced pathological eating attitudes, via reduced body dissatisfaction. Finally, Study 3 measured sociocultural influences, body image and eating attitudes at 2 or 3 timepoints per woman; body dissatisfaction covaried with pathological eating attitudes across time. Ethnicity varied in its effects across studies.

Discussion

Together these data show that even at early stages of media acculturation, women may show similar patterns of association between sociocultural internalisation, body dissatisfaction and eating disorder risk as in high income nations. However, they also demonstrate unique aspects of this population’s body shape ideals, and the independent protective effect of body appreciation.
Towards developing sustainable design standards for waterfront open spaces
Authors: Salama Shery William
Published: September 2022

Urban designers are interested while designing waterfront urban space with aesthetic standards and the process of visual perception, which depends only on Vision, while the rest of the human senses (H.S.) are overlooked, regardless of their importance. Thus, this study aims to enable urban designers to achieve better open urban space designs that fit all H.S. for better interaction. In addition, a set of criteria will be created that assist in imagining the design of an open waterfront urban space. Formulating the conceptual framework will be informed by studying different practical examples internationally e.g. London, in the Arab world e.g. Jeddah and and locally e.g. Sharm El-Sheikh in Egypt. This will be combined with field observation, questionnaires, and semi-structured interviews with people from Fuwwah City, Kafr El Sheikh in Egypt. This framework will attempt to provide a methodology and guidelines to improve the urban image of developing waterfront areas. in general, and Egypt in particular.
The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on total treatment time of fixed appliances
Authors: Santos Milena , de Araujo Almeida Guilherme , Normando David
Published: September 2022

Background

Several aspects of the orthodontic routine seem to have been affected since the emergence of SARS-CoV-2. We aimed to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the duration of fixed orthodontic treatment.

Methods

This retrospective study evaluated consecutive cases of patients undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment that completed treatment before (n = 37) or during (n = 26) the COVID-19 pandemic. The impact of the pandemic on treatment time was adjusted for the patient’s initial age, sex, number of debonds/breakages, number of missing teeth, initial PAR (Peer Assessment Rating) index (T0) and operator (n = 2), through multiple linear regression. The impact generated by months of treatment conducted during the pandemic period was also examined. Seven poorly finished cases were previously excluded, including five finished during the pandemic.

Results

Although the number of absences/missed appointments of patients treated during the pandemic was four months more than those treated in the previous period (p < 0.001), there was no significant effect of the pandemic on total orthodontic treatment time for both operators. There was also an effect of operator (β = 10.42,p < 0.001) and gender, which was lower in females (β = 4.77,p = 0.03), on treatment time (R2 = 0.27). The other variables showed no significant association (p > 0.05).

Conclusion

The COVID-19 pandemic did not have a significant effect on total orthodontic treatment time, although a greater number of absences/missed appointments were observed.
SafetyCrown: a patient-centered, fully digital concept for immediate implant restoration following the one-abutment/one-time concept—a pilot case series of a new treatment concept
Authors: Waltenberger Lukas , Wolfart Stefan
Published: September 2022

Introduction

The patient-centered SafetyCrown-workflow enables the immediate restoration of posterior missing teeth and short free-end situations following one-abutment/one-time within three visits and only one surgical approach. This prosthodontic rehabilitation aims to combine the advantages of cemented and screw-retained restorations.

Report

The concept has been performed with 4 restorations in 3 patients and followed up for up to 1 year (mean: 11.2 months) without technical and/or biological complication. Visit 1: Intraoral optical impression, CBCT, and tooth shade selection. Virtual implant planning is performed, and a surgical guide is printed. After exporting the planned implant position, a tooth-colored abutment is fabricated from zirconia with a 1-mm supragingival cementation line, adhesively bonded to a titanium base. Visit 2: Fully navigated implant placement with insertion of the definitive abutment. Subsequently, optical impressions are prepared for A: immediate restoration using a PMMA crown without functional contacts; B: definitive crown fabricated from monolithic zirconia and individualized. The localization of the screw channel is marked using stain thus permitting precise screw channel access, if necessary. Visit 3: After osseointegration of the implant, the definitive crown is adhesively cemented supragingival. In a retrospective analysis of PROMs (‘How stressful was the treatment process […]?’ (0 = not stressful at all, 100 = very stressful), mean VAS score for SafetyCrown of 14 (SD 11.7) and 29.8 (SD 23.1) for standard procedure were present.

Conclusion

The SafetyCrown offers a shortened, patient-oriented concept for implant-supported single-tooth reconstructions omitting second-stage surgery. Clinical performance and hypothesized prosthodontic benefits require confirmation via an RCT.
Correspondence Between Values of Vertical Loading Rate and Oxygen Consumption During Inclined Running
Authors: Lemire Marcel , Falbriard Mathieu , Aminian Kamiar , Pavlik Eloïse , Millet Grégoire P. , Meyer Frédéric
Published: September 2022

Purpose

The aim of this study was to provide a theoretical model to predict the vertical loading rate (VLR) at different slopes and speeds during incline running.

Methods

Twenty-nine healthy subjects running at least once a week performed in a randomized order 4-min running trials on an instrumented treadmill at various speeds (8, 10, 12, and 14 km h−1) and slopes (− 20%, − 10%, − 5%, 0%, + 5%, + 10%, + 15%, + 20%). Heart rate, gas exchanges and ground reaction forces were recorded. The VLR was then calculated as the slope of the vertical force between 20 and 80% of the duration from initial foot contact to the impact peak.

Results

There was no difference in VLR between the four different uphill conditions at given running speeds, but it was reduced by 27% at 5% slope and by 54% at 10% slope for the same metabolic demand (similar $${\dot{\text{V}}\text{O}}_{{2}}$$

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), when compared to level running. The average VLR measured at maximal aerobic intensity during level running would be decreased by 52.7% at + 5%, by 63.0% at + 10%, and by 73.3% at + 15% slope. Moreover, VLR was dependent on the slope in downhill conditions.

Conclusion

This study highlights the possibility to use uphill running to minimize rate of mechanical load (i.e., osteoarticular load) from foot impact on the ground and as a time-efficient exercise routine (i.e., same energy expenditure than in level running in less time).
Bilateral intermediate uveitis following treatment with paclitaxel in a patient with invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast
Authors: Kvopka Michael , Smith Justine R. , Koczwara Bogda , Lake Stewart R.
Published: September 2022

Background

To report a case of bilateral intermediate uveitis without cystoid macular edema secondary to paclitaxel therapy, and its successful management with oral corticosteroids.

Case presentation

A 66-year-old female developed bilateral intermediate uveitis with reduced best corrected visual acuity to 20/40 right and 20/200 left, following 12 cycles of paclitaxel therapy for breast carcinoma. Optical coherence tomography demonstrated no cystoid macular edema in either eye, and fundus fluorescein angiography showed localized retinal vascular leakage. Resolution of uveitis and improvement of visual acuity followed treatment with oral prednisolone for two months. Fourteen months after presentation, right and left visual acuities had returned to 20/32 and 20/40, respectively, and there was no recurrence of the uveitis.

Conclusions

This is the first reported case of bilateral intermediate uveitis in a patient treated with paclitaxel. Drug-induced uveitis should be considered in patients with visual symptoms in the setting of taxane chemotherapy, and oral corticosteroids are a safe and effective treatment.
Debriefing interaction patterns and learning outcomes in simulation: an observational mixed-methods network study
Authors: Abegglen Sandra , Greif Robert , Balmer Yves , Znoj Hans Joerg , Nabecker Sabine
Published: September 2022

Background

Debriefing is effective and inexpensive to increase learning benefits of participants in simulation-based medical education. However, suitable communication patterns during debriefings remain to be defined. This study aimed to explore interaction patterns during debriefings and to link these to participants’ satisfaction, perceived usefulness, and self-reported learning outcomes.

Methods

We assessed interaction patterns during debriefings of simulation sessions for residents, specialists, and nurses from the local anaesthesia department at the Bern University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland. Network analysis was applied to establish distinctive interaction pattern categories based on recorded interaction links. We used multilevel modelling to assess relationships between interaction patterns and self-reported learning outcomes.

Results

Out of 57 debriefings that involved 111 participants, discriminatory analyses revealed three distinctive interaction patterns: ‘fan’, ‘triangle’, and ‘net’. Participants reported significantly higher self-reported learning effects in debriefings with a net pattern, compared to debriefings with a fan pattern. No effects were observed for participant satisfaction, learning effects after 1 month, and perceived usefulness of simulation sessions.

Conclusions

A learner-centred interaction pattern (i.e. net) was significantly associated with improved short-term self-reported individual learning and team learning. This supports good-practice debriefing guidelines, which stated that participants should have a high activity in debriefings, guided by debriefers, who facilitate discussions to maximize the development for the learners.