bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rapid resolution of severe exudation in uveal effusion syndrome with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor alone in a case of bilateral nanophthalmos: a case report
Authors: Song Li , Dong Fangtian , Yi Changxian
Published: October 2021

Background

Uveal effusion syndrome is a rare disease characterized by exudative detachments of the choroid, ciliary body, and retina. Various surgical procedures and nonsurgical strategies have been described to treat uveal effusion syndrome with limited success. The treatment for uveal effusion syndrome remains a serious challenge for clinicians. To the best of our knowledge, no previous report has described a severe uveal effusion syndrome patient with nanophthalmos treated by using an anti-vascular endothelial growth factor agent alone. We report here one such case with unexpected positive results.

Case presentation

A 30-year-old Chinese male patient presented with painless vision loss in both eyes that had persisted for 2 months. Examination of the right eye revealed a best corrected visual acuity of 0.03; the best corrected visual acuity of the left eye was finger count/20 cm. The intraocular pressure was normal on both eyes. A-scan revealed an right eye axial length of 15.88 mm and a left eye axial length of 16.21 mm. In the right eye, half of the peripheral choroid and nearly three-fourths of the retina were detached. The left fundus was not visible because of the total retinal detachment located just behind the lens, which could be clearly observed directly with a slit lamp. Considering all the possibilities and available treatments as well as the patient’s intentions after discussion, we first administered an intravitreal injection of ranibizumab 0.5 ml into both eyes. The patient’s visual perception improved 3 days after the injection. One month later, most of the effusion under the choroid and retina was absorbed. Visual acuity improved from finger count to 0.05 in both eyes, and vision quality was remarkably improved. Encouraged by this good result, the patient opted to undergo a second injection 1 month later. Choroidal and retinal detachment completely vanished 30 days after the second injection.

Conclusions

Using an anti-vascular endothelial growth factor agent alone may be a potentially effective and safe method for managing some types of uveal effusion syndrome, such as in nanophthalmos. The injection may be administered before considering more aggressive procedures in some uveal effusion syndrome patients.
Neuropsychological and psychological dysfunctions associated with coronavirus disease 2019: a case report
Authors: Damianova Maria
Published: October 2021

Background

Patient’s account of personal experiences of having lived through coronavirus disease 2019 is important for understanding the magnitude of the debilitating impact of the infection. There is increasing recognition that the infection impedes multiple functional domains, but to date the evidence remains scarce. Moreover, to the author’s knowledge, there are no documented cases reporting on research data derived from self-reflective first-person experience.

Case presentation

The patient was a 59-year-old female psychologist of White self-ascribed ethnicity who had coronavirus disease 2019. She had no history of medical, neurological, or psychiatric conditions and works in a neurosurgery clinic at a large hospital as a psychologist, specializing in neuropsychology. Using the introspective method, she captured the occurrence of neuropsychological and psychological dysfunctions she experienced in the acute stage of the illness, which took place in December 2020 and lasted for 17 days. Treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 was conducted in the home environment under medical supervision and followed a standardized protocol adopted at the time in the country.

Conclusions

The data derived from the first-person experience indicated that among the most salient cognitive functions impacted by the disease were: executive control, working memory, attention, concentration, and processing speed.

Furthermore, emotional instability; mood swings; racing, repetitive, or intrusive thoughts; uncontrolled associations; dizziness; fatigue; disbalance; and sleep disturbances featured consistently throughout the illness. The overall profile of these dysfunctions suggests disruption in the overall operation of the brain and particularly in the functioning of the frontal lobes. Although less tangible than the physical symptoms, the neuropsychological and psychological dysfunctions associated with coronavirus disease 2019 form a distinct cluster that has a highly debilitating impact on a person’s well-being.
Transesophageal echocardiography for cardiovascular risk estimation in patients with sepsis and new-onset atrial fibrillation: a multicenter prospective pilot study
Authors: Labbé Vincent , Ederhy Stephane , Lapidus Nathanael , Joffre Jérémie , Razazi Keyvan , Laine Laurent , Sy Oumar , Voicu Sebastian , Chemouni Frank , Aissaoui Nadia , Smonig Roland , Doyen Denis , Carrat Fabrice , Voiriot Guillaume , Mekontso-Dessap Armand , Cohen Ariel , Fartoukh Muriel ,   for the FAST Study Group, Guidet Bertrand , Ait-Oufella Hafid , Bourcier Simon , Da Silva Daniel , Jochmans Sebastien , Dellamonica Jean , Timsit Jean-François , Megarbane Bruno , Diehl Jean-Luc , Rushton-Smith Sophie
Published: October 2021

Background

Echocardiographic parameters have been poorly investigated for estimating cardiovascular risk in patients with sepsis and new-onset atrial fibrillation. We aim to assess the prevalence of transesophageal echocardiographic abnormalities and their relationship with cardiovascular events in mechanically ventilated patients with sepsis and new-onset atrial fibrillation.

Methods

In this prospective multicenter pilot study, left atrial/left atrial appendage (LA/LAA) dysfunction, severe aortic atheroma, and left ventricular systolic dysfunction were assessed using an initial transesophageal echocardiographic study, which was repeated after 48–72 h to detect LA/LAA thrombus formation. The study outcome was a composite of cardiovascular events at day 28, including arterial thromboembolic events (ischemic stroke, non-cerebrovascular arterial thromboembolism, LA/LAA thrombus), major bleeding, and all-cause death.

Results

The study population comprised 94 patients (septic shock 63%; 35% women; median age 69 years). LA/LAA dysfunction, severe aortic atheroma, and left ventricular systolic dysfunction were detected in 17 (19%), 22 (24%), and 27 (29%) patients, respectively. At day 28, the incidence of cardiovascular events was 46% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 35 to 56). Arterial thromboembolic events and major bleeding occurred in 7 (7%) patients (5 ischemic strokes, 1 non-cerebrovascular arterial thromboembolism, 2 left atrial appendage thrombi) and 18 (19%) patients, respectively. At day 28, 27 patients (29%) died. Septic shock (hazard ratio [HR]: 2.36; 95% CI 1.06 to 5.29) and left ventricular systolic dysfunction (HR: 2.06; 95% CI 1.05 to 4.05) were independently associated with cardiovascular events.

Conclusions

Transesophageal echocardiographic abnormalities are common in mechanically ventilated patients with sepsis and new-onset atrial fibrillation, but only left ventricular systolic dysfunction was associated with cardiovascular events at day 28.
Warmblood fragile foal syndrome causative single nucleotide polymorphism frequency in horses in Ireland
Authors: Rowe Áine , Flanagan Sharon , Barry Gerald , Katz Lisa M. , Lane Elizabeth A. , Duggan Vivienne
Published: October 2021

Background

Warmblood Fragile Foal Syndrome (WFFS) is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by a mutation in the procollagen-lysine, 2-oxoglutarate 5-dioxygenase 1 (PLOD1) gene. Homozygosity for the mutation results in defective collagen synthesis which clinically manifests as the birth of non viable or still born foals with abnormally fragile skin. While the mutation has been identified in non Warmblood breeds including the Thoroughbred, to date all homozygous clinically affected cases reported in the scientific literature are Warmblood foals. The objective of this study was to investigate the carrier frequency of the mutation in the Thoroughbred and sport horse populations in Ireland.

Methods

A test was developed at the UCD School of Veterinary Medicine using real-time PCR to amplify the PLOD1 gene c.2032G > A variant. A subset of the samples was also submitted to an external laboratory with a licensed commercial WFFS genetic test.

Results

Warmblood Fragile Foal Syndrome genotyping was performed on hair samples from 469 horses representing 6 different breeds. Six of 303 (1.98%) sport horses tested and three of 109 (2.75%) Thoroughbreds tested were heterozygous for the WFFS polymorphism (N/WFFS). The WFFS polymorphism was not identified in the Standardbred, Cob, Connemara, or other pony breeds.

Conclusions

The study identified a low frequency of the WFFS causative mutation in sport horses and Thoroughbreds in Ireland, highlighting the importance of WFFS genetic testing in order to identify phenotypically normal heterozygous carriers and to prevent the birth of nonviable foals.
Existence and nonexistence of entire k-convex radial solutions to Hessian type system
Authors: Cui Jixian
Published: October 2021

In this paper, a Hessian type system is studied. After converting the existence of an entire solution to the existence of a fixed point of a continuous mapping, the existence of entirek-convex radial solutions is established by the monotone iterative method. Moreover, a nonexistence result is also obtained.
On a generalized fractional boundary value problem based on the thermostat model and its numerical solutions via Bernstein polynomials
Authors: Etemad Sina , Tellab Brahim , Deressa Chernet Tuge , Alzabut Jehad , Li Yongkun , Rezapour Shahram
Published: October 2021

In this paper, we introduce a new structure of the generalized multi-point thermostat control model motivated by its standard model. By presenting integral solution of this boundary problem, the existence property along with the uniqueness property are investigated by means of a special version of contractions named μ-φ-contractions and the Banach contraction principle. Then, on the given nonlinear generalized BVP of thermostat, the Bernstein polynomials are introduced and numerical solutions obtained by them are presented. At the end, three different structures of nonlinear thermostat models are designed and the results are examined.
Shape-adjustable developable generalized blended trigonometric Bézier surfaces and their applications
Authors: Maqsood Sidra , Abbas Muhammad , Miura Kenjiro T. , Majeed Abdul , Hu Gang , Nazir Tahir
Published: October 2021

Developable surfaces have a vital part in geometric modeling, architectural design, and material manufacturing. Developable Bézier surfaces are the important tools in the construction of developable surfaces, but due to polynomial depiction and having no shape parameter, they cannot describe conics exactly and can only handle a few shapes. To tackle these issues, two straightforward techniques are proposed to the computer-aided design of developable generalized blended trigonometric Bézier surfaces (for short, developable GBT-Bézier surfaces) with shape parameters. A developable GBT-Bézier surface is established by making a collection of control planes with generalized blended trigonometric Bernstein-like (for short, GBTB) basis functions on duality principle among points and planes in 4D projective space. By changing the values of shape parameters, a group of developable GBT-Bézier surfaces that preserves the features of the developable GBT-Bézier surfaces can be generated. Furthermore, for a continuous connection among these developable GBT-Bézier surfaces, the necessary and sufficient $G^{1}$

G
1

and $G^{2}$

G
2

(Farin–Boehm and beta) continuity conditions are also defined. Some geometric designs of developable GBT-Bézier surfaces are illustrated to show that the suggested scheme can settle the shape and position adjustment problem of developable Bézier surfaces in a better way than other existing schemes. Hence, the suggested scheme has not only all geometric features of current curve design schemes but surpasses their imperfections which are usually faced in engineering.
Existence, uniqueness, and approximate solutions for the general nonlinear distributed-order fractional differential equations in a Banach space
Authors: Eftekhari Tahereh , Rashidinia Jalil , Maleknejad Khosrow
Published: October 2021

The purpose of this paper is to provide sufficient conditions for the local and global existence of solutions for the general nonlinear distributed-order fractional differential equations in the time domain. Also, we provide sufficient conditions for the uniqueness of the solutions. Furthermore, we use operational matrices for the fractional integral operator of the second kind Chebyshev wavelets and shifted fractional-order Jacobi polynomials via Gauss–Legendre quadrature formula and collocation methods to reduce the proposed equations into systems of nonlinear equations. Also, error bounds and convergence of the presented methods are investigated. In addition, the presented methods are implemented for two test problems and some famous distributed-order models, such as the model that describes the motion of the oscillator, the distributed-order fractional relaxation equation, and the Bagley–Torvik equation, to demonstrate the desired efficiency and accuracy of the proposed approaches. Comparisons between the methods proposed in this paper and the existing methods are given, which show that our numerical schemes exhibit better performances than the existing ones.
Evidence of the impacts of pharmaceuticals on aquatic animal behaviour: a systematic map protocol
Authors: Martin Jake M. , Bertram Michael G. , Blanchfield Paul J. , Brand Jack A. , Brodin Tomas , Brooks Bryan W. , Cerveny Daniel , Lagisz Malgorzata , Ligocki Isaac Y. , Michelangeli Marcus , Nakagawa Shinichi , Orford Jack T. , Sundin Josefin , Tan Hung , Wong Bob B. M. , McCallum Erin S.
Published: October 2021

Background

Globally, there is growing concern over the impacts of pharmaceuticals and drug manufacturing on aquatic animals, and pharmaceuticals are now recognized as contaminants of emerging environmental concern. In recent years, scientists, environmental managers, and policymakers have been interested in using behavioural endpoints for chemical regulation, given their importance for fitness and survival. The body of research on whether and how pharmaceutical exposure alters the behaviour of aquatic animals has grown exponentially, making it difficult to get an overview of the results. With an international spotlight on the management of these environmental threats, synthesizing the currently available data is vital to inform managers and policymakers, as well as highlighting areas where more research is needed. This is a protocol for a systematic evidence map (SEM) and serves as an a priori record of our objectives and methodological decisions. Our objectives are to identify, catalogue, and present primary research articles on the effects of human and veterinary pharmaceuticals on aquatic animal behaviour.

Methods

The literature search will be conducted using two electronic databases: Web of Science and Scopus, and we will supplement these searches with additional sources. The search string has been developed using a Population–Exposure–Comparison–Outcome (PECO) framework, to capture articles that used an aquatic organism (P, population) to test the effects of a pharmaceutical (E, exposure) on behaviour (O, outcome). Eligible articles must also have a control group (C, comparison). Articles will be screened in two stages, title and abstract, followed by full-text screening before data extraction. Decision trees have been designed a priori to appraise articles for eligibility at both stages of screening. At both stages, screening each article will be completed by two independent reviewers. Study validity will be appraised but not used as a basis for article inclusion. The information extracted from the eligible articles, along with bibliometric data, will be mapped and displayed. All data associated with this SEM will be publicly available through the Open Science Framework (OSF) and a future project webpage.
A systematic review of cognitive behavior therapy and dialectical behavior therapy for adolescent eating disorders
Authors: Vogel Emily N. , Singh Simar , Accurso Erin C.
Published: October 2021

Background

Eating disorders have serious psychological and physical consequences. Current evidence-based treatments for adolescents with eating disorders have modest effects, underscoring the need to improve current treatment approaches. Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) have been proposed as alternative treatment options, with burgeoning research in this area. This review aims to summarize and critically analyze the current literature on the feasibility, acceptability, effectiveness, and efficacy of CBT and DBT for adolescent eating disorders, and then proposes areas of future research.

Methods

PsycINFO and PubMed were searched using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses guidelines to identify studies examining the feasibility, acceptability, effectiveness and/or efficacy of CBT or DBT for adolescent eating disorders.

Results

Eligible studies (N = 50; CBT: n = 40, DBT: n = 10) indicated that both treatments are reasonably feasible, acceptable, and possibly effective for adolescent eating disorders across diagnoses and levels of care, though efficacy trials are lacking.

Conclusions

CBT and DBT demonstrate promise as alternatives to family-based approaches for adolescent eating disorders. Adequately powered trials to establish the effectiveness and efficacy of CBT and DBT are needed, particularly ones that compare these treatments against other leading approaches.

Plain English summary

Despite high rates of relapse and likelihood for severe and enduring illness, there is a dearth of evidence-based treatment options for adolescents with eating disorders. Potentially viable but less well-studied treatments for adolescents with eating disorders include cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). This systematic review of CBT and DBT for adolescent eating disorders focuses on feasibility (i.e., how easy it was to implement the treatment), acceptability (i.e., how well the intervention was received by patients and therapists), effectiveness (i.e., how well the intervention performed under routine, real-world circumstances), and efficacy (i.e., how well the intervention performed in highly-controlled research settings). This review concludes that research supports the feasibility and acceptability of these approaches, as well as preliminary evidence of their effectiveness. However, the field is lacking studies that systematically compare CBT and DBT to other evidence-based approaches. Recommendations to advance research on CBT and DBT for adolescent eating disorders are provided, including a call for efficacy studies that clarify their performance compared to other leading approaches.
The association between problematic social networking site use, dark triad traits, and emotion dysregulation
Authors: Hussain Zaheer , Wegmann Elisa , Griffiths Mark D.
Published: October 2021

Background

Social networking sites (SNSs) allow people to socially connect with each other, collaborate, and share information. However, problematic SNS use (PSNSU) may be associated with negative personality traits. The present study investigated the associations between PSNSU, dark triad personality traits, and emotion dysregulation.

Method

In the present study, 555 SNS users (Mage = 33.32 years, SD = 10.88) completed an online survey comprising measures of PSNSU, dark triad personality traits, and emotion dysregulation.

Results

Bivariate correlations showed that PSNSU was significantly associated with dark triad traits as well as emotion dysregulation. Structural equation modelling (where the effect of the dark triad traits on PSNSU was mediated by emotion dysregulation) showed that 33.5% of the variance of PSNSU was explained by Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and narcissism.

Conclusion

The findings provide suggestive evidence of why PSNSU may occur as a function of the presence of dark triad traits and emotion dysregulation. The study also highlighted the important role that emotion regulation plays in the association between dark triad traits and PSNSU.
Identification and structural analysis of a thermophilic β-1,3-glucanase from compost
Authors: Feng Jianwei , Xu Shenyuan , Feng Ruirui , Kovalevsky Andrey , Zhang Xia , Liu Dongyang , Wan Qun
Published: October 2021

β-1,3-glucanase can specifically hydrolyze glucans to oligosaccharides and has potential applications in biotechnology. We used the metatranscriptomic technology to discover a thermophilic β-1,3-glucanase from compost. The phylogenetic study shows that it belongs to the family 16 glycoside hydrolase (GH16) and is most homologous with an enzyme fromStreptomyces sioyaensis, an actinobacterium. It has the activity of 146.9 U/mg in the optimal reaction condition (75 °C and pH 5.5). Its catalytic domain was crystallized and diffracted to 1.14 Å resolution. The crystal structure shows a sandwich-like β-jelly-roll fold with two disulfide bonds. After analyzing the occurring frequencies of these cysteine residues, we designed two mutants (C160G and C180I) to study the role of these disulfide bonds. Both mutants have decreased their optimal temperature from 75 to 70 °C, which indicate that the disulfide bonds are important to maintain thermostability. Interestingly, the activity of C160G has increased ~ 17% to reach 171.4 U/mg. We speculate that the increased activity of C160G mutant is due to increased dynamics near the active site. Our studies give a good example of balancing the rigidity and flexibility for enzyme activity, which is helpful for protein engineering.
Pharmaco-chemical profiling of Desmodium gangeticum (L.) DC. with special reference to soil chemistry
Authors: Mohan Prasobh K. , Adarsh Krishna T. P. , Senthil Kumar T. , Ranjitha Kumari B. D.
Published: October 2021

Background

Desmodium gangeticum (L.) DC. (Fabaceae) (DG) is a perennial non-climbing herb or shrub and folklore medicine, widely shows a large number of medicinal properties, as well as contains divergent bioactive compounds. Many of the herbal formulations contain this medicinal plant, which is considered as master of medicinal plant in Ayurveda. This study is an attempt to establish this plant material based on its pharmaco-chemical profiles with special reference to soil chemistry. The pharmaco-chemical features such as organoleptic, DNA sequence, physicochemical, proximate, phytochemical, UV, and FTIR profiling were carried out using standard techniques. Moreover, the ADME-PK properties of the selected molecules were established.

Results

The pharmaco-chemical features like organoleptic, DNA sequence, physicochemical, proximate, phytochemical, UV, and FTIR profiling, ADME-PK properties, and soil chemistry of D. gangeticum revealed its unique and diagnostic peculiarities. DNA barcoding showed that the sequence was 99.77% similar to D. gangeticum (KP094638) having 100% query coverage. The soil analysis revealed the presence of moderately high content of NPK and sufficient amount of all essential macro- and micronutrients (S, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, and B). The phytochemical profiling showed that the ethanolic extract of the aerial part contained glycoside, amino acid, phenols, alkaloids, flavonoids, and coumarins, while the ethanolic root extract of the plant revealed the presence of glycoside, amino acid, phenols, alkaloids, flavonoids, coumarins, and triterpenoids. FTIR results indicated that the plant extracts are mainly rich in phenolic derivatives. ADME-PK properties of pterocarpan such as gangetin (1a), gangetinin (1b), desmocarpin (1c), and desmodin (1d) were found to pass the Lipinski, Ghose, Veber, and Egan rules, supporting the drug-likeliness.

Conclusion

This is the first record of pharmaco-chemical profiling of D. gangeticum along with soil chemistry, and this information helps in the proper identification and future studies on this species.

Graphic abstract
Correlation of Preoperative Imaging Findings and Parathyroidectomy Outcomes Support NICE 2019 Guidance
Authors: Chander Nikita R , Chidambaram Swathikan , Van Den Heede Klaas , DiMarco Aimee N , Tolley Neil S , Palazzo F Fausto
Published: October 2021

Context

Preoperative localization studies are standard practice in patients undergoing parathyroidectomy for primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT). The most common modalities are neck ultrasound (US) and sestamibi scanning. However, the nature of pHPT is changing, with imaging increasingly yielding negative results. Numerous studies suggest unlocalized disease is associated with poor outcomes, calling into question whether such patients are best treated conservatively.

Objective

This study aims to correlate parathyroidectomy outcomes with preoperative imaging in a single, high-volume institution.

Methods

Data from a prospectively maintained departmental database of operations performed from 2017 to 2019 were analyzed. All patients undergoing first-time surgery for sporadic pHPT were included. Data collected included patient demographics, preoperative imaging, surgical strategy, and postoperative outcomes.

Results

A total of 609 consecutive parathyroidectomies were included, with a median age of 59 years (range 20-87 years). The all-comer cure rate was 97.5%; this was 97.9% in dual localized patients (those with positive US and sestamibi), compared to 95.8% in the dual unlocalized group (those with negative US and sestamibi) (P = 0.33). Unilateral neck exploration was the chosen approach in 59.9% of patients with double-positive imaging and 5.7% of patients with double-negative imaging (otherwise, bilateral parathyroid visualization was performed). There was no significant difference in postoperative complications between patients undergoing unilateral or bilateral neck exploration.

Conclusions

Patients with negative preoperative imaging who undergo parathyroidectomy are cured in almost 96% of cases, compared to 98% when the disease is localized. This difference does not reach statistical or clinical significance. These findings therefore support current recommendations that all patients with pHPT who are likely to benefit from operative intervention should be considered for parathyroidectomy, irrespective of preoperative imaging findings.
Endocrine Manifestations and New Developments in Mitochondrial Disease
Authors: Ng Yi Shiau , Lim Albert Zishen , Panagiotou Grigorios , Turnbull Doug M , Walker Mark
Published: October 2021

Mitochondrial diseases are a group of common inherited diseases causing disruption of oxidative phosphorylation. Some patients with mitochondrial disease have endocrine manifestations, with diabetes mellitus being predominant but also include hypogonadism, hypoadrenalism, and hypoparathyroidism. There have been major developments in mitochondrial disease over the past decade that have major implications for all patients. The collection of large cohorts of patients has better defined the phenotype of mitochondrial diseases and the majority of patients with endocrine abnormalities have involvement of several other systems. This means that patients with mitochondrial disease and endocrine manifestations need specialist follow-up because some of the other manifestations, such as stroke-like episodes and cardiomyopathy, are potentially life threatening. Also, the development and follow-up of large cohorts of patients means that there are clinical guidelines for the management of patients with mitochondrial disease. There is also considerable research activity to identify novel therapies for the treatment of mitochondrial disease. The revolution in genetics, with the introduction of next-generation sequencing, has made genetic testing more available and establishing a precise genetic diagnosis is important because it will affect the risk for involvement for different organ systems. Establishing a genetic diagnosis is also crucial because important reproductive options have been developed that will prevent the transmission of mitochondrial disease because of mitochondrial DNA variants to the next generation.
Diagnostic accuracy and complication rate of image-guided percutaneous transthoracic needle lung biopsy for subsolid pulmonary nodules: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Kim Junghoon , Chee Choong Guen , Cho Jungheum , Kim Youngjune , Yoon Min A
Published: October 2021

Objectives:

To determine the diagnostic accuracy and complication rate of percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsy (PTNB) for subsolid pulmonary nodules and sources of heterogeneity among reported results.

Methods:

We searched PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane libraries (until November 7, 2020) for studies measuring the diagnostic accuracy of PTNB for subsolid pulmonary nodules. Pooled sensitivity and specificity of PTNB were calculated using a bivariate random-effects model. Bivariate meta-regression analyses were performed to identify sources of heterogeneity. Pooled overall and major complication rates were calculated.

Results:

We included 744 biopsies from 685 patients (12 studies). The pooled sensitivity and specificity of PTNB for subsolid nodules were 90% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 85–94%) and 99% (95% CI: 92–100%), respectively. Mean age above 65 years was the only covariate significantly associated with higher sensitivity (93% vs  85%, p = 0.04). Core needle biopsy showed marginally higher sensitivity than fine-needle aspiration (93% vs  83%, p = 0.07). Pooled overall and major complication rate of PTNB were 43% (95% CI: 25–62%) and 0.1% (95% CI: 0–0.4%), respectively. Major complication rate was not different between fine-needle aspiration and core needle biopsy groups (p = 0.25).

Conclusion:

PTNB had acceptable performance and a low major complication rate in diagnosing subsolid pulmonary nodules. The only significant source of heterogeneity in reported sensitivities was a mean age above 65 years.

Advances in knowledge:

This is the first meta-analysis attempting to systemically determine the cause of heterogeneity in the diagnostic accuracy and complication rate of PTNB for subsolid pulmonary nodules.
Timing of tumor-induced atelectasis resolution and pulmonary function restoration in the course of image-guided moderate hypofractionated thoracic irradiation: a case report and mini-review of literature
Authors: Bodensohn Raphael , Käsmann Lukas , Eze Chukwuka , Pazos Montserrat , Belka Claus , Manapov Farkhad
Published: October 2021

This case report describes a patient with squamous cell carcinoma of the lung (cT4 (Infiltration of left pulmonary artery) cN2 cM0, TNM eighth edition) and subsequent tumor-induced atelectasis of the left upper lobe. Despite initially presenting himself with a poor performance status (ECOG-PS III) and diminished lung function, the patient was treated with image-guided thoracic irradiation to a total dose of 45.0 Gy (to the whole planning target volume) / 52.5 Gy (as simultaneous integrated boost to the Primary Tumor) applied in 15 daily fractions. Through the radiation treatment, the upper lobe could be reaerated, and the patient’s lung function and performance were improved.
Προστασία, ανάδειξη και διαχείριση των αρχαιοτήτων της Ολυμπίας από την Αρχαιολογική Υπηρεσία, με βάση το υλικό του αρχείου της
Authors: Γιαννούλη Σταυρούλα
Published: October 2021

Η παρούσα μελέτη αφορά στην Ολυμπία, ενός από τα μεγαλύτερα, αν όχι το μεγαλύτερο Ιερό της αρχαιότητας, επίκεντρο, σήμερα, μιας από τις σπουδαιότερες ανασκαφικές έρευνες στην Ελλάδα και μια από τις σημαντικότερες αρχαιολογικές θέσεις, παγκοσμίως . Θέμα της μελέτης είναι η προστασία, ανάδειξη και διαχείριση των αρχαιοτήτων από την Αρχαιολογική Υπηρεσία, με βάση το υλικό του αρχείου της. Η μελέτη διαρθρώνεται σε δύο άξονες, χρονολογικό και θεματικό. Χρονολογικά, εκτείνεται από τον 19ο αιώνα έως τα μέσα του 20ου , ενώ τα θέματα που πραγματεύεται δίνουν σημαντικές πληροφορίες για το έργο της Υπηρεσίας κατά την περίοδο των πρώτων γερμανικών ανασκαφών, την ίδρυση και λειτουργία του Σύγγρειου, του πρώτου αρχαιολογικού Μουσείου της Ολυμπίας, την προστασία του αρχαιολογικού χώρου και του ευρύτερου φυσικού του περιβάλλοντος, την αντιμετώπιση του ζητήματος της αρχαιοκαπηλίας. Ενδιαφέρον ζήτημα αποτελεί η συμβολή των αρχαιοτήτων της στην τουριστική ανάπτυξη της περιοχής. Τέλος, σημαντικά είναι τα στοιχεία που προκύπτουν, ως προς την προσφορά της Υπηρεσίας στην προστασία και διαφύλαξη των αρχαιοτήτων τη δεκαετία του 1940, της Κατοχής και του Εμφυλίου.Η προσφορά της Ελληνικής Αρχαιολογικής Υπηρεσίας αποδεικνύεται σημαντική και επιτυχημένη, παρά τα προβλήματα, τα λάθη, τις παραλείψεις, την έλλειψη συγκροτημένης πολιτικής, τις δύσκολες ιστορικές συγκυρίες, τις παθογένειες του Κράτους και της ίδιας της Υπηρεσίας. Η διαχείριση των αρχαιοτήτων της Ολυμπίας επηρεάζεται από πολλούς, ετερογενείς παράγοντες, οι οποίοι την καθιστούν ζήτημα σύνθετο και πολύπλοκο, ενώ οι ίδιες οι αρχαιότητες έχουν επενδυθεί ιδεολογικά με νοήματα, τα οποία τους έχουν προσδώσει βαθύτερες προεκτάσεις. Η προσέγγιση αυτών των παραμέτρων, οι οποίες ξεφεύγουν από το στενό πλαίσιο της επιστήμης, οδηγεί στη σύγχρονη εποχή, συμβάλλοντας στην αποτελεσματικότερη διαχείριση των αρχαιοτήτων στο μέλλον και την πληρέστερη κατανόηση της σχέσης του πολιτιστικού αγαθού με τον άνθρωπο. Ιδιαίτερα σήμερα, εποχή της μετανεωτερικότητας και της παγκοσμιοποίησης, το ζήτημα αποκτά μεγαλύτερο ενδιαφέρον, καθώς οι κοινωνίες και τα κράτη αλλάζουν σε όλο τον κόσμο, ενώ ζητήματα όπως η εθνική κουλτούρα και ο εθνικισμός επανέρχονται στο προσκήνιο, κάτω από νέες συνθήκες, θέτοντας νέα ερωτήματα και προβληματισμούς.
BOSC 2021, the 22nd Annual Bioinformatics Open Source Conference
Authors: Harris Nomi L. , Cock Peter J. A. , Fields Christopher J. , Hokamp Karsten , Maia Jessica , Munoz-Torres Monica , Sharan Malvika , Williams Jason
Published: October 2021

The 22nd annual Bioinformatics Open Source Conference (BOSC 2021, open-bio.org/events/bosc-2021/) was held online as a track of the 2021 Intelligent Systems for Molecular Biology / European Conference on Computational Biology (ISMB/ECCB) conference. Launched in 2000 and held every year since, BOSC is the premier meeting covering topics related to open source software and open science in bioinformatics. In 2020, BOSC partnered with the Galaxy Community Conference to form the Bioinformatics Community Conference (BCC2020); that was the first BOSC to be held online.

This year, BOSC returned to its roots as part of ISMB/ECCB 2021. As in 2020, the Covid-19 pandemic made it impossible to hold the conference in person, so ISMB/ECCB 2021 took place as an online meeting attended by over 2000 people from 79 countries. Nearly 200 people participated in BOSC sessions, which included 27 talks reviewed and selected from submitted abstracts, and three invited keynote talks representing a range of global perspectives on the role of open science and open source in driving research and inclusivity in the biosciences, one of which was presented in French with English subtitles.
Eleuterokok kolczysty – alternatywa dla żeń-szenia?
Authors: Bączek Katarzyna
Published: October 2021

Eleuterokok kolczysty jest krzewem pochodzącym z dalekowschodniej Azji. Organy podziemne (kłącza z korzeniami) tej rośliny pozyskiwane są jako surowiec farmakopealny. Są one bogate w związki glikozydowe, głównie pochodne fenylopropanu, lignany oraz kumaryny, potocznie nazywane są eleuterozydami. Surowiec standaryzowany jest na zawartość sumy eleuterozydów B i E (min. 0,08%). W medycynie ludowej korzenie eleuterokoka wykorzystywane są od ponad 4000 lat. Obecnie są one zalecane jako środek tonizujący w stanach fizycznego i psychicznego wyczerpania organizmu, w chorobach reumatycznych, zaburzeniach snu, pomocniczo w leczeniu cukrzycy, osteoporozy, chorób układu krążenia, a także u osób cierpiących na zaburzenia koncentracji, depresje oraz w profilaktyce nowotworowej.
Wartość odżywcza i prozdrowotna wybranych warzyw z rodzaju kapusta (Brassica L.)
Authors: Krochmal-Marczak Barbara , Sawicka Barbara , Stryjecka Małgorzata , Pisarek Marta , Bienia Bernadetta
Published: October 2021

Scharakteryzowano wybrane gatunki warzyw należące do rodzaju Brassica: kapusta głowiasta biała (Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata f. alba), kapusta włoska (Brassica oleracea L. var. sabauda L.), kapusta pekińska (Brassica rapa L. subsp. pekinensis), brokuł(Brassica oleracea L. var. italica), jarmuż (Brassica oleracea L. var. sabellica L.), kalafior (Brassica oleracea L. var. botrytis L.), kalarepa (Brassica oleracea var. gongylodes L.), kapusta brukselska (Brassica oleracea L. var. gemmifera). Opisano prozdrowotne właściwościlecznicze, znaczenie gospodarcze, a także przedstawiono znaczenie ich jako surowca dla przemysłu spożywczego i farmaceutycznego. Warzywa kapustne charakteryzują się wysoką zawartością witamin i minerałów, zawierają wiele cennych właściwości leczniczych. Posiadają wysoką wartość odżywczą, dużą aktywność przeciwutleniajacą, a także wykazują działanie prozdrowotne. Z żywieniowego punktu widzenia warzywa należące do rodziny kapustowatych są postrzegane jako produkty o dużym znaczeniu w profilaktyce nowotworowej. Na szczególną uwagę zasługuje jarmuż (Brassica oleracea L. var. acephala), który charakteryzuje się wysokimi walorami odżywczymi i prozdrowotnymi, a jednocześnie jest warzywem mało popularnym w Polsce.
Zmiany właściwości antyoksydacyjnych ekstraktów z liści werbeny cytrynowej (Lippia citriodora (Palau) Kunth) w trakcie przechowywania
Authors: Stryjecka Małgorzata , Kiełtyka-Dadasiewicz Anna
Published: October 2021

Oznaczono zmiany zawartości polifenoli ogółem i aktywność antyoksydacyjną metodą z DPPH oraz FRAP ekstraktów: metanolowych, etanolowych, wodnych oraz acetonowych, otrzymanych z werbeny cytrynowej (Lippia citriodora (Palau) Kunth.) w czasie ich przechowywania (3, 6, 9 i 12 miesięcy). Największą zawartość polifenoli ogółem zanotowano w ekstrakcie metanolowym, najniższą zaś w wyciągu acetonowym. Ekstrakt metanolowy charakteryzował się największą aktywnością antyoksydacyjną, oznaczoną zarówno metodą z DPPH, jak i FRAP. Wydłużenie czasu przechowywania wszystkich ekstraktów, niezależnie od czynnika ekstrahującego, powodowało spadek zarówno zawartości polifenoli ogółem, jak i aktywności antyoksydacyjnej.
Fitoterapia zespołu poboreliozowego
Authors: Figura Przemysław
Published: October 2021

Uznanym standardem leczenia boreliozy jest antybiotykoterapia, zarówno w monoterapii, jak i łączona. We wczesnej fazie choroby wykazują one umiarkowaną skuteczność. W przypadku nawet 1/3 chorych poddanych leczeniu, w dalszym ciągu manifestują sięróżne objawy określane jako zespół poboreliozowy (PTLDS). Za przyczynę PTLDS uważa się uszkodzenia patofizjologiczne pozostałe po chorobie lub przewlekła infekcja krętkami B. burfgerdori (Bb) sensu lato w formach owalnych oraz chronione przez biofilm. Zwykle stosowane przy boreliozie antybiotyki nie przynoszą efektów przy PTLDS, także przy wydłużonym czasie leczenia. Zasadne zatem wydaje się zwrócenie w kierunku poszukiwania nowych związków mogących wspomóc leczenie. Interesującym kierunkiem zdaje się badanie związków fitochemicznych i ekstraktów roślinnych. Przegląd badań wskazuje, iż niektóre z nich wykazują wysoką efektywność wobec Bb w monoterapii i terapii kombinowanej z antybiotykami, m.in. ekstrakt ze stewii, bajkalina. Omówiona zostanie także fitoterapia Buhnera.
Przymusowy urlop wypoczynkowy jako subsydiarny mechanizm organizacji i porządku pracy w dobie pandemii
Authors: Barc Kamil , Ławrowska Katarzyna
Published: October 2021

Niniejszy artykuł podejmuje tematykę udzielenia zaległego urlopu oraz modyfikacji, które zostały wprowadzone w tym zakresie w ramach ustaw mających zapobiegać negatywnym skutkom pandemii COVID-19. Autorzy zestawiają dotychczas funkcjonujący model udzielenia zaległego urlopu z modyfikacją, która pozwala pracodawcy na arbitralne skierowanie pracownika na zaległy urlop. Piszący kreują tezę, wedle której norma wprowadzona na podstawie ustawy specjalnej posiada przymiot subsydiarności w stosunku do ogólnej normy zawartej w Kodeksie pracy. Nadto autorzy prognozują formę i strukturę instytucji urlopu wypoczynkowego po okresie pandemii.
"Prawo pracy pod kwarantanną". Szczególne obowiązki pracodawcy w związku z pandemią wirusa SARS-CoV-2 a także odpowiedzialność karna za niedopełnienie niektórych z nich
Authors: Gajewski Kamil , Kamiński Mateusz
Published: October 2021

Zdrowie i życie ludzkie to wartości, którym ponad wszelką wątpliwość należy przypisać szczególne znaczenie. Znajduje to swoje odbicie na wielu płaszczyznach - również na gruncie systemu prawnego, który zapewnia im szczególną ochronę, która uwidacznia się w każdej pojedynczej gałęzi prawa. Autorzy swoje rozważania przenieśli na grunt prawa pracy, gdzie gwarantem ochrony zdrowia i życia ludzkiego uczyniony został pracodawca, w związku z czym ciąży na nim szereg doniosłych obowiązków, a ich niedopełnienie wiąże się z koniecznością zastosowania sankcji karnej. To czyni rozważania Autorów interdyscyplinarnymi. Autorzy wskazują, że nawet zdarzenia nagłe, nieprzewidziane i nadzwyczajne nie zwalniają pracodawcy z obowiązku zapewnienia ochrony zdrowia i życia pracowników podczas wykonywania przez nich pracy. Tematem rozważań Autorów uczyniona została problematyka ochrony zdrowia i życia pracowników, przy czym rozważania te mają swój konkretny kontekst. Jest to pandemia wirusa SARS-CoV-2, który jest największym zagrożeniem zdrowia i życia, z jakim obecnie przyszło się zmierzyć - również pracownikom i pracodawcom. Wiąże się z tym konieczność wdrożenia odpowiednich procedur, a także określonych zachowań, na które wskazują Autorzy w swoim opracowaniu. Wreszcie - Autorzy opisują również prawnokarne konsekwencje niedopełnienia przez pracodawcę obowiązku ochrony zdrowia i życia pracowników w nadzwyczajnym czasie pandemii.
Rozjaśnienie sensu istnienia jako cel fenomenologii Husserla
Authors: Łaciak Piotr
Published: October 2021

W analogii do Kanta, Husserl twierdzi, że istnienie nie jest realnym orzecznikiem, co oznacza, że istnienie przedmiotu nie polega na jego odniesieniu do obiektywnej rzeczywistości, lecz raczej na specyficznym sposobie dania w świadomości. W konsekwencji pojęcie istnienia jest rozumiane odnośnie do różnych sposobów prezentacji (Gegenwärtigung) rzeczywistości i może być rozjaśnione tylko w czysto fenomenologicznym opisie naocznych sposobów jej dania. Celem badania fenomenologicznego jest rozjaśnienie sensu realnego istnienia transcendentnych rzeczy, w szczególności uprawnienia generalnej tezy nastawienia naturalnego jako uniwersalnego przeświadczenia, w którym uświadamiamy sobie istnienie świata. To rozjaśnienie zakłada konstytuującą świadomość jako pierwotnie miejsce wykazywania sensu istnienia, tak że istnienie transcendentnych rzeczy zawsze odsyła do aktualnie doświadczającej świadomości, w której takie rzeczy są dane. Istnienie realnego świata jest zatem relatywne w odniesieniu do istnienia świadomości konstytuującej świat, która jest rozumiana jako sfera absolutnego samodania, ponieważ nie odsyła w swym istnieniu do jakiejś wyższej świadomości, w której byłaby dana. To implikuje, że istnienie realnego świata ma presumpcyjny charakter, jako że jest korelatem generalnej tezy nastawienia naturalnego, która wymaga potwierdzenia w dalszym przebiegu doświadczenia, podczas gdy aktualnie doświadczająca świadomość stanowi absolutną sferę bytową, która jest dana w oczywistości apodyktycznej i ustanawia się sama przez się w istnieniu.
Sokratejsko-platońska filozoficzna terapia religii. Zarys problematyki
Authors: Sikora Piotr
Published: October 2021

Przedmiotem mojego artykułu jest próba zastosowaniu idei filozofii jako terapii w odniesieniu do religii. Zagadnienie jest o tyle istotne, iż wiele współczesnych form religii posiada cechy, które wydają się dysfunkcyjne - wymagają „terapii”. Czy taką terapią może być filozofia?

            Istnieją argumenty, iż filozofia nie ma kompetencji, by cokolwiek osądzać, a tym bardziej zmieniać w religii. Zarzuty „filozoficzny” głosi, że filozofia i religia to różne, autonomiczne „gry językowe”, zaś każda „gra” posiada sobie właściwe reguły, które nie mogą być osądzane i zmieniane w świetle reguł innej „gry”. Zarzut „teologiczny”: że religia opiera się na boskim objawieniu i wszelkie czysto ludzkie roszczenia do osądu tego, co pochodzi ze sfery absolutnej, są nieuprawnioną, a wręcz bluźnierczą uzurpacją.

            W moim tekście chcę pokazać, że (a) istnieje sposób filozofowania, wobec którego powyższe zarzuty są nietrafione oraz (b) zarysować szkic programu „filozoficznej terapii religii”.
Andrzeja Norasa kłopoty z filozofią i historią filozofii
Authors: Kubok Dariusz
Published: October 2021

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Andrzej Jan Noras (1960–2020). Wspomnienie i kilka słów o filozofii mojego nauczyciela
Authors: Pietras Alicja
Published: October 2021

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Zasadność zawężenia stosowania przepisów o nieodpłatnym przekazaniu przedmiotów dokonywanym na podstawie art. 232b k.p.k.
Authors: Łozińska-Piekarska Agnieszka
Published: October 2021

Artykuł dotyczy omówienia trybu nieodpłatnego przekazania przedmiotów mających znaczenie dla zdrowia i życia publicznego, wprowadzonego do przepisów k.p.k. w związku ze zwalczaniem COVID-19. Przedstawiono w nim szczegółowo warunki, jakie muszą zostać spełnione w celu skorzystania z trybu wskazanego w art. 232b k.p.k., a także zasygnalizowano konieczność jego doprecyzowania. Jako główne postulaty wskazano ograniczenie podmiotów wydających postanowienie o nieodpłatnym przekazaniu przedmiotów do organów sądowych, poszerzenie listy beneficjentów, którym można je przekazać, a także samej listy przedmiotów, które powinny zostać zakwalifikowane jako posiadające znaczenie dla zdrowia i życia publicznego. Zaproponowano wprowadzenie zasad wstrzymania wykonania postanowienia o nieodpłatnym przekazaniu przedmiotów do czasu rozpoznania wniesionego na nie zażalenia, a także szybkiej procedury uzyskania odszkodowania w przypadku naruszenia prawa własności.
Postępowanie zabezpieczające w sprawach gospodarczych
Authors: Michór Andrzej
Published: October 2021

Celem artykułu jest omówienie wybranych instytucji postępowania zabezpieczającego w kontekście specyfiki spraw gospodarczych. Wnioski o udzielenie zabezpieczenia w tego typu sprawach wpływają do sądów dość często, zwłaszcza w sprawach o stwierdzenie nieważności uchwały bądź jej uchylenie. Orzeczenie sądu ma natomiast daleko idące skutki dla obrotu gospodarczego.
Glosa do wyroku Sądu Najwyższego z dnia 21 lutego 2019 r., I PK 243/17
Authors: Rutkowska Beata
Published: October 2021

W glosowanym wyroku Sąd Najwyższy jednoznacznie stwierdził, że przyjęte przez strony w umowie o pracę postanowienie wyznaczające 31 grudnia jako jedyny termin wypowiedzenia w roku kalendarzowym jest zgodne z prawem. O ile Sąd Najwyższy trafnie określił skutki, do jakich prowadzi powiązanie powyższego postanowienia z ustaleniem w umowie trzymiesięcznego okresu wypowiedzenia (możliwość wydłużenia tego okresu), o tyle zbyt pobieżnie przeanalizował korzystność takiego wyznaczenia terminu wypowiedzenia dla pracownika w porównaniu z przepisami prawa pracy, choć z punktu widzenia zasady uprzywilejowania pracownika ocena ta miała decydujące znaczenie dla ustalenia ważności i wiążącego charakteru postanowienia.