bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nuclear Narratives: Rural Modernity, Identity, and Heritage in the Highlands and Islands
Authors: Ross Linda M
Published: January 2024

The modernism associated with the nuclear age sits outside traditional 20th century discourses of the Scottish Highlands and Islands, which emphasise the trends of depopulation and unemployment. The arrival of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority’s Dounreay Experimental Research Establishment in 1954, however, brought nuclear science to a rural landscape with an agricultural skills base, situated in a region distant from major population centres. This chapter demonstrates that the Caithness population quickly adapted to the ‘new normal’ of the nuclear, something which brought modernity together with identity, tradition, change and difference in the planning and construction of a new architecture for a new community. The site is currently being decommissioned, a process which goes beyond the technical, reflecting its significant social impact. As part of this, Dounreay was the first nuclear site in Britain to implement a heritage strategy, an act which stands as testament to the atomic industry’s place in shaping present-day Caithness. Once at the cutting edge of scientific development, this chapter shows that the rural modernity of the nuclear has become the preserve of heritage within a generation.
The Birth of Psychological War
Authors: Whyte Jeffrey
Published: January 2024

In the current climate of concern over disinformation and the so-called ‘post-truth era,’ psychological warfare has returned to discussions of national and international politics. Yet questions concerning psychological warfare — when, where, and how it came about — are poorly understood. This monograph reveals the complexity of these questions by investigating the historical-geographical contexts in which psychological warfare emerged. Identifying the home front and the foreign theatre as its key contexts, this monograph traces psychological warfare’s trajectory from the Second World War, to the ‘Cold War of ideas’ in Europe, to the counterinsurgency campaigns of the Vietnam war. While psychological warfare often claims to make war more humane, this book shows that in practice it has expanded the scale and scope of military violence. Despite psychological warfare’s perennial failures to ‘win hearts and minds’ abroad, this monograph shows that its influence nevertheless continues to transform the practice and meaning of contemporary warfighting and international relations.
Between the Aegean and the Adriatic: The Balkan Palaeolithic and the Sea
Authors: Galanidou Nena , Papoulia Christina
Published: January 2024

Focusing on the southern tip of the Balkan Peninsula, this chapter discusses the paradigm shift towards an archaeology that incorporates the Quaternary Sea and investigates the profound effect of the fluctuating sea-levels on (a) Palaeolithic hunter gatherers and (b) archaeological visibility. It examines the sea as a resource, a water-crossing challenge and a terrestrial route to novel territories at periods of low sea-level stand. In tune with Continental Shelf Archaeology it describes two research projects in islands of the central Ionian Sea (Lefkas and the Inner Ionian Archipelago) and the north-east Aegean Sea (Lesbos) that address the ways Palaeolithic groups responded to climate and sea-level change, and their initial attempts to cross the sea or the land bridges that emerged as windows of opportunity for dispersal during times of low sea-level stands.
Current gross examination and reporting patterns of post–neoadjuvant chemotherapy cystectomy specimens: Is it time for a standardized approach?
Authors: Saunders Katherine E , Gerken Nicola , Khani Francesca , Williamson Sean R , Wobker Sara E
Published: January 2024

Objectives

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) is recommended for muscle-invasive bladder cancer, and robust treatment response may result in lack of grossly identifiable tumor in the cystectomy specimen. Current gross examination and reporting protocols, however, do not include specific guidance on the approach to these specimens.

Methods

A Qualtrics survey was disseminated by email and X (formerly Twitter). Responses from pathologists and pathologists’ assistants (PAs) were included. The survey interrogated demographics, practice settings, prevalence of NACT use, approach to gross examination, and reporting practices in the setting of both grossly visible tumor or ulcer bed and the complete absence of a gross lesion.

Results

Based on 55 respondents’ experience, identifying gross tumor occurred less frequently than tumor or ulcer bed (40% vs 71%). Lack of identification of any gross lesions was estimated to occur in 29% of cases. Gross examination practices were relatively consistent in cases with residual gross tumor or gross tumor bed, with agreement that gross tumor should be submitted as 1 block per centimeter (66%), and tumor or ulcer bed should be submitted in its entirety (97%). Gross examination practices appeared more varied when no gross lesions were identified. Overall, most responders stated they “definitely” or “maybe” support a standardized gross examination (89%) and reporting (96%) protocol.

Conclusions

With the increased use of NACT, lack of any gross lesion leads to inconsistent gross examination techniques. This study provides insight into the current approach to examination of post-NACT cystectomies and suggests that a desire exists among pathologists and pathologists’ assistants for more standardized practice.
Inter- and intraspecific female behavioral plasticity drive temporal niche segregation in two Tribolium species
Authors: Benita Miraim , Menahem Ariel , Scharf Inon , Gottlieb Daphna
Published: January 2024

Temporal niche segregation is a way to reduce competition over shared resources. Species with overlapping spatial niches often show plasticity and can use different activity times to minimize competition with and disturbance by other species. In many granivores, especially those living in their food resources, there is low competition over food, but other selective forces can drive distinct temporal activity times. Reproductive interference, that is, the interaction between individuals of different species during mate acquisition, can be such a driving force. Reproductive interference is a strong driving force for niche segregation between the co-occurring flour beetles Tribolium castaneum and Tribolium confusum (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae). Nevertheless, most studies on Tribolium spp. evaluated other selective forces, such as resource competition, which are potentially weaker. Here, we aimed to characterize the species’ peak activity time and its plasticity when exposed to a possible reproductive interference cue. We used a synthetic aggregative pheromone, shared by both species, as a cue for potential reproductive interference. We compared temporal niche plasticity between the sexes because reproductive interference is known mainly to reduce the female’s fitness. We found that both species’ activity times were hard-wired to an endogenous clock and that the sexes differed in their peak activity time and activity level. However, once exposed to the aggregation pheromone, only females shifted their activity time to match that of conspecific males, hence expressing more plasticity than the males to reduce Reproductive interference. These findings suggest an important role of the aggregation pheromone in the process of niche segregation.
A male infant with ALK-positive histiocytosis recovered spontaneously
Authors: Xu Zhijun , Huang Lining , Xue Ruzeng
Published: January 2024

Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive histiocytosis is a rare subtype of histiocytic neoplasm characterized by expression of ALK. We present a case of a male infant with ALK-positive histiocytosis, confirmed by pathological analysis and detection of ALK using fluorescence in situ hybridization. The boy recovered spontaneously and all the lesions completely disappeared without special treatment.
Expressive vocabulary word categories of children who are deaf and hard-of-hearing
Authors: Warner-Czyz Andrea D , Anderson Sean R , Graham Sarah , Uhler Kristin
Published: January 2024

This study investigated the acquisition of early expressive vocabulary among young children who are deaf and hard-of-hearing (DHH; n = 68) using auditory technology (hearing aids and cochlear implants). Parents completed a standardized vocabulary checklist, which allowed analyses of (i) the size of their child’s spoken vocabulary; (ii) composition of the expressive lexicon (e.g., parts of speech such as nouns and verbs; semantic categories such as routines and body parts); and (iii) demographic and audiologic factors (e.g., chronologic age, degree of hearing access) potentially associated with these metrics. Young children who are DHH and use auditory technology acquired fewer spoken words than peers with typical hearing (TH) matched for chronologic age but more spoken words than peers with TH matched for listening experience. Action verbs—not nouns—significantly increased the odds of a child who is DHH achieving a vocabulary quotient within the normative range. These findings support the exploration of early expressive vocabulary size and composition—especially the number of active verbs—to guide clinical management and decision-making for young children who are DHH.
Aspirin-free antiplatelet strategies after percutaneous coronary interventions
Authors: Capranzano Piera , Moliterno David , Capodanno Davide
Published: January 2024

Dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) with aspirin and a platelet P2Y12 receptor inhibitor is the standard antithrombotic treatment after percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI). Several trials have challenged guideline-recommended DAPT after PCI by testing the relative clinical effect of an aspirin-free antiplatelet approach—consisting of P2Y12 inhibitor monotherapy after a short course (mostly 1–3 months) of DAPT—among patients undergoing PCI without a concomitant indication for oral anticoagulation (OAC). Overall, these studies have shown P2Y12 inhibitor monotherapy after short DAPT to be associated with a significant reduction in the risk of bleeding without an increase in thrombotic or ischaemic events compared with continued DAPT. Moreover, the effects of the P2Y12 inhibitor monotherapy without prior DAPT or following a very short course of DAPT after PCI are being investigated in emerging studies, of which one has recently reported unfavourable efficacy results associated with the aspirin-free approach compared with conventional DAPT. Finally, P2Y12 inhibitor alone has been compared with aspirin alone as chronic therapy after DAPT discontinuation, thus challenging the historical role of aspirin as a standard of care for secondary prevention following PCI. A thorough understanding of study designs, populations, treatments, results, and limitations of trials testing P2Y12 inhibitor monotherapy vs. DAPT or vs. aspirin is required to consider adopting this treatment in clinical practice. This review addresses the use of aspirin-free antiplatelet strategies among patients undergoing PCI without a concomitant indication for OAC, providing an overview of clinical evidence, guideline indications, practical implications, ongoing issues, and future perspectives.
Childhood obesity prevention in general practice: supporting implementation through co-ideation
Authors: Gooey Michelle , Morris Heather , Baulderstone Michaela , Flego Kristina , Holdenson Kimura Phoebe , Kathage Rebecca , Rix Kylie , Saddik Ashraf , Su Wei-May , Bragge Peter , Bergmeier Heidi , O’Connor Amanda , Sturgiss Elizabeth , Skouteris Helen
Published: January 2024

Background

Childhood obesity is associated with physical and psychological complications thus the prevention of excess weight gain in childhood is an important health goal. Relevant to the prevention of childhood obesity, Australian general practice-specific, preventive care guidelines recommend General Practitioners (GPs) conduct growth monitoring and promote a number of healthy behaviours. However, challenges to providing preventive care in general practice may impact implementation. In October and November, 2022, a series of three workshops focusing on the prevention of childhood obesity were held with a group of Australian GPs and academics. The objective of the workshops was to determine practical ways that GPs can be supported to address barriers to the incorporation of obesity-related prevention activities into their clinical practice, for children with a healthy weight.

Methods

This paper describes workshop proceedings, specifically the outcomes of co-ideation activities that included idea generation, expansion of the ideas to possible interventions, and the preliminary assessment of these concepts. The ecological levels of the individual, interpersonal, and organisation were considered.

Results

Possible opportunities to support childhood obesity prevention were identified at multiple ecological levels within the clinic. The preliminary list of proposed interventions to facilitate action included GP education and training, clinical audit facilitation, readily accessible clinical guidelines with linked resources, a repository of resources, and provision of adequate growth monitoring tools in general practice.

Conclusions

Co-ideation with GPs resulted in a number of proposed interventions, informed by day-to-day practicalities, to support both guideline implementation and childhood obesity prevention in general practice.
ToxCodAn-Genome: an automated pipeline for toxin-gene annotation in genome assembly of venomous lineages
Authors: Nachtigall Pedro G , Durham Alan M , Rokyta Darin R , Junqueira-de-Azevedo Inácio L M
Published: January 2024

Background

The rapid development of sequencing technologies resulted in a wide expansion of genomics studies using venomous lineages. This facilitated research focusing on understanding the evolution of adaptive traits and the search for novel compounds that can be applied in agriculture and medicine. However, the toxin annotation of genomes is a laborious and time-consuming task, and no consensus pipeline is currently available. No computational tool currently exists to address the challenges specific to toxin annotation and to ensure the reproducibility of the process.

Results

Here, we present ToxCodAn-Genome, the first software designed to perform automated toxin annotation in genomes of venomous lineages. This pipeline was designed to retrieve the full-length coding sequences of toxins and to allow the detection of novel truncated paralogs and pseudogenes. We tested ToxCodAn-Genome using 12 genomes of venomous lineages and achieved high performance on recovering their current toxin annotations. This tool can be easily customized to allow improvements in the final toxin annotation set and can be expanded to virtually any venomous lineage. ToxCodAn-Genome is fast, allowing it to run on any personal computer, but it can also be executed in multicore mode, taking advantage of large high-performance servers. In addition, we provide a guide to direct future research in the venomics field to ensure a confident toxin annotation in the genome being studied. As a case study, we sequenced and annotated the toxin repertoire of Bothrops alternatus, which may facilitate future evolutionary and biomedical studies using vipers as models.

Conclusions

ToxCodAn-Genome is suitable to perform toxin annotation in the genome of venomous species and may help to improve the reproducibility of further studies. ToxCodAn-Genome and the guide are freely available at https://github.com/pedronachtigall/ToxCodAn-Genome.
Understanding Landowner Education Needs for Invasive Disease Prevention and Restoration Planting in Southern Oregon
Authors: Kline Norma , Cushing Tamara , Grand Lauren
Published: January 2024

Understanding the knowledge and behavior of nonindustrial private forest landowners towards Port-Orford cedar (POC) root disease (Phytophthora lateralis), sudden oak death (Phytophthora ramorum), and disease-resistant seedlings can help target effective education and outreach programs. We surveyed two counties in Southern Oregon to gain knowledge about these pathogens, disease-resistant seedlings, landowner behavior, and landowner preferences regarding planting disease-resistant seedlings. Amenity-based management objectives were more associated with planting disease-resistant POC. Respondents were more likely to plant disease-resistant conifers than hardwoods. Disease-resistant planting preferences were associated with years owned and acres of ownership. Designing targeted education and outreach programs will be necessary to achieve broad scale adoption of disease management and restoration practices.

Study implications: We present results from a survey of nonindustrial private forest (NIPF) landowners in two counties in Southern Oregon to determine general landowner characteristics and knowledge of two nonnative diseases, Port-Orford cedar root disease, caused by Phytophthora lateralis, and sudden oak death, caused by Phytophthora ramorum. NIPF landowners play meaningful roles in invasive disease management: recognizing and reporting symptoms of nonnative plant diseases with the objective of early detection and control, implementing management actions to help mitigate disease spread, and planting disease-resistant seedlings during restoration efforts. Understanding landowner knowledge about diseases is important for engaging them in insect and disease mitigation.
Nexus dynamics: the impact of environmental vulnerabilities and climate change on refugee camps
Authors: Bose Pablo
Published: January 2024

Climate change and forced migration are often thought about in terms of the sheer numbers of people who might be displaced by a transforming environment. But the potential for ‘environmental refugees’—whether from long-term degradation or short-term catastrophe—extends far beyond those directly affected. Understanding the forces that produce, respond to and amplify such forced migration patterns requires a complex and nuanced view of them. In this article, I explore the question of environmental displacement through the lens of nexus dynamics and look at how environmental refugees complicate our understandings of place, belonging, stability and resilience. I do so through a focus on the largest global refugee camps in the world and the particular environmental vulnerabilities that each faces. Using Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh (Rohingya refugees), Dadaab in Kenya (Somali refugees) and Za’atari in Jordan (Syrian refugees), I examine the ways that political, economic and ecological factors have driven the inhabitants to the camps, keep them vulnerable within them, and raise questions about both their and the camps’ respective futures. By cataloguing some of the environmental risks within the region of each camp and examining each camp’s response in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, I consider the broader logic, viability and purpose of each of these camps, as representative of parallel spaces globally. What does resilience and vulnerability mean in a refugee camp? How does a nexus dynamics approach to climate change and migration help us to understand a complex system such as this?
Aberrant Brain Dynamics in Individuals With Clinical High Risk of Psychosis
Authors: Kindler Jochen , Ishida Takuya , Michel Chantal , Klaassen Arndt-Lukas , Stüble Miriam , Zimmermann Nadja , Wiest Roland , Kaess Michael , Morishima Yosuke
Published: January 2024

Background

Resting-state network (RSN) functional connectivity analyses have profoundly influenced our understanding of the pathophysiology of psychoses and their clinical high risk (CHR) states. However, conventional RSN analyses address the static nature of large-scale brain networks. In contrast, novel methodological approaches aim to assess the momentum state and temporal dynamics of brain network interactions.

Methods

Fifty CHR individuals and 33 healthy controls (HC) completed a resting-state functional MRI scan. We performed an Energy Landscape analysis, a data-driven method using the pairwise maximum entropy model (MEM), to describe large-scale brain network dynamics such as duration and frequency of, and transition between, different brain states. We compared those measures between CHR and HC, and examined the association between neuropsychological measures and neural dynamics in CHR.

Results

Our main finding is a significantly increased duration, frequency, and higher transition rates to an infrequent brain state with coactivation of the salience, limbic, default mode, and somatomotor RSNs in CHR as compared to HC. Transition of brain dynamics from this brain state was significantly correlated with processing speed in CHR.

Conclusion

In CHR, temporal brain dynamics are attracted to an infrequent brain state, reflecting more frequent and longer occurrence of aberrant interactions of default mode, salience, and limbic networks. Concurrently, more frequent and longer occurrence of the brain state is associated with core cognitive dysfunctions, predictors of future onset of full-blown psychosis.
Evidence that Ophiostomatoid Fungal Symbionts of Mountain Pine Beetle Do Not Play a Role in Overcoming Lodgepole Pine Defenses During Mass Attack
Authors: Fortier Colleen E. , Musso Antonia E. , Evenden Maya L. , Zaharia L. Irina , Cooke Janice E. K.
Published: January 2024

Mountain pine beetle (MPB; Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins) is a devastating forest insect pest that has killed millions of hectares of pines in western North America over the past two decades. Like other bark beetles, MPB vectors ophiostomatoid fungal species, some of which are pathogenic to host pine species. The phytopathogenicity of these fungal symbionts has sparked considerable debate regarding their role in facilitating MPB attack success. We tested the hypothesis that MPB ophiostomatoid fungal associates like Grosmannia clavigera (Robinson-Jeffrey and Davidson) Zipfel, de Beer and Wingfield contribute to overwhelming host defenses during MPB mass attack. We compared responses of mature lodgepole pine ( Pinus contorta Dougl. ex Loud. var. latifolia Engelm.) trees growing in natural stands that were mass attacked by MPB with those inoculated with G. clavigera by examining host defense hormones, secondary metabolites, and gene expression profiles. The jasmonate and ethylene signatures of necrotrophic pathogen-triggered response were identified in G. clavigera-inoculated trees, but only the jasmonate signature of a herbivore-triggered response was measured in MPB-attacked trees. Several G. clavigera-induced changes in pine phenolic metabolite profiles and phenolic biosynthesis gene expression patterns were absent in MPB-attacked pines. These findings indicate that ophiostomatoid fungi like G. clavigera are not a major factor in overwhelming host defenses during MPB mass attack. Instead, fungal pathogenicity likely is more important in aiding MPB colonization and development within the host tree. Phenolics appear to play a larger role in the host response to G. clavigera than to MPB, although phenolics may also influence MPB feeding and behavior.

[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY 4.0 International license .
Reducing Procedural Pain and Avoiding Peripheral Intravenous Catheters by Implementing a Feeding Protocol for Late Preterm Infants
Authors: Hanford Jennifer , McQuay Christine , Vachharajani Akshaya , Obi Olugbemisola , Anders Anjali
Published: January 2024

Background:

Late preterm births account for a large portion of preterm births, yet the optimal method of nutrition and enteral feeding in this population remains unclear and often involves intravenous (IV) fluids.

Purpose:

To develop and implement a late preterm feeding protocol in order to decrease the necessity of IV access, decrease the use of starter parenteral nutrition (PN), and reduce the pain endured by an infant in the neonatal intensive care unit.

Methods:

The Plan-Do-Study-Act quality improvement model was utilized as a framework for the implementation of this quality improvement project. A literature review was conducted and subsequently, a feeding protocol was developed and included the more judicious use of starter PN. This protocol was implemented, evaluated, and adopted. A second Plan-Do-Study-Act cycle was completed with the addition of an auto-text reminder incorporated into admission notes in the electronic medical record.

Results:

The implementation of the protocol significantly reduced placement of IV access and the use of starter (PN) in late preterm infants without considerable differences in balancing measures. The percentage of infants who received peripheral IV access declined considerably from 70% to 42% (P = .0017) subsequently, less pain endured by the infants. There was a decrease in the initiation of starter PN from 55% to 7% (P < .00001).

Implications for Practice:

Administering enteral feedings on admission to stable, late preterm infants reduced the need for peripheral IV access and thus decreased pain from this procedure.
Skin-to-Skin Contact and Diaphragm Electrical Activity in Preterm Infants During Noninvasive Pressure Control
Authors: Kato Yuta , Hirata Katsuya , Takemoto Ayumi , Oumi Chiyo , Hisaichi Tomomi , Shimaji Yuki , Momochi Misa , Wada Kazuko
Published: January 2024

Background:

Skin-to-skin contact (SSC) is widely implemented in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) due to its established role in reducing mortality and morbidity. However, the impact of SSC on diaphragmatic electrical activity (Edi) in premature infants undergoing noninvasive pressure control (NIV-PC) for respiratory management remains insufficiently explored.

Purpose:

To assess the effects of SSC on Edi and vital signs in preterm infants managed with NIV-PC.

Methods:

A prospective, observational, crossover study was conducted, involving preterm infants admitted to a level III NICU between May 2020 and August 2021, who were receiving respiratory support with NIV-PC. Data were collected at 3 distinct time points: before SSC (pre-SSC period), during SSC (SSC period), and after SSC (post-SSC period). Thirty-minute periods of stable data were extracted for analysis.

Results:

A total of 21 SSC sessions were performed on 14 preterm infants, with a median age at the initiation of SSC of 62 days. The median (interquartile range) Edi peak (in microvolts) before, during, and after SSC was 7.1 (5.8-10.8), 6.8 (4.3-8.8), and 7.1 (5.5-8.8), respectively. No statistically significant differences were observed in Edi peak or minimum values during SSC, when compared with the periods before and after the SSC procedure. Likewise, no significant changes were noted in respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, heart rate, or the incidence of apnea.

Implications for Practice and Research:

SSC in preterm infants undergoing NIV-PC does not exacerbate their clinical condition. Further investigations involving diverse patient cohorts are warranted.
Wound Debridement in Pyoderma Gangrenosum
Authors: Taheri Arash , Mansoori Parisa , Sharif Mohammad
Published: January 2024

BACKGROUND

Wound debridement improves healing in a variety of acute and chronic ulcers. However, there is concern that debridement may trigger pathergy and worsen pyoderma gangrenosum (PG).

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether published evidence supports conservative wound debridement for PG.

DATA SOURCES

The authors reviewed the literature published in MEDLINE through January 2023 using the search germs “pyoderma gangrenosum” and “debridement.”

STUDY SELECTION

Articles reporting sharp surgical debridement or maggot debridement for PG were included in the review. The authors also searched the reference sections of the reviewed articles for additional reports on debridement for PG.

DATA EXTRACTION

Clinical data regarding patient status, procedures performed, and patient outcomes were extracted from the selected articles.

DATA SYNTHESIS

There are multiple reports of uncontrolled, active-phase PG wounds worsening after aggressive excisional debridement of viable inflamed tissues. In contrast, there is no evidence indicating that conservative debridement of nonviable necrotic tissue worsens PG wounds, regardless of the disease activity. There are multiple reports of successful debridement and surgical grafting for PG in remission.

CONCLUSIONS

There is no evidence in favor of or against using conservative debridement of nonviable necrotic tissue for a PG wound. Therefore, it should not be considered contraindicated, even in the active phase of the disease.
Epidemiology of osteoarthritis: literature update 2022–2023
Authors: Minnig Mary Catherine C. , Golightly Yvonne M. , Nelson Amanda E.
Published: January 2024

Purpose of review

This review highlights recently published studies on osteoarthritis (OA) epidemiology, including topics related to understudied populations and joints, imaging, and advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) methods.

Recent findings

Contemporary research has improved our understanding of the burden of OA in typically understudied regions, including ethnic and racial minorities in high-income countries, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and Latin America. Efforts have also been made to explore the burden and risk factors in OA in previously understudied joints, such as the hand, foot, and ankle. Advancements in OA imaging techniques have occurred alongside the developments of AI methods aiming to predict disease phenotypes, progression, and outcomes.

Continuing efforts to expand our knowledge around OA in understudied populations will allow for the creation of targeted and specific interventions and inform policy changes aimed at reducing disease burden in these groups. The burden and disability associated with OA is notable in understudied joints, warranting further research efforts that may lead to effective therapeutic options. AI methods show promising results of predicting OA phenotypes and progression, which also may encourage the creation of targeted disease modifying OA drugs (DMOADs).
The Impact of Anterior Vertebral Body Tethering on Pulmonary Function
Authors: Hwang Steven W. , Plachta Stephen , Pahys Joshua M. , Quinonez Alejandro , Grewal Harsh , Samdani Amer F.
Published: January 2024

Study Design.

Retrospective, single-center study.

Objective.

To examine pulmonary function tests (PFTs) in patients undergoing anterior vertebral body tethering (AVBT).

Summary of Background Data.

The effect of AVBT on pulmonary status remains unclear.

Materials and Methods.

The authors examined preoperative and postoperative PFTs following AVBT in a retrospective, single-center cohort of patients. Outcomes were compared using percent predicted values as continuous and categorical variables (using 10% change as significant) and divided into categorical values based on the American Thoracic Society standards.

Results.

Fifty-eight patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis were included, with a mean age of 12.5±1.4 years and a follow-up of 4.2±1.1 years. The mean thoracic curve was 47°±9°, which improved to 21°±12°. At baseline, the mean forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1%) and forced vital capacity (FVC%) values were 79% and 82%, respectively. Four patients had normal FEV1% (≥100%), 67% had mild restrictive disease (70%–99%) and the rest had worse FEV1%. Mean FEV1 improved from 2.2 to 2.6 L (P<0.05) and FVC improved from 2.5 to 3.0 L (P<0.05); however, % predicted values remained unchanged (FEV1%: 79%–80%; FVC%: 82–80%, P>0.05) with mean postoperative PFTs at 37±12 months postoperative. The use of miniopen thoracotomy was not associated with worsening PFTs, but extension of the lowest instrumented vertebra below T12 was correlated with decreasing FEV1% in the bivariate analysis (P<0.05). Patients with worse preoperative FVC% (80±13% vs. 90±11%, P=0.03) and FEV1% (77±17% vs. 87±12%, P=0.06) also had a greater likelihood of declining postoperative FEV1%.

Conclusion.

Pulmonary function in most patients undergoing AVBT remained stable (76%) or improved (14%); however, a subset may worsen (10%). Further studies are needed to identify the risk factors for this group, but worse preoperative PFTs and extension below T12 may be risk factors for worsening pulmonary function.
APOC1 reduced anti-PD-1 immunotherapy of nonsmall cell lung cancer via the transformation of M2 into M1 macrophages by ferroptosis by NRF2/HO-1
Authors: Mei Langhua , Long Jian , Wu Shue , Mei Meie , Mei Di , Qiu Huaping
Published: January 2024

The treatment strategy for nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has always been a hot topic of concern, and its treatment strategies are also emerging. This experiment wants to know the effects of apolipoprotein C1 (APOC1) in immunotherapy of NSCLC. APOC1 mRNA and protein expression were upregulated in lung cancer tissue of patients with NSCLC. programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) mRNA expression was negatively correlated with PD-1 mRNA expression in patients. The survival rate of APOC1 high expression was lower than that of low expression in patients with NSCLC. APOC1 gene reduced the transformation of M2 into M1 macrophages (TMMM). APOC1 gene promoted cell growth, and the gene reduced ferroptosis of NSCLC. APOC1-induced nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2/heme oxygenase-1 (NRF2/HO-1) signaling pathway. Sh-APOC1 gene reduced cell growth in mice of NSCLC through the inhibition of NRF2/HO-1 signaling pathway. The inhibition of NRF2 reduced the TMMM by APOC1. The activation of NRF2 reduced the TMMM by si-APOC1. In conclusion, APOC1 reduced anti-PD-1 immunotherapy of NSCLC via the TMMM by ferroptosis by NRF2/HO-1, suggesting that targeting this mechanism of APOC1 may be a feasible strategy for anti-PD-1 immunotherapy for NSCLC.
Management of Heat-Related Illness and Injury in the ICU: A Concise Definitive Review
Authors: Barletta Jeffrey F. , Palmieri Tina L. , Toomey Shari A. , Harrod Christopher G. , Murthy Srinivas , Bailey Heatherlee
Published: January 2024

OBJECTIVES:

The increasing frequency of extreme heat events has led to a growing number of heat-related injuries and illnesses in ICUs. The objective of this review was to summarize and critically appraise evidence for the management of heat-related illnesses and injuries for critical care multiprofessionals.

DATA SOURCES:

Ovid Medline, Embase, Cochrane Clinical Trials Register, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and ClinicalTrials.gov databases were searched from inception through August 2023 for studies reporting on heat-related injury and illness in the setting of the ICU.

STUDY SELECTION:

English-language systematic reviews, narrative reviews, meta-analyses, randomized clinical trials, and observational studies were prioritized for review. Bibliographies from retrieved articles were scanned for articles that may have been missed.

DATA EXTRACTION:

Data regarding study methodology, patient population, management strategy, and clinical outcomes were qualitatively assessed.

DATA SYNTHESIS:

Several risk factors and prognostic indicators for patients diagnosed with heat-related illness and injury have been identified and reported in the literature. Effective management of these patients has included various cooling methods and fluid replenishment. Drug therapy is not effective. Multiple organ dysfunction, neurologic injury, and disseminated intravascular coagulation are common complications of heat stroke and must be managed accordingly. Burn injury from contact with hot surfaces or pavement can occur, requiring careful evaluation and possible excision and grafting in severe cases.

CONCLUSIONS:

The prevalence of heat-related illness and injury is increasing, and rapid initiation of appropriate therapies is necessary to optimize outcomes. Additional research is needed to identify effective methods and strategies to achieve rapid cooling, the role of immunomodulators and anticoagulant medications, the use of biomarkers to identify organ failure, and the role of artificial intelligence and precision medicine.
Position Paper on the Reporting of Norepinephrine Formulations in Critical Care from the Society of Critical Care Medicine and European Society of Intensive Care Medicine Joint Task Force
Authors: Wieruszewski Patrick M. , Leone Marc , Kaas-Hansen Benjamin Skov , Dugar Siddharth , Legrand Matthieu , McKenzie Cathrine A. , Bissell Turpin Brittany D. , Messina Antonio , Nasa Prashant , Schorr Christa A. , De Waele Jan J. , Khanna Ashish K.
Published: January 2024

OBJECTIVES:

To provide guidance on the reporting of norepinephrine formulation labeling, reporting in publications, and use in clinical practice.

DESIGN:

Review and task force position statements with necessary guidance.

SETTING:

A series of group conference calls were conducted from August 2023 to October 2023, along with a review of the available evidence and scope of the problem.

SUBJECTS:

A task force of multinational and multidisciplinary critical care experts assembled by the Society of Critical Care Medicine and the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine.

INTERVENTIONS:

The implications of a variation in norepinephrine labeled as conjugated salt (i.e., bitartrate or tartrate) or base drug in terms of effective concentration of norepinephrine were examined, and guidance was provided.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS:

There were significant implications for clinical care, dose calculations for enrollment in clinical trials, and results of datasets reporting maximal norepinephrine equivalents. These differences were especially important in the setting of collaborative efforts across countries with reported differences.

CONCLUSIONS:

A joint task force position statement was created outlining the scope of norepinephrine-dose formulation variations, and implications for research, patient safety, and clinical care. The task force advocated for a uniform norepinephrine-base formulation for global use, and offered advice aimed at appropriate stakeholders.
Global Trends and Hotspots in Nursing Research on Decision Support Systems
Authors: Yangöz Şefika Tuğba , Turan Kavradım Selma , Özer Zeynep
Published: January 2024

Decision support systems have been widely used in healthcare in recent years; however, there is lack of evidence on global trends and hotspots. This descriptive bibliometric study aimed to analyze bibliometric patterns of decision support systems in nursing. Data were extracted from the Web of Science Core Collection. Published research articles on decision support systems in nursing were identified. Co-occurrence and co-citation analysis was performed using CiteSpace version 6.1.R2. In total, 165 articles were analyzed. A total of 358 authors and 257 institutions from 20 countries contributed to this research field. The most productive authors were Andrew Johnson, Suzanne Bakken, Alessandro Febretti, Eileen S. O'Neill, and Kathryn H. Bowles. The most productive country and institution were the United States and Duke University, respectively. The top 10 keywords were “care,” “clinical decision support,” “clinical decision support system,” “decision support system,” “electronic health record,” “system,” “nursing informatics,” “guideline,” “decision support,” and “outcomes.” Common themes on keywords were planning intervention, national health information infrastructure, and methodological challenge. This study will help to find potential partners, countries, and institutions for future researchers, practitioners, and scholars. Additionally, it will contribute to health policy development, evidence-based practice, and further studies for researchers, practitioners, and scholars.
Chronic stress as an emerging risk factor for the development and progression of glioma
Authors: Yi Lan , Lin Xiang , She Xiaoling , Gao Wei , Wu Minghua
Published: January 2024

Gliomas tend to have a poor prognosis and are the most common primary malignant tumors of the central nervous system. Compared with patients with other cancers, glioma patients often suffer from increased levels of psychological stress, such as anxiety and fear. Chronic stress (CS) is thought to impact glioma profoundly. However, because of the complex mechanisms underlying CS and variability in individual tolerance, the role of CS in glioma remains unclear. This review suggests a new proposal to redivide the stress system into two parts. Neuronal activity is dominant upstream. Stress-signaling molecules produced by the neuroendocrine system are dominant downstream. We discuss the underlying molecular mechanisms by which CS impacts glioma. Potential pharmacological treatments are also summarized from the therapeutic perspective of CS.
First Evidence of Cutaneous Remodelling Induced by Synchronized Radiofrequency Aided by High-Intensity Facial Muscle Stimulation: Porcine Animal Model
Authors: Kent David E. , Fritz Klaus , Salavastru Carmen , Jarosova Rea , Bernardy Jan
Published: January 2024

BACKGROUND

The quality of one's facial appearance diminishes with aging as skin and underlying soft tissues deteriorate. Connective tissue and musculofascial degeneration leads to skin laxity and wrinkles developing.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effects of synchronized radiofrequency with high intensity facial stimulation technology on dermal collagen and elastin fibers in a porcine model.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Eight sows were divided into Active (N = 6) and Control (N = 2) groups. Synchronized radiofrequency and high intensity facial stimulation were delivered to the ventrolateral abdomen. The Active group received four 20-minute treatments, once a week. Control group was untreated. Skin biopsy sample were histologically analyzed for connective tissue changes pre- and post-treatment. Data were analyzed statistically (α = 0.05).

RESULTS

In the Active group: the collagen-occupied area at baseline was 1.12 ± 0.09 × 106 μm2 and increased by +19.6% (p < .001) at 1-month and by +26.3% (p < .001) 2 months post-treatment; elastin-occupied area at baseline was 0.11 ± 0.03 × 106 μm2 and increased by +75.9% (p < .001) at 1-month and +110.8% (p < .001) at 2-months follow-up. No significant changes (p > .05) found in the Control samples.

CONCLUSION

Collagen and elastin fiber content increased significantly after treatments. Connective tissue in the treatment area was denser up to 2-months post-treatment.
Pharmacokinetics, Safety, and Efficacy of Letermovir for Cytomegalovirus Prophylaxis in Adolescent Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Recipients
Authors: Groll Andreas H. , Schulte Johannes H. , Antmen Ali Bülent , Fraser Christopher J. , Teal Valerie L. , Haber Barbara , Caro Luzelena , McCrea Jacqueline B. , Fancourt Craig , Patel Mayankbhai , Menzel Karsten , Badshah Cyrus
Published: January 2024

Introduction:

Letermovir is a cytomegalovirus (CMV) terminase complex inhibitor approved for prophylaxis of CMV infection and disease in adult CMV-seropositive allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) recipients (R+). We report pharmacokinetics (PK), safety, and efficacy of letermovir in adolescent (12–18 years) allogeneic HCT recipients from an ongoing clinical study.

Methods:

In this phase 2b, multicenter, open-label study (NCT03940586), 28 adolescents received 480 mg letermovir [240 mg with cyclosporin A (CsA)] once daily orally or intravenously. Blood was collected for intensive (n = 14) plasma concentrations of letermovir. Intensive PK data were used for dose confirmation. Target exposure range 34,400–100,000 h × ng/mL for pediatric median exposures was based on model-predicted phase 3 population PK simulations in adult HCT recipients.

Results:

All participants were CMV-seropositive (body weight 28.7–95.0 kg). Of 12 PK-evaluable participants, 8 receiving 480 mg letermovir without CsA and 4 receiving 240 mg letermovir with CsA achieved exposures comparable to the adult exposure range. Exposure above the target but below the adult clinical program maximum was observed in 1 patient. Safety was consistent with previously described safety in adults. The proportion of participants with clinically significant CMV infection through week 24 post-HCT was comparable (24%) to that in the pivotal phase 3 study in adults (37.5%).

Conclusions:

Administration of adult letermovir doses in this adolescent cohort resulted in exposures within adult clinical program margins and was associated with safety and efficacy similar to adults. Results support a letermovir dose of 480 mg (240 mg with CsA) in adolescent allo-HCT recipients.
A Case of Enterococcal Patent Ductus Arteriosus-associated Endarteritis in a Preterm Neonate
Authors: Mayer Alessandra , Crippa Beatrice Letizia , Pietrasanta Carlo , Picciolli Irene , Ronchi Andrea , Raschetti Roberto , Bandera Alessandra , Colli Anna Maria , Mosca Fabio , Francescato Gaia , Pugni Lorenza
Published: January 2024

Introduction:

The persistent patency of the ductus arteriosus frequently occurs in premature neonates and can cause infective endocarditis (IE) or ductal endarteritis (DE) during sepsis. Even though neonatal IE and DE are believed to be a rare eventuality, their incidence has been increasing in the last decades due to the improved survival of even more preterm babies, favored by highly invasive procedures and therapies. In parallel, antimicrobial resistance is another rising problem in neonatal intensive care units, which frequently compels to treat infections with broad-spectrum or last generation antibiotics.

Case Presentation:

We report the case of a preterm neonate affected by patent ductus arteriosus-associated DE that followed an episode of sepsis caused by a high-level aminoglycoside-resistant enterococcus. The neonate was successfully treated with the synergistic combination of ampicillin and cefotaxime.

Discussion:

IE and patent ductus arteriosus-associated DE are rising inside neonatal intensive care units and neonatologists should be aware of these conditions. Enterococcal IE and patent ductus arteriosus-associated DE sustained by high-level aminoglycoside-resistant strains can be successfully treated with the synergistic combination of ampicillin and cefotaxime even in preterm neonates.
Risk of SARS-CoV-2 Reinfection in Children Within the 12 Months Following Mild COVID-19: Insights From a Survey Study
Authors: Di Chiara Costanza , Boracchini Riccardo , Cantarutti Anna , Kakkar Fatima , Oletto Andrea , Padoan Andrea , Donà Daniele , Giaquinto Carlo
Published: January 2024

Understanding the correlation between immune response and protection from COVID-19 will play a pivotal role in predicting the effectiveness of vaccines in children. We studied SARS-CoV-2 reinfection risk in children 12 months post-mild COVID-19. Children under 5 years old exhibited lower reinfection risk than older infected or vaccinated siblings during 12 months postimmunization.