bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A biomechanical comparison between cement packing combined with extra fixation and three-dimensional printed strut-type prosthetic reconstruction for giant cell tumor of bone in distal femur
Authors: Hu Xin , Lu Minxun , Zhang Yuqi , Wang Yitian , Min Li , Tu Chongqi
Published: March 2022

Background

The most common reconstruction method for bone defects caused by giant cell tumor of bone (GCTB) is cement packing combined with subchondral bone grafting and extra fixation. However, this method has several limitations involving bone cement and bone graft, which may lead to poor prognosis and joint function. A titanium-based 3D-printed strut-type prosthesis, featured with excellent biocompatibility and osseointegration ability, was developed for this bone defect in our institution. The goal of this study is to comparatively analyze the biomechanical performance of reconstruction methods aimed at the identification of better operative strategy.

Methods

Four different 3D finite element models were created. Model #1: Normal femur; Model #2: Femur with tumorous cavity bone defects in the distal femur; Model #3: Cavity bone defects reconstructed by cement packing combined with subchondral bone grafting and extra fixation; Model #4: Cavity bone defects reconstructed by 3D-printed strut-type prosthesis combined with subchondral bone grafting. The femoral muscle multiple forces were applied to analyze the mechanical difference among these models by finite element analysis.

Results

Optimal stress and displacement distribution were observed in the normal femur. Both reconstruction methods could provide good initial stability and mechanical support. Stress distributed unevenly on the femur repaired by cement packing combined with subchondral bone grafting and extra fixation, and obvious stress concentration was found around the articular surface of this femur. However, the femur repaired by 3D-printed strut-type prosthetic reconstruction showed better performance both in displacement and stress distribution, particularly in terms of the protection of articular surface and subchondral bone.

Conclusions

3D-printed strut-type prosthesis is outstanding in precise shape matching and better osseointegration. Compared to cement packing and extra fixation, it can provide the almost same support and fixation stiffness, but better biomechanical performance and protection of subchondral bone and articular cartilage. Therefore, 3D-printed strut-type prosthetic reconstruction combined with subchondral bone grafting may be evaluated as an alternative for the treatment of GCTBs in distal femur.
Decidualized ovarian endometrioma mimicking malignancy in pregnancy: a case report and literature review
Authors: Yin Min , Wang Tao , Li Sijian , Zhang Xinyue , Yang Jiaxin
Published: March 2022

Background

Ovarian endometrioma is a common gynecologic disease among reproductive-aged women. Pregnancy-related hormonal status may lead to changes of decidualization, which may resemble ovarian malignancies in sonographic appearance. Here we present a case of decidualized ovarian endometrioma clinically mimicking malignant transformation.

Case presentation

A 37-year-old pregnant woman presented to our hospital at 25 + 5 weeks of gestation with a persistent left adnexal mass that was first detected on routine ultrasound in the first trimester. Transvaginal and transabdominal ultrasound showed a cystic mass of size 8.4 × 5.8 cm in the left ovary with abundant blood flow signals in the papillary medium echo of the capsule wall and inner wall, raising concern for malignant ovarian tumor. After a multidisciplinary discussion, the patient underwent laparoscopic left salpingo-oophorectomy. The results of the frozen section revealed decidualized endometrioma and the final histopathology confirmed endometrioma with extensive decidualization. The patient’s postoperative recovery was uneventful and she was discharged on the 4th postoperative day.

Conclusions

Decidualized ovarian endometrioma is rare. Sonography and magnetic resonance imaging are helpful for differential diagnosis. Conservative management of expectant management and serial monitoring should be adopted if decidualized endometriosis is suspected.
Selective pressure of endocrine therapy activates the integrated stress response through NFκB signaling in a subpopulation of ER positive breast cancer cells
Authors: Semina Svetlana E. , Pal Purab , Kansara Nidhi S. , Huggins Rosemary J. , Alarid Elaine T. , Greene Geoffrey L. , Frasor Jonna
Published: March 2022

Background

While estrogen receptor (ER) positive breast tumors generally respond well to endocrine therapy (ET), up to 40% of patients will experience relapse, either while on endocrine therapy or after ET is completed. We previously demonstrated that the selective pressure of tamoxifen activates the NFκB pathway in ER + patient tumors, breast cancer cell lines, and breast cancer xenograft tumors, and that this activation allows for survival of a subpopulation of NFκB + cells that contribute to cell regrowth and tumor relapse after ET withdrawal. However, the mechanisms contributing to the expansion of an NFκB + cell population on ET are unknown.

Methods

Here, we utilized single-cell RNA sequencing and bioinformatics approaches to characterize the NFκB + cell population and its clinical relevance. Follow-up studies were conducted to validate our findings and assess the function of the integrated stress response pathway in breast cancer cell lines and patient-derived models.

Results

We found that the NFκB + population that arises in response to ET is a preexisting population is enriched under the selective pressure of ET. Based on the preexisting NFκB + cell population, we developed a gene signature and found that it is predictive of tumor relapse when expressed in primary ER + tumors and is retained in metastatic cell populations. Moreover, we identified that the integrated stress response (ISR), as indicated by increased phosphorylation of eIF2α, occurs in response to ET and contributes to clonogenic growth under the selective pressure of ET.

Conclusions

Taken together, our findings suggest that a cell population with active NFκB and ISR signaling can survive and expand under the selective pressure of ET and that targeting this population may be a viable therapeutic strategy to improve patient outcome by eliminating cells that survive ET. Understanding the mechanisms by which breast cancer cells survive the selective pressure of ET may improve relapse rates and overall outcome for patients with ER + breast tumors.
The People’s Trial: supporting the public’s understanding of randomised trials
Authors: Finucane Elaine , O’Brien Ann , Treweek Shaun , Newell John , Das Kishor , Chapman Sarah , Wicks Paul , Galvin Sandra , Healy Patricia , Biesty Linda , Gillies Katie , Noel-Storr Anna , Gardner Heidi , O’Reilly Mary Frances , Devane Declan
Published: March 2022

Background

Randomised trials are considered the gold standard in providing robust evidence on the effectiveness of interventions. However, there are relatively few initiatives to help increase public understanding of what randomised trials are and why they are important. This limits the overall acceptance of and public participation in clinical trials. The People’s Trial aims to help the public learn about randomised trials, to understand why they matter, and to be better equipped to think critically about health claims by actively involving them in all aspects of trial design. This was done by involving the public in the design, conduct, and dissemination of a randomised trial.

Methods

Using a reflexive approach, we describe the processes of development, conduct, and dissemination of The People’s Trial.

Results

Over 3000 members of the public, from 72 countries, participated in The People’s Trial. Through a series of online surveys, the public designed a trial called The Reading Trial. They chose the question the trial would try to answer and decided the components of the trial question. In December 2019, 991 participants were recruited to a trial to answer the question identified and prioritised by the public, i.e. ‘Does reading a book in bed make a difference to sleep in comparison with not reading a book in bed?’ We report the processes of The People’s Trial in seven phases, paralleling the steps of a randomised trial, i.e. question identification and prioritisation, recruitment, randomisation, trial conduct, data analysis, and sharing of findings. We describe the decisions we made, the processes we used, the challenges we encountered, and the lessons we learned.

Conclusion

The People’s Trial involved the public successfully in the design, conduct, and dissemination of a randomised trial demonstrating the potential for such initiatives to help the public learn about randomised trials, to understand why they matter, and to be better equipped to think critically about health claims.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.govNCT04185818. Registered on 4 December 2019
Sociodemographic and health factors associated with the risk of financial catastrophe when informal care for patients with haematological neoplasms is replaced by formal care
Authors: del Pozo-Rubio Raúl , Ortega-Ortega Marta
Published: March 2022

Background

Cancer is one of the diseases with the highest incidence and mortality in the world, and one that requires greater care (formal and informal). At present, the traditional informal caregiver is disappearing. The objective is to analyse the sociodemographic and health factors associated with the possible catastrophic financial effect on households of replacing informal care by formal care for patients with blood cancer, during the different stages of treatment in Spain.

Methods

A total of 139 patients with haematological neoplasm who underwent stem cell transplantation completed a longitudinal questionnaire during each of three treatment phases. Of this population, 88.49% received informal care. The households were classified into those where the replacement of informal care with formal care would impose a financial burden exceeding 40% of equivalent household income, versus those who would not suffer this consequence. Three logistic regression models (one for each treatment phase) were estimated and the corresponding marginal effects determined.

Results

The factors associated with a higher probability of financial catastrophe were married marital status, low education level, fair to very poor self-perceived health status, the diagnosis of leukaemia in the pre-transplant and first-year post-transplant phases and of multiple myeloma disease in the final post-transplant phase.

Conclusions

These findings reveal the need to design social policies to meet the care needs of patients with blood cancer which at present are covered by informal care. Given the foreseeable elimination of this option, these families must be protected from the financial burden incurred from the use of privately-contracted assistance.
REalist Synthesis Of non-pharmacologicaL interVEntions for antipsychotic-induced weight gain (RESOLVE) in people living with severe mental illness (SMI)
Authors: Maidment Ian D. , Wong Geoffrey , Duddy Claire , Upthegrove Rachel , Oduola Sheri , Robotham Dan , Higgs Suzanne , Ahern Amy , Birdi Gurkiran
Published: March 2022

Background

People with severe mental illnesses (SMI) such as schizophrenia die on average 15 to 20 years earlier than everyone else. Two thirds of these deaths are from preventable physical illnesses such as hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes, which are worsened by weight gain. Antipsychotics are associated with significant weight gain. In REalist Synthesis Of non-pharmacologicaL interVEntions (RESOLVE), a realist synthesis, combining primary and secondary data, will be used to understand and explain how, why, for whom, and in what contexts non-pharmacological interventions can help service users to manage antipsychotic-induced weight gain.

Methods

A five-step approach will be used to develop guidance:

1. Developing the initial programme theory

An initial (candidate) programme theory, which sets out how and why outcomes occur within an intervention, will be developed.

2. Developing the search

The initial programme theory will be refined using academic and grey literature. The proposed initial sampling frame are as follows:

Context: people living with SMI, taking antipsychotics, different types of SMI.

Intervention: non-pharmacological interventions.

Mechanisms: triggered by the intervention.

Outcomes e.g. weight, metabolic adverse events, quality of life, adherence, burden, economic.

Searching for relevant documents will continue until sufficient data is found to conclude that the refined programme theory is coherent and plausible. Lived experience (service users) and stakeholder (practitioners) groups will provide feedback.

3. Selection, appraisal and data extraction

Documents will be screened against inclusion and exclusion criteria. The text extracted from these documents will be coded as contexts, mechanisms and their relationships to outcomes.

4. Primary data collection

Realist interviews with up to 30 service users and informal carers, and 20 practitioners will gather data to support, refute or refine the programme theory.

5. Data analysis

A realist logic of analysis will be used to develop and refine the programme theory from secondary and primary data. The analysis will aim to identify practical intervention strategies to change contexts so that key mechanisms are triggered to produce desired outcomes. Guidance will be produced based on these strategies.

Discussion

This realist synthesis aims to develop guidance for service users and practitioners on the most appropriate interventional strategies to manage and limit antipsychotic weight gain.

Systematic review registration

PROSPERO: CRD42021268697
Optimal bounds for Seiffert-like elliptic integral mean by harmonic, geometric, and arithmetic means
Authors: Zhang Fan , Qian Weimao , Xu Hui Zuo
Published: March 2022

In this article, we present the optimal bounds for a special elliptic integral mean in terms of the harmonic combinations of harmonic, geometric, and arithmetic means. As consequences, several new bounds for the complete elliptic integral of the second kind are discovered, which are the improvements of many previously known results.
Treating PTSD with Imagery Rescripting in underweight eating disorder patients: a multiple baseline case series study
Authors: ten Napel-Schutz Marieke C. , Vroling Maartje , Mares Suzanne H. W. , Arntz Arnoud
Published: March 2022

Background

Eating disorder patients with posttraumatic stress disorder have worse treatment results regarding their eating disorder than patients without posttraumatic stress disorder. Many eating disorder patients with co-morbid posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms are not treated for posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms during an underweight state. We propose that treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder is possible for underweight patients and that their trauma symptoms decrease with the use of Imagery Rescripting. We also investigated whether treatment of trauma influences eating disorder pathology in general and the process of weight gain specifically.

Method

Ten patients in clinical treatment (BMI 14–16.5) participated. A multiple baseline design was used, with baseline varying from 6 to 10 weeks, a 6-week treatment phase, a 3-week follow-up period and a 3-month follow-up measurement. Data were analysed with mixed regression.

Results

Evidence was found that Imagery Rescripting had strong positive effects on posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms without interfering with eating disorder treatment. Positive effects were also found on a range of secondary emotional and cognitive measures.

Conclusion

Imagery Rescripting of traumatic memories is a possible and safe intervention for underweight eating disorder patients. It also had positive clinical effects.

Trial registrationNetherlands trial register (NTR) Trial NL5906 (NTR6094). Date of registration 09/23/2016.https://www.trialregister.nl/trial/5906.
A community partnership to evaluate the feasibility of addressing food insecurity among adult patients in an urban healthcare system
Authors: Scher Katherine , Sohaki Aaron , Tang Amy , Plum Alexander , Taylor Mackenzie , Joseph Christine
Published: March 2022

Background

Food insecurity (FI) is a significant public health problem. Possible sequelae of prolonged food insecurity include kidney disease, obesity, and diabetes. Our objective was to assess the feasibility of a partnership between Henry Ford Health System (HFHS) and Gleaners Community Foodbank of Southeastern Michigan to implement and evaluate a food supplementation intervention initiated in a hospital outpatient clinic setting.

Methods

We established a protocol for using the Hunger Vital Signs to screen HFHS internal medicine patients for food insecurity and established the data sharing infrastructure and agreements necessary for an HFHS-Gleaners partnership that would allow home delivery of food to consenting patients. We evaluated the food supplementation program using a quasi-experimental design and constructing a historical comparison group using the electronic medical record. Patients identified as food insecure through screening were enrolled in the program and received food supplementation twice per month for a total of 12 months, mostly by home delivery. The feasibility outcomes included successful clinic-based screening and enrollment and successful food delivery to consenting patients. Our evaluation compared healthcare utilization between the intervention and historical comparison group during a 12-month observation period using a difference-in-differences (DID) analysis.

Results

Of 1691 patients screened, 353 patients (20.9%) met the criteria for FI, of which 340/353 (96.3%) consented, and 256/340 (75.3%) were matched and had data sufficient for analysis. Food deliveries were successfully made to 89.9% of participant households. At follow-up, the intervention group showed greater reductions in emergency department visits than the comparison group, −41.5% and −25.3% reduction, respectively. Similar results were observed for hospitalizations, −55.9% and −17.6% reduction for intervention and control groups, respectively. DID regression analysis also showed lower trends in ED visits and hospitalizations for the intervention group compared to the comparison group.

Conclusions

Results suggest that community-health system partnerships to address patient-reported food insecurity are feasible and potentially could reduce healthcare utilization in these patients. A larger, randomized trial may be the next step in fully evaluating this intervention, perhaps with more outcomes (e.g., medication adherence), and additional covariates (e.g., housing insecurity and financial strain).
Trends in Late Mortality and Life Expectancy After Autologous Blood or Marrow Transplantation Over Three Decades: A BMTSS Report
Authors: Bhatia Smita , Dai Chen , Landier Wendy , Hageman Lindsey , Wu Jessica , Schlichting Elizabeth , Siler Arianna , Funk Erin , Hicks Jessica , Lim Shawn , Balas Nora , Bosworth Alysia , Te Hok Sreng , Francisco Liton , Bhatia Ravi , Salzman Donna , Goldman Frederick D. , Forman Stephen J. , Weisdorf Daniel J. , Wong F. Lennie , Armenian Saro H. , Arora Mukta
Published: March 2022

PURPOSE

We determined trends in life expectancy and cause-specific late mortality after autologous blood or marrow transplantation (BMT) performed over a 30-year period, using the BMT Survivor Study.

METHODS

We constructed a cohort of 4,702 individuals with hematologic neoplasms who lived ≥ 2 years after autologous BMT performed between 1981 and 2014 at three transplant centers. The end of follow-up was April 19, 2021. The primary exposure variable was autologous BMT performed in four eras: 1981-1999; 2000-2005; 2006-2010; and 2011-2014. Vital status and cause of death were obtained from National Death Index Plus program and Accurinct databases.

RESULTS

The median age at BMT was 53 years (range, 0-78 years), 58.7% were male, 67.8% were non-Hispanic White, and 28.3% had undergone transplantation between 2011 and 2014. Autologous BMT recipients experienced a 7-year reduction in life expectancy. The adjusted hazard of 5-year all-cause mortality declined over the four eras (reference: 1981-1999; hazard ratio [HR]2000-2005 = 0.77; 95% CI, 0.62 to 0.94; HR2006-2010 = 0.64; 95% CI, 0.51 to 0.79; HR2011-2014 = 0.56; 95% CI, 0.45 to 0.71; Ptrend < .001), as did years of life lost (5.0 years to 1.6 years). The reduction in all-cause mortality was most pronounced among those transplanted for Hodgkin lymphoma or plasma cell dyscrasias, but was not observed among those transplanted for non-Hodgkin lymphoma or those conditioned with total-body irradiation. We also observed a decline in late deaths because of infection ( Ptrend < .0001; primarily for BMTs before 2006) and subsequent neoplasms ( Ptrend = .03; confined to decline in therapy-related myeloid neoplasm–related mortality) but not because of cardiovascular or renal disease.

CONCLUSION

Late mortality among autologous BMT recipients has declined over a 30-year period. However, ongoing efforts are needed to mitigate development of infections, subsequent neoplasms, and cardiovascular and renal disease to further reduce late mortality.
Atorvastatin Entrapped Noisome (Atrosome): Green Preparation Approach for Wound Healing
Authors: Abootorabi Shidrokh , Akbari Jafar , Saeedi Majid , Seyedabadi Mohammad , Ranaee Mohammad , Asare-Addo Kofi , Nokhodchi Ali
Published: March 2022

The present study aimed to formulate atorvastatin niosome (Atrosome) through an ultrasonic technique and to determine its contribution to the extent of wound healing in an animal model. The optimized Atrosome formulation (Atrosome-2) was stable at 4 °C for 3 months. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), ATR-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), and powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) analysis revealed that atorvastatin (ATR) was well encapsulated within the niosomes either in a stabilized amorphous form or a molecularly dispersed state. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and atomic force microscope (AFM) confirmed the spherical nature of the Atrosomes. The optimized formulation showed polydispersity index, particle size, drug encapsulation efficiency (EE%), and zeta potential of 0.457 ± 0.05, 196.33 ± 6.45 nm, 86.15 ± 0.58 %, and − 20.73 ± 0.98 mV, respectively. ATR release from the Atrosome gel followed the first-order kinetic model and showed no cytotoxicity in the in vitro cytotoxicity test. Cell viability (human foreskin fibroblast cell line) was nearly 99%. An excision wound model was also applied in male Wistar rats to examine the in vivo efficacy of the optimized formulation, followed by investigating malondialdehyde (MDA, an end-product of lipid peroxidation), superoxide dismutase (SOD, an endogenous antioxidant), hydroxyproline levels, and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in skin tissue samples. MDA significantly decreased in the Atrosome gel group after 21 days, while GPx, SOD, and hydroxyproline levels demonstrated an increase. According to histological results, rats receiving Atrosomes were treated effectively faster when compared to the other formulation used.
Growth Hormone and Thyroid Function in Children With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Undergoing Drug Therapy
Authors: Wang Liang-Jen , Huang Ying-Hua , Chou Wen-Jiun , Lee Sheng-Yu
Published: March 2022

Context

The trends in hormone indices of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) who received long-term medication treatment remains controversial.

Objective

This prospective study aimed to examine the changes in the growth hormone and thyroid hormone systems among children with ADHD undergoing various medication treatments.

Methods

In total, 118 children who were diagnosed with ADHD and were drug-naive were observed naturalistically over 12 months. Of them, 22 did not receive any medication, while 39, 40, and 17 were treated with low doses of short-acting methylphenidate (MPH) (14 ± 6.7 mg/day), osmotic-release oral system (OROS) long-acting MPH (32 ± 9.6 mg/day), and atomoxetine (29.2 ± 9.7 mg/day), respectively. Blood samples were obtained at both the baseline and the endpoint (month 12) to measure serum levels of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), IGF binding protein 3 (IGFBP-3), prolactin, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), and free T4.

Results

Trends for IGF-1, IGFBP-3, prolactin, TSH, T3, T4, and free T4 levels were similar among the 4 groups. Changes in serum levels of IGF-1 were positively correlated with changes in height and weight of all the children with ADHD. However, patients who received MPH treatment had less body weight gain than the nonmedicated group. The ratio of MPH doses to body weight was inversely correlated with the increment in height.

Conclusion

There were no changes in thyroid or growth hormones associated with the low doses of ADHD medications used in this study within 1 year’s duration. Nonetheless, patients’ growth and the appropriateness of drug dosage should be closely monitored.
Breathing versus feeding in the Pacific hagfish
Authors: Eom Junho , Lauridsen Henrik , Wood Chris M.
Published: March 2022

Hagfish represent the oldest extant connection to the ancestral vertebrates, but their physiology is not well understood. Using behavioural (video), physiological (respirometry, flow measurements), classical morphological (dissection, silicone injection) and modern imaging approaches (micro-MRI, DICE micro-CT), we examined the interface between feeding and the unique breathing mechanism (nostril opening, high-frequency velum contraction, low-frequency gill pouch contraction and pharyngo-cutaneous duct contraction) in the Pacific hagfish, Eptatretus stoutii. A video tour via micro-MRI is presented through the breathing and feeding passages. We have reconciled an earlier disagreement as to the position of the velum chamber, which powers inhalation through the nostril, placing it downstream of the merging point of the food and water passage, such that the oronasal septum terminates at the anterior end of the velum chamber. When feeding occurs by engulfment of large chunks by the dental plates, food movement through the chamber may transiently interfere with breathing. Swallowing is accelerated by peristaltic body undulation involving the ventral musculature, and is complete within 5 s. After a large meal (anchovy, 20% body mass), hagfish remain motionless, defaecating bones and scales at 1.7 days and an intestinal peritrophic membrane at 5 days. O2 consumption rate approximately doubles within 1 h of feeding, remaining elevated for 12–24 h. This is achieved by combinations of elevated O2 utilization and ventilatory flow, the latter caused by varying increases in velar contraction frequency and stroke volume. Additional imaging casts light on the reasons for the trend for greater O2 utilization by more posterior pouches and the pharyngo-cutaneous duct in fasted hagfish.
Risk factors of cervical cancer and role of primary healthcare providers regarding PAP smears counseling: Case control study
Authors: Sadia Halima , Shahwani Irfan Murtaza , BANA Kiran Fatima Mehboob Ali
Published: March 2022

Objectives: To determine risk factors of cervical cancer and role of healthcare providers regarding awareness and counseling of PAP-smear.

Methods: It was case-control study conducted from Jan-2021 till may-2021 at two tertiary care hospitals of Karachi South. The intended sample size was 255 subjects as 105 cases and 150 controls. The inclusion criteria were diagnosed cases of CA Cervix and under the age of 50 years. Controls were recruited from the general population. All the data were entered into SPSS version 23. The odds ratio was calculated to compare the risks of occurring CA cervix among cases and controls. The relationship of risk factors was assessed by binary logistic regression. P-value < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant.

Results: Generally, highly significant p-value (<0.000) was observed; depicted a positive association for a level of education, age at first intercourse, and number of parity in cases of CA cervix and controls (OR=4.3). The correct predicted rate was 68.8% for having CA cervix among controls due to family history, the knowledge of PAP smear screening, ever counseled for a PAP smear, ever tested for a PAP smear, never been tested for PAP smear due to cost.

Conclusion: Educational level, age at first intercourse, number of parity was the risk factors of CA cervix. Family history of CA Cervix, knowledge of cervical cancer screening, ever counseled for PAP smear, ever tested for PAP smear, never been tested for PAP smear due to cost were significantly predicted for CA cervix among controls.

doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.38.4.4969

How to cite this:Sadia H, Shahwani IM, BANA KFM. Risk factors of cervical cancer and role of primary healthcare providers regarding PAP smears counseling: Case control study. Pak J Med Sci. 2022;38(4):---------. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.38.4.4969

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Comparison of proximal femoral nail antirotation and total hip arthroplasty in the treatment of femoral intertrochanteric fracture
Authors: Li Xuejun , Xu Jian
Published: March 2022

Objectives: To investigate the effects of proximal femoral nail antirotation (PFNA) and total hip arthroplasty for the treatment of femoral intertrochanteric fractures.

Methods: Clinical data from 110 femoral intertrochanteric fracture patients treated at our hospital between January 2019 and July 2020 were analyzed retrospectively. Patients were divided into two groups based on the type of surgical intervention used. One group included patients (n= 59) who had undergone PFNA internal fixation and another group (n=51) included patients who had undergone total hip arthroplasty. Perioperative situation, joint function progression, and complication incidence were assessed.

Results: Total hip arthroplasty group was associated with longer operation durations, longer incisions, and more intraoperative blood loss than PFNA group (P<0.05). Joint function and pain scores in the total hip arthroplasty group were superior than PFNA group (P<0.05). The Harris score of total hip arthroplasty group was significantly higher than that of PFNA group at three, six and 12 months after operation (P<0.05). The rate of complications in patients after total hip arthroplasty was lower than that of PFNA group (P<0.05) within 12 months of the surgery.

Conclusion: PFNA and total hip arthroplasty can both achieve good results for treatment of femoral intertrochanteric fractures. PFNA offers less trauma and shorter operations, while total hip arthroplasty offers advantages in terms of more rapid limb function improvements and shorter rehabilitation processes. The two kinds of surgery have advantages, and the clinical needs to have a careful look at various factors and choose the appropriate operation method.

doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.38.4.5830

How to cite this:Li X, Xu J. Comparison of proximal femoral nail antirotation and total hip arthroplasty in the treatment of femoral intertrochanteric fracture. Pak J Med Sci. 2022;38(4):---------. doi: https://doi.org/10.12669/pjms.38.4.5830

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
"Decir las cosas como son..." Conversaciones con Eugenio Coseriu
Authors: Kabatek Johannes , Murguía Adolfo
Published: March 2022

Este libro recopila una serie de entrevistas realizadas a Eugenio Coseriu (1921-2002) por Johannes Kabatek y Adolfo Murguía y traducidas aquí por primera vez al español a partir del original alemán publicado en 1997. Constituye una aproximación a la vida y obra del eminente lingüista y pensador, pues permite conocer algunos de los principios básicos y esenciales de su pensamiento científico. Dirigido tanto a especialistas como al público en general, este libro reúne también testimonios biográficos que recorren la infancia en Rumanía, los años de formación en Italia y el desarrollo de su concepción del lenguaje en Uruguay y Alemania. De las conversaciones mantenidas con Coseriu se colige no solo un profundo humanismo lingüístico, sino también una coherente concepción de una "lingüística integral" que en muchos aspectos sorprende por su vigencia y actualidad.
Detection of targets in filtered noise: whitening in space and spatial frequency
Authors: Zhang Anqi , Geisler Wilson S.
Published: March 2022

Most studies of detection in complex backgrounds have measured and modeled human performance for statistically uniform (stationary) backgrounds. However, natural and medical images have statistical properties that vary over space. We measured detection of various target shapes presented in Gaussian 1/f noise backgrounds that were statistically uniform over space, and in ones that modulated in contrast over space. We find that the pattern of human thresholds is not consistent with the ideal observer but is consistent with a suboptimal observer that performs partial whitening in spatial frequency and whitening (reliability-weighting) in space, and has a small level of intrinsic position uncertainty.
High-speed label-free multimode-fiber-based compressive imaging beyond the diffraction limit
Authors: Abrashitova Ksenia , Amitonova Lyubov V.
Published: March 2022

Glass fibers are miniature optical components that serve as ultra-narrow endoscopy probes. Ideally, one would want to perform imaging through a fiber at the highest achievable resolution and speed. State-of-the-art super-resolution techniques have shattered the diffraction limit, but more than twofold improvement requires fluorescent labeling and a long acquisition time. Moreover, it is challenging to implement super-resolution microscopy in a fiber format. Here we present fiber-based label-free video-rate imaging at more than 2-fold higher resolution than the diffraction limit. Our work paves the way to rapid, sub-wavelength endo-microscopy in unlabeled live specimens.
Modified Frantz-Nodvik equation and numerical simulation of a high-power Innoslab picosecond laser amplifier
Authors: Shi Bingnan , Li Jiatong , Ye Shuai , Nie Hongkun , Yang Kejian , He Jingliang , Li Tao , Zhang Baitao
Published: March 2022

A modified Frantz-Nodvik (F-N) equation and a simple one-dimensional unfolded slicing model for numerically simulating high-power Innoslab picosecond amplifier are developed for the first time. The anisotropic stimulated emission cross-section of laser crystal, the influence of the tilted optical path, the spatial overlap of the seed and pump laser, as well as the pump absorption saturation effect are considered. Based on the as-developed model, 4-, 6- and 8-pass schemes high-power Nd:YVO4 Innoslab picosecond amplifiers are designed with output powers of 76.2 W, 81.4 W, and 85.5 W, respectively. The experimental results agree well with that of numerical simulation, indicating that our model is a powerful tool and paves a new way for designing and optimizing high-power Innoslab picosecond laser amplifier.
Dissipation-driven entanglement between two microwave fields in a four-mode hybrid cavity optomechanical system
Authors: Liao Chang-Geng , Shang Xiao , Xie Hong , Lin Xiu-Min
Published: March 2022

The generation and manipulation of highly pure and strongly entangled steady state in a quantum system are vital tasks in the standard continuous-variable teleportation protocol. Especially, the manipulation implemented in integrated devices is even more crucial in practical quantum information applications. Here we propose an effective approach for creating steady-state entanglement between two microwave fields in a four-mode hybrid cavity optomechanical system. The entanglement can be achieved by combining the processes of three beam-splitter interactions and two parametric-amplifier interactions. Due to the dissipation-driven and cavity cooling processes, the entanglement obtained can go far beyond the entanglement limit based on coherent parametric coupling. Moreover, our proposal allows the engineered bath to cool both Bogoliubov modes almost simultaneously. In this way, a highly pure and strongly entangled steady state of two microwave modes is obtained. Our finding may be significant for using the hybrid opto-electro-mechanical system fabricated on chips in various quantum tasks, where the strong and pure entanglement is an important resource.
Efficient UV-visible emission enabled by 532 nm CW excitation in an Ho3+-doped ZBLAN fiber
Authors: He Zhibin , Li Wensong , Yu Anxin , Wu Yulun , Cai Zhiping
Published: March 2022

Rare-earth-doped ZBLAN (ZrF4-BaF2-LaF3-AlF3-NaF) fibers have evolved to become promising candidates for efficient UV-visible emission because of their low phonon energy and low optical losses, as well as their well-defined absorption bands. We investigate the efficient emission of UV-visible light in a low-concentration (0.1 mol%) Ho3+-doped ZBLAN fiber excited by a 532 nm CW laser. In addition to the direct populating of the thermalized 5F4+5S2 levels by ground-state absorption, the upconversion processes responsible for UV-visible emission from the higher emitting levels, 3P1+3D3, 3K7+5G4, 5G5, and 5F3, of the Ho3+ ions are examined using excited-state absorption. The dependence of UV-visible fluorescence intensity on launched green pump power is experimentally determined, confirming the one-photon and two-photon characters of the observed processes. We theoretically investigate the excitation power dependence of the population density for nine Ho3+ levels based on a rate equation model. This qualitative model has shown a good agreement with the measured power dependence of UV-visible emission. Moreover, the emission cross-sections for blue, green, red, and deep-red light in the visible region are measured using the Füchtbauer–Ladenburg method and corroborated by McCumber theory, and the corresponding gain coefficients are derived. We propose an alternative approach to achieve efficient UV-visible emission in an Ho3+-doped ZBLAN fiber using a cost-effective, high-brightness 532 nm laser.
Full-Stokes polarimetric measurements and imaging using a fractal superconducting nanowire single-photon detector
Authors: Hu Nan , Meng Yun , Zou Kai , Feng Yifan , Hao Zifan , Steinhauer Stephan , Gyger Samuel , Zwiller Val , Hu Xiaolong
Published: March 2022

Measuring the states of polarization (SoP) of light is fundamentally important for applications ranging from communication, sensing, spectroscopy, imaging, to navigation. Superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors (SNSPDs) are ideal detectors of choice for faint-light detection and measurements, but SNSPDs themselves cannot resolve the SoP of photons. Here, based on a fractal SNSPD, we demonstrate a full-Stokes polarimetric measurement system that can measure arbitrary SoP of faint light. The measured SoPs are in excellent agreement with those of a state-of-the-art commercial polarimeter, but the sensitivity of our system reaches

−

86.6

d
B
m

, which is 26.6 dB better than that of the commercial counterpart. As a direct application, we further demonstrate remote polarimetric imaging (i.e., polarimetric LiDAR) with a complete set of polarimetric contrast.
Thalamic bursts modulate cortical synchrony locally to switch between states of global functional connectivity in a cognitive task
Authors: Portoles Oscar , Blesa Manuel , van Vugt Marieke , Cao Ming , Borst Jelmer P.
Published: March 2022

Performing a cognitive task requires going through a sequence of functionally diverse stages. Although it is typically assumed that these stages are characterized by distinct states of cortical synchrony that are triggered by sub-cortical events, little reported evidence supports this hypothesis. To test this hypothesis, we first identified cognitive stages in single-trial MEG data of an associative recognition task, showing with a novel method that each stage begins with local modulations of synchrony followed by a state of directed functional connectivity. Second, we developed the first whole-brain model that can simulate cortical synchrony throughout a task. The model suggests that the observed synchrony is caused by thalamocortical bursts at the onset of each stage, targeted at cortical synapses and interacting with the structural anatomical connectivity. These findings confirm that cognitive stages are defined by distinct states of cortical synchrony and explains the network-level mechanisms necessary for reaching stage-dependent synchrony states.
Urgent need for consistent standards in functional enrichment analysis
Authors: Wijesooriya Kaumadi , Jadaan Sameer A. , Perera Kaushalya L. , Kaur Tanuveer , Ziemann Mark
Published: March 2022

Gene set enrichment tests (a.k.a. functional enrichment analysis) are among the most frequently used methods in computational biology. Despite this popularity, there are concerns that these methods are being applied incorrectly and the results of some peer-reviewed publications are unreliable. These problems include the use of inappropriate background gene lists, lack of false discovery rate correction and lack of methodological detail. To ascertain the frequency of these issues in the literature, we performed a screen of 186 open-access research articles describing functional enrichment results. We find that 95% of analyses using over-representation tests did not implement an appropriate background gene list or did not describe this in the methods. Failure to perform p-value correction for multiple tests was identified in 43% of analyses. Many studies lacked detail in the methods section about the tools and gene sets used. An extension of this survey showed that these problems are not associated with journal or article level bibliometrics. Using seven independent RNA-seq datasets, we show misuse of enrichment tools alters results substantially. In conclusion, most published functional enrichment studies suffered from one or more major flaws, highlighting the need for stronger standards for enrichment analysis.
Set2 histone methyltransferase regulates transcription coupled-nucleotide excision repair in yeast
Authors: Selvam Kathiresan , Plummer Dalton A. , Mao Peng , Wyrick John J.
Published: March 2022

Helix-distorting DNA lesions, including ultraviolet (UV) light-induced damage, are repaired by the global genomic-nucleotide excision repair (GG-NER) and transcription coupled-nucleotide excision repair (TC-NER) pathways. Previous studies have shown that histone post-translational modifications (PTMs) such as histone acetylation and methylation can promote GG-NER in chromatin. Whether histone PTMs also regulate the repair of DNA lesions by the TC-NER pathway in transcribed DNA is unknown. Here, we report that histone H3 K36 methylation (H3K36me) by the Set2 histone methyltransferase in yeast regulates TC-NER. Mutations in Set2 or H3K36 result in UV sensitivity that is epistatic with Rad26, the primary TC-NER factor in yeast, and cause a defect in the repair of UV damage across the yeast genome. We further show that mutations in Set2 or H3K36 in a GG-NER deficient strain (i.e., rad16Δ) partially rescue its UV sensitivity. Our data indicate that deletion of SET2 rescues UV sensitivity in a GG-NER deficient strain by activating cryptic antisense transcription, so that the non-transcribed strand (NTS) of yeast genes is repaired by TC-NER. These findings indicate that Set2 methylation of H3K36 establishes transcriptional asymmetry in repair by promoting canonical TC-NER of the transcribed strand (TS) and suppressing cryptic TC-NER of the NTS.
Prevalence rate and risk factors of human cystic echinococcosis: A cross-sectional, community-based, abdominal ultrasound study in rural and urban north-central Chile
Authors: Acosta-Jamett Gerardo , Hernández Felipe A. , Castro Natalia , Tamarozzi Francesca , Uchiumi Leonardo , Salvitti Juan Carlos , Cueva Michelle , Casulli Adriano
Published: March 2022

Background

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) caused by Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato (s.l.) is a neglected and underdiagnosed parasitic zoonosis that has a significant socioeconomic impact on rural communities relying on livestock farming. CE is endemic across Latin America, including Chile, where the Coquimbo region exhibits a relatively high record of hospital-based human cases and infected animals. However, the incidence of hospitalized CE cases may underestimate the real burden of infection in a population, since the majority of cases never reach medical attention or official disease records.

Methodology/Principal findings

In 2019, a cross-sectional, community-based study was conducted with the objectives of estimating for the first time the prevalence of human abdominal CE using abdominal ultrasound (US) screening in volunteers residing in urban and rural localities of the Monte Patria municipality located in Limarí province, Coquimbo region, Chile, and identifying the risk factors associated with human infection. Pre-screening activities included a 16-h lecture/hands-on training aimed at rural physicians that focused on the diagnosis of CE by US, based on current WHO recommendations. A total of 2,439 (~8% of municipality inhabitants) people from thirteen target localities were screened by abdominal US in June-July 2019. We found an overall CE prevalence of 1.6% (95% CI 1.1–2.2) with a significantly higher likelihood of infection in rural localities, older age classes and people drinking non-potable water; 84.6% of infected volunteers were newly diagnosed with CE. Cysts were either in active or inactive stages in equal proportions; active cysts were detected in all age classes, while 95.7% of inactive cysts occurred in >40 years-old subjects.

Conclusions/Significance

This is the first US survey aimed at detecting human infection caused by Echinococcus granulosus s.l. in Chile. Our findings indicate a high CE prevalence in the area, and contribute to define the demographic and behavioral risk factors promoting the transmission of the parasitic infection within target communities. Our results support the implementation of cost-effective strategies for the diagnosis, treatment and control of CE, and the need to improve the epidemiological surveillance system in Chile.