bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A systematic review and meta-analysis of short-stay programmes for total hip and knee replacement, focusing on safety and optimal patient selection
Authors: Berkovic Danielle , Vallance Patrick , Harris Ian A. , Naylor Justine M. , Lewis Peter L. , de Steiger Richard , Buchbinder Rachelle , Ademi Zanfina , Soh Sze-Ee , Ackerman Ilana N.
Published: December 2023

Background

Short-stay joint replacement programmes are used in many countries but there has been little scrutiny of safety outcomes in the literature. We aimed to systematically review evidence on the safety of short-stay programmes versus usual care for total hip (THR) and knee replacement (KR), and optimal patient selection.

Methods

A systematic review and meta-analysis. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-experimental studies including a comparator group reporting on 14 safety outcomes (hospital readmissions, reoperations, blood loss, emergency department visits, infection, mortality, neurovascular injury, other complications, periprosthetic fractures, postoperative falls, venous thromboembolism, wound complications, dislocation, stiffness) within 90 days postoperatively in adults ≥ 18 years undergoing primary THR or KR were included. Secondary outcomes were associations between patient demographics or clinical characteristics and patient outcomes. Four databases were searched between January 2000 and May 2023. Risk of bias and certainty of the evidence were assessed.

Results

Forty-nine studies were included. Based upon low certainty RCT evidence, short-stay programmes may not reduce readmission (OR 0.95, 95% CI 0.12–7.43); blood transfusion requirements (OR 1.75, 95% CI 0.27–11.36); neurovascular injury (OR 0.31, 95% CI 0.01–7.92); other complications (OR 0.63, 95% CI 0.26–1.53); or stiffness (OR 1.04, 95% CI 0.53–2.05). For registry studies, there was no difference in readmission, infection, neurovascular injury, other complications, venous thromboembolism, or wound complications but there were reductions in mortality and dislocations. For interrupted time series studies, there was no difference in readmissions, reoperations, blood loss volume, emergency department visits, infection, mortality, or neurovascular injury; reduced odds of blood transfusion and other complications, but increased odds of periprosthetic fracture. For other observational studies, there was an increased risk of readmission, no difference in blood loss volume, infection, other complications, or wound complications, reduced odds of requiring blood transfusion, reduced mortality, and reduced venous thromboembolism. One study examined an outcome relevant to optimal patient selection; it reported comparable blood loss for short-stay male and female participants (p = 0.814).

Conclusions

There is low certainty evidence that short-stay programmes for THR and KR may have non-inferior 90-day safety outcomes. There is little evidence on factors informing optimal patient selection; this remains an important knowledge gap.
Cholesterol-modified prognostic nutritional index (CPNI) as an effective tool for assessing the nutrition status and predicting survival in patients with breast cancer
Authors: Shi Jinyu , Liu Tong , Ge Yizhong , Liu Chenan , Zhang Qi , Xie Hailun , Ruan Guotian , Lin Shiqi , Zheng Xin , Chen Yue , Zhang Heyang , Song Mengmeng , Zhang Xiaowei , Hu Chunlei , Li Xiangrui , Yang Ming , Liu Xiaoyue , Deng Li , Shi Hanping
Published: December 2023

Background

Malnutrition is associated with poor overall survival (OS) in breast cancer patients; however, the most predictive nutritional indicators for the prognosis of patients with breast cancer are not well-established. This study aimed to compare the predictive effects of common nutritional indicators on OS and to refine existing nutritional indicators, thereby identifying a more effective nutritional evaluation indicator for predicting the prognosis in breast cancer patients.

Methods

This prospective study analyzed data from 776 breast cancer patients enrolled in the “Investigation on Nutritional Status and its Clinical Outcome of Common Cancers” (INSCOC) project, which was conducted in 40 hospitals in China. We used the time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC), Kaplan–Meier survival curve, and Cox regression analysis to evaluate the predictive effects of several nutritional assessments. These assessments included the patient-generated subjective nutrition assessment (PGSGA), the global leadership initiative on malnutrition (GLIM), the controlling nutritional status (CONUT), the nutritional risk index (NRI), and the prognostic nutritional index (PNI). Utilizing machine learning, these nutritional indicators were screened through single-factor analysis, and relatively important variables were selected to modify the PNI. The modified PNI, termed the cholesterol-modified prognostic nutritional index (CPNI), was evaluated for its predictive effect on the prognosis of patients.

Results

Among the nutritional assessments (including PGSGA, GLIM, CONUT, NRI, and PNI), PNI showed the highest predictive ability for patient prognosis (time-dependent ROC = 0.58). CPNI, which evolved from PNI, emerged as the superior nutritional index for OS in breast cancer patients, with the time-dependent ROC of 0.65. It also acted as an independent risk factor for mortality (p < 0.05). Moreover, the risk of malnutrition and mortality was observed to increase gradually among both premenopausal and postmenopausal age women, as well as among women categorized as non-overweight, overweight, and obese.

Conclusions

The CPNI proves to be an effective nutritional assessment tool for predicting the prognosis of patients with breast cancer.
Novel pathogenic variant in MED12 causing non-syndromic dilated cardiomyopathy
Authors: Ghasemi Serwa , Mahdavi Mohammad , Maleki Majid , Salahshourifar Iman , Kalayinia Samira
Published: December 2023

Background

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a major cause of sudden cardiac death and heart failure. Up to 50% of all DCM cases have a genetic background, with variants in over 250 genes reported in association with DCM. Whole-exome sequencing (WES) is a powerful tool to identify variants underlying genetic cardiomyopathies. Via WES, we sought to identify DCM causes in a family with 2 affected patients.

Methods

WES was performed on the affected members of an Iranian family to identify the genetic etiology of DCM. The candidate variant was segregated via polymerase chain reaction and Sanger sequencing. Computational modeling and protein-protein docking were performed to survey the impact of the variant on the structure and function of the protein.

Results

A novel single-nucleotide substitution (G > A) in exon 9 of MED12, c.1249G > A: p.Val417Ile, NM_005120.3, was identified. The c.1249G > A variant was validated in the family. Bioinformatic analysis and computational modeling confirmed that c.1249G > A was the pathogenic variant responsible for the DCM phenotype.

Conclusion

We detected a novel DCM-causing variant in MED12 using WES. The variant in MED12 may decrease binding to cyclin-dependent kinase 8 (CDK8), affect its activation, and cause alterations in calcium-handling gene expression in the heart, leading to DCM.
A RBM47 and IGF2BP1 mediated circular FNDC3B-FNDC3B mRNA imbalance is involved in the malignant processes of osteosarcoma
Authors: Li Congya , Ding Linchao , Wang Xuyao , Shu Peng , Shi Xuchao , Zheng Zhijian , Liu Jian , Zhu Junlan
Published: December 2023

Background

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a class of noncoding RNAs that are involved in the progression of many human cancers. The precise gene locus and the roles of circular RNA from Fibronectin type III domain containing 3B (FNDC3B) in OS and its mechanisms of action have not been fully explored.

Materials and methods

qRT-qPCR assay was used to determine gene expressions. CCK8 Assay, EdU assay, wound-healing assay, transwell invasion assay and in vivo xenograft assay were used to perform functional investigations. RNA-FISH, immunofluorescence, RIP assay, RNA stability analysis were applied in mechanistic studies.

Results

We found that circFNDC3B downregulated and FNDC3B mRNA upregulated in OS, and might be potential biomarkers for indicating disease progression and prognosis of OS patients. CircFNDC3B acted as a tumor suppressor gene to restrain OS progression and FNDC3B functioned as an oncogene to promote OS progression in vitro and in vivo. RNA binding protein RNA binding motif protein 47 (RBM47) could bind to the flanking introns of circFNDC3B to facilitate the generation of circFNDC3B, resulting in the reduction of FNDC3B mRNA and the circFNDC3B-FNDC3B mRNA imbalance. CircFNDC3B also inhibited FNDC3B mRNA expression by reducing its stability via competitively binding to Insulin-like growth-factor-2 mRNA binding protein (IGF2BP1).

Conclusion

This study demonstrated that RBM47 and IGF2BP1 mediated circular FNDC3B/FNDC3B mRNA imbalance was involved in the malignant processes of OS.
Development and validation of a prediction model on spontaneous preterm birth in twin pregnancy: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Yang Xiaofeng , Zhong Qimei , Li Li , Chen Ya , Tang Chunyan , Liu Ting , Luo Shujuan , Xiong Jing , Wang Lan
Published: December 2023

Background

This study was conducted to develop and validate an individualized prediction model for spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB) in twin pregnancies.

Methods

This a retrospective cohort study included 3845 patients who gave birth at the Chongqing Maternal and Child Health Hospital from January 2017 to December 2022. Both univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to find factors associated with sPTB. The associations were estimated using the odds ratio (OR) and the 95% confidence interval (CI). Model performance was estimated using sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and decision curve analysis (DCA).

Results

A total of 1313 and 564 cases were included in the training and testing sets, respectively. In the training set, univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that age ≥ 35 years (OR, 2.28; 95% CI 1.67–3.13), pre-pregnancy underweight (OR, 2.36; 95% CI 1.60–3.47), pre-pregnancy overweight (OR, 1.67; 95% CI 1.09–2.56), and obesity (OR, 10.45; 95% CI, 3.91–27.87), nulliparity (OR, 0.58; 95% CI 0.41–0.82), pre-pregnancy diabetes (OR, 5.81; 95% CI 3.24–10.39), pre-pregnancy hypertension (OR, 2.79; 95% CI 1.44–5.41), and cervical incompetence (OR, 5.12; 95% CI 3.08–8.48) are independent risk factors for sPTB in twin pregnancies. The AUC of the training and validation set was 0.71 (95% CI 0.68–0.74) and 0.68 (95% CI 0.64–0.73), respectively. And then we integrated those risk factors to construct the nomogram.

Conclusions

The nomogram developed for predicting the risk of sPTB in pregnant women with twins demonstrated good performance. The prediction nomogram serves as a practical tool by including all necessary predictors that are readily accessible to practitioners.
Imaging the neurovascular unit in health and neurodegeneration: a scoping review of interdependencies between MRI measures
Authors: Rowsthorn Ella , Pham William , Nazem-Zadeh Mohammad-Reza , Law Meng , Pase Matthew P. , Harding Ian H.
Published: December 2023

The neurovascular unit (NVU) is a complex structure that facilitates nutrient delivery and metabolic waste clearance, forms the blood–brain barrier (BBB), and supports fluid homeostasis in the brain. The integrity of NVU subcomponents can be measured in vivo using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), including quantification of enlarged perivascular spaces (ePVS), BBB permeability, cerebral perfusion and extracellular free water. The breakdown of NVU subparts is individually associated with aging, pathology, and cognition. However, how these subcomponents interact as a system, and how interdependencies are impacted by pathology remains unclear. This systematic scoping review identified 26 studies that investigated the inter-relationships between multiple subcomponents of the NVU in nonclinical and neurodegenerative populations using MRI. A further 112 studies investigated associations between the NVU and white matter hyperintensities (WMH). We identify two putative clusters of NVU interdependencies: a ‘vascular’ cluster comprising BBB permeability, perfusion and basal ganglia ePVS; and a ‘fluid’ cluster comprising ePVS, free water and WMH. Emerging evidence suggests that subcomponent coupling within these clusters may be differentially related to aging, neurovascular injury or neurodegenerative pathology.
3D-printed PCL/β-TCP/CS composite artificial bone and histocompatibility study
Authors: Zheng Chao , Zhang Mingman
Published: December 2023

Background

Tissue-engineered bone materials are an effective tool to repair bone defects. In this study, a novel biodegradable polycaprolactone (PCL)/β-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP)/calcium sulfate (CS) composite scaffold was prepared by using three-dimensional (3D) printing technology.

Methods

Scanning electron microscopy, gas expansion displacement, and contact goniometry were used to examine the 3D-printed PCL/β-TCP/CS composite scaffolds. The results showed that the PCL/β-TCP/CS scaffolds possessed controllable porosity, hydrophobicity, biodegradability, and suitable apatite mineralization ability. To confirm the bone regenerative properties of the fabricated composite scaffolds, scaffold extracts were prepared and evaluated for their cytotoxicity to bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) and their ability to induce and osteogenic differentiation in BMSCs.

Results

The PCL/β-TCP/CS composite scaffolds induced a higher level of differentiation of BMSCs than the PCL scaffolds, which occurred through the expression of bone metastasis-related genes. The New Zealand white rabbit radial defect experiment further demonstrated that PCL/β-TCP/CS scaffolds could promote bone regeneration.

Conclusions

In summary, the 3D-printed PCL/β-TCP/CS composite porous artificial bone has good cytocompatibility, osteoinductivity, and histocompatibility, which make it an ideal bone material for tissue engineering.
Links between mental health problems and future thinking from the perspective of adolescents with experience of depression and anxiety: a qualitative study
Authors: Tang Peiyao , Pavlopoulou Georgia , Kostyrka-Allchorne Katarzyna , Phillips-Owen Jacqueline , Sonuga-Barke Edmund
Published: December 2023

Background

Depression and anxiety are common during adolescence and could have detrimental impacts on young people’s ability to make and implement plans for their future. However, to the best of our knowledge, no other study has adopted a qualitative approach in investigating these effects from the perspective of adolescents with lived experiences of depression and anxiety. We sought to understand how young people perceive and interpret the impact of mental health conditions on their thinking about the future.

Methods

We conducted semi-structured interviews with 19 adolescents aged 16–19 years in the UK (median age = 19, IQR = 1.5), who had a history of protracted periods of clinical or subclinical depression and/or anxiety. They were asked to reflect on how their ability to think about the future and the content of the future-related thinking was impacted during periods of poor mental health, compared with periods of feeling well. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and subjected to thematic content analysis.

Results

Five domains were identified. First,the impact of mood on future thinking capabilityfocuses on reduced ability and motivation to engage in future thinking. Second,the impact of mood on images, thoughts, and feelings about the futureincludes the emotional valence of future-related thoughts, their vividness, structure, and the extent to which they intimated subjective feelings of control (i.e., agency). Third,social influencesfocuses on social factors that might ameliorate or exacerbate future thinking. Fourth,reflections on personal worries and expectations about the futurecaptures personal interpretations of past worries and hopes and how future thinking affected mood. Finally,personal copingrefers to how young people cope with the negative emotions that come with future thinking.

Conclusions

This study provided a nuanced and granular account of how depression and anxiety impacted young people’s future thinking based on their lived experiences. By highlighting the different ways that variations in future thinking were experienced as a function of depression and anxiety, our analysis highlighted new factors that should be considered in studies of adolescent mental health risk, which could inform the development of new therapeutic approaches.
Feasibility and effectiveness of automatic deep learning network and radiomics models for differentiating tumor stroma ratio in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma
Authors: Liao Hongfan , Yuan Jiang , Liu Chunhua , Zhang Jiao , Yang Yaying , Liang Hongwei , Jiang Song , Chen Shanxiong , Li Yongmei , Liu Yanbing
Published: December 2023

Objective

This study aims to compare the feasibility and effectiveness of automatic deep learning network and radiomics models in differentiating low tumor stroma ratio (TSR) from high TSR in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).

Methods

A retrospective analysis was conducted on a total of 207 PDAC patients from three centers (training cohort: n = 160; test cohort: n = 47). TSR was assessed on hematoxylin and eosin-stained specimens by experienced pathologists and divided as low TSR and high TSR. Deep learning and radiomics models were developed including ShuffulNetV2, Xception, MobileNetV3, ResNet18, support vector machine (SVM), k-nearest neighbor (KNN), random forest (RF), and logistic regression (LR). Additionally, the clinical models were constructed through univariate and multivariate logistic regression. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis and log-rank tests were conducted to compare the overall survival time between different TSR groups.

Results

To differentiate low TSR from high TSR, the deep learning models based on ShuffulNetV2, Xception, MobileNetV3, and ResNet18 achieved AUCs of 0.846, 0.924, 0.930, and 0.941, respectively, outperforming the radiomics models based on SVM, KNN, RF, and LR with AUCs of 0.739, 0.717, 0.763, and 0.756, respectively. Resnet 18 achieved the best predictive performance. The clinical model based on T stage alone performed worse than deep learning models and radiomics models. The survival analysis based on 142 of the 207 patients demonstrated that patients with low TSR had longer overall survival.

Conclusions

Deep learning models demonstrate feasibility and superiority over radiomics in differentiating TSR in PDAC. The tumor stroma ratio in the PDAC microenvironment plays a significant role in determining prognosis.

Critical relevance statement

The objective was to compare the feasibility and effectiveness of automatic deep learning networks and radiomics models in identifying the tumor-stroma ratio in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Our findings demonstrate deep learning models exhibited superior performance compared to traditional radiomics models.

Key points

• Deep learning demonstrates better performance than radiomics in differentiating tumor-stroma ratio in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

• The tumor-stroma ratio in the pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma microenvironment plays a protective role in prognosis.

• Preoperative prediction of tumor-stroma ratio contributes to clinical decision-making and guiding precise medicine.

Graphical Abstract
Association between erythrocyte membrane fatty acids and gut bacteria in obesity-related cognitive dysfunction
Authors: Zhao Tong , Huang Hongying , Li Jinchen , Shen Jingyi , Zhou Cui , Xiao Rong , Ma Weiwei
Published: December 2023

Obesity increases the risk of cognitive impairment and dementia, and the gut microbiota can affect brain cognitive function and obesity through a variety of pathways such as the gut-brain axis. This study aimed to discover how fatty acid affect cognitive function by regulating intestinal flora in obesity. Obese subjects were recruited for cognitive function assessment, and participants were divided into obese group with cognitive impairment (MCI, n = 49) and obese cognitively normal group (Non_MCI, n = 55). In the erythrocyte membrane, the proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), linoleic acid (C18:2 n-6) and arachidonic acid (C20:4 n-6) and n-6/n-3 ratio was higher in the MCI group than in the Non_MCI group. However, the α-linolenic acid (C18:3 n-3) percentage of the erythrocyte membrane was lower in the MCI group. We found that Coriobacteriales_Incertae_Sedis was positively correlated with erythrocyte membrane C20:4 n-6 and n-6 PUFA and negatively correlated with cognitive scores in obese patients. In addition, several of the functional pathways we predicted were significantly different in the MCI and Non_MCI groups. Higher levels of n-6/n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids ratio in the erythrocyte membranes may influence the inflammatory response in the organism causing obesity induced cognitive damage. Moreover, high levels of n-6/n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids ratio may also affect the intestinal flora of obese patients, which in turn may affect the cognitive function of obese patients.
Site fidelity of migratory shorebirds facing habitat deterioration: insights from satellite tracking and mark-resighting
Authors: Chan Ying-Chi , Chan David Tsz Chung , Tibbitts T. Lee , Hassell Chris J. , Piersma Theunis
Published: December 2023

Background

Site fidelity, the tendency to return to a previously visited site, is commonly observed in migratory birds. This behaviour would be advantageous if birds returning to the same site, benefit from their previous knowledge about local resources. However, when habitat quality declines at a site over time, birds with lower site fidelity might benefit from a tendency to move to sites with better habitats. As a first step towards understanding the influence of site fidelity on how animals cope with habitat deterioration, here we describe site fidelity variation in two species of sympatric migratory shorebirds (Bar-tailed Godwits Limosa lapponica and Great Knots Calidris tenuirostris). Both species are being impacted by the rapid loss and deterioration of intertidal habitats in the Yellow Sea where they fuel up during their annual long-distance migrations.

Methods

Using satellite tracking and mark-resighting data, we measured site fidelity in the non-breeding (austral summer) and migration periods, during which both species live and co-occur in Northwest Australia and the Yellow Sea, respectively.

Results

Site fidelity was generally high in both species, with the majority of individuals using only one site during the non-breeding season and revisiting the same sites during migration. Nevertheless, Great Knots did exhibit lower site fidelity than Bar-tailed Godwits in both Northwest Australia and the Yellow Sea across data types.

Conclusions

Great Knots encountered substantial habitat deterioration just before and during our study period but show the same rate of decline in population size and individual survival as the less habitat-impacted Bar-tailed Godwits. This suggests that the lower site fidelity of Great Knots might have helped them to cope with the habitat changes. Future studies on movement patterns and their consequences under different environmental conditions by individuals with different degrees of site fidelity could help broaden our understanding of how species might react to, and recover from, local habitat deterioration.
The identification, characterization, and management of Rotylenchulus reniformis on Cucumis melo in China
Authors: Shi Qianqian , Cai Xinyue , Zhang Ziqi , Song Wenwen , Liang Chen , Duan Fangmeng , Zhao Honghai
Published: December 2023

The reniform nematode, Rotylenchulus reniformis, is a sedentary root parasite that poses a significant threat to agricultural production in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. In 2021–2022, a population of R. reniformis was identified in a melon greenhouse in Jimo District, Qingdao, China. To characterize this population, we employed morphological, morphometric, and molecular methods, which confirmed the identity of the nematodes as R. reniformis. Our investigation revealed that R. reniformis successfully infected the roots of melon plants and laid eggs, which could have led to significant crop damage. This report represents the first documented example of R. reniformis infecting melon plants in China. We evaluated several control strategies to combat this nematode, and our results indicated that soil solarization and the use of fosthiazate or chitooligosaccharide copper in combination with soil solarization were effective measures for managing R. reniformis in a greenhouse setting. In addition, combining soil solarization with chitooligosaccharide copper promoted melon plant growth and increased the relative abundance of microorganisms with biocontrol potential.
When the host’s away, the pathogen will play: the protective role of the skin microbiome during hibernation
Authors: Troitsky T. S. , Laine V. N. , Lilley T. M.
Published: December 2023

The skin of animals is enveloped by a symbiotic microscopic ecosystem known as the microbiome. The host and microbiome exhibit a mutualistic relationship, collectively forming a single evolutionary unit sometimes referred to as a holobiont. Although the holobiome theory highlights the importance of the microbiome, little is known about how the skin microbiome contributes to protecting the host. Existing studies focus on humans or captive animals, but research in wild animals is in its infancy. Specifically, the protective role of the skin microbiome in hibernating animals remains almost entirely overlooked. This is surprising, considering the massive population declines in hibernating North American bats caused by the fungal pathogen Pseudogymnoascus destructans, which causes white-nose syndrome. Hibernation offers a unique setting in which to study the function of the microbiome because, during torpor, the host’s immune system becomes suppressed, making it susceptible to infection. We conducted a systematic review of peer-reviewed literature on the protective role of the skin microbiome in non-human animals. We selected 230 publications that mentioned pathogen inhibition by microbes residing on the skin of the host animal. We found that the majority of studies were conducted in North America and focused on the bacterial microbiome of amphibians infected by the chytrid fungus. Despite mentioning pathogen inhibition by the skin microbiome, only 30.4% of studies experimentally tested the actual antimicrobial activity of symbionts. Additionally, only 7.8% of all publications studied defensive cutaneous symbionts during hibernation. With this review, we want to highlight the knowledge gap surrounding skin microbiome research in hibernating animals. For instance, research looking to mitigate the effects of white-nose syndrome in bats should focus on the antifungal microbiome of Palearctic bats, as they survive exposure to the Pseudogymnoascus destructans -pathogen during hibernation. We also recommend future studies prioritize lesser-known microbial symbionts, such as fungi, and investigate the effects of a combination of anti-pathogen microbes, as both areas of research show promise as probiotic treatments. By incorporating the protective skin microbiome into disease mitigation strategies, conservation efforts can be made more effective.
Systemic-to-pulmonary artery shunt treated with transcatheter arterial embolization and subsequent lung segmentectomy
Authors: Notsuda Hirotsugu , Tomiyama Fumiko , Onodera Ken , Watanabe Tatsuaki , Watanabe Yui , Oishi Hisashi , Niikawa Hiromichi , Inoue Chihiro , Ota Hideki , Noda Masafumi , Okada Yoshinori
Published: December 2023

Background

Systemic-to-pulmonary artery shunt (SPAS) is a rare condition that can occur as a result of congenital heart disease or chronic pulmonary inflammation, occasionally leading to life-threatening hemoptysis. Computed tomography (CT) imaging is crucial in the diagnosis of SPAS, and the optimal management approach for SPAS remains uncertain. This case report presents a novel approach to the treatment of SPAS, consisting of transcatheter arterial embolization of the systemic artery followed by lung segmentectomy.

Case presentation

A 42-year-old man with abnormal chest findings was referred to us and a diagnosis of SPAS was established based on the CT findings showing a blood flow regurgitation from the dilated left 4th intercostal artery to the Lt. A6. The patient was asymptomatic but we decided to treat him to prevent a risk of future hemoptysis. Transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) of systemic arteries followed by S6 segmentectomy was successfully performed with minimal blood loss and complete removal of the dilated intra-pulmonary blood vessels. Histological analysis confirmed the diagnosis of SPAS.

Conclusion

We reported a case of SPAS, who was successfully treated with the combination of TAE and subsequent segmentectomy. The blood loss during surgery was minimal and this strategy appeared to minimize future recanalization and hemoptysis. Further studies and long-term follow-up of SPAS patients are required to establish standardized management guidelines for this rare condition.
Estimation of the subsurface electromagnetic velocity distribution from diffraction hyperbolas by means of a novel automated picking procedure: Theory and application to glaciological ground-penetrating radar data sets
Authors: Dossi Matteo , Forte Emanuele , Cosciotti Barbara , Lauro Sebastian Emanuel , Mattei Elisabetta , Pettinelli Elena , Pipan Michele
Published: December 2023

We have developed an auto-picking algorithm that is designed to automatically detect subsurface diffractors within ground-penetrating radar (GPR) data sets, to accurately track the hyperbolic diffractions originating from the identified scatterers, and to recover the subsurface electromagnetic (EM) velocity distribution, among other possible analyses. Our procedure presents several advantages with respect to other commonly applied diffraction tracking techniques because it can be applied with minimal signal preprocessing, thus making it more versatile and adaptable to local conditions; it requires only limited input from the interpreter in the form of a few thresholds for the tracking parameters, thus making the results more objective; and it does not involve pretraining as opposed to machine-learning algorithms, thus removing the need to gather a large and comprehensive image database of all possible subsurface situations, which would not necessarily be limited to only examples of diffractions. The presented algorithm starts by identifying those signals that are likely to belong to diffraction apexes, which are then used as initial seeds by the auto-tracking process. The horizontal search window used during the auto-tracking process is locally adapted through a rough preliminary estimate of the size of each diffraction. In addition, multiple seeds within the same apex can produce several acceptable hyperbolas tracking the same diffraction phase. The algorithm thus selects the best-fitting ones by assessing several signal attributes while also removing redundant hyperbolas and the expected false positives. The algorithm is applied to two glaciological GPR profiles, and it is able to accurately track the vast majority of the recorded diffractions, with very few false positives and negatives. This produces a statistically sound EM velocity distribution, which was used to assess the state of the surveyed alpine glacier.
Aeromagnetic surveys for the location of undocumented orphaned wells
Authors: Hammack Richard , Veloski Garret , Sams James , Kohnke Colton
Published: December 2023

The U.S. Department of Energy's National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) conducted research to field test the ability of airborne methods to locate existing wells quickly and accurately with minimal landowner impact. Helicopter surveys with two boom-mounted atomic magnetometers were used to locate wells at two oil fields in Wyoming and at four large oil and gas producing areas in Pennsylvania. At the two Wyoming oil fields, the helicopter magnetic survey identified 91%–96% of the wells located by exhaustive ground search. A different validation was used for the thickly forested Pennsylvania flight areas where well picks from the helicopter magnetic survey were used to direct the ground search to potential well locations for verification. The number and location of verified well locations were then compared to well records in the state database. For the oldest wells (circa 1860–1880), the number of wells in the state database exceeded the number of wells identified by the helicopter magnetic survey because many early wells had wood casing (nonmagnetic). For wells drilled between 1880 and 1950, the helicopter surveys found two to five undocumented wells for each well in the state database. The best results were achieved at a gas storage field where wells were drilled after 1950. There, 98% of the wells located by the helicopter magnetic survey were documented. In 2017, NETL used an atomic magnetometer on a small uncrewed aircraft system (sUAS) to refly an area previously flown with a crewed helicopter. The magnetic map from the sUAS survey was equal to that obtained with a crewed helicopter. High-resolution topographic images developed from sUAS LiDAR surveys were found to be helpful in locating very early wells with wood casing. When the wood casing decayed, soil subsided into the well void, leaving a circular depression that is easily recognized in high-resolution LiDAR imagery.
UAV-based aeromagnetic surveys for orphaned well location: Emerging best practices
Authors: Nikulin Alex , de Smet Timothy S.
Published: December 2023

Historical oil and gas exploration and development in the northeastern United States left behind hundreds of thousands of orphaned oil and gas wells in areas where hydrocarbon extraction predated state and federal regulations on well abandonment. Abandoned by their original operators with incomplete records of location and well status, orphaned wells pose significant economic and environmental challenges associated with possible emissions of formation liquids and gases. Effective location and assessment of orphaned wells is a key first step in well site remediation; however, the task of locating orphaned wells has proven to be a formidable challenge in some of the most impacted areas. Specifically, in key areas of the northeastern United States, where the oil and gas industry first emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, historical lease maps have proven largely inaccurate, and wide-area terrestrial geophysical surveys in difficult terrain characteristics and dense vegetation were found to be cost-prohibitive. In recent years, integration of miniaturized magnetic sensors with low-altitude uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) facilitated successful implementation of wide-area aeromagnetic surveys targeting orphaned well identification in areas where piloted aeromagnetic surveys were previously infeasible due to challenging terrain and canopy conditions. Aeromagnetic data sets collected by ultra-low-altitude UAV surveys and processed to highlight magnetic anomalies associated with orphaned well casings have the potential to drastically reduce search areas for orphaned wells and complement ground surveys, thus helping turn the tide in orphaned well remediation efforts. As UAV-based aeromagnetic surveys gain recognition as a dependable wide-area surveying tool for remote identification of orphaned well sites, we highlight key advantages and important limitations of this methodology, underscore key practical challenges to successful implementation, and outline best practices in effective survey design and execution.
Procedure for locating oil and gas wells in the Appalachian Basin
Authors: Reeder Matthew D. , Sams James I. , Gorantla Raghava , Pekney Natalie J.
Published: December 2023

Locating undocumented (or poorly documented) oil and gas wells for environmental assessment is often difficult. Remnant features that confirm the presence of a well (intact casing/wellhead, well bore, etc.) are typically less than a meter in size and often are obscured from direct observation on the ground or from the air (by dense vegetation, for example). To efficiently find such features, it is useful to first systematically compile publicly available digital data at progressively smaller scales prior to embarking on field campaigns. The information presented here describes the procedure developed and used by the U.S. Department of Energy's National Energy Technology Laboratory to locate potential oil and gas well sites for follow-up field verification and characterization. Digital data are first compiled from national and state resources such as well location/production databases, historical topographic maps, historical aerial photographs, and LiDAR data. Although each data set is likely to be incomplete or inaccurate to some extent, combining the data resources using geographic information system technology can generate potential well site targets with a higher degree of confidence, which improves the efficiency of fieldwork activities. This workflow was developed in the Appalachian Basin region, and although certain aspects may be unique, the general process would be applicable to locating undocumented wells in other regions.
Financial Toxicity and Quality of Life in Patients Undergoing Stem-Cell Transplant Evaluation: A Single-Center Analysis
Authors: Hussaini S.M. Qasim , Ren Yi , Racioppi Alessandro , Lew Meagan V. , Bohannon Lauren , Johnson Ernaya , Li Yan , Thompson Jillian C. , Henshall Bethany , Darby Maurisa , Choi Taewoong , Lopez Richard D. , Sarantopoulos Stefanie , Gasparetto Cristina , Long Gwynn D. , Horwitz Mitchell E. , Chao Nelson J. , Zafar S. Yousuf , Sung Anthony D.
Published: December 2023

PURPOSE

We investigated the prevalence of financial toxicity in a population undergoing hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) evaluation and measured its impact on post-transplant clinical and health-related quality-of-life outcomes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This was a prospective study in patients undergoing evaluation for allogeneic HCT between January 1, 2018, and September 23, 2020, at a large academic medical center. Financial health was measured via a baseline survey and the comprehensive score for financial toxicity-functional assessment of chronic illness therapy (COST-FACIT) survey. The cohort was divided into three groups: none (grade 0), mild (grade 1), and moderate-high financial toxicity (grades 2-3). Health-related quality of life outcomes were measured at multiple time points. Multivariate logistic regression analysis evaluated factors associated with financial toxicity. Kaplan-Meier curves and log-rank tests was used to evaluate overall survival (OS) and nonrelapse survival.

RESULTS

Of 245 patients evaluated for transplant, 176 (71.8%) completed both questionnaires (median age was 57 years, 63.1% were male, 72.2% were White, and 39.2% had myelodysplastic syndrome, 38.1% leukemia, and 13.6% lymphoma). At initial evaluation, 83 (47.2%) patients reported no financial toxicity, 51 (29.0%) with mild, and 42 (23.9%) with moderate-high financial toxicity. Patients with financial toxicity reported significant cost-cutting behaviors, including reduced spending on food or clothing, using their savings, or not filling a prescription because of costs ( P < .0001). Quality of life was lower in patients with moderate-high financial toxicity at 6 months ( P = .0007) and 1 year ( P = .0075) after transplant. Older age (>62; odds ratio [OR], 0.33 [95% CI, 0.13 to 0.79]; P = .04) and income ≥$60,000 in US dollars (USD) (OR, 0.17 [95% CI, 0.08 to 0.38]; P < .0001) were associated with lower odds of financial toxicity. No association was noted between financial toxicity and selection for transplant, OS, or nonrelapse mortality.

CONCLUSION

Financial toxicity was highly correlated with patient-reported changes in compensatory behavior, with notable impact on patient quality of life after transplant.
Non-standard Wigner doublets
Authors: da Silva Barbosa F. A. , Hoff da Silva J. M.
Published: December 2023

Guided by a conservative formulation in investigating the physical content of quantum fields, we explore non-standard Wigner classes of particles that could provide the basis for self-interaction models to dark matter. We critically contrast the analysis with long-standing constraints to non-standard Wigner classes in the literature to discuss the model's viability.
Melatonin Does Not Affect the Stress-Induced Phase Shifts of Peripheral Clocks in Male Mice
Authors: Kong Xiangpan , Meerlo Peter , Hut Roelof A
Published: December 2023

Repeated or chronic stress can change the phase of peripheral circadian rhythms. Melatonin (Mel) is thought to be a circadian clock-controlled signal that might play a role in synchronizing peripheral rhythms, in addition to its direct suppressing effects on the stress axis. In this study we test whether Mel can reduce the social-defeat stress–induced phase shifts in peripheral rhythms, either by modulating circadian phase or by modulating the stress axis. Two experiments were performed with male Mel-deficient C57BL/6J mice carrying the circadian reporter gene construct (PER2::LUC). In the first experiment, mice received night-restricted (ZT11-21) Mel in their drinking water, resulting in physiological levels of plasma Mel peaking in the early dark phase. This treatment facilitated re-entrainment of the activity rhythm to a shifted light-dark cycle, but did not prevent the stress-induced (ZT21-22) reduction of activity during stress days. Also, this treatment did not attenuate the phase-delaying effects of stress in peripheral clocks in the pituitary, lung, and kidney. In a second experiment, pituitary, lung, and kidney collected from naive mice (ZT22-23), were treated with Mel, dexamethasone (Dex), or a combination of the two. Dex application affected PER2 rhythms in the pituitary, kidney, and lung by changing period, phase, or both. Administering Mel did not influence PER2 rhythms nor did it alleviate Dex-induced delays in PER2 rhythms in those tissues. We conclude that exogenous Mel is insufficient to affect peripheral PER2 rhythms and reduce stress effects on locomotor activity and phase changes in peripheral tissues.
Effect of Preoperative Therapeutic Plasma Exchange With Albumin Replacement Before Kidney Transplant on Intraoperative Coagulation Measured By the Thrombelastograph (TEGR 6s): A Case Report
Authors: Smith Connor , Caesar D’Andrea , Perry Kenneth , Jonna Srikar , Villani Vincenzo , Pivalizza Evan G.
Published: December 2023

Anesthesiologists should be aware of the coagulation implications of therapeutic plasma exchange (TPE) with albumin replacement for desensitization of kidney transplant (KT) recipients. We describe a case where the final preoperative TPE was performed with albumin. A TEGR 6s demonstrated defects in fibrinogen component to clot strength. With surgical oozing noted and the fibrinogen defect, cryoprecipitate was administered. Thereafter, fibrinogen contribution to clot strength normalized, coinciding with clinical hemostasis. With the increased use of TPE to reduce antibodies in KT recipients, visco-elastic testing may assist in the identification of coagulation defects when plasma is not used as replacement fluid.
A Case Report of a Pericapsular Nerve Group Block for Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation
Authors: Gul Yasar Gokhan , Alver Selcuk , Ciftci Bahadir
Published: December 2023

A pericapsular nerve group (PENG) block is an interfascial plane block that targets the articular branches of the femoral and obturator nerves. PENG blocks may be used for hip, vein, and groin surgeries. Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is a common treatment for aortic valve stenosis (AVS). Patients who undergo TAVI tend to be at high risk due to their older age and comorbidities. A PENG block using a high volume of local anesthetics may be as effective as a lumbar plexus block. In this case report, we describe successful anesthesia management using PENG blocks in 2 patients who underwent TAVI.
Ecological and morphological correlates of visual acuity in birds
Authors: Caves Eleanor M. , Fernández-Juricic Esteban , Kelley Laura A.
Published: December 2023

Birds use their visual systems for important tasks, such as foraging and predator detection, that require them to resolve an image. However, visual acuity (the ability to perceive spatial detail) varies by two orders of magnitude across birds. Prior studies indicate that eye size and aspects of a species' ecology may drive variation in acuity, but these studies have been restricted to small numbers of species. We used a literature review to gather data on acuity measured either behaviorally or anatomically for 94 species from 38 families. We then examined how acuity varies in relation to (1) eye size, (2) habitat spatial complexity, (3) habitat light level, (4) diet composition, (5) prey mobility and (6) foraging mode. A phylogenetically controlled model including all of the above factors as predictors indicated that eye size and foraging mode are significant predictors of acuity. Examining each ecological variable in turn revealed that acuity is higher in species whose diet comprises vertebrates or scavenged food and whose foraging modes require resolving prey from farther away. Additionally, species that live in spatially complex, vegetative habitats have lower acuity than expected for their eye sizes. Together, our results suggest that the need to detect important objects from far away – such as predators for species that live in open habitats, and food items for species that forage on vertebrate and scavenged prey – has likely been a key driver of higher acuity in some species, helping us to elucidate how visual capabilities may be adapted to an animal's visual needs.
Impressum
Authors: Schlaepfer Aline
Published: December 2023

Impressum
Alterations in cerebral glucose metabolism measured by FDG PET in subjects performing a meditation practice based on clitoral stimulation
Authors: Newberg Andrew B. , Wintering Nancy A. , Hriso Chloe , Vedaei Faezeh , Mohamed Feroze B. , Gottfried Sara E. , Ross Reneita
Published: December 2023

Background The relationship between sexuality, or the libido, and spirituality or religion has long been debated in psychiatry. Recent studies have explored the neurophysiology of both sexual experiences and spiritual practices such as meditation or prayer. In the present study, we report changes in cerebral glucose metabolism in a unique meditation practice augmented by clitoral stimulation called, Orgasmic Meditation, in which a spiritual state is described to be attained by both male and female participants engaged in the practice as a pair. Methods Male (N=20) and female (N=20) subjects had an intravenous catheter connected to a bag of normal saline inserted prior to the practice. During the practice, men stimulated their partner’s clitoris for exactly 15 minutes (he received no sexual stimulation). Midway through the practice, researchers injected 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose so the scan would reflect cerebral metabolism during the practice. Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging was performed approximately 30 minutes later. Results In the female participants, the meditation state showed significant decreases in the left inferior frontal, inferior parietal, insula, middle temporal, and orbitofrontal regions as well as in the right angular gyrus, anterior cingulate and parahippocampus compared to a neutral state (p<0.01). Male subjects had significant decreases in the left middle frontal, paracentral, precentral, and postcentral regions as well as the right middle frontal and paracentral regions during meditation (p<0.01). Men also had significantly increased metabolism in the cerebellum and right postcentral and superior temporal regions (p<0.01). Conclusions These findings represent a distinct pattern of brain activity, for both men and women, that is a hybrid between that of other meditation practices and sexual stimulation. Such findings have potential psychotherapeutic implications and may deepen our understanding of the relationship between spiritual and sexual experience.