bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Population‐level impact of initiating pharmacotherapy and linking to care people with opioid use disorder at inpatient medically managed withdrawal programs: an effectiveness and cost‐effectiveness analysis
Authors: Savinkina Alexandra , Madushani Rajapaksha W.M.A. , Eftekhari Yazdi Golnaz , Wang Jianing , Barocas Joshua A. , Morgan Jake R. , Assoumou Sabrina A. , Walley Alexander Y. , Linas Benjamin P. , Murphy Sean M.
Published: March 2022

Background and Aims

Medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) are shown to reduce opioid use and the risk of overdose. People with opioid use disorder (OUD) who exit inpatient medically managed withdrawal programs (detox) without initiating MOUD and linking to outpatient care have high rates of overdose. While detox encounters provide a theoretical opportunity for MOUD initiation, this is not ubiquitous in the United States. We used simulation modeling to estimate the population‐level health effects and cost‐effectiveness of a policy encouraging MOUD initiation during inpatient detox encounters.

Design, Setting and Participants

We employed a dynamic population state‐transition model to evaluate the effectiveness and cost‐effectiveness of using detox programs as venues for initiating MOUD in Massachusetts, United States. We compared standard of care, where no detox patients initiate MOUD or link to outpatient MOUD providers, to strategies of offering MOUD to detox patients and linking those patients to outpatient MOUD.

Measures

Budgetary impact to the Massachusetts health‐care sector, incremental cost‐effectiveness ratios (ICER) and total counts and percentage differences of fatal overdoses prevented.

Findings

Initiating MOUD in detox with perfect linkage to outpatient MOUD would reduce fatal overdoses by 4.5% [95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.3–5.9], at an ICER of $56 000 per quality‐adjusted life‐year (QALY) gained, compared with the standard of care. With moderate linkage, fatal overdoses would be reduced by 2.3% (95% CI= 1.2–3.1) with an ICER of $78 500 per QALY gained, compared with standard of care. Budgetary increase to Massachusetts health‐care spending ranged from 0.5–1%.

Conclusion

A simulation model indicates that initiation of medications for opioid use disorder and linkage policies among detox patients in Massachusetts, USA could prevent fatal opioid overdoses in the opioid use disorder population and would be cost‐effective from a health‐care sector perspective.
Is early exposure to cannabis associated with bipolar disorder? Results from a Finnish birth cohort study
Authors: Denissoff Alexander , Mustonen Antti , Alakokkare Anni‐Emilia , Scott James G. , Sami Musa B. , Miettunen Jouko , Niemelä Solja
Published: March 2022

Background and aims

There are few longitudinal studies assessing the association of cannabis use and subsequent onset of bipolar disorder. We aimed to measure the association between early cannabis exposure and subsequent bipolar disorder.

Design, Setting and Participants

Observational study linking a sample from the northern Finland birth cohort 1986 (n = 6325) to nation‐wide register data to examine the association of life‐time cannabis exposure at age 15/16 years and subsequent bipolar disorder until age 33 (until the end of 2018); 6325 individuals (48.8% males) were included in the analysis.

Measurements

Cannabis exposure was measured via self‐report. Bipolar disorder was measured via bipolar disorder‐related diagnostic codes (ICD‐10: F30.xx, F31.xx) collected from the Care Register for Health Care 2001–18, the Register of Primary Health Care Visits 2011–18, the medication reimbursement register of the Social Insurance Institution of Finland 2001–05 and the disability pensions of the Finnish Center for Pensions 2001–16. Potential confounders included demographic characteristics, parental psychiatric disorders, emotional and behavioral problems and other substance use.

Findings

Three hundred and fifty‐two adolescents (5.6%) reported any cannabis use until the age of 15–16 years. Of the whole sample, 66 (1.0%) were diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Adolescent cannabis use was associated with bipolar disorder [hazard ratio (HR) = 3.46; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.81–6.61]. This association remained statistically significant after adjusting for sex, family structure and parental psychiatric disorders (HR = 3.00; 95% CI = 1.47–6.13) and after further adjusting for adolescent emotional and behavioral problems (HR = 2.34; 95% CI = 1.11–4.94). Further adjustments for frequent alcohol intoxications, daily smoking and lifetime illicit drug use attenuated the associations to statistically non‐significant.

Conclusions

In Finland, the positive association between early cannabis exposure and subsequent development of bipolar disorder appears to be confounded by other substance use.
Videofluoroscopy compared with clinical feeding evaluation in children with suspected aspiration
Authors: Stafler Patrick , Akel Khaled , Eshel Yuliana , Shimoni Adi , Grozovski Sylvia , Mei‐Zahav Meir , Levine Hagit , Gendler Yulia , Blau Hannah , Prais Dario
Published: March 2022

Aim

Videofluoroscopy swallow studies (VFSS) are gold standard to diagnose aspiration in children but require resources and radiation compared with clinical feeding evaluation (CFE). We evaluated their added value for diagnosis, feeding management and clinical status.

Methods

A retrospective single‐centre cross‐sectional study of children aged 0–18 years, with respiratory morbidity, referred for VFSS at a tertiary pediatric hospital.

Results

A total of 113 children, median age (range) 2.2 years (0.1–17.9), underwent VFSS. Diagnosis included chronic pulmonary aspiration (CPA), 87 (77%); neurological, 73 (64%); gastrointestinal, 73 (64%) and congenital heart disease, 42 (37%), not mutually exclusive. Forty‐six (41%) aspirated, 9 (8%) only overtly and 37 (33%) including silent aspirations. Those with CPA or cerebral palsy were more likely to have VFSS aspiration, OR 3.2 and 9.8 respectively.

Feeding recommendations after VFSS differed significantly from those based on prior CFE, p < 0.001: The rate of exclusively orally fed children rose from 65% to 79%, p = 0.006; exclusively enterally fed children from 10% to 14%; p = 0.005. During the year after VFSS, there were significantly less antibiotic courses, total and respiratory admissions.

Conclusion

In this population with high prevalence of clinically suspected CPA, VFSS altered feeding management compared with CFE and may have contributed to subsequent clinical improvement.
Predicting factors of clinically significant urological anomalies after initial urinary tract infection among 2‐ to 24‐month‐old children
Authors: Banno Yoshinori , Sugiyama Takehiro
Published: March 2022

Aim

To find more effective criteria to identify clinically significant urological anomalies after initial urinary tract infection among children.

Methods

Children aged 2–24 months with an initial urinary tract infection were consecutively recruited in a Japanese hospital from 2013 to 2019. Voiding cystourethrography, 99mTc dimercaptosuccinic acid scan and ultrasound were intended to perform for all cases. Clinically significant urological anomalies were defined as high‐grade vesicoureteral reflux, obstructive and abnormal urinary tract lesions, need for surgical intervention, renal hypoplasia and scarring. Using classification and regression tree analysis, we sought the associated factors. We developed new criteria with these factors, retrospectively applied them to the original data, and calculated the sensitivity and specificity.

Results

One hundred sixty‐seven patients were eligible, and 39 had clinically significant urological anomalies. Classification and regression tree analysis showed that the associated factors were non‐E. coli infections, serum creatinine levels and ultrasound abnormalities. When the gold standards were performed on children with non‐E. coli infections or serum creatinine levels ≥0.21 mg/dl, sensitivity and specificity were 0.82 and 0.68, respectively.

Conclusion

The criteria including non‐E. coli infections and high‐normal or higher serum creatinine levels may efficiently predict clinically significant urological anomalies after initial urinary tract infections.
Mental health prior to and during the COVID‐19 pandemic in individuals with bipolar disorder: Insights from prospective longitudinal data
Authors: Lewis Katie J. S. , Gordon‐Smith Katherine , Saunders Kate E. A. , Dolman Clare , South Matthew , Geddes John , Craddock Nick , Di Florio Arianna , Jones Ian , Jones Lisa
Published: March 2022

Objectives

Many studies have examined the impact of COVID‐19 on the mental health of the public, but few have focused on individuals with existing severe mental illness with longitudinal data before and during the pandemic. Aims: To investigate the impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on the mental health of people with bipolar disorder (BD).

Methods

In an ongoing study of people with BD who used an online mood monitoring tool, True Colours, 356 participants provided weekly data on their mental health. Symptoms of depression, mania, insomnia, and suicidal thoughts were compared in 2019 and 2020. From May 2020, participants also provided weekly data on the effect of the COVID‐19 pandemic on anxiety, coping strategies, access to care, and medications.

Results

On average, symptoms of depression, mania, insomnia, and suicidal thoughts did not significantly differ in 2020 compared to 2019, but there was evidence of heterogeneity. There were high rates of anxiety about the pandemic and its impact on coping strategies, which increased to over 70% of responders in January 2021. A significant proportion of participants reported difficulty accessing routine care (27%) and medications (21%).

Conclusions

Although mood symptoms did not significantly increase during the pandemic overall, we observed heterogeneity among our BD sample and other impacted areas. Individuals' unique histories and psychosocial circumstances are key and should be explored in future qualitative studies. The significant impacts of the pandemic may take time to manifest, particularly among those who are socioeconomically disadvantaged, highlighting the need for further long‐term prospective studies.
Pathogenic variant‐based preconception carrier screening in the Israeli Jewish population
Authors: Davidov Bella , Levon Amit , Volkov Hadas , Orenstein Naama , Karo Racheli , Fatal Gazit Inbal , Magal Nurit , Basel‐Salmon Lina , Golan Mashiach Michal
Published: March 2022

Preconception carrier screening allows identification of couples at risk to have offspring with autosomal recessive and X‐linked disorders. In a current multiethnic world, screening based on self‐reported ancestry has limitations. Here we describe the findings of a comprehensive pan‐ethnic variant‐based carrier screening, using the Israeli Jewish population as a model. The cohort included 1696 individuals (848 couples) tested with the ‘MyScreen’ multigene panel. The panel covers 1206 variants spanning 385 genes, known in different Jewish ethnicities and local Arab, Druze and Bedouin populations. Out of these, 205 variants in 143 genes are Jewish founder variants. We identified 859 (50.6%), carriers of at least one variant in 151 genes. Importantly, 569 (66.2%) of carriers could be missed by the current Israeli screening program. In total, 1:40 (2.5%) of carrier couples were identified by the ‘MyScreen’ panel, compared with 1:144 (0.7%) found by the ethnicity‐based screening. Surprisingly, 90 individuals (10.5%) were carriers of variants “unexpected” for their reported origin, and 16 variants were previously unreported in Jewish patients. Our results support the advantages of variant‐based comprehensive carrier screening for detection of carriers and at‐risk couples in a diverse population with many founder disease‐causing variants.
Effect of lateral bone augmentation procedures in correcting peri‐implant bone dehiscence and fenestration defects: A systematic review and network meta‐analysis
Authors: Severi Mattia , Simonelli Anna , Farina Roberto , Tu Yu‐Kang , Lan Cheng‐Hsiang , Shih Ming‐Chieh , Trombelli Leonardo
Published: March 2022

Purpose

The aim of the present systematic review was to evaluate the effect of different lateral bone augmentation (LBA) procedures on the complete correction of a peri‐implant bone dehiscence (BD) or fenestration (BF) from implant placement to implant surgical uncovering.

Methods

Electronic (Medline, Scopus, and Cochrane databases) and hand literature searches were performed for studies including at least one treatment arm where any LBA had been applied to correct a BD/BF at implant placement (T0). Studies where BD/BF was left untreated were also retrieved as negative control. Data from 24 selected articles were used to perform a network meta‐analysis. Based on the proportion of nonresolved BD/BF at implant surgical uncovering (T1), a hierarchy of LBA procedures, and was determined. Spontaneous healing (i.e., exposed implant surface covered by a full‐thickness flap; SELF) was also included in the hierarchy. Resorbable membrane + bone graft (RM + BG) was used as reference group. An analysis on the effect of nonhuman (NHBS) vs human (HBS) derived bone substitutes was also performed. NHBS was used as the reference group.

Results

No statistically significant differences were found among treatments for the proportion of nonresolved BD/BF. SELF performed substantially worse compared to RM + BG (OR: 5.78 × 10, CI: 4.83 × 10 – 1.3 × 1086). Treatment based on a combination of a graft material and membrane/periosteum appeared to perform slightly better than treatments using graft material or membrane alone. NHBS appeared to perform better than HBS.

SELF had the worst effect among all treatments for both BD/BF height reduction (BDH) and BD/BF width reduction (BDW). Nonresorbable membrane (NRM) and patient's own periosteum (PERI) + BG showed greater increases in buccal bone thickness than RM + BG.

Conclusion

Reconstructive treatment (including use of graft alone, membrane alone, or combinations of grafts and either membrane or patient's own periosteum) of a BD/BF at implant placement favorably and significantly impacts on the probability to obtain complete correction of the BD/BF at implant uncovering when compared to full‐thickness flap repositioning on the BD/BF. When using a bone substitute, a nonhuman derived one may be suggested.
Quality of lives matter in developmental and epileptic encephalopathy
Authors: Sofia Francesca
Published: March 2022

This commentary is on the original article by Cohen et al. on pages 957–964 of this issue.
Microvesicles released from activated CD4+ T cells alter microvascular endothelial cell function
Authors: Vdovenko Daria , Balbi Carolina , Di Silvestre Dario , Passignani Giulia , Puspitasari Yustina M. , Zarak‐Crnkovic Martina , Mauri Pierluigi , Camici Giovanni G. , Lüscher Thomas F. , Eriksson Urs , Vassalli Giuseppe
Published: March 2022

Background

Microvesicles are vesicles shed by plasma membranes following cell activation and apoptosis. The role of lymphocyte‐derived microvesicles in endothelial function remains poorly understood.

Methods

CD4+ T cells isolated from peripheral blood of healthy human donors were stimulated using anti‐CD3/anti‐CD28‐coated beads. Proteomic profiling of microvesicles was performed using linear discriminant analysis (LDA) from activated T cells (MV.Act) and nonactivated T cells (MV.NAct). In addition, data processing analysis was performed using MaxQUANT workflow. Differentially expressed proteins found in MV.Act or MV.NAct samples with identification frequency = 100%, which were selected by both LDA (p < .01) and MaxQUANT (p < .01) workflows, were defined as “high‐confidence” differentially expressed proteins. Functional effects of MV.Act on human primary microvascular endothelial cells were analysed.

Results

T cells released large amounts of microvesicles upon stimulation. Proteomic profiling of microvesicles using LDA identified 2279 proteins (n = 2110 and n = 851 proteins in MV.Act and MV.NAct, respectively). Protein–protein interaction network models reconstructed from both differentially expressed proteins (n = 594; LDA p ≤ .01) and “high‐confidence” differentially expressed proteins (n = 98; p ≤ .01) revealed that MV.Act were enriched with proteins related to immune responses, protein translation, cytoskeleton organisation and TNFα‐induced apoptosis. For instance, MV.Act were highly enriched with IFN‐γ, a key proinflammatory pathway related to effector CD4+ T cells. Endothelial cell incubation with MV.Act induced superoxide generation, apoptosis, endothelial wound healing impairment and endothelial monolayer barrier disruption.

Conclusions

T cell receptor‐mediated activation of CD4+ T cells stimulates the release of microvesicles enriched with proteins involved in immune responses, inflammation and apoptosis. T cell‐derived microvesicles alter microvascular endothelial function and barrier permeability, potentially promoting tissue inflammation.
Introgression of domesticated salmon changes life history and phenology of a wild salmon population
Authors: Besnier Francois , Ayllon Fernando , Skaala Øystein , Solberg Monica Favnebøe , Fjeldheim Per Tommy , Anderson Kaja , Knutar Sofie , Glover Kevin Alan
Published: March 2022

The release of domesticated conspecifics into the natural environment, whether deliberate or accidental, has the potential to alter the genetic integrity and evolutionary trajectory of wild populations. This widespread challenge is of particular concern for wild Atlantic salmon. By investigating phenotypic differences between the offspring of domesticated, hybrid, and wild Atlantic salmon released into the natural environment, earlier studies have documented the short‐term consequences of introgression from domesticated fish into wild salmon populations. However, few studies have investigated the joined product of introgression and natural selection after several generations. Here, we investigated the phenotypic response of an Atlantic salmon population that has been subjected to an average of 24% genetic admixture by domesticated conspecifics escaping from fish farms over three decades (approximately 6–7 generations). Individual levels of admixture were positively correlated with increased size at the smolt and adult stages for both sexes, a decrease in the age of male smolts, and a decrease in the age at maturity for males. These life history changes are presumably the consequence of the well‐documented directional selection for increased growth in domesticated salmon and are likely maladaptive. However, the most novel result of this study is that admixture was positively linked with delayed date of return to the river, with highly admixed fish arriving up to 26 days later than nonadmixed fish. Potentially, this phenological change provides admixed individuals with a survival advantage in the later phase of the life cycle as it reduces their period of exposure to selection through rod and line angling. We, therefore, conclude that while gene flow from domesticated conspecifics changes life history and phenological traits of wild Atlantic salmon populations, most of which are likely to be maladaptive, when pressured by additional anthropogenic challenges, some changes may confer a fitness advantage for a short part of the life cycle.
Sphalerite and Zinc Metal Nugget Reference Materials for In Situ Zinc Isotope Ratio Determination Using fsLA‐MC‐ICP‐MS
Authors: Bao Zhian , Nie Xiaojuan , Chen Kaiyun , Zong Chunlei , Lv Nan , Yuan Honglin
Published: March 2022

This study examined the micro‐homogeneity of zinc isotope composition of the NIST SRM 683 and NBS 123 reference materials using femtosecond laser ablation multi‐collector inductively coupled plasma‐mass spectrometry (fsLA‐MC‐ICP‐MS). NIST SRM 683 and NBS 123 are homogeneous in Zn isotope composition based on numerous measurements performed on twenty chips and four mounts of sphalerite using solution nebulisation (SN)‐MC‐ICP‐MS and fsLA‐MC‐ICP‐MS. The mean δ66ZnJMC‐Lyon values of NIST SRM 683 and NBS 123 determined by SN‐MC‐ICP‐MS were 0.11 ± 0.02‰ (2 standard deviation (2s), n = 100) and 0.16 ± 0.02‰ (2s, n = 62), respectively. The mean δ66ZnJMC‐Lyon values determined by fsLA‐MC‐ICP‐MS analyses for NIST SRM 683 and NBS 123 were 0.12 ± 0.05‰ (2s, n = 200) and 0.16 ± 0.05‰ (2s, n = 212), consistent with the bulk isotope compositions within uncertainty. The in situ measurement precision for NIST SRM 683 and NBS 123 was better than 0.06‰ (2s), suggesting NIST SRM 683 and NBS 123 are suitable to serve as microanalytical reference materials for Zn isotope measurement. Zinc isotopic compositions of Zn‐rich materials were also determined using fsLA‐MC‐ICP‐MS under wet/dry plasma conditions. Their δ66ZnJMC‐Lyon values were in agreement with those obtained by SN‐MC‐ICP‐MS analysis, suggesting that fsLA‐MC‐ICP‐MS is suitable to measure Zn isotopic ratios in Zn‐rich materials. Thus, this method could potentially analyse spatially resolved Zn isotope compositions at the mineral or even sub‐mineral scale, such as to address the process of ore formation or Zn redistribution in near‐surface environments.
BAFF rs9514828 gene polymorphism and the risk of the development of inhibitors in children with severe haemophilia A
Authors: Hodeib Hossam , El Amrousy Doaa , Youssef Amira , Elaskary Eman , Fouda Mohamed H.
Published: March 2022

Introduction

Haemophilia A (HA) is an x‐linked recessive disease due to deficiency of coagulation factor VIII (FVIII). The development of neutralizing antibodies (inhibitors) against infused FVIII is a major concern. B cell activating factor (BAFF) has been implicated in several autoimmune diseases.

Aim

We aimed to evaluate the possible association of BAFF rs9514828 gene polymorphism and the risk of the development of FVIII inhibitor in children with severe HA.

Methods

This cohort study was carried out on 100 newly diagnosed boys with severe HA who were never treated before with FVIII concentrate. Assessment of serum levels of BAFF and BAFF rs9514828 genotyping at first diagnosis was performed and the patients were followed up for the completion of a total of 50 exposure days or the development of inhibitors whichever occurred first. The patients were divided as positive or negative according to the presence or absence of inhibitors.

Results

The risk allele for BAFF rs9514828 (T) was significantly more frequent in the inhibitor positive patients than the inhibitor negative patients (P = .003). In addition, CT+TT genotypes were associated with increased risk of FVIII inhibitor development. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis showed that BAFF levels could predict the development of FVIII inhibitors at a cut‐off value of ≥ .92 with a sensitivity of 85.9% and a specificity of 80.2%.

Conclusion

BAFF rs9514828 gene polymorphism could be independent risk factor and elevated BAFF levels might be useful prognostic marker for the development of FVIII inhibitor in newly diagnosed children with severe HA.
Globalizing higher education through internationalization and multiculturalism: The case of Indonesia
Authors: Sibawaihi Sibawaihi , Fernandes Venesser
Published: March 2022

As part of the efforts to globalize higher education in Indonesia, internationalization and multiculturalism are two globalization behaviors that have been promoted across higher education institutions. This study investigated both these behaviors through a qualitative case study analysis of four state universities in the country. The authors found that firstly, the autonomy of state higher education institutions played a significant role for the implementation of internationalization programs which is related not only to the flexibility in designing international programs, opening study programs, or recruiting foreign lecturers, but also to the budget amount allocations by the government. Secondly, in developing multiculturalism serious considerations on the cultural stance of the institution and the unique ideology of that institution needs to be undertaken and integrated with the national ideology. Thirdly, the role of the government in making policies and encouraging state higher education institutions to be more autonomous is essential to advance higher education in internationalization and multiculturalism.
The pathological and molecular genetic landscape of the hereditary renal cancer predisposition syndromes
Authors: Al‐Obaidy Khaleel I , Alruwaii Zainab I , Williamson Sean R , Cheng Liang
Published: March 2022

It is estimated that 5–8% of renal tumours are hereditary in nature, with many inherited as autosomal‐dominant. These tumours carry a unique spectrum of pathological and molecular alterations, the knowledge of which has expanded in recent years. Due to this knowledge, many advances in the treatment of these tumours have been achieved. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of the genetic renal neoplasia syndromes, clinical and pathological presentations, molecular pathogenesis, advances in therapeutic implications and targeted therapy.
Restorative justice and the culture of control
Authors: Johnstone Gerry
Published: March 2022

A profound change has occurred, during the last half century, in patterns and strategies for handling crime in modern societies. During the same period, the campaign for restorative justice has increasingly influenced penal policy and practice. In stories about correctional change, these developments are often linked by suggestions that the success of the campaign for restorative justice puts in question notions that we are experiencing relentless penal regression. This article argues for a different narrative, in which the rise of restorative justice is located within a broader disenchantment with large‐scale, institutionalised ways of handling crime.
Challenging co‐optive criminalisation: Feminist‐centred decarceration strategies for interpersonal and sexualised violence
Authors: Pali Brunilda , Canning Victoria
Published: March 2022

Feminism and prison abolitionism are not theoretically or politically homogenous, and yet in their mainstream versions they are often situated at polar ends of the debate on how to respond to domestic and sexualised violence. The disproportionately gendered nature of sexualised and interpersonal violence has largely centralised such abuses in feminist movements. However, histories of abolitionism – particularly in continental Europe – have largely failed to address the severity of this violence and its impacts. In this article, we highlight the implications of so‐called ‘carceral’ feminism on ending sexualised and interpersonal violence, while addressing key – and reasonable – critiques of abolitionism. Our central argument is that criminal justice has failed to significantly reduce and/or end sexualised or interpersonal violence. As such, we explore feminist‐centred, restorative, and transformative alternatives, not only to prison, but to societies that continue to embed systematic levels of sexualised and interpersonal violence.
The impact of employment upon young offenders’ identities
Authors: Oswald Rebecca Jayne
Published: March 2022

While numbers of first‐time entrants have decreased dramatically in the last decade, young people remaining in the youth justice system in England and Wales today are the most persistent, troubled offenders. Research suggests that the formation of a non‐offending or ‘prosocial’ identity is crucial for desistance among persistent offenders. This article examines how engaging in an employment programme at a social enterprise influenced the identity of offenders aged 16–18 years. Young people's self‐narratives reveal that although none possessed a strong criminal identity, they developed a more coherent prosocial identity during their employment. This can be attributed to how the employment programme reduced the social exclusion experienced by employees, demonstrating the value of such opportunities for youths.
Surgical management and oncological follow‐up of cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas arising in epidermolysis bullosa patients
Authors: Paganelli Alessia , Giordano Erminia , Fiorentini Chiara , Ferrari Barbara , Reggiani Camilla , Garbarino Federico , Magnoni Cristina
Published: March 2022

Background

Hereditary epidermolysis bullosa (EB) is a rare genodermatosis characterized by skin fragility and blistering of the skin and mucous membranes in reaction to minimal traumas. The development of cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas (cSCCs) is one of the most common medical complications in junctional and dystrophic forms of the disease. Complete surgical excision of cutaneous tumors represents the gold standard of treatment. However, not only recognition of cSCCs can be challenging in the affected skin but also wound closure after surgical excision poses a great therapeutic challenge in EB patients. The aim of our study was to analyze the postoperative outcomes of such patients in order to have a better knowledge of the main critical issues in their surgical management and oncological follow‐up.

Methods

We retrospectively identified a cohort of five EB patients treated at Modena University Hospital. Collected data included patient age and sex, date of cSCC diagnosis, relapses/recurrences, site of the neoplasm, number of surgical interventions, use of dermal substitutes, and postoperative infections.

Results

A total of 26 cSCCs were detected in our cohort. Forty‐one surgical interventions were necessary to achieve excision of cSCCs with clear margins, varying from 1 to 4 surgical sessions per cSCC. Dermal substitutes were used in most cases but carried a higher infectious risk.

Conclusions

EB patients tend to develop numerous cSCCs that often relapse even after complete excision with clear margins. These results stress the importance of early cSCC diagnosis and strict postsurgical follow‐up.
Automatic segmentation and detection of ectopic eruption of first permanent molars on panoramic radiographs based on nnU‐Net
Authors: Zhu Haihua , Yu Haojie , Zhang Fan , Cao Zheng , Wu Fuli , Zhu Fudong
Published: March 2022

Aim

The purpose of this research was to present an artificial intelligence (AI) model, which can automatically segment and detect ectopic eruption of first permanent molars (EMMs) in early mixed dentition on panoramic radiographs using the no‐new‐Net (nnU‐Net) model.

Design

A total of 438 EMMs obtained from 285 panoramic radiographs were included in this study. An AI model based on nnU‐Net was trained to segment and detect EMMs. The performance of the model was evaluated by the intersection over union (IoU), precision, F1‐score, accuracy and FROC. Furthermore, the detecting performance of nnU‐Net was compared with that of three dentists with different years of experience using the McNemar chi‐squared test. The reliability of different dentists was evaluated by intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs).

Results

The nnU‐Net yielded an IoU of 0.834, a precision of 0.845, an F1‐score of 0.902 and an accuracy of 0.990, whereas the dentists yielded a mean IoU of 0.530, a mean precision of 0.539, a mean F1‐score of 0.699 and a mean accuracy of 0.811. The ICC of different dentists was 0.776. The statistical analysis of the McNemar chi‐squared test showed that the nnU‐Net results were statistically significant and superior to those of dentists (p < .05).

Conclusion

This study validated an AI model based on nnU‐Net for automatically segmenting and detecting EMMs more consistently and accurately on panoramic radiography.
High intraspecific trait variation results in a resource allocation spectrum of a subtropical pine across an elevational gradient
Authors: O'Sullivan Kirsten S. W. , Vilà‐Cabrera Albert , Chen Jan‐Chang , Greenwood Sarah , Chang Chi‐Hua , Jump Alistair S.
Published: March 2022

Aim

Plant functional traits are broadly used to quantify and predict impacts of climate change on vegetation. However, high intraspecific trait variation can bias mean values when few measurements are available. Here, we determine the extent of individual leaf trait variation and covariation across a highly heterogeneous environmental gradient for a widely distributed subtropical pine. We demonstrate the implications of trait variation for characterising species by assessing data availability and variability across the Pinus genus.

Location

Central Mountain Range, Taiwan.

Taxon

Pinus taiwanensis Hayata (Pinaceae).

Methods

We measured eight functional traits suggested to reflect plant strategies: needle length, area, thickness, dry and fresh mass, stomatal row density (SD), leaf dry matter content (LDMC) and specific leaf area (SLA). We examined trait variation in response to climatic and physiographic factors across an elevational gradient of 495–3106 m a.s.l. using linear mixed effects models (LMMs). Intraspecific trait covariation was explored using principal component analyses (PCAs) and LMMs. Descriptive statistics were calculated for Pinus records in the global TRY plant trait database.

Results

Intraspecific variability among traits was high (CV 20%–44%) and predictable with elevation (generally p < 0.05, with declining needle size and LDMC with elevation and increasing SD). However, 41%–92% of variance was un‐explained by topography. Sixty‐five percent of variation was explained by two trait covariation axes, with predictable changes with elevation (p < 0.001). Pinus data availability in TRY was low. Across traits, only 12.5%–53% of species had sufficient sample sizes for intraspecific analyses.

Main conclusions

We show substantial trait variation for a single species, here likely driven by temperature differences and additional biotic and abiotic drivers across the elevational range. Improved understanding of the extent and implications of intraspecific variability is necessary for reliable quantifications and predictions of the impacts of environmental change, especially in understudied, hyper‐diverse ecosystems such as tropical forests.
IMP3 promotes re‐endothelialization after arterial injury via increasing stability of VEGF mRNAhv
Authors: Zhou Xinmiao , Ye Qingqing , Zheng Jinlei , Kuang Lin , Zhu Jianhua , Yan Hui
Published: March 2022

IMP3, an RNA‐binding protein (RBP) that participates in the process of post‐transcriptional modifications of mRNA transcripts, is capable of altering cellular functions, and in some cases, be involved in specific disease progression. We aimed to investigate whether IMP3 has the ability to regulate the functional properties of endothelial cells and re‐endothelialization in response to arterial injury. Wire injury was introduced to the right carotid arteries of wildtype C57/BL6 mice. As a result, IMPs’ expressions were up‐regulated in the induced arterial lesions, and IMP3 was the most up‐regulated RNA among other IMPs. We overexpressed IMP3 before the wire‐injured surgery using adeno‐associated virus AAV2‐IMP3. In vivo studies confirmed that IMP3 overexpression accelerated the progress of re‐endothelialization after arterial injury. In vitro, endothelial cells were transfected with either ad‐IMP3 or Si‐IMP3, cell functional studies showed that IMP3 could promote endothelial cell proliferation and migration, while reducing apoptosis. Mechanistic studies also revealed that IMP3 could enhance VEGF mRNA stability and therefore up‐regulate activities of VEGF/PI3K/Akt signalling pathway. Our data indicated that IMP3 promotes re‐endothelialization after arterial injury and regulates endothelial cell proliferation, migration and apoptosis via increasing stability of VEGF mRNA and activation of VEGF/PI3K/Akt signalling pathway.
Anatomy of bristles on the nares and rictus of western barn owls (Tyto alba)
Authors: Delaunay Mariane G. , Charter Motti , Grant Robyn A.
Published: March 2022

Many nocturnal avian species, such as Strigiformes, Caprimulgiformes and Apterygiformes, have sensitive vibrotactile bristles on their upper bill, especially on their rictus. The anatomy of these bristles can vary, especially in terms of sensitivity (Herbst corpuscle number), bristle length and bristle number. This variation is thought to be associated with foraging – such that diurnal, open foragers have smaller and less‐sensitive bristles. Here, we describe bristle morphology and follicle anatomy in the western barn owl (Tyto alba) for the first time, using both live and roadkill wild owls. We show that T. alba have both narial and rictal bristles that are likely to be vibrotactile, since they have Herbst corpuscles around their follicles. We observed more numerous (~8) and longer bristles (~16 mm) on the nares of T. alba, than on the rictal region (~4 and ~13 mm respectively). However, the narial bristle follicles contained fewer Herbst corpuscles in their surroundings (~5) than the rictal bristles (~7); indicating that bristle length is not indicative of sensitivity. As well as bristle length and number varying between different facial regions, they also varied between individuals, although the cause of this variation remains unclear. Despite this variation, the gross anatomy of facial bristle follicles appears to be conserved between nocturnal Strigiformes, Caprimulgiformes and Apterygiformes. Understanding more about how T. alba use their bristles would, therefore, give us greater insights into the function of avian bristles in general.
Peasant and indigenous autonomy before and after the pink tide in Latin America
Authors: Bretón Víctor , González Miguel , Rubio Blanca , Vergara‐Camus Leandro
Published: March 2022

Autonomy should not be understood as an inherent quality of rural subjects but as fundamentally a political and cultural project. This paper will present an overview of the evolution of the idea, project, and practice of peasant and indigenous autonomy in Latin America from the 1990s to today. It will trace the origins of the process and examine how the different dimensions of the concept of autonomy (economic, political, ideological, and ethnic) came together in the early 1990s to form a coherent although contradictory political project, which attempted to present an alternative to neoliberalism and political paternalism. The paper will assess the extent to which this project addressed the main challenges that the different sectors of the peasantry faced with the neoliberal restructuring of the economy and the deployment of neoliberal multiculturalism in the region. Through the case studies of Brazil, Ecuador, Nicaragua, and Mexico, the paper will argue that the autonomy projects entailed serious contradictions since their inception because by wanting to solve some problems through certain mechanisms, rural movements exacerbated other problems. The paper also highlights the difficulty that peasant and indigenous movements had through the years in maintaining a strong alliances with each other.
The evaluation of the antepartum and intrapartum risk factors in predicting the risk of birth asphyxia
Authors: Tunç Şeyhmus , Oğlak Süleyman Cemil , Gedik Özköse Zeynep , Ölmez Fatma
Published: March 2022

Purpose

This study aimed to determine the related antepartum and intrapartum factors of birth asphyxia among neonates born in a tertiary referral hospital.

Methods

A total of 45 singleton pregnant women who delivered live births with a gestational age of ≥35 weeks and their neonates who suffered from birth asphyxia from June 2016 to June 2021 were included in this retrospective study. Data regarding maternal demographic features, maternal laboratory values, pregnancy complications, and obstetric and neonatal outcomes were collected.

Results

Significant risk factors associated with birth asphyxia were nulliparity (odds ratio [OR] = 5.357, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.169–24.950, p = 0.001), placental abruption (OR = 8.667, 95% CI = 2.223–33.784, p = 0.002), intrauterine growth restriction (OR = 1.394, 95% CI = 1.109–8.631, p = 0.012), the prolonged second stage of labor (OR = 6.121, 95% CI = 2.120–17.595, p = 0.001), meconium‐stained amniotic fluid (OR = 7.615, 95% CI = 2.394–24.223, p = 0.001), bloody amniotic fluid (OR = 9.423, 95% CI = 2.885–35.232, p = 0.001), the presence of FHR category II (OR = 12.083, 95% CI = 7.081–48.849, p <0.001) and FHR category III before labor (OR = 15.500, 95% CI = 8.394–56.176, p <0.001).

Conclusion

We identified that nulliparity, placental abruption, intrauterine growth restriction, the prolonged second stage of labor, meconium‐stained or bloody amniotic fluid, and FHR tracings categories II and III were significantly associated with birth asphyxia.
Evaluation of women's sexual quality of life, depression, and sexual functions in the pregnancy and postpartum periods: A multi‐centered study
Authors: Gokyildiz Surucu Sule , Avcibay Vurgec Burcu , Kaya Senol Derya , Gozuyesil Ebru , Bilgic Dilek , Onat Koroglu Cemile , Daglar Gulseren , Avci Nilgun , Cayir Gulsen , Haliloglu Peker Berna , Kizilkaya Beji Nezihe , Peker Hakan , Yalcin Onay
Published: March 2022

Aim

This multi‐centered, longitudinal, and prospective study aims to identify women's sexual functions, sexual quality of life, and depression and their relationships with each other in the pregnancy and postpartum periods.

Methods

The participating pregnant women (n = 113) were interviewed six times: once in each trimester, and once in the eighth week third month, and sixth month postpartum. This study was conducted in three regions of Turkey including Marmara, Mediterranean, and Central Anatolia regions. Data were collected through the “Socio‐demographic Form,” “Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI),” Sexual Quality of Life‐Female Questionnaire (SQLQ‐F), and “Center for Epidemiologic Studies‐Depression Scale (CES‐D).” While the first interviews were administered face to face, successive ones were administered via phone.

Results

The sexual dysfunction rates of the participants were found to be high in the pregnancy and postpartum periods, and their sexual quality of life, which decreased as the pregnancy months progressed, was found to increase significantly with the progress in the postpartum period. The sexual dysfunction increased and sexual quality of life decreased significantly with the increase in depression symptoms in the pregnancy and postpartum periods. When the depressive symptoms decreased especially in the sixth month postpartum, sexual quality of life was also found to increase.

Conclusions

As a result, in the pregnancy and postpartum periods, it is highly important to provide women with diagnosis through a holistic approach by creating available environments to assess their psychological health and sexual functions and refer them to the related physicians when necessary.
Testing and discovery: Responding to challenges to digital philosophy of science
Authors: Pence Charles H.
Published: March 2022

For all that digital methods—including network visualization, text analysis, and others—have begun to show extensive promise in philosophical contexts, a tension remains between two uses of those tools that have often been taken to be incompatible, or at least to engage in a kind of trade‐off: the discovery of new hypotheses and the testing of already‐formulated positions. This paper presents this basic distinction, then explores ways to resolve this tension with the help of two interdisciplinary case studies, taken from preregistration in contemporary science and the debate over whig history in the history of science. These case studies, the paper argues, refocus our attention from a mutually exclusive testing/discovery binary to the relationship between our background data or philosophical views and the empirical generalizations that we might draw from the data. Finally, it develops a set of three challenges for philosophers and corresponding avenues for future work that will, it is hoped, allow us to better justify our use of these methods.
Research on the feasibility of visual measurement using first‐person perspective based on smartphones
Authors: Han Qinghua , Liu Xuan , Xu Jie , Sun Tong
Published: March 2022

Due to the lack of professional equipment, convenient deformation measurement methods are always needed, especially in damage assessments after extreme disasters. Different measurement and judgment methods require different reference data and corresponding processing methods. Considering the flexibility of smartphones, this paper proposes a rapid and simple process of visual measurement from the first‐person perspective. By using smartphones fixed on the body, images can be synchronized with the scene seen by operators. With the help of trained convolutional neural networks, the contour line of the target component in the images can be extracted directly by tracking the key points of hands, and man‐machine interactive operations are realized by gesture detection without interruption. For further measurement, the error is relieved by Bezier curve fitting, and the contour is transformed into the result of a list of uniformly sampled points from a series of uniform velocity circular orbits through the Fourier series. The feasibility of deformation measurement of structural components is verified by experimental data, and further expansions of this program are discussed.
Prognostic significance of tumor budding thresholds in oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Mascitti Marco , Togni Lucrezia , Caponio Vito Carlo Alberto , Zhurakivska Khrystyna , Lo Muzio Lorenzo , Rubini Corrado , Santarelli Andrea , Troiano Giuseppe
Published: March 2022

Background

Oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (OTSCC) represents the most common malignancy of the oral cavity. Tumor budding (TB) is a reliable prognostic factor in OTSCC; however, a standardized scoring system is not still validated.

Aims

The study aims to evaluate the prognostic role of TB in 211 OTSCC patients treated between 1997 and 2018.

Materials & Methods

TB was evaluated on hematoxylin and eosin‐stained sections in the hotspot area of the infiltrative front (×200‐magnification). It was scored using a two‐tier system, a three‐tier system, and according to BD‐model and revised‐Grading system. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses of disease‐specific survival (DSS) and disease‐free survival (DFS) were performed. A p < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant.

Results

The two‐tier and three‐tier systems resulted an independent prognostic factor of DSS. High‐risk patients had a 2.21 and 3.08 times increased probability of poor DSS compared with low‐risk group. It is significantly increased even for intermediate‐risk group. No significant differences emerged classifying patients according to BD‐model and revised‐Grading system.

Discussion

These data confirm the prognostic value of TB in predicting DSS in OTSCC. Classifying patients into two groups using the 5‐bud cutoff significantly discriminates their outcomes.

Conclusion

Since the established role of DOI and the poor prognostic value of grading, TB could be considered an independent prognostic marker.