bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Associations of Body Fat Distribution and Cardiometabolic Risk of Testicular Cancer Survivors After Cisplatin-Based Chemotherapy
Authors: Wibmer Andreas G , Dinh Paul C , Travis Lois B , Chen Carol , Bromberg Maria , Zheng Junting , Capanu Marinela , Sesso Howard D , Feldman Darren R , Vargas Hebert Alberto
Published: May 2022

Background

It is unknown how body fat distribution modulates the cardiometabolic risk of testicular cancer survivors after cisplatin-based chemotherapy.

Methods

For 455 patients enrolled in the Platinum Study at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, visceral (VAT) and subcutaneous (SAT) adipose tissue was quantified on prechemotherapy computed tomography. The VAT-to-SAT ratio was calculated as a quantitative measure of central adiposity. Endpoints were incidence of new posthemotherapy cardiometabolic disease (new antihypertensive, lipid-lowering, or diabetes medication), and postchemotherapy Framingham risk scores. Cox models and linear regression with interaction terms were applied. Postchemotherapy body fat distribution was analyzed in 108 patients. All statistical tests were 2-sided.

Results

The baseline median age was 31 years (interquartile range [IQR] = 26-39 years), body mass index (BMI) was 26 kg/m2 (IQR = 24-29 kg/m2), and the VAT-to-SAT ratio was 0.49 (IQR = 0.31-0.75). The median follow-up was 26 months (IQR = 16-59 months). Higher prechemotherapy VAT-to-SAT ratios inferred a higher likelihood of new cardiometabolic disease among patients with a BMI of 30 kg/m2 or greater (age-adjusted hazard ratio = 3.14, 95% confidence interval = 1.02 to 9.71, P = .047), but not other BMI groups. The prechemotherapy VAT-to-SAT ratio was associated with postchemotherapy Framingham risk scores in univariate regression analysis (exp(β)-estimate: 2.10, 95% confidence interval = 1.84 to 2.39, P < .001); in a multivariable model, this association was stronger in younger vs older individuals. BMI increased in most patients after chemotherapy and correlated with increases in the VAT-to-SAT ratio (Spearman r = 0.39, P < .001).

Conclusions

In testicular cancer survivors, central adiposity is associated with increased cardiometabolic risk after cisplatin-based chemotherapy, particularly in obese or young men. Weight gain after chemotherapy occurs preferentially in the visceral compartment, providing insight into the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease in this population.
Seldinger chest drain guidewire retained in the pleural cavity—a never event complication
Authors: Mahboob Muntashir , Garg Ansh , Na Jesus De La Vi , Martin-Ucar Antonio
Published: May 2022

Intrapleural foreign body is an unusual complication. It most commonly occurs after the trauma but has been rarely seen after diagnostic or therapeutic procedures. We hereby, present an unusual occurrence of a retained guidewire after a chest drain insertion using a Seldinger technique in a patient with coronavirus disease of 2019 pneumonitis. Surgical removal of the guidewire has prevented this foreign body to cause further harm. We further discuss how to identify and prevent such a complication.
Multiple photoionization for the 2p subshell in the iron atom
Authors: Kučas Sigitas , Kynienė Aušra , Masys Šarūnas , Jonauskas Valdas
Published: May 2022

Multiple photoionization is investigated for the 2p subshell in the iron atom. Study of the single photoionization with subsequent radiative and Auger cascade includes levels corresponding to the ground configuration. This work reveals that the quadruple photoionization dominates over other multiple-photoionization processes. Analysis of the partial photoionization cross sections to configurations of the produced ions shows that the excited long-lived configurations accumulate the main population of the Fe4+ ion. The main decay branches of the radiative and Auger cascade produced after a creation of the 2p subshell vacancy in the iron atom are identified. The ion yields for the photoionization and cascade obtained by considering level-to-level transitions are compared to the previous configuration average calculations.
The environment and constraints on the mass of FRB 190520B
Authors: Katz J I
Published: May 2022

Recent observations of FRB 20190520B have revealed rapid (tens of s) fluctuation of its Dispersion Measure within apparently fixed bounds, as well as a reversal of its Rotation Measure. The fluctuations of Dispersion Measure are uncorrelated with the intervals between bursts, setting upper bounds $\sim 10\,$ s on any characteristic time-scale of the dispersing region; it must be very compact. Measurements of the full dependence of the dispersive time delay on frequency may determine the actual electron density and the size of this region. It is possible to set a lower bound on the mass of the FRB source from constraints on the size of the dispersing region and its time-scale of variation. Comparison of the variations of DM and RM leads to an estimate of the magnetic field $\sim 500~ \mu$G.
Surgical intervention for patients with rheumatoid arthritis is declining except for foot and ankle surgery: A single-centre, 20-year observational cohort study
Authors: Tominaga Ayako , Ikari Katsunori , Yano Koichiro , Tanaka Eiichi , Inoue Eisuke , Harigai Masayoshi , Okazaki Ken
Published: May 2022

Objectives

A global downward trend in the number of rheumatoid arthritis (RA)-related surgeries has been reported. The purpose of our study was to investigate the latest trends in RA-related surgeries in a single-centre Japanese RA cohort.

Methods

This study was a retrospective analysis of RA-related surgeries between 2001 and 2020 in the Institute of Rheumatology Rheumatoid Arthritis cohort. An average of 4944 patients per semi-annual survey was included in the study. The primary goal was to analyse the half-year period prevalence proportion (HPP) of RA-related surgeries in a 20-year period, and the secondary goal was to analyse the HPP of surgeries by site or by categories of disease activity.

Results

There has been a downward trend in the HPP of RA-related surgeries in the 20-year study period. The total HPP of RA-related surgeries decreased by 50.3% during the 20-year study period. There was a significant decrease in knee, hip, shoulder/elbow, and hand procedures. Only foot/ankle joint surgeries significantly increased in volume during this period (p = .001). The HPP of RA-related surgeries remained unchanged in patients with remission or low disease activity.

Conclusions

The number of RA-related surgeries decreased over a 20-year period, but foot/ankle joint surgeries increased in the site-specific evaluation.
Expert perspectives on pathological findings in vasculitis
Authors: Ishizu Akihiro , Kawakami Tamihiro , Kanno Hiroyuki , Takahashi Kei , Miyazaki Tatsuhiko , Ikeda Eiji , Oharaseki Toshiaki , Ogawa Yayoi , Onimaru Mitsuho , Kurata Mie , Nakazawa Daigo , Muso Eri , Harigai Masayoshi
Published: May 2022

Pathological findings are important in the diagnosis of vasculitis. However, due to the rarity of the disease, standard textbooks usually devote only a few pages to this topic, and this makes it difficult for clinicians not specializing in vasculitis to fully understand the pathological findings in vasculitis. To address the paucity of information, we present representative pathological findings in vasculitis classified in the 2012 Revised International Chapel Hill Consensus Conference Nomenclature of Vasculitides (CHCC2012). The CHCC2012 classifies 26 vasculitides into seven categories: (1) large-vessel vasculitis, (2) medium-vessel vasculitis, (3) small-vessel vasculitis, including antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis and immune complex small-vessel vasculitis, (4) variable-vessel vasculitis, (5) single-organ vasculitis, (6) vasculitis associated with systemic disease, and (7) vasculitis associated with probable aetiology. Moreover, representative pathological findings of vasculitis-related diseases and non-inflammatory vasculopathy not mentioned in the CHCC2012 are also presented. This will be useful for clinicians to refer to typical pathological findings of vasculitis in daily practice.
Familial Mediterranean fever with pseudo-septic arthritis: A case report and review of the literature
Authors: Alamlih Laith , AL-Karaja Layth , Alayaseh Mohammad , Abunejma Fawzy , Al-Zeer Ziyad , Sultan Bashar
Published: May 2022

Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is a hereditary auto-inflammatory disease resulting from mutations of the MEFV gene. The disease is characterised by recurrent attacks of abdominal pain and fever. Most FMF patients develop arthritis at some point in their life usually manifesting as self-limiting monoarthritis. On very rare occasions, arthritis in FMF can mimic septic arthritis (pseudo-septic arthritis) with very similar clinical and laboratory findings. We report a case of a young male patient who presented with recurrent attacks of prolonged monoarthritis. For 2 years, he had undergone multiple admissions and operations for drainage of suspected septic joints. The synovial aspiration showed culture-negative pus with very high synovial white blood cell counts highly suggestive of septic arthritis. The patient was later found to have FMF based on homozygous M694V mutation of the MEFV gene. He was treated with colchicine monotherapy with a quick improvement of arthritis and later good control of his disease. The literature review showed very few case reports with similar presentations, most of which responded well to colchicine. FMF can mimic septic arthritis resulting in unnecessary expensive and invasive interventions and prolonged courses of antibiotics. Pseudo-septic arthritis is usually associated with M694V homozygous mutation and can complicate FMF at any time throughout the disease course. It is important to consider FMF in the differential diagnosis of septic arthritis, particularly with a family history of FMF and in patients from communities with a high prevalence of MEFV gene mutation.
Predictors of E-cigarette and Cigarette Use Trajectory Classes from Early Adolescence to Emerging Adulthood Across Four Years (2013–2017) of the PATH Study
Authors: Stanton Cassandra A , Tang Zhiqun , Sharma Eva , Seaman Elizabeth , Gardner Lisa D , Silveira Marushka L , Hatsukami Dorothy , Day Hannah R , Cummings K Michael , Goniewicz Maciej L , Limpert Jean , Everard Colm , Bansal-Travers Maansi , Ambrose Bridget , Kimmel Heather L , Borek Nicolette , Compton Wilson M , Hyland Andrew J , Pearson Jennifer L
Published: May 2022

Introduction

This study examines predictors of trajectories of cigarette and e-cigarette use among a cohort of US adolescents transitioning into young adulthood. Comparing trajectories of each tobacco product is important to determine if different intervention targets are needed to prevent progression to daily use.

Methods

Latent trajectory class analyses identified cigarette and e-cigarette use (never, ever excluding past 12-month, past 12-month (excluding past 30-day (P30D)), P30D 1–5 days, P30D 6+ days) trajectory classes, separately, among US youth (12–17; N = 10,086) using the first 4 waves (2013–2017) of data from the nationally representative PATH Study. Weighted descriptive analyses described the class characteristics. Weighted multinomial logistic regression analyses examined demographic, psychosocial, and behavioral predictors of class membership.

Results

Younger adolescents 12–15 years had lower tobacco use compared to 16–17 year olds and less stable classes. In the 16–17 year group, there were five unique trajectories of cigarette smoking, including a Persistent High Frequency class. Four e-cigarette use trajectories were identified; but not a persistent use class. Shared predictors of class membership for cigarettes and e-cigarettes included mental health problems, other tobacco use, marijuana use, and poorer academic achievement. Male sex and household tobacco use were unique e-cigarette trajectory class predictors.

Conclusions

There was no evidence that initiation with e-cigarettes as the first product tried was associated with cigarette progression (nor cigarettes as first product and e-cigarette progression). Interventions should focus on well-established risk factors such as mental health and other substance use to prevent progression of use for both tobacco products.

Implications

Using nationally representative data and definitions of use that take into account frequency and recency of use, longitudinal 4-year trajectories of e-cigarette and cigarette use among US adolescents transitioning into young adulthood were identified. Results among 16–17-year olds revealed a class of persistent high frequency cigarette smoking that was not identified for e-cigarette use. Cigarette use progression was not associated with e-cigarettes as the first product tried. Risk factors for progression of use of both products included mental health and other substance use, which are important prevention targets for both tobacco products.
A soybean non-coding RNA mining and co-expression resource based on 1,596 RNA-seq and small RNA-seq libraries
Authors: Zhu Xueai , Zhang Baoyi , Gao Fanqi , Huang Fang , Zhang Hongsheng , Huang Ji
Published: May 2022

The SoyNcRNAExp soybean non-coding RNA expression/co-expression resource can be used for ncRNA expression, mining, and co-expression analysis.
Is Perfect Being Theology Informative?
Authors: Leftow Brian
Published: May 2022

Jeff Speaks has recently argued that perfect being theology treating God as the greatest possible being—he calls it alethic perfect being theology—cannot deliver new information about God. This argument is central to his critique of all forms of perfect being theology. For as Speaks sees it, other forms of perfect being theology may collapse into alethic perfect being theology, i.e. fail in the end to be a different sort of project. I lay out how he understands alethic perfect being theology and then contest his argument.
Crises as the Crucible for Change in Physical Therapist Education
Authors: Nordstrom Terry , Jensen Gail M , Altenburger Peter , Blackinton Mary , Deusinger Susan , Hack Laurita , Patel Rupal M , Tschoepe Barbara , VanHoose Lisa
Published: May 2022

This Perspective issues a challenge to physical therapists to reorient physical therapist education in ways that directly address the crises of COVID-19 and systemic racism. We advocate that professional education obligates us to embrace the role of trusteeship that demands working to meet society’s needs by producing graduates who accept their social and moral responsibilities as agents and advocates who act to improve health and health care. To achieve this, we must adopt a curriculum philosophy of social reconstruction and think more deeply about the why and how of learning. Currently, health professions education places strong emphasis on habits of head (cognitive knowledge) and hand (clinical skills) and less focus on habits of heart (professional formation). We believe that habits of heart are the essential foundations of the humanistic practice needed to address health inequities, find the moral courage to change the status quo, and address imbalances of power, privilege, and access. A social reconstruction orientation in physical therapist education not only places habits of heart at the center of curricula, but it also requires intentional planning to create pathways into the profession for individuals from underrepresented groups. Adopting social reconstructionism begins with a faculty paradigm shift emphasizing the learning sciences, facilitating learning, metacognition, and development of a lifelong master adaptive learner. Achieving this vision depends not only on our ability to meet the physical therapy needs of persons with COVID-19 and its sequalae but also on our collective courage to address injustice and systemic racism. It is imperative that the physical therapy community find the moral courage to act quickly and boldly to transform DPT education in ways that enable graduates to address the social determinants of health and their systemic and structural causes that result in health disparities. To succeed in this transformation, we are inspired and strengthened by the example set by Geneva R. Johnson, who has never wavered in recognizing the power of physical therapy to meet the needs of society.
Predicted and actual 2-year structural and pain progression in the IMI-APPROACH knee osteoarthritis cohort
Authors: van Helvoort Eefje M , Jansen Mylène P , Marijnissen Anne C A , Kloppenburg Margreet , Blanco Francisco J , Haugen Ida K , Berenbaum Francis , Bay-Jensen Anne-Christine C , Ladel Christoph , Lalande Agnes , Larkin Jonathan , Loughlin John , Mobasheri Ali , Weinans Harrie H , Widera Pawel , Bacardit Jaume , Welsing Paco M J , Lafeber Floris P J G
Published: May 2022

Objectives

The IMI-APPROACH knee osteoarthritis study used machine learning (ML) to predict structural and/or pain progression, expressed by a structural (S) and pain (P) predicted-progression score, to select patients from existing cohorts. This study evaluates the actual 2-year progression within the IMI-APPROACH, in relation to the predicted-progression scores.

Methods

Actual structural progression was measured using minimum joint space width (minJSW). Actual pain (progression) was evaluated using the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcomes Score (KOOS) pain questionnaire. Progression was presented as actual change (Δ) after 2 years, and as progression over 2 years based on a per patient fitted regression line using 0, 0.5, 1 and 2-year values. Differences in predicted-progression scores between actual progressors and non-progressors were evaluated. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed and corresponding area under the curve (AUC) reported. Using Youden’s index, optimal cut-offs were chosen to enable evaluation of both predicted-progression scores to identify actual progressors.

Results

Actual structural progressors were initially assigned higher S predicted-progression scores compared with structural non-progressors. Likewise, actual pain progressors were assigned higher P predicted-progression scores compared with pain non-progressors. The AUC-ROC for the S predicted-progression score to identify actual structural progressors was poor (0.612 and 0.599 for Δ and regression minJSW, respectively). The AUC-ROC for the P predicted-progression score to identify actual pain progressors were good (0.817 and 0.830 for Δ and regression KOOS pain, respectively).

Conclusion

The S and P predicted-progression scores as provided by the ML models developed and used for the selection of IMI-APPROACH patients were to some degree able to distinguish between actual progressors and non-progressors.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov, https://clinicaltrials.gov, NCT03883568.
Striatal mechanism of the restless legs syndrome
Authors: Lai Yuan-Yang , Hsieh Kung-Chiao , Chew Keng-Tee , Nguyen Darian , Siegel Jerome M
Published: May 2022

Study Objectives

Brain iron deficiency has been reported to be associated with the restless legs syndrome (RLS). However, 30%–50% of RLS patients do not respond to iron therapy, indicating that mechanisms other than brain iron deficiency may also participate in this disease. The striatum is known to be involved in the modulation of motor activity. We speculated that dysfunction of the striatum may induce RLS.

Methods

Two groups, wild-type (WT) and iron-deficient (ID) rats were used. Each group was divided into two subgroups, control and N-methyl-d-aspartate striatal-lesioned. After baseline recording, striatal-lesioned wild-type (WT-STL) and striatal-lesioned iron-deficient (ID-STL) rats were given pramipexole and thioperamide injections. Iron-deficient and ID-STL rats were then given a standard rodent diet for 4 weeks, and their sleep and motor activity were recorded.

Results

WT-STL rats showed periodic leg movements (PLM) in wake, an increase in PLM in slow wave sleep (SWS), a decrease in rapid-eye-movement sleep, and a decrease in the daily average duration of episodes in SWS. The sleep–wake pattern and motor activity did not differ between ID and ID-STL rats. Thioperamide or pramipexole injection decreased PLM in sleep and in wake in WT-STL rats and ID-STL rats. Unlike ID rats, whose motor hyperactivity can be reversed by iron replacement, PLM in wake and in sleep in ID-STL rats were not fully corrected by iron treatment.

Conclusions

Lesions of the striatum generate RLS-like activity in rats. Dysfunction of the striatum may be responsible for failure to respond to iron treatment in some human RLS patients.
The Anterior Eye Chamber as a Visible Medium for In Vivo Tumorigenicity Tests
Authors: Inagaki Emi , Arai Eri , Hatou Shin , Sayano Tomoko , Taniguchi Hiroko , Negishi Kazuno , Kanai Yae , Sato Yasunori , Okano Hideyuki , Tsubota Kazuo , Shimmura Shigeto
Published: May 2022

Pluripotent stem cell (PSC)-based cell therapies have increased steadily over the past few years, and assessing the risk of tumor formation is a high priority for clinical studies. Current in vivo tumorigenesis studies require several months and depend strongly on the site of grafting. In this study, we report that the anterior eye chamber is preferable to the subcutaneous space for in vivo tumorigenesis studies for several reasons. First, cells can easily be transplanted into the anterior chamber and monitored in real-time without sacrificing the animals due to the transparency of the cornea. Second, tumor formation is faster than with the conventional subcutaneous method. The median tumor formation time in the subcutaneous area was 18.50 weeks (95% CI 10.20-26.29), vs. 4.0 weeks (95% CI 3.34-.67) in the anterior chamber (P = .0089). When hiPSCs were spiked with fibroblasts, the log10TPD50 was 3.26, compared with 4.99 when hiPSCs were transplanted without fibroblasts. There was more than a 40-fold difference in the log10TPD50 values with fibroblasts. Furthermore, the log10TPD50 for HeLa cells was 1.45 and 100% of animals formed tumors at a concentration greater than 0.1%, indicating that the anterior chamber tumorigenesis assays can be applied for cancer cell lines as well. Thus, our method has the potential to become a powerful tool in all areas of tumorigenesis studies and cancer research.
Predictors of Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia in 625 Neonates with Respiratory Distress Syndrome
Authors: Tao Yue , Han Xiao , Guo Wan-Liang
Published: May 2022

Objective

This study was designed to investigate the predictors of bronchopulmonary dysplasia in neonates with respiratory distress syndrome.

Methods

This was a single-center retrospective cohort study conducted between 1 January 2015 and 31 December 2020. A total of 625 neonates with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) were enrolled. Demographic data, clinical presentations, complications and related treatment information were collected and analyzed. We used bivariate and multivariate logistic-regression analyses to determine significant predictors of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in RDS neonates.

Results

In these 625 neonates, 102 (16.3%) of them developed BPD. Bivariate analysis and multivariate logistic-regression analyses revealed that birthweight, gestational age under 32 weeks, duration of oxygen therapy over 10 days, asphyxia, patent ductus arteriosus, transfusion of red blood cells (packed red blood cells) and surfactant use were significantly associated with the development of BPD.

Conclusion

Birthweight, gestational age <32 weeks, total duration of oxygen therapy >10 days, asphyxia, patent ductus arteriosus, need for red blood cell infusion, and the use of pulmonary surfactant were important predictors of BPD in neonates with RDS.
Paediatric Osteomyelitis and Septic Arthritis Pathogen Distribution and Antimicrobial Resistance in a Single Centre: A 15-Year Retrospective Analysis
Authors: Zhang Tianjiu , Yu Song , Lv Xin , Gan Yongqiao , Luo Yu , Li Tangjiang
Published: May 2022

Background

The epidemiological characteristics of the common pathogens underlying acute haematogenous osteoarticular infection (AHOI) and their resistance to drugs have temporal and regional differences.

Aims

To determine the antimicrobial treatment most effective for culture-negative AHOI patients and those without bacterial cultures.

Methods

Retrospective analysis of clinical data of children with AHOI who were culture positive from January 2007 to December 2021. And the distribution of the main pathogens and the drug resistance Staphylococcus aureus were analysed in different time periods, age groups and infection types.

Results

A total of 188 cases met the inclusion criteria, including 97 cases of acute haematogenous osteomyelitis (AHO), 75 cases of septic arthritis (SA) and 16 cases of AHO concomitant with SA. The commonest causative pathogen in local children was S. aureus of Gram-positive cocci, followed by Streptococcus, and occasionally Gram-negative bacilli. The distribution of S. aureus had no significant correlation with age or infection type. Staphylococcus aureus accounted for 81.82%, 90.91% and 96.15% of all pathogens, and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) accounted for 24.22%, 53.33% and 76.00% of S. aureus in 2007–11, 2012–16 and 2017–21, respectively. The frequency of MRSA infection showed an increasing trend over time.

Conclusion

Staphylococcus aureus is still the main pathogen of AHOI in local children. The proportion of MRSA in S. aureus has also increased over time to 76% in the last 5 years, and the increased proportion of MRSA can affect the choice of initial empirical medication.
Impact of Gibberella Ear Rot on Grain Quality and Yield Components in Maize as Influenced by Hybrid Reaction
Authors: Lana Felipe Dalla , Madden Laurence V. , Carvalho Camila P. , Paul Pierce A.
Published: May 2022

The impact of Gibberella ear rot (GER; caused by Fusarium graminearum) on deoxynivalenol (DON) contamination of grain and yield components in maize were investigated using data from 30 environments in Ohio (3 years by 10 locations). Fifteen hybrids, later classified as susceptible (SU), moderately susceptible (MS), or moderately resistant (MR), based on the magnitude of differences in mean arcsine square-root-transformed GER severity (arcSEV) and log-transformed DON (logDON) relative to a reference SU check, were planted in each environment, and 10 ears per hybrid were inoculated with a spore suspension of F. graminearum. Relationships between GER severity and DON were well described by a Kono-Sugino-type nonlinear equation. Estimated parameters representing height (A) and steepness (β) of the curves were significantly higher for SU than MS and MR hybrids but A was not significantly different between MS and MR. Results from a surrogacy analysis showed that GER was a moderate trial- and individual-level surrogate for DON. Both grain weight per ear and ear diameter decreased with increasing arcSEV but the regression slopes varied among resistance classes. The rates of reduction in both yield components per unit increase in arcSEV were significantly greater for SU than for MS and MR. An estimated 50% reduction in grain weight occurred at 62% GER severity for SU, compared with 77% severity for MS and 83% for MR. These results show that GER severity can be used as a surrogate for early estimation of DON contamination and yield loss to help guide grain handling and marketing decisions.
Anastomosis Groups ofRhizoctonia solaniand BinucleateRhizoctoniaAssociated with Potatoes in Idaho
Authors: Woodhall J. W. , Brown L. , Harrington M. , Murdock M. , Pizolotto C. A. , Wharton P. S. , Duellman K.
Published: May 2022

A survey of the relative incidence of anastomosis groups (AGs) of Rhizoctonia spp. associated with potato disease was conducted in Idaho, the leading potato producing state in the U.S.A. In total, 169 isolates of Rhizoctonia solani and seven binucleate Rhizoctonia (BNR) isolates were recovered from diseased potato plants. The AG of each isolate was determined through real-time PCR assays for AG 3-PT and phylogenetic analysis of the internal transcribed spacer region of ribosomal DNA. AG 3-PT was the predominant AG, accounting for 85% of isolates recovered, followed by AG 2-1 (5.7%) and AG 4 HG-II (4.5%). Two different subsets of AG 2-1 isolates were recovered (subset 2 and 3). Three isolates each of AG A and AG K were recovered, as well as one isolate each of AG 5 and AG W. An experiment carried out under greenhouse conditions with representative isolates of the different AGs recovered from Idaho potatoes showed differences in aggressiveness between AGs to potato stems, with AG 3-PT being the most aggressive followed by an isolate of AG 2-1 (subset 3). The three BNR isolates representative of AG A, AG K, and AG W appeared to be less aggressive to potato stems than the R. solani isolates except for the AG 2-1 (subset 2) isolate. This is the first comprehensive study of the relative incidences of Rhizoctonia species associated with Idaho potatoes and the first study to report the presence of BNR AG W outside of China.
Disease Inhibiting Effect of Strain Bacillus subtilis EG21 and Its Metabolites Against Potato Pathogens Phytophthora infestans and Rhizoctonia solani
Authors: Alfiky Alsayed , L'Haridon Floriane , Abou-Mansour Eliane , Weisskopf Laure
Published: May 2022

Potato production worldwide is plagued by several disease-causing pathogens that result in crop and economic losses estimated to billions of dollars each year. To this day, synthetic chemical applications remain the most widespread control strategy despite their negative effects on human and environmental health. Therefore, obtainment of superior biocontrol agents or their naturally produced metabolites to replace fungicides or to be integrated into practical pest management strategies has become one of the main targets in modern agriculture. Our main focus in the present study was to elucidate the antagonistic potential of a new strain identified as Bacillus subtilis EG21 against potato pathogens Phytophthora infestans and Rhizoctonia solani using several in vitro screening assays. Microscopic examination of the interaction between EG21 and R. solani showed extended damage in fungal mycelium, while EG21 metabolites displayed strong anti-oomycete and zoosporecidal effect on P. infestans. Mass spectrometry (MS) analysis revealed that EG21 produced antifungal and anti-oomycete cyclic lipopeptides surfactins (C12 to C19). Further characterization of EG21 confirmed its ability to produce siderophores and the extracellular lytic enzymes cellulase, pectinase and chitinase. The antifungal activity of EG21 cell-free culture filtrate (CF) was found to be stable at high-temperature/pressure treatment and extreme pH values and was not affected by proteinase K treatment. Disease-inhibiting effect of EG21 CF against P. infestans and R. solani infection was confirmed using potato leaves and tubers, respectively. Biotechnological applications of using microbial agents and their bioproducts for crop protection hold great promise to develop into effective, environment-friendly and sustainable biocontrol strategies.

[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2022 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license .
The State of Science in the Use of Virtual Reality in the Treatment of Acute and Chronic Pain
Authors: Baker Nancy A. , Polhemus Augusta Hixon , Haan Ospina Emma , Feller Haley , Zenni Miranda , Deacon Megan , DeGrado Grace , Basnet Sami , Driscoll Megan
Published: May 2022

Previous reviews have reported virtual reality (VR) to be an effective method to treat pain. This scoping review examines the state of the science for VR and pain both generally and by pain type (acute and chronic) related to types of mechanisms, dosage, effectiveness, and adverse events (AEs). We searched online databases PubMed, Web of Science, PsychInfo, and CINAHL from 2010 to 2020 and included studies from peer reviewed journals that examined people with pain, (excluding pain-free participants) with a primary outcome measuring pain. We assessed studies for risk of bias using PEDro criteria. We described data through counts and percentages. Significant results were determined through P-values. We found 70 studies representing 4105 people; 46 acute pain studies (65.7%), 22 chronic pain studies (31.4%), and 2 (2.9%) “both.” The most common VR mechanism was distraction (78.6%) then embodiment (17.1%). However, distraction was the mechanism for 97.8% acute pain studies while embodiment was more common for chronic pain (54.5%). Dosage of VR was inconsistently reported and varied considerably. VR treatment groups showed significant improvements in pain, particularly for intensity of pain (72.1%) and quality of pain (75.0%). Few studies examined AEs. Limitations of this review include only examining last 10 years of articles and that many studies were missing data. VR appears to be an effective intervention to address both acute and chronic pain. Research evaluating VR mechanisms, dosage, and AEs is warranted, as is further work in under-served populations (children for chronic pain and older adults) as the current evidence is largely limited to adult populations with pain.
Savoring Uncertainty
Authors: Hornbein Thomas F.
Published: May 2022

The first quantification of neural discharge from the carotid body of cats in response to hypoxia, hypercapnic acidosis, and their combination discovered a strong potentiating effect of hypoxia and hypercapnic acidosis combined as compared to either alone. This paper was the start of a research journey that eventually examined the regulation of blood and cerebrospinal pH by peripheral and central chemoreceptors in the setting of systemic acid–base alterations. This research focus was the result of the author’s personal fascination with mountains and human adaptation to high altitude—an interest that led to his own ascent of Mount Everest in 1963. The inherent uncertainty and challenge involved with climbing high mountains has served as a metaphor and inspiration for his life, including his career in academic medicine.
Barriers to Creating Healthier Home Food Environments
Authors: Kegler Michelle C. , Raskind Ilana G. , Bundy Łucja T. , Owolabi Shadé , Veluswamy J. K. , Hernandez Clarisa , Hodge Tarccara , Haardörfer Regine
Published: May 2022

Few studies have identified barriers to creating a home environment more supportive of healthy eating. We examined barriers faced by participants in a randomized controlled trial and an adaptation study of the Healthy Homes/Healthy Families intervention, which uses health coaches to support low-income families in creating healthier home food environments. Coaches maintained logs of participant interactions as part of a process evaluation. We thematically analyzed logs from interactions with participants, mostly lower-income African American women (n = 114), to identify barriers for each of 8 healthy actions that serve as core elements of the intervention. Difficulty of changing current habits was a barrier for 5 of the healthy actions. No time/convenience and limited family support each influenced 2 of the healthy actions, with interpersonal barriers also stemming from social situations and visitors, including grandchildren. Cost and economic challenges were barriers for 3 of the actions. Hunger, cravings, and limited access to resources (eg, transportation, fresh fruits and vegetables) were each noted as barriers for 1 healthy action. Overall, these findings provide insight for how to better support families who are trying to improve their home food environments and highlight the need for multilevel interventions.
Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms of the HIF1A Gene are Associated With Sensitivity of Glucocorticoid Treatment in Pediatric ITP Patients
Authors: Gu Hao , Xie Xingjuan , Ma Jingyao , Fu Lingling , Ma Jie , Wu Runhui , Chen Zhenping
Published: May 2022

Background:

Hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) plays a crucial role in both innate and adaptive immunity. Emerging evidence indicates that HIF-1α is associated with the inflammation and pathologic activities of autoimmune diseases, suggesting that HIF1α may be involved in immune dysregulation in patients with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the HIF1A gene are associated with susceptibility to ITP and its clinical prognosis including incidence of chronic ITP and glucocorticoid sensitivity.

Materials and Methods:

This study involved 197 Chinese ITP pediatric patients (discovery cohort) and 220 healthy controls. The Sequenom MassArray system (Sequenom, San Diego, CA) was used to detect 3 SNPs genotypes in the HIF1A gene: rs11549465, rs1957757, and rs2057482. We also used another ITP cohort (N=127) to validate the significant results of SNPs found in the discovery cohort.

Results:

The frequencies of the three SNPs did not show any significant differences between the ITP and healthy control groups. The CT genotype at rs11549465 was significantly higher in ITP patients sensitive to glucocorticoid treatment than in those insensitive to glucocorticoid treatment (P=0.025). These results were validated using another ITP cohort (N=127, P=0.033). Moreover, the CC genotype was a risk factor for insensitive to GT the odds ratio (95% confidence interval) was 5.96 (5.23-6.69) in standard prednisone (P=0.0069) and 6.35 (5.33-7.37) in high-dose dexamethasone (P=0.04).

Conclusions:

Although HIF1A gene polymorphisms were not associated with susceptibility to ITP, the CT genotype at rs11549465 was associated with the sensitivity to glucocorticoid treatment of ITP patients, suggesting that the rs11549465 SNP may contribute to the sensitivity of glucocorticoid treatment in pediatric ITP patients.
Lessons Learned: Utilization of a Reference Laboratory for Targeted Sequencing of Pediatric Tumors at a Single Institution
Authors: Swilling Aubrey , Pham Robin , Wang Jason , Vallance Kelly , Hamby Tyler , Ray Anish
Published: May 2022

Our study aims to report the prevalence of potentially actionable oncogenic variants in a sample of pediatric tumors from a single institution using a reference laboratory for tumor profiling. We investigated genomic alterations and immunotherapy biomarkers such a tumor mutation burden, microsatellite instability, and programmed death-ligand 1. Patients treated in the Cook Children’s Health Care System who had tumor profiling performed by Foundation Medicine between January 1, 2013, and May 1, 2019, were included. Demographic variables, results of tumor profiling, and subsequent use of targeted therapies were captured. Eighty-one patients were in our final data set; patients had diagnoses of central nervous system tumors (n=5), leukemia and lymphoma (n=4), neuroblastoma (n=32), and other solid tumors (n=40). One or more genomic alterations were identified in 68 (84%) of patients, 34 of which had potential targeted therapies available. In all, 44/51 patients tested for tumor mutation burden had low tumor burden, and the rest had intermediate burden. All 41 patients tested for microsatellite instability status were microsatellite stable. Six of 34 patients tested for programmed death-ligand 1 status were positive. Twelve patients received targeted therapy. This study highlights a subset of pediatric tumors harboring targetable genetic alterations and describes the use of a reference laboratory for tumor profiling.
Conditioned pain modulation is associated with heightened connectivity between the periaqueductal grey and cortical regions
Authors: Harrison Richard , Gandhi Wiebke , van Reekum Carien M. , Salomons Tim V.
Published: May 2022

Introduction:

Conditioned pain modulation (CPM) is a psychophysical assessment used to estimate the efficiency of an individual's endogenous modulatory mechanisms. Conditioned pain modulation has been used as a predictive assessment for the development of chronic pain and responses to pain interventions. Although much is known about the spinal cord mechanisms associated with descending pain modulation, less is known about the contribution of supraspinal and especially cortical regions.

Objectives:

We aimed to explore how whole-brain connectivity of a core modulatory region, the periaqueductal grey (PAG), is associated with conditioned pain modulation, and endogenous pain modulation more broadly.

Methods:

We measured CPM and resting-state connectivity of 35 healthy volunteers, absent of chronic pain diagnoses. As a region of interest, we targeted the PAG, which is directly involved in endogenous modulation of input to the spinal cord and is a key node within the descending pain modulation network.

Results:

We found that CPM was associated with heightened connectivity between the PAG and key regions associated with pain processing and inhibition, such as the primary and secondary somatosensory cortices, as well as the motor, premotor, and dorsolateral prefrontal cortices. These findings are consistent with connectivity findings in other resting-state and event-related fMRI studies.

Conclusion:

These findings indicate that individuals who are efficient modulators have greater functional connectivity between the PAG and regions involved in processing pain. The heightened connectivity of these regions may contribute to the beneficial outcomes in clinical pain management, as quantified by CPM. These results may function as brain-based biomarkers for vulnerability or resilience to pain.
Montelukast, an Antagonist of Cysteinyl Leukotriene Signaling, Impairs Burn Wound Healing
Authors: Nguyen Alan V. , Bagood Michelle D. , Wang Marilyn , Caryotakis Sofia E. , Smith Glendalyn , Yee Shannon , Shen Haitao , Isseroff R. Rivkah , Soulika Athena M.
Published: May 2022

Background:

Burns are severe injuries often associated with impaired wound healing. Impaired healing is caused by multiple factors, including dysregulated inflammatory responses at the wound site. Interestingly, montelukast, an antagonist for cysteinyl leukotrienes and U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved for treatment of asthma and allergy, was previously shown to enhance healing in excision wounds and to modulate local inflammation.

Methods:

In this study, the authors examined the effect of montelukast on wound healing in a mouse model of scald burn injury. Burn wound tissues isolated from montelukast- and vehicle-treated mice at various times after burn injury were analyzed for wound areas (n= 34 to 36), reepithelialization (n= 14), inflammation (n= 8 to 9), and immune cell infiltration (n= 3 to 6) and proliferation (n= 7 to 8).

Results:

In contrast to previously described beneficial effects in excision wounds, this study shows that montelukast delays burn wound healing by impairing the proliferation of keratinocytes and endothelial cells. This occurs largely independently of inflammatory responses at the wound site, suggesting that montelukast impairs specifically the proliferative phase of wound healing in burns. Wound healing rates in mice in which leukotrienes are not produced were not affected by montelukast.

Conclusion:

Montelukast delays wound healing mainly by reducing the proliferation of local cells after burn injury.

Clinical Relevance Statement:

Although additional and clinical studies are necessary, our study suggests that burn patients who are on montelukast may exhibit delayed healing, necessitating extra observation.
Outcomes of Carpal Tunnel Release in Complex Regional Pain Syndrome/Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy/Sudeck Disease Patients
Authors: del Piñal Francisco
Published: May 2022

Background:

The clinical features of classic carpal tunnel syndrome are well known. However, some patients who display atypical symptoms and signs of pain and dysesthesias in the hand, worsening of symptoms at night, and above all, inability to make a full fist, respond equally well to carpal tunnel release. This same clinical picture was shared by some patients labeled as having complex regional pain syndrome. Because of the poor outcome of complex regional pain syndrome patients with current regimens, the authors tested the hypothesis that carpal tunnel release could be effective on them. The purpose of this article is to report the outcome of carpal tunnel release in complex regional pain syndrome patients who presented the above signs and symptoms.

Methods:

Fifty-three patients with an average age of 55 years presenting the above cluster of symptoms were operated on. All were unilateral cases, had sustained trauma, and were treated for complex regional pain syndrome before referral for an average of 16 months. All patients underwent carpal tunnel release.

Results:

At a minimum of 6 months’ follow-up, pain dropped 7.5 points on a numerical rating scale of 0 to 10 (p < 0.001). Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand scoring fell from 82 to 17 (p < 0.001). Six patients had an unsatisfactory result.

Conclusions:

Some patients with complex regional pain syndrome may respond successfully to a carpal tunnel release operation. Recognition of this possibility is crucial, as the symptoms and signs might lead the clinician away from the proper diagnosis and treatment.

CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:

Therapeutic, IV.
Travel routes to remote ocean targets reveal the map sense resolution for a marine migrant
Authors: Hays Graeme C. , Atchison-Balmond Nadine , Cerritelli Giulia , Laloë Jacques-Olivier , Luschi Paolo , Mortimer Jeanne A. , Rattray Alex , Esteban Nicole
Published: May 2022

How animals navigate across the ocean to isolated targets remains perplexing greater than 150 years since this question was considered by Charles Darwin. To help solve this long-standing enigma, we considered the likely resolution of any map sense used in migration, based on the navigational performance across different scales (tens to thousands of kilometres). We assessed navigational performance using a unique high-resolution Fastloc-GPS tracking dataset for post-breeding hawksbill turtles (
Eretmochelys imbricata
) migrating relatively short distances to remote, isolated targets on submerged banks in the Indian Ocean. Individuals often followed circuitous paths (mean straightness index = 0.54, range 0.14–0.93, s.d. = 0.23,
n
= 22), when migrating short distances (mean beeline distance to target = 106 km, range 68.7–178.2 km). For example, one turtle travelled 1306.2 km when the beeline distance to the target was only 176.4 km. When off the beeline to their target, turtles sometimes corrected their course both in the open ocean and when encountering shallow water. Our results provide compelling evidence that hawksbill turtles only have a relatively crude map sense in the open ocean. The existence of widespread foraging and breeding areas on isolated oceanic sites points to target searching in the final stages of migration being common in sea turtles.
Sideward contact tracing and the control of epidemics in large gatherings
Authors: Mancastroppa Marco , Guizzo Andrea , Castellano Claudio , Vezzani Alessandro , Burioni Raffaella
Published: May 2022

Effective contact tracing is crucial to containing epidemic spreading without disrupting societal activities, especially during a pandemic. Large gatherings play a key role, potentially favouring superspreading events. However, the effects of tracing in large groups have not been fully assessed so far. We show that in addition to forward tracing, which reconstructs to whom the disease spreads, and backward tracing, which searches from whom the disease spreads, a third ‘sideward’ tracing is always present, when tracing gatherings. This is an indirect tracing that detects infected asymptomatic individuals, even if they have been neither directly infected by nor directly transmitted the infection to the index case. We analyse this effect in a model of epidemic spreading for SARS-CoV-2, within the framework of simplicial activity-driven temporal networks. We determine the contribution of the three tracing mechanisms to the suppression of epidemic spreading, showing that sideward tracing induces a non-monotonic behaviour in the tracing efficiency, as a function of the size of the gatherings. Based on our results, we suggest an optimal choice for the sizes of the gatherings to be traced and we test the strategy on an empirical dataset of gatherings on a university campus.