bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impact of Visual Field Testing on Intraocular Pressure Change Trends in Healthy People and Glaucoma Patients
Authors: Li Mengwei , Zheng Bingxin , Wang Qi , Sun Xinghuai
Published: July 2020

Purpose. To compare the impact of visual field (VF) testing on intraocular pressure (IOP) change trends between healthy subjects and glaucoma patients. Methods. We recruited healthy volunteer subjects who did not have previous ocular diseases and open-angle glaucoma patients who were medically controlled well. IOP in both eyes of each participant was measured by using a noncontact tonometer at five time points: before, immediately after (0 minute), and 10, 30, and 60 minutes after the standard automated perimetry. Repeated measures ANOVA was used to analyze the effect of VF testing on IOP change trends in healthy and glaucoma eyes. Results. Forty healthy subjects (80 eyes) and 31 open-angle glaucoma patients (62 eyes) were included for the study. The baseline IOP of healthy and glaucoma eyes was 16.11 ± 3.01 mmHg and 15.78 ± 3.57 mmHg, respectively. After the VF testing, the IOP in healthy eyes was decreased by 1.5% at 0 minute, 6.5% at 10 minutes (P<0.001), 6.6% at 30 minutes (P<0.001), and 7.0% at 1 hour (P<0.001), indicating that this reduction was sustained for at least 1 hour. However, the IOP in glaucoma eyes was increased by 12.7% at 0 minute (P<0.001) and, then, returned towards initial values 1 hour after the VF testing. Conclusions. IOP change trends after VF field testing between healthy subjects and glaucoma patients were quite different. VF testing led to a mild and relatively sustained IOP decrease in healthy subjects, whereas IOP in open-angle glaucoma patients tended to significantly increase immediately after VF testing and, then, returned to pretest values after 1 hour. These findings indicate that the factors of VF testing should be considered in the clinical IOP measurements.
Alternative Approaches to Adenotonsillectomy and Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) for the Management of Pediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA): A Review
Authors: Rana Mandeep , August Joshua , Levi Jessica , Parsi Goli , Motro Melih , DeBassio William
Published: July 2020

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is considered first-line treatment in the management of pediatric patients without a surgically correctible cause of obstruction who have confirmed moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The evidence supports its reduction on patient morbidity and positive influence on neurobehavioral outcome. Unfortunately, in clinical practice, many patients either refuse CPAP or cannot tolerate it. An update on alternative approaches to CPAP for the management of OSA is discussed in this review, supported by the findings of systematic reviews and recent clinical studies. Alternative approaches to CPAP and adenotonsillectomy for the management of OSA include weight management, positional therapy, pharmacotherapy, high-flow nasal cannula, and the use of orthodontic procedures, such as rapid maxillary expansion and mandibular advancement devices. Surgical procedures for the management of OSA include tongue-base reduction surgery, uvulopalatopharyngoplasty, lingual tonsillectomy, supraglottoplasty, tracheostomy, and hypoglossal nerve stimulation. It is expected that this review will provide an update on the evidence available regarding alternative treatment approaches to CPAP for clinicians who manage patients with pediatric OSA in daily clinical practice.
Effect of Baduanjin Sequential Therapy on the Quality of Life and Cardiac Function in Patients with AMI After PCI: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Chen Ming-Gui , Liang Xuefei , Kong Lili , Wang Jingjing , Wang Fangfang , Hu Xiyan , He Jianzhuo , Zeng Rui-Xiang , Mao Shuai , Guo Liheng , Zhang Min-Zhou , Zhang Xiaoxuan
Published: July 2020

Purpose. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of Baduanjin sequential therapy (BST) on the quality of life and cardiac function in patients with AMI after PCI. Subjects. 96 patients with AMI after PCI were randomly assigned as subjects to two groups: BST group who received 24 weeks of BST training and control group who received no training. Methods. The methods used in this study included the changes in SF‐36 subscales, the measures of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), N‐terminal pro‐B‐type natriuretic peptide (NT‐pro‐BNP), the body mass index (BMI), and the abdominal circumference. Results. Of the 96 participants, 82 total patients completed the entire study. At 12 weeks, role physical and health transition of SF‐36 were significantly different between the two groups, with a difference of 26.12 (95% CI, 11.59 to 40.64) in role physical and a difference of 15.94 (95% CI, 5.60 to 26.28) in health transition (p < 0.05). However, there were statistically significant differences in all aspects of SF‐36 between the two groups at 24 weeks (p < 0.05). The BST also lowered abdominal circumference and BMI as compared with the control group. In the 24‐week follow‐up, a significant difference was found in the decline of the LVEF in the control group (p = 0.020), while there was a nonsignificant difference in the BST group (p = 0.552). Compared with the control group, the BST group reduced 50 pg/ml on the NT‐pro‐BNP at 24 weeks (p = 0.013). The effects of BST exercise were maintained at 24 weeks after the intervention. No serious adverse events were observed. Conclusions. The BST appears to improve the quality of life in patients with AMI after PCI, with additional benefits of lowered abdominal circumference and BMI and improved level of cardiac function. This trial is registered with NCT02693795.
In Vitro and In Vivo Efficacy of DNA Damage Repair Inhibitor Veliparib in Combination with Artesunate against Echinococcus granulosus
Authors: Li Y. F. , Wen L. M. , Zhao J. , Lv G. D. , Lu S. , Lu S. , Zheng X. , Chen B. , Tian C. Y. , Gong Y. H. , Gao H. J. , Wang J. H.
Published: July 2020

Cystic echinococcosis (CE), caused by the cestode Echinococcus granulosus, is a worldwide chronic zoonosis. Albendazole (ABZ) and mebendazole are effective against CE, but a high dosage in a long-term period is usually required. In this study, we evaluate the effects of DNA damage repair inhibitor (i.e., Veliparib) in combination with artesunate (AS) on hydatid cysts. For the in vitro assay, protoscoleces of E. granulosus (E.g PSCs) were incubated with low AS (AS-L, 65 μM), moderate AS (AS-M, 130 μM), and high AS (AS-H, 325 μM), AS-L/M/H+Veliparib (10 μM), and ABZ (25 μM), respectively. The AS-H+Veliparib group showed the maximal protoscolicidal effects. Ultrastructural change revealed that germinal layer (GL) cells were reduced, and lipid droplets appeared. AS could induce DNA injuries in PSCs. The 8-OHdG was expressed in the PSCs and GL of the cysts in mice, especially in the presence of Veliparib. The most severe DNA damages were observed in the AS-H+Veliparib group. Meanwhile, the expression of ribosomal protein S9 (RPS9) gene in the AS-H+Veliparib group was significantly lower than that in the AS-H group. The in vivo chemotherapeutic effects of AS-L (50 mg/kg), AS-H (200 mg/kg), and AS-H+Veliparib (25 mg/kg) were assessed in experimentally infected mice. Upon 6 weeks of oral administration, ultrasonography was used to monitor the volume change of vesicles. Maximum potentiation was seen on day 15 with values (versus AS) of 34 (P<0.05) for AS-H + Veliparib. It led to the reduction of cyst weight (55.40%) compared with the model group (P<0.01), which was better than AS alone (52.84%) and ABZ-treated mice (55.35%). Analysis of cysts collected from AS-H+Veliparib-treated mice by transmission electron microscopy revealed a drug-induced structural destruction. The structural integrity of the germinal layer was lost, and the majority of the microtriches disappeared. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that AS or AS in combination with Veliparib is effective for treating CE, especially the combination group. On this basis, AS represented promising drug candidates in anti-CE chemotherapy.
A Case of Thoracic Spondylosis Deformans and Multilevel Instrumented Spinal Fusion in an 84-Year-Old Male
Authors: Amabile Amy H. , Shea J. Raymond , Desai Vishal , Hoglund Lisa T. , Elcock Jamie N. , Lombardo Anthony , Schiffino Matthew C.
Published: July 2020

Spondylosis deformans is a type of spinal claw osteophytosis which can be found on the anterolateral vertebral bodies of any region, and which consists of protrusions of intervertebral disc tissue covered by a bony shell. We report here a case of thoracic spondylosis deformans and multilevel instrumented fusion found during routine dissection of a cadaver. Theories of the etiology of this condition are reviewed in general, and with respect to this specific case and the potential interaction of the presenting comorbidities. The clinical implications of these osteophytes, including musculoskeletal and visceral sequelae, are also discussed.
Multimodal MRI Brain Tumor Image Segmentation Using Sparse Subspace Clustering Algorithm
Authors: Liu Li , Kuang Liang , Ji Yunfeng
Published: July 2020

Brain tumors are one of the most deadly diseases with a high mortality rate. The shape and size of the tumor are random during the growth process. Brain tumor segmentation is a brain tumor assisted diagnosis technology that separates different brain tumor structures such as edema and active and tumor necrosis tissues from normal brain tissue. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology has the advantages of no radiation impact on the human body, good imaging effect on structural tissues, and an ability to realize tomographic imaging of any orientation. Therefore, doctors often use MRI brain tumor images to analyze and process brain tumors. In these images, the tumor structure is only characterized by grayscale changes, and the developed images obtained by different equipment and different conditions may also be different. This makes it difficult for traditional image segmentation methods to deal well with the segmentation of brain tumor images. Considering that the traditional single-mode MRI brain tumor images contain incomplete brain tumor information, it is difficult to segment the single-mode brain tumor images to meet clinical needs. In this paper, a sparse subspace clustering (SSC) algorithm is introduced to process the diagnosis of multimodal MRI brain tumor images. In the absence of added noise, the proposed algorithm has better advantages than traditional methods. Compared with the top 15 in the Brats 2015 competition, the accuracy is not much different, being basically stable between 10 and 15. In order to verify the noise resistance of the proposed algorithm, this paper adds 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% Gaussian noise to the test image. Experimental results show that the proposed algorithm has better noise immunity than a comparable algorithm.
Clinical and Optical Coherence Tomography Angiographic Features in Patients with Postcataract Stenotrophomonas maltophilia Endophthalmitis
Authors: Chen Lu , Ma Dahui , She Jieting , Chen Miaohong , Zeng Jian , Wang Jiantao , Zhang Guoming
Published: July 2020

Purpose. To report the clinical presentations and optical coherence tomography (OCT) angiographic features of patients with postcataract surgery endophthalmitis due to Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. Methods. A retrospective observational study of 4 patients who developed S. maltophilia endophthalmitis after cataract surgery. Pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) was performed to control the infection. Patients were followed up for six months. Complete ophthalmological examination results were collected before and after PPV. Results. Patients’ response to PPV therapy was excellent and the infection was cured in all cases. OCTA showed that, at the one-month follow-up, the vascular density (VD) and perfusion density (PD) in the superficial capillary plexus (SCP) were significantly lower than those in healthy collateral eyes. As time went on, the SCP-VD and SCP-PD values gradually improved. Conclusions. With early PPV, the infection caused by S. maltophilia can be cured. OCTA provides a quantitative noninvasive assessment to evaluate the severity and prognosis of patients with S. maltophilia endophthalmitis.
Study on Variation of Surface Runoff and Soil Moisture Content in the Subgrade of Permeable Pavement Structure
Authors: Hou Lijun , Wang Yuan , Shen Fengchun , Lei Ming , Wang Xiang , Zhao Xiaochong , Gao Shuling , Alhaj Abdullah
Published: July 2020

The self‐designed indoor simulated rainfall device was used to rain on five types of pavement structures with 4 types of rainfall intensity (2.5 mm/min, 3.4 mm/min, 4.6 mm/min, and 5.5 mm/min). The effect of rainfall intensity on the surface runoff, the relation between the subgrade soil moisture content changes, and the influence of initial soil water content on rain infiltration rate are studied. The test results show that the surface runoff coefficient of densely asphalted pavement is greater than 90% in drainage pavements and it has little influence on the reducing and hysteresis of the flood peak. The surface runoff coefficient of large‐void asphalt pavement (permeable) is less than 40%. Although the large‐void asphalt pavement (permeable) can reduce a small amount of surface runoff, it has no obvious effect on the reduction and hysteresis of the flood peak. In semipermeable pavement, with the increasing of the thickness of base (graded gravel), the surface runoff coefficient decreases at different rainfall intensities, parts of the surface runoff are reduced, and the arrival of flood peaks is delayed. In permeable roads, almost no surface runoff occurred. As time continued, the soil moisture content quickly reached a saturated state and presented a stable infiltration situation under the action of gravity and the gradient of soil water suction. As the initial moisture content increases, the initial infiltration rate decreases and the time to reach a stable infiltration rate becomes shorter. The drier the soil, the greater the initial infiltration rate and the higher the soil moisture content after infiltration stabilization. Permeable roads can greatly alleviate the pressure of urban drainage and reduce the risk of storms and floods.
Model Experimental Study on the Seepage and Failure Features of Tunnel under Wetting-Drying Alternation with Increasing Water Pressure
Authors: Su Haijian , Feng Yujie , Guo Qingzhen , Jing Hongwen , Zhu Wenxin
Published: July 2020

Wetting-drying alternation caused by seasonal rainfall and water fluctuation has a negative effect on the rock mass. Model experiments were conducted in this paper to investigate the role of wetting-drying alternation on the seepage and failure features of a tunnel. Water-bearing structure was located in the lateral position of tunnel. The stratum thickness between the tunnel and water-bearing structure was ranged from 20 to 100 mm. The results showed that, with an increase in the wetting-drying alternation number, the pore water pressure increases gradually. The critical water pressure also increases gradually with the increasing thickness of water-resisting stratum. With the increase of the stratum thickness, the permeable area is gradually widened and the water storage capacity becomes stronger. The failure mode of water-resisting stratum under geostress and water pressure can be summarized as two types: fracture failure (thickness of 20 mm) and slippage failure (thickness between 40 and 100 mm), respectively.
Azathioprine Hypersensitivity Syndrome during Treatment of Severe Interstitial Lung Disease with Anti-Neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Vasculitis
Authors: Nakano Eri , Asakawa Tomohiko , Asou Mea , Nohara Eri , Seki Tomoyuki , Araki Makoto
Published: July 2020

Azathioprine is used to treat anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody- (ANCA-) associated vasculitis. Azathioprine hypersensitivity syndrome is often missed. An 81-year-old man undergoing treatment for interstitial pneumonia developed a high fever and was diagnosed with ANCA-associated vasculitis based on an elevated myeloperoxidase- (MPO-) ANCA titer and renal biopsy findings. After induction therapy, his clinical symptoms improved, but his MPO-ANCA remained elevated (>300 U·L-1) and hematuria persisted. Prednisolone plus azathioprine was administered as maintenance therapy. Three exacerbations of the inflammatory response occurred during the subsequent 3 months. In each instance, we suspected opportunistic infection or a flare-up of vasculitis. The first exacerbation was treated with an increased prednisolone dose and antibiotics. At the onset of the second exacerbation, which was accompanied by systemic erythema, we stopped azathioprine and administered antibiotics. The third exacerbation, which occurred the day after restarting azathioprine, involved a fever with chills and an acute inflammatory reaction; we therefore suspected an azathioprine allergy. A drug provocation test was performed, and a hyperinflammatory response was observed. The patient received prednisolone (15 mg·day-1) monotherapy; no further fever was observed during the subsequent 2 months. We therefore diagnosed azathioprine hypersensitivity syndrome. Under treatment with prednisolone (5 mg·day-1) and mycophenolate mofetil (1 g·day-1) (replacing the azathioprine), no signs of relapse or infection have occurred for more than two years. Renal function and the pulmonary lesions are stable, although the high MPO-ANCA titer and hematuria persist. The diagnosis of azathioprine hypersensitivity is often delayed because of the difficulty in identifying the relationship between immunosuppressive agents and hypersensitivity and in distinguishing this from infection or relapse of the primary disease. The misdiagnosis of azathioprine hypersensitivity leads to unnecessary treatment; thus, clinicians should consider allergic reactions specific to azathioprine when switching from induction to maintenance therapy.
Clerodendrum volubileEthanol Leaf Extract: A Potential Antidote to Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiotoxicity in Rats
Authors: Olorundare Olufunke Esan , Adeneye Adejuwon Adewale , Akinsola Akinyele Olubiyi , Sanni Daniel Ayodele , Koketsu Mamoru , Mukhtar Hasan
Published: July 2020

Doxorubicin is widely applied in hematological and solid tumor treatment but limited by its off-target cardiotoxicity. Thus, cardioprotective potential and mechanism(s) ofCVEin DOX-induced cardiotoxicity were investigated using cardiac and oxidative stress markers and histopathological endpoints. 50–400 mg/kg/dayCVEin 5% DMSO in distilled water were investigated in Wistar rats intraperitoneally injected with 2.5 mg/kg DOX on alternate days for 14 days, using serum troponin I and LDH, complete lipid profile, cardiac tissue oxidative stress marker assays, and histopathological examination of DOX-treated cardiac tissue. Preliminary qualitative and quantitative assays ofCVE’s secondary metabolites were also conducted. Phytochemical analyses revealed the presence of flavonoids (34.79 ± 0.37 mg/100 mg dry extract), alkaloids (36.73 ± 0.27 mg/100 mg dry extract), reducing sugars (07.78 ± 0.09 mg/100 mg dry extract), and cardiac glycosides (24.55 ± 0.12 mg/100 mg dry extract). 50–400 mg/kg/dayCVEsignificantly attenuated increases in the serum LDH and troponin I levels. Similarly, theCVEdose unrelatedly decreased serum TG and VLDL-c levels without significant alterations in the serum TC, HDL-c, and LDL-c levels. Also,CVEprofoundly attenuated alterations in the cardiac tissue oxidative stress markers’ activities while improving DOX-associated cardiac histological lesions that were possibly mediated via free radical scavenging and/or antioxidant mechanisms. Overall,CVEmay play a significant therapeutic role in the management of DOX-induced cardiotoxicity in humans.
Chinese Named Entity Recognition Based on Character-Word Vector Fusion
Authors: Ye Na , Qin Xin , Dong Lili , Zhang Xiang , Sun Kangkang
Published: July 2020

Due to the lack of explicit markers in Chinese text to define the boundaries of words, it is often more difficult to identify named entities in Chinese than in English. At present, the pretreatment of the character or word vector models is adopted in the training of the Chinese named entity recognition model. Aimed at the problems that taking character vector as an input of the neural network cannot use the words’ semantic meanings and give up the words’ explicit boundary information, and taking the word vector as an input of the neural network relies on the accuracy of the segmentation algorithms, a Chinese named entity recognition model based on character word vector fusion CWVF-BiLSTM-CRF (Character Word Vector Fusion-Bidirectional Long-Short Term Memory Networks-Conditional Random Field) is proposed in this paper. First, the Word2Vec is used to obtain the corresponding dictionaries of character-character vector and word-word vector. Second, the character-word vector is integrated as the input unit of the BiLSTM (Bidirectional Long-Short Term Memory) network, and then, the problem of an unreasonable tag sequence is solved using the CRF (conditional random field). By using the presented model, the dependence on the accuracy of the word segmentation algorithm is reduced, and the words’ semantic characteristics are effectively applied. The experimental results show that the model based on character-word vector fusion improves the recognition effect of the Chinese named entity.
Dynamic Green Innovation Decision of the Supply Chain with Innovating and Free-Riding Manufacturers: Cooperation and Spillover
Authors: Zhang Feifei , Zhang Zaixu , Xue Yawei , Zhang Jian , Che Yang
Published: July 2020

Green innovation for supply chain has attracted much academic attention. Yet, there is no adequate understanding of how spillover and cooperation can impact the enterprises’ green innovation decisions in the presence of free-rider. Besides, the dynamic impact of green innovation on emission is still lack of attention. We develop a differential game model that explicitly considers a supply chain with two types of manufacturers (i.e., green innovation and free-riding) to examine the dynamics of green innovation. The analysis reveals that under the noncooperation mode, the emissions and profits of free-riding manufacturers are found to be lower than that of innovating manufacturers, but technology spillovers will narrow the gap between them. Under the cooperation mode, there would be greater innovation efforts of green manufacturers and lesser efforts of green suppliers. Moreover, technology spillovers will have less impact on optimal decision changes. The profit of free-riding manufacturers is higher than that of innovating manufacturers, but the initial market power will affect the changes in their sales and profits. Meanwhile, cooperation will increase the total emission amount and long-term profits of the green supply chain, and technology spillovers of green manufacturers will help narrow the emission gap and broaden the profit gap, while that of the suppliers will have the opposite effect. The present study provides a new perspective for research on green innovation decisions for supply chain.
[Retracted] Unilateral Multifocality and Bilaterality Could Be Two Different Multifocal Entities in Patients with Papillary Thyroid Microcarcinoma
Authors: Cai Junbo , Fang Fang , Chen Jianbin , Xiang Dapeng
Published: July 2020

Objective. Multifocality within an affected lobe (unilateral multifocality) or two lobes (bilaterality) is commonly denoted as multifocality without differentiation. Recently, there has been molecular evidence indicating that unilateral multifocality and bilaterality could be two different entities. However, few studies concerning the comparison between these two different multifocality entities have been reported. Design. A retrospective cohort study. Methods. From 2010 to 2013, in total, 949 consecutive patients with papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) were enrolled and further divided into four groups based on multifocality status. Unilateral multifocality and bilaterality were analyzed by binary logistic regression along with other clinicopathological factors. Results. Unilateral multifocality, instead of bilaterality, was correlated with central neck metastasis (CNM) in both univariate and multivariate analyses. Group IV (unilateral multifocality and bilaterality coexist) had the highest CNM rate. Group III (unilateral multifocality) had a higher CNM rate than group II (bilaterality, single lesion in each lobe), with a significant difference (p = 0.032). Similar lateral neck metastasis tendency was observed among the four groups. In the multivariate analysis, only unilateral multifocality and bilaterality which coexisted were correlated with CNM. Moreover, 9 cases had a recurrence, with the recurrence rate ranking top in group IV (3.6%), second in group III (2.8%), and third in group II (1.2%). The difference was significant (p = 0.021). Conclusion. Unilateral multifocality and bilaterality could be two different multifocal entities in patients with PTMC. Unilateral multifocality serving as a prognostic factor indicated a worse prognosis than bilaterality on neck metastasis. When the two factors coexisted in PTMC, patients had the highest risk of CNM and possibly local recurrence compared with those with either risk factor alone.
Increased Accuracy of Emotion Recognition in Individuals with Autism-Like Traits after Five Days of Magnetic Stimulations
Authors: Liu Pingping , Xiao Guixian , He Kongliang , Zhang Long , Wu Xinqi , Li Dandan , Zhu Chunyan , Tian Yanghua , Hu Panpan , Qiu Bensheng , Ji Gong-Jun , Wang Kai
Published: July 2020

Individuals with autism-like traits (ALT) belong to a subclinical group with similar social deficits as autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Their main social deficits include atypical eye contact and difficulty in understanding facial expressions, both of which are associated with an abnormality of the right posterior superior temporal sulcus (rpSTS). It is still undetermined whether it is possible to improve the social function of ALT individuals through noninvasive neural modulation. To this end, we randomly assigned ALT individuals into the real (n=16) and sham (n=16) stimulation groups. All subjects received five consecutive days of intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) on the rpSTS. Eye tracking data and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data were acquired on the first and sixth days. The real group showed significant improvement in emotion recognition accuracy after iTBS, but the change was not significantly larger than that in the sham group. Resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) between the rpSTS and the left cerebellum significantly decreased in the real group than the sham group after iTBS. At baseline, rsFC in the left cerebellum was negatively correlated with emotion recognition accuracy. Our findings indicated that iTBS of the rpSTS could improve emotion perception of ALT individuals by modulating associated neural networks. This stimulation protocol could be a vital therapeutic strategy for the treatment of ASD.
Xiaoqinglong Decoction Protects the Lungs of AECOPD Mice through the AMPK/mTOR Signaling Pathway
Authors: Huang Qingsong , Yang Hongjing , Zhang Chuantao , Wu Jianying , Xiao Wei , Zeng Zhu
Published: July 2020

Background/Aim. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the most common health problems around the world. Xiaoqinglong decoction (XQLD) has been clinically reported to improve lung function and shorten cough and sputum in AECOPD patients, but its mechanism is still unclear. This study aims to investigate the effects of XQLD on inflammation and apoptosis of lung tissues and explore the underlying mechanisms in acute exacerbation in COPD (AECOPD) mice. Method. Male C57BL/6J mice were used to establish AECOPD model by cigarette smoke and bacterial exposure. Mice were randomly divided into normal control (NC), AECOPD, XQLD, Compound C (Com C), Com C + XQLD, and Clarithromycin (CLA) groups. After treatment, the pulmonary function was evaluated by whole‐body plethysmograph. The lung histopathology was observed by HE staining. The serum levels of IL‐6, TNF‐α, and COX‐2 were detected by ELISA assay. The apoptotic index was measured by TUNEL assay, and the protein expressions of Bax, Bcl‐2, Caspase‐3, GRP78, and CHOP in the lung tissues were measured by western blot assay. Results. XQLD treatment can improve pulmonary function (PF), ameliorate lung injury, and suppress inflammation and apoptosis of lung tissues. In addition, XQLD also markedly attenuated endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) and activated AMPK/mTOR pathway in the lung tissues of mice with AECOPD. However, the AMPK inhibitor Compound C decreased the protective effect of XQLD in AECOPD mice. Conclusion. These findings suggested that XQLD has protective effect against inflammation and apoptosis in AECOPD mice by attenuating ER stress via AMPK/mTOR pathway.
Association of Body Mass Index in Youth With Adult Cardiometabolic Risk
Authors: Wu Feitong , Juonala Markus , Sabin Matthew A. , Buscot Marie‐Jeanne , Pahkala Katja , Smith Kylie J. , Hutri‐Kähönen Nina , Kähönen Mika , Laitinen Tomi P. , Viikari Jorma S.A. , Raitakari Olli T. , Magnussen Costan G.
Published: July 2020

Background

Whether long‐term exposure to overweight or obesity from early life to adulthood has a detrimental influence on health outcomes is unknown. We aimed to investigate whether duration of overweight or obesity from youth to adulthood is associated with adult cardiometabolic risk.

Methods and Results

A population‐based cohort study was performed of 1268 youths, aged 3 to 18 years, with follow‐ups at 3, 6, 9, 12, 21, 27, and 31 years. Duration of overweight or obesity over 31‐year follow‐up was calculated. Adulthood outcomes included type 2 diabetes mellitus, impaired fasting glucose, high insulin levels, high carotid intima‐media thickness, hypertension, low high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, high low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides, arterial pulse wave velocity, carotid artery compliance, Young elastic modulus, and stiffness index. Rates of overweight/obesity were 7.9% at baseline and 55.9% after 31 years. After adjustment for confounders, longer duration of overweight or obesity was associated with increased risk of all outcomes (relative risk ranged from 1.45–9.06 for type 2 diabetes mellitus, impaired fasting glucose, carotid intima‐media thickness, hypertension, high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides; β from 0.370–0.543 m/s for pulse wave velocity; –0.193 to –0.237 %/10 mm Hg for carotid artery compliance; 52.1–136.8 mm Hg·mm for Young elastic modulus; and 0.554–0.882 for stiffness index). When body mass index was further adjusted, these associations disappeared or were substantially reduced. Detrimental associations of adult body mass index with all outcomes were robust to adjustment for confounders and duration of overweight or obesity.

Conclusions

Overweight or obesity in adulthood rather than childhood appears to be more important for adult cardiometabolic health.
Improving Access to Automated External Defibrillators in Rural and Remote Settings: A Drone Delivery Feasibility Study
Authors: Cheskes Sheldon , McLeod Shelley L. , Nolan Michael , Snobelen Paul , Vaillancourt Christian , Brooks Steven C. , Dainty Katie N. , Chan Timothy C. Y. , Drennan Ian R.
Published: July 2020

Background

Time to treatment is critical for survival from sudden cardiac arrest. Every minute delay in defibrillation results in a 7% to 10% reduction in survival. This is particularly problematic in rural and remote regions, where emergency medical service response is prolonged and automated external defibrillators (
AEDs
) are often not available. Our primary objective was to examine the feasibility of a novel
AED
drone delivery method for rural and remote sudden cardiac arrest. A secondary objective was to compare response times between
AED
drone delivery and ambulance to mock sudden cardiac arrest resuscitations.

Methods and Results

We conducted 6 simulations in 2 rural communities in southern Ontario, Canada. In the first 2 simulations, the drone and ambulance were dispatched from the same paramedic base. In simulations 3 and 4, the drone and ambulance were dispatched from separate paramedic bases; and in simulations 5 and 6, the drone was dispatched from an optimized location. During each simulation, a “mock” call was placed to 911 and a single
AED
drone and an ambulance were simultaneously dispatched to a predetermined destination. On scene, trained first responders retrieved the
AED
from the drone and initiated resuscitative efforts on a mannequin until paramedics arrived. No difficulties were encountered during drone activation by dispatch, ascent, landing, or bystander retrieval of the
AED
from the drone. During simulations 1 and 2, the distance to the scene was 6.6 km. For simulations 3 and 4, the ambulance response distance increased to 8.8 km while drone remained at 6.6 km; and in simulations 5 and 6, the ambulance response distance was 20 km compared with 9 km for the drone. During each flight, the
AED
drone arrived on scene before the ambulance, between 1.8 and 8.0 minutes faster.

Conclusions

This study suggests
AED
drone delivery is feasible, with the potential for improvements in response time during simulated sudden cardiac arrest scenarios. Further research is required to determine the appropriate system configuration for
AED
drone delivery in an integrated emergency medical service system as well as optimal strategies to simplify bystander application of a drone‐delivered
AED
.
Genetically Predicted Midlife Blood Pressure and Coronary Artery Disease Risk: Mendelian Randomization Analysis
Authors: Gill Dipender , Georgakis Marios K. , Zuber Verena , Karhunen Ville , Burgess Stephen , Malik Rainer , Dichgans Martin
Published: July 2020

Background

Elevated blood pressure is a major cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. However, it is not known whether midlife blood pressure affects later life cardiovascular risk independent of later life blood pressure.

Methods and Results

Using genetic association estimates from the UK Biobank and CARDIoGRAMplusC4D consortium, univariable mendelian randomization was performed to investigate the total effect of genetically predicted mean arterial pressure (MAP) at age ≤55 years on coronary artery disease (CAD) risk, and multivariable mendelian randomization was performed to investigate the effect of genetically predicted MAP on CAD risk after adjusting for genetically predicted MAP at age >55 years. In both univariable and multivariable mendelian randomization analyses, there was consistent evidence of higher genetically predicted MAP at age ≤55 years increasing CAD risk. This association persisted after adjusting for genetically predicted MAP at age >55 years, when considering nonoverlapping populations for the derivation of MAP and CAD risk genetic association estimates, when investigating only incident CAD events after age >55 years, and when restricting the analysis to variants with most heterogeneity in their associations with MAP ≤55 and >55 years. For a 10–mm Hg increase in genetically predicted MAP at age ≤55 years, the odds ratio of later life CAD was 1.43 (95% CI, 1.16–1.77;
P
=0.001) after adjusting for genetically predicted MAP at age >55 years.

Conclusions

These mendelian randomization findings support a cumulative lifetime effect of elevated blood pressure on increasing CAD risk. Clinical and public health efforts toward cardiovascular disease reduction should optimize blood pressure control throughout life.
The Banality of Power: Women’s Influence on Emirati Politics, c. 1800–present
Authors: Rugh Andrea B.
Published: July 2020

The political impact of women from paramount families in the UAE over the last 200 years has been largely overlooked by scholars who tend to focus on male power and ignore the banality of women’s everyday influences. In fact, these women linked families, provided crucial information through their networks, restrained rulers, and promoted the career ambitions of their sons. Their ability to influence events in this early period suggests a power greater than that enjoyed by women appointed or elected to government positions today.
Viewing Samaritans Jewishly: Josephus, the Samaritans, and the Identification of Israel
Authors: Chalmers Matthew
Published: July 2020

Josephus offers one of our most extensive sources for the study of ancient Judaism, and his treatment of the Samaritans is no exception. In this article, I synchronize attention to Josephus’ representations of Samaritans with the turn in Biblical Studies and Jewish Studies towards the contestation of ancient “Israel” throughout antiquity. First, I argue that we see more clearly how Josephus actively constructs Samaritan identity by comparison to shared contestation of Israelite genealogy and geography in the Martyrdom of Isaiah, 4 Baruch, Pseudo-Philo, and Megillat Taʿanit. Second, I suggest that such an approach develops an alternative way to write ancient Jewish history with Josephus, incorporating his work into discussions of ancient Jewish self-representation beyond the choice between historical reality check or self-sustaining rhetoric.
Confrontation and Its Problems: Can the History of Science Provide Evidence for the Philosophy of Science?
Authors: Dimitrakos Thodoris
Published: July 2020

In this paper I am concerned with the relation between the history of science and the philosophy of science from the perspective of philosophy. In particular, I examine two philosophical objections against the idea that the history of science can provide evidences to the philosophy of science. The first objection is metaphysical and suggests that given Hume’s law, i.e. that norms cannot be derived from facts and given that the history of science is a descriptive enterprise while the philosophy of science is a normative endeavor, the former cannot be informative for the latter. The second is epistemological and is often called the ‘case studies dilemma’. According to this dilemma, we can neither deduce general philosophical theories from particular historical cases nor test the former through the latter. I argue that although those objections fail to be fatal for the idea that the historical data can provide evidence for the philosophical theories of science, they can help us draw a proper image of the relation between the history and the philosophy of science. I conclude that this picture presupposes the constant epistemic iteration between the two disciplines.
Fabrication of Potentiometric Glucose Biosensor Based on Two Variant Dimensions of Green Synthesized Silver Nanostructures as a Single Nanohybrid Compartment—A Green Approach
Authors: Santhosh A.S. , Sandeep S. , Swamy N. Kumara , Suresh G.S. , Melo J.S. , Chamaraja N.A.
Published: July 2020

In this work, silver nanohybrids (AgNHs) comprising of two different dimensions of nanostructures i.e., nanorods (zero dimensions) and nanoparticles (one dimensions), are synthesised. As a green chemical approach, we have used the leaf extracts of Cassia occidentalis (coffee senna)
for the synthetic protocol of these variant dimensions of nanostructures. The as synthesized nanostructures were explored for the fabrication of a nano-hybrid based potentiometric glucose biosensor. A conducting polymer, polypyrrole (PPy) is used for the strong adsorption of the nanohybrid
on the graphite (Gr) electrode. The resulting composite matrix (Gr/PPy/AgNHs) is further modified with glucose oxidase (GOx) enzyme to obtain Gr/PPy/AgNHs/GOx biosensor for the electrochemical detection of glucose. The synergetic effect of the materials employed in development of bio-electrode
resulted in an efficient glucose biosensor with a low detection limit (55.3 μM), high sensitivity (69.72 μAmM –1cm–2) and a wide linear range of 0.2–29 mM. These results validate a successful electrochemical sensor with superior analytical
performance in comparison to sensors cited in literature. The proposed biosensor also exhibits good storage stability, reproducibility and remains unaffected by some of the common interferents present in the biological sample. The developed biosensor is also evaluated for glucose analysis
in real samples with a high percentage recovery (97%) thus validating the possibility of its usage in biomedical applications.
Effect of Flux Boric Acid (H3BO3) on Yttrium Silicate Y2SiO5:Dy3+ (9 mol%) Nanophosphors Its Characterization and Luminescence Studies
Authors: Dhanalakshmi K. , Reddy A. Jagannatha
Published: July 2020

Flux Boric acid (H3BO3) doped on Y2SiO5:Dy3+ phosphors were synthesized by auto ignition based low temperature Solution Combustion Synthesis (SCS) using Oxalic acid dihydrate (ODH) as fuel. Powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) patterns
confirm the nano sized particles corresponding to JCPDS card 36-1476. The crystallite size of the samples estimated from Scherer's formula and Williamson-Hall (W-H) plots was found to be in the range ˜21 nm and 26 nm respectively. Scanning electron Microscope (SEM) micrographs infer
addition of flux gives the enhanced grain growth and it attains smooth surface improves the crystallinity and particle morphology of the sample. Fourier transform Infrared (FTIR) data reveals the presence of M–O bonds and Y–O bonds and also the bands at 642 cm–1,
655 cm–1, 668 cm–1, 697 cm–1, 719 cm–1 are ascribed due to the B–O–B linkage in the borate network. Addition of flux on Thermoluminescence (TL) glow curves from 0.5 KGy–4 KGy acts as a sensitizer and the
peak appearing at 185 °C is quite stable and can be named as "dosimetric peak" to use in TL phosphor. The kinetic parameters estimated by Chen's peak shape method was found to be second order with activation energy 0.82.
Substance Use in the Life Cycle of a Disaster: A Research Agenda and Methodological Considerations
Authors: Kopak Albert M. , Van Brown Bethany
Published: July 2020

Considering the increasing frequency and magnitude of natural and human-made disasters, it is becoming more important to understand human responses to these events, including the ways they influence substance use. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration has recently acknowledged that the prevention and treatment of substance use disorders must be incorporated into disaster preparedness, response, and recovery, but there is a scarcity of empirical information related to how these approaches should be undertaken. This article provides an overview of prior work in this area to inform a broad, but nuanced research agenda. That agenda is organized according to key findings and various strategies that can identify, measure, and assess substance use in various stages of the life cycle of a disaster. We conclude with recommendations for policies that can enhance the research in this area while also informing the development of practices to monitor substance use disorders related to various disasters.
Prospective Evaluation of a Smartphone Otoscope for Home Tympanostomy Tube Surveillance: A Pilot Study
Authors: Don Debra M. , Koempel Jeffrey A. , Fisher Laurel M. , Wee Choo Phei , Osterbauer Beth
Published: July 2020

Objectives:

Recent technological advances have led to the capability of performing high resolution imaging of the tympanic membrane. Smartphone technologies and applications have provided the opportunity to capture digital images and easily share them. The smartphone otoscope device was developed as a simple system that can convert a smartphone into a digital otoscope. This device has the prospective ability to improve physician-patient communication and assist with the diagnosis and management of ear disease. Our objective was to evaluate the feasibility and physician/parental satisfaction using the Cellscope® smartphone attachment for at home tympanostomy tube monitoring.

Methods:

Children between 6 months and 15 years of age at an urban tertiary children’s hospital that were scheduled for bilateral tympanostomy tube insertion or underwent bilateral tympanostomy tube surgery were prospectively enrolled in the study. Comparisons were made between parental home-recorded videos and findings during in-office otoscopy. Two independent otolaryngologists reviewed the videos and concordance between inter-rater agreements was calculated. Acceptability and use questionnaires were administered to physicians and parents.

Results:

There was good intra-rater agreement between traditional otoscopy and video-otoscopy for tube extruding, tube blocked and tube extruded with at least 80% agreement ( P < .05) and excellent inter-rater agreement between physicians for nearly all tube variables ( P < .0001) There was a high degree of satisfaction with this mode of surveillance. Parents and physicians agreed that the CellScope® smartphone was easy to use, helpful with the occurrence of acute events, and appeared to improve quality of care.

Conclusions:

The CellScope® smartphone is feasible for use in tympanostomy tube surveillance. Use of the device may allow otolaryngologists to easily follow a child’s tympanostomy tube remotely over time and offer greater parental satisfaction.
Reporting of Research by Matched Otolaryngology Residency Applicants
Authors: Dhanda Aatin K. , Ward Brittany , Warren Christopher J. , Birkenfeld Ben , Georges Kirolos , Taruvai Varun , Paskhover Boris
Published: July 2020

Objectives:

Matching to an otolaryngology residency program is a competitive process for medical students, and research performed by students is considered as a factor for granting interviews by program directors. Because abstracts, presentations and publications are all reported in combination by the National Resident Matching Program’s “Charting Outcomes in the Match” (ChOM) and may be weighted differently by PDs, we specifically investigated the number of publications by past applicants accepted to top otolaryngology residency programs.

Methods:

The top 25 otolaryngology residency programs were identified using Doximity, sorting by reputation. Current residents were determined from the programs’ websites. Using PubMed, each resident’s number of publications, authorship status, and journal type were recorded.

Results:

A total of 24 programs were included in the final analysis and the average number of manuscripts was 2.76 ± 4.01. The mean number of publications in otolaryngology journals was 1.03 ± 1.91.

Conclusions:

The difference between the investigated average number of publications (2.76) and those published by ChOM (10.4) represent a discrepancy due to the lack of delineation between abstracts, presentations and publications. The reported numbers for research may lead medical students to pursue alternate measures to increase their own research. Some options, such as adding a research year are not universally accessible. A clearer and more detailed approach to reporting research statistics would be beneficial to both applicants and PDs for otolaryngology programs.
Outcome of Endoscopic Optic Nerve Decompression for Traumatic Optic Neuropathy
Authors: Sun Jingwen , Cai Xiaojing , Zou Wentao , Zhang Jiaxiong
Published: July 2020

Objective:

This study aimed to evaluate the outcomes of endoscopic optic nerve decompression (EOND) for adults with traumatic optic neuropathy (TON) and seek factors that might affect surgery outcomes.

Methods:

From January 2016 to June 2019, 16 adults diagnosed with TON, who underwent endoscopic trans-ethmosphenoid optic canal decompression, were reviewed. All the patients were treated with steroids before the surgery. The main outcome measure was an improvement in visual acuity (VA) after treatment.

Results:

Eight (50.0%) patients had residual vision before the surgery, while eight (50.0%) had no light perception. After surgical decompression, partial recovery of VA was achieved in three (18.75%) patients who were operated within 10 days and had residual vision before the surgery. However, no improvement in VA was observed for the remaining patients (81.25%) who were operated more than 10 days after injuries.

Conclusions:

EOND is beneficial for TON not responding to steroid therapy and can prevent permanent disability if earlier intervention is done prior to irreversible damage to the nerve. Endoscopic optic nerve surgery can decompress the traumatic and edematous optic nerve with proper exposure of optic canal and orbital apex without any major complications. The operation timing and residual vision are important factors affecting outcomes.