bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Paricalcitol protects against hydrogen peroxide–induced injury in endothelial cells through suppression of apoptosis
Authors: Köksal Muhammet Murat , Şekerler Turgut , Çevik Özge , Şener Azize
Published: November 2022

The vascular endothelium is one of the main targets of oxidative stress which plays an important role in the pathophysiology of vascular damage. Recent studies show that vitamin D can positively regulate endothelial functions in various chronic diseases and in cases of increased oxidative stress. In our study, we investigated the restorative and protective potentials of paricalcitol which is frequently used in patients with chronic renal failure, a vitamin D analogue, in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) before and after H2O2-induced oxidative stress. Paricalcitol treatment after the oxidative stress induced by H2O2increased cell viability in endothelial cells depending on the dose that was used. While paricalcitol (500 nM) decreased caspase-3 activity and mitochondrial membrane potential loss, it increased nitric oxide (NO) production and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels. Paricalcitol treatment before oxidative stress increased cell viability. It increased NO production and mitochondrial membrane potential while significantly reducing caspase-3 activity. While paricalcitol caused a significant inhibition of protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) reductase activity in healthy endothelial cells, it did not cause a significant change on the PDI reductase activity under oxidative stress conditions. Present study showed that paricalcitol has restorative and protective effects on endothelial cells against oxidative injury, but these effects occur at high concentrations of paricalcitol.
Making Urban Futures at Your Kitchen Table: Temporalities of an Urban Renewal Controversy in Moscow
Authors: Zhelnina Anna
Published: November 2022

While the nexus of time and space in cities is an established tradition in urban research, the specific temporality of urban planning and redevelopment projects is an emerging theme in the field. Focusing on the intensified interactions in various arenas around a controversial housing renovation program in Moscow, this article examines how and where urban futures are created from a polyphony of individual perspectives, aspirations, and projects. The housing renovation program (“Renovation”) aims to demolish thousands of socialist-era prefabricated apartment buildings and relocate the residents to yet-to-be-built high-rises. The project sparked popular mobilizations both in support of and in resistance to the demolitions. This article examines how Muscovites articulated and probed different future alternatives, matching them to their personal strategies and trajectories in various interactive arenas—from public hearings to homeowner assemblies to evening conversations with their family members. This future-probing became a key process that helped incorporate the temporal landscape of Renovation in people’s lives.
Randomized controlled trials of biomarker targets
Authors: Erlendsdottir Margret , Crawford Forrest W
Published: November 2022

Introduction:

Randomized controlled trials are used to estimate the causal effect of a treatment on a health outcome of interest in a patient population. Often the specified treatment in a randomized controlled trial is a medical intervention—such as a drug or procedure—experienced directly by the patient. Sometimes the “treatment” in a randomized controlled trial is a target—such as a goal biomarker measurement—that the patient’s physician attempts to reach using available medications or procedures. Large randomized controlled trials of biomarker targets are common in clinical research, and trials have been conducted to compare targets in the management of hypertension, diabetes, anemia, and acute respiratory distress syndrome. However, different randomized controlled trials intended to evaluate the same biomarker targets have produced conflicting recommendations, and meta-analyses that aggregate results of trials of biomarker targets have been inconclusive.

Methods:

We use causal reasoning to explain why randomized controlled trials of biomarker targets can arrive at conflicting or misleading conclusions. We describe four key threats to the validity of trials of targets: (1) intention-to-treat analysis can be misleading when a direct effect of target assignment on the outcome exists due to lack of blinding; (2) incomparability in results across trials of targets; (3) time-varying adaptive treatment strategies; and (4) Goodhart’s law, “when a measure becomes a target, it ceases to be a good measure.”

Results:

We illustrate these findings using evidence from 15 randomized controlled trials of blood pressure targets for management of hypertension. Randomized trials of blood pressure targets exhibit substantial variation in the trial patient populations and antihypertensives used to achieve the blood pressure targets assigned in the trials. The trials did not compare or account for time-varying treatment strategies used to reach the randomized targets. Possible “off-target” effects of antihypertensive medications needed to reach lower blood pressure targets may explain the absence of a clear benefit from intensive blood pressure control.

Discussion:

Researchers should critically assess meta-analyses of trials of targets for variation in the types, distributions, and off-target effects of therapies studied. Trial investigators should release detailed information about the biomarker targets compared in new randomized trials, as well as confounders, treatments delivered, and outcomes. New randomized controlled trials should experimentally compare treatment algorithms incorporating biomarkers, rather than targets alone. Causal inference methodology that adjusts for time-varying confounding should be used to compare time-varying treatment strategies in observational settings.
A polymerizable difunctional photoinitiator featuring a bio-based group and its photoinitiating properties
Authors: Zhou Yanfang , Zhong Rong , Wang Zhengjie
Published: November 2022

A polymerizable difunctional photoinitiator 2-methylene-succinic acid bis-{2-[4-(2-hydroxy-2-methylpropionyl)phenoxy]ethyl} ester (IAHHMP) based on the commercial photoinitiator 2-hydroxy-1-[4-(2-hydroxyethoxy)phenyl]-2-methylpropanone (HHMP) and a biorenewable itaconic acid is synthesized by esterification. The structure is confirmed by ultraviolet spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H NMR, 13C NMR) and thermogravimetric analysis. The photopolymerization behaviour of the photoinitiator is investigated using photo-differential scanning calorimetry and compared with that of two commercial photoinitiators, HHMP (or photoinitiator 2959) and 1-hydroxycyclohexyl phenyl ketone (or photoinitiator 184). The results show that IAHHMP has a strong UV absorption capacity at 245~300 nm and can initiate polymerization of monomers containing a double bond. The relative migration of IAHHMP is less than that of the systems containing an HHMP or 1-hydroxycyclohexyl phenyl ketone photoinitiator. Therefore, IAHHMP is expected to have potential applications in more environmentally friendly materials, such as in food and medical packaging.
A criminological analysis of proceeds of crime legislation in three Australian states
Authors: Tubex Hilde , Chisholm Rhianna , Tulich Tamara , Skead Natalie , Murray Sarah
Published: November 2022

In recent decades, Australian states and territories have introduced a raft of legislation aimed at stripping those involved in criminal activity of their ill-gotten gains. This contribution reports on a study into proceeds of crime legislation in three Australian jurisdictions: New South Wales, Western Australia and Queensland. Based on a document analysis and 40 interviews, we focus on the broader criminological aspects of how and why proceeds of crime legislation was introduced and how the legislation is experienced by those who work with it / are impacted by it. We then discuss the political attractiveness of such legislation in a broader law and order framework, despite its apparent limited success in achieving its stated goals.
Efficacy and safety of therapies for advanced prostate cancer in Asia: Evidence from a systematic literature review
Authors: Saad Marniza , Umbas Rainy , Chiong Edmund , Kanesvaran Ravindran
Published: November 2022

Objectives:

Several therapies are available for the treatment of advanced/metastatic prostate cancer (PC). However, the systematic assessment of evidence pertaining to the use of these therapies in Asian patients is lacking.

Methods:

A systematic literature review (SLR) was conducted using PubMed/Medline search in May 2021 to identify the randomized/nonrandomized controlled trials (RCTs/non-RCTs) and real-world observational studies (prospective/retrospective). Only studies published as full manuscripts in English were included if reporting the efficacy, effectiveness, and/or safety of treatments in Asian patients with advanced/metastatic PC.

Results:

Of the 1,898 retrieved publications, 24 studies were included. These studies had patients with nonmetastatic castration-resistant PC (n = 2), metastatic castration-sensitive PC ( n = 4), and metastatic castration-resistant PC ( n = 18). Study designs included RCTs ( n = 7), non-RCTs ( n = 2), and real-world studies ( n = 15). Treatments used in included studies were abiraterone acetate plus prednisone (AAP; n = 6), enzalutamide, lutetium-177 prostate-specific membrane antigen (177Lu-PSMA; n = 4 each), docetaxel ( n = 3), apalutamide, radium-223 ( n = 2 each), darolutamide, cabazitaxel, and pembrolizumab ( n = 1 each). The evidence from RCTs (i.e., ARAMIS, SPARTAN, ARCHES, TITAN, LATITUDE, PREVAIL) demonstrated the clinical benefits of apalutamide, darolutamide, enzalutamide, and AAP in terms of overall, disease-free, and metastasis-free survival in Asian patients. These treatments were reported to be well tolerated, with no new safety signals identified in Asian population. The efficacy and safety profiles in Asian patients were consistent with the overall trial population. Data from real-world studies supported the effectiveness and tolerability of AAP, enzalutamide, radium-223, docetaxel, cabazitaxel, 177Lu-PSMA, and pembrolizumab in patients with advanced/metastatic PC.

Conclusions:

This SLR of the Asian data on therapies for advanced PC from the pivotal and real-world studies confirms similar efficacy and safety outcomes, consistent with the results from the pivotal clinical trials. These findings will help clinicians make better treatment decisions in clinical practice for patients with advanced/metastatic PC.
Deep learning-based classification of infectious keratitis on slit-lamp images
Authors: Zhang Zijun , Wang Haoyu , Wang Shigeng , Wei Zhenyu , Zhang Yang , Wang Zhiqun , Chen Kexin , Ou Zhonghong , Liang Qingfeng
Published: November 2022

Background:

Infectious keratitis (IK) is an ocular emergency caused by a variety of microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites. Culture-based methods were the gold standard for diagnosing IK, but difficult biopsy, delaying report, and low positive rate limited their clinical application.

Objectives:

This study aims to construct a deep-learning-based auxiliary diagnostic model for early IK diagnosis.

Design:

A retrospective study.

Methods:

IK patients with pathological diagnosis were enrolled and their slit-lamp photos were collected. Image augmentation, normalization, and histogram equalization were applied, and five image classification networks were implemented and compared. Model blending technique was used to combine the advantages of single model. The performance of combined model was validated by 10-fold cross-validation, receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC), confusion matrix, Gradient-wright class activation mapping (Grad-CAM) visualization, and t-distributed Stochastic Neighbor Embedding (t-SNE). Three experienced cornea specialists were invited and competed with the combined model on making clinical decisions.

Results:

Overall, 4830 slit-lamp images were collected from patients diagnosed with IK between June 2010 and May 2021, including 1490 (30.8%) bacterial keratitis (BK), 1670 (34.6%) fungal keratitis (FK), 600 (12.4%) herpes simplex keratitis (HSK), and 1070 (22.2%) Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK). KeratitisNet, the combination of ResNext101_32x16d and DenseNet169, reached the highest accuracy 77.08%. The accuracy of KeratitisNet for diagnosing BK, FK, AK, and HSK was 70.27%, 77.71%, 83.81%, and 79.31%, and AUC was 0.86, 0.91, 0.96, and 0.98, respectively. KeratitisNet was mainly confused in distinguishing BK and FK. There were 20% of BK cases mispredicted into FK and 16% of FK cases mispredicted into BK. In diagnosing each type of IK, the accuracy of model was significantly higher than that of human ophthalmologists ( p < 0.001).

Conclusion:

KeratitisNet demonstrates a good performance on clinical IK diagnosis and classification. Deep learning could provide an auxiliary diagnostic method to help clinicians suspect IK using different corneal manifestations.
Coronavirus disease–2019 morbidity and mortality among health care workers in Uganda
Authors: Ssetaba Leoson Junior , Mirembe Joy , Omega Jotham , Okot Jerom , Kiguli Sarah , Nakwagala Frederick Nelson , Bongomin Felix
Published: November 2022

Background:

Health care workers (HCWs) are at increased risk of acquiring coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This study aimed to determine and compare the morbidity and mortality rates due to COVID-19 among the HCWs and the general population (non-HCWs).

Methods:

We conducted a retrospective chart review. We accessed electronic database of participants admitted at Mulago National Referral Hospital COVID-19 Treatment Unit (CTU) between March 2020 and September 2021. Participants with missing occupations were excluded.

Results:

Of 594 eligible participants, 6.4% ( n = 38) were HCWs. Compared with non-HCWs, HCWs were much younger (48 versus 55 years, p = 0.020). The proportion of participants with severe disease (73.7% versus 77.6%, p = 0.442), who had not received COVID-19 vaccine (91.2% versus 94.7%, p = 0.423), mortality rate (44.7% versus 54.8%, p = 0.243) and the median length of hospitalization (6 versus 7 days, p = 0.913) were similar among HCWs and non-HCWs, respectively. A higher proportion of HCWs required oxygen therapy (24.3% versus 9.7%, p < 0.01). At admission, the presence of cough ( p = 0.723), breathlessness ( p = 0.722), fever ( p = 0.19), sore throat ( p = 0.133), comorbidities ( p = 0.403) and headache ( p = 0.162) were similar across groups. Rhinorrhoea was more common among HCWs (34.4% versus 16.6%, p = 0.017). Among HCWs, nurses had the highest morbidity (52.6%) and mortality (58.8%).

Conclusion:

The morbidity and mortality among HCWs in Uganda were substantial, with a low COVID-19 vaccination rate and a higher requirement for oxygen therapy despite a younger age.
Growth monitoring service utilization and its associated factors among mothers of children less than 2 years in Muhir Aklil district, Gurage zone, Southern Ethiopia, 2020
Authors: Endale Getu , Melis Tamirat , Dendir Andamlak , Lentiro Kifle , Sahle Tadesse
Published: November 2022

Introduction:

United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund recommends a 100% growth monitoring and promotion coverage, but the prevalence of growth monitoring and promotion service utilization rate in Ethiopia is only 16.9%. Even though Ethiopia is attempting different strategies to cope up with this low rate, the problem is still unresolved.

Objective:

The aim of this study is to assess the prevalence of growth monitoring service utilization and its associated factors among mothers of children less than 2 years in Muhir Aklil district.

Methods:

A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 443 study participants from 10 February to 8 March 2020. The study participants in the study were selected using simple random sampling technique. The collected data were entered in to EpiData3.1 and exported to SPSS version 23. Bivariate and multi-variable logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with growth monitoring service utilization. Statistically significance was declared at p value < 0.05% and 95% confidence interval.

Results:

In this study, the overall growth monitoring and service utilization was 32.9%. Fully empowered mothers adjusted odds ratio: 2.7, 95% confidence interval: 1.5–4.3), receiving counseling (adjusted odds ratio: 2.8; 95% confidence interval: 2.0–4.7) and regularly participating on community conversation (adjusted odds ratio: 2.8, 95% confidence interval: 1.8–7.6) were significantly associated with growth monitoring service utilization.

Conclusion:

Growth monitoring services utilization was 32.9%. Maternal empowerment on decision-making, engaging women on financial control, knowledge of mothers receiving counseling and regularly participating on community conversation were the independent factors for growth monitoring service utilization. The health extension workers should strengthen maternal empowerment and community conversation through increasing maternal awareness.
Entering the “foxhole”: Partisan media priming and the application of racial justice in America
Authors: Bell Andrew M. , DeSante Christopher D. , Gift Thomas , Smith Candis Watts
Published: November 2022

Can accessing a partisan media environment—irrespective of its content—change how Americans interpret and assess news? We examine this question by focusing on one of the most fraught issues in American society: racial justice. Although studies suggest that repeated exposure to right-leaning media messaging can amplify racial resentment, we leverage a pair of survey experiments to test whether merely seeing a conservative media masthead can make Whites render justice with racialized considerations. Results show that—even keeping the content of stories identical—entering a simulated right-leaning media environment significantly conditions racial attitudes. We find evidence of both anti-Black and pro-White biases that are activated when respondents consume information under the Fox News masthead. This study has important implications for understanding how partisan media priming shapes political views and the distinctive nature of racism in America.
Open science and conflict of interest policies of medical and health sciences journals before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: A repeat cross-sectional study
Authors: Gardener Antoni D. , Hick Ellen J. , Jacklin Chloe , Tan Gifford , Cashin Aidan G. , Lee Hopin , Nunan David , Toomey Elaine C. , Richards Georgia C.
Published: November 2022

Objectives

To audit the transparent and open science standards of health and medical sciences journal policies and explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Design

Repeat cross-sectional study.

Setting

19 journals listed in Google Scholar's Top Publications for health and medical sciences.

Participants

Blood, Cell, Circulation, European Heart Journal, Gastroenterology, Journal of Clinical Oncology, Journal of the American College of Cardiology, Nature Genetics, Nature Medicine, Nature Neuroscience, Neuron, PLoS ONE, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Science Translational Medicine, The British Medical Journal, The Journal of the American Medical Association, The Lancet, The Lancet Oncology, and The New England Journal of Medicine.

Main outcome measures

We used the Transparency and Openness Promotion (TOP) guideline and the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) requirements for disclosing conflicts of interest (COIs) to evaluate journals standards.

Results

TOP scores slightly improved during the COVID-19 pandemic, from a median of 5 (IQR: 2–12.5) out of a possible 24 points in February 2020 to 7 (IQR: 4–12) in May 2021, but overall, scores were very low at both time points. Journal policies scored highest for their adherence to data transparency and scored lowest for preregistration of study protocols and analysis plans and the submission of replication studies. Most journals fulfilled all ICMJE provisions for reporting COIs before (84%; n  =  16) and during (95%; n  =  18) the COVID-19 pandemic.

Conclusions

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of practising open science. However, requirements for open science practices in audited policies were overall low, which may impede progress in health and medical research. As key stakeholders in disseminating research, journals should promote a research culture of greater transparency and more robust open science practices.
Unboxing the Chinese Blind Boxes among China’s grown-up missing children: Probabilistic and elastic prosumption through mediated collection, exchange and resale of figurines
Authors: Whyke Thomas William , Chen Zhen Troy , Lopez-Mugica Joaquin , Wang Aiqing
Published: November 2022

This paper situates the ‘Blind Box’ consumption, collection and prosumption practices in China within globalisation and the ‘media-mix’ fandom, which is to consume and resell media merchandise in opaque packages as probability goods. We re-centre the focus of fandom studies on the then much neglected ‘missing child’ and now the ‘emerging adult’ in a globalising world. We argue the Chinese emerging adult consumes, collects and resells Blind Boxes as a generative and agentic collection and fandom practice, defined as ‘probabilistic and elastic prosumption’ in a quasi-social and quasi-individual manner. We then critically examine and unpack the cultural production and meaning making process undertook by collectors who also accumulate sociality and form identity through affective and economic investments, mediated collection and exchange of figurines in a post-socialist and consumerist society.
Development of sea urchin type silica stabilised zirconia nanospheres with enhanced antimicrobial and osteoactivity properties
Authors: Han Jiyu , Liu Siyu , Ai Songtao , Wan Daqian
Published: November 2022

Zirconia based ceramics are giving new hope in hard tissues replacement and implants application. Among the three forms of zirconia (ZrO2), tetragonal form ( t-ZrO2) possess high mechanical stability in comparison with the other two which makes it suitable for fabricating biomedical implants with enhanced osteo activity. Here, tetragonal phase nanospheres consisting of silica stabilised zirconia (1:1) were prepared via sol gel method. The nanospheres exhibit sea urchin type morphology as observed from FESEM analysis. XRD patterns confirm the formation of t -SiO2-ZrO2 binary phase after high temperature calcination at 650°C. The immersion studies in SBF help in the formation of a layer of apatite in a gradual manner over the pallets for the period of 7, 14, 21 and 28 days which was confirmed by XRD, FTIR analysis. Moreover, t- SiO2 – ZrO2 samples were subjected to cytotoxicity tests through MTT assay on MG-63 cell lines. Antibacterial properties were investigated quantitatively using colony forming unit method against both gram positive as well as gram-negative bacteria.
Untenable Expectations: Nurses’ Work in the Context of Medication Administration, Error, and the Organization
Authors: Hawkins Sara F. , Morse Janice M.
Published: November 2022

We explored nurses’ work in the context of medication administration, errors, and the organization. Secondary analysis of ethnographic data included 92 hours of non-participant observation, and 37 unstructured interviews with nurses, administrators, and pharmacists. Think-aloud observations and analysis of institutional documents supplemented these data. Findings revealed the nature of nurses’ work was characterized by chasing a standard of care, prioritizing practice, and renegotiating routines. The rich description identified characteristics of nurses’ work as cyclical, chaotic and complex shattering studies that explained nurses’ work as linear. A new theoretical model was developed, illustrating the inseparability of nurses’ work from contextual contingencies and enhancing our understanding of the cascading components of work that result in days that spin out of the nurses’ control. These results deepen our understanding why present efforts targeting the reduction of medication errors may be ineffective and places administration accountable for the context in which medication errors occur.
Outcomes Following Total Talus Replacement: A Systematic Review
Authors: Johnson Lindsey G. , Anastasio Albert T. , Fletcher Amanda N. , Hendren Stephanie , Adams Samuel B.
Published: November 2022

Category:

Ankle; Hindfoot; Trauma

Introduction/Purpose:

Prosthetic substitution of the talus presents a unique challenge to the foot and ankle surgeon. The shear and compressive forces on the talus and its tenuous blood supply lead to high rates of avascular necrosis with possible talar collapse. The purpose of this systematic review is to evaluate whether total talus replacements (TTR) lead to improved clinical outcomes with appropriate safety metrics in patients with a history of avascular necrosis or significant trauma.

Methods:

Concepts of talus and arthroplasty were searched in MEDLINE (PubMed), Embase (Elsevier), CINAHL Complete (EBSCOhost), and Scopus (Elsevier) from the database's inception through November 4, 2021. Inclusion Criteria were 1) previous trauma to the talus, 2) post-traumatic or degenerative arthritis to the tibiotalar joint, 3) avascular necrosis of talus, 4) multiple failed prior interventions, 5) degenerative osteoarthritis to the tibiotalar joint, and 56) inflammatory arthropathy to tibiotalar joint. Manuscripts in non-English languages or those with concomitant total ankle arthroplasty or revision arthroplasty were excluded. All study designs were eligible according to the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery criteria level I-IV. The modified Coleman Methodology Score was used to evaluate study quality and the Methodological Index for Non-Randomized Studies criteria was used to assess risk of bias.

Results:

Twenty-two studies of 191 patients (196 tali) at an average age of 50 (14-80) years were included (Figure 1a). Nineteen studies utilized third generation implants, two studies used first generation (n=9), and one study used second generation implants (n = 14) made of ceramic (n=82), cobalt chrome (n=49), or titanium (n=23) (Figure 1b). Radiographic and patient-reported outcomes are outlined in Figure 1c. The most common adverse outcome was osteosclerosis of the tibia (n=24), calcaneus (n=19), and navicular (n=5). Additionally, hindfoot varus (n=3), ankle discomfort (n = 3), decreased subtalar motion (n=7), periprosthetic fracture (n=1), calcaneal fracture (n=1), delayed wound healing (n=3), hindfoot valgus (n=1), prosthetic stem sunken into the talar neck (n=1), superficial peroneal nerve neuroma (n=1), loosening (n=2) were reported. Eight revisions were reported.

Conclusion:

TTR is an appealing option to maintain range of motion through the tibiotalar joint and allow for maintenance of more normal foot and ankle biomechanics. Given promising early- and mid-term outcomes, TTR is becoming more widely used in the setting of talar collapse. Still, high complication rates, especially adjacent joint osteoarthritis, may remain under-reported in the literature given inadequate long-term follow-up. Future research should aim to expand upon the indications of TTR, elucidate survivorship and complication rates, and directly compare TTR to existing forms of salvage options for advanced talar avascular necrosis.
Can We Utilize PROMIS Neuropathic Pain Quality for Assessment of Neuropathic Heel Pain?
Authors: Joo Peter , Hoffman Samantha , Baumhauer Judith F. , Oh Irvin
Published: November 2022

Category:

Hindfoot; Other

Introduction/Purpose:

Heel pain is one of the most common presentations encountered by foot and ankle specialists. While most etiologies of heel pain such as plantar fasciitis are mechanical stress driven nociceptive pain, a combined neuropathic mechanism may contribute to worse outcomes and challenges in pain management for a subset of these patients. Diagnosis and management of neuropathic pain in foot and ankle patients remain challenging. Since neuropathic pain may play an important part in indicating surgery or counseling heel pain patients, we investigated the plausibility of utilizing the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Neuropathic Pain Quality (PQN) as an initial screening tool to diagnose and monitor the clinical effects of treatment. Secondary outcomes were prevalence of neuropathic pain and associated risk factors.

Methods:

New patients presenting to a tertiary care academic institution with heel pain were prospectively recruited. PROMIS PQN t-scores were obtained from all patients to detect and determine the severity of NP. Patients were grouped into no neuropathic pain (NP), mild neuropathic pain (NP), and severe NP based on the initial PROMIS PQN t-scores. Pain Interference (PI), Physical Function (PF), and Self-Efficacy (SE) scores were assessed at baseline, 30, and 90-day follow-up timepoints. Other factors such as age, smoking, body mass index (BMI), low back/neck pain, anxiety, depression, and medications were analyzed for association with outcomes. Linear mixed modeling was utilized to assess the main effects of time and NP on PROMIS t-scores, and meaningful clinically important difference (MCID) was compared.

Results:

A total of 48 patients with mean age of 52.4+-12.5 years old were recruited at the initial visit. The cohort consisted of 35 (73%) female patients, 7 (15%) diabetics, 6 (13%) current smokers, 18 (38%) with low back/neck pain, 6 (13%) with anxiety, 15 (31%) with depression, and 9 (19%) had taken neuromodulator, such as gabapentin. When using the PROMIS PQN as the assessment tool, 33 patients (69%) had NP at baseline; 23 (48%) with mild, and 10 (21%) with severe NP. BMI was the only significant independent factor associated with NP (p = 0.011). Higher baseline NP was significantly associated with higher PQN (p<0.001) and PI (p=0.005), and lower SE (p=0.04) across timepoints. Patients who were detected to have NP based on the PQN t-score had lower PF at baseline with significantly less improvement in PF (3 vs 9.9, p=0.035), and did not meet MCID (Figure 1).

Conclusion:

Prevalence of neuropathic pain in patients presenting with heel pain was high. Neuropathic pain at baseline was significantly associated with worse pain and self-efficacy over time, and less clinically meaningful improvements in function. The PROMIS PQN may serve as a valuable tool to identify and guide clinical treatment decision pathways for patients with neuropathic heel pain.
Modelling and validation of surface roughness in micro-turned nickel-based alloys (Nimonic 90)
Authors: Kumar Vineet , Samuel GL
Published: November 2022

Nickel-based alloys (Nimonic 90) are one of the most used materials for aircraft parts, gas turbine components and fasteners due to their inherent properties such as high strength at elevated temperature, good corrosion resistance, high stability, high wear resistance and low thermal conductivity. Because of the above-mentioned properties, Nimonic 90 alloy is difficult to machine, and the roughness obtained by machining of nimonic alloy is comparatively rough. The existing theoretically developed mathematical equations for roughness measurement do not consist of all the machining parameters. It lacks some of the effective roughness parameters such as depth of cut, spindle speed and cutting-edge angle. This article proposes a novel mathematical/geometrical model for the prediction of surface roughness using fundamental geometrical properties of tool and workpiece. For developing the mathematical model, the nose radius of the cutting tool insert is assumed as a straight line (arc length). The principal cutting-edge angle is introduced in the geometrically developed novel model. The developed mathematical/geometrical model comprises mainly depth of cut, principal cutting-edge angle, nose radius, spindle speed and feed. In micro turning, surface roughness increases with an increase in feed and depth of cut. A rough surface, compared to conventional turning, is produced while micro turning due to edge ploughing and rubbing when the chip thickness is lesser than the edge radius. This model is validated by conducting micro-turning experiments on nickel-based superalloy (Nimonic 90) using aluminium titanium nitride physical vapour deposition coated tungsten carbide micro inserts. The surface roughness is significantly affected when the cutting-edge comes in contact with the workpiece; it is because of the imperfect geometry of the nose of the cutting tool. A slight variation of surface roughness with the depth of cut has also been observed. A good correlation is observed between the predicted and experimentally measured roughness values.
Biallelic deletion of 1p32 defines ultra-high-risk myeloma, but monoallelic del(1p32) remains a strong prognostic factor
Authors: Schavgoulidze Anaïs , Talbot Alexis , Perrot Aurore , Cazaubiel Titouan , Leleu Xavier , Manier Salomon , Buisson Laure , Mahéo Sabrina , Do Souto Ferreira Laura , Pavageau Luka , Hulin Cyrille , Marolleau Jean-Pierre , Voillat Laurent , Belhadj Karim , Divoux Marion , Slama Borhane , Brechignac Sabine , Macro Margaret , Stoppa Anne-Marie , Sanhes Laurence , Orsini-Piocelle Frédérique , Fontan Jean , Chretien Marie-Lorraine , Demarquette Hélène , Mohty Mohamad , Avet-Loiseau Hervé , Corre Jill
Published: November 2022

Cytogenetic abnormalities (CAs) are known to be the preponderant prognostic factor in multiple myeloma. Our team has recently developed a prognostic score based on 6 CAs, with which del(1p32) appears to be the second worst abnormality after del(17p). This study aimed to confirm the adverse effect of 1p32 deletion in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM). Among 2551 patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma, 11% were harboring del(1p32). Their overall survival (OS) was significantly inferior compared with patients without del(1p32) (median OS: 49 months vs 124 months). Likewise, progression-free survival was significantly shorter. More importantly, biallelic del(1p32) conferred a dramatically poorer prognosis than a monoallelic del(1p32) (median OS: 25 months vs 60 months). As expected, the OS of patients with del(1p32) significantly decreased when this abnormality was associated with other high-risk CAs [del(17p), t(4;14), or gain(1q)]. In the multivariate analysis, del(1p32) appeared as a negative prognostic factor; after adjustment for age and treatment, the risk of progression was 1.3 times higher among patients harboring del(1p32), and the risk of death was 1.9 times higher. At the dawn of risk-adapted treatment strategies, we have confirmed the adverse effect of del(1p32) in multiple myeloma and the relevance of its assessment at diagnosis.
A phase 1/2 study of lenalidomide and obinutuzumab with CHOP for newly diagnosed DLBCL
Authors: Cherng Hua-Jay J. , Alig Stefan K. , Oki Yasuhiro , Nastoupil Loretta J. , Fayad Luis , Neelapu Sattva S. , Turturro Francesco , Hagemeister Fredrick , Craig Alexander F. M. , Macaulay Charles W. , Rodriguez Maria Alma , Lee Hun Ju , McDonnell Timothy J. , Flowers Christopher R. , Vega Francisco , Green Michael R. , Feng Lei , Kurtz David M. , Alizadeh Ash A. , Davis R. Eric , Westin Jason R.
Published: November 2022

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) can be cured with rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (R-CHOP); however, one-third of patients experience refractory or relapsed disease. Studies comparing R-CHOP with modified regimens replacing R with obinutuzumab (O) or adding lenalidomide (L) did not result in improved outcomes; however, L and O together may enhance natural killer-cell mediated antibody-dependent cellular toxicity when paired with CHOP. Here, we report on a phase 1b/2 study of 53 patients with newly diagnosed DLBCL who received 6 cycles of LO-CHOP. The end of treatment overall and complete response rates of the 50 evaluable patients were 98% and 90%, respectively. After a median follow-up of 4.5 years, the 4-year progression free and overall survival rates were 87.4% and 91.3%, respectively. Grade 3 to 4 adverse events were experienced by 70% of patients, including neutropenia (38%), thrombocytopenia (17%), fatigue (13%), and neutropenic fever (13%). Of the 33 patients profiled with circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) sequencing, 31 (94%) had detectable pretreatment ctDNA with cancer personalized profiling by deep sequencing, 24 (73%) were classifiable by the LymphGen classifier, and 15/20 (75%) and 12/17 (71%) patients achieved early and major molecular responses after 1 and 2 cycles, respectively. Using phased variant enrichment and detection sequencing, 16/18 evaluable patients (89%) showed no detectable ctDNA after at least 5 cycles of LO-CHOP. LO-CHOP demonstrates high efficacy and tolerability in newly diagnosed DLBCL, leading to a high rate of undetectable minimal residual disease by ctDNA. This trial has been registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02529852.
Effects of cardioselective beta blockade on the peripheral lung in guinea pigs
Authors: Clerici C , Macquin-Mavier I , Harf A
Published: November 2022

Impairment of lung function with selective beta-1 blocking drugs has been repeatedly demonstrated in guinea pigs, normal subjects and asthmatic patients. The effects of several beta blockers, propranolol (non-selective), atenolol (beta-1 selective), IPS 339 (beta-2 selective) on histamine-induced bronchoconstriction have been investigated in 30 anaesthetized and mechanically ventilated guinea pigs, measuring changes in conductance and dynamic compliance. Their effects on peripheral lung, where only beta-2 adrenoceptors are present, were more specifically assessed using changes in lung distensibility by means of static pressure-volume curves. Atenolol (1 mg.kg-1), IPS 339 (2 mg.kg-1) and propranolol (2 mg.kg-1) enhanced histamine-induced decrease in lung distensibility, conductance and dynamic compliance. The decrease was of the same order of magnitude for all three parameters. Atenolol (1 mg.kg-1) and propranolol (2 mg.kg-1) decreased lung distensibility to the same extent. By contrast low dose atenolol (0.1 mg.kg-1) did not potentiate histamine-induced bronchoconstriction although this dose did produce a significant cardiac beta blockade. These results demonstrate that 1) beta blockers have a clear effect on the peripheral lung, 2) beta-1 adrenoceptors are not involved in pulmonary effects of cardioselective drugs. They suggest that dose dependent loss of selectivity is the major mechanism behind impairment of lung function following such drugs.
Measurement technique influences the response of transfer factor (TICO) to salbutamol in patients with airflow limitation
Authors: Chinn DJ , Askew J , Rowley L , Cotes JE
Published: November 2022

Single-breath transfer factor obtained using a multibreath estimate of alveolar volume (TI) was measured before and after salbutamol in twenty patients with reversible airflow limitation. The effective breathholding time was calculated by four methods due respectively to Ogilvie and colleagues as modified by the American Thoracic Society (ATS), ATS Epidemiological Standardization Project (ESP), Jones and Meade in which allowance was made for the time of sample collection and a simplified method in which the allowance for sampling was in terms of volume, not time. Two patients could perform the test procedure only after salbutamol. Amongst the remainder the transfer factor calculated using a single-breath estimate of alveolar volume (TI') was on average 12% less than TI. Carbon monoxide transfer coefficient (KCO), TI and TI' were highest by the ESP method and lowest by the Ogilvie method. Inhalation of salbutamol (200 gamma) did not affect TI' by any method or TI and KCO by the Jones and Meade method but results by the other methods were reduced; in the case of the modified Ogilvie method the reduction was 3.9%. This error was due to overestimation of effective breathholding time by neglecting the reduction of 39% which occurred in the time of sample collection. The time of inspiration was unchanged whilst the time of deadspace washout was reduced by 16%. After bronchodilatation the absence of a change in TI' was due to the overestimation of effective breathholding time being offset by an increase in the proportion of alveolar volume measured by the single-breath procedure.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Heterogeneous ventilation and perfusion: a sensitive indicator of lung impairment in nonsmoking coal miners
Authors: Susskind H , Acevedo JC , Iwai J , Rasmussen DL , Heydinger DK , Pate HR , Harold WH , Brill AB
Published: November 2022

Twenty life-long nonsmoking West Virginia coal-miners participated in a study to amplify the role of focal irregularities on regional ventilation (V) and perfusion (Q) and to develop an improved method for the early detection of coal-workers' pneumoconiosis. Their mean age was 59.3 yr and they averaged 35.2 years' exposure to coal dust. Conventional pulmonary function tests were supplemented by measurement of V, Q and lung volume (V), using radioactive Kr-81m, Tc-99m MAA and Xe-127, respectively, to determine regional abnormalities in lung function. A computer analysis of the regional distributions of V/V, Q/V and V/Q was performed, and their topographical distributions and indices of heterogeneity (HI) computed. V/V and Q/V were significantly reduced in the lower third, and increased in the upper two-thirds of the miners' lungs; V/Q was reduced in the upper half. The miners' V/V and Q/V were more heterogeneous (p less than 0.001) than that of eleven age-matched controls, with mean ventilation HI values of 0.190 +/- 0.027 and 0.133 +/- 0.011, respectively, and mean perfusion HI values of 0.206 +/- 0.022 and 0.164 +/- 0.041, respectively. P(A-a)O2 correlated positively (r = 0.72; p less than 0.001) with ventilation HI. Gas exchange was the most significant functional measurement, being abnormal in 19/20 subjects. In contrast, conventional spirometric measurements were within the predicted normal limits in all but four miners.
Benign clear cell tumour of the lung--intermediate filament typing as a tool in differential diagnosis
Authors: Termeer A , Arkenbout PM , Lacquet LK , Cox AL
Published: November 2022

A case of a benign clear cell ('sugar') tumour of the lung in a 61-year-old woman is presented. Characteristic routine histological features are provided and problems concerning differential diagnosis are discussed. Immunohistochemical stainings for the intracytoplasmatic intermediate filament proteins keratin and vimentin in our patient suggest a mesenchymal origin for this rare pulmonary neoplasm, and provide useful diagnostic aid in inconclusive cases.
Respiratory epithelial permeability is unrelated to bronchial reactivity and small airway function in young smokers and nonsmokers
Authors: Taylor RG , Agnew JE , Francis RA , Pavia D , Clarke SW
Published: November 2022

We studied eight young smokers and ten nonsmokers, to determine whether respiratory epithelial permeability to radiolabelled diethylenetriamine penta-acetate (99mTcDTPA) was related to small airway function or bronchial reactivity. Permeability was measured in inner (containing central airways) and outer lung zones by gamma camera. Lung-to-blood half-time (LB-T1/2) was corrected for blood background. Histamine was inhaled tidally (2 min inhalations) using doubling concentrations from 2 to 64 mg.ml-1. Results of small airway function tests, and of bronchial reactivity (expressed as the threshold concentration (reducing forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) by 2 SD), and as the percentage reduction in FEV1 after histamine 16 mg.ml-1) were similar in smokers and nonsmokers. LB-T1/2 was shorter in smokers than in nonsmokers in both inner (median (range) 21 (5.5-33) vs 63.5 (41-115) min; p less than 0.004) and outer (20.5 (5.5-30) vs 58.5 (39-105) min; p less than 0.004) zones. Neither inner nor outer zone LB-T1/2 was related to small airway function or bronchial reactivity. Bronchial reactivity and small airway tests may be abnormal in middle-aged smokers, but neither is related to the increased respiratory epithelial permeability of young smokers, in whom it appears too sensitive an index of airway integrity.
Asbestos bodies in bronchoalveolar lavage reflect lung asbestos body concentration
Authors: De Vuyst P , Dumortier P , Moulin E , Yourassowsky N , Roomans P , de Francquen P , Yernault JC
Published: November 2022

Asbestos body (AB) countings on both bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluids and digested lung tissue samples were performed in one hundred consecutive subjects submitted to a thoracotomy procedure, mostly for lung carcinoma. A good correlation (r = 0.73) was found between the two groups of values for the total group of subjects. When restrictive selection criteria were taken into account, such as lavage homolateral to the analysed lung, performed by the same trained physician, this correlation improved (r = 0.82). Absence of AB's or low AB counts (less than 1 AB/ml) in BAL corresponded in about 70% of cases to concentrations of less than 1,000 AB/gm and in 100% of cases to concentrations less than 10,000 AB/gm. In subjects with BAL containing more than 1 AB/ml, the lung tissues of 85% contained more than 1,000 AB/gm and the tissues of 44% contained more than 10,000 AB/gm. Above 10 AB/ml BAL, all lung tissues contained more than 10,000 AB/gm. Since lung tissue is not readily available in patients undergoing assessment of their asbestos exposure, BAL fluid analysis seems to be a useful tool to evaluate lung AB concentrations. This technique cannot be performed, however, in patients with severe lung impairment which does not allow sufficient recovery of BAL fluid.
Metabolic enzymatic activities in the intercostal and serratus muscles and in the latissimus dorsi of middle-aged normal men and patients with moderate obstructive pulmonary disease
Authors: Sanchez J , Brunet A , Medrano G , Debesse B , Derenne JP
Published: November 2022

The glycolytic and oxidative enzyme activities (lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), hexokinase (HK), citrate synthase (CS) and 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA-dehydrogenase (HAD] were measured in the fifth internal and external intercostal muscles, in the vertical and horizontal parts of the serratus, an accessory inspiratory muscle, and in a non-respiratory muscle, the latissimus dorsi (LD) of twenty middle-aged men: nine subjects with normal lung function and eleven patients with moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In the normal subjects the enzyme activities of the respiratory muscles were similar to those of the LD, and there were no differences between the internal and the external intercostal muscles. In the COPD patients the metabolic activities of HK, CS and HAD were higher in both intercostals than in LD. Furthermore, there was a significant increase in these enzymatic activities as compared to the intercostals of the normal subjects. These data support the hypothesis that the internal and external intercostal muscles play a more important role in COPD patients than in normal subjects. They are consistent with the hypothesis that COPD has an endurance training effect on both intercostal muscles which could compensate for diaphragmatic disuse.