bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A prospective cohort study to evaluate continuous wound infusion with local analgesics within an enhanced recovery protocol after colorectal cancer surgery
Authors: Ketelaers Stijn H. J. , Dhondt Lieke , van Ham Nikki , Harms Ansgar S. , Scholten Harm J. , Nieuwenhuijzen Grard A. P. , Rutten Harm J. T. , Burger Jacobus W. A. , Bloemen Johanne G. , Vogelaar F. Jeroen
Published: May 2022

Aim

To reduce detrimental opioid‐related side effects, minimising the postoperative opioid consumption is needed, especially in older patients. Continuous wound infusion (CWI) with local analgesics appears to be an effective opioid‐sparing alternative. However, the added value of CWI to an enhanced recovery protocol after colorectal cancer (CRC) surgery is unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of CWI after CRC surgery within a strictly adhered to enhanced recovery protocol.

Methods

In this multicentre prospective observational cohort study, patients who underwent CRC surgery between May 2019 and January 2021 were included. Patients were treated with CWI as adjunct to multimodal pain management within an enhanced recovery protocol. Postoperative opioid consumption, pain scores and outcomes regarding functional recovery were evaluated.

Results

A cohort of 130 consecutive patients were included, of whom 36.2% were ≥75 years. Postoperative opioids were consumed by 80 (61.5%) patients on postoperative day 0, and by 28 (21.5%), 27 (20.8%), and 18 (13.8%) patients on postoperative days 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Median pain scores were <4 on all days. The median time until first passage of stool was 1.0 (IQR: 1.0–2.0) day. Postoperative delirium occurred in 0.8%. Median length of hospital stay was 3.0 days (IQR: 2.0–5.0).

Conclusion

In patients treated with CWI, low amounts of postoperative opioid consumption, adequate postoperative pain control, and enhanced recovery were observed. CWI seems a beneficial opioid‐sparing alternative and may further improve the outcomes of an enhanced recovery protocol after CRC surgery, which seems especially valuable for older patients.
Advances in hPSC expansion towards therapeutic entities: A review
Authors: Tannenbaum Shelly E. , Reubinoff Benjamin E.
Published: May 2022

For use in regenerative medicine, large‐scale manufacturing of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) under current good manufacturing practice (cGMPs) is required. Much progress has been made since culturing under static two‐dimensional (2D) conditions on feeders, including feeder‐free cultures, conditioned and xeno‐free media, and three‐dimensional (3D) dynamic suspension expansion. With the advent of horizontal‐blade and vertical‐wheel bioreactors, scale‐out for large‐scale production of differentiated hPSCs became possible; control of aggregate size, shear stress, fluid hydrodynamics, batch‐feeding strategies, and other process parameters became a reality. Moving from substantially manipulated processes (i.e., 2D) to more automated ones allows easer compliance to current good manufacturing practices (cGMPs), and thus easier regulatory approval. Here, we review the current advances in the field of hPSC culturing, advantages, and challenges in bioreactor use, and regulatory areas of concern with respect to these advances. Manufacturing trends to reduce risk and streamline large‐scale manufacturing will bring about easier, faster regulatory approval for clinical applications.
Posterior circulation ischemic stroke not involving the brainstem is associated with cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction
Authors: Wang Ruihao , Köhrmann Martin , Kollmar Rainer , Koehn Julia , Schwab Stefan , Kallmünzer Bernd , Hilz Max J.
Published: May 2022

Background and purpose

Ischemic stroke may induce cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction, but most previous studies have included patients with anterior circulation ischemic stroke or brainstem stroke. It remains unclear whether posterior circulation ischemic stroke (PCIS) without brainstem involvement also compromises cardiovascular autonomic modulation (CAM). Therefore, we aimed to assess CAM in PCIS patients with and without brainstem involvement.

Methods

In four subgroups of 61 PCIS patients (14 occipital lobe, 16 thalamic, 12 cerebellar, and 19 brainstem strokes) and 30 healthy controls, we recorded RR intervals (RRIs), systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and respiration at supine rest during the first week after stroke onset. We calculated parameters reflecting total CAM (RRI‐standard deviation [RRI‐SD], RRI‐total powers), predominantly sympathetic CAM (RRI‐low‐frequency [LF] powers and SBP‐LF powers] and parasympathetic CAM (root mean square of successive RRI differences [RMSSD], RRI‐high‐frequency [HF] powers), sympathetic‐parasympathetic balance (RRI‐LF/HF ratios), and baroreflex sensitivity (BRS). Values were compared among the four PCIS groups and controls using one‐way ANOVA Kruskal–Wallis tests, with post‐hoc analyses. Significance was assumed for p < 0.05.

Results

In each PCIS subgroup, values for RRI, RRI‐SD, RMSSD, RRI‐HF powers, and BRS were significantly lower, while SBP‐LF powers were higher than in the controls. Only in patients with occipital lobe stroke were RRI‐LF/HF ratios significantly higher than in controls. Otherwise, autonomic variables did not differ among the four PCIS subgroups.

Conclusions

During the first week after stroke onset, our PCIS patients with occipital lobe, thalamic, cerebellar, or brainstem strokes all had reduced cardiovagal modulation, compromised baroreflex, and increased peripheral sympathetic modulation. The RRI‐LF/HF ratios suggest that sympathetic predominance is slightly more prominent after occipital lobe stroke. PCIS may trigger cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction even without brainstem involvement.
Fast dynamics shape the function of the AAA+ machine ClpB: lessons from single‐molecule FRET spectroscopy
Authors: Riven Inbal , Mazal Hisham , Iljina Marija , Haran Gilad
Published: May 2022

It has been recently shown that in some proteins, tertiary‐structure dynamics occur surprisingly fast, that is on the microsecond or sub‐millisecond time scales. In this State of the Art Review, we discuss how such ultrafast domain motions relate to the function of caseinolytic peptidase B (ClpB), a AAA+ disaggregation machine. ClpB is a large hexameric protein that collaborates with cellular chaperone machinery to rescue protein chains from aggregates. We used single‐molecule FRET spectroscopy to capture the dynamics of essential structural elements within this machine. It was found that the middle domain of ClpB, known to act as its activator, toggles between two states much faster than the overall activity cycle of the protein, suggesting a novel mode of continuous, tunable switching. Motions of the N‐terminal domain were observed to restrict the conformational space of the M domain in the absence of a substrate protein, thereby preventing it from tilting and spuriously activating ClpB. Finally, microsecond dynamics of pore loops responsible for substrate pulling through ClpB's central channel, together with their response to specific perturbations, point to a Brownian‐ratchet mechanism for protein translocation. Based on our findings, we propose a two‐time‐scale model for the activity of ClpB, in which fast conformational dynamics affect slower functional steps, determined by ATP hydrolysis time. Future work on this and other proteins is likely to shed further light on the role of ultrafast dynamics on protein function.
Land‐based climate solutions for the United States
Authors: Robertson G. Philip , Hamilton Stephen K. , Paustian Keith , Smith Pete
Published: May 2022

Meeting end‐of‐century global warming targets requires aggressive action on multiple fronts. Recent reports note the futility of addressing mitigation goals without fully engaging the agricultural sector, yet no available assessments combine both nature‐based solutions (reforestation, grassland and wetland protection, and agricultural practice change) and cellulosic bioenergy for a single geographic region. Collectively, these solutions might offer a suite of climate, biodiversity, and other benefits greater than either alone. Nature‐based solutions are largely constrained by the duration of carbon accrual in soils and forest biomass; each of these carbon pools will eventually saturate. Bioenergy solutions can last indefinitely but carry significant environmental risk if carelessly deployed. We detail a simplified scenario for the United States that illustrates the benefits of combining approaches. We assign a portion of non‐forested former cropland to bioenergy sufficient to meet projected mid‐century transportation needs, with the remainder assigned to nature‐based solutions such as reforestation. Bottom‐up mitigation potentials for the aggregate contributions of crop, grazing, forest, and bioenergy lands are assessed by including in a Monte Carlo model conservative ranges for cost‐effective local mitigation capacities, together with ranges for (a) areal extents that avoid double counting and include realistic adoption rates and (b) the projected duration of different carbon sinks. The projected duration illustrates the net effect of eventually saturating soil carbon pools in the case of most strategies, and additionally saturating biomass carbon pools in the case of forest management. Results show a conservative end‐of‐century mitigation capacity of 110 (57–178) Gt CO2e for the U.S., ~50% higher than existing estimates that prioritize nature‐based or bioenergy solutions separately. Further research is needed to shrink uncertainties, but there is sufficient confidence in the general magnitude and direction of a combined approach to plan for deployment now.
Accounting for the neglected: Invertebrate species and the 2019–2020 Australian megafires
Authors: Marsh Jessica R. , Bal Payal , Fraser Hannah , Umbers Kate , Latty Tanya , Greenville Aaron , Rumpff Libby , Woinarski John C. Z.
Published: May 2022

Aim

Invertebrates make up the vast majority of fauna species but are often overlooked in impact assessment and conservation response. The extent to which the 2019–2020 Australian megafires overlapped with the range of vertebrate species has been well documented; consequently, substantial resourcing has been directed towards their recovery. Here, we attempt to document the extent of overlap of these megafires with invertebrate species. In doing so, we seek to demonstrate that it is possible and worthwhile to assess the effect of a catastrophic event on a large number of poorly known species.

Location

Temperate and subtropical Australia.

Time period

2019–2020.

Major taxa

Australian invertebrates.

Methods

We adapted a published analytical pathway for the assessment of distributional fire overlap on vertebrate species. Overlaps with fire for 32,163 invertebrate taxa were determined using point records and polygons.

Results

We found that 13,581 invertebrate taxa had part of their range burnt in the 2019–2020 Australian megafires. Of these, 382 taxa had the whole of their known range burnt, and a further 405 taxa had 50–99.9% of their range burnt. Five examples are described.

Main conclusions

Poorly known groups of biodiversity can be impacted significantly by major disturbance events, but such impact is often overlooked. This oversight has the consequences of under‐estimating the magnitude of impacts and the potential failure to direct conservation responses to those species most in need of them. Our analysis demonstrates that the 2019–2020 megafires burnt ≥50% of the known range of nearly 800 Australian invertebrate taxa, a tally far higher than for vertebrates (19 taxa). Assessment of the real impact (i.e., beyond simply overlap with fire) requires more consideration of susceptibility and/or post‐fire survey and monitoring. The magnitude of overlap of the 2019–2020 megafires on invertebrate species justifies a conservation response that is less biased towards iconic vertebrate species.
Effets de la pandémie de COVID‐19 et du travail de soins non rémunéré sur les moyens d'existence des travailleurs informels
Authors: OGANDO Ana Carolina , ROGAN Michael , MOUSSIÉ Rachel
Published: May 2022

Avec la pandémie de COVID‐19, la crise sanitaire et économique s'est doublée d'une crise du travail de soins. Tous les travailleurs en ont pâti, y compris dans l'économie informelle. Les auteurs exploitent les résultats d'une étude longitudinale menée par le réseau WIEGO en juin‐juillet 2020 auprès de travailleurs informels de douze villes. Ils observent que la crise a accru la charge du travail de soins, avec des conséquences sur les moyens d'existence et la sécurité alimentaire. L'analyse sexospécifique de l'activité professionnelle et du travail de soins non rémunéré permet de comprendre les répercussions particulières de la crise sur les travailleurs informels dans le monde.
COVID‐19: une crise du care? Pour une analyse féministe de la riposte à la crise et des mesures ciblant les activités domestiques et les soins à autrui rémunérés et non rémunérés
Authors: CAMILLETTI Elena , NESBITT‐AHMED Zahrah
Published: May 2022

La pandémie de COVID‐19 a renforcé les inégalités entre les sexes, en augmentant la charge domestique pesant sur les femmes et les filles, ainsi que la vulnérabilité de la main‐d'œuvre, essentiellement féminine et informelle, des métiers du care. Les autrices cherchent à savoir si les pays ont tenu compte de ces enjeux dans leur riposte à la crise en exploitant une base de données internationale recensant trois types de prestations de protection sociale (aide sociale, assurances sociales et programmes du marché du travail). Elles constatent des lacunes et proposent une réflexion sur les répercussions des politiques officielles, actuelles ou futures, sur les problématiques du care.
Analysis and management of pathogens isolated from patients with complicated facial lacerations and abrasions
Authors: Shin Se Ho , Woo Sang Seok , Lee Ju Ho , Kim Hyeon Jo , Kim Seong Hwan , Kim Jae Hyun , Suh In Suck
Published: May 2022

Plastic surgeons commonly encounter patients with facial lacerations and/or abrasions in the emergency room. If they are properly treated, facial wounds generally heal well without complications. However, infection can sometimes cause delayed wound healing. We performed wound culture for the early detection of infection and to promote the healing of infected facial wounds. We included 5033 patients with facial wounds who visited the emergency room of Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital between January 2018 and February 2021. Among them, 104 patients underwent wound culture. We analysed the pathogens isolated and the patients' age, sex, wound site, mechanism of injury, wound healing time, time from injury to culture, time to culture results, and dressing methods used. Pathogens were isolated in slightly less than half of the patients (38.46%); among them, Staphylococcus epidermidis was the most common (47.5%). Methicillin‐resistant coagulase‐negative staphylococci were isolated in six (15%) patients. Patients with complicated wounds had a longer mean wound healing time (10.83 ± 5.91 days) than those with non‐complicated wounds (6.06 ± 1.68 days). Wound culture of complicated facial wounds resulted in the isolation of various types of pathogens, including antibiotic‐resistant bacteria and fungi. We recommend the use of wound culture for early detection of infection to prevent delayed wound healing.
Precision diabetes: Lessons learned from maturity‐onset diabetes of the young (MODY)
Authors: Tosur Mustafa , Philipson Louis H
Published: May 2022

Maturity‐onset of diabetes of the young (MODY) are monogenic forms of diabetes characterized by early onset diabetes with autosomal dominant inheritance. Since its first description about six decades ago, there have been significant advancements in our understanding of MODY from clinical presentations to molecular diagnostics and therapeutic responses. The prevalence of MODY is estimated as at least 1.1–6.5% of the pediatric diabetes population with a high degree of geographic variability that might arise from several factors in the criteria used to ascertain cases. GCK‐MODY, HNF1A‐MODY, and HNF4A‐MODY account for >90% of MODY cases. While some MODY forms do not require treatment (i.e., GCK‐MODY), some others are highly responsive to oral agents (i.e., HNF1A‐MODY). The risk of micro‐ and macro‐vascular complications of diabetes also differ significantly between MODY forms. Despite its high clinical impact, 50–90% of MODY cases are estimated to be misdiagnosed as type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Although there are many clinical features suggestive of MODY diagnosis, there is no single clinical criterion. An online MODY Risk Calculator can be a useful tool for clinicians in the decision‐making process for MODY genetic testing in some situations. Molecular genetic tests with a commercial gene panel should be performed in cases with a suspicion of MODY. Unresolved atypical cases can be further studied by exome or genome sequencing in a clinical or research setting, as available.
Range expansion of a widespread Indo‐Pacific haemulid, the barred javelin Pomadasys kaakan (Cuvier, 1830), in a climate change hotspot
Authors: Mos Benjamin , Mos Daniel
Published: May 2022

The authors report a first sighting of a euryhaline fish in the climate change hotspot along Australia's south‐eastern coast. The barred javelin, Pomadasys kaakan (Cuvier, 1830) was found in the Nambucca River in New South Wales, Australia, during 2021 and 2022. Specimens were adult, suggesting they may not be transitory vagrants. The new southernmost location recorded here represents a c. 200 km out‐of‐range sighting compared to previous records, and is c. 380 km south of the southernmost Australian stronghold of the species in Moreton Bay, Queensland.
Case study: Diagnosing China's prevailing urban flooding—Causes, challenges, and solutions
Authors: Ma Yang , Cui Yantao , Tan Huagao , Wang Hongyu
Published: May 2022

Accompanying its rapid urban development, prevalent urban flooding incidents have been occurring in China in the past two decades with increasing frequency. Through a comparison with generally accepted urban flooding management practices, we (the authors) identified that a lack of surface water runoff management considerations (i.e., missing a major drainage system in urban stormwater system) and inadequate local mitigation are the primary causes of urban flooding problems in China, which in turn is rooted in the planning stage of a city's development. Following identification of the primary causes for the problems, we propose the development of master drainage plans (MDPs) for the concerned cities or regions as the first effective step to mitigate the serious urban flooding problems facing many cities today. An MDP would provide necessary elements to develop a major drainage system for the city's stormwater system and allow for an accurate calculation of parameters necessary for installation of adequate local mitigations. Lessons learned in this study should be useful for China's administrative agencies and professionals while they try to find solutions to their urban flooding problems and beneficial to other nations facing rapid urban development in the future or with existing urban flooding threats.
Role of biologics in refractory recurrent aphthous stomatitis
Authors: Liu Dan , Zhang Tianyu , Zhou Hangfan , Meng Yang , Wu Chuanji , Sun Yutong , Xu Yiming , Deng Xiaoting , Wang Hui , Jiang Lu
Published: May 2022

Refractory recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RRAS) manifests as severe ulcerative lesions of the oral mucosa with poor healing and a poor response to conventional therapy, with or without systemic diseases. Its treatment remains a clinical challenge owing to the lack of effective therapies. Recently, biologics have emerged as promising targeted therapies for RRAS. The biologics targeting specific inflammatory pathways involved in the pathogenesis of RRAS, including tumor necrosis factor‐alpha inhibitors and interleukin inhibitors, offer a more precise and promising therapeutic approach for RRAS. These targeted therapies have been shown to promote healing and decrease recurrence frequency in, and improve the quality of life of patients with RRAS. Herein, the types and mechanisms of biologics currently used to treat RRAS have been reviewed; furthermore, the dose, duration, therapeutic efficacy, and adverse effects of RRAS with or without certain associated systemic diseases, and the current problems and future directions have been discussed.
Zonulin and claudin‐5 levels in multisystem inflammatory syndrome and SARS‐CoV‐2 infection in children
Authors: Kılıç Ahmet O , Akın Fatih , Yazar Abdullah , Metin Akcan Özge , Topcu Cemile , Aydın Orkun
Published: May 2022

Aim

SARS‐CoV‐2 infection in children is generally asymptomatic or mild; however, it can lead to a life‐threatening clinical condition, multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS‐C), days or weeks after the infection. Increased intestinal permeability isa possible triggering factor at the onset of the hyperinflammation associated with MIS‐C. Zonulin and claudin‐5 are involved in intestinal permeability. In this study, we aimed to investigate serum zonulin and claudin‐5 levels in SARS‐CoV‐2 infection and MIS‐C disease.

Methods

The study group consisted of children diagnosed with MIS‐C or SARS‐CoV‐2 infection who presented to a university hospital paediatric emergency or infectious diseases departments. The control group included well patients seen at the General Pediatrics units for routine follow‐up. Serum zonulin and claudin‐5 levels were measured at the time of diagnosis.

Results

Fifteen patients were included in the MIS‐C group, 19 in the SARS‐CoV‐2 infection group and 21 in the control group. The mean zonulin level in the MIS‐C group was significantly higher than in the control group (P < 0.001). Mean Claudin‐5 levels were Psignificantly lower in the SARS‐CoV‐2 infection group than in the control group (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

These results indicate that increased intestinal permeability may be involved in the pathogenesis of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection and MIS‐C disease. Larger clinical trials are needed to clarify the role of serum zonulin and claudin‐5 on intestinal permeability in MIS‐C and SARS‐CoV‐2 infection in children.
Enhancement of maternal‐neonatal bonding during the COVID‐19 pandemic: A quality improvement initiative
Authors: Jaiswal Nishtha , Puri Manju , Meena Deepika , Kamboj Sonia , Goel Srishti , Nain Shilpi , Chaudhary Vidhi , Chopra Kanika , Vats Barkha , Ansari Sana , Srivastava Shivangi S
Published: May 2022

Aim

The COVID‐19 pandemic adversely affected the essential care of newborns. In a tertiary care hospital in India, all COVID‐19 suspect post‐natal mothers awaiting COVID results were transferred to a ward shared with symptomatic COVID suspect female patients from other clinical specialities, due to shortage of space and functional health workforce. Babies born to COVID‐19 suspect mothers were moved to a separate ward with a caretaker until their mothers tested negative. Due to shortage of beds and delay in receiving COVID results, mothers and babies were often discharged separately 2–3 days apart to their home. This deprived babies of their mother's milk and bonding. We, therefore, undertook a quality improvement (QI) initiative aiming to improve rooming‐in of eligible COVID‐19 suspect mother–newborn dyads from 0% to more than 90% over a period of 6 weeks.

Methods

A QI team was formed which ran multiple Plan‐Do‐Study‐Act cycles. The results were reviewed at regular intervals and interventions were adopted, adapted or abandoned. These included advocacy, rearrangement of wards, counselling of mothers and caretakers regarding infection prevention practices and coordination between labour room, post‐natal ward and nursery staff.

Results

An improvement in rooming‐in from 0% to more than 90% was achieved.

Conclusion

QI methodology is a systematic approach in addressing and solving unexpected unforeseen problems effectively.
Two hundred and five newly assembled mitogenomes provide mixed evidence for rivers as drivers of speciation for Amazonian primates
Authors: Janiak Mareike C. , Silva Felipe E. , Beck Robin M. D. , de Vries Dorien , Kuderna Lukas F. K. , Torosin Nicole S. , Melin Amanda D. , Marquès‐Bonet Tomàs , Goodhead Ian B. , Messias Mariluce , da Silva Maria N. F. , Sampaio Iracilda , Farias Izeni P. , Rossi Rogerio , de Melo Fabiano R. , Valsecchi João , Hrbek Tomas , Boubli Jean P.
Published: May 2022

Mitochondrial DNA remains a cornerstone for molecular ecology, especially for study species from which high‐quality tissue samples cannot be easily obtained. Methods using mitochondrial markers are usually reliant on reference databases, but these are often incomplete. Furthermore, available mitochondrial genomes often lack crucial metadata, such as sampling location, limiting their utility for many analyses. Here, we assembled 205 new mitochondrial genomes for platyrrhine primates, most from the Amazon and with known sampling locations. We present a dated mitogenomic phylogeny based on these samples along with additional published platyrrhine mitogenomes, and use this to assess support for the long‐standing riverine barrier hypothesis (RBH), which proposes that river formation was a major driver of speciation in Amazonian primates. Along the Amazon, Negro, and Madeira rivers, we found mixed support for the RBH. While we identified divergences that coincide with a river barrier, only some occur synchronously and also overlap with the proposed dates of river formation. The most compelling evidence is for the Amazon river potentially driving speciation within bearded saki monkeys (Chiropotes spp.) and within the smallest extant platyrrhines, the marmosets and tamarins. However, we also found that even large rivers do not appear to be barriers for some primates, including howler monkeys (Alouatta spp.), uakaris (Cacajao spp.), sakis (Pithecia spp.), and robust capuchins (Sapajus spp.). Our results support a more nuanced, clade‐specific effect of riverine barriers and suggest that other evolutionary mechanisms, besides the RBH and allopatric speciation, may have played an important role in the diversification of platyrrhines.
Monetary policy, rational confidence, and Neo‐Fisherian depressions
Authors: Gobbi Lucio , Mazzocchi Ronny , Tamborini Roberto
Published: May 2022

Why do economies fall into depression equilibria with output and inflation below target? What is the appropriate monetary policy? We examine the so‐called “Neo‐Fisherian” claim that, at the zero lower bound of the policy interest rate, and the economy in a depression equilibrium, in order to restore the desired inflation rate the policy rate should be raised consistently with the Fisher equation. To this end, we study a New Keynesian economy where we introduce a process of expectations formation, less explored in the relevant literature, such that agents, facing multiple equilibria, seek to figure out their subjective probabilistic beliefs about the future long‐run equilibrium of the economy (“normality”, with inflation and output reverting to target, or “depression”, with inflation and output remaining below target), driven by the observed state of the economy. Therefore, key to the macroeconomic process is the dynamic interaction between the agents' state of confidence in the return to normality and monetary policy. Differently from comparable works, we find that the Neo‐Fisherian claim is a theoretical possibility depending on the interplay of a set of parameters and very low levels of agents' confidence. Yet, on the basis of simulations of the model, we may say that this possibility is remote for most commonly found empirical values of the relevant parameters. Moreover, the Neo‐Fisherian policy‐rate peg is not sustained by the expectations formation process.
Defining Death
Authors: Charlton William
Published: May 2022

Defining death as irreversible cardio-circulatory arrest connects death with ability to resuscitate, raises ethical issues about heart-transplants, and tells us rather when death occurs than what it is. I consider whether death is ceasing to exist, whether immortality is natural for human beings, and whether spatio-temporal continuity is necessary for being the same person. That immortality is natural is alien to Jewish thinking in the Bible, where the idea of existence after death developed only with that of God's transcendent existence. Plato's definition of death as the separate existence of soul and body is grounded on his analysis of intelligence. Christian philosophers now accept that intelligence evolved out of sentience and sentience out of inanimate matter; so they may prefer the Jewish view that existence after death is a gift from God dependent on faith; Aquinas perhaps thought faith stands to natural intelligence much as natural intelligence stands to sentience.
H3K9 demethylases IBM1 and JMJ27 are required for male meiosis in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Cheng Jinping , Xu Linhao , Bergér Valentin , Bruckmann Astrid , Yang Chao , Schubert Veit , Grasser Klaus D. , Schnittger Arp , Zheng Binglian , Jiang Hua
Published: May 2022

Dimethylation of histone H3 lysine 9 (H3K9me2), a crucial modification for heterochromatin formation and transcriptional silencing, is essential for proper meiotic prophase progression in mammals.

We analyzed meiotic defects and generated genome‐wide profiles of H3K9me2 and transcriptomes for the mutants of H3K9 demethylases. Moreover, we also identified proteins interacting with H3K9 demethylases.

H3K9me2 is usually found at transposable elements and repetitive sequences but is absent from the bodies of protein‐coding genes. In this study, we show that the Arabidopsis thaliana H3K9 demethylases IBM1 and JMJ27 cooperatively regulate crossover formation and chromosome segregation. They protect thousands of protein‐coding genes from ectopic H3K9me2, including genes essential for meiotic prophase progression. In addition to removing H3K9me2, IBM1 and JMJ27 interact with the Precocious Dissociation of Sisters 5 (PDS5) cohesin complex cofactors. The pds5 mutant shared similar transcriptional alterations with ibm1 jmj27, including meiosis‐essential genes, yet without affecting H3K9me2 levels.

Hence, PDS5s, together with IBM1 and JMJ27, regulate male meiosis and gene expression independently of H3K9 demethylation. These findings uncover a novel role of H3K9me2 removal in meiosis and a new function of H3K9 demethylases and cohesin cofactors in meiotic transcriptional regulation.
Modified Double‐Row and Double‐Pulley Technique for the Treatment of Type Ia Scapular Glenoid Fractures
Authors: Wang Yizhong , Li Qingxian , Zhang Qingsong
Published: May 2022

Objective

To evaluate the efficacy of the double‐row and double‐pulley technique in treating anterior shoulder glenoid fracture (Ideberg type Ia) using shoulder arthroscopy.

Methods

Thirty‐six patients with Ideberg type Ia admitted from March 1, 2017, to March 1, 2020, were retrospectively reviewed. Data of the patients' history included age, sex, side of the affected arm, the mean time from injury to surgery, the surgical duration, the average blood loss, and the average total duration of hospital stay. The double‐row and double‐pulley technique was used to repair the scapular glenoid fracture under arthroscopy. Computed tomography (CT) was used to evaluate fracture healing after surgery. The American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) shoulder joint scoring system, and the Constant–Murley shoulder function score were used to assess the function of the affected shoulder.

Results

The surgical duration was 90–150 min, with a mean of 127 min. The average blood loss was 90 mL (range, 60–120 mL), and the average total duration of hospital stay was 9.2 days (range, 3 to 14 days). At 9 months after surgery, the CT results showed that all fractures healed, and all patients returned to their previous levels of activity and regained an excellent range of motion. The visual analog scale (VAS) score was 7.55 ± 1.32 before surgery, and the VAS score significantly decreased to 1.24 ± 0.72 at 12 months after the operation (p < 0.05). The Constant, ASES, and UCLA shoulder function scores were 44.38 ± 2.16, 43.47 ± 12.76, and 21.80 ± 1.16 before the surgery, respectively, which improved to 93.52 ± 2.82, 91.34 ± 8.28, and 33.24 ± 1.64, respectively, in the following 12 months. One patient experienced fat liquefaction. However, no cases of deep venous thrombosis, iatrogenic neurovascular compromise, wound infection, or neurovascular injury were identified.

Conclusion

The double‐row and double‐pulley technique for treating Ideberg type Ia under shoulder arthroscopy has minor surgical trauma, reliable fracture reduction and fixation, less postoperative pain, and fewer postoperative complications and significantly improves the patient's shoulder joint function.
Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation increases eye‐gaze on salient facial features and oxytocin release
Authors: Zhu Siyu , Qing Yanan , Zhang Yingying , Zhang Xiaolu , Ding Fangyuan , Zhang Rong , Yao Shuxia , Kendrick Keith M. , Zhao Weihua
Published: May 2022

Non‐invasive, transcutaneous electrical stimulation of the auricular branch of the vagus nerve (taVNS) via the ear is used therapeutically in epilepsy, pain, and depression, and may also have beneficial effects on social cognition. However, the underlying mechanisms of taVNS are unclear and evidence regarding its role in social cognition improvement is limited. To investigate the impact of taVNS on social cognition we have studied its effects on gaze toward emotional faces in combination with eye‐tracking and on the release of the neuropeptide oxytocin which plays a key role in influencing social cognition and motivation. A total of 54 subjects were enrolled (49 were included in the final analysis) in a sham‐controlled, participant‐blind, crossover experiment, consisting of two treatment sessions 1 week apart. In one session participants received 30‐min taVNS (tragus), and in the other, they received 30‐min sham (earlobe) stimulation with the treatment order counterbalanced. The proportion of time spent viewing the faces and facial features (eyes, nose, and mouth) was measured together with resting pupil size. Additionally, saliva samples were taken for the measurement of oxytocin concentrations by enzyme‐linked immunoassay. Saliva oxytocin concentrations increased significantly after taVNS compared to sham stimulation, while resting pupil size did not. In addition, taVNS increased time spent viewing the nose region irrespective of face emotion, and this was positively correlated with increased saliva oxytocin concentrations. Our findings suggest that taVNS biases visual attention toward socially salient facial features across different emotions and this is associated with its effects on increasing endogenous oxytocin release.
Impact of the Trump Administration's Expanded Global Gag Rule Policy on Family Planning Service Provision in Ethiopia
Authors: Sully Elizabeth A. , Shiferaw Solomon , Seme Assefa , Bell Suzanne O. , Giorgio Margaret
Published: May 2022

The Global Gag Rule (GGR) makes non‐U.S. nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) ineligible for U.S. Government global health funding if they provide, refer, or promote access to abortion. This study quantitatively examines the impacts of the GGR on family planning service provision in Ethiopia. Using a panel of health facilities (2017–2020), we conduct a pre–post analysis to investigate the overall changes in family planning service provision before and after the policy came into effect in Ethiopia. Our pre–post analyses revealed post‐GGR reductions in the proportions of facilities reporting family planning provision through community health volunteers (−5.6, 95% CI [−10.2, −1.0]), mobile outreach visits (−13.1, 95% CI [−17.8, −8.4]), and family planning and postabortion care service integration (−4.8, 95% CI: [−9.1, −0.5]), as well as a 6.1 percentage points increase in contraceptive stock‐outs over the past three months (95% CI [−0.6, 12.8]). We further investigate the impacts of the GGR on facilities exposed to noncompliant organizations that did not sign the policy and lost U.S. funding. We do not find any significant additional impacts on facilities in regions more exposed to noncompliant organizations. Overall, while the GGR was slow to fully impact NGOs in Ethiopia, it ultimately resulted in negative impacts on family planning service provision.
Confocal Raman spectroscopy is suitable to assess hair cleansing‐derived skin dryness on human scalp
Authors: Kourbaj Ghaith , Bielfeldt Stephan , Kruse Iryna , Wilhelm Klaus‐Peter
Published: May 2022

Background

The purpose of this pilot study was to provide information about the washout‐dependent depletion of important skin components in the horny layer of the scalp. They were taken as markers for scalp drying effects of cosmetic cleansing products and were measured directly in vivo.

Method

In vivo confocal Raman spectroscopy was used to measure the depletion of the total natural moisturizing factor (total NMF) and some of its components (urea and lactic acid) as well as a fraction of stratum corneum lipids, after repeated washing with a standard shampoo on the human scalp.

Results

The measurements showed a reduction in the amount of NMF and lipids of the stratum corneum caused by repeated shampooing.

Conclusion

Confocal Raman spectroscopy is an innovative technology that can be used successfully in vivo on the hairy scalp. The loss of the most important skin components caused by hair washing can be quantified directly with this technology. The method is valuable to support the development cosmetic cleansing products, as it is suitable to directly compare the effects of different product candidates on the human scalp in a most realistic way.
Gender, Immigration and Commuting in Metropolitan Canada
Authors: Preston Valerie , McLafferty Sara , Maciejewska Monika
Published: May 2022

Immigrant workers often commute by transit more than other workers. Although immigrants' reliance on transit is often attributed to the same factors as women's reliance on transit: low incomes, limited access to cars, and a tendency to work close to home, gender differences are discussed rarely in analyses of immigrant commuting. Using 2016 Census of Canada microdata, we examine the use of four commute modes: driving, transit, active commuting in the form of walking and biking and being driven to work by immigrant men and women. Multinomial logistic regression indicates how economic, social, housing and metropolitan characteristics influence the use of each commute mode. Immigrant women, especially recent immigrants, are more likely to use alternative modes than immigrant men in all metropolitan areas. The findings underscore the importance of rapid and reliable transit to ensure equitable geographical access to employment for immigrant women, particularly during their first 10 years in Canada.
The perception and response of T cells to a changing environment are based on the law of initial value
Authors: Huseby Eric S. , Teixeiro Emma
Published: May 2022

αβ T cells are critical components of the adaptive immune system and are capable of inducing sterilizing immunity after pathogen infection and eliminating transformed tumor cells. The development and function of T cells are controlled through the T cell antigen receptor, which recognizes peptides displayed on major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules. Here, we review how T cells generate the ability to recognize self-peptide–bound MHC molecules and use signals derived from these interactions to instruct cellular development, activation thresholds, and functional specialization in the steady state and during immune responses. We argue that the basic tenants of T cell development and function follow Weber-Fetcher’s law of just noticeable differences and Wilder’s law of initial value. Together, these laws argue that the ability of a system to respond and the quality of that response are scalable to the basal state of that system. Manifestation of these laws in T cells generates clone-specific activation thresholds that are based on perceivable differences between homeostasis and pathogen encounter (self versus nonself discrimination), as well as poised states for subsequent differentiation into specific effector cell lineages.
Induction of AmpC-Mediated β-Lactam Resistance Requires a Single Lytic Transglycosylase in Agrobacterium tumefaciens
Authors: Figueroa-Cuilan Wanda M. , Howell Matthew , Richards Christopher , Randich Amelia , Yadav Akhilesh K. , Cava Felipe , Brown Pamela J. B.
Published: May 2022

Agrobacterium tumefaciens
, a significant biotechnological tool for production of transgenic plant lines, is highly resistant to a wide variety of antibiotics, posing challenges for various applications. One challenge is the efficient elimination of
A. tumefaciens
from transformed plant tissue without using levels of antibiotics that are toxic to the plants.
Oxford Nanopore Sequencing Reveals an Exotic
Broad bean mottle virus
Genome within Australian Grains Post-Entry Quarantine
Authors: Maina S. , Norton S. L. , McQueen V. L. , King S. , Rodoni B.
Published: May 2022

A
Broad bean mottle virus
(BBMV) isolate (S52) obtained from an infected
Vicia faba
leaf sample from Syria was sequenced using Oxford Nanopore long-read sequencing at the Australian border. The genome had 95.6%, 98.2%, and 93.4% nucleotide sequence identity to BBMV strains RNA1 (Bawden), RNA2 (Mo), and RNA3 (Bawden).
Optimizing UniFrac with OpenACC Yields Greater Than One Thousand Times Speed Increase
Authors: Sfiligoi Igor , Armstrong George , Gonzalez Antonio , McDonald Daniel , Knight Rob
Published: May 2022

UniFrac is an important tool in microbiome research that is used for phylogenetically comparing microbiome profiles to one another. Here, we adapt UniFrac to operate on graphics processing units, enabling a 1,000× computational improvement.
Spread of the
bla
OXA-48
/IncL Plasmid within and between Dogs in City Parks, France
Authors: Haenni Marisa , Métayer Véronique , Lupo Agnese , Drapeau Antoine , Madec Jean-Yves
Published: May 2022

The use of carbapenems in animals is forbidden in France due to their critical importance to treat human diseases. Nevertheless,
bla
OXA-48
-producing Enterobacterales were sporadically recovered in cats and dogs, most likely as a spill over from the human reservoir.
What’s new in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease?
Authors: Spiers Jessica , Brindley James Hallimond , Li Wenhao , Alazawi William
Published: May 2022

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common cause of liver disease worldwide, with an estimated prevalence of 25% in the Western World. NAFLD is a broad spectrum of disease states and while most people with NAFLD do not have progressive disease, 10-20% of patients develop histological features of inflammation (non-alcoholic steatohepatitis), fibrosis, cirrhosis and its complications. Despite this large disease burden of significant clinical impact, most people living with NAFLD are undiagnosed, disease course prediction is imprecise and there are no treatments licensed for this condition. In this review, we discuss some of the recent developments in NAFLD, focusing on disease definition and diagnosis, risk stratification and treatments.
Transnasal endoscopy: moving from endoscopy to the clinical outpatient–blue sky thinking in oesophageal testing
Authors: Lim Samuel , Haboubi Hasan Nadim , Anderson Simon H C , Dawson Patrick , Machado Ana Paula , Mangsat Edna , Santos Sara , Wong Terry , Zeki Sebastian , Dunn Jason
Published: May 2022

Background

COVID-19 has severely affected UK endoscopy services with an estimate 86% loss of activity during the first wave. Subsequent delays in diagnostic and surveillance procedures highlight the need for novel solutions to tackle the resultant backlog. Transnasal endoscopy (TNE) provides an attractive option compared with conventional upper gastrointestinal endoscopy given its limited use of space, no sedation and reduced nursing resources.

Our experience

We describe piloting and then establishing an outpatient model TNE service in the pandemic era and the implications on resource allocation, training and workforce. We also discuss our experiences and outline ways in which services can evolve to undertake more complex endoscopic diagnostic and therapeutic work. Over 90% of patients describe no discomfort and those who have previously experienced conventional transoral endoscopy preferred the transnasal approach. We describe a low complication rate (0.8%) comprising two episodes of mild epistaxis. The average procedure duration was reasonable (9.9±5.0 min) with full adherence to Joint Advisory Group quality standards. All biopsies assessed were deemed sufficient for diagnosis including those for surveillance procedures.

Discussion

TNE can offer a safe, tolerable, high-quality service outside of a conventional endoscopy setting. Expanding procedural capacity without impacting on the current endoscopy footprint has great potential in recovering endoscopy services following the COVID-19 pandemic. Looking forward, TNE has potential to be used both within the endoscopy suite as part of therapeutic procedures, or outside of the endoscopy unit in outpatient clinics, community hospitals, or mobile units and to achieve this in a more sustainable and environmentally friendly way.
Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) clinical practice guideline on immunotherapy for the treatment of lung cancer and mesothelioma
Authors: Govindan Ramaswamy , Aggarwal Charu , Antonia Scott J , Davies Marianne , Dubinett Steven M , Ferris Andrea , Forde Patrick M , Garon Edward B , Goldberg Sarah B , Hassan Raffit , Hellmann Matthew D , Hirsch Fred R , Johnson Melissa L , Malik Shakun , Morgensztern Daniel , Neal Joel W , Patel Jyoti D , Rimm David L , Sagorsky Sarah , Schwartz Lawrence H , Sepesi Boris , Herbst Roy S
Published: May 2022

Immunotherapy has transformed lung cancer care in recent years. In addition to providing durable responses and prolonged survival outcomes for a subset of patients with heavily pretreated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs)— either as monotherapy or in combination with other ICIs or chemotherapy—have demonstrated benefits in first-line therapy for advanced disease, the neoadjuvant and adjuvant settings, as well as in additional thoracic malignancies such as small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) and mesothelioma. Challenging questions remain, however, on topics including therapy selection, appropriate biomarker-based identification of patients who may derive benefit, the use of immunotherapy in special populations such as people with autoimmune disorders, and toxicity management. Patient and caregiver education and support for quality of life (QOL) is also important to attain maximal benefit with immunotherapy. To provide guidance to the oncology community on these and other important concerns, the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC) convened a multidisciplinary panel of experts to develop a clinical practice guideline (CPG). This CPG represents an update to SITC’s 2018 publication on immunotherapy for the treatment of NSCLC, and is expanded to include recommendations on SCLC and mesothelioma. The Expert Panel drew on the published literature as well as their clinical experience to develop recommendations for healthcare professionals on these important aspects of immunotherapeutic treatment for lung cancer and mesothelioma, including diagnostic testing, treatment planning, immune-related adverse events, and patient QOL considerations. The evidence- and consensus-based recommendations in this CPG are intended to give guidance to cancer care providers using immunotherapy to treat patients with lung cancer or mesothelioma.