bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Trends and Efficacy of Interferon-Free Anti–hepatitis C Virus Therapy in the Region of High Prevalence of Elderly Patients, Cirrhosis, and Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Real-World, Nationwide, Multicenter Study of 10 688 Patients in Japan
Authors: Toyoda Hidenori , Atsukawa Masanori , Uojima Haruki , Nozaki Akito , Tamai Hideyuki , Takaguchi Koichi , Fujioka Shinichi , Nakamuta Makoto , Tada Toshifumi , Yasuda Satoshi , Chuma Makoto , Senoh Tomonori , Tsutsui Akemi , Yamashita Naoki , Hiraoka Atsushi , Michitaka Kojiro , Shima Toshihide , Akahane Takehiro , Itobayashi Ei , Watanabe Tsunamasa , Ikeda Hiroki , Iio Etsuko , Fukunishi Shinya , Asano Toru , Tachi Yoshihiko , Ikegami Tadashi , Tsuji Kunihiko , Abe Hiroshi , Kato Keizo , Mikami Shigeru , Okubo Hironao , Shimada Noritomo , Ishikawa Toru , Matsumoto Yoshihiro , Itokawa Norio , Arai Taeang , Tsubota Akihito , Iwakiri Katsuhiko , Tanaka Yasuhito , Kumada Takashi
Published: April 2019

Background

We investigated changes in patient characteristics, rate of sustained virologic response (SVR), and factors associated with SVR after anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) therapy with direct-acting antiviral (DAA) regimens in real-world practice in Japan, where patients with HCV are characterized by older age and high prevalence of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods

Changes in patient characteristics and SVR rates were evaluated from medical records among 10 688 patients who started interferon (IFN)-free DAA therapy between September 2014 and June 2018 in a nationwide, multicenter study. Factors associated with failure of SVR were analyzed. In particular, effects of cirrhosis or history of HCC on SVR were assessed by exact matching.

Results

Patient age was becoming younger and baseline liver fibrosis was becoming milder over time. Overall SVR rate was 95.4%. The SVR rates increased over time in patients without a history of IFN-free DAA therapy. Multivariate analysis revealed that cirrhosis was unfavorably associated with achievement of SVR in both patients with genotype 1 (odds ratio, 1.68; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.27–2.21) and genotype 2 (odds ratio, 1.69; 95% CI, 1.01–2.78). Comparisons after exact matching showed that the SVR rate was significantly lower in patients with cirrhosis than without it, whereas patients with and without a history of HCC had similar SVR rates.

Conclusions

Background characteristics of patients who undergo IFN-free DAA therapy are changing in Japan. Patients without a history of IFN-free DAA therapy have high SVR rates. Exact matching confirmed that cirrhosis significantly influences the achievement of SVR in real-world settings.
Invasive Meningococcal Disease due to Nongroupable Neisseria meningitidis—Active Bacterial Core Surveillance Sites, 2011–2016
Authors: McNamara Lucy A , Potts Caelin C , Blain Amy , Topaz Nadav , Apostol Mirasol , Alden Nisha B , Petit Susan , Farley Monica M , Harrison Lee H , Triden Lori , Muse Alison , Poissant Tasha , Wang Xin , MacNeil Jessica R
Published: April 2019

We characterized 22 meningococcal disease cases due to nongroupable Neisseria meningitidis, a rare cause of invasive disease. Disease presentation and severity were similar to those for serogroupable meningococcal disease. However, 7 (32%) patients had complement deficiency or abnormal complement testing results, highlighting the importance of complement testing for nongroupable cases.
The Hyper Suprime-Cam SSP transient survey in COSMOS: Overview
Authors: Yasuda Naoki , Tanaka Masaomi , Tominaga Nozomu , Jiang Ji-an , Moriya Takashi J , Morokuma Tomoki , Suzuki Nao , Takahashi Ichiro , Yamaguchi Masaki S , Maeda Keiichi , Sako Masao , Ikeda Shiro , Kimura Akisato , Morii Mikio , Ueda Naonori , Yoshida Naoki , Lee Chien-Hsiu , Suyu Sherry H , Komiyama Yutaka , Regnault Nicolas , Rubin David
Published: April 2019

We present an overview of a deep transient survey of the COSMOS field with the Subaru Hyper Suprime-Cam (HSC). The survey was performed for the 1.77 deg2 ultra-deep layer and 5.78 deg2 deep layer in the Subaru Strategic Program over six- and four-month periods from 2016 to 2017, respectively. The ultra-deep layer reaches a median depth per epoch of 26.4, 26.3, 26.0, 25.6, and 24.6 mag in g, r, i, z, and y bands, respectively; the deep layer is ∼0.6 mag shallower. In total, 1824 supernova candidates were identified. Based on light-curve fitting and derived light-curve shape parameter, we classified 433 objects as Type Ia supernovae (SNe); among these candidates, 129 objects have spectroscopic or COSMOS2015 photometric redshifts and 58 objects are located at z > 1. Our unique data set doubles the number of Type Ia SNe at z > 1 and enables various time-domain analyses of Type II SNe, high-redshift superluminous SNe, variable stars, and active galactic nuclei.
The stellar halo of the Milky Way traced by blue horizontal-branch stars in the Subaru Hyper Suprime-Cam Survey
Authors: Fukushima Tetsuya , Chiba Masashi , Tanaka Mikito , Hayashi Kohei , Homma Daisuke , Okamoto Sakurako , Komiyama Yutaka , Tanaka Masayuki , Arimoto Nobuo , Matsuno Tadafumi
Published: April 2019

We report on the global structure of the Milky Way (MW) stellar halo up to its outer boundary based on the analysis of blue horizontal-branch stars (BHBs). These halo tracers are extracted from the (g, r, i, z)-band multi-photometry in the internal data release of the ongoing Hyper Suprime-Cam Subaru Strategic Program (HSC-SSP) surveyed over a ∼550 deg2 area. In order to select the most likely BHBs by removing blue straggler stars (BSs) and other contamination in a statistically significant manner, we have developed and applied an extensive Bayesian method, instead of the simple color cuts adopted in our previous work, where each of the template BHBs and non-BHBs obtained from the available catalogs are represented as a mixture of multiple Gaussian distributions in the color–color diagrams. We found from the candidate BHBs in the range of 18.5 < g < 23.5 mag that the radial density distribution over a Galactocentric radius of r = 36–360 kpc can be approximated as a single power-law profile with an index of $\alpha =3.74^{+0.21}_{-0.22}$ or a broken power-law profile with an index of $\alpha _{\rm in}=2.92^{+0.33}_{-0.33}$ at r below a broken radius of $r_{\rm b}=160^{+18}_{-19}\:$kpc and a very steep slope of $\alpha _{\rm out}=15.0^{+3.7}_{-4.5}$ at r > rb. The latter profile with a prolate shape having an axial ratio of $q=1.72^{+0.44}_{-0.28}$ is most likely and this halo may hold a rather sharp boundary at r ≃ 160 kpc. The slopes of the halo density profiles are compared with those from the suite of hydrodynamical simulations for the formation of stellar halos. This comparison suggests that the MW stellar halo may consist of the two overlapping components: the in situ inner halo as probed by RR Lyrae stars showing a relatively steep radial density profile and the ex situ outer halo with a shallow profile probed by BHBs here, which is made by accretion of small stellar systems.
An update on the New Hampshire Foundation Act
Authors: Mayo Todd D
Published: April 2019

On 1 October 2017, the New Hampshire Foundation Act became effective. In 2018, New Hampshire amended the Foundation Act, making several technical corrections. The amendments clarified: that a founder’s contribution of property does not affect the founder’s reserved powers; the statutes governing a protector’s duty of loyalty; a protector’s duty of impartiality and the grounds for removing a protector; and that an individual foundation official’s term ends upon his or her incapacity; they also defined the term ‘principal office’. Those amendments became effective on 8 June 2018.
Multi-Year Field Evaluation of Fluorinated Nematicides Against Meloidogyne incognita in Carrots
Authors: Becker J. O. , Ploeg A. , Nuñez J. J.
Published: April 2019

California grows approximately 80% of the U.S. carrot production. The primary production challenges derive from root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.). Between 2013 and 2016, we evaluated three novel fluorinated nonfumigant nematicides in five field trials. Fluensulfone, fluopyram, and fluazaindolizine were applied as product-ready formulations at various rates, dates, and formulations. They were rated for their efficacy against the Southern root-knot nematode (M. incognita), their ability to mitigate nematode-caused crop damage, and potential to produce marketable carrot yield under high disease pressure. All trials were conducted in randomized complete block designs in M. incognita–infested, sandy-loam fields. Soil population of M. incognita at seeding and harvest, midseason plant vigor and fibrous root galling, harvest taproot galling, and marketable carrot yield were analyzed by ANOVA. Midseason gall ratings were indicative of disease ratings at harvest. All fluazaindolizine and fluensulfone treatments reduced at-harvest galling compared with the untreated controls. Fluopyram resulted in less galling but did not sufficiently protect the lower part of the taproot. Overall, fluazaindolizine at 2.24 kg/ha resulted in the most consistent and highest marketable carrot yield, followed by fluensulfone at 2.95 kg/ha. Both fluazaindolizine and fluensulfone will likely provide effective and target-selective crop protection against root-knot nematodes in fresh carrot production.
Field Evaluation of Tomato Cultivars for Tolerance to Tomato Chlorotic Spot Tospovirus
Authors: Zhang Shouan , Fan Xiaohui , Fu Yuqing , Wang Qingren , McAvoy Eugene , Seal Dakshina R.
Published: April 2019

Fourteen tomato cultivars resistant to tomato spotted wilt tospovirus (TSWV) were evaluated for their tolerance against tomato chlorotic spot tospovirus (TCSV) under field conditions during the 2014–2015 and 2015–2016 growing seasons in Homestead, FL. All TSWV-resistant tomato cultivars had significantly (P < 0.05) lower disease incidence of TCSV, compared with the commercial standard cultivars ‘FL 47’ or ‘Sanibel’, exhibiting intermediate to high levels of tolerance to TCSV. There was no significant effect of tomato genotype on the thrips vectors, western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis) and common blossom thrips (F. schultzei). All tested tomato cultivars had equivalent or greater yields of total marketable fruit compared with the standard cultivar Sanibel. Particularly, in the third trial with disease incidence of 25% on Sanibel, ‘BHN 1064’ had significantly greater total yield and yields of extra-large and large fruit compared with Sanibel. ‘SV 7631TD’ and ‘Brickyard’ had significantly greater extra-large fruit yield and medium fruit yield, respectively, compared with Sanibel. Results from this study show that TSWV-resistant tomato cultivars were tolerant to TCSV under field conditions of south Florida, indicating that the use of genetic resistance in commercial tomato cultivars is an effective strategy to manage TCSV.
Assessment of Insecticide/Miticide Treatments on Soybean Cyst Nematode Bioassays Under Greenhouse Conditions
Authors: Brungardt Jordan , Todd Timothy C. , Oakley Thomas R. , Trick Harold N.
Published: April 2019

The soybean cyst nematode (SCN)–soybean pathosystem is often reproduced under greenhouse conditions for basic research purposes, increasing inoculum, and soybean germplasm screening. Application of pesticides for SCN bioassays is often necessary for keeping insect and mite pest populations under control. The research presented here looks at the application of several foliar pesticides (active ingredients; abamectin, bifenthrin, clofentezine, imidacloprid, kinoprene, and pyridaben), a soil-applied imidacloprid, and combinations of pesticides on bioassays to determine if pesticide applications have a negative impact on SCN female and cyst numbers as well as egg and second-stage juvenile (J2) production, which could lead to dubious results. Results from this experiment demonstrate these chemicals can be used to control pest populations on soybean without significantly altering SCN female, cyst, egg, and J2 counts.
Normalization of Spinal Cord Displacement With the Straight Leg Raise and Resolution of Sciatica in Patients With Lumbar Intervertebral Disc Herniation
Authors: Pesonen Janne , Rade Marinko , Könönen Mervi , Marttila Jarkko , Shacklock Michael , Vanninen Ritva , Kankaanpää Markku , Airaksinen Olavi
Published: April 2019

Study Design.

A controlled radiologic follow-up study.

Objective.

The aim of this study was to ascertain whether changes in cord excursion with straight leg raise test (SLR) at 1.5-year follow-up time accompany changes in clinical symptoms.

Summary of Background Data.

Lumbar intervertebral disc herniation (LIDH) is known to be a key cause of sciatica. Previously, we found that a significant limitation of neural displacement (66.6%) was evident with the SLR on the symptomatic side of patients with subacute single level posterolateral LIDH.

Methods.

Fourteen patients with significant sciatic symptoms due to a subacute single-level posterolateral LIDH were reassessed clinically and radiologically at 1.5 years follow-up with a 1.5T MRI scanner. Displacement of the conus medullaris during the unilateral and bilateral SLR was quantified reliably with a randomized procedure and compared between SLRs and to data from baseline. Multivariate regression models and backward variable selection method were employed to identify variables more strongly associated with a decrease in low back pain (LBP) and radicular symptoms.

Results.

Compared with previously presented baseline values, the data showed a significant increase in neural sliding in all the quantified maneuvers (P ≤ 0.01), and particularly of 2.52 mm (P ≤ 0.001) with the symptomatic SLR.

Increase in neural sliding correlated significantly with decrease of both radicular symptoms (Pearson = -0.719, P ≤ 0.001) and LBP (Pearson = -0.693, P ≤ 0.001). Multivariate regression models and backward variable selection method confirmed the improvement of neural sliding effects (P ≤ 0.004) as the main variable being associated with improvement of self-reported clinical symptoms.

Conclusion.

To our knowledge, these are the first noninvasive data to objectively support the association between increase in magnitude of neural adaptive movement and resolution of both radicular and LBP symptoms in in vivo and structurally intact human subjects.

Level of Evidence: 2
Magnetically Controlled Growing Rods in Treatment of Early-Onset Scoliosis
Authors: Lampe Lukas Peter , Schulze Bövingloh Albert , Gosheger Georg , Schulte Tobias L. , Lange Tobias
Published: April 2019

Study Design.

Case series.

Objective.

To evaluate complications and radiographic parameters after magnetically controlled growing rod (MCGR) index surgery (IS), during lengthening and following converting surgery (CS) with a minimum of 2-year follow up (FU).

Summary of Background Data.

MCGR are maintaining skeletal growth in treatment of early onset scoliosis (EOS). There is no data regarding correction potential after CS available.

Methods.

Twenty-four cases were included. Two patients with rib and pelvic hook fixation instead of pedicle screws and three patients with previous spinal surgery were excluded from radiographic analysis.

Results.

Twenty-one patients received grade 3 or 4 in Classification of Early-Onset-Scoliosis (C-EOS) for main curve severity. The kyphotic modifiers (–) were given to seven and (+) to seven patients. Mean age at IS was 10.5 ± 2.4 years with a mean FU time of 42.3 ± 11.3 months. Deformity correction was only achieved during IS (46%) and CS (36%). During MCGR treatment a 5° loss of correction seen, while 25 mm of T1–S1 length was gained during the lengthening period. An overall average lengthening of 1.6 mm per lengthening procedure was achieved. Possibility to gain length during distractions decreases over time. No major failure of the distraction mechanism was observed, only 16 lengthening procedures failed within a total of 264 lengthening procedures. A total of 19 revision surgeries in 10 patients were observed. Four patients received more than one revision surgery.

Conclusion.

Applying MCGR results in a revision rate of 0.23 per patient and per one FU year, while making further lengthening procedures obsolete compared with conventional growing rod techniques. Correction of major curve is possible during IS und CS. The law of diminishing returns applies during the period of lengthening.

Level of Evidence: 4
Modic Changes Are Not Associated With Long-term Pain and Disability
Authors: Udby Peter Muhareb , Bendix Tom , Ohrt-Nissen Søren , Lassen Michael Ruud , Sørensen Joan Solgaard , Brorson Stig , Carreon Leah Y. , Andersen Mikkel Østerheden
Published: April 2019

Study Design.

A comparative cohort study with 13-year follow-up.

Objective.

To assess whether Modic changes (MCs) are associated with long-term physical disability, back pain, and sick leave.

Summary of Background Data.

Previous studies have shown a conflicting association of low back pain (LBP) with MCs and disc degeneration. The long-term prognosis of patients with MCs is unclear.

Methods.

In 2004 to 2005, patients aged 18 to 60 with daily LBP were enrolled in an randomized controlled trial study and lumbar magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed. Patients completed numeric rating scales (0–10) for LBP and leg pain, Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ), LBP Rating Scale for activity limitations (RS, 0–30), inflammatory pain pattern and sick leave days due to LBP at baseline and 13 years after the MRI. Patients were stratified based on the presence (+MC) or absence (−MC) of MCs on the MRI.

Results.

Of 204 cases with baseline MRI, 170 (83%) were available for follow-up; 67 (39%) with MCs and 103 (61%) without MCs. Demographics, smoking status, BMI, use of antibiotics, LBP, leg pain, and inflammatory pain pattern scores at baseline and at 13-year follow-up were similar between the two groups. Also, baseline RMDQ was similar between the +MC and −MC groups. At 13 years, the RMDQ score was statistically significant better in the +MC group (7.4) compared with the −MC group (9.6, P = 0.024). Sick leave days due to LBP were similar at baseline but less in the +MC group (9.0) compared with the −MC group (22.9 d, P = 0.003) at 13 years.

Conclusion.

MCs were not found to be negatively associated with long-term pain, disability, or sick leave. Rather, the study found that LBP patients with MCs had significantly less disability and sick-leave at long-term follow-up. We encourage further studies to elucidate these findings.

Level of Evidence: 2
Orthognathic Surgery Has a Significant Positive Effect on Perceived Personality Traits and Perceived Emotional Facial Expressions in Subjects with Primary Maxillary Deficiency
Authors: Posnick Jeffrey C. , Kinard Brian E.
Published: April 2019

Background:

Crowdsourcing is increasingly being used in medical research to obtain the opinion of laypeople. The investigators hypothesized that a layperson’s perception of a primary maxillary deficiency (PMD) dentofacial deformity (DFD) patient is more favorable after orthognathic surgery with regard to perceived personality traits and emotional facial expressions.

Methods:

The investigators implemented a survey, distributed through Amazon.com’s Mechanical Turk crowdsourcing platform, to compare 6 perceived personality traits and 6 perceived emotional traits before and >6 months after orthognathic surgery in subjects through standardized facial photographs. The sample was composed of 20 subjects randomly selected from a PMD DFD database, treated by 1 surgeon all having undergone bimaxillary and chin orthognathic surgery. The outcome variable was change in each of 6 perceived personality and 6 emotional expression traits studied. Descriptive and bivariate statistics were computed. P-value of <0.05 was considered significant.

Results:

Five hundred respondents (raters) completed the survey. A majority of respondent raters were male (59%) and White (71%), ranging in age between 25 and 34 years (52%). After bimaxillary and chin orthognathic surgery, PMD subjects as a group were perceived to be significantly more dominant, more trustworthy, more friendly, more intelligent, more attractive, and less threatening. They were also perceived as happier and less angry, less surprised, less sad, less afraid, and less disgusted than before surgery (P < 0.05).

Conclusions:

We confirmed that laypeople consistently report positive changes in a PMD DFD subject’s perceived personality traits and perceived emotional expressions after bimaxillary and chin orthognathic surgery.
Clinical Outcomes of Lifitegrast 5% Ophthalmic Solution in the Treatment of Dry Eye Disease
Authors: Tong Amy Y. , Passi Samuel F. , Gupta Preeya K.
Published: April 2019

Purpose:

To evaluate the clinical characteristics, outcomes, and adverse reactions after the use of lifitegrast 5% ophthalmic solution for the treatment of patients with dry eye disease (DED).

Methods:

Retrospective chart review was performed in 121 patients seen at the Duke Eye Center with DED who were prescribed lifitegrast 5% and seen for follow-up after treatment initiation. Charts were reviewed for meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) grading, conjunctival and corneal staining scores, and tear breakup time (TBUT), as well as matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) levels. Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire scores and self-reported adverse reactions were also assessed.

Results:

The average patient age was 60.5 years (range, 22–88 years); 87.6% were female, and 20.7% had a previous autoimmune disease diagnosis. Of the 54 eyes with an initial positive MMP-9, 21 eyes (38.9%) normalized after treatment. The ocular symptoms OSDI subscore demonstrated an improvement of −2.43±6.85 (P=0.011) after treatment. Corneal staining scores showed an average change of −0.15 (P=0.007). The average change in TBUT was 1.9 sec (P<0.001). Self-reported adverse reactions were noted in 31.4% of patients. There was no statistically significant change in MGD grading. Patients with moderate-severe DED showed statistically significant improvements in conjunctival and corneal staining scores and TBUT (−0.17±0.66, P=0.0442; −0.54±0.65, P<0.001; +2.02±2.63, P=0.004, respectively).

Conclusion:

Lifitegrast 5% is a useful therapeutic option for DED with a moderate proportion of self-reported adverse reactions, all of which were related to ocular discomfort. Treatment with lifitegrast was associated with statistically significant improvements in MMP-9 levels, ocular symptoms, corneal staining, and TBUT.
Comparative Study Between β-Lactam/β-Lactamase Inhibitors as Alternatives for Carbapenems in the Treatment of Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase–Producing Enterobacteriaceae
Authors: Hatem Amer Wesam , Abdel Rahman Elshweikh Samah , Mohammad Hablas Nahed
Published: April 2019

Background

In the era of the increase in carbapenem resistance, searching for alternative drugs becomes mandatory. In this study, an in vitro activity of β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitors against extended-spectrum β-lactamase–producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-PE) isolated from bloodstream infections was investigated.

Methods

Blood samples were collected from patients with bloodstream infections in both pediatric and internal medicine intensive care units of Tanta University Hospitals, Egypt. BacT/ALERT was used, and positive blood cultures were subcultured on MacConkey, blood, chocolate agar and then incubated at 5% to 10% CO2, 37°C for 24 hours. Identification of the bacterial isolates was performed by VITEK 2TM Compact 15. Susceptibility testing was performed for isolated Escherichia coli and Klebsiella species using Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentration. E test strips were used for cefoperazone/sulbactam, ceftazidime/avibactam, and ceftolozane/tazobactam. All isolates that were resistant to third-generation cephalosporins as per Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute recommendations were confirmed for ESBL detection by modified double-disk synergy test, VITEK2 system, and multiplex polymerase chain reaction.

Results

One hundred twenty-five Enterobacteriaceae were isolated; 100 of them (80%) were ESBL positive. The best used β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitors were ceftazidime/avibactam and ceftolozane/tazobactam with lower minimum inhibitory concentration at which 50% of isolates are inhibited (≤0.016, 0.094 μg/mL, respectively) than that of meropenem (0.125 μg/mL), so they can be used as carbapenem sparers in the treatment of ESBL-PE to decrease the incidence of carbapenem resistance.

Conclusions

Ceftazidime/avibactam and ceftolozane/tazobactam can be used as carbapenem sparers in the treatment of ESBL-PE to decrease the incidence of carbapenem resistance.
A Comparison of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae Bacteremia With and Without Endocarditis in Frequent Fish Handlers
Authors: Hornak J. Patrik , McLean Maranatha R. , Webb Camille M. , Keiser Philip H.
Published: April 2019

A facultatively anaerobic gram-positive bacillus, Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae is widely present in the environment and also as a commensal and pathogenic organism associated with livestock, birds, and fish. Invasive infections in humans are rare, classically affect patients with exposures to animal products, and frequently progress to include endocarditis. Here we present our successful experience of treating 2 patients with E. rhusiopathiae bacteremia, both frequently exposed to fish. One patient presented in new-onset heart failure after a protracted illness and was found to have subacute aortic and mitral valve endocarditis successfully treated with surgical valve replacement and prolonged intravenous penicillin therapy. The other patient had acute uncomplicated bacteremia responsive to ceftriaxone followed by step-down treatment with oral penicillin, the first published report using such regimen. Our experience highlights the spectrum of clinical disease seen in E. rhusiopathiae bacteremia and offers new perspectives to optimize treatment for these patients.
Priority setting in otolaryngology practices in Zimbabwe
Authors: Chidziva Clemence , Soko Nyarai D.
Published: April 2019

Purpose of review

This article describes priority setting in otorhinolaryngology healthcare services in Zimbabwe. It aims to initiate discussion on priority setting among otorhinolaryngologists working in African countries.

Recent findings

The WHO reports that most developed countries have formal processes in place for the collection and analysis of information that is used in priority setting in healthcare services. However, many resource-limited nations lack well-defined processes for priority setting. Information surrounding priority setting in otorhinolaryngology in particular is scarce.

Priority setting refers to the distribution of limited resources among competing programmes and patient or patient groups in an equitable and just manner. A dearth of information on priority setting in otorhinolaryngology exists. This silence is more pronounced in African settings. Despite the myriad of challenges facing many African countries, formal guidelines for priority setting are rare. Priority setting therefore is often haphazard and unplanned. We therefore recommend agility in bringing together otorhinolaryngology stakeholders in an effort to initiate dialogue and come up with formal processes that will collect information that will lead to provision of guidelines in priority setting.
A Systematic Review of the Association Between Bereavement and Biomarkers of Immune Function
Authors: Knowles Lindsey M. , Ruiz John M. , O'Connor Mary-Frances
Published: April 2019

Objective

Bereavement is associated with increased risk for morbidity and all-cause mortality across epidemiological, meta-analytic, and case-control studies. The body of research examining the association between bereavement and immune function, beginning in 1977, has yet to be reviewed. The current systematic review clarifies these findings, identifies limitations of the diverse literature, and suggests a model and directions for future research.

Methods

The PRISMA guidelines for systematic reviews were used to synthesize 41 years of research. Compared with a meta-analysis, a systematic review is appropriate given the heterogeneous nature of the studies. We used the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Study Quality Assessment Tool to assess the quality of select studies.

Results

Thirty-three publications met inclusion criteria. Most studies support the association between bereavement and maladaptive changes in immune parameters in adults, with mixed findings on bereavement-related changes in cellular immunity. A handful of recent, good-quality studies show bereaved people demonstrate higher levels of systemic inflammation, maladaptive immune cell gene expression, and lower antibody response to vaccination compared with nonbereaved controls. Individual differences in psychological response to bereavement (e.g., depression, grief) seem to influence the association between bereavement and immune function.

Conclusions

Research examining the association between bereavement and biomarkers of immune function is heterogeneous in methods and quality. Despite these limitations, there is evidence supporting maladaptive changes in immune function after bereavement. The research area would benefit from longitudinal research with larger sample sizes, advanced immunological methods, and incorporating measures of psychological responses to bereavement. The field is poised to refine and scale up its investigation of this common and important phenomenon.
Switching to Doravirine/Lamivudine/Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate (DOR/3TC/TDF) Maintains HIV-1 Virologic Suppression Through 48 Weeks: Results of the DRIVE-SHIFT Trial
Authors: Johnson Margaret , Kumar Princy , Molina Jean-Michel , Rizzardini Giuliano , Cahn Pedro , Bickel Markus , Mallolas Josep , Zhou Yan , Morais Cristiana , Kumar Sushma , Sklar Peter , Hanna George J. , Hwang Carey , Greaves Wayne ,   for the DRIVE-SHIFT Study Group
Published: April 2019

Background:

Doravirine is a novel, nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor with demonstrated efficacy in treatment-naive adults with HIV-1.

Methods:

In this open-label, active-controlled, noninferiority trial, adults with HIV-1 virologically suppressed for ≥6 months on 2 nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors plus a boosted protease inhibitor, boosted elvitegravir, or a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor were randomized (2:1) to switch to once-daily, single-tablet doravirine 100 mg with lamivudine 300 mg and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate 300 mg (DOR/3TC/TDF) or to continue their current therapy (Baseline Regimen) for 24 weeks. The primary endpoint was the proportion of participants with HIV-1 RNA <50 copies/mL (defined by the FDA Snapshot approach), with the primary comparison between DOR/3TC/TDF at week 48 and Baseline Regimen at week 24 and a secondary comparison between the groups at week 24 (noninferiority margin, −8%).

Results:

Six hundred seventy participants (447 DOR/3TC/TDF, 223 Baseline Regimen) were treated and included in the analyses. At week 24, 93.7% on DOR/3TC/TDF vs 94.6% on Baseline Regimen had HIV-1 RNA <50 copies/mL [difference −0.9 (−4.7 to 3.0)]. At week 48, 90.8% on DOR/3TC/TDF had HIV-1 RNA <50 copies/mL, demonstrating noninferiority vs Baseline Regimen at week 24 [difference −3.8 (−7.9 to 0.3)]. In participants on ritonavir-boosted protease inhibitor at entry, mean reductions in fasting LDL-C and non-HDL-C at week 24 were significantly greater for DOR/3TC/TDF vs Baseline Regimen (P < 0.0001). Adverse events occurred in 68.9% on DOR/3TC/TDF and 52.5% on Baseline Regimen by week 24, leading to treatment discontinuation in 2.5% and 0.4%, respectively.

Conclusions:

Switching to once-daily DOR/3TC/TDF is a generally well-tolerated option for maintaining viral suppression in patients considering a change in therapy.

Registration:

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02397096.
A Rare Case of Primary Endometrial Hepatoid Adenocarcinoma on 18F-FDG PET/CT
Authors: Yin Hongyan , Hu Yan , Xiu Yan , Luo Rongkui , Shi Hongcheng
Published: April 2019

Primary endometrial hepatoid adenocarcinoma is a rare tumor. We present a case of a 64-year-old woman with vaginal bleeding for 2 months and a markedly elevated serum α-fetoprotein of 3931 ng/mL. Hysteroscopic segmental curettage revealed endometrial adenocarcinoma. A pelvic MRI was performed for local tumor invasion, which showed only endometrial mass. An abdominal enhanced CT showed no liver lesion, which excluded primary hepatic carcinoma. Staging 18F-FDG PET/CT demonstrated a hypermetabolic mass in the endometrium. A total hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and regional lymphadenectomy were performed. Postoperatively, the mass was diagnosed as primary endometrial hepatoid adenocarcinoma.
68Ga–Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen PET/CT in Cholangiocarcinoma
Authors: Marafi Fahad , Usmani Sharjeel , Esmail Abdulredha
Published: April 2019

68Ga-PSMA is a promising tracer for both staging and detection of biochemical recurrence in prostate cancer. Prostate-specific membrane antigen is also expressed in the endothelium of neovasculature of various solid malignancies possibly due to tumor-associated angiogenic factors and endothelial cell sprouting. We report a case of 75-year-old man with metastatic cholangiocarcinoma to liver and lymph nodes progressing on chemotherapy. 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT was performed to assess PSMA expression and showed additional bone and hepatic lesions compared with 18F-FDG PET/CT. 68Ga-PSMA expression in the metastatic cholangiocarcinoma potentially guides radionuclide legend therapy with α/β-emitters especially after enervation of all approved therapeutic options.
Isolated Vaginal Recurrence of Early-Stage Rectal Cancer Detected by 18F-FDG PET/CT
Authors: Wang Rang , Fan Qiuping , Liu Huiting , Su Minggang
Published: April 2019

The relapses of rectal cancer are most frequently localized in the pelvis, liver, and pelvic and para-aortic lymph nodes and lungs, whereas the vagina is an unusual site. We present here a 60-year-old woman presenting with lower abdominal discomfort 23 months after radical resection of rectal adenocarcinoma. An isolated, solitary, hypermetabolic mass in the right part of the vagina was detected by 18F-FDG PET/CT. Ultimately, the vaginal neoplasm was proved to be adenocarcinoma of rectal origin based on its shared histologic features and compatible immunostaining profile.
Aberrant Hypermetabolism of Benign Uterine Leiomyoma on 18F-FDG PET/CT
Authors: Nunes Rafael F. , Queiroz Marcelo A. , Buchpiguel Carlos Alberto , Carvalho Filomena Marino , Carvalho Jesus Paula
Published: April 2019

Leiomyomas are prevalent benign smooth muscle tumors in the uterus, displaying variable degrees of FDG uptake on PET/CT. The glucose metabolism intensity of those lesions relies on biologic features and markedly increased FDG accumulation is more typically related to malignant diseases, as in the case of leiomyosarcomas. Notwithstanding that uterine fibroids typically exhibit mild to moderate FDG uptake, in this article we report a case of unexpectedly intense hypermetabolism of a benign uterine leiomyoma on a PET/CT scan performed for initial staging of a breast cancer patient.
Optical properties of ice and snow
Authors: Warren Stephen G.
Published: April 2019

The interactions of electromagnetic radiation with ice, and with ice-containing media such as snow and clouds, are determined by the refractive index and absorption coefficient (the ‘optical constants’) of pure ice as functions of wavelength. Bulk reflectance, absorptance and transmittance are further influenced by grain size (for snow), bubbles (for glacier ice and lake ice) and brine inclusions (for sea ice). Radiative transfer models for clouds can also be applied to snow; the important differences in their radiative properties are that clouds are optically thinner and contain smaller ice crystals than snow. Absorption of visible and near-ultraviolet radiation by ice is so weak that absorption of sunlight at these wavelengths in natural snow is dominated by trace amounts of light-absorbing impurities such as dust and soot. In the thermal infrared, ice is moderately absorptive, so snow is nearly a blackbody, with emissivity 98–99%. The absorption spectrum of liquid water resembles that of ice from the ultraviolet to the mid-infrared. At longer wavelengths they diverge, so microwave emission can be used to detect snowmelt on ice sheets, and to discriminate between sea ice and open water, by remote sensing. Snow and ice are transparent to radio waves, so radar can be used to infer ice-sheet thickness.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘The physics and chemistry of ice: scaffolding across scales, from the viability of life to the formation of planets’.
Microstructural characterization of snow, firn and ice
Authors: Baker Ian
Published: April 2019

This paper provides an overview of techniques used to characterize the microstructure of snow, firn and ice. These range from traditional optical microscopy techniques such as examining thin sections between crossed polarizers to various electron-optical and X-ray techniques. Techniques that could have an impact on microstructural characterization of snow, firn and ice in the future are briefly outlined.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘The physics and chemistry of ice: scaffolding across scales, from the viability of life to the formation of planets’.
Mushy-layer growth and convection, with application to sea ice
Authors: Wells Andrew J. , Hitchen Joseph R. , Parkinson James R. G.
Published: April 2019

Sea ice is a reactive porous medium of ice crystals and liquid brine, which is an example of a mushy layer. The phase behaviour of sea ice controls the evolving material properties and fluid transport through the porous ice, with consequences for ice growth, brine drainage from the ice to provide buoyancy fluxes for the polar oceans, and sea-ice biogeochemistry. We review work on the growth of mushy layers and convective flows driven by density gradients in the interstitial fluid. After introducing the fundamentals of mushy-layer theory, we discuss the effective thermal properties, including the impact of salt transport on mushy-layer growth. We present a simplified model for diffusively controlled growth of mushy layers with modest cooling versus the solutal freezing-point depression. For growth from a cold isothermal boundary, salt diffusion modifies mushy-layer growth by around 5–20% depending on the far-field temperature and salinity. We also review work on the onset, spatial localization and nonlinear development of convective flows in mushy layers, highlighting recent work on transient solidification and models of nonlinear convection with dissolved solid-free brine channels. Finally, future research opportunities are identified, motivated by geophysical observations of ice growth.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘The physics and chemistry of ice: scaffolding across scales, from the viability of life to the formation of planets’.
Ice: the paradigm of wild plasticity
Authors: Weiss Jérôme
Published: April 2019

Ice plasticity has been thoroughly studied, owing to its importance in glaciers and ice sheets dynamics. In particular, its anisotropy (easy basal slip) has been suspected for a long time, then fully characterized 40 years ago. More recently emerged the interest of ice as a model material to study some fundamental aspects of crystalline plasticity. An example is the nature of plastic fluctuations and collective dislocation dynamics. Twenty years ago, acoustic emission measurements performed during the deformation of ice single crystals revealed that plastic ‘flow’ proceeds through intermittent dislocation avalanches, power law distributed in size and energy. This means that most of ice plasticity takes place through few, very large avalanches, thus qualifying associated plastic fluctuations as ‘wild’. This launched an intense research activity on plastic intermittency in the Material Science community. The interest of ice in this debate is reviewed, from a comparison with other crystalline materials. In this context, ice appears as an extreme case of plastic intermittency, characterized by scale-free fluctuations, complex space and time correlations as well as avalanche triggering. In other words, ice can be considered as the paradigm of wild plasticity.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘The physics and chemistry of ice: scaffolding across scales, from the viability of life to the formation of planets’.
Surface phase transitions in ice: from fundamental interactions to applications
Authors: Wettlaufer J. S.
Published: April 2019

Interfaces divide all phases of matter and yet in most practical settings it is tempting to ignore their energies and the associated implications. There are many reasons for this, not the least of which is the introduction of a new pair of canonically conjugate variables—interfacial energy and its counterpart the surface area. A key set of questions surrounding the treatment of multiphase flows concerns how and when we must account for such effects. I begin this discussion with an abbreviated review of the basic theory of lower-dimensional phase transitions and describe a range of situations in which the bulk behaviour of a two-phase (and in some cases two-component) system is dominated by surface effects. Then I discuss a number of settings in which the bulk and surface behaviour can interact on equal footing. These can include the dynamic and thermodynamic behaviour of floating sea ice, the freezing and drying of colloidal suspensions (such as soil) and the mechanisms of protoplanetesimal formation by inter-particle collisions in accretion discs.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘The physics and chemistry of ice: scaffolding across scales, from the viability of life to the formation of planets’.
Ice-binding proteins and the applicability and limitations of the kinetic pinning model
Authors: Chasnitsky Michael , Braslavsky Ido
Published: April 2019

Ice-binding proteins (IBPs) are unique molecules that bind to and are active on the interface between two phases of water: ice and liquid water. This property allows them to affect ice growth in multiple ways: shaping ice crystals, suppressing the freezing point, inhibiting recrystallization and promoting nucleation. Advances in the protein's production technologies make these proteins promising agents for medical applications among others. Here, we focus on a special class of IBPs that suppress freezing by causing thermal hysteresis (TH): antifreeze proteins (AFPs). The kinetic pinning model describes the dynamics of a growing ice face with proteins binding to it, which eventually slow it down to a halt. We use the kinetic pinning model, with some adjustments made, to study the TH dependence on the solution's concentration of AFPs by fitting the model to published experimental data. We find this model describes the activity of (moderate) type III AFPs well, but is inadequate for the (hyperactive)
Tenebrio molitor
AFPs. We also find the engulfment resistance to be a key parameter, which depends on the protein's size. Finally, we explain intuitively how TH depends on the seeding time of the ice crystal in the protein solution. Using this insight, we explain the discrepancy in TH measurements between different assays.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘The physics and chemistry of ice: scaffolding across scales, from the viability of life to the formation of planets’.
Detrital Food Web Drives Aquatic Ecosystem Productivity in a Managed Floodplain
Authors: Jeffres Carson A. , Holmes Eric J. , Sommer Ted R. , Katz Jacob V.E.
Published: April 2019

Differences in basal carbon sources, invertebrate density and salmon growth rate were observed in food webs across a lateral transect of aquatic habitats in the Sacramento River Valley, California. Similar to many large river valleys globally, the Sacramento River Valley has been extensively drained and leveed, hydrologically divorcing most floodplain wetlands and off-channel aquatic habitats from river channels. Today, the former floodplain is extensively managed for agriculture and wildlife habitat. Food web structure and juvenile Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) growth were compared in three aquatic habitat types–river channel, a perennial drainage canal in the floodplain, and agricultural floodplain wetlands, which was seasonally inundated to provide bird and fish habitat during the non-agricultural growth season (late winter). Zooplankton densities on the floodplain wetland were 53 times more abundant, on average, than in the river. Juvenile Chinook Salmon raised on the floodplain wetland grew at mm/day, a rate 5x faster than fish raised in the adjacent river habitat (0.18 mm/day). Mean water residence times calculated for the floodplain agricultural wetland, perennial drainage canal and Sacramento River were 2.15 days, 23.5 seconds, and 1.7 seconds, respectively. Carbon in the floodplain wetland food web was sourced primarily through heterotrophic detrital pathways while carbon in the river was primarily autotrophic and sourced from in situ phytoplankton production. Hydrologic conditions typifying the ephemeral floodplain-shallower depths, warmer water, longer residence times and detrital carbon sources compared to deeper, colder, swifter water and an algal-based carbon source in the adjacent river channel-appear to facilitate the dramatically higher rates of food web production observed in floodplain verses river channel habitats. These results suggest that hydrologic patterns associated with winter flooding provide Mediterranean river systems access to detrital carbon sources that appear to be important energy sources for the production of fisheries and other aquatic resources.
Synchrotron radiation micro-tomography for high-resolution neurovascular network morphology investigation
Authors: Cao Yong , Zhang Mengqi , Ding Hui , Chen Zhuohui , Tang Bin , Wu Tianding , Xiao Bo , Duan Chunyue , Ni Shuangfei , Jiang Liyuan , Luo Zixiang , Li Chengjun , Zhao Jinyun , Liao Shenghui , Yin Xianzhen , Fu Yalan , Xiao Tiqiao , Lu Hongbin , Hu Jianzhong
Published: April 2019

There has been increasing interest in using high-resolution micro-tomography to investigate the morphology of neurovascular networks in the central nervous system, which remain difficult to characterize due to their microscopic size as well as their delicate and complex 3D structure. Synchrotron radiation X-ray imaging, which has emerged as a cutting-edge imaging technology with a high spatial resolution, provides a novel platform for the non-destructive imaging of microvasculature networks at a sub-micrometre scale. When coupled with computed tomography, this technique allows the characterization of the 3D morphology of vasculature. The current review focuses on recent progress in developing synchrotron radiation methodology and its application in probing neurovascular networks, especially the pathological changes associated with vascular abnormalities in various model systems. Furthermore, this tool represents a powerful imaging modality that improves our understanding of the complex biological interactions between vascular function and neuronal activity in both physiological and pathological states.
Laser systems for time-resolved experiments at the Pohang Accelerator Laboratory X-ray Free-Electron Laser beamlines
Authors: Kim Minseok , Min Chang-Ki , Eom Intae
Published: April 2019

Optical laser systems for ultrafast X-ray sciences have been established at the Pohang Accelerator Laboratory X-ray Free-Electron Laser (PAL-XFEL) beamlines. Three Ti:sapphire regenerative amplifier systems are synchronized to the XFEL with femtosecond precision, and the low temporal jitter of the PAL-XFEL results in an experimental time resolution below 150 fs (full width at half-maximum). A fundamental wave and its harmonics are currently provided for all beamlines, and tunable sources from ultraviolet to near-infrared are available for one beamline. The position stability of the optical laser extracted from the intensity-based center of mass at the sample position is less than 3% (r.m.s.) of the spot size.