bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Collaborative Research: The Alphabetic Braille and Contracted Braille Study as an Example of Collaborative Research
Authors: Wormsley Diane P. , Emerson Robert Wall , Erin Jane
Published: January 2019

This article examines the Alphabetic Braille Contracted Braille Study in relation to the dimensions of collaborative research: extent, intensity, substance, heterogeneity, velocity, formality, and productivity. It also discusses the dimensions of financing research and researchers’ attitudes. The overall consensus is that the study would not have been as comprehensive without collaboration.
An Examination of 40 Years of Mathematics Education among Norwegian Braille-Reading Students
Authors: Klingenberg Oliv G. , Fosse Per , Augestad Liv Berit
Published: January 2019

Introduction

The study presented here estimated the occurrence of braille-reading students in Norway who were educated according to their grade-level progression in mathematics from 1967 to 2007. It also analyzed the association among these students’ progression in mathematics and the causes of visual impairment, the age at which the diagnosis was established, the students’ gender, and the students’ use of reading media (braille as the sole, primary, or secondary literacy medium).

Methods

A retrospective, population-based study design was used. All the students who had received braille education in the past four decades prior to the study were included. The following data were abstracted from each student's records: birth year, country of birth, gender, year diagnosed, diagnosis, type of reading media, and whether the student's education had followed their grade-level progression.

Results

In total, 248 braille-reading students were identified. Of these students, 141 (57%) had been taught mathematics at grade level. In 19 of the 45 principal eye diagnoses that were registered, all the students were educated according to the normative grade progress in mathematics. There were no statistically significant associations between gender and the abstracted variables or between mathematics education and reading media.

Discussion

During the four decades under study, there was some variation in the distribution of different diagnoses. Students with diagnoses related to the central nervous system had a comparatively higher risk of not attaining their normal grade level in mathematics.

Implication for practitioners

Teachers may expect that a braille-reading student will follow his or her grade level in mathematics. It is essential, however, to gain information on the causes of visual impairment, in general, and in cases of the co-occurrence of visual impairment and learning disabilities, in particular. It is essential to document typical learning patterns among braille-reading students and intervention strategies for students with visual impairments and learning disabilities.
Anxiety and Charles Bonnet Syndrome
Authors: Geueke Anna , Morley Michael G. , Morley Katharine , Lorch Alice , Jackson MaryLou , Lambrou Angeliki , Wenberg June , Oteng-Amoako Afua
Published: January 2019

Introduction

Some persons with Charles Bonnet syndrome (CBS) suffer significant anxiety because of their visual hallucinations, while others do not. The aim of the study presented here was to compare levels of anxiety in persons with low vision with and without CBS.

Methods

This retrospective study compared the level of anxiety in 31 persons with CBS and 26 persons without CBS. These participants were recruited voluntarily from senior centers, a low vision support group, and an ophthalmology practice in October and November 2010. All were administered surveys to measure cognitive function (TICS: Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status), anxiety (STAI: State and Trait Anxiety Inventory), and general health (GHQ: General Health Questionnaire). The responses of the two groups were compared.

Results

The participants with CBS exhibited higher levels of anxiety than did those without CBS on both the STAI and GHQ surveys, but this difference did not reach statistical significance. The proportion of participants who were pharmacologically treated for anxiety was four times higher in the CBS cohort than in the cohort without CBS: CBS: 36% (11 of 31), those without CBS: 9% (2 of 22), p value = .03. The participants with CBS who took medication for anxiety scored higher on the STAI and GHQ than did those without CBS, but these differences did not reach statistical significance.

Discussion

The findings indicate that persons with CBS have higher levels of anxiety than do those without CBS. The highest levels of anxiety occurred in the participants with CBS who were being treated for anxiety with medications. Although the findings did not reach statistical significance, they suggest that anxiety is an important consideration when treating individuals with CBS.

Implications for practitioners

Persons with CBS who have difficulty tolerating visual hallucinations may benefit from interventions that are directed at managing anxiety, such as counseling, visual rehabilitation, and pharmacological treatment.
Preferences and Practices among Students who Read Braille and use Assistive Technology
Authors: D'Andrea Frances Mary
Published: January 2019

Introduction

Students who read braille use assistive technology to engage in literacy tasks and to access the general curriculum. There is little research on the ways in which technology has changed the reading and writing practices and preferences of students who use braille, nor is there much research on how assistive technology is learned by students with visual impairments.

Methods

This article describes the first phase of a mixed-methods study that was conducted to investigate the current use of paper braille and assistive technology among students aged 16–22, and the students’ attitudes toward braille and technology as tools for classroom learning in high school and college. The first phase of the study consisted of 12 structured interviews of students from across the United States, which were transcribed, analyzed qualitatively, and coded for themes reported here.

Results

The practices used by students fell into three broad themes, (1) the wide variety of devices used for reading and writing, (2) the types of tasks they performed using specific devices, and (3) the ways students learned practices for using braille and technology. Their attitudes fell into three themes as well: (1) preferences about braille and of technology tools, (2) how students chose to use those tools for specific tasks, and (3) the role teachers played in learning to use technology.

Discussion

Results of the study indicated the changing nature of how students use various tools and how they select approaches to completing their class work, and the importance for students of being able to make choices regarding tools and strategies.

Implications for practitioners

These themes suggest that for students to take advantage of the many choices available to efficiently complete school tasks, they must be proficient in multiple methods and tools for learning.
The Relationship between Computer and Internet use and Performance on Standardized Tests by Secondary School Students with Visual Impairments
Authors: Zhou Li , Griffin-Shirley Nora , Kelley Pat , Banda Devender R. , Lan William Y. , Parker Amy T. , Smith Derrick W.
Published: January 2019

Introduction

The study presented here explored the relationship between computer and Internet use and the performance on standardized tests by secondary school students with visual impairments.

Methods

With data retrieved from the first three waves (2001–05) of the National Longitudinal Transition Study–2, the correlational study focused on secondary school students with a primary disability of visual impairment who were capable of taking standardized tests. The unweighted sample sizes ranged from 210 to 280. The relationships between using a computer for homework and for the Internet and students’ performance on standardized tests on synonyms and antonyms, comprehension of passages, calculation, applied problems, science, and social studies were investigated using multiple regression analyses, with other variables held constant, including gender, severity of vision loss, household income, multiple disability status, and race or ethnicity.

Results

When gender, the severity of vision loss, household income, multiple disability status, and race or ethnicity were held constant, using a computer for the Internet had a significant positive relationship with students’ performances on the passage comprehension test (p = .034), calculation test (p = .027), and science test (p = .000). However, using a computer for homework had no significant relationship with students’ performances in any of the six tests that were examined.

Discussion

Students who used a computer for the Internet scored significantly higher than did those who did not on the passage comprehension, calculation, and science tests. But students who used a computer for homework performed at the same level as those who did not on all six tests that were examined.

Implications for practitioners

Internet use by secondary school students with visual impairments may be beneficial to the students’ performance on passage comprehension, calculation, and science tests and therefore should be encouraged. Special assistance for students from low-income families, whose rate of Internet use was significantly lower than those from high-income families, should be considered.
Videophone Technology and Students with Deaf-Blindness: A Method for Increasing Access and Communication
Authors: Emerson Judith , Bishop John
Published: January 2019

Introduction

Seeing the Possibilities with Videophone Technology began as research project funded by the National Center for Technology Innovation. The project implemented a face-to-face social networking program for students with deaf-blindness to investigate the potential for increasing access and communication using videophone technology.

Methods

Ten students with deaf-blindness aged 16 to 20 in four southeastern states were recruited through the network of Deaf-Blind Project offices throughout the United States. Criteria for selection to participate in the study were that the participants needed to have enough functional visual acuity to access a 22-inch videophone monitor and use manual sign language as a mode of communication. After a videophone was installed in each participant's home and school, data were collected over six months, using three primary methods of collection. The data were analyzed through a qualitative design method.

Results

The primary outcomes were increased accessibility for interpersonal communication among the students with deaf-blindness, seen notably in subscales of the Intrinsic Motivation Inventory (IMI) and through the development of themes involving the cultivation and maintenance of friendships with peers through interaction using videophone technology.

Discussion

With the role of interactive technologies in our ever-increasing digital landscapes, timing is ripe for research that aids the advancement of accessibility to information and social interaction, particularly among populations that have historically been marginalized in traditional educational systems.

Implications for practitioners

Dissemination of the results of the project through the National Consortium on Deaf-Blindness and the American Association of the Deaf-Blind will encourage practitioners in the field to replicate the project's activities with videophone technology to benefit youths who are deaf-blind.
Assessment and Instruction of Object Permanence in Children with Blindness and Multiple Disabilities
Authors: Bruce Susan M. , Vargas Claudia
Published: January 2019

Introduction

This article discusses the impact of blindness and low vision on the development of object permanence and provides suggestions for assessment and instruction.

Methods

The reviewed literature was identified by searching both ERIC and Psych Info using combinations of search terms such as object permanence and visual impairment or low vision and blindness. Books, assessment tools, and nonpeer-reviewed literature were also reviewed.

Results

Although children with low vision use vision as the basis to master object permanence, children who are blind rely primarily on their tactile experiences of objects. Recommended instructional practices include the consistent and repeated naming of the concealed object, concealment of motivating and varied objects, and direct reinforcement.

Discussion

Direct instruction that is grounded in careful assessment may accelerate the mastery of object permanence, with unique strategies being applied to the instruction of children who are blind, including the coactive concealment of objects.

Implications for practitioners

Practitioners may use the structured informal assessment and the identified items within commercially produced assessment tools to identify a child's current knowledge of object permanence. Practitioners may integrate the research-based and promising practices to improve instruction.
User Interface Preferences in the Design of a Camera-Based Navigation and Wayfinding Aid
Authors: Arditi Aries , Tian YingLi
Published: January 2019

Introduction

Development of a sensing device that can provide a sufficient perceptual substrate for persons with visual impairments to orient themselves and travel confidently has been a persistent rehabilitation technology goal, with the user interface posing a significant challenge. In the study presented here, we enlist the advice and ideas of individuals who are blind with respect to this challenge, for an envisioned camera-based aid to navigation and wayfinding.

Methods

We administered a short questionnaire about user preferences and needs for such a device to a sample of 10 well-educated, employed (or retired) visually impaired participants with light perception or less, who were familiar and comfortable with assistive technology. Generally, the items were rankings of relative priority.

Results

Participants preferred speech as a communications medium for navigating the environment; preferred controlling the auditory display by querying the system rather than interacting via a menu or receiving a stream of continuous speech; and preferred providing input to the system through a keypad rather than through a voice recognition system. Architectural features such as doors and stairs were ranked the most important environmental objects to be located with such a device (over furniture, persons, personal items, and even text signs).

Discussion

Our sample reported a desire for devices that can guide them to architectural features of their environment. They appear to prefer device interfaces that give them control, and would rather query a system than interact with a menu. They prefer unobtrusive input on a device via keypad rather than through voice recognition.

Implications for practitioners

Designers of camera-based navigation devices may wish to consider the preferences of our sample by incorporating a query-based interface with simple keypad input and speech output, and to include in their object recognition efforts the goal of identifying architectural features that are significant to users who are blind in navigation.
Severe Visual Impairments in Infants and Toddlers in the United States
Authors: Hatton Deborah D. , Ivy Sarah E. , Boyer Charles
Published: January 2019

Introduction

This article describes the most prevalent visual conditions and other demographic characteristics of 5,931 young children with severe visual impairments in 28 states in the United States, the largest sample reported to date. The information presented in this article can assist in planning and implementing programs.

Method

The data were collected at the time of entry into specialized early intervention programs for young children with visual impairments through reviews of records, interviews, and direct observations. They were sent to Babies Count: The National Registry for Children with Visual Impairments, Birth to 3 Years at the American Printing House for the Blind. The data were collected and entered between January 2005 and April 2011.

Results

Cortical visual impairment, retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), and optic nerve hypoplasia were the three most prevalent diagnoses. Approximately 60% were identified as being legally blind, and 65% had disabilities in addition to visual impairments. The mean age of the children at the time of diagnosis was 4.9 (SD = 5.7) months, referral to specialized programs was at 10.5 (SD = 7.8) months, and entry into specialized programs was at 11.6 (SD = 8.0) months. There was an average lag of 5.6 months between the diagnosis and referral.

Discussion

Cortical visual impairment, ROP, and optic nerve hypoplasia continue to be the leading causes of severe, uncorrectable visual impairments in children in the United States. ROP appears to be decreasing in prevalence; however, more children with ROP appear to have additional disabilities. The lag of 5.6 months between diagnosis and referral, a longer lag than was previously reported, is of concern.

Implications for practitioners

Information about the characteristics of children with severe uncorrectable visual conditions is valuable for communicating with families, planning and implementing early intervention and educational programs, and collaborating with medical professionals.
Development and Adaptation of an Employment-Integration Program for People who are Visually Impaired in Quebec, Canada
Authors: Wittich Walter , Watanabe Donald H. , Scully Lizabeth , Bergevin Martin
Published: January 2019

Introduction

In the Province of Quebec, Canada, it is estimated that only about one-third of working-age adults with visual impairments are part of the workforce, despite ongoing efforts of rehabilitation and government agencies to integrate these individuals. The present article describes the development and adaptation of a pre-employment program specifically designed for English-speaking visually impaired persons in Quebec.

Methods

Based on a model program introduced at the University of Texas in the United States, and further developed with the Royal National Institute of Blind People in the United Kingdom, the MAB-Mackay Rehabilitation Centre (MMRC) adapted the training materials for its pre-employment program to the local requirements. Its effectiveness was appraised using posttraining employment status as well as responses by participants, using the Canadian National Institute for the Blind (CNIB) Tool to Assess Preparedness for Employment (TAPE) measure of employment readiness.

Results

Of the eight participants who completed the four-week program, five had found employment and, of those, four had maintained employment within the eight-month follow-up period (one full-time, three part-time). Further, two of those employed part-time also returned to school part-time. An additional two participants chose to continue their education in order to improve their employability. Scores on the CNIB TAPE subscale of communication showed statistically significant post-training improvement (p = .01) that was maintained after eight months. A statistical trend indicated improvement on the technology subscale following participation in training (p = .10).

Discussion

MMRC's pre-employment training program was developed to address the need for a structured employment preparation program that was integrated with the available rehabilitation services for English-speaking visually impaired individuals in a predominantly French-speaking environment.

Implications for practitioners

The multidisciplinary nature of this approach facilitated a common language and shared perspective for practitioners across disciplines that are involved in preparing clients for the job market.
Effects of periodontal therapy on eradication and recurrence of Helicobacter pylori infection after successful treatment
Authors: Tongtawee Taweesak , Wattanawongdon Wareeporn , Simawaranon Theeraya
Published: January 2019

Objectives

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of periodontal therapy on the efficacy of Helicobacter pylori eradication and on the recurrence of infection after eradication.

Methods

We conducted a prospective randomized trial on 698 gastric H. pylori-infected patients, of whom 347 received gastric H. pylori treatment alone and 342 received gastric H. pylori treatment plus periodontal therapy. The presence of H. pylori and associated virulence genes were detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction.

Results

After eradication of gastric H. pylori infection, the recurrence of gastric H. pylori was significantly lower in the gastric H. pylori treatment plus periodontal therapy group than in the group receiving gastric H. pylori treatment alone (OR 0.67; 95% CI 0.45 to 0.99), whereas the eradication rate was not significantly different (OR 0.87; 95% CI 0.68 to 0.98). There was a close relationship between the presence of H. pylori in saliva and its presence in the stomach.

Conclusions

The oral cavity is an important reservoir for gastric H. pylori infection. Adjunctive periodontal therapy could enhance the efficiency of H. pylori treatment and reduce the recurrence of gastric H. pylori infection.
Psychometric evaluation of the Chinese version of the Snizek-revised Hall’s Professionalism Inventory Scale
Authors: Chen Xiaoqian , Yu Qi , Yu Feifei , Huang Yixiang , Zhang Lingling
Published: January 2019

Objective

This study was performed to assess the reliability and validity of the Chinese version of the Snizek-revised Hall’s Professionalism Inventory Scale (C-SR-HPIS).

Methods

Exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis were used to evaluate the construct validity of the C-SR-HPIS. The average variance extracted (AVE) and square root of the AVE were calculated and correlation analyses were performed to test the convergent validity and discriminant validity, respectively. Cronbach’s alpha (α) coefficient was used to test the internal consistency reliability.

Results

Data for 355 clinical nurses in mainland China were collected. Five factors were extracted, accounting for 58.86% of the total explained variance, and 20 items were selected for the C-SR-HPIS. The confirmatory factor analysis suggested good fitness of the modified model. The AVE was acceptable for convergent validity. The square roots of the AVE of the five factors were larger than their correlation coefficients with other factors, showing suitable discriminant validity. Cronbach’s α coefficient of internal consistency reliability of the overall scale was 0.76, indicating good reliability of the scale.

Conclusions

This study demonstrated good reliability and validity of the C-SR-HPIS and provides a quantitative tool for the assessment of nursing professionalism in China.
Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation increases serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor and decreases interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α in elderly patients with refractory depression
Authors: Zhao Xiangxiang , Li Yanpeng , Tian Qing , Zhu Bingqian , Zhao Zhongxin
Published: January 2019

Objective

To investigate the effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on serum levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), interleukin (IL)-1β, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in elderly patients with refractory depression.

Methods

A total of 58 elderly patients diagnosed with refractory depression between January 2015 and December 2016 were divided randomly into two groups: 29 patients who received rTMS and 29 controls without rTMS. Thirty healthy individuals were also enrolled and all received rTMS. Serum levels of BDNF, IL-1β, and TNF-α were measured before the study (0 days), and at 48 hours and 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks after the first TMS treatment.

Results

BDNF levels gradually increased with treatment duration in the rTMS group and were significantly higher compared with the control group. In contrast, IL-1β and TNF-α levels gradually decreased and were significantly lower than in the control group. None of the serum factors were affected by rTMS in the healthy individuals. BDNF levels were negatively correlated and IL-1β and TNF-α levels were positively correlated with Hamilton Depression Rating Scale-24 scores.

Conclusion

These results suggest that rTMS may increase BDNF and decrease IL-1β and TNF-α serum levels in elderly patients with refractory depression.
Initial free cortisol dynamics following blunt multiple trauma and traumatic brain injury: A clinical study
Authors: Kusmenkov T , Braunstein M , Schneider HJ , Bidlingmaier M , Prall WC , Flatz W , Boecker W , Bogner V
Published: January 2019

Objective

To determine free and total cortisol serum concentrations in the first 24 h after trauma and to evaluate the influence of traumatic brain injury (TBI) on their dynamics.

Methods

This prospective cohort study enrolled patients who had experienced multiple trauma and were admitted to a level 1 trauma centre. The patients were divided in two groups based on the presence of TBI according to clinical and radiological findings. Blood was collected initially as well as at 12 h and 24 h after the traumatic injury. Total cortisol, corticosteroid binding globulin (CBG) and free cortisol levels were determined.

Results

The study analysed data from 49 patients (36 males and 13 females) with a mean ± SD age of 45.0 ± 16.0 years. Of these, 36 presented with TBI and 13 had multiple injuries without TBI. Patients with TBI showed significantly lower concentrations of total cortisol and free cortisol compared with patients without TBI. Repeated measures analysis revealed different concentration dynamics in patients with TBI, with no increase in cortisol after trauma.

Conclusion

Multiple trauma patients with TBI are at risk of acute impaired cortisol secretion and show an attenuated stress response as early as 12 h after injury.
Persistence and changes in state dependence in a Mapuche indigenous territory, Chile
Authors: Cabrera Francisca de la Maza , Bolomey Córdova Carlos Felipe
Published: January 2019

This article examines forms of state dependence in a Mapuche indigenous territory on the coast of the Araucanía Region, Chile. Public and private programmes have been implemented in this area to assist the development of a territory which is considered ‘poor’ and contains a large percentage of Mapuche people. We analyse three moments of state action from the 1990s down to the present, identifying forms of state dependence which persist and evolve; relations with local counterpart organisations and the role of state employees become crucial in these new forms of dependence. On this basis, we conclude that today there is less expressed demand for autonomy and self-determination processes among indigenous communities and their leaders in the studied territory, replaced by a demand for more public programmes and resources in pursuit of an ‘improvement’ in their quality of life. This is occurring despite the current context in Chile of greater political visibility of the indigenous problem and indigenous claims, leading in turn to more repressive police action.
Representations of Autism in Online Harry Potter Fanfiction
Authors: Black Rebecca , Alexander Jonathan , Chen Vicky , Duarte Jonathan
Published: January 2019

From literary canons all the way to the motion picture industry, the artistic and popular cultural experience of marginalized or nonmainstream groups has been one of being represented by the other. In this article, we explore how online fanfiction, as an audience-driven, interactive form of writing, may offer a way for members of nonmainstream groups to push back against and offer alternatives to stereotypical and normative discourses. We focus on how autistic people, family members, teachers, and advocates cast autistic characters in their fanfiction stories, how these stories represent autism and how, given the affordances of an online publishing platform, audience members respond to such representations. Findings suggest that these online narratives diversify available representations of autistic characters; moreover, the interactive nature of the online publishing forum allows readers to respond to and potentially disrupt stereotypical thinking and common fictional tropes surrounding autism.
Whither the future of feature writing?
Authors: Richardson Nick
Published: January 2019

Historically feature writers occupied a privileged, often protected, position in a newsroom. While news reporters were required to produce copy to a tight deadline, the feature writer had the luxury of time in which to craft a well-researched and argued piece. Today, that is rarely the case. Feature writers are no longer inured from every day newsroom pressures. They’re expected to produce news as well as features, a reality which has contributed to a decline in the quality of longer form journalism. While technology has promoted greater interactivity among writer and audience, or content producer and audience in the case of online features, the focus and scope of features has changed immeasurably.
WIL-Power: Towards a Signature Pedagogy in Journalism
Authors: Woolley Bruce
Published: January 2019

Capstone courses in undergraduate education, especially in professional schools such as journalism, usually try to teach students to think and perform like the future practitioners they intend to become.

Internships, practice-based subjects, work experience courses—they all aim to bridge the students’ knowledge from the largely theoretical to the urgently practical; knowledge that will be essential in the workplace, whether it’s a doctor in a hospital, a lawyer in a courtroom or a teacher in a classroom.

Shulman’s ground-breaking insight was to articulate these as Signature Pedagogies and to define them clearly in three dimensions—to think, to perform, and to act with integrity—just as experienced practitioners in the field are doing.

This article contends that overseas Work Integrated Learning (WIL) courses such as those examined here, conducted by the researcher for the University of Queensland (UQ), are a Signature Pedagogy because the student participants are required to behave, think and perform ethically, just as foreign correspondents must do.
On dispersion relations in smart laminated fiber-reinforced composite membranes considering different piezoelectric coupling effects
Authors: Bisheh Hossein , Wu Nan
Published: January 2019

Wave propagation characteristics are determined for smart laminated fiber-reinforced composite cylindrical membrane shells with different piezoelectric coupling effects. Wave motion equations are derived using the membrane shell model. By solving an eigenvalue problem, dispersion curves of the wave motion are obtained for different axial and circumferential wave numbers. The effects of piezoelectric coupling, fiber orientation, stacking sequence, and material properties of the host shell on wave behaviors are investigated. The results of this paper can be used for studies on dynamic stability of piezoelectric coupled laminated fiber-reinforced composite shell structures and in design of smart structures with the piezoelectric materials for the applications of damage detection and structural health monitoring.
What do displays of empathy do in palliative care consultations?
Authors: Ford Joseph , Hepburn Alexa , Parry Ruth
Published: January 2019

Empathy is an important way for doctors to demonstrate their understanding of patients’ subjective experiences. This research considers the role of empathy in 37 doctor–patient palliative or end-of-life care consultations recorded in a hospice. Specifically, it focuses on four contexts in which there is a disparity between patients’ displayed experience of their illness and the doctor’s biomedical, expertise-driven perspective on their illness. These include cases in which the patient is sceptical of the medical perspective, cases in which the patient’s expectations exceed what can realistically be provided and cases in which patients have an overly pessimistic view of their condition. The analysis shows how doctors can use empathic statements to display that they are attentive to the patient’s subjective experience even when the task at hand is, ostensibly, an expertise-driven, biomedical one. It thus demonstrates that empathy is of importance throughout palliative care consultations, even in those phases which might seem biomedical or task-driven.
Comparative Outcomes of Various Combinations of Bilateral Shoulder Arthroplasty
Authors: Kurowicki Jennifer , Triplet Jacob J. , Rosas Samuel , Berglund Derek D. , Horn Brandon , Levy Jonathan C.
Published: January 2019

Background: In the setting of bilateral shoulder arthroplasty (BSA), differences in functional outcomes and motion between anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) and reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) are unknown. The purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of treatment for various combinations of TSA procedures. Methods: A review of prospectively collected data from an institutional shoulder surgery repository was performed for patients who underwent any combination of bilateral TSA or RSA surgery. Based on the combination of shoulder arthroplasty, patients were divided into the following subgroups: bilateral TSA (TSA/TSA), bilateral RSA (RSA/RSA), or unilateral TSA with contralateral RSA (TSA/RSA). A total of 73 patients (146 shoulders), with a minimum of 2-year follow-up, who underwent any combination of bilateral TSA or RSA from 2007 to 2014 were included. Pre- and postoperative patient-reported outcome measures and measured motion were evaluated between the 3 groups. Results: There were 47 TSA/TSA, 17 RSA/RSA, and 9 TSA/RSA patients with a mean age of 72 years and mean follow-up of 51 months. Preoperatively, TSA/TSA had significantly higher Simple Shoulder Test scores, Visual Analog Scale (VAS) function, active elevation, and active external rotation compared with RSA/RSA. Postoperative scores were significantly superior in TSA/TSA compared with other combinations of shoulder arthroplasty except VAS pain and function. Change in pre- to postoperative (effectiveness of treatment) internal rotation was superior in the TSA/TSA group compared with RSA/RSA and TSA/RSA; however, no other differences were observed. Conclusions: Bilateral TSA patients have higher preoperative function and motion. Although some postoperative outcomes differ among combinations of BSA, the overall effectiveness of treatment for patients undergoing BSA is similar between various combinations of arthroplasty.
Dietary fish oil supplementation alters liver gene expressions to protect against LPS-induced liver injury in weanling piglets
Authors: Zhang Jing , Xu Xin , Zhu Huiling , Wang Yang , Hou Yongqing , Liu Yulan
Published: January 2019

Here, the potential mechanisms of the protective effects of fish oil against LPS-induced liver injury in a piglet model were investigated by using RNA sequencing. Twenty-four piglets were used in a 2 × 2 factorial design, and the main factors included diet (5% corn oil or 5% fish oil) and immunological challenge (LPS or saline, on d 19). All piglets were slaughtered at 4 h after challenge, and liver samples were collected. Fish oil improved liver morphology and reduced TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 productions after LPS challenge. RNA sequencing analysis showed fish oil had significant effect on the expressions of genes involved in immune response during LPS-induced inflammation. Selected gene expression changes were validated using quantitative RT-PCR. Fish oil reduced the expressions of pro-inflammatory genes IL1R1, IL1RAP, CEBPB and CRP, and increased that of anti-inflammatory genes IL-18BP, NFKBIA, IFIT1, IFIT2 and ATF3. Moreover, fish oil restored the expressions of some lipid metabolism-related genes, such as ACAA1, ACACA, ACADS and ACADM, which were only decreased in pigs fed a corn oil diet after LPS challenge. Our RNA sequencing reveals novel gene-nutrient interactions following fish oil supplementation and evoked inflammation, which add to the current understanding of the benefits of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids against liver injury.
The Dangers of Sneezing: A Review of Injuries
Authors: Setzen Sean , Platt Michael
Published: January 2019

Background

Sneezing is an almost universal daily phenomenon as a reflex to evacuate irritants from the nasal cavities. An autonomic-controlled buildup of intrathoracic pressure against a closed glottis followed by sudden release results in a burst of 1 kPa of air through the upper airway. Active intervention to limit a sneeze can be deleterious. Closure of the airway during a sneeze can result in over 20 times the airway pressures resulting in a variety of untoward events. This review summarizes all reported injuries that occurred as the result of a sneeze.

Objective

The objective of this review is to summarize the risks of closed-airway sneezing and determine if there are any trends which can help understand such injuries.

Methods

A comprehensive literature review was performed from 1948 to 2018 to identify all reports of sneeze-related injuries. Information was compiled from reports to gain insights into comorbidities and risk factors for sneeze injuries.

Results

There were 52 unique reports of sneeze-related injuries in the literature that were categorized into 6 areas of injury: intrathoracic, laryngeal/pharyngeal, ocular/orbital, intracranial/neurological, otologic, and other. The mean age of subjects who suffered a sneeze injury was 40 years old (range: 15–84 years), with 81% being male gender. Thirty percent had a risk factor for injury of prior trauma (5) or respiratory compromise (5).

Conclusion

A variety of injuries can occur during a sneeze, especially when a closed-airway sneeze is attempted, and high Valsalva pressure is transmitted to the other systems. Men are more at risk for these injuries with the majority occurring in patients with no known risk factor. When triggered, a sneeze should be allowed to proceed without intervention to prevent associated injuries.
Recessive congenital methemoglobinemia type II: Hypoplastic basal ganglia in two siblings with a novel mutation of the cytochrome b5 reductase gene
Authors: Nicolas-Jilwan Manal
Published: January 2019

Recessive congenital methemoglobinemia type II is a very rare autosomal recessive hematologic disorder due to NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase deficiency, usually caused by full-stop mutations or deletions. This disease classically presents with mild neonatal cyanosis, early onset severe progressive developmental delay, movement disorders, and progressive microcephaly. We report two siblings with recessive congenital methemoglobinemia type II whose evaluation revealed a novel p.Arg92Trp missense mutation of the CYB5R3 gene and a peculiar imaging finding of basal ganglia hypoplasia. Brain magnetic resonance imaging was performed at age 10 months in the older sibling and at age three months in the younger sibling. It revealed similar findings of bilateral small size of the lentiform and caudate nuclei and reduced frontotemporal brain volume. Our patient cases highlight that basal ganglia hypoplasia is an interesting clue to the very rare and frequently unsuspected diagnosis of recessive congenital methemoglobinemia type II, that may explain the associated movement disorders. The novel missense mutation is one of very few identified missense mutations known to cause severe type II recessive congenital methemoglobinemia.
A cross-sectional study of the relationship between reported human papillomavirus vaccine exposure and the incidence of reported asthma in the United States
Authors: Geier David A , Kern Janet K , Geier Mark R
Published: January 2019

Objectives:

Asthma is a chronic disorder that affects persons of all ages impacting the quality of their lives. This cross-sectional hypothesis-testing study evaluated the relationship between human papillomavirus vaccine and the risk of an incident asthma diagnosis in a defined temporal period post-vaccination.

Methods:

The 2015–2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data were examined for a group of 60,934,237 weighted persons between 9 and 26 years old in Statistical Analysis Software.

Results:

Reported incident asthma significantly clustered in the year of reported human papillomavirus vaccination. When the data were separated by gender, the effects observed remained significant for males but not females.

Conclusion:

The results suggest that human papillomavirus vaccination resulted in an excess of 261,475 asthma cases with an estimated direct excess lifetime cost of such persons being US$42 billion. However, it is unclear what part of the vaccine and/or vaccine medium may have increased an individual’s susceptibility to an asthma episode, whether the asthma diagnosis represented one asthma episode or if it is chronic, and how much therapeutic support was needed (if any) and for how long, which would impact cost. Despite the negative findings in this study, routine vaccination is an important public health tool, and the results observed need to be viewed in this context.
Endoscopic submucosal dissection of gastrointestinal lesions on an outpatient basis
Authors: Baldaque-Silva Francisco , Marques Margarida , Andrade Ana Patrícia , Sousa Nuno , Lopes Joanne , Carneiro Fatima , Macedo Guilherme
Published: January 2019

Background

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is usually associated with hospital admission.

Objectives

To evaluate, prospectively, the feasibility, safety and efficacy of outpatient gastrointestinal ESD.

Methods

Patients with suitable lesions were invited to participate. Those that dwelt more than 1 hour from the hospital, lived alone, had severe co‐morbidities, were <18 years old, had duodenal lesions, or that had ESD‐related complications were admitted. The remaining patients were discharged if no complications were detected. A patients’ inquiry was performed.

Results

Of the 164 ESD patients, 122 were outpatient‐based, corresponding to 115 patients, 47% male and mean age 63 ± 12 years‐old. Outpatients tended to be younger, female, to have gastric lesions, less advanced lesions, and shorter and less complicated ESDs (all p < 0.05). Outpatients’ mean tumour size was 38 mm, en bloc and R0 resection rates were 88 and 78%, respectively. Seven ESD outpatients (5.7%) had complications: delayed bleeding (n = 4), pneumonitis (n = 2) or emphysema (n = 1), all managed conservatively. Colorectal location of the lesions was predictive of hospital admission (p = 0.03). In total, 97% of patients were satisfied with the outpatient strategy.

Conclusion

Risks of ambulatory ESD are low and complications can be successfully managed. This strategy has high patient satisfaction. More studies are needed to evaluate its implications on costs and patients’ management.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and rheumatic diseases: A systematic review on a neglected comorbidity
Authors: Gergianaki Irini , Tsiligianni Ioanna
Published: January 2019

Background:

Although, both chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and rheumatic diseases (RDs) are common, and each has significant impact on patients’ overall health/quality of life, their co-occurrence has received little attention, while 15% of COPD remains undiagnosed in RDs.

Objective:

To update the information regarding the comorbid state of RD/COPD (prevalence, incidence), to examine whether patients with RD have increased risk of developing COPD and vice versa, and what implications this comorbidity has on patients’ outcomes (mortality, hospitalizations, exacerbations).

Methods:

We performed a systematic literature review regarding the comorbidity of an RD (rheumatoid arthritis (RA), ankylosing spondylitis (AS), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), primary Sjogren syndrome disease (pSS), and systemic sclerosis (SSc)) with COPD. From 2803 reports retrieved, 33 articles were further screened. Finally, 27 articles were included.

Results:

Robust evidence supports that COPD develops up to 68% more frequently in patients with RA, as compared to the general population. Similarly, COPD is increased in every other RD that was studied. Further, self-referred arthritis is more common in COPD patients versus non-COPD controls and a predictor of worst self-rated health status. Patients with inflammatory arthritis/COPD have increased mortality (threefold in RA-COPD, irrespectively of which is first diagnosed), hospitalizations, and emergency visits.

Conclusion:

COPD is more common in patients with RA, AS, PsA, SLE, pSS, and SSc; yet, the association, vice versa, warrants further investigation. Nevertheless, COPD/RDs coexistence has significant prognostic value for worst outcomes; therefore, awareness is required to track early identification, especially in primary care.
Isolated versus combined medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction for lateral instability of the patella
Authors: An Vincent VG , Sivakumar Brahman S , Phan Kevin , Fritsch Brett A , Sher Doron
Published: January 2019

Introduction:

Medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction (MPFLR) is regularly combined with a tibial tuberosity transfer (TTT) in cases of recurrent patellar instability with underlying structural deformity. However, these indications for a TTT have recently come into question. This study aimed to assess the traditional indications by comparing the outcomes of isolated and combined MPFLR for the treatment of recurrent lateral patellar dislocation.

Methods:

A systematic review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Included studies were those which reported the outcomes of either isolated or combined or both MPFLR. Studies were required to report at least one of the following: redislocation rate, revision due to instability, or the Kujala score.

Results:

We found no difference between isolated and combined MPFLR in terms of redislocation ( p = 0.48), revisions due to instability ( p = 0.36), positive apprehension tests ( p = 0.25), or the Kujala score ( p = 0.58). Combined reconstruction presented more complications compared to isolated procedures ( p = 0.05). Subgroup analysis revealed no significant difference between studies investigating isolated medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction MPFLR performed in patients with normal tibial tuberosity–trochlear groove (TT-TG) distances only or in patients with both normal and elevated TT-TG distances.

Conclusions:

According to the published data, there is no difference in outcomes between isolated and combined MPFLR. Underlying structural deformity did not demonstrate any significant effect on the success of the isolated MPFLR. Although there are definite indications for combined reconstruction, the current evidence suggests that our inclusion criteria may not be entirely correct. Further study is required to clarify and refine the true indications for combined MPFLR.

Level of Evidence:

III, meta-analysis of nonrandomized studies.
Leadership and Effectiveness: A Content Analysis of Letters to Shareholders During the Financial Crisis
Authors: Josef Scheuerlein , Helena Chládková
Published: January 2019

The present study investigates whether the leadership effectiveness of CEOs from major U.S. companies changes in times of the Financial Crisis. The focus lays on important leadership qualities and their corresponding linguistic markers. These have been previously identified to be either, a crucial part of effective leadership or leadership in general. Leadership qualities are measured through the quantitative content analysis software Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count, 2015. The written language use of 104 CEOs within 594 letters to shareholders are investigated on possible changes of (a) Extroversion (as measured through first-person plural words), (b) Power Motive, (c) risk taking, and (d) Narcissism (as measured through first-person singular words). The results revealed significant changes of extroversion (first-person plural words) and risk-taking scores. The findings show that the Financial Crisis provoked substantial changes in linguistic indicators of leadership effectiveness. Furthermore, in times of crises, some favorable leadership qualities seem to become highlighted, whereas other important aspects dramatically decrease.