bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Haiku Horizons: Visions of Tomorrow, Creative Mindsets, and Artificial Intelligence-Driven Change
Authors: Farrow Elissa
Published: May 2024

In an ever-changing technological landscape, organizations stand at a pivotal juncture, seeking to harness the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) while confronting the spectre of workforce upheaval. This study extends on an exploratory journey into the profound impact of mindset, drawing inspiration from images of the future. It delves into how these mental landscapes shape organizational responses to imminent disruptions ushered in by AI. Employing an innovative participatory research approach, participants reviewed previously created hand drawn images of the future to conduct a thematic analysis and haiku poetry contribution. Participants envisioned a world where AI implementation led to employee displacement. This essay extends on this transformative research journey and showcases participant-generated summative poetry contributions. The essay deepens the profound relevance of cultivating creative and anticipatory mindsets within people as they navigate AI-induced disruptions.
Illusory deformation of the finger is more extensive in the distal than the lateral direction
Authors: Sato Yutaro , Saito Godai , Kodaka Kenri
Published: May 2024

Previous studies have examined the rubber hand illusion with finger lengthening, but there is limited research on finger widening. This suggests a strong cognitive bias toward the illusory expansion of the finger in a distal direction rather than lateral. To test this, we compared the illusory deformability of the finger in the distal and lateral directions through the generation of illusory finger deformation using a double-touch operation, referred to as the numbness illusion. Our results showed that perceived distal distortion was wholly superior to perceived lateral distortion in terms of sense of ownership ratings. Moreover, the extent of the perceived deformation was greater in the distal than lateral direction, supporting our hypothesis that there is a distal bias. We suggest that this preference may be because the presence of multiple joints is required to create illusory deformation in the target direction.
Role of follow-up gallium scintigraphy in the evaluation of malignant external otitis (skull base osteomyelitis): A case report
Authors: Yano Teruhisa , Tomioka Ryota , Inagaki Taro , Akai Ryo , Miyake Keitaro , Arai Sayaka , Tsukahara Kiyoaki
Published: May 2024

Malignant otitis externa (skull base osteomyelitis) can be fatal and long-term antibiotic therapy is recommended. Despite being potentially fatal, this infection causes minor changes in inflammatory biomarkers (white blood cell count and C-reactive protein levels) upon blood testing. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging changes persist over a long period. Therefore, it is difficult to determine the optimal time for the discontinuation of antibiotics. We present a 77-year-old male whose medical history included type 2 diabetes mellitus who suffered from chronic otitis media with Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection. His condition did not improve with proper treatment, and imaging revealed malignant otitis media. Intravenous cefepime treatment was administered. Antibiotic treatment was de-escalated to oral levofloxacin treatment after Gallium-67 scintigraphy showed less accumulation after 6 weeks of Cefepime administration; accumulation almost disappeared after 1 year. In this report, we describe the usefulness of gallium scintigraphy in the evaluation of malignant otitis externa.
A machine learning-based model for “In-time” prediction of periprosthetic joint infection
Authors: Chen Weishen , Hu Xuantao , Gu Chen , Zhang Zhaohui , Zheng Linli , Pan Baiqi , Wu Xiaoyu , Sun Wei , Sheng Puyi
Published: May 2024

Background

Previous criteria had limited value in early diagnosis of periprosthetic joint infection (PJI). Here, we constructed a novel machine learning (ML)-derived, “in-time” diagnostic system for PJI and proved its validity.

Methods

We filtered “in-time” diagnostic indicators reported in the literature based on our continuous retrospective cohort of PJI and aseptic prosthetic loosening patients. With the indicators, we developed a two-level ML model with six base learners including Elastic Net, Linear Support Vector Machine, Kernel Support Vector Machine, Extra Trees, Light Gradient Boosting Machine and Multilayer Perceptron), and one meta-learner, Ensemble Learning of Weighted Voting. The prediction performance of this model was compared with those of previous diagnostic criteria (International Consensus Meeting in 2018 (ICM 2018), etc.). Another prospective cohort was used for internal validation. Based on our ML model, a user-friendly web tool was developed for swift PJI diagnosis in clinical practice.

Results

A total of 254 patients (199 for development and 55 for validation cohort) were included in this study with 38.2% of them diagnosed as PJI. We included 21 widely accessible features including imaging indicators (X-ray and CT) in the model. The sensitivity and accuracy of our ML model were significantly higher than ICM 2018 in development cohort (90.6% vs. 76.1%, P = 0.032; 94.5% vs. 86.7%, P = 0.020), which was supported by internal validation cohort (84.2% vs. 78.6%; 94.6% vs. 81.8%).

Conclusions

Our novel ML-derived PJI “in-time” diagnostic system demonstrated significantly improved diagnostic potency for surgical decision-making compared with the commonly used criteria. Moreover, our web-based tool greatly assisted surgeons in distinguishing PJI patients comprehensively.

Level of evidence

Diagnostic Level III.
Heuristics used for evaluating the usability of mobile health applications: A systematic literature review
Authors: Galavi Zahra , Norouzi Somaye , Khajouei Reza
Published: May 2024

Objective

Mobile health applications hold immense potential for enhancing health outcomes. Usability is one of the main factors for the adoption and use of mobile health applications. However, despite the growing importance of mHealth applications, clear standards for their evaluation remain elusive. The present study aimed to determine heuristics for the usability evaluation of health-related applications.

Methods

We systematically searched multiple databases for relevant papers published between January 2008 and April 2021. Articles were reviewed, and data were extracted and categorized from those meeting inclusion criteria by two authors independently. Heuristics were identified based on statements, words, and concepts expressed in the studies. These heuristics were first mapped to Nielsen's heuristics based on their differences or similarities. The remaining heuristics that were very important for mobile applications were categorized into new heuristics.

Results

Seventeen studies met the eligibility criteria. Seventy-nine heuristics were extracted from the papers. After combining the items with the same concepts and removing irrelevant items based on the exclusion criteria, 20 heuristics remained. Common heuristics such as “Visibility of system status” and “Flexibility and efficiency of use” were categorized into 10 previously established heuristics and new heuristics like “Navigation” and “User engagement” were recognized as new ones.

Conclusions

In our study, we have meticulously identified 20 heuristics that hold promise for evaluating and designing mHealth applications. These heuristics can be used by the researchers for the development of robust tools for heuristic evaluation. These tools, when adapted or tailored for health domain applications, have the potential to significantly enhance the quality of mHealth applications. Ultimately, this improvement in quality translates to enhanced patient safety.

Protocol Registration

(10.17605/OSF.IO/PZJ7H)
Application of a WeChat Mini Program to provide pharmaceutical care for cancer pain patients: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Zhao Qiuling , Qiu Xiuliang , Liu Wenbin , Nian Zilin , Chen Ting , Chen Juan , Xie Ruixiang , Yang Lin
Published: May 2024

Objective

This study aimed to develop an individual WeChat Mini Program to provide pharmaceutical care to better manage cancer pain patients and to evaluate its feasibility and the differences in analgesic efficacy, medication adherence and safety versus conventional pharmacy interventions.

Methods

In this parallel randomized clinical trial, 42 cancer pain patients were equally allocated into the experimental group and the control group. The experimental group received individualized pharmaceutical care based on the “Yao Nin You Wo” WeChat Mini Program, while the control group received conventional care during the 4-week period. Main outcomes contained pain scores, medication adherence, incidences and relief rates of breakthrough pain, and incidences of adverse events. Relief rates of pain were also calculated according to pain scores.

Results

At the beginning of intervention, none of the pain scores and medication adherence showed relevant differences between the two groups (all P > .05). After intervention, the experimental group had significantly lower pain scores compared to the control group ( P = .003). Breakthrough pain of both groups was alleviate; not only the incidence of breakthrough pain considerably was lower at 4 weeks than at baseline, but the relief rate of breakthrough in the experimental group was higher than that in the control group. Compared with the control group, the medication adherence rate of the experimental group was significantly improved ( P = .02). Types of adverse events that happened in experimental and groups were similar, but the total incidence of adverse events in the experimental group was lower than that in the control group.

Conclusions

WeChat Mini Program is a useful and facilitative tool with the potential to improve cancer pain self-management ability in discharged patients. In addition, pharmacists could play a key role through the Mini Program to connect with patients successfully by providing personalized pharmaceutical services.
Excellent Survival With a Focus on Pulmonary Artery Reinterventions After the Arterial Switch Operation
Authors: Selcuk Arif , Ozturk Mahmut , Tongut Aybala , Sterzbecher Vanessa , Park In Hye , Mehta Rittal , Desai Manan , Yerebakan Can , d’Udekem Yves
Published: May 2024

Background: We sought to evaluate the outcomes in patients who underwent the arterial switch operation (ASO) over a 20-year period at a single institution. Methods: The current study is a retrospective review of 180 consecutive patients who underwent the ASO for biventricular surgical correction of dextro-transposition of the great arteries (d-TGA) between 2002 and 2022. Results: Among 180 patients, 121 had TGA-intact ventricular septum, 47 had TGA-ventricular septal defect and 12 had Taussig-Bing Anomaly (TBA). The median follow-up time was 6.7 years (interquartile range: 3.9-8.7 years). There were five early (2.8%) and one late (0.6%) mortality. Survival was 96.6% at one year and beyond. Reoperations were performed in 31 patients (17%). Taussig Bing Anomaly was found to increase the risk of reoperation by 17 times ( P < .0001). A total of 37 (21%) patients underwent 53 reinterventions (14 surgical procedures, 39 catheter interventions) specifically addressing pulmonary artery (PA) stenosis. Freedom from PA reintervention was 97%, 87%, 70%, and 55% at 1, 5, 10, and 15 years, respectively. By bivariable analysis, TBA ( P = .003, odds ratio [OR]: 6.4, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.9-21.7), mild PA stenosis at discharge ( P ≤ .001, OR: 6.1, 95% CI: 2.7-13.6), and moderate or severe PA stenosis at discharge ( P ≤ .001, OR: 12.7, 95% CI: 5-32.2) were identified as predictors of reintervention on PA. In the last follow-up of 174 survivors, 24 patients (14%) had moderate or greater PA stenosis, two (1%) had moderate neoaortic valve regurgitation, and 168 were New York Heart Association status I. Conclusions: Our results demonstrated excellent survival and functional status following the ASO for d-TGA; however, patients remain subject to frequent reinterventions especially on the pulmonary arteries.
Consumer Awareness, Knowledge, Understanding, and Use of Nutrition Labels in Africa: A Systematic Narrative Review
Authors: Kwabena Osei Prince , Ampong Domfe Christabel , Kojo Anderson Alex
Published: May 2024

The purpose of nutrition information on a nutrition label is to communicate to consumers the nutritional content of prepackaged foods so that they would be able to identify healthy foods before purchase. Many systematic reviews in the area of consumer awareness, knowledge, understanding, and use of nutrition labels have focused on the United States, Canada, Asia, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, and little attention has been given to African countries. To review the state of consumer awareness, knowledge, understanding, and use of nutrition labels within the African region, identify barriers to the use of nutrition labels, identify consumers who are more likely to use labels, and assess the factors that affect purchasing decisions. Searches were done in electronic databases (PubMed, Google Scholar, Semantic Scholar, Web of Science) and the reference lists of relevant research articles (back referencing). The review was limited to cross-sectional peer-reviewed research articles which were published in the English Language between January 2000 and June 2022. Twenty-six peer-reviewed papers from 10 African countries that met our inclusion criteria are included in this systematic review. The overall crude means of levels of awareness, knowledge, understanding, and use of nutrition labels were found to be 74.2%, 56.4%, 45.3%, and 69.1%, respectively. Consumer levels of knowledge and understanding of nutrition labels across the 10 African countries were low compared to the awareness and use of nutrition labels.
Configurational Paths to Arouse Tourists’ Positive Experiences in Smart Tourism Destinations: A fsQCA Approach
Authors: Gao Junjie , Xu Dandan , Pan Younghwan
Published: May 2024

The issue this study explores is to investigate the determinants of smart tourism destinations (STDs) on tourists’ experiences. To address this issue, this study purports to identify different configuration paths of determinants that lead to tourists’ positive experiences in STDs and explain the mechanism of the configuration effects of different determinants. The fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) method was adopted to conduct a survey on 266 tourists who went to five Chinese STDs between 2021 and 2022. Smart tourism technologies, smart destination governance, personalized service, and smart infrastructure, co-creation formed distinct combination paths through different configurations. The findings demonstrated that smart infrastructure and co-creation are necessary conditions to arouse tourists’ positive experiences. The results of fsQCA analysis further revealed five causal configurations leading to tourists’ positive experiences. The study provides theoretical and practical implications for STDs to design effective tourism services as well as enhance tourists’ overall experiences.
Linguistic Variations Between Translated and Non-Translated English Chairman’s Statements in Corporate Annual Reports: A Multidimensional Analysis
Authors: Wang Zhongliang , Liu Kanglong
Published: May 2024

As an important component of a company’s annual report, the chairman’s statement offers an important channel for the chairman of the company to report on the company’s performance in unquantified and textual terms. The Chairman’s statement serves as background for the shareholders, investors and wider stakeholders to have an overview of a company’s performance and activities over the course of one year. In this study, three corpora were compiled from the annual reports of listed companies based in Mainland China, Hong Kong and the United States. A corpus-based multi-dimensional analysis was conducted to investigate the linguistic characteristics between translated and non-translated English chairman’s statements. The findings indicate that the translated chairman’s statements of Mainland Chinese companies are informationally denser and more context-independent than the non-translated ones of American and Hong Kong companies. The results of a fine-grained analysis show that the translated and non-translated chairman’s statements have significant differences regards various linguistic features, indicating that cultural differences and translation might constitute important factors in affecting the textual profiling. Our study has yielded some new evidence towards a more comprehensive understanding of the linguistic differences between translated and non-translated chairman’s statements, and enriching the existing knowledge of translational language. This study also offers some practical as well as pedagogical insights into communication issues in business English and business translation.
Linking Spiritual Leadership with Other Leadership Concepts: A Literature Review of Four Decades
Authors: Samul Joanna
Published: May 2024

Recently, there is a growing interest in the concept of spiritual leadership. However, there are conceptual and research dilemmas regarding distinctions between the concept of spiritual leadership and other leadership approaches, especially positive leadership theories. Thus, there is a need to distinguish between the semantic relation construct of spiritual leadership and other related concepts in the field of management. Therefore, the current study provides a systematic literature review and bibliometric analyses of the 422 publications on spiritual leadership that were published between 1980 and 2021. The VOSviewer software with network visualization map was used. This paper contributes to understanding related aspects of spiritual leadership with other leadership approaches, provides a framework for integrating existing theories of leadership and leads to the identification of questions for future research. The study includes concepts based only on moral and ethical issues.
Relationships Among Supervisors’ Authentic Leadership, Ostracism, Perceived Supervisor’s Trust and Commitment to Customer Services: Evidence From Frontline Service Employees of Small Stores
Authors: Jan Ihsan Ullah , Ji Seonggoo
Published: May 2024

The influential roles of supervisor’s leadership in the context of a small store are not studied and it is unclear how it affects the attitudinal and behavioral outcomes of frontline service employees. Drawing on the social exchange theory, the purpose of this study is three folds. First, this study aims to examine the role of supervisors’ authentic leadership and supervisor ostracism on frontline service employees’ perceived supervisor trust. Second, this study investigates the effects of frontline service employees’ perceived supervisor trust on commitment to customer services and store affective commitment. Finally, the positive role of store affective commitment on frontline service employees’ commitment to customer services is examined. A survey-based was used to collect 203 responses from frontline service employees of coffee shops in Korea. Covariance-based structural equation modeling (CB-SEM) was conducted to test the hypotheses. The results indicated that a supervisor’s authentic leadership is positively whereas supervisor ostracism is negatively associated with supervisor trust. Similarly, supervisor trust has a significant positive effect on the frontline service employee’s commitment to customer services and store affective commitment. Finally, frontline service employees’ store affective commitment has a significant positive effect on the commitment to customer services. This research offers practical implications for managers of frontline service employees, particularly in the selection, training, promotion, and socialization process of supervisors of small stores in general and in coffee shops in particular. Practitioners interested to increase frontline service employees’ commitment to customer services and store affective commitment can leverage the findings of this study.
Book review: Sujata Patel, D. Parthasarathy and George Jose (Eds.), Mumbai/Bombay: Majoritarian Neoliberalism, Informality, Resistance, and Wellbeing
Authors: Pati Sushmita
Published: May 2024

Sujata Patel, D. Parthasarathy and George Jose (Eds.), Mumbai/Bombay: Majoritarian Neoliberalism, Informality, Resistance, and Wellbeing. New Delhi: Routledge Publications, 2022, 257pp., ₹1,299.
Book review: Sudha Pai and Sajjan Kumar. Maya, Modi, Azad: Dalit Politics in the Times of Hindutva
Authors: Verma A. K.
Published: May 2024

Sudha Pai and Sajjan Kumar. Maya, Modi, Azad: Dalit Politics in the Times of Hindutva. Noida, Uttar Pradesh: Harper Collins, 2023, 305 pp., ₹599.
Would you date a liar? The impact of greenwashing on B2B relationships under the managerial trust view
Authors: Valero-Gil Jesus , Suárez-Perales Inés , Ferrón-Vílchez Vera
Published: May 2024

Greenwashing can be perceived as dishonest behavior that can threaten trust in business deals due to the current trend of an intensive scrutiny of sustainability-related messages from organizations. Drawing on the literature concerning managerial trust, our study analyzes how perceived greenwashing negatively affects business-to-business relationships, focusing on two aspects: (1) whether managers’ perception of greenwashing is influenced by uncertainty in the business decision-making process and (2) whether individual manager characteristics play a significant role in modulating this influence. We used an experimental design involving 125 Spanish managers to confirm the importance of uncertain scenarios under the negative influence of greenwashing on business decision-making process. The findings also confirm that this negative influence is intensified by managers’ characteristics in terms of risk aversion and the importance they place on corporate reputation. The study makes several contributions to academia and practitioners by advancing the understanding of greenwashing in the context of business-to-business relationships.

JEL CLASSIFICATION: M100; M140; M210
Exploring nurses’ postturnover experiences in their new employment: A self-determination and job-fit perspective
Authors: Bolt Ester Ellen Trees , Cafferkey Kenneth , Townsend Keith , van der Cingel Margreet
Published: May 2024

Nurses are known for having to work in a demanding work environment. As a result of this, nurses often quit their job, hoping to get better working conditions elsewhere. In this wave of change, how do nurses experience postturnover re-employment? Based on self-determination and person-job fit theory, this article aims to explore the postturnover experiences of nurses working in Dutch health care. 56 interviews were conducted where nurses reflected upon experiences at their former and current employment. Three main themes were identified: (1) improved levels of mental and physical well-being, (2) alignment of job skills and job needs to work environment, and (3) enhanced professional network. Our findings are congruent with self-determination theory and person-job fit theory and extend the knowledge base on individual postturnover implications, highlighting that turnover, although often seen as a negative phenomenon from the perspective of an organization, can benefit those who change employers.

JEL CLASSIFICATION: M100
Challenging Stereotypes: Examining Arab Womanhood in “The Negotiator”
Authors: Chahdi Chadi
Published: May 2024

This article presents a participant-based film analysis of Brad Anderson’s The Negotiator (2018), a Netflix production. The objective of this study is to examine the prevalent portrayal of Arabs and Muslims as the primary antagonists in American (neo-Orientalist) cinema. By analyzing the development of Arab characters, the article delves into the construction of villainy and its function in juxtaposition to heroism within the film’s narrative. A particular focus is given to the marginalization of Arab women, who are deprived of agency and the opportunity to express themselves. To address this issue, the study includes perspectives from Arab female participants, allowing them to articulate their perceptions and connections to both the Arab and American characters in the film. The research explores the common depiction of Arab or Muslim women as inactive extras or silenced secondary characters in post-9/11 American films. Through this investigation, the article aims to shed light on the representation and portrayal of Arab and Muslim women in contemporary American cinema.
Why is ‘clean’ energy opposed? the resistances to geothermal energy projects in Turkey
Authors: Ozen Hayriye
Published: May 2024

This study focuses on the resistance to geothermal energy projects in the Aegean region in Turkey. It explores, drawing on the analysis of documents and the fieldwork conducted in four Aegean cities, why there is a widespread local resistance to geothermal energy, which is widely promoted as environmentally benign and renewable and, as such, critical for the low-carbon energy transition. Examining the resistance from a political ecology perspective, I show how the power/resistance nexus in the field of renewable energy is shaped in those contexts where authoritarianism, populism, and geographically specific forms of capital accumulation operate in and through each other. Specifically, I demonstrate that the formulation of geothermal policy and practices to perpetuate and consolidate the power of the authoritarian populist AKP government laid the groundwork for the generation of widespread resistances by threatening to create new environmental injustices and to deepen existing class, and gender inequalities. The study also shows that geothermal energy may be as destructive as fossil fuel-based energy when not planned, regulated, or monitored effectively. It is concluded therefore that the practice of grouping renewable energy sources in a single ‘clean energy’ category should be reconsidered.
Patient and family engagement in patient safety practices: A Making Healthcare Safer rapid response review
Authors: Dukhanin Vadim , Dy Sydney M. , Sharma Ritu , Vass Montrell , Zhang Allen , Bass Eric B. , Rosen Michael
Published: May 2024

Background

Patient and family engagement (PFE) is a developing area in reducing patient harm. This review addresses two questions: 1) What PFE patient safety practices (PSPs) have been used to prevent, report, or mitigate harms to patients and in what settings have they been used? 2) What evidence of effectiveness and unintended effects of PFE PSPs has been published since the Making Healthcare Safer (MHS) III report?

Methods

We searched PubMed and the Cochrane Library for studies published between January 2019 and April 2023. We included reviews of and primary studies on safety, quality, or utilization outcomes associated with any intervention focused on PFE in reporting and/or reducing patient safety events and harms.

Results

We retrieved 768 citations and found one systematic review and five studies meeting the inclusion criteria. The studies were either multi-component patient fall interventions or patient portals and information tools. Patient fall intervention PFE PSPs demonstrated significant decreases in overall rate of fall (15%–71% reductions) and fall with injury (34%–67% reductions) across three studies and a 17% decrease in the hospital length of stay in one study. Across three studies employing portals and information tools, PFE PSPs facilitated the identification of errors and significantly decreased the hospital length of stay and readmissions.

Conclusions

Research on PFE PSPs provides emerging evidence of the effectiveness of including PFE as a component of interventions targeting specific preventable harms. More research is needed to support the measurement of and better determine the overall effectiveness of a broader implementation of PFE PSPs.
Canadian correctional officers, institutionalization, and the social impacts of prison work
Authors: Stevens Leanne , Schultz William J
Published: May 2024

Researchers often use institutionalization to explain the psychological impact of imprisonment on incarcerated people, but little is known about how institutionalization processes may impact other actors in prison, such as correctional officers (COs). New research consistently describes prison work as a damaging experience, something that significantly impacts short and long-term health outcomes of COs. A broad reading of the institutionalization literature demonstrates remarkable similarities to CO mental health research, raising questions about whether institutionalization frameworks can help us understand prison work. We draw on 131 interviews with Canadian COs to examine this possibility, and find that COs draw broad institutionalization narratives framing prison work as a distinctly harmful experience with lasting impacts on their personalities, identities, and relationships. We conclude by discussing the implications of using institutionalization as a means of understanding correctional work.
Performing ignorance of state violence in Aotearoa New Zealand
Authors: Stanley Elizabeth , Gibson Zeni , Craddock India
Published: May 2024

In 2019, the New Zealand government established a Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care to investigate the abuse and neglect of children, young people and vulnerable adults in Aotearoa/New Zealand between 1950 and 1999. The public hearings, witness statements and interim reports have charted horrific violence by state and faith-based workers including torture, sexual assaults, serious physical violence, and layers of neglect and discrimination. Māori have been especially targeted as victims of abuse and harms. This article considers the multiple layers of ignorance-making from state representatives. It shows how state agencies have navigated Commission hearings through 10 strategies that demonstrate some acknowledgement of their offending and trauma-making while simultaneously minimising their responsibility and resecuring their institutional legitimacy as protectors of the vulnerable and saviours of Te Tiriti (the Treaty of Waitangi), ethics and integrity. This careful performance stands at odds with the ongoing layers of violence and harms in state care.
The Impact of Pyloric Directed Therapy for Gastroparesis
Authors: Jue Terry L. , Hasler William L.
Published: May 2024

Gastroparesis presents with nausea, early satiety, vomiting, bloating, distention, and abdominal pain and is diagnosed by documenting delayed passage of contents from the stomach to the intestines in the absence of mechanical obstruction. Several factors contribute to gastroparesis pathophysiology. Pylorospasm, or increased pyloric contractility, is present in many patients and may be a target for therapy of cases of refractory gastroparesis when medical management is insufficient. Pylorus-directed interventions including botulinum toxin injections, pneumatic balloon dilation, stenting, surgical pyloroplasty, and gastric per-oral endoscopic myotomy are increasingly employed to treat selected patients with gastroparesis who are unresponsive to medications.
Self-Care of Diabetes and Diabetes Distress in Non-Hispanic Black Adults With Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Neblett Debra A. , McCoy Thomas P. , Kennedy-Malone Laurie , Wallace Debra C. , Morrison Sharon D.
Published: May 2024

Purpose:

The purpose of the study was to describe the level of self-care of diabetes and diabetes distress and examine their relationship in non-Hispanic Black adults living with type 2 diabetes.

Methods:

This cross-sectional, correlational study was conducted with 275 non-Hispanic Black adults with type 2 diabetes in North Carolina over 10 weeks, July 2022 to September 2022. An online survey collected sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, self-care measures of diabetes, and diabetes distress. The theory of self-care of chronic illness guided the study. Median regression examined the relationship between self-care of diabetes and diabetes distress.

Results:

Of the 275 participants, over half reported a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes at younger ages than expected, with a mean age of 40. The self-reported mean A1C of 9% exceeded the recommended goal of <7%, with an average of 2 diabetes-related comorbidities. The self-care of diabetes scale scores were low, and total diabetes distress scores were high. Significant positive associations were found between total diabetes distress and self-care monitoring and self-care management.

Conclusions:

In this sample, non-Hispanic Black adults had low levels of self-care of diabetes and high levels of diabetes distress. The findings indicate a relationship between self-care of diabetes and diabetes distress; as diabetes distress increases, so do the attempted activities of self-care of diabetes. Health care professionals in diabetes care are uniquely positioned to address further the behavioral aspects of diabetes management, particularly diabetes distress, to support non-Hispanic Black adults living with type 2 diabetes.
Development and validation of a code-based algorithm using in-hospital medical records to identify patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension in a French healthcare database
Authors: Jambon-Barbara Clément , Hlavaty Alex , Bernardeau Claire , Bouvaist Hélène , Chaumais Marie-Camille , Humbert Marc , Montani David , Cracowski Jean-Luc , Khouri Charles
Published: May 2024

Introduction

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare and severe disease for which most of the evidence about prognostic factors, evolution and treatment efficacy comes from cohorts, registries and clinical trials. We therefore aimed to develop and validate a new PAH identification algorithm that can be used in the French healthcare database “Système National des Données de Santé (SNDS)”.

Methods

We developed and validated the algorithm using the Grenoble Alpes University Hospital medical charts. We first identified PAH patients following a previously validated algorithm, using in-hospital ICD-10 (10th revision of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases) codes, right heart catheterisation procedure and PAH-specific treatment dispensing. Then, we refined the latter with the exclusion of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension procedures and treatment, the main misclassification factor. Second, we validated this algorithm using a gold standard review of in-hospital medical charts and calculated sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value (PPV and NPV) and accuracy. Finally, we applied this algorithm in the French healthcare database and described the characteristics of the identified patients.

Results

In the Grenoble University Hospital, we identified 252 unique patients meeting all the algorithm's criteria between 1 January 2010 and 30 June 2022, and reviewed all medical records. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV and accuracy were 91.0%, 74.3%, 67.9%, 93.3% and 80.6%, respectively. Application of this algorithm to the SNDS yielded the identification of 9931 patients with consistent characteristics compared to PAH registries.

Conclusion

Overall, we propose a new PAH identification algorithm developed and adapted to the French specificities that can be used in future studies using the French healthcare database.
Efficacy of surveillance bronchoscopyversusclinically indicated bronchoscopy for detection of acute lung transplant rejection: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Fricke Kai , Sievi Noriane Andrina , Schmidt Felix Peter , Schuurmans Macé Matthew , Kohler Malcolm
Published: May 2024

Background

Acute allograft rejection after lung transplantation significantly increases the risk of developing bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome, a form of chronic lung allograft dysfunction and the leading cause of mortality beyond the initial post-transplantation year. There are two diagnostic approaches available for monitoring lung transplant recipients: clinically indicated bronchoscopy (CIB) and surveillance bronchoscopy (SB). The efficacy of both methods and their relative superiority in detecting acute rejection have not been conclusively determined.

Methods

We systematically searched the MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane and Scopus databases from inception until 10 October 2023 for prospective studies comparing the efficacy of SB and CIB. Meta-analysis using a random effects model was performed for three observational cohort studies, totalling 122 patients with 527 bronchoscopies.

Results

Overall, neither SB nor CIB had a higher likelihood of detecting acute lung transplant rejection of any grade. Subsequent subgroup analyses showed no advantage for SB in detecting minimal rejection (grade A1), but an inverse association was observed for higher-grade rejection.

Conclusion

In conclusion, our study found no significant difference in detecting acute lung transplant rejection between SB and CIB. However, due to the limited number of studies and small sample sizes, larger prospective studies are urgently needed to definitely determine whether there truly exists no difference between SB and CIB in detecting acute rejection, particularly A1 minimal rejection.
The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on pediatric emergency department utilization in three regions in Switzerland
Authors: von Rhein Michael , Chaouch Aziz , Oros Vivian , Manzano Sergio , Gualco Gianluca , Sidler Marc , Laasner Ursula , Dey Michelle , Dratva Julia , Seiler Michelle ,   on behalf of the PedCov consortium, Altwicker-Hámori Szilvia , Volken Thomas , Wieber Frank
Published: May 2024

Purpose

The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with a decrease in emergency department (ED) visits. However, contradictory, and sparse data regarding children could not yet answer the question, how pediatric ED utilization evolved throughout the pandemic. Our objectives were to investigate the impact of the pandemic in three language regions of Switzerland by analyzing trends over time, describe regional differences, and address implications for future healthcare.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective, longitudinal cohort study at three Swiss tertiary pediatric EDs (March 1st, 2018—February 28th, 2022), analyzing the numbers of ED visits (including patients` age, triage categories, and urgent vs. non-urgent cases). The impact of COVID-19 related non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) on pediatric ED utilization was assessed by interrupted time series (ITS) modelling.

Results

Based on 304′438 ED visits, we found a drop of nearly 50% at the onset of NPIs, followed by a gradual recovery. This primarily affected children 0–4 years, and both non-urgent and urgent cases. However, the decline in urgent visits appeared to be more pronounced in two centers compared to a third, where also hospitalization rates did not decrease significantly during the pandemic. A subgroup analysis showed a significant decrease in respiratory and gastrointestinal diseases, and an increase in the proportion of trauma patients during the pandemic.

Conclusions

The COVID-19 pandemic had substantial effects on number and reasons for pediatric ED visits, particularly among children 0–4 years. Despite equal regulatory conditions, the utilization dynamics varied markedly between the three regions, highlighting the multifactorial modification of pediatric ED utilization during the pandemic. Furthermore, future policy decisions should take regional differences into account.
Increasing the diagnostic yield of childhood glaucoma cases recruited into the 100,000 Genomes Project
Authors: Al-Saei Omayma , Malka Samantha , Owen Nicholas , Aliyev Elbay , Vempalli Fazulur Rehaman , Ocieczek Paulina , Al-Khathlan Bashayer ,   Genomics England Research Consortium, Fakhro Khalid , Moosajee Mariya
Published: May 2024

Childhood glaucoma (CG) encompasses a heterogeneous group of genetic eye disorders that is responsible for approximately 5% of childhood blindness worldwide. Understanding the molecular aetiology is key to improving diagnosis, prognosis and unlocking the potential for optimising clinical management. In this study, we investigated 86 CG cases from 78 unrelated families of diverse ethnic backgrounds, recruited into the Genomics England 100,000 Genomes Project (GE100KGP) rare disease cohort, to improve the genetic diagnostic yield. Using the Genomics England/Genomic Medicine Centres (GE/GMC) diagnostic pipeline, 13 unrelated families were solved (13/78, 17%). Further interrogation using an expanded gene panel yielded a molecular diagnosis in 7 more unrelated families (7/78, 9%). This analysis effectively raises the total number of solved CG families in the GE100KGP to 26% (20/78 families). Twenty-five percent (5/20) of the solved families had primary congenital glaucoma (PCG), while 75% (15/20) had secondary CG; 53% of this group had non-acquired ocular anomalies (including iris hypoplasia, megalocornea, ectopia pupillae, retinal dystrophy, and refractive errors) and 47% had non-acquired systemic diseases such as cardiac abnormalities, hearing impairment, and developmental delay. CYP1B1 was the most frequently implicated gene, accounting for 55% (11/20) of the solved families. We identified two novel likely pathogenic variants in the TEK gene, in addition to one novel pathogenic copy number variant (CNV) in FOXC1. Variants that passed undetected in the GE100KGP diagnostic pipeline were likely due to limitations of the tiering process, the use of smaller gene panels during analysis, and the prioritisation of coding SNVs and indels over larger structural variants, CNVs, and non-coding variants.
Evolution of the SPX gene family and its role in the response mechanism to low phosphorus stress in self-rooted apple stock
Authors: Wang Zenghui , Zhang Xiaowen , Yang Xuemei , Tang Haixia , Feng Lijuan , Yin Yanlei , Li Jialin
Published: May 2024

Background

Phosphorus plays a key role in plant adaptation to adversity and plays a positive role in the yield and quality formation of apples. Genes of the SPX domain-containing family are widely involved in the regulation of phosphorus signalling networks. However, the mechanisms controlling phosphorus deficiency are not completely understood in self-rooted apple stock.

Results

In this study, 26 members of the apple SPX gene family were identified by genome-wide analysis, and further divided into four subfamilies (SPX, SPX-MFS, SPX-EXS, and SPX-RING) based on their structural features. The chromosome distribution and gene duplications of MdSPXs were also examined. The promoter regions of MdSPXs were enriched for multiple biotic/abiotic stresses, hormone responses and typical P1BS-related elements. Analysis of the expression levels of 26 MdSPXs showed that some members were remarkably induced when subjected to low phosphate (Pi) stress, and in particular MdSPX2, MdSPX3, and MdPHO1.5 exhibited an intense response to low Pi stress. MdSPX2 and MdSPX3 showed significantly divergent expression levels in low Pi sensitive and insensitive apple species. Protein interaction networks were predicted for 26 MdSPX proteins. The interaction of MdPHR1 with MdSPX2, MdSPX3, MdSPX4, and MdSPX6 was demonstrated by yeast two-hybrid assay, suggesting that these proteins might be involved in the Pi-signaling pathway by interacting with MdPHR1.

Conclusion

This research improved the understanding of the apple SPX gene family and contribute to future biological studies of MdSPX genes in self-rooted apple stock.
Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of Ubiquitin-specific protease gene family in maize (Zea mays L.)
Authors: Fu Weichao , Fan Delong , Liu Shenkui , Bu Yuanyuan
Published: May 2024

Background

Ubiquitin-specific proteases (UBPs) are a large family of deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs). They are widespread in plants and are critical for plant growth, development, and response to external stresses. However, there are few studies on the functional characteristics of the UBP gene family in the important staple crop, maize (Zea mays L.).

Results

In this study, we performed a bioinformatic analysis of the entire maize genome and identified 45 UBP genes. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that 45 ZmUBP genes can be divided into 15 subfamilies. Analysis of evolutionary patterns and divergence levels indicated that ZmUBP genes were present before the isolation of dicotyledons, were highly conserved and subjected to purifying selection during evolution. Most ZmUBP genes exhibited different expression levels in different tissues and developmental stages. Based on transcriptome data and promoter element analysis, we selected eight ZmUBP genes whose promoters contained a large number of plant hormones and stress response elements and were up-regulated under different abiotic stresses for RT-qPCR analysis, results showed that these genes responded to abiotic stresses and phytohormones to varying degrees, indicating that they play important roles in plant growth and stress response.

Conclusions

In this study, the structure, location and evolutionary relationship of maize UBP gene family members were analyzed for the first time, and the ZmUBP genes that may be involved in stress response and plant growth were identified by combining promoter element analysis, transcriptome data and RT-qPCR analysis. This study informs research on the involvement of maize deubiquitination in stress response.
Catheter ablation versus antiarrhythmic drug therapy for sustained ventricular tachycardia in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Authors: Dong Yan , Song Xudong , Bo Dan , Wang Hongtao , Yang Bo , Yadav Nishant , Chen Qiushi , Xu Ruochen , Chen Hongwu , Ju Weizhu , Cao Kejiang , Chen Minglong , Zhang Fengxiang
Published: May 2024

Background

Ventricular tachycardia (VT) is the primary cause of sudden cardiac death in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). However, the strategy for VT treatment in HCM patients remains unclear. This study is aimed to compare the effectiveness of catheter ablation versus antiarrhythmic drug (AAD) therapy for sustained VT in patients with HCM.

Methods

A total of 28 HCM patients with sustained VT at 4 different centers between December 2012 and December 2021 were enrolled. Twelve underwent catheter ablation (ablation group) and sixteen received AAD therapy (AAD group). The primary outcome was VT recurrence during follow-up.

Results

Baseline characteristics were comparable between two groups. After a mean follow-up of 31.4 ± 17.5 months, the primary outcome occurred in 35.7% of the ablation group and 90.6% of the AAD group (hazard ratio [HR], 0.29 [95%CI, 0.10–0.89]; P = 0.021). No differences in hospital admission due to cardiovascular cause (25.0% vs. 71.0%; P = 0.138) and cardiovascular cause-related mortality/heart transplantation (9.1% vs. 50.6%; P = 0.551) were observed. However, there was a significant reduction in the composite endpoint of VT recurrence, hospital admission due to cardiovascular cause, cardiovascular cause-related mortality, or heart transplantation in ablation group as compared to that of AAD group (42.9% vs. 93.7%; HR, 0.34 [95% CI, 0.12–0.95]; P = 0.029).

Conclusions

In HCM patients with sustained VT, catheter ablation reduced the VT recurrence, and the composite endpoint of VT recurrence, hospital admission due to cardiovascular cause, cardiovascular cause-related mortality, or heart transplantation as compared to AAD.