bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparison of Oblique Lateral Interbody Fusion (OLIF) and Minimally Invasive Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion (MI-TLIF) for Treatment of Lumbar Degeneration Disease
Authors: Zhu Hai-Feng , Fang Xiang-Qian , Zhao Feng-Dong , Zhang Jian-Feng , Zhao Xing , Hu Zhi-Jun , Fan Shun-Wu
Published: December 2021

Study Design.

Prospective cohort study.

Objective.

To assess the differences in the clinical and radiological outcomes between oblique lateral interbody fusion (OLIF) and minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MI-TLIF).

Summary of Background Data.

Nowadays, there is still a controversy regarding whether OLIF is superior to MI-TLIF in the management of degenerative lumbar disease.

Methods.

Between August 3, 2019 and February 3, 2020, 137 patients were assigned to OLIF or MI-TLIF at their request and the surgeon's discretion: 71 in the OLIF group and 66 in the MI-TLIF group. The perioperative data, patient-reported outcomes, radiographic outcomes, and complications were compared between the two groups.

Results.

The OLIF group showed shorter operation time (110.5 vs.183.8 minutes, P < 0.001), lesser estimated blood loss (123.1 vs. 232.0 mL, P < 0.001), shorter length of hospital stay (5.5 vs. 6.7 days, P < 0.001), and lower serum creatine kinase (CK) (1 day postoperatively) (376.0 vs. 541.8 IU/L, P < 0.01) than that of MI-TLIF group. Both groups showed no significant differences in the visual analog scale (VAS) scores of lower back and leg pain and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores preoperatively and at 1, 3, and 12 months postoperatively, respectively (P > 0.05). Compared with the MI-TLIF group, the OLIF group showed better restoration of disc height (DH) (4.7/4.6/4.7 vs. 3.7/3.7/3.7 mm, P < 0.01) and lumbar lordosis angle (LLA) (10.5°/10.8°/11.1° vs. 5.8°/5.7°/5.3°, P < 0.001), but not the value of segmental lordosis angle (SLA) (P > 0.05) at 1 day, 1 month, and 1 year postoperatively, respectively. The complication rate of OLIF was higher than that of MI-TLIF (29.4% vs. 9.7%, P < 0.01).

Conclusion.

Compared with MI-TLIF, OLIF showed similar results in terms of patient-reported outcomes, restoration of SLA and fusion rate, and superior results with respect to restoration of DH and LLA, operation time, estimated blood loss, length of hospital stay, and serum CK levels (1 day postoperatively). Even though the complication rate of OLIF is higher than that of MI-TLIF, it does not bring persistent and substantial damage to the patients.

Level of Evidence: 3
Haploidentical transplantation has a superior graft-versus-leukemia effect than HLA-matched sibling transplantation for Ph– high-risk B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Authors: Fan Menglin , Wang Yu , Lin Ren , Lin Tong , Huang Fen , Fan Zhiping , Xu Yajing , Yang Ting , Xu Na , Shi Pengcheng , Nie Danian , Lin Dongjun , Jiang Zujun , Wang Shunqing , Sun Jing , Huang Xiaojun , Liu Qifa , Xuan Li
Published: December 2021

Background:

Compared with human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-matched sibling donor (MSD) transplantation, it remains unclear whether haploidentical donor (HID) transplantation has a superior graft-versus-leukemia (GVL) effect for Philadelphia-negative (Ph–) high-risk B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). This study aimed to compare the GVL effect between HID and MSD transplantation for Ph– high-risk B-ALL.

Methods:

This study population came from two prospective multicenter trials (NCT01883180, NCT02673008). Immunosuppressant withdrawal and prophylactic or pre-emptive donor lymphocyte infusion (DLI) were administered in patients without active graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) to prevent relapse. All patients with measurable residual disease (MRD) positivity posttransplantation (post-MRD+) or non-remission (NR) pre-transplantation received prophylactic/pre-emptive interventions. The primary endpoint was the incidence of post-MRD+.

Results:

A total of 335 patients with Ph– high-risk B-ALL were enrolled, including 145 and 190, respectively, in the HID and MSD groups. The 3-year cumulative incidence of post-MRD+ was 27.2% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 20.2%–34.7%) and 42.6% (35.5%–49.6%) in the HID and MSD groups (P = 0.003), respectively. A total of 156 patients received DLI, including 60 (41.4%) and 96 (50.5%), respectively, in the HID and MSD groups (P = 0.096). The 3-year cumulative incidence of relapse was 18.6% (95% CI: 12.7%–25.4%) and 25.9% (19.9%–32.3%; P = 0.116) in the two groups, respectively. The 3-year overall survival (OS) was 67.4% (95% CI: 59.1%–74.4%) and 61.6% (54.2%–68.1%; P = 0.382), leukemia-free survival (LFS) was 63.4% (95% CI: 55.0%–70.7%) and 58.2% (50.8%–64.9%; P = 0.429), and GVHD-free/relapse-free survival (GRFS) was 51.7% (95% CI: 43.3%–59.5%) and 37.8% (30.9%–44.6%; P = 0.041), respectively, in the HID and MSD groups.

Conclusion:

HID transplantation has a lower incidence of post-MRD+ than MSD transplantation, suggesting that HID transplantation might have a superior GVL effect than MSD transplantation for Ph– high-risk B-ALL patients.

Trial registration:

ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01883180, NCT02673008.
Impaired pain-related threat and safety learning in patients with chronic back pain
Authors: Schlitt Frederik , Schmidt Katharina , Merz Christian J. , Wolf Oliver T. , Kleine-Borgmann Julian , Elsenbruch Sigrid , Wiech Katja , Forkmann Katarina , Bingel Ulrike
Published: December 2021

Pain-related learning mechanisms likely play a key role in the development and maintenance of chronic pain. Previous smaller-scale studies have suggested impaired pain-related learning in patients with chronic pain, but results are mixed, and chronic back pain (CBP) particularly has been poorly studied. In a differential conditioning paradigm with painful heat as unconditioned stimuli, we examined pain-related acquisition and extinction learning in 62 patients with CBP and 61 pain-free healthy male and female volunteers using valence and contingency ratings and skin conductance responses. Valence ratings indicate significantly reduced threat and safety learning in patients with CBP, whereas no significant differences were observed in contingency awareness and physiological responding. Moreover, threat learning in this group was more impaired the longer patients had been in pain. State anxiety was linked to increased safety learning in healthy volunteers but enhanced threat learning in the patient group. Our findings corroborate previous evidence of altered pain-related threat and safety learning in patients with chronic pain. Longitudinal studies exploring pain-related learning in (sub)acute and chronic pain are needed to further unravel the role of aberrant pain-related learning in the development and maintenance of chronic pain.
The Relationship Between Renal Function and Imaging Markers and Total Burden of Cerebral Small Vessel Disease
Authors: Ölmez Büşra , Togay Işikay Canan , Peker Elif , Sorgun Mine H.
Published: December 2021

Background:

Previous studies demonstrating the association between renal functions and cerebral small vessel diseases have usually focused on white matter hyperintensity in the general population or lacunar stroke patients. This study aimed to investigate the effects of renal function on imaging markers of cerebral small vessel disease and etiologic subtypes of stroke in patients with acute ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack.

Materials and Methods:

A total of 356 consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack who were admitted to the Stroke Unit and underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging were evaluated. Demographic data, vascular risk factors, stroke etiology, estimated glomerular filtration rate and severity of cerebral small vessel disease markers, and total cerebral small vessel disease burden were evaluated.

Results:

There was a significant inverse correlation between estimated glomerular filtration rate and total number of lacunes, periventricular and deep subcortical Fazekas scores, grade of enlarged perivascular spaces in the centrum semiovale, lobar and total cerebral microbleeds, and total cerebral small vessel disease burden. Impaired renal function was an independent risk factor for the presence of lacunes, deep cerebral microbleeds, and increased total burden. Renal function impairment and periventricular white matter hyperintensities were significantly associated with the etiologic subgroup of small vessel occlusion. The results were still significant after the exclusion of patients below 50 years of age.

Conclusion:

Our results indicate that there is a relationship between renal function impairment and increased total burden, as well as acute ischemic stroke/transient ischemic attack due to small vessel occlusion.
Advanced Ultrasound Techniques for Differentiation of Benign Versus Malignant Thyroid Nodules
Authors: Saade-Lemus Sandra M. , Sridharan Anush , Smitthimedhin Anilawan , Bauer Andrew , Cahill Anne Marie , Darge Kassa , Hwang Misun
Published: December 2021

Grayscale ultrasound (US) is decisive in stratifying which thyroid nodules benefit from fine-needle aspiration to evaluate for malignancy. Unfortunately, a significant percentage of nodules remain indeterminate.

Herein, we review the clinical considerations and diagnostic accuracy of advanced US, Doppler US, contrast-enhanced US, and US elastography techniques in the evaluation of indeterminate nodules.

We conclude that these techniques may be used in combination with grayscale US to improve the assessment of lesion vascularity and tissue property.
Trends and Outcomes of Cranioplasty Alone Versus Single-Stage Composite Scalp and Calvarial Reconstruction
Authors: Cormier Nicholas S. , Lin Samuel J.
Published: December 2021

Background:

Cranioplasty is a critical intervention to restore the calvarium using autologous or alloplastic materials with single-stage composite scalp and calvarial reconstruction reserved for complex cases. This study aims to identify 30-day outcomes in scalp and calvarial reconstruction using the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database.

Methods:

The authors conducted a retrospective analysis of the 2010 to 2018 American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. Adult patients who underwent cranioplasty were identified using current procedural terminology coding and included by exposure type (autologous, alloplastic, composite, or other). Subjects with missing exposure or outcome data were excluded. Primary outcome was 30-day reoperation, whereas secondary outcomes were 30-day unplanned readmission and transfusion. Univariate analysis was completed to assess differences in demographics, comorbidities, and postoperative complications. Multivariable logistic regression was used to control for confounders.

Results:

In total, 1719 patients underwent cranioplasty (mean age 54.7 ± 15.3 years, 43.5% male), including 169(9.8%) autologous, 1303(75.8%) alloplastic, 32(1.9%) composite, and 215(12.5%) other procedures. Cranioplasty procedures were associated with 30-day complication and mortality rate of 16.5% and 2.4%, respectively. Composite cranioplasty was associated with decreased 30-day reoperation (adjusted odds ratios 0.11, 95% confidence interval 0.014–0.94, P = 0.044). There was no statistically significant difference in readmission between cranioplasty groups. Alloplastic cranioplasty was associated with decreased odds of postoperative transfusion (adjusted odds ratios 0.47, 95% confidence interval 0.27â0.84, P= 0.01).

Conclusions:

Cranioplasty is an increasingly common procedure. Alloplastic cranioplasty is associated with decreased 30-day transfusion requirement, whereas single-stage composite reconstruction is a viable option and associated with decreased 30-day reoperation with no difference in readmission.
Assessment of correlations between risk factors and symptom presentation among defined at-risk groups following a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis
Authors: Aidlen Dylan , Henzy Jamie
Published: December 2021

This study analyzes the specific linkages between symptoms within individual COVID patients belonging to at-risk groups. The goal was to determine how strongly linked patient symptoms are within these at-risk groups to find any associations between factors such as comorbidities and COVID symptoms. In this study, de-identified patient data from the N3C database was utilized in order to link representative immunocompromised states with specific symptoms, and non-immunocompromised state with the same, to determine if the strength of the correlation changes for these at-risk groups. Multiple autoimmune disorders resulting in immunocompromised state were analyzed, to determine if severity of immune response and inflammatory action plays a role in any potential differences. An exploratory approach using statistical methods and visualization techniques appropriate to multidimensional data sets was taken. The identified correlations may allow pattern analysis in disease presentation specific to a given population, potentially informing pattern recognition, symptom presentation, and treatment approaches in patients with immune comorbidities.
Expressing gratitude versus empathetic apology: which one is better to use as an initial recovery strategy after a service failure?
Authors: Ahmadi Arash , Fakhimi Sohrab
Published: December 2021

Purpose

The main purpose of this work is to evaluate the different psychological impacts of two initial verbal recovery strategies (gratitude vs empathetic apology) on the consumers' loyalty after a service failure. The proposed theoretical model also appraises the mediating role of two emotional responses (consumer forgiveness, consumer anger) and consumer self-esteem and the moderating role of self-oriented perfectionism.

Design/methodology/approach

Two studies (i.e. an experimental design and a field study) are considered for this investigation to assess the effectiveness of gratitude expression versus empathetic apology on post-recovery loyalty and test the effects of mediators and the moderator applied between the verbal recovery strategies and post-recovery loyalty.

Findings

The results of Study 1 revealed the supremacy of gratitude to empathetic apology in maintaining consumers' loyalty after service failure recovery. The better impact of gratitude expressed in increasing post-recovery loyalty is mediated through the elevation of consumers' forgiveness, the reduction of consumers' anger and consumers' self-esteem. The findings of Study 2 indicated that gratitude increases more post-recovery loyalty through individuals with a high level of self-oriented perfectionism.

Research limitations/implications

Future research could examine other service failure situations, different types of service recovery, mediators or moderators, which contribute to the service marketing literature.

Practical implications

After a service failure, using gratitude expressions to consumers often makes them feel better and more valuable.

Originality/value

This work increases service providers' knowledge in using proper expressions after a service failure to help elevate consumers' positive reactions resulting in maintaining their loyalty.
Introducing a sensemaking perspective to the service experience
Authors: Kemppainen Tiina , Uusitalo Outi
Published: December 2021

Purpose

Most recent service experience research considers customers as sensemakers and sensemaking as a focal process in experience construction. Despite this, the sensemaking theory engendered in organization studies has not been applied in the quest for an in-depth understanding of the service experience. This study introduces a sensemaking perspective to the service experience and develops a conceptualization of how customers construct their experiences cognitively through sensemaking.

Design/methodology/approach

The service experience literature is dominated by a focus on firms implementing service experiences for customers. This study, in contrast, investigates service experience and its formation from the customers' viewpoint: how service experiences are formed as a part of customers' everyday life and sensemaking processes instead of under service providers' control.

Findings

Service experience is characterized as a mental picture – a collage of meanings created by a customer through the sensemaking processes. A sensemaking framework that characterizes service experience formation and its four seminal dimensions, including the self-related, sociomaterial, retrospective and prospective sensemaking, is introduced.

Originality/value

This article contributes to the service literature by introducing a new theoretical lens through which the service experience concept can be investigated and reframed.
Therapeutic relationships between Veterans and buprenorphine providers and effects on treatment retention
Authors: Vakkalanka Jayamalathi Priyanka , Lund Brian C. , Arndt Stephan , Field William , Charlton Mary , Ward Marcia M. , Carnahan Ryan M.
Published: December 2021

Objective

To examine the extent to which there was any therapeutic relationship between Veterans and their initial buprenorphine provider and whether the presence of this relationship influenced treatment retention.

Data Sources

National, secondary administrative data used from the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), 2008–2017.

Study Design

Retrospective cohort study. The primary exposure was a therapeutic relationship between the Veteran and buprenorphine provider, defined as the presence of a previous visit or medication prescribed by the provider in the 2 years preceding buprenorphine treatment initiation. The primary outcome was treatment discontinuation, evaluated as 14 days of absence of medication from initiation through 1 year.

Data Collection/Extraction Methods

Adult Veterans (age ≥ 18 years) diagnosed with opioid use disorder and treated with buprenorphine or buprenorphine/naloxone within the VHA system were included in this study. We excluded those receiving buprenorphine patches, those with documentation of a metastatic tumor diagnosis within 2 years prior to buprenorphine initiation, and those without geographical information on rurality.

Principal Findings

A total of 28,791 Veterans were included in the study. Within the overall study sample, 56.3% (n = 16,206) of Veterans previously had at least one outpatient encounter with their initial buprenorphine provider, and 24.9% (n = 7174) of Veterans previously had at least one prescription from that provider in the 2 years preceding buprenorphine initiation. There was no significant or clinically meaningful association between therapeutic relationship history and treatment retention when defined as visit history (aHR: 0.99; 95% CI: 0.96, 1.02) or medication history (aHR: 1.03; 95% CI: 1.00, 1.07).

Conclusions

Veterans initiating buprenorphine frequently did not have a therapeutic history with their initial buprenorphine provider, but this relationship was not associated with treatment retention. Future work should investigate how the quality of Veteran‐provider therapeutic relationships influences opioid use dependence management and whether eliminating training requirements for providers might affect access to buprenorphine, and subsequently, treatment initiation and retention.
ubms: An R package for fitting hierarchical occupancy and N‐mixture abundance models in a Bayesian framework
Authors: Kellner Kenneth F. , Fowler Nicholas L. , Petroelje Tyler R. , Kautz Todd M. , Beyer Dean E. , Belant Jerrold L.
Published: December 2021

Obtaining unbiased estimates of wildlife distribution and abundance is an important objective in research and management. Occupancy and N‐mixture abundance models, which correct for imperfect detection, are commonly used for this purpose. Fitting these models in a Bayesian framework has advantages but doing so can be challenging and time‐consuming for many researchers.

We developed an R package,ubms, which provides an easy‐to‐use, formula‐based interface for fitting occupancy, N‐mixture abundance and other models in a Bayesian framework using Stan. The package also provides tools for visualizing parameter effects, calculating residuals, assessing goodness‐of‐fit and comparing models.

We demonstrate the use ofubmsby fitting an N‐mixture model to ruffed grouseBonasa umbelluscount data from drumming surveys conducted at roadside points sampled on five occasions annually during 2013–2015. To demonstrate the functionality ofubms, we used survey site as a random effect, and occasion date and per cent aspen cover at each site as covariates of detection and abundance respectively. The top‐ranked model included a positive effect of per cent aspen on grouse abundance.

ubmshas the potential to greatly increase the range of users who will be able to rigorously assess species distribution and abundance while correcting for imperfect detection in a Bayesian framework.
Scorecards, gateways and rankings: remuneration and conduct in financial services
Authors: Sheedy Elizabeth , Zhang Le , Steffan Dominik
Published: December 2021

We conduct a lab‐in‐the‐field experiment with 318 finance professionals to investigate the effects of incentives on misconduct in the finance industry. We examine the inclusion of compliance, as well as transaction volumes, for determining performance pay. This is proposed by regulators to reduce misconduct, despite the inherent difficulty of measuring compliance. Relative to fixed remuneration, the performance pay structures that incorporate compliance measures produce significantly worse compliance outcomes with mixed results in terms of productivity gains. Anticipating relative peer information on both criteria leads to increased productivity; the number of participants choosing to consistently comply remains unchanged, but those who sometimes violate policy are less compliant.
Integrated control of the mealybug Phenacoccus solenopsis (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae) in Australian cotton with insecticides and naturally occurring beneficial arthropods
Authors: Sequeira Richard V , Reid David J , Khan Moazzem
Published: December 2021

Insecticidal treatment options based on putative integrated pest management (IPM) compatible active ingredients spirotetramat, sulfoxaflor and buprofezin were evaluated for efficacy against first and second instar (small) and large (third instar and adult) cotton mealybugs, Phenacoccus solenopsis. Four field evaluations were conducted at the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (Queensland) research station facilities at Kingaroy (KRS) and Emerald (ERS) in 2016 and 2017. Two ‘insecticide evaluations’ included treatment options with different rates of active ingredients and adjuvants, aimed at validating efficacy results obtained in previous glasshouse evaluations. The other two ‘IPM evaluations’ were designed to test the compatibility of selected insecticidal active ingredients with naturally occurring beneficial arthropods through differential exclusion by means of large field cages configured to be either partially open or fully closed to regulate access. Spirotetramat gave consistent and commercially acceptable (≥80%) control of large and small mealybugs at the highest rate of 96 g in these insecticide evaluations. The addition of crop oil to spirotetramat as a tank mix partner significantly enhanced efficacy, as documented previously in glasshouse evaluations. Sulfoxaflor provided equivalent control of large and small mealybugs but only at the ERS site. The overall control efficacy of buprofezin was equivalent to spirotetramat and sulfoxaflor at the ERS site but inferior to both at the KRS site. In the IPM evaluations, the abundance of predatory arthropods and their potential contribution to overall mortality was generally low. Parasitism contributed significantly to overall mortality among treatments over time and was independent of cage status (closed or open). Large mealybugs were equitably distributed between the upper (terminal) and lower sections of the cotton plant canopy in both ERS evaluations whereas in the KRS evaluations the distribution was biased towards the lower section. The importance of pest distribution within the crop canopy in the context of insecticide efficacy is discussed. The results of this study confirm the importance of spirotetramat, sulfoxaflor and buprofezin as key insecticidal platforms that will give growers and crop managers the flexibility and confidence to implement sustainable, multi‐pest IPM strategies in Australian cotton.
QTc interval prolongation in the patients with primary biliary cholangitis
Authors: Wang Zihao , Qian Rongkai , Wang Yanhua , Mo Lingfei , Ju Bomiao , Hu Nan , Wang Pei , He Lan , Wang Jing
Published: December 2021

Background

The QT interval prolongation was associated with fatal arrhythmias and cardiac death. However, there were not adequate data to clarify the situation of QT interval prolongation in primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) patients. The aim of this study was to clarify the rate and the associated risk factors of corrected QT (QTc) interval prolongation in PBC patients.

Methods

From January 2016 to December 2020, PBC patients were retrospectively enrolled. The rate of QTc interval prolongation was surveyed and the associated risk factors were clarified by univariate and multivariate analyses.

Results

Among the 189 PBC patients, 24.3% (46/189) had the QTc interval prolongation. The univariate analysis showed that age, Child‐Pugh classification, creatinine, international normalized ratio (INR), and platelet (PLT) were associated with QTc interval prolongation in the PBC patients. The multivariate analysis further showed only age (p = .028) and Child‐Pugh classification (p = .035) were the associated risk factors. It had the highest risk of QTc interval prolongation (as high as 64.3%) in the patients who were more than 62.5 years old and with Child‐Pugh C.

Conclusion

The QTc interval prolongation was frequent in PBC patients, especially in the patients with decompensated cirrhosis. The rate of QTc interval prolongation was as high as 64.3% in the PBC patients who were more than 62.5 years old and classified as Child‐Pugh C.
miR‐301a inhibits adipogenic differentiation of adipose‐derived stromal vascular fractions by targeting HOXC8 in sheep
Authors: Zhao Bishi , Pan Yangyang , Qiao Liying , Liu Jianhua , Yang Kaijie , Liang Yu , Liu Wenzhong
Published: December 2021

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate adipogenic differentiation in stromal vascular fractions (SVFs) through post‐transcriptional regulation of transcription factors and other functional genes. miR‐301 and the homeobox C8 (HOXC8) gene are involved in lipid homeostasis; however, their roles in the adipogenic differentiation of ovine SVFs are unknown. Here, we explored the effects of miR‐301 and HOXC8 on adipogenic differentiation in ovine SVFs and the regulatory role of miR‐301a in HOXC8 expression. Additionally, we evaluated the effect of miR‐301a and HOXC8 on the mRNA abundance of adipogenic markers and the ability of ovine SVFs to accumulate lipids. We found that miR‐301a regulates adipogenic differentiation in ovine SVFs by directly targeting the 3′‐untranslated region of HOXC8, resulting in significant downregulation of the HOXC8 mRNA and protein. Moreover, miR‐301a overexpression suppressed adipogenic differentiation in ovine SVFs and significantly inhibited the expression of adipogenesis‐related genes—including adiponectin, C/EBPα, PPARγ, and FABP4. Conversely, HOXC8 overexpression in ovine SVFs increased the accumulation of lipid droplets and remarkably promoted the expression of adipogenic markers. Taken together, our results indicate that miR‐301a attenuates the adipogenic differentiation of ovine SVFs by targeting HOXC8. These findings improve our understanding of the mechanism of lipid accumulation and metabolism in sheep.
Metabolic interactions of benzodiazepines with oxycodone ex vivo and toxicity depending on usage patterns in an animal model
Authors: Lawson Roland , Čechová Petra , Zarrouk Eliès , Javellaud James , Bazgier Václav , Otyepka Michal , Trouillas Patrick , Picard Nicolas , Marquet Pierre , Saint‐Marcoux Franck , El Balkhi Souleiman
Published: December 2021

Background and Purpose

Opioids and benzodiazepines are frequently combined in medical as well as in non‐medical contexts. At high doses, such combinations often result in serious health complications attributed to pharmacodynamics interactions. Here, we investigate the contribution of the metabolic interactions between oxycodone, diazepam and diclazepam (a designer benzodiazepine) in abuse/overdose conditions through ex vivo, in vivo and in silico approaches.

Experimental Approach

A preparation of pooled human liver microsomes was used to study oxycodone metabolism in the presence or absence of diazepam or diclazepam. In mice, diazepam or diclazepam was concomitantly administered with oxycodone to mimic acute intoxication. Diclazepam was introduced on Day 10 in mice continuously infused with oxycodone for 15 days to mimic chronic intoxication. In silico modelling was used to study the molecular interactions of the three drugs with CYP3A4 and 2D6.

Key Results

In mice, in acute conditions, both diazepam and diclazepam inhibited the metabolism of oxycodone. In chronic conditions and at pharmacologically equivalent doses, diclazepam drastically enhanced the production of oxymorphone. In silico, the affinity of benzodiazepines was higher than oxycodone for CYP3A4, inhibiting oxycodone metabolism through CYP3A4. Oxycodone metabolism is likely to be diverted towards CYP2D6.

Conclusion and Implications

Acute doses of diazepam or diclazepam result in the accumulation of oxycodone, whereas chronic administration induces the accumulation of oxymorphone, the toxic metabolite. This suggests that overdoses of opioids in the presence of benzodiazepines are partly due to metabolic interactions, which in turn explain the patterns of toxicity dependent on usage.

LINKED ARTICLES

This article is part of a themed issue on Advances in Opioid Pharmacology at the Time of the Opioid Epidemic. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v180.7/issuetoc
Novel agonist and antagonist radioligands for the GLP‐2 receptor. Useful tools for studies of basic GLP‐2 receptor pharmacology
Authors: Gadgaard Sarina , van der Velden Wijnand J. C. , Schiellerup Sine P. , Hunt Jenna Elizabeth , Gabe Maria B. N. , Windeløv Johanne Agerlin , Boer Geke Aline , Kissow Hannelouise , Ørskov Cathrine , Holst Jens J. , Hartmann Bolette , Rosenkilde Mette M.
Published: December 2021

Background

Glucagon‐like peptide‐2 (GLP‐2) is a pro‐glucagon‐derived hormone secreted from intestinal enteroendocrine L cells with actions on gut and bones. GLP‐2(1–33) is cleaved by DPP‐4, forming GLP‐2(3–33), having low intrinsic activity and competitive antagonism properties at GLP‐2 receptors. We created radioligands based on these two molecules.

Experimental approach

The methionine in position 10 of GLP‐2(1–33) and GLP‐2(3–33) was substituted with tyrosine (M10Y) enabling oxidative iodination, creating [125I]‐hGLP‐2(1–33,M10Y) and [125I]‐hGLP‐2(3–33,M10Y). Both were characterized by competition binding, on‐and‐off‐rate determination and receptor activation. Receptor expression was determined by target‐tissue autoradiography and immunohistochemistry.

Key results

Both M10Y‐substituted peptides induced cAMP production via the GLP‐2 receptor comparable to the wildtype peptides. GLP‐2(3–33,M10Y) maintained the antagonistic properties of GLP‐2(3–33). However, hGLP‐2(1–33,M10Y) had lower arrestin recruitment than hGLP‐2(1–33). High affinities for the hGLP‐2 receptor were observed using [125I]‐hGLP‐2(1–33,M10Y) and [125I]‐hGLP‐2(3–33,M10Y) with KD values of 59.3 and 40.6 nM. The latter (with antagonistic properties) had higher Bmax and faster on and off rates compared to the former (full agonist). Both bound the hGLP‐1 receptor with low affinity (Ki of 130 and 330 nM, respectively). Autoradiography in wildtype mice revealed strong labelling of subepithelial myofibroblasts, confirmed by immunohistochemistry using a GLP‐2 receptor specific antibody that in turn was confirmed in GLP‐2 receptor knock‐out mice.

Conclusion and implications

Two new radioligands with different binding kinetics, one a full agonist and the other a weak partial agonist with antagonistic properties were developed and subepithelial myofibroblasts identified as a major site for GLP‐2 receptor expression.
EHR STAR: The State‐Of‐the‐Art in Interactive EHR Visualization
Authors: Wang Q. , Laramee R.S.
Published: December 2021

Since the inception of electronic health records (EHR) and population health records (PopHR), the volume of archived digital health records is growing rapidly. Large volumes of heterogeneous health records require advanced visualization and visual analytics systems to uncover valuable insight buried in complex databases. As a vibrant sub‐field of information visualization and visual analytics, many interactive EHR and PopHR visualization (EHR Vis) systems have been proposed, developed, and evaluated by clinicians to support effective clinical analysis and decision making. We present the state‐of‐the‐art (STAR) of EHR Vis literature and open access healthcare data sources and provide an up‐to‐date overview on this important topic. We identify trends and challenges in the field, introduce novel literature and data classifications, and incorporate a popular medical terminology standard called the Unified Medical Language System (UMLS). We provide a curated list of electronic and population healthcare data sources and open access datasets as a resource for potential researchers, in order to address one of the main challenges in this field. We classify the literature based on multidisciplinary research themes stemming from reoccurring topics. The survey provides a valuable overview of EHR Vis revealing both mature areas and potential future multidisciplinary research directions.
Invasive herbaceous respond more negatively to elevated ozone concentration than native species
Authors: Wang Lichao , Li Yan , Liu Yanjie
Published: December 2021

Aim

Many studies show that increase in ground‐level ozone (O3) has adverse effects on plant growth. Due to high phenotypic plasticity, invasive species is considered to be more adaptable to elevated O3 than native species. This idea is only tested by the very limited studies comparing invasive weeds with crops. However, whether it holds remains unclear when comparing invasive species with their co‐occurring native species in natural systems.

Location

China.

Methods

We performed an open‐top chamber experiment growing six congeneric pairs of invasive and native species with and without competition under ambient (approximately 43 ppb) and elevated O3 (approximately 89 ppb) concentrations to test whether the growth responses to elevated O3 concentrations differ between invasive and native species.

Results

Our results revealed that elevated O3 had a significant negative effect on both invasive and native species. In particular, elevated O3 reduced the aboveground biomass and damaged the leaves of invasive species significantly more than those of native species.

Main conclusions

Our study indicates that elevated O3 concentration has a stronger adverse effect on invasive species than on native species. Therefore, increasing O3 pollution might suppress plant invasion, and thus invasive species might expand their distribution more easily to the area with lower O3 pollution in the future.
A Finance Handbook in a Suitcase Part II: A Comparison of Teaching and Learning Experiences in Different Countries
Authors: Nicolini Gianni
Published: December 2021

This is the second part of “A Finance Handbook in a Suitcase Part I” which was published in the September 2020 issue of the Family & Consumer Sciences Journal (Nicolini 2020). In this part, I will describe variations in planning a course, the interaction between teachers and students, and how teaching methods and styles differ. I close by presenting some of my experiences and what I learned from students in different countries.
Budgeting and Gender: Employees and Self‐Employed
Authors: Georgieva Vanya , Nitani Miwako , Riding Allan
Published: December 2021

Budgeting, an exemplar of good financial practices, informs financial decisions. This research employs the Theory of Reasoned Action to identify potential antecedents of individuals’ decisions to maintain a budget. Analysis of the 2014 Canadian Financial Capability Survey (CFCS) shows that the likelihood of budgeting depends on attitudes toward finance, reliance on professional advice, financial knowledge, and confidence. Women are relatively more likely to budget than men, but self‐employed individuals are no more likely to have a budget than paid employees. The latter result is consistent with research findings of high rates of failure among young enterprises. The need for yet greater financial education is implied.
Secondary Qualitative Analysis in the Family Sciences
Authors: Anderson Leslie A. , Paulus Trena M.
Published: December 2021

Sharing and reusing data can help researchers answer new questions and approach data from different analytical perspectives. The extant literature on data sharing has focused almost exclusively on qualitative data specifically, such as interviews and focus groups. Observational and video data capturing family interactions are a common data collection method in family science research. While quantitative analytic approaches are common, observational and video data can lend itself well to qualitative analysis. This paper introduces a secondary data analysis approach, referred to as methodological expansion, which involves the process of qualitatively analyzing pre‐existing data that were collected for quantitative research purposes.
Association between Financial Education, Affective and Cognitive Financial Knowledge, and Financial Behavior
Authors: Delgadillo Lucy M. , Lee Yoon G.
Published: December 2021

Using data from the 2018 National Financial Capability Study, this articled examined the relationship between financial education participation and affective and cognitive financial knowledge. Involvement in financial education yielded statistically significant associations between affective and cognitive domains. The results showed that participation in financial education was associated with both cognitive and affective financial knowledge as well as long‐term financial behavior. The results supported the case for lifelong learning of financial education for young adults, minorities, and women. An important implication was the need to include both the affective and cognitive domains when teaching or researching financial education.
Understanding Cultural Adaptation of U.S. Hispanic Immigrant Couples and Their Shopping Orientation toward Fashion Products
Authors: Toloza Laura P. , Cho Eunjoo , Terrell Amanda
Published: December 2021

The purpose of this study was to explore acculturation levels of Hispanic immigrant couples in the United States, their general attitudes related to shopping (i.e., shopping orientation), and a potential connection between acculturation levels and shopping orientation. Qualitative data were gathered by interviewing 15 Hispanic married couples who were born and raised in a Hispanic country and moved to the United States after the age of 18. Interviews were conducted in Spanish using snowball sampling. Findings revealed that Hispanic immigrants maintained their original culture while adopting the host culture. Most participants were oriented toward quality, price, brand, time, and recreational consciousness when shopping for fashion products. Whereas males were more inclined to be time‐conscious, females were more price‐ and recreational‐conscious. The findings suggest acculturation is closely linked to Hispanic shoppers’ orientation. Thus, understanding acculturation levels among targeted ethnic shoppers is important to discover their general attitudes toward shopping for fashion products.
Intraspecific diversity alters the relationship between climate change and parasitism in a polymorphic ectotherm
Authors: Wu Qiang , Miles Donald B. , Richard Murielle , Rutschmann Alexis , Clobert Jean
Published: December 2021

Climate‐modulated parasitism is driven by a range of factors, yet the spatial and temporal variability of this relationship has received scant attention in wild vertebrate hosts. Moreover, most prior studies overlooked the intraspecific differences across host morphotypes, which impedes a full understanding of the climate–parasitism relationship. In the common lizard (Zootoca vivipara), females exhibit three colour morphs: yellow (Y‐females), orange (O‐females) and mixed (mixture of yellow and orange, M‐females). Zootoca vivipara is also infested with an ectoparasite (Ophionyssus mites). We therefore used this model system to examine the intraspecific response of hosts to parasitism under climate change. We found infestation probability to differ across colour morphs at both spatial (10 sites) and temporal (20 years) scales: M‐females had lower parasite infestations than Y‐ and O‐females at lower temperatures, but became more susceptible to parasites as temperature increased. The advantage of M‐females at low temperatures was counterbalanced by their higher mortality rates thereafter, which suggests a morph‐dependent trade‐off between resistance to parasites and host survival. Furthermore, significant interactions between colour morphs and temperature indicate that the relationship between parasite infestations and climate warming was contingent on host morphotypes. Parasite infestations increased with temperature for most morphs, but displayed morph‐specific rates. Finally, infested M‐females had higher reductions in survival rates than infested Y‐ or O‐females, which implies a potential loss of intraspecific diversity within populations as parasitism and temperatures rise. Overall, we found parasitism increases with warming temperatures, but this relationship is modulated by host morphotypes and an interaction with temperature. We suggest that epidemiological models incorporate intraspecific diversity within species for better understanding the dynamics of wildlife diseases under climate warming.
A qualitative content analysis of nurses' perceptions about readiness to manage intimate partner violence
Authors: Briones‐Vozmediano Erica , Otero‐García Laura , Gea‐Sánchez Montserrat , De Fuentes Susana , García‐Quinto Marta , Vives‐Cases Carmen , Maquibar Amaia
Published: December 2021

Aims

To explore the perceptions of nurses on the factors that influence their readiness to manage intimate partner violence (IPV) in Spain.

Design

Qualitative content analysis based on data from six different regions in Spain (Murcia, Region of Valencia, Castile and Leon, Cantabria, Catalonia, Aragon) collected between 2014 and 2016.

Methods

37 personal interviews were carried out with nurses from 27 primary health care (PHC) centres and 10 hospitals. We followed the consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research guidelines. Qualitative content analysis was supported by Atlas.ti and OpenCode.

Results

The results are organised into four categories corresponding to (1) acknowledging IPV as a health issue. An ongoing process; (2) the Spanish healthcare system and PHC service: a favourable space to address IPV although with some limitations; (3) nurses as a key figure for IPV in coordinated care and (4) factors involved in nurses' autonomy in their response to IPV, with their respective subcategories.

Conclusion

In practice, nurses perceive responding to IPV as a personal choice, despite the institutional mandate to address IPV as a health issue. There is a need to increase continuous training and ensure IPV is included in the curriculum in university nursing undergraduate degrees, by disseminating the existing IPV protocols. Furthermore, coordination between healthcare professionals needs to be improved in terms of all levels of care and with other institutions.
Treatment of metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma in a solid organ transplant recipient with programmed death‐1 checkpoint inhibitor therapy
Authors: O'Connell K.A. , Schmults C.D.
Published: December 2021

Limited data exist on the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) for the treatment of metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) in solid organ transplant recipients (SOTR). We report a case of a SOTR who developed metastatic disease following multiple surgeries, three cycles of adjuvant radiotherapy, and minimization of immunosuppression. He was subsequently treated with pembrolizumab and achieved a complete response. However, the patient developed ICI‐induced allograft rejection requiring therapy discontinuation. The allograft was salvaged following IVIg and steroids. The patient developed recurrent disease which failed rechallenge with pembrolizumab but achieved a partial response following cemiplimab administration. This case illustrates the potential to treat metastatic CSCC in a SOTR with anti‐programmed death‐1 therapy and preserve graft function despite allograft rejection.
Value of cemiplimab in progressive metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma after kidney transplantation: a case report
Authors: Geidel G. , Rünger A. , Schneider S.W. , Gebhardt C.
Published: December 2021

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) is the most frequent post‐transplant tumour entity resulting from immunosuppression treatment that is needed to prevent organ rejection. Solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients are at higher risk for CSCC and vulnerable for aggressive disease or a fatal course. Here, we report on a case of post‐kidney transplant metastatic CSCC, demonstrating efficacy of cemiplimab in achieving complete remission after previous disease progression under cetuximab treatment. Unfortunately, the patient developed severe pneumonia, which was only later diagnosed as cemiplimab‐associated pneumonitis. Due to a rapidly evolving septic condition, intensive care treatment was required and resulted in a fatal outcome. The patient's transplant remained intact, yet first‐line treatment of advanced CSCC, such as with cemiplimab, should be weighed critically in SOT recipients, as transplant rejection may occur. However, the present case underlines the feasibility of cemiplimab as a second‐line treatment option in this patient collective.
Measuring outcomes for temple hollowing treatment: Content validity of new and existing FACE‐Q scales
Authors: Kaur Manraj N. , Baradaran Sarah , Patel Vaishali , Klassen Anne F.
Published: December 2021

Background

The FACE‐Q, a validated, modular patient‐reported outcome measure with global uptake, currently does not have a scale to measure the appearance of the temples. Objectives of our study were to develop a new FACE‐Q scale for appearance of temples and assess content validity of two existing FACE‐Q scales in the context of temple hollowing: Satisfaction with Facial Appearance and Psychological Function.

Methods

A heterogeneous sample of adults who were seeking or had received treatments for temple hollowing was recruited from three outpatient clinics in the United States. Semi‐structured interviews using an interpretive description approach were completed to elicit concepts and generate an item pool and assess content validity of the two existing FACE‐Q scales. The item pool data were used to develop preliminary Temple scale, which was refined based on patient and expert feedback.

Results

Participants (N = 15, 55 ± 9 years) described a range of esthetic concerns related to temple hollowing and its treatment. The data were used to draft the FACE‐Q Satisfaction with Temples scale, which was refined through input from patients (N = 12) and clinicians (N = 5), resulting in a 16‐item FACE‐Q Satisfaction with Temples scale. The scale covers concepts of fullness, harmony, scenarios (eg, mirror, bright lights), age, and shape. Content validity of the two existing FACE‐Q scales was substantiated.

Conclusion

The FACE‐Q Satisfaction with Temples scale fills an important gap in patient‐reported outcome measurement in facial esthetics. The scale will be field‐tested to finalize content and develop the scoring algorithm prior to implementation in clinical practice and research.