bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Retrospective evaluation of acute kidney injury in horses treated with nonnitrogenous bisphosphonates (2013–2020): 8 cases
Authors: Edwards Lisa , Magdesian K. Gary
Published: September 2023

Objective

To describe a population of horses with acute kidney injury (AKI) following administration of bisphosphonates including clinical signs, clinicopathologic data, treatment, and outcome.

Design

Retrospective study from August 2013 to July 2020.

Setting

Veterinary university teaching hospital.

Animals

Eight adult horses with AKI following administration of nonnitrogenous bisphosphonates.

Interventions

None.

Measurements and Main Results

Five horses received intramuscular clodronate (5/8; 62.5%) and 3 horses received intravenous tiludronate (3/8; 37.5%). Six horses (6/8; 75%) received concurrent nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs. The most common initial presenting complaint was poor appetite (6/8; 75%), followed by abnormal urination (2/8; 25%). At the time of initial evaluation, the mean serum or plasma creatinine was 451.72 ± 190.06 μmol/L (5.11 ± 2.15 mg/dL) and BUN was 18.84 ± 8.85 mmol/L (52.75 ± 24.77 mg/dL). Five horses (5/6; 83.3%) had either an increased number of red blood cells (n = 4) or hemoprotein (n = 1) in the urine. All horses were treated with IV isotonic, balanced crystalloids either as a bolus, continuous rate infusion, or a combination of the 2. Seven horses (7/8; 87.5%) survived the initial episode of AKI and 1 horse (1/8; 12.5%) was euthanized. Of the 7 surviving horses, 2 horses (2/7; 28.5%) went on to develop chronic renal dysfunction. Warmblood breeds were overrepresented in the AKI group (P = 0.008; odds ratio: 11.5, 95% confidence interval: 1.8–72.1), when compared to horses that received bisphosphonates during the study period and did not develop AKI.

Conclusions

Bisphosphonate administration, with or without concurrent nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs, can be associated with AKI in horses. Serum creatinine should be monitored prior to and following bisphosphonate treatment to minimize this risk. Further evaluation of renal function is warranted in horses that develop clinical signs of poor appetite, lethargy, or altered urination in the days following bisphosphonate treatment.
Effects of Laser-Powder Alignment on Clad Dimension and Melt Pool Temperature in Directed Energy Deposition
Authors: Jeong Jihoon , Webster Samantha , Zha Rujing , Mogonye Jon-Erik , Ehmann Kornel , Cao Jian
Published: September 2023

The process parameters of Directed Energy Deposition (DED) have been widely studied including laser power, powder flow rate, and scanning speed. These parameters affect clad dimension and melt pool temperature, which are directly related to part quality. However, laser/powder profiles and their alignment have obtained less attention due to the cumbersome characterization process, although they can be directly associated with local energy density for melt pool formation. This study examines the impact of the alignment between the laser beam and powder flow distributions in DED on clad dimension and melt pool temperature. The laser beam and powder profiles are characterized by measuring their respective 2D Gaussian profiles for a given standoff distance. Aligned and misaligned laser-powder profiles are then used to build single-clad square geometries. It was found that a 500-µm offset between the centers of the laser and powder profiles causes up to a 20% change in both the width and the height of a single clad as well as an average temperature increase of 100 K. To understand the interaction between powder flow, energy flux, and local temperature, the local specific energy density distribution was plotted in 2D. These results suggest that laser-powder misalignment may significantly alter the thermal history and shape of deposited clads, possibly preventing DED-manufactured parts from meeting design properties and causing build failures.
Top electrode dependence of the write-once-read-many-times resistance switching in BiFeO3 films
Authors: Fu Yajun , Tang Wei , Wang Jin , Cao Linhong
Published: September 2023

The electrode is one of the key factors that influences and controls the resistive switching characteristic of a resistive switching device. In this work, we investigated the write-once-read-many-times (WORM)-resistive switching behavior of BiFeO3 (BFO)-based devices with different top electrodes, including Pt, Ag, Cu, and Al. The WORM-resistive switching behavior has been observed in Pt/BFO/LaNiO3 (LNO), Ag/BFO/LNO, and Cu/BFO/LNO devices. In the initial high resistance state, the Pt/BFO/LNO device shows space-charge-limited current conduction due to the large Schottky barrier height at the Pt/BFO interface, while the Ag/BFO/LNO and Cu/BFO/LNO devices exhibit Schottky emission conduction due to the small barrier height at both top electrode/BFO and BFO/LNO interfaces. In the low resistance state, the metallic conduction of the Pt/BFO/LNO device is a result of the formation of conduction filaments composed of oxygen vacancies, and yet the metallic conduction of Ag/BFO/LNO and Cu/BFO/LNO devices is due to the formation of oxygen vacancies-incorporated metal conduction filaments (Ag and Cu, respectively). The observed hysteresis I-V curve of the Al/BFO/LNO device may be attributed to oxygen vacancies and defects caused by the formation of Al–O bond near the Al/BFO interface. Our results indicate that controlling an electrode is a prominent and feasible way to modulate the performance of resistive switching devices.
Three genes controlling streptomycin susceptibility in
Agrobacterium fabrum
Authors: Howarth Robyn E. , Pattillo Curtis M. , Griffitts Joel S. , Calvopina-Chavez Diana G.
Published: September 2023

Streptomycin (Sm) is a commonly used antibiotic for its efficacy against diverse bacteria. The plant pathogen
Agrobacterium fabrum
is a model for studying pathogenesis and interkingdom gene transfer. Streptomycin-resistant variants of
A. fabrum
are commonly employed in genetic analyses, yet mechanisms of resistance and susceptibility to streptomycin in this organism have not previously been investigated. We observe that resistance to a high concentration of streptomycin arises at high frequency in
A. fabrum
, and we attribute this trait to the presence of a chromosomal gene (
strB
) encoding a putative aminoglycoside phosphotransferase. We show how
strB
, along with
rpsL
(encoding ribosomal protein S12) and
rsmG
(encoding a 16S rRNA methyltransferase), modulates streptomycin sensitivity in
A. fabrum
.

IMPORTANCE

The plant pathogen
Agrobacterium fabrum
is a widely used model bacterium for studying biofilms, bacterial motility, pathogenesis, and gene transfer from bacteria to plants. Streptomycin (Sm) is an aminoglycoside antibiotic known for its broad efficacy against gram-negative bacteria.
A. fabrum
exhibits endogenous resistance to somewhat high levels of streptomycin, but the mechanism underlying this resistance has not been elucidated. Here, we demonstrate that this resistance is caused by a chromosomally encoded streptomycin-inactivating enzyme, StrB, that has not been previously characterized in
A. fabrum
. Furthermore, we show how the genes
rsmG
,
rpsL
, and
strB
jointly modulate streptomycin susceptibility in
A. fabrum
.
Small regulatory RNAs are mediators of the
Streptococcus mutans
SloR regulon
Authors: Drummond India Y. , DePaolo Alessandra , Krieger Madeline , Driscoll Heather , Eckstrom Korin , Spatafora Grace A.
Published: September 2023

Dental caries is among the most prevalent chronic diseases worldwide.
Streptococcus mutans
, the chief causative agent of caries, uses a 25-kDa manganese-dependent SloR protein to coordinate the uptake of essential manganese with the transcription of its virulence attributes. Small non-coding RNAs (sRNAs) can either enhance or repress gene expression, and reports in the literature ascribe an emerging role for sRNAs in the environmental stress response. Herein, we focused our attention on 18–50 nt sRNAs as mediators of the
S. mutans
SloR and manganese regulons. Specifically, the results of RNA sequencing revealed 19 sRNAs in
S. mutans,
which were differentially transcribed in the SloR-proficient UA159 and SloR-deficient GMS584 strains, and 10 sRNAs that were differentially expressed in UA159 cells grown in the presence of low vs high manganese. We describe SmsR1532 and SmsR1785 as SloR- and manganese-responsive sRNAs that are processed from large transcripts and that bind SloR directly in their promoter regions. The predicted targets of these sRNAs include regulators of metal ion transport, growth management via a toxin-antitoxin operon, and oxidative stress tolerance. These findings support a role for sRNAs in coordinating intracellular metal ion homeostasis with virulence gene control in an important oral cariogen.

IMPORTANCE

Small regulatory RNAs (sRNAs) are critical mediators of environmental signaling, particularly in bacterial cells under stress, but their role in
Streptococcus mutans
is poorly understood.
S. mutans,
the principal causative agent of dental caries, uses a 25-kDa manganese-dependent protein, called SloR, to coordinate the regulated uptake of essential metal ions with the transcription of its virulence genes. In the present study, we identified and characterized sRNAs that are both SloR and manganese responsive. Taken together, this research can elucidate the details of regulatory networks that engage sRNAs in an important oral pathogen and that can enable the development of an effective anti-caries therapeutic.
Myxococcus xanthus
PilB interacts with c-di-GMP and modulates motility and biofilm formation
Authors: Dye Keane J. , Salar Safoura , Allen Uvina , Smith Wraylyn , Yang Zhaomin
Published: September 2023

The regulation of biofilm and motile states as alternate bacterial lifestyles has been studied extensively in flagellated bacteria, where the second messenger cyclic-di-GMP (cdG) plays a crucial role. However, much less is known about the mechanisms of such regulation in motile bacteria without flagella. The bacterial type IV pilus (T4P) serves as a motility apparatus that enables
Myxococcus xanthus
to move on solid surfaces. PilB, the T4P assembly ATPase, is, therefore, required for T4P-dependent motility in
M. xanthus
. Interestingly, T4P is also involved in the regulation of exopolysaccharide as the biofilm matrix material in this bacterium. A newly discovered cdG-binding domain, MshE
N
, is conserved in the N-terminus of PilB (PilB
N
) in
M. xanthus
and other bacteria. This suggests that cdG may bind to PilB to control the respective outputs that regulate biofilm development and T4P-powered motility. In this study, we aimed to validate
M. xanthus
PilB as a cdG effector protein. We performed a systematic mutational analysis of its cdG-binding domain to investigate its relationship with motility, piliation, and biofilm formation. Excluding those resulting in low levels of PilB protein, all other substitution mutations in PilB
N
resulted in
pilB
mutants with distinct and differential phenotypes in piliation and biofilm levels in
M. xanthus
. This suggests that the PilB
N
domain plays dual roles in modulating motility and biofilm levels, and these two functions of PilB can be dependent on and independent of each other in
M. xanthus
.

IMPORTANCE

The regulation of motility and biofilm by cyclic-di-GMP in flagellated bacteria has been extensively investigated. However, our knowledge regarding this regulation in motile bacteria without flagella remains limited. Here, we aimed to address this gap by investigating a non-flagellated bacterium with motility powered by bacterial type-IV pilus (T4P). Previous studies hinted at the possibility of
Myxococcus xanthus
PilB, the T4P assembly ATPase, serving as a cyclic-di-GMP effector involved in regulating both motility and biofilm. Our findings strongly support the hypothesis that PilB directly interacts with cyclic-di-GMP to act as a potential switch to promote biofilm formation or T4P-dependent motility. These results shed light on the bifurcation of PilB functions and its pivotal role in coordinating biofilm formation and T4P-mediated motility.
Packaging defects in pestiviral NS4A can be compensated by mutations in NS2 and NS3
Authors: Fellenberg Jonas , Dubrau Danilo , Isken Olaf , Tautz Norbert
Published: September 2023

The non-structural (NS) proteins of theFlaviviridaemembers play a dual role in genome replication and virion morphogenesis. For pestiviruses, like bovine viral diarrhea virus, the NS2-3 region and its processing by the NS2 autoprotease is of particular importance. While uncleaved NS2-3 in complex with NS4A is essential for virion assembly, it cannot replace free NS3/4A in the viral replicase. Furthermore, surface interactions between NS3 and the C-terminal cytosolic domain of NS4A were shown to serve as a molecular switch between RNA replication and virion morphogenesis. To further characterize the functionality of NS4A, we performed an alanine-scanning mutagenesis of two NS4A regions, a short highly conserved cytoplasmic linker downstream of the transmembrane domain and the C-terminal domain. NS4A residues critical for polyprotein processing, RNA replication, and/or virion morphogenesis were identified. Three double-alanine mutants, two in the linker region and one close to the C-terminus of NS4A, showed a selective effect on virion assembly. All three packaging defective mutants could be rescued by a selected set of two second-site mutations, located in NS2 and NS3, respectively. This phenotype was additionally confirmed by complementation studies providing the NS2-3/4A packaging molecules containing the rescue mutations intrans. This indicates that the linker region and the cytosolic C-terminal part of NS4A are critical for the formation of protein complexes required for virion morphogenesis. The ability of the identified sets of second-site mutations in NS2-3 to compensate for diverse NS4A defects highlights a surprising functional flexibility for pestiviral NS proteins.

IMPORTANCE

Positive-strand RNA viruses have a limited coding capacity due to their rather small genome size. To overcome this constraint, viral proteins often exhibit multiple functions that come into play at different stages during the viral replication cycle. The molecular basis for this multifunctionality is often unknown. For the bovine viral diarrhea virus, the non-structural protein (NS) 4A functions as an NS3 protease cofactor, a replicase building block, and a component in virion morphogenesis. Here, we identified the critical amino acids of its C-terminal cytosolic region involved in those processes and show that second-site mutations in NS2 and NS3 can compensate for diverse NS4A defects in virion morphogenesis. The ability to evolve alternative functional solutions by gain-of-function mutations highlights the astounding plasticity of the pestiviral system.
Supplemental Material: Revised chronology of the middle–upper Cenozoic succession in the Tuotuohe Basin, central-northern Tibetan Plateau, and its paleoelevation implications
Authors: Li  , Chang Hong , et al.
Published: September 2023

Petrographic analyses and reconstructed annual mean air temperature based on regional empirical formula; reconstructed temperatures based on different br-GDGTs calibrations and paleoclimate model uncertainties.
New Data on the Age of Magmatic Rocks in the Alpha–Mendeleev Rise (Arctic Ocean) Based on the Results of Isotope U/Pb Dating of Zircons
Authors: Skolotnev S. G. , Fedonkin M. A. , Korniychuk A. V.
Published: September 2023

The age of magmatic rocks of basic composition sampled at the Alpha–Mendeleev Rise in the Arctic Ocean by a research submarine was studied based on the measurement of the U/Pb age of zircons separated from them. Early Cretaceous rocks of the moderately alkaline series, which had been formed at the turn of 112 million years, are most common on the Rise. These rocks contain a large number of ancient xenogenic zircons the age analysis of which shows that the subalkaline melts interacted with the crust at two levels including the horizon of Early Cretaceous sandstones and with rocks of the Late Archean crystalline basement aged 2675.1 ± 11.6 Ma. They also contain a small number of younger zircons aged 83 to 87 Ma, which probably arose during the recrystallization of Early Cretaceous zircons under the influence of Late Cretaceous magmatism.
ViSHWaS: Violence Study of Healthcare Workers and Systems—a global survey
Authors: Banga Akshat , Mautong Hans , Alamoudi Razan , Faisal Umme Habiba , Bhatt Gaurang , Amal Tanya , Mendiratta Ayushi , Bollu Bhaswanth , Kutikuppala L V Simhachalam , Lee Joanna , Simadibrata Daniel Martin , Huespe Ivan , Khalid Aisha , Rais Mohammed Amir , Adhikari Ramesh , Lakhani Alisha , Garg Piyush , Pattnaik Harsha , Gandhi Raghu , Pandit Ramesh , Ahmad Faizan , Camacho-Leon Genesis , Ciza N Pierre , Barrios Nimsi , Meza Kelly , Okonkwo Susan , Dhabuliwo Amuza , Hamza Hafeez , Nemat Arash , Essar Mohammad Yasir , Kampa Anne , Qasba Rakhtan K , Sharma Pranjal , Dutt Taru , Vekaria Pratikkumar , Bansal Vikas , Nawaz Faisal A , Surani Salim , Kashyap Rahul
Published: September 2023

Objective

To provide insights into the nature, risk factors, impact and existing measures for reporting and preventing violence in the healthcare system. The under-reporting of violence against healthcare workers (HCWs) globally highlights the need for increased public awareness and education.

Methods

The Violence Study of Healthcare Workers and Systems study used a survey questionnaire created using Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap) forms and distributed from 6 June to 9 August 2022. Logistic regression analysis evaluated violence predictors, including gender, age, years of experience, institution type, respondent profession and night shift frequency. A χ2test was performed to determine the association between gender and different violence forms.

Results

A total of 5405 responses from 79 countries were analysed. India, the USA and Venezuela were the top three contributors. Female respondents comprised 53%. The majority (45%) fell within the 26–35 age group. Medical students (21%), consultants (20%), residents/fellows (15%) and nurses (10%) constituted highest responders. Nearly 55% HCWs reported firsthand violence experience, and 16% reported violence against their colleagues. Perpetrators were identified as patients or family members in over 50% of cases, while supervisor-incited violence accounted for 16%. Around 80% stated that violence incidence either remained constant or increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Among HCWs who experienced violence, 55% felt less motivated or more dissatisfied with their jobs afterward, and 25% expressed willingness to quit. Univariate analysis revealed that HCWs aged 26–65 years, nurses, physicians, ancillary staff, those working in public settings, with >1 year of experience, and frequent night shift workers were at significantly higher risk of experiencing violence. These results remained significant in multivariate analysis, except for the 55–65 age group, which lost statistical significance.

Conclusion

This global cross-sectional study highlights that a majority of HCWs have experienced violence, and the incidence either increased or remained the same during the COVID-19 pandemic. This has resulted in decreased job satisfaction.
Preconception contraceptive use and miscarriage: prospective cohort study
Authors: Yland Jennifer J , Wesselink Amelia K , Hernandez-Diaz Sonia , Huybrechts Krista , Hatch Elizabeth E , Wang Tanran R , Savitz David , Kuohung Wendy , Rothman Kenneth J , Wise Lauren A
Published: September 2023

Objectives

To evaluate the association between preconception contraceptive use and miscarriage.

Design

Prospective cohort study.

Setting

Residents of the United States of America or Canada, recruited from 2013 until the end of 2022.

Participants

13 460 female identified participants aged 21-45 years who were planning a pregnancy were included, of whom 8899 conceived. Participants reported data for contraceptive history, early pregnancy, miscarriage, and potential confounders during preconception and pregnancy.

Main outcome measure

Miscarriage, defined as pregnancy loss before 20 weeks of gestation.

Results

Preconception use of combined and progestin-only oral contraceptives, hormonal intrauterine devices, copper intrauterine devices, rings, implants, or natural methods was not associated with miscarriage compared with use of barrier methods. Participants who most recently used patch (incidence rate ratios 1.34 (95% confidence interval 0.81 to 2.21)) or injectable contraceptives (1.44 (0.99 to 2.12)) had higher rates of miscarriage compared with recent users of barrier methods, although results were imprecise due to the small numbers of participants who used patch and injectable contraceptives.

Conclusions

Use of most contraceptives before conception was not appreciably associated with miscarriage rate. Individuals who used patch and injectable contraceptives had higher rates of miscarriage relative to users of barrier methods, although these results were imprecise and residual confounding was possible.
Drivers of uptake of HIV testing services, a snapshot of barriers and facilitators among adolescent boys and young men in Lusaka: a qualitative study
Authors: Nyirenda Herbert Chabwera , Foloko Marksman , Bolton-Moore Carolyn , Vera Jaime , Sharma Anjali
Published: September 2023

Background

Striking gender and rural–urban disparities highlight the need to redesign HIV services to improve HIV testing and linkage by adolescent boys and young men (ABYM) in sub-Saharan African cities.

Purpose

We sought to understand drivers of HIV testing among ABYM living in urban Lusaka in order to design a targeted intervention that may increase their entry into the HIV prevention and treatment cascade.

Methods

In May and June 2019, two male moderators conducted three focus group discussions lasting 1.25 hours with seven to nine ABYM per group and six in-depth interviews with healthcare providers (HCPs) working with adolescents. ABYM were conveniently selected from first aid training, sports and youth-friendly sites in three settlement areas. We purposefully selected HCP from community, facility and district levels. Thematic analyses using inductive reasoning were applied.

Results

The 24 ABYM were 18–24 years old (median 21 years), single, from 11 different neighbourhoods and 79% had 9–12 years of education. Facilitators of HIV testing uptake included the importance ABYM placed on good health and planning their future in order to fulfil their masculine identity and societal roles. Barriers included peer norms, life-long treatment along with anticipated changes to sexual life and alcohol use, fear of results and judgement and disappointment among HCP. HCPs agreed that masculine roles (‘many things to do’) and arduous clinical processes deterred ABYM from accessing testing services. They suggested that ABYM were prone to depression which both caused and resulted from behavioural issues such as alcohol use and risk-taking, which prevented uptake of HIV testing services. Both parties agreed that ABYM needed services specifically designed for them and that offered convenient, private, swift and non-judgemental services.

Conclusions

ABYM disillusioned by standard counselling procedures, systemic barriers and stigma, avoid HIV test and treat services. Innovative ways and youth-specific spaces are needed to increase access to non-judgemental services that facilitate entry into the HIV prevention and treatment cascade in this population.
Prevalence of comorbidities and its associated factors among type-2 diabetes patients: a hospital-based study in Jashore District, Bangladesh
Authors: Shuvo Suvasish Das , Hossen Md Toufik , Riazuddin Md , Hossain Md Sakhawot , Mazumdar Sanaullah , Parvin Rashida , Elahi Md Toufiq
Published: September 2023

Objective

This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of comorbidity and its associated factors among Bangladeshi type-2 diabetes (T2D) patients.

Design

A hospital-based cross-sectional study.

Setting

This study was conducted in two specialised diabetic centres residing in the Jashore District of Bangladesh. A systematic random sampling procedure was applied to identify the T2D patients through a face-to-face interview.

Participants

A total of 1036 patients with T2D were included in this study. A structured questionnaire was administered to collect data on demographic, lifestyle, medical and healthcare access-related data through face-to-face and medical record reviews.

Outcome measures and analyses

The main outcome variable for this study was comorbidities. The prevalence of comorbidity was measured using descriptive statistics. A logistic regression model was performed to explore the factors associated with comorbidity among Bangladeshi T2D patients.

Results

The overall prevalence of comorbidity was 41.4% and the most prevalent conditions were hypertension (50.4%), retinopathy (49.6%), obesity (28.7%) and oral problem (26.2). In the regression model, the odds of comorbidities increased with gender (male: OR: 1.27, 95% CI 1.12 to 1.87), age (50–64 years: OR: 2.14, 95% CI 1.32 to 2.93; and above 65 years: OR: 2.96, 95% CI 1.83 to 4.16), occupation (unemployment: OR: 3.32, 95% CI 1.92 to 6.02 and non-manual worker: OR: 2.31, 95% CI 1.91 to 5.82), duration of diabetes (above 15 years: OR: 3.28, 95% CI 1.44 to 5.37), body mass index (obese: OR: 2.62, 95% CI 1.24 to 4.26) of patients. We also found that individuals with recommended moderate to vigorous physical activity levels (OR: 0.41, 95% CI 0.25 to 0.74) had the lowest odds of having comorbidity. Meanwhile, respondents with limited self-care practice, unaffordable medicine and financial problems had 1.82 times, 1.94 times and 1.86 times higher odds of developing comorbidities.

Conclusion

The findings could be useful in designing and implementing effective intervention strategies and programmes for people with T2D to reduce the burden of comorbidity.
EyeCee One preloaded intraocular lens: are patients with glaucoma more at risk?
Authors: Jones Ruth K , Jong Joel Lee Zher , Ramjiani Vipul , Tan Jennifer H Y
Published: September 2023

Objective

The Medicine and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency reported links of raised intraocular pressure (IOP) with recently implanted EyeCee One intraocular lens (IOL). This work investigates if glaucomatous eyes were more susceptible to these postoperative IOP rises and if they required more intensive management.

Methods

Retrospective observational study of all phacoemulsification surgery with implanted EyeCee One IOL, performed between 1 October 2022 and 26 January 2023 inclusive.

Analysis

A significant IOP elevation was defined as an IOP rise of 10 mm Hg or more from preoperative to maximal postoperative IOP reading. The management of all patients who had a significant IOP elevation was reviewed. Glaucoma/ocular hypertension cases were identified and analysed against non-glaucomatous eyes and statistical analysis performed.

Results

112 glaucoma and 671 non-glaucoma cases identified; 19.6% of the glaucoma cohort had a significant postoperative IOP rise compared with 8.9% of patients without glaucoma (OR 2.49 (95% CI 1.45 to 4.20) p=0.0014). In the glaucoma cohort, 12.5% had an increase in the number of topical IOP-lowering agents (mean increase 1.65±1.58), 6.3% required systemic treatment and 2.7% surgical intervention. In the non-glaucoma group, 3.3% required topical treatment (mean number of agents 0.88±1.34), 0.8% required systemic treatment and 0.2% surgical intervention.

Conclusion

This study shows that during the time frame in question, patients with glaucoma or ocular hypertension who had an EyeCee One IOL were almost two and a half times more likely to have a postoperative rise of 10 mm Hg or more in IOP following routine cataract surgery, requiring more aggressive management.
Two years on, a perspective on MAFLD
Authors: Eslam Mohammed , George Jacob
Published: September 2023

To provide clarity for research studies and clinical care, a set of positive criteria for adults and children with metabolic (dysfunction) associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) was recently published and has subsequently been widely endorsed. The development and subsequent validation of the criteria for MAFLD has created a positive momentum for change. During the course of the ongoing discussion on the redefinition, some concerns have surfaced that we thought needs clarification. In this review, we provide a perspective on MAFLD and bringing clarity to some of the key aspects that have been recently raised.
Myeloid madness: assessing diagnostic inconsistency between the new WHO and ICC schemes for myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative neoplasms
Authors: Benton Leah G , Kallen Michael Edward , Jacobs Jonathan L , McCool Isaac E , Ning Yi , Duong Vu H , Koka Rima , Singh Zeba N
Published: September 2023

The classification of haematological neoplasms recently underwent revision, generating two separate schemes—the International Consensus Classification and the fifth edition of the WHO classification. The new division into separate classification systems presents challenges for haematopathologists, haematologists/oncologists and patients. While it is too early to assess the full clinical impact, we sought to identify diagnostic discordance which may arise from applying separate classification schemes in myeloid neoplasia, and particularly in the challenging category of myelodysplastic syndrome/myeloproliferative neoplasms. A review of 64 such cases found 1 case with a significant discrepancy between the WHO and International Consensus Classification systems, and 9 cases with nominal discrepancies. Confusion from the use of conflicting diagnostic terms represents a potential source of patient harm, increased pathologist workload and burnout and erosion of clinician and patient trust.
PAX5 and CD70 are expressed in thymic carcinoma but not in atypical thymoma (WHO type B3 thymoma): an immunohistochemical analysis of 60 cases
Authors: Weissferdt Annikka , Moran Cesar
Published: September 2023

Aims

Thymic carcinoma and atypical thymoma (WHO type B3 thymoma) are unusual tumours the separation of which may be challenging in small biopsies. Both tumours consist of epithelioid tumour cells that share similar morphology and immunophenotype with conventional markers. Therefore, additional antibodies are needed to differentiate between these tumours.

Methods

For this purpose, a panel of immunohistochemical stains including PAX2, PAX5, PAX8 (all monoclonal) and CD70 was used on whole tumour sections of 30 thymic carcinomas and 30 atypical thymomas to determine the expression pattern of these antibodies. In addition, all tumours were stained with markers that are well known to be expressed in both tumours, including pancytokeratin and cytokeratin 5/6. The percentage of positive tumour cells as well as the intensity of staining were evaluated and scored.

Results

PAX5 stained close to 70% of thymic carcinomas while all atypical thymomas were negative for this marker. CD70 was expressed in 18 thymic carcinomas (60%) and in 1 case of atypical thymoma (3%). On the other hand, monoclonal PAX8 was negative in all cases while PAX2 was positive in a single thymic carcinoma. Of the established stains, pancytokeratin and cytokeratin 5/6 were equally positive in both tumours.

Conclusions

Among the markers explored, only PAX5 and CD70 appear to be differentially expressed and are predominantly restricted to thymic carcinomas. Therefore, in small biopsy specimens and in resections in which the morphological features remain equivocal, application of these particular stains may facilitate separation of thymic carcinoma and atypical thymoma.
Cell-free DNA approaches for cancer early detection and interception
Authors: Medina Jamie E , Dracopoli Nicholas C , Bach Peter B , Lau Anna , Scharpf Robert B , Meijer Gerrit A , Andersen Claus Lindbjerg , Velculescu Victor E
Published: September 2023

Rapid advancements in the area of early cancer detection have brought us closer to achieving the goals of finding cancer early enough to treat or cure it, while avoiding harms of overdiagnosis. We evaluate progress in the development of early cancer detection tests in the context of the current principles for cancer screening. We review cell-free DNA (cfDNA)-based approaches using mutations, methylation, or fragmentomes for early cancer detection. Lastly, we discuss the challenges in demonstrating clinical utility of these tests before integration into routine clinical care.
Association between genetic polymorphisms and risk of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis in case-control studies: a systematic review
Authors: Terhune Elizabeth , Heyn Patricia , Piper Christi , Wethey Cambria , Monley Anna , Cuevas Melissa , Hadley Miller Nancy
Published: September 2023

Background

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is a structural lateral spinal curvature of ≥10° with rotation. Approximately 2%–3% of children across populations are affected with AIS, and this condition is responsible for ~$3 billion in costs within the USA. Although AIS is believed to have a strong genetic contribution, clinical translation of identified genetic variants has stalled.

Methods

The databases MEDLINE (via PubMed), Embase, Google Scholar and Ovid MEDLINE were searched and limited to articles in English. Title and abstract, full-text and data extraction screening was conducted through Covidence, followed by data transfer to a custom REDCap database. Studies containing variant-level data using genome-wide methodology as well as validation studies of genome-wide methods were considered. Quality assessment was conducted using Q-Genie.

Results

33 studies were included, including 9 genome-wide association studies, 4 whole exome sequencing and 20 validation studies. Combined, these studies included data from >35,000 cases and >67,000 controls, not including validation cohorts. Additionally, results from six meta-analyses containing novel cohorts were also reported. All included study cohorts were from populations of primarily East Asian or Caucasian descent. Quality assessment found that overall study quality was high and control group selection was moderate. The highest number of reported associations were in single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in or nearLBX1, LBX1-AS1, GPR126/ADGRG6orBNC2.

Conclusion

AIS risk may be influenced by specific SNPs, particularly those in/nearLBX1andGPR126. Translatability of study findings is unknown due to an underrepresentation of most ethnic groups as well as few identified genome-wide studies. Further studies may benefit from increased cohort diversity and thorough evaluation of control cohort groups.
Contention and collaboration: the tenuous encounter of modern Ayurveda and Western medicine in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries
Authors: Katial John Manohar
Published: September 2023

Complementary medicine systems are ascending to rapid popularity as the twenty-first century progresses. Often adapted from ancient systems of healing such as Ayurveda, these modern alternative medical movements reappraise millennia-old health traditions that found their inception at the confluence of religious philosophy and herbal healing. Naturally, contemporary global economic forces and a desire to market traditional medicine products in an enticing fashion have characterised how historic traditional medicine systems are presented in the modern context. By establishing a vision of complementary medicine born from ancient traditions, it becomes clear how traditional methods of healing can contend with Western biomedicine—the prevailing standard of care around the globe. The claims made by both sides parry along a line of scientific validity, efficacy and regulatory purview. India, the birthplace of Ayurveda and an epicentre of contemporary medical education, is a prime arena to study the friction between biomedicine and traditional medicine. In this piece, I focus on the modernisation of Ayurveda and how it has found conflict with allopathic medicine. I posit that Ayurveda has re-emerged since the early twentieth century as a key tenet of Indian modernity: and in doing so has found contention with Western medicine. I furthermore argue that despite existing discord, the two medical traditions are not inherently antithetical. They can be synergistic, so long as healthcare delivery and education recognise the limits of each and focus on coaction rather than contradiction.
How and why to use ‘vulnerability’: an interdisciplinary analysis of disease risk, indeterminacy and normality
Authors: Ford Andrea , De Togni Giulia , Erikainen Sonja , Filipe Angela Marques , Pickersgill Martyn , Sturdy Steve , Swallow Julia , Young Ingrid
Published: September 2023

In recent years, ‘vulnerability’ has been getting more traction in theoretical, professional and popular spaces as an alternative or complement to the concept of risk. As a group of science and technology studies scholars with different disciplinary orientations yet a shared concern with biomedicine, self and society, we investigate how vulnerability has become a salient and even dominant idiom for discussing disease and disease risk. We argue that this is at least partly due to an inherent indeterminacy in what ‘vulnerability’ means and does, both within and across different discourses. Through a review of feminist and disability theory, and a discussion of how vulnerability and disease both get recruited into a binary conceptualisation of normal versus abnormal, we argue that vulnerability’s indeterminacy is, in fact, its strength, and that it should be used differently than risk. Using COVID-19 management in the UK as an illustration of the current ambivalence and ambiguity in how vulnerability versus risk is applied, we suggest that instead of being codified or quantified, as it has started to be in some biomedical and public health applications, vulnerability and its remedies should be determined in conjunction with affected communities and in ways that are polyvalent, flexible and nuanced. The concept of vulnerability encapsulates an important precept: we must recognise inequality as undesirable while not attempting to ‘solve’ it in deterministic ways. Rather than becoming fixed into labels, unidirectional causalities or top-down universalising metrics, vulnerability could be used to insist on relational, context-specific understandings of disease and disease risk—in line with contemporary social justice movements that require non-hierarchical and non-universal approaches to problems and solutions.
Incidence of acute compartment syndrome with routine use of regional anesthesia for patients with long bone fractures: a large single-center retrospective review from a level I trauma tertiary academic institution
Authors: Chembrovich Svetlana , Ihnatsenka Barys , Smith Cameron , Zasimovich Yury , Gunnett Amy , Petersen Timothy R , Le-Wendling Linda
Published: September 2023

Introduction

Traditionally, using peripheral nerve blocks (PNBs) in patients with long bone fractures has been limited due to concerns that it may interfere with the timely diagnosis of acute compartment syndrome (ACS). However, our large academic institution and level I trauma center have been using regional anesthesia routinely for pain management of patients with long bone fractures for more than a decade, with strict adherence to a comprehensive management protocol. The aim of this retrospective review is to present our experience with this practice.

Methods

Following Institutional Review Board approval, we performed a retrospective chart review of patients with long bone fractures and ACS over a 10-year period (2008–2018).

Results

26 537 patients were included in the review. Approximately 20% of these patients required surgery, and 91.5% of surgically treated patients received regional anesthesia. The incidence of ACS in our cohort was 0.1% or 1.017 per 1000 patients with long bone fractures.

Conclusion

Current recommendations on using PNBs in patients at risk for ACS have been mainly based on expert opinion and dated case reports. Due to the nature of the condition, prospective data are lacking. Our large observational dataset evaluated the risk of missing or delaying ACS diagnosis when PNBs were offered for trauma patients and demonstrated a relatively low incidence of ACS despite the routine use of PNBs under strictly protocolized conditions when patients were managed by a dedicated multidisciplinary care team.
Laryngeal widening and adequate ventilation by expiratory pressure load training improve aerobic capacity in COPD: a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Miki Keisuke , Tsujino Kazuyuki , Fukui Motonari , Miki Mari , Kitajima Takamasa , Sumitani Hitoshi , Hashimoto Kazuki , Yokoyama Masashi , Hashimoto Hisako , Nii Takuro , Matsuki Takanori , Kida Hiroshi
Published: September 2023

Rationale

Despite strategies acting on peripheral airway obstruction in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), exercise intolerance remains inadequately improved. We hypothesised that laryngeal narrowing is a potential treatment target of expiratory pressure load training (EPT) to improve exercise intolerance in COPD.

Methods

The effect of 3-month EPT was assessed in 47 patients with COPD divided into Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) mild-to-moderate (I–II) and severe-to-very severe (III–IV), randomly allocating 1:1 to EPT or control groups. The primary outcome was endurance time in the constant work rate exercise test in GOLD III–IV patients.

Results

Compared with controls, EPT increased: (1) endurance time, with estimated treatment effect: +703 (95% CI: 379 to 1031) s, p=0.0008 (GOLD I–II); +390 (95% CI: 205 to 574) s, p=0.0006 (GOLD III–IV); (2) peak oxygen uptake (p=0.0086 in GOLD I–II; p=0.0004 in GOLD III–IV); (3) glottic dilatation ratio at maximum collapse on laryngoscopy in the submaximal exercise (p=0.0062 in GOLD I–II; p=0.0001 in GOLD III–IV); and (4) the inflection point of expiratory tidal volume relative to minute ventilation during the incremental exercise (p=0.0015 in GOLD I–II; p=0.0075 in GOLD III–IV). Across GOLD grades, the responses of glottic dilatation ratio at maximum collapse and the expiratory tidal volume at the inflection point were selected as more influential variables correlating with the improvement in peak oxygen uptake and endurance time, respectively.

Conclusion

These results show that EPT improved aerobic capacity and endurance time with larger laryngeal widening and adequate ventilation despite advanced COPD.

Trial registration number

UMIN000041250.
Factors affecting powerhouse passage of spring migrant smolts at federally operated hydroelectric dams of the Snake and Columbia rivers
Authors: Harnish Ryan A. , Ham Kenneth D. , Skalski John R. , Townsend Richard L. , Buchanan Rebecca A.
Published: September 2023

From 2008 to 2018, acoustic telemetry studies were conducted to evaluate dam passage survival of spring migrant Chinook salmon and steelhead smolts at seven of the eight federally operated dams on the lower Snake and Columbia rivers. Data from over 87 000 dam passage events were evaluated using regression modeling to identify the effect of spill operations, environmental conditions, and fish characteristics on powerhouse passage probability. In general, powerhouse passage was positively correlated with discharge, negatively correlated with forebay temperature and fish size, and higher for fish that passed the dam at night and for those that approached from the powerhouse side of the river, suggesting powerhouse passage is largely a function of smolt activity level and swimming ability. As such, spilling large volumes of water to reduce powerhouse passage is likely to be most effective during times of reduced activity and swimming ability (e.g., at night, high flows, and cold temperatures). This information can be used to develop dam- and time-specific spill operations that optimize smolt passage, power generation, and other competing demands, such as adult passage.
PANDORA Project for the study of photonuclear reactions below $$A=60$$
Authors: Tamii A. , Pellegri L. , Söderström P.-A. , Allard D. , Goriely S. , Inakura T. , Khan E. , Kido E. , Kimura M. , Litvinova E. , Nagataki S. , Neumann-Cosel P. von , Pietralla N. , Shimizu N. , Tsoneva N. , Utsuno Y. , Adachi S. , Adsley P. , Bahini A. , Balabanski D. , Baret B. , Bekker J. A. C. , Binda S. D. , Boicu E. , Bracco A. , Brandherm I. , Brezeanu M. , Brummer J. W. , Camera F. , Crespi F. C. L. , Dalal R. , Donaldson L. M. , Fujikawa Y. , Furuno T. , Haoning H. , Higuchi R. , Honda Y. , Gavrilescu A. , Inoue A. , Isaak J. , Jivan H. , Jones P. , Jongile S. , Just O. , Kawabata T. , Khumalo T. , Kiener J. , Kleemann J. , Kobayashi N. , Koshio Y. , Kuşoğlu A. , Li K. C. W. , Malatji K. L. , Molaeng R. E. , Motoki H. , Murata M. , Netshiya A. A. , Neveling R. , Niina R. , Okamoto S. , Ota S. , Papst O. , Parizot E. , Petruse T. , Reen M. S. , Ring P. , Sakanashi K. , Sideras-Haddad E. , Siem S. , Spall M. , Suda T. , Sudo T. , Taniguchi Y. , Tatischeff V. , Utsunomiya H. , Wang H. , Werner V. , Wibowo H. , Wiedeking M. , Wieland O. , Xu Y. , Yang Z. H. ,   PANDORA Collaboration
Published: September 2023

Photonuclear reactions of light nuclei below a mass of $$A=60$$

A
=
60

are planned to be studied experimentally and theoretically with the PANDORA (Photo-Absorption of Nuclei and Decay Observation for Reactions in Astrophysics) project. Two experimental methods, virtual photon excitation by proton scattering and real photo absorption by a high-brilliance $$\gamma $$
γ
-ray beam produced by laser Compton scattering, will be applied to measure the photoabsorption cross sections and decay branching ratio of each decay channel as a function of the photon energy. Several nuclear models, e.g. anti-symmetrized molecular dynamics, mean-field and beyond-mean-field models, a large-scale shell model, and ab initio models, will be employed to predict the photonuclear reactions. The uncertainty in the model predictions will be evaluated based on the discrepancies between the model predictions and experimental data. The data and predictions will be implemented in the general reaction calculation code, . The results will be applied to the simulation of the photo-disintegration process of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays in inter-galactic propagation.
Mass spectra of hidden heavy-flavor tetraquarks with two and four heavy quarks
Authors: Yan Ting-Qi , Zhang Wen-Xuan , Jia Duojie
Published: September 2023

Inspired by the observation of theX(6900) by LHCb and theX(6600) (with mass$$6552\pm 10\pm 12$$6552±10±12 MeV) recently by CMS and ATLAS experiments of the LHC in the di-$$J/\varPsi $$J/Ψinvariant mass spectrum, we systemically study masses of all ground-state configurations of the hidden heavy-flavor tetraquarks$$q_{1}Q_{2}{\bar{q}}_{3}{\bar{Q}}_{4}$$q1Q2q¯3Q¯4and$$Q_{1}Q_{2}{\bar{Q}}_{3}{\bar{Q}}_{4}$$Q1Q2Q¯3Q¯4$$(Q=c,b$$(Q=c,b;$$q=u,d,s)$$q=u,d,s)containing two and four heavy quarks in the MIT bag model with chromomagnetic interaction and enhanced binding energy. Considering color-spin mixing due to chromomagnetic interaction, our mass computation indicates that the observedX(6600) is likely to be the$$0^{++}$$0++ground states of hidden-charm tetraquark$$cc{\bar{c}}{\bar{c}}$$ccc¯c¯with computed masses 6572 MeV, which has a$$0^{++}$$0++color partner around 6469 MeV. The fully bottom system of tetraquark$$bb{\bar{b}}{\bar{b}}$$bbb¯b¯has masses of 19685 MeV and 19717 MeV for the$$0^{++}$$0++ground states. Further calculation of the tetraquark systems$$sc{\bar{s}}{\bar{c}}$$scs¯c¯,$$sb{\bar{s}}{\bar{b}}$$sbs¯b¯,$$cb{\bar{c}}{\bar{b}}$$cbc¯b¯,$$nc{\bar{n}}{\bar{c}}$$ncn¯c¯and$$nb{\bar{n}}{\bar{b}}$$nbn¯b¯shows that$$Z_{c}(4200)$$Zc(4200)is a$$1^{+-}$$1+-state of tetraquark$$nc{\bar{n}}{\bar{c}}$$ncn¯c¯andZ(4020) is a$$1^{+-}$$1+-state of tetraquark$$nc{\bar{n}}{\bar{c}}$$ncn¯c¯with a mass of 4079 MeV. All of these tetraquarks are above their lowest thresholds of two mesons and unstable against the strong decays.