bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bridging brain and body in cancer
Authors: Cross Michael , Dillin Andrew , Papagiannakopoulos Thales
Published: October 2024

Recent work has highlighted the central role the brain–body axis plays in not only maintaining organismal homeostasis but also coordinating the body's response to immune and inflammatory insults. Here, we discuss how science is poised to address the many ways that our brain is directly involved with disease. In particular, we feel that combining cutting-edge tools in neuroscience with translationally relevant models of cancer will be critical to understanding how the brain and tumors communicate and modulate each other's behavior.
Exact dynamics of the Tomonaga-Luttinger liquid and shortcuts to adiabaticity
Authors: Dupays Léonce , Dóra Balázs , del Campo Adolfo
Published: October 2024

Controlling many-body quantum systems is a highly challenging task required to advance quantum technologies. Here, we report progress in controlling gapless many-body quantum systems described by the Tomonaga-Luttinger liquid (TLL). To do so, we investigate the exact dynamics of the TLL induced by an arbitrary interaction quench, making use of the SU(1,1) dynamical symmetry group and the Schrödinger picture. First, we demonstrate that this approach is useful to perform a shortcut to adiabaticity, which cancels the final nonadiabatic residual energy of the driven TLL and is experimentally implementable in the semiclassical limit of the sine-Gordon model. Second, we apply this framework to analyze various driving schemes in finite time, including linear ramps and smooth protocols.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Infrared gluon propagator in the refined Gribov-Zwanziger scenario at one-loop order in the Landau gauge
Authors: de Brito Gustavo P. , Pereira Antonio D.
Published: October 2024

The refined Gribov-Zwanziger (RGZ) action in the Landau gauge provides a local and renormalizable framework to account for the existence of infinitesimal Gribov copies in the path integral together with other relevant infrared effects such as the formation of condensates. The properties of the tree-level gluon propagator obtained in this setup have been thoroughly investigated over the past decade. It accommodates important properties seen in lattice simulations such as a finite value at vanishing momentum and positivity violation. Yet a comprehensive study about the stability of such properties against quantum corrections was lacking. In this work, we compute the gluon propagator in the RGZ scenario at one-loop order and implement an appropriate renormalization scheme in order to compare our findings with lattice data. Remarkably, the qualitative properties of the tree-level gluon propagator are preserved. In particular, the fits with lattice data show evidence for positivity violation and the existence of complex poles for SU(2) and SU(3) gauge groups. We comment on the results for the ghost propagator as well.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Dark matter from anomaly cancellation at the LHC
Authors: Butterworth Jon , Debnath Hridoy , Fileviez Pérez Pavel , Yeh Yoran
Published: October 2024

We discuss a class of theories that predict a fermionic dark matter candidate from gauge anomaly cancellation. As an explicit example, we study the predictions in theories where the global symmetry associated with baryon number is promoted to a local gauge symmetry. In this context, the symmetry-breaking scale has to be below the multi-TeV scale in order to be in agreement with the cosmological constraints on the dark matter relic density. The new physical “Cucuyo” Higgs boson in the theory has very interesting properties, decaying mainly into two photons in the low mass region, and mainly into dark matter in the intermediate mass region. We study the most important signatures at the Large Hadron Collider, evaluating the experimental bounds. We discuss the correlation between the dark matter relic density, direct detection, and collider constraints. We find that these theories are still viable and are susceptible to being probed in current, and future high-luminosity, running.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Quantum tomography with
τ
leptons at the FCC-ee: Entanglement, Bell inequality violation,
sinθW
, and anomalous couplings
Authors: Fabbrichesi M. , Marzola L.
Published: October 2024

The Future Circular Collider (FCC)—in its first incarnation as a lepton collider—will produce, according to the proposed design, more than 100 billion pairs of τ leptons after working for four years at the energy of the Z-boson resonance. The τ lepton is special because its relatively long lifetime makes it possible to reconstruct the momenta of neutrinos emitted in the single pion decay mode. The resulting large number of events is an ideal source for a full quantum tomography of the process that will test quantum entanglement and the violation of Bell inequality with unprecedented precision. In addition, the study of polarizations and spin correlations can provide a competitive determination of the Weinberg angle θW and constrain possible anomalous couplings in the neutral electroweak current. We utilize analytic results and Monte Carlo simulations to explore to what extent these goals might be accomplished.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Deconfinement and chiral phase transitions in quark matter with chiral imbalance
Authors: Azeredo Francisco X. , Duarte Dyana C. , Farias Ricardo L. S. , Krein Gastão , Ramos Rudnei O.
Published: October 2024

We study the thermodynamics of the Polyakov-Nambu-Jona-Lasinio model considering the effects of an effective chiral chemical potential. We offer a new parametrization of the Polyakov-loop potential depending on temperature and the chiral chemical potential which, when used together with a proper regularization scheme of vacuum contributions, predicts results consistent with those from lattice simulations.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Automatic quantum circuit encoding of a given arbitrary quantum state
Authors: Shirakawa Tomonori , Ueda Hiroshi , Yunoki Seiji
Published: October 2024

We introduce an quantum-classical hybrid algorithm, named automatic quantum circuit encoding (AQCE), that is designed to encode an arbitrary quantum state |Ψ〉 onto an optimal quantum circuit Ĉ composed of a finite set of single- and two-qubit quantum gates. The algorithm employs an objective function based on the absolute value of fidelity, F=〈0|Ĉ†|Ψ〉, which is iteratively maximized to construct an optimal quantum circuit Ĉ with controlled accuracy. Here, |0〉 denotes a trivial product state in the computational basis of a quantum computer. The core of this algorithm lies in the sequential determination of an optimal set of two-qubit unitary operators, identified one by one through the singular value decomposition of the fidelity tensor. Once an optimal set of operators is determined, including the location of qubits on which each operator acts, elementary quantum gates are assigned algebraically to these two-qubit unitary operators. Importantly, these procedures are deterministic without assuming any quantum circuit ansatz and therefore eliminate the need for parameter optimization of parametrized quantum gates. Through noiseless numerical simulations, we demonstrate the effectiveness of the AQCE algorithm in encoding ground states of quantum many-body systems, including the spin-1/2 antiferromagnetic Heisenberg model and the spin-1/2 XY model. We also compare these results with quantum circuit encoding employing predefined circuit structures such as Trotter-like and MERA-like circuit ansatze. Furthermore, our algorithm extends to classical data, for instance, classical images represented as quantum states using amplitude encoding. The adaptability enables us to adjust the quantum resource requirement, i.e., the number of qubits, by partitioning classical data into multiple distinct segments. This feature holds potential for near-term applications in quantum machine learning, such as a state preparation of classical data for an input quantum state to be processed. Finally, using a real quantum device provided by IBM Quantum, we experimentally validate that a quantum circuit generated by the AQCE algorithm can indeed reasonably represent the original quantum state.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Quantum turbulence, superfluidity, non-Markovian dynamics, and wave function thermalization
Authors: Bulgac Aurel , Kafker Matthew , Abdurrahman Ibrahim , Wlazłowski Gabriel
Published: October 2024

While quantum turbulence has been addressed both experimentally (predominantly for superfluid He4 and He3) and theoretically, the dynamics of various ensembles of quantized vortices has been followed in time only until the vortices have decayed into phonons. How this “thermalization” is achieved is still an unaddressed and thus an unelucidated question. The unitary Fermi gas (UFG) is a unique quantum system, which has no classical counterpart and is of relevance to neutron stars, cold atoms, condensed-matter and nuclear many-body systems. The non-Markovian evolution of an isolated UFG is put in evidence and its entire nonequilibrium evolution can be studied theoretically within a unified theoretical framework. The initial lattice of quantum vortices and antivortices evolves through a couple of vortex tangles and excitation of Kelvin waves, where vortices cross and reconnect, until very slowly thermalization sets in.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Thermal analysis of a reflection mirror by fluid and solid heat transfer method
Authors: Wang Zhen , Liu Fang , Xue Chaofan
Published: October 2024

High-repetition-rate free-electron lasers impose stringent requirements on the thermal deformation of beamline optics. The Shanghai HIgh-repetition-rate XFEL aNd Extreme light facility (SHINE) experiences high average thermal power and demands wavefront preservation. To deeply study the thermal field of the first reflection mirror M1 at the FEL-II beamline of SHINE, thermal analysis under a photon energy of 400 eV was executed by fluid and solid heat transfer method. According to the thermal analysis results and the reference cooling water temperature of 30 °C, the temperature of the cooling water at the flow outlet is raised by 0.15 °C, and the wall temperature of the cooling tube increases by a maximum of 0.5 °C. The maximum temperature position of the footprint centerline in the meridian direction deviates away from the central position, and this asymmetrical temperature distribution will directly affect the thermal deformation of the mirror and indirectly affect the focus spot of the beam at the sample.
The success rate of processed predicted models in molecular replacement: implications for experimental phasing in the AlphaFold era
Authors: Keegan Ronan M. , Simpkin Adam J. , Rigden Daniel J.
Published: October 2024

The availability of highly accurate protein structure predictions from AlphaFold2 (AF2) and similar tools has hugely expanded the applicability of molecular replacement (MR) for crystal structure solution. Many structures can be solved routinely using raw models, structures processed to remove unreliable parts or models split into distinct structural units. There is therefore an open question around how many and which cases still require experimental phasing methods such as single-wavelength anomalous diffraction (SAD). Here, this question is addressed using a large set of PDB depositions that were solved by SAD. A large majority (87%) could be solved using unedited or minimally edited AF2 predictions. A further 18 (4%) yield straightforwardly to MR after splitting of the AF2 prediction using Slice'N'Dice, although different splitting methods succeeded on slightly different sets of cases. It is also found that further unique targets can be solved by alternative modelling approaches such as ESMFold (four cases), alternative MR approaches such as ARCIMBOLDO and AMPLE (two cases each), and multimeric model building with AlphaFold-Multimer or UniFold (three cases). Ultimately, only 12 cases, or 3% of the SAD-phased set, did not yield to any form of MR tested here, offering valuable hints as to the number and the characteristics of cases where experimental phasing remains essential for macromolecular structure solution.
Consumer-based brand equity of US domestic and global wine tourism destinations from the American market perspective
Authors: Milman Ady , Tasci Asli D.A. , Back Robin M.
Published: October 2024

Purpose

This study aims to measure and compare consumer-based brand equity (CBBE) of several US and global wine tourism destinations from an American market point of view.

Design/methodology/approach

An online randomized experimental design was used to assign respondents to different wine tourism destination contexts and measure their perceptions and intentions. A structured survey was designed with CBBE scale items related to the most commonly studied components of CBBE, namely, familiarity, perceived quality, image, consumer value, brand value and brand loyalty.

Findings

The study revealed that respondents were unfamiliar with multi-regional and global wine-growing destinations and their wines, implying that wine tourists belong to different market segments that seek different experiences. Among the US wine tourism destinations, Napa Valley is the destination with the strongest CBBE, with the highest overall ratings in all five CBBE components, on average. In terms of country-level wine tourism destinations, the US has the strongest CBBE, with the highest overall ratings in familiarity and brand loyalty.

Research limitations/implications

Wine tourism destination CBBE is shown to include components that may not relate exclusively to wine and variations in perceptions concerning global wine-growing regions may be associated with consumer familiarity. Future studies may include respondents from different countries to determine the generalizability of the current findings.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, the current study is the first to assess consumer-based brand equity of wine tourism destinations in the US and globally from a US resident perspective.
When does newcomer get feedback? Relationship between supervisor perceived organizational support and supervisor developmental feedback
Authors: Zhao Junzhe , Wang Minghui , Li Yongxin , Zhao Guoxiang
Published: October 2024

Purpose

Using social exchange theory, this paper explores the relationship between supervisor perceived organizational support and supervisor developmental feedback. It verifies the mediating role of supervisor felt obligation to organization and the moderating role of supervisor core self-evaluation in this relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

A two-wave survey sampling method was applied to collect 247 pieces of paired data (supervisors-new employees) in organizations in China.

Findings

The results show that supervisor felt obligation to organization mediates the relationship between supervisor perceived organizational support and supervisor developmental feedback. The findings suggest that a high level of supervisor core self-evaluation strengthens the relationship between supervisor perceived organizational support and supervisor felt obligation to organization and then facilitates supervisor developmental feedback.

Originality/value

This study combines two perspectives, organizational factor and supervisor trait, to reveal the occurrence mechanism of supervisor developmental feedback and complements the research on the influencing factors of supervisor developmental feedback. In addition, it provides some theoretical guidance and practical insights into how organizations can motivate supervisors to provide developmental feedback to new employees.
Abnormal Temperatures, Climate Risk Disclosures and Bank Loan Pricing: International Evidence
Authors: Ge Wenxia , Qi Zhen , Wu Zhenyu , Yu Li
Published: October 2024

This paper examines the effect of abnormal‐temperature‐related climate risk on bank loan pricing. Using a sample of syndicated loans from 35 countries and jurisdictions, we find that banks charge higher interest rates for borrowers with higher climate risk. We also find that climate risk affects loan spreads of both long‐term and short‐term loans, and this effect is more pronounced for short‐term loans. Our cross‐sectional analyses reveal that voluntary climate risk disclosures in conference calls by borrowers mitigate the impact of climate risk on loan spreads, especially when lead banks have less climate‐risk‐related lending experience. In addition, the borrowing cost of high‐climate‐risk borrowers in the United States decreases after the SEC issued climate risk disclosure guidance. However, the ESG disclosure requirements in 19 other countries, which are not climate‐risk‐specific, do not alter the effect of climate risk on bank loan pricing.
Fetal Fraction of Cell‐Free DNA in the Prediction of Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes: A Nationwide Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Becking Ellis C. , Bekker Mireille N. , Henrichs Jens , Bax Caroline J. , Sistermans Erik A. , Henneman Lidewij , Scheffer Peter G. , Schuit Ewoud
Published: October 2024

Objective

To assess the added value of fetal fraction of cell‐free DNA in the maternal circulation in the prediction of adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting

Nationwide implementation study on non‐invasive prenatal testing (NIPT; TRIDENT‐2 study).

Population

Pregnant women in the Netherlands opting for NIPT between June 2018 and June 2019.

Methods

Two logistic regression prediction models were constructed for each adverse pregnancy outcome. The first model (base model) included prognostic clinical parameters that were selected from existing first‐trimester prediction models for adverse pregnancy outcomes. The second model (fetal fraction model) included fetal fraction as a predictor on top of the prognostic clinical parameters included in the base model. The added prognostic value of fetal fraction was assessed by comparing the base and fetal fraction models in terms of goodness of fit and predictive performance.

Main Outcome Measures

Likelihood ratio test (LRT), area under the curve (AUC) and Integrated Discrimination Improvement (IDI) index.

Results

The study cohort consisted of 56 110 pregnancies. The incidence of adverse pregnancy outcomes was 5.7% for hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP; n = 3207), 10.2% for birthweight < p10 (n = 5726), 3.2% for birthweight < p2.3 (n = 1796), 3.4% for spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB; n = 1891), 3.4% for diabetes (n = 1902) and 1.3% for congenital anomalies (n = 741). Adding fetal fraction to the base model improved model fit for HDP, birthweight < p10, birthweight < p2.3, all sPTB, and diabetes, but not for congenital anomalies (LRT p < 0.05). For HDP, the AUC improved from 0.67 to 0.68 by adding fetal fraction to the base model (p = 0.14) with an IDI of 0.0018 (p < 0.0001). For birthweight < p10, the AUC improved from 0.65 to 0.66 (p < 0.0001) with an IDI of 0.0023 (p < 0.0001). For birthweight < p2.3, the AUC improved from 0.67 to 0.69 (p < 0.0001) with an IDI of 0.0011 (p < 0.0001). For all sPTB, the AUC was similar for both models (AUC 0.63, p = 0.021) with an IDI of 0.00028 (p = 0.0023). For diabetes, the AUC was similar (AUC 0.72, p = 0.35) with an IDI of 0.00055 (p = 0.00015).

Conclusions

Fetal fraction has statistically significant but limited prognostic value in the prediction of adverse pregnancy outcomes in addition to known prognostic clinical parameters.
Income and wage inequality in democratic Portugal, 1974–2020
Authors: Oliveira Carlos
Published: October 2024

This paper investigates the evolution of income and wage inequality in Portugal from the 1974 democratic revolution up to 2020, drawing on a series of administrative records, survey data and aggregate statistics. Over this period, Portugal consistently ranked among the most unequal nations in the developed world. The transition from a deeply unequal dictatorial regime, in the wake of the 1974 revolution, brought about substantial redistribution. However, since the 1980s, income and wage inequality followed an arc‐shaped trajectory. There was a sharp rise in inequality from the early 1980s to the mid‐1990s, which, in just eight years, outpaced the infamous US growth in wage inequality of the last five decades. Then, there was stability at high levels until the mid‐2000s. Finally, there was a sharp decline in inequality until 2020, which halved both the gender wage gap and the college wage premium. Changes related to the supply and demand for education/skills emerged as key drivers of inequality dynamics. Institutional and political forces were especially relevant in reducing inequality during the transition to democracy and, more recently, with the rising importance of the minimum wage and collective bargaining.
Education and inequality: an international perspective
Authors: Bennett Patrick , Foley Kelly , Green David A. , Salvanes Kjell G.
Published: October 2024

In this paper, we summarise the existing literature and present new empirical evidence in order to address the questions of whether educational expansion is an effective tool for reducing inequality and whether some educational systems have better associations with lower inequality and others worse. We argue that – depending on the form the policies take, on the extent of intergenerational correlations in income and on the levers of educational access – policies that aim at increasing education are not necessarily beneficial in the sense of reducing inequality. Differential impacts of different systems by gender are particularly striking.
Dynamic analysis of a NiTi rotary file by using finite element analysis: Effect of cross‐section and pitch length
Authors: Akkoç Halil İbrahim , Keskin Cangül , Aslantaş Kubilay
Published: October 2024

This study assessed stress distribution, maximum stress values and fatigue life of experimentally designed NiTi rotary files with different cross‐sectional geometry and pitch length using finite element analysis (FEA). Four cross‐sectional shapes (Convex triangle, S‐shaped, Triple helix and Concave triangle) and two pitch lengths (2 mm and 3 mm) were tested in simulated root canals with curvatures of 30°, 45° and 60°. The FEA results indicated that convex triangle and triple helix geometries exhibited lower stress values compared to the S‐shaped and concave triangle designs. Increasing the canal curvature angle resulted in higher stress values, with the S‐shaped instrument showing the most significant increase (up to 12%). Instruments with shorter pitch lengths showed more even stress distribution enhancing fatigue life. The maximum stress was concentrated 5–8 mm from the tip, varying across cutting edges, with S‐shaped sections experiencing the lowest forces but higher stress due to lower moments of inertia.
Advances in non‐invasive imaging for dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans: A review
Authors: Algarin Yanci A. , Pulumati Anika , Tan Jiali , Zeitouni Nathalie C.
Published: October 2024

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is a rare soft tissue sarcoma characterized by an asymmetric, infiltrative growth pattern and a high risk of local recurrence. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of various imaging modalities in the assessment and management of DFSP. Nine imaging modalities were reviewed including: Ultrasound (US), High‐Frequency Doppler Ultrasound (HFUS), Computed tomography (CT), Positron emission tomography–computed tomography (PET‐CT), and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), High‐resolution‐MRI (HR‐MRI), Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS), Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), and Dermatoscopy. Imaging is mainly used for preoperative assessment and surgical planning, not routine diagnosis. US is effective for initial evaluations, demonstrating superior ability in detecting muscle invasion and defining tumour boundaries (sensitivity – 81.8%, specificity – 100%). MRI is valuable for preoperative evaluation, surgical planning, and monitoring DFSP recurrence. It more accurately assesses tumour depth than palpation, with a sensitivity of 67% and specificity of 100%, but was inferior when compared to US. CT is utilized in cases of suspected bone involvement or pulmonary metastasis. For advanced or recurrent DFSP, PET‐CT helps manage treatment responses and imatinib therapy. Emerging technologies like MRS and OCT show potential in improving diagnostic accuracy and defining surgical margins, though more data are needed. US, MRI, and CT are the primary imaging modalities for DFSP. Emerging technologies like HR‐MRI, PET‐CT, MRS, and OCT hold promise for refining diagnostic and management strategies. Integrating multiple technologies could enhance management, particularly in atypical or aggressive cases. Further studies are required to refine imaging protocols and improve DFSP outcomes.
Anatomical compatibility of a novel total artificial heart: An in‐silico study
Authors: Narayanaswamy Krishnaraj , Petz Jakob , Bierewirtz Tim , Loewe Christian , Kertzscher Ulrich , Zimpfer Daniel , Granegger Marcus
Published: October 2024

Background

ShuttlePump is a novel total artificial heart (TAH) recently introduced to potentially overcome the limitations associated with the current state‐of‐the‐art mechanical circulatory support devices intended for adults. In this study, we adapted the outflow cannulation of the previously established ShuttlePump TAH and evaluated the anatomical compatibility using the virtual implantation technique.

Methods

We retrospectively assessed the anatomical compatibility of the ShuttlePump using virtual implantation techniques within 3D‐reconstructed anatomies of adult heart failure patients. Additionally, we examined the impact of outflow cannula modification on the hemocompatibility of the ShuttlePump through computational fluid dynamic simulations.

Results

A successful virtual implantation in 9/11 patients was achieved. However, in 2 patients, pump interaction with the thoracic cage was observed and considered unsuccessful virtual implantation. A strong correlation (r <−0.78) observed between the measured anatomical parameters and the ShuttlePump volume exceeding pericardium highlights the importance of these measurements apart from body surface area. The numerical simulation revealed that the angled outflow cannulation resulted in a maximum pressure drop of 1.8 mmHg higher than that of the straight outflow cannulation. With comparable hemolysis index, the shear stress thresholds of angled outflow differ marginally (<5%) from the established pump model. Similar washout behavior between the pump models indicate that the curvature did not introduce stagnation zone.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates the anatomic compatibility of the ShuttlePump in patients with biventricular failure, which was achieved by optimizing the outflow cannulation without compromising hemocompatibility. Nevertheless, clinical validation is critical to ensure the clinical applicability of these findings.
Intravenous enoxaparin guided by anti‐Xa in venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: A retrospective, single‐center study
Authors: Durila Miroslav , Vajter Jaromir , Garaj Michal , Berousek Jan , Lischke Robert , Hlavacek Michal , Vymazal Tomas
Published: October 2024

Background

Unfractionated heparin is used as the most common anticoagulation for venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV ECMO) patients. However, it is accompanied by frequent bleeding and thrombotic complications. The aim of the study was to demonstrate the feasibility of Enoxaparin anticoagulation for VV ECMO patients.

Methods

This study is a retrospective analysis of VV ECMO patients on continuous intravenous Enoxaparin anticoagulation. The primary outcome was the incidence of bleeding, thrombotic, and neurological complications during ECMO support. The secondary outcome was an analysis of secondary and primary hemostasis profiles.

Results

Data from 38 patients were analyzed in this study. The incidence of bleeding complications was 5.3%, for thrombotic complications it was 2.6% and for neurological (bleeding/ischemic events) complications it was 10.5%. The targeted anti‐Xa activity of 0.4–0.6 IU/mL was achieved and maintained during whole ECMO period in 28 patients (73.8%), not affecting the hemocoagulation profile represented by APTT‐r 1.15 ± 0.2, TT 18.67 ± 3.35 s, PT/INR 1.21 ± 0.19, fibrinogen 5.39 ± 1.49 g/L, antithrombin, and platelet count. Primary hemostasis pathology was diagnosed in all patients by PFA 200 tests Col/EPI 279 ± 38 s and Col/ADP 249 ± 66 s. The running time of ECMO was 7.8 ± 3.4 days.

Conclusions

Enoxaparin anticoagulation appears to be feasible for VV ECMO patients without an increase in adverse events. Further larger‐sampled and comparative studies are needed in the future to support our findings.
A 10‐year cross‐sectional study showed that anti‐coagulation therapy was not always of value when treating paediatric cases with septic cerebral venous thrombosis
Authors: Eloy Juliette , Hochart Audrey , Soto‐Ares Gustavo , Lagree Marion , Kuchcinski Grégory , Karnoub Mélodie‐Anne , Maltezeanu Alix , Leteurtre Stéphane , Dubos François
Published: October 2024

Aim

Cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) is a rare complication of ear, nose and throat (ENT) infections. Although recent guidelines recommend the systematic use of anti‐coagulation therapy (ACT) in the treatment of these CVT, literature data are scarce. The present study's objective was to determine the value of ACT in achieving recanalisation after thrombosis and its effect on patient outcomes.

Methods

All paediatric patients with CVT and a concomitant ENT infection who attended Lille University Hospital (Lille, France) between January 2012 and December 2021 were retrospectively included.

Results

We included 43 children (63% boys), with a mean age of 4 years. The most frequent infection was mastoiditis (54%). ACT was initiated in 23 patients (53%), one of whom had an intracranial haemorrhage. Partial or full recanalisation was observed in 33 (80%) of the 41 survivors. In patients with no neurological signs and symptoms on admission and in patients with mastoiditis‐related CVT, the clinical and radiological outcomes were favourable and did not differ according to the administration of ACT. Likewise, ACT did not appear to influence the recanalisation rate or sequelae.

Conclusion

ACT was not necessary for all patients with mastoiditis‐related CVT and those with no neurological signs and symptoms on admission.
Palliative care‐based arguments against assisted dying
Authors: Colburn Ben
Published: October 2024

Opponents of legalised assisted dying often assert that palliative care is worse in countries where assisted dying has been legalised, and imply that legalised assisted dying makes palliative care worse. This study considers five versions of this claim: that it is difficulty to access expert palliative care in countries where assisted dying has been legalised, that those countries rank low in their quality of end‐of‐life care; that legalising assisted dying doesn't expand patient choice in respect of palliative care; that growth in palliative care services has stalled in countries where assisted dying has been legalised; and that legalised assisted dying impedes the growth of palliative care or causes it to decline. In each case, it concludes that neither argumentation nor evidence supports these claims.
Public preferences regarding slow codes in critical care
Authors: Sprengholz Philipp
Published: October 2024

The term slow code refers to an intentional reduction in the pace or intensity of resuscitative efforts during a medical emergency. This can be understood as an intermediate level between full code (full resuscitation efforts) and no code (no resuscitation efforts) and serves as a symbolic gesture when intervention is considered medically futile. While some previous research acknowledges the slow code as an integral part of clinical practice, many ethicists have condemned the practice as dishonest and causing unnecessary pain for the patient. As the public's views on this issue have been largely absent from the discussion to date, two vignette experiments were performed to investigate their perceptions. The findings indicate that laypersons believe that slow codes are commonplace and often prefer them over a no code. While a full code was perceived as the standard approach and rated most ethical and least punishable, the present results do not support the widespread assumption that laypersons generally oppose slow codes, and this finding should inform ethical discussion and clinical practice.
Listen to yourself! Prioritization of self‐associated and own voice cues
Authors: Kirk Neil W. , Cunningham Sheila J.
Published: October 2024

Self‐cues such as one's own name or face attract attention, reflecting a bias for stimuli connected to self to be prioritized in cognition. Recent evidence suggests that even external voices can elicit this self‐prioritization effect; in a voice‐label matching task, external voices assigned to the Self‐identity label ‘you’ elicited faster responses than those assigned to ‘friend’ or ‘stranger’ (Payne et al., Br. J. Psychology, 112, 585‐610). However, it is not clear whether external voices assigned to Self are prioritized over participants' own voices. We explore this issue in two experiments. In Exp 1 (N = 35), a voice‐label matching task comprising three external voices confirmed that reaction time and accuracy are improved when an external voice cue is assigned to Self rather than Friend or Stranger. In Exp 2 (N = 90), one of the voice cues was replaced with a recording of the participant's own voice. Reaction time and accuracy showed a consistent advantage for the participant's own‐voice, even when it was assigned to the ‘friend’ or ‘stranger’ identity. These findings show that external voices can elicit self‐prioritization effects if associated with Self, but they are not prioritized above individuals' own voices. This has implications for external voice production technology, suggesting own‐voice imitation may be beneficial.
Do home mathematical activities relate to early mathematical skills? A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: James‐Brabham Ella , von Bastian Claudia C. , Brough Carmel , Blakey Emma
Published: October 2024

Children's foundational mathematical skills are critical for future academic attainment. While home mathematical activities (HMAs) have been proposed to support these skills, the extent to which engaging in them supports mathematical skills remains unclear. This preregistered systematic review and multilevel meta‐analysis identified 351 effect sizes from 72 samples in 20 countries, exploring the relation between frequency of HMAs and mathematical skills in children aged 7 years and under (Mage = 61 months). A small significant positive relation was found (r = .13), moderated by risk of bias, with larger effects associated with a higher risk of bias. Specific ways the field can move forward are discussed to better understand the role of the home mathematical environment in early mathematics.
Biomarkers and Diagnostic Thresholds for Congenital Hyperinsulinism
Authors: Petkovic Grace , Park Julie , Collingwood Catherine , Senniappan Senthil , Didi Mohammed
Published: October 2024

Context

Congenital Hyperinsulinism (CHI) is associated with inappropriately high levels of C‐peptide in the context of hypoglycemia.

Objective

We aimed to better clarify a diagnostic threshold value of C‐peptide for children presenting with CHI.

Design

This was a retrospective case‐control analysis, examining all hypoglycemia screens, undertaken between 2009 and 2019 at a quaternary paediatrics unit. Plasma C‐peptide, insulin, free fatty acid (FFA) and B‐hydroxybutyrate (BHOB) concentrations in children diagnosed with CHI were compared with concentrations in children diagnosed with other conditions.

Patients

All patients requiring hypoglycaemic screens at the quaternary children's hospital were analysed.

Results

Median [C‐peptide] were statistically significantly different between CHI (147) and non‐CHI (72) patients, p < 0.05. The Youden Index indicated that a [C‐peptide] value of 291.5 pmol/L would give the greatest optimization of sensitivity (82%) and specificity (99%) for detecting CHI. Median [insulin] differed significantly between the cohorts with a level of 64 pmol/L for CHI patients compared with 0 pmol/L with non‐CHI patients (p < 0.01). Median [BOHB] was 0 μmol/L in CHI patients as compared with 2378 μmol/L for non‐CHI patients (p < 0.01). Median [FFA] levels were 1910 μmol/L in the non‐CHI cohort, compared with 0 in the CHI cohort (p < 0.01).

Conclusions

This study suggests that a C‐peptide concentration greater than 291.5 pmol/L is diagnostic of CHI in children. C‐peptide appears to offer the greatest utility as a biochemical diagnostic test for CHI and could be prioritised for laboratory analysis.
Full‐arch prostheses supported by implants with different macrostructures: A multicenter randomized controlled trial
Authors: Marcantonio Ana Carolina Monachini , de Oliveira Guilherme José Pimentel Lopes , Tassi Paulo Afonso , Manfrinato João Paulo Lavagnoli , Segnini Bruno , de Souza Bezerra Araújo Raphael Ferreira , Trojan Larissa Carvalho , Fontão Flávia Noemy Gasparini Kiatake , de Mattias Sartori Ivete Aparecida , Sartori Elisa Mattias , Padovan Luis Eduardo Marques , Zandim‐Barcelos Daniela Leal , Marcantonio Elcio
Published: October 2024

Objectives

This study evaluates the clinical performance of implants with hydrophilic surface and two different macrostructures: cylindrical with perforating triangular threads (CT) and cylindrical‐tapered with the association of square and condensing and perforating triangular threads (TST).

Materials and methods

This was a multicenter split‐mouth, simple‐blinded, randomized, and controlled trial. Thirty patients with edentulous mandible received two CT and two TST implants. Primary stability was determined by insertion torque and resonance frequency analysis (RFA). Implants were loaded with full fixed‐arch prostheses within 24 h after insertion. Clinical parameters (visible plaque index, marginal bleeding index; bleeding on probing; probing depth; and clinical attachment level) and the RFA were assessed at 2, 6, 12, and 24 months after implant loading. Marginal bone level changes were measured by comparison of standardized radiographs taken on the day of implant placement and 6, 12, and 24 months thereafter.

Results

Twenty‐eight patients completed the 2‐year follow‐up. The survival rates were 99.16% for CT implants and 100% for TST implants. One CT implant was lost until the 2 months follow‐up. No significant differences were found between the two implant types for marginal bone level changes (CT 0.34 [0.24; 0.55 mm]; 0.33 [0.18; 0.55 mm]; 0.41 [0.12; 0.7 mm] vs TST 0.36 [0.14; 0.74 mm]; 0.33 [0.23; 0.63 mm]; 0.30 [0.20; 0.64 mm] at 6, 12, and 24 months, respectively) and other clinical parameters.

Conclusion

The macrostructure of the implants had no influence on survival rate, primary and secondary stability, marginal bone level changes, and peri‐implant clinical parameters outcomes. Both implants can be predictably used for immediate loading of full‐arch mandibular prostheses.
Screening for Psychiatric Disorders in Chronic Rhinosinusitis Patients Waiting for Surgery: A Prospective Cross‐Sectional Study
Authors: Peng Liang , Wang Hui‐Fang , Wang Dong‐Fang , Wen Yi‐Hui , Zhong Hua , Wen Wei‐Ping , Li Jian
Published: October 2024

Objective

To assess the prevalence of depression, anxiety, insomnia and somatic symptom disorder (SSD) in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) patients who were waiting for surgery and to predict these psychiatric disorders using the 22‐item Sinonasal Outcome Test (SNOT‐22).

Design

A prospective cross‐sectional study.

Setting

The rhinology ward at our institution, a tertiary hospital.

Participants

Adult patients (> 18 years) diagnosed with CRS who were admitted to the rhinology ward for endoscopic sinus surgery and were able to understand and complete the study questionnaires.

Main Outcome Measures

Patient Health Questionnaire‐9 (PHQ‐9), Generalised Anxiety Disorder‐7 (GAD‐7), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), Patient Health Questionnaire‐15 (PHQ‐15) and SNOT‐22.

Results

Of the 159 participants recruited, 58 were at risk of depression (defined by PHQ‐9 > 4, while 25 with PHQ‐9 > 9), 49 were at risk of anxiety (defined by GAD‐7 > 4, while 25 with GAD‐7 > 9), 81 were at risk of insomnia (defined by ISI > 7, while 51 with ISI > 14) and 69 were at risk of SSD (defined by PHQ‐15 > 4, while 24 with PHQ‐15 > 9). The SNOT‐22 score was closely correlated with the scores of psychometric tests and was an independent predictor of these psychiatric disorders. Patients with a high SNOT‐22 score (> 30) are likely to be affected by comorbid psychiatric disorders and should be further evaluated by otolaryngologists.

Conclusion

Depression, anxiety, insomnia and SSD are prevalent in CRS patients. Otolaryngologists should have a low threshold to ask the patient about psychiatric symptoms, especially for patients with an SNOT‐22 score > 30.
Insights into hair dye use and self‐reported adverse skin reactions in the Dutch general population: A cross‐sectional questionnaire‐based study
Authors: Rosenberg Fieke M. , Ofenloch Robert F. , van der Most Peter J. , Snieder Harold , Schuttelaar Marie L. A.
Published: October 2024

Background

Hair dyes are widely used in daily life. However, data on self‐reported adverse skin reactions are scarce.

Objectives

To estimate the proportion of lifetime hair dye use and self‐reported adverse skin reactions in the Dutch general population, and to investigate the association between (adverse skin reactions to) hair dye use and contact allergy‐related factors.

Methods

This cross‐sectional study collected questionnaire‐derived data from the Lifelines cohort. Logistic regression analyses were conducted between (adverse skin reactions to) hair dye use and black henna tattoo use, reactions to henna tattoos, patch testing, hand eczema and an occupation as hairdresser or beautician.

Results

The proportion of hair dye use was 63.1% of 70 987 participants, of which 6.8% experienced adverse skin reactions, mostly mild (77.7%). Hair dye users and those with skin reactions were both positively associated (p < 0.05) with female sex, middle‐age, (positive) patch test results and hairdresser or beautician occupations. Hair dye users were more likely to have had henna tattoos, and those with reactions to hair dye were more likely to have had reactions to henna tattoos.

Conclusions

Hair dye use is prevalent among the Dutch general population and frequently causes adverse skin reactions, especially in females who had black henna tattoos.
The prognostic value of [18F]FDG PET/CT texture analysis prior to transplantation for unresectable colorectal liver metastases
Authors: Stern Nadide Mutlukoca , Mikalsen Lars Tore Gyland , Dueland Svein , Schulz Anselm , Line Pål‐Dag , Stokke Caroline , Grut Harald
Published: October 2024

Introduction

To determine whether heterogeneity in colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) 18F fluorodeoxyglucose [18F]FDG distribution is predictive of disease‐free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) following liver transplantation (LT) for unresectable CRLM.

Methods

The preoperative [18F]FDG positron emission tomography/computed tomography examinations of all patients in the secondary cancer 1 and 2 studies were retrospectively assessed. Maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), metabolic tumour volume (MTV), and six texture heterogeneity parameters (joint entropyGLCM, dissimilarityGLCM, grey level varianceSZM, size zone varianceSZM, and zone percentageSZM, and morphological feature convex deficiency) were obtained. DFS and OS for patients over and under the median value for each of these parameters were compared by using the Kaplan Meier method and log rank test.

Results

Twenty‐eight out of 40 patients who underwent LT for unresectable CRLM had liver metastases with uptake above liver background and were eligible for inclusion. Low MTV (p < 0.001) and dissimilarityGLCM (p = 0.016) were correlated to longer DFS. Low MTV (p < 0.001) and low values of the texture parameters dissimilarityGLCM (p = 0.038), joint entropyGLCM (p = 0.015) and zone percentageSZM (p = 0.037) were significantly correlated to longer OS. SUVmax was not correlated to DFS and OS.

Conclusion

Although some texture parameters were able to significantly predict DFS and OS, MTV seems to be superior to predict both DFS and OS following LT for unresectable CRLM.
Practical Approach to Reporting Based on the International System for Serous Fluid Cytopathology
Authors: Viljanen Eliisa , Kholová Ivana , Chandra Ashish
Published: October 2024

The International System for Serous Fluid Cytopathology (TIS) is intended for reporting cytological specimens from serous cavities: pleural, abdominal and pericardial cavities. TIS is being adopted into practice in cytology laboratories worldwide. In this system, there are six diagnostic categories: non‐diagnostic, negative for malignancy, atypia of undetermined significance, suspicious for malignancy, malignant‐primary and malignant‐secondary. Malignant‐primary category almost always implies malignant mesothelioma and malignant‐secondary usually refers to metastasis from carcinoma but also to involvement of serous cavity by haematolymphoid and other malignancies. When evaluating effusion cytological specimen adequacy, the factors that must be considered are sample volume, cellular content and cellular preservation. In the diagnostic analysis and interpretation, it is helpful to consider systematically all basic cytomorphological components in a sample. The basic components are architecture, cell populations, cell size, cytoplasm, nuclei and background elements. One important requirement for a successful evaluation of an effusion cytological specimen is sufficient clinical and radiological information in a referral. Clinical information may guide ancillary testing. In the present review, we provide a practical and educational approach to reporting serous effusion cytology based on the TIS.
Pegylated interferon‐α2a in cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma – a multicenter retrospective data analysis with 70 patients
Authors: Hansen‐Abeck Inga , Geidel Glenn , Abeck Finn , Kött Julian , Cankaya Rohat , Dobos Gabor , Mitteldorf Christina , Nicolay Jan P. , Albrecht Jana D. , Menzer Christian , Livingstone Elisabeth , Mengoni Miriam , Braun Andreas D. , Wobser Marion , Klemke Claus‐Detlev , Tratzmiller Sabine , Assaf Chalid , Terheyden Patrick , Klespe Kai‐Christian , Schneider Stefan W. , Booken Nina
Published: October 2024

Background

Interferon‐alpha is an important therapeutic option for the treatment of the cutaneous T‐cell lymphomas (CTCL). Since the approved recombinant interferon‐α‐2a (IFN‐α2a) has no longer been produced since January 2020, pegylated interferon‐α2a (pegIFN‐α2a) can be used as an alternative treatment, even though it is not approved for the treatment of CTCL. The aim of this multicentre study was to generate comprehensive data on the efficacy and tolerability of pegIFN‐α2a in the treatment of CTCL.

Patients and Methods

A multicenter retrospective study was conducted with 70 patients with CTCL from twelve German skin centers.

Results

In total, 70 patients were included in the study, with 57.2% male and a mean age of 58.8 ± 14.9 years. Mycosis fungoides was present in 71.4% of cases and Sézary Syndrome in 28.6%. An overall response rate of 55.2% was observed with pegIFNα‐2a therapy. In 50% of cases, therapy was discontinued after 63.6 ± 33.5 weeks. The most common reason for discontinuation was adverse events, which occurred in 68.6% of cases and which were classified as severe in 29.2%. Blood count changes, fatigue and liver toxicity occurred most frequently.

Conclusions

Our analysis provides comprehensive data on the efficacy and tolerability of pegIFNα‐2a therapy in patients with CTCL. In terms of response rates and side effect profile, pegIFNα‐2a appears to be comparable to IFN‐α2a therapy.