bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of Unilateral Accessory Navicular Bone on Radiologic Parameters of Foot
Authors: Kara Mustafa , Bayram Serkan
Published: November 2020

Background:

This study aimed to compare the radiologic parameters of both feet in patients with unilateral accessory navicular bone (ANB) and evaluate the differences from one another.

Methods:

Forty-one patients with unilateral ANB volunteered to participate in this study from August 2019 to January 2020. Patient data, including age, sex, body mass index (BMI), type of ANB, and presence of symptoms were obtained. Group 1 comprised 23 patients with asymptomatic unilateral ANB, and group 2 comprised 18 patients with symptomatic unilateral ANB. Seven radiologic parameters were evaluated assessing hindfoot, midfoot, and forefoot alignment—calcaneal pitch angle, talocalcaneal angle, tibiocalcaneal angle, naviculocuboid overlap (NCO), talonavicular coverage angle (TNCA), anteroposterior talo–first metatarsal angle, and lateral talo–first metatarsal angle.

Results:

The mean age of patients was 40.1 years in group 1 and 42.6 years in group 2. Mean BMI was 25.2 in group 1 and 26.6 in group 2. No significant differences were noted in the radiologic parameters between the ANB and contralateral sides in all patients. The radiologic parameters of both feet in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients were not significantly different. No significant differences were noted between the affected sides of type 1 and 2 ANB and contralateral sides in terms of the radiologic parameters. BMI was significantly correlated with NCO and TNCA.

Conclusion:

This study demonstrated that the presence of an accessory navicular bone did not affect radiologic parameters of the foot. Radiologic parameters of both feet in symptomatic patients were not significantly different.

Level of Evidence:

Level III, diagnostic, comparative study.
Quality changes in high pressure processed tan mutton during storage
Authors: Li Dongdong , Peng Yaling , Tao Yingmei , Liu Dunhua , Zhang Haihong
Published: November 2020

The current study investigated the effects of high pressure (HP) treatment at 200 MPa and 500 MPa on quality characteristics of post-rigor tan mutton stored for 7 days at 4 °C, and textural changes were monitored during storage by means of the stress relaxation test. Application of 500 MPa high pressure significantly increased the elasticity and stiffness of meat after 7 days of storage ( P < 0.05), accompanied by a lighter and less red appearance and markedly enhanced centrifugal loss during storage campared to untreated ( P < 0.05). High pressure treatment at 200 MPa also substantially increased the lightness of samples throughout storage ( P < 0.05), and showed a significant increase in stiffness at the end of storage ( P < 0.05). Immunoblotting and electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) analysis of key structural proteins revealed that myosin heavy chain denaturation began at 200 MPa, while actin denaturation occurred at 500 MPa. Troponin-T was continuously degraded in different treatments as storage progressed, and 200 MPa treatment and untreated represented similar degradation patterns, while 500 MPa treatment displayed more intense intact troponin-T at 38 kDa degradation. Results suggest that HP induced changes in cytoskeleton proteins, thereby affecting texture, water holding properties and lightness.
Lomustine, methotrexate and cytarabine chemotherapy as a rescue treatment for feline lymphoma
Authors: Smallwood Katherine , Harper Aaron , Blackwood Laura
Published: November 2020

Objectives

The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and tolerability of lomustine, methotrexate and cytarabine chemotherapy as rescue treatment for feline lymphoma.

Methods

The medical records of 13 cats treated with lomustine, methotrexate and cytarabine for relapsed high-grade feline lymphoma, at a single institution between 2013 and 2018, were examined. All anatomical types were included. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics.

Results

Nine cats received all three drugs and four cats received only two drugs owing to progressive disease. In cats that received (or in which there was intention to treat with) all three drugs, 6/13 (46%) demonstrated a complete or partial response to chemotherapy. Treatment was generally well tolerated, although two cats experienced Veterinary Comparative Oncology Group (VCOG) grade 3 neutropenia and one cat experienced VCOG grade 3 thrombocytopenia. The median progression-free survival was 61 days (range 16–721 days).

Conclusions and relevance

CHOP-(cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisolone) and COP-based protocols are established first-line chemotherapy for feline lymphoma, but standard rescue protocols are lacking. Lomustine has become a popular single-agent option, but prolonged or cumulative myelosuppression can result in treatment delays, risking relapse. Therefore, a multidrug lomustine-based protocol may be advantageous, and, from first principles, should also better overcome resistance. This study suggests that lomustine, methotrexate and cytarabine may represent an efficacious and well-tolerated protocol for feline lymphoma rescue.
Fatigue, depression, and pain in multiple sclerosis: How neuroinflammation translates into dysfunctional reward processing and anhedonic symptoms
Authors: Heitmann Henrik , Andlauer Till F M , Korn Thomas , Mühlau Mark , Henningsen Peter , Hemmer Bernhard , Ploner Markus
Published: November 2020

Fatigue, depression, and pain affect the majority of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, which causes a substantial burden to patients and society. The pathophysiology of these symptoms is not entirely clear, and current treatments are only partially effective. Clinically, these symptoms share signs of anhedonia, such as reduced motivation and a lack of positive affect. In the brain, they are associated with overlapping structural and functional alterations in areas involved in reward processing. Moreover, neuroinflammation has been shown to directly impede monoaminergic neurotransmission that plays a key role in reward processing. Here, we review recent neuroimaging and neuroimmunological findings, which indicate that dysfunctional reward processing might represent a shared functional mechanism fostering the symptom cluster of fatigue, depression, and pain in MS. We propose a framework that integrates these findings with a focus on monoaminergic neurotransmission and discuss its therapeutic implications, limitations, and perspectives.
Connectivity and communion: The mobile phone and the Christian religious experience in Nigeria
Authors: Nwankwo Allwell Okechukwu
Published: November 2020

This article explores the integration of the mobile phone into the religious experience of Christians in Nigeria. Based on the results of an online survey and the author’s observation, it argues that the mobile phone has become an actant in the mediatization of religion, creating dependency among some users and transforming religious praxis in palpable ways. Unsurprisingly, perspectives vary on whether and how the phone should be used during worship. Attitudes coalesce around three viewpoints, leading to the emergence of user groups labelled critics, advocates, and dualists. The accounts of study participants give access into the ways some people seek to (re)configure their engagement with religion by inserting the mobile phone as a multifunctional techno-spiritual gadget.
“Definitive playthrough”: Behind-the-scenes narratives in let’s plays and streaming content by video game voice actors
Authors: Švelch Jan , Švelch Jaroslav
Published: November 2020

Commented gameplay video is an established form of online media content, attracting millions of viewers on YouTube and Twitch and usually created by fans and players. This article, however, brings attention to video game voice actors who use their involvement in game production to create a new genre of gameplay video. Using a mixed-method approach that combines quantitative content analysis and qualitative thematic analysis, we explore three case studies of successful channels run by video game actors. We find that this new genre, which we term “definitive playthrough videos” based on the label used by one of the analyzed channels, is a hybrid form at the intersection of variety streaming and behind-the-scenes narratives. By broadcasting games in which they performed, actors capitalize on their connection to in-game characters, firsthand knowledge of production trivia, and access to other industry insiders, repurposing a genre of user-generated content from the position of industry practitioners.
RAI14 Is a Prognostic Biomarker and Correlated With Immune Cell Infiltrates in Gastric Cancer
Authors: Xiao Yu , Zhang Hongpan , Du Guobo , Meng Xue , Wu Tingting , Zhou Qian , Wang Yujia , Tan Bangxian
Published: November 2020

Objective:

To analyze the expression and clinical significance of retinoic acid-induced protein 14 ( RAI14) in gastric cancer and its relationship with immune cell infiltration by mining databases such as Oncomine, TIMER, UALCAN, and Kaplan Meier Plotter.

Methods:

RAI14 expression in various cancer types was analyzed using the Oncomine and TIMER databases. We used the Kaplan-Meier Plotter and UALCAN databases to evaluate the impact of RAI14 on clinicopathological parameters in gastric cancer. The correlation between RAI14 expression and immune cell invasion was studied using TIMER. TIMER was also used to analyze the correlation between RAI14 expression and marker levels of tumor-infiltrating immune cells.

Results:

High RAI14 expression in gastric cancer was significantly associated with poor overall survival (OS; hazard ratio [HR] = 1.82, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.53–2.15, P < 0.001) and poor progression-free survival (PFS; HR = 2.16, 95% CI = 1.77–2.65, P < 0.001). Furthermore, high RAI14 expression was significantly associated with poor prognosis of patients with stage 2–4 gastric cancer, but not with OS and PFS of stage 1 patients (OS P = 0.17; PFS P = 0.09), and patients with stage N0 PFS had nothing to do (PFS P = 0.238). RAI14 expression was positively correlated with the infiltration levels of monocytes, tumor-associated macrophages, macrophages, neutrophils, and Treg cells in gastric cancer. Besides, RAI14 expression was closely related to various marker genes in immune cells.

Conclusion:

RAI14 is highly expressed in gastric cancer, and its expression level is correlated with the prognosis of patients with gastric cancer. RAI14 plays also an important role in the recruitment and regulation of infiltrating immune cells and is, thus, expected to become a target for the optimal treatment of gastric cancer.
Pelvic Floor Dysfunction After Childbirth: Occupational Impact and Awareness of Available Treatment
Authors: Burkhart Rebecca , Couchman Katlin , Crowell Katherine , Jeffries Samantha , Monvillers Sarah , Vilensky Joel
Published: November 2020

Postpartum pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) has been identified as a significant public health issue. The study aimed to (a) identify the impact of PFD on parous women’s occupations, (b) explore how PFD impacts daily life, and (c) determine the level of awareness regarding availability of PFD treatment. The preliminary study utilized a mixed-methods descriptive design. In total, 255 participants completed the Mothers and Children (MAC) survey, distributed electronically throughout the United States. Results indicated that PFD symptoms limit parous women’s occupational performance, specifically sexual activity and exercise. Despite results indicating PFD significantly detracted from participants’ daily life, 66.8% of participants reported having no awareness of pelvic floor rehabilitation to address PFD. Findings suggest that further research and increased advocacy within the field of occupational therapy are necessary to increase the awareness of PFD rehabilitation and mitigate the impact on women’s lives after childbirth.
Nonintubated Uniportal Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery for Intrathoracic Diseases: Initial Results in Vietnam
Authors: Pham Lu Huu , Trinh Diep Ke , Doan Ha Thi-Ngoc , Nguyen Uoc Huu , Do Quynh Danh
Published: November 2020

Objective

Nonintubated uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) is a recent controversial procedure in many countries. Hence, the authors would like to present the experience in performing this approach and evaluate its initial results in the treatment, particularly, of intrathoracic diseases in Vietnam.

Methods

A prospective, descriptive study was conducted on 17 patients with intrathoracic diseases treated with nonintubated uniportal VATS from February to July 2019. Preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative parameters were gathered and analyzed by SPSS Statistics, Version 18.0.

Results

Patients had an average age of 49.2 ± 20.5 (range 6 to 71) years. Regarding operative indications and methods, there were 3 ground glass opacity (17.6%) and 1 bullous lung disease receiving wedge resection (5.9%); 8 mediastinal tumors (47.1%) having resection, and 5 non-small-cell lung cancers receiving lobectomy combined with node dissection (29.4%). The average operative time and pleural drainage time were 108.6 ± 28.17 min (range 60 to 160) and 3.7 ± 1.18 days (range 2 to 8), respectively. The average hospitalization time was 4.9 ± 1.76 (range 3 to 12) days. No mortalities or major complications were recorded postoperatively.

Conclusions

Nonintubated uniportal VATS is a safe and considerable surgical choice for appropriate intrathoracic conditions.
Potential of using polyethylene as viscosity enhancer of palm oil to use as a lubricating oil
Authors: Pathmasiri TKKS , Perera GIP
Published: November 2020

Biodegradable vegetable oil-based lubricating oil is a better auxiliary for mineral-based lubricants as their viscosity index, flash point, lubricity is high. Nonetheless, their limited viscosity range is a major constraint of their usage as lubricating oil. Polymers have proven their capability of increasing the viscosity of vegetable oils without adversely affecting their lubricating properties. Potentially of use of oxidized polyethylene (OPE) as a viscosity booster of palm oil to use as a lubricating oil is studied adding several weight percentages of OPE to the palm oil independently. The addition of 1.75 wt% of OPE to the palm oil resulted in a blend with comparable kinematic viscosity to H68 and the addition of 2.0 wt% of OPE to the palm oil resulted in a blend with comparable kinematic viscosity to SAE30. Palm oil behaves as Newtonian fluid at low temperatures and as the temperature increases, it behaves as shear thickening fluid while the addition of OPE cause to shear thinning behavior.
Interviewing a right-wing populist leader during the 2019 EU elections: Conflictual situations and equivocation beyond borders
Authors: Lamour Christian
Published: November 2020

Populist leaders and their radical policies attract the interest of the media across borders. The aim of the current article is to uncover whether interviews centered on one populist leader, but involving interviewers located in different European countries, lead to the same production of populist equivocation across the EU. In addition, two types of journalistic elements that can explain potential differences are investigated: the broad interactions between the media and politicians in a given country, or the reporters belonging to a specific media segment such as the tabloid press or public broadcasters. The research is based on interviews given by Viktor Orbán during the 2019 EU election campaign. Critical discourse analysis is carried out to investigate the equivocal populist narratives produced.
Open sternoclavicular osteophyte debridement in the surgical management of sternoclavicular osteoarthritis: clinical outcome of a new procedure
Authors: Ayekoloye Charles I , Yin Qi , Wood Amanda , Frostick Simon
Published: November 2020

Introduction

Symptomatic sternoclavicular osteoarthritis is uncommon but remains the most frequent non-traumatic condition affecting the sternoclavicular joint and tends to have a predilection for middle-aged women. It responds well to conservative management. Surgery is indicated when conservative management fails. We present the clinical outcome of open symptomatic sternoclavicular osteophyte debridement, a new operation for treating recalcitrant symptomatic sternoclavicular osteoarthritis.

Methods

Five patients (five symptomatic sternoclavicular joints) with symptomatic sternoclavicular osteoarthritis underwent open sternoclavicular debridement following failure of conservative treatment. There were three females and two males. Mean age was 46.6 years (range 37.17–66). Four cases were primary osteoarthritis and one case was secondary to trauma. They were reviewed at mean follow-up at 35.4 months with minimum follow-up of 29 months. Assessment included Quick Disabilities of Arm Shoulder and Hand (DASH) and subjective patient satisfaction score.

Results

There was no post-operative complication. Mean Quick DASH score 10.9 (range 0–29.5) at mean 35.4-month follow-up (range 29–43 months). Three patients reported excellent and two reported good outcome as per subjective satisfaction score.

Conclusions

Open sternoclavicular debridement has proved to be a simple, safe and highly effective new surgical treatment for patients with symptomatic sternoclavicular osteoarthritis unresponsive to non-operative management.
Pembrolizumab for the treatment of uveal melanoma: A case series
Authors: Jansen Yanina Jeanne Leona , Seremet Teofila , Neyns Bart
Published: November 2020

Uveal melanoma is a rare disease. Up to 50% of the patients will develop metastases for which the treatment options are limited. No randomized controlled data for the treatment of uveal melanoma patients are available. In this study we describe the clinical course of nine uveal melanoma patients included in the pembrolizumab expanded access program (EAP) in Belgium. Nine uveal melanoma patients were treated in the EAP with 2mg/kg pembrolizumab every 3 weeks. Patients received pembrolizumab as first or second-line treatment. Baseline characteristics and tumor responses were prospectively collected. During a median follow-up of 40 weeks, the estimated median PFS was 18 weeks (95% CI 0.7–35) and median OS was 46 weeks (95% CI 33–59%). Four patients had stable disease (SD) for more than 20 weeks (PFS of 21, 22, and 27 weeks respectively) and 1 patient presented with SD for 119 weeks. No objective responses according to irRC were observed. One grade 3 hepatitis occurred which was reversible with the administration of high doses oral corticosteroids. Even though treatment with pembrolizumab is well tolerated, clinical benefit is disappointing. Nevertheless long-term diseases control can be achieved in selected cases
Performance of StatSensor Point-of-Care Device for Measuring Creatinine in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease and Postkidney Transplantation
Authors: Nataatmadja Melissa , Fung Angela W. S. , Jacobson Beryl , Ferera Jack , Bernstein Eva , Komenda Paul , Mattman Andre , Seccombe David , Levin Adeera
Published: November 2020

Background:

The StatSensor is a point-of-care device which measures creatinine in capillary whole blood. Previous studies reported an underestimation of the creatinine measurements at high creatinine concentrations and were performed in the prestandardization era for creatinine.

Objective:

This accuracy-based study evaluates the use of this device in kidney-transplanted patients and those with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Design:

Cross-sectional diagnostic accuracy study.

Setting:

Nephrology outpatient clinic in an urban tertiary center.

Participants:

Adults with CKD or a functioning kidney transplant.

Measurements:

Duplicate StatSensor creatinine measurements were performed on capillary whole blood samples collected by direct fingerstick and SAFE-T-FILL collection device. Results were compared with simultaneous venous blood sampling for serum and plasma creatinine measured by an enzymatic method on the Roche Integra 400 mainframe analyzer with traceability to the ID-GC-MS (isotope dilution gas chromatography mass spectrometry) reference method.

Methods:

Deming regression, Pearson correlation coefficient, and Bland-Altman analysis were used to assess accuracy and comparability between capillary whole blood measured by StatSensor and plasma creatinine measured by routine analyzer with traceability to the reference method. Estimated glomerular filtration (eGFR) rates were calculated using the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) equation and concordance with Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) CKD stage classification was evaluated.

Results:

There were 60 participants (mean age = 61.9 ± 15.0 years, 55% men, 33% transplant, mean plasma creatinine = 137 ± 59 µmol/L). Bland-Altman analysis indicated a positive mean bias of 12.7 µmol/L between StatSensor fingerstick creatinine measurement and plasma creatinine. Comparison of eGFR (CKD-EPI) calculated from the StatSensor fingerstick creatinine versus plasma creatinine showed misclassification across all KDIGO CKD stages. Postanalytical correction of the bias did not improve misclassifications. The use of mean of duplicate StatSensor creatinine results did not improve performance compared with the use of singlet results.

Limitations:

Single center, limited participant numbers.

Conclusions:

The results of our study suggest that the limiting characteristics of the StatSensor device are not only bias, but also imprecision. The level of imprecision observed may influence clinical decision-making and limit the usefulness of StatSensor as a CKD screening tool. If choosing to utilize it for either screening for or monitoring CKD, it is essential that clinicians understand the limitations of point-of-care devices and apply this knowledge to test interpretation.
Teaching practical topics to nursing students at clinical skills centres: A total mapping of Swedish universities
Authors: Axelsson Malin Tiger , Årestedt Liselott , Swahnberg Katarina , Oscarsson Marie
Published: November 2020

Teaching practical topics is a central part of nursing education. The aim of this study was to describe the teaching of practical topics to nursing students at clinical skills centres (CSCs) in Sweden regarding organisation, structure and content. Data collection consisted of structured and open-ended questions through telephone interviews with responsible educators at all Swedish Universities ( n = 25). The analyses consisted of descriptive statistics and compilation. The results showed that teaching of practical topics varied, depending on each university’s pre-requisites, and a lot of resources were needed. Teaching at CSCs enabled integration of practical and theoretical knowledge. Having large student groups and confusion over terms hamper the teaching, and there was lack of a specific education for the educators at CSCs. Teaching practical topics at CSCs is a complex task, and educators need competences in nursing, theoretical knowledge and pedagogy.
The Greater Bay Area (GBA) Development Strategy and Its Relevance to Higher Education
Authors: Xie (谢爱磊) Ailei , Postiglione Gerard A. , Huang (黄倩) Qian
Published: November 2020

Purpose:

This article provides a policy review of the Greater Bay Area (GBA) development strategies and their relevance to higher education.

Design/Approach/Methods:

This article reviews key GBA policies adopted by the central government of China and interprets higher education cooperation policies at provincial and national levels before discussing the opportunities and challenges for higher education.

Findings:

The GBA Development Strategy aims to build an integrated, innovative, and internationalized economy. It presents an opportunity for universities to attract new funding opportunities as well as to prepare graduates to play a key role in the GBA. The shift toward a high-tech service-led economy would hinge upon creating an effective partnerships platform between industry and higher education institutions. To do so would require greater institutional and professional autonomy for the academic research enterprises. There is also a need for evidence-based policies by the Central and GBA regional governments.

Originality/Value:

The article examines the state of the relationship between GBA strategies and higher education cooperation. It can be used to guide policies to promote higher education cooperation in the GBA in a more integrated, innovative, and internationalized way.
Development of Best Practice Guidelines for Primary Care to Support Patients Who Use Substances
Authors: Hartney Elizabeth , Barnard D. Kelly , Richman Jillian
Published: November 2020

Introduction

People who use substances often mistrust the primary care system, impeding access.

Objectives

To build on research clarifying how to improve patients’ feelings of safety, through co-creating best practice guidelines with physicians and patient representatives.

Methods

After obtaining Research Ethics Board approval, this qualitative study engaged 22 participants including patients, physicians, and health system partners. We held a series of workshops, co-facilitated by patients and researchers, corresponding to 3 phases of the research: (1) establishment of cultural safety processes for participants during the workshops; (2) a facilitated, collaborative world café to develop guideline content; (3) validation of best practice guidelines. An implementation plan was developed and implemented. Finally, an external peer review was conducted by McGill University.

Results

Best practices guidelines were developed giving the patient perspective on how to enhance primary care, as follows: (1) become trauma informed; (2) consider your clinical environment; (3) build a network; (4) supply an array of resources; (5) co-create a long-term treatment plan; (6) help me to stay healthy; (7) ensure timely access to specialized medical and surgical care; (8) be an advocate; (9) ask for feedback; (10) follow up. Resources were developed and disseminated.

Conclusion

The best practice guidelines reflect the patients’ perspectives on common challenges patients have encountered, which impede their access to primary care. They support primary care physicians in providing more effective services to this challenging population of patients.
Mid-term result of acetabular reconstruction using a Kerboull-type acetabular reinforcement device with hydroxyapatite impaction
Authors: Tanaka Hidetatsu , Chiba Daisuke , Yamada Norikazu , Tanaka Masahiko , Kuwahara Yoshiyuki , Itoi Eiji
Published: November 2020

The aim of this study is to investigate the mid-term results of 29 hips in 26 patients who underwent acetabular reconstruction using a Kerboull-type acetabular reinforcement device and impaction with hydroxyapatite (HA) granules. The acetabular bone defects were AAOS type II for six hips and type III for 23 hips. The mean Merle d’Aubigné clinical scores were significantly improved after operation. Six hips developed implant migration and breakage, and five of six hips were revised after an average of 5.5 (range 2.0–8.8) years. All hips with thickness of the grafted HA less than 10 mm were stable. As the HA became thicker, the failure rate were significantly increased. The Kaplan–Meier survival rates at 10 years were 73.2%, with 100% and 67.0% for AAOS type II and III defect respectively as the end point was failure condition. Reconstruction using a Kerboull-type acetabular reinforcement device and impaction with HA granules was an alternative method in the absence of adequate allografts.
Bacterial meningitis complicated by cerebral venous thrombosis
Authors: Deliran Shahrzad S , Brouwer Matthijs C , Coutinho Jonathan M , Beek Diederik van de
Published: November 2020

Introduction

Community-acquired bacterial meningitis may be complicated by cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT), but this has not systematically been studied.

Methods

We evaluated clinical characteristics and outcome of CVT in adults with community-acquired bacterial meningitis in a prospective nationwide cohort study of bacterial meningitis (2006–2018) in the Netherlands.

Results

CVT occurred in 26 of 2220 episodes with bacterial meningitis (1%). The diagnosis of CVT was made on the day of presentation in 15 patients (58%) and during hospital stay in 11 patients after a median of 6 days (IQR 2–7). Sinusitis or otitis was present in 16 of 24 patients (67%). Patients with CVT presented more often in a coma than those without CVT (53 vs. 18%; P = 0.001) and the clinical course was more often complicated by focal neurologic deficits (58 vs. 22%; P < 0.001). Twelve patients of 26 (46%) had parenchymal lesions on neuroimaging, of whom two (8%) were specific for CVT. The transverse sinus was most frequently thrombosed (18 of 26; 69%). Streptococcus pneumoniae was the most common causative pathogen, occurring in 17 of 26 patients (65%). Eleven patients (44%) received anticoagulant therapy with heparin and none of them developed intracerebral hemorrhage during admission. Unfavorable outcome, as defined as a score on the Glasgow Outcome Scale <5, occurred in 14 of 26 patients (54%) and 4 patients (15%) died.

Discussion and conclusion

CVT is a rare complication of bacterial meningitis and mainly occurs in patients with coma, ear, nose and throat infections, and focal neurologic deficits.
A new hypothesis to explain skin cancer risk in kidney allograft recipients
Authors: Viggiano Davide , Lee Michael W , Simeoni Mariadelina , Capasso Giovambattista , Capasso Anna
Published: November 2020

Kidney transplant (KT) recipients have an increased risk for specific types of cancer. Some forms of incident cancer are similarly present in other diseases where T-cells are depleted, such as HIV-infection: specifically, non-Hodgkin lymphoma and Kaposi’s sarcoma. Conversely, other forms of highly incident cancers in KT patients, primarily non-melanoma skin cancer (squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma), are specific to this condition. By comparing HIV-related cancers, general cancer incidence, and the association of immunotherapy with cancer incidence, we suggest that the high incidence of non-melanoma skin cancer seen in KT patients is mediated by off-target effects of calcineurin inhibitors in the skin, combined with a “permissive” cancer microinflammatory environment.
Prevalence of work related musculoskeletal disorders in Italian workers: is there an underestimation of the related occupational risk factors?
Authors: Russo Fabrizio , Di Tecco Cristina , Fontana Luca , Adamo Giovanna , Papale Adriano , Denaro Vincenzo , Iavicoli Sergio
Published: November 2020

Background

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) represent an important socio-economic burden. The current risk assessment and management involved in the ethiopathogenesis of WMSDs is based on observational tools and checklists, which have some limitations in terms of accuracy and reliability. The aim of this study was to assess WMSD prevalence and identify possible correlations with several socio-demographic and work-related variables in a large cohort representative of Italian workers in order to improve our understanding of the WMSD phenomenon.

Methods

This study includes data from INSuLa, a cross-sectional nationally representative survey of health and safety at work, developed by the Italian Workers’ Compensation Authority. A total of 8000 Italian workers were included. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate the association of independent variables, such as workers’ perceptions of exposure to biomechanical/ergonomic and video display unit (VDU) risks (Risk Perceived) and the actual risk exposure (Risk Detected) on Back, Lower and Upper limb pain. Socio-demographic, occupational and other health-related variables were included to investigate possible association with musculoskeletal disorders.

Results

Workers perceiving a significant exposure to biomechanical/ergonomic and VDU risks but not included in a health surveillance program for them (Risk Perceived/No Risk Detected) have had significantly higher odds of reporting musculoskeletal disorders. Regarding the biomechanical/ergonomic risk these workers are in the 19–24 age range (39.9%), transportation, warehousing/information and communication sectors (38.9%) and are employed in companies with more than 250 workers (35.8%). Regarding VDU risk, workers are in the 45–54 age range (24.5%), professional, financial and business services (38.0%) and come from companies with more than 250 employees (25.6%).

Conclusions

Within the occupational safety and health management systems an appropriate assessment of occupational risk factors correlated to musculoskeletal disorders (mainly biomechanical/ergonomic and VDU) and the correct definition of their exposure levels is essential to adequately prevent the onset of WMSDs. In this regard, our findings provide useful information to design novel approaches, aimed at improving our understanding of emerging risks, identifying gaps in current risk assessment strategies and enhancing workplace interventions are mandatory to improve the occupational risk assessment and management process and therefore implement the subsequent health surveillance systems.
Strategies and effects of school-based interventions to promote active school transportation by bicycle among children and adolescents: a systematic review
Authors: Schönbach Dorothea M. I. , Altenburg Teatske M. , Marques Adilson , Chinapaw Mai J. M. , Demetriou Yolanda
Published: November 2020

Background

Promoting cycling to school may benefit establishing a lifelong physical activity routine. This systematic review aimed to summarize the evidence on strategies and effects of school-based interventions focusing on increasing active school transport by bicycle.

Methods

A literature search based on “PICo” was conducted in eight electronic databases. Randomized and non-randomized controlled trials with primary/secondary school students of all ages were included that conducted pre-post measurements of a school-based intervention aimed at promoting active school travel by bicycle and were published in English between 2000 and 2019. The methodological quality was assessed using the “Effective Public Health Practice Project” tool for quantitative studies. Applied behavior change techniques were identified using the “BCT Taxonomy v1”. Two independent researchers undertook the screening, data extraction, appraisal of study quality, and behavior change techniques.

Results

Nine studies investigating seven unique interventions performed between 2012 and 2018 were included. All studies were rated as weak quality. The narrative synthesis identified 19 applied behavior change techniques clustered in eleven main groups according to their similarities and a variety of 35 different outcome variables classified into seven main groups. Most outcomes were related to active school travel and psychosocial factors, followed by physical fitness, physical activity levels, weight status, active travel and cycling skills. Four studies, examining in total nine different outcomes, found a significant effect in favor of the intervention group on bicycle trips to school (boys only), percentage of daily cycling trips to school, parental/child self-efficacy, parental outcome expectations, moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (total, from cycling, before/after school), and total basic cycling skills. Seven of these outcomes were only examined in two studies conducting the same intervention in children, a voluntary bicycle train to/from school accompanied by adults, including the following clustered main groups of behavior change techniques: shaping knowledge, comparison of behavior, repetition and substitution as well as antecedents.

Conclusions

The applied strategies in a bicycle train intervention among children indicated great potential to increase cycling to school. Our findings provide relevant insights for the design and implementation of future school-based interventions targeting active school transport by bicycle.

Trial registration

This systematic review has been registered in the international prospective register of systematic reviews “PROSPERO” at (registration number: CRD42019125192).
Role of γδ T cells in controlling viral infections with a focus on influenza virus: implications for designing novel therapeutic approaches
Authors: Sabbaghi Ailar , Miri Seyed Mohammad , Keshavarz Mohsen , Mahooti Mehran , Zebardast Arghavan , Ghaemi Amir
Published: November 2020

Background

Influenza virus infection is among the most detrimental threats to the health of humans and some animals, infecting millions of people annually all around the world and in many thousands of cases giving rise to pneumonia and death. All those health crises happen despite previous and recent developments in anti-influenza vaccination, suggesting the need for employing more sophisticated methods to control this malign infection.

Main body

The innate immunity modules are at the forefront of combating against influenza infection in the respiratory tract, among which, innate T cells, particularly gamma-delta (γδ) T cells, play a critical role in filling the gap needed for adaptive immune cells maturation, linking the innate and adaptive immunity together. Upon infection with influenza virus, production of cytokines and chemokines including CCL3, CCL4, and CCL5 from respiratory epithelium recruits γδ T cells at the site of infection in a CCR5 receptor-dependent fashion. Next, γδ T cells become activated in response to influenza virus infection and produce large amounts of proinflammatory cytokines, especially IL-17A. Regardless of γδ T cells’ roles in triggering the adaptive arm of the immune system, they also protect the respiratory epithelium by cytolytic and non-cytolytic antiviral mechanisms, as well as by enhancing neutrophils and natural killer cells recruitment to the infection site.

Conclusion

In this review, we explored varied strategies of γδ T cells in defense to influenza virus infection and how they can potentially provide balanced protective immune responses against infected cells. The results may provide a potential window for the incorporation of intact or engineered γδ T cells for developing novel antiviral approaches or for immunotherapeutic purposes.
Immunotoxicity and intestinal effects of nano- and microplastics: a review of the literature
Authors: Hirt Nell , Body-Malapel Mathilde
Published: November 2020

Background

Together with poor biodegradability and insufficient recycling, the massive production and use of plastics have led to widespread environmental contamination by nano- and microplastics. These particles accumulate across ecosystems - even in the most remote habitats - and are transferred through food chains, leading to inevitable human ingestion, that adds to the highest one due to food processes and packaging.

Objective

The present review aimed at providing a comprehensive overview of current knowledge regarding the effects of nano- and microplastics on intestinal homeostasis.

Methods

We conducted a literature search focused on the in vivo effects of nano- and microplastics on gut epithelium and microbiota, as well as on immune response.

Results

Numerous animal studies have shown that exposure to nano- and microplastics leads to impairments in oxidative and inflammatory intestinal balance, and disruption of the gut’s epithelial permeability. Other notable effects of nano- and microplastic exposure include dysbiosis (changes in the gut microbiota) and immune cell toxicity. Moreover, microplastics contain additives, adsorb contaminants, and may promote the growth of bacterial pathogens on their surfaces: they are potential carriers of intestinal toxicants and pathogens that can potentially lead to further adverse effects.

Conclusion

Despite the scarcity of reports directly relevant to human, this review brings together a growing body of evidence showing that nano- and microplastic exposure disturbs the gut microbiota and critical intestinal functions. Such effects may promote the development of chronic immune disorders. Further investigation of this threat to human health is warranted.
Efficient isolation of protoplasts from rice calli with pause points and its application in transient gene expression and genome editing assays
Authors: Poddar Snigdha , Tanaka Jaclyn , Cate Jamie H. D. , Staskawicz Brian , Cho Myeong-Je
Published: November 2020

Background

An efficient in vivo transient transfection system using protoplasts is an important tool to study gene expression, metabolic pathways, and multiple mutagenesis parameters in plants. Although rice protoplasts can be isolated from germinated seedlings or cell suspension culture, preparation of those donor tissues can be inefficient, time-consuming, and laborious. Additionally, the lengthy process of protoplast isolation and transfection needs to be completed in a single day.

Results

Here we report a protocol for the isolation of protoplasts directly from rice calli, without using seedlings or suspension culture. The method is developed to employ discretionary pause points during protoplast isolation and before transfection. Protoplasts maintained within a sucrose cushion partway through isolation, for completion on a subsequent day, per the first pause point, are referred to as S protoplasts. Fully isolated protoplasts maintained in MMG solution for transfection on a subsequent day, per the second pause point, are referred to as M protoplasts. Both S and M protoplasts, 1 day after initiation of protoplast isolation, had minimal loss of viability and transfection efficiency compared to protoplasts 0 days after isolation. S protoplast viability decreases at a lower rate over time than that of M protoplasts and can be used with added flexibility for transient transfection assays and time-course experiments. The protoplasts produced by this method are competent for transfection of both plasmids and ribonucleoproteins (RNPs). Cas9 RNPs were used to demonstrate the utility of these protoplasts to assay genome editing in vivo.

Conclusion

The current study describes a highly effective and accessible method to isolate protoplasts from callus tissue induced from rice seeds. This method utilizes donor materials that are resource-efficient and easy to propagate, permits convenience via pause points, and allows for flexible transfection days after protoplast isolation. It provides an advantageous and useful platform for a variety of in vivo transient transfection studies in rice.
Activity of Alzheimer’s γ-secretase is linked to changes of interferon-induced transmembrane proteins (IFITM) in innate immunity
Authors: Yao Annie Y. , Yan Riqiang
Published: November 2020

The activity of γ-secretase is critical to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). How its activity is regulated is intriguing and highly important for any AD therapy that focuses on reduction of toxic amyloid peptides and amyloid deposition in patients. Recently, interferon-induced transmembrane protein 3 (IFITM3) has been identified as a novel regulator of γ-secretase through a specific interaction. This commentary highlights this exciting study and provides an updated link of γ-secretase activity to innate immunity through IFITM3.
Applications of differential equations to characterize the base of warped product submanifolds of cosymplectic space forms
Authors: Ali Akram , Mofarreh Fatemah , Mior Othman Wan Ainun , Patra Dhriti Sundar
Published: November 2020

In the present, we first obtain Chen–Ricci inequality for C-totally real warped product submanifolds in cosymplectic space forms. Then, we focus on characterizing spheres and Euclidean spaces, by using the Bochner formula and a second-order ordinary differential equation with geometric inequalities. We derive the characterization for the base of the warped product via the first eigenvalue of the warping function. Also, it proves that there is an isometry between the base $\mathbb{N}_{1}$

N
1

and the Euclidean sphere $\mathbb{S}^{m_{1}}$

S

m
1

under some different extrinsic conditions.
Do preceptorship and clinical supervision programmes support the retention of nurses?
Authors: Aparício Carlos , Nicholson Jeniffer
Published: November 2020

Background:

The reasons for nurse shortages are the ageing healthcare workforce, increasing demand for services, employee dissatisfaction, life–work imbalance and burnout.

Aim:

To review the literature to find out whether there is evidence to support preceptorship and clinical supervision programmes in retaining nurses, and particularly newly qualified nurses (NQNs), in clinical practice.

Methods:

A search of databases, as well as other sources, was carried out, with six studies selected for data analysis.

Findings:

Thematic analysis was used to synthesise the results and produced seven themes: increase satisfaction, gain competence and feel more confident; competencies of preceptors and supervisors; framework or model required; the challenge to the programmes; intention to stay and staff retention; voluntary withdrawal from the nursing profession; and further support for development.

Conclusion:

Training (preceptorship and clinical supervision programmes) is effective in retaining NQNs, increasing satisfaction, improving skills and competency and staff engagement; however, more support for both preceptors/supervisors and NQNs is needed to maximise the success of these programmes in the future.
Exciting New Developments and Emerging Themes in Glycosaminoglycan Research
Authors: Merry Catherine L. R.
Published: November 2020

In times where many people have suffered loss and others of us are dealing with stress, disruption, and fear, there is a lot of comfort to be taken in reading. If we are not able to meet up and discuss our work in person, exploring published studies provides some succor, even without the cheese, wine, and other traditions of our usual get-togethers. Fortunately, recent months have seen many high-quality papers around the topic of glycosaminoglycans. I can only pick up on a very few here, those that I have particularly enjoyed, but the following collection of reviews will also be a treat and hopefully tide us over until our research community can regroup:
Dedicated transcriptomics combined with power analysis lead to functional understanding of genes with weak phenotypic changes in knockout lines
Authors: Xie Chen , Bekpen Cemalettin , Künzel Sven , Keshavarz Maryam , Krebs-Wheaton Rebecca , Skrabar Neva , Ullrich Kristian K. , Zhang Wenyu , Tautz Diethard
Published: November 2020

Systematic knockout studies in mice have shown that a large fraction of the gene replacements show no lethal or other overt phenotypes. This has led to the development of more refined analysis schemes, including physiological, behavioral, developmental and cytological tests. However, transcriptomic analyses have not yet been systematically evaluated for non-lethal knockouts. We conducted a power analysis to determine the experimental conditions under which even small changes in transcript levels can be reliably traced. We have applied this to two gene disruption lines of genes for which no function was known so far. Dedicated phenotyping tests informed by the tissues and stages of highest expression of the two genes show small effects on the tested phenotypes. For the transcriptome analysis of these stages and tissues, we used a prior power analysis to determine the number of biological replicates and the sequencing depth. We find that under these conditions, the knockouts have a significant impact on the transcriptional networks, with thousands of genes showing small transcriptional changes. GO analysis suggests that A930004D18Rik is involved in developmental processes through contributing to protein complexes, and A830005F24Rik in extracellular matrix functions. Subsampling analysis of the data reveals that the increase in the number of biological replicates was more important that increasing the sequencing depth to arrive at these results. Hence, our proof-of-principle experiment suggests that transcriptomic analysis is indeed an option to study gene functions of genes with weak or no traceable phenotypic effects and it provides the boundary conditions under which this is possible.