bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Foot-and-mouth disease virus downregulates vacuolar protein sorting 28 to promote viral replication
Authors: Wang Xuefei , Abdullah Sahibzada Waheed , Wu Jin'en , Tang Jianli , Zhang Yun , Dong Hu , Bai Manyuan , Wei Sumin , Sun Shiqi , Guo Huichen
Published: August 2023

Vacuolar protein sorting 28 (Vps28), a component of the ESCRT-I (endosomal sorting complex required for transport I), plays an important role in the pathogen life cycle. Here, we investigated the reciprocal regulation between Vps28 and the foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV). Overexpression of Vps28 decreased FMDV replication. On the contrary, the knockdown of Vps28 increased viral replication. Subsequently, the mechanistic study showed that Vps28 destabilized the replication complex (RC) by associating with 3A rather than 2C protein. In addition, Vps28 targeted FMDV VP0, VP1, and VP3 for degradation to inhibit viral replication. To counteract this, FMDV utilized tactics to restrict Vps28 to promote viral replication. FMDV degraded Vps28 mainly through the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. Additional data demonstrated that 2B and 3A proteins recruited E3 ubiquitin ligase tripartite motif-containing protein 21 to degrade Vps28 at Lys58 and Lys25, respectively, and FMDV 3C
pro
degraded Vps28 through autophagy and its protease activity. Meantime, the 3C
pro
-mediated Vps28 degradation principally alleviated the ability to inhibit viral propagation. Intriguingly, we also demonstrated that the N-terminal and C-terminal domains of Vps28 were responsible for the suppression of FMDV replication, which suggested the elaborated counteraction between FMDV and Vps28. Collectively, our results first investigate the role of ESCRTs in host defense against picornavirus and unveil underlying strategies utilized by FMDV to evade degradation machinery for triumphant propagation.

IMPORTANCE

ESCRT machinery plays positive roles in virus entry, replication, and budding. However, little has been reported on its negative regulation effects during viral infection. Here, we uncovered the novel roles of ESCRT-I subunit Vps28 on FMDV replication. The data indicated that Vps28 destabilized the RC and impaired viral structural proteins VP0, VP1, and VP3 to inhibit viral replication. To counteract this, FMDV hijacked intracellular protein degradation pathways to downregulate Vps28 expression and thus promoted viral replication. Our findings provide insights into how ESCRT regulates pathogen life cycles and elucidate additional information regarding FMDV counteraction of host antiviral activity.
Importance of genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 in cats during reverse zoonosis events: potential viral evolution may occur
Authors: Barroso-Arévalo Sandra , Díaz-Frutos Marta , Domínguez Lucas , Sánchez-Vizcaíno José M.
Published: August 2023

The apparition of new variants of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 and lineages is constantly happening because of the high viral mutation rate. Since numerous reverse zoonosis events have been reported so far, genomic surveillance should be conducted in susceptible species to evaluate potential adaptations that may trigger the apparition of new variants. Here, we evaluate the evolution of the infection in a cat naturally infected in parallel with its owner, performing a comparative phylogenetic analysis. Sequencing analysis showed that both were infected with the Omicron BA.5/BF.1 lineage and revealed the presence of nucleotide substitution in the viral genome recovered from the cat with respect to the viral genome from the human sample. This nucleotide substitution (C11897A) produced the amino acid change Orf1a: Q3878K. Therefore, genomic surveillance in the case of reverse zoonosis events is still necessary in order to control possible adaptations of the virus to other susceptible species.

IMPORTANCE

Genomic surveillance of pets for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 is important to monitor the emergence of new variants of the virus associated with these animals. Pets can serve as a potential reservoir for the virus, and their close contact with humans increases the risk of transmission. By conducting genomic surveillance in pets, it is possible to detect and track new variants early on, allowing for more effective control measures to be put in place. This can help prevent the spread of these variants to human populations and potentially mitigate the impact of the pandemic. Furthermore, it may also provide insight into the evolution and spread of the virus within the animal population.
Eruptive dynamics reflect crustal structure and mantle productivity beneath volcanoes
Authors: Higgins Oliver , Caricchi Luca
Published: August 2023

Volcanoes exhibit a wide range of eruptive and geochemical behavior, which has significant implications for their associated risk. The suggested first-order drivers of intervolcanic diversity invoke a combination of crustal and mantle processes. To better constrain mantle-crustal-volcanic coupling, we used the well-studied Lesser Antilles island arc. Here, we show that melt flux from the mantle, identified by proxy in the form of boron isotopes in melt inclusions, correlates with the long-term volcanic productivity, the volcanic edifice height, and the geophysically defined along-arc crustal structure. These features are the consequence of a variable melt flux modulating the pressure-temperature-composition structure of the crust, which we inverted from xenolith mineral chemistry. Mafic to intermediate melts reside at relatively constant temperature (981 ± 52 °C; 2σ) in the middle crust (3.5–7.1 kbar), whereas chemically evolved (rhyolitic) melts are stored predominantly in the upper crust (<3.5 kbar) at maximum depths that vary geophysically along the arc (6–15 km). Our findings are applicable worldwide, where we see similar correlations among average magma geochemistry, eruptive magnitude, and rate of magma input.
A Customised paediatric thumb web splint for management of adduction contracture of thumb
Authors: Ramalingam Krishnakumar , Siva Lokesh , Lenin Nisha , Sundaramurthy Nandakumar
Published: August 2023

The thumb web has a unique anatomy, the integrity of which is vital to both form and function of the hand. Thumb web space adduction contractures are a common consequence of hand burns and are a progressive disabling deformity and prevention or early intervention is advisable. This case describes the use of a customised removable web splint in children with scarring and gradual contracture of the first web space causing pain with movement and significant restriction in the hand function to maintain the thumb web expansion. This inexpensive and effective appliance can be safely applied to an injured hand, maintain web space following surgical release and allows movement at the first carpometacarpal joint and hence obtains a good functional outcome.
Thoracic aortic dissection presenting with bilateral haemothoraces: a potentially missed diagnosis
Authors: Foo Aaron , Pozza Christopher
Published: August 2023

Thoracic aortic dissection is a life-threatening diagnosis, which should not be missed. We present a case in which a patient who presented to the emergency department with chest pain was assessed and referred for admission for treatment of pneumonia, due to misinterpretation of a chest radiograph finding. The patient was re-reviewed and subsequently underwent further investigation, which confirmed aortic dissection. She underwent emergency thoracic endovascular aortic graft repair with stent graft insertion. This case demonstrates haemothorax as an uncommon complication of aortic dissection.
Associations between vision impairment and vision-related interventions on crash risk and driving cessation: systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Nguyen Helen , Di Tanna Gian Luca , Coxon Kristy , Brown Julie , Ren Kerrie , Ramke Jacqueline , Burton Matthew J , Gordon Iris , Zhang Justine H , Furtado João , Mdala Shaffi , Kitema Gatera Fiston , Keay Lisa
Published: August 2023

Objectives

To systematically investigate the associations between vision impairment and risk of motor vehicle crash (MVC) involvement, and evaluate vision-related interventions to reduce MVCs.

Design

Medline (Ovid), EMBASE and Global Health electronic databases were systematically searched from inception to March 2022 for observational and interventional English-language studies. Screening, data extraction and appraisals using the Joanna Briggs Institute appraisal tools were completed by two reviewers independently. Where appropriate, measures of association were converted into risk ratios (RRs) or ORs for meta-analysis.

Participants

Drivers of four-wheeled vehicles of all ages with no cognitive declines.

Primary and secondary outcomes

MVC involvement (primary) and driving cessation (secondary).

Results

101 studies (n=778 052) were included after full-text review. 57 studies only involved older drivers (≥65 years) and 85 were in high-income settings. Heterogeneity in the data meant that most meta-analyses were underpowered as only 25 studies, further split into different groups of eye diseases and measures of vision, could be meta-analysed. The limited evidence from the meta-analyses suggests that visual field defects (four studies; RR 1.51 (95% CI 1.23, 1.85); p<0.001; I2=46.79%), and contrast sensitivity (two studies; RR 1.40 (95% CI 1.08, 1.80); p=0.01, I2=0.11%) and visual acuity loss (five studies; RR 1.21 (95% CI 1.02, 1.43); p=0.03, I2=28.49%) may increase crash risk. The results are more inconclusive for available evidence for associations of glaucoma (five studies, RR 1.27 (95% CI 0.67, 2.42); p=0.47; I2=93.48%) and cataract (two studies RR 1.15 (95% CI 0.97, 1.36); p=0.11; I2=3.96%) with crashes. Driving cessation may also be linked with glaucoma (two studies; RR 1.62 (95% CI 1.20, 2.19); p<0.001, I2=22.45%), age-related macular degeneration (AMD) (three studies; RR 2.21 (95% CI 1.47, 3.31); p<0.001, I2=75.11%) and reduced contrast sensitivity (three studies; RR 1.30 (95% CI 1.05, 1.61); p=0.02; I2=63.19%). Cataract surgery halved MVC risk (three studies; RR 0.55 (95% CI 0.34, 0.92); p=0.02; I2=97.10). Ranibizumab injections (four randomised controlled trials) prolonged driving in persons with AMD.

Conclusion

Impaired vision identified through a variety of measures is associated with both increased MVC involvement and cessation. Cataract surgery can reduce MVC risk. Despite literature being highly heterogeneous, this review shows that detection of vision problems and appropriate treatment are critical to road safety.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42020172153.
Exoskeletal wearable robot on ambulatory function in patients with stroke: a protocol for an international, multicentre, randomised controlled study
Authors: Chang Won Hyuk , Kim Tae-Woo , Kim Hyoung Seop , Hanapiah Fazah Akhtar , Kim Dae Hyun , Kim Deog Young
Published: August 2023

Introduction

The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of overground gait training using an exoskeletal wearable robot (exoskeleton) on the recovery of ambulatory function in patients with subacute stroke. We also investigate the assistive effects of an exoskeleton on ambulatory function in patients with subacute stroke.

Methods and analysis

This study is an international, multicentre, randomised controlled study at five institutions with a total of 150 patients with subacute stroke. Participants will be randomised into two groups (75 patients in the robot-assisted gait training (RAGT) group and 75 patients in the control group). The gait training will be performed with a total of 20 sessions (60 min/session); 5 sessions a week for 4 weeks. The RAGT group will receive 30 min of gait training using an exoskeleton (ANGEL LEGS M20, Angel Robotics) and 30 min of conventional gait training, while the control group will receive 60 min conventional gait training. In all the patients, the functional assessments such as ambulation, motor and balance will be evaluated before and after the intervention. Follow-up monitoring will be performed to verify whether the patient can walk without physical assistance for 3 months. The primary outcome is the improvement of the Functional Ambulatory Category after the gait training. The functional assessments will also be evaluated immediately after the last training session in the RAGT group to assess the assistive effects of an exoskeletal wearable robot. This trial will provide evidence on the effects of an exoskeleton to improve and assist ambulatory function in patients with subacute stroke.

Ethics and dissemination

This protocol has been approved by the Institutional Review Board of each hospital and conforms to the Declaration of Helsinki. The results will be disseminated through publication.

Trial registration number

Protocol was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05157347) on 15 December 2021 and CRIS (KCT0006815) on 19 November 2021.
Diagnostic reliability in teledermatology: a systematic review and a meta-analysis
Authors: Bourkas Adrienn N , Barone Natasha , Bourkas Matthew E C , Mannarino Matthew , Fraser Robert D J , Lorincz Amy , Wang Sheila C , Ramirez-GarciaLuna Jose Luis
Published: August 2023

Objectives

To compare teledermatology and face-to-face (F2F) agreement in primary diagnoses of dermatological conditions.

Design

Systematic review and meta-analysis

Methods

MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library (Wiley), CINAHL and medRxiv were searched between January 2010 and May 2022. Observational studies and randomised clinical trials that reported percentage agreement or kappa concordance for primary diagnoses between teledermatology and F2F physicians were included. Titles, abstracts and full-text articles were screened in duplicate. From 7173 citations, 44 articles were included. A random-effects meta-analysis was conducted to estimate pooled estimates. Primary outcome measures were mean percentage and kappa concordance for assessing diagnostic matches between teledermatology and F2F physicians. Secondary outcome measures included the agreement between teledermatologists, F2F dermatologists, and teledermatology and histopathology results.

Results

44 studies were extracted and reviewed. The pooled agreement rate was 68.9%, and kappa concordance was 0.67. When dermatologists conducted F2F and teledermatology consults, the overall diagnostic agreement was significantly higher at 71% compared with 44% for non-specialists. Kappa concordance was 0.69 for teledermatologist versus specialist and 0.52 for non-specialists. Higher diagnostic agreements were also noted with image acquisition training and digital photography. The agreement rate was 76.4% between teledermatologists, 82.4% between F2F physicians and 55.7% between teledermatology and histopathology.

Conclusions and relevance

Teledermatology can be an attractive option particularly in resource-poor settings. Future efforts should be placed on incorporating image acquisition training and access to high-quality imaging technologies.

Trial registration number

10.17605/OSF.IO/FJDVG
Gut feeling for the diagnosis of cancer in general practice: a diagnostic accuracy review
Authors: Yao Masahiro , Kaneko Makoto , Watson Jessica , Irving Greg
Published: August 2023

Objectives

Diagnostic delay in cancer is a challenge in primary care. Although screening tests are effective in diagnosing some cancers such as breast, colorectal and cervical cancers, symptom-based cancer diagnosis is often difficult due to its low incidence in primary care and the influence of patient anxiety, doctor–patient relationship and psychosocial context. A general practitioner’s gut feeling for cancer may play a role in the early diagnosis of cancer in primary care where diagnostic resources are limited. The aim of this study is to summarise existing evidence about the test accuracy of gut feeling (index test) in symptomatic adult patients presenting to general practice, compared with multidisciplinary team-confirmed diagnosis of cancer (reference standard).

Design

Diagnostic accuracy review following Cochrane methods was performed.

Data sources

MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, the Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects and Medion databases.

Eligibility criteria

Cross-sectional, cohort and randomised studies of test accuracy that compared gut feeling (index test) with an appropriate cancer diagnosis (reference standard). No language or publication status restrictions were applied. We included all studies published before 25 March 2022.

Data extraction and synthesis

Methodological quality was appraised, using Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies 2 (QUADAS-2) criteria. Meta-analysis with hierarchical summary receiver operating characteristic (HSROC) models was used.

Results

Of 1286 potentially relevant studies identified, six met the inclusion criteria. For two of the six studies, data could not be extracted despite contacting authors. No studies satisfied all QUADAS-2 criteria. After meta-analysis of data from the remaining studies, the summary point of HSROC had a sensitivity of 0.40 (95% CI: 0.28, 0.53) and a specificity of 0.85 (95% CI: 0.75, 0.92).

Conclusions

Gut feeling for cancer when used in symptomatic adult patients in general practice has a relatively low sensitivity and high specificity. When the prevalence of cancer in the symptomatic population presenting in general practice exceeds 1.15%, the performance of gut feeling reaches the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence 3% positive predictive value threshold for action, which recommends urgent access to specialist care and further investigations. The findings support the continued and expanded use of gut feeling items in referral pathways.
Cardiovascular effects of rivaroxaban in heart failure patients with sinus rhythm and coronary disease with and without diabetes: a retrospective international cohort study from COMMANDER-HF
Authors: Sharma Abhinav , Caldeira Daniel , Razaghizad Amir , Pinto Fausto J , van Veldhuisen Dirk J , Mehra Mandeep R , Lam Carolyn S P , Cleland John , Anker Stefan D , Greenberg Barry , Ferreira Joao Pedro , Zannad Faiez
Published: August 2023

Objectives

COMMANDER-HF was a randomised trial comparing rivaroxaban 2.5 mg two times a day to placebo, in addition to antiplatelet therapy, in patients hospitalised for worsening heart failure with coronary artery disease and sinus rhythm. Patients with diabetes are at increased risk of cardiovascular events and therefore have more to gain.

Methods and results

In this post-hoc analysis, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of rivaroxaban in patients with (n=2052) and without diabetes (n=2970). The primary outcome was the composite of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction (MI) or ischaemic stroke. HRs and 95% CIs with interaction analyses were used to describe event-rates and treatment effects. Patients with diabetes had a higher prevalence of cardiovascular comorbidities (eg, hypertension, obesity) and increased incidence of cardiovascular events. Adjusted HRs for events in people with versus without diabetes were 1.34 (95% CI 1.19 to 1.50) for the primary outcome, 1.21 (95% CI 0.84 to 1.75) for stroke, 1.51 (95% CI 1.14 to 1.99) for MI, 1.17 (95% CI 1.05 to 1.31) for heart failure hospitalisation and 1.06 (95% CI 0.56 to 2.01) for major bleeding. Rivaroxaban had no significant effect on event-rates in patients with and without diabetes (all interaction p values >0.05). Low-dose rivaroxaban was associated with an overall reduction in ischaemic stroke (HR 0.66; 95% CI 0.47 to 0.95), with no apparent subgroup interaction according to diabetes status (p-int=0.93).

Conclusions

In COMMANDER-HF a diagnosis of diabetes conferred higher rates of cardiovascular events that, with exception of ischaemic stroke, was not substantially reduced by rivaroxaban. Rivaroxaban was associated with reduced risk of ischaemic stroke for patients with and without diabetes.

Trial registration number

NCT01877915; Post-results.
Taking the first step: protocol for a cluster randomised implementation trial comparing strategies on access to exercise programmes for people with knee osteoarthritis
Authors: Mills Kathryn , Bowden Jocelyn L , Boland Robert , Pardey Margery , Descallar Joseph , Naylor Justine M
Published: August 2023

Introduction

This cluster randomised implementation trial will assess the effect of two behavioural change interventions on the proportion of people with structural knee osteoarthritis (OA) referred and attending exercise-based professionals (physiotherapists and exercise physiologists). The interventions are designed to increase awareness of guidelines, benefits and access pathways for exercise therapy. We hypothesise either strategy will result in more people with knee OA being referred and attending physiotherapy/exercise physiology than current standard of care.

Methods and analysis

We will recruit 30 radiology clinics. 10 clinics will be randomly assigned to each trial arm with 1020 people with knee OA consecutively recruited (102 people per practice) into each arm. Intervention arm 1 is an educational reminder message targeted at primary care practitioners with a hyperlink to national guidelines regarding knee OA clinical management. It will be included in the reporting template of a plain knee X-ray. Intervention arm 2 is the reminder message and a patient-facing infographic explaining the benefits and access pathways for exercise. Both interventions will be delivered once, by the radiology clinics, when a person undergoes plain X-ray for non-traumatic knee pain/dysfunction. The primary outcome is referral to physiotherapist/exercise physiology. The secondary outcome is attendance to that appointment. Both outcomes are self-reported via an online survey administered 4 weeks after the X-ray. Additional survey questions explore facilitators and barriers to appointment attendance and acceptability of the interventions. A subsample of the intervention groups will be recruited for semistructured telephone-based interviews to further explore these latter outcomes.

Ethics and dissemination

The study protocol was approved by Macquarie University Human Research Ethics Committee (#520221190343842) and prospectively registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry. The findings of the trial will be disseminated through peer-reviewed scientific journals and conferences. We will engage with Australian physician colleges and main-stream media to distribute findings.

Trial registration number

ACTRN12622001414707p.
Augmenting clinical trial economic analysis by linking cancer trial data to administrative data: current landscape and future opportunities
Authors: Wilson Brooke E , Hay Annette E , Chan Kelvin Kar-Wing , Cheung Matthew C , Hanna Timothy P
Published: August 2023

Background

Economic analyses based on clinical trial data are costly and time consuming, and alternative methods for performing economic analyses should be explored.

Objective and methods

In this perspective, we examine the emerging role of administrative data for economic analyses in cancer.

Results

Compared with routinely collected clinical trial data, routinely collected administrative data have several strengths including high capture rates for healthcare encounters, less resource utilisation, low rates of misclassification, long follow-up periods and the opportunity to collect data points not traditionally captured in clinical trials. However, there are also limitations including the need for accurate data linkage across multiple databases and systems, the costs and time associated with data linkage, the potential time lag between trial data collection and the availability of administrative data, and limited data on quality of life, toxicity and indirect costs. In this perspective, we identify important barriers and potential solutions to performing economic analyses for oncology using administrative data, and outline strategies to increase research in this field.

Conclusion

The use of routinely collected administrative data sets for economic analyses of clinical trials presents a unique opportunity that could complement and validate economic analyses based on trial-level data.
Pleural mesothelioma risk in the construction industry: a case–control study in Italy, 2000–2018
Authors: Stella Simona , Consonni Dario , Migliore Enrica , Stura Antonella , Cavone Domenica , Vimercati Luigi , Miligi Lucia , Piro Sara , Landi Maria Teresa , Caporaso Neil E , Curti Stefania , Mattioli Stefano , Brandi Giovanni , Gioscia Carmela , Eccher Silvia , Murano Stefano , Casotto Veronica , Comiati Vera , Negro Corrado , D'Agostin Flavia , Genova Carlo , Benfatto Lucia , Romanelli Antonio , Grappasonni Iolanda , Madeo Gabriella , Cozzi Ilaria , Romeo Elisa , Tommaso Staniscia , Carrozza Francesco , Labianca Michele , Tallarigo Federico , Cascone Giuseppe , Melis Massimo , Marinaccio Alessandro , Binazzi Alessandra , Mensi Carolina
Published: August 2023

Objectives

Workers in the construction industry have been exposed to asbestos in various occupations. In Italy, a National Mesothelioma Registry has been implemented more than 20 years ago. Using cases selected from this registry and exploiting existing control data sets, we estimated relative risks for pleural mesothelioma (PM) among construction workers.

Design

Case–control study.

Setting

Cases from the National Mesothelioma Registry (2000–2018), controls from three previous case–control studies.

Methods

We selected male PM incident cases diagnosed in 2000–2018. Population controls were taken from three studies performed in six Italian regions within two periods (2002–2004 and 2012–2016). Age-adjusted and period-adjusted unconditional logistic regression models were fitted to estimate odds ratios (OR) for occupations in the construction industry. We followed two approaches, one (primary) excluding and the other (secondary) including subjects employed in other non-construction blue collar occupations for >5 years. For both approaches, we performed an overall analysis including all cases and, given the incomplete temporal and geographic overlap of cases and controls, three time or/and space restricted sensitivity analyses.

Results

The whole data set included 15 592 cases and 2210 controls. With the primary approach (4797 cases and 1085 controls), OR was 3.64 (2181 cases) for subjects ever employed in construction. We found elevated risks for blue-collar occupations (1993 cases, OR 4.52), including bricklayers (988 cases, OR 7.05), general construction workers (320 cases, OR 4.66), plumbers and pipe fitters (305 cases, OR 9.13), painters (104 cases, OR 2.17) and several others. Sensitivity analyses yielded very similar findings. Using the secondary approach, we observed similar patterns, but ORs were remarkably lower.

Conclusions

We found markedly increased PM risks for most occupations in the construction industry. These findings are relevant for compensation of subjects affected with mesothelioma in the construction industry.
Perceived health system facilitators and barriers to integrated management of hypertension and type 2 diabetes in Kenya: a qualitative study
Authors: Otieno Peter , Agyemang Charles , Wainaina Caroline , Igonya Emmy Kageha , Ouedraogo Ramatou , Wambiya Elvis Omondi Achach , Osindo Jane , Asiki Gershim
Published: August 2023

Objective

Understanding the facilitators and barriers to managing hypertension and type 2 diabetes (T2D) will inform the design of a contextually appropriate integrated chronic care model in Kenya. We explored the perceived facilitators and barriers to the integrated management of hypertension and T2D in Kenya using the Rainbow Model of Integrated Care.

Design

This was a qualitative study using data from a larger mixed-methods study on the health system response to chronic disease management in Kenya, conducted between July 2019 and February 2020. Data were collected through 44 key informant interviews (KIIs) and eight focus group discussions (FGDs).

Setting

Multistage sampling procedures were used to select a random sample of 12 study counties in Kenya.

Participants

The participants for the KIIs comprised purposively selected healthcare providers, county health managers, policy experts and representatives from non-state organisations. The participants for the FGDs included patients with hypertension and T2D.

Outcome measures

Patients’ and providers’ perspectives of the health system facilitators and barriers to the integrated management of hypertension and T2D in Kenya.

Results

The clinical integration facilitators included patient peer support groups for hypertension and T2D. The major professional integration facilitators included task shifting, continuous medical education and integration of community resource persons. The national referral system, hospital insurance fund and health management information system emerged as the major facilitators for organisational and functional integration. The system integration facilitators included decentralisation of services and multisectoral partnerships. The major barriers comprised vertical healthcare services characterised by service unavailability, unresponsiveness and unaffordability. Others included a shortage of skilled personnel, a lack of interoperable e-health platforms and care integration policy implementation gaps.

Conclusions

Our study identified barriers and facilitators that may be harnessed to improve the integrated management of hypertension and T2D. The facilitators should be strengthened, and barriers to care integration redressed.
Systematic review of validated case definitions to identify hypertensive disorders of pregnancy in administrative healthcare databases
Authors: Johnston Amy , Dancey Sonia R , Tseung Victrine , Skidmore Becky , Tanuseputro Peter , Smith Graeme N , Coutinho Thais , Edwards Jodi D
Published: August 2023

Background

Administrative data are frequently used to study cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP). Little is known about the validity of case-finding definitions (CFDs, eg, disease classification codes/algorithms) designed to identify HDP in administrative databases.

Methods

A systematic review of the literature. We searched MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, Web of Science and grey literature sources for eligible studies. Two independent reviewers screened articles for eligibility and extracted data. Quality of reporting was assessed using checklists; risk of bias was assessed using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 (QUADAS-2) tool, adapted for administrative studies. Findings were summarised descriptively.

Results

Twenty-six studies were included; most (62%) validated CFDs for a variety of maternal and/or neonatal outcomes. Six studies (24%) reported reference standard definitions for all HDP definitions validated; seven reported all 2×2 table values for ≥1 CFD or they were calculable. Most CFDs (n=83; 58%) identified HDP with high specificity (ie, ≥98%); however, sensitivity varied widely (3%–100%). CFDs validated for any maternal hypertensive disorder had the highest median sensitivity (91%, range: 15%–97%). Quality of reporting was generally poor, and all studies were at unclear or high risk of bias on ≥1 QUADAS-2 domain.

Conclusions

Even validated CFDs are subject to bias. Researchers should choose the CFD(s) that best align with their research objective, while considering the relative importance of high sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value and/or positive predictive value, and important characteristics of the validation studies from which they were derived (eg, study prevalence of HDP, spectrum of disease studied, methodological rigour, quality of reporting and risk of bias). Higher quality validation studies on this topic are urgently needed.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42021239113.
Clinical Frailty Scale as a predictor of adverse outcomes following aortic valve replacement: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Prendiville Tadhg , Leahy Aoife , Gabr Ahmed , Ahmad Fayeza , Afilalo Jonathan , Martin Glen Philip , Mamas Mamas , Casserly Ivan P , Mohamed Abdirahman , Saleh Anastasia , Shanahan Elaine , O’Connor Margaret , Galvin Rose
Published: August 2023

Objectives

Assessment of frailty prior to aortic valve intervention is recommended in European and North American valvular heart disease guidelines. However, there is a lack of consensus on how it is best measured. The Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) is a well-validated measure of frailty that is relatively quick to calculate. This meta-analysis sought to examine whether the CFS predicts mortality and morbidity following either transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) or surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR).

Methods

Nine electronic databases were searched systematically for data on clinical outcomes post-TAVI/SAVR, where patients had undergone preoperative frailty assessment using the CFS. The primary endpoint was 12-month mortality. TAVI and SAVR data were assessed and reported separately. For each individual study, the incidence of adverse outcomes was extracted according to a CFS score of 5–9 (ie, frail) versus 1–4 (ie, non-frail), with meta-analysis performed using a random effects model.

Results

Of 2612 records screened, nine were included in the review (five TAVI, three SAVR and one which included both interventions). Among 4923 TAVI patients, meta-analysis showed 12-month mortality rates of 19.1% for the frail cohort versus 9.8% for the non-frail cohort (RR 2.53 (1.63 to 3.95), p<0.001, I2=83%). For the smaller cohort of SAVR patients (n=454), mortality rates were 20.3% versus 3.9% for the frail and non-frail cohorts, respectively (RR 5.08 (2.31 to 11.15), p<0.001, I2=5%).

Conclusions

Frailty, as determined by the CFS, was associated with an increased mortality risk in the 12 months following either TAVI or SAVR. These data would support its use in the preoperative assessment of elderly patients undergoing aortic valve interventions.
Cardiac rehabilitation for heart failure and atrial fibrillation: a propensity- matched study
Authors: Alhotye Munyra , Evans Rachael , Ng Andre , Singh Sally J
Published: August 2023

Background

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is common in individuals with heart failure (HF). Individuals with HF and AF may have a reduced functional capacity and quality of life (QoL) which leads to hospital admission and burden on clinical services. Evidence supported the effect of exercise training in individuals with HF. However, there is no existing data on the effectiveness of comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation (CR) in individuals with coexisting HF and AF.

Aim

To explore the effect of CR in individuals with HF and AF compared with those with HF and no-coexisting AF.

Methods

Using CR database, individuals with HF and AF were identified and propensity matched to those with no coexisting AF. The change in incremental shuttle walking test, Heart Disease Quality of Life questionnaire, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scores were compared between groups pre-CR and post-CR.

Results

149 individuals were propensity matched from each group. The mean±SD age of the matched sample was 73.4±8 years, body mass index 29±5.5 kg/m2, left ventricular ejection fraction 35.2±9.8% and 56% were male.

A statistically significant improvements in exercise capacity, heart disease QoL, anxiety and depression scores were observed within each group. There were no significant differences between groups for any of these outcome measures.

Conclusions

Individuals with HF and AF gain a similar improvement in exercise capacity and health related QoL outcomes as individuals with no coexisting AF following CR. The presence of AF did not compromise the effectiveness of CR.
Modulating the immune system as a therapeutic target for myelodysplastic syndromes and acute myeloid leukemia
Authors: Putnam Caroline M. , Kondeti Lahari , Kesler Meredith B. A. , Varney Melinda E.
Published: August 2023

Modulating the immune system to treat diseases, including myeloid malignancies, has resulted in the development of a multitude of novel therapeutics in recent years. Myelodysplastic syndromes or neoplasms (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) are hematologic malignancies that arise from defects in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs). Dysregulated immune responses, especially in innate immune and inflammatory pathways, are highly associated with the acquisition of HSPC defects in MDS and AML pathogenesis. In addition to utilizing the immune system in immunotherapeutic interventions such as chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy, vaccines, and immune checkpoint inhibitors, mitigating dysregulation of innate immune and inflammatory responses in MDS and AML remains a priority in slowing the initiation and progression of these myeloid malignancies. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the current progress of diverse strategies to utilize or modulate the immune system in the treatment of MDS and AML.
Thermodynamic product formulae for Finslerian Kiselev black hole
Authors: Nekouee Z. , Narasimhamurthy S. K.
Published: August 2023

The main goal of this paper is to solve the Finslerian Kiselev black hole and investigate its thermodynamic characteristics surrounded by dust, radiation, quintessence, and the cosmological constant. Since these black holes have multiple horizons, thus we calculate thermodynamic quantities, including area, horizon radius, Bekenstein–Hawking entropy, Hawking temperature, surface gravity, and Komar energy products. In addition, we study all universal relations of these black holes and discuss the role and effect of the Finslerian Ricci scalar $$(\eta )$$

(
η
)

on Finslerian Kiselev black holes and their stability.
Analyzing image-based political propaganda in referendum campaigns: from elements to strategies
Authors: Wang Ming-Hung , Chang Wei-Yang , Kuo Kuan-Hung , Tsai Kuo-Yu
Published: August 2023

Due to the increasing prominence of social network services, political communication has experienced a paradigm shift. To communicate with internet users, politicians, candidates, and political organizations create fan pages. Initially, they provide text-only material on their pages; later, to increase engagement, they include photos, images, and videos. This paper investigates image-based political images in Taiwan for the first time during a nationwide referendum. Unlike an election, a referendum is a policy-based vote. We evaluate over 2000 Facebook images shared by the two most prominent political parties in order to comprehend the aspects of images and the tactics of political organizations. In addition, we examine the textual content, objects, and colors of the collected data. We find that the characteristics of propaganda materials vary between political groups. Nonetheless, the color strategies employed by both sides are equivalent, with each side utilizing its own representative colors for consolidation and the opponent’s colors for attacking.
Impact of dissipation ratio on vanishing viscosity solutions of the Riemann problem for chemical flooding model
Authors: Bakharev Fedor , Enin Aleksandr , Petrova Yulia , Rastegaev Nikita
Published: August 2023

The solutions for a Riemann problem arising in chemical flooding models are studied using vanishing viscosity as an admissibility criterion. We show that when the flow function depends non-monotonically on the concentration of chemicals, non-classical undercompressive shocks appear. The monotonic dependence of the shock velocity on the ratio of dissipative coefficients is proven. For that purpose we provide the classification of the nullcline configurations for the traveling wave dynamical systems and analyze the saddle–saddle connections.
Existence and uniqueness for a viscoelastic Kelvin–Voigt model with nonconvex stored energy
Authors: Koumatos Konstantinos , Lattanzio Corrado , Spirito Stefano , Tzavaras Athanasios E.
Published: August 2023

We consider nonlinear viscoelastic materials of Kelvin–Voigt-type with stored energies satisfying an Andrews–Ball condition, allowing for nonconvexity in a compact set. Existence of weak solutions with deformation gradients in [Formula: see text] is established for energies of any superquadratic growth. In two space dimensions, weak solutions notably turn out to be unique in this class. Conservation of energy for weak solutions in two and three dimensions, as well as global regularity for smooth initial data in two dimensions are established under additional mild restrictions on the growth of the stored energy.
A Taxonomy of Live Migration Management in Cloud Computing
Authors: He Tianzhang , Buyya Rajkumar
Published: August 2023

Cloud Data Centers have become the key infrastructure for providing services. Instance migration across different computing nodes in edge and cloud computing is essential to guarantee the quality of service in dynamic environments. Many studies have been conducted on dynamic resource management involving migrating Virtual Machines to achieve various objectives, such as load balancing, consolidation, performance, energy-saving, and disaster recovery. Some have investigated to improve and predict the performance of single live migration. Recently, several research studies service migration in edge-centric computing paradigms. However, there is a lack of taxonomy and survey that focuses on the management of live migration in edge and cloud computing environments. In this article, we examine the characteristics of each field and propose a migration management-centric taxonomy to provide a holistic framework and guideline for researchers on the topic, including the performance and cost model, migration generations in resource management algorithms, migration planning and scheduling, and migration lifecycle management and orchestration. We also identify research gaps and opportunities to improve the performance of resource management with live migrations.
Reminiscences on Influential Papers
Authors: Aboulnaga Ashraf
Published: August 2023

This issue's contributors highlight their influences when it comes to their research agenda on parallel data processing and skyline queries, respectively. Enjoy reading!

While I will keep inviting members of the data management community, and neighboring communities, to contribute to this column, I also welcome unsolicited contributions. Please contact me if you are interested.
Mid-Career Academics: What I Have Learned or Wish I Had Known
Authors: Luo Qiong
Published: August 2023

As I agreed on contributing a piece to this series of which Tamer is in charge, I read all the preceding articles to get inspiration. The impression I got was, "gosh, I wish I had known all this back in my mid-career days and even these days!" For example, I did place students on my collaborative projects, but would have made faster progress in some projects if I had insisted on having weekly meetings. Or I should have considered a more detailed list of factors before committing to a task of considerable amount of work.
Overall Water Splitting by Bio-Modification of Fe3O4 with Co–Ni Complexes
Authors: Amiri Mandana , Afruz Ali , Nozari-Asbemarz Mehran , Bezaatpour Abolfazl , Vocke Heinrich , Taffa Dereje H. , Wark Michael
Published: August 2023

For years, hydrogen has found much interest as a substitute for fossil fuels but the high cost of green hydrogen production has led to a small share of the daily energy consumed. To overcome this issue, various low-cost electrocatalysts have been designed and reported to facilitate water splitting and hydrogen production. In this study, by using polyphenols extracts from Camellia sinensis plant and folic acid along with magnetic cores, we designed and synthesized a novel electrocatalyst with high ability of water splitting reactions. The catalyst was characterized by using transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, FTIR spectroscopy and thermogravimetric techniques. The catalyst exhibited high performance for overall water splitting. The overpotential of 245 mV and 346 mV (for 100 mA cm–2) with a Tafel slopes of 39 and 86 mV dec–1 were obtained for OER and HER, respectively. The Faradic efficiency for both OER and HER was calculated being close to 100%.
Evaluation of Hydrogen Ions Flowing through Protonic Ceramic Fuel Cell Using Ytterbium-Doped Barium Zirconate as Electrolyte
Authors: Okuyama Yuji , Harada Yoshiaki , Mikami Yuichi , Yamauchi Kosuke , Kuroha Tomohiro , Shimada Hiroyuki , Yamaguchi Yuki , Mizutani Yasunobu
Published: August 2023

To measure the proton current in a PCFC (protonic ceramic fuel cell), the proton current detector was developed using a proton conducting oxide. The amount of proton current that flowed in the PCFC can be measured by an apparatus developed based on the electromotive force of an electrochemical cell using 10 mol% In-doped CaZrO3 (hydrogen sensor) and Y-stabilized zirconia (oxygen sensor). The water vapor pressure on the cathode changed when hydrogen ions pass through the PCFC. The hydrogen ion current can be determined by monitoring the water vapor pressure. The electronic leakage was then estimated from the hydrogen ion current and external current. We measured the current of hydrogen flowing through protonic ceramic fuel cell using ytterbium-doped barium zirconate as the electrolyte. Hydrogen ions and holes were found to leak under the OCV at 700 °C. The electronic leakage was found to be suppressed with the increasing electrolyte film thickness. On the other hand, no leakage of hydrogen and holes was observed at 500 °C.
Effects of Surfactants on the Chemical Mechanical Polishing Performance of a-Plane Sapphire Substrates
Authors: Chen Guomei , Xu Yiceng , Ni Zifeng , Bai Yawen , Fan Qiang , Chen Zongyu
Published: August 2023

The effects of four different types of surfactants, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB, cationic type), sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS, anion type), N-Laurylaminoacetic acid (NL, amphoteric type) and primary alcohol ethoxylate (AEO, non-ionic type), on the chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) performance of a-plane sapphire substrates in the range of pH 6–12 were investigated using colloidal silica as abrasive particles. The results demonstrated that cationic surfactants promoted the material removal of the sapphire substrate in the range of pH 9–12, while anionic, amphoteric, and non-ionic surfactants inhibited the material removal of the sapphire substrate in the range of pH 6–10. The mechanism of material removal in sapphire CMP was discussed through AFM observations, zeta potential measurements, particle size distribution tests, and friction behavior analysis.
Ryanodine receptor inhibition with acute dantrolene treatment reduces arrhythmia susceptibility in human hearts
Authors: George Sharon A. , Brennan-McLean Jaclyn A. , Trampel Katy A. , Rytkin Eric , Faye N. Rokhaya , Knollmann Bjorn C. , Efimov Igor R.
Published: August 2023

Ryanodine receptor 2 hyperactivity is observed in structural heart diseases caused by ischemia or heart failure. It causes abnormal calcium leaks, which can trigger arrhythmias. To prevent arrhythmias, we applied dantrolene in human hearts ex vivo. Isoproterenol and caffeine treatment increased PVC incidence, whereas dantrolene reduced the PVC burden. Dantrolene treatment suppresses triggers and reverses arrhythmogenic substrates and could be a novel antiarrhythmic therapy in patients with structural heart disease.