bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The efficacy of sodium glucose co-transport-2 inhibitors on glycemic control for patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Zhang Yajie , Gan Ping , Huo Yanan
Published: July 2021

Background:

Currently, there are a number of sodium glucose co-transport-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors that are under development or in clinical trials. Prior meta-analyses had established the safety and efficacy of SGLT2 inhibitors in type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), but with low level of evidences and inconsistent conclusions. However, recently many new randomized clinical trials (RCTs) have been published, we hence try to design a study protocol to assess the effect of SGLT2 inhibitors on cardiovascular events via a comprehensive meta-analysis of data from much more RCTs, including sensitivity and subgroup analyses.

Methods:

We will follow the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) reporting guidelines to conduct this meta-analysis. Two investigators will perform a systematic search of scientific literature in the databases (from conception through June 12, 2021), including PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. This meta-analysis will be conducted using RevMan statistical software. The risk of bias for each included study will be assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Assessment Tool.

Results:

Our protocol is conceived to test the hypothesis that SGLT2 inhibitors could lead to better outcomes in patients presenting with T1DM.

Registration number:

10.17605/OSF.IO/ZD8WX.
Clinical therapeutic effects of eradication of Helicobacter pylori in treating patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Shi Zhi-Guo , Chen Li-Hui
Published: July 2021

Background:

Previous studies have demonstrated that Helicobacter pylori is a critical factor in the development of gastrointestinal diseases. However, only limited studies have reported results on the relationship between H pylori infection and patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Moreover, the conclusions from these past studies are variable. Because there are contradictory results on this issue, the present study aims to examine the clinical therapeutic impacts of H pylori eradication to treat patients experiencing T2DM.

Methods:

The present protocol is drafted according to the provisions of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analyses Protocols guidelines. PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials databases, EMBASE, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Chinese BioMedical Literature Database will be searched up to May 2021 to obtain randomized controlled trials evaluating the clinical therapeutic effects of H pylori eradication to treat patients experiencing T2DM. We will use 2 investigators independently to carry out study selection, data extraction, and employ the Cochrane Collaboration criteria to evaluate their risks of bias. Furthermore, we will apply Stata 16.0 software to perform data analysis.

Results:

We intend to evaluate the clinical therapeutic impacts of H pylori eradication to treat patients suffering from T2DM.

Conclusions:

Our findings may support existing evidence on the clinical therapeutic impacts of H pylori eradication to treat patients with T2DM.

Ethics and dissemination:

Since all data will be extracted from the published literature, the study does not require an ethical approval.

OSF registration number:

May 31, 2021.osf.io/qtexu. (https://osf.io/qtexu/)
Detection of Chlamydia psittaci in both blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid using metagenomic next-generation sequencing
Authors: Yuan Yingpu , Zhang Xiaobo , Gui Chunmei
Published: July 2021

Rationale:

Chlamydia psittaci (C psittaci) is a gram-negative obligate intracellular parasite, with birds as main hosts. The main route of infection in humans is inhalation of aerosols from contaminated animal excreta through the respiratory tract. The main manifestation of C psittaci infection is pneumonia. Patients suffering from severe infection are prone to sepsis and multiple organ failure. We report a case of simultaneous detection of C psittaci in blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid using metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) technology.

Patient concerns:

The 71-year-old male patient was a farmer with a long history of raising poultry and initial symptoms of fever and muscle pain accompanied by limb weakness and paroxysmal cough.

Diagnoses:

The patient was diagnosed with sepsis, severe pneumonia, and multiple organ failure.

Interventions:

Anti-infective therapy with doxycycline and meropenem was applied.

Outcomes:

The patient's body temperature and infection indicators improved and the chest X-ray findings showed the amelioration of lesions after 18 days of treatment. The patient was discharged without treatment on hospital day 19 due to financial constraints and subsequently died after 7 days.

Lessons:

mNGS is an excellent diagnostic tool when specific pathogens are undetected by traditional assays.
Smartphone based alerting of first responders during the corona virus disease-19 pandemic
Authors: Ganter Julian , Damjanovic Domagoj , Trummer Georg , Busch Hans-Jörg , Baldas Klemens , Hänsel Mike , Müller Michael Patrick
Published: July 2021

Smartphone alerting systems (SAS) for first responders potentially shorten the resuscitation-free interval of patients with acute cardiac arrest. During the corona virus disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic, many systems are suspended due to potential risks for the responders.

Objective of the study was to establish a concept for SAS during the COVID-19 pandemic and to evaluate whether a SAS can safely be operated in pandemic conditions.

A SAS had been implemented in Freiburg (Germany) in 2018 alerting nearby registered first responders in case of emergencies with suspected cardiac arrest. Due to the pandemic, SAS was stopped in March 2020. A concept for a safe restart was elaborated with provision of a set with ventilation bag/mask, airway filter, and personal protective equipment (PPE) for every volunteer. A standard operating procedure was elaborated following the COVID-19 guidelines of the European Resuscitation Council.

Willingness of the participants to respond alarms during the pandemic was investigated using an online survey. The response rates of first responders were monitored before and after deactivation, and during the second wave of the pandemic.

The system was restarted in May 2020. The willingness to respond to alarms was lower during the pandemic without PPE. It remained lower than before the pandemic when the volunteers had been equipped with PPE, but the alarm response rate remained at approximately 50% during the second wave of the pandemic.

When volunteers are equipped with PPE, the operation of a SAS does not need to be paused, and the willingness to respond remains high among first responders.
Time-saving effects using helicopter transportation: comparison to a ground transportation time predicted using a social navigation software
Authors: Jang Ji Young , Kwon Woo-Keun , Roh Haewon , Moon Jong Ha , Hwang Jun Seong , Kim Yoon Jic , Kim Jang Hun
Published: July 2021

Previous comparison studies regarding 2 types of transportation, helicopter (HEMS) versus ground emergency medical services (GEMS), have shown underlying heterogeneity as these options have completely different routes and consequent times with reference to one patient. To compare the 2 types of transportation on a case-by-case basis, we analyzed the retrospectively reviewed HEMS and predicted GEMS data using an open-source navigation software.

Patients transferred by military HEMS from 2016 to 2019 were retrospectively enrolled. The HEMS records on the time of notification, injury point and destination address, and time required were reviewed. The GEMS data on distance and the predicted time required were acquired using open-source social navigation systems. Comparison analyses between the two types of transportation were conducted. Furthermore, linear logistic regression analyses were performed on the distance and time of the two options.

A total of 183 patients were enrolled. There was no statistical difference (P = .3021) in the distance between the 2 types of transportation, and the HEMS time was significantly shorter than that of GEMS (61.31 vs 116.92 minutes, P < .001). The simple linear curves for HEMS and GEMS were separately secured, and two graphs presented the statistical significance (P) as well as reasonable goodness-of-fit (R
2). In general, the HEMS graph demonstrates a more gradual slope and narrow distribution compared to that of GEMS.

Ideally, HEMS is identified as a better transportation modality because it has a shorter transportation time (56 minutes saved) and a low possibility of potential time delays (larger R
2). With a strict patient selection, HEMS can rescue injured or emergent patients who are “out of the golden hour.”
Analysis of pediatric emergency department patient volume trends during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Pepper Matthew Philip , Leva Ernest , Trivedy Prerna , Luckey James , Baker Mark Douglas
Published: July 2021

During the early period of the COVID-19 pandemic there was a substantial decrease in pediatric emergency department (PED) visitation. The intent of this study is to report PED utilization during the COVID-19 pandemic in an urban pediatric referral center located close to the epicenter in the northeastern US.

A retrospective analysis of medical records of patients visiting the PED at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH) was performed. Data included: daily census, admission rate, Emergency Severity Index, and ICD-10 diagnosis codes for the period of February through July, 2018 to 2020.

By the week of March 26th, visits had decreased by 70% compared to the average of the previous 2 years. This census nadir lasted for 6 weeks. At 5 weeks postnadir the average daily census recovered to levels 40% lower than prior year norms and remained at that level during subsequent months. The greatest decreases were seen in low-acuity visits. Visits for behavioral health and fractures decreased by approximately 50% and 70%, respectively, but recovered to prior year norms by June and July of 2020. Visits for asthma exacerbation decreased by as much as 87% and remained at record lows for the remainder of the study period.

A substantial and persistent decrease in PED visitation was experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. Whereas visits for behavioral health and fractures have recovered to prior year norms, visits for asthma exacerbation remain at record lows. Further research is needed to ascertain the causes of these changes, including patient perceptions of the PED.
The prevalence and associated factors of burnout among undergraduates in a university
Authors: Li You , Cao Liang , Liu Jianyuan , Zhang Tai , Yang Yixing , Shi Wuxiang , Wei Yingjue
Published: July 2021

The study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and possible factors associated with burnout (BO) among undergraduates in a university setting in Dali.

This cross-sectional study involved students enrolled in different specialties. The method of stratified random sampling was used to conduct the investigation. The questionnaire included Maslach Burnout Inventory and the influencing factors. The data were analyzed using SPSS 16.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL). The quantitative data were compared using t tests or ANOVA. Multiple linear regression was used to assess the relationship between BO risk and relevant influencing factors.

The prevalence of study BO was 38.1%. Significant differences of the mean scores on BO and low personal efficacy were observed between men and women, with women obtaining a higher score (t = –2.588, P = .010; t = –2.929, P = .003; respectively). The scores of overall BO, emotional exhaustion (EE), and cynicism were low, whereas that of professional efficacy was higher for students with excellent marks (P = .000). Students majoring in liberal arts obtained low scores of overall BO, EE, and cynicism. Nevertheless, their score for professional efficacy was higher than those from other specializations (P < .05). Total BO, as the dependent variable, revealed that 3 predictors (social factors, school factors, and interpersonal communication) accounted for 30.8% of the variance (R
2 = 0.308). A regression analysis of EE as the dependent variable identified that 2 variables (social and school factors) explained 45.8% of the variance (R
2 = 0.458).

BO among undergraduates is present in a university setting in Dali. A variety of factors including social factors, school factors, and interpersonal communication can influence the prevalence of BO. Therefore, society should strengthen employment and further understand psychology; schools and families must pay attention to the psychological development of college students.
Fracture of a covered stent–graft due to heterotopic ossification of residual hematoma after endovascular treatment of superficial femoral artery pseudoaneurysm
Authors: Ge Jinting , Wang Tiehao , Zhao Jichun , Lu Susu , Wang Jiarong , Yuan Ding
Published: July 2021

Rationale:

Endovascular treatment (EVT) is considered a preferred procedure of superficial femoral artery (SFA) pseudoaneurysm in recent years. However, heterotopic ossification (HO) after SFA pseudoaneurysm is a rare occurrence, that may cause late stent–graft fracture.

Patient concerns:

A 58-year-old male who underwent EVT for SFA pseudoaneurysm 8 years ago presented with a progressive mass at the right thigh and claudication. Computed tomography angiography (CTA) showed fracture and occlusion of stent–graft, which was compressed by the deep femoral artery (DFA) pseudoaneurysm and a bone-like body.

Diagnosis:

According to the CTA images, the stent–graft was fractured and occluded, accompanied by DFA pseudoaneurysm.

Interventions and outcomes:

Debridement and arterial reconstruction were performed. Pathological analysis showed that the bone-like body was derived from HO. CTA at one-year follow-up showed that the prosthetic vessel was patent and previous hematoma disappeared.

Conclusions:

This report demonstrates that residual hematoma can induce HO, which may result in late stent fracture, and it should thus be removed timely. Patients with SFA pseudoaneurysm who have undergone EVT should be followed up regularly.
Gwakhyangjeonggi-san for irritable bowel syndrome
Authors: Park Jongwon , Ko Seok-Jae , Han Gajin , Kim Keumji , Jun Hyejin , Park Jae-Woo
Published: July 2021

Background:

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic functional bowel disorder characterized by abdominal pain or discomfort, stool irregularities, and bloating. Owing to its atypical symptoms and various mechanisms, there is no standard treatment for IBS. Gwakhyangjeonggi-san (GJS), a traditional Korean herbal medicine, has been used to treat lower intestinal abnormalities in Asia. We will systematically review randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to evaluate the efficacy and safety of GJS as a complementary treatment for IBS.

Methods and analysis:

Four English databases, namely, Medline (via PubMed), EMBASE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and the Allied and Complementary Medicine Database, will be searched for entries up to May, 2021. Additional databases will include 5 Korean databases, 1 Chinese database, and 1 Japanese database. RCTs and quasi-RCTs will be searched for to assess the effectiveness and safety of GJS. The primary outcome measure will be the overall efficacy rate, and the secondary outcome will include data such as global symptom scores, IBS Quality of Life measurements, and adverse events. Data analysis will be performed using Review Manager Version 5.3, and the risk of bias will be assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration's risk-of-bias tool. The quality of the results will be evaluated using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach.

Conclusion:

This systematic review will provide evidence for the efficacy and safety of GJS for IBS.

OSF registration number:

DOI 10.17605/OSF.IO/V93JN (https://osf.io/v93jn).
Systematic Review of Quality Improvement Projects Related to Intershift Nursing Handover
Authors: Cho Sumi , Lee Jung Lim , Kim Kyeong Sug , Kim Eun Man
Published: July 2021

Background:

Nursing handover is a real-time process in which patient-specific information is passed between nurses to ensure the continuity and safety of patient care.

Purpose:

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of quality improvement (QI) projects in improving the intershift nursing handover process.

Methods:

A computerized search was performed of electronic databases for articles published during 2009-2019 in English or Korean for which the full texts were available. The included studies involved QI projects, handover between nurses, and intershift handover. The QI-MQCS (Quality Improvement Minimum Quality Criteria Set) was used to appraise the quality of QI strategies.

Results:

The handover methods used in the 22 QI projects could be broadly divided into 2 types: (1) using a standardized communication tool; and (2) involving patient-participation bedside handover.

Conclusions:

The published research on intershift handover-related QI projects employed standardized communication tools and the patient-participation bedside handover method to reduce adverse events and handover times and increase the satisfaction of patients and nurses. Future studies should measure the changes in patient safety-related outcomes.
Systematic Debriefing for Critical Events Facilitates Team Dynamics, Education, and Process Improvement
Authors: Gabriel Paula M. , Smith Kirsten , Mullen-Fortino Margaret , Ballinghoff James , Holland Sara , Cacchione Pamela Z.
Published: July 2021

Background:

Debriefing is used in clinical settings to support interprofessional staff, improve processes, and identify educational needs. Nurses who lead debriefing sessions are empowered to improve processes.

Problem:

Nurse leaders identified the need for debriefing outside the critical care areas due to the rising acuity levels.

Approach:

Two nurse leaders developed a debriefing initiative in one urban teaching hospital following rapid responses, codes, and stressful situations. Nurses developed a Debriefing Facilitation Guide to collect qualitative aspects of clinical emergencies to improve processes, education, and team dynamics.

Outcomes:

Following each debriefing session, we deductively purposively coded the qualitative data into 3 a priori themes: the American Heart Association's team dynamics, process improvement, and educational opportunities. We identified opportunities for improvement for these themes during our first 54 debriefing sessions.

Conclusions:

Following each debriefing session, the debriefing nurse leader intervened on all educational and process improvement opportunities identified and facilitated positive team dynamics.
Host transcriptional signatures as predictive markers of infection in children
Authors: Mejias Asuncion , Cohen Shira , Glowinski Rebecca , Ramilo Octavio
Published: July 2021

Purpose of review

Analyses of the host transcriptional response to infection has proved to be an alternative diagnostic strategy to standard direct pathogen detection. This review summarizes the value of applying blood and mucosal transcriptome analyses for the diagnosis and management of children with viral and bacterial infections.

Recent findings

Over the years, studies have validated the concept that RNA transcriptional profiles derived from children with infectious diseases carry a pathogen-specific biosignature that can be qualitatively and quantitively measured. These biosignatures can be translated into a biologically meaningful context to improve patient diagnosis, as seen in children with tuberculosis, rhinovirus infections, febrile infants and children with pneumonia; understand disease pathogenesis (i.e. congenital CMV) and objectively classify patients according to clinical severity (i.e. respiratory syncytial virus).

The global assessment of host RNA transcriptional immune responses has improved our understanding of the host-pathogen interactions in the clinical setting. It has shown the potential to be used in clinical situations wherein our current diagnostic tools are inadequate, guiding the diagnosis and classification of children with infectious diseases.
Systematic Undercoding of Diagnostic Procedures in National Inpatient Sample (NIS): A Threat to Validity Due to Surveillance Bias
Authors: Owodunni Oluwafemi P. , Lau Brandyn D. , Florecki Katherine L. , Webster Kristen L. W. , Shaffer Dauryne L. , Hobson Deborah B. , Kraus Peggy S. , Holzmueller Christine G. , Canner Joseph K. , Streiff Michael B. , Haut Elliott R.
Published: July 2021

Background and Objectives:

Health services research often relies on readily available data, originally collected for administrative purposes and used for public reporting and pay-for-performance initiatives. We examined the prevalence of underreporting of diagnostic procedures for acute myocardial infarction (AMI), deep venous thrombosis (DVT), and pulmonary embolism (PE), used for public reporting and pay-for-performance initiatives.

Method:

We retrospectively identified procedures for AMI, DVT, and PE in the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database between 2012 and 2016. From January 1, 2012, through September 30, 2015, the NIS used the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) coding scheme. From October 1, 2015, through December 31, 2016, the NIS used the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) coding scheme. We grouped the data by ICD code definitions (ICD-9 or ICD-10) to reflect these code changes and to prevent any confounding or misclassification. In addition, we used survey weighting to examine the utilization of venous duplex ultrasound scan for DVT, electrocardiogram (ECG) for AMI, and chest computed tomography (CT) scan, pulmonary angiography, echocardiography, and nuclear medicine ventilation/perfusion (

) scan for PE.

Results:

In the ICD-9 period, by primary diagnosis, only 0.26% (n = 5930) of patients with reported AMI had an ECG. Just 2.13% (n = 7455) of patients with reported DVT had a peripheral vascular ultrasound scan. For patients with PE diagnosis, 1.92% (n = 12 885) had pulmonary angiography, 3.92% (n = 26 325) had CT scan, 5.31% (n = 35 645) had cardiac ultrasound scan, and 0.45% (n = 3025) had

scan. In the ICD-10 period, by primary diagnosis, 0.04% (n = 345) of reported AMI events had an ECG and 0.91% (n = 920) of DVT events had a peripheral vascular ultrasound scan. For patients with PE diagnosis, 2.08% (n = 4805) had pulmonary angiography, 0.63% (n = 1460) had CT scan, 1.68% (n = 3890) had cardiac ultrasound scan, and 0.06% (n = 140) had

scan. Small proportions of diagnostic procedures were observed for any diagnoses of AMI, DVT, or PE.

Conclusions:

Our findings question the validity of using NIS and other administrative databases for health services and outcomes research that rely on certain diagnostic procedures. Unfortunately, the NIS does not provide granular data that can control for differences in diagnostic procedure use, which can lead to surveillance bias. Researchers and policy makers must understand and acknowledge the limitations inherent in these databases, when used for pay-for-performance initiatives and hospital benchmarking.
Evaluation of Patients for Percutaneous Edge-to-edge Mitral Valve Repair
Authors: Renker Matthias , Fischer-Rasokat Ulrich , Walther Claudia , Kim Won-Keun , Rixe Johannes , Dörr Oliver , Nef Holger , Rolf Andreas , Möllmann Helge , Hamm Christian W.
Published: July 2021

Purpose:

We sought to compare parameters derived from cardiac computed tomography angiography (CCTA) with those from transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) for the evaluation of patients with severe mitral regurgitation (MR) before percutaneous edge-to-edge mitral valve repair (PE2E). TEE is the mainstay for PE2E, although it has specific limitations. CCTA enables measurements in any arbitrary plane with high spatial resolution and offers good calcium visibility.

Materials and Methods:

Patients who underwent TEE and CCTA before scheduled PE2E at 2 medical centers were included in this retrospective analysis. Quantitative parameters relevant for PE2E were obtained from TEE and CCTA in a blinded manner and the intrareviewer variability was assessed.

Results:

All 30 patients (15 female, 76±10 y) had secondary MR attributable to ischemic (60%) or nonischemic cardiomyopathy (40%). On comparing parameters from TEE and CCTA, left ventricular end-diastolic diameter was 60±11 versus 64±11 mm (r=0.90), intercommissural mitral annulus was 35±5 versus 35±5 mm (r=0.88), long-axis annulus was 33±5 versus 33±5 mm (r=0.74), the distance between the fossa ovalis and the leaflet coaptation was 42±5 versus 41±5 mm (r=0.81), the anterior mitral leaflet was 21±6 versus 20±7 mm (r=0.81), the posterior mitral leaflet was 13±2 versus 13±2 mm (r=0.91), and the median mitral calcification was 1 (interquartile range: 0 to 2) versus 0 (interquartile range: 0 to 1; r=0.53), respectively. Intrareviewer agreement was good and excellent for continuous and categorical variables, respectively.

Conclusions:

Our data suggest that evaluation of the mitral valve apparatus with CCTA in patients considered for PE2E is feasible, correlates well with TEE, and offers improved calcium visibility. In selected cases, additional information from CCTA may be helpful for achieving optimal interventional results.
Factors Affecting Outcomes of Craniofacial Clinical Trials
Authors: Halepas Steven , Lee Kevin C. , Nwokeji Paul , Castiglione Charles , Ferneini Elie M.
Published: July 2021

Purpose:

This study aims to provide a cross-sectional view of craniofacial trials and to identify factors associated with completion, publication, and trial longevity.

Materials and Methods:

This is a cross-sectional study of cleft and craniofacial clinical trials registered with ClinicalTrials.gov between September 1999 and April 2020. Predictor variables included funding source, trial design, trial location, number of recruitment sites, and investigator specialty.

Study outcomes were completion status, publication status, and trial duration. Univariate comparisons and multivariate regression models were calculated for each outcome.

Results:

The final sample included 179 clinical trials pertaining to craniofacial care. Nearly all trials were single-center (86.5%), and roughly half of trials were interventional (57.0%) or conducted in the United States (40.5%). No single specialty predominated, although plastic surgery (13.4%) was the most common investigator specialty. The completion rate was 82.7%, the publication rate was 40.8%, and the mean trial duration was 39.1 months. Interventional design (odds ratio = 0.30, P = 0.02) and United States location (odds ratio = 0.15, P < 0.01) were each independently associated with lower odds of trial completion. Trial longevity was independently associated with the National Institute of Health-funding (P < 0.01) and multicenter design (P < 0.01).

Conclusions:

Craniofacial trials are multidisciplinary and have a high rate of completion. Although most existing trials were conducted at only a single-center, multicenter efforts significantly increased trial longevity without compromising completion and publication rates. Given the diverse array of conditions and lines of inquiry that compose craniofacial care, it is reassuring that collaboration did not negatively affect trial outcomes.
Patient First: Surgery First and More
Authors: Azzuni Camillo , Moro Alessandro , Saponaro Gianmarco , Gasparini Giulio , Soverina Davide , Barbera Giorgio , Pelo Sandro
Published: July 2021

Introduction:

The success of surgery first approach has been defined by the number of advantages offered and is definitively determined by the satisfaction of the patients themselves. The strength of this protocol resides in its philosophy that puts the patient at the center of the whole diagnostic-therapeutic process. The compliance of the patient, its happiness and comfort are the best guarantee of a good final results. While pursuing this philosophy we have wondered whether there was way to increase the comfort of surgery first approach even more and to make it even more appealing for the patients. For these reasons, we have decided to work on a preliminary protocol in order to reduce or even eliminate the use of orthodontic braces and wires during perioperative stages. Materials and Methods: No orthodontic braces or wires are bonded on the teeth before surgery. Intraoperatory intermaxillary fixation (IMF) is carried out with the use of IMF screws which are positioned at the beginning of the operation on the edge between keratinized and nonkeratinized gingiva. Once the osteotomies are performed IMF with IMF screws is carried out on the planned occlusion with the use of surgical splints.

Discussion and Conclusions: In selected cases the postsurgical orthodontic treatment can be carried out with the use of clear aligners, completely eliminating the need of braces and wires with an additional level of comfort.
Oral-Ocular Synkinesis in a 21-Year Old Female Head Trauma Patient Following Facial Nerve Decompression Surgery
Authors: Abbas Kirellos Said , Dong Vinh , Ha Nam Xuan , Ragheb Marina Samy , Brown Ashlyn , AL-Manaseer Balqees , Shehata Joseph , Raut Akshay , Minh Le Huu Nhat , Biala Marwa , Huy Nguyen Tien
Published: July 2021

Facial synkinesis can happen as a negative event following the recovery of facial nerve paralysis. In this case report, five months after right facial nerve decompression surgery following right sided head trauma, a 21-year-old female patient developed oral-ocular synkinesis. During her attempt to voluntarily smile, she experienced uncontrolled winking of her right eye. Exercise therapy was used as a treatment modality which largely improved her facial nerve function and decreased her synkinesis. As a treatment modality, exercise therapy was used which saw a great improvement in both her facial nerve function and decreased her synkinesis.
Accessory Nostril Associated With Choanal Atresia
Authors: Shanmuganathan Pragaash , Chong David K.
Published: July 2021

Accessory nostril or supernumerary nostril is one of the rare congenital deformities of the nose. The first case was reported by Lindsay B (1906),
1
since then 42 cases have been reported in the literature. There is no uniform surgical approach to treat this anomaly. The authors present a child with left side accessory nostril with bilateral choanal atresia and describe our surgical approach.
Intracranial Infiltration of a Scalp Neoplasm After Hair Dyeing 10 Years Ago
Authors: Xiao Jin , Ye Lei , Cheng Hong-Wei
Published: July 2021

Cosmetics with unknown chemical components may cause unexpected cancers. Here, we report a rare case of hair dye-induced intracranial communicating scalp sebaceous carcinoma in a young female who dyed her hair 10 years ago. The histological origin of the intracranial communicating neoplasm was of priority for subsequent therapeutic decisions, therefore, requiring comprehensive diagnostic strategy. In conclusion, this case report emphasizes careful evaluation of the long-term risks for unlabeled cosmetics.
Comparative Study on the Treatment of Ankyloglossia by Using Er:YAG Laser or Traditional Scalpel
Authors: Shang Jiang , Han Maoqiang , Sun Jing , Xu Dapeng , Qu Weidong
Published: July 2021

The aim of this study was to compare, respectively, postoperative pain, wound healing, and patient satisfaction following lingual frenum extension treated with the Erbium Yttrium aluminum garnet. (Er:YAG) laser or the conventional scalpel. Twenty-eight patients receiving lingual frenectomy were randomly assigned to the Er:YAG laser group (n = 15) or the traditional scalpel group (n = 13). The surgical parameters were set to 3W or 4W basing on types of the lingual frenum when the Er:YAG laser was working. The same procedure was applied to the traditional scalpel group with transverse incision and longitudinal suture. The postoperative pain, wound healing and patient satisfaction were evaluated at 3 hours, 3, 7, and 30 days after operation. The visual analog scale score of postoperative pain in Er:YAG laser group was lower than that in traditional scalpel group at each time point. The wound healing score of the laser group were significantly lower than that of the traditional scalpel group at 3 and 7 days after surgery. There was no significant difference in mental, diet, and language satisfaction between the 2 groups at different time points after operation. In conclusion, Er:YAG laser was superior to the scalpel regarding minor soft-tissue surgery, and it could relieve the pain and discomfort of patients in the early stage of wound.
The Educational Reliability and Viewer Interest of YouTube Videos Presenting Otoplasty Procedures
Authors: Avci Hakan , Boldaz Eren
Published: July 2021

Introduction:

Otoplasty procedures consist of around 30% of facial plastics surgeries in the adult population. In this study, we aimed to assess the reliability of YouTube otoplasty videos based on technical video analysis, usefulness scores, and recommended surgical steps.

Methods:

The present study evaluated 356 videos after a search on YouTube with the keywords “otoplasty, prominent ear, cosmetic otoplasty, and aesthetic ear surgery” during the period from October 2008 to June 2020. The viewer interest parameters such as the total number of views, comments, subscribers, likes, dislikes, source of videos, and video upload date were assessed. Besides, usefulness scores and recommended surgical steps were also analyzed.

Results:

Among the 356 videos that were compatible with the keywords of the study, only 122 (34%) of them were in agreement with the inclusion criteria. Group 1 (not useful and slightly useful) comprised 69 (57%) videos, and Group 2 (useful and very useful) consisted of 53 (43%) videos. The mean numbers of views, subscribers, and likes were 20544.65 ± 55235.41, 6718.37 ± 20213.54, and 44.34 ± 121.48, respectively, in Group 1, and 82905.22 ± 292819.49, 18603.57 ± 58007.94, and 1089.09 ± 6991.91, respectively, in Group 2. All 3 parameters were significantly higher in Group 2 than Group 1 (P: 0.02, P: 0.005, P: 0.01, respectively).

Conclusions:

Overall, only 43% of YouTube videos presenting otoplasty procedures were defined as useful or very useful. The interest rates of the viewers are compatible with the usefulness rate of the otoplasty videos.
Decreasing Incidence of Palatoplasty in the United States
Authors: ElHawary Hassan , Czuzoj-Shulman Nicholas , Abenhaim Haim A. , Gilardino Mirko S.
Published: July 2021

Introduction:

Cleft palate is amongst the most common birth defect across the world. Although its etiology is multifactorial, including genetic and environmental contributors, the investigators were interested in exploring whether its incidence was changing over time.

Methods:

The Nationwide Inpatient Sample database, the largest publically available healthcare database in the United States, was used to identify all primary palatoplasties performed under 2 years of age and births which occurred over a 17-year period from 1999 to 2015. The change in rate of palatoplasties and overall maternal demographics were assessed longitudinally using the chi-squared test. Significance level was set at P < 0.001.

Results:

A total of 13,808,795 pregnancies were reviewed during the time period, from 1999 to 2015, inclusively. A total of 10,567 primary palatoplasties were performed in that period of time reflecting an overall rate of 7.7 palatoplasties per 10,000 deliveries. Palatoplasty rates decreased across the study period from 9.5 per 10,000 in 1999 to 7.1 per 10,000 died/delivered pregnancies in 2015 which corresponds to an average compounded year-to-year decrease of 1.76%, P < 0.001.

Conclusions:

The rate of primary palatoplasties, as a proxy for the rate of cleft palate prevalence, has been significantly decreasing over the last 2 decades and may represent improvements in early diagnosis in pregnancy, changing genetic or racial demographics, and/or environmental factors such as decreased maternal smoking in the US population. Future research may be directed at better understanding the definitive etiology of this decreasing prevalence of children undergoing primary cleft palate repairs in the United States.
Virtual Navigation Endoscopically Integrated Into Orbital Trauma
Authors: González Luis Vicente , López Juan Pablo , Valencia-Muñoz Carolina , Arango Alejandro
Published: July 2021

Orbital reconstruction has traditionally been accomplished utilizing different techniques developed for this purpose and has been modified and improved throughout the years. However, there is a high rate of complications associated with eye globe positioning and/or migration of implants, which has created the need to continue to improve these techniques to decrease the frequency of complications. On the other hand, techniques that involve an endoscopic approach and technologies that use virtual surgical planning and three-dimensional model impressions are being used more often to decrease complication rates and seek better surgical outcomes. Combining these 2 methods results in endoscopically integrated virtual surgical navigation. When used for orbital reconstruction, it can be a great alternative and can be useful to decrease the risk of complications associated with this procedure. Therefore, this technical note aims to describe the integration of these 2 techniques into the same instrument to demonstrate the synergy of their benefits when used together.
Neuroprotection against 1-Methyl-4-phenylpyridinium-induced cytotoxicity by naturally occurring polydatin through activation of transcription factor MEF2D
Authors: Cao Jie , Guo Baojian , Li Sai , Zhang Xaojing , Zhang Xiaoqi , Zhang Gaoxiao , Sun Yewei , Wang Yuqiang , Song Xiubao , Zhang Zaijun
Published: July 2021

Polydatin is the major active ingredient of Polygonum cuspidatum Sieb. Et Zucc. A recent study indicated that polydatin could protect against substantia nigra dopaminergic degeneration in rodent models associated with Parkinson’s disease. However, mechanisms that underlie the neuroprotection of polydatin have not been fully elucidated. In the current study, the neuroprotective effects and detailed mechanisms of action of polydatin were investigated in Parkinson’s disease-related cellular models. Polydatin dose- and time-dependently prevented neurotoxicity caused by 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion (MPP+) in primary cerebellar granule neurons. Moreover, we found that polydatin enhanced the activity of the transcription factor myocyte enhancer factor 2D (MEF2D) at both basal and pathological conditions using luciferase reporter gene assay. Additionally, western blot analysis revealed that polydatin could downregulate glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β), which is a negative regulator of MEF2D. Molecular docking simulations finally suggested an interaction between polydatin and a hydrophobic pocket within GSK3β. All these results suggest that polydatin prevents MPP+-induced neurotoxicity via enhancing MEF2D through the inhibition of GSK3β and that treatment with polydatin is worthy of further anti-Parkinson’s disease study in future.
Collective detection based on visual information in animal groups
Authors: Davidson Jacob D. , Sosna Matthew M. G. , Twomey Colin R. , Sridhar Vivek H. , Leblanc Simon P. , Couzin Iain D.
Published: July 2021

We investigate key principles underlying individual, and collective, visual detection of stimuli, and how this relates to the internal structure of groups. While the individual and collective detection principles are generally applicable, we employ a model experimental system of schooling golden shiner fish (
Notemigonus crysoleucas
) to relate theory directly to empirical data, using computational reconstruction of the visual fields of all individuals. This reveals how the external visual information available to each group member depends on the number of individuals in the group, the position within the group, and the location of the external visually detectable stimulus. We find that in small groups, individuals have detection capability in nearly all directions, while in large groups, occlusion by neighbours causes detection capability to vary with position within the group. To understand the principles that drive detection in groups, we formulate a simple, and generally applicable, model that captures how visual detection properties emerge due to geometric scaling of the space occupied by the group and occlusion caused by neighbours. We employ these insights to discuss principles that extend beyond our specific system, such as how collective detection depends on individual body shape, and the size and structure of the group.
Inhibition-of-return-like effects in working memory? A preregistered replication study of Johnson
et al
. (2013)
Authors: Langerock Naomi , Sposito Giuliana , Hautekiet Caro , Vergauwe Evie
Published: July 2021

The present study concerns a preregistered replication of the study conducted by Johnson
et al
. (Johnson
et al.
2013
Psychol. Sci.
24
, 1104–1112 (
doi:10.1177/0956797612466414
)), in which they showed an inhibition-of-return-like effect in working memory. Inhibition of return is a well-known phenomenon observed in the field of perception and refers to the observation that it takes longer to look back at a location which has recently been explored than to look at an unexplored location. Working memory is a central concept in the field of cognitive psychology and refers to the capacity to process and maintain information simultaneously over short periods of time. Johnson's study applied the inhibition of return paradigm to the concept of working memory. Their results showed that it is harder to access a working memory representation that had just been thought of, i.e. refreshed, in comparison to an unrefreshed working memory representation. Contrary to this study of Johnson
et al
., who observed refreshing to result in inhibitory processes, most studies on refreshing have described its effect as increasing/prolonging the level of activation of the memory representations. In an attempt to integrate these opposite patterns produced by ‘refreshing’, we started by replicating one of the studies on the inhibition of return in working memory reported by Johnson
et al
.
Social dominance and cooperation in female vampire bats
Authors: Crisp Rachel J. , Brent Lauren J. N. , Carter Gerald G.
Published: July 2021

When group-living animals develop individualized social relationships, they often regulate cooperation and conflict through a dominance hierarchy. Female common vampire bats have been an experimental system for studying cooperative relationships, yet surprisingly little is known about female conflict. Here, we recorded the outcomes of 1023 competitive interactions over food provided ad libitum in a captive colony of 33 vampire bats (24 adult females and their young). We found a weakly linear dominance hierarchy using three common metrics (Landau'sh’ measure of linearity, triangle transitivity and directional consistency). However, patterns of female dominance were less structured than in many other group-living mammals. Female social rank was not clearly predicted by body size, age, nor reproductive status, and competitive interactions were not correlated with kinship, grooming nor food sharing. We therefore found no evidence that females groomed or shared food up a hierarchy or that differences in rank explained asymmetries in grooming or food sharing. A possible explanation for such apparently egalitarian relationships among female vampire bats is the scale of competition. Female vampire bats that are frequent roostmates might not often directly compete for food in the wild.
J
une
: open-source individual-based epidemiology simulation
Authors: Aylett-Bullock Joseph , Cuesta-Lazaro Carolina , Quera-Bofarull Arnau , Icaza-Lizaola Miguel , Sedgewick Aidan , Truong Henry , Curran Aoife , Elliott Edward , Caulfield Tristan , Fong Kevin , Vernon Ian , Williams Julian , Bower Richard , Krauss Frank
Published: July 2021

We introduce

J
une

, an open-source framework for the detailed simulation of epidemics on the basis of social interactions in a virtual population constructed from geographically granular census data, reflecting age, sex, ethnicity and socio-economic indicators. Interactions between individuals are modelled in groups of various sizes and properties, such as households, schools and workplaces, and other social activities using social mixing matrices.

J
une

provides a suite of flexible parametrizations that describe infectious diseases, how they are transmitted and affect contaminated individuals. In this paper, we apply

J
une

to the specific case of modelling the spread of COVID-19 in England. We discuss the quality of initial model outputs which reproduce reported hospital admission and mortality statistics at national and regional levels as well as by age strata.
The limitations of polling data in understanding public support for COVID-19 lockdown policies
Authors: Foad Colin M. G. , Whitmarsh Lorraine , Hanel Paul H. P. , Haddock Geoffrey
Published: July 2021

Opinion polls regarding policies designed to tackle COVID-19 have shown public support has remained high throughout the first year of the pandemic in most places around the world. However, there is a risk that headline support over-simplifies people's views. We carried out a two-wave survey with six-month interval on a public sample (N= 212) in the UK, examining the factors that underpin lockdown policy support. We find that the majority of people support most public health measures introduced, but that they also see significant side effects of these policies, and that they consider many of these side effects as unacceptable in a cost–benefit analysis. We also find that people judged the threat of COVID-19 via the magnitude of the policy response, and that they do not use their perception of the personal threat to themselves or close others to guide their support for policy. Polling data only offer one simple perspective and do not illustrate the ambivalence many people feel around lockdown policies. There is also a meaningful risk of public opinion and government policy forming a symbiotic relationship, which impacts upon how effectively such policies are implemented both now, and in relation to future threats.
Improved estimations of stochastic chemical kinetics by finite-state expansion
Authors: Waizmann Tabea , Bortolussi Luca , Vandin Andrea , Tribastone Mirco
Published: July 2021

Stochastic reaction networks are a fundamental model to describe interactions between species where random fluctuations are relevant. The master equation provides the evolution of the probability distribution across the discrete state space consisting of vectors of population counts for each species. However, since its exact solution is often elusive, several analytical approximations have been proposed. The deterministic rate equation (DRE) gives a macroscopic approximation as a compact system of differential equations that estimate the average populations for each species, but it may be inaccurate in the case of nonlinear interaction dynamics. Here we propose finite-state expansion (FSE), an analytical method mediating between the microscopic and the macroscopic interpretations of a stochastic reaction network by coupling the master equation dynamics of a chosen subset of the discrete state space with the mean population dynamics of the DRE. An algorithm translates a network into an expanded one where each discrete state is represented as a further distinct species. This translation exactly preserves the stochastic dynamics, but the DRE of the expanded network can be interpreted as a correction to the original one. The effectiveness of FSE is demonstrated in models that challenge state-of-the-art techniques due to intrinsic noise, multi-scale populations and multi-stability.