bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Participation of patients with gynecological cancer in phase 1 clinical trials: Experience from 2 NCI-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers.
Authors: Adkoli Anusha , Vera Krystle , Glennan Patrick , Yeung Kevin , Aguilar Demmie , Ghalib Mohammad , Chaudhary Imran , Maitra Radhashree , Girda Eugenia , Goel Sanjay
Published: June 2024

e17610

Background: Phase 1 trials are intended to define the safety of novel therapeutics, yet they offer alternate options long before they are approved. There is limited data regarding access and participation in phase 1 trials for gynecologic oncology patients. The purpose of this study is to assess the efficacy of phase 1 trials and to study factors of demographics, tumor characteristics, and toxicities impacting this population group. Methods: This IRB approved study was conducted via retrospective chart review at the Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey and the Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center. Relevant variables were collected for all gynecologic oncology patients enrolled in phase 1 trials between 2000-2022. Data analysis was completed in a primarily descriptive manner. Results: Of the 335 patients enrolled, 72.2% were < 65 years of age; diagnoses of the 335 patients included ovarian/fallopian tube/peritoneal/mullerian (58.0%), uterine (26.3%), cervical (15.2%), vaginal (0.3%), and vulvar (0.3%) cancers. Patients were 50.5% White, 24.2% Black, 18.2% Hispanic, and 6.6% Asian. Trend over-time analysis (enrollment between 2000-2011 compared to 2012-2022) showed that enrollment of White patients stayed stable (51.0/50.4%), Hispanic (16.0/21.6%) and Asian (3.1%/11.5%) increased, while enrollment decreased for Black patients (29.9/16.5%). Most patients had an ECOG performance status of 1 (74.0%). Prior number of regimens received by patients included 1-3 (52.0%), 4-7 (38.1%), and 8 or more (9.4%). The median number of prior lines was 3. Metastatic disease sites included lymph nodes (51.3%), abdominal/pelvic cavity (39.4%), lung (35.8%) and liver (34.0%). Highest grade hematologic toxicities were 3 or 4 in 18.2% of patients. For non-hematologic toxicities, 28% of patients experienced grade 3-5 events. Among non-hematologic adverse events, the most common grade 3-5 events were fatigue (1.2%), diarrhea (1.1%), vomiting (0.9%), and pain (0.9%). Only 3.9% had a dose limiting toxicity. Efficacy included complete response in 1.2%, partial response in 7.0%, stable disease in 40.2%, progressive disease in 37.8%, and not evaluable in 13.4%. Median OS was 37.9 weeks. There was no difference in OS between the races (p=0.11). Conclusions: Patients with gynecologic cancers often enrolled into phase 1 trials later in the course of their disease. Most patients had stable disease and although low grade toxicities were common, very few patients experienced a DLT, suggesting that phase 1 trials are tolerable and can be considered earlier in a patient’s clinical course. This illustrates the ongoing necessity to implement strategies to overcome disparities among patients participating in early phase clinical trials, especially given the similar OS experience.
Impact of Sugammadex Versus Neostigmine Reversal on Postoperative Recovery Time in Patients With Obstructive Sleep Apnea Undergoing Bariatric Surgery: A Double-Blind, Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Ajetunmobi Olawale , Wong David , Perlas Anahi , Rajaleelan Wesley , Wang Stella , Huszti Ella , Jackson Timothy , Chung Frances , Wong Jean
Published: June 2024

BACKGROUND:

Residual neuromuscular blockade can be associated with serious postoperative complications. Sugammadex is a newer neuromuscular blocking drug (NMBD) reversal agent that rapidly and completely reverses rocuronium. Whether sugammadex has any advantages over neostigmine in morbidly obese patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is unclear. We investigated whether sugammadex would reduce discharge time from the operating room (OR) compared with neostigmine in morbidly obese patients with OSA undergoing bariatric surgery.

METHODS:

This was a prospective, double-blinded randomized controlled superiority trial with 2 parallel groups. Patients were randomized 1:1 into reversal of NMBD with sugammadex or neostigmine. Our inclusion criteria were morbidly obese adult patients with OSA undergoing elective bariatric surgery under general anesthesia. Our exclusion criteria were allergy to rocuronium, sugammadex or neostigmine, malignant hyperthermia, hepatic or renal insufficiency, neuromuscular diseases, and an inability to give consent. The primary outcome was the time from administration of the NMBD reversal agent to discharge from the OR. Secondary outcomes included the time from administration of the NMBD reversal agent to the time the patient opened eyes to command, and the time to extubation. The Mann-Whitney test was used to compare the outcomes between treatment groups.

RESULTS:

We randomized 120 patients into 2 groups of 60 patients. Overall median body mass index (BMI) was 48.1 kg/m2 ([interquartile range, IQR]) [43.0–53.5]. The time from drug administration to discharge from OR was 13.0 minutes [10.0–17.0] in the sugammadex group and 13.5 minutes [11.0–18.3] in the neostigmine group (P = .27). The treatment effect estimate with a bootstrapped 95% confidence interval [CI] for time from admission to discharge from OR was −0.5 [−2.5 to 3]. No differences were observed in postoperative complications and other secondary outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS:

No difference was observed in OR discharge time in morbidly obese patients with OSA when sugammadex was administered instead of neostigmine.
Expanding Black and Indigenous Ecologies
Authors: Etherington Bonnie , Kumavie Delali
Published: June 2024

This issue navigates the intersections of Black and Indigenous ecologies. Colonial epistemologies still marginalize Black and Indigenous peoples in discussions about ecologies: they neglect Black and Indigenous peoples’ disproportionate environmental dispossession and the effects of environmental racism while “naturalizing” Black and Indigenous peoples as closer to the natural environment. The contributions to this issue draw on convergences between environmental inequality, sonic ecologies, and the legacies of colonialism to shape ongoing conversations. The issue traces historical as well as contemporary relationships and attends to the linkages and disruptions at work in Black and Indigenous ecologies, especially in the midst of climate change, which continues to affect those who are least responsible for the planet’s degradation. The articles in this issue make visible entwined histories in Black and Indigenous ecologies, as well as histories of oppression, that may trouble territorial boundaries and expand relationalities.
Sinophone Geopolitics and Postcolonial Materiality in Cold War Borneo
Authors: Liew Zhou Hau
Published: June 2024

This essay reads the Taiwanese Malaysian author Chang Kuei-hsing’s 1998 novel Elephant Herd from an ecological perspective. A novel about the Sarawak communist insurgency (1963–90)—an important but underrepresented conflict during the Cold War in Asia—Elephant Herd reappraises the legacies of this conflict through its ecological impact on the Bornean landscape and peoples. It critiques existing historical recollections of this period, which take the perspectives of either the colonial British government and its subsequent Malaysian inheritors or the largely ethnic Chinese leftist insurgents who sought to establish an independent Borneo state. The novel argues for a postcolonial remapping of Borneo beyond colonial statecraft and Cold War geopolitics in this contested territory, which are narrated through Chinese civilizational and Malay and British national narratives of place. It does so by staging a transformation of the settler Sinophone subject in Borneo, manifesting encounters in the Borneo rainforest that reveal the Indigenous experience of this insurgency and the cost of state-making projects in Borneo through environmental ruins such as elephant tusks. The novel concludes by proposing a postcolonial Bornean identity that begins from the perspective of the Indigenous Iban people, whose voices reframe the Sinophone narrator’s assumptions about land, history, and place beyond a settler point of view.
Endovascular Treatment of Spetzler-Martin Grade III Arteriovenous Malformations: A Single-Center 12 years' Experience Stratified by the Spetzler-Martin Modified Scale
Authors: de Oliveira Souza Natália Vasconcellos , Lamiraux Tabata , Vencato da Silva Felipe , Lima Vinicius Moreira , Rouchaud Aymeric , Saleme Suzana , Mounayer Charbel
Published: June 2024

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:

Limited evidence exists for endovascular first-line treatment of Spetzler-Martin (SM) grade III brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). In this article, we sought to evaluate advanced endovascular techniques for treating SM III AVMs across different sizes, eloquence, and patterns of venous drainage.

METHODS:

Data from AVMs SM III treated between January 2010 and January 2022 were collected: size (S), eloquence (E), drainage (V), angioarchitecture features (arterial and venous aneurysms, venous drainage, and venous stenosis), treatment strategy (single arterial, double arterial, venous, both arterial and venous, and transvenous endovascular embolization with selective temporary flow arrest [TFATVE]), neoadjuvant treatment, and number of previous embolization sessions. AVMs were classified according to the modified SM grade as follows: small (S1V1E1/III-), medium/deep (S2V1E0/III), medium/eloquent (S2V0E1/III+), and large (S3V0E0). Treatment complications (hemorrhagic and ischemic), clinical discharge and 6-month outcomes (modified Rankin Scale 0-2, mRS), and angiographic occlusion rates were recorded.

RESULTS:

A total of 91 AVMs (62.6% ruptured, 72.5% S1V1E1, 7% S2V1E0, 19.7% S2V0E1, and 0% S3V0E0) in 91 patients (mean age 37 ± 15.8 years) were included. Treatment techniques included single arterial approach (28.6%), double arterial technique (30.8%), single venous strategy (9.9%), TFATVE (10.9%), and arterial and venous combined (19.8%). The angiographic occlusion rate was 91.2% (90.9% S1V1E1, 100% S2V1E0, and 88.9% S2V0E1) for all techniques, and 100% for the transvenous technique, isolated or combined with transarterial embolization. Minor complication (mRS 0-2), major complication (mRS >2), and mortality rate were 16.5%, 2.2%, and 3.4%, respectively. Overall, treatment morbimortality (mRS >2) was 3% (2/66) for S1V1E1, 0% for S2V1E0, and 16.7% (3/18) for S2V0E1.

CONCLUSION:

Although morbidity is non-negligible, endovascular treatment of SM grade III lesions with advanced techniques offers up to 100% rates of cure, which is of high interest, especially for ruptured deep-seated eloquent AVMs with high reruptured rates, and less amenable to microsurgery techniques.
Assessing landscape N removal in coastal New England catchments using the N-Sink approach with the R Package, nsink
Authors: Kellogg Dorothy Q , Hollister Jeffrey W. , Arnold Chester L. , Gold Arthur J. , Wilson Emily H. , Chadwick Cary B. , Dickson David W. , Lei-Parent Qian , Forshay Kenneth J.
Published: June 2024

Background Excess nitrogen (N) loading to coastal ecosystems impairs estuarine water quality. Land management decisions made within estuarine watersheds have a direct impact on downstream N delivery. Natural features within watersheds can act as landscape sinks for N, such as wetlands, streams and ponds that transform dissolved N into gaseous N, effectively removing it from the aquatic system. Identifying and evaluating these landscape sinks and their spatial relationship to N sources can help managers understand the effects of alternative decisions on downstream resources. Methods The N-Sink approach uses widely available GIS data to identify landscape sinks within HUC-12 (or larger) catchments, estimate their N removal potential and map the effect of those sinks on N movement through the catchment. Static maps are produced to visualize N removal efficiency, transport and delivery, the latter in the form of an index. The R package nsink was developed to facilitate data acquisition, processing and visualization. Results The R package creates static maps for a specific HUC-12, or users can visit the University of Connecticut website to explore previously mapped areas. Users can also investigate specific flowpaths interactively by clicking on any location within the catchment. A flowpath is generated with a table describing N removal along each segment. We describe the motivation behind developing nsink, discuss implementation in R, and present two use case examples. nsink is available from https://github.com/USEPA/nsink. Conclusions N-Sink is a decision support tool created for local decision-makers to facilitate better understanding of the relationship between land use and downstream N delivery. Local decision-makers that have prioritized N mitigation in their long-term planning can use nsink to better understand the potential impact of proposed development projects and zoning variances. Similarly, land trusts and other NGOs interested in N mitigation can use nsink to identify high priority areas for acquisition or restoration.
Comparison of the efficacy of aescin and diclofenac sodium in the management of postoperative sequelae and their effect on salivary Prostaglandin E2 and serum C–reactive protein levels after surgical removal of impacted mandibular third molar: a randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial.
Authors: Singhai Anuroop , Kambala Rajanikanth , Bhola Nitin
Published: June 2024

Introduction Surgical removal of an impacted third molar is one of the most common oral surgical procedures performed in dental offices. The postoperative phase is often associated with severe inflammation. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are usually prescribed to manage postoperative discomfort. NSAIDs have been associated with gastrointestinal bleeding, renal function disturbances, and platelet count reductions. Thus, the present study demonstrates the utility of aescin in managing postoperative discomfort after the surgical removal of impacted mandibular third molars. This study aimed to correlate and compare the impact of aescin and diclofenac on salivary PGE2 levels and serum C-reactive protein levels after surgical extraction of the mandibular third molar. The study will also evaluate and compare the effectiveness of individual drug therapy in managing postoperative pain, swelling and mouth opening. Methods The planned study is a single-center, double-blind, randomized, parallel, prospective clinical trial. Each patient will be prescribed either diclofenac sodium 150 mg/day or aescin (escin) 120 mg/day to be taken orally in divided doses for five days after surgically removing the impacted mandibular third molar. Pain will be assessed using a visual analog scale. Facial swelling and mouth opening will be recorded using a metric scale with standardized reference points. ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) will be employed to measure salivary Prostaglandin E2 and serum C–reactive protein levels. All parameters will be recorded preoperatively (T0) on the second postoperative day (T1) and fifth postoperative day (T2). Conclusion The proposed study is expected to show a clinically acceptable response to the administration of aescin for the management of postoperative discomfort compared to diclofenac sodium after third molar surgery. The proposed study is expected to positively manipulate the levels of salivary Prostaglandin E2 and serum C–reactive protein, which are reliable inflammatory markers. The outcome of this study may provide an efficacious and safe alternative to conventional nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for managing postoperative discomfort following third molar surgery.
An exploration of burnout among hospital first-line managers in Indonesia during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Nining Sri , Hariyati Rr. Tutik Sri , Nuraini Tuti , Prayetni Prayetni , Afriani Tuti , Bota Koten Elisabet Herlyani , Hardiyanti Siti , Azwar Azwar , Pili Yuvensius , Wahyuni Aria , Suherman Suherman , Putri Yelmi Reni , Ningsih Ropika , Asriadi Asriadi , Kehi Lusianus Demon , Yuliana Yuliana
Published: June 2024

Background High work pressure and complex problems during the COVID-19 pandemic caused nursing staff, including first-line managers, experienced burnout. Objective This study aims to explore burnout experienced of first-line managers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods This qualitative descriptive study used thematic analysis. Twelve first-line managers were selected using purposive sampling from two government hospitals, designated as COVID-19 referral centres in Jakarta and Depok, Indonesia. Data were collected through semi-structured online face-to-face interviews using ZOOM meeting video with a guideline interview. Results Exploration of first-line manager’s burnout revealed three themes: 1) unpreparedness, 2) impact on wellbeing, and 3) resilience. Conclusion The first-line managers experienced burnout during the pandemic due to obstacles in implementing management roles and functions accompanied. Their burnout was caused by the unpreparedness of both the hospital management and the community. Their burnout has an impact on their emotional and physical well-being. By this time, the first-line manager’s resilience was formed because they used adaptive coping mechanisms and had a good support system. The experience during COVID-19 should be a lesson learned to strengthen the healthcare system in the future. Risk management mitigation must be systematically and routinely performed.
Digital health intervention in patients undergoing cardiac rehabilitation: systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Harbi Ali Suleiman , Soh Kim Lam , Yubbu Putri  Binti , Soh Kim Geok
Published: June 2024

Background Cardiovascular disease (CVD) continues to be the foremost mortality internationally. Cardiac rehabilitation has proven as an effective program in reducing CVD burden. Participation in cardiac rehabilitation programs is very low. Digital health intervention emerged as an alternative method to deliver Cardiac rehabilitation. This review aimed to investigate the impact of digital health intervention on the outcomes of interest Methods the following databases: PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, and Cochrane Library have been searched to retrieve randomized controlled trials that examine the impact of digital health intervention on blood pressure, body mass index, lipid profile, blood glucose, Six-Minute Walk Test, and peak oxygen consumption. filters were set to include studies published in English between 2000-2023. Results Nineteen studies were included in this review. Six-Minute Walk Test (MD = 16.70; 95% CI: 6.00 to 27.39, p = 0.000) and maximal oxygen consumption (SMD = 0.27; 95% CI: 0.08 to 0.45, p = 0.004) significantly improved following digital health intervention, after employing the sensitivity analysis significant improvement was observed in systolic (MD = -2.54; 95% CI: -4.98 to -0.11, p = 0.04) and diastolic blood pressure (SMD = -2.0182; 95% CI: -3.9436 to -0.0928, p = 0.04) favoring experimental groups. Subgroup analysis revealed significant improvement in quality of life after three months of follow-up (SMD = 0.18; 95% CI: 0.05 to 0.31, p = 0.00), no significant differences have been observed in body mass index, lipid profile, and blood glucose. Conclusion The findings emphasize the significant impact of digital vs CBCR or usual care on physical capacity, blood pressure, and quality of life. Despite the non-statistically significant differences in body mass index and lipid profile, the comparable effect between the two methods suggests the superiority of digital over CBCR or usual care due to its convenient nature, accessibility, and cost-effectiveness.
Education in State Archives in Poland (2015–2023)
Authors: Kowalczyk Krzysztof
Published: June 2024

The main aim of the article is to analyze the forms of activity of state archives in Poland in the field of education and its prospects. Therefore, the statutory tasks and organizational structure of the state archives were defined; the concept and importance of education in the state archives was defined; its forms were discussed; educational activities were presented on the example of the State Archives in Szczecin; the challenges facing education in state archives were outlined. The caesuras of work are marked by the years of rule of the so-called United Right, i.e., the Law and Justice (PiS) and its coalition partners.
Gout and its impact on physical activity
Authors: Wojtania Joanna , Płeska Kacper , Łepik Michał , Uszok Zofia , Rosiak Krzysztof , Reguła Kacper , Waloch Kamil , Piaszczyński Szymon , Czajka Andrzej , Szymański Bartłomiej
Published: June 2024

Introduction:
Gout is the most common rheumatic disease in adults, with prevalence ranging from 0.1% to about 10%. It results from the accumulation of monosodium urate crystals (MUC) in the joints and tissues. A thorough understanding of the clinical presentation, diagnostic factors and available treatment options can significantly reduce the prevalence of gout attacks, minimize joint damage and improve patients' physical function. The aim of this article is to provide clinicians and patients with a summary of the most recent information regarding this condition in order to decrease risk of joint damage and ultimately enhance patient’s quality of life.
Review methods:
A review of the literature from PubMed (2010-2023) was conducted. The articles were selected based on specific keywords and then evaluated for their significance and suitability for inclusion in this review.
Description the state of knowledge:
Gout is an inflammatory arthritis associated with hyperuricemia, defined as elevated level of uric acid in the blood (> 7 mg/dl (420 µmol/l)). Initially, acute gouty arthritis is characterised by sudden onset of severe pain, erythema and swelling, significantly reducing range of movement. However, as disease progresses, chronic, tophaceous gout can develop potentially leading to bone deformities and other complications. Treatment of gout includes management of the attacks and chronic uric acid-lowering therapy.
Summary:
Gout is a complex disease with various factors contributing to its clinical presentation. Its management requires a multidisciplinary approach including medication management, dietary counselling and lifestyle modification. Early diagnosis as well as appropriate treatment are essential to optimise patient outcomes and maintain patients' physical function.
Competitiveness in Sacred Learning
Authors: Falqui Diletta
Published: June 2024

The current notion of the Vrātyas aggressivity seems to be mainly based on certain Vedic texts that record a biased account of their history. It is usually assumed that relevant passages refer to the aggression displayed by the Vrātyas during verbal confrontations with their opponents in order to determine the correct stance on ritual matters. However, even outside the Vrātya context, competitive hospitality and violent verbal exchanges may be found in the sapiential sphere, often in the form of riddles—the so-called brahmodya. Among the sections in the Mahābhārata that demonstrate epic traces of competitiveness in the field of sacred knowledge, this paper will primarily examine the Aṣṭāvakrīya-Upākhyāna (MBh 3.132–134), which features the sole Mahābhārata reference to the term brahmodya.
A silver lining: did COVID-19 accelerate the road to gender equality?
Authors: Atherton Andrew
Published: June 2024

Background/Aims

As part of a larger study on gender inequality in the NHS, this study examined the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on gender equality in NHS leadership. The aim was to investigate whether the pandemic facilitated conditions that better enabled workplace promotions for female leaders.

Methods

A qualitative modified grounded theory approach was used to study the perspectives of NHS leaders on issues impacting gender equality and career opportunities for women. The research sample consisted of 11 senior NHS managers. Data were collected using a questionnaire and in-depth interviews. Thematic analysis was used to identify key themes.

Results

The immediacy of the pandemic created critical job assignments which enabled female leaders to demonstrate their ability to perform in complex operational situations. The pandemic promoted cultural changes that influenced new ways of working which were seen as more suited to the needs of female employees, such as remote working or working part time.

Conclusions

The study challenges the ethos of presenteeism which exists in the NHS and highlights how the pandemic presented opportunities to overcome some of the barriers to advancement for female leaders. The normalisation of new ways of working, opportunities to gain operational experience and new methods of networking are all factors that could help aspiring female executives.
Standardised hospital design is not new and may not be the best approach
Authors: Davies Stephen M
Published: June 2024

Following criticism of the New Hospital Programme, Stephen M Davies highlights lessons from the UK's history of standardised hospital building programmes since the 1960s, suggesting that this may not be the most effective approach.
Reducing waiting lists, generating funds, improving lives: establishing a surgical hub
Authors: Blackwell-Frost Chris , Holland Carl , Lee Cherry , Allam Chris , Longster Chris , Coleman Dan , Woollcombe-Gosson David , Burley Glen , Heran Harkamal , Nethercliffe Janine , Briggs Jenny , Hakin Robert , Stacey Shaun , Milner Simon , Clough Isobel
Published: June 2024

Shortening waiting lists for elective care is a key priority for the NHS. Surgical hubs are being established around the UK to provide access to timely care and protect elective resources. A roundtable discussion was held with representatives from 10 NHS organisations, considering the elements of a successful surgical hub and the systemic changes needed to optimise these facilities as part of the care system.
Adenosine, lidocaine, and magnesium therapy augments joint tissue healing following experimental anterior cruciate ligament rupture and reconstruction
Authors: Morris Jodie L. , Letson Hayley L. , McEwen Peter C. , Dobson Geoffrey P.
Published: June 2024

Aims

Adenosine, lidocaine, and Mg2+ (ALM) therapy exerts differential immuno-inflammatory responses in males and females early after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction (ACLR). Our aim was to investigate sex-specific effects of ALM therapy on joint tissue repair and recovery 28 days after surgery.

Methods

Male (n = 21) and female (n = 21) adult Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into ALM or Saline control treatment groups. Three days after ACL rupture, animals underwent ACLR. An ALM or saline intravenous infusion was commenced prior to skin incision, and continued for one hour. An intra-articular bolus of ALM or saline was also administered prior to skin closure. Animals were monitored to 28 days, and joint function, pain, inflammatory markers, histopathology, and tissue repair markers were assessed.

Results

Despite comparable knee function, ALM-treated males had reduced systemic inflammation, synovial fluid angiogenic and pro-inflammatory mediators, synovitis, and fat pad fibrotic changes, compared to controls. Within the ACL graft, ALM-treated males had increased expression of tissue repair markers, decreased inflammation, increased collagen organization, and improved graft-bone healing. In contrast to males, females had no evidence of persistent systemic inflammation. Compared to controls, ALM-treated females had improved knee extension, gait biomechanics, and elevated synovial macrophage inflammatory protein-1 alpha (MIP-1α). Within the ACL graft, ALM-treated females had decreased inflammation, increased collagen organization, and improved graft-bone healing. In articular cartilage of ALM-treated animals, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-13 expression was blunted in males, while in females repair markers were increased.

Conclusion

At 28 days, ALM therapy reduces inflammation, augments tissue repair patterns, and improves joint function in a sex-specific manner. The study supports transition to human safety trials.

Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2024;13(6):279–293.
Switching Off with Sleepcasts: Insomniac Listening and Sonic Self-Care
Authors: Miller Kiri
Published: June 2024

Abstract: Meditation apps present mindful listening as sonic self-care: a pathway to managing anxiety, depression, insomnia, and the distractions of other digital media. This essay investigates the collection of audio “sleepcasts” produced by Headspace, a Silicon Valley digital wellness corporation that claims over seventy million users of its meditation app. Sleepcasts are designed to extend media engagement and the productive labor of self-care beyond waking hours and past the threshold of consciousness. As they guide listeners through “night-time journeys” to palliative virtual escape zones, sleepcasts choreograph a sensory fade-out from hypervigilant insomniac listening to oblivious somnolence. I show how Headspace drew on a century-old scientific model of sleep as conditioned performance, blended with the domestic ritual of the children’s bedtime story, to conjure fantasies of restorative travel, fulfilling work, and intimate relationships with virtual caregivers. These sedative audio journeys follow tourist itineraries shaped by colonialism, aligning “mindfulness” with the privileges of cosmopolitan mobility. By tethering sleepcasts to bedtime, Headspace cultivates nightly listening as ritualized self-care that is the mirror image of one’s day job—the labor of rest that makes the next day possible. Meanwhile, listeners remain productive participants in the attention economy even as they fall asleep.
Deportability: The Migratory Condition, Racial Capitalism, and the Ordinary Manufacture of European Borders
Authors: Bentouhami Hourya
Published: June 2024

Abstract: This article is an attempt to think about the migratory condition in terms of the politics of governing migrant populations at European, and particularly French (hexagonal and overseas), borders, drawing on the concept of racial capitalism popularized by Cedric Robinson and what has come to be known in migration studies as the "turning point of deportability." The encounter between this emerging literature in the Francophone field on racial capitalism, and the pioneering work of Étienne Balibar and Immanuel Wallerstein on race, class, and nation helps to uncover how contemporary border practices around the world—and particularly in France—rely on the dichotomies of "legal" and "illegal," "useful/chosen," and "deportable" migrants, even though these dichotomies do not serve the sole criterion of economic productivity.
Reimagining the Ottomans: The Tale of an Ottoman Ayan
Authors: Zens Robert
Published: June 2024

Abstract: From 1797 until 1802, the Ottoman ayan (notable) Pasvanoǧlu Osman Pasha was mentioned in the Times of London over one hundred times, more than any other Ottoman apart from the sultan himself. While the historic Pasvanoǧlu was seen by the Ottoman state as a brigand, rebel, and traitor, the Times saw him reimagined as an oriental Robin Hood-esque hero whose actions, although destructive, were for the greater good of those under his authority against the "tyrannical" rule of the sultan. It was in this vain that the author of a letter to the editor published on 26 March 1819, twelve years after Pasvanoǧlu's death, using the nom de plume Pasvanoǧlu, protested the elimination of the democratic selection of vestry representatives in the Parish of St. Pancras. In order to emphasize his irritation at his loss of rights and the tyranny of the government, the author invoked the romantic rebel of yesteryear.
Maori Rugby in 1920s France: Sport, Race, and Indigeneity
Authors: Rathbone Keith
Published: June 2024

Abstract: In 1924–25, a rugby team from New Zealand toured France. They won each of their games by more than twenty points, and the French press lauded them as invincible. Two years later, a group of Maori rugby players, traveled to Europe to test their mettle against similar competition. These rugby showcases elicited quite distinct responses among the French sporting public. The first Invincibles tour was viewed as an example of the British imperial settler-colonial world and the indigeneity of several players was ignored or downplayed. By contrast, the racial politics of the Maori All Blacks tour was impossible to overlook. Each tour taught the French different things about rugby—mostly technical lessons—but even those were shaped by the prevailing racial biases of the age. French observers were unable or unwilling to see the different epistemological strategies employed by the Maori rugbymen, who were using the tour to assert their sovereignty and demonstrate their worth within and outside of the British colonial sphere and the New Zealander settler-colonial state.
The Minor Key: Indonesian Marxists Sojourning Abroad
Authors: Hongxuan Lin
Published: June 2024

Abstract: The Communist Party of Indonesia has dominated scholarly attention to the historical phenomenon Indonesian Marxism. Scholars have generally neglected to study other currents of Indonesian Marxist thought and do not situate the transmission and evolution of Marxist ideas in a broader field of anticolonial discourse. This article contends that Indonesian Marxism was a broad discursive field—over which the PKI had no monopoly—and a rich intellectual tradition in its own right. This intellectual tradition was pollinated by sojourners who carried their hard-won knowledge back to Indonesia. This article traces the political evolution of three Indonesian Marxists, Semaoen, Darsono, and Iwa Koesoemasoemantri. It shows how their long sojourns abroad changed their political allegiances and visions for Indonesia, denying the PKI some of its most prestigious and recognizable leaders. By adapting the conceptual lens of sojourning, usually applied to the study of Indian and Chinese migrants to Southeast Asia, to the study of Indonesian Marxism, this article provides fresh perspectives through which the evolution of anticolonial activism can be better understood.
Research on adaptive receiving technology for atmospheric laser communication
Authors: Ding Xiaoying , ZHAO XIN , Wang Tong , Wang Xinyao , Shu Chenyan
Published: June 2024

The random fluctuation characteristics of the atmospheric channel are the key factors affecting the frequency band utilization and communication bit error rate of the laser communication system. Aiming at the application requirements of lightweight, low power consumption and low complexity of the atmospheric laser communication system, this paper proposes an adaptive optical information reception method. The turbulent scintillation index of the atmospheric channel received in real-time is used as a feedback quantity to establish a mapping model between the APD gain factor and the average bit error rate, and the optimal gain factor under different scintillation indices is obtained by taking the derivative of the mapping model. Simulation results show that the average BER of the atmospheric channel can be 10-7 by modulating the gain factor when the scintillation index less than0.05, The average BER decreases and then increases with the gain factor, and the optimal gain factor, Mo, ranges from 30 to 38. Designing an adaptive receiver communication scheme and completing an atmospheric laser communication experiment with a link distance of 1.1 km and a communication rate of 2.5 Gbps.The results show that an adaptive receiver system based on the optimal gain factor improves the communication BER in medium-weak turbulence channel.
A comprehensive analysis of non-pharmaceutical interventions and vaccination on Ebolavirus disease outbreak: Stochastic modeling approach
Authors: Ko Youngsuk , Lee Jacob , Seo Yubin , Jung Eunok
Published: June 2024

Ebolavirus disease (EVD) outbreaks have intermittently occurred since the first documented case in the 1970s. Due to its transmission characteristics, large outbreaks have not been observed outside Africa. However, within the continent, significant outbreaks have been attributed to factors such as endemic diseases with similar symptoms and inadequate medical infrastructure, which complicate timely diagnosis. In this study, we employed a stochastic modeling approach to analyze the spread of EVD during the early stages of an outbreak, with an emphasis on inherent risks. We developed a model that considers healthcare workers and unreported cases, and assessed the effect of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) using actual data. Our results indicate that the implementation of NPIs led to a decrease in the transmission rate and infectious period by 30% and 40% respectively, following the declaration of the outbreak. We also investigated the risks associated with delayed outbreak recognition. Our simulations suggest that, when accounting for NPIs and recognition delays, prompt detection could have resulted in a similar outbreak scale, with approximately 50% of the baseline NPIs effect. Finally, we discussed the potential effects of a vaccination strategy as a follow-up measure after the outbreak declaration. Our findings suggest that a vaccination strategy can reduce both the burden of NPIs and the scale of the outbreak.
Is there an overestimation of dengue compared with that of other acute febrile syndromes in childhood?
Authors: Rocha Sônia Maria Cavalcante da , Pires Raull Costa , Monteiro Daniela Cristina Sensato , Cronemberges Thaís Cavalcante Rocha , Souza Natália Vasconcelos de , Colares Jeová Keny Baima , Lima Danielle Malta
Published: June 2024

A group of children with clinical suspicion of dengue were assessed to determine if there was an overestimation of dengue compared with that of leptospirosis and leishmaniasis. This descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study, based on the active search of participants with acute febrile illness, was conducted at two pediatric hospitals. The collection of clinical and epidemiological data was performed using questionnaires, and laboratory tests specific for dengue were performed using immunochromatographic, serological, and molecular methods. Dengue-negative samples were assessed for Leptospira and Leishmania spp. using molecular tests. Data were assessed using analysis of variance (ANOVA), the chi-square test, and Fisher’s exact test. In total, 86 participants were evaluated, of whom 39 (45%) were positive for dengue fever, 4 (5%) for leptospirosis, and 1 (1%) for leishmaniasis. Forty-two participants (49%) presented dengue-like symptoms. The predominant age range for the virus was 3–10 years. Most clinical manifestations were nonspecific, with frequent concomitant gastrointestinal and respiratory symptoms. Furthermore, we found that the acute febrile syndrome in childhood persists as a challenge for health professionals, especially in the early days of the disease, due to a plurality of diagnostic hypotheses, associated with the difficulty of establishing well-defined symptoms in children, especially in infants. Dengue fever continues to be a frequent pathology with acute febrile infections in childhood; however, there is an overestimation of the disease, especially in endemic regions, when one considers only the clinical epidemiological diagnosis.
Identification and characterization of three monoclonal antibodies targeting the SFTSV glycoprotein and displaying a broad spectrum recognition of SFTSV-related viruses
Authors: Wu Xiaoli , Moming Abulimiti , Zhang Yanfang , Wang Zhiying , Zhang Tao , Fu Liyan , Qian Jin , Ni Jun , Hu Sijing , Tang Shuang , Zheng Xin , Wang Hualin , Shen Shu , Deng Fei
Published: June 2024

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) is a novel tick-borne viral pathogen that causes severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS). The disease was initially reported in central and eastern China, then later in Japan and South Korea, with a mortality rate of 13–30%. Currently, no vaccines or effective therapeutics are available for SFTS treatment. In this study, three monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) targeting the SFTSV envelope glycoprotein Gn were obtained using the hybridoma technique. Two mAbs recognized linear epitopes and did not neutralize SFTSV, while the mAb 40C10 can effectively neutralized SFTSV of different genotypes and also the SFTSV-related Guertu virus (GTV) and Heartland virus (HRTV) by targeting a spatial epitope of Gn. Additionally, the mAb 40C10 showed therapeutic effect in mice infected with different genotypes of SFTSV strains against death by preventing the development of lesions and by promoting virus clearance in tissues. The therapeutic effect could still be observed in mice infected with SFTSV which were administered with mAb 40C10 after infection even up to 4 days. These findings enhance our understanding of SFTSV immunogenicity and provide valuable information for designing detection methods and strategies targeting SFTSV antigens. The neutralizing mAb 40C10 possesses the potential to be further developed as a therapeutic monoclonal antibody against SFTSV and SFTSV-related viruses.
Non-typhoidal Salmonella contributes to gastrointestinal infections in Morogoro: Evidence from patients attending Morogoro regional referral hospital in Tanzania
Authors: Cuco Anacleta , Mkupasi Ernatus , Mzula Alexanda , Mdegela Robinson
Published: June 2024

Introduction

Salmonella is one of the most common causes of food-borne outbreaks and infection worldwide. Non-typhoidal Salmonella (NTS) infections are common and remain a significant public health problem among important bacterial foodborne diseases. The current study aimed to establish the Non typhoidal Salmonella infection and antimicrobial resistance status among selected patients at Morogoro Regional Referral Hospital (MRRH), Morogoro Region, Tanzania, to inform clinical care management and public health interventions.

Methodology

A cross-sectional study was conducted using medical records and samples were collected from hospitalised and outpatients between October and December 2021. A total of 153 participants were enrolled in the study and 132 consented to being sampled. The collected samples were analysed using standard microbiological techniques. The isolates were subjected to molecular genotyping, where Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) was performed targeting the 16S rDNA gene. PCR products were then submitted for sequencing to establish phylogenetic relatedness. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing and resistance genes screening were also conducted.

Results

The phylogenetic analysis identified two Salmonella serovars; Salmonella Enteritidis and Salmonella Typhimurium. The isolates were from four adults and seven children patients. The isolates were tested against six antimicrobial agents: tetracycline, trimethoprim, gentamycin, ciprofloxacin, ampicillin and cefotaxime. Further antimicrobial assays were performed by screening 10 antimicrobial resistance genes using PCR. Overall, the highest resistance was observed in ampicillin (100%), whereas the lowest resistance was recorded for ciprofloxacin and gentamicin (9.1%). In addition, four (36.4%) of the isolates were resistant to cefotaxime and three (27.3%) to tetracycline and trimethoprim. The isolates also exhibit the presence of resistance genes for sulfamethoxazole 1&2, tetracycline (tet) A&B, Beta-lactamase CTXM, Beta-lactamase TEM, Beta-lactamase SHV, Gentamycine, Acra and acc3-1 in different occurrences. The overall prevalence of Salmonella species in Morogoro region was 8.3% (11/132) with Salmonella Enteritidis and Salmonella Typhimurium being the only serovars detected from adults and children stool samples.

Conclusion

Our investigation showed that both children and adults had been exposed to Salmonella spp. However, the occurrence of NTS was higher in children (5.3% (7/132) compared to adults (3.0% (4/132). To stop zoonotic infections and the development of antimicrobial resistance in the community, this calls for Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) and stewardship programmes on rational use of antimicrobials in both health facilities and at the community level.
Clinical outcomes of chikungunya: A systematic literature review and meta-analysis
Authors: Rama Kris , de Roo Adrianne M. , Louwsma Timon , Hofstra Hinko S. , Gurgel do Amaral Gabriel S. , Vondeling Gerard T. , Postma Maarten J. , Freriks Roel D.
Published: June 2024

Background

Chikungunya is a viral disease caused by a mosquito-borne alphavirus. The acute phase of the disease includes symptoms such as fever and arthralgia and lasts 7–10 days. However, debilitating symptoms can persist for months or years. Despite the substantial impact of this disease, a comprehensive assessment of its clinical picture is currently lacking.

Methods

We conducted a systematic literature review on the clinical manifestations of chikungunya, their prevalence and duration, and related hospitalization. Embase and MEDLINE were searched with no time restrictions. Subsequently, meta-analyses were conducted to quantify pooled estimates on clinical outcomes, the symptomatic rate, the mortality rate, and the hospitalization rate. The pooling of effects was conducted using the inverse-variance weighting methods and generalized linear mixed effects models, with measures of heterogeneity reported.

Results

The systematic literature review identified 316 articles. Out of the 28 outcomes of interest, we were able to conduct 11 meta-analyses. The most prevalent symptoms during the acute phase included arthralgia in 90% of cases (95% CI: 83–94%), and fever in 88% of cases (95% CI: 85–90%). Upon employing broader inclusion criteria, the overall symptomatic rate was 75% (95% CI: 63–84%), the chronicity rate was 44% (95% CI: 31–57%), and the mortality rate was 0.3% (95% CI: 0.1–0.7%). The heterogeneity between subpopulations was more than 92% for most outcomes. We were not able to estimate all predefined outcomes, highlighting the existing data gap.

Conclusion

Chikungunya is an emerging public health concern. Consequently, a thorough understanding of the clinical burden of this disease is necessary. Our study highlighted the substantial clinical burden of chikungunya in the acute phase and a potentially long-lasting chronic phase. Understanding this enables health authorities and healthcare professionals to effectively recognize and address the associated symptoms and raise awareness in society.
Co-production of an online research and resource platform for improving the health of young people—The hype project
Authors: Gunasinghe Cerisse , Bergou Nicol , MacCrimmon Shirlee , Rhead Rebecca , Woodhead Charlotte , Jones Nielsen Jessica D. , Hatch Stephani L.
Published: June 2024

Mental health conditions tend to go unrecognised and untreated in adolescence, and therefore it is crucial to improve the health and social outcomes for these individuals through age and culturally appropriate interventions. This paper aims firstly to describe the development and implementation of the HYPE project platform (a research and resource platform co-designed and co-produced with young people). The second aim is to describe the characteristics of participants who engaged with the platform and an embedded pilot online survey. Participatory action research approach was used to address objectives of the HYPE project. Data were analysed to: (1) help improve access to health and social services, (2) guide provision of information of online resources and (3) deliver complementary community-based events/activities to promote mental health and to ultimately prevent mental health issues. Pilot and main phases of the HYPE project demonstrated the capacity and feasibility for such a platform to reach local, national, and international populations. Analyses demonstrated that the platform was particularly relevant for young females with pre-existing health difficulties. Some of the barriers to involving young people in research and help-seeking are discussed.