bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
School Nurse Practice: A Descriptive Spanish Study
Authors: Arrue-Gerra Maddi , Barrio-Cortes Jaime , Lozano-Hernández Cristina María , Ruiz-Janeiro Jesús , Ruiz-Zaldibar Cayetana , Ruiz-López Monserrat
Published: July 2022

This study aimed to describe the profile and practices of school nurses working at a network of educational centers in Spain. This was a descriptive study of the documented actions of 107 school nurses between September 2018 and June 2021 in 54 educational centers (55.6% private and 44.4% subsidized). The profile of the school nurses was young (average age 33.8 [standard deviation (SD) = 7.7] years) and predominantly female (91.6%) with a diverse and multidisciplinary education, primarily at the postgraduate level (specialized mainly in emergency care, nursing/school health, and pediatrics/neonatology). They carried out 256,499 interventions. The most frequent types of incidents they treated were accidents (30.4%) and disease-related episodes (22.2%). The interventions were usually brief (average time 7.7 min) and were resolved by the school nurse (99.1%), and the main recipients were students (87.3%). The highest incidence of interventions occurs during breaks between classes. Acute interventions occupied most of the school nurses’ time, leaving little opportunity for health education (0.3%). School nurses played an important role in preserving and promoting the health of school populations and cost-savings to healthcare systems with the actions that they performed. Descriptions of these actions are essential when advocating for the continuation and expansion of school nursing services.
The Influence of Group Identification with Student Subgroups on Perceptions of Bystander Intervention to Prevent Sexual Assault
Authors: Riggs Rachel E. , Yoshimura Koji
Published: July 2022

College students can use bystander intervention tactics to prevent sexual assault within their communities. One's group memberships and group identification—conceptualized within social identity theory—could influence attitudes and behaviors related to bystander intervention. College students ( n = 1,170) participated in an online survey measuring group membership with student subgroups, identification, and bystander intervention perceptions. Subgroups in this study included fraternities/sororities, student organizations, National Collegiate Athletic Association athletes, club/intramural sports, and spiritual/faith-based organizations. For various student subgroups, group identification was significantly correlated with individuals’ perceived willingness and likelihood to engage in bystander intervention and their perceptions about the helpfulness of bystander intervention tactics.
The efficacy of group delivered mentalization-based parenting interventions: A systematic review of the literature
Authors: Lavender Sarah R , Waters Cerith S , Hobson Christopher W
Published: July 2022

Mentalization refers to the capacity to understand and interpret one’s own and others mental states. There is good evidence for individualised treatments aimed at increasing this capacity with children and adolescents. However, there has been no focused synthesis of the literature concerning specifically group delivered mentalization-based parenting interventions. The current study aimed to systematically review the literature in relation to group delivered mentalization-based parenting interventions. Three databases were searched to identify N=515 studies that were screened and reported according to PRISMA guidelines. Inclusion criteria were met by N=10 studies. Interventions varied in terms of content, but often included psychoeducation, experiential group exercises and homework tasks. The length and setting of interventions did not appear to influence outcomes. Significant improvements in parental reflective functioning were found in eight of the ten studies. There was mixed evidence for the efficacy in terms of other parental and child outcomes. This may be due to the lack of high quality studies and the absence of longer-term follow-ups. There is a need for future research to conduct high quality studies with greater diversity in participating parents and long-term follow-up.
Two-eyed Seeing for youth wellness: Promoting positive outcomes with interwoven resilience resources
Authors:   Youth Researchers of Spaces & Places, Eskasoni, Liebenberg Linda , Reich Jenny , Denny Jeannine Faye , Gould Matthew R. , Hutt-MacLeod Daphne
Published: July 2022

Despite the challenges facing Indigenous youth and their communities due to historical and contemporary institutionalised racism in Canada, communities are drawing on the richness of their own histories to reassert their cultural heritage. Doing so supports mental health outcomes of young people in particular, as highlighted in a compelling body of research. The question facing many communities, however, is how they can facilitate such child and youth engagement in order to support related positive mental health outcomes. This article reports on findings from a Participatory Action Research (PAR) study conducted in a First Nations community in Unama’ki (Cape Breton), Atlantic Canada. The study, Spaces & Places, was a partnership between the community-based mental health service provider (Eskasoni Mental Health Services, EMHS), eight community youth (14–18 years old), and a team of academics. Situated within a resilience framework, the team explored the ways in which the community facilitated, or restricted, youth civic and cultural engagement. Foregrounded against a strong legacy of cultural reassertion within the community, findings highlight the core resilience-promoting resources that support positive youth development. Additionally, findings demonstrate how these resources provide meaningful support for youth because of the way in which they are intertwined with one another. Furthermore, cultural engagement is underpinned by the Two-eyed Seeing model, supporting youth to integrate their own culture with settler culture in ways that work best for them. Findings support community-based service structures, and underscore the importance of community resilience in the effective support of Indigenous children and youth.
Spray and foam application of chemical binders to pulp fiber airlaids
Authors: Paunonen Sara , Hjelt Tuomo , Kamppuri Taina , Kiiskinen Harri
Published: July 2022

Pulp fiber airlaid nonwovens were bonded with three binder formulations in a spray and foam process. The binders were: a commercial acrylic dispersion binder, a commercial bio-containing acrylic binder; and a citric acid-carboxymethyl cellulose mixture (CACMC) (1:1 by-weight). The binder solutions were applied at same concentrations onto A4-size airlaid sheets (80 gsm) under a vacuum with 2-sided spraying and 1-sided foam coating. The sheet structure, dry and wet tensile properties, and total absorption capacity were compared. The foam application densified and bulk bonded the sheets, whereas the spray application induced surface bonding. These factors fundamentally influenced the measured sheet properties. The dry tensile strength was linearly correlated with the relatively low binder dosages. The CACMC binder exposed the differences in the binder application processes well, and lead to strong sheets with small elongation and highly application method-dependent absorption capacity compared to acrylic binders.
Finger dexterity in well-functioning cohort of office workers in Macau
Authors: Estorninho Margarida , Cheang Se Kin , Chan Sio In , Ieong Ka I , Lam Chon Un , Liu Karen PY
Published: July 2022

Aim

The study aimed to describe the finger dexterity in office workers of an Asian population.

Methods

One hundred twenty-seven right-handed office workers, aged 21–50 with a similar split of male and female, were recruited with finger dexterity measured by the O’Connor Finger Dexterity Test. The grip strength, tip and lateral pinch strength of both hands were also measured.

Results

This study provided the percentile score of the O’Connor Finger Dexterity Test of both males and females in the Asian population. Raw scores of below 218 and 213 seconds in male and female participants respectively reach the 90th percentile, and above 237 and 235 seconds in male and female below the 10th percentile. Results showed no significant difference in local mean scores across different age groups, between male and female and with varying hours of working in typing, filing, and writing. A significant difference was only found in finger dexterity and years of working as office workers. No significant correlation was found between the finger dexterity with grip strength, tip and lateral pinch of the dominant right hand. The results were similar to the original normative score with similar work skills and demands.

Conclusion

The mean scores could be used as a valid reference for local occupational therapists to evaluate the finger dexterity of office workers. However, caution has to be taken that conclusions drawn can be biased because of the relatively small sample size, and the results cannot be generalized to represent a wider Asian population.
Management of postoperative cervical pseudomeningocele with percutaneous aspiration and epidural blood patch
Authors: Schartz Derrek A , Ismail Rahim F , Rahman Akm A , Bender Matthew T , Westesson Per-Lennart , Mesfin Addisu , Kessler Alex
Published: July 2022

Introduction

While epidural blood patch can be an effective management option in lumbar pseudomeningoceles in certain clinical settings, its utility in the cervical spine is unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of percutaneous aspiration and autologous blood patch for post-operative durotomy related pseudomeningoceles within the cervical spine.

Methods

A single institution retrospective review detailing 3 patients with durotomy related pseudomeningocele following posterior cervical spine surgery was completed.

Results

In all three cases, aspiration with subsequent injection of autologous epidural blood patch successfully treated each pseudomeningocele. One patient required more than one intervention, while the other two were successfully treated after one procedure. All three patients improved clinically without need for additional surgery.

Conclusion

Percutaneous aspiration and epidural blood patch can be used to safely manage post-operative pseudomeningoceles within the posterior cervical spine.
Research on the influence of thermal expansion of steel shaft on dynamic characteristics of full ceramic bearing-rotor system
Authors: Guo Jiancheng , Wu Yuhou , Zhang Xiaochen , Zhang Yu , Wang He , Bai Xu , Lu He
Published: July 2022

Bearing as the core components of high-grade CNC machine tools, with the constant change of internal clearance of bearing wear increasingly aggravated, spindle rotation accuracy reduced. In this paper, the idea of control variable method is used to explore the dynamic change of bearing clearance from different speeds and different radial loads. Starting with the dynamic model of bearing vibration, the theoretical model of rolling bearing with five degrees of freedom is established in this paper. The interaction force between steel shaft and ceramic bearing inner ring is calculated by Runge-Kutta method with elastic wall thickness ring theory, and the reduction of radial clearance of bearing is obtained. Therefore, a dynamic model of ceramic bearing considering the extrusion force of ceramic bearing inner ring is proposed. At the same time, the vibration test of steel shaft-all-ceramic bearing is designed and carried out. The test results show that under the same load, the higher the rotating speed, the shorter the time for the bearing-rotor system to reach temperature stability, and the root mean square of ceramic bearing-rotor system is obviously reduced. At the same speed, the greater the load, the more obvious the root mean square increase of the bearing-rotor system.
Racial/ethnic variations in alcohol and cigarette use by pregnancy status among 20- to 44-year-old women, NHANES 2001–2018
Authors: Hirth Jacqueline M , Valadez Catherine , Gonzalez Sandra , Kowalchuk Alicia , Gutierrez Judith A , Zoorob Roger
Published: July 2022

Objectives:

This study examines alcohol consumption and smoking behaviors by pregnancy status and race/ethnicity in order to inform improved interventions designed to assist women of all races to avoid alcohol and tobacco use during pregnancy for their health and to prevent potential fetal exposure.

Methods:

This retrospective secondary data analysis utilized nationally representative National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data between 2001 and 2018. Smoking and alcohol use were evaluated by race/ethnicity and pregnancy risk. Sexual behavior, reproductive health, and prescription drug use determined pregnancy risk, categorized as low pregnancy risk, at risk of becoming pregnant, and pregnant. Binary and multinomial multivariable logistic regression were used to examine associations.

Results:

The final sample consisted of 10,019 women of which 11.8% were Mexican American, 7.7% other Hispanic, 65.5% white, and 15% black (weighted percentages). White low pregnancy risk and pregnancy risk smoked most frequently in respective pregnancy risk groups (p < 0.001). Among pregnant women, smoking prevalence was highest among black women (14.0%, p < 0.01). Pregnancy risk women were more likely to smoke and pregnant women were less likely to smoke compared with low pregnancy risk. Low pregnancy risk and pregnancy risk Hispanics had a lower prevalence of binge drinking, but prevalence decreased less among pregnant Hispanics than other racial/ethnic groups. In adjusted analyses, pregnancy risk black women had more than 2 times the odds of combined smoking and alcohol consumption compared with low pregnancy risk black women.

Conclusion:

Women who may become pregnant need interventions and improved policy to prevent alcohol use and smoking. Culturally appropriate alcohol and smoking cessation interventions before pregnancy and improved contraception access are needed.
Factors associated with pelvic inflammatory disease: A case series analysis of family planning clinic data
Authors: Sweeney Sally , Bateson Deborah , Fleming Kirsteen , Huston Wilhelmina
Published: July 2022

Background:

We aimed to better understand factors associated with pelvic inflammatory disease in an outpatient setting.

Methods:

We analysed the characteristics of pelvic inflammatory disease cases diagnosed in an outpatient setting during 2018. There were 72 cases included in the final analysis.

Results:

Of the pelvic inflammatory disease cases analysed, 55% were idiopathic, 22.2% were related to a sexually transmitted infection, and 22.2% had onset of symptoms within 6 weeks of a gynaecological procedure. Of the sexually transmitted infection–positive pelvic inflammatory disease cases, Chlamydia trachomatis was present in 56%, Mycoplasma genitalium was present in 38%, and Neisseria gonorrhoeae was present in 12.5% of cases. Many pelvic inflammatory disease cases had evidence of vaginal dysbiosis or features associated with vaginal flora disruption (recent antibiotic usage and/or vulvovaginal candidiasis).

Conclusion:

This case series highlights the burden of Mycoplasma genitalium pelvic inflammatory disease, and clinicians should be aware to include testing for this when diagnosing pelvic inflammatory disease. Our findings also support the hypothesis that host dysbiotic microbiota may contribute to pelvic inflammatory disease pathogenesis, with further research required to explore this proposition.
A Cluster of Five Deaths Due to Methanol Toxicity After Apparent Hand Sanitizer Ingestion in the Setting of Chronic Alcoholism
Authors: Krebs Nicolas P. , Czarnecki Lawrence
Published: July 2022

Methanol toxicity and its associated pathologies have been widely studied, however, at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was an increase in methanol toxicity due to apparent consumption of contaminated hand sanitizer. We report a cluster of five deaths and one presumed death due to the apparent consumption of hand sanitizer, contaminated with methanol, in the setting of chronic alcoholism. The deaths occurred in Coconino County, Arizona, over a four-and-a-half-month period (June-October 2020), before and during a Food and Drug Administration recall of contaminated hand sanitizer. Methanol-related deaths are relatively uncommon in Coconino County, with only one methanol associated death (source of ingestion unknown) occurring over the previous five years.
Tyrosol Ameliorates Liver Inflammatory Response in a Mouse Model of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NFALD) by Regulating JAK1/STAT3
Authors: Huang Yinuo , Li Shuai , Han Zifei , Du Juan , Liu Xin , Zhu Zhiyuan , Zheng Lixia , Han Suyan , Shi Hongbo , Wang Xiaojuan , Liu Xinmei , Jiang Zhihong , Li Yuxiang , Li Xiaoli , Gu Xin , Han Dazheng , Li Donghai
Published: July 2022

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is becoming one of the major health issues globally. NAFLD is usually associated with obesity and other metabolic syndromes, and there is no specific cure to address this issue so far. Featured by lipid accumulation in hepatocytes, and later progressing to fibrosis, inflammatory responses are involved in the various levels of the pathological changes. In the present study, we added a natural compound, tyrosol, which in our previous study had demonstrated anti-inflammatory properties, to a high-fat diet-induced NAFLD mouse model and investigated whether tyrosol could mitigate the liver damage by attenuating the inflammation response. The treatment with tyrosol significantly improved the liver function and decreased the fasting glucose level in NAFLD mice. Morphologically, our results showed that tyrosol could reduce the fat deposition and lipid droplets accumulation in liver tissue. The key regulating factors, JAK1 and STAT3, were increased in NAFLD mice, but tyrosol treatment could effectively prevent the upregulation. The expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokine genes in liver tissue of the NAFLD mice were upregulated, which could be effectively prevented by the treatment with tyrosol. Overall, in the high-fat diet-induced NAFLD mouse model, tyrosol could improve the liver function and, more importantly, ameliorate the inflammatory response triggered by the high-fat diet. Although our data here are consistent with the previous report that tyrosol could exert beneficial effects on the NAFLD animal model, we also provide solid evidence that tyrosol is able to conquer the inflammatory response in liver, which is related to the high-fat-diet feeding. Tyrosol could be a promising candidate for the treatment of NAFLD in the future.
A Photochemical Crosslinking Approach to Enhance Resistance to Mechanical Wear and Biochemical Degradation of Articular Cartilage
Authors: Noori-Dokht Hessam , Joukar Amin , Karnik Sonali , Williams Taylor , Trippel Stephen B. , Wagner Diane R.
Published: July 2022

Objective

The objective of this study was to evaluate photochemical crosslinking using Al(III) phthalocyanine chloride tetrasulfonic acid (CASPc) and light with a wavelength of 670 nm as a potential therapy to strengthen articular cartilage and prevent tissue degradation.

Design

Changes in viscoelastic properties with indentation were used to identify 2 crosslinking protocols for further testing. Crosslinked cartilage was subjected to an in vitro, accelerated wear test. The ability of the crosslinked tissue to resist biochemical degradation via collagenase was also measured. To better understand how photochemical crosslinking with CASPc varies through the depth of the tissue, the distribution of photo-initiator and penetration of light through the tissue depth was characterized. Finally, the effect of CASPc on chondrocyte viability and of co-treatment with an antioxidant was evaluated.

Results

The equilibrium modulus was the most sensitive viscoelastic measure of crosslinking. Crosslinking decreased both mechanical wear and collagenase digestion compared with control cartilage. These beneficial effects were realized despite the fact that crosslinking appeared to be localized to a region near the articular surface. In addition, chondrocyte viability was maintained in crosslinked tissue treated with antioxidants.

Conclusion

These results suggest that photochemical crosslinking with CASPc and 670 nm light holds promise as a potential therapy to prevent cartilage degeneration by protecting cartilage from mechanical wear and biochemical degradation. Limitations were also evident, however, as an antioxidant treatment was necessary to maintain chondrocyte viability in crosslinked tissue.
Evaluation of shock wave properties interacting with a parallelepipedal obstacle
Authors: Gautier Antoine , Sochet Isabelle , Courtiaud Sébastion , Lapebie Emmanuel
Published: July 2022

The aim of this study was to characterize the interaction of a shock wave with a parallelepipedal obstacle. Shock wave properties were quantified downstream of sixty configurations with different obstacle dimensions. With the introduction of new parameters, these experimental measurements were used to write evolution laws for the arrival time and the maximum overpressure downstream of a parallelepipedal obstacle. The accuracy of these laws was satisfactory. Then, the maximum overpressure law was compared with experimental measures from the literature. Despite differences in the obstacle geometry or experimental setup, these experimental data are in good agreement with the maximum overpressure law.
Transparency in governance: A comparative study of right-to-information legislation in India, Indonesia and Nigeria
Authors: Kaur Hanspreet
Published: July 2022

This article discusses how the Right to Information Act in India, Nigeria and Indonesia can have an influence on ensuring transparency and accountability in the government system. The acts pertaining to the right to information in these three countries were implemented after long proceedings and deep struggles. The article looks at the legislation on the right to information in these three countries, the factors that motivated each of them to adopt the legislation, the implementation of the Right to Information Act, the challenges faced during the passage of the Act, the scope of coverage of the provisions of the Acts of all three countries, exceptions to the information disclosed to the public and problems faced during implementation from the government's side and the user's side. The article concludes with a summary of the arguments and key policy recommendations.
Understanding the Motives for Pursuing Postgraduate Studies and Causes of Late Completion: Supervisors and Supervisees’ Experiences
Authors: Amani Jaquiline , Myeya Helena , Mhewa Mariana
Published: July 2022

This article is a product of a study that deployed a qualitative research approach to examine what motivates students in Tanzania to undertake postgraduate studies, and the causes of late completion of such studies. A total of 47 participants were involved in this study through focused group discussions and semi-structured interviews. The results revealed five distinct reasons why postgraduate students enter a doctoral or master’s degree course: employment prospects, better salary, career progression or change, personal development, and prestige or self-actualization. Moreover, it was found that the determinants of late completion were both institutional and personal. Institutional factors included a non-supportive learning and research environment, cumbersome thesis and examination process, heavy supervisors’ workload, supervisors’ lack of motivation, and low entry qualifications by candidates. On the other hand, personal factors were poor educational background, social and financial problems, lack of good communication skills, research incompetence, low commitment, and partial study leave. The study concludes that efforts to improve the quality of postgraduate training should address the potential systemic, institutional and individual barriers. In the light of this, it is recommended that the institutional conditions and policies should be re-examined to ensure that supervisors and those they supervise are effectively facilitated in fulfilling their roles and responsibilities, so that postgraduate research produces good and timely quality results.
What Is the Role of Organizational Cynicism in School Effectiveness?
Authors: Yıldırım İsa
Published: July 2022

Human resources are frequently emphasized as being critical to the school social system’s survival. This study examined the effects of teachers’ negative attitudes toward the organization for which they work at the level of school effectiveness. The study sought to determine how negative attitudes of secondary school teachers toward their schools harmed school effectiveness in one of Turkey’s eastern provinces. The analyses revealed that organizational cynicism may reduce perceived school effectiveness by reducing teachers’ participation in school decision-making. In terms of understanding how the negative effects of organizational cynicism on school effectiveness occur, the findings of this study had a wide range of implications in research, practice, and policy.
The Biopsychosocial Impact and Syndemic Effect of COVID-19 on Youth Living with HIV in Kenya
Authors: Chenneville Tiffany , Gabbidon Kemesha , Bharat Bharat , Whitney Zachary , Adeli Scholastic , Anyango Mary
Published: July 2022

COVID-19's rapid emergence as a biological and psychosocial threat has affected people globally. The purpose of this qualitative study, which was guided by syndemic theory and the biopsychosocial framework, was to examine the impact of COVID-19 on youth living with HIV (YLWH) in Kenya. Seven virtual focus groups and two in-depth interviews were conducted with 15 YLWH aged 18-24, 13 youth affected by HIV aged 18-24, and 12 HIV healthcare providers living in Nakuru and Eldoret, two of Kenya's largest cities. Data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis, which was guided by a descriptive phenomenological approach. Findings provided information about the problems and needs of YLWH as well as potential solutions for mitigating COVID-19's biopsychosocial impact and syndemic effect on YLWH in Kenya. A variety of individual, community, healthcare, and government issues were identified including but not limited to concerns about psychosocial functioning; economic stability; access to medical treatment and medication; the availability of goods and services; patient education; and the dissemination of accurate information. These findings have important implications for addressing the ongoing and long-term impact of the pandemic on YLWH in resource-limited settings through research, policy, and practice.
Patients Self-Reporting of Utilizing Teledental Services During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Bugis Bussma A.
Published: July 2022

Introduction: Currently, the majority of health facilities in Saudi Arabia are supplemented with the required technological infrastructure to support different formats of telehealth. There is limited evidence on the actual utilization of teledentistry among dental patients during COVID-19. Thus, the purpose of this study was to describe the utilization of teledentistry services during the pandemic among dental care seekers in Saudi Arabia. Methods: The study was a cross-sectional descriptive study through an online self-administered survey released publicly. The survey was available during March, April, and May 2021. The targeted population was dental care seekers who used any teledental services during the COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia. Results: There were 235 responses available for analysis. Among the 235 responses, 91.91% did not use any teledental services during COVID-19, while 8.09% utilized different teledental services during COVID-19. Participants who utilized teledental services during COVID-19, used the following services: dental diagnosis, dental consultations, monitoring and follow-ups of previous dental treatments, routine dental check-ups, and finally, triaging dental cases as emergency or nonemergency cases. Discussion: Saudi Arabia has a strong technological infrastructure with a highly ranked healthcare system. However, teledental services were weakly utilized by dental care seekers during COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia.
A Bias for the gospel
Authors: Teasdale Mark R.
Published: July 2022

In place of the various scholarly definitions of the word “evangelism” that emphasize specific practices and outcomes, a new definition should be developed that clarifies the gospel message and presents a positive disposition toward that message. Such a definition would overcome the core difficulties facing the church in North America and would have strong biblical support. The recommended definition is: Evangelism is a bias held by the people of God for the good news of what God does in Jesus Christ to provide abundant life for all creation through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Stroke care in Armenia: Recent developments
Authors: Yeghiazaryan Nune , Isahakyan Anna , Zubalova Lina , Hovhannisyan Yekaterina , Sahakyan Greta , Chekijian Sharon , Khachatryan Samson G , Skon Muratoglu Mikael , Aghasaryan Manvel , Babikian Viken L
Published: July 2022

Introduction:

Armenia is an upper-middle-income country with a population of nearly 3 million. Stroke is one of its major public health problems and ranks as the sixth leading cause of death, with a mortality of 75.5 per 100,000.

Methods and results:

Until recently, modern stroke care was not available in Armenia. During the past 8 years substantial advances have been made in building medical infrastructure and delivering acute stroke care. This manuscript describes contributors to this progress, including extensive and long-term collaboration with international stroke experts, the development of hospital-based stroke teams, and a funding commitment for stroke care by the government.

Conclusion:

The results of acute stroke revascularization procedures during the past 3 years are reviewed and found to meet international standards. Future directions are discussed including the immediate need to expand acute stroke care to underserved parts of the country by adding primary and comprehensive stroke centers. An active educational program for nurses and physicians and the TeleStroke system development will help support this expansion.
Primary ovarian malignant mixed Müllerian tumor: a rare case report
Authors: Jagtap Sunil V. , Jagtap Shubham S. , Gudur Rashmi , Billawaria Sonam
Published: July 2022

Primary malignant mixed Müllerian tumor (MMMT) of the ovary is an extremely uncommon neoplasm. These tumors show very aggressive clinical course and high mortality as compared to epithelial ovarian neoplasms. The objective of present study is to present a rare case of primary MMMT homologous type of ovary for its aggressive clinical course and immunohistochemistry findings. A 48-year-old woman presented with complaints of lower abdominal pain, dullness of 3 months duration. USG abdomen pelvis revealed bilateral ovarian solid and cystic mass lesion suggestive of malignant potential. Peritoneal fluid cytology reported as positive for malignant cells. Patient underwent exploratory laparotomy which showed large bilateral ovarian masses with extensive nodular deposits all over pelvic-abdominal organs. Optimal debulking surgery was performed and specimen examined for histopathology. On histopathology, it was reported as bilateral ovarian MMMT homologous type. Immunohistochemistry was done which showed the tumor cell expression positive for CK, EMA, CK7, CA-125, and WT1. Also a distinct population tumor cells express Cyclin D1 and focal and patchy expression of CD-10. Tumor was negative for Desmin, PLAP, Calretin, and inhibin. The patient received operative, chemotherapy and adjuvant therapy along with extensive electrolyte, nutritive, and supplementary support. The patient, however, rapidly deteriorated and died within 9 months of postoperative day. Primary ovarian MMMT is an extremely uncommon neoplasm, and it showed extensive aggressive clinical course and even with operative, chemotherapy, and adjuvant therapy, the patient yields poor prognosis.
MiR-146b-5p regulates IL-23 receptor complex expression in chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells
Authors: Matis Serena , Grazia Recchia Anna , Colombo Monica , Cardillo Martina , Fabbi Marina , Todoerti Katia , Bossio Sabrina , Fabris Sonia , Cancila Valeria , Massara Rosanna , Reverberi Daniele , Emionite Laura , Cilli Michele , Cerruti Giannamaria , Salvi Sandra , Bet Paola , Pigozzi Simona , Fiocca Roberto , Ibatici Adalberto , Angelucci Emanuele , Gentile Massimo , Monti Paola , Menichini Paola , Fronza Gilberto , Torricelli Federica , Ciarrocchi Alessia , Neri Antonino , Fais Franco , Tripodo Claudio , Morabito Fortunato , Ferrarini Manlio , Cutrona Giovanna
Published: July 2022

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells express the interleukin-23 receptor (IL-23R) chain, but the expression of the complementary IL-12Rβ1 chain requires cell stimulation via surface CD40 molecules (and not via the B-cell receptor [BCR]). This stimulation induces the expression of a heterodimeric functional IL-23R complex and the secretion of IL-23, initiating an autocrine loop that drives leukemic cell expansion. Based on the observation in 224 untreated Binet stage A patients that the cases with the lowest miR-146b-5p concentrations had the shortest time to first treatment (TTFT), we hypothesized that miR-146b-5p could negatively regulate IL-12Rβ1 side chain expression and clonal expansion. Indeed, miR-146b-5p significantly bound to the 3′-UTR region of the IL-12Rβ1 mRNA in an in vitro luciferase assay. Downregulation of miR-146b-5p with specific miRNA inhibitors in vitro led to the upregulation of the IL-12Rβ1 side chain and expression of a functional IL-23R complex similar to that observed after stimulation of the CLL cell through the surface CD40 molecules. Expression of miR-146b-5p with miRNA mimics in vitro inhibited the expression of the IL-23R complex after stimulation with CD40L. Administration of a miR-146b-5p mimic to NSG mice, successfully engrafted with CLL cells, caused tumor shrinkage, with a reduction of leukemic nodules and of IL-12Rβ1–positive CLL cells in the spleen. Our findings indicate that IL-12Rβ1 expression, a crucial checkpoint for the functioning of the IL-23 and IL-23R complex loop, is under the control of miR-146b-5p, which may represent a potential target for therapy since it contributes to the CLL pathogenesis. This trial is registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00917540.
Risk factors, diagnosis and management of venous thromboembolic disease in pregnancy
Authors: Edebiri Osasere , Ní Áinle Fionnuala
Published: July 2022

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) in pregnancy is a leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality. However, despite the significant associated clinical burden and potentially devastating societal impact, there is still a paucity of data surrounding its prevention and management. Consequently, international guideline recommendations vary widely. Exclusion of pregnant women from clinical trials in the past has contributed to knowledge gaps. However, recently published and ongoing studies demonstrate that excellent clinical trials in pregnancy are achievable. This review will discuss prevention, diagnosis and treatment of VTE in pregnancy, and will also explore priorities for future research.

Educational aims

To gain an understanding of current knowledge on risk factors for pregnancy-associated venous thromboembolism (PA-VTE).

To gain an understanding of the diagnosis of PA-VTE.

To review up-to-date approaches to preventing and treating PA-VTE.

To discuss possible limitations in current research and areas which require improvement.
Experimental and nonlinear finite-element analysis study on lateral push resistance of San-dou components perpendicular and parallel to grain in traditional timber buildings
Authors: Zhang Chengwen , Chun Qing , Lin Yijie , Wang Haoyu , Li Pan
Published: July 2022

Dou-gong is an essential part of traditional timber buildings in East Asia, having a decoration function and a load transfer function. The San-dou component, which is vulnerable to the lateral push force of the Gong, Fang, and purlin, is a critical structural component in the Dou-gong. In San-dou components, there are two distinctive types of surfaces subjected to lateral push force, perpendicular to the grain and parallel to the grain. However, few investigation into the structural performance of these two types has been done. Considering this shortcoming in the literature, in the current study, tests were carried out to obtain elasticity and strength characteristics on 90 timber specimens of fir and larch. After the material property test, 24 San-dou specimens were prepared to investigate the lateral push resistance. Consequently, an elastic–plastic damage assessment model was developed to calculate the load–displacement curve and possible damage distribution region of San-dou component, using the nonlinear finite-element analysis. According to the analyses, the failure mode for the San-dou component perpendicular to the grain is a horizontal crack parallel to the Dou-ear. Besides, the failure mode of the San-dou component parallel to the grain is an oblique crack, which begins from the inner edge of the Dou-ear to the lower part of the San-dou component. In the case of the other factors being the same, the bearing capacity of the larch San-dou component is 49.64–55.78% stronger than the fir San-dou component. Besides that, the bearing capacity of the San-dou component perpendicular to the grain is 32.85–38.22% higher than the San-dou component parallel to the grain. The research findings are expected to give a theoretical foundation for the structural evaluation of the Dou-gong system in traditional timber buildings and a scientific basis for elucidating the differences in the construction of traditional timber buildings in East Asia.
Genotyping-by-Sequencing Based Investigation of Population Structure and Genome Wide Association Studies for Seven Agronomically Important Traits in a Set of 346 Oryza rufipogon Accessions
Authors: Malik Palvi , Huang Mao , Neelam Kumari , Bhatia Dharminder , Kaur Ramanjeet , Yadav Bharat , Singh Jasdeep , Sneller Clay , Singh Kuldeep
Published: July 2022

Being one of the most important staple dietary constituents globally, genetic enhancement of cultivated rice for yield, agronomically important traits is of substantial importance. Even though the climatic factors and crop management practices impact complex traits like yield immensely, the contribution of variation by underlying genetic factors surpasses them all. Previous studies have highlighted the importance of utilizing exotic germplasm, landraces in enhancing the diversity of gene pool, leading to better selections and thus superior cultivars. Thus, to fully exploit the potential of progenitor of Asian cultivated rice for productivity related traits, genome wide association study (GWAS) for seven agronomically important traits was conducted on a panel of 346 O. rufipogon accessions using a set of 15,083 high-quality single nucleotide polymorphic markers.
The phenotypic data analysis indicated large continuous variation for all the traits under study, with a significant negative correlation observed between grain parameters and agronomic parameters like plant height, culm thickness. The presence of 74.28% admixtures in the panel as revealed by investigating population structure indicated the panel to be very poorly genetically differentiated, with rapid LD decay. The genome-wide association analyses revealed a total of 47 strong MTAs with 19 SNPs located in/close to previously reported QTL/genic regions providing a positive analytic proof for our studies. The allelic differences of significant MTAs were found to be statistically significant at 34 genomic regions. A total of 51 O. rufipogon accessions harboured combination of superior alleles and thus serve as potential candidates for accelerating rice breeding programs. The present study identified 27 novel SNPs to be significantly associated with different traits. Allelic differences between cultivated and wild rice at significant MTAs determined superior alleles to be absent at 12 positions implying substantial scope of improvement by their targeted introgression into cultivars. Introgression of novel significant genomic regions into breeder’s pool would broaden the genetic base of cultivated rice, thus making the crop more resilient.
StackEPI: identification of cell line-specific enhancer–promoter interactions based on stacking ensemble learning
Authors: Fan Yongxian , Peng Binchao
Published: July 2022

Background

Understanding the regulatory role of enhancer–promoter interactions (EPIs) on specific gene expression in cells contributes to the understanding of gene regulation, cell differentiation, etc., and its identification has been a challenging task. On the one hand, using traditional wet experimental methods to identify EPIs often means a lot of human labor and time costs. On the other hand, although the currently proposed computational methods have good recognition effects, they generally require a long training time.

Results

In this study, we studied the EPIs of six human cell lines and designed a cell line-specific EPIs prediction method based on a stacking ensemble learning strategy, which has better prediction performance and faster training speed, called StackEPI. Specifically, by combining different encoding schemes and machine learning methods, our prediction method can extract the cell line-specific effective information of enhancer and promoter gene sequences comprehensively and in many directions, and make accurate recognition of cell line-specific EPIs. Ultimately, the source code to implement StackEPI and experimental data involved in the experiment are available athttps://github.com/20032303092/StackEPI.git.

Conclusions

The comparison results show that our model can deliver better performance on the problem of identifying cell line-specific EPIs and outperform other state-of-the-art models. In addition, our model also has a more efficient computation speed.
α-Gal antigen-deficient rabbits with GGTA1 gene disruption via CRISPR/Cas9
Authors: Wei Lina , Mu Yufeng , Deng Jichao , Wu Yong , Qiao Ying , Zhang Kun , Wang Xuewen , Huang Wenpeng , Shao Anliang , Chen Liang , Zhang Yang , Li Zhanjun , Lai Liangxue , Qu Shuxin , Xu Liming
Published: July 2022

Background

Previous studies have identified the carbohydrate epitope Galα1–3Galβ1–4GlcNAc-R (termed the α-galactosyl epitope), known as the α-Gal antigen as the primary xenoantigen recognized by the human immune system. The α-Gal antigen is regulated by galactosyltransferase (GGTA1), and α-Gal antigen-deficient mice have been widely used in xenoimmunological studies, as well as for the immunogenic risk evaluation of animal-derived medical devices. The objective of this study was to develop α-Gal antigen-deficient rabbits by GGTA1 gene editing with the CRISPR/Cas9 system.

Results

The mutation efficiency of GGTA1 gene-editing in rabbits was as high as 92.3% in F0 pups. Phenotype analysis showed that the α-Gal antigen expression in the major organs of F0 rabbits was decreased by more than 99.96% compared with that in wild-type (WT) rabbits, and the specific anti-Gal IgG and IgM antibody levels in F1 rabbits increased with increasing age, peaking at approximately 5 or 6 months. Further study showed that GGTA1 gene expression in F2-edited rabbits was dramatically reduced compared to that in WT rabbits.

Conclusions

α-Gal antigen-deficient rabbits were successfully generated by GGTA1 gene editing via the CRISPR/Cas9 system in this study. The feasibility of using these α-Gal antigen-deficient rabbits for the in situ implantation and residual immunogenic risk evaluation of animal tissue-derived medical devices was also preliminarily confirmed.
Effects of quadratus lumborum block on perioperative multimodal analgesia and postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing radical prostatectomy
Authors: Hu Zhen , Zhou Yingjie , Zhao Guohao , Zhang Xinxin , Liu Chunchun , Xing Huan , Liu Ji , Wang Fen
Published: July 2022

Background

This study aimed to investigate the effects of ultrasound-guided quadratus lumborum block (QLB) on perioperative multimodal analgesia and postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing radical prostatectomy.

Methods

A total of 80 patients undergoing radical prostatectomy were randomly divided into two groups: general anaesthesia with QLB (QLB group; n = 40) and general anaesthesia with sham QLB (normal saline [NS] group; n = 40). QLB or sham QLB was performed before the induction of anaesthesia. Sufentanil was intravenously administered for postoperative analgesia. The primary outcome was the pain score (measured using a numerical rating scale [NRS]) at different time points within 48 h postoperatively. Secondary outcomes included the cumulative dose of sufentanil within 48 h postoperatively, subjective comfort, grip strength, first time of exhaustion, first fluid intake time, time to get out of bed, length of postoperative hospital stay and overall satisfaction. The SPSS software, version 17.0, was used for all statistical analyses.

Results

Postoperative NRS at rest was significantly lower at 2 h (1.7 ± 1.1 versus 3.0 ± 2.1), 4 h (1.8 ± 1.2 versus 4.1 ± 2.3), 6 h (1.9 ± 2 versus 4.4 ± 2) and 12 h (3.5 ± 2.3 versus 5 ± 3.3) and was also lower when coughing at 2 h (2.3 ± 1.1 versus 4 ± 2.1), 4 h (2.3 ± 1. 1 versus 4.3 ± 2) and 6 h (2.4 ± 1.1 versus 5.9 ± 2.3) in the QLB than that in the NS group. The cumulative dose of sufentanil was significantly lower in the QLB than that in the NS group at 4 h, 6 h, 12 h, 24 h and 48 h. The nausea score was significantly lower in the QLB group at 24 h postoperatively, and the first time of exhaustion and time to get out of bed were significantly shorter (P < 0.05). The overall satisfaction score was significantly higher in the QLB than in the NS group (4 ± 0.7 versus 2.6 ± 0.9).

Conclusion

Ultrasound-guided bilateral QLB can provide effective postoperative analgesia for patients undergoing radical prostatectomy, reduce the need for sufentanil, facilitate comfort and improve postoperative outcomes. QLB can be a good component of multimodal analgesia.

Trial registration

The clinical trial is registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR). Current Controlled Trials:ChiCTR1900022009. the date of registration:2019/03/20.