bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Acupuncture reduces cocaine psychomotor responses by activating the rostromedial tegmental nucleus
Authors: Chang Suchan , Fan Yu , Lee Soo Min , Ryu Yeonhee , Lee Bong Hyo , Kim Sang Chan , Bills Kyle B. , Steffensen Scott C. , Yang Chae Ha , Kim Hee Young
Published: May 2021

The rostromedial tegmental nucleus (RMTg), a GABAergic afferent to midbrain dopamine (DA) neurons, has emerged as an integral player in both rewarding and nociceptive responses. While previous studies have demonstrated that acupuncture modulates DA transmission in the mesolimbic reward system originating in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and projecting to the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and can reduce drug self‐administration, the central links between peripheral acupuncture signals and brain reward systems are not well‐characterized. Thus, we hypothesised that acupuncture would elicit inhibitory signals from RMTg neurons to brain reward systems. Acupuncture reduced acute cocaine‐induced locomotor activity and DA release in a point‐specific manner, which was blocked by optogenetic silencing or chemical lesion of the RMTg. The acupuncture effect was mimicked by chemical activation of the RMTg. Acupuncture activated RMTg GABA neurons. In addition, the inhibitory effects of acupuncture on acute cocaine‐induced locomotor activity were prevented by electrolytic lesions of the lateral habenula (LHb) or fasciculus retroflexus (FR), areas known to project to the RMTg. These findings suggest that acupuncture recruits the RMTg to reduce the psychomotor responses enhanced by acute cocaine.
Public availability of results of ClinicalTrials.gov‐registered expanded access studies
Authors: Borysowski Jan , Górski Andrzej
Published: May 2021

Aims

Expanded access is the use of investigational treatments outside of clinical trials. Results of expanded access studies provide insights into how investigational treatments work in real‐world settings. The objective of this study was to evaluate public availability of results of expanded access studies.

Methods

Eligible expanded access studies were identified in ClinicalTrials.gov (CT.gov). Publications matching records of individual studies were searched for in Medline and Embase. In addition, we assessed whether results of the included studies were publicly available from other sources including CT.gov, sponsor web sites and conference proceedings.

Results

After median time of 49.5 (interquartile range, 36.7–64.7) months from study completion, the results of 69 out of the 152 included studies (45.39%) were publicly available, either as a journal publication (53 studies; 34.87%) or from other source (16 studies; 10.52%). The percentage of studies whose results were available as a journal publication after 12, 24, 36 and 48 months from study completion was 13.2, 21.1, 33.1 and 35.7%, respectively. The percentage of studies whose results were publicly available from any source (including journal publications) at 12, 24, 36 and 48 months were 19.1, 29.6, 43.2 and 47.5%, respectively.

Conclusion

Results of a considerable proportion of expanded access studies are not publicly available. In view of the growing importance of real‐world data, sponsors and principal investigators of those studies should always consider making their findings public.
Collectively coping with coronavirus: Local community identification predicts giving support and lockdown adherence during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Stevenson Clifford , Wakefield Juliet R. H. , Felsner Isabelle , Drury John , Costa Sebastiano
Published: May 2021

The role of shared identity in predicting both ingroup helping behaviour and adherence to protective norms during COVID‐19 has been extensively theorized, but remains largely under‐investigated. We build upon previous Social Identity research into community resilience by testing the role of pre‐existing local community (or ‘neighbourhood’) identity as a predictor of these outcomes, via the mediator of perceived social support. Community residents in the UK completed a longitudinal online survey four months before lockdown (T1;N = 253), one month before lockdown (T2;N = 217), and two months into lockdown (T3;N = 149). The cross‐lagged panel analysis shows that T1 community identification predicts T3 giving and receiving of pandemic‐related support, and that these effects occur via the perception of community support at the second time point (while the alternative pathway from T1 support via T2 identification is non‐significant). Moreover, we show that T1 community identification also directly predicts lockdown adherence at T3. Our findings point to the pivotal role played by community identity in effective behavioural responses to the pandemic, and the need to support and foster community development to facilitate local community resilience as the crisis continues to unfold.
Ferroptosis‐related gene signature predicts prognosis and immunotherapy in glioma
Authors: Wan Rong‐Jun , Peng Wang , Xia Qin‐Xuan , Zhou Hong‐Hao , Mao Xiao‐Yuan
Published: May 2021

Aims

Glioma is a highly invasive brain tumor, which makes prognosis challenging and renders patients resistant to various treatments. Induction of cell death is promising in cancer therapy. Ferroptosis, a recently discovered regulated cell death, can be induced for killing glioma cells. However, the prognostic prediction of ferroptosis‐related genes (FRGs) in glioma remains elusive.

Methods

The mRNA expression profiles and gene variation and corresponding clinical data of glioma patients and NON‐TUMOR control were downloaded from public databases. Risk score based on a FRGs signature was constructed in REMBRANDT cohort and validated in other datasets including CGGA‐693, CGGA‐325, and TCGA.

Results

Our results demonstrated that the majority of FRGs was differentially expressed among GBM, LGG, and NON‐TUMOR groups (96.6%). Furthermore, the glioma patients with low‐risk score exhibited a more satisfactory clinical outcome. The better prognosis was also validated in the glioma patients with low‐risk score no matter to which grade they were affiliated. Functional analysis revealed that the high‐risk score group was positively correlated with the enrichment scores for immune checkpoint blockade‐related positive signatures, indicating the critical role of glioma immunotherapy via risk score.

Conclusion

A novel FRGs‐related risk score can predict prognosis and immunotherapy in glioma patients.
Assessment of changes in the ichthyofauna in a tropical reservoir in south‐eastern Brazil: Consequences of global warming?
Authors: Araújo Francisco Gerson , de Azevedo Márcia Cristina Costa , Guedes Gustavo Henrique Soares , Uehara Wagner
Published: May 2021

Increases in temperatures over the last century, more intensively after the eighties, were recorded in several databases for the south‐eastern Brazil. These increases are likely to change fish communities in aquatic systems by decreasing abundances, biomass and sizes of some species more sensitive to climate change. Reservoirs may be particularly susceptible to the effects of climate change, as they isolate previously connected areas limiting fish dispersal and migration, as well as increasing water temperature and thermal stratification. We assessed temporal changes in the abundance and biomass of the ichthyofauna in an isolate reservoir (inflowing waters from small tributaries in a highland region) aiming to associate changes with climate effects over three decades (1990, 2000, 2010). Two abundant native species, a loricariid Loricariichthys castaneus (Castelnau, 1855) and a cichlid Geophagus brasiliensis (Quoy & Gaimard, 1824), were selected to assess eventual response to climate changes in their geographical distribution in the Southeast Atlantic Hydrographic Region, considering different carbon emission scenarios using ecological niche models. A decrease in the densities and biomass of the ichthyofauna and of the two selected species were observed in both summer and winter over the three decades, coinciding with increases in temperatures. These decreases were correlated with increases in positive anomalies of temperature, which may be an indicator of climatic changes, although with low explanation of the data variation. The mean size of L. castaneus decreased between the nineties and 2010, whereas no significant trend was found for the size of G. brasiliensis. Our predictions of new area for future adequacy indicated a loss in the distribution area for both species (mainly for G. brasiliensis), considering the most pessimistic scenario for 2050 and 2070, possibly due to climatic changes. Both hydroelectric dams and global warming pose threats to freshwater fish diversity, and both will interact. Changes observed in the fish assemblage over the last decades were essential for an assessment of the consequences of global warming in this type of reservoir combining larger scale studies with future projections.
Astrocyte and glutamate involvement in the pathogenesis of epilepsy in Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Dejakaisaya Hattapark , Kwan Patrick , Jones Nigel C.
Published: May 2021

Alzheimer's disease (AD) can increase the risk of epilepsy by up to 10‐fold compared to healthy age‐matched controls. However, the pathological mechanisms that underlie this increased risk are poorly understood. Because disruption in brain glutamate homeostasis has been implicated in both AD and epilepsy, this might play a mechanistic role in the pathogenesis of epilepsy in AD. Prior to the formation of amyloid beta (Aβ) plaques, the brain can undergo pathological changes as a result of increased production of amyloid precursor protein (APP) and Aβ oligomers. Impairments in the glutamate uptake ability of astrocytes due to astrogliosis are hypothesized to be an early event occurring before Aβ plaque formation. Astrogliosis may increase the susceptibility to epileptogenesis of the brain via accumulation of extracellular glutamate and resulting excitotoxicity. Here we hypothesize that Aβ oligomers and proinflammatory cytokines can cause astrogliosis and accumulation of extracellular glutamate, which then contribute to the pathogenesis of epilepsy in AD. In this review article, we consider the evidence supporting a potential role of dysfunction of the glutamate‐glutamine cycle and the astrocyte in the pathogenesis of epilepsy in AD.
Oncohistones: a roadmap to stalled development
Authors: Deshmukh Shriya , Ptack Adam , Krug Brian , Jabado Nada
Published: May 2021

Since the discovery of recurrent mutations in histone H3 variants in paediatric brain tumours, so‐called ‘oncohistones’ have been identified in various cancers. While their mechanism of action remains under active investigation, several studies have shed light on how they promote genome‐wide epigenetic perturbations. These findings converge on altered post‐translational modifications on two key lysine (K) residues of the H3 tail, K27 and K36, which regulate several cellular processes, including those linked to cell differentiation during development. We will review how these oncohistones affect the methylation of cognate residues, but also disrupt the distribution of opposing chromatin marks, creating genome‐wide epigenetic changes which participate in the oncogenic process. Ultimately, tumorigenesis is promoted through the maintenance of a progenitor state at the expense of differentiation in defined cellular and developmental contexts. As these epigenetic disruptions are reversible, improved understanding of oncohistone pathogenicity can result in needed alternative therapies.
Dynamics of immobility: Capability conversion among aspiring migrants in Pakistan
Authors: Karell Daniel
Published: May 2021

What are the costs of attempting to migrate internationally for work but being deterred by unexpected changes in states’ policies? Building on recent insights into involuntary immobility, I examine immobility's financial consequences, including how these consequences vary across levels of household wealth. Drawing on an original panel survey of 70 aspiring Pakistani labour migrants and their heads of household, I find that poorer households more often expected to pay to migrate. They also lost the most in financing overseas employment attempts gone awry. I additionally use the findings to specify a dynamic of immobility: “capability conversion”, or the process by which migrants’ capability to migrate at one point in time crashes up against unexpected constraints, thereby affecting their future capability to migrate. Capability conversion helps explain how migratory attempts can lead individuals to becoming more “stuck” over time, and, more generally, helps develop the aspiration‐mobility framework for analysing (im)mobility.
Nurses' experience of caring for people living with HIV: a focused ethnography
Authors: Mashallahi A. , Rahmani F. , Gholizadeh L. , Ostadtaghizadeh A.
Published: May 2021

Background

Healthcare providers have been found to have limited knowledge and skills in interacting with people living with HIV. These factors can adversely affect providers' practice, jeopardize their safety and compromise the care of the patients.

Aims

This study aimed to explore the experiences of Iranian nurses who were caring for patients with HIV.

Methods

A focused ethnography approach was used. Participants consisted of 12 nurses working in teaching hospitals affiliated to Urmia University of Medical Sciences and recruited by purposeful sampling. Semi‐structured interviews, field observations and field notes were used for data collection. Data were analysed employing content analysis.

Findings

Three main themes emerged from the analysis of the participants' experiences of providing care to patients with HIV: ‘excessive fear of being infected’, ‘concerns about the possible consequences’ and ‘lack of self‐confidence in care provision’.

Discussion/Conclusion

Nurses have experienced a great deal of fear of self and cross‐contamination when providing care to people living with HIV. Social stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV amplified the nurses' experience of fear. Providing appropriate education and training for nurses can improve their attitudes, emotions and self‐confidence while providing care to such people and increasing the quality of care provided.

Implications for Nursing and Health policy

Planning more educational programmes focusing on improving their misunderstandings about HIV could result in positive outcomes: for nurses to provide high‐quality care and for people living with HIV who receive this care. The healthcare system should consider the culture of care provided by nurses to these people.
Rate and impact on patient outcome and healthcare utilization of complications requiring surgical revision: Subcutaneous versus transvenous implantable defibrillator therapy
Authors: Palmisano Pietro , Ziacchi Matteo , Ammendola Ernesto , D'Onofrio Antonio , Dell'Era Gabriele , Laffi Mattia , Biffi Mauro , Nigro Gerardo , Bianchi Walter , Prenna Eleonora , Angeletti Andrea , Guido Alessandro , Stronati Giulia , Gaggioli Germano , Dello Russo Antonio , Accogli Michele , Guerra Federico ,   Italian Association of Arrhythmology and Cardiac Pacing (AIAC)
Published: May 2021

Introduction

Comparison data on management of device‐related complications and their impact on patient outcome and healthcare utilization between subcutaneous implantable cardioverter–defibrillator (S‐ICD) and transvenous ICD (TV‐ICD) are lacking. We designed this prospective, multicentre, observational registry to compare the rate, nature, and impact of long‐term device‐related complications requiring surgical revision on patient outcome and healthcare utilization between patients undergoing S‐ICD or TV‐ICD implantation.

Methods and Results

A total of 1099 consecutive patients who underwent S‐ICD or TV‐ICD implantation were enrolled. Propensity matching for baseline characteristics yielded 169 matched pairs. Rate, nature, management, and impact on patient outcome of device‐related complications were analyzed and compared between two groups. During a mean follow‐up of 30 months, device‐related complications requiring surgical revision were observed in 20 patients: 3 in S‐ICD group (1.8%) and 17 in TV‐ICD group (10.1%; p = .002). Compared with TV‐ICD patients, S‐ICD patients showed a significantly lower risk of lead‐related complications (0% vs. 5.9%; p = .002) and a similar risk of pocket‐related complications (0.6 vs. 2.4; p = .215) and device infection (0.6% vs. 1.2%; p = 1.000). Complications observed in S‐ICD patients resulted in a significantly lower number of complications‐related rehospitalizations (median 0 vs. 1; p = .013) and additional hospital treatment days (1.0 ± 1.0 vs. 6.5 ± 4.4 days; p = .048) compared with TV‐ICD patients.

Conclusions

Compared with TV‐ICD, S‐ICD is associated with a lower risk of complications, mainly due to a lower risk of lead‐related complications. The management of S‐ICD complications requires fewer and shorter rehospitalizations.
Atrial thrombus detection on transoesophageal echocardiography in patients with atrial fibrillation undergoing cardioversion or catheter ablation: A pooled analysis of rates and predictors
Authors: Noubiap Jean Jacques , Agbaedeng Thomas A. , Ndoadoumgue Aude Laetitia , Nyaga Ulrich Flore , Kengne Andre Pascal
Published: May 2021

Objective

To summarize data on the rates and predictors of left atrial thrombus/left atrial appendage thrombus (LAT/LAAT) detection by transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE) before electrical cardioversion (ECV) or catheter ablation (CA) for atrial fibrillation (AF).

Methods

EMBASE, MEDLINE, and Web of Science Core Collection were searched to identify all studies providing relevant data and published by October 7, 2020. A random‐effects meta‐analysis method was used to pool effect size estimates.

Results

A total of 85 studies were included, reporting data from 56 660 patients with AF. In patients undergoing CA and ECV, the pooled prevalence of LAT/LAAT was 1.8% and 7.5% in those not on oral anticoagulation (OAC), 1.8% and 5.5% in those taking OAC, and 1.3% and 4.9% in case of adequate OAC, respectively. According to the type of OAC, the prevalence was 2.0% and 7.6% for vitamin K antagonist, 1.3% and 3.5% for direct oral anticoagulant. Predictors of LAT/LAAT detection were nonparoxysmal AF (odds ratio [OR]: 3.6, 95% confidence interval: 2.4–5.2), hypertension (OR: 2.9, 1.2–7.0), previous stroke (OR: 3.0, 1.6–5.63), heart failure (OR: 4.3, 2.7–6.8), and CHADS2 score ≥2 (OR: 3.3, 1.9–5.8) for patients undergoing CA; and heart failure (OR: 2.8, 1.3–6.2) and the CHA2DS2‐VASc score (OR: 2.55, 1.5–4.5) for those undergoing ECV.

Conclusion

The prevalence of LAT/LAAT in AF patients undergoing ECV or CA varies widely, mainly due to differences in patient risk profiles and OAC types. Further research should determine whether the predictors of LAT/LAAT detection identified by this study could be used to select patients who require preprocedural TEE.
Red mark syndrome of trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss; Walbaum, 1792): Histopathological scoring and correlation with gross lesions
Authors: Galeotti M. , Sarli G. , Sirri R. , Mandrioli L. , Beraldo P. , Bronzatti P. , Giavenni R. , Orioles M. , Magi G.E. , Volpatti D.
Published: May 2021

Red mark syndrome (RMS) is a skin disorder affecting rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). The present work aimed to correlate the gross skin lesions affecting 46 fish sampled from farms surveyed for RMS with their microscopic features, identifying histological parameters that may be suggestive of disease progression. Skin lesions were grossly included in one of three categories (types I, II and III) according to the progressive degree of severity. Histological parameters and anti‐proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) tissue immunoreactivity were semi‐quantitatively assessed. In the dermis, PCNA‐positive lymphocytes, fibroblasts and endothelial cells were indicative of active phlogosis. A significant increase in PCNA‐immunoreactive lymphocytes, from gross type I to type III cases, was found only in the hypodermis. The histological parameters significantly associated with the gross lesion severity were progressive loss of the epithelium and scales, recruitment of inflammatory cells in the stratum compactum, loss of architecture of the stratum compactum, perivascular and perineural granulomatous inflammation and increase in lymphocyte infiltration of the muscular layer. In the type II and type III categories, inflammation in the hypodermis and muscle displayed a granulomatous pattern, reinforcing the hypothesis of an immunopathological mechanism. The morphological diagnosis of “deep chronic dermatitis associated to panniculitis and myositis, characterised by lympho‐histiocytic and granulomatous reaction” is suggested.
Correction and quantification of MTF in scanning laser microscopy
Authors: Takesue Toshiharu
Published: May 2021

Observations using conventional microscopy often lack information related to the fine structures of an object, such as intensity and phase, because of limitations in the lens aperture. In this study, the intensity and phase information are appropriately converted into an electrical signal using laser scanning and photodetectors. Intensity and phase are completely separated, and the missing information is restored based on the frequency of the electrical signal. Using this method, the original intensity and phase information of the object to be observed can be correctly restored. Therefore, we propose a novel method to calculate the degree of intensity and phase modulation by calculating the direct and alternating current components obtained from the output of the sum and difference of the two photodetectors. The degree of spatial frequency modulation is corrected according to the electrical signal frequency to detect transparent or unstained cells. We first performed laser scanning of an object. Then, signals were detected using two photodetectors placed in the far‐field, separated by the optical axis as the boundary. The output signals of the photodetectors were processed and the intensity and phase were unambiguously separated, thus allowing the visualization of the phase information of the transparent bodies and unstained cells. Spatial frequency correction was performed to correct the modulation. Our method successfully separated the information related to the intensity and optical path difference (OPD). In future work, by accurately correcting the intensity and OPD, it will be possible to separate the absorption rate from the ratio of the irradiation light intensity to the observed intensity and to separate the OPD into the refractive index and the thickness information. This method allows the accurate determination of these parameters in a noninvasive manner.
Tourniquets as a haemorrhage control measure in military and civilian care settings: An integrative review
Authors: Roman Pablo , Rodriguez‐Alvarez Amanda , Bertini‐Perez Daniel , Ropero‐Padilla Carmen , Martin‐Ibañez Luis , Rodriguez‐Arrastia Miguel
Published: May 2021

Aims and objectives

The aim of review was to describe and synthesise the evidence on the use of tourniquets to control haemorrhages, summarising both civilian and military use.

Background

Trauma‐related haemorrhage constitutes one of the most preventable deaths among injured patients, particularly in multi‐casualty incidents and disasters. In this context, safe instruments such as tourniquets are essential to help healthcare professionals to minimise loss of life and maximise patient recovery.

Design and methods

An integrative review was conducted in Medline, Nursing & Allied Health Premium, and Health & Medical Collection, using published data until March 2021 and following the PRISMA guidelines.

Results

A total of 25 articles were included. Evidence has been synthesised to understand the use of different types of tourniquets, environment of application, indication for their placement and potential complications associated with tourniquet placement.

Conclusions

Commercial tourniquets such as Combat Application Tourniquet or Emergency Tourniquet models are a valuable and safe instrument for haemorrhage control in both military and civilian out‐of‐hospital care settings. Nurses, as part of emergency teams, and other professionals should be aware that there is a possibility of adverse complications, but they are directly proportional to the time of tourniquet placement and generally temporary. In addition, national and international guidelines ensure the need for all civilian emergency services to be equipped with these devices, as well as for the training of healthcare professionals and first responders in their use.

Relevance to clinical practice

Despite the lack of complications in the use of tourniquets in these cases, their use has been a matter of debate for decades. In this sense, this review yields up‐to‐date guidelines in the use of tourniquets, their recommendations and their significance among professionals to manage complicated situations.
Microwave treatment to modify textural properties of high protein gel applicable as dysphagia food
Authors: Pure Ali Ebrahimi , Yarmand Mohammad Saeid , Farhoodi Mehdi , Adedeji Akinbode
Published: May 2021

The study aimed to formulate a high protein base as a dysphagia food and investigate the possibility of textural modification by applying microwave treatments. The formulated mixture contained 41.7% pea protein (dry basis), which exhibited shear thinning behavior. The application of microwave processing at 300, 500, and 700 W for 60, 120, and 180 s showed that at a higher level of energy induction by microwave, the hardness of the sample gradually increased from a fluid gel to a soft solid and more rigid levels. Processing at 300 and 500 W in the tested range showed that textural properties (hardness, adhesiveness, cohesiveness, springiness, gumminess, and chewiness) of the sample could be modulated within the recommended criteria for dysphagia food, providing the possibility of individualization of food texture for dysphagia disorder. Two main causes of these textural changes could be water evaporation and protein denaturation, in which, regarding the ratio of water evaporation to the size of textural changes, protein denaturation was thought to have the main impact on the phenomena.
Movie piracy: Displacement and its impact on legitimate sales in India
Authors: Jha Amit K. , Rajan Priyanka
Published: May 2021

This paper brings out the effect of movie piracy on legitimate sales of the movies in the Indian context. The paper becomes much more relevant when internet and streaming services are very much common these days. Based on the survey of 500 undergraduates students of university of Delhi, the paper finds that first, one unit of unpaid movie viewing displaces about 0.35 units of paid (first) movie viewings. Second, due to presence of “sampling effect” one unit of unpaid (first) movie viewing increases second paid viewings by 0.1 units. Thus, we find support for incomplete displacement, that is, a displacement rate less than one‐for‐one. Third, these displacements rates are causing an estimated 6.2% loss in sales of movies based on back‐of‐ envelope‐calculation. The number of lost movie sales are 6,3123,667 and approximately Rs 12 billion in Indian rupees as revenue lost due to movie piracy in the year 2019. Finally, Individuals who tend to show greater interests in movies are in fact contributes towards movie sales even though their indulgence in piracy cannot be ignored.
Lidocaine before esophageal manometry and ambulatory pH monitoring: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Wahba George , Neshkova Elissaveta , Jutras Gabrielle , Liu Chen Kiow Jeremy , Clément Marianne , Willems Philippe , Eouani Benny‐Darold , Courbette Olivier , Ayuso Éloïse , Bouin Mickael
Published: May 2021

Background

Lidocaine is commonly applied to improve the tolerance of esophageal manometry (EM) and ambulatory pH monitoring (PM). We recently published data suggesting a benefit to this practice and we aimed to confirm these findings in a randomized trial.

Methods

We conducted a double‐blind, randomized trial of lidocaine nasal spray versus placebo (saline) before EM and PM. Patients referred to our center who met inclusion criteria were enrolled. Patients were asked to fill a questionnaire after their test and patient‐reported adverse effects were compared.

Key Results

Three hundred and four patients were enrolled in our trial. Lidocaine and placebo groups were demographically similar. The primary outcome, pain during catheter insertion, occurred in 60/148 (40.5%) patients in the lidocaine group versus in 72/152 (47.4%) patients in the placebo group (OR: 0.76 [95% CI: 0.48–1.20]; p = 0.23). Patients receiving lidocaine were less likely to report nausea during test recording (OR: 0.48 [95% CI: 0.24–0.91]; p = 0.02) and reported slightly lower intensity of pain during both catheter insertion and test recording (4.68 ± 2.06 versus 5.41 ± 2.24 on 10; p = 0.048 and 3.71 ± 2.00 versus 4.93 ± 2.55 on 10; p = 0.03, respectively). Furthermore, patients receiving lidocaine were less likely to report their test as globally uncomfortable and painful (57% vs. 75%; p = 0.003 and 14% vs. 21%; p = 0.02, respectively). No events of systemic lidocaine toxicity occurred during the study period.

Conclusions

Routine use of lidocaine before esophageal function tests does not reduce pain during catheter insertion but may provide other modest benefits with limited toxicity.
New device for active gastric mechanical stimulation
Authors: Prospero Andre Gonçalves , Pinto Leonardo Antonio , Matos Ronaldo Vitor Reis , Soares Guilherme Augusto , Oliveira Ricardo Brandt , Mascarenhas Sérgio , Miranda José Ricardo de Arruda
Published: May 2021

Background

Gastroparesis is a chronic stomach disorder and effective treatment is the aim of different strategies. Alternative therapies consist of an electrical stimulation of the stomach to evoke a response in the gastric activity. We present the development and in vivo application of an electromagnet system to induce a mechanical stimulus in the stomach aiming for gastric contractile responses.

Methods

The electromagnet system consisted of an implantable magnet and an external drive coil. We implanted the magnet at the greater curvature of the gastric body in rats. We applied an alternating current to the drive coils, inducing mechanical stimulation of the gastric wall. We measured the gastric contraction activity and gastric electrical activity in response to the stimulus using AC biosusceptometry and electrogastrography. Moreover, we used the phenol red to evaluate the stimulus effects on gastrointestinal transit.

Key Results

The stimulus increased the spectral intensity and signal‐to‐noise ratio significantly of gastric contraction activity and gastric electrical activity. Furthermore, we found a lower phenol red retention in the stomach in rats without stimulus. No significant differences were found in frequency and root mean square amplitude.

Conclusions & Inferences

We developed a new simple electromagnet system that evoked a contraction and gastric electrical response using a mechanical stimulus and decreased gastric emptying time. The system is an accessible tool and may contribute to gastroparesis studies in animals.
Impact of early (<7 days) pacemaker implantation after cardiac surgery on long‐term pacemaker dependency
Authors: Badoz Marc , Favoulet Baptiste , Serzian Guillaume , Ecarnot Fiona , Guillon Benoit , Chopard Romain , Meneveau Nicolas
Published: May 2021

Objective

We aimed to investigate pacemaker dependency after at least 1 year in patients with early (<7 days) implantation, compared to those who received a pacemaker ≥7 days after cardiac surgery. Secondary endpoints were length of hospital stay and in‐hospital complications.

Methods

Retrospective analysis of 108 consecutive patients who received a pacemaker after cardiac surgery between 06/2012 and 06/2018. Characteristics and outcomes were compared between patients with early (<7 days) and late (≥7 days) implantation. Patients were followed up with evaluation of pacemaker dependency between April and June 2019. We identified predictors of dependency by logistic regression.

Results

In total, 63.9% were men, average age 71.9 ± 11.8 years; 32 (29.6%) had early implantation, and 76 (70.4%) late implantation. After a median 3.2 years [IQR 1.9, 4.5] of follow‐up, 30 patients (27.8%) had died, and there was no difference in pacemaker dependency among survivors (66.7% vs. 46.5%, early vs. late respectively, p = .15). Patients in the early group had a shorter length of stay (11.5 [9.0, 14.0] vs. 15.0 [11.5, 20] days, p = .002) and less often had new‐onset atrial fibrillation (AF) post‐surgery (22.7% vs. 47.8%, p = .05). The only significant predictor of dependency was aortic valve replacement surgery (OR = 4.70, 95% CI [1.36 to 16.24]).

Conclusion

Early implantation of a permanent pacemaker (<7 days after cardiac surgery) does not impact on the proportion of patients with long‐term (>12 months) pacemaker dependency, but is associated with shorter length of stay and less frequent new‐onset AF. These findings warrant prospective confirmation in randomized trials.
Cryptic diversity, multilocus phylogeny, and pathogenicity of cercosporoid fungi associated with common bean and cowpea
Authors: Bakhshi Mounes , Zare Rasoul , Kermanian Milad , Ebrahimi Leila
Published: May 2021

In recent years, common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) and cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) plants in the north of Iran have exhibited symptoms resembling Cercospora leaf spot (CLS) disease. This study was initiated to elucidate the taxonomy and pathogenicity of cercosporoid taxa associated with leaf spot diseases of these two legume crops in Iran. A total of 138 samples with CLS symptoms were collected from cultivated common bean and cowpea species in northern Iran and subjected to microscopic examination, resulting in identification of 98 Cercospora and 59 Pseudocercospora samples. A six‐locus phylogenetic analysis (ITS, actA, tef1, gapdh, his3, and cmdA) coupled with examination of the morphology of 42 representative isolates from these samples confirmed that several cercosporoid fungi occur on common bean and cowpea in Iran. Five Cercospora species (C. iranica, C. cf. flagellaris, Cercospora sp. G, Cercospora sp. T, and C. vignigena) and two Pseudocercospora species (P. griseola f. griseola and P. cf. cruenta) were found; of these, C. cf. flagellaris was the dominant species, occurring on both common bean and cowpea. Pathogenicity tests confirmed that all seven species could infect leaves of common bean and/or cowpea. This is the first report of C. iranica, Cercospora sp. G, and Cercospora sp. T associated with common bean and/or cowpea in the world. In addition, C. vignigena was recorded for the first time in Iran. Results achieved in this study will assist strategies for the management of CLS disease of common bean and cowpea.
Recent advances in the induced pluripotent stem cell‐based skin regeneration
Authors: Choudhury Subholakshmi , Surendran Nidhi , Das Amitava
Published: May 2021

Skin regeneration has been a challenging clinical problem especially in cases of chronic wounds such as diabetic foot ulcers, and epidermolysis bullosa‐related skin blisters. Prolonged non‐healing wounds often lead to bacterial infections increasing the severity of wounds. Current treatment strategies for chronic wounds include debridement of wounds along with antibiotics, growth factors, and stem cell transplantation therapies. However, the compromised nature of autologous stem cells in patients with comorbidities such as diabetes limits the efficacy of the therapy. The discovery of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology has immensely influenced the field of regenerative therapy. Enormous efforts have been made to develop integration‐free iPSCs suitable for clinical therapies. This review focuses on recent advances in the methods and reprogramming factors for generating iPSCs along with the existing challenges such as genetic alterations, tumorigenicity, immune rejection, and regulatory hurdles for the clinical application of iPSCs. Furthermore, this review also highlights the benefits of using iPSCs for the generation of skin cells and skin disease modeling over the existing clinical therapies for skin regeneration in chronic wounds and skin diseases.
Retrofitting for Improving Energy Efficiency: The Embodied Energy Relevance for Buildings’ Thermal Insulation
Authors: Alla Sara Abd , Bianco Vincenzo , Scarpa Federico , Tagliafico Luca A.
Published: May 2021

Envelope insulation is a well-known strategy to improve buildings’ energy efficiency. This paper considers two archetypes of an apartment block typology largely diffused in the Italian building stock and evaluates the energy savings resulting from the application of three insulation materials: polyurethane foam, rock wool, and resin bonded fibre-board. The energy requirements for winter heating and summer cooling are assessed with EnergyPlus and then compared to the embodied energy of the insulation materials. Hence, the energy and carbon paybacks are calculated, and a cost analysis is proposed to provide an insight into the market impact for the retrofit materials’ choice. The apartment block model is analyzed in three main cities (Rome, Milan, and Palermo) allowing to assess the impact of the climatic condition in terms of minimization of primary energy consumption and environmental emissions. Simulations showed that thermal insulation has a higher impact on winter heating and slightly affects the summer cooling requirement. In Milan, the refurbishment gains relevance as the energy and carbon payback periods are shorter than those of the city of Palermo characterized by warmer weather. Considering the embodied energy impact, this method allows us to estimate the maximum potential for energy savings in existing buildings and provides an estimation of achievable results in a short-medium period.
Ultraviolet light stimulated water desorption effect on emission performance of gated field emitter array
Authors: Bhattacharya Ranajoy , Karaulac Nedeljko , Rughoobur Girish , Chern Winston , Akinwande Akintunade Ibitayo , Browning Jim
Published: May 2021

The performance of silicon gated field emission arrays (GFEAs) was characterized before and after ultraviolet (UV) light exposure. Emission and gate leakage currents were measured on 1000 × 1000 tip arrays by sweeping the gate voltage to 40 V DC with a fixed DC collector voltage of 100 V DC. UV light exposure was used to desorb water molecules from the GFEA surfaces. It was found that, before UV exposure, the gate current was 6 mA at 40 V, whereas after 70 min of UV exposure, the gate current decreased to 0.46 mA, indicating a more than ten times reduction in leakage current between the gate and the emitter. Similarly, the observed collector current was 94 μA at 40 V before exposure, and after UV exposure, the collector current increased to 1.33 mA, indicating an improvement of more than 14 times. During the experiments with UV light, residual gas analyzer measurements showed that the partial pressure for water increased by greater than ten times after 60 min of exposure and then decreased by 1 order of magnitude after 100 min of exposure. The emission and leakage current changes remained even after turning off the UV lamps for several tens of minutes; however, upon the exposure to the atmosphere for a few days, those changes reversed. The enhancement could again be observed after additional UV exposure indicating that the adsorbates (mainly water along with others) on the surface affected the leakage between gate and emitter and field emission. Based on analysis of the IV characteristics before and after UV exposure, the work function of the emitter surfaces increases while the portion of the array tips that emits expands resulting in a decrease in the calculated array tip sharpness as duller tips now emit.
The Intestinal Microbiome Primes Host Innate Immunity against Enteric Virus Systemic Infection through Type I Interferon
Authors: Yang Xiao-Lian , Wang Gan , Xie Jin-Yan , Li Han , Chen Shu-Xian , Liu Wei , Zhu Shu Jeffrey
Published: May 2021

While cumulative data indicate that indigenous commensal bacteria can facilitate enteric virus infection, little is known regarding whether intestinal microbes have a protective role in antagonizing enteric systemic infection by modulating host innate immunity. Although accumulating literature has pointed out that the microbiota has a fundamental impact on host systemic antiviral innate immune responses mediated by type I interferon (IFN), only a few specific commensal bacteria species have been revealed to be capable of regulating IFN-I and ISG expression, not to mention the underlying mechanisms.
Positioning the Model Bacterial Organelle, the Carboxysome
Authors: MacCready Joshua S. , Vecchiarelli Anthony G.
Published: May 2021

Bacterial microcompartments (BMCs) confine a diverse array of metabolic reactions within a selectively permeable protein shell, allowing for specialized biochemistry that would be less efficient or altogether impossible without compartmentalization. BMCs play critical roles in carbon fixation, carbon source utilization, and pathogenesis.
Bacterial Communities in Concrete Reflect Its Composite Nature and Change with Weathering
Authors: Kiledal E. Anders , Keffer Jessica L. , Maresca Julia A.
Published: May 2021

Concrete is the most-used building material in the world and a biologically extreme environment, with a microbiome composed of bacteria that likely come from concrete precursor materials, aerosols, and environmental deposition. These microbes, though seeded from a variety of materials, are all subject to desiccation, heating, starvation, high salinity, and very high pH.
Ossified diagnosis: sarcoidosis masquerading as metastatic breast cancer
Authors: MacDonald-Nethercott Meiling , Ples Diana , Woitek Ramona , Beddowes Emma
Published: May 2021

A 40-year-old woman was referred to the Breast Unit with a solid lump in her right breast. Investigations revealed an invasive lobular carcinoma. The patient underwent a right-sided mastectomy and sentinel lymph node (LN) biopsy, which confirmed axillary LN involvement. The postsurgery staging CT showed unusual enlargement of mediastinal and hilar LN bilaterally. This was consistent with positron emission tomography/CT and MRI, which further established the presence of several bone lesions. Determining the pathology within the LN and bones was pivotal in providing an accurate diagnosis and deciding subsequent management. However, histopathological analysis of the initial endobronchial ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy of mediastinal LN failed to identify definitive metastatic breast cancer cells. The case was extensively discussed in several multidisciplinary team meetings. Collective evidence, including clinical presentation, comparative imaging analysis, and further biopsies confirmed sarcoidosis with bone involvement-mimicking metastatic disease.
Association between pheochromocytoma and neurofibromatosis type I: a rare entity in the African population
Authors: Jackson Brandon S , De Villiers Maryke , Montwedi Daniel
Published: May 2021

The association of pheochromocytoma in patients with neurofibromatosis type I has rarely been reported in low-income countries, especially on the African continent. A 43-year-old woman with neurofibromatosis type I was diagnosed with a right adrenal pheochromocytoma in Pretoria, South Africa. To our knowledge, this report is the first case to be published of a patient with neurofibromatosis type I diagnosed with a pheochromocytoma in Pretoria, and one of three cases on the African continent. The rarity may be due to the two associated conditions being under-reported, undiagnosed, misdiagnosed or possibly the association is rare on the African continent. The clinician dealing with these two conditions should be aware of the association.
Role of immunotherapy in oligometastatic nonsmall cell lung cancer
Authors: Galili Yehuda , El-Far Ahmad , Tseng Jennifer , Carlan Steve
Published: May 2021

The approach to metastatic lung cancer has long been focused on palliation therapy and comfort care. Recently, significant subsets of patients who suffer from a limited form of the disease have shown curative outcomes. The oligometastatic disease theory was first introduced in 1995, and since has been applied to many solid tumours. In oligometastatic nonsmall cell lung cancer, current treatment strategies include surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy. There is evidence of astounding survival benefits in selected patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors. We present three cases with oligometastatic nonsmall cell lung cancer treated with pembrolizumab, an immune checkpoint inhibitor, and describe the outcomes. Immunotherapy with pembrolizumab appears to be an effective adjunctive treatment with low toxicity in oligometastatic nonsmall cell lung cancer.
Use of music to enhance sleep and psychological outcomes in critically ill patients: a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Chen Lixia , Wang Fang , Li Jianhua , Cui Li , Liu Xiaoli , Han Cuihua , Qu Siqi , Wang Liang , Ji Daihong
Published: May 2021

Introduction

Music listening is used as a non-pharmacological intervention in various populations with positive results; however, evidence for its effect on sleep and psychological outcomes in critically ill patients remains unclear. It is essential to understand the impact of music listening for critically ill patients to optimise care and minimise the risk for harm. We will assess whether music listening improves sleep and psychological outcomes in critically ill patients.

Methods and analysis

We will systematically search scientific databases for relevant studies, including PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Scopus, ProQuest, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, China Biological Medicine Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure Library, Wan fang databases, VIP Database for Chinese Technical Periodicals and the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry. Databases will be searched for articles published from inception to 10 June 2020. Music therapy journals and reference lists in some articles will be hand-searched. Grey literature will also be searched. We will include randomised and quasi-randomised controlled trials that used music listening to improve sleep and psychological outcomes in critically ill patients. The primary outcomes will be sleep-related outcomes, and secondary outcomes will be anxiety and depression scores and physiological outcomes. Two reviewers will independently verify study eligibility and methodological quality; disagreements will be resolved by a third reviewer or through discussion. The risk of bias will be independently determined using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool. The Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials checklist will be used to examine the quality of included papers. Data will be extracted from eligible studies by two researchers. RevMan V.5.3 will be used for meta-analysis.

Ethics and dissemination

This work will review existing trial data and will not introduce new patient data or interventions; therefore, ethics committee approval is not required. We will disseminate this protocol in a related peer-reviewed journal.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42019147202.