bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exploring training dental implant placement using static or dynamic devices among dental students
Authors: Wang Wenying , Zhuang Minjie , Li Shunshun , Shen Yue , Lan Rong , Wu Yiqun , Wang Feng
Published: May 2022

Background

Static computer‐assisted surgery (s‐CAIS) and dynamic computer‐assisted implant surgery (d‐CAIS) are the main digital approaches in guiding dental implant placement.

Purpose

The aim of this study was to explore and compare the learning curves for s‐CAIS and d‐CAIS by beginners.

Materials and Methods

Three dental students used each dental model for drilling five positions with missing teeth. Operators performed the drilling test for five sets of dental models with an interval of 7 ± 1 days assisted by the d‐CAIS system. After a six‐month break, the same students performed the drilling test again in the same way but with the s‐CAIS system. A total of thirty models were used, and 150 implants were inserted. The operation time and relative deviations were recorded and calculated. Correlations between various deviation parameters and attempts were tested with independent‐samples Kruskal–Wallis tests.

Results

A significant difference between the two groups was found in the operation time (p < .001). For accuracy, the difference was found in the first attempt of coronal and apical deviations but disappeared as the training went on. As the practice progressed, improvement was evident in the d‐CAIS group but not in the s‐CAIS group. When reaching the plateau stage of the learning curve of the d‐CAIS group (after five attempts), the influence of different methods of guidance was limited between the two groups.

Conclusions

A learning curve effect was found in d‐CAIS but not in s‐CAIS in vitro tests by beginners. The operating procedure of dynamic navigated and static template‐guided implant placement was easy to master.
Deep neural network for multi‐class classification of medicinal plant leaves
Authors: Tiwari Vaibhav , Joshi Rakesh Chandra , Dutta Malay Kishore
Published: May 2022

Plant diseases are a critical issue in the farming industry, and early identification is essential for plant monitoring. The leaves of plants represent the majority of disease symptoms, however, leaf analysis by specialists in laboratories is expensive and time‐consuming. Hence, there is a necessity for automated and more accurate plant disease detection techniques which can help in diagnosing early symptoms to turn down the economic loss. A deep‐learning‐based technique for detecting and classifying plant diseases from leaf images is provided in this research. A diversified image dataset of plant leaves with 12 distinct crops in 22 different categories was used for this work. Several intra‐class and inter‐class variations in the training dataset make it more complex and challenging to train a deep‐learning model. An exhaustive analysis of different deep neural networks has been done with different combinations of optimizers and learning rates. Additionally, five‐fold cross‐validation and testing on separate test images have been done for a detailed investigation of the trained model in different statistical parameters. The proposed approach extended the results to an average cross‐validation accuracy of 98.68%, and average test accuracy of 97.69% is obtained on unseen images having intra‐class and inter‐class variations.
Persistence of investor sentiment and market mispricing
Authors: Han Xiao , Sakkas Nikolaos , Danbolt Jo , Eshraghi Arman
Published: May 2022

We investigate changes in US market sentiment using structural break analysis over a period of five decades. We show that investor sentiment was trending and nonstationary from 1965 to 2001, a period associated with numerous crashes. Since 2001, sentiment has been substantially more mean reverting, implying the diminished effect of noise investors and their associated mispricing. We illustrate how these changes in sentiment persistence affect equity anomalies and assess the predictive power of sentiment on short‐run returns when regime changes are considered. Our findings suggest that the presence of sentiment‐driven investors and their market impact is significantly time‐variant.
An attractor domain model of seasonal and inter‐annual β diversity of stream macroinvertebrate communities
Authors: Melo Adriano S. , Froehlich Claudio G.
Published: May 2022

Ecological communities are dynamic systems that vary within and across years. In streams, disturbance by spates and the emergence of adult insects during the rainy summer contrast with more stable conditions in the dry winter and can potentially generate distinct and repeatable community states across years. However, demographic stochasticity and the legacies of previous spates may hamper the full attainment of characteristic community states associated with seasons.

We developed an attractor domain model encapsulating these factors and hypothesised: (1) partially distinct rainy (summer) and dry (winter) communities. High benthic dynamism during the rainy period should cause higher inter‐annual variability, leading to (2) higher temporal β diversity among rainy periods than among dry periods. Historical effects (e.g., demographic stochasticity and disturbance by spates) should accumulate over the years and lead to (3) increased variation in community structures sampled further apart in time; furthermore, (4) this increase in variation should be higher among rainy than among dry communities.

We used data of stream macroinvertebrates (mostly insects) in a subtropical basin in Brazil to evaluate inter‐annual variation using rank‐concordance statistics of the most common species and dissimilarity using all species.

For each stream site, samples obtained in the two seasons tended to show distinct community structure using relative abundance data but were much less distinct using species composition (presence–absence). Temporal β diversity was higher among rainy than among dry seasons. The β diversity of both seasons increased with time, although this increase was 2–3 times greater during the rainy season.

Our results support a model in which rainy (summer) communities are disrupted by the high dynamism caused by spates and the emergence of adult insects. The low intensity of these two factors during dry (winter) periods allows local environmental conditions to drive community structures toward a less variable, recurrent attractor state. However, the increase in β diversity with time indicates that the legacy effects of previous disturbances and demographic stochasticity preclude the full attainment of a definite stable state and that only a domain of states is approached.
Clinicoepidemiological characteristics of cutaneous tuberculosis in 1458 Indian patients: a retrospective analytical study from a tertiary care center
Authors: Singal Archana , Kaur Ishmeet , Jakhar Deepak , Pandhi Deepika , Grover Chander , Gandhi Vijay
Published: May 2022

Background

Tuberculosis (TB) has been one of the most challenging infectious diseases globally. Cutaneous tuberculosis (CTB) accounts for 0.5–2% of extrapulmonary TB and is often missed owing to its varying morphology and paucibacillary nature.

Methods

In this retrospective analytical study, we share our 22‐year experience to describe the clinicoepidemiological features and treatment response of CTB in 1458 Indian patients. In each patient, detailed history was followed by clinical examination, hematological and biochemical investigations, Mantoux testing, chest x‐ray, and other specialized investigations to detect coexisting systemic foci. Clinical diagnosis of CTB was confirmed on histopathology/cytology and response to standard antitubercular treatment (ATT). All details were recorded on a predesigned proforma.

Results

Of 1458 eligible patients, 803 were children. The mean disease duration was 15.3 months. Lupus vulgaris (40.4%) was the most common clinical variant, followed by scrofuloderma (32.7%) and lichen scrofulosorum (15.2%). Other variants included tuberculosis verrucosa cutis, gumma, tuberculids, and inoculation TB. Multiple clinical variants were observed in 3.6% of patients. A total of 41.4% of patients had coexistent systemic foci; in lymph nodes (50.4%), lungs (35.6%), bone (10.3%), and abdomen (5.8%). TB foci were also observed at uncommon locations like the eye, central nervous system, and genital organs. Treatment response to ATT was favorable in 99.2%.

Interpretation

The burden of CTB still persists in developing countries. The diagnosis is often missed due to the wide spectrum of clinical and histological presentations. Awareness among clinicians of varying aspects of CTB is of paramount importance for early diagnosis and management and will significantly prevent morbidity and disease complications.
Study of calprotectin gene polymorphism and serum level in acne vulgaris patients
Authors: Farag Azza G. A. , Helal Samar G. , Labib Azza Z. , Bazid Heba A. S.
Published: May 2022

Background

Acne vulgaris (AV) is an inflammatory skin disease of the pilosebaceous unit. S100A8 and S100A9 (the light subunits of calprotectin) gene polymorphisms have been known to be associated with inflammatory disorder. Until now, no study investigated calprotectin gene polymorphism in acne patients.

Objective

This study was designed to investigate calprotectin serum levels and gene polymorphism (rs3806232) in acne vulgaris patients and to correlate them with different clinical aspects of them.

Methods

This case–control study included 50 patients having variable degrees of acne vulgaris (AV) severity, in addition to a control group of 26 age‐ and gender‐matched seemingly healthy volunteers.

Results

Acne vulgaris patients had considerably greater (P < 0.001) mean serum calprotectin levels than the control group (3.86 ± 2.58 pg/ml vs. 0.29 ± 0.14). AA genotype of calprotectin S100 A8 (rs3806232) was significantly predominant over AG or GG genotypes in patients compared to the controls, and the A allele was significantly (P < 0.001) predominant in patients (80%), while A and G alleles were equally distributed in controls; also, there was a significantly higher serum calprotectin level in calprotectin AA genotype than in AG or GG (P < 0.001) in acne vulgaris patients.

Conclusion

The serum levels of calprotectin were considerably greater in AV patients than in controls. AA genotype and A allele of the S100 A8 gene were significantly higher in patients, which was associated with significantly higher calprotectin serum levels. Thus, calprotectin, both gene and serum level, might participate in disease pathogenesis, which needs further studies.
Influence of the availability of calcium on the hydration of tricalcium aluminate (C3A) in seawater‐mixed C3A–gypsum system
Authors: Cai Yamei , Xuan Dongxing , Poon Chi Sun
Published: May 2022

This work examined the effects of seawater (SW) on the hydration of tricalcium aluminate (C3A) in C3A–gypsum and C3A–gypsum–Ca(OH)2 systems through the characterization of hydration heat release, the evolution of aqueous phase composition and hydration products with the hydration time. It was found that SW increased the dissolution driving force of C3A and solubility of gypsum, which accelerated the early hydration of C3A and the formation of ettringite (AFt), leading to a higher hydration degree of C3A at an early age compared with the deionized (DI) water–mixed pastes. After gypsum depletion to form AFt, and in the absence of Ca(OH)2, the formation of chloroaluminate hydrates was slower due to the insufficient Ca resulted in an accumulation of Al in solution. This would delay the subsequent transformation of AFt to monosulfate (SO4–AFm) and the formation of hydrogarnet (C3AH6), which would further reduce the hydration degree of the C3A at the later ages. However, in the presence of Ca(OH)2, the hydration degree of C3A–gypsum–Ca(OH)2 at later ages was increased, which was similar to that of the corresponding DI pastes. This can be inferred that the amount of Ca available in SW‐mixed cement concrete can affect the hydration degree of C3A in cement.
Development of siderophore-based rhizobacterial consortium for the mitigation of biotic and abiotic environmental stresses in tomatoes: Anin vitroandin plantaapproach
Authors: Karuppiah Vijay , Natarajan Suganthy , Gangatharan Muralitharan , Aldayel Munirah Fahad , Alsowayeh Noorah , Thangavel Kavitha
Published: May 2022

Aim

Tomato-associated plant-growth-promoting rhizosphere bacteria were screened for effective antagonistic activity against the fungal vascular wilt pathogens; tolerance to heavy metals; and enhancing the bioavailability of iron for tomato plants through in vitro and in vivo approaches.

Methods and Results

Among the 121 rhizobacteria screened for siderophores, 25 isolates were observed to be siderophore producers and out of these, seven isolates chelate copper and iron thus exhibiting in vitro antagonism against the virulent strains of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici MTCC10270 (Fol), Fusarium equiseti MFol and Sarocladium sp. SWL isolated from infected tomatoes. Pseudomonas stutzeri KRP8 was identified to be the most potent strain among the siderophore producers and its siderophores were chemically characterized by mass spectra as metal bound and metal-free forms. Upon bio-inoculation of fortified bacterial consortium (siderozote) into the rhizosphere of vermiculite pot cultured tomatoes supplied with varying concentrations of iron and copper ions, we observed in planta growth improvements, antagonism, enhancement of bioavailability of iron and heavy metal tolerance using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectrometry.

Conclusion and Significance of the Study

Our rhizobacterial consortium provides an opportunity for soil reclamation through an ecofriendly method for a heavy metal-free agricultural landscape.
‘Barriers to overcoming the barriers': A scoping review exploring 30 years of clinical supervision literature
Authors: Masamha Roselyne , Alfred Lolita , Harris Ruth , Bassett Sally , Burden Sarah , Gilmore Annette
Published: May 2022

Aims/Questions

To explore the barriers and facilitators to nurses accessing clinical supervision; explore the barriers and facilitators to organizations implementing clinical supervision and capture what skills nurses require to facilitate clinical supervision.

Design

Scoping review of peer‐reviewed research and grey literature.

Data sources

CINAHL, Medline, PsychINFO and Scopus were searched for relevant papers published between 1990 and 2020. Google, Google Scholar, OpenGrey & EThOS were used to search for grey literature.

Review Methods

PRISMA‐ScR guidelines were used during the literature review process. Eighty‐seven papers were included, and data were extracted from each paper using a standardized form. Data synthesis was undertaken using Seidel's analytical framework.

Results

Five themes were identified: Definitions and Models, (Mis) Trust and the Language of Supervision, Alternative Parallel Forums and Support Mechanisms, Time and Cost and Skills required.

Conclusion

Since its inception in the 1990s, clinical supervision has long been regarded as a supportive platform for nurses to reflect on and develop their practice. However, this review highlights that despite an awareness of the skills required for nurses to undertake clinical supervision, and the facilitators for nurses to access and organizations to implement clinical supervision, there have been persistent barriers to implementation. This review identifies these persistent factors as ‘barriers to overcoming the barriers' in the clinical supervision landscape. These require critical consideration to contribute towards moving clinical supervision forward in the spirit of its original intentions.

Impact

This review progresses the debate on clinical supervision through critically analysing the barriers to overcoming the barriers. To this end, the review is designed to stimulate critical discussions amongst nurses in different clinical spaces and key stakeholders such as policy makers and regulatory bodies for the nursing profession.
Integrative review of the needs and challenges of indigenous palliative care in rural and remote settings
Authors: Racine Louise , Fowler‐Kerry Susan , Aiyer Harini
Published: May 2022

Aims

To appraise and synthesize the empirical literature on the needs and challenges of Indigenous peoples' accessibility to palliative care in rural and remote settings.

Design

Whittemore and Knafl’s updated approach to integrative reviews, PRISMA guidelines and CASP (2020) checklists for narrative analysis were followed.

Data Sources

A systematic search of the published empirical literature from 1 January 2015 to 31 December 2021 was undertaken in five databases.

Review Methods

Twenty‐four studies met the research question and the inclusion criteria.

Results

Four themes describe the findings: Respect of Indigenous cultural beliefs on death and dying, connection to the land, needs for culturally responsive care and presence of institutional and systemic barriers. These themes indicate a pressing need to increase the accessibility and utilization of palliative care. Most of the studies were qualitative and conducted by teams of Indigenous and non‐Indigenous researchers.

Conclusion

Integrating Indigenous knowledge and providing culturally responsive palliative care are steps towards achieving the decolonization of palliative care and responding to Indigenous people's needs of palliative care services. Institutional and systemic racism affect Indigenous peoples' access and delivery of palliative services in Canada and globally.

Impact

The review highlights the need for establishing partnerships and building local capacity with Indigenous communities to develop and implement culturally responsive palliative care programmes in remote locations.
Contact force guided radiofrequency current application at developing myocardium
Authors: Backhoff David , Müller Matthias J. , Betz Teresa , Arnold Andreas , Schneider Heike , Paul Thomas , Krause Ulrich
Published: May 2022

Introduction

Catheter contact is a key determinant for lesion size in radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFA). Monitoring of contact force (CF) during RFA has been shown to improve efficacy of RFA in experimental settings as well as in adult patients. Coronary artery narrowing after RFA has been described in experimental settings as well as in children and adults and may be dependent from catheter contact. The value of CF monitoring concerning these issues has not been systematically studied yet.

Value of high versus low CF during RFA in piglets was studied to assess lesion size and potential coronary artery involvement mimicking RFA in small children.

Methods

RFA with continuous CF monitoring was performed in 24 piglets (median weight 18.5 kg) using a 7 F TactiCath Quartz radiofrequency (RF) ablation catheter (Abbott). A total of 7 lesions were induced in each animal applying low (10−20 g) or high (40−60 g) CF. RF energy was delivered with a target temperature of 65°C at 30 W for 30 s. Coronary angiography was performed prior and immediately after RF application. Animals were assigned to repeat coronary angiography followed by heart removal after 48 h (n = 12) or 6 months (n = 12). Lesions with surrounding myocardium were excised, fixated, and stained. Lesion volumes were measured by microscopic planimetry.

Results

A total of 148 RF lesions were identified in the explanted hearts. Only in the subset of lesions at the AV annulus 6 month after ablation, lesion size and number of lesions exhibiting transmural extension were higher in the high CF group compared to low CF. In all other locations CF had no impact on lesion size and mural extension after 48 h as well as after 6 months. Additional parameters such as lesion size index and force time integral were also not related to lesion size. Coronary artery damage was present in two animals after 48 h and in one after 6 months and was not related to CF.

Conclusion

In our experimental setting, lesion size in piglets was not related to catheter CF. Transmural extension of the RF lesions involving the layers of the coronary arteries was frequently noted irrespective of CF. Coronary artery narrowing was present in 3/24 animals and was not related to CF. In infants and toddlers, low CF (10−20 g) may be of adequate effect. Impact of CF monitoring during conventional RF ablation in children requires further investigation.
Morphological study of the oral denticles of the porbeagle shark Lamna nasus
Authors: Poscai Aline N. , da Silva João Paulo C. B. , Casas André Luis S. , Lenktaitis Phillip , Gadig Otto B. F.
Published: May 2022

Oral denticles of sharks are composed by a crown, dentine covered by a layer of enameloid and pulp cavity, the same structure of the dermal denticles found across the body surface of most elasmobranchs. In addition, oral papillae and taste buds are distributed among denticles within the oropharyngeal cavity, playing a fundamental role for tasting as part of the chemosensory system of fishes. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) has been employed as an important tool for the study of dermal denticles and other structures, as well as histology and more recently computed tomography (CT) scan analysis. Herein, the authors used two methods for the study of the morphology of the oropharyngeal cavity of Lamna nasus (Lamniformes), an oceanic and pelagic shark: SEM and CT scan. The general morphology of oral denticles studied herein is related to abrasion strength as they are diamond‐shaped, lack lateral cusps and have less pronounced ridges. In addition, smooth ridges and broad rounded denticles could be related to prevent abrasion during food consumption and manipulation. Oral papillae had a round shape and were observed only under SEM. The densities of papillae were estimated in 100 per cm2, whereas denticles were 1760 and 1230 cm2 over the dorsal and ventral regions, respectively. The high numbers of denticles are inversely proportional to papillae density; denticles seem to restrict papillae distribution. Regarding the differences between methodologies, under SEM, only the crown was visualized, as well the papillae, allowing the estimation of size and density of both structures. Nonetheless, under CT scan, the whole components of denticles were clearly visualized: different views of the crown, peduncle, basal plate, and pulp cavity. On the contrary, oral papillae were not visualized under CT due to the tissue preparation. Furthermore, both methods are complementary and were important to extract as much information as possible from denticles and papillae.
Complementary and integrative remedies in the treatment of chronic pruritus: A review of clinical trials
Authors: Parvizi Mohammad Mahdi , Salami Mohammad Hossein , Moini Jazani Arezoo , Javaheri Rojan , Jaladat Amir Mohammad , Handjani Farhad
Published: May 2022

Background

Chronic pruritus is one of the most common conditions in dermatology and a common manifestation in many systemic diseases. Since the etiology of chronic pruritus remains somewhat unknown, hence, conventional medications may not always show a good therapeutic response. This finding has led both investigators and patients to use herbal and complementary remedies for its treatment. The aim of this study was to review clinical trials in which herbal and complementary medicine was used in the control and treatment of chronic pruritus.

Materials and methods

In this study, we reviewed related articles in this domain, from 2000 to 2020. The search involved electronic databases including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane, Google Scholar, and SID databases using the keywords “pruritus,” “itch,” “herb,” “complementary medicine,” “traditional medicine,” “integrative medicine,” and their related MeSH terms. Finally, we extracted the pertinent information from these articles and summarized the results.

Results

The findings of this study showed that 17 clinical trials have been conducted till date in order to evaluate the efficacy of herbal remedies and complementary medicines in the treatment of chronic pruritus. Herbal remedies including turmeric, Fumaria parviflora, Avena sativa, capsaicin, sweet almond oil, peppermint oil, violet oil, vinegar, as well as manual therapies including aromatherapy, auricular acupressure, and acupuncture, were significantly effective in the treatment of chronic pruritus.

Conclusion

There are only a few studies published on the therapeutic efficacy of herbal remedies and complementary medicine in the treatment of chronic pruritus. Some have shown promising results. Therefore, more evidence‐based studies are needed in order to determine if herbal remedies and complementary medicine could be an effective alternative or adjuvant treatment modality in chronic pruritus.
Gel properties of blue round scad (Decapterus maruadsi) mince as influenced by the addition of egg white powder
Authors: Wu Qi , Wang Wei , Li Xue‐peng , Yi Shu‐min , Mi Hong‐bo , Xu Yong‐xia , Li Jian‐rong
Published: May 2022

The use of egg white powder (EWP) to enhance the physicochemical properties, molecular structure, and thermal stability of Decapterus maruadsi mince gels was investigated. The thermal stability was analyzed by adding spray‐dried EWP (0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, and 1%) to the mince, and mince gels were prepared to study the changes in their fracture constant, water distribution, microstructure, and protein conformation of mince gels. In addition, the stress–strain curve of the EWP‐mince gel was measured to obtain its compressive modulus (E). The formation of the mince gel was promoted by EWP, and the whiteness, fracture constant, water‐holding capacity (WHC), and immobilized water were all enhanced. At 0.8% addition of EWP, the fracture constant increased from 176.715 ± 2.463 N/m to 348.631 ± 3.144 N/m (p < .05), which was a nearly twofold improvement. Additionally, the WHC increased from 75.21% to 79.99%, and the percentage of immobilized water increased from 94.03% to 94.91%. The EWP‐mince gel network structure was the most uniform and dense, and there were increases in hydrogen bonds, disulfide bonds, β‐sheets, and β‐turns in mince gels, as well as the storage modulus (G′) and enthalpy (ΔH). In contrast to the control group, the relative content of α‐helixes decreased from 53.34% to 37.09% and transformed into other secondary structures, and the bulk water and cooking loss also decreased to 2.41% and 8.51%, respectively. Consequently, EWP effectively improved the quality of mince products, and the effect was most apparent when 0.8% was added.
The narrative language of youth offenders with callous and unemotional traits: A corpus analysis
Authors: Bowman Luana , Anderson Stavroola A. S. , Snow Pamela C. , Hawes David J.
Published: May 2022

Purpose

This study examined the specific language features that youth offenders express during autobiographical narratives, and tested whether offenders with high levels of callous and unemotional (CU) traits exhibit those language features known to be associated with psychopathic traits in adult offenders. These include increased instrumental and self‐oriented language, and decreased cohesiveness and fluency. A further aim was to test whether language‐related correlates of CU traits are consistent among offenders and non‐offenders.

Methods

Participants were 130 males participants aged 13‐to‐20 years, comprising offender and non‐offender samples. Data collection involved an interview‐based autobiographical narrative task, and self‐reports on the Inventory of Callous Unemotional Traits. Using a corpus comparison method, narrative transcripts were coded with linguistic analysis software (Wmatrix) and compared for youth with high versus low levels of CU traits in both samples.

Results

Compared to youth offenders with low levels of CU traits, high‐CU offenders used more physiological need language (e.g. references to food, money), and used fewer cohesive conjunctions (e.g. ‘because’, ‘and’), indicating increased instrumental language, and decreased cohesiveness. Low‐CU offenders also used more discourse marker disfluencies than high‐CU offenders. No differences were found for social need language or other disfluencies, and no associations between CU traits and language were found among non‐offenders.

Conclusions

Youth offenders with high levels of CU traits exhibit unique language features when expressing autobiographical narratives. Findings point to potential developmental differences in how these features present in adolescence versus adulthood. Furthermore, these features may be somewhat specific to youth whose CU traits co‐occur with delinquency.
Family history of cancer is associated with poorer prognosis in oral squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Xiao Ranran , Wu Jinghan , Ward Brent B. , Liu Huan , Li Bo , Wang Chong , Xu Qiaoshi , Han Zhengxue , Feng Zhien
Published: May 2022

Objective

The purpose of this study was to investigate the prognostic value of the family history of cancer (FHC) in predicting survival and clinicopathological features in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients.

Materials and Methods

This single‐institution study utilized data from 610 patients undergoing surgery from 2014 to 2020 that was prospectively collected and cataloged for research purposes. All patients underwent standard surgery with/without radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy. We statistically evaluated whether FHC was associated with changes in disease‐free survival (DFS) and disease‐specific survival (DSS).

Results

Among 610 patients, 141 (23.1%) reported a family history of cancer. The distribution of clinicopathological characteristics was balanced between FHC‐positive and FHC‐negative OSCC patients. FHC‐positive patients had decreased DFS (p = 0.005) and DSS (p = 0.018) compared to FHC‐negative patients.

Conclusions

FHC‐positive OSCC patients have a poorer prognosis. FHC positivity is an independent predictor of negative outcomes based on DFS and DSS. FHC should be a consideration in screening, evaluating, counseling, and treating OSCC patients.
Corneal oedema during open‐eye fenestrated scleral lens wear
Authors: Fisher Damien , Collins Michael J , Vincent Stephen J
Published: May 2022

Introduction

Studies examining the effect of fenestrating soft and corneal rigid contact lenses upon corneal oedema have yielded conflicting results. Although often utilised in clinical practice, no studies have quantified the effect of fenestrating a scleral contact lens upon corneal oedema. Therefore, the aim of this experiment was to examine the effect of incorporating a single peripheral fenestration on central corneal oedema during short‐term open‐eye scleral lens wear, while controlling for potential confounding variables.

Methods

Nine participants (mean age 30 years) with normal corneas wore a fenestrated (1 × 0.3 mm limbal fenestration) and non‐fenestrated scleral lens (both lenses manufactured using a material Dk of 141 × 10−11 cm3 O2(cm)/[(sec.)(cm2)(mmHg)]) under open‐eye conditions on separate days. Scleral lens thickness profiles were measured using a high‐resolution optical coherence tomographer (OCT). Epithelial, stromal and total central corneal oedema were also measured using the OCT immediately after lens application and following 90 min of wear, prior to lens removal.

Results

After adjusting for differences in initial central fluid reservoir thickness and scleral lens thickness between the two lens conditions, the mean (standard error) total corrected central corneal oedema was 0.50 (0.36)% for the fenestrated lens and 0.62 (0.16)% for the non‐fenestrated lens. This small difference was not statistically significant (t8 = 2.31, p = 0.81) and represents a 19% relative reduction in central corneal oedema. Similarly, epithelial (t8 = 2.31, p = 0.82) and stromal (t8 = 2.31, p = 0.92) corneal oedema were not significantly different following the fenestrated and non‐fenestrated wearing conditions.

Conclusion

Central corneal oedema in healthy corneas was comparable between fenestrated and non‐fenestrated high Dk scleral lenses under short‐term open‐eye conditions when controlling for lens oxygen transmissibility and initial central fluid reservoir thickness.
Evaluation of liver elasticity with shear‐wave elastography in juvenile idiopathic arthritis patients receiving methotrexate
Authors: Özdemir Çiçek Sümeyra , Karaman Zehra Filiz , Şahin Nihal , Paç Kısaarslan Ayşenur , Poyrazoğlu Muammer Hakan , Düşünsel Ruhan
Published: May 2022

Background

Methotrexate (MTX) is the first‐choice disease‐modifying drug in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) treatment. Methotrexate is metabolized in the liver and can cause liver toxicity and fibrosis with long‐term use. Ultrasound shear wave elastography (SWE) is a non‐invasive method and can detect liver fibrosis by evaluating the liver elasticity. The aim of this study was to assess liver stiffness and detect if there is an increase in liver stiffness or fibrosis findings with the non‐invasive SWE method in JIA patients under MTX treatment.

Method

The study included 49 JIA patients under MTX treatment and 48 healthy controls, matched for age and sex with a body mass index below the 95th percentile. The demographic data and clinical characteristics of patients were obtained from medical records. Liver function tests were evaluated, and liver tissue stiffness measurements were performed with SWE.

Results

Of the 49 patients, 67.35% were girls and the mean age was 10.69 (±4.33) years. The duration of MTX treatment was 23.00 (1–80) months, and the cumulative dose of MTX was 1,280.867 mg (±934.2) in the patient group. There was no statistically significant difference in liver stiffness between patients receiving MTX and healthy controls (P = 0.313). There was no relationship between MTX duration, cumulative dose, route of administration, and liver stiffness. Only gamma glutamyl transferase values were weakly correlated with liver stiffness (P = 0.029).

Conclusions

We did not detect an increase in liver tissue stiffness in JIA patients using methotrexate in comparison with controls.
Identification, pathogenicity and community dynamics of fungi and oomycetes associated with pea root rot in northern France
Authors: Gibert Simon , Edel‐Hermann Véronique , Gautheron Elodie , Gautheron Nadine , Bernaud Eric , Sol Jean‐Marie , Capelle Géry , Galland Rachel , Bardon‐Debats Arnaud , Lambert Claudine , Steinberg Christian
Published: May 2022

The pea root rot complex is a major concern for green pea production worldwide. This study aimed at characterizing its composition and dynamics throughout a cropping season in northern France. To this end, fungi and oomycetes were isolated from green pea plant roots with symptoms sampled at the flowering stage in 22 fields in 2017, and at the pea emergence, elongation and flowering stages in two fields in 2018. Out of 646 isolates collected, 317 were identified using molecular markers. Fusarium oxysporum, F. solani and F. redolens were highly predominant. Pathogenicity tests separated the isolates into four aggressiveness groups. F. solani isolates were the most aggressive. Phylogenetic analysis of their TEF1 sequences showed that they mainly belonged to the F. pisi lineage, and that F. oxysporum isolates were genetically close to isolates from the UK that did not belong to the forma specialis pisi. In addition, several Clonostachys rhizophaga isolates are reported for the first time to cause pea root rot. The oomycetes were rarely found and were represented by a few Pythium spp. isolates. Lastly, this study shows that the fungal and oomycete communities associated with pea root rot change during the cropping season. The level of dissimilarity of the root‐rot‐associated communities decreased throughout the cropping season towards a more similar composition at the flowering stage, dominated by F. solani, F. oxysporum and F. redolens. The proportion of nonpathogenic to weakly pathogenic isolates decreased progressively during the growing season in favour of moderately to highly pathogenic isolates.
Enhanced reactive oxygen detoxification occurs in salt‐stressed soybean roots expressing GmSALT3
Authors: Qu Yue , Guan Rongxia , Yu Lili , Berkowitz Oliver , David Rakesh , Whelan James , Ford Melanie , Wege Stefanie , Qiu Lijuan , Gilliham Matthew
Published: May 2022

Soybean (Glycine max) is an important crop globally for food and edible oil production. Soybean plants are sensitive to salinity (NaCl), with significant yield decreases reported under saline conditions. GmSALT3 is the dominant gene underlying a major QTL for salt tolerance in soybean. GmSALT3 encodes a transmembrane protein belonging to the plant cation/proton exchanger (CHX) family, and is predominately expressed in root phloem and xylem associated cells under both saline and non‐saline conditions. It is currently unknown through which molecular mechanism(s) the ER‐localised GmSALT3 contributes to salinity tolerance, as its localisation excludes direct involvement in ion exclusion. In order to gain insights into potential molecular mechanism(s), we used RNA‐seq analysis of roots from two soybean NILs (near isogenic lines); NIL‐S (salt‐sensitive, Gmsalt3), and NIL‐T (salt‐tolerant, GmSALT3), grown under control and saline conditions (200 mM NaCl) at three time points (0 h, 6 h, and 3 days). Gene ontology (GO) analysis showed that NIL‐T has greater responses aligned to oxidation reduction. ROS were less abundant and scavenging enzyme activity was greater in NIL‐T, consistent with the RNA‐seq data. Further analysis indicated that genes related to calcium signalling, vesicle trafficking and Casparian strip (CS) development were upregulated in NIL‐T following salt treatment. We propose that GmSALT3 improves the ability of NIL‐T to cope with saline stress through preventing ROS overaccumulation in roots, and potentially modulating Ca2+ signalling, vesicle trafficking and formation of diffusion barriers.
Sleep‐disordered breathing was associated with lower health‐related quality of life and cognitive function in a cross‐sectional study of older adults
Authors: Ward Stephanie A. , Storey Elsdon , Gasevic Danijela , Naughton Matthew T. , Hamilton Garun S. , Trevaks Ruth E. , Wolfe Rory , O'Donoghue Fergal J. , Stocks Nigel , Abhayaratna Walter P. , Fitzgerald Sharyn , Orchard Suzanne G. , Ryan Joanne , McNeil John J. , Reid Christopher M. , Woods Robyn L.
Published: May 2022

Background and objective

The clinical significance of sleep‐disordered breathing (SDB) in older age is uncertain. This study determined the prevalence and associations of SDB with mood, daytime sleepiness, quality of life (QOL) and cognition in a relatively healthy older Australian cohort.

Methods

A cross‐sectional analysis was conducted from the Study of Neurocognitive Outcomes, Radiological and retinal Effects of Aspirin in Sleep Apnoea. Participants completed an unattended limited channel sleep study to measure the oxygen desaturation index (ODI) to define mild (ODI 5–15) and moderate/severe (ODI ≥ 15) SDB, the Centre for Epidemiological Studies Scale, the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, the 12‐item Short‐Form for QOL and neuropsychological tests.

Results

Of the 1399 participants (mean age 74.0 years), 36% (273 of 753) of men and 25% (164 of 646) of women had moderate/severe SDB. SDB was associated with lower physical health‐related QOL (mild SDB: beta coefficient [β] −2.5, 95% CI −3.6 to −1.3, p < 0.001; moderate/severe SDB: β −1.8, 95% CI −3.0 to −0.6, p = 0.005) and with lower global composite cognition (mild SDB: β −0.1, 95% CI −0.2 to 0.0, p = 0.022; moderate/severe SDB: β −0.1, 95% CI −0.2 to 0.0, p = 0.032) compared to no SDB. SDB was not associated with daytime sleepiness nor depression.

Conclusion

SDB was associated with lower physical health‐related quality of life and cognitive function. Given the high prevalence of SDB in older age, assessing QOL and cognition may better delineate subgroups requiring further management, and provide useful treatment target measures for this age group.
Liver transplantation from active COVID‐19 donors: Is it ethically justifiable?
Authors: Grossi Alessandra Agnese , Nicoli Federico , Cardillo Massimo , Gruttadauria Salvatore , Tisone Giuseppe , Ettorre Giuseppe Maria , De Carlis Luciano , Romagnoli Renato , Petrini Carlo , Grossi Paolo Antonio , Picozzi Mario
Published: May 2022

The debate on the opportunity to use organs from donors testing positive for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) in recipients with naïve resolved or active COVID‐19 is ongoing. We aim to present the ethical analyses underlying the decision to perform liver transplantation (LT) in selected patients with resolved or active COVID‐19 in Italy. We used Jonsen, Siegler, and Winslade's Four‐Boxes casuistic method, addressing the four topics considered as constitutive of the essential structure of single clinical cases for their ethical analysis (medical indications, patient preferences, quality of life, and contextual features) to enable decision‐making on a case‐by‐case basis. Based on these topics, we elucidate the meaning and balance among the principles of biomedical ethics. Clinical ethics judgment based on the relation between the risk of acquiring SARS‐CoV‐2 along with its potentially negative effects and the expected benefits of transplant lead to consider LT as clinically appropriate. Shared decision‐making allows the integration of clinical options with the patient's subjective preferences and considerations, enabling a valid informed consent specifically tailored to the patients’ individual circumstances. The inclusion of carefully selected SARS‐CoV‐2 positive donors represents an opportunity to offer lifesaving LT to patients who might otherwise have limited opportunities to receive one. COVID‐19 positive donor livers are fairly allocated among equals, and respect for fundamental rights of the individual and the broader community in a context of healthcare rationing is guaranteed.The ethical analysis of the decision to perform LT in selected patients shows that the decision is ethically justifiable.

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Current state of antimicrobial stewardship and organ transplantation in Spain
Authors: Silva Jose Tiago , Aguado José María
Published: May 2022

Introduction

Solid‐organ transplantation (SOT) remains the best therapeutic option for end‐stage organ disease. Regrettably, SOT recipients are disproportionately affected by nosocomial infections produced by multidrug‐resistant (MDR) microorganisms and antimicrobial adverse events. Both have a negative impact on the patient´s outcome.

Methods

Description of data concerning the antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP) in SOT recipients of the University Hospital “12 de Octubre”, and review of other Spanish ASPs.

Results

From May 2017 to December 2021, the ASP issued 2.785 recommendations. Approximately, 4.9% were aimed at improving the antimicrobial treatment administered to SOT recipients. Treatment discontinuation or change to a better therapeutic regimen was recommended in 51.8% and 26.3% of cases, respectively. The acceptance rate of the recommendations was close to 92%. Between June 2015 and March 2016, a quasi‐experimental study consisting of a joint ASP and hospital‐acquired infection control (HAIC) initiative, which included kidney transplant recipients, reported a significant reduction in the consumption of meropenem, vancomycin and ciprofloxacin, and a reduction in the incidence of global bacterial infections, upper urinary tract infections, and cystitis. Although Spain has several robust regional ASPs (e.g., VINCat and PIRASOA), data specifically concerning SOT patients is lacking.

Conclusion

ASP coupled with HAIC programs have proven to be effective in SOT, and should be implemented in centers that perform transplantation. Since data is scarce, Spanish centers which have ASP should report their experience in SOT. Understanding the efficacy and safety of the Spanish ASP´s intervention in the SOT population is essential and deserves further study.
Severe hyperferremia and hyperferritinemia in a dog with precursor‐directed immune‐mediated anemia
Authors: Zersen Kristin M. , Gregory Carly W. , Jeffries Christina M. , Olver Christine
Published: May 2022

A 4‐year‐old dog was evaluated at the Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital for lethargy and hyporexia of 24 hours duration. On presentation, she had a marked normocytic, normochromic, nonregenerative anemia (HCT 14%; RI 40–55). Her serum iron concentration (1651 μg/dL; RI 73–245) and serum ferritin concentration (1337 ng/mL; RI 89–489) were markedly elevated. Bone marrow aspirate and core biopsy were consistent with a diagnosis of precursor‐directed immune‐mediate anemia. To the authors' knowledge, these are the highest reported serum iron and ferritin concentrations in a patient with precursor‐directed immune‐mediate anemia. The iron concentration improved significantly after treatment, supporting the theory that the hyperferremia was due to hemolysis and ineffective erythropoiesis.
Effects of Temperature on Adaptive Processes in Simulated Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy at 20°C-42°C
Authors: Stephanova Diana Ivanova , Daskalova Mariya S. , Kossev Andon
Published: May 2022

The effects of temperature (from 20°C to 42°C) on action and polarizing electrotonic potentials (nodal and internodal) and their current kinetics were previously studied by us in a simulated case of 70% chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (70% CIDP). To complete the cycle of our studies on adaptive processes in this case, the temperature effects on strength-duration time constant, rheobasic current and recovery cycle are investigated. The computations use our temperature dependent multi-layered model of the myelinated human motor nerve fibre and the temperature is increased from 20°C to 42°C. The results show that as the action and polarizing electrotonic potential parameters, these excitability parameters are more sensitive to the hyperthermia (≥40°C) and are most sensitive to the hypothermia (≤25°C), especially at 20°C, than at temperatures in the range of 28°C-37°C. With the increase of temperature from 20°C to 42°C, the strength-duration time constant decreases ~5.2 times, while it decreases ~3.5 times in the physiological range of 28°C-37°C. Conversely, the rheobasic current increases ~3.0 times from 20°C-42°C, while it increases ~1.2 times in the range of 28°C-37°C. As in the normal case, the behavior of axonal superexcitability in the CIDP case is complex in a 100 ms recovery cycle with the increase of temperature. The axonal superexcitability decreases with the increase of temperature during hypothermia and increases with the increase of temperature during hyperthermia, especially at 42°C. However, the superexcitability period in the CIDP case is followed by a late subexcitability period at 37°C only and the recovery cycles are with reduced superexcitability and without relative refractory periods in the range of 20°C-40°C. The present results are essential for the interpretation of mechanisms of excitability parameter changes obtained here and measured in CIDP patients with symptoms of cooling, warming and fever, which can result from alterations in body temperature. They suggest that the adaptive processes in CIDP patients are in higher risk during hypothermia than during hyperthermia.