bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Investigating Thermal Controls on the Hyporheic Flux as Evaluated Using Numerical Modeling of Flume-Derived Data
Authors: Riedel Jake W. , Peterson Eric W. , Dogwiler Toby J. , Seyoum Wondwosen M.
Published: August 2022

The flux of water through the hyporheic zone (HZ) is controlled by stream bedforms, sinuosity, surface water velocity, local water table, seasonality, and hydraulic conductivity (K) of the bed material. Dependent on both the kinematic viscosity and density of water, K values are a function of temperature. In most studies, changes in temperature have been neglected because of the limited effect either density or viscosity has on K values. However, these variations are important given the role of K in HZ flux, which lead to the hypothesis that flow into the HZ would be more efficient (faster rate and greater depth) under warmer conditions than under cool conditions. To discern how water temperature affects flow depth in the HZ, VS2DHI simulations were created to map flow under both warm and cool thermal conditions. The models employed data collected from a series of varying temperature hydrologic flume tests in which the effects of hyporheic flow altering variables such as sinuosity, surface water velocity and volume, and bed-forms were controlled. Results verify that K values in the HZ were larger under warm conditions generating deeper HZ pathways, while the smaller K values under cool conditions produced shallower pathways. The simulations confirmed a faster speed of frontal movement under warm conditions than cool. Péclet numbers revealed a shallower advective extinction depth under cool conditions as opposed to warm.
Care Needs and Symptoms Burden of Breast Cancer Patients in Jordan: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Shamieh Omar , Alarjeh Ghadeer , Li Houshen , Abu Naser Mahmoud , Abu Farsakh Fadi , Abdel-Razeq Rashid , Edilbi Adib , Al-Ani Ruba , Harding Richard , Guo Ping
Published: August 2022

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in Jordan. Rigorous needs assessment for breast cancer patients can prioritize both cancer care and palliative care to propose the appropriate services effectively. We conducted a cross-sectional study of breast cancer patients in a cancer center in Jordan. We assessed symptom burden, comorbidities, and performance using the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS), the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), and the Australia-modified Karnofsky performance scale (AKPS). Descriptive analysis and regression models to predict the highest symptom burden were used. A total of 233 participants were enrolled: curative vs. palliative intent groups (147 (63%) vs. 86 (37%) patients), respectively. Tiredness was the most reported symptom in 189 patients (81%), while nausea was the least in 61 patients (26.2%). A relationship between the AKPS score and total ESAS was seen (correlation coefficient of −0.487; p < 0.0001). The prevalence of anxiety (p = 0.014), lack of appetite (p = 0.002), poor well-being (p < 0.001), and sleep disorder (p = 0.035) was higher in the palliative care intent group than in the curative one. We identified unmet needs in breast cancer patients. Both groups showed a prevalence of distressing symptoms suggesting that even those with non-palliative intent have high needs and should receive integrated palliative care.
Decomposing the Effects of Familiarity with Music Cues on Stride Length and Variability in Persons with Parkinson’s Disease: On the Role of Covariates
Authors: Park Kyoung Shin
Published: August 2022

This study aimed to determine the role of cognitive and affective responses to music cues in modulating the effects of familiarity with music on stride length and stride-to-stride variability in people with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Using multilevel modeling, people with PD’s spatiotemporal gait parameters and self-reported ratings of familiarity, enjoyment, cognitive and physical demand, beats salience of music cues after each walking trial, as well as music reward, were analyzed. Our findings indicate that (1) condition-varying perceived enjoyment and beat salience are positively associated with increased stride length; (2) participants with a greater music reward for mood regulation and emotion evocation show greater stride length changes compared with those with less music reward; (3) condition-varying perceived enjoyment is positively associated with decreases in stride-to-stride variability; and (4) participants with lower cognitive demand of walking with music cues and higher beat salience show lower stride-to-stride variability compared with those with higher cognitive demand and lower beat salience. These results provide behavioral evidence of independent and interactive influences of cognitive and affective responses to music cues on spatiotemporal gait parameters in people with PD.
The Speed of Optic Flow Stimuli Influences Body Sway
Authors: Raffi Milena , Trofè Aurelio , Meoni Andrea , Piras Alessandro
Published: August 2022

Optic flow is a perceptual cue processed for self-motion control. The aim of this study was to investigate whether postural control is modulated by the speed of radial optic flow stimuli. The experiments were performed on 20 healthy volunteers using stabilometry and surface electromyography (EMG). The subjects were instructed to fixate a central fixation point while radial optic flow stimuli were presented full field, in the foveal and in the peripheral visual field at different dots speed (8, 11, 14, 17 and 20°/s). Fixation in the dark was used as control stimulus. The EMG analysis showed that male and female subjects reacted to the stimuli with different muscle activity (main effects for gender, muscle and laterality: p < 0.001). The analysis of the center of pressure (COP) parameters showed that optic flow stimuli had a different effect on the left and right limbs of males and females (main effects of laterality: p < 0.015; interaction effects of gender and laterality: p < 0.016). The low speed of optic flow stimuli (8 and 11°/s) evoked non-uniform directions of oscillations especially in peripheral stimulation in all subjects, meaning that optic flow simulating slow self-motion stabilizes body sway.
Economic Evaluation of Health Behavior Interventions to Prevent and Manage Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Asia: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Dahal Padam Kanta , Rawal Lal B. , Mahumud Rashidul Alam , Paudel Grish , Sugishita Tomohiko , Vandelanotte Corneel
Published: August 2022

Health behavior interventions implemented in Asian countries often lack economic evaluations that effectively address the problems of type 2 diabetes mellitus. This review systematically assessed the existing literature on economic evaluation of health behavior interventions to prevent and manage type 2 diabetes mellitus for people living in Asian countries. Eligible studies were identified through a search of six bibliographic databases, namely, PubMed, Scopus, Public Health Database by ProQuest, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature Complete, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Randomized controlled trials of health behavior interventions and studies published in the English language from January 2000 to May 2022 were included in the review. The search yielded 3867 records, of which 11 studies were included in the review. All included studies concluded that health behavior interventions were cost-effective. Eight of these studies undertook an evaluation from a health system perspective, two studies used both societal and health system perspectives, and one study utilized a societal and multi-payer perspective. This review identified the time horizon, direct and indirect medical costs, and discount rates as the most important considerations in determining cost effectiveness. These findings have implications in extending health behavior interventions to prevent and manage type 2 diabetes mellitus in low-resource settings, and are likely to yield the most promising outcomes for people with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Shifts of Antibiotic Resistomes in Soil Following Amendments of Antibiotics-Contained Dairy Manure
Authors: Kang Jijun , Liu Yiming , Chen Xiaojie , Xu Fei , Xiong Wenguang , Li Xiubo
Published: August 2022

Dairy manure is a nutrition source for cropland soils and also simultaneously serves as a contamination source of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). In this study, five classes of antibiotics including aminoglycosides, beta-lactams, macrolides, sulfonamides, and tetracyclines, were spiked in dairy manure and incubated with soil for 60 days. The high throughput qPCR and 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing were used to detect temporal shifts of the soil antibiotic resistomes and bacterial community. Results indicated dairy manure application increased the ARG abundance by 0.5–3.7 times and subtype numbers by 2.7–3.7 times and changed the microbial community structure in soils. These effects were limited to the early incubation stage. Selection pressure was observed after the addition of sulfonamides. Bacterial communities played an important role in the shifts of ARG profiles and accounted for 44.9% of the resistome variation. The incubation period, but not the different antibiotic treatments, has a strong impact on the bacteria community. Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes were the dominant bacterial hosts for individual ARGs. This study advanced our understanding of the effect of dairy manure and antibiotics on the antibiotic resistome in soils and provided a reference for controlling ARG dissemination from dairy farms to the environment.
Acid Mine Drainage Effects in the Hydrobiology of Freshwater Streams from Three Mining Areas (SW Portugal): A Statistical Approach
Authors: Luís Ana , Grande José , Durães Nuno , Santisteban María , Rodríguez-Pérez Ángel , Ferreira da Silva Eduardo
Published: August 2022

Aljustrel, Lousal and S. Domingos mines are located in the Iberian Pyrite Belt (IPB), one of the greatest massive sulfide ore deposits worldwide. These mines’ surrounding streams are affected by Acid Mine Drainage (AMD). The main purpose of this study was to understand AMD influence in the water quality and diatom behavior. Thus, waters and diatoms were sampled in 6 sites from the 3 selected mines on winter and summer of 2016. The highest concentrations were found in acidic sites: A3 (Aljustrel—Al, Cd, Cu, Fe and Zn (and lowest pH)) and L1 (Lousal—As, Mn, Ca, Mg, SO42− and conductivity). The most abundant diatom species was Pinnularia aljustrelica with 100% of dominance in A3 and S1 acidic sites, which puts in evidence this species adaptation to AMD harsh conditions. Multivariate cluster analysis allowed us to reinforce results from previous studies, where spatial differences were more relevant than seasonal ones. In 12 years (2004–2016), and with many transformations undertaken (re-opening and rehabilitation), there is a conservative behavior in the biological species (diatoms) and physicochemical concentrations (metals, pH and sulfates) from these three mining sites. This type of biogeochemical diagnosis is necessary for the sustainable use of these waters and the prevention of the polluting process, aimed to protect the water ecosystem and its biodiversity.
The Incidence of Body Posture Abnormalities in Relation to the Segmental Body Composition in Early School-Aged Children
Authors: Ziętek Michalina , Machniak Mariusz , Wójtowicz Dorota , Chwałczyńska Agnieszka
Published: August 2022

Children are exposed to multiple factors that contribute to an increase in body mass and the development of posture defects. The aim of the study is to assess the relationship between the segmental distribution of fat mass and muscle mass and the incidence of body posture abnormalities in early school-aged children. A total of 190 children aged 7–9 were included in the research project. The examined children were divided according to age (class level) into three groups. Height, weight and body composition, BMI, and body posture were determined. Thoracic and lumbar spine abnormalities occurred most frequently in the examined children (7–95%, 8–92%, 9–89.5%). During the assessment of the segmental body composition, the lowest fat–fat-free index was found in the trunk. The number of abnormalities of the cervical spine, pelvis, and lower extremities increases with age. The number of abnormalities of the thoracic and lumbar spine, as well as of upper extremities and the pectoral girdle decreases with age. Body posture abnormalities are correlated with body composition and in particular with the fat mass percentage. The segmental body com-position analyzer can be used to screen for posture defects.
Impact of Effective Intravesical Therapies on Quality of Life in Patients with Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer: A Systematic Review
Authors: Yuen John W. , Wu Ricky W. , Ching Shirley S. , Ng Chi-Fai
Published: August 2022

Background: Conventional and newly emerged intravesical modalities have demonstrated prophylactic effectiveness that may improve quality of life (QoL) in non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. The purpose of this study is to analyze existing QoL evidence in patients receiving any form of intravesical therapy. Methods: A PubMed search without time restriction was conducted to identify all relevant studies in accordance with the PICOT question. Additionally, a search was also performed in the Cochrane library database, Internet, and citation. The CONSORT 2010 checklist and STROBE statement checklist were used to evaluate the risk of bias of the included studies. Results: A total of 24 eligible articles were included, which consisted of 11 interventional and 13 observational studies. Intravesical therapy with Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) or certain chemotherapeutic agents worsens symptom burdens and functional performance during the initial induction phase while continuous improved is observed throughout the maintenance treatment and beyond. Hyperthermia has shown a positive trend in enhancing QoL of patients receiving intravesical chemotherapy, which requires more investigations. However, QoL data were unavailable for other forms of immunotherapy, immune checkpoint inhibitors, electromotive drug administration, and photodynamic therapy. Conclusions: Limited studies suggested the long-term positive impact of intravesical BCG immunotherapy and chemotherapy. However, existing evidence was lacking to clarify the impact of many emerging intravesical therapies that have suggested to be effective and safe, which demands treatment-specific QoL studies.
Does Oral Health-Related Quality of Life Differ by Income Group? Findings from a Nationally Representative Survey
Authors: Hajek André , König Hans-Helmut , Kretzler Benedikt , Zwar Larissa , Lieske Berit , Seedorf Udo , Walther Carolin , Aarabi Ghazal
Published: August 2022

Objectives: Clarify the association between income group and oral health-related quality of life. Methods: Data were used from a nationally representative online survey with n = 3075 individuals. It was conducted in late Summer 2021. The established Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP-G5) was used to measure oral health-related quality of life. The income group (household net income) was used as key independent variable. It was adjusted for several covariates. Full-information maximum likelihood was used to address missing values. Results: Individuals in the lowest income decile had a lower oral health-related quality of life (Cohen’s d = −0.34) compared to individuals in the second to ninth income deciles. Individuals in the highest income decile had a higher oral health-related quality of life (Cohen’s d = 0.20) compared to individuals in the second to ninth income deciles. Consequently, there was a medium difference (Cohen’s d = 0.53) between individuals in the lowest income decile and individuals in the highest income decile. Additionally, multiple linear regressions showed significant differences between individuals in the lowest income decile and individuals in the second to ninth income deciles (β = 0.72, p < 0.01). In contrast, only marginal significant differences were identified between individuals in the second to ninth income deciles and individuals in the highest income decile (β = −0.28, p < 0.10). Conclusions: The current study particularly stressed the association between low income and low oral health-related quality of life in the general adult population. Increasing oral health-related quality of life in individuals with low income is a major issue which should be targeted.
Spatial Prediction of COVID-19 Pandemic Dynamics in the United States
Authors: Ak Çiğdem , Chitsazan Alex D. , Gönen Mehmet , Etzioni Ruth , Grossberg Aaron J.
Published: August 2022

The impact of COVID-19 across the United States (US) has been heterogeneous, with rapid spread and greater mortality in some areas compared with others. We used geographically-linked data to test the hypothesis that the risk for COVID-19 was defined by location and sought to define which demographic features were most closely associated with elevated COVID-19 spread and mortality. We leveraged geographically-restricted social, economic, political, and demographic information from US counties to develop a computational framework using structured Gaussian process to predict county-level case and death counts during the pandemic’s initial and nationwide phases. After identifying the most predictive information sources by location, we applied an unsupervised clustering algorithm and topic modeling to identify groups of features most closely associated with COVID-19 spread. Our model successfully predicted COVID-19 case counts of unseen locations after examining case counts and demographic information of neighboring locations, with overall Pearson’s correlation coefficient and the proportion of variance explained as 0.96 and 0.84 during the initial phase and 0.95 and 0.87 during the nationwide phase, respectively. Aside from population metrics, presidential vote margin was the most consistently selected spatial feature in our COVID-19 prediction models. Urbanicity and 2020 presidential vote margins were more predictive than other demographic features. Models trained using death counts showed similar performance metrics. Topic modeling showed that counties with similar socioeconomic and demographic features tended to group together, and some of these feature sets were associated with COVID-19 dynamics. Clustering of counties based on these feature groups found by topic modeling revealed groups of counties that experienced markedly different COVID-19 spread. We conclude that topic modeling can be used to group similar features and identify counties with similar features in epidemiologic research.
Blood RNA Sequencing Indicates Upregulated BATF2 and LY6E and Downregulated ISG15 and MT2A Expression in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Authors: Voinsky Irena , Zoabi Yazeed , Shomron Noam , Harel Moria , Cassuto Hanoch , Tam Joseph , Rose Shannon , Scheck Adrienne C. , Karim Mohammad A. , Frye Richard E. , Aran Adi , Gurwitz David
Published: August 2022

Mutations in over 100 genes are implicated in autism spectrum disorder (ASD). DNA SNPs, CNVs, and epigenomic modifications also contribute to ASD. Transcriptomics analysis of blood samples may offer clues for pathways dysregulated in ASD. To expand and validate published findings of RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) studies, we performed RNA-seq of whole blood samples from an Israeli discovery cohort of eight children with ASD compared with nine age- and sex-matched neurotypical children. This revealed 10 genes with differential expression. Using quantitative real-time PCR, we compared RNAs from whole blood samples of 73 Israeli and American children with ASD and 26 matched neurotypical children for the 10 dysregulated genes detected by RNA-seq. This revealed higher expression levels of the pro-inflammatory transcripts BATF2 and LY6E and lower expression levels of the anti-inflammatory transcripts ISG15 and MT2A in the ASD compared to neurotypical children. BATF2 was recently reported as upregulated in blood samples of Japanese adults with ASD. Our findings support an involvement of these genes in ASD phenotypes, independent of age and ethnicity. Upregulation of BATF2 and downregulation of ISG15 and MT2A were reported to reduce cancer risk. Implications of the dysregulated genes for pro-inflammatory phenotypes, immunity, and cancer risk in ASD are discussed.
Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Thiazole-Based Derivatives with Potential against Breast Cancer and Antimicrobial Agents
Authors: Pivovarova Ekaterina , Climova Alina , Świątkowski Marcin , Staszewski Marek , Walczyński Krzysztof , Dzięgielewski Marek , Bauer Marta , Kamysz Wojciech , Krześlak Anna , Jóźwiak Paweł , Czylkowska Agnieszka
Published: August 2022

Investigating novel, biologically-active coordination compounds that may be useful in the design of breast anticancer, antifungal, and antimicrobial agents is still the main challenge for chemists. In order to get closer to solving this problem, three new copper coordination compounds containing thiazole-based derivatives were synthesized. The structures of the synthesized compounds and their physicochemical characterization were evaluated based on elemental analysis, 1H and l3C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), flame atomic absorption spectroscopy (F-AAS), single-crystal X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The pharmacokinetics were studied using SwissADME. The results obtained from the computational studies supported the results obtained from the MTT analysis, and the antimicrobial activity was expressed as the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC).
Unilateral Cervical Vagotomy Modulates Immune Cell Profiles and the Response to a Traumatic Brain Injury
Authors: Newell-Rogers M. Karen , Duong Amanda , Nazarali Rizwan , Tobin Richard P. , Rogers Susannah K. , Shapiro Lee A.
Published: August 2022

TBI induces splenic B and T cell expansion that contributes to neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration. The vagus nerve, the longest of the cranial nerves, is the predominant parasympathetic pathway allowing the central nervous system (CNS) control over peripheral organs, including regulation of inflammatory responses. One way this is accomplished is by vagus innervation of the celiac ganglion, from which the splenic nerve innervates the spleen. This splenic innervation enables modulation of the splenic immune response, including splenocyte selection, activation, and downstream signaling. Considering that the left and right vagus nerves have distinct courses, it is possible that they differentially influence the splenic immune response following a CNS injury. To test this possibility, immune cell subsets were profiled and quantified following either a left or a right unilateral vagotomy. Both unilateral vagotomies caused similar effects with respect to the percentage of B cells and in the decreased percentage of macrophages and T cells following vagotomy. We next tested the hypothesis that a left unilateral vagotomy would modulate the splenic immune response to a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Mice received a left cervical vagotomy or a sham vagotomy 3 days prior to a fluid percussion injury (FPI), a well-characterized mouse model of TBI that consistently elicits an immune and neuroimmune response. Flow cytometric analysis showed that vagotomy prior to FPI resulted in fewer CLIP+ B cells, and CD4+, CD25+, and CD8+ T cells. Vagotomy followed by FPI also resulted in an altered distribution of CD11bhigh and CD11blow macrophages. Thus, transduction of immune signals from the CNS to the periphery via the vagus nerve can be targeted to modulate the immune response following TBI.
Ionomic Combined with Transcriptomic and Metabolomic Analyses to Explore the Mechanism Underlying the Effect of Melatonin in Relieving Nutrient Stress in Apple
Authors: Cao Yang , Du Peihua , Ji Jiahao , He Xiaolong , Zhang Jiran , Shang Yuwei , Liu Huaite , Xu Jizhong , Liang Bowen
Published: August 2022

Nutrient stress harms plant growth and yield. Melatonin is a biologically active, multifunctional hormone that relieves abiotic stress in plants. Although previous studies have shown that melatonin plays an important role in improving nutrient-use efficiency, the mechanism of its regulation of nutrient stress remains unclear. In this study, melatonin was applied to apple plants under nutrient stress, and morphological indices, physiological and biochemical indices, and stomatal morphology were evaluated. The response of apple plants to nutrient deficiency and the melatonin mechanism to alleviate nutrient stress were analyzed by combining ionome, transcriptome, and metabolome. The results showed that exogenous melatonin significantly alleviated the inhibitory effect of nutritional stress on the growth of apple plants by regulating stomatal morphology, improving antioxidant enzyme activity, promoting ion absorption, and utilizing and changing the absorption and distribution of minerals throughout the plant. The transcriptome results showed that melatonin alleviated nutrient stress and promoted nutrient absorption and utilization by regulating glutathione metabolism and upregulating some metal ion transport genes. The metabolome results indicated that levels of oxalic acid, L-ascorbic acid, anthocyanins (cyanidin-3-O-galactoside), lignans (lirioresinol A and syringaresinol), and melatonin significantly increased after exogenous melatonin was applied to plants under nutrient stress. These differentially expressed genes and the increase in beneficial metabolites may explain how melatonin alleviates nutrient stress in plants.
Physical, Mechanical, and Biological Properties of Fibrin Scaffolds for Cartilage Repair
Authors: Rojas-Murillo Juan Antonio , Simental-Mendía Mario A. , Moncada-Saucedo Nidia K. , Delgado-Gonzalez Paulina , Islas José Francisco , Roacho-Pérez Jorge A. , Garza-Treviño Elsa N.
Published: August 2022

Articular cartilage is a highly organized tissue that provides remarkable load-bearing and low friction properties, allowing for smooth movement of diarthrodial joints; however, due to the avascular, aneural, and non-lymphatic characteristics of cartilage, joint cartilage has self-regeneration and repair limitations. Cartilage tissue engineering is a promising alternative for chondral defect repair. It proposes models that mimic natural tissue structure through the use of cells, scaffolds, and signaling factors to repair, replace, maintain, or improve the specific function of the tissue. In chondral tissue engineering, fibrin is a biocompatible biomaterial suitable for cell growth and differentiation with adequate properties to regenerate damaged cartilage. Additionally, its mechanical, biological, and physical properties can be enhanced by combining it with other materials or biological components. This review addresses the biological, physical, and mechanical properties of fibrin as a biomaterial for cartilage tissue engineering and as an element to enhance the regeneration or repair of chondral lesions.
Direct Analysis of Mitochondrial Damage Caused by Misfolded/Destabilized Proteins
Authors: Aklima Jannatul , Onchaiya Sawaros , Saotome Tomonori , Velmurugan Punitha , Motoichi Taihei , Naima Jannatul , Kuroda Yutaka , Ohta Yoshihiro
Published: August 2022

Protein quality control is essential for cellular homeostasis. In this study, we examined the effect of improperly folded proteins that do not form amyloid fibrils on mitochondria, which play important roles in ATP production and cell death. First, we prepared domain 3 of the dengue envelope protein in wild type and four mutants with widely different biophysical properties in misfolded/aggregated or destabilized states. The effects of the different proteins were detected using fluorescence microscopy and Western blotting, which revealed that three of the five proteins disrupted both inner and outer membrane integrity, while the other two proteins, including the wild type, did not. Next, we examined the common characteristics of the proteins that displayed toxicity against mitochondria by measuring oligomer size, molten globule-like properties, and thermal stability. The common feature of all three toxic proteins was thermal instability. Therefore, our data strongly suggest that thermally unstable proteins generated in the cytosol can cause cellular damage by coming into direct contact with mitochondria. More importantly, we revealed that this damage is not amyloid-specific.
Current Knowledge and Future Perspectives on Awake Bruxism Assessment: Expert Consensus Recommendations
Authors: Bracci Alessandro , Lobbezoo Frank , Häggman-Henrikson Birgitta , Colonna Anna , Nykänen Laura , Pollis Matteo , Ahlberg Jari , Manfredini Daniele ,   International Network for Orofacial Pain and Related Disorders Methodology (INfORM)
Published: August 2022

Awake bruxism (AB) is differentiated from sleep bruxism (SB) by the differences in etiology, comorbidities, and consequences related to the different spectrum of muscle activities exerted in relation to the different circadian manifestations. Furthermore, less literature data are available on AB than on SB. The introduction of ecological momentary assessment (EMA) strategies has allowed for collecting valuable data on the frequency of the different activities reported by an individual in his/her natural environment. This strategy has been further improved with the recent use of smartphone technologies. Recent studies have described an average frequency of AB behaviors, within the range of 23–40% for otherwise healthy young adults. An association between AB and some psychological traits has emerged, and the findings have indicated that patients with musculoskeletal symptoms (e.g., temporomandibular joint and/or muscle pain, muscle stiffness, and fatigue) report higher AB frequencies. Preliminary data suggest that muscle bracing and teeth contact are the most commonly reported behaviors, while teeth clenching is much less frequently reported than commonly believed previously. Report of teeth grinding during wakefulness is almost absent. This paper has critically reviewed the currently available approaches for the assessment of AB. In addition, some future perspectives and suggestions for further research have been provided.
Association between Routine Laboratory Parameters and the Severity and Progression of Systemic Sclerosis
Authors: Chikhoune Liticia , Brousseau Thierry , Morell-Dubois Sandrine , Farhat Meryem Maud , Maillard Helene , Ledoult Emmanuel , Lambert Marc , Yelnik Cecile , Sanges Sebastien , Sobanski Vincent , Hachulla Eric , Launay David
Published: August 2022

(1) Background: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a heterogeneous connective tissue disease with a high mortality and morbidity rate. Identification of biomarkers that can predict the evolution of SSc is a key factor in the management of patients. The aim of this study was to assess the association of routine laboratory parameters, widely used in practice and easily available, with the severity and progression of SSc. (2) Methods: In this retrospective monocentric cohort study, 372 SSc patients were included. We gathered clinical and laboratory data including routine laboratory parameters: C-reactive-protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), complete blood count, serum sodium and potassium levels, creatinin, urea, ferritin, albumin, uric acid, N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NTproBNP), serum protein electrophoresis, and liver enzymes. Associations between these routine laboratory parameters and clinical presentation and outcome were assessed. (3) Results: Median (interquartile range) age was 59.0 (50.0; 68.0) years. White blood cell, monocyte, and neutrophil absolute counts were significantly higher in patients with diffuse cutaneous SSc and with interstitial lung disease (ILD) (p < 0.001). CRP was significantly higher in patients with ILD (p < 0.001). Hemoglobin and ferritin were significantly lower in patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH) including pulmonary arterial hypertension and ILD associated PH (p = 0.016 and 0.046, respectively). Uric acid and NT pro BNP were significantly higher in patients with PH (<0.001). Monocyte count was associated with ILD progression over time. (4) Conclusions: Overall, our study highlights the association of routine laboratory parameters used in current practice with the severity and progression of SSc.
Associations among Stroke, Myocardial Infarction, and Amaurosis Fugax in a Tertiary Referral Hospital in Taiwan
Authors: Sun Ming-Hui , Ognoo Nomin-Erdene
Published: August 2022

Background: To determine the associations among carotid stenosis, stroke, and myocardial infarction (MI) in patients with amaurosis fugax (AF). Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of patients diagnosed as having AF between January 2000 and December 2019. Among 14,857 patients with AF initially reviewed in the database, only 173 were ultimately enrolled, after excluding patients with wrong diagnosis, insufficient medical records, or loss of follow-up. Results: Of the 173 patients with AF, 61 (35.3%) had carotid stenosis, and among them, 18 (10.4%) had severe stenosis. In multivariate regression analysis, carotid stenosis was significantly associated with age (p = 0.009), male sex (p = 0.006), and ischemic heart disease (p = 0.039). Sixteen (9.2%) patients experienced a stroke after AF diagnosis (mean time to stroke: 23.1 ± 31.1 months, range: 1 day~85 month), 11 (68.8%) of whom had carotid artery stenosis (p = 0.003). Three (1.7%) patients had MI after AF (mean time to MI: 24.8 ± 35.9 months, range: 12 days~66 months), none of whom had carotid artery stenosis (p = 0.553). Four (2.3%) patients had central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) after AF, all of whom had carotid artery stenosis (p = 0.034). Conclusions: A high incidence of internal carotid artery stenosis was observed after AF attack and was significantly associated with stroke. The incidence of MI and CRAO after AF was low. Among them, only CRAO was associated with carotid artery stenosis.
Acute Foggy Corneal Epithelial Disease: Seeking Clinical Features and Risk Factors
Authors: Li Fei , Yang Ruibo , Yang Liu , Qi Yuanyuan , Zhang Chen , Huang Yue , Zhao Shaozhen
Published: August 2022

(1) Purpose: Here, we describe the clinical characteristics and predisposing factors of acute foggy corneal epithelial disease, a rare disease newly found during COVID-19 pandemic; (2) Methods: In this single-arm, ambispective case series study, ten patients with acute foggy corneal epithelial disease admitted between May 2020 and March 2021 were enrolled. Their detailed medical history and clinical and ophthalmic findings were recorded and analyzed; (3) Results: All the patients were female (100%), aged from 28 to 61 years (mean age of 40.4 ± 9.3 years). Seven cases (70%) had excessive eye use, and six cases (60%) had stayed up late and were overworked. Ten subjects (100%) presented with acute onset and a self-healing tendency. There was a mild-to-moderate decrease in the corrected visual acuity (0.35 ± 0.21 (LogMAR)). Slit-lamp examination showed diffuse dust-like opacity and edema in the epithelial layer of the cornea. By in vivo confocal microscope, epithelial cells presented characteristically a “relief-like” appearance. Anterior segment optical coherence tomography examination revealed that the mean epithelial thickness was increased (69.25 ± 4.31 μm, p < 0.01); (4) Conclusions: Acute foggy corneal epithelial disease is a rare disease in clinic, which tends to occur in young and middle-aged females. The typical clinical symptom is sudden foggy vision, which occurs repeatedly and can be relieved without treatment. Sex, an abnormal menstrual cycle, overuse of the eyes, fatigue and pressure might be risk factors. Changes in lifestyle and eye use habit during the COVID-19 pandemic may have possibly contributed to this disease incidence.
Tildrakizumab: Efficacy, Safety and Survival in Mid-Term (52 Weeks) in Three Tertiary Hospitals in Andalucia (Spain)
Authors: Ruiz-Villaverde Ricardo , Rodriguez Fernandez-Freire Lourdes , Font-Ugalde Pilar , Galan-Gutierrez Manuel
Published: August 2022

Tildrakizumab (TIL) binds selectively to the p19 subunit of interleukin 23. Its introduction has managed to increase the levels of efficacy, safety (improving that previously presented by the anti-IL-12/23 class) and survival. Retrospective analysis of a multicenter, observational study of real clinical practice including patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis in treatment with TIL. This cross-sectional analysis includes information of patients between February 2019 to February 2022. A total of three tertiary hospitals in Andalusia (Spain) participated in this study. Analyses were performed “as observed” using IBM SPSS v28 for Windows. A total of 61 patients were included in the analysis. The mean age of our patients was 49.5 years; 50.18% of the patients were female and 34.42% of the patients had a BMI greater than 30. It was notable that 44.26% of our patients had scalp involvement. Almost 35% of the patients had psoriatic arthropathy, although skin involvement was predominant. At week 52 (n = 34), 68% of the patients presented an absolute PASI equal to or less than 1. Regarding the drug survival, eight patients discontinued treatment due to inefficacy: five primary and three secondary failures, and one death due to causes not drug related showing survival of 86% at week 52. In the analysis of subgroups of patients, we found that scalp involvement determined greater survival (94%), as well as a shorter duration of the disease (91.7% vs. 84.4% in those with less than 10 years versus more than 15 years of evolution) and with a lower number of previous biological therapies (100% naïve, 90% in those who have used one line of biological therapy and 82.1% in those who have completed two or more lines of biological treatment. Tildrakizumab showed excellent results in the control of psoriasis in the mid-term with an elevated number of patients maintaining treatment after 52 weeks. There were no statistically significant differences in the efficiency, safety or survival results of TIL between patients coming from previous therapies.
Strategies for Improving the Standardization of Perioperative Adverse Events in Surgery and Anesthesiology: “The Long Road from Assessment to Collection, Grading and Reporting”
Authors: Sayegh Aref , Eppler Michael , Ballon Jorge , Hemal Sij , Goldenberg Mitchell , Sotelo Rene , Cacciamani Giovanni
Published: August 2022

The assessment, collection, and reporting of all aspects of surgical procedures are crucial for optimizing patient safety and improving surgical/procedural quality [...]
Drosophila melanogaster as a Tool for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Research
Authors: Hegde Krupa N. , Srivastava Ajay
Published: August 2022

Reliable animal model systems are an integral part of biological research. Ever since Thomas Hunt Morgan won a Nobel Prize for genetic work done using the fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) as a model organism, it has played a larger and more important role in genetic research. Drosophila models have long been used to study neurodegenerative diseases and have aided in identifying key disease progression biological pathways. Due to the availability of a vast array of genetic manipulation tools, its relatively short lifespan, and its ability to produce many progenies, D. melanogaster has provided the ability to conduct large-scale genetic screens to elucidate possible genetic and molecular interactions in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s Disease, and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). With regards to ALS, many of the gene mutations that have been discovered to be linked to the disease have been modeled in Drosophila to provide a look into a detailed model of pathogenesis. The aim of this review is to summarize key and newer developments in ALS research that have utilized Drosophila and to provide insight into the profound use of Drosophila as a tool for modeling this disease.
Sensitivity of Serum Beta-D-Glucan in Candidemia According to Candida Species Epidemiology in Critically Ill Patients Admitted to the Intensive Care Unit
Authors: Mikulska Malgorzata , Magnasco Laura , Signori Alessio , Sepulcri Chiara , Dettori Silvia , Tutino Stefania , Vena Antonio , Miletich Franca , Ullah Nadir , Morici Paola , Ball Lorenzo , Pelosi Paolo , Marchese Anna , Giacobbe Daniele Roberto , Bassetti Matteo
Published: August 2022

Serum beta-D-glucan (BDG) determination plays an important role in the diagnosis of candidemia among critically ill patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). However, BDG levels measured may be lower in the case of infections caused by some non-albicans species, such as C. parapsilosis and C. auris. The aim of this single-center study was to investigate the sensitivity of serum BDG for the diagnosis of candidemia stratified according to causative Candida species in ICU patients. This was a single-center, retrospective study, including all adult patients admitted to ICU during the period 2018–2021. All episodes of candidemia with a determination of BDG available within 3 days before or after positive blood culture were recorded. The preplanned primary objective was to investigate the sensitivity of serum BDG to detect candidemia early and the effect of different Candida species. The secondary objective was to measure serum BDG in patients with candidemia from different Candida species. In total, 146 candidemia episodes in 118 patients were analyzed. Median BDG value for C. albicans candidemia (182 pg/mL) was higher than that observed for C. parapsilosis (78 pg/mL, p = 0.015) and C. auris (48 pg/mL, p = 0.022). The overall sensitivity of BDG for the diagnosis of candidemia was low (47%, 95% CI 39–55%). In conclusion, in critically ill patients admitted to ICU, serum BDG levels for candidemia were different among species, with lower levels confirmed for C. parapsilosis and C. auris. Serum BDG sensitivity for early detection of candidemia was lower than previously reported in other ICU populations.
Candida glabrata Empyema Thoracis—A Post-COVID-19 Complication
Authors: Swaminathan Neeraja , Anderson Katherine , Nosanchuk Joshua D. , Akiyama Matthew J.
Published: August 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic is associated with a significant increase in the incidence of invasive mycosis, including pulmonary aspergillosis, mucormycosis, and candidiasis. Fungal empyema thoracis (FET) is an uncommon clinical presentation of invasive fungal disease (IFD) associated with significant mortality. Here, we describe the first report of a patient with post-COVID-19 multifocal necrotizing pneumonia complicated by a polymicrobial empyema that included Candida glabrata. Candida empyemas represent another manifestation of a COVID-19-associated fungal opportunistic infection, and this infrequently encountered entity requires a high degree of clinical suspicion for timely identification and management. Therapy for empyemas and other non-bloodstream Candida infections may differ from candidemia due to several pharmacokinetic parameters impacting bioavailability of the antifungal in the affected tissue (e.g., pleural space) and is an area that needs more investigation.
Anxiety, Distress and Stress among Patients with Diabetes during COVID-19 Pandemic: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: García-Lara Rubén A. , Gómez-Urquiza José L. , Membrive-Jiménez María José , Velando-Soriano Almudena , Granados-Bolivar Monserrat E. , Romero-Béjar José L. , Suleiman-Martos Nora
Published: August 2022

The prevalence of mental health disorders has increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Patients with chronic diseases, such as diabetes, are a particularly vulnerable risk group. This study aims to assess the levels and prevalence of anxiety, distress, and stress in patients with diabetes during the COVID-19 pandemic. A systematic review was conducted in CINAHL, Cochrane, LILACS, Medline, SciELO, and Scopus in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. Thirty-seven articles with a total of 13,932 diabetic patients were included. Five meta-analyses were performed. The prevalence of anxiety was 23% (95% CI = 19–28) in T1DM and 20% (95% CI = 6–40) in T2DM patients. For diabetes distress it was 41% (95% CI = 24–60) for T1DM and 36% in T2DM patients (95% CI = 2–84). For stress, the prevalence was 79% (95% CI = 49–98) in T1DM patients. People with diabetes have significant psychiatric comorbidity as well as psychological factors that negatively affect disease management, increasing their vulnerability in an emergency situation. To establish comprehensive care in diabetic patients addressing mental health is essential, as well as including specific policy interventions to reduce the potential psychological harm of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Current Use of Oral Anticoagulation Therapy in Elderly Patients with Atrial Fibrillation: Results from an Italian Multicenter Prospective Study—The ISNEP Study
Authors: De Stefano Francesco , Benassi Alberto , Cappelletti Alberto Maria , Donatelli Francesco , Regazzoli Damiano , Tolaro Salvatore , Perego Francesca , Silverio Angelo , Scatteia Alessandra , Guarini Pasquale , Dellegrottaglie Santo , Mariani Simona , Pezzella Elpidio , Galasso Gennaro , Caiazza Francesco ,   on behalf of ISNEP Investigators
Published: August 2022

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common heart arrhythmia, and its prevalence increases with age. Oral Anticoagulant Therapy (OAT) with non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) or vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) is essential to avoid thromboembolic events in AF. However, this treatment is associated with a high risk of bleeding and low adherence in elderly patients. Aim: The aim was to evaluate the real-world use of OAT in a population of patients aged ≥80 years in twenty-three Italian centers and to investigate the tolerance of and patient satisfaction with this therapy. Methods: The ISNEP Study is a multicenter cross-sectional study enrolling patients with AF and aged ≥80 years and treated with either NOACs or VKAs. A written questionnaire was administered to each patient to evaluate the adherence to and patient satisfaction with this therapy. Results: The study included 641 patients with a mean age of 85 (82–87) years. The use of NOACs was reported in 93.0% of cases, with the remaining 7.0% treated with VKAs. A history of stroke events was reported in five (11.1%) and one (0.2%) patients in the VKA and NOAC groups, respectively. The rate of referred ecchymosis/epistaxis was significantly higher in the VKA group compared to the NOAC group (p < 0.001). Patients receiving NOACs reported a substantial improvement in their quality of life compared to the VKA group. Conclusions: A small, but not negligible, proportion of elderly AF patients is still treated with VKAs. Patients treated with NOAC have a higher level of satisfaction with the therapy and complete adherence.
Execution of Omni-Channel Retailing Based on a Practical Order Fulfillment Policy
Authors: Wang Ke , Li Yitian , Zhou Yulin
Published: August 2022

With the rapid development of the retail industry and its transition to omni-channel, a critical challenge that how to fulfill customer orders by choosing the proper channels arises for the retailers. In omni-channel retailing, customers can make a purchase online or offline, and the online customers are offered the options of home delivery or collection at a specified store, delivering immediately or during an appointed time window, and accepting split delivery or not. For the effective execution of omni-channel retailing in such a circumstance, this paper proposes an intuitive order fulfillment policy, aiming to gain lower service cost and higher customer satisfaction, as a reference for the retailers’ operation management. Via experimental analyses under various service costs and demand forecasts, their influences on channel selection and the policy performance are illustrated. Furthermore, the comparison of the performances of the omni-channel with independent channels quantitatively reveals one crucial reason for the surge of omni-channel.