bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Exceptional bone remodeling over composite restoration in the management of external root resorption: A case report
Authors: Zaccheo Fabrizio , Petroni Giulia , Fiorillo Luca , Heboyan Artak , Carnevale Gianfranco , Calapaj Massimo , Cervino Gabriele , Tallarico Marco
Published: August 2024

A 65-year-old Caucasian male was referred to an endodontic specialist practice in a private clinic in December 2019 for the management of an asymptomatic, radiolucent lesion located at the cervical level of the distal root of his right lower first molar, noticed during a routine periapical radiograph. After an accurate evaluation with cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), the subgingival lesion was diagnosed as a supracrestal external cervical resorption (ECR), with a circumferential spread ⩽90°, confined to dentine without pulp involvement. The lesion was treated with the following sequence: (1) a full flap accessed the ECR, (2) the granulomatous tissue was removed from the root area, (3) the cavity was refreshed and filled with a well-refined and polished resin composite, (4) the flap was sutured at the cemento-enamel junction. A mandibular CBCT scan was performed before treatment, right after treatment, and 3 years postoperatively. Compared to the 3-year posttreatment CBCT scan, the immediate posttreatment one, revealed the absence of bone loss and an unexpected coronal bone remodeling with new bone formation over the treated lesion.
A review of the role for pelvic floor physiotherapy in postmenopausal women with urinary incontinence
Authors: Walgren Lauren A , Wade Corinne , Dessaulles Melissa , Martin Ginis Kathleen , Locke Jennifer
Published: August 2024

Urinary incontinence is a prevalent condition affecting women. Pelvic floor physiotherapy is a specialized field of physiotherapy dedicated to assessing and treating pelvic floor muscles. This therapy has demonstrated benefits in addressing stress urinary incontinence in premenopausal women, with numerous studies supporting its efficacy in this population. However, pelvic floor physiotherapy in the treatment of postmenopausal women is less well-established, and furthermore, the types of urinary incontinence in postmenopausal women are much broader. We provide a comprehensive review of recent literature investigating the effectiveness of pelvic floor physiotherapy therapy for various conditions in postmenopausal women, including urinary incontinence, urgency urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, genitourinary syndrome of menopause, sexual dysfunction, and urinary incontinence in the context of obesity, frailty, mobility, and dementia. After evaluating the current literature, it is evident that there is insufficient data to definitively endorse or dismiss the utilization of Pelvic floor physiotherapy for treating urinary incontinence in postmenopausal women. Nevertheless, considering the low associated risks of pelvic floor physiotherapy, we advocate for the initiation of comprehensive, large-scale randomized studies aimed at evaluating its effectiveness in addressing urinary incontinence in postmenopausal women with special attention to vulnerable subgroups, including individuals who are obese, frail or experiencing cognitive impairment.
It’s Not Just “8 Dead”: Examining News and Twitter’s Social Construction of the Atlanta Spa Shootings Through the Lens of Networked Gatekeeping and Affective Publics
Authors: Koo Gyo Hyun , Chen Bin
Published: August 2024

Drawing from the theories of networked gatekeeping and affective publics, this study compares how news media and social media users shaped the discourse surrounding the 2021 Atlanta spa shootings. We investigate both the substantive (topics) and affective (emotions) dimensions of news articles and tweets, showcasing how institutional media and the public engage in the social construction of mass shootings involving people of underserved communities. To do so, we built two datasets: 964 news articles and 265,951 tweets. The findings from the computer-assisted content analysis reveal that Twitter users focused more on humanizing the victims and contextualizing the Atlanta spa shootings within the broader framework of anti-Asian racism, in contrast to the news outlets. Twitter users expressed significantly greater anger and fear than what is reflected in the news articles. This study also demonstrates that the news stories failed to acknowledge the intersecting identities of the victims. The findings contribute to our understanding of how journalists and individuals shape agendas and convey their affective reactions through news and social media. We suggest actions that can be taken to create a more inclusive and culturally responsive media environment.
Their Truth is Out There: Scientific (Dis)trust and Alternative Epistemology in Online Health Groups
Authors: Cullinan Megan E. , Zimdars Melissa , Na Kilhoe
Published: August 2024

The information-sharing practices within alternative health social media groups makes them important spaces for analyzing and understanding the factors shaping the online spread of alternative health and health science (mis)information. Through interviews and observation of participants in alternative health groups on both Facebook and Reddit, we explore how people use health science information from government, health, and news sources, alternative health information from social media groups, and their own personal experiences and concerns to define informational (dis)trustworthiness. We identify factors that lead participants to (dis)trust health science information and explore how members assess the (dis)trustworthiness of health science information using an alternative epistemology. This alternative epistemology, or “their science,” demonstrates a trust in science unless or until it contradicts members’ experiences, beliefs, contextual concerns, or their own “research” practices.
Signifyin’ “Black in China” and Sharing Black Pathos: Libidinal Energies in Vlogs Produced by Black YouTubers in China
Authors: Qing Shenglan
Published: August 2024

The subjectivity of Black individuals and communities as content producers in Sino–African/Black encounters has been underestimated in popular culture and academic discussion. By incorporating the theory of the libidinal economy, this study aims to understand the unique discursive practices in video blogs (vlogs) produced by Black YouTubers in China from the perspective of Black cyberculture. This study applies critical technocultural discourse analysis to 100 popular videos. Two levels of libidinal investments are identified: first, the libidinal energy, Black pathos, invested by Black Youtubers as the subject of video production and publication; and second, the interracial libidinal tension invested by Chinese and Black subjects, which is externalized as racialization. Two types of libidinal flows are identified: the libidinal energy flow, through various technologies, from offline encounters in China to the global video platform YouTube, supported by the discursive practices, such as signifyin’; and the libidinal flow from the narrative of mundanity to a wider domain of discursive contestation between China and the United States This study also suggests to focus on the variation of libidos, filtered by identities, invested in materiality in a cross-cultural context.
The 30 years of China’s online fandom
Authors: Zhang Weiyu
Published: August 2024

This essay provides an overview of China’s online fandom spanning three decades, primarily focusing on the practices embraced by fans. The fan communities in China have undergone several generational shifts, progressing from the era of 1.0 websites dedicated to Hong Kong and Taiwan idols to the contemporary landscape involving data manipulation and traffic management. The narrative commences with a historical account of significant fandom events over the past 30 years, emphasizing the evolving digital, localized, industrialized, and financialized nature of fan culture. The essay advocates for two key actions: initiating discussions among the various analytical perspectives to reconcile conflicting assessments of fan practices and encouraging a critical reflection on how China’s online fandom contributes to a broader understanding of the global landscape.
The same old same old? Three proposals for advancing the study of internet and contentious politics in China
Authors: Liu Jun
Published: August 2024

Observers of the Chinese political landscape have noted significant changes with the widespread adoption of the internet. Existing studies on the internet and contentious politics in China often fall into same old tunes like “authoritarianism vs. liberal democracy” and “liberation vs. control.” This reflection reviews selected work on the internet and politics in China and beyond, proposing a more sophisticated and critical examination through (a) a temporal dimension to pinpoint changes introduced by the internet’s adoption, (b) a mundane dimension that recognizes (contentious) politics in broader life contexts, and (c) a cross-demographical dimension that acknowledges the internet’s role as diverse and complex. The three proposals serve as a crucial first step toward achieving more sophisticated explanations and a deeper understanding of the internet in China for Chinese internet scholars in the coming decade.
Military Family Physicians’ Readiness to Provide Gender-Affirming Care: A Serial Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Domalaon Kryls O. , Parsons Austin M. , Thornton Jennifer A. , Do Kent H. , Roberts Christina M. , Schvey Natasha A. , Klein David A.
Published: August 2024

Purpose:

Family physicians are increasingly more likely to encounter transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) patients requesting gender-affirming care. Given the significant health inequities faced by the TGD community, this study aimed to assess changes in military-affiliated clinicians’ perspectives toward gender-affirming care over time.

Methods:

Using a serial cross-sectional survey design of physicians at the 2016 and 2023 Uniformed Services Academy of Family Physicians conferences, we studied participants’ perception of, comfort with, and education on gender-affirming care using Fisher’s Exact tests and logistic regression.

Results:

Response rates were 68% (n = 180) and 69% (n = 386) in 2016 and 2023, respectively. Compared to 2016, clinicians in 2023 were significantly more likely to report receiving relevant education during training, providing care to >1 patient with gender dysphoria, and being able to provide nonjudgmental care. In 2023, 26% reported an unwillingness to prescribe gender-affirming hormones (GAH) to adults due to ethical concerns. In univariable analysis, female-identifying participants were more likely to report willingness to prescribe GAH (OR = 2.6, 95%CI = 1.7-4.1) than male-identifying participants. Willingness to prescribe was also associated with ≥4 h of education (OR = 2.2, 95%CI = 1.1-4.2) compared to those with fewer than 4 h, and those who reported the ability to provide nonjudgmental care compared to those who were neutral (OR = 0.09, 95%CI = 0.04-0.2) or disagreed (OR = 0.11, 95%CI = 0.03-0.39). Female-identifying clinicians were more likely to agree additional training would benefit their practice (OR = 5.3, 95%CI = 3.3-8.5).

Conclusions:

Although military-affiliated family physicians endorsed more experience with and willingness to provide nonjudgmental gender-affirming care in 2023 than 2016, profound gaps in patient experience may remain based on the assigned clinician. Additional training opportunities should be available, and clinicians unable to provide gender-affirming care should ensure timely referrals. Future research should explore trends across clinical specialties.
A Hand-Foot-and-Mouth Disease Outbreak in an Atypical Population of College Students
Authors: Russell Nancy G. , Kessler Roanna
Published: August 2024

Hand-foot-and-mouth disease (HFMD), which is typically seen in the younger pediatric population, is uncommon in older adolescent and young adult populations. We report on an atypical outbreak of HFMD among college students at a mid-size university in the mid-Atlantic U.S. The outbreak included 138 qualifying cases of HFMD among students at the institution between August and November 2018. All tested samples were positive for CVA6, a less common cause of HFMD. Signs and symptoms and campus mitigation strategies are described. This case report aims to highlight an atypical outbreak of HFMD for clinicians who care for older adolescent and college-aged patients in primary care and community settings, and may see cases and/or outbreaks of HFMD in these populations.
High-Quality Human Resources in the Labor Market: A First Assessment of Potential and Obstacles
Authors: Tran Phung Phi
Published: August 2024

In an integrated world, knowledge-based economies require high-quality labor, which has always been challenging to cultivate, use, satisfy, and have a long-term competitive advantage. This article aims to identify areas of scientific research into high-quality workers in the labor market and to conduct data analysis. Using the Web of Science database from 1991 to 2023, the research outlined emerging trends in high-quality human resource management in the labor market through bibliometric analysis and text-mining approaches. This research also recommends developing research papers and exploring various aspects of high-quality human resource management in the labor market.
Interlinkages Between Climate Action and the Sustainable Development Goals: Trends from the Recent Decade
Authors: Wouda Kuipers Josephina , Korwatanasakul Upalat
Published: August 2024

The achievement of the goals specified in the Paris Agreement and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development depends on whether synergies between climate action and sustainable development policies are enhanced and their trade-offs are minimized. This study aims to identify research trends, debates and gaps in the growing literature on interlinkages between climate mitigation and adaptation with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and how these interlinkages can be developed into coherent policies. A literature review was conducted based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) framework. Literature was sourced from the SCOPUS and Web of Science databases on the 10th of August 2022. Of the 487 records identified, 21 were included and analyzed in the review. The analysis included an additional seven documents, which were used to develop the search strategy for the review. The analysis suggested that even though the impacts of climate mitigation on the SDGs have been well studied, research gaps remain. There is a need for future research into (1) the impacts of achieving the SDGs on climate action, (2) the interlinkages between climate adaptation and sustainable development, (3) the interlinkages between climate action and social aspects, (4) the indirect interlinkages compared to direct interlinkages, and (5) the interlinkages relevant for developing countries. Future research also needs to provide clear guidelines on strengthening synergies while developing coherent policies, which invites discussions on current policy instruments and governance structures.
The Income Augmenting and Budget Tightening Impacts of Microfinance: Theory and Evidence from Pakistan
Authors: Khan Wajid , Ullah Ikram , Shaorong Sun
Published: August 2024

Since the institutionalization of microcredit as the flagship poverty alleviation program, its potential has been under constant scrutiny by practitioners and researchers. This article extends previous work by analyzing two issues: (a) whether microcredit has the potential to alleviate poverty and (b) whether the conclusion drawn from the first issue is sensitive to interest rate variations. We first theoretically show that there is reason to believe that microcredit has the potential to change the fortunes of poor communities. However, the direction of the change in fortunes is uncertain and depends on how costly microfinance institutions’ financial services are perceived by the poor. We then test these theoretical assertions against data collected from 568 individuals from Northern Pakistan. By comparing various sub-groups using Ordinary Least Square and Binary Logistic regression analysis, our results reveal that higher interest rates more than offset the positive effects of microcredit on clients’ income. We also discuss policy implications of the findings.

JEL Classification: I30, G21, C61, E64.
Examining the Influence of Generalized Trust on Life Satisfaction Across Different Education Levels and Socioeconomic Conditions Using the Bayesian Mindsponge Framework
Authors: Le Tam-Tri , Nguyen Minh-Hoang , Jin Ruining , La Viet-Phuong , Nguyen Hong-Son , Vuong Quan-Hoang
Published: August 2024

Extant literature suggests a positive correlation between social trust (also called generalized trust) and life satisfaction. However, the psychological pathways underlying this relationship can be complex. Using the Bayesian Mindsponge Framework (BMF), we examined the influence of social trust in a high-violence environment. Employing Bayesian analysis on a sample of 1,237 adults in Cali, Colombia, we found that in a linear relationship, generalized trust is positively associated with life satisfaction. However, in a model including the interactions between trust and education level as well as between trust and socioeconomic status, generalized trust is found to be negatively associated with life satisfaction. In this non-linear relationship, both education level and socioeconomic status have moderating effects against the negative association between generalized trust and life satisfaction. In other words, less educated people living in worse socioeconomic conditions are more likely to have lower life satisfaction when they have higher levels of social trust. In contrast, highly educated people living in better socioeconomic conditions are more likely to have higher life satisfaction when they have higher levels of social trust. Due to the facilitating function of trust in information processing, lowering the rigor of the filtering system in a high-violence social environment will likely put an individual at risk. Based on our findings, we suggest that policymakers should be more meticulous and consider many socioeconomic factors when advocating for increasing social trust. We also recommend that researchers should investigate deeper the complexity of human psychology and the information-processing mechanisms of social trust.
Busiest Store in a Cramped Space: Can a Ghost Kitchen Optimize Coffee Shop Efficiency?
Authors: Zhu Yue , Pi Mansha , Zhu Xiaoyi , Byrd Karen
Published: August 2024

This case study describes a common foodservice business dilemma related to service inefficiency. Service inefficiency is typically multi-factorial, and operators need to reflect on several internal and external aspects to make needed changes. Therefore, this case aims to provide an analysis that includes aspects of various stakeholders, technology-involved business operation decisions, and service innovation solutions to diminish the negative effect of service inefficiency at a university-based coffee shop. The case describes possible solutions that connect the current trend of the ghost kitchen phenomenon with the technological evolvement of autonomous food delivery robots.
Taste a Cup of Community Resilience: A Case of Coffee Leisure Farms in the Cordillera Administrative Region in the Philippines
Authors: Causing Allison M. , Wang Yao-Chin , Gibson Heather
Published: August 2024

In this case story, we have seen that several government and private agencies helped the coffee leisure farms depending on the type of support that they need. This goes to show that each coffee leisure farm differs from one another. This also means that the challenges each coffee leisure farm faced depended on its product and activity offerings, its size, and the type of the farm. In addition, with the efforts of the coffee leisure farms to persevere through the pandemic, they also directly and indirectly positively contributed to the community and its resilience. Furthermore, the help the farms received from private and government agencies helped to strengthen and unite the community. The effects of moving everything online during the pandemic also increased the popularity of the case farms in the country. Since the coffee leisure farms had to do training, marketing, promotions, classes, and internships through social media sites like Facebook and Facebook Messenger, communication platforms like Zoom, and online news outlets like Manila Bulletin and Philippine Star, they were able to reach more coffee enthusiasts all over the country. It is also important to note that in managing coffee leisure farms during a pandemic, the management should work with the pandemic and not against it, which is exactly what Ola Coffee Farm did when they created a new site that followed the strict social distancing rules in the country. Although there are still various aspects to develop in these coffee leisure farms, such as the relationship between tourism and agriculture farms, what these case farms did, (even though the idea of infusing tourism in their operations was still in its embryonic stage), can become a model for other farms to consider in case there is another health threat in the future or another disaster that disrupts their business.
Sustainability in Food Procurement: Tea Sourcing at a University
Authors: Zhang Rachel Yueqian , Al Muneem Abdullah , Byrd Karen
Published: August 2024

Sustainability has become an increasingly important topic in food procurement as institutions recognize the need to make environmentally and socially responsible decisions. This case study analyzes the procurement practices of a public university in purchasing organic tea from a poverty-stricken country. The study shows how university procurement decisions could contribute to the environmental, social equity, and economic development aspects of sustainability. It demonstrates how the purchase of organic tea can support sustainable agriculture and the livelihoods of local communities and serves as a tangible example of sustainable practice for students.
The Extent to Which Technostress Is Related to Employees’ Work-Life Fit: A Multilevel Meta-Analysis
Authors: Bottaro Rossella , De Giovanni Katya , Faraci Palmira
Published: August 2024

Background:

This multilevel meta-analytic review is designed to analyze and quantify the effect size of the association between technostress and work-life fit among employees.

Method:

By adhering to the PRISMA 2020 Statement, seven databases (i.e., PubMed, PsycARTICLES, PsycINFO, the Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection, MEDLINE, Wiley Online Library, and Web of Science) were searched for studies reporting the association between technostress and work–life fit.

Results:

Out of the 476 articles that were screened, 7 met the established criteria and were subsequently included in this multilevel meta-analytic review. A majority of these studies highlighted the existence and intensity of the association between technostress and work-life fit, as evidenced by multiple Pearson’s r. Our findings supported a medium association (Cohen’s d = −0.41). Noteworthy differences were found when considering the interdependence of effect sizes within and between studies.

Conclusion:

The results of this multilevel meta-analytic review underscore the significance of understanding this association to inform optimal choices in terms of welfare policies and organizational decisions that promote employee well-being. This knowledge may serve as a scientific foundation for viewing new technologies not merely as hurdles but also as potential resources.
Success and Survival: Black Advantaged Parents’ Views of Race, White Space, and HBCU Attendance
Authors: Faulk Deborwah
Published: August 2024

The sociocultural norms of White spaces place Black individuals at greater risk of anti-Black racism, racial discrimination, exclusion, and violence. This reality requires that Black people develop sociocultural toolkits with strategies, behaviors, and knowledge to navigate and advance within society. Black parents play a critical role in readying their children for such survival and achievement in an unequal world. Existing scholarship on socialization focuses on Black parents raising preadolescent children, limiting our understanding of how Black parenting continues throughout emerging adulthood. Through the lens of college decision-making and the case of historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs), the author uses interviews with Black advantaged parents of college-bound children to explore understandings of the worlds children will enter as adults. Findings show that parents are aware of the burdens of Whiteness in its many forms in the environments where their children will enter and recognize that their children require sociocultural tools to succeed and thrive. These perspectives are made clear by parents’ discussions of the benefits and limitations of HBCU attendance. This article raises implications for understanding Black parenting, socialization, higher education, and transitions to adulthood and work.
Revolutionizing healthcare materials: Innovations in processing, advancements, and challenges for enhanced medical device integration and performance
Authors: Singh Alok Bihari , Khandelwal Chandni , Dangayach Govind Sharan
Published: August 2024

Cutting-edge materials have transformed the fabrication of medical devices and implants. However, the processing used to create these materials impacts their mechanical, physical, and biological characteristics, preventing effective integration. This study is intended to provide a detailed analysis of healthcare materials processing techniques, stressing healthcare-specific material requirements, such as biocompatibility, mechanical strength, corrosion resistance, stabilizability, and bioactivity, followed by classifying these processing methods as “ordinary” and “edge-cutting” methods. The consequences of each processing on the material, as well as the benefits, drawbacks, and recent developments of each technique, are also aimed to be concluded. The study also aimed to explore how process factors affect product qualities. The articles are collected from the Scopus and Web of Science databases using the search strings “Advance Material,” “Material Processing,” “Healthcare,” and “HealthCare Application.” The assessment of the selected literature has been done in accordance with the objectives. The assessment emphasizes quality assurance and regulatory compliance by stressing the need for quality assurance, characterization, and testing for medical devices and implants. Processes such as polishing, etching, and coatings improve biocompatibility and reduce infection risk, according to the findings. It was also concluded that cutting-edge processing methods such as additive manufacturing (3D printing) and electrospinning provide exact control over material composition, structure, and porosity, making them ideal for many clinical applications.
Images in Cardiology: Valve Infolding
Authors: Polamuri Praneeth , Kumar Nirmal , Agrawal Anoop
Published: August 2024

Valve infolding is one of the uncommon side effects of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) with self-expandable valves (SEV). Acute hemodynamic collapse brought on by infolding frequently results in complications, such as periprocedural stroke. We present an unusual occurrence of infolding of the Evolut PRO valve. Removal and replacement of the valve should be considered as soon as infolding is discovered.
“…you were reared”: Response Comments on Verbal Attacks in Political Discourse on GhanaWeb
Authors: Thompson Rachel G. A. , Agbaglo Ebenezer , Yakub Mohammed
Published: August 2024

This article focuses on response comments related to the use of offensive language in Ghanaian political discourse on GhanaWeb ( www.ghanaweb.com ). Data were obtained from the Corpus of GhanaWeb Comments on Ghana's 2016 Election (CGCGE16). The article examines the various ways some commenters react to inappropriate use of language on this online platform. It demonstrates that although interaction on GhanaWeb is characterised by pseudonymity and asynchronicity, there are some commenters who play the role of regulatory figures and traditional gatekeepers of appropriate communicative behaviour as they disapprove of the use of abusive language. Practically, these commenters do not contribute to the topic under discussion in a comment thread. Rather, they focus on the negative communicative practice of others and attempt to reinforce the social expectation that Ghanaians must exercise the right to freedom of speech within the limits of their socio-cultural norms and values. This research can serve as a springboard for further research on this communicative behaviour in other socio-cultural contexts.
Usability of Community Seismic Network recordings for ground-motion modeling
Authors: Mohammed Shako , Shams Rashid , Nweke Chukwuebuka C , Buckreis Tristan E , Kohler Monica D , Bozorgnia Yousef , Stewart Jonathan P
Published: August 2024

A source of ground-motion recordings in urban Los Angeles that has seen limited prior application is the Community Seismic Network (CSN), which uses low-cost, micro–electro–mechanical system (MEMS) sensors that are deployed at much higher densities than stations for other networks. We processed CSN data for the 29 earthquakes with M > 4 between July 2012 and January 2023 that produced CSN recordings, including selection of high- and low-pass corner frequencies ( fcHP and fcLP, respectively). Each record was classified as follows: (1) Broadband Record (BBR)—relatively broad usable frequency range from fcHP < 0.5 to fcLP > 10 Hz; (2) Narrowband Record (NBR)—limited usable frequency range relative to those for BBR; and (3) Rejected Record (REJ)—noise-dominated. We compare recordings from proximate (within 3 km) CSN and non-CSN stations (screened to only include cases of similar surface geology and favorable CSN instrument housing). We find similar high- to medium-frequency ground motions (i.e. peak ground acceleration (PGA) and Sa for T < 5 s) from CSN BBR and non-CSN stations, whereas NBRs have lower amplitudes. We examine PGA distributions for BBR and REJ records and find them to be distinguished, on average across the network, at 0.005 g, whereas 0.0015 g was found to be the threshold between usable records (BBR and NBR) and pre-event noise. Recordings with amplitudes near or below these thresholds are generally noise-dominated, reflecting environmental and anthropogenic ground vibrations and instrument noise. We find nominally higher noise levels in areas of high-population density and lower noise levels by a factor of about 1.5 in low-population density areas. By applying the 0.0015 g threshold, limiting distances for the network-average site condition, based on the expected fifth-percentile ground-motion levels, are 89, 210, 280, and 370 km for M 5, 6, 7, and 8 events, respectively.
Iliofemoral Deep Vein Thrombosis With Central Venous Catheter
Authors: DiGiacinto Dora , Gilmore Jennifer , Sharp Kassidy
Published: August 2024

A central venous catheter is often used when managing patients who need hemodialysis. Venous thrombus formation is often a complication of catheter placement. Most patients with catheter-related thrombus (CRT) are asymptomatic. Gray scale and duplex sonography have a high sensitivity and specificity rate for detecting CRT. This case study presents a patient with a CRT and reviews the structures a sonographer should assess when a patient presents for evaluation of the lower extremity venous system, with an iliofemoral catheter in place.
Monochorionic Triamniotic Triplet Pregnancy: A Case Report
Authors: Trombly John F.
Published: August 2024

Triplet pregnancies are rare, and monozygotic triplet pregnancies are even rarer. Triplet pregnancies present increased risk in every aspect of the prenatal course. The rate of triplet and higher order births, in the United States, was 78.9 per 100 000 and that rate has decreased from a peak, in 1998. Sonography plays a vital role in the diagnosis and management of all multifetal pregnancies. To further illustrate the importance of sonography, a case of spontaneous monochorionic triamniotic (MCTA) triplets is presented. This set of triplets were delivered at 32 weeks gestation without significant adverse neonatal outcome.
Crosstalk between SUMOylation and other post-translational modifications in breast cancer
Authors: Wei Bajin , Yang Fan , Yu Luyang , Qiu Cong
Published: August 2024

Breast cancer represents the most prevalent tumor type and a foremost cause of mortality among women globally. The complex pathophysiological processes of breast cancer tumorigenesis and progression are regulated by protein post-translational modifications (PTMs), which are triggered by different carcinogenic factors and signaling pathways, with small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMOylation) emerging as a particularly pivotal player in this context. Recent studies have demonstrated that SUMOylation does not act alone, but interacts with other PTMs, such as phosphorylation, ubiquitination, acetylation, and methylation, thereby leading to the regulation of various pathological activities in breast cancer. This review explores novel and existing mechanisms of crosstalk between SUMOylation and other PTMs. Typically, SUMOylation is regulated by phosphorylation to exert feedback control, while also modulates subsequent ubiquitination, acetylation, or methylation. The crosstalk pairs in promoting or inhibiting breast cancer are protein-specific and site-specific. In mechanism, alterations in amino acid side chain charges, protein conformations, or the occupation of specific sites at specific domains or sites underlie the complex crosstalk. In summary, this review centers on elucidating the crosstalk between SUMOylation and other PTMs in breast cancer oncogenesis and progression and discuss the molecular mechanisms contributing to these interactions, offering insights into their potential applications in facilitating novel treatments for breast cancer.
Less is more: CRISPR/Cas9-based mutations in DND1 gene enhance tomato resistance to powdery mildew with low fitness costs
Authors: Li Ruiling , Cui Lei , Martina Matteo , Bracuto Valentina , Meijer-Dekens Fien , Wolters Anne-Marie A. , Moglia Andrea , Bai Yuling , Acquadro Alberto
Published: August 2024

Powdery mildew (PM), triggered by Oidium neolycopersici, represents a significant threat and a major concern for the productivity of tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum L.). The presence of susceptibility (S) genes in plants facilitates pathogen proliferation and their dysfunction can lead to a recessively inherited broad-spectrum and durable type of resistance. Past studies have demonstrated that disrupting the function of DND1 (Defense No Death 1) increases plant resilience against various pathogens, such as powdery mildew (PM), but this comes at the cost of negatively affecting the overall health and vigor of the plant. To investigate the possibility of minimizing the adverse effects of the dnd1 mutation while boosting disease resistance, a CRISPR-Cas9 construct with four single guide RNAs targeting three exons of SlDND1 (Solyc02g088560.4.1) was designed and introduced into the tomato variety Moneymaker (MM) through Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation. Three T1 lines (named E1, E3 and E4) were crossed with MM and then selfed to produce TF2 families. All the TF2 plants in homozygous state dnd1/dnd1, showed reduced PM symptoms compared to the heterozygous (DND1/dnd1) and wild type (DND1/DND1) ones. Two full knock-out (KO) mutant events (E1 and E4) encoding truncated DND1 proteins, exhibited clear dwarfness and auto-necrosis phenotypes, while mutant event E3 harbouring deletions of 3 amino acids, showed normal growth in height with less auto-necrotic spots. Analysis of the 3D structures of both the reference and the mutant proteins revealed significant conformational alterations in the protein derived from E3, potentially impacting its function. A dnd1/dnd1 TF2 line (TV181848-9, E3) underwent whole-genome sequencing using Illumina technology, which confirmed the absence of off-target mutations in selected genomic areas. Additionally, no traces of the Cas9 gene were detected, indicating its elimination through segregation. Our findings confirm the role of DND1 as an S-gene in tomato because impairment of this gene leads to a notable reduction in susceptibility to O. neolycopersici. Moreover, we provide, for the first time, a dnd1 mutant allele (E3) that exhibits fitness advantages in comparison with previously reported dnd1 mutant alleles, indicating a possible way to breed with dnd1 mutants.
The Defective in Autoregulation (DAR) gene of Medicago truncatula encodes a protein involved in regulating nodulation and arbuscular mycorrhiza
Authors: Schnabel Elise , Bashyal Sagar , Corbett Cameron , Kassaw Tessema , Nowak Stephen , Rosales-García Ramsés Alejandro , Noorai Rooksana E. , Müller Lena Maria , Frugoli Julia
Published: August 2024

Background

Legumes utilize a long-distance signaling feedback pathway, termed Autoregulation of Nodulation (AON), to regulate the establishment and maintenance of their symbiosis with rhizobia. Several proteins key to this pathway have been discovered, but the AON pathway is not completely understood.

Results

We report a new hypernodulating mutant, defective in autoregulation, with disruption of a gene, DAR (Medtr2g450550/MtrunA17_Chr2g0304631), previously unknown to play a role in AON. The dar-1 mutant produces ten-fold more nodules than wild type, similar to AON mutants with disrupted SUNN gene function. As in sunn mutants, suppression of nodulation by CLE peptides MtCLE12 and MtCLE13 is abolished in dar. Furthermore, dar-1 also shows increased root length colonization by an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus, suggesting a role for DAR in autoregulation of mycorrhizal symbiosis (AOM). However, unlike SUNN which functions in the shoot to control nodulation, DAR functions in the root.

Conclusions

DAR encodes a membrane protein that is a member of a small protein family in M. truncatula. Our results suggest that DAR could be involved in the subcellular transport of signals involved in symbiosis regulation, but it is not upregulated during symbiosis. DAR gene family members are also present in Arabidopsis, lycophytes, mosses, and microalgae, suggesting the AON and AOM may use pathway components common to other plants, even those that do not undergo either symbiosis.
A deeper consideration of sex/gender in quantitative health research: a checklist for incorporating multidimensionality, variety, embodiment, and intersectionality throughout the whole research process
Authors: Hartig Christina , Horstmann Sophie , Jacke Katharina , Kraus Ute , Dandolo Lisa , Schneider Alexandra , Palm Kerstin , Bolte Gabriele
Published: August 2024

Background

There is a growing awareness of the need to adequately integrate sex and gender into health-related research. Although it is widely known that the entangled dimensions sex/gender are not comprehensively considered in most studies to date, current publications of conceptual considerations and guidelines often only give recommendations for certain stages of the research process and - to the best of our knowledge - there is a lack of a detailed guidance that accompanies each step of the entire research process. The interdisciplinary project “Integrating gender into environmental health research” (INGER) aimed to fill this gap by developing a comprehensive checklist that encourages sex/gender transformative research at all stages of the research process of quantitative health research. In the long term this contributes to a more sex/gender-equitable research.

Methods

The checklist builds on current guidelines on sex/gender in health-related research. Starting from important key documents, publications from disciplines involved in INGER were collected. Furthermore, we used a snowball method to include further relevant titles. The identification of relevant publications was continued until saturation was reached. 55 relevant publications published between 2000 and 2021 were identified, assessed, summarised and included in the developed checklist. After noticing that most publications did not cover every step of the research process and often considered sex/gender in a binary way, the recommendations were modified and enriched based on the authors’ expertise to cover every research step and to add further categories to the binary sex/gender categories.

Results

The checklist comprises 67 items in 15 sections for integrating sex/gender in quantitative health-related research and addresses aspects of the whole research process of planning, implementing and analysing quantitative health studies as well as aspects of appropriate language, communication of results to the scientific community and the public, and research team composition.

Conclusion

The developed comprehensive checklist goes beyond a binary consideration of sex/gender and thus enables sex/gender-transformative research. Although the project INGER focused on environmental health research, no aspects that were specific to this research area were identified in the checklist. The resulting comprehensive checklist can therefore be used in different quantitative health-related research fields.
Antibiotic prescription pattern among Primary Healthcare General Practitioners in the South Batinah Governorate of Oman, 2019
Authors: Al Mujaini Sami M. , Almayahi Zayid K. , Abouammoh Noura A. , Al Amri Sumaiya
Published: August 2024

Background

Misuse and overuse of antibiotics comprise leading causes of antimicrobial resistance. The study aims to assess the pattern of antibiotic prescription among primary healthcare general practitioners in the South Batinah Governorate of Oman.

Method

A cross-sectional study of 600 antibiotic prescriptions issued in the South Batinah Governorate in 2019 was conducted to verify the triggering diagnoses and determine the appropriateness of the prescribed antibiotic. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the association between predictors and inappropriate use.

Results

Respiratory infections accounted for 62% of antibiotic prescriptions, of which 92.2% were inappropriately prescribed. Extended-spectrum antibiotics were inappropriately prescribed in 33.3% of cystitis cases, while 14.3% of gastroenteritis received incorrect spectrum of antibiotics. Amoxicillin represented 46.2% of antibiotic prescriptions, of which 84.4% were unnecessarily prescribed. Lower inappropriate antibiotic prescribing rate was linked to patients ≥ 18 years (OR = 0.46, 95% CI: [0.26, 0.82]), those who underwent laboratory tests (OR = 0.22, 95% CI: [0.12, 0.39]), and consultations at health centers (OR = 0.44, 95% CI: [0.24, 0.79]). Arabic-speaking physicians were more likely to prescribe antibiotics inappropriately.

Conclusion

Inappropriate antibiotic prescription was frequently observed in mild respiratory infections and associated with specific patient and physician characteristics. Appropriateness of antibiotic prescriptions issued can be improved through enhanced testing capacities as well as implementation of physician and community awareness campaigns.
eVisits to primary care and subsequent health care contacts: a register-based study
Authors: Glock Hanna , Jakobsson Ulf , Borgström Bolmsjö Beata , Milos Nymberg Veronica , Wolff Moa , Calling Susanna
Published: August 2024

Background

Evidence concerning health care use related to virtual visits is conflicting. More research has been called for regarding the effectiveness of text-based virtual visits (eVisits). Therefore, we investigated patient characteristics, diagnoses, and subsequent health care contacts after eVisits to primary care.

Methods

We conducted a register-based cohort study of eVisits to an all-virtual public primary care unit in Sweden and subsequent health care contacts within 14 days. Data for 2021 were acquired from the regional health care databases. Diagnoses were sorted into relevant diagnostic groups, such as skin diagnoses and respiratory tract diagnoses. Multiple logistic regression was performed with subsequent health care contact as the outcome variable and diagnostic group for the eVisit as the predictor variable. Analyses were adjusted for age, sex, and socioeconomic index.

Results

There were 5817 eVisits to a nurse and 4267 eVisits to a general practitioner (N = 10 084). Most patients were 20 to 39 years of age (41.8%). Skin diagnoses were most frequent (47.3%), followed by respiratory tract diagnoses (19.9%). Approximately one-fourth (25.8%) of the patients who completed an eVisit with a nurse or a general practitioner had a subsequent face-to-face visit within 14 days, mostly in primary care. Subsequent contacts were more frequent after an eVisit to a nurse than to a general practitioner. After an eVisit to a general practitioner, patients with infections (especially respiratory tract but also urinary tract) and unspecified diagnoses (especially skin-related) were more likely to require further health care contact compared to a group with various other diagnoses.

Conclusions

eVisits to an all-virtual primary care unit may be appropriate for uncomplicated medical complaints. Nonetheless, the effectiveness of eVisits in terms of substitution of physical visits, and resource utilization in relation to the more complex care needs of a primary care population, should be further studied.
Frequency, persistence and relation of disease symptoms, psychosomatic comorbidity and daily life impairment after COVID-19: a cohort study in general practice
Authors: Hapfelmeier Alexander , Donhauser Jan , Teusen Clara , Eck Stefanie , Schneider Antonius
Published: August 2024

Background

Long-lasting symptoms with a possible relation to psychosomatic comorbidity have been described following COVID-19. However, data is sparse in general practice. The trial’s objective was to investigate the time-dependent frequency of disease symptoms and relation to psychosomatic comorbidity and daily life impairment (DLI).

Methods

Comparative cohort study of patients reporting a previous SARS-CoV-2 infection and uninfected controls in general practice. Participants were recruited in 14 general practices in the greater Munich area. Data collection was questionnaire based with a 12 months follow-up. Descriptive statistics, multivariable regression and bivariate correlations were used for analysis.

Results

A total of n = 204 cases infected up to 42 months ago (n = 141 Omicron, n = 63 earlier variants), and n = 119 controls were included. Disease symptoms were substantially more prevalent in cases (55–79% vs. 43% within one year of infection). This difference also appeared in the multivariable analysis adjusting for socio-demographics and psychosomatic comorbidity with odds ratios (OR) of 4.15 (p < 0.001) and 3.51 (p = 0.054) for the cohorts with Omicron or earlier variants infection (vs. controls), respectively. It was persistent with earlier variants (OR 1.00 per month, p = 0.903), while a decreasing trend was observed for Omicron (OR 0.89 per month, p < 0.001). DLI was especially correlated with fatigue (r = 0.628).

Conclusion

DLI, psychosomatic comorbidity and independently increased disease symptoms require holistic treatment of the patient in general practice according to the bio-psycho-social model. A key role in restoring the daily life capability may be attributed to the symptom fatigue.