bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Do home modifications reduce care home admissions for older people? A matched control evaluation of the Care & Repair Cymru service in Wales
Authors: Hollinghurst Joe , Fry Richard , Akbari Ashley , Watkins Alan , Williams Neil , Hillcoat-Nallétamby Sarah , Lyons Ronan A , Clegg Andrew , Rodgers Sarah E
Published: September 2020

Background

home advice and modification interventions aim to promote independent living for those living in the community, but quantitative evidence of their effectiveness is limited.

Aim

assess the risk of care home admissions for people with different frailty levels receiving home advice and modification interventions against a control group who do not.

Study design and setting

matched control evaluation using linked longitudinal data from the Secure Anonymised Information Linkage (SAIL) Databank, comprising people aged 60–95, registered with a SAIL contributing general practice. The intervention group received the Care & Repair Cymru (C & RC) service, a home advice and modification service available to residents in Wales.

Methods

frailty, age and gender were used in propensity score matching to assess the Hazard Ratio (HR) of care home admissions within a 1-, 3- and 5-year period for the intervention group (N = 93,863) compared to a matched control group (N = 93,863). Kaplan–Meier curves were used to investigate time to a care home admission.

Results

the intervention group had an increased risk of a care home admission at 1-, 3- and 5-years [HR (95%CI)] for those classified as fit [1-year: 2.02 (1.73, 2.36), 3-years: 1.87 (1.72, 2.04), 5-years: 1.99 (1.86, 2.13)] and mildly frail [1-year: 1.25 (1.09, 1.42), 3-years: 1.25 (1.17, 1.34), 5-years: 1.30 (1.23, 1.38)], but a reduced risk of care home admission for moderately [1-year: 0.66 (0.58, 0.75), 3-years: 0.75 (0.70, 0.80), 5-years: 0.83 (0.78, 0.88)] and severely frail individuals [1-year: 0.44 (0.37, 0.54), 3-years: 0.54 (0.49, 0.60), 5-years: 0.60(0.55, 0.66)].

Conclusions

HRs indicated that the C & RC service helped to prevent care home admissions for moderately and severely frail individuals. The HRs generally increased with follow-up duration.
Attractiveness of Male and Female Adults ofCryptolestes ferrugineus(Coleoptera: Laemophloeidae) to Conspecifics With and Without Grain
Authors: Currie Sarah , Bharathi Vimala S K , Jian Fuji , Fields Paul G , Jayas Digvir S
Published: September 2020

Whether stored-grain insects can communicate with each other inside stored-grain bulks is an important question for the development of pest management programs. Movements of the individual adults of Cryptolestes ferrugineus towards caged adult(s), in the presence or absence of wheat, were studied inside an apparatus (10 cm length), using an infrared camera. The numbers of the caged adults were 1, 20, or 50 of females or males, and 100 or 200 mixed-sex adults. Without grain, both males and females moved towards the caged single male, but not the caged single female. With grain, neither males nor females moved towards the caged single male or female. When 50 males were added to the cage, females did move significantly towards the caged males. There were trends for introduced males and females to move towards caged males at higher densities.
Fragmented Ownership and Natural Resource Use: Evidence from the Bakken
Authors: Leonard Bryan , Parker Dominic P
Published: September 2020

Does land fragmentation impair spatially expansive natural resource use? We conduct empirical tests using ownership variation on the Bakken, one of the world's most valuable shale oil reserves. Long before shale was discovered, US policies created a mosaic of private, jointly owned and tribal government parcels on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation. We find that all three forms of fragmentation reduced production during the 2010–15 oil boom, especially joint ownership and the interspersion of small parcels of government and private land. We estimate implied gains from consolidation and discuss implications for the use (or conservation) of other spatially expansive resources.
Acculturation in Context: The Relationship Between Acculturation and Socioenvironmental Factors With Level of and Change in Cognition in Older Latinos
Authors: Lamar Melissa , Barnes Lisa L , Leurgans Sue E , Fleischman Debra A , Farfel Jose M , Bennett David A , Marquez David X
Published: September 2020

Objectives

Latinos are 1.5 times as likely to develop Alzheimer’s dementia as non-Latino Whites. This health disparity may arise from multiple influences with culturally relevant factors receiving increasing attention. Models of acculturation stress the importance of considering acculturation-related factors within the context of socioenvironmental factors to better capture the Latino experience in the United States.

Methods

We measured 10 acculturation and contextually-related variables in 199 Latinos (age 69.7 years) without dementia participating in Rush Alzheimer’s Disease Center studies. We tested the relationship between these variables via Principal Component Analysis (PCA), then investigated how resulting components associated with level of and longitudinal change in global and domain-specific cognition using separate linear mixed-effects models adjusted for relevant confounders and their interactions with time.

Results

The PCA revealed a 3-factor unrotated solution (variance explained ~70%). Factor 1, representing acculturation-related aspects of nativity, language- and social-based acculturation, was positively associated with level, but not change, in global cognition, semantic memory, and perceptual speed. Factor 2, representing contextually-related socioenvironmental experiences of discrimination, social isolation, and social networks, was negatively associated with level of global cognition, episodic and working memory, and faster longitudinal decline in visuospatial ability. Factor 3 (familism only) did not associate with level or change in any cognitive outcome.

Discussion

Acculturation- and contextually-related factors differentiated from each other and differentially contributed to cognition and cognitive decline in older Latinos. Providers should query acculturation and lived experiences when evaluating cognition in older Latinos.
Economic evaluation and health systems strengthening: a review of the literature
Authors: Cleary Susan
Published: September 2020

Health systems strengthening (HSS) is firmly on the global health and development agenda. While a growing evidence base seeks to understand the effectiveness of HSS, there is limited evidence regarding cost and cost-effectiveness. Without such evidence, it is hard to argue that HSS represents value for money and the level of investment needed cannot be quantified. This paper seeks to review the literature regarding the economic evaluation of HSS from low- and middle-income country (LMIC) settings, and to contribute towards the development of methods for the economic evaluation of HSS. A systematic search for literature was conducted in PubMed, Scopus and the Health Systems Evidence database. MeSH terms related to economic evaluation were combined with key words related to the concept of HSS. Of the 204 records retrieved, 52 were retained for full text review and 33 were included. Of these, 67% were published between January 2015 and June 2019. While many HSS interventions have system wide impacts, most studies (71%) investigated these impacts using a disease-specific lens (e.g. the impact of quality of care improvements on uptake of facility deliveries). HSS investments were categorized, with the majority being investments in platform efficiency (e.g. quality of care), followed by simultaneous investment in platform efficiency and platform capacity (e.g. quality of care and task shifting). This review identified a growing body of work seeking to undertake and/or conceptualize the economic evaluation of HSS in low- and middle-income countries. The majority assess HSS interventions using a disease-specific or programmatic lens, treating HSS in a similar manner to the economic evaluation of medicines and diagnostics. While this approach misses potential economies of scope from HSS investments, it allows for a preliminary understanding of relative value for money. Future research is needed to complement the emerging evidence base.
Does metformin improve the efficacy of standard epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitor treatment for patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer?
Authors: Lin Zhangyu , Li Guangchen , Xu Xinyu , Mei Jiandong
Published: September 2020

A best evidence topic in thoracic surgery was written according to a structured protocol. The question addressed was whether metformin improved the efficacy of standard epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI) treatment for patients with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutated advanced non-small-cell lung cancer. A total of 99 papers were found using the reported search, of which 4 represented the best evidence to answer this clinical question. The authors, journal, publication date, country, study type, treatment regimen, relevant outcomes and results of these papers are tabulated. We concluded that the addition of metformin to EGFR-TKI might improve the survival of patients with EGFR-mutated non-small-cell lung cancer and diabetes mellitus type 2. However, for non-diabetic non-small-cell lung cancer patients with EGFR mutation, the efficiency of additional metformin in EGFR-TKI treatment remains unclear because of the conflicting results of only 2 available studies.
Performance evaluation of a novel PVT-GSHP heating system on energy-efficient poultry houses: long-term monitoring
Authors: Gurler Tugba , Elmer Theo , Cui Yuanlong , Omer Siddig , Riffat Saffa
Published: September 2020

The case study presented in this paper is an innovative ground source heat pump (GSHP) system constituted by a hybrid Photovoltaic Thermal (PVT) solar system for poultry houses. Farmers tend to not to apply GSHPs because of the high prices of excavation and time consumption. The innovative heat pump system assessed in this study comprises of a new type of heat exchangers; a thin-tube solar polyethylene heat exchanger installed between roof tiles and PV panels and a novel vertical ground heat exchanger to utilize the heat stored in the soil. The heating system applied to a poultry house are monitored and evaluated under a variety of environmental and operating conditions to achieve annual/long-term efficiency of the heating system in Kirton, UK. The maximum heating demand of the poultry house is determined 34.4 MWh/PC while the minimum is 11,1 MWh/PC. The monitored results show that the heat pump produced 15.02 MWh of thermal energy per annum. Solar PV and heat pump worked very well together with solar PV covering all the heat pump’s annual electrical energy requirement and generated 8.74 MWh of extra electricity exported to the grid. The seasonal coefficient of performance is found 3.73 through a year. The novel PVT-GSHP heating system is a very promising solution for high fossil fuel consumption in the agriculture industry and the energy savings of the whole system can be noticeably increased dependent up on the system controlling.
Intravenous mecillinam compared with other β-lactams as targeted treatment for Escherichia coli or Klebsiella spp. bacteraemia with urinary tract focus
Authors: Boel Jonas Bredtoft , Antsupova Valeria , Knudsen Jenny Dahl , Jarløv Jens Otto , Arpi Magnus , Holzknecht Barbara Juliane
Published: September 2020

Background

Mecillinam (amdinocillin) is active against Gram-negative bacteria. Clinical data on the efficacy of IV mecillinam for severe urinary tract infections is sparse.

Objectives

To assess the effectiveness of targeted IV mecillinam compared with other β-lactams for bacteraemia with Escherichia coli and Klebsiella spp. and a urinary tract focus.

Patients and methods

We performed a retrospective cohort study at five university hospitals in the Capital Region of Denmark from 1 January 2012 to 31 December 2017. We used Cox proportional hazard regression to compare the primary composite endpoint (all-cause mortality or bacteraemia recurrence within 30 days) between patients treated with mecillinam versus ampicillin, cefuroxime, piperacillin/tazobactam and meropenem.

Results

We included 1129 patients in the primary analysis, of which 146 were given IV mecillinam as targeted treatment. We found no significant difference in the primary endpoint between patients treated with mecillinam versus ampicillin and cefuroxime, but found a higher risk for the primary endpoint in the piperacillin/tazobactam and meropenem groups, with adjusted HRs of 2.22 (95% CI 1.24–3.97, P < 0.01) and 2.48 (95% CI 1.04–5.93, P = 0.04), respectively, compared with mecillinam.

Conclusions

The results of this study suggest that IV mecillinam may be a suitable targeted treatment for bacteraemia with a urinary tract focus. However, these results need confirmation by randomized controlled studies.
Successful Use of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Therapy in Patients With 80% Full Thickness Burns
Authors: Rasmussen Jack , Erdogan Mete , Loubani Osama , Green Robert S
Published: September 2020

Despite advances in burn care, mortality in adult patients with extensive burn injuries remains a concern, particularly in those who develop concurrent acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). In cases of ARDS refractory to conventional treatments, venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) may represent a viable salvage therapy, even in the major burn population. We present the case of a 38-year-old man with full thickness burns to over 80% of his body, who developed severe ARDS 4 days postburn. After failing to respond to deep sedation, paralysis, and proning, ECMO therapy was initiated to maintain oxygenation and ventilation. Over the next 14 days, while the patient was treated with ECMO, he successfully underwent three major operations to debride and allograft approximately 65% of his body surface area, including one in the prone position. ECMO therapy was discontinued on postburn day 18, and the patient had his wounds reconstructed and survived his injuries. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a burn patient with such severe burns requiring surgical intervention that has been treated with ECMO and survived, and the first case of a burn patient on ECMO having surgery in the prone position. They conclude this case serves as a “proof of concept” that ECMO is a potential treatment for appropriately selected major burn patients with ARDS who fail to respond to other therapies.
D-lactate production in the acorn barnacleBalanus glandula(Darwin, 1854) (Cirripedia: Balanidae) under emersion stress
Authors: Rangaswami Xenia L , Ober Gordon T , Gilman Sarah E
Published: September 2020

Anaerobic metabolism is an important response to stress in many organisms. Intertidal species often face heat stress during low tide. Balanus glandula (Darwin, 1854) is a high-shore intertidal barnacle common to the Pacific that experiences prolonged low-tide air exposure. It is not known whether B. glandula uses anaerobic metabolism during emersion, or if its use varies by latitude. We measured low tide D-lactate production in two US west coast populations of B. glandula separated by 14 degrees of latitude. We exposed barnacles to seven low-tide air temperatures (10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, and 38 °C) for which aerobic respiration has been previously measured. Our northern population of B. glandula increased D-lactate production at high air temperatures where aerobic metabolic depression is known to occur, indicating sublethal stress. In contrast, our southern population showed little increase in D-lactate over the same temperature range, coincident with high aerobic respiration across those temperatures. In a second experiment, we quantified D-lactate at 1, 2, and 6 hours post-emersion for northern B. glandula exposed to either a 10 or 38 °C low tide, to measure their potential lactate usage. While D-lactate was elevated at 38 °C compared to the 10 °C control immediately following low tide exposure, it dropped to control levels, and was likely excreted, within 1 hour of re-immersion. Our results suggest that the low latitude population of B. glandula may be more resilient to climate change than its high latitude counterpart in the absence of adaptation, which has strong implications for species distribution.
The Implications of and Responses to COVID-19: Localizing Human Rights in the City of York (UK)
Authors: Gready Paul
Published: September 2020

This essay attempts to capture the human rights implications of COVID-19, and responses to it, in the city of York (UK). Three human rights contributions are identified: ensuring that responses enhance dignity, the right to life, non-discrimination, and protect the most vulnerable; using human rights when balancing priorities and making difficult decisions; and optimizing the link between disease and democracy. The overarching aim is to localize and contextualize human rights in a meaningful way in the city, and thereby to provide meaningful guidance to the City Council and statutory agencies when implementing the difficult measures required by the pandemic, and to support civil society advocacy and monitoring. This work, led by the York Human Rights City (YHRC) network, illustrates the value of a localized ‘thick description’ of human rights and the multi-dimensional picture of challenges, innovations and solutions facilitated by such an approach.
Verification and Implementation of HIV Antibody Differentiation Testing to Improve Turnaround Time for the HIV Diagnostic Algorithm
Authors: Chambliss Allison B , Shulman Ira A
Published: September 2020

Background

Relying on reference laboratories for HIV confirmation testing may lead to delays in treatment and can cause stress for patients who have positive HIV screening results.

Objective

To internalize HIV-1/HIV-2 antibody differentiation testing within the hospital laboratory.

Methods

We analytically verified an HIV antibody differentiation immunoassay and subsequently compared result turnaround times (TATs) for HIV antibody differentiation and HIV-1 qualitative RNA in the months before and after the test internalization.

Results

HIV antibody differentiation was successfully verified. TATs for HIV antibody differentiation and HIV-1 RNA significantly improved, from medians of 40.4 hours and 156.5 hours to medians of 17.7 hours and 56.5 hours, respectively, after the internalization. The 90th-percentile turnaround times declined by 72% and 44%, respectively.

Conclusions

It is feasible for a hospital laboratory to verify HIV antibody-differentiation testing. Its implementation may considerably improve result TATs for the HIV diagnostic algorithm.
Augmenting machine learning photometric redshifts with Gaussian mixture models
Authors: Hatfield P W , Almosallam I A , Jarvis M J , Adams N , Bowler R A A , Gomes Z , Roberts S J , Schreiber C
Published: September 2020

Wide-area imaging surveys are one of the key ways of advancing our understanding of cosmology, galaxy formation physics, and the large-scale structure of the Universe in the coming years. These surveys typically require calculating redshifts for huge numbers (hundreds of millions to billions) of galaxies – almost all of which must be derived from photometry rather than spectroscopy. In this paper, we investigate how using statistical models to understand the populations that make up the colour–magnitude distribution of galaxies can be combined with machine learning photometric redshift codes to improve redshift estimates. In particular, we combine the use of Gaussian mixture models with the high-performing machine-learning photo-z algorithm GPz and show that modelling and accounting for the different colour–magnitude distributions of training and test data separately can give improved redshift estimates, reduce the bias on estimates by up to a half, and speed up the run-time of the algorithm. These methods are illustrated using data from deep optical and near-infrared data in two separate deep fields, where training and test data of different colour–magnitude distributions are constructed from the galaxies with known spectroscopic redshifts, derived from several heterogeneous surveys.
The MOSDEF survey: an improved Voronoi binning technique on spatially resolved stellar populations at z ∼ 2
Authors: Fetherolf Tara , Reddy Naveen A , Shapley Alice E , Kriek Mariska , Siana Brian , Coil Alison L , Mobasher Bahram , Freeman William R , Sanders Ryan L , Price Sedona H , Shivaei Irene , Azadi Mojegan , de Groot Laura , Leung Gene C K , Zick Tom O
Published: September 2020

We use a sample of 350 star-forming galaxies at 1.25 < z < 2.66 from the Multi-Object Spectrograph For Infra-Red Exploration (MOSFIRE) Deep Evolution Field survey to demonstrate an improved Voronoi binning technique that we use to study the properties of resolved stellar populations in z ∼ 2 galaxies. Stellar population and dust maps are constructed from the high-resolution CANDELS/3D-HST multiband imaging. Rather than constructing the layout of resolved elements (i.e. Voronoi bins) from the signal-to-noise (S/N) distribution of the H160-band alone, we introduce a modified Voronoi binning method that additionally incorporates the S/N distribution of several resolved filters. The spectral energy distribution (SED)-derived resolved E(B − V)stars, stellar population ages, star-formation rates (SFRs), and stellar masses that are inferred from the Voronoi bins constructed from multiple filters are generally consistent with the properties inferred from the integrated photometry within the uncertainties, with the exception of the inferred E(B − V)stars from our z ∼ 1.5 sample due to their UV slopes being unconstrained by the resolved photometry. The results from our multifilter Voronoi binning technique are compared to those derived from a ‘traditional’ single-filter Voronoi binning approach. We find that single-filter binning produces inferred E(B − V)stars that are systematically redder by 0.02 mag, on average, but could differ by up to 0.20 mag and could be attributed to poorly constrained resolved photometry covering the UV slope. Overall, we advocate that our methodology produces more reliable SED-derived parameters due to the best-fitting resolved SEDs being better constrained at all resolved wavelengths – particularly those covering the UV slope.
The Hα line emission of the Be star β Psc: the last 40 yr
Authors: Levenhagen Ronaldo S , Diaz Marcos P , Amôres Eduardo B , Leister Nelson V
Published: September 2020

A study on the photosphere and disc of the Be star β Psc is presented. We recover almost 40 yr of high-resolution spectroscopic observations and additional data gathered from the BeSS data base. We evaluate the photospheric parameters from the spectral energy distribution (SED) and fittings of state-of-the-art non-LTE model atmospheres to observed helium, carbon, silicon, and magnesium line profiles. Our models include the stellar geometric deformation as well as the co-latitude dependence of temperature and gravity, aiming to derive the effects of rotation on the stellar parameters. We estimate the circumstellar disc parameters from the fitting of models assuming different disc properties, namely its radius and gas density profile. The disc inclination angle i is constrained from the fittings of He i 4471 Å, Mg ii 4481 Å, C ii 4267 Å,  and Si ii 4128, 4132 Å  lines with gravity darkened models. Our findings, based on model fittings, suggest that during the last 40 yr, the disc radius changed within the interval 5.5 ≤ Rd ≤ 7.8 $R/R_{*}\,$, the disc base gas density within 5 × 10−13 ≤ ρ ≤ 1 × 10−12 g cm−3, while the radial power-law density index m assumed values between 2.0 and 2.3. These results are in agreement with recent works dealing with spectroscopic and interferometric measurements of this object.
Velocity dispersion in the interstellar medium of early galaxies
Authors: Kohandel M , Pallottini A , Ferrara A , Carniani S , Gallerani S , Vallini L , Zanella A , Behrens C
Published: September 2020

We study the structure of spatially resolved, line-of-sight velocity dispersion for galaxies in the Epoch of Reionization (EoR) traced by [C $\scriptstyle \rm II$] $158\, \mu \rm {m}$ line emission. Our laboratory is a simulated prototypical Lyman-break galaxy, ‘Freesia, part of the serra suite’. The analysis encompasses the redshift range 6 < z < 8, when Freesia is in a very active assembling phase. We build velocity dispersion maps for three dynamically distinct evolutionary stages (Spiral Disc at z = 7.4, Merger at z = 8.0, and Disturbed Disc at z = 6.5) using [C $\scriptstyle \rm II$] hyperspectral data cubes. We find that, at a high spatial resolution of 0.005 arcsec (≃30 pc), the luminosity-weighted average velocity dispersion is $\sigma _{\rm {CII}}\simeq 23{\text {--}}38\, {\rm km\, s^{-1}}$ with the highest value belonging to the highly structured Disturbed Disc stage. Low-resolution observations tend to overestimate σC ii values due to beam smearing effects that depend on the specific galaxy structure. For an angular resolution of 0.02 arcsec (0.1 arcsec), the average velocity dispersion is $16{\!-\!}34{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ ($52{\!-\!}115{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$) larger than the actual one. The [C $\scriptstyle \rm II$] emitting gas in Freesia has a Toomre parameter $\mathcal {Q}\simeq 0.2$ and rotational-to-dispersion ratio of vc/σ ≃ 7 similar to that observed in z = 2−3 galaxies. The primary energy source for the velocity dispersion is due to gravitational processes, such as merging/accretion events; energy input from stellar feedback is generally sub-dominant ($\lt 10{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$). Finally, we find that the resolved σC ii−ΣSFR relation is relatively flat for $0.02\lt {\Sigma }_{\rm SFR}/{\rm M}_{\odot }\rm {yr}^{-1} {\rm kpc}^{-2} \lt 30$, with the majority of data lying on the derived analytical relation $\sigma \propto \Sigma _{\rm SFR}^{5/7}$. At high SFR, the increased contribution from stellar feedback steepens the relation, and σC ii rises slightly.
Forced Out of Fatherhood: How Men Strive to Parent Post-Deportation
Authors: Andrews Abigail , Khayar-Cámara Fátima
Published: September 2020

Scholars estimate that 90 percent of U.S. deportees are men, and one in three have children in the United States. For these men, removal is often intertwined with detention and incarceration, as the United States pulls deportees from prison and punishes those who attempt reentry. This deportation-carceral system separates fathers from their children and erodes family intimacy. Drawing on 54 interviews, we find that deported fathers adopt three distinct identities as parents which inform their practices post-deportation: 1) those facing a first deportation and short stints in detention remain undeterred, maintaining practical ties and focusing single-mindedly on reuniting with their children; 2) those who have spent more time in detention and/or attempted reentry unsuccessfully also sustain strong fatherly identities, yet they acquiesce to the institutional barriers to remaining connected in practice; and 3) those who were incarcerated pre-deportation largely resign themselves to institutional barriers and give up on parenting. While most fathers strive to persist as parents, the deeper their entanglements in the system, the higher the obstacles to fathering. Upon return to Mexico, the first two groups live in limbo while the third feels deeply alienated. Thus, deportation not only undermines immigrant families in the United States; it also inhibits fathers’ return to their nation of origin.
The Change in Winter Wheat Response to Deoxynivalenol and Fusarium Head Blight Through Technological and Agronomic Progress
Authors: Xia Ruoxi , Schaafsma Arthur W. , Wu Felicia , Hooker David C.
Published: September 2020

Fusarium head blight (FHB) in wheat causes yield loss, quality reduction, and mycotoxin contamination in temperate wheat production areas worldwide. The objective of this study was to quantify the progress of agronomic and FHB management strategies over the past two decades in FHB suppression and agronomic performance of winter wheat in environments favorable for FHB. Field experiments were conducted in environments typical of FHB epidemics to compare common agronomic and FHB management practices used in the 1996 era compared with those used in 2016. The experiments included a comparison of three different nitrogen (N) fertilizer application rates and six old (1996-era) and new (modern-era) winter wheat cultivars representing combinations of susceptibility and era to FHB, with and without a fungicide applied at flowering (pydiflumetofen + propiconazole). To mimic environments favorable for infection (similar to 1996 in Ontario, Canada), plots were challenged at 50% anthesis with F. graminearum macroconidia suspension followed by mist irrigation. The modern management strategy of using moderately resistant cultivars, a fungicide applied at flowering, and a high rate of N fertilizer reduced total deoxynivalenol by 67%, reduced Fusarium-damaged kernels by 49%, reduced FHB index by 86%, increased grain test weight by 11%, and increased grain yield by 31% compared with the standard management practice of seeding highly susceptible cultivars with no fungicide and a lower rate of N fertilizer recommended in the 1996 era. This study enabled a published economic assessment of the return on investment for the improvements in cultivars, fungicide, and N fertilizer applications since 1996.
High-dose spinal cord stimulation for patients with failed back surgery syndrome: a multicenter effectiveness and prediction study
Authors: Goudman Lisa , De Smedt Ann , Eldabe Sam , Rigoard Philippe , Linderoth Bengt , De Jaeger Mats ,   Discover Consortium, Moens Maarten
Published: September 2020

The use of high-dose spinal cord stimulation (HD-SCS) has increased drastically during the past few years, with positive results. However, there remains a deficit of real-world data of the effectiveness of HD-SCS. Therefore, the primary aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of HD-SCS in patients with failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS). The second aim was to develop a prediction model for a holistic responder. One hundred ninety-four patients were recruited to a multicenter real-world registry. Self-reporting outcome variables were evaluated at baseline (before SCS) and at 1, 3, and 12 months of HD-SCS implant. Outcome measures were the mean pain intensity over time, sleep quality, disability, health-related quality of life, and medication use. Besides the effectiveness, logistic regression and decision tree analysis were performed to define a holistic responder (pain intensity reduction, medication reduction, Oswestry disability index reduction, and EQ5D improvement) after 12 months of HD-SCS. Of 185 FBSS patients who underwent a baseline visit, 75.13% had a successful HD trial. At 12 months, 92 patients were still receiving HD-SCS. Both low back and leg pain significantly decreased at 12 months. All outcome measures revealed a significant time-dependent effect from baseline to 12 months. Holistic responders could be predicted with a sensitivity and specificity of 90%. Clinically significant and sustained pain relief over a period of 12 months was achieved with HD-SCS in patients with FBSS. In addition, HD-SCS also achieved an improvement in sleep quality, functionality, and a decrease in pain medication.
Intravascular ultrasound-guided percutaneous coronary intervention for patients with coronary bifurcation lesions
Authors: Yang Rong-Rong , Lv Yong-Hui , Guo Chen , Li Min , Zhang Ming-Bo , Wang Zhi-Lu , Meng Ying
Published: September 2020

Background and Objective:

Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) could take on a vital position when angiographic images are not clear enough to be precisely visualized or measured by computer-aided technology. This meta-analysis was designed to compare the benefits of IVUS-guided and angiography-guided percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI) strategies for improving clinical outcomes.

Methods:

PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library were searched for articles published from inception to 13th October, 2019. A comparative study of IVUS-guided and angiography-guided PCI strategies for patients with coronary bifurcation lesions was retrieved. The early endpoint events (≤1 year) and the late endpoint events (>1 years) were determined according to the follow-up time. The former included cardiac death, target lesion or vessel revascularization, stent thrombus, and major adverse cardiac events, while the latter included cardiac death. Statistical software Review Manager Version 5.3 was performed for meta-analysis.

Results:

Five studies involving7,830 patients with coronary bifurcation lesions were included in this meta-analysis, the incidence of major adverse cardiac events for IVUS-guided strategy in patients with coronary bifurcation lesions were lower than those of patients with angiography-guided strategy at the early follow-up(OR = 0.55, 95% CI 0.42 - 0.70, P 
< .0001).Meanwhile, cardiac death, target vessel or target lesion revascularization, stent thrombosis were not statistically significant(OR = 0.68, 95% CI 0.34 - 1.35, P = .27; OR = 0.78, 95% CI 0.59 - 1.05, P = .10; OR = 0.36, 95% CI 0.12–1.04, P = .06).However, significant differences in cardiac death between IVUS-guided and angiographic-guided strategies were observed in the late follow - up (OR = 0.36, 95% CI 0.23 - 0.57, P < .00001).

Conclusion:

The IVUS-guided PCI strategy was associated with more clinical benefits compared with angiography-guided PCI strategy in patients with coronary bifurcation lesions. These findings suggest that the IVUS-guided PCI strategy can be recommended as an optimization in this kind of patients.
Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin as an early predictor of contrast-induced nephropathy following endovascular therapy for arteriosclerosis obliterans
Authors: Liu Zhenjie , Shang Aijun , Chen Zexin , Yin Li , Qi Hongjun
Published: September 2020

Serum creatinine (SCr) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) are standard biomarkers of contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN). However, recent studies suggest that serum neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (sNGAL) and urine neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (uNGAL) may be better predictors, particularly within 24 hours of contrast medium exposure.

We conducted a prospective, observational cohort study of 107 consecutive patients diagnosed with arteriosclerosis obliterans between February 2016 and October 2018. We divided the patients into 2 groups: CIN (n = 22) and non-CIN (n = 85). We assessed the correlation between sNGAL and uNGAL concentrations and standard renal markers at baseline, 6, 24, and 48 hours post-procedure. We constructed conventional receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and calculated the area under the curve to assess the performance of SCr, eGFR, sNGAL, and uNGAL. We derived biomarker cutoff levels from ROC analysis to maximize sensitivity and specificity.

The incidence of CIN within our cohort was 20.6%. sNGAL levels correlated significantly with SCr and eGFR at baseline, 6, 24, and 48 hours post-contrast medium exposure. Similarly, uNGAL levels correlated with SCr and eGFR at baseline, 24, and 48 hours post-exposure. sNGAL and uNGAL were significantly elevated as early as 6 hours post-catheterization in the CIN group, whereas only minor changes were observed in the non-CIN group. SCr was also significantly elevated in the CIN group, but not until 24 hours post-catheterization.

Both sNGAL and uNGAL may be superior to SCr and eGFR as early biomarkers of CIN in patients with peripheral vascular disease undergoing endovascular therapy.
Relationships are between metformin use and survival in pancreatic cancer patients concurrent with diabetes
Authors: Shi Yu-Qi , Zhou Xiao-Chong , Du Peng , Yin Min-Yue , Xu Lan , Chen Wen-Jie , Xu Chun-Fang
Published: September 2020

Background:

Increased risk and cancer-related mortality is observed in pancreatic cancer (PC) patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). Whether using metformin as glucose-lowering therapy can result in survival benefit in this group of patients is still unclear.

Methods:

A meta-analysis of 21 studies that including 38,772 patients was performed to investigate the association between metformin and overall survival in patients with PC and concurrent DM.

Results:

A significant survival benefit was observed in metformin treatment group compared with non-metformin group (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.83, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.74–0.91). These associations were observed in both subgroups of Asian countries (HR = 0.69, 95% CI: 0.60–0.79) and Western countries (HR = 0.86, 95% CI: 0.76–0.95), the former was more obvious. Survival benefit was gained for patients at early stage (HR = 0.75, 95% CI: 0.64–0.85) and mixed stage (HR = 0.81, 95% CI: 0.70–0.91), but not for patients at advanced stage (HR = 0.99, 95% CI: 0.74–1.24). Similarly, survival benefit was also observed in patients receiving surgery (HR = 0.82, 95% CI: 0.69–0.94) and comprehensive treatment (HR = 0.85, 95% CI: 0.77–0.93), but not in chemotherapy group (HR = 0.99, 95% CI: 0.67–1.30). No obvious benefit was suggested when pooled by time-varying COX model (HR = 0.94, 95% CI: 0.86–1.03).

Conclusions:

These results suggest that metformin is associated with survival benefit in patients with PC and concurrent DM. Further randomized controlled trials and prospective studies with larger sample sizes are required to confirm our findings.
Bipolar Hemiarthroplasty should not be selected as the primary option for intertrochanteric fractures in elderly patients aged 85 years or more
Authors: Tan Wen-Le , Shi Yan-Xin , Zhang Jing-Yi , Tang Chan-Rui , Guan Qing-Bin , Tan Jian-Ji
Published: September 2020

This study aimed to compare the early outcome of proximal femoral nail antirotation (PFNA) and bipolar hemiarthroplasty (BPH) in elderly intertrochanteric fractures (ITFs) patients aged 85 years or more.

This is a prospective cohort study, and we analyzed 120 elderly patients aged 85 years or more presented with ITFs who underwent BPH and PFNA between January 2017 and July 2018. 84 patients treated with PFNA were set as Group A, and 36 patients treated with BPH were set as Group B. Data such as gender, age, period of follow-up, fracture classification (according to Evans-Jensen classification), preoperative ASA (American Society of Anesthesiologists) physical status, interval between injury and operation, method of anaesthesia, duration of operation time, blood loss during surgery, time of weight bearing after operation, incidence of complications 2 weeks after operation, mortality rates and Harris Hip Score 12 months after operation were recorded and compared.

There are no statistically significant differences when compared general data in patients from group A and B (P > .05). Operation time in Group A is less than Group B (103.33, 40–230 min vs 122.64, 75–180 minute, P < .01). Blood loss during surgery in Group A is less than Group B (70.24, 50–100 mL vs 194.44, 100–500 mL, P < .01). Time of weight bearing after operation in Group A is longer than Group B (50.70, 7–100 days vs 6.67, 4–14 days, P < .01). Incidence of complications 2 weeks after operation in Group A is less than Group B (14.12% vs 36.11%, P < .01). Mortality rates 12 months after operation in Group A is similar with Group B (13.10% vs 19.44%, P > .05). Harris Hip Score 12 months after operation in Group A is similar with Group B (64.64,0–91 points vs 64.41, 0–90 points, P > .05).

Although BPH and PFNA have similar functional outcome and mortality rates 12 months after operation, BPH has more postoperative complications in elderly patients aged 85 years or more with ITFs, Bipolar Hemiarthroplasty should not be selected as the primary option for ITFs in elderly patients aged 85 years or more.
Study protocol of the Bergen brain-gut-microbiota-axis study
Authors: Berentsen Birgitte , Nagaraja Bharath Halandur , Teige Erica Pearson , Lied Gülen Arslan , Lundervold Astri J. , Lundervold Katarina , Steinsvik Elisabeth Kjelsvik , Hillestad Eline Randulff , Valeur Jørgen , Brønstad Ingeborg , Gilja Odd Helge , Osnes Berge , Hatlebakk Jan Gunnar , Haász Judit , Labus Jennifer , Gupta Arpana , Mayer Emeran A. , Benitez-Páez Alfonso , Sanz Yolanda , Lundervold Arvid , Hausken Trygve
Published: September 2020

Introduction:

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common clinical label for medically unexplained gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, recently described as a disturbance of the brain-gut-microbiota (BGM) axis. To gain a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying the poorly understood etiology of IBS, we have designed a multifaceted study that aim to stratify the complex interaction and dysfunction between the brain, the gut, and the microbiota in patients with IBS.

Methods:

Deep phenotyping data from patients with IBS (n = 100) and healthy age- (between 18 and 65) and gender-matched controls (n = 40) will be collected between May 2019 and December 2021. Psychometric tests, questionnaires, human biological tissue/samples (blood, faeces, saliva, and GI biopsies from antrum, duodenum, and sigmoid colon), assessment of gastric accommodation and emptying using transabdominal ultrasound, vagal activity, and functional and structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain, are included in the investigation of each participant. A subgroup of 60 patients with IBS-D will be further included in a 12-week low FODMAP dietary intervention-study to determine short and long-term effects of diet on GI symptoms, microbiota composition and functions, molecular GI signatures, cognitive, emotional and social functions, and structural and functional brain signatures. Deep machine learning, prediction tools, and big data analyses will be used for multivariate analyses allowing disease stratification and diagnostic biomarker detection.

Discussion:

To our knowledge, this is the first study to employ unsupervised machine learning techniques and incorporate systems-based interactions between the central and the peripheral components of the brain-gut-microbiota axis at the levels of the multiomics, microbiota profiles, and brain connectome of a cohort of 100 patients with IBS and matched controls; study long-term safety and efficacy of the low-FODMAP diet on changes in nutritional status, gut microbiota composition, and metabolites; and to investigate changes in the brain and gut connectome after 12 weeks strict low-FODMAP-diet in patients with IBS. However, there are also limitations to the study. As a restrictive diet, the low-FODMAP diet carries risks of nutritional inadequacy and may foster disordered eating patterns. Strict FODMAP restriction induces a potentially unfavourable gut microbiota, although the health effects are unknown.

Trial registration number:

NCT04296552 (ClinicalTrials.gov)

Protocol version 1 May 2019
Danhong injection in the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
Authors: Lan Yanqiu , Wu Dezhi , Jin Yunrui , Shui Min , Fan Xianjun
Published: September 2020

Background:

Many studies have reported that the effects of danhong injection on idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. However, its effects are still not well understood. The aim of this study is to assess the effects of danhong injection in the management of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Methods:

Electronic databases such as PubMed, MEDLINE, EMbase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, WanFang, the Chongqing VIP Chinese Science and Technology Periodical Database, and China biomedical literature database will be searched without limitations of language and geographical location. Two researchers will independently conduct research selection, data extraction, and research quality assessment. The RevMan 5.3 software and Stata 14.0 software are used for statistical analysis.

Results:

This study will provide high-quality comprehensive evidence for the effectiveness and safety of danhong injection in the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Conclusions:

The results obtained from this study will define the basis for the effectiveness and safety of danhong injection in the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.
Effect of Liuweiwuling tablet on biochemical and virological parameters, and quality of life in patients with hepatitis B virus-related cirrhosis
Authors: Li Ding , Zhu Min , Zhou Changhui , Liu Xiujing
Published: September 2020

Background:

Liuweiwuling (LWWL) tablet, a kind of plant-derived traditional Chinese medicine preparation, has been widely applied as a promising adjunctive drug for hepatitis B virus-related cirrhosis (HBVC). However, its exact clinical efficacy and safety is still not well investigated. In this study, we aimed to summarize the efficacy of LWWL tablet on biochemical and virological parameters, and quality of life (QoL) in patients with HBVC through the meta-analysis.

Methods:

All available randomized controlled trials and high-quality prospective cohort studies that investigated the efficacy and safety of LWWL for patients with HBVC were searched from the following electronic databases: PubMed, Medline, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, Web of Science, Excerpt Medica Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, China Scientific Journal Database, and Wanfang Database. Papers in Chinese or English published from January 2000 to August 2020 will be included without any restrictions.

Study selection and data extraction will be performed independently by 2 authors. The clinical outcomes including biochemical (liver function and fibrosis indexes) and virological parameters, QoL, immune function and adverse events, were systematically evaluated. Review Manager 5.3 and Stata 14.0 were used for data synthesis, sensitivity analysis, meta regression, subgroup analysis, and risk of bias assessment.

Results:

The results of this study will be published in a peer-reviewed journal, and provide a helpful evidence for clinicians to formulate the best postoperative adjuvant treatment strategy for HBVC patients.

Conclusion:

Our study will draw an objective conclusion of the efficacy of LWWL on biochemical and virological parameters, and QoL in patients with HBVC.

INPLASY registration number:

INPLASY202080010.