bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Questionable Burden of AB0 Incompatible Kidney Transplantation
Authors: Berchtold C , Huebel K , Roessler F , Graf N , Dutkowski P , Mueller T , Lehmann K , de Rougemont O
Published: June 2023

Background

AB0 incompatible kidney transplantation has become a genuine treatment for end-stage renal disease. Non-inferiority in long term graft function compared to AB0 compatible transplantation has been shown. However, the assumed burden due to complications owing to increased immunosuppression inherent to AB0 incompatible transplantation has not yet been quantified.

Aims

The aim of the study was to determine if AB0 incompatible recipients have additional morbidity and whether this burden is justified or whether kidney paired donation programs should be advocated.

Methods

From January 2000 to March 2020 46 AB0 incompatible living kidney transplantations were performed. Patients were matched with AB0 compatible recipients according to sex, age, underlying disease, year of transplantation, and duration of dialysis. Number and duration of readmissions, surgical complication rates according to Clavien-Dindo and its comprehensive complication index (CCI), kidney function, occurrence of new onset diabetes, as well as tumor incidence were analyzed.

Results

Readmission rate was not higher in AB0 incompatible recipients. The median difference in length of hospital stay for readmissions, CCI during primary hospital stay, and CCI for readmissions at 3, 6, 12 and >12 months after transplantation were comparable. Incidence of tumor and new onset diabetes after transplantation was not increased in incompatible recipients.

Conclusions

AB0 incompatible recipients do not suffer from a higher burden compared to AB0 compatible recipients. We currently recommend not delaying transplantation in AB0 incompatible pairs.
Clinical considerations in early-onset cerebral amyloid angiopathy
Authors: Banerjee Gargi , Collinge John , Fox Nick C , Lashley Tammaryn , Mead Simon , Schott Jonathan M , Werring David J , Ryan Natalie S
Published: June 2023

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is an important cerebral small vessel disease associated with brain haemorrhage and cognitive change. The commonest form, sporadic amyloid-β CAA, usually affects people in mid- to later life. However, early-onset forms, though uncommon, are increasingly recognized and may result from genetic or iatrogenic causes that warrant specific and focused investigation and management.

In this review, we firstly describe the causes of early-onset CAA, including monogenic causes of amyloid-β CAA (APP missense mutations and copy number variants; mutations of PSEN1 and PSEN2) and non-amyloid-β CAA (associated with ITM2B, CST3, GSN, PRNP and TTR mutations), and other unusual sporadic and acquired causes including the newly-recognized iatrogenic subtype. We then provide a structured approach for investigating early-onset CAA, and highlight important management considerations.

Improving awareness of these unusual forms of CAA amongst healthcare professionals is essential for facilitating their prompt diagnosis, and an understanding of their underlying pathophysiology may have implications for more common, late-onset, forms of the disease.
Combined Wee1 and EGFR inhibition reveals synergistic antitumor effect in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Chen Dongshao , Hong Ruoxi , Cao Youjun , Wu Qingnan , Wang Yan , Chen Jie , Li Jinting , Zhang Weimin , Zhan Qimin
Published: June 2023

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is one of the most common amplified and overexpressed oncogenes in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), while the clinical efficacy of EGFR-targeted therapy in ESCC is dismal. Here, we evaluated the efficacy of dual blockage using monoclonal antibody against EGFR (Nimotuzumab) and an Wee1 inhibitor (AZD1775) in ESCC. We found that the mRNA and protein expression of EGFR and Wee1 were positively correlated in ESCC. Nimotuzumab-AZD1775 co-treatment inhibited tumor growth in PDX models with different drug susceptibility. Transcriptome sequencing and mass spectrometry analysis indicated that higher sensitive models showed enrichment of the PI3K/Akt or MAPK signaling pathway in Nimotuzumab-AZD1775 group compared with control group. In vitro experiments showed that the combination further inhibit PI3K/Akt and MAPK pathways compared to their monotherapy as indicated by downregulation of pAKT, pS6, pMEK, pErk and p-p38 MAPK. Furthermore, AZD1775 potentiated Nimotuzumab’s antitumor effect through inducing apoptosis. Meanwhile, the bioinformatics analysis suggests the POLR2A might be candidate molecule of EGFR/Wee1 downstream. In conclusion, our work uncovers that EGFR-mAb Nimotuzumab combined with Wee1 inhibitor AZD1775 elicited potentiated anticancer activity against ESCC cell line and PDXs partially through PI3K/Akt and MAPK pathways blockade. These preclinical data raise the promising that ESCC patients may benefit from dual target EGFR and Wee1.
Simple shape feature computation across modalities: convergence and divergence between the ventral and dorsal visual streams
Authors: Tian Shuang , Chen Yuankun , Fu Ze , Wang Xiaoying , Bi Yanchao
Published: June 2023

Shape processing, whether by seeing or touching, is pivotal to object recognition and manipulation. Although the low-level signals are initially processed by different modality-specific neural circuits, multimodal responses to object shapes have been reported along both ventral and dorsal visual pathways. To understand this transitional process, we conducted visual and haptic shape perception fMRI experiments to test basic shape features (i.e. curvature and rectilinear) across the visual pathways. Using a combination of region-of-interest-based support vector machine decoding analysis and voxel selection method, we found that the top visual-discriminative voxels in the left occipital cortex (OC) could also classify haptic shape features, and the top haptic-discriminative voxels in the left posterior parietal cortex (PPC) could also classify visual shape features. Furthermore, these voxels could decode shape features in a cross-modal manner, suggesting shared neural computation across visual and haptic modalities. In the univariate analysis, the top haptic-discriminative voxels in the left PPC showed haptic rectilinear feature preference, whereas the top visual-discriminative voxels in the left OC showed no significant shape feature preference in either of the two modalities. Together, these results suggest that mid-level shape features are represented in a modality-independent manner in both the ventral and dorsal streams.
Cerebral blood flow velocity and oxygenation in neonatal aortic arch repair at two perfusion temperatures
Authors: Finnigan Lucy E M , Lotto Robyn , Jones Helen , Lotto Attilio
Published: June 2023

OBJECTIVES

(i) To monitor cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFv) throughout aortic arch repair surgery and during the recovery period. (ii) To examine the relationship between transcranial doppler ultrasound (TCD) and near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) during cardiac surgery. (iii) To examine CBFv in patients cooled to 20°C and 25°C.

METHODS

During aortic arch repair and after surgery, measurements of TCD, NIRS, blood pH, pO2, pCO2, HCO3, lactate, Hb, haematocrit (%) and temperature (core and rectal) were recorded in 24 neonates. General linear mixed models were used to examine differences over time and between two cooling temperatures. Repeated measures correlations were used to determine the relationship between TCD and NIRS.

RESULTS

CBFv changed during arch repair (main effect of time: P = 0.001). During cooling, CBFv increased by 10.0 cm/s (5.97, 17.7) compared to normothermia (P = 0.019). Once recovering in paediatric intensive care unit (PICU), CBFv had increased from the preoperative measurement by 6.2 cm/s (0.21, 13.4; P = 0.045). CBFv changes were similar between patients cooled to 20°C and 25°C (main effect of temperature: P = 0.22). Repeated measures correlations (rmcorr) identified a statistically significant but weak positive correlation between CBFv and NIRS (r = 0.25, P≤0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Our data suggested that CBFv changed throughout aortic arch repair and was higher during the cooling period. A weak relationship was found between NIRS and TCD. Overall, these findings could provide clinicians with information on how to optimise long-term cerebrovascular health.
Porewater constituents inhibit microbially mediated greenhouse gas production (GHG) and regulate the response of soil organic matter decomposition to warming in anoxic peat from a Sphagnum-dominated bog
Authors: Song Tianze , Liu Yutong , Kolton Max , Wilson Rachel M , Keller Jason K , Rolando Jose L , Chanton Jeffrey P , Kostka Joel E
Published: June 2023

Northern peatlands store approximately one-third of terrestrial soil carbon. Climate warming is expected to stimulate the microbially mediated degradation of peat soil organic matter (SOM), leading to increasing greenhouse gas (GHG; carbon dioxide, CO2; methane, CH4) production and emission. Porewater dissolved organic matter (DOM) plays a key role in SOM decomposition; however, the mechanisms controlling SOM decomposition and its response to warming remain unclear. The temperature dependence of GHG production and microbial community dynamics were investigated in anoxic peat from a Sphagnum-dominated peatland. In this study, peat decomposition, which was quantified by GHG production and carbon substrate utilization is limited by terminal electron acceptors (TEA) and DOM, and these controls of microbially mediated SOM degradation are temperature-dependent. Elevated temperature led to a slight decrease in microbial diversity, and stimulated the growth of specific methanotrophic and syntrophic taxa. These results confirm that DOM is a major driver of decomposition in peatland soils contains inhibitory compounds, but the inhibitory effect is alleviated by warming.
Cadmium effects on net N2O production by the deep-sea isolate Shewanella loihica PV-4
Authors: Pizarro Leonor , Magalhães Catarina , Almeida C Marisa R , Carvalho Maria de Fátima , Semedo Miguel
Published: June 2023

Deep-sea mining may lead to the release of high concentrations of metals into the surrounding seabed, which can disturb important ecosystem functions provided by microbial communities. Among these, the production of N2O and its reduction to N2 is of great relevance since N2O is an important greenhouse gas. Metal impacts on net N2O production by deep-sea bacteria are, however, currently unexplored. Here, we evaluated the effects of cadmium (Cd) on net N2O production by a deep-sea isolate, Shewanella loihica PV-4. We performed a series of Cd exposure incubations in oxic conditions and determined N2O fluxes during induced anoxic conditions, as well as the relative expression of the nitrite reductase gene (nirK), preceding N2O production, and N2O reductase gene (nosZ), responsible for N2O reduction. Net N2O production by S. loihica PV-4 exposed to Cd was strongly inhibited when compared to the control treatment (no metal). Both nirK and nosZ gene expression were inhibited in reactors with Cd, but nirK inhibition was stronger, supporting the lower net N2O production observed with Cd. The Cd inhibition of net N2O production observed in this study poses the question whether other deep-sea bacteria would undergo the same effects. Future studies should address this question as well as its applicability to complex communities and other physicochemical conditions, which remain to be evaluated.
Testosterone and estradiol modify the expression of adhesins and biofilm formation in Actinobacillus seminis
Authors: Ramírez-Paz-y-Puente Gerardo Antonio , Chávez-Flores Carlos I , Montes-García J Fernando , Sanchez-Alonso Patricia G , Cobos-Justo Maria Elena , Vázquez-Cruz Candelario , Zenteno Edgar , Negrete-Abascal Erasmo
Published: June 2023

Actinobacillus seminis is the causal agent of epididymitis and has other effects on the reproductive tracts of small ruminants and bovines. This bacterium causes infection when luteinizing (LH) or follicle-stimulating hormones increase, and hosts reach sexual maturity. LH induces female ovulation and male testosterone production, suggesting that these hormones affect A. seminis pathogenicity. In the present study, we evaluated the effect of testosterone (1–5 ng/ml) or estradiol (5–25 pg/ml) added to culture medium on the in vitro growth, biofilm production, and adhesin expression of A. seminis. Estradiol does not promote the growth of this bacterium, whereas testosterone increased A. seminis planktonic growth 2-fold. Both hormones induced the expression of the elongation factor thermo unstable (EF-Tu) and phosphoglycerate mutase (PGM), proteins that A. seminis uses as adhesins. Estradiol (5 or 10 pg/ml) decreased biofilm formation by 32%, whereas testosterone, even at 5 ng/ml, showed no effect. Both hormones modified the concentrations of carbohydrates and eDNA in biofilms by 50%. Amyloid proteins are characterized by their capacity to bind Congo red (CR) dye. Actinobacillus seminis binds CR dye, and this binding increases in the presence of 5–20 pg/ml estradiol or 4 ng/ml testosterone. The A. seminis EF-Tu protein was identified as amyloid-like protein (ALP). The effect of sexual hormones on the growth and expression of virulence factors of A. seminis seems to be relevant for its colonization and permanence in the host.
The role of glycoconjugates as receptors for insecticidal proteins
Authors: Best Hannah L , Williamson Lainey J , Heath Emily A , Waller-Evans Helen , Lloyd-Evans Emyr , Berry Colin
Published: June 2023

Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) proteins are an environmentally safe and effective alternative to chemical pesticides and have been used as biopesticides, with great commercial success, for over 50 years. Global agricultural production is predicted to require a 70% increase until 2050 to provide for an increasing population. In addition to agriculture, Bt proteins are utilized to control human vectors of disease—namely mosquitoes—which account for >700 000 deaths annually. The evolution of resistance to Bt pesticial toxins threatens the progression of sustainable agriculture. Whilst Bt protein toxins are heavily utilized, the exact mechanisms behind receptor binding and toxicity are unknown. It is critical to gain a better understanding of these mechanisms in order to engineer novel toxin variants and to predict, and prevent, future resistance evolution. This review focuses on the role of carbohydrate binding in the toxicity of the most utilized group of Bt pesticidal proteins—three domain Cry (3D-Cry) toxins.
Polymorphisms of rDNA genes inCyberlindnerayeast suggest birth-and-death evolution events
Authors: Bizarria Rodolfo , Pietrobon Tatiane de Castro , Ferreira Henrique , Rodrigues Andre
Published: June 2023

In eukaryotes, the ribosome machinery is encoded by repeats of the ribosomal RNA genes: 26/28S, 18S, 5.8S, and 5S, structured in tandem arrays and frequently homogenized within a genome. This homogenization is thought to be driven by concerted evolution, evolving as a unit, which contributes to its target as the species barcode in modern taxonomy. However, high heterogeneity of rDNA genes has been reported, including in Saccharomycotina yeasts. Here, we describe the polymorphisms and heterogeneity of D1/D2 domains (26S rRNA) and the intergenic transcribed spacer of a new yeast species with affinities to the genus Cyberlindnera and their evolution. Both regions are not homogenized, failing the prediction of concerted evolution. Phylogenetic network analysis of cloned sequences revealed that Cyberlindnera sp. rDNAs are diverse and evolved by reticulation rather than by bifurcating tree evolution model. Predicted rRNA secondary structures also confirmed structural differences, except for some conserved hairpin loops. We hypothesize that some rDNA is inactive within this species and evolves by birth-and-death rather than concerted evolution. Our findings propel further investigation into the evolution of rDNA genes in yeasts.
Gender differences in sense of coherence among university students during the COVID-19 pandemic in Turkey
Authors: Kayi Ilker , Uzunköprü Gizem , Dadaczynski Kevin , Soylar Pınar , Otludil Buğra , Dündar Pınar , Bakırcı Nadi , Okan Orkan , Sakarya Sibel
Published: June 2023

Non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) implemented to mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic halted everyday life in higher education along with social and psychological impacts. The objective of our study was to explore the factors related to sense of coherence (SoC) from a gender perspective among university students in Turkey. This is a cross-sectional survey conducted online with a convenience sampling method as part of the international COVID-Health Literacy (COVID-HL) Consortium. SoC was measured by a nine-item questionnaire that was adapted to the Turkish language, including socio-demographic information and health status, including psychological well-being, psychosomatic complaints, and future anxiety (FA). 1595 students from four universities, of whom 72% were female, participated in the study. Cronbach’s alpha for the SoC scale was 0.75. Based on the median split of the individual scores, levels of SoC showed no statistically significant difference according to gender. Logistic regression analysis indicated that higher SoC was associated with medium and high subjective social status, studying in private universities, high psychological well-being, low FA, and none/one psychosomatic complaint. While results were similar among female students, type of university and psychological well-being showed no statistically significant association with SoC among males. Our results indicate that structural (subjective social status) and contextual (type of university) factors, along with gender-based variations, are associated with SoC among university students in Turkey.
Health literacy education of children in Austrian elementary schools
Authors: Breil Christina , Lillich Michael
Published: June 2023

Health literacy (HL) in children is essential for healthy decision-making from early on. At six Austrian elementary schools, all children (aged 6–11 years) received 3 years of health education (HE). The participating schools were equipped with teaching materials to convey lessons in a child-oriented way. The teachers were professionally accompanied during the implementation process and received specific training. HL and its subprocesses (obtain, understand, comprehend and apply) in children >8 years were measured with a standardized test (QUIGK-K) after 1, 2 and 3 years of education and compared with values from two comparison schools without such lessons. t-Tests showed a significant increase in HL at the end of the second year of HE. After this period, the children showed above-average values on all subprocesses of HL and performed better than children without HE. The third year did not lead to a further increase. Hence, child-oriented HE is suitable to promote HL in elementary school students within 2 years. It is therefore recommended to start HE as early as possible in order to lay the foundation for a long and healthy life.
A framework for studying ecological energy in the contemporary marine environment
Authors: Kressler Molly M , Dall Sasha R X , Sherley Richard B
Published: June 2023

Historic limitations have resulted in marine ecological studies usually overlooking some well-established concepts from behavioural ecology. This is likely because the methods available were easily overwhelmed by the scale of ecological processes and sampling resolution in the marine environment. Innovations in technology, data management, and statistical modelling now provide the capacity to fully embrace behavioural ecology concepts and study marine ecological interactions from a more holistic perspective. To facilitate this vision, we propose a novel perspective and workflow for marine ecology: the Seascape of Ecological Energy, or SEE-scapes. SEE-scapes contextualizes the accumulated knowledge from marine biology and behavioural ecology research and provides a guide for marine scientists interested in grounding their research in behavioural ecology’s first principles. SEE-scapes specifies relevant considerations for contemporary seascapes, with special attention to relationships between individuals and their conspecifics, competitors, predators, and the abiotic environment. It is formulated to account for how the unique features of marine vertebrates require revisions to standard, terrestrially focused methodological approaches, and offers solutions for how to sample and model the eco-evolutionary drivers of behaviour across the dynamic and hierarchical seascape. Simply put, SEE-scapes provides the guidance to translate a dynamic system and reveal opportunities for collaborative and integrative research.
Scaling of radial basis functions
Authors: Larsson Elisabeth , Schaback Robert
Published: June 2023

This paper studies the influence of scaling on the behavior of radial basis function interpolation. It focuses on certain central aspects, but does not try to be exhaustive. The most important questions are: How does the error of a kernel-based interpolant vary with the scale of the kernel chosen? How does the standard error bound vary? And since fixed functions may be in spaces that allow scalings, like global Sobolev spaces, is there a scale of the space that matches the function best? The last question is answered in the affirmative for Sobolev spaces, but the required scale may be hard to estimate. Scalability of functions turns out to be restricted for spaces generated by analytic kernels, unless the functions are band-limited. In contrast to other papers, polynomials and polyharmonics are included as flat limits when checking scales experimentally, with an independent computation. The numerical results show that the hunt for near-flat scales is questionable, if users include the flat limit cases right from the start. When there are not enough data to evaluate errors directly, the scale of the standard error bound can be varied, up to replacing the norm of the unknown function by the norm of the interpolant. This follows the behavior of the actual error qualitatively well, but is only of limited value for estimating error-optimal scales. For kernels and functions with unlimited smoothness, the given interpolation data are proven to be insufficient for determining useful scales.
Convex Bodies With All Characteristics Planar
Authors: Karasev Roman , Sharipova Anastasiia
Published: June 2023

We show that smooth and strongly convex bodies in the symplectic $\mathbb R^{2n}$ for $n>1$ with all characteristics planar, or all outer billiard trajectories planar, are affine symplectic images of balls.
The Moduli Space of Cubic Threefolds with a Non-Eckardt Type Involution via Intermediate Jacobians
Authors: Casalaina-Martin Sebastian , Marquand Lisa , Zhang Zheng
Published: June 2023

There are two types of involutions on a cubic threefold: the Eckardt type (which has been studied by the first named and the third named authors) and the non-Eckardt type. Here we study cubic threefolds with a non-Eckardt type involution, whose fixed locus consists of a line and a cubic curve. Specifically, we consider the period map sending a cubic threefold with a non-Eckardt type involution to the invariant part of the intermediate Jacobian. The main result is that the global Torelli Theorem holds for the period map. To prove the theorem, we project the cubic threefold from the pointwise fixed line and exhibit the invariant part of the intermediate Jacobian as a Prym variety of a (pseudo-)double cover of stable curves. The proof relies on a result of Ikeda and Naranjo–Ortega on the injectivity of the related Prym map. We also describe the invariant part of the intermediate Jacobian via the projection from a general invariant line and show that the two descriptions are related by the bigonal construction.
The risk-benefit balance of resistance to ionophores in Enterococcus faecium and Enterococcus faecalis for ionophore coccidiostats in broiler chickens
Authors: Simjee S , Tice G
Published: June 2023

In recent years, publications and debate have emerged in the scientific literature that have linked the use of ionophore coccidiostats, which are themselves not medically important and not related to any therapeutic antibiotics used in human and animal medicine, to resistance development to medically important antibiotics in Enterococcus faecium and Enterococcus faecalis, isolated from broilers and broiler meat. This has been based on the discovery of genes, now named NarAB, that appear to result in elevated MICs of the ionophores narasin, salinomycin and maduramycin and that these are linked to genes responsible for resistance to antibiotics that may be clinically relevant in human medicine. This article will seek to review the most significant publications in this regard and will also examine national antimicrobial resistance surveillance programmes in Norway, Sweden, Denmark and the Netherlands, in order to further evaluate this concern. The conclusion of the review is that the risk that enterococci may pass from broilers to humans and that antimicrobial resistance gene transfer may occur is negligible, remains unquantified and is highly unlikely to be of significance to human health. Indeed, to date no human nosocomial infections have been linked to poultry sources. Concurrently a review of the possible impact of a policy that limits access for poultry farmers and poultry veterinarians to ionophore coccidiostats in broilers indicates predictable negative consequences with regard to antibiotic resistance of significance to animal welfare and to human health.
Effects of a therapeutic weight loss diet on weight loss and metabolic health in overweight and obese dogs
Authors: Pan Yuanlong , Spears Julie K , Xu Hui , Bhatnagar Sandeep
Published: June 2023

Obesity has become a major health issue in dogs. Obesity in dogs increases the risk of many chronic diseases and chronic low-grade inflammation. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of a therapeutic weight loss (TWL) diet on weight loss and metabolic health in overweight and obese dogs. Thirty overweight and obese dogs were randomized into two groups with 15 dogs per group based on key baseline parameters and allotted to either a control or TWL diet for 6 months. At the start of the study, the control group had 6 females and 9 males with mean age of 9.12 ± 0.48 (mean ± SEM) years; there were 7 females and 8 males with mean age of 9.73 ± 0.63 years in the TWL group. The control group and the TWL group had comparable body weight (34.78 ± 0.76 kg and 34.63 ± 0.86 kg, respectively), % body fat (39.77 ± 1.18 and 39.89 ± 0.93, respectively), and body condition score (BCS) (7.80 ± 0.14 and 7.67 ± 0.16 on a 9-point BCS scale, respectively). The control diet was formulated based on the macronutrient ratio of a commercial metabolic diet, and the TWL diet was enriched with dietary protein, fish oil, and soy germ meal. Both diets were fortified with essential nutrients to account for caloric restriction during weight loss. Dogs were fed 25% less than baseline maintenance energy requirement (MER) for the first 4 months and if they did not reach a body condition score (BCS) of 5, they were fed 40% less than baseline MER for the last 2 months. Body composition was determined by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Postprandial glucose profiles were determined by continuous glucose monitoring devices. Serum samples were collected for analyses of blood parameters, hormones, and cytokines. All data were analyzed using SAS 9.3, with significance being P < 0.05. At the end of the study, the control group and the TWL group had comparable weight loss (-5.77 ± 0.31 kg and -6.14 ± 0.32 kg, respectively; P = 0.4080). But the TWL group lost significantly (P = 0.034) more body fat (-13.27 ± 1.28%) than the control group (-9.90 ± 1.23%). In addition, the TWL diet completely prevented loss of lean body mass (LBM) in dogs compared with baseline. Dogs fed the TWL diet had significantly lower fasting serum cholesterol, triglycerides, insulin, leptin, mean postprandial interstitial glucose, and pro-inflammatory cytokines compared with dogs fed the control diet. In summary, the TWL diet prevented loss of LBM, promoted weight loss and metabolic health, and reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines in overweight and obese dogs during weight loss.
Interventions to improve outcomes for caregivers of patients with advanced cancer: a meta-analysis
Authors: Chow Ronald , Mathews Jean J , Cheng Emily YiQin , Lo Samantha , Wong Joanne , Alam Sorayya , Hannon Breffni , Rodin Gary , Nissim Rinat , Hales Sarah , Kavalieratos Dio , Quinn Kieran L , Tomlinson George , Zimmermann Camilla
Published: June 2023

Background

Family caregivers of patients with advanced cancer often have poor quality of life (QOL) and mental health. We examined the effectiveness of interventions offering support for caregivers of patients with advanced cancer on caregiver QOL and mental health outcomes.

Methods

We searched Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane CENTRAL, and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature databases from inception through June 2021. Eligible studies reported on randomized controlled trials for adult caregivers of adult patients with advanced cancer. Meta-analysis was conducted for primary outcomes of QOL, physical well-being, mental well-being, anxiety, and depression, from baseline to follow-up of 1-3 months; secondary endpoints were these outcomes at 4-6 months and additional caregiver burden, self-efficacy, family functioning, and bereavement outcomes. Random effects models were used to generate summary standardized mean differences (SMD).

Results

Of 12 193 references identified, 56 articles reporting on 49 trials involving 8554 caregivers were eligible for analysis; 16 (33%) targeted caregivers, 19 (39%) patient–caregiver dyads, and 14 (29%) patients and their families. At 1- to 3-month follow-up, interventions had a statistically significant effect on overall QOL (SMD = 0.24, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.10 to 0.39); I2 = 52.0%), mental well-being (SMD = 0.14, 95% CI = 0.02 to 0.25; I2 = 0.0%), anxiety (SMD = 0.27, 95% CI = 0.06 to 0.49; I2 = 74.0%), and depression (SMD = 0.34, 95% CI = 0.16 to 0.52; I2 = 64.4) compared with standard care. In narrative synthesis, interventions demonstrated improvements in caregiver self-efficacy and grief.

Conclusions

Interventions targeting caregivers, dyads, or patients and families led to improvements in caregiver QOL and mental health. These data support the routine provision of interventions to improve well-being in caregivers of patients with advanced cancer.
Financial outcomes of adolescent and young adult cancer survivors: a longitudinal population-based registry study
Authors: Siebinga Ties M , Janssen Silvie H M , Boumans Anke W , Van Eenbergen Mies C , Siflinger Bettina , Van Der Graaf Winette T A , Husson Olga
Published: June 2023

Background

The patterns and determinants of long-term income among adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer survivors, and the differences compared with peers, have not yet been fully explored. This study investigated the long-term effects of cancer on the income of AYA cancer survivors.

Methods

The Netherlands Cancer Registry identified all AYA cancer patients (aged 18-39 years) diagnosed in 2013 and alive 5 years postdiagnosis. Clinical data of the selected AYA patients were linked to individual, administrative real-world labor market data of Statistics Netherlands. The control group consisted of a random sample of individuals of the same age, sex, and migration background without cancer. Data on 2434 AYA cancer patients and 9736 controls were collected annually from 2011 until 2019. Changes in income level were measured and compared with the control group using difference-in-difference regression models.

Results

AYA cancer survivors experience, on average, an 8.5% decrease in annual earnings, relative to the control population. The effects are statistically significant and permanent (P < .01). Younger AYAs (those aged 18-25 years 15.5% income reduction), married cancer survivors (12.3%), females (11.6%), those diagnosed with stage IV disease (38.1%), and central nervous system (15.7%) cancer patients experienced the largest decline in income, on average, relative to controls, all else constant.

Conclusion

Although dependent on the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, a cancer diagnosis at AYA age has significant implications on the income of cancer patients. Awareness of vulnerable groups and the development of policies to mitigate the financial impact of cancer are critical.
Retrosternal parathyromatosis in a patient with prior total parathyroidectomy
Authors: Saleh Tariq , Alaswad Marwan , Otry Abdullah , Saleh Waleed
Published: June 2023

Parathyromatosis is a rare cause of recurrent primary hyperparathyroidism that often follows surgical removal of the parathyroid gland. Foci of parathyromatosis are most commonly found in the neck, mediastinum, and sites of autotransplantation. A 36-year-old male with renal failure and prior parathyroidectomy presented with generalized bone pain, for which laboratory investigations revealed hyperparathyroidism. Preoperative coil localization was utilized followed by thoracoscopy using fluoroscopy for resection of ectopic parathyroid tissue. The specimen was sent to histopathology, which revealed multiple nodules of hypercellular parathyroid tissue, consistent with the diagnosis of parathyromatosis. Parathyromatosis is a rare cause of recurrent hyperparathyroidism, with surgical removal being the only curative option. Follow-up is essential as it can commonly recur.
Experience of the Sudanese doctors in surgery of conjoined twins
Authors: Taha Isam Ahmed Abdeljaleel , Helali Mohamed Abdalaal Hussin , Taha Sami Mohamed Alamin , Hamad Ali Hamad Mahmmoud , Alaraby Shaima Osman Mohamed Ali , Dafallah Abdallah Elsiddig , Eljack Mohammed Mahmmoud Fadelallah , Ahmed Khabab Abbashar Hussien Mohamed , Ibrahim Basil Abubakr Yagoub , Mohamed Abdalrhman Hassan Ahmed , Ibrahim Mohamed Yahia , Wisa Ishag Nadi Joseph
Published: June 2023

Surgical separation of conjoined twins remains one of the most unique and rewarding experiences in the field of pediatric surgery, bearing in mind that this decision is their best chance of survival. These are the first reported cases of successfully separating omphalopagus conjoined twins by the liver in Sudan. After an emergency cesarean section, 62-day-old term-conjoined twins were referred to our pediatric surgery center. Examination revealed well-appearing twins fused from the xiphoid to the umbilicus; imaging confirmed a fused liver with a separate portal and caval structures, necessitating surgical separation and closure, which was done successfully on subsequent hours with well tolerance and recovery discharged on day 21. The second case involved 21-day-old term-conjoined female twins who were fused from the xiphoid to the umbilicus and shared the same cord, as well as complete fusion of the liver with separate other vital organs. They were successfully separated and recovered well.
Incidentally portal vein penetration during cannulation in endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography: a case report
Authors: Lin Pei-Yi , Wang Su-Hung , Tian Yu-Feng , Chen Ming-Jenn , Sun Ding-Ping , Shiau Junping , Ong Khaa-Hoo
Published: June 2023

Portal vein cannulation is a very rare complication of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). In most reported cases, the event was managed safely with immediate catheter, guidewire withdrawn and procedure termination. Here, we report an unusual case of portobiliary fistula created during ERCP. To our knowledge, this is the first report of such case managed with immediate surgical biliary exposure.
Investigation of the environmental presence ofSalmonellaspp. in finishing pigs at commercial swine farms in Kansas (USA)
Authors: Harrison Olivia L , Li KaWang , Gebhardt Jordan T , Paulk Chad B , Woodworth Jason C , Rensing Susan , Jones Cassandra K , Trinetta Valentina
Published: June 2023

Salmonellosis remains a major foodborne disease threat to public health worldwide. Swine are considered a reservoir for many Salmonella serotypes affecting humans; however, not all serotypes of concern in food animal products cause clinical signs of infection in swine. The objective of this study was to evaluate the presence and distribution of Salmonella spp. in finishing pigs at commercial farms across Kansas (USA). Five farms were selected and sampled when pigs weighed between 125 and 136 kg. Samples were collected and transported to the laboratory for processing following USDA-FSIS guidelines. Susceptibility and resistance profiles were also studied. Fifty-three percent (100/186) of samples were culture positive for Enterobacteriaceae, and 14% (14/100) were confirmed Salmonella positive by PCR with three of five farms having no PCR-positive samples. Salmonella serotype Braenderup was the most common serovar identified in environmental samples, while Salm. Infantis, Agona, and Montevideo were identified in fecal samples. Multidrug resistance patterns were only found in Farm 3, in fecal samples and in one floor sample. The observations reported in this study highlight areas of concern, such as locations prone to fecal contamination, to be considered when cleaning and sanitizing between groups of pigs to decrease presence of Salmonella spp. in farm environments.
Compact object mergers: exploring uncertainties from stellar and binary evolution with sevn
Authors: Iorio Giuliano , Mapelli Michela , Costa Guglielmo , Spera Mario , Escobar Gastón J , Sgalletta Cecilia , Trani Alessandro A , Korb Erika , Santoliquido Filippo , Dall’Amico Marco , Gaspari Nicola , Bressan Alessandro
Published: June 2023

Population-synthesis codes are an unique tool to explore the parameter space of massive binary star evolution and binary compact object (BCO) formation. Most population-synthesis codes are based on the same stellar evolution model, limiting our ability to explore the main uncertainties. Here, we present the new version of the code sevn, which overcomes this issue by interpolating the main stellar properties from a set of pre-computed evolutionary tracks. We describe the new interpolation and adaptive time-step algorithms of sevn, and the main upgrades on single and binary evolution. With sevn, we evolved 1.2 × 109 binaries in the metallicity range 0.0001 ≤ Z ≤ 0.03, exploring a number of models for electron-capture, core-collapse and pair-instability supernovae, different assumptions for common envelope, stability of mass transfer, quasi-homogeneous evolution, and stellar tides. We find that stellar evolution has a dramatic impact on the formation of single and BCOs. Just by slightly changing the overshooting parameter (λov = 0.4, 0.5) and the pair-instability model, the maximum mass of a black hole can vary from ≈60 to ≈100 M⊙. Furthermore, the formation channels of BCOs and the merger efficiency we obtain with sevn show significant differences with respect to the results of other population-synthesis codes, even when the same binary-evolution parameters are used. For example, the main traditional formation channel of BCOs is strongly suppressed in our models: at high metallicity (Z ≳ 0.01) only <20 per cent of the merging binary black holes and binary neutron stars form via this channel, while other authors found fractions >70 per cent.
TESS spots a mini-neptune interior to a hot saturn in the TOI-2000 system
Authors: Sha Lizhou , Vanderburg Andrew M , Huang Chelsea X , Armstrong David J , Brahm Rafael , Giacalone Steven , Wood Mackenna L , Collins Karen A , Nielsen Louise D , Hobson Melissa J , Ziegler Carl , Howell Steve B , Torres-Miranda Pascal , Mann Andrew W , Zhou George , Delgado-Mena Elisa , Rojas Felipe I , Abe Lyu , Trifonov Trifon , Adibekyan Vardan , Sousa Sérgio G , Fajardo-Acosta Sergio B , Guillot Tristan , Howard Saburo , Littlefield Colin , Hawthorn Faith , Schmider François-Xavier , Eberhardt Jan , Tan Thiam-Guan , Osborn Ares , Schwarz Richard P , Strøm Paul , Jordán Andrés , Wang Gavin , Henning Thomas , Massey Bob , Law Nicholas , Stockdale Chris , Furlan Elise , Srdoc Gregor , Wheatley Peter J , Barrado Navascués David , Lissauer Jack J , Stassun Keivan G , Ricker George R , Vanderspek Roland K , Latham David W , Winn Joshua N , Seager Sara , Jenkins Jon M , Barclay Thomas , Bouma Luke G , Christiansen Jessie L , Guerrero Natalia , Rose Mark E
Published: June 2023

Hot jupiters (P < 10 d, M > 60 M⊕) are almost always found alone around their stars, but four out of hundreds known have inner companion planets. These rare companions allow us to constrain the hot jupiter’s formation history by ruling out high-eccentricity tidal migration. Less is known about inner companions to hot Saturn-mass planets. We report here the discovery of the TOI-2000 system, which features a hot Saturn-mass planet with a smaller inner companion. The mini-neptune TOI-2000 b (2.70 ± 0.15 R⊕, 11.0 ± 2.4 M⊕) is in a 3.10-d orbit, and the hot saturn TOI-2000 c ($8.14_{-0.30}^{+0.31}$ R⊕ , $81.7_{-4.6}^{+4.7}$ M⊕) is in a 9.13-d orbit. Both planets transit their host star TOI-2000 (TIC 371188886, V = 10.98, TESS magnitude = 10.36), a metal-rich ([Fe/H] = 0.439 $_{-0.043}^{+0.041}$) G dwarf  173 pc away. TESS observed the two planets in sectors 9–11 and 36–38, and we followed up with ground-based photometry, spectroscopy, and speckle imaging. Radial velocities from CHIRON, FEROS, and HARPS allowed us to confirm both planets by direct mass measurement. In addition, we demonstrate constraining planetary and stellar parameters with MIST stellar evolutionary tracks through Hamiltonian Monte Carlo under the PyMC framework, achieving higher sampling efficiency and shorter run time compared to traditional Markov chain Monte Carlo. Having the brightest host star in the V band among similar systems, TOI-2000 b and c are superb candidates for atmospheric characterization by the JWST, which can potentially distinguish whether they formed together or TOI-2000 c swept along material during migration to form TOI-2000 b.
Dust Eddington ratios for star-forming galaxy subregions
Authors: Blackstone Ian , Thompson Todd A
Published: June 2023

Radiation pressure on dust is an important feedback process around star clusters and may eject gas from bright subregions in star-forming galaxies. The Eddington ratio has previously been constructed for galaxy-averaged observations, individual star clusters, and Galactic H ii regions. Here we assess the role of radiation pressure in thousands of subregions across two local star-forming galaxies, NGC 6946 and NGC 5194. Using a model for the spectral energy distribution from stellar population synthesis and realistic dust grain scattering and absorption, we compute flux and radiation pressure-mean opacities and population-averaged optical depth 〈τRP〉. Using Monte-Carlo calculations, we assess the momentum coupling through a dusty column to the stellar continuum. Optically-thin regions around young stellar populations are 30–50 times super-Eddington. We calculate the Eddington ratio for the subregions including the local mass of young and old stars and cool atomic and molecular gas. We compute the fraction of the total star formation that is currently super-Eddington, and provide an assessment of the role of radiation pressure in the dusty gas dynamics. Depending on the assumed height of the dusty gas and the age of the stellar population, we find that ∼0–10 per cent of the sightlines are super-Eddington. These regions may be accelerated to ∼5–15 km s−1 by radiation pressure alone. Additionally, our results show that for beamed radiation, the function 1 − exp (−〈τRP〉) is an excellent approximation to the momentum transfer. Opacities and optical depths are tabulated for SEDs of different stellar ages and for continuous star formation.
Measuring galaxy asymmetries in 3D
Authors: Deg N , Perron-Cormier M , Spekkens K , Glowacki M , Blyth S-L , Hank N
Published: June 2023

One of the commonly used non-parametric morphometric statistics for galaxy profiles and images is the asymmetry statistic. With an eye to current and upcoming large neutral hydrogen (H i) surveys, we develop a 3D version of the asymmetry statistic that can be applied to datacubes. This statistic is more resilient to variations due to the observed geometry than 1D asymmetry measures, and can be successfully applied to lower spatial resolutions (3 – 4 beams across the galaxy major axis) than the 2D statistic. We have also modified the asymmetry definition from an ‘absolute difference’ version to a ‘squared difference’ version that removes much of the bias due to noise contributions for low signal-to-noise observations. Using a suite of mock asymmetric cubes we show that the background-corrected, squared difference 3D asymmetry statistic can be applied to many marginally resolved galaxies in large wide-area H i surveys such as WALLABY on the Australian SKA Pathfinder (ASKAP).
Influence of Janus kinase inhibitors on early postoperative complications in patients with rheumatoid arthritis undergoing orthopaedic surgeries
Authors: Nishida Keiichiro , Harada Ryozo , Nasu Yoshihisa , Naniwa Shuichi , Nakahara Ryuichi , Hotta Yoshifumi , Shimizu Noriyuki , Lin Deting , Ozaki Toshifumi
Published: June 2023

Objective

We retrospectively reviewed the records of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients who underwent orthopaedic surgery to examine the influence of the perioperative use of Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors on early postoperative complications.

Patients and Methods

Thirty-two patients with RA under disease control with JAK inhibitors who underwent 49 orthopaedic procedures were included in the study. Patient records after surgery were investigated for surgical site infection (SSI), delayed wound healing (DWH), a flare-up of the disease, preoperative and postoperative absolute lymphocyte counts (ALCs), venous thromboembolism, and other postoperative complications.

Results

JAK inhibitors were continued during the perioperative period in 31 procedures. In the remaining 18 procedures, JAK inhibitors were discontinued perioperatively with a mean discontinuation period of 2.4 days. No instances of SSI were identified in any patient during at least 90 days’ follow-up, while DWH was seen in one patient. Disease flare-up was noted in two patients after 3 and 9 days of discontinuation of JAK inhibitors, respectively. The ALCs significantly decreased on postoperative Day 1 (P < .0001), and there was a significant correlation between pre- and post-one-day ALCs (r = 0.75, P < .0001).

Conclusion

JAK inhibitors seem to be safe during the perioperative period of orthopaedic surgery.