bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cold temperatures drive the latitudinal range limits and inhibit overwintering survival of the redbanded stink bug (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae)
Authors: Paul Thomas G , Catchot Angus L , Towles Tyler B , Ward Samuel F
Published: April 2024

For non-native insects that are economically damaging, understanding the drivers of range expansions and contractions is important for forecasting pest pressure. The invasion of the redbanded stink bug, Piezodorus guildinii (Westwood) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), reached Louisiana, United States, in 2000, after which the northern range limits of this species have fluctuated annually. Low winter temperatures have been implicated as a major driver of this pattern, but the importance of cold temperatures—or other abiotic factors—for the persistence of this pest over large geographic scales are incompletely understood. We coupled occurrence data of P. guildinii with climatic data to investigate trends in P. guildinii presence in relation to winter temperatures and develop species distribution models, forecasting habitat suitability based on current and future climatic scenarios. Our results show that (i) some P. guildinii persisted in locations where ambient temperatures reached −12°C, (ii) overwintering temperatures drive P. guildinii range dynamics, and (iii) with intermediate projections of climatic warming, northward expansion by P. guildinii in North America is likely to be minimal. While the northern extent of P. guildinii’s range may now be largely realized in North America, our results suggest that increased frequency of mild winters could reduce interannual fluctuations of P. guildinii and enable it to become a more consistent economic concern for soybean growers throughout the Midsouth region of the United States.
Association of breast cancer with quantitative mammographic density measures for women receiving contrast-enhanced mammography
Authors: Watt Gordon P , Keshavamurthy Krishna N , Nguyen Tuong L , Lobbes Marc B I , Jochelson Maxine S , Sung Janice S , Moskowitz Chaya S , Patel Prusha , Liang Xiaolin , Woods Meghan , Hopper John L , Pike Malcolm C , Bernstein Jonine L
Published: April 2024

Women with high mammographic density have an increased risk of breast cancer. They may be offered contrast-enhanced mammography to improve breast cancer screening performance. Using a cohort of women receiving contrast-enhanced mammography, we evaluated whether conventional and modified mammographic density measures were associated with breast cancer. Sixty-six patients with newly diagnosed unilateral breast cancer were frequency matched on the basis of age to 133 cancer-free control individuals. On low-energy craniocaudal contrast-enhanced mammograms (equivalent to standard mammograms), we measured quantitative mammographic density using CUMULUS software at the conventional intensity threshold (“Cumulus”) and higher-than-conventional thresholds (“Altocumulus,” “Cirrocumulus”). The measures were standardized to enable estimation of odds ratio per adjusted standard deviation (OPERA). In multivariable logistic regression of case-control status, only the highest-intensity measure (Cirrocumulus) was statistically significantly associated with breast cancer (OPERA = 1.40, 95% confidence interval = 1.04 to 1.89). Conventional Cumulus did not contribute to model fit. For women receiving contrast-enhanced mammography, Cirrocumulus mammographic density may better predict breast cancer than conventional quantitative mammographic density.
Giant 20 × 35 cm brachial artery pseudoaneurysm after fistulogram treated with surgical resection of pseudoaneurysm and patch angioplasty of brachial artery
Authors: Rahman Naveed A , Wang Alice , Chihade Deena B , Feghali Anthony
Published: April 2024

Brachial artery pseudoaneurysms are a rare entity, which can occur secondary to infectious, traumatic, or iatrogenic causes. We present a 78-year-old female with end-stage renal disease on hemodialysis via a right brachio-basilic arteriovenous fistula. She had previously undergone numerous fistulograms and endovascular interventions for right upper extremity swelling due to prolonged bleeding following dialysis. After a recent fistulogram she developed recurrent arm swelling. Duplex showed a large hematoma without any evidence of vascular flow. However, intraoperatively, she was noted to have a giant 20 × 35 cm pseudoaneurysm of the brachial artery. Therapeutic options include endovascular stenting, embolization, thrombin injection, ultrasound-guided compression, and surgery. We elected to perform resection of the large pseudoaneurysm and arteriovenous fistula ligation due to the large size. Given her end-stage renal disease status and lacking quality autogenous vein, we were able to perform a patch angioplasty repair of her brachial artery without requiring a bypass.
High temperature ameliorates high-fat diet-induced obesity by promoting ceramide breakdown in skeletal muscle tissue
Authors: Wang Qiankun , Chen Lupeng , Zhang Junzhi , Liu Yue , Jin Yi , Wu Jian , Ren Zhuqing
Published: April 2024

Obesity is considered an epidemic often accompanied by insulin resistance (IR). Heat treatment (HT) has been shown to prevent high-fat diet-induced IR in skeletal muscle, but the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. In this study, we discovered that high temperature alleviated the hallmarks of obesity by promoting glycogen synthesis and lowering blood glucose levels in skeletal muscle tissue (SMT). Additionally, HT maintained the decay phase of heat shock factor 1 (HSF1), leading to the activation of gene expression of heat shock proteins (HSPs), which contributed to the alleviation of IR in SMT of diet-induced obese (DIO) mice. Metabolomics and lipidomics analyses showed that HT promoted ceramide (Cer) breakdown, resulting in an elevation of both sphingomyelin (SM) and sphingosine, which further contributed to the amelioration of IR in SMT of DIO mice. Importantly, the increase in sphingosine was attributed to the heightened expression of the acid ceramidase N-acylsphingosine amidohydrolase 1 (ASAH1), and the inhibition of ASAH1 attenuated HT-relieved IR in SMT of DIO mice. Surprisingly, high temperature increased the composition of Cer and cholesteryl ester in lipid droplets of skeletal muscle cells. This not only helped alleviate IR but also prevented lipotoxicity in SMT of DIO mice. These findings revealed a previously unknown connection between a high-temperature environment and sphingolipid metabolism in obesity, suggesting that high temperature can improve IR by promoting Cer catabolism in SMT of obese mice.
Learn to optimize—a brief overview
Authors: Tang Ke , Yao Xin
Published: April 2024

Most optimization problems of practical significance are typically solved by highly configurable parameterized algorithms. To achieve the best performance on a problem instance, a trial-and-error configuration process is required, which is very costly and even prohibitive for problems that are already computationally intensive, e.g. optimization problems associated with machine learning tasks. In the past decades, many studies have been conducted to accelerate the tedious configuration process by learning from a set of training instances. This article refers to these studies as learn to optimize and reviews the progress achieved.
Structure, biogenesis, and evolution of thylakoid membranes
Authors: Ostermeier Matthias , Garibay-Hernández Adriana , Holzer Victoria J C , Schroda Michael , Nickelsen Jörg
Published: April 2024

Cyanobacteria and chloroplasts of algae and plants harbor specialized thylakoid membranes (TMs) that convert sunlight into chemical energy. These membranes house PSII and I, the vital protein-pigment complexes that drive oxygenic photosynthesis. In the course of their evolution, TMs have diversified in structure. However, the core machinery for photosynthetic electron transport remained largely unchanged, with adaptations occurring primarily in the light-harvesting antenna systems. Whereas TMs in cyanobacteria are relatively simple, they become more complex in algae and plants. The chloroplasts of vascular plants contain intricate networks of stacked grana and unstacked stroma thylakoids. This review provides an in-depth view of TM architectures in phototrophs and the determinants that shape their forms, as well as presenting recent insights into the spatial organization of their biogenesis and maintenance. Its overall goal is to define the underlying principles that have guided the evolution of these bioenergetic membranes.
‘You're changing the subject’: An unfair objection to conceptual engineering?
Authors: Belleri Delia
Published: April 2024

Conceptual engineering projects are sometimes criticized for ‘changing the subject’. In this paper, I first discuss three strategies that have been proposed to address the change of subject objection. I notice that these strategies fail in similar ways: they all deploy a ‘loose’ notion of subject matter, while the objector can always reply deploying a ‘strict’ notion. Based on this, I then argue that at least current formulations of the change of subject objection (together with the response strategies just mentioned), create an overall defective dialectic, whereby no progress can be made on either side. After considering how such defective dialectic could be (at least partly) fixed, it is concluded that current formulations of the change of subject objection may be dismissed on dialectical grounds, even though some practical lessons may still be retained from the objection.
Wanted Refugees: The Forming of an Instrument Constituency for Refugee Resettlement in the European Union
Authors: Ekstedt Johan , Asplèn Lundstedt Andreas
Published: April 2024

The European Union Agency for Asylum has emerged as an important actor in the Common European Asylum System in the past few years. In this article, we explore how the agency engages in capacity-building by looking at the development of bureaucratic instruments. We deploy the theoretical framework of instrument constituencies to investigate the agency’s development of instruments around resettlement. In relation to the literature on European migration management, deploying the theoretical framework of instrument constituencies is a novel approach.

Given the European Union’s limited mandate to directly influence Member States resettlement programmes, we argue that the development of bureaucratic instruments is one of the few avenues through which the European Union can facilitate resettlement. This study reveals how the proliferation in the use of these instruments by Member State authorities is driven by a political ambition to create a more orderly form of migration and is contrasted with the seemingly uncontrollable nature of asylum. Beyond being a direct solution to a practical problem, the policy instruments studied here reveal how new bureaucratic practices around resettlement are gradually being established. We show how resettlement is continuously evolving in the intersection between Member States and the European Union in the governing of migration.
Functional evaluation of Bacillus licheniformis PF9 for its potential in controlling enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli in weaned piglets
Authors: Xu Haoxiang , Gong Joshua , Lu Peng , Azevedo Paula , Li Linyan , Yu Hai , Yang Chengbo
Published: April 2024

During the bacterial selection, isolate PF9 demonstrated tolerance to low pH and high bile salt and an ability to extend the lifespan of Caenorhabditis elegans infected with enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC; P < 0.05). Thirty-two weaned piglets susceptible to ETEC F4 were randomly allocated to four treatments as follows: 1) non-challenged negative control group (NNC; basal diet and piglets gavaged with phosphate-buffered saline), 2) negative control group (NC; basal diet and piglets challenged with ETEC F4, 3 × 107 CFU per pig), 3) positive control (PC; basal diet + 80 mg·kg−1 of avilamycin and piglets challenged with ETEC F4), and 4) probiotic candidate (PF9; control basal diet + 2.5 × 109 CFU·kg−1 diet of B. licheniformis PF9 and piglets challenged with ETEC F4). The infection of ETEC F4 decreased average daily gain and gain:feed in the NC group when compared to the NNC group (P < 0.05). The inoculation of ETEC F4 induced severe diarrhea at 3 h postinoculum (hpi), 36, 40 hpi in the NC group when compared to the NNC group (P < 0.05). The supplementation of B. licheniformis PF9 significantly relieved diarrhea severity at 3 hpi when compared to the NC group (P < 0.05). The inoculation of ETEC F4 reduced duodenal, jejunal, and ileal villus height (VH) in the NC group when compared to the NNC group. A significant (P < 0.05) decrease was detected in the duodenal VH in the PC and NNC groups. Moreover, the NNC group had a reduced relative mRNA level of Na+-glucose cotransporter 1 (SGLT1) when compared to the NC group (P < 0.05). Compared to the NC and NNC groups, the supplementation of B. licheniformis PF9 increased the relative mRNA levels of aminopeptidase N, occludin, zonula occludens-1, and SGLT1 (P < 0.05). The supplementation of B. licheniformis PF9 also significantly increased the relative mRNA level of excitatory amino acid transporter 1 when compared to the NC group (P < 0.05). Piglets supplemented with B. licheniformis PF9 showed lower relative abundance of Bacteroidetes in the colon than piglets from the NNC group (P < 0.05). The NNC group had a higher relative abundance of Firmicutes in the ileum than all the challenged piglets (P < 0.05); however, a lower relative abundance of Proteobacteria in the ileum and colon was observed in the NC group (P < 0.05). This study provides evidence that B. licheniformis PF9 has the potential to improve the gut health of piglets under challenging conditions.
Screening of Diverse Lupinus spp. Highlights New Resistances to Sclerotinia sclerotiorum
Authors: Khan Muhammad Azam , You Ming Pei , Norton Sally L. , Barbetti Martin J.
Published: April 2024

Stem rot caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is a serious and sometimes devastating disease of lupin (Lupinus spp.). A total of 236 lupin accessions from across 12 Lupinus species were screened against the prevalent S. sclerotiorum isolate MBRS-1 (pathotype 76). L. angustifolius accession 21655 and L. albus var. albus accession 20589 showed immune and “near-immune” responses, respectively. Thirteen accessions of L. angustifolius, three accessions each of L. albus and L. albus var. albus, and a single accession each of L. albus var. graecus, L. mutabilis, L. palaestinus, and L. pilosus (totaling ∼4%) showed a highly resistant (HR) response. A further 19 accessions of L. angustifolius, 2 accessions each of L. albus and L. pilosus, and a single accession of L. mutabilis (totaling ∼10%) showed a resistant (R) response. The reactions of 16 (15 L. angustifolius, 1 L. digitatus) of these 236 accessions were also compared with their reactions to a different isolate, Walkaway-3 (WW-3; pathotype 10). Against this isolate, five L. angustifolius accessions showed an HR response and four showed an R response, and the L. digitatus accession showed a moderate resistance response. Overall, isolate WW-3 caused significantly (P < 0.05) smaller lesions than MBRS-1 across tested accessions in common. In addition, 328 plants in a “wild” naturalized field population of L. cosentinii were screened in situ in the field against isolate MBRS-1. Five (∼1.5%) of the 328 plants of wild lupin showed an immune response, 63 (∼19%) showed an HR response, and 146 (∼45%) showed an R response. We believe this is the first examination of diverse Lupinus spp. germplasm responses to a prevalent pathotype of S. sclerotiorum. Lupin genotypes exhibiting high-level resistance to Sclerotinia stem rot identified in this study can be used as parental lines for crosses in lupin breeding programs and/or directly as improved cultivars to reduce the adverse impact of this disease on lupin crops.
An Update on Gender Disparity in Critical Care Conferences
Authors: Dymore-Brown Laura-Anne , Ahluwalia Amrit , Dangoisse Carole , Zaman Faryal , Sereeyotin Jariya , Mehta Sangeeta , Metaxa Victoria
Published: April 2024

This commentary’s objective was to identify whether female representation at critical care conferences has improved since our previous publication in 2018.

We audited the scientific programs from three international (International Symposium on Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine [ISICEM], European Society of Intensive Care Medicine [ESICM], and Society of Critical Care Medicine [SCCM]) and two national (State of the Art [SOA] and Critical Care Canada Forum) critical care conferences from the years 2017 to 2022.

We collected data on the number of female faculty members and categorized them into physicians, nurses, allied health professions (AHPs), and other.

Across all conferences, there was an increased representation of females as speakers and moderators over the 6 years. However, at each conference, male speakers outnumbered female speakers. Only two conferences achieved gender parity in speakers, SCCM in 2021 (48% female) and 2022 and SOA in 2022 (48% female). These conferences also had the highest representation of female nursing and AHP speakers (25% in SCCM, 2021; 19% in SOA, 2022). While there was a statistically significant increase in female speakers (p < 0.01) in 2022 compared with 2016, there was a persistent gender gap in the representation of men and female physicians. While the proportion of female moderators increased in each conference every year, the increase was statistically only significant for ISICEM, ESICM, and SCCM (p < 0.05). The proportion of female nurses and AHP speakers increased in 2022 compared with 2016 (p < 0.0001) but their overall representation was low with the highest proportion (25%) in the 2022 SCCM conference and the lowest (0.5%) in the 2017 ISICEM conference.

This follow-up study demonstrates a narrowing but persisting gender gap in the studied critical care conferences. Thus, a commitment toward minimizing gender inequalities is warranted.
Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation for Aortic Regurgitation: A Comprehensive Review
Authors: Gera Priyanka , Wasserstein David Haner , Frishman William H. , Aronow Wilbert S.
Published: April 2024

Aortic regurgitation (AR), a left-sided valvular heart disease, poses challenges in both diagnosis and treatment. From rheumatic fever to trauma, the vast etiologies of AR can manifest with varying symptoms and disease progression. Nonetheless, without interventions, patients with acute and chronic symptomatic AR have a poor prognosis. This article synthesizes current knowledge on AR management, emphasizing advancements in transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). While surgical aortic valve replacement remains the gold standard, TAVI has emerged as a promising alternative, particularly for inoperable patients. It is currently used off-label for patients with bicuspid valve and valve-in-valve procedures. Clinical data from various studies underscore TAVI’s efficacy in AR, demonstrating improvements in left ventricular function and mortality rates with use of the new-generation devices. However, challenges persist with conditions such as aortic aneurysms, including device positioning and selection. With ongoing technological innovations, TAVI holds potential as a viable option in selected AR patients, necessitating further research for optimized outcomes.
Crocin (bioactive compound of Crocus sativus L.) potently restores REM sleep deprivation-induced manic- and obsessive-compulsive-like behaviors in female rats
Authors: Houshyar Mohammad , Karimi Hanie , Ghofrani-Jahromi Zahra , Nouri Sarah , Vaseghi Salar
Published: April 2024

Rapid-eye movement (REM) sleep deprivation (SD) can induce manic-like behaviors including hyperlocomotion. On the other hand, crocin (one of the main compounds ofCrocus sativus L.or Saffron) may be beneficial in the improvement of mental and cognitive dysfunctions. Also, crocin can restore the deleterious effects of SD on mental and cognitive processes. In this study, we investigated the effect of REM SD on female rats’ behaviors including depression- and anxiety-like behaviors, locomotion, pain perception, and obsessive-compulsive-like behavior, and also, the potential effect of crocin on REM SD effects. We used female rats because evidence on the role of REM SD in modulating psychological and behavioral functions of female (but not male) rats is limited. REM SD was induced for 14 days (6h/day), and crocin (25, 50, and 75 mg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally. Open field test, forced swim test, hot plate test, and marble burying test were used to assess rats’ behaviors. The results showed REM SD-induced manic-like behavior (hyperlocomotion). Also, REM SD rats showed decreased anxiety- and depression-like behavior, pain subthreshold (the duration it takes for the rat to feel pain), and showed obsessive compulsive-like behavior. However, crocin at all doses partially or fully reversed REM SD-induced behavioral changes. In conclusion, our results suggested the possible comorbidity of OCD and REM SD-induced manic-like behavior in female rats or the potential role of REM SD in the etiology of OCD, although more studies are needed. In contrast, crocin can be a possible therapeutic choice for decreasing manic-like behaviors.
Controversies related to renal artery denervation and devices
Authors: Agwuegbo Chibuike Charles , Antia Akanimo Usen , Shamaki Garba Rimamskep , Bob-Manuel Tamunoinemi
Published: April 2024

Purpose of review

This review article discusses the controversies, strengths, and limitations of the current literature on renal artery denervation in the management of resistant hypertension, as well as the future directions of this intervention.

Recent findings

There have been conflicting data from the different randomized control trials assessing the efficacy of renal artery denervation in the management of resistant hypertension.

Renal artery denervation is achieved by ablating the sympathetic nerves surrounding the renal arteries using endovascular ultrasound, radiofrequency, or alcohol. Our review article highlights that renal artery denervation is generally effective in improving blood pressure in patients with resistant hypertension. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently approved the ReCor Medical Paradise system, and the Symplicity Spyral RDN systems for renal artery denervation.
Replace the Linear No-threshold Model with a Risk-informed Targeted Approach to Radiation Protection
Authors: Reed Rodican P.
Published: April 2024

The linear no-threshold (LNT) model may be useful as a simple basis for developing radiation protection regulations and standards, but it bears little resemblance to scientific reality and is probably overly conservative at low doses and low dose rates. This paper is an appeal for a broader view of radiation protection that involves more than just optimization of radiation dose. It is suggested that the LNT model should be replaced with a risk-informed, targeted approach to limitation of overall risks, which include radiation and other types of risks and accidents/incidents. The focus should be on protection of the individual. Limitation of overall risk does not necessarily always equate to minimization of individual or collective doses, but in some cases it might. Instead, risk assessment (hazards analysis) should be performed for each facility/and or specific job or operation (straightforward for specialized work such as radiography), and this should guide how limited resources are used to protect workers and the public. A graded approach could be used to prioritize the most significant risks and identify exposure scenarios that are unlikely or non-existent. The dose limits would then represent an acceptable level of risk, below which no further reduction in dose would be needed. Less resources should be spent on ALARA and tracking small individual and collective doses. Present dose limits are thought to be conservative and should suffice in general. Two exceptions are possibly the need for a lower (lifetime) dose limit for lens of the eye for astronauts and raising the public limit to 5 mSv y−1 from 1 mSv y−1. This would harmonize the public limit with the current limit for the embryo fetus of the declared pregnant worker. Eight case studies are presented that emphasize how diverse and complex radiation risks can be, and in some cases, chemical and industrial risks outweigh radiation risks. More focus is needed on prevention of accidents and incidents involving a variety of types of risks. A targeted approach is needed, and commitments should be complied with until they are changed or exemptions are granted. No criticism of regulators or nuclear industry personnel is intended here. Protection of workers and the public is everyone’s goal. The question is how best to accomplish that.
Protracted Exposure to a Sub-background Radiation Environment Negatively Impacts the Anhydrobiotic Recovery of Desiccated Yeast Sentinels
Authors: Lapointe Michel R. , Laframboise Taylor , Pirkkanen Jake , Tai T.C. , Lees Simon J. , Santa Maria Sergio R. , Tharmalingam Sujeenthar , Boreham Douglas R. , Thome Christopher
Published: April 2024

Experiments that examine the impacts of subnatural background radiation exposure provide a unique approach to studying the biological effects of low-dose radiation. These experiments often need to be conducted in deep underground laboratories in order to filter surface-level cosmic radiation. This presents some logistical challenges in experimental design and necessitates a model organism with minimal maintenance. As such, desiccated yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) is an ideal model system for these investigations. This study aimed to determine the impact of prolonged sub-background radiation exposure in anhydrobiotic (desiccated) yeast at SNOLAB in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada. Two yeast strains were used: a normal wild type and an isogenic recombinational repair-deficient rad51 knockout strain (rad51Δ). Desiccated yeast samples were stored in the normal background surface control laboratory (68.0 nGy h−1) and in the sub-background environment within SNOLAB (10.1 nGy h−1) for up to 48 wk. Post-rehydration survival, growth rate, and metabolic activity were assessed at multiple time points. Survival in the sub-background environment was significantly reduced by a factor of 1.39 and 2.67 in the wild type and rad51∆ strains, respectively. Post-rehydration metabolic activity measured via alamarBlue reduction remained unchanged in the wild type strain but was 26% lower in the sub-background rad51∆ strain. These results demonstrate that removing natural background radiation negatively impacts the survival and metabolism of desiccated yeast, highlighting the potential importance of natural radiation exposure in maintaining homeostasis of living organisms.
High Prevalence of Panton-Valentine Leukocidin Among Staphylococcus aureus Causing Acute Hematogenous Bone and Joint Infections From a Tertiary Children’s Hospital in Vietnam
Authors: Nguyen Thi Ha , Tran Dang Xoay , Hoang Thi Bich Ngọc , Vu Ngoc Hieu , Ta Anh Tuan , Pham Hong Nhung
Published: April 2024

Background:

We aimed to investigate the clinical features, antimicrobial susceptibility and pvl gene expression in Staphylococcus aureus causing acute hematogenous bone and joint infections (BJIs) in children in Vietnam.

Methods:

In this prospective study, the demographics, microbiology and clinical outcomes of pediatric patients with acute hematogenous BJIs were collected from September 2022 to September 2023. Antimicrobial susceptibility profiles were determined using VITEK2 Compact system. The pvl gene encoding the Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) toxin was detected by using polymerase chain reaction. Mann-Whitney, χ2 and Fisher test were used for statistical analysis.

Results:

In total, 78 patients (46 boys) with S. aureus acute hematogenous BJIs were recruited at the National Children’s Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam. Of all S. aureus isolates, 84.6% were methicillin-resistant S. aureus. All S. aureus isolates were susceptible to vancomycin, ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin; 97% of methicillin-resistant S. aureus isolates was resistant to clindamycin (minimum inhibitory concentration ≥8 μg/mL). The pvl gene was detected in 83.3% of isolates, including 57 methicillin-resistant S. aureus isolates. Patients in the pvl-positive group had significantly higher C-reactive protein levels than those in the pvl-negative group (P = 0.04). In addition, all 8 children with septic shock were infected with pvl-positive S. aureus.

Conclusions:

PVL is a prevalent virulence factor of S. aureus in Vietnam. Furthermore, high inflammatory parameters (C-reactive protein) may be present at the time of diagnosis in PVL positivity-related acute hematogenous BJIs. Further research is necessary to enhance our understanding of the varying correlations between virulence factors and outcomes of S. aureus BJIs.
The Feasibility and Acceptability of Using Mobile Applications for HIV Testing, Prevention, and Treatment Among Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Cameroon: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Ndenkeh Jackson Jr Nforbewing , Nelson LaRon E. , Bogning Ange , Yumo Habakkuk , Bediang Georges , Njih Earnest , Fotso Durand , Abu-Ba'are Gamji Rabiu , Kouanfack Charles , Ni Zhao
Published: April 2024

Adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) are vulnerable populations to HIV/AIDS. We conducted a cross-sectional survey among 637 AGYW in Cameroon to study the feasibility and willingness to use mobile applications (apps) for HIV testing, prevention, and treatment. We found that phone ownership is high among AGYW, where 93.9% (n = 598) of them (median age: 22 years, interquartile range: 21–24 years) had access to a smartphone, 49.5% (n = 315) frequently searched for health information, and 48.9% (n = 312) frequently used health-related apps. AGYW's willingness to use mobile apps for HIV testing, prevention, and treatment were 87.9% (n = 560), 84.4% (n = 538), and 84.9% (n = 541), respectively. The high willingness to use apps was associated with older age, HIV testing, and searching for health information on a phone. Barriers to willingness included having no internet access, concerns about internet cost and privacy, and lack of consistent access to a smartphone.
The Impact of Rotor Axial Displacement Variation on Simulation Accuracy of Fully Magnetic Levitation Centrifugal Blood Pump
Authors: Li Yuan , Xi Yifeng , Wang Hongyu , Sun Anqiang , Deng Xiaoyan , Chen Zengsheng , Fan Yubo
Published: April 2024

The rotor axial displacement of the full magnetic levitation blood pump varies with the operating conditions. The effect of rotor axial displacement on simulation results is unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of rotor axial displacement on the predicted blood pump flow field, hydraulic performance, and hemocompatibility through simulation. This study used the CentriMag blood pump as a model, and conducted computational fluid dynamics simulations to assess the impact of rotor displacement. Considering rotor axial displacement leads to opposite results regarding predicted residence time and thrombotic risk compared with not considering rotor axial displacement. Not considering rotor axial displacement leads to deviations in the predicted values, where the effects on the flow field within the blood pump, ratio of secondary flow, and amount of shear stress >150 Pa are significant. The variation in the back clearance of the blood pump caused by the ideal and actual rotor displacements is the main cause of the above phenomena. Given that the rotor axial displacement significantly impacts the simulation accuracy, the effect of rotor axial displacement must be considered in the simulation.
Homogeneity in Motor Competence Among Youths With Intellectual Disability With and Without Down Syndrome
Authors: Pitetti Ken , Bertapelli Fabio , Miller Ruth A. , Jaeger Adam , Loovis E. Michael , do Amaral-Junior Wilson D. , de Barros-Filho Marcos M. , Guerra-Junior Gil
Published: April 2024

Purpose:

To determine if there is a homogeneity of scores for youth with intellectual disability (ID) with and without Down syndrome (DS) in 19 test items of motor competence from the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency-Second Edition (BOT-2). Homogeneity was defined as the means for each of the 19 test items scores by sex and the presence or absence of DS sharing the same population mean.

Method:

Participants were 622 youth with ID aged 6 to 21 years. Items for bilateral coordination, balance, and upper limb coordination were examined using the BOT-2.

Results:

For all 19 BOT-2 items, means between youth with and without DS did not differ from the population mean.

Conclusion:

These results potentiate the development of expected BOT-2 motor competence scores for youth with ID independent of the presence of DS for clinical practice.
Introducing the i-Rainbow©: An Evidence-Based, Parent-Friendly Care Pathway Designed for Critically Ill Infants in the NICU Setting
Authors: Byrne Eilish M. , Hunt Katherine , Scala Melissa
Published: April 2024

Purpose:

This study investigated the feasibility and effectiveness of a novel, evidence-based developmental care pathway to be used by health care providers and parents in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) setting. The i-Rainbow is based on current evidence and responds to individual infant health status. It is not based on infant age.

Methods:

After development and implementation of the i-Rainbow, pre- and postimplementation nurse and parent survey data were collected and pre- and post–developmental care rates were compared.

Results:

After i-Rainbow implementation, disagreement among providers on appropriate developmental care interventions significantly decreased, total minutes of daily developmental care and swaddled holding increased significantly, and parents reported that they would recommend the tool.

Conclusion:

The i-Rainbow is a unique, parent-friendly, infant-based tool that guides sensory interventions in the NICU by staging infants based on cardiorespiratory status and physiologic maturity, not age. The i-Rainbow improved the delivery of developmental care activities in our unit and was well received by parents and nurses.

Video Abstract:

Supplemental Digital Content available at: http://links.lww.com/PPT/A516
Trauma-Informed Care in Pediatric Physical Therapy as a Standard Precaution: The Time Is Here
Authors: Barreca Jessica , Swiggum Mary
Published: April 2024

In this special communication, an overview of the research on trauma, resilience, and action items for the pediatric physical therapist (PT) is addressed. The experiences of early childhood, positive and negative, impact overall development and well-being throughout the lifespan. Childhood trauma can include exposure to abuse, neglect, violence, racism, or medical procedures. These adverse childhood experiences are associated with poor physical and mental health outcomes that can extend into adulthood and can appear in the pediatric rehabilitative realm as caregivers who become labeled noncompliant. Trauma is common and impacts all children; however, some populations, such as children with disabilities, have greater risk for experiencing adversity. An individual's trauma history is not always visible, necessitating a standard approach. Pediatric PTs must take an intentional approach to address the detrimental effects of trauma on those we serve. Many organizations recommend adopting trauma-informed care as the standard of care for all populations.
Reducing Rigid Immobilization for Toddler’s Fractures: A Quality Improvement Initiative
Authors: Chen Stephanie N. , Holstine Jessica B. , Samora Julie Balch
Published: April 2024

Background:

Toddler’s fractures are one of the most common orthopedic injuries in young walking-age children. They are defined as nondisplaced spiral-type metaphyseal fractures involving only the tibia without any injury to the fibula and are inherently stable. We aimed to use quality improvement methodology to increase the proportion of patients with toddler’s fractures treated without cast immobilization at a large tertiary referral pediatric orthopedic center from a baseline of 45.6%–75%.

Methods:

Baseline data on patient volume and treatment regimens for toddler’s fractures were collected starting in February 2019. Monthly data were collected from the electronic medical record and reviewed to determine treatment (cast versus noncast immobilization) and tracked using statistical process control charts (p-chart). After determining the root causes of treatment using immobilization, interventions tested and adopted included physician alignment of expectations for treatment, sharing unblinded compliance data with providers, updating patient education materials, and updating resident education and reference materials.

Results:

After interventions were in place, the percentage of patients treated without CAST immobilization increased from 45.6% to 90% (P ≤ 0.001). We also observed improvement in our process measure to increase the percentage of this population receiving boot immobilization during new patient visits in our orthopedic clinics (4.15% to 52%, P ≤ 0.001).

Conclusions:

By aligning provider and family expectations for treatment, demonstrating no clinical need for cast immobilization, and bringing awareness of compliance to appropriate guidelines, our institution was able to improve care for patients with toddler’s fractures and reduce financial and care burdens for families.
Sarcopenia and Its Influencing Factors in Patients With Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Zhang Ying , Zhu Yongjian
Published: April 2024

Sarcopenia can lead to more postoperative complications and poorer prognosis in patients with colorectal cancer; however there is limited research exploring the incidence and influencing factors of different stages of sarcopenia in patients with colorectal cancer. We investigated 312 patients with colorectal cancer. Sarcopenia was determined by measuring muscle mass, grip strength, and gait speed. According to the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP) 2010, patients were classified into four groups: nonsarcopenia, presarcopenia, sarcopenia, and severe sarcopenia. The incidence of sarcopenia and severe sarcopenia was 10.3% and 8.7%, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age, TNM stage smoking history, total protein, upper arm circumference, waist circumference, and Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA) score were independently associated with sarcopenia at different stages. This study suggests that routine data should be used to provide targeted care during hospitalization for patients with colorectal cancer in order to reduce the incidence of sarcopenia and improve prognosis.
Integrated Virtual Care for Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Authors: Babikow Louise , Fawcett Tonks N. , Pfeifer Elizabeth , Berry Sameer
Published: April 2024

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a condition that affects approximately one in 10 people in the United States (Defrees & Bailey, 2017). Despite the high prevalence of IBS, the medical community struggles to effectively understand, diagnose, and treat this disorder (Ankersen et al., 2021). In recent years, an increasing number of health-tech companies have emerged to offer integrated treatment of IBS via telemedicine. This pilot study explores the patient experience of virtual, multidisciplinary IBS care through a U.S.-based company, Oshi Health. Semistructured interviews were conducted followed by thematic analysis to identify commonalities between patient experience and perspective (Van Manen, 2014). Overarching themes were identified as follows: loss of the grocer, a broken system, and the power of self-trust. Although several limitations exist, including small sample size, the study offers insight into the experience of telemedicine services for IBS and provides a framework for future research.
Illness Perceptions as a Predictor of Symptom Cluster Trajectories in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Authors: Zhijia Shen , Meijuan Xi , Yanting Zhou , Fang Li , Minyu Fan , Ruirui Chen , Li Chen , Jingyan Zhong , Limei Yin
Published: April 2024

The aims of this study were to (a) identify the trajectory of symptom clusters in patients with inflammatory bowel disease up to 28 weeks after initiation of infliximab therapy and (b) examine the illness perceptions associated with symptom cluster trajectories. This was a prospective study where participants completed the symptom cluster scale at baseline, 14 weeks, and 28 weeks. A latent growth mixture modeling was used to identify trajectories of symptom clusters that were predicted, using baseline covariates (Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire). A total of 206 patients were included and identified as three latent classes: moderate symptom cluster-stable decline group (C1), high symptom cluster-rapid decline group (C2), and stable symptom cluster-stable trend group (C3). C1 was predicted by cognitive illness perceptions (odds ratio [95% confidence interval]: 1.134 [1.071, 1.200], p < .001). C2 was also predicted by cognitive and emotional illness perceptions (odds ratio [95% confidence interval]: 1.169 [1.095, 1.248], p < .001; odds ratio [95% confidence interval]: 1.174 [1.038, 1.328], p = .011). Patients with inflammatory bowel disease, initiating infliximab therapy, had different symptom cluster trajectories. Illness perceptions were associated with symptom cluster classes, which underline the complexity of symptoms. Paying attention to these factors and providing necessary knowledge and psychological supporting care after infliximab therapy would effectively improve patients' symptom burden.
Differential effects of sertraline and cognitive behavioural therapy on behavioural inhibition in patients with obsessive compulsive disorder
Authors: Reid Jemma E. , Pellegrini Luca , Drummond Lynne , Varlakova Yana , Shahper Sonia , Baldwin David S. , Manson Christopher , Chamberlain Samuel R. , Robbins Trevor W. , Wellsted David , Fineberg Naomi A.
Published: April 2024

Patients with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) randomised to sertraline, manualised cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), or combination (sertraline + CBT), underwent cognitive assessment. Cognitive testing was conducted at baseline and at week 16. The stop signal reaction time task (SSRT) was used to evaluate motor impulsivity and attentional flexibility was evaluated using the intra/extra-dimensional set shifting task. Paired-samples t-tests or nonparametric variants were used to compare baseline and posttreatment scores within each treatment group.

Forty-five patients were tested at baseline (sertraline n = 14; CBT n = 14; sertraline + CBT n = 17) and 23 patients at week 16 (sertraline n = 6; CBT n = 7; sertraline + CBT n = 10). The mean dosage of sertraline was numerically higher in those taking sertraline as a monotherapy (166.67 mg) compared with those taking sertraline in combination with CBT (100 mg). Analysis of pre-post treatment scores using an intent-to-treat-analysis found a significant reduction in the SSRT in those treated with sertraline, whilst there was no significant change on this task for those treated with CBT or the combination. This study found that motor inhibition improved significantly following sertraline monotherapy. Suboptimal sertraline dosing might explain the failure to detect an effect on motor inhibition in the group receiving combination of sertraline + CBT. Higher dose sertraline may have broader cognitive effects than CBT for OCD, motor impulsivity may have value as a measure of treatment outcome and, by extension, the SSRT could serve as a biomarker for personalising care.
Pleiotropic effects of melanin pigmentation: haemoparasite infection intensity but not telomere length is associated with plumage morph in black sparrowhawks
Authors: Rodseth Edmund , Sumasgutner Petra , Tate Gareth , Nilsson Johan F. , Watson Hannah , Maritz Michelle F. , Ingle Robert A. , Amar Arjun
Published: April 2024

There is increasing recognition of the potential pleiotropic effects of melanin pigmentation, particularly on immunity, with reports of variation in haemoparasite infection intensity and immune responses between the morphs of colour-polymorphic bird species. In a population of the black sparrowhawk (
Accipiter melanoleucus
) in western South Africa, light morphs have a higher haemoparasite infection intensity, but no physiological effects of this are apparent. Here, we investigate the possible effects of haemoparasite infection on telomere length in this species and explore whether relative telomere length is associated with either plumage morph or sex. Using quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis, we confirmed that dark morphs had a lower haemoparasite infection intensity than light morphs. However, we found no differences in telomere length associated with either the haemoparasite infection status or morph in adults, although males have longer telomeres than females. While differences in haemoparasite intensity between morphs are consistent with pleiotropic effects of melanin pigmentation in the black sparrowhawk, we found no evidence that telomere length was associated with haemoparasite infection. Further work is needed to investigate the implications of possible pleiotropic effects of plumage morph and their potential role in the maintenance of colour polymorphism in this species.
Understanding the influence of surgical parameters on craniofacial surgery outcomes: a computational study
Authors: He K. H. , Bruse J. L. , Rodriguez-Florez N. , Dunaway D. , Jeelani O. , Schievano S. , Borghi A.
Published: April 2024

Sagittal craniosynostosis (SC) is a congenital condition whereby the newborn skull develops abnormally owing to the premature ossification of the sagittal suture. Spring-assisted cranioplasty (SAC) is a minimally invasive surgical technique to treat SC, where metallic distractors are used to reshape the newborn’s head. Although safe and effective, SAC outcomes remain uncertain owing to the limited understanding of skull−distractor interaction and the limited information provided by the analysis of single surgical cases. In this work, an SC population-averaged skull model was created and used to simulate spring insertion by means of the finite-element analysis using a previously developed modelling framework. Surgical parameters were varied to assess the effect of osteotomy and spring positioning, as well as distractor combinations, on the final skull dimensions. Simulation trends were compared with retrospective measurements from clinical imaging (X-ray and three-dimensional photogrammetry scans). It was found that the on-table post-implantation head shape change is more sensitive to spring stiffness than to the other surgical parameters. However, the overall end-of-treatment head shape is more sensitive to spring positioning and osteotomy size parameters. The results of this work suggest that SAC surgical planning should be performed in view of long-term results, rather than immediate on-table reshaping outcomes.