bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of Platelet Parameters in Patients With Secondary Failure of Platelet Recovery and Cytomegalovirus Infection After Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
Authors: Zhao Yujian , An Shuo , Bi Hongchen , Luo Xiaoli , Wang Mingyang , Pang Aiming , Jiang Erlie , Cao Yigeng , Cui Yujie
Published: February 2023

Objective

To investigate the clinical significance of changes in platelet parameters in patients with secondary failure of platelet recovery (SFPR) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT).

Methods

In this retrospective study, 79 patients who had undergone allogeneic HSCT (allo-HSCT), including 40 patients with SFPR and 39 patients without SFPR, were recruited. The evaluated parameters were platelet count (PLT), plateletcrit (PCT), platelet-large cell ratio (P-LCR), mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet distribution width (PDW), the incidence of CMV infection after allo-HSCT, and the correlation of SFPR and CMV infection in patients who had undergone allo-HSCT. The control group included 107 healthy donors.

Results

The SFPR group had significantly lower megakaryocyte counts, PLT, and PCT and significantly higher P-LCR, MPV, and PDW than the healthy donor and non-SFPR groups. The incidence of CMV infection was higher in SFPR patients than in non-SFPR patients. Among the patients with SFPR, P-LCR, MPV, and PDW were lower in those with CMV DNA >8000 copies/mL than in those with CMV DNA <8000 copies/mL ( P < .05 for all); the CMV viral load was slightly negatively correlated with MPV ( P = .0297) and P-LCR ( P = .0280).

Conclusion

We demonstrate for the first time that the level of platelet activation in SFPR patients, which was closely related to CMV infection, was higher than that in that in non-SFPR patients, and higher CMV load was associated with the inhibition of platelet activation.
Neural network–based active control of a rigid–flexible spacecraft with bounded input
Authors: Fu Yun
Published: February 2023

This paper investigates the simultaneous control of a spacecraft with a rigid central hub and two flexible appendages. Taking into account the coupling between the vibration of flexible appendages and the motion of the hub, the rigid–flexible spacecraft subjected to external disturbance is modeled as a hybrid lumped–distributed parameter system. To attenuate the vibrations of the hub and flexible appendages and simultaneously track the given attitude angle, two boundary control laws are developed based on the original dynamic equation, where all system modes are controlled and spillover instability can be avoided. Using the active disturbance rejection control technique, two extended state observers are designed to obtain the estimation of external disturbances, which can be canceled in the negative feedback loop. The radial basis function neural network with adaptive weight law is employed to deal with the impact of input saturation. The well-posedness of the closed-loop system is proved by applying the semigroup theory. Under the rigorous Lyapunov analysis, the proposed control strategy ensures the practical stability of the rigid–flexible spacecraft system. Simulation verifies the performance of the designed control scheme.
Women's Experiences of Intimate Partner Violence While Incarcerated: The Measurement Structure, Reliability, and Validity of a Novel Instrument
Authors: Garthe Rachel C. , Fedock Gina , Rieger Agnes , Hsieh Wan-Jung , McLay Molly M. , Malcome Marion
Published: February 2023

While incarcerated, women may continue to experience intimate partner violence (IPV), perpetrated by partners who reside in the outside community. Power and control dynamics of abusive relationships may intensify as the abuser exploits their partners’ incarceration. The current study assessed IPV experiences of 832 incarcerated women (50% white, 76% mothers), testing a novel instrument. Results validated a two-factor structure: (a) general abuse (i.e., verbal, physical) and (b) deny or threaten to deny (i.e., leveraging the women's incarceration to intimidate or control). This study introduces a novel instrument to measure IPV while incarcerated and provides implications for research and practice.
A time-domain method for free vibration responses of an equivalent viscous damped system based on a complex damping model
Authors: Wang Shuxia , He Jiajun , Fan Jia , Sun Panxu , Wang Dongwei
Published: February 2023

The free vibration responses are divergent based on a complex time-domain damping model. The traditional step by step integration method cannot be used to calculate the time-domain responses. Based on the theoretic solution that eliminates the divergent term for the complex damping model, the equivalent viscous damping model is proposed and the corresponding average acceleration method is realized in this paper. The numerical cases show that the calculated results of the equivalent viscous damped system are convergent, which are equal to the ones of the deleted divergent term based on the complex damping model. The correctness of the proposed method is verified, and the computational efficiency is high.
Stock Markets’ Reactions to the Announcement of the Hosts. An Event Study in the Analysis of Large Sporting Events in the Years 1976–2032
Authors: Zawadzki Krystian M. , Potrykus Marcin
Published: February 2023

This study attempts to estimate the impact of the announcements of hosts of large sporting events on domestic stock markets. The research problem is to establish a connection between the uniqueness of a sporting event and investors’ beliefs through stock price behavior. Using appropriate estimation windows, 13 different sporting events classified as large, including mega and major events, were tested. The obtained results show that, in principle, one day after the announcement of the host of a large sporting event, an average positive reaction of 0.22% is observed on national stock exchanges. The analyzed events were also classified as being neutral for capital markets or generating positive or negative reactions when the host country is announced to the public.
Declining Trend in Anti-osteoporotic Treatment, Despite a Rise in DEXA Screening Following “Sentinel” Distal Radius Fractures
Authors: Malik Azeem Tariq , Gordon Adam , Awan Hisham , Khan Safdar N. , Goyal Kanu S.
Published: February 2023

Purpose:

To understand national trends and costs associated with the utilization of anti-osteoporotic medication and DEXA screening within the year following a sentinel/primary distal radius fracture.

Methods:

The 2008-2015Q1 Humana Administrative Claims database was queried to identify patients aged ≥50 years, with a “sentinel” occurrence of a primary closed distal radius fracture. Linear regression models were used to report and assess for significant trends in utilization of anti-osteoporotic medication and DEXA screenings within the year following the fracture. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to assess for factors associated with receiving or not receiving anti-osteoporotic medication.

Results:

A total of 14 526 sentinel distal radius fractures were included in the study. Only 7.2% (n = 1046) of patients received anti-osteoporosis medication in the year following the distal radius fracture. Treatment with medication for osteoporosis declined from 8.2% in 2008 to 5.9% in 2015, whereas the rate of DEXA screening increased from 14.8% in 2008 to 23.6% in 2015. The most common prescribed treatment was alendronate sodium (n = 835; 79.8%—$49/patient). Factors associated with increased odds of receiving anti-osteoporotic medication were age 70 to 79 years (odds ratio [OR], 1.45; P = .014), age 80 to 89 years (OR, 1.66; P = .001), Asian (OR, 2.95; P = .002) or Hispanic (OR, 1.77; P = .006) ethnicity, belonging to South (OR, 1.19; P = .029) or West (OR, 1.37; P = .010), and having an Elixhauser Comorbidity Index score of 3 (OR, 2.14; P = .024) or > 3 (OR, 2.05; P = .022).

Conclusions:

Despite a rising utilization of DEXA screening following “sentinel” distal radius fractures, the proportion of individuals who receive anti-osteoporotic treatment is decreasing over time.
Qualitative Analysis of Video-Based Culinary Training on Pediatric Critical Care Clinician Perceptions of Wellness: A Pilot Study
Authors: Kons Kelly , Stuckey Heather L. , Costigan Heather J. , Williams Duane , Krawiec Conrad
Published: February 2023

Video conference software has been increasingly used during the COVID-19 pandemic, but it is unknown if pediatric critical care providers would participate in culinary training via video conference in an effort to improve their wellness. The study aims were to (1) assess the feasibility of implementing a video-based culinary training wellness intervention; and (2) understand the barriers and motivators to attaining wellness from the perspective of pediatric critical care clinicians. We conducted, transcribed, and analyzed pre- and post-intervention semi-structured interviews using a directed content analysis approach. Four participants were included in this study. Pre-intervention qualitative analysis identified 3 themes: (1) Job-specific constraints contributed to poorer eating habits; (2) Poor nutrition was related to anxiety levels and job stress; (3) Meal preparation improved healthy eating. Post-intervention analysis identified 3 themes: (1) Wellness intervention was enhanced by involving loved ones; (2) Course improvement suggestions focused on more participants; (3) Major impacts from the course focused on cooking higher quality meals, obtaining new cooking tools, and applying new techniques. By providing pediatric critical care clinicians an opportunity to participate in virtual interactive culinary training experiences, we found that participants reported increased motivation to prepare quick and nutritious meals to improve their overall wellness.
Association of Physical Activity and Gait Speed: Does Context Matter?
Authors: Richards Elizabeth A. , Christ Sharon L. , Rietdyk Shirley , Teas Elizabeth , Franks Melissa M.
Published: February 2023

Background: Physical activity (PA) is associated with gait speed, and both are recognized predictors of important health outcomes. The role of social context, such as PA of one’s spouse, in the association between PA and gait speed is largely unexplored. Methods: In our dyadic study of 69 couples, we objectively assessed each partner’s moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA) and gait speed. Associations of MVPA and gait speed were tested using actor-partner interdependence models in a structural equation modeling framework. Whether partners’ typically exercise together was examined as a moderator of these associations. Results: A nonlinear association was observed where higher MVPA was associated with faster gait speed, but only when MVPA was below average (husbands β = −.517; P = .002; wives β = −.483; P = .009). No moderating effects of exercising together were detected for husbands’ or wives’ MVPA on their own or their partners’ gait speed. Conclusions: In this investigation of couples, the association between MVPA and gait speed emerged only when nonlinear effects were considered. Findings suggest that the PA and gait speed association may be more nuanced than previously examined. Additional consideration of contextual factors that may alter the complex association between MVPA and gait speed is warranted.
Anthropogenic life strategy of plants
Authors: Winkler Jan , Vaverková Magdalena Daria , Havel Ladislav
Published: February 2023

Plants can adapt to different conditions. They use different life strategies which allow them to adapt and survive. While humans and human civilization cause changes in the Earth’s ecology, only negative impacts of human civilization on individual parts of ecosystems tend to be presented and described. One often omitted fact is that humans also create new habitats which, for many plant species, are new challenges necessary to trigger changes in their life strategies. In the contemporary flora, there is a group of plant species that use and prefer anthropogenic habitats, and beneficial relationships started to be established between the human civilization and certain plant species. These plants have developed a new type of strategy—the anthropogenic life strategy—as a result of the co-evolution of plants and humans. During their evolution, humans—as a biological species—have exceeded their biological boundaries and transformed into human civilization, which is a factor altering environmental conditions and contributing to the evolution of new species, including plants.
Impact of Tracheal Arborization and Lung Hypoplasia in Repair of Pulmonary Artery Sling in Combination With Long-Segment Tracheal Stenosis
Authors: Rudrappa Siddartha C , Beeman Arun , Ramaswamy Madhavan , Khambadkone Sachin , Derrick Graham , Kostolny Martin , Calder Alistair , Muthialu Nagarajan
Published: February 2023

Background: Reimplantation of the left pulmonary artery (LPA) and slide tracheoplasty has been our standard approach of care for patients with pulmonary artery sling (PAS) and tracheal stenosis. We present our experience, with emphasis on tracheal arborization and hypoplastic lungs; and their impact on long-term outcome of children with PAS and tracheal stenosis. Methods: It is a retrospective comparative study. Data were classified and analyzed based on the type of tracheobronchial arborization and normal versus hypoplastic lungs. Results: Seventy-five children operated between January 1994 and December 2019 (67 with normal lungs and 8 with lung hypoplasia/agenesis) were included. Patients with hypoplastic lungs had higher rates of preoperative ventilation (87.5%), postoperative ventilation (10 vs 8 days, P = .621), and mortality (50% vs 9%, P = .009) compared with those with normal lungs. Nineteen patients had tracheal bronchus (TB) variety and 30 patients had congenital long-segment tracheal stenosis (CLSTS) variety of tracheobronchial arborization. Endoscopic intervention was needed in 47.4% of patients with TB type and 60% with CLSTS type. CLSTS patients had higher rates of preoperative ventilation (60% vs 47.4%, P = .386), longer periods of postoperative ventilation (13 vs 6.5 days, P = .006), and ICU stay (15 vs 11 days, P = .714) compared with TB type. Conclusion: Surgical repair of PAS with tracheal stenosis has good long-term outcomes. All variations of tracheal anatomy can be managed with slide tracheoplasty. Persistence of airway problems requires intervention during follow-up as tracheal stenosis continues to be the Achilles heel.
Regulatory Emotional Self-efficacy and Prosocial Behavior: A Moderated Mediation Model
Authors: Li Lu , Zhang Jiyu , He Xiaoxi , Hu Feng , Liu Xiangping , Huang Long , Liu Hairong
Published: February 2023

This study examined the mediating effect of meaning in life and the moderating effect of interpersonal trust on the relationship between regulatory emotional self-efficacy (RESE) and prosocial behavior among Chinese college students. RESE and prosocial behavior were evaluated via a survey of 942 participants (51.59% females), showing that RESE was linked to prosocial behavior, and meaning in life mediated the relationship between RESE and prosocial behavior. Additionally, the interpersonal trust could reinforce RESE and meaning in life. In summary, RESE can not only be directly related to the prosocial behavior of college students through the meaning in life, and interpersonal trust can promote the relationship between RESE and meaning in life.
Chinese High-Tech Export Performance: Effects of Intellectual Capital Mediated by Dynamic and Risk Management Capabilities
Authors: Lee Keonhyeong , Wang Liyuan
Published: February 2023

This study analyzed the effect of intellectual capital on Chinese exporters’ performance and the joint mediating effect of two-way capabilities to explain the relationships. With a sample of 197 firms responsible for exporting Chinese high-tech products, we empirically evaluated higher-order constructs in a partial least squares structural equation model using a two-stage approach. The results show that firms’ intellectual capital generates dynamic capabilities, which lead human, structural, and relational capital to improve overseas export performance. Furthermore, the study shows risk management capability also has a complementary mediating role in improving overseas export performance. These findings point to the significant role of two-way capabilities, clarifying how risk management capabilities can be used to enhance export performance and highlighting the role of dynamic capabilities in leveraging export performance. Our findings hold managerial implications on how Chinese high-tech exporting businesses adapt to fast-changing environments.
Vocabulary Demands of Academic Spoken English Revisited: A Case of University Lectures and TED Presentations
Authors: Trang Nguyen Huynh , Nguyen Duyen Thi Bich , Ha Hung Tan
Published: February 2023

The article shines light upon the differences in the vocabulary demands of academic spoken discourse between three broad scientific disciplines: Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, and Social Sciences. By employing the Academic Word List (AWL) and British National Corpus/Corpus of Contemporary American English (BNC/COCA) wordlist, the present study analyzed data of the transcripts from 160 university lectures, 39 seminars, and 600 TED talks. Results from the analysis of the 2.5-million-token corpus demonstrated an order of lexical difficulty in which Life Sciences and Social Sciences were the most and least lexically demanding fields of study, correspondingly. Research findings also indicated a strong supportive relationship between the AWL and the BNC/COCA wordlist. Learners with limited vocabulary knowledge at 1,000 and 2,000 levels could significantly increase their lexical coverage for academic lectures, seminars, and presentations with the support of the AWL. For disciplines with low lexical demands like Social Sciences, the vocabulary knowledge of nearly 2,570 word families (BNC/COCA 2,000 + AWL) could help students understand 95.07% of the running words in universities lectures and seminars. Research findings offer implications for vocabulary teaching and learning.
Marginalized, silenced, and struggling: Understanding the plights of Chinese graduate teaching assistants
Authors: Huang Ting , Chen Si , Lin Jia , Cun Aijuan
Published: February 2023

Pursuing equity and diversity on internationalized higher education campuses has become an urgent agenda. Chinese Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs) do not always have smooth experiences with this internationalization. While they are often overlooked in racial discussion in the U.S., they cannot escape the racial and cultural inequalities in the same context. Using Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological systems (2005) and Lee’s neo-racism (2020) as analytical lenses, this study revealed the racial and cultural challenges experienced by 21 Chinese at micro-, meso-, exo-, macro-, and chrono-levels. The study helps educators charged with the complexity of Chinese GTAs’ plights by considering contextual influences using critical concepts (e.g., neo-racism). This study is significant in addressing unique equity and diversity issues in globalized higher education using both phenomenological and critical perspectives. Finally, we call for actions on the part of higher education institutions to create more equitable and caring systems to improve all students’ academic and sociocultural experiences.
Do Central Bank Communications Influence Survey of Professional Forecasters? An Empirical Investigation
Authors: Kapoor Pooja , Kar Sujata
Published: February 2023

The present study contributes to our understanding regarding private-sector inflation expectations and how central bank communications influence them in an emerging economy like India. This study uses the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) regression function to estimate the influence of the determinants on the survey of professional forecasters for a period ranging from Q1 2014–2015 to Q4 2021–2022. Our results demonstrate the significant positive influence of the lagged period inflation forecasted by the professionals and central bank communications in the form of inflation projections on the inflation forecasted by the professionals in the current period. Macroeconomic variables like repo rate, lagged realized inflation, GDP, merchandise exports and imports, and crude oil rates turned out to be non-significant in influencing the inflation forecasted by the professionals, at least in the short run. The literature highlights the importance of anchoring private-sector expectations by the central bank in an economy, and our results provide empirical evidence for the same, along with its implications on policy making.
Quality-Adjusted Life Year Proxies for Caries in Primary Dentition: A Discrete Choice Experiment
Authors: Lin T.K. , Zarate D.E. Arriola , Iribarren N. , Lindau H. , Ramos-Gomez F. , Gansky S.A.
Published: February 2023

Introduction:

Cost-utility analysis (CUA)—a method to evaluate intervention cost-effectiveness—transforms benefits of alternatives into a measure of quantity and quality of life, such as quality-adjusted life year (QALY), to enable comparison across heterogeneous programs. Measurement challenges prevent directly estimating utilities and calculating QALYs for caries in primary dentition. Proxy disease QALYs are often used as a substitute; however, there lacks quantitative evidence that these proxy diseases are comparable to caries.

Objective:

To employ a discrete choice experiment (DCE) to quantitatively determine the most comparable proxy disease for different levels of caries in primary dentition.

Methods:

A cross-sectional DCE survey was administered to respondents ( N = 461) who resided in California, were aged ≥18 y, and were primary caretakers for ≥1 child aged 3 to 12 y. Four attributes were included: pain level, disease duration, treatment cost, and family life impacts. Mixed effects logistic regression and conditional logistic regression were used to analyze the survey data.

Results:

Respondents from the overall sample preferred no pain over mild (odds ratio [OR] = 0.50, P < 0.05), moderate (OR = 0.57, P < 0.05), and severe pain (OR = 0.48, P < 0.05). Acute gastritis (OR = 0.44, P < 0.05), chronic gastritis (OR = 0.31, P < 0.01), and cold sore (OR = 0.38, P < 0.05) were less preferred than stage 1 caries. Acute tonsilitis (OR = 0.43, P < 0.05), acute gastritis (OR = 0.38, P < 0.05), chronic gastritis (OR = 0.26, P < 0.01), and cold sore (OR = 0.33, P < 0.01) were less preferred than stage 2 caries. Chronic gastritis (OR = 0.42, P < 0.05) was less preferred than stage 4 caries.

Conclusions:

Parents viewed the characteristics of many diseases with similar QALYs differently. Findings suggest that otitis media and its QALY—as commonly used in CUAs—may be a suitable proxy disease and substitute. However, other disease states with slightly different QALYs may be suitable. As such, the recommendation is to consider a range of proxy diseases and their QALYs when conducting a CUA for child caries interventions.

Knowledge Transfer Statement:

This study reviews and systematically compares pediatric diseases that are comparable to caries in primary dentition. The findings may inform future research using cost-utility analysis to examine the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of interventions to prevent and treat caries as compared with an alternative.
Acute revascularization therapy for ischemic stroke during pregnancy and post-partum in France
Authors: Béjot Yannick , Olié Valérie , Lailler Grégory , Grave Clémence , Regnault Nolwenn , Blacher Jacques , Duloquin Gauthier , Gabet Amélie
Published: February 2023

Introduction:

Intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) and mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in women with ischemic stroke (IS) during pregnancy/post-partum is challenging, and recent guidelines claimed for additional information to better argue its effectiveness and safety. This observational national study aimed to describe characteristics, rates and outcomes of pregnant/post-partum women receiving acute revascularization therapy for IS compared to their non-pregnant counterparts, and pregnant women with IS not receiving such therapy.

Patients and methods:

In this cross-sectional study, all women aged 15–49 years hospitalized in France for IS between 2012 and 2018 were retrieved from the French hospital discharge databases. Pregnant or post-partum (⩽6 weeks after delivery) women were identified. Data about patients’ characteristics, risk factors, revascularization therapy, delivery, post-stroke survival, and recurrent vascular events during follow-up were recorded.

Results:

Over the study period, 382 women with pregnancy-related IS were registered. Among them, 7.3% ( n = 28) received a revascularization therapy, including nine cases during pregnancy, one the same day as delivery, and 18 during the post-partum period, compared with 8.5% ( n = 1285) in women with non-pregnancy-related IS ( n = 15,084). Treated pregnant/post-partum women had more severe IS than not-treated pregnant/post-partum. Compared with treated not-pregnant women, they were younger, but did not differ regarding other characteristics including stroke severity. There were no differences in systemic or intracranial hemorrhages or in the length of hospital stay between pregnant/post-partum women compared with treated not-pregnant women. All women receiving revascularization during pregnancy had a live baby. After a mean follow-up of 4.3 years, all pregnant/post-partum women were alive, one had recurrent IS and none had other vascular events.

Discussion and conclusion:

Only a few women with pregnancy-related IS were treated with acute revascularization therapy, but this was proportionately similar to their non-pregnant counterparts, from whom they did not differed regarding characteristics, survival, and risk of recurrent events. These findings suggest that stroke physicians applied treatment strategies of IS in a similar way regardless of pregnancy in France, and this attitude was an anticipation but consistent with the recently published guidelines on the topic.
Facilities Planning in the Dynamic Environment in Tanzanian Public Primary Schools
Authors: Ndisa Hirst Herman
Published: February 2023

The article explains the improvement of Tanzanian public primary schools facilities planning in the dynamic environment. The main contribution is that School Facilities Planning (SFP) in the dynamic environment to enhance adequate and quality school facilities is determined by the presence of vision and mission statements, positive school culture, technological environment and monitoring and evaluation. This article looks not beyond the planning but rather at the dynamics of planning discourse itself. It explains how dynamic environment in Tanzania facilitates, and sometimes constrains, the mobilization of resources to implement school facilities plans. It draws from the discursive construction of social actors in SFP from 2010 to 2019. Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) was used as a theory, methodology, and data analysis strategy. Major findings indicate that, in order to improve planning in the dynamic environment, vision and mission statements should be established in schools and emphasize SFP; there should be a culture of facilities planning in schools; technological environment should be emphasized to facilitate durable and quality school facilities; and monitoring and evaluation should be emphasized to facilitate SFP.
Improving community readiness among Iranian local communities to prevent childhood obesity
Authors: Niknam Mahdieh , Omidvar Nasrin , Eini-Zinab Hassan , Kalantari Naser , Olazadeh Keyvan , Amiri Parisa
Published: February 2023

Background

Community Readiness Intervention for Tackling Childhood Obesity (CRITCO) is a theory-based intervention being developed to improve the readiness of an Iranian urban population to engage in childhood obesity prevention programs. This study aimed to explore changes in readiness of intervention and control local communities from diverse socio-economic areas of Tehran.

Methods

This study was a seven-month quasi-experimental intervention implemented in four intervention communities and compared with four controls. Aligned strategies and action plans were developed around the six dimensions of community readiness. The Food and Nutrition Committee was established in each intervention community to make collaborative efforts among different sectors and assess the fidelity of the intervention. The pre-and post- readiness change was explored through interviews with 46 community key informants.

Results

The total readiness of intervention sites increased by 0.48 units (p < 0.001) and shifted to the next higher level, from preplanning to the preparation stage. At the same time, the readiness of control communities decreased by 0.39 units (p < 0.001), although their readiness stage remained unchanged, reflecting the fourth stage. Also, a sex-dependent CR change was observed, such that the girls’ schools showed a more remarkable improvement in interventions and less decline in controls. The readiness stages of interventions significantly improved for four dimensions related to community efforts, knowledge of the efforts, knowledge of childhood obesity issue, and leadership. Furthermore, the readiness of control communities significantly decreased on three of six dimensions related to community effort, knowledge of efforts, and resources.

Conclusions

The CRITCO successfully improved the readiness of intervention sites for addressing childhood obesity. It is hoped that the present study can be a spark for developing readiness-based childhood obesity prevention programs in Middle Eastern and other developing countries.

Trial registration

The CRITCO intervention was registered at Iran Registry for Clinical Trials (http://irct.ir; IRCT20191006044997N1) on 11/11/2019.
Effect of annualized surgeon volume on major surgical complications for abdominal and laparoscopic radical hysterectomy for cervical cancer in China, 2004–2016: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Liang Cong , Li Weili , Liu Xiaoyun , Zhao Hongwei , Yin Lu , Li Mingwei , Guo Yu , Lang Jinghe , Bin Xiaonong , Liu Ping , Chen Chunlin
Published: February 2023

Background

Previous studies have suggested that higher surgeon volume leads to improved perioperative outcomes for oncologic surgery; however, the effect of surgeon volumes on surgical outcomes might differ according to the surgical approach used. This paper attempts to evaluate the effect of surgeon volume on complications or cervical cancer in an abdominal radical hysterectomy (ARH) cohort and laparoscopic radical hysterectomy (LRH) cohort.

Methods

We conducted a population-based retrospective study using the Major Surgical Complications of Cervical Cancer in China (MSCCCC) database to analyse patients who underwent radical hysterectomy (RH) from 2004 to 2016 at 42 hospitals. We estimated the annualized surgeon volumes in the ARH cohort and in the LRH cohort separately. The effect of the surgeon volume of ARH or LRH on surgical complications was examined using multivariable logistic regression models.

Results

In total, 22,684 patients who underwent RH for cervical cancer were identified. In the abdominal surgery cohort, the mean surgeon case volume increased from 2004 to 2013 (3.5 to 8.7 cases) and then decreased from 2013 to 2016 (8.7 to 4.9 cases). The mean surgeon case volume number of surgeons performing LRH increased from 1 to 12.1 cases between 2004 and 2016 (P < 0.01). In the abdominal surgery cohort, patients treated by intermediate-volume surgeons were more likely to experience postoperative complications (OR = 1.55, 95% CI = 1.11–2.15) than those treated by high-volume surgeons. In the laparoscopic surgery cohort, surgeon volume did not appear to influence the incidence of intraoperative or postoperative complications (P = 0.46; P = 0.13).

Conclusions

The performance of ARH by intermediate-volume surgeons is associated with an increased risk of postoperative complications. However, surgeon volume may have no effect on intraoperative or postoperative complications after LRH.
Activation of endogenous retrovirus triggers microglial immuno-inflammation and contributes to negative emotional behaviors in mice with chronic stress
Authors: Bao Han , Yan Jinqi , Huang Jiancheng , Deng Wenjuan , Zhang Ce , Liu Cong , Huang Ailing , Zhang Qiao , Xiong Ying , Wang Qiang , Wu Huanghui , Hou Lichao
Published: February 2023

Background

The “missing” link of complex and multifaceted interplay among endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) transcription, chronic immuno-inflammation, and the development of psychiatric disorders is still far from being completely clarified. The present study was aimed to investigate the mechanism of protective role of inhibiting ERVs on reversing microglial immuno-inflammation in basolateral amygdala (BLA) in chronic stress-induced negative emotional behaviors in mice.

Methods

Male C57BL/6 mice were exposed to chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) for 6 w. Negative emotional behaviors were comprehensively investigated to identify the susceptible mice. Microglial morphology, ERVs transcription, intrinsic nucleic acids sensing response, and immuno-inflammation in BLA were assessed.

Results

Mice with chronic stress were presented as obviously depressive- and anxiety-like behaviors, and accompanied with significant microglial morphological activation, murine ERVs genesMuERV-L,MusD, andIAPtranscription, cGAS–IFI16–STING pathway activation, NF-κB signaling pathway priming, as well as NLRP3 inflammasome activation in BLA. Antiretroviral therapy, pharmacological inhibition of reverse transcriptases, as well as knocking-down the ERVs transcriptional regulation genep53significantly inhibited microglial ERVs transcription and immuno-inflammation in BLA, as well as improved the chronic stress-induced negative emotional behaviors.

Conclusions

Our results provided an innovative therapeutic approach that targeting ERVs-associated microglial immuno-inflammation may be beneficial to the patients with psychotic disorders.
“Procedural sedation and analgesia in Italian pediatric emergency departments: a subgroup analysis in italian hospitals"
Authors: Bevacqua Martina , Sforzi Idanna , Bressan Silvia , Barbi Egidio , Sahyoun Cyril
Published: February 2023

To date, pain and anxiety are the most common symptoms reported by children who refer to pediatric emergency department. Despite it is well known that the undertreatment of this condition has some negative consequences in a short term and long term of time, gaps in the management of pain in this setting still persist. This subgroup analysis aims to describe the current state of art of pediatric sedation and analgesia in Italian emergency departments and to identify existing gaps to solve. This is a subgroup analysis of a cross-sectional European survey of pediatric emergency departments sedation and analgesia practice undertaken between November 2019 and March 2020. The survey proposed a case vignette and questions addressing several domains, like the management of pain, availability of medications, protocols and safety aspects, staff training and availability of human resources around procedural sedation and analgesia. Italian sites responding to the survey were identified and their data were isolated and checked for completeness. Eighteen Italian sites participated to the study, the 66% of which was represented University Hospitals and/or Tertiary Care Centers. The most concerning results were an inadequate sedation to 27% of patients, lack of availability of certain medications like nitrous oxide, the lack of use of intranasal fentanyl and topical anesthetics at the triage, the rare use of safety protocols and preprocedural checklists, lack of staff training and lack of space. Furthermore, the unavailability of Child Life Specialists and hypnosis emerged. Despite procedural sedation and analgesia in Italian pediatric emergency departments is progressively more used than previously, several aspects still require an implementation. Our subgroup analysis could be a starter point for further studies and to improve and make the current Italian recommendations more homogeneous.
Mismatch negativity as an early biomarker of cognitive impairment in schizophrenia
Authors: Mahmoud Abeer Mamdouh Ali , Eissa Mai Abd-Elraoof , Kolkaila Enaas Ahmad , Amer Reham Abdel Rahman , Kotait Mona Ahmed
Published: February 2023

Background

Due to its disturbance in schizophrenic patients, mismatch negativity (MMN) generation is believed to be a potential biomarker for recognizing primary impairments in auditory sensory processing during the course of the disease. However, great controversy exists regarding the type and onset of MMN-related impairments, with the deficits to frequency deviants is more debatable. This cross-sectional, case–control study was conducted to assess the cognitive functions among 33 eligible Egyptian schizophrenics (15 early and 18 chronic), and 30 matched healthy controls by assessing their psychometric tests and correlating them to the coexisting frequency deviant MMN responses (using both tone and speech stimuli).

Results

Deficits in frequency MMN and neuropsychological tests were evident among early and chronic schizophrenics compared to their matched control counterparts, and also between early versus chronic schizophrenia in favor of the later. MMN deficits to speech stimuli were more elicited than tone stimuli among schizophrenics. Moreover, significant correlations were identified between MMN parameters and the results of psychiatric cognitive scales.

Conclusions

We demonstrated that frequency-deviant MMN deficits are evident feature among the enrolled Egyptian schizophrenics. The cognitive functions as indexed by MMN seem affected early, with the striking decrease of MMN amplitude and delay of latency point towards the progression of the illness. The normal lateralization of MMN was absent in chronic schizophrenia. These findings could be helpful in using the MMN as an additional objective tool for confirming cognitive impairments among schizophrenics and to differentiate between early- and chronic-schizophrenic patients for medico-legal purposes and clinical implication for medications.
Identification of biomarkers for vascular dementia: a literature review
Authors: Jamali Qutub , Akinfala Akinloye , Upendram Amulya
Published: February 2023

Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia are the two most common types of dementia. It becomes difficult to distinguish between the two, especially when there are no specific genetic causes or vascular changes apparent. The aim of this review was to identify specific biomarkers supporting the diagnosis of vascular dementia by conducting a literature search for systematic reviews and observational studies. We found seven studies meeting our inclusion/exclusion criteria, and from these we identified four specific biomarkers supporting the diagnosis of vascular dementia: high levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone, lipoprotein(a), homocysteine and N-terminal prosomatostatin. However, the studies were small and a well-conducted study with larger populations is recommended to strengthen the evidence base.
Measuring recovery-oriented rehabilitation language in clinical documentation to enhance recovery-oriented practice
Authors: De Monte Veronica , Veitch Angus , Dark Frances , Meurk Carla , Wyder Marianne , Wheeler Maddison , Carney Kylie , Parker Stephen , Kisely Steve , Siskind Dan
Published: February 2023

Background

Mental health services are encouraged to use language consistent with principles of recovery-oriented practice. This study presents a novel approach for identifying whether clinical documentation contains recovery-oriented rehabilitation language, and evaluates an intervention to improve the language used within a community-based rehabilitation team.

Aims

This is a pilot study of training to enhance recovery-oriented rehabilitation language written in care review summaries, as measured through a text-based analysis of language used in mental health clinical documentation.

Method

Eleven case managers participated in a programme that included instruction in recovery-oriented rehabilitation principles. Outcomes were measured with automated textual analysis of clinical documentation, using a custom-built dictionary of rehabilitation-consistent, person-centred and pejorative terms. Automated analyses were run on Konstanz Information Miner (KNIME), an open-source data analytics platform. Differences in the frequency of term categories in 50 pre-training and 77 post-training documents were analysed with inferential statistics.

Results

The average percentage of sentences with recovery-oriented rehabilitation terms increased from 37% before the intervention to 48% afterward, a relative increase of 28% (P < 0.001). There was no significant change in use of person-centred or pejorative terms, possibly because of a relatively high frequency of person-centred language (22% of sentences) and low use of pejorative language (2.3% of sentences) at baseline.

Conclusions

This computer-driven textual analysis method identified improvements in recovery-oriented rehabilitation language following training. Our study suggests that brief interventions can affect the language of clinical documentation, and that automated text-analysis may represent a promising approach for rapidly assessing recovery-oriented rehabilitation language in mental health services.
Sexually Dimorphic Regulation of Gonadotrope Cell Hyperplasia in Medaka Pituitary via Mitosis and Transdifferentiation
Authors: Royan Muhammad Rahmad , Kayo Daichi , Weltzien Finn-Arne , Fontaine Romain
Published: February 2023

The 2 pituitary gonadotropins, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH), regulate the reproductive function in all vertebrates. While many studies have investigated the regulation of gonadotropin production and release by sex steroid feedback, its role on the regulation of gonadotrope cell number remains unclear. Using medaka as a model and an optimized protocol to restore physiological sex steroids levels following gonadectomy, we show that gonadal sex steroids not only decrease fshb transcript levels, but also Fsh cell number in both sexes. We then investigated the origin of Fsh cell hyperplasia induced by gonadectomy. In both sexes, bromodeoxyuridine incubation shows that this is achieved via Fsh cell mitosis. In situ hybridization reveals that new Fsh cells also originate from transdifferentiating Tsh cells in females, but not in males. Both phenomena are inhibited by sex steroid supplementation via feeding. In males (but not females), gonadectomy (without recovery with sex steroid supplementation) also reduces sox2 transcript levels and Sox2-immunopositive population size, suggesting that Sox2 progenitors may be recruited to produce new Fsh cells. Opposite to Fsh cells, gonadectomy decreases lhb levels in both sexes, and levels are not restored by sex steroid supplementation. In addition, the regulation of Lh cell number also seems to be sex dependent. Removal of gonadal sex steroids stimulates Lh cell mitosis in male (like Fsh cells) but not in females. To conclude, our study provides the first evidence on sexually dimorphic mechanisms used in the fish pituitary to remodel gonadotrope populations in response to sex steroids.
LGR4: A New Receptor Member in Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases
Authors: Zhang Ningning , Yuan Mingyang , Wang Jiqiu
Published: February 2023

Classic hormone membrane receptors, such as leucine-rich repeat-containing G protein–coupled receptor (LGR) 1 (follicle-stimulating hormone receptor), LGR2 (luteinizing hormone receptor), and LGR3 (thyrotropin receptor), are crucial in endocrinology and metabolism, and the identification of new receptors can advance this field. LGR4 is a new member of this G protein–coupled receptor family and shows ways of expression and function similar to those of LGR1/2/3. Several recent studies have reported that, unlike LGR5/6, LGR4 plays essential roles in endocrine and metabolic diseases, including hypothalamic–gonadal axis defects, mammary gland dysplasia, osteoporosis, cardiometabolic diseases, and obesity. An inactivating mutation p.R126X in LGR4 leads to osteoporosis, electrolyte disturbance, abnormal sex hormone levels, and weight loss, whereas an activating mutation p.A750T is associated with bone mineral density, insulin resistance, and adiposity. Though several paracrine ligands are known to act on LGR4, the endocrine ligands of LGR4 remain poorly defined. In this review, we highlight LGR4 dysfunction in clinical diseases, animal models, and pathophysiological changes, discuss their known ligands and downstream signaling pathways, and identify unresolved questions and future perspectives of this new receptor.
Testing the Impact of Protocolized Care of Patients With Severe Traumatic Brain Injury Without Intracranial Pressure Monitoring: The Imaging and Clinical Examination Protocol
Authors: Chesnut Randall M. , Temkin Nancy , Videtta Walter , Lujan Silvia , Petroni Gustavo , Pridgeon Jim , Dikmen Sureyya , Chaddock Kelley , Hendrix Terence , Barber Jason , Machamer Joan , Guadagnoli Nahuel , Hendrickson Peter , Alanis Victor , La Fuente Gustavo , Lavadenz Arturo , Merida Roberto , Lora Freddy Sandi , Romero Ricardo , Pinillos Oscar , Urbina Zulma , Figueroa Jairo , Ochoa Marcelo , Davila Rafael , Mora Jacobo , Bustamante Luis , Perez Carlos , Leiva Jorge , Carricondo Carlos , Mazzola Ana Maria , Guerra Juan
Published: February 2023

BACKGROUND:

Most patients with severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI) in low- or-middle-income countries and surprisingly many in high-income countries are managed without intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring. The impact of the first published protocol (Imaging and Clinical Examination [ICE] protocol) is untested against nonprotocol management.

OBJECTIVE:

To determine whether patients treated in intensive care units (ICUs) using the ICE protocol have lower mortality and better neurobehavioral functioning than those treated in ICUs using no protocol.

METHODS:

This study involved nineteen mostly public South American hospitals. This is a prospective cohort study, enrolling patients older than 13 years with sTBI presenting within 24 h of injury (January 2014-July 2015) with 6-mo postinjury follow-up. Five hospitals treated all sTBI cases using the ICE protocol; 14 used no protocol. Primary outcome was prespecified composite of mortality, orientation, functional outcome, and neuropsychological measures.

RESULTS:

A total of 414 patients (89% male, mean age 34.8 years) enrolled; 81% had 6 months of follow-up. All participants included in composite outcome analysis: average percentile (SD) = 46.8 (24.0) nonprotocol, 56.9 (24.5) protocol. Generalized estimating equation (GEE) used to account for center effects (confounder-adjusted difference [95% CI] = 12.2 [4.6, 19.8], P = .002). Kaplan–Meier 6-month mortality (95% CI) = 36% (30%, 43%) nonprotocol, 25% (19%, 31%) protocol (GEE and confounder-adjusted hazard ratio [95% CI] = .69 [.43, 1.10], P = .118). Six-month Extended Glasgow Outcome Scale for 332 participants: average Extended Glasgow Outcome Scale score (SD) = 3.6 (2.6) nonprotocol, 4.7 (2.8) protocol (GEE and confounder-adjusted and lost to follow-up–adjusted difference [95% CI] = 1.36 [.55, 2.17], P = .001).

CONCLUSION:

ICUs managing patients with sTBI using the ICE protocol had better functional outcome than those not using a protocol. ICUs treating patients with sTBI without ICP monitoring should consider protocolization. The ICE protocol, tested here and previously, is 1 option.