bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Vicarious Trauma Scale: Psychometric Properties in a Sample of Social Workers from Spain
Authors: Aguiar-Fernández Francisco J , Méndez-Fernández Ana B , Lombardero-Posada Xoán M , Murcia-Álvarez Evelia , González-Fernández Antonio
Published: August 2022

As a result of secondary exposure to traumatic material, social workers may experience vicarious trauma. However, the analysis of this variable among social workers is scarce. The Vicarious Trauma Scale (VTS) is a brief instrument designed to measure the stress consequence of shared trauma. This study aims to examine the psychometrics of the VTS in a sample of 448 social workers from Spain. The results from the exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses (EFA and CFA) indicated that the VTS has satisfactory psychometric properties. Different indices of internal consistency supported the reliability of the VTS. Both EFA and CFA revealed the existence of two factors, corresponding to the cognitive and affective consequences of secondary exposure to trauma. Finally, the correlations of the VTS with other relevant and well-known job variables (workload, work–family conflict, detachment, supervisor support, burnout, and engagement) followed the expected pattern, and the VTS differentiated the social workers by their trauma caseload. Therefore, the VTS can be considered an adequate screening method of social workers’ vicarious trauma, and its application recommended to examine the possible risk and protective factors and consequences.
Employment and innovation in recessions: firm-level evidence from European Countries
Authors: Peters Bettina , Dachs Bernhard , Hud Martin , Köhler Christian
Published: August 2022

This paper investigates the employment effects of innovation over the business cycle with a large data set of manufacturing firms from 26 European countries from 1998 to 2014. The paper reveals four important findings: First, the net employment effect of product innovation is pro-cyclical and positive except in recessions. Second, product innovators are more resilient in recessions than non-product innovators because they are able to substitute demand losses in old products with new products. As a result, the net employment losses of product innovators are significantly lower in recessions than those of non-product innovators. Third, we find resilience only among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), but not among large firms. Fourth, process and organizational innovations displace labor primarily during upturn and downturn periods.
Frequency criteria for exponential stability
Authors: Gannot Oran
Published: August 2022

We discuss some frequency-domain criteria for the exponential stability of nonlinear feedback systems based on Popov’s hyperstability theorem. The main results are new bounds on convergence rates for perturbations of the damped harmonic oscillator, including the Hessian-damped case, when the perturbations satisfy certain sectoriality or convexity hypotheses. We also include a simplified proof of Popov’s theorem in its general form, which has the virtue that it often applies at the margins of stability when other criteria typically degenerate.
Scanning the medical phenome to identify new diagnoses after recovery from COVID-19 in a US cohort
Authors: Kerchberger Vern Eric , Peterson Josh F , Wei Wei-Qi
Published: August 2022

Objective

COVID-19 survivors are at risk for long-term health effects, but assessing the sequelae of COVID-19 at large scales is challenging. High-throughput methods to efficiently identify new medical problems arising after acute medical events using the electronic health record (EHR) could improve surveillance for long-term consequences of acute medical problems like COVID-19.

Materials and Methods

We augmented an existing high-throughput phenotyping method (PheWAS) to identify new diagnoses occurring after an acute temporal event in the EHR. We then used the temporal-informed phenotypes to assess development of new medical problems among COVID-19 survivors enrolled in an EHR cohort of adults tested for COVID-19 at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Results

The study cohort included 186 105 adults tested for COVID-19 from March 5, 2020 to November 1, 2021; of which 30 088 (16.2%) tested positive. Median follow-up after testing was 412 days (IQR 274–528). Our temporal-informed phenotyping was able to distinguish phenotype chapters based on chronicity of their constituent diagnoses. PheWAS with temporal-informed phenotypes identified increased risk for 43 diagnoses among COVID-19 survivors during outpatient follow-up, including multiple new respiratory, cardiovascular, neurological, and pregnancy-related conditions. Findings were robust to sensitivity analyses, and several phenotypic associations were supported by changes in outpatient vital signs or laboratory tests from the pretesting to postrecovery period.

Conclusion

Temporal-informed PheWAS identified new diagnoses affecting multiple organ systems among COVID-19 survivors. These findings can inform future efforts to enable longitudinal health surveillance for survivors of COVID-19 and other acute medical conditions using the EHR.
Effective plasmid delivery to a plasmid-free Bacillus natto strain by a conjugational transfer system
Authors: Itaya Mitsuhiro , Sato Mitsuru , Watanabe Satoru , Kataoka Masakazu
Published: August 2022

In this study, a Bacillus natto strain named NEST141 was constructed. The strain carries no plasmids and is an authentic proline auxotroph—a feature that confers effective selection conditions for plasmids transferred from a donor, such as Bacillus subtilis 168, via a pLS20-based conjugational transfer system. We have provided a standard effective protocol for the delivery of plasmids larger than 50 kilobase pairs. These results indicate that the B. natto NEST141 strain can become a standard model, like B. subtilis 168, for extensive genetic engineering with diverse applications.
Differential Vulnerability of Hippocampal Subfields in Primary Age-Related Tauopathy and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy
Authors: Farrell Kurt , Iida Megan A , Cherry Jonathan D , Casella Alicia , Stein Thor D , Bieniek Kevin F , Walker Jamie M , Richardson Timothy E , White Charles L , Alvarez Victor E , Huber Bertrand R , Dickson Dennis W , Insausti Ricardo , Dams-O'Connor Kristen ,   The Part Working Group, Vonsattel Jean-Paul , Teich Andy F , Gearing Marla , Glass Jonathan , Troncoso Juan C , Frosch Matthew P , Hyman Bradley T , Murray Melissa E , Attems Johannes , Flanagan Margaret E , Mao Qinwen , Mesulam M-Marsel , Weintraub Sandra , Woltjer Randy L , Pham Thao , Kofler Julia , Schneider Julie A , Yu Lei , Purohit Dushyant P , Haroutunian Vahram , Hof Patrick R , Gandy Sam , Sano Mary , Beach Thomas G , Poon Wayne , Kawas Claudia H , Corrada María M , Rissman Robert A , Metcalf Jeff , Shuldberg Sara , Salehi Bahar , Nelson Peter T , Trojanowski John Q , Lee Edward B , Wolk David A , McMillan Corey T , Keene C Dirk , Latimer Caitlin S , Montine Thomas J , Kovacs Gabor G , Lutz Mirjam I , Fischer Peter , Perrin Richard J , Cairns Nigel J , McKee Ann C , Crary John F
Published: August 2022

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a tauopathy associated with repetitive mild head impacts characterized by perivascular hyperphosphorylated tau (p-tau) in neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) and neurites in the depths of the neocortical sulci. In moderate to advanced CTE, NFTs accumulate in the hippocampus, potentially overlapping neuroanatomically with primary age-related tauopathy (PART), an age-related tauopathy characterized by Alzheimer disease-like tau pathology in the hippocampus devoid of amyloid plaques. We measured p-tau burden using positive-pixel counts on immunohistochemically stained and neuroanatomically segmented hippocampal tissue. Subjects with CTE had a higher total p-tau burden than PART subjects in all sectors (p = 0.005). Within groups, PART had significantly higher total p-tau burden in CA1/subiculum compared to CA3 (p = 0.02) and CA4 (p = 0.01) and total p-tau burden in CA2 trended higher than CA4 (p = 0.06). In CTE, total p-tau burden in CA1/subiculum was significantly higher than in the dentate gyrus; and CA2 also trended higher than dentate gyrus (p = 0.01, p = 0.06). When controlling for p-tau burden across the entire hippocampus, CA3 and CA4 had significantly higher p-tau burden in CTE than PART (p < 0.0001). These data demonstrate differences in hippocampal p-tau burden and regional distribution in CTE compared to PART that might be helpful in differential diagnosis and reveal insights into disease pathogenesis.
Characterization of ‘QTL-hotspot’ introgression lines reveals physiological mechanisms and candidate genes associated with drought adaptation in chickpea
Authors: Barmukh Rutwik , Roorkiwal Manish , Dixit Girish P , Bajaj Prasad , Kholova Jana , Smith Millicent R , Chitikineni Annapurna , Bharadwaj Chellapilla , Sreeman Sheshshayee M , Rathore Abhishek , Tripathi Shailesh , Yasin Mohammad , Vijayakumar Adiveppa G , Rao Sagurthi Someswar , Siddique Kadambot H M , Varshney Rajeev K
Published: August 2022

‘QTL-hotspot’ is a genomic region on linkage group 04 (CaLG04) in chickpea (Cicer arietinum) that harbours major-effect quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for multiple drought-adaptive traits, and it therefore represents a promising target for improving drought adaptation. To investigate the mechanisms underpinning the positive effects of ‘QTL-hotspot’ on seed yield under drought, we introgressed this region from the ICC 4958 genotype into five elite chickpea cultivars. The resulting introgression lines (ILs) and their parents were evaluated in multi-location field trials and semi-controlled conditions. The results showed that the ‘QTL-hotspot’ region improved seed yield under rainfed conditions by increasing seed weight, reducing the time to flowering, regulating traits related to canopy growth and early vigour, and enhancing transpiration efficiency. Whole-genome sequencing data analysis of the ILs and parents revealed four genes underlying the ‘QTL-hotspot’ region associated with drought adaptation. We validated diagnostic KASP markers closely linked to these genes using the ILs and their parents for future deployment in chickpea breeding programs. The CaTIFY4b-H2 haplotype of a potential candidate gene CaTIFY4b was identified as the superior haplotype for 100-seed weight. The candidate genes and superior haplotypes identified in this study have the potential to serve as direct targets for genetic manipulation and selection for chickpea improvement.
Autism Spectrum Disorder Versus Communication Disorders
Authors: Paul Rhea
Published: August 2022

This chapter discusses differential diagnosis among autism spectrum disorder (ASD), language disorder, and social pragmatic disorder, a newly recognized condition that affects social communication in the absence of other autistic syndromes, which was recently added to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). Issues of diagnostic accuracy and validity of the nonautistic forms of communication disorder, and the distinctions among them, are discussed. Primary differentiating characteristics of the three disorders, including presence of joint attention, use of gestures and pretend play, language comprehension and the presence of restricted and repetitive behaviors are detail. Differences in diagnostic procedures necessary for children over and under the age of 5 years are provided. For children under 5 the potential instability of language status is highlighted, and differential diagnosis at this age level is discussed, with contrasts to differential diagnostic considerations for school-aged children and adolescents drawn. A case study is presented to illustrate the principles of differential diagnosis, and a decision tree for conferring diagnoses among these communication disorders is proposed.
Autism Spectrum Disorder Versus Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Authors: Saqui Sonja , Garvin Brigid , Kerns Connor M.
Published: August 2022

This chapter provides key information about trauma in childhood and explores how to assess and differentiate symptoms of autism spectrum disorder in children who have experienced trauma. Specifically, the chapter first reviews the literature regarding trauma in young and school-age children, including the challenges of differential diagnosis of trauma response and autism spectrum disorder. To clarify areas of symptom overlap with autism spectrum disorder, the differences between autism spectrum disorder and trauma response in early childhood and school-age children are then provided. Next, this chapter offers a framework for a systematic approach to navigating a differential diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder and trauma-related disorders. Finally, two case vignettes are provided to illustrate the process of differential diagnosis.
Clinical Decision-Making in Evidence-Based Assessment
Authors: Elias Rebecca , Lord Catherine
Published: August 2022

An evaluation for possible autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex process, which necessitates surveying multiple informants and utilizing validated assessment tools. In this chapter, we recommend an iterative, multistep assessment process, which is informed by the needs, context, and concerns of the client and their family. In addition to assessing the core features of ASD, we highlight the importance of addressing potential externalizing and internalizing problems, cognitive functioning, age, and risk/protective factors to determine if co-occurring psychopathology is present. This is especially pertinent because co-occurring psychopathology can be equally limiting as ASD but is often more amenable to treatment than the core features of ASD themselves. Taken together, disentangling co-occurring diagnosis from a differential diagnosis is challenging but enhanced when using evidence-based assessment tools to create a clinical conceptualization.
Interdisciplinary Behavioral Health Teams
Authors: Patterson Chavis A. , Elgohail Mona , Hartman Alison R. , Smith Vincent C. , Geller Pamela A.
Published: August 2022

Advances in technology have allowed for more complex medical interventions at a much younger gestational age. With such advances in neonatal care, the age of viability has improved. Medical teams are now able to intervene in utero to identify, address, and correct certain congenital anomalies, malformations, and disruptions in the normal process of fetal development. Medicine is also embracing a more inclusive, patient- and family-centered approach to care. Multidisciplinary teams across fetal care, obstetrics, neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), and NICU follow-up clinic settings that offer emotional support to families have grown to include psychology, social work, child life specialists, and chaplains. In some hospitals, perinatal psychiatry is also available to caregivers who have an infant in the NICU. These disciplines take an active role in helping parents manage the perinatal mood and anxiety disorders that often accompany the stress that they experience, both while the fetus is in utero and postpartum.
Specialty Care Settings
Authors: Teefey Christina Paidas , Robinson Sarah , Moldenhauer Julie S.
Published: August 2022

The prenatal diagnosis and management of congenital malformations have evolved with technical advancement of commonly employed imaging modalities such as ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging, and echocardiography. Unlike most aspects of health care that focus on a single patient, two patients are involved in these complex pregnancies—the pregnant woman and her unborn child. Fetal diagnoses often require close antepartum surveillance and coordinated delivery planning. In addition, fetal therapy can be beneficial in appropriately selected cases. Fetal therapy centers were developed in order to provide seamless maternal, fetal, and neonatal care. This spectrum of care includes medical, surgical, and psychosocial services. The role of obstetric providers in a fetal therapy center is to support a multidisciplinary comprehensive model of care throughout the course of the affected pregnancy, birth, and postpartum period.
Neonatal Intensive Care Settings
Authors: Handley Sara C. , Munson David A.
Published: August 2022

Intensive care units (ICUs) designed to provide cutting-edge care to infants have made considerable improvements in the care and outcomes during the past several decades. Nonetheless, congenital anomalies and complications of prematurity remain the leading causes of death in infancy. Parents must navigate difficult decision, sometimes emergently, and often overly long inpatient stays during which there can be significant and frequent changes in clinical status. Teams in the ICU must partner with parents to ensure clear understanding of the medical issues for effective shared decision-making. Psychosocial providers in the ICU provide a critical layer of support for families as they think through the meaning of illness for their child. This chapter familiarizes providers of psychosocial care in newborn infant ICUs or cardiac ICUs with terminology, structure, staffing, and some common diseases and complications.
Role of Behavioral Health Clinicians in the NICU Setting
Authors: Steinwurtzel Rochelle , Brachio Sandhya S. , Ho Sheau-Yan , Santiago-Warner Solimar
Published: August 2022

This chapter addresses the multifaceted role of the behavioral health clinician (BHC) in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) setting. It is guided by trauma-informed and culturally informed practices that target the family system and medical system surrounding the infant patient. It discusses the need for perinatal mental health screening and psychosocial assessment in the NICU, and it offers recommendations for the integration of these assessments into standard workflow. The BHC is essential to the provision of interventions that support parental, infant, and staff mental health and well-being in the NICU. Primary targets for BHC intervention and impact may include, but are not limited to, helping parents and staff understand the reality of the traumas faced in the NICU, offering individualized coping resources and group-based support, laying the groundwork for continued processing of the NICU experience, enhancing patient–provider communication, and acting as a liaison for internal and external support resources.
Mental Health and Coping Challenges Among Families in the NICU
Authors: Adams Jennifer Harned , Bromberg Stacey R. , Zimmermann Anna
Published: August 2022

Parents of neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) infants are under a great deal of stress and are at greater risk for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder, due to factors related to high-risk pregnancy, premature delivery, and maternal and/or infant health factors. Poor emotional adjustment in parents may impact parental health and well-being, engagement in the NICU, outcomes for infants, as well as the larger family unit, including older siblings. Although a number of factors increase the likelihood of emotional distress in NICU families, implementing best practice for communication with families and providing comprehensive education and support can provide a buffering effect.
Role of Behavioral Health Clinicians in Neonatal Follow-Up Settings
Authors: Hoffman Casey , Markovits Annie
Published: August 2022

Neonatal follow-up clinics are a critical resource for high-risk infants and their families after hospital discharge. Behavioral health clinicians (BHCs) are important members of these multidisciplinary teams and serve in many key roles. BHCs bring an expertise in attending to the holistic needs of infants and families. They have specialized training to provide comprehensive assessments for infants and children that includes timely diagnosis, treatment planning, and collaboration with community supports. BHCs partner with families to provide recommendations that prioritize parental goals. BHCs recognize the central role of parent–infant relationships in development and the inextricable link between parent and infant functioning. Therefore, BHCs attend to the wellness of each primary caregiver as well as the adjustment of the entire family unit.
Introductory Information for Therapists
Authors: Craske Michelle G. , Dour Halina J. , Treanor Michael , Meuret Alicia E.
Published: August 2022

This chapter provides the introductory information necessary for therapists interested in using the Positive Affect Treatment (PAT) program. It starts by describing anhedonia, which is a symptom cluster linked to the loss of interest or joy in usual activities. Anhedonia is a transdiagnostic symptom frequently found among people suffering from depression, anxiety, psychosis, and substance abuse. Advances in behavioral science and neuroscience suggest that specific mechanisms may contribute to anhedonia. The chapter covers the principles and procedures of PAT, a program that addresses the deficits of the reward system. Therapists familiar with basic principles of cognitive–behavioral interventions and mindfulness are recommended to conduct the treatment.
Case Examples
Authors: Markowitz John C.
Published: August 2022

This chapter provides three lengthy, detailed presentations of disguised real-life cases from a Brief Supportive Psychotherapy perspective, contrasting the Brief Supportive Psychotherapy approach at points with other psychotherapeutic perspectives. Each of the cases, described session-by-session, includes illustrations of therapeutic techniques, numerous patient–therapist interchanges, and serial measurement of symptomatic outcomes. A commentary following each case summarizing key strategic and technical points. The chapter aims to convey the breadth and trajectory of relatively easy and relatively difficult patient presentations and how a therapist adjusted and reacted to them.
Transdiagnostic LGBTQ-Affirmative Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
Authors: Pachankis John E. , Harkness Audrey , Jackson Skyler , Safren Steven A.
Published: August 2022

This workbook introduces new cognitive-behavioral therapy skills for managing emotional experiences that might be directly or indirectly caused or worsened by stress related to being LGBTQ. The treatment program begins by reviewing the types of emotions that an individual might be currently experiencing. Throughout the program, patients are reminded that some or much of their emotional experience might be directly or indirectly impacted by LGBTQ-related stress. The treatment teaches patients how to be more aware of their emotions and the stressors that cause them and how stressors impact their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors or actions. It outlines specific ways to transform less helpful coping strategies into more helpful ones.
Critical Care
Authors: Johnston Taylor , Miller Steven , Rumley Joseph
Published: August 2022

The modern-day intensivist requires facility with a wide variety of complex clinical scenarios. This book will present thirty-five of the most common scenarios in a problem-based learning format. It is the author’s intensions that the reader will think about the scenarios as presented at the beginning of each chapter and discuss the therapeutic challenges with colleagues prior to reading the discussion. The discussion of each chapter is then followed by a number of questions that the reader may use to test their retention of the material or use for teaching purposes when interacting with students and trainees. Lastly, we would encourage our readers to go back and re-read the initial scenarios once have read the discussion and rework the case. While the authors have suggested one course of treatment, there are other therapeutic options that should be considered.
Neuroanatomy and Physiological Mechanism of Tremor
Authors: Pan Ming-Kai
Published: August 2022

This chapter covers four major sections. The first, central networks of rhythmic movements, summarizes the rhythm-generating mechanism, the ion channel basis, and contributing oscillatory circuits for tremor. The second section, maintenance and propagation of oscillations in the tremor circuits, explains how oscillations can be triggered, sustained, or propagated in the motor-specific network and manifest as tremor. Next, the peripheral networks of rhythmic movements section includes the generating mechanism of oscillations in the peripheral neuromuscular system, the sources of physiological and enhanced physiological tremor as well as their modulatory mechanism. Finally, the interactions between central and peripheral tremor networks section describes the interaction between central and peripheral system, and the electrophysiological tools to distinguish central and peripheral components.
Social psychiatry, refugees, and asylum seekers
Authors: Gnanapragasam Sam N. , Pemberton Max , Bhugra Dinesh
Published: August 2022

Geopolitical determinants contribute to the flow of forced migrants across national borders. Refugees and asylum seekers face a number of distinct challenges before, during, and after the period of physical displacement. The term ‘migrant’ can be used to imply a voluntary process, for economic reasons among others. This is not the case for refugees or asylum seekers, who are unable or unwilling to return to their country of origin owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for a number of reasons. As such, it is important to consider refugees and asylum seekers distinctly, to understand the drivers for movement (mostly push factors but occasionally pull factors), the unique stressors they face, specific obligations owed under international law, and the implications for their mental health. There is heterogeneity within this population due to age, gender, ethnicity, genetic composition, socio-economic status, cultural background, persecution context, country of origin, and destination. These characteristics have a significant impact on vulnerability, resilience, and lived experience. They carry with them cultural capital. This chapter describes challenges and potential solutions.
The impact of capitalism on mental health
Authors: Eisenberg-Guyot Jerzy , Prins Seth J.
Published: August 2022

Researchers have documented capitalism’s pernicious effects on the health of the poor and working class since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. This chapter summarizes and critically assesses the relationship between capitalism and mental health. It begins by defining capitalism: broadly, a socio-economic system characterized by the private ownership of the means of production and the exploitation and domination of wage labour for profit. Early research on capitalism and mental health is then reviewed, with a focus on the work of Engels and Marx, which described how nineteenth-century capitalist industrialization damaged workers’ mental health by degrading their social, working, and living conditions. Next, quantitative research on capitalism and mental health since the mid-twentieth century is discussed. Although epidemiological research on the topic remains underdeveloped, research consistently finds that capitalism harms workers’ mental health and exacerbates inequities. It does so through at least three mechanisms: alienation; exploitation; and domination. Finally, it is argued that the mental health effects of other axes of power, like racism, sexism, colonialism, and imperialism, cannot be fully understood without attending to their historically contingent forms under capitalism; likewise, capitalism’s mental health effects cannot be understood without attending to these other axes of power.
Glaucoma
Authors: O’Connell Niamh , Tatham Andrew
Published: August 2022

This chapter explores glaucoma. It begins with an outline of optic nerve head anatomy and then describes aqueous fluid dynamics, the pathogenesis of glaucoma, and the genetic basis of glaucoma. It goes on to discuss the clinical skill areas of optic nerve head assessment in glaucoma, glaucoma imaging devices, tonometry and tachymetry, gonioscopy, and perimetry. The chapter also details ocular hypertension, primary open-angle glaucoma, primary angle closure, and secondary angle closure. In addition, it discusses normal-tension glaucoma, steroid-induced glaucoma, traumatic glaucoma, inflammatory glaucomas, pseudoexfoliative glaucoma, pigmentary glaucoma, and neovascular glaucoma. It then covers aqueous misdirection, iridocorneal endothelial syndrome and iridocorneal dysgenesis, ocular hypotensive agents, laser therapy for glaucoma, and glaucoma surgery.
Proton therapy for adult craniopharyngioma: Experience of a single institution in 91 consecutive patients
Authors: Beddok Arnaud , Scher Nathaniel , Alapetite Claire , Baussart Bertrand , Bentahila Ghita , Bielle Franck , Bolle Stephanie , Dendale Remi , Dureau Sylvain , Goudjl Farid , Helfre Sylvie , Mammar Hamid , Nichelli Lucia , Calugaru Valentin , Feuvret Loïc
Published: August 2022

Background

Craniopharyngioma (CP) in adults is a rare benign tumor associated with many morbidities, with limited contemporary studies to define treatment, and follow-up guidelines.

Methods

A single-center retrospective study was conducted on patients aged ≥ 18 years from 2006–2018 with CP and who were treated with proton therapy (PT). Late toxicity was defined as a minimum of 18 months from diagnosis. Overall survival (OS), local recurrence-free survival (LRFS), and toxicity were characterized using Kaplan–Meier and Cox regression analyses.

Results

Ninety-one patients met the criteria, with a median age of 37 years (range 18–82 years). PT was conducted after tumor resection in 88 patients (97%), in 64 patients (70.3%) as an adjuvant strategy and in 27 (29.7%) after recurrent disease. Three patients received exclusive PT. A median MRI follow-up of 39 months revealed 35.2% complete response, 49.5% partial response, and 9.9% stable disease. Five patients developed local recurrence (LR). The pattern of failure study showed that these five LR were within the GTV volume. The 5-year LRFS was 92.0% [CI 95% 84.90–99.60]. All the patients were alive at the end of the follow-up. Patients requiring treatment adaptation during PT tend to have a higher risk of LR (P = .084). Endocrinopathy was the most frequent grade ≥ 2 late toxicity. Among patients who were symptom-free before the start of treatment, none developed hearing toxicity but four (9.8%) developed visual disorders and 10 (11.3%) symptomatic memory impairment. Patients with large tumors had a higher risk of developing symptomatic memory impairment (P = .029).

Conclusion

Adults with CP treated with PT have favorable survival outcomes, with acceptable late toxicity. Prospective quality-of-life and neurocognitive studies are needed to define late adverse effects better.
The Impact of The Real Cost Vaping and Smoking Ads across Tobacco Products
Authors: Kowitt Sarah D , Mendel Sheldon Jennifer , Vereen Rhyan N , Kurtzman Rachel T , Gottfredson Nisha C , Hall Marissa G , Brewer Noel T , Noar Seth M
Published: August 2022

Introduction

Little research has examined the spillover effects of tobacco communication campaigns, such as how anti-smoking ads affect vaping.

Aims and Methods

Participants were a national sample of 623 U.S. adolescents (ages 13–17 years) from a probability-based panel. In a between-subjects experiment, we randomly assigned adolescents to view one of four videos online: (1) a smoking prevention video ad from the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) The Real Cost campaign, (2) a neutral control video about smoking, (3) a vaping prevention video ad from The Real Cost campaign, or (4) a neutral control video about vaping. We present effect sizes as Cohen’s d, standardized mean differences, with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Results

Exposure to The Real Cost vaping prevention ads led to more negative attitudes toward vaping compared with control (d = 0.30, 95% CI: 0.07, 0.53), while exposure to The Real Cost smoking prevention ads did not affect smoking-related outcomes compared with control (p-values > .05). Turning to spillover effects, exposure to The Real Cost smoking prevention ads led to less susceptibility to vaping (d = −0.34, 95% CI: −0.56, −0.12), more negative attitudes toward vaping (d = 0.43, 95% CI: 0.20, 0.65) and higher perceived likelihood of harm from vaping (d = 0.26, 95% CI: 0.04, 0.48), compared with control. Exposure to The Real Cost vaping prevention ads did not affect smoking-related outcomes compared with control (p-values > .05).

Conclusions

This experiment found evidence of beneficial spillover effects of smoking prevention ads on vaping outcomes and found no detrimental effects of vaping prevention ads on smoking outcomes.

Implications

Little research has examined the spillover effects of tobacco communication campaigns, such as how anti-smoking ads affect vaping. Using a national sample of 623 U.S. adolescents, we found beneficial evidence of spillover effects of smoking prevention ads on vaping outcomes, which is promising since it suggests that smoking prevention campaigns may have the additional benefit of reducing both smoking and vaping among adolescents. Additionally, we found that vaping prevention campaigns did not elicit unintended consequences on smoking-related outcomes, an important finding given concerns that vaping prevention campaigns could drive youth to increase or switch to using combustible cigarettes instead of vaping.
Prevalence and Health Outcomes ofClostridioides difficileInfection During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic in a National Sample of United States Hospital Systems
Authors: Reveles Kelly R , Frei Alexa L , Strey Kelsey A , Young Eric H
Published: August 2022

Background

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic resulted in unprecedented emphasis on infection control procedures; however, it is unknown whether the pandemic altered Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) prevalence. This study investigated CDI prevalence before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in a national sample of United States (US) hospitals.

Methods

This was a retrospective cohort study using the Premier Healthcare Database. Patients with laboratory-confirmed CDI from April 2019 through March 2020 (pre–COVID-19 period) and April 2020 through March 2021 (COVID-19 period) were included. CDI prevalence (CDI encounters per 10 000 total encounters) and inpatient outcomes (eg, mortality, hospital length of stay) were compared between pre–COVID-19 and COVID-19 periods using bivariable analyses or interrupted time series analysis.

Results

A total of 25 992 CDI encounters were included representing 22 130 unique CDI patients. CDI prevalence decreased from the pre–COVID-19 to COVID-19 period (12.2 per 10 000 vs 8.9 per 10 000, P < .0001), driven by a reduction in inpatient CDI prevalence (57.8 per 10 000 vs 49.4 per 10 000, P < .0001); however, the rate ratio did not significantly change over time (RR, 1.04 [95% confidence interval, .90–1.20]). From the pre–COVID-19 to COVID-19 period, CDI patients experienced higher inpatient mortality (5.5% vs 7.4%, P < .0001) and higher median encounter cost ($10 832 vs $12 862, P < .0001).

Conclusions

CDI prevalence decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic in a national US sample, though at a rate similar to prior to the pandemic. CDI patients had higher inpatient mortality and encounter costs during the pandemic.
The small nucleolar RNA SnoR28 regulates plant growth and development by directing rRNA maturation
Authors: Cao Yuxin , Wang Jiayin , Wu Songlin , Yin Xiaochang , Shu Jia , Dai Xing , Liu Yannan , Sun Linhua , Zhu Danmeng , Deng Xing Wang , Ye Keqiong , Qian Weiqiang
Published: August 2022

Small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs) are noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) that guide chemical modifications of structural RNAs, which are essential for ribosome assembly and function in eukaryotes. Although numerous snoRNAs have been identified in plants by high-throughput sequencing, the biological functions of most of these snoRNAs remain unclear. Here, we identified box C/D SnoR28.1s as important regulators of plant growth and development by screening a CRISPR/Cas9-generated ncRNA deletion mutant library in Arabidopsis thaliana. Deletion of the SnoR28.1 locus, which contains a cluster of three genes producing SnoR28.1s, resulted in defects in root and shoot growth. SnoR28.1s guide 2′-O-ribose methylation of 25S rRNA at G2396. SnoR28.1s facilitate proper and efficient pre-rRNA processing, as the SnoR28.1 deletion mutants also showed impaired ribosome assembly and function, which may account for the growth defects. SnoR28 contains a 7-bp antisense box, which is required for 2′-O-ribose methylation of 25S rRNA at G2396, and an 8-bp extra box that is complementary to a nearby rRNA methylation site and is partially responsible for methylation of G2396. Both of these motifs are required for proper and efficient pre-rRNA processing. Finally, we show that SnoR28.1s genetically interact with HIDDEN TREASURE2 and NUCLEOLIN1. Our results advance our understanding of the roles of snoRNAs in Arabidopsis.
Genotype–environment associations to reveal the molecular basis of environmental adaptation
Authors: Lasky Jesse R , Josephs Emily B , Morris Geoffrey P
Published: August 2022

A fundamental goal in plant biology is to identify and understand the variation underlying plants’ adaptation to their environment. Climate change has given new urgency to this goal, as society aims to accelerate adaptation of ecologically important plant species, endangered plant species, and crops to hotter, less predictable climates. In the pre-genomic era, identifying adaptive alleles was painstaking work, leveraging genetics, molecular biology, physiology, and ecology. Now, the rise of genomics and new computational approaches may facilitate this research. Genotype–environment associations (GEAs) use statistical associations between allele frequency and environment of origin to test the hypothesis that allelic variation at a given gene is adapted to local environments. Researchers may scan the genome for GEAs to generate hypotheses on adaptive genetic variants (environmental genome-wide association studies). Despite the rapid adoption of these methods, many important questions remain about the interpretation of GEA findings, which arise from fundamental unanswered questions on the genetic architecture of adaptation and limitations inherent to association-based analyses. We outline strategies to ground GEAs in the underlying hypotheses of genetic architecture and better test GEA-generated hypotheses using genetics and ecophysiology. We provide recommendations for new users who seek to learn about the molecular basis of adaptation. When combined with a rigorous hypothesis testing framework, GEAs may facilitate our understanding of the molecular basis of climate adaptation for plant improvement.
A small chromosomal inversion mediated by MITE transposons confers cleistogamy in Brassica napus
Authors: Wan Shubei , Yang Mao , Ni Fei , Chen Wenjing , Wang Yangming , Chu Pu , Guan Rongzhan
Published: August 2022

Cleistogamy, self-pollination within closed flowers, can help maintain seed purity, accelerate breeding speed, and aid in the development of ornamental flowers. However, the mechanism underlying petal closing/opening behavior remains elusive. Here, we found that a Brassica napus petal closing/opening behavior was inherited in a Mendelian manner. Fine mapping and positional cloning experiments revealed that the Mendelian factor originated from a short (29.8 kb) inversion mediated by BnDTH9 miniature inverted-repeat transposable elements (MITEs) on chromosome C03. This inversion led to tissue-specific gene promoter exchange between BnaC03.FBA (BnaC03G0156800ZS encoding an F-Box-associated domain-containing protein) and BnaC03.EFO1 (BnaC03G0157400ZS encoding an EARLY FLOWERING BY OVEREXPRESSION 1 protein) positioned near the respective inversion breakpoints. Our genetic transformation work demonstrated that the cleistogamy originated from high tissue-specific expression of the BnaC03.FBA gene caused by promoter changes due to the MITE-mediated inversion. BnaC03.FBA is involved in the formation of an SCF (Skp1–Cullin–F-box) complex, which participates in ubiquitin-mediated protein targeting for degradation through the ubiquitin 26S-proteasome system. Our results shed light on a molecular model of petal-closing behavior.
The fates of different types of adipose tissue after transplantation in mice
Authors: Jiang Shenglu , Lin Jiayan , Zhang Qian , Liao Yunjun , Lu Feng , Cai Junrong
Published: August 2022

Fat grafting is one of the most commonly applied procedure for soft‐tissue repair. However, it remains unclear whether the type of adipose tissue would have any effects on fat graft survival. The present study aimed to determine fates of fat grafting of three different types of fat tissue. In this study, mice were randomly divided into three groups, white adipose tissue (WAT) group, beige adipose tissue (beige AT) group and brown adipose tissue (BAT) group. Before transplantation, donor mice were injected with rosiglitazone or phosphate‐buffered saline (PBS). The WAT and BAT were obtained from PBS‐treated mice while beige AT was obtained from the rosiglitazone‐treated mice. Three types of fat tissue (150 mg each) were transplanted in three groups, respectively, and harvested at 2, 4 or 12 weeks. The BAT and beige AT contained smaller adipocytes and expressed higher level of uncoupling protein‐1 gene. The retention rate of the transplanted fat was significantly higher for beige than for white fat, but was significantly lower for brown than for white fat. Transplanted brown fat was characterized by upregulated inflammation and high endoplasmic reticulum stress. By contrast, fat grafts in beige AT group showed the best adipogenic capacity, moderate inflammation level and superior angiongenesis. In vitro, under hypoxic condition, fewer apoptotic cells were found in beige adipocyte group than that in brown and white adipocyte group. Conditioned medium from brown adipocytes induced M1 polarization of RAW 264.7 macrophages while that from beige adipocytes effectively promoted M2 polarization. Therefore, we suggest that beige AT provides a new potential choice for fat grafting because of low inflammation and superior survival but BAT might not be ideal for fat grafting due to its poor survival.
Predictors of Higher-Order Affective Skills in Health Promotion Among Indonesian Nursing Students: Assessment and Evaluation
Authors: Damayanti Made Rini , Antari Gusti Ayu Ary , Diño Michael Joseph S. , Ong Irvin L. , Prapti Ni Ketut Guru
Published: August 2022

AIM

We examined health-promoting lifestyle in undergraduate nursing students and its potential as a predictor of health-promoting behaviors and basis for curriculum improvement.

BACKGROUND

A health-promoting lifestyle is essential among students for their future nursing roles. Development requires the internalization of healthy behaviors beyond the cognitive learning domain.

METHOD

Guided by Pender’s health promotion model, this multisite, cross-sectional, and descriptive-correlational study surveyed 1,634 undergraduate nursing students in Bali, Indonesia.

RESULTS

The regression analysis revealed that student profiles explained the 5 percent variation in their overall health-promoting lifestyle. Perceived health status was observed to be a significant predictor (p < .05) of health-promoting behaviors among a diverse sample of undergraduate nursing students.

CONCLUSION

The study findings emphasize the role of nursing education in instilling healthy behaviors among undergraduate students and the importance of integrating student-centered and context-responsive health promotion strategies into the nursing curriculum.
Effects of a level-of-care tool on admission placement and rapid response use
Authors: Doty Diane , Jay Katlin
Published: August 2022

Nurses promote performance improvement efforts that advance the practice of nursing and enhance outcomes. This special section highlights three successful performance improvement initiatives that showcase the value of these efforts.
Fosaprepitant Does Not Interfere With Commonly Used Intraoperative Neuromonitoring Modalities Under General Anesthesia: A Preliminary Study
Authors: López Jaime R. , Jaffe Richard A. , López Isabella R. , Burbridge Mark A.
Published: August 2022

Background:

Fosaprepitant [Emend®], a neurokinin type-1 [NK-1] receptor antagonist, is a highly effective for the prophylaxis of postoperative nausea and vomiting [PONV] after general anesthesia; it is particularly effective in patients undergoing neurosurgical procedures. Based on the widespread distribution of NK-1 receptors in the central and peripheral nervous systems, we sought to determine whether fosaprepitant administration would interfere with commonly used intraoperative neurophysiologic monitoring modalities during general anesthesia.

Methods:

Eleven patients having propofol-based general anesthesia for interventional neuroradiology procedures were administered 150 mg fosaprepitant intravenously after baseline electroencephalogram [EEG], transcranial motor evoked potential [TcMEP], and somatosensory evoked potential [SSEP] recordings were obtained. Recordings of these neuromonitoring modalities at 30, 60, and 90 min after fosaprepitant administration were compared to baseline.

Results:

Fosaprepitant did not have a significant effect on SSEP/TcMEP amplitudes or latencies, or on TcMEP morphology. There were also no changes in EEG voltage, frequency, or symmetry.

Conclusion:

Fosaprepitant does not appear to markedly interfere with SSEP, TcMEP, or EEG neuromonitoring modalities during propofol-based general anesthesia.
Crossing the Bridge from Degeneration to Deformity: When Does Sagittal Correction Impact Outcomes in Adult Spinal Deformity Surgery?
Authors: Williamson Tyler K , Krol Oscar , Tretiakov Peter , Joujon-Roche Rachel , Imbo Bailey , Ahmad Salman , Owusu-Sarpong Stephane , Lebovic Jordan , Ihejirika-Lomedico Rivka , Dinizo Michael , Vira Shaleen , Dhillon Ekamjeet , O’Connell Brooke , Maglaras Constance , Schoenfeld Andrew J , Janjua M. Burhan , Alan Nima , Diebo Bassel , Paulino Carl , Smith Justin S. , Raman Tina , Lafage Renaud , Protopsaltis Themistocles , Lafage Virginie , Passias Peter G.
Published: August 2022

Background.

Patients with less severe adult spinal deformity undergo surgical correction and often achieve good clinical outcomes. However, it is not well understood how much clinical improvement is due to sagittal correction rather than treatment of the spondylotic process.

Purpose.

Determine baseline thresholds in radiographic parameters that, when exceeded, may result in substantive clinical improvement from surgical correction.

Study Design.

Retrospective

Methods.

ASD patients with BL and 2-year(2Y) data were included. Parameters assessed: SVA, PI-LL, PT, T1PA, L1PA, L4-S1 Lordosis, C2-C7 SVA(cSVA), C2-T3, C2 Slope(C2S). Outcomes: Good Outcome(GO) at 2Y: [Meeting either: 1) SCB for ODI(change greater than 18.8), or 2) ODI<15 and SRS-Total>4.5. Binary logistic regression assessed each parameter to determine if correction was more likely needed to achieve GO. Conditional inference tree(CIT) run machine learning analysis generated baseline thresholds for each parameter, above which, correction was necessary to achieve GO.

Results.

We included 431 ASD patients. There were 223(50%) that achieved a GO by two years. Binary logistic regression analysis demonstrated, with increasing baseline severity in deformity, sagittal correction was more often seen in those achieving GO for each parameter(all P<0.001). Of patients with baseline T1PA above the threshold, 95% required correction to meet Good Outcome(95% vs. 54%,P<0.001). A baseline PI-LL above 10° (74% of patients meeting GO) needed correction to achieve GO (OR: 2.6,[95% CI 1.4-4.8]). A baseline C2 slope above 15° also necessitated correction to obtain clinical success (OR: 7.7,[95% CI 3.7-15.7]).

Conclusion.

Our study highlighted point may be present at which sagittal correction has an outsized influence on clinical improvement, reflecting the line where deformity becomes a significant contributor to disability. These new thresholds give us insight into which patients may be more suitable for sagittal correction, as opposed to intervention for the spondylotic process only, leading to a more efficient utility of surgical intervention for adult spinal deformity.

Level of Evidence.

III