bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
NUT midline carcinoma as a primary lung tumor treated with anlotinib combined with palliative radiotherapy: a case report
Authors: Jiang Jin , Ren Yikun , Xu Chengping , Lin Xing
Published: January 2022

Background

NUT (nuclear protein in testis) midline carcinoma (NMC) is a rapidly progressive tumor arising from midline structures. Recent cases have reported that the poor prognosis with a median survival of 6.7 months and a 2 years overall survival of 19% due to limited treatment. Based on the effect of arotinib on inhibiting tumor growth and angiogenesis. We present one patient case treated with anlotinib and radiotherapy.

Case presentation

Here, we describe a 33-year old patient who complained of cough and chest pain and was diagnosed as a pulmonary NMC through CT scan, FISH and immunohistochemistry. In addition, we initially demonstrated that anlotinib combined with palliative radiotherapy could significantly prevent the tumor growth in a pulmonary NMC.

Conclusion

The report indicated that anlotinib combined with palliative radiotherapy could inhibit the tumor progression in a pulmonary NMC, which may provide a combined therapy to pulmonary NMC in the future.
Postpartum women’s views on human milk banking in a city in Southeast China: a cross-sectional survey
Authors: Tu Haixia , Li Ping , Zhu Lianlian , Quan Xiaozhen , Fan Shuli , Wang Ziyue
Published: January 2022

Background

Donor human milk is the best alternative for preterm infants when their mother’s own milk is insufficient or unavailable. The development of human milk banks in China started late, and in most of these banks, the amount of donor human milk is insufficient for clinical demand. Moreover, many mothers are reluctant to use donor human milk due to safety concerns. It is important to understand the potential supply and demand of donor human milk before establishing a new human milk bank. This study aimed to understand women’s acceptance of human milk banking in Wenzhou, southeastern China.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted in three community health centers in Wenzhou, southeast China, in December 2020. Data were collected from 305 postpartum women selected through convenience sampling. Sociodemographic, perinatal and breastfeeding characteristics, awareness and knowledge of human milk banking and willingness to donate human milk, and to accept donor human milk were assessed. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to explore independent predictors of willingness to donate human milk and to accept donor human milk.

Results

Only 17% (52/305) of our participants had heard of human milk banking prior to this survey. The prevalence of willingness to donate human milk and use donor human milk in our study was 73.4% (224/305) and 44.6% (136/305), respectively. Employment (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 2.30; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.17, 4.50) and human milk banking knowledge (AOR 1.23; 95% CI 1.12, 1.35) were independent predictors of willingness to donate human milk. Monthly household income in the previous year (AOR 2.18; 95% CI 1.17, 4.06), awareness of human milk banking (AOR 2.41; 95% CI 1.24, 4.67) and knowledge of human milk banking (AOR 1.22; 95% CI 1.11, 1.35) were significantly associated with willingness to accept donor human milk.

Conclusions

In our study, awareness of human milk banks among women in the first year postpartum was low. More mothers were willing to donate human milk than to use donor human milk to feed their children. In our study, knowledge of human milk banking was a predictor of both willingness to donate human milk and willingness to use donor human milk. Programs with detailed information on human milk banking are needed to help mothers improve their knowledge and increase acceptance of human milk banking.
Safety and efficacy of a novel retrograde route for femoral bone graft harvesting by Reamer-Irrigator-Aspirator: a pilot study on 24 patients
Authors: Bidolegui Fernando , Pereira Sebastián , Irigoyen Cristina , Pires Robinson Esteves
Published: January 2022

Background

The Reamer–Irrigator–Aspirator system was initially developed to reduce fat embolism and thermic necrosis during reamed intramedullary nail fixation of femoral shaft fractures. Currently, this system is used in extended applications including accessing large volume of autologous bone graft, as alternative for iliac crest harvesting. Antegrade femoral bone graft harvesting using the Reamer-Irrigator-Aspirator system is considered the standard technique. The aim of our study is to evaluate the efficacy (bone graft volume) and the complications (blood loss, postoperative pain, and incidence of iatrogenic fractures) of the Reamer–Irrigator–Aspirator system through the retrograde femoral route in a series of patients with post-traumatic bone defects or nonunions.

Methods

A non-controlled single center retrospective observational cohort study was conducted in a level1 trauma center to evaluate all patients who were treated using the RIA system. Between November 2015 and May 2019, 24 patients (8 women and 16 men; mean age: 41 years [range 27–55 years]) with bone defects or nonunions underwent bone graft harvesting using the Reamer–Irrigator–Aspirator system through retrograde femoral route. Postoperative pain, complications, and bone graft volume were analyzed. Inclusion criteria was patients older than 18 years with a diagnosis of post-traumatic bone defect or associated tibial or femoral nonunion, with minimum 6-months follow, treated using the RIA. We hypothesized that the retrograde route of the RIA system is a safe and efficacious method for bone harvesting.

Results

The average volume of collected graft was 45 cc (range 30–60 cc). In 83% of the cases, bone grafting was sufficient, while in 17% it was necessary to add iliac crest bone graft to completely fill the bone defect. A mean drop in postoperative hemoglobin of 4.1 g / dL (range 0.5–6.0 g / dL) was evidenced. In 4 cases (33%), a unit of packed red blood cells was required. Regarding postoperative pain, visual analogue scale after 3 months postoperatively was 1.6 in average. After 6 months, the value has decreased to 0.4. There were no perioperative or postoperative complications at 6-month follow-up.

Conclusion

In this limited case series, large volumes of bone graft were harvested using the retrograde route of the RIA system and there were no intra-/ postoperative complications observed at 6-month follow-up. Therefore this novel technique appears safe and efficacious.

However, it’s important to highlight that future prospective controlled studies are necessary to validate the insights from this pilot study.
Targeting ZFP64/GAL-1 axis promotes therapeutic effect of nab-paclitaxel and reverses immunosuppressive microenvironment in gastric cancer
Authors: Zhu Mengxuan , Zhang Pengfei , Yu Shan , Tang Cheng , Wang Yan , Shen Zhenbin , Chen Weidong , Liu Tianshu , Cui Yuehong
Published: January 2022

Background

Chemoresistance is a main obstacle in gastric cancer (GC) treatment, but its molecular mechanism still needs to be elucidated. Here, we aim to reveal the underlying mechanisms of nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel (nab-paclitaxel) resistance in GC.

Methods

We performed RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) on samples from patients who were resistant or sensitive to nab-paclitaxel, and identified Zinc Finger Protein 64 (ZFP64) as critical for nab-paclitaxel resistance in GC. CCK8, flow cytometry, TUNEL staining, sphere formation assays were performed to investigate the effects of ZFP64 in vitro, while subcutaneous tumor formation models were established in nude mice or humanized mice to evaluate the biological roles of ZFP64 in vivo. Chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (CHIP-seq) and double-luciferase reporter gene assay were conducted to reveal the underlying mechanism of ZFP64.

Results

ZFP64 overexpression was linked with aggressive phenotypes, nab-paclitaxel resistance and served as an independent prognostic factor in GC. As a transcription factor, ZFP64 directly binds to Galectin-1 (GAL-1) promoter and promoted GAL-1 transcription, thus inducing stem-cell like phenotypes and immunosuppressive microenvironment in GC. Importantly, compared to treatment with nab-paclitaxel alone, nab-paclitaxel plus GAL-1 blockade significantly enhanced the anti-tumor effect in mouse models, particularly in humanized mice.

Conclusions

Our data support a pivotal role for ZFP64 in GC progression by simultaneously promoting cellular chemotherapy resistance and tumor immunosuppression. Treatment with the combination of nab-paclitaxel and a GAL-1 inhibitor might benefit a subgroup of GC patients.
Does reading a book in bed make a difference to sleep in comparison to not reading a book in bed? The People’s Trial—an online, pragmatic, randomised trial
Authors: Finucane Elaine , O’Brien Ann , Treweek Shaun , Newell John , Das Kishor , Chapman Sarah , Wicks Paul , Galvin Sandra , Healy Patricia , Biesty Linda , Gillies Katie , Noel-Storr Anna , Gardner Heidi , O’Reilly Mary Frances , Devane Declan
Published: January 2022

Background

The best way of comparing healthcare treatments is through a randomised trial. In a randomised trial, we compare something (a treatment or intervention) to something else, often another treatment. Who gets what is decided at random, meaning everyone has an equal chance of getting any of the treatments. This means any differences found can be put down to the treatment received rather than other things, such as where people live, or health conditions they might have.

The People’s Trialaimed to help the public better understand randomised trials by inviting them to design and carry out a trial. The question chosen by the public forThe People’s Trialwas:

‘Does reading a book in bed make a difference to sleep, in comparison to not reading a book in bed?’

This paper describes that trial, called ‘The Reading Trial’.

Methods

The Reading Trial was an online, randomised trial. Members of the public were invited to take part through social media campaigns. People were asked to either read a book in bed before going to sleep (intervention group) or not read a book in bed before going to sleep (control group). We asked everyone to do this for 7 days, after which they measured their sleep quality.

Results

During December 2019, a total of 991 people took part in The Reading Trial, half (496 (50%)) in the intervention group and half (495 (50%)) in the control group. Not everyone finished the trial: 127 (25.6%) people in the intervention group and 90 (18.18%) people in the control group.

Of those providing data, 156/369 (42%) people in the intervention group felt their sleep improved, compared to 112/405 (28%) of those in the control group, a difference of 14%. When we consider how certain we are of this finding, we estimate that, in The Reading Trial, sleep improved for between 8 and 22% more people in the intervention group compared to the control group.

Conclusions

Reading a book in bed before going to sleep improved sleep quality, compared to not reading a book in bed.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.govNCT04185818. Registered on 4 December 2019.
Inhibitory effect of naphthoquine phosphate on Babesia gibsoni in vitro and Babesia rodhaini in vivo
Authors: Ji Shengwei , Liu Mingming , Galon Eloiza May , Rizk Mohamed Abdo , Tuvshintulga Bumduuren , Li Jixu , Zafar Iqra , Hasegawa Yae , Iguchi Aiko , Yokoyama Naoaki , Xuan Xuenan
Published: January 2022

Background

Drug resistance and toxic side effects are major challenges in the treatment of babesiosis. As such, new drugs are needed to combat the emergence of drug resistance in Babesia parasites and to develop alternative treatment strategies. A combination of naphthoquine (NQ) and artemisinin is an antimalarial therapy in pharmaceutical markets. The present study repurposed NQ as a drug for the treatment of babesiosis by evaluating the anti-Babesia activity of naphthoquine phosphate (NQP) alone.

Methods

An in vitro growth inhibition assay of NQP was tested on Babesia gibsoni cultures using a SYBR Green I-based fluorescence assay. In addition, the in vivo growth inhibitory effect of NQP was evaluated using BALB/c mice infected with Babesia rodhaini. The parasitemia level and hematocrit values were monitored to determine the therapeutic efficacy of NQP and the clinical improvements in NQP-treated mice.

Results

The half maximal inhibitory concentration of NQP against B. gibsoni in vitro was 3.3 ± 0.5 μM. Oral administration of NQP for 5 consecutive days at a dose of 40 mg/kg of body weight resulted in significant inhibition of B. rodhaini growth in mice as compared with that of the control group. All NQP-treated mice survived, whereas the mice in the control group died between days 6 and 9 post-infection.

Conclusion

This is the first study to evaluate the anti-Babesia activity of NQP in vitro and in vivo. Our findings suggest that NQP is a promising drug for treating Babesia infections, and drug repurposing may provide new treatment strategies for babesiosis.

Graphical Abstract
The difference of lipid profiles between psoriasis with arthritis and psoriasis without arthritis and sex-specific downregulation of methotrexate on the apolipoprotein B/apolipoprotein A-1 ratio
Authors: Wang Bing , Deng Hui , Hu Yao , Han Ling , Huang Qiong , Fang Xu , Yang Ke , Wu Siyuan , Zheng Zhizhong , Yawalkar Nikhil , Zhang Zhenghua , Yan Kexiang
Published: January 2022

Background

Methotrexate (MTX) has a protective effect against cardiovascular diseases (CVD), but the mechanism is unclear.

Objective

To investigate the effect of MTX on lipid profiles and the difference between psoriasis without arthritis (PsO) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

Methods

In this prospective study, we recruited 288 psoriatic patients (136 PsA and 152 PsO) who completed 12 weeks of MTX treatment. Total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), lipoprotein A [LP(a)], high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1), and ApoB were measured.

Results

Compared with sex- and age-matched healthy controls, psoriatic patients had significantly (p< 0.0001) higher levels of proatherogenic lipids and lower levels of anti-atherogenic lipids. PsA patients had a higher ApoB/ApoA1 ratio than PsO patients (p< 0.05). Stepwise regression analysis found a positive correlation between the inflammatory marker hCRP and the Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI), ApoB/ApoA1 ratio, BMI, and smoking. ApoB was positively associated with concomitant arthritis, diabetes, and hypertension. MTX decreased the levels of pro-atherogenic and anti-atherogenic lipids. However, a significant reduction of the ApoB/ApoA1 ratio by MTX was only observed in male patients.

Conclusion

PsA patients had a significantly higher percentage of concomitant disease than PsO. The decrease of MTX on CVD might be related with sex.

Trial registration

ChiCTR2000036192
Therapeutical interference with the epigenetic landscape of germ cell tumors: a comparative drug study and new mechanistical insights
Authors: Müller Melanie R. , Burmeister Aaron , Skowron Margaretha A. , Stephan Alexa , Bremmer Felix , Wakileh Gamal A. , Petzsch Patrick , Köhrer Karl , Albers Peter , Nettersheim Daniel
Published: January 2022

Background

Type II germ cell tumors (GCT) are the most common solid cancers in males of age 15 to 35 years. Treatment of these tumors includes cisplatin-based therapy achieving high cure rates, but also leading to late toxicities. As mainly young men are suffering from GCTs, late toxicities play a major role regarding life expectancy, and the development of therapy resistance emphasizes the need for alternative therapeutic options. GCTs are highly susceptible to interference with the epigenetic landscape; therefore, this study focuses on screening of drugs against epigenetic factors as a treatment option for GCTs.

Results

We present seven different epigenetic inhibitors efficiently decreasing cell viability in GCT cell lines including cisplatin-resistant subclones at low concentrations by targeting epigenetic modifiers and interactors, like histone deacetylases (Quisinostat), histone demethylases (JIB-04), histone methyltransferases (Chaetocin), epigenetic readers (MZ-1, LP99) and polycomb-repressive complexes (PRT4165, GSK343). Mass spectrometry-based analyses of the histone modification landscape revealed effects beyond the expected mode-of-action of each drug, suggesting a wider spectrum of activity than initially assumed. Moreover, we characterized the effects of each drug on the transcriptome of GCT cells by RNA sequencing and found common deregulations in gene expression of ion transporters and DNA-binding factors. A kinase array revealed deregulations of signaling pathways, like cAMP, JAK-STAT and WNT.

Conclusion

Our study identified seven drugs against epigenetic modifiers to treat cisplatin-resistant GCTs. Further, we extensively analyzed off-target effects and modes-of-action, which are important for risk assessment of the individual drugs.
Antiherpetic drugs: a potential way to prevent Alzheimer’s disease?
Authors: Linard Morgane , Bezin Julien , Hucteau Emilie , Joly Pierre , Garrigue Isabelle , Dartigues Jean-François , Pariente Antoine , Helmer Catherine
Published: January 2022

Background

Considering the growing body of evidence suggesting a potential implication of herpesviruses in the development of dementia, several authors have questioned a protective effect of antiherpetic drugs (AHDs) which may represent a new means of prevention, well tolerated and easily accessible. Subsequently, several epidemiological studies have shown a reduction in the risk of dementia in subjects treated with AHDs, but the biological plausibility of this association and the impact of potential methodological biases need to be discussed in more depth.

Methods

Using a French medico-administrative database, we assessed the association between the intake of systemic AHDs and the incidence of (i) dementia, (ii) Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and (iii) vascular dementia in 68,291 subjects over 65 who were followed between 2009 and 2017. Regarding potential methodological biases, Cox models were adjusted for numerous potential confounding factors (including proxies of sociodemographic status, comorbidities, and use of healthcare) and sensitivity analyses were performed in an attempt to limit the risk of indication and reverse causality biases.

Results

9.7% of subjects (n=6642) had at least one intake of systemic AHD, and 8883 incident cases of dementia were identified. Intake of at least one systemic AHD during follow-up was significantly associated with a decreased risk of AD (aHR 0.85 95% confidence interval [0.75–0.96],p=0.009) and, to a lesser extent with respect topvalues, to both dementia from any cause and vascular dementia. The association with AD remained significant in sensitivity analyses. The number of subjects with aregularintake was low and prevented us from studying its association with dementia.

Conclusions

Taking at least one systemic AHD during follow-up was significantly associated with a 15% reduced risk of developing AD, even after taking into account several potential methodological biases. Nevertheless, the low frequency of subjects with a regular intake questions the biological plausibility of this association and highlights the limits of epidemiological data to evaluate a potential protective effect of a regular treatment by systemic AHDs on the incidence of dementia
Serum neurofilament light chain level as a predictor of cognitive stage transition
Authors: Lee Eun-Hye , Kwon Hyuk Sung , Koh Seong-Ho , Choi Seong Hye , Jin Jeong-Hwa , Jeong Jee Hyang , Jang Jae-Won , Park Kyung Won , Kim Eun-Joo , Kim Hee Jin , Hong Jin Yong , Yoon Soo Jin , Yoon Bora , Kang Ju-Hee , Lee Jong-Min , Park Hyun-Hee , Ha Jungsoon
Published: January 2022

Background

Neurofilament light chain (NFL) level has been suggested as a blood-based biomarker for neurodegeneration in dementia. However, the association between baseline NFL levels and cognitive stage transition or cortical thickness is unclear. This study aimed to investigate whether baseline NFL levels are associated with cognitive stage transition or cortical thickness in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and cognitively unimpaired (CU) participants.

Methods

This study analyzed data on participants from the independent validation cohort of the Korea Brain Aging Study for the Early Diagnosis and Prediction of Alzheimer’s disease (KBASE-V) study. Among the participants of KBASE-V study, 53 MCI and 146 CU participants who were followed up for ≥ 2 years and had data on the serum NFL levels were eligible for inclusion in this study. Participants were classified into three groups according to baseline serum NFL levels of low, middle, or high.

Results

The Kaplan–Meier analysis showed association between the serum NFL tertiles and risk of cognitive stage transition in MCI (P = 0.002) and CU (P = 0.028) participants, analyzed separately. The same is true upon analysis of MCI and CU participants together (P < 0.001). In MCI participants, the highest serum NFL tertile and amyloid-beta positivity were independent predictors for cognitive stage transition after adjusting for covariates. For CU participants, only amyloid-beta positivity was identified to be an independent predictor.

Conclusion

The study shows that higher serum NFL tertile levels correlate with increased risk of cognitive stage transition in both MCI and CU participants. Serum NFL levels were negatively correlated with the mean cortical thickness of the whole-brain and specific brain regions.
A quantitative approach to the 2014 Mt. Ontake volcanic eruption news coverage: understanding the information gap and the public response to the anniversary coverage
Authors: Yamada Ko
Published: January 2022

This paper studies the news coverage of the 2014 Mt. Ontake eruption disaster from 2015 to 2019, and the public response to the fifth anniversary coverage. Information on the issues regarding the risk of low-frequency disaster events such as volcanic eruption is brought into the public largely through the media. Unless there is a volcano nearby, there are few opportunities to discuss volcanic disaster prevention, and enhance volcanic risk perception. Therefore, the media agendas on volcanic risk are an indicator of what people know about volcanic disaster preparedness. This study quantitatively analyzed the 2014 Mt. Ontake eruption reports of national, regional, and local newspapers to reveal their topic distributions. In addition, the anniversary gained intense public attention due to the large amount of media coverage. It was a significant opportunity for society to discuss volcanic risk. By observing people’s online responses to the anniversary coverage, a trend could be identified. We found a significant difference in media attention among the three newspaper types. The local newspaper covered four topics relating to volcanic risk in a well-balanced way, but the national and regional newspapers paid greater attention to one or two topics. Many online comments presented the view that a mountaineering should be done at individuals’ own risk, and volcano shelters would be ineffective for averting volcanic disasters. The anniversary coverage unintentionally contributes to stigmatizing or scapegoating a certain group, rather than promoting risk communication in the public sphere on the Web. With the onset of the information and communication information technology era, an online dialogue regarding disaster awareness and prevention is important. A volcano disaster risk communication strategy on the Web should be developed.
Effect of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens and Bacillus subtilis on fermentation, dynamics of bacterial community and their functional shifts of whole-plant corn silage
Authors: Bai Jie , Franco Marcia , Ding Zitong , Hao Lin , Ke Wencan , Wang Musen , Xie Dongmei , Li Ziqian , Zhang Yixin , Ai Lin , Guo Xusheng
Published: January 2022

Background

Bacillus amyloliquefaciens (BA) and Bacillus subtilis (BS) are usually used as feed supplements directly or bacterial inoculants in biological feeds for animals. However, few research have reported the effects of BA and BS on fermentation characteristics and bacterial community successions of whole-plant corn silage during ensiling. If the BA and BS inoculants have positive effects on silages, then they could not only improve fermentation characteristics, but also deliver BA or BS viable cells to ruminants, which would play its probiotic effect. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to investigate the effects of BA and BS on the fermentation, chemical characteristics, bacterial community and their metabolic pathway of whole-plant corn silage.

Results

Freshly chopped whole-plant corn was inoculated without or with BA and BS, respectively, and ensiled for 1, 3, 7, 14 and 60 d. Results showed that BA and BS inoculations increased lactic acid concentrations of whole-plant corn silages compared with control, and BA inoculation decreased acetic acid concentrations, whereas BS inoculation decreased fiber contents and increased crude protein (CP) content. Higher water-soluble carbohydrate contents and lower starch contents were observed in BA- and BS-inoculated silages compared with that in control. The decreased CP content and increased non-protein nitrogen content were observed in BA-inoculated silage, which was consistent with the higher amino acid metabolism abundances observed in BA-inoculated silage. In addition, it was noteworthy that BA and BS inoculations increased the metabolism of cofactors and vitamins, and decreased the relative abundances of drug resistance: antimicrobial pathways. We also found that the bacterial metabolism pathways were clearly separated into three clusters based on the ensiling times of whole-plant corn silage in the present study. There were no significant differences in bacterial community compositions among the three groups during ensiling. However, BA and BS inoculations decreased the relative abundances of undesirable bacteria such as Acetobacter and Acinetobacter.

Conclusion

Our findings suggested that the BS strain was more suitable as silage inoculants than the BA strain in whole-plant corn silage in this study.
Mycotoxin detoxification of food by lactic acid bacteria
Authors: Nasrollahzadeh Ahmad , Mokhtari Samira , Khomeiri Morteza , Saris Per
Published: January 2022

Today, a few hundred mycotoxins have been identified and the number is rising. Mycotoxin detoxification of food and feed has been a technically uphill task for the industry. In the twenty-first century, the public demand is healthy food with minimum use of chemicals and preservatives. Among all the fungal inhibition and mycotoxin detoxification methods so far developed for food, biopreservation and biodetoxification have been found safe and reliable. Nowadays, lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are of great interest as biological additives in food owing to their Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) classification and mycotoxin detoxification capability. The occurrence of fungul growth in the food chain can lead to health problems such as mycotoxicosis and cancer to humans due to producing mycotoxins such as aflatoxins. Biopreservation is among the safest and most reliable methods for inhibition of fungi in food. This review highlights the great potential of LAB as biodetoxificant by summarizing various reported detoxification activities of LAB against fungal mycotoxins released into foods. Mechanisms of mycotoxin detoxification, also the inherent and environmental factors affecting detoxifying properties of LAB are also covered.
The effect of shock duration on trauma-induced coagulopathy in a murine model
Authors: Sloos Pieter H. , Maas M. Adrie W. , Hollmann Markus W. , Juffermans Nicole P. , Kleinveld Derek J. B.
Published: January 2022

Background

Trauma-induced coagulopathy (TIC) is a life-threatening condition associated with high morbidity and mortality. TIC can present with different coagulation defects. In this study, the aim was to determine the effect of shock duration on TIC characteristics. We hypothesized that longer duration of shock leads to a more hypocoagulable rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM) profile compared to a shorter duration of shock.

Methods

Male B57BL/6J(c) mice (n = 5–10 per group) were sedated and mechanically ventilated. Trauma was induced by bilateral lower limb fractures and crush injuries to the liver and small intestine. Shock was induced by blood withdrawals until a mean arterial pressure of 25–30 mmHg was achieved. Groups reflected trauma and shock for 30 min (TS30) and trauma and shock for 90 min (TS90). Control groups included ventilation only (V90) and trauma only (T90).

Results

Mice in the TS90 group had significantly increased base deficit compared to the V90 group. Mortality was 10% in the TS30 group and 30% in the TS90 group. ROTEM profile was more hypocoagulable, as shown by significantly lower maximum clot firmness (MCF) in the TS30 group (43.5 [37.5–46.8] mm) compared to the TS90 group (52.0 [47.0–53.0] mm, p = 0.04). ROTEM clotting time and parameters of clot build-up did not significantly differ between groups.

Conclusions

TIC characteristics change with shock duration. Contrary to the hypothesis, a shorter duration of shock was associated with decreased maximum clotting amplitudes compared to a longer duration of shock. The effect of shock duration on TIC should be further assessed in trauma patients.
An electrodynamics model for Data Interpretation and Numerical Analysis of ionospheric Missions and Observations (DINAMO)
Authors: Shidler Samuel A. , Rodrigues Fabiano S.
Published: January 2022

We introduce a new numerical model developed to assist with Data Interpretation and Numerical Analysis of ionospheric Missions and Observations (DINAMO). DINAMO derives the ionospheric electrostatic potential at low- and mid-latitudes from a two-dimensional dynamo equation and user-specified inputs for the state of the ionosphere and thermosphere (I–T) system. The potential is used to specify the electric fields and associated F-region E × B plasma drifts. Most of the model was written in Python to facilitate the setup of numerical experiments and to engage students in numerical modeling applied to space sciences. Here, we illustrate applications and results of DINAMO in two different analyses. First, DINAMO is used to assess the ability of widely used I–T climatological models (IRI-2016, NRLMSISE-00, and HWM14), when used as drivers, to produce a realistic representation of the low-latitude electrodynamics. In order to evaluate the results, model E × B drifts are compared with observed climatology of the drifts derived from long-term observations made by the Jicamarca incoherent scatter radar. We found that the climatological I–T models are able to drive many of the features of the plasma drifts including the diurnal, seasonal, altitudinal and solar cycle variability. We also identified discrepancies between modeled and observed drifts under certain conditions. This is, in particular, the case of vertical equatorial plasma drifts during low solar flux conditions, which were attributed to a poor specification of the E-region neutral wind dynamo. DINAMO is then used to quantify the impact of meridional currents on the morphology of F-region zonal plasma drifts. Analytic representations of the equatorial drifts are commonly used to interpret observations. These representations, however, commonly ignore contributions from meridional currents. Using DINAMO we show that that these currents can modify zonal plasma drifts by up to ~ 16 m/s in the bottom-side post-sunset F-region, and up to ~ 10 m/s between 0700 and 1000 LT for altitudes above 500 km. Finally, DINAMO results show the relationship between the pre-reversal enhancement (PRE) of the vertical drifts and the vertical shear in the zonal plasma drifts with implications for equatorial spread F.
Channel-independent recreation of artefactual signals in chronically recorded local field potentials using machine learning
Authors: Fabietti Marcos , Mahmud Mufti , Lotfi Ahmad
Published: January 2022

Acquisition of neuronal signals involves a wide range of devices with specific electrical properties. Combined with other physiological sources within the body, the signals sensed by the devices are often distorted. Sometimes these distortions are visually identifiable, other times, they overlay with the signal characteristics making them very difficult to detect. To remove these distortions, the recordings are visually inspected and manually processed. However, this manual annotation process is time-consuming and automatic computational methods are needed to identify and remove these artefacts. Most of the existing artefact removal approaches rely on additional information from other recorded channels and fail when global artefacts are present or the affected channels constitute the majority of the recording system. Addressing this issue, this paper reports a novel channel-independent machine learning model to accurately identify and replace the artefactual segments present in the signals. Discarding these artifactual segments by the existing approaches causes discontinuities in the reproduced signals which may introduce errors in subsequent analyses. To avoid this, the proposed method predicts multiple values of the artefactual region using long–short term memory network to recreate the temporal and spectral properties of the recorded signal. The method has been tested on two open-access data sets and incorporated into the open-access SANTIA (SigMate Advanced: a Novel Tool for Identification of Artefacts in Neuronal Signals) toolbox for community use.
McKeown esophagectomy with concomitant median arcuate ligament release in a case of esophageal cancer with celiac artery stenosis
Authors: Hanada Keita , Tsunoda Shigeru , Ogiso Satoshi , Nishigori Tatsuto , Hisamori Shigeo , Obama Kazutaka
Published: January 2022

Background

The celiac artery stenosis due to compression by median arcuate ligament (MAL) has been reported in many cases of pancreaticoduodenectomy, but not in cases of esophagectomy. Recently, the celiac artery stenosis due to MAL or arteriosclerosis has been reported to be associated with the gastric tube necrosis or anastomotic leakage following Ivor–Lewis esophagectomy. Herein, we present the first reported case of esophageal cancer with celiac artery stenosis due to compression by the MAL successfully treated by McKeown esophagectomy and gastric tube reconstruction following prophylactic MAL release.

Case presentation

A 72-year-old female patient was referred to our department for esophagectomy. The patient had received two courses of neoadjuvant chemotherapy with 5-FU and cisplatin for T2N0M0 squamous cell carcinoma of the middle esophagus. Preoperative contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) showed celiac artery stenosis due to compression by the MAL. The development of collateral arteries around the pancreatic head was observed without evidence of aneurysm formation. The patient reported no abdominal symptoms. After robot-assisted esophagectomy with mediastinal lymphadenectomy, gastric mobilization, supra-pancreatic lymphadenectomy, and preparation of the gastric tube were performed under laparotomy. Subsequently, the MAL was cut, and released to expose the celiac artery. Improved celiac artery blood flow was confirmed by decreased pulsatility index on intraoperative Doppler sonography. The operation was completed with the cervical esophagogastric anastomosis following cervical lymphadenectomy. Postoperative CECT on postoperative day 7 demonstrated increased celiac artery patency. The patient had an uncomplicated postoperative course thereafter.

Conclusions

Prophylactic MAL release may be considered in patients with celiac artery stenosis due to compression by the MAL on preoperative CECT for esophagectomy.
The racialization of expertise and professional non-equivalence in the humanitarian workplace
Authors: Bian Junru
Published: January 2022

This paper aims to explore the ways which expertise is covertly racialized in the contemporary humanitarian aid sector. While there are considerable discussions on the expat-local divide among aid professionals, such dichotomization is still inherently nationality-based, which may be an over-simplified explanation of the group dimensions within aid organizations. This study seeks to uncover that professional categorizations of “expatriate” and “local” are not race-neutral and, instead, colorblind. Organizations within the contemporary humanitarian aid apparatus have come to appeal to what Michael Omi and Howard Winant would characterize as a new racial discourse—one that does not require explicit references to race in order to be perpetuated, as racial subordination has been reconfigured to rely on implicit references to race woven within the everyday social fabrics of the humanitarian profession. The research suggests that embedded under the contemporary professional structure of the liberal humanitarian space is a covert power hierarchy fueled by perceptions of expertise and competency along racial lines—particularly around one’s whiteness.
Fatigue is associated with disease activity in some, but not all, patients living with rheumatoid arthritis: disentangling “between-person” and “within-person” associations
Authors: Versteeg Grada A. , ten Klooster Peter M. , van de Laar Mart A. F. J.
Published: January 2022

Background

Previous research has shown an unclear and inconsistent association between fatigue and disease activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The aim of this study was to explore differences in “between-person” and “within-person” associations between disease activity parameters and fatigue severity in patients with established RA.

Methods

Baseline and 3-monthly follow-up data up to one-year were used from 531 patients with established RA randomized to stopping (versus continuing) tumor necrosis factor inhibitor treatment enrolled in a large pragmatic trial. Between- and within-patient associations between different indicators of disease activity (C-reactive protein [CRP], erythrocyte sedimentation rate [ESR], swollen and tender joint count [ SJC and TJC], visual analog scale general health [VAS-GH]) and patient-reported fatigue severity (Bristol RA Fatigue Numerical Rating Scale) were disaggregated and estimated using person-mean centering in combination with repeated measures linear mixed modelling.

Results

Overall, different indices of disease activity were weakly to moderately associated with fatigue severity over time (β’s from 0.121 for SJC to 0.352 for VAS-GH, all p’s < 0.0001). Objective markers of inflammation (CRP, ESR and SJC) were associated weakly with fatigue within patients over time (β’s: 0.104–0.142, p’s < 0.0001), but not between patients. The subjective TJC and VAS-GH were significantly associated with fatigue both within and between patients, but with substantially stronger associations at the between-patient level (β’s: 0.217–0.515, p’s < 0.0001). Within-person associations varied widely for individual patients for all components of disease activity.

Conclusion

Associations between fatigue and disease activity vary largely for different patients and the pattern of between-person versus within-person associations appears different for objective versus subjective components of disease activity. The current findings explain the inconsistent results of previous research, illustrates the relevance of statistically distinguishing between different types of association in research on the relation between disease activity and fatigue and additionally suggest a need for a more personalized approach to fatigue in RA patients.

Trial registration Netherlands trial register, Number NTR3112.
Management of transitions to adult services for young people with eating disorders: survey of current practice in England
Authors: Winston Anthony P. , Child Samantha , Jackson Joseph , Paul Moli
Published: January 2022

Aims and method

The Royal College of Psychiatrists has published recommendations for managing transitions between child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) and adult services for eating disorders. A self-report questionnaire was designed to establish how many CAMHS teams meet these recommendations and was distributed to 70 teams providing eating disorders treatment in England.

Results

Of the 38 services that participated, 31 (81.6%) reported a flexible upper age limit for treatment. Only 6 services (15.8%) always transferred young people to a specialist adult eating disorders service and the majority transferred patients to either a specialist service or a community mental health team. Most services complied with recommended provision such as a written transition protocol (52.6%), individualised transition plans (78.9%), joint care with adult services (89.5%) and transition support for the family (73.7%).

Clinical implications

Services are largely compliant with the recommendations. It is a concern that only a small proportion of services are always able to refer to a specialist adult service and this is likely to be due to a relative lack of investment in adult services.
Suicidal ideations and suicide attempts prior to admission to a psychiatric hospital in the first six months of the COVID-19 pandemic: interrupted time-series analysis to estimate the impact of the lockdown and comparison of 2020 with 2019
Authors: Hörmann Christoph , Bandli Annatina , Bankwitz Anna , De Bardeci Mateo , Rüesch Annia , De Araujo Tania Villar , Seifritz Erich , Kleim Birgit , Olbrich Sebastian
Published: January 2022

Background

There is a substantial burden on global mental health as a result of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic that has become putting pressure on healthcare systems. There is increasing concern about rising suicidality consequential to the COVID-19 pandemic and the measures taken. Existing research about the impact of earlier epidemics and economic crises as well as current studies about the effects of the pandemic on public mental health and populations at risk indicate rising suicidality, especially in the middle and longer term.

Aims

This study investigated the early impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on suicidality by comparing weekly in-patient admissions for individuals who were suicidal or who attempted suicide just before admission, for the first 6 months after the pandemic's onset in Switzerland with corresponding 2019 control data.

Method

Data was collected at the Psychiatric University Hospital of Zurich. An interrupted time-series design was used to analyse the number of patients who were suicidal.

Results

Instead of a suggested higher rate of suicidality, fewer admissions of patients with suicidal thoughts were found during the first 6-months after the COVID-19 outbreak. However, the proportion of involuntary admissions was found to be higher and more patients have been admitted after a first suicide attempt than in the corresponding control period from 2019.

Conclusions

Although admissions relating to suicidality decreased during the pandemic, the rising number of patients admitted with a first suicide attempt may be an early indicator for an upcoming extra burden on public mental health (and care). Being a multifactorial process, suicidality is influenced in several ways; low in-patient admissions of patients who are suicidal could also reflect fear of contagion and related uncertainty about seeking mental healthcare.
The mental health of NHS staff during the COVID-19 pandemic: two-wave Scottish cohort study
Authors: De Kock Johannes H. , Ann Latham Helen , Cowden Richard G. , Cullen Breda , Narzisi Katia , Jerdan Shaun , Muñoz Sarah-Anne , Leslie Stephen J. , McNamara Neil , Boggon Adam , Humphry Roger W.
Published: January 2022

Background

Health and social care workers (HSCWs) are at risk of experiencing adverse mental health outcomes (e.g. higher levels of anxiety and depression) because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This can have a detrimental effect on quality of care, the national response to the pandemic and its aftermath.

Aims

A longitudinal design provided follow-up evidence on the mental health (changes in prevalence of disease over time) of NHS staff working at a remote health board in Scotland during the COVID-19 pandemic, and investigated the determinants of mental health outcomes over time.

Method

A two-wave longitudinal study was conducted from July to September 2020. Participants self-reported levels of depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9), anxiety (Generalised Anxiety Disorder-7) and mental well-being (Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale) at baseline and 1.5 months later.

Results

The analytic sample of 169 participants, working in community (43%) and hospital (44%) settings, reported substantial levels of depression and anxiety, and low mental well-being at baseline (depression, 30.8%; anxiety, 20.1%; well-being, 31.9%). Although mental health remained mostly constant over time, the proportion of participants meeting the threshold for anxiety increased to 27.2% at follow-up. Multivariable modelling indicated that working with, and disruption because of, COVID-19 were associated with adverse mental health changes over time.

Conclusions

HSCWs working in a remote area with low COVID-19 prevalence reported substantial levels of anxiety and depression, similar to those working in areas with high COVID-19 prevalence. Efforts to support HSCW mental health must remain a priority, and should minimise the adverse effects of working with, and disruption caused by, the COVID-19 pandemic.
Patient-Reported Outcome-Based Symptom Management Versus Usual Care After Lung Cancer Surgery: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Dai Wei , Feng Wenhong , Zhang Yuanqiang , Wang Xin Shelley , Liu Yangjun , Pompili Cecilia , Xu Wei , Xie Shaohua , Wang Yaqin , Liao Jia , Wei Xing , Xiang Run , Hu Bin , Tian Bo , Yang Xiaozun , Wang Xiang , Xiao Ping , Lai Qi , Wang Xin , Cao Bangrong , Wang Qifeng , Liu Fang , Liu Xiaoqin , Xie Tianpeng , Yang Xiaojun , Zhuang Xiang , Wu Zhong , Che Guowei , Li Qiang , Shi Qiuling
Published: January 2022

PURPOSE

We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and feasibility of patient-reported outcome (PRO)-based symptom management in the early period after lung cancer surgery.

METHODS

Before surgery, patients with clinically diagnosed lung cancer were randomly assigned 1:1 to receive postoperative PRO-based symptom management or usual care. All patients reported symptoms on MD Anderson Symptom Inventory-Lung Cancer presurgery, daily postsurgery, and twice a week after discharge for up to 4 weeks via an electronic PRO system. In the intervention group, treating surgeons responded to overthreshold electronic alerts driven by any of the five target symptom scores (score ≥ 4 on a 0-10 scale for pain, fatigue, disturbed sleep, shortness of breath, and coughing). The control group patients received usual care and no alerts were generated. The primary outcome was the number of symptom threshold events (any target symptom with a score of ≥ 4) at discharge. Per-protocol analyses were conducted.

RESULTS

Of the 166 participants, 83 were randomly allocated to each group. At discharge, the intervention group reported fewer symptom threshold events than the control group (median [interquartile range], 0 [0-2] v 2 [0-3]; P = .007). At 4 weeks postdischarge, this difference was maintained between the intervention and control groups (median [interquartile range], 0 [0-0] v 0 [0-1]; P = .018). The intervention group had a lower complication rate than the control group (21.5% v 40.6%; P = .019). Surgeons spent a median of 3 minutes managing an alert.

CONCLUSION

PRO-based symptom management after lung cancer surgery showed lower symptom burden and fewer complications than usual care for up to 4 weeks postdischarge.