bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Item Analysis of Functional Measure Indicators in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey: A Cross-sectional Study
Authors: Gore Shweta , Gochyyev Perman , Tiwari Devashish
Published: February 2023

Objective

This study aimed to develop a function, activities, and participation measurement scale using the questions on the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) by applying Item response theory (IRT) approaches.

Design

Cross-sectional.

Participants

Survey data was collected from 2,512 participants within the NHANES.

Methods

Twenty questions from the NHANES physical functioning section were included. We conducted exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis (EFA & CFA) to evaluate the factorial structure and model fit of the NHANES instrument. A multidimensional Rasch modeling was used to model the response data after confirming its model fit. To assess validity across subgroups, we conducted differential item functioning test with respect to sex and race using the three-dimensional partial credit model.

Results

Item fit indices indicated a good fit (RMSEA = 0.049, SRMR = 0.052, Tucker Lewis index = 0.975). Rasch analysis indicated that “Stoop/crouch/kneel,” “Stand for long periods,” and “Push/pull large objects” were the three most difficult items, while “Walk between rooms,” “Use fork/knife”, and “Leisure at home” were the easiest. The measure demonstrated good internal consistency overall (Cronbach’s α = 0.90).

Conclusion

The NHANES function, activities, and participation measure demonstrates sufficient evidence of reliability, internal consistency, and validity in non-institutionalized community-dwelling population.
Long-term patient reported outcomes and complication rates in pre-pectoral versus sub-pectoral two-stage implant-based breast reconstruction after nipple-sparing mastectomy
Authors: Alcon Andre , Rosser Micaela , Gedallovich Jodi , Foster Robert D. , Sbitany Hani , Piper Merisa
Published: February 2023

Background:

Implant-based breast reconstruction remains the most commonly used method following mastectomy, but data is lacking regarding differences in complications and long-term patient-reported outcomes for two-stage sub-pectoral versus pre-pectoral reconstruction. We sought to better understand the risks and impact of these reconstructive approaches on overall satisfaction.

Methods:

Patients who underwent unilateral or bilateral nipple-sparing mastectomy and two-stage implant-based reconstruction from 2014 to 2019 were identified from the electronic medical records and contacted via email to complete the BREAST-Q survey. Overall satisfaction was measured by the question, “How happy are you with the outcome of your breast reconstruction?” using a six-point Likert scale. Patients were grouped into sub-pectoral or pre-pectoral cohorts. Complications were evaluated retrospectively. Only patients who were at least six months from their final reconstruction were included in the analysis.

Results:

Of the 582 patients contacted, 206 (35%) responded. The sub-pectoral (n = 114) and pre-pectoral (n=38) groups did not differ significantly by demographic or treatment characteristics. BREAST-Q scores were also comparable. Complication rates were similar, but pre-pectoral patients had a significantly higher rate of capsular contracture (16% vs 4%, p < 0.05). Bivariate ordered logistic regression identified pre-pectoral implant placement, having any post-operative complication, and capsular contracture as predictors of less overall happiness.

Conclusion:

Our study suggests that pre-pectoral patients may have slightly higher complication rates but are as satisfied as sub-pectoral patients after at least a year of follow-up. Further studies should investigate risk factors for capsular contracture, how the risk changes over time, and how it impacts patient satisfaction.
“Bone Tissue Engineering in the Growing Calvaria: A 3D Printed Bioceramic Scaffold to Reconstruct Critical-Sized Defects in a Skeletally Immature Pig Model”
Authors: DeMitchell-Rodriguez Evellyn M. , Shen Chen , Nayak Vasudev V. , Tovar Nick , Witek Lukasz , Torroni Andrea , Yarholar Lauren M. , Cronstein Bruce N. , Flores Roberto L. , Coelho Paulo G.
Published: February 2023

Background:

3D-printed bioceramic scaffolds composed of 100% beta(β)-tricalcium phosphate augmented with dipyridamole (3DPBC-DIPY) can regenerate bone across critically sized defects in skeletally mature and immature animal models. Prior to human application, safe and effective bone formation should be demonstrated in a large translational animal model. This study evaluated the ability of 3DPBC-DIPY scaffolds to restore critically sized calvarial defects in a skeletally immature, growing minipig.

Methods:

Unilateral calvarial defects (~1.4cm) were created in six-week-old Göttingen minipigs (n=12). Four defects were filled with a 1000µ M 3DPBC-DIPY scaffold with a cap (a solid barrier on the ectocortical side of the scaffold to prevent soft tissue infiltration), four defects were filled with a 1000µM 3DPBC-DIPY scaffold without a cap, and four defects served as negative controls (no scaffold). Animals were euthanized 12-weeks post-operatively. Calvaria were subjected to micro-computed tomography, 3D-reconstruction with volumetric analysis, qualitative histologic analysis, and nanoindentation.

Results:

Scaffold-induced bone growth was statistically greater than negative controls (p≤0.001) and the scaffolds with caps produced significantly more bone generation compared to the scaffolds without caps (p≤0.001). Histological analysis revealed woven and lamellar bone with the presence of haversian canals throughout the regenerated bone. Additionally, cranial sutures were observed to be patent and there was no evidence of ectopic bone formation or excess inflammatory response. Reduced elastic modulus (Er) and hardness (H) of scaffold-regenerated bone were found to be statistically equivalent to native bone (p = 0.148 for Er of scaffolds with and without caps, and p = 0.228 and p = 0.902, for H of scaffolds with and without caps, respectively).

Conclusion:

3DPBC-DIPY scaffolds have the capacity to regenerate bone across critically sized calvarial defects in a skeletally immature translational pig model.
A review on different methods of scoliosis brace fabrication
Authors: Nathan Parvathi , Chou Siaw Meng , Liu Gabriel
Published: February 2023

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis is a 3D spinal deformity and mostly affects children in the age group of 10–16 years. Bracing is the most widely recommended nonoperative treatment modality for scoliosis in children. Scoliosis brace fabrication techniques have continuously evolved and currently use traditional plaster casting, computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM), or 3D printing. This is a mini narrative literature review. The objective of our study is to conduct a narrative review of traditional, CAD-CAM and 3D printed brace manufacture. A narrative literature review of scoliosis brace manufacturing methods was conducted using PubMed, Cochrane, and other databases with appropriate keywords. Data were also collected from white papers of manufacturing companies. A total of 53 articles on scoliosis bracing manufacture were selected from various sources and subjected to detailed review. The shortlisted papers focused on Chêneau derivatives and Boston braces. Computer-aided design-CAM brace fabrication had similar curve correction compared with traditional plaster-cast braces; however, patient satisfaction may be greater in CAD-CAM braces. Traditional brace fabrication using plaster casting may be uncomfortable to patients. Computer-aided design-CAM and 3D printed braces may enhance comfort by augmenting the breathability and reducing brace weight. 3D printing is the most recently used brace fabrication method. 3D printing enables the manufacture of customized braces that can potentially enhance patient comfort and compliance and curve correction. 3D printing may also ease the bracing experience for patients and enhance the productivity of brace making.
Investigation of the correlation between knee joint position sense and physical functional performance in individuals with transtibial amputation
Authors: Demirdel Senem , Ekinci Yasin , Demirdel Ertuğrul , Erbahçeci Fatih
Published: February 2023

Introduction:

In individuals with transtibial amputation, the distal part of the lower extremity is lost. Therefore, the knee joint is of greater importance to be able to provide physical performance. The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between knee joint position sense and physical functional performance in individuals with transtibial amputation.

Methods:

The study included 21 subjects with transtibial amputation. A digital inclinometer was used to evaluate the joint position sense of the amputated side knee joint. The timed up and go test, the 4-square step test, and 10-m walk test were used to evaluate physical functional performance. Linear regression analysis was used to investigate the associations between independent variables and functional performance tests.

Results:

The mean age of the participants was 52.52 ± 15.68 years. The mean of the error in knee joint position sense was 5.33 degree (standard deviation = 3.08 degree). The error in knee joint position sense of the amputated limb predicted 45% of the variance in the 4-square step test and 22% of the variance in the 10-m walk test (P < 0.05).

Conclusions:

The knee joint position sense on the amputated side was found to be associated with physical functional performance in individuals with transtibial amputation. Residual limb knee joint position sense should be considered when prescribing prostheses and planning rehabilitation programs.
Adaptation, reliability, and validation of the Turkish version of the Bad Sobernheim Stress Questionnaire-Deformity in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis
Authors: Akçay Burçin , Kuru Çolak Tuğba , Apti Adnan
Published: February 2023

Background:

There is a limited number of disease-specific outcome measurement scales in Turkish, which can be used for individuals with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). The aim of this study was to translate, adapt, and evaluate the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the Bad Sobernheim Stress Questionnaire-Deformity (TRv.BSSQD) questionnaire in Turkish patients with AIS.

Objective(s):

After the translation and back-translation process, the TRv.BSSQD and Scoliosis Research Society-22 questionnaires were completed in face-to-face interviews with 49 patients with AIS. The TRv.BSSQD questionnaire was readministered to the same patients 2 weeks later to assess test-retest reliability.

Results:

The Cronbach alpha value calculated for internal reliability was 0.806. The intraclass correlation coefficient values of the items of the TRv.BSSQD ranged from 0.809 (P < 0.001) (question 8) to 0.955 (P < 0.001) (question 7). The test-retest correlation coefficient for the item-total score was 0.960 (P < 0.001). Validity analysis showed a significantly positive correlation between the TRv.BSSQD total score and pain, self-image, and mental subgroup and the total scores of the SRS-22r scale (P < 0.05).

Conclusions:

This patient-reported outcome instrument, the TRv.BSSQD, showed good internal consistency, good reliability with test-retest analysis, and construct validity, suggesting that it is an appropriate assessment instrument for Turkish patients with AIS.
Safety and efficacy of long-acting injectable cabotegravir as preexposure prophylaxis to prevent HIV acquisition
Authors: Fonner Virginia A. , Ridgeway Kathleen , van der Straten Ariane , Lorenzetti Lara , Dinh Nhi , Rodolph Michelle , Schaefer Robin , Schmidt Heather-Marie A. , Nguyen Van Thi Thuy , Radebe Mopo , Peralta Hortencia , Baggaley Rachel
Published: February 2023

Objective:

HIV remains a significant burden, despite expanding HIV prevention tools. Long-acting injectable cabotegravir (CAB-LA) is a new preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) product. We reviewed existing evidence to determine the efficacy and safety of CAB-LA as PrEP to inform global guidelines.

Design:

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methods:

We systematically reviewed electronic databases and conference abstracts for citations on CAB-LA from January 2010 to September 2021. Outcomes included HIV infection, adverse events, drug resistance, pregnancy-related adverse events, and sexual behavior. We calculated pooled effect estimates using random-effects meta-analysis and summarized other results narratively.

Results:

We identified 12 articles/abstracts representing four multisite randomized controlled trials. Study populations included cisgender men, cisgender women, and transgender women. The pooled relative risk of HIV acquisition comparing CAB-LA to oral PrEP within efficacy studies was 0.21 (95% confidence interval: 0.07–0.61), resulting in a 79% reduction in HIV risk. Rates of adverse events were similar across study groups. Of 19 HIV infections among those randomized to CAB-LA with results available, seven had integrase strand transfer inhibitor (INSTI) resistance. Data on pregnancy-related adverse events were sparse. No studies reported on sexual behavior.

Conclusions:

CAB-LA is highly efficacious for HIV prevention with few safety concerns. CAB-LA may lead to an increased risk of INSTI resistance among those who have acute HIV infection at initiation or become infected while taking CAB-LA. However, results are limited to controlled studies; more research is needed on real-world implementation. Additional data are needed on the safety of CAB-LA during pregnancy (for mothers and infants) and among populations not included in the trials.
Development of Frail RISC-HIV: a Risk Score for Predicting Frailty Risk in the Short-term for Care of People with HIV
Authors: Ruderman Stephanie A. , Nance Robin M. , Drumright Lydia N. , Whitney Bridget M. , Hahn Andrew W. , Ma Jimmy , Haidar Lara , Eltonsy Sherif , Mayer Kenneth H. , Eron Joseph J. , Greene Meredith , Mathews William C. , Webel Allison , Saag Michael S. , Willig Amanda L. , Kamen Charles , McCaul Mary , Chander Geetanjali , Cachay Edward , Lober William B. , Pandya Chintan , Cartujano-Barrera Francisco , Kritchevsky Stephen B. , Austad Steven N. , Landay Alan , Kitahata Mari M. , Crane Heidi M. , Delaney Joseph A.C.
Published: February 2023

Objective:

Frailty is common among people with HIV (PWH), so we developed frail risk in the short-term for care (RISC)-HIV, a frailty prediction risk score for HIV clinical decision-making.

Design:

We followed PWH for up to 2 years to identify short-term predictors of becoming frail.

Methods:

We predicted frailty risk among PWH at seven HIV clinics across the United States. A modified self-reported Fried Phenotype captured frailty, including fatigue, weight loss, inactivity, and poor mobility. PWH without frailty were separated into training and validation sets and followed until becoming frail or 2 years. Bayesian Model Averaging (BMA) and five-fold-cross-validation Lasso regression selected predictors of frailty. Predictors were selected by BMA if they had a greater than 45% probability of being in the best model and by Lasso if they minimized mean squared error. We included age, sex, and variables selected by both BMA and Lasso in Frail RISC-HIV by associating incident frailty with each selected variable in Cox models. Frail RISC-HIV performance was assessed in the validation set by Harrell's C and lift plots.

Results:

Among 3170 PWH (training set), 7% developed frailty, whereas among 1510 PWH (validation set), 12% developed frailty. BMA and Lasso selected baseline frailty score, prescribed antidepressants, prescribed antiretroviral therapy, depressive symptomology, and current marijuana and illicit opioid use. Discrimination was acceptable in the validation set, with Harrell's C of 0.76 (95% confidence interval: 0.73–0.79) and sensitivity of 80% and specificity of 61% at a 5% frailty risk cutoff.

Conclusions:

Frail RISC-HIV is a simple, easily implemented tool to assist in classifying PWH at risk for frailty in clinics.
Tuberculosis Preventative Therapy Initiation and Completion Among Adolescents and Young Adults Living With HIV in Kenya
Authors: Black Danae A. , LaCourse Sylvia M. , Njuguna Irene N. , Beima-Sofie Kristin M. , Mburu Caren W. , Mugo Cyrus , Itindi Janet , Onyango Alvin , Richardson Barbra A. , Wamalwa Dalton C. , John-Stewart Grace C.
Published: February 2023

Background:

Tuberculosis is the leading cause of death among adolescents and young adults living with HIV (YWHIV) and their heightened risk warrants deeper understanding of utilization of tuberculosis-prevention measures within HIV care.

Setting:

Retrospective study using clinic surveys and medical record data from 86 Kenyan HIV clinics.

Methods:

Clinic surveys obtained information on tuberculosis preventive therapy (TPT) services. Medical records of YWHIV were abstracted. Bivariate and multivariate analyses used generalized linear models to determine individual-level and clinic-level cofactors of TPT initiation and completion.

Results:

Among 10,328 eligible YWHIV, 4337 (42.0%) initiated TPT. Of 3295 with ≥6 months follow-up, 1774 (53.8%) completed TPT. A lower patient-to-staff ratio was a clinic-level cofactor of TPT initiation (P = 0.044) and completion (P = 0.004); designated adolescent areas were associated with TPT initiation {prevalence ratio 2.05 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.46 to –2.88]}. Individual cofactors of TPT initiation included younger age at HIV-care enrollment [relative risk (RR) 0.85 (95% CI: 0.80 to 0.90)] and antiretroviral therapy (ART) duration [1–2 vs. <1 year RR 1.31 (95% CI: 1.18 to 1.45)]. TPT completion was associated with younger age [RR 0.91 (95% CI: 0.85 to 0.98)] and ART duration [2–5 vs. <1 year RR 1.27 (95% CI: 1.03 to 1.57)]. In multivariate models, TPT initiation was associated with younger age and ART duration [1–2 vs. 1 year; adjusted RR 1.30 (95% CI: 1.16 to 1.46)] and TPT completion with ART duration [2–5 vs. 1 year adjusted RR 1.23 (95% CI: 0.99 to 1.52)].

Conclusion:

Over half of YWHIV did not initiate and >40% did not complete TPT, with distinct clinic-level and individual-level cofactors. Approaches to enhance adolescent-friendly infrastructure and support older YWHIV are necessary to improve TPT use.
Apparent Diffusion Coefficient in the Differentiation of Common Pediatric Brain Tumors in the Posterior Fossa: Different Region-of-Interest Selection Methods for Time Efficiency, Measurement Reproducibility, and Diagnostic Utility
Authors: Chen Dehua , Lin Shan , She Dejun , Chen Qi , Xing Zhen , Zhang Yu , Cao Dairong
Published: February 2023

Objectives

This study aimed to explore the diagnostic ability of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values obtained from different region of interest (ROI) measurements in tumor parenchyma for differentiating posterior fossa tumors (PFTs) and the correlations between ADC values and Ki-67.

Methods

Seventy-three pediatric patients with PFTs who underwent conventional diffusion-weighted imaging were recruited in this study. Five different ROIs were manually drawn by 2 radiologists (ROI-polygon, ROI-3 sections, ROI-3–5 ovals, ROI-more ovals, and ROI-whole). The interreader/intrareader repeatability, time required, diagnostic ability, and Ki-67 correlation analysis of the ADC values based on these ROI strategies were calculated.

Results

Both interreader and intrareader reliabilities were excellent for ADC values among the different ROI strategies (intraclass correlation coefficient, 0.899–0.992). There were statistically significant differences in time consumption among the 5 ROI selection methods (P < 0.001). The time required for the ROI-3–5 ovals was the shortest (32.23 ± 5.14 seconds), whereas the time required for the ROI-whole was the longest (204.52 ± 92.34 seconds). The diagnostic efficiency of the ADC values showed no significant differences among the different ROI measurements (P > 0.05). The ADC value was negatively correlated with Ki-67 (r = −0.745 to −0.798, all P < 0.0001).

Conclusions

The ROI-3–5 ovals method has the best interobserver repeatability, the shortest amount of time spent, and the best diagnostic ability. Thus, it is considered an effective measurement to produce ADC values in the evaluation of pediatric PFTs.
Computed Tomography Coronary Angiography on a Detector-Based Spectral Computed Tomography Platform: Evaluation of Patients With Coronary Artery Disease Reporting and Data System Score of 3 and Higher
Authors: Igi Mae , Miller Jenna , Sayers Kia , Smith David L. , Toshav Aran , Batte Catherine , Spieler Bradley , Danrad Raman
Published: February 2023

Purpose

Computed tomography (CT) coronary angiography performed on a detector-based spectral scanner helps more closely approximate severity of stenosis with nuclear medicine and cardiac catheterization tests compared with single-energy CT (SECT) in patients with an original CAD-RADS score of 3 and higher.

Methods

This retrospective trial was conducted between January 2017 and December 2019 and included 52 patients with a CAD-RADS score of 3 and higher. Two reading sessions were performed 6 weeks apart. The first reading session was performed using only conventional images and the second reading session was performed using spectral results. Detector-based spectral CT CAD-RADS scores were compared with cardiac stress test and/or cardiac catheterization results for final characterization of stenosis in 41 segments from 32 patients. The mean CAD-RADS score was calculated for both the conventional images and spectral images.

Results

The CAD-RADS score for SECT and the score for spectral CT for the 41 segments were compared. Available associated stress test and/or cardiac catheterization results were also compared with CAD-RADS scores. In 51% (21/41), a diagnosis concordant with best practices results was achieved with the help of spectral CT results. A mean CAD-RADS score of 3.56 was obtained using spectral results, compared with 3.93 using conventional images. A 2-tailed paired t test determined the difference to be significant with a P value of 0.007.

Conclusions

Computed tomography coronary angiography is feasible on a detector-based spectral CT scanner and can improve diagnostic confidence over SECT angiography in patients with an original CAD-RADS score of 3 and higher.
Gastric Mucosal Viability Assessment Using 99mTcO4 in a Case of Pure Esophageal Atresia After Isoperistaltic Gastric Tube Replacement
Authors: Prakash Sneha , Kumar Rakesh , Tripathi Madhavi , Jha Vimalendu , Bajpai Minu
Published: February 2023

Gastric surface mucosal cells are responsible for the uptake and secretion of 99mTcO4, a feature that has been used in imaging heterotopic gastric mucosa. We used the same principle to look for gastric mucosal viability in this case of pure esophageal atresia admitted for cervical stomal closure after a previous isoperistaltic gastric tube (IGT) replacement procedure. 99mTcO4 scintigraphy was done after encountering a failure to maneuver the esophagoscope through the IGT. The study was helpful in assessing the loss of gastric mucosal viability in an intervening segment of the IGT.
18F-FDG PET/CT and 68Ga-DOTA-FAPI-04 PET/CT Findings of Myeloid Sarcoma
Authors: Liu Wei , Yang Xiao , Chen Liming , Chen Yue , Xu Tingting
Published: February 2023

A 28-year-old woman presented with a 2-month history of swelling and pain in the chest wall. An irregular soft tissue mass in the chest wall and mediastinum was showed on chest CT. 18F-FDG PET/CT revealed obvious FDG uptake in the mass. Subsequently, the patient was participated in a 68Ga-DOTA-FAPI-04 PET/CT tumor clinical trial. 68Ga-DOTA-FAPI-04 PET/CT also showed elevated tracer uptake in the mass. Biopsy of the mass confirmed a diagnosis of myeloid sarcoma.
Atypically Intense Pharmacologically Induced Brown Fat Activation on FDG PET/CT
Authors: Brahmbhatt Pavan , Ataei Fatemeh , Parent Ephraim E. , Sharma Akash
Published: February 2023

Brown fat activation with increased radiotracer localization on FDG PET/CT studies is a well-known phenomenon. Activated brown adipose tissue (BAT) is usually seen in the supraclavicular region, but also in paraspinal and rarely in upper abdominal fat. Ours is a unique case of atypically intense, multilobular FDG uptake in activated BAT. Chart review revealed that the patient was receiving mirabegron, a known activator of brown fat. Methods of reducing brown fat uptake are known, but little information is reported on pharmacologic causes of increased uptake. Factors increasing FDG uptake in BAT should also be considered when interpreting PET/CT studies.
68Ga-FAPI Versus 18F-FDG PET/CT in Evaluating Newly Diagnosed Breast Cancer Patients
Authors: Zheng Shan , Lin Junyu , Zhu Youzhi , Chen Yun , Zhang Jiaying , Chen Xiangjin , Miao Weibing
Published: February 2023

Purpose

This study aimed to compare the performance of 68Ga-FAPI and 18F-FDG PET/CT in the evaluation of patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer.

Methods

Thirty-four women with newly diagnosed breast cancer who underwent both 68Ga-FAPI and 18F-FDG PET/CT within 1 week were prospectively included in the study. The imaging characteristics of primary lesions, diagnostic efficiency of lymph node metastasis (LNM), and accuracy of N stage evaluation between 2 PET/CTs were compared.

Results

68Ga-FAPI showed higher SUVmax (11.06 ± 5.48 vs 8.33 ± 6.07, P = 0.02) and tumor-to-background ratio (15.32 ± 10.33 vs 8.25 ± 5.51, P < 0.001) than 18F-FDG in primary tumors. 68Ga-FAPI SUVmax was positively correlated with the pathological grade of the primary lesions and the final stage of the patients (P < 0.001). The specificity and accuracy of 68Ga-FAPI was higher than that of 18F-FDG in the diagnosis of LNMs on patient-based and lesion-based analysis (P < 0.001). The accuracy for the evaluation of N stage and N0 axillar status was 91.2% (31/34) and 85.7% (12/14) for 68Ga-FAPI, and 73.5% (25/34) and 42.9% (6/14) for 18F-FDG, respectively.

Conclusions

The 68Ga-FAPI SUVmax was positively correlated with the pathological grade of the primary lesions and the final stage of the patients. 68Ga-FAPI PET/CT has higher accuracy than 18F-FDG in the evaluation of N stage, especially N0 axillar status, which is helpful to improve the treatment strategy for breast cancer patients.
Increased 18F-PSMA and 18F-FDG Uptake in Lipomatous Hypertrophy of the Interatrial Septum
Authors: Grünig Hannes , Strobel Klaus , Zander Andrea , del Sol Pérez Lago Maria
Published: February 2023

Lipomatous hypertrophy of the interatrial septum (LHIS) is a benign anomaly with low prevalence. Lipomatous hypertrophy of the interatrial septum is asymptomatic in most of the cases and rarely leads to atrial arrhythmias, obstructive flow symptoms, or sudden death. It is mostly diagnosed as an incidental finding in cross-sectional imaging and echocardiography, and increased 18F-FDG uptake on LHIS has been described. We present a case of repeated increased 18F-PSMA uptake in LHIS. Although very rare, familiarity with the typical features and prevalence of LHIS in PET/CT can avoid misinterpretation for metastatic disease.
Donor BMI and Post–living Donor Liver Transplantation Outcomes: A Preliminary Report
Authors: Lin Jessica S. , Muhammad Haris , Lin Timothy , Kamel Ihab , Baghdadi Azarakhsh , Rizkalla Nicole , Ottmann Shane E. , Wesson Russell , Philosophe Benjamin , Gurakar Ahmet
Published: February 2023

Background.

Living liver donor obesity has been considered a relative contraindication to living donation given the association with hepatic steatosis and potential for poor donor and recipient outcomes. We investigated the association between donor body mass index (BMI) and donor and recipient posttransplant outcomes.

Methods.

We studied 66 living donors and their recipients who underwent living donor liver transplant at our center between 2013 and 2020. BMI was divided into 3 categories (<25, 25–29.9, and ≥30 kg/m2). Magnetic resonance imaging–derived proton density fat fraction was used to quantify steatosis. Donor outcomes included length of stay (LOS), emergency department visits within 90 d, hospital readmissions within 90 d, and complication severity. Recipient outcomes included LOS and in-hospital mortality. The Student t test was used to compare normally distributed variables, and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used for nonparametric data.

Results.

There was no difference in donor or recipient characteristics based on donor BMI. There was no significant difference in mean magnetic resonance imaging fat percentage among the 3 groups. Additionally, there was no difference in donor LOS (P = 0.058), emergency department visits (P = 0.64), and hospital readmissions (P = 0.66) across BMI category. Donor complications occurred in 30 patients. There was no difference in postdonation complications across BMI category (P = 0.19); however, there was a difference in wound complications, with the highest rate being seen in the highest BMI group (0% versus 16% versus 37%; P = 0.041). Finally, there was no difference in recipient LOS (P = 0.83) and recipient in-hospital mortality (P = 0.29) across BMI category.

Conclusions.

Selecting donors with BMI ≥30 kg/m2 can result in successful living donor liver transplantation; however, they are at risk for perioperative wound complications. Donor counseling and perioperative strategies to mitigate wound-related issues should be used when considering obese living donors.
Multi-level combinatoriality in magpie non-song vocalizations
Authors: Walsh Sarah L. , Engesser Sabrina , Townsend Simon W. , Ridley Amanda R.
Published: February 2023

Comparative studies conducted over the past few decades have provided important insights into the capacity for animals to combine vocal segments at either one of two levels: within- or between-calls. There remains, however, a distinct gap in knowledge as to whether animal combinatoriality can extend beyond one level. Investigating this requires a comprehensive analysis of the combinatorial features characterizing a species' vocal system. Here, we used a nonlinear dimensionality reduction analysis and sequential transition analysis to quantitatively describe the non-song combinatorial repertoire of the Western Australian magpie (Gymnorhina tibicen dorsalis). We found that (i) magpies recombine four distinct acoustic segments to create a larger number of calls, and (ii) the resultant calls are further combined into larger call combinations. Our work demonstrates two levels in the combining of magpie vocal units. These results are incongruous with the notion that a capacity for multi-level combinatoriality is unique to human language, wherein the combining of meaningless sounds and meaningful words interactively occurs across different combinatorial levels. Our study thus provides novel insights into the combinatorial capacities of a non-human species, adding to the growing evidence of analogues of language-specific traits present in the animal kingdom.
The first genetic engineered system for ovothiol biosynthesis in diatoms reveals a mitochondrial localization for the sulfoxide synthase OvoA
Authors: Russo Monia Teresa , Santin Anna , Zuccarotto Annalisa , Leone Serena , Palumbo Anna , Ferrante Maria Immacolata , Castellano Immacolata
Published: February 2023

Diatoms represent one of the most abundant groups of microalgae in the ocean and are responsible for approximately 20% of photosynthetically fixed CO
2
on Earth. Due to their complex evolutionary history and ability to adapt to different environments, diatoms are endowed with striking molecular biodiversity and unique metabolic activities. Their high growth rate and the possibility to optimize their biomass make them very promising ‘biofactories’ for biotechnological applications. Among bioactive compounds, diatoms can produce ovothiols, histidine-derivatives, endowed with unique antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and occurring in many marine invertebrates, bacteria and pathogenic protozoa. However, the functional role of ovothiols biosynthesis in organisms remains almost unexplored. In this work, we have characterized the thiol fraction of
Phaeodactylum tricornutum
, providing the first evidence of the presence of ovothiol B in pennate diatoms. We have used
P. tricornutum
to overexpress the 5-histidylcysteine sulfoxide synthase
ovoA
, the gene encoding the key enzyme involved in ovothiol biosynthesis and we have discovered that OvoA localizes in the mitochondria, a finding that uncovers new concepts in cellular redox biochemistry. We have also obtained engineered biolistic clones that can produce higher amount of ovothiol B compared to wild-type cells, suggesting a new strategy for the eco-sustainable production of these molecules.
Modelling Aotearoa New Zealand's COVID-19 protection framework and the transition away from the elimination strategy
Authors: Vattiato Giorgia , Lustig Audrey , Maclaren Oliver , Binny Rachelle N. , Hendy Shaun C. , Harvey Emily , O'Neale Dion , Plank Michael J.
Published: February 2023

For the first 18 months of the COVID-19 pandemic, New Zealand used an elimination strategy to suppress community transmission of SARS-CoV-2 to zero or very low levels. In late 2021, high vaccine coverage enabled the country to transition away from the elimination strategy to a mitigation strategy. However, given negligible levels of immunity from prior infection, this required careful planning and an effective public health response to avoid uncontrolled outbreaks and unmanageable health impacts. Here, we develop an age-structured model for the Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 including the effects of vaccination, case isolation, contact tracing, border controls and population-wide control measures. We use this model to investigate how epidemic trajectories may respond to different control strategies, and to explore trade-offs between restrictions in the community and restrictions at the border. We find that a low case tolerance strategy, with a quick change to stricter public health measures in response to increasing cases, reduced the health burden by a factor of three relative to a high tolerance strategy, but almost tripled the time spent in national lockdowns. Increasing the number of border arrivals was found to have a negligible effect on health burden once high vaccination rates were achieved and community transmission was widespread.
Using self-affirmation to increase intellectual humility in debate
Authors: Hanel Paul H. P. , Roy Deborah , Taylor Samuel , Franjieh Michael , Heffer Chris , Tanesini Alessandra , Maio Gregory R.
Published: February 2023

Intellectual humility, which entails openness to other views and a willingness to listen and engage with them, is crucial for facilitating civil dialogue and progress in debate between opposing sides. In the present research, we tested whether intellectual humility can be reliably detected in discourse and experimentally increased by a prior self-affirmation task. Three hundred and three participants took part in 116 audio- and video-recorded group discussions. Blind to condition, linguists coded participants' discourse to create an intellectual humility score. As expected, the self-affirmation task increased the coded intellectual humility, as well as participants’ self-rated prosocial affect (e.g. empathy). Unexpectedly, the effect on prosocial affect did not mediate the link between experimental condition and intellectual humility in debate. Self-reported intellectual humility and other personality variables were uncorrelated with expert-coded intellectual humility. Implications of these findings for understanding the social psychological mechanisms underpinning intellectual humility are considered.
Controlling and scripting laboratory hardware with open-source, intuitive interfaces: OpenFlexure Voice Control and OpenFlexure Blockly
Authors: McDermott Samuel , Bowman Richard , Harrington Kerrianne , Wadsworth William , Cicuta Pietro
Published: February 2023

Making user interaction with laboratory equipment more convenient and intuitive should promote experimental work and help researchers to complete their tasks efficiently. The most common form of interaction in current instrumentation is either direct tactile, with buttons and knobs, or interfaced through a computer, using a mouse and keyboard. Scripting is another function typical of smart and automated laboratory equipment, yet users are currently required to learn bespoke programming languages and libraries for individual pieces of equipment. In this paper, we present two open-source, novel and intuitive ways of interacting with and scripting laboratory equipment. We choose the OpenFlexure family of microscopes as our exemplar, due to their open-source nature and smart control system. Firstly, we demonstrate ‘OpenFlexure Voice Control’ to enable users to control the microscope hands-free. Secondly, we present ‘OpenFlexure Blockly’ which uses the Blockly Visual Programming Language to enable users to easily create scripts for the microscope, using a drag and drop Web interface. We explain the design choices when developing these tools, and discuss more typical use cases and more general applications.
Toward equitable open research: stakeholder co-created recommendations for research institutions, funders and researchers
Authors: Cole Nicki Lisa , Reichmann Stefan , Ross-Hellauer Tony
Published: February 2023

Open Research aims to make research more accessible, transparent, reproducible, shared and collaborative. Doing so is meant to democratize and diversify access to knowledge and knowledge production, and ensure that research is useful outside of academic contexts. Increasing equity is therefore a key aim of the Open Research movement, yet mounting evidence demonstrates that the practices of Open Research are implemented in ways that undermine this. In response, we convened a diverse community of researchers, research managers and funders to co-create actionable recommendations for supporting the equitable implementation of Open Research. Using a co-creative modified Delphi method, we generated consensus-driven recommendations that address three key problem areas: the resource-intensive nature of Open Research, the high cost of article processing charges, and obstructive reward and recognition practices at funders and research institutions that undermine the implementation of Open Research. In this paper, we provide an overview of these issues, a detailed description of the co-creative process, and present the recommendations and the debates that surrounded them. We discuss these recommendations in relation to other recently published ones and conclude that implementing ours requires ‘global thinking’ to ensure that a systemic and inclusive approach to change is taken.
What is a mammalian omnivore? Insights into terrestrial mammalian diet diversity, body mass and evolution
Authors: Reuter Dana M. , Hopkins Samantha S. B. , Price Samantha A.
Published: February 2023

Mammalian omnivores are a broad group of species that are often treated uniformly in ecological studies. Here, we incorporate omnivorous dietary differences to investigate previously found mammalian macroevolutionary and macroecological trends. We investigate the frequency with which vertebrate prey, invertebrate prey, fibrous plant material and non-fibrous plant material co-occur in the diets of terrestrial mammals. We quantify the body size distributions and phylogenetic signal of different omnivorous diets and use multistate reversible jump Markov chain Monte Carlo methods to assess the transition rates between diets on the mammalian phylogenetic tree. We find omnivores that consume all four food types are relatively rare, as most omnivores consume only invertebrate prey and non-fibrous plants. In addition, omnivores that only consume invertebrate prey, many of which are from Rodentia, are on average smaller than omnivores that incorporate vertebrate prey. Our transition models have high rates from invertivorous omnivory to herbivory, and from vertivory to prey mixing and ultimately invertivory. We suggest prey type is an important aspect of omnivore macroevolution and macroecology, as it is correlated with body mass, evolutionary history and diet-related evolutionary transition rates. Future work should avoid lumping omnivores into one category given the ecological variety of omnivore diets and their strong evolutionary influence.
Who will name new plant species? Temporal change in the origins of taxonomists in China
Authors: Liu Jiajia , Jin Xiaofeng , Yao Shenhao , Wang Yuan , Lu Yifei , Chen Qianyu , Wu Chuping , Slik Ferry , Lindenmayer David
Published: February 2023

Discovery rates of new plant species need to be accelerated because many species will be extinct before they are formally described. Current studies have focused on where new species may occur and their characteristics. However, who will actually discover and describe these new species has received limited attention. Here, we used 31 576 vascular plant species distributed and described in China as a case study to explore the temporal patterns of the nationalities of the taxonomists. We found that most recently described species are endemic species, and there has been an increasing proportion of species descriptions by resident Chinese taxonomists over time. The proportion of species described by resident taxonomists reached an average of 80.8% between 1977 and 2018. By contrast, species discoveries by non-resident experts, often non-endemic species, showed signs of levelling off. Our study underscores an urgent need for training of, support for and collaboration with resident taxonomists in megadiverse countries with a high potential of discovering undescribed plant species.
The Cambrian cirratuliform
Iotuba
denotes an early annelid radiation
Authors: Zhang ZhiFei , Smith Martin R. , Ren XinYi
Published: February 2023

The principal animal lineages (phyla) diverged in the Cambrian, but most diversity at lower taxonomic ranks arose more gradually over the subsequent 500 Myr. Annelid worms seem to exemplify this pattern, based on molecular analyses and the fossil record: Cambrian Burgess Shale-type deposits host a single, early-diverging crown-group annelid alongside a morphologically and taxonomically conservative stem group; the polychaete sub-classes diverge in the Ordovician; and many orders and families are first documented in Carboniferous Lagerstätten. Fifteen new fossils of the ‘phoronid’
Iotuba (=Eophoronis) chengjiangensis
from the early Cambrian Chengjiang Lagerstätte challenge this picture. A chaetal cephalic cage surrounds a retractile head with branchial plates, affiliating
Iotuba
with the derived polychaete families ‘Flabelligeridae’ and Acrocirridae. Unless this similarity represents profound convergent evolution, this relationship would pull back the origin of the nested crown groups of Cirratuliformia, Sedentaria and Pleistoannelida by tens of millions of years—indicating a dramatic unseen origin of modern annelid diversity in the heat of the Cambrian ‘explosion’.
Leveraging big data to uncover the eco-evolutionary factors shaping behavioural development
Authors: Ehlman Sean M. , Scherer Ulrike , Bierbach David , Francisco Fritz A. , Laskowski Kate L. , Krause Jens , Wolf Max
Published: February 2023

Mapping the eco-evolutionary factors shaping the development of animals’ behavioural phenotypes remains a great challenge. Recent advances in ‘big behavioural data’ research—the high-resolution tracking of individuals and the harnessing of that data with powerful analytical tools—have vastly improved our ability to measure and model developing behavioural phenotypes. Applied to the study of behavioural ontogeny, the unfolding of whole behavioural repertoires can be mapped in unprecedented detail with relative ease. This overcomes long-standing experimental bottlenecks and heralds a surge of studies that more finely define and explore behavioural–experiential trajectories across development. In this review, we first provide a brief guide to state-of-the-art approaches that allow the collection and analysis of high-resolution behavioural data across development. We then outline how such approaches can be used to address key issues regarding the ecological and evolutionary factors shaping behavioural development: developmental feedbacks between behaviour and underlying states, early life effects and behavioural transitions, and information integration across development.
Acute hemorrhagic necrotizing encephalopathy associated with COVID-19 in a patient with liver cirrhosis
Authors: Singh Sweta , Singh Uday Shanker
Published: February 2023

COVID-19 emerging as a global pandemic is a complex disease presenting with multiorgan involvement.AHNE is a rarely reported phenomenon post COVID-19 infection but is a rapidly progressing, fatal, haemorrhagic necrosis of the CNS parenchyma. Here,we present a very interesting case of a cirrhotic male patient with acute hemorraghic necrotizing encephalopathy with COVID-19 infection. Diagnosis of AHNE requires a multimodality approach and high index of suspicion in a patient suffering from SARS CoV-2.Timely intervention and diagnosis may lead to a favourable outcome in the diagnosed cases.Future detailed studies in this direction may give an insight on this rare but important disease entity.
Characterization of the redox status of cancer patients through the d-ROMs and BAP test and correlation of these parameters with blood variables
Authors: de Oliveira Clarissa Aires , Iorio Eugenio Luigi , Paraiso Lara Ferreira , Espindola Foued Salmen
Published: February 2023

Oxidative distress and inflammation are common biochemical disorders in individuals with cancer. The measurement of oxidative stress in oncology can be useful in clinical practice to monitor the effectiveness of therapy and unwanted effects of the treatment. Thus, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the redox status through the reactive oxygen metabolites (d-ROMs) and biological antioxidant potential (BAP) tests and investigate the correlations of these parameters with blood variables in cancer patients. This is an observational, retrospective study of analysis of medical records of patients evaluated the period from 2018 to 2020 in an integrative medicine center. The inclusion criteria were individuals of both sexes, over 18 years of age, diagnosed with cancer who performed the d-ROMs and BAP test in the same period of blood analysis. Following the inclusion criteria, the final sample of the study were 57 individuals, 60% were woman and 40% were men. The evaluation of redox state showed that the d-ROMs were high (420.2 ± 112.1 U CARR) in total sample and higher in women compared to male (p < 0.01) and BAP tests were normal (2332 ± 812 μmol/l). The oxidative parameters, d-ROMs and OSI, was correlated positively with BAP, red cell distribution width (only d-ROMs), platelets (Plt), C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation (ESR) and negatively with hemoglobin (Hb) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH). Regarding the antioxidant potential index, BAP/dROMs, were correlated positively with Hb and serum albumin (HAS) and negatively correlated with Plt, CRP and ESR. The study shows that redox status of an individual with cancer is altered, and it is possible to monitor this system in clinical practice through d-ROMs and BAP test. These parameters, in addition to being suitable for assessing oxidative stress, were correlated with parameters predictors of inflammation.