bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Methylenedioxymethamphetamine-like discriminative stimulus effects of pyrrolidinyl cathinones in rats
Authors: Gatch Michael B , Forster Michael J
Published: June 2020

Background:

Synthetic cathinone derivatives are used as alternatives both for stimulant drugs such as cocaine and methamphetamine and for club drugs such as 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), but little is known about their MDMA-like subjective effects.

Methods

In order to determine their similarity to MDMA, the discriminative stimulus effects of 10 pyrrolidinyl cathinones (α-pyrrolidinopropiophenone, 4′-methyl-α-pyrrolidinopropiophenone (4′-MePPP), α-pyrrolidinobutiophenone, 3′,4′-methylenedioxy-α-pyrrolidinobutyrophenone (MD-PBP), α-pyrrolidinovalerophenone, 3,4-methylenedioxy-pyrovalerone (MDPV), α-pyrrolidinopentiothiophenone, napthylpyrovalerone (naphyrone), α-pyrrolidinohexiophenone, and 4′-methyl-α-pyrrolidinohexiophenone (4′-MePHP)) were assessed in Sprague–Dawley rats trained to discriminate 1.5 mg/kg racemic ±-MDMA from vehicle.

Results:

Compounds with no substitutions on the phenyl ring and the thiophene produced 44–67% MDMA-appropriate responding. In contrast, the substituted pyrrolidinyl cathinones produced a range of MDMA-appropriate responding dependent upon the length of the alpha side chain. 4′-MePPP, with a single carbon on the alpha position, produced 99.8% MDMA-appropriate responding, MD-PBP (two carbons) produced 83%, naphyrone (three carbons) produced 71%, MDPV (three carbons) produced, 66%, and 4′-MePHP (four carbons) produced 47%.

Conclusions:

Many cathinone compounds have discriminative stimulus effects similar to those of MDMA. However, the pyrrolidine substitution appears to reduce serotonergic effects, with a commensurate decrease in MDMA-like effects. Substitutions on the phenyl ring appear to be able to restore MDMA-like responding, but only in compounds with short alpha side chains. These findings agree with earlier findings of increasing dopaminergic effects and stronger reinforcing effects with increasing side chain. Assessment of more compounds is necessary to establish the replicability/robustness of this phenomenon. These findings may be of use in predicting which compounds will have MDMA/club drug-like effects versus psychostimulant-like effects.
Abstinent patients with alcohol use disorders show an altered plasma cytokine profile: Identification of both interleukin 6 and interleukin 17A as potential biomarkers of consumption and comorbid liver and pancreatic diseases
Authors: García-Marchena Nuria , Maza-Quiroga Rosa , Serrano Antonia , Barrios Vicente , Requena-Ocaña Nerea , Suárez Juan , Chowen Julie Ann , Argente Jesús , Rubio Gabriel , Torrens Marta , López-Gallardo Meritxell , Marco Eva María , Castilla-Ortega Estela , Santín Luis Javier , Rodríguez de Fonseca Fernando , Pavón Francisco Javier , Araos Pedro
Published: June 2020

Background:

Recent studies have demonstrated that alcohol consumption can modulate the immune system by directly activating natural immunity and triggering inflammatory processes in the central nervous system and in peripheral organs, such as the liver and pancreas. Patients with alcohol use disorders have an elevated frequency of comorbid mental disorders and gut diseases (i.e. fatty liver and pancreatitis) that complicate diagnosis, treatment and prognosis.

Aims:

The present study aims to explore possible associations in circulating plasma cytokine concentrations in abstinent patients diagnosed with alcohol use disorders.

Methods:

To this end, 85 abstinent subjects with alcohol use disorders from an outpatient setting and 55 healthy subjects were evaluated for both substance and mental disorders. The plasma levels of cytokines interleukin 1 beta, interleukin 4, interleukin 6, interleukin 17A, interferon gamma and tumour necrosis alpha were determined and their association with (a) history of alcohol consumption, (b) psychiatric comorbidity and (c) liver/pancreas comorbidities was explored.

Results:

We found that plasma concentrations of interleukin 1 beta, interleukin 6 and tumour necrosis alpha were increased, whereas plasma concentrations of interleukin 4, interleukin 17A and interferon gamma were decreased in abstinent alcohol use disorder patients as compared with control subjects. Moreover, we found that changes in interleukin 6 and interleukin 17A plasma concentrations in alcohol use disorder patients were associated with the presence of liver and pancreatic diseases.

Conclusion:

The present results suggest alcohol use disorder is associated with alterations of plasma cytokines, being interleukin 6 and interleukin 17A potential biomarkers of the presence of comorbidities of digestive organs. The clinical relevance of these findings is discussed in the context of alcohol-induced inflammatory processes.
Perceived Family and Friend Support Moderate Pathways From Peer Victimization to Substance Use in Early-Adolescent Girls and Boys: A Moderated-Mediation Analysis
Authors: Vannucci Anna , Fagle Tessa R. , Simpson Emily G. , Ohannessian Christine McCauley
Published: June 2020

This study examined gender differences in a moderated-mediation model examining whether perceived social support moderated depressive symptom and academic achievement mediation pathways from peer victimization to substance use among 1,334 U.S. early adolescents (11-14 years, 50% girls, 51% White). Surveys were administered in schools at three 6-month intervals. Multiple group analyses suggested that the moderated-mediation model differed for boys and girls. Indirect effects suggested that declines in academic achievement mediated the relationship between peer victimization and substance use for girls and boys, while elevated depressive symptoms mediated this relationship for girls only. Higher family and friend support attenuated the relationship between overt victimization and academic achievement for boys and between relational victimization and depressive symptoms for girls. These findings implicate two risk pathways that account for why peer victimization enhances substance use risk and emphasize the importance of perceived support following peer victimization during early adolescence. Gender differences require replication.
Youth’s Expectations for Their Teacher’s Handling of Peer Victimization and Their Socioemotional Development
Authors: Troop-Gordon Wendy , Kaeppler Alexander K. , Corbitt-Hall Darcy J.
Published: June 2020

Evidence suggests that children’s expectations for how their teacher responds to students’ aggression moderate concurrent links between peer victimization and adjustment. This study extends this work by examining these associations longitudinally. Youth ( N = 366; 196 girls; [Formula: see text]) reported on their teacher’s use of five responses to peer victimization, two reflecting active intervention and three reflecting passive responses. Physical aggression, relational aggression, prosocial behavior, depressive symptoms, and anxiety were measured over two school years. Perceiving the teacher as contacting parents or separating students buffered the link between victimization and emotional maladjustment. Perceiving the teacher as advising independent coping or avoidance amplified links between victimization and behavioral problems. Some of these associations were sustained or emerged over time. These results underscore the potential importance of children’s perceptions of their teachers’ responses with peer victimization to their socioemotional development in early adolescence.
Estimate of the Safety Effect of All-Way Stop Control Conversion in Washington, DC
Authors: Deng Zuxuan , Kyrychenko Sergiy , Lee Taylor , Retting Richard
Published: June 2020

This study evaluated safety effects associated with converting traditional stop control (TSC) to all-way stop control (AWSC) at 53 intersections in Washington, DC. The study utilized an observational treatment group and a randomly selected comparison group. Negative binomial regression modeling was used to estimate the effect of AWSC conversion on crash outcomes, control for confounding factors, and check its statistical significance. The study also examined potential covariates that could influence AWSC crash outcomes, such as the number of legs of the intersection and the functional classification of the intersecting roads. This study found an overall 36% reduction in all crashes and a 42% reduction in injury crashes associated with converting intersections from TSC to AWSC. In addition, the study revealed a statistically significant reduction in right-angle crashes along with a statistically significant increase in straight hit pedestrian crashes. For all the other collision types, including right turn, left turn, rear-end, sideswipes, and bicycle crashes, no statistically significant coefficients were found. With many “Vision Zero” cities considering increased use of AWSC to help achieve their safety goals, it is important to understand and communicate the safety effects of AWSC.
Reducing Delays on High-Density Railway Lines: London–Shenfield Case Study
Authors: Medeossi Giorgio , Nash Andrew
Published: June 2020

This case study describes the development of a new timetable designed to reduce delays on the London–Shenfield regional railway line in the United Kingdom (UK). Reducing delays on high-density railway lines is challenging because frequent service makes it difficult to identify the root cause of delays and there is limited ability to solve delay problems by adding buffer times to timetables. On the other hand, it is very important to reduce delays on high-density lines since they affect many passengers and because a delay on one train can easily affect following trains. In this study, detailed railway operational data was used together with Oyster card ridership data to identify the root cause of delays and help develop an alternative timetable. The alternative timetable was tested and refined using stochastic simulation. The new timetable was placed in service during 2016 and led to a significant reduction in delays: punctuality within 5-min of scheduled arrival time increased by 6.2% during the most critical hour of the morning peak period. The paper describes the methodology, its application, study results, and transferability.
Prediction of Lane-Changing Maneuvers with Automatic Labeling and Deep Learning
Authors: Mahajan Vishal , Katrakazas Christos , Antoniou Constantinos
Published: June 2020

Highway safety has attracted significant research interest in recent years, especially as innovative technologies such as connected and autonomous vehicles (CAVs) are fast becoming a reality. Identification and prediction of driving intention are fundamental for avoiding collisions as it can provide useful information to drivers and vehicles in their vicinity. However, the state-of-the-art in maneuver prediction requires the utilization of large labeled datasets, which demand a significant amount of processing and might hinder real-time applications. In this paper, an end-to-end machine learning model for predicting lane-change maneuvers from unlabeled data using a limited number of features is developed and presented. The model is built on a novel comprehensive dataset (i.e., highD) obtained from German highways with camera-equipped drones. Density-based clustering is used to identify lane-changing and lane-keeping maneuvers and a support vector machine (SVM) model is then trained to learn the boundaries of the clustered labels and automatically label the new raw data. The labeled data are then input to a long short-term memory (LSTM) model which is used to predict maneuver class. The classification results show that lane changes can efficiently be predicted in real-time, with an average detection time of at least 3 s with a small percentage of false alarms. The utilization of unlabeled data and vehicle characteristics as features increases the prospects of transferability of the approach and its practical application for highway safety.
Mamoru Kawaguchi: Master of motion and lightness of structures
Authors: Lázaro Carlos
Published: June 2020

Mamoru Kawaguchi (1932–2019) was one of the great structural engineers of the late 20th century. He developed his career mostly in Japan and he has also superb works in China, Singapore and Spain. The spectrum of his structures is manifold: he designed shells, space frames, inflatable structures, tension structures, timber–steel hybrid systems and so on. With them, he conceived and provided the bones and muscles of sports halls, exhibition halls, museums, railway stations, towers, bridges and sculptures. Kawaguchi collaborated with some of the best architects of his time: Kenzo Tange, Arata Isozaki and Kazuyo Sejima just to cite some of the internationally most renowned. For his works, he was awarded many times in Japan, as well as internationally (the Architectural Institute of Japan award, the International Association for Shell and Spatial Structures Torroja Medal, the International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering International Award and many others). In this article, I review Mamoru Kawaguchi’s main professional and academic achievements, and discuss his design philosophy, sources of inspiration and means to develop his ideas from my own personal experience.
Depression and HIV risk behaviors among adolescent girls and young women seeking family planning services in Western Kenya
Authors: Larsen Anna , Kinuthia John , Lagat Harison , Sila Joseph , Abuna Felix , Kohler Pamela , John-Stewart Grace , Pintye Jillian
Published: June 2020

We assessed prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) risk behaviors and depressive symptoms among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) aged 15–24 years attending four public family planning clinics in Western Kenya from January to June 2019. Moderate-to-severe depression (MSD) was defined as a Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CESD-10) score ≥10. Among 487 AGYW, the median age was 22 years (interquartile range 20–23), and 59 (12%) AGYW reported MSD. MSD was more prevalent among AGYW without a current partner (p = 0.001) and associated with HIV risk factors including partner ≥10 years older, recent transactional sex, forced sex, intimate partner violence, and alcohol use (each p ≤ 0.005). Thirty-four percent of AGYW with MSD had a high HIV risk score corresponding to 5 to 15 incident HIV cases per 100 person-years. Overlapping high prevalence of depression and HIV risk among AGYW underscores the need for integrated mental health and HIV services in family planning clinics.
Follow-up of renal impairment results among attendees taking HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis at a Sydney Sexual Health Clinic
Authors: Comninos NB , Foster R , Varma R , Bourne C
Published: June 2020

Renal monitoring is recommended for Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) users. We aimed to explore follow-up and outcomes among PrEP users with renal impairment (defined as estimated glomerular filtration rate <65 mL/min/1.73 m2) attending Sydney Sexual Health Centre. Time to follow-up was analysed for impairment results over a 12-month period (January–December 2018); 48/2504 (1.9%) tests among 1700 attendees showed impairment. Follow-up occurred in 39/48 (81.3%) impairment results after a median of 42 days. PrEP was ceased in 3/6 cases of non-resolving/persisting impairment, with one case of subsequent human immunodeficiency virus infection. Maintaining engagement and follow-up of those with renal impairment are important aspects of PrEP service provision.
‘I think’ (the thoughts of others). The German tradition of apperceptionism and the intellectual history of schizophrenia
Authors: De Kock Liesbet
Published: June 2020

Although contemporary approaches to schizophrenia pinpoint ‘disturbances of the self’ as a central aetiological factor, historical insight into the link between accounts of schizophrenia and theories of subjectivity and self-consciousness is poor. This paper aims to overcome this gap by providing the outlines of a largely forgotten but crucial part of the intellectual history of schizophrenia. In particular, the impact of the German tradition of apperceptionism on nineteenth-century accounts of schizophrenia is unearthed. This tradition emerged from German Idealism, and culminated in Emil Kraepelin’s account of dementia praecox. In addition to filling an important gap in the historiography of psychiatry, this analysis contributes to ongoing efforts to correct some common misunderstandings regarding Kraepelin’s theoretical position.
Focused Updates: SGLT2 Inhibitors in Patients With Heart Failure and/or Chronic Kidney Disease
Authors: Cheng Judy W. M. , Colucci Vincent , Kalus James S. , Spinler Sarah A.
Published: June 2020

Sodium-glucose cotransporter (SGLT2) inhibitors have demonstrated cardiovascular (CV) benefits in large-scale clinical trials of people who have type 2 diabetes and either established CV disease or multiple CV risk factors. These studies also indicated early signals in benefiting heart failure (HF) patients and those with chronic kidney diseases. This article reviews recent and future clinical studies that focus on evaluation of the use of SGLT2 inhibitors in HF management and renal protection.
Walk the Line—The Importance of Well-Informed Interpretation of QT Prolongation
Authors: Noel Zachary R. , See Vincent Y. , Flannery Alexander H.
Published: June 2020

Acute care pharmacists play an integral role in identifying drug-drug interactions that may predispose patients to QT prolongation. Although most pharmacists are equipped with a baseline understanding of drug interactions and the risks of QTc prolongation, few understand the limitations of QTc calculation and interpretation. In this commentary, we put forth the notion that at times health care providers, including pharmacists, place an overemphasis on the QTc interval. In the context of using the QTc to guide pharmacotherapy decisions, unintended consequences may include a cascade of effects leading to delays in treatment, suboptimal medication selection, alert fatigue, and overutilization of resources.
Articulating Geoengineering: Identifying an Understanding of Geoengineering Technology Through the Crutzen +10 Special Issue Forum
Authors: Cullinan Megan E.
Published: June 2020

This article explores intertextuality, research questions, and arguments scientists use to articulate the legitimacy of geoengineering practices as “good science.” I employ critical discourse analysis to draw out patterns in articles from an invited special forum about the validity of geoengineering technology as a solution to climate change. Articulation theory guides my study of how scientists define what counts as “good science” by analyzing how geoengineering scientists legitimize their research as methodologically strong and beneficial to society. This project serves as a first step in clarifying how scientific debate influences broader circles and the potential social impacts of these debates.
“I Didn’t Feel Confident Talking About This Issue . . . But I Knew I Could Talk About a Book”: Using Young Adult Literature to Make Sense of #MeToo
Authors: Adams Brittany
Published: June 2020

This article reports on one undergraduate student’s journey toward critical literacy about rape culture as a result of reading and discussing a young adult novel in a book study with peers. Using ethnographic and case study methods, the author examines the personal and cultural resources the student brought to the experience, the critical stance she developed, the critical social practices in which she engaged, and the contextual resources that supported her critical literacy growth. The study described herein brought together research about critical literacy and young adult literature to better understand the nature of critical literacy in practice and its effects upon young adult students, with the goal of providing literacy educators with a rich description of what it looks like as a student develops critical literacy. This study also demonstrates the potential of young adult literature as a lens for contending with complex social issues in a college classroom.
Shared Book Reading and Bilingual Decoding in Latinx Immigrant Homes
Authors: Kibler Amanda K. , Paulick Judy , Palacios Natalia , Hill Tatiana
Published: June 2020

Through in-home ethnographic observations of three multilingual immigrant families’ shared book reading, we identified recurring literacy practices in the home in which mothers, older siblings, and younger children participated during the reading. We found that families engaged in context-sensitive and cooperative shared reading practices, wherein decoding tended to be the focus. This practice—which we call transcultural decoding—involved multidirectional language socialization practices and occurred across languages, and older family members contributed both expertise and restrictive conceptions of reading. This work suggests the importance of (a) acknowledging the major focus on decoding during shared reading in families, and reconceptualizing that work as complex and nuanced, particularly across languages and cultures, and (b) considering siblings as cultural and linguistic mediators in family literacy practices.
“Air I Breathe”: Songwriting as Literacy Practices of Remembrance
Authors: Deroo Matthew R. , Watson Vaughn W. M.
Published: June 2020

This qualitative study, based on data from an ongoing after-school literacy and songwriting initiative, examines the multiliteracy practices of Noriah Rose and Koral, Black adolescent girls, and their socially situated meaning-making and sharing about loss. Specifically, we asked, “In what ways do youth grapple with complicated meanings of loss as they share creative and artistic songwriting practices?” We build upon interdisciplinary framings in literacy and social science research to advance new theoretical understandings of literary practices of remembrance, highlighting the public sharing of independently authored digital compositions across various audiences through song. We conceptualize youths, enacting literacy practices of remembrance, as demonstrating three socially situated stances of sharing: evoking a passed-on narrative complicating temporality and permanence, historicizing artistic cultural expression, and demonstrating mutual sharing and stewardship of loss. We argue that various communities supported youths’ meaning-making about loss, and we offer implications for teaching, research, and practice.
“No! Turn the Pages!” Repositioning Neuroqueer Literacies
Authors: Kleekamp Monica C.
Published: June 2020

Recent literacy research has made substantial contributions to expanding definitions of literacies beyond stringent parameters of decoding print. These inquiries have intersected with topics such as multimodality and critical literacy in general education literacy classrooms. However, students in isolated special education settings labeled with dis/abilities such as autism or intellectual disability often only receive reading instruction emphasizing functional skills and sight words. The data for this study emerged from a secondary isolated special education classroom where students identified as significantly dis/abled responded to inclusive picturebooks. Analysis is framed by the scholarship on neurological queerness. Findings illustrate how students engage in literacy practices via neuroqueer asocial actions and embodied inventions when they are presumed as competent by teachers and staff. These findings challenge deficit orientations guiding special education literacy instruction and offer implications and openings for continuing to expand who counts as literate and what counts as literacy.
Do toe blood pressures predict healing after minor lower limb amputation in people with diabetes? A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Linton Clare , Searle Angela , Hawke Fiona , Tehan Peta Ellen , Sebastian Mathew , Chuter Vivienne
Published: June 2020

Purpose of study:

To investigate toe systolic blood pressure and/or toe-brachial pressure index in predicting healing post minor diabetic foot amputations.

Key methods:

A systematic search of EMBASE and PubMed (including Medline and The Cochrane Library) was conducted from database inception to 9 March 2020. Two authors independently reviewed and selected relevant studies. Quality was assessed with a modified Critical Appraisal Skill Programme checklist.

Main results:

Ten studies met the inclusion criteria. Nine studies investigating toe systolic blood pressure reported healing occurred at mean toe systolic blood pressure values ⩾30 mmHg, ranging between 30 and 83.6 mmHg. The meta-analysis (four studies) found toe systolic blood pressure <30 mmHg had 2.09 times the relative risk of non-healing post amputation, compared to toe systolic blood pressure ⩾30 mmHg (relative risk = 2.09, 95% confidence interval: 1.37–3.20, p = 0.001). Two studies investigating toe-brachial pressure index report successful healing where toe-brachial pressure index >0.2, with one study reporting a higher value of 0.8.

Main conclusions:

Successful post-amputation healing outcomes were reported at mean toe systolic blood pressure ⩾30 mmHg, and the results varied considerably between the studies. Further research should identify whether variables, including amputation level, method of wound closure and length of post-operative follow-up periods, affect the values of toe systolic blood pressure and toe-brachial pressure index observed in this review.
Cooperative secure transmission against collusive eavesdroppers in Internet of Things
Authors: Fan Xin , Huo Yan
Published: June 2020

As Internet of Things (IoT) has boomed in recent years, many security issues have also been exposed. Focusing on physical layer security in wireless Internet of Things network communication, a series of security methods have been widely studied. Nevertheless, cooperative jamming methods in physical layer security to fight against collusive eavesdroppers have not been thoroughly studied yet. In this article, we study a cooperative-jamming-based physical layer secure transmission scheme for Internet of Things wireless networks in the presence of collusive eavesdroppers. We design a cooperative jamming strategy without knowing the channel state information of eavesdroppers. Considering the cooperation of multiple nodes with multiple antennas, this strategy can maximize the signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio at an actuator (legitimate receiver). Meanwhile, the generated cooperative jamming signals can reduce the signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio at eavesdroppers. To explore the theoretical security performance of our strategy, we perform a secrecy outage probability analysis and an asymptotic analysis. In the cases of cooperative jamming and without cooperative jamming, the closed-form expressions of the secrecy outage probability are deduced, and the influence of system parameters on the secrecy outage probability becomes more intuitive through a strict mathematical asymptotic behavior analysis. In addition, considering the energy limitation of Internet of Things devices, we propose a power allocation algorithm to minimize the total transmission power given the security requirements. The numerical results show the effectiveness of our schemes and are consistent with the theoretical analysis.
Queer utopias and queer criminology
Authors: Copson Lynne , Boukli Avi
Published: June 2020

Drawing on the concept of utopia to reflect upon the emerging field of queer criminology and José Esteban Muñoz’s account of queer theory as essentially utopian, we draw two conclusions. First, we suggest that queer criminology is currently limited by tinkering at the edges with piecemeal reforms instead of focussing on radical, wholesale changes, and second, that queer theory contains within it the potential for a more holistic reimagining of the social world. In doing so, we question rigid cis/trans binaries and reject accounts of trans/gender that ignore the role of structural harm. We draw on Ernst Bloch’s concepts of ‘abstract’ and ‘concrete’ utopia to suggest that while queer criminology has succeeded in producing largely ‘abstract’ utopias, it struggles in translating these into ‘concrete’ ones. By introducing examples of trans literary utopias as potential transformative cultural forms, however, we consider the potential of queer theory for realising ‘concrete’ utopia through a more radical rethinking of the social world.
Screening the nose, throat and the naso-pharynx for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: a pilot study
Authors: Uwemedimo Joy , Fitzgerald-Hughes Deirdre , Kinnevey Peter , Shore Anna , Coleman David , Humphreys Hilary , Poovelikunnel Toney Thomas
Published: June 2020

Patients who carry nasal methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) may also harbour MRSA in the oro-pharyngeal cavity. However, the naso-oro-pharyngeal co-carriage is infrequently assessed. The incidence of concurrent MRSA carriage of the naso-oro-pharynx was ascertained, and the sensitivity of two methods, a throat swab and a phosphate buffered saline (PBS) oral rinse, for MRSA detection was investigated. Among nasal MRSA carriers, 80% harboured MRSA in the oro-pharynx. Among these patients, 15% had MRSA detected in the oro-pharynx and not in the throat. Oro-pharyngeal colonisation represents a significant reservoir to persistence as well as nasal recolonisation. Decolonisation methods effective in reducing oro-pharyngeal MRSA in addition to nasal carriage should be investigated.
The characteristics of isolated para-aortic lymph node metastases in endometrial cancer and their prognostic significance
Authors: Guo Jianbin , Qian Haili , Ma Fei , Zhang Ying , Cui Xiujuan , Duan Hua
Published: June 2020

Background:

The aim of this study was to clarify the features and prognostic significance of isolated para-aortic lymphatic metastasis of endometrial cancer.

Methods:

A retrospective study of patients with stage IIIC endometrial cancer was performed based on the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. A total of 2767 patients were divided into three groups according to the lymphatic metastasis patterns: isolated pelvic lymphatic metastasis, isolated para-aortic lymphatic metastasis and dual lymphatic metastasis. The clinic-pathological characteristics and prognosis of patients were compared among the three groups.

Result:

The proportion of patients with isolated para-aortic lymphatic metastasis was 13.70%. Patients with isolated pelvic lymphatic metastasis or isolated para-aortic lymphatic metastasis shared similar histological characteristics, except that patients with isolated para-aortic lymphatic metastasis had a lower proportion of tumors over 5 cm in diameter than patients with isolated pelvic lymphatic metastasis (35.1% versus 45.7%, p = 0.001). Compared with patients with dual lymphatic metastasis, isolated para-aortic lymphatic metastasis was more common in patients with endometrioid tumors (78.6% versus 67.3%, p < 0.001), grade 1–2 cancers (53.3% versus 36.3%, p < 0.001) and negative peritoneal cytology (76.2% versus 61.1%, p < 0.001). Dual lymphatic metastasis was an independent predictive factor for the poor outcomes of patients at stage IIIC. However, in stage IIIC endometrioid tumors, patients with isolated pelvic lymphatic metastasis and those with isolated para-aortic lymphatic metastasis shared similar prognosis. Patients at stage IIIC with nonendometrioid tumors and patients at stage IV could not be further divided into subgroups according to lymphatic metastasis patterns in terms of prognosis.

Conclusion:

Endometrioid patients with isolated pelvic lymphatic metastasis and isolated para-aortic lymphatic metastasis share similar clinical pathological characteristics and prognoses.
Serial Perioperative Assessment of Free Flap Perfusion With Laser Angiography
Authors: Massaro Anthony , Gomez Juliana , Weyh Ashleigh Michelle , Bunnell Anthony , Warrick Matthew , Pirgousis Philip , Fernandes Rui
Published: June 2020

Study Design:

Prospective cohort study.

Objective:

Reconstruction with microvascular free flaps is quite predictable but excessive fluids intraoperatively and excessive use of vasopressors have been implicated in postoperative complications. However, vasopressors assist in limiting fluid administration and counteract vasodilatory effects of general anesthetics, while maintaining proper intravascular volume. This is of paramount importance during surgery to ensure adequate tissue and organ perfusion. The purpose of this study is to quantify perfusion changes in free flaps at specific time points during peri- and postoperative periods, incorporating SPY technology.

Methods:

A prospective study of patients who underwent free flap reconstruction was conducted (n = 9), using SPY laser angiography with indocyanine green to assess effects of general anesthetics and vasopressors on flap perfusion. Free flaps were evaluated prior to pedicle division, after inset and anastomosis, and in the immediate postoperative setting. Mean perfusion, mean arterial pressure, total operative time, fluid shifts, and vasopressor use were recorded. Data were analyzed with univariate and multivariable analyses.

Results:

Those with major complications in this cohort, on average received less vasopressors, had shorter operation times and less blood loss, however, they received more fluids intraoperatively.

Conclusion:

Changes in mean perfusion to the free flap during the intraoperative and immediate postoperative period are nominal.
Strategic IT investment decision: BuyPro Health GPO
Authors: Moretz Jeff
Published: June 2020

Morgan Kendrick, Vice President of Business Development and Patient Safety at BuyPro Health group purchasing organisation (GPO), contemplated his options regarding the IT infrastructure project he hoped to champion as he took his new position in January of 2017. BuyPro was a prominent Canadian healthcare GPO. Kendrick hoped to leverage BuyPro’s prominent industry position to promote adoption of global standards for procurement and service delivery purposes. In order for BuyPro to adopt global standards and use them as effectively as Kendrick wished, the company would need to invest substantially in upgrading internal systems to make them standards-ready. However, investment in the required systems upgrades would not directly facilitate negotiating for lower unit pricing on supplies purchased by member organisations. As he considered the future needs of the company and its industry, Morgan considered how best to promote his vision and build support for the necessary precursor investments.
Continuous changes in biological levels of complete blood count in a high altitude area of China
Authors: Luo Xuan , Feng Lei , Bai XueJing , Zhu JiangXian , Zhao GuanCheng , Wu MengNa , Yan ZeFeng
Published: June 2020

Objectives:

We aimed to establish a new reference interval of blood cell parameters by classifying and counting blood Cells of 16- to 85-year-old healthy volunteers and observing continuous changes with age.

Methods:

We analyzed the blood cell parameters of 42,678 cases (men, 24,406; women, 18,272), and compared the blood cell parameters of men and women in different age groups using an independent samples t-test. Using limits of 2.5%–97.5%, a 90% confidence interval was used to develop new reference intervals.

Results:

Counts of blood cell parameters, including white blood Cells, neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, basophils, red blood Cells, hemoglobin, hematocrit, distribution width of red blood Cells and platelets, were found to differ between men and women in different age groups. These parameters were used to establish a new reference interval of blood Cells.

Conclusion:

The blood cell parameters of both men and women changed with increasing age. The reference interval that we established will provide more accurate basic evidence for clinical diagnosis and treatment of diseases.
Iliopsoas hematoma associated with low-molecular-weight heparin use: A case report
Authors: Liu Shangxiang , Mei Chengqing , Zou Hui , Chang Xiaoliang , Ye Zhenglong
Published: June 2020

Iliopsoas hematoma is an uncommon clinical entity that may develop in association with anticoagulation states, coagulopathies and hemodialysis, or anticoagulant therapy. Here, we report a case of unilateral iliopsoas hematoma in a 60-year-old man who received low-molecular-weight heparin for anticoagulation due to continuous veno-venous hemofiltration. The patient presented with fever and productive cough for 2 days. He received continuous veno-venous hemofiltration due to rising blood urea nitrogen (22.7 mmol/L; normal references: 3.2–7.1 mmol) and creatinine (1345 µmol/L; normal references: 53–106 µmol/L). Low-molecular-weight heparin (enoxaparin, 3500–5500 Da, 5–10 IU/kg/h) was delivered continuously by pumps for anticoagulation therapy. At day 12 post heparin treatment, the patient complained left back pain. Platelet count (243 × 109/L) was normal, but both activated partial thromboplastin time (67.5 s) and prothrombin time (17.3 s) were prolonged. Abdominal computed tomography scan revealed left iliopsoas swelling with an indistinct border. Low-molecular-weight heparin was discontinued. Anti-Xa was not monitored throughout the treatment. No improvement was seen, and 3 days later, the patient died after his family decided to terminate therapy. This case highlights the needs for careful anticoagulation as well as close monitoring, and particularly the use of anti-Xa to guide the treatment.
Sports as a lens: The contours of local and national belonging in post-handover Hong Kong
Authors: Wu Helena
Published: June 2020

Through the lens of sport, this article explores the trajectories of local and national belonging in various forms and degrees, which, in turn, bespeak the evolving Hong Kong–China relationship in the larger socio-political context of post-handover Hong Kong. With an eye to cross-border sports competitions (e.g., the Hong Kong-China football rivalry), sport-related events (e.g. gala performance and sports demonstrations by Chinese Olympic gold medalists in Hong Kong) as well as their media representation and repercussion, this article examines the multifarious articulations of local and national identifications registered in the athletes’ and the spectators’ performing bodies, their mediated images and embodiments. The ultimate goal of this article is to tease out the body and identity politics embedded in the production, mediatization and narrativization of local-national relations in an array of official and non-official discourses disclosed through sports practice and viewership partaken in different scenarios.
Beyond nationhood: Border and coming of age in Hong Kong cinema
Authors: Chan Weng Kit
Published: June 2020

The 1950s of Hong Kong manifests the initiation of a communal imagination oscillating in between the sovereignty of a British colony and the reality of a Chinese territory. The influx of immigrants from the north and, as a result, the establishment of a border during the 1950s not only restructured the demographic composition of the city but also brought along new momentum for mass cultural productions. Along the contestations and reconciliations between different ethnicities, languages, and identities, Hong Kong cultural configuration has since then embarked on a trajectory of its own, including the conceptualizations of childhood, border, and national ambiguity. Whether this piece of land was once desecrated by colonialism or this reclaimed territory is now alienated by renationalization, the formation of childhood serves as a critical lens to examine the meaning of border and nation from the colonial to the postcolonial eras of Hong Kong. Capitalizing on two titles produced in the early 1950s and in the late 1990s of Hong Kong cinema, namely, Fung Fung’s The Kid (1950) and Fruit Chan’s Little Cheung (1999), this article aims to explore the correlation between border, community, and nationality through the life adventures of the child protagonists, whose transitions and explorations are entangled with a political and territorial border that polarizes our sinophonic imagination in the ongoing present of China–Hong Kong division. In this context, the cultural configuration of Bildungsroman, apart from manifesting Franco Moretti’s “the symbolic form of modernity” or Marc Redfield’s “acculturation of the self,” should embody the struggles with an obscure nationality, as here exemplified from the footprints of childhood tiptoeing on and off the borders of Hong Kong.
Stakeholder Experiences Implementing a National ROPS Rebate Program: A Grounded Theory Situational Analysis
Authors: Tinc Pamela J. , Sorensen Julie A. , Lindvall Kristina
Published: June 2020

Currently, little is known about what works, or does not work, in occupational safety implementation efforts. The aim of this study is to (a) explore what works and what does not in scaling up an agricultural safety intervention, and (b) explore these findings in terms of the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research. A total of 13 stakeholders were interviewed about their experiences with the National Rollover Protective Structures (ROPS) Rebate Program implementation. Nine of these individuals also participated in follow-up interviews one year later. A Grounded Theory Situational Analysis approach was used for data collection and analysis. Two themes emerged from the data. First, the implementation strategy has evolved inconsistently across stakeholders (a barrier to implementation). Second, stakeholder engagement in the implementation is a function of perceived feasibility and “small wins” (an opportunity for improving implementation efforts). Based on the results of this study, two areas of needed improvement to the National ROPS Rebate Program implementation strategy were identified: (a) appropriateness and feasibility of inner setting stakeholder engagement, and (b) receptivity of outer setting stakeholders and potential funders. These findings will be helpful for increasing the success of the implementation, and can also provide guidance to others working on large-scale implementation studies.
Making the Most Effective Strategy More Effective: Examining the Situational and Interaction Effects of Accommodative CCSs in Corporate Crises
Authors: Wu Fang , Xu Deya
Published: June 2020

This study introduces the organization justice theory as a framework to conceptualize accommodative crisis communication strategies (CCSs). In this regard, it is proposed that three sub-strategies of accommodative CCSs—apology, showing regard, compensation, and corrective action—can enable organizations transform the negative responses of publics by restoring procedural, interactional, and distributive justice. Using an online experiment ( N = 800), this study investigates the effectiveness of each substrategy in different conditions of cause attribution and examines how combinations of accommodative CCSs affect postcrisis public responses. The results indicate that substantive accommodative CCSs (compensation and corrective action) are more effective than symbolic ones (apology and showing regard) in restoring the perceptions and behavioral intentions of publics regarding the organization. Specifically, substantive accommodative CCSs perform better at restoring reputation and purchase intentions when the cause of a crisis is externally attributed. Furthermore, employing a single symbolic accommodative CCS is found to result in greater account acceptance than using a combination.
Lasmiditan mechanism of action – review of a selective 5-HT1F agonist
Authors: Clemow David B. , Johnson Kirk W. , Hochstetler Helen M. , Ossipov Michael H. , Hake Ann M. , Blumenfeld Andrew M.
Published: June 2020

Migraine is a leading cause of disability worldwide, but it is still underdiagnosed and undertreated. Research on the pathophysiology of this neurological disease led to the discovery that calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is a key neuropeptide involved in pain signaling during a migraine attack. CGRP-mediated neuronal sensitization and glutamate-based second- and third-order neuronal signaling may be an important component involved in migraine pain. The activation of several serotonergic receptor subtypes can block the release of CGRP, other neuropeptides, and neurotransmitters, and can relieve the symptoms of migraine. Triptans were the first therapeutics developed for the treatment of migraine, working through serotonin 5-HT1B/1D receptors. The discovery that the serotonin 1F (5-HT1F) receptor was expressed in the human trigeminal ganglion suggested that this receptor subtype may have a role in the treatment of migraine. The 5-HT1F receptor is found on terminals and cell bodies of trigeminal ganglion neurons and can modulate the release of CGRP from these nerves. Unlike 5-HT1B receptors, the activation of 5-HT1F receptors does not cause vasoconstriction.

The potency of different serotonergic agonists towards 5-HT1F was correlated in an animal model of migraine (dural plasma protein extravasation model) leading to the development of lasmiditan. Lasmiditan is a newly approved acute treatment for migraine in the United States and is a lipophilic, highly selective 5-HT1F agonist that can cross the blood-brain barrier and act at peripheral nervous system (PNS) and central nervous system (CNS) sites.

Lasmiditan activation of CNS-located 5-HT1F receptors (e.g., in the trigeminal nucleus caudalis) could potentially block the release of CGRP and the neurotransmitter glutamate, thus preventing and possibly reversing the development of central sensitization. Activation of 5-HT1F receptors in the thalamus can block secondary central sensitization of this region, which is associated with progression of migraine and extracephalic cutaneous allodynia. The 5-HT1F receptors are also elements of descending pain modulation, presenting another site where lasmiditan may alleviate migraine. There is emerging evidence that mitochondrial dysfunction might be implicated in the pathophysiology of migraine, and that 5-HT1F receptors can promote mitochondrial biogenesis. While the exact mechanism is unknown, evidence suggests that lasmiditan can alleviate migraine through 5-HT1F agonist activity that leads to inhibition of neuropeptide and neurotransmitter release and inhibition of PNS trigeminovascular and CNS pain signaling pathways.
Fabrication and Photocatalytic Activity of Ag3PO4/T-ZnOw Heterostructures
Authors: Tang Jianke , Meng Rongqian , Wang Qi , Zhang Shengjian , Li Qiaoling
Published: June 2020

The Ag3PO4/tetrapod-like ZnO whisker (T-ZnOw) heterostructures were prepared via a simple precipitation method. The obtained heterostructures were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The photodegradation activity of Ag3PO4/T-ZnOw was evaluated by the degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) under visible light irradiation. When the molar ratio of Ag3PO4 to T-ZnOw was 10% (Ag3PO4/T-ZnOw-2), the highest degradation efficiency (92.9%) could be achieved among the heterostructures. The photodegradation rate constant of Ag3PO4/T-ZnOw-2 (0.05179 min−1) was 3.59 times that of T-ZnOw (0.01444 min−1). Besides, the Ag3PO4/T-ZnOw-2 photocatalyst still possessed a degradation efficiency of 77.8% after four successive cycles. The Ag3PO4/T-ZnOw-2 catalyst had much higher photocatalytic activity than pure T-ZnOw and better stability and reusability than pure Ag3PO4. The effect of different scavengers on degradation efficiency was investigated, and the possible photocatalytic mechanism of the Ag3PO4/T-ZnOw photocatalyst was also put forward.