bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evolution of electrical conductivity and semiconductor to metal transition of iron oxides at extreme conditions
Authors: Zhuang Yukai , Hu Qingyang
Published: June 2022

Iron oxides are widely found as ores in Earth’s crust and are also important constituents of its interiors. Their polymorphism, composition changes, and electronic structures play essential roles in controlling the structure and geodynamic properties of the solid Earth. While all-natural occurring iron oxides are semiconductors or insulators at ambient pressure, they start to metalize under pressure. Here in this work, we review the electronic conductivity and metallization of iron oxides under high-pressure conditions found in Earth’s lower mantle. We summarize that the metallization of iron oxides is generally controlled by the pressure-induced bandgap closure near the Fermi level. After metallization, they possess much higher electrical and thermal conductivity, which will facilitate the thermal convection, support a more stable and thicker D″ layer, and formulate Earth’s magnetic field, all of which will constrain the large-scale dynamos of the mantle and core.
A survey on protein–DNA-binding sites in computational biology
Authors: Zhang Yue , Bao Wenzheng , Cao Yi , Cong Hanhan , Chen Baitong , Chen Yuehui
Published: June 2022

Transcription factors are important cellular components of the process of gene expression control. Transcription factor binding sites are locations where transcription factors specifically recognize DNA sequences, targeting gene-specific regions and recruiting transcription factors or chromatin regulators to fine-tune spatiotemporal gene regulation. As the common proteins, transcription factors play a meaningful role in life-related activities. In the face of the increase in the protein sequence, it is urgent how to predict the structure and function of the protein effectively. At present, protein–DNA-binding site prediction methods are based on traditional machine learning algorithms and deep learning algorithms. In the early stage, we usually used the development method based on traditional machine learning algorithm to predict protein–DNA-binding sites. In recent years, methods based on deep learning to predict protein–DNA-binding sites from sequence data have achieved remarkable success. Various statistical and machine learning methods used to predict the function of DNA-binding proteins have been proposed and continuously improved. Existing deep learning methods for predicting protein–DNA-binding sites can be roughly divided into three categories: convolutional neural network (CNN), recursive neural network (RNN) and hybrid neural network based on CNN–RNN. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the computational and experimental methods applied in the field of protein–DNA-binding site prediction today. This paper introduces the methods of traditional machine learning and deep learning in protein–DNA-binding site prediction from the aspects of data processing characteristics of existing learning frameworks and differences between basic learning model frameworks. Our existing methods are relatively simple compared with natural language processing, computational vision, computer graphics and other fields. Therefore, the summary of existing protein–DNA-binding site prediction methods will help researchers better understand this field.
Progress towards predicting neurodegeneration and dementia after traumatic brain injury
Authors: Graham Neil S N
Published: June 2022

This scientific commentary refers to ‘Post-acute blood biomarkers and disease progression in traumatic brain injury’ by Newcombe et al. (https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/awac126).
A new science of emotion: implications for functional neurological disorder
Authors: Jungilligens Johannes , Paredes-Echeverri Sara , Popkirov Stoyan , Barrett Lisa Feldman , Perez David L
Published: June 2022

Functional neurological disorder reflects impairments in brain networks leading to distressing motor, sensory and/or cognitive symptoms that demonstrate positive clinical signs on examination incongruent with other conditions. A central issue in historical and contemporary formulations of functional neurological disorder has been the mechanistic and aetiological role of emotions. However, the debate has mostly omitted fundamental questions about the nature of emotions in the first place. In this perspective article, we first outline a set of relevant working principles of the brain (e.g. allostasis, predictive processing, interoception and affect), followed by a focused review of the theory of constructed emotion to introduce a new understanding of what emotions are. Building on this theoretical framework, we formulate how altered emotion category construction can be an integral component of the pathophysiology of functional neurological disorder and related functional somatic symptoms. In doing so, we address several themes for the functional neurological disorder field including: (i) how energy regulation and the process of emotion category construction relate to symptom generation, including revisiting alexithymia, ‘panic attack without panic’, dissociation, insecure attachment and the influential role of life experiences; (ii) re-interpret select neurobiological research findings in functional neurological disorder cohorts through the lens of the theory of constructed emotion to illustrate its potential mechanistic relevance; and (iii) discuss therapeutic implications. While we continue to support that functional neurological disorder is mechanistically and aetiologically heterogenous, consideration of how the theory of constructed emotion relates to the generation and maintenance of functional neurological and functional somatic symptoms offers an integrated viewpoint that cuts across neurology, psychiatry, psychology and cognitive-affective neuroscience.
Design and development of self-cleaning PV sliding system
Authors: Gupta Vinay , Sharma Madhu , Pachauri Rupendra , Dinesh Babu K N
Published: June 2022

This study describes the designing steps of the proposed self-cleaning system for the photovoltaic (PV) system and experimentally investigates the effectiveness of the proposed self-cleaning PV sliding system for solar power plants under all Indian climate conditions. To investigate the performance of the proposed self-cleaning PV sliding system, we used three PV panels of 20 W with a sliding structure and another set of three PV panels of 20 W with a traditional (fixed) technique, and recorded the output power for the period of December 2019 to April 2021. The experimental results show that the proposed self-cleaning PV sliding system improved efficiency by 18.3%, 13.3% and 6.4%, respectively, in the summer, winter and post-monsoon seasons when compared to the fixed PV system. The results also revealed that energy consumption was very low when compared to the amount of energy gained. The proposed system not only cleans the PV system, but also protects it from hailstorms. The results of this study show that there is a significant improvement in PV efficiency and thus an increase in electricity production under all climate conditions.
The rheological model of biodiesels at elevated pressures and temperatures
Authors: Kuchhal Piyush , Garg Rajnish
Published: June 2022

In the present study, an approximation is used to study viscosity as a function of pressure at different temperatures. The correlation so obtained is applied to study the viscosity of biodiesels extracted from soybean, Vistive soybean, canola, used canola, coconut and rapeseed. The computed values of viscosity from the proposed model were found to be in good agreement with experimental data throughout the range of pressure and temperature studied. The maximum average absolute relative deviation (AARD%) and mean AARD% are found to be 0.52 and 0.20, respectively, over the entire range of pressure (0.1–140 MPa) and temperature (283.15–373.15 K) for all biodiesels except rapeseed biodiesel, for which the values are 1.1 and 0.62, respectively. Furthermore, this work includes the very first investigation conducted so far on the variation of the pressure–viscosity coefficient (PVC) with pressure at different temperatures for biodiesels. The variation in PVC with the temperature is more sensitive at elevated pressures as compared to atmospheric pressure whereas the variation in PVC with pressure is more sensitive at elevated temperatures as compared to room temperature.
Universal Surface Biotinylation: a simple, versatile and cost-effective sample multiplexing method for single-cell RNA-seq analysis
Authors: Sugimoto Michihiko , Tada Yuhki , Shichino Shigeyuki , Koyamatsu Saeko , Tsumaki Noriyuki , Abe Kuniya
Published: June 2022

Recent advances in single-cell analysis technology have made it possible to analyse tens of thousands of cells at a time. In addition, sample multiplexing techniques, which allow the analysis of several types of samples in a single run, are very useful for reducing experimental costs and improving experimental accuracy. However, a problem with this technique is that antigens and antibodies for universal labelling of various cell types may not be fully available. To overcome this issue, we developed a universal labelling technique, Universal Surface Biotinylation (USB), which does not depend on specific cell surface proteins. By introducing biotin into the amine group of any cell surface protein, we have obtained good labelling results in all the cell types we have tested. Combining with DNA-tagged streptavidin, it is possible to label each cell sample with specific DNA ‘hashtag’. Compared with the conventional cell hashing method, the USB procedure seemed to have no discernible adverse effect on the acquisition of the transcriptome in each cell, according to the model experiments using differentiating mouse embryonic stem cells. This method can be theoretically used for any type of cells, including cells to which the conventional cell hashing method has not been applied successfully.
Recommending COVID-19 vaccination for adolescents in primary care
Authors: Thompson Peyton , McCormick Lauren , Huang Qian , Gilkey Melissa B , Dailey Susan Alton , Brewer Noel T
Published: June 2022

Background

COVID-19 vaccines are available for adolescents in the United States, but many parents are hesitant to have their children vaccinated. The advice of primary care professionals strongly influences vaccine uptake.

Objective

We examined the willingness of primary care professionals (PCPs) to recommend COVID-19 vaccination for adolescents.

Methods

Participants were a national sample of 1,047 US adolescent primary care professionals. They participated in an online survey in early 2021, after a COVID-19 vaccine had been approved for adults but before approval for adolescents. Respondents included physicians (71%), advanced practice providers (17%), and nurses (12%). We identified correlates of willingness to recommend COVID-19 vaccination for adolescents using logistic regression.

Results

The majority (89%) of respondents were willing to recommend COVID-19 vaccination for adolescents, with advanced practice providers and nurses being less likely than paediatricians to recommend vaccination (84% vs. 94%, aOR 0.47, 95% CI 0.23–0.92). Respondents who had received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine were more likely to recommend adolescent vaccination (92% vs. 69%, aOR 4.20, 95% CI 2.56–6.87) as were those with more years in practice (94% vs. 88%, aOR 2.93, 95% CI 1.79–4.99). Most respondents (96%) said they would need some measure of support in order to provide COVID-19 vaccination to adolescents, with vaccine safety and efficacy information being the most commonly cited need (80%).

Conclusion

Adolescent primary care professionals were generally willing to recommend COVID-19 vaccination. However, most indicated a need for additional resources to be able to administer COVID-19 vaccines at their clinic.
Findings From Talking Tech: A Technology Training Pilot Intervention to Reduce Loneliness and Social Isolation Among Homebound Older Adults
Authors: Gadbois Emily A , Jimenez Frances , Brazier Joan F , Davoodi Natalie M , Nunn Amy S , Mills Whitney L , Dosa David , Thomas Kali S
Published: June 2022

Background and Objectives

Social isolation and loneliness are common among older adults and associated with negative health outcomes including cognitive decline, depression, suicide ideation, and mortality. Information and communication technology interventions are often used to combat loneliness and social isolation; however, homebound older adults face barriers to access. This study reports findings from a novel pilot intervention, called Talking Tech, designed to reduce loneliness and social isolation in homebound older adults by providing one-on-one, in-home technology training, a tablet, and the internet, to promote digital literacy and participation in a virtual senior center.

Research Design and Methods

Twenty-one homebound older adults participated in this 14-week, volunteer-delivered program. We used qualitative interviews with participants, volunteers, and program staff, weekly progress reports from volunteers, and quantitative pre- and postintervention surveys with participants to examine experiences and to evaluate the impact of the intervention on loneliness and social isolation. Qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis and pre- and postintervention survey data were compared.

Results

Participants reported increased technological literacy and use, increased access to online activities, and improved facilitation of social connections to existing and new networks. Additionally, during interviews, many participants reported that participating in Talking Tech alleviated their loneliness. While not statistically significant, our quantitative analysis revealed trends toward decreased participant feelings of loneliness and increased technology use. Additionally, intervention adoption and retention were high, with only one participant withdrawing from the intervention.

Discussion and Implications

This evaluation of the novel Talking Tech pilot intervention provides critical insights into strategies to reduce loneliness and isolation for older adults, with implications for future research, policy, and practice. Findings demonstrate that individualized technology training may be an acceptable way to improve well-being for homebound older adults.
Unoccupied aerial video (UAV) surveys as alternatives to BRUV surveys for monitoring elasmobranch species in coastal waters
Authors: McIvor Ashlie J , Spaet Julia L Y , Williams Collin T , Berumen Michael L
Published: June 2022

Effective conservation strategies are founded by baseline information on abundance and diversity estimates. Method choice can influence the success of baseline surveys as method performance is variable and needs to be selected based on habitat and taxa. Here, we assess the suitability of unoccupied aerial vehicle (UAV) surveys, specifically multi-rotor “drones”, and baited remote underwater video (BRUV) surveys in shallow-water habitats to quantify elasmobranch abundance and diversity in the Saudi Arabian central Red Sea. Our results show that the number of elasmobranchs h−1 observed using UAV surveys exceeded that of BRUV surveys by two orders of magnitude, indicating that the increased spatial coverage of UAV surveys is beneficial for long-term monitoring projects. BRUV surveys detected a greater number of species within reef habitats, whereas UAV surveys detected a greater number of species within sandflat habitats, indicating the value of multi-method approaches for regional biodiversity studies. Here, we provide the first insight into elasmobranchs associated with sandflat habitats in Saudi Arabia, emphasising the importance of these habitats to stingrays and the need for further information on elasmobranch habitat use to better inform management and conservation efforts in the face of rapid coastal developments across the Red Sea.
A New Model of “Taboo”: Disgust, Stigmatization, and Fetishization
Authors: Bentley Michelle
Published: June 2022

The conceptualization of taboo within international relations (IR)—that is, what we understand to be taboo—is inadequate. Specifically, current analysis fails to sufficiently distinguish between taboo and non-taboo forms of prohibitory norm, where this failure often facilitates a tendency (explicit or implicit) to comprehend the concept primarily in terms of actor compliance with a taboo in question. This understanding is shown here to be analytically unrepresentative and that it sets unrealistic expectations for actor behavior, especially where those expectations are then employed as the foundation of quantifiable conceptual comprehension and study within IR. In response to this critical need for a new understanding of taboo relevant to IR, the article constructs an original analytic model based on disgust, stigmatization, and fetishization. The article additionally outlines the conceptual and methodological implications of adopting this new model, including where it subsequently demonstrates that taboos are more prevalent and more influential than certain sectors of the IR discipline have previously given them credit for.
Effects of particle size and phytase supplementation on apparent and standardized total tract digestibility of phosphorus in hybrid rye fed to growing pigs
Authors: Song Jichen , Holanda Debora M , Patterson Robert , Nyachoti Charles M
Published: June 2022

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of particle size (PS) and levels of phytase supplementation on the apparent (ATTD) and standardized (STTD) total tract digestibility of P in hybrid rye fed to growing pigs. Thirty-six growing barrows (23.6 ± 1.5 kg initial BW) were individually housed in metabolism crates and randomly allotted to one of six dietary treatments to give six replicates per treatment. The six dietary treatments were arranged in a 2 × 3 factorial with main effects of PS and phytase supplementation levels (0, 500, or 2,500 FTU/kg). Hybrid rye was ground using a hammermill mounted with 4.0- and 3.2-mm screens to obtain material with coarse and fine PS, respectively. Pigs were fed experimental diets for 11 d, including 5 d for adaptation and 6 d for total collection of feces. All data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS with PS, phytase, and their interaction as fixed effects. Orthogonal polynomial contrasts were used to test linear and quadratic effects of phytase level in both coarse and fine hybrid rye diets. The ATTD and STTD of P were greater (P < 0.05) in diets with fine than in those with coarse hybrid rye. Increasing levels of phytase supplementation linearly (P < 0.01) and quadratically (P < 0.01) improved the ATTD and STTD of P in hybrid rye diets. There were no interaction effects between PS and phytase supplementation on the ATTD and STTD of P in hybrid rye diets. In conclusion, PS reduction improved the digestibility of P in hybrid rye, and supplementing increasing levels of phytase improved P digestibility in linear and quadratic manner in growing pigs fed hybrid rye diets.
Effect of feeding calcium gluconate embedded in a hydrogenated fat matrix on feed intake, gastrointestinal fermentation and morphology, intestinal brush border enzyme activity and blood metabolites in growing lambs
Authors: Watanabe Daniel H M , Doelman John , Steele Michael A , Guan Le L , Seymour Dave J , Metcalf John A , Penner Gregory B
Published: June 2022

Gluconate salts have been identified as a butyrate precursor when fed to non-ruminant species and may increase the butyrate concentration in the large intestine supporting gastrointestinal health and development. The objective of this study was to evaluate the dose response of hydrogenated fat-embedded calcium gluconate (HFCG) on performance and gastrointestinal tract (GIT) development in growing lambs. Thirty-two wether lambs were used in a randomized complete block design and assigned to 1 of 4 treatments differing in the inclusion of HFCG: 0.0% (CON), 0.075% (LOW), 0.30% (MED), and 0.60% of the diet (HIGH). Lambs were allocated into individual pens and fed ad libitum with feed delivered twice daily. Feed intake was recorded daily, and body weight (BW) was assessed at the beginning and the end of the 29-d period. Blood was sampled on day 21, prior to feeding and 6 h post-feeding to evaluate changes in β-hydroxybutyrate, glucose, and insulin concentrations. Total fecal collection was conducted during days 25 to 28 to assess apparent total tract digestibility. On day 29, lambs were slaughtered, and the entire GIT was separated by region to enable sampling of tissue and digesta. Data were analyzed to assess linear, quadratic, and cubic effects of HFCG dose. Final BW, average daily gain, and dry matter intake decreased linearly (P ≤ 0.02) with increasing HFCG. Increasing inclusion of HFCG linearly decreased (P = 0.01) the thickness of the stratum corneum in ruminal papillae but did not affect other strata (P ≥ 0.34). Omasal digesta weight linearly decreased (P = 0.01) as the concentration of HFCG increased and abomasal digesta weight was cubically affected (P = 0.03) the increasing dose of HFCG. Short-chain fatty acid concentration in the cecum was cubically affected (P < 0.01) with increasing dose of HFCG where low dose had the greatest concentration. Moreover, increasing the dietary supply of HFCG linearly increased the proportion of acetate (P = 0.04) in the cecum and linearly decreased the proportion of propionate in the digesta of both the cecum (P < 0.01) and colon (P = 0.01). Colon crypt depth was quadratically (P = 0.03) affected with the increasing dose of HFCG, where lambs fed MED had greatest crypt depth. We conclude that feeding HFCG to growing lambs did not increase butyrate concentration in the large intestine and consequently does not increase the absorptive surface area of the whole tract, the size of the GIT, or the functionality of the intestine.
Transitional Justice as Repression and Resistance
Authors: Aboueldahab Noha
Published: June 2022

Transitional justice practices in the Arab World have unfolded in ways that both reinforce the value of the critical turn in transitional justice while also underscoring its limitations. Used as both a tool of repression and of resistance, transitional justice practices in the Arab World mark a significant development in the field by expanding its dynamic processes across time and space. Ongoing violence and the resurgence of authoritarian rule have necessitated a transitional justice process that aims to help deliver on the revolutionary objectives of the Arab uprisings themselves: to uproot decades of structural oppression and authoritarian rule. This article begins with a brief review of the critical turn in transitional justice and how it presents questions, limitations, and opportunities with regard to key transitional justice practices in the Arab World. Next, it will examine how such practices have made the state and its institutions as object of transitional justice as opposed to its enforcer. The article will then address the potentials of universal jurisdiction as a transitional justice strategy that has just as much to do with a broader political project, such as weakening an authoritarian regime, as it does with the narrower goal of putting regime officials on trial. Finally, I argue that transitional justice in the Arab World is a tool of resistance to colonial and neo-colonial powers, making it an important engine of Third World Approaches to International Law praxis.
Reputation Management and Administrative Reorganization: How Different Media Reputation Dimensions Matter for Agency Termination
Authors: Chen Sicheng , Christensen Tom , Ma Liang
Published: June 2022

Studies on public organization reform have convincingly demonstrated the relevance of media salience for administrative reorganization. However, an understanding of how different media reputation dimensions influence government decisions to terminate administrative agencies is required. This study combined insights from bureaucratic reputation and agency termination theories to determine if media reputation dimensions (performative, moral, procedural, and technical) increase the probability of agency survival. These findings were based on advanced machine learning coding of 4,95,384 articles on 449 central agencies in China published in the People’s Daily from 1949 to 2019. Event history analyses and piecewise constant exponential models revealed that media salience significantly and negatively influenced agency termination probability. The procedural dimension consistently mitigated agency termination risk, and the moral and performative dimensions only periodically mitigated agency termination risk. The findings suggested that the appearance in the media and specific reputation dimensions were critical for agency survival. In addition, agencies should strategically manage their media reputation to meet the expectations of multifaceted audiences and decrease the risk of agency termination.
Tumour-like breast lesions due to ectopic schistosomiasis in a European traveller
Authors: Palaprat Oriane , Nika Eleni , Delouche Aurélie , Quenard Fanny , Chevalier Maxime , Maubon Danièle , Pelloux Hervé , Robert Marie G
Published: June 2022

Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease classically responsible for intestinal or urogenital forms. We report the incidental diagnosis of ectopic mammary schistosomiasis involving Schistosoma haematobium following a breast cancer screening mammogram in a European patient with a distant history of travel.
Similar short-term KOOS between open-wedge high tibial osteotomy and total knee arthroplasty in patients over age 60: A propensity score–matched cohort study
Authors: Sakai Mamiko , Akasaki Yukio , Akiyama Takenori , Horikawa Tomohiro , Okazaki Ken , Hamai Satoshi , Tsushima Hidetoshi , Kawahara Shinya , Kurakazu Ichiro , Kubota Kenji , Mizu-uchi Hideki , Nakashima Yasuharu
Published: June 2022

Objectives

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate improvement in the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) after open-wedge high tibial osteotomy (HTO) in comparison with total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in cohorts over age 60 matched by pre-operative age, gender, body mass index (BMI), hip-knee-ankle angle (HKAA), KOOS sub-scores, and osteoarthritis (OA) grade.

Methods

Propensity score matching was performed between 162 HTO patients and 134 TKA patients. When calculating the propensity score by multivariate logistic regression analysis, the following pre-operative confounders were included: age, gender, BMI, HKAA, KOOS sub-scores, and OA grade. Consequently, a total of 55 patients were included in each group. The Student’s t-test was used to analyse differences in the post-operative KOOS sub-scores between groups.

Results

After propensity score matching, all matched pre-operative valuables were identical, with no significant differences between the HTO and TKA groups. None of the post-operative KOOS sub-scores at 1 year after surgery showed a significant difference between the HTO and TKA groups. Both groups demonstrated significant and comparable post-operative improvement in every KOOS sub-score.

Conclusions

In patients over age 60, there was no significant difference in short-term pain relief and improvements in activity and quality of life between HTO and TKA after propensity score matching including pre-operative age, KOOS sub-scores, and OA grade. HTO is a joint preservation procedure that is valid for knee OA even in individuals over age 60.
Combination laser interstitial thermal therapy plus stereotactic radiotherapy increases time to progression for biopsy-proven recurrent brain metastases
Authors: Grabowski Matthew M , Srinivasan Ethan S , Vaios Eugene J , Sankey Eric W , Otvos Balint , Krivosheya Daria , Scott Alex , Olufawo Michael , Ma Jun , Fomchenko Elena I , Herndon James E , Kim Albert H , Chiang Veronica L , Chen Clark C , Leuthardt Eric C , Barnett Gene H , Kirkpatrick John P , Mohammadi Alireza M , Fecci Peter E
Published: June 2022

Background

Improved survival for patients with brain metastases has been accompanied by a rise in tumor recurrence after stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT). Laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) has emerged as an effective treatment for SRT failures as an alternative to open resection or repeat SRT. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of LITT followed by SRT (LITT+SRT) in recurrent brain metastases.

Methods

A multicenter, retrospective study was performed of patients who underwent treatment for biopsy-proven brain metastasis recurrence after SRT at an academic medical center. Patients were stratified by “planned LITT+SRT” versus “LITT alone” versus “repeat SRT alone.” Index lesion progression was determined by modified Response Assessment in Neuro-Oncology Brain Metastases (RANO-BM) criteria.

Results

Fifty-five patients met inclusion criteria, with a median follow-up of 7.3 months (range: 1.0–30.5), age of 60 years (range: 37–86), Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) of 80 (range: 60–100), and pre-LITT/biopsy contrast-enhancing volume of 5.7 cc (range: 0.7–19.4). Thirty-eight percent of patients underwent LITT+SRT, 45% LITT alone, and 16% SRT alone. Median time to index lesion progression (29.8, 7.5, and 3.7 months [P = .022]) was significantly improved with LITT+SRT. When controlling for age in a multivariate analysis, patients treated with LITT+SRT remained significantly less likely to have index lesion progression (P = .004).

Conclusions

These data suggest that LITT+SRT is superior to LITT or repeat SRT alone for treatment of biopsy-proven brain metastasis recurrence after SRT failure. Prospective trials are warranted to validate the efficacy of using combination LITT+SRT for treatment of recurrent brain metastases.
Atherosclerosis in Vietnamese patients with systemic sclerosis and its relationship to disease and traditional risk factors
Authors: Nguyen Thi Phuong Thuy , Dao Thi Trang , Lundberg Ingrid E , Nguyen Huy Binh
Published: June 2022

Objective

The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of clinical and subclinical atherosclerosis in Vietnamese patients with SSc and the risk factors for subclinical atherosclerosis.

Methods

A case–control study of 46 patients with SSc who met the ACR criteria for the disease and 42 healthy age- and sex-matched controls of Kinh ethnicity was conducted. Clinical data including cardiovascular disease (CVD) events were collected. Serum levels of blood lipids and high-sensitivity CRP were determined. Carotid artery intima–media thickness (IMT) and carotid plaques were measured by carotid Doppler ultrasonography.

Results

Patients with SSc, of whom 96% had dcSSc, reported a higher number of CVD events compared with the controls (21.7 vs 0%; P = 0.0065). They exhibited low serum levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and high levels of total cholesterol compared with controls (P = 0.01 and P = 0.03, respectively). Common carotid artery IMT was significantly higher in SSc patients compared with controls [mean (s.d.): 0.61 (0.12) vs 0.47 (0.07) mm; P < 0.0001]. Carotid artery IMT in SSc showed significant positive correlations with age, disease duration, total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P < 0.05). Thirteen patients with SSc (28.3%) but no controls had carotid atherosclerotic plaques. Patients with plaque had a higher mean modified Rodnan skin score and higher mean IMT compared with patients without plaque.

Conclusion

We confirmed an increased risk of CVD events and signs of subclinical atherosclerosis in patients with SSc of Kinh ethnicity and both traditional and disease-related risk factors for CVD.
Stewardship purpose planning with Dutch private foundations in an international context
Authors: Koele Ineke A
Published: June 2022

There is a growing interest of wealthy families in stewardship ownership planning, which stems from developments in society and an increased awareness on the wise long-term use of wealth in a modern society, following long-standing examples in the North European culture.

In the common law part of the world, these developments are driven by international financial centres with a quick adaptive mind, now followed by discussions on the development of trust law more generally. In the classic European foundation legislations, pure stewardship planning is stretching the legal limits as well and most often, the most likely option is the use of the strictly regulated charitable foundation.

The author describes the distinct approaches from a comparative and Dutch stewardship perspective based on a corporate foundation model, that historically allows a self-serving or purely stewardship ownership structure.

These stewardship foundations are not structured with the intention to serve private interests of the family that divested their ownership and should not be regarded as an APV or similar target of anti-abuse legislation that applies to discretionary private trusts and foundations.
Fertility Preservation for Transgender Males
Authors: Douglas Christopher R. , Phillips Destiny , Sokalska Anna , Aghajanova Lusine
Published: June 2022

Fertility-preservation counseling in the transgender patient population is recommended by multiple organizations, including the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, the World Professional Association for Transgender Health, and the Endocrine Society. The optimal time to pursue fertility preservation has not been established, and data on potential effects of testosterone therapy on future reproductive potential are limited. This Current Commentary seeks to elucidate the most appropriate time to perform oocyte cryopreservation in relation to time on and off testosterone therapy, age of the individual, and emotional effect of treatment. Although there have been multiple studies that have demonstrated successful oocyte cryopreservation regardless of testosterone exposure, the data on live-birth rates after oocyte cryopreservation are limited. Moreover, the process of oocyte cryopreservation may have a significant negative emotional effect on the transgender male given the feminizing effects of gonadotropin stimulation, as well as the invasiveness of pelvic ultrasonograms and the oocyte-retrieval procedure. With our review, we demonstrate that a comprehensive, individualized approach to fertility-preservation counseling and timing to pursue treatment are essential. Postponing fertility-preservation procedures until patients have reached early adulthood might be considered to avoid the potential effect on mental health, without compromising outcomes.
Utility and Limitations of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin Levels for Remote Follow-up After Medical Management of Early Pregnancy Loss
Authors: Roe Andrea H. , Abernathy Alice , Flynn Anne N. , McAllister Arden , Koelper Nathanael C. , Sammel Mary D. , Schreiber Courtney A. , Sonalkar Sarita
Published: June 2022

Early pregnancy loss can be treated medically with mifepristone followed by misoprostol, with ultrasonographic confirmation of pregnancy expulsion. Alternative strategies that ascertain treatment success remotely are needed. We compared percent decline in human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) level with treatment success or failure between patients who received mifepristone pretreatment followed by misoprostol or misoprostol alone for early pregnancy loss between 5 and 12 weeks of gestation to determine a threshold decline that might predict success. Early pregnancy loss treatment success was associated with a greater percent hCG level decline compared with treatment failure, but no threshold was able to predict success. Additional research is needed to understand hCG trends after medical management of early pregnancy loss to develop reliable protocols for remote follow-up.
Deliveries Among Patients Aged 11–19 Years and Risk for Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes
Authors: Staniczenko Anna P. , Wen Timothy , Cepin Ana G. , Guglielminotti Jean , Logue Teresa C. , Krenitsky Nicole , Huang Youngmei , D'Alton Mary , Friedman Alexander M.
Published: June 2022

OBJECTIVE:

To characterize delivery hospitalization trends of patients aged 11–19 years and associated comorbidities and outcomes.

METHODS:

For this repeated cross-sectional analysis, deliveries to patients aged 11–54 years were identified in the 2000–2018 National Inpatient Sample. Temporal trends in deliveries to patients aged 11–14 years and 15–19 years were analyzed using joinpoint regression to estimate average annual percent change with 95% CIs. The association of deliveries among patients aged 11–19 years with other comorbid conditions was analyzed. The relationship between delivery among patients aged 11–19 years and adverse maternal outcomes was analyzed with unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression models, with unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios (aORs) as measures of effect.

RESULTS:

An estimated 73,198,153 delivery hospitalizations from 2000 to 2018 were included, of which 88,363 were to patients aged 11–14 years and 6,359,331 were to patients aged 15–19 years. The proportion of delivery hospitalizations among patients aged 11–14 years decreased from 2.1 to 0.4 per 1,000 from 2000 to 2018 (average annual percent change −7.8%, 95% CI −8.5% to −7.2%). Deliveries to patients aged 15–19 years decreased from 2000 to 2018, from 11.5% to 4.8% of all deliveries (average annual percent change −4.9%, 95% CI −5.6% to −4.3%). For deliveries among patients aged 11–19 years, rates of obesity, mental health conditions, substance use disorder, asthma, and pregestational and gestational diabetes all significantly increased over the study period. From 2000 to 2018, rates of severe maternal morbidity (average annual percent change 2.4%, 95% CI 1.6–3.1%), postpartum hemorrhage (average annual percent change 2.4%, 95% CI 1.4–3.4%), cesarean delivery (average annual percent change 1.3%, 95% CI 0.9–1.7%), and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (average annual percent change 3.3%, 95% CI 2.8–3.8%) all increased significantly among deliveries to patients aged 11–19 years. Compared with deliveries to patients aged 20–54 years, deliveries to patients aged 11–14 years were associated with increased risk for severe maternal morbidity (aOR 1.73, 95% CI 1.49–2.00), hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (aOR 1.79, 95% CI 1.71–1.88), and postpartum hemorrhage (aOR 1.37, 95% CI 1.27–1.49).

CONCLUSION:

Deliveries among patients aged 11–19 years have decreased, but both comorbidity and risk for adverse outcomes increased among this age group.
Lower Gastrointestinal Tract Disorders
Authors: Ray Jennifer , LaBundy Jennifer
Published: June 2022

Lower gastrointestinal (GI) diseases and associated symptoms account for a large number of health care visits each year. Many women visit their obstetrician–gynecologists more often than their primary care physicians or use them as primary health care providers. Many gynecologic and lower GI disorders share symptoms, such as lower abdominal or pelvic pain and bloating. Some diseases are more common in women compared with men, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), or warrant special consideration in women, for example, for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This monograph outlines the major diseases that affect the lower GI tract and reviews epidemiology, pathology, presentation, and treatment of these diseases. Concerns specific to women are addressed, including reproductive issues, changes in GI physiology during pregnancy, and management of lower GI disease during pregnancy.
Prevalence and Risk Factors Associated With Pelvic Rod/Screw Radiographic Lucency Following Scoliosis Surgery in Spastic Cerebral Palsy: A Longitudinal Study
Authors: Ulusaloglu Armagan C. , Asma Ali , Bowen James Richard , Yorgova Petya , Howard Jason J. , Shrader Michael Wade , Shah Suken A.
Published: June 2022

Background:

Radiographic lucency around a smooth pelvic rod (Galveston/unit rod technique) or sacroiliac/iliac screw following spinal fusion in children with nonambulatory spastic cerebral palsy (CP) has been described as a “windshield wiper” phenomenon. We evaluated demographics, radiographs, and complications in 101 cases from a single center to determine prevalence, risk factors, and complications associated with persistent radiographic lucency from 1 to 5 years following spinal fusion.

Methods:

Inclusion criteria were diagnosis of nonambulatory spastic quadriplegic CP [Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) IV-V], under 18 years of age, scoliosis treated by posterior fusion from upper thoracic to sacrum with pelvic fixation (Galveston rod, iliac screw, or sacroiliac screw), adequate radiographs (preoperative, immediate postoperative, first-year, and second-year), and minimum 5-year follow-up. We evaluated demographics, radiographic parameters, comorbidities, scoliosis curve type, type of pelvic screw/rod, use of off-set connector, screw width, associated with posterior column osteotomy and/or additional anterior spinal release concurrent with posterior spine fusion, and infection over the follow-up period. Specific attention was given to the area and shape of the radiographic lucency. The logistic regression analysis was performed for continuous and categorical variables to define risk factors (P=0.05).

Results:

In 101 patients, data were collected at mean intervals of 1-year, 2-year, and >5-year follow-up and were 12.9±1.5, 25.8±2.5, and 81.5±23.0 months, respectively. Prevalence of pelvic rod/screw radiographic lucency was unchanged at 33%, 35%, and 24% at 1-year, 2-year, and >5-year follow-up, respectively, and radiographic parameters did not change (P>0.05). Furthermore, no risk factors or complications were associated with radiographic lucency around pelvic rods/screws (P>0.05).

Conclusion:

In patients with spastic nonambulatory CP who had scoliosis treated with posterior spinal fusion from upper thorax to pelvis, the prevalence of pelvic rod/screw lucency is high. Persistent lucency >2 mm around pelvic implants is not clinically significant, does not warrant advanced imaging, or indicate a complication if stable over time and wider distally than proximally.

Level of Evidence:

Level III.
A Spatiotemporal Analysis of the Association of California City and County Cannabis Policies with Cannabis Outlet Densities
Authors: Matthay Ellicott C. , Mousli Leyla , Ponicki William R. , Glymour M. Maria , Apollonio Dorie E. , Schmidt Laura A. , Gruenewald Paul
Published: June 2022

Background:

Cannabis outlets may affect health and health disparities. Local governments can regulate outlets, but little is known about the effectiveness of local policies in limiting outlet densities and discouraging disproportionate placement of outlets in vulnerable neighborhoods.

Methods:

For 241 localities in California, we measured seven policies pertaining to density or location of recreational cannabis outlets. We geocoded outlets using web-scraped data from the online finder Weedmaps between 2018 and 2020. We applied Bayesian spatiotemporal models to evaluate associations of local cannabis policies with Census block group-level outlet counts, accounting for confounders and spatial autocorrelation. We assessed whether associations differed by block group median income or racial–ethnic composition.

Results:

Seventy-six percent of localities banned recreational cannabis outlets. Bans were associated with fewer outlets, particularly in block groups with higher median income, fewer Hispanic residents, and more White and Asian residents. Outlets were disproportionately located in block groups with lower median income [posterior RR (95% credible interval): 0.76 (0.70, 0.82) per $10,000], more Hispanic residents [1.05 (1.02, 1.09) per 5%], and fewer Black residents [0.91 (0.83, 0.98) per 5%]. For the six policies in jurisdictions permitting outlets, two policies were associated with fewer outlets and two with more; two policy associations were uninformative. For these policies, we observed no consistent heterogeneity in associations by median income or racial–ethnic composition.

Conclusions:

Some local cannabis policies in California are associated with lower cannabis outlet densities, but are unlikely to deter disproportionate placement of outlets in racial–ethnic minority and low-income neighborhoods.
Global epidemiology of itch from 1990 to 2017: gender, age, sanitation, and air pollution as risk factors
Authors: Kulkarni Vishnutheertha , Liu David , Aggarwal Pushkar , Gamsarian Vahram , Fleischer Alan B.
Published: June 2022

Background:

Itch is a symptom with significant physical, psychological, and financial burden worldwide. Symptom-specific and demographic risk factors have been published although community-level risk factors have not been thoroughly studied.

Objectives:

To describe the epidemiological risk factors of itch and to present a hypothesis that can account for these trends.

Materials and methods:

Itch incidence, prevalence, and years lost to disability (YLD) by age, sex, world region, socio-demographic index, percent of population using basic sanitation services, mortality due to air pollution, and gross domestic product (GDP) per capita were obtained from the University of Washington Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation Global Burden of Disease (GBD), World Health Organization Global Health Observatory (WHO GHO), and Worldometer databases. Linear regression models were utilized to analyze the relationship of sanitation, air pollution, and GDP with itch incidence, prevalence and YLD.

Results:

Female sex and age were positively associated with higher incidence of itch. The percent of population using basic sanitation services was also positively correlated with itch incidence, prevalence, and YLD (P<0.001). Mortality rate due to air pollution was negatively associated with itch incidence, prevalence, and YLD (P<0.001). However, GDP per capita was not associated with the incidence (P=0.5), prevalence (P=0.8), and YLD (P=0.7) of itch.

Conclusions:

The “hygiene hypothesis” might explain global trends of itch as more industrialized countries have higher itch incidence rates. Thus, approaches which target molecular pathways involved in the “hygiene hypothesis” may lead to a decreased global itch burden.
Effectiveness of the 6-Minute Walk Test as a Predictive Measure on Hospital Readmission and Mortality in Individuals With Heart Failure
Authors: Carballada Cynthia , Mihalik Mackenzie , Newman-Caro Alyssa , Walter Alysha
Published: June 2022

Purpose:

To review the effect distance walked during the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) has on determining the risk of hospital readmission and mortality for individuals with heart failure.

Methods:

A comprehensive literature search of PubMed, CINAHL, MEDLINE, ProQuest, and Web of Science was performed from February 2021 through September 2021. Article screening and data extraction were completed by 2 authors (C.C. and M.M.). The Quality in Prognostic Studies (QUIPS) assessment tool was used by 3 authors (A.B., C.C., and M.M.) to determine the level of bias for each study.

Results:

Ten studies were included in this systematic review after inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied. Title (κ= 0.75, confidence interval [CI] 0.68-0.82), abstract (κ= 1, CI 1-1), and full-text (κ= 1, CI 1-1) screens were completed by 2 authors (C.C. and M.M.). Studies in this review included subjects with both acute and chronic heart failure diagnoses. Statistically significant results were reported in 7 of 10 research studies in reference to the distance walked during the 6MWT, hospital readmission, and mortality rates. In the included studies, 6MWT cut-off distances ranged from 200 to 468 m, predicting future hospitalization for subjects with heart failure.

Conclusion:

The 6MWT may be an effective and easily accessible tool in the acute care setting for physical therapists to estimate the risk of rehospitalization and mortality in the heart failure population and may help with determining discharge recommendations.