bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Successful reversal of a rare case of amitraz poisoning with yohimbine—a case report
Authors: Gupta Ankur , Narang Achint , Shandilya Nikhil , Sharma Aman , Kathuria Rahul , Gupta Aakriti
Published: July 2022

Background

Amitraz is an insecticidal agent and its poisoning cases are rare. We report the successful treatment of amitraz poisoning using yohimbine as an antidote. There is only a single other case report in literature of usage of yohimbine as antidote to amitraz poisoning in a 3-year-old child.

Case presentation

A 27-year-old woman presented to the hospital with features of severe amitraz intoxication-respiratory depression and loss of consciousness. Along with supportive management in the intensive care unit, she was administered parenteral yohimbine, which resulted in quick recovery and discharge from hospital.

Conclusions

Yohimbine may serve as a useful antidote in severe amitraz intoxication. However, the conclusive benefit of yohimbine in human cases of amitraz poisoning is yet to be established and is a potential area of research.
Poisson–logarithmic half-logistic distribution with inference under a progressive-stress model based on adaptive type-II progressive hybrid censoring
Authors: Hashem Atef F. , Kuş Coşkun , Pekgör Ahmet , Abdel-Hamid Alaa H.
Published: July 2022

The researchers, engineers, and physical experimenters may face difficulty to get a distribution that fits the failure data arising from certain systems. So, in this paper, a new distribution is introduced, named Poisson–logarithmic half-logistic distribution, based on a parallel–series system’s failure times. Specific statistical properties are investigated for the introduced distribution. Also, two real data sets are considered to compare the introduced distribution with some other distributions. The progressive-stress accelerated life test is applied using an increasing exponential function of time to units whose lifetimes are expected to follow the new distribution at normal stress conditions. Different estimation methods, such as maximum likelihood, percentile, least squares, and weighted least square methods, are considered on the basis of adaptive type-II progressive hybrid censoring. To assess the efficiency of the estimation methods, a simulation study is conducted, as well as numerical calculations.
The femoral intercondylar notch is an accurate landmark for the resection depth of the distal femur in total knee arthroplasty
Authors: Liu David W. , Martinez Martos Sara , Dai Yifei , Beller Elaine M.
Published: July 2022

Introduction

Conventionally, the depth of distal femoral resection in total knee arthroplasty is referenced from the most prominent distal femoral condyle. This surgical technique does not consider pathological alterations of articular surfaces or severity of knee deformity. It has been hypothesized that the femoral intercondylar notch is a clinically reliable and more accurate alternative landmark for the resection depth of the distal femur in primary total knee arthroplasty.

Methods

The resection depths of the distal femur at the medial and lateral femoral condyles and intercondylar notch were measured using computer navigation in 406 total knee arthroplasties. Variability between the bone resection depths was analyzed by standard deviation, 95% confidence interval and variance. Clinical follow-up of outcome to a minimum of 12 months was performed to further inform and validate the analysis.

Results

Mean resection depth of the medial condyle was 10.7 mm, of the lateral condyle 7.9 mm and of the femoral intercondylar notch 1.9 mm. The femoral intercondylar notch had the lowest variance in resection depth among the three landmarks assessed, with a variance of 1.7 mm2 compared to 2.8 mm2 for the medial femoral condyle and 5.1 mm2 for the lateral femoral condyle. The intercondylar notch reference had the lowest standard deviation and 95% confidence interval. The resection depth referencing the notch was not sensitive to the degree of flexion contracture pre-operatively, whereas the medial and lateral condyles were. For varus deformed knees, distal femoral resection depth at the notch averaged 2 mm, which corresponds to the femoral prosthesis thickness at the intercondylar region, while for valgus deformed knees, the resection was flush with the intercondylar notch.

Conclusions

The femoral intercondylar notch is a clinically practical and reproducible landmark for appropriate and accurate resection depth of the distal femur in primary total knee arthroplasty.

Level of evidence

Level III: Retrospective cohort study.
The effect of COVID-19 on foreign direct investment inflows: stylised facts and some explanations
Authors: Moosa Imad A. , Merza Ebrahim
Published: July 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted every aspect of our lives. The economic effects include the adverse consequences for economic growth, international trade, and foreign direct investment. This paper presents stylised facts about the fall and rebound of FDI inflows as a result of the pandemic. The effects of COVID-19 are considered from three angles: macroeconomic shocks to the economy, theories of foreign direct investment, and studies of the economic effects of disasters and crises. The change of heart away from globalisation and deindustrialisation may discourage FDI flows, which have already been undermined by other factors such as the digitisation of the economy and the emergence of Industry 4.0.
The goal of primary therapy in non-metastatic nasopharyngeal cancer should be radiological complete response
Authors: Korkmaz Mustafa , Eryılmaz Melek Karakurt , Koçak Mehmet Zahid , Demirkıran Aykut , Karaağaç Mustafa , Artaç Mehmet
Published: July 2022

Background

We aimed to investigate the effect of radiological complete response on survival outcomes in patients with non-metastatic nasopharyngeal cancer. This study is conducted as a retrospective cohort. Of the 185 patients screened, 60 were metastatic, 25 patients’ data was not available, and as a result, 92 patients were included in the study. Among the complete response (CR) and incomplete response (IR) groups, overall survival (OS), distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS), and locoregional failure-free survival (LRFFS) were evaluated.

Results

Of the 92 patients, 54 (58.6%) were CR and 38 (41.4%) were IR patients. Of the whole study group, the 5-year OS, DMFS, and LRFFS rates were 75%, 78%, and 95%, respectively. A significant difference was found between the 5-year OS (90% vs. 60%, p = 0.001) and DMFS (87% vs. 65%, p = 0.02) rates. However, there was no significant difference in the 5-year LRFFS rate (97% vs. 92%, p = 0.16). Complete response were determined as an independent predictor for OS (HR: 0.13, 95% Cl: 0.045–0.36, p < 0.001) and DMFS (HR: 0.26, 95% CI: 0.095–0.744, p = 0.012).

Conclusion

As a result, the survival benefit in patients with CR after primary treatment is evident as shown in the above studies. Therefore, the aim of primary treatment should be to increase the CR rates. It is important to evaluate early tumor response to determine poor tumor regression.
Influence of shear velocity on elastic full-waveform inversion: Gulf of Mexico case study using multicomponent ocean-bottom node data
Authors: Cho Yongchae , Pérez Solano Carlos , Kimbro John , Yang Yi , Plessix René-Édouard , Matson Kenneth
Published: July 2022

Elastic full-waveform inversion (FWI) is superior to acoustic FWI due to its ability to simulate complex mode conversions in fast-varying elastic media. Using elastic FWI may become important when building velocity models in areas of large complex salt bodies that we typically see in the Gulf of Mexico. Accounting for elastic effects in FWI can reduce the artifacts that are caused by using an acoustic approximation. We often rely on petrophysics relations to define an initial shear velocity model, which also could be challenging. We demonstrate how to take advantage of the reflected converted waves from the top of the salt interface recorded in horizontal geophones to improve the estimation of the background shear velocity. Then, we illustrate the impact of the initial background shear velocity in the elastic inversion of the long-offset low-frequency hydrophone data. The workflow is based on a combination of wave-equation traveltime inversion, to cope with the cycle skipping, and FWI, to obtain higher-resolution results.
Medicare Part D Coverage Restrictions and Patient Cost-Sharing for Opioids Commonly Used for Cancer Pain, 2015-2021
Authors: Bao Yuhua , Zhang Hao , Hartung Daniel M. , Witkin Lisa R. , Paice Judith A.
Published: July 2022

PURPOSE:

Nation-wide rapid declines in prescription opioid dispensing gave rise to concerns regarding restricted access to effective pain management for patients with cancer-related pain. One important mechanism for such restrictions could be through more restrictive insurance coverage for opioids. This study aims to assess recent changes in Medicare Part D formulary designs for opioids commonly used for cancer-related pain.

METHODS:

We used data from the 2015-2021 Medicare Prescription Drug Plan (PDP) Formulary Files to assess formulary changes for six opioid-dose combinations commonly used for cancer-related pain. We estimated % of PDPs adopting prior authorization, quantity limits (and limits adopted), and a higher cost-sharing tier for each opioid-dose combination. We further estimated median and mean out-of-pocket (OOP) costs across all PDPs for a 30-day supply of the drug. Trends in proportions were tested using the Cochrane-Armitage test; trends in continuous measures were tested using the Jonckheere-Terpstra test.

RESULTS:

Proportion of PDPs adopting prior authorization increased from close to 0% to about 50% for two long-acting opioids ( P < .001). Distribution of quantity limits across PDPs shifted over time to being more restrictive for all opioids considered ( P < .001). For four of the six opioids, the proportion of PDPs adopting tier 3 or above increased from below or about 50% to well over 70% ( P < .001). For the same four opioids, median OOP costs doubled to quadrupled ( P < .001).

CONCLUSION:

Medicare PDP coverage has become increasingly restrictive for opioids commonly used for cancer-related pain, with multifold increases in patient OOP costs over the past 7 years. These changes pose concerns for patients with cancer needing opioid therapies for pain control and call for strategies to effectively exempt cancer-related pain from insurance and pharmacy rules intended to apply to opioids for noncancer chronic pain.
Matched Molecular Profiling of Cell-Free DNA and Tumor Tissue in Patients With Advanced Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Kotecha Ritesh R. , Gedvilaite Erika , Ptashkin Ryan , Knezevic Andrea , Murray Samuel , Johnson Ian , Shapnik Natalie , Feldman Darren R. , Carlo Maria I. , Shah Neil J. , Dunigan Marisa , Huberman Kety , Benayed Ryma , Zehir Ahmet , Berger Michael F. , Ladanyi Marc , Tsui Dana W. Y. , Motzer Robert J. , Lee Chung-Han , Voss Martin H.
Published: July 2022

PURPOSE

The clinical utility of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) as a biomarker for advanced clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) remains unclear. We evaluated the validity of cfDNA-based genomic profiling in a large cohort of patients with ccRCC with matched next-generation sequencing (NGS) from primary tumor tissues.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We performed paired NGS of tumor DNA and plasma cfDNA using the MSK-IMPACT platform in 110 patients with metastatic ccRCC. Tissues were profiled for variants and copy number alterations with germline comparison. Manual cross-genotyping between cfDNA and tumor tissue was performed. Deep sequencing with a higher sensitivity platform, MSK-ACCESS, was performed on a subset of cfDNA samples. Clinical data and radiographic tumor volumes were assessed to correlate cfDNA yield with treatment response and disease burden.

RESULTS

Tumor tissue MSK-IMPACT testing identified 582 genomic alterations (GAs) across the cohort. Using standard thresholds for de novo variant calling in cfDNA, only 24 GAs were found by MSK-IMPACT in cfDNA in 7 of 110 patients (6%). With manual cross-genotyping, 210 GAs were detectable below thresholds in 74 patients (67%). Intrapatient concordance with tumor tissue was limited, including VHL (31.6%), PBRM1 (24.1%), and TP53 (52.9%). cfDNA profiling did not identify 3p loss because of low tumor fractions. Tumor volume was associated with cfDNA allele frequency, and VHL concordance was superior for patients with greater disease burden.

CONCLUSION

cfDNA-based NGS profiling yielded low detection rates in this metastatic ccRCC cohort. Concordance with tumor profiling was low, even for truncal mutations such as VHL, and some findings in peripheral blood may represent clonal hematopoiesis. Routine cfDNA panel testing is not supported, and its application in biomarker efforts must account for these limitations.
Development of a Novel Bilosomal System for Improved Oral Bioavailability of Sertraline Hydrochloride: Formulation Design, In Vitro Characterization, and Ex Vivo and In Vivo Studies
Authors: Ismail Aliaa , Teiama Mohammed , Magdy Basma , Sakran Wedad
Published: July 2022

This study was proposed to develop an optimized sertraline hydrochloride (SER)–loaded bilosomal system and evaluate its potential for enhancement of drug oral bioavailability. A full 23 factorial design was used to prepare SER-loaded bilosomal dispersions by thin film hydration using span 60, cholesterol (CHL), and sodium deoxycholate (SDC). The investigated factors included the total concentration of span 60 and CHL (X1), span 60:CHL molar ratio (X2), and SER:SDC molar ratio (X3). The studied responses were entrapment efficiency (EE%) (Y1), zeta potential (Y2), particle size (Y3), and in vitro % drug released at 2 (Y4), 8 (Y5), and 24 h (Y6). The selected optimal bilosomal dispersion (N1) composition was 0.5% w/v (X1), 1:1 (X2), and 1:2 (X3). Then, N1 was freeze dried into FDN1 that compared with pure SER for in vitro drug release, ex vivo permeation through rabbit intestine, and in vivo absorption in rats. Moreover, storage effect on FDN1 over 3 months was assessed. The optimal dispersion (N1) showed 68 ± 0.7% entrapment efficiency, − 41 ± 0.78 mV zeta potential, and 377 ± 19 nm particle size. The freeze-dried form (FDN1) showed less % drug released in simulated gastric fluids with remarkable sustained SER release up to 24 h compared to pure SER. Moreover, FDN1 showed good stability, fivefold enhancement in SER permeation through rabbit intestine, and 222% bioavailability enhancement in rats’ in vivo absorption study compared to pure SER. The SER-loaded bilosomal system (FDN1) could improve SER oral bioavailability with minimization of gastrointestinal side effects.

Graphical abstract
“That's How It Is”: Quotidian Violence and Resistance in Olivia Wenzel's1000 Coils of Fear
Authors: Layne Priscilla
Published: July 2022

Black Germans occupy a unique position of simultaneous invisibility and hypervisibility. Since their country did away with the category of race due to its associations with the Nazis, on paper Black Germans are read as just “German” and de facto white. But they are also hypervisible, because in public their appearance makes them the target of discrimination and racist violence. Due to Black Germans’ structural invisibility, white Germans often fail to recognize the structural racism that affects their daily lives. In fact, white Germans commonly claim that racism is an American problem and not really an issue in Germany. Black German author Olivia Wenzel, in her recent autofictional novel 1000 Coils of Fear (2020), rejects this spectacle of racism that Germans commonly associate with America to instead expose the “quotidian violence” (Kara Keeling) in German society that allows the white majority to give its silent approval of racism. Arguably, 1000 Coils of Fear is not just about the terror of everyday Black life but also about Black life's endurance: the narrator's ability to survive despite the ever-present terror of white supremacy, her ability to create new life, vis-à-vis her pregnancy, and the endless possibilities her future self and her future child can take. By using a narrative form—autofiction—that embodies the relational, fluid self of a queer, diasporic, Black subject, Wenzel's novel best captures Black Lives Matter's desire to center those folx who are often excluded.
Ο ρόλος του ορφανού πυρηνικού υποδοχέα NR5A2 στις νεοπλασίες του νευρικού συστήματος
Authors: Γκίκας Δημήτριος
Published: July 2022

Οι κακοήθειες του νευρικού συστήματος χαρακτηρίζονται από ταχεία εξέλιξη και χαμηλά ποσοστά επιβίωσης. Αυτές οι κλινικές παρατηρήσεις υπογραμμίζουν την ανάγκη για εξέρευση νέων φαρμακολογικών στόχων και θεραπευτικών προσεγγίσεων. Προς αυτό το στόχο και στο πλαίσιο της παρούσας εργασίας προσδιορίσαμε τον ορφανό πυρηνικό υποδοχέα NR5A2/LRH1 ως αρνητικό ρυθμιστή του πολλαπλασιασμού των καρκινικών κυττάρων και ως ένα πολλά υποσχόμενο φαρμακολογικό στόχο για τους όγκους που σχετίζονται με το νευρικό σύστημα. Ειδικότερα, βιοπληροφορική ανάλυση δεδομένων γονιδιακής έκφρασης από όγκους ασθενών διαθέσιμων σε βάσεις δεδομένων, όπως οι Oncomine και TCGA (The Cancer Genome Atlas), δείχνουν ότι τα υψηλά επίπεδα έκφρασης του NR5A2 σχετίζονται με ευνοϊκή πρόγνωση σε ασθενείς με όγκους γλοιοβλαστώματος και νευροβλαστώματος. Στη συνέχεια, με μία σειρα πειραμάτων υπερέκφρασης δείξαμε ότι το NR5A2 είναι επαρκές για να καταστείλει έντονα τον πολλαπλασιασμό τόσο των ανθρώπινων όσο και των ποντικίσιων κυττάρων γλοιοβλαστώματος και νευροβλαστώματος χωρίς να επάγει την απόπτωση τους. Επιπλέον, η καταστολή της έκφρασης του NR5A2, με τη χρήση ειδικών shRNA φορέων, προάγει τον πολλαπλασιασμό και τον κυτταρικό κύκλο των κυττάρων γλοιοβλαστώματος. Επίσης, η αντι-πολλαπλασιαστική δράση του NR5A2 διαμεσολαβείται από τη μεταγραφική επαγωγή των αρνητικών ρυθμιστών του κυτταρικού κύκλου, CDKN1A (που κωδικοποιεί την p21cip1), CDKN1B (που κωδικοποιεί την p27kip1) και Prox1. Στο πλαίσιο της φαρμακολογικής στόχευσης αυτού του μορίου δείξαμε ότι δύο καθιερωμένοι αγωνιστές του NR5A2, η διλουροϋλοφωσφατιδυλοχολίνη (DLPC) και η διουνδεκανοϋλοφωσφατιδυλοχολίνη (DUPC), είναι σε θέση να μιμηθούν την αντι-πολλαπλασιαστική δράση του NR5A2 σε ανθρώπινα κύτταρα γλοιοβλαστώματος μέσω της επαγωγής των ίδιων κρίσιμων γονιδίων. Η πιο σημαντική μας παρατήρηση όμως είναι ότι ένας από αυτούς τους αγωνιστές, ο DLPC, είναι αφενός ικανός να περάσει τον αιματοεγκεφαλικό φραγμό και αφετέρου να καταστείλει την ανάπτυξη των όγκων του γλοιοβλαστώματος in vivo σε ετεροτοπικά και ορθοτοπικά μοντέλα ξενομοσχεύματος ποντικών. Τα δεδομένα αυτά υποδεικνύουν έναν ογκοκατασταλτικό ρόλο του NR5A2 στο νευρικό σύστημα και καθιστούν αυτόν τον πυρηνικό υποδοχέα δυνητικό φαρμακολογικό στόχο για τη θεραπεία όγκων που σχετίζονται με τον νευρικό ιστό.
Assessing sandstone reservoir quality
Authors: Χαρλαύτης Δημήτριος
Published: July 2022

Το χαλαζιακής σύστασης συγκολλητικό υλικό τροποποιεί σημαντικά την ποιότητα των ψαμμιτικών ταμιευτήρων μειώνοντας το πορώδες και την διαπερατότητα τους. Ωστόσο η εκτεταμένη παρουσία αργιλικών ορυκτών με τη μορφή επιφλοιώσεων γύρω από τους κλαστικούς κόκκους των ψαμμιτών περιορίζει τη διαδικασία συγκόλλησης διατηρώντας την ποιότητα των ταμιευτήρων. Το πρώτο και κύριο σκέλος της παρούσας διατριβής εμπεριέχει μια σειρά από υδροθερμικά πειράματα εκτελεσμένα υπο θερμοκρασιακές συνθήκες ανάλογες των συνθηκών που επικρατούν σε μεγάλου βάθους ταμιευτήρες. Δείγματα ψαμμιτικού πετρώματος από τον Κάτω Ιουρασικό ''Cook'' ταμιευτήρα του πεδίου Oseberg (Νορβηγία) εκτέθηκαν σε διάλυμα υπερκορεσμένο σε πυρίτιο για χρονικά διαστήματα έως 360 ώρών σε θερμοκρασίες έως 250 °C. Σκοπός των πειραμάτων ήταν: i) ο προσδιορισμός των ορυκτολογικών μεταβολών που υπέστη το πέτρωμα, ii) η ποσοτικοποίηση της ανάπτυξης αυθιγενούς χλωρίτη γύρω από τους κλαστικούς κόκκους του πετρώματος, και iii) η δισδιάστατη και τρισδιάστατη αποτύπωση της εξέλιξης των ποιοτικών χαρακτηριστικών του ταμιευτήρα.Τα αποτελέσματα έδειξαν ότι χλωριτική επιφλοίωση δημιουργείται μέσω: i) ενός συνδυασμού των μηχανισμών του μετασχηματισμού σε στερεά κατάσταση (solid-state transformation) και της διάλυσης-καθίζησης από ανακρυστάλλωση του ορυκτού βερθιερίνη (berthierine), ii) της αντικατάστασης του ορυκτού σιδερίτη, και iii) του νεοσχηματισμού από το διάλυμα πάνω σε ελεύθερες επιφάνειες κόκκων. Σε πειραματικές θερμοκρασίες μεγαλύτερες των 175 °C, η παύση της μείωσης του πορώδους και η διατήρηση της διαπερατότητας του σχηματισμού σχετίζονται με την αύξηση κατ’ όγκο των χλωριτικών επιφλοιώσεων. Το δεύτερο σκέλος της παρούσας διατριβής παρουσιάζει μια σειρά από υδροθερμικά πειράματα σε κόκκους χαλαζία επικαλυμμένους από κολλώδεις βακτηριακές βιομεμβράνες (biofilms). Σκοπός των πειραμάτων ήταν η εξέταση της επίδρασης της εξωκυττάριας πολυμερούς ουσίας (Extracellular Polymeric Substance, EPS), η οποία περιβάλλει τις βακτηριακές βιομεμβράνες, στην δημιουργία ορυκτών σε θερμοκρασίες έως 120 °C. Μετά την αξιολόγηση της υφής των δειγμάτων παρατηρήθηκε ότι η εξωκυττάρια πολυμερής ουσία έδρασε ως επιφανειακό υπόστρωμα για τον σχηματισμό ορυκτών, πανομοιότυπα μορφολογικά με αργιλικά ορυκτά. Μελλοντικές εξελίξεις στο χώρο της ενέργειας και των δράσεων μετριασμού της κλιματικής αλλαγής απαιτούν καλύτερό χαρακτηρισμό των υπόγειων ταμιευτήρων που μπορούν να λειτουργήσουν ως πηγές ενέργειας ή μέσα γεωλογικής αποθήκευσης. Η παρούσα διδακτορική διατριβή επικεντρώνεται στις διεργασίες διαγένεσης που επηρεάζουν ψαμμιτικούς ταμιευτήρες αποσκοπώντας στην βελτίωση της προβλεψιμότητας των μοντέλων ποιότητας τους.
Διερεύνηση του φαινομένου του μικροχιμαιρισμού σε πολυμεταγγιζόμενους ασθενείς
Authors: Ματσάγγος Σπυρίδων
Published: July 2022

Ο μικροχιμαιρισμός που σχετίζεται με τη μετάγγιση είναι η παρουσία αλλογενών κυττάρων ή διαλυτού γενετικού υλικού στο λήπτη μετάγγισης αίματος. Πρόκειται για μία από τις ανεπιθύμητες ενέργειες - επιπλοκές της μετάγγισης, που ανήκουν στην κατηγορία των απώτερων μετά-μετάγγιση ανοσολογικών αντιδράσεων, η οποία δεν έχει μελετηθεί αρκετά, ιδιαίτερα στους ασθενείς με θαλασσαιμία που λαμβάνουν θεραπευτικές μεταγγίσεις τακτικά ή δια βίου.Στη διατριβή αυτή διερευνήθηκε η παρουσία του σχετιζόμενου με τη μετάγγιση μικροχιμαιρισμού, σε 64 ομόζυγους β-θαλασσαιμικούς ασθενείς, οι οποίοι ελάμβαναν τακτικά θεραπευτικές μεταγγίσεις. Ως ομάδα ελέγχου, επιλέχθηκαν 21 άνδρες, υγιείς εθελοντές αιμοδότες, οι οποίοι κατά δήλωσή τους δεν είχαν λάβει ποτέ στο παρελθόν μετάγγιση παραγώγων αίματος.Η εργαστηριακή μέθοδος προσέγγισης του φαινομένου του μικροχιμαιρισμού φαινομένου ήταν η real time PCR, στοχεύοντας πιθανούς πολυμορφισμούς των HLA-DR αλληλίων, καθώς και γνωστούς πολυμορφισμούς προσθήκης-ελλείμματος 8 αυτοσωμικών χρωμοσωμάτων. Όλες οι αντιδράσεις PCR πραγματοποιήθηκαν εις διπλούν, ενώ οι θετικές επανελέγχθηκαν εις διπλούν. Η διερεύνηση του φαινομένου επαναλήφθηκε διαχρονικά σε υποομάδες ασθενών για περισσότερο από 2 έτη, ενώ τα αποτελέσματα συσχετίστηκαν με κλινικές και εργαστηριακές παραμέτρους, όπως πχ ο ανοσοφαινότυπος των λεμφοκυττάρων του περιφερικού αίματος των ληπτών, ο χρόνος αποθήκευσης και το φύλο των δοτών των μεταγγιζόμενων μονάδων αίματος κ.α., ως πιθανοί παράγοντες που συμβάλλουν στην εμφάνιση του μικροχιμαιρισμού.Μικροχιμαιρισμός ανιχνεύθηκε σε 52 από τους 64 ασθενείς (81.2%) και σε 6 από τους 21 της ομάδας ελέγχου (28.5%, p = 0.0001). Σαράντα τέσσερις ασθενείς (68.7%) παρουσίασαν μακροχρόνιο μικροχιμαιρισμό (που διατηρήθηκε για περισσότερο από 6 μήνες), ο οποίος επιβεβαιώθηκε εργαστηριακά σε όλα τα χρονικά σημεία ελέγχου. Ο μικροχιμαιρισμός ήταν συχνότερος σε γυναίκες, ασθενείς μεγαλύτερης ηλικίας, σε ασθενείς που ελάμβαναν συχνότερα μεταγγίσεις και μεταξύ αυτών που παρουσίαζαν υψηλότερα επίπεδα φερριτίνης στον ορό.Σε αυτούς τους ασθενείς παρατηρήθηκε μείωση των CD16dim+CD56dim+ (NK) κυττάρων (p < 0.001) και αύξηση των CD4+CD25brightCD127– ρυθμιστικών Τ-λεμφοκυττάρων, παράλληλα με το αυξημένο μικροχιμαιρικό «φορτίο», υποδηλώνοντας την εγκατάσταση ανοσολογικής ανοχής (tolerance) του λήπτη της μετάγγισης, δημιουργώντας έτσι ευνοϊκό περιβάλλον εγκατάστασης των χιμαιρικών αλληλίων. Η σπληνεκτομή δεν αποδείχτηκε σημαντικός προσδιοριστικός παράγων για την εγκατάσταση του μικροχιμαιρισμού, όπως και ο χρόνος αποθήκευσης και το φύλο των δοτών των μονάδων αίματος που μεταγγίστηκαν.
Διερεύνηση της χρήσης μυοδερματικών κρημνών στα οπίσθια άκρα της γάτας
Authors: Δερμισιάδου Ελευθερία
Published: July 2022

Σε 2 ομάδες (Α και Β) των 12 ζώων (γάτες φυλής Κοινής Ευρωπαϊκής) δημιουργήθηκαν στα οπίσθια άκρα των ζώων σύνθετα ελλείμματα στην εσωτερική επιφάνεια της κνήμης. Για την κάλυψη των ελλειμάτων αυτών, στην ομάδα Α, χρησιμοποιήθηκε ολόκληρος ο ημιτενοντώδης μυς ως μυοδερματικός κρημνός, ενώ, στην ομάδα Β ο μυς χρησιμοποιήθηκε μετά από επιμήκη διαχωρισμό των μυϊκών ινών του . Στα ετερόπλευρα άκρα των ζώων τα σύνθετα ελλείμματα που δημιουργήθηκαν (τραύματα μάρτυρες), επουλώθηκαν κατά δεύτερο σκοπό. Η μετεγχειρητική αξιολόγηση των κρημνών και των τραυμάτων μαρτύρων γινόταν με κλινική βαθμολογία, πλανιμετρία, υπολογιστική τομογραφική αγγειογραφία και ιστοπαθολογική εξέταση των μυών.
Mitochondrial haplogroup association with fasting glucose response in African Americans treated with a thiazide diuretic
Authors: Minniefield Bre , Armstrong Nicole , Srinivasasainagendra Vinodh , Tiwari Hemant , Ballinger Scott , Chong Zechen , Aslibekyan Stella , Arnett Donna , Irvin Marguerite
Published: July 2022

Background: Hypertensive African Americans have a ~50% response rate to thiazide diuretic treatment. This contributes to a high prevalence of uncontrolled high blood pressure. Here, we examined the role of the mitochondrial genome on thiazide diuretic treatment response in hypertensive African Americans enrolled in a clinical trial.

Methods: Participants from the Antihypertensive and Lipid Lowering Treatment to Prevent Heart Attack Trial (ALLHAT, n= 4279) were genotyped using the Illumina Infinium Multi-Ethnic Beadchip. Haplotype groups were called using HaploGrep. We used a linear regression analysis to examine the association between mitochondrial haplogroups (L, M, and N) and changes in blood pressure and fasting glucose over six months and two years, respectively.

Results: The analysis revealed a null association between mitochondrial haplogroups M and N versus L for each of the outcomes. In subgroup analysis, the L subclades L1, L2, and L3/L4 (versus L0) were each inversely associated with fasting glucose response (p < 0.05).

Conclusions: This discovery analysis suggests the mitochondrial genome has a small effect on fasting glucose response, but not that of blood pressure, to thiazide diuretic treatment in African Americans.
A scoping review protocol on food handlers’ knowledge, attitude, and practices towards food hygiene and safety in low and middle-income countries
Authors: Dabral Paritosh , Kumaran Piramanayagam Senthil , Nigli Keith , Dhyani Vijay Shree
Published: July 2022

Background: Food safety and hygiene has emerged as the foremost cause of concern in recent time, especially post-pandemic and has changed the eating out behaviour of the consumers. Consumers often consider food safety and hygiene as one of the most prominent factors and hence it is important for food handlers to have adequate knowledge and the right attitude towards food safety and food hygiene. The review will summarise the evidence on food handlers’ behaviours towards food safety and hygiene and associated factors that inhibit positive behaviour towards following food safety protocols and standards.

Methods:  This scoping review protocol is guided by updated methodology from Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI). The search will be conducted on Medline (PubMed), Scopus and Web of Science. Google Scholar will be used to locate pertinent grey literature. A citation search will also be employed for identifying additional relevant studies. Quantitative and qualitative studies published from 2011- present will be included. Two reviewers will independently screen and extract the data. A third reviewer will be involved in resolving disagreements between reviewers. A two-stage screening including title/abstract and full-text will be conducted. Data extraction will be done using a pilot-tested data extraction form. The data extracted from included studies will be organised and presented using narrative synthesis. The review will also attempt to identify the unaddressed gaps in the literature with the available evidence.

Ethics and dissemination: An ethical clearance is not required for this scoping review as findings from existing published literature will be summarised. The review findings will be disseminated through conference presentations and journal publications.
Gender differences in character strengths among Chinese pre-adolescents and adolescents: a multidimensional scaling profile analysis
Authors: Huo Yan , Ding Cody , Xie Jin , Kristjánsson Kristján
Published: July 2022

Background: The present study explores gender differences through a characterological lens, inspired by the positive-psychological VIA-Youth measure. Existing research on gender differences in character development has established a certain stereotype of girls outperforming boys in western culture.

Methods: Based on a sample of 695 students in elementary, middle, and high school students, we analyzed gender differences in character development in the Chinese cultural context using multidimensional scaling (MDS) profile analysis, providing a cultural account of gender differences via profile patterns.

Results: Our study identified specific items where pre-adolescent and adolescent boys outperformed girls (while acknowledging there are also specific items where girls outperformed boys) based on data sourced from a Chinese context. We found gender differences in the same character strengths due to situational factors, such as intensive and sustained educational interventions and established gender traditions/expectations, which can shape the exhibition of particular character strengths differently among girls and boys.

Conclusion: Findings can offer an antidote to a Western-dominated research perspective on character or moral education. It enriches the literature on moral education in a different cultural context and provides evidence of gender differences in character strengths.
Wait Time–Based Pricing for Queues with Customer-Chosen Service Times
Authors: Lin Chen-An , Shang Kevin , Sun Peng
Published: July 2022

This paper studies a pricing problem for a single-server queue where customers arrive according to a Poisson process. For each arriving customer, the service provider announces a price rate and system wait time. In response, the customer decides whether to join the queue, and, if so, the duration of the service time. The objective is to maximize either the long-run average revenue or social welfare. We formulate this problem as a continuous-time control model whose optimality conditions involve solving a set of delay differential equations. We develop an innovative method to obtain the optimal control policy, whose structure reveals interesting insights. The optimal dynamic price rate policy is not monotone in the wait time. That is, in addition to the congestion effect (the optimal price rate increases in the wait time), we find a compensation effect, meaning that the service provider should lower the price rate when the wait time is longer than a threshold. Compared with the prevalent static pricing policy, our optimal dynamic pricing policy improves the objective value through admission control, which, in turn, increases the utilization of the server. In a numerical study, we find that our revenue-maximizing pricing policy outperforms the best static pricing policy, especially when the arrival rate is low, and customers are impatient. Interestingly, the revenue-maximizing policy also improves social welfare over the static pricing policy in most of the tested cases. We extend our model to consider nonlinear pricing and heterogeneous customers. Nonlinear pricing may improve the revenue significantly, although linear pricing is easier to implement. For the hetergeneous customer case, we obtain similar policy insights as our base model.

This paper was accepted by Baris Ata, stochastic models and simulation.

Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2022.4474 .
Data Aggregation and Demand Prediction
Authors: Cohen Maxime C. , Zhang Renyu , Jiao Kevin
Published: July 2022

High accuracy in demand prediction allows retailers to effectively manage their inventory and mitigate stock-outs and excess supply. A typical retail setting involves predicting the demand for hundreds of items simultaneously, some with abundant historical data and others with scarce data. In “Data Aggregation and Demand Prediction,” Cohen, Zhang, and Jiao propose a novel practical method, called data aggregation with clustering (DAC), which balances the tradeoff between data aggregation and model flexibility. DAC empowers retailers to predict demand while optimally identifying the features that should be estimated at the item, cluster, and aggregate levels. Theoretically, DAC yields a consistent estimate, along with improved prediction errors relative to the benchmark that estimates a different model for each item. Practically, DAC yields a higher demand prediction accuracy relative to many common benchmarks using a real data set from a large online retailer.
The Diagnostic and Treatment Challenges of Concomitant Mantle Cell Lymphoma and IgM Myeloma
Authors: Gor Dhairya , Mehta Rohan , Greenberg David , Angelova Evgeniya
Published: July 2022

It is rare for IgM multiple myeloma (MM) and mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) to coexist. Furthermore, it is challenging to demonstrate if there are two distinct types of neoplasia or if plasma cell differentiation of MCL is present. We discuss the case of a patient concomitantly diagnosed with MCL and IgM MM, and the subsequent diagnostic and management difficulties, and the positive treatment outcome.
Humanistic Advising: Applying Humanistic Theory to the Practice of Academic Advising
Authors: Bermea Gabriel O.
Published: July 2022

Humanism, as an educational philosophy, is explored as a foundational learning and development theory to inform a new approach to academic advising. Linking humanism to academic advising, humanistic advising emphasizes the importance of advisee growth and change to become self-actualized. Thus, humanistic advising calls for advisors to see students beyond their academic profile, recognize that students' affective matters are worth intentional focus, and aid students in their holistic development as human beings. Five foundational beliefs of humanistic advising are shared along with the phases for humanistic advising and four strategies for practice. Finally, strengths and limitations of humanistic advising are presented.
Advising and the Consumption Metaphor in Higher Education
Authors: Ramsey E. Michele
Published: July 2022

This essay discusses the rhetorical impacts of the consumption metaphor on how advisors think about their work using student responses to the COVID-19 pandemic to highlight the problematic nature of the consumption metaphor for higher education. Academic advisors should reconsider how they think about their work and their messages to students, as they are paramount to the process of student identification with academic institutions. Considerations of language choice can build certain student identities and encourage student (dis)engagement with their education in particular ways. Strategies for discussing skills learned, framing higher education for students, and discussing majors based on the realities of the economy, not the rhetoric of “crisis” in one area or another, are also discussed.
Who does not Find Metaphors Funny? Humor Preferences in Geriatric Patients
Authors: Kmita Maria , Lindner-Pawłowicz Karolina , Libura Agnieszka
Published: July 2022

Objectives: Humor plays an important role throughout life, including old age. However, appreciating and understanding humor may be hindered due to dementia and late-life depression, two common old age-related diseases. Still little is known about humor preferences among the elderly diagnosed with dementia, depression or both disorders. This study aims to explore humor preferences in elderly participants with those disorders and their influence on the perceived funniness of more and less cognitively challenging verbal jokes.Methods: A total of 36 elderly participants and 39 students (representing a control group) rated 20 humorous and 20 non-humorous examples. To test the differences in the funniness rating between the elderly participants and the control group, both Welch’s t-test and U Mann-Whitney test were used, accompanied with bootstrapped confidence intervals.Results: The study reveals that the elderly participants found both humorous and non-humorous examples funnier than the control group. Elderly participants rated two types higher than the control group: the visual error-based jokes and non-visual metaphor-based jokes. The patients with a single disorder (cognitive disorder or depression) rated the funniness of the examples highest. Out of all participants with a single disorder, those with cognitive disorder rated the examples slightly higher than those with depression.Conclusion: Elderly participants are able to enjoy simple and familiar humor. While the perceived funniness of those with a single disorder may be a result of them using humor as a coping mechanism, such a mechanism no longer works in the case of coexisting dementia and depression.
Learning from the professional midwifery advocate role to revise clinical supervision in nursing
Authors: Whatley Vanessa
Published: July 2022

Nursing has lacked a professional voice in the workplace, which contributes to delays in recognising and addressing patient safety concerns, as identified by national reviews into patient care failings. Nurses often lack structured or consistent approaches to clinical supervision, with poor access to real-time professional and personal support and development. In 2017, midwifery reformed its supervision model, with the change from supervisors of midwives to professional midwifery advocates. This new model links continuous quality improvement, staff wellbeing, patient experience and education to improve care. Adopting this approach of professional advocacy in nursing under national leadership to continuously develop self-learning, professional confidence and communication skills in a structured way could benefit nursing. This articles discusses the potential advantages of this model over the current nursing clinical supervision approach.
Optimising stoma care through effective pathways: an overview
Authors: Burch Jennie
Published: July 2022

Jennie Burch, head of gastrointestinal nurse education at St Mark's Hospital, discusses stoma pathways, emphasising the need for regular review post discharge to avoid readmission and achieve optimal outcomes.
Assessing the impact of introducing trainee advanced clinical practitioners onto an acute oncology triage unit
Authors: Sheward Nicola , Ellis Leanne
Published: July 2022

Advanced clinical practitioners (ACPs) have largely been based within acute emergency areas such as emergency departments (EDs) and acute medical units. At The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, ACPs are a new element within oncology services. The acute oncology triage unit sees patients who have received systemic anti-cancer therapy (SACT) presenting with a variety of side effects and symptoms including oncological emergencies, reducing the need for ED attendance. The trainee ACPs identified the neutropenic sepsis pathway as an area requiring urgent change. Through the creation of a new neutropenic sepsis screening tool, as well delivering educational sessions to nursing staff on the unit, the trainee ACPs were able to significantly improve door-to-needle times for patients as well as increasing the use of patient group directions (PGDs), thus reducing delays in antibiotic administration.
Shared decision making in dysphagia
Authors: Atkinson Katie
Published: July 2022

The term ‘risk feeding’ usually applies where a person continues to eat and drink despite aspiration. This term has been increasingly challenged. Risk feeding has connotations of risk-taking behaviour and may conflict with healthcare values of keeping people safe. ‘Risk’ is difficult to quantify in dysphagia and interventions to reduce risk are not risk-free. The relationship between aspiration and pneumonia is complex, as are the success of the interventions designed to prevent them. Attempts to eliminate risk may lead to heavy restriction with unsatisfactory evidence, at a cost to quality of life. The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT) has introduced a framework for multidisciplinary, person-centered decision making: Eating and Drinking with Acknowledged Risk. Every decision we make carries risk and as humans we balance these based on our personal values and goals. This is supported by the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and it is our role to achieve this for our patients. This article discusses these complexities and describes the RCSLT framework, with particular focus on the role of the nurse.
An update on the living well with kidney disease special interest group
Authors: Mayes Juliet , Graham-Brown Matthew
Published: July 2022

Juliet Mayes and Matthew Graham-Brown, co-chairs of the new British Renal Society and Renal Association special interest group, provide an update on wellbeing activity for staff and people living with chronic kidney disease
Ethical and legal concepts: responsibility, accountability and liability
Authors: Ellis Peter , Ellis Hannah
Published: July 2022

Peter and Hannah Ellis outlines the differences between responsibility, accountability and liability, as well as how each definition relates to the kidney care professional
Supervision: the role of the kidney care leader, part three
Authors: Ellis Peter , Abbott Jane
Published: July 2022

Peter Ellis and Jane Abbott explore the process of one-to-one supervision
Supervision, part five: practicalities
Authors: Ellis Peter , Abbott Jane
Published: July 2022

Peter Ellis and Jane Abbott explore the use of group supervision, as well as how it compares and contrasts to one-to-one supervision
The DNA-topoisomerase Inhibitors in Cancer Therapy
Authors: Mastrangelo Stefano , Attina Giorgio , Triarico Silvia , Romano Alberto , Maurizi Palma , Ruggiero Antonio
Published: July 2022

DNA-topoisomerases are ubiquitous enzymes essential for major cellular processes. In recent years, interest in DNA-topoisomerases has increased not only because of their crucial role in promoting DNA replication and transcription processes, but also because they are the target of numerous active ingredients. The possibility of exploiting for therapeutic purposes the blocking of the activity of these enzymes has led to the development of a new class of anticancer agents capable of inducing apoptosis of tumor cells following DNA damage and its failure to repair.
The Effect of Eugenol Treatment on Diabetic Cardiomyopathy in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats
Authors: Qar Janti , Al-Trad Bahaa , khmaiseh Alaa , Muhaidat Riyadh , Omari Sahar , Al-Omari Ghada , Al Zoubi Mazhar
Published: July 2022

Cardiovascular diseases account for most of the morbidity and mortality associated with diabetes. Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) is associated with heart failure in diabetic patients without relation to other cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension or coronary artery disorders. Eugenol is a phenolic compound extracted from the clove tree and exhibits effective mitigation of hyperglycemic conditions in diabetic animals. Thus, in the current study, we aimed to explore the effect of eugenol treatment on rats with DCM. The experimental animals included 30 Sprague Dawley male rats which are divided into three experimental groups (10 rats each) as the following: the non-diabetic control group (ND), diabetic group (D), and a treated-diabetic group (20mg/kg/day of eugenol) (D+E). Diabetes was induced by streptozotocin (STZ) injection (60 mg/ kg). After 6 weeks, blood samples and left ventricles were collected for analysis. Serum glucose levels, heart weight/body weight ratio, and the myocardial mRNA expression of transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), caspase 3 (casp3), vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A), and collagen IV were evaluated. Furthermore, the myocardial superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was measured. Diabetic rats showed a significant appearance of hyperglycemia and increased expression of myocardial TNF-α, TGF-β1, caspase 3, and VEGF-A compared to the control group (P < 0.05), and a tendency to increase collagen IV (P < 0.1). On the other hand, the eugenol treatment mitigates diabetic-associated hyperglycemia and the increased mRNA expression levels of myocardial TGF-β1, VEGF-A, caspase 3, and TNF-α (P < 0.05). In addition, the overexpression of collagen IV was inhibited, and the myocardial SOD activity was improved in the diabetic rats treated with eugenol. The study provided evidence that eugenol may have a potential therapeutic effect in the experimental models of DCM by reducing the expression of pro-inflammatory, pro-fibrotic, angiogenic, and pro-apoptotic factors (TNF-α, TGF-β, collagen IV, VEGF-A, and caspase 3 respectively). It is recommended for further studies investigate the exact molecular processes by which eugenol may ameliorate the DCM phenotype.
Comparison of Methods of Evaluation of the Financial Structure in Selected Industry and Countries
Authors: Škuláňová Nicole , Šudová Veronika
Published: July 2022

Purpose of the article: The issue of capital or financial structure is still a very current topic, the beginning of which dates back to the middle of the last century. Despite such a long time, there is still no universal theory that would help us understand the behaviour of companies in this area. This is due to the fact that each industry, sector, economy, and even the company itself has a different strategy, and therefore a different financial structure. Unfortunately, it is not possible for researchers to analyse all the companies in the world individually, but it is at least possible to examine individual industries and economies. The purpose of this research is to expand knowledge about the financial structure in the industry – Accommodation and Food Service activities in 8 selected countries of Central and Eastern Europe during the period 2010–2018. A total of 23,991 companies are analysed, which are divided into medium and large. Due to the fact that research in this industry in selected economies was not found, this research could significantly expand knowledge about the financial structure in selected economies and the sizes of companies individually.Methodology/methods: Two methods were chosen to meet the aim – the least squares method and the Generalized Method of Moments. It is a comparison of two regression analyses, a simple one, in which several assumptions must be met, and a modified one, in which only one test follows to verify the credibility of the resulting model.Scientific aim: The aim of this research is to determine whether profitability, liquidity, asset structure, non-debt tax shield, the GDP growth rate, inflation rate, and reference interest rate affect the level of total, long-term and short-term debt.Findings: The main finding of the research is the limitation in the use of the least squares method in terms of fulfilling the basic assumptions and the fact that both internal and external determinants have an influence on the formation of financial structure, however, in terms of significance, the influence of external determinants clearly prevails.Conclusions: The main conclusion is that non-corporate determinants have the most significant impact on the level of indebtedness, with the influence of the reference interest rate clearly dominating in terms of the value of coefficients; while in terms of the frequency of coefficients the GDP growth rate is significant.