bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Clinical Outcomes Associated with Endocervical Glandular Involvement in Patients with Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia III
Authors: Kim Nae Ry , Baek Zee Hae , Lee A Jin , Yang Eun Jung , Ouh Yung-Taek , Kim Mi Kyung , Shim Seung-Hyuk , Lee Sun Joo , Kim Tae Jin , So Kyeong A
Published: May 2022

This study aimed to determine whether endocervical glandular involvement (GI) affects the clinical prognosis of patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) III who underwent the loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP). This retrospective study included 250 patients who underwent LEEP for the treatment of CIN III between August 2005 and May 2020. The medical records of 234 patients were analyzed; 137 (58.5%) patients were GI negative, and 97 (41.5%) were GI positive. Margin involvement of the LEEP specimen was found in 59 (45.4%) patients in the GI-negative group and 54 (58.7%) patients in the GI-positive group (p = 0.051). The additional surgical procedures (repeat conization or hysterectomy) were significantly more performed in GI-positive patients than in GI-negative patients (40.9% vs. 23.1%, p = 0.004). When comparing the LEEP specimens of GI-1 (GI-positive confirmed via cervical biopsy before conization) and GI-2 (GI-positive confirmed via conization), we found that the mean depth was significantly greater in the GI-1 group (10.9 mm) than in the GI-2 group (7.6 mm) (p = 0.024). Surgical margin involvement was more frequently observed in the GI-2 group than in the GI-1 group (p = 0.030). There was no significant difference in the recurrence rates of CIN between the GI-negative and GI-positive groups (p = 0.641). In conclusion, despite no significant differences in residual disease and CIN recurrence between the GI-negative and GI-positive groups, additional surgical treatments were more frequently performed in GI-positive patients. Repeat surgery based on GI positivity should be carefully considered to avoid overtreatment and surgical complications.
General Anesthesia-Related Drop in Diastolic Blood Pressure May Impact the Long-Term Outcome in Stroke Patients Undergoing Thrombectomy
Authors: Abada Alan , Csecsei Peter , Ezer Erzsebet , Lenzser Gabor , Hegyi Peter , Szolics Alex , Merei Akos , Szentesi Andrea , Molnar Tihamer
Published: May 2022

Background: Several factors affect the efficacy of endovascular thrombectomy (EVT); however, the anesthesia-related factors have not been fully explored. We aimed to identify independent predictors of outcome by analyzing procedural factors based on a multicentric stroke registry. Methods: Data of consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) were extracted from the prospective STAY ALIVE stroke registry. Demographic, clinical, and periprocedural factors including hemodynamic values were analyzed in patients undergoing thrombectomy with either general anesthesia (GA) or conscious sedation (CS). Independent predictors of outcome both at 30 and 90 days based on the modified Rankin Scale (mRS: 0–2 as favorable outcome) were also explored. Results: A total of 199 patients (GA: 76 (38%) vs. CS: 117 (59%); in addition, six patients were converted from CS to GA) were included. The minimum value of systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial pressure was significantly lower in the GA compared to the CS group, and GA was associated with a longer onset to EVT time and a higher drop in all hemodynamic variables (all, p < 0.001). A higher drop in diastolic blood pressure (DBP) was even independently associated with a poor 90-day outcome (p = 0.024). Conclusion: A GA-related drop in DBP may independently predict a poor long-term outcome in stroke patients undergoing thrombectomy.
Efficacy of Liraglutide in Non-Diabetic Obese Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Barboza Joshuan J. , Huamán Mariella R. , Melgar Beatriz , Diaz-Arocutipa Carlos , Valenzuela-Rodriguez German , Hernandez Adrian V.
Published: May 2022

Objective: We systematically assessed the efficacy of liraglutide in non-diabetic obese adults. Methods: Six databases were searched up to July 2021 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing liraglutide versus placebo in obese adults. Primary outcomes were body weight and body mass index (BMI). Secondary outcomes were treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs), hypoglycemic episodes, HbA1c, and blood pressure. Effect measures were risk ratio (RR) or mean difference (MD) with their confidence interval (95%CI). Random-effects models and inverse variance meta-analyses were used. Quality of evidence was assessed using GRADE. Results: Twelve RCTs (n = 8249) were included. In comparison to placebo, liraglutide reduced body weight (MD −3.35 kg; 95%CI −4.65 to −2.05; p < 0.0001), and BMI (MD −1.45 kg/m2; 95%CI −1.98 to −0.91; p < 0.0001). Liraglutide did not reduce TEAEs (RR 1.08; 95%CI 0.92 to 1.27; p = 0.25), and Hb1Ac (MD −0.76%; 95%CI −2.24 to 0.72; p = 0.31). Furthermore, it did not increase hypoglycemic episodes (RR 2.01; 95%CI 0.37 to 11.02; p = 0.28). Finally, liraglutide reduced systolic blood pressure (MD −3.07 mmHg; 95%CI −3.66 to −2.48; p < 0.0001) and diastolic blood pressure (MD −1.01 mmHg; 95%CI −1.55 to −0.47; p = 0.0003). Seven RCTs had a high risk of bias. Subgroup analyses by length of treatment and doses had effects similar to the overall analyses. Quality of evidence was low or very low for most outcomes. Conclusions: In non-diabetic obese adults, liraglutide reduced body weight, BMI and blood pressure in comparison to placebo. Adverse events, Hb1Ac levels and hypoglycemic episodes were not different than placebo.
Health Perception among Female COVID-19 Patients. Comment on Fernández-de-las-Peñas et al. Female Sex Is a Risk Factor Associated with Long-Term Post-COVID Related-Symptoms but Not with COVID-19 Symptoms: The LONG-COVID-EXP-CM Multicenter Study. J. Clin. Med. 2022, 11, 413
Authors: Ayuso García Blanca , Romay Lema Eva , Rabuñal Rey Ramón
Published: May 2022

We read with interest the original paper by Fernández-de-las-Peñas et al. [...]
The Role of Lung Ultrasound Monitoring in Early Detection of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia in COVID-19 Patients: A Retrospective Observational Study
Authors: Mongodi Silvia , De Vita Nello , Salve Giulia , Bonaiti Silvia , Daverio Francesco , Cavagnino Margherita , Siano Gilda , Amatu Alessandro , Maggio Giuseppe , Musella Valeria , Klersy Catherine , Vaschetto Rosanna , Bouhemad Belaid , Mojoli Francesco
Published: May 2022

Specific lung ultrasound signs combined with clinical parameters allow for early diagnosis of ventilator-associated pneumonia in the general ICU population. This retrospective cohort study aimed to determine the accuracy of lung ultrasound monitoring for ventilator-associated pneumonia diagnosis in COVID-19 patients. Clinical (i.e., clinical pulmonary infection score) and ultrasound (i.e., presence of consolidation and a dynamic linear–arborescent air bronchogram, lung ultrasound score, ventilator-associated lung ultrasound score) data were collected on the day of the microbiological sample (pneumonia-day) and 48 h before (baseline) on 55 bronchoalveolar lavages of 33 mechanically-ventilated COVID-19 patients who were monitored daily with lung ultrasounds. A total of 26 samples in 23 patients were positive for ventilator-associated pneumonia (pneumonia cases). The onset of a dynamic linear–arborescent air bronchogram was 100% specific for ventilator-associated pneumonia. The ventilator-associated lung ultrasound score was higher in pneumonia-cases (2.5 (IQR 1.0 to 4.0) vs. 1.0 (IQR 1.0 to 1.0); p < 0.001); the lung ultrasound score increased from baseline in pneumonia-cases only (3.5 (IQR 2.0 to 6.0) vs. −1.0 (IQR −2.0 to 1.0); p = 0.0001). The area under the curve for clinical parameters, ventilator-associated pneumonia lung ultrasound score, and lung ultrasound score variations were 0.472, 0.716, and 0.800, respectively. A newly appeared dynamic linear–arborescent air bronchogram is highly specific for ventilator-associated pneumonia in COVID-19 patients. A high ventilator-associated pneumonia lung ultrasound score (or an increase in the lung ultrasound score) orients to ventilator-associated pneumonia.
Review of 107 Oncoplastic Surgeries Using an Acellular Dermal Matrix with the Round Block Technique
Authors: Kim Hong-Il , Kim Byeong-Seok , Kim Yoon-Soo , Yi Hyung-Suk , Park Jin-Hyung , Choi Jin-Hyuk , Jung Sung-Ui , Kim Hyo-Young
Published: May 2022

The round block technique (RBT) is an oncoplastic surgery method that uses volume displacement techniques after partial mastectomy. However, cosmetic problems occur after tissue rearrangement in patients with small breasts or those in whom a large amount of breast tissue is excised. Therefore, we used an acellular dermal matrix (ADM) when the volume was insufficient after tissue rearrangement. Patients who underwent breast reconstruction using the ADM with the RBT after breast-conserving surgery (BCS) were included. The ADM graft was performed in two layers. First, it was placed on the glandular flap, and the patient was then seated to ascertain the degree of deformity. If the volume was insufficient, a graft was also performed under the skin flap. Overall, 107 oncoplastic surgeries were performed. Tumors were most commonly located in the upper outer quadrant of the breast, and the mean resected breast tissue was 27.1 g. Seroma was the most common complication, but it improved with several aspirations. There were no major complications or cosmetic problems requiring reoperation. Therefore, if the ADM was used for defects that could not be reconstructed with the RBT alone, safe and cosmetically good results could be obtained.
The Effects of COVID-19-Related Restrictions on Parkinson’s Disease Patients in Italy: Results of a Structured Survey
Authors: Martini Stefano , Magistrelli Luca , Vignaroli Francesca , Colombatto Federico , Comi Cristoforo , Cosentino Marco
Published: May 2022

COVID-19 was first identified in China in late 2019 and spread globally, originating a pandemic. To limit the spreading of the virus, many countries, including Italy, introduced social distancing measures and limited human movement. The Italian government declared a lockdown of the whole country lasting about two months, and the introduced restrictive rules heavily impacted patients with chronic neurological diseases because of the reduced access to healthcare and community support services. In Parkinson’s disease, studies confirmed lockdown restrictions increase levels of psychological distress, impose limitations on physical activities, and cause a lack of clinical assistance. This study aims at investigating the impact of the pandemic during and beyond the lockdown period in such patients using an online survey. A total of 387 total patients accessed the survey and were asked about their personal experiences during and after lockdown. The results show a significant impact on people’s lives even months after lockdown restrictions were lifted, with a substantial and durable worsening in different aspects of daily life, heavily influenced by impaired access to health services—particularly physical therapies, including personal physical activity—and readily available clinical counselling, with an overall observation of worsening symptoms control. These aspects should be carefully considered in the assessment of global health care strategies to overcome the current pandemic and its broader effects.
Pharmacokinetic Pharmacodynamic Modelling Contributions to Improve Paediatric Anaesthesia Practice
Authors: Morse James D. , Cortinez Luis Ignacio , Anderson Brian J.
Published: May 2022

The use of pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic models has improved anaesthesia practice in children through a better understanding of dose-concentration-response relationships, developmental pharmacokinetic changes, quantification of drug interactions and insights into how covariates (e.g., age, size, organ dysfunction, pharmacogenomics) impact drug prescription. Simulation using information from these models has enabled the prediction and learning of beneficial and adverse effects and decision-making around clinical scenarios. Covariate information, including the use of allometric size scaling, age and consideration of fat mass, has reduced population parameter variability. The target concentration approach has rationalised dose calculation. Paediatric pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic insights have led to better drug delivery systems for total intravenous anaesthesia and an expectation about drug offset when delivery is stopped. Understanding concentration-dependent adverse effects have tempered dose regimens. Quantification of drug interactions has improved the understanding of the effects of drug combinations. Repurposed drugs (e.g., antiviral drugs used for COVID-19) within the community can have important effects on drugs used in paediatric anaesthesia, and the use of simulation educates about these drug vagaries.
More Is Not Always Better: Interventions for Caregivers of Older and Dependent Relatives
Authors: López Javier
Published: May 2022

The population all around the world is becoming older [...]
Primary Liver Transplantation vs. Transplant after Kasai Portoenterostomy for Infants with Biliary Atresia
Authors: Lemoine Caroline P. , LeShock John P. , Brandt Katherine A. , Superina Riccardo
Published: May 2022

Introduction: Primary liver transplants (pLT) in patients with biliary atresia (BA) are infrequent, since most babies with BA undergo a prior Kasai portoenterostomy (KPE). This study compared transplant outcomes in children with BA with or without a prior KPE. We hypothesized that pLT have less morbidity and better outcomes compared to those done after a failed KPE. Methods: A retrospective review of patients with BA transplanted at our institution was performed. Patients were included if they received a pLT or if they were transplanted less than 2 years from KPE. Outcomes were compared between those groups. Comparisons were also made based on era (early: 1997–2008 vs. modern: 2009–2020). p < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: Patients who received a pLT were older at diagnosis (141.5 ± 46.0 vs. KPE 67.1 ± 25.5 days, p < 0.001). The time between diagnosis and listing for transplant was shorter in the pLT group (44.5 ± 44.7 vs. KPE 140.8 ± 102.8 days, p < 0.001). In the modern era, the calculated PELD score for the pLT was significantly higher (23 ± 8 vs. KPE 16 ± 8, p = 0.022). Two waitlist deaths occurred in the KPE group (none in pLT, p = 0.14). Both the duration of transplant surgery and transfusion requirements were similar in both groups. There was a significant improvement in graft survival in transplants after KPE between eras (early era 84.3% vs. modern era 97.8%, p = 0.025). The 1-year patient and graft survival after pLT was 100%. Conclusions: Patient and graft survival after pLT are comparable to transplants after a failed KPE but pLT avoids a prior intervention. There was no significant difference in pre- or peri-transplant morbidity between groups other than wait list mortality. A multicenter collaboration with more patients may help demonstrate the potential benefits of pLT in patients predicted to have early failure of KPE.
Explainable Vision Transformers and Radiomics for COVID-19 Detection in Chest X-rays
Authors: Chetoui Mohamed , Akhloufi Moulay A.
Published: May 2022

The rapid spread of COVID-19 across the globe since its emergence has pushed many countries’ healthcare systems to the verge of collapse. To restrict the spread of the disease and lessen the ongoing cost on the healthcare system, it is critical to appropriately identify COVID-19-positive individuals and isolate them as soon as possible. The primary COVID-19 screening test, RT-PCR, although accurate and reliable, has a long turn-around time. More recently, various researchers have demonstrated the use of deep learning approaches on chest X-ray (CXR) for COVID-19 detection. However, existing Deep Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) methods fail to capture the global context due to their inherent image-specific inductive bias. In this article, we investigated the use of vision transformers (ViT) for detecting COVID-19 in Chest X-ray (CXR) images. Several ViT models were fine-tuned for the multiclass classification problem (COVID-19, Pneumonia and Normal cases). A dataset consisting of 7598 COVID-19 CXR images, 8552 CXR for healthy patients and 5674 for Pneumonia CXR were used. The obtained results achieved high performance with an Area Under Curve (AUC) of 0.99 for multi-class classification (COVID-19 vs. Other Pneumonia vs. normal). The sensitivity of the COVID-19 class achieved 0.99. We demonstrated that the obtained results outperformed comparable state-of-the-art models for detecting COVID-19 on CXR images using CNN architectures. The attention map for the proposed model showed that our model is able to efficiently identify the signs of COVID-19.
A Case-Control Study on the Changes in Natural Killer Cell Activity following Administration of Polyvalent Mechanical Bacterial Lysate in Korean Adults with Recurrent Respiratory Tract Infection
Authors: Lee Yun Kyong , Haam Ji-Hee , Suh Eunkyung , Cho Sung Hoon , Kim Young-Sang
Published: May 2022

Polyvalent mechanical bacterial lysate (PMBL) is used for the treatment and prevention of recurrent respiratory tract infections. Although PMBL is an immunostimulant, it remains unknown whether treatment with PMBL influences natural killer cell activity (NKA). Hence, this case-control study compared the changes in IFN-γ levels (surrogate index for NKA) following PMBL treatment or time passing between the PMBL-treated group and controls. The treatment group included adults who had a PMBL prescription for three months against recurrent respiratory tract infection from an outpatient clinic, while the control group had healthy adults visiting the health promotion center for periodic health check-ups. The control group (N = 506) showed no change in IFN-γ levels, while the treatment group (N = 301) showed a significant increase in mean from 462.8 to 749.3 pg/mL after PMBL treatment. In the subgroup with IFN-γ <500 pg/mL, IFN-γ levels significantly increased in both groups. However, the change in the treatment group (287 ± 822 pg/mL) was greater than that in the control group (58 ± 809 pg/mL), and the interaction between the visit and case/control was significant (p = 0.030) in a generalized estimating equation model. In conclusion, NKA increased in the subjects with recurrent respiratory tract infections with PMBL treatment.
Assessment of Quality of Life after Endovascular and Open Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair: A Retrospective Single-Center Study
Authors: Gruel Johanna , Grambow Eberhard , Weinrich Malte , Heller Thomas , Groß Justus , Leuchter Matthias , Philipp Mark
Published: May 2022

Postoperative quality of life is an important outcome parameter after treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms. The aim of this retrospective single-center study was to assess and compare the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of patients after open repair (OR) or endovascular treatment (EVAR), and furthermore to investigate the effect of incisional hernia (IH) formation on HRQoL. Patients who underwent OR or EVAR for treatment of an abdominal aortic aneurysm between 2008 and 2016 at a University Medical Center were included. HRQoL was assessed using the SF-36 questionnaire. The incidence of IH was recorded from patient files and by telephone contact. SF-36 scores of 83 patients (OR: n = 36; EVAR: n = 47) were obtained. The mean follow-up period was 7.1 years. When comparing HRQoL between OR and EVAR, patients in both groups scored higher in one of the eight categories of the SF36 questionnaires. The incidence of IH after OR was 30.6%. In patients with postoperative IH, HRQoL was significantly reduced in the dimensions “physical functioning”, “role physical” and “role emotional” of the SF-36. Based on this data, it can be concluded that neither OR nor EVAR supply a significant advantage regarding HRQoL. In contrast, the occurrence of IH has a relevant impact on the HRQoL of patients after OR.
The LiMAx Test as Selection Criteria in Minimally Invasive Liver Surgery
Authors: Rahimli Mirhasan , Perrakis Aristotelis , Gumbs Andrew , Andric Mihailo , Al-Madhi Sara , Arend Joerg , Croner Roland
Published: May 2022

Background: Liver failure is a crucial predictor for relevant morbidity and mortality after hepatic surgery. Hence, a good patient selection is mandatory. We use the LiMAx test for patient selection for major or minor liver resections in robotic and laparoscopic liver surgery and share our experience here. Patients and methods: We identified patients in the Magdeburg registry of minimally invasive liver surgery (MD-MILS) who underwent robotic or laparoscopic minor or major liver surgery and received a LiMAx test for preoperative evaluation of the liver function. This cohort was divided in two groups: patients with normal (LiMAx normal) and decreased (LiMAx decreased) liver function measured by the LiMAx test. Results: Forty patients were selected from the MD-MILS regarding the selection criteria (LiMAx normal, n = 22 and LiMAx decreased, n = 18). Significantly more major liver resections were performed in the LiMAx normal vs. the LiMAx decreased group (13 vs. 2; p = 0.003). Hence, the mean operation time was significantly longer in the LiMAx normal vs. the LiMAx decreased group (356.6 vs. 228.1 min; p = 0.003) and the intraoperative blood transfusion significantly higher in the LiMAx normal vs. the LiMAx decreased group (8 vs. 1; p = 0.027). There was no significant difference between the LiMAx groups regarding the length of hospital stay, intraoperative blood loss, liver surgery related morbidity or mortality, and resection margin status. Conclusion: The LiMAx test is a helpful and reliable tool to precisely determine the liver function capacity. It aids in accurate patient selection for major or minor liver resections in minimally invasive liver surgery, which consequently serves to improve patients’ safety. In this way, liver resections can be performed safely, even in patients with reduced liver function, without negatively affecting morbidity, mortality and the resection margin status, which is an important predictive oncological factor.
Inverted Papilloma of the Maxillary Sinus: A Recurrence Analysis According to Surgical Approaches
Authors: Kim Jin Youp , Kim Su Hwan , Jang Pilkeun , Seo Yuju , Cho Sung-Woo , Kim Jeong-Whun , Han Doo Hee , Kim Hyun Jik , Kim Dong-Young , Rhee Chae-Seo , Won Tae-Bin
Published: May 2022

(1) Background: Various surgical approaches have been introduced to resect inverted papillomas (IP) stemming from the maxillary sinus (MS). This study aimed to compare the recurrence rates of IPs originating from the MS according to various surgical modalities. (2) Methods: A total of 155 surgical cases of sinonasal IPs originating from the MS were categorized into three groups according to the surgical approach adopted: endoscopic resection via middle or inferior meatus antrostomy (ESS), ESS with Caldwell–Luc approach or canine fossa trephination (ESS with CL), and expanded endoscopic approaches (ExEA) including endoscopic medial maxillectomy or a prelacrimal recess approach. A Kaplan–Meier curve was generated to examine the recurrence rates. (3) Results: The overall recurrence rate was 5.8% (9/155) with a mean follow-up period of 24.2 months. The recurrence rates for the ESS, ESS with CL, and ExEA groups were 10.0% (7/70), 3.5% (2/57), and 0% (0/28), respectively. The ExEA group had a significantly lower recurrence rate than the ESS group (p = 0.024) and there was a tendency for lower recurrence compared to the ESS within the CL group (p = 0.145). The ExEA required a shorter postoperative hospitalization period than in ESS with CL (p < 0.001). (4) Conclusions: ExEAs to the maxillary sinus such as the PLR and EMM approaches are excellent surgical options for IPs originating from the MS.
Clinical Implications of Determining Individualized Positive End-Expiratory Pressure Using Electrical Impedance Tomography in Post-Cardiac Surgery Patients: A Prospective, Non-Randomized Interventional Study
Authors: Bito Kiyoko , Shono Atsuko , Kimura Shinya , Maruta Kazuto , Omoto Tadashi , Aoki Atsushi , Oe Katsunori , Kotani Toru
Published: May 2022

Optimal positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) can induce sustained lung function improvement. This prospective, non-randomized interventional study aimed to investigate the effect of individualized PEEP determined using electrical impedance tomography (EIT) in post-cardiac surgery patients (n = 35). Decremental PEEP trials were performed from 20 to 4 cmH2O in steps of 2 cmH2O, guided by EIT. PEEP levels preventing ventilation loss in dependent lung regions (PEEPONLINE) were set. Ventilation distributions and oxygenation before the PEEP trial, and 5 min and 1 h after the PEEPONLINE setting were examined. Furthermore, we analyzed the saved impedance data offline to determine the PEEP levels that provided the best compromise between overdistended and collapsed lung (PEEPODCL). Ventilation distributions of dependent regions increased at 5 min after the PEEPONLINE setting compared with those before the PEEP trial (mean ± standard deviation, 41.3 ± 8.5% vs. 49.1 ± 9.3%; p < 0.001), and were maintained at 1 h thereafter (48.7 ± 9.4%, p < 0.001). Oxygenation also showed sustained improvement. Rescue oxygen therapy (high-flow nasal cannula, noninvasive ventilation) after extubation was less frequent in patients with PEEPONLINE ≥ PEEPODCL than in those with PEEPONLINE < PEEPODCL (1/19 vs. 6/16; p = 0.018). EIT-guided individualized PEEP stabilized the improvement in ventilation distribution and oxygenation. Individual PEEP varies with EIT measures, and may differentially affect oxygenation after cardiac surgery.
Vector-Borne Viral Diseases as a Current Threat for Human and Animal Health—One Health Perspective
Authors: Socha Wojciech , Kwasnik Malgorzata , Larska Magdalena , Rola Jerzy , Rozek Wojciech
Published: May 2022

Over the last decades, an increase in the emergence or re-emergence of arthropod-borne viruses has been observed in many regions. Viruses such as dengue, yellow fever, or zika are a threat for millions of people on different continents. On the other hand, some arboviruses are still described as endemic, however, they could become more important in the near future. Additionally, there is a group of arboviruses that, although important for animal breeding, are not a direct threat for human health. Those include, e.g., Schmallenberg, bluetongue, or African swine fever viruses. This review focuses on arboviruses and their major vectors: mosquitoes, ticks, biting midges, and sandflies. We discuss the current knowledge on arbovirus transmission, ecology, and methods of prevention. As arboviruses are a challenge to both human and animal health, successful prevention and control are therefore only possible through a One Health perspective.
Nonketotic Hyperglycinemia: Insight into Current Therapies
Authors: Nowak Magdalena , Chuchra Piotr , Paprocka Justyna
Published: May 2022

Nonketotic hyperglycinemia (NKH) is a rare inborn error of glycine metabolism that is characterized by the accumulation of glycine in all tissues, especially in the central nervous system (CNS). Based on clinical outcomes, NKH can be divided into two forms, i.e., severe and attenuated NKH. A poor prognosis, including no developmental progress and intractable epilepsy, is typical of severe NKH, whereas patients with the attenuated form present with varied symptoms and neurodevelopmental outcomes. So far, no causal treatment of NKH is known. Currently, the therapy is based on sodium benzoate and NMDA (The N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor) receptor site antagonists (dextromethorphan, ketamine). Different clinical outcomes of the therapy raise doubts about the effectiveness of the treatment. The purpose of this review is to summarize the therapeutic potential, challenges and effectiveness of different NKH therapies.
Structural Integrity and Functional Neural Activity Associated with Oral Language Function after Stroke
Authors: Kyeong Sunghyon , Kang Hyunkoo , Kim Dae Hyun
Published: May 2022

(1) Background: The impairment of language function after a stroke is common. It is unclear how the brain reorganizes for language function after cerebral infarction. The aim of this observational study is to investigate the association of structural integrity and functional neural activity with language function in aphasic patients with middle cerebral artery infarction. (2) Methods: Magnetic resonance images and scores from the Western Aphasia Battery on 20 patients were retrieved from medical records. A Voxel-wise linear regression analysis was performed using fractional anisotropy maps or the fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation maps as dependent variables and scores of oral language function as independent variables while controlling for age and time elapsed after stroke. (3) Results: Spontaneous speech was positively associated with fractional anisotropy in the left dorsal stream and the right posterior corpus callosum and with the fractional amplitude of the low-frequency fluctuation of cranial nuclei in the pontomedullary junction. Comprehension was positively associated with the left ventral stream. Naming was positively associated with the left ventral stream and the bilateral occipitofrontal fasciculus, as well as with the fractional amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation of the supramarginal gyrus in the left hemisphere. (4) Conclusions: The dorsal and ventral streams are important for articulation and meaning after the reorganization of neural circuits following stroke. Subdomains of oral language function with a visual component are dependent on the visual association areas located in the right hemisphere.
A Structured and Methodological Review on Vision-Based Hand Gesture Recognition System
Authors: Al Farid Fahmid , Hashim Noramiza , Abdullah Junaidi , Bhuiyan Md Roman , Shahida Mohd Isa Wan Noor , Uddin Jia , Haque Mohammad Ahsanul , Husen Mohd Nizam
Published: May 2022

Researchers have recently focused their attention on vision-based hand gesture recognition. However, due to several constraints, achieving an effective vision-driven hand gesture recognition system in real time has remained a challenge. This paper aims to uncover the limitations faced in image acquisition through the use of cameras, image segmentation and tracking, feature extraction, and gesture classification stages of vision-driven hand gesture recognition in various camera orientations. This paper looked at research on vision-based hand gesture recognition systems from 2012 to 2022. Its goal is to find areas that are getting better and those that need more work. We used specific keywords to find 108 articles in well-known online databases. In this article, we put together a collection of the most notable research works related to gesture recognition. We suggest different categories for gesture recognition-related research with subcategories to create a valuable resource in this domain. We summarize and analyze the methodologies in tabular form. After comparing similar types of methodologies in the gesture recognition field, we have drawn conclusions based on our findings. Our research also looked at how well the vision-based system recognized hand gestures in terms of recognition accuracy. There is a wide variation in identification accuracy, from 68% to 97%, with the average being 86.6 percent. The limitations considered comprise multiple text and interpretations of gestures and complex non-rigid hand characteristics. In comparison to current research, this paper is unique in that it discusses all types of gesture recognition techniques.
Uncertainty in Marine Species Distribution Modelling: Trying to Locate Invasion Hotspots for Pterois miles in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea
Authors: Poursanidis Dimitris , Kougioumoutzis Kostas , Minasidis Vasileios , Chartosia Niki , Kletou Demetris , Kalogirou Stefanos
Published: May 2022

Biological invasions are considered among the largest threats to native biodiversity. The Mediterranean Sea, connecting the Indo-Pacific and Atlantic oceans, is characterized as a global marine invasion hotspot, due to a multitude of human pathways and vectors such as shipping, aquaculture, tourism, and the opening of the Suez Canal, which have led to the introduction of nearly 700 alien species into the Mediterranean Sea. Among the species introduced, the lionfish Pterois miles could be considered the fastest spreading invasive fish species of the last decade (2012–2022) and has been recorded in all countries of the eastern Mediterranean Sea, reaching as far north as Croatia. Here, we present a Bayesian additive regression tree modelling framework for an updated species distribution modelling invasion map under current and future climate conditions. All climate uncertainty sources have been used, as these are available from the Bio-Oracle, the unique marine predictors database. Important outputs of the current approach are the model’s inadequacy to accurately predict the most recent expansion of species in the Adriatic Sea, and the uncertainty estimation, that are high in areas with confirmed occurrence of individuals, in simulations that can help the decision makers and policy officers understand model limitations and take more informed actions.
Alterations in Epiphytic Bacterial Communities during the Occurrence of Green Rot Disease in Saccharina japonica Seedlings
Authors: Yan Yongwei , Wang Shanshan , Li Jie , Liu Fuli , Mo Zhaolan
Published: May 2022

Bacteria are one of the causes of green rot disease (GRD) in Saccharina japonica mariculture, which may lead to complete failure of seedling production. However, the association between bacterial community and host disease severity remains largely unknown. Therefore, in this study, the bacterial communities associated with GRD-infected seedlings with naturally varying disease severity from two seedling hatcheries in Northern China were analyzed to investigate the interactions between bacterial communities and GRD. The results indicated incorrect nutrient supply in both sites. Gammaproteobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria, and Bacteroidetes were prevalent in all samples. Significant structural alterations were detected for epibacterial communities, which were further evidenced by differently abundant bacterial taxa associated with seedlings with varying disease severity. The predicted pathways of bacterial adhesion and antimicrobial compounds biosynthesis were significantly enriched in less severely diseased seedlings, whereas glutathione metabolism and lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis were significantly increased in more severely diseased seedlings. The predicted categories of a two-component system, flagellar assembly, bacterial chemotaxis, and biofilm formation were significantly enriched in the bacterioplankton in more severely infected seawater. The differential bacterial community compositions and predicted functions provide new clues to elucidate the mechanism underlying the interaction between GRD occurrence and bacterial communities.
Potential Application of Biosurfactant-Producing Bacteria for Bioremediation of Oil Polluted Marine Intertidal Sediments
Authors: Guo Ping , Xu Wei-Wei , Wei Dan-Na , Zhang Man-Xia , Zhang Jin , Tang Shi , Cao Bin-Xia , Lin Jian-Guo , Li Wei
Published: May 2022

The removal of oil contaminants in marine intertidal sediments under cold climate is an urgent issue. Although the bioavailability of petroleum hydrocarbons decreases at low temperatures, biosurfactants can promote oil biodegradation. In this study, characteristics of biosurfactants produced by cold-adapted oil-degrading bacteria Planococcus sp. XW-1 were studied. Adding the XW-1 biosurfactant could effectively facilitate the solubility of phenanthrene, pyrene, diesel oil, and crude oil. The solubilization was limited by the number of rings and the molecular weight (WSRphenanthrene = 0.0234; WSRpyrene = 0.0165; WSRdiesel oil = 0.0027; WSRcrude oil = 0.0015). Additional biosurfactants significantly washed out crude oil adsorbed to the sand (reduction from 17.1%, 22.7% to 87.9% and 94.28% in 24 h). With the increase in particle size, the removal efficiency increased from 87.9% to 94.28%. After the addition of biosurfactant, the effect of degradation increased by 20% in 20 days. The results suggest that the biosurfactant-producing bacteria Planococcus sp. XW-1 is a promising candidate used in the in situ bioremediation of petroleum-contaminated intertidal sediment.
Research on Navigation Safety Evaluation of Coastal Waters Based on Dynamic Irregular Grid
Authors: Bi Jinqiang , Gao Miao , Zhang Wenjia , Zhang Xuefeng , Bao Kexin , Xin Quanbo
Published: May 2022

Despite being a minor probability event, marine accidents can cause serious consequences such as casualties, environmental damage, and even massive economic losses. As an important part of the marine traffic safety system, the evaluation of navigation safety in coastal waters is of great significance to ensure the safety of ship navigation. In order to objectively evaluate the safety of navigation, this paper proposes an irregular grid division method that combines influencing factors including seabed topography, ship traffic flow, electronic charts, and marine meteorology. In this work, the navigable boundary was extracted by spatial analysis algorithms of the slope calculation. Based on the alpha-shape algorithm and the Voronoi diagram, the constrained Delaunay triangulation was used to extract the inner and outer boundaries of the ship′s navigation area, and the time-varying factors of marine hydrology and meteorology were integrated to form a dynamic irregular grid. The navigation safety evaluation indicators in coastal waters were divided into five risk levels, namely lower, low, medium, high, and higher. Then, the entropy weight theory was used to calculate the weight of the evaluation index. Finally, a safety evaluation model was constructed to evaluate the risk of navigation safety in coastal waters. Herein, taking the coastal waters of Lianyungang Port as a demonstration area, this paper divided the dynamic irregular grid and conducted the navigation safety analysis and evaluation based on the grid. The experimental results show that our method fully considers the influence of objective factors and the uncertainty of safety evaluation indicators and has favorable adaptability to the evaluation of navigation safety in coastal waters.
Investigation of Barrier Island Highway and Marsh Vulnerability to Bay-Side Flooding and Erosion
Authors: Tomiczek Tori , Sciaudone Elizabeth J. , Velásquez-Montoya Liliana , Smyre Elizabeth , Wargula Anna , Fawcett Kelly , Torres Joshua
Published: May 2022

Coastal highways along narrow barrier islands are vulnerable to flooding due to ocean and bay-side events, which create hazardous travel conditions and may restrict access to surrounding communities. This study investigates the vulnerability of a segment of highway passing through the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge in the Outer Banks, North Carolina, USA. Publicly available data, computational modeling, and field observations of shoreline change are synthesized to develop fragility models for roadway flooding and marsh conditions. At 99% significance, peak daily water levels and significant wave heights at nearby monitoring stations are determined as significant predictors of roadway closure due to flooding. Computational investigations of bay-side storms identify peak water levels and the buffer distance between the estuarine shoreline and the roadway as significant predictors of roadway transect flooding. To assess the vulnerability of the marsh in the buffer area, a classification scheme is proposed and used to evaluate marsh conditions due to long-term and episodic (storm) stressors. Marsh vulnerability is found to be predicted by the long-term erosion rate and distance from the shoreline to the 5 m depth contour of the nearby flood tidal channel. The results indicate the importance of erosion mitigation and marsh conservation to enhance the resilience of coastal transportation infrastructure.
Classification of Underwater Fish Images and Videos via Very Small Convolutional Neural Networks
Authors: Paraschiv Marius , Padrino Ricardo , Casari Paolo , Bigal Eyal , Scheinin Aviad , Tchernov Dan , Fernández Anta Antonio
Published: May 2022

The automatic classification of fish species appearing in images and videos from underwater cameras is a challenging task, albeit one with a large potential impact in environment conservation, marine fauna health assessment, and fishing policy. Deep neural network models, such as convolutional neural networks, are a popular solution to image recognition problems. However, such models typically require very large datasets to train millions of model parameters. Because underwater fish image and video datasets are scarce, non-uniform, and often extremely unbalanced, deep neural networks may be inadequately trained, and undergo a much larger risk of overfitting. In this paper, we propose small convolutional neural networks as a practical engineering solution that helps tackle fish image classification. The concept of “small” refers to the number of parameters of the resulting models: smaller models are lighter to run on low-power devices, and drain fewer resources per execution. This is especially relevant for fish recognition systems that run unattended on offshore platforms, often on embedded hardware. Here, established deep neural network models would require too many computational resources. We show that even networks with little more than 12,000 parameters provide an acceptable working degree of accuracy in the classification task (almost 42% for six fish species), even when trained on small and unbalanced datasets. If the fish images come from videos, we augment the data via a low-complexity object tracking algorithm, increasing the accuracy to almost 49% for six fish species. We tested the networks with images obtained from the deployments of an experimental system in the Mediterranean sea, showing a good level of accuracy given the low quality of the dataset.
A Time-Domain Analytic Solution of Flow-Induced Undular Bores
Authors: Chen Cheng-Tsung , Lee Jaw-Fang , Chanson Hubert , Lin Kuei-Ting , Lin Chun-Jih
Published: May 2022

In this study, the problem of surface waves induced by water flow in a flow channel was investigated. The mathematical model based on the potential wave theory was established, and a new analytic solution to the corresponding initial and boundary value problem was proposed. To confirm our analytic solution, the mathematical model was applied to simulate experiments conducted in a flow channel in the laboratory. Using our analytic solution, water surface elevations and flow velocities at certain locations in the channel were compared with experimental results. Comparisons between our analytic solution and experimental results confirmed our theory that amplitudes and propagating phases are in very close agreement. Our analytic solution can be used to calculate variations in pressure and velocity along the water depth, which are expensive to calibrate and obtain in experiments. Although our analytic solution was established based on linear theory, it is very practical for applications studying the basic properties of surface elevation, velocity, and pressure of the flow field induced by water current both in space and time.
Regulatory Roles of Histone Modifications in Filamentous Fungal Pathogens
Authors: Lai Yiling , Wang Lili , Zheng Weilu , Wang Sibao
Published: May 2022

Filamentous fungal pathogens have evolved diverse strategies to infect a variety of hosts including plants and insects. The dynamic infection process requires rapid and fine-tuning regulation of fungal gene expression programs in response to the changing host environment and defenses. Therefore, transcriptional reprogramming of fungal pathogens is critical for fungal development and pathogenicity. Histone post-translational modification, one of the main mechanisms of epigenetic regulation, has been shown to play an important role in the regulation of gene expressions, and is involved in, e.g., fungal development, infection-related morphogenesis, environmental stress responses, biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, and pathogenicity. This review highlights recent findings and insights into regulatory mechanisms of histone methylation and acetylation in fungal development and pathogenicity, as well as their roles in modulating pathogenic fungi–host interactions.
The Checklist of Sicilian Macrofungi: Second Edition
Authors: Ferraro Valeria , Venturella Giuseppe , Cirlincione Fortunato , Mirabile Giulia , Gargano Maria Letizia , Colasuonno Pasqualina
Published: May 2022

Approximately 30 years after the publication of the first Sicilian checklist of macrofungi, a new updated version is presented here. The census of macromycetes was carried out through periodic observations in different agricultural and forest ecosystems, in urban areas, in public and private gardens, and in botanical gardens. The 1919 infraspecific taxa included in 508 genera belonging to 152 families were collected in the Sicilian territory. Ectomycorrhizal fungi are the most represented ecological category, followed by saprotrophs on wood, saprotrophs on litter, and terricolous saprotrophs. The interest in this rich group of organisms is evidenced by the nutritional and therapeutic value of a high percentage of species. The actions linked to the National Recovery and Resilience Plan and The Network for the Study of Mycological Diversity will further increase the number of macrofungi for Sicily in the future.
Monitoring Mycoparasitism of Clonostachys rosea against Botrytis cinerea Using GFP
Authors: Hasan Rakibul , Lv Binna , Uddin Md. Jamal , Chen Yingying , Fan Lele , Sun Zhanbin , Sun Manhong , Li Shidong
Published: May 2022

Clonostachys rosea is an important mycoparasite, with great potential for controlling numerous plant fungal diseases. Understanding the mechanisms and modes of action will assist the development and application of this biocontrol fungus. In this study, the highly efficient C. rosea 67-1 strain was marked with the green fluorescent protein (GFP), and the transformant possessed the same biological characteristics as the wild-type strain. Fungal interactions with Botrytis cinerea during co-culture and encounter on tomato leaves were assessed by fluorescence confocal and electron microscopy. The results indicated that once the two fungi met, the hyphae of C. rosea grew alongside those of B. cinerea, then attached tightly to the host and developed special structures, via which the biocontrol fungus penetrated the host and absorbed nutrients, eventually disintegrating the cells of the pathogen. Mycoparasitism to B. cinerea was also observed on tomato leaves, suggesting that C. rosea can colonize on plants and act following the invasion of the pathogenic fungus.