bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Recovery From Visual Loss After Endoscopic Endonasal Decompression of Iatrogenic Orbital Abscess
Authors: Jan Bayan , Alfattani Naif , Ali Riham , Ageel Ahed
Published: September 2023

Orbital complications are the second most common complications of endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS), and orbital hematoma is the most frequent orbital complication. An orbital abscess is usually associated with rhinosinusitis, and a few cases of orbital abscesses occurring after orbital trauma have been reported. However, orbital abscess occurring after ESS is rare. Herein, we present a case of a right orbital abscess that developed after bilateral ESS, performed at an outside facility, and decreased vision in the right eye to light perception only. The visual loss persisted for 3 days, after which the patient was referred to our hospital for urgent management. The cause of abscess formation might have been an infected stagnant orbital venous hematoma that occurred as a complication of ESS. A defect in the right lamina papyracea and emphysema were confirmed on computed tomography. Orbital symptoms started immediately after ESS, and vision deteriorated to light perception only and lasted for 3 days, which was considered a high-grade risk factor for irreversible blindness by the ophthalmology team. Urgent endoscopic endonasal orbital decompression was performed to drain the orbital abscess, and maximal medical treatment was initiated, which included intravenous corticosteroids, intravenous broad-spectrum antibiotics, topical intranasal corticosteroids, irrigation, and topical antibiotic eye drops. Close follow-up assessments were performed by the infectious diseases team, and the ophthalmology team performed frequent orbital assessments. The patient recovered from blindness, which was an unexpected outcome.
Hybrid Schwannoma/Neurofibroma of the Neck: A Case Report
Authors: Kao Wei-Ting , Chu Chia-Ying , Shen Kuang-Hsuan
Published: September 2023

Neck hybrid schwannoma/neurofibromas are uncommon and classified as peripheral nerve sheath tumors (PNSTs). PNSTs develop from soft tissues, of which schwannoma, perineurioma, and neurofibroma are the most common. Hybrid PNSTs consist of more than 1 type of PNST, such as hybrid schwannoma/neurofibromas. The exact epidemiology and pathogenesis of these tumors are still largely unknown because of the limited studies on this topic. Such tumors can spread over the soft tissues, although most cases reported involve the subcutaneous layer or dermis. Some studies have suggested that hybrid schwannoma/neurofibromas may be associated with neurofibromatosis. We present a case of a 51-year-old female patient with a neck hybrid schwannoma/neurofibroma diagnosed by histopathology and immunohistochemistry. The patient was referred to the neurology department for neurofibromatosis screening, which reported negative results. After 12 months, the patient showed no evidence of tumor recurrence.
The Evolution of the Returns to Schooling for Refugees and Other Immigrants in the United States
Authors: Shaeye Abdihafit
Published: September 2023

Previous research has shown that refugees have lower earnings than other immigrants with comparable human capital. The differences in the degree of correlation between schooling and unobservable factors across the two groups may contribute to this gap. This paper investigates the returns to schooling for refugee and non-refugee men in the United States. The results show that the returns to schooling are lower for refugees upon arrival. This gap persists over two decades in the country and is robust to specifications that conduct sensitivity analysis, suggesting that differences in unobservable characteristics that are important in immigrants’ labor market success, particularly adaptability traits, drive the initial gap in the returns to schooling and how the gap changes over time.
The effect of hypercapnia on the directional sensitivity of dynamic cerebral autoregulation and the influence of age and sex
Authors: Panerai Ronney B , Davies Aaron , Clough Rebecca H , Beishon Lucy C , Robinson Thompson G , Minhas Jatinder S
Published: September 2023

The cerebral circulation responds differently to increases in mean arterial pressure (MAP), compared to reductions in MAP. We tested the hypothesis that this directional sensitivity is reduced by hypercapnia. Retrospective analysis of 104 healthy subjects (46 male (44%), age range 19–74 years), with five minute recordings of middle cerebral blood velocity (MCAv, transcranial Doppler), non-invasive MAP (Finometer) and end-tidal CO2 (capnography) at rest, during both poikilocapnia and hypercapnia (5% CO2 breathing in air) produced MCAv step responses allowing estimation of the classical Autoregulation Index (ARIORIG), and corresponding values for both positive (ARI+D) and negative (ARI−D) changes in MAP. Hypercapnia led to marked reductions in ARIORIG, ARI+D and ARI−D (p < 0.0001, all cases). Females had a lower value of ARIORIG compared to males (p = 0.030) at poikilocapnia (4.44 ± 1.74 vs 4.74 ± 1.48) and hypercapnia (2.44 ± 1.93 vs 3.33 ± 1.61). The strength of directional sensitivity (ARI+D-ARI−D) was not influenced by hypercapnia (p = 0.46), sex (p = 0.76) or age (p = 0.61). During poikilocapnia, ARI+D decreased with age in females (p = 0.027), but not in males. Directional sensitivity was not affected by hypercapnia, suggesting that its origins are more likely to be inherent to the mechanics of vascular smooth muscle than to myogenic pathways.
Case report of a child with spontaneous pneumomediastinum and subcutaneous emphysema
Authors: Gowa Murtaza Ali , Abidi Syed Muhammad Aqeel , Chandio Bakhtawer , Nawaz Hira
Published: September 2023

Hamman’s syndrome is a rare clinical entity that presents with spontaneous pneumomediastinum and subcutaneous emphysema. It is most commonly diagnosed in young men and pregnant women, and is rare in children. We report the case of a female toddler who presented to an emergency department with fever, cough and shortness of breath. Imaging studies revealed subcutaneous emphysema and pneumomediastinum. The patient was diagnosed with Hamman’s syndrome after ruling out other possibilities. We discuss the underlying mechanisms of the disease, the diagnostic criteria and the treatment options. The purpose of this case report is to improve clinicians’ awareness of the existence of this rare clinical entity in paediatric patients.
Spatial scales of inflation and deflation
Authors: Rolf Steve
Published: September 2023

Isabella Weber’s book is a prodigious contribution to the political economy of Chinese development. One of the text’s most valuable contributions is its identification of the consistently anti-inflationary stance of CCP policy. Its coverage of debates surrounding price stability and liberalisation during the shifts away from the plan in the late 1980s is particularly valuable. Here, I focus on the question of inflation, which since 2021 has dramatically appeared on the agenda for the first time in the professional lives of many political economists and geographers in the global north. The book provides valuable, fine-grained evidence from contemporary Chinese policymakers (above all through a reading of Zhao Ziyang’s writings) to make the case that the inflationary pressures experienced in China as the government experimented with reforming the planned economy during the late 1980s were not principally monetary phenomena – nor were they understood as such by contemporary actors. I build on the text by showing how it demonstrates the relevance of exploring the inflation question at a variety of spatial scales. I conclude by considering how contemporary Chinese policymakers may negotiate this inflationary ‘scale-jumping’.
The impact of primary school closures in Ireland resulting from the coronavirus pandemic on principal and teacher wellbeing
Authors: Nohilly Margaret , O’Toole Veronica , Collins Bernie
Published: September 2023

In December 2019, in Wuhan in China an outbreak of Coronavirus (COVID-19) was reported. In late February 2020, the first cases of the virus were recorded in Ireland. By 11th March, the World Health Organisation had declared the outbreak a pandemic and on 12th March, An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar announced that all schools would close with effect from 6pm that day. The schools remained closed until September. This paper considers the impact of the closure of primary schools on both principals’ and teachers’ wellbeing. A mixed-methods, longitudinal research methodology was undertaken. There were two phases to the research. Phase one was undertaken in June and July 2020 when teachers and principals participated in a semi-structured interview and completed two questionnaires: the Emotional Regulation questionnaire and the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory. Phase 2 of data collection was completed in December/January 2021/2021 when the teachers participated in a further interview and completed the questionnaires again. The overall aim of the study was to provide an opportunity for principals and teachers to reflect on how the pandemic impacted on their wellbeing and by inference, the impact of the increased emotional labour of teaching during COVID.
Reproducing a White Elite: The Chief Officers’ ‘Club’ in the London Metropolitan Police Service
Authors: Clarke Andre , Smith Chris
Published: September 2023

This article focuses on the London Metropolitan Police Service, an organization charged with being institutionally racist. It asks why the percentage of black officers in senior positions remains so low, despite explicit formal attempts to change this situation. Rather than concentrating on the factors holding back the recruitment and promotion of black officers, the article examines how senior white officers managed their career journey. Through in-depth interviews with senior officers, the authors develop the notion of ‘social network volition’, linking to sociological literatures on race, social networks and elites in work and organizations. The agency of a ‘club’, composed of white senior officers, performs social network volition, defined as an invisible guiding hand that identifies, pursues, advises and sponsors white officers who fit the existing leadership composition. The implications of the article underline the need to make explicit the informal supports that reproduce whiteness while upholding the myth of merit.
Beyond HIV prevention: Assessment of the benefits of pre-exposure prophylaxis for sexual quality of life
Authors: Bertevello Daniel A , Vasconcelos Ricardo , Cerqueira Natalia B , Freitas Angela C , Cunha Ana , Avelino-Silva Vivian I
Published: September 2023

Background

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) may favor sexual satisfaction by reducing the fear of HIV and promoting less restrictive sexual practices. These benefits may be even higher among PrEP users with mental health issues.

Methods

We invited adult PrEP users to answer a questionnaire including demographics, questions on the sexual experience compared to the period before PrEP use, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Factors associated with improvements in the sexual experience were investigated using modified Poisson models.

Results

We included 221 participants; most were white males. A large percentage of participants reported improvements in quality of sex after PrEP initiation; the composite outcome “PrEP-associated improvement in the quality of sex” was observed in 92 (42%), whereas the outcome “PrEP-associated improvement in the fear of HIV acquisition” was observed in 120 participants (54%). Demographics and depression/anxiety were not significantly associated with the outcomes.

Conclusion

PrEP has positive effects beyond HIV prevention, improving several aspects of sexual quality of life. These benefits are valid incentives for PrEP use and prescription.
Early-stage Prediction of International Revenue of Bollywood Movies—Emphasis on Simultaneous Over Sequential Release
Authors: Paul Chiranjib , Das Prabir Kumar
Published: September 2023

Bollywood movies made in the Hindi language are regarded as one of the most popular Indian movies. Bollywood movies like other Indian movies are successful in retaining their characteristics, which is significantly different than Hollywood movies. Overseas earnings contribute a significant pie of Bollywood movies’ total revenue. International revenue prediction requires a new approach due to the changing release strategy by the investors. Movie investors worldwide are moving away from sequential release first in the domestic market followed by release in the international markets to simultaneous release both in the domestic and the international markets. Revenue prediction at an early stage before committing money to the project is more valuable than prediction at a later stage just before or after the movie’s release. We utilize multiple machine learning algorithms to improve the baseline prediction accuracy significantly. Extreme gradient boosting, the best algorithm, reduces the baseline prediction error by 18.05%. Adopting different algorithms to different scenarios improves prediction accuracy relative to applying one algorithm across all scenarios. As an example, robust regression generates the highest prediction accuracy for movies with higher star power, whereas extreme gradient boosting achieves the highest prediction accuracy for movies with lower star power. More accurate prediction before committing money to the movie project strengthens investors’ judgement and reduces investment risk. Our study addresses a new trend of simultaneous movie releases in domestic and international markets and predicts international revenue without knowledge of domestic performance.
Analysis of India’s Trade Potential with RCEP Members: A Study Using Gravity Model
Authors: Ray Amlan , Doifode Akash , Badri Narayanan G  , Deepika M. G.
Published: September 2023

The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement was concluded in the year 2020 between ASEAN and its five free trade agreement (FTA) partners excluding India, which was a part of the negotiation since its inception. RCEP remains important for India considering its volume of trade with member countries and FTAs it has with various members of the group. During signing of RCEP, India had FTAs with 12 members except China, Australia and New Zealand. Later, India signed an interim FTA with Australia in April 2022, followed by an Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement in December 2022. The trade potential India has with these countries will be of interest to the policymakers for influencing its future direction of trade. India’s trade potential with Australia, China and New Zealand with whom it did not have an FTA till the signing of RCEP is important from the perspective of entering into bilateral trade agreements. In this article, the gravity model is used to measure India’s potential trade with RCEP as a block and individually with China, Australia and New Zealand. Here, a high-dimensional fixed effect Poisson pseudo-maximum likelihood model is used for measuring potential trade. A comparison of potential trade with the actual shows that India has more potential for expansion of exports than imports with RCEP as a block and in particular with China, Australia and New Zealand.
Children’s Books About Immigrants and Refugees: Impact on Reading Attitudes
Authors: Walker-Dalhouse Doris , Dalhouse A. Derick , Ong Lee Za
Published: September 2023

Forty-nine preservice teachers (PTs) from a religious-affiliated private university in the U.S. and 124 children attending a reading clinic at the university participated in a study to determine if books about immigrants and refugees had any effect on children's academic and recreational reading attitudes and whether the development and teaching of lessons by Interventionists PTs using books about immigrants and refugees influenced their attitudes toward immigrants and refugees. Fifth-grade children showed significant pre-post changes in academic and recreational reading attitudes. Preservice teachers showed significant pre-post-beliefs about immigrants and refugees in comparison to control group PTs.
Between pencils and genetic markers: Rethinking innovation in policing through forensic face-making technologies
Authors: Hopman Roos , Bleumink Ryanne
Published: September 2023

In this article we take two forensic technologies used to generate facial renditions of suspects, forensic DNA phenotyping (FDP) and facial composite drawing, to think through innovation in policing. Comparing more mundane, taken-for-granted approaches of facial composite drawing with ‘high-tech’ facial renditions generated using DNA traces, we complicate the value of technological innovation in the criminal investigation. Drawing on participant observations conducted with the Dutch police, forensic genetic laboratories and interviews with investigators and geneticists, we detail some of the technicalities behind the making of faces using these technologies, and show the differences in how the technologies are perceived and applied in policing. With our comparison, we show that although facial composite drawing is often quickly dismissed as being subjective and unreliable, the practice holds important lessons for FDP, in particular FDP's promise of producing a photographic likeness of a suspect. With that, we demonstrate that besides introducing ‘new’ things, innovation may also be located in more mundane and taken-for-granted technologies such as facial composite drawing. We conclude by suggesting that police and technology developers alike take existing technologies and practices more seriously, redirecting the focus of innovation towards the affordances of the mundane.
Psychologically Literate by Design: Four Case Study Undergraduate Modules that Centre Psychological Literacy
Authors: Harris Richard , Birtill Pam , Pownall Madeleine
Published: September 2023

Psychological literacy is an approach to teaching which encourages students to consider their subject knowledge in ‘real world’ applied contexts (i.e. in student’s lives beyond university), which may be professional, personal, or societal. ‘Real world’ here refers to the application of psychological knowledge and skills to students’ personal, student-role, work, and community contexts. Psychological literacy is typically integrated into psychology programmes through classroom activities, extra-curricular activities, and opportunities outside of the core curriculum. However, for the goals of psychological literacy to be fully realised, it should be intentionally and thoughtfully embedded at the module and programme level. One way to achieve this is to develop and evaluate modules (i.e. standalone units or courses) that embed psychological literacy explicitly by design. In this paper, we provide overviews, brief evaluations, and reflections on four undergraduate modules within a UK Psychology (BSc) degree that integrate the principles of psychological literacy. These include a first-year compulsory module (‘Biological Approaches to Human and Non-Human Behaviour’), a second-year compulsory module (‘Neuroscience’) and two final-year elective optional modules (‘Face Perception’ and ‘Feminist Social Psychology’). We offer reflections on the process of designing these modules as educators who are interested in developing students’ psychological literacy and also provide student evaluations.
The Use of Reframing: Increasing the Importance of Lifestyle Medicine
Authors: Vega Molly R. , Nadeem Saad , Vaughan Elizabeth M. , Johnston Craig A.
Published: September 2023

Lifestyle behavior modification is an essential component to prevention and treatment of non-communicable diseases worldwide. For the last 40 years, studies have recognized that there is suboptimal training of physicians in lifestyle medicine and its implementation in clinical settings. The lack of nutrition and exercise counseling occurring in the medical office does not reflect the high level of evidence supporting its use. Lifestyle behavior counseling is complex; as are the individualized needs of patients. Therefore, we suspect that the lack of knowledge in nutrition and exercise prescriptions are not the only barriers to providing optimal care. Reframing lifestyle medicine interventions like nutrition and exercise from adjunctive to central to treatment and reframing the role of the physician therein may be necessary to address important barriers to overall lifestyle behavioral counseling.
Long-term results of the AptisTM total distal radioulnar joint prosthesis after previous failed surgical procedures
Authors: Martínez Villén Gregorio , Espada Blasco Carlos , Rodríguez Nogué Luis , García González Elena
Published: September 2023

We present a prospective study with the results of ten Aptis total distal radioulnar joint replacements in patients who had one to five previous operations. The mean postoperative follow-up was 9.7 years (range 3–14.7). The mean postoperative range of motion of the wrist improved by 9° for extension, 15° for flexion, 10° for pronation and 14° for supination, achieving values equivalent to 88%, 78%, 97% and 88% of those of the non-operated hand. There were minimal changes in radial and ulnar deviations. Grip strength improved by 7 kg, pain decreased by 8 points, QuickDASH and Mayo wrist scores improved by 51 and 53 points, respectively. Two implants had radiolucency less than 1 mm. Serum titanium ion levels were slightly elevated in two patients. Three prostheses required revision surgery for heterotopic ossification, a prominent radial screw and a periprosthetic fracture. No prostheses were removed. Six patients returned to their former professional activities and four patients adapted their jobs.

Level of evidence: IV
Statistics for the hand surgeon. Part 2: avoiding common pitfalls
Authors: Harvey Mary Rose , Rodrigues Jeremy , Lane Jennifer C. E. , Wade Ryckie George , Broekstra Dieuwke C. , Harrison Conrad
Published: September 2023

In this second of a two-part article, we describe some of the common statistical pitfalls encountered in hand surgery research. These include dichotomania, the ‘Table 2 fallacy’, p-hacking, regression to the mean, overfitting and unaccounted data clustering. We explain the impact of these pitfalls on hand surgery research and describe techniques to avoid them. The aim of this two-part article was to provide a starting point for hand surgeons to refer to when conducting or analysing research and provide resources and references for interested readers to explore.
Palpitations and arrhythmia
Authors: Scholfield Dr Steven , Priestner Dr Lucy
Published: September 2023

Palpitations are symptoms of a noticeable heartbeat, and they can feel like a fluttering, forceful, or sinking feeling in the chest. Due to their nature, many patients present with fears of a serious underlying cardiac disorder, leading to heightened anxieties and concern; as such, the role of the general practitioner is to differentiate between those with benign symptoms (offering reassurance in the process), and those who require further investigation in secondary care. This article aims to assist in this decision-making process, highlighting important clinical findings from the history, examination and investigations, as well as the most up-to-date referral and lifestyle-related guidelines.
Acetabular index as an indicator of Pavlik harness success in grade I developmental dysplasia of the hip: A retrospective study
Authors: Yasin Mohamad Samih , Al Karmi Joud , Suleiman Dara Osama , Raja Yusur Myasar , Alshrouf Mohammad A , Abu Halaweh Ahmad , Hamdan Mohammad , Samarah Omar
Published: September 2023

Purpose:

Some articles have focused on the effectiveness of the Pavlik harness treatment for unstable and dislocated hips, yet data on monitoring its effectiveness with the acetabular index remains elusive. Therefore, this study aimed to assess Pavlik harness effectiveness in infants ≤6 months diagnosed with grade I developmental dysplasia of the hip using acetabular index improvement and identify the possible predictors of successful Pavlik harness treatment.

Methods:

A retrospective review of infants with grade I acetabular dysplasia treated with a Pavlik harness and monitored with anteroposterior pelvis X-rays at presentation and follow-up. Successful treatment was defined as achieving an acetabular index <30°.

Results:

A total of 231 infants with acetabular dysplasia were treated with a Pavlik harness. A successful outcome was achieved in 135 infants (58.4%). Younger age, lower initial acetabular index, and patients with unilateral developmental dysplasia of the hip were significant predictors of a successful outcome. An age of 4.5 months or older was found to be the threshold for an unsuccessful result following Pavlik harness treatment, with a sensitivity of 65.2% and specificity of 57.3%. An initial acetabular index of 35.5° was found to be the threshold for an unsuccessful result, with a sensitivity of 83.7% and specificity of 61.5%.

Conclusion:

Pavlik Harness’s success in correcting the acetabular index in acetabular dysplasia patients was related to unilateral cases, a younger age at presentation, and a lower initial acetabular index. The thresholds for unsuccessful treatment were an age of 4.5 months or greater and an acetabular index of 35.5° or higher.
Epidemiology, natural evolution, pathogenesis, clinical spectrum, and management of Legg–Calvé–Perthes
Authors: Joseph Benjamin , Shah Hitesh , Perry Daniel C
Published: September 2023

Background:

Legg–Calvé–Perthes disease is a self-limiting disorder that develops in children following interruption of the blood supply to the capital femoral epiphysis. This review outlines the current knowledge on the epidemiology, natural evolution, clinical spectrum, and management of the disease.

Methods:

The literature pertaining to these aspects of the disease were studied and summarized in this review.

Results:

Epidemiological studies suggest that environmental factors contribute to the causation of the disease. Incidence rates monitored over time indicate that the incidence of Legg–Calvé–Perthes disease is declining. The natural evolution followed on sequential plain radiographs enables division of the disease into Stages Ia, Ib, IIa, IIb, IIIa, IIIb, and IV. Reversible deformation of the capital occurs in Stages Ia–IIa simply on standing while irreversible deformation may occur in Stages IIb and IIIa. Treatment of Legg–Calvé–Perthes disease in Stages Ia–IIa aims to prevent the femoral head from getting deformed by containment and avoidance of weight-bearing. In Stages IIb and IIIa, treatment aims to remedy the effects of early irreversible deformation of the femoral head. In Stage IIIb and IV, treatment is directed to correcting the altered shape of the femoral head. The impression that these treatment methods are helpful is based on poor quality evidence.

Conclusion:

There is an urgent need to undertake Level I studies to establish the efficacy of currently treatment.

Level of evidence:

level V.
Objective Determination of Eating Occasion Timing: Combining Self-Report, Wrist Motion, and Continuous Glucose Monitoring to Detect Eating Occasions in Adults With Prediabetes and Obesity
Authors: Popp Collin J. , Wang Chan , Hoover Adam , Gomez Louis A. , Curran Margaret , St-Jules David E. , Barua Souptik , Sevick Mary Ann , Kleinberg Samantha
Published: September 2023

Background:

Accurately identifying eating patterns, specifically the timing, frequency, and distribution of eating occasions (EOs), is important for assessing eating behaviors, especially for preventing and managing obesity and type 2 diabetes (T2D). However, existing methods to study EOs rely on self-report, which may be prone to misreporting and bias and has a high user burden. Therefore, objective methods are needed.

Methods:

We aim to compare EO timing using objective and subjective methods. Participants self-reported EO with a smartphone app (self-report [SR]), wore the ActiGraph GT9X on their dominant wrist, and wore a continuous glucose monitor (CGM, Abbott Libre Pro) for 10 days. EOs were detected from wrist motion (WM) using a motion-based classifier and from CGM using a simulation-based system. We described EO timing and explored how timing identified with WM and CGM compares with SR.

Results:

Participants ( n = 39) were 59 ± 11 years old, mostly female (62%) and White (51%) with a body mass index (BMI) of 34.2 ± 4.7 kg/m2. All had prediabetes or moderately controlled T2D. The median time-of-day first EO (and interquartile range) for SR, WM, and CGM were 08:24 (07:00-09:59), 9:42 (07:46-12:26), and 06:55 (04:23-10:03), respectively. The median last EO for SR, WM, and CGM were 20:20 (16:50-21:42), 20:12 (18:30-21:41), and 21:43 (20:35-22:16), respectively. The overlap between SR and CGM was 55% to 80% of EO detected with tolerance periods of ±30, 60, and 120 minutes. The overlap between SR and WM was 52% to 65% EO detected with tolerance periods of ±30, 60, and 120 minutes.

Conclusion:

The continuous glucose monitor and WM detected overlapping but not identical meals and may provide complementary information to self-reported EO.
Sucroferric oxyhydroxide use in patients on haemodialysis – real-world experience from an Asian cohort
Authors: Teo Rachel Zui Chih , Ng Anne Lay Choo , See Vincent , Yan Hua , Singh Tripti , Khan Behram Ali
Published: September 2023

Background

Sucroferric oxyhydroxide has been used in the treatment of hyperphosphataemia in adult patients with chronic kidney disease receiving haemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis since 2013. However, there is a paucity of data on sucroferric oxyhydroxide use in Asian populations.

Objective

We aim to provide real-world experience of sucroferric oxyhydroxide use in our local cohort on maintenance haemodialysis.

Methods

A retrospective clinical audit was performed to review laboratory parameters of haemodialysis patients who received sucroferric oxyhydroxide over a 14-month period from December 2020 to January 2022. Sucroferric oxyhydroxide reduced serum phosphate levels effectively, with a more than 3-fold increase in the proportion of patients who were able to achieve phosphate levels of ≤5.5 mg/dL. Ferritin levels and transferrin saturation were increased, but there were no significant differences in haemoglobin levels and erythropoietin used in the long term. We showed that sucroferric oxyhydroxide was highly effective in reducing serum phosphate to recommended levels in patients receiving haemodialysis. Further prospective studies in Asian populations are warranted to confirm our findings.
Defining the clinical characteristics of mammary analog secretory carcinoma of the salivary gland: Analysis of the National Cancer Database
Authors: Patel Akshilkumar , LaBarge Brandon , King Tonya S , Pradhan Sandeep , Warrick Joshua , Goyal Neerav
Published: September 2023

Objectives:

Mammary analog secretory carcinoma (MASC) is a classification of salivary gland tumors, recently included within the term secretory carcinoma. Previous descriptions of this diagnosis have largely consisted of case reports and case series with few studies investigating its clinical characteristics as compared to non-MASC tumors. Our objective was to use a large patient database to compare the clinical characteristics of mammary analog secretory carcinoma vs. non-mammary analog secretory carcinoma salivary gland tumors.

Methods:

The National Cancer Database was queried between September and October 2022 for histological diagnosis of mammary analog secretory carcinoma and non-MASC salivary tumors. Patients diagnosed with mammary analog secretory carcinoma and non-mammary analog secretory carcinoma salivary tumors between the period of 2004 through 2019 were included in this analysis. Various demographic and clinical variables were abstracted from the database and compared using Wilcoxon rank sum and chi-square tests. Survival was compared between cohorts using Cox proportional hazards regression.

Results:

Overall, compared to non-mammary analog secretory carcinoma diagnoses ( n = 47668), mammary analog secretory carcinoma tumors ( n = 384) affected younger individuals, displayed favorable pathologic staging and tumor grade, and were less likely to invade surrounding tissues. Patients with mammary analog secretory carcinoma tumors also received treatment more quickly following diagnosis compared to patients with non-mammary analog secretory carcinoma tumors. The risk of death was 4.3 times greater for non-mammary analog secretory carcinoma diagnoses when adjusted for patient variables (hazard ratio = 4.3, 95% confidence interval [2.37–7.71], p < 0.001).

Conclusions:

Clinically, mammary analog secretory carcinoma salivary tumors have a more indolent course compared to other salivary cancers. Additional studies are needed to determine the natural history of this tumor type.
Translating Psalms from Orality to Performance: A Case Study with Psalm 3
Authors: Dickie June F.
Published: September 2023

Psalms are performance literature and were prepared for communities to engage with orally. The sound patterns, rhythm, and use of many performance features strengthen the communication of the meaning and facilitate the audience to participate in the worship within the psalms. This paper explores an approach to translating psalms in which community poets and musicians begin by focussing on listening to the text and exploring orally the big themes and poetic patterns. Next they engage in various creative activities relevant to the text and to their contexts. Then they analyse the text carefully, using the traditional exegetical approach. This helps firm up the oral text, bringing it closer to the Hebrew, but retains the initial creativity that emerged in the earlier exercises. Finally, the exegetically-accurate written text is adjusted, as needed, for community performance. The methodology has been used with several communities in Africa and initial results are encouraging.
School Counselors Engaging All Students: Universal Design for Learning in Classroom Lesson Planning
Authors: Vostal Brooks R. , Oehrtman Jeremy P. , Gilfillan Beth
Published: September 2023

School counselors need to be intentional about implementing a comprehensive school counseling program, which will often include planning and teaching classroom lessons on topics connected to academic skills, career planning, and social/emotional learning. Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a scientifically valid framework for providing access to curriculum for all students; it may facilitate school counselors’ use of evidence-based instruction to reduce barriers to learning for students with diverse learning needs. This article introduces school counselors to the UDL principles and demonstrates UDL-aligned instructional strategies in two school counselor-created classroom lessons: one elementary and one secondary. Practicing school counselors can use this information to examine lessons for potential barriers in order to better craft instruction. Counselor educators can use this information to guide school counseling students to write universally designed lessons to meet the challenge of creating a comprehensive school counseling program.
Integration Policy and the Subjective Well-being of Immigrants—Using the Variation in Available Inclusive Services Across Local Governments
Authors: Nakagawa Hideyuki
Published: September 2023

Delivering inclusive services to foreign residents is an important policy agenda, yet it is challenging when the preference for inclusive services is scarcely captured. This study examines the inclusion policy preferences of foreign residents through the association between welfare measures and variations in available inclusion efforts across municipalities in Japan. The situation in Japan presents a unique opportunity to examine the objective of this study in a context in which a comprehensive nationwide immigrant integration policy is absent and local governments have discretion as to which services to provide to foreign residents. This study found that reported welfare measures in the survey, such as satisfaction with the local government and the subjective well-being (SWB) of foreign residents, are positively associated with inclusive service availability. Further analysis indicates that assistance with accessing medical care and help with Japanese language learning opportunities are among the more relevant services sought by foreign residents.
Experience of Autologous Stem Cell Transplant in Multiple Myeloma: The Patient and Caregiver Perspective
Authors: Hansen Doris K , Bixby Todd , Fixler Karen , Shea Lisa , Brittle Christine , Brunisholz Kimberly , Liu Yi-Hsuan , Huo Jinhai Stephen
Published: September 2023

A qualitative study of the experiences of patients who received autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) for the treatment of multiple myeloma (MM) was conducted to better understand their MM disease journey, including first symptoms, diagnosis, ASCT, and recovery. Sixteen participants, including 12 patients with MM and 4 caregivers of patients with MM, were interviewed in focus group meetings. Pain, weakness, and bone pain were common first symptoms among patients. The MM diagnosis was often made by a hematologist or oncologist. Patients were referred to a specialized oncologist after diagnosis, who was the primary driver in making ASCT treatment decisions. Eight patients received their ASCT in the inpatient setting, with some having lengthy hospital stays; 4 received their ASCT in an outpatient setting with 3 eventually being hospitalized. The focus groups identified that patients and caregivers perceived various unmet needs and impacts on quality of life throughout their transplant journey. Educational resources and innovative therapies are needed to reduce the disease burden of MM and enhance the quality of life for both patients and their caregivers.
Periodontal Effects of the Reversible Dipeptidyl Peptidase 1 Inhibitor Brensocatib in Bronchiectasis
Authors: Gunsolley J.C. , Chalmers J.D. , Sibila O. , Fernandez C. , Scannapieco F.A.
Published: September 2023

Aims:

Brensocatib is a reversible inhibitor of dipeptidyl peptidase 1 (cathepsin C), in development to treat chronic non–cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis. The phase 2, randomized, placebo-controlled WILLOW trial (NCT03218917) was conducted to examine whether brensocatib reduced the incidence of pulmonary exacerbations. Brensocatib prolonged the time to the first exacerbation and led to fewer exacerbations than placebo. Because brensocatib potentially affects oral tissues due to its action on neutrophil-mediated inflammation, we analyzed periodontal outcomes in the trial participants.

Materials and Methods:

Patients with bronchiectasis were randomized 1:1:1 to receive once-daily oral brensocatib 10 or 25 mg or placebo. Periodontal status was monitored throughout the 24-week trial in a prespecified safety analysis. Periodontal pocket depth (PPD) at screening, week 8, and week 24 was evaluated. Gingival inflammation was evaluated by a combination of assessing bleeding upon probing and monitoring the Löe-Silness Gingival Index on 3 facial surfaces and the mid-lingual surface.

Results:

At week 24, mean ± SE PPD reductions were similar across treatment groups: −0.07 ± 0.007, −0.06 ± 0.007, and −0.15 ± 0.007 mm with brensocatib 10 mg, brensocatib 25 mg, and placebo, respectively. The distribution of changes in PPD and the number of patients with multiple increased PPD sites were similar across treatment groups at weeks 8 and 24. The frequencies of gingival index values were generally similar across treatment groups at each assessment. An increase in index values 0–1 and a decrease in index values 2–3 over time and at the end of the study were observed in all groups, indicating improved oral health.

Conclusions:

In patients with non–cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis, brensocatib 10 or 25 mg had an acceptable safety profile after 6 months’ treatment, with no changes in periodontal status noted. Improvement in oral health at end of the study may be due to regular dental care during the trial and independent of brensocatib treatment.

Knowledge Transfer Statement:

The results of this study suggest that 24 weeks of treatment with brensocatib does not affect periodontal disease progression. This information can be used by clinicians when considering treatment approaches for bronchiectasis and suggests that the use of brensocatib will not be limited by periodontal disease risks. Nevertheless, routine dental/periodontal care should be provided to patients irrespective of brensocatib treatment.
Risk of post-sphincterotomy bleeding in patients with thrombocytopenia
Authors: AbiMansour Jad P. , Garimella Vishal , Petersen Bret T. , Law Ryan J. , Storm Andrew C. , Martin John A. , Levy Michael J. , Abu Dayyeh Barham K. , Chandrasekhara Vinay
Published: September 2023

Background:

Reports suggest that the rate of adverse events (AEs) post-endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES) to be as high as 10%, with gastrointestinal bleeding being most common after post-endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) pancreatitis.

Objective:

The aim of this study was to characterize the incidence of bleeding in patients with thrombocytopenia following ES.

Design:

Retrospective observational cohort study.

Methods:

Patients with thrombocytopenia (defined as <150,000 platelets/μL) who underwent ES between May 2017 and December 2020 were identified at a tertiary care medical center. The incidence of immediate (intraprocedural oozing >5 min or requiring intervention) or delayed (clinical bleeding with associated hemoglobin drop within 14 days) post-ES bleeding was determined via manual chart review.

Results:

A total of 221 patients with a mean platelet count of 108,000 ± 13,000 platelets/μL underwent ERCP with ES. Immediate bleeding occurred in 11 (5%) patients with no significant drop in hemoglobin or transfusion requirement. Two patients (0.9%), both of whom were noted to have immediate bleeding, also developed delayed bleeding. Presence of malignancy was associated with an increased risk of bleeding (36.4% versus 11.4%, p = 0.037) while platelet count was not.

Conclusion:

In a cohort of patients with thrombocytopenia, rates of immediate and delayed bleeding are similar to previously reported AE rates of ES in the general patient population. Careful attention should be given to patients with a history of active malignancy as well as those who develop immediate bleeding as they appear to be at increased risk for bleeding complications.
Allogeneic T cells cause acute renal injury after hematopoietic cell transplantation
Authors: Miyata Masahiro , Matsuki Eri , Ichikawa Kazunobu , Takehara Tomohiro , Hosokawa Yuka , Sekiguchi Erika , Peltier Daniel , Reddy Pavan , Ishizawa Kenichi , Watanabe Masafumi , Toubai Tomomi
Published: September 2023

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a frequent complication of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT). There are many causes of AKI after allo-HCT, but it is unknown whether renal acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) caused by direct allogeneic donor T-cell–mediated renal damage contributes. Here, we tested whether allogeneic donor T cells attack kidneys in murine models of aGVHD. To avoid confounding effects of nephrotoxic agents, we did not administer immunosuppressants for GVHD prophylaxis. We found that urinary N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase, a marker of tubular injury, was elevated in allogeneic recipients on day 14 after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. Donor major histocompatibility complex–positive cells were present and CD3+ T cells were increased in the glomerulus, peritubular capillaries, interstitium, and perivascular areas in the kidneys of allo-HCT recipient mice. These T cells included both CD4+ and CD8+ cells with elevated activation markers, increased exhaustion markers, and greater secretion of proinflammatory cytokines and cytotoxic proteins. Consistent with allo-T-cell–mediated renal damage, expression of neutrophil gelatinase-binding lipocalin, a marker of AKI, and elafin, a marker of aGVHD, were increased in renal tissue of allogeneic recipients. Because apoptosis of target cells is observed on histopathology of aGVHD target tissues, we confirmed that alloreactive T cells increased apoptosis of renal endothelial and tubular epithelial cells in cytotoxic T-lymphocyte assays. These data suggest that immune responses induced by donor T cells contribute to renal endothelial and tubular epithelial cell injury in allo-HCT recipients and that aGVHD may contribute to AKI after allo-HCT.
Detection and Characterization of Defects in Additive Manufacturing by Polarization-Based Imaging System
Authors: Peng Xing , Kong Lingbao
Published: September 2023

Additive manufacturing (AM) technology such as selective laser melting (SLM) often produces a high reflection phenomenon that makes defect detection and information extraction challenging. Meanwhile, it is essential to establish a characterization method for defect analysis to provide sufficient information for process diagnosis and optimization. However, there is still a lack of universal standards for the characterization of defects in SLM parts. In this study, a polarization-based imaging system was proposed, and a set of characterization parameters for SLM defects was established. The contrast, defect contour information, and high reflection suppression effect of the SLM part defects were analyzed. Comparative analysis was conducted on defect characterization parameters, including geometric and texture parameters. The experimental results demonstrated the effects of the polarization imaging system and verified the feasibility of the defect feature extraction and characterization method. The research work provides an effective solution for defect detection and helps to establish a universal standard for defect characterization in additive manufacturing.
Material Removal Characteristics of Single-Crystal 4H-SiC Based on Varied-Load Nanoscratch Tests
Authors: Tang Kun , Ou Wangping , Mao Cong , Liang Jie , Zhang Moke , Zhang Mingjun , Hu Yongle
Published: September 2023

Single-crystal silicon carbide (SiC) has been widely applied in the military and civil fields because of its excellent physical and chemical properties. However, as is typical in hard-to-machine materials, the good mechanical properties result in surface defects and subsurface damage during precision or ultraprecision machining. In this study, single- and double-varied-load nanoscratch tests were systematically performed on single-crystal 4H-SiC using a nanoindenter system with a Berkovich indenter. The material removal characteristics and cracks under different planes, indenter directions, normal loading rates, and scratch intervals were analyzed using SEM, FIB, and a 3D profilometer, and the mechanisms of material removal and crack propagation were studied. The results showed that the Si-plane of the single-crystal 4H-SiC and edge forward indenter direction are most suitable for material removal and machining. The normal loading rate had little effect on the scratch depth, but a lower loading rate increased the ductile region and critical depth of transition. Additionally, the crack interaction and fluctuation of the depth-distance curves of the second scratch weakened with an increase in the scratch interval, the status of scratches and chips changed, and the comprehensive effects of the propagation and interaction of the three cracks resulted in material fractures and chip accumulation. The calculated and experimental values of the median crack depth also showed good consistency and relativity. Therefore, this study provides an important reference for the high-efficiency and precision machining of single-crystal SiC to ensure high accuracy and a long service life.