bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Specific Loss of ABCA1 (ATP-Binding Cassette Transporter A1) Suppresses TCR (T-Cell Receptor) Signaling and Provides Protection Against Atherosclerosis
Authors: Zhao Ying , Zhang Lili , Liu Limin , Zhou Xuan , Ding Fangfang , Yang Yan , Du Shiyu , Wang Hongmin , Van Eck Miranda , Wang Jun
Published: October 2022

Background:

ABCA1 (ATP-binding cassette transporter A1) mediates cholesterol efflux to apo AI to maintain cellular cholesterol homeostasis. The current study aims to investigate whether T-cell–specific deletion of ABCA1 modulates the phenotype/function of T cells and the development of atherosclerosis.

Methods:

Mice with T-cell–specific deletion of ABCA1 on low-density lipoprotein receptor knockout (

Ldlr
−/−

) background (

Abca1
CD4-/CD4-
Ldlr
−/−

) were generated by multiple steps of (cross)-breedings among

Abca1
flox/flox

, CD4-
Cre
, and

Ldlr
−/−

mice.

Results:

Deletions of ABCA1 greatly suppressed cholesterol efflux to apo AI but slightly reduced membrane lipid rafts on T cells probably due to the upregulation of ABCG1. Moreover, ABCA1 deficiency impaired TCR (T-cell receptor) signaling and inhibited the survival and proliferation of T cells as well as the formation of effector memory T cells. Despite the comparable levels of plasma total cholesterol after Western-type diet feeding,
Abca1

CD4-/CD4
-

Ldlr
−/−
mice showed significantly attenuated arterial accumulations of T cells and smaller atherosclerotic lesions than
Abca1

+/+

Ldlr
−/−

controls, which were associated with reduced surface CCR5 (CC motif chemokine receptor 5) and CXCR3 (CXC motif chemokine receptor 3), decreased antiapoptotic Bcl-2 (B-cell lymphoma 2) and Bcl-xL (B-cell lymphoma extra-large), and hampered abilities to produce IL (interleukin)-2 and IFN (interferon)-γ by ABCA1-deficient T cells.

Conclusions:

ABCA1 is essential for T-cell cholesterol homeostasis. Deletion of ABCA1 in T cells impairs TCR signaling, suppresses the survival, proliferation, differentiation, and function of T cells, thereby providing atheroprotection in vivo.
Gut Microbiota Influence the Development of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm by Suppressing Macrophage Accumulation in Mice
Authors: Shinohara Ryohei , Nakashima Hitomi , Emoto Takuo , Yamashita Tomoya , Saito Yoshihiro , Yoshida Naofumi , Inoue Taishi , Yamanaka Katsuhiro , Okada Kenji , Hirata Ken-ichi
Published: October 2022

Background:

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a life-threatening cardiovascular disease characterized by dilated abdominal aorta. Immune cells have been shown to contribute to the development of AAA, and that the gut microbiota is associated with numerous diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, by regulating immune systems or metabolic pathways of the host. However, the interaction between the gut microbiota and AAA remains unknown.

Methods:

Apolipoprotein E–deficient male mice were fed a high-cholesterol diet and divided into three groups: the control group was maintained under normal water (control group), the oral AVNM group was maintained under drinking water supplemented with ampicillin, vancomycin, neomycin, and metronidazole, and the i.p. AVNM group was injected AVNM intraperitoneally. After 1 week of pretreatment with antibiotics, these mice were administrated Ang II via subcutaneous osmotic pumps for 4 weeks and euthanized to evaluate AAA formation.

Results:

Depletion of gut microbiota by oral AVNM ameliorated the incidence of AAAs (control group: 58.9% versus oral AVNM group: 28.6% versus i.p. AVNM group: 75.0%,
P
= 0.0005) and prevented death due to ruptured aneurysms (control group: 11% versus oral AVNM group: 0% versus i.p. AVNM group: 15%). Oral AVNM suppressed monocyte storage in the spleen, but not in other organs. Despite possessing a higher level of cholesterol, recruitment of monocytes into the suprarenal aorta was suppressed in the oral AVNM group. In AVNM drinking mice, NOD1 ligand, a kind of PRR ligands, increased the development of AAAs and accumulation of macrophages in the aortae.

Conclusions:

The gut microbiota plays a critical role in AAA formation. Therefore, regulation of the microbiota or the immune system can be a therapeutic approach for AAA.
Savoir et croyance
Authors: Grignon Claude
Published: October 2022

On se propose ici d’analyser la démarcation entre science et non science à partir de l’opposition entre savoir et croyance. Dans cette perspective, on est amené à étudier les relations entre le réel et le vrai et entre le réel et le possible, ce qui conduit à préciser le statut épistémologique du réalisme, à examiner les spécificités de l’imagination scientifique et les relations entre invention et découverte. Le progrès des savoirs peut favoriser un retour en force des croyances ; c’est le cas de l’interprétation idéaliste de la physique quantique ou de la dérive relativiste à laquelle donne lieu le relativisme culturel qui est au principe de l’anthropologie et de la sociologie. On examinera pour finir les rapports entre croyance et opinion. Pour combattre la scientophobie, il faut diffuser la science et la populariser. On s’interrogera sur les risques inhérents à la vulgarisation, qui tend par principe à réduire ce que l’on vient de savoir à ce que l’on savait déjà.
Maerid amphipods (Crustacea: Amphipoda) from Okinawa, Japan with description of a new species
Authors: SIR SALLY , WHITE KRISTINE N.
Published: October 2022

Two species of Maeridae are reported from extensive tidal flat collections on the east coast of Okinawa Island, Japan. A range extension is reported for Ceradocus mizani Lim, Azman & Othman, 2010. Elasmopus mukuinu sp. nov. is described and is most similar to species in the Elasmopus pectenicrus (Bate, 1862) group in Hughes & Lowry (2011). The new species is distinguished from other species based on the gnathopod 2 propodus bearing a subrectangular hump near insertion of the dactylus, the propodus being covered in dense tufts of long setae and the posterior margins of pereopods 5, 6, and 7 (almost smooth, serrate, and crenulate, respectively).
A new species of the family Derbidae (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Fulgoroidea) from Jeju Island, South Korea
Authors: PARK JAEKOOK , JUNG SUNGHOON
Published: October 2022

A new species of the family Derbidae (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Fulgoroidea), Kamendaka jejuensis sp. n. is described from the Jeju Island, South Korea. Morphological information is provided based on male and female specimens. A key to the species of Korean Kamendaka is also presented.
New taxa and notes on bark and bush crickets (Orthoptera, Grylloidea, Gryllidae, Landrevinae and Podoscirtinae) from Sabah
Authors: TAN MING KAI , JAPIR RAZY , CHUNG ARTHUR Y.C. , ROBILLARD TONY
Published: October 2022

From the eastern parts of Sabah, four new species of crickets are described, two of which are from the subfamily Landrevinae and two from the subfamily Podoscirtinae: Duolandrevus (Duolandrevus) nobilis sp. nov. and Odontogryllodes spinifer sp. nov.; and Brevimunda trilineata sp. nov. and Varitrella (Cantotrella) tabin sp. nov., respectively. We also describe the calling songs for three species: Duolandrevus (Bejorama) lambir Gorochov, 2017, Duolandrevus (Duolandrevus) nobilis sp. nov. and Varitrella (Cantotrella) tabin sp. nov. A new locality record (Sabah, Sepilok) for Duolandrevus (Bejorama) lambir Gorochov, 2017, previously known from western Borneo (Sarawak, Lambir Hill and Brunei Darussalam, Kuala Belalong), was also reported.
A new subgenus and three new species of Sternoppia (Acari, Oribatida, Sternoppiidae) from Peru
Authors: ERMILOV SERGEY G. , SUBÍAS LUIS S. , SHTANCHAEVA UMUKUSUM YA. , FRIEDRICH STEFAN
Published: October 2022

The oribatid mite family Sternoppiidae is recorded in Peru for the first time. A new subgenus and three new species of Sternoppia—Sternoppia (Andoppia) subgen. nov., S. (A.) tetratuberculata sp. nov., S. (Sternoppia) chinchaoensis sp. nov., and S. (S.) americaensis sp. nov.—are described, based on materials collected from upper soil and leaf litter in mountain forests in the Andes. Generic diagnosis, identification key, distribution and habitats of representatives of Sternoppia are presented.
A stabilized spatiotemporal kriging method for disease mapping and application to male oral cancer and female breast cancer in Taiwan
Authors: Tsai Dai-Rong , Jhuang Jing-Rong , Su Shih-Yung , Chiang Chun-Ju , Yang Ya-Wen , Lee Wen-Chung
Published: October 2022

Mapping spacetime disease rates can provide a more in-depth understanding of their distribution and trends. Traditional spatiotemporal kriging methods can break the constraints of geopolitical boundaries and time intervals. Still, disease rates in densely and sparsely populated areas are stabilized to the same degree, resulting in a map that is oversmoothed in some places but undersmoothed in others. The stabilized spatiotemporal kriging method proposed in this study overcomes this problem by allowing for nonconstant variances over space and time. A spatiotemporal map of the standardized incidence ratio for oral cancer in men in Taiwan between 1997 and 2017 reveals that the high-risk areas for oral cancer are in the midwestern and southeastern regions of Taiwan, spreading toward the center and north, with persistent cold spots in the northern and southwestern urban regions. However, the corresponding map for breast cancer in women in Taiwan reveals that the high-risk areas for breast cancer are concentrated in densely populated urban regions in the west. Spatiotemporal maps facilitate our understanding of disease risk dynamics. We recommend using the proposed stabilized spatiotemporal kriging method for mapping disease rates across space and time.
Psychological health and wellbeing of primary healthcare workers during COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia: a longitudinal qualitative study
Authors: Khoo Ee Ming , Abdullah Adina , Liew Su May , Hussein Norita , Hanafi Nik Sherina , Lee Ping Yein , Abdullah Khatijah Lim , Vengidasan Lelamekala , Abu Bakar Ahmad Ihsan Bin , Pinnock Hilary , Jackson Tracy
Published: October 2022

Background

Primary healthcare workers (PHCWs) are at the frontline of dealing with viral pandemics. They may experience significant psychological stresses, which have hitherto not been examined in depth. We aimed to explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the psychological health and wellbeing of frontline PHCWs in Malaysia.

Method

We purposively recruited PHCWs with diverse backgrounds in Klang Valley, Malaysia. Using longitudinal qualitative methods, we conducted two sequential semi-structured telephone interviews, 3 to 4 weeks apart, to capture different stages of the pandemic. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed thematically.

Result

Twenty-one PHCWs participated yielding a total of forty-two interviews. Themes clustered around stressors associated with work, home, and leisure activities, emotional changes, and modifying factors. In the first interviews, COVID-19 had just started in Malaysia. Participants expressed fear about the actual and perceived personal risk of COVID-19 infection. Most were worried about transmitting COVID-19 to their family members. Some felt stigmatized because of this perceived risk of infection. By the second interviews, participants felt safer, but instead focused on the need to keep other people safe. Participants’ emotions were influenced by their perceived risk of contracting COVID-19 infection. Internal factors such as religion enabled them to manage their concerns and develop personal coping strategies. Support from family members, colleagues, and employers promoted wellbeing during the pandemic. Training sessions, daily roll calls, and psychological support services were important in maintaining their psychological health and wellbeing. Many participants were hopeful and believed normalcy would return by the end of 2020.

Conclusion

PHCW’s psychological health and wellbeing evolved throughout the early stages of the pandemic and were influenced by their perceived risk of contracting the disease and personal belief structures. Clear updates on the disease and strategies for keeping safe at work and socially are essential to maintaining PHCWs’ psychological health and wellbeing.
Risk factors of delayed hemorrhage after LigaSure hemorrhoidectomy
Authors: Cheng Kung-Chuan , Song Ling-Chiao , Wu Kuen-Lin , Chen Hong-Hwa , Lee Ko-Chao
Published: October 2022

Background

As one of the most popular methods for treating hemorrhoidal diseases, hemorrhoidectomy with LigaSure devices has been proven to have less postoperative pain and has gained in popularity among surgeons. However, our previous study found higher incidence of delayed post-hemorrhoidectomy bleeding (DPHB) in patients who underwent LigaSure hemorrhoidectomy compared to those who underwent the traditional Ferguson’s method. This follow-up study aimed to reveal the relationship between DPHB and the surgeon’s experience.

Methods

This retrospective study included 437 consecutive patients with symptomatic grade II to IV hemorrhoids who received hemorrhoidectomy by LigaSure devices from March 2009 to December 2017. Twenty-two patients who experienced DPHB were analyzed to identify risk factors. Cumulative incidence of DPHB were calculated and visualized to assess the improvement of DPHB rate by time.

Results

All operations were performed by a single surgeon. The most common postoperative complication was constipation, followed by urinary retention. DPHB developed in 22 patients (5%). Multivariate analysis showed that the male sex was an independent risk factor for DPHB in patients who underwent hemorrhoidectomy with LigaSure devices. The cumulative incidence was initially higher (about 10%) in the earlier cases and stabilized at around 5% with more cases. The change in cumulative incidence indicated a lower complication rate as the surgeon’s experience increased.

Conclusion

Male sex is an independent risk factor for DHBP. The risk of DPHB is higher in patients undergoing hemorrhoidectomy with LigaSure in a surgeon’s earlier cases, and decreases to a rate similar to that for the traditional hemorrhoidectomy once the surgeon becomes more familiar with the procedure and postoperative care.
Coronary artery bypass grafting in patients with malignancy: a single-institute case series of eight patients
Authors: Zhang Ming-Kui , Zhang Han-Wen , Wu Qing-Yu , Xue Hui , Fan Li-Xin
Published: October 2022

Background

The surgical strategy among patients with malignancy and coronary artery disease (CAD) remains controversial. In this study, we present the experiences of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in patients with malignancy and analyzed the treatment outcomes.

Methods

From January 2011 to October 2021, eight patients combined with coronary artery disease and malignancy, six of them with three-vessel disease and two with anterior descending branch lesions on coronary angiography. The age ranged from 54 to 73 years (61.8 ± 7.7years). Four patients underwent CABG and staging for surgical oncology, and 2 patients underwent CABG and surgical oncology simultaneously. Four patients underwent CABG procedure with cardiopulmonary bypass (on-pump CABG), and the other patients underwent the procedure without cardiopulmonary bypass (off-pump CABG). All patients were followed up for 3 to 96 months (40.4 ± 31.5 months) postoperatively.

Results

The mean number of grafts was 2.6 ± 1.1, there was no in-hospital death, postoperative myocardial infarction, and stroke. Among the eight patients, one patient received chemotherapy and radiation before bypass surgery, which occurred postoperatively pulmonary infection, and the rest of 7 patients had no major adverse cardiovascular events during follow-up periods.

Conclusion

Based on the results of the present study, simultaneous or staged CABG and oncologic surgery according to the TNM stage of the tumor and cardiac assessment is an effective treatment for patients with severe CAD combined with malignancy.
Sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor 2 mediated early stages of pancreatic and systemic inflammatory responses via NF-kappa B activation in acute pancreatitis
Authors: Yang Jing , Tang Xujiao , Li Baiqiang , Shi Jinsong
Published: October 2022

In acute pancreatitis, activation of inflammatory signaling, including the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) pathway, within acinar cells is known to be an early intracellular event occurring in parallel with pathologic trypsinogen activation. Sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor 2 (S1PR2) plays a critical role in endothelial inflammation, and our previous studies reported that S1PR2 deficiency significantly reduced the inflammatory response in liver injury under cholestasis conditions. However, the role of S1PR2 in inflammatory signaling activation within acinar cells and inflammatory responses during acute pancreatitis has not been elucidated. Here we report that S1PR2 was upregulated in the whole pancreas during acute pancreatitis. Blockade of S1PR2 by pharmacologic inhibition of S1PR2 by JTE-013 or AAV-mediated knockdown of S1PR2 improved the severity of pancreatic injury, as indicated by a significant reduction in inflammation and acinar cells death in acute pancreatitis mice. Moreover, S1PR2 is the predominant S1PRs expressed in pancreatic acinar cells and mediates NF-κB activation and the early inflammatory response within acinar cells under acute pancreatitis conditions via ROCK signaling pathways, not extracellular signal-regulated kinase pathways or p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways. In addition, S1PR2 mediated macrophage NF-κB activation, migration and polarization toward the M1 phenotype. Therefore, these results demonstrated that the S1PR2-mediated early inflammatory response in acinar cells promotes the progression of acute pancreatitis, successfully linking local events to the systematic inflammatory response and leading to a novel therapeutic target for acute pancreatitis aimed at halting the progression of the inflammatory response.
Molecular insights into the heat shock proteins of the human parasitic blood fluke Schistosoma mansoni
Authors: Aguoru Nancy A. , Kirk Ruth S. , Walker Anthony J.
Published: October 2022

Background

Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are evolutionarily conserved proteins, produced by cells in response to hostile environmental conditions, that are vital to organism homeostasis. Here, we undertook the first detailed molecular bioinformatic analysis of these important proteins and mapped their tissue expression in the human parasitic blood fluke, Schistosoma mansoni, one of the causative agents of the neglected tropical disease human schistosomiasis.

Methods

Using bioinformatic tools we classified and phylogenetically analysed HSP family members in schistosomes, and performed transcriptomic, phosphoproteomic, and interactomic analysis of the S. mansoni HSPs. In addition, S. mansoni HSP protein expression was mapped in intact parasites using immunofluorescence.

Results

Fifty-five HSPs were identified in S. mansoni across five HSP families; high conservation of HSP sequences were apparent across S. mansoni, Schistosoma haematobium and Schistosoma japonicum, with S. haematobium HSPs showing greater similarity to S. mansoni than those of S. japonicum. For S. mansoni, differential HSP gene expression was evident across the various parasite life stages, supporting varying roles for the HSPs in the different stages, and suggesting that they might confer some degree of protection during life stage transitions. Protein expression patterns of HSPs were visualised in intact S. mansoni cercariae, 3 h and 24 h somules, and adult male and female worms, revealing HSPs in the tegument, cephalic ganglia, tubercles, testes, ovaries as well as other important organs. Analysis of putative HSP protein-protein associations highlighted proteins that are involved in transcription, modification, stability, and ubiquitination; functional enrichment analysis revealed functions for HSP networks in S. mansoni including protein export for HSP 40/70, and FOXO/mTOR signalling for HSP90 networks. Finally, a total of 76 phosphorylation sites were discovered within 17 of the 55 HSPs, with 30 phosphorylation sites being conserved with those of human HSPs, highlighting their likely core functional significance.

Conclusions

This analysis highlights the fascinating biology of S. mansoni HSPs and their likely importance to schistosome function, offering a valuable and novel framework for future physiological investigations into the roles of HSPs in schistosomes, particularly in the context of survival in the host and with the aim of developing novel anti-schistosome therapeutics.
Macular telangiectasia with bilateral obliterated capillaries: a case report
Authors: Samadi Melika , Azarkish Afsaneh , Riazi-Esfahani Hamid , Mahmoudi Alireza , Ebrahimiadib Nazanin
Published: October 2022

Background

We report an otherwise healthy adult with macular telangiectasia with aneurysms, ischemia, and obliterated capillaries in both eyes.

Methods

This is a case report with a brief literature review.

Case presentation

A 58-year-old Iranian woman presented with a gradual decrease in vision, with recent deterioration. Past medical history was unremarkable, and best-corrected visual acuity was 3/10 in both eyes. Multimodal imaging including fundus photo, fluorescein angiography, optical coherence tomography, and optical coherence tomography angiography was carried out. In macula of both eyes, parafoveal telangiectasia, occluded vessels, capillary dropouts, and aneurysms were observed. While there were a dense circinate exudation and edema in the macula of the right eye and a thin and disorganized inner retinal layer in the left eye, the outer retina was intact in both eyes. En face optical coherence tomography angiography revealed capillary blunting and rarefaction in both superficial and deep capillary plexuses of retina.

Conclusion

Our case most probably represents a case of type 3 macular telangiectasia in the absence of any systemic association.
Use of Antibacterial Envelopes for Prevention of Infection in Neuromodulation Implantable Pulse Generators
Authors: Persad Amit R. , Ahmed Syed Uzair , Mercure-Cyr Rosalie , Waterhouse Karen , Vitali Aleksander M.
Published: October 2022

BACKGROUND:

Neuromodulation unit placement carries a historic infection rate as high as 12%. Treatment of such requires surgical removal and a long course of systemic antibiotics. Antibiotic-impregnated envelopes have been effective in preventing infection in implantable cardiac devices. At our center, 1 surgeon uses these envelopes with all implanted neuromodulation units.

OBJECTIVE:

To assess the efficacy of antibacterial envelopes in prevention of infection in neuromodulation device placement.

METHODS:

We conducted a retrospective cohort study of consecutive implantable pulse generator (IPG) unit implantation with an antibacterial envelope at a single center between October 2014 and December 2019. We collected demographic data, including postoperative infections, reoperations, and complications, associated with the IPGs. This cohort was then compared with a historical cohort of consecutive patients undergoing surgery before envelope usage (October 2007-April 2014).

RESULTS:

In the pre-envelope cohort of 151 IPGs placed in 116 patients, there were 18 culture-confirmed infections (11.9%). In the antibacterial envelope cohort of 233 IPGs placed in 185 patients, there were 5 culture-confirmed infections (2.1%). The absolute risk reduction of the antibacterial envelope was 9.85% (95% CI 4.3%-15.4%, P < .01). The number needed to treat was 10.1 (95% CI 6.5-23.1, P < .01) envelopes to prevent 1 IPG infection.

CONCLUSION:

We saw a reduced rate of infections in the antibacterial envelope cohort. Although this is likely multifactorial, our results suggest a benefit of antibacterial envelopes on infection after neuromodulation surgery.
Embolization and Resection of Epidural Spinal Arteriovenous Malformations: Case Report
Authors: Abecassis Zachary A. , Emerson Samuel , Zhang Fangyi , Ghodke Basavaraj , Sekhar Laligam N.
Published: October 2022

BACKGROUND AND IMPORTANCE:

Spinal vascular malformations (sVMs) are relatively uncommon, accounting for 5% to 10% of all spinal cord lesions. Spetzler and Kim developed a paradigm to classify sVMs based on a variety of characteristics into 1 of 6 types, including a subcategory for exclusively epidural sVMs. There is a paucity of literature focused on this category, specifically sources describing the clinical manifestation and management of these lesions.

CLINICAL PRESENTATION:

We report 2 cases of purely epidural spinal arteriovenous fistula, with an emphasis on the radiographic features and combined endovascular and microsurgical treatment. We report 2 patients known to have epidural spinal arteriovenous fistula who underwent both embolization and surgical resection between May 2019 and August 2020 at our institution. Data collected included demographic, clinical, and operative course, including age, sex, medical history, presenting symptoms, and preoperative and postoperative imaging. Both of these patients were managed with a combination of an endovascular approach for embolization of feeding arterial source and surgical exploration/resection. In both cases, no residual vascular malformation was identified, and the patients went on to be symptom free after 6 weeks.

CONCLUSION:

This report describes the use of a combination of endovascular and surgical approaches to achieve maximal benefit for 2 patients. These cases reinforce the value of a staged multimodal treatment approach in achieving good functional outcomes for patients with these rare and challenging entities.
Endoscopic Endonasal Transsphenoidal Approach to Repair Cerebrospinal Fluid Rhinorrhea After an Anterior Clinoidectomy for Aneurysm Clipping: Series of 4 Cases
Authors: Shaftel Kelly A. , Przybylowski Colin J. , Little Andrew S.
Published: October 2022

BACKGROUND:

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea through a pneumatized optic strut is a known potential complication after an anterior clinoidectomy that is used to microsurgically clip a proximal internal carotid artery aneurysm. The original craniotomy site can be reopened to repair the skull base defect, but this technique has disadvantages.

OBJECTIVE:

To avoid a repeat craniotomy and address the limitations of a transcranial approach, a straightforward alternative was used for skull base repair—the binostril endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach.

METHODS:

This retrospective case series describes the use of endoscopic transsphenoidal repair and outcomes for patients with CSF leaks after anterior clinoidectomy for aneurysm repair between January 1, 2015, and December 31, 2019.

RESULTS:

Four adult patients (3 women and 1 man) with a mean age of 59.5 years were reviewed. Skull base repair occurred on average 24 days (range, 4-75 days) after the index operation. After demucosalization of the parasellar sphenoid sinus, the fistula in the pneumatized optic strut was reconstructed with a free nasal mucosal graft with or without an autologous muscle graft. None of the patients developed a recurrent CSF leak at a mean follow-up of 12.5 months (range, 8-22 months), and none experienced complications.

CONCLUSION:

The endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach was safe and effective for skull base repair in 4 patients with CSF rhinorrhea after an anterior clinoidectomy for aneurysm clipping.
Historical and Cultural Aspects of the Value and Ontological Foundations of Humanitarian Education
Authors: Shafazhinskaya N.
Published: October 2022

The content of the article discusses the historical and cultural aspects and the main approaches to the definition and essence of the values of humanitarian education in philosophical and psychological and pedagogical works. Particular attention among the conceptual philosophical positions is paid to the works of Heinrich Rickert, Max Weber, Immanuel Kant, the theories of representatives of Russian philosophical thought – N.A. Berdyaev, N.O. Lossky, as well as the ideas of cultural and philosophical and spiritual-religious trends in the field of humanities. The content of the article touches upon the topic of spiritual and moral quest, human striving for perfection, knowledge of God, comprehension of the true, "higher" values of the meaning of being. It is these values and meanings of being that have been the leitmotif of Russian humanitarian knowledge, culture and enlightenment for many centuries. The transformations of the ideas of axiology and ontology in the context of historical epochs and socio-cultural events are briefly presented.
Lesson «Children's Musical Instruments as a Means of Developing the Phonemic Education of Preschoolers» in the Older Group of Children with General Underdevelopment of Speech
Authors: Lifanova I.
Published: October 2022

Every year the number of children in need of correctional speech therapy is steadily growing. And the largest group, about 40%, among children with speech pathology, are children with general speech underdevelopment. They experience significant difficulties in mastering the skills of coherent speech, which is due to the underdevelopment of the main components of the language system – lexical, grammatical, phonetic and phonemic. The sound and semantic sides of speech are insufficiently formed in children and, as a rule, there are secondary deviations in the leading mental processes (attention, memory, perception, etc.) Professional speech therapy assistance is extremely relevant from an early age of children!
Lwów i jego mieszkańcy w latach 1847-1850 w świetle „Pamiętników” Ksawery z Brzozowskich Grocholskiej
Authors: Kudela-Świątek Wiktoria
Published: October 2022

LVIV AND ITS INHABITANTS IN 1847-1850 IN THE LIGHT OF THE SO-CALLED “MEMOIRS” OF KSAWERA GROCHOLSKA NEE BRZOZOWSKA 

The purpose of this article includes reflection on the issue of how the so-called “Memoirs” of Ksawera Grocholska nee Brzozowska (1807-1872), a landowner from Podolia – elaborated by the Archbishop Zygmunt Szczęsny Feliński – show the life of the Polish aristocracy and landed class in Lviv in the first years after an event called in historiography as the Tarnów Slaughter (Galician Rabacja). Due to many reasons, it is a special biographical perspective. The text presents the figure of Countess Ksawera Grocholska nee Brzozowska, outlines the character of the source which should become a reference point for considerations included in this work. Furthermore, the most important endeavours that dominated the charitable activity of Countess Grocholska during her stay in Lviv have been described. These actions included purchase of a residential building for the needs of an orphanage being founded at the cloister of Sacré Coeur Sisters in Lviv, educational activities in favour of a finishing school for maidens, managed by this cloister, and philanthropic activity in aid of patriotic activists imprisoned in the Lviv jail, the so-called “Magdalenka”, and their families.
Lwów i lwowianie w czasie wojny polsko-bolszewickiej (lipiec-sierpień 1920 r.)
Authors: Mraka Ihor
Published: October 2022

LVIV AND ITS CITIZENS DURING THE POLISH-SOVIET WAR (JULY-AUGUST 1920) 

The threat of Soviet occupation of Lviv in summer 1920 forced both the civilian and military authorities to hastily prepare defense. Since the conscription into the regular army, in Lviv as well, did not bring the expected influx of recruits, the country leadership took a decision to announce the recruitment of volunteers. Despite some difficulties, several “Małopolska” divisions of the Volunteer Army were formed in Lviv. These divisions were very active and ensured law and order in the city along with regular troops. At the same time, numerous patriotic events were regularly held in Lviv. Donations for the army were constantly collected and preparations for defense were made in the city. The possibility of capturing Lviv changed significantly, though not radically, the lives of its inhabitants. Feelings of fear, outbursts of panic, evacuation of entire families became the features of everyday life in Lviv. However, catering establishments, city markets, shops, theaters, cinemas, and other facilities continued to function, although with minor adjustments.
Motivação para o trabalho voluntário: proposição de um modelo compreensivo
Authors: Oliveira-Silva Ligia Carolina , Melo Araújo Marley Rosana , Andrade Barbosa Isabelle Haaiara
Published: October 2022

No Brasil, estudos sobre a motivação para o trabalho voluntário e suas nuances permanecem escassos, enquanto no exterior identifica-se uma dificuldade para o consenso teórico. Adicionalmente, os estudos existentes, com frequência, não ponderam sobre os diferentes tipos de trabalho voluntário, as diferenças sociodemográficas e a importância das variáveis culturais de cada país. Logo, este estudo analisou as motivações para o voluntariado de 150 trabalhadores brasileiros, de diferentes organizações e com variadas características demográficas, objetivando propor um modelo compreensivo que refletisse tanto as peculiaridades da realidade nacional, quanto as recomendações da literatura internacional. Os dados foram analisados qualitativamente, através do software IRAMUTEQ, que apresentou 5 possíveis classes lexicais ou tipos de motivação para o trabalho voluntário: religiosa, fraternal, altruísta, transformadora e pessoal. Dessa forma, espera-se gerar subsídios para o aumento da compreensão sobre o trabalho voluntário no Brasil, contribuindo para o aprimoramento de políticas de atração, manutenção e avaliação de sua qualidade.
Breves apontamentos sobre a operacionalização dos conceitos de resistência burocrática e desmonte de políticas públicas
Authors: Machado Raphael Amorim
Published: October 2022

O intuito deste capítulo é apontar caminhos para operacionalizar os conceitos de resistência burocrática e desmonte de políticas públicas, conceitos que ganham relevância diante de um cenário de tentativa de captura das administrações públicas nacionais para a execução de políticas de desmonte de garantias de direitos e instituições democráticas.
Carreiras públicas para o desenvolvimento sustentável: uma proposta para superar o anacronismo dos conceitos e modernizar o Estado
Authors: Cardoso Jr. José Celso
Published: October 2022

O tema das carreiras públicas e cargos típicos de Estado está entre os mais importantes no debate corrente sobre a reforma administrativa, embora seja um dos mais mal compreendidos e maltratados pelas pessoas e organizações envolvidas com o assunto. Em vista disso, este texto representa um esforço inicial para avançarmos rumo a uma proposta que visa superar o anacronismo dos conceitos e modernizar o Estado, vale dizer, otimizando sua atuação no sentido de ampliar e qualificar a oferta de serviços públicos e a sua gestão.
Pathway for post-prostatectomy urinary incontinence: impact on patient confidence and satisfaction
Authors: Broom Ruth
Published: October 2022

Background:

Between 8% and 87% of prostatectomies result in urinary incontinence, with around half of patients using incontinence pads daily at 6 months. Specialist urology continence nurses at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust created a pre- and post-surgical care pathway formalising support for these patients, which involves the provision of TENA Men (Essity) male incontinence pads.

Aims:

This audit aimed to assess patient satisfaction with this pathway and TENA Men pads.

Methods:

Patients who underwent a radical prostatectomy at NNUH between 27 April and 9 November 2021 and who required continence pads were invited to fill out an online anonymous mixed-method (mainly qualitative) survey.

Results:

Of 28 respondents, 71% reported incontinence after their surgical catheter was removed. Most (89%) were satisfied with the preoperative advice. Of 19 respondents to questions on confidence and satisfaction, 16 were confident that the pads they had been prescribed were helping them to manage urinary leakage, and 16 were confident or very confident that they could manage their incontinence themselves. Generally, respondents were confident that their overall and mental health had improved, and most were confident or very confident that they had less anxiety. However, less than a quarter of respondents were ‘very confident’ about going out, meeting people or exercising. All but one respondent found TENA Men pads easy to fit, and the most used words in the free-text explanations of what they most included ‘easy’, ‘discreet’, ‘comfortable’ and ‘unobtrusive’.

Conclusion:

The clinical pathway helped give patients undergoing radical prostatectomy confidence in their ability to manage post-surgery incontinence themselves and could be of value in other hospitals. Easy access to incontinence pads designed for the male anatomy has an important part in this.
Uterine prolapse: impact of the condition and practical advice
Authors: Muldoon Jeanette
Published: October 2022

Pelvic-organ prolapse is where organs such as the uterus move out of place; in some cases, they can protrude out of the body. It occurs when muscles extending from the pubic bone to the coccyx or the levator ani muscles become weak or are injured. Although it is not life-threatening, the condition can be life limiting, adversely affecting physiological processes, function and quality of life, with patients reporting years of pain, discomfort, humiliation and embarrassment. Uterine prolapse is often under-reported as women may feel resigned to a condition that is viewed as part of getting old or the menopause, or a consequence of childbirth; they may also feel embarrassed. Gynaecology has the fastest growing waiting lists of any NHS specialty, and women may wait a long time for treatment. This article focuses on uterine prolapse, management of symptoms from conservative self-help to surgical options, and includes a case study of a successful laparoscopic hysteropexy with bifurcated polypropylene mesh apical support procedure carried out by a skilled surgeon.
Integrated tech: Bridging the digital literacy gap
Authors: Duffy Jonathan
Published: October 2022

The discrepancy between technological advancement and the adaptation of technology in the NHS is vast, but the power of technology in healthcare should not be underestimated. What does a digital driven future look like?
GP indemnity for your practice: Who to contact?
Authors: McGuire Dawn
Published: October 2022

State-backed indemnity provides for clinical negligence claims brought against practices in England and Wales, but there is some confusion about who to contact in the event of a claim. Dr Dawn McGuire explains
Soybean yield as a function of sowing season
Authors: Barbosa Alexandrius de Moraes , Silva Gabriel Bueno da , Santos Silmara Elisiane da Silva , Catuchi Tiago Aranda , Tiritan Carlos Sérgio
Published: October 2022

This study aimed to evaluate the grain yield of soybean cultivars as a function of different sowing seasons and soil types, in the Western region of São Paulo state. Two experiments were performed in the district of Gardênia, municipality of Rancharia-SP in two types of soil (Red Argisol with medium sandy texture and Red Nitosol with very clayey texture). For both studies, a randomized block design in a 5 x 2 factorial scheme arranged in strips was adopted. The factors consisted of five sowing seasons (October 21st; November 4th; November 18th; December 2nd and December 16th) and two soybean cultivars (TMG 7060 IPRO and TMG 7062 IPRO). The sowing seasons performed on October 21th and November 4th showed the highest rates of plant growth and grain yield, regardless of soil texture. Grain yield was similar among the cultivars studied in the Red Argisol with medium sandy texture. In the very clayey Red Nitosol, the TMG 7062 cultivar had higher productivity in the sowing of November 4th and the TMG 7060 cultivar in the sowings of November 18th and December 2nd.
Skin wounds in a rural setting of Côte d’Ivoire: Population-based assessment of the burden and clinical epidemiology
Authors: Toppino Simone , N’Krumah Raymond T. A. S. , Kone Bognan Valentin , Koffi Didier Yao , Coulibaly Ismaël Dognimin , Tobian Frank , Pluschke Gerd , Stojkovic Marija , Bonfoh Bassirou , Junghanss Thomas
Published: October 2022

Background

Data on the burden and clinical epidemiology of skin wounds in rural sub-Saharan Africa is scant. The scale of the problem including preventable progression to chronic wounds, disability and systemic complications is largely unaddressed.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional study combining active (household-based survey) and passive case finding (health services-based survey) to determine the burden and clinical epidemiology of wounds within the Taabo Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS) in rural Côte d’Ivoire. Patients identified with wounds received free care and were invited to participate in the wound management study simultaneously carried out in the survey area. The data were analysed for wound prevalence, stratified by wound and patient characteristics.

Results

3842 HDSS-registered persons were surveyed. Overall wound prevalence derived from combined active and passive case finding was 13.0%. 74.1% (403/544) of patients were below the age of 15 years. Most frequent aetiologies were mechanical trauma (85.3%), furuncles (5.1%), burns (2.9%) and Buruli ulcer (2.2%). Most wounds were acute and smaller than 5 cm2 in size. 22.0% (176/799) of wounds showed evidence of secondary bacterial infection. 35.5% (22/62) of chronic wounds had persisted entirely neglected for years. Buruli ulcer prevalence was 2.3 per 1000 individuals and considerably higher than expected from an annual incidence of 0.01 per 1000 individuals as reported by WHO for Côte d’Ivoire at the time of the study.

Conclusions

Skin wounds are highly prevalent in rural West Africa, where they represent a widely neglected problem. The HDSS-based survey with combined active and passive case finding adopted in this study provides a better estimate than school- and health institution-based surveys which underestimate the frequency of skin wounds and, particularly, of neglected tropical diseases of the skin, such as Buruli ulcer and yaws. A comparison with country-specific WHO data suggests underreporting of Buruli ulcer cases.

Trial registration

Registration at ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03957447.
Experimental dissolution of fossil bone under variable pH conditions
Authors: Sullivan Colleen A. , Keenan Sarah W.
Published: October 2022

Fossils exposed at the surface are an integral component of the paleontologic record and provide an archive of past life. However, it is widely known that fossils are not stable indefinitely upon exposure to surface conditions such as physical, chemical, and biological processes, and this last phase of taphonomy is poorly understood. Studies regarding the longevity of fossils subject to weathering, such as acidic precipitation, are absent in the literature. The goal of this study was to experimentally determine vertebrate fossil dissolution rates under variable pH conditions in a controlled laboratory setting. It was hypothesized that fossils would dissolve within acidic solutions and do so at an increasing rate when exposed to increasingly acidic solutions. The experiments were conducted on three fossil vertebrae in triplicate in closed reaction vessels at pH 4, 5, and 6. The fossils were completely submerged for 21 days in a tap water solution with the pH adjusted using 0.1N hydrochloric acid (HCl). Fossil dissolution was quantified by changes to: (1) fossil mass; (2) elemental chemistry of water and fossils with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS); (3) fossil mineralogy with X-ray diffraction (XRD); and (4) histologic structures with thin section analyses. All fossils exhibited mass loss, which increased with decreasing pH conditions, and was greatest under pH 4 (477 to 803 mg loss). The elemental analyses with ICP-MS indicated an increase of both calcium (maximum increase of 315 ppm) and phosphorus (increase of 18 ppm) in aqueous solutions with increasing pH and a loss of those same elements from the fossils (maximum loss of 10 ppm Ca and 6 ppm P). XRD revealed loss of gypsum in all post-dissolution samples. Taken together, the results of ICP-MS and XRD suggest dissolution of the primary mineral phases, including hydroxylapatite, and secondary phases, particularly calcite and gypsum, resulting in an estimated mass loss at pH 4 of 23 to 28 mg per day. Thin section analysis showed degradation of both cortical and trabecular bone in all post-dissolution images, demonstrating physical changes to the fossils as a result of water-rock interactions. These findings constitute the first quantitative analysis of fossil dissolution rates and provide insights into this last stage of taphonomy, addressing a largely understudied potential bias in the vertebrate fossil record.
Handgrip strength as an indicator for death events in China: A longitudinal cohort study
Authors: Xie Kaihong , Lu Zhaojun , Han Xiao , Huang Meijia , Wang Junping , Kou Shou , Wang Weihao , Zhuang Sufang , Zheng Weijun
Published: October 2022

Studies have shown the indicative role of handgrip strength in health. However, there is limited evidence revealing its potential effect on death events among middle-aged and older adults in China. We aimed to prospectively evaluate if lower handgrip strength is associated with the event of death. Among 17,167 middle-aged and older adults between age 45 to 96, handgrip strength was collected by a handheld dynamometer in a Chinese longitudinal study of aging trend (CHARLS) 2011–2018. Using Cox proportional hazard models with exposures, we assessed the association between handgrip strength and death events. Elevated handgrip strength values were independently associated with the decreased death risk. These results illustrate that lower handgrip strength is an independent indicator of death risks among middle-aged and older Chinese, which highlights the significance of related intercessions. The median values of five levels of handgrip strength in the entire cohort were 16.5,23,28,33,42kg at baseline. A linear association existed between the handgrip strength values and the risk of all-cause death within 34.2kg. Handgrip strength can serve as an independent indicator for death risks.
Investigation of clinical characteristics and genome associations in the ‘UK Lipoedema’ cohort
Authors: Grigoriadis Dionysios , Sackey Ege , Riches Katie , van Zanten Malou , Brice Glen , England Ruth , Mills Mike , Dobbins Sara E. , Lee Li Ling ,   Lipoedema Consortium,   Genomics England Research Consortium, Jeffery Steve , Dong Liang , Savage David B. , Mortimer Peter S. , Keeley Vaughan , Pittman Alan , Gordon Kristiana , Ostergaard Pia
Published: October 2022

Lipoedema is a chronic adipose tissue disorder mainly affecting women, causing excess subcutaneous fat deposition on the lower limbs with pain and tenderness. There is often a family history of lipoedema, suggesting a genetic origin, but the contribution of genetics is currently unclear. A tightly phenotyped cohort of 200 lipoedema patients was recruited from two UK specialist clinics. Objective clinical characteristics and measures of quality of life data were obtained. In an attempt to understand the genetic architecture of the disease better, genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotype data were obtained, and a genome wide association study (GWAS) was performed on 130 of the recruits. The analysis revealed genetic loci suggestively associated with the lipoedema phenotype, with further support provided by an independent cohort taken from the 100,000 Genomes Project. The top SNP rs1409440 (ORmeta ≈ 2.01, Pmeta ≈ 4 x 10–6) is located upstream of LHFPL6, which is thought to be involved with lipoma formation. Exactly how this relates to lipoedema is not yet understood. This first GWAS of a UK lipoedema cohort has identified genetic regions of suggestive association with the disease. Further replication of these findings in different populations is warranted.