bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Is Microdochium maydis Associated with Necrotic Lesions in the Tar Spot Disease Complex? A Culture-Based Survey of Maize in Mexico and the Midwestern United States
Authors: Luis Jane Marian , Mehl Hillary L. , Plewa Dianne , Kleczewski Nathan M.
Published: June 2023

Tar spot, caused by  Phyllachora maydis, is an emerging disease of corn in the United States. Stromata of  P. maydis are sometimes surrounded by necrotic lesions known as fisheyes and were previously reported to be caused by the fungus Microdochium  maydis. The association of  M. maydis with fisheye lesions has not been well documented outside of initial descriptions from the early 1980s. The objective of this work was to assess and identify Microdochium-like fungi associated with necrotic lesions surrounding P. maydis stromata using a culture-based method. In 2018, corn leaf samples with fisheye lesions associated with tar spot stromata were collected from 31 production fields across Mexico, Illinois, and Wisconsin. Cultures of pure isolates collected from Mexico believed to be M. maydis were included in the study. A total of 101 Microdochium/ Fusarium-like isolates were obtained from the necrotic lesions, and 91% were identified as  Fusarium spp., based on initial ITS sequence data. Multi-gene (ITS, TEF1-α, RPB1, and RPB2) phylogenies were constructed for a subset of 55 isolates;  Microdochium,  Cryptostroma, and  Fusarium reference sequences were obtained from GenBank. All the necrotic lesion isolates clustered within  Fusarium lineages and were phylogenetically distinct from the Microdochium clade. All Fusarium isolates from Mexico belonged to the  F. incarnatum-equiseti species complex, whereas >85% of the U.S. isolates grouped within the  F. sambucinum species complex. Our study suggests that initial reports of M. maydis were misidentifications of resident Fusarium spp.

[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license .
Immediate Plastic Surgery Intervention after Soft Tissue Sarcoma Resection: Examining Wound Healing, Readmission, and Reoperation
Authors: Wu Scott A. , deVries John A. , Plantz Mark A. , Dumanian Gregory , Attar Samer , Ko Jason H. , Peabody Terrance D.
Published: June 2023

Background:

Many orthopedic and surgical oncologists use a multidisciplinary approach to soft tissue sarcoma (STS) resection. This study assesses the role of immediate plastic surgeon involvement during index soft tissue sarcoma resection.

Methods:

Adult patients who underwent index STS resection between 2005 and 2018 were queried from an institutional database. Main outcomes analyzed were 90-day same-site reoperation, any-cause readmission, and wound healing complications. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were used to identify risk factors. Additional evaluation was then performed for the following two cohorts: patients with and without plastic surgeon involvement.

Results:

In total, 228 cases were analyzed. Multivariate regression demonstrated the following predictors for 90-day wound-healing complications: plastic surgery intervention [OR = 0.321 (0.141–0.728), P = 0.007], operative time [OR = 1.003 (1.000–1.006), P = 0.039], and hospital length of stay [OR = 1.195 (1.004–1.367), P = 0.010]. For 90-day readmission, operative time [OR = 1.004 (1.001–1.007), P = 0.023] and tumor stage [OR = 1.966 (1.140–3.389), P = 0.015] emerged as multivariate predictors. Patients whose resection included a plastic surgeon experienced similar primary outcomes despite these patients having expectedly longer operative times (220 ± 182 versus 108 ± 67 minutes, P < 0.001) and hospital length of stay (3.99 ± 3.69 versus 1.36 ± 1.97 days, P < 0.001).

Conclusions:

Plastic surgeon involvement emerged as a significant protector against 90-day wound healing complications. Cases that included plastic surgeons achieved similar complication rates in all categories relative to cases without plastic surgery intervention, despite greater operative time, hospital length of stay, and medical complications.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Surveillance Study of Silicone Implant-based Breast Reconstruction: A Retrospective Observational Study
Authors: Kim Hyung Bae , Han Hyun Ho , Eom Jin Sup
Published: June 2023

Background:

This study aimed to evaluate the results of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) surveillance of implant-based breast reconstruction in patients with breast cancer.

Methods:

This retrospective observational study analyzed patients who underwent implant-based breast reconstruction and MRI surveillance by a single surgeon from March 2011 to December 2018, in a single center. All patients were informed about the recommendation of the Food and Drug Administration for MRI surveillance, and they choose to undergo MRI 3 years after surgery.

Results:

The compliance rate for MRI surveillance was 56.5% (169/299). MRI surveillance was performed at a mean of 45.8 (4.04 years) ± 11.5 months after surgery. One patient (0.6%) showed an abnormal finding of an intracapsular rupture of the silicone implant.

Conclusions:

MRI surveillance for implant rupture in implant-based breast reconstruction showed a low incidence of silent implant rupture (0.6%), whereas the compliance of MRI was relatively high (56.5%). These results raise questions about whether taking an MRI in 3–4 years is suitable for imaging surveillance of breast silicone implants. Screening recommendations should be more evidence-based, and more studies are needed to prevent unnecessary screening and patient burden.
Advances on Capsular Contracture—Prevention and Management Strategies: A Narrative Review of the Literature
Authors: Susini Pietro , Nisi Giuseppe , Pierazzi Diletta Maria , Giardino Francesco Ruben , Pozzi Mirco , Grimaldi Luca , Cuomo Roberto
Published: June 2023

Background:

Capsular contracture (CC) is the most relevant complication of both aesthetic and reconstructive breast implant surgery. For many years, experimental and clinical trials have attempted to analyze CC risk factors, clinical features, and appropriate management strategies. It is commonly accepted that a multifactorial etiology promotes CC development. However, the heterogeneity in patients, implants and surgical techniques make it difficult to suitably compare or analyze specific factors. As a consequence, discordant data are present in literature, and a true systematic review is often limited in its conclusions. Hence, we decided to present a comprehensive review of current theories on prevention and management strategies, rather than a specific “solution” to this complication.

Methods:

The PubMed database was searched for literature regarding CC prevention and management strategies. Pertinent articles in English, published before December 1, 2022, were compared with selection criteria and eventually included in this review.

Results:

Through the initial search, 97 articles were identified, of which 38 were included in the final study. Several articles explored different medical and surgical preventive and therapeutic strategies, showing numerous controversies on appropriate CC management.

Conclusions:

This review provides a clear overview of the complexity of CC. The wide variety of clinical situations in term of patients, implants, and surgical techniques prevent the standardization of CC management strategies. By contrast, a patient-customized approach should be preferred, and different strategies should be considered depending on the specific case. Further research is desirable to better ascertain evidence-based protocols with regard to CC prevention and treatment.
Questioning the Utility of Temporal Artery Biopsy in Giant Cell Arteritis: A Negative Biopsy May Facilitate Decision-making
Authors: Lafreniere Ann-Sophie , Ponich Brett , Hartley Rebecca , Temple-Oberle Claire F.
Published: June 2023

Background:

Plastic surgeons are frequently consulted to perform temporal artery biopsy (TAB), even though patients meet the American College of Rheumatology diagnostic criteria for giant cell arteritis (GCA) and are already treated. This study aimed to analyze the impact of TAB on steroid duration in patients undergoing TAB.

Methods:

We undertook a prospective study of adult patients undergoing TAB for GCA in Calgary. Consecutive, multicenter recruitment was performed over 2 years. Primary outcomes included initiation or discontinuation and duration of corticosteroids.

Results:

Twenty-one TABs were performed in 20 patients. Nineteen percent of TABs were positive, and 71.4%, negative. In 9.5% of patients, accidental sampling of a vessel other than the superficial temporal artery occurred. Fifty-two percent of patients received steroids before TAB, of which the mean duration was 8.0 days for TAB+ (postive temporal artery biopsy result) patients and 8.4 days for TAB− (negative temporal artery biopsy result; P = 0.22) patients. Before TAB, the American College of Rheumatology score was 2.5 for TAB+ patients and 2.4 for TAB− (P = 0.74). Postbiopsy, the American College of Rheumatology score was 3.5 for TAB+ patients (therefore reaching diagnostic threshold of 3) but remained 2.4 for TAB− (P = 0.02). TAB+ patients were treated for 352.3 days, whereas TAB− patients for 16.7 days (P = 0.29). Complications were more likely with long-term (>6 weeks) steroids (P = 0.17).

Conclusion:

In patients with a low suspicion of GCA, a negative TAB helps bolster physician confidence and leads to a shorter steroid duration.
The Effect of Obesity on Distal Radius Fractures: An Analysis from the NSQIP Database
Authors: Gonuguntla Rishi , Ghali Abdullah , Prabhakar Gautham , Momtaz David , Ahmad Farhan , Slocum Dean , Kotzur Travis , Cushing Tucker , Saydawi Adnan , Wu Chia
Published: June 2023

Introduction:

The rate and severity of obesity has risen over the past 40 years, and class III (formerly morbid) obesity presents additional sequelae. The effect of obesity on the incidence and recovery of hand and wrist fractures remains unclear. We sought to quantify the relationship between class III obesity and postoperative distal radius fracture (DRF) complications.

Methods:

We performed a retrospective analysis of the American College of Surgeons-National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) database for surgical DRF patients more than 50 years old from 2015 to 2020. We then stratified patients into class III obese (BMI > 40) and compared the rates of postoperative complications to a control group with BMI less than 40.

Results:

We included 10,022 patients (570 class III obese vs. 9,452 not class III obese). Patients with class III obesity had significantly increased odds of experiencing any complication (OR 1.906, p<0.001), adverse discharge (OR 2.618, p<0.001), delayed hospital stay of longer than three days (OR 1.91, p<0.001), and longer than seven days (OR 2.943, p<0.001) than controls. They also had increased odds of unplanned reoperation (OR 2.138, p = 0.026) and readmission (OR 2.814, p < 0.001) than non–class III obese patients. Class III obese patients had a significantly longer average operation time (79.5 min vs. 72.2 min, p < 0.001). They also spent more time in the hospital postoperatively (0.86 days vs. 0.57 days, p = 0.001).

Conclusion:

Class III obese patients undergoing DRF repair are more likely to experience postoperative complications than non–class III obese patients.
Professional Liability in Plastic Surgery: A Change of Scenario in Medical Professional Liability in Spain
Authors: Martin-Fumadó Carles , Benet-Travé Josep , Güerri-Fernández Robert , López-Ojeda Anna , Bermejo-Segú Oriol , Arimany-Manso Josep
Published: June 2023

Background:

The epidemic of complaints and/or litigation, both in and out of court, for cases of alleged malpractice has increased dramatically. In Spain, claims related to plastic surgery are gaining more and more interest.

Methods:

The Council of Medical Associations of Catalonia database was used to analyze claims related to plastic surgery from 1986 to 2021.

Results:

1039 claims (9.8% over 10,567 total claims) were studied. Both the total number of claims (P = 0.016; R2=0.16) and the number of claims for plastic surgery (P < 0.0005; R2=0.732) showed an upward trend during the period of study. In the period from 2000 to 2021, the behavior was different; while the number of total claims stabilized (P = 0.352; R2 = 0.043), plastic surgery claims continued to show a time-related tendency to increase (P < 0.0005; R2=0.484). The distribution was 50.12% out of court. Ten unique procedures accounted for 84.5% of the total number of claims. Liability was observed in 21.46% of the closed claims, with differences between civil (20.34%), criminal (6.89%), and out-of-court (25.53%) procedures. Regarding compensation amounts, out-of-court cases had an average of 33,169.44 euros paid; civil cases, 29,153.37 euros; and criminal cases, 37,186.88 euros.

Conclusions:

The increase in the number of cases can only be related to an increase in the activity carried out by plastic surgeons. There has been a change in Spain in terms of the most sought-after medical specialty, with plastic surgery having displaced the perennially most sought-after specialty, orthopedic surgery and traumatology.
Surgical strategy for colorectal cancer with synchronous liver and extrahepatic metastases: A scoring system and decision tree model
Authors: Tseng Chan-Wei , Teng Hao-Wei , Lin Chun-Chi , Lei Hao-Jan , Hung Jung-Jyh , Liang Wen-Yih , Hsia Cheng-Yuan , Chou Shu-Cheng , Lin Hung-Hsin , Huang Sheng-Chieh , Cheng Hou-Hsuan , Lan Yuan-Tzu , Wang Huann-Sheng , Yang Shung-Haur , Chen Wei-Shone , Lin Jen-Kou , Jiang Jeng-Kai , Chang Shih-Ching , Chau Gar-Yang
Published: June 2023

Background:

The role of hepatectomy in a specific group of patients with synchronous colorectal cancer with liver metastases (SCRLM) and synchronous extrahepatic disease (SEHD) is still unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of liver surgery and define the selection criteria for surgical candidates in patients with SCRLM + SEHD.

Methods:

Between July 2007 and October 2018, 475 patients with colorectal cancer with liver metastases (CRLM) who underwent liver resection were retrospectively reviewed. Sixty-five patients with SCRLM + SEHD were identified and included in the study. Clinical pathological data of these patients were analyzed to evaluate the influence on survival. Important prognostic factors were identified by univariate and multivariate analyses. The risk score system and decision tree analysis were generated according to the important prognostic factors for better patient selection.

Results:

The 5-year survival rate of patients with SCRLM + SEHD was 21.9%. The most important prognostic factors were SCRLM number of more than five, site of SEHD other than the lung only, inability to achieve SCRLM + SEHD R0 resection, and BRAF mutation of cancer cells. The proposed risk score system and decision tree model easily discriminated between patients with different survival rates and identified the profile of suitable surgical patients.

Conclusion:

Liver surgery should not be a contraindication for patients with SCRLM + SEHD. Patients with complete SCRLM + SEHD R0 resection, SCRLM number less than or equal to five, SEHD confined to the lung only, and wild-type BRAF could have favorable survival outcomes. The proposed scoring system and decision tree model may be beneficial to patient selection in clinical use.
A case report: Catatonic symptoms secondary to systemic lupus erythematosus with multiple infections: neuropsychiatric or “mimickers?”
Authors: Lv Lizeyu , Lin Yong , Zhang Yu , Xiao Wen , Li Mingquan , Zhao Liangbin
Published: June 2023

Rationale:

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is frequently accompanied by neuropsychiatric (NP) manifestations. However, typical symptoms of catatonia are uncommon. Neuropsychiatric SLE or its “mimickers” may cause NP symptoms, making differential diagnosis a significant challenge in clinical practice.

Patient concerns:

A 68-year-old female with SLE was hospitalized for edema, lung infection, and recurrent fungal mouth ulcers after multiple courses of cortisol and immunosuppressive therapy. Five days after admission, stupor, immobility, mutism, and rigidity were observed.

Diagnosis:

“Mimickers”: catatonic disorder due to a general medical condition.

Intervention:

Initially, relevant laboratory tests, imaging studies, and the disease activity index score were performed. A survey of the causes of the disease was conducted among the patient’s relatives. Subsequently, we discontinued moxifloxacin, corticosteroids, fluconazole, and other medications and inserted a gastric tube for nutritional support. During this process, traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture have been utilized.

Outcomes:

After 3 days, the patient recovered and only complained of fatigue.

Conclusion:

When SLE presents with NP symptoms, it is essential to make a correct diagnosis in order to guide appropriate treatment by actively searching for inducers and clinical, laboratory, and neuroradiological characteristics that can aid in the differential diagnosis. When treatment options are limited, it can be beneficial to try a variety of combination strategies, such as traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture.
Deep-learning reconstruction for the evaluation of lumbar spinal stenosis in computed tomography
Authors: Miyo Rintaro , Yasaka Koichiro , Hamada Akiyoshi , Sakamoto Naoya , Hosoi Reina , Mizuki Masumi , Abe Osamu
Published: June 2023

To compare the quality and interobserver agreement in the evaluation of lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) on computed tomography (CT) images between deep-learning reconstruction (DLR) and hybrid iterative reconstruction (hybrid IR). This retrospective study included 30 patients (age, 71.5 ± 12.5 years; 20 men) who underwent unenhanced lumbar CT. Axial and sagittal CT images were reconstructed using hybrid IR and DLR. In the quantitative analysis, a radiologist placed regions of interest within the aorta and recorded the standard deviation of the CT attenuation (i.e., quantitative image noise). In the qualitative analysis, 2 other blinded radiologists evaluated the subjective image noise, depictions of structures, overall image quality, and degree of LSS. The quantitative image noise in DLR (14.8 ± 1.9/14.2 ± 1.8 in axial/sagittal images) was significantly lower than that in hybrid IR (21.4 ± 4.4/20.6 ± 4.0) (P < .0001 for both, paired t test). Subjective image noise, depictions of structures, and overall image quality were significantly better with DLR than with hybrid IR (P < .006, Wilcoxon signed-rank test). Interobserver agreements in the evaluation of LSS (with 95% confidence interval) were 0.732 (0.712–0.751) and 0.794 (0.781–0.807) for hybrid IR and DLR, respectively. DLR provided images with improved quality and higher interobserver agreement in the evaluation of LSS in lumbar CT than hybrid IR.
Pathological discrimination between luteinized thecoma associated with sclerosing peritonitis and thecoma
Authors: Liu Jia , Wei Jia , Yang Yiqun , Wei Juncheng
Published: June 2023

Background:

Similarities between luteinized thecoma associated with sclerosing peritonitis (LTSP) and thecoma, cause difficulty in clinical differential diagnoses. To improve the situation, we selected 10 specified molecular pathological markers that are frequently used in clinical pathology of ovarian sex cord-stromal tumors to determine whether they exert a discriminatory effect.

Methods:

Applying immunohistochemistry, we analyzed the expression of alpha-1,6-mannosylglycoprotein 6-beta-n-acetylglucosaminyltransferase B (MGAT5B), nuclear receptor coactivator 3 (NCOA3), proliferation marker protein Ki-67 (MKI67), estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, Vimentin, receptor tyrosine-protein kinase erbB-2, Catenin beta-1 (β-Catenin), CD99 antigen (CD99) and Wilms tumor protein (WT1) in 102 cases of diseases containing 11 LTSP and 91 thecoma. Whole-exome sequencing and fluorescence in situ hybridization were used to examine the MGAT5B-NCOA3 fusion gene in LTSP. Statistical analysis was performed using t test, one-way analysis of variance test, and post hoc test.

Results:

Six significant markers were verified for the discrimination between LTSP and thecoma, containing 4 upregulating indicators MGAT5B, NCOA3, MKI67, β-Catenin, and 2 downregulating markers CD99 and WT1 in luteinized cells. In addition, the MGAT5B-NCOA3 fusion gene was identified in LTSP for the first time with significantly rich expression compared to thecoma.

Conclusions:

We verified 6 significant molecular pathological markers containing MGAT5B, NCOA3, MKI67, β-Catenin, CD99, and WT1 and identified MGAT5B-NCOA3 fusion gene in LTSP; this work will help clinicians to discriminate between medical conditions and treat patients accurately.
The value of basement membrane-associated genes in the prognosis and immune regulation of glioma
Authors: Sun Yanqi , Li Ren , Chen Yang , Yang Biao , Li Xuepeng , Li Ziao , He Jianhang , Zhou Zihan , Li Jiayu , Guo Xiaolong , Wang Xiaogang , Wu Yongqiang , Zhang Wenju , Guo Geng
Published: June 2023

Gliomas have a high incidence rate in central nervous tumors. Although many breakthroughs have been made in the pathogenesis and treatment of glioma, the recurrence and metastasis rates of patients have not been improved based on the uniqueness of glioma. Glioma destroys the surrounding basement membrane (BM), leading to local infiltration, resulting in the corresponding clinical and neurological symptoms. Therefore, exploring the biological roles played by BM associated genes in glioma is particularly necessary for a comprehensive understanding of the biological processes of glioma and its treatment. Differential expression and univariate COX regression analyses were used to identify the basement membrane genes (BMGs) to be included in the model. LASSO regression was used to construct the BMG model. The Kaplan–Meier (KM) survival analysis model was used to assess the prognosis discrimination between training sets, validation sets, and clinical subgroups. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to test the prognostic efficacy of the model. Use calibration curves to verify the accuracy of nomograms. Gene ontology (GO), Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG), and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) were used to analyze the function and pathway enrichment among the model groups. ESTIMATE and other 7 algorithms including CIBERSORT were used to evaluate the immune microenvironment. “pRRophetic” was used to evaluate drug sensitivity. This study demonstrated that high-risk genes (LAMB4, MMP1, MMP7) promote glioma progression and negatively correlate with patient prognosis. In the tumor microenvironment (TME), high-risk genes have increased scores of macrophages, neutrophils, immune checkpoints, chemokines, and chemokine receptors. This study suggests that BMGs, especially high-risk-related genes, are potential sites for glioma therapy, a new prospect for comprehensively understanding the molecular mechanism of glioma.
The efficacy of sling exercise combined with extracorporeal shock wave on office workers with chronic neck pain
Authors: Lee Young Min , Koo Dong Kyun , Kwon Jung Won
Published: June 2023

This study aimed to investigate the effect of extracorporeal shockwave therapy on the anterior surface line of the fascia meridian, including the oblique muscle, combined with sling exercise, on the stability of the spine in the neck disability index (NDI), neck joint range of motion (ROM), craniovertebral angle, neck alignment, and posture control. A total of 20 office workers with chronic neck pain were randomly assigned to an experimental group that combined extracorporeal shock wave therapy and sling exercise (n = 10) and a control group (CG) consisting of sling exercise (n = 10) performed twice weekly for 4 weeks. All subjects were evaluated using the NDI, ROM, neck alignment, and spine stability tests. Following the intervention, there were significant differences in the For example, NDI, craniovertebral angle, Cobb’s angle, Centaur data, and ROM. Except for Cobb’s angle and Centaur data (−90 degrees), all variables showed significant differences in the CG. Comparing changes before and after the intervention, The For example, showed significantly more significant changes in all variables than the CG. The combination of extracorporeal shockwave therapy and sling exercises improved NDI, ROM, and neck and spine alignment in office workers with chronic neck pain more effectively than the sling exercise alone. This study could be recommended as a new approach to enable individuals with chronic neck pain to perform better.
Investigation of concussion knowledge and attitudes of Chinese amateur adolescent soccer athletes
Authors: Li Yue , Tang Jiaxing , Zhang Xiaomin , Cao Dawei , Lyu Teng
Published: June 2023

Concussions are a common traumatic brain injury in soccer games but are often ignored by coaches and athletes. The purpose of our study is to assess the concussion knowledge and attitudes among amateur adolescent soccer athletes in China. Data was collected from questionnaire surveying (Rosenbaum Concussion Knowledge and Attitudes Survey (Student Version)) and semi-structured interviews completed by 69 amateur adolescent soccer athletes who participated in the U17 and U15 male groups of the 2022 China Youth Soccer League. The study followed a mixed methodology cross sectional study design. The concussion knowledge index (0–25) and concussion attitude index (15–75) scores were derived from the questionnaire and descriptive statistics were used for data analysis. The mean score of concussion knowledge is 16.8 ± 2.4 (range 10–22), and the mean score of concussion attitude is 61.3 ± 8.8 (range 45–77). Thematic analysis was used to categorize the participant’s responses of the semi-structured interview and the results were compared with their survey answers of questionnaire. Interestingly, the interviews revealed the inconsistencies between the questionnaire responses and intended behaviors, and multiple factors (injury severity, the importance of the game and substitution rules) influencing concussion-reporting behaviors were identified. In addition, athletes hope to acquire concussion knowledge through formal education. Our study lay the foundation for educational interventions to potentially improve concussion-reporting behaviors among amateur adolescent soccer athletes.
An analysis of the effect of syringe barrel volume on performance and user perception
Authors: Krisdiyanto  , Bin Raja Ghazilla Raja Ariffin , Azuddin M. , Bin Ahmad Hairuddin Muhammad Khairi Faiz , Risdiana Nurvita
Published: June 2023

In the market, there are many types and shapes of syringes. One of the groupings of syringe types is based on barrel volume. The shape of the product design affects performance and user perception. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of barrel volume on its performance and user perception. We performed analysis following international organization for standardization 7886 procedures on syringe with 1 mL, 3 mL, 5 mL, and 10 mL volume. In addition, a user perception test was conducted on 29 respondents using a questionnaire with the Likert chart method. This study indicates that the bigger the syringe volume, the larger the dead space and the force to operate the piston are. A larger syringe volume also raises the volume that changes due to the plunger position increase. Meanwhile, the barrel volume does not affect water and water leakage, as we did not observe any leak during the syringe tests in our experiment. In addition, the user perception test shows that the barrel’s length influences the ease of device control during the injection. The volume of the barrel negatively correlated with its effect to the environment. The safety features of all syringes are similar except for the 3 mL syringe, which has a value of 0.1 points difference to other syringes.
Necrotic related-lncRNAs: Prediction of prognosis and differentiation between cold and hot tumors in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Shi Yujing , Zhang Yumeng , Zuo Nian , Wang Lan , Sun Xinchen , Liang Liang , Ju Mengyang , Di Xiaoke
Published: June 2023

Treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a substantial clinical challenge due to the high local recurrence rate and chemotherapeutic resistance. This project seeks to identify new potential biomarkers of prognosis prediction and precision medicine to improve this condition. A synthetic data matrix for RNA transcriptome datasets and relevant clinical information on HNSCC and normal tissues was downloaded from the Genotypic Tissue Expression Project and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). The necrosis-associated long-chain noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) were identified by Pearson correlation analysis. Then 8-necrotic-lncRNA models in the training, testing and entire sets were established through univariate Cox (uni-Cox) regression and Lasso-Cox regression. Finally, the prognostic ability of the 8-necrotic-lncRNA model was evaluated via survival analysis, nomogram, Cox regression, clinicopathological correlation analysis, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Gene enrichment analysis, principal component analysis, immune analysis and prediction of risk group semi-maximum inhibitory concentration (IC50) were also conducted. Correlations between characteristic risk score and immune cell infiltration, immune checkpoint molecules, somatic gene mutations, and anti-cancer drug sensitivity were analyzed. Eight necrosis-associated lncRNAs (AC099850.3, AC243829.2, AL139095.4, SAP30L-AS1, C5orf66-AS1, LIN02084, LIN00996, MIR4435-2HG) were developed to improve the prognosis prediction of HNSCC patients. The risk score distribution, survival status, survival time, and relevant expression standards of these lncRNAs were compared between low- and high-risk groups in the training, testing and entire sets. Kaplan–Meier analysis showed the low-risk patients had significantly better prognosis. The ROC curves revealed the model had an acceptable predictive value in the TCGA training and testing sets. Cox regression and stratified survival analysis indicated that the 8 necrosis-associated lncRNAs were risk factors independent of various clinical parameters. We recombined the patients into 2 clusters through Consensus ClusterPlus R package according to the expressions of necrotic lncRNAs. Significant differences were found in immune cell infiltration, immune checkpoint molecules, and IC50 between clusters, suggesting these characteristics can be used to evaluate the clinical efficacy of chemotherapy and immunotherapy. This risk model may serve as a prognostic signature and provide clues for individualized immunotherapy for HNSCC patients.
The relationship between clinical work stress and anxiety in master’s degree nursing students: The mediating role of psychological capital and social support
Authors: Ling Chunguang , Yu Shaojie
Published: June 2023

Work stress and anxiety are major problems faced by graduate nursing students. Research on the relationships between these factors has the potential to improve the psychological state of graduate nursing students. This study gathered a valid sample of 321 graduate nursing students and performed structural equation modeling and multiple regression to test the proposed research model. The study used the Clinician Work Stress Scale, Psychological Capital Scale, Social Support Rating Scale, and State-Trait Anxiety Scale to survey the sample. Correlation analysis showed that job stress was significantly correlated with psychological capital (r = −0.46, P < .01), social support (r = −0.21, P < .01), and anxiety (r = 0.47, P < .01). Psychological capital (r = −0.56, P < .01) and social support (r = −0.43, P < .01) were significantly correlated with anxiety. The results of the path analysis showed that psychological capital (0.21, 95% confidence interval: 0.19–0.39) and social support (0.07, 95% CI: 0.02–0.15) played a mediating role in the relationship between job stress and anxiety, and the mediating effect accounted for a percentage of the total effect (51.85%). There is a direct relationship between clinical social work stress and anxiety among nursing postgraduates. Anxiety is significantly reduced through the intermediary effects of psychological capital and social support.
Research hotspots and trends in internal fixation of femoral neck fractures from 2010 to 2022: A 12-year bibliometric analysis
Authors: Ling Wenkang , Chen Leilei
Published: June 2023

Background:

This study endeavors to scrutinize the hotspots and trends in the literature concerning the internal fixation of femoral neck fractures (INFNF) through a comprehensive bibliometric analysis. Notably, this analytical process encompasses both qualitative and quantitative components.

Methods:

The present study has utilized the Science Citation Index-Expanded from the Web of Science Core Collection to extract datasets ranging from January 1, 2010, to August 31, 2022. Quantitative analysis was carried out using sophisticated analytical tools such as the Bibliographic Item Co-Occurrence Matrix Builder, the Online Analysis Platform of Literature Metrology, and CiteSpace software. Further, the major Medical Subject Headings terms and their subheading counterparts associated with INFNF were extracted from the PubMed2XL website using the corresponding PMIDs. These Medical Subject Headings terms were employed in conducting a co-word clustering analysis. Ultimately, the Graphical CLUstering TOolkit program was utilized to execute a co-word biclustering analysis to discern the prevailing hotspots in this domain.

Results:

Between January 1, 2010, and August 31, 2022, a total of 463 publications were issued on INFNF. The INJURY-INTERNAL JOURNAL OF THE CARE OF THE INJURED stood out as the most extensively perused journal in this area. Notably, China emerged as the foremost contributor to publishing articles within the last 12 years, followed by the United States and Canada. McMaster University was identified as the leading institution in INFNF research, while Bhandari M emerged as the most prolific author in this field. Moreover, the study identified five notable research hotspots within the domain of INFNF.

Conclusions:

This study has identified five critical areas of research in the field of INFNF. It suggests that the primary focus of future research is likely to center on advancing internal fixation methods and robot-assisted instrumentation for femoral neck fractures. As such, this study provides valuable insights into future research directions and ideas for those working in this field.
Identification of a novel survival predictor, CSF2RB, for female lung cancer in never smokers (LCNS) by a bioinformatics analysis
Authors: Zhou Yuan-Yuan , Sun Xiao-Jun , Liu Jun-Quan , Xiang Ling-Li
Published: June 2023

Lung cancer in never smokers (LCNS) has been considered as a separate disease and the 7th cause of cancer-related death worldwide. However, limited research has focused on “female” cohorts, which have presented a higher incidence rate. In this study, the microarray data of lung cancer tissues derived from 54 female lung cancer patients, consisting of 43 nonsmokers and 11 smokers, were selected from GSE2109 dataset. A total of 249 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) including 102 up- and 147 down-regulated genes were identified and further analyzed for gene ontology (GO) terms and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment. By constructing protein–protein interaction (PPI) network and calculating key modules, 10 hub genes were screened out. The module analysis of the PPI network presented that the progression of female LCNS was significantly associated with immune response as chemokine activity and lipopolysaccharide response, and these biological processes (BP) might be mediated by chemokine signaling pathway and cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction. Then, survival analysis by Kaplan–Meier (K–M) Plotter online platform presented down-regulated gene colony stimulating factor 2 receptor beta common subunit (CSF2RB) of female LCNS might be involved in poor clinical outcome. Female LCNS with high expression of CSF2RB might be relevant with relative risk reduction of mortality, longer median survival time and higher 5-year survival rate, while female LCNS with low expression of CSF2RB might be implicated in a poor clinical outcome. In short, our results support CSF2RB to be a candidate survival predictor for female LCNS.
Outcomes of Gastrostomy and Tracheostomy in Infants Undergoing Truncus Arteriosus Repair: Database Study Using the Pediatric Health Information System
Authors: Hook Jessica E. , Delany Dennis R. , Buckley Jason R. , Chowdhury Shahryar M. , Kavarana Minoo N. , Costello John M.
Published: June 2023

OBJECTIVES:

We sought to determine the prevalence of and factors associated with gastrostomy tube placement and tracheostomy in infants undergoing truncus arteriosus repair, and associations between these procedures and outcome.

DESIGN:

Retrospective cohort study.

SETTING:

Pediatric Health Information System database.

PATIENTS:

Infants less than 90 days old who underwent truncus arteriosus repair from 2004 to 2019.

INTERVENTIONS:

None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS:

Multivariable logistic regression models were used to identify factors associated with gastrostomy tube and tracheostomy placement and to identify associations between these procedures and hospital mortality and prolonged postoperative length of stay (LOS; > 30 d). Of 1,645 subjects, gastrostomy tube was performed in 196 (11.9%) and tracheostomy in 56 (3.4%). Factors independently associated with gastrostomy tube placement were DiGeorge syndrome, congenital airway anomaly, admission age less than or equal to 2 days, vocal cord paralysis, cardiac catheterization, infection, and failure to thrive. Factors independently associated with tracheostomy congenital airway anomaly, truncal valve surgery, and cardiac catheterization. Gastrostomy tube was independently associated with prolonged postoperative LOS (odds ratio [OR], 12.10; 95% CI, 7.37–19.86). Hospital mortality occurred in 17 of 56 patients (30.4%) who underwent tracheostomy versus 147 of 1,589 patients (9.3%) who did not (p < 0.001), and median postoperative LOS was 148 days in patients who underwent tracheostomy versus 18 days in those who did not (p < 0.001). Tracheostomy was independently associated with mortality (OR, 3.11; 95% CI, 1.43–6.77) and prolonged postoperative LOS (OR, 9.85; 95% CI, 2.16–44.80).

CONCLUSIONS:

In infants undergoing truncus arteriosus repair, tracheostomy is associated with greater odds of mortality; while gastrostomy and tracheostomy are strongly associated with greater odds of prolonged postoperative LOS.
A Diagnostic Conundrum: A Case of Pediatric Autoimmune Pancreatitis
Authors: Ravanbakhsh Naseem , Shillingford Nick , Piester Travis L.
Published: June 2023

Autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) is rare cause of abdominal pain in children who often present with obstructive jaundice, mimicking malignancy. An investigation of clinical symptoms, serology, imaging, and histopathology is necessary for diagnosis. We report a 10-year-old female presenting with abdominal pain and jaundice, ultimately found to have AIP after confirmation with tissue pathology. Our patient’s prompt response to corticosteroid initiation is characteristic of this disease state. AIP has 2 subtypes, the second of which is more frequently found in children. Our patient’s pathology did not fit perfectly with either subtype, but had features found in each one. While diagnostic criteria for AIP have not established in pediatrics, our case highlights the combination of clinical symptoms, imaging, and histopathology that children classically present with. While rare, the diagnosis of AIP is associated with comorbidities and must be considered in any child presenting with a pancreatic mass or biliary stricture.
Gaps Between the Indication and the Home Execution of Massage Therapy in Children in the Postsurgical Stage of Primary Cheiloplasty or Rhinocheiloplasty
Authors: Montero-Orellana María José , Fuentes-Orellana María Rosa , Ossa-Cox Matías
Published: June 2023

Purpose:

This study describes the compliance rate with home massage therapy in children in the postsurgical stage of primary cheiloplasty or rhinocheiloplasty and the factors that facilitate or hinder its execution.

Methods:

The parents of 15 children treated at the Gantz Foundation - Children’s hospital for cleft lip and palate in Santiago, Chile were recruited. Parents received instructions to perform massages at home 5 times daily and were followed up for 3 months by recording in a log. Qualitative information on facilitators and barriers was collected in a focus group session.

Results:

Compliance rate was close to 75%, and the factors that facilitated the execution were performing the massage with some distracting activity and noticing the positive changes in the appearance of the scars. The most important factors that hindered the execution were the infant’s crying and changes in the routine.

Conclusion:

The authors conclude that the compliance rate is high and suggest that parents and guardians identify and implement a routine with a distracting activity that allows the massage to be carried out effectively.
Single-cell transcriptomic and TCR analysis of human Cytomegalovirus (hCMV)-specific memory T cells reveals effector and pre-effectors of CD8+- and CD4+-cytotoxic T cells
Authors: Kar Raunak , Chattopadhyay Somdeb , Sharma Anjali , Sharma Kirti , Sinha Shreya , Arimbasseri Gopalakrishnan Aneeshkumar , Patil Veena S.
Published: June 2023

Background

Latent human Cytomegalovirus (hCMV) infection can pose a serious threat of reactivation and disease occurrence in immune-compromised individuals. Though, T cells are at the core of the protective immune response to hCMV infection, a detailed characterization of different T cell subsets involved in hCMV immunity is lacking.

Results

Here, in an unbiased manner, we characterized over 8000 hCMV-reactive peripheral memory T cells isolated from seropositive human donors, at a single-cell resolution by analyzing their single-cell transcriptomes paired with the T cell antigen receptor (TCR) repertoires. The hCMV-reactive T cells were highly heterogeneous and consisted of different developmental and functional memory T cell subsets such as, long-term memory precursors and effectors, T helper-17, T regulatory cells (TREGs) and cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) of both CD4 and CD8 origin. The hCMV-specific TREGs, in addition to being enriched for molecules known for their suppressive functions, showed enrichment for the interferon response signature gene sets. The hCMV-specific CTLs were of two types, the pre-effector and effector-like. The co-clustering of hCMV-specific CD4-CTLs and CD8-CTLs in both pre-effector as well as effector clusters suggest shared transcriptomic signatures between them. The huge TCR clonal expansion of cytotoxic clusters suggest a dominant role in protective immune response to CMV.

Conclusions

The study uncovers the heterogeneity in the hCMV-specific memory T cells reveling many functional subsets with potential implications in better understanding of hCMV-specific T cell immunity. The data presented can serve as a knowledge base for designing vaccines and therapeutics.
A prognostic matrix code defines functional glioblastoma phenotypes and niches
Authors: Vishnoi Monika , Dereli Zeynep , Yin Zheng , Kong Elisabeth K. , Kinali Meric , Thapa Kisan , Babur Ozgun , Yun Kyuson , Abdelfattah Nourhan , Li Xubin , Bozorgui Behnaz , Rostomily Robert C. , Korkut Anil
Published: June 2023

Interactions among tumor, immune and vascular niches play major roles in driving glioblastoma (GBM) malignancy and treatment responses. The composition, heterogeneity, and localization of extracellular core matrix proteins (CMPs) that mediate such interactions, however, are not well understood. Here, we characterize functional and clinical relevance of genes encoding CMPs in GBM at bulk, single cell, and spatial anatomical resolution. We identify a “matrix code” for genes encoding CMPs whose expression levels categorize GBM tumors into matrisome-high and matrisome-low groups that correlate with worse and better survival, respectively, of patients. The matrisome enrichment is associated with specific driver oncogenic alterations, mesenchymal state, infiltration of pro-tumor immune cells and immune checkpoint gene expression. Anatomical and single cell transcriptome analyses indicate that matrisome gene expression is enriched in vascular and leading edge/infiltrative anatomic structures that are known to harbor glioma stem cells driving GBM progression. Finally, we identified a 17-gene matrisome signature that retains and further refines the prognostic value of genes encoding CMPs and, importantly, potentially predicts responses to PD1 blockade in clinical trials for GBM. The matrisome gene expression profiles may provide biomarkers of functionally relevant GBM niches that contribute to mesenchymal-immune cross talk and patient stratification to optimize treatment responses.
Trophic ecology of the African riverine elephant fishes (Mormyridae)
Authors: Sommer Gina Maria , Njom Samuel Didier , Indermaur Adrian , Bitja Nyom Arnold Roger , Horká Petra , Kukla Jaroslav , Musilova Zuzana
Published: June 2023

Multiple species of the elephant fishes (Mormyridae) commonly coexist in sympatry in most African tropical rivers and lakes. In this study, we investigated the trophic ecology and potential trophic niche partitioning of eleven mormyrid fish species from the Sanaga River system (Cameroon) using the stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen of muscles and of trophic prey samples. Albeit mormyrids mainly feed on invertebrates, we found differences in isotope signals and the trophic niche partitioning in the studied species. We further show that species with elongated snout tend to show higher carbon and nitrogen isotope signals, suggesting a potential role of snout shape in their trophic preferences. Furthermore, we found significant differences in isotopic signatures within theMormyrusgenus, highlighting ecological niche diversification among three closely related species. We also report on different isotopic signals between seasons of the year in four species, possibly caused by species migration and/or anthropogenic agricultural activities. Overall, our research presents robust evidence of the trophic niche partitioning within the entire mormyrid species community, shedding light on the enigmatic evolutionary history of these fascinating African fishes.
Automated cell annotation in multi-cell images using an improved CRF_ID algorithm
Authors: Lee Hyun Jee , Liang Jingting , Chaudhary Shivesh , Moon Sihoon , Yu Zikai , Wu Taihong , Liu He , Choi Myung-Kyu , Zhang Yun , Lu Hang
Published: June 2023

Cell identification is an important yet difficult process in data analysis of biological images. Previously, we developed an automated cell identification method called CRF_ID and demonstrated its high performance inC. eleganswhole-brain images (Chaudhary et al, 2021). However, because the method was optimized for whole-brain imaging, comparable performance could not be guaranteed for application in commonly usedC. elegansmulti-cell images that display a subpopulation of cells. Here, we present an advance CRF_ID 2.0 that expands the generalizability of the method to multi-cell imaging beyond whole-brain imaging. To illustrate the application of the advance, we show the characterization of CRF_ID 2.0 in multi-cell imaging and cell-specific gene expression analysis inC. elegans. This work demonstrates that high accuracy automated cell annotation in multi-cell imaging can expedite cell identification and reduce its subjectivity inC. elegansand potentially other biological images of various origins.