bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The effect of reproductive hormones on women’s daily smoking across the menstrual cycle
Authors: Ethier Ashley R. , McKinney Ty L. , Tottenham Laurie Sykes , Gordon Jennifer L.
Published: June 2021

Background

Women attempt to quit smoking less often than men and are less likely to maintain abstinence. Reproductive hormones have been postulated as a reason for this sex difference, though this remains to be clarified. Research suggests that estradiol and progesterone may influence nicotine addiction, though various methodologies have led to inconsistent findings. The current study aimed to directly examine the effect of reproductive hormones on women’s smoking behavior.

Methods

Over the course of one menstrual cycle, twenty-one female smokers recorded the number of cigarettes smoked in a day, as well as their perceived need for and enjoyment of cigarettes smoked. Additionally, they provided 12 urine samples for the measurement of the urinary metabolites of estradiol (estrone-3-glucuronide, E1G) and progesterone (pregnanediol glucuronide, PdG). Multilevel modeling was used to examine the effects of hormone levels as well as hormone change on smoking outcomes.

Results

When PdG levels were low, they were inversely associated with daily cigarettes smoked. Furthermore, E1G level was negatively associated with both self-reported need for and enjoyment of cigarettes smoked but not the number of cigarettes smoked. Examining the effect of hormonal change on smoking outcomes revealed a significant interaction between change in PdG and E1G on number of cigarettes smoked such that only a simultaneous drop or increase in both hormones was associated with a greater number of cigarettes. Hormonal change effects on need for and enjoyment of cigarettes were not significant.

Conclusions

The present study suggests that (1) elevated progesterone levels lessen the propensity to smoke in women, (2) estrogen levels influence women’s subjective experience of smoking, and (3) simultaneous drops or increases in these hormones are associated with increased smoking.
Deep learning-based amyloid PET positivity classification model in the Alzheimer’s disease continuum by using 2-[18F]FDG PET
Authors: Kim Suhong , Lee Peter , Oh Kyeong Taek , Byun Min Soo , Yi Dahyun , Lee Jun Ho , Kim Yu Kyeong , Ye Byoung Seok , Yun Mi Jin , Lee Dong Young , Jeong Yong ,   the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative,   the KBASE Research Group
Published: June 2021

Background

Considering the limited accessibility of amyloid position emission tomography (PET) in patients with dementia, we proposed a deep learning (DL)-based amyloid PET positivity classification model from PET images with 2-deoxy-2-[fluorine-18]fluoro-D-glucose (2-[18F]FDG).

Methods

We used 2-[18F]FDG PET datasets from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative and Korean Brain Aging Study for the Early diagnosis and prediction of Alzheimer’s disease for model development. Moreover, we used an independent dataset from another hospital. A 2.5-D deep learning architecture was constructed using 291 submodules and three axes images as the input. We conducted the voxel-wise analysis to assess the regions with substantial differences in glucose metabolism between the amyloid PET-positive and PET-negative participants. This facilitated an understanding of the deep model classification. In addition, we compared these regions with the classification probability from the submodules.

Results

There were 686 out of 1433 (47.9%) and 50 out of 100 (50%) amyloid PET-positive participants in the training and internal validation datasets and the external validation datasets, respectively. With 50 times iterations of model training and validation, the model achieved an AUC of 0.811 (95% confidence interval (CI) of 0.803–0.819) and 0.798 (95% CI, 0.789–0.807) on the internal and external validation datasets, respectively. The area under the curve (AUC) was 0.860 when tested with the model with the highest value (0.864) on the external validation dataset. Moreover, it had 75.0% accuracy, 76.0% sensitivity, 74.0% specificity, and 75.0% F1-score. We found an overlap between the regions within the default mode network, thus generating high classification values.

Conclusion

The proposed model based on the 2-[18F]FDG PET imaging data and a DL framework might successfully classify amyloid PET positivity in clinical practice, without performing amyloid PET, which have limited accessibility.
Down-regulation of biofilm-associated genes in mecA-positive methicillin-resistant S. aureus treated with M. communis extract and its antibacterial activity
Authors: Khaleghi Moj , Khorrami Sadegh
Published: June 2021

Considering the prevalence of resistance to antibiotics, the discovery of effective agents against resistant pathogens is of extreme urgency. Herein, 26mecA-positive methicillin-resistantS. aureus(MRSA) isolated from clinical samples were identified, and their resistance to 11 antibiotics was investigated. Next, the antibacterial and anti-biofilm activity of the ethanolic extract ofM. communison these strains was evaluated. Furthermore, the effect of this extract on the expression of biofilm-associated genes,icaA,icaD,bap,sarA, andagr, was studied. According to the results, all isolated strains were multidrug-resistant and showed resistance to oxacillin and tetracycline. Also, 96.15 and 88.46 % of them were resistant to gentamicin and erythromycin. However, the extract could effectively combat the strains. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against different strains ranged from 1.56 to 25 mg/ml and the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) was between 3.125 and 50 mg/ml. Even though most MRSA (67 %) strongly produced biofilm, the sub-MIC concentration of the extract destroyed the pre-formed biofilm and affected the bacterial cells inside the biofilm. It could also inhibit biofilm development by significantly decreasing the expression oficaA,icaD,sarAandbapgenes involved in biofilm formation and development. In conclusion, the extract inhibits biofilm formation, ruins pre-formed biofilm, and kills cells living inside the biofilm. Furthermore, it down-regulates the expression of necessary genes and nips the biofilm formation in the bud.
Blocking siglec-10hi tumor-associated macrophages improves anti-tumor immunity and enhances immunotherapy for hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Xiao Nan , Zhu Xiaodong , Li Kangshuai , Chen Yifan , Liu Xuefeng , Xu Bin , Lei Ming , Xu Jiejie , Sun Hui-Chuan
Published: June 2021

Background

Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) promote key processes in the modulation of tumor microenvironment (TME). However, the clinical significance of heterogeneous subpopulations of TAMs in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unknown.

Methods

HCC tissues from Zhongshan Hospital and data from The Cancer Genome Atlas were obtained and analyzed. Immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry were performed to detect the characteristics of sialic acid-binding immunoglobulin-like lectin 10high(Siglec-10hi) TAMs and explore their impact on the TME of HCC. The effect of Siglec-10 blockade was evaluated in vitro based on fresh human tumor tissues.

Results

Our data revealed that Siglec-10 was abundant in a large proportion of HCC specimens and prominently distributed on macrophages. Kaplan–Meier curves and Cox regression analysis showed that intratumoral Siglec-10+cell enrichment was associated with unfavorable prognosis in patients with HCC. Notably, multiple anti-inflammatory cytokines and inhibitory receptors were enriched in Siglec-10hiTAMs. RNA sequencing data also revealed that numerous M2-like signaling pathways were significantly upregulated in Siglec-10hiTAMs. High infiltration of Siglec-10hiTAMs was associated with impaired CD8+T cell function in HCC. Of note, blocking Siglec-10 with the competitive binding antibody Siglec-10 Fc led to decreased expression of immunosuppressive molecules and increased the cytotoxic effects of CD8+T cells against HCC cells. Moreover, blocking Siglec-10 promoted the anti-tumor efficacy of the programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) inhibitor pembrolizumab.

Conclusions

Siglec-10hiTAMs are associated with immune suppression in the TME, and indicate poor prognosis in patients with HCC. Targeting Siglec-10hiTAMs may serve as a promising immunotherapy approach for HCC.
Access to care and worsening eating disorder symptomatology in youth during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Spigel Rebecca , Lin Jessica A. , Milliren Carly E. , Freizinger Melissa , Vitagliano Julia A. , Woods Elizabeth R. , Forman Sara F. , Richmond Tracy K.
Published: June 2021

Background

Shelter-in-place orders and social distancing guidelines, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, have limited traditional face-to-face interactions and led to many clinical providers transitioning to the use of videoconferencing platforms. The present study aims to assess how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted adolescents’/young adults’ (AYA) eating disorder (ED)-related care, and how access to, changes in, perceived disruptions to, and quality of care are associated with ED thoughts and behaviors.

Methods

AYA enrolled in the RECOVERY study, a pre-existing web-based longitudinal study, and completed a COVID-19-specific survey (n = 89). We examined bivariate associations of four markers of care: i) access to care, ii) changes in care, iii) perceived disruption to care, and iv) quality of care. Using multiple logistic regression, we examined the associations of pandemic-related markers of care with changes in ED thoughts and behaviors. We excluded those not engaged in treatment pre-pandemic (n = 16).

Results

In the remaining 73 participants, reported access to care was high, with 92% of respondents continuing care with at least one ED provider during the pandemic; however, 47% stopped some treatment during the pandemic. Nearly one-third (32%) perceived a disruption in treatment. Quality of care remained high with 67% reporting care to be better than or as good as pre-pandemic. Respondents acknowledged heightened symptomatology: 81% reported increased ED thoughts and 81% reported increased ED behaviors due to COVID-19-related factors. However, none of the markers of care described were significantly associated with ED thoughts or behaviors in regression analyses adjusting for demographic variables and baseline characteristics, except our quality of care measure which was approaching significance (p = 0.07).

Conclusions

Our findings show the majority of AYA who had care prior to the pandemic continued receiving some element of their multi-disciplinary ED treatment and perceived their care as high quality. None of the markers of care described were statistically associated with increased ED thoughts and behaviors.
LncRNAs serve as novel biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis of childhood ALL
Authors: Huang Xuanmei , Huang Libin , Xie Qing , Zhang Ling , Huang Shaohui , Hong Mingye , Li Jiangbin , Huang Zunnan , Zhang Hua
Published: June 2021

Background

Although some studies have demonstrated that lncRNAs are dysregulated in hematopoietic malignancies and may regulate the progression of leukemia, the detailed mechanism underlying tumorigenesis is still unclear. This study aimed to investigate lncRNAs that are differentially expressed in childhood B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) and T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) and their potential roles in the progression of childhood ALL.

Methods

Microarrays were used to detect differentially expressed lncRNAs and mRNAs. Several aberrantly expressed lncRNAs were validated by qRT-PCR. Leukemia-free survival was analyzed using the Kaplan–Meier method with a log-rank test. The co-expression correlations of lncRNAs and mRNAs were determined by Spearman’s correlation coefficient. CCK-8 assays and flow cytometry were performed to measure cell proliferation and apoptosis.

Results

We revealed that many lncRNAs were abnormally expressed in B-ALL and T-ALL. LncRNA/mRNA co-expression and the gene locus network showed that dysregulated lncRNAs are involved in diverse cellular processes. We also assessed the diagnostic value of the differentially expressed lncRNAs and confirmed the optimal combination of TCONS_00026679, uc002ubt.1, ENST00000411904, and ENST00000547644 with an area under the curve of 0.9686 [95 % CI: 0.9369–1.000, P < 0.001], with 90.7 % sensitivity and 92.19 % specificity, at a cut-off point of -0.5700 to distinguish childhood B-ALL patients from T-ALL patients, implying that these specific lncRNAs may have potential to detect subsets of childhood ALL. Notably, we found that the 8-year leukemia-free survival of patients with high TCONS_00026679 (p = 0.0081), ENST00000522339 (p = 0.0484), ENST00000499583 (p = 0.0381), ENST00000457217 (p = 0.0464), and ENST00000451368 (p = 0.0298) expression levels was significantly higher than that of patients with low expression levels of these lncRNAs, while patients with high uc002ubt.1 (p = 0.0499) and ENST00000547644 (p = 0.0451) expression levels exhibited markedly shorter 8-year leukemia-free survival. In addition, some lncRNAs were found to play different roles in cell proliferation and apoptosis in T-ALL and B-ALL.

Conclusions

Dysregulated lncRNAs involved in different regulatory mechanisms underlying the progression of childhood T-ALL and B-ALL might serve as novel biomarkers to distinguish ALL subsets and indicate poor outcomes.
Novel sensitivity method for evaluating the first derivative of the feed-forward neural network outputs
Authors: Kiran Ravi , Naik Dayakar L.
Published: June 2021

Evaluating the exact first derivative of a feedforward neural network (FFNN) output with respect to the input feature is pivotal for performing the sensitivity analysis of the trained neural network with respect to the inputs. In this paper, a novel method is presented that computes the analytical quality first derivative of a trained feedforward neural network output with respect to the input features without the need for backpropagation. To this end, the complex step derivative approximation is illustrated, and its implementation in the framework of the feedforward neural network is described. Artificial datasets are generated, and the efficacy of the proposed method for both regression and classification tasks is demonstrated. The results obtained for the regression task indicated that the proposed method is capable of obtaining analytical quality derivatives, and in the case of the classification task, the least relevant features could be identified.
Using miniaturized GPS archival tags to assess home range features of a small plunge-diving bird: the European Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)
Authors: Musseau Raphaël , Bastianelli Melina , Bely Clementine , Rousselle Céline , Dehorter Olivier
Published: June 2021

Background

The European Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) is a small plunge-diving bird, today considered a species of conservation concern in Europe given its rapid population decline observed across the continent. We implemented a pilot study aimed at providing first data allowing to: (1) assess home range features of the European Kingfisher for populations with unevenly distributed feeding habitats; (2) define conservation implications for habitats exploited by such populations; and (3) evaluate possibilities for developing GPS tracking schemes dedicated to home range studies for this species that could be possibly applied to other small plunge-diving birds.

Methods

In 2018 and 2019, we equipped 16 breeding European Kingfishers sampled within the marshes of the Gironde Estuary (France), with miniaturized and waterproof GPS archival tags deployed with leg-loop harnesses (total equipment mass = 1.4 g; average bird mass = 40.18 ± 1.12 g).

Results

On average, we collected 35.31 ± 6.66 locations usable for analyses, without a significant effect on bird body condition (n = 13 tags retrieved). Data analyses highlighted rather limited home ranges exploited by birds (average = 2.50 ± 0.55 ha), composed on average by 2.78 ± 0.40 location nuclei. Our results also underscore: (1) a rather important home range fragmentation index (0.36 ± 0.08); and (2) the use by birds of different types of small wetlands (wet ditches, small ponds or small waterholes), often exploited in addition to habitats encompassing nest locations.

Conclusions

Our study reveals interesting GPS tracking possibilities for small plunge-diving birds such as the European Kingfisher. For this species, today classified as vulnerable in Europe, our results underline the importance of developing conservation and ecological restoration policies for wetland networks that would integrate small wetlands particularly sensitive to global change.
Racial equity in the fight against COVID-19: a qualitative study examining the importance of collecting race-based data in the Canadian context
Authors: Ahmed Ranie , Jamal Omer , Ishak Waleed , Nabi Kiran , Mustafa Nida
Published: June 2021

Background

A failure to ensure racial equity in response to the COVID-19 pandemic has caused Black communities in Canada to disproportionately be impacted. The aim of the current study was to determine the needs and concerns of Black communities in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and to highlight the importance of collecting race-based COVID-19 data early on to address these needs.

Methods

Six qualitative interviews were conducted with local community health centre leaders who serve a high population of racialized communities within the GTA. Content analysis was used to extract the main themes and concerns raised during the interviews.

Results

The findings from this study provide further evidence of the disproportionate impact COVID-19 has had on Black and other racialized communities. Difficulty self-isolating due to overcrowded housing, food insecurity, and less social support for seniors were concerns identified by community health leaders. Also, enhanced financial support for front-line workers, such as Personal Support Workers (PSWs), was an important concern raised. In order to lessen the impact of the pandemic on these communities, leaders noted the need for greater accessibility of testing centres in these areas and a greater investment in tailored health promotion approaches.

Conclusions

Overall, our findings point to the importance of collecting race-based data to ensure an equitable response to the pandemic. The current “one size fits all” response is not effective for all individuals, especially Black communities. Not all populations have access to the same resources, nor do they live in the same conditions (Kantamneni, J Vocal Behav 119:103439, 2020). A deeper consideration of the social determinants of health are needed when implementing COVID-19 policies and responses. Also, a lack of attention to Black communities only continues to perpetuate the under-acknowledged issue of anti-Black racism prevalent in Canada.
Comparative analysis of Rosetta stone events in Klebsiella pneumoniae and Streptococcus pneumoniae for drug target identification
Authors: Ramesh Poornima , Nagendrappa Jayashree Honnebailu , Shivashankara Santosh Kumar Hulikal
Published: June 2021

Background

Drug target identification is a fast-growing field of research in many human diseases. Many strategies have been devised in the post-genomic era to identify new drug targets for infectious diseases. Analysis of protein sequences from different organisms often reveals cases of exon/ORF shuffling in a genome. This results in the fusion of proteins/domains, either in the same genome or that of some other organism, and is termed Rosetta stone sequences. They help link disparate proteins together describing local and global relationships among proteomes. The functional role of proteins is determined mainly by domain-domain interactions and leading to the corresponding signaling mechanism. Putative proteins can be identified as drug targets by re-annotating their functional role through domain-based strategies.

Results

This study has utilized a bioinformatics approach to identify the putative proteins that are ideal drug targets for pneumonia infection by re-annotating the proteins through position-specific iterations. The putative proteome of two pneumonia-causing pathogens was analyzed to identify protein domain abundance and versatility among them. Common domains found in both pathogens were identified, and putative proteins containing these domains were re-annotated. Among many druggable protein targets, the re-annotation of EJJ83173 (which contains the GFO_IDH_MocA domain) showed that its probable function is glucose-fructose oxidoreduction. This protein was found to have sufficient interactor proteins and homolog in both pathogens but no homolog in the host (human), indicating it as an ideal drug target. 3D modeling of the protein showed promising model parameters. The model was utilized for virtual screening which revealed several ligands with inhibitory activity. These ligands included molecules documented in traditional Chinese medicine and currently marketed drugs.

Conclusions

This novel strategy of drug target identification through domain-based putative protein re-annotation presents a prospect to validate the proposed drug target to confer its utility as a typical protein targeting both pneumonia-causing species studied herewith.
International efforts at implementing and advancing the recovery model
Authors: Ahmed Anthony O. , Buckley Peter F. , Mabe P. Alex
Published: June 2021

For almost a century the medical model has been the overarching framework for mental healthcare but since the 1980s it has been challenged by a consumer/survivor movement. Central to this revolution is the recovery model, which suggests that mental illness is only one of many facets of the life of an individual with mental illness, and that a full, meaningful life is possible despite illness (Anthony, 1993). The medical model emphasises the role of symptomatic improvements and functional status, and considers recovery as an ‘outcome’ or ‘end state’, at which point symptoms are remitted and community functioning is restored. In contrast, the recovery model underscores hope, empowerment, the self-management of illness and some aspects of community functioning, such as social support and role functioning, which operate in a non-linear fashion throughout the recovery journey.
The traditional belief system in relation to mental health and psychiatric services in Sudan
Authors: Sorketti E. A. , Zuraida N. Z. , Habil M. H.
Published: June 2021

Traditional healers' centres may constitute community resources for people with a mental illness. Many low-income countries are seeking to integrate mental health into their mainstream health services and primary healthcare, so as to decrease the duration of untreated illness. Traditional healers can help to meet these needs. A series of four studies has been conducted in central Sudan. In-patients with mental disorders undergoing treatment with traditional healers were recruited, as well as some of the healers themselves. The resulting observations should help practitioners trained in Western psychiatry to better understand traditional healing as an alternative healthcare system. The results should contribute to current debates on whether or not traditional healers in Africa should be officially recognised as healthcare providers. They should also deepen social scientists' understanding of the role of culture in mental health and help policy makers to improve mental health services.
Suicide prevention: the evidence on safer clinical care is now good and should be adopted internationally
Authors: Appleby Louis
Published: June 2021

The global economic downturn seems to be associated with a rise in suicide rates in many countries but we should not assume that this is a social rather than a clinical phenomenon. Mental health patients may be particularly vulnerable to unemployment and other hardships and to cuts in the care they receive. There is now no shortage of evidence on how clinical services and health policies can reduce suicide, and in England a new suicide prevention strategy was recently launched for public consultation. What we lack is an effective forum where a rigorous examination of international evidence can take place, with the findings translated into actions.
Challenges of clinical trials in low- and middle-income countries
Authors: Osei Akwasi
Published: June 2021

Clinical trials have been conducted almost wholly in high-income countries until recently, yet their results may not always be valid or applicable in middle- and low-income countries. Clinical trials are now, though, increasingly being done in less wealthy countries. While this is welcome, there is a need to ensure the profit motive does not override the benefits. Partnership with local counterparts while adhering to international standards should help to maintain high-quality output from clinical trials.
Next-Generation Implementation of Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cell Therapy Using Digital Health
Authors: Banerjee Rahul , Shah Nina , Dicker Adam P.
Published: June 2021

Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy is a paradigm-shifting immunotherapy modality in oncology; however, unique toxicities such as cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and immune effector cell–associated neurotoxicity syndrome limit its ability to be implemented more widely in the outpatient setting or at smaller-volume centers. Three operational challenges with CAR-T therapy include the following: (1) the logistics of toxicity monitoring, ie, with frequent vital sign checks and neurologic assessments; (2) the specialized knowledge required for toxicity management, particularly with regard to CRS and immune effector cell–associated neurotoxicity syndrome; and (3) the need for high-quality symptomatic and supportive care during this intensive period. In this review, we explore potential niches for digital innovations that can improve the implementation of CAR-T therapy in each of these domains. These tools include patient-facing technologies and provider-facing platforms: for example, wearable devices and mobile health apps to screen for fevers and encephalopathy, electronic patient-reported outcome assessments–based workflows to assist with symptom management, machine learning algorithms to predict emerging CRS in real time, clinical decision support systems to assist with toxicity management, and digital coaching to help maintain wellness. Televisits, which have grown in prominence since the novel coronavirus pandemic, will continue to play a key role in the monitoring and management of CAR-T–related toxicities as well. Limitations of these strategies include the need to ensure care equity and stakeholder buy-in, both operationally and financially. Nevertheless, once developed and validated, the next-generation implementation of CAR-T therapy using these digital tools may improve both its safety and accessibility.
FOXR2 Stabilizes MYCN Protein and Identifies Non–MYCN-Amplified Neuroblastoma Patients With Unfavorable Outcome
Authors: Schmitt-Hoffner Felix , van Rijn Sjoerd , Toprak Umut H. , Mauermann Monika , Rosemann Felix , Heit-Mondrzyk Anke , Hübner Jens-Martin , Camgöz Aylin , Hartlieb Sabine , Pfister Stefan M. , Henrich Kai-Oliver , Westermann Frank , Kool Marcel
Published: June 2021

PURPOSE

Clinical outcomes of patients with neuroblastoma range from spontaneous tumor regression to fatality. Hence, understanding the mechanisms that cause tumor progression is crucial for the treatment of patients. In this study, we show that FOXR2 activation identifies a subset of neuroblastoma tumors with unfavorable outcome and we investigate the mechanism how FOXR2 relates to poor outcome in patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We analyzed three independent transcriptional data sets of in total 1030 primary neuroblastomas with full clinical annotation. We performed immunoprecipitation for FOXR2 and MYCN and silenced FOXR2 expression in two neuroblastoma cell lines to examine the effect on cellular processes, transcriptome, and MYCN protein levels. Tumor samples were analyzed for protein levels of FOXR2 and MYCN.

RESULTS

In three combined neuroblastoma data sets, 9% of tumors show expression of FOXR2 but have low levels of MYCN mRNA. FOXR2 expression identifies a group of patients with unfavorable outcome, showing 10-year overall survival rates of 53%-59%, and proves to be an independent prognostic factor compared with established risk factors. Transcriptionally, FOXR2-expressing tumors are very similar to MYCN-amplified tumors, suggesting that they might share a common mechanism of tumor initiation. FOXR2 knockdown in FOXR2-expressing neuroblastoma cell lines resulted in cell cycle arrest, reduced cell growth, cell death, and reduced MYCN protein levels, all indicating that FOXR2 is essential for these tumors. Finally, we show that FOXR2 binds and stabilizes MYCN protein and MYCN protein levels are highly increased in FOXR2-expressing tumors, in several cases comparable with MYCN-amplified samples.

CONCLUSION

The stabilization of MYCN by FOXR2 represents an alternative mechanism to MYCN amplification to increase MYCN protein levels. As such, FOXR2 expression identifies another subset of neuroblastoma patients with unfavorable clinical outcome.
The World in Question
Authors: Garrido Germán
Published: June 2021

This essay focuses on two radical gay/homosexual organizations of the early 1970s: Third World Gay Revolution (TWGR)—a small group of radical Black and Latinx activists that spun off from the Gay Liberation Front in 1970—and the Argentine organization Homosexual Liberation Front (FLH), which was active between 1971 and 1976. By analyzing periodicals, bulletins, and other ephemera produced by them, Garrido demonstrates how both groups not only articulated demands related to queer sexualities in relation to those of other oppressed communities but also inscribed their gay struggles in a movement for the liberation of all peoples on a planetary scale within the framework provided by third world anticolonial and anti-imperialist struggles being waged in African, Asian, and Latin American countries at the time. TWGR and the FLH engaged in “dissident forms of cosmopolitanism” (Chela Sandoval) that drew, in part, from the imaginary of a world in dispute—a world in which colonial and (neo)colonial/imperialist powers were being challenged and third worldism as a global emancipatory project led by “the darker nations” (Vijay Prashad) was gaining ground. At the dawn of neoliberal globalization, both organizations advanced a radical political agenda based on values of social justice with a spirit of transnational solidarity that, Garrido argues, may inspire the multidimensional nature of a queer cosmopolitics to come.
Can we detect fibrofatty band in patients with bowel obstruction on CT scan?
Authors: Li Chunhei , Pallas Robert , Frewer Natasha , Cornish Julie , Ellis-Owen Rwth
Published: June 2021

Fibrofatty bands are composed of adipose tissue and connective tissue and can tangle around the bowel and caused intestinal obstruction. Currently, there is a lack of radiological teaching or guidance on how to identify fibrofatty band in patients with bowel obstruction. The true incidence of fibrofatty band-induced bowel obstruction is likely to have been overlooked. We present a case series of patients with fibrofatty bands with different features and aim to highlight the key radiological findings that may help in the radiological diagnosis. We advocate that these features should be incorporated into the current algorithm for radiologist when assessing scan images of patients with intestinal obstruction.
Panoramic imaged carotid atheromas are associated with increased neutrophil count: both validated, independent predictors of near-term myocardial infarction
Authors: Chang Tina I , Wu Xiuju , Boström Kristina I , Tran Hoang-Anh , Couto-Souza Paulo Henrique , Friedlander Arthur H
Published: June 2021

Objectives:

Panoramic images (PXs) demonstrating calcified carotid artery atheromas (CCAAs) are associated with heightened risk of near-term myocardial infarction (MI). Elevated neutrophil counts (NC) within normal range 2,500–6,000 per mm3 are likewise associated with future MI signaling the role neutrophils play in the chronic inflammation process underlying coronary artery atherogenesis. We determined if CCAAs on PXs are associated with increased NC.

Methods:

Investigators implemented a retrospective study of PXs and accompanying medical records of white males ≥ 65 years treated by a VA dental service. Two groups (N = 60 each) were constituted, one with atheromas (CCAA+) and one without (CCAA-). Predictor variable was CCAA + and outcome variable was NC. Bootstrapping analysis determined the difference in mean NCs between two groups, significance set at ≤0.05.

Results:

The study group of (CCAA+) (mean age 75.9; range 69–91 years) demonstrated a mean NC of 4,843 per mm3 and control group (CCAA-) (mean age 75.3; range; 66–94) a mean NC of 4,108 per mm3. The difference between the groups was significant (p = 0.0008) (95% CI of difference of mean: −432, 431; observed effect size 736).

Conclusions:

CCAAs on PXs of elderly white males are associated with elevated NC; amplifying need for medical consultation prior to invasive dental procedures.
Case Report: The efficacy of early phacoemulsification in the intraocular pressure control in primary angle closure glaucoma associated with cataract in a young female
Authors: Leferman Carmen-Ecaterina , Cazacut Madalina , Ciubotaru Alin Dumitru
Published: June 2021

Glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. Among different types of glaucoma, irreversible bilateral visual impairment is more common in primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG) patients. PACG and cataract often coexist and are both more prevalent among the elderly population, being rare in children and young adults.

Here, we discuss the case of a 39-year-old Caucasian woman with unilateral PACG associated with cataract. The patient presented with a several-day history of left sided headache, decreased and blurred vision as well as pain and redness of the left eye (LE). She reported similar episodes in the previous year. Visual acuity (VA) of the LE was limited to counting fingers and intra-ocular pressure (IOP) of the LE was 42 mmHg. Anterior segment examination of the LE revealed: edematous cornea, a peripheral anterior chamber depth corresponding to Van Herick’s grade 0, mid-dilated pupil and lens opacities with visible glaukomflecken. Gonioscopic evaluation revealed iridotrabecular contact for 360º, no visible angle structures and a flat–mild convex iris contour. Spectral domain optical coherence tomography suggested only a thinning of neuro-retinal rim at the lower pole. Following treatment of the initial symptoms, phacoemulsification with intra-ocular lens implant was performed. IOP improved and no IOP-lowering medication was required. The patient was monitored for VA, IOP, field of vision changes, and optic disc evaluation every six months for 2 years and no glaucomatous change occurred. The patient also denied ocular symptoms during this period.

This case supports the effectiveness of early phacoemulsification in the IOP control in patients with PACG.
Risk factors and experiences of prepartum depression in urban- low-income settlement Nairobi Kenya: a mixed-method study
Authors: Madeghe Beatrice A. , Kogi-Makau Wambui , Ngala Sophia , Kumar Manasi
Published: June 2021

Background: Prepartum depression is common among pregnant women and has not been studied much in low and middle-income countries. Evidence shows that mental illnesses are prevalent in urban than in rural areas. The study objective was to determine the magnitude of prepartum depression, risk factors, and real-life experiences of depression among pregnant women.

Method: A mixed-method cross-sectional study was conducted. It included 262 pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in two public health facilities in urban low-income settlement Nairobi, Kenya. Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) with cut-off >13 was used to classify clinical depressive illness. Further, a focus group discussion was conducted with 20 women identified with depression. Univariable analysis with Odd's Ratio was used to test associations. Variables with a p<0.05 in multivariable regression were considered significant.

Result: Out of the 262 women, 33.6% were found to have clinical depression as indicated by EPDS score of >13. Women's gestational age was statistically significantly associated with prepartum depression [OR 4.27 (95% C.I. 2.08 - 8.79), p < 0.001]. Income level ≤ 5000 KES was statistically significantly associated with prepartum depression [OR 3.64 (95% C.I.1.25 -10.60), p=0.018]. Further, thematic analysis of qualitative indicated that poverty, lack of social support, domestic violence, and unfriendly health care were major contributors to prepartum depression.

Conclusion: Significant numbers of pregnant women were found to experience depression. This prevalence rate indicates a high disease burden of women who live with depression, which is not diagnosed because screening of depression is not done in primary health care centers. This study calls for a need and consideration for screening for perinatal depression in primary health care facilities, mainly in resource-poor areas. Interventions targeting means of resolving conflicts in families are highly needed. Such steps would help achieve key sustainable development goals where maternal and child health remains key priority.
Spatial distribution analysis of dentists, dental technicians, and dental therapists in Indonesia
Authors: Gofur Nanda Rachmad Putra , Aghasy Achmad Zam Zam , Gofur Aisyah Rachmadani Putri
Published: June 2021

Background: Access to health services is needed around the world, from healthcare providers to doctors. One of the needs in public health is a system that is accessible for everyone, but, unequal distribution of healthcare provider and health workers, especially in dentistry fields is still a main problem in several countries, including Indonesia. The aim of this study is to analyze the spatial distribution of dentists, dental technicians, and dental therapists.

Methods: This spatial analysis study was conducted after obtaining secondary data in Indonesia. All data were collected between September 1st, 2020 and October 1st, 2020 from open access sources of de-identified data. The data of dentists per area, dental technicians per area, and dental therapists per area were calculated for analysis. A spatial distribution map was prepared using the Quantum Geographic Information System (QGIS Desktop, version 3.10.6).

Results: The results of this study found a ratio of dentists to members of the population in Indonesia of 1:17,105. The average number of dental technicians that work in the public health centers in each province (dental technicians per area) in Indonesia was calculated to be 0.13. The average number of dental therapists that work in the public health centers in each province (dental therapists per area) in Indonesia was calculated to be 0.40. This spatial autocorrelation illustrates that there is a relationship between values of dentists per area and dental therapists per area between provinces in Indonesia, and shows geographic clustering relationships or patterns that are grouped and have similar characteristics in adjacent locations. This spatial autocorrelation did not occur in the value of dental technicians.

Conclusions: From this study we can conclude that there is an unequal distribution of dental personnel in Indonesia.
A philosophy of birth: if you want to change the world, change the conversation
Authors: Villarmea Stella
Published: June 2021

This essay is about why and how we should introduce birth into the canon of subjects explored by philosophy. Birth care brings to the fore fascinating philosophical questions: is a woman in labour a subject with full rights in practice as well as in theory? Can a labouring woman exercise her autonomy in a situation of maximum vulnerability but also maximum lucidity and awareness, as characterises the work of giving birth? What is the relationship between agency, capacity, and pain during and between contractions? Birth care proposes key questions relating to knowledge, freedom, and what it means to be a human being. Nonetheless, giving birth continues to be a blind spot in contemporary prevailing philosophy.

My approach to a philosophy of birth aligns with one of the aims of contemporary philosophy; I explore the relationship between knowledge and emancipatory action in the relatively unchartered waters of birth and delivery, to create an epistemology that is sensitive to feminism and embodiment. What I propose to achieve through a philosophy of birth is a new logos for genos —a radically new meditation on origin and birth.

How we understand our origin and the practices that bring us into being reveals our humanity. The lived experiences of women and their situated knowledge challenge widely-held assumptions about rationality, about what it is to be a birthing woman and what it is to have agency and capacity in the delivery suite. A philosophy of birth enables us to navigate the stormy waters of contemporary obstetric practice towards a new and radical logos for genos —an embodied genealogy which not only redresses imbalances of gender, but also addresses life and happiness.
Reproducible parallel inference and simulation of stochastic state space models using odin, dust, and mcstate
Authors: FitzJohn Richard G. , Knock Edward S. , Whittles Lilith K. , Perez-Guzman Pablo N. , Bhatia Sangeeta , Guntoro Fernando , Watson Oliver J. , Whittaker Charles , Ferguson Neil M. , Cori Anne , Baguelin Marc , Lees John A.
Published: June 2021

State space models, including compartmental models, are used to model physical, biological and social phenomena in a broad range of scientific fields. A common way of representing the underlying processes in these models is as a system of stochastic processes which can be simulated forwards in time. Inference of model parameters based on observed time-series data can then be performed using sequential Monte Carlo techniques. However, using these methods for routine inference problems can be made difficult due to various engineering considerations: allowing model design to change in response to new data and ideas, writing model code which is highly performant, and incorporating all of this with up-to-date statistical techniques. Here, we describe a suite of packages in the R programming language designed to streamline the design and deployment of state space models, targeted at infectious disease modellers but suitable for other domains. Users describe their model in a familiar domain-specific language, which is converted into parallelised C++ code. A fast, parallel, reproducible random number generator is then used to run large numbers of model simulations in an efficient manner. We also provide standard inference and prediction routines, though the model simulator can be used directly if these do not meet the user’s needs. These packages provide guarantees on reproducibility and performance, allowing the user to focus on the model itself, rather than the underlying computation. The ability to automatically generate high-performance code that would be tedious and time-consuming to write and verify manually, particularly when adding further structure to compartments, is crucial for infectious disease modellers. Our packages have been critical to the development cycle of our ongoing real-time modelling efforts in the COVID-19 pandemic, and have the potential to do the same for models used in a number of different domains.
Colon Ischaemia Induced by Amoxicillin-related Anaphylactic Shock
Authors: Melo Nuno , Hipólito Isabel , Alves Pereira Joana , Cunha Pedro , Almeida Jorge
Published: June 2021

Colon ischaemia is the most frequent type of ischaemia of the digestive tract. It is more common among the elderly, especially patients with haemodynamic disturbance. In young patients, it is associated with particular drugs such as oral contraceptives and ergotamine derivatives. Anaphylaxis is characterized by acute onset and skin and mucosal involvement together with cardiovascular involvement. Gastrointestinal symptoms are common in anaphylaxis, but gastrointestinal bleeding and acute colon ischaemia are rarely described. Here, we present the case of a 52-year-old woman with acute ischaemic colitis associated with an anaphylactic reaction to amoxicillin.
Assessment of satisfaction with hospital care in the ED and the Admissions depending on the place of living
Authors: Kos Marek , Dziewa Agnieszka , , Drop Bartłomiej
Published: June 2021

Introduction. Patient satisfaction should be a key element in the functioning of any healthcare facility. Understanding and meeting the needs of the patient on the appropriate quality level can be a “to be or not to be” for the hospital.
Aim. The aim of the study was to investigate patients’ views about patient satisfaction with medical care implemented in the emergency department and the admissions of the District Hospital in Kraśnik depending on their place of residence.
Material and methods. Patients’ satisfaction survey was carried out in the following two years: in January 2012 and in February 2013. The study involved 95 respondents who completed the questionnaire individually, and in case when establishing contact with the patient was not possible, family members or carers made the assessment. A tool for research was a questionnaire called “Patient satisfaction survey” designed by the nursing managers and approved by the management of the hospital.
Results. Respondents assessed the work of the Emergency Department (ED) and the Admissions well. In the first year of the study, 55.5% of patients rated the ED work very well, and the Admissions – well (58.1%). Patients living in rural areas assessed ED very well and well (45.5% each), and assessed the Admissions – well 48.4%. In the next year of the study, the patients living in the city gave good ratings both to the ED department and Admissions – 41.7% and 69.45% of the patients respectively, similarly as the patients from rural areas – 46.8% and 43.2% respectively.
Conclusions. Overall rating of health services made by hospitalized patients and the availability, terms and conditions of the treatment course was very positive. The assessments of the ED and hospital Admissions were not affected by the patients’ place of residence.