bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fundus imaging and perimetry in patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension—an intermethod and interrater validity study
Authors: Rissan Zainab , Hansen Nadja Skadkær , Carlsen Louise Ninett , Korsbæk Johanne Juhl , Jensen Rigmor Højland , Hamann Steffen , Schytz Henrik Winther
Published: March 2023

Background and purpose

There is a need to improve the diagnostic process of patients suspected of papilledema. In patients with known or suspected idiopathic intracranial hypertension a fundus imaging and perimetric visual field assessment system (COMPASS) performed at a headache center was validated in comparison to an assessment (Topcon plus OCTOPUS) at a neuroophthalmological clinic.

Methods

For intermethod assessment, blinded fundus images and perimetry from COMPASS versus Topcon plus OCTOPUS were assessed by a neuroophthalmologist. For interrater assessment, fundus images and perimetry obtained by the COMPASS system were assessed by an untrained medical doctor, a trained neurologist and a trained medical student and compared to the neuroophthalmologist's assessments.

Results

For the intermethod variation of the presence of papilledema on fundus images, a kappa value of 0.60, sensitivity of 87% and specificity of 73% were found. The interrater variation of the presence of papilledema on fundus images showed kappa values ranging from 0.43 to 0.74, sensitivity values ranging from 70% to 96% and specificity values ranging from 46% to 93% when comparing the assessments made by the headache center staff with neuroophthalmologist's assessments. The COMPASS showed a 59% sensitivity and moderate agreement in detecting visual field defects compared with OCTOPUS. The visual field assessment showed only slight to fair agreement from 0.19 to 0.31 between assessments made by the headache center staff and the neuroophthalmologist.

Conclusion

The COMPASS system can be used with reasonable sensitivity in the assessment of papilledema in patients suspected of idiopathic intracranial hypertension at a tertiary headache center.
TRPS1 expression is sensitive and specific for primary extramammary Paget disease
Authors: Cook Eleanor E , Harrison Beth T , Hirsch Michelle S
Published: March 2023

Aims

Extramammary Paget disease (EMPD) is an epithelial neoplasm that can occur at many sites, including the vulva and scrotum. EMPD is characterised by the presence of neoplastic cells, in single cells and clusters, that infiltrate all layers of non‐neoplastic squamous epithelium. The differential diagnosis for EMPD includes melanoma in situ and secondary involvement of tumours from other sites, such as urothelial or cervical; pagetoid spread of tumor cells can also been seen at other sites, such as anorectal mucosa. The most frequently utilised biomarkers for confirming the diagnosis of EMPD include CK7 and GATA3; however, these biomarkers lack specificity. The purpose of this study was to evaluate TRPS1, a newly described breast biomarker, in pagetoid neoplasms of the vulva, scrotum and anorectum.

Methods and results

Fifteen cases of primary EMPD of the vulva (two with associated invasive carcinoma) and four primary EMPD of the scrotum showed strong nuclear immunoreactivity for TRPS1. In contrast, five cases of vulvar melanoma in situ, one case of urothelial carcinoma with secondary pagetoid spread into the vulva and two anorectal adenocarcinomas with pagetoid spread into anal skin (one with associated invasive carcinoma) were negative for TRPS1. Additionally, weak nuclear TRPS1 staining was observed in non‐neoplastic tissues (e.g. keratinocytes), but always with less intensity when compared to tumour cells.

Conclusions

These results demonstrate that TRPS1 is a sensitive and specific biomarker for EMPD, and may be especially useful for excluding secondary involvement of the vulva by urothelial and anorectal carcinomas.
Risk factors for incisional complications after lumbar internal fixation via posterior midline approach: A case‐control study of 455 consecutive cases
Authors: Cao Le , Sun Kai , Yang Haitao , Zeng Ran , Wang Hongyi
Published: March 2023

To analyse the clinical data of patients who developed incisional complications and those who did not develop incisional complications after lumbar internal fixation, and investigate the risk factors for incisional complications in patients after lumbar internal fixation with posterior midline incision. A standardised data collection form was used to collect the clinical data of patients who were admitted and underwent lumbar internal fixation in our hospital from July 2018 to July 2021. Patients who experienced any one of the incisional complications, such as incision exudates, swelling, blisters, bruising, superficial/deep incisional infections, poor healing and scarring, after surgery were included in the incisional complication group, and patients who did not develop the above‐mentioned incisional complications were included in the control group. Univariate logistic regression analysis was first performed to identify potential risk factors, significant factors from univariate analysis were then included in multivariable logistic regression analysis to identify independent risk factors for incisional complications after lumbar spine surgery. Among 455 patients included in the study, postoperative incision complications occurred in 82 patients, with an incidence rate of 18.02%. Multivariate regression analysis identified seven independent risk factors for incisional complications: age, body mass index, preoperative albumin level, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, operation time and local anaesthetic infiltration at the incision site after surgery. Our findings documented that age, body mass index, preoperative albumin level, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, operation time, and postoperative local anaesthetic infiltration at the incision site were risk factors for incisional complications after lumbar internal fixation with posterior median incision. Awareness of these risk factors can enable surgeons to develop a more appropriate perioperative management plan for patients undergoing lumbar internal fixation, thus helping them recover faster.
Hispolon induces apoptosis in oral squamous cell carcinoma cells through JNK/HO‐1 pathway activation
Authors: Yang Wei‐En , Chen Yi‐Tzu , Su Chun‐Wen , Chen Mu‐Kuan , Yeh Chia‐Ming , Chen Yen‐Lin , Tsai Meng‐Ying , Yang Shun‐Fa , Lin Chiao‐Wen
Published: March 2023

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) has a high recurrence rate and poor prognosis. Hispolon, a polyphenolic compound with antiviral, antioxidant, and anticancer activities, is a potential chemotherapy agent. However, few studies have investigated the anti‐cancer mechanism of hispolon in oral cancer. This present study used the cell viability assay, clonogenic assay, fluorescent nuclear staining, and flow cytometry assay to analyse the apoptosis‐inducing effects of hispolon in OSCC cells. After hispolon treatment, the apoptotic initiators, cleaved caspase‐3, −8, and − 9, were upregulated, whereas the cellular inhibitor of apoptosis protein‐1 (cIAP1) was downregulated. Furthermore, a proteome profile analysis using a human apoptosis array revealed the overexpression of heme oxygenase‐1 (HO‐1) by hispolon, which was determined to be involved in caspase‐dependent apoptosis. Moreover, cotreatment with hispolon and mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitors revealed that hispolon induces apoptosis in OSCC cells through activation of the c‐Jun N‐terminal kinase (JNK) pathway and not the extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK) or p38 pathway. These findings indicate that hispolon may exert an anticancer effect on oral cancer cells by upregulating HO‐1 and inducing caspase‐dependent apoptosis by activating the JNK pathway.
cLFM‐Qol: A specific quality of life measurement tool for children from 11 to 15 years with low‐flow malformations
Authors: Godeau Marion , Shourick Jason , Dreyfus Isabelle , Casassa Éline , Bergeron Anaïs , Severino‐Freire Maella , Granier Tournier Céline , Malloizel‐Delaunay Julie , Boccara Olivia , Aubert Hélène , Maruani Annabel , Chiaverini Christine , Labrèze Christine , Mazereeuw‐Hautier Juliette
Published: March 2023

Background

Low‐flow malformations (LFMs) are rare diseases with a significant impact on health‐related quality of life (HRQoL), especially in children. No disease‐specific questionnaire is available for children with LFMs.

Objective

To develop and validate a specific HRQoL questionnaire for children from 11 to 15 years old suffering from LFMs.

Methods

A preliminary questionnaire based on a verbatim from focus groups was created and sent to children from 11 to 15 years old suffering from LFMs, together with a dermatology‐specific and a generic HRQoL questionnaire (cDLQI and EQ‐5D‐Y).

Results

A total of 75 from 201 included children responded to the questionnaires. The final version of the questionnaire (cLFM‐QoL) included 15 questions and was not divisible into subscales. It demonstrated excellent internal consistency (cronbach 0.89), convergent validity and readability (SMOG 6.04). cLFM‐QoL mean score (± SD) was 12.9/45 (8.03) for all grades of severity, for mild 8.22/45 (7.5), moderate 14.03/45 (8.35), severe 12.35/45 (6.59) or very severe patients 20.7/45 (3.39) (p 0.006).

Conclusion

cLFM‐QoL is a validated short and easy to use specific questionnaire with excellent psychometric capacities. It will be suitable for any children aged 11–15 with LFMs, in daily practice or clinical trials.
Differences between responders and nonresponders in intensive care unit (ICU) related survey studies
Authors: Brekelmans A. C. M. , Ramnarain D. , Pouwels S.
Published: March 2023

Background

In survey research studies, there are often a proportion of non‐responders, that is patients or relatives of patients who do not want to fill in a survey. Especially in intensive care medicine, these proportions of non‐responders can be relatively high. However, with the increasing incidence of post‐intensive care syndrome (PICS), it can be beneficial to know what the predisposing factors are.

Methods

We performed a sub analysis of a recent survey study we have conducted on relatives of deceased ICU patients. Of the 219 eligible relatives, 139 were willing to fill in the questionnaires and 95 of them actually returned the questionnaire, which raises the question whether there are differences between the 95 relatives who did fill in the questionnaires and the 44 relatives who did not. We collected information from the medical records of deceased patients whose relatives did and did not fill in the questionnaires, that is responders and non‐responders.

Results

Patient's whose relatives did not fill in the questionnaire had a significantly lower median age compared with patients whose relatives returned the questionnaires (64 [56–75] vs. 71 [65–76] years, respectively, p = .039). The non‐responders were two relatives of a deceased patient below 60 years in 34.1% of the cases, whereas this percentage was 14.7% in the responders. The distribution of men and women was comparable between the groups (p = .54) as well as the length of ICU stay (p = .48).

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that ICU‐related variables did not influence response rate, but the age of the deceased ICU patient does: The non‐responders are related to deceased ICU patients with a significantly lower age.
Competition and Misconduct
Authors: THANASSOULIS JOHN
Published: March 2023

Misconduct is widespread. Practices such as misselling, pump and dump, and money laundering cause harm while raising profits. This paper presents a mechanism that can determine what sorts of misconduct can be sustained in competitive equilibrium in concentrated markets, oligopoly settings, and markets with many small competing firms. The model studied allows general demand and distinguishes types of ethical dilemma using current psychological understanding. The paper shows, for example, that markets with many small competing firms are not vulnerable to misconduct if firms respond to entry with niche strategies or if the ethical dilemma draws an emotional response.
Fabrication of custom oral positioning devices in head and neck proton radiotherapy
Authors: Lee Sarah Kay Youny , Bigsby Arthur , Morris Jonathan , Deisher Amanda , Mundy Daniel , Muller Olivia
Published: March 2023

With complex head and neck diseases that closely approximate crucial organs or have advanced spread and cannot be surgically resected, intensity modulated proton beam radiotherapy is favored due to its superior dose targeting through magnetic manipulation of the proton energy. A radiation mask and an oral positioning device immobilize craniofacial, cervical, and oral structures for accurate and reliable radiation delivery. Widely available prefabricated thermoplastic oral positioning devices are manufactured in standardized forms and materials that unpredictably affect the proton beams’ pathways and range. This technique article showcases a workflow that combines analog and digital dental techniques to produce a customized 3D‐printed oral positioning device within 2 appointments.
Animal protein‐soybean oil‐based broiler diet optimizes net profit at the expense of desirable ω‐6 fatty acids from the breast muscle of the broiler chicken
Authors: Hossain Md. Emran , Akter Nasima , Bhowmik Priunka , Islam Md. Saiful , Sultan Md. Nahid , Islam Shilpi
Published: March 2023

Total 288 Ross‐308‐day‐old male broiler chicks were randomly distributed into six dietary treatment groups in a two‐way ANOVA with 2 × 3 factorial arrangements (two factors, i.e., dietary protein and energy having two types of protein, e.g., plant, animal and three different sources of energy, e.g., soybean oil, rice bran oil and sunflower oil) to justify if animal protein‐soybean oil based broiler diet optimizes net profit at the expense of desirable ω‐6 fatty acids in the breast muscle of the broiler chicken. Average daily feed intake (ADFI), final live weight (FLW), average daily gain (ADG), feed efficiency (FE), carcass characteristics, cardio‐pulmonary morphometry, fatty acid profile of the breast muscle and cost‐benefit analysis were measured. Results indicated that animal protein significantly increased 4.27% FLW, 6.13% ADFI, 4.31% ADG and 2.93% wing weight. Accordingly, soybean oil increased 4.76% FLW, 3.80% ADG and 1.36% dressing percentage at the expense of 12.07% proventriculus weight compared with sunflower oil. The generalized linear model identified no interaction effects of the sources of protein and energy on overall performance of the birds. Replacement of vegetable protein by animal protein decreased 14.01% ∑ω‐3, 12.16% ∑ω‐6 and 12.21% sum of polyunsaturated fatty acids (∑PUFA) and concomitantly increased 10.82% sum of saturated fatty acids (∑SFAs) in the breast muscle (Pectoralis major). Accordingly, replacement of sunflower oil by soybean oil decreased 29.17% ∑ω‐3, 6.71% ∑ω‐6, 11.62% sum of monounsaturated fatty acids (∑MUFAs) and 7.33% ∑PUFAs and concurrently increased 18.36% ∑SFAs in the breast muscle of the broiler birds. It was concluded that animal protein‐soybean oil‐based broiler diet optimized net profit at the expense of desirable ω‐3 and ω‐6 fatty acids in the breast muscle of the broiler chicken.
Impacts on the CV parent body: A coordinated, multiscale fabric analysis of the Allende meteorite
Authors: Forman L. V. , Daly L. , Bland P. A. , Benedix G. K. , Corrigan C.
Published: March 2023

Evidence of impact‐induced compaction in the carbonaceous chondrites, specifically CMs and CVs, has been widely investigated utilizing microscopy techniques and impact experiments. Here, we use high‐resolution photography and large area and high‐resolution electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD) mapping analyses in tandem, to explore the effects of impact‐induced compaction at both the meso‐ and micro‐scales in the Allende CV3.6 carbonaceous chondrite. Macro‐scale photography images of a ~25 cm slab of Allende captured meso‐scale features including calcium‐aluminum inclusions (CAIs) and chondrules. CAIs have a long‐axis shape‐preferred orientation (SPO). Examination of such meso‐scale features in thin section revealed the same trend. Matrix grains from this section display a large amount of heterogeneity in petrofabric orientation; microscale, high‐resolution, large area EBSD mapping of ~300,000 olivine matrix grains; high‐resolution large area EBSD map across an elongate CAI; and a series of high‐resolution EBSD maps around two chondrules and around the CAI revealed crystallographic preferred orientations (CPOs) in different directions. Finally, internal grains of the CAI were found to demonstrate a weak lineation CPO, the first crystallographic detection of possible CAI “flow.” All results are consistent with multiple, gentle impacts on the Allende parent body causing hemispheric compaction. The larger, more resistant components are likely to have been compressed and oriented by earlier impacts, and the matrix region petrofabrics and CAI “flow” likely occurred during subsequent impacts. Meteoritic components respond differently to impact events, and consequently, it is likely that different components would retain evidence of different impact events and angles.
Trends in planetary science research in the Puna and Atacama Desert regions: Underrepresentation of local scientific institutions?
Authors: Tavernier A. , Pinto G. A. , Valenzuela M. , Garcia A. , Ulloa C. , Oses R. , Foing B. H.
Published: March 2023

In 2019, while launching a multidisciplinary research project aimed at developing the Puna de Atacama region as a natural laboratory, investigators at the University of Atacama (Chile) conducted a bibliographic search identifying previously studied geographic points of the region and of potential interest for planetary science and astrobiology research. This preliminary work highlighted a significant absence of local institutional involvement in international publications. In light of this, a follow‐up study was conducted to confirm or refute these first impressions, by comparing the search in two bibliographic databases: Web of Science and Scopus. The results show that almost 60% of the publications based directly on data from the Puna, the Altiplano, or the Atacama Desert with objectives related to planetary science or astrobiology do not include any local institutional partner (Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, and Peru). Indeed, and beyond the ethical questioning of international collaborations, Latin‐American planetary science deserves a strategic structuring, networking, as well as a road map at national and continental scales, not only to enhance research, development, and innovation, but also to protect an exceptional natural heritage sampling extreme environmental niches on Earth. Examples of successful international collaborations such as the field of meteorites, terrestrial analogs, and space exploration in Chile or astrobiology in Mexico are given as illustrations and possible directions to follow to develop planetary science in South America. To promote appropriate scientific practices involving local researchers, possible responses at academic and institutional levels will eventually be discussed.
When I say … lived curriculum
Authors: Khachadoorian‐Elia Holly R. , Bush Lynn Wein , Rider Elizabeth A. , Klig Jean E. , Qayyum Zheala , Begin Arabella S. , Fogler Jason M.
Published: March 2023

In the latest “When I Say…” the authors describe the “lived curriculum” as an evolution from the hidden curriculum through the incorporation of humanism, empathy, and the growth mindset.
There's a certain slant of light: Three attitudes toward the political turn in analytic philosophy
Authors: Almagro Manuel , Guerra Sergio
Published: March 2023

There has been a growing interest within analytic philosophy in addressing political and social issues, which has been referred to as the “political turn” in the discipline. The aim of this paper is twofold. First, it discusses the very characterization of the political turn. In particular, it introduces the definition proposed by Bordonaba‐Plou, Fernández‐Castro, and Torices, suggests that we should not consider the turn a form of activism, and explores an additional benefit of the ideal/nonideal distinction for characterizing the turn. Second, it addresses the concern of what attitude we should take in the face of the different sensitivities we might have with respect to what constitutes an injustice. Which philosophical works should count as part of the political turn? The paper explores three different attitudes toward this dilemma, and favors what it calls the revisionist attitude, which emphasizes the fact that our perception of injustice is subject to error.
PROGRAMMED CELL DEATH8 interacts with tetrapyrrole biosynthesis enzymes and ClpC1 to maintain homeostasis of tetrapyrrole metabolites in Arabidopsis
Authors: Geng Rudan , Pang Xiaoqing , Li Xia , Shi Shanshan , Hedtke Boris , Grimm Bernhard , Bock Ralph , Huang Jirong , Zhou Wenbin
Published: March 2023

Tetrapyrrole biosynthesis (TBS) is a dynamically and strictly regulated process. Disruptions in tetrapyrrole metabolism influence many aspects of plant physiology, including photosynthesis, programmed cell death (PCD), and retrograde signaling, thus affecting plant growth and development at multiple levels. However, the genetic and molecular basis of TBS is not fully understood.

We report here PCD8, a newly identified thylakoid‐localized protein encoded by an essential gene in Arabidopsis. PCD8 knockdown causes a necrotic phenotype due to excessive chloroplast damage. A burst of singlet oxygen that results from overaccumulated tetrapyrrole intermediates upon illumination is suggested to be responsible for cell death in the knockdown mutants.

Genetic and biochemical analyses revealed that PCD8 interacts with ClpC1 and a number of TBS enzymes, such as HEMC, CHLD, and PORC of TBS.

Taken together, our findings uncover the function of chloroplast‐localized PCD8 and provide a new perspective to elucidate molecular mechanism of how TBS is finely regulated in plants.
Did the COVID‐19 Pandemic Affect Fertility Desires in Australia? Understanding Why People Changed Their Attitudes towards Having a First or Additional Child
Authors: Lazzari Ester , Reimondos Anna , Gray Edith
Published: March 2023

An understanding of whether and how childbearing desires have been affected by the COVID‐19 pandemic is key for explaining subsequent fertility patterns and fertility behavior in general, but empirical information is still lacking. Using a quasi‐experimental cohort design and unique panel survey data collected before and after the outbreak of COVID‐19, this study examines whether childbearing desires were affected by COVID‐19 in Australia and investigates which pandemic‐related factors affected childbearing desires the most. Results show that parents who already had one child were the most likely to experience a decline in childbearing desires because of the pandemic, while childbearing desires were most stable among those who were childless. Economic and employment‐related factors did not appear to be of great relevance in predicting changes in childbearing plans. However, changes in the quality of couple relationships and of social support from family and friends were found to be of strong importance.
Examining experts' discourse in South Korea's nuclear power policy making: An advocacy coalition framework approach to policy knowledge
Authors: Nam Aerang , Weible Christopher M.
Published: March 2023

In disputes over public policy, public debates often hinge on the argument involving policy knowledge. One approach for studying policy knowledge is the Advocacy Coalition Framework, which theorizes that advocacy coalitions form around coherent beliefs partly about policy knowledge and invest in policy knowledge by working with expert allies. This article examines the role of academics, a type of expert, in discourse about South Korea's adversarial nuclear energy policy debates. Using Discourse Network Analyzer, we collect and analyze text from 502 South Korean newspaper articles from 2016 through 2019. We find that academics align with distinctive discourse involving policy knowledge in coalitions. However, we also show that there exist weak or inconsistent associations between some academics' centrality and the intensity of policy conflict. The findings contribute to understanding policy knowledge, the distinctive discourse of experts, and a systematic study of controversial policy making in a non‐Western country.

Related Articles

Heo, Inhye. 2022. “Energy Democratization Policy without Democratization of Policy Governance in South Korea: A Participatory Democracy Perspective.” Politics & Policy 50(4): 834–50. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12480.

Lantis, Jeffrey S. 2019. “‘Winning’ and ‘Losing’ the Iran Nuclear Deal: How Advocacy Coalitions and Competition Shape U.S. Foreign Policy.” Politics & Policy 47(3): 464–505. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12299.

Nowlin, Matthew C., Maren Trochmann, and Thomas M. Rabovsky. 2022. “Advocacy Coalitions and Political Control.” Politics & Policy 50(2): 201–24. https://doi.org/10.1111/polp.12458.
Political Ideology Outdoes Personal Experience in Predicting Support for Gender Equality
Authors: Sevincer A. Timur , Galinsky Cindy , Martensen Lena , Oettingen Gabriele
Published: March 2023

Indices of gender equality provide an inconsistent picture of current gender inequality in countries with relatively high equality. We examined women's and men's subjectively perceived gender inequality and their support for gender equality in the general population and in politicians, respectively, in three countries with relatively high gender equality: the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany (total N = 1,612). In both women's and men's perceptions, women were treated more unequally than men. However, the inequality that women perceived was larger than the inequality men perceived. Additionally, women reported they personally experience less inequality than women as a group (person‐group discrepancy). Finally, women's and men's left/liberal (vs. right/conservative) political ideology turned out to be a relatively more powerful predictor of support for gender equality than perceived personal and societal inequality. We discuss reasons for why political ideology emerged as the strongest predictor of equality support and sketch out implications for policy efforts toward promoting gender equality.
Bioenergetic responses of a stream food web to habitat restoration: interactions between Brown trout and invertebrate prey resources
Authors: Kotalik Christopher J. , Wolff Brian A. , Pomeranz Justin P. F. , Richer Eric E. , Clements William H.
Published: March 2023

Stream habitat restoration has the potential to rehabilitate degraded stream communities, but the bioenergetic impact of restoration on prey resources and utilization by salmonids has been understudied. We measured the responses of Brown trout (Salmo trutta) populations, aquatic and terrestrial prey resources, and prey resource utilization by trout, before (2008–2014) and after (2015–2020) large‐scale habitat restoration in the Upper Arkansas River, a previously listed US EPA superfund site located in the western United States. We observed significant increases in Brown trout populations following restoration, as well as complex alterations to invertebrate prey resources that generally resulted in increased benthic biomass but reductions in adult aquatic insects and terrestrial invertebrates. Population‐level metabolic demand by trout increased 25% after restoration, and prey utilization shifted with reduced consumption of adult aquatic insects and greater consumption of terrestrial invertebrates, relative to their availability. We observed reduced biomass of prey resources consumed by trout with increasing trout population size, and while the total number of invertebrates consumed increased after restoration, actual invertebrate biomass consumed decreased. Our results suggest that restoration was effective in increasing targeted Brown trout populations, but prey resources were altered by physical changes in habitat and increased resource utilization by trout. Habitat restoration projects that are primarily designed to increase trout populations may benefit by focusing on improving prey resources and utilization to support the bioenergetic needs of the restored fishery.
Effects of exercise interventions to reduce chemotherapy‐induced peripheral neuropathy severity: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Nuñez de Arenas‐Arroyo Sergio , Cavero‐Redondo Iván , Torres‐Costoso Ana , Reina‐Gutiérrez Sara , Lorenzo‐García Patricia , Martínez‐Vizcaíno Vicente
Published: March 2023

Objectives

The two aims of this systematic review and meta‐analysis were to (1) analyze the effect of exercise on chemotherapy‐induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) severity and (2) determine the best type of exercise for the management of CIPN.

Methods

We systematically searched the MEDLINE, WOS, Sportdiscus, Scopus, and Cochrane databases from inception to December 2020 for experimental studies addressing the effect of exercise on CIPN severity, as measured by symptom severity (SSS) and peripheral deep sensitivity (PDS). The DerSimonian and Laird method was used to compute pooled estimates of the standardized mean differences (SMDs) and its respective 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Subgroup analyses were performed based on the types of exercise and the frequency and length of the interventions.

Results

Thirteen studies were included in this meta‐analysis. In the analyses comparing exercise interventions versus controls, there was an improvement in the SSS (SMD = −0.21; 95% CI: −0.40 to −0.01; %change: −20.34%) and the PDS (SMD = 0.49; 95% CI: 0.06 to 0.91; %change: 31.64%) in favor of the intervention group. In the pre–post analyses, there was an improvement in the SSS (SMD = −0.72; 95% CI: −1.10 to −0.34; %change: −15.65%) and the PDS (SMD = 0.47; 95% CI: 0.15 to 0.79; %change:18.98%).

Conclusions

This meta‐analysis provides an overview of the evidence supporting exercise as a suitable intervention to reduce the severity of CIPN by reducing the severity of the symptoms and the peripheral deep sensitivity among patients with cancer or cancer survivors. Furthermore, sensoriomotor training and mind–body exercises appear to be more effective in reducing symptom severity, and active nerve‐specific exercises and mind–body exercises seem to be more effective in improving peripheral deep sensitivity.
Construction and analysis of knowledge graphs for multi‐source heterogeneous data of soil pollution
Authors: Li Xingchen , Zhang Jianqin , Fan Lina , Li Xinzhi , Jiang Huizhong , Lu Nan
Published: March 2023

The decommissioning and overall relocation of urban industrial enterprises have generated a large number of decommissioned contaminated sites, and the leftover soil pollution is gradually becoming a major problem that restricts urban green development and damages human health. Deep mining and efficient management of site soil pollution information through digitization and informatization are needed to solve these problems more accurately and efficiently. Knowledge mapping for visual analysis of relevant pathways is a forward‐looking approach in soil contamination management that does not require complex testing instruments, thus saving research manpower, time and cost. Data associated with contaminated sites come from a wide range of sources and have different structures. Through the natural language processing technology of computer, suitable methods such as entity recognition, relationship recognition and knowledge fusion are selected to extract various types of information from contaminated sites and establish semantic networks for fast targeting of soil contamination sources, thus providing a more convenient solution. In this paper, we propose a knowledge graph construction method for multi‐source heterogeneous data of contaminated sites, find sulphide contamination sources through visual analysis of knowledge graph and explore the application prospects of natural language processing techniques such as knowledge graph in contaminated site management.
A prospective assessment of the medic autologous blood transfusion skills for field transfusion preparation
Authors: Schauer Steven G. , Mancha Fabiola , Mendez Jessica , Martinez Melody A. , Jeschke Erika A. , April Michael D. , Fisher Andrew D. , Brown Derek J. , Weymouth Wells L. , Corley Jason B. , Hill Ronnie , Cap Andrew P.
Published: March 2023

Background

Data demonstrate the benefit of blood product administration near point‐of‐injury (POI). Fresh whole blood transfusion from a pre‐screened donor provides a source of blood at the POI when resources are constrained. We captured transfusion skills data for medics performing autologous blood transfusion training.

Methods

We conducted a prospective, observational study of medics with varying levels of experience. Inexperienced medics were those with minimal or no reported experience learning the autologous transfusion procedures, versus reported experience among special operations medics. When available, medics were debriefed after the procedure for qualitative feedback. We followed them for up to 7 days for adverse events.

Results

The median number of attempts for inexperienced and experienced medics was 1 versus 1 (interquartile range 1–1 for both, p = .260). The inexperienced medics had a slower median time to needle venipuncture access for the donation of 7.3 versus 1.5 min, needle removal after clamping time of 0.3 versus 0.2 min, time to bag preparation of 1.9 versus 1.0 min, time to IV access for reinfusion of 6.0 versus 3.0 min, time to transfusion completion of 17.3 versus 11.0 min, and time to IV removal of 0.9 versus 0.3 min (all p < .05). We noted one administrative safety event in which an allogeneic transfusion occurred. No major adverse events occurred. Qualitative data saturated around the need for quarterly training.

Conclusions

Inexperienced medics have longer procedure times when training autologous whole blood transfusion skills. This data will help establish training measures of performance for skills optimization when learning this procedure.
Receipt of low titer group O whole blood does not lead to hemolysis in children weighing less than 20 kilograms
Authors: Abou Khalil Elissa , Gaines Barbara A. , Morgan Katrina M. , Spinella Philip C. , Yazer Mark H. , Triulzi Darrell J. , Leeper Christine M.
Published: March 2023

Objective

The safety of Low Titer Group O Whole Blood (LTOWB) transfusion has not been well‐studied in small children.

Methods

This is a single‐center retrospective cohort study of pediatric recipients of RhD‐LTOWB (June 2016–October 2022) who weigh less than 20 kilograms. Biochemical markers of hemolysis (lactate dehydrogenase, total bilirubin, haptoglobin, and reticulocyte count) and renal function (creatinine and potassium) were recorded on the day of LTOWB transfusion and post‐transfusion days 1 and 2. Group O and non‐Group O recipients were compared.

Results

Twenty‐one children were included. Their median (interquartile range [IQR]) weight was 12 kg (12–18) with minimum 2.8 kg, and median (IQR) age was 3 years (1.75–5.00) with minimum 0.08 years (29 days old). The most common indication for transfusion was trauma (17/21; 81%). The median (IQR) volume of LTOWB transfused was 30 mL/kg (20–42). There were 9 non‐group O and 12 group O recipients. There were no statistically significant differences in the median concentrations of any of the biochemical markers of hemolysis or the renal function markers between the non‐group O and the group O recipients at any of the three time points (p > 0.05 for all comparisons). There were also no statistically significant differences in demographic parameters or clinical outcomes including 28‐day mortality, length of stay, ventilator days, and venous thromboembolism between the groups. No transfusion reactions were reported in either group.

Conclusion

These data suggest LTOWB use is safe in children weighing less than 20 kg. Further multi‐center studies and larger cohorts are needed to confirm these results.
Effects of radiation exposure and storage on the energy metabolome of platelets in whole blood
Authors: Becerra Sandra C. , Christy Barbara A. , Herzig Maryanne C. , Bynum James A. , Darlington Daniel N.
Published: March 2023

Background

Exposure to radiation through battlefield use of nuclear weapons, terrorist attacks or accidents at nuclear power plants is a current concern for the military. Beyond the risk of exposure to personnel is the intentional or accidental irradiation of our blood banking supply system. It is unknown how large doses of ionizing radiation affect storage of blood and blood products, including platelets. The major function of platelets is clot formation which includes aggregation, shape change, vesicle release, and fibrinogen attachment; these tasks require a significant amount of energy. Here, we determine whether the ionizing radiation effects the energy metabolome of platelets in storage.

Study Design and Methods

Fresh whole blood from healthy volunteers was subjected to 0, 25, or 75Gy of X‐irradiation, and stored at 4°C. Platelets were isolated from stored WB at 0, 1, 7, 14, and 21 days of storage. Krebs cycle intermediates, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotides, and the tri‐, di, and mono‐ phosphorylated versions of adenosine and guanosine were extracted and measured by tandem mass spectroscopy.

Results

Irradiation at either 25Gy or 75Gy had no significant effect on the amount of any metabolite measured compared to control (0Gy). However, there was a significant fall over time in storage for most of the metabolites measured.

Discussion

These data show that irradiation at high doses has no effect on the concentration of the energy metabolome of platelets derived from whole blood stored in 4°C for up to 21 days and suggests that platelets can maintain their metabolome even after radiation exposure.
Using a Bayesian-Inference Approach to Calibrating Models for Simulation in Robotics
Authors: Unjhawala Huzaifa Mustafa , Zhang Ruochun , Hu Wei , Wu Jinlong , Serban Radu , Negrut Dan
Published: March 2023

In robotics, simulation has the potential to reduce design time and costs, and lead to a more robust engineered solution and a safer development process. However, the use of simulators is predicated on the availability of good models. This contribution is concerned with improving the quality of these models via calibration, which is cast herein in a Bayesian framework. First, we discuss the Bayesian machinery involved in model calibration. Then, we demonstrate it in one example: calibration of a vehicle dynamics model that has low degree-of-freedom (DOF) count and can be used for state estimation, model predictive control, or path planning. A high fidelity simulator is used to emulate the “experiments” and generate the data for the calibration. The merit of this work is not tied to a new Bayesian methodology for calibration, but to the demonstration of how the Bayesian machinery can establish connections among models in computational dynamics, even when the data in use is noisy. The software used to generate the results reported herein is available in a public repository for unfettered use and distribution.
HIV-1 DNA and Immune Activation Levels Differ for Long-Lived T-Cells in Lymph Nodes, Compared with Peripheral Blood, during Antiretroviral Therapy
Authors: Mallarino-Haeger Christina , Pino Maria , Viox Elise G. , Pagliuzza Amélie , King Colin T. , Nguyen Kevin , Harper Justin L. , Aldrete Sol del Mar , Cervasi Barbara , Delman Keith A. , Lowe Michael C. , Chomont Nicolas , Marconi Vincent C. , Paiardini Mirko
Published: March 2023

This study provides new insights into the contributions of different CD4
+
and CD8
+
T-cell subsets to the anatomic differences between LN and blood in individuals with HIV who have optimal versus suboptimal CD4
+
T-cell recovery. To our knowledge, this is the first study comparing paired LN and blood CD4
+
and CD8
+
T-cell differentiation subsets, as well as those subsets in immunological responders versus immunological suboptimal responders.
Molecular Determinants of Mouse Adaptation of Rat Hepacivirus
Authors: Wolfisberg Raphael , Holmbeck Kenn , Billerbeck Eva , Thorselius Caroline E. , Batista Mariana N. , Fahnøe Ulrik , Lundsgaard Emma A. , Kennedy Matthew J. , Nielsen Louise , Rice Charles M. , Bukh Jens , Scheel Troels K. H.
Published: March 2023

A prophylactic vaccine is required to achieve the World Health Organization’s objective for hepatitis C virus elimination as a serious public health threat. However, the lack of robust immunocompetent animal models supporting hepatitis C virus infection impedes vaccine development as well as studies of immune responses and viral evasion.
Systematic Evaluation of the Viable Microbiome in the Human Oral and Gut Samples with Spike-in Gram+/– Bacteria
Authors: Liu Feng , Lu Hui , Dong Biao , Huang Xiaochang , Cheng Hongyu , Qu Ru , Hu Yichen , Zhong Luyun , Guo Zhenni , You Yuehua , Xu Zhenjiang Zech
Published: March 2023

The functions and phenotypes of microbial communities are largely defined by viable microbes. Through advanced nucleic acid sequencing technologies and downstream bioinformatic analyses, we gained an insight into the high-resolution microbial community composition of human saliva and feces, yet we know very little about whether such community DNA sequences represent viable microbes.
The Origins of ST11 KL64 Klebsiella pneumoniae: a Genome-Based Study
Authors: Wang Junna , Feng Yu , Zong Zhiyong
Published: March 2023

Carbapenem-resistant
Klebsiella pneumoniae
(CRKP) has emerged as a severe threat globally and is associated with increased lengths of hospital stay and high mortality in affected patients. The spread of CRKP is largely driven by a few dominant lineages, including ST11-KL64, the dominant type in China with a worldwide distribution.
Comparison of Melioidosis Indirect Hemagglutination Assay between Three Testing Laboratories in Australia
Authors: Armstrong Mark , Morgan Justin , Kazey Olena , Freeman Kevin , Norton Robert
Published: March 2023

This study found significant discrepant results between three Australian centers offering the melioidosis indirect hemagglutination assay (IHA), despite testing the same samples. We have highlighted that the IHA is a nonstandardized test, which had different source antigens at each of the different laboratories.
Introducing a structured daily multidisciplinary board round to safely enhance surgical ward patient flow in the bed shortage era: a quality improvement research report
Authors: Valente Roberto , Santori Gregorio , Stanton Lorna , Abraham Ajit , Thaha Mohamed Adhnan
Published: March 2023

Hospital bed shortage is a worldwide concern. Their unavailability has caused elective surgery cancellations at our hospital peaking in spring 2016 at over 50%. This is often due to difficult patient step-down from intensive care (ICU) and high-dependency units (HDU). In our general/digestive surgery service admitting approximately 1000 patients yearly, ward rounds were run on a consultant firm basis.

We report quality improvement (ISRCTN13976096) after we introduced a structured daily multidisciplinary board round framework (SAFER Surgery R2G) adapted from the ‘SAFER patient flow bundle’ and the ‘Red to Green days’ approaches to enhance flow. We compare 2016–2017, when our framework was applied for 12 months.

We used a Plan–Do–Study–Act (PDSA) methodology. Our intervention consisted in (1) systematically communicating the key care plan after the afternoon ward rounds to the nurse in charge; (2) 30’ 10:00 hours Monday-to-Friday multidisciplinary board rounds, attended daily by the senior team and weekly by hospital and site managers, revising the key care plan to aim at safe, early discharges, assessing the appropriateness of each inpatient day and tackling any cause of delay. We measured patient flow by average length of stay (LOS), ICU/HDU step-downs and operation cancellations count, monitoring safety through early 30-day readmissions. Compliance was assessed by board round attendance and staff satisfaction rate surveys.

After 12 months of intervention (PDSA-1-2, N=1032), compared with baseline (PDSA-0, N=954) average LOS significantly decreased from 7.2 (8.9) to 6.3 (7.4) days (p=0.003); ICU/HDU bed step-down flow increased by 9.3% from 345 to 375 (p=0.197), surgery cancellations dropped from 38 to 15 (p=0.100). 30-day readmissions increased from 0.9% (N=9) to 1.3% (N=14)(p=0.390). Average cross-specialty attendance was 80%. Satisfaction rates were >75%, regarding enhanced teamwork and faster decisions.

The SAFER Surgery R2G framework has increased patient flow in the context of an enhanced multidisciplinary approach, requiring senior staff commitment to remain sustainable.
All-cause and cause-specific mortality in a cohort of WTC-exposed and non-WTC-exposed firefighters
Authors: Singh Ankura , Zeig-Owens Rachel , Cannon Madeline , Webber Mayris P , Goldfarb David G , Daniels Robert D , Prezant David J , Boffetta Paolo , Hall Charles B
Published: March 2023

Objective

To compare mortality rates in World Trade Center (WTC)-exposed Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY) firefighters with rates in similarly healthy, non-WTC-exposed/non-FDNY firefighters, and compare mortality in each firefighter cohort with the general population.

Methods

10 786 male WTC-exposed FDNY firefighters and 8813 male non-WTC-exposed firefighters from other urban fire departments who were employed on 11 September 2001 were included in the analyses. Only WTC-exposed firefighters received health monitoring via the WTC Health Programme (WTCHP). Follow-up began 11 September 2001 and ended at the earlier of death date or 31 December 2016. Death data were obtained from the National Death Index and demographics from the fire departments. We estimated standardised mortality ratios (SMRs) in each firefighter cohort versus US males using demographic-specific US mortality rates. Poisson regression models estimated relative rates (RRs) of all-cause and cause-specific mortality in WTC-exposed versus non-WTC-exposed firefighters, controlling for age and race.

Results

Between 11 September 2001 and 31 December 2016, there were 261 deaths among WTC-exposed firefighters and 605 among non-WTC-exposed. Both cohorts had reduced all-cause mortality compared with US males (SMR (95% CI)=0.30 (0.26 to 0.34) and 0.60 (0.55 to 0.65) in WTC-exposed and non-WTC-exposed, respectively). WTC-exposed firefighters also had lower rates of all-cause mortality (RR=0.54, 95% CI=0.49 to 0.59) and cancer-specific, cardiovascular-specific and respiratory disease-specific mortality compared with non-WTC-exposed firefighters.

Conclusion

Both firefighter cohorts had lower than expected all-cause mortality. Fifteen years post 11 September 2001, mortality was lower in WTC-exposed versus non-WTC-exposed firefighters. Lower mortality in the WTC-exposed suggests not just a healthy worker effect, but additional factors such as greater access to free health monitoring and treatment that they receive via the WTCHP.