bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Isolation ofFusobacterium nucleatumfrom human feces using immunomagnetic separation coupled with fastidious anaerobe agar
Authors: Tang Jie , Dun Guodong , Li Jing , Xu Qiaolin , Zhang Tao , Lan Yuanzhi , Zeng Linghai , Luo Huaxing , Xiang Yuanyuan , Tang Bin , Zeng Dongzhu
Published: March 2023

Aim

Fusobacterium nucleatum (F. nucleatum) is associated with the initiation, development, and metastasis of colorectal cancer. However, it is difficult to isolate F. nucleatum from clinical specimens. In this study, we aimed to develop an effective and rapid method for isolating F. nucleatum from human feces using polyclonal antibody (PAB)-coated immunomagnetic beads (IMBs) with selective media.

Methods and results

IMBs conjugated with PAB were prepared and used to isolate F. nucleatum from human feces, and the bacteria were cultured with selective culture media (fastidious anaerobe agar + nalidixic acid + vancomycin). Under optimized experimental conditions, IMBs could selectively recover F. nucleatum from fecal microbiota samples spiked with Peptostreptococcus or Bacteroides fragilis. In artificial fecal samples, the detection sensitivity of IMBs for F. nucleatum was 103 CFU mL−1. In addition, IMBs combined with selective media could rapidly isolate F. nucleatum from human feces.

Conclusions

This study successfully established an effective method for the rapid isolation of F. nucleatum from human feces by IMBs. The whole procedure requires 2–3 days, and has a sensitivity of 103 CFU mL−1 feces.
Immunogenicity and Safety of a Third COVID-19 BNT162b2 mRNA Vaccine Dose in 5- to 11-Year Olds
Authors: Simões Eric A F , Klein Nicola P , Sabharwal Charu , Gurtman Alejandra , Kitchin Nicholas , Ukkonen Benita , Korbal Piotr , Zou Jing , Xie Xuping , Sarwar Uzma N , Xu Xia , Lockhart Stephen , Cunliffe Luke , Lu Claire , Ma Hua , Swanson Kena A , Koury Kenneth , Shi Pei-Yong , Cooper David , Türeci Ӧzlem , Jansen Kathrin U , Şahin Uğur , Gruber William C
Published: March 2023

In this ongoing study, substantially increased ancestral SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing responses were observed 1 month after a third 10-µg BNT162b2 dose given to 5 to 11-year olds versus neutralizing responses post-dose 2. After dose 3, increased neutralizing responses against Omicron BA.1 and BA.4/BA.5 strains were also observed. The safety/tolerability profile was acceptable. (NCT04816643)
X-Ray Tomography Crystal Characterization: Automatic 3D Segmentation
Authors: Hypolite Gautier , Vicente Jérôme , Moulin Philippe
Published: March 2023

Understanding the structural parameters of crystals during crystal growth is essential for the pharmaceutical and chemical industries. This study proposes a new method for 3D images of crystals obtained with micro X-ray computed tomography. This method aims to improve the crystal segmentation compared to the watershed methods. It is based on plane recognition at the surface of the crystals. The obtained segmentation is evaluated on a synthetic image and by considering the recognized particle number and convexity. The algorithm applied to three samples (potassium alum, chromium alum, and copper sulfate) reduced oversegmentation by 87% compared to watershed based on ultimate erosion while keeping the convexity of the recognized particle.
Hereditary angio-oedema with normal C1-INH, developing recurrent acute abdomen after taking low-dose oestrogen–progestin: A case report
Authors: Nakayama Tsuyoshi , Tamimoto Yasuhiro , Shimomura Yutaka , Tsukamoto Hiroshi
Published: March 2023

Hereditary angio-oedema (HAE) is a rare genetic disease characterised by repeated episodes of temporary organ swelling. Three types of HAE are known, of which HAE with normal C1 inactivator is difficult to be diagnosed due to its lack of laboratory abnormalities. Here, we describe a case of HAE with normal C1 inactivator and recurrent acute abdomen following low-dose oestrogen–progestin therapy. Notably, genetic analysis by Sanger sequencing led to the identification of a recurrent heterozygous missense mutation c.988A > G (p.K330E) in the plasminogen (PLG) gene of the patient. Prophylactic tranexamic acid and on-demand selective bradykinin B2 receptor blockers are used to treat her symptoms.
Personality Factors in Violence Risk Assessment
Authors: Kaser-Boyd Nancy
Published: March 2023

Identifying personality factors in interpersonal violence is a critical skill in the fields of clinical and forensic psychology. Research on violence risk assessment in the 1970s indicated poor predictive accuracy by psychologists, which led to the structured professional judgment (SPJ) method, where items contained in the SPJ were validated by research. Research on known groups of perpetrators of serious violence, whether with adults or adolescents, suggests a combination of situational and personality factors. Personality factors common to such samples are traits such as anger/resentment, externalization of blame/paranoia, extreme moods, substance use/abuse, and antisocial traits. In the dimensional approach to personality, these individuals appear to have personality traits that congeal around externalizing spectra. Personality assessment instruments such as the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventories, the Personality Assessment Inventory, the Rorschach, and the Psychopathy Checklist offer data that can be mapped onto SPJs and aide in the accurate assessment of violence risk.
State spaces for agriculture: A meta-systematic design automation framework
Authors: Runck Bryan , Streed Adam , Wang Diane R , Ewing Patrick M , Kantar Michael B , Raghavan Barath
Published: March 2023

Agriculture is a designed system with the largest areal footprint of any human activity. In some cases, the designs within agriculture emerged over thousands of years, such as the use of rows for the spatial organization of crops. In other cases, designs were deliberately chosen and implemented over decades, as during the Green Revolution. Currently, much work in the agricultural sciences focuses on evaluating designs that could improve agriculture's sustainability. However, approaches to agricultural system design are diverse and fragmented, relying on individual intuition and discipline-specific methods to meet stakeholders' often semi-incompatible goals. This ad-hoc approach presents the risk that agricultural science will overlook nonobvious designs with large societal benefits. Here, we introduce a state space framework, a common approach from computer science, to address the problem of proposing and evaluating agricultural designs computationally. This approach overcomes limitations of current agricultural system design methods by enabling a general set of computational abstractions to explore and select from a very large agricultural design space, which can then be empirically tested.
Search for Majorana neutrinos
Authors: Shimizu Itaru
Published: March 2023

Whether there exist elementary particles having Majorana nature is a fundamental open question that has persisted since the 1930s. The only practical experiments to test the Majorana nature of neutrinos is the search for neutrinoless double-beta decay, which has been a major challenge for nuclear and particle physicists. In the 2000s, a number of experiments using advanced technologies were planned, some of which have already achieved significant improvements in the search sensitivity. In this article, the current status of the neutrinoless double-beta decay searches is summarized, reviewing the progress of KamLAND-Zen, which recorded the world’s best sensitivity in the effective Majorana neutrino mass limit.
Management of Aspergillosis in a Premature Neonate
Authors: Parham Matthew J. , Grush Andrew E. , Ferry Andrew M. , Richardson Barbara L. , Buchanan Edward P.
Published: March 2023

Aspergillusspecies are ubiquitous in the environment. Premature neonates are particularly vulnerable to these fungal infections because their immune systems and integument are underdeveloped. Fungal invasion through breaks in the epidermis can lead to the development of primary cutaneous aspergillosis (PCA), a skin infection that is locally destructive and causes tissue necrosis. If left untreated, the fungus can disseminate into deeper tissues, causing significant morbidity and mortality. Treatment options are primarily pharmaceutical with rare indications for surgical debridement. However, concomitant wound care protocols may be beneficial.

Herein, the authors report the successful management and wound care of PCA with extensive necrosis in a premature neonate. A 6-day-old boy born prematurely at 23 weeks and 6 days presented with widespread white plaques along the midline of the back. Biopsy and culture of the area returned positive for bothAspergillus flavusandAspergillus niger. Appropriate antibiotic and antifungal treatment was initiated. Loose necrotic tissue was removed weekly with warm 0.9% saline on a cotton-tipped applicator. Fresh silver-impregnated dressings were applied daily and secured with swaddling wraps. Pharmacotherapy and wound care were discontinued on day of life (DOL) 85 and DOL 108, respectively. By DOL 40, all wounds were red, moist, and granulating. By DOL 108, the wound reached complete resolution, and the patient was discharged from the wound care service with a well-healed scar. This case highlights the importance of rapid medical management coupled with daily wound care for the successful treatment of PCA with extensive necrosis.
Intensive Care Unit Nurses' Experience of Watson's Theory of Human Caring Caritas Process III
Authors: Leone-Sheehan Danielle , Flanagan Jane , Willis Danny
Published: March 2023

The purpose of this study was to explore intensive care unit (ICU) nurses' experience of developing spiritual self to meet the significant spiritual and existential needs of patients and their families. A qualitative descriptive method with directed content analysis guided by Watson's Theory of Human Caring was utilized. From a sample of 10 ICU nurses, 3 main themes were described. The themes articulate ICU nurses' experience of personal spiritual growth as influenced by their work environment and the need for continued development of spiritual self to support their clinical role.
Mpox (Monkeypox) Infection During Pregnancy
Authors: Sampson Mindy M. , Magee Gray , Schrader Evan A. , Dantuluri Keerti L. , Bukhari Areej , Passaretti Catherine , Temming Lorene , Leonard Michael , Philips Jennifer B. , Weinrib David
Published: March 2023

BACKGROUND:

An mpox (formerly “monkeypox”) outbreak began in 2022, leading to infection in special populations, including pregnant individuals.

CASE:

We present a case of an individual who presented with a labial ulcer and subsequent papular rash at 31 weeks of gestation. She was diagnosed with mpox infection and was treated with tecovirimat. She had an uncomplicated induction of labor at 39 2/7 weeks of gestation and delivered a healthy neonate. The neonate had a positive immunoglobulin G test result for orthopoxvirus but did not have skin lesions or positive molecular test results suggestive of infection.

CONCLUSION:

Transplacental transmission of mpox is possible, but, in this case, the neonate did not have clinical findings suggestive of active or antenatal mpox infection. Treatment with tecovirimat in gestational cases of mpox may be beneficial.
Can Rigid Femoral Nailing Be Used for Pediatric Femoral Shaft Fracture in Children 8 to 10 Years? Use of RIN in Patients With Femoral Shaft Fracture
Authors: Park Kwangwon , Cardin Stefano , Fan Bensen , Toledano James , Birnbaum Mark , Herrera-Soto José A.
Published: March 2023

Background:

The treatment modalities for pediatric femoral shaft fractures are determined by their age, weight, and fracture pattern. Rigid intramedullary nailing (RIN) is usually recommended for patients >11 years of age, and elastic intramedullary nailing (EIN) has been used for patients under 10 years. However, little is known about the use of RIN in patients aged 8 to 10 years. We examined the differences in patients with femoral shaft fractures who were treated with EIN or RIN in terms of (1) fracture healing; (2) changes of anatomic parameters; and (3) related complications.

Methods:

We retrospectively reviewed 54 patients between 8 and 10 years of age, with femoral shaft fractures, who were treated with either EIN or RIN between 2011 and 2020. Lateral trochanteric entry was used for RIN procedure. The mean follow-up period was 26.4 months (range, 6 to 113 mo). There were 17 patients in the EIN group and 37 patients in the RIN group. The mean age at the time of surgery was 1 year younger in the EIN group (P<0.01). The mean weight of the patient was significantly heavier in the RIN group compared with the EIN group.

Results:

Complete union of the fracture was achieved slightly faster in the RIN group at 3.4 months compared with 3.7 months in the EIN group (P=0.04). There were no clinically significant changes of the anatomic parameters in either group, including neck shaft angle and articulotrochanteric distance. There was no evidence of avascular necrosis at the time of final follow-up for either group. There were no significant differences in postoperative complications between the groups.

Conclusion:

RIN using lateral trochanteric entry is a feasible surgical option for femoral shaft fractures in patients 8 to 10 years of age that are heavier than 40 kg or with unstable fracture patterns.

Level of Evidence:

Level III, retrospective cohort study. See the Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Foetal genome editing
Authors: Bose Sourav K. , Kennedy Kara , Peranteau William H.
Published: March 2023

Purpose of review

The development of modern gene editing tools alongside promising innovations in gene sequencing and prenatal diagnostics as well as a shifting regulatory climate around targeted therapeutics offer an opportunity to address monogenic diseases prior to the onset of pathology. In this review, we seek to highlight recent progress in preclinical studies evaluating the potential in-utero gene editing as a treatment for monogenic diseases that cause morbidity or mortality before or shortly after birth.

Recent findings

There has been significant recent progress in clinical trials for postnatal gene editing. Corresponding advances have been made with respect to in-utero cell and enzyme replacement therapies. These precedents establish the foundation for ‘one-shot’ treatments by way in-utero gene editing. Compelling preclinical data in liver, pulmonary and multisystemic diseases demonstrate the potential benefits of in-utero editing approaches.

Recent proof-of-concept studies have demonstrated the safety and feasibility of in-utero gene editing across multiple organ systems and in numerous diseases. Clinical translation will require continued evolution of vectors and editing approaches to maximize efficiency and minimize unwanted treatment effects.
Frozen embryo transfers in a natural cycle: how to do it right
Authors: Lawrenz Barbara , Melado Laura , Fatemi Human M.
Published: March 2023

Purpose of review

Assisted reproductive technology treatment has seen a significant shift from fresh to frozen embryo transfers (FET). Endometrial receptivity in the FET cycle can be achieved through a hormonal replacement cycle or a natural cycle, and the preparation approach has important implications on the pregnancy itself. In the natural cycle approach, planning of the embryo transfer timing might be challenging due to the need to identify ovulation correctly.

Recent findings

Ovulation in a natural cycle is characterized by a luteinizing hormone surge, followed by the rise in progesterone (P4) levels, inducing secretory transformation. However, the luteinizing hormone surge can vary widely in its pattern, amplitude and duration and might not even result in the formation of a corpus luteum and P4 production. Monitoring of the luteinizing hormone surge using urinary luteinizing hormone kits might be a convenient approach, however, it is deemed unreliable and should be considered inadequate for securing the best outcome of a FET cycle.

Endometrial receptivity depends on the duration of progesterone exposure to the adequately estrogenized endometrium. In a natural cycle endometrial preparation approach, correct planning for the embryo transfer timing should include the measurement of luteinizing hormone, estradiol and P4.
An easy-to-use artificial intelligence preoperative lymph node metastasis predictor (LN-MASTER) in rectal cancer based on a privacy-preserving computing platform: multicenter retrospective cohort study
Authors: Guan Xu , Yu Guanyu , Zhang Weiyuan , Wen Rongbo , Wei Ran , Jiao Shuai , Zhao Qing , Lou Zheng , Hao Liqiang , Liu Enrui , Gao Xianhua , Wang Guiyu , Zhang Wei , Wang Xishan
Published: March 2023

Background:

Although the surgical treatment strategy for rectal cancer (RC) is usually based on the preoperative diagnosis of lymph node metastasis (LNM), the accurate diagnosis of LNM has been a clinical challenge. In this study, we developed machine learning (ML) models to predict the LNM status before surgery based on a privacy-preserving computing platform (PPCP) and created a web tool to help clinicians with treatment-based decision-making in RC patients.

Patients and methods:

A total of 6578 RC patients were enrolled in this study. ML models, including logistic regression, support vector machine, extreme gradient boosting (XGB), and random forest, were used to establish the prediction models. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUCs) were calculated to compare the accuracy of the ML models with the US guidelines and clinical diagnosis of LNM. Last, model establishment and validation were performed in the PPCP without the exchange of raw data among different institutions.

Results:

LNM was detected in 1006 (35.3%), 252 (35.3%), 581 (32.9%), and 342 (27.4%) RC patients in the training, test, and external validation sets 1 and 2, respectively. The XGB model identified the optimal model with an AUC of 0.84 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.83–0.86] compared with the logistic regression model (AUC, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.74–0.78), random forest model (AUC, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.81–0.84), and support vector machine model (AUC, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.78–0.81). Furthermore, the XGB model showed higher accuracy than the predictive factors of the US guidelines and clinical diagnosis. The predictive XGB model was embedded in a web tool (named LN-MASTER) to predict the LNM status for RC.

Conclusion:

The proposed easy-to-use model showed good performance for LNM prediction, and the web tool can help clinicians make treatment-based decisions for patients with RC. Furthermore, PPCP enables state-of-the-art model development despite the limited local data availability.
Oncologic outcomes of intersphincteric resection versus abdominoperineal resection for lower rectal cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Du Qiang , Yang Wenming , Zhang Jianhao , Qiu Siyuan , Liu Xueting , Wang Yong , Yang Lie , Zhou Zongguang
Published: March 2023

Background:

The efficacy of intersphincteric resection (ISR) surgery for patients with lower rectal cancer remains unclear compared to abdominoperineal resection (APR). The aim of this study is to compare the oncologic outcomes for lower rectal cancer patients after ISR and APR through a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Materials and Methods:

A systematic electronic search of the Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMBASE, and MEDLINE was performed through January 12, 2022. The primary outcomes included 5-year disease-free survival (5y-DFS) and 5-year overall survival. Secondary outcomes included circumferential resection margin involvement, local recurrence, perioperative outcomes, and other long-term outcomes. The pooled odds ratios, mean difference, or hazard ratios (HRs) of each outcome measurement and their 95% CIs were calculated.

Results:

A total of 20 nonrandomized controlled studies were included in the qualitative analysis, with 1217 patients who underwent ISR and 1135 patients who underwent APR. There was no significant difference in 5y-DFS (HR: 0.84, 95% CI: 0.55–1.29; P=0.43) and 5-year overall survival (HR: 0.93, 95% CI: 0.60–1.46; P=0.76) between the two groups. Using the results of five studies that reported matched T stage and tumor distance, we performed another pooled analysis. Compared to APR, the ISR group had equal 5y-DFS (HR: 0.76, 95% CI: 0.45–1.30; P=0.31) and 5y-LRFS (local recurrence-free survival) (HR: 0.72, 95% CI: 0.29–1.78; P=0.48). Meanwhile, ISR had equivalent local control as well as perioperative outcomes while significantly reducing the operative time (mean difference: −24.89, 95% CI: −45.21 to −4.57; P=0.02) compared to APR.

Conclusions:

Our results show that the long-term survival and safety of patients is not affected by ISR surgery, although this result needs to be carefully considered and requires further study due to the risk of bias and limited data.
Clinical Factors Associated With Prognosis of Tinnitus and Aural Fullness After Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Authors: Han Ji Hyuk , Kwak SeungMin , Lee Jeonggum , Lee Yujin , Kim Dachan , Bae Seong Hoon
Published: March 2023

Objectives

We evaluated the long-term prognosis and risk factors associated with tinnitus and aural fullness, which occurred with sudden sensorineural hearing loss.

Study Design

Retrospective cross-sectional review.

Setting

Tertiary referral center.

Patients

Those who visited our clinic for sudden hearing loss from January 2016 to May 2020, diagnosed with sudden sensorineural hearing loss based on pure-tone audiometry, and underwent magnetic resonance imaging to rule out other cause of hearing loss. In total, 106 patients were enrolled in this study.

Intervention

All patients were treated with oral glucocorticoids. Salvage intratympanic dexamethasone injection therapy was performed for the patients whose hearing was not fully recovered.

Main Outcome and Measures

We scored the loudness of tinnitus and the intensity of aural fullness using the numerical rating scale. We used a mixed-effects model for repeatedly measured tinnitus and aural fullness scores.

Results

The time after the onset of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL; β = −0.07; 95% confidence interval, −0.09 to −0.05; p < 0.001) and hearing outcome after treatment (overall p = 0.003) were significant factors associated with the prognosis of tinnitus. Concerning aural fullness, the time after the onset of SSNHL was a significant prognosis factor (β = −0.08; 95% confidence interval, −0.09 to −0.06; p < 0.001), unlike hearing outcome (overall p = 0.261). Pretreatment pure-tone audiometry average threshold and mainly affected frequencies were not significant factors for tinnitus and aural fullness recovery, respectively.

Conclusion

The persistence of tinnitus with SSNHL was significantly affected by hearing recovery after treatment, whereas aural fullness was not associated with hearing recovery. However, both symptoms were improved over time after SSNHL.
Determining Gaps in Current Physiatric Tele-Physical Assessments (TelePA) via a Needs Assessment Survey
Authors: Chakka Keerthana , Wu Richard , Belko Sara , Annaswamy Thiru
Published: March 2023

Objectives

Physical examinations are essential for in-person patient visits but remain difficult to replicate during virtual encounters. This work aims to identify gaps in the current state of telemedicine-based physical assessments (TelePA) by surveying physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) physicians who perform physical examinations.

Design

A survey of 29 Likert-scale questions and 5 open-ended questions was distributed to practicing PM&R physicians. The Likert-scale questions covered remote physical assessment, access, perception/engagement, implementation/effectiveness, and administrative concerns.

Results

53 participants completed the survey. Over 80% of respondents suggested that while telemedicine was universally well accepted, they could not effectively perform TelePA, especially the musculoskeletal and neurological components. Remote assessment of upper and lower extremity strength, reflexes and sensation were examples of key unmet needs. Responses to open-ended questions suggested that TelePA can reduce the burden of travel and increase adherence to follow-up visits, but complex technology setup can pose difficulty for older patients and patients with cognitive deficits.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that current telemedicine technology is insufficient to meet PM&R physicians’ TelePA needs. Despite high levels of provider and patient engagement with telemedicine, numerous deficits remain in performing musculoskeletal and neurological examinations. These results can inform future technology developments that address these identified TelePA gaps.
A retrospective cohort study of patient-reported urinary tract infection signs and symptoms among individuals with neurogenic bladder
Authors: Wirth Marissa , Suda Katie J. , Burns Stephen P. , Weaver Frances M. , Collins Eileen , Safdar Nasia , Kartje Rebecca , Evans Charlesnika T. , Fitzpatrick Margaret A.
Published: March 2023

Objective

Characterize patient-reported signs and symptoms of urinary tract infections (UTI) in patients with neurogenic bladder (NB) to inform development of an intervention to improve the accuracy of UTI diagnosis.

Design

Retrospective cohort study, of adults with NB due to spinal cord injury/disorder (SCI/D), multiple sclerosis (MS), and/or Parkinson’s Disease (PD) and UTI encounters at four medical centers between 2017-2018. Data were collected through medical record review and analyzed using descriptive statistics and unadjusted logistic regression.

Results

Of 199 patients with NB and UTIs, 37% were diagnosed with MS, 36% SCI/D, and 27% PD. Most patients were men (88%) in inpatient or long-term care settings (60%) with bladder catheters (67%). Fever was the most frequent symptom (32%). Only 38% of patients had a urinary tract-specific symptom; 48% had only non-specific to the urinary tract symptoms. Inpatient encounter setting [odds ratio (OR) 2.5, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.2-5.2] was associated with greater odds of only having non-specific urinary tract symptoms.

Conclusions

In patients with NB and UTI encounters, non-specific signs and symptoms are most frequently reported. These results can inform interventions to help providers better elicit and document urinary tract specific symptoms in patients with NB presenting with possible UTI, particularly among hospitalized patients.
A progress report on the spinal cord rehabilitation research initiatives based on registered clinical from 2000 to 2022
Authors: Furlan Julio C. , Furlan Daniel T. , Marquez-Chin Cesar
Published: March 2023

The current rehabilitation therapy protocols for management of individuals with spinal cord injury or disease (SCI/D) aim to maximize restoration of remaining function and minimize secondary health conditions. Also, several novel rehabilitation therapies for management of SCI/D have been reshaping the field over the past two decades. This scoping review analyzes the trends and features of the recently completed and ongoing clinical studies on the rehabilitation of individuals with spinal cord injury or disease (SCI/D) that were registered in the ClinicalTrials.gov website. Furthermore, this in-depth review synthesizes and appraises what was learned and what will potentially be discovered in the near future from the clinical studies on the rehabilitation after SCI/D.
The Effectiveness of Aquatic Exercise on Improving Fatigue and Quality of Life in Individuals with Multiple Sclerosis: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Ko Na-hyeon , Balderama Earvin , Sarmento Caio V. M. , Roos Jennifer
Published: March 2023

Background/Purpose:

Individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) require long-term treatment and health care management, dealing with fatigue and decreased quality of life. Aquatic exercise could be a long-term intervention for this population. The aim of this meta-analysis is to evaluate the effectiveness of aquatic exercises on fatigue and quality of life in individuals with MS who present with mild to moderate symptoms.

Methods:

Articles were accessed by searching across PubMed Central, CINHAL, Cochrane Library, and PEDro, using the terms “multiple sclerosis” and one of the following: “aquatic therapy,” “hydrotherapy,” “aquatic exercises,” or “water exercises.” The meta-analysis was performed comparing mean differences in fatigue (physical, cognitive, and psychosocial) and quality of life (physical and mental) using within-group differences at pre- and post-intervention and between-group differences of the aquatic exercise and control groups.

Results:

Five studies with a total of 115 patients with MS were included in the analysis. Aquatic exercise resulted in decreased physical (−8.98, I
2 = 62.59%, P = .0001), cognitive (−2.23, I
2 = 0, P < .0001), and psychosocial (−7.00, I
2 = 0, P < .0001) fatigue compared with the control groups. Studies on physical fatigue reported a high heterogeneity, while studies on cognitive and psychosocial fatigue had no heterogeneity. Aquatic exercise improved both physical (10.63, I
2 = 69.74%, P = .048) and mental (12.53, I
2 = 64.25%, P = .052) quality of life; however, both reported high heterogeneity.

Discussion/Conclusions:

The findings suggest that aquatic exercise programs are effective in reducing fatigue and improving quality of life among individuals with mild to moderate MS. Therefore, aquatic exercises can be another method in the continuum of care for individuals with MS in a home or community environment.
Jejunal Cavernous Hemangioma Mimicking Malignancy With Increased Activity on 18F-FDG PET/CT
Authors: Huang Wen-Shan , He Yang-Lin , Liang Jie , Su Yu-Lin , Xu Jie-Hua
Published: March 2023

A 50-year-old woman underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT to evaluate possible abdominal malignancy, which was revealed by CT. The images showed a large cystic-solid lesion with peripherally increased FDG activity in the left mid-abdomen. Histopathology of the excised lesion confirmed a jejunal cavernous hemangioma. We reported a rare case of jejunal cavernous hemangioma with FDG accumulation on PET/CT, mimicking malignancy.
Impact of the New Glomerular Filtration Rate Formulas on Kidney Function Assessment in Living Kidney Donors and Candidates
Authors: Al Jurdi Ayman , Safa Kassem
Published: March 2023

Background:

New estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) equations that do not include a race coefficient have been created to better estimate kidney function, reduce inequities in kidney disease care, and improve the historically limited access to transplantation in African Americans. The impact of these new equations on estimated GFR (eGFR) in living donors pre- and postdonation is not known.

Methods:

To address this, we conducted a single-center retrospective cohort study of 150 kidney donors and donor candidates. We calculated pre- and postdonation eGFR using the old and new equations and compared them with measured GFR by 2.8 mCi Tc-99m diethylene triamine penta-acetic acid clearance (mGFRDTPA) and 24-h creatinine clearance (mGFRCrCl). We evaluated the impact of the new equations on donation eligibility and postdonation eGFR.

Results:

We found that using the new eGFR equations resulted in higher predonation eGFR compared with the old equations but remained significantly lower than mGFRDTPA and mGFRCrCl. We also found that using the new eGFR equations would not exclude any potential donors based on our center’s GFR criteria for donation. At 6 mo postdonation, the new equations resulted in higher eGFR values compared with the old equations.

Conclusions:

The new eGFR equations continue to underestimate GFR in healthy donor candidates but would not exclude any potential donors from donation and resulted in higher eGFR predonation and postdonation in a predominantly White population. eGFR equations designed specifically for potential kidney donors are still needed for better kidney function assessment.
Evaluation of different methods for in vitro susceptibility testing of colistin in carbapenem resistant Gram negative bacilli
Authors: Rout Bidyutprava , Dash Sumesh Kumar , Sahu Kundan kumar , Behera Birasen , Praharaj Ira , Otta Sarita
Published: March 2023

Introduction- The increasing antibiotic resistance like advent of carbapenem resistant
Enterobactarales (CRE), Carbapenem Resistant Acinetobacter baumanii (CRAB) and
Carbapenem Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (CRPA) has led to use of toxic and older drugs
like colistin for these organisms. But worldwide there is an increase in resistance even to colistin
mediated both by chromosomes and plasmids. This necessitates accurate detection of resistance.
This is impeded by unavailability of a user friendly phenotypic method for use in routine clinical
microbiology practice. The present study attempts to evaluate two different methods- Colistin
broth disc elution and MIC detection by Vitek 2 in comparison to CLSI approved broth
microdilution (BMD) for colistin for Enterobactarales, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and
Acinetobacter baumanii clinical isolates.
Methods- Colistin susceptibility of 6013 carbapenem resistant isolates was determined by BMD,
Colistin Broth Disc Elution (CBDE) and Vitek2 methods and was interpreted as per CLSI
guidelines. The MIC results of CBDE, Vitek 2 were compared with that of BMD and essential
agreement (EA), categorical agreement (CA), sensitivity, specificity, very major error (VME),
major error (ME) and cohen’s kappa (CK) was calculated. Presence of any plasmid-mediated
colistin resistance (mcr-1, 2, 3, 4 and 5) was evaluated all colistin resistant isolates by
conventional polymerase chain reaction.
Results- Colistin resistance was found in 778 (12.9%) strains among the carbapenem resistant
isolates. Klebsiella pneumoniae had the highest (18.9%) colistin resistance by BMD method.
MIC of Vitek 2 had sensitivity ranging from 78.2% to 84.8% and specificity of > 92%. There
were 171 VMEs and 323 MEs by Vitek2 method, much more than CLSI acceptable range. The
highest percentage of errors was committed for Acinetobacter baumanii (27.8% of VME and
7.9% ME). On the other hand the CBDE method performed well with EA, CA, VME and ME
within acceptable range for all the organisms. The sensitivity of CBDE method compared to gold
standard BMD varied from 97.5%-98.8% for different strains with a specificity of more than
97.6%. None of the isolated colistin resistant organism harbored mcr plasmids.
Conclusion- As BMD has many technical complexities, CBDE is the best viable alternative
available for countries like India. A sensitive MIC reported by Vitek2 needs to be carefully
considered due high propensity for VMEs particularly for Klebsiella spp.
Data summary- Supplementary material provides data regarding the comparison of MICs of three different mmethods for all samples. Sheet 1 to Sheet 5 contains data for E.coli, K.pneumoniae, A.baumannii, P.aeruginosa, E. cloacae respectively.
Aquiflexum gelatinilyticum sp. nov., isolated from river water
Authors: Zhang Dan-Dan , Zhang Xiao-Juan , Wu Danni , Li Bin-Bin , Liu Hong-Can , Zhou Yu-Guang , Fang Bao-Zhu , Li Wen-Jun , Cai Man
Published: March 2023

Two Gram-stain-negative, strictly aerobic, rod-shaped, non-motile and non-gliding bacteria, designated as XJ19-10T and XJ19-11, were isolated from river water in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, PR China. Cells of these strains were catalase-, oxidase- and gelatinase-positive and contained carotenoids but no flexirubins. Growth occurred at 10–30 °C, pH 7.0–9.0 and with 0–2.5% (w/v) NaCl. On the basis of the results of 16S rRNA gene sequence and genome analyses, the two isolates represented members of the genus

Aquiflexum

, and the closest relative was

Aquiflexum aquatile

Z0201T with 16S rRNA gene sequence pairwise similarities of 97.9–98.1%. Furthermore, the average nucleotide identities and digital DNA–DNA hybridization identities between the two isolates and other relatives were all less than 82.9 and 28.2 %, respectively, all below the species delineation thresholds. The results of pan-genomic analysis indicated that the type strain XJ19-10T shared 2813 core gene clusters with other three type strains of members of the genus

Aquiflexum

, as well as having 623 strain-specific clusters. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, an unidentified aminolipid and unidentified lipids. The predominant fatty acids (>10% of the total contents) were iso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 1G, iso-C17 : 0 3-OH and summed feature 9, and MK-7 was the respiratory quinone. On the basis of the results of phenotypic, physiological, chemotaxonomic and genotypic characterization, strains XJ19-10T and XJ19-11 are considered to represent a novel species, for which the name Aquiflexum gelatinilyticum sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is XJ19-10T (=CGMCC 1.19385T =KCTC 92266T).
Palidis: fast discovery of novel insertion sequences
Authors: Carr Victoria R. , Pissis Solon P. , Mullany Peter , Shoaie Saeed , Gomez-Cabrero David , Moyes David L.
Published: March 2023

The diversity of microbial insertion sequences, crucial mobile genetic elements in generating diversity in microbial genomes, needs to be better represented in current microbial databases. Identification of these sequences in microbiome communities presents some significant problems that have led to their underrepresentation. Here, we present a bioinformatics pipeline called Palidis that recognizes insertion sequences in metagenomic sequence data rapidly by identifying inverted terminal repeat regions from mixed microbial community genomes. Applying Palidis to 264 human metagenomes identifies 879 unique insertion sequences, with 519 being novel and not previously characterized. Querying this catalogue against a large database of isolate genomes reveals evidence of horizontal gene transfer events across bacterial classes. We will continue to apply this tool more widely, building the Insertion Sequence Catalogue, a valuable resource for researchers wishing to query their microbial genomes for insertion sequences.
Complete genome sequence and characterization of a novel Enterococcus faecium with probiotic potential isolated from the gut of Litopenaeus vannamei
Authors: Chino de la Cruz Citlali Melissa , Cornejo-Granados Fernanda , Gallardo-Becerra Luigui , Rodríguez-Alegría María Elena , Ochoa-Leyva Adrian , López Munguía Agustín
Published: March 2023

Litopenaeus vannamei, the Pacific whiteleg shrimp, is one of the most marketable species in aquaculture worldwide. However, it is susceptible to different infections causing considerable losses in production each year. Consequently, using prebiotics that promotes the proliferation of beneficial bacteria and strengthen the immune system is a current strategy for disease control. In this study, we isolated two strains of

E. faecium

from the gut of L. vannamei fed with agavin-supplemented diets. These isolates showed antibacterial activity against Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Vibrio harveyi and

Vibrio alginolyticus

, most likely due to peptidoglycan hydrolase (PGH) activity. Furthermore, we sequenced the genome of one isolate. As a result, we observed three proteins related to the production of bacteriocins, a relevant trait for selecting probiotic strains since they can inhibit the invasion of potential pathogens. Additionally, the genome annotation showed genes related to the production of essential nutrients for the host. It lacked two of the most common factors associated with virulence in

Enterococcus

pathogenic strains (esp and hyl). Thus, this host-probiotic-derived strain has potential application not only in shrimp health but also in alternative aquatic environments, as it is adapted to coexist within the gut shrimp microbiota, independently of the diet.
Can science exist without free discussion?
Authors: Sikora Ryszard
Published: March 2023

Purpose

The aim of this article is to draw attention to the importance of open discussion for the proper development of science.

Design/methodology/approach

In the phase of the developed market economy we are currently in, the evaluation of each human activity, including scientific work, which is based on an evaluation of the value of the profit it brings. Unfortunately, it does not always work correctly.

Findings

The problem will be analyzed using as an example the erroneous (according to the author) use of fractional derivatives in electrical engineering.

Originality/value

To the best of the author’s knowledge, this is the author's original point of view on the problem of improper use of fractional derivatives in electrical engineering.
Multi-relation global context learning for session-based recommendation
Authors: Liu Yishan , Cao Wenming , Cao Guitao
Published: March 2023

Purpose

Session-based recommendation aims to predict the user's next preference based on the user's recent activities. Although most existing studies consider the global characteristics of items, they only learn the global characteristics of items based on a single connection relationship, which cannot fully capture the complex transformation relationship between items. We believe that multiple relationships between items in learning sessions can improve the performance of session recommendation tasks and the scalability of recommendation models. At the same time, high-quality global features of the item help to explore the potential common preferences of users.

Design/methodology/approach

This work proposes a session-based recommendation method with a multi-relation global context–enhanced network to capture this global transition relationship. Specifically, we construct a multi-relation global item graph based on a group of sessions, use a graded attention mechanism to learn different types of connection relations independently and obtain the global feature of the item according to the multi-relation weight.

Findings

We did related experiments on three benchmark datasets. The experimental results show that our proposed model is superior to the existing state-of-the-art methods, which verifies the effectiveness of our model.

Originality/value

First, we construct a multi-relation global item graph to learn the complex transition relations of the global context of the item and effectively mine the potential association of items between different sessions. Second, our model effectively improves the scalability of the model by obtaining high-quality item global features and enables some previously unconsidered items to make it onto the candidate list.
Role of sustainable refurbishment in the perception of quality of life of residential building occupants in Prishtina, Kosovo
Authors: Hoxha Visar , Pallaska Fuat
Published: March 2023

Purpose

The aim of this research is to investigate the impact of thermal, acoustic and HVAC upgrades on the perception of the quality of life among residential building occupants.

Design/methodology/approach

The present study used a quantitative research approach, utilizing a questionnaire as the research instrument. A survey was conducted with 1,119 residential apartment building occupants in Prishtina, Kosovo, using a stratified random sampling method for selection of participants.

Findings

The present study used quantitative research with a questionnaire as the research instrument. The survey was conducted with 1,119 residential apartment building occupants in Prishtina, Kosovo, using stratified random sampling. The study found that thermal retrofits, acoustic retrofits and HVAC upgrades as a whole model affect the perception of the quality of life of residential building occupants in Prishtina, Kosovo. However, the study found that not all dimensions of the constructed research model (thermal, acoustic and HVAC) affect the perception of the quality of life of residential building occupants. Specifically, thermal retrofitting seems to strongly influence the perception of quality of life, while HVAC upgrades do not seem to have an impact on the quality of life of occupants. Finally, acoustic retrofits also influence the perception of the quality of life, although not to the same degree as thermal retrofitting.

Research limitations/implications

The present study contributes to understanding the role that thermal retrofits, acoustic retrofits and HVAC upgrades play in the perception of quality of life by building occupants in an understudied region with a booming real estate sector such as Kosovo. The study also highlights the need for further analysis to understand why HVAC upgrades do not seem to influence the perception of quality of life by residential building occupants in Kosovo.

Originality/value

The present study is the first to quantify the impact of thermal, acoustic and HVAC upgrades on the perception of the quality of life of residential building occupants in Prishtina, Kosovo.
The relevance of communication for the well-being of public personnel in local government: does it have an impact on citizen satisfaction?
Authors: De Matteis Fabio , Striani Fabrizio , Greco Roberto
Published: March 2023

Purpose

Communication within a public organization is a fundamental aspect considering its contribution both to organizational well-being and – as highlighted by recent literature – to the improvement of relations with external users. This paper aims at analyzing the relevance of different dimensions of communication and the relationship between communication and citizens' satisfaction.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is based on data collected through questionnaires (303; 86%) filled in by the public personnel of an Italian local government to verify the communication dimensions relevance. The authors applied the OLS method to test the relationship between communication dimensions and citizens' satisfaction (deriving from the municipality's customer satisfaction survey system, which collected 3,708 questionnaires).

Findings

The authors show that four of the five communication dimensions considered are particularly relevant and that two of them (“interpersonal communication” and “organizational communication”) positively influence the level of satisfaction of users of local public services (citizens' satisfaction), also countering the negative perception of certain sectors (e.g. taxes and local taxation, traffic police). The conclusion also highlights some limitations of the work.

Originality/value

The study brings new insights into the impact of communication (as an element of public employee well-being) on citizen satisfaction, leading to some useful implications for public managers.
Webrooming as the new retail experience: a smart-shopping perspective
Authors: Wu ZiQiang , Aw Eugene Cheng-Xi , Chuah Stephanie Hui-Wen
Published: March 2023

Purpose

Webrooming (i.e. searching information online and making the final purchase in a physical store) has become a popular shopping practice, but remains insufficiently studied. To address this, a research framework encompassing online and offline channel attributes (i.e. online review diagnosticity, online search convenience, expected price loss, offline purchase effort and offline after-sales service convenience), consumer traits (i.e. anticipated regret) and shopping experience (i.e. smart-shopping perception) as determinants of webrooming continuance intention is proposed.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed model was validated by conducting a questionnaire-based survey that yielded 354 useable responses. The data was subjected to partial least squares structural equation modelling and importance-performance map analysis.

Findings

According to the obtained results, online review diagnosticity, offline after-sales service convenience and anticipated regret are the vital antecedents of webrooming continuance intention, while smart-shopping perception acts as the mediator.

Originality/value

The current study adds significantly to the body of knowledge about webrooming by validating the inter-relationships between online review diagnosticity, after-sales service convenience, anticipated regret, smart-shopping perception and webrooming continuance intention.