bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Manual route modification using an oblique method following automatic virtual bronchoscopic navigation
Authors: Inoue Takako , Kawamura Takahisa , Kunimasa Kei , Tamiya Motohiro , Kuhara Hanako , Nishino Kazumi , Odani Satomi , Imamura Fumio , Kumagai Toru , Miyake Kotaro
Published: May 2022

Virtual automatic bronchoscopic navigation (VBN) systems to determine the route to peripheral pulmonary lesions (PPLs) in lung cancer can improve diagnostic biopsy yields. However, compared with VBN, drawing manual routes using computed tomography images, especially with oblique methods, can identify more routes. The Ziostation2 VBN system combines the benefits of these 2 methods; we evaluated this performance by comparing 3 different route-determining methods.

We retrospectively collected data from 50 patients with PPLs measuring <30 mm who underwent transbronchial biopsy with an ultrathin bronchoscope at the Osaka International Cancer Institute during January to December 2018. We compared automatic VBN (Ziostation2), manual route modification using an oblique method after automatic VBN, and manual navigation using a general application computed tomography viewer. Concordance between predicted and actual branching were determined. We also compared the predicted relationship between the terminal bronchi and the lesion by 2 of the methods with ultrasonographic images (radial-probe endobronchial ultrasonography [radial-EBUS]).

Manual modification after automatic VBN significantly increased the rate of determining routes to the target (66%) versus with the automatic VBN alone (32%) (P < .001). Expected route bifurcations were exact matches with actual branching in 45/48 of the patients using manual modification after automatic VBN. The predicted relationship between the terminal bronchi and the lesion using manual modification after VBN matched the radial-EBUS images in 35/50 of the patients.

Manual modification of routes to PPLs using an oblique method after automatic VBN predicted actual radial-EBUS route imaging and could help determine appropriate patients for bronchoscopy.
Effects of α lipoic acid combined with olmesartan medoxomil on blood glucose and oxidation indicators in patients with diabetic nephropathy
Authors: Jiao Shengfu , Dong Yuxia , Chang Xiang , Wu Yanan , Li Haifeng
Published: May 2022

Background:

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a common microvascular complication of diabetes, which poses a serious threat to the health and life of patients. There is evidence that both α lipoic acid and olmesartan medoxomil have positive effects in the treatment of DN, but whether the 2 have synergistic effects and the effects on blood glucose and oxidation indicators are controversial.

Methods:

This is a prospective parallel, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to study the effects of α lipoic acid in combination with olmesartan medoxomil on blood glucose and oxidation indicators in patients with DN. Participants will be randomly assigned to a treatment group, which will receive α lipoic acid dispersive tablets combined with olmesartan medoxomil tablets, or a control group, which will receive olmesartan medoxomil tablets combined with placebo for 4 weeks, followed up for 12 weeks. Observation indicators include: glycemic indicators [fasting blood glucose, 2 hours postprandial blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin], the oxidation indicators [serum glutathione, superoxide dismutase, malondialdehyde, 8-hydroxydeox-yguanosine], and adverse reactions. Finally, SPASS 22.0 software will be used for statistical analysis of the data.

Discussion:

This study will evaluate the effects of α lipoic acid combined with olmesartan medoxomil on blood glucose and oxidation indicators in patients with DN. The results of this study will provide a reference for the clinical use of α lipoic acid combined with olmesartan medoxomil in the treatment of DN.

Trial registration:

OSF Registration number: DOI 10.17605/OSF.IO/VJWXS
The prognostic significance of LTBP2 for malignant tumors
Authors: Zhao Jianmeng , Liu Xiaokang , Cong Ke , Chang Jinzhe , Shan Hongqing , Zheng Yuenan
Published: May 2022

Background & aims:

At present, increasing reports have shown that latent transforming growth factor-β-binding protein 2 (LTBP2) was associated with the prognosis of many types of cancer. We performed rounded analysis to comprehensively analyze and evaluate the prognostic significance of LTBP2 for patients with malignant tumors.

Methods:

We identified relevant studies by searching database including PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science. The odds ratio with its 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to assess the correlation between LTBP2 and clinicopathologic features or overall survival of patients with cancer. Hazard ratio with its 95% CI was used to explore the prognostic risk factors. The analysis was performed and assessed using Review Manager 5.2.

Results:

A total of 11 studies including 2322 participants were included in this systematic review. Pooled results showed that malignant tissues experienced higher incidence of high LTBP2 expression when compared with adjacent or normal tissues. Patients with high LTBP2 expression experienced significantly lower 1-year, 2-year, 3-year, and 4-year overall survival rate, with the pooled odds ratios being 0.26 (95% CI 0.13–0.53; P = .0002), 0.27 (95% CI 0.14–0.50; P < .0001), 0.26 (95% CI 0.13–0.53; P = .0002), and 0.21 (95% CI 0.06–0.73; P = .01) respectively. Univariate analysis showed high LTBP2 expression, tumor node metastasis stage, T stage, and N stage were prognostic factors of patients with tumors. Multivariate analysis indicated high LTBP2 expression was an independent prognostic factor.

Conclusions:

The present analysis suggested that LTBP2 may have significant association with survival of patients with cancer. High LTBP2 expression was an independent prognostic factor and indicated poor survival.
Coexistence of nodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma and multiple myeloma
Authors: Wang Manzhi , Guo Yan , Dong Lin , Bi Kehong
Published: May 2022

Rationale:

Nodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma (NMZL) is a relatively rare indolent lymphoma that is the least common subtype of marginal zone B-cell lymphoma. Furthermore, coexistence of lymphoma and multiple myeloma (MM) is rare. Here, we report a case of the coexistence of NMZL and MM.

Patient concerns:

The patient was a 66-year-old man with pain in the left rib and lower left back. Enlarged lymph nodes were palpable in the cervical and inguinal regions, the biggest of which was 4.0 × 2.0 cm in size in the left groin.

Diagnosis:

Pathological and immunohistochemical findings of the left inguinal lymph node revealed NMZL. The patient met the diagnostic criteria for symptomatic MM. Therefore, the patient was diagnosed with NMZL and lambda-type MM.

Intervention:

We adopted a bortezomib, liposomal adriamycin, and dexamethasone (PAD) chemotherapy regimen mainly for MM.

Outcomes:

After 3 cycles of treatment, the patient achieved complete remission of myeloma. A 50% decrease in enlarged lymph node size was observed.

Lesson:

To our knowledge, this is the first case report of the simultaneous occurrence of NMZL and MM. Further studies are required to explain the association between these 2 tumors and improve treatment selection.
Spontaneous reduction of transvaginal small bowel evisceration after abdominal hysterectomy for cervical cancer
Authors: Lee Dong Hyung , Kim Eun Taeg , Jo Hyun Been , Hwang Seo Yoon , Lee Nam Kyung , Suh Dong Soo , Kim Ki Hyung
Published: May 2022

Rationale:

Transvaginal evisceration of the small bowel is an extremely rare condition after hysterectomy, which requires urgent surgical intervention to prevent serious bowel morbidity and mortality.

Patient concerns:

A 65-year-old woman presented with sudden-onset severe abdominal pain and a mass protruding through the vagina. The past surgical history was significant, with an abdominal hysterectomy for cervical cancer performed 11 weeks prior to presentation.

Diagnosis:

Pelvic examination revealed prolapsed small-bowel loops (18-20 cm in length). Pelvic computed tomography scan confirmed the presence of transvaginal evisceration of the small bowel.

Interventions:

Bowel reduction and urgent laparotomy were the selected treatment approaches for a detailed inspection and thorough washing of the intrα-abdominal cavity. A Foley catheter was inserted in the emergency room, with the subject in the lithotomy position. The prolapsed bowel loops spontaneously reduced without manual reduction, and the vault defect was repaired transvaginally.

Outcomes:

The patient experienced no postoperative complications and remained disease-free for 9months postoperatively.

Lessons:

Transvaginal evisceration of the small bowel should be considered a surgical emergency. A multidisciplinary approach to prompt case management involving clinicians in gynecology, general surgery, and emergency medicine is vital for preventing serious consequences. Hysterectomy is the most frequently performed gynecological surgical procedure, and evisceration occurs most often after hysterectomy. Therefore, patients should be informed about this rare but possible hysterectomy complication.
Comparison of Different Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 4α Clones for Invasive Mucinous Adenocarcinoma of the Lung
Authors: Hsia Yi , Huang Hao-Chun , Chang Wei-Chin
Published: May 2022

Invasive mucinous adenocarcinoma (IMA) is a rare variant of adenocarcinoma that comprises mucinous epithelial cells. The expression of hepatocyte nuclear factor 4α (HNF4α) has been previously reported as a marker for IMA, but controversy remains regarding whether HNF4α is a reliable marker for lung IMAs. In the present study, we compared HNF4α expression levels between IMA and nonmucinous adenocarcinoma (NMA) cases using 2 different HNF4α clones. We used 2 HNF4α antibody clones, H1 and H1415, to examine HNF4α expression in 36 IMA and 40 NMA cases, which comprised the control group. HNF4α immunostaining intensity (range, 0 to 3) and percentage of intensity (range, 0% to 100%) were evaluated by 3 pathologists and ImageJ software, and average H-scores were calculated for each case. Interobserver agreement was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficient. Receiver-operating characteristic curve was used to analyze sensitivity and specificity of the clones. The mean H-score was higher in the IMA group than in the NMA group for both the H1415 (141.3 vs. 9.3) and H1 (67.3 vs. 3.4) clones. The intraclass correlation coefficient for agreement among the 4 observers was good (0.806 and 0.711). The H1415 clone exhibited comparable sensitivity (83.3% vs. 83.3%) with higher specificity (97.5% vs. 92.5%) compared with the H1 clone when using cutoff values of 36.2 (H1415) and 9.5 (H1), respectively. Our analyses suggest that HNF4α should be considered as a reliable marker for primary IMA of the lung. The H1415 clone should be preferred for use in clinical practice.
Fire Walk With Me: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Pyromania
Authors: Potik David , Beitelman Yana , Schreiber Shaul
Published: May 2022

Reports of destructive behavior by military personnel after demobilization have become more frequent; however, the pathways that might lead these individuals to commit such acts are not clear enough. This column presents the case of a retired soldier who reported the onset of pyromania after military service, and the relationship between dissociation and reenactment of the trauma is discussed. The main conclusions are that psychotherapy of traumatized patients should focus on helping them create a verbal representation of the trauma and that integrating ceremonies and rituals into treatment is a possible and significant option.
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy in Intensive Case Management: A Multimethod Quantitative-Qualitative Study
Authors: Jetté Pomerleau Vincent , Demoustier Arnaud , Krajden Rosanne V. , Racine Hélène , Myhr Gail
Published: May 2022

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) has been shown to improve clinical outcomes in schizophrenia and severe and persistent mental illness, but access to it remains limited. One potential way to improve access to CBT is to provide it through intensive case management (ICM) teams. A 90-week quality improvement study was designed to assess if CBT could be implemented in ICM teams. Self-selected ICM clinicians (N=8) implemented CBT with their patients (N=40). These clinicians attended weekly seminars (36 h total) and group supervision (1.5 h/wk). Patient outcomes for this group were compared with those of other clinicians who did not attend the seminars [treatment as usual (TAU) clinicians (N=4)] and their patient population (N=49). Prescore and postscore on the Clinical Global Impressions scale and a quality-of-life scale (Montreal Life Skill Survey) were analyzed for completers in both groups (Clinical Global Impressions scores were analyzed for 25 patients in the CBT group and 29 patients in the TAU group). Weekly session reports by clinicians in the CBT group measured CBT interventions, session focus, and satisfaction with CBT. Qualitative data were obtained from clinicians in the CBT group. After 90 weeks, patients in the CBT group had fewer negative symptoms compared with patients in the TAU group. Our qualitative data describe 2 trajectories of patients: those who improved with CBT and those who did not, and they suggest factors that may impact patient trajectories in CBT. This study suggests that CBT can be used effectively in ICM teams working with patients suffering from severe and persistent mental illness.
The Use of Validated Visual Scales in Plastic Surgery: Where Are We Now?
Authors: Alford Jake A. , Mao Diana , Comstock Bryan , Smartt James M.
Published: May 2022

Background:

The assessment of the human body, whether for aesthetic or reconstructive purposes, is an inherently visual endeavor. Ideally, reproducible, prompt, and cost-effective systems of visual evaluation would exist that can provide validated assessments of the aesthetic endpoints of treatment. One method to accomplish a standardization of the appreciation of visual endpoints is the use of visual scales. The goal of this systematic review is to summarize and evaluate the use of validated visual scales within aesthetic medicine, dermatology, and plastic and reconstructive surgery.

Methods:

A literature search was performed with a defined search strategy and extensive manual screening process. The Medical Outcomes Trust guidelines for visual scales in medicine were used, with special attention paid to each study’s validation metrics. The review process identified 44 publications with validation data of sufficient quality from an initial survey of 27,745 articles. All rating scales based on imaging other than standardized clinical photographs were excluded.

Results:

The review demonstrates that validated visual assessment in plastic surgery is incomplete. Within specific subfields of aesthetic medicine and dermatology, many of the (n = 20) facial aging scales were well-validated and demonstrated high reliability. Publications (n = 8) focused on the evaluation of facial clefts demonstrated heterogeneity in the methods of validation and in overall reliability. Within the areas of breast surgery (n = 9), body contouring (n = 2), and scarring (n = 5), the scales were variable in the methods used and the validation procedures were diverse. Scales using a visual guide tended to have better interrater (kappa = 0.75) and intrarater reliability (kappa = 0.78), regardless of the specific area of interest.

Conclusions:

The fields of aesthetic medicine, and aesthetic and reconstructive plastic surgery require assessment of visual states over time and between many observers. For these reasons, the development of validated and reliable methods of visual assessment are critical. Until recently, the use of these tools has been limited by their time-consuming nature and cost.
Analysis of the Outcome of Reoperative Face Lifts Using Sub-SMAS Techniques
Authors: Chang Kristoffer N.
Published: May 2022

Background:

Reoperative face lift can be technically more demanding than primary face lift because of altered anatomy and scarred tissue plane. This study was carried out to analyze the outcome of reoperative face lift using sub–superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS) techniques, including facial nerve injury.

Methods:

Seventy reoperative face lifts using sub-SMAS techniques were studied. Data analysis includes the patients’ demographic information, the interval between the previous face lift and the reoperative face lift, intraoperative findings of the SMAS-platysma anatomy, complications, and rate of revision. A separate group of 180 primary face lifts using sub-SMAS techniques during the same period was analyzed for the incidence of facial nerve injury only.

Results:

Intraoperative findings in the reoperative group consist of anatomical changes in the SMAS-platysma in 82.9 percent of the cases, including increased fibrosis, changes in thickness, limited movement, and increased adhesion on the undersurface. Sub-SMAS dissection was completed in 137 hemifaces. Complication consists of seroma (1.4 percent), delayed healing (1.4 percent), and temporary facial nerve injury (7.1 percent), which was not correlated with increased fibrosis or adhesion under the SMAS-platysma. The rate of revision within 18 months was 11.4 percent. There was a 2.2 percent incidence of temporary facial nerve injury in the primary face-lift group.

Conclusions:

Sub-SMAS techniques, with few exceptions, were successfully used in a series of reoperative face lifts. Temporary facial nerve injury was the most frequent complication. Satisfactory outcome was obtained in all the cases. The incidence of facial nerve injury was higher than in primary face lift using sub-SMAS techniques.

CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:

Therapeutic, IV.
Quantitative Evaluation of Volume Augmentation and Durational Changes in the Anteromedial Cheek with Hyaluronic Acid Fillers Using Three-Dimensional Measurement: 2-Year Results from a Comparative Split-Face Study
Authors: Hong Jun Ki , Park Su Jung , Seo Seong Jun , Park Kui Young , Youn Choon Shik
Published: May 2022

Hyaluronic acid fillers are widely used for the augmentation of facial soft tissues. Hyaluronic acid fillers can be monophasic or biphasic and have different characteristics, especially regarding volumetric effects and maintenance potential. However, there is paucity of long-term quantitative and objective data on clinical outcomes following hyaluronic acid injection. In this study, the authors evaluated volumetric changes over 2 years and the maintenance potentials of both types of fillers on the anteromedial cheek using objective three-dimensional measurements. This comparative split-face study enrolled participants aged 30 to 50 years who received a midfacial injection of the test filler (Belotero Volume) on one side and a random control filler (Juvéderm, Restylane SubQ, or Yvoire Contour) on the contralateral side. The authors conducted three-dimensional scanning assessments at baseline and after 30 minutes; 3 days; 2, 4, 12, and 24 weeks; and 2 years. The volume augmentation effects for the anteromedial cheek of two monophasic fillers (Belotero Volume and Juvéderm Voluma) were maintained for at least 2 years (81 percent and 66 percent, respectively, compared to the volume at 4 weeks). Two biphasic fillers (Yvoire Contour and Restylane SubQ) maintained over 50 percent volume compared to the volume 4 weeks after injection. Monophasic fillers showed better outcomes than biphasic fillers; however, both types of hyaluronic acid fillers demonstrated superior efficacy, safety, and durability for volumetric augmentation in the anteromedial cheek. Objective data obtained using three-dimensional imaging analysis will enable dermatologists to better demonstrate the results of the procedure to patients, through the provision of visual aids.

CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:

Therapeutic, II.
Cartography and Topographic Mapping: The Historical Basis for the Standardization of Anatomical Analysis and Surgical Mark-Making to Improve Outcomes in Body Contouring
Authors: Teplica David , Cooney Emmett , Kirklys Marit , Jeffers Eileen
Published: May 2022

Maps have been used for thousands of years to guide and advance mankind’s interests. Recently, cartography has grown exponentially into standardized, densely layered systems, facilitating countless functions that use complex algorithms and multifactorial data. Surgeons have successfully addressed bodily concerns for centuries, aided by consistency of human anatomy, physiologic responses to disease, and patterns of disease. However, body contouring techniques alter the much more inconsistent surface anatomy of stretched or aged skin and highly variable subcutaneous fullness. To date, no consistent strategy has been proposed to analyze, map, and alter human shape in a standardized fashion; however, well-established cartographic methods for topographic mapping can be logically adapted to meet surgical needs. Quantification of results, valid and meaningful comparison of techniques, and anatomical discovery could all be achieved by adopting cartographic methods. As anatomists and scientists, surgeons constantly seek logical and reproducible methods to improve patient outcomes. In this article, the authors present a technique derived from topographic mapping, applied directly to the surface of the human body, reflecting the actual underlying anatomy, to guide both elective and reconstructive procedures. The method provides logical and quantifiable methods for (1) the analysis of anatomy, (2) data-driven planning of surgical care, and (3) a consistent operative implementation—so that each patient can receive individualized, anatomically based procedures. Use of well-established mapping strategies would also promote interdisciplinary collaboration, permit adaptation of software to analyze volume and shape, and improve patient outcomes through quantification of change and meaningful comparisons of procedural options.
Improvements in hand functions and changes in proximal muscle activities in myoelectric prosthetic hand users at home: a case series
Authors: Park Sangsoo , Lee Jaehyung , Oh Ye Eun , Lee Hyun-Joo , Jeon Inho , Kim Keehoon , Lee Song Joo
Published: May 2022

Background:

Adaptation in proximal muscles for daily motor tasks after sustained use of a prosthetic hand has not been fully understood.

Objectives:

This study aimed to investigate changes in hand functions and activities of proximal muscles after multiple weeks of using a myoelectric prosthetic hand at home.

Study design:

Repeated measures.

Methods:

Four people with traumatic upper-limb loss used a myoelectric prosthetic hand (bebionic) at home over the 6- to 8-week period. A user survey, Orthotics and Prosthetics User Survey for Upper Extremity Functional Status 2.0, was used to measure upper-limb functions and the degree of using the prosthetic hand each week. Their hand functions, muscle activities, and grip-specific neuromuscular effort were evaluated by the Southampton Hand Assessment Procedure at the preassessment and postassessment sessions (PRE and POST, respectively).

Results:

All subjects increased Southampton Hand Assessment Procedure scores at PRE compared with POST with subject-specific changes in muscle activations. In a detail, at POST, subject 1 reduced the shoulder muscle activity compared with PRE, while at POST, subject 2 reduced biceps activity compared with PRE. At POST, greater pectoralis activity and reduced trapezius activity were observed in subject 3, and greater activity in those two muscles was found in subject 4 compared with PRE.

Conclusion:

After multiple weeks of using the myoelectric prosthetic hands, their hand functions during ADL tasks were improved and changes in the muscle activities were found.
Modeling the Impact of HIV-1 Nucleic Acid Testing Among Symptomatic Adult Outpatients in Kenya
Authors: Hamilton Deven T. , Agutu Clara , Babigumira Joseph B. , van der Elst Elise , Hassan Amin , Gichuru Evanson , Mugo Peter , Farquhar Carey , Ndung'u Thumbi , Sirengo Martin , Chege Wairimu , Goodreau Steven M. , Elder Adam , Sanders Eduard J. , Graham Susan M.
Published: May 2022

Background:

Up to 69% of adults who acquire HIV in Kenya seek care before seroconversion, providing an important opportunity for early diagnosis and treatment. The Tambua Mapema Plus (TMP) trial tested a combined HIV-1 nucleic acid testing, linkage, treatment, and partner notification intervention for adults aged 18–39 years with symptoms of acute HIV infection presenting to health facilities in coastal Kenya. We estimated the potential impact of TMP on the Kenyan HIV epidemic.

Methods:

We developed an agent-based network model of HIV-1 transmission using TMP data and Kenyan statistics to estimate potential population-level impact of targeted facility-based testing over 10 years. Three scenarios were modeled: standard care [current use of provider-initiated testing and counseling (PITC)], standard HIV rapid testing scaled to higher coverage obtained in TMP (scaled-up PITC), and the TMP intervention.

Results:

Standard care resulted in 90.7% of persons living with HIV (PLWH) knowing their status, with 67.5% of those diagnosed on treatment. Scaled-up PITC resulted in 94.4% of PLWH knowing their status and 70.4% of those diagnosed on treatment. The TMP intervention achieved 97.5% of PLWH knowing their status and 80.6% of those diagnosed on treatment. The percentage of infections averted was 1.0% (95% simulation intervals: −19.2% to 19.9%) for scaled-up PITC and 9.4% (95% simulation intervals: −8.1% to 24.5%) for TMP.

Conclusion:

Our study suggests that leveraging new technologies to identify acute HIV infection among symptomatic outpatients is superior to scaled-up PITC in this population, resulting in >95% knowledge of HIV status, and would reduce new HIV infections in Kenya.
Integrated Immunologic Monitoring in Solid Organ Transplantation: The Road Toward Torque Teno Virus-guided Immunosuppression
Authors: Jaksch Peter , Görzer Irene , Puchhammer-Stöckl Elisabeth , Bond Gregor
Published: May 2022

Potent immunosuppressive drugs have been introduced into clinical care for solid organ transplant recipients. It is now time to guide these drugs on an individual level to optimize their efficacy. An ideal tool simultaneously detects overimmunosuppression and underimmunosuppression, is highly standardized, and is straightforward to implement into routine. Randomized controlled interventional trials are crucial to demonstrate clinical value. To date, proposed assays have mainly focused on the prediction of rejection and were based on the assessment of few immune compartments. Recently, novel tools have been introduced based on a more integrated approach to characterize the immune function and cover a broader spectrum of the immune system. In this respect, the quantification of the plasma load of a highly prevalent and apathogenic virus that might reflect the immune function of its host has been proposed: the torque teno virus (TTV). Although TTV control is driven by T cells, other major immune compartments might contribute to the hosts’ response. A standardized in-house polymerase chain reaction and a conformité européenne-certified commercially available polymerase chain reaction are available for TTV quantification. TTV load is associated with rejection and infection in solid organ transplant recipients, and cutoff values for risk stratification of such events have been proposed for lung and kidney transplantation. Test performance of TTV load does not allow for the diagnosis of rejection and infection but is able to define at-risk patients. Hitherto TTV load has not been used in interventional settings, but two interventional randomized controlled trials are currently testing the safety and efficacy of TTV-guided immunosuppression.
Mobility of antimicrobial resistance across serovars and disease presentations in non-typhoidal Salmonella from animals and humans in Vietnam
Authors: Bloomfield Samuel , Duong Vu Thuy , Tuyen Ha Thanh , Campbell James I. , Thomson Nicholas R. , Parkhill Julian , Le Phuc Hoang , Chau Tran Thi Hong , Maskell Duncan J. , Perron Gabriel G. , Ngoc Nguyen Minh , Vi Lu Lan , Adriaenssens Evelien M. , Baker Stephen , Mather Alison E.
Published: May 2022

Non-typhoidal

Salmonella

(NTS) is a major cause of bacterial enterocolitis globally but also causes invasive bloodstream infections. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) hampers the treatment of these infections and understanding how AMR spreads between NTS may help in developing effective strategies. We investigated NTS isolates associated with invasive disease, diarrhoeal disease and asymptomatic carriage in animals and humans from Vietnam. Isolates included multiple serovars and both common and rare phenotypic AMR profiles; long- and short-read sequencing was used to investigate the genetic mechanisms and genomic backgrounds associated with phenotypic AMR profiles. We demonstrate concordance between most AMR genotypes and phenotypes but identified large genotypic diversity in clinically relevant phenotypes and the high mobility potential of AMR genes (ARGs) in this setting. We found that 84 % of ARGs identified were located on plasmids, most commonly those containing IncHI1A_1 and IncHI1B(R27)_1_R27 replicons (33%), and those containing IncHI2_1 and IncHI2A_1 replicons (31%). The vast majority (95%) of ARGS were found within 10 kbp of IS6/IS26 elements, which provide plasmids with a mechanism to exchange ARGs between plasmids and other parts of the genome. Whole genome sequencing with targeted long-read sequencing applied in a One Health context identified a comparatively limited number of insertion sequences and plasmid replicons associated with AMR. Therefore, in the context of NTS from Vietnam and likely for other settings as well, the mechanisms by which ARGs move contribute to a more successful AMR profile than the specific ARGs, facilitating the adaptation of bacteria to different environments or selection pressures.
CRISPR metabolic screen identifies ATM and KEAP1 as targetable genetic vulnerabilities in solid tumors
Authors: Li Haojian , Liu Yue , Wilson Crystal N. , Bai Hui Jen , Jones Maxwell , Wang Shihchun , Xiao Yunjie , DeVore Jennie E. , Maier Esther Y. , Boufraqech Myriem , Weyemi Urbain
Published: May 2022

Cancer treatments targeting DNA repair deficiencies often encounter drug resistance, possibly due to alternative metabolic pathways that counteract the most damaging effects. To identify such alternative pathways, we screened for metabolic pathways exhibiting synthetic lethality with inhibition of the DNA damage response kinase ATM using a metabolism-centered CRISPR/Cas9 library. Our data revealed Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (KEAP1) as a key factor involved in desensitizing cancer cells to ATM inhibition bothin vitroandin vivo. Cells depleted of KEAP1 exhibited an aberrant overexpression of the cystine transporter SLC7A11, robustly accumulated cystine inducing disulfide stress, and became hypersensitive to ATM inhibition. These hallmarks were reversed in a reducing cellular environment indicating that disulfide stress was a crucial factor. In the TCGA pan-cancer datasets, we found that ATM levels strongly correlated with KEAP1 levels across multiple solid malignancies. Together, our results unveil ATM and KEAP1 as new targetable vulnerabilities in solid tumors.
The soil microbiome may offer solutions to ginger cultivation
Authors: Wang Chih-Wei , Michelle Wong Jing-Wen , Yeh Shu-Shuo , Eric Hsieh Yunli , Tseng Ching-Hung , Yang Shan-Hua , Tang Sen-Lin
Published: May 2022

The Taitung region is one of Taiwan’s main places for ginger agriculture. Due to issues with disease and nutrient, farmers cannot use continuous cropping techniques on ginger, meaning that the ginger industry is constantly searching for new lands. Continuous cropping increases the risk of infection by Pythium myriotylum and Ralstonia solanacearum, which cause soft rot disease and bacterial wilt, respectively. In addition, fertilizer additives cannot recover the soil when using continuous cropping on ginger, even when there is no decrease in trace elements observed in the soil. Although there may be other reasons for the reduction in production, such as soil microbes, we know little about the soil microbiome associated with ginger cultivation. Hence, in this study, we used the bacterial 16S V3–V4 hypervariable region of the 16S ribosomal RNA region to investigate microbe compositions in ginger soil to identify the difference between ginger soil with and without disease. Later, to investigate the influence of the well-known biocontrol agent-B. velezensis and fungicide Etridiazole on soil microbes and ginger productivity, we designed an experiment that collected the soil samples according to the different ginger cultivation periods to examine the microbial community dynamics in the rhizome and bulk soil. We demonstrated that B. velezensis is beneficial to ginger reproduction and suggest that it may influence the plant by adjusting its soil microbial composition. Etridiazole, on the other hand, may have some side effects on the ginger or beneficial bacteria in the soils, inhibiting ginger reproduction.
Paired stimulation for spike-timing dependent plasticity quantified with single neuron responses in primate motor cortex
Authors: Yun Richy , Mishler Jonathan H. , Perlmutter Steve I. , Fetz Eberhard E.
Published: May 2022

Spike-timing dependent plasticity (STDP) is an extensively studied topic. Previous studies have demonstrated stimulus induced targeted STDP both in vitro and in vivo, but a more consistent and robust method is required. We hypothesized there were two reasons contributing to the inconsistent results previously reported: 1. the measure of connectivity is poorly understood, and 2. the timing of stimulation is static or has low temporal specificity. To test our hypotheses, we applied paired stimulation to the primary motor cortex of awake primates. Single unit responses to stimulation were used as measures of connectivity, and we applied inter-stimulus intervals (ISIs) from ±0.1 to ±50 ms with sub-millisecond intervals. The excitatory single unit response resulted in very consistent changes after conditioning that was dependent on the ISI. Negative ISIs resulted in depression similar to classic STDP, but positive ISI also often resulted in depression. Normalizing the ISIs to the timing of the excitatory response revealed that potentiation only occurred if the second stimulus arrived before the response. Stimuli occurring around the time of the response often resulted in depression as strong as negative ISIs. We additionally tracked the changes in cortico-cortical evoked potentials (CCEPs), a commonly used measure of connectivity in plasticity experiments. CCEP changes showed a similar but more variable dependence to ISI. These results show that the classic STDP curve may be more difficult to induce due to interactions between excitatory and inhibitory circuitry, and that CCEPs may not be the ideal measure of changes in strength of connectivity.
A Pairwise Imputation Strategy for Retaining Predictive Features When Combining Multiple Datasets
Authors: Wu Yujie , Ren Boyu , Patil Prasad
Published: May 2022

In the training of predictive models using high-dimensional genomic data, multiple studies’ worth of data are often combined to increase sample size and improve generalizability. A drawback of this approach is that there may be different sets of features measured in each study due to variations in expression measurement platform or technology. It is often common practice to work only with the intersection of features measured in common across all studies, which results in the blind discarding of potentially useful feature information that is measured only in individual or subsets of all studies. We characterize the loss in predictive performance incurred by using only the intersection of feature information available across all studies when training predictors using gene expression data from microarray and sequencing datasets. We study the properties of linear and polynomial regression for imputing discarded features and demonstrate improvements in the external performance of predictors through simulation and in gene expression data collected on breast cancer patients. We propose and evaluate a pairwise imputation strategy that imputes cross-study missing features in each pair of studies and averages imputed features across pairs. Finally, we provide insights on which subsets of intersected and study-specific features should be used so that missing-feature imputation best promotes cross-study replicability. All code with directions to reproduce results in this paper is available athttps://github.com/YujieWuu/Pairwise_imputation
Fault detection based on extended state observer and interval observer for UAVs
Authors: Cao Lijia , Yang Xu , Wang Guoqing , Liu Yang , Hu Yu
Published: May 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present an actuator fault detection method for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) based on interval observer and extended state observer.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed algorithm has very little model dependency. Therefore, a six-degree-of-freedom linear equation of UAVs is first established, and then, combined with actuator failure and external disturbances in flight control, a steering gear model with actuator failure (such as stuck bias and invalidation) is designed. Meanwhile, an extended state observer is designed for fault detection. Moreover, a fault detection scheme based on interval observer is designed by combining fault and disturbances.

Findings

The method is testified on the extended state observer and the interval observer under the failure of the steering gear and bounded disturbances. The simulation results show that the two types of fault detection schemes designed can successfully detect various types of faults and have high sensitivity.

Originality/value

This research paper studies the failure detection scheme of the UAVs’ actuator. The fault detection scheme in this paper has better performance on actuator faults and bounded disturbances than using regular fault detection schemes.
Consumers' preferences for low-priced wines' packaging alternatives: the influence of consumption occasion, gender, and age
Authors: Aqueveque Claudio
Published: May 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate buyers' perceptions and preferences for three different packaging formats of low-priced wines existing in the Chilean market: Brick Liquid Carton, Traditional Glass Bottle (0.75 L), and Magnum Glass Bottle (1.5 L). Since differences between these packaging formats do not permit a comparison of intrinsic packaging attributes, a consumer-centered perspective was adopted, with consumption occasion, perceived packages properties and demographic characteristics used as explanatory variables.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected through the administration of an online structured questionnaire. The study sample consisted of 433 low-income wine buyers who declared to buy low-priced wine in different package formats.

Findings

Findings reveal that preferences for different packaging options of low-priced wines vary depending on consumption occasion and that there are marginal effects of gender and age on these preferences. Also, results show that buyers' associations of different formats to relevant features are not equal, with perceived differences observed not only in features related to intrinsic package properties but also in terms of the properties of the wine they contain.

Practical implications

The results of this study have several implications for managers in the wine industry. First, and as preferences for alternative formats depend on the consumption occasion, marketing campaigns reinforcing these preferences or showing alternative occasions can be adopted. Second, the BLC format seems to be more accepted by younger consumers, and thus focusing on this segment can be a good alternative for companies selling wine in this format. Finally, firms selling wine in alternative package formats should try to educate or inform consumers about the marginal or null impact of packages on wine properties.

Originality/value

The study sheds light on the perceptions and preferences for alternative package formats within the wine industry, a topic that has been scantly explored. Specifically, it provides valuable marketing insights regarding the impact of consumption occasion on these preferences and the main features associated with the studied formats.
Political uncertainty and cost stickiness: evidence from prefecture-city official turnover in China
Authors: Pan Zheyao , Zhang Guangli , Zhang Huixuan
Published: May 2022

Purpose

The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of local political uncertainty on the asymmetric cost behavior (i.e. cost stickiness) for listed firms in China.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, the authors manually collect the turnover data of prefecture-city officials as a measure of exogenous fluctuations in political uncertainty and obtain firm-level financial information from the China Stock Market Accounting Research (CSMAR) database. To perform the analysis, the authors augment the traditional cost stickiness model by including the interaction terms of the prefecture-city official turnover, and firm-level and prefecture-city level control variables.

Findings

The authors find that political turnover leads to a higher degree of cost stickiness, implying that firms retain slack resources when political uncertainty is high. Moreover, the effect of political turnover on cost stickiness is more pronounced for firms residing in regions with weaker institutional environments, and firms that are privately owned and with smaller size. The authors further provide evidence that policy uncertainty and the threat of losing political connection are two underlying channels. Overall, this study documents that the local political process is an important channel that influences corporate operational decisions.

Originality/value

This study provides the first piece of evidence on the relation between political uncertainty and cost stickiness at the local government level. Moreover, the authors propose and demonstrate two underlying channels through which political uncertainty affects firms' asymmetric cost behavior.
Institutional quality and dark side of product market competition: a cross-country study
Authors: Huang Yuan , Song Zilong , Tam Lewis H.K.
Published: May 2022

Purpose

The authors examine the joint effect of the country-wide legal institutions and product market competition on stock crash risk in a large sample of international firms.

Design/methodology/approach

In the study, the authors examine whether the country-level institutional factors affect product market competition's impact on stock crash risk. Specifically, the authors characterize country-wide institutional quality with individual governance indices developed in earlier studies and also adopt the worldwide board reforms as a proxy for the change in firms' governance environment.

Findings

The authors find that strong institutions mitigate the positive relationship between product market competition and stock crash risk in the international setting. In addition, the authors find that institutional quality moderates the effect of product market competition on stock crash risk via the information channel, i.e. although firms in competitive industries manage and report earnings more aggressively, strong institutions or board reforms, curtail managers' incentive to do so.

Originality/value

The authors’ findings lend support to the dark side of product market competition with a broader sample from 35 countries. In light of this, when earlier studies consider firms from competitive (concentrated) industries as having less (more) severe agency problems, future studies should consider the agency costs associated with product market competition for both the US firms and non-US firms. Furthermore, when it is debatable that regulators are self-interested, captured, uninformed and thus the regulations and institutions may not be fully effective as a result, this study demonstrates the effectiveness of institutions in ex ante mitigating agency conflicts associated with product market competition.
On price difference of A+H companies
Authors: Liu Yang , Haw In-Mu
Published: May 2022

Purpose

For Chinese companies that cross-list in Chinese A share and Hong Kong (H share) markets, the H share price has been consistently lower than the A share price by an average of 85% in recent years. This is puzzling because most institutional differences between the two markets have been eliminated since 2007. The purpose of this study is to explain the puzzle of the price difference of A+H companies.

Design/methodology/approach

Using all A and H share Chinese firms in the period 2007–2013 and a simultaneous equations approach, this study identifies three new explanations for the recent price difference.

Findings

First, utilizing a unique earning quality measure that is directly related to non-persistent components of fair value accounting under International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), this study finds that the lower the earnings quality, the lower the H share price relative to the A share price, and hence the greater the price difference. Second, the higher the myopic investor ownership in A share firms, the larger the A share price relative to the H share price. Third, the short-selling mechanism introduced to the A share market since 2010 helps reduce the price difference.

Originality/value

First, this study identifies three new explanations for the puzzle of the AH price difference which remains substantial even after the institutional and accounting standards differences between the two markets were eliminated. Second, we examine the impact of the implementation of fair value accounting under IFRS in an emerging market on the pricing difference of cross-listed shares and reveal that it can induce an unintended negative consequence on the pricing difference of cross-listed shares. Third, this study contributes to the literature on short sales by providing its mitigating role in pricing differences across two different markets. Finally, this study makes improvements in research design, which utilizes a unique measure of earnings quality that is directly related to the implementation of IFRS and a simultaneous equations approach that minimizes endogeneity concern.