bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evolution of endovascular therapy trials for basilar artery occlusion
Authors: Nguyen Thanh N , Fisher Marc , Schonewille Wouter J
Published: July 2023

Basilar artery occlusion (BAO) is an uncommon event, and leads to poor outcome in an estimated 60 to 80% of patients. Two early randomized trials, BASICS and BEST demonstrated equivocal benefit of endovascular therapy (EVT) compared to medical management. These trials helped in forming the design, sample size and eligibility criteria for the subsequent two trials, ATTENTION and BAOCHE which demonstrated superiority of EVT over medical management. In this commentary, we look at the evolution of how early BAO studies formed the building blocks for successive BAO trials, review lessons learned, and opportunities for future research.
Racial Representation and Diversity on Non-Elected Transit Advisory Bodies
Authors: Thoron Noah
Published: July 2023

Non-elected advisory and planning bodies of transit agencies help planners determine the agency’s service, operations, and future developments. The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) requires reporting of the racial and ethnic makeup of those bodies to receive federal funding. This paper collects those data and compares them with the service area demographics of those agencies. This paper is an attempt to determine if those bodies are representative of the people they serve. This paper sets forth possible metrics to judge representation by and finds that most bodies in the United States are not representative, and instead over-represent the white population. This implication suggests that people of color in the United States are not being represented in the decision-making and planning processes of the transit agencies that serve them.
Reassigning Departure Slots with Preferences of the Airline and Passengers
Authors: Chen Kejia , Wu Juntao , Yang Lixi
Published: July 2023

The recovery of a departure flight is an important part of airline disruption management. The commonly used optimization objectives for assessing airport slot-scheduling efficiency are delay cost and delay time. However, the current literature does not consider the preferences of airlines and passengers in the recovery process simultaneously. The objective of this paper is to focus on the departure slot reassignment problem and develop a bi-objective optimization model. We introduce a metric for the price of fairness and formulate the airport slot scheduling problem as a bi-objective optimization model that considers the trade-off between the total airline delay cost and total passenger delay time. To quantify the trade-off between total airline delay costs and total passenger delay time, we apply the metric of the price of fairness in the bi-objective model, treating the total airline delay cost as an efficiency metric and the total passenger delay time as a fairness metric, calculating the price of fairness for each Pareto solution. An adaptive non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm-II based on dominant strengths (ANSGA2-DS) is developed to solve this problem. More precisely, three improved operations are presented: the improved fast dominant strength sorting method, new crowding distance improvement, and an adaptive elitist retention strategy. Three scenarios derived from a Chinese airline’s operation data are applied to the proposed bi-objective model and algorithm. The experimental findings demonstrate that the proposed model and method can effectively and efficiently address the problem. This may provide a basis for airline operation controllers to achieve a generally acceptable solution.
Between Parasites and Angels: Sociology, Eurocentrism, and Michel Serres
Authors: Gross Benjamin
Published: July 2023

The relationship between science and technology studies (STS) and sociology has a long tradition of interconnection, yet one key influencer of STS, Michel Serres, has been underutilized. The interdisciplinarity of sociology makes it ideal for exploring Serres’ unique and elegant approach. This article will outline the blind spots in sociology caused by Eurocentric assumptions. Before examining the thinking of Michel Serres, he will be located in the broader STS and actor-network theory he influenced. Special attention will be given to Serres’ concepts of parasites and angels; key to his perspective on relations, communication, and their breakdown. This will then be used to trace relations and the objects constituted by those relations within several historical examples of Eurocentric parasitism. It will be contrasted with reflections on the author’s fieldwork and deployment of Serres’ ideas for a more connected, equitable, and communicative social science.
Youth Exposure to Gun, Knife, and Physical Assaults: Assessing PTSD Symptoms Across Types of Assaults, Race, Ethnicity, Sex, and Context
Authors: Allwood Maureen A. , Robinson Janelle N. , Kim Hyun
Published: July 2023

This study examined posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in relation to physical assaults and weapons-related victimization, as well as the moderating roles of demographic characteristics and the context of victimization. The sample consisted of 910 racially and ethnically diverse adolescents and young adults from an urban commuter college in the Northeast U.S. Findings include significant sex differences and racial differences in reported victimization and symptoms. Men reported significantly more physical assaults, gun victimizations, and knife victimizations than women. Black participants reported significantly more gun victimization than all other groups, and Black, White, and Asian participants reported significantly more physical assault experiences than Latinx participants. Individuals victimized by physical assault or by gun victimization were more than twice as likely to report clinically significant PTSD symptoms than individuals without such experiences, even after adjusting for demographic differences. In addition, for gun victimization in the community, a two-way interaction (gun victimization by race) and a three-way interaction (gun victimization by race by sex) were significantly associated with clinically significant PTSD symptoms. Gun victimization in the community, which disproportionately impacts Black men, was the only context in which PTSD symptoms were highest for men compared to women. The overall finding of lower PTSD symptoms among men suggests that clinical practice must include an intentional focus on violence victimization, including the use of weapons, as well as the various ways that distress might manifest among men. In addition to symptoms of PTSD, other symptoms of distress, including substance use, anger, and retaliatory aggression, should be considered. Public policy and public health must also direct attention to the use of weapons in violence victimization and the proliferation of weapons violence.
Using information criteria to select smoothing parameters when analyzing survival data with time-varying coefficient hazard models
Authors: Luo Lingfeng , He Kevin , Wu Wenbo , Taylor Jeremy MG
Published: July 2023

Analyzing the large-scale survival data from the National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program may help guide the management of cancer. Detecting and characterizing the time-varying effects of factors collected at the time of diagnosis could reveal important and useful patterns. However, fitting a time-varying effect model by maximizing the partial likelihood with such large-scale survival data is not feasible with most existing software. Moreover, estimating time-varying coefficients using spline based approaches requires a moderate number of knots, which may lead to unstable estimation and over-fitting issues. To resolve these issues, adding a penalty term greatly aids estimation. The selection of penalty smoothing parameters is difficult in this time-varying setting, as traditional ways like using Akaike information criterion do not work, while cross-validation methods have a heavy computational burden, leading to unstable selections. We propose modified information criteria to determine the smoothing parameter and a parallelized Newton-based algorithm for estimation. We conduct simulations to evaluate the performance of the proposed method. We find that penalization with the smoothing parameter chosen by a modified information criteria is effective at reducing the mean squared error of the estimated time-varying coefficients. Compared to a number of alternatives, we find that the estimates of the variance derived from Bayesian considerations have the best coverage rates of confidence intervals. We apply the method to SEER head-and-neck, colon, prostate, and pancreatic cancer data and detect the time-varying nature of various risk factors.
Acupuncture improves certain aspects of sleep in hematopoietic stem cell transplantation patients: a secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial
Authors: El Iskandarani Sarah , Sun Lingyun , Li Susan Qing , Pereira Gloria , Giralt Sergio , Deng Gary
Published: July 2023

Background:

High-dose chemotherapy followed by hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is associated with a high symptom burden including sleep disturbance. Here we present the results of a secondary analysis of a randomized, sham-controlled trial assessing the effect of acupuncture on sleep quality during HSCT.

Methods:

Adult multiple myeloma patients undergoing inpatient and outpatient autologous HSCT were randomized and blinded to receive either true or sham acupuncture (by licensed acupuncturists) once daily for 5 days starting the day after chemotherapy. Sleep onset, total sleep time, sleep efficiency percentage and sleep-onset latency time were assessed using an actigraphy-based sleep monitor. A multivariate regression analysis was conducted to compare the average area-under-the-curve of five acupuncture intervention days for each sleep outcome between groups, adjusted by baseline score and inpatient or outpatient chemotherapy stratum.

Results:

Over 32 months, 63 patients were enrolled. Participants undergoing true acupuncture experienced a significant improvement in sleep efficiency when compared to sham (−6.70, 95% CI −13.15, −0.25, p = 0.042). Subgroup analysis showed that the improvement was more prominent in the inpatient setting (−9.62, 95% CI −18.76, −0.47; p = 0.040). True acupuncture tended to improve wake time after sleep onset (WASO; −10.95, p = 0.054). Between-group differences in other sleep related variables were not statistically significant.

Conclusion:

Our data suggest that true acupuncture may improve certain aspects of sleep, including sleep efficiency and possibly WASO, in multiple myeloma patients undergoing HSCT. By studying patient reported outcomes in future larger scale studies, acupuncture’s role in improving sleep quality during HSCT treatment could be further elucidated.

Trial registration number:

NCT01811862 (ClinicalTrials.gov).
Text Message Reminders for Long-Acting Injectable Antipsychotics in Patients with Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders
Authors: Chen Christina J. , Hilliard Wanda
Published: July 2023

BACKGROUND:

Individuals with schizophrenia spectrum disorders have a chronic disease process that is difficult to manage. Medication nonadherence increases the risk for relapse and subsequent rehospitalization. Long-acting injectable (LAI) antipsychotics have greater effectiveness in promoting medication adherence.

AIMS:

To determine whether text message reminders for LAI antipsychotic administration improve medication adherence.

METHODS:

The setting is a community mental health clinic in the west Texas region. Reminders deliver upon scheduling the appointment 3 weeks, 3 days, and 3 hr before the medication is due. This project aimed to determine the effectiveness of text reminders for LAI compliance in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Primary outcome measures include compliance percentage and target day variability. After exclusion criteria, there was a sample size of 49 patients.

RESULTS:

This pre- and post-intervention study utilized descriptive statistics and nonparametric analysis. Pre-intervention metrics outline 84.39% compliance with 3.55 target day variability. Post-intervention data resulted in a significant increase in compliance percentage to 91.24% ( p = .014) and a decrease in target day variability to 1.33 days ( p < .05).

CONCLUSION:

Text message reminders may be an effective intervention in increasing LAI compliance for individuals with schizophrenia spectrum disorders.
Accessing the biotechnological potential of a novel isolated microalga from a semi-arid region of Brazil
Authors: Lima Alysson de Sá P , Cahú Thiago B , Dantas Danielli M M , Veras Bruno O , Oliveira Carlos Y B , Souza Rayanna S , Moraes Laenne B S , Silva Francisca C O , Araújo Maria I F , Gálvez Alfredo O , Souza Ranilson B
Published: July 2023

The use of microalgae as a source of food and pharmaceutical ingredients has garnered growing interest in recent years. Despite the rapid growth of the nutraceutical market, knowledge about the potential of bioactive molecules from microalgae remains insufficient. The present study aimed to investigate the biotechnological potential of the green microalga Desmodesmus armatus isolated from a semi-arid region of Brazil. The algal biomass was characterized in terms of gross biochemical composition, exopolysaccharide content, enzymatic inhibition capacity, and antioxidant, antibacterial, and hemolytic activities from solvents of different polarities (water, ethanol, acetone, and hexane). D armatus biomass had 40% of crude protein content, 25.94% of lipids, and 25.03% of carbohydrates. The prebiotic potential of exopolysaccharides from D armatus was demonstrated, which stimulated the growth of Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum bacteria strains. Moreover, the enzyme inhibition capacity for the proteases chymotrypsin (34.78%–45.8%) and pepsin (16.64%–27.27%), in addition to α-amylase (24.79%) and lipase (31.05%) was confirmed. The antioxidant potential varied between the different extracts, with 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl sequestration values varying between 17.51% and 63.12%, and those of the 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) method between 6.82% and 22.89%. In the antibacterial activity test, only the ethanolic extract showed inhibition against Listeria sp. (at minimum inhibitory concentration [MIC] = 256 µg mL−1). This fraction also presented the highest significant levels of hemolysis (31.88%–52.45%). In summary, the data presented in the study suggest the presence of biocompounds with biotechnological and nutraceutical potential in the D armatus biomass. Future studies may evaluate the inclusion of this biomass in foods in order to increase their biological value.
Salt-Sensitive Hypertension: Mediation by Salt-Induced Hypervolemia and Phosphate-Induced Vascular Calcification
Authors: Brown Ronald B
Published: July 2023

Preventing hypertension by restricting dietary salt intake, sodium chloride, is well established in public health policy, but a pathophysiological mechanism has yet to explain the controversial clinical finding that some individuals have a greater risk of hypertension from exposure to salt intake, termed salt-sensitive hypertension. The present perspective paper synthesizes interdisciplinary findings from the research literature and offers novel insights proposing that the pathogenesis of salt-sensitive hypertension is mediated by interaction of salt-induced hypervolemia and phosphate-induced vascular calcification. Arterial stiffness and blood pressure increase as calcification in the vascular media layer reduces arterial elasticity, preventing arteries from expanding to accommodate extracellular fluid overload in hypervolemia related to salt intake. Furthermore, phosphate has been found to be a direct inducer of vascular calcification. Reduction of dietary phosphate may help reduce salt-sensitive hypertension by lowering the prevalence and progression of vascular calcification. Further research should investigate the correlation of vascular calcification with salt-sensitive hypertension, and public health recommendations to prevent hypertension should encourage reductions of both sodium-induced hypervolemia and phosphate-induced vascular calcification.
What makes a travel vlog attractive? Parasocial interactions between travel vloggers and viewers
Authors: Dewantara Made Handijaya , Jin Xin , Gardiner Sarah
Published: July 2023

This study seeks to understand how vlogger attributes, as defined in parasocial interaction (PSI) theory, can be used to create a successful travel vlog and assist in destination vacation marketing. Using social media content analysis, validated by the nominal group technique, the study found that the vlogger's physical attractiveness is important, however, other factors including social, task, and destination attractiveness also influence the attractiveness of the vlog to the viewer. The vlogger's credibility, attitude homophily, and technology skills can also make the vlog more attractive. The study also shows that travel vloggers can employ PSIs to arouse viewers’ intentions to travel. The COVID-19 pandemic context elaborates more PSI attributes in the travel vlog and makes travel vloggers explore external social interaction with the host society.
Economic recession, illicit drug use and the young population: a systematic literature review and meta-analysis
Authors: Casal B , Rivera B , Costa-Storti C
Published: July 2023

Aims:

Economic recessions impact on drug use through different channels, with potential conflicting outcomes. Previous studies have reached mixed outcomes, and a clear and comprehensive picture is difficult to depict.

Methods:

We use a systematic review of literature – conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines – and a hierarchical mixed-effects meta-analysis to provide a comprehensive quantitative assessment of the relationship between business cycle and the use of drugs by young populations. The heterogeneity of studies was assessed by the I2 statistic, and the publication bias was evaluated with contour-enhanced funnel plots.

Results:

We identify 25 studies, published over the period 2008–2020. These articles carried out an empirical analysis of the impact of the business cycle on illegal drug consumption in Organisation for Economic Co-operation Development (OECD) countries. Most of the studies (17 studies) covered the 2007 financial crisis. Among the outcomes, 9 studies traced a countercyclical relationship between economic recessions and drug use, 3 showed a procyclical relationship and 13 studies found mixed results. Unemployment was the most widely used variable to assess macroeconomic conditions in most of the studies (21 studies). The meta-analysis shows a partial correlation of .03 (95% confidence interval (CI): .0147–.0453) between the unemployment rate and drug use among young individuals. Therefore, we conclude that, on average, recessions tend to boost drug use. This impact is more marked with cannabis use than it is with cocaine, opioids or other drugs.

Conclusion:

This study provides robust evidence that in periods of economic downturns, the young populations tend to increase the use of illegal drugs, with cannabis as their main preference. Therefore, in periods of economic severity, society may particularly benefit from implementing widely reaching public prevention programmes and demand reduction interventions, targeting this subgroup of the population.
Family visits to a biodiversity exhibit: An analysis of emotional responses during free visits and visits mediated by explainers
Authors: Massarani Luisa , Scalfi Graziele , Neves Rosicler , Dahmouche Monica Santos , Bento Luiz
Published: July 2023

In this study, we analyse the role of emotion in the context of informal science education experiences, specifically seeking to understand: (a) which emotions can be stimulated in families visiting interactive expositions, and (b) the extent to which parents/caregivers and museum explainers engage the children's emotional expressiveness. To this end, a protocol based on the core affect model was employed to examine the visits of 10 family groups (26 individuals) who visited an exhibit on biodiversity in a science museum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Five families went on free visits and the other five had their visits mediated by explainers. We observed that, in general, positive emotions, such as excitement and surprise, were among those most often expressed. Negative emotions, such as disagreement and doubt, also stood out in this study, but they were not exclusively associated with the negative aspects of the experience, and were instead linked to challenging moments that facilitated the construction of meaning by the families. The data suggest that visits mediated by explainers occasioned more frequent emotional displays than free visits, indicating the importance of explainers in families’ interactions and emotional responses.
Team Physicians in Men’s and Women’s Professional Sports Leagues: Gender Representation and Career Path Analysis
Authors: Mody Kush S. , Henstenburg Jeffrey , Hammoud Sommer
Published: July 2023

Background:

The most common orthopaedic fellowship is for sports medicine, but few fellowship-trained orthopaedic surgeons fill roles as team physicians. Gender disparities within the field of orthopaedics, coupled with male-dominated professional sports leagues in the United States, may lead to lower representation of women as professional team physicians.

Purpose:

To (1) determine the career path trajectories of current head team physicians in professional sports, (2) quantify gender disparities across team physician representation, and (3) further characterize professional profiles of team physicians appointed to women’s and men’s professional sports leagues in the United States.

Study Design:

Cross-sectional study.

Methods:

This is a cross-sectional study of professional sports head team physicians in 8 major American sports leagues: American football (National Football League), baseball (Major League Baseball), basketball (National Basketball Association and Women’s National Basketball Association), hockey (National Hockey League and National Women’s Hockey League), and soccer (Major League Soccer and National Women’s Soccer League). Online searches were used to compile information on gender, specialty, medical school, residency, fellowship, years in practice, clinical practice type, practice setting, and research productivity. Differences according to league type (men’s vs women’s leagues) were analyzed with the chi-square test for categorical variables, t test for continuous variables, and Mann-Whitney U test for nonparametric means. Bonferroni correction was applied for multiple comparisons.

Results:

Within the 172 professional sports teams, 183 head team physicians were identified, including 170 men (92.9%) and 13 women (7.1%). Team physicians in both men’s and women’s sports leagues were predominantly men. Overall, 96.7% of team physicians in men’s leagues were men, and 73.3% of team physicians in women’s leagues were men ( P < .001). The most common physician specialties were orthopaedic surgery (70.0%) and family medicine (19.1%). Compared with team physicians in women’s leagues, those in men’s leagues were more likely to be orthopaedic surgeons (40.0% vs 71.9%, respectively; P = .001) and to have more experience (15.9 vs 22.4 years, respectively; P < .001).

Conclusion:

Study findings indicated disparities in gender, practice experience, and physician specialty representation among team physicians in men’s versus women’s professional sports leagues.
Nicotine exacerbates diabetic nephropathy through upregulation of Grem1 expression
Authors: Chen Jianning , Xiao Haiting , Xue Rui , Kumar Vinod , Aslam Rukhsana , Mehdi Syed Faizan , Luo Huairong , Malhotra Ashwani , Lan Xiqian , Singhal Pravin
Published: July 2023

Background

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a major complication of diabetes mellitus. Clinical reports indicate that smoking is a significant risk factor for chronic kidney disease, and the tobacco epidemic exacerbates kidney damage in patients with DN. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear.

Method

In the present study, we used a diabetic mouse model to investigate the molecular mechanisms for nicotine-exacerbated DN. Twelve-week-old female mice were injected with streptozotocin (STZ) to establish a hyperglycemic diabetic model. After four months, the control and hyperglycemic diabetic mice were further divided into four groups (control, nicotine, diabetic mellitus, nicotine + diabetic mellitus) by intraperitoneal injection of nicotine or PBS. After two months, urine and blood were collected for kidney injury assay, and renal tissues were harvested for further molecular assays using RNA-seq analysis, real-time PCR, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry. In vitro studies, we used siRNA to suppress Grem1 expression in human podocytes. Then we treated them with nicotine and high glucose to compare podocyte injury.

Result

Nicotine administration alone did not cause apparent kidney injury, but it significantly increased hyperglycemia-induced albuminuria, BUN, plasma creatinine, and the kidney tissue mRNA expression of KIM-1 and NGAL. Results from RNA-seq analysis, real-time PCR, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry analysis revealed that, compared to hyperglycemia or nicotine alone, the combination of nicotine treatment and hyperglycemia significantly increased the expression of Grem1 and worsened DN. In vitro experiments, suppression of Grem1 expression attenuated nicotine-exacerbated podocyte injury.

Conclusion

Grem1 plays a vital role in nicotine-exacerbated DN. Grem1 may be a potential therapeutic target for chronic smokers with DN.
Effect of mixed light emitting diode spectrum on antioxidants content and antioxidant activity of red lettuce grown in a closed soilless system
Authors: Sawatdee Sopanat , Jarunglumlert Teeraya , Pavasant Prasert , Sakihama Yasuko , Flood Adrian E. , Prommuak Chattip
Published: July 2023

Background

Light spectra have been demonstrated to result in different levels of comfort or stress, which affect plant growth and the availability of health-promoting compounds in ways that sometimes contradict one another. To determine the optimal light conditions, it is necessary to weigh the vegetable’s mass against the amount of nutrients it contains, as vegetables tend to grow poorly in environments where nutrient synthesis is optimal. This study investigates the effects of varying light conditions on the growth of red lettuce and its occurring nutrients in terms of productivities, which were determined by multiplying the total weight of the harvested vegetables by their nutrient content, particularly phenolics. Three different light-emitting diode (LED) spectral mixes, including blue, green, and red, which were all supplemented by white, denoted as BW, GW, and RW, respectively, as well as the standard white as the control, were equipped in grow tents with soilless cultivation systems for such purposes.

Results

Results demonstrated that the biomass and fiber content did not differ substantially across treatments. This could be due to the use of a modest amount of broad-spectrum white LEDs, which could help retain the lettuce’s core qualities. However, the concentrations of total phenolics and antioxidant capacity in lettuce grown with the BW treatment were the highest (1.3 and 1.4-fold higher than those obtained from the control, respectively), with chlorogenic acid accumulation (8.4 ± 1.5 mg g− 1 DW) being particularly notable. Meanwhile, the study observed a high glutathione reductase (GR) activity in the plant achieved from the RW treatment, which in this study was deemed the poorest treatment in terms of phenolics accumulation.

Conclusion

In this study, the BW treatment provided the most efficient mixed light spectrum to stimulate phenolics productivity in red lettuce without a significant detrimental effect on other key properties.
Cross-cultural adaptation and psychometric properties of the Mainland Chinese version of the manchester orofacial pain disability scale (MOPDS) among college students
Authors: Feng Yao , Ou-Yang Ze-Yue , Lu Jing-Jie , Yang Yi-Fan , Zhang Qian , Zhong Meng-Mei , Chen Ning-Xin , Su Xiao-Lin , Hu Jing , Ye Qin , Zhao Jie , Zhao Ya-Qiong , Chen Yun , Tan Li , Liu Qiong , Feng Yun-Zhi , Guo Yue
Published: July 2023

Background

Orofacial pain (OFP) is a highly prevalent disorder in mainland China that predisposes to an associated physical and psychological disability. There is lack of a good properties mainland Chinese version of instrument to examine OFP. This study aims to cross-cultural adaptation and evaluate psychometrics properties of the Manchester Orofacial Pain Disability Scale (MOPDS) in mainland Chinese Mandarin context.

Methods

Translation and cross-cultural adaption of the mainland Chinese version MOPDS were conducted following accepted guidelines of self-report measures. Chinese college students (N = 1039) completed the mainland Chinese version of the MOPDS for item analysis, reliability and validity tests, and measurement invariance analysis, and after a one-month interval, around 10% of the sample (n = 110) were invited to retest. To conduct the CFA and measurement invariance analysis, Mplus 8.4 was used. IBM SPSS Statistics 26 software were used for all additional studies.

Results

We found that the mainland Chinese version of MOPDS contains 25 items, divided into two categories: physical disability and psychological disability. The scale demonstrated excellent internal reliability, test-retest reliability, and validity. The measurement invariance results proved that the scale could be applied to people of different gender, age, and health consultation status.

Conclusions

The results demonstrated the mainland Chinese version of MOPDS has good psychometric properties and can be used to measure the level of physical and psychological disability of Chinese OFP peoples.
Intramedullary disseminated sporotrichosis in an immunocompetent patient: case report and review of the literature
Authors: Perrault Jennifer L. , Endelman Levi A. , Kraemer Mark R. , Chen Derrick , Lake Wendell B. , Salamat M. Shahriar
Published: July 2023

Background

Disseminated sporotrichosis is a severe opportunistic infection that often affects immunocompromised patients after a cutaneous inoculation. Here we present a rare case of disseminated sporotrichosis discovered as a solitary intramedullary thoracic spinal cord lesion in an immunocompetent patient.

Case description

A 37-year-old man presented with progressive lower limb weakness and sensory changes over 1 week. A spinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a contrast-enhancing intramedullary lesion centered at T10. The patient was afebrile and reported no history of trauma or cutaneous lesions. The lesion was unresponsive to a trial of corticosteroids. A thoracic laminectomy was performed and a biopsy obtained. A cutaneous lesion on the arm was concurrently discovered, which was also biopsied. Both the skin and spinal cord biopsies showed Sporothrix schenckii by macroscopic and microscopic morphology which were later confirmed by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry.

Conclusion

This is a rare case of intramedullary disseminated sporotrichosis affecting the central nervous system of an immunocompetent patient. This unusual presentation should be taken into consideration when such intramedullary lesions are encountered.
Impact of serum sodium concentrations, and effect modifiers on mortality in the Irish Health System
Authors: Walsh Conor , Browne Leonard D. , Gilligan Robert , Galvin Rose , Glynn Liam , Walsh Cathal , Stack Austin G.
Published: July 2023

Background

Abnormalities of serum sodium are associated with increased mortality risk in hospitalised patients, but it is unclear whether, and to what extent other factors influence this relationship. We investigated the impact of dysnatraemia on total and cause-specific mortality in the Irish health system while exploring the concurrent impact of age, kidney function and designated clinical work-based settings.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study of 32,666 participants was conducted using data from the National Kidney Disease Surveillance System. Hyponatraemia was defined as < 135 mmol/L and hypernatraemia as > 145 mmol/L with normal range 135–145 mmol/L. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression was used to estimate hazard ratios (HR’s) and 95% Confidence Intervals (CIs) while penalised spline models further examined patterns of risk.

Results

There were 5,114 deaths (15.7%) over a median follow up of 5.5 years. Dysnatraemia was present in 8.5% of patients overall. In multivariable analysis, both baseline and time-dependent serum sodium concentrations exhibited a U-shaped association with mortality. Hyponatremia was significantly associated with increased risk for cardiovascular [HR 1.38 (1.18–1.61)], malignant [HR: 2.49 (2.23–2.78)] and non-cardiovascular/non-malignant causes of death [1.36 (1.17–1.58)], while hypernatremia was significantly associated with cardiovascular [HR: 2.16 (1.58–2.96)] and non-cardiovascular/ non-malignant deaths respectively [HR: 3.60 (2.87–4.52)]. The sodium-mortality relationship was significantly influenced by age, level of kidney function and the clinical setting at baseline (P < 0.001). For hyponatraemia, relative mortality risks were significantly higher for younger patients (interaction term P < 0.001), for patients with better kidney function, and for patients attending general practice [HR 2.70 (2.15–3.36)] than other clinical settings. For hypernatraemia, age and kidney function remained significant effect modifiers, with patients attending outpatient departments experiencing the greatest risk [HR 9.84 (4.88–18.62)] than patients who attended other clinical locations. Optimal serum sodium thresholds for mortality varied by level of kidney function with a flattening of mortality curve observed for patients with poorer kidney function.

Conclusion

Serum sodium concentrations outside the standard normal range adversly impact mortality and are associated with specific causes of death. The thresholds at which these risks appear to vary by age, level of kidney function, and are modified in specific clinical settings within the health system.
Experiences of referral with an obstetric emergency: voices of women admitted at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital, South Western Uganda
Authors: Nabulo Harriet , Gottfredsdottir Helga , Joseph Ngonzi , Kaye Dan K.
Published: July 2023

Background

Life-threatening obstetric complications usually lead to the need for referral and constitute the commonest direct causes of maternal deaths. Urgent management of referrals can potentially lower the maternal mortality rate. We explored the experiences of women referred with obstetric emergencies to Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital (MRRH) in Uganda, in order to identify barriers and facilitating factors.

Methods

This was an exploratory qualitative study. In-depth interviews (IDIs) were conducted with 10 postnatal women and 2 attendants as key informants. We explored health system and client related factors to understand how these could have facilitated or hindered the referral process. Data was analyzed deductively employing the constructs of the Andersen Healthcare Utilization model.

Results

Women experienced transport, care delays and inhumane treatment from health care providers (HCPs). The obstetric indications for referral were severe obstructed labor, ruptured uterus, and transverse lie in advanced labor, eclampsia and retained second twin with intrapartum hemorrhage. The secondary reasons for referral included; non-functional operating theatres due to power outages, unsterilized caesarian section instruments, no blood transfusion services, stock outs of emergency drugs, and absenteeism of HCPs to perform surgery. Four (4) themes emerged; enablers, barriers to referral, poor quality of care and poor health facility organization. Most referring health facilities were within a 30–50 km radius from MRRH. Delays to receive emergency obstetric care (EMOC) led to acquisition of in-hospital complications and eventual prolonged hospitalization. Enablers to referral were social support, financial preparation for birth and birth companion’s knowledge of danger signs.

Conclusion

The experience of obstetric referral for women was largely unpleasant due to delays and poor quality of care which contributed to perinatal mortality and maternal morbidities. Training HCPs in respectful maternity care (RMC) may improve quality of care and foster positive postnatal client experiences. Refresher sessions on obstetric referral procedures for HCPs are suggested. Interventions to improve the functionality of the obstetric referral pathway for rural south-western Uganda should be explored.
Intimate Partner Violence among women living in families with children under the poverty line and its association with common mental disorders during COVID-19 pandemics in Ceará, Brazil
Authors: Giacomini Sâmia GMO , Machado Márcia MT , de Santana Onélia MML , Rocha Sabrina GMO , de Aquino Camila M. , Gomes Laécia GA , de Albuquerque Lucas S. , de Soares Maria D. A. , Leite Álvaro JM , Correia Luciano L. , Rocha Hermano AL
Published: July 2023

Background

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a pervasive public health issue that affects millions of women worldwide. Women living below the poverty line experience higher rates of violence and fewer resources to escape or cope with the abuse, and the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted women’s economic well-being worldwide. We conducted a cross-sectional study in Ceará, Brazil, on women in families with children living below the poverty line at the peak of the second wave of COVID to assess the prevalence of IPV and its association with common mental disorders(CMD).

Methods

The study population comprised families with children up to six years of age who participated in the cash transfer program “Mais Infância”. The families selected to participate in this program must meet a poverty criterion: families must live in rural areas, in addition to a monthly per capita income of less than US$16.50 per month. We applied specific instruments to evaluate IPV and CMD. To access IPV, we used the Partner Violence Screen (PVS). The Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20) was used to assess CMD. To verify the association between IPV and the other evaluated factors with CMD, simple and hierarchical multiple logistic models were used.

Results

Of the 479 participant women, 22% were positively screened for IPV (95% CI 18.2–26.2). After multivariate adjustment, the chances of CMD are 2.32 higher in women exposed to IPV than in those not exposed to IPV ((95%CI 1.30–4.13), p value = 0.004). CMD was also associated with job loss during the COVID-19 pandemic (ORa 2.13 (95% CI 1.09–4.35), p-value 0.029). In addition to these, separate or single marital status, as well as non-presence of the father at home and food insecurity were associated with CMD.

Conclusion

We conclude that the prevalence of intimate partner violence in families with children up to six years of age living below the poverty line in Ceará is high and is associated with greater chances of common mental disorders in mothers. Also, job loss and reduced access to food caused by the Covid 19 pandemic exacerbated both phenomena, constituting a double burden generator factor on mothers.
Selective venous sampling in primary hyperparathyroidism caused by ectopic parathyroid gland: a case report and literature review
Authors: Yang Xubin , Chen Xueyan , Xu Huan , Chen Junwei , Yao Bin , Lin Qiongyan , Deng Hongrong , Xu Wen
Published: July 2023

Background

As an invasive technique, selective venous sampling (SVS) is considered a useful method to identify a lesion’s location to increase the success rate of secondary surgery in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT) caused by ectopic parathyroid adenomas.

Case presentation

We present a case of post-surgical persistent hypercalcemia and elevated parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels in a 44-year-old woman with previously undetected parathyroid adenoma. An SVS was then performed for further localization of the adenoma, as other non-invasive methods showed negative results. After SVS, an ectopic adenoma was suspected in the sheath of the left carotid artery, previously considered as a schwannoma, and was pathologically confirmed after the second operation. Postoperatively, the patient’s symptoms disappeared and serum levels of PTH and calcium normalized.

Conclusions

SVS can provide precise diagnosis and accurate positioning before re-operation in patients with pHPT.
“You should brush your teeth better”: a randomized controlled trial comparing best-possible versus as-usual toothbrushing
Authors: Weik Ulrike , Shankar-Subramanian Sadhvi , Sämann Thorben , Wöstmann Bernd , Margraf-Stiksrud Jutta , Deinzer Renate
Published: July 2023

Background

Most people’s tooth brushing performance is deficient, even when they are encouraged to brush to the best of their abilities. The aim of the present study was to explore the nature of this deficit by comparing best-possible vs. as-usual brushing.

Methods

University students (N = 111) were randomly assigned to receive one of two instructions: “brush your teeth as usual” (AU-instruction) or “brush your teeth to the best of your abilities” (BP-instruction). Video analyses assessed brushing performance. The marginal plaque index (MPI) assessed after brushing was used as an indicator of brushing effectiveness. A questionnaire assessed subjectively perceived oral cleanliness (SPOC).

Results

Participants in the BP group brushed their teeth longer (p = 0.008, d = 0.57) and used interdental devices more often (p < 0.001). No group differences emerged in the distribution of brushing time among surfaces, the percentage of brushing techniques used beyond horizontal scrubbing, or the appropriate use of interdental devices (all p > 0.16, all d < 0.30). Plaque persisted at the majority of the sections of the gingival margins, and the groups did not differ in this respect (p = 0.15; d = 0.22). SPOC values in the BP group were higher than those in the AU group (p = 0.006; d = 0.54). Both groups overestimated their actual oral cleanliness by approximately twofold.

Conclusions

Compared to their usual brushing effort, study participants increased their effort when asked to brush their teeth in the best possible manner. However, that increase in effort was ineffective in terms of oral cleanliness. The results indicate that people’s concept of optimized brushing refers to quantitative aspects (e.g., longer duration, more interdental hygiene) rather than qualitative aspects (e.g., considering inner surfaces and gingival margins, appropriate use of dental floss).

Trial registration

The study was registered in the appropriate national register (www.drks.de; ID: DRKS00017812; date of registration: 27/08/2019 - retrospectively registered).
Evaluation of the reasons for failure in teeth with vital amputation treatment
Authors: Yildiz Semsettin , Dogan M. Sinan , Dogan Mehmet Emin
Published: July 2023

Aim

This study aims to evaluate the primary teeth undergoing amputation due to dental caries or trauma clinically and radiologically.

Material and methods

The amputation treatment of 90 primary teeth of 58 patients (Female: 20, Male: 38) aged 4–11 years was evaluated clinically and radiologically. Calcium Hydroxide was used for amputation in this study. Composite or amalgam was preferred as filling material in the same session of the patients. Clinical/radiological (Periapical/Panoramic X-ray) examination was performed on the teeth that were unsuccessful in treatment, on the day of the patient's complaint, and at the end of 1 year in the others.

Results

According to the clinical and radiological findings of the patients, 14.4% of the boys and 12.3% of the girls were unsuccessful. Amputation in male was a need in the 6–7 age group with a rate of 44.6% at most. Amputation in females was a need in the 8–9 age group with a rate of 52% at most.

Conclusion

Success in amputation treatment depends on the tooth, the dentist, and the dental material applied.
Deciphering a cell death-associated signature for predicting prognosis and response to immunotherapy in lung squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Mao Guangxian , Yang Dongyong , Liu Bin , Zhang Yu , Ma Sijia , Dai Shang , Wang Guoqiang , Tang Wenxiang , Lu Huafei , Cai Shangli , Zhu Jialiang , Yang Huaping
Published: July 2023

Background

Lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) is a subtype of non-small cell carcinoma, accounting for about 30% of all lung cancers. Yet, the evaluation of prognostic outcome and therapy response of patients with LUSC remains to be resolved. This study aimed to explore the prognostic value of cell death pathways and develop a cell death-associated signature for predicting prognosis and guiding treatment in LUSC.

Methods

Transcriptome profiles and corresponding clinical information of LUSC patients were gathered from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA-LUSC, n = 493) and Gene Expression Omnibus database (GSE74777, n = 107). The cell death-related genes including autophagy (n = 348), apoptosis (n = 163), and necrosis (n = 166) were retrieved from the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes and Gene Ontology databases. In the training cohort (TCGA-LUSC), LASSO Cox regression was used to construct four prognostic signatures of respective autophagy, apoptosis, and necrosis pathway and genes of three pathways. After comparing the four signatures, the cell death index (CDI), the signature of combined genes, was further validated in the GSE74777 dataset. We also investigated the clinical significance of the CDI signature in predicting the immunotherapeutic response of LUSC patients.

Results

The CDI signature was significantly associated with the overall survival of LUSC patients in the training cohort (HR, 2.13; 95% CI, 1.62‒2.82; P < 0.001) and in the validation cohort (HR, 1.94; 95% CI, 1.01‒3.72; P = 0.04). The differentially expressed genes between the high- and low-risk groups contained cell death-associated cytokines and were enriched in immune-associated pathways. We also found a higher infiltration of naive CD4+ T cells, monocytes, activated dendritic cells, neutrophils, and lower infiltration of plasma cells and resting memory CD4+ T cells in the high-risk group. Tumor stemness indices, mRNAsi and mDNAsi, were both negatively correlated with the risk score of the CDI. Moreover, LUSC patients in the low-risk group are more likely to respond to immunotherapy than those in the high-risk group (P = 0.002).

Conclusions

This study revealed a reliable cell death-associated signature (CDI) that closely correlated with prognosis and the tumor microenvironment in LUSC, which may assist in predicting the prognosis and response to immunotherapy for patients with LUSC.