bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Survey of Treatment Trends for Acute Quadriceps Tendon Ruptures Among North American Surgeons
Authors: Matthies Norah-Faye , Paul Ryan A. , Dwyer Tim , Chahal Jaskarndip , Whelan Daniel
Published: March 2022

Background:

To date, little clinical evidence exists to support a specific surgical technique or postoperative rehabilitation protocol for quadriceps tendon ruptures. With a lack of evidence-based superiority, assessment of clinical practices and surgeon preferences is pertinent.

Purpose:

To describe the current surgical technique and rehabilitation preferences among members of the Canadian Orthopaedic Association and American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine pertaining to acute quadriceps tendon rupture.

Study Design:

Cross-sectional study.

Methods:

Orthopaedic staff members of the Canadian Orthopaedic Association and American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine were invited to complete an internet-based survey composed of 26 questions assessing current trends in the management and rehabilitation of acute quadriceps tendon rupture. Survey questions were developed after a thorough review of current literature. Survey responses were analyzed and reported using descriptive statistics (absolute values, frequencies, and percentages) where appropriate. Statistical comparisons and contrasts between Canadian and American surgeons were made using chi-square analyses and Student t tests.

Results:

A total of 264 surgeons participated in the survey (136 Canadians; 128 Americans). Canadian surgeons were more likely to obtain a preoperative ultrasound as compared with Americans (43.0% vs 6.7%; P < .00001), while American respondents were more likely to obtain magnetic resonance imaging scans (65.8% vs 10.2%; P < .00001). The transosseous drill hole technique was the most commonly utilized (70.2%); the suture anchor technique was used 20.6% of the time. Canadian respondents trended toward a higher use of transosseous tunnels; however, this was not statistically significant (75.8% vs 64.2%; P = .068). American respondents were more likely to utilize suture anchors (27.5% vs 14.1%; P = .0096). Most respondents advanced range of motion goals stepwise in 2-week intervals of 30° (Canadians, 54.0% vs Americans, 58.5%; P = .3091); timing of range of motion initiation varied.

Conclusion:

Among North American surgeons who responded to this study, the transosseous technique was the most commonly used, and range of motion was generally advanced in a 2-week stepwise fashion. We found several differences in practice between Canadian and American respondents, including the type of preoperative imaging and the frequency of using the suture anchor technique.
Training Internal Medicine Residents in Difficult Diagnosis: A Novel Diagnostic Second Opinion Clinic Experience
Authors: Testa Stefano , Joshi Mugdha , Lotfi Justin , Lin Bryant , Artandi Maja , Chiang Kim F. , Chang Kevin , Singh Baldeep , Geng Linda N.
Published: March 2022

Background

In primary care clinics, time constraints and lack of exposure to highly complex cases may limit the breadth and depth of learning for internal medicine residents. To address these issues, we piloted a novel experience for residents to evaluate patients with puzzling symptoms referred by another clinician.

Objective

To increase internal medicine residents’ exposure to patients with perplexing presentations and foster a team-based approach to solving diagnostically challenging cases.

Methods

During the academic year 2020–2021, residents participating in their 2-week primary care “block” rotation were given protected time to evaluate 1–2 patients from the Stanford Consultative Medicine clinic, an internist-led diagnostic second opinion service, and present their patients at the case conference. We assessed the educational value of the program with resident surveys including 5-point Lickert scale and open-ended questions.

Results

21 residents participated in the pilot with a survey response rate of 66.6% (14/21). Both the educational value and overall quality of the experience were rated as 4.8 out of 5 (SD 0.4, range 4-5; 1:”very poor”; 5:”excellent”). Residents learned about new diagnostic tools as well as how to approach complex presentations and diagnostic dilemmas. Residents valued the increased time devoted to patient care, the team-based approach to tackling difficult cases, and the intellectual challenge of these cases. Barriers to implementation include patient case volume, time, and faculty engagement.

Conclusions

Evaluation of diagnostically challenging cases in a structured format is a highly valuable experience that offers a framework to enhance outpatient training in internal medicine.
Hepatorenal syndrome in metastatic cancers
Authors: Rashidi Arash , Hejazi Reza , Taalat Nizar T
Published: March 2022

Hepatorenal syndrome is one of the causes of acute kidney injury (AKI) in liver disease. Usually, it is linked to liver cirrhosis but it can also be seen in other parenchymal liver diseases. Hepatorenal syndrome is not a very well known diagnosis in metastatic liver diseases. Here we present three patients with metastatic liver disease and AKI who were diagnosed with hepatorenal syndrome.
Cellular distribution of C-C motif chemokine ligand 2 like immunoreactivities in frontal cortex and corpus callosum of normal and lipopolysaccharide treated animal
Authors: Shi Xue , Gong Xinrui , Xiong Huangui , Zhang Jingdong
Published: March 2022

Background

C-C motif chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2) is reported to be involved in the pathogenesis of various neurological and/or psychiatric diseases. Tissue or cellular expression of CCL2, in normal or pathological condition, may play an essential role in recruiting monocytes or macrophages into targeted organs, and be involved in a certain pathogenic mechanism. However, few studies focused on tissue and cellular distribution of the CCL2 peptide in brain grey and white matters (GM, WM), and the changes of the GM and WM cellular CCL2 level in septic or endotoxic encephalopathy was not explored. Hence, the CCL2 cellular distribution in the front brain cortex and the corpus callosum (CC) was investigated in the present work by using immunofluorescent staining.

Results

(1) CCL2 like immunoreactivity (CCL2-ir) in the CC is evidently higher than the cortex. When the measurement includes ependymal layer attached to the CC, CCL2-ir intensity is significantly higher than cortex. (2) Structures in perivascular areas, most of them are GFAP positive, contribute major CCL2-ir positive profiles in both GM and WM, but apparently more in the CC, where they are bilaterally distributed in the lateral CC between the cingulate cortex and ventricles. (3) The neuron-like CCL2-ir positive cells in cortex are significantly more than in the CC, and that number is significantly increased in the cortex following systemic lipopolysaccharide (LPS), but not in the CC. (4) In addition to CCL2-ir positive perivascular rings, more CCL2-ir filled cashew shape elements are observed, probably inside of microvasculature, especially in the CC following systemic LPS. (5) Few macrophage/microglia marker-Iba-1 and CCL2-ir co-labeled structures especially the soma is found in normal cortex and CC; the co-localizations are significantly augmented following systemic LPS, and co-labeled amoeba like somata are presented. (6) CCL2-ir and astrocyte marker GFAP or Iba-1 double labeled structures are also observed within the ependymal layer. No accumulation of neutrophils was detected.

Conclusion

There exist differences in the cellular distribution of the CCL2 peptide in frontal cortex GM and subcortical WM–CC, in both the physiological condition and experimental endotoxemia. Which might cause different pathological change in the GM and WM.
Responding to vulnerable patients with multimorbidity: an interprofessional team approach
Authors: Brown Judith B. , Reichert Sonja M. , Boeckxstaens Pauline , Stewart Moira , Fortin Martin
Published: March 2022

Background

People with multimorbidity, who may be more vulnerable to certain social determinants of health, often require care by an interprofessional primary healthcare (PHC) team that can tailor their approach to address the multiple and complex needs of this population. This paper describes how the needs of vulnerable patients experiencing multimorbidity are identified and provided care by innovative interprofessional PHC teams during an innovative one-hour consultation, outside of usual care.

Methods

This was a descriptive qualitative study. Forty-eight interviews were conducted with 20 allied healthcare professionals: (e.g., social work, pharmacy); 19 physicians (e.g., psychiatry, internal medicine, family medicine); and 9 decision makers. The thematic analysis was iterative using an individual and team approach to identify the main themes and exemplar quotations for illustration.

Results

Participants described patients with multimorbidity who were vulnerable as those experiencing major challenges accessing and navigating the healthcare system. Mental health issues were a major contributor to being vulnerable and often linked to common social determinants of health. Cultural factors were identified as potentially causing patients to be vulnerable. Participants articulated how the collaborative nature of the team generated new ideas and facilitated creative recommendations designed to meet the specific needs of each patient.

Conclusions

This one-time consultation went beyond the assessment of a patient’s multimorbidity by including a psycho-social-contextual understanding of vulnerability within the healthcare system. Findings may have important clinical and policy implications in the adoption and implementation of this approach and further assist vulnerable patients with multimorbidity in having their complex needs addressed.
Circulating Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin/Kexin type 9 level independently predicts incident cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality in hemodialysis black Africans patients
Authors: Kajingulu François-Pantaléon Musungayi , Lepira François Bompeka , Nkodila Aliocha Natuhoyila , Makulo Jean-Robert Rissassy , Mokoli Vieux Momeme , Ekulu Pepe Mfutu , Bukabau Justine Busanga , Nlandu Yannick Mayamba , Longo Augustin Luzayadio , Nseka Nazaire Mangani , Labriola Laura , Sumaili Ernest Kiswaya
Published: March 2022

Background

Cardiovascular (CV) disease is the leading cause of mortality in patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). The aim of the present study was to determine whether Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin/Kexin type 9 (PCSK9) could be an independent predictor of CV events and all-cause mortality in black African haemodialysis patients.

Methods

We carried out a prospective cohort study of all consecutive hemodialysis (HD) patients between August 2016 and July 2020, admitted in six hemodialysis centers of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. Independent determinants of plasma PCSK-9 measured by ELISA were sought using multiple linear regression analysis. Kaplan-Meier’s method described the incidence of CV events while competitive and proportional risk models looked for independent risk factors for death at the .05 significance level.

Results

Out of 207 HD patients, 91 (43.9%) died; 116 (56.1%) have survived. PCSK9 level was significantly higher in deceased patients compared to survivors: 28.0 (24.0–31.0) ng/l vs 9.6 (8.6–11.6) ng/ml (p <  0.001). Patients with plasma PCSK9 levels in tertile 3 had a higher incidence of CV events and mortality compared to patients with plasma PCSK9 levels in tertile 2 or tertile 1 (p <  0.001). Tertile 3 negatively influence survival rates (26.6%) compared to tertile 2 (54.7%) and tertile 1 (85.3%). Patients in tertile 3 and tertile 2 had a 4-fold higher risk of death than patients in tertile 1. After adjustment for all parameters, competitive risk analysis showed that mortality was 2 times higher in patients with stroke. Similarly, serum albumin < 3.5 g/dL or PCSK9 in tertile 3 were respectively associated with 2 or 6 times higher rates of deaths.

Conclusion

Elevated plasma PCSK9 level is an independent major predictor of incident CV events and all-cause mortality in black African HD patients.
Office workers' perspectives on physical activity and sedentary behaviour: a qualitative study
Authors: Landais Lorraine L. , Jelsma Judith G. M. , Dotinga Idske R. , Timmermans Danielle R. M. , Verhagen Evert A. L. M. , Damman Olga C.
Published: March 2022

Background

Office workers spend a significant part of their workday sitting. Interventions that aim to reduce sedentary behaviour and increase physical activity might be more effective if greater attention is paid to individual perspectives that influence behavioural choices, including beliefs and values. This study aimed to gain insight into office workers' perspectives on physical activity and sedentary behaviour.

Methods

Sixteen Dutch office workers (50% female) from different professions participated in semi-structured face-to-face interviews in March 2019. To facilitate the interviews, participants received a sensitizing booklet one week before the interview. The booklet aimed to trigger them to reflect on their physical activity and sedentary behaviour and on their values in life. All interviews were audiotaped, transcribed verbatim and coded following codebook thematic analysis.

Results

Six themes were identified: 1) beliefs about health effects are specific regarding physical activity, but superficial regarding sedentary behaviour; 2) in addition to ‘health’ as a value, other values are also given priority; 3) motivations to engage in physical activity mainly stem from prioritizing the value ‘health’, reflected by a desire to both achieve positive short/mid-term outcomes and to prevent long-term negative outcomes; 4) attitudes towards physical inactivity and sedentary behaviour are diverse and depend on individual values and previous experiences; 5) perceived barriers depend on internal and external factors; 6) supporting factors are related to support and information in the social and physical environment.

Conclusions

The great value that office workers attach to health is reflected in their motivations and attitudes regarding physical activity. Increasing office workers' knowledge of the health risks of prolonged sitting may therefore increase their motivation to sit less. Although ‘health’ is considered important, other values, including social and work-related values, are sometimes prioritized. We conclude that interventions that aim to reduce sedentary behaviour and increase physical activity among office workers could be improved by informing about health effects of sedentary behaviour and short/mid-term benefits of physical activity, including mental health benefits. Moreover, interventions could frame physical activity as congruent with values and support value-congruent choices. Finally, the work environment could support physical activity and interruption of sedentary behaviour.
Swab test in biological fluids as predictor of COVID-19 transmission risk during surgery: a prospective cross-sectional study from an Italian COVID center
Authors: Fabbri N. , Pesce A. , Ussia A. , D’Urbano F. , Pizzicotti S. , Greco S. , Feo C. V.
Published: March 2022

Background

The contamination of body fluids by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 during surgery is current matter of debate in the scientific literature concerning CoronaVIrus Disease 2019. Surgical guidelines were published during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and recommended to avoid laparoscopic surgery as much as possible, in fear that the chimney effect of high flow intraperitoneal gas escape during, and after, the procedure would increase the risk of viral transmission.

Aim

The aim of this study was to evaluate the possibility of SARS-CoV-2 transmission during surgery by searching for viral RNA in serial samplings of biological liquids.

Methods

This is a single center prospective cross-sectional study. We used a real-time reverse transcriptase (RT) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test to perform swab tests for the qualitative detection of nucleic acid from SARS-CoV-2 in abdominal fluids, during emergency surgery and on the first post-operative day. In the case of thoracic surgery, we performed a swab test of pleural fluids during chest drainage placement as well as on the first post-operative day.

Results

A total of 20 samples were obtained: 5 from pleural fluids, 13 from peritoneal fluids and two from biliary fluid. All 20 swabs performed from biological fluids resulted negative for SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection.

Conclusion

To date, there is no scientific evidence of possible contagion by laparoscopic aerosolization of SARS-CoV-2, neither is certain whether the virus is effectively present in biological fluids.
Psychosis beas a rare side effect of sildenafil: a case report
Authors: Shalbafan Mohammadreza , Orooji Maryam , Kamalzadeh Leila
Published: March 2022

Background

Sildenafil citrate is a commonly used medication for the management of erectile dysfunction. Previous studies have described some neuropsychiatric side effects of this medication. So far, however, there has been little discussion about sildenafil-induced psychosis.

Case presentation

We here present the case of a 32-year-old Iranian male, without a known psychiatric history, who developed psychotic symptoms following initiation of sildenafil. We also postulate a mechanism by which this may occur.

Conclusions

This report highlights the importance of watchful observation for the occurrence of this rare but serious side effect. Further studies are needed to clarify the precise mechanism that causes sildenafil-induced psychosis.
Geotemporospatial and causal inferential epidemiological overview and survey of USA cannabis, cannabidiol and cannabinoid genotoxicity expressed in cancer incidence 2003–2017: part 3 – spatiotemporal, multivariable and causal inferential pathfinding and exploratory analyses of prostate and ovarian cancers
Authors: Reece Albert Stuart , Hulse Gary Kenneth
Published: March 2022

Background

The epidemiology of cannabinoid-related cancerogenesis has not been studied with cutting edge epidemiological techniques. Building on earlier bivariate papers in this series we aimed to conduct pathfinding studies to address this gap in two tumours of the reproductive tract, prostate and ovarian cancer.

Methods

Age-standardized cancer incidence data for 28 tumour types (including “All (non-skin) Cancer”) was sourced from Centres for Disease Control and National Cancer Institute using SEER*Stat software across US states 2001–2017. Drug exposure was sourced from the nationally representative household survey National Survey of Drug Use and Health conducted annually by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration 2003–2017 with response rate 74.1%. Federal seizure data provided cannabinoid concentration data. US Census Bureau provided income and ethnicity data. Inverse probability weighted mixed effects, robust and panel regression together with geospatiotemporal regression analyses were conducted in R. E-Values were also calculated.

Results

19,877 age-standardized cancer rates were returned. Based on these rates and state populations this equated to 51,623,922 cancer cases over an aggregated population 2003–2017 of 124,896,418,350. Inverse probability weighted regressions for prostate and ovarian cancers confirmed causal associations robust to adjustment. Cannabidiol alone was significantly associated with prostate cancer (β-estimate = 1.61, (95%C.I. 0.99, 2.23),P = 3.75 × 10− 7). In a fully adjusted geospatiotemporal model at one spatial and two temporal years lags cannabidiol was significantly independently associated with prostate cancer (β-estimate = 2.08, (1.19, 2.98),P = 5.20 × 10− 6). Cannabidiol alone was positively associated with ovarian cancer incidence in a geospatiotemporal model (β-estimate = 0.36, (0.30, 0.42),P <  2.20 × 10− 16). The cigarette: THC: cannabidiol interaction was significant in a fully adjusted geospatiotemporal model at six years of temporal lag (β-estimate = 1.93, (1.07, 2.78),P = 9.96 × 10− 6). Minimal modelled polynomial E-Values for prostate and ovarian cancer ranged up to 5.59 × 1059and 1.92 × 10125. Geotemporospatial modelling of these tumours showed that the cannabidiol-carcinogenesis relationship was supra-linear and highly sigmoidal (P = 1.25 × 10− 45and 12.82 × 10− 52for linear v. polynomial models).

Conclusion

Cannabinoids including THC and cannabidiol are therefore important community carcinogens additive to the effects of tobacco and greatly exceeding those of alcohol. Reproductive tract carcinogenesis necessarily implies genotoxicity and epigenotoxicity of the germ line with transgenerational potential. Pseudoexponential and causal dose-response power functions are demonstrated.
Mono- and dioleyl p-coumarate phenolipids and their antioxidant activity in a muscle food model system
Authors: Wang Jiankang , Hu Xiaojia , Huang Yan , Zou Ye , Han Linxiao , Wang Daoying , Shahidi Fereidoon
Published: March 2022

Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to optimize the degree of esterification of p-coumaric acid to triolein via lipase-catalyzed acidolysis, and enzyme load, reaction time and mole ratio of substrates were selected as variables in the experimental design. The results showed that the model employed was highly sufficient for determining the effectiveness and interaction of three selected variables, enzyme load, reaction time and the mole ratio of substrates, on the dependent variable, the degree of esterification. Although the optimization point was not found in the selected range of the three variables, the steepest ascent analysis suggested that an increase of these three variables might lead to a stationary point. However, based on the limitations on increasing the range of tested variables, including possible oxidation of synthesized lipids and increased cost, the degree of esterification so yielded in the designed central composite design should be the one closest to the possible ideal optimized degree. The p-coumarates so produced exhibited varying antioxidant performance in the tested muscle food model, which could be explained by their different lipophilicity. Moreover, the potential health benefits of synthesized phenolic lipids have been discussed.

Graphical Abstract
Clinical Impact of Pathologic Residual Tumor in Locally Advanced Cervical Cancer Patients Managed by Chemoradiotherapy Followed by Radical Surgery: A Large, Multicenter, Retrospective Study
Authors: Federico Alex , Anchora Luigi Pedone , Gallotta Valerio , Fanfani Francesco , Cosentino Francesco , Turco Luigi Carlo , Bizzarri Nicolo’ , Legge Francesco , Teodorico Elena , Macchia Gabriella , Valentini Vincenzo , Scambia Giovanni , Ferrandina Gabriella
Published: March 2022

Background

Exclusive chemoradiation (E-CT/RT) represents the standard of treatment for locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC). Chemoradiation (CT/RT) followed by radical surgery (RS) may play a role for patients with a suboptimal response to CT/RT or in low-income countries with limited access to radiotherapy. Histologic assessment of residual tumor after CT/RT and RS allows accurate definition of prognostic categories.

Methods

Data on patients with FIGO stages 1B2 to 4A cervical cancer managed by CT/RT and RS from June 1996 to March 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. Pathologic response on the cervix was defined as complete (pCR), microscopic (persistent tumor foci ≤ 3 mm) (pmicroR), or macroscopic (persistent tumor foci > 3 mm) (pmacroR). Lymph node (LN) residual tumor was classified as absent or present.

Results

The 701 patients in this study underwent CT/RT and RS. Of the 701 patients, 293 (41.8%) had pCR, 188 (26.8%) had pmicroR, and 220 (31.4%) had pMacroR. Residual tumor was found in the pelvic lymph nodes of 66 (9.4%) patients and the aortic lymph nodes of 29 (4.1%) patients. The 5-year DFS and OS were respectively 86.6% and 92.5% in the pCR cases, 80.3% and 89.1% in the pmicroR cases, and 56.2% and 68.8% in the pmacroR cases. Among the patients with lymph node residual tumor, the 5-year DFS and OS were respectively 16.7% and 40% in the pCR cases, 35.4% and 53.3% in the pmicroR cases, and 31.7% and 31.1% in the pmacroR cases. Cervical residual tumor,, positive pelvic LNs, and positive aortic LNs were associated with worse DFS and OS in both the uni- and multivariate analyses.

Conclusions

Persistence of pathologic residual tumor on the cervix and LNs after CT/RT are reliable predictors of survival for LACC patients undergoing CT/RT and adjuvant surgery.
Reexamining the Contribution of Public Health Efforts to the Decline in Urban Mortality
Authors: Anderson D. Mark , Charles Kerwin Kofi , Rees Daniel I.
Published: March 2022

Using data on 25 major American cities for the period 1900–1940, we explore the effects of municipal-level public health efforts that were viewed as critical in the fight against foodborne and waterborne diseases. In addition to studying interventions such as treating sewage and setting bacteriological standards for milk, which have received little attention, we provide new evidence on the effects of water filtration and chlorination, extending the work of previous scholars. Although water filtration is associated with an 11–12 percent reduction in infant mortality, none of the other interventions under study appear to have contributed to the observed mortality declines. (JEL H75, I12, I18, J13, Q18, Q51, Q53)
Health Insurance Design Meets Saving Incentives: Consumer Responses to Complex Contracts
Authors: Leive Adam
Published: March 2022

To lower health care costs, Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) offer tax incentives encouraging people to trade off current consumption against future consumption. This paper tests whether consumers use HSAs as self-insurance over the life cycle. Using administrative data from a large employer and a regression discontinuity design, I estimate the marginal propensity to consume from HSA assets is 0.85 and reject the neoclassical benchmark of 0. Comparisons with 401(k) saving show most employees do not treat HSA money as fungible with retirement savings. In this setting, HSAs did not reduce health spending and instead increased the share that was financed tax-free. (JEL D15, D82, G22, G51, I13)
Mapping accessibility to oral health care in coastal India – A geospatial approach using a geographic information system (GIS)
Authors: Pramod Nayak Prajna , Mitra Soham , Pai Jagadeesha B. , Vasthare Prabhakar Ramprasad , Kshetrimayum Nandita
Published: March 2022

Background: It is imperative to have a thorough assessment of the existing distribution of oral healthcare facilities and understand potential accessibility when planning for expansion of oral health services. In the present study, an attempt to measure geographic accessibility to oral healthcare, by locating the availability of dental practitioners in the coastal districts of Karnataka state, India using a geographical information system (GIS), has been made.

Methods: For the study, data on public and private oral health centres were collected for the three coastal districts of Karnataka state, India. Population and income data were collected, along with geographic attributes (latitudes and longitudes) of the practitioners' addresses. Descriptive statistical analyses and dentist-to-population ratios (D:P) were calculated. Correlation between the number of clinics with population and D:P with per capita income were analyzed using Pearson's correlation coefficient. Chi-square test applied to analyze any association between D:P and urbanization.

Results: Among 340 clinics, 8.5% are public and 91.5% are private clinics catering to a population of 4,704,179. Average D:P for the three coastal districts is 1:13,836. There is an uneven urban-rural distribution of dentists with lower D:P in rural areas. Rural population in four taluks have only one dentist for over a lakh population. Six taluks have only one dentist for every 50000 – 100000 population in rural areas. Six rural areas had only public centers to cater to their oral health.  

Conclusions: From the study, it is concluded that oral health services were concentrated in areas with higher annual income per-capita, increased urbanization and population density.
Surgical outcomes of untreated congenital polysyndactyly of the foot in adult patients
Authors: Woo Soo Jin , Choi Jinil , Hu Ju Long , Kwon Sung Tack , Kim Byung Jun
Published: March 2022

Purpose: Polydactyly of the foot is a common congenital anomaly. The goal of surgery for polydactyly is to increase similarity to the contralateral foot, with a well-aligned arcade of toes that allows patients to wear normal footwear and ambulate painlessly. Foot appearance is especially important in Asian countries where people remove their shoes indoors. This study reviewed the surgical results in patients who underwent surgery for correction of untreated foot polydactyly after the age of 18 years. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the data of 11 patients who underwent surgery between 2006 and 2019. The forefoot width, angulation difference, and toe length ratios between the affected and unaffected feet were compared before and after the operation. In addition, the purpose of the surgery and postoperative cosmetic satisfaction were collected for each patient.Results: The median age at the time of the operation was 25 years (interquartile range, 22–32 years) and most patients presented with postaxial polydactyly. The primary reasons to undergo surgery were both functional and cosmetic. The forefoot width and angle difference ratios became significantly more similar to the contralateral side postoperatively (p<0.05). No significant difference was found in the toe length ratio. Postoperative Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale scores showed satisfactory results. Conclusion: The main reasons for surgery in adulthood included the diverse consequences of functional and cosmetic aspects of the anomaly. Surgery for patients with untreated polydactyly of the foot can yield satisfactory objective and subjective results regardless of the intervention timing.
Revisión sistemática sobre la formación inicial del profesorado en tecnologías digitales: iniciativas y posibilidades
Authors: Miotto Angelica Inês , Da Costa Polonia Ana , Suyo-Vega Josefina Amanda
Published: March 2022

INTRODUCCIÓN. Este artículo presenta una revisión sistemática sobre el proceso de formación del profesorado, en los cursos de grado, frente a las tecnologías digitales en el mundo contemporáneo. El objetivo es sistematizar las evidencias e interconexiones científicas que reflejan en el ámbito del currículo las competencias tecnológicas para la formación del profesorado, implicando un nuevo perfil profesional, para perfilar profesores críticos, creativos, innovadores y dinámicos. MÉTODO. Para la generación de datos, se realizó una búsqueda en la base Scopus y Proquest a través de la frase clave “formación de profesores en tecnologías”, en los idiomas portugués, español e inglés, y los artículos publicados entre 2015 y 2021, en el tema de las ciencias sociales. Se utilizó el diagrama de flujo PRISMA. En este sentido, pretende apoyar las preguntas: ¿cuál es la evidencia científica sobre la formación del profesorado en tecnologías digitales? ¿Qué recursos tecnológicos se utilizan para desarrollar las competencias docentes? ¿Cuáles son las principales recomendaciones de los autores para futuros procesos de formación? RESULTADOS. Los resultados revelan cuatro subcategorías de análisis: a) uso de plataformas o recursos digitales; b) prácticas pedagógicas; c) aprendizaje y desarrollo de contenidos; y d) políticas, formación y planes de estudio. Aunque las tecnologías se han incorporado como elemento mediador en el proceso de enseñanza y aprendizaje, todavía aparecen de forma incipiente en los cursos de formación del profesorado. DISCUSIÓN. De acuerdo con lo analizado, se debe considerar que es importante implementar en el currículo referencias relacionadas con el conocimiento, el saber y las habilidades tecnológicas. CONCLUSIÓN. Además, la investigación apunta a la necesidad de correlacionar la implementación de políticas educativas, la formación del profesorado, el uso de recursos digitales y el desarrollo de planes de estudio que refuercen el conocimiento del uso de la tecnología para desarrollar habilidades para incorporar las prácticas tecnológicas en la práctica educativa.
Maximum bandwidth of a composite achromatic quartz half-wave plate
Authors: Tang Jiale , Ou Mingyu , Liu Yan , Deng Rui , Lan Lanling
Published: March 2022

To investigate the characteristics of the achromatic bandwidth of composite achromatic quartz half-wave plates (QHWPs), three kinds of multi-element achromatic QHWPs with central wavelengths at 1000–3000 nm and relative deviation of the maximum phase retardation (

Δ

δ

m
a
x

) of 1%–5% are discussed. Based on the particle swarm optimization algorithm, the maximum bandwidth of the composite achromatic QHWPs at room temperature is obtained. The results show that the achromatic bandwidth increases with

Δ

δ

m
a
x

. At the same

Δ

δ

m
a
x

, the achromatic bandwidth of four-element achromatic QHWPs is larger than that of two- and three-element achromatic QHWPs. The maximum achromatic bandwidth of four-element achromatic QHWPs can reach 2229 nm when

Δ

δ

m
a
x

is 5%. In addition, the temperature effect on bandwidth in the wavelength range of 300–1500 nm is analyzed, and the maximum bandwidth of temperature insensitive composite achromatic QHWPs is 840 nm. The results provide a great reference for designing achromatic wave plates with broad bandwidths.
Dosimetric outcomes of preoperative treatment planning with intraoperative optimization using stranded seeds in prostate brachytherapy
Authors: Lee Jason Joon Bock , Lee Eungman , Choi Won Hoon , Kim Jihun , Chang Kyung Hwan , Kim Dong Wook , Shin Han Back , Kim Tae Hyung , Byun Hwa Kyung , Cho Jaeho
Published: March 2022

This study aimed to evaluate the quality of low-dose-rate (LDR) prostate brachytherapy (BT) based on treatment-related dosimetric outcomes. Data of 100 patients treated using LDR BT with stranded seeds from November 2012 to November 2017 were collected. The prescription dose for the prostate was 145 Gy. The dose constraints for the preoperative plan were: V100% ≥ 95%, V150% ≤ 60%, V200% ≤ 20% for the prostate; V100% for rectum, ≤ 1 cc; and V200 Gy for urethra, 0.0 cc. Intraoperative real-time dose calculation and postoperative dose distribution analysis on days 0 and 30 were performed. Median dosimetric outcomes on days 0 and 30 respective were: V100% 92.28% and 92.23%, V200% 18.63% and 25.02%, and D90% 150.88 Gy and 151.46 Gy for the prostate; V100% for the rectum, 0.11 cc and 0.22 cc; and V200 Gy for the urethra, 0.00 cc and 0.00 cc, respectively. Twenty patients underwent additional seed implantation to compensate for insufficient dose coverage of the prostate. No loss or substantial migration of seeds or severe toxicity was reported. With stranded seed implantation and intraoperative optimization, appropriate dose delivery to the prostate without excessive dose to the organs at risk could be achieved.
The aetiology and clinical characteristics of cryptococcal infections in Far North Queensland, tropical Australia
Authors: Sim Beatrice Z. , Conway Luke , Smith Laura K. , Fairhead Lee , Der Yi Shan , Payne Lara , Binotto Enzo , Smith Simon , Hanson Josh
Published: March 2022

Cryptococcal infections are an important cause of morbidity and mortality in tropical Australia. This retrospective audit was conducted to characterise the aetiology, temporospatial epidemiology, and clinical course of 49 cryptococcal infections in Far North Queensland between 1 January 1999 and 31 December 2019. Cryptococcus gattii was identified in 15/32 (47%) in whom it was possible to speciate the organism. Among these 15 patients, 13 (87%) had a rural residential address, 10 (67%) were Indigenous Australians and 11 (73%) presented during the May-November dry season. When compared to the 17 patients with Cryptococcus neoformans infection, patients with C. gattii were less likely to be immunocompromised (0/15 versus 8/17 (47%), p = 0.003). Neurosurgery was necessary in 5/15 C. gattii cases and 3/17 (18%) C. neoformans cases (p = 0.42). Outcomes were generally good with 42/49 (86%) cases—and 14/15 (93%) with C. gattii infection—surviving to hospital discharge. These positive outcomes are likely to be explained by the development of standardised treatment guidelines during the study period, low rates of comorbidity in the patients with C. gattii infection and access to liposomal amphotericin and neurosurgical support in the well-resourced Australian healthcare system.
Plato, Isocrates and Epistolary Literature
Authors: Notomi Noburu
Published: March 2022

Working against the recent arguments against Plato’s authorship of the Seventh Letter in the Anglophone scholarship, this paper demonstrates the historical possibility that Plato wrote his letters for philosophical purposes, most likely in competition with Isocrates, who skilfully used the literary genre of letters for his rhetorical and philosophical purposes. Because Isocrates and Plato experimented with various writing styles in response to each other, letters and autobiographies may well have been their common devices. The paper concludes that we should respect the tradition that had included and respected the Seventh Letter as Plato’s own writing.
A területen kívüli állampolgárság magyarországi gyakorlata – Diskurzusok és értelmezések diaszpórában és kisebbségi közösségben
Authors:   , Vass Ágnes
Published: March 2022

Az értekezés a területen kívüli állampolgárság identitáskonstrukciókra és hovatartozástudatra gyakorolt hatásait vizsgálja a 2010-ben módosított magyar állampolgársági törvény elfogadása után, a szlovákiai magyar kisebbségi, és a nyugat-kanadai magyar diaszpóra közösség tagjai körében végzett empirikus kutatás eredményein keresztül. A dolgozat célja a területen kívüli állampolgárság jelenségének vizsgálata mikro- és makroszinten. Mikroszinten a kutatás azt tárja fel, hogy a választott közösségek tagjai hogyan viszonyulnak a számukra elérhetővé vált területen kívüli magyar állampolgárság, valamint a magyarországi szavazati jog kiterjesztéséhez. Az értekezés célja annak megértése, hogy a többes állampolgárság, mint egynél több politikai közösségben való tagság, hogyan jelenik meg a vizsgálatban részt vevők identitás-konstrukcióiban és a mindennapjaikban. A mindennapi társas és egyéni élményeket és értelmezéseket vizsgálva a dolgozat arra keresi a választ, hogy miért (vagy miért nem) veszik fel a magyar állampolgárságot, és hogy értelmezik a többes kötődést. Milyen identitás társul (ha társul egyáltalán) a szabad döntés alapján (tehát nem születéssel), egyszerűsített honosítás útján kérvényezhető magyar állampolgársághoz úgy, hogy az egyén nem él, vagy adott esetben sosem járt Magyarországon. A kutatás során azt is vizsgáltuk, kialakul-e közösségi tudat a magyar állampolgárság egyszerűsített honosítással történő felvételével azok között, akik élnek ezzel a lehetőséggel a diaszpórában vagy kisebbségi közösségben. A dolgozat makroszinten arra keresi a választ, hogy a 21. századi Európai Unióban hogyan alakul át az állampolgárság fogalma, valamint az állam és az általa kormányzott állampolgárok közötti viszony. A kettős állampolgárságról szóló szakirodalom rendkívül gazdag, ugyanakkor a kérdést elsősorban migrációs összefüggésekben, illetve a multikulturalizmus szempontjából vizsgálták. A határon túli és diaszpóra közösségek és Magyarország viszonya, a magyar nemzetpolitika/határon túli politika/diaszpóra-kapcsolatok történelmi, társadalmi, jogi összefüggései szintén átfogóan kutatott kérdések, ugyanakkor az állampolgársági törvény 2010 utáni hatásait kevesen vizsgálták, illetve ezen vizsgálatok is inkább elméleti összefüggésekben, első sorban az állam „szempontjából”, valamint nemzetpolitikai összefüggésekben elemzik a kérdést. A területen kívüli állampolgárságra vonatkozó vizsgálatok esetében kevés olyan kutatás van, mely maga az állampolgár megközelítéséből foglalkozik a jelenséggel és a térség anyaállami politikáit (beleértve az anyaállam által kínált állampolgárság-politikákat) alulról felfelé, mindennapi összefüggésekben, az egyén szintjén vizsgálná. A dolgozat az állampolgárság diskurzusok ezen részét kívánja gazdagítani, olyan módszertan alkalmazásával, mely korábban nem igazán volt jellemző az állampolgárság-kutatásokban.
Progresiones en las comprensiones de profesores sobre los organizadores gráficos para la representación del conocimiento
Authors: Cifuentes Garzón José Eduardo
Published: March 2022

Este artículo reporta las progresiones en las comprensiones sobre los organizadores gráficos para la representación del conocimiento ocurridas en un grupo de 23 profesores de educación básica primaria y secundaria de una institución educativa pública del departamento de Cundinamar-ca, Colombia. En el trabajo de campo enmarcado en el diseño metodológico de la investigación acción educativa se implementaron las rutinas de pensamiento “antes pensaba y ahora pienso”, “qué te hace decir eso” y los “puntos de la brújula”. Además, de una unidad didáctica sustentada en el marco de la enseñanza para la comprensión, lo que permitió evidenciar que los profesores transformaran sus conocimientos frente a los organizadores gráficos como efecto de la implemen-tación de desempeños de comprensión centrados en procesos de lectura, exposiciones, realimen-tación y aplicabilidad del concepto.
The Effect of Perceived Fathers Involvement on Subjective Well-being: Study On Early Adolescent Groups Who Live Without Mother In Karawang
Authors: Alifa Risma , Handayani Eko
Published: March 2022

Adolescence will be even more difficult when they experience a crisis phase due to the loss of a parent, such as amother who dies, divorces, or mother as a migrant worker. This condition often occurs in Karawang and makesteenagers forced to live with their fathers who are usually perceived as less involved in their lives. In fact, thefather’s involvement is very important for adolescent’s subjective well-being, so that they can rise from thesenegative experiences. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of perceived father’s involvement onthe subjective well-being of adolescents who live only with their father. Research respondents obtained usingconvenience sampling technique as many as 56 early adolescents (12-15 years). The researcher used aquestionnaire that containing the measuring tools of The Satisfaction with Life Scale, Positive and Negative AffectSchedule, Nurturant Fathering Scale and The Father Involvement Scale; and multiple regression for data analysis.The results showed that adolescent’s life satisfaction was influenced by father nurturance, t(53) = 2.095, p < .05,adolescent’s positive affect was partially influenced by father nurturance, t(53) = 3.088 p < .05, as well assimultaneously with father involvement, F(2, 53) = 6.657, p < .05, R2 = .201, and adolescent’s negative affect wassimultaneously influenced by father nurturance and father involvement. Thus, we hope that fathers can increasetheir role as single parents because the greater father’s involvement can affect adolescent’s higher life satisfaction,the higher positive affect and the lower negative affect, making it easier for adolescents to face the crisis phase
Discourses on AI and Regulation of Automated Decision-Making
Authors: Lepinkäinen Nea , Malik Hanna Maria
Published: March 2022

This article provides an empirically based analysis of the struggle around the use of artificial intelligence and automated decision-making systems in Finnish public governance. After an experimental phase, constitutional boundaries halted the use of automated decision-making in Finnish administration until legal grounds could be settled. The drafting process for a general law regulating the use of automated decision-making in public governance has started. The initial suggestion balances between efficiency and sufficient protection of constitutional rights. This article builds on a critical discourse analysis of the key statements given after the initial regulatory suggestion. Our analysis shows that despite Finland’s constitutional tradition combining both social and liberal values, three out of five discourses prevailing in the statements adhere strongly to a liberal logic of efficiency and optimist accounts of artificial intelligence transformation. The article frames the analysis with the theory of social acceleration. We argue that the prevailing optimism about artificial intelligence and concomitant support for limited state regulation of its use reflect the broader challenges of desynchronization in accelerated societies and might shape the future of the Finnish welfare state.
Tüketim metaforu ile tüketicilerin kişisel ve fiziksel özelliklerinin satın alma davranışı üzerindeki etkisi
Authors: Köylüoğlu A. Selçuk
Published: March 2022

Tüketici satın alma davranışı, ürünleri arama, satın alma, kullanma, değerlendirme, ekonomik ömrünü dolduran ürünleri yenileme ya da elden çıkarma eylemlerini içermektedir. Bu eylemler kültürel, sosyolojik ve ekonomik pek çok faktörden etkilenmektedir. Dolayısıyla tüketici satın alma davranışı, söz konusu faktörlerden etkilenen karmaşık bir yapıya sahiptir. Bu bağlamda kurgulanan çalışmanın amacı, tüketim metaforu ile tüketicilerin kişisel ve fiziksel özelliklerinin satın alma davranışı üzerindeki etkisini incelemektir. Araştırmada veri toplama aracı olarak anket yöntemi uygulanmıştır. Toplanan verilerin analizinde SPSS 22.0 programından yararlanılmıştır. Analiz ve yorumlarda betimsel ve çıkarımsal istatistiklere başvurulmuştur. Bu istatistikler, Yapısal Eşitlik Modeli (YEM) ile test edilmiştir. Araştırma sonucunda, tüketicilerin kişisel ve fiziksel özellikleri ile tüketim metaforunun satın alma davranışı üzerinde anlamlı bir etkisinin olduğu tespit edilmiştir. 
Anahtar Kelimeler: Tüketici, Tüketim Metaforu, Tüketici Satın Alma Davranışı
Jel Kodları: M30, M31, M39
Pituitary carcinoma: reclassification and implications in the NET schema
Authors: Asa Sylvia L , Ezzat Shereen
Published: March 2022

The entity known as pituitary carcinoma has been traditionally defined as a tumor of adenohypophysial cells that metastasizes systemically or craniospinally independent of the histological appearance of the lesion. Reported cases of pituitary carcinoma have clinically and histologically resembled their non-metastatic counterparts that were classified as adenomas; the majority of cases were initially diagnosed as adenomas, and with tumor progression and spread, the diagnosis was changed to carcinoma. This classification has been challenged since the definition of malignancy in most organs is not based only on metastatic spread. The extent of local invasion resulting in an inability to completely resect an adenohypophysial tumor can have serious consequences that can cause harm and are therefore not benign. To address this dilemma, it was proposed that pituitary tumors be classified as neuroendocrine tumors. This change in nomenclature is totally appropriate since these tumors are composed of classical neuroendocrine cells; as with other neuroendocrine tumors, they have variable behavior that can be indolent but can involve metastasis. With the new nomenclature, there is no requirement for a distinction between adenomas and carcinomas. Moreover, the WHO/IARC has provided an overarching classification for neuroendocrine neoplasms at all body sites; in this new classification, the term ‘neuroendocrine carcinoma’ is reserved for poorly differentiated high-grade malignancies that are clinically, morphologically and genetically distinct from well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors. It remains to be determined if there are true pituitary neuroendocrine carcinomas.