bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Does the Canadian Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society Postoperative COFAS End-Stage Ankle Arthritis Classification System Correlate With Pre- and Postoperative PROMIS Scores for Total Ankle Arthroplasty?
Authors: Shlykov Maksim A. , Savage-Elliott Ian , Lonergan Timothy M. , Klein Sandra E. , Backus Jonathon D. , Johnson Jeffrey E. , McCormick Jeremy J.
Published: March 2022

Background:

Recently, the Canadian Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (COFAS) proposed a classification system addressing adjunct procedures in the treatment for end-stage ankle arthritis. We reviewed Patient-Reported Outcome Measures Information System (PROMIS) data to determine if outcomes of total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) correlated with postoperative COFAS classification. We hypothesize that as COFAS classification increases, patients will demonstrate greater improvement in the change between pre- and postoperative PROMIS scores.

Methods:

From June 2015 to December 2018, a total of 127 patients underwent 132 TAA. Demographic factors and preoperative and most recent postoperative PROMIS scores were collected. Univariate, multivariate and post hoc analyses with a significance threshold of P <.05 were performed.

Results:

Eighty-seven patients with a mean follow-up of 13.6±7.3 months and complete PROMIS scores were classified into COFAS types 1-4. Significant differences were identified in the PROMIS Pain Interference domain comparing COFAS types 2 and 4 and COFAS types 3 and 4. These results demonstrate that more complex ankles with a higher COFAS score had worse interval improvement in PROMIS scores. Additionally, multivariate linear regression showed that age and BMI were associated with worse physical function and depression, whereas diabetes and a history of prior surgeries were associated with improved postoperative function.

Conclusion:

The COFAS postoperative classification system is useful for categorizing end-stage ankle arthritis. Further research into the ideal timing of surgery and higher-level studies to better determine TAA efficacy with different classification systems is warranted. This information can be helpful with preoperative counseling about treatment outcomes. Level of Evidence: Level IV, retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data.
Racial Disparities in Surgical Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Authors: Cohen Samuel M. , Howard Javier J.M. , Jin Michael C. , Qian Jason , Capasso Robson
Published: March 2022

Objective

Determine risk factors for failure to receive surgical treatment among patients with obstructive sleep apnea.

Study Design

Population‐based observational longitudinal cohort study.

Setting

Population‐based database.

Methods

Multivariate analysis of 500,792 individuals with obstructive sleep apnea from Optum’s deidentified Clinformatics Data Mart database (2004‐2018).

Results

Black race, increased age, diabetes, atrial fibrillation, obesity, and congestive heart failure were independently associated with a decreased rate of surgery for obstructive sleep apnea. Asian race, hypertension, arrhythmias other than atrial fibrillation, pulmonary disease, and liver disease were independently associated with an increased rate of surgery for obstructive sleep apnea.

Conclusion

Racial disparities in health outcomes related to health care access and in economic resources have an enormous impact on public health and social equity. We found differences in rates of surgery for obstructive sleep apnea based on race. These data are consistent with others demonstrating disparities in medical treatment of sleep apnea with positive pressure and underline a need for a change in awareness and treatment in these populations.
Early intraocular pressure changes following different keratoplasty techniques and association with cornea parameters and anterior chamber depth
Authors: Gumus Gulsah , Altan Cigdem , Yildirim Yusuf , Beşek Nilay Kandemir , Genç Selim , Kirgiz Ahmet , Durusoy Gonul Karatas , Ağca Alper
Published: March 2022

Background:

Corneal transplantation surgery is associated with an increased risk of intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation. Increased IOP may cause irreversible vision loss and graft failure.

Objective:

We aimed to evaluate early IOP changes following different keratoplasty techniques and to investigate the relationship between corneal thickness (CT), keratometry values, anterior chamber depth (ACD), and IOP changes.

Methods:

We included patients who underwent penetrating keratoplasty (PK), deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty (DALK), and Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) in this observational study. ACD, CT, and keratometry measurements were repeated postoperatively at hour 24, week 1, and month 1. IOP measurements were repeated at postoperative hours 6 and 24, week 1, and month 1 by Tono-Pen XL.

Results:

In total, 22 patients underwent PK, 12 patients underwent DALK, and 19 patients underwent DMEK. The difference between the IOP preoperatively and postoperatively hour 6, and between the IOP preoperatively and postoperatively hour 24 was statistically significant in the three types of surgery ( p < 0.05 for each). The difference between preoperative and postoperative week 1 IOP was statistically significant only in the PK group ( p = 0.023). When the IOP was compared between the three types of surgeries, the IOP at postoperative week 1 in the PK group was significantly higher than the DALK and DMEK groups ( p = 0.021). There was no correlation between ACD, CT, K values, and IOP in any group.

Conclusion:

IOP may increase in all types of keratoplasty during the first hours after surgery, but PK has a risk of high IOP longer in the early postoperative period. PK patients should be followed more carefully during postoperative week 1 to check for an increase in IOP.
Predictors of postoperative recurrence in a cohort of Tunisian patients with Crohn’s disease
Authors: Hammami Aya , Harbi Raida , Elleuch Nour , Meddeb Khaled Ben , Ameur Wafa Ben , Dahmani Wafa , Braham Ahlem , Ajmi Salem , Ksiaa Mehdi , Slama Aida Ben , Jaziri Hanen , Jmaa Ali
Published: March 2022

Background:

The aim of our study was to evaluate the frequency and risk factors of clinical postoperative recurrence in Tunisian patients with Crohn’s disease (CD).

Methods:

Clinical data of 86 patients with CD who underwent ileocolonic resection at University Hospital of Sahloul in Tunisia were retrospectively reviewed. Continuous data are expressed as median (interquartile range), and categorical data as frequencies and percentages. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression analysis was conducted to identify the risk factors of postoperative clinical recurrence.

Results:

A total of 86 patients with CD were included in this study. During follow-up, 21 patients (24.4%) had clinical recurrence. The cumulative clinical recurrence rate was 9.3% at 1 year and 20.9% at 5 years. In univariate analysis, predictive factors of postoperative clinical recurrence were active preoperative smoking ( p = 0.008), ileal location of the disease ( p = 0.01), active CD [Crohn’s Disease Activity Index (CDAI) > 150] ( p = 0.04), duration of disease before first surgery <9.5 months ( p = 0.027), and limited resection margins (<2 cm) from macroscopically diseased bowel ( p = 0.005). In multivariate analysis, only smoking ( p = 0.012), duration of disease before first surgery <9.5 months ( p = 0.048), and limited resection margins (<2 cm) from macroscopically diseased bowel ( p = 0.046) were confirmed to be independent factors of clinical relapse.

Conclusion:

Smoking, duration of disease before first surgery <9.5 months, and limited resection margins (<2 cm) from macroscopically diseased bowel were independent risk factors for clinical recurrence. Based on these factors, patients could be stratified in order to guide postoperative therapeutic options.
Where are we heading? The example of generational change in British academic Geography
Authors: Dorling Danny
Published: March 2022

Between the first two decades of the 21st century, the gentrification of the academic subject of Geography within Britain rose to a new peak. By the mid-2010s, undergraduate geographers had become the least likely group, of all British university students, to have qualified for free school meals while at school. This article reveals that they are now also the most likely group to have grown up in the most affluent parts of Britain and suggests that this rising segregation of origins is the cumulation of a long running process which can be indexed to the growth in social divides in Britain over the last four decades. As Britain changed from being one of the most equal nation states to become the most economically unequal large state in Europe, British Geography departments became the least likely place to find students from disadvantaged or even average income backgrounds. This article also demonstrates that an unusually high number of academic geographers working in Britain grew up in Britain and attended a British University. The article explores what else is now known, and is unusual, about the changing demographic characteristics of academics employed in the Geography departments of British Universities. It then speculates as to how these changes over time may have influenced the lived experiences of British Geography students and academics, the subsequent contributions that British geographers now make, and then how the gentrification of British Geography may influence the subject and politics in particular ways and directions globally. The article ends with a plea: if we can better know ourselves, we may choose to not continue supporting the current self-referential siloes in geographical thought and may better understand how and why they came about.
Making molehills out of mountains: Keeping the tempest in the teapot
Authors: Waterstone Marv
Published: March 2022

In this short piece, drawing on personal and professional experience, and based on the urgency of myriad crises, I suggest ways of moving our considerable accumulated theoretical, methodological, and substantive insights more consciously (rather than tacitly) into wider circulations of dialogue and activism. I examine extant hegemonic relations of academic production and reproduction, the relationships between academia and the “outside" worlds in which we operate, and conclude with some specific recommendations for the role that this newest member of the Environment and Planning suite of journals might take in these critical endeavors.
Geology along the Bedretto tunnel: kinematic and geochronological constraints on the evolution of the Gotthard Massif (Central Alps)
Authors: Rast Markus , Galli Andrea , Ruh Jonas B. , Guillong Marcel , Madonna Claudio
Published: March 2022

The unlined Bedretto tunnel crosses large parts of the pre-Triassic basement of the Gotthard massif (Central Alps), giving the possibility to study late-Variscan plutonic rocks (Rotondo granite) and their Caledonian (poly-)metamorphic host rocks (Tremola and Prato series). The Rotondo granite consists mostly of an equigranular, fine-grained granite and to a lesser extent of a porphyritic granite. Commonly, the Rotondo granite is massive or only slightly foliated. Ductile deformation is localized along discrete shear zones composed of granitic or quartz-biotite-rich lithologies. This paper reviews the geology of the Bedretto tunnel with emphasis on the Rotondo granite and presents constraints based on kinematic, microstructural, and U–Pb geochronological evidence, which can be summarized as follows: (1) Both granitic and quartz-biotite-rich shear zones (QB-SZ) in the Rotondo granite generally dip moderately to steeply towards north and are related to top-to-south reverse shearing, indicating south-verging backthrusting during the exhumation of the Gotthard massif. (2) Zircons from both the equigranular and porphyritic Rotondo granite show overlapping $${}^{206}\hbox {Pb}/{}^{238}\hbox {U}$$

206

Pb
/

238

U

-age ranges of 285–319 Ma and 280–335 Ma, respectively, which indicate that both are part of the same late-Variscan magmatic episode. Almost no older inherited cores are reported. (3) In zircons from a QB-SZ, $$30\%$$

30
%

of the concordant age spots scatter between 339 and 589 Ma. This suggests that the parent material of the QB-SZ is unrelated to the magmatic episode that formed the Rotondo granite, but rather that the QB-SZ represent sheared xenoliths within the granite.
Minor cutting edge force contribution in wood bandsawing
Authors: Meulenberg Vanessa , Ekevad Mats , Svensson Mikael , Broman Olof
Published: March 2022

As the sawmill industry is moving towards thinner bandsaws for higher yields, it is important to study the cutting force in more detail. The cutting force can be split into two zones. Zone I concerns the force on the major cutting edge as well as the friction force on the major first flank. Zone II considers the forces on the minor cutting edges as well as the friction forces on the minor first flanks. Zone II cutting can significantly affect the cutting force and has not been studied in great detail. Frozen, non-frozen and dry heartwood of Norway spruce and Scots pine were cut using different tooth geometries and the cutting force was measured. The major cutting edge, clearance, band thickness, minor cutting edge angle and minor cutting edge clearance angle were investigated. The y-intercept of the cutting force–width graph was used as the Zone II force (at this point the Zone I forces are assumed to be zero). The Zone II force contribution to the cutting force was studied. The results show that frozen wood has less elastic spring-back and therefore less Zone II cutting. Dried wood showed a significantly higher degree of Zone II cutting (55−75% contribution to the cutting force). Changing the major cutting edge from 2.87 mm to 1.6 mm resulted in 10–15% higher Zone II force contributions.
Comparing the relative and absolute effect of erenumab: is a 50% response enough? Results from the ESTEEMen study
Authors: Ornello Raffaele , Baraldi Carlo , Guerzoni Simona , Lambru Giorgio , Andreou Anna P. , Raffaelli Bianca , Gendolla Astrid , Barbanti Piero , Aurilia Cinzia , Egeo Gabriella , Cevoli Sabina , Favoni Valentina , Vernieri Fabrizio , Altamura Claudia , Russo Antonio , Silvestro Marcello , Valle Elisabetta Dalla , Mancioli Andrea , Ranieri Angelo , Alfieri Gennaro , Latysheva Nina , Filatova Elena , Talbot Jamie , Cheng Shuli , Holle Dagny , Scheffler Armin , Nežádal Tomáš , Čtrnáctá Dana , Šípková Jitka , Matoušová Zuzana , Casalena Alfonsina , Maddestra Maurizio , Viola Stefano , Affaitati Giannapia , Giamberardino Maria Adele , Pistoia Francesca , Reuter Uwe , Sacco Simona
Published: March 2022

Background

Monoclonal antibodies acting on the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) or its receptor have changed migraine preventive treatment. Those treatments have led to reconsidering the outcomes of migraine prevention. Available data mostly considered benefits in terms of relative efficacy (percent or absolute decrease in monthly migraine days [MMDs] or headache days compared with baseline). However, not enough attention has been paid to residual MMDs and/or migraine-related disability in treated patients. In the present study, we aimed at comparing the relative and absolute efficacy of erenumab.

Methods

ESTEEMen was a collaborative project among 16 European headache centers which already performed real-life data collections on patients treated with erenumab for at least 12 weeks. For the present study, we performed a subgroup analysis on patients with complete data on MMDs at baseline and at weeks 9-12 of treatment. Starting from efficacy thresholds proposed by previous literature, we classified patients into 0-29%, 30-49%, 50-74%, and ≥75% responders according to MMD decrease from baseline to weeks 9-12 of treatment. For each response category, we reported the median MMDs and Headache Impact test-6 (HIT-6) scores at baseline and at weeks 9-12. We categorized the number of residual MMDs at weeks 9-12 as follows: 0-3, 4-7, 8-14, ≥15. We classified HIT-6 score into four categories: ≤49, 50-55, 56-59, and ≥60. To keep in line with the original scope of the ESTEEMen study, calculations were performed in men and women.

Results

Out of 1215 patients, at weeks 9-12, 381 (31.4%) had a 0-29% response, 186 (15.3%) a 30-49% response, 396 (32.6%) a 50-74% response, and 252 (20.7%) a ≥75% response; 246 patients (20.2%) had 0-3 residual MMDs, 443 (36.5%) had 4-7 MMDs, 299 (24.6%) had 8-14 MMDs, and 227 (18.7%) had ≥15 MMDs. Among patients with 50-74% response, 246 (62.1%) had 4-7 and 94 (23.7%) 8-14 residual MMDs, while among patients with ≥75% response 187 (74.2%) had 0-3 and 65 (25.8%) had 4-7 residual MMDs.

Conclusions

The present study shows that even patients with good relative response to erenumab may have a clinically non-negligible residual migraine burden. Relative measures of efficacy cannot be enough to thoroughly consider the efficacy of migraine prevention.
RETRACTED ARTICLE:Parecoxib inhibits esophageal squamous cell carcinoma progression via the PDK1–AKT pathway
Authors: Huang Han-Ming , Huang Xiao-Yu , Wu Shao-Ping , Chen Can-Keng , He Xin-Hua , Zhang Yong-Fa
Published: March 2022

Background

Parecoxib plays an important role in inhibition of human cancer. However, the effect of parecoxib on esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is still not well known. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of parecoxib on ESCC and its underlying mechanism.

Methods

RNA-sequence analysis was performed to identify functional alterations and mechanisms. Cell cycle, proliferation, invasion, and migration were assessed using flow cytometry, CCK-8 assay, colony formation, transwell, and wound healing assays. Extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation was detected by substrate gel zymography and 3D cell culture assay. Western blotting was used to detect parecoxib-dependent mechanisms involving cell cycle, proliferation, invasion, and migration. Tumor formation in vivo was detected by mouse assay.

Results

Functional experiments indicated that parecoxib induced ESCC cell cycle arrest in G2 phase, and inhibited cell proliferation, invasion, and migration in vitro. Western blotting revealed that parecoxib downregulated the phosphorylation levels of AKT and PDK1, as well as the expression of the mutant p53, cyclin B1, and CDK1, while upregulating p21waf1. Parecoxib inhibited matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP2) secretion and invadopodia formation, which were related to ECM degradation. Furthermore, we found that parecoxib suppressed ESCC growth in heterotopic tumor models.

Conclusion

Parecoxib inhibits ESCC progression, including cell cycle, proliferation, invasion, and migration, via the PDK1–AKT signaling pathway.
Environmental quality standards for diclofenac derived under the European water framework directive: 2. Avian secondary poisoning
Authors: Peters A. , Crane M. , Merrington G. , Ryan Jim
Published: March 2022

Diclofenac is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory human and veterinary medicine widely detected in European surface waters, especially downstream from Wastewater Treatment Plants. With some notable exceptions, veterinary uses of diclofenac in Europe are greatly restricted, so wastewater is the key Europe-wide exposure route for wildlife that may be exposed via the aquatic environment. Proposed Environmental Quality Standards (EQS) which include an assessment of avian exposure from secondary poisoning are under consideration by the European Commission (EC) to support the aims of the Water Framework Directive (WFD). In this paper we summarise information on avian toxicity plus laboratory and field evidence on diclofenac bioaccumulation and bioconcentration in avian food items. A safe diclofenac threshold value for birds of 3 μg kg−1 wet weight in food was previously derived by the European Medicines Agency and should be adopted as an EQS under the WFD to maintain consistency across European regulations. This value is also consistent with values of 1.16–3.99 µg kg−1diet proposed by the EC under the WFD. Water-based EQS of 5.4 or 230 ng L−1 in freshwater are derived from these dietary standards, respectively, by the EC and by us, with the large difference caused primarily by use of different values for bioaccumulation. A simple assessment of potential water-based EQS compliance is performed for both of these latter values against reported diclofenac concentrations in samples collected from European freshwaters. This shows that exceedances of the EC-derived EQS would be very widespread across Europe while exceedances of the EQS derived by us are confined to a relatively small number of sites in only some Member States. Since there is no evidence for any declines in European waterbird populations associated with diclofenac exposure we recommend use of conservative EQS of 3 µg kg−1diet or 230 ng L−1 in water to protect birds from diclofenac secondary poisoning through the food chain.
Spatiotemporal distribution patterns and risk characteristics of heavy metal pollutants in the soil of lead–zinc mines
Authors: Cao Jie , Xie Cheng-yu , Hou Zhi-ru
Published: March 2022

Background

The current soil environmental assessment system is inadequate in terms of the spatiotemporal distribution of heavy metal pollutants. This study employed the numerical simulation technique to predict spatiotemporal distribution patterns of heavy metals within 50 days and to assess the soil risk characteristics of heavy metal pollution near a lead–zinc mine in Hunan Province, China.

Results

The spatiotemporal distribution results indicate that the soil in the sewage plant and mining areas served as the pollution center, exhibiting a ladder-shaped pollution diffusion trend outward. When the pollution migration time reached 20 days, pollutant migration and changes tended to remain stable, high-pollution areas exhibited no drastic changes within 10 m, and low-pollution and medium-pollution areas revealed obvious changes. Moreover, the low-pollution area width approached 2 m, the depth reached 2 m, the medium-pollution area width was close to 2.5 m, and the depth approached 4 m. The percentage of areas containing lead–zinc mine soil with high to extremely high risks reached 82.88%, and extremely high-risk farmland, mining and residential areas accounted for up to 100%, 95% and 90%, respectively, of the total area. Among the pollution sources, high-risk and extremely high-risk areas in regard to heavy metal Cd accounted for 13.51 and 49.55%, respectively, of the total area.

Conclusion

This study provides new insights into the migration patterns and risk characteristics of pollutants to address soil environmental assessment system problems.
High miRNA-378 expression has high diagnostic values for pulmonary tuberculosis and predicts adverse outcomes
Authors: Sun Xiaolu , Liu Kai , Zhao Yan , Zhang Tianhua
Published: March 2022

Background

Pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) is a chronic infectious disease. microRNA (miR)-378 is involved in TB diagnosis. This study explored the effects of miR-378 on TB patients.

Methods

A total of 126 TB patients were selected, including 63 active TB and 63 latent TB, with 62 healthy subjects as controls. Serum miR-378 expression was detected. The diagnostic value of miR-378 in TB was analyzed using the ROC curve. Immune inflammatory factor levels were detected and their correlations with miR-378 expression were analyzed. The drug resistance of active TB patients was recorded after standard treatment. miR-378 expression in drug-resistant TB patients was detected. The effects of miR-378 on adverse outcome incidence were analyzed.

Results

miR-378 expression was highly expressed in TB and the expression was higher in the active group than the latent group. Serum miR-378 expression > 1.490 had high sensitivity and specificity in TB diagnosis. miR-378 expression was correlated with TB clinical indexes. IL-4, IL-6, and IL-1β levels were highly expressed, while IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-12 levels were lowly expressed in TB patients. Serum miR-378 level in the active group was positively correlated with serum IL-4, IL-6, and IL-1β, and negatively correlated with serum IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-12 concentrations. miR-378 expression was downregulated in the TB treated, single (SDR TB) and multi-drug resistance (MDR TB) groups, the miR-378 expression in SDR TB and MDR TB groups was higher than the TB treated group and lower in the SDR TB group than the MDR TB group. High miR-378 expression predicted higher adverse outcome incidence.

Conclusions

High miR-378 expression assisted TB diagnosis and predicted adverse outcomes.
Growth hormone receptor gene influences mitochondrial function and chicken lipid metabolism by AMPK-PGC1α-PPAR signaling pathway
Authors: Yang Minmin , Hu Bowen , Sun Donglei , Zhao Changbin , Wei Haohui , Li Dajian , Liao Zhiying , Zhao Yongxia , Liang Jinping , Shi Meiqing , Luo Qingbin , Nie Qinghua , Zhang Xiquan , Zhang Dexiang , Li Hongmei
Published: March 2022

Background

Adipose tissue is an important endocrine and energy-storage organ in organisms, and it plays a crucial role in the energy-metabolism balance. Previous studies have found that sex-linked dwarf (SLD) chickens generally have excessively high abdominal fat deposition during the growing period, which increases feeding costs. However, the underlying mechanism of this fat deposition during the growth of SLD chickens remains unknown.

Results

The Oil Red O staining showed that the lipid-droplet area of SLD chickens was larger than that of normal chickens in E15 and 14d. Consistently, TG content in the livers of SLD chickens was higher than that of normal chickens in E15 and 14d. Further, lower ΔΨm and lower ATP levels and higher MDA levels were observed in SLD chickens than normal chickens in both E15 and 14d. We also found that overexpression of GHR reduced the expression of genes related to lipid metabolism (AMPK, PGC1α, PPARγ, FAS, C/EBP) and oxidative phosphorylation (CYTB, CYTC, COX1, ATP), as well as reducing ΔΨm and ATP levels and increasing MDA levels. In addition, overexpression of GHR inhibited fat deposition in CPPAs, as measured by Oil Red O staining. On the contrary, knockdown of GHR had the opposite effects in vitro.

Conclusions

In summary, we demonstrate that GHR promotes mitochondrial function and inhibits lipid peroxidation as well as fat deposition in vivo and in vitro. Therefore, GHR is essential for maintaining the stability of lipid metabolism and regulating mitochondrial function in chicken.
Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica Welikade: guideline for phylogenetic analysis of serovars rarely involved in foodborne outbreaks
Authors: Cherchame Emeline , Guillier Laurent , Lailler Renaud , Vignaud Marie-Leone , Jourdan-Da Silva Nathalie , Le Hello Simon , Weill François-Xavier , Cadel-Six Sabrina
Published: March 2022

Background

Salmonella spp. is a major foodborne pathogen with a wide variety of serovars associated with human cases and food sources. Nevertheless, in Europe a panel of ten serovars is responsible for up to 80% of confirmed human cases. Clustering studies by single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) core-genome phylogenetic analysis of outbreaks due to these major serovars are simplified by the availability of many complete genomes in the free access databases. This is not the case for outbreaks due to less common serovars, such as Welikade, for which no reference genomes are available. In this study, we propose a method to solve this problem. We propose to perform a core genome MLST (cgMLST) analysis based on hierarchical clustering using the free-access EnteroBase to select the most suitable genome to use as a reference for SNP phylogenetic analysis. In this study, we applied this protocol to a retrospective analysis of a Salmonella enterica serovar Welikade (S. Welikade) foodborne outbreak that occurred in France in 2016. Finally, we compared the cgMLST and SNP analyses. SNP phylogenetic reconstruction was carried out considering the effect of recombination events identified by the ClonalFrameML tool. The accessory genome was also explored by phage content and virulome analyses.

Results

Our findings revealed high clustering concordance using cgMLST and SNP analyses. Nevertheless, SNP analysis allowed for better assessment of the genetic distance among strains. The results revealed epidemic clones of S. Welikade circulating within the poultry and dairy sectors in France, responsible for sporadic and non-sporadic human cases between 2012 and 2019.

Conclusions

This study increases knowledge on this poorly described serovar and enriches public genome databases with 42 genomes from human and non-human S. Welikade strains, including the isolate collected in 1956 in Sri Lanka, which gave the name to this serovar. This is the first genomic analysis of an outbreak due to S. Welikade described to date.
DNA methylation changes in cord blood and the developmental origins of health and disease – a systematic review and replication study
Authors: Akhabir Loubna , Stringer Randa , Desai Dipika , Mandhane Piush J , Azad Meghan B , Moraes Theo J , Subbarao Padmaja , Turvey Stuart E , Paré Guillaume , Anand Sonia S. ,   for the NutriGen Alliance, Anand Sonia S. , Atkinson Stephanie A. , Azad Meghan B. , Becker Allan B. , Brook Jeffrey , Denburg Judah A. , Desai Dipika , de Souza Russell J. , Gupta Milan , Kobor Michael , Lefebvre Diana L. , Lou Wendy , Mandhane Piushkumar J. , McDonald Sarah , Mente Andrew , Meyre David , Moraes Theo J. , Morrison Katherine , Paré Guillaume , Sears Malcolm R. , Subbarao Padmaja , Teo Koon K. , Turvey Stuart E. , Wilson Julie , Yusuf Salim , Atkinson Stephanie , Wahi Gita , Zulyniak Michael A.
Published: March 2022

Background

Environmental exposuresin uterowhich modify DNA methylation may have a long-lasting impact on health and disease in offspring. We aimed to identify and replicate previously published genomic loci where DNA methylation changes are attributable toin uteroexposures in the NutriGen birth cohort studies Alliance.

Methods

We reviewed the literature to identify differentially methylated sites of newborn DNA which are associated with the following five traits of interest maternal diabetes, pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI), diet during pregnancy, smoking, and gestational age. We then attempted to replicate these published associations in the Canadian Healthy Infant Longitudinal Development (CHILD) and the South Asian birth cohort (START) cord blood epigenome-wide data.

Results

We screened 68 full-text articles and identified a total of 17 cord blood epigenome-wide association studies (EWAS) of the traits of interest. Out of the 290 CpG sites reported, 19 were identified in more than one study; all of them associated with maternal smoking. In CHILD and START EWAS, thousands of sites associated with gestational age were identified and maintained significance after correction for multiple testing. In CHILD, there was differential methylation observed for 8 of the published maternal smoking sites. No other traits tested (i.e., folate levels, gestational diabetes, birthweight) replicated in the CHILD or START cohorts.

Conclusions

Maternal smoking during pregnancy and gestational age are strongly associated with differential methylation in offspring cord blood, as assessed in the EWAS literature and our birth cohorts. There are a limited number of reported methylation sites associated in more than two independent studies related to pregnancy. Additional large studies of diverse populations with fine phenotyping are needed to produce robust epigenome-wide data in order to further elucidate the effect of intrauterine exposures on the infants’ methylome.
Automatic identification and annotation of MYB gene family members in plants
Authors: Pucker Boas
Published: March 2022

Background

MYBs are among the largest transcription factor families in plants. Consequently, members of this family are involved in a plethora of processes including development and specialized metabolism. The MYB families of many plant species were investigated in the last two decades since the first investigation looked at Arabidopsis thaliana. This body of knowledge and characterized sequences provide the basis for the identification, classification, and functional annotation of candidate sequences in new genome and transcriptome assemblies.

Results

A pipeline for the automatic identification and functional annotation of MYBs in a given sequence data set was implemented in Python. MYB candidates are identified, screened for the presence of a MYB domain and other motifs, and finally placed in a phylogenetic context with well characterized sequences. In addition to technical benchmarking based on existing annotation, the transcriptome assembly of Croton tiglium and the annotated genome sequence of Castanea crenata were screened for MYBs. Results of both analyses are presented in this study to illustrate the potential of this application. The analysis of one species takes only a few minutes depending on the number of predicted sequences and the size of the MYB gene family. This pipeline, the required bait sequences, and reference sequences for a classification are freely available on github: https://github.com/bpucker/MYB_annotator.

Conclusions

This automatic annotation of the MYB gene family in novel assemblies makes genome-wide investigations consistent and paves the way for comparative studies in the future. Candidate genes for in-depth analyses are presented based on their orthology to previously characterized sequences which allows the functional annotation of the newly identified MYBs with high confidence. The identification of orthologs can also be harnessed to detect duplication and deletion events.
Does Losartan reduce the severity of COVID-19 in hypertensive patients?
Authors: Mirjalili Mohammadreza , Soodejani Moslem Taheri , Raadabadi Mehdi , Dehghani Ali , Salemi Fateme
Published: March 2022

Background

One of the global problems is to control the coronavirus epidemic, and the role of different medicines is still unknown to policymakers. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of losartan on the mortality rate of COVID-19 in hypertensive patients.

Methods

The research sample of analytical study included 1458 patients presenting to COVID-19 diagnostic centers in Yazd that were examined in the first six months of 2020. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics as well as chi-square, Fisher’s exact test, t test, and logistic regression.

Results

Of 1458 subjects that were studied, 280 were hypertensive of whom 179 tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 PCR. The results showed a lower chance of death by more than 5 times in hypertensive patients who used losartan (P = 0.003). Moreover, regarding the effect of losartan on the prevention of COVID-19 in hypertensive patients, it was found that this medicine played a protective role although this relationship was not statistically significant (P = 0.86).

Conclusions

The results showed that losartan reduced the chance of mortality in hypertensive patients. It is recommended that the effect of losartan and other blood pressure medicines on COVID-19 patients be investigated in larger studies as well as laboratory investigations.
The effects of Pre-hospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS) training program on the on-scene time interval
Authors: Esmaeilzadeh Mohammad Hossein , Rostamian Morteza , Khorasani-Zavareh Davoud , Shirazi Fahimeh Barghi , Mogharab Marzieh
Published: March 2022

Background

Recent studies have shown that reducing pre-hospital time could improve the outcomes of trauma victims. Due to the importance of pre-hospital time management, this study aims to determine the effects of the Pre-hospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS) training program on the on-scene time interval reduction.

Methods

The PHTLS training program was implemented based on global standards for pre-hospital emergency technicians. The research tool was a questionnaire designed by the Ministry of Health and Medical Education in Iran. The mean on-scene time interval was calculated before, after and one month after the intervention in the control (n = 32) and experimental group (n = 32). The data were analyzed using SPSS.

Results

The mean on-scene time interval in the target group (one month after intervention) has been significantly lower than that of the control group. Moreover, the mean and standard deviation from the on-scene time interval in the target group has been reduced from 17.6 ± 5.5 (before intervention) to 12 ± 3.8 min (one month after intervention) which was statistically significant.

Conclusion

The implementation of the PHTLS training program can lead to the reduction of on-scene time interval. Therefore, considering the role of reducing on-scene time intervals on victims’ survival, the integration of the PHTLS training programs with pre-hospital emergency medical service systems seems inevitable.
Hand grenade blast injuries in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo: a case series of 38 patients
Authors: Budema Paul Munguakonkwa , Murhega Romeo Bujiriri , Tshimbombu Tshibambe Nathanael , Toha Georges Kuyigwa , Cikomola Fabrice Gulimwentuga , Mudekereza Paterne Safari , Mubenga Léon-Emmanuel , Balemba Ghislain Maheshe , Badesire Darck Cubaka , Kanmounye Ulrick Sidney
Published: March 2022

Introduction

The armed conflict in the Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of Congo has caused close to 12,000 deaths. One of the most lethal weapons in armed conflicts is the high explosive hand grenade. The study aimed to describe the epidemiology, presentation, and outcomes of hand grenade blast injuries (HGBI) in the Kivu province.

Methods

In this case series, the authors present 2017 to 2020 HGBI admissions at a Congolese trauma center. Measures of central tendency and spread were computed for continuous data. Complication and mortality rates were equally computed. Admission-to-discharge data were disaggregated by the body part injured and by complication status and visualized using time-to-event curves.

Results

Thirty-eight HGBI patients aged 31.4 (range 17–56) years were included in the study. Twenty-six (68.4%) were male and the patients were admitted 1.8 days post-injury on average. The patients were hemodynamically stable at admission; 84.2% received the antitetanic vaccine, 21.1% received broad-spectrum antibiotics, and all were debrided (100.0%). The complication rate was 13.2%, and the most common complication was anemia (7.9%). In addition, the mortality rate was 2.6%. The median admission-to-discharge time was 17.0 (range 4–71) days, and it was prolonged in patients with lower extremity injuries (23.0 days).

Conclusion

HGBIs cause avertable death and disability in the Kivu regions. These data suggest that the burden of HGBIs can be reduced with appropriate preventive and health systems strengthening interventions.
The quality of pre-announcement communication and the accuracy of estimated arrival time in critically ill patients, a prospective observational study
Authors: Maris Michelle , Berben Sivera A. A. , Verhoef Wouter , van Grunsven Pierre , Tan Edward C. T. H.
Published: March 2022

Background

Efficient communication between (helicopter) emergency medical services ((H)EMS) and healthcare professionals in the emergency department (ED) is essential to facilitate appropriate team mobilization and preparation for critically ill patients. A correct estimated time of arrival (ETA) is crucial for patient safety and time-management since all team members have to be present, but needless waiting must be avoided. The aim of this study is to investigate the quality of the pre-announcement and the accuracy of the ETA.

Methods

A prospective observational study was conducted in potentially critically ill/injured patients transported to the ED of a Level I trauma center by the (H)EMS. Research assistants observed time slots prior to arrival at the ED and during the initial assessment, using a stopwatch and an observation form. Information on the pre-announcement (including mechanisms of injury, vital signs, and the ETA) is also collected.

Results

One hundred and ninety-three critically ill/injured patients were included. Information in the pre-announcement was often incomplete; in particular vital signs (86%). Forty percent of the announced critically ill patients were non-critical at arrival in the ED. The observed time of arrival (OTA) for 66% of the patients was later than the provided ETA (median 5:15 min) and 19% of the patients arrived sooner (3:10 min). Team completeness prior to the arrival of the patient was achieved for 66% of the patients.

Conclusions

The quality of the pre-announcement is moderate, sometimes lacking essential information on vital signs. Forty percent of the critically ill patients turned out to be non-critical at the ED. Furthermore, the ETA was regularly inaccurate and team completeness was insufficient. However, none of the above was correlated to the rate of complications, mortality, LOS, ward of admission or discharge location.
Validity and reliability of the Persian version of the Patient readiness to engage in health information technology (PRE-HIT) instrument
Authors: Safdari Reza , Yu Ping , Khenarinezhad Sahar , Ghazanfari Savadkoohi Ehsan , Javanmard Zohreh , Yousefi Ala , Barzegari Saeed
Published: March 2022

Background

The Patient readiness to engage in health information technology (PRE-HIT) is a conceptually and psychometrically validated questionnaire survey tool to measure willingness of patients with chronic conditions to use health information technology (HIT) resources.

Objectives

This study aimed to translate and validate a health information technology readiness instrument, the PRE-HIT instrument, into the Persian language.

Methods

A rigorous process was followed to translate the PRE-HIT instrument into the Persian language. The face and content validity was validated by impact score, content validity index (CVI) and content validity ratio (CVR). The instrument was used to measure readiness of 289 patients with chronic diseases to engage with digital health with a four point Likert scale. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to check the validity of structure. The convergent and discriminant validity, and internal reliability was expressed by average variance extracted (AVE), construct reliability (CR), maximum shared squared variance (MSV), average shared square variance (ASV), and Cronbach's alpha coefficient. Independent samples, t-test and one-way ANOVA were used respectively to compare the impact of sex, education and computer literacy on the performance of all PRE-HIT factors.

Results

Eight factors were extracted: health information needs, computer anxiety, computer/internet experience and expertise, preferred mode of interaction, no news is good news, relationship with doctor, cell phone expertise, and internet privacy concerns. They explained 69% of the total variance and the KMO value was 0.79; Bartlett's test of sphericity was also statistically significant (sig < 0.001). The communality of items was higher than 0.5. An acceptable model fit of the instrument was achieved (CFI = 0.943, TLI = 0.931, IFI = 0.944, GFI = 0.893, RMSEA ≤ 0.06, χ2/df = 1.625, df = 292, P-value ≤ 0.001). The Cronbach's alpha coefficient achieved a satisfactory level of 0.729. The AVE for all factors was higher than 0.50 except for PMI (0.427) and CIEE (0.463) and also the CR for all factors was higher than 0.7, therefore, the convergent validity of the instrument is adequate. The MSV and ASV values for each factor were lower than AVE values; therefore, the divergent validity was acceptable.

Conclusion

The Persian version of the PRE-HIT was empirically proved for its validity to assess the level of readiness of patients to engage with digital health.
Application of a nomogram to radiomics labels in the treatment prediction scheme for lumbar disc herniation
Authors: Yu Gang , Yang Wenlong , Zhang Jingkun , Zhang Qi , Zhou Jian , Hong Yuan , Luo Jiaojiao , Shi Quan , Yang Zhidan , Zhang Kangyu , Tu Hong
Published: March 2022

Objective

To investigate and verify the efficiency and effectiveness of a nomogram based on radiomics labels in predicting the treatment of lumbar disc herniation (LDH).

Methods

By reviewing medical records that were analysed over the past three years, clinical and imaging data of 200 lumbar disc patients at the Affiliated Hospital of Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine were obtained. The collected cases were randomly divided into a training group (n = 140) and a testing group (n = 60) at a ratio of 7:3. Two radiologists with experience in reading orthopaedics images independently segmented the ROIs. The whole intervertebral disc with the most obvious protrusion in the sagittal plane T2WI lumbar MRI as a mask (ROI) is sketched. The LASSO (Least Absolute Shrinkage And Selection Operator) algorithm was used to filter the features after extracting the radiomics features. The multivariate logistic regression model was used to construct a quantitative imaging Rad‑Score for the selected features with nonzero coefficients. The radiomics labels and nomogram were evaluated using the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) and the area under the curve (AUC). The calibration curve was used to evaluate the consistency between the nomogram prediction and the actual treatment plan. The DCA decision curve was used to evaluate the clinical applicability of the nomogram.

Result

Following feature extraction, 11 radiomics features were used to construct the radiomics label for predicting the treatment plan of LDH. A nomogram was then constructed. The AUC was 0.93 (95% CI: 0.90–0.97), with a sensitivity of 89%, a specificity of 91%, a positive predictive value of 92.7%, a negative predictive value of 89.4%, and an accuracy of 91%. The calibration curve showed that there was good consistency between the prediction and the actual observation. The DCA decision curve analysis showed that the nomogram of the imaging group has great potential for clinical application when the risk threshold is between 5 and 72%.

Conclusion

A nomogram based on radiomics labels has good predictive value for the treatment of LDH and can be used as a reference for clinical decision-making.
Regorafenib-induced renal-limited thrombotic microangiopathy: a case report and review of literatures
Authors: Yin Qinghua , Guo Na , Zhou Xueli , Xu Huan , Lei Song , Fu Ping , Zhong Hui
Published: March 2022

Background

Regorafenib belongs to a sub-group of small-molecule multi-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitors(TKIs). In various studies with respect to the side-effect of regorafenib, drug-associated proteinuria standardly qualified to be defined as nephrotic syndrome was rarely reported as well as the relation of regorafenib with the occurrence and development of thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA).

Case presentation

In this case report and literature review, we presented a 62-year-old patient receiving regorafenib for metastatic colon cancer, manifesting abundant proteinuria, in which TMA was also diagnosed through renal biopsy. As far as we were concerned, this was the first reported in terms of regorafenib-induced TMA confirmed by renal biopsy.

Conclusion

This case indicates that regorafenib, a kind of TKIs may result in TMA, which is a rare but life-threatening complication of cancer treatment drug. Insights from this case might help physicians diagnose rare forms of TMA and adjust treatment for patients in a timely manner.