bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Diagnostic capability of different morphological parameters for primary open-angle glaucoma in the Chinese population.
Authors: Li Ruoshi , Wang Xia , Wei Yahui , Fang Yuan , Tian Tian , Kang Lei , Li Mei , Cai Yu , Pan Yingzi
Published: July 2020

Background
To assess the diagnostic capability of novel Bruch’s membrane opening (BMO)-based disc parameters, the BMO-minimum rim width (BMO-MRW) and the BMO-minimum rim area (BMO-MRA) in the Chinese population and compare them to the retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) from optical coherence tomography (OCT) and the rim area (RA) from the Heidelberg retinal tomograph-III (HRT-III).
Methods
In total, 200 eyes of 77 healthy and 123 primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) subjects were included in this cross-sectional study. All participants underwent the visual field test and structural measurements by OCT and HRT-III. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUCs) of different structural parameters were calculated to assess their diagnostic power and compared using the DeLong test.
Results
In populations with different characteristics, the BMO-MRW and BMO-MRA had better diagnostic power than the RA. In discriminating between all POAG subjects and healthy controls and between early-stage patients and controls, the global BMO-MRW had comparable AUCs with the RNFL, but the BMO-MRA had lower AUCs than the RNFL. In healthy subjects with macrodiscs, both the global and sectoral BMO-MRW were thinner than those in healthy subjects with normal disc size. The AUCs of BMO-MRA, BMO-MRW and RNFL in subjects with macrodiscs were comparable. Additionally, in the myopic population, the BMO-MRA and BMO-MRW had comparable AUCs with the RNFL.
Conclusions
The BMO-MRW had comparable diagnostic power with the RNFL, and compared with BMO-MRW, the BMO-MRA might have advantages in certain populations, such as macrodiscs. All OCT-derived parameters exceeded the RA in diagnostic capability.
Post-transplant monitoring of lymphocyte counts predict the occurrence of CMV infection in early phase of kidney transplantation
Authors: Feng Sujuan , Yang Jing , Zhang Xiaodong
Published: July 2020

Objectives The aim of this study was to assess whether monitoring of the number of lymphocytes in peripheral blood was helpful for evaluating the risk of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection after kidney transplantation. Methods The total numbers of lymphocyte in peripheral blood were measured at baseline and posttransplant months 1, 3 and 6. Risk factors for DNAemia in KTRs were analyzed using univariate logistic regression analyses. Areas under receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were applied to assess the accuracy of lymphocyte counts for predicting CMV DNAemia. Results After follow-up 6 months, CMV replication was detected in 12 (31.6%) kidney transplant recipients (KTRs). The total lymphocyte counts were significantly decreased in KTRs with CMV DNAemia in 1, 3 and 6 months. There was a negative correlation between CMV copies and the lymphocyte counts in 1, 3 and 6 months post-transplantation, and the decrease of lymphocyte counts in the 6 months post-transplantation was the risk factor of CMV DNAemia in the KTR. Patients with lymphocyte counts 1.085×109 cells/L had higher cumulative incidence of CMV infection.Conclusions The lymphocyte counts post kidney transplantation may be used as a simple and effective indicator for monitoring the CMV infection status in KTR and for predicting the risk of CMV DNAemia.
Preserving Professional Identities, Behaviors, and Values in Digital Professionalism: A Scoping Review
Authors: Guraya Shaista Salman , Guraya Salman Yousuf , Yusoff Muhammad Saiful Bahri
Published: July 2020

Background Despite a rapid rise of use of social media in medical disciplines, uncertainty prevails among healthcare professionals for providing medical content on social media. There are also growing concerns about unprofessional behaviors and blurring of professional identities that are undermining digital professionalism. This review tapped the literature to determine the impact of social media on medical professionalism and how can professional identities and values be maintained in digital era. Methods We searched the databases of PubMed, ProQuest, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, and EBSCO host using (professionalism AND (professionalism OR (professional identity) OR (professional behaviors) OR (professional values) OR (professional ethics))) AND ((social media) AND ((social media) OR (social networking sites) OR Twitter OR facebook)) AND (health professionals). The research questions were based on participants (health professionals), concept (professionalism), and context (social media, digital world). We screened initial yield of titles using pre-determined inclusion and exclusion criteria and selected a group of articles for qualitative analysis. We used the Biblioshiny® software package for generation of popular concepts as clustered keywords. Results Our search yielded 44 articles with four leading themes; marked rise in use of social media by healthcare professionals and students, negative impact of social media on digital professionalism, blurring of medical professional values, behaviors, and identity in digital era, limited evidence for teaching and assessing digital professionalism. A high occurrence of violation of patient privacy and professional integrity and cyberbullying is reported. There are no existing guidelines and policies for digital professionalism that can safeguard healthcare professionals, students and patients. Conclusion Our scoping review reports a rapid rise of unprofessional behaviors on social media among healthcare professionals. The boundaries between personal and professional practices are mystified in digital professionalism. These findings call for potential educational ramifications to resurrect professional virtues, behaviors and identities of healthcare professionals and students.
Radiosensitization of breast cancer cells using AS1411 aptamer-conjugated gold nanoparticles
Authors: Mehrnia Somayeh Sadat , Hashemi Bijan , Mowla Seyed Javad , Nikkhah Maryam , Arbabi Azim
Published: July 2020

Background: Gold nanoparticles (GNPs) have used to sensitize cancer cells and enhance the absorbed dose delivered to such cells. Active targeting can provide specific effect and higher uptake of the GNPs in the tumor cells, while having small effect on healthy cells. The aim of this study was to assess possible radiosensitiazation effect of conjugation of the GNPs with AS1411 aptamer (AS1411/GNPs) on cancer cells treated with 4 MeV electron beams.Materials and Methods: Cytotoxicity studies of the GNPs and AS1411/GNPs were carried out with MTT and MTS assay in different cancer cell lines of MCF-7, MDA-MB-231 and mammosphere of MCF-7 cells. Atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) confirmed the cellular uptake of the gold particles. Radiosensitizing effect of the GNPs and AS1411/GNPs on the cancer cells was assessed by clonogenic assay.Result: AS1411 aptamer increased the Au uptake in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells. Clonogenic survival data revealed that AS1411/GNPs at 12.5 mg/L could result in radiosensitization of the breast cancer cells and lead to a sensitizer enhancement ratio (SER) of 1.35 and 1.66 and 1.91 for MCf-7, MDA-MB-231 and mammosphere cells.Conclusion: Gold nanoparticles delivery to the cancer cells was enhanced by AS1411 aptamer and led to enhanced radiation induced cancer cells death. The combination of our clonogenic assay and Au cell uptake results suggested that AS1411 aptamer has enhanced the radiation-induced cell death by increasing Au uptake. This enhanced sensitization contributed to cancer stem cell-like cells to 4 MeV electron beams. This is particularly important for future preclinical testing to open a new insight for the treatment of cancers.
A Malignant Lymphoma Growing Inside a Cardiac Mixoma: A Case Report
Authors: Pirola Sergio , Mastroiacovo Giorgio , Fiori Stefano , Maffini Fausto , Mostardini Giulia , Polvani Gianluca
Published: July 2020

BackgroundLymphomas arising in cardiac myxomas represent a particularly rare pathology, with only few cases reported in the literature.Case presentation:We report a completely exeresis of malignant lymphoma arising in a cardiac myxoma in a 44 years-old female patient. The myxoma presented like a floating mass within the left atrium with a maximum diameter of 3.5 cm. The clinical post-operative period was uneventful and the patient was dismissed on sixth post-operative day.ConclusionsThis case reinforces the concept of a radical exeresis of cardiac neoplasms.
Utility of silhouette showcards to assess adiposity in three countries across the epidemiological transition
Authors: Reese Tyler , Bovet Pascal , Choo-Kang Candice , Bedu-Addo Kweku , Forrester Terrence , Gilbert Jack , Goedecke Julia , Lambert Estelle , Layden Brian , Micklesfield Lisa , Plange-Rhule Jacob , Rae Dale , Viswanathan Bharathi , Luke Amy , Dugas Lara
Published: July 2020

Background: The Pulvers’ silhouette showcards provide a non-invasive, easy-to-use, and possibly cross-culturally acceptable way of assessing an individual’s perception of their body size. This study examined, in three different populations: 1) the relationship between silhouettes and body mass index (BMI), 2) the predictive performance of silhouettes to predict dichotomous adiposity categories, and 3) whether silhouette ranking performed similarly in predicting BMI, waist circumference (WC), and waist-to-height ratio (WHR). Methods: This study included 751 participants of African-origin from the United States of America (USA), the Republic of Seychelles, and Ghana, from the ongoing cohort Modeling the Epidemiological Transition Study. We assessed the mean BMI for each silhouette rank by country and sex and performed a least-squares linear regression for the silhouette’s performance by country and sex. The performance of the silhouettes to predict overweight and obesity (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2), and obesity alone (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2) was examined through a receiver operator curve (ROC) analysis with corresponding sensitivities and specificities. Finally, a ROC analysis area under the curve (AUC) was also performed for the detection of elevated waist circumference (men ≥ 94 cm; women ≥ 80 cm) and waist-to-height ratio (> 0.5) by country and sex.Results: Mean measured BMI (kg/m2) in men/women differed largely across countries: 28.9/35.8 in the USA, 28.3/30.5 in Seychelles, and 23.9/28.5 in Ghana. The slope of the relation between silhouette ranking and BMI (i.e., linear regression coefficient and 95% confidence intervals) was similar between sexes of the same country but differed between countries: 3.65 [95% CI: 3.34-3.97 BMI units/silhouette unit] in the USA, 3.23 [2.93-3.74] in Seychelles, and 1.99 [1.72-2.26] in Ghana. Different silhouette cut-offs predicted dichotomous adiposity categories differently in the three countries. For example, a silhouette ≥ 5 had sensitivity/specificity of 77.3%/90.6% to predict BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2 in the USA, but 77.8%/85.9% in Seychelles and 84.9%/71.4% in Ghana. Finally, silhouettes predicted BMI, WC, and WHR similarly, within each country and sex, based on Spearman correlations coefficients (continuous scale) and c-statistic (dichotomous classification).Conclusion: Our data suggest that Pulvers’ silhouette showcards can be a useful tool to objectively predict different adiposity measures in different populations when direct measurement cannot be performed. However, population-specific differences in the slopes of the associations, which possibly partly reflect differences in perceptions of one’s body size according to country adiposity prevalence, stress the need to calibrate silhouette showcards when using them as a survey tool.
Developmental Trends in Early Childhood and Their Predictors from an Indian Birth Cohort
Authors: Koshy Beena , Sriniva Manikandan , Bose Anuradha , John Sushil Mathew , Mohan Venkata Raghava , Roshan Reeba , Ramanujam Karthikeyen , Kang Gagandeep
Published: July 2020

Background: Early childhood developmental pattern analyses not only project future cognition potential, but also identify potential risks for possible intervention. There is a paucity of literature evaluating developmental trends in the low and middle income country settings.Methods: Trends of early childhood development at 6, 15, 24 and 36 months of age and their predictors were explored in a longitudinal community-based birth cohort study in an urban slum in Vellore, South India. Development was assessed using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development-III (BSID-III).Results: The birth cohort enrolled 251 children with a 94%, 91% and 87% follow-up at 6, 24 and 36 months respectively. Child development domains of cognition, language, motor and social skills showed a significant decline in scores between 6 and 36 months of age. Cognition change was maximum augmented by higher socio-economic status (SES) and nurturing home environment while stunting had the maximum negative impact. Higher maternal cognition, higher SES, and caregiver responsivity positively contributed to language change over time, while higher maternal depression contributed negatively. An enriching home environment, growth parameters and blood iron status had high association with change in motor skills.Conclusions: A triple intervention plan to enhance home environment and nurturance, maternal education and well-being, and early childhood nutrition supplementation might prevent child developmental decline in high risk settings.
Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia in Patients with SARS-CoV-2–Associated Acute Respiratory Failure Requiring Mechanical Ventilation: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Luyt Charles-Edouard , Sahnoun Tarek , Gautier Melchior , Vidal Pauline , Burrel Sonia , Chambrun Marc Pineton de , Chommeloux Juliette , Desnos Cyrielle , Arzoine Jeremy , Nieszkowska Ania , Bréchot Nicolas , Schmidt Matthieu , Hekimian Guillaume , Boutolleau David , Robert Jérôme , Combes Alain , Chastre Jean
Published: July 2020

Background. Data on incidence, clinical presentation and outcomes of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in patients with severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia requiring mechanical ventilation (MV) are limited.Methods. Case series of patients with COVID-19 pneumonia admitted to a single ICU in France. All consecutive patients requiring MV with RT-PCR–confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection between March 12th and April 24th, 2020 were included. Frequency, clinical characteristics, responsible pathogens and outcomes of VAP were assessed, and compared to an historical cohort of patients with severe influenza-associated pneumonia requiring MV admitted to the same ICU during the preceding three winter seasons.Results: Among 54 consecutive patients with Covid-19–associated acute respiratory failure requiring MV included (median (IQR) age 48 (42-58) years; 74% male; 93% requiring venovenous-extracorporeal membrane oxygenation), 46 (85%) developed VAP (median (IQR) MV duration before the first episode, 11 (8-16) days). VAP-causative pathogens were predominantly Enterobacteriaceae (72%), particularly inducible AmpC-cephalosporinase producers (41%), followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (35%). VAP recurred in 46 (85%) patients and 17 (31%) died. Most recurrences were relapses (ie, infection with the same pathogen), with a high percentage occurring on adequate antimicrobial treatment. Despite a high P. aeruginosa-VAP rate in patients with influenza-associated ARDS, the pulmonary infection recurrence rate was significantly lower than in Covid-19 patients. Overall mortality was similar for the two groups.Conclusions: Patients with severe Covid-19–associated acute respiratory failure requiring MV had a very high late-onset VAP rate. Inducible AmpC-cephalosporinase–producing Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa frequently caused VAP, with multiple recurrences and difficulties eradicating the pathogen from the lung.
Anticancer Effects of miR-124 Delivered by BM-MSC Derived Exosomes on Cell Proliferation, Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition, and Chemotherapy Sensitivity of Pancreatic Cancer Cells
Authors: Xu Yan , Wei Yuhua , Liu Nanbin , Zhou Deren , Lin Rui , Wang Xiuyan , Shi Baomin
Published: July 2020

Objective: This study aims to explore the roles of miR-124 in pancreatic tumor and potential vehicles. Methods: The expression of miR-124 and EZH2 was determined in both pancreatic cancer tissues and cell lines. miR-124 or EZH2 was overexpressed in AsPC-1 and PANC1 cells. Then, the effects on cell viability. apoptosis, invasion, migration and epithelial mesenchymal transition were evaluated. Afterwards, the roles of miR-124 on the expression and function of EZH2 in pancreatic tumors were determined by dual luciferase reporter assay. Subsequently, miR-124 was transfected to bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (BM-MSCs), and the BM-MSCs derived exosomes were isolated and co-cultured with AsPC-1 and PANC1 cells, or injected into pancreatic cancer tumor-bearing mice. Results: The miR-124 expression levels decreased in pancreatic adenocarcinoma tissues and cancer cell lines AsPC-1, PANC1, BxPC-3 and SW1990. Furthermore, the elevated expression of miR-124 in AsPC-1 and PANC1 via miR-124 mimic transfection-induced apoptosis, metastasis and epithelial mesenchymal transition was suppressed, and the EZH2 overexpression partly reversed the protective effects of miR-124 against pancreatic tumors. In addition, the expression of miR-124 was detected in exosomes extracted from miR-124-transfected BM-MSCs, and these exosomes delivered miR-124 into pancreatic cancer cells, and presented the anti-tumor effects in vitro and in vivo. Conclusion: MiR-124-carried BM-MSC-derived exosomes have potential applications for the treatment of pancreatic tumors.
The Predictive Value of D-Dimer and DPR for in-Hospital Mortality in Patients with COVID-19
Authors: Deng Ping-ji , Xie Ming-shui , Ke Zun-qiong , Qiao Bin , Ying Bin-wu , Xi Xue-yan , Yuan Leyong
Published: July 2020

Background: The aim of this study was to explore the predictive value of D-dimer and D-dimer to platelet ratio (DPR) on admission in COVID-19 patients. Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study of confirmed COVID-19 patients that were admitted to the Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University from January 30, 2020 to February 15, 2020. The baseline clinical and laboratory parameters were collected.Results: 264 COVID-19 patients were enrolled in this study, of whom 52 died during hospitalization and 212 were discharged from the hospital. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis demonstrated that the area under curve (AUC) of D-dimer was 0.818 with a sensitivity of 75.0% and a specificity of 78.3%, and the AUC of DPR was 0.847 with a sensitivity of 84.6% and a specificity of 75.5% for the prediction of in-hospital mortality on admission. Patients with higher D-dimer or DPR levels were associated with higher mortality risk, compared to those who lower levels. The multivariable Cox regression indicated that in-hospital mortality was associated with age (hazard ratio (HR) 1.034, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.011-1.058, P=0.003), gender (HR 0.553, 95% CI 0.313-0.976; P=0.041), coronary heart disease (HR 2.315, 95% CI 1.276-4.200; P=0.006), elevated D-dimer (HR 6.111, 95% CI 3.095-12.068; P<0.001), and elevated DPR (HR 7.158, 95% CI 3.633-14.101; P<0.001). Conclusions: DPR levels seem to be slightly better at predicting mortality than D-dimer, and elevated D-dimer and DPR can both be considered independent risk factors of the death in COVID-19 patients.
Nomogram for predicting survival in advanced gastric cancer after neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radical surgery
Authors: Chen Yonghe , Liu Dan , Xiao Jian , Xiang Jun , Liu Aihong , Chen Shi , Liu Junjie , Hu Xiansheng , Peng Junsheng
Published: July 2020

BACKGROUND
Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) with subsequent radical surgery has become a popular treatment modality for advanced gastric cancer (AGC) worldwide. However, the survival benefit is still controversial, and prognostic factors remain undetermined.
AIM
To identify clinical parameters that are associated with the survival of AGC patients after NAC and radical surgery and to establish a nomogram integrating multiple factors to predict survival.
METHODS
We reviewed the medical profiles of 215 AGC patients who received NAC and radical resection, and clinical parameters concerning NAC, surgery, pathological findings, and adjuvant chemotherapy were analyzed using a Cox regression model to determine their impact on survival. Based on these factors, a nomogram was developed and validated.
RESULTS
The overall 1-year and 3-year survival rates were 85.8% and 55.6%, respectively. Younger age (< 60 years old), increased examined lymph nodes (exLNs), successful R0 resection, achievement of pathological complete response (pCR), and acceptance of adjuvant chemotherapy were positive predictors of survival. The concordance statistic of the established nomogram was 0.785. The model showed an ideal calibration following internal bootstrap validation.
CONCLUSION
A nomogram predicting survival after NAC and surgery was established. Since this nomogram exhibited satisfactory and stable predictive power, it can be inferred that this it is a practical tool for predicting AGC patient survival after NAC and radical surgery.
Outcomes and safety of concomitant topiramate or metformin for antipsychotics-induced obesity: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Wang Congjie , Shi Wenjie , Xu Jianyang , Huang Chengbing , Zhu Jiannan
Published: July 2020

BackgroundAlthough some data exist describing the use of topiramate in patients with antipsychotic-induced obesity, direct comparision with metformin is limited. The purpose of this study was to explore the effectiveness and safety of concomitant topiramate on antipsychotic-induced obesity and compare with metformin.Methods62 stabilized outpatients with antipsychotic-induced obesity were randomized to 16-week treatment group of topiramate or metformin. The patients’ weight, body mass index (BMI), waist-hip ratio and side effects were assessed and compared. Intention-to-treat and completer analyses were performed. Meanwhile, Covariance analysis was conducted to control the impact of the significant difference in BMI when comparison between the two groups.ResultsTwo groups had comparable characteristics though the difference in baseline BMI was significant. Intention-to-treat analyses: The random missing values were replaced using the last observation carried forward method when intention-to-treat analyses. Compared with the baseline, the weight, BMI and waist-hip ratio with topiramate markedly decreased at each follow-up, whereas, only waist-hip ratio with metformin significantly decreased at 4-week. Compared with metformin,only weight and BMI with topiramate significantly decreased at 4-week, and all weight, BMI and waist-hip ratio at week 8–16 also remarkably declined. Completer analyses: Compared with the baseline, the weight, BMI and waist-hip ratio with topiramate at week 4–16 markedly decreased, whereas, only waist-hip ratio with metformin significantly decreased at 4-week. Compared with metformin, all BMI with topiramate markedly decreased at week 4–16, moreover weigh and waist-hip ratio also notably lowered at 8-week. No significant differences in adverse events were found between the two groups.ConclusionsTopiramate, similar to metformin in reducing obesity as previously reported, also significantly reduced body weight, BMI and waist-hip ratio in patients with antipsychotic-induced obesity and demonstrated well tolerance in psychiatric patients.The trial was registered at http://www.chictr.org.cn, and the number was ChiCTR-IPR-17013122.
Controlled Fracture of Medial Wall Versus Structural Autograft With Bulk Femoral Head to Increase Cup Coverage by Host Bone for Total Hip Arthroplasty in Osteoarthritis Secondary to Developmental Dysplasia of Hip: a Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Mou Ping , Liao Kai , Chen Hui-Lin , Yang Jing
Published: July 2020

Background: Many methods have been proposed to increase cup coverage by host bone during primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) in hip osteoarthritis secondary to developmental dysplasia of hip (DDH). However, there was no study comparing results of controlled fracture of medial wall with structural autograft with bulk femoral head. Methods: 67 hips classified as Crowe II/III were retrospectively included in this cohort study, which consisted of 33 controlled fracture (group A) and 34 structural autograft (group B). The Harris Hip Scores (HHS) was recorded. The radiological assessments were analyzed. Also, complications are assessed. The paired sample t test was used for data analysis before and after operation, while independent sample T test was used for the comparison between the two groups.Results: All patients were reconstructed acetabulum at anatomical location. HHS increased greatly for both groups (P=0.18). No statistic difference was observed for two groups in postoperative leg-length discrepancy ((0.51±0.29) cm for group A and (0.46±0.39) cm for group B, P=0.64 ), postoperative height of hip center ((2.25±0.42) cm for group A and (2.09±0.31) cm for group B, P=0.13), inclination of cup ((39±4)°for group A and (38±3)°for group B, P=0.65 ). The rate of cup coverage for group B ((94±2)% ) was better than group A ((91±5)%), ( P=.009). Rate of cup protrusio was (48±4)% for group A. For both two groups, no complications were observed at the latest follow-up. Conclusion: Controlled fracture of medial wall to increase cup coverage by host bone at anatomical location can act as an alternative technique for DDH Crowe II/III with advantage of shorter operation time and less technically demanding.
Impact of Experiencing Specific Side-Effects on Contraceptive Switching and Discontinuation in Uganda: Results from a Longitudinal PMA Survey
Authors: Zimmerman Linnea A , Sarnak Dana , Karp Celia , Wood Shannon , Ahmed Saifuddin , Makumbi Fredrick , Kibira Simon
Published: July 2020

There is substantial evidence that contraceptive side effects are a major deterrent to consistent use of contraception but few studies in low- or middle-income countries explore the role that specific side-effects, rather than the general category of “side-effects and health concerns”, have on contraceptive dynamics. This study used population-based, longitudinal data to explore the effect that specific side-effects had on contraceptive continuation, discontinuation, and switching in Uganda. Methods Data for this study come from two rounds of PMA2020 data collection in Uganda PMA2020 Uganda’s sixth cross-sectional survey and a follow-up survey conducted one year later. The main outcomes of interest were discontinuation and switching among modern users of hormonal contraceptive methods at baseline (n=550). Multivariable multinomial logistic regressions assessed the association of reporting experiencing specific side effects (more bleeding, less bleeding, irregular bleeding, changes to sexual experience, and physical discomfort) with discontinuation and switching one year later, adjusting for socio-demographic characteristics, type of method, and length of use.Results One-third of hormonal contraceptive users reported experiencing side-effects at baseline. Reporting more bleeding increased the risk of discontinuation by 2.39 times (95% CI: 0.01-4.72). Experiencing irregular bleeding decreased the risk of switching by a factor of 0.40 (95% CI: 0.17-0.93). Changes to sexual experience or physical discomfort were both associated with increased relative risk of switching; reporting a change to sexual experience increased the relative risk of switching by a factor of 3.10 (95% CI : 0.97-9.10) and physical discomfort increased the relative risk by a factor of 1.75 (95% CI: 0.95-3.24). Wealth was significantly negatively associated with discontinuation while education was marginally significantly and positively associated with switching. Conclusions Greater attention should be paid to understanding the unique contributions of side effects to contraceptive behavior using population-based data. Not all side effects are associated with contraceptive discontinuation and switching, despite the experience of side effects being common. The experience of physical discomfort and changes to sexual experience, largely ignored in other research, were shown to affect use. Providing greater individualized care that includes information about common side effects and how they may impact daily life is necessary.
Pre-HAART CD4+ T-Lymphocytes as Biomarkers of Post-HAART Immune Recovery in HIV-TB Co-Infected Children
Authors: Ghebremichael Musie , Gopalakrishnan Vivek , Bose Eliezer , Nair Usha , Cheng Yuwei
Published: July 2020

Background
Infection with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) dramatically increases the risk of developing active tuberculosis (TB). Several studies have indicated that co-infection with TB increases the risk of HIV progression and death. Sub-Saharan Africa bears the brunt of these dual epidemics, with about 2.4 million HIV-infected people living with TB. The main objective of our study was to assess whether the pre-HAART CD4 + T-lymphocyte counts and percentages could serve as biomarkers for post-HAART treatment immune-recovery in HIV-positive children with and without TB co-infection.
Methods
The data analyzed in this retrospective study were collected from a cohort of 305 HIV-infected children being treated with HAART. A Lehmann family of ROC curves were used to assess the diagnostic performance of pre- HAART treatment CD4 + T-lymphocyte count and percentage as biomarkers for post-HAART immune recovery. The Kaplan–Meier estimator was used to compare differences in post-HAART recovery times between patients with and without TB co-infection.
Results
We found that the diagnostic performance of both pre-HARRT treatment CD4 + T-lymphocyte count and percentage was comparable and achieved accuracies as high as 74%. Furthermore, the predictive capability of pre-HAART CD4 + T-lymphocyte count and percentage were slightly better in TB-negative patients. Our analyses also indicate that TB-negative patients have a shorter recovery time compared to the TB-positive patients.
Conclusions
These findings suggest that the detection and treatment of TB is essential for the effectiveness of HAART in HIV-infected pediatric patients.
Improving case detection of tuberculosis in hospitalised Kenyan children– employing the Behaviour Change Wheel to aid intervention design and implementation
Authors: Oliwa Jacquie Narotso , Nzinga Jacinta , Masini Enos , Hensbroek Michaël Boele van , Jones Caroline , English Mike , Hoog Anja van't
Published: July 2020

Background The true burden of tuberculosis in children remains unknown, but approximately 65% go undetected each year. Guidelines for tuberculosis clinical decision-making are in place in Kenya and the National Tuberculosis programme conducts several trainings on them yearly. By 2018, there were 183 Xpert® machines in Kenyan public hospitals. Despite these efforts, diagnostic tests are underused and there is observed under detection of tuberculosis in children. We describe the process of designing a contextually appropriate, theory-informed intervention to improve case detection of TB in children and implementation guided by the Behaviour Change Wheel.
Molecular Characterization and Serodiagnostic Potential of Two Serpin Proteins in Psoroptes Ovis
Authors: Gu Xiaobin , Chen Yuhang , Zhang Chongyang , Xie Yue , Shen Nengxing , Wang Ce , Zhou Xuan , Yang Guangyou , He Ran , Peng Xuerong , Yang Deying , He Zhi , Zhong Zhijun
Published: July 2020

Background: Psoroptes ovis a common ectoparasite of wild and domestic animals, leads to cutaneous inflammation, extreme pruritus, scaly lesions, and causes an economically devastating loss of animal husbandry and animal welfare issues. Serine proteinase inhibitor (Serpin) is present in almost all organisms that are involved in host-pathogen interactions, inflammatory responses, and reproductive development, etc. However, the research on P. ovis serpins is still limited.Methods: In this study, two serpins of P. ovis (PsoSP1 and PsoSP2) were cloned, and the molecular characterization was analyzed by bioinformatics. The transcriptional profiles and tissue localization of PsoSP1 and PsoSP2 in P. ovis were investigated by quantitative real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry, respectively. The potential function of recombinant PsoSP1 and PsoSP2 (rPsoSP1 and rPsoSP2) in the serodiagnosis of P. ovis infestation in rabbits were evaluated by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (iELISA). Results: Both of the 523 residue PsoSP1 and the 240 residue PsoSP2 proteins contained typical serpin domains and signatures. Both PsoSP1 and PsoSP2 expressed throughout the life cycle, more specifically, significantly higher expression in female mites than the larva, nymph, and male mites (p < 0.001). The native PsoSP1 and PsoSP2 proteins localized in ovary and mouthpart of adult female mites, respectively. Compared to rPsoSP2, the rPsoSP1 displayed better diagnostic efficiency with higher values of sensitivity, specificity and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) than rPsoSP1 by iELISA (rPsoSP1 - rPsoSP2: 96.0% - 90.0%; 90.91% - 78.18%; 0.988 - 0.964, respectively). Moreover, the rPsoSP1 showed seropositive in 80% rabbits as early as the 2nd week post-infestation (p.i.), prior to visible clinical signs and microscopy-positive of skin scrapings. Conclusions: These results suggested that these two serpins may play essential roles in reproductive development, blood-feeding, and pathogenicity of P. ovis. Compared to PsoSP2, PsoSP1 appeared as a potential antigen for serodiagnosis of P. ovis infestation in rabbits, especially at the early stage of infestation.
Cardiac metastases from primary myxoid liposarcoma of the thigh: A case report
Authors: Ikuta Kunihiro , Sakai Tomohisa , Koike Hiroshi , Okada Tohru , Imagama Siro , Nishida Yoshihiro
Published: July 2020

Background: Myxoid liposarcoma is well known to have an unusual proclivity for extrapulmonary metastasis. However, cardiac metastasis of myxoid liposarcoma is very rare, even in patients with advanced disease. Case presentation: A 40-year-old man was diagnosed with myxoid liposarcoma of the right thigh and treated with wide resection. Two years after the surgery, a low-density area in the left ventricle was found on follow-up chest computed tomography, which was suspected of being metastatic disease. He underwent surgical treatment, and the lesion was pathologically confirmed as metastasis of myxoid liposarcoma. Fifteen months later, he complained of slight dyspnea and developed metastatic disease in the right atrium. He was treated with surgical excision for the disease, followed by radiotherapy. Although there has been no recurrence in the heart since the second cardiac metastasectomy, multiple metastases have occurred in the abdominal cavity, lungs, and muscles. He finally died of the disease at two years after the second cardiac metastasectomy. Conclusion: We experienced a case of primary myxoid liposarcoma in the thigh, accompanied by ectopic and metachronous cardiac metastases. Despite its dismal prognosis, surgical excision occasionally offers a chance to prolong survival in patients with no evidence of widespread metastases.
Die politische Neutralität der Schule
Authors: Engi Lorenz
Published: July 2020

Die Rechtsordnungen vieler Kantone sehen vor, dass die öffentliche Schule politisch neutral sei. Die genaue Tragweite dieses Gebots ist wenig klar. Der Beitrag unterbreitet einen Vorschlag zur politischen Neutralität von Lehrpersonen. Demnach dürfen diese unter bestimmten Bedingungen politische Meinungen äussern. Strengere Massstäbe sind bei Lehrmitteln anzulegen.
Die Vorratsdatenspeicherung auf dem Prüfstand
Authors: Matter Livia
Published: July 2020

Die seit dem 1. Januar 2002 gesetzlich vorgesehene Vorratsdatenspeicherung von Randdaten im Bereich des Fernmeldeverkehrs wurde vom Bundesgericht am 2. März 2018 bestätigt. Nun soll der EGMR darüber befinden. Unter Berücksichtigung der Rechtsprechung desselben sowie des EuGH darf ein spannendes Urteil erwartet werden. Zu beobachten ist nämlich, dass die Bedeutung der Vorratsdatenspeicherung von den Gerichten unterschiedlich bewertet wird. Dies ist wohl nicht zuletzt darauf zurückzuführen, dass es sich bei dieser Thematik letztlich um eine Abwägung zwischen dem Schutz der Grundrechte der betroffenen Personen und dem Bedürfnis nach Sicherheit handelt.
Recension: New Suits – Appetite for Disruption in the Legal World
Authors: Kraus Daniel
Published: July 2020

New Suits – Appetite for Disruption in the Legal World, édité par Michele DeStefa-no et Guenther Dobrauz est un ouvrage collectif sur l’avenir des professions du droit dans un monde digital. Les quelques 47 auteurs proviennent toutes et tous d’horizons juridiques spécifiques et nous démontrent que, dans chacun de leurs do-maines, les mutations à venir sont à nos portes et requièrent un véritable change-ment d’attitude de la profession.
Le nouveau droit suisse de la prescription
Authors: Carron Blaise
Published: July 2020

Cette contribution offre à la fois une présentation du nouveau droit suisse de la prescription entrant en vigueur le 1er janvier 2020, et une analyse critique de celui-ci au regard des buts poursuivis lors de la révision. La première section de l’article identifie les objectifs visés par les auteurs du projet législatif et par le parlement (I.). La deuxième section décrit les principaux aspects de la révision dans la partie géné-rale du Code des obligations, en particulier les nouveautés concernant la fixation (durée et point de départ) des délais, les causes de prolongation et le droit transi-toire (II.). La troisième et dernière section propose une analyse critique du texte révisé à l’aune des objectifs identifiés (III.).
Opfer zweiter Klasse: Opfer staatlicher Gewalt und die Beschwerde in Strafsachen
Authors: Oehen Moritz
Published: July 2020

Privatkläger sind zur Beschwerde in Strafsachen legitimiert, sofern sie zivilrechtliche Forderungen geltend machen. Personen, die Forderungen gegen das Gemeinwesen geltend machen, sind hingegen nicht legitimiert. Das Bundesgericht hält an dieser Rechtsprechung aus verschiedenen Gründen im Grundsatz fest.
The Use of English Before Swiss Courts: The Current Debate
Authors: Raess Lorenz
Published: July 2020

In the aftermath of the Brexit referendum in 2016 and the withdrawal of the UK from the EU on 31 January 2020, several jurisdictions established so-called «international commercial courts», at which English is the standard language. Thus far, there have been few such initiatives in Switzerland. However, according to the ongoing revisions to both the Federal Act on International Private Law and the Swiss Civil Procedure Code, it is intended to allow the use of English in certain situations. Unsurprisingly, this has given rise to a wideranging debate in multilingual Switzerland. The present contribution outlines this discussion and proposes several practical solutions on how to deal with this delicate political issue.
Corona-Prävention im Straf- und Massnahmenvollzug
Authors: Urwyler Thierry , Noll Thomas , Rossegger Astrid
Published: July 2020

Die Corona-Pandemie erfordert diverse Anpassungen im Justizvollzug. Dabei sind teilweise neue, unbekannte Wege einzuschlagen. Die Autoren gehen im nachfolgenden Beitrag den Fragen nach, ob temporäre Einschränkungen der Therapiefrequenz juristisch zulässig sind und ob der anzustrebenden Reduktion des Insassenbestands mit einer extensiven Auslegung von Art. 86 Abs. 4 StGB begegnet werden könnte. Während die erste Frage bei strikter Beachtung der Verhältnismässigkeit zu bejahen ist, wird die systematische Anwendung von Art. 86 Abs. 4 StGB als Lösungsoption verworfen.
«X and X v Belgium»: the need for EU legislation on humanitarian visa
Authors: Zoeteweij-Turhan Margarite Helena , Romano Andrea
Published: July 2020

This article examines the recent judgment of the Court of Justice of the European Union in the case of X and X v. Belgium (C-638/16 PPU). The issue at stake concerns an application for a visa with limited territorial validity (LTV) requested by a Syrian family at the Belgian embassy in Beirut in order to apply for asylum in Belgium. The article discusses the different interpretations given by the Advocate General and the Court of Justice and agrees with the AG that the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights leaves a limited margin of discretion to Member Sates and imposes a positive obligation to issue a LTV Visa in cases like X and X. It also concludes that the judgment in question clearly shows the need for the EU to adopt legislation regulating the issuance of humanitarian visas under the Visa Code.
Zur Anfechtbarkeit verwaltungsorganisatorischer Anordnungen
Authors: Waldmann Bernhard , Bachmann Gregor
Published: July 2020

In einem neuen Leitentscheid äussert sich das Bundesgericht zur Frage, ob gegen die Verlegung einer Kehrichtsammelstelle gestützt auf die Rechtsweggarantie (Art. 29a BV) der Weg an eine richterliche Behörde offenstehen muss. Das Urteil trägt zum einen zur Klärung der Rechtsnatur der verwaltungsorganisatorischen Anordnungen bei. Zum anderen präzisiert es den Begriff der «schützenswerten Rechtsposition» und mithin den Anwendungsbereich der Rechtsweggarantie («Rechtsstreitigkeiten»). Der nachfolgende Beitrag fasst das Urteil zusammen und versucht eine dogmatische Einordnung.
Rezension: Andrea Egbuna-Joss, Der Schutz der öffentlichen Ordnung und Sicherheit im Rahmen der internationalen Schutzgewährung
Authors: Schlegel Stefan
Published: July 2020

Die Dissertation von Andrea Egbuna-Joss untersucht die die Bestimmungen zum Schutz der öffentlichen Ordnung in der Qualifikationsrichtlinie 2011/95 der EU auf ihre Vereinbarkeit mit völkerrechtlichen Vorgaben. Die Qualifikationsrichtlinie wird zu diesem Zweck in den Kontext anderer regionaler Instrumente und in eine historische Übersicht über die Entwicklung des Flüchtlingsschutzes eingebettet. Der Wert des Beitrags von Egbuna-Joss ergibt sich nicht nur aus der detaillierten und systematischen Besprechung der einschlägigen Bestimmungen der Richtlinie, sondern besonders auch aus der ausgezeichneten und zugänglichen Einführung in deren historischen und rechtsvergleichenden Kontext.
Persönlichkeitsverletzung durch eine Medienkampagne
Authors: Bacher Bettina
Published: July 2020

In einem neuen Grundsatzurteil hat das Bundesgericht erstmals eine Persönlich-keitsverletzung durch eine Medienkampagne festgestellt. Der vorliegende Aufsatz stellt Tatbestandsmerkmale, Rechtfertigungsgründe und Rechtsfolgen einer solchen Persönlichkeitsverletzung dar und ordnet den Entscheid in einen grösseren Kontext ein.
Abkehr von der Depressionspraxis
Authors: Steiger-Sackmann Sabine
Published: July 2020

Mit seinem Urteil vom 30. November 2017 kehrt das Bundesgericht von seiner Praxis ab, bei Versicherten mit leicht- bis mittelgradigen Depressionen zusätzlich zu den Leistungsvoraussetzungen für eine IV-Rente zu verlangen, dass eine Therapieresistenz vorliegt. Diese Änderung der Rechtsprechung ist zu begrüssen, wenn auch einzelne Ausführungen der Urteilsbegründung Anlass zu kritischen Einwänden geben.
Daueraufenthaltsstatus vs. öffentliche Sicherheit – Zum Rechtsrahmen der Ausweisung krimineller Drittstaatsangehöriger in der Europäischen Union
Authors: Progin-Theuerkauf Sarah
Published: July 2020

Im Dezember 2017 entschied der EuGH im Fall Lopez Pastuzano, dass die Ausweisung von Drittstaatsangehörigen mit einer Daueraufenthaltsberechtigung (EU) nach der Richtlinie 2003/109/EG nur unter den Voraussetzungen von Art. 12 der Richtlinie möglich ist, d.h. die betreffende Person muss eine gegenwärtige, hinreichend schwere Gefahr für die öffentliche Ordnung oder die öffentliche Sicherheit darstellen und es muss stets eine individuelle Abwägung der Umstände des Einzelfalls durchgeführt werden. Ein Automatismus aufgrund einer strafrechtlichen Verurteilung ist unzulässig. Zudem spielt es nach der Richtlinie keine Rolle, ob die Ausweisung als verwaltungsrechtliche Sanktion ausgesprochen wurde oder Folge einer strafrechtlichen Verurteilung war.
Verwertbarkeit privater Dashcam-Aufzeichnungen im Strafverfahren
Authors: Maager Matthias
Published: July 2020

Trotz der steigenden Zahl an privaten Dashcams, welche auf schweizerischen Strassen eingesetzt werden, bestehen erhebliche Rechtsunsicherheiten darüber, ob Dashcam-Aufzeichnungen im Strafverfahren verwertet werden dürfen. Der Autor widmet sich deshalb der Frage, unter welchen Voraussetzungen zivil- und datenschutzrechtswidrige Dashcam-Aufzeichnungen, die durch Private erhoben wurden, im Strafverfahren verwertbar sind. Es zeigt sich, dass solche Aufzeichnungen verwertet werden dürfen, wenn sie von den Strafverfolgungsbehörden rechtmässig hätten erlangt werden können und eine Interessenabwägung für deren Verwertung spricht. Ferner sind rechtswidrige Dashcam-Aufzeichnungen zugunsten des Beschuldigten zuzulassen, wenn sie diesen entlasten.
Strafbares Streben nach Freiheit?
Authors: Thommen Marc , Nydegger Micha
Published: July 2020

Die Autoren nehmen den vom Obergericht des Kantons Zürich am 13. Oktober 2017 bestätigten Schuldspruch gegen Hassan Kiko wegen Anstiftung zum Entweichenlassen von Gefangenen (Art. 24 Abs. 1 i.V.m. Art 319 StGB) zum Anlass, die Strafbarkeit der Anstiftung zur eigenen Freilassung einer kritischen Betrachtung zu unterziehen. Während Hassan Kiko die Gefängniswärtern Magdici zwar «zur Tat bestimmt» und damit angestiftet hat, ist die formalistische Abgrenzung von Art. 305 und 285 StGB anhand vermeintlich verschiedener Rechtsgüter abzulehnen. In Anlehnung an den Fall Dammann sabotiert der Gefangene, welcher eine Wärterin bittet, ihn freizulassen, nicht das Vertrauen in die Justiz, sondern reklamiert seine «excusable aspiration à la liberté». Triebfeder ist der Selbstschutz, es liegt mithin reine Selbstbegünstigung vor.
Vers un statut juridique du suisse-allemand ?
Authors: Cottier Bertil , Gossin Bastian
Published: July 2020

Dans le prolongement de la controverse qui oppose l’usage du suisse-allemand au bon allemand dans des domaines aussi variés que l’éducation, l’immigration, la radiodiffusion, la défense nationale ou encore la procédure judiciaire, la présente contribution entend dresser l’état des lieux des dispositions juridiques, fédérales ou cantonales, qui régissent aujourd’hui le recours au dialecte. Au final, on en viendra à constater que le suisse-allemand est encore loin d’avoir acquis un réel statut juridique, sa forte présence à l’oral relève beaucoup plus de la tolérance que du droit. Que ce soit au niveau fédéral ou même au niveau cantonal, les textes légaux ne lui en effet accordent qu’une place marginale, sans proportion avec sa stature sociale.
The EU Return Directive – Retour à la «case départ»?
Authors: Progin-Theuerkauf Sarah
Published: July 2020

The EU Return Directive has been adopted 10 years ago. The following article analyzes whether the system that has been created has met the objectives set in 2008. It will especially focus on shortcomings hat can be illustrated by CJEU judgments. The 2018 proposal for a recast of the Directive will also be studied. The article comes to the conclusion that it will be inevitable to go back to the start and think about a better legal regime tackling the issue of returning irregular migrants.
Ehrverletzung oder Gesellschaftskritik?
Authors: Zurkinden Nadine , Buser Denise
Published: July 2020

Der drastische Vergleich des Papstes von Abtreibung und Auftragsmord wurde in der in- und ausländischen Presse aufgegriffen und vielfach kritisiert. Auch wenn die «Tathandlung» nicht in der Schweiz erfolgte, soll hier der Frage einer strafrechtlichen Ehrverletzung nachgegangen werden. Stand bei der Aussage die Kritik am gesellschaftlichen Umfeld, das schwangere Frauen zu wenig unterstützt, im Vordergrund? Kann man die Frauen als Kollektiv beleidigen?