bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Monthly biological larviciding associated with a tenfold decrease in larval density in fish farming ponds and reduced community-wide malaria incidence in northwestern Brazil
Authors: Fontoura Pablo S. , Silva Marcos F. , da Costa Anderson S. , Ribeiro Francismar S. , Ferreira Marcílio S. , Ladeia-Andrade Simone , Tonini Juliana , Rodrigues Priscila T. , Castro Marcia C. , Ferreira Marcelo U.
Published: September 2021

Background

Larvicides are typically applied to fixed and findable mosquito breeding sites, such as fish farming ponds used in commercial aquaculture, to kill immature forms and thereby reduce the size of adult malaria vector populations. However, there is little evidence suggesting that larviciding may suppress community-wide malaria transmission outside Africa. Here, we tested whether the biological larvicide VectoMax FG applied at monthly intervals to fish farming ponds can reduce malaria incidence in Amazonian Brazil.

Methods

This study was carried out in Vila Assis Brasil (VAB; population 1700), a peri-urban malaria hotspot in northwestern Brazil with a baseline annual parasite incidence of 553 malaria cases per 1000 inhabitants. The intervention consisted of monthly treatments with 20 kg/ha of VectoMax FG of all water-filled fish ponds in VAB (n ranging between 167 and 170) with a surface area between 20 and 8000 m2, using knapsack power mistblowers. We used single-group interrupted time-series analysis to compare monthly larval density measurements in fish ponds during a 14-month pre-intervention period (September 2017–October 2018), with measurements made during November 2018–October 2019 and shortly after the 12-month intervention (November 2019). We used interrupted time-series analysis with a comparison group to contrast the malaria incidence trends in VAB and nearby nonintervention localities before and during the intervention.

Results

Average larval densities decreased tenfold in treated fish farming ponds, from 0.467 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.444–0.490) anopheline larvae per dip pre-intervention (September 2017–October 2018) to 0.046 (95% CI, 0.041–0.051) larvae per dip during (November 2018–October 2019) and shortly after the intervention (November 2019). Average malaria incidence rates decreased by 0.08 (95% CI, 0.04–0.11) cases per 100 person-months (P < 0.0001) during the intervention in VAB and remained nearly unchanged in comparison localities. We estimate that the intervention averted 24.5 (95% CI, 6.2–42.8) malaria cases in VAB between January and December 2019.

Conclusions

Regular larviciding is associated with a dramatic decrease in larval density and a modest but significant decrease in community-wide malaria incidence. Larviciding may provide a valuable complementary vector control strategy in commercial aquaculture settings across the Amazon.

Graphical abstract
Longitudinal trends in screening males and females for intimate partner violence as part of a systemic multi-specialty health system intervention
Authors: Clark Cari Jo , Renner Lynette M. , Wang Qi , Flowers Nyla I. , Morrow Grace , Logeais Mary
Published: September 2021

Objective

To assess intimate partner violence screening for males and females in a health system that underwent a systemic intervention to improve survivor identification and response. Electronic health record data from 13 clinics were accessed for February of 2017, 2018, and 2019 to calculate screening rates and positive screening rates for intimate partner violence by clinic and sex-race groups (n  =  11,693 non-Hispanic White females; n  =  4318 Other females; n  =  9184 non-Hispanic White males; n  =  3441 Other males). Linear mixed effects models were used to examine whether screening rates differed significantly over time and by sex-race group.

Results

Screening rates were 31% for the first 2 years and 16% for 2019. Screening rates varied greatly by clinic. Dermatology, psychiatry, and otolaryngology clinics had average or above screening rates all 3 years. Differences in screening rates across sex-race groups were minimal. Average positive screen rates were 1.3%, 0.4%, and 2.6% in 2017, 2018, and 2019, respectively, with psychiatry having the highest positive screen rate. Positive screen rates were highest for non-Hispanic White females (3.5%). Universal screening in this health system was not yielding survivors comparable to existing estimates among clinic-based populations. Other identification approaches require testing to effectively identify survivors within the health sector.
Tubulointerstitial nephritis and uveitis syndrome in an adolescent female: a case report
Authors: Petek Tadej , Frelih Maja , Marčun Varda Nataša
Published: September 2021

Background

Tubulointerstitial nephritis with uveitis syndrome is a rare disease affecting mainly children and young women. Tubulointerstitial nephritis with uveitis is a diagnosis of exclusion, requiring a high degree of clinical suspicion. Studies report recent infections or certain drugs as precipitating factors of a lymphocytic oculorenal immune response. The prognosis is usually favorable with topical and systemic corticosteroid therapy.

Case presentation

We report a literature review and the case of a 14-year-old white girl, who presented to the ophthalmology department with features of one-sided uveitis. Upon transfer of patient to nephrological care, diagnostic work-up revealed renal involvement. Renal biopsy showed a mixed-cell and granulomatous tubulointerstitial nephritis with some noncaseating granulomas, leading to a diagnosis of tubulointerstitial nephritis with uveitis syndrome. With topical ocular and systemic corticosteroid therapy, the patients’ condition improved over several weeks.

Conclusions

Our case highlights the importance of early recognition and treatment of this syndrome, where cross-specialty care typically leads to a favorable outcome.
Holistic evaluation of biodegradation pathway prediction: assessing multi-step reactions and intermediate products
Authors: Tam Jason Y. C. , Lorsbach Tim , Schmidt Sebastian , Wicker Jörg S.
Published: September 2021

The prediction of metabolism and biotransformation pathways of xenobiotics is a highly desired tool in environmental sciences, drug discovery, and (eco)toxicology. Several systems predict single transformation steps or complete pathways as series of parallel and subsequent steps. Their performance is commonly evaluated on the level of a single transformation step. Such an approach cannot account for some specific challenges that are caused by specific properties of biotransformation experiments. That is, missing transformation products in the reference data that occur only in low concentrations, e.g. transient intermediates or higher-generation metabolites. Furthermore, some rule-based prediction systems evaluate the performance only based on the defined set of transformation rules. Therefore, the performance of these models cannot be directly compared. In this paper, we introduce a new evaluation framework that extends the evaluation of biotransformation prediction from single transformations to whole pathways, taking into account multiple generations of metabolites. We introduce a procedure to address transient intermediates and propose a weighted scoring system that acknowledges the uncertainty of higher-generation metabolites. We implemented this framework in enviPath and demonstrate its strict performance metrics on predictions of in vitro biotransformation and degradation of xenobiotics in soil. Our approach is model-agnostic and can be transferred to other prediction systems. It is also capable of revealing knowledge gaps in terms of incompletely defined sets of transformation rules.
Simvastatin does not alleviate muscle pathology in a mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Authors: Mucha Olga , Podkalicka Paulina , Kaziród Katarzyna , Samborowska Emilia , Dulak Józef , Łoboda Agnieszka
Published: September 2021

Background

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an incurable disease, caused by the mutations in the DMD gene, encoding dystrophin, an actin-binding cytoskeletal protein. Lack of functional dystrophin results in muscle weakness, degeneration, and as an outcome cardiac and respiratory failure. As there is still no cure for affected individuals, the pharmacological compounds with the potential to treat or at least attenuate the symptoms of the disease are under constant evaluation. The pleiotropic agents, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors, known as statins, have been suggested to exert beneficial effects in the mouse model of DMD. On the other hand, they were also reported to induce skeletal-muscle myopathy. Therefore, we decided to verify the hypothesis that simvastatin may be considered a potential therapeutic agent in DMD.

Methods

Several methods including functional assessment of muscle function via grip strength measurement, treadmill test, and single-muscle force estimation, enzymatic assays, histological analysis of muscle damage, gene expression evaluation, and immunofluorescence staining were conducted to study simvastatin-related alterations in the mdx mouse model of DMD.

Results

In our study, simvastatin treatment of mdx mice did not result in improved running performance, grip strength, or specific force of the single muscle. Creatine kinase and lactate dehydrogenase activity, markers of muscle injury, were also unaffected by simvastatin delivery in mdx mice. Furthermore, no significant changes in inflammation, fibrosis, and angiogenesis were noted. Despite the decreased percentage of centrally nucleated myofibers in gastrocnemius muscle after simvastatin delivery, no changes were noticed in other regeneration-related parameters. Of note, even an increased rate of necrosis was found in simvastatin-treated mdx mice.

Conclusion

In conclusion, our study revealed that simvastatin does not ameliorate DMD pathology.
Growth performances, gastrointestinal epithelium and bacteria responses of Yellow-feathered chickens to kudzu-leaf flavonoids supplement
Authors: Xue Fuguang , Wan Gen , Xiao Yunsen , Chen Chuanbin , Qu Mingren , Xu Lanjiao
Published: September 2021

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of replacing antibiotics with Kudzu-leaf flavonoids (KLF) on the growth performances, gut epithelial development, and gastrointestinal bacteria diversities of Yellow-feathered broilers. For this purpose, total of 216 1-day-old male Yellow-feathered chickens with the similar birth weight (31.0  ±  1.0 g) were randomly divided into 3 treatments: the control treatment (CON), the kudzu-leaf flavonoids supplement treatment (KLF), and the antibiotics supplement treatment (AGP). All birds were provided with a 56 d-feeding procedure, followed by the measurement of production performances, immune organs, blood anti-oxidant parameters, intestine epithelium development, and cecal microbiota. Results showed the feed conversion ratio significantly decreased after KLF supplement compared with CON (P  <  0.05). KLF supplement partly promoted the anti-oxidant capacity on account of the increased activity of Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the decrease content of malondialdehyde (MDA). Further, as referred to the gastrointestinal development and bacteria, ratio of villus/crypt significantly increased of ileum in KLF treatment (P  <  0.05) while a significant promition of bacterial diversity and partial representative probiotic bacteria (P  <  0.05) after KLF supplementation. Moreover, correlation analysis indicated that probitics including Bifidobacterium, Butyricimonas, Lactobacillus and Streptococcus positively correlated with production performances. In conclusion, KLF supplement may promote feed efficiency and benefit the gastrointestinal health through improving gut bacterial diversity and probiotic bacteria. The KLF might be applied as a proper antibiotic alternative.
The weak solutions of a nonlinear parabolic equation from two-phase problem
Authors: Huang Zhisheng
Published: September 2021

A nonlinear parabolic equation from a two-phase problem is considered in this paper. The existence of weak solutions is proved by the standard parabolically regularized method. Different from the related papers, one of diffusion coefficients in the equation, $b(x)$
b
(
x
)
, is degenerate on the boundary. Then the Dirichlet boundary value condition may be overdetermined. In order to study the stability of weak solution, how to find a suitable partial boundary value condition is the foremost work. Once such a partial boundary value condition is found, the stability of weak solutions will naturally follow.
A Jackson-type inequality associated with wavelet bases decomposition
Authors: Wang Kai-Cheng
Published: September 2021

Although wavelet decompositions of functions in Besov spaces have been extensively investigated, those involved with mild decay bases are relatively unexplored. In this paper, we study wavelet bases of Besov spaces and the relation between norms and wavelet coefficients. We establish the $l^{p}$

l
p

-stability as a measure of how effectively the Besov norm of a function is evaluated by its wavelet coefficients and the $L^{p}$

L
p

-completeness of wavelet bases. We also discuss wavelets with decay conditions and establish the Jackson inequality.
Analysing the relationship between CO2 emissions and GDP in China: a fractional integration and cointegration approach
Authors: Caporale Guglielmo Maria , Claudio-Quiroga Gloria , Gil-Alana Luis A.
Published: September 2021

This paper examines the relationship between the logarithms of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in China by applying fractional integration and cointegration methods. These are more general than the standard methods based on the dichotomy between stationary and non-stationary series, allow for a much wider variety of dynamic processes, and provide information about the persistence and long-memory properties of the series and thus on whether or not the effects of shocks are long-lived. The univariate results indicate that the two series are highly persistent, their orders of integration being around 2, whilst the cointegration tests (using both standard and fractional techniques) imply that there exists a long-run equilibrium relationship between the two variables in first differences, i.e. their growth rates are linked together in the long run. This suggests the need for environmental policies aimed at reducing emissions during periods of economic growth.
What evidence exists on the relationship between agricultural production and biodiversity in tropical rainforest areas? A systematic map protocol
Authors: Apriyani Via , Holle Mukhlish J. M. , Silangen Christian , Oktalira Fitria T. , Mumbunan Sonny
Published: September 2021

Background

Agriculture produces food for billions of humans and creates livelihoods for farmers. However, the current food production systems, driven by the increasing food demand and the ever-growing human population, are undermining ecological resources, primarily those related to biodiversity. Accordingly, agricultural production in tropical rainforest countries has been a trade-off, as regions harbor high biodiversity while also being pressured by agricultural land expansion. Consequently, threats to biodiversity are inevitable and will likely affect the ecosystem service provisions necessary for the agricultural process. Presently, no study reviews and maps the evidence of relationships between biodiversity and agriculture in the tropical rainforest landscape. Therefore, such a study is necessary to identify the knowledge gaps and provide scientific evidence to the relevant policymakers for safeguarding biodiversity within agricultural policies. This study aims to collect available published literature that evaluates the relations of agricultural production and biodiversity. We will focus on the agriculture and priority crops in the countries producing the commodities situated in the tropical rainforest landscape.

Methods

Generic search terms derived from research question elements will be used to search relevant articles. These terms are in English, and the searches will encompass global tropical rainforest countries. Peer-reviewed and gray literature articles retrieved from search engines and databases will be screened first using the title and abstract and second at the full-text level. The latter screening process will involve data coding to retrieve relevant characteristics from each eligible study and finally collate these characteristics into an evidence map, which will provide a current state of knowledge and further support evidence-informed policy formulation. The map presentation in the final report will also be complemented by a narrative synthesis explaining the trends, pinpointing the knowledge gluts and gaps, serving relevant information, and searchable databases for associated stakeholders.
Arms race in a cell: genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic insights into intracellular phage–bacteria interplay in deep-sea snail holobionts
Authors: Zhou Kun , Xu Ying , Zhang Rui , Qian Pei-Yuan
Published: September 2021

Background

Deep-sea animals in hydrothermal vents often form endosymbioses with chemosynthetic bacteria. Endosymbionts serve essential biochemical and ecological functions, but the prokaryotic viruses (phages) that determine their fate are unknown.

Results

We conducted metagenomic analysis of a deep-sea vent snail. We assembled four genome bins for Caudovirales phages that had developed dual endosymbiosis with sulphur-oxidising bacteria (SOB) and methane-oxidising bacteria (MOB). Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR) spacer mapping, genome comparison, and transcriptomic profiling revealed that phages Bin1, Bin2, and Bin4 infected SOB and MOB. The observation of prophages in the snail endosymbionts and expression of the phage integrase gene suggested the presence of lysogenic infection, and the expression of phage structural protein and lysozyme genes indicated active lytic infection. Furthermore, SOB and MOB appear to employ adaptive CRISPR–Cas systems to target phage DNA. Additional expressed defence systems, such as innate restriction–modification systems and dormancy-inducing toxin–antitoxin systems, may co-function and form multiple lines for anti-viral defence. To counter host defence, phages Bin1, Bin2, and Bin3 appear to have evolved anti-restriction mechanisms and expressed methyltransferase genes that potentially counterbalance host restriction activity. In addition, the high-level expression of the auxiliary metabolic genes narGH, which encode nitrate reductase subunits, may promote ATP production, thereby benefiting phage DNA packaging for replication.

Conclusions

This study provides new insights into phage–bacteria interplay in intracellular environments of a deep-sea vent snail.
Powerful and robust non-parametric association testing for microbiome data via a zero-inflated quantile approach (ZINQ)
Authors: Ling Wodan , Zhao Ni , Plantinga Anna M. , Launer Lenore J. , Fodor Anthony A. , Meyer Katie A. , Wu Michael C.
Published: September 2021

Background

Identification of bacterial taxa associated with diseases, exposures, and other variables of interest offers a more comprehensive understanding of the role of microbes in many conditions. However, despite considerable research in statistical methods for association testing with microbiome data, approaches that are generally applicable remain elusive. Classical tests often do not accommodate the realities of microbiome data, leading to power loss. Approaches tailored for microbiome data depend highly upon the normalization strategies used to handle differential read depth and other data characteristics, and they often have unacceptably high false positive rates, generally due to unsatisfied distributional assumptions. On the other hand, many non-parametric tests suffer from loss of power and may also present difficulties in adjusting for potential covariates. Most extant approaches also fail in the presence of heterogeneous effects. The field needs new non-parametric approaches that are tailored to microbiome data, robust to distributional assumptions, and powerful under heterogeneous effects, while permitting adjustment for covariates.

Methods

As an alternative to existing approaches, we propose a zero-inflated quantile approach (ZINQ), which uses a two-part quantile regression model to accommodate the zero inflation in microbiome data. For a given taxon, ZINQ consists of a valid test in logistic regression to model the zero counts, followed by a series of quantile rank-score based tests on multiple quantiles of the non-zero part with adjustment for the zero inflation. As a regression and quantile-based approach, the method is non-parametric and robust to irregular distributions, while providing an allowance for covariate adjustment. Since no distributional assumptions are made, ZINQ can be applied to data that has been processed under any normalization strategy.

Results

Thorough simulations based on real data across a range of scenarios and application to real data sets show that ZINQ often has equivalent or higher power compared to existing tests even as it offers better control of false positives.

Conclusions

We present ZINQ, a quantile-based association test between microbiota and dichotomous or quantitative clinical variables, providing a powerful and robust alternative for the current microbiome differential abundance analysis.
Migration and survival of Okanagan River Sockeye Salmon Oncorhynchus nerka, 2012–2019
Authors: Murauskas Josh , Hyatt Kim , Fryer Jeff , Koontz Elliot , Folks Skyeler , Bussanich Richard , Shelby Katy
Published: September 2021

Background

Okanagan River Sockeye Salmon Oncorhynchus nerka (Okanagan Sockeye) are one of two remaining self-sustaining Sockeye Salmon populations in the Columbia River Basin. We used detection histories of smolts implanted with passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags between 2012 and 2019 to estimate survival and behavioral metrics during reintroduction efforts and changing environmental conditions over the monitoring period.

Results

Smolts migrating to McNary Dam, whose route includes 130 km of the Okanagan River and 388 km of the Columbia River, generally had high survival (mean of 87.0% per 100 km) and fast migration speeds (up to 50 km/day) relative to other salmonids in the region. Smolt-to-adult returns (SARs) ranged from 0.4 to 6.1% and were greater for fish originating from Skaha Lake compared to cohorts tagged in Osoyoos Lake. Most adults returned after 2 years in the ocean (69%), followed by jacks (27%), and adults that spent 3 years at sea (4%), though Skaha Lake adults had a significantly younger age structure than cohorts from Osoyoos Lake. Survival of adults from Bonneville Dam (rkm 235) upstream to Wells Dam (rkm 830) was generally high (80–92%), and migration speed decreased in upstream reaches. Survival from Wells Dam to the Okanagan River was only estimable in 2018, where 64% of adults survived to the spawning grounds. The upstream migration of adult Okanagan Sockeye was significantly compromised during the drought of 2015 when less than 5% of Okanagan Sockeye that returned to the Columbia River reached spawning grounds.

Conclusions

Our results indicate that Okanagan Sockeye have exceptional survival and migratory ability relative to other salmonids, though poor ocean conditions combined with warming water temperatures in freshwater habitats in recent years have the potential to devastate the population. The success of reintroduction efforts to increase spatial structure and diversity of Okanagan Sockeye is, therefore, critical to maintaining the population in years to come.
Fostering learning capacities for meaningful, healthy and efficient studying in undergraduate medical education: evaluation of a longitudinal learning workshop
Authors: Thye Miriam , Tauschel Diethard
Published: September 2021

Background

Academic studies place high demands on the development of learning capacities. Beyond learning techniques, knowledge about the effect of the learning environment, as well as the ability for self-regulation, self-determination and self-care play a major role in the development of learning skills. A longitudinal learning workshop was developed aiming to support academic learning life. The study at hand describes and evaluates this intervention.

Methods

Students participated in a seven-week program fostering reflection and training on physical, physiological, psychological and mental dimensions of learning. Fifty evaluations of medical students reflecting the workshop underwent qualitative analysis of open-ended questions concerning changes students experienced in their learning life. In addition, general satisfaction was measured quantitatively.

Results

Qualitative results revealed an impact on five core dimensions of students´ learning life: knowledge gained about the process of learning, enhanced awareness of intrapersonal learning processes, getting easier into action, experience of change and raised skills of regulating one´s learning behavior. Students evaluate the workshop as helpful, supportive and as a source of guidance. Quantitative results demonstrated good overall satisfaction with the intervention.

Conclusions

Educating knowledge about learning how to learn and providing skill training of how to regulate physiology, psychology and mentality should be taken into account in order to support the multidimensional learning life of students. Using a holistic, anthropologically grounded approach could be considered to enhance healthy, meaningful and efficient ways of learning. This learning workshop seems to be a useful and transferable tool to support students’ development of learning capacities.
The influence of semantic relevance on the discernment of product appearance and function
Authors: Wang Ching-Yi , Lin Yu-Er
Published: September 2021

Background

This study investigated the impact of semantic relevance on the ability to comprehend the appearance and function of a product, as presented in images.

Methods

The images used the constructs of Simile, Metaphor and Analogy to correspond to congruent, related and incongruent semantic structures, and measured the amplitude of Event-Related Potentials (ERPs) to compare these images with Landscape images. Sixteen participants with design-related educational backgrounds were invited to join in the ERP experiment.

Results

The results found that the image depicting the Metaphor showed a stronger N600 amplitude in the right anterior region of the brain than the Landscape image and the Analogy image induced a stronger N600 effect in the left anterior and right anterior part of the brain than the Landscape image. However, the Simile image did not trigger the N600. The N600 was triggered when the meaning of the Metaphor and Analogy being presented could not be understood. This indicates that a greater processing effort to comprehend them than was required for Simile. Analogy has a wider N600 distribution than Metaphor in the anterior area, suggesting that Analogy would require higher-level thinking processes and more complex semantic processing mechanisms than Metaphor.

Conclusions

The N600 implicated that an assessment method to detect the semantic relationship between appearance and function of a product would assist in determining whether a symbol was suitable to be associated with a product.
The correlation between posterior tibial slope and dynamic anterior tibial translation and dynamic range of tibial rotation
Authors: Zee M.J.M , Keizer M.N.J , Dijkerman L , van Raaij J.J.A.M , Hijmans J.M. , Diercks R.L.
Published: September 2021

Purpose

The amount of passive anterior tibial translation (ATT) is known to be correlated to the amount of posterior tibial slope (PTS) in both anterior cruciate ligament-deficient and reconstructed knees. Slope-altering osteotomies are advised when graft failure after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction occurs in the presence of high PTS. This recommendation is based on studies neglecting the influence of muscle activation. On the other hand, if dynamic range of tibial rotation (rTR) is related to the amount of PTS, a “simple” anterior closing-wedge osteotomy might not be sufficient to control for tibial rotation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the correlation between the amount of PTS and dynamic ATT and tibial rotation during high demanding activities, both before and after ACL reconstruction. We hypothesized that both ATT and rTR are strongly correlated to the amount of PTS.

Methods

Ten subjects were studied both within three months after ACL injury and one year after ACL reconstruction. Dynamic ATT and dynamic rTR were measured using a motion-capture system during level walking, during a single-leg hop for distance and during a side jump. Both medial and lateral PTS were measured on MRI. A difference between medial and lateral PTS was calculated and referred to as Δ PTS. Spearman’s correlation coefficients were calculated for the correlation between medial PTS, lateral PTS and Δ PTS and ATT and between medial PTS, lateral PTS and Δ PTS and rTR.

Results

Little (if any) to weak correlations were found between medial, lateral and Δ PTS and dynamic ATT both before and after ACL reconstruction. On the other hand, a moderate-to-strong correlation was found between medial PTS, lateral PTS and Δ PTS and dynamic rTR one year after ACL reconstruction.

Conclusion

During high-demand tasks, dynamic ATT is not correlated to PTS. A compensation mechanism may be responsible for the difference between passive and dynamic ATT in terms of the correlation to PTS. A moderate-to-strong correlation between amount of PTS and rTR indicates that such a compensation mechanism may fall short in correcting for rTR. These findings warrant prudence in the use of a pure anterior closing wedge osteotomy in ACL reconstruction.

Trial registration

Netherlands Trial Register, Trial 7686. Registered 16 April 2016—Retrospectively registered.

Level of evidence

Level 2, prospective cohort study
Experimental validation of a new technique for the assessment of posterior tibial translation (ABC angle) after posterior cruciate ligament rupture
Authors: Severyns M. , Rollet M.-E. , Vendeuvre T. , Pesenti S. , Benzakour A. , Rouvillain J.-L.
Published: September 2021

Background

The aim of this cadaver study was to evaluate an original technique for measuring posterior tibial translation based on an angle value instead of a distance value, with and without posterior stress application. It was hypothesized that an angle measurement of the posterior tibial translation would confirm the presence of a PCL tear with the knee flexed and completely extended.

Method

Using fresh cadavers, a set of strict lateral views were taken by fluoroscopy with the knee at 0°, 45° and 90° flexion on the intact knee and after transecting the PCL. The primary endpoint was the change in the posterior translation measured using a new technique, the ABC angle. This measurement was compared to the conventional posterior translation distance measurement with and without a posterior stress placed on the knee.

Results

Application of a posterior stress revealed clear changes in posterior translation after PCL transection with the knee at 0° for the angle technique and at 45° and 90° for the two techniques (p < 0.05). Contrary to the reference method, the ABC angle method found a statistically significant difference in posterior translation with the knee in extension.

Conclusion

Our technique provides a reliable radiographic measurement of posterior translation with the knee in extension, which should make it easier to acquire radiographs in patients who have pain with knee flexion. This angular measurement also has the advantage of not needing length calibration contrary to the reference technique.

Level of evidence

IV
Killer immunoglobulin-like receptor 2DS5 is associated with recovery from coronavirus disease 2019
Authors: Lesan Vadim , Bewarder Moritz , Metz Carlos , Becker André , Mang Sebastian , Regitz Evi , Thurner Lorenz , Neumann Frank , Kos Igor , Christofyllakis Konstantinos , Danziger Guy , Stilgenbauer Stephan , Bals Robert , Lepper Philipp M. , Kaddu-Mulindwa Dominic , Rixecker Torben
Published: September 2021

Background

Despite numerous advances in the identification of risk factors for the development of severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), factors that promote recovery from COVID-19 remain unknown. Natural killer (NK) cells provide innate immune defense against viral infections and are known to be activated during moderate and severe COVID-19. Killer immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR) mediate NK cell cytotoxicity through recognition of an altered MHC-I expression on infected target cells. However, the influence of KIR genotype on outcome of patients with COVID-19 has not been investigated so far. We retrospectively analyzed the outcome associations of NK cell count and KIR genotype of patients with COVID-19 related severe ARDS treated on our tertiary intensive care unit (ICU) between February and June 2020 and validated our findings in an independent validation cohort of patients with moderate COVID-19 admitted to our tertiary medical center.

Results

Median age of all patients in the discovery cohort (n = 16) was 61 years (range 50–71 years). All patients received invasive mechanical ventilation; 11 patients (68%) required extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Patients who recovered from COVID-19 had significantly higher median NK cell counts during the whole observational period compared to patients who died (121 cells/µL, range 16–602 cells/µL vs 81 cells/µL, range 6–227 cells/µL,p-value = 0.01). KIR2DS5 positivity was significantly associated with shorter time to recovery (21.6 ± 2.8 days vs. 44.6 ± 2.2 days,p-value = 0.01). KIR2DS5 positivity was significantly associated with freedom from transfer to ICU (0% vs 9%,p-value = 0.04) in the validation cohort which consisted of 65 patients with moderate COVID-19.

Conclusion

NK cells and KIR genotype might have an impact on recovery from COVID-19.
Transformation of sugarcane molasses into fructooligosaccharides with enhanced prebiotic activity using whole-cell biocatalysts from Aureobasidium pullulans FRR 5284 and an invertase-deficient Saccharomyces cerevisiae 1403-7A
Authors: Khatun Most Sheauly , Hassanpour Morteza , Mussatto Solange I. , Harrison Mark D. , Speight Robert E. , O’Hara Ian M. , Zhang Zhanying
Published: September 2021

Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) can be used as feed prebiotics, but are limited by high production costs. In this study, low-cost sugarcane molasses was used to produce whole-cell biocatalysts containing transfructosylating enzymes by Aureobasidium pullulans FRR 5284, followed by FOS production from molasses using the whole-cells of A. pullulans. A. pullulans in molasses-based medium produced cells and broth with a total transfructosylating activity of 123.6 U/mL compared to 61.0 and 85.8 U/mL in synthetic molasses-based and sucrose-based media, respectively. It was found that inclusion of glucose in sucrose medium reduced both transfructosylating and hydrolytic activities of the produced cells and broth. With the use of pure glucose medium, cells and broth had very low levels of transfructosylating activities and hydrolytic activities were not detected. These results indicated that A. pullulans FRR 5284 produced both constitutive and inducible enzymes in sucrose-rich media, such as molasses while it only produced constitutive enzymes in the glucose media. Furthermore, treatment of FOS solutions generated from sucrose-rich solutions using an invertase-deficient Saccharomyces yeast converted glucose to ethanol and acetic acid and improved FOS content in total sugars by 20–30%. Treated FOS derived from molasses improved the in vitro growth of nine probiotic strains by 9–63% compared to a commercial FOS in 12 h incubation. This study demonstrated the potential of using molasses to produce FOS for feed application.
Pulsating hemorrhagic varicose veins caused by tricuspid valve regurgitation: report of a case treated by laser ablation and foam sclerotherapy
Authors: Guntani Atsushi , Yamashita Sho , Mii Shinsuke
Published: September 2021

Background

Varicose veins are one of the most common disease; however, secondary varicose veins caused by tricuspid valve regurgitation (TVR) are rare.

Case presentation

A patient who developed pulsating bleeding from superficial varicose veins due to TVR was successfully treated by endovenous laser ablation (EVLA) of the great saphenous vein (GSV) and repeated foam sclerotherapy of varicose veins. There were no complications, such as rebleeding or recanalization of the GSV during the 1-year follow-up period.

Conclusions

We herein report a rare case of pulsatile hemorrhagic varicose veins caused by TVR that was successfully managed by combined treatment of EVLA and foam sclerotherapy. When pulsatile varicose veins are found, the presence of TVR should be suspected.
The SOFIA pilot trial: a cluster-randomized trial of coordinated, co-produced care to reduce mortality and improve quality of life in people with severe mental illness in the general practice setting
Authors: Rozing M. P. , Jønsson A. , Køster-Rasmussen R. , Due T. D. , Brodersen J. , Bissenbakker K. H. , Siersma V. , Mercer S. W. , Guassora A. D. , Kjellberg J. , Kjellberg P. K. , Nielsen M. H. , Christensen I. , Bardram J. E. , Martiny F. , Møller A. , Reventlow S. ,   on behalf of the SOFIA Study Group
Published: September 2021

Background

People with severe mental illness (SMI) have an increased risk of premature mortality, predominantly due to somatic health conditions. Evidence indicates that primary and tertiary prevention and improved treatment of somatic conditions in patients with SMI could reduce this excess mortality. This paper reports a protocol designed to evaluate the feasibility of a coordinated co-produced care program (SOFIA model, a Danish acronym for Severe Mental Illness and Physical Health in General Practice) in the general practice setting to reduce mortality and improve quality of life in patients with severe mental illness.

Methods

The SOFIA pilot trial is designed as a cluster randomized controlled trial targeting general practices in two regions in Denmark. We aim to include 12 practices, each of which is instructed to recruit up to 15 community-dwelling patients aged 18 and older with SMI. Practices will be randomized by a computer in a ratio of 2:1 to deliver a coordinated care program or usual care during a 6-month study period. A randomized algorithm is used to perform randomization. The coordinated care program includes educational training of general practitioners and their clinical staff educational training of general practitioners and their clinical staff, which covers clinical and diagnostic management and focus on patient-centered care of this patient group, after which general practitioners will provide a prolonged consultation focusing on individual needs and preferences of the patient with SMI and a follow-up plan if indicated. The outcomes will be parameters of the feasibility of the intervention and trial methods and will be assessed quantitatively and qualitatively. Assessments of the outcome parameters will be administered at baseline, throughout, and at end of the study period.

Discussion

If necessary the intervention will be revised based on results from this study. If delivery of the intervention, either in its current form or after revision, is considered feasible, a future, definitive trial to determine the effectiveness of the intervention in reducing mortality and improving quality of life in patients with SMI can take place. Successful implementation of the intervention would imply preliminary promise for addressing health inequities in patients with SMI.

Trial registration

The trial was registered in Clinical Trials as of November 5, 2020, with registration number NCT04618250.

Protocol version: January 22, 2021; original version
The case for increased centralization in integration governance: the neglected perspective
Authors: Hernes Vilde
Published: September 2021

Local autonomy is a highly promoted feature in European governance, and the integration field is no exception. In the integration literature, values and considerations favoring local autonomy are often emphasized, while values and considerations underpinning central steering has received less analytical attention, thus a more nuanced perspective in studies of central–local governance relations is warranted. This commentary identifies general dilemmas in central–local governance which expose clear justifications for both local autonomy and central steering. Furthermore, it presents empirical examples of policy changes regulating central–local governance in the Scandinavian countries where increased centralization has been introduced with reference to promoting values and considerations favoring central steering, such as a fairer distribution of responsibilities between local authorities, legal safeguards for individuals, and equal service provision across the country. Lastly, it suggests how future studies of central–local governance could benefit from of taking a more nuanced perspective.
Retinoblastoma and mosaic 13q deletion: a case report
Authors: Gargallo Pablo , Oltra Silvestre , Balaguer Julia , Barranco Honorio , Yáñez Yania , Segura Vanessa , Juan-Ribelles Antonio , Calabria Inés , Llavador Margarita , Castel Victoria , Cañete Adela
Published: September 2021

Background

Patients with 13q-syndrome are at risk of retinoblastoma when the RB1 gene, located in the chromosomal band 13q14.2, is deleted. This syndrome is frequently associated with congenital malformations and developmental delay, although these signs could be mild. Mosaic 13q-deletion patients have been previously reported in the literature; their phenotype is variable, and they may not be recognized.

Case presentation

Retinoblastoma diagnosed in a child with 13q-mosaicism confirmed in blood, oral mucosa, healthy retina and retinoblastoma. A second RB1 hit is present exclusively in the retinoblastoma sample (RB1 c.958C>T p.Arg320Ter). Other detected molecular events in retinoblastoma are 6p12.3pter gain and 6q25.3qter loss. Clinical examination is unremarkable except for clinodactyly of the right fifth finger.

Discussion and conclusions

We describe a case of mosaic 13q deletion syndrome affected by retinoblastoma. Molecular data obtained from the tumor analysis are similar to previous data available about this malignancy. High clinical suspicion is essential for an adequate diagnosis of mosaic cases.
Too precarious to walk: an integrated “three delays” framework for modeling barriers to maternal health care and birth registration among stateless persons and irregular migrants in Malaysia
Authors: Cheong Amanda R. , Baltazar Mary Anne K.
Published: September 2021

This study extends Thaddeus and Maine’s (1994) “three delays” framework to model the interrelated barriers to maternal health care and birth registration. We focus on stateless persons and irregular migrants, populations that are especially at risk of being “left behind” in United Nations member states’ efforts to “provide legal identity to all” as part of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. Drawing on qualitative fieldwork conducted in Sabah, Malaysia, we model delays in accessing maternal health care and birth registration as an integrated, cyclical process. We identify the political and legal barriers that stateless or migrant families confront while deciding to make institutional contact (Phase I), identifying and reaching health or registering institutions (Phase II), and receiving adequate and appropriate treatment (Phase III). We find that exclusion from one system raises the risk of exclusion from the other, resulting in a range of negative consequences, including increased health risks, governments’ impaired ability to monitor population health, and the perpetuation of intergenerational cycles of legal exclusion.
Rapid mortality surveillance using a national population register to monitor excess deaths during SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in South Africa
Authors: Dorrington Rob E. , Moultrie Tom A. , Laubscher Ria , Groenewald Pam J. , Bradshaw Debbie
Published: September 2021

This paper describes how an up-to-date national population register recording deaths by age and sex, whether deaths were due to natural or unnatural causes, and the offices at which the deaths were recorded can be used to monitor excess death during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, both nationally, and sub-nationally, in a country with a vital registration system that is neither up to date nor complete. Apart from suggesting an approach for estimating completeness of reporting at a sub-national level, the application produces estimates of the number of deaths in excess of those expected in the absence of the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic that are highly correlated with the confirmed number of COVID-19 deaths over time, but at a level 2.5 to 3 times higher than the official numbers of COVID-19 deaths. Apportioning the observed excess deaths more precisely to COVID, COVID-related and collateral deaths, and non-COVID deaths averted by interventions with reduced mobility and gatherings, etc., requires access to real-time cause-of-death information. It is suggested that the transition from ICD-10 to ICD-11 should be used as an opportunity to change from a paper-based system to electronic capture of the medical cause-of-death information.
Virtual non-calcium dual-energy CT: clinical applications
Authors: D’Angelo Tommaso , Albrecht Moritz H. , Caudo Danilo , Mazziotti Silvio , Vogl Thomas J. , Wichmann Julian L. , Martin Simon , Yel Ibrahim , Ascenti Giorgio , Koch Vitali , Cicero Giuseppe , Blandino Alfredo , Booz Christian
Published: September 2021

Dual-energy CT (DECT) has emerged into clinical routine as an imaging technique with unique postprocessing utilities that improve the evaluation of different body areas. The virtual non-calcium (VNCa) reconstruction algorithm has shown beneficial effects on the depiction of bone marrow pathologies such as bone marrow edema. Its main advantage is the ability to substantially increase the image contrast of structures that are usually covered with calcium mineral, such as calcified vessels or bone marrow, and to depict a large number of traumatic, inflammatory, infiltrative, and degenerative disorders affecting either the spine or the appendicular skeleton. Therefore, VNCa imaging represents another step forward for DECT to image conditions and disorders that usually require the use of more expensive and time-consuming techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission tomography/CT, or bone scintigraphy. The aim of this review article is to explain the technical background of VNCa imaging, showcase its applicability in the different body regions, and provide an updated outlook on the clinical impact of this technique, which goes beyond the sole improvement in image quality.