bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of family interventions on interpersonal conflicts: A network perspective
Authors: Fellmann Lukas
Published: February 2023

Intense conflicts are prevalent in families receiving child welfare services. Research in the field of family interventions usually focusses on dyadic conflicts within the limits of the nuclear family unit, ignoring the larger social context of families. Therefore, this study analyses effects on interpersonal conflicts in personal networks of parents during a family intervention. The theoretical framework is based on the family systems theory, which highlights the role of mutual trust for conflict resolution. This research applied ego-centric network analysis in combination with a longitudinal design. The sample consists of 46 parents who were enrolled in a home-based family intervention in Switzerland.

Findings

The results show that development of mutual trust between practitioners and the network members of parents is associated with significant decrease in conflict density and conflict reciprocity. Hence, network members experience fewer interactions that are associated with conflict as well as less intense conflicts in the medium term. However, no effects were found on the centrality of parents in interpersonal conflicts.

Applications

The results of this study suggest that practitioners in family interventions must establish mutual trust with not only parents but also other individuals to promote a less stressful family environment. This emphasizes the importance of a network perspective on interpersonal conflicts in child welfare interventions.
Utility of denosumab therapy in management of severe hypercalcaemia caused by primary hyperparathyroidism – Case report with review of literature
Authors: Jadhao Pooja , Mangaraj Swayamsidha
Published: February 2023

Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is the leading cause of incidentally detected hypercalcaemia in asymptomatic individuals. Rarely, PHPT may present with severe hypercalcaemia or even hypercalcaemic crisis. We describe a case of a 53-year-old male who presented with acute severe hypercalcaemia as the index manifestation. Complete clinical, biochemical and radiological evaluation led to an eventual diagnosis of PHPT. He had a challenging clinical course as hypercalcaemia did not improve significantly despite undergoing multiple sessions of haemodialysis and other supportive measures. Furthermore, the presence of acute kidney injury precluded the use of bisphosphonates. In the end, he received subcutaneous denosumab injection and his serum calcium levels improved dramatically afterwards. Subsequently, he underwent successful parathyroidectomy. Denosumab therapy can play a critical role in managing such patients especially when other therapeutic modalities cannot adequately control hypercalcaemia.
Dynamic movement primitives based on positive and negative demonstrations
Authors: Dong Shuai , Yang Zhihua , Zhang Weixi , Zou Kun
Published: February 2023

Dynamic motion primitive has been the most prevalent model-based imitation learning method in the last few decades. Gaussian mixed regression dynamic motion primitive, which draws upon the strengths of both the motion model and the probability model to cope with multiple demonstrations, is a very practical and conspicuous branch in the dynamic motion primitive family. As Gaussian mixed regression dynamic motion primitive only learns from expert demonstrations and requires full environmental information, it is incapable of handling tasks with unmodeled obstacles. Aiming at this problem, we proposed the positive and negative demonstrations-based dynamic motion primitive, for which the introduction of negative demonstrations can bring additional flexibility. Positive and negative demonstrations-based dynamic motion primitive extends Gaussian mixed regression dynamic motion primitive in three aspects. The first aspect is a new maximum log-likelihood function that balances the probabilities on positive and negative demonstrations. The second one is the positive and negative demonstrations-based expectation–maximum, which involves iteratively calculating the lower bound of a new Q-function. And the last is the application framework of data set aggregation for positive and negative demonstrations-based dynamic motion primitive to handle unmodeled obstacles. Experiments on several typical robot manipulating tasks, which include letter writing, obstacle avoidance, and grasping in a grid box, are conducted to validate the performance of positive and negative demonstrations-based dynamic motion primitive.
Femoral morphology in Ortolani’s anatomical collection of developmental dysplasia of the hip: Anteversion is unrelated to severity of infantile dysplasia
Authors: Huayamave Victor , Chambers Tamara , Fantoni Ilaria , Stecco Carla , De Caro Raffaele , Price Charles T.
Published: February 2023

Purpose:

This study evaluated and quantified femoral anteversion and femoral head sphericity in healthy and dysplastic hips of post-mortem infant specimens from Ortolani’s collection.

Methods:

Healthy hips and hips with cases of dysplasia, with a large variety of severity, were preserved. Morphological measurements were taken on 14 specimens (28 hips), with a mean age of 4.68 months. The degree of dysplasia was classified as mild (A) to severe (D); 11 hips were Grade A, 6 hips were Grade B, 7 hips were Grade C, and 4 hips were Grade D. The femoral anteversion angle, the minimum femoral head diameter, and the maximum femoral head diameter were measured. The minimum and maximum femoral head diameters were used to estimate femoral head sphericity.

Results:

The mean femoral anteversion angle was 30.81 degrees ± 11.07 degrees in cases and 29.69 degrees ± 12.69 degrees in controls. There were no significant differences between the normal-to-mild group and moderate-to-severe group when comparing the femoral anteversion angle (p = 0.836). The mean estimated sphericity was 1.08 mm ± 0.50 mm in cases and 0.81 mm ± 0.65 mm in controls, with no statistically significant difference between the groups (p = 0.269).

Conclusion:

Ortolani’s collection showed no significant differences between healthy and dysplastic hips in specimens under 1 year of age. While the femoral head appeared slightly more flattened in dysplastic hips, it was not statistically significant. The findings in the unique collection add to the knowledge of the pathoanatomy of infantile hip dysplasia.

Clinical Relevance:

Femoral anteversion may not play a role in the etiology and pathogenesis of DDH.
A misleading tumor: A rare form of infantile fibromatosis
Authors: El Ouali Ibtissam , Berrada Kenza , Dokal Ibrahima Diallo , Saouab Rachida , El Fenni Jamal , Salaheddine Tariq
Published: February 2023

Infantile fibromatosis is a rare mesenchymal disorder characterized by the fibrous proliferation of the skin, bone, muscle, and viscera. The clinical features vary from solitary to multicentric forms with similar pathological features. Although the tumor is histologically benign, it is a highly infiltrating lesion making the prognosis poor for patients with craniofacial involvement affection due to the major risk of nerve vascular and airway compression syndrome. The solitary form of infantile fibromatosis observed in the dermis, subcutis, or fibromatosis tends to occur predominantly in males and typically affects craniofacial deep soft tissues. We present a case of an unusual symptom presentation and a rarely observed location of a solitary fibromatosis form, affecting the muscle of the forearm and infiltrating the bone in a 12-year-old girl. Imaging findings were suggestive of rhabdomyosarcoma, but histopathology set the diagnosis of an infantile fibromatosis. The patient, then, received chemotherapy, and amputation was proposed due to the inextricability of this benign yet aggressive tumor, an option that was refused by her parents. We discuss through this article the clinical, radiological, and pathological features of this benign yet aggressive condition, the potential differential diagnosis, the prognosis, and treatment options substantiated with concrete examples from the literature.
Book review: Jason Wicks, The Price of Profit: Rethinking Corporate Social Responsibility
Authors: Quinn Kerryanne , Koleva Petya
Published: February 2023

Jason Wicks, The Price of Profit: Rethinking Corporate Social Responsibility. Independently Published, 2018. $72.99, 171pp., (Paperback). ISBN-10: 1980349053; ISBN-13: 978-1980349051
Relationship Between Bone Bruise Volume and Patient Outcomes After ACL Reconstruction
Authors: Galloway Connor , Ward Hallie , Higbie Steven , Kleihege Jacquelyn , Kumaravel Manickam , Lowe Walter R. , Bailey Lane
Published: February 2023

Background:

Subchondral bone injuries, or bone bruises, are commonly observed on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury. The current relationship between bone bruise volume and postsurgical outcomes remains poorly understood.

Purpose:

To examine the influence of bone bruise volume on self-reported and objective functional outcomes at the time of return to play and 2 years following ACL reconstruction.

Study Design:

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

Clinical, surgical, and demographic data were obtained for a sample of convenience utilizing a single-surgeon ACL database (n = 1396). For 60 participants, femoral and tibial bone bruise volumes were estimated from preoperative MRI. Data obtained at the time of return to play included International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC-2000) score, ACL–Return to Sport after Injury (ACL-RSI) score, and performance on an objective functional performance battery. Two-year follow-up data included graft reinjury rate, level of return to sport/activity, and self-reported knee function using the Single Assessment Numeric Evaluation (SANE). The forward stepwise linear regression was used to determine the relationship between bone bruise volume and patient function.

Results:

The distribution of bone bruise injuries was as follows: lateral femoral condyle (76.7%), lateral tibial plateau (88.3%), medial femoral condyle (21.7%), and medial tibial plateau (26.7%). Mean total bone bruise volume of all compartments was 7065.7 ± 6226.6 mm3. At the 2-year follow up, there were no significant associations between total bone bruise volume and time of return to play ( P = .832), IKDC-2000 score ( P = .200), ACL-RSI score ( P = .370), or SANE score ( P = .179).

Conclusion:

The lateral tibial plateau was the most frequent site to sustain bone bruise injury. Preoperative bone bruise volume was not associated with delayed time to return to sport or self-reported outcomes at time of return to play or at 2 years postoperatively.

Registration:

NCT03704376 ( ClinicalTrials.gov identifier).
Associating Outcomes After Hip Arthroscopy With Patient Resilience
Authors: Szukics Patrick F. , Otlans Peters , Meade Matthew , Lynch Jeffrey , Salvo John
Published: February 2023

Background:

Higher patient resilience has been shown to be associated with improved patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) at 6 months after hip arthroscopy.

Purpose:

To examine the relationship between patient resilience and PROMs at minimum 2 years after hip arthroscopy.

Study Design:

Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

Included were 89 patients (mean age, 36.9 years; mean follow-up, 4.6 years). Patient demographics, surgical details, and preoperative International Hip Outcome Tool-12 (iHOT-12) and visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores were collected retrospectively. Postoperative variables were collected via a survey and included the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS), Patient Activation Measure–13 (PAM-13), Pain Self-efficacy Questionnaire–2 (PSEQ-2), VAS satisfaction, and postoperative iHOT-12, and VAS pain scores. Based on the number of standard deviations from the mean BRS score, patients were stratified as having low resilience (LR; n = 18), normal resilience (NR; n = 48), and high resilience (HR; n = 23). Differences in PROMs were compared between the groups, and a multivariate regression analysis was performed to assess the relationship between pre- to postoperative change (Δ) in PROMs and patient resilience.

Results:

There were significantly more smokers in the LR group compared with the NR and HR groups ( P = .033). Compared with the NR and HR groups, patients in the LR group had significantly more labral repairs ( P = .006), significantly worse postoperative iHOT-12, VAS pain, VAS satisfaction, PAM-13, and PSEQ-2 scores ( P < .001 for all), and significantly lower ΔVAS pain and ΔiHOT-12 scores ( P = .01 and .032, respectively). Regression analysis showed significant associations between ΔVAS pain and NR (β = -22.50 [95% CI, -38.81 to -6.19]; P = .008) as well as HR (β = -28.31 [95% CI, -46.96 to -9.67; P = .004) and between ΔiHOT-12 and NR (β = 18.94 [95% CI, 6.33 to 31.55]; P = .004) as well as HR (β = 20.63 [95% CI, 6.21 to 35.05]; P = .006). Male sex was a significant predictor of ΔiHOT-12 (β = -15.05 [95% CI, -25.42 to -4.69]; P = .006).

Conclusion:

The study results indicate that lower postoperative resilience scores were associated with significantly worse PROM scores, including pain and satisfaction, at 2 years after hip arthroscopy.
Bolstering the Public Health Workforce: Recruitment and Retention of Public Health Majors
Authors: Runnerstrom Miryha Gould , Denaro Kameryn , Sato Brian
Published: February 2023

Undergraduate public health programs play a dual role in training the next generation of public health professionals while equipping nonmajors with basic public health knowledge. Our study aimed to understand if introductory public health courses were effective for recruitment and retention of majors. We used 5 years of institutional data to explore the public health course-taking and major enrollment patterns for students who enrolled in two introductory public health courses at a research-intensive, minority-serving institution. For students who enrolled in Principles of Public Health (PH1), 73% went on to take one or more additional public health courses. Trends show that most took Case Studies in Public Health Practice (PH2) after PH1 during their first 2 years in college, and the majority of nonmajors who took PH1 in their second year enrolled in PH2 within one quarter. Seventy-two percent of students who enrolled in both PH1 and PH2 graduated in public health regardless of their major at entry to the university, and 77% of public health graduates joined through a change of major. Importantly, 19% of all students took at least one public health course. Enrollment in both PH1 and PH2 may be important for major recruitment and retention, and efforts to encourage students to consider or stay in the public health major during these courses should be considered. Our analyses highlight that introductory public health courses provide critical opportunities for students to learn about public health and may serve as gateways to the major and possibly a public health career.
A medication-wide association study to identify medications associated with incident clinically significant diabetic retinopathy
Authors: Xiong Ruilin , Wang Wei , Shang Xianwen , Yuan Yixiong , Chen Yifan , Zhang Lei , Kiburg Katerina V , Zhu Zhuoting , He Mingguang
Published: February 2023

Background:

Diabetic retinopathy, a common microvascular complication of diabetes mellitus, is one of the leading causes of vision loss worldwide. Although some oral drugs have been suggested to affect the risk of diabetic retinopathy, systematic evaluation about the associations between medications and diabetic retinopathy is still absent.

Objective:

To comprehensively investigate associations of systemic medications with incident clinically significant diabetic retinopathy (CSDR).

Design:

Population-based cohort study.

Methods:

From 2006 to 2009, more than 26 000 participants residing in New South Wales were enrolled in the 45 and Up study. Diabetic participants with self-reported physician diagnosis or records of anti-diabetic medication prescriptions were finally included in the current analysis. CSDR was defined as diabetic retinopathy cases requiring retinal photocoagulation recorded in the Medicare Benefits Schedule database from 2006 to 2016. Prescriptions of systemic medication from 5 years to 30 days prior to CSDR were retrieved from the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. The study participants were equally split into training and testing datasets. Logistic regression analyses were performed for the association between each of systemic medication and CSDR in the training dataset. After controlling the false discovery rate (FDR), significant associations were further validated in the testing dataset.

Results:

The 10-year incidence of CSDR was 3.9% ( n = 404). A total of 26 systemic medications were found to be positively associated with CSDR, among which 15 were validated by the testing dataset. Additional adjustments for pertinent comorbidities suggested that isosorbide mononitrate (ISMN) (OR: 1.87, 95%CI: 1.00–3.48), calcitriol (OR: 4.08, 95% CI: 2.02–8.24), three insulins and analogues (e.g., intermediate-acting human insulin, OR: 4.28, 95% CI: 1.69–10.8), five anti-hypertensive medications (e.g., furosemide, OR: 2.53, 95% CI: 1.77–3.61), fenofibrate (OR: 1.96, 95% CI: 1.36–2.82) and clopidogrel (OR: 1.72, 95% CI: 1.15–2.58) were independently associated with CSDR.

Conclusion:

This study investigated the association of a full spectrum of systemic medications with incident CSDR. ISMN, calcitriol, clopidogrel, a few subtypes of insulin, anti-hypertensive and cholesterol-lowering medications were found to be associated with incident CSDR.
Developing the Ideal Barrett’s Esophagus Screening Program: Is it Time for Universal Screening?
Authors: Zhang Han , Kahn Allon
Published: February 2023

Esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) is rising in incidence and has a poor 5-year survival. Decades of targeted screening for Barrett’s esophagus (BE), the precursor to EAC, have not appreciably reduced EAC incidence. Here, we review the drawbacks of the current screening paradigm, including overreliance on GERD symptoms and sedated upper endoscopy. We debate the merits of a universal BE screening program. We propose an ideal BE screening strategy combining novel risk stratification models and non-invasive screening techniques to expand selective screening to patients without GERD, but at elevated risk for BE.
Potential role of eNOS and EDN-1 gene polymorphisms in the development and progression of retinopathy of prematurity
Authors: Choręziak-Michalak Aneta , Gotz-Więckowska Anna , Chmielarz-Czarnocińska Anna , Seremak-Mrozikiewicz Agnieszka , Szpecht Dawid
Published: February 2023

The aim of this study was to investigate the association between selected polymorphisms of nitric oxide synthetase (eNOS) and endothelin-1 (EDN-1) with the occurrence and progression of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). A prospective study was conducted on 90 preterm infants (44 female), comparing 39 cases with ROP and 51 controls without ROP. Patients who developed ROP were further divided into two subgroups—those with spontaneous regression of the disease and those with ROP requiring treatment. We found that preterm infants with TT genotype eNOS 894G > T had a 12.8-fold higher risk of developing ROP requiring treatment (p = 0.02). Our results showed that allele T of eNOS894G > T polymorphism was significantly more prevalent in ROP patients requiring treatment (p = 0.029). We also investigated preterm infants with TC genotype eNOS − 786 T > C and found an 8.8-fold higher risk developing of ROP requiring treatment (p = 0.021). Our results didn’t show any association between EDN-1 5665G > T polymorphism and ROP development. The eNOS polymorphisms appears to influence incidence of ROP requiring treatment in preterm infants. Future research on single nucleotide polymorphisms may provide important information about the pathogenetic mechanisms underlying the development of ROP.
Preoperative risk factors predict perioperative allogenic blood transfusion in patients undergoing primary lung cancer resections: a retrospective cohort study from a high-volume thoracic surgery center
Authors: Stoleriu Mircea Gabriel , Gerckens Michael , Zimmermann Julia , Schön Johannes , Damirov Fuad , Samm Nicole , Kovács Julia , Stacher-Priehse Elvira , Kellerer Christina , Jörres Rudolf A. , Kauke Teresa , Ketscher Christian , Grützner Uwe , Hatz Rudolf
Published: February 2023

Background

Our study aimed to identify preoperative predictors for perioperative allogenic blood transfusion (ABT) in patients undergoing major lung cancer resections in order to improve the perioperative management of patients at risk for ABT.

Methods

Patients admitted between 2014 and 2016 in a high-volume thoracic surgery clinic were retrospectively evaluated in a cohort study based on a control group without ABT and the ABT group requiring packed red blood cell units within 15 days postoperatively until discharge. The association of ABT with clinically established parameters (sex, preoperative anemia, liver and coagulation function, blood groups, multilobar resections) was analyzed by contingency tables, receiver operating characteristics (ROC) and logistic regression analysis, taking into account potential covariates.

Results

60 out of 529 patients (11.3%) required ABT. N1 and non-T1 tumors, thoracotomy approach, multilobar resections, thoracic wall resections and Rhesus negativity were more frequent in the ABT group. In multivariable analyses, female sex, preoperative anemia, multilobar resections, as well as serum alanine-aminotransferase levels, thrombocyte counts and Rhesus negativity were identified as independent predictors of ABT, being associated with OR (95% Confidence interval, p-value) of 2.44 (1.23–4.88, p = 0.0112), 18.16 (8.73–37.78, p < 0.0001), 5.79 (2.50–13.38, p < 0.0001), 3.98 (1.73–9.16, p = 0.0012), 2.04 (1.04–4.02, p = 0.0390) and 2.84 (1.23–6.59, p = 0.0150), respectively.

Conclusions

In patients undergoing major lung cancer resections, multiple independent risk factors for perioperative ABT apart from preoperative anemia and multilobar resections were identified. Assessment of these predictors might help to identify high risk patients preoperatively and to improve the strategies that reduce perioperative ABT.
Assessment of redundant randomized clinical trials among patients with ST segment elevation myocardial infarction
Authors: Jia Yuanxi , Liang Jun , Wang Wenyao , Wei Xin , Xiao Shaoming , Robinson Karen A.
Published: February 2023

Background

Redundant clinical trials waste resources and unnecessarily put patients at risk for harm. The objectives of the study were to assess redundant randomized clinical trials (RCTs) conducted in mainland China or the USA among patients with ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and estimate the harm to patients enrolled in redundant RCTs.

Methods

We searched bibliographic databases for eligible RCTs comparing a routine therapy with a placebo or no treatment among patients with STEMI in mainland China or the United States. The routine therapy for STEMI included reperfusion (percutaneous coronary intervention or fibrinolytic therapy), P2Y12 receptor inhibitors, statins, and anticoagulants. Redundant RCTs were defined as those initiated or continued recruiting new patients 1 year after the experimental intervention was established as routine therapy in clinical practice guidelines. Cumulative meta-analyses were conducted to confirm the efficacy of these routine therapies.

The primary outcome was the number of extra major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) attributable to the deprivation of routine therapies among patients in the control groups of redundant RCTs—that is, the number of extra MACEs that could have been prevented had these patients received routine therapy.

Results

Nine hundred eighty-three eligible RCTs conducted in mainland China were identified, of which 775 (78.8%) were redundant. None of the five eligible RCTs conducted in the United States were redundant. All redundant RCTs have reiterated the benefits of routine therapies for patients with STEMI, while none were cited by the 2019 clinical practice guideline for the management of STEMI.

The 18,819 patients in the control groups of redundant RCTs experienced 3305 (95% CI: 3169–3441) extra MACEs, including 1091 (1014–1165) deaths, 576 (519–633) recurrent myocardial infarctions, 31 (19–42) revascularizations, 39 (23–54) strokes, 744 (679–810) heart failures, and 823 (754–893) patients with recurrent or exacerbated angina pectoris. Cumulative meta-analyses confirmed the efficacy of the routine therapies among patients in mainland China and supported using practice guidelines to define redundant RCTs.

Conclusions

Redundant RCTs conducted in mainland China have resulted in unnecessary MACEs among patients with STEMI. While the reasons behind redundant RCTs need to be further investigated, these results suggest potential research waste and violation of research ethics.
Pan-cancer analysis of the prognostic and immunological role of SNX29: a potential target for survival and immunotherapy
Authors: Xu Chengfei , Li Fanghan , Liu Zilin , Yan Chuanjing , Xiao Jiangwei
Published: February 2023

Background

There is growing evidence that the SNX family is critical for clinical prognosis, immune infiltration and drug sensitivity in many types of tumors. The relationships between the SNX29 gene and clinical prognosis as well as pan-cancer cell infiltration and drug sensitivity have not been fully elucidated.

Methods

In the current study, we explored the correlation between SNX29 expression and 33 types of malignancies via TCGA and GTEx. The relationship between SNX29 expression and prognostic outcome in the pan-caner cohort was also analyzed. Immune infiltration, microsatellite instability, tumor mutational burden and potential therapeutic targets of SNX29 were investigated by analyzing public databases.

Results

The expression of SNX29 was found to be significantly upregulated in most tumor tissues compared to normal tissues. SNX29 expression was associated with prognosis and clinical stage. In the immune infiltration analysis, a significant relationship was found between SNX29 expression and the level of immune infiltration. In addition, we found associations between the SNX29 gene and tumor mutation burden, microsatellite instability, immunoinhibition-related genes and autophagy-related genes. Finally, the expression of SNX29 was significantly associated with the sensitivity of various tumor cell lines to 8 antitumor drugs. These results suggest that SNX29 expression is important in determining the progression, immune infiltration and drug sensitivity of various cancers.

Conclusion

This study provides novel insights into the potential pan-cancer targets of SNX29.
C57Bl/6N mice have an attenuated lung inflammatory response to dsRNA compared to C57Bl/6J and BALB/c mice
Authors: Malm Tillgren Sofia , Nieto-Fontarigo Juan José , Cerps Samuel , Ramu Sangeetha , Menzel Mandy , Mahmutovic Persson Irma , Meissner Anja , Akbarshahi Hamid , Uller Lena
Published: February 2023

Background

Lower respiratory infections caused by ssRNA viruses are a major health burden globally. Translational mouse models are a valuable tool for medical research, including research on respiratory viral infections. In in vivo mouse models, synthetic dsRNA can be used as a surrogate for ssRNA virus replication. However, studies investigating how genetic background of mice impacts the murine lung inflammatory response to dsRNA is lacking. Hence, we have compared lung immunological responses of BALB/c, C57Bl/6N and C57Bl/6J mice to synthetic dsRNA.

Methods

dsRNA was administered intranasally to BALB/c, C57Bl/6N and C57Bl/6J mice once/day for three consecutive days. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity, inflammatory cells, and total protein concentration were analyzed in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Pattern recognition receptors levels (TLR3, MDA5 and RIG-I) were measured in lung homogenates using RT-qPCR and western blot. Gene expression of IFN-β, TNF-α, IL-1β and CXCL1 was assessed in lung homogenates by RT-qPCR. ELISA was used to analyze protein concentrations of CXCL1 and IL-1β in BALF and lung homogenates.

Results

BALB/c and C57Bl/6J mice showed infiltration of neutrophils to the lung, and an increase in total protein concentration and LDH activity in response to dsRNA administration. Only modest increases in these parameters were observed for C57Bl/6N mice. Similarly, dsRNA administration evoked an upregulation of MDA5 and RIG-I gene and protein expression in BALB/c and C57Bl/6J, but not C57Bl/6N, mice. Further, dsRNA provoked an increase in gene expression of TNF-α in BALB/c and C57Bl/6J mice, IL-1β only in C57Bl/6N mice and CXCL1 exclusively in BALB/c mice. BALF levels of CXCL1 and IL-1β were increased in BALB/c and C57Bl/6J mice in response to dsRNA, whereas the response of C57Bl/6N was blunt. Overall, inter-strain comparisons of the lung reactivity to dsRNA revealed that BALB/c, followed by C57Bl/6J, had the most pronounced respiratory inflammatory responses, while the responses of C57Bl/6N mice were attenuated.

Conclusions

We report clear differences of the lung innate inflammatory response to dsRNA between BALB/c, C57Bl/6J and C57Bl/6N mice. Of particular note, the highlighted differences in the inflammatory response of C57Bl/6J and C57Bl/6N substrains underscore the value of strain selection in mouse models of respiratory viral infections.
Advances in pelvic imaging parameters predicting surgical difficulty in rectal cancer
Authors: Zhang Qingbai , Wei Jiufeng , Chen Hongsheng
Published: February 2023

Due to the fixed bony structure of the pelvis, the pelvic operation space is limited, complicating the surgical operation of rectal cancer, especially middle and low rectal cancer. The closer the tumor is to the anal verge, the smaller the operative field and operating space, the longer the operative time, and the greater the incidence of intraoperative side injuries and postoperative complications. To date, there is still no clear definition of a difficult pelvis that affects the surgical operation of rectal cancer. Few related research reports exist in the literature, and views on this aspect are not the same between countries. Therefore, it is particularly important to predict the difficulty of rectal cancer surgery in a certain way before surgery and to select the surgical method most suitable for each case during the treatment of rectal cancer.
LINC00313 promotes the proliferation and inhibits the apoptosis of chondrocytes via regulating miR-525-5p/GDF5 axis
Authors: He Wen , Lin Xuchao
Published: February 2023

Background

The present study aimed to explore the potentials of lncRNA LINC00313 in osteoarthritis (OA).

Methods

qRT-PCR was performed to detect the expression of LINC00313 in OA tissues and cells. CCK-8 and EDU were used to detect cell proliferation. The ELISA test kit was conducted to detect the expression of inflammatory factors. Flow cytometry was used to detect the apoptosis rates. Western blot was applied to measure the protein expression. The luciferase reporter gene test was carried out to verify the relationship between miR-525-5p and LINC00313 or GDF5.

Results

The data showed that the expression of LINC00313 was significantly down-regulated in OA tissues and cells. Functionally, LINC00313 promoted the proliferation of chondrocytes and suppressed the secretion of inflammatory factors and cell apoptosis. Moreover, LINC00313 functioned as a ceRNA to up-regulate the expression of GDF5 via sponging miR-525-5p. Luciferase and RNA pull-down assays further verified the interaction between miR-525-5p and LINC00313 (or GDF5). Moreover, overexpression of miR-525-5p or down-regulated GDF5 degraded the cellular functions of chondrocyte. Rescue experiments showed that the overexpression of miR-525-5p reversed the increase in cell viability and the decrease in pro-inflammatory factors and apoptosis rate mediated by LINC00313. The knockdown of GDF5 reversed the promotion of miR-525-5p knockdown on cell viability and the inhibition of pro-inflammatory factors and apoptosis rate.

Conclusions

LINC00313 inhibited the development of OA through regulating miR-525-5p/GDF5 axis. LncRNA LINC00313 can be used as a potential target for the treatment of OA.
All-inside versus complete tibial tunnel techniques in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Lv XiaoYu , Wang Ming , Zhao TianYu , Wang Ling , Dong ShuangBin , Tan HongBo
Published: February 2023

Background

All-inside anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) is a novel technique that has gained attention due to its minimally invasive. However, evidence surrounding the efficacy and safety between all-inside and complete tibial tunnel ACLR are lacking. Present work was aimed to compare clinical outcome for ACLR performed with an all-inside versus a complete tibial tunnel technique.

Methods

Systematic searches were conducted of published literature on PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane for studies according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines up to May 10, 2022. The outcomes included KT-1000 arthrometer ligament laxity test, International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) subjective score, Lysholm score, Tegner activity scale, and Knee Society Score (KSS) Scale, and tibial tunnel widening. Complications of interest extracted were graft re-ruptures and evaluated the graft re-rupture rate. Data from published RCTs meeting inclusion criteria were extracted and analyzed, and all the extracted data are pooled and analyzed by RevMan 5.3.

Results

A total of 8 randomized controlled trials involving 544 patients (consisting of 272 all-inside and 272 complete tibial tunnel patients) were included in the meta-analysis. We found clinical outcomes (International Knee Documentation Committee [IKDC] subjective score: mean difference [MD], 2.22; 95% CI, 0.23–4.22; p = 0.03; Lysholm score: MD, 1.09; 95% CI, 0.25–1.93; p = 0.01; Tegner activity scale: MD, 0.41; 95% CI, 0.11–0.71; p < 0.01; Tibial Tunnel Widening: MD = − 1.92; 95% CI, − 3.58 to − 0.25; p = 0.02; knee laxity: MD = 0.66; 95% CI, 0.12–1.20; p = 0.02; and graft re-rupture rate: RR, 1.97;95% CI, 0.50–7.74; P = 0.33) in the all-inside and complete tibial tunnel group. The findings also indicated that all-inside may be more advantageous in tibial tunnel healing.

Conclusion

Our meta-analysis indicated that the all-inside ACLR was superior to complete tibial tunnel ACLR in functional outcomes and tibial tunnel widening. However, the all-inside ACLR was not entirely superior to complete tibial tunnel ACLR in knee laxity measured, and graft re-rupture rate.
Current trajectory image-based protection algorithm for transmission lines connected to MMC-HVDC stations using CA-CNN
Authors: Liang Yingyu , Ren Yi , Yu Jinhua , Zha Wenting
Published: February 2023

In the presence of an MMC-HVDC system, current differential protection (CDP) has the risk of failure in operation under an internal fault. In addition, CDP may also incur security issues in the presence of current transformer (CT) saturation and outliers. In this paper, a current trajectory image-based protection algorithm is proposed for AC lines connected to MMC-HVDC stations using a convolution neural network improved by a channel attention mechanism (CA-CNN). Taking the dual differential currents as two-dimensional coordinates of the moving point, the moving-point trajectories formed by differential currents have significant differences under internal and external faults. Therefore, internal faults can be identified using image recognition based on CA-CNN. This is improved by a channel attention mechanism, data augmentation, and adaptive learning rate. In comparison with other machine learning algorithms, the feature extraction ability and accuracy of CA-CNN are greatly improved. Various fault conditions like different network structures, operation modes, fault resistances, outliers, and current transformer saturation, are fully considered to verify the superiority of the proposed protection algorithm. The results confirm that the proposed current trajectory image-based protection algorithm has strong learning and generalizability, and can identify internal faults reliably.
Adult Cancer-Related Emergency Department Utilization: An Analysis of Trends and Outcomes From Emergency Departments in Maryland and New York
Authors: Christodoulou Ilias , Ukert Benjamin , Vavuranakis Michael A. , Kum Hye-Chung , Giannouchos Theodoros V.
Published: February 2023

PURPOSE

To explore emergency department (ED) visits by adults with cancer and to estimate associations between inpatient admissions through the ED and mortality with sociodemographic and clinical factors within this cohort.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective, pooled, cross-sectional analysis of the Healthcare Cost and Utilization State Emergency Department Databases and State Inpatient Databases for Maryland and New York from January 2013 to December 2017. We examined inpatient admissions through the ED and mortality using frequencies. Among patients with cancer, multivariable regressions were used to estimate sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with inpatient admissions and outpatient ED and inpatient mortality overall.

RESULTS

Among 22.7 million adult ED users, 1.3 million (5.7%) had at least one cancer-related diagnosis. ED visit rates per 100,000 population increased annually throughout the study period for patients with cancer and were 9.9% higher in 2017 compared with 2013 (2013: 303.5; 2017: 333.6). Having at least one inpatient admission (68.7% v 20.5%; P < .001) and inpatient or ED mortality (6.5% v 1.0%; P < .001) were higher among ED users with cancer compared with those without. Among patients with cancer, being uninsured (adjusted odds ratio, 0.52; 95% CI, 0.44 to 0.62) compared with having Medicare coverage and non-Hispanic Black (adjusted odds ratio, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.80 to 0.92) compared with non-Hispanic White were associated with decreased odds of inpatient admissions. In contrast, patients with cancer without health insurance, non-Hispanic Black patients, and residents of nonlarge metropolitan areas and of areas with lower household incomes had increased odds of mortality.

CONCLUSION

High inpatient admissions through the ED and mortality among adult patients with cancer, coupled with an increase in cancer-related ED visit rates and observed disparities in outcomes, highlight the need to improve access to oncologic services to contain ED use and improve care for patients with cancer.
To evaluate and compare the effect of 17% EDTA, 10% citric acid, 7% maleic acid on the dentinal tubule penetration depth of bio ceramic root canal sealer using confocal laser scanning microscopy: an in vitro study
Authors: Shekhar Shivangi , Mallya P. Laxmish , Ballal Vasudev , Shenoy Ramya
Published: February 2023

Background: The main factors that affect the success of an endodontic infection are effective cleaning and shaping of the root canal system including complete disinfection by using chemical irrigating solutions and obturation with an endodontic sealer to provide a fluid-tight seal. Using rotary and hand instruments for shaping and cleaning the root canal along with irrigants produces a smear layer on the surface of the root dentin affecting the penetration of the endodontic sealer into the dentinal tubules. This smear is difficult to remove with the use of only endodontic irrigants, hence, chelating agents were introduced in adjunct with irrigating solutions for irrigation protocol for effective removal of smear layer which affect the penetration of endodontic sealers into the dentinal tubules.

Methods: 32 mandibular premolar teeth were used. The biomechanical preparation was done till Protaper F3 size. Irrigation was done with 2.5 mL sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) solution after each instrumentation change for 1 min. Samples were then divided into 4 groups according to the irrigating solution used as the final rinse used with passive ultrasonic agitation. The groups were: Group I: 5 ml of saline, Group II: 5ml of 17% ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, Group III: 5 ml of 10% citric acid, Group IV: 5 ml of 7% maleic acid each for one minute. All the canals were obturated with BioRoot tmRCS with gutta-percha using the ultrasonic condensation technique. For staining the samples for Confocal LASER microscopy, BioRoot tmRCS was mixed with Rhodamine B dye.

Results: The maximum penetration of bio-ceramic sealer was observed in the coronal region. At the apical third, the maximum sealer penetration was seen with 7% maleic acid.

Conclusions: Maximum sealer penetration was seen in the coronal section followed by the middle and apical section. Maximum sealer penetration was seen with 7 % maleic acid at the apical third.
Fractional spinal anesthesia and systemic hemodynamics in frail elderly hip fracture patients
Authors: Olsen Fredrik , Hård af Segerstad Mathias , Dalla Keti , Ricksten Sven-Erik , Nellgård Bengt
Published: February 2023

Background: Systemic haemodynamic effects of intrathecal anaesthesia in an aging and frail population has not been well investigated. We examined the systemic haemodynamics of fractional spinal anaesthesia following intermittent microdosing of a local anaesthetic and an opioid.

Methods: We included 15 patients aged over 65 with significant comorbidities, planned for hip fracture repair. Patients received a spinal catheter and cardiac output monitoring using the LiDCOplus system. All measurements were performed prior to start of surgery. Invasive mean arterial pressure (MAP), cardiac index (CI), systemic vascular resistance index (SVRI), heart rate and stroke volume index (SVI) were registered. Two doses of bupivacaine 2.25 mg and fentanyl 15 µg were administered with 25-minute intervals. Hypotension was defined as a fall in MAP by >30% or a MAP <65 mmHg.

Results: The incidence of hypotension was 30%. Hypotensive patients (n=5) were treated with low doses of norepinephrine (0.01-0.12 µg/kg/min). MAP showed a maximum reduction of 17% at 10 minutes following the first dose. CI, systemic vascular resistance index and stroke volume index decreased by 10%, 6%, and 7%, respectively, while heart rate was unchanged over time. After the second dose, none of the systemic haemodynamic variables were affected.

Conclusions: Fractional spinal anaesthesia administered prior to surgery induced a minor to moderate fall in MAP, mainly caused by a reduction in cardiac output, induced by systemic venodilation, causing a fall in venous return. Our results are contrary to the widely held belief that hypotension is mainly the result of a reduction of systemic vascular resistance.
Pharmaceutical policy and innovation for rare diseases: A narrative review
Authors: Alonso Ruiz Adrián , Large Kaitlin , Moon Suerie , Vieira Marcela
Published: February 2023

This article aims to synthesize the existing literature on the implementation of public policies to incentivize the development of treatments for rare diseases (which are diseases with very low prevalence and therefore with low commercial interest) otherwise known as orphan drugs. The implementation of these incentives in the 1980s in the United States (US), later in Japan, and in the European Union (EU) seems to be related to a substantial increase in treatments for these diseases, and has influenced the way the pharmaceutical research & development (R&D) system operates beyond this area. In spite of this success, the academic literature also highlights the negative implications that these public policies have on affordability and access to orphan drugs, as well as on the prioritization of certain rare disease areas over others.

The synthesis focuses mostly on the United States’ Orphan Drug Act (ODA) as a model for subsequent policies in other regions and countries. It starts with a historical overview of the creation of the term “rare diseases”, continues with a summary of the evidence available on the US ODA’s positive and negative impacts, and provides a summary of the different proposals to reform these incentives in light of the negative outcomes described. Finally, it describes some key aspects of the Japanese and European policies, as well as some of the challenges captured in the literature related to their impact in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs).
BUILDING A VIRTUAL COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE - A CASE STUDY ON PARENT COUNSELLORS IN ROMANIAN DISADVANTAGED AREAS
Authors: Botnariuc Petre , Tibu Dr. speranta
Published: February 2023

The article analyses the development and performance a virtual community of practitioners in the field of parent counselling as part of a blended professional development program. This is part of the ‘Education Priority Areas - EPA’ project (2011-2012) funded by UNICEF in partnership with the Ministry of Education, Research, Youth and Sports (MERYS), Institute of Education Sciences (IES) and the network of County Centres for Resources and Educational Assistance (CCREA) aiming to support families with pupils in risk of drop-out. The training program (both face–to-face and at distance) is part of the methodological approach proposed by the IES based on the EPA model implemented earlier in UK and France, adapted for Romanian disadvantaged communities. The direct beneficiaries of the program are school counsellors and teachers working in schools with a high rate of drop-out. Parents’ counselling is an important piece of an integrated intervention program (management, didactics, counselling) to support schools, families and pupils in preventing school drop-out. By the mean of the IES online training platform (training.ise.ro) a virtual learning community was built in order to facilitate the communication between the practitioners, the peer learning and to support them through online tutoring and coaching for parent counselling activities. We start by presenting the aim, structure, type of learning and coaching activities, then we analyse the developed community of practice against a set of social, psycho-pedagogical, technical and managerial criteria according to an integrated model adapted after Conole (2007), Lesser & Storck (2003), McDermott (1999), Palloff & Pratt (1999). Conclusions are drawn in respect with improvement measures of the virtual community in order to better support the recurrent EPA parent counselling interventions.
SUPPORTING SCHOOL GUIDANCE AND COUNSELLING INTERVENTIONS THROUGH THE INTEGRATION OF WEB 2.0 TECHNOLOGIES
Authors: Botnariuc Petre
Published: February 2023

The article presents the results of a research run by the Institute of Education Sciences – Department of Educational Counselling and Management in 2011 on the integration of the ICT tools in the activity of the guidance counsellors from different schools around the country. The article starts with a short overview of the way the web 2.0 tools are used in guidance counselling in other countries and what expectations are set for these new tools. Then the data collected on the use of web 2.0 tools are presented and analysed against the role of the guidance counsellors in the school context.
The research involved a number of practitioners in the field of career guidance in a training course with a pre- and post- self-assessment of the different ICT competences related to the guidance tasks. The aim was to identify how good are the counsellors in using wiki pages (wikipedia, google docs, other wiki sites), to assess and improve their ability to support a group of pupils to create a wiki project regarding study and employment opportunities, to create a thematically blog on a specific topic, to help pupils to participate in online decision making groups through web 2.0 tools, to collaborate with other practitioners at national or international level in order to build a database with relevant information, or their ability to teach certain counselling related topics and to use content management tools or self assessment on-line interest or skills questionnaires (ie. surveymonkey). The article ends with a set of specific recommendations for stakeholders in the national education system and new research and development areas to be approach forward.