bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Body weight and sex effects on digesta mean retention time in growing Saanen goats
Authors: Gindri Marcelo , Leite Rafael Fernandes , Härter Carla Joice , da Silva Simone Pedro , St-Pierre Normand , Fernandes Márcia Helena Machado da Rocha , Berchielli Telma Teresinha , Teixeira Izabelle Auxiliadora Molina de Almeida
Published: March 2020

Despite the important role of digesta mean retention time (MRT) on digestive efficiency of ruminants, it is poorly investigated in total gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of growing ruminants, especially in goats. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of body weight (BW) and sex on GIT MRT of particles and solutes in growing Saanen goats. A dataset from two studies, comprising 103 individual records of castrated males (n = 36), females (n = 34), and intact males (n = 33) Saanen goats slaughtered at 15, 22, 30, 37, and 45 kg BW, was used. Goats were fed basically with total mixed ration composed by dehydrated corn plant (Zea mays) milled to pass a 10-mm screen, cracked corn grain, and soybean (Glycine max) meal. Variables evaluated were BW, feed intake, feed intake level, composition of ingested diet, wet weight of GIT tissues, wet digesta pool size, digesta composition (dry matter and neutral detergent fiber [NDF]), indigestible NDF:NDF ratio of ingested diet and GIT digesta, MRT of particles (MRTiNDF) and solutes (MRTCr), and reticulorumen selectivity factors (large particles/solutes). Reticulorumen, omasum, abomasum, small intestine, cecum, and colon–rectum segments were evaluated. The dataset was analyzed as mixed models considering sex, BW, and sex × BW interaction as fixed effects, and study and residual error as random effects. Sex did not affect MRTiNDF in any GIT segments. Females and intact males presented similar reticulorumen MRTCr (5.6 h; P = 0.92) and they presented lower reticulorumen MRTCr than castrated males (7.0; P ≤ 0.04). Total GIT MRTCr was similar between castrated males and females (15.7 h; P = 0.11) and between females and intact males (14.2 h; P = 0.76). Body weight (BW) did not affect MRTiNDF in reticulorumen and colon–rectum and total GIT MRTCr (P ≥ 0.11). Reticulorumen and omasum MRTCr increased as BW increased (P < 0.01), and abomasum MRTCr decreased as BW increased (P = 0.02). Feed intake, and wet tissues and wet pool size of all GIT segments increased as BW increased, except abomasum wet pool size (P ≤ 0.01). The mechanism related to sex effect on MRT has to be elucidated. Reticulorumen MRTiNDF and total GIT MRTCr were modulated by intake and capacity of reticulorumen and GIT, respectively. On the other hand, reticulorumen MRTCr seemed to be regulated by reticulo-omasal orifice opening and saliva secretion.
Age Inclusive Human Resource Practices, Age Diversity Climate, and Work Ability: Exploring Between- and Within-Person Indirect Effects
Authors: Rudolph Cort W , Zacher Hannes
Published: March 2020

To address the challenges imposed by demographic change, organizations have become increasingly interested in maintaining and improving employees’ work ability across the working life span. Based on signaling and social exchange theories, we present a study that investigates the indirect influence of age inclusive human resource practices (AIHRP) on work ability through age diversity climate (ADC). Using a 6-wave longitudinal study of n = 355 employees, we model between- and within-person mediated effects using a random intercept cross-lagged panel model. The results of this analysis partially support our mediation hypothesis. Specifically, we found evidence that ADC mediates the influence of AIHRP on work ability at the between-, but not at the within-person level of analysis. These findings have implications for the development of human resource practices that benefit employees at various ages.
Associations Among Childhood Household Dysfunction, Sexual Orientation, and DSM-5 Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Substance Use Disorders in Adulthood: Evidence From a National U.S. Survey
Authors: McCabe Sean Esteban , Hughes Tonda L. , West Brady T. , Evans-Polce Rebecca , Veliz Phil , Dickinson Kara , Hoak Sebastian , Boyd Carol J.
Published: March 2020

Objectives:

This study examined the associations between childhood household dysfunction and adulthood past-year DSM-5 alcohol, tobacco, and other substance use disorders across sexual orientation subgroups (eg, lesbian/gay, bisexual, and heterosexual).

Methods:

Prevalence estimates were based on National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC-III) data collected from structured diagnostic face-to-face interviews in a nationally representative sample of 36,309 U.S. adults. Multivariable regression was used to examine associations between childhood household dysfunction and past-year substance use disorders in adulthood.

Results:

Sexual minorities, particularly sexual minority women, reported higher rates of childhood household dysfunction (eg, parental/household history of substance-related problems) and adulthood DSM-5 alcohol, tobacco, and substance use disorders. Results of multivariable analyses indicated that childhood histories of parental/household substance-related problems were associated with greater odds of past-year substance use disorders among sexual minorities than heterosexuals, and that such histories may moderate differences among sexual orientation subgroups. The risk of substance use disorders among sexual minority women relative to exclusively heterosexual women (ie, heterosexual-identified women without same-sex attraction or behavior) remained high, even when accounting for household dysfunction. In contrast, there were no such differences between sexual minority men and exclusively heterosexual men.

Conclusions:

Sexual minorities are more likely to have childhood household dysfunction which in turn is associated with a higher risk of developing DSM-5 alcohol, tobacco, and substance use disorders in adulthood, especially among sexual minority women. Healthcare providers who care for individuals raised in dysfunctional households should carefully assess risk for substance use disorders and intervene as needed.
Surgical Outcomes of Postural Instability in Patients With Cervical Myelopathy
Authors: Yano Toma , Fujishiro Takashi , Obo Takuya , Mori Katsunori , Hayama Sachio , Nakaya Yoshiharu , Nakano Atsushi , Baba Ichiro , Neo Masashi
Published: March 2020

Study Design:

This is a retrospective study.

Objective:

The objective of this study was to investigate the surgical outcomes of postural instability and its predictors in patients with cervical myelopathy (CM).

Summary of Background Data:

Although several studies have shown impaired postural stability in CM patients, there remains a paucity of literature examining its surgical outcome.

Materials and Methods:

Postural stability was assessed using a stabilometer preoperatively, at the early phase (3–6 months postoperatively), and 1-year postoperatively, employing 2 stabilometric parameters: sway area [SwA (cm2): the amount of sway of gravity center assessed by the outer peripheral area of the stabilogram] and sway density [SwD (/cm): the indicator of proprioceptive reflexes calculated by the locus length of the stabilogram per SwA]. Twenty-seven healthy age-matched, sex-matched, and body mass index-matched subjects were recruited as controls. To investigate the predictors of postoperative postural instability, univariate, and multivariate analyses were performed, including demographic data, preoperative neurological symptom severity, radiographic findings, and preoperative stabilometric parameters as independent variables.

Results:

Altogether, 54 CM patients were included in the present study. SwA was 7.89±0.84, 4.78±0.68, and 4.85±0.49, and SwD was 14.63±0.85, 20.41±1.23, and 19.36±1.40 preoperatively, at the early phase, and 1-year postoperatively, respectively, and significant improvement was found in both parameters postoperatively. However, at all timepoints, these parameters were significantly worse in CM patients than in the healthy subjects (SwA: 2.68±0.24, SwD: 24.91±1.83). Multivariate analyses showed that worse preoperative stabilometric parameters were significantly related to worse postoperative stabilometric parameters.

Conclusions:

Surgery significantly improved postural stability in CM patients; however, it did not reach the level observed in healthy controls, even postoperatively. A predictor of greater residual postoperative postural instability was a greater level of preoperative postural instability. In CM patients, to achieve better surgical outcome of postural stability, surgical intervention is recommended before the symptoms related to bodily imbalance deteriorate.

Level of Evidence:

Level III.
Rian/miR-210-3p/Nfkb1 Feedback Loop Promotes Hypoxia-Induced Cell Apoptosis in Myocardial Infarction Through Deactivating the PI3K/Akt Signaling Pathway
Authors: Zhong Lihua , Jia Jing , Ye Guohui
Published: March 2020

Myocardial infarction (MI) is a severe disease that could lead to reversible or irreversible ischemic heart damage. A previous study has revealed that microRNA mmu-miR-210-3p expression is downregulated in fat-1 transgenic mice post-MI. Nevertheless, the specific mechanism of miR-210-3p in MI remains obscure. In this study, we observed that miR-210-3p expression was downregulated in the mice's left ventricle post-MI, and miR-210-3p expression was suppressed while cell apoptosis was promoted in H9c2 cells under hypoxia condition. Besides, miR-210-3p overexpression could enhance cell proliferation and inhibit cell apoptosis in hypoxia-treated H9c2 cells. Then, molecular mechanism assays revealed that miR-210-3p overexpression could activate the PI3K/Akt pathway, and nuclear factor of kappa light polypeptide gene enhancer in B cells 1 (Nfkb1) was the target of miR-210-3p. In addition, RNA imprinted and accumulated in nucleus (Rian), a long noncoding RNA, could sponge miR-210-3p to upregulate Nfkb1 expression. Besides, Nfkb1 was verified to facilitate the transcription of Rian by binding with a Rian promoter. Furthermore, rescue assays revealed that both Nfkb1 and PI3K/Akt pathway are engaged in the Rian-mediated cell proliferation and apoptosis in hypoxia-treated H9c2 cells. In conclusion, a Rian/miR-210-3p/Nfkb1 feedback loop enhances hypoxia-induced cell apoptosis in MI through deactivating the PI3K/Akt pathway.
Distribution and linkage disequilibrium of the enhancer SNP rs5758550 among Latin American populations: influence of continental ancestry
Authors: Elias Anna Beatriz Ribeiro , Araújo Gilderlanio Santana de , de Souza Sandro José , Suarez-Kurtz Guilherme
Published: March 2020

Objectives

A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), rs5758550, in a critical enhancer region downstream of the CYP2D6 promoter was proposed to modulate CYP2D6 activity, depending on its linkage disequilibrium (LD) with the common CYP2D6 SNP, rs16947. We examined the influence of individual biogeographical ancestry on the frequency distribution of rs5758550 and its LD with rs16947 in Latin American populations. We then inferred the impact of rs5758550 on the predictive accuracy of CYP2D6 metabolizer status based on CYP2D6 haplotypes.

Methods

The study cohorts consisted of the Admixed American (AMR) superpopulation of the 1000 Genomes Project (n = 347) plus an admixed Brazilian (BR) cohort (N = 224). Individual proportions of Native, African and European ancestry estimated by ADMIXTURE analysis, were used to design four sub-cohorts, in which one of the three ancestral roots predominated largely (>6 fold) over the other two: AMR-NAT and AMR-EUR, comprised 80 AMR individuals each, with >70% Native or >70% European ancestry, BR-EUR and BR-AFR comprised Brazilians with >90% European (n = 80) or >70% African ancestry (n = 64), respectively. CYP2D6 haplotypes were inferred based on 10 commonly reported CYPD6 variants with or without addition of the enhancer rs5758550 SNP, pairwise LD was assessed by the R2 parameter, and activity scores were used to infer CYP2D6 metabolizer status.

Results

Minor allele frequency (MAF) of all CYP2D6 SNPs, except the rare (<0.02) rs5030656 and rs35742688, differed significantly across sub-cohorts, whereas no difference was observed for rs5758550. The R2 values for LD between rs5758550 and rs16947 ranged from 0.15 (BR-AFR) to 0.85 (AMR-NAT), with intermediate values in the predominantly European sub-cohorts (0.34–0.67). As a consequence, distribution of CYP2D6 haplotypes containing the rs16947 SNP plus rs5758550 wild-type (A) or variant (G) allele differed markedly across sub-cohorts. Comparison of the CYP2D6 activity scores assigned to the wild-type (CYP2D6*1) and the rs16947-containing haplotypes with or without inclusion of rs5758550, showed that knowledge of the rs5758550 genotype has negligible impact on predicted CYP2D6 phenotypes in AMR-EUR and AMR-NAT, but affects prediction in 10.7 and 21.6% of BR-EUR and BR-AFR individuals, respectively.

Conclusion

Collectively, the present results reveal potential pharmacogenomic (PGx) implications of the population diversity in Latin America, affecting a major drug-metabolizing pathway. Thus, the influence of enhancer rs5758550 on assignment of CYP2D6 metabolic phenotypes varies markedly, according to the individual proportions of Native, European and African ancestry. This conclusion reinforces the notion that extrapolation of PGx data across the heterogeneous Latin American is risky, if not inappropriate.
Scheimpflug Corneal Densitometry Changes After the Intrastromal Corneal Ring Segment Implantation
Authors: Sedaghat Mohammad-Reza , Momeni-Moghaddam Hamed , Heravian Javad , Belin Michael W. , Ambrósio Renato , Gheysari-Alishahi Tayebe , Ghavami Seyyed Hossein
Published: March 2020

Purpose:

To investigate the changes in corneal backward scattering using Scheimpflug tomography (densitometry) 6 months after intrastromal corneal ring segments (Keraring) implant for keratoconus and to correlate with clinical results.

Methods:

Along with standard ophthalmic examination, Scheimpflug tomography using Pentacam HR was performed to document corneal densitometry and corneal shape. A densitometry map was displayed using grayscale units (GSUs) ranging from 0 to 100 (minimum to maximum light scattering) in 4 concentric annuluses: central 2-, 2- to 6-, 6- to 10-, 10- to 12-, and total 12-mm corneal diameter and at 3 different depths: anterior 120 μm, posterior 60 μm, middle (varying accordingly to the total thickness), and total thickness.

Results:

The changes in mean corneal densitometry values for anterior, central, and posterior layers were 3.82 ± 3.13, 2.70 ± 1.78, and 1.68 ± 1.52 GSU, respectively, and for annuluses of 0 to 2, 2 to 6, 6 to 10, and 10 to 12 mm were 2.96 ± 2.60, 4.53 ± 2.28, 2.09 ± 1.74, and 0.45 ± 3.93 GSU, respectively. The mean values increased for all corneal layers (P < 0.05), except in the peripheral 10- to 12-mm annulus (P> 0.05). The highest increase was in the annulus 2 to 6 mm of the anterior layer (5.72 ± 3.70 GSU). Changes in the mean densitometry showed a significant correlation with the mean of average keratometry changes only for the front corneal surface and changes in the Q-values for both corneal surfaces in the 2- to 6-mm annulus for all layers.

Conclusions:

Significant increase in the corneal densitometry mainly in the anterior 2- to 6-mm annulus of the cornea is associated with the position of the ring segment implant. More studies are needed to elucidate the relevance of such findings.
Corneal Densitometry in Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Ramm Lisa , Spoerl Eberhard , Pillunat Lutz E. , Terai Naim
Published: March 2020

Purpose:

Chronic hyperglycemia induces morphological and functional changes of the cornea. Corneal clarity is essential for visual function, and the measurement of corneal optical density (COD) might provide further information on diabetes mellitus (DM)–induced alterations.

Methods:

COD of patients with DM and age-matched healthy subjects was measured using the Pentacam HR. Furthermore, central and thinnest corneal thickness and peripheral pachymetry of concentric circles around thinnest corneal thickness were investigated. In DM, information on disease duration, type, presence of diabetic retinopathy and maculopathy, and HbA1c value was recorded.

Results:

In this study, 76 patients with DM and 65 healthy subjects were included. In patients with DM, the COD values of nearly all corneal layers and zones were reduced in comparison with healthy subjects (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the COD measurements were inversely correlated with the HbA1c value (total COD central layer: r = −0.424, P = 0.044) and stage of diabetic retinopathy (total COD: r = −0.271, P = 0.019). Diabetic patients with maculopathy revealed lower total COD values than patients without maculopathy (16.5 ± 5.6 vs. 21 ± 7.6, P = 0.031), and COD was lower in DM type 1 than in type 2 (16.1 ± 5.1 vs. 20.8 vs. 7.5, P = 0.035). In both groups, the COD values increased with age (patients with DM: r = 0.336, P = 0.003; healthy subjects: r = 0.679, P < 0.001) and decreased with peripheral corneal thickness increase.

Conclusions:

In patients with DM, COD was significantly reduced in comparison with healthy subjects. These changes were associated to disease-specific factors and measurements of peripheral corneal thickness profiles.
Assessing an Epidemic
Authors: Sullivan Matthew C. , Strainge Lauren , Blackmon Jaime E. , Cruess Stacy E. , Wheeler David , Cruess Dean G.
Published: March 2020

Background

Inpatient psychiatric hospitals provide an important point of care for assessing and stabilizing substance use and for facilitating linkage to appropriate treatment. Toxicology screening provides a key measure of substance use yet may miss many cases of substance use because of variable windows of detection and the limited scope of substances assessed. This study assesses the utility of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) Level 2 Substance Use screener as a supplemental tool for identifying substance use by self-report within an inpatient psychiatric hospital setting.

Methods

From a larger sample of 97 adult psychiatric inpatients, 60 who underwent drug toxicology testing and completed the DSM-5 screener were assessed. We examined the sensitivity and specificity of the self-report screener in comparison with drug toxicology test results collected by chart review.

Results

Sensitivity of the DSM-5 screener varied across substances assessed: The self-report measure identified 100% of individuals who tested positive for opioid use, 83% who tested positive for cannabis use, 50% who tested positive for cocaine use, and 37% who tested positive for benzodiazepine use. The self-report measure also identified 27 instances among 60 participants in which substance use identified by self-report was not detected by toxicology testing.

Conclusion

The brief and easily administered DSM-5 Level 2 Substance Use screener shows promise for improving identification of substance use in an inpatient psychiatric hospital setting. This measure may also provide psychiatric inpatient nursing staff with a means of working collaboratively with patients to assess substance use and coordinate appropriate treatment plans.
The 21st Century Opioid Addiction
Authors: Kidd Kirsten , Weinberg Tina , Caboral-Stevens Meriam
Published: March 2020

Introduction

Opioid addiction is a mounting problem and concern in all parts of the world. Drug overdose related to opioid addiction was the leading cause of accidental death in the United States in 2015; this extends to people across all ages, races, genders, and socioeconomic statuses. It is estimated that 21 million Americans aged 12 years or older has one form of substance use disorder, of which 2 million involves the use of prescription pain relievers. The cost of opioid misuse is estimated to be $78.5B based on 2013 data. This amount has exponentially increased more than $20 billion per year compared with 6 years ago.

Purpose

We conducted a concept analysis of opioid addiction in the 21st century and present its implications for nursing.

Methods

Walker and Avant's eight steps for analyzing a concept were utilized.

Results

Uses of opioid addiction from the perspectives of healthcare, sociology, law, and economics are presented. Defining attributes of opioid addiction based on review of the literature include physical dependence to opioids, psychological craving for opioids, habitual use, and lack of self-control. Antecedents, consequences, and empirical referents are also identified. Model, related, and contrary cases are developed.

Conclusion

This concept analysis article enhances understanding of the current opioid addiction crisis that is affecting the country.

Implications to Nursing

Nurses are in a position to play critical roles in the fight against opioid addiction. Nursing opportunities exist starting from the bedside and can reach up to the White House.
Radiation exposure awareness from patients undergoing nuclear medicine diagnostic 99mTc-MDP bone scans and 2-deoxy-2-(18F) fluoro-D-glucose PET/computed tomography scans
Authors: Ribeiro Ana S.F. , Husson Olga , Drey Nicholas , Murray Iain , May Katherine , Thurston Jim , Oyen Wim J.G.
Published: March 2020

Introduction

Medical imaging is on average the largest source of artificial radiation exposure worldwide. This study seeks to understand patient’s awareness of radiation exposure derived from nuclear medicine diagnostic scans and assess if current information provided by leaflets is adequate.

Methods

Single-centre cross-sectional questionnaire study applied to bone scan and FDG PET/computed tomography patients, at a nuclear medicine and PET/computed tomography department over a 15-week period in 2018. Questionnaires on dose comparators were designed in collaboration with patients, public, and experts in radiation exposure. Qualitative data were analysed using thematic analysis and quantitative data using SPSS (V. 24).

Results

A total of 102 questionnaires were completed (bone scan = 50; FDG PET/computed tomography = 52). Across both groups, 33/102 (32.4%) patients reported having a reasonable understanding of nuclear medicine and 21/102 (20.6%) reported a reasonable knowledge of ionising radiations. When asked to compare the exposure dose of respective scans with common comparators 8/50 (16%) of bone scan patients and 11/52 (21.2%) FDG PET/computed tomography answered correctly. On leaflet information, 15/85 (17.6%) patients reported the leaflets do not provide enough information on radiation exposure and of these 10/15 (66.7%) commented the leaflets should incorporate more information on radiation exposure dose.

Conclusion

More observational and qualitative studies in collaboration with patients are warranted to evaluate patients’ understanding and preferences in communication of radiation exposure from nuclear medicine imaging. This will ensure communication tools and guidelines developed to comply with ionising radiation (medical exposure) regulation 2017 are according to patients needs and preferences.
North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition Position Paper on Entrustable Professional Activities
Authors: Sauer Cary G. , Robson Jacob , Turmelle Yumirle P. , Cerezo Carolina S. , Loomes Kathleen M. , Huang Jeannie S. , Quiros‐Tejeira Ruben E. , Benkov Keith J. , Narkewicz Michael R. , Leichtner Alan , Weinstein Toba
Published: March 2020

Quality training in pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology, and nutrition is essential for the future of our specialty from advancing the science through research to providing clinical care for children with gastrointestinal, hepatic and nutritional disorders. As educational theory has developed, both the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP) and the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) have commissioned projects to better define training including core competencies, and milestones with the goal of competency‐based assessment. Seeking to provide a clinical context for these competencies and milestones, the ABP commissioned a project for each pediatric subspecialty to develop entrustable professional activities (EPA) while at the same time developing EPAs that are common to all pediatric subspecialties. North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Nutrition (NASPGHAN) commissioned an EPA Task Force to develop the pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition EPAs. This document serves as an introduction to EPAs, including their historical background, underlying educational theory, and the process used to develop the pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition EPAs in the United States of America.
Extragenital Gonorrhea and Chlamydia Positivity and the Potential for Missed Extragenital Gonorrhea With Concurrent Urethral Chlamydia Among Men Who Have Sex With Men Attending Sexually Transmitted Disease Clinics—Sexually Transmitted Disease Surveillance Network, 2015–2019
Authors: Abara Winston E. , Llata Eloisa L. , Schumacher Christina , Carlos-Henderson Juli , Peralta Angela M. , Huspeni Dawn , Kerani Roxanne P. , Elder Heather , Toevs Kim , Pathela Preeti , Asbel Lenore , Nguyen Trang Q. , Bernstein Kyle T. , Torrone Elizabeth A. , Kirkcaldy Robert D.
Published: March 2020

Background

Extragenital gonorrhea (GC) and chlamydia (CT) are usually asymptomatic and only detected through screening. Ceftriaxone plus azithromycin is the recommended GC treatment; monotherapy (azithromycin or doxycycline) is recommended for CT. In urethral CT-positive/urethral GC-negative persons who are not screened extragenitally, CT monotherapy can lead to GC undertreatment and may foster the development of gonococcal antimicrobial resistance. We assessed urethral and extragenital GC and CT positivity among men who have sex with men (MSM) attending sexually transmitted disease clinics.

Methods

We included visit data for MSM tested for GC and CT at 30 sexually transmitted disease clinics in 10 jurisdictions during January 1, 2015, and June 30, 2019. Using an inverse-variance random effects model to account for heterogeneity between jurisdictions, we calculated weighted test visit positivity estimates and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for GC and CT at urethral and extragenital sites, and extragenital GC among urethral CT-positive/GC-negative test visits.

Results

Of 139,718 GC and CT test visits, we calculated overall positivity (GC, 16.7% [95% CI, 14.4–19.1]; CT, 13.3% [95% CI, 12.7–13.9]); urethral positivity (GC, 7.5% [95% CI, 5.7–9.3]; CT, 5.2% [95% CI, 4.6–5.8]); rectal positivity (GC, 11.8% [95% CI, 10.4–13.2]; CT, 12.6% [95% CI, 11.8–13.4]); and pharyngeal positivity (GC, 9.1% [95% CI, 7.9–10.3]; CT, 1.8% [95% CI, 1.6–2.0]). Of 4566 urethral CT-positive/GC-negative test visits with extragenital testing, extragenital GC positivity was 12.5% (95% CI, 10.9–14.1).

Conclusions

Extragenital GC and CT were common among MSM. Without extragenital screening of MSM with urethral CT, extragenital GC would have been undetected and undertreated in approximately 13% of these men. Undertreatment could potentially select for antimicrobial resistance. These findings underscore the importance of extragenital screening in MSM.
A Multimetric Health Literacy Analysis of Autologous Versus Implant-Based Breast Reconstruction
Authors: Chen Daniel H. , Johnson Anna Rose , Ayyala Haripriya , Lee Edward S. , Lee Bernard T. , Tran Bao Ngoc N.
Published: March 2020

Background

Over the past decade, the demand for breast reconstruction has mirrored the rising incidence of breast cancer. Common postoncologic surgical options include autologous and implant-based reconstruction. Patient-directed health information for breast reconstruction can play a critical role in the decision-making process. This study comparatively evaluates the top online resources for autologous versus implant-based reconstruction using a multimetric health literacy analysis.

Methods

The top 10 websites for autologous and implant-based reconstruction were identified using a Google search. A total of 20 unique links were appraised by 2 independent raters for understandability and actionability using the Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool and cultural sensitivity using the Cultural Sensitivity Assessment Tool. A Cohen κ for interrater reliability was calculated. Mean reading grade level and word complexity were also determined.

Results

Websites for both autologous and implant-based modalities exceeded the recommended sixth- to eighth-grade reading level (12.4 and 12.1, respectively; P = 0.65). Mean understandability scores for each modality were low (60.5 and 62.5, P = 0.65). Autologous-based resources had a lower mean actionability score compared with implant-based materials (19.5 and 24, respectively; P = 0.04). Both reconstructive modalities met the threshold for acceptability for cultural sensitivity (2.79 and 2.58, P = 0.09).

Conclusions

Our study revealed a chasm between the health literacy needs of the average adult and the quality of both implant-based and autologous breast reconstruction resources. Materials for both modalities were often too complex and failed to include tools to facilitate active decision making, particularly for autologous-based reconstruction. Strategies to improve materials should be patient centered and include simplification of reading grade level, incorporation of clear visual aids, and inclusion of procedural risks to promote patient comprehension, participation, and ultimately health outcomes.
Noncultured Minimally Processed Adipose-Derived Stem Cells Improve Radiated Fracture Healing
Authors: Lynn Jeremy V. , Ranganathan Kavitha , Urlaub Kevin M. , Luby Alexandra O. , Stephan Chris J. , Donneys Alexis , Nelson Noah S. , Buchman Steven R.
Published: March 2020

Adipose-derived stem cells mitigate deleterious effects of radiation on bone and enhance radiated fracture healing by replacing damaged cells and stimulating angiogenesis. However, adipose-derived stem cell harvest and delivery techniques must be refined to comply with the US Food and Drug Administration restrictions on implantation of cultured cells into human subjects prior to clinical translation. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the preservation of efficacy of adipose-derived stem cells to remediate the injurious effects of radiation on fracture healing utilizing a novel harvest and delivery technique that avoids the need for cell culture. Forty-four Lewis rats were divided into 4 groups: fracture control (Fx), radiated fracture control (XFx), radiated fracture treated with cultured adipose-derived stem cells (ASC), and radiated fracture treated with noncultured minimally processed adipose-derived stem cells (MP-ASC). Excluding the Fx group, all rats received a fractionated human-equivalent dose of radiation. All groups underwent mandibular osteotomy with external fixation. Following sacrifice on postoperative day 40, union rate, mineralization, and biomechanical strength were compared between groups at P < 0.05 significance. Compared with Fx controls, the XFx group demonstrated decreased union rate (100% vs 20%), bone volume fraction (P = 0.003), and ultimate load (P < 0.001). Compared with XFx controls, the MP-ASC group tripled the union rate (20% vs 60%) and demonstrated statistically significant increases in both bone volume fraction (P = 0.005) and ultimate load (P = 0.025). Compared with the MP-ASC group, the ASC group showed increased union rate (60% vs 100%) and no significant difference in bone volume fraction (P = 0.936) and ultimate load (P = 0.202). Noncultured minimally processed adipose-derived stem cells demonstrate the capacity to improve irradiated fracture healing without the need for cell proliferation in culture. Further refinement of the cell harvest and delivery techniques demonstrated in this report will enhance the ability of noncultured minimally processed adipose-derived stem cells to improve union rate and bone quality, thereby optimizing clinical translation.
Effectiveness of Pharmacological Interventions for Symptoms of Behavioral Variant Frontotemporal Dementia: A Systematic Review
Authors: Trieu Calvin , Gossink Flora , Stek Max L. , Scheltens Philip , Pijnenburg Yolande A.L. , Dols Annemieke
Published: March 2020

Background:

Clinical guidance on the symptomatic treatment of behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) is limited.

Objective:

To provide a systematic review of pharmacological interventions for symptomatic treatment of bvFTD, based on the International bvFTD Criteria Consortium clinical diagnostic criteria: apathy, disinhibition, lack of empathy or sympathy, hyperorality, stereotypical behavior, and executive dysfunction.

Methods:

We systematically searched the PubMed, Embase, and PsycINFO databases for reports on pharmacological interventions for individuals with bvFTD, published between 1970 and 2018, using key indicators and relevant terms. Studies were included if the efficacy of the intervention in alleviating bvFTD symptoms was provided as an outcome. Due to the high prevalence of depressive symptoms in individuals with bvFTD, we also evaluated the effect of the interventions on depression.

Results:

We included 23 studies—11 randomized controlled trials, eight open-label studies, one proof-of-concept study, and three case series—reporting on a total of 573 individuals. Of the 23 studies, 16 used pharmacological interventions that improved bvFTD symptoms. Based on the Neuropsychiatric Inventory, trazodone had the greatest significant reductive effect on the symptoms of bvFTD. Overall, citalopram, rivastigmine, paroxetine, and trazodone all reduced multiple symptoms, including disinhibition, hyperorality, and depression.

Conclusions:

This review provides an overview of the pharmacological interventions that can be used to treat the main bvFTD symptoms as well as a guideline for managing bvFTD. More research is needed to investigate the efficacy of pharmacological interventions for bvFTD through use of a validated outcome and a focus on the specific behavioral problems associated with bvFTD.
Executive Dysfunction Related to Binge Drinking in Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Laari Siiri P.K. , Kauranen Tatu V. , Turunen Katri E.A. , Mustanoja Satu M. , Tatlisumak Turgut , Poutiainen Erja T.
Published: March 2020

Background:

Recent evidence has shown that cognitive dysfunction is associated with a history of binge drinking in adolescents who do not have an alcohol use disorder. Most previous studies with adults, however, have failed to show a link between cognitive dysfunction and subdiagnostic binge drinking, nor have any studies investigated the additive cognitive effect of binge drinking to ischemic stroke.

Objective:

To examine whether a pattern of cognitive dysfunction, especially executive and memory dysfunction, in patients with a first-ever ischemic stroke is associated with a history of subdiagnostic binge drinking.

Methods:

We studied 206 first-ever ischemic stroke patients (18–65 years) and 50 healthy, demographically comparable adults—both groups with no alcohol use disorder. After exclusion by matching, 189 patients and 39 healthy participants were included in our study (228 participants). The binge-drinking group included 76 participants; the non–binge-drinking group included 152. A multivariate analysis of covariance was used to compare nine cognitive functions between the two groups, with age, education, and stroke severity used as covariates.

Results:

Binge drinking had a significant negative effect on executive functions (P<0.001). The non–binge-drinking group outperformed the binge-drinking group on the Stroop Test (P=0.001), Trail Making Test (P=0.002), and a phonemic fluency test (P=0.005). The Binge×Stroke Severity interaction (P=0.037) indicated that a history of binge drinking increased the negative effect of stroke on executive functions.

Conclusions:

Subdiagnostic binge drinking may exacerbate the adverse effects of ischemic stroke on executive dysfunction.
Social Cognition and White Matter: Connectivity and Cooperation
Authors: Filley Christopher M.
Published: March 2020

Humans are highly social animals whose survival and well-being depend on their capacity to cooperate in complex social settings. Advances in anthropology and psychology have demonstrated the importance of cooperation for enhancing social cohesion and minimizing conflict. The understanding of social behavior is informed by the notion of social cognition, a set of mental operations including emotion perception, mentalizing, and empathy. The social brain hypothesis posits that the mammalian brain has enlarged over evolution to meet the challenges of social life, culminating in a large human brain well adapted for social cognition. The structures subserving social cognition are mainly located in the frontal and temporal lobes, and although gray matter is critical, social cognition also requires white matter. Whereas the social brain hypothesis assumes that brain enlargement has been driven by neocortical expansion, cerebral white matter has expanded even more robustly than the neocortex, coinciding with the emergence of social cognition. White matter expansion is most evident in the frontal and temporal lobes, where it enhances connectivity between regions critical for social cognition. Myelination has, in turn, conferred adaptive social advantages by enabling prompt empathic concern for offspring and by strengthening networks that support cooperation and the related capacities of altruism and morality. Social cognition deficits related to myelinated tract involvement occur in many disorders, including stroke, Binswanger disease, traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis, glioma, and behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia. The contribution of white matter to social cognition can be conceptualized as the enhancement of cooperation through brain connectivity.
The Impairment of Number Transcoding Abilities in Individuals with Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer Disease: Associations With Attentional and Executive Functions
Authors: Macoir Joël , Lafay Anne , Hudon Carol
Published: March 2020

Background:

Studies have shown that number transcoding abilities (ie, translating numbers from one numerical code to another) are affected early in the development of Alzheimer disease (AD). However, no study has extensively explored how these abilities are affected in individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

Objective:

To determine the contribution that number transcoding tasks make to the identification of MCI, and to pinpoint the cognitive correlates of performance in these tasks.

Methods:

We compared the performance of 20 individuals with the amnestic subtype of MCI, eight individuals with AD, and 20 healthy controls on three number transcoding tasks.

Results:

The results confirmed the presence of number transcoding impairment in the individuals with AD. The individuals with MCI were found to be impaired in two of the transcoding tasks; these individuals produced perseverations of the input code—the most noteworthy error type in individuals with AD. In addition, the relationship between impairment in attentional and executive functions and impairment in number transcoding was supported by the correlational analyses.

Conclusions:

This study confirmed that number transcoding abilities are impaired in individuals with MCI, although less severely than in individuals with AD. Our results provide evidence for the clinical value of including number transcoding tasks in the assessment of cognitive deficits associated with pathological aging.
Early warning signals of malaria resurgence in Kericho, Kenya
Authors: Harris Mallory J. , Hay Simon I. , Drake John M.
Published: March 2020

Campaigns to eliminate infectious diseases could be greatly aided by methods for providing early warning signals of resurgence. Theory predicts that as a disease transmission system undergoes a transition from stability at the disease-free equilibrium to sustained transmission, it will exhibit characteristic behaviours known as critical slowing down, referring to the speed at which fluctuations in the number of cases are dampened, for instance the extinction of a local transmission chain after infection from an imported case. These phenomena include increases in several summary statistics, including lag-1 autocorrelation, variance and the first difference of variance. Here, we report the first empirical test of this prediction during the resurgence of malaria in Kericho, Kenya. For 10 summary statistics, we measured the approach to criticality in a rolling window to quantify the size of effect and directions. Nine of the statistics increased as predicted and variance, the first difference of variance, autocovariance, lag-1 autocorrelation and decay time returned early warning signals of critical slowing down based on permutation tests. These results show that time series of disease incidence collected through ordinary surveillance activities may exhibit characteristic signatures prior to an outbreak, a phenomenon that may be quite general among infectious disease systems.
Decoding collective communications using information theory tools
Authors: Pilkiewicz K. R. , Lemasson B. H. , Rowland M. A. , Hein A. , Sun J. , Berdahl A. , Mayo M. L. , Moehlis J. , Porfiri M. , Fernández-Juricic E. , Garnier S. , Bollt E. M. , Carlson J. M. , Tarampi M. R. , Macuga K. L. , Rossi L. , Shen C.-C.
Published: March 2020

Organisms have evolved sensory mechanisms to extract pertinent information from their environment, enabling them to assess their situation and act accordingly. For social organisms travelling in groups, like the fish in a school or the birds in a flock, sharing information can further improve their situational awareness and reaction times. Data on the benefits and costs of social coordination, however, have largely allowed our understanding of why collective behaviours have evolved to outpace our mechanistic knowledge of how they arise. Recent studies have begun to correct this imbalance through fine-scale analyses of group movement data. One approach that has received renewed attention is the use of information theoretic (IT) tools like
mutual information
,
transfer entropy
and
causation entropy
, which can help identify causal interactions in the type of complex, dynamical patterns often on display when organisms act collectively. Yet, there is a communications gap between studies focused on the ecological constraints and solutions of collective action with those demonstrating the promise of IT tools in this arena. We attempt to bridge this divide through a series of ecologically motivated examples designed to illustrate the benefits and challenges of using IT tools to extract deeper insights into the interaction patterns governing group-level dynamics. We summarize some of the approaches taken thus far to circumvent existing challenges in this area and we conclude with an optimistic, yet cautionary perspective.
Self-sustaining critical layer/shear layer interaction in annular Poiseuille–Couette flow at high Reynolds number
Authors: Kumar Rishi , Walton Andrew
Published: March 2020

The nonlinear stability of annular Poiseuille–Couette flow through a cylindrical annulus subjected to axisymmetric and helical disturbances is analysed theoretically at asymptotically large Reynolds numberRbased on the radius of the outer cylinder and the constant axial pressure gradient applied. The inner cylinder moves with a prescribed positive or negative velocity in the axial direction. A distinguished scaling for the disturbance size Δ = O(R−4/9) is identified at which the jump in vorticity across the fully nonlinear critical layer is in tune with that induced across a near-wall shear layer. The disturbance propagates at close to the velocity of the inner cylinder and possesses a wavelength comparable to the radius of the outer cylinder. The dynamics of the critical layer, shear layer and the Stokes layer adjacent to the stationary wall are discussed in detail. In the majority of the pipe, the disturbance is governed predominantly by inviscid dynamics with the pressure perturbation satisfying a form of Rayleigh’s equation. For a radius ratioδin the range 0 < δ < 1 and a positive sliding velocityV, a numerical solution of the Rayleigh equation exists for sliding velocities in the range 0 < V < 1 − δ2 + 2δ2lnδ, whereas ifV < 0, solutions exist for 1 − δ2 + 2lnδ < V < 0. The amplitude equations for both these situations are derived analytically, and we further find that the corresponding asymptotic structures break down when the maximum value of the basic flow becomes located at the inner and outer walls, respectively.
A method yielding comparable estimates of the fraternal birth order and female fecundity effects in male homosexuality
Authors: Blanchard Ray , Krupp Jurian , VanderLaan Doug P. , Vasey Paul L. , Zucker Kenneth J.
Published: March 2020

The fraternal birth order effect (FBOE) is the finding that older brothers increase the probability of homosexuality in later-born males, and the female fecundity effect (FFE) is the finding that the mothers of homosexual males produce more offspring than the mothers of heterosexual males. In a recent paper, Khovanova proposed a novel method for computing independent estimates of these effects on the same samples and expressing the magnitude and direction of the effects in the same metric. In her procedure, only families with one or two sons are examined, and daughters are ignored. The present study investigated the performance of Khovanova's method using archived data from 10 studies, comprising 14 samples totalling 5390 homosexual and heterosexual subjects. The effect estimate for the FBOE showed that an increase from zero older brothers to one older brother is associated with a 38% increase in the odds of homosexuality. By contrast, the effect estimate for the FFE showed that the increase from zero younger brothers to one younger brother is not associated with any increase in the odds of homosexuality. The former result supports the maternal immune hypothesis of male homosexuality; the latter result does not support the balancing selection hypothesis.
Within-island diversification in a passerine bird
Authors: Gabrielli Maëva , Nabholz Benoit , Leroy Thibault , Milá Borja , Thébaud Christophe
Published: March 2020

The presence of congeneric taxa on the same island suggests the possibility ofin situdivergence, but can also result from multiple colonizations of previously diverged lineages. Here, using genome-wide data from a large population sample, we test the hypothesis that intra-island divergence explains the occurrence of four geographical forms meeting at hybrid zones in the Reunion grey white-eye (Zosterops borbonicus), a species complex endemic to the small volcanic island of Reunion. Using population genomic and phylogenetic analyses, we reconstructed the population history of the different forms. We confirmed the monophyly of the complex and found that one of the lowland forms is paraphyletic and basal relative to others, a pattern highly consistent within situdivergence. Our results suggest initial colonization of the island through the lowlands, followed by expansion into the highlands, which led to the evolution of a distinct geographical form, genetically and ecologically different from the lowland ones. Lowland forms seem to have experienced periods of geographical isolation, but they diverged from one another by sexual selection rather than niche change. Overall, low dispersal capabilities in this island bird combined with both geographical and ecological opportunities seem to explain how divergence occurred at such a small spatial scale.