bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Review of the Impacts of Human Factors on Cycling: Perceptions, Workload, and Behavior
Authors: Habib Karim , Losada-Rojas Lisa L. , Ferenchak Nicholas N.
Published: April 2024

Cycling remains a popular mode of transportation, yet cyclists are vulnerable road users that face numerous safety challenges. Although human factors research typically focuses on motor vehicle drivers, studies addressing active transportation users, like cyclists, are scarce. The unique aspects of cycling, such as physical effort, exposure to the environment, and disconnected infrastructure, can affect cyclists’ mental perception, workload, and behavior, which are argued to influence their safety on the road. Therefore, this scoping literature review identified factors influencing cyclists’ workload and explored different measures used to quantify mental workload. The findings highlighted age, infrastructure, portable devices, and type of bike as factors that could affect workload levels. However, research on cyclists’ workload from their perspective is limited. This paper summarizes three types of workload measure: subjective, performance, and physiological. These have been used to quantify workload in relation to cyclists and in other settings. We reflect on their benefits and challenges were they to be used to quantify cyclists’ workload. Our discussion emphasizes the need for future research to take a comprehensive approach that considers multiple factors simultaneously to gain a more holistic understanding of their collective impact on cyclists’ mental workload. Moreover, we emphasize the importance of supplementing subjective workload measures with psychophysiological ones for better accuracy and reliability. The review revealed a lack of data and guidelines specific to cycling infrastructure, contributing to cyclists’ vulnerability, and underscored the need for previous findings to be translated into actionable recommendations to improve cyclist safety.
Mental Illness in the 2 Years Prior to Pregnancy in a Population With Traumatic Brain Injury: A Cross-Sectional Study: La maladie mentale dans les deux ans précédant une grossesse dans une population souffrant de lésion cérébrale traumatique : une étude transversale
Authors: Brown Hilary K. , Strauss Rachel , Fung Kinwah , Mataruga Andrea , Chan Vincy , Mollayeva Tatyana , Urbach Natalie , Colantonio Angela , Cohen Eyal , Dennis Cindy-Lee , Ray Joel G. , Saunders Natasha , Vigod Simone N.
Published: April 2024

Objective

Existing studies, in mostly male samples such as veterans and athletes, show a strong association between traumatic brain injury (TBI) and mental illness. Yet, while an understanding of mental health before pregnancy is critical for informing preconception and perinatal supports, there are no data on the prevalence of active mental illness before pregnancy in females with TBI. We examined the prevalence of active mental illness ≤2 years before pregnancy (1) in a population with TBI, and (2) in subgroups defined by sociodemographic, health, and injury-related characteristics, all compared to those without TBI.

Method

This population-based cross-sectional study was completed in Ontario, Canada, from 2012 to 2020. Modified Poisson regression generated adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs) of active mental illness ≤2 years before pregnancy in 15,585 females with TBI versus 846,686 without TBI. We then used latent class analysis to identify subgroups with TBI according to sociodemographic, health, and injury-related characteristics and subsequently compared them to females without TBI on their outcome prevalence.

Results

Females with TBI had a higher prevalence of active mental illness ≤2 years before pregnancy than those without TBI (44.1% vs. 25.9%; aPR 1.46, 95% confidence interval, 1.43 to 1.49). There were 3 TBI subgroups, with Class 1 (low-income, past assault, recent TBI described as intentional and due to being struck by/against) having the highest outcome prevalence.

Conclusions

Females with TBI, and especially those with a recent intentional TBI, have a high prevalence of mental illness before pregnancy. They may benefit from mental health screening and support in the post-injury, preconception, and perinatal periods.

Plain Language Title

Mental illness in the 2 years before pregnancy in a population with traumatic brain injury
Fire Safety Research Institute Materials and Products database—A resource to support fire modeling
Authors: McKinnon Mark B , Bellamy Grayson T
Published: April 2024

For decades, there has been a need in the fire safety science community for a reliable source of material properties and standard fire test data to accurately represent solid materials in fire models. The project described herein has made advancements in experimental data collection and property determination for a multitude of materials commonly encountered in the built environment for the purpose of making the data easily accessible and to elevate the base knowledge and tools available for all model practitioners and investigators. This article includes a description of the experimental methods, procedures, and estimated uncertainty in the measurements that have been adopted to collect the data necessary to describe common materials in the most advanced comprehensive pyrolysis models. A case study is provided in which all the experiments to characterize polycarbonate are described, analytical procedures and derived properties are presented, and validation of the properties against experimental data is presented.
What Happens when Gender Accountability is Reduced? The Experiences of Nonbinary and Genderfluid People During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Stone Amy L. , Gallin-Parisi Alexandra
Published: April 2024

How does gender accountability vary? We theorize that reduced perceptions by others of one’s gender, or reduced external assessments of gender accountability, create more space for the cultivation of nonbinary subjectivities. We use the shelter-in-place period of the COVID-19 pandemic as a natural experiment during which major social institutions such as work and school changed and thus shifted gender accountability. Through interviews with a racially diverse sample of 22 U.S. adults who came out as nonbinary or genderfluid during this time period, we examine their experiences and understandings of this change in gender accountability. Participants described relief from relentless gender assessments as well as space for self-reflection and gender experimentation. Less stringent external assessments at work and school, especially the reduction of constant in-person evaluations of gender expression, produced new gender subjectivities that resisted binary understandings of gender. This study explores the nuance, variability, and situational character of gender accountability. We argue that in-person full-body gender assessments are a powerful component of gender accountability and that relief from gender accountability at work and school may be particularly liberating.
Detecting Respondent Burden in Online Surveys: How Different Sources of Question Difficulty Influence Cursor Movements
Authors: Leipold Franziska M. , Kieslich Pascal J. , Henninger Felix , Fernández-Fontelo Amanda , Greven Sonja , Kreuter Frauke
Published: April 2024

Online surveys are a widely used mode of data collection. However, as no interviewer is present, respondents face any difficulties they encounter alone, which may lead to measurement error and biased or (at worst) invalid conclusions. Detecting response difficulty is therefore vital. Previous research has predominantly focused on response times to detect general response difficulty. However, response difficulty may stem from different sources, such as overly complex wording or similarity between response options. So far, the question of whether indicators can discriminate between these sources has not been addressed. The goal of the present study, therefore, was to evaluate whether specific characteristics of participants’ cursor movements are related to specific properties of survey questions that increase response difficulty. In a preregistered online experiment, we manipulated the length of the question text, the complexity of the question wording, and the difficulty of the response options orthogonally between questions. We hypothesized that these changes would lead to increased response times, hovers (movement pauses), and y-flips (changes in vertical movement direction), respectively. As expected, each manipulation led to an increase in the corresponding measure, although the other dependent variables were affected as well. However, the strengths of the effects did differ as expected between the mouse-tracking indices: Hovers were more sensitive to complex wording than to question difficulty, while the opposite was true for y-flips. These results indicate that differentiating sources of response difficulty might indeed be feasible using mouse-tracking.
Teaching Place Value Concepts and Their Application Using the Concrete-Representational-Abstract Integrated Sequence
Authors: Flores Margaret M. , Hinton Vanessa M. , Shadoan Laura , Monroe Callye
Published: April 2024

This study examined the effects of the concrete-representational-abstract integrated sequence (CRA-I) on teaching place value concepts and their application. The research questions addressed the extent to which CRA-I changed student performance in (a) completing equations that required subtraction with regrouping in the tens place, (b) completing equations that required subtraction with regrouping in the tens and hundreds place, (c) rounding three-digit numbers to the nearest ten or hundred, and (d) using multiple equations to decompose three-digit numbers. Four students in the fourth grade participated. Three students were eligible for services under learning disabilities (LD) or other health impairments (OHI); two students were English language learners. Employing a single-case multiple-probe-across-behaviors design, a functional relation was found between CRA-I and behaviors associated with number concepts. Implications will be discussed.
Risk stratification for infection during immunosuppressive therapy in patients with lupus nephritis: A nested case-control study
Authors: Lu Jianda , Wu Yuanhao , Xue Jun , Hao Chuanming
Published: April 2024

Background

The current prediction models for the risk of infection during immunosuppressive treatment for lupus nephritis (LN) lack a prediction time window and have poor pertinence. This study aimed to develop a risk stratification to predict infection during immunosuppressive therapy in patients with LN.

Methods

This retrospective nested case-control study collected patients with LN treated with immunosuppressive therapy between 2014 and 2022 in the Nephrology ward in Huashan Hospital affiliated to Fudan University and Huashan Hospital Baoshan Branch. Cases were defined as patients who experienced infection during the follow-up period; patients were eligible as controls if they did not have infection during the follow-up period.

Results

There were 53 patients with infection by CTCAE V5.0 grade ≥2. According to the 1:3 nested matching, the 53 patients with infection were matched with 159 controls. In the multivariable logistic regression model, the change rate of fibrinogen (OR = 0.97, 95% CI: 0.94-0.99, p = 0.008), leukopenia (OR = 8.68, 95% CI: 1.16–301.72, p = 0.039), and reduced albumin (OR = 6.25, 95% CI: 1.38–28.24, p = 0.017) were independently associated with infection. The AUC of the ROC curve in the validation set of the multivariable logistic regression model in the internal random sampling was 0.864. The scores range from −2 to 10. The infection risk stratification ranges from 2.8% at score −2 to 97.5% at score 10.

Conclusion

A risk stratification was built to predict the risk of infection in patients with LN undergoing immunosuppressive therapy.
Dynamic analysis of ultra-low frequency carbody swaying for a high-speed rail vehicle: Causes and measures
Authors: Sun Jianfeng , Gong Jijun , Chi Maoru , Jiang Yonghua , Jiao Weidong , E Shiju
Published: April 2024

This paper investigated on the ultra-low frequency carbody swaying (ULFCS) of a high-speed railway vehicle through field tests and numerical simulations. In the field tests, the vibration characteristics, the dynamics performance, the wheel-rail contact condition, and the track condition were analyzed to realize the manifestation as well as the possible cause of this abnormal vibration. The excessive low equivalent conicity caused by the abnormal wheel tread wear arouse suspicion for this issue. To find out the mechanism and propose the solving measures, the multi-body dynamic (MBD) model of the high-speed vehicle was developed and verified by applying the measured wheel/rail profiles and carbody acceleration. Based on the developed model, the linearized and nonlinear researches were performed. The results indicate that the carbody hunting, caused by the frequency coupling between the hunting mode and the carbody lower sway mode, is the deep reason of the ULFCS, and this issue can be solved by increasing the equivalent conicity and decreasing the roll stiffness of the anti-roll torsion bar. Furthermore, the ULFCS can pose a potential threat to running safety once the violent carbody swaying gives rise to the wheel-rail contact point entering the wheel flange area. Finally, the optimized measures that reducing the hardness of the abrasive block, changing the working mode of the tread cleaning device, and decreasing the anti-roll stiffness were proposed and verified by the on-track test.
Frequency of diabetic remission, predictors of remission and survival in cats using a low-cost, moderate-intensity, home-monitoring protocol and twice-daily glargine
Authors: Gottlieb Susan , Rand Jacquie S , Anderson Stephen T
Published: April 2024

Objectives

The aim of the present study was to retrospectively assess remission rates and survival in diabetic cats managed using a moderate-intensity, low-cost protocol of home blood glucose measurements and insulin adjustment by clients of a cat-only practice, and to determine if predictors of remission, relapse or survival could be identified.

Methods

The records of a cat-only practice were used to identify 174 cats with newly diagnosed diabetes managed using only pre-insulin home blood glucose measurements for insulin dose adjustments based on a protocol provided to clients aimed at maintaining pre-insulin blood glucose in the range of 6.5–11.9 mmol/l (117–214 mg/dl). Cats were excluded for the following reasons: insufficient follow-up in the records; a lack of owner compliance was recorded; they were receiving ongoing corticosteroids for the management of other conditions; they were euthanased at the time of diagnosis; or they were diagnosed with acromegaly or hyperadrenocorticism.

Results

Using only pre-insulin blood glucose measurements at home to adjust the insulin dose to maintain glucose in the range of 6.5–11.9 mmol/l, 47% of cats achieved remission, but 40% of those cats relapsed. A minority (16%) of cats were hospitalised for hypoglycaemia. The survival time was significantly longer in cats in remission and Burmese cats.

Conclusions and relevance

The cost and time burden of treating diabetic cats may cause some clients to choose euthanasia over treatment. While the highest rates of diabetic remission have been reported in studies of newly diagnosed cats treated with intensive long-acting insulin protocols and low carbohydrate diets, these protocols may not be suitable for all clients. Nearly 50% of cats with newly diagnosed diabetes achieved remission with this low-cost, moderate-intensity, insulin dosing protocol. As remission was significantly associated with survival time, discussing factors in treatment to optimise remission is important, but it is also important to offer clients a spectrum of options. No cats that started treatment in this study were euthanased because the owner did not wish to continue the diabetes treatment.
Open-source, 3D printable IOL holder for detailed, smartphone-based anterior segment photography
Authors: Passaro Maria Laura , Airaldi Matteo , Ancona Chiara , Ventura Mariacarmela , Iodice Pierfrancesco , Costagliola Ciro , Semeraro Francesco , Romano Vito
Published: April 2024

Smartphones are increasingly relevant resources in medical practice as they are ubiquitous and reasonably cheap. Among the advantages of using smartphones in medical practise, there is the possibility of obtaining reproducible photographic documentation of various conditions. This is particularly true in the ophthalmic field, where anterior segment color photography plays a significant role in the diagnosis and the management of ocular surface diseases. Here we propose an original design for an open-source smartphone accessory for taking and sharing high-definition photographs of the anterior segment. It can be easily reproduced via 3D printing, and it only needs to be integrated with an intraocular lens (IOL), widely available to the majority of ophthalmologists. Compared to other solutions described previously, it allows a precise and reproducible placement of the IOL on the smartphone camera, avoiding manual positioning that could result tricky and time-consuming. The IOL holder is cheap, scalable, portable and it can be quickly assembled and disassembled, without permanently modifying the smartphone camera.
Müller muscle-Conjunctival Resection (MMCR) Surgery: A Comprehensive Literature Review
Authors: Fatani Dalal R , Kamal Yumna F , AlSulaiman Hamad M
Published: April 2024

Purpose

This literature review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the current understanding, indications, techniques, outcomes, and complications of Müller muscle-conjunctival resection (MMCR) surgery. It also addresses areas of debate with MMCR such as predictability concerning Phenylephrine response as well as the amount of muscle resection required.

Method

This literature review was compiled based on the available evidence from PubMed from 1975 to August 2023.

Results

The success rate of MMCR ranges from 72% to 95%, with high patient satisfaction reported in most studies. The exact range of eyelid elevation after MMCR is variable, with a reported average of 2.1 mm MRD1 elevation.

Conclusion

MMCR is a well-established surgical technique used to correct upper eyelid ptosis that results from dysfunction or attenuation of the levator aponeurosis. MMCR proved to be a safe and effective procedure with a high patient satisfaction rate and low risk of complications.
Perioperative arterial catheterization: A prospective evaluation of ultrasound, infection, and patient-focused outcomes
Authors: Eley Victoria , Peters Nathan , Woods Christine , Llewellyn Stacey , Derboghossian Teal , Ogg Murray , Rickard Claire M , Chin Adrian
Published: April 2024

Background:

There is little information regarding complications of arterial catheterization in modern clinical care. We aimed to determine the incidence of abnormal duplex vascular ultrasound and catheter related infections following perioperative arterial catheterization.

Methods:

Patients requiring arterial catheterization for elective surgery were included and insertion details collected prospectively. Duplex ultrasound evaluation was performed 24 h after catheter removal. Symptomatic patients were identified by self-reported questionnaire. On Day 7, patients answered questions by telephone, related to the insertion site, pain, and function. Results of catheter tip and blood culture analyses were sought. Univariate associations of patient and surgical characteristics with abnormal ultrasound were assessed with p < 0.05 considered significant.

Results:

Of 339 catheterizations, 105 (40%) had ultrasound evaluation. Catheters were indwelling for median (IQR, range) duration of 6.0 h (4.4–8.2, 1.8–28) with no catheter-related infections. There were 16 (15.2%, 95% CI 9.0%–23.6%) abnormal results, including 14 radial artery thromboses, one radial artery dissection, and one radial vein thrombosis. Those with abnormal ultrasound results were more likely to have had Arrow catheters inserted (68.8% vs 27%, p = 0.023) and more than one skin puncture (37.5% vs 26.8%, p = 0.031). Two of the 16 (12.5%) patients with abnormal ultrasound results reported new symptoms related to the hand compared with nine of the 88 (10.2%) with normal results ( p = 0.1). No patients required urgent referral for management.

Conclusions:

Thrombosis was the most common abnormality and was usually asymptomatic. There were no infections, few post-operative symptoms, and minimal functional impairment following arterial catheterization.
Kynurenine Metabolites in CSF and Plasma in Healthy Males
Authors: Orhan Funda , Schwieler Lilly , Engberg Göran , Samuelsson Martin
Published: April 2024

In recent years, kynurenine metabolites generated by tryptophan catabolism have gained increasing attention in the context of brain diseases. The question of importance is whether there is a relationship between peripheral and central levels of these metabolites. Some of these compounds do not cross the blood-brain barrier; in particular, kynurenic acid, and most analyses of kynurenines from psychiatric patients have been performed using plasma samples. In the present study, we recruited 30 healthy volunteers with no history of psychiatric or neurological diagnosis, to analyze tryptophan, kynurenine, kynurenic acid, and quinolinic acid levels in CSF and plasma. In addition, kynurenic acid was analyzed in urine. The most important finding of this study is that CSF kynurenic acid levels do not correlate with those in plasma or urine. However, we found a correlation between plasma kynurenine and CSF kynurenic acid. Further, plasma kynurenine and plasma quinolinic acid were correlated. Our findings clarify the distribution of tryptophan and its metabolites in various body compartments and may serve as a guide for the analysis of these metabolites in humans. The most significant finding of the present study is that a prediction of brain kynurenic acid by of the analysis of the compound in plasma cannot be made.
Research methods at the intersection of gender diversity and autism: A scoping review
Authors: Mittertreiner Em JE , Ng-Cordell Elise , McVey Alana J , Kerns Connor M
Published: April 2024

Research has increasingly focused on the intersection between gender diversity and autism. Understanding the foci, methods, and rigor of recent studies could help guide and maximize impact in this accelerating research area. We conducted a scoping review of peer-reviewed literature on this topic published between 2018 and 2023. The search generated 1432 records after deduplication. Included studies ( N = 84) were of English language, featured original qualitative or quantitative findings, and examined a psychosocial connection between autism and gender spectra variables. Autism prevalence among gender-diverse people was the most-studied sub-topic. Methodological rigor was acceptable overall; however, we identified recurrent threats to generalizability and validity, including inconsistent conceptualization of constructs (e.g. gender dysphoria), weak participant sampling and characterization, and reliance on unvalidated measures. Addressing these limitations and meaningfully engaging with community shareholders will be critical to enhancing the replicability and clinical impact of future research.

Lay Abstract

Research has increasingly focused on the intersection between gender diversity and autism. To better understand this literature, this scoping review systematically searched five databases for peer-reviewed literature on gender diversity and autism published between 2018 and 2023. Included studies ( N = 84) were of English language, featured original qualitative or quantitative findings, and examined a psychosocial connection between autism and gender spectra variables. Most studies focused on measuring prevalence of autism among gender-diverse individuals. While the overall study rigor was acceptable, weaknesses in measurement, sample selection, and definition of key terms were noted. Promisingly, studies in this area appear to be shifting away from a pathologizing lens and towards research methods that engage in meaningful collaboration with the autistic, gender-diverse community to investigate how to best enhance the quality of life and wellbeing of this population.
Infrastructural platform violence: How women and queer journalists and activists in Lebanon experience abuse on WhatsApp
Authors: Riedl Martin J , El-Masri Azza , Trauthig Inga K , Woolley Samuel C
Published: April 2024

Technology-facilitated abuse and violence disproportionately affect marginalized people. While researchers have explored this issue in the context of public-facing social media platforms, less is known about how it plays out on more private messaging apps. This study draws on in-depth interviews with women and queer journalists and activists in Lebanon to illustrate their experiences of infrastructural platform violence on WhatsApp. Specifically, we distinguish between identity-based violence propagated on platforms, and violence propagated by platforms due to infrastructural neglect of vulnerable populations. Our results document how perpetrators employ the affordances of WhatsApp in harmful ways. We highlight the individual emotional and reputational toll of doxxing and harassment campaigns. The study also showcases the societal ramifications of silencing and self-censorship, as well as infrastructural platform failures. Findings underscore the need to shift attention in platform studies toward populations and geographies whose safety has systemically been neglected by technology companies.
‘Money is the root of all evil.’ How the business of journalism shapes trust in news
Authors: Nelson Jacob L , Lewis Seth C , Cowley Brent
Published: April 2024

In journalism studies, the “audience turn” in recent years has shifted attention in important ways to the lived experiences of news consumers. This study adds to the growing body of literature by exploring the question: How do people’s assumptions about how news is paid for affect their trust in and approach to news? Our data draw from interviews conducted in 2022 with 34 news consumers who were constructively sampled to represent a diverse cross-section of U.S. adults. Guided by the folk theories concept, a generative approach to discovering the stories that people tell themselves about news, we find that news consumers see journalism as increasingly compromised by journalists’ perceived pursuit of profit and financial success in a competitive media environment. They feel that journalists are primarily motivated to profit off their attention, leading them to view most news with a great deal of skepticism. By situating audience perceptions of capitalism and its relationship to journalism at the center, this study brings a new dimension to ongoing discussions about trust, objectivity, and bias in reporting.
“I may have benefited more than anyone else”: Responses to Staller’s (2024) Write-Up of Jane Gilgun’s Career Interviews
Authors: Gilgun Jane F
Published: April 2024

This commentary is a response to an invitation the editorial board of Qualitative Social Work extended to me to comment on an article that reports on my career interview as a qualitative social work researcher. The article appears in the present issue of the journal (Staller, 2024). The editors and I agree that Karen Staller did an exemplary job of interpreting the transcripts on which the article is based but that the transcripts were incomplete. In my enthusiasm for what I did say, I left things out. In this article, I added to the material that Karen had access to, such as laying out the principles of pragmatism that underlie qualitative social work research and practice and how I coped with the effects of hearing stories about violence and gained from it. I also added to the theory of violence that Karen wrote about and to her descriptions of my relationships with other feminists. I gave a brief account of deductive qualitative analysis that I did not mention at all in the interviews. I realize more than ever that there are differences between interviews, which are spontaneous utterances, and articles, that authors write over time, reflect upon, and revise countless times. Then editors have a go at them.
The Role of Wait Time During the Questioning of Children: A Systematic Review
Authors: Shiau Annie Yun An , McWilliams Kelly , Williams Shanna
Published: April 2024

The benefits of wait time in classroom discourses have been well documented in the field of education since the 1970s. While current forensic interview guidelines recognize the importance of pauses, whether there is sufficient empirical evidence to inform wait time guidelines in the legal context remains unanswered. This systematic review aimed to synthesize and provide a holistic update on the available research on the role of wait time when questioning children and recommended future direction to develop wait time guidelines specific to child forensic interviews. Systematic searches were conducted using four databases (PsycINFO, MedLine, ERIC, and Scopus). A total of 3,953 unique articles were returned, following a title and abstract screening, 68 full texts were reviewed, and 26 (including five additional studies identified through a hand search) were included. Inclusion criteria were the study sample included children under 18, published a measure of wait time in a questioning context, and in English. Overall, most knowledge of wait time remains in the field of education. Natural wait time is short, but with training, extended wait time yields significant benefits for both child and adult talk. Only one study examined the role of wait time in the forensic interviewing setting where a 10-s wait time appears to be more productive than shorter pauses. Extended wait time is a promising and simple interviewing practice with the potential to facilitate children’s disclosure. The current review is a call for research in the area as it pertains to forensic interviewing of children and youth.
Pre-emptive False Lumen Embolization to Prevent Persistent Type II Endoleak in Fenestrated-Branched Endovascular Repair of Post-Dissection Thoracoabdominal Aortic Aneurysms
Authors: Gallitto Enrico , Faggioli Gianluca , Poliseno Carmine , Cappiello Antonio , Pini Rodolfo , Vacirca Andrea , Logiacco Antonino , Gargiulo Mauro
Published: April 2024

Purpose:

The purpose was to describe a technique to promote false lumen (FL) thrombosis in post-dissection thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms (PD-TAAAs) managed by fenestrated/branched endografting (F/B-EVAR).

Technique:

A 5/6Fr-90 cm length sheath is advanced from the true lumen (TL) to FL through the most distal entry tear of the infrarenal aorta or iliac arteries. It is parked in the most cranial portion of the FL in the thoracic aorta. Aortic endografts are deployed in the TL excluding all the para-visceral/distal entry tears and target visceral vessels bridging stenting is performed. A selective FL angiography is performed through the 5/6Fr sheath to detect the origin of all segmentary arteries. Embolization of FL is performed from above to below by M-reye pushable coils, obtaining the packaging of FL. After completion angiography, the 5/6Fr sheath is retrieved in external iliac artery and molding ballooning of the distal segment of the aortic/iliac endograft is performed. Between 2019 and 2023, this technique was applied in 11cases with a median number of 73 (interquartile range [IQR=12) coils. Out of 8 (72%) patients with available radiological follow-up at 1 year, 7 exhibited complete FL thrombosis.

Conclusions:

The FL coiling in PD-TAAAs managed by F/B-EVAR is feasible, safe, and effective to promote the complete FL thrombosis.

Clinical Impact

Preemptive false lumen embolization is a feasible, safe, and effective technique for preventing persistent type II endoleaks after fenestrated-branched endovascular repair of post-dissection thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms. This technique may be routinely recommended to promote FL thrombosis and aortic remodeling after FB-EVAR in PD-TAAAs, thereby reducing the incidence of reinterventions during follow-up.
Outcomes and Comparative Analysis of the Initial Results of Standard Balloon Angioplasty Versus Drug-Coated Balloons Alone Versus in Association With Laser-Excimer Atherectomy in the Treatment of Femoropopliteal Artery In-Stent Restenosis (INTACT)
Authors: Ducasse Eric , Sapoval Marc , Brunet Jérôme , Commeau Philippe , Goueffic Yann , Sabatier Jean , Steinmetz Eric , Lermusiaux Patrick , Rosset Eugenio , Caradu Caroline
Published: April 2024

Background:

Despite improved patency with newer-generation nitinol stents, one-half of patients will require secondary interventions for in-stent restenosis (ISR). The best treatment strategy remains unclear. This study aimed to compare drug-coated balloons (DCBs) used alone or in association with excimer laser atherectomy (ELA) to simple percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) in the treatment of femoropopliteal-ISR.

Methods:

The INTACT trial is a multicenter, prospective, triple-arm randomized trial conducted across 14 centers from December 2015 to November 2019. Patients Rutherford Class 2-5 with ISR≥70% were followed-up for 18 months. The primary efficacy endpoint was recurrent ISR>70% by duplex ultrasound analysis. The primary safety endpoint was major adverse events (MAEs) defined as death, major amputation, or target lesion revascularization (TLR).

Results:

Around 134 subjects were randomized to PTA alone (n=41), PTA+DCB (n=43) or PTA+ELA+DCB (n=50). Procedural success was similar (p=.74), as was clinical success (p=.17). The number of recurrent ISR>70% decreased after PTA+ELA+DCB (30.0%; p=.04) and PTA+DCB (30.2%; p=.05) compared to PTA alone (51.2%). Primary patency was higher after PTA+ELA+DCB (log-rank p=.04) and PTA+DCB (log-rank p=.02) compared to PTA alone at 12 months (78.7% and 70.4% vs 61.5%) and 18 months (61.6% and 67.7% vs 37.3%). Freedom from MAEs was lower after PTA+DCB (27.9%) compared to PTA alone (53.7%; p=.02) but did not differ with PTA+ELA+DCB (40.0%). It was primarily driven by TLR; 2 major amputations occurred after PTA+ELA+DCB (4.0%; p=.18).

Conclusion:

This independent study demonstrated a decrease in recurrent ISR>70% and increase in primary patency up to 18 months after PTA+ELA+DCB and PTA+DCB compared to PTA alone in the treatment of FP-ISR. It did not show an increase in MAEs but could have lacked power.

Clinical Impact

This multicenter, prospective, triple-arm randomized, controlled trial focuses on the results of adjunctive therapies, such as excimer laser atherectomy (ELA) and/or drug-coated balloons (DCBs) in the treatment of in-stent restenosis (ISR) in femoropopliteal lesions in 134 patients. It has the originality of being an independent study funded by a grant from the French Ministry of Health. This study confirms a significant decrease in recurrent ISR >70% and increase in primary patency up to 18 months after the use of ELA+DCB and DCBs compared to simple percutaneous transluminal angioplasty in the treatment of femoropopliteal ISR without an increase in major adverse events.
Competitive Balance in the Post-2024 Champions League and the European Super League: A Simulation Study
Authors: Gyimesi András
Published: April 2024

The proposal of the European Super League and the 2024/25 reform of the UEFA Champions League are both major events in European club football. This study compares the competitive balance (CB) of these new tournament formats with the previous Champions League format. Short-, mid- and long-term CB are quantified by measuring the average uncertainty of match outcomes, the ratio of stakeless matches, and the recurrence ratio of teams in knockout rounds. A simulation method is applied using the teams, their seeding, and Elo ratings in the 2020/21 and 2021/22 Champions League seasons. Results suggest that the 2024/25 reform improves CB, especially in match uncertainty and the occurrence of stakeless matches. In comparison, the Star League of the European Super League concept of December 2023 is superior concerning average match uncertainty. However, it has a worse CB regarding stakeless matches and dynamic CB. Reasons and suggestions for improvement are also discussed.
Feasibility Study of Computed Tomographic Radiomics Model for the Prediction of Early and Intermediate Stage Hepatocellular Carcinoma Using BCLC Staging
Authors: Dong Han , Yang Lu , Shaofeng Duan , Lili Guo
Published: April 2024

Background

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a serious health concern because of its high morbidity and mortality. The prognosis of HCC largely depends on the disease stage at diagnosis. Computed tomography (CT) image textural analysis is an image analysis technique that has emerged in recent years.

Objective

To probe the feasibility of a CT radiomic model for predicting early (stages 0, A) and intermediate (stage B) HCC using Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) staging.

Methods

A total of 190 patients with stages 0, A, or B HCC according to CT-enhanced arterial and portal vein phase images were retrospectively assessed. The lesions were delineated manually to construct a region of interest (ROI) consisting of the entire tumor mass. Consequently, the textural profiles of the ROIs were extracted by specific software. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator dimensionality reduction was used to screen the textural profiles and obtain the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve values.

Results

Within the test cohort, the area under the curve (AUC) values associated with arterial-phase images and BCLC stages 0, A, and B disease were 0.99, 0.98, and 0.99, respectively. The overall accuracy rate was 92.7%. The AUC values associated with portal vein phase images and BCLC stages 0, A, and B disease were 0.98, 0.95, and 0.99, respectively, with an overall accuracy of 90.9%.

Conclusion

The CT radiomic model can be used to predict the BCLC stage of early-stage and intermediate-stage HCC.
Evaluation of Patient Education Materials From Large-Language Artificial Intelligence Models on Carpal Tunnel Release
Authors: Croen Brett J. , Abdullah Mohammed S. , Berns Ellis , Rapaport Sarah , Hahn Alexander K. , Barrett Caitlin C. , Sobel Andrew D.
Published: April 2024

Background:

ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence technology, has the potential to be a useful patient aid, though the accuracy and appropriateness of its responses and recommendations on common hand surgical pathologies and procedures must be understood. Comparing the sources referenced and characteristics of responses from ChatGPT and an established search engine (Google) on carpal tunnel surgery will allow for an understanding of the utility of ChatGPT for patient education.

Methods:

A Google search of “carpal tunnel release surgery” was performed and “frequently asked questions (FAQs)” were recorded with their answer and source. ChatGPT was then asked to provide answers to the Google FAQs. The FAQs were compared, and answer content was compared using word count, readability analyses, and content source.

Results:

There was 40% concordance among questions asked by the programs. Google answered each question with one source per answer, whereas ChatGPT’s answers were created from two sources per answer. ChatGPT’s answers were significantly longer than Google’s and multiple readability analysis algorithms found ChatGPT responses to be statistically significantly more difficult to read and at a higher grade level than Google’s. ChatGPT always recommended “contacting your surgeon.”

Conclusion:

A comparison of ChatGPT’s responses to Google’s FAQ responses revealed that ChatGPT’s answers were more in-depth, from multiple sources, and from a higher proportion of academic Web sites. However, ChatGPT answers were found to be more difficult to understand. Further study is needed to understand if the differences in the responses between programs correlate to a difference in patient comprehension.
Mitochondria-derived peptide is an effective target for treating streptozotocin induced painful diabetic neuropathy through induction of activated protein kinase/peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1alpha -mediated mitochondrial biogenesis
Authors: Xu Lingfei , Tang Xihui , Yang Long , Chang Min , Xu Yuqing , Chen Qingsong , Lu Chen , Liu Su , Jiang Jinhong
Published: April 2024

Painful Diabetic Neuropathy (PDN) is a common diabetes complication that frequently causes severe hyperalgesia and allodynia and presents treatment challenges. Mitochondrial-derived peptide (MOTS-c), a novel mitochondrial-derived peptide, has been shown to regulate glucose metabolism, insulin sensitivity, and inflammatory responses. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of MOTS-c in streptozocin (STZ)-induced PDN model and investigate the putative underlying mechanisms. We found that endogenous MOTS-c levels in plasma and spinal dorsal horn were significantly lower in STZ-treated mice than in control animals. Accordingly, MOTS-c treatment significantly improves STZ-induced weight loss, elevation of blood glucose, mechanical allodynia, and thermal hyperalgesia; however, these effects were blocked by dorsomorphin, an adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) inhibitor. In addition, MOTS-c treatment significantly enhanced AMPKα1/2 phosphorylation and PGC-1α expression in the lumbar spinal cord of PDN mice. Mechanistic studies indicated that MOTS-c significantly restored mitochondrial biogenesis, inhibited microglia activation, and decreased the production of pro-inflammatory factors, which contributed to the alleviation of pain. Moreover, MOTS-c decreased STZ-induced pain hypersensitivity in PDN mice by activating AMPK/PGC-1α signaling pathway. This provides the pharmacological and biological evidence for developing mitochondrial peptide-based therapeutic agents for PDN.
Walking tours as transcultural memory activism: Referencing memories of trauma and migration to redefine urban belonging
Authors: Huss Michal
Published: April 2024

This article maps two grids of city walking tours, conceptualizing them as expressions of transcultural memory activism. The first are walking tours in Berlin, guided by Syrian refugees, which use memorials of local traumatic history to testify to the refugees’ current traumas. The second are walking tours in an impoverished neighbourhood of south Tel Aviv, that inter-weave African asylum seekers’ travelling memories as part of the story of those streets. Analysing these tours, the article probes how references to histories of urban migration and traumatic legacies might inform contemporary political projects asserting the rights of refugees, and redefine the parameters of urban belonging. It therefore proposes a dual theoretical contribution: (1) advancing the transcultural turn in memory studies by paying greater attention to the materiality and performativity of transcultural memory and (2) enhancing research on the agency of refugees by demonstrating how they affect and expand the public memory of the contested national and urban contexts in which they travel or inhabit.
Improving olaparib exposure to optimize adverse effects management
Authors: Sterlé Marylise , Puszkiel Alicja , Burlot Chloé , Pereira Eva , Bellesoeur Audrey , De Percin Sixtine , Beinse Guillaume , Fumet Jean-David , Favier Laure , Niogret Julie , Blanchet Benoit , Royer Bernard , Bengrine-Lefevre Leïla , Schmitt Antonin
Published: April 2024

Background:

Olaparib is an inhibitor of the human poly-(ADP-ribose)-polymerase enzymes (PARP1/2) needed to repair single-strand DNA breaks. It is used in breast, ovarian, prostate and pancreatic cancer.

Objectives:

This work aimed to describe the pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics (PK/PD) relationship between olaparib plasma concentrations and common adverse effects (i.e. anaemia and hypercreatininaemia), in a real-life setting, to propose a target concentration for therapeutic drug monitoring.

Methods:

Two PK/PD models describing the evolution of haemoglobinaemia and creatininaemia as a function of time were developed, based on data from, respectively, 38 and 37 patients receiving olaparib. The final model estimates were used to calculate the incidence of anaemia and creatinine increase according to plasma trough concentrations for 1000 virtual subjects to define target exposure.

Results:

The final models correctly described the temporal evolution of haemoglobinaemia and creatininaemia for all patients. The haemoglobinaemia PK/PD model is inspired by Friberg’s model, and the creatininaemia PK/PD model is an indirect response model. Model parameters were in agreement with physiological values and close to literature values for similar models. The mean (population) plasma haemoglobin concentration at treatment initiation, as estimated by the model, was 11.62 g/dL, while creatinine concentration was 71.91 µmol/L. Using simulations, we have identified a target trough concentration of 3500–4000 ng/mL, above which more than 20% of patients would report grade ≥3 anaemia.

Conclusion:

Based on real-world data, we were able to properly describe the time course of haemoglobinaemia and plasma creatininaemia during olaparib treatment.
Automated osteoporosis classification and T-score prediction using hip radiographs via deep learning algorithm
Authors: Chen Yu-Pin , Chan Wing P. , Zhang Han-Wei , Tsai Zhi-Ren , Peng Hsiao-Ching , Huang Shu-Wei , Jang Yeu-Chai , Kuo Yi-Jie
Published: April 2024

Background:

Despite being the gold standard for diagnosing osteoporosis, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is an underutilized screening tool for osteoporosis.

Objectives:

This study proposed and validated a controllable feature layer of a convolutional neural network (CNN) model with a preprocessing image algorithm to classify osteoporosis and predict T-score on the proximal hip region via simple hip radiographs.

Design:

This was a single-center, retrospective study.

Methods:

An image dataset of 3460 unilateral hip images from 1730 patients (age ⩾50 years) was retrospectively collected with matched DXA assessment for T-score for the targeted proximal hip regions to train (2473 unilateral hip images from 1430 patients) and test (497 unilateral hip images from 300 patients) the proposed CNN model. All images were processed with a fully automated CNN model, X1AI-Osteo.

Results:

The proposed screening tool illustrated a better performance (sensitivity: 97.2%; specificity: 95.6%; positive predictive value: 95.7%; negative predictive value: 97.1%; area under the curve: 0.96) than the open-sourced CNN models in predicting osteoporosis. Moreover, when combining variables, including age, body mass index, and sex as features in the training metric, there was high consistency in the T-score on the targeted hip regions between the proposed CNN model and the DXA ( r = 0.996, p < 0.001).

Conclusion:

The proposed CNN model may identify osteoporosis and predict T-scores on the targeted hip regions from simple hip radiographs with high accuracy, highlighting the future application for population-based opportunistic osteoporosis screening with low cost and high adaptability for a broader population at risk.

Trial registration:

TMU-JIRB N201909036.