bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development of the Hausa version of the Pain Catastrophizing Scale: translation, cross-cultural adaptation and psychometric evaluation in mixed urban and rural patients with chronic low back pain
Authors: Ibrahim Aminu A. , Akindele Mukadas O. , Kaka Bashir , Mukhtar Naziru B.
Published: February 2021

Background

Catastrophizing has been recognized as an important contributor to chronicity in individuals with chronic pain syndromes including low back pain (LBP). The Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) is perhaps the most widely used tool to evaluate the degree of pain catastrophizing. However, its use is limited in Hausa-speaking countries due to the lack of a validated translated version.

Objective

To translate and cross-culturally adapt the PCS into Hausa (Hausa-PCS), and evaluate its psychometric properties in mixed urban and rural patients with chronic LBP.

Methods

The PCS was translated and cross-culturally adapted into Hausa in accordance with established guidelines. To evaluate its psychometric properties, a consecutive sample of 200 patients with chronic LBP was recruited from urban and rural Nigerian hospitals. Validity was evaluated by exploring content validity, factorial structure (confirmatory factor analysis [CFA]), construct validity (Spearman’s rho for a priori hypotheses) and known-groups validity. Reliability was evaluated by calculating internal consistency (Cronbach’s α), intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), standard error of measurement (SEM), minimal detectable change (MDC) and limits of agreement with 95% confidence interval (LOA95%).

Results

The Hausa-PCS was comprehensible with good content validity. The CFA confirmed a 3-factor structure similar to the original English version. The concurrent validity was supported as 83% (5/6) of the a priori hypotheses were confirmed. Known-groups comparison showed that the questionnaire was unable to differentiate between male and female or urban and rural patients (p > 0.05). Internal consistency and ICC were adequate for the Hausa-PCS total score (α = 0.84; ICC = 0.90) and the subscale helplessness (α = 0.78; ICC = 0.89) but for the subscales rumination (α = 0.69; ICC = 0.68) and magnification (α = 0.41; ICC = 0.43). The LOA95% for the Hausa-PCS total score was between − 8.10 and + 9.75, with SEM and MDC of 3.47 and 9.62 respectively.

Conclusion

The Hausa-PCS was successfully developed and psychometrically adequate in terms of factorial structure, construct validity, internal consistency and test–retest reliability when applied in mixed urban and rural patients with chronic LBP. However, the internal consistency and reliability coefficients (ICC) for the individual subscales are inadequate. Thus, we support the use of the total score when evaluating pain catastrophizing for clinical or research purposes.
A comparison of self-reported and proxy-reported health utilities in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Jiang Mingyu , Ma Yue , Li Minghui , Meng Rui , Ma Aixia , Chen Pingyu
Published: February 2021

Objective

This study aimed to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare differences in health utilities (HUs) assessed by self and proxy respondents in children, as well as to evaluate the effects of health conditions, valuation methods, and proxy types on the differences.

Methods

Eligible studies published in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library up to December 2019 were identified according to PRISMA guidelines. Meta-analyses were performed to calculate the weighted mean differences (WMDs) in HUs between proxy- versus self-reports. Mixed-effects meta-regressions were applied to explore differences in WMDs among each health condition, valuation method and proxy type.

Results

A total of 30 studies were finally included, comprising 211 pairs of HUs assessed by 15,294 children and 16,103 proxies. This study identified 34 health conditions, 10 valuation methods, and 3 proxy types. In general, proxy-reported HUs were significantly different from those assessed by children themselves, while the direction and magnitude of these differences were inconsistent regarding health conditions, valuation methods, and proxy types. Meta-regression demonstrated that WMDs were significantly different in patients with ear diseases relative to the general population; in those measured by EQ-5D, Health utility index 2 (HUI2), and Pediatric asthma health outcome measure relative to Visual analogue scale method; while were not significantly different in individuals adopting clinician-proxy and caregiver-proxy relative to parent-proxy.

Conclusion

Divergence existed in HUs between self and proxy-reports. Our findings highlight the importance of selecting appropriate self and/or proxy-reported HUs in health-related quality of life measurement and economic evaluations.
Adapting evidence-informed population health interventions for new contexts: a scoping review of current practice
Authors: Movsisyan A. , Arnold L. , Copeland L. , Evans R. , Littlecott H. , Moore G. , O’Cathain A. , Pfadenhauer L. , Segrott J. , Rehfuess E.
Published: February 2021

Background

Implementing evidence-informed population health interventions in new contexts often requires adaptations. While the need to adapt interventions to better fit new contexts is recognised, uncertainties remain regarding why and when to adapt (or not), and how to assess the benefits (or not) of adaptation. The ADAPT Study aims to develop comprehensive guidance on adaptation. This scoping review informs guidance development by mapping and exploring how adaptation has been undertaken in practice, in public health and health services research.

Methods

We searched seven databases from January 2000 and October 2018 to identify eligible studies for this scoping review and a related systematic review of adaptation guidance. We mapped the studies of adaptation by coding data from all eligible studies describing the methods, contexts, and interventions considered for adaptation. From this map, we selected a sample of studies for in-depth examination. Two reviewers extracted data independently into seven categories: description, key concepts, types, rationale, processes, evaluation methods, evaluation justification, and accounts of failures and successes.

Results

We retrieved 6694 unique records. From 429 records screened at full text, we identified 298 eligible studies for mapping and selected 28 studies for in-depth examination. The majority of studies in our map focused on micro- (i.e., individual-) level interventions (84%), related to transferring an intervention to a new population group within the same country (62%) and did not report using guidance (73%). Studies covered a range of topic areas, including health behaviour (24%), mental health (19%), sexual health (16%), and parenting and family-centred interventions (15%). Our in-depth analysis showed that adaptation is seen to save costs and time relative to developing a new intervention, and to enhance contextual relevance and cultural compatibility. It commonly follows a structured process and involves stakeholders to help with decisions on what to adapt, when, and how.

Conclusions

Adaptation has been undertaken on a range of health topics and largely in line with existing guidance. Significant gaps relate to adaptation of macro- (e.g., national-) level interventions, consideration of programme theories, mechanisms and contexts (i.e., a functional view of interventions), nuances around stakeholder involvement, and evaluation of the adapted interventions.

Registration Open Science Framework, 2019, osf.io/udzma.
Correction to: Ethnobotanical characterization of medicinal plants used in Kisantu and Mbanza-Ngungu territories, Kongo-Central Province in DR Congo
Authors: Pathy Kibungu Kembelo , Flavien Nzuki Bakwaye , Honoré Belesi Katula , Vanhove Wouter , Van Damme Patrick
Published: February 2021

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.
Relationship between back posture and early orthodontic treatment in children
Authors: Klostermann Isa , Kirschneck Christian , Lippold Carsten , Chhatwani Sachin
Published: February 2021

Background

The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between body posture and sagittal dental overjet in children before and after early orthodontic treatment with removable functional orthodontic appliances.

Methods

Angle Class II patients (mean age 8.2 ± 1.2 years; 29 males and 25 females) with a distinctly enlarged overjet (> 9 mm) were retrospectively examined regarding body posture parameters before and after early orthodontic treatment. In addition, changes in overjet were investigated with the aid of plaster models. Forms of transverse dysgnathism (crossbite, lateral malocclusions) and open bite cases were excluded. Body posture parameters kyphosis, lordosis, surface rotation, pelvic tilt, pelvic torsion and trunk imbalance were analyzed by means of rasterstereographical photogrammetry to determine, if the orthodontic overjet correction is associated with specific changes in posture patterns.

Results

In nearly all patients an overjet correction and an improvement regarding all body posture and back parameters could be noted after early orthodontic treatment. Overjet reduction (− 3.9 mm ± 2.1 mm) and pelvic torsion (− 1.28° ± 0,44°) were significantly (p < 0.05) and moderately correlated (R = 0.338) with no significant associations found for the other posture and back parameters (p > 0.05).

Conclusion

Overjet reduction during early orthodontic treatment may be associated with a detectable effect on pelvic torsion.
Intra-articular magnesium to alleviate postoperative pain after arthroscopic knee surgery: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Shi Lijun , Zhu Haiyun , Ma Jinhui , Shi Li-Li , Gao Fuqiang , Sun Wei
Published: February 2021

Objective

We aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of intra-articular (IA) magnesium (Mg) for postoperative pain relief after arthroscopic knee surgery.

Methods

We searched PubMed, Embase, Medline, Cochrane library, and Web of Science to identify randomized controlled trials that compared postoperative pain outcomes with or without IA Mg after knee arthroscopy. The primary outcomes were pain intensity at rest and with movement at different postoperative time points and cumulative opioid consumption within 24 h after surgery. Secondary outcomes included the time to first analgesic request and side effects.

Results

In total, 11 studies involving 677 participants met the eligibility criteria. Pain scores at rest and with movement 2, 4, 12, and 24 h after surgery were significantly lower, doses of supplementary opioid consumption were smaller, and the time to first analgesic requirement was longer in the IA Mg group compared with the control group. No significant difference was detected regarding adverse reactions between the groups.

Conclusions

Intra-articular magnesium is an effective and safe coadjuvant treatment for relieving postoperative pain intensity after arthroscopic knee surgery.

Protocol registration at PROSPERO: CRD42020156403.
The longitudinal relationship between immune cell profiles and frailty in patients with breast cancer receiving chemotherapy
Authors: Gilmore Nikesha , Mohile Supriya , Lei Lianlian , Culakova Eva , Mohamed Mostafa , Magnuson Allison , Loh Kah Poh , Maggiore Ronald , Belcher Elizabeth , Conlin Alison , Weiselberg Lora , Ontko Mary , Janelsins Michelle
Published: February 2021

Background

Frailty is associated with an increased risk of chemotherapy toxicity. Cellular markers of inflammation can help identify patients with frailty characteristics. However, the role of cellular markers of inflammation in identifying patients at risk of developing chemotherapy-induced frailty and their clinical utility are not fully understood.

Methods

This study was a secondary analysis of a large nationwide cohort study of women with stage I–IIIC breast cancer (n = 581, mean age 53.4; range 22–81). Measures were completed pre-chemotherapy (T1), post-chemotherapy (T2), and 6 months post-chemotherapy (T3). Frailty was assessed at all three time points using a modified Fried score consisting of four self-reported measures (weakness, exhaustion, physical activity, and walking speed; 0–4, 1 point for each). Immune cell counts as well as neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and lymphocyte to monocyte ratio (LMR) were obtained at T1 and T2 time points. Separate linear regressions were used to evaluate the associations of (1) cell counts at T1 with frailty at T1, T2, and T3 and (2) change in cell counts (T2–T1) with frailty at T2 and T3. We controlled for relevant covariates and frailty at the T1 time point.

Results

From T1 to T2, the mean frailty score increased (1.3 vs 2.0; p < 0.01) and returned to T1 levels by the T3 time point (1.3 vs 1.3; p = 0.85). At the T1 time point, there was a positive association between cellular markers of inflammation and frailty: WBC (β = 0.04; p < 0.05), neutrophils (β = 0.04; p < 0.05), and NLR (β = 0.04; p < 0.01). From T1 to T2, a greater increase in cellular markers of inflammation was associated with frailty at T2 (WBC: β = 0.02, p < 0.05; neutrophils: β = 0.03, p < 0.05; NLR: β = 0.03; p < 0.01). These associations remained significant after controlling for the receipt of growth factors with chemotherapy and the time between when laboratory data was provided and the start or end of chemotherapy.

Conclusions

In patients with breast cancer undergoing chemotherapy, cellular markers of inflammation are associated with frailty. Immune cell counts may help clinicians identify patients at risk of frailty during chemotherapy.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01382082
Effects of different wavelengths of invasive laser acupuncture on chronic non-specific low back pain: a study protocol for a pilot randomized controlled trial
Authors: Kim Jae-Hong , Na Chang-Su , Park Gwang-Cheon , Lee Jeong-Soon
Published: February 2021

Background

Chronic non-specific low back pain (CLBP) is a common musculoskeletal disorder for which patients seek complementary and alternative medical treatments, including laser acupuncture (LA). Invasive LA (ILA) involves the simultaneous application of invasive acupuncture treatment at acupoints and focused laser irradiation. The efficacy of ILA for CLBP remains controversial owing to the insufficient clinical trial data. We intend to obtain basic data regarding the efficacy and safety of ILA for CLBP by comparing the effects of different wavelengths of ILA on CLBP.

Methods

This will be a prospective, patient-blinded, parallel-arm, single-center (DongShin University Gwangju Korean Medicine Hospital, Republic of Korea), pilot randomized controlled clinical trial. Forty-five participants with CLBP will be randomized in equal numbers into the control, 650-nm ILA (650 ILA), or 830-nm ILA (830 ILA) group. The control group will receive sham ILA for 10 min and real electroacupuncture (EA) for 10 min. The 650 and 830 ILA groups will receive real ILA (i.e., 650 ILA group, 650-nm wavelength; 830 ILA group, 830-nm wavelength) for 10 min and real EA for 10 min once/day, twice a week for 4 weeks, at bilateral Shenshu (BL23), Qihaishu (BL24), Dachangshu (BL25), and Huantiao (GB30). The primary outcome will be an improvement in pain intensity assessed using the visual analog scale. Scores in the Korean version of the Oswestry Disability Index and the European Quality of Life Five Dimension Five Level scale will be recorded as secondary outcome measures. All scores will be recorded at baseline (before intervention), 4 weeks after the first intervention (at the end of the intervention), and 4 weeks after completion of the intervention.

Discussion

The study is expected to provide preliminary evidence regarding the efficacy, safety, and usefulness of ILA for the treatment of CLBP.

Trial registration

This trial was registered with the Clinical Research Information Service (registration No. KCT0004610; http://cris.nih.go.kr). Registered on 7 January 2020.
Soil-transmitted helminths and schistosome infections in Ethiopia: a systematic review of progress in their control over the past 20 years
Authors: Maddren Rosie , Phillips Anna , Ower Alison , Landeryou Toby , Mengistu Birhan , Anjulo Ufaysa , Firdawek Ewnetu , Negussu Nebiyu , Anderson Roy
Published: February 2021

Background

Ethiopia has set the ambitious national targets of eliminating soil-transmitted helminths (STH) and schistosomiasis (SCH) as public health problems by 2020, and breaking their transmission by 2025. This systematic review was performed to provide insight into the progress made by the national STH and SCH control programme purposed with reaching these targets.

Methods

Studies published on STH and SCH in Ethiopia were searched for using Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, and the resulting references of selected studies. Prevalence and intensity were analysed, stratified by region, age, and diagnostics.

Results

A total of 231 papers published between 2000 and 2020 were included. Over the past two decades,Trichuris trichiura(TT) infection has shown the most statistically significant decrease (93%,p < 0.0001), followed bySchistosoma mansoni(SM) (69%,p < 0.0001),Ascaris lumbricoides(AL) (67%,p < 0.0001) andSchistosoma haematobium(83%,p = 0.038) infections. Geographically, parasite burden has only consistently shown a significant reduction in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples’ Region of Ethiopia, where AL, TT, hookworm and SM significantly decreased by 80% (p = 0.006), 95% (p = 0.005), 98% (p = 0.009) and 87% (p = 0.031), respectively. Prevalence of STH was highest among adults across all species, contrary to typical age-infection profiles for TT and AL that peak among school-aged children. Expanding treatment to the whole community would target reservoirs of adult and preschool-aged infection within the community, assisting Ethiopia in reaching their national transmission break targets. There was substantial heterogeneity in diagnostic methods used across studies, the majority of which predominantly used single-slide Kato–Katz. This low slide frequency provides poor diagnostic sensitivity, particularly in low endemic settings.

Conclusion

The prevalence of STH and SCH in Ethiopia has decreased over time due to the strategic use of anthelmintics. Both standardising and increasing the sensitivity of the diagnostics used, alongside the ubiquitous use of parasite intensity with prevalence, would enable a more accurate and comparable understanding of Ethiopia’s epidemiological progress. Further work is needed on community-wide surveillance in order to understand the burden and subsequent need for treatment among those outside of the standard school-based control program.

Graphical Abstract
Renal resistive index is associated with acute kidney injury in COVID-19 patients treated in the intensive care unit
Authors: Renberg Mårten , Jonmarker Olof , Kilhamn Naima , Rimes-Stigare Claire , Bell Max , Hertzberg Daniel
Published: February 2021

Background

Renal resistive index (RRI) is a promising tool for the assessment of acute kidney injury (AKI) in critically ill patients in general, but its role and association to AKI among patients with Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is not known.

Objective

The aim of this study was to describe the pattern of RRI in relation to AKI in patients with COVID-19 treated in the intensive care unit.

Methods

In this observational cohort study, RRI was measured in COVID-19 patients in six intensive care units at two sites of a Swedish University Hospital. AKI was defined by the creatinine criteria in the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes classification. We investigated the association between RRI and AKI diagnosis, different AKI stages and urine output.

Results

RRI was measured in 51 patients, of which 23 patients (45%) had AKI at the time of measurement. Median RRI in patients with AKI was 0.80 (IQR 0.71–0.85) compared to 0.72 (IQR 0.67–0.78) in patients without AKI (p = 0.004). Compared to patients without AKI, RRI was higher in patients with AKI stage 3 (median 0.83, IQR 0.71–0.85, p = 0.006) but not in patients with AKI stage 1 (median 0.76, IQR 0.71–0.83, p = 0.347) or AKI stage 2 (median 0.79, min/max 0.79/0.80, n = 2, p = 0.134). RRI was higher in patients with an ongoing AKI episode compared to patients who never developed AKI (median 0.72, IQR 0.69–0.78, p = 0.015) or patients who developed AKI but had recovered at the time of measurement (median 0.68, IQR 0.67–0.81, p = 0.021). Oliguric patients had higher RRI (median 0.84, IQR 0.83–0.85) compared to non-oliguric patients (median 0.74, IQR 0.69–0.81) (p = 0.009). After multivariable adjustment, RRI was independently associated with AKI (OR for 0.01 increments of RRI 1.22, 95% CI 1.07–1.41).

Conclusions

Critically ill COVID-19 patients with AKI have higher RRI compared to those without AKI, and elevated RRI may have a role in identifying severe and oliguric AKI at the bedside in these patients.
Rapid clinical recovery of a SARS-CoV-2 infected common variable immunodeficiency patient following the infusion of COVID-19 convalescent plasma
Authors: Ribeiro Luciana C. , Benites Bruno Deltreggia , Ulaf Raisa G. , Nunes Thyago A. , Costa-Lima Carolina , Addas-Carvalho Marcelo , Proenca-Modena José Luiz , Granja Fabiana , da Costa Vitor Antonio , Duarte Adriana da Silva Santos , Zangirolami Audrey Basso , Amaro Emerson Clayton , Mansour Eli , Zollner Ricardo L. , Velloso Licio A.
Published: February 2021

Background

Common variable immunodeficiency is the most prevalent symptomatic primary immunodeficiency in adults. Affected patients fail to mount an appropriate humoral response against community acquired infectious diseases and recent reports have provided data supporting the increased susceptibility of these patients to severe SARS-CoV-2 infections. In this context, the infusion of COVID-19 convalescent plasma could represent an effective therapeutic strategy.

Case presentation

25-year old woman diagnosed with common variable immunodeficiency in 2013, developed severe COVID-19 that rapidly progressed to pneumonia presenting with multiple bilateral lung opacities that were both central and peripheral and presented as ground-glass and consolidation types involving all lobes, bilaterally. As blood oxygen saturation decayed and lung abnormalities were not responsive to large spectrum antibiotics and corticosteroids, patient was placed on mechanical ventilation and compassionate-use of approved COVID-19 convalescent donor plasma was introduced. The patient presented a rapid response to the approach and mechanical ventilation could be interrupted 24 h after first dose of COVID-19 convalescent donor plasma. As a whole, the patient received four doses of 200 mL convalescent plasma during a period of 6 days. There was rapid improvement of clinical status, with interruption of supplemental oxygen therapy after 6 days and reduction of lung abnormalities as evidence by sequential computed tomography scans.

Conclusions

This is a single patient report that adds to other few reports on common variable immunodeficiency and agammaglobulinemia, suggesting that COVID-19 convalescent donor plasma could be a valuable therapeutic approach to treat patients affected by dysgammaglobulinemias and presenting severe COVID-19.
Correction to: Absence of parvalbumin increases mitochondria volume and branching of dendrites in inhibitory Pvalb neurons in vivo: a point of convergence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) risk gene phenotypes
Authors: Janickova Lucia , Rechberger Karin Farah , Wey Lucas , Schwaller Beat
Published: February 2021

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via the original article.
Clinical characteristics and outcomes in women and men hospitalized for coronavirus disease 2019 in New Orleans
Authors: Yoshida Yilin , Gillet Scott A. , Brown Margo I. , Zu Yuanhao , Wilson Sarah M. , Ahmed Sabreen J. , Tirumalasetty Saritha , Lovre Dragana , Krousel-Wood Marie , Denson Joshua L. , Mauvais-Jarvis Franck
Published: February 2021

Objectives

Determine if sex differences exist in clinical characteristics and outcomes of adults hospitalized for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in a US healthcare system.

Design

Case series study.

Setting and participants

Sequentially hospitalized adults admitted for COVID-19 at two tertiary care academic hospitals in New Orleans, LA, between 27 February and 15 July 2020.

Measures and outcomes

Measures included demographics, comorbidities, presenting symptoms, and laboratory results. Outcomes included intensive care unit admission (ICU), invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV), and in-hospital death.

Results

We included 776 patients (median age 60.5 years; 61.4% women, 75% non-Hispanic Black). Rates of ICU, IMV, and death were similar in both sexes. In women versus men, obesity (63.8 vs 41.6%, P < 0.0001), hypertension (77.6 vs 70.1%, P = 0.02), diabetes (38.2 vs 31.8%, P = 0.06), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD, 22.1 vs 15.1%, P = 0.015), and asthma (14.3 vs 6.9%, P = 0.001) were more prevalent. More women exhibited dyspnea (61.2 vs 53.7%, P = 0.04), fatigue (35.7 vs 28.5%, P = 0.03), and digestive symptoms (39.3 vs 32.8%, P = 0.06) than men. Obesity was associated with IMV at a lower BMI (> 35) in women, but the magnitude of the effect of morbid obesity (BMI ≥ 40) was similar in both sexes. COPD was associated with ICU (adjusted OR (aOR), 2.6; 95%CI, 1.5–4.3) and IMV (aOR, 1.8; 95%CI, 1.2–3.1) in women only. Diabetes (aOR, 2.6; 95%CI, 1.2–2.9), chronic kidney disease (aOR, 2.2; 95%CI, 1.3–5.2), elevated neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (aOR, 2.5; 95%CI, 1.4–4.3), and elevated ferritin (aOR, 3.6; 95%CI, 1.7–7.3) were independent predictors of death in women only. In contrast, elevated D-dimer was an independent predictor of ICU (aOR, 7.3; 95%CI, 2.7–19.5), IMV (aOR, 6.5; 95%CI, 2.1–20.4), and death (aOR, 4.5; 95%CI, 1.2–16.4) in men only.

Conclusions

This study highlights sex disparities in clinical determinants of severe outcomes in COVID-19 patients that may inform management and prevention strategies to ensure gender equity.
Transformation of fibroblast‐like synoviocytes in rheumatoid arthritis; from a friend to foe
Authors: Mousavi Mohammad Javad , Karami Jafar , Aslani Saeed , Tahmasebi Mohammad Naghi , Vaziri Arash Sharafat , Jamshidi Ahmadreza , Farhadi Elham , Mahmoudi Mahdi
Published: February 2021

Swelling and the progressive destruction of articular cartilage are major characteristics of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a systemic autoimmune disease that directly affects the synovial joints and often causes severe disability in the affected positions. Recent studies have shown that type B synoviocytes, which are also called fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs), as the most commonly and chiefly resident cells, play a crucial role in early-onset and disease progression by producing various mediators. During the pathogenesis of RA, the FLSs’ phenotype is altered, and represent invasive behavior similar to that observed in tumor conditions. Modified and stressful microenvironment by FLSs leads to the recruitment of other immune cells and, eventually, pannus formation. The origins of this cancerous phenotype stem fundamentally from the significant metabolic changes in glucose, lipids, and oxygen metabolism pathways. Moreover, the genetic abnormalities and epigenetic alterations have recently been implicated in cancer-like behaviors of RA FLSs. In this review, we will focus on the mechanisms underlying the transformation of FLSs to a cancer-like phenotype during RA. A comprehensive understanding of these mechanisms may lead to devising more effective and targeted treatment strategies.
A CNN-based approach to identification of degradations in speech signals
Authors: Saishu Yuki , Poorjam Amir Hossein , Christensen Mads Græsbøll
Published: February 2021

The presence of degradations in speech signals, which causes acoustic mismatch between training and operating conditions, deteriorates the performance of many speech-based systems. A variety of enhancement techniques have been developed to compensate the acoustic mismatch in speech-based applications. To apply these signal enhancement techniques, however, it is necessary to know prior information about the presence and the type of degradations in speech signals. In this paper, we propose a new convolutional neural network (CNN)-based approach to automatically identify the major types of degradations commonly encountered in speech-based applications, namely additive noise, nonlinear distortion, and reverberation. In this approach, a set of parallel CNNs, each detecting a certain degradation type, is applied to the log-mel spectrogram of audio signals. Experimental results using two different speech types, namely pathological voice and normal running speech, show the effectiveness of the proposed method in detecting the presence and the type of degradations in speech signals which outperforms the state-of-the-art method. Using the score weighted class activation mapping, we provide a visual analysis of how the network makes decision for identifying different types of degradation in speech signals by highlighting the regions of the log-mel spectrogram which are more influential to the target degradation.
Ultrasonic evaluation of muscle functional recovery following free functioning gracilis transfer, a preliminary study
Authors: Hou Yi , Yang Jiantao , Qin Bengang , Gu Liqiang , Zheng Jia
Published: February 2021

Background

Ultrasonic measurement has not been utilized to assess the functional recovery of transplanted muscle. This study aimed to investigate the feasibility of using B-ultrasound measurement to assess muscle recovery following free functioning gracilis transfer.

Methods

From January 2009 to January 2014, 35 patients receiving free functioning gracilis transfer to treat total brachial plexus injury were enrolled. B-ultrasound was adopted to determine the cross-sectional area (CSA) of transplanted gracilis muscle at rest and contraction state. The ratio of pre- to post-transplant CSA value at rest state was defined as muscle bulk ratio (MBR). The ratio of CSA value at contraction state to rest state was defined as contraction ratio (CR).

Results

Patients with muscle strength M ≥ 4 had significantly higher CR1 (post-transplant), CR2 (pre-transplant), and range of motion (ROM, joint mobility) than those with muscle strength M < 4. The CR1 > CR2 group had significantly higher CR1, muscle strength, and ROM than the CR1 ≤ CR2 group. The MBR > 1 group had significantly higher muscle strength than the MBR ≤ 1 group. CR1 value was highly correlated with muscle strength and with ROM. CR2 value was moderately correlated with muscle strength and ROM. Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that a higher CR1/CR2 value was associated with a higher muscle strength and joint mobility. The CR1 > CR2 group had better muscle strength and ROM than the CR1 ≤ CR2 groups.

Conclusion

B-ultrasound measurement can quantitatively reflect muscle strength following gracilis transfer, and CR value could be a potential indicator for functional recovery of the transplanted gracilis muscle.

Level of Evidence: Prognostic studies, Level II.
Non-cell autonomous astrocyte-mediated neuronal toxicity in prion diseases
Authors: Kushwaha Rajesh , Sinha Anshuman , Makarava Natallia , Molesworth Kara , Baskakov Ilia V.
Published: February 2021

Under normal conditions, astrocytes perform a number of important physiological functions centered around neuronal support and synapse maintenance. In neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and prion diseases, astrocytes acquire reactive phenotypes, which are sustained throughout the disease progression. It is not known whether in the reactive states associated with prion diseases, astrocytes lose their ability to perform physiological functions and whether the reactive states are neurotoxic or, on the contrary, neuroprotective. The current work addresses these questions by testing the effects of reactive astrocytes isolated from prion-infected C57BL/6J mice on primary neuronal cultures. We found that astrocytes isolated at the clinical stage of the disease exhibited reactive, pro-inflammatory phenotype, which also showed downregulation of genes involved in neurogenic and synaptogenic functions. In astrocyte-neuron co-cultures, astrocytes from prion-infected animals impaired neuronal growth, dendritic spine development and synapse maturation. Toward examining the role of factors secreted by reactive astrocytes, astrocyte-conditioned media was found to have detrimental effects on neuronal viability and synaptogenic functions via impairing synapse integrity, and by reducing spine size and density. Reactive microglia isolated from prion-infected animals were found to induce phenotypic changes in primary astrocytes reminiscent to those observed in prion-infected mice. In particular, astrocytes cultured with reactive microglia-conditioned media displayed hypertrophic morphology and a downregulation of genes involved in neurogenic and synaptogenic functions. In summary, the current study provided experimental support toward the non-cell autonomous mechanisms behind neurotoxicity in prion diseases and demonstrated that the astrocyte reactive phenotype associated with prion diseases is synaptotoxic.
Ceftriaxone-associated pseudolithiasis in hemodialysis patients: a case series study
Authors: Oyama Yuko , Iwafuchi Yoichi , Narita Ichiei
Published: February 2021

Background

Ceftriaxone, a third-generation cephalosporin, is widely used to treat bacterial infections in patients undergoing dialysis because it has a long half-life and broad spectrum of action and does not require dose reduction. However, renal dysfunction is a risk factor for ceftriaxone-associated pseudolithiasis that has rarely been reported in patients undergoing hemodialysis. This study aimed to present the detailed clinical manifestations of, and susceptibility to, ceftriaxone-associated pseudolithiasis in hemodialysis patients.

Methods

Seventy-seven hemodialysis patients received ceftriaxone between February 2011 and June 2019, and 33 patients underwent abdominal computed tomography within 1 year of receiving the drug. Among these 33 patients, 11 have developed ceftriaxone-associated pseudolithiasis. We retrospectively reviewed these patients’ medical records. We also compared the medical records of ten patients who underwent computed tomography scans within 60 days of ceftriaxone administration and developed ceftriaxone-associated pseudolithiasis with those of patients who did not develop this adverse event.

Results

Pseudolithiasis tended to develop when patients received ceftriaxone for longer periods or at a higher total dosage. However, the ceftriaxone dose and the disease severity were not significantly correlated. Most patients improved within several months; however, the condition persisted for 10 months in a patient with a spinal cord injury. There were no significant differences in patient characteristics, prevalence of diabetes mellitus or cerebrovascular disease, being bed-bound, fasting, serum albumin, calcium, intact parathormone, or dose per unit body mass between the two groups. However, patients who developed pseudolithiasis had received ceftriaxone for significantly longer and at a higher total dose than those who did not develop pseudolithiasis (12 days; interquartile range [IQ], 8.3–14 vs. 4 days, IQ, 2–8, P = 0.00872; 12.5 g, IQ, 9.3–14 vs. 4 g, IQ, 2–8, P = 0.00476, respectively).

Conclusions

Ceftriaxone-associated pseudolithiasis may be relatively common in patients undergoing hemodialysis, especially in those who receive a higher total quantity of drug or for a longer duration. It is important to be aware of the possibility of pseudolithiasis developing in hemodialysis patients who receive ceftriaxone. These patients should be monitored during, and for up to 1 year after, its administration.
Elevated factor VIII levels and arterial stroke: a review of literature with a case report
Authors: Khandelwal Dinesh , Mathur Vaibhav , Vyas Arvind , Shah Chandani , Ranawat Chandrajeet Singh , Patel Parth
Published: February 2021

Background

Cerebral arterial thromboses or ischemic strokes may be caused by cumulative or independent effects of a variety of risk factors. High factor VIII level is one of those important but less known risk factors for arterial and venous thrombosis. We hereby provide a comprehensive review of the role of high factor VIII levels as a risk factor of arterial thrombosis. Moreover, we present our views on inclusion of factor VIII testing in the etiology workup protocol of young patients with ischemic strokes and their treatment with anticoagulant therapy.

Case presentation

We illustrate a case of 32-year-old North Indian female patient with Ischemic stroke whose only identifiable risk factor was revealed to be an elevated factor VIII level. She was treated with oral anticoagulant with an uneventful follow-up of 6 months.

Conclusions

Elevated factor VIII levels have their independent and additive effects in causation and prognosis of arterial strokes. We herein discuss the mechanism of this association, the feasibility and yield of routine testing, appropriate cut-off levels, and further treatment protocol especially in young stroke patients.
A proposed insight into the anti-viral potential of metallic nanoparticles against novel coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19)
Authors: Ibrahim Fouad Ghadha
Published: February 2021

Background

Over the last ten months since December 2019, the world has faced infectious emerging novel coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) outbreaks that had a massive global impact affecting over 185 countries.

Main body

Emerging novel COVID-19 is a global health emergency on a pandemic scale that represents a terror to human health through its ability to escape anti-viral measures. Such viral infections impose a great socioeconomic burden, besides global health challenges. This imposes a pressing need for the development of anti-viral therapeutic agents and diagnostic tools that demonstrate multifunctional, target-specific, and non-toxic properties. Nanotheranostics is regarded as a promising approach for the management of different viral infections. Nanotheranostics facilitates targeted drug-delivery of anti-viral therapeutics as well as contributing to the development of diagnostic systems. Multifunctional metallic nanoparticles (NPs) have emerged as innovative theranostic agents that enable sustainable treatment and effective diagnosis. Here we have reviewed current advances in the use of theranostic metallic NPs to fight against COVID-19, and discussed the application as well as limitations associated with nanotechnology-based theranostic approaches.

Conclusion

This review verified the potential use of some metal-based NPs as anti-viral nanotheranostic agents. Metal-based NPs could act as carriers that enable the sustainable and targeted delivery of active anti-viral molecules, or as diagnostic agents that allow rapid and sensitive diagnosis of viral infections.
Accelerating the conceptual use of behavioral health research in juvenile court decision-making: study protocol
Authors: Cusworth Walker Sarah , Vick Kristin , Gubner Noah R. , Herting Jerald R. , Palinkas Lawrence A.
Published: February 2021

Background

The youth criminal-legal system is under heavy political scrutiny with multiple calls for significant transformation. Leaders within the system are faced with rethinking traditional models and are likely to benefit from behavioral health research evidence as they redesign systems. Little is known about how juvenile court systems access and use behavioral health research evidence; further, the field lacks a validated survey measure of behavioral health research use that can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of evidence dissemination interventions for policy and system leaders. Conceptual research use is a particularly salient construct for system reform as it describes the process of shifting awareness and the consideration of new frameworks for action. A tool designed to measure the conceptual use of behavioral health research would advance the field’s ability to develop effective models of research evidence dissemination, including collaborative planning models to support the use of behavioral health research in reforms of the criminal-legal system.

Methods

The ARC Study is a longitudinal, cohort and measurement validation study. It will proceed in two phases. The first phase will focus on measure development using established methods of construct validity (theoretical review, Delphi methods for expert review, cognitive interviewing). The second phase will involve gathering responses from the developed survey to examine scale psychometrics using Rasch analyses, change sensitivity analyses, and associations between research use exposure and conceptual research use among juvenile court leaders. We will recruit juvenile court leaders (judges, administrators, managers, supervisors) from 80 juvenile court jurisdictions with an anticipated sample size of n = 520 respondents.

Discussion

The study will introduce a new measurement tool for the field that will advance implementation science methods for the study of behavioral health research evidence use in complex policy and decision-making interventions. To date, there are few validated survey measures of conceptual research use and no measures that are validated for measuring change in conceptual frameworks over time among agency leaders. While the study is most directly related to leaders in the youth criminal-legal system, the findings are expected to be informative for research focused on leadership and decision-making in diverse fields.
The effects of diabetes mellitus type 1 on children’s audiovestibular system: a randomized case control study
Authors: El Shafei Reham Rafei , Guindi Sherif , El Refaie Amr , Mikhail Erini , Yousef Remon Magdy
Published: February 2021

Background

Children with diabetes mellitus type 1 have many deficits, including neuropathy, retinopathy, and nephropathy, all of which compromise their activity and daily functional status. Vestibular dysfunction is another possible complication of diabetes and may increase the risk of falls. Despite diabetes mellitus prevalence, few studies evaluated its effect on hearing, and even fewer examined the effect on the audiovestibular system. A randomized case control pilot study design was implemented to evaluate the effect of type 1 diabetes mellitus on the audiovestibular system of children.

Results

The study included 50 children divided into 2 groups; the study group included 25 children suffering from type 1 diabetes mellitus, and the control group included 25 patients who were known to be nondiabetics. Both groups underwent basic audiological and vestibular test battery. Only 16% showed different degrees of hearing loss. Regarding vestibular assessment, saccadic eye tracking showed the highest degree of abnormal results within the study group (80%). Correlation between saccade findings among cases and the risk factors of diabetes like duration, glycated hemoglobin level, diabetic ketoacidosis, and hypoglycemic coma attacks indicated statistically significant positive correlation between saccade latency and glycated hemoglobin level.

Conclusion

This study proposed that type 1 diabetes mellitus can affect the audiovestibular system of children even in the absence of symptoms. Accordingly, appropriate early rehabilitative management should be planned in an attempt to avoid further complications.
FGF19 in the Hindbrain Lowers Blood Glucose and Alters Excitability of Vagal Motor Neurons in Hyperglycemic Mice
Authors: Wean Jordan B , Smith Bret N
Published: February 2021

Fibroblast growth factor 19 (FGF19) is a protein hormone that produces antidiabetic effects when administered intracerebroventricularly in the forebrain. However, no studies have examined how FGF19 affects hindbrain neurons that participate directly in autonomic control of systemic glucose regulation. Within the dorsal hindbrain, parasympathetic motor neurons of the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus (DMV) express fibroblast growth factor receptors and their activity regulates visceral homeostatic processes, including energy balance. This study tested the hypothesis that FGF19 acts in the hindbrain to alter DMV neuron excitability and lower blood glucose concentration. Fourth ventricle administration of FGF19 produced no effect on blood glucose concentration in control mice, but induced a significant, peripheral muscarinic receptor-dependent decrease in systemic hyperglycemia for up to 12 h in streptozotocin-treated mice, a model of type 1 diabetes. Patch-clamp recordings from DMV neurons in vitro revealed that FGF19 application altered synaptic and intrinsic membrane properties of DMV neurons, with the balance of FGF19 effects being significantly modified by a recent history of systemic hyperglycemia. These findings identify central parasympathetic circuitry as a novel target for FGF19 and suggest that FGF19 acting in the dorsal hindbrain can alter vagal output to produce its beneficial metabolic effects.
Precision of tissue patterning is controlled by dynamical properties of gene regulatory networks
Authors: Exelby Katherine , Herrera-Delgado Edgar , Perez Lorena Garcia , Perez-Carrasco Ruben , Sagner Andreas , Metzis Vicki , Sollich Peter , Briscoe James
Published: February 2021

During development, gene regulatory networks allocate cell fates by partitioning tissues into spatially organised domains of gene expression. How the sharp boundaries that delineate these gene expression patterns arise, despite the stochasticity associated with gene regulation, is poorly understood. We show, in the vertebrate neural tube, using perturbations of coding and regulatory regions, that the structure of the regulatory network contributes to boundary precision. This is achieved, not by reducing noise in individual genes, but by the configuration of the network modulating the ability of stochastic fluctuations to initiate gene expression changes. We use a computational screen to identify network properties that influence boundary precision, revealing two dynamical mechanisms by which small gene circuits attenuate the effect of noise in order to increase patterning precision. These results highlight design principles of gene regulatory networks that produce precise patterns of gene expression.
Book Review: Greek Medical Literature and its Readers from Hippocrates to Islam and Byzantium, edited by P. BOURAS -VALLIANATOS and S. XENOPHONTOS (Centre for Hellenic Studies, Kings’ College London), London 2018
Authors: ΧΡΟΝΗ Μαρία
Published: February 2021

Book Review: Greek Medical Literature and its Readers from Hippocrates to Islam and Byzantium, edited by P. Bouras -Vallianatos and S. Xenophontos (Centre for Hellenic Studies, Kings’ College London), London 2018