bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Serum allergen-specific IgE reactivity: is there an association with clinical severity and airway eosinophilia in asthmatic cats?
Authors: van Eeden Megan E , Vientós-Plotts Aida I , Cohn Leah A , Reinero Carol R
Published: March 2020

Objectives

The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of serum allergen-specific IgE testing in cats with a clinical diagnosis of asthma and to determine if the number of allergens with positive IgE reactivity and magnitude of positive IgE responses would be associated with the severity of clinical signs or airway eosinophilia.

Methods

Medical records from 2008 to 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. Inclusion required a diagnosis of feline asthma based on consistent clinicopathologic features and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cytology with >10% eosinophils; additionally, cats needed to have the results of serum allergen-specific IgE tests.

Results

Eighteen cases satisfied the inclusion criteria. Median age was 5 years and the most common presenting clinical sign was cough (n = 10/18). Most cats lived exclusively indoors (n = 13/18). The median percentage of BAL eosinophils was 47%. Serum allergen-specific IgE testing supported an underlying allergic etiology in 14/18 (78%) cats, with all but one having polysensitization. The severity of clinical signs and magnitude of airway eosinophilia did not correlate with the degree of positive IgE reactivity.

Conclusions and relevance

This study identified a strong association between the identification of allergen-specific IgE and cats with asthma, and the majority of these cats were polysensitized. However, larger numbers of allergens with positive IgE reactivity or magnitude of IgE reactivity were not significantly associated with clinical severity or airway eosinophilia. Knowledge of positive allergen-specific IgE results could guide allergen avoidance, regardless of the magnitude of IgE reactivity.
Understanding barriers and facilitators to participation in colorectal cancer screening: A French qualitative study
Authors: Le Bonniec Alice , Mas Sébastien , Préau Marie , Cousson-Gélie Florence
Published: March 2020

Based on the theory of social representations, this study aims to identify the main determinants to participation in colorectal cancer screening. Six focus groups (N = 29 participants belonging to the general population) were conducted, followed by a theoretical thematic analysis. Screening obstacles are a lack of test’s accessibility, a low preoccupation for prevention and the negative image of colorectal cancer. Conversely, screening facilitators are the ease of the new test, being encouraged to get screened and appointment reminder. This study advances understanding of adherence to screening by addressing the beliefs and knowledge surrounding it.
Risk of problem gambling among occupational groups: A population and registry study
Authors: Binde Per , Romild Ulla
Published: March 2020

Aims:

To identify which occupational groups have elevated levels of regular gambling participation and at-risk and problem gambling, and to explore job-specific factors associated with elevated levels.

Methods:

Statistical analyses were performed on data from the 2015 Swedish population study on gambling and health. The principal registry variable was occupation, classified according to the Swedish version of the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO-08). Two gambling variables were studied: regular gambling participation and at-risk and problem gambling, as measured by the Problem Gambling Severity Index (PGSI). For statistical regression analyses, socio-demographic data were used such as gender, income, and country of origin.

Results:

We found significant differences between occupational groups with regard to the two gambling variables. In general, manual jobs with predominantly male workers scored high, especially when there was no fixed workplace. Several significant differences remained when we controlled for gender. We also found support for three types of workers having elevated levels on the gambling variables: (1) building, construction and service, mobile, (2) vehicle drivers, and (3) monotonous manual indoor work. These results were confirmed by comparisons with propensity score matched controls.

Conclusion:

A policy implication of this study is that some occupational groups should be prioritised in the prevention of problem gambling. Theoretically, the study shows that occupational categories represent real-life cultures and contexts of gambling and non-gambling as distinct from the abstract socio-demographic factors that are usually considered in relation to gambling participation and problem gambling.
Early surgical management of severe liver trauma with vascular complication can lead to early discharge
Authors: Ban Ee Jun , Hii Belinda , Smith Marty , Clements Warren
Published: March 2020

Intrahepatic arterio-portal fistulas are rare complications of blunt hepatic trauma. We describe a case of a 35-year-old male sustaining blunt abdominal trauma resulting in a grade IV liver injury complicated by arterio-portal fistula, portal venous pseudoaneurysm and concomitant bile duct injury. Although arterial embolisation is the mainstay of treatment for arterio-portal fistula, we describe a rationale for early involvement of a hepatobiliary surgeon for multidisciplinary management. Hepatic resection for acute hepatic trauma can, in selected cases, promptly manage all elements of portal triad injury, and in this particular case facilitated early uncomplicated discharge.
Sources on social media: Information context collapse and volume of content as predictors of source blindness
Authors: Pearson George
Published: March 2020

Although social media has become a primary news platform, the effects of social media features on users’ information processing remains under-explored. This study explores how social media design features affect use of sources. A 2 × 2 between-subjects experiment examined effects of “information context collapse” (ICC)—where different content types are presented in the same form and location—and volume of content (VoC). These features were hypothesized to predict inattentive (System 1) processing, which predicts “source blindness”—where users fail to process source cues during news use. A mock social media site was created with participants queried about posts shown on the site. Results find that while VoC has no effect, ICC significantly predicts source blindness mediated by System 1 processing. This suggests collapsed information environments lead to inattentive processing of source information, increasing potential negative outcomes of social media news use. Implications of these findings are discussed.
Non-Korean consumers’ preferences on Korean popular music: A two-country study
Authors: Ryu Jungyop , Capistrano Erik Paolo , Lin Hao-Chieh
Published: March 2020

This research employs a mix of theoretical and data-driven approaches to understand how Korean pop music (KPop) consumption, despite physical and social barriers, is currently at unprecedented levels. The stimulus-organism-response (S-O-R) model was used as a basis to examine factors regarding influencing KPop’s popularity on non-Koreans, focusing on production and consumer-based factors inducing their attitudes and preferences. Data gathered from 951 Taiwanese and 949 Philippine survey respondents were analyzed through structural equation modeling (SEM), in which 13 of the hypothesized 16 direct, mediating, and moderating relationships were supported. This research demonstrates how, through appropriate theoretical lenses supported by empirically tested data, production-based factors of visual and audio components can sway favorable attitudes and preferences under customer-based contextual factors, including peer pressure, self-efficacy, and media. This guides producers to appreciate cultural nuances affecting KPop’s global popularity, and the importance of deciding the product mix strategies best suited for different markets.
Recruitment of south Asian carers into a survey-based research study
Authors: Fry Gary , Gilgallon Kathryn , Khan Wajid , Reynolds Damian , Spencer Graham , Wright Alice , Parveen Sahdia
Published: March 2020

Because of challenges involved in recruitment, little research has focused on care needs of minority ethnic groups. This article reports on a study that recruited 186 British south Asian carers of people with dementia. Four obstacles were faced: language barriers, confusion over research, feelings of shame/stigma, and mistrust. Researchers drew on various methods: enlisting multilingual researchers; activating contacts in minority ethnic communities; engaging with community groups; emphasising potential for enhancing support services; and tailoring research instruments to minority ethnic issues. Tips are offered to other researchers recruiting minority ethnic participants into studies.
Challenging interest alignment: Frame analytic perspective on entrepreneurship education in higher education context
Authors: Niska Miira
Published: March 2020

Entrepreneurship promotion in higher education is a highly controversial issue. Yet entrepreneurship education is nowadays part of the education system all over Europe. In order to be legitimate, entrepreneurship education implemented in higher education institutions is expected to serve multiple stakeholders, among them society, students and faculty members. Yet previous studies have demonstrated that students and faculty members also object to entrepreneurship education. This article adopts a frame analytic perspective on entrepreneurship education and examines attempts to make sense of entrepreneurship education in a way that aligns various stakeholders’ interests. The data analysed in the article consists of interviews ( N = 11) with people who implement entrepreneurship education in a Finnish university. The article calls for more research on university students’ and graduates’ relation to social entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial work life agency emphasized in the implementers’ framings.
Enhancing STEM equity programs with action research
Authors: Barber Catherine R , Palasota John A , Steiger Michelle A , Bagnall Ruth Ann , Reina Juan Carlos , Wagle Jyoti , Bai Yiyan
Published: March 2020

Cultural diversity in professional fields, including science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), leads to greater innovation due to the improved range of ideas, perspectives, and talents that a diverse workforce encompasses. However, despite increased efforts to recruit and retain traditionally underrepresented minority students through collegiate-level STEM equity initiatives, the lack of action research-based program evaluation leaves unanswered questions about the effectiveness of many STEM equity programs. The current article uses an example of a grant-funded collaboration between two Hispanic-serving institutions to explore how action research can enhance the planning, implementation, and evaluation of programs to address STEM inequity. A narrative of researcher-participants’ reflections illustrates the successes and shortcomings of the project and suggests four guidelines for enhancing STEM equity programs with action research.
Telephone Survey Calling Patterns, Productivity, Survey Responses, and Their Effect on Measuring Public Opinion
Authors: Shino Enrijeta , McCarty Christopher
Published: March 2020

This study examines the effect of telephone survey dialing patterns on lab productivity and survey responses. Using an original data set of paradata from 2010 to 2017 and a machine learning technique for variable selection, we find that early and late afternoon shifts are as productive as late evening shifts for both landline and cellphone Random Digit Dialing (RDD) samples. Also, early weekdays are more productive than the weekend for the cellphone RDD samples. Most importantly, time of the interview affects survey responses; therefore, survey practitioners and scholars should be cognizant of this effect when scheduling calls.
Exploring Mental Models behind Self-rated Health and Subjective Life Expectancy through Web Probing
Authors: Lee Sunghee , McClain Colleen , Behr Dorothée , Meitinger Katharina
Published: March 2020

Self-rated health (SRH) and subjective life expectancy (SLE) are widely used for understanding health and predicting mortality. However, what these items measure remains unclear, due to the lack of conceptual frameworks. We administered a web survey across the United States, Great Britain, Germany, Spain, and Mexico. The questionnaire included SRH and SLE, each immediately followed by a question that probed respondents’ thought processes. We examined the relationship between SRH and SLE, the response difficulty, and attributes that respondents considered for forming responses. Overall, SRH and SLE were moderately related, eliciting different information and varying in difficulty. Compared to SLE, SRH was perceived as easier but covered a narrower information spectrum. While illness and health behaviors were dominant attributes of SRH responses, family longevity history, life situations, and lack of control were additionally considered for SLE. When combined, SRH and SLE may capture a fuller range of attributes germane to health and mortality.
A lamination-based piezoelectric insole gait analysis system for massive production for Internet-of-health things
Authors: Dai Yanning , Xie Yuedong , Chen Junliang , Kang Shuaibo , Xu Lijun , Gao Shuo
Published: March 2020

Gait analysis has been proved to be a powerful and efficient means for health monitoring. Variety of nervous system diseases and emergencies can be detected by interpreting plantar stress distributions. Among gait analysis techniques, piezoelectric insole architectures receive boosting attentions due to its convenience for users to wear and its long-term and real-time monitoring ability. However, the complex integration of piezoelectric insole architecture limits its successful use for massive production for the Internet-of-health things (IoHT). Hence, in this article, we present a flexible printed circuit board and lamination-associated technique, which presents high detection sensitivity at 0.1 N, satisfying the need for assisting nervous system disease diagnosis, and showing strong potential for commercialization.
Comparison of the bench press one-repetition maximum obtained by different procedures: Direct assessment vs. lifts-to-failure equations vs. two-point method
Authors: Pérez-Castilla Alejandro , Jerez-Mayorga Daniel , Martínez-García Dario , Rodríguez-Perea Ángela , Chirosa-Ríos Luis J , García-Ramos Amador
Published: March 2020

This study examined the differences in the bench press one-repetition maximum obtained by three different methods (direct method, lifts-to-failure method, and two-point method). Twenty young men were tested in four different sessions. A single grip width (close, medium, wide, or self-selected) was randomly used on each session. Each session consisted of an incremental loading test until reaching the one-repetition maximum, followed by a single set of lifts-to-failure against the 75% one-repetition maximum load. The last load lifted during the incremental loading test was considered the actual one-repetition maximum (direct method). The one-repetition maximum was also predicted using the Mayhew’s equation (lifts-to-failure method) and the individual load–velocity relationship modeled from two data points (two-point method). The actual one-repetition maximum was underestimated by the lifts-to-failure method (range: 1–2 kg) and overestimated by the two-point method (range: –3 to –1 kg), being these differences accentuated using closer grip widths. All predicted one-repetition maximums were practically perfectly correlated with the actual one-repetition maximum ( r ≥  0.95; standard error of the estimate ≤ 4 kg). The one-repetition maximum was higher using the medium grip width (83 ± 3 kg) compared to the close (80 ± 3 kg) and wide (79 ± 3 kg) grip widths ( P ≤  0.025), while no significant differences were observed between the medium and self-selected (81 ± 3 kg) grip widths ( P =  1.000). In conclusion, although both the Mayhew’s equation and the two-point method are able to predict the actual one-repetition maximum with an acceptable precision, the differences between the actual and predicted one-repetition maximums seem to increase when using close grip widths.
Feasibility and safety of intrapulmonary percussive ventilation in spontaneously breathing, non-ventilated patients in critical care: A retrospective pilot study
Authors: Hassan Anwar , Milross Maree , Lai William , Shetty Deepa , Alison Jennifer , Huang Stephen
Published: March 2020

Background

Intrapulmonary percussive ventilation is used in various clinical settings to promote secretion clearance, reverse or treat atelectasis and improve gas exchange. Despite a few studies reporting the use of intrapulmonary percussive ventilation in critical care, the available data remain insufficient, contributing to weaker evidence toward its effectiveness. Also, there is a paucity of studies evaluating the safety and feasibility of intrapulmonary percussive ventilation application in critical care. This retrospective pilot study has evaluated the safety and feasibility of intrapulmonary percussive ventilation intervention in non-intubated patients admitted to an intensive care unit.

Methods

The medical records of 35 subjects were reviewed, including 22 subjects who received intrapulmonary percussive ventilation intervention and 13 subjects matched for age, sex, and primary diagnosis who received chest physiotherapy. The records were audited for feasibility, safety, changes in oxygen saturation, chest X-ray changes, and intensive care unit length of stay.

Results

A total of 104 treatment sessions (IPV 65 and CPT 39) were delivered to subjects admitted with a range of respiratory conditions in critical care. Subjects completed 97% of IPV sessions. No major adverse events were reported with intrapulmonary percussive ventilation intervention. Intensive care unit length of stay in the intrapulmonary percussive ventilation group was 9.6 ± 6 days, and in the CPT group, it was 11 ± 9 days ( p = 0.59). Peripheral oxygen saturation pre to post intervention was 92% ± 4 to 96% ± 4 in IPV group and 95% ± 4 to 95% ± 3 in the CPT group.

Conclusion

Application of intrapulmonary percussive ventilation intervention was feasible and safe in non-ventilated adult patients in critical care.
The role of acromial morphometry in the development of acromial stress fracture following reverse total shoulder arthroplasty
Authors: Yeazell Shawn T , Malige Ajith , Visser Timothy , Carolan Gregory F
Published: March 2020

Background

Indications for reverse total shoulder arthroplasty are expanding, and postoperative acromial stress fractures are a troubling postoperative complication. The purpose of this study was to determine if differences in acromial morphometry were present between cohorts with and without this complication.

Methods

A retrospective review of 101 reverse total shoulder arthroplasty procedures met criteria for the study. A total of eight acromial measurements on preoperative computed tomography scans were performed in axial, coronal, and sagittal views. Postoperative acromial stress fractures were confirmed by computed tomography scan on six patients and classified by fracture type. Statistical analysis was performed using a Mann–Whitney U test.

Results

The median acromial thickness at the posterior and lateral half was significantly thinner in the fracture cohort compared to the non-fracture cohort. Fracture and non-fracture cohort measurements demonstrated a median lateral thickness of 6.8 and 8.7 mm (p = 0.010), respectively, and median posterior thickness of 7.6 and 9.5 mm (p = 0.008), respectively. There were no demographic differences between cohorts.

Discussion

Two acromial measurements (lateral and posterior thickness) were associated with the development of postoperative acromial stress fracture following reverse total shoulder arthroplasty. These findings suggest that a thinner acromion in the lateral and posterior half is a risk factor for an acromial stress fracture following reverse total shoulder arthroplasty.
Enhanced Associations With Actions of the Artist Influence Gaze Behaviour
Authors: Williams Louis , McSorley Eugene , McCloy Rachel
Published: March 2020

The aesthetic experience of the perceiver of art has been suggested to relate to the art-making process of the artist. The artist’s gestures during the creation process have been stated to influence the perceiver’s art-viewing experience. However, limited studies explore the art-viewing experience in relation to the creative process of the artist. We introduced eye-tracking measures to further establish how congruent actions with the artist influence perceiver’s gaze behaviour. Experiments 1 and 2 showed that simultaneous congruent and incongruent actions do not influence gaze behaviour. However, brushstroke paintings were found to be more pleasing than pointillism paintings. In Experiment 3, participants were trained to associate painting actions with hand primes to enhance visuomotor and visuovisual associations with the artist’s actions. A greater amount of time was spent fixating brushstroke paintings when presented with a congruent prime compared with an incongruent prime, and fewer fixations were made to these styles of paintings when presented with an incongruent prime. The results suggest that explicit links that allow perceivers to resonate with the artist’s actions lead to greater exploration of preferred artwork styles.
Lameness, generalised myopathy and myalgia in an adult cat with toxoplasmosis
Authors: Butts Daniel R , Langley-Hobbs Sorrel J
Published: March 2020

Case summary

A 2-year-old female neutered domestic shorthair cat presented with an 18-month history of intermittent lameness on all four limbs. The cat was markedly lame on all four limbs. There was alternation between toe-walking on the forelimbs with a hunched posture and using the dorsal aspect of the carpi to walk on. The cat would hiss repeatedly when walking and would lie down tentatively, appearing happier and less painful when lying. When not lying, the cat preferred to sit back on the hindlimbs and non-weightbear on the forelimbs (the so-called kangaroo stance). Physical examination detected pain on palpation of the calcaneus bone and Achilles tendon bilaterally, and general resentment to handling. Investigations revealed an elevated creatine kinase, a positive Toxoplasma gondii IgG titre, toxic neutrophilic inflammation within the Achilles tendon bursae, electromyography and nerve conduction velocity studies consistent with a diffuse muscular disease, and histopathology of the muscle consistent with a chronic and diffuse myopathy. Arthrocentesis samples and an antinuclear antibodies titre were normal. Prior treatment with meloxicam had been ineffective. A 6-week course of clindamycin was prescribed; an improvement was seen within 3 days and clinical resolution at 3 months. The cat remained clinically normal after 20 months.

Relevance and novel information

To our knowledge, there have been no previously published reports of histopathologically confirmed myopathy as a result of T gondii in cats. This report suggests toxoplasmosis should be considered as a differential diagnosis in cats with myopathies or lameness in the absence of other causes.
Are Patient-Reported Outcomes of Minimally Invasive Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion Influenced by Preoperative Mental Health?
Authors: Goh Graham S. , Liow Ming Han Lincoln , Yue Wai-Mun , Tan Seang-Beng , Chen John Li-Tat
Published: March 2020

Study design:

This was a retrospective review of prospectively collected data.

Objectives:

Few studies have described the relationship between mental health and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) after minimally invasive spine surgery. Prior studies on open surgery included small cohorts with short follow-ups.

Methods:

Patients undergoing primary minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (MIS-TLIF) for degenerative pathology were retrospectively reviewed and stratified by Short Form (SF-36) Mental Component Summary (MCS): low MCS (<50, n = 436) versus high MCS (≥50, n = 363). PROMs assessed were back pain, leg pain, North American Spine Society Neurogenic Symptoms, Oswestry Disability Index, SF-36 Physical Component Summary, and MCS. Satisfaction, expectation fulfilment, and return to work (RTW) rates also were recorded at 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 2 years.

Results:

Preoperative MCS was 39.4 ± 8.6 and 58.5 ± 5.4 in the low and high MCS groups, respectively ( P < .001). The low MCS group had significantly poorer preoperative PROMs and longer lengths of stay. Despite this, both groups achieved comparable PROMs from 3 months onward. The mean MCS was no longer significantly different by 3 months ( P = .353). The low MCS group had poorer satisfaction ( P = .022) and expectation fulfilment ( P = .020) at final follow-up. RTW rates were initially lower in the low MCS group up to 3 months ( P = .034), but the rates converged from 6 months onward.

Conclusions:

Despite poorer PROMs preoperatively, patients with poor baseline mental health still achieved comparable results from 3 months up to 2 years after MIS-TLIF. Preoperative optimization of mental health should still be pursued to improve satisfaction and prevent delayed RTW after surgery.
An Unusual Case of Acquired Angioedema and Monoclonal Gammopathy of Renal Significance in a Middle-Aged Caucasian Female
Authors: Roy Sasmit , Konala Venu Madhav , Kyaw Thurein , Chakraborty Sandipan , Naramala Srikanth , Gayam Vijay , Adapa Sreedhar , Bose Subhasish
Published: March 2020

Acquired angioedema due to deficiency of C1 esterase inhibitor is also called acquired angioedema and is abbreviated as C1INH-AAE. It is a rare syndrome of recurrent episodes of angioedema, without urticaria, and in some patients, it is associated with B-cell lymphoproliferative disorders. Kidney involvement is rare in this condition. The monoclonal immunoglobulin secreted by a nonmalignant or premalignant B-cell or plasma cell clone, causing renal damage that represents a group of disorders which are termed as monoclonal gammopathy of renal significance (MGRS). In this article, we report a rare case of acquired C1 esterase deficiency angioedema and acute kidney injury with renal biopsy-proven MGRS. We present a 64-year-old Caucasian woman who presented with 2 weeks of recurring urticaria and new onset of acute kidney injury. She was diagnosed with monoclonal gammopathy–associated proliferative glomerulopathy through kidney biopsy, and serological workup came back positive for C1 esterase deficiency, implying acquired angioedema. Acquired angioedema is a rare disease with systemic involvement. Recurrent allergic manifestations and acute kidney injury should prompt MGRS as a differential.
Philosophical Hermeneutics and Teaching Through Behandlung: The Treatment and Handling of Patients With Care
Authors: Hovey Richard B , Szwimer Rachel , Jillani Mona , Widjaja Manuella
Published: March 2020

The purpose of this Feature article is to share a teaching approach for academic researchers and clinicians about the treatment of patients beyond their biomedical needs. To achieve this objective, we will delve into the writings of H-G Gadamer which offer a relational approach to the healing process through the exploration of how the German word Behandlung applies to medical and dental education. Through conversational philosophical hermeneutics, Gadamer endeavors to unite the consciousness of one subject with that of the others and refers to the process as appropriation whereby the researcher/clinician is working toward understanding the experience of the individual within the context of a community of patient experiences.
Dentists’ Adoption of Silver Diamine Fluoride among 1- to 5-Year-Old Children in North Carolina
Authors: Meyer B.D. , Kelly E.R. , McDaniel P.
Published: March 2020

Background:

A natural experiment was conducted to observe the adoption of silver diamine fluoride (SDF) by Medicaid-enrolled dentists in North Carolina (NC). The purpose of this study was to describe the sociocontextual and community health characteristics where dentists adopted SDF, determine the association between SDF use and general anesthesia (GA) use, and examine the changes in GA utilization following implementing SDF reimbursement.

Methods:

NC Medicaid initiated SDF reimbursement in 2016 for children ages 1 to 5 y. This cross-sectional time series study used aggregate NC Medicaid claims, including geographic data, from 2014 to 2018. All dentists who provided GA and/or SDF to children ages 1 to 5 y were included. County health ranking data described social and community health indicators. Descriptive statistics, spatial data techniques, and multivariable methods were used.

Results:

From 2016 to 2018, the number of dentists using SDF increased from 35 to 258, or 637%, whereas the number of dentists using GA increased from 179 to 211, or 17%. SDF utilization spread outward from areas of good social and health indicators to areas of poorer indicators. SDF utilization increased from 0.35 to 0.65 per 1,000 children, whereas GA utilization decreased from 2.57 to 2.47 per 1,000 children. GA utilization was positively associated with SDF utilization and poorer county health ranking but did not change before and after SDF implementation.

Conclusion:

Early adopters of SDF in NC practiced in areas with positive social and community health indicators. Over time, SDF was adopted in resource-poor communities. It remains too early to determine the public health impacts of SDF treatment on GA utilization.

Knowledge Transfer Statement:

Policy makers and clinicians can use the results of this study to develop geographically targeted interventions that could lead to clinically and cost-effective public health programs.
Trial design and pilot phase results of a cluster-randomised intervention trial to improve stroke care after hospital discharge – The structured ambulatory post-stroke care program (SANO)
Authors: Eichner Felizitas A , Schwarzbach Christopher J , Keller Moritz , Haeusler Karl Georg , Hamann Gerhard F , Sander Dirk , Audebert Heinrich J , Gröschel Klaus , Geis Dieter , von Bandemer Stephan , Rücker Viktoria , Schutzmeier Martha , Heuschmann Peter Ulrich , Grau Armin ,   The SANO Study Group
Published: March 2020

Introduction

Previous studies showed insufficient control of cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF) and high stroke recurrence rates among ischemic stroke patients in Germany. Currently, no structured secondary prevention program exists in clinical routine. We present the trial design and pilot phase results of a complex intervention to improve stroke care after hospital discharge in Germany.

Patients and methods

SANO is a cluster-randomized trial with 30 participating regions across Germany aiming to enrol 2,790 patients (drks.de, DRKS00015322). Study intervention combines both structural and patient-centred elements. Study development was based on the Medical Research Council framework for complex interventions. In 15 intervention regions, a cross-sectoral multidisciplinary network is established to enhance CVRF control as well as detection and treatment of post-stroke complications. Recommendations on CVRF are based on high-quality secondary prevention guidelines. Study physicians use motivational interviewing and agree with patients on therapeutic targets. While hospitalised, patients also receive dietary counselling and a health-passport to track their progress. During regular visits, CVRF management and potential complications are monitored. The intervention is compared to 15 regions providing usual care. The primary endpoint is the combination of recurrent stroke, myocardial infarction and death assessed 12 months after enrolment and adjudicated in a blinded manner.

Results

Eighteen patients were enrolled in a pilot phase that demonstrated feasibility of patient recruitment and study procedures.

Conclusion

SANO is investigating a program to reduce outcome events after ischemic stroke by implementing a complex intervention. If successful, the program may be implemented in routine care on national level in Germany.
Unsettling Entrepreneurship by Teaching Dark Side Theories
Authors: Talmage Craig A. , Gassert T. Alden
Published: March 2020

Dark side theories enrich entrepreneurship curriculums and textbooks by exposing students to critical perspectives of entrepreneurship research and practice. The emerging research field recognizing entrepreneurship’s dark side challenges students to better identify the social impacts of enterprises and innovations in addition to economic impacts (e.g., profit). This article showcases common themes from the dark side literature, and this article offers strategies to infuse dark–light language into entrepreneurship courses. Dark side theories can complement entrepreneurship concepts taught in theory courses, such as risk-taking, creative destruction, entrepreneurial discovery, and social entrepreneurship. Dark side theories give students language to be critical regarding their perspectives on entrepreneurship. In this article, a particular classroom exercise, which asks students to map the social and economic impacts of various enterprises onto a dark–light spectrum, is discussed. This exercise challenges students to define entrepreneurial success (and failure) beyond profit and production (or lack thereof) by giving them a dark–light language to leverage in their critiques of entrepreneurship. Students are pushed to critically evaluate the various impacts enterprises have on economies and societies. Furthermore, students are exposed to nontraditional examples (e.g., drug cartels, Rolling Jubilee Fund, among others) that broaden their perspectives on economic and social good (and bad).
Uterine Artery Pseudoaneurysm: A Case Report
Authors: Babiker Mahmoud S.
Published: March 2020

Pseudoaneurysm is an extraluminal collection of blood with a turbulent flow that communicates with flowing arterial blood through a defect in the arterial wall. Uterine artery pseudoaneurysm (UAP) is considered a rare case that occurs in 2–3/1,000 deliveries. A 33-year-old pregnant woman was admitted for a planned caesarian section. After a successful delivery, the patient experienced a postpartum vaginal bleeding 3 days later. Sonography revealed a suspected right UAP, and the diagnosis was confirmed by angiography. The defect was treated by uterine artery embolization.
Thermal degradation kinetics of sepiolite
Authors: Sarıkaya Yüksel , Önal Müşerref , Pekdemir Abdullah Devrim
Published: March 2020

The kinetic parameters of the thermal degradation of sepiolite were evaluated with a new method based on thermal analysis data. Thermogravimetric/differential thermal analysis curves were recorded for the natural and preheated sepiolite samples in the temperature range 25–800°C for 4 h. The temperature-dependent height of the exothermic heat flow peak for the thermal decomposition of sepiolite located at ~850°C on the differential thermal analysis curve was taken as a kinetic variable for the thermal degradation. A thermal change coefficient was defined depending on this variable because this coefficient fit to the Arrhenius equation was assumed as a rate constant for the thermal degradation. The Arrhenius plot showed that the degradation occurs in three steps. Two of these are due to stepwise dehydration and the third originated from dehydroxylation of sepiolite. Three activation energies were obtained that increase with the increasing temperature interval of the steps.
Abscisic Acid Negatively Modulates Heat Tolerance in Rolled Leaf Rice by Increasing Leaf Temperature and Regulating Energy Homeostasis
Authors: Li Guangyan , Zhang Caixia , Zhang Guangheng , Fu Weimeng , Feng Baohua , Chen Tingting , Peng Shaobing , Tao Longxing , Fu Guanfu
Published: March 2020

Background

Abscisic acid (ABA) acts as a signaling hormone in plants against abiotic stress, but its function in energy homeostasis under heat stress is unclear.

Results

Two rice genotypes, Nipponbare (wild-type, WT) with flat leaves and its mutant high temperature susceptibility (hts) plant with semi-rolled leaves, were subjected to heat stress. We found significantly higher tissue temperature, respiration rate, and ABA and H2O2 contents in leaves as well as a lower transpiration rate and stomatal conductance in hts than WT plants. Additionally, increased expression of HSP71.1 and HSP24.1 as well as greater increases in carbohydrate content, ATP, NAD (H), and dry matter weight, were detected in WT than hts plants under heat stress. More importantly, exogenous ABA significantly decreased heat tolerance of hts plants, but clearly enhanced heat resistance of WT plants. The increases in carbohydrates, ATP, NAD (H), and heat shock proteins in WT plants were enhanced by ABA under heat stress, whereas these increases were reduced in hts plants.

Conclusion

It was concluded that ABA is a negative regulator of heat tolerance in hts plants with semi-rolled leaves by modulating energy homeostasis.
DePicT Melanoma Deep-CLASS: a deep convolutional neural networks approach to classify skin lesion images
Authors: Nasiri Sara , Helsper Julien , Jung Matthias , Fathi Madjid
Published: March 2020

Background

Melanoma results in the vast majority of skin cancer deaths during the last decades, even though this disease accounts for only one percent of all skin cancers’ instances. The survival rates of melanoma from early to terminal stages is more than fifty percent. Therefore, having the right information at the right time by early detection with monitoring skin lesions to find potential problems is essential to surviving this type of cancer.

Results

An approach to classify skin lesions using deep learning for early detection of melanoma in a case-based reasoning (CBR) system is proposed. This approach has been employed for retrieving new input images from the case base of the proposed system DePicT Melanoma Deep-CLASS to support users with more accurate recommendations relevant to their requested problem (e.g., image of affected area). The efficiency of our system has been verified by utilizing the ISIC Archive dataset in analysis of skin lesion classification as a benign and malignant melanoma. The kernel of DePicT Melanoma Deep-CLASS is built upon a convolutional neural network (CNN) composed of sixteen layers (excluding input and ouput layers), which can be recursively trained and learned. Our approach depicts an improved performance and accuracy in testing on the ISIC Archive dataset.

Conclusions

Our methodology derived from a deep CNN, generates case representations for our case base to use in the retrieval process. Integration of this approach to DePicT Melanoma CLASS, significantly improving the efficiency of its image classification and the quality of the recommendation part of the system. The proposed method has been tested and validated on 1796 dermoscopy images. Analyzed results indicate that it is efficient on malignancy detection.
GSP4PDB: a web tool to visualize, search and explore protein-ligand structural patterns
Authors: Angles Renzo , Arenas-Salinas Mauricio , García Roberto , Reyes-Suarez Jose Antonio , Pohl Ehmke
Published: March 2020

Background

In the field of protein engineering and biotechnology, the discovery and characterization of structural patterns is highly relevant as these patterns can give fundamental insights into protein-ligand interaction and protein function. This paper presents GSP4PDB, a bioinformatics web tool that enables the user to visualize, search and explore protein-ligand structural patterns within the entire Protein Data Bank.

Results

We introduce the notion of graph-based structural pattern (GSP) as an abstract model for representing protein-ligand interactions. A GSP is a graph where the nodes represent entities of the protein-ligand complex (amino acids and ligands) and the edges represent structural relationships (e.g. distances ligand - amino acid). The novel feature of GSP4PDB is a simple and intuitive graphical interface where the user can “draw” a GSP and execute its search in a relational database containing the structural data of each PDB entry. The results of the search are displayed using the same graph-based representation of the pattern. The user can further explore and analyse the results using a wide range of filters, or download their related information for external post-processing and analysis.

Conclusions

GSP4PDB is a user-friendly and efficient application to search and discover new patterns of protein-ligand interaction.
FLIR vs SEEK thermal cameras in biomedicine: comparative diagnosis through infrared thermography
Authors: Kirimtat Ayca , Krejcar Ondrej , Selamat Ali , Herrera-Viedma Enrique
Published: March 2020

Background

In biomedicine, infrared thermography is the most promising technique among other conventional methods for revealing the differences in skin temperature, resulting from the irregular temperature dispersion, which is the significant signaling of diseases and disorders in human body. Given the process of detecting emitted thermal radiation of human body temperature by infrared imaging, we, in this study, present the current utility of thermal camera models namely FLIR and SEEK in biomedical applications as an extension of our previous article.

Results

The most significant result is the differences between image qualities of the thermograms captured by thermal camera models. In other words, the image quality of the thermal images in FLIR One is higher than SEEK Compact PRO. However, the thermal images of FLIR One are noisier than SEEK Compact PRO since the thermal resolution of FLIR One is 160 × 120 while it is 320 × 240 in SEEK Compact PRO.

Conclusion

Detecting and revealing the inhomogeneous temperature distribution on the injured toe of the subject, we, in this paper, analyzed the imaging results of two different smartphone-based thermal camera models by making comparison among various thermograms. Utilizing the feasibility of the proposed method for faster and comparative diagnosis in biomedical problems is the main contribution of this study.
Comparison of alternative approaches for difference, noninferiority, and equivalence testing of normal percentiles
Authors: Shieh Gwowen
Published: March 2020

Background

Percentiles are widely used in scientific research for determining the comparative magnitude and reference limit of quantitative measurements. The investigations for point and interval estimation of normal percentiles are well documented in the literature. However, the corresponding statistical tests of hypothesis have received relatively little attention.

Methods

To facilitate data analysis and design planning of percentile study, this paper aims to present hypothesis testing procedures and associated power functions for assessing the difference, noninferiority, and equivalence of normal percentiles.

Results

Numerical illustrations about drug dissolution are provided to demonstrate the usefulness of the suggested exact approaches and the deficiency of approximate methods.

Conclusions

The exact approaches are superior to the approximate methods on the basis of control of Type I errors. Computer algorithms are constructed to implement the recommended test procedures and sample size calculations for percentile analysis.
Toric intraocular lens implantation in cataract patients with corneal opacity
Authors: Ra Ho , Hwang Ho Sik , Kim Hyun Seung , Kim Man Soo , Kim Eun Chul
Published: March 2020

Background

To evaluate the effect of toric intraocular lens implantation in cataract patient with corneal opacity and high astigmatism.

Methods

Thirty-one eyes of 31 patients who underwent cataract surgery with toric intraocular lens implantation were included. All patients had corneal opacity with astigmatism. Preoperative total corneal astigmatism was determined considering posterior astigmatism using a rotating Scheimpflug camera (Pentacam®: Oculus, Wetzlar, Germany). At 2 months after toric intraocular lens implantation, we evaluated residual astigmatism, uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) and best corrected visual acuity (BCVA).

Results

Postoperative UCVA and BCVA (0.30 ± 0.17, 0.22 ± 0.16LogMAR) were statistically improved compared to preoperative UCVA and BCVA (1.2 ± 0.34, 1.1 ± 0.30LogMAR, respectively) (P < 0.01). Postoperative residual refractive astigmatism (1.2 ± 0.35D) was statistically reduced compared to preoperative refractive astigmatism (2.4 ± 0.65D) (P < 0.05). Preoperative and postoperative total corneal astigmatism values were not statistically different. All eyes achieved postoperative visual acuity as good as or better than preoperative one. The size of corneal opacity covering pupil had significant negative correlation with postoperative UCVA and BCVA (logMAR) (R = 0.91 P < 0.05 and R = 0.92 P < 0.05, respectively).

Conclusion

Toric intraocular lens implantation can improve UCVA, BCVA, and refractive astigmatism in cataract patient with corneal opacity. The size of corneal opacity covering pupil is the major prognostic factor for postoperative visual improvement. Therefore, toric intraocular lens implantation should be considered for cataract patients who have corneal opacity with high astigmatism.
Comparison of relationships among French adult siblings with or without schizophrenia using the ASRQ-S: mediating effect on emotional distress
Authors: Plessis Léa , Wilquin Hélène , Pavani Jean-Baptiste , Bouteyre Evelyne
Published: March 2020

Background

Good sibling relationships in adulthood are known to be a protective factor for mental health. The present study examined and compared the relationships of siblings with either a healthy brother or sister or one experiencing schizophrenia.

Methods

In the first phase, we ran a statistical comparison of the two sibling groups on the quality of their sibling relationships (warmth, conflict, and rivalry), emotional distress, and self-esteem. In the second phase, we looked at whether the quality of the sibling relationship modifies the impact of having a brother or sister with schizophrenia on emotional distress and self-esteem.

Results

Results showed that sibling relationships in schizophrenia are less warm and are characterized by heightened rivalry and conflict. In addition, analysis revealed a mediating effect of sibling relationship on the emotional distress of siblings with a brother/sister diagnosed with schizophrenia.

Conclusion

More needs to be done to enhance the mental health of adults who have a brother or sister with schizophrenia, notably via their sibling relationships.