bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
How Does Open Access Publication Impact Readership and Citation Rates of Lumbar Spine Literature?
Authors: Lynch Conor P. , Cha Elliot D.K. , Patel Madhav R. , Jacob Kevin C. , Prabhu Michael C. , Pawlowski Hanna , Vanjani Nisheka N. , Singh Kern
Published: March 2022

Study Design:

This was a retrospective review.

Objective:

The objective of this study was to assess the impact of open access (OA) publication on citation rates and attention scores of literature related to lumbar spine surgery.

Summary of Background Data:

OA literature allows readers to view full-text manuscripts of research publications free of charge, however, OA publication is often associated with substantial fees for authors.

Methods:

The Altmetric database was searched for articles related to lumbar spine surgery. Title, journal, publication date, Dimensions Citations, Mendeley Readers, Altmetric Attention Score (AAS), number of public mentions, and OA status were collected for each included article. The influence of OA status on Dimensions Citations, Mendeley Readers, and each individual component of the AAS was assessed. To control for journal influence, impact of OA on Dimensions Citations and AAS was separately assessed for each of the top 10 journals contributing the most mentioned articles. The top 25 most cited articles and top 25 articles by AAS were also characterized.

Results:

A total of 5245 articles were included, of which 2063 were published with OA and 3182 were not. OA status was a significant, independent predictor of AAS and Mendeley Readers (both P<0.001), but not Dimensions Citations (P=0.422). OA status significantly predicted mentions in news stories (P=0.003), Twitter posts (P<0.001), Facebook posts (P<0.001), and Wikipedia citations (P=0.011). Of the top 10 contributing journals, OA status significantly predicted Dimensions Citations for European Spine Journal, Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine, and Neurosurgery (P≤0.005) and predicted AAS for Spine, European Spine Journal, The Spine Journal, Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine, and Neurosurgery (P≤0.017, all).

Discussion:

OA status appeared to significantly impact public attention scores, but not citation rates, although these effects did vary based on the journal in which articles were published. Authors may want to consider OA publication based on their target audience and the goal of their research.
The role of genetic testing in prostate cancer screening, diagnosis, and treatment
Authors: de la Calle Claire M. , Bhanji Yasin , Pavlovich Christian P. , Isaacs William B.
Published: March 2022

Purpose of review

This review provides an overview of the current role of genetic testing in prostate cancer screening, diagnosis, and treatment.

Recent findings

Recent studies have uncovered few but highly penetrant rare pathogenic mutations (RPMs), in genes, such as BRCA2, with strong prostate cancer risk and outcomes associations. Over 260 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have also been identified, each associated with small incremental prostate cancer risk and when combined in a polygenic risk score (PRS), they provide strong prostate cancer risk prediction but do not seem to predict outcomes. Tumor tissue sequencing can also help identify actionable somatic mutations in many patients with advanced prostate cancer and inform on their risk of harboring a germline pathogenic mutation.

RPM testing, PRS testing, and tumor sequencing all have current and/or potential future roles in personalized prostate cancer care.
Robotic NICE Procedure Using Handsewn Technique
Authors: Haas Eric M. , Luna-Saracho Roberto , Rodriguez-Silva Jetsen A. , Ortiz De Elguea-Lizarraga Jose I. , LeFave Jean-Paul
Published: March 2022

INTRODUCTION:

In 2018, we described a robotic natural orifice-assisted left-sided colorectal resection with intracorporeal anastomosis and transrectal extraction of the specimen and termed it the natural orifice intracorporeal anastomosis with transrectal extraction procedure. More recently, we have explored the feasibility, safety, and utility of performing total handsewn intracorporeal anastomosis. We present a technical video and initial experience depicting the unique steps to accomplish this procedure with colorectal end-to-end handsewn anastomosis.

TECHNIQUE:

Twenty natural orifice intracorporeal anastomosis with transrectal extraction procedures with end-to-end handsewn intracorporeal anastomosis were performed. A video depicting the essential steps with 2 variations of the handsewn techniques is presented along with short-term outcomes.

RESULTS:

The most common indication was complicated diverticulitis followed by rectal cancer and deep infiltrative endometriosis of the rectum. The mean operative time was 235 minutes (99–294 min), and there were no intraoperative complications or conversions. Handsewn end-to-end intracorporeal anastomosis was successful in all patients. Natural orifice transrectal extraction was successful in 17 of 20 (85%) patients. The mean postoperative length of stay was 2.1 days (±1.05 SD). There were 3 major complications. One patient developed a deep surgical site infection, and another patient had an organ space abscess. Both patients required readmission and were treated with antibiotics alone. One patient, who had a diverting ileostomy performed at the time of the index procedure, developed subclinical dehiscence of the anastomosis, which healed without intervention but resulted in a delay in ileostomy reversal. There were no additional readmissions and no reoperations or mortalities.

CONCLUSIONS:

Robotic natural orifice intracorporeal anastomosis with transrectal extraction procedure and colorectal end-to-end handsewn anastomosis was feasible and safe in this initial series. This technique can be successfully performed in a total intracorporeal manner without the need for an abdominal wall extraction incision or any circular stapling devices.
TWO CASES OF CRB1-RELATED RETINAL DYSTROPHY ASSOCIATED WITH RETINAL MASSES
Authors: Bello Nicholas R. , Pisuchpen Phattrawan , de Guimarães Thales A. C. , Capasso Jenina E. , Levin Alex V.
Published: March 2022

Background/Purpose:

Mutations in CRB1 are associated with variable severity in expression leading to apparent phenotypic diversity. We present two retinal findings.

Methods:

We present two unrelated children with CRB1-related retinal dystrophy with a solitary mass visualized on fundoscopy. Both underwent a complete ophthalmologic examination including visual acuity assessment, optical coherence tomography, intravenous fluorescein angiography, and fundus autofluorescence.

Results:

In one child, a gliotic mass was observed on the superior temporal vessel away from disk. On optical coherence tomography, the mass appeared to be located in the superficial retina and contained discrete internal moth-eaten optically empty spaces as previously reported in the astrocytic hamartomas of tuberous sclerosis. Fundus autofluorescence showed speckled hyperautofluorescence of the lesion. In the other child, there was a calcified mass within the nerve fiber layer just temporal to the optic nerve. On optical coherence tomography, this mass appeared irregular in shape, encapsulated, and had a heterogeneous disorganized interior with hyperreflective areas.

Conclusion:

In this report, we detail two presentations of CRB1-related retinal dystrophy: retinal astrocytic hamartoma and another form of superficial retinal hamartoma. We believe this may represent a manifestation of CRB1 mutations. Recognition of this finding may prevent unnecessary evaluation for tumor cause in patients with CRB1-related retinal dystrophy.
Stellate nonhereditary idiopathic foveomacular retinoschisis and an approach to the differential diagnosis of macular star
Authors: Light Jacob G. , Pyfer Mark S. , Salabati Mirataollah , Mahmoudzadeh Raziyeh , Wakabayashi Taku , Ho Allen C.
Published: March 2022

Purpose of review

This review aims to introduce stellate nonhereditary idiopathic foveomacular retinoschisis (SNIFR) and its differential diagnosis. We summarize findings from case reports and series published in the last few years on the clinical and imaging findings in SNIFR.

Recent findings

SNIFR presents as either a unilateral or bilateral macular star on fundus examination without clinical or imaging evidence of exudation or frank vitreomacular traction. optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging shows schisis cavities in the Henle fibre and outer plexiform layers that correspond to the stellate en face findings. Visual acuity is usually minimally affected, and the presence of significant vision loss should prompt high clinical suspicion for alternate diagnoses.

SNIFR is a recently characterized clinical entity that serves as an important addition to the differential diagnosis of a macular star. It is a diagnosis of exclusion and should be distinguished from other causes of macular star such as neuroretinitis, vitreomacular traction, ocular manifestations of malignant hypertension, congenital juvenile X-linked macular schisis, myopic maculopathy, optic pit maculopathy, nicotinic acid maculopathy or taxane maculopathy among others.
The association between age at menarche and chronic pain outcomes in women: the Tromsø Study, 2007 to 2016
Authors: Lund Charlotte I. , Engdahl Bo , Rosseland Leiv A. , Stubhaug Audun , Grimnes Guri , Furberg Anne-Sofie , Steingrímsdóttir Ólöf A. , Nielsen Christopher S.
Published: March 2022

Sex differences in chronic pain are well established with documented predominance in women. This study assessed relationships between age at menarche and chronic pain, site-specific chronic pain, pain characteristics, and chronic widespread pain (CWP). We used data from the Tromsø Study conducted in 2007 to 2008 and 2015 to 2016 (Tromsø 6 and Tromsø 7 waves) including participants aged 30 to 99 years. The associations between age at menarche and chronic pain were examined in Tromsø 6 (n = 6449), Tromsø 7 (n = 5681), and the combination of Tromsø 6 and Tromsø 7 (n = 12,130). Tromsø 7 data were used further to examine the associations between age at menarche and site-specific chronic pain, 4 pain characteristics (pain duration, pain intensity, episode duration, and episode frequency), and CWP. All analyses were adjusted for body mass index, age, and economic status of the household in childhood. Lower age at menarche was associated with an increased risk of chronic pain in all 3 samples (risk ratio for each year delay in menarche 0.98, 95% CI [0.97 to 0.99] across samples). Risk differences were −0.014, CI 95% (−0.02 to −0.005) in Tromsø 6, −0.011, CI 95% (−0.02 to −0.02) in Tromsø 7, and −0.012, CI 95% (−0.02 to −0.01) in the combined sample. Age at menarche was significantly associated with chronic pain in the neck, abdomen, and both arms, and CWP. Of the 4 pain characteristics, pain duration was statistically significant. We conclude that early menarche is an independent risk factor for pain across a broad spectrum of pain outcomes.
Multisystem derangements in frailty and sarcopenia: a source for biomarker discovery
Authors: Picca Anna , Calvani Riccardo , Marzetti Emanuele
Published: March 2022

Purpose of review

Multisystem derangements, encompassing metabolic, musculoskeletal and stress-response systems, occur during aging and are associated with the development of physical frailty and sarcopenia. These modular changes are relevant sources for the identification of biomarkers for the two conditions. Here, we provide an up-to-date overview on existing biomarkers of physical frailty and sarcopenia and discuss emerging approaches for biomarker discovery.

Recent findings

Inflammatory, metabolic and hematologic markers are shared between physical frailty and sarcopenia. Gut microbial derivatives and damage-associated molecular patterns transferred via extracellular vesicles have been indicated as possible gut-muscle axis regulators and candidate markers of physical frailty and sarcopenia.

Mediators of metabolic, musculoskeletal and stress-response system dysregulation are shared by physical frailty and sarcopenia and indicate the existence of common pathophysiological pathways. Multiplatform biomarker analyses have been proposed as an innovating approach for tracking the multifaceted and dynamic nature of physical frailty and sarcopenia. Upon validation, the identified biomarkers may support diagnostic makeup and tracking of the two conditions in both research and clinical settings.
Physical activity in inflammatory bowel disease: benefits, challenges and perspectives
Authors: Mareschal Julie , Douissard Jonathan , Genton Laurence
Published: March 2022

Purpose of the review

Physical activity is gaining significative interest in the field of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). In the light of the most recent publications, the present review aims to describe the level of physical activity in adult patients with IBD; describe the current body of evidence on the benefits of physical activity and discuss the challenges and perspectives related to physical activity in this population.

Recent findings

Recent studies showed that IBD patients tend to be less active than healthy people. There is growing evidence of a positive impact of physical activity on mortality, quality of life, fatigue, body composition, strength and physical performance. The direct benefits of physical activity on clinical remission and disease activity have recently been observed only in Crohn's disease. Limitations to physical activity related to the disease, such as gastrointestinal and psychological symptoms, need to be considered in this population. Finally, no guidelines are available and there is no evidence regarding the effects of combined physical activity and nutritional support.

Although physical activity seems beneficial and safe for IBD patients, future studies are needed to clearly define recommendations in this population.
Noninvasive assessment oesophageal varices: impact of the Baveno VI criteria
Authors: Bai Wayne , Abraldes Juan G.
Published: March 2022

Purpose of review

In 2015, as a consequence of the high development in noninvasive tests, Baveno VI consensus recommended for the first time the use of a prediction rule (liver stiffness <20kPa and platelet count > 150000) to identify patients at low risk of having varices and that could circumvent endoscopy. These became known as the Baveno VI criteria. We review here the data validating Baveno VI criteria and we discuss the attempts of expanding these criteria.

Recent findings

We report 28 studies assessing the performance of Baveno VI criteria showing a pooled 99% negative predictive value for ruling out high-risk varices. Performance is not affected by the cause of cirrhosis. Different attempts at expanding these criteria show suboptimal performance. Nonelastography-based criteria require further validation.

Baveno VI criteria can be safely used to avoid endoscopy in a substantial proportion of patients with compensated cirrhosis. The progressive change in approach to the management of compensated cirrhosis, progressively focusing on treating portal hypertension with beta-blockers independently of the presence of varices, might render these criteria less relevant.
In the Eye of the Storm
Authors: Raso Rosanne
Published: March 2022

New York City (NYC) was in the eye of the COVID-19 pandemic storm in the spring of 2020. Since that time, the country has seen wave after wave of outbreaks and concurrent psychosocial crises. Clinical nurses and nurse leaders delivered extraordinary care with grit, innovation, agility, and resilience. When in the eye of the storm, staff have to feel safe and have a voice even in command-control, adaptive modes. Nurses and nurse leaders have been resilient, and organizations have to play their part in decreasing work burden and creating positive work environments. Non–value-added work as well as barriers to practice should be eliminated permanently. This article describes the many challenges including intensive care unit capacity, staffing, well-being, and lack of visitation, as well as leadership lessons such as the importance of presence, based on the NYC experience of a chief nursing officer in a large academic medical center. These lessons and their implications for our workforce, for public health, and for leadership development and competencies and have taught us how to lead into the future.
Complex Relational Leadership
Authors: Feistritzer Nancye R. , Jackson Georgia , Scott Carolyn , Willis Polly
Published: March 2022

Development of nursing in the postpandemic future will require active engagement of all nurses. Complex relational leadership in complex adaptive systems is explored through 3 focused areas: professional governance, equitable and inclusive relationships, and clinical practice. Pragmatic examples for each area of focus are offered as a framework for the postpandemic future. A conceptual model was developed to illustrate these relationships.
Reshaping the Future
Authors: Cleary Mary , Cunneen Joyce , DeMaio Stephanie , Rebeschi Lisa M. , Fisher Debra
Published: March 2022

The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic posed unprecedented challenges for health care organizations, schools of nursing, and surrounding communities. Health care organizations encountered rapidly changing guidelines and shortages in the health care workforce and critical medical supplies. Schools of nursing were responding to abrupt suspensions of clinical placements, uncertainties about the transmission of the novel virus, and shortages of personal protective equipment. Despite these challenges, health care organizations and schools of nursing were laser-focused on the need to ensure a competent nursing workforce and timely pandemic response efforts. Thus, an innovative academic-practice collaboration between Yale New Haven Hospital and Quinnipiac University School of Nursing was developed to meet community vaccination and testing needs. The partnership was designed to provide undergraduate student nurses with valuable community health clinical hours during the spring 2021 semester while meeting the hospital's needs for supporting the COVID-19 vaccine clinics and testing sites. The positive outcomes of the collaboration and specific lessons learned are discussed.
Bilateral Posterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy as a Presentation of Severe Uncontrolled Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Ashok Pathuri , Sugumaran Ramkumar
Published: March 2022

Introduction:

Posterior ischemic optic neuropathy (PION) is a rare, potentially devastating condition characterized by acute, painless vision loss in one or both eyes and is associated with poor outcomes. Compared with anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, little data has been published on PION, mainly in the form of case reports and anecdotal observations. This is in large part due to the low incidence of this disease.

Case Report:

Here, we present a newly diagnosed 45-year-old diabetic female with uncontrolled blood sugars and sudden onset bilateral sequential visual loss with left complete ophthalmoplegia with normal fundus, neuroimaging of brain, orbits, and spinal cord. She was empirically treated with intravenous steroids and insulin but her immunologic, demyelinating, and infectious etiologies workup were also normal. Ultimately, the patient was diagnosed with vision loss secondary to diabetic cranial neuropathy and PION given the rest of her evaluation was unrevealing. At discharge her visual acuity was finger counting in right eye and perception of light in left eye with an improvement in bilateral extra ocular movements. At 3 months follow-up her right eye visual acuity had improved to 6/60 while the left eye remained same with normal bilateral extra ocular movements.

Conclusion:

Diabetic cranial neuropathy usually involves single or sequential nerve involvement but combined involvement of bilateral optic nerve and left 3, 4, and 6th cranial nerve involvement is unique to the current presentation. PION should be kept in mind in patients presenting with sudden painless bilateral vision loss with normal fundoscopy in the background of systemic disease like diabetes mellitus, though it usually occurs postoperatively.
How Loading Dose Strategies for Depot Paliperidone Can Go Wrong
Authors: Preskorn Sheldon H.
Published: March 2022

This column presents a real-life case of a patient who developed severe and prolonged Parkinsonism secondary to the loading dose strategy recommended in the prescribing information (package insert) for paliperidone palmitate (Invega Sustenna). This column presents 2 major points. First, the case illustrates what the practitioner must do before following the general guidelines for a loading dose approach to the administration of paliperidone palmitate as outlined in the package insert to decrease the likelihood of a serious and potentially fatal consequence. Second, the case illustrates how therapeutic drug monitoring can be useful in assessing and managing patients who develop an untoward reaction. In this case, therapeutic drug monitoring was done using serum prolactin levels because the available laboratory could not measure the level of the drug itself in plasma, and the case highlights some limitations to keep in mind when using plasma prolactin levels to do such monitoring. To put this case in context, a review of the literature was conducted which identified 3 related cases. The author also refers readers to previous articles on therapeutic drug monitoring and pharmacokinetic considerations that arise when using depot (long-acting injectable) antipsychotics.
FDG PET/MRI of Acute Myocarditis After mRNA COVID-19 Vaccination
Authors: Lee Chan-Hee , Kong Eun-Jung
Published: March 2022

A 22-year-old man visited the emergency department with chest pain. He had received a second dose of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) mRNA (Moderna) vaccine 5 days prior. 18F-FDG PET/MR revealed a focal FDG uptake and late gadolinium enhancement on the basal posterolateral wall of the left ventricle. Myocarditis after a COVID-19 vaccination has been reported predominantly after the second dose of mRNA vaccines in young men. This was a case of acute focal myocarditis after a COVID-19 mRNA vaccination, which was well-visualized by FDG PET/MRI.
Association Between Lung Ultrasound Patterns and Pneumonia
Authors: Sultan Salahaden R.
Published: March 2022

Pneumonia is a common respiratory infection that affects the lungs. Lung ultrasound (LUS) is a portable, cost-effective imaging method, which is free of ionizing radiation and has been shown to be useful for evaluating pneumonia. The aim of this retrospective analytical study was to determine the association between lung ultrasound patterns and pneumonia. For the purpose of performing the required analysis, LUS patterns including consolidations, pleural line irregularities, A lines and B lines from 90 subjects (44 patients with confirmed pneumonia and 46 controls) were retrieved from a published open-access data set, which was reviewed and approved by medical experts. A χ2 test was used for the comparison of categorical variables to determine the association between each LUS pattern and the presence of pneumonia. There is a significant association between LUS consolidation and the presence of pneumonia (P < 0.0001). Lung ultrasound A lines are significantly associated with the absence of pneumonia (P < 0.0001), whereas there are no associations between B lines or pleural line irregularities with pneumonia. Lung ultrasound consolidation is found to be associated with the presence of pneumonia. A lines are associated with healthy lungs, and there is no association of B lines and pleural irregularities with the presence of pneumonia. Further studies investigating LUS patterns with clinical information and symptoms of patients with pneumonia are required.
The Landscape of Nondirected Living Liver Donation in the United States
Authors: Herbst Leyla R. , Herrick-Reynolds Kayleigh , Bowles Zeiser Laura , López Julia I. , Kernodle Amber , Asamoah-Mensah Awura , Purnell Tanjala , Segev Dorry L. , Massie Allan B. , King Elizabeth , Garonzik-Wang Jacqueline , Cameron Andrew M.
Published: March 2022

Background.

Living donor liver transplants (LDLTs) including those from nondirected donors (NDDs) have increased during the past decade, and center-level variations in LDLTs have not yet been described. We sought to quantify changes in the volume of NDD transplants over time and variation in NDD volume between transplant centers. We further examined characteristics of living liver donors and identified factors potentially associated with receiving an NDD liver transplant.

Methods.

Using Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients data between March 01, 2002, and December 31, 2020, we compared 173 NDDs with 5704 DLDs and 167 NDD recipients with 1153 waitlist candidates.

Results.

NDDs increased from 1 (0.4% of LDLTs) in 2002 to 58 (12% of LDLTs) in 2020. Of 150 transplant centers, 35 performed at least 1 NDD transplant. Compared with waitlist candidates, adult NDD recipients were less frequently males (39% versus 62%, P < 0.001), had a lower model for end-stage liver disease (16 versus 18, P = 0.01), and spent fewer days on the waitlist (173 versus 246, P = 0.02). Compared with waitlist candidates, pediatric NDD recipients were younger (50% versus 12% age <2 y, P < 0.001) and more often diagnosed with biliary atresia (66% versus 41%, P < 0.001). Compared with DLDs, NDDs were older (40 versus 35 y, P < 0.001), college educated (83% versus 64%, P < 0.001), White (92% versus 78%, P < 0.001), and more frequently donated left-lateral segment grafts (32.0% versus 14%, P < 0.001).

Conclusions.

Liver NDD transplants continue to expand but remain concentrated at a few centers. Graft distribution favors female adults and pediatric patients with biliary atresia. Racial inequities in adult or pediatric center-level NDD graft distribution were not observed.
Predictors of Hypertension Development 1 Year After Heart Transplantation
Authors: Nygaard Sissel , Christensen Anders H. , Sletner Line , Rolid Katrine , Nytrøen Kari , Gullestad Lars , Fiane Arnt , Thaulow Erik , Døhlen Gaute , Saul J. Philip , Wyller Vegard B.B.
Published: March 2022

Background.

Hypertension after heart transplantation (HTx) is common. We investigated predictors of and mechanisms for hypertension development during the first year after HTx, with particular attention toward immunosuppressive agents, reinnervation processes, and donor/recipient sex.

Methods.

Heart transplant recipients (HTxRs) were consecutively enrolled 7 to 12 wk after surgery and followed prospectively for 12 mo. Ambulatory blood pressure recordings and autonomic cardiovascular control assessments were performed at baseline and follow-up. Possible predictors of posttransplant hypertension development were investigated in bivariate linear regression analyses followed by multiple regression modeling.

Results.

A total of 50 HTxRs were included; 47 attended the follow-up appointment at 12 mo. Mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure increased significantly during the observational period (systolic blood pressure from 133 to 139 mm Hg, P = 0.007; diastolic blood pressure from 81 to 84 mm Hg, P = 0.005). The blood pressure increment was almost exclusively confined to HTxRs with a female donor heart, doubling the cases of systolic hypertension (from 6 to 13/14; 46% to 93%, P = 0.031) and diastolic hypertension (from 7 to 14/14; 54% to 100%, P = 0.031) in this subgroup. Autonomic cardiovascular control assessments suggested tonically constricted resistance and capacitance vessels in recipients with female donor hearts. Immunosuppressive agents and reinnervation markers were not associated with hypertension development.

Conclusions.

Blood pressures increase during the first year after HTx, with female donor sex as a strong predictor of recipient hypertension development. The underlying mechanism seems to be enhanced peripheral vasoconstriction caused by attenuated cardiovascular homeostasis capabilities. Further studies are needed to confirm the results.
Normothermic Ex Vivo Kidney Perfusion for Human Kidney Transplantation: First North American Results
Authors: Mazilescu Laura I. , Urbanellis Peter , Kim S. Joseph , Goto Toru , Noguchi Yuki , Konvalinka Ana , Reichman Trevor W. , Sayed Blayne A. , Mucsi Istvan , Lee Jason Y. , Robinson Lisa A. , Ghanekar Anand , Selzner Markus
Published: March 2022

Background.

Normothermic ex vivo kidney perfusion (NEVKP) has shown promising results for preservation, assessment, and reconditioning of kidney allografts in preclinical studies. Here, we report the first North American safety and feasibility study of deceased donor kidneys grafts transplanted following preservation with NEVKP.

Methods.

Outcomes of 13 human kidney grafts that received 1 to 3 h of NEVKP after being transported in an anoxic hypothermic machine perfusion device were compared with a matched control group of 26 grafts that were preserved with anoxic hypothermic machine perfusion alone.

Results.

Grafts were perfused for a median of 171 min (range, 44–275 min). The delayed graft function rate in NEVKP versus control patients was 30.8% versus 46.2% (P = 0.51). During the 1-y follow-up, no differences in postoperative graft function, measured by serum creatinine, necessity for dialysis, and urine production, were found between the study group and the control group. There were no differences in 1 y posttransplantation graft or patient survival between the 2 groups.

Conclusions.

Our study demonstrates the safety and feasibility of NEVKP for human deceased donor kidney transplantation. Further studies are warranted to explore how this technology can minimize cold ischemia, improve posttransplant graft function, and assess and repair expanded criteria kidney grafts.
Hemodialyzed Individuals’ Left Spatial Attentional Bias Is Normalized Following Successful Kidney Transplantation
Authors: Mańkowska Aleksandra , Heilman Kenneth M. , Williamson John B. , Biedunkiewicz Bogdan , Dębska-Ślizień Alicja , Harciarek Michał
Published: March 2022

Background:

Healthy people have a leftward spatial attentional bias, called pseudoneglect. Individuals with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) who are receiving hemodialysis often demonstrate an increase in their leftward spatial attentional bias. Whereas a successful kidney transplant often improves the cognitive functions of individuals who previously received hemodialysis, the effect of a kidney transplant on this abnormal allocation of spatial attention has not been investigated.

Objective:

To investigate the effects of kidney transplant on individuals who were being treated with dialysis and had an increase in their left spatial attentional bias.

Method:

The performance of 20 hemodialyzed individuals with ESRD on the line bisection test was compared to that of 17 demographically matched individuals with ESRD, who had received a kidney transplant, and 23 demographically matched healthy controls (HC).

Results:

All of the participants exhibited a left spatial bias on the line bisection task. When compared with the HC, the hemodialyzed individuals demonstrated a significantly greater left spatial bias. There was, however, no difference in spatial bias between the HC and the individuals who had received a kidney transplant.

Conclusion:

A successful kidney transplant can improve patients’ abnormal leftward allocation of spatial attention. However, future studies are needed to better understand the mechanisms of this spatial attentional bias in hemodialyzed individuals and the normalization of bias following transplantation.
Diagnostic Utility of Hippocampal Volumetric Data in a Memory Disorder Clinic Setting
Authors: Ruchinskas Robert , Nguyen Trung , Womack Kyle , Khera Alka , Yu Fang F. , Kelley Brendan J.
Published: March 2022

Background:

Hippocampal volumetric data are widely used in research but are rarely examined in clinical populations in regard to aiding diagnosis or correlating with objective memory test scores.

Objective:

To replicate and expand on the few prior clinical examinations of the utility of hippocampal volumetric data. We evaluated MRI volumetric data to determine (a) the degree of hippocampal loss across diagnostic groups compared with a cognitively intact group, (b) if total or lateralized hippocampal volumes predict diagnostic group membership, and (c) how total and lateralized volumes correlate with memory tests.

Method:

We retrospectively examined hippocampal volumetric data and memory test scores for 294 individuals referred to a memory clinic.

Results:

Individuals with mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer disease had smaller hippocampal volumes compared with cognitively intact individuals. The raw and normalized total and lateralized hippocampal volumes were essentially equal for predicting diagnostic group membership, and notably low hippocampal volumes evidenced greater specificity than sensitivity. All of the volumetric data correlated with the memory test scores, with the total and left hippocampal volumes accounting for the slightly more variance in the diagnostic groups.

Conclusion:

The diagnostic groups exhibited hippocampal volume loss, which can be a potential biomarker for neurodegenerative disease in clinical practice. However, solely using hippocampal volumetric data to predict diagnostic group membership or memory test failure was not supported. While extreme hippocampal volume loss was rare in the cognitively intact group, the sensitivity of these volumetric data suggests a need for supplementation by other tools when making a diagnosis.
Sustained Long-term Improvement in Neuropsychiatric Symptoms of an Individual With Initial bvFTD Diagnosis: A Case Report
Authors: Kim Esther S. , Pliskin Neil H. , Caserta Maria T.
Published: March 2022

The behavioral variant of frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) is a neurodegenerative disease that is diagnosed by progressive neuropsychiatric changes and supportive neuroimaging. Making an accurate diagnosis of bvFTD is a challenging process that can be complicated by the presence of a subset of nonprogressive, or phenocopy, cases whose symptoms remain stable. Our patient, who presented with neuropsychiatric symptoms that are characteristic of bvFTD, improved and stabilized after thorough neuropsychiatric and neuropsychological evaluation and treatment. Our case illustrates that, despite diagnostic uncertainties, appropriate evaluation and treatment can lead to improvement and stabilization of neuropsychiatric symptoms in individuals presumed to have bvFTD.
Sleep Disorders in Traumatic Brain Injury
Authors: Kaleyias Joseph , Kothare Sanjeev V.
Published: March 2022

Sleep disorders are common after traumatic brain injury (TBI). This study will review the spectrum and proposed mechanisms of TBI-associated sleep disorders and discuss the clinical approach to diagnosis and management of them. Disordered and fragmented sleep with insomnia and daytime sleepiness is very common after TBI. Sleep disruption contributes to morbidity and neurocognitive and neurobehavioral deficits and prolongs the recovery phase after injury. Early recognition and correction of these problems may limit the secondary effects of TBI and improve patient outcomes. Evaluating sleep disorders in TBI should be an important component of TBI assessment and management. Finally, newer research techniques for early diagnosis, prognosis, and improved outcomes after TBI will also be addressed.
Recognizing New-Onset Sleep Disorders in Autoimmune Encephalitis Often Prompt Earlier Diagnosis
Authors: Ralls Frank , Cutchen Lisa , Grigg-Damberger Madeleine M.
Published: March 2022

Sleep/wake disorders are common in patients with autoimmune encephalitis, sometimes the most prominent or sole initial symptom, then delaying diagnosis. Sleep/wake disorders in autoimmune encephalitis vary and include severe sleeplessness, hypersomnia, central and/or obstructive sleep apnea, rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder, indeterminate sleep/wake states, and loss of circadian sleep/wake rhythms. N-methyl-d aspartate receptor encephalitis (NMDAR) is often associated with insomnia, then hypersomnia and sleep-related central hypoventilation. Profound sleeplessness and rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder are seen in patients with voltage-gated potassium channel–complex antibodies. Fragmented sleep and hypersomnia are common in paraneoplastic syndromes associated with anti-MA protein encephalitis; rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder in those with antibodies against leucine-rich glioma inactivated protein (LGI1) or contactin-associated protein 2 (CASPR2) antibodies. Antibodies against a cell adhesion protein IGLON5 may result in obstructive sleep apnea, inspiratory stridor, disorganized nonrapid eye movement sleep, and excessive movements and parasomnias fragmenting nonrapid and rapid eye movement sleep. Recognizing a particular sleep/wake disorder is often a presenting or prominent feature in certain autoimmune encephalitis permit for earlier diagnosis. This is important because reduced morbidity and better short- and long-term outcomes are associated with earlier diagnosis and immunotherapies.
What Is the Prognostic Significance of Rapid Eye Movement Sleep Without Atonia in a Polysomnogram?
Authors: Ralls Frank , Cutchen Lisa , Grigg-Damberger Madeleine M.
Published: March 2022

Freud said we are lucky to be paralyzed during sleep, so we cannot act out our dreams. Atonia of skeletal muscles normally present during rapid eye movement sleep prevents us from acting out our dreams. Observing rapid eye movement sleep without atonia in a polysomnogram in older adults first and foremost warrants consideration of rapid eye movement behavior disorder. Seventy-five to 90% of older adults with isolated rapid eye movement behavior disorder will develop a neurodegenerative disease within 15 years, most often a synucleinopathy. Rapid eye movement sleep without atonia in those younger than 50 years is commonly found in individuals with narcolepsy and those taking antidepressant medications.
Halomonas antri sp. nov., a carotenoid-producing bacterium isolated from surface seawater
Authors: So Yoonseop , Chhetri Geeta , Kim Inhyup , Kang Minchung , Kim Jiyoun , Lee Byungjo , Jang Wonhee , Seo Taegun
Published: March 2022

A Gram-negative, moderately halophilic bacterium, designated as strain Y3S6T, was isolated from a surface seawater sample collected from Dongangyoeng cave, Udo-myeon, Jeju-si, Jeju-do, Repulic of Korea. Cells of strain Y3S6T were aerobic, rod-shaped, non-sporulated, yellow, catalase- negative, oxidase-negative and motile with one polar flagellum. Growth of strain Y3S6T occurred at 15–40 °C (optimum: 25–30 °C), at pH 6.0–9.0 (optimum: pH 7.0) and in the presence of 0–13% NaCl (optimum: 1–6 %, w/v). The novel strain was able to produce carotenoids. Its chemotaxonomic and morphological characteristics were consistent with those of members of the genus

Halomonas

. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed that strain Y3S6T formed a clade with

Halomonas pellis

L5T (98.97 %) and

Halomonas saliphila

LCB169T(98.90%). The average nucleotide identity and digital DNA–DNA hybridization values of strain Y3S6T with the most closely related strains for which whole genomes are publicly available were 82.3–85.2% and 62.8–66.1 %, respectively. The major fatty acids in strain Y3S6T were C16 : 0, C19 : 0 cyclo ω8c and summed feature 8 (composed of C18 : 1 ω7c and/or C18 : 1 ω6c), and the predominant quinone was Q-9. Its polar lipid profile consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, two unidentified phosphoglycolipid, one unidentified phosphoaminoglycolipid and one unidentified phospholipid. The genomic DNA G+C content based on the draft genome sequence was 64.2 mol%. The results of physiological and biochemical tests and 16S rRNA sequence analysis clearly revealed that strain Y3S6T represents a novel species in the genus

Halomonas

, for which the name Halomonas antri sp. nov. has been proposed. The type strain is Y3S6T (=KACC 21536T=NBRC 114315=TBRC 15164T).
lncRNA EDAL restricts rabies lyssavirus replication in a cell-specific and infection route-dependent manner
Authors: Sui Baokun , Zhao Juanjuan , Zheng Jiaxin , Zhou Ming , Chen Huanchun , Fu Zhen F. , Zhao Ling
Published: March 2022

Rabies, caused by rabies lyssavirus (RABV), is a fatal disease among humans and almost all warm-blooded animals. Our previous study showed that the long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) EZH2 degradation-associated lncRNA (EDAL) effectively inhibits RABV infection both in vitro and in vivo by degrading EZH2 and promoting the transcription of an antiviral gene, Pcp4l1. Herein, we found that recombinant RABV expressing EDAL (rRABV-EDAL) restricts RABV replication in primary granule neurons but not in primary cortical neurons or astrocytes. Further study revealed that EDAL induced EZH2 protein degradation and thereby decreased trimethylation of lysine 27 on the histone 3 (H3K27me3) level in granule neuron cells but not in cortical neurons or astrocytes. Furthermore, rRABV-EDAL infection induces more Pcp4l1 mRNA transcription in granule neurons, while there are almost no obvious changes in cortical neurons or astrocytes. Consistently, compared with the parent virus RABV, reduced pathogenicity of rRABV-EDAL was observed in mice post-intranasal infection but not intramuscular infection. These results suggest that the lncRNA EDAL restricts RABV replication in a cell-specific and infection route-dependent manner.
Utilization of Pharmacy Value-Added Services and Its Association with Waiting Time for Medication Collection in Public Health Institutions across Malaysia
Authors: Taridi Mazuin Mahmud , Abu Hassan Muhammad Radzi , Mohamad Rozita , Keat Chan Huan , Nordin Noraini , Lim Chan Pui , Wen Ong Chin , Muzakir Khairul Iman , Ramli Azuana
Published: March 2022

Background

Pharmacy value-added services (PVAS) have long been offered in public health institutions across Malaysia as an alternative to conventional counter services for prescription refills, with the aim to reduce the waiting time.

Objective

To assess the utilization of the PVAS in individual health institutions, and its association with the achievement of the key performance indicator (KPI) set for the pharmacy waiting time.

Method

This was a cross-sectional study based on the data contributed by 142 hospitals and 648 health clinics throughout 2018. The availability and uptake of the PVAS were summarized as percentages. The impacts of the PVAS uptake and the other institution-related factors on the KPI achievement were further explored using the logistic regression analysis.

Results

Approximately 2.9 million (17.1%) of the refill prescriptions were dispensed via the PVAS. The appointment-and-pickup services (42.7%) and the Integrated Drug Dispensing System (23.7%) emerged as the most commonly used types of PVAS. A higher PVAS uptake was associated with a better KPI achievement (OR=0.91, 95% CI: 0.84-0.98). In contrast, adding a new type of PVAS to the existing services yielded an opposite outcome (OR=1.48, 95% CI: 1.15-1.89). Both the prescription load and location of health institutions were also found have influenced the KPI achievement.

Conclusion

The PVAS are generally well accepted in Malaysia and showed to have reduced the pharmacy waiting time. However, strategies to optimize the PVAS uptake are warranted.
Hidden diversity – DNA metabarcoding reveals hyper-diverse benthic invertebrate communities
Authors: Gleason Jennifer Erin , Hanner Robert H. , Cottenie Karl
Published: March 2022

Freshwater ecosystems, such as streams, are facing increasing pressures from agricultural land use. Aquatic insects and other macroinvertebrates have historically been used as indicators of ecological condition and water quality in freshwater biomonitoring programs; however, many of these protocols use coarse taxonomic resolution (e.g., family) when identifying macroinvertebrates. The use of family-level identification can mask species-level diversity, as well as patterns in community composition in response to environmental variables. Recent literature stresses the importance of robust biomonitoring to detect trends in insect decline globally, though most of these studies are carried out in terrestrial habitats. Here, we incorporate molecular identification (DNA metabarcoding) into a stream biomonitoring sampling design to explore the diversity and variability of aquatic macroinvertebrate communities at small spatial scales. We sampled twenty southern Ontario streams in an agricultural landscape for aquatic macroinvertebrates and, using DNA metabarcoding, revealed incredibly rich benthic communities which were largely comprised of rare taxa detected only once per stream despite multiple biological replicates. In addition to numerous rare taxa, our species pool estimates indicated that after 240 samples from twenty streams, there was a large proportion of taxa present which remained undetected by our sampling regime. When comparing different levels of taxonomic resolution, we observed that using OTUs revealed over ten times more taxa than family-level identification. A single insect family, the Chironomidae, contained over one third of the total number of OTUs detected in our study. Within-stream dissimilarity estimates were consistently high for all taxonomic groups (invertebrate families, invertebrate OTUs, chironomid OTUs), indicating stream communities are very dissimilar at small spatial scales. While we predicted that increased land use would homogenize benthic communities, this was not supported as within-stream dissimilarity was unrelated to land use.
Visual Perception of 3D Space and Shape in Time - Part II: 3D Space Perception with Holographic Depth
Authors: Bustanoby Isabella , Krupien Andrew , Afifa Umaima , Asdell Benjamin , Bacani Michaela , Boudreau James , Carmona Javier , Chandrashekar Pranav , Diamond Mark , Espino Diego , Gangal Arnav , Kittur Chandan , Li Yaochi , Mann Tanvir , Matamoros Christian , McCarthy Trevor , Mills Elizabeth , Nazareth Stephen , Nguyen Justin , Ochoa Kenya , Robbins Sophie , Sparakis Despoina , Ta Brian , Trengove Kian , Xu Tyler , Yamaguchi Natsuko , Yang Christine , Zafran Eden , Blaisdell Aaron P. , Arisaka Katsushi
Published: March 2022

Visual perception plays a critical role in navigating 3D space and extracting semantic information crucial to survival. Even though visual stimulation on the retina is fundamentally 2D, we seem to perceive the world around us in vivid 3D effortlessly. This reconstructed 3D space is allocentric and faithfully represents the external 3D world. How can we recreate stable 3D visual space so promptly and reliably?

To solve this mystery, we have developed new concepts MePMoS (Memory-Prediction-Motion-Sensing) and NHT (Neural Holography Tomography). These models state that visual signal processing must be primarily top-down, starting from memory and prediction. Our brains predict and construct the expected 3D space holographically using traveling alpha brainwaves. Thus, 3D space is represented by the three time signals in three directions.

To test this hypothesis, we designed reaction time (RT) experiments to observe predicted space-to-time conversion, especially as a function of distance. We placed LED strips on a horizontal plane to cover distances from close up to 2.5 m or 5 m, either using a 1D or a 2D lattice. Participants were instructed to promptly report observed LED patterns at various distances. As expected, stimulation at the fixation cue location always gave the fastest RT. Additional RT delays were proportional to the distance from the cue. Furthermore, both covert attention (without eye movements) and overt attention (with eye movements) created the same RT delays, and both binocular and monocular views resulted in the same RTs. These findings strongly support our predictions, in which the observed RT-depth dependence is indicative of the spatiotemporal conversion required for constructing allocentric 3D space. After all, we perceive and measure 3D space by time as Einstein postulated a century ago.