bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Successful Anesthesia Management in a Patient With Type A Aortic Dissection Complicated by Renal Failure and Suspected Coronavirus Disease
Authors: Zheng Hongbo , Deng Qingzhu , Chi Xiaohui , Chen Mingbing , Xu Li , Peng Yong G. , Wan Li , Fan Longchang
Published: November 2020

Stanford type A acute aortic dissection (AAD) is a life-threatening illness that presents with chest pain and hemodynamic instability. AAD prompt and accurate evaluation and management are critical for survival as it is a cardiac surgical emergency. The initial treatment of AAD mandates strict blood pressure stabilization with intravenous antihypertensive medications. The progressive nature of the disease will increase the mortality as time elapses between diagnosis and surgical intervention. In addition, the patient’s blood pressure control is challenged in the presence of renal failure requiring hemodialysis. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2 or named 2019-nCoV) pneumonia was a newly underrecognized illness (COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019]). COVID-19 can cause severe acute respiratory distress syndrome, acute kidney injury, heart injury, and liver dysfunction, which would aggravate the progress of aortic dissection. In this article, we report the successful anesthesia management in a pneumonia patient with AAD complicated with renal failure during the COVID-19 epidemic period, who underwent emergency surgery and deep hypothermic circulatory arrest repair.
Renting Poorer Housing: Ecological Relationships Between Tenure, Dwelling Condition, and Income and Housing-Sensitive Hospitalizations in a Developed Country
Authors: Telfar Barnard Lucy , Howden-Chapman Philippa , Pierse Nevil
Published: November 2020

Background

Previous research has shown two-way associations between rental tenure, poorer housing quality, and health outcomes, but little research has looked at relative housing contributions to health outcomes.

Aims

We investigated whether tenure and/or dwelling condition were associated with housing-sensitive hospitalizations and whether any association differed by income.

Method

Using a data set of housing characteristics matched to hospitalization records, rental tenure data, and income quintiles, we modeled differences in housing-sensitive hospitalization rates by ecological-level tenure and housing condition, controlling for age-group and mean temperatures.

Results

There were clear associations between income, tenure, and house condition, and winter-associated hospitalization risk. In the adjusted model, the largest risk differences were associated with neighborhoods with low income (risk ratio [ RR] = 1.48) and high rental tenure ( RR = 1.41). There was a nonsignificant difference for housing condition ( RR = 1.04).

Discussion

Rental tenure and poor housing condition were risks for housing-sensitive hospitalization, but the association with income was stronger. Higher income households may be better able to offset quality and tenure-related health risks. This research illustrates the inverse housing law: Those most vulnerable, with most need for good-quality housing, are least likely to have it. Income inequity is inbuilt in tenure, quality, and health burden relationships.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that measures to address health inequities should include improvements to both tenure security and housing quality, particularly in low-income areas. However, policymakers aiming to reduce overall hospitalization rates should focus their efforts on reducing fuel poverty and improving the affordability of quality housing.
Oculocerebrocutaneous syndrome (Delleman Oorthuys syndrome) associated with congenital glaucoma: A case report
Authors: Jamjoom Hanan , Osman Mohamed , AlMoallem Basamat , Osman Essam A
Published: November 2020

Introduction:

Oculocerebrocutaneous syndrome (Delleman Oorthuys syndrome) (OMIM 164180) is a rare syndrome affecting eyes, skin, and central nervous system, and it is usually associated with microphthalmia.

Case Description:

A 4-day old baby boy was referred to our hospital for the evaluation of buphthalmos in the left eye. His clinical evaluation was remarkable for oculocerebrocutaneous syndrome with congenital glaucoma in the left eye and microphthalmos in the right eye.

Conclusion:

Our report represents the first case of oculocerebrocutaneous syndrome associated with unilateral congenital glaucoma so far in the literature.
Antiphospholipid antibodies may be associated with uveitis
Authors: Shapira Yinon , Ben-Arie-Weintrob Yael , Gilburd Boris , Reuter Sandra , Sánchez-Castañón María , López-Hoyos Marcos , Agmon-Levin Nancy
Published: November 2020

Purpose:

To evaluate the prevalence of a spectrum of autoantibodies in adult patients with non-infectious uveitis compared to healthy controls.

Methods:

This is a case-control study conducted in a tertiary referral center. Serum positivity to auto-antibodies directed at membranous phospholipids (aPL), nuclear antigens, and cytoplasmic (ANCA) antigens were assessed in sera from 63 non-infectious uveitis patients, and 78 healthy controls. Uveitis patients’ demographic and clinical data were collected retrospectively from their medical charts.

Results:

Of the spectrum of antibodies evaluated only aPL were linked with uveitis (OR 11.2, CI 1.4–92.1), as 13 (20.6%) uveitis patients were positive to at least one of the screened aPL, namely either anti-cardiolipin (aCL), anti-β2-glycoprotein (aβ2GPI), or anti-phosphatidylserine/prothrombin (aPS/PT). aCL antibodies were detected in 5/63 (7.9%) of uveitis patients and in none of controls ( p = 0.016). Positivity to either aCL or aβ2GPI was noted in 8/63 (12.7%) of uveitis patients and in 1 (1.3%) of the controls ( p = 0.011). Of the 13 uveitis patients positive to any of the aPL antibodies, 8 (62%) had exclusively anterior uveitis, 9 (69%) were idiopathic, and none had evidence of posterior vaso-occlusive involvement or systemic thrombotic manifestations.

Conclusion:

An association between aPL and uveitis among an unselected population of patients with no evidence of thrombosis or presence of the antiphospholipid syndrome was documented in this study. This link was observed, alike the general population of uveitis patients, mainly in patients with anterior eye inflammation. A possible interaction between aPL and uveitis, mediated by non-thrombotic mechanisms, requires further studies.
Outcomes of symmetric bilateral medial rectus recession in large-angle esotropic Duane syndrome
Authors: Nabie Reza , Manouchehri Vahideh , Azad Beheshteh
Published: November 2020

Purpose:

To evaluate the efficacy of symmetric bilateral medial rectus recession in large-angle esotropic Duane retraction syndrome (DRS) with moderate to severe globe retraction.

Methods:

In a retrospective study, medical reports of 30 patients with esotropia of equal or more than 20 prism diopters (pd) and moderate to serve globe retraction due to unilateral DRS who underwent symmetric bilateral medial rectus recession were reviewed. Age, gender, laterality, amblyopia, length of follow-up, pre- and postoperative measurements of primary position deviation, ocular ductions and severity of globe retraction and abnormal head posture were evaluated. A successful result was defined as decreasing esotropia to equal or less than 8 pd or equal or less than 8 pd of consecutive exotropia.

Results:

The mean age of patients at surgery was 13.7 ± 8.5 years old (range: 3–38). The mean preoperative esotropia measured 28.9 ± 9.1 pd in distance and 25.7 ± 7.2 pd in near, which decreased to 4.9 ± 6.1 pd in distance and 3.9 ± 8.8 pd in near postoperatively. The mean bilateral medial rectus recession was 4.9 ± 0.9 mm (range: 3–6 mm). The mean abnormal head posture improved from 19.1 ± 6.9 degrees (range: 10–30 degrees) to 3.3 ± 4.7 degrees (range: 0-15 degrees) postoperatively. At the last follow-up visit, 23 patients (76.7%) had a successful outcome.

Conclusions:

In the large-angle esotropic DRS patients with moderate to severe globe retraction, symmetric bilateral medial rectus recession, can be conducted to successfully resolve primary position deviation and abnormal head posture.
Multimodal imaging of a retinal cavernous hemangioma
Authors: Mazzini Cinzia , Vicini Giulio , Nicolosi Cristina , Pieretti Giulia , Bacherini Daniela , Giattini Dario , Giansanti Fabrizio
Published: November 2020

Purpose:

We describe the characteristics of an isolated retinal cavernous hemangioma in a young female patient using multimodal imaging.

Case description:

Fundus examination of the right eye showed a large vascular mass, composed by clusters of dark red and dilated saccular angiomatous formations with superficial whitish fibroglial tissue and hemorrhages, located in the inferonasal peripheral retina, along the vascular arcade. On green-light fundus autofluorescence the lesion appeared hypoautofluorescent, with moderately hyperautofluorescent areas. On multiColor imaging it showed mainly a green pseudocolor, with knobby surface and well-defined irregular margins. Fundus fluorescein angiography showed early hypofluorescence within the tumor mass and late incomplete staining, without leakage. Ocular ultrasonography documented an elevated well-defined hyperechogenic lesion, with high internal reflectivity, without choroidal excavation, retinal detachment, or acoustic shadowing. Swept source optical coherence tomography showed multilobulated cavernous formations, varying in size, containing for the greatest part hyperreflective material, within an interconnecting fibrous scaffold and with an overlying partially adherent epiretinal membrane. Optical coherence tomography angiography documented a few highly reflective, tortuous and abnormal branching veins extending into the tumor mass, with a root-like appearance, and surrounding nodular changes, corresponding to the angiomatous formations.

Conclusions:

Different imaging modalities can be used in combination for a better evaluation of the pathological features of this rare vascular tumor.
Bioinformatics Analysis of Differentially Expressed Genes and miRNAs in Low-Grade Gliomas
Authors: Bendahou Mohammed Amine , Ibrahimi Azeddine , Boutarbouch Mahjouba
Published: November 2020

Low-grade glioma is the most common type of primary intracranial tumor. In the last 3 years, new observations of molecular precursors in adults with gliomas have led to a modification in the histopathologic classification of these brain tumors. Among the biomarkers that have been highlighted, we have the micro RNAs (miRNAs) which play a crucial role in the regulation of gene expression and the long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) controlling various cellular and metabolic pathways. In our study, large-scale data on sequenced RNA and miRNAs from 516 patients were obtained from the Cancer Genome Atlas database by the TCGAbiolinks package. We identified the differential expression of miRNAs and genes using the Limma package and then we used the ClusterProfiler package for annotations of the biological pathways of the expressed genes, the survival package to estimate the survival analysis, and the GDCRNATools package to determine miRNAs-genes and miRNAs-lncRNAs interactions. We obtained a significant correlation between the miRNAs identified and the overall survival of the patients (log-rank P < .05) and we have theoretically proposed a novel network of miRNAs involved in low-grade gliomas, specifically astrocytomas and oligodendrogliomas, which combine both genes and lncRNAs.
Wānanga as a research methodology
Authors: Mahuika Nēpia , Mahuika Rangimārie
Published: November 2020

Wānanga is a traditional method of Māori knowledge transmission, and has been described as a place, a school, an act, and a form of governance, practice, and pedagogy. Much of the writing on wānanga focuses on the ancient “lore” of Whare Wānanga (Houses of Learning), but more recent work has explored how that pedagogical tradition is relevant to Māori education today, particularly at tertiary level. There is, however, a growing body of writing on wānanga as a research methodology relevant to Māori and iwi (tribal) communities. This paper discusses the increasingly popular use of wānanga in Māori research practice, examining the definitions, roots, and evolution of wānanga as a concept, place, and indigenous method of knowledge construction and transmission. Drawing on wānanga experiences in two different tribal contexts, this paper explores how wānanga works as a practice embedded in, and shaped by, local knowledge, language, place, people and tikanga.
Real-world keystroke dynamics are a potentially valid biomarker for clinical disability in multiple sclerosis
Authors: Lam KH , Meijer KA , Loonstra FC , Coerver EME , Twose J , Redeman E , Moraal B , Barkhof F , de Groot V , Uitdehaag BMJ , Killestein J
Published: November 2020

Background:

Clinical measures in multiple sclerosis (MS) face limitations that may be overcome by utilising smartphone keyboard interactions acquired continuously and remotely during regular typing.

Objective:

The aim of this study was to determine the reliability and validity of keystroke dynamics to assess clinical aspects of MS.

Methods:

In total, 102 MS patients and 24 controls were included in this observational study. Keyboard interactions were obtained with the Neurokeys keyboard app. Eight timing-related keystroke features were assessed for reliability with intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs); construct validity by analysing group differences (in fatigue, gadolinium-enhancing lesions on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and patients vs controls); and concurrent validity by correlating with disability measures.

Results:

Reliability was moderate in two (ICC = 0.601 and 0.742) and good to excellent in the remaining six features (ICC = 0.760–0.965). Patients had significantly higher keystroke latencies than controls. Latency between key presses correlated the highest with Expanded Disability Status Scale ( r = 0.407) and latency between key releases with Nine-Hole Peg Test and Symbol Digit Modalities Test (ρ = 0.503 and r = −0.553, respectively), ps < 0.001.

Conclusion:

Keystroke dynamics were reliable, distinguished patients and controls, and were associated with clinical disability measures. Consequently, keystroke dynamics are a promising valid surrogate marker for clinical disability in MS.
High anti-JCPyV serum titers coincide with high CSF cell counts in RRMS patients
Authors: Schneider-Hohendorf Tilman , Schulte-Mecklenbeck Andreas , Ostkamp Patrick , Janoschka Claudia , Pawlitzki Marc , Luessi Felix , Zipp Frauke , Meuth Sven G , Klotz Luisa , Wiendl Heinz , Gross Catharina C , Schwab Nicholas
Published: November 2020

Background:

Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) can in rare cases occur in natalizumab-treated patients with high serum anti-JCPyV antibodies, hypothetically due to excessive blockade of immune cell migration.

Objective:

Immune cell recruitment to the central nervous system (CNS) was assessed in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients stratified by low versus high anti-JCPyV antibody titers as indicator for PML risk.

Methods:

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cell counts of 145 RRMS patients were quantified by flow cytometry. Generalized linear models were employed to assess influence of age, sex, disease duration, Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS), clinical/radiological activity, current steroid or natalizumab treatment, as well as anti-JCPyV serology on CSF cell subset counts.

Results:

While clinical/radiological activity was associated with increased CD4, natural killer (NK), B and plasma cell counts, natalizumab therapy reduced all subpopulations except monocytes. With and without natalizumab therapy, patients with high anti-JCPyV serum titers presented with increased CSF T-cell counts compared to patients with low anti-JCPyV serum titers. In contrast, PML patients assessed before ( n = 2) or at diagnosis ( n = 5) presented with comparably low CD8 and B-cell counts, which increased after plasma exchange ( n = 4).

Conclusion:

High anti-JCPyV indices, which could be indicative of increased viral activity, are associated with elevated immune cell recruitment to the CNS. Its excessive impairment in conjunction with viral activity could predispose for PML development.
Reflections on accessing indigenous research settings: Encounters with traditional health practitioners and leaders in Vhembe district, South Africa
Authors: Peu MD , Mulaudzi FM , Rikhotso SR , Ngunyulu RN , Rasweswe MM
Published: November 2020

Conducting research in indigenous settings in rural villages, where traditional leaders are the custodians of communities remains a challenge. Traditional health practitioners have to adapt their protocols to the needs of the cultural setting. When gaining access to a setting, researchers have to follow a process that respects the autonomy of individuals, thus adhering to one of the ethical principles of research with human participants. In this paper, the researchers reflect on gaining access to conduct research with traditional health practitioners and traditional leaders in Vhembe district, South Africa. Researchers participated in sharing circles, and identified five reflective themes. The themes included initiating agreement and rapport, continuous negotiation and compromise, Them and Us, adhering to local dress code and ritual performance. Researchers planning to conduct research with traditional health practitioners and traditional leaders should consider these themes in the preparation phase.
Does Organisation Matter? Solidarity Approaches among Organisations and Sectors in Europe
Authors: Fernández G. G. Eva , Lahusen Christian , Kousis Maria
Published: November 2020

European citizens continue to engage in solidarity activities in support of vulnerable groups within and beyond their own countries. Many of these organised practices of transnational solidarity provide research with important insights into the features and conditions of organisational forms of support. This article makes use of a unique dataset of transnational solidarity organisations in eight European countries during a period of economic recession and immigration crisis, and aims to empirically describe the different forms and types of solidarity prevalent within three different organisational sectors. It strives to identify the organisational features explaining the elective affinities between organisational forms and solidarity approaches. The empirical analysis validates that organisational traits and types matter when favouring vertical and/or horizontal forms of support towards vulnerable groups. Findings corroborate the relevance of professionalisation, aims, and values, in addition to action repertoires to explain organisational profiles and collective approaches to solidarity-based practices.
Transgression in contemporary media culture
Authors: Hermes Joke , Hill Annette
Published: November 2020

This is the introduction to a special issue on media and transgression, one of early cultural studies’ key terms. It inquires into the uses of transgression as a critical concept to query contemporary media culture which is discussed in six case studies: on political satire, Mukbang, cult drama, the policing of film piracy, media scandals, and online trolls. Transgression points to the energy that fuels the media ecology – from content and content production to audience practices and the policing of content ownership. It is the (conscious) overstepping of moral and legal boundaries, that challenges written and unwritten rules. The frisson of rule breaking and the reward of rule re-establishment (whether by powerful parties or everyday gossip) are transgression’s bookends. Together they support the cyclical rhythm of media culture that maintains not just our interest as viewers but our interests and connectedness as citizens, whether in celebration, outrage or condemnation.
The role and limits of European social security coordination in guaranteeing migrants social benefits
Authors: Verschueren Herwig
Published: November 2020

This article examines whether the EU social security coordination Regulations 883/2004 and 987/2009 contribute or fail to contribute to the EU policy objective of guaranteeing adequate social protection and fighting against poverty as set by Article 9 TFEU. Even if this coordination system does not directly interfere with the social protection systems of the Member States, it plays an important role in preventing persons who use the right to free movement within the EU from ending up in a situation in which they would lose entitlement to social benefits because of their migration. In analysing this issue I will concentrate on the role of the underlying general principles of this coordination, more specifically, on the rules for the determination of the applicable legislation, the principle of equal treatment, the export of benefits and the aggregation of periods. I will also elaborate on a number of examples where this coordination system fails to prevent the loss of entitlement to social benefits, such as the position of workers in non-standard forms of work, the limited rights of economically inactive migrants, the recent introduction of waiting periods for newcomers, and situations in which the migrants risk falling between two stools. I will conclude with the notion of fairness.
The complex social security provisions of the Brexit withdrawal agreement, to be implemented for decades
Authors: Verschueren Herwig
Published: November 2020

This article analyses the provisions in the withdrawal agreement regarding the coordination of the social security schemes of the United Kingdom and the Member States after Brexit. The UK’s withdrawal from the EU raises numerous questions about the consequences for the social security rights, including access to health care, of persons who find themselves in a cross-border situation between the UK and the EU27. The detailed provisions in the agreement concern, in the first place, the arrangements during the transition period, which ends on 31 December 2020. They also establish the rights of persons who are in a cross-border situation between the UK and a Member State at the end of this transition period. Furthermore, the agreement includes rules for persons who have been in such a situation in the past. These provisions are formulated in a complicated manner and will undoubtedly give rise to problems of interpretation and implementation for many decades to come. This article tries to clarify the basic content of this part of the withdrawal agreement, including the arrangements on administrative cooperation, monitoring and enforcement.
Paradigmatic upgrading of social innovation studies
Authors: Genov Nikolai
Published: November 2020

The guiding idea of this analysis concerns the development of social innovation theory on the paradigmatic basis of the social interaction concept. The aims of the discussion are three-fold. First, the central task is to elaborate on a multidimensional concept of social innovation, defined as organized social change. Second, the development of the social innovation concept is used to evaluate the heuristic potentials of the sociological paradigm of social interaction. Third, the paradigm of social interaction and its capacities to guide the structuration, functioning and development of knowledge about social innovations are put under close scrutiny. The conclusion is that the suggested disciplinary paradigm of sociology and the new concept of social innovation facilitate the explanatory approach to relevant social phenomena, the overcoming of theoretical and methodological dilemmas in sociology and the systematic building up of cumulative sociological knowledge.
Chronic physical health conditions and associated factors among people with serious orthopaedic injuries: A systematic review
Authors: Gelaw Asmare Yitayeh , Gabbe Belinda J , Braaf Sandra C , McPhail Steven , Ekegren Christina L
Published: November 2020

Introduction

A clear understanding of the development of chronic physical health conditions following orthopaedic injury is essential to fully recognise the magnitude and burden of injury, improve treatment and predict certain outcomes. This review aimed at systematically identifying and evaluating current evidence of the incidence and prevalence of chronic physical health conditions and factors associated with chronic physical health conditions following serious orthopaedic injury.

Materials and method

Systematic literature search was performed using Ovid MEDLINE, Scopus, and Embase via Ovid, Cochrane Library and Ovid Emcare up to 30 December 2018. Observational studies relating to the incidence or prevalence of chronic physical health conditions and associated factors in people with serious orthopaedic injuries were included. Data extraction and methodological quality assessment were carried out independently by 2 reviewers.

Result

Of the 4835 references identified in the initial search, only five studies with sample sizes ranging from 83 to 3846 met the criteria for inclusion. The most prevalent conditions reported in people with serious orthopaedic injury included coronary artery disease, arrhythmias, myocardial infarction, hypertension, diabetes mellitus and chronic heart failure. Bronchial, rectal, prostate and breast cancers were also causes of late death in orthopaedic injury survivors. Most of the studies included in this review were unable to determine whether these conditions were related to injuries.

Conclusions

Chronic physical health conditions are prevalent among people with serious orthopaedic injury. Little is known about factors associated with chronic physical health conditions following serious orthopaedic injury or whether physical health conditions are associated with injury. Further work needs to be done to identify causal pathways and the longer-term effects of orthopaedic injury on the risk of developing chronic physical health conditions.
Publications search optimization: Comparison of a homegrown—API approach versus manual publication searches at an NCI designated cancer center
Authors: Cernik Colin , Fife John , Thompson Jeffrey , Harlan-Williams Lisa , Mudaranthakam Dinesh Pal
Published: November 2020

One measure of research productivity within the University of Kansas Cancer Center (KU Cancer Center) is peer-reviewed publications. Considerable effort goes into searching, capturing, reviewing, storing, and reporting cancer-relevant publications. Traditionally, the method of gathering relevant information to the publications is done manually. This manuscript describes the efforts to transition KU Cancer Center’s publication gathering process from a heavily manual to a more automated and efficient process. To achieve this transition in the most customized and cost-effective manner, a homegrown, automated system was developed using open source API among other software. When comparing the automated and the manual processes over several years of data, publication search and retrieval time dropped from an average of 59 h to 35 min, which would amount to a cost savings of several thousand dollars per year. The development and adoption of an automated publications search process can offer research centers great potential for less-error prone results with a savings in time and cost.
Global orbit of a complicated nonlinear system with the global dynamic frequency method
Authors: Wang Zhixia , Wang Wei , Gu Fengshou , Ball Andrew D
Published: November 2020

Global orbits connect the saddle points in an infinite period through the homoclinic and heteroclinic types of manifolds. Different from the periodic movement analysis, it requires special strategies to obtain expression of the orbit and detect the associated profound dynamic behaviors, such as chaos. In this paper, a global dynamic frequency method is applied to detect the homoclinic and heteroclinic bifurcation of the complicated nonlinear systems. The so-called dynamic frequency refers to the newly introduced frequency that varies with time t, unlike the usual static variable. This new method obtains the critical bifurcation value as well as the analytic expression of the orbit by using a standard five-step hyperbolic function-balancing procedure, which represents the influence of the higher harmonic terms on the global orbit and leads to a significant reduction of calculation workload. Moreover, a new homoclinic manifold analysis maps the periodic excitation onto the target global manifold that transfers the chaos discussion of non-autonomous systems into the orbit computation of the general autonomous system. That strategy unifies the global bifurcation analysis into a standard orbit approximation procedure. The numerical simulation results are shown to compare with the predictions.
Increased Anxiety is Associated with Better Learning from Negative Feedback
Authors: Jones Daniella L. , Nelson Jonathan D. , Opitz Bertram
Published: November 2020

Anxiety is one of the most prevalent mental health problems; it is known to impede cognitive functioning. It is believed to alter preferences for feedback-based learning in anxious and non-anxious learners. Thus, the present study measured feedback processing in adults ( N = 30) with and without anxiety symptoms using a probabilistic learning task. Event-related potential (ERP) measures were used to assess how the bias for either positive or negative feedback learning is reflected by the feedback-related negativity component (FRN), an ERP extracted from the electroencephalogram. Anxious individuals, identified by means of the Penn State Worry Questionnaire, showed a diminished FRN and increased accuracy after negative compared to positive feedback. Non-anxious individuals exhibited the reversed pattern with better learning from positive feedback, highlighting their preference for positive feedback. Our ERP results imply that impairments with feedback-based learning in anxious individuals are due to alterations in the mesolimbic dopaminergic system. Our finding that anxious individuals seem to favor negative as opposed to positive feedback has important implications for teacher–student feedback communication.
Gay-Tex-Mex: Autoethnographic Vignettes
Authors: Saldaña Johnny
Published: November 2020

A series of autoethnographic narrative vignettes recount the author’s personal memories from his upbringing in Texas as a Mexican American and his emergent identity as a gay man. The vignettes begin with episodes that profile Texas culture during the 1960s–1970s with an emphasis on cowboy and Hispanic cultures. The vignettes then recount specific boyhood moments with the author’s parents and their influence on his adolescent development as a closeted gay Hispanic. Following are brief narratives about ethnic discrimination experienced during secondary school. The stories then profile his training as a theatre artist and educator, and how gay Hispanic cultures blossomed during his university years, despite his closeted relationship with his parents. The piece concludes with a moment from late adulthood when he learns an undisclosed family secret, and the author reflects on how growing up in “Gay-Tex-Mex” cultures influenced his identity.
Distinguish the Role of Radiotherapy From Chemoradiotherapy for Gastric Cancer With Behavior of Metastasis-Indolent in Lymph Node
Authors: Zhi Yunfei , Lin Zhousheng , Ma Jinyuan , Mou Weiming , Chen Xinhua
Published: November 2020

Background:

Although the landmark INT-0116 trial and National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines recommended pT3-4Nx gastric cancer (GC) patients to receive chemoradiotherapy, the role of radiotherapy has not been distinguished from chemoradiotherapy.

Methods:

GC with behavior of metastasis-indolent in lymph node (MILN) being confirmed with more than 15 examined LNs after gastrectomy were identified using the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Result (SEER) database. The cancer-specific survival (CSS) of subgroups for radiotherapy, chemotherapy, chemoradiotherapy and non-adjuvant-treatment were compared. Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed between radiotherapy and non-radiotherapy subgroups to further distinguish the role of radiotherapy from chemoradiotherapy. Cox regression was performed to identify whether radiotherapy or chemotherapy could independently improve prognosis.

Results:

We identified 690 MILN GC patients in SEER database. 5-year CSS was 71.9% in radiotherapy subgroup and 75.1% in non-radiotherapy subgroup(HR = 1.013, 95% CI = 0.714-1.438, p = 0.940), 75.6% in chemotherapy subgroup and 68.5% in non-chemotherapy subgroup(HR = 0.616, 95% CI = 0.430-0.884, p = 0.008), 52.5% in radiotherapy-alone subgroup and 71.9% in non-adjuvant treatment group (HR = 1.604, 95% CI = 0.575-4.471, p = 0.360), 72.9% in chemoradiotherapy subgroup and 79.5% in chemotherapy-alone subgroup (HR = 1.365, 95% CI = 0.859-2.172, p = 0.185), respectively. Further, PSM markedly improved balance of variables between radiotherapy subgroup and non-radiotherapy subgroup. After PSM, the role of the variables of radiotherapy and chemotherapy in contributing to improving CSS are consistent with that before PSM. Cox regression showed chemotherapy, tumor size, tumor invasiveness and Lauren classification were independent prognostic factors, but not including radiotherapy.

Conclusions:

Chemoradiotherapy confers superior prognosis to MILN GC patients compared with surgery alone might only be attributed to chemotherapy rather than radiotherapy.
Role of Human Epididymis Protein 4 (HE4) in Determining Survival of Patients With Endometrial Cancer: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: He Ying , Wang Jing , Ma Chun-Xing , Kang Yan-Hua
Published: November 2020

Background:

Human epididymis protein 4 (HE4) is a novel cancer biomarker. This study evaluates the prognostic role of HE4 in determining the survival of endometrial cancer patients.

Methods:

Literature search was conducted in electronic databases (Embase, Ovid, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science). Studies were selected if they reported the relationship between HE4 and the survival of endometrial cancer patients. Random-effects meta-analyses were performed to achieve estimates of baseline serum HE4 levels, the 5-year survival with high and low serum HE4 levels/expression, and the hazard ratios (HRs) of the survival between patients with high and low serum HE4 levels.

Results:

9 studies (1404 patients; age 63.1 years [95% confidence interval (CI): 61.2, 64.9]; follow-up 35.9 months [95% CI: 32.2, 39.6]) were included. In these patients, serum HE4 levels were 83.36 picomole/liter (pM) [95% CI: 70.15, 96.56] overall but these were higher in patients with recurrence (108.13 pM [95% CI: 63.09, 153.18] and lower in patients with no recurrence (67.88 pM [95% CI: 65.09, 70.67]). The 5-year overall survival rate was higher in patients with low HE4 levels/expression (86% [95% CI: 79, 92] but lower in patients with high HE4 levels/expression (63% [95% CI: 58, 68]. A pooled HR of survival between patients with high and low serum HE4 levels of 2.25 [95% CI: 1.56, 2.94] indicated shorter survival in patients with high serum HE4 levels.

Conclusion:

High HE4 concentrations in patients with endometrial cancer are found to be associated with shorter survival.
Cultural Adaptation of Evidence-Based Lifestyle Interventions for African American Men With Prostate Cancer: A Dyadic Approach
Authors: Cho Dalnim , Basen-Engquist Karen , Acquati Chiara , Pettaway Curtis , Ma Hilary , Markofski Melissa , Li Yisheng , Canfield Steven E. , Gregg Justin , McNeill Lorna H.
Published: November 2020

Although a number of lifestyle interventions have been developed for cancer survivors, the extent to which they are effective for African American men with cancer is unclear. Given that African American men have the highest prostate cancer burden and the lack of proven interventions, this study developed a culturally-tailored lifestyle intervention for African American men with prostate cancer and their partners that aimed to improve healthy lifestyle behaviors (physical activity and healthy eating) and quality of life. The aim of the present study is to provide a detailed overview of the model-based process of intervention adaptation. Based on the IM Adapt approach (Highfield et al., 2015) and Typology of Adaptation (Davidson et al., 2013), the present study adapted existing, evidence-based interventions to address African American prostate cancer survivors’ and their partners’ potential unmet needs including anxiety/uncertainty about cancer progression, communication between partners, cultural sensitivity, and concordance/discordance of motivation and behaviors between partners. The intervention adaptation was a comprehensive and fluid process. To the best knowledge of the author, this is the first couple-based lifestyle intervention specifically developed for African American men with prostate cancer. The present study will be highly informative to future investigators by providing flexible and detailed information regarding lifestyle intervention adaptation for racial/ethnic minority men with prostate cancer and their partners.
Numerical study on tribological performance of the floating valve-plate pair in axial piston pump
Authors: Wang Tao , Yin Yuan , Wang Hujiang , Zhou Guangming , Huang Weifeng , Liu Xiangfeng
Published: November 2020

A numerical model for studying the time-dependent tribological performance of the floating valve-plate pair in axial piston pump is proposed. The lubrication analysis and the dynamics of the floating valve plate are taken into consideration. An additional source term is adopted into time-dependent Reynolds equation so that the model to analyze the auxiliary balance effects is set up. The boundary pressure of the kidney ports is dynamically coupled with the flow rate towards the loading. It is found that all the performance parameters fluctuate periodically and the valve-plate interface tilt has a vital impact on the tribological performances. The results obtained by the proposed model are highly detailed, and help to improve the understanding of floating valve-plate pair.
Experimental study on application characteristics of zeolite/water stuffing for the nanofluidic packer rubber
Authors: Dou Yihua , Zhang Yafei , Liang Jingwei , Chao Rui
Published: November 2020

Aiming at sealing failure problem of packer rubber during well testing and completion, a new type of “nanofluidic packer rubber” is developed. The nanofluidic packer rubber is composed of honeycomb matrix skeleton encapsulating nanofluidic system as stuffing. Taking ZSM-5 zeolite/water nanofluidic system as an example stuffing for the nanofluidic packer rubber, the application properties are studied by means of experiment. Ten loading/unloading cycles are carried out on the pretreated zeolite/water stuffing at different loading rates and system temperatures on a pressure-volume characteristic test bench. The impact law of loading rate and system temperature on repeatable practicability, pressure threshold, and deformation capacity of the stuffing are obtained and the influence mechanisms are discussed. Results show that the zeolite/water stuffing works stable and repeatable after the first three loading/unloading cycles. The loading rate has lifting effects on throughput capacity, pressure threshold and deformation capacity when system temperature is under 75°C. With the increase of system temperature, pressure threshold decrease, and throughput capacity and deformation capacity increase. All the application characteristics found in zeolite/water stuffing are favorable for improving the working performance of packer rubber. This work provides theoretical and data support for the application of the nanofluidic packer rubber.
Management of large bore access complications in the era of trans-catheter aortic valve replacement
Authors: Parker Michael H , Mukherjee Dipankar , Ryan Liam
Published: November 2020

Objectives

Trans-catheter aortic valve replacement is a commonplace procedure for patients with aortic valvular stenosis who are at a high risk for surgery, evidenced by the 34,892 trans-catheter aortic valve replacements performed in 2016. Trans-catheter aortic valve replacement’s rate of major vascular complications with second-generation closure devices is 4.5% according to a meta-analysis of 10,822 patients. To manage those complications, percutaneous approaches to arterial repairs show shorter length of stay, higher rate of direct to home discharge and equivalent outcomes at long-term follow-up. This study’s goal is to show that one center’s vascular access strategy can decrease open repairs and improve patient outcomes.

Methods

Our team began accessing the mid-common femoral artery at least 1–2 cm proximal to the takeoff of the profunda femoris. This allowed an endovascular stent to be deployed if necessary via contralateral femoral access. We performed a completion angiogram following every trans-catheter aortic valve replacement to ensure no arterial complications. We conducted a retrospective review of a prospectively maintained database for all trans-catheter aortic valve replacement cases at a tertiary care center from 1 January 2016 to 30 June 2018.

Results

A total of 699 trans-catheter aortic valve replacement procedures were performed with 25/31 (80.6%) cases met inclusion criteria. An increase was noted in the number of stent procedures versus cutdown procedures over time ( P < 0.001). A decrease was noted in the number of vascular surgery team activations following trans-catheter aortic valve replacement ( P = 0.004). A non-significant trend was noted toward a shorter median length of stay for the stent group ( P = 0.149). There was no increase in 30-day mortality rate (0.0% for both groups) or 30-day readmissions (4/15 (26.7%) for stents vs. 2/10 (20.0%) for open repairs; P > 0.999).

Conclusions

This strategy is safe and feasible to implement and reduces the number of open repairs following trans-catheter aortic valve replacement, activation of surgical resources, and possibly the length of stay.
Radiographic measurements of the normal distal radius: reliability of computer-aided CT versus physicians’ radiograph interpretation
Authors: Suojärvi Nora , Lindfors Nina , Höglund Theresa , Sippo Robert , Waris Eero
Published: November 2020

We examined the reliability of a computer-aided cone-beam CT analysis of radiographic parameters of 50 normal distal radii and compared it with interobserver agreement of measurements made by three groups of physicians on two-dimensional plain radiographs. The intra-rater reliability of the computer-aided analysis was evaluated on 33 wrists imaged twice by cone-beam CT. The longitudinal axis, anterior tilt, radial inclination and ulnar variance were measured. The reliability of computer-aided analysis was excellent (intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) 0.94–0.96) while the interobserver agreement of two-dimensional radiograph interpretation was good (ulnar variance, ICC 0.80–0.84) to poor (anterior tilt and radial inclination, ICC 0.20–0.42). We conclude that computer-aided cone-beam CT analysis was a reliable tool for radiographic parameter determination, whereas physicians demonstrated substantial variability especially in interpreting the angular parameters.
Pretreatment hemoglobin level as a predictor to evaluate the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer
Authors: Zhang Zhibo , Zhang Fan , Yuan Fang , Li Ye , Ma Junxun , Ou Qiuxiang , Liu Zhefeng , Yang Bo , Wang Lijie , Tao Haitao , Zhang Sujie , Li Xiaoyan , Zhi Xiaoyu , Ge Xiangwei , Bao Hua , Wu Xue , Hu Yi , Wang Jinliang
Published: November 2020

Background:

Targeting immune checkpoints represents an immense breakthrough in cancer therapeutics. The prognostic value of hemoglobin (Hb) has been investigated in many malignancies including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the prognostic impact of pretreatment Hb count for immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in advanced NSCLC patients remains unclear.

Methods:

A total of 310 late-stage NSCLC patients who received ICI therapies between January 2015 and March 2019 were prospectively enrolled. We used a propensity score-matched cohort analysis for this study. Patients’ clinicopathological characteristics and pretreatment Hb concentration were assessed against the progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) using the Kaplan–Meier method and Cox proportional hazards regression.

Results:

A propensity score (PS)-matched cohort analysis was applied to adjust for potential bias and to create two comparable groups according to patients’ clinicopathological characteristics. The patients with normal baseline Hb levels (⩾110 g/L) had significantly longer PFS [median: 10.0 versus 4.0 months, hazard ratio (HR): 0.63, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.46−0.86; p = 0.001] and OS [median: 17.6 versus 10.5 months, HR (95% CI): 0.56 (0.40−0.79); p < 0.001] than those with decreased Hb count (<110 g/L) in a PS-matched cohort ( n = 255). For patients with normal pretreatment Hb levels, ICI combination therapy was significantly associated with better PFS [median: 11.1 versus 8.0 months, HR (95% CI): 0.74 (0.50−1.06); p = 0.09] and OS [median: 26.0 versus 12.9 months, HR (95% CI): 0.56 (0.37−0.86); p = 0.008] than monotherapy, but there was no such trend for patients with decreased baseline Hb levels.

Conclusion:

Our findings showed that normal pretreatment Hb count served as a favorable prognostic marker in advanced NSCLC patients treated with ICIs, representing an economical biomarker with readily measuring performance among all reported ones.
Germline BRCA1 mutated esophageal squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Starr Jason , Ramnaraign Brian
Published: November 2020

The most common associated malignancies with BRCA mutations include breast and ovarian cancers. Less common malignancies associated with BRCA mutation include: pancreatic, prostate, colon, gastric, and biliary cancers. Esophageal cancer, particularly squamous cell carcinoma, has rarely been reported to harbor BRCA mutations. Here we report, to our knowledge, the first case of germline BRCA1 mutated associated esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.
An overview of Eagle’s syndrome
Authors: Searle Emma , Searle Adrian
Published: November 2020

Eagle’s syndrome is a condition that typically does not present to pain clinics. It consists of an elongated styloid process greater than 25 mm and/or stylohyoid ligament calcification causing an unusual array of symptoms, relating to anatomical involvement. Multiple specialities may be involved with the diagnosis of this rare condition. Three-dimensional reconstructive computed tomographic (CT) scan remains the gold standard for diagnosis. Depending on the presenting symptoms, care should be directed to an appropriate specialist. Pain surrounding Eagle’s syndrome does not typically resolve using simple pharmacological methods. Eagle’s syndrome should remain a diagnosis to be considered when faced with non-resolving head/facial pain.
From indwelling Foley to fail-safe voiding: Proposed changes in design and thinking
Authors: Gration John CD
Published: November 2020

The Foley indwelling urethral catheter (IDC) has been an effective part of the clinician’s armoury for more than 80 years. It meets wide clinical needs, such as overcoming urinary retention for men and perioperative management, but its use risks the major iatrogenic conditions of catheter-associated urinary tract infection and urethral injury (CAUI) – the latter mainly in men. This article focuses on CAUI, examines some factors contributing to these risks, makes suggestions for design solutions which may help tackle them and invites collaboration to develop more effective and fail-safe IDC or voiding solutions.