bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A network perspective on marital satisfaction among older couples
Authors: Li Fengzhan , Ren Lei , Wang Xiuchao , Jin Yinchuan , Yang Qun , Wang Dahua
Published: August 2022

It will be helpful for older people to maintain good mental health by improving their marital satisfaction. The present study investigates how the elements of marital satisfaction among older couples are related to each other and reveal the key elements. Four hundred ninety-four older people participated in the study. Marital satisfaction was assessed by the 10-item marital satisfaction subscale of the ENRICH scale. Network analysis was adopted to estimate the network structure of these 10 items and the strength centrality of each item was calculated. The results showed that all edges in the final network were positive. Four edges with the strongest regularized partial correlations appeared between “ leisure activities and spending time together” and “ emotional expression”; “ personality and habits” and “ communication and understanding”; “ economic status and the manner of determining economic affairs” and “ relationship with relatives and friends”; and “ make decisions and resolve conflict” and “ emotional expression.” In addition, “ emotional expression” had the highest node strength value in the network. “ Communication and understanding” and “ views are consistent” had the second and third highest node strength values, respectively. “ Views are consistent” was more central in males than females and was the second central node in male networks. In conclusion, the present study offers a new perspective to deepen the understanding about the internal structure of marital satisfaction among older couples via network analysis. The results might provide potential targets of intervention for social workers or family therapists to greatly improve marital satisfaction among older couples.
Clowns, fools and the more-than-Adult toddler
Authors: Arculus Charlotte , MacRae Christina
Published: August 2022

Childhood states are commonly invoked by adult humans in derisory ways and as put-downs. While infantile and clownish ways of behaving are often met with insult, we argue that these ways of being could instead be seen in terms of their productive potential. Drawing on posthuman and feminist theories and invoking clownish qualities of Haraway’s Bag Lady, we explore affinities between the figures of clown and toddler. This challenges a history of childism that constructs child as a less-than-adult, proposing instead, that the figure of child as inherently developmental and progressive is inextricably linked with how we conceive of the category of human. Making the case for the more-than-Adult toddler, we explore ways that clownish antics intersect with toddler ways of be(com)ing. This helps us to reframe the less-than child (not-yet human subject) as a figure of potential through animistic becomings-with the world that spill beyond the bounded individual and self/other binaries. We use this as a decolonising strategy to undo bounded and linear constructions of early childhood. The common antics of both toddlers and clown are explored in terms of how they might productively inform the co-production of improvisational pedagogic practices with young children.
Unsettling the Trump Baby: Learning from values and pedagogy in the early childhood nursery
Authors: Robson Jenny
Published: August 2022

The 2018 anti-Trump protest in London is dominated by an effigy, in the form of a balloon, that morphs President Donald Trump and childhood. Whilst this can be interpreted as a humorous act to ridicule Trump, a critical reading of the scene through a postmodern lens suggests that the image is an appropriation and manipulation of childhood. Trump masquerading as a baby becomes the ‘vagabond’ who is denied citizenship; she is a focus for negativity and fears, symbolising the values of hate and intolerance. The Trump Baby is vexing in the way it obscures knowledge of the agentic and competent child known within the nursery. The protesters exercise power as they mock and humiliate the Trump Baby in the protest and on social media. Such actions legitimatise hostile acts against children and prompt questions about the interdependency between children and adults in the both the construction of values and the realisation of children’s citizenship. This paper considers a range of positions that adults could adopt in order to co-construct values with children and respect their status as citizens. In this way, nurseries can become forums where children’s citizenship is both defended and nurtured.
The impact of emotions on polarization. Anger polarizes attitudes towards vaccine mandates and increases affective polarization
Authors: Nguyen Christoph G. , Mayer Sabrina J. , Veit Susanne
Published: August 2022

When does anger lead to greater polarization? As societal polarization and political polarization increase so does academic interest in its antecedents. One important cause of polarization appears to be anger. However, existing research linking anger and political polarization has focused primarily on the context of partisanship and did not distinguish between different types of anger nor different forms of polarization. To address this gap in the literature, we analyze how generalized versus issue-specific anger amplify issue-based and affective polarization in the highly charged context of the COVID-19 pandemic. We test these relationships through a survey experiment embedded in a national German sample ( n = 2857) and show that anger is linked to polarization. However, we also show that different forms of anger influence different aspects of polarization. Issue polarization is driven primarily by generalized anger, while corona-specific anger increases affective polarization. Together, these results underline the importance of understanding the emotional nuances of polarization. More generally, the results illustrate the problems policy makers face when navigating heavily contested and emotionally charged topics. While increased anger may be helpful for mobilizing support among already supportive citizens, it does little to convince skeptical citizens and carries the cost of increasing societal polarization.
Integrating Health and Social Care Services
Authors: Blockley David , Stirrat Gordon , Alexander Kirsty , Phillips Sabrina
Published: August 2022

Background

A recent UK Government draft Heath White Paper follows the NHS England long term plan when it states that NHS England requires “a new framework that builds on changes already being made as well as building in the flexibility to support the system to tackle challenges of the future”. At present the structure of Health and Social Care Services UK reporting to Government seems unhelpfully complex and opaque.

Objective

The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the building of a new framework using a generic approach to identify and use ‘systemic processes’ to facilitate the integration of Health and Social Care services in NHS England and elsewhere.

Methods

We highlight some of the critical issues that are currently hindering integration and set out a new way of understanding the structure of NHS England through an ‘inside-out’ analysis of systemic processes.

Results

We describe and give three examples of existing systemic processes as ‘Consulting a patient’, ‘Enhancing a Single point of access’ - to mental health services and ‘Delivering health and social care services England’.

Conclusions

Rethinking the interactions between existing organisations could arguably bring considerable benefits including cost savings, better co-ordination, less ‘admin’ stress on staff where the work is done and provide more organisational adaptability in an uncertain future. Ultimately our suggestions are aimed at helping people to deliver better patient care - the impelling purpose of all health and social care services.
A Systematic Literature Review of Work-Life Balance Using ADO Model
Authors: Singh Rosy , Aggarwal Shalini , Sahni Shalini
Published: August 2022

This study systematically synthesizes the existing literature on work-life balance (WLB) over the last 16 years to determine the various constructs associated with it using the Antecedents, Decisions and Outcomes (ADO) model for the WLB construct. It also identifies research gaps and proposes a direction for future research. A rigorous systematic literature review (SLR) process as proposed by Tranfield et al. (2003) is followed. Further, the study uses the PRISMA framework to select the 43 full-text articles relevant to the WLB in business management. The review was conducted for the studies from 2004 to 2020, used only published articles, and excluded books and conference proceedings. This review provides an organized view of the antecedents, decision processes and outcomes of WLB in the business management domain. The analysis provides information on the most prolific authors and journals. This review also found that the most productive institutions publishing WLB-related literature are based in India. This review contributes to the literature by proposing a conceptual model that provides a theoretical understanding of WLB. It also provides essential insights into how personal, household and organizational factors influence WLB.
Revision Rates After Primary ACL Reconstruction Performed Between 1969 and 2018: A Systematic Review and Metaregression Analysis
Authors: Liukkonen Rasmus J. , Ponkilainen Ville T. , Reito Aleksi
Published: August 2022

Background:

Numerous studies, including randomized controlled trials (RCTs), have been published on the optimal graft choice for primary anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction.

Purpose:

To review existing studies to investigate whether advances in orthopaedics have affected revision rates after primary ACL reconstruction.

Study Design:

Systematic review; Level of evidence, 4.

Methods:

The PubMed database was searched from inception to December 31, 2020, using the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. Patient series, observational studies, clinical trials, and registry-based studies investigating primary ACL reconstruction were included, as were high-quality RCTs from an additional study. The minimum required follow-up time for inclusion was 1 year. The primary outcome measure was the pooled prevalence of revision ACL reconstruction. The effect of the year the surgery was performed on revision rates was evaluated with metaregression analysis. All graft types were analyzed simultaneously, and all analyses were repeated separately for each graft type.

Results:

Overall, 330 articles with 52,878 patients were included, with a median patient age of 28 years (range, 15-57 years). The primary ACL reconstructions were performed between 1969 and 2018. At a median of 2.3 years of follow-up, the overall revision rate was 3.14% (95% CI, 2.76% to 3.56%); it was 2.71% (95% CI, 2.25% to 3.27%) for hamstring autografts, 2.38% (95% CI, 1.82% to 3.11%) for bone–patellar tendon–bone (BPTB) autografts, and 5.24% (95% CI, 4.02% to 6.80%) for other graft types. For hamstring grafts, the revision rate increased over time (year of surgery), with a 0.0434 (95% CI, 0.0150 to 0.0718) increase effect in the logit-transformed scale for every additional year. There was a slight decrease in revision rates for BPTB (β = –0.0049; 95% CI, –0.0352 to 0.0254) and other graft types (β = –0.0306; 95% CI, –0.0608 to −0.0005) over time; however, confidence intervals for BPTB included the zero change.

Conclusion:

Based on this systematic review and meta-analysis, ACL reconstruction is a reliable procedure with overall low historical revision rates. BPTB autograft had the lowest revision rate and a slightly decreasing trend of failures during the past 45 years, although both BPTB and hamstring autografts are reliable graft choices.
“I’m Not Alone”: A Group Intervention for Grieving Children
Authors: O’Brien Karen M. , Cannon Gilly , Stearns Allison K. , Walsh Carol , Hill Erin M.
Published: August 2022

Grieving children are at risk for negative outcomes (American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 2020). This study described a collaboration between a community agency and a large school district to create and implement groups for grieving children. A preliminary evaluation of the effectiveness of these groups was conducted. Quantitative and qualitative data from 318 students, 59 group facilitators, and 59 school counselors indicated that the grief group was a promising intervention for diverse students with regard to enhancing awareness about grief, reducing isolation, providing a place to share feelings, and learning coping strategies after the death of a significant person. This research may inform the development, implementation, and evaluation of other important interventions established through community partnerships to prevent negative outcomes associated with unattended grief in childhood.
The shape of future cities: Three speculations
Authors: Batty Michael
Published: August 2022

World population has grown dramatically since the Industrial Revolution began 250 years ago. Cities are key elements in this growth, but by 2100, we will all be living in cities of one size or another. Here we speculate what this world will look like. First, the Industrial Revolution represents a clean break from a past composed of hardly any cities to one which is completely dominated by cities. Second, cities will continue to change qualitatively as they get larger but size limits will emerge. Third, cities will no longer be classified by their size but by their internal dynamics.
EMD originates from hyaluronan-induced homophilic interactions of CD44 variant-expressing MM cells under shear stress
Authors: Kikuchi Jiro , Kodama Nobuyuki , Takeshita Masataka , Ikeda Sho , Kobayashi Takahiro , Kuroda Yoshiaki , Uchiyama Michihiro , Osada Naoki , Bogen Bjarne , Yasui Hiroshi , Takahashi Naoto , Miwa Akiyoshi , Furukawa Yusuke
Published: August 2022

Extramedullary disease (EMD) is known to be associated with chemoresistance and poor prognosis in multiple myeloma (MM); however, the mechanisms of its development are not fully understood. Elucidating the mechanism of EMD development and its therapeutic targeting would greatly contribute to further improvement of treatment outcome in patients with MM. Here, we show that bone marrow stroma cell–derived hyaluronan (HA) elicits homophilic interactions of MM cells by binding to surface CD44, especially long-stretch variants, under physiological shear stress and generates cell clusters that might develop into EMD. We recapitulated the development of EMD via administration of HA in a syngeneic murine MM model in a CD44-dependent manner. HA-induced MM cell clusters exhibited the specific resistance to proteasome inhibitors (PIs) in vitro and in murine models via γ-secretase–mediated cleavage of the intracellular domains of CD44, which in turn transactivated PI resistance-inducible genes. Treatment of HA-injected mice with anti-CD44 antibody or γ-secretase inhibitors readily suppressed the development of EMD from transplanted MM cells and significantly prolonged the survival of recipients by overcoming PI resistance. The HA-CD44 axis represents a novel pathway to trigger EMD development and could be a target of the prediction, prevention, and treatment of EMD in patients with MM.
PEG@ Carbon Nanotubes Composite as an Effective Nanocarrier of Ixazomib for Myeloma Cancer Therapy
Authors: Elgamal Hanady A. , Mohamed Samah Abdelsabour , Farghali Ahmed A. , Hassan Abeer M. E.
Published: August 2022

In this work, the preparation of a PEG@ multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) composite has shown a great potential effect in tumor therapy using graphite powder at room temperature. PEGylated MWCNTs were created and used as a carrier for targeting the antineoplastic drug Ixazomib to myeloma cancer cells (abnormal plasma cells). Ixazomib (MLN2238) was covalently encapsulated into functionalized carbon nanotubes modified with polyethylene glycol (PEG 600) to obtain MWCNTs-PEG-MLN2238. The Ixazomib@ MWCNTs-PEG composite shows promising results as an effective nanocarrier and using a small amount of MWCNTs-PEG-Ixazomib that has a low toxicity compared with that of Ixazomib alone. A multifunctional MWCNTs-PEG-Ixazomib composite is used to test biological effects on multiple myeloma cell lines RPMI 8226 using the MTT assay to enhance treatment efficiency. The cytotoxicity of free Ixazomib citrate (69% cell viability of RPMI8226 cells) was higher than that of MWCNTs-PEG-Ixazomib (91% cell viability) at the same maximum concentration of Ixazomib citrate (50 µg/ml). In this work, we performed a study of preparation of MWCNTs with an acceptable Ixazomib loading efficiency and determination of the drug systemic toxicity for the first time. In this study, the preparation of MWCNTs with acceptable Ixazomib loading efficiency and determination of the drug systemic toxicity was performed for the first time. The MTT assay results show decreasing the toxicity of Ixazomib after loading with the MWCNTs-PEG composite. The MWCNTs-PEG @ Ixazomib show promising results as an effective carrier of Ixazomib and lead to a decrease in the cost of using Ixazomib.

Graphical Abstract
In-silico design of an immunoinformatics based multi-epitope vaccine against Leishmania donovani
Authors: Saha Subhadip , Vashishtha Shubham , Kundu Bishwajit , Ghosh Monidipa
Published: August 2022

Background

Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) is a fatal vector-borne parasitic disorder occurring mainly in tropical and subtropical regions. VL falls under the category of neglected tropical diseases with growing drug resistance and lacking a licensed vaccine. Conventional vaccine synthesis techniques are often very laborious and challenging. With the advancement of bioinformatics and its application in immunology, it is now more convenient to design multi-epitope vaccines comprising predicted immuno-dominant epitopes of multiple antigenic proteins. We have chosen four antigenic proteins of Leishmania donovani and identified their T-cell and B-cell epitopes, utilizing those for in-silico chimeric vaccine designing. The various physicochemical characteristics of the vaccine have been explored and the tertiary structure of the chimeric construct is predicted to perform docking studies and molecular dynamics simulations.

Results

The vaccine construct is generated by joining the epitopes with specific linkers. The predicted tertiary structure of the vaccine has been found to be valid and docking studies reveal the construct shows a high affinity towards the TLR-4 receptor. Population coverage analysis shows the vaccine can be effective on the majority of the world population.In-silicoimmune simulation studies confirms the vaccine to raise a pro-inflammatory response with the proliferation of activated T and B cells.In-silicocodon optimization and cloning of the vaccine nucleic acid sequence have also been achieved in the pET28a vector.

Conclusion

The above bioinformatics data support that the construct may act as a potential vaccine. Further wet lab synthesis of the vaccine and in vivo works has to be undertaken in animal model to confirm vaccine potency.
Fused inverse-normal method for integrated differential expression analysis of RNA-seq data
Authors: Prasad Birbal , Li Xinzhong
Published: August 2022

Background

Use of next-generation sequencing technologies to transcriptomics (RNA-seq) for gene expression profiling has found widespread application in studying different biological conditions including cancers. However, RNA-seq experiments are still small sample size experiments due to the cost. Recently, an increased focus has been on meta-analysis methods for integrated differential expression analysis for exploration of potential biomarkers. In this study, we propose ap-value combination method for meta-analysis of multiple independent but related RNA-seq studies that accounts for sample size of a study and direction of expression of genes in individual studies.

Results

The proposed method generalizes the inverse-normal method without an increase in statistical or computational complexity and does not pre- or post-hoc filter genes that have conflicting direction of expression in different studies. Thus, the proposed method, as compared to the inverse-normal, has better potential for the discovery of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) with potentially conflicting differential signals from multiple studies related to disease. We demonstrated the use of the proposed method in detection of biologically relevant DEGs in glioblastoma (GBM), the most aggressive brain cancer. Our approach notably enabled the identification of over-expressed tumour suppressor geneRAD51in GBM compared to healthy controls, which has recently been shown to be a target for inhibition to enhance radiosensitivity of GBM cells during treatment. Pathway analysis identified multiple aberrant GBM related pathways as well as novel regulators such asTCF7L2andMAPTas important upstream regulators in GBM.

Conclusions

The proposed meta-analysis method generalizes the existing inverse-normal method by providing a way to establish differential expression status for genes with conflicting direction of expression in individual RNA-seq studies. Hence, leading to further exploration of them as potential biomarkers for the disease.
Phylogenetic lineages of tuberculosis isolates and their association with patient demographics in Tanzania
Authors: Mutayoba Beatrice Kemilembe , Michael Hoelscher  , Heinrich Norbert , Joloba Moses L. , Lyamuya Eligius , Kilale Andrew Martin , Range Nyagosya Segere , Ngowi Bernard James , Ntinginya Nyanda Elias , Mfaume Saidi Mwinjuma , Wilfred Amani , Doulla Basra , Lyimo Johnson , Kisonga Riziki , Kingalu Amri , Kabahita Jupiter Marina , Guido Ocung , Kabugo Joel , Adam Isa , Luutu Moses , Namaganda Maria Magdalene , Namutebi Joanitah , Kasule George William , Nakato Hasfah , Byabajungu Henry , Lutaaya Pius , Musisi Kenneth , Oola Denis , Mboowa Gerald , Pletschette Michel
Published: August 2022

Background

Mycobacterium tuberculosis presents several lineages each with distinct characteristics of evolutionary status, transmissibility, drug resistance, host interaction, latency, and vaccine efficacy. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) has emerged as a new diagnostic tool to reliably inform the occurrence of phylogenetic lineages of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and examine their relationship with patient demographic characteristics and multidrug-resistance development.

Methods

191 Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates obtained from a 2017/2018 Tanzanian drug resistance survey were sequenced on the Illumina Miseq platform at Supranational Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory in Uganda. Obtained fast-q files were imported into tools for resistance profiling and lineage inference (Kvarq v0.12.2, Mykrobe v0.8.1 and TBprofiler v3.0.5). Additionally for phylogenetic tree construction, RaxML-NG v1.0.3(25) was used to generate a maximum likelihood phylogeny with 800 bootstrap replicates. The resulting trees were plotted, annotated and visualized using ggtree v2.0.4

Results

Most [172(90.0%)] of the isolates were from newly treated Pulmonary TB patients. Coinfection with HIV was observed in 33(17.3%) TB patients. Of the 191 isolates, 22(11.5%) were resistant to one or more commonly used first line anti-TB drugs (FLD), 9(4.7%) isolates were MDR-TB while 3(1.6%) were resistant to all the drugs. Of the 24 isolates with any resistance conferring mutations, 13(54.2%) and 10(41.6%) had mutations in genes associated with resistance to INH and RIF respectively. The findings also show four major lineages i.e. Lineage 3[81 (42.4%)], followed by Lineage 4 [74 (38.7%)], the Lineage 1 [23 (12.0%)] and Lineages 2 [13 (6.8%)] circulaing in Tanzania.

Conclusion

The findings in this study show that Lineage 3 is the most prevalent lineage in Tanzania whereas drug resistant mutations were more frequent among isolates that belonged to Lineage 4.
The effectiveness of a mHealth-based integrated hospital-community-home program for people with type 2 diabetes in transitional care: a protocol for a multicenter pragmatic randomized controlled trial
Authors: Zhang Wenhui , Yang Pei , Wang Hongyan , Pan Xinxin , Wang Yanmei
Published: August 2022

Background

Diabetes is a progressive condition requiring long-term medical care and self-management. The ineffective transition from hospital to community or home health care may result in poor glycemic control and increase the risk of serious diabetes-related complications. In China, the most common transitional care model is home visits or telephone interventions led by a single healthcare setting, with a lack of cooperation between specialists and primary care, which leads to inadequate service and discontinuous care. Thus, an integrated hospital-community-home (i-HCH) transitional care program was developed to promote hospital and community cooperation and provide comprehensive and continuous medical care for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) via mobile health (mHealth) technology.

Methods

This protocol is for a multicenter randomized controlled trial in T2DM patients. Hospitalized patients diagnosed with T2DM who meet the eligibility criteria will be recruited. The patients will be randomly allocated to either the intervention or the control group and receive the i-HCH transitional care or usual transitional care intervention. The change in glycated hemoglobin is the primary outcome. Secondary outcome measures are blood pressure, lipids (total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein, high-density lipoprotein), body mass index, self-management skills, quality of life, diabetes knowledge, transitional care satisfaction and the rate of readmission. The follow-up period of this study is six months.

Discussion

The study will enhance the cooperation between local hospitals and communities for diabetes transitional care. Research on the effectiveness of diabetes outcomes will have potentially significant implications for chronic disease patients, family members, health caregivers and policymakers.

Trial registration

Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR1900023861: June 15, 2019.
Uncommon cause of trigeminal neuritis and central nervous system involvement by herpes labialis: a case report
Authors: Kim Hyunsoo , Kang Kyung Wook , Kim Jae-Myung , Park Man-Seok
Published: August 2022

Background

Trigeminal neuropathy is characterized by numbness in the region innervated by the trigeminal nerves, with or without neuropathic weakness in the muscles of mastication. Trigeminal neuritis is a form of trigeminal neuropathy in which the lesion is caused by an inflammation. Herein, we report a patient with trigeminal neuritis due to central nervous system (CNS) involvement of herpes labialis (HL) infection, which was successfully treated with anti-viral and anti-inflammatory agents.

Case presentation

A young healthy female presented with numbness in the left hemiface for two weeks. She had a preceding typical HL infection on left facial lip one week before the sensory symptom onset. Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed high signal intensities and asymmetrical thickening with enhancement along the cisternal segment of the left trigeminal nerve. Additionally, brain MR angiography showed multifocal stenoses in the M1 segment of the middle cerebral artery and the cavernous portion of the internal carotid artery. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) examination showed mild pleocytosis with normal protein level, glucose ratio, but CSF polymerase chain reaction assay for specific anti-viral antibodies including herpes simplex virus was negative, and CSF culture also did not identify a specific pathogen. The results of serologic testing including tumor markers and autoimmune markers were all unremarkable. A tentative diagnosis of trigeminal neuritis as a complication of HL involving the CNS was made considering the clinical, neuroradiological, and laboratory findings of the patient. Therefore, the patient was treated with intravenous methylprednisolone and acyclovir for 10 days. After the treatments, her sensory disturbance was markedly improved. Brain MRI at the 3-month follow-up also demonstrated improvement of previously identified high signal intensity lesions and multifocal intracerebral artery stenoses.

Conclusion

HL is usually a self-limiting, benign disease without complications, but rarely presents as trigeminal neuritis due to CNS involvement. Therefore, meticulous evaluation may be necessary if trigeminal neuritis or CNS involving symptoms occur after HL.
Differential diagnosis and prognosis of small renal masses: association with collateral vessels detected using contrast-enhanced computed tomography
Authors: Yanagi Masato , Kiriyama Tomonari , Akatsuka Jun , Endo Yuki , Takeda Hayato , Katsu Akifumi , Honda Yuichiro , Suzuki Kyota , Nishikawa Yoshihiro , Ikuma Shunsuke , Mikami Hikaru , Toyama Yuka , Kimura Go , Kondo Yukihiro
Published: August 2022

Background

Active surveillance (AS) is one of the treatment methods for patients with small renal masses (SRMs; < 4 cm), including renal cell carcinomas (RCCs). However, some small RCCs may exhibit aggressive neoplastic behaviors and metastasize. Little is known about imaging biomarkers capable of identifying potentially aggressive small RCCs. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) often detects collateral vessels arising from neoplastic angiogenesis in RCCs. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the association between SRM differential diagnoses and prognoses, and the detection of collateral vessels using CECT.

Methods

A total of 130 consecutive patients with pathologically confirmed non-metastatic SRMs (fat-poor angiomyolipomas [fpAMLs; n = 7] and RCCs [n = 123]) were retrospectively enrolled. Between 2011 and 2019, SRM diagnoses in these patients were confirmed after biopsy or surgical resection. All RCCs were surgically resected. Regardless of diameter, a collateral vessel (CV) was defined as any blood vessel connecting the tumor from around the kidney using CECT. First, we analyzed the role of CV-detection in differentiating between fpAML and RCC. Then, we evaluated the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and accuracy of RCC diagnosis based on CV-detection using CECT. We also assessed the prognostic value of CV-detection using the Fisher exact test, and Kaplan-Meier method and the log-rank test.

Results

The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, and accuracy of CV-detection for the diagnosis of small RCCs was 48.5, 45.5, 100, 100, and 9.5% respectively. Five of 123 (4.1%) patients with RCC experienced recurrence. CV-detection using CECT was the only significant factor associated with recurrence (p = 0.0177). Recurrence-free survival (RFS) was significantly lower in patients with CV compared with in those without CV (5-year RFS 92.4% versus 100%, respectively; p = 0.005). In addition, critical review of the CT images revealed the CVs to be continuous with the venous vessels around the kidney.

Conclusions

The detection of CVs using CECT is useful for differentiating between small fpAMLs and RCCs. CV-detection may also be applied as a predictive parameter for small RCCs prone to recurrence after surgical resection. Moreover, AS could be suitable for small RCCs without CVs.
Stereotactic irradiation on linear accelerator - ultrasound versus MRI in choroidal melanoma volume calculation
Authors: Furdova Alena , Furda Robert , Sramka Miron , Chorvath Martin , Rybar Jan , Vesely Pavol , Valaskova Jela , Siska Vladimir
Published: August 2022

Background

Stereotactic irradiation is one of the treatment modalities for intraocular uveal melanoma. The study’s purpose was to describe the background of stereotactic one-day session radiosurgery, how the comparison in the difference between the tumor volume measured values from the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) method and the ultrasound method was related to it, and which method was more precise to be used for tumor regression after irradiation.

Methods

The group of 147 patients with choroidal melanoma was treated by stereotactic irradiation on the linear accelerator with a single dose of 35.0 Gy. During the standard treatment process the uveal melanoma volumes, needed for dose calculation, were obtained using MRI from the individual stereotactic planning scheme and by ultrasound from the ultrasound device. All volumes were statistically compared using the paired t-test, and for the visualization purpose, the Bland-Altman plot was used.

Results

In the group of patients, it was 70 (47.6%) males and 77 (52.4%) females. The tumor volume median was from MRI equal to 0.44 cm3 and from ultrasound equal to 0.53 cm3. The difference between the ultrasound and the MRI volume measured values was statistically significant. However, the Bland-Altman plot clearly documents that the two methods are in agreement and can be used interchangeably. In most of the cases, the measured values of the ultrasound-calculated volume achieved slightly higher measured values.

Conclusions

The calculation of the intraocular uveal tumor volume is a crucial part of the stereotactic irradiation treatment. The ultrasound volume measured values were in most of the cases higher than the measured values from the MRI. Although the methods are comparable and can be used interchangeably, we are recommending using the more precise MRI method not only during the treatment but also on later regular medical checks of tumor regression or progression.
Protocol and programme factors associated with referral and loss to follow-up from newborn hearing screening: a systematic review
Authors: Mackey Allison R. , Bussé Andrea M. L. , Del Vecchio Valeria , Mäki-Torkko Elina , Uhlén Inger M.
Published: August 2022

Background

An effective newborn hearing screening programme has low referral rate and low loss to follow-up (LTFU) rate after referral from initial screening. This systematic review identified studies evaluating the effect of protocol and programme factors on these two outcomes, including the screening method used and the infant group.

Methods

Five databases were searched (latest: April 2021). Included studies reported original data from newborn hearing screening and described the target outcomes against a protocol or programme level factor. Studies were excluded if results were only available for one risk condition, for each ear, or for < 100 infants, or if methodological bias was observed. Included studies were evaluated for quality across three domains: sample, screening and outcome, using modified criteria from the Ottawa-Newcastle and QUADAS-2 scales. Findings from the included studies were synthesised in tables, figures and text.

Results

Fifty-eight studies reported on referral rate, 8 on LTFU rate, and 35 on both. Only 15 studies defined LTFU. Substantial diversity in referral and LTFU rate was observed across studies. Twelve of fourteen studies that evaluated screening method showed lower referral rates with aABR compared to TEOAE for well babies (WB). Rescreening before hospital discharge and screening after 3 days of age reduced referral rates. Studies investigating LTFU reported lower rates for programmes that had audiologist involvement, did not require fees for step 2, were embedded in a larger regional or national programme, and scheduled follow-up in a location accessible to the families. In programmes with low overall LTFU, higher LTFU was observed for infants from the NICU compared to WB.

Conclusion

Although poor reporting and exclusion of non-English articles may limit the generalisability from this review, key influential factors for referral and LTFU rates were identified. Including aABR in WB screening can effectively reduce referral rates, but it is not the only solution. The reported referral and LTFU rates vary largely across studies, implying the contribution of several parameters identified in this review and the context in which the programme is performed. Extra attention should be paid to infants with higher risk for hearing impairment to ensure their return to follow-up.
Soil-transmitted helminthes and Schistosoma mansoni infections among primary school children at Ambasame primary school, North-West Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Feleke Daniel Getacher , Ali Abdurahaman , Bisetegn Habtye , Debash Habtu , Birara Workineh , Andualem Alehegn
Published: August 2022

Background

Schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STHs) are the major public health problem in the world especially in school age children. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the burden of soil transmitted helminths and Schistosoma mansoni among Ambesame primary school children, North-West Ethiopia.

Method

A cross sectional study was carried out at Ambasame primary school children from March to May, 2019. Study participants were selected using systematic random sampling technique. Socio-demographic characteristics and other factors were collected using structured questionnaire. Moreover, stool samples were examined microscopically using wet mount and formol ether concentration techniques. Data were entered and analyzed using SPSS version 20. Logistic regression analysis was done to investigate the association between dependent and independent variables. P-value less than 0.05 was considered as statistically significant.

Result

The overall prevalence of intestinal parasites was 117(31.2%). The prevalence of soil-transmitted helminthes and S.mansoni was 110 (29.3%) using formol ether concentration technique. The most predominant parasite was S. mansoni (10.7%), followed by hookworm (5.6%). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that, helminthic infection was associated with children less than 7 years of age (P-value = 0.019, AOR = 3.29, 95% CI (1.21–8.91)); fathers who are able to read and write (P-value< 0.001, AOR = 5.4, 95% CI (2.37–12.33)); absence of latrine (P-value = 0.016, AOR = 12.96, 95% CI (1.60–104.87)) and untrimmed nail (P-value = 0.043, AOR = 2.09, 95% CI (1.02–4.27)).

Conclusion

This study revealed that the prevalence of intestinal helminthes among Ambasame primary school children was relatively high. The lower educational status of father, absence of latrine and untrimmed finger nail showed statistically significant association with intestinal helminthic infection. This indicates the school community, health offices and other stakeholders should plan a strategy to tackle problems associated with sanitary condition. Furthermore, Health policy makers, healthcare workers and health extension workers should enhance their effort of awareness creation for school children, parents, school community about personal hygiene, environmental sanitation, intestinal parasites transmission, prevention and control. Moreover, mass deworming of school children and periodic screening for parasitic infection should be done.
Associations of physical activity with academic achievement and academic burden in Chinese children and adolescents: do gender and school grade matter?
Authors: Zhang Danqing , Hong Jintao , Chen Sitong , Liu Yang
Published: August 2022

Background

Physical activity (PA) was significantly associated with cognition and mental health in children and adolescent. However, there were few studies examining the associations of PA with academic achievement (AA) and academic burden (AB) by gender and school grade. Hence, this study aimed to 1) investigate the associations of moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) with AA and AB in Chinese children and adolescents, and 2) assess whether these associations vary by gender and school grade.

Methods

Using a multi-stage stratified cluster sampling design (at four different regions in Southern east China), 2653 children and adolescents (8–19 years old, 51.2% girls) were included. A self-reported questionnaire was used to collect data on study participants’ gender, school grade, family social economic status (SES), parental education level, MVPA, AA and AB. Binary logistic regression was applied to examine the associations of MVPA with AA (groups: above-average AA, average and below-average AA) and AB (groups: reporting AB, reporting no AB) with odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). After testing gender*grade interaction, those associations were explored by gender and school grade separately.

Results

In the overall sample, compared with children and adolescents who did not meet the PA guidelines (at least 60 min MVPA daily), children and adolescents who met the PA guidelines were more likely to have above-average (OR = 1.61, 95% CI: 1.21–2.11) AA, and report no AB (OR = 1.61, 95% CI: 1.13–2.30). In both genders, meeting the PA guidelines was positively associated with above-average AA (OR = 1.43, 95% CI: 1.01–2.03 for boys; OR = 2.22, 95% CI: 1.43–3.44 for girls). However, the significant relationship between meeting the PA guidelines and AB was observed only in girls (OR = 1.99, 95% CI: 1.17–3.39). Meeting the PA guidelines was positively associated with above-average AA (OR = 1.68, 95% CI: 1.18–2.40), and reporting no AB (OR = 1.77, 95% CI: 1.08–2.91) only in middle school students.

Conclusions

This study suggested that sufficient PA may be a contributary factor of improved AA and lower level of AB in Chinese children and adolescents. However, associations of PA with AA and AB may be different across gender or school grade. Promoting PA among girls or middle school students may be a good approach to improve AA and reduce AB.
The effect of health financing reforms on incidence and management of childhood infections in Ghana: a matching difference in differences impact evaluation
Authors: Odjidja Emmanuel Nene , Ansah-Akrofi Ruth , Iradukunda Arnaud , Kwanin Charles , Saha Manika
Published: August 2022

Introduction

In 2003, Ghana abolished direct out of pockets payments and implemented health financing reforms including the national health insurance scheme in 2004. Treatment of childhood infections is a key component of services covered under this scheme, yet, outcomes on incidence and treatment of these infections after introducing these reforms have not been covered in evaluation studies. This study fills this gap by assessing the impact on the reforms on the two most dominant childhood infections; fever (malaria) and diarrhoea.

Methods

Nigeria was used as the control country with pre-intervention period of 1990 and 2003 and 1993 and 1998 in Ghana. Post-intervention period was 2008 and 2014 in Ghana and 2008 and 2018 in Nigeria. Data was acquired from demographic health surveys in both countries and propensity score matching was calculated based on background socioeconomic covariates. Following matching, difference in difference analysis was conducted to estimate average treatment on the treated effects. All analysis were conducted in STATA (psmatch2, psgraph and pstest) and statistical significance was considered when p-value ≤ 0.05.

Results

After matching, it was determined that health reforms significantly increased general medical care for children with diarrhoea (25 percentage points) and fever (40 percentage points). Also for those receiving care specifically in government managed facilities for diarrhoea (14 percentage points) and fever (24 percentage points).

Conclusions

Introduction of health financing reforms in Ghana had positive effects on childhood infections (malaria and diarrhoea).
Parents can reliably and accurately detect trunk asymmetry using an inclinometer smartphone app
Authors: Beauséjour Marie , Aubin Delphine , Fortin Carole , N’dongo Sangaré Mohamed , Carignan Mathilde , Roy-Beaudry Marjolaine , Martinez Carolina , Bourassa Nathalie , Jourdain Nathalie , Labelle Philippe , Labelle Hubert
Published: August 2022

Purpose

An inclinometer smartphone application has been developed to enable the measurement of the angle of trunk inclination (ATI) to detect trunk surface asymmetry. The objective was to determine the reliability and validity of the smartphone app in the hands of non-professionals.

Methods

Three non-professional observers and one expert surgeon measured maximum ATI twice in a study involving 69 patients seen in the spine clinics to rule out scoliosis or for regular follow-up (10-18 y.o., Cobb [0°-58°]). Observers were parents not familiar with scoliosis screening nor use of an inclinometer. They received training from a 4-minute video. Intra and inter-observer reliability was determined using the generalizability theory and validity was assessed from intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), agreement with the expert on ATI measurements using Bland-Altman analysis, and correct identification of the threshold for consultation (set to ≥6° ATI).

Results

Intra-observer and inter-observer reliability coefficients were excellent ϕ = 0.92. The standard error of measurement was 1.5° (intra-observer, 2 measurements) meaning that a parent may detect a change of 4° between examinations 95% of the time. Comparison of measurements between non-professionals and the expert resulted in ICC varying from 0.82 [0.71-0.88] to 0.84 [0.74-0.90] and agreement on the decision to consult occurred in 83 to 90% of cases.

Conclusion

The use of a smartphone app resulted in excellent reliability, sufficiently low standard error of measurement (SEM) and good validity in the hands of non-professionals. The device and the instructional video are adequate means to allow detection and regular examination of trunk asymmetries by non-professionals.
Correlation of obesity, dietary patterns, and blood pressure with uric acid: data from the NHANES 2017–2018
Authors: Yao Jia , Zhang Yuan , Zhao Jia , Lin Yu-Ping , Lu Qi-Yun , Fan Guan-Jie
Published: August 2022

Background

Prevalence rates of hyperuricemia and gout are increasing. Clinical investigations of hyperuricemia-related risk factors aid in the early detection, prevention, and management of hyperuricemia and gout. Ongoing research is examining the association of obesity, dietary patterns, and blood pressure (BP) with serum uric acid (sUA).

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted based on the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The exposures included body mass index (BMI), dietary patterns, and BP. The outcome variable was sUA level. The weighted multivariate linear regression models and smooth curve fittings were used to assess the association of BMI, dietary patterns, and BP with sUA.

Results

There was a significantly positive correlation between BMI and sUA (β = 0.059, 95% CI: 0.054 to 0.064, P < 0.00001). Overweight and obese individuals had higher sUA levels than those with the normal BMI (β = 0.451, 95% CI: 0.357 to 0.546, P < 0.00001; β = 0.853, 95% CI: 0.760 to 0.946, P < 0.00001; respectively). Dietary energy intake was positively correlated with sUA (β = 0.000, 95% CI: 0.000 to 0.000, P = 0.01057). Dietary intake of carbohydrate and fiber were negatively correlated with sUA (β = − 0.001, 95% CI: − 0.002 to − 0.000, P < 0.00001; β = − 0.008, 95% CI: − 0.011 to − 0.004, P = 0.00001; respectively). Moreover, systolic BP was positively correlated with sUA (β = 0.006, 95% CI: 0.003 to 0.009, P = 0.00002). However, no statistical differences were found about the associations of dietary intake of total sugars, protein, total fat, cholesterol, and diastolic BP with sUA.

Conclusions

The current cross-sectional investigation of a nationally representative sample of US participants showed that BMI, dietary energy intake, and systolic BP were positively correlated with sUA levels; dietary carbohydrate and fiber intake were negatively correlated with sUA levels. The findings might be helpful for the management and treatment of hyperuricemia and gout.