bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pet Parenting in the United States: Investigating an Evolutionary Puzzle
Authors: Volsche Shelly
Published: September 2021

Fertility rates continue to decline globally amidst the second demographic transition, marked by urbanization, increased educational attainment, and most importantly, a new flexibility in life-course organization. As a result, some individuals are choosing to bring companion animals in the home rather than raising children. Purpose The purpose of this study is to explore whether these transitions result in differential companion animal attachment and caregiving behavior in the homes of parents (or those who desire to become parents) and nonparents or childfree “pet parents.” Methods A total of 917 respondents completed an online survey via Qualtrics that included demographic questions, the Lexington Attachment to Pets Scale (LAPS), and Likert-scale questions designed to probe direct and indirect caretaking behaviors. Results Nonparents reported more Generalized Attachment and more Affective Responsiveness to their companion animals, as well as increased investment in General Care. They also reported more People Substituting on the LAPS. Parents and nonparents reported similar agreement regarding Animal Rights/Welfare and Training and Play. Conclusion I conclude that nonparents' investment in companion animals much like parents invest in children, but in ways that meet species-specific needs. This supports the notion that nonparents may be nurturing companion animals as a trade-off to raising children, but not as a substitute. This is an evolutionarily novel application of parenting strategies in a new, flexible environment.
E-nside Off-the-Shelf Inner Branch Stent Graft: Technical Aspects of Planning and Implantation
Authors: Zimmermann Alexander , Menges Anna-Leonie , Rancic Zoran , Meuli Lorenz , Dueppers Philip , Reutersberg Benedikt
Published: September 2021

Purpose

This article aims to present all aspects regarding patient selection, planning, and implantation technique for a new off-the-shelf pre-cannulated multi-inner branch stent graft. The stent graft comes in 4 different versions with proximal diameters of 33 and 38 mm and distal diameters of 26 and 30 mm. The 4 inner branches are located in the middle segment, which has a diameter of 24 mm.

Technique

With inner branch technology, the field of application for the treatment of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms (TAAA) has been further extended. In addition to routine use in elective cases the pre-cannulation of the inner branches predisposes especially for emergencies. Pre-cannulation is intended to reduce the time to cannulation and the radiation dose. All steps of planning, stent-graft deployment, and cannulation of the inner branches are described in detail.

Conclusion

The E-nside stent graft represents a promising new endovascular therapy in the treatment of acute and elective TAAA. By using inner branch technology, this endograft combines the advantages of fenestrated and branched stent grafts. Indication, planning, and implantation require experience in branched and fenestrated stent graft technology.
Improved Outcomes with Induction Chemotherapy Combined with Arsenic Trioxide in Stage 4 Neuroblastoma: A Case Series
Authors: Li Yang , Feng Chuchu , Chen Yantao , Huang Ke , Li Chunmou , Xiong Xilin , Li Peng , Zhou Dunhua , Peng Xiaomin , Weng Wenjun , Deng Xiaogeng , Wu Yaohao , Fang Jianpei
Published: September 2021

Objective: The apoptotic and cytotoxic effects of arsenic trioxide (ATO) makes it a potentially suitable agent for the treatment of patients with neuroblastoma with poor prognosis; therefore, we try to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of ATO combined with reinduction/induction chemotherapy in children with recurrent/refractory or newly diagnosed stage 4 neuroblastoma. Methods: Retrospective analysis was performed on seven pediatric patients with recurrent /refractory or newly diagnosed stage 4 neuroblastoma treated with traditional reinduction/induction chemotherapy combined with ATO. Results: A total of 7 patients were treated synchronously with ATO and chemotherapy for up to nine courses; all patients received conventional chemotherapy plus a 0.16 mg/kg/day dose of intravenous ATO during reinduction/induction chemotherapy. Treatment was effective in five patients and ineffective in the other two patients. The overall response rate was 71.43% (5 of 7). The side effects of the ATO combination were minor, whereby only treatment in one patient was terminated at the sixth course due to a prolonged QT interval (0.51 s), which returned to normal after symptomatic treatment. Conclusions: ATO can be safely and effectively combined with chemotherapy drugs as a potential alternative means of treatment for high-risk stage 4 neuroblastoma, and we have observed that ATO can restore the sensitivity of chemotherapy in some patients who were resistant to previous chemotherapy. Further investigations and clinical data are required to confirm these observations.
Adaptive opaque façades and their potential to reduce thermal energy use in residential buildings: A simulation-based evaluation
Authors: Juaristi Miren , Favoino Fabio , Gómez-Acebo Tomás , Monge-Barrio Aurora
Published: September 2021

Adaptive façades are a promising choice to achieve comfortable low-energy buildings. Their effective performance is highly dependent on the local boundary conditions of each application and on the way the dynamic properties are controlled. The evaluation of whole building performance through building performance simulation can be useful to understand the potential of different Adaptive opaque façades (AOF) in a specific context. This paper evaluates through dynamic simulations promising design solutions of AOF for a residential building use in six different climates. It quantifies the total delivered thermal energy of 15 typologies of AOFs which consist of alternative adaptation strategies: (i) variation of solar absorptance of the cladding, (ii) variation of the convective heat transfer of air cavities and (iii) adaptive insulation strategies. For the first time, it also quantifies the performance of AOF which combine more than one adaptation strategy. The results show that the variation of the heat transfer by means of Adaptive Insulation components has the most significant impact on the reduction of the thermal energy use. The variation of the solar absorptance has also a significant positive impact when reducing heating consumption, but only if this adaptation strategy is actively controlled and combined with Adaptive Insulation components.
A multicenter survey on the aspects of everyday life in adult patients with primary antibody deficiencies treated with immunoglobulin G replacement during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Napiórkowska-Baran Katarzyna , Rosada Tomasz , Więsik-Szewczyk Ewa , Ziętkiewicz Marcin , Matyja-Bednarczyk Aleksandra , Baranowska Karolina , Alska Ewa , Tykwińska Marta , Szynkiewicz Ewa , Zacniewski Robert , Grochowalska Kinga , Bartuzi Zbigniew
Published: September 2021

Introduction

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed many aspects of everyday life. Patients with primary immunodeficiency (PID) are in a particularly difficult situation. The purpose of the present study was to contribute to the very limited research on the everyday aspects of functioning in PID patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

The survey included 85 adult PID patients treated with immunoglobulin replacement therapy in four reference centers for immunology. Everyday functioning of the patients as well as their opinion concerning new solutions in medical care were analyzed.

Results

During the pandemic, the percentage of patients experiencing fear/anxiety has increased from 47% to 70%. The wide dissemination of information about the SARS-CoV-2 in the media has increased anxiety in 40% of the patients. Patients diagnosed with PID were most afraid of the exposure to contact with strangers, especially in public places. As many as 67 respondents (79%) considered the introduction of restrictions concerning social functioning as good. Only every fifth person learned about the pandemic from reliable sources. Eighty three percent of the patients receiving immunoglobulin substitution experienced less fear of SARS-CoV-2 infection. The patients positively evaluated the solutions related to the direct delivery of drugs to the place of residence in order to continue home IgRT therapy. Fifty three respondents (62.5%) believed that the possibility of a remote consultation was a very good solution.

Conclusion

It is necessary to increase educational activities concerning the pandemic provided by health care professionals, as patients obtain information mainly from the media and the Internet, which adversely affects the feeling of anxiety. The pandemic, in addition to the very negative impact on patients and the deterioration of their daily functioning, has made patients appreciate their life more, devote more time to family and friends, and do things they like.
International Variability in Spinal Metastasis Treatment: A Survey of the AO Spine Community
Authors: Pennington Zach , Porras Jose L. , Larry Lo Sheng-Fu , Sciubba Daniel M.
Published: September 2021

Study Design

International survey.

Objectives

To assess variability in the treatment practices for spinal metastases as a function of practice setting, surgical specialty, and fellowship training among an international group of spine surgeons.

Methods

An anonymous internet-based survey was disseminated to the AO Spine membership. The questionnaire contained items on practice settings, fellowship training, indications used for spinal metastasis surgery, surgical strategies, multidisciplinary team use, and postoperative follow-up priorities and practice.

Results

341 gave complete responses to the survey with 76.3% identifying spinal oncology as a practice focus and 95.6% treating spinal metastases. 80% use the Spinal Instability Neoplastic Score (SINS) to guide instrumentation decision-making and 60.7% recruit multidisciplinary teams for some or all cases. Priorities for postoperative follow-up are adjuvant radiotherapy (80.9%) and systemic therapy (74.8%). Most schedule first follow-up within 6 weeks of surgery (62.2%). Significant response heterogeneity was seen when stratifying by practice in an academic or university-affiliated center, practice in a cancer center, completion of a spine oncology fellowship, and self-identification as a tumor specialist. Respondents belonging to any of these categories were more likely to utilize SINS ( P < .01-.02), recruit assistance from plastic surgeons (all P < .01), and incorporate radiation oncologists in postoperative care ( P < .01-.03).

Conclusions

The largest variability in practice strategies is based upon practice setting, spine tumor specialization, and completion of a spine oncology fellowship. These respondents were more likely to use evidenced-based practices. However, the response variability indicates the need for consensus building, particularly for postoperative spine metastasis care pathways and multidisciplinary team use.
A Study of United Missions and Interboard Committees
Authors: Noren Loren E.
Published: September 2021

The Reverend Loren E. Noren is a missionary of the American Baptist Foreign Mission Societies, stationed in Kong Kong. He was educated at Ottawa University in Kansas and at Andover-Newton Theological School in Massachusetts. He served in Swatow, China, from 1946 to 1952 and has been Secretary. Treasurer of the American Baptist Mission in Hong Kong since 1954.

When the Missionary Research Library was asked to undertake research for appraisal of various cooperative efforts in foreign missions, an Advisory Committee for the Study of United Missions ana Interboard Agencies was set up, with Dr. Barnerd M. Luben, then Executive Secretary of the Board for the Christian World Mission of the Reformed Church in America, as chairman. Mr, Noren, on furlough, was asked to conduct this research, under the supervision of the Advisory Committee, the Missionary Research Library, and the faculty of Union Theological Seminary. The study was accepted in partial fulfillment of requirements for the S.T.M. degree at Union Seminary. It has been published by the Missionary Research Library under the some title as that of this Occasional Bulletin. It is available at a price of $1,50, postage included.

The terms used, new to the modern missionary endeavor and unique to the American undertakings in mission, reflect a similar approach to a united effort but with differences arising out of historical situations. The “United Mission” represents an instrument by which several denominational mission boards Join in initiating and carrying on missionary work in newer territory with a view to providing from the outset a united evangelical witness. The “Interboard Committee” represents a technique by which several denominational mission agencies undertake cooperative administration of work in situations where indigenous churches, once related to the mission-supporting denominations, are already united into a single church. Few even among those acquainted with missions are aware of the thrilling and pioneering character of these approaches to the fulfillment of the missionary obligation. Therefore we are happy to present a summary of Mr. Noren's study.
The Study of Missions in its Scientific Aspect (Missionswissenschaft als Wissenschaft)
Authors: Rosenkranz D. Gerhard
Published: September 2021

As the Anglo-American world in particular employed “partners in obedience”, the meaningful expression coined at the 1947 International Missionary Council meeting in Whitby, Canada, in a purely pragmatic sense, so the more recent expression, “Joint Action for Mission”, is now being employed. The Christian world mission still awaits not only an adequate theology for mission, but even those who are fitted to provide such a theology. The following Memorandum presented by Professor Rosenkranz in 1956 is therefore published herewith as a stimulus to that end. Seven years later we are still faced with what Doctor Rosenkranz said about the start given to the science of missions by Gustav Warneck: “Yet… attention remained, intelligibly enough, so consistently directed towards the object of missionary study, namely mission itself and its continually changing world of problems, that the questions concerning its theoretical basis as a theological discipline faded into the background.
Reflections on Christian Mission - A Third World Perspective
Authors: George Poikail J.
Published: September 2021

Discussions on Christian mission, the whence and where of it, are nothing new. They have been going on for decades. New terms have been created, catch-words given currency and predictions made about the impending demise of the whole missionary enterprise. This particular Bulletin in the past carried several articles which are quite enlightening so that some one might question the need for another piece on Christian Mission. The only difference this essay claims is that it comes from the perspective of one of the “missioned” rather than the “missioner” as it often comes to us. Also some of the new dynamism of what is often called the “third world” pro vides the context for some of the reflections, affirmations and conclusions. This essay will state some basic convictions, reflect on the fundamental Christological question and illustrate the need to understand the context of mission.
Single-route CNS prophylaxis for aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphomas: real-world outcomes from 21 US academic institutions
Authors: Orellana-Noia Victor Manuel , Reed Daniel R. , McCook Ashley Alesia , Sen Jeremy Michael , Barlow Christian M. , Malecek Mary-Kate , Watkins Marcus , Kahl Brad S. , Spinner Michael A. , Advani Ranjana , Voorhees Timothy J. , Snow Anson , Grover Natalie Sophia , Ayers Amy , Romancik Jason , Liu Yuxin , Huntington Scott F. , Chavez Julio C. , Saeed Hayder , Lazaryan Aleksandr , Raghunathan Vikram , Spurgeon Stephen E. , Ollila Thomas A. , Del Prete Christopher , Olszewski Adam , Ayers Emily C. , Landsburg Daniel J. , Echalier Benjamin , Lee Jun , Kamdar Manali , Caimi Paolo F. , Fu Timothy , Liu Jieqi , David Kevin A. , Alharthy Hanan , Law Jennie , Karmali Reem , Shah Harsh , Stephens Deborah M. , Major Ajay , Rojek Alexandra E. , Smith Sonali M. , Yellala Amulya , Kallam Avyakta , Nakhoda Shazi , Khan Nadia , Sohail Mohammad Ahsan , Hill Brian T. , Barrett-Campbell Odeth , Lansigan Frederick , Switchenko Jeffrey , Cohen Jonathon , Portell Craig A.
Published: September 2021

Prophylaxis is commonly used to prevent central nervous sy stem (CNS) relapse in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), with no clear standard of care. We retrospectively evaluated 1162 adult patients across 21 US academic centers with DLBCL or similar histologies who received single-route CNS prophylaxis as part of frontline therapy between 2013 and 2019. Prophylaxis was administered intrathecally(IT) in 894 (77%) and using systemic high-dose methotrexate (HD-MTX) in 236 (20%); 32 patients (3%) switched route due to toxicity and were assessed separately. By CNS-International Prognostic Index (IPI), 18% were considered low-risk, 51% moderate, and 30% high. Double-hit lymphoma (DHL) was confirmed in 243 of 866 evaluable patients (21%). Sixty-four patients (5.7%) had CNS relapse after median 7.1 months from diagnosis, including 15 of 64 (23%) within the first 6 months. There was no significant difference in CNS relapse between IT and HD-MTX recipients (5.4% vs 6.8%, P = .4), including after propensity score matching to account for differences between respective recipient groups. Weighting by CNS-IPI, expected vs observed CNS relapse rates were nearly identical (5.8% vs 5.7%). Testicular involvement was associated with high risk of CNS relapse (11.3%) despite most having lower CNS-IPI scores. DHL did not significantly predict for CNS relapse after single-route prophylaxis, including with adjustment for treatment regimen and other factors. This large study of CNS prophylaxis recipients with DLBCL found no significant difference in CNS relapse rates between routes of administration. Relapse rates among high-risk subgroups remain elevated, and reconsideration of prophylaxis strategies in DLBCL is of critical need.
Autologous transplant vs chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy for relapsed DLBCL in partial remission
Authors: Shadman Mazyar , Pasquini Marcelo , Ahn Kwang Woo , Chen Yue , Turtle Cameron J. , Hematti Peiman , Cohen Jonathon B. , Khimani Farhad , Ganguly Siddhartha , Merryman Reid W. , Yared Jean A. , Locke Frederick L. , Ahmed Nausheen , Munshi Pashna N. , Beitinjaneh Amer , Reagan Patrick M. , Herrera Alex F. , Sauter Craig S. , Kharfan-Dabaja Mohamed A. , Hamadani Mehdi
Published: September 2021

The relative efficacy of autologous hematopoietic cell transplant (auto-HCT) vs chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) who achieve a partial remission (PR) after salvage chemotherapy is not known. Using the Center for International Blood & Marrow Transplant Research registry database, we identified adult patients with DLBCL who received either an auto-HCT (2013-2019) or CAR-T treatment with axicabtagene ciloleucel (2018-2019) while in a PR by computed tomography or positron emission tomography scan. We compared the clinical outcomes between the 2 cohorts using univariable and multivariable regression models after adjustment for relevant baseline and clinical factors. In the univariable analysis, the 2-year progression-free survival (52% vs 42%; P = .1) and the rate of 100-day nonrelapse mortality (4% vs 2%; P = .3) were not different between the 2 cohorts, but consolidation with auto-HCT was associated with a lower rate of relapse/progression (40% vs 53%; P = .05) and a superior overall survival (OS) (69% vs 47%; P = .004) at 2 years. In the multivariable regression analysis, treatment with auto-HCT was associated with a significantly lower risk of relapse/progression rate (hazard ratio = 1.49; P = .01) and a superior OS (hazard ratio = 1.63; P = .008). In patients with DLBCL in a PR after salvage therapy, treatment with auto-HCT was associated with a lower incidence of relapse and a superior OS compared with CAR-T. These data support the role of auto-HCT as the standard of care in transplant-eligible patients with relapsed DLBCL in PR after salvage therapy.
Follicular lymphoma and macrophages: impact of approved and novel therapies
Authors: Gouni Sushanth , Marques-Piubelli Mario L. , Strati Paolo
Published: September 2021

The survival and proliferation of follicular lymphoma (FL) cells are strongly dependent on macrophages, because their presence is necessary for the propagation of FL cells in vitro. To this regard, as also shown for the majority of solid tumors, a high tissue content of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), particularly if showing a protumoral phenotype (also called M2), is strongly associated with a poor outcome among patients with FL treated with chemotherapy. The introduction of rituximab, an anti-CD20 antibody that can be used by TAMs to facilitate antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity and antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis, has challenged this paradigm. In the rituximab era, clinical studies have yielded conflicting results in FL, showing variable outcomes based on the type of regimen used. This highlighted, for the first time, that the impact of TAMs on the prognosis of patients with FL may depend on the administered treatment, emphasizing the need to better understand how currently available therapies affect macrophage function in FL. We summarize the impact of approved and novel therapies for FL, including radiation therapy, chemotherapy, anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies, lenalidomide, and targeted agents, on the biology of TAMs and describe their effects on macrophage phagocytosis, polarization, and function. Although novel agents targeting the CD47/SIRPα axis are being developed and show promising activity in FL, a deeper understanding of macrophage biology and their complex pathways will help to develop novel and safer therapeutic strategies for patients with this type of lymphoma.
What can student-generated animations tell us about students’ conceptions of evolution?
Authors: Orraryd Daniel , Tibell Lena A. E.
Published: September 2021

Background

A large body of research has investigated students’ conceptions of evolutionary changes and emphasizes that students have alternative conceptions about their causes. A conventional way to monitor students’ conceptions is through inventories where researchers analyse their written answers. However, textbooks are being increasingly complemented with, or even replaced by, various multimedia materials where multiple modes are used to communicate evolutionary processes. This has profound implications for students’ learning, and highlights that allowing different modes of expression may influence which knowledge they present. Therefore, the goal of this exploratory study is to expand the understanding of students’ conceptions of evolution through natural selection by applying student-generated stop-motion animations to reveal their conceptions. Forty-seven Swedish upper secondary school students generated 18 animations concerning evolution through natural selection. We analysed these animations qualitatively using content analysis to reveal key concepts, alternative conceptions and connections between organizational levels and time. This analysis is related to findings from previous studies on students’ conceptions of evolutionary change.

Results

Our study highlights some of the benefits and limitations of using these two assessment methods. In terms of identifying alternative conceptions, a clear difference between the results of the two methods of assessment was observed. In particular, the alternative conception of essentialism appeared to a lesser extent in the student’s animations than in their written responses, while natural selection as an event was more prevalent.

Conclusions

These findings support the view that students’ expression of different misconceptions is influenced by the context and representational form. The work also reveals that generating stop-motion animations to explain scientific concepts is an engaging approach that stimulates students to explore their understanding in a creative and personal manner. This is potentially positive for engagement and learning. The potential for complementing standard paper-and-pen tests with tasks that encompass stop-motion animations is also discussed.
Improving structural variant clustering to reduce the negative effect of the breakpoint uncertainty problem
Authors: Geryk Jan , Zinkova Alzbeta , Zedníková Iveta , Simková Halina , Stenzl Vlastimil , Korabecna Marie
Published: September 2021

Background

Structural variants (SVs) represent an important source of genetic variation. One of the most critical problems in their detection is breakpoint uncertainty associated with the inability to determine their exact genomic position. Breakpoint uncertainty is a characteristic issue of structural variants detected via short-read sequencing methods and complicates subsequent population analyses. The commonly used heuristic strategy reduces this issue by clustering/merging nearby structural variants of the same type before the data from individual samples are merged.

Results

We compared the two most used dissimilarity measures for SV clustering in terms of Mendelian inheritance errors (MIE), kinship prediction, and deviation from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. We analyzed the occurrence of Mendelian-inconsistent SV clusters that can be collapsed into one Mendelian-consistent SV as a new measure of dataset consistency. We also developed a new method based on constrained clustering that explicitly identifies these types of clusters.

Conclusions

We found that the dissimilarity measure based on the distance between SVs breakpoints produces slightly better results than the measure based on SVs overlap. This difference is evident in trivial and corrected clustering strategy, but not in constrained clustering strategy. However, constrained clustering strategy provided the best results in all aspects, regardless of the dissimilarity measure used.
Enumeration and comprehensive in-silico modeling of three-helix bundle structures composed of typical αα-hairpins
Authors: Sakuma Koya , Minami Shintaro
Published: September 2021

Background

The design of protein structures from scratch requires special attention to the combination of the types and lengths of the secondary structures and the loops required to build highly designable backbone structure models. However, it is difficult to predict the combinations that result in globular and protein-like conformations without simulations. In this study, we used single-chain three-helix bundles as simple models of protein tertiary structures and sought to thoroughly investigate the conditions required to construct them, starting from the identification of the typical αα-hairpin motifs.

Results

First, by statistical analysis of naturally occurring protein structures, we identified three αα-hairpins motifs that were specifically related to the left- and right-handedness of helix-helix packing. Second, specifying these αα-hairpins motifs as junctions, we performed sequence-independent backbone-building simulations to comparatively build single-chain three-helix bundle structures and identified the promising combinations of the length of the α-helix and αα-hairpins types that results in tight packing between the first and third α-helices. Third, using those single-chain three-helix bundle backbone structures as template structures, we designed amino acid sequences that were predicted to fold into the target topologies, which supports that the compact single-chain three-helix bundles structures that we sampled show sufficient quality to allow amino-acid sequence design.

Conclusion

The enumeration of the dominant subsets of possible backbone structures for small single-chain three-helical bundle topologies revealed that the compact foldable structures are discontinuously and sparsely distributed in the conformational space. Additionally, although the designs have not been experimentally validated in the present research, the comprehensive set of computational structural models generated also offers protein designers the opportunity to skip building similar structures by themselves and enables them to quickly focus on building specialized designs using the prebuilt structure models. The backbone and best design models in this study are publicly accessible from the following URL: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4321632.
Female developmental environment delays development of male honeybee (Apis mellifera)
Authors: Liu Yi Bo , Yi Yao , Abdelmawla Amal , Zheng Yun Lin , Zeng Zhi Jiang , He Xu Jiang
Published: September 2021

Background

Nutrition and cell size play an important role in the determination of caste differentiation in queen and worker of honeybees (Apis mellifera), whereas the haploid genome dominates the differentiation of drones. However, the effects of female developmental environment on the development of males remain unclear. In this study, young drone larvae were transferred into worker cells (WCs) or remained in drone cells (DCs) to rear drones. The drone larvae were also grafted into queen cells (QCs) for 48 h and then transplanted into drone cells until emerging. Morphological indexes and reproductive organs of these three types of newly emerged drones were measured. Newly emerged drones and third instar drone larvae from WCs, DCs and QCs were sequenced by RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq).

Results

The amount of food remaining in cells of the QC and WC groups was significantly different to that in the DC group at the early larval stage. Morphological results showed that newly emerged DC drones had bigger body sizes and more well-developed reproductive tissues than WC and QC drones, whereas the reproductive tissues of QC drones were larger than those of WC drones. Additionally, whole body gene expression results showed a clear difference among three groups. At larval stage there were 889, 1761 and 1927 significantly differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in WC/DC, QC/DC and WC/QC comparisons, respectively. The number of DEGs decreased in adult drones of these three comparisons [678 (WC/DC), 338 (QC/DC) and 518 (WC/QC)]. A high number of DEGs were involved in sex differentiation, growth, olfaction, vision, mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), Wnt signaling pathways, and other processes.

Conclusions

This study demonstrated that the developmental environment of honeybee females can delay male development, which may serve as a model for understanding the regulation of sex differentiation and male development in social insects by environmental factors.
The association of social frailty with intrinsic capacity in community-dwelling older adults: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Huang Chi Hsien , Okada Kiwako , Matsushita Eiji , Uno Chiharu , Satake Shosuke , Martins Beatriz Arakawa , Kuzuya Masafumi
Published: September 2021

Background

Social frailty is associated with poor health outcomes; however, its effects on healthy aging indicators have not been adequately investigated. This study assessed the longitudinal association between social frailty and the intrinsic capacity of community-dwelling older adults.

Methods

A total of 663 participants (56.7% women) aged ≥60 years from in Nagoya, Japan, were included in the study. The first measurement occurred in 2014, and annual follow-ups occurred until 2017. Social frailty was determined based on four items: financial difficulty, household status, social activity, and regular contact with others. A deficit score of 0 represented social robustness, 1 represented social prefrailty, and ≥ 2 represented social frailty. Intrinsic capacity was evaluated by the locomotion, cognition, psychological function, vitality, and sensory function domains. The longitudinal association was analyzed using generalized estimating equations.

Results

The prevalence of social prefrailty and social frailty at baseline was 31.2 and 6.3%, respectively. The social prefrailty group (β = − 0.132, P < 0.001) and social frailty group (β = − 0.258, P < 0.001) were associated with a greater reduction in the composite intrinsic capacity scores than the social robustness group, especially in the cognition, psychological function, and vitality domains. Men with social prefrailty/social frailty demonstrated a greater decrease in the psychological function domain score (− 0.512 vs. − 0.278) than women. Additionally, the cognition domain score only decreased in men in the social prefrailty/social frailty group (β = − 0.122, P = 0.016).

Conclusions

Social frailty was associated with intrinsic capacity and its subdomains longitudinally. Men with social frailty were more vulnerable than women to a decline in their psychological function and cognition domains. Therefore, the advanced management of social frailty is necessary to facilitate healthy aging.
The intersectional effects of ethnicity/race and poverty on health among community-dwelling older adults within multi-ethnic Asian populace: a population-based study
Authors: Foong Hui Foh , Hamid Tengku Aizan , Ibrahim Rahimah , Haron Sharifah Azizah
Published: September 2021

Background

Ethnicity/race and poverty are among determinants of health in older persons. However, studies involving intersectional effects of ethnicity/race and poverty on health of older adults within multi-ethnic Asian populace is limited. Hence, this study aimed to examine the intersectional effects of ethnicity/race and poverty on cognitive function, depressive symptoms, and multimorbidity among community-dwelling older adults in Malaysia.

Methods

Data were obtained from the first wave of a Peninsular Malaysia national survey - “Identifying Psychosocial and Identifying Economic Risk Factor of Cognitive Impairment among Elderly”. Log-binomial regression was used to identify intersectional effects and associations between control variables and health outcomes. A comparison between Malay and non-Malay older adults within the same poverty group, as well as hardcore poor and non-hardcore poor older people within the same ethnicity groups, were conducted to understand the intersectional effects of ethnicity/race and poverty on health.

Results

Prevalence of cognitive impairment was highest among hardcore poor Malay group, while the risk of depression and multimorbidity were highest among hardcore poor non-Malays. In the hardcore poor group, Malay ethnicity was associated with higher prevalence of cognitive impairment but lower prevalence of depression risk and multimorbidity. In the Malay group, hardcore poor was associated with higher prevalence of cognitive impairment; however, no association was found between hardcore poor with depression risk and multimorbidity after controlling for covariates.

Conclusions

Health outcomes of Malaysian older adults differ according to ethnicity and socioeconomic status. Given the importance of demographic characteristics on health outcomes, design of interventions targeting older adults within multi-ethnic settings must address specific characteristics, especially that of ethnicity and sociodemographic status so as to fulfil their needs. Several implications for future practice were discussed.
Usefulness of convalescent plasma transfusion for the treatment of severely ill COVID-19 patients in Pakistan
Authors: Khan Tehmina Nafees Sonia , Mukry Samina Naz , Masood Shahtaj , Meraj Lubna , Devrajani Bikha Ram , Akram Javed , Fatima Naveena , Maqsood Sidra , Mahesar Ayesha , Siddiqui Roomana , Ishaque Sadia , Afzal Muhammad Bilal , Mukhtar Sanam , Ahmed Sara , Naz Arshi , Shamsi Tahir Sultan
Published: September 2021

Background

Convalescent plasma(CP) was utilized as potential therapy during COVID-19 pandemic in Pakistan. The study aimed at appraisal of CP transfusion safety and usefulness in COVID pneumonia.

Methods

Single arm, MEURI study design of non-randomized open label trial was conducted in five centers. Patients werecategorized as moderately severe, severe, and critical. The primary endpoint was a) improvement in clinical status and change in category of disease severity; secondary endpoint was b) CP ability to halt disease progression to invasive ventilation. CP transfused to hospitalized patients. Statistical tests including median (interquartile ranges), Mann-Whitney U test, Fisher’s exact test using SPSS ver. 23, ANOVA and Chi-square test were applied for the analysis of results parameters before and after CP treatment. SOFA score was applied for multiorgan failure in severe and critical cases.

Results

A total of 50 adult patients; median age 58.5 years (range: 29–92 years) received CP with infusion titers; median 1:320 U/mL (Interquartile range 1:80–1:320) between April 4 to May 5, 2020. The median time from onset of symptoms to enrollment in trial was 3 to 7 days with shortness of breath and lung infiltration as severity criterion. In 35 (70%) recipients, oxygen saturation improved from 80 to 95% within 72h, with resolution of lung infiltrates. Primary endpoint was achieved in 44 (88%) recipients whereas secondary endpoint was achieved in 42 (84%). No patient experienced severe adverse events. A high SOFA score (> 7) correlated with deaths in severe and critical patients. Eight (16%) patients expired due to comorbidities; cardiac arrest in 2 (4%), multiorgan failure secondary to cytokine storm in 5 (10%) and ventilator associated complications in 1 (2%).

Conclusion

CP transfusion can be used as a safe and useful treatment in moderately severe and severe patients.

Trial registration

The trial registration number is NCT04352751 (https://www.irct.ir/search/result?query=IRCT20200414047072N1). Trial Registration date is 28th April 2020.
Case report: a 5-year-old with new onset nephrotic syndrome in the setting of COVID-19 infection
Authors: Morgan Kelsi M. , Imani Peace D.
Published: September 2021

Background

This is a case report of an asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection associated with new-onset nephrotic syndrome in a pediatric patient. This is the third case of new-onset nephrotic syndrome in children associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection, but is the first case report describing a new-onset nephrotic syndrome presentation in a patient who had asymptomatic COVID-19 infection.

Case presentation

This is a case of a previously healthy 5 year old female who presented with new-onset nephrotic syndrome in the setting of an asymptomatic COVID-19 infection. She presented with progressive edema, and laboratory findings were significant for proteinuria and hypercholesterolemia. She was treated with albumin, diuretics, and corticosteroid therapy, and achieved clinical remission of her nephrotic syndrome within 3 weeks of treatment. Though she was at risk of hypercoagulability due to her COVID-19 infection and nephrotic syndrome, she was not treated with anticoagulation, and did not develop any thrombotic events.

Conclusions

Our case report indicates that SARS-CoV-2 infection could be a trigger for nephrotic syndrome, even in the absence of overt COVID-19 symptoms.
Paraneoplastic sensorimotor neuropathy and ventral cauda equina nerve root enhancement as initial presentation of small cell lung carcinoma: a case study
Authors: Alsaeed Meshari , Lim Chloe A. R. , Plecash Alyson , Chen Tychicus
Published: September 2021

Background

Paraneoplastic neurologic syndromes (PNS) are rare, however, are important to recognize as oftentimes they precede the detection of an occult malignancy. Our case highlights a rare circumstance of paraneoplastic radiculoneuropathy and the importance of recognizing PNS in antibody negative disease, as is the case in up to 16% of sensory neuronopathies, and the process of excluding other etiologies.

Case presentation

We discuss a 51-year-old man who presented with asymmetric subacute sensorimotor deficits in the lower limbs. Initial clinical examination showed weakness throughout the right lower limb and normal strength on the left with objective numbness in a mixed dermatomal and stocking-glove distribution. Electrophysiology was consistent with axonal sensorimotor neuropathy. Cerebrospinal fluid showed pleocytosis and elevated protein. Intravenous immunoglobulin treatment was given with some improvement in pain symptoms but no measurable motor improvement. Following clinical and electrophysiologic deterioration the patient was transferred to a tertiary centre. Magnetic resonance imaging of the spine showed smooth enhancement of the ventral caudal nerve roots. Chest computed tomography revealed left lower vascular scarring. Further positron emission tomography scan imaging identified fluorodeoxyglucose avid right lung lymphadenopathy. Bronchoscopy-guided biopsy revealed small cell lung carcinoma. Onconeural and antiganglioside antibodies were negative. The patient was then transferred to a medical oncology ward where he underwent chemoradiotherapy and subsequently experienced improvement in his motor function, supporting that his neurological condition was indeed secondary to a paraneoplastic process.

Conclusions

Onconeural negative paraneoplastic radiculoneuropathy can precede diagnosis of small cell lung carcinoma. If considered early and adequately investigated, it can allow earlier diagnosis and treatment of underlying malignancy, improving overall and neurological prognosis.
Exploring the experience of boarded psychiatric patients in adult emergency departments
Authors: Major Daniel , Rittenbach Katherine , MacMaster Frank , Walia Hina , VandenBerg Stephanie D.
Published: September 2021

Background

This study quantifies the frequency of adverse events (AEs) experienced by psychiatric patients while boarded in the emergency department (ED) and describes those events over a broad range of categories.

Methods

A retrospective chart review (RCR) of adult psychiatric patients aged 18–55 presenting to one of four Calgary EDs (Foothills Medical Centre (FMC), the Peter Lougheed Centre (PLC), the Rockyview General Hospital (RGH), and South Health Campus (SHC)) who were subsequently admitted to an inpatient psychiatric unit between January 1, 2019 and May 15, 2019 were eligible for review. A test of association was used to determine the odds of an independent variable being associated with an adverse event.

Results

During the study time period, 1862 adult patients were admitted from EDs (city wide) to the psychiatry service. Of the 200 charts reviewed, the average boarding time was 23.5 h with an average total ED length of stay of 31 h for all presentations within the sample. Those who experienced an AE while boarded in the ED had a significantly prolonged average boarding time (35 h) compared to those who did not experience one (6.5 h) (p = 0.005).

Conclusions

The length of time a patient is in the emergency department and the length of time a patient is boarded after admission significantly increases the odds that the patient will experience an AE while in the ED. Other significant factors associated with AEs include the type of admission and the hospital the patient was admitted from.
Cancer survivors’ views on digital support for smoking cessation and alcohol moderation: a survey and qualitative study
Authors: Mujcic Ajla , Blankers Matthijs , Yildirim Dilara , Boon Brigitte , Engels Rutger
Published: September 2021

Background

Digital interventions may provide low-threshold support for smoking cessation (SC) and alcohol moderation (AM) to the growing population of cancer survivors. The objective was to explore preconditions of successful AM and SC digital interventions for cancer survivors.

Methods

Using a multi-method approach we conducted a survey (n = 240), a qualitative study consisting of four focus groups (n = 15) and semi-structured interviews with Dutch cancer survivors (n = 8). To help interpretation of our results we interviewed experts in the field of eHealth and cancer survivors (n = 6) and we organized an expert meeting (n = 7). Qualitative data were analysed using the Framework approach and were double-coded by two coders.

Results

Survey results show the majority of drinkers had not previously considered AM (n = 158, 84.9%), often because they deemed their alcohol use to be non-problematic. All current smokers in the survey had considered SC before. In focus groups and interviews it became clear that SC efforts did not always stem from their own willingness to quit smoking, but originated from a wish to please their social environment. Main themes to be addressed in digital SC and AM that emerged from the interviews and focus groups, centred on the different ways of identification as cancer survivors, need for autonomy, differential beliefs about SC and AM, and the importance of a positive, non-patronizing tone-of-voice. Several specific preferences for digital interventions were formulated, although some cancer survivors prefer no support or face-to-face contact.

Conclusions

Cancer survivors are a diverse group with diverse preferences for AM and SC support. Digital AM and SC interventions for cancer survivors are perceived to be of value by some, especially when they incorporate a positive, non-judgemental and non-patronizing tone-of-voice, address concerns specifically relevant to cancer survivors, offer possibilities for personalization, and emphasize autonomy throughout. To encourage AM specifically, problem recognition and awareness of the health benefits of AM should be improved.