bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Changes in plant multidimensional chemical diversity along a local soil chemical gradient in temperate forest swamps
Authors: Liu Xu-Yan , Hu Yu-Kun
Published: March 2022

Multiple elements are critical for plant growth and survival, community structure and vegetation function. Chemical diversity, defined as the ranges in element concentrations of plant species within communities, could provide essential insights into plant nutrient strategies and community assembly rules. However, little is known about the chemical diversity of multi-elements besides N and P, and current understanding of chemical diversity is largely based on aboveground plant traits. We investigated understory plant communities in forest swamps along a local soil chemical gradient and determined 11 major and trace elements in leaves and roots of dominant and subordinate plants. Using n-dimensional hypervolume, we examined the changes in leaf and root chemical diversity and their linkages with soil properties. Plant chemical diversity decreased significantly with soil Al, Mn, Mg and Zn concentrations, but showed no relationships with soil N, P, K, Na, and Fe concentrations, soil pH and C:N. These patterns also held after controlling for species richness and soil moisture. Furthermore, leaf and root chemical diversity was positively correlated and showed similar relationships with soil factors. Root chemical diversity was not significantly higher than leaf chemical diversity. Our results emphasized the important role of soil trace elements for plant chemical diversity along the local soil chemical gradient. Similar patterns and extent of leaf and root chemical diversity may indicate similar local-scale environmental constraint on above- and belowground plant chemical diversity. These findings have important implications for plant community assembly and ecosystem functioning influenced by soil nutrient changes.
Breast metastasis 18 years after nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma: a case report
Authors: Elouarith Ihssan , Bouhtouri Yassine , Elmajoudi Salma , Bekarsabein Salma , Ech-charif Soumaya , Khmou Mouna , Messaoudi Hamza , Mahdi Youssef , Hachi Hafid , El khannoussi Basma
Published: March 2022

Metastasis of renal clear cell carcinoma (RCC) to the breast is exceptional. Breast metastases of extra-mammary tumors are rare and usually involve melanoma, lymphoma or leukemia. We report the case of a patient with breast metastasis of renal clear cell carcinoma occurring 18 years after nephrectomy. A history of RCC should always raise suspicion about breast metastasis, a situation that remains exceptional and whose diagnosis relies on anatomopathology.
Spontaneous rupture of spleen in a patient with COVID-19 disease: case report and review of the literature
Authors: Trabulsi Nora H , Alshammakh Sonds S , Shabkah Alaa A , Aladawi Mohannad , Farsi Ali H
Published: March 2022

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been associated with multisystemic complications and thrombotic events including pulmonary embolism and deep venous thrombosis. Splenic rupture has been recently reported as a complication in patients with COVID-19, however, the number of cases is limited and the mechanism is still not clearly understood. We present a case of spontaneous splenic rupture secondary to COVID-19 disease.
The Corpus of Contemporary Czech Poetry: A database for research on contemporary poetic language across media
Authors: Škrabal Michal , Piorecký Karel
Published: March 2022

Our article reports on the emerging Corpus of Contemporary Czech Poetry and the possibilities for its use. We describe the genesis of the idea of creating a specific corpus that combines the principles of synchronicity and genre instead of relying on the presence of poetry in the general corpus of contemporary Czech. We also characterize the structure of our corpus, which is designed to cover both of the basic media areas in which contemporary poetry is published and distributed: either in books or through open publishing platforms on the Internet (literary forums). We additionally describe the functionalities of the tools for mining the corpus data, which are designed to easily serve comparative analyses across media (print/web). We suggest how useful quantitative data analysis can be in the first phase of language-oriented literary research; or rather we point out the necessity of combining quantitative and qualitative approaches. Only the researcher’s interpretative proficiency can decide on the boundaries of the field under study and the meaning of the elements present in it. In text-centred analyses, language corpora should start to play a similar role as other tools of scientific infrastructure, such as bibliographic databases.
SPLASH: the Southern Parkes Large-Area Survey in Hydroxyl – data description and release
Authors: Dawson J R , Jones P A , Purcell C , Walsh A J , Breen S L , Brown C , Carretti E , Cunningham M R , Dickey J M , Ellingsen S P , Gibson S J , Gómez J F , Green J A , Imai H , Krishnan V , Lo N , Lowe V , Marquarding M , McClure-Griffiths N M
Published: March 2022

We present the full data release for the Southern Parkes Large-Area Survey in Hydroxyl (SPLASH), a sensitive, unbiased single-dish survey of the Southern Galactic Plane in all four ground-state transitions of the OH radical at 1612, 1665, 1667, and 1720 MHz. The survey covers the inner Galactic Plane, Central Molecular Zone, and Galactic Centre over the range |b| < 2°, 332$^{\circ }\, \lt l \lt $ 10°, with a small extension between 2$^{\circ }\, \lt b \lt $ 6°, 358$^{\circ }\, \lt l \lt $ 4°. SPLASH is the most sensitive large-scale survey of OH to-date, reaching a characteristic root-mean-square sensitivity of ∼15 mK for an effective velocity resolution of ∼0.9 km s−1. The spectral line datacubes are optimized for the analysis of extended, quasi-thermal OH, but also contain numerous maser sources, which have been confirmed interferometrically and published elsewhere. We also present radio continuum images at 1612, 1666, and 1720 MHz. Based on initial comparisons with 12CO(J = 1–0), we find that OH rarely extends outside CO cloud boundaries in our data, but suggest that large variations in CO-to-OH brightness temperature ratios may reflect differences in the total gas column density traced by each. Column density estimation in the complex, continuum-bright Inner Galaxy is a challenge, and we demonstrate how failure to appropriately model sub-beam structure and the line-of-sight source distribution can lead to order-of-magnitude errors. Anomalous excitation of the 1612 and 1720 MHz satellite lines is ubiquitous in the inner Galaxy, but is disabled by line overlap in and around the Central Molecular Zone.
Non-local thermal equilibrium spectra of atmospheric molecules for exoplanets
Authors: Wright Sam O M , Waldmann Ingo , Yurchenko Sergei N
Published: March 2022

Here we present a study of non-local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE) effects on the exoplanetary spectra of a collection of molecules that are key in the investigation of exoplanet atmospheres: water, methane, carbon monoxide, and titanium oxide. These molecules are chosen as examples of different spectral ranges (infrared and ultraviolet), molecular types (diatomics and polyatomics), and spectral types (electronic and rovibrational); the importance of different vibrational bands in forming distinct non-LTE spectral features is investigated. Most notably, such key spectral signatures for distinguishing between the LTE and non-LTE cases include: for CH4 the 3.15 $\mu$m band region; for H2O the 2.0 and 2.7 $\mu$m band regions; for TiO, a strong variation in intensity in the bands between 0.5 and 0.75 $\mu$m; and a sole CO signature between 5 and 6 $\mu$m. The analysis is based on the ExoMol cross-sections and takes advantage of the extensive vibrational assignment of these molecular line lists in the ExoMol data base. We examine LTE and non-LTE cross-sections under conditions consistent with those on WASP-12b and WASP-76b using the empirically motivated bi-temperature Treanor model.
Circularly polarized radio emission from the repeating fast radio burst source FRB 20201124A
Authors: Kumar P , Shannon R M , Lower M E , Bhandari S , Deller A T , Flynn C , Keane E F
Published: March 2022

The mechanism that produces fast radio burst (FRB) emission is poorly understood. Targeted monitoring of repeating FRB sources provides the opportunity to fully characterize the emission properties in a manner impossible with one-off bursts. Here, we report observations of the source of FRB 20201124A, with the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP) and the ultra-wideband low (UWL) receiver at the Parkes 64-m radio telescope (Murriyang). The source entered a period of emitting bright bursts during early 2021 April. We have detected 16 bursts from this source. One of the bursts detected with ASKAP is the brightest burst ever observed from a repeating FRB source with an inferred fluence of 640 ± 70 Jy ms. Of the five bursts detected with the Parkes UWL, none display any emission in the range 1.1–4 GHz. All UWL bursts are highly polarized, with their Faraday rotation measures (RMs) showing apparent variations. We obtain an average RM of −614 rad m−2 for this FRB source with a standard deviation of 16 rad m−2 in the UWL bursts. In one of the UWL bursts, we see evidence of significant circularly polarized emission with a fractional extent of 47 ± 1 per cent. Such a high degree of circular polarization has never been seen before in bursts from repeating FRB sources. We also see evidence for significant variation in the linear polarization position angle in the pulse profile of this UWL repeat burst. Models for repeat burst emission will need to account for the increasing diversity in the burst polarization properties.
Externally driven plasma models as candidates for pulsar radio emission
Authors: Rahaman Sk Minhajur , Mitra Dipanjan , Melikidze George I
Published: March 2022

Coherent radio emission from pulsars originates from excited plasma waves in an ultra-relativistic and strongly magnetized electron–positron pair plasma streaming along the open magnetic field lines of the pulsar. Traditional coherent radio emission models have relied on instabilities in this pair plasma. Recently, alternative models have been suggested. These models appeal to direct coupling of the external electromagnetic field to the superluminal O-mode (lt2 mode) during the time-dependent pair cascade process at the polar gap. The objective of this work is to provide generic constraints on plasma models based on lt2 mode using realistic pulsar parameters. We find that the very short time-scale associated with pair cascades does not allow lt2 mode to be excited at radio frequencies and the impulsive energy transfer can only increase the kinetic spread (‘temperature’) of the pair plasma particles. Moreover, under homogeneous plasma conditions, plasma waves on both branches of O mode (i.e. superluminal lt2 and subluminal lt1) cannot escape the plasma. In the strongly magnetized pair plasma, only the extraordinary mode (t mode) can escape freely. We show that any generic fictitious mechanisms do not result in the wave electric field of t mode to have predominant orientation either parallel or perpendicular to the magnetic field plane as observed. Such fictitious mechanisms will inevitably lead to depolarization of signals and cannot account for the highly polarized single pulses observed in pulsars. We suggest coherent curvature radiation as a promising candidate for pulsar radio emission mechanism.
A case of mixed connective tissue disease complicated by pulmonary hypertension and ascites after addition of pulmonary vasodilators
Authors: Kusaka Katsuhide , Nakano Kazuhisa , Fukuyo Shunsuke , Miyazaki Yusuke , Matsunaga Satsuki , Tanaka Yoshiya
Published: March 2022

We present the case of a 54-year-old woman with a long history of pulmonary hypertension associated with mixed connective tissue disease. She was being treated with pulmonary vasodilators, including epoprostenol and bosetan, but her mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP) gradually worsened. Although her mPAP began to improve with adding sildenafil, ascites occurred. Discontinuing newly initiated drugs and starting diuretics improved her ascites. This suggested that an intensification of the treatment with vasodilators might have led to ascites (on a background of a probable arteriovenous shunt formation) in this patient with a long history of pulmonary hypertension.
Landscape of mobile genetic elements and their antibiotic resistance cargo in prokaryotic genomes
Authors: Khedkar Supriya , Smyshlyaev Georgy , Letunic Ivica , Maistrenko Oleksandr M , Coelho Luis Pedro , Orakov Askarbek , Forslund Sofia K , Hildebrand Falk , Luetge Mechthild , Schmidt Thomas S B , Barabas Orsolya , Bork Peer
Published: March 2022

Prokaryotic Mobile Genetic Elements (MGEs) such as transposons, integrons, phages and plasmids, play important roles in prokaryotic evolution and in the dispersal of cargo functions like antibiotic resistance. However, each of these MGE types is usually annotated and analysed individually, hampering a global understanding of phylogenetic and environmental patterns of MGE dispersal. We thus developed a computational framework that captures diverse MGE types, their cargos and MGE-mediated horizontal transfer events, using recombinases as ubiquitous MGE marker genes and pangenome information for MGE boundary estimation. Applied to ∼84k genomes with habitat annotation, we mapped 2.8 million MGE-specific recombinases to six operational MGE types, which together contain on average 13% of all the genes in a genome. Transposable elements (TEs) dominated across all taxa (∼1.7 million occurrences), outnumbering phages and phage-like elements (<0.4 million). We recorded numerous MGE-mediated horizontal transfer events across diverse phyla and habitats involving all MGE types, disentangled and quantified the extent of hitchhiking of TEs (17%) and integrons (63%) with other MGE categories, and established TEs as dominant carriers of antibiotic resistance genes. We integrated all these findings into a resource (proMGE.embl.de), which should facilitate future studies on the large mobile part of genomes and its horizontal dispersal.
Optical control of protein delivery and partitioning in the nucleolus
Authors: Tan Peng , Hong Tingting , Cai Xiaoli , Li Wenbo , Huang Yun , He Lian , Zhou Yubin
Published: March 2022

The nucleolus is a subnuclear membraneless compartment intimately involved in ribosomal RNA synthesis, ribosome biogenesis and stress response. Multiple optogenetic devices have been developed to manipulate nuclear protein import and export, but molecular tools tailored for remote control over selective targeting or partitioning of cargo proteins into subnuclear compartments capable of phase separation are still limited. Here, we report a set of single-component photoinducible nucleolus-targeting tools, designated pNUTs, to enable rapid and reversible nucleoplasm-to-nucleolus shuttling, with the half-lives ranging from milliseconds to minutes. pNUTs allow both global protein infiltration into nucleoli and local delivery of cargoes into the outermost layer of the nucleolus, the granular component. When coupled with the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)-associated C9ORF72 proline/arginine-rich dipeptide repeats, pNUTs allow us to photomanipulate poly-proline–arginine nucleolar localization, perturb nucleolar protein nucleophosmin 1 and suppress nascent protein synthesis. pNUTs thus expand the optogenetic toolbox by permitting light-controllable interrogation of nucleolar functions and precise induction of ALS-associated toxicity in cellular models.
Time-Varying Mediation of Pharmacological Smoking Cessation Treatments on Smoking Lapse via Craving, Cessation Fatigue, and Negative Mood
Authors: Chakraborti Yajnaseni , Coffman Donna L , Piper Megan E
Published: March 2022

Introduction

The addictive nature of nicotine makes smoking cessation an extremely challenging process. With prolonged exposure, tobacco smoking transforms from being a positive reinforcer to a negative one, as smoking is used to mitigate aversive withdrawal symptoms. Studying the variations in withdrawal symptoms, especially during their peak in the first week of a quit attempt, could help improve cessation treatment for the future. The time-varying mediation model effectively studies whether altering withdrawal symptoms act as mediators in the pathway between treatment and cessation.

Aims and Methods

This secondary data analysis of a randomized clinical smoking cessation trial of three pharmacotherapy regimens (nicotine patch, varenicline, and nicotine patch + mini-lozenge) analyzes ecological momentary assessment (EMA) data from the first 4 weeks post-target quit day (TQD). We assess whether withdrawal symptoms (eg, negative mood, cessation fatigue, and craving) mediate the pathway between pharmacotherapy and daily smoking status and whether this effect varies over time.

Results

We found a statistically significant time-varying mediation effect of varenicline on smoking status through craving, which shows decreasing risk of lapse via reduction in craving. We did not find significant time-varying mediation effects through negative mood and cessation fatigue.

Conclusions

This study supports the importance of craving suppression in the smoking cessation process. It also helped identify specific timepoints when withdrawal symptoms increased that would likely benefit from targeted cessation intervention strategies.

Implications

This study aimed to understand the underlying dynamic mechanisms of the smoking cessation process using a new analytical approach that capitalizes on the intensive longitudinal data collected via EMAs. The findings from this study further elucidate the smoking cessation process and provide insight into behavioral intervention targets and the timing of such interventions through the estimation of time-varying mediation effects.
Association of Secretor Status and Recent Norovirus Infection With Gut Microbiome Diversity Metrics in a Veterans Affairs Population
Authors: Johnson Jordan A , Read Timothy D , Petit Robert A , Marconi Vincent C , Meagley Kathryn L , Rodriguez-Barradas Maria C , Beenhouwer David O , Brown Sheldon T , Holodniy Mark , Lucero-Obusan Cynthia A , Schirmer Patricia , Ingersoll Jessica M , Kraft Colleen S , Neill Frederick H , Atmar Robert L , Kambhampati Anita K , Cates Jordan E , Mirza Sara A , Hall Aron J , Cardemil Cristina V , Lopman Benjamin A
Published: March 2022

Norovirus infection causing acute gastroenteritis could lead to adverse effects on the gut microbiome. We assessed the association of microbiome diversity with norovirus infection and secretor status in patients from Veterans Affairs medical centers. Alpha diversity metrics were lower among patients with acute gastroenteritis but were similar for other comparisons.
The existential trilemma of EMU in a model of fiscal target zone
Authors: Della Posta Pompeo , Tamborini Roberto
Published: March 2022

Objectives

Is the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) truly ‘irreversible’ as stated in the treaties? (i) From the sovereign debt crises of the 2010s, and the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, we draw the lesson that when exposed to large, systemic shocks the EMU faces a trilemma among preserving its irreversibility, monetary orthodoxy and fiscal orthodoxy: irreversibility can only be saved by relaxing one of the twin orthodoxies or both. (ii) We show how central monetary/fiscal backstops to irreversibility can be designed in a consistent manner that minimises their amplitude and mitigates the moral hazard concerns.

Methods

We present a novel fiscal target zone model of the EMU, where public debt is hit by stochastic shocks and member governments under monetary and fiscal orthodoxy are willing to abide by their commitment to debt stability only up to an upper bound of their feasible fiscal effort. Shocks large enough push the stabilisation fiscal effort beyond the feasibility constraint, in which case a government would opt for default on debt service and breakup of EMU membership—similarly to the abandonment of an exchange-rate agreement.

Results

For the EMU to be truly irreversible, ramparts for extraordinary times are necessary beside regulations for ordinary times. The alternative to these devices is reformulating the treaties with explicit and regulated exit procedures.
TaBln1, a member of the Blufensin family, negatively regulates wheat resistance to stripe rust by reducing Ca2+ influx
Authors: Guo Shuangyuan , Zhang Yanqin , Li Min , Zeng Peng , Zhang Qiong , Li Xing , Xu Quanle , Li Tao , Wang Xiaojie , Kang Zhensheng , Zhang Xinmei
Published: March 2022

Blufensin1 (Bln1) has been identified as a susceptibility factor of basal defense mechanisms which is unique to the cereal grain crops barley (Hordeum vulgare), wheat (Triticum aestivum), rice (Oryza sativa), and rye (Secale cereale). However, the molecular mechanisms through which Bln1 regulates the wheat immune response are poorly understood. In this study, we found that TaBln1 was significantly induced by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst) virulent race CYR31 infection. Knockdown of TaBln1 expression by virus-induced gene silencing reduced Pst growth and development, and enhanced the host defense response. In addition, TaBln1 was found to physically interact with a calmodulin, TaCaM3, on the plasma membrane. Silencing TaCaM3 with virus-induced gene silencing increased fungal infection areas and sporulation and reduced wheat resistance to the Pst avirulent race CYR23 (incompatible interaction) and virulent race CYR31 (compatible interaction). Moreover, we found that the accumulation of TaCaM3 transcripts could be induced by treatment with chitin but not flg22. Silencing TaCaM3 decreased the calcium (Ca2+) influx induced by chitin, but silencing TaBln1 increased the Ca2+ influx in vivo using a noninvasive micro-test technique. Taken together, we identified the wheat susceptibility factor TaBln1, which interacts with TaCaM3 to impair Ca2+ influx and inhibit plant defenses.
Gene co-expression reveals the modularity and integration of C4 and CAM inPortulaca
Authors: Gilman Ian S , Moreno-Villena Jose J , Lewis Zachary R , Goolsby Eric W , Edwards Erika J
Published: March 2022

C4 photosynthesis and Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) have been considered as largely independent adaptations despite sharing key biochemical modules. Portulaca is a geographically widespread clade of over 100 annual and perennial angiosperm species that primarily use C4 but facultatively exhibit CAM when drought stressed, a photosynthetic system known as C4 + CAM. It has been hypothesized that C4 + CAM is rare because of pleiotropic constraints, but these have not been deeply explored. We generated a chromosome-level genome assembly of Portulaca amilis and sampled mRNA from P. amilis and Portulaca oleracea during CAM induction. Gene co-expression network analyses identified C4 and CAM gene modules shared and unique to both Portulaca species. A conserved CAM module linked phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase to starch turnover during the day–night transition and was enriched in circadian clock regulatory motifs in the P. amilis genome. Preservation of this co-expression module regardless of water status suggests that Portulaca constitutively operate a weak CAM cycle that is transcriptionally and posttranscriptionally upregulated during drought. C4 and CAM mostly used mutually exclusive genes for primary carbon fixation, and it is likely that nocturnal CAM malate stores are shuttled into diurnal C4 decarboxylation pathways, but we found evidence that metabolite cycling may occur at low levels. C4 likely evolved in Portulaca through co-option of redundant genes and integration of the diurnal portion of CAM. Thus, the ancestral CAM system did not strongly constrain C4 evolution because photosynthetic gene networks are not co-regulated for both daytime and nighttime functions.
Magnetic moments of the octet, decuplet, low-lying charm, and low-lying bottom baryons in a nuclear medium
Authors: Tsushima K
Published: March 2022

We study the magnetic moments of the octet, decuplet, low-lying charm, and low-lying bottom baryons with nonzero light quarks in symmetric nuclear matter using the quark–meson coupling (QMC) model, which satisfies the constraint for the allowed maximum change (swelling) of the in-medium nucleon size derived from the y-scaling data for 3He(e, e′) and 56Fe(e, e′). This is the first study to estimate the in-medium magnetic moments of the low-lying charm and bottom baryons with nonzero light quarks. The present QMC model also satisfies the expected allowed maximum enhancement of the nucleon magnetic moments in nuclear matter. Moreover, it has been proven that the calculated in-medium to free proton electromagnetic form factor (EMFF) ratios calculated within the QMC model reproduce well the proton EMFF super ratio extracted from $^4{\rm He}(\vec{e},e^{\prime }\vec{p})^3{\rm H}$ at Jefferson Laboratory. The medium modifications of the magnetic moments are estimated by evaluating the in-medium to free space baryon magnetic moment ratios to compensate the MIT bag deficiency to describe the free space octet baryon magnetic moments, where ratios are often measured directly in experiments even without knowing the absolute values, such as the free and bound proton electromagnetic form factors, as well as the European Muon Collaboration effect to extract the structure function F2 ratio of the bound to free nucleons by the corresponding cross section ratio. We also present the results calculated with the different current quark mass values for the strange and bottom quarks to see the possible impact. Furthermore, for practical use we give the explicit density-dependent parametrizations for the vector potentials of the baryons and light-(u, d) quarks, as well as for the effective masses of the baryons treated in this study, and of the mesons ω, ρ, K, K*, η, $\eta^{\prime}$, D, D*, B, and B*.
DSM-5 insomnia disorder in pregnancy: associations with depression, suicidal ideation, and cognitive and somatic arousal, and identifying clinical cutoffs for detection
Authors: Kalmbach David A , Cheng Philip , Roth Andrea , Roth Thomas , Swanson Leslie M , O’Brien Louise M , Fresco David M , Harb Nicholas C , Cuamatzi-Castelan Andrea S , Reffi Anthony N , Drake Christopher L
Published: March 2022

Study Objectives

The study had three primary goals. First, we estimated survey-assessed DSM-5 insomnia disorder rates in pregnancy, and described associated sociodemographics, and sleep-wake and mental health symptoms. Second, we derived cutoffs for detecting DSM-5 insomnia disorder using common self-report measures of sleep symptoms. Third, we identified clinically relevant cut-points on measures of nocturnal cognitive and somatic arousal.

Methods

Ninety-nine women (85.9% in the 2nd trimester) completed online surveys including DSM-5 insomnia disorder criteria, the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Presleep Arousal Scale’s Cognitive (PSASC) and Somatic (PSASS) factors, and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale.

Results

DSM-5 insomnia disorder rate was 19.2%. Insomnia was associated with depression, suicidality, nocturnal cognitive and somatic arousal, and daytime sleepiness. An ISI scoring method that aligns with DSM-5 criteria yielded excellent metrics for detecting insomnia disorder and good sleep. Regarding quantitative cutoffs, ISI ≥ 10 and ISI ≥ 11 (but not ISI ≥ 15) were supported for detecting DSM-5 insomnia, whereas ISI ≤ 7 and ISI ≤ 9 performed well for detecting good sleep. PSQI cutoff of 5 was supported for detecting insomnia and good sleep. The optimal cutoff for nocturnal cognitive arousal was PSASC ≥ 18, whereas the optimal cutoff for somatic arousal was PSASS ≥ 13.

Conclusions

Insomnia disorder affects a large segment of pregnant women. Empirically derived cutoffs for insomnia, good sleep, cognitive arousal, and somatic arousal may inform case identification and future perinatal sleep research methodology.
Molecular epidemiology ofAscarisspecies recovered from humans and pigs in Cameroon
Authors: Nkouayep Vanessa R , McManus Donald P , Mbida Mpoame , Gordon Catherine A , Nejsum Peter
Published: March 2022

Background

In Cameroon, considerable research has been conducted on human ascariasis, but no studies have been undertaken to determine whether pigs contribute to the persistence of the infection in children or to unravel the evolutionary relationship between human-derived and pig-derived Ascaris.

Methods

DNA was extracted from adult Ascaris worms collected from humans and pigs. Segments of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) and NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1 (nad1) genes were sequenced and analysed for 83 worms to dissect the local transmission dynamics of Ascaris in Cameroon.

Results

The data showed high genetic diversity and revealed demographically expanding populations in the human and pig Ascaris samples. A restricted gene flow between Ascaris lumbricoides and Ascaris suum populations correlating with the preference for humans and pigs, respectively, as hosts was evident. Phylogenetic analyses and haplotype networks split the haplotypes into two major clusters, A and B. However, support for cross-transmission between hosts and hybridization were revealed through shared haplotypes among worms from both hosts.

Conclusions

This study provides useful baseline information for future studies of the genetics of Ascaris in Cameroon and suggests that effective and sustainable control of human ascariasis should target both human and pig hosts.
Current insights: a systemic review of therapeutic options for peanut allergy
Authors: O’Rourke Eimear , Tang Hilary , Chin Andrew , Long Andrew , Sindher Sayantani , Chinthrajah R. Sharon
Published: March 2022

Purpose of review

With increasing prevalence of peanut allergy (PA) globally and the greater risk of potential reactions occurring due to the leading role of nuts in food products, PA has become a significant public health concern over the past decade, affecting up to 5 million of the US adult population. This review details updates and advances in prevalence, diagnosis, and immunotherapies that have occurred over the past year.

Recent findings

Therapeutic and diagnostic advances remain at the forefront of research and have continued to push the food allergy (FA) field forward to provide a promising role in the detection and treatment of PA. The FA field has researched significant advances in peanut immunotherapy, biomarker diagnosis, and quality of life (QoL) improvement.

Given the burden and consequences for individuals with PA, these advances delivered in clinical practice can significantly improve the QoL of individuals with PA and their caregivers. Ongoing studies will continue to investigate long-term outcome measures of desensitisation and effective management plans tailored to the families’ needs.
What is New in Pediatric Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle
Authors: Tileston Kali , Baskar Danika , Frick Steven L.
Published: March 2022

Background:

This paper aims to report on the last 5 years of relevant research on pediatric foot and ankle pathology with specific focus on clubfoot, congenital vertical talus, toe walking, tarsal coalitions, pes planovalgus with or without accessory navicular, foot and ankle trauma, and talar dome osteochondritis dessicans.

Methods:

The Browzine platform was used to review the table of contents for all papers published in the following target journals related to the treatment of pediatric foot and ankle conditions. Search results were further refined to include clinical trials and randomized controlled trials published from March 1, 2015 to November 15, 2021.

Results:

A total of 73 papers were selected for review based on new findings and significant contributions in treatment of clubfoot, congenital vertical talus, toe walking, tarsal coalitions, pes planovalgus with or without accessory navicular, foot and ankle trauma, and talar dome osteochondritis dessicans. Also included were several papers that did not fit into any of these categories but provided new insight into specific foot and ankle pathologies.

Conclusions:

Treatment strategies for children with foot and ankle pathology are continually evolving. We review many of the most recent publications with the goal of improving understanding of these pathologies and highlighting current best practices.

Level of Evidence:

Level III.
Modified Velpeau Sling Application for the Treatment of Fractures Around Shoulder in Infants
Authors: Shah Maulin M. , Shah Shalin , Sangole Chinmay , Rabbi Qaisur , Gupta Gaurav , Bohra Vikas
Published: March 2022

Background:

Fractures around the shoulder region in infants are treated by arm-chest bandaging, adhesive strapping, or sling application. These conventional treatment methods are associated with issues like skin irritation, excoriation, movement of bone fragments causing muscle spasm, and difficulty in nursing care. We describe the technique of modified Velpeau sling application and reviewed its efficacy at a long-term follow-up.

Methods:

A retrospective study was conducted with 19 infants who presented between 2009 and 2018 to a tertiary care center in western India with either clavicle or humerus fracture. Inclusion criteria was any infant with humerus or clavicle fracture that underwent modified Velpeau sling application and had a minimum follow-up of 2 years. Patients were followed at weekly intervals until sling discontinuation based on the fracture healing. At further follow-up, children were assessed for the presence of angular or rotational malalignment and limb length discrepancy. Functional outcome was measured by the Paediatric Adolescent Shoulder Survey at the final follow-up.

Results:

Seven clavicle and 12 humerus fractures were treated with this technique. The mean age at presentation was 50 days (range, 1 d to 7 mo). The average follow-up was 6 years (range, 2 to 10 y). Two infants had underlying osteogenesis imperfecta. Infants without underlying pathology had no angular/rotational malalignment or limb length discrepancy, while both infants with underlying osteogenesis imperfecta had a varus alignment and shortening of the humerus. Infants without underlying pathology demonstrated good functional outcomes measured by the Paediatric Adolescent Shoulder Survey questionnaire, while those with pathology had functional limitations.

Conclusions:

The modified Velpeau method is an effective way of treating fractures around the shoulder region in infants without underlying pathology. Several advantages such as accessibility of sling material, easy application, inexpensive material, and absence of skin-related complications make this an effective treatment.

Level of Evidence:

Level IV—therapeutic study.
The Impact of Computer-Assisted Navigation on Charges and Readmission in Lumbar Spinal Fusion
Authors: Dominy Calista L. , Tang Justin E. , Arvind Varun , Cho Brian H. , White Christopher , Pasik Sara D. , Shah Kush C. , Cho Samuel K. , Kim Jun S.
Published: March 2022

Study Design:

Retrospective National Database Study.

Objectives:

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the cost and patient outcomes associated with the utilization of computer-assisted navigation (CAN) utilization on patients undergoing lumbar spinal fusion.

Background:

CAN systems have demonstrated comparable outcomes with instrumentation and procedural speed when compared with traditional techniques. In recent years, CAN systems have seen increased adoption in spinal surgery as they allow for better contextualization of anatomical structures with the goal of improving surgical accuracy and reproducibility.

Methods:

The 2016 National Readmission Database was queried for patients with lumbar spinal fusion ICD-10 codes, with 2 subgroups created based on computer-aided navigation ICD-10 codes. Nonelective cases and patients below 18 years of age were excluded. Univariate analysis on demographics, surgical data, and total charges was performed. Postoperative complication rates were calculated based on diagnosis. Lastly, multivariate analysis was performed to assess navigation’s impact on cost and postoperative outcomes.

Results:

A total of 88,445 lumbar fusion surgery patients were identified. Of the total, 2478 (2.8%) patients underwent lumbar fusion with navigation utilization, while 85,967 (97.2%) patients underwent surgery without navigation. The average total charges were $150,947 ($150,058, $151,836) and $161,018 ($155,747, $166,289) for the non-CAN and CAN groups, respectively (P<0.001). The 30-day readmission rates were 5.3% for the non-CAN cohort and 3.1% for the CAN cohort (P<0.05). The 90-day readmission rates were 8.8% for the non-CAN cohort and 5.2% for the CAN cohort (P<0.001).

Conclusions:

CAN use was found to be significantly associated with increased cost and decreased 30-day and 90-day readmissions. Although patients operated on with CAN had increased routine discharge and decreased readmission risk, future studies must continue to evaluate the cost-benefit of CAN. Limitations include ICD-10 codes for CAN utilization being specific to region of surgery, not to exact type.

Level of Evidence:

Level III.
The Utility of Flexion-Extension Radiographs in Degenerative Cervical Spondylolisthesis
Authors: Alvarez Andrew P. , Anderson Amanda , Farhan Saifal-Deen , Lu Young , Lee Yu-Po , Oh Michael , Rosen Charles , Kiester Douglas , Bhatia Nitin
Published: March 2022

Study Design:

Retrospective radiologic analysis.

Objective:

The aim was to investigate if lateral flexion-extension radiographs identify additional cases of degenerative cervical spondylolisthesis (DCS) that would be missed by obtaining solely neutral upright radiographs, and determine the reliability of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in diagnosis.

Summary of Background Data:

DCS and instability can be a cause of neck pain, radiculopathy, and even myelopathy. Standard anteroposterior and lateral radiographs and MRI of the cervical spine will identify most cervical spine pathology, but spondylolisthesis and instability are dynamic issues. Standard imaging may also miss DCS in some cases.

Methods:

We compared the number of patients who demonstrated cervical spondylolisthesis on lateral neutral and flexion-extension radiographs in addition to MRI. We used established criteria to define instability as ≥2 mm of listhesis on neutral imaging, and ≥1 mm of motion between flexion-extension radiographs.

Results:

A total of 111 patients (555 cervical levels) were analyzed. In all, 41 patients (36.9%) demonstrated cervical spondylolisthesis on neutral and/or flexion-extension radiographs. Of the 77 levels of spondylolisthesis, 17 (22.1%) were missed on neutral radiographs (P,0.05). Twenty levels (26.0%) were missed when flexion-extension radiographs were used alone (P=0.02). Twenty-nine levels (37.7%) of DCS identified on radiograph were missed by MRI (P=0.004).

Conclusions:

Lateral flexion-extension views can be useful in the diagnosis of DCS. These views provide value by identifying a significant cohort of patients that would be undiagnosed based on neutral radiographs alone. Moreover, MRI missed 38% of DCS cases identified by radiographs. Therefore, lateral radiographs can be a useful adjunct to neutral radiographs and MRI when instability is suspected or if these imaging modalities are unable to identify the source of a patient’s neck or arm pain.
The Use and Duration of Preintubation Respiratory Support Is Associated With Increased Mortality in Immunocompromised Children With Acute Respiratory Failure*
Authors: Lindell Robert B. , Fitzgerald Julie C. , Rowan Courtney M. , Flori Heidi R. , Di Nardo Matteo , Napolitano Natalie , Traynor Danielle M. , Lenz Kyle B. , Emeriaud Guillaume , Jeyapalan Asumthia , Nishisaki Akira ,   for the National Emergency Airway Registry for Children (NEAR4KIDS) and Pediatric Acute Lung Injury and Sepsis Investigators (PALISI) Network
Published: March 2022

OBJECTIVES:

To determine the association between preintubation respiratory support and outcomes in patients with acute respiratory failure and to determine the impact of immunocompromised (IC) diagnoses on outcomes after adjustment for illness severity.

DESIGN:

Retrospective multicenter cohort study.

SETTING:

Eighty-two centers in the Virtual Pediatric Systems database.

PATIENTS:

Children 1 month to 17 years old intubated in the PICU who received invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) for greater than or equal to 24 hours.

INTERVENTIONS:

None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS:

High-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) or noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation (NIPPV) or both were used prior to intubation in 1,825 (34%) of 5,348 PICU intubations across 82 centers. When stratified by IC status, 50% of patients had no IC diagnosis, whereas 41% were IC without prior hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) and 9% had prior HCT. Compared with patients intubated without prior support, preintubation exposure to HFNC (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.33; 95% CI, 1.10–1.62) or NIPPV (aOR, 1.44; 95% CI, 1.20–1.74) was associated with increased odds of PICU mortality. Within subgroups of IC status, preintubation respiratory support was associated with increased odds of PICU mortality in IC patients (HFNC: aOR, 1.50; 95% CI, 1.11–2.03; NIPPV: aOR, 1.76; 95% CI, 1.31–2.35) and HCT patients (HFNC: aOR, 1.75; 95% CI, 1.07–2.86; NIPPV: aOR, 1.85; 95% CI, 1.12–3.02) compared with IC/HCT patients intubated without prior respiratory support. Preintubation exposure to HFNC/NIPPV was not associated with mortality in patients without an IC diagnosis. Duration of HFNC/NIPPV greater than 6 hours was associated with increased mortality in IC HCT patients (HFNC: aOR, 2.41; 95% CI, 1.05–5.55; NIPPV: aOR, 2.53; 95% CI, 1.04–6.15) and patients compared HCT patients with less than 6-hour HFNC/NIPPV exposure. After adjustment for patient and center characteristics, both preintubation HFNC/NIPPV use (median, 15%; range, 0–63%) and PICU mortality varied by center.

CONCLUSIONS:

In IC pediatric patients, preintubation exposure to HFNC and/or NIPPV is associated with increased odds of PICU mortality, independent of illness severity. Longer duration of exposure to HFNC/NIPPV prior to IMV is associated with increased mortality in HCT patients.
Pregnancy Outcomes Associated With Use of Tobacco and Marijuana
Authors: Layoun Vanessa , Ohnona Ashley , Tolosa Jorge E.
Published: March 2022

Tobacco and marijuana are the most common drugs of abuse among pregnant women. Cigarettes have been extensively studied and increase the risk of miscarriage, preterm birth, premature rupture of membranes, placental dysfunction, low birth rate, stillbirth, and infant mortality. There are sparse data on the specific effects of electronic cigarettes and smokeless tobacco in pregnancy. Literature on marijuana in pregnancy is limited by confounding, bias, and the retrospective nature of studies that do not capture contemporary trends in use. However, several studies suggest an association between marijuana and fetal growth restriction, low birth weight, and neurodevelopmental differences in offspring.
Imperforate Hymen: Clinical Pearls and Implications of Management
Authors: HAMOUIE ANGIE , DIETRICH JENNIFER E.
Published: March 2022

Imperforate hymen is a common condition that with classic appearance and presentation in puberty. This may be diagnosed in a neonate when mucocolpos is noted. There are many great pretenders of this condition, but the hallmarks include a bulging hymen with blue hue at puberty. If this is not seen on external genital exam, the provider should proceed with magnetic resonance imaging to better assess the reproductive tract anatomy before engaging in surgery. For providers uncomfortable in managing conditions often confused with an imperforate hymen, referral to a Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecologist or specialist comfortable managing these conditions, is recommended.
Epigenetic remodeling in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction
Authors: Ambrosini Samuele , Gorica Era , Mohammed Shafeeq A. , Costantino Sarah , Ruschitzka Frank , Paneni Francesco
Published: March 2022

Purpose of review

In this review, we critically address the role of epigenetic processing and its therapeutic modulation in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).

Recent findings

HFpEF associates with a poor prognosis and the identification of novel molecular targets and therapeutic approaches are in high demand. Emerging evidence indicates a key involvement of epigenetic signals in the regulation of transcriptional programs underpinning features of HFpEF. The growing understanding of chromatin dynamics has led to the development of selective epigenetic drugs able to reset transcriptional changes thus delaying or preventing the progression toward HFpEF. Epigenetic information in the setting of HFpEF can be employed to: (i) dissect novel epigenetic networks and chromatin marks contributing to HFpEF; (ii) unveil circulating and cell-specific epigenetic biomarkers; (iii) build predictive models by using computational epigenetics and deep machine learning; (iv) develop new chromatin modifying drugs for personalized management of HFpEF.

Acquired epigenetic signatures during the lifetime can contribute to derail molecular pathways involved in HFpEF. A scrutiny investigation of the individual epigenetic landscape will offer opportunities to develop personalized epigenetic biomarkers and therapies to fight HFpEF in the decades to come.
N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids for cardiovascular risk
Authors: Goff Zackary D. , Nissen Steven E.
Published: March 2022

Purpose of review

Use of omega-3 fatty acid (OM3FA) supplements to reduce risk of cardiovascular events has been investigated, largely without evidence of meaningful benefit, over the last 4 decades.

Recent findings

The first contemporary clinical trial to show benefit of OM3FA use was the REDUCE-IT trial (2018), showing a remarkable 25% relative risk reduction in the intervention group that received icosapent ethyl 4 g daily compared to a mineral oil placebo group. The STRENGTH trial (2020), which was similar in design to the REDUCE-IT trial but compared 4 g daily dose of combined OM3FA with a corn oil placebo, was terminated early due to futility.

This article provides a review of the data surrounding these trials and discusses the differing results of the two trials. There are key differences in the design of the two trials, the most notable is the use of mineral oil in the REDUCE-IT trial, which was potentially a nonneutral comparator. Additionally, both trials showed an increase in the incidence of atrial fibrillation. With the unclear benefit of OM3FA supplementation and possibility of harm, the current data suggest that the risk of routine use of OM3FA outweighs the possibility of reduction in risk of cardiovascular events.