bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A continuum damage model for prediction of crack initiation life of pitting corrosion and fatigue
Authors: Yang Xiaoyang , Fan Wenliang , Li Zhengliang
Published: March 2022

Corrosion fatigue damage can lead to degradation of engineering structures and components. As a major stage of the total corrosion fatigue life, the crack initiation of pitting corrosion and fatigue is studied. A continuum damage mechanics model for predicting the crack initiation life of pitting corrosion fatigue is presented based on a pure fatigue damage model and a fracture-mechanics-based pit-to-crack transition criterion. The synergistic effect of pitting corrosion and fatigue are quantified as a time-varying amplification of the fatigue stress field. The proposed model is validated by corrosion fatigue test data of two different metallic materials. The predicted curves of corrosion fatigue crack initiation life are in good agreement with the test data. The model demonstrates a good prediction of corrosion fatigue crack initiation life, i.e., corrosion fatigue life is always lower than fatigue life, and the lower the stress, the more significant the life reduction.
The Pathophysiology of The Antiphospholipid Syndrome: A Perspective From The Blood Coagulation System
Authors: Arreola-Diaz R , Majluf-Cruz A , Sanchez-Torres LE , Hernandez-Juarez J
Published: March 2022

The antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), a systemic autoimmune disease characterized by a hypercoagulability associated to vascular thrombosis and/or obstetric morbidity, is caused by the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies such as lupus anticoagulant, anti-β-2-glycoprotein 1, and/or anticardiolipin antibodies. In the obstetrical APS, antiphospholipid antibodies induce the production of proinflammatory cytokines and tissue factor by placental tissues and recruited neutrophils. Moreover, antiphospholipid antibodies activate the complement system which, in turn, induces a positive feedback leading to recruitment of neutrophils as well as activation of the placenta. Activation of these cells triggers myometrial contractions and cervical ripening provoking the induction of labor. In thrombotic and obstetrical APS, antiphospholipid antibodies activate endothelial cells, platelets, and neutrophils and they may alter the multimeric pattern and concentration of von Willebrand factor, increase the concentration of thrombospondin 1, reduce the inactivation of factor XI by antithrombin, increase the activation of factor XII, and reduce the activity of tissue plasminogen activator with the subsequent production of plasmin. All these effects result in less permeable clots, denser, thinner, and with more branched fibrin fibers which are more difficult to lysate. As a consequence, thrombosis, the defining clinical criterion of APS, complicates the clinical course of the patient.
No Check We Won't Write: A Report on the High Cost of Sex Offender Incarceration
Authors: Letourneau Elizabeth J. , Roberts Travis W. M. , Malone Luke , Sun Yi
Published: March 2022

Child sexual abuse is a preventable public health problem that is addressed primarily via reactive criminal justice efforts. In this report, we focus on the cost of incarcerating adults convicted of sex crimes against children in the United States. Specifically, we summarize publicly available information on U.S. state and federal prison and sex offender civil commitment costs. Wherever possible, we used government data sources to inform cost estimates. Results indicate the annual cost to incarcerate adults convicted of sex crimes against children in the United States approaches $5.4 billion. This estimate does not include any costs incurred prior to incarceration (e.g., related to detection and prosecution) or post-release (e.g., related to supervision or registration). Nor does this estimate capture administrative and judicial costs associated with appeals, or administrative costs that cannot be extricated from other budgets, as is the case when costs per-prisoner are shared between prisons and civil commitment facilities. We believe information on the substantial funding dedicated to incarceration will be useful to U.S. federal, state, and local lawmakers and to international policymakers as they consider allocating resources to the development, evaluation and dissemination of effective prevention strategies aimed at keeping children safe from sexual abuse in the first place.
Molnupiravir Does Not Induce Mutagenesis in Host Lung Cells during SARS-CoV-2 Treatment
Authors: Githaka John Maringa
Published: March 2022

As SARS-CoV-2 continues to evolve and spread with the emergence of new variants, interest in small molecules with broad-spectrum antiviral activity has grown. One such molecule, Molnupiravir (MOV; other names: MK-4482, EIDD-2801), a ribonucleoside analogue, has emerged as an effective SARS-CoV-2 treatment by inducing catastrophic viral mutagenesis during replication. However, there are growing concerns as MOV’s potential to induce host DNA mutagenesis remains an open question. Analysis of RNA-seq data from SARS-CoV-2–infected MOV-treated golden hamster lung biopsies confirmed MOV’s efficiency in stopping SARS-CoV-2 replication. Importantly, MOV treatment did not increase mutations in the host lung cells. This finding calls for additional mutation calls on host biopsies from more proliferative tissues to fully explore MOV’s hypothesized mutagenic risk.
Improving Management of Non-communicable Chronic Diseases in Primary Healthcare Centres in The Saudi Health Care System
Authors: Hazazi Ahmed , Wilson Andrew
Published: March 2022

Evaluation of patient perceptions of quality and adequacy of care is a critical component of continuous improvement in chronic disease care. The purpose of this study was to ascertain how patients with non-communicable diseases (NCDs) assess their routine care in primary care centres in Saudi Arabia and to identify areas for improvement. This cross-sectional study used the PACIC questionnaire to assess the quality of care received by these patients in primary care centres in Saudi Arabia. Data collection took place between May 2019 and July 2019. The questionnaire was self-completed anonymously by 315 patients with NCD attending primary health care centres in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The results showed that the average overall PACIC score was 2.97 (SD = 0.65), the mean scores for the subscales ranged from 2.76 (SD = 0.78) for the subscale of goal settings/tailoring to 3.17 (SD = 0.78) for delivery system design/decision support. PACIC scores varied significantly with age, occupation, monthly income, type and duration of chronic illness and educational attainment. In conclusion, patients with NCDs prioritised improvements in organised care that; is comprehensive, focussed on their needs, helps them identify clear goals for their treatments and become more involved in their condition(s) management.
Associations Between Physical Activity, Self-reported Joint Function, and Molecular Biomarkers in Working Age Individuals With Hip and/or Knee Osteoarthritis
Authors: Östlind Elin , Eek Frida , Stigmar Kjerstin , Sant’Anna Anita , Ekvall Hansson Eva , Struglics André
Published: March 2022

Objective:

Previous research has suggested an association between physical activity (PA), joint function, and molecular biomarkers, but more studies are needed. The aim of this study was to explore the associations between PA or self-reported joint function and molecular biomarkers of cartilage and inflammation in individuals with hip and/or knee osteoarthritis (OA). Specific objectives were to explore the correlations between (1) the change over 3 months in self-reported PA/joint function and the change in molecular biomarkers (2) objectively measured PA and molecular biomarkers measured at 3-month follow-up.

Design:

Working age participants (n = 91) were recruited from a cluster randomized controlled trial. Self-reported PA, joint function, and serum samples were collected at baseline and after 3 months. Serum concentrations of the inflammatory marker C-reactive protein (CRP) and the cartilage markers Alanine-Arginine-Glycine-Serine (ARGS)-aggrecan, cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP), and type II collagen C2C were analyzed by immunoassays. Objectively measured PA (steps/day) was collected during 12 weeks from activity trackers used by 53 participants. Associations were analyzed with Spearman’s rank correlation.

Results:

There was a weak negative correlation between the change in self-reported PA and the change in COMP ( rs = −0.256, P = .040) but not for the other molecular biomarkers. There were no correlations between the change in self-reported joint function and the change in molecular biomarkers or between the average steps/day and the molecular biomarkers at follow-up ( rs ⩽ −0.206, P ⩾ .06).

Conclusion:

In general, no or only weak associations were found between PA/joint function and molecular biomarkers. Future research recommends including participants with lower PA, extend the follow-up, and use a design that allows comparisons.
Potential Mechanisms of the Sparing of Atopic Dermatitis in the Diaper Region: A Scoping Review
Authors: Jazdarehee Aria , Lee Jason , Lewis Richard , Mukovozov Ilya
Published: March 2022

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, inflammatory skin condition commonly affecting infants with notable sparing of the diaper region. Though sources anecdotally attribute this sparing to the physical barrier formed by the diaper and the subsequent retention of moisture, urine, sweat and feces, no studies have formally investigated the factors contributing to this sparing phenomenon. We performed a scoping literature review to investigate the factors involved in sparing of AD in the diaper region, namely humidity, scratching, urine, sweat, feces, and microbiome composition. A total of 130 papers met the inclusion criteria, and extracted data were analyzed in an iterative manner. Increased local humidity facilitates protective changes at the cellular level and offsets transepidermal water loss. Exposure to urea from both sweat and urine may contribute to improved moisturization of the skin through its natural humectant properties and ability to modulate gene expression. Introduction of flora in feces contributes to the generation of protective immune responses and outcompetes growth of pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus. Finally, diapers physically prevent scratching, which directly interrupts the itch-scratch cycle classically implicated in AD. Our study reviews factors that may contribute to the sparing of AD in the diaper region in infants. A limitation to our findings is that the studies reviewed here explore the impacts of these factors on AD broadly, and not explicitly in the diaper region. Additional studies investigating this may further our understanding of AD pathogenesis and contribute to the development of effective therapeutics.
Does World Heritage inscription promote regional tourism? Evidence from China
Authors: Zhang Cheng , Cheng Wei , Zhang Wanli
Published: March 2022

Using the panel data from 2002 to 2018 of 287 prefecture-level cities in China and the propensity score matching–difference-in-differences method, our study sought to reexamine the effect of World Heritage inscription on regional tourism. The results show that World Heritage sites improve regional tourism significantly, further confirmed by a series of robustness tests. However, the arrival and revenue effects of World Heritage inscription on inbound tourism are not significant. Moreover, World Heritage sites generate significant tourism economic benefits for the eastern and western regions in China but not for the central region. Last, a mechanism analysis shows that tourism public services increase the arrival and revenue effects significantly. The conclusions provide important insights for governments and tourism operators regarding the sustainable development of World Heritage sites and regional tourism.
‘It’s being a part of a grand tradition, a grand counter-culture which involves communities’: A qualitative investigation of autistic community connectedness
Authors: Botha Monique , Dibb Bridget , Frost David M
Published: March 2022

Autistic people report greater comfort socialising and easier communication with each other. Despite autism being stereotypically associated with lack of social motivation, an autistic community has been described briefly in the literature but is not well understood. Autistic community connectedness may play a role in promoting wellbeing for autistic people. This qualitative study involved interviewing autistic individuals ( N = 20) in-person, via a video-based platform, a text-based platform or over email to investigate autistic community connectedness. Critical grounded theory tools were used to collect and analyse the data. There were three elements of autistic community connectedness: belongingness, social connectedness and political connectedness. Belongingness referred to the sense of similarity that autistic people experienced with each other. Social connectedness referred to specific friendship participants formed with other autistic people. Political connectedness referred to a connectedness to the political or social equality goals of the autistic community. Participants described the benefits of autistic community connectedness as being increased self-esteem, a sense of direction and a sense of community not experienced elsewhere. Lack of connectedness involved ambivalence with an autistic identity and/or feelings of internalised stigma. Experiences of autistic community connectedness may have implications for autistic people’s wellbeing, as well as how they cope with minority stress.

Lay abstract

A sense of being connected to other autistic people has been reported anecdotally. Friendships and connectedness may be important to autistic people and beneficial for their wellbeing. Our research aimed to understand the autistic community by interviewing 20 autistic people about their experiences of being connected to other autistic people. Participants were interviewed in person, over video, using a text-based software to type or over email. Participants detailed three parts of autistic community connectedness: a sense of belonging, social connection with autistic friends and political connectedness. The friendships autistic people had with one another were deemed to be very important to participants because it gave them confidence, provided companionship and made them happy. Some participants did not experience connectedness to the autistic community. These participants also found autism to be less important to their identity and had fewer positive feelings about being autistic. This research is important as it raises awareness that community connectedness is viewed as important to this group. It is possible that community connectedness may help protect the mental health of autistic people when they face stigma or negative life experiences in society.
Socioeconomic inequalities in sexual victimisation in a nationally representative sample of the Swedish population
Authors: Deogan Charlotte , Bergström Jakob , Heimer Gun , Mannheimer Louise , Björkenstam Charlotte
Published: March 2022

Aims:

Sexual victimisation is a key public health concern because of its physical, psychological and social consequences. Nationally representative studies exploring sexual victimisation and re-victimisation are still scarce. The aim of the current study was to explore associations of sexual victimisation with sociodemographic factors including sexual orientation in Sweden.

Methods:

We used Swedish data from a national population survey linked to nationwide registers. The sample consisted of 3349 individuals aged 30–44 years, (2021 women and 1328 men). With a latent class analysis we identified groups of individuals with distinctly different experiences of sexual victimisation. Multinomial logistic regression was used to explore how common characteristics could explain latent class membership classes.

Results:

Experiences of sexual victimisation were common: 48% of women and 13% of men had experienced sexual harassment, 47% of women and 12% of women sexual assault, 11% of women and 1% of men attempted intercourse and 8% of women and 1% of men rape. Among women four groups were identified who had distinctly different experiences of exposure to sexual victimisation such as low victimisation, sexually harassed and assaulted several times, highly sexually victimised with low re-victimisation and finally high victimisation. Both women and men who were highly sexually victimised had to a higher extent a non-heterosexual sexual identity.

Conclusions:

Non-heterosexual orientation is a robust indicator of a high level of sexual victimisation as well as re-victimisation among both male and female adults.
Planning for health equity in the crossfire between science and policy
Authors: Diderichsen Finn , Whitehead Margaret , Dahlgren Göran
Published: March 2022

The persistence of health inequalities means that many public health professionals face an ongoing task to develop and update policies to tackle them. However, although the inequalities might be unchanged, the political priorities in the many policy areas involved are changing and the ambition to reduce the health divide is constantly facing strong forces pushing in the opposite direction. Recent proposals to re-think health inequalities need to be treated with caution because they are disconnected from what is needed for policy-making in this area. From our experience of 35 years in developing strategies to tackle health inequalities, we still see many entry points with space for local and national improvements, but it is crucial to ask the right questions. The aim of this Commentary is to present a new framework of eight questions that might provide a helpful structure for the necessary dialogue between researchers and policy-makers. Even if answers are not yet available for all of them, we believe that discussing them for a specific population in a specific political context will be fruitful to inform policy on the ground.
Exclusion and limitation through favouritism as a strategy in children’s play negotiations: A qualitative analysis of children’s multimodal play
Authors: Donner Patricia , Lundström Siv , Heikkilä Mia
Published: March 2022

This study focuses on a close examination of how children express themselves at ECEC in play situations, which form an integral and large part of a typical day. The main research question has been: How can children’s social and emotional expressions be understood through analyses of communication and interaction during free play? A qualitative approach has been deemed suitable for this study, since it can provide insight into children’s social interaction and engagement with their peers and with ECEC staff, in their natural, everyday ECEC environment. The study was carried out at eight different ECEC centres and one pre-school at various locations in the Swedish-speaking regions of Finland. At the time of observation, the group sizes at the ECEC centres and the pre-school ranged from about 10 to 20 children, aged 3–6. The analysis showed an overarching category of exclusion in play, and in the article we present examples of how children limit each other during play. This is done through imposing limits in play through favouritism by prioritising certain children above others. The article exemplifies this with detailed analysis of play situations showing children’s verbal favouritism as well as clear exclusion of other children. The results highlight the need of discussing the issue more in depth.
A Near-Global Slowing of Background Activity and Epileptic Discharges in Children With Mild to Moderately Symptomatic COVID-19 Infection: An Electro-Neurophysiological Study
Authors: Yılmaz Arzu , Yayıcı Köken Özlem , Şekeroğlu Boran , Şanlıdağ Burçin
Published: March 2022

Background. To assess the functional involvement of the central nervous system (CNS) via quantitative electroencephalography (EEG) analysis in children with mild to moderate COVID-19 infection who were otherwise previously healthy children. Methods. This prospective, case-control study was conducted between June and September 2020. Sleep EEG records of at least 40 min were planned for children who tested positive for COVID-19 using real-time PCR analysis and within 4–6 months post-recovery. All of the EEG analyses in this study were performed on an Ubuntu 20.04.2 LTS Operating System with the developed software using Python 3.7.6. The quantitative analysis of the epileptic discharges within the EEG records was performed using random forest after elimination of the artifacts with a model training accuracy of 98% for each sample data point. The frequency analysis was performed using the Welch method. Results. Among the age and sex-matched groups, the global mean frequency was significantly lower among the COVID-19 patients, with a P-value of 0.004. The spike slow-wave and sharp slow-wave indices were significantly higher in the patients when compared to the controls. The mean frequency values were significantly lower in almost all of the electrodes recording the frontal, central, and occipital areas. For the temporal and parietal areas, those significantly low mean frequencies were limited to the right hemisphere. Conclusion. A near-global involvement of background activity with decreased frequency, in addition to epileptic discharges, was recorded in mild to moderately COVID-19 infected children post-infection.
Association Between Chronic Periodontal Disease and Erectile Dysfunction: A Case–Control Study
Authors: Huang Nannan , Li Chanxiu , Sun Wenjuan , Yang Yuhong , Tang Qian , Xiao Feng
Published: March 2022

Erectile dysfunction (ED) and chronic periodontal disease (CPD) share mutual risk factors, and the incidence of ED is increasing among young adults. The relation of CPD and ED remains obscure due to inconsistent clinical evidence. This study aimed to further assess the relationship between CPD and ED using the Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Need (CPITN) and the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF). Totally, 202 adult men were included, with 100 subjects with ED in the case group and 102 subjects without ED undergoing routine dental examinations in the control group. The IIEF questionnaire was used to assess the severity of ED, and CPD was assessed through the Community Periodontal Index (CPI) score. Periodontal assessments were performed by one single calibrated examiner. Logistic regression analysis was performed for the association between CPD and ED. After adjustment for age, smoking status, tooth brushing time, education level, monthly income, tooth brushing frequency, and gum bleeding, higher CPI score was identified to be associated with a greater risk of ED (odds ratio [OR] = 2.755, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [1.400, 5.423], p = .003), suggesting that CPD was positively associated with the odds of ED. CPD was getting more severe with the progress of ED ( p < .05). Men with ED could be encouraged to receive routine dental examinations and appropriate preventive dental measures to maintain oral and periodontal health.
Comparison between second generation HydroSoft coils and bare platinum coils for the treatment of large intracranial aneurysms
Authors: Tessitore Agostino , Paolucci Aldo , Hohenstatt Sophia , Caragliano Antonio A , Buonomo Orazio , Mormina Enricomaria , Pitrone Antonio , Vinci Sergio L
Published: March 2022

Background

The development of HydroSoft coils (HSC) aims to reduce the high recurrence and retreatment rates observed in large brain aneurysms by improving primary brain aneurysm filling and thus occlusion efficacy. We compared clinical and angiographic effectiveness of bare platinum coils (BPC) versus second generation HSC for large intracranial aneurysms at our center.

Methods

We included 61 large aneurysms between 2015 and 2018, 29 embolized primarily using HSC and 32 treated with BPC. The aneurysm occlusion rates were assessed after 3 and 12 months with an MRI scan and at 6 moths with a control digital subtraction angiography (DSA) using the Raymond-Roy occlusion classification (RROC). Clinical outcomes were evaluated using the modified ranking scale (mRS).

Results

The observed immediate occlusion rate was slightly better in the BPC group, however, this group had a significant increase of progressive reperfusion at all imaging follow-up. Contrarily, the rate of complete occlusion increased significantly in the HSC group, starting from the 6 and 12-months follow-up. 7 aneurysms (11.4%) were re-treated (15.6% BPC and 6.9% HSC). The 6 and 12-months clinical data showed mRS score 0-1 in 96.7% of patients.

Conclusions

In our single-center experience, the second generation HydroSoft coils were shown to be safe and effective for endovascular treatment of large intracranial aneurysms with encouraging clinical and angiographic results, also for ruptured aneurysms. Even if the validity is limited due to our small cohort size, HSC showed a significantly lower rate of recurrence at mid-term follow-up when compared to BPC.
The impact of briefly observing faces in opaque facial masks on emotion recognition and empathic concern
Authors: Shepherd Josh Liam , Rippon Daniel
Published: March 2022

Since the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 in 2019, there have been global public health initiatives that have advocated for the community use of face masks to reduce spread of the virus. Although the community use of facial coverings has been deemed essential for public health, there have been calls for enquiries to ascertain how face masks may impact non-verbal methods of communication. This study aimed to ascertain how the brief observations of faces in opaque facial coverings could impact facial emotion recognition. It was also an aim to ascertain if there was an association between the levels of empathic concern and facial emotion recognition when viewing masked faces. An opportunity sample of 199 participants, who resided in the United Kingdom, were randomly assigned to briefly observe either masked ( n = 102) or unmasked ( n = 97) faces. Participants in both conditions were required to view a series of facial expressions, from the Radboud Faces Database, with models conveying the emotional states of anger, disgust, fear, happiness, sadness, and surprised. Each face was presented to participants for a period of 250 ms in the masked and unmasked conditions. A 6 (emotion type) x 2 (masked/unmasked condition) mixed ANOVA revealed that viewing masked faces significantly reduced facial emotion recognition of disgust, fear, happiness, sadness, and surprised. However, there were no differences in the success rate of recognising the emotional state of anger between the masked and unmasked conditions. Furthermore, higher levels of empathic concern were associated with greater success in facially recognising the emotional state of disgust. The results of this study suggest that significant reductions in emotion recognition, when viewing faces in opaque masks, can still be observed when people are exposed to facial stimuli for a brief period of time.
COVID-19 in pregnancy: A UK perspective
Authors: Zayyan Sanaa , Frise Charlotte
Published: March 2022

COVID-19 infection in pregnancy can cause respiratory and obstetric complications, 1 however emerging evidence on its impact in pregnancy is limited. This article aims to review data collected and analysed so far over the course of the coronavirus pandemic, that examine demographic associations, patterns of disease, severity and outcomes of COVID-19 in pregnancy in the UK.

Hospital admission, for which black and minority ethnic background and raised body mass index are risk factors, is associated with maternal mortality and admission to intensive care and is more likely in the late second or third trimester. 2 Vaccination is safe in pregnancy 3 and is protective against severe COVID-19 and admission to intensive care, 4 , 5 Maternal SARS CoV-2 is associated with a greater risk of stillbirth, preterm birth, small for gestational age (SGA) and preeclampsia. 6 Efforts to reduce the incidence of COVID-19 in pregnancy, including vaccination, are therefore likely to reduce preventable complications from this disease.
Evidence-based efficacy of methotrexate in adult Crohn’s disease in different intestinal and extraintestinal indications
Authors: Cassinotti Andrea , Batticciotto Alberto , Parravicini Marco , Lombardo Maurizio , Radice Paolo , Cortelezzi Claudio Camillo , Segato Simone , Zanzi Federico , Cappelli Antonella , Segato Sergio
Published: March 2022

Introduction:

Methotrexate (MTX) is included in the therapeutic armamentarium of Crohn’s disease (CD), although its positioning is currently uncertain in an era in which many effective biological drugs are available. No systematic reviews or meta-analysis have stratified the clinical outcomes of MTX according to the specific clinical scenarios of its use.

Methods:

Medline, PubMed and Scopus were used to extract eligible studies, from database inception to May 2021. A total of 163 studies were included. A systematic review was performed by stratifying the outcomes of MTX according to formulation, clinical indication and criteria of efficacy.

Results:

The use of MTX is supported by randomized clinical trials only in steroid-dependent CD, with similar outcomes to thiopurines. The use of MTX in patients with steroid-refractoriness, failure of thiopurines or in combination with biologics is not supported by high levels of evidence. Combination therapy with biologics can optimize the immunogenic profile of the biological drug, but the impact on long-term clinical outcomes is described only in small series with anti-TNFα. Other off-label uses, such as fistulizing disease, mucosal healing, postoperative prevention and extraintestinal manifestations, are described in small uncontrolled series. The best performance in most indications was shown by parenteral MTX, favouring higher doses (25 mg/week) in the induction phase.

Discussion:

Evidence from high-quality studies in favour of MTX is scarce and limited to the steroid-dependent disease, in which other drugs are the leading players today. Many limitations on study design have been found, such as the prevalence of retrospective underpowered studies and the lack of stratification of outcomes according to specific types of patients and formulations of MTX.

Conclusion:

MTX is a valid option as steroid-sparing agent in steroid-dependent CD. Numerous other clinical scenarios require well-designed clinical studies in terms of patient profile, drug formulation and dosage, and criteria of efficacy.
The impact of sleep apnea on primary reverse shoulder arthroplasty for the treatment of glenohumeral osteoarthritis
Authors: Valentino Nicolás , Moattari Kevin , Gordon Adam M , Ashraf Asad M , Sadeghpour Ramin , Razi Afshin E
Published: March 2022

Introduction

As the prevalence of sleep apnea (SA) increases nationwide, large sample sized studies following primary reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) in SA patients are scarce. Therefore, this study evaluated whether SA is associated with 1) longer in-hospital lengths of stay (LOS) 2) readmissions 3) medical complications and 4) costs.

Methods

A retrospective nationwide Medicare analysis from 2005 to 2014 was performed. Inclusion criteria were patients with SA undergoing RSA for the treatment of glenohumeral osteoarthritis. Study group patients were 1:5 ratio matched to controls yielding 6241 patients in the study and 31,179 in the comparison cohort. Logistic regression was used to calculate odds-ratios (OR) for readmissions and complications. A p-value less than 0.004 was significant.

Results

SA patients had significantly longer in-hospital LOS compared to their counterparts (3-days versus 2-days, p  < 0.0001), but similar rates of 90-day readmissions (7.98% vs. 6.54%; OR: 1.00, p  = 0.907). Patients with SA had significantly greater incidence and odds of 90-day medical complications (13.36% vs. 7.29%; OR: 1.42, p  < 0.0001) and significantly higher 90-day costs ($16,529.16 vs. $14,789.15, p  < 0.0001).

Conclusion

Patients with SA undergoing primary RSA for the treatment of glenohumeral OA have longer in-hospital LOS, increased medical complications, and costs of care. Readmissions were not more common.

Level of Evidence

III
A retrospective comparison of salvage intensive chemotherapy versus venetoclax-combined regimen in patients with relapsed/refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML)
Authors: Park Silvia , Kwag Daehun , Kim Tong Yoon , Lee Jong Hyuk , Lee Joon yeop , Min Gi June , Park Sung Soo , Yahng Seung-Ah , Jeon Young-Woo , Shin Seung-Hwan , Yoon Jae-Ho , Lee Sung-Eun , Cho Byung Sik , Eom Ki-Seong , Kim Yoo-Jin , Lee Seok , Min Chang-Ki , Cho Seok-Goo , Lee Jong Wook , Kim Hee-Je
Published: March 2022

Background:

Evidence that a venetoclax (VEN)-combined regimen is effective in relapsed/refractory acute myeloid leukemia (R/R AML) is emerging. However, it is unknown how VEN-combined low intensity treatment compares to intensive chemotherapy (IC) in medically fit patients with R/R AML.

Methods:

We compared AML patients who received IC ( n = 89) to those who received a VEN in combination with hypomethylating agents or low dose cytarabine (VEN combination) ( n = 54) as their first- or second-line salvage after failing anthracycline-containing intensive chemotherapy.

Results:

The median age was 49 years, and significantly more patients in the VEN combination group were in their second salvage and had received prior stem cell transplantation (SCT). Overall response rates including CR, CRi, and MLFS were comparable (44.0% for IC vs. 59.3% for VEN combination, p = 0.081), but VEN combination group compared to IC group tended to show lower treatment related mortality. The rate of bridging to SCT was the same (68.5%), but the percentage of SCT at blast clearance was significantly higher in the VEN-combined group (62.3% vs. 86.5%, p = 0.010). After median follow-up periods of 22.5 (IC) and 11.3 months (VEN combination), the median overall survival was 8.9 (95% CI, 5.4-12.4) and 12.4 months (95% CI, 9.5-15.2) ( p = 0.724), respectively.

Conclusion:

VEN combination provides a comparable anti-leukemic response and survival to salvage IC, and provide a bridge to SCT with better disease control in medically-fit patients with R/R AML.
Establishment of the SIS scaffold-based 3D model of human peritoneum for studying the dissemination of ovarian cancer
Authors: Herbert Saskia-Laureen , Fick Andrea , Heydarian Motaharehsadat , Metzger Marco , Wöckel Achim , Rudel Thomas , Kozjak-Pavlovic Vera , Wulff Christine
Published: March 2022

Ovarian cancer is the second most common gynecological malignancy in women. More than 70% of the cases are diagnosed at the advanced stage, presenting as primary peritoneal metastasis, which results in a poor 5-year survival rate of around 40%. Mechanisms of peritoneal metastasis, including adhesion, migration, and invasion, are still not completely understood and therapeutic options are extremely limited. Therefore, there is a strong requirement for a 3D model mimicking the in vivo situation. In this study, we describe the establishment of a 3D tissue model of the human peritoneum based on decellularized porcine small intestinal submucosa (SIS) scaffold. The SIS scaffold was populated with human dermal fibroblasts, with LP-9 cells on the apical side representing the peritoneal mesothelium, while HUVEC cells on the basal side of the scaffold served to mimic the endothelial cell layer. Functional analyses of the transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) and the FITC-dextran assay indicated the high barrier integrity of our model. The histological, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural analyses showed the main characteristics of the site of adhesion. Initial experiments using the SKOV-3 cell line as representative for ovarian carcinoma demonstrated the usefulness of our models for studying tumor cell adhesion, as well as the effect of tumor cells on endothelial cell-to-cell contacts. Taken together, our data show that the novel peritoneal 3D tissue model is a promising tool for studying the peritoneal dissemination of ovarian cancer.
Prevalence and associated factors of home delivery in Eastern Africa: Further analysis of data from the recent Demographic and Health Survey data
Authors: Regassa Lemma Demissie , Tola Assefa , Weldesenbet Adisu Birhanu , Tusa Biruk Shalmeno
Published: March 2022

Objectives:

The current study aimed to determine the magnitude of home delivery and its associated factors in East Africa using data from the Demographic and Health Survey.

Methods:

We pooled data from the Demographic and Health Survey of the 11 East African countries and included a total weighted sample of 126,107 women in the study. The generalized linear mixed model was fitted to identify factors associated with home delivery. Variables with adjusted odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval, and p value < 0.05 in the final generalized linear mixed model were reported to declare significantly associated factors with home delivery.

Result:

The weighted prevalence of home delivery was 23.68% (95% confidence interval: [23.45, 23.92]) among women in East African countries. Home delivery was highest in Ethiopia (72.5%) whereas, it was lowest in Mozambique (2.8%). In generalized linear mixed model, respondent’s age group, marital status, educational status, place of residence, living country, wealth index, media exposure, and number of children ever born were shown significant association with the home delivery in the East African countries,

Conclusion:

Home delivery varied between countries in the East African zone. Home delivery was significantly increased among women aged 20–34 years, higher number of ever born children, rural residence, never married, or formerly married participants. On the contrary, home delivery decreased with higher educational level, media exposure, and higher wealth index. Wide-range interventions to reduce home delivery should focus on addressing inequities associated with maternal education, family wealth, increased access to the media, and narrowing the gap between rural and urban areas, poor and rich families, and married and unmarried mothers.
Extending the Technology Acceptance Model to Explore Students’ Intention to Use an Online Education Platform at a University in China
Authors: Zhou Liqiu , Xue Sijia , Li Ruiqian
Published: March 2022

While online education has been increasingly adopted in different educational systems across the world, it is still a recent phenomenon in developing countries such as China. Various factors could affect learners’ adoption of technology, including their online learning. In this study, we took the Technology Acceptance Model as the theoretical framework and extended the Model by including extra external variables and one perceived variable to explore factors influencing learners’ intention to use an online education platform. A total of 276 college students from a university in mainland China participated in the study. Results showed that 9 of the 12 hypotheses proposed were supported. External variables such as Online Course Design, Perceived System Quality, and Perceived Enjoyment, along with an extra perceived variable (Perceived Interaction) have been identified as effective predictors of learners’ intention to use the education platform. Implications of the findings are discussed and suggestions for future research are provided.
A Study on the Theoretical Framework of Discourse Analysis of China’s Response to Sino-US Trade Frictions
Authors: Linjing Cao
Published: March 2022

This paper selects the reports on Sino-US trade friction published by People’s Daily from August 2, 2019, when the United States announced that it would impose tariffs on Chinese goods exported to the United States, until the end of September 2019. Based on Zang Guoren’s news framework theory, this paper used the method of content analysis and framework analysis to analyze the four aspects of news source, reporting theme, schema structure, and reporting tendency. This paper analyzes the characteristics of the news framework constructed by People’s Daily under the publication strategy of Sino-US trade friction news reports. People’s Daily constructs the basic framework of news report with the main body showing the evaluation of China’s tariff increase policy of the United States. The theme of this paper is to focus on the ways in which China’s mainstream media People’s Daily reports Sino-US trade frictions, and find out the fundamental differences between China and the United States in the process of analyzing relevant news reports. People’s Daily attaches great importance to the expression of Chinese speech position in terms of news report selection strategy, focusing on dialogue, cooperation, and discourse communication, supplemented by criticism and refutation, focusing on the future prospects of Sino-US economic and trade relations, and emphasizing “speech communication” more than “counter action.” The related reports on Sino-US trade frictions in People’s Daily retrieved in this paper reflect China’s strong confidence in its own economic development strength in the face of the trade crisis brought about by the arbitrary imposition of tariffs by the United States. It also emphasizes the principle of “reasonable, advantageous, and prudent” adopted by China’s counter-measures, highlighting China’s desire to actively engage in equal and effective dialogue with the U.S., and expressing the Chinese government’s willingness to actively resolve Sino-US trade frictions under the premise of “mutual benefit and win-win results.”
Epidemiology and Outcomes of Maxillofacial Injuries in NCAA Division I Athletes Participating in 13 Sports
Authors: Mertz Kevin C. , Bolia Ioanna K. , English Margaret G. , Cho Austin W. , Trasolini Nicholas , Hasan Laith K. , Haratian Aryan , Diaz Paul , Romano Russ , Gamradt Seth C. , Weber Alexander E.
Published: March 2022

Background:

Maxillofacial injuries account for an estimated 11% of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) sport-related injuries and occur at a rate of 0.2-1.5 injuries per 1000 athletic events/exposures.

Purpose:

The purpose of this study was to report the epidemiology, treatment, and outcomes of maxillofacial injuries in NCAA Division I athletes participating in 13 sports. It was hypothesized that the rate of maxillofacial injuries would be greater than previously reported in national registry studies.

Study Design:

Descriptive epidemiology study.

Methods:

A single-institution registry was utilized to retrieve the maxillofacial injuries and surgical procedures recorded over 4 athletic seasons, for the years 2015 through 2019, across 13 NCAA Division I sports. The incidence of injuries per sport was reported as the number per 1000 athlete-exposure (AE) hours. The time lost from participation and time to complete injury resolution per sport were reported as the mean and range.

Results:

A total of 193 maxillofacial injuries occurred over 4 seasons. The overall incidence of maxillofacial injuries was 2.06 injuries per 1000 AE hours. The injury incidence for male and female athletes was 1.92 and 2.43 injuries per 1000 AE hours, respectively. Men’s basketball (8.30 injuries per 1000 AE hours) and men’s water polo (8.15 injuries per 1000 AE hours) had the highest rates of all sports. Overall, 20 athletes (10.4%) required surgery. The mean time to resolution across all sports was 33.3 days (range, 0-336 days) per injury. The mean time lost across all sports was 17.1 days (range, 0-336 days) per injury.

Conclusion:

At a single NCAA Division I institution, maxillofacial injuries occurred at a higher rate than previously thought and could lead to significant time lost from sport participation. Basketball players were at the highest risk of this injury. Across all sports, male athletes took longer to return to sport after a maxillofacial injury compared to female athletes, but the latter required more time to fully recover. Maxillofacial injuries may require surgical treatment, and their prevention is critical.
Better Coverage of the ACL Tibial Footprint and Less Injury to the Anterior Root of the Lateral Meniscus Using a Rounded-Rectangular Tibial Tunnel in ACL Reconstruction: A Cadaveric Study
Authors: Shao Jiayi , Zhang Jiahao , Ren Shuang , Liu Ping , Ma Yong , Ao Yingfang
Published: March 2022

Background:

To better restore the anatomy of the native anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) attachment and fiber arrangement, researchers have developed techniques for changing the shape of the ACL bone tunnel during ACL reconstruction.

Purpose:

To compare the coverage of the ACL tibial footprint and influence on the anterior root of lateral meniscus (ARLM) between a rounded-rectangular tibial tunnel and a conventional round tibial tunnel for ACL reconstruction.

Study Design:

Controlled laboratory study.

Methods:

A total of 16 (8 matched-paired) fresh-frozen human cadaveric knees were distributed randomly into 2 groups: a rounded-rectangular tunnel (RRT) group and a round tunnel (RT) group. One of the knees from each pair was reamed with rounded-rectangular tibial tunnel, whereas the other was reamed with round tibial tunnel. Coverage of the ACL tibial footprint and areas of ARLM attachment before and after reaming were measured using 3-dimensional isotropic magnetic resonance imaging.

Results:

In the RRT group, the average percentage of ACL tibial footprint covered by the tunnel was 70.8% ± 2.5%, which was significantly higher than that in the RT group (48.2% ± 6.4%) ( P = .012). As for the ARLM attachment area, in the RT group, there was a significant decrease (22.5% ± 5.9%) in ARLM attachment area after tibial tunnel reaming compared with the intact state ( P < .001). Conversely, in the RRT group, the ARLM attachment area was not significantly affected by tibial tunnel reaming.

Conclusion:

Rounded-rectangular tibial tunnel was able to better cover the native ACL tibial footprint and significantly lower the risk of iatrogenic injury to the ARLM attachment than round tibial tunnel during ACL reconstruction.
Patient Satisfaction Scale for Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients: Development and Psychometric Properties
Authors: Wunadavalli Laxmi Tej , Satpathy Sidhartha , Satapathy Sujata , Singh Sheetal , Singh Angel Rajan , Kumar Chadda Rakesh , Tiwari Shraddhesh Kumar , Barre Vijay Prasad
Published: March 2022

Objective: Patients’ appraisal of health care delivery system and services during COVID-19 could be an important yardstick for hospital administration and policy makers. The study attempted to develop and test the psychometric properties of a new patient satisfaction scale for COVID-19 patients. Methods: A total of 446 COVID-19-hospitalized COVID-19 patients in a tertiary care designated COVID-19 care hospital constituted the sample. Factor structure of scale was obtained using exploratory factor analysis (EFA). Internal consistency, split-half reliability, and validity (e.g., content, convergent, and divergent) were also evaluated. Results: Item reduction resulted in a 21-item scale consisting of three factors, namely COVID-19-focused treatment facility, COVID-19-appropriate hospital facility, and COVID-19-specific daily needs service facility. It demonstrated excellent internal consistency and reliability (Cronbach's alpha [α]: 0.93; Split-half reliability: 0.90), excellent content validity, and adequate convergent and divergent validity. The scale had no floor effects. Inter-index correlations were significant. To our knowledge: this scale is the first such psychometrically robust self-rated scale for patients’ perception about hospital services during COVID-19. Available in both Hindi and English languages, the scale provides a quick measure of patient experience regarding CCOVID-19-specific hospital services.