bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of a novel ectoparasite on condition and mouth coloration of nestling barn swallows
Authors: Dugas Matthew B , Border Shana E
Published: September 2021

Parasites have profound and widespread implications for the ecology and evolution of hosts, and human activity has increased the frequency of interactions between hosts and parasites that have not co-evolved. For example, by building habitat attractive for nesting, humans might have facilitated range expansion by cliff swallows (Petrochelidon pyrrhonata) and barn swallows (Hirundo rustica) in North America, concurrently allowing a haematophagous ectoparasite of cliff swallows, the swallow bug (Oeciacus vicarious), to infest the nests of barn swallows. We found that in barn swallow nests infested with swallow bugs, nestlings weighed less and had lower haematocrit, and the within-brood variation in body mass and tarsus length was higher. Information about these negative effects might be available to parents via mouth coloration, a condition-dependent component of the begging signal. We found that nestlings from infested broods had lower-intensity carotenoid-based and ultraviolet mouth colours, although most elements of colour were unrelated to parasites. Host switching by the swallow bug offers excellent opportunities to understand the direct and indirect effects of a novel parasite and might also afford insights into how parasites cope with selective pressures exerted by closely related hosts with key ecological differences.
A note on median regression for complex surveys
Authors: Fraser Raphael A , Lipsitz Stuart R , Sinha Debajyoti , Fitzmaurice Garrett M
Published: September 2021

There is a great need for statistical methods for analyzing skewed responses in complex sample surveys. Quantile regression is a logical option in addressing this problem but is often accompanied by incorrect variance estimation. We show how the variance can be estimated correctly by including the survey design in the variance estimation process. In a simulation study, we illustrate that the variance of the median regression estimator has a very small relative bias with appropriate coverage probability. The motivation for our work stems from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey where we demonstrate the impact of our results on iodine deficiency in females compared with males adjusting for other covariates.
The Latin American Dialysis and Renal Transplantation Registry: report 2019
Authors: Luxardo Rosario , Ceretta Laura , González-Bedat María , Ferreiro Alejandro , Rosa-Diez Guillermo
Published: September 2021

Background

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) in Latin America (LA) continues to represent a challenge due to the burden of disease it causes and the difficulty in accessing treatment. LA has a total population of 652 million people living in 20 countries that occupy an area of 19.2 million km2. The Latin American Dialysis and Renal Transplantation Registry (LADRTR), founded in 1991, has collected data and reports on patients receiving kidney replacement therapy (KRT) since 1993. This article summarizes the registry data for 2019.

Methods

Participating countries complete an annual survey collecting aggregated data on incident and prevalent patients on KRT in all modalities. The different treatment modalities considered were hemodialysis (HD), peritoneal dialysis (PD) and living functioning kidney graft (LFG). National gross domestic product per capita (GDP, expressed in US dollars) and life expectancy at birth (LEB) corresponding to the year 2019 were collected from the World Bank Data Bank. Prevalence and incidence were compared with previous years and were also correlated with GDP and LEB.

Results

On 31 December 2019 a total of 432 610 patients were in KRT in LA, corresponding to an overall unadjusted prevalence of 866 per million population (pmp). Regarding treatment modality, 66.7% of the prevalent patients were treated with HD and 9.3% with PD while 24% of the patients had an LFG. A total of 85 224 patients started KRT in LA, representing a total unadjusted incidence rate of 168 pmp. Diabetic nephropathy as a cause of CKD continues to be a relevant percentage (36%) and five countries reported CKD of nontraditional causes. The kidney transplant rate in the region was 22 pmp, varying from 1 to >60 pmp. The total prevalence of KRT correlated positively with GDP per capita (r2 = 0.6, P < 0.01) and LEB (r2 = 0.23, P < 0.05). The overall incidence rate also significantly correlated with GDP (r2 = 0.307, P < 0.05). The overall unadjusted mortality rate was 13%.

Conclusion

Accessibility to KRT is still limited in LA. It is necessary to continue the efforts made by each country and the Latin American Society of Nephrology and Hypertension to guarantee equal access to treatment.
The World Spider Trait database: a centralized global open repository for curated data on spider traits
Authors: Pekár Stano , Wolff Jonas O , Černecká Ľudmila , Birkhofer Klaus , Mammola Stefano , Lowe Elizabeth C , Fukushima Caroline S , Herberstein Marie E , Kučera Adam , Buzatto Bruno A , Djoudi El Aziz , Domenech Marc , Enciso Alison Vanesa , Piñanez Espejo Yolanda M G , Febles Sara , García Luis F , Gonçalves-Souza Thiago , Isaia Marco , Lafage Denis , Líznarová Eva , Macías-Hernández Nuria , Magalhães Ivan , Malumbres-Olarte Jagoba , Michálek Ondřej , Michalik Peter , Michalko Radek , Milano Filippo , Munévar Ana , Nentwig Wolfgang , Nicolosi Giuseppe , Painting Christina J , Pétillon Julien , Piano Elena , Privet Kaïna , Ramírez Martín J , Ramos Cândida , Řezáč Milan , Ridel Aurélien , Růžička Vlastimil , Santos Irene , Sentenská Lenka , Walker Leilani , Wierucka Kaja , Zurita Gustavo Andres , Cardoso Pedro
Published: September 2021

Spiders are a highly diversified group of arthropods and play an important role in terrestrial ecosystems as ubiquitous predators, which makes them a suitable group to test a variety of eco-evolutionary hypotheses. For this purpose, knowledge of a diverse range of species traits is required. Until now, data on spider traits have been scattered across thousands of publications produced for over two centuries and written in diverse languages. To facilitate access to such data, we developed an online database for archiving and accessing spider traits at a global scale. The database has been designed to accommodate a great variety of traits (e.g. ecological, behavioural and morphological) measured at individual, species or higher taxonomic levels. Records are accompanied by extensive metadata (e.g. location and method). The database is curated by an expert team, regularly updated and open to any user. A future goal of the growing database is to include all published and unpublished data on spider traits provided by experts worldwide and to facilitate broad cross-taxon assays in functional ecology and comparative biology.

Database URL: https://spidertraits.sci.muni.cz/
Greater plaque burden and cholesterol content may explain an increased incidence of non-culprit events in diabetic patients: a Lipid-Rich Plaque substudy
Authors: Demola Pierluigi , Di Mario Carlo , Torguson Rebecca , Ten Cate Tim , Bambagioni Gabriele , Ali Ziad , Skinner William , Artis Andre , Zhang Cheng , Garcia-Garcia Hector M , Doros Gheorghe , Mintz Gary S , Waksman Ron
Published: September 2021

Aims

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The multicentre, prospective Lipid-Rich Plaque trial (LRP) examined non-culprit (NC) non-obstructive coronary segments with a combined near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS)-intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) catheter. This study assessed the differences in NC plaque characteristics and their influence on major adverse cardiac events (MACE) in diabetic and non-diabetic patients.

Methods and results

Patients with known DM status were divided into no diabetes, diabetes not treated with insulin (non-ITDM), and insulin-treated diabetes (ITDM). The association between presence and type of DM and NC-MACE was assessed at both the patient and coronary segment levels by Cox proportional regression modelling. Out of 1552 patients enrolled, 1266 who had their diabetes status recorded were followed through 24 months. Female sex, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, peripheral vascular disease, and high body mass index were significantly more frequent in diabetic patients. The ITDM group had more diseased vessels, at least one NC segment with a maxLCBI4 mm ≥400 in 46.2% of patients, and maxLCBI4 mm ≥400 in nearly one out of six Ware segments (15.2%, 125/824 segments). The average maxLCBI4 mm significantly increased from non-diabetic patients (NoDM) to non-insulin-treated diabetic patients (non-ITDM) to insulin-treated diabetic patients (ITDM; 137.7 ± 161.9, 154.8 ± 173.6, 182.9 ± 193.2, P < 0.001, respectively). In patients assigned to follow-up (692 ± 129 days), ITDM doubled the incidence of NC-MACE compared with the absence of diabetes (15.7% vs. 6.9%, P = 0.0008). The presence of maxLCBI4 mm>400 further increased the NC-MACE rate to 21.6% (Kaplan–Meier estimate).

Conclusion

Cholesterol-rich NC plaques detected by NIRS-IVUS were significantly more frequent in diabetic patients, especially those who were insulin-treated, and were associated with an increased NC-MACE during follow-up.
Aortic arch reconstruction in the Norwood procedure using a curved polytetrafluorethylene patch
Authors: Sames-Dolzer Eva , Gierlinger Gregor , Kreuzer Michaela , Mair Roland , Gitter Roland , Prandstetter Christoph , Tulzer Gerald , Mair Rudolf
Published: September 2021

OBJECTIVES

The aortic arch enlargement in the Norwood procedure is classically carried out using a curved homograft patch on the inner curvature of the neoaortic arch. The study investigates the outcome of a newly used artificial patch from a vascular prosthesis as an alternative to a homograft patch.

METHODS

Since April 2007, we used curved polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE) patches cut out of a prosthesis as an alternative to homograft patches for the aortic arch reconstruction. The decision for either patch material was made due to anatomic reasons, preferring PTFE patches in larger aortas. In this study, 224 Norwood patients, operated between April 2007 and April 2018, were analysed. A total of 104 patients received a PTFE patch (group PTFE), and 120 patients got a pulmonary homograft patch (group homograft). A single-centre retrospective analysis was carried out concerning postoperative course and long-term follow-up regarding aortic arch interventions and reoperations and comparing the 2 material groups.

RESULTS

There were no material associated operative or postoperative complications. In-hospital mortality was 13% in group PTFE. Six children died late during follow-up (6%). One aortic isthmus dilatation (1%) was carried out 12 months after the Norwood procedure in this group, no arch reoperation was necessary during the complete follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

The curved PTFE patch showed good qualities in operative technical demands and excellent long-term results. In selected cases of hypoplastic left heart syndrome, it can be well used as alternative to the pulmonary homograft.
Characterizing Amino Acid Substitution with Complete Linkage of Sites on a Lineage
Authors: Stark Tristan L , Liberles David A
Published: September 2021

Amino acid substitution models are commonly used for phylogenetic inference, for ancestral sequence reconstruction, and for the inference of positive selection. All commonly used models explicitly assume that each site evolves independently, an assumption that is violated by both linkage and protein structural and functional constraints. We introduce two new models for amino acid substitution which incorporate linkage between sites, each based on the (population-genetic) Moran model. The first model is a generalized population process tracking arbitrarily many sites which undergo mutation, with individuals replaced according to their fitnesses. This model provides a reasonably complete framework for simulations but is numerically and analytically intractable. We also introduce a second model which includes several simplifying assumptions but for which some theoretical results can be derived. We analyze the simplified model to determine conditions where linkage is likely to have meaningful effects on sitewise substitution probabilities, as well as conditions under which the effects are likely to be negligible. These findings are an important step in the generation of tractable phylogenetic models that parameterize selective coefficients for amino acid substitution while accounting for linkage of sites leading to both hitchhiking and background selection.
Genetic demultiplexing of pooled single-cell RNA-sequencing samples in cancer facilitates effective experimental design
Authors: Weber Lukas M , Hippen Ariel A , Hickey Peter F , Berrett Kristofer C , Gertz Jason , Doherty Jennifer Anne , Greene Casey S , Hicks Stephanie C
Published: September 2021

Background

Pooling cells from multiple biological samples prior to library preparation within the same single-cell RNA sequencing experiment provides several advantages, including lower library preparation costs and reduced unwanted technological variation, such as batch effects. Computational demultiplexing tools based on natural genetic variation between individuals provide a simple approach to demultiplex samples, which does not require complex additional experimental procedures. However, to our knowledge these tools have not been evaluated in cancer, where somatic variants, which could differ between cells from the same sample, may obscure the signal in natural genetic variation.

Results

Here, we performed in silico benchmark evaluations by combining raw sequencing reads from multiple single-cell samples in high-grade serous ovarian cancer, which has a high copy number burden, and lung adenocarcinoma, which has a high tumor mutational burden. Our results confirm that genetic demultiplexing tools can be effectively deployed on cancer tissue using a pooled experimental design, although high proportions of ambient RNA from cell debris reduce performance.

Conclusions

This strategy provides significant cost savings through pooled library preparation. To facilitate similar analyses at the experimental design phase, we provide freely accessible code and a reproducible Snakemake workflow built around the best-performing tools found in our in silico benchmark evaluations, available at https://github.com/lmweber/snp-dmx-cancer.
Bias-invariant RNA-sequencing metadata annotation
Authors: Wartmann Hannes , Heins Sven , Kloiber Karin , Bonn Stefan
Published: September 2021

Background

Recent technological advances have resulted in an unprecedented increase in publicly available biomedical data, yet the reuse of the data is often precluded by experimental bias and a lack of annotation depth and consistency. Missing annotations makes it impossible for researchers to find datasets specific to their needs.

Findings

Here, we investigate RNA-sequencing metadata prediction based on gene expression values. We present a deep-learning–based domain adaptation algorithm for the automatic annotation of RNA-sequencing metadata. We show, in multiple experiments, that our model is better at integrating heterogeneous training data compared with existing linear regression–based approaches, resulting in improved tissue type classification. By using a model architecture similar to Siamese networks, the algorithm can learn biases from datasets with few samples.

Conclusion

Using our novel domain adaptation approach, we achieved metadata annotation accuracies up to 15.7% better than a previously published method. Using the best model, we provide a list of >10,000 novel tissue and sex label annotations for 8,495 unique SRA samples. Our approach has the potential to revive idle datasets by automated annotation making them more searchable.
Human TRPV1 and TRPA1 are receptors for bacterial quorum sensing molecules
Authors: Tobita Naoya , Tsuneto Kana , Ito Shigeaki , Yamamoto Takeshi
Published: September 2021

In this study, we investigated the activation of TRPV1 and TRPA1 by N-acyl homoserine lactones, quorum sensing molecules produced by Gram-negative bacteria, and the inhibitory effect of TRPV1 and TRPA1 by autoinducing peptides (AIPs), quorum sensing molecules produced by Gram-positive bacteria, using human embryonic kidney 293T cell lines stably expressing human TRPV1 and TRPA1, respectively. As a result, we found that some N-acyl homoserine lactones, such as N-octanoyl-L-homoserine lactone (C8-HSL), N-nonanoyl-L-homoserine lactone (C9-HSL) and N-decanoyl-L-homoserine lactone (C10-HSL), activated both TRPV1 and TRPA1. In addition, we clarified that some N-acyl homoserine lactones, such as N-3-oxo-dodecanoyl-L-homoserine lactone (3-oxo-C12-HSL), only activated TRPV1 and N-acyl homoserine lactones having saturated short acyl chain, such as N-acetyl-L-homoserine lactone (C2-HSL) and N-butyryl-L-homoserine lactone (C4-HSL), only activated TRPA1. Furthermore, we found that an AIP, simple linear peptide CHWPR, inhibited both TRPV1 and TRPA1 and peptide having thiolactone ring DICNAYF, the thiolactone ring were formed between C3 to F7, strongly inhibited only the TRPV1. Although the specificity of TRPV1 and TRPA1 for quorum sensing molecules was different, these data suggest that both TRPV1 and TRPA1 would function as receptors for quorum sensing molecule produced by bacteria.
Multiple Sclerosis: Microglia, Monocytes, and Macrophage-Mediated Demyelination
Authors: Prineas John W , Parratt John D E
Published: September 2021

This study examined the roles of microglia and monocytes in myelin destruction in patients with early multiple sclerosis (MS). Twenty-two cases were studied; the clinical duration was <9 weeks in 10 cases. Twenty myeloid cell subtypes or categories were identified including 2 cell types not known previously to occur in demyelinating diseases. Commencing myelin breakdown in plaques and in perivascular and subpial tissues occurred in the immediate presence of infiltrating monocytes and was effected by a homogeneous population of IgG-positive Fc receptor-bearing early phagocytes interacting with abnormal myelin. Oligodendrocyte apoptosis was observed in intact myelinated tissue bordering areas of active demyelination. Capillaries in the cerebral cortex plugged by large numbers of monocytes were common in acute cases of MS and in a patient with a neuromyelitis optica variant and extreme systemic recruitment of monocytes. In an MS patient with progressive disease, microglial nodules centered on MHC-II-positive capillaries plugged by monocytes were present in the cerebral cortex. This constitutes a new gray matter lesion in MS.
Warpage modeling and characterization of intelligent power modules (IPMs)
Authors: Shih Meng-Kai , Lee Tai-Kuang , Chang Jin-Gyao
Published: September 2021

Intelligent power modules (IPMs) are widely used in the electric vehicle (and hybrid electric vehicle industry nowadays due to their high power density and ability to integrate multiple components within a single package. However, the reliability of IPMs is severely degraded by the substrate warpage effect produced during the packaging process. This study therefore develops a computational model to analyze the warpage of the IPM assembly at various stages of the packaging process. The validity of the simulation model is confirmed by comparing the numerical results for the warpage of the direct plated copper substrate with the experimental observations. Taguchi experiments are then performed to examine the effects of eight control factors on the IPM package warpage following the post-mold cure (PMC) process, namely (1) the dam bar layout, (2) the epoxy molding compound (EMC) thickness, (3) the lead frame thickness, (4) the ceramic thickness, (5) the bottom layer Cu foil thickness, (6) the top layer Cu foil thickness, (7) the ceramic material type and (8) the EMC material type. Finally, the Taguchi analysis results are used to determine the optimal packaging design that minimizes the warpage of the post-PMC package.
Giant sacral schwannoma excised under intraoperative neuromonitoring in an elderly patient: case report
Authors: Colonna Michele R , Costa Alfio L , Mastrojeni Claudio , Rizzo Vincenzo , Nirta Giuseppe , Angileri Filippo F , Ieni Antonio , Milone Erica , Macrì Antonio
Published: September 2021

Schwannomas are mainly benign tumors arising from the Schwann cells of the peripheral nerve sheath. These tumors can often be associated with non-specific symptoms, such as abdominal heaviness. In this article, we present a detailed description of the surgical management of a giant sacral schwannoma in an elderly patient, for which intraoperative neuromonitoring made it possible to distinguish easily the nerves of the sacral plexus from which the tumor originated and to remove it without complications. Treatment of these rare and symptomatic giant tumors is still a challenge for surgeons; to treat adequately these tumors; a multidisciplinary approach is required to ensure an optimal therapeutic approach to reduce the risk of recurrence and, on the other hand, is not associated with unnecessary iatrogenic neurological damage.
Did Marcion Call the Creator ‘God’?
Authors: Litwa M David
Published: September 2021

Scholars often assert that Marcion believed in two Gods or supported a ditheistic theology. This essay argues that Marcion and his followers avoided calling the creator ‘God’ in an absolute sense. Instead, they preferred terms like ‘creator’ and ‘cosmocrator’. It is unlikely that Marcion would have described himself as a believer in two Gods (a type of polytheist). He maintained that there was one true God superior to the creator, without independently affirming the creator’s deity in an absolute sense. For Marcion(ites), the creator was not truly God, because the creator was not entirely good.
An automated classification system for urban areas matching the ‘city country fingers’ pattern: the cases of Kamakura (Japan) and Acireale (Italy) cities
Authors: Spina Roberto , Tramontana Emiliano
Published: September 2021

The uncontrolled expansion of urban areas is one of the main factors that reduce the liveability of cities. In recent years, to contrast urban sprawl, several nations have promoted policies aimed at developing urban green spaces. The importance of green oases within cities had already been highlighted, in 1977, by the architect Christopher Alexander who had developed a series of patterns including ‘City Country Fingers’ claiming that city development should consider the prolongation of country land in to the urban area.

In several cities, especially in Japan, it is possible to recognize the imprint of urban development based on country fingers. This term refers to extensive urban intersections of agricultural land or wooded hills which, from the peripheral areas, penetrate the city. Inside them, there are urban windows, called city fingers, whose development direction is opposite to those of the country fingers. To recognize and analyze, in an automated way, these particular structures, a Python-based application was created. Starting from the original high-resolution image of Google Earth, a complete analysis was performed, labeling and delimiting urban and vegetational areas and extrapolating the main geometric parameters of the country and city fingers. The finalization of the results obtained was carried out through a classification model whose criteria were based on Alexander’s pattern.

Thanks to this classification scheme, the distinction between Active Green Areas (country fingers) and Passive Green Areas (gardens and public parks) have been revealed for the analyzed cities. The tests performed showed almost ideal conditions for the city of Kamakura and a limited match for the urban area of Acireale. The proposed method is suitable for fields of application that require a qualitative and quantitative determination of the vegetation cover present within the city, an essential condition for correct territorial planning.
Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia with a BCR-ABL1 Rearrangement in a Minor Clone
Authors: Cho Yonggeun , Hyun Jungwon , Kim Miyoung , Han Boram , Lee Young Kyung
Published: September 2021

Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is a type of acute myeloid leukemia characterized by predominating abnormal promyelocytes with a PML-RARA rearrangement or a variant thereof. BCR-ABL1 rearrangement is an oncogenic event that is usually associated with chronic myeloid leukemia but also occurs in both acute lymphoblastic and acute myeloid leukemias and in healthy individuals. However, APL with concurrent PML-RARA and BCR-ABL1 rearrangements has rarely been reported. Herein, we describe a patient with APL exhibiting a BCR-ABL1 rearrangement in a minor clone and discuss the importance of evaluating this genetic alteration in terms of pathogenesis and treatment.
An Interview with Mayra Rivera: Postcolonial Women’s Writing and Material Religion
Authors: Rivera Mayra , Jasper Alison , Darroch Fiona
Published: September 2021

In this interview, Mayra Rivera talks about her own journey with literature and theology and what this relationship means to her. She talks about the distinct role that literature plays in a postcolonial context, and its ability to articulate painful losses, histories, as well as economic and environmental realities, with a particular focus on the Caribbean and South America, and the work of Sylvia Wynter, Edwidge Danticat, Mayra Santos Febres, Édouard Glissant, amongst others. This storytelling is often deeply theological and material. The nature of this entanglement, between storytelling, theology, materiality, and post/neo/de-colonialism, is explored in heartfelt detail.
postcolonial Racialisation of Gender and Religious Experience within the Settler Colonial Context: Ahed Tamimi’s Experience of a Racialised Practice
Authors: Pycińska Magdalena
Published: September 2021

Processes of racialisation and gendering take place within social relations and hierarchies that have an impact on bodies and inform people’s actions. ‘Material religion’ describes the exploration of how religion happens in material culture, that is, in different practices that draw on the category of religion or put it to work. In this article, I explore how the meaning of acting as a Muslim differs depending on interrelations with social categories such as race and gender within the Israeli settler colonial project in Palestine. I focus my case study on a young activist, Ahed Tamimi, whose everyday resistance to the Israeli occupation, both in terms of categories of religion and gender, has been racialised as Palestinian. Her experiences add to the discussion of how postcolonial women challenge various forms of hegemony in their everyday lives and how others interpret their actions. I also challenge the limitations of the category ‘postcolonial’, especially in this context.
The phage defence island of a multidrug resistant plasmid uses both BREX and type IV restriction for complementary protection from viruses
Authors: Picton David M , Luyten Yvette A , Morgan Richard D , Nelson Andrew , Smith Darren L , Dryden David T F , Hinton Jay C D , Blower Tim R
Published: September 2021

Bacteria have evolved a multitude of systems to prevent invasion by bacteriophages and other mobile genetic elements. Comparative genomics suggests that genes encoding bacterial defence mechanisms are often clustered in ‘defence islands’, providing a concerted level of protection against a wider range of attackers. However, there is a comparative paucity of information on functional interplay between multiple defence systems. Here, we have functionally characterised a defence island from a multidrug resistant plasmid of the emerging pathogen Escherichia fergusonii. Using a suite of thirty environmentally-isolated coliphages, we demonstrate multi-layered and robust phage protection provided by a plasmid-encoded defence island that expresses both a type I BREX system and the novel GmrSD-family type IV DNA modification-dependent restriction enzyme, BrxU. We present the structure of BrxU to 2.12 Å, the first structure of the GmrSD family of enzymes, and show that BrxU can utilise all common nucleotides and a wide selection of metals to cleave a range of modified DNAs. Additionally, BrxU undergoes a multi-step reaction cycle instigated by an unexpected ATP-dependent shift from an intertwined dimer to monomers. This direct evidence that bacterial defence islands can mediate complementary layers of phage protection enhances our understanding of the ever-expanding nature of phage-bacterial interactions.
Poison by Advertisement: Cosmetics and the Art of Selling Whiteness c.1880–1920
Authors: Hammerschlag Keren Rosa
Published: September 2021

The late Victorian and Edwardian beauty industry produced a wealth of visual material that promoted lily-white complexions as a privileged indicator of beauty, youth, health and hygiene. This was especially the case in advertisements for British and American skin lightening, skin whitening and skin bleaching products. These advertisements used visual and linguistic devices to convince white women that the application of often-toxic products would restore blemished, tanned and freckled complexions to ‘natural’ whiteness. Moving from sun-starved Britain to sun-drenched Australia, skin lightening products were actively marketed to white women living in Federation Australia, revealing particular fears associated with the darkening and reddening effects of the southern sun.
Twenty-four-hour blood pressure profile in idiopathic REM sleep behavior disorder
Authors: Terzaghi Michele , Pilati Laura , Ghiotto Natascia , Arnaldi Dario , Versino Maurizio , Rustioni Valter , Rustioni Gianluca , Sartori Ivana , Manni Raffaele
Published: September 2021

Study Objectives

To determine whether autonomic dysfunction in idiopathic REM sleep behavior disorder (iRBD) affects circadian blood pressure (BP) profile.

Methods

Twenty-one iRBD (mean age 68.8 ± 6.4, mean age at onset 62.2 ± 9.3), 21 drug-free de novo Parkinson’s disease (PD) and 21 control participants (HCs), comparable for age and sex, underwent 24-h ambulatory BP monitoring. A prospective follow-up study was performed to evaluate the occurrence of neurodegenerative disorders in the iRBD cohort.

Results

In the iRBD group, nighttime systolic BP (SBP) was higher (124.0 ± 20.0, p = .026), nocturnal BP decrease lower (4.0 ± 8.7% for SBP and 8.7 ± 8.0% for diastolic BP [DBP], p = .001), and nondipping status more frequent (71.4% for SBP and 52.4% for DBP; p = .001 and p = .01, respectively) than in the HCs. Reverse dipping of SBP was found in 23.8% (p = .048) of the iRBD participants. Nondipping status was not associated with differences in gender, age, disease duration, age at disease onset, UPDRS score, presence of antihypertensive therapy, or polysomnographic measures. Patients with PD showed daytime and nighttime BP profiles comparable to those observed in iRBD. A subgroup analysis considering only the participants without antihypertensive therapy (12 iRBD, 12 PD) showed results superimposable on those of the whole iRBD and PD groups. Longitudinal follow-up (mean 5.1 ± 1.9 years) showed no differences in BP profile at baseline between converters (n = 6) and nonconverters.

Conclusions

Twenty-four-hour BP control was impaired in iRBD. This impairment, similar to patterns observed in de novo PD, consisted of reduced amplitude of nocturnal dipping and increased frequency of nondipping status. These findings could have implications for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in iRBD.
Hearing Impairment Linked to Poorer Physical Function in Older Adults
Authors: Rosenberg Karen
Published: September 2021

According to this study:

Community-dwelling older adults who had impaired hearing had poorer physical function, reduced walking endurance, and a faster decline in physical function than those who had normal hearing.

Managing hearing impairment could delay the decline in physical function that is associated with aging.
Appropriate coding and billing in occupational health
Authors: Nyhus Julie E.
Published: September 2021

Occupational health medicine plays a critical role in prevention, recognition, and treatment of injuries and illnesses of workers. This article explores commonly billed occupational injuries and illnesses.
Increasing human papillomavirus immunization in the primary care setting
Authors: Taylor Andrea C. , Hopkins Leslie W. , Moore Ginny
Published: September 2021

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a leading cause of cancer. Increasing HPV vaccination recommendations by primary care providers to patients decreases the burden of this viral infection. Providers need to be educated about this condition and the available options for immunization to feel confident in making strong recommendations and thereby increase HPV immunization rates.
Clinical decision support for severe trauma patients: Machine learning based definition of a bundle of care for hemorrhagic shock and traumatic brain injury
Authors: Lang Elodie , Neuschwander Arthur , Favé Gersende , Abback Paer-Selim , Esnault Pierre , Geeraerts Thomas , Harrois Anatole , Hanouz Jean-Luc , Kipnis Eric , Leone Marc , Legros Vincent , Mellati Nouchan , Pottecher Julien , Hamada Sophie , Pirracchio Romain ,   for Traumabase Group
Published: September 2021

BACKGROUND

Deviation from guidelines is frequent in emergency situations, and this may lead to increased mortality. Probably because of time constraints, 55% is the greatest reported guidelines compliance rate in severe trauma patients. This study aimed to identify among all available recommendations a reasonable bundle of items that should be followed to optimize the outcome of hemorrhagic shocks (HSs) and severe traumatic brain injuries (TBIs).

METHODS

We first estimated the compliance with French and European guidelines using the data from the French TraumaBase registry. Then, we used a machine learning procedure to reduce the number of recommendations into a minimal set of items to be followed to minimize 7-day mortality. We evaluated the bundles using an external validation cohort.

RESULTS

This study included 5,924 trauma patients (1,414 HS and 4,955 TBI) between 2011 and August 2019 and studied compliance to 36 recommendation items. Overall compliance rate to recommendation items was 71.6% and 66.9% for HS and TBI, respectively. In HS, compliance was significantly associated with 7-day decreased mortality in univariate analysis but not in multivariate analysis (risk ratio [RR], 0.91; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.90–1.17; p = 0.06). In TBI, compliance was significantly associated with decreased mortality in univariate and multivariate analysis (RR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.75–0.92; p = 0.01). For HS, the bundle included 13 recommendation items. In the validation cohort, when this bundle was applied, patients were found to have a lower 7-day mortality rate (RR, 0.46; 95% CI, 0.27–0.63; p = 0.01). In TBI, the bundle included seven items. In the validation cohort, when this bundle was applied, patients had a lower 7-day mortality rate (RR, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.34–0.71; p = 0.02).

DISCUSSION

Using a machine-learning procedure, we were able to identify a subset of recommendations that minimizes 7-day mortality following traumatic HS and TBI. These two bundles remain to be evaluated in a prospective manner.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Care Management, level II.
A core outcome set for resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta: A consensus based approach using a modified Delphi method
Authors: Nahmias Jeffry , Byerly Saskya , Stein Deborah , Haut Elliott R. , Smith Jason W. , Gelbard Rondi , Ziesmann Markus , Boltz Melissa , Zarzaur Ben , Biffl Walter L. , Brenner Megan , DuBose Joseph , Fox Charles , Galante Joseph , Martin Matthew , Moore Ernest E. , Moore Laura , Morrison Jonathan , Norii Tatsuya , Scalea Thomas , Yeh D. Dante
Published: September 2021

BACKGROUND

The utilization of resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) in trauma has grown exponentially in recent years. However, inconsistency in reporting of outcome metrics related to this intervention has inhibited the development of evidence-based guidelines for REBOA application. This study sought to attain consensus on a core outcome set (COS) for REBOA.

METHODS

A review of “landmark” REBOA articles was performed, and panelists (first and senior authors) were contacted for participation in a modified Delphi study. In round 1, panelists provided a list of potential core outcomes. In round 2, using a Likert scale (1 [not important] to 9 [very important]), panelists scored the importance of each potential outcome. Consensus for core outcomes was defined a priori as greater than 70% of scores receiving 7 to 9 and less than 15% of scores receiving 1 to 3. Feedback was provided after round 2, and a third round was performed to reevaluate variables not achieving consensus and allow a final “write-in” round by the experts.

RESULTS

From 17 identified panelists, 12 participated. All panelists (12 of 12, 100%) participated in each subsequent round. Panelists initially identified 34 unique outcomes, with two outcomes later added upon write-in request after round 2. From 36 total potential outcomes, 20 achieved consensus as core outcomes, and this was endorsed by 100% of the participants.

CONCLUSION

Panelists successfully achieved consensus on a COS for REBOA-related research. This REBOA-COS is recommended for all clinical trials related to REBOA and should help enable higher-quality study designs, valid aggregation of published data, and development of evidence-based practice management guidelines.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Diagnostic test or criteria, level V.

Trial Registration

Core Outcomes in Trauma Surgery: Development of a Core Outcome Set for Resuscitative Endovascular Balloon Occlusion of the Aorta (REBOA) http://www.comet-initiative.org/Studies/Details/1709.
Mice heterozygous for the Serpinb6a null mutation show deficits in central auditory function after acoustic trauma
Authors: Tan Justin , Kaiserman Dion , O’Leary Stephen J , Bird Phillip I.
Published: September 2021

Objectives

Complete deficiency of the serine protease inhibitor gene, SERPINB6, is responsible for autosomal-recessive, nonsyndromic sensorineural hearing loss in humans. A mouse model of this deafness gene identifies Serpinb6a expression in the neurosensory epithelium and fibrocytes of the cochlea. Homozygous Serpinb6a mutant mice display an exaggerated hearing loss after exposure to moderate acoustic trauma. It is unknown if and how heterozygous Serpinb6a mice show increased vulnerability to acoustic trauma.

Methods

We exposed Serpinb6a
+/− and Serpinb6a
+/+ mice to acoustic trauma and measured their hearing function prior to, 3 and 14 days postexposure, analysing shifts in hearing threshold and amplitudes of Wave I and II of the auditory brainstem-evoked response (ABR) to 4, 8, 16 and 32 kHz tones.

Results

Shifts in hearing threshold and Wave I amplitude of Serpinb6a
+/− mice were not significantly different from Serpinb6a
+/+ mice at both time points and all frequencies tested (P > 0.05, Mann–Whitney test). However, Wave II amplitudes at 16 and 32 kHz tones, were more severely diminished in Serpinb6a
+/− mice (P < 0.05). To exclude any effects of ageing on auditory function in Serpinb6a
+/− mice, hearing function of unexposed Serpinb6a
+/− mice was measured at start and end of the experimental period. The shift in Wave II amplitude of exposed Serpinb6a
+/− mice was significantly lower than unexposed Serpinb6a
+/− mice only at 16 and 32 kHz (P < 0.01), confirming acoustic trauma as the main cause of hearing deficits in Serpinb6a
+/− mice.

Conclusion

These results suggest that heterozygous Serpinb6a humans may be vulnerable to noise.
Sex differences in the aging brain? A voxel-based morphometry analysis of the hippocampus and the amygdala
Authors: Sambuco Nicola
Published: September 2021

Objectives

Volumetric reductions in the hippocampus and the amygdala are considered a hallmark for many psychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders. Because brain atrophy is often observed in disorders that have a higher prevalence in females than males, it has been proposed that sex differences in the aging brain represent a vulnerability factor for developing more severe psychiatric conditions.

Methods

Sexual dimorphism was assessed in the amygdala volume and hippocampal volume in a large sample (N = 554) of healthy individuals ranging from 20 to 79 years old, using structural brain data available from a public dataset.

Results

In both the hippocampus and the amygdala, a quadratic association was found between age and brain volume. Using uncorrected data for head size [total intracranial volume (TIV)], males clearly demonstrated larger amygdala and hippocampal volume across all ages, and an interaction between age and sex in the hippocampus supported the hypothesis of accelerated atrophy in the hippocampus in later life (60–79 years old). However, when volumetric data adjusted for TIV were used, sex differences were not observed in the hippocampus nor the amygdala.

Conclusion

These findings support the extensive series of studies suggesting that sex differences in brain volume are likely related to the confounding effect of head size. While continued effort is allocated to identify sex-related biomarkers, increasing evidence suggests that sexual dimorphism in the hippocampus or the amygdala does not appear to be the primary candidates for precision medicine to identify sex-related biomarkers that index potential vulnerabilities.
Unitization congruence moderates the effect of unitization on associative recognition: evidence from event-related potentials
Authors: Ma Yurao , Liu Zejun , Zhao Chunyu , Guo Chunyan
Published: September 2021

Objectives

Recently, a growing number of studies have shown that familiarity can promote associative recognition when more than two types of stimuli are combined into a single entity. However, it is not clear why the effect of unitization on associative recognition varies in the different studies. In this study, we examined whether the unitization congruence (UC) between original image pairs and rearranged ones affects associative recognition.

Methods

Participants were asked to learn relevant and irrelevant picture pairs for the encoding phase, and they needed to distinguish intact pairs from rearranged pairs for the retrieval phase, while event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded during the whole process.

Results

The results of the behavioral experiments showed that the performances of recognition (Prs: hits-false alarms) were higher under the relevant condition than under the irrelevant one for both UC conditions, although this effect was much larger under the inconsistent UC condition than under the consistent one. The ERP results also revealed that there were larger early old/new effect (FN400) and late left parietal old/new effect (LPC) under the relevant condition than under the irrelevant ones, irrespective of its consistency or inconsistency. However, these effects were more significant for inconsistent conditions.

Conclusions

These results indicated that UC can moderate the effect of unitization on associative recognition by increasing familiarity and recollection and revealed the need to match the level of unitization of materials arrangements in future studies.
Distribution of cycle threshold values in RT-qPCR tests during the autumn 2020 peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Czech Republic
Authors: Koblížek Michal , Hávová Daniela , Kopejtka Karel , Tomasch Jürgen , Bišová Kateřina
Published: September 2021

Reverse-transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) is currently the most sensitive method to detect severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We analysed 1927 samples collected in a local public hospital during the autumn 2020 peak of the pandemic in the Czech Republic. The tests were performed using the Seegene Allplex 2019-nCov assay, which simultaneously detects three SARS-CoV-2 genes. In all samples analysed, 44.5 % were negative for all three genes, and 37.6 % were undoubtedly positive, with all three viral genes being amplified. A high degree of correlation between C
t values among the genes confirmed the internal consistency of testing. Most of the positive samples were detected between the 15th and 35th cycles. We also registered a small number of samples with only one (13.2 %) or two (4.7 %) amplified genes, which may have originated from either freshly infected or already recovering patients. In addition, we did not detect any potentially false-positive samples from low-prevalence settings. Our results document that PCR testing represents a reliable and robust method for routine diagnostic detection of SARS-CoV-2.
Identification & correlation of bacterial diversity in oral cancer and long-term tobacco chewers- A case-control pilot study
Authors: Sawant Shriya , Dugad Jinesh , Parikh Deepak , Srinivasan Sathiyaraj , Singh Harinder
Published: September 2021

Introduction. Squamous cell carcinoma is a highly aggressive type of oral cancer (OC). It is the most common cancer among men, and accounts for almost 90 % of all oral cancers in India. Consumption of tobacco is a leading factor contributing to maximum oral cancer incidences as per the WHO.

Hypothesis/Gap statement. Researchers reported a direct association of microorganisms with dysbiosis in various oral lesions including oral cancer. However, there is a dearth of information related to compositional changes in the oral microbiome in long-term tobacco chewers and the Indian oral cancer population.

Aim. The aim of this study was to identify and correlate the bacterial diversity in the oral cavity of tobacco chewers, patients with oral cancer and healthy subjects in the Indian population.

Methods. Oral rinse samples were collected for ten subjects in each group followed by DNA extraction. The variable regions of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene (V6-V8) were amplified, sequenced, processed, and analysed using QIIME2 platform to assess alpha and beta diversity between the study groups.

Results. This pilot study showed genus

Streptococcus

dominated the control group (18.54 %), and the abundance decreased in tobacco and OC group (9.63 and 5.45% respectively); whereas genus

Prevotella

dominated the tobacco and OC group (21.01 and 26.03% respectively). A shift in abundance of microbiome was observed from control population to oral cancer via the tobacco chewing population. Maximum alpha diversity of oral microbiome was found in Indian tobacco chewers. Beta diversity of tobacco chewers was similar to both the healthy population as well as oral cancer patients suggesting transitioning of the oral microbiome from healthy to oral cancer microbiome via the tobacco chewers microbiome.

Conclusion. The data provides evidence of oral bacterial dysbiosis due to tobacco chewing habits that can further lead to progression towards cancer.