bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Knowledge Attitude and Practice (KAP) survey among healthcare professionals in pediatrics on the psychomotor development of children. Case of urban and rural health areas in South Kivu in the Democratic Republic of Congo: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Muke Kitoga , Ganywamulume Balagizi , Mwilo Mambo , Manegabe Tumsifu , Bruno Masumbuko , Archippe Birindwa
Published: August 2023

Introduction:

Development refers to change. The study of development is the understanding of how a subject functions at a particular age or time in life. The objective of this study was to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and practice of pediatric healthcare personnel on the psychomotor development of the child.

Methods:

This was a cross-sectional study of knowledge, attitude, and practice conducted in the health areas of South Kivu.

Results:

Twenty-six caregivers participated in the survey. Men were the most represented (61.5%), mean age 27.62±5.07 years; median experience in pediatrics: 1 year; predominantly urban setting with 69.2%. General practitioners were more represented, with 57.7%. The overall state of knowledge was insufficient in 69.2%. Knowledge1 improves with increasing experience in pediatrics (P=0.008), and qualification improves knowledge1 (P=0.033) and knowledge3 (P=0.009). Knowledge4 improved from rural to urban settings (P=0.022).

A good knowledge of the scales used in the evaluation of psychomotor development influences the use of one or the other (P=0.000). The authors also notice that those who indicate and/or have physical therapy practiced in rehabilitation are generally those who have a good knowledge of the use of psychomotor development assessment tools (P=0.010).

Conclusion:

This study highlights the low theoretical knowledge of caregivers on psychomotor development in our study setting, resulting in late diagnosis and consequently poor treatment of psychomotor development disorders. The results of this study indicate a need for continuing education for pediatric caregivers on the psychomotor development of the child.
A unique presentation of hyponatremia and seizures in a 2-month-old child with cystic fibrosis: a case report
Authors: Allouzi Sana , Rihawi Baraa , Allouzi Joud , Allouzi Mohammad I. , Abdulrahman Najwa , Abdullah Manar
Published: August 2023

Introduction and importance:

Cystic fibrosis is an autosomal recessive disorder that causes a broad range of clinical findings and can present unusually as electrolyte disturbance, such as hyponatremia that causes seizures in children.

Case presentation:

We report a case of a 2-month-old infant who presented with an episode of grand mal seizure induced by hyponatremia and moderate episodes of milky vomiting after breastfeeding.

Clinical discussion:

Proper investigations showed normal cardiac and renal functions. Ultrasonography showed no pathological changes. Laboratory tests performed showed hyponatremia, mild hypokalemia, and hypochloremia. Urinary electrolyte results were normal. While broadening the scope of differential diagnosis in order to reach a final diagnosis, the sweat chloride level was elevated, which confirmed the diagnosis of cystic fibroses.

Conclusion:

We aim to share our case to keep cystic fibroses in mind as a differential diagnosis when dealing with hyponatremic seizures in children.
Factitious cushing’s syndrome with unusual presentation: a case report and literature review
Authors: Zeer Almotazbellah M. M. , Noman Mahmoud , Zeer Zahraa M. M. , Attawneh Alaa , Bairmani Zinah A. , Alfroukh Khadeejeh M. A. , Oweina Layth
Published: August 2023

Introduction:

Munchausen syndrome is known as a factitious disorder imposed on the self. Factitious Cushing’s syndrome (CS) is a very rare form of Munchausen syndrome, presenting with varied clinical and biochemical features, making diagnosis challenging.

Case Presentation:

A 40-year-old female patient who worked as a registered nurse presented with clinical features of CS but denied any exogenous corticosteroid use. The endocrine workup revealed that the patient had a high 24 h urinary-free cortisol collection before admission. Subsequent evaluations showed low levels of morning cortisol and plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone along with a suppressed overnight low-dose dexamethasone suppression test, leading to an investigation of hypercortisolism. Unexpectedly, subsequent testing showed a normal 24 h urinary-free cortisol level. Additionally, the patient was diagnosed with panhypopituitarism, the radiological investigations showed normal pituitary and adrenal glands. Despite consistently denying the use of corticosteroids, it was finally discovered that the patient had been surreptitiously taking prednisone and receiving multiple dexamethasone injections over the past few months. The patient received treatment through a gradual prednisone tapering regimen, accompanied by comprehensive psychiatric evaluation and management.

Conclusion:

This case underscores the exceptional rarity of factitious CS and emphasizes the importance of considering it as a potential differential diagnosis in hypercortisolism cases, particularly when the patient’s medical history contradicts investigative findings. Furthermore, it highlights the criticality of adopting a multidisciplinary approach to investigate patients whose clinical presentation aligns with factitious CS.
Endogenous endophthalmitis in post-COVID-19 patients: a case report
Authors: Chaudhary Santosh , Sitaula Ranju K. , Karki Pratap , Joshi Sagun N.
Published: August 2023

Introduction and importance:

Ocular involvement in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can be due to direct viral invasion or indirectly due to an immunosuppressed state. Prolonged hospitalization also makes them susceptible to various secondary infections. The purpose of this case report is to report two rare cases of endogenous endophthalmitis (EE) in COVID-19 recovered patients.

Case presentation:

Two patients who were hospitalized and received treatment for COVID-19 pneumonia with remdesivir and systemic steroids presented with decreased vision. The first case had a severe anterior chamber reaction with a hypopyon and dense exudates in the vitreous. The second case had cells and flare in the anterior chamber and exudates in the vitreous. They were diagnosed with EE and underwent a diagnostic vitreous tap followed by pars plana vitrectomy and intravitreal antibiotic and steroid. The culture of vitreous fluid was negative for any bacteria and fungus in both cases. However, the first case demonstrated Escherichia coli in urine culture. The follow-up visual acuity was no perception of light and only perception of light in the first and second case, respectively.

Clinical discussion:

Severe COVID-19 patients who are hospitalized, receive systemic steroid and have associated comorbidities like diabetes mellitus are at high risk of EE.

Conclusion:

Delay in diagnosis and appropriate treatment in these patients leads to poor visual outcome.
An operational maintenance approach for improving physiological monitor by HFMEA process: an empirical case study
Authors: Chia Jen-Shu , Chang Ching , Yang Chen-Hsuan , Yang Ching-Hui , Chiang Yung-Tai , Wu Cheng-En
Published: August 2023

Background:

This study explored the application of healthcare failure mode and effect analysis (HFMEA) to identify and evaluate risk-associated factors in the intensive care unit (ICU) through a clinical-based expert knowledge (decision) for the physiological monitor operational maintenance process.

Methods and intervention:

A mixed qualitative and quantitative proactive approach to explore the HFMEA process by analyzing 20 units of physiological monitors in the ICU. An HFMEA expert team of six people was formed to perform a risk-based analysis and evaluate the potential hazard index, mitigating the hazard scores and risks.

Results:

From the main processes and possible failure reasons, one high-risk hazard index greater than or equal to 8 of the standard score was found. This standard score indicates the signed manufacturer’s contract for maintenance was the hazard index failure mode on the parts not regularly replaced according to the contract. This systematic hazard index failure mode shows the highest hazard scores in the possible failure reason category, established as a standard maintenance procedure. In addition, the HFMEA expert analysis of the 20 units of physiological monitors within 6 months of the original and remanufactured part maintenance results in operational availability from 90.9% for self-repair to 99.2% for contract manufacturer repair.

Conclusions:

This study concludes a systematic reference in malpractices caused by maintenance negligence. The HFMEA expert team agrees that hazard failure scores greater than or equal to 8 are vital assessments and evaluations for decision-making, especially in maintaining healthcare intensive unit care physiological monitors.
Assessment of sleep quality and its factors among clinicians working in critical care units and operation theaters at North West Ethiopia, 2022: a multicenter cross-sectional study
Authors: Tsegay Yitbarek , Arefayne Nurhusen R. , Fentie Demeke Y. , Workie Misganaw M. , Tegegne Biresaw A. , Berhe Yophtahe W.
Published: August 2023

Background:

The quality of sleep has an effect on the health of clinicians and the quality of patient care. Maintaining cognitive function/mood, facilitation of glucose metabolism, and strengthening of the immune system are among the roles that adequate sleep may contribute. Poor sleep quality is multifactorial, and studies had shown inconsistencies in the factors that contribute to the development of this poor sleep quality. The prevalence of poor sleep quality among clinicians working in the critical care unit and operation theater in the study setting was not investigated yet.

Objective:

The objective of this study was conducted for the purpose of assessing the quality of sleep and associated factors among clinicians working in the critical care unit and operation theater.

Methods:

A cross-sectional study was conducted from 15 May to 15 June 2022. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire from 421 clinicians selected by simple random sampling techniques. Sleep quality was measured by the Pittsburg sleep quality index. The data were entered into Epi-data and exported to SPSS. Frequency and percentage were used for the descriptive analysis. Binary and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to identify factors associated with poor quality of sleep. The strength of the association was measured with an OR within the 95% CI and P-value of <0.05.

Result:

About half 220 (52.3%) of the study participants age between 25 and 30 year old and the majority 321 (76.2%) of them were males. The prevalence of poor sleeps quality was 81.5% (95% CI: 77.9–85.5). Working night shift (AOR: 3.37, 95% CI: 1.754–6.484), having depressive symptoms (AOR: 3.25, 95% CI: 1.485–7.147) and having no regular exercises (AOR: 0.299, 95% CI: 0.166–0.537) were predisposing factors for poor sleep quality.

Conclusion and Recommendation:

The prevalence of poor sleep quality among clinicians working in the ICU and operation room was high. Clinicians who had no regular exercise, who worked in night shift, and who had depressive symptoms were associated with poor quality of sleep. Clinicians should have an awareness on the symptoms of depression, implement sleep hygiene education programs and promoting regular exercise. The authors recommend healthcare policy makers for improving working schedules.
Impact of anti-tuberculosis treatment on hematological parameters in newly diagnosed tuberculosis patients at Jimma town: a longitudinal prospective study
Authors: Reta Birhane , Mohammed Abdurehman E. , Tesfaye Kiya Girum , Adissu Wondimagegn , Shenkute Tilahun Y.
Published: August 2023

Background:

Tuberculosis (TB) is a significant public health problem affecting one-third of the world’s population. In 2021, 1.6 million people died from TB. TB is the 13th leading cause of death and the second leading cause of infectious death after coronavirus disease 2019. Most anti-TB drugs affect hematological parameters in patients.

Methods:

This longitudinal prospective study was conducted from 03 January to 30 December 2019. Patients who completed a course of TB treatment were candidates for analysis. Sputum and blood samples were collected from each study participant and analyzed by the Gene X-pert machine and a HumaCount 30 hematology analyzer (Human GmbH). SPSS version 20 and R programming software version 4.2.3 were used for data analysis. Friedman’s test was used to assess statistical significance. P-values ​​less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

Results:

A total of 148 patients who completed the course of TB treatment correctly were a candidate for final analysis. Ninety-one (61.5%) study participants were male; the median age was 27.6±9.8 years. Moreover, most of the study participants (84.4%) had pulmonary TB. Most of the hematological parameters had changed in the phases of TB treatment. After anti-TB treatment, there is a significant difference in hematological parameters in red blood cell count, hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit percentage, platelet count, and white blood cell count.

Conclusion:

Anemia and leucopenia are the most significant problems after TB treatment. Regular checking of these parameters is essential for the patient.
Acute Neuropsychiatric Symptoms During COVID-19
Authors: Everaerd Daphne , Vissers Pim , van Helvoort Marloes , Schellekens Arnt , van de Maat Josephine , Hoogerwerf Jacobien ,   CoviP Consortium, Tendolkar Indira
Published: August 2023

Converging evidence suggests that COVID-19 infects not only the respiratory system, but also has a large impact on the central nervous system (CNS), leading to acute neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPSs) such as anxiety and delirium. It is thus far unclear which acute NPSs are most common in COVID-19 and if NPSs are associated with an altered COVID-19 disease course. We used data from two independent retrospective cohort studies performed in an academic hospital. A total of 93 patients with NPS and 125 patients without NPS were included. Main outcome measures consisted of type of acute NPS, COVID-19 severity (based on CT severity score), admission to the intensive care unit (ICU), and mortality. Most common acute NPSs were delirium, anxiety, and mood symptoms. NPS patients were more often admitted to the ICU than patients without NPS. However, there was no difference in duration of ICU admission, CT severity score, and mortality. Somatic comorbidity was similar between the two groups. These data suggest that delirium, anxiety, and mood symptoms were the most common NPS. Independent of other clinical characteristics, ICU admission in COVID-19 patients was associated with NPS. We recommend that all COVID-19 patients should be actively screened for acute NPS such as delirium, anxiety, and mood symptoms, especially when admitted to an ICU.
Just Culture
Authors: Walker Danielle , Hromadik Lora , Baker Manisa , McQuiston Linda
Published: August 2023

Background:

Although just culture is reportedly integrated across education and practice, little is known about how perceptions may change across time as students transition from prelicensure education to registered nurse in the practice setting.

Purpose:

The purpose of this study was to describe and compare just culture perceptions of registered nurses at 2 time points: (1) as prelicensure students and (2) as new graduate nurses with a minimum of 6 months of experience.

Methods:

Utilizing the Just Culture Assessment Tool for Nursing Education (JCAT-NE) and the Just Culture Assessment Tool (JCAT), this within-subject, longitudinal study measured just culture perceptions across time.

Results:

Although there was no statistically significant change in total scores across time, 8 individual items demonstrated statistically significant change.

Conclusions:

Students use the knowledge, skills, and attitudes about just culture taught in prelicensure education as new graduate nurses. However, findings reveal areas where the practice environment has altered perceptions of just culture.
What Bedside Skills Could the Modern Rheumatologist Possess? Part I. The Basics
Authors: Ike Robert W. , McCoy Sara S. , Kalunian Kenneth C.
Published: August 2023

The hands-on aspect of rheumatologic practice serves to balance its more cerebral features with the everyday necessity to touch patients to assess their condition, obtain samples for diagnosis, and deliver therapy, all cementing the important bond between patient and physician. Factors over recent years, ranging from the intercession of the electronic medical record to COVID, have weakened this bond, which we must restore if the practice of rheumatology is to return to previous levels of satisfaction. We review herein, in 2 parts, the many ways rheumatologists may interact physically with patients, with hope that pursuit of these measures can enhance satisfaction of physician and patient alike. This first installment reviews those simple skills in place before more involved technical bedside skill began to evolve over the last half century.
The Assessment of External Nasal Valve Efficiency After Le Fort I Surgery
Authors: Dilaver Emrah , Suzen Muazzez , Seyidoglu Ayda , Uckan Sina
Published: August 2023

Background

The present study investigated how external nasal valve function is affected after Le Fort I osteotomy using external nasal valve efficiency (ENVE) index.

Materials and Methods

Twenty-one patients who underwent Le Fort I osteotomy with or without mandibular osteotomy were included in the retrospective study. Preoperative and postoperative standardized videos of basal view of the nose during breathing were recorded, and 2 screenshots were taken, 1 in the resting position and the other after deep inspiration. External nasal valve efficiency was calculated at preoperative and postoperative periods for each patient.

Results

Of the 21 patients, 12 were women and 9 were men (mean age, 26.63 ± 8.20 years). The mean ENVE index was 0.75 ± 0.16 for the preoperative period and 0.82 ± 0.17 for the postoperative period. There was a significant difference between these values (P = 0.002). When the correlation of the ENVE with maxillary movements was analyzed, the ENVE was negatively affected by maxillary impaction (P = 0.011, r = −0.540).

Conclusions

These findings imply that Le Fort I osteotomy positively affects the ENVE index. However, because of the antagonistic relation between maxillary impaction and ENVE, higher maxillary impaction amounts or isolated maxillary impaction should be carefully planned in patients with low ENVE index.
Surgical Management in Isolated Squamosal Craniosynostosis
Authors: Fallahian Fedra , Meyer Anne , Tadisina Kashyap Komarraju , Lin Alexander Y.
Published: August 2023

Background

Although craniosynostoses involving the major sutures have been well described, the frequency of isolated minor suture craniosynostoses is much lower. Squamosal craniosynostosis (SQS) is a rare form of cranial synostosis, and the paucity of literature has made the creation of a standardized treatment plan difficult. We present a systematic review of the literature on isolated SQS to identify disease characteristics that lead to a need for operative intervention and to delineate patterns in surgical management.

Methods

A systematic literature review was performed using the electronic databases of PubMed, Scopus, and MEDLINE and the key words “squamosal AND craniosynostosis,” “squamous AND craniosynostosis,” “squamosal craniosynostosis, “squamosal suture craniosynostosis,” and “isolated squamosal craniosynostosis.” Only human studies that described presentation and management of SQS were included. A blinded, 2-reviewer analysis of the articles was performed. Data collected included patient and disease characteristics, imaging workup, and treatment specifics, which were analyzed by descriptive statistics.

Results

A total of 19 studies examining 119 patients with SQS were reviewed, with 97 (82%) multisutural cases and 22 isolated cases (18%). Of the isolated cases, 6 (27%) required surgical craniosynostosis repair, of which 1 (17%) had unilateral sutural involvement and 5 (83%) had bilateral involvement. Of the patients with isolated SQS, 7 (32%) had a congenital syndrome and comprised 33% of patients who required surgical intervention. The nonsyndromic patients with isolated SQS who required surgery presented with a wide array of phenotypic findings; 3 patients underwent some form of cranial vault remodeling, whereas 1 patient underwent ventriculoperitoneal shunt only. Of the 4 nonsyndromic patients with isolated SQS who underwent surgical repair, half required operative intervention because of elevated intracranial pressure and the other half because of dysmorphic head shape.

Conclusion

The findings of this updated systematic review suggest a trend toward surgical management in bilateral SQS versus unilateral SQS, and that patients with isolated SQS, previously considered to be a nonsurgical finding, should be carefully monitored, as there remains risk of increased intracranial pressure. Pooled systematic review data suggest isolated SQS has a 27% operative intervention rate, with the presence of coexisting syndromic diagnoses increasing that risk.
Multidimensional Assessment of Patient-Reported Outcomes After Gender-Affirming Surgeries Using a Validated Instrument
Authors: Hung Ya-Ching , Park Benjamin C. , Assi Patrick E. , Perdikis Galen , Drolet Brian C. , Kassis Salam A.
Published: August 2023

Introduction

Limited literatures used validated instruments to evaluate patient-reported outcomes (PROs) for transgender and gender-diverse population undergoing gender-affirming surgeries (GASs). This study aimed to evaluate PROs using a newly validated psychometric instrument, Vanderbilt Mini Patient-Reported Outcome Measures—Gender (VMP-G).

Methods

Vanderbilt Mini Patient-Reported Outcome Measures—Gender assesses 4 scales: quality of life, self-concept, satisfaction, and gender dysphoria. Scores range from 20 to 100, with higher scores representing superior PROs. Descriptive analysis was performed, and outcomes were compared in different races/ethnicities, gender identities, age, types of GAS, and time. Patients seeking GAS at Vanderbilt University Medical Center from October 11, 2021, to October 11, 2022, were included. Data were collected anonymously via the Research Electronic Data Capture survey tool at preoperative or postoperative clinic visits.

Results

A total of 207 patients completed VMP-G. Average age was 31.8 years (SD, ±11.5 years). Fifty-three percent of patients were postoperative GAS. In bivariate and linear regression analyses, postoperative patients scored higher on all scales compared with preoperative patients (P < 0.001). After adjustment, postoperative patients scored 12.5 higher on VMP-G compared with preoperative patients (P < 0.01). In subset analyses, GAS was associated with improved PROs in White, non-White, binary, and nonbinary and patients younger than 21 years (P < 0.05). After GAS, patients younger than 21 years reported similar outcomes, compared with patients older than 21 years (P > 0.05). No PROs differences were reported between patients who underwent top versus bottom surgery (P = 0.2). Postoperative patients reported low rates of regret (2.8%). Scores on the VMP-G were sustained even 1 year after GAS. Each month after GAS was associated with a score improvement of 0.02 in the gender dysphoria domain after adjusting for patient demographics (P = 0.02).

Conclusions

Using a validated GAS-specific measure, we found that surgery sustainably improves patients' self-reported outcomes including gender dysphoria.
Speech Outcomes Audit for Unilateral Cleft lip and Palate After 2-Stage Palate Repair: Preliminary Results
Authors: Antoneli Melissa Zattoni , Fukushiro Ana Paula , Yamashita Renata Paciello , Ozawa Terumi Okada , Alonso Nivaldo , Tonello Cristiano
Published: August 2023

Primary cleft lip and palate surgeries can interfere with speech status, facial appearance, maxillary growth, and psychosocial and academic development. Therefore, different surgical protocols and techniques have been proposed, and adequate velopharyngeal function and speech is the main goal for the treatment success. The present study aimed to report preliminary speech results of the 2-stage palate repair of children with unilateral cleft lip and palate. One hundred seventy nonsyndromic patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate were included in this report, 35% males and 65% females, submitted to the 2-stage palatoplasty protocol, composed by lip, nasal ala, and hard palate repair at 3 to 6 m (stage 1) and soft palate repair at 12 to 18 m (stage 2). The target age range for speech recording was 5 to 10 years, and the speech material included repetition of Brazilian Portuguese sentences. These samples were obtained over 5 years and assessed by 3 of 14 experienced speech pathologists. When discordant, the majority rate was adopted. Average velopharyngeal dysfunction (VPD) rates were 19,5%, varying according to the soft palate technique, with better results when the Sommerlad technique was performed (VPD=11%), followed by Braithwaite (VPD=15%) and then Von Langenbeck (VPD=25%). Passive errors were observed in 32% and active errors in 25%. Speech results reflect the outcomes of an interdisciplinary team’s work, where facial growth and nasolabial appearance must also be considered. Further analysis and a wider casuistic are recommended. Hence outcomes audit needs to be a permanent process, providing solid and updated evidence for optimal cleft care.
Outcomes in Women With Pelvic Organ Prolapse Presenting With Pessary-Related Complications
Authors: Omosigho Ukpebo , Propst Katie , Ferrando Cecile A.
Published: August 2023

Importance

There is currently a paucity of data describing the outcomes of women with pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and/or urinary incontinence (UI) who present with pessary-related complications.

Objective

This study aimed to describe outcomes in women with POP and UI managed with a pessary who present with pessary-related complications.

Study Design

This was a retrospective cohort study of women with POP and/or UI who elected for management with a pessary from January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2020. Patients were included if they had used a pessary for at least 1 year and had a documented pessary-related complication. Complications were defined a priori, and patient charts were abstracted using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth and Tenth Revisions codes associated with pessary use.

Results

Of 2,088 of women receiving pessary care, 444 (21%) experienced a complication. Of 154 of women, 34.6% experienced 2 pessary-related complications during the study period, whereas 12.6% (56) experienced 3, 4.5% (20) experienced 4, and 1.8% (8) experienced 5. One hundred fifty-two patients (34.2%) underwent surgery during the study period to manage their POP and/or UI. Patients who were older were less likely to have surgery (adjusted odds ratio, 0.70 [95% confidence interval, 0.20–0.90]; P = 0.002), and patients who had an indication of pessary use for both POP and UI were more likely to undergo surgery during the study period (adjusted odds ratio, 2.12 [95% confidence interval, 1.29–3.48]; P = 0.003).

Conclusions

Our results suggest that 1 in 5 patients has a documented complication associated with pessary use of greater than 1 year. Of these patients, one third will eventually undergo surgery for management of their POP and/or UI.
Prevalence of obsessive-compulsive symptoms and their psychosocial correlates among medical students during COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Nahidi Mahsa , Mirza Hoseinzadeh Moghaddam Zahra , Tabesh Hamed , Afshari Saleh Lahya , Rohani Farahnaz , Shoib Sheikh
Published: August 2023

This study aimed to assess the prevalence of obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCS) among medical students during COVID-19 pandemic and to evaluate their association with related sociodemographic features and other psychological symptoms. In this cross-sectional study, students from Mashhad University of Medical Sciences with no major exam in the preceding or following month were surveyed during April to August 2021 through stratified available sampling. Data were collected by a structured online questionnaire distributed through social media platforms. OCS were assessed using Obsessive-Compulsive Inventory-Revised (OCI-R) and COVID-related stress was evaluated using COVID Stress Scale (CSS). Overall, 347 students with a mean age of 22.67 ± 2.56 years were included in this study, of whom 30.3% had probable obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD; OCI-R score ≥21). Mean CSS scores in students with and without probable OCD were 38.64 ± 19.82 and 26.72 ± 16.63, respectively (P < 0.005). Total CSS score was significantly correlated with OCI-R score (r = 0.38, P = 0.001). Around one-third of the medical students reported significant OCS during COVID-19 pandemic, which was associated with higher COVID-19-related stress. Further research provides insight into management of OCD and related disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic.
No gender differences in the pharmacological emergency treatment of schizophrenia: results of a 21-year observation
Authors: Edlinger Monika , Brettbacher Stefanie , Schurr Timo , Yalcin-Siedentopf Nursen , Hofer Alex
Published: August 2023

Patients suffering from schizophrenia are at high risk for admission and treatment in locked units. This study investigated gender differences in the pharmacological emergency treatment of schizophrenia patients over a 21-year observation period. The current retrospective study was conducted at the Division of Psychiatry I of the Medical University Innsbruck. All adult patients (n = 845; 425 female) suffering from schizophrenia who were admitted involuntarily to one of the acute psychiatric units in the years 1997, 2002, 2007, 2012 and 2017 were included in the study. In the years mentioned above, 590 schizophrenia patients (297 men, 293 women) admitted to a locked unit received pharmacological emergency treatment. With the exception of clozapine which was more frequently administered to men no significant differences between men and women were found in terms of the choice, dosage, and type of application of medication (antipsychotics and benzodiazepines). Since most treatment guidelines for schizophrenia do not consider gender differences at all, it is not surprising that acute treatment is almost the same for men and women. However, in times when individualized therapies gain more and more importance, the consideration of sex differences should be part of new treatment concepts.
Lurasidone as add-on to fluoxetine in obsessive-compulsive disorder with comorbid restrictive anorexia: a case report
Authors: Orsolini Laura , Bellagamba Silvia , Volpe Umberto
Published: August 2023

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a pervasive disabling disorder that may overlap with other psychiatric conditions, including anorexia nervosa. Recent guidelines recommend low doses of second-generation antipsychotics as add-on therapy to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) for those patients presenting OCD who display residual symptomatology. Here we report a clinical case of a 45-years-old woman affected by severe OCD in comorbidity with anorexia nervosa, restrictive type (AN-r), treated with fluoxetine (titrated up to 40 mg/day) in augmentation with low doses of lurasidone (37 mg/day). At baseline and during a 6 months-follow-up we administered Clinical Global Impression-Severity, Symptom Checklist-90 items, Y-BOCS-II (Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale) and EDI-3 (Eating Disorder Inventory). After 1 month of augmentation treatment, a clinically significant response was observed on obsessive symptoms at Y-BOCS-II (≥35% Y-BOCS reduction) and eating symptomatology at EDI-3. Full remission was reported after 3 months (Y-BOCS scoring ≤14) (P < 0.01). Further longitudinal and real-world effectiveness studies should be implemented to confirm these novel results, to investigate the potential of lurasidone as add-on strategy to SSRI in poor responder OCD patients, including treatment-resistant-OCD (tr-OCD), as well as in improving eating disorder symptomatology, whereas there is comorbidity with AN-r.
Downsized: gray whales using an alternative foraging ground have smaller morphology
Authors: Bierlich K. C. , Kane A. , Hildebrand L. , Bird C. N. , Fernandez Ajo A. , Stewart J. D. , Hewitt J. , Hildebrand I. , Sumich J. , Torres L. G.
Published: August 2023

Describing individual morphology and growth is key for identifying ecological niches and monitoring the health and fitness of populations. Eastern North Pacific ((ENP), approximately 16 650 individuals) gray whales primarily feed in the Arctic/sub-Arctic regions, while a small subgroup called the Pacific Coast Feeding Group (PCFG, approximately 212 individuals) instead feeds between northern California, USA and British Columbia, Canada. Evidence suggests PCFG whales have lower body condition than ENP whales. Here we investigate morphological differences (length, skull, and fluke span) and compare length-at-age growth curves between ENP and PCFG whales. We use ENP gray whale length-at-age data comprised of strandings, whaling, and aerial photogrammetry (1926–1997) for comparison to data from PCFG whales collected through non-invasive techniques (2016–2022) to estimate age (photo identification) and length (drone-based photogrammetry). We use Bayesian methods to incorporate uncertainty associated with morphological measurements (manual and photogrammetric) and age estimates. We find that while PCFG and ENP whales have similar growth rates, PCFG whales reach smaller asymptotic lengths. Additionally, PCFG whales have relatively smaller skulls and flukes than ENP whales. These findings represent a striking example of morphological adaptation that may facilitate PCFG whales accessing a foraging niche distinct from the Arctic foraging grounds of the broader ENP population.
Reconstructing multi-strain pathogen interactions from cross-sectional survey data via statistical network inference
Authors: Man Irene , Benincà Elisa , Kretzschmar Mirjam E. , Bogaards Johannes A.
Published: August 2023

Infectious diseases often involve multiple pathogen species or multiple strains of the same pathogen. As such, knowledge of how different pathogens interact is key to understand and predict the outcome of interventions targeting only a subset of species or strains involved in disease. Population-level data may be useful to infer pathogen strain interactions, but most previously used inference methods only consider uniform interactions between all strains or focus on marginal pairwise interactions. As such, these methods are prone to bias induced by indirect interactions through other strains. Here, we evaluated statistical network inference for reconstructing heterogeneous interactions from cross-sectional surveys detecting joint presence/absence patterns of pathogen strains within hosts. We applied various network models to simulated survey data, representing endemic infection states of multiple pathogen strains with potential interactions in acquisition or clearance of infection. Satisfactory performance was demonstrated by the estimators converging to the true interactions. Accurate reconstruction of interaction networks was achieved by regularization or penalization for sample size. Although performance deteriorated in the presence of host heterogeneity, this was overcome by correcting for individual-level risk factors. Our work demonstrates how statistical network inference could prove useful for detecting multi-strain pathogen interactions and may have applications beyond epidemiology.
Modelling the viral dynamics of the SARS-CoV-2 Delta and Omicron variants in different cell types
Authors: McCormack Clare P. , Yan Ada W. C. , Brown Jonathan C. , Sukhova Ksenia , Peacock Thomas P. , Barclay Wendy S. , Dorigatti Ilaria
Published: August 2023

We use viral kinetic models fitted to viral load data from
in vitro
studies to explain why the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant replicates faster than the Delta variant in nasal cells, but slower than Delta in lung cells, which could explain Omicron's higher transmission potential and lower severity. We find that in both nasal and lung cells, viral infectivity is higher for Omicron but the virus production rate is higher for Delta, with an estimated approximately 200-fold increase in infectivity and 100-fold decrease in virus production when comparing Omicron with Delta in nasal cells. However, the differences are unequal between cell types, and ultimately lead to the basic reproduction number and growth rate being higher for Omicron in nasal cells, and higher for Delta in lung cells. In nasal cells, Omicron alone can enter via a TMPRSS2-independent pathway, but it is primarily increased efficiency of TMPRSS2-dependent entry which accounts for Omicron's increased activity. This work paves the way for using within-host mathematical models to understand the transmission potential and severity of future variants.
Estimating the association between Facebook adoption and well-being in 72 countries
Authors: Vuorre Matti , Przybylski Andrew K.
Published: August 2023

Social media's potential effects on well-being have received considerable research interest, but much of past work is hampered by an exclusive focus on demographics in the Global North and inaccurate self-reports of social media engagement. We describe associations linking 72 countries' Facebook adoption to the well-being of 946 798 individuals from 2008 to 2019. We found no evidence suggesting that the global penetration of social media is associated with widespread psychological harm: Facebook adoption predicted life satisfaction and positive experiences positively, and negative experiences negatively, both between countries and within countries over time. Nevertheless, the observed associations were small and did not reach a conventional 97.5% one-sided credibility threshold in all cases. Facebook adoption predicted aspects of well-being more positively for younger individuals, but country-specific results were mixed. To move beyond studying aggregates and to better understand social media's roles in people's lives, and their potential causal effects, we need more transparent collaborative research between independent scientists and the technology industry.
Crocodile perception of distress in hominid baby cries
Authors: Thévenet Julie , Papet Léo , Coureaud Gérard , Boyer Nicolas , Levréro Florence , Grimault Nicolas , Mathevon Nicolas
Published: August 2023

It is generally argued that distress vocalizations, a common modality for alerting conspecifics across a wide range of terrestrial vertebrates, share acoustic features that allow heterospecific communication. Yet studies suggest that the acoustic traits used to decode distress may vary between species, leading to decoding errors. Here we found through playback experiments that Nile crocodiles are attracted to infant hominid cries (bonobo, chimpanzee and human), and that the intensity of crocodile response depends critically on a set of specific acoustic features (mainly deterministic chaos, harmonicity and spectral prominences). Our results suggest that crocodiles are sensitive to the degree of distress encoded in the vocalizations of phylogenetically very distant vertebrates. A comparison of these results with those obtained with human subjects confronted with the same stimuli further indicates that crocodiles and humans use different acoustic criteria to assess the distress encoded in infant cries. Interestingly, the acoustic features driving crocodile reaction are likely to be more reliable markers of distress than those used by humans. These results highlight that the acoustic features encoding information in vertebrate sound signals are not necessarily identical across species.
Fossilization can mislead analyses of phenotypic disparity
Authors: Smith Thomas J. , Sansom Robert S. , Pisani Davide , Donoghue Philip C. J.
Published: August 2023

Analyses of morphological disparity can incorporate living and fossil taxa to facilitate the exploration of how phenotypic variation changes through time. However, taphonomic processes introduce non-random patterns of data loss in fossil data and their impact on perceptions of disparity is unclear. To address this, we characterize how measures of disparity change when simulated and empirical data are degraded through random and structured data loss. We demonstrate that both types of data loss can distort the disparity of clades, and that the magnitude and direction of these changes varies between the most commonly employed distance metrics and disparity indices. The inclusion of extant taxa and exceptionally preserved fossils mitigates these distortions and clarifies the full extent of the data lost, most of which would otherwise go uncharacterized. This facilitates the use of ancestral state estimation and evolutionary simulations to further control for the effects of data loss. Where the addition of such reference taxa is not possible, we urge caution in the extrapolation of general patterns in disparity from datasets that characterize subsets of phenotype, which may represent no more than the traits that they sample.
Queen fecundity, worker entourage and cuticular chemistry in the antFormica fusca
Authors: Ozan Martina , Helanterä Heikki , d'Ettorre Patrizia , Sundström Liselotte
Published: August 2023

Cooperative breeding entails conflicts over reproductive shares that may be settled in different ways. In ants, where several queens simultaneously reproduce in a colony, both queens and workers may influence the reproductive apportionment and offspring quality. Queens may vary in their intrinsic fecundity, which may influence the size of the worker entourage attending individual queens, and this may eventually dictate the reproductive output of a queen. We tested whether the reproductive success of queens is affected by the size of their worker entourage, their fecundity at the onset of the reproductive season, and whether the queen cuticular hydrocarbon profile carries information on fecundity. We show that in the antFormica fuscaboth queen fecundity and egg hatching success increase with the size of their entourage, and that newly hatched larvae produced by initially highly fecund queens are smaller. Furthermore, higher relatedness among workers increased queen fecundity. Finally, the queens that received a large worker entourage differed in the cuticular chemistry from those that received a small worker entourage. Our results thus show that workers play a pivotal role in determining queen fitness, that high intracolony relatedness among workers enhances the overall reproductive output in the colony, and that queen fecundity is reflected in their cuticular hydrocarbon profile.
Turtle species and ecology drive carapace microbiome diversity in three seasonally interconnected wetland habitats
Authors: Parks Matthew , Lee Jun Sheng , Camua Kassandra , Hollender Ethan
Published: August 2023

Different species of freshwater turtles exhibit primary behaviors ranging from aerial basking to benthic bottom-walking, cycle between wet and dry conditions at different time intervals, and undertake short-distance overland movements between aquatic habitats. These behaviors in turn may impact the accumulation of microbes on external shell surfaces of turtles and provide novel niches for differentiation of microbial communities. We assessed 16S and 18S microbial diversity on carapace surfaces of six species of freshwater turtles residing in three adjacent and seasonally interconnected wetland habitats in southeast Oklahoma (United States). Communities were highly diverse, with nearly 4200 and 500 amplicon sequence variants recovered in 16S and 18S communities, respectively, and included taxa previously reported as common or differentially abundant on turtle shells. 16S alpha diversity tended to be highest in two species of benthic turtles, while 18S alpha diversity was highest in two basking and one shallow-water benthic species. Beta diversity of communities was more strongly differentiated by turtle species than by collection site, and ordination patterns were largely reflective of turtle species’ primary habits (i.e., benthic, basking, or benthic-basking). Our data support that freshwater turtles may be important contributors to microbial ecology and evolution in freshwater habitats and warrant additional exploration including in areas with high native turtle diversity and inter-habitat turtle movements.
High-Throughput and Accurate 3D Scanning of Cattle Using Time-of-Flight Sensors and Deep Learning
Authors: Omotara Gbenga , Ali Tousi Seyed Mohamad , Decker Jared , Brake Derek , DeSouza Guilherme N.
Published: August 2023

We introduce a high throughput 3D scanning solution specifically designed to precisely measure cattle phenotypes. This scanner leverages an array of depth sensors, i.e. time-of-flight (Tof) sensors, each governed by dedicated embedded devices. The system excels at generating high-fidelity 3D point clouds, thus facilitating an accurate mesh that faithfully reconstructs the cattle geometry on the fly. In order to evaluate the performance of our system, we have implemented a two-fold validation process. Initially, we test the scanner’s competency in determining volume and surface area measurements within a controlled environment featuring known objects. Secondly, we explore the impact and necessity of multi-device synchronization when operating a series of time-of-flight sensors. Based on the experimental results, the proposed system is capable of producing high-quality meshes of untamed cattle for livestock studies.
The landscape ofSETBP1gene expression and transcription factor activity across human tissues
Authors: Whitlock Jordan H. , Wilk Elizabeth J. , Howton Timothy C. , Clark Amanda D. , Lasseigne Brittany N.
Published: August 2023

Background

The SET binding protein 1 (SETBP1) gene encodes a transcription factor (TF) involved in various cellular processes. DistinctSETBP1variants have been linked to three different diseases. Germline variants cause the ultra-rare pediatric Schinzel Giedion Syndrome (SGS) andSETBP1haploinsufficiency disorder (SETBP1-HD), characterized by severe multisystemic abnormalities with neurodegeneration or a less severe brain phenotype accompanied by hypotonia and strabismus, respectively. Somatic variants inSETBP1are associated with hematological malignancies and cancer development in other tissues in adults.

Results

To better understand the tissue-specific mechanisms involvingSETBP1, we analyzed publicly available RNA-sequencing data from the Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) project. We foundSETBP1, and its known target genes were widely expressed across 31 adult human tissues. K-means clustering identified three distinct expression patterns of SETBP1 targets across tissues. Functional enrichment analysis (FEA) of each cluster revealed gene sets related to transcription regulation, DNA binding, and mitochondrial function. TF activity analysis of SETBP1 and its target TFs revealed tissue-specific TF activity, underscoring the role of tissue context-driven regulation and suggesting its impact in SETBP1-associated disease. In addition to uncovering tissue-specific molecular signatures ofSETBP1expression and TF activity, we provide a Shiny web application to facilitate exploring TF activity across human tissues for 758 TFs.

Conclusions

This study provides insight into the landscape ofSETBP1expression and TF activity across 31 non-diseased human tissues and reveals tissue-specific expression and activity ofSETBP1and its targets. In conjunction with the web application we constructed, our framework enables researchers to generate hypotheses related to the role tissue backgrounds play with respect to gene expression and TF activity in different disease contexts.