bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Disease Burden Affects Outcomes in Pediatric and Young Adult B-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia After Commercial Tisagenlecleucel: A Pediatric Real-World Chimeric Antigen Receptor Consortium Report
Authors: Schultz Liora M. , Baggott Christina , Prabhu Snehit , Pacenta Holly L. , Phillips Christine L. , Rossoff Jenna , Stefanski Heather E. , Talano Julie-An , Moskop Amy , Margossian Steven P. , Verneris Michael R. , Myers Gary Douglas , Karras Nicole A. , Brown Patrick A. , Qayed Muna , Hermiston Michelle , Satwani Prakash , Krupski Christa , Keating Amy K. , Wilcox Rachel , Rabik Cara A. , Fabrizio Vanessa A. , Rouce Rayne H. , Chinnabhandar Vasant , Kunicki Michael , Barsan Valentin V. , Goksenin A. Yasemin , Li Yimei , Mavroukakis Sharon , Egeler Emily , Curran Kevin J. , Mackall Crystal L. , Laetsch Theodore W.
Published: December 2021

PURPOSE

Tisagenlecleucel is a CD19-specific chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy, US Food and Drug Administration–approved for children, adolescents, and young adults (CAYA) with relapsed and/or refractory (RR) B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). The US Food and Drug Administration registration for tisagenlecleucel was based on a complete response (CR) rate of 81%, 12-month overall survival (OS) of 76%, and event-free survival (EFS) of 50%. We report clinical outcomes and analyze covariates of outcomes after commercial tisagenlecleucel.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective, multi-institutional study of CAYA with RR B-ALL across 15 US institutions, who underwent leukapheresis shipment to Novartis for commercial tisagenlecleucel. A total of 200 patients were included in an intent-to-treat response analysis, and 185 infused patients were analyzed for survival and toxicity.

RESULTS

Intent-to-treat analysis demonstrates a 79% morphologic CR rate (95% CI, 72 to 84). The infused cohort had an 85% CR (95% CI, 79 to 89) and 12-month OS of 72% and EFS of 50%, with 335 days of median follow-up. Notably, 48% of patients had low-disease burden (< 5% bone marrow lymphoblasts, no CNS3, or other extramedullary disease), or undetectable disease, pretisagenlecleucel. Univariate and multivariate analyses associate high-disease burden (HB, ≥ 5% bone marrow lymphoblasts, CNS3, or non-CNS extramedullary) with inferior outcomes, with a 12-month OS of 58% and EFS of 31% compared with low-disease burden (OS; 85%, EFS; 70%) and undetectable disease (OS; 95%, EFS; 72%; P < .0001 for OS and EFS). Grade ≥ 3 cytokine release syndrome and neurotoxicity rates were 21% and 7% overall and 35% and 9% in patients with HB, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Commercial tisagenlecleucel in CAYA RR B-ALL demonstrates efficacy and tolerability. This first analysis of commercial tisagenlecleucel stratified by disease burden identifies HB preinfusion to associate with inferior OS and EFS and increased toxicity.
Contributions of microRNAs to Peripheral Insulin Sensitivity
Authors: Kim Kang Ho , Hartig Sean M
Published: December 2021

An extensive literature base combined with advances in sequencing technologies demonstrate microRNA levels correlate with various metabolic diseases. Mechanistic studies also establish microRNAs regulate central metabolic pathways and thus play vital roles in maintaining organismal energy balance and metabolic homeostasis. This review highlights research progress on the roles and regulation of microRNAs in the peripheral tissues that confer insulin sensitivity. We discuss sequencing technologies used to comprehensively define the target spectrum of microRNAs in metabolic disease that complement studies reporting physiologic roles for microRNAs in the regulation of glucose and lipid metabolism in animal models. We also discuss the emerging roles of exosomal microRNAs as endocrine signals to regulate lipid and carbohydrate metabolism.
Clinical Approach to Cognitive and Neurobehavioral Symptoms
Authors: Wicklund Meredith
Published: December 2021

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This article provides a framework for the approach to patients with cognitive or neurobehavioral concerns.

RECENT FINDINGS

Recent advances in structural neuroimaging, functional neuroimaging, and disease biomarkers have greatly expanded knowledge of brain-behavior relationships, neural networks and functional connectivity, and pathophysiologic processes leading to cognitive and neurobehavioral disorders. However, any one of these studies is subject to misinterpretation if not applied in the appropriate clinical context.

A systematic approach to the history and examination in patients with cognitive and neurobehavioral symptoms is important in marrying clinical assessments with contemporary diagnostic studies and treatments.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders
Authors: Mathews Carol
Published: December 2021

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This article describes the phenomenology and clinical presentation of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), a common but underdiagnosed psychiatric disorder. Guidance for effectively identifying obsessive-compulsive symptoms is provided, and treatment options, including psychotherapy, pharmacologic management, and neuromodulation approaches for treatment-resistant OCD, are discussed.

RECENT FINDINGS

OCD affects 2% to 3% of adults worldwide and is associated with substantial individual disability and societal costs. Lack of recognition of common OCD symptom types, in addition to shame and fear of stigma on the part of patients, has created an average delay in diagnosis by almost 10 years and a delay in effective treatment (ie, a treatment gap) of nearly 2 years. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), specifically a form of CBT that includes a type of behavioral intervention called exposure and response prevention, remains the most effective form of treatment for OCD. If CBT is not effective or not available, pharmacologic treatment with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or clomipramine, a nonselective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, can also be of benefit. Neuromodulation approaches such as deep brain stimulation and transcranial magnetic stimulation are rapidly emerging as effective treatments for OCD, particularly for patients who have not experienced an adequate response to psychotherapy or pharmacologic management.

OCD affects more than one in every 50 adults in the United States but is recognized and adequately treated in fewer than half of those affected. Early intervention and appropriate treatment can substantially reduce OCD symptom severity, improve quality of life, and minimize the functional disability associated with this chronic and often debilitating illness.
Upper Limb Apraxia
Authors: Heilman Kenneth M.
Published: December 2021

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Limb apraxia is one of the most common and most disabling disorders caused by brain damage. However, apraxia is one of the least recognized disorders associated with cerebral disease. This article discusses the signs and symptoms of, means of testing for, the pathophysiology of, and possible management of upper limb apraxia.

RECENT FINDINGS

Upper limb apraxia has four major forms: ideomotor, limb-kinetic, conceptual, and ideational. Although recent findings are included in this article, a full understanding of these disorders, including the means of testing, their possible pathophysiology, and the diseases that may cause these disorders, requires that some older literature is also discussed.

This article guides clinicians in testing for and diagnosing the different forms of upper limb apraxia, identifying the underlying diseases that may cause apraxia, managing the different forms of the disorder, and possible forms of rehabilitation.
Analysis of sex-specific lipid metabolism of Plasmodium falciparum points to the importance of sphingomyelin for gametocytogenesis
Authors: Ridgway Melanie C. , Cihalova Daniela , Brown Simon H. J. , Tran Phuong , Mitchell Todd W. , Maier Alexander G.
Published: December 2021

Male and female Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes are the parasite lifecycle stage responsible for transmission of malaria from the human host to the mosquito vector. Not only are gametocytes able to survive in radically different host environments, but they are also precursors for male and female gametes that reproduce sexually soon after ingestion by the mosquito. Here, we investigate the sex-specific lipid metabolism of gametocytes within their host red blood cell. Comparison of the male and female lipidome identifies cholesteryl esters and dihydrosphingomyelin enrichment in female gametocytes. Chemical inhibition of each of these lipid types in mature gametocytes suggests dihydrosphingomyelin synthesis but not cholesteryl ester synthesis is important for gametocyte viability. Genetic disruption of each of the two sphingomyelin synthase genes points towards sphingomyelin synthesis contributing to gametocytogenesis. This study shows that gametocytes are distinct from asexual stages, and that the lipid composition is also vastly different between male and female gametocytes, reflecting the different cellular roles these stages play. Taken together, our results highlight the sex-specific nature of gametocyte lipid metabolism, which has the potential to be targeted to block malaria transmission.

This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.
A Survey on Income Inequality in China
Authors: Zhang Junsen
Published: December 2021

After China’s recent great success in eliminating absolute poverty, addressing relative income inequality becomes a more important issue. This survey finds that income inequality rapidly increased in the first three decades since 1978 but stabilized and slightly declined in the past decade, consistent with the well-known Kuznets hypothesis. In addition to documenting the trend and patterns over time and across groups and regions, seven sources of income inequality are systematically discussed with an effort to reconcile and extend the existing literature. Furthermore, a negative correlation is documented between income inequality and intergenerational mobility, consistent with the Great Gatsby curve observed in developed countries. (JEL D31, D63, O15, P36)
A preliminary study of the effects of cold, frozen, or room temperature storage of commercial feeds on growth performance and feed consumption of juvenile rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)
Authors: Khan Umar , Seyhan Kadir
Published: December 2021

The storage of commercial feeds in a cool and dry place is a prerequisite management strategy to minimize the deterioration of commercial feeds. This study investigated the effects of feed storage conditions on feed intake and growth performances of juvenile rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). A total of 240 juvenile rainbow trout, weighing 8.7–10.5 g, were randomly distributed into four groups. Each group was further subdivided into three replicates with 20 fish in each. The experimental fish were fed to apparent satiation twice daily over a 35-days period using four commercial feeds previously kept at different storage conditions, i.e., room temperature storage (20.8°C), cold storage (10°C), or frozen storages (-1.1°C and -15°C). The feed utilization was assessed by relative feed intake (RFI%) and feed conversion rate (FCR), while growth performance was evaluated by the thermal-unit growth coefficient (TGC) and specific growth rate (SGR). The preliminary findings suggest that the food storage conditions did not significantly affect feed intake and growth performance in juvenile rainbow trout. The findings provide practical information for fish farmers in the management of feed storage, which covers a remarkable proportion of the total production costs in aquaculture facilities.
An analysis of historical landing data of some pelagic species caught by purse seines in the Aegean Sea
Authors: Tosunoğlu Zafer , Ceyhan Tevfik
Published: December 2021

The fishing activity with purse seines in the Aegean Sea accounts for almost half of the pelagic fish excluding anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus Linnaeus, 1758) in Turkey. In this study, we aimed to analyse the catch amounts of some important pelagic species caught by Aegean purse seiners between 1973 and 2019. While mid-1990s are the most captured years for the European pilchard (Sardina pilchardus Walbaum, 1792) in Aegean Sea and also Turkish Seas, this amount has decreased at the level of 10000 mt in the mid-2000s and remained similar amounts up to now. Though European pilchard was the most caught species in the Aegean until 2011, this has changed in favour of anchovy in the last decade. Recently, almost all pelagic species such as mackerel (Scomber scombrus Linnaeus, 1758), chub mackerel (Scomber japonicus Houttuyn, 1782) and bogue (Boops boops Linnaeus, 1758) have been caught from the Aegean Sea in Turkey. In the study, the production of these species in the historical period was tried to be associated with the regulations implemented with circulars and notifications, and the problems preventing the sustainable use of these species that were caught by purse seiners were determined and solutions were proposed for the future.
The impacts of ultrasound-assisted protein hydrolysate coating on the quality parameters and shelf life of smoked bonito fillets stored at 4±1ºC
Authors: Balçık Mısır Gülsüm , Koral Serkan
Published: December 2021

Innovative bioactive protein hydrolysates (PH), produced from Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss W., 1792) by-products, were used as a coating on smoked fillets of bonito (Sarda sarda) for extension of the quality and shelf life during chilled storage for 60 days. Three fillet groups were prepared as control group without coating (CG), normal hydrolysate coated group (NHCG), and ultrasound-assisted hydrolysate coated group (UHCG). Total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N) and TBA values exceeded the acceptable limits on the 39th and 33rd days for CG respectively; 60th day for NHCG and UHCG. However TBA of UHCG was significantly lower than NHCG. Total aerobic mesophilic bacteria (TAMB) and total aerobic psychrophilic bacteria (TAPB) loads reached 6.32±0.06 and 7.30±0.12 log cfu/g for CG on the 39th day. TAMB and TAPB values of NHCG and UHCG have remained within the limits of consumable until the end of the storage. PH coatings prolonged the storage of fillets by delaying chemical, physical, and microbial degradation. Results showed that ultrasound-assisted PH could be used as a coating for smoked bonito at refrigerated conditions, delaying oxidation and microbial degradation.
Dynamika zmian zawartości barwników betalainowych i suchej masy podczas przechowywania buraków ćwikłowych (Beta vulgaris L.)
Authors: Nizioł-Łukaszewska Zofia , Furman-Toczek Dominika , Zagórska-Dziok Martyna
Published: December 2021

Burak ćwikłowy (Beta vulgaris L.) jest warzywem charakteryzującym się dużą trwałością przechowalniczą, dzięki czemu może być spożywany przez cały rok. Dlatego też bardzo ważna jest wiedza na temat dynamiki zmian zawartości poszczególnych składników w ko-lejnych miesiącach przechowywania. Badaniami objęto dwie odmiany buraka ćwikłowego: Boro F1 (kształt korzenia kulisty) oraz Regulski Cylinder (kształt korzenia cylindryczny). Celem pracy była ocena dynamiki zmian wybranych składników w badanej roślinie w trak-cie okresu przechowywania. W szczególności zwrócono uwagę na zawartość składników mających korzystny wpływ na jakość buraków ćwikłowych, m.in. została oceniona aktyw-ność antyrodnikowa, zawartość barwników betalainowych oraz sucha masa. Jako odmianę polecaną do przechowywania wytypowano odmianę Regulski Cylinder. Cechowała się ona najmniejszym spadkiem aktywności antyrodnikowej oraz wzrostem zawartości barwników betalainowych podczas 5-miesięcznego okresu składowania.
Rośliny lecznicze występujące w południowej części Indii
Authors: Sawicka Barbara , Krochmal-Marczak Barbara , Bienia Bernadetta
Published: December 2021

Omówiono i opisano wybrane gatunki znajdujące się zarówno w stanie naturalnym, jak i w uprawie, spośród 7500 roślin leczniczych występujących na terenie Indii – prawdziwego emporium roślin leczniczych i aromatycznych. W codziennym użyciu są tam takie gatunki jak: Azadirachta indica, Cardiospermum halicacabum, Erythrina indica, Gloriosa superba, Jatropha curcas, Moringa oleifera, Phyllanthus amarus, Ssbania grandiflora, Tamarindus indica, Tridax procumbens i Vitex negundo. Najczęściej zaś uprawiane są: Aloe vera, Azadirachta indica, Curcuma longa, Emblica officinalis, Eukaliptus tereticornis, Gloriosa superba, Moringa oleifera, Ricinus communis, Sesamum indicum, Ssbania grandiflora, Solanum americanum, Tamarindus indica i Zingiber officinale. Określono też ich wartość użytkową.
Zasady udzielania premii kompensacyjnych – zagadnienia materialnoprawne i proceduralne
Authors: Ofiarska Małgorzata
Published: December 2021

W opracowaniu przedstawiono status, funkcje oraz zasady przyznawania i przekazywania premii kompensacyjnych z Funduszu Termomodernizacji i Remontów, który zasilany jest przede wszystkim dotacjami z budżetu państwa. Stanowią one formę bezzwrotnego wsparcia inwestorów realizujących przedsięwzięcia remontowe lub remonty odpowiednio w budynkach mieszkalnych wielorodzinnych lub jednorodzinnych. Uprawnionymi do premii kompensacyjnych są wyłącznie osoby fizyczne będące właścicielami lub współwłaścicielami budynków z tzw. lokalami kwaterunkowymi. Premie kompensacyjne są formą dofinansowania wydatków ponoszonych przez inwestorów na wykonywanie przedsięwzięć remontowych lub remontów oraz równolegle rekompensatą za straty poniesione przez nich w okresie obowiązywania ustawowych ograniczeń w ustalaniu wysokości czynszów najmu. Fundusz Termomodernizacji i Remontów jest administrowany przez Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego. W ten sposób ustawodawca stworzył mechanizm finansowego bezzwrotnego wsparcia inwestorów ze środków publicznych, ale z zastosowaniem bankowych metod oceniania wniosków składanych w sprawach przyznania premii kompensacyjnych. W opracowaniu pozytywnie zweryfikowano tezę o potrzebie stosowania takiego wsparcia inwestorów, którzy ponoszą koszty remontów budynków mieszkalnych z lokalami kwaterunkowymi w celu poprawy ich funkcjonalności. Wykazano, że premia ma charakter celowy, tzn. jest udzielana w związku z realizacją konkretnego przedsięwzięcia przez właściciela lub współwłaściciela budynku.
Zachowania makro- i mikroadaptacyjne nauczycieli nauczycieli jako reakcja na złożoność sytuacji dydaktycznej
Authors: Szplit Agnieszka
Published: December 2021

W związku z wielką zmiennością rzeczywistości edukacyjnej od nauczycieli wymaga się ciągłego modyfikowania praktyki dydaktycznej w zależności od potrzeb i możliwości osób uczących się oraz niespodziewanych wydarzeń. Zachowania adaptacyjne zapewniają nauczycielowi swoisty trening przygotowujący go do sytuacji skrajnie trudnej, jak nauczanie w dobie pandemii. Zawarte w artykule rozważania teoretyczne zostały wzbogacone badaniami prowadzonymi w formie wywiadów wśród 14 nauczycieli nauczycieli. Ich wypowiedzi pozwalają na eksplorację dwóch typów zachowań nauczycieli: makro- i mikroadaptacyjnych
Funkcje witryn internetowych spółdzielni uczniowskich w szkołach ponadpodstawowych
Authors: Prus Aleksandra Joanna
Published: December 2021

Celem artykułu jest ukazanie funkcji witryn internetowych spółdzielni uczniowskich w szkołach ponadpodstawowych. Przedmiotem badania uczyniłam strony internetowe prowadzone przez uczniów-spółdzielców. W artykule wykorzystano jakościową metodę badania tekstów, polegającą na analizie treści stron internetowych 13 uczniowskich zrzeszeń spółdzielczych funkcjonujących w szkołach ponadpodstawowych.
Spółdzielnie uczniowskie należą do organizacji szkolnych, które posiadają ponad stuletnią tradycję i ugruntowane sposoby działania. Jednak nowe technologie informacyjne zmieniły możliwości funkcjonowania i komunikowania się również w tych organizacjach szkolnych, które wykorzystują witryny internetowe w różnych celach. Na podstawie dokonanych analiz można wskazać na wielorakie znaczenie witryn internetowych prowadzonych przez spółdzielnie uczniowskie w szkołach ponadpodstawowych. Ich strony internetowe pełnią funkcje informacyjno-edukacyjne i popularno-towarzyskie. Zawierają informacje dotyczące: rodzaju prowadzonej działalności gospodarczej i jej oferty, współczesnego ruchu spółdzielczego, korzyści wynikających z przynależności do spółdzielni uczniowskiej, polegających choćby na organizacji czasu wolnego, nawiązywania kontaktów młodych spółdzielców między sobą i społecznością pozaszkolną. Wszystko to świadczy o wzroście popularności witryn internetowych i ich edukacyjnym znaczeniu.
Wyniki badań skłaniają do postawienia następującego postulatu: w zmediatyzowanej rzeczywistości należy edukować i zachęcać uczniów do właściwego i mądrego korzystania z przestrzeni wirtualnej, stanowiącej nową przestrzeń dydaktyczno-wychowawczą, wymagającą odpowiedniego zagospodarowania przez wszystkie podmioty szkoły: nauczycieli, wychowawców, uczniów i ich rodziców, w tym przez organizacje uczniowskie, których przykładem są spółdzielnie uczniowskie.
Heritage Stone 8. Formation of Pinolitic Magnesite at Quartz Creek, British Columbia, Canada: Inferences from Preliminary Petrographic, Geochemical and Geochronological Studies
Authors: Littlejohn-Regular Alexandria , Greenough John D. , Larson Kyle
Published: December 2021

Rocks in the Late Proterozoic Horsethief Creek Group at Quartz Creek in British Columbia display rare ‘pinolitic’ textures resembling those described in some sparry magnesite deposits elsewhere in the world. Elongated white magnesite crystals up to 30 cm long occur in a contrasting, dark, fine-grained matrix of dolomite, chlorite, organic material, clay minerals and pyrite. The rocks are aesthetically appealing for use in sculpture and as dimension stone. The term ‘pinolite’ is derived from the superficial similarities between these unusual textures and pinecones. Petrographic examination indicates that these textures formed when metasomatic fluids replaced primary sedimentary dolomite with magnesite. Fluids moved along fractures and bedding planes with repeated fracturing yielding magnesite crystals oriented in opposite directions on either side of annealed fractures, and broken magnesite crystals adjacent to later fractures. Magnesite contains dolomite microinclusions and has elevated Ca contents that are consistent with its formation by replacement of dolomite. Low concentrations of Cr, Ni, Co, Ti, Sr, and Ba in magnesite also imply formation in a metasomatic rather than a sedimentary environment. The rare earth element (REE) concentrations in the Quartz Creek magnesite are higher than those in most evaporitic magnesite and REE patterns lack the Ce and Eu anomalies that characterize carbonate rocks from sedimentary environments. Enrichment in light REE relative to heavy REE, and the similarities between dolomite, chlorite, and magnesite REE profiles, imply that metasomatic fluids modified the original sedimentary geochemical signature of the dolostones during formation of the pinolite rocks. A Late Ordovician to Early Silurian U–Pb age (433 ± 12 Ma), for titanite in the black matrix surrounding the sparry magnesite is younger than the local host rocks, and also younger than the Mesoproterozoic to Middle Cambrian stratigraphic ages of the host rocks for nearby magnesite deposits. The ca. 433 Ma titanite overlaps the ages for numerous fault-associated diatremes and volcaniclastic deposits in the area. Possibly the igneous activity furnished heat for, and/or was the source for, metasomatic fluids that produced the pinolite deposits.
Using Explainable Artificial Intelligence to Improve Process Quality: Evidence from Semiconductor Manufacturing
Authors: Senoner Julian , Netland Torbjørn , Feuerriegel Stefan
Published: December 2021

We develop a data-driven decision model to improve process quality in manufacturing. A challenge for traditional methods in quality management is to handle high-dimensional and nonlinear manufacturing data. We address this challenge by adapting explainable artificial intelligence to the context of quality management. Specifically, we propose the use of nonlinear modeling with Shapley additive explanations to infer how a set of production parameters and the process quality of a manufacturing system are related. Thereby, we contribute a measure of process importance based on which manufacturers can prioritize processes for quality improvement. Grounded in quality management theory, our decision model selects improvement actions that target the sources of quality variation. The decision model is validated in a real-world application at a leading manufacturer of high-power semiconductors. Seeking to improve production yield, we apply our decision model to select improvement actions for a transistor chip product. We then conduct a field experiment to confirm the effectiveness of the improvement actions. Compared with the average yield in our sample, the experiment returns a reduction in yield loss of 21.7%. Furthermore, we report on results from a postexperimental rollout of the decision model, which also resulted in significant yield improvements. We demonstrate the operational value of explainable artificial intelligence by showing that critical drivers of process quality can go undiscovered by the use of traditional methods.

This paper was accepted by Charles Corbett, operations management.
Nursing associate apprentices' experiences of caring on the frontline during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Chigwedere Winnie Kutsime , Darby Amy , Williams Laura , Spooner Ann , Shaw Teresa
Published: December 2021

Nurses have been on the frontline during the COVID-19 crisis, providing high-quality care and facing the challenges of the pandemic. In this article, a number of nursing associate apprentices share their experiences of being on the frontline.
The emotional aspects of and psychological assessment for aesthetic, cosmetic and non-surgical treatments
Authors: Cairns Kimberley
Published: December 2021

Kimberley Cairns explores relevant psychology-related developments as a part of the Joint Council for Cosmetic Practitioners' core principles and functions
Stevens–Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Houschyar Khosrow S , Tapking Christian , Borrelli Mimi R , Puladi Behrus , Ooms Mark , Wallner Christoph , Duscher Dominik , Pförringer Dominik , Rein Susanne , Reumuth Georg , Schulz Torsten , Nietzschmann Ina , Maan Zeshaan N , Grieb Gerrit , Philipp-Dormston Wolfgang G , Branski Ludwik K , Siemers Frank , Lehnhardt Marcus , Schmitt Laurenz , Yazdi Amir S
Published: December 2021

Objective:

Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) are rare and severe skin and mucosal reactions that are associated with high mortality. Despite the severity, an evidence-based treatment protocol for SJS/TEN is still lacking.

Method:

In this systematic review and meta-analysis, the PubMed database was searched using the following terms: [Stevens–Johnson syndrome] OR [toxic epidermal necrolysis] AND [therapy] OR [treatment] over a 20-year period (1999–2019) in the German and English language. All clinical studies reporting on the treatment of SJS/TEN were included, and epidemiological and diagnostic aspects of treatment were analysed. A meta-analysis was conducted on all comparative clinical studies that met the inclusion criteria.

Results:

A total of 88 studies met the inclusion criteria, reporting outcomes in 2647 patients. Treatment was either supportive or used systemic corticosteroid, intravenous immunoglobulin, plasmapheresis, cyclosporine, thalidomide or cyclophosphamide therapy. The meta-analysis included 16 (18%) studies, reporting outcomes in 976 (37%) patients. Systemic glucocorticoids showed a survival benefit for SJS/TEN patients in all analyses compared with other forms of treatment. Cyclosporine treatment also showed promising results, despite being used in a small cohort of patients. No beneficial effects on mortality could be demonstrated for intravenous immunoglobulins.

Conclusion:

Glucocorticoids and cyclosporine may be tentatively recommended as the most promising immunomodulatory therapies for SJS/TEN, but these results should be investigated in future prospective controlled trials.
Clinical evaluation of UrgoStart Plus dressings in real-life conditions: results of a prospective multicentre study on 961 patients
Authors: Augustin Matthias , Keuthage Winfried , Lobmann Ralf , Lützkendorf Steffen , Groth Hauke , Möller Udo , Thomassin Laetitia , Bohbot Serge , Dissemond Joachim , Blome Christine
Published: December 2021

Aims:

This study aimed to evaluate the performances of lipid colloid technology with nano-oligosaccharide factor (TLC-NOSF) dressings with polyabsorbent fibres in an unselected population of patients under real-life conditions.

Methods:

A large, prospective, multicentre, observational study with three polyabsorbent TLC-NOSF dressings (UrgoStart Plus Pad, UrgoStart Plus and UrgoStart Plus Border, Laboratoires Urgo, France) was conducted in Germany between January 2019 and June 2020. Main outcomes included wound healing rate, clinical assessment of wound healing progression, local tolerance and acceptance of dressings, and changes in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of the patients, assessed with the validated Wound-QoL questionnaire.

Results:

A total of 961 patients with wounds of various aetiologies (leg ulcers (LU), diabetic foot ulcers (DFU), pressure ulcers (PU) and other types of wounds) were treated with the evaluated dressings in 105 centres for a mean duration of 62 days (standard deviation 37 days). By the last visit, a wound closure or an improvement in wound healing was reported in 92.0% of the treated wounds. The highest wound closure rates were achieved when the dressings were used as first-line treatment: 71.3% in DFUs, 52.9% in LUs, 53.6% in PUs and 61.8% in the other wounds. Improvement of the wound healing process was also associated with an 87.5% relative reduction of sloughy tissue, a decrease of the level of exudate in 68.9% of the wounds, and an improvement in the periwound skin condition in 66.4% of the patients at the final visit. The dressings were ‘very well’ or ‘well’ tolerated and ‘very well’ or ‘well’ accepted by the large majority of patients. The HRQoL questionnaires were completed both at initial and final visits by 337 patients, representative of the total cohort. Despite the relatively short duration of the wounds, the HRQoL of the patients was already impaired at baseline, with 81.6% of the patients being severely affected in at least one aspect of their HRQoL. By the final visit, significant improvements in each dimension of the patients' HRQoL were reported (p<0.001), along with a reduction of the proportion of patients in need of intervention and in the number of actions needed per patient in relation to their HRQoL.

Conclusions:

These results are consistent with previous clinical evidence on TLC-NOSF dressings. They confirm the good healing properties and safety profile of these dressings, and that a significant improvement in patient HRQoL is achieved in non-selected patients treated in real-life practice. These data support the use of such dressings as a first-line intervention and until wound healing in the management of chronic wounds, in association with appropriate standard of care.
Click Chemistry Approaches for the Synthesis and Functionalization of Macromolecules
Authors: Görür Mesut
Published: December 2021

Click chemistry methods are powerful tools in the hands of synthetic chemists. Cu(I)-catalyzed azide-alkyne [3+2] dipolar cycloaddition reaction (CuAAC) is accepted as “the cream of the crop” of click chemistry techniques due to its orthogonality and near-perfect yields in very mild conditions. Besides CuAAC, Diels–Alder (DA), thiol–ene, atom transfer nitroxide radical coupling (ATNRC), and aldehyde–aminooxy reactions are other effective ligation methods in terms of chemoselectivity and reaction yields at moderate conditions, thus they are also accepted as click chemistry reactions. Click chemistry and controlled polymerization techniques have been utilized extensively in the synthesis of well-defined and elegant macromolecular structures.
Bibliometric and visualized analysis of the top 100 most-cited articles on anterior cervical surgery
Authors: He Junbo , Wu Tingkui , Ding Chen , Wang Beiyu , Hong Ying , Liu Hao
Published: December 2021

Anterior cervical surgery (ACS) owes its development to various pioneering individuals whose revolutionary works form key advances and guide current medical decisions. This bibliometric study aimed to identify, analyse and visualize the main features of the most-cited papers in ACS.

The citation count for the top 100 most-cited articles ranged from 148 to 1,197, and citations per year ranged from 3.1 to 89.8. The articles were published from 1958 to 2016, with the 2000s being the most active decade. There was an inverse correlation between the average citations per year since publication and article age.

The oldest as well as most-cited two articles were both published in 1958 by Smith and Robinson, and Cloward, respectively. In their studies, the authors individually described the technique of anterior cervical discectomy with fusion (ACDF).

The most popular keywords were: ‘fusion’ (22), ‘spine’ (20), ‘cervical spine’ (16), ‘complications’ (15), ‘arthrodesis’ (13), ‘interbody fusion’ (13), ‘bone morphogenetic protein’ (13), and ‘radiculopathy’ (12).

ACDF was the most frequent surgical procedure (80%), while cervical disc arthroplasty is of gradual greater impact.

The surgical techniques of ACDF have remained unaltered for over 60 years. More attempts are needed to promote its development.

Cite this article: EFORT Open Rev 2021;6:1203-1213. DOI: 10.1302/2058-5241.6.210074
Els signes distintius de les denominacions d’origen vitivinícoles catalanes. Contextualització històrica
Authors: Molleví Bortoló Gemma , Villoro Armengol Jordi
Published: December 2021

L’objectiu d’aquest article és valorar la relació entre la història de la vitivinicultura a Catalunya i les denominacions d’origen (DO) catalanes mitjançant les seves marques significatives.

L’origen de la vitivinicultura catalana es remunta a la cultura ibera pels contactes fenicis i grecs, es consolidà amb els romans i s’expandí durant l’edat mitjana. Algunes zones esdevingueren DO que reforcen el vincle geogràfic amb el territori on es produeix el vi de qualitat. Algunes d’elles mostren aquest origen històric en els seus signes distintius: amb els grecs (DO Empordà), amb els romans (DO Tarragona) o amb el període medieval (DOQ Priorat).
Comunicació de males notícies en context sanitari
Authors: Consuegra-Fernández Marta , Fernández-Trujillo Alejandra
Published: December 2021

Malgrat considerar-se una pràctica clínica de menor rellevància, la comunicació de males notícies en context sanitari és una de les tasques més difícils i amb major impacte emocional tant per a la persona atesa i els familiars propers com per al mateix metge. Si bé el pacient és, en aquest cas, l’eix central de la situació, tots els interlocutors experimenten dificultats pròpies que poden impedir una comunicació eficient, comportar conseqüències emocionals negatives i, en última instància, deteriorar la relació sanitària. En aquest sentit, és important reconèixer les veus de tots els protagonistes d’aquesta interacció i identificar quins són els reptes que cal afrontar a cada cas per poder atendre les seves necessitats i aconseguir una comunicació satisfactòria.
Compromiso ético y responsabilidad en el contexto
universitario
Authors: Mauri-Álvarez Margarita , Vilafranca-Manguán Isabel , José-Mestre Carles
Published: December 2021

INTRODUCCIÓN. La situación excepcional de enseñanza virtual
derivada de la crisis provocada por la pandemia causada por el
COVID-19 abrió un debate universitario que pivotaba sobre el
compromiso ético y la responsabilidad del estudiante a la hora de
autentificar su identidad y autoría en la presentación de trabajos o
evidencias evaluativas. El tema central era la responsabilidad
individual y el compromiso ético del estudiante, dos competencias
transversales comunes a muchos grados y másteres universitarios.
MÉTODO. El presente artículo trata de analizar, definir y dotar de
contenido estas competencias desde la perspectiva de su adquisición
por parte de estudiantes. RESULTADOS. A la luz de esta aproximación
conceptual, se ofrecen algunas pautas a los docentes universitarios
para el fomento y enseñanza de las competencias mencionadas.
DISCUSIÓN. La función ejemplar del profesorado y de la institución
universitaria, tal y como pretende demostrarse, resulta crucial para
el fomento de la responsabilidad del estudiante y del compromiso
ético.
Agro-morphological and molecular diversity in different maturity groups of Indian cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis L.)
Authors: Rakshita K. N. , Singh Shrawan , Verma Veerendra Kumar , Sharma Brij Bihari , Saini Navinder , Iquebal Mir Asif , Sharma Akanksha , Dey Shyam Sunder , Behera T. K.
Published: December 2021

The present study analysed the molecular and agro-morphological diversity in a set of 92 diverse cauliflower genotypes and two each of cabbage and broccoli. Field evaluation of the genotypes was done in randomized block design (RBD) at two locations (i.e. IARI, New Delhi and ICAR-RC-NEH Region, Barapani) during Rabi2019-20. Genotypes showed variation for all the eight observed traits at both locations and, the differences in early and snowball groups were distinct. Pusa Meghna, DC-33-8, Pusa Kartiki and CC-14 were earliest for curd initiation. Genotypes showed higher values for curd traits at Delhi. Molecular diversity was detected with 90 polymorphic simple sequence repeats (SSR). Number of alleles ranged from 1 to 9 with mean value of 2.16 and the highest polymorphic information content (PIC) value was observed for primer BoGMS0742 (0.68) with a mean value of 0.18. Cluster analysis using agro-morphological traits substantiated classification of the genotypes for maturity groups. However, SSR analysis revealed four clusters and with a composite pattern of genotype distribution. STRUCTURE analysis also supported the admixture and four subpopulations. The studyindicates for introgression of genetic fragments across the maturity groups, thereby, potential for use in further genetic improvement and heterosis breeding.
Risk factors for excess all-cause mortality during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in England: A retrospective cohort study of primary care data
Authors: Carey Iain M. , Cook Derek G. , Harris Tess , DeWilde Stephen , Chaudhry Umar A. R. , Strachan David P.
Published: December 2021

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic’s first wave in England during spring 2020 resulted in an approximate 50% increase in all-cause mortality. Previously, risk factors such as age and ethnicity, were identified by studying COVID-related deaths only, but these were under-recorded during this period.

Objective

To use a large electronic primary care database to estimate the impact of risk factors (RFs) on excess mortality in England during the first wave, compared with the impact on total mortality during 2015–19.

Methods

Medical history, ethnicity, area-based deprivation and vital status data were extracted for an average of 4.8 million patients aged 30–104 years, for each year between 18-March and 19-May over a 6-year period (2015–2020). We used Poisson regression to model total mortality adjusting for age and sex, with interactions between each RF and period (pandemic vs. 2015–19). Total mortality during the pandemic was partitioned into "usual" and "excess" components, assuming 2015–19 rates represented "usual" mortality. The association of each RF with the 2020 "excess" component was derived as the excess mortality ratio (EMR), and compared with the usual mortality ratio (UMR).

Results

RFs where excess mortality was greatest and notably higher than usual were age >80, non-white ethnicity (e.g., black vs. white EMR = 2.50, 95%CI 1.97–3.18; compared to UMR = 0.92, 95%CI 0.85–1.00), BMI>40, dementia, learning disability, severe mental illness, place of residence (London, care-home, most deprived). By contrast, EMRs were comparable to UMRs for sex. Although some co-morbidities such as cancer produced EMRs significantly below their UMRs, the EMRs were still >1. In contrast current smoking has an EMR below 1 (EMR = 0.80, 95%CI 0.65–0.98) compared to its UMR = 1.64.

Conclusions

Studying risk factors for excess mortality during the pandemic highlighted differences from studying cause-specific mortality. Our approach illustrates a novel methodology for evaluating a pandemic’s impact by individual risk factor without requiring cause-specific mortality data.
Patterns and predictors of sick leave among Swedish non-hospitalized healthcare and residential care workers with Covid-19 during the early phase of the pandemic
Authors: Kisiel Marta A. , Nordqvist Tobias , Westman Gabriel , Svartengren Magnus , Malinovschi Andrei , Janols Helena
Published: December 2021

Healthcare and residential care workers represent two occupational groups that have, in particular, been at risk of Covid-19, its long-term consequences, and related sick leave. In this study, we investigated the predictors of prolonged sick leave among healthcare and residential workers due to non-hospitalized Covid-19 in the early period of the pandemic. This study is based on a patient register (n = 3209) and included non-hospitalized healthcare or residential care service workers with a positive RT- PCR for SARS-CoV-2 (n = 433) between March and August 2020. Data such as socio-demographics, clinical characteristics, and the length of sick leave because of Covid-19 and prior to the pandemic were extracted from the patient’s electronic health records. Prolonged sick leave was defined as sick leave ≥ 3 weeks, based on the Swedish pandemic policy. A generalized linear model was used with a binary distribution, adjusted for age, gender, and comorbidity in order to predict prolonged sick leave. Of 433 (77% women) healthcare and residential care workers included in this study, 14.8% needed longer sick leave (> 3 weeks) due to Covid-19. Only 1.4% of the subjects were on sick leave because of long Covid. The risk of sick leave was increased two-fold among residential care workers (adjusted RR 2.14 [95% CI 1.31–3.51]). Depression/anxiety (adjusted RR 2.09 [95% CI 1.31–3.34]), obesity (adjusted RR 1.96 [95% CI 1.01–3.81]) and dyspnea at symptom onset (adjusted RR 2.47 [95% CI 1.55–3.92]), sick leave prior to the pandemic (3–12 weeks) (adjusted RR 2.23 [95% CI 1.21–4.10]) were associated with longer sick leave. From a public health perspective, considering occupational category, comorbidity, symptoms at onset, and sick leave prior to the pandemic as potential predictors of sick leave in healthcare may help prevent staff shortage.
Serum and plasma brain-derived neurotrophic factor concentration are elevated by systemic but not local passive heating
Authors: Ogawa Takahiro , Hoekstra Sven P. , Kamijo Yoshi-Ichiro , Goosey-Tolfrey Victoria L. , Walsh Jeremy J. , Tajima F. Fumihiro , Leicht Christof A.
Published: December 2021

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays a key role in neuronal adaptations. While previous studies suggest that whole-body heating can elevate circulating BDNF concentration, this is not known for local heating protocols. This study investigated the acute effects of whole-body versus local passive heating on serum and plasma BDNF concentration. Using a water-perfused suit, ten recreationally active males underwent three 90 min experimental protocols: heating of the legs with upper-body cooling (LBH), whole-body heating (WBH) and a control condition (CON). Blood samples were collected before, immediately after and 1 h post-heating for the determination of serum and plasma BDNF concentration, platelet count as well as the BDNF release per platelet. Rectal temperature, cardiac output and femoral artery shear rate were assessed at regular intervals. Serum and plasma BDNF concentration were elevated after WBH (serum: 19.1±5.0 to 25.9±11.3 ng/ml, plasma: 2.74±0.9 to 4.58±2.0; p<0.044), but not LBH (serum: 19.1±4.7 to 22.3±4.8 ng/ml, plasma: 3.25±1.13 to 3.39±0.90 ng/ml; p>0.126), when compared with CON (serum: 18.6±6.4 to 16.8±3.4 ng/ml, plasma: 2.49±0.69 to 2.82±0.89 ng/ml); accompanied by an increase in platelet count (p<0.001). However, there was no change in BDNF content per platelet after either condition (p = 0.392). All physiological measures were elevated to a larger extent after WBH compared with LBH (p<0.001), while shear rate and rectal temperature were higher during LBH than CON (p<0.038). In conclusion, WBH but not LBH acutely elevates circulating BDNF concentration. While these findings further support the use of passive heating to elevate BDNF concentration, a larger increase in shear rate, sympathetic activity and/or rectal temperature than found after LBH appears needed to induce an acute BDNF response by passive heating.
Study on the effect of front retaining walls on the thermal structure and outflow temperature of reservoirs
Authors: Yang Xiaoqian , Tuo Youcai , Yang Yanjing , Wang Xin , Deng Yun , Wang Haoyu
Published: December 2021

The front retaining wall (FRW) is an effective facility of selective withdrawal. Previous research has not estimated the effect of FRWs on the thermal regimes of reservoirs and outflow temperature, which are crucial to reservoir ecology. For this purpose, taking the Dongqing Reservoir as a case study, a two-dimensional hydrodynamic CE-QUAL-W2 model was configured for the typical channel-type reservoir in the southwestern Guizhou Province, to better understand the influence of FRWs on the thermal structure and outflow temperature. The simulated data from January to September 2017 showed that FRWs can change the vertical temperature distribution during the stratification period, accelerate the upper warmer water release and thus decrease the strength of thermal stratification. The stratification structure changed from a single thermocline to double thermoclines in August. An FRW resulted in an average 11.8 m increase in the thickness of the hypolimnion and a 1.2°C decrease in the thickness of the thermocline layer. An FRW increased the outflow temperature by 0.4°C and raised the withdrawal elevation by 16 m on average. The longitudinal velocity increased compared with the non-FRW condition, while the maximum velocity position moved up. In addition, FRWs can continuously obtain surface warmer water without manual operation and have low investment and good construction conditions. This study can provide an available selective withdrawal idea for reservoirs with similar hydraulic conditions.