bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Systematic Review of Controlled-Trials for PTSD in Maltreated Children and Adolescents
Authors: Bennett Rhiannon S. , Denne Megan , McGuire Rosie , Hiller Rachel M.
Published: October 2020

Child maltreatment is associated with elevated risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which can often present alongside comorbidities. While evidence-based treatments for PTSD in young people already exist, there remains ongoing clinical and academic debate about the suitability of these approaches, particularly cognitive-behavioral approaches, for young people who have been exposed to more complex traumatic experiences, such as maltreatment. We conducted an updated systematic review of the evidence-base for psychological treatments for PTSD, specifically for maltreated young people. Fifteen randomized controlled trials and five non-randomized controlled clinical trials satisfied the inclusion criteria. Trials included treatments ranging from trauma-focused CBT to creative-based therapies. Trauma-focused CBT remained the best supported treatment for children and adolescents following child maltreatment, with new evidence that symptom improvements are maintained at longer-term follow up. The evidence for other therapies remained limited, and there were concerns regarding methodological quality. Implications for treatment decision-making are discussed.
Pattern Recognition: Using Rocks, Wind, Water, Anxiety, and Doom Scrolling in a Slow Apocalypse (to Learn More About Methods for Changing the World)
Authors: Markham Annette N.
Published: October 2020

In 5 months of COVID isolation, living out of a suitcase in temporary housing, countless fractal patterns emerged. I can’t say if I created these patterns by looking for them, or that I know the whole world by looking at a grain of sand. The truth of the matter is that it feels like the key for massive scale change is just in front of us, but slipping from our grasp. As we move through these days, weeks, and months, we have very little time before the difference recedes again. I address this matter of concern as a matter of method in performative grounded theory piece.
Hoping to Pass: Randomized Trial of a One-Time Hope Intervention on Standardized Exam Passing Rates in BSN Students
Authors: Wedgeworth Monika L. , Eyer Joshua C. , March Alice L. , Feldman David B.
Published: October 2020

BACKGROUND: National standardized nursing exams serve as critical measures of student readiness for practice and carry significant consequences for students and academic institutions. Educational interventions that can enhance a student’s performance increase the probability of academic success. Previous studies link hope to grade point average in college students and on standardized exam (SE) scores in nursing students, yet it is not clear if hope can be increased utilizing a one-time intervention in ways that produce lasting benefits for passing SEs. AIMS: Aim 1 tested the efficacy of a one-time hope intervention on increasing SE passing rates among BSN nursing students. Aim 2 examined the role of the interventions, selected state-mechanism variables, and trait characteristics in predicting SE passing. METHOD: This comparative-effectiveness trial utilized a randomized, controlled, multiple-cohort experimental design to compare a one-time 90-minute hope intervention to an attention-matched progressive muscle relaxation intervention on SE passing scores among BSN nursing students. RESULTS: Levels of hope briefly increased following the hope intervention. Both interventions demonstrated short-term improvement in state-level psychosocial indicators but did not affect SE scores. Among trait and mechanism factors, only academic self-efficacy was linked with passing SEs. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that a single-session hope intervention can increase short-term hope. In this sample of 292 BSN students, there was no statistically significant long-term effect on passing SEs; however, this study may lay the groundwork for future interventions investigating booster sessions, or how to modify the intervention for struggling students.
Risk factors for central retinal vein occlusion in young adults
Authors: Chen Tony Y. , Uppuluri Aditya , Zarbin Marco A. , Bhagat Neelakshi
Published: October 2020

Purpose:

Several risk factors have been identified for central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) in older population. CRVO in young is uncommon, and the risk factors for this group are unclear. This large retrospective, cross-sectional study used the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database to evaluate the risk factors for CRVO in patients 18 to 40 years of age.

Methods:

The 2002 to 2014 NIS database was used. All patients 18 to 40 years of age with a primary diagnosis of CRVO were identified. Age- and gender-matched non-CRVO controls were randomly selected. The primary outcome was identification of risk factors for CRVO. Chi-square analysis and Firth logistic regression were performed with IBM SPSS 23 and R packages versions 3.4.3, respectively. p < 0.05 was considered significant.

Results:

A total of 95 weighted young CRVO patients were identified. The average age was 31.44 ± 6.41 years with no gender predilection. Systemic and ocular conditions found to have statistically significant associations with CRVO included primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) (OR 836.72, p < 0.001), retinal vasculitis (OR 705.82, p < 0.001), pseudotumor cerebri (OR 35.94, p < 0.001), hypercoagulable state (OR 25.25, p < 0.001), history of deep vein thrombosis/pulmonary embolism (DVT/PE) (OR 21.88, p < 0.001), and hyperlipidemia (OR 3.60, p = 0.003).

Conclusion:

The most significant risk factors for CRVO in young adults were POAG, retinal vasculitis, and pseudotumor cerebri. Hypercoagulable states and DVT/PE were also associated with CRVO in this population. Systemic inflammatory conditions were not associated with CRVO. Traditional risk factors such as hypertension and diabetes did not pose significant risks, whereas hyperlipidemia was deemed a significant risk factor.
Effect of dietary modification and antioxidant supplementation on intraocular pressure and open-angle glaucoma
Authors: Jabbehdari Sayena , Chen Judy L , Vajaranant Thasarat Sutabutr
Published: October 2020

Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) is an age-dependent, intraocular pressure (IOP)-related degeneration of the retinal ganglion cells (RGC). At present, IOP is the only modifiable factor that has been identified to prevent glaucomatous vision loss. Though the pathogenesis of glaucomatous optic neuropathy is still not well understood, increasing evidence suggests oxidative stress may contribute to the induction and progression of glaucoma. Furthermore, antioxidant use may be protective against glaucoma through various mechanisms, including reducing IOP, preserving vascular health, and preventing ganglion cell loss. This article provides a comprehensive review of the effect of oxidative stress, diet, and antioxidant therapy on IOP and open-angle glaucoma.
Updated definition and classification of dry eye disease: Renewed proposals using the nominal group and Delphi techniques
Authors: Barabino Stefano , Aragona Pasquale , di Zazzo Antonio , Rolando Maurizio ,   with the contribution of selected ocular surface experts from the Società Italiana di Dacriologia e Superficie Oculare
Published: October 2020

The aim of our research was to obtain expert consensus for updated definition and classification of dry eye disease using formal methodology. The nominal group technique (NGT) involved a steering committee of four ophthalmologists began with collection of ideas followed by group discussion. The ideas were collated, refined, and voted upon. The main characteristics considered, each with different degrees of severity in types I, II, and III, were the ability or not of the ocular surface to re-equilibrate itself, frequency of symptoms, presence of inflammation, epithelial alterations, and possible alterations in the quality of vision. This was followed by three rounds of a “mini-Delphi” involving an expert panel of 13 ophthalmologists, with the last round including all 17 ophthalmologists. Consensus in the final round of voting (⩾75% of votes) was reached on the definition of dry eye disease and on criteria for its classification in three forms. Type I is a transient and reversible form with subclinical inflammation, possible epithelial alterations, and occasional alterations in vision. Type II is a recurrent form characterized by a reduced ability to re-equilibrate the ocular surface, frequent symptoms and alterations in vision with clinically-evident inflammation, and clear evidence of epithelial alterations. Type III is a chronic form with inability to re-equilibrate the ocular surface and accompanied by clinically-evident and chronic inflammation, persistent epithelial alterations, and frequent alterations in quality of vision. The vast majority of patients with dry eye disease can be easily classified into one of these three forms. Dry eye disease definition was updated accordingly.
Bilateral true muscle transplantation for correction of very large angle exotropia
Authors: Ganesh Sandra C , Rao Shilpa G , Aziz Almas Abdul , Narendran Kalpana
Published: October 2020

A 59-year old man with very large exotropia and bilateral limitation of adduction, underwent bilateral true muscle transplantation, involving the sutured transfer of resected segment of medial rectus (MR) onto the distal end of lateral rectus (LR), prior to recession of the thus elongated LR muscle. Following this he was left with mild residual exotropia and improved adduction, which has remained stable for 6 months following surgery.
Giant osteomas: Clinical results and surgical approach from ophthalmic point of view
Authors: Sendul Selam Yekta , Mavi Yildiz Aysegul , Yildiz Ali Atakhan
Published: October 2020

Purpose:

To present clinical ocular manifestations, radiological features and surgical results of giant paranasal osteomas involving the orbit.

Design:

Retrospective, interventional, case series

Methods:

The study included patients treated for giant paranasal osteoma involving the orbit. Total or subtotal excision of the tumor was performed via external approach. Clinical characteristics including presenting symptoms, radiologic investigation, histopathology and details of the surgery were recorded.

Results:

Of the six patients included; four were male and two were female. Mean age was 46.8 years (range 12–70 years). Five patients had unilateral, one patient had bileteral disease. The presenting complaints included complete ( n = 2/6) or partial ( n = 4/6) limitation of eye movements depending on the location and size of the tumor, diplopia ( n = 5/6), vision loss ( n = 2/6) exophthalmos ( n = 6/6) and reduced pupillary light reflex ( n = 2/6). The presumed origin of the tumor was frontoethmoidal region ( n = 2/6), frontal sinus ( n = 3/6) and ethmoid sinus ( n = 1/6). Total resection was achieved in three of the patients whereas partial resection was achieved in remaining three patients due to risk of incremental neurological damage. Mild ptosis was observed in all patients during the postoperative period (temporary, n = 4; permanent, n = 2).

Conclusion:

Despite the benign nature of osteomas, severe functional impairment including vision loss due to compression of the optic nerve and diplopia might occur in case of orbital involvement. Osteomas with an orbital extension > %50 of the bony orbit volume are more prone to cause irreversible visual loss. Surgical resection is still the mainstay of therapy.
Inflammatory cytokines, oxidative and antioxidative stress levels in patients with diabetic macular edema and hyperreflective spots
Authors: Sabaner Mehmet Cem , Akdogan Muberra , Doğan Mustafa , Oral Ayse Yesim , Duman Resat , Koca Tulay , Bozkurt Erhan
Published: October 2020

Purpose:

To determine the levels of serum oxidative, antioxidative markers and inflammatory cytokines in patients diagnosed with diabetic macular edema (DME) whose hyperreflective spots (HRS) were detected by optical coherence tomography (OCT).

Methods:

In this prospective cross-sectional clinical study included a total of 88 patients; 31 patients (group-1) with DME and HRS detected by OCT, 29 patients (group-2) with DME without HRS, and 28 patients (group-3) diagnosed with diabetes mellitus (DM) without any diabetic retinopathy findings. The main outcomes were best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), CMT (central macular thickness), CMV (central macular volume), TMV (total macular volume), CT (choroidal thickness), serum TAS (total antioxidant status), TOS (total oxidant status), VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor), FGF (fibroblast growth factor) and IL-1b levels. OCT parameters and biochemical measurements were compared statistically between the three groups.

Results:

A total of 88 patients (43 females (48.9%) and 45 males (51.1%)) were included in the study. The mean age was 56.29 ± 9.23 years. There was no difference between the three groups in age-and-sex. In group-1 and 2, BCVA(LogMAR) was statistically higher than group 3. CMT, CMV, TMV, TAS, TOS, VEGF and FGF were significantly higher in group-1 than in group-3. CMT, CMV, TMV, VEGF and FGF were significantly higher in group-2 than group 3. TOS and VEGF were significantly higher in group-1 than group-2.

Conclusions:

This study demonstrates that in patients with DME and HRS, TOS and VEGF levels were higher than those without HRS. Hence, hyperreflective spots may be an inflammatory biomarker.
Kojic acid enhances the proliferation of human corneal epithelial cells via p38 and p21 signaling pathways
Authors: Wei Xi , Du Lingling , Sun Liyao , Wang Chao , Song Fanqian , Qian Hua , Li Xiaoguang , Guo Xin , Tang Xianling , Liu Ping
Published: October 2020

Purpose:

Treatment of corneal injury depends on the self-proliferation ability of human corneal epithelial cells (HCEp). Our previous study revealed kojic acid had the anti-senescence function on human corneal endothelial cells. In this study, we researched the enhancive proliferation effect of kojic acid in HCEp.

Methods:

Cell viability was evaluated by MTT assay. The expression of proliferation-related protein was detected by western blotting and immunofluorescence assay.

Results:

Kojic acid could enhance HCEp proliferation, characterized by promoting cell proliferation rate, decreasing the expression levels of p21, galectin 8 and ki67, and increasing that of p-p38. The p38 signaling pathway inhibitor, SB203580, could reverse the enhancive proliferation function of kojic acid. Furthermore, knockdown of p21 had similar enhancive proliferation effect to kojic acid.

Conclusion:

Kojic acid might enhance HCEp proliferation through p38 and p21 signaling pathways, potentially via reduced expression levels of galectin 8 and ki67. Hence, kojic acid might be a potential drug to accelerate the healing of corneal epithelial injury.
Who killed Utopia? Cult conspiracy drama and a television imaginary
Authors: Hill Annette
Published: October 2020

This article focuses on the production and reception of television drama, specifically the case study of conspiracy thriller Utopia. The empirical research is based on 21 production interviews with the makers of the drama and 56 interviews with audience members and fans of the drama. The concept of the television imaginary is used as an analytical lens for investigating the various ways television itself, and audiences and fans, are imagined and implicated in the cancellation of a cult drama series. In particular, Barthes’ early writing on a cultural imaginary is used to underscore the contrariness, the contra positions which creative producers, audiences and fans take, in the conspiracies and judgements surrounding the cancellation. Utopia conspiracies within and outside the television industry serve to legitimise and penalise the drama as a cult form; these conspiracies energise the subjective processes that shape an future imaginary for Utopia and drive its afterlife.
Flame image velocimetry analysis of reacting jet flow fields with a variation of injection pressure in a small-bore diesel engine
Authors: Yang Jinxin , Rao Lingzhe , Zhang Yilong , de Silva Charitha , Kook Sanghoon
Published: October 2020

This study measures in-flame flow fields in a single-cylinder small-bore optical diesel engine using Flame Image Velocimetry (FIV) applied to high-speed soot luminosity movies. Three injection pressures were tested for a two-hole nozzle injector to cause jet-wall interaction and a significant jet-jet interaction within 45° inter-jet spacing. The high-pressure fuel jets were also under the strong influence of a swirl flow. For each test condition, soot luminosity signals were recorded at a high framing rate of 45 kHz with which the time-resolved, two-dimensional FIV post-processing was performed based on the image contrast variations associated with flame structure evolution and internal pattern change. A total of 100 combustion events for each injection pressure were recorded and processed to address the inherent cyclic variations. The ensemble-averaged flow fields were used for detailed flow structure discussion, and Reynolds decomposition using a spatial filtering method was applied to obtain high-frequency fluctuations that were found to be primarily turbulence. The detailed analysis of flow fields suggested that increased injection pressure leads to enhanced jet flow travelling along the bowl wall and higher flow vectors penetrating back towards the nozzle upon the impingement on the wall. Within the jet-jet interaction region, the flow vectors tend to follow the swirl direction, which increases with increasing injection pressure. The FIV also captured a turbulent ring vortex formed in the wall-jet head, which becomes larger and clearer at higher injection pressure. A vortex generated in the centre of combustion chamber was due to the swirl flow with its position being shifted at higher injection pressure. The bulk flow magnitude indicated significant cyclic variations, which increases with injection pressure. The turbulence intensity is also enhanced due to higher injection pressure, which primarily occurs in the wall-jet head region and the jet-jet interaction region.
‘That’s the way to do it!’: establishing the peculiar geographies of puppetry
Authors: Banfield Janet
Published: October 2020

This paper initiates a new area of cultural geography – the geographies of puppets and puppetry – and makes both empirical and conceptual contributions by presenting an initial analysis of puppets in popular culture. The paper begins by highlighting the paucity of disciplinary interest in puppets and the productive potential of puppets and puppetry for a range of sub-disciplines within human geography. A content analysis of 50 films, television programmes and fictional texts is presented, through which a dimensional model of puppets in popular culture is developed to stimulate further work in this area. Utilitarian (role and extent), relational (individual and social) and qualitative (puppetness and ontology) dimensions describe the many and varied ways in which puppets are used in popular culture. The diverse spaces that are created in such works through the interrogation of the human-puppet relationship are explored, with more extreme interpretations of puppetness generating the most peculiar – unique and strange – geographies. Subsequently, the cultural analysis is related to conceptual developments from geographical work on comics and cartoons to advance a conceptual contribution. Integrating and inverting notions of borderscape and topological gulf accommodates the simultaneous maintenance and elimination of human-puppet distinctiveness found to be essential to the peculiar geographies of puppetry.
Damage diagnosis and prognosis in composite double cantilever beam coupons by particle filtering and surrogate modelling
Authors: Cristiani Demetrio , Sbarufatti Claudio , Giglio Marco
Published: October 2020

Delamination is a failure mechanism which is intrinsic of laminated fibre-reinforced plastics and possibly one of the major concerns of laminated composite structures, since, under certain conditions, delaminations can grow up to an hazardous extent without visible traces. In order to keep pace with recent condition-based maintenance requirements, proper validated diagnostic and prognostic methods which should be capable of operating on-line and in real time are required. In this respect, particle filters provide a consistent Bayesian framework, where the posterior distribution of the system degradation status is recursively approximated based on a time-growing stream of observations measuring the system response. However, the real-time operation capability of such methods is hindered by their requirements in terms of analysis time, which is mainly due to the complexity of the models they rely upon. Within this work, a particle filter framework, able to deal with the inherent stochasticity of fatigue delamination growth – while simultaneously relieving the computational burden associated with the evaluation of the trajectory likelihoods – is provided, leveraging on surrogate modelling strategies. Simultaneous diagnosis and prognosis of a simulated carbon fibre-reinforced plastics double cantilever beam specimen subject to fatigue delamination growth are performed, based on the observation of the strain field pattern acquired at some specific locations. The posterior probability density function of the delamination extent during propagation is updated at each inspection time as well as the probability density function of the remaining useful life. Ultimately, the adoption of the augmented state formulation allows for the estimation and updating of the joint probability density function of the parameters driving the stochastic delamination propagation model. Results demonstrate the feasibility and potential of the proposed approach as a tool able to monitor the progressing delamination while simultaneously providing estimates about the remaining useful life of composite structures.
A CCTV-based analysis of target selection by guardians intervening in interpersonal conflicts
Authors: Ejbye-Ernst Peter , Lindegaard Marie Rosenkrantz , Bernasco Wim
Published: October 2020

Guardians are a potential resource of conflict de-escalation but we still know little about their actual behaviour. In this article we investigate whom among the antagonists a guardian selects as a target when they intervene in an interpersonal conflict. We investigate this using CCTV footage from Amsterdam (the Netherlands) of 46 interpersonal conflicts in public spaces involving 641 interventions by 176 individuals. We find that guardians are more likely to target antagonists: (1) who have performed the most aggressive behaviours, (2) who are not simultaneously targeted by other guardians, (3) who are from their own social group, (4) who are men. The analysis shows that the behaviour of intervening guardians is shaped by multiple aspects of the complex and often ambiguous conflict situations.
Developing Employee Resilience: The Role of Leader-Facilitated Emotion Management
Authors: Richard Erin M.
Published: October 2020

The Problem

To create resilient organizations, Human Resource Development (HRD) must foster the conditions (both internal and external to the employee) that enable learning and development in the face of adversity. Yet the experience of adversity produces intense negative emotions that threaten learning and development. Resilience building programs typically focus on building resources internal to the worker (e.g., self-efficacy, optimism) as a means of buffering against the negative effects of future stressors, but considerably less focus is placed on supporting others in their attempts to cope. Additionally, the role of leadership in promoting follower resilience has received limited attention.

The Solution

This article begins by summarizing the role of emotion and emotion regulation in recent literature on employee resilience. Toward that goal, a literature search was conducted for reviews and theoretical models of employee resilience published in peer-reviewed journals over the past 10 years. Next, emerging scholarship on interpersonal emotion management (IEM) is introduced, with a focus on its application in work and leadership contexts. The argument is made that leaders are in a unique position to promote resilience in their followers, through the promotion of positive emotional states and through the mitigation of the negative emotional states that accompany adversity. As such, developing IEM skills in both resilience training and leadership development programs should increase employee resilience.

The Stakeholders

Leaders, scholars, and HRD professionals interested in promoting employee resilience and developing effective leaders will benefit from this application of interpersonal emotion management concepts to the topic of employee resilience.
Reliability and Validity of Turkish Myasthenia Gravis-Activities of Daily Living Scale
Authors: Karanfil Ecem , Salcı Yeliz , Fil-Balkan Ayla , Bekircan-Kurt Can Ebru , Erdem Özdamar Sevim , Armutlu Kadriye
Published: October 2020

Linguistic, reliable, and valid secondary efficacy measures are important in clinical settings and studies. The aim of the study is to report test–retest reliability and construct validity of Turkish version of Myasthenia Gravis-Activities of Daily Living Scale (MG-ADL-T) in Myasthenia Gravis (MG) patients. Fifty-two ocular and generalized individuals with MG, applying to rehabilitation center, were included in the study. MG-ADL-T, MG quality-of-life questionnaire (MG-QoL), MG composite (MGC), quantitative MG score (QMGS), and pulmonary function test were administered. Reliability was assessed with intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Cronbach’s alpha. Spearman correlation test and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis were performed for construct validity. MG-ADL-T had fair internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = .67), excellent test–retest reliability (ICC = 0.96) and moderate construct validity (MG-QoL, r = 0.59; QMGS, r = .58; MGC, r = .68). MG-ADL, a unique scale that evaluates activities of daily living (ADL), has good test–retest reliability and construct validity in Turkish MG patients.
Conditioned Pain Modulation Decreases Over Time in Patients With Neuropathic Pain Following a Spinal Cord Injury
Authors: Gagné Martin , Côté Isabelle , Boulet Mélanie , Jutzeler Catherine R. , Kramer John L. K. , Mercier Catherine
Published: October 2020

Background

Neuropathic pain is a major problem following spinal cord injury (SCI). Central mechanisms involved in the modulation of nociceptive signals have been shown to be altered at the chronic stage, and it has been hypothesized that they might play a role in the development of chronic pain.

Objective

This prospective longitudinal study aimed to describe the evolution of pain modulation mechanisms over time after SCI, and to explore the relationships with the presence of clinical (neuropathic and musculoskeletal) pain.

Methods

Patients with an SCI were assessed on admission (n = 35; average of 38 days postinjury) and discharge (n = 25; average of 131 days postinjury) using the International Spinal Cord Injury Pain Basic Data Set. Conditioned pain modulation was assessed using the cold pressor test (10 °C; 120 s) as the conditioning stimulus and tonic heat pain, applied above the level of injury, as the test stimulus (120 s). Heat pain threshold was also assessed.

Results

A marked decrease in the efficacy of conditioned pain modulation was observed over time, with 30.2% of inhibition at admission and only 12.9% at discharge on average ( P = .010). This decrease was observed only in patients already suffering from neuropathic pain at admission and was not explained by a general increase in sensitivity to thermal nociceptive stimuli.

Conclusion

These results suggest that the presence of neuropathic pain leads to a decrease in conditioned pain modulation over time, rather than supporting the hypothesis that inefficient conditioned pain modulation mechanisms are leading to the development of neuropathic pain.
Modeling and energy management strategy research of a power-split hybrid electric vehicle
Authors: Zou Yupeng , Huang Ruchen , Wu Xiangshu , Zhang Baolong , Zhang Qiang , Wang Nuo , Qin Tao
Published: October 2020

A power-split hybrid electric vehicle with a dual-planetary gearset is researched in this paper. Based on the lever analogy method of planetary gearsets, the power-split device is theoretically modeled, and the driveline simulation model is built by using vehicle modeling and simulation toolboxes in MATLAB. Six operation modes of the vehicle are discussed in detail, and the kinematic constraint behavior of power sources are analyzed. To verify the rationality of the modeling, a rule-based control strategy (RB) and an adaptive equivalent consumption minimization strategy (A-ECMS) are designed based on the finite state machine and MATLAB language respectively. In order to demonstrate the superiority of A-ECMS in fuel-saving and to explore the impact of different energy management strategies on emission, fuel economy and emission performance of the vehicle are simulated and analyzed under UDDS driving cycle. The simulation results of the two strategies are compared in the end, shows that the modeling is rational, and compared with RB strategy, A-ECMS ensures charge sustaining better, enables power sources to work in more efficient areas, and improves fuel economy by 8.65%, but significantly increases NOx emissions, which will be the focus of the next research work.
Automated Indentation Demonstrates Structural Stiffness of Femoral Articular Cartilage and Temporomandibular Joint Mandibular Condylar Cartilage Is Altered in FgF2KO Mice
Authors: Woods Paige S. , Morin Alyssa A. , Chen Po-Jung , Mahonski Sarah , Xiao Liping , Hurley Marja , Yadav Sumit , Schmidt Tannin A.
Published: October 2020

Objective

Employ an automated indentation technique, using a commercially available machine, to assess the effect of fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) expression on structural stiffness over the surface of both murine femoral articular cartilage (AC) and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) mandibular condylar cartilage (MCC).

Design

Experiments were performed using 3-month-old female homozygote Fgf2KO mice with wild type (WT) littermates. After euthanization, isolated mandibles and hindlimbs were either processed for histology or subjected to automated indentation on a Biomomentum Mach-1 v500csst with a 3-axis motion controller in a phosphate buffered saline bath using a 0.3 mm spherical tip indenter. The effect of indentation depth on normal force was characterized, then structural stiffness was calculated and mapped at multiple positions on the AC and MCC.

Results

Automated indentation of the AC and TMJ MCC was successfully completed and was able to demonstrate both regional variation in structural stiffness and differences between WT and Fgf2KO mice. Structural stiffness values for Fgf2KO AC were significantly smaller than WT at both the medial/anterior ( P < 0.05) and medial/posterior ( P < 0.05) positions. Global Fgf2KO also lead to a decrease in MCC thickness of the TMJ compared with WT ( P < 0.05) and increased structural stiffness values for Fgf2KO at both the posterior and anterior location ( P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Automated indentation spatially resolved differences in structural stiffness between WT and Fgf2KO tissue, demonstrating FGF2 expression affects femoral AC and TMJ MCC. This quantitative method will provide a valuable approach for functional characterization of cartilage tissues in murine models relevant to knee joint and TMJ health and disease.
Right ventriculo–pulmonary arterial uncoupling and poor outcomes in pulmonary arterial hypertension
Authors: Nakaya Toshitaka , Ohira Hiroshi , Sato Takahiro , Watanabe Taku , Nishimura Masaharu , Oyama‐Manabe Noriko , Kato Masaru , Ito Yoichi M. , Tsujino Ichizo
Published: October 2020

Right ventricular function critically affects the prognosis of patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension. We aimed to analyze the prognostic value of right ventricular indices calculated using magnetic resonance imaging and right heart catheterization metrics in pulmonary arterial hypertension. We retrospectively collected data from 57 Japanese patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension and 18 controls and calculated six indices of right ventricular function: two indices of contractility (end‐systolic elastance calculated with right ventricular maximum pressure and with magnetic resonance imaging metrics); two indices of right ventricular–pulmonary arterial coupling (end‐systolic elastance/arterial elastance calculated with the pressure method (end‐systolic elastance/arterial elastance (P)) and with the volume method (end‐systolic elastance/arterial elastance (V)); and two indices of right ventricular diastolic function (stiffness (β) and end‐diastolic elastance). We compared the indices between controls and patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension and examined their prognostic role. In patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension, end‐systolic elastance (right ventricular maximum pressure) was higher (pulmonary arterial hypertension 0.94 (median) vs control 0.42 (mmHg/mL), p < 0.001), end‐systolic elastance/arterial elastance (V) was lower (pulmonary arterial hypertension 0.72 vs control 1.69, p < 0.001), and β and end‐diastolic elastance were significantly higher than those in the controls. According to the log‐rank test, end‐systolic elastance/arterial elastance (P) and end‐diastolic elastance were significantly associated with the composite event rate. According to the multivariate Cox regression analysis, decreased end‐systolic elastance/arterial elastance (P) was associated with a higher composite event rate (hazard ratio 11.510, 95% confidence interval: 1.954–67.808). In conclusion, an increased right ventricular contractility, diastolic dysfunction, and a trend of impaired right ventricular–pulmonary arterial coupling were observed in our pulmonary arterial hypertension cohort. According to the multivariate outcome analysis, a decreased end‐systolic elastance/arterial elastance (P), suggestive of impaired right ventricular–pulmonary arterial coupling, best predicted the pulmonary arterial hypertension‐related event.
Deubiquitinase enzyme STAMBP plays a broad role in both Toll-like and Nod-like receptor mediated inflammation
Authors: Gangoda Lahiru , Phan Thanh Kha , Anand Sushma , Hulett Mark D , Mathivanan Suresh
Published: October 2020

The innate immune system in mammals include pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), which initiate immune responses to microbial infection via several mechanisms. These PRRs include cell surface Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and cytosolic Nod-like receptors (NLRs) that recognizes extracellular and intracellular danger signals respectively. NLRs are poised to respond specifically to pathogens that access the host cell cytosol. The molecular mechanisms by which NLRs are activated to form inflammasomes and exert downstream inflammatory responses remain poorly understood. Additionally, very little is known about the regulation of cytosolic pathogen sensory NLR family members, except for NLRP3. Recently a deubiquitinase known as STAMBP has been implicated as a regulator of NLRP7 inflammasome assembly. We have investigated the role of STAMBP in regulation of other inflammasome components and its broader role in inflammation using genetic removal of STAMBP protein from cells using CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing and challenging these gene edited cells with an inflammatory stimuli. Our study demonstrated that STAMBP has a critical role in inflammation both in the context of NLR pathway, through NLRP stabilization and TLR pathway, through JNK signaling and downstream cytokine production. The findings indicate that STAMBP has a wider role in inflammation than previously thought to be the case.
Atraumatic Restorative Treatments in Australian Aboriginal Communities: A Cluster-randomized Trial
Authors: Arrow P. , Piggott S. , Carter S. , McPhee R. , Atkinson D. , Mackean T. , Kularatna S. , Tonmukayakul U. , Brennan D. , Nanda S. , Palmer D. , Jamieson L.
Published: October 2020

Introduction:

The management of early childhood caries (ECC) is challenging.

Objectives:

A model of care based on Atraumatic Restorative Treatment and the Hall Technique (ART-HT) to manage ECC was evaluated among remote Aboriginal communities in Australia.

Methods:

Aboriginal communities in the North-West of Western Australia were invited to participate and consenting communities were randomized into early or delayed intervention for the management of ECC. Children were examined at baseline and at the 11-mo follow-up. The early intervention group (test) was provided with the ART-based dental care at baseline while the delayed intervention group (control) was advised to seek care through the usual care options available within the community. At follow-up, both groups were examined by calibrated examiners, and were offered care using the ART-HT approach. Changes from baseline to follow-up in caries experience were tested using paired tests. Multivariate analysis after multiple imputation of missing data used generalised estimating equation (GEE) controlling for clustering within communities.

Results:

A total of 25 communities and 338 children (mean age = 3.6 y, SD 1.7) participated in the study (test = 177). At follow-up, 231 children were examined (68% retention, test = 125). At follow-up, children in the test group had more filled teeth (test filled teeth = 1.2, control filled teeth = 0.2, P < 0.001) and decreased levels of decayed teeth (mean test = 0.7 fewer teeth with decay, mean control = 1.0 more tooth with decay, P < 0.001). GEE analysis controlled for baseline caries experience, age, sex, and community water fluoride levels found increased rates of untreated decayed teeth (RR = 1.4, P = 0.02) and decreased rates of filled teeth (RR = 0.2, P < 0.001) at follow-up among the control group.

Conclusion:

A model of care relying on the principles of minimally invasive atraumatic approaches enabled the delivery of effective dental services to young children (<6 y) in remote Aboriginal Australian communities resulting in increased levels of care and improved oral health.

Knowledge Transfer Statement:

This cluster-randomized trial tested a multi-component model of dental care to young children with ECC in remote Aboriginal communities in Australia. The intervention, based on the atraumatic approaches using minimally invasive techniques encompassing preventive care, Atraumatic Restorative Treatment and the Hall Technique (ART-HT), delivered more restorative care and reduced the incidence of caries. This model of care was more effective than available standard care and should be incorporated into mainstream service delivery programs.
Resisting workers’ disalienation: The making and survival of capitalist conservation in Niombato, Senegal
Authors: Hiraldo Rocío
Published: October 2020

The making and survival of capitalist conservation depends upon the creation and maintenance of contradictory class relations based on alienated labour. The literature has, however, often ignored this aspect. Looking at capital as a contradictory class relation and through the study of a tourism-oriented protected area and three reforestation payment for ecosystem service projects in Senegal, this article shows how capital’s instrumentalisation of conservation requires a constant adaption to workers’ struggles against alienation. In the case here analysed, this adaptation manifests in the avoidance, silencing and appropriation of workers’ mobilisations against forest privatisation and labour exploitation. This resistance to workers’ disalienation reinforces not only capitalist class relations but also state, neo-colonial and white people’s power.
Occupational exposures to blood and body fluids among healthcare workers in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Sahiledengle Biniyam , Tekalegn Yohannes , Woldeyohannes Demelash , Quisido Bruce John Edward
Published: October 2020

Background

Occupational exposure to blood and body fluids is a major risk factor for the transmission of blood-borne infections to healthcare workers. There are several primary studies in Ethiopia yet they might not be at the national level to quantify the extent of occupational blood and body fluid exposures (splash of blood or other body fluids into the eyes, nose, or mouth) or blood contact with non-intact skin among the healthcare workers. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to estimate the pooled prevalence of occupational blood and body fluid exposure of healthcare workers in Ethiopia.

Methods

PubMed, Science Direct, Hinari, Google Scholar, and the Cochrane library were systematically searched; withal, the references of appended articles were also checked for further possible sources. The Cochrane Q test statistics and I2 tests were used to assess the heterogeneity of the included studies. A random-effects meta-analysis model was used to estimate the lifetime and 12-month prevalence of occupational exposure to blood and body fluids among healthcare workers in Ethiopia.

Results

Of the 641 articles identified through the database search, 36 studies were included in the final analysis. The estimated pooled lifetime and 12-month prevalence on occupational exposure to blood and body fluids among healthcare workers were found to be at 54.95% (95% confidence interval (CI), 48.25–61.65) and 44.24% (95% CI, 36.98-51.51), respectively. The study identified a variation in healthcare workers who were exposed to blood and body fluids across Ethiopian regions.

Conclusion

The finding of the present study revealed that there was a high level of annual and lifetime exposures to blood and body fluids among healthcare workers in Ethiopia.
The effect of Kinesio taping on cervical proprioception in athletes with mechanical neck pain—a placebo-controlled trial
Authors: Alahmari Khalid A. , Reddy Ravi Shankar , Tedla Jaya Shanker , Samuel Paul Silvian , Kakaraparthi Venkata Nagaraj , Rengaramanujam Kanagaraj , Ahmed Irshad
Published: October 2020

Background

Neck proprioception is critical in maintaining neuromuscular control in and around cervical joints. Kinesio™ tape may assist in rehabilitating joint position sense. The current study compares Kinesio™ tape’s effects versus a placebo on proprioception in college athletes experiencing mechanical neck pain.

Methods

This study randomized sixty-six athletes with mechanical neck pain into a Kinesio™ tape group (n = 33, mean age = 22.73 years) or placebo group (n = 33, mean age = 23.15 years). The Kinesio™ tape group received standard Kinesio™ taping applications with appropriate tension, while the placebo group received taping applications without tension. Outcome measures: The study assessed cervical joint position errors with a cervical range-of-motion (CROM) device, pain intensity with a visual analog scale (VAS), and neck functional disability with a neck disability index (NDI). It tested joint position errors through cervical flexion, extension, rotation left, and rotation right. All the outcome measures were recorded at the baseline and twice more following 3 and 7 days of tape applications.

Results

Multivariate analysis of variance test demonstrated a significant reduction in joint position errors in flexion, extension and right rotation following 3 days and 7 days of tape application among the Kinesio™ tape group. There was a significant main effect of time (P < 0.05) for joint position errors in left rotation and VAS after 3 days (p > 0.05), NDI after 3 and 7 days (p > 0.05).

Conclusions

The Kinesio™ tape application after 3 and 7 days effectively decreased joint position errors and neck pain intensity in mechanical neck pain participants compared to placebo, while there was no difference between both groups in the NDI.

Trial registration

(CTRI/2011/07/001925). This study was retrospectively registered on the 27th July, 2011.

Level of evidence

IIB
Evaluation of cardiovascular risk in adults with type 1 diabetes: poor concordance between the 2019 ESC risk classification and 10-year cardiovascular risk prediction according to the Steno Type 1 Risk Engine
Authors: Tecce Nicola , Masulli Maria , Lupoli Roberta , Della Pepa Giuseppe , Bozzetto Lutgarda , Palmisano Luisa , Rivellese Angela Albarosa , Riccardi Gabriele , Capaldo Brunella
Published: October 2020

Background

Patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) have higher mortality risk compared to the general population; this is largely due to increased rates of cardiovascular disease (CVD). As accurate CVD risk stratification is essential for an appropriate preventive strategy, we aimed to evaluate the concordance between 2019 European Society of Cardiology (ESC) CVD risk classification and the 10-year CVD risk prediction according to the Steno Type 1 Risk Engine (ST1RE) in adults with T1D.

Methods

A cohort of 575 adults with T1D (272F/303M, mean age 36 ± 12 years) were studied. Patients were stratified in different CVD risk categories according to ESC criteria and the 10-year CVD risk prediction was estimated with ST1RE within each category.

Results

Men had higher BMI, WC, SBP than women, while no difference was found in HbA1c levels between genders. According to the ESC classification, 92.5% of patients aged < 35 years and 100% of patients ≥ 35 years were at very high/high risk. Conversely, using ST1RE to predict the 10-year CVD risk within each ESC category, among patients at very high risk according to ESC, almost all (99%) had a moderate CVD risk according to ST1RE if age < 35 years; among patients aged ≥35 years, the majority (59.1%) was at moderate risk and only 12% had a predicted very high risk by ST1RE. The presence of target organ damage or three o more CV risk factors, or early onset T1D of long duration (> 20 years) alone identified few patients (< 30%) among those aged ≥35 years, who were at very high risk according to ESC, in whom this condition was confirmed by ST1RE; conversely, the coexistence of two or more of these criteria identified about half of the patients at high/very high risk also according to this predicting algorithm. When only patients aged ≥ 50 years were considered, there was greater concordance between ESC classification and ST1RE prediction, since as many as 78% of those at high/very high risk according to ESC were confirmed as such also by ST1RE.

Conclusions

Using ESC criteria, a large proportion (45%) of T1D patients without CVD are classified at very high CVD risk; however, among them, none of those < 35 years and only 12% of those ≥ 35 years could be confirmed at very high CVD risk by the ST1RE predicting algorithm. More studies are needed to characterize the clinical and metabolic features of T1D patients that identify those at very high CVD risk, in whom a very aggressive cardioprotective treatment would be justified.
Rapid and easy-to-use ES cell manipulation device with a small groove near culturing wells
Authors: Funano Shun-ichi , Tone Daisuke , Ukai Hideki , Ueda Hiroki R. , Tanaka Yo
Published: October 2020

Objective

Production of genetically modified mice including Knock-out (KO) or Knock-in (KI) mice is necessary for organism-level phenotype analysis. Embryonic stem cell (ESC)-based technologies can produce many genetically modified mice with less time without crossing. However, a complicated manual operation is required to increase the number of ESC colonies. Here, the objective of this study was to design and demonstrate a new device to easily find colonies and carry them to microwells.

Results

We developed a polydimethylsiloxane-based device for easy manipulation and isolation of ESC colonies. By introducing ESC colonies into the groove placed near culturing microwells, users can easily find, pick up and carry ESC colonies to microwells. By hydrophilic treatment using bovine serum albumin, 2-μL droplets including colonies reached the microwell bottom. Operation time using this device was shortened for both beginners (2.3-fold) and experts (1.5-fold) compared to the conventional colony picking operation. Isolated ESC colonies were confirmed to have maintained pluripotency. This device is expected to promote research by shortening the isolation procedure for ESC colonies or other large cells (e.g. eggs or embryos) and shortening training time for beginners as a simple sorter.