bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Facing Threats to Libraries and Cultural Heritage in the Russia-Ukraine War: A Case Study and Comparative Review of the Library and Information Community’s’ Responses to the Conflict
Authors: Kosciejew Marc
Published: November 2023

On 24 February 2022, Russia invaded and began a war in Ukraine. After it commenced, the international library and information community began responding. Specifically, formal public-facing response on the conflict were released by the American Library Association (ALA), Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA), Canadian Federation of Library Associations (CFLA), Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP), Danish Library Association (DLA), European Bureau of Library, Information and Documentation Associations (EBLIDA), International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA), Library Association of Latvia (LAL), and New Zealand Library Association Inc. (LIANZA). Chronicling and describing the international library and information community’s first public-facing responses addressing Russia’s war in Ukraine is the main objective of this article. Drawing upon a combined policy and thematic analysis of some of these first formal public responses, the article aims are to help account, review, and contextualize the ways in which this community considered the war during its first week and, in turn, reveal areas or issues of convergence or divergence between them. Specifically, it provides a snapshot in time revealing the international library and information community’s immediate perspectives and positions on the war during its earliest stages. For instance, the formal public responses released by the ALA, ALIA, CFLA, CILIP, DLA, EBLIDA, IFLA, LAL, and LIANZA during the war’s first week demonstrates international concern about the conflict and its affects on their Ukrainian counterparts and cultural heritage. Broad thematic convergence surfaces across the responses. Almost all plead for solutions to and resolution of the war. A majority offer solidarity for Ukrainian colleagues and all Ukrainians, support democracy and freedom of expression, asseverate for spreading accurate information about the war, and condemn Russia’s assault. Additional themes appearing in some of the responses include assisting Ukrainian refugees and displaying dismay regarding threats confronting Ukrainian cultural heritage.
Nursing ethics as a distinct entity within bioethics: Implications for clinical ethics practice
Authors: Pilkington Bryan , Giuliante Maryanne
Published: November 2023

The question of whether nursing ethics is a distinct entity within bioethics is an important and thought-provoking one. Though fundamental bioethical principles are appreciated and applied within the practice of nursing ethics, there exist distinct considerations which make nursing ethics a unique subfield of bioethics. In this article, we focus on the importance of relationships as a distinguishing feature of the foundation of nursing ethics, evidenced in its education, practice, and science. Next, we consider two objections to our claim of distinctiveness: first, that nursing ethics is merely an application of bioethical principles; second, that many bioethical subfields emphasize relationships. We respond by highlighting that throughout nursing education and generally in every career path that follows, the creation and nurturing of relationships is emphasized. Compassion and respect for the dignity of every patient is the framework upon which these therapeutic relationships are built. Much of the focus of nursing science rests on creating meaningful interpersonal experiences and human connection. After responding to each objection, we turn to the implications of this distinctiveness on clinical ethics practice, arguing that the strengths of our approach outweigh the limitations. The deep emphasis on creating meaningful interpersonal experiences and human connection supports a greater integration of relationships and social contexts into the evaluation of whether an action is ethically permissible, which is an important benefit in addressing the challenging human situations that patients face. Moreover, this perspective allows nurse ethicists to account for diverse and complex social structures and their influence in making ethical determinations. These strengths outweigh the limitations of potential inconsistencies between nurse and non-nurse clinical ethicists on the same service, a result we attribute to nursing ethics—and, in turn, the practice of the nurse ethicist—being framed by relationships to a larger extent than other bioethical subfields.
The value of nurse bioethicists
Authors: Ulrich Connie M , Grady Christine
Published: November 2023

Background

The field of nursing has long been concerned with ethical issues. The history of the nursing profession has a rich legacy of attention to social justice and to societal questions regarding issues of fairness, access, equity, and equality. Some nurses have found that their clinical experiences spur an interest in ethical patient care, and many are now nurse bioethicists, having pursued additional training in bioethics and related fields (e.g., psychology, sociology).

Purpose

The authors describe how the clinical and research experiences of nurses give them a unique voice in the field of bioethics.

Results

Authors present reasons for the relative invisibility of nurse bioethicists, compared with physician, theologian, or philosopher bioethicists, as well as current efforts to increase the visibility of nurse bioethicists. They also describe four specific areas where nurse bioethicists have made and continue to make important contributions: as ethics consultants to colleagues in hospitals and other settings; as bioethics researchers or as advisers to researchers conducting trials with human subjects; as educators of trainees, patients and families, healthcare providers, and the public; and in helping to draft humane and ethical policies for the care of vulnerable patients and underserved populations.

Conclusion

Nurse bioethicists are central to the future goals of healthcare bringing a unique perspective to the day-to-day ethical challenges of both clinical care and research, as well as to the education of health professionals and the public.
Pupil’s Decision-making Ability in the Context of Sustainable Development: Construction of a Typology of Decision-making Processes
Authors: Valsangiacomo Federica
Published: November 2023

Shaping one’s own everyday life in the sense of sustainable development (SD) and participating in corresponding social processes call for the ability to make decisions in terms of SD. To promote this ability, this article focuses on the question of how pupils make decisions in the context of SD and which types of decision-making processes (DMP) can be identified. To this end, 27 pupils from various Swiss German schools were interviewed in this study using the thinking-aloud method. The data were analysed according to the method of empirically grounded type construction by Kelle and Kluge. This resulted in five types of DMP. Differences were particularly evident in the formulation and consideration of several options for action as well as in weighing them up. The heterogeneity of DMP suggests that pupils’ decision-making ability can be optimally promoted and expanded through peer learning in the classroom.
‘When the Sun Gets Very Hot’: Young Children’s Perceptions of Climate Change
Authors: Spiteri Jane , Pace Paul
Published: November 2023

Climate change is a major environmental challenge society is facing. While young children will experience the impacts of climate change for longer, research into their perceptions of climate change is scant. To address this gap, this qualitative case study presents the perceptions of climate change of 10 young Maltese children (4–7 years). Data were collected through semi-structured conversational interviews and photograph interpretation. Results revealed that children held some understanding of the scientific concept of climate change. Nevertheless, misconceptions about climate change were more common. The findings also revealed a lack of application of any such knowledge to new situations. Finally, this study offers research and pedagogical implications, noting the need for educators, researchers and policymakers to consider the educational frameworks that help successfully shape climate change learning in early childhood.
Commonality without convergence: An analytical framework Accounting for variegated financialisation in emerging economies
Authors: Bonizzi Bruno , Karwowski Ewa
Published: November 2023

Financialisation is not a homogenous but a variegated process. However, the question along which categories this variegation happens is currently unanswered. We identify four variegation categories: financial sector structure, productive structures, the role of the state, and the growth model. We apply these categories to two seemingly similar emerging-economy contexts which have produced different financialisation experiences: Colombia and South Africa. Financialisation in South Africa is much more market-based, meaning it is led by the financial sector unfolding through financial markets and banks’ activities visible in their much larger size, activity, and international interconnectedness, than in Colombia. Hence, South African credit extension, bond markets, domestic pension funds, and stock market capitalisation are substantially larger than Colombia’s, while the Rand has experienced strong internationalisation since 2000. Nevertheless, there is evidence financialisation processes have been unfolding dynamically in both countries over the past two decades, reinforcing the view of variegated financialisation as a common tendency with significant heterogeneities across countries.
Langerhans Cell Hyperplasia Mimicking Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis: A Rare Complication of COVID-19 Vaccination
Authors: Qureshi Asim , Al Khabori Murtadha , Al Haddabi Ibrahim Hassan , Qureshi Hannia , Jawa Zabah
Published: November 2023

Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a rare disorder characterized by the abnormal proliferation of Langerhans cells, a type of immune cell that is normally present in the skin and various other tissues. LCH can affect people of any age but is most commonly diagnosed in children. We report a case of a patient with LCH who developed ipsilateral axillary lymphadenopathology post-COVID-19 vaccination. Lymph node biopsy showed diffuse Langerhans cell hyperplasia which mimicked LCH. Clinically and radiologically, it looked to be a reactive lymph node. The patient was kept on follow up only and after 1 year of follow up the size of lymph nodes regressed confirming to be reactive in nature rather than neoplastic. To the best of our knowledge, this is the second case of Langerhans cell hyperplasia post-COVID-19 vaccination being reported in the literature.
Effect of coating using beeswax and sodium nitroprusside on chlorophyll stability and quality factors of lime during cold storage
Authors: Hoseini Mohadeseh S M , Milani Jafar M , Motamedzadegan Ali , YousefniaPasha Hassan
Published: November 2023

Lime ( Citrus floridana) is a quickly perishable fruit, limiting its shelf life because of reduced chlorophyll content and post-harvest quality under different storage conditions. To increase chlorophyll stability as well as other quality factors of limes, they were coated with beeswax in 0.1 wt.% and sodium nitroprusside in three various concentrations (0.1, 0.2, and 0.4 mM) at 25 °C for 3 min and then stored at 8 °C for 60 days. In this research, changes in weight loss, juice content, firmness ( F), chlorophyll, chlorophyllase activity, polyphenol oxidase activity, color, total acidity (titratable acidity), ascorbic acid (ASA) and sensory evaluation were studied. During storage at low temperatures, BW surface coating (0.1%) alone, sodium nitroprusside alone, and also in combination with each other and a double layer were effective in maintaining chlorophyll and the qualitative characteristics of limes. In our observations, the best treatment was the treatment where the limes were coated by beeswax enriched by sodium nitroprusside coating. This treatment contained the highest content of lime juice and the highest chlorophyll plus the lowest activity of chlorophyllase and polyphenol oxidase, while the amount of green color was maintained to a large extent. As a result, it is possible to use beeswax enriched by sodium nitroprusside coating method to maintain the quality and chlorophyll of cold-stored lime fruits.
“Oh no, they caught it!”: Vicarious experience of COVID-19, protection motivation and protective behaviors
Authors: Elazab Khaled , Özden Mehmet , Baruh Lemi , Cemalcılar Zeynep
Published: November 2023

Utilizing the components of the protection motivation theory, this study investigated the role of close others’ diagnosis of COVID-19 (as a vicarious experience) in individuals’ adherence to protective behavior against COVID-19. Path analysis of online survey data from 3695 participants showed that the presence of a diagnosed close other was positively related to perceived vulnerability, while being negatively related to perceived response efficacy and self-efficacy. In addition, perceived severity and efficacy appraisals were positively associated with protective behavioral tendencies. Although efficacy appraisal mediated the relationship between vicarious experience and protective behavior, threat appraisal did not mediate this relationship. In sum, the results suggest that efficacy appraisal derived from vicarious experiences can be more consequential for protective behaviors than threat appraisal. Implications of these results on future large-scale health crises are discussed along with limitations and future directions.
Un-tracking menopause: How not using self-tracking technologies mediates women’s self-experiences in menopause
Authors: de Boer Marjolein , Hendriks Marieke , Krahmer Emiel , Slatman Jenny , Bol Nadine
Published: November 2023

Self-tracking in general, and by women in particular is increasingly researched. In the literature, however, women’s interactions with selftracking technologies in menopause—a change that (almost) every woman will go through—is largely taken for granted. This paper addresses this lacuna by asking whether and how menopausal women use self-tracking technologies, and how this (non-) usage mediates their self-experiences. In doing so, it elaborates on another understudied phenomenon: the constitutive significance of “un-tracking”—that is, of various shades and levels of not using self-tracking technologies—in menopause. Most of the 13 interviewed women in this study reported that they stopped, drastically reduced, or resisted self-tracking in menopause. By framing the discussion of these accounts of “un-tracking” within the tradition of post-phenomenology and a phenomenology of situated bodily self-awareness, we show that these women experience their bodies as (1) wise and eu-appearing, (2) unmoldable and dysappearing, and (3) longing for disappearance. Herein, their experientially mediating un-tracking practices are temporally and socio-culturally contextualized in complex ways and bear substantial existential significance. This study establishes the potential harmful ways in which self-tracking mediates self-experiences, as well as the fruitful ways in which un-tracking may do so. Against the background of this observation, this paper makes an appeal to take a step back from uncritically celebrating self-tracking in healthcare contexts, and critically evaluates whether (the promotion of) using (more) self-tracking technologies in these contexts is desirable to begin with.
Tracking the monstrous gendered precarity of neoliberalisation through novels and films of 1980s England and contemporary Ireland
Authors: Houlden Kate
Published: November 2023

This article compares cultural production about 1980s working-class industrial England with that of contemporary, middle-class rural Ireland in order to identify aesthetic through lines in the portrayal of social reproductive violence across both early- and later-stage neoliberalism. It argues that, despite their differences in setting and demographic, novels by Pat Barker and Mike McCormack use peripheral political experience to show the bodies of women bearing the brunt of late capitalism's horrors. Barker's Union Street (1982) serves as an early warning of the neoliberal consensus-to-come, bringing to life the geographic peripheralisation that would accompany deindustrialisation. It portrays the conflicted dynamic between childhood and capital, also anticipating the ways in which care work would increasingly be externalised onto women in the latter half of the twentieth century and beyond. This overlaps with the 1987 film Rita, Sue and Bob Too's portrayal of childhood sexual vulnerability, as well as Letter to Brezhnev (1985) and its rendering of capitalism's consumption of women. Instead of the realism for which these films are known, Union Street uses gothic modes and the motif of vomiting in ‘irrealist’ fashion. So too, Mike McCormack's Mayo-set 2016 novel Solar Bones employs spectrality, as well as ideas of contamination, to evoke the damage wrought by a now-entrenched neoliberalism as it imperils the middle classes. The novel's recognition of female social reproductive labour is more oblique, but women are again shown to be at the coalface of neoliberal violence, their very bodies marshalled to detect and, crucially, resist gendered precarity. In this, I draw parallel with the Dundalk-set film Kissing Candice (2017) , which uses gothic tropes to show rural dispossession writ large through the body of a teenage girl.
A Scoping Review of Parenting Programs for Preventing Violence Against Children in Low- and Middle-Income Countries
Authors: Wang Weiwei , Zhang Huiping
Published: November 2023

Violence against children affects their well-being globally, with a greater burden in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs). This scoping review aimed to summarize the available evidence on parenting programs for reducing violence against children in LMICs and identify knowledge gaps in this area. Six English databases and gray literature were systematically searched to identify studies in LMICs that examined the efficacy of parenting programs to prevent violence against children, before April 15, 2023. A total of 4,183 independent studies were identified, of which 31 met the inclusion criteria. The majority were conducted in Africa and Asia, delivered by trained local community/childcare workers and lay workers, and targeted younger children aged <10 years. Although the core modules varied in terms of number of group sessions and age of the children, the majority emphasized the importance of building a positive relationship with children and nonviolent discipline strategies. The vast majority demonstrated intervention efficacy in reducing general maltreatment and physical and emotional abuse, and improving positive parenting. Ineffective programs for violence tended to be characterized by self-designed programs, small sample sizes, and low corporal punishment levels in the baseline assessment. In conclusion, parenting programs are promising for preventing and reducing the risk factors for violence in LMICs. Future intervention studies should expand to low-income countries outside Eastern Africa with more trials targeting older children, utilizing direct observational assessments, designing core modules relevant to child neglect, involving more male caregivers, and conducting long-term follow-up assessments.
Computed Tomography–Based Humeral Templating for Uncemented Elbow Arthroplasty
Authors: Kohls Morgan R. , Robertson Emerald D. , Beckwitt Colin H. , Ghodadra Anish A. , Kaufmann Robert A.
Published: November 2023

Background:

Intramedullary (IM) screw insertion into the distal humerus provides fixation for a novel, uncemented elbow arthroplasty. A multitude of screw sizes is required to accommodate variable humeral morphology. The goal of this study was to use computed tomography (CT) for IM screw sizing and to validate this templating by inserting screws into three-dimensionally (3D) printed models.

Methods:

Computed tomography humerus scans for 30 patients were reformatted in the plane of the distal IM canal. Screw size was templated by measuring the canal diameter at 3 locations corresponding to the lengths of the screws being tested. Interrater and intrarater reliabilities of the measurements were assessed. Three-dimensional models of 5 humeri were printed, and IM screws were placed to achieve a secure endosteal fit.

Results:

We identified combinations of body components and IM screw length and diameter for all patients to seat this uncemented elbow arthroplasty. The measurements and screw width determinations were reliable. Canal diameter correlated with age but was unrelated to sex. Screws were inserted into five 3D-printed models which matched the templates and demonstrated mechanical and radiographic evidence of secure fit.

Conclusions:

This study characterizes distal humerus anatomy in the context of IM screw fixation. Humerus CT scans of 30 patients were able to be templated, and validation via implantation of IM screws into 3D models was successful. Computed tomography templating will allow surgeons to predict the optimal screw size prior to implantation. A broad range of screw lengths and diameters is critical for implantation of this novel elbow arthroplasty.
A two-fold interpenetrated Zn(II) organic framework based on mixed ligands: Synthesis, crystal structure, and properties
Authors: Liu Er-Nu , Huang Pei-Pei , Gao Jia-Hao , Wang Jia-Xin , Wu Ting-Ting , Liu Bo , Zhang Sheng-Rui , Lu Jiu-Fu
Published: November 2023

A new zinc(II) metal organic framework has been obtained from the solvothermal assembly of 1,3,5-benzene tricarboxylate and 1,3-bis(imidazole)propane with zinc nitrate in DMAc–H2O (DMAc is N,N-dimethylacetamide), namely {[Zn2 (μ2-OH)(1,3-BIP)(BTC)]·DMAc·2H2O}n (SNUT-6). The product is characterized by single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and elemental analysis. The single-crystal X-ray diffraction reveals that SNUT-6 exhibits a 3D→3D two-fold interpenetrating framework. Furthermore, SNUT-6 demonstrates a highly efficient turn-off fluorescent detection ability for aniline in methanol and shows high sensitivity with a Ksv value of 4.771 × 104 M−1. It also shows excellent photocatalytic degradation performance for a three-dye molecular model: rhodamine b, methyl orange, and methyl blue.
CO2laser therapy for management of stress urinary incontinence in women: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Hafidh Bandr , Baradwan Saeed , Latifah Hassan M. , Gari Abdulrahim , Sabban Hussein , Abduljabbar Hanin Hassan , Tawfiq Afaf , Hakeem Ghaidaa Farouk , Alkaff Alya , Alzawawi Nabigah , Iskandarani Radiah , Khurshid Kausar , Syed Kausar Aisha , Alkhiary Ammar Y. , Bukhari Ibtihal Abdulaziz , Baalharith Maha Al , Abu-Zaid Ahmed
Published: November 2023

Background:

Carbon dioxide (CO2) laser therapy is an emerging treatment for women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI).

Objectives:

To examine the efficacy of CO2laser therapy for management of SUI-related symptoms in women.

Design:

A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials and cohort studies.

Data sources and methods:

Four databases were screened until January 2023. All efficacy continuous endpoints were assessed via subtraction of the posttreatment from pretreatment values. The data were summarized as mean difference (MD) with 95% confidence interval (CI) using the random-effects model.

Results:

A total of 15 studies with 700 patients were analyzed. CO2laser therapy significantly decreased the 1-h pad weights at 3 months [ n = 5 studies, MD = −3.656 g, 95% CI (−5.198, −2.113), p < 0.001], 6 months [ n = 6 studies, MD = −6.583 g, 95% CI (−11.158, −2.008), p = 0.005], and 12 months [ n = 6 studies, MD = −3.726 g, 95% CI (−6.347, −1.106), p = 0.005]. Moreover, CO2laser therapy significantly decreased the International Consultation of Incontinence Questionnaire-Urinary Incontinence Short Form Scores at 3 months [ n = 10 studies, MD = −4.805, 95% CI (−5.985, −3.626), p < 0.001] and 12-months [ n = 6 studies, MD = −3.726, 95% CI (−6.347, −1.106), p = 0.005]. Additionally, CO2laser therapy significantly decreased the Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire scores at 6 months [ n = 2 studies, MD = −11.268, 95% CI (−18.671, −3.865), p = 0.002] and 12 months [ n = 2 studies, MD = −10.624, 95% CI (−18.145, −3.103), p = 0.006]. Besides, CO2laser therapy significantly decreased the Urogenital Distress Inventory-6 scores at 3 months [ n = 2 studies, MD = −21.997, 95% CI (−32.294, −11.699), p < 0.001], but not at 6 months [ n = 3 studies, MD = −3.034, 95% CI (−7.357, 1.259), p = 0.169]. Lastly, CO2laser therapy significantly increased the Vaginal Health Index Score at 6 months [ n = 2 studies, MD = 2.826, 95% CI (0.013, 5.638), p = 0.047] and 12 months [MD = 1.553, 95% CI (0.173, 2.934), p = 0.027].

Conclusion:

CO2laser therapy improved the SUI-related symptoms in women. To obtain solid conclusions, future studies should be well-designed with standardized settings, consistent therapeutic protocols, and long-term follow-up periods.
Role of Touch in Cognitive Communication among Females: A Case Study
Authors: Khattak Salma Naz , Sohail Amjad , Arooj Nimra
Published: November 2023

This study qualitatively explores the understanding and need for social touch in cognitive communication. The empirical data are collected from a sample of 17 young unmarried females of 18 to 24 years through in-depth interviews. Six main themes are identified: meaning, touch need, accessibility, factors shaping touch expression, social agents of touch, and impacts of touch deprivation. The result indicates that the cultural traditions and religious narratives have significantly affected the perceptions of females in such a way that they do not realize their touch needs. This arouses concerns and points toward a prediction that it will not take much longer to see its ill effects on the general population. The findings of the study are significant to healthcare professionals and educationists to carry out focused campaigns and timely interventions. The study has resulted in both theoretical contributions to prosocial behavior literature and is a valuable addition to social touch research.
Cardiovascular Safety of the COVID-19 Vaccine in Team USA Athletes
Authors: Shah Ankit B. , Rizzo Samantha M. , Finnoff Jonathan T. , Baggish Aaron L. , Adams William M.
Published: November 2023

Background:

Despite reassuring scientific data, the lay press and social media continue to propagate largely unsubstantiated claims that a significant number of athletes have died from cardiovascular complications related to COVID-19 vaccines. The present study sought to determine the incidence of COVID-19 vaccine cardiovascular complications in Team USA athletes.

Hypothesis:

It was predicted that there would be a low incidence of cardiovascular complications from COVID-19 vaccination in Team USA athletes.

Study Design:

Descriptive epidemiology study.

Level of Evidence:

Level 4.

Methods:

A retrospective review was conducted on the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee electronic medical record, inclusive of athletes who represented Team USA in the 2020 Tokyo and 2022 Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Games, for COVID-19 vaccine cardiac complications including sudden cardiac arrest/death, myocarditis, pericarditis, and myopericarditis. Vaccination status (ie, fully vaccinated, yes or no), date of vaccination and eligible boosters, and type of vaccination during the study period were abstracted from the electronic medical record.

Results:

A total of 1229 athletes represented Team USA during the 2020 Tokyo (Olympic, 697; Paralympic, 237) and 2022 Beijing Games (Olympic, 229; Paralympic, 66). For the 2020 Tokyo Games, 73.8% of Olympians and 80.6% of Paralympians with available vaccination status had completed a primary vaccine series. For the 2022 Beijing Games, 100% of Olympians and Paralympians with available vaccination status were fully vaccinated. No athletes suffered sudden cardiac arrest/death or were diagnosed with myocarditis, pericarditis, or myopericarditis after COVID-19 vaccination.

Conclusion:

The data demonstrate an overall willingness of elite athletes to receive recommended COVID-19 vaccination coupled with a complete absence of vaccine-related cardiac complications in >1 year of follow-up.

Clinical Relevance:

Supposedly, this is the first study to investigate the incidence of COVID-19 vaccine cardiovascular complications in elite athletes. These data are an important first step to better inform cardiologists and sports medicine physicians who care for elite athletes.
Does an Increase in Supraspinatus Tendon Thickness After Swimming Increase the Likelihood of Future Shoulder Pain?
Authors: Porter Kirsten , Shield Anthony , Pascoe Deborah , Harvey Jack , Talpey Scott
Published: November 2023

Background

Increase in supraspinatus tendon thickness (STT) resulting from swimming practice has been observed in those with a history of shoulder pain. The magnitude of change in STT after a swimming session and its rate of recovery may be an indicator of future shoulder pain incidence.

Hypothesis

The supraspinatus tendons that demonstrate a greater increase in thickness as a result of swimming practice will have an increased likelihood of future shoulder pain in a cohort of competitive swimmers over a period of 6 months.

Design

Descriptive epidemiology study.

Level of Evidence:

Level 2b, individual cohort studies.

Methods:

A cohort of 50 nationally qualified swimmers aged between 14 and 22 years, from 3 open National Swimming Programs in Victoria, Australia, were recruited for this study. Ultrasonographic measurements of swimmers’ STT was obtained of both shoulders, before, immediately after, and 6 hours after a single swimming practice session. Data were recorded of any significant interfering shoulder pain at 3 and 6 months after the initial testing session.

Results

Stepwise logistic regression models indicated that significant predictors of the likelihood of experiencing significant interfering pain were sex [significant at 6 months; odds ratio (OR) 4.2] and the extent of change in STT immediately (OR 2.3 and 1.3 per mm at 3 and 6 months, respectively) and 6 hours postpractice (OR 1.9 and 1.5 per mm at 3 and 6 months, respectively).

Conclusion

The current data suggest larger increases in tendon thickness after training are associated with an increased likelihood of future shoulder pain.

Clinical Relevance

These data may be valuable for monitoring training load and identifying athletes who may have an increased likelihood of shoulder pain.
Large Variations in Resistance to Degradation between Hyaluronic Acid Viscosupplements: A Comparative Rheological Study
Authors: Darsy Guillaume , Patarin Jeremy , Conrozier Thierry
Published: November 2023

Intra-articular injections of hyaluronic acid (HA) are widely used in the treatment of osteoarthritis. HA half-life varies between products which might explain differences in effectiveness between viscosupplements.

Aim

To compare the resistance to degradation of linear and cross-linked viscosupplements using a rheological model combining mechanical and oxidative stresses, mimicking what happens inside the joint following HA injection.

Methods

The rheological properties of 8 HAs were measured using a stress-imposed Rheometer DHR3. Strain sweeps were carried out to evaluate the rheological properties at rest from 0.001 to 3000% at a frequency of 1 Hz. The complex modulus G*, in Pa, and the phase tangent tan δ, dimensionless, in the linear viscoelastic domain (LVED) were extracted. The oxidation tests were conducted by exposing the product to H2O2 for 30 minutes. The effect of oxidation was evaluated by measuring variations of G* and tan δ, using an oscillation time sweep. Those tests were carried out at a frequency of 1 Hz and at 1% strain in the LVED.

Results

At rest, the different samples exhibited various viscous behaviors. During mixing process, G* decreased from −6.4% to −31.3%. G* of low-molecular-weight HAs decreased more than that of medium molecular weight (MW) and cross-linked products. After oxidative stress, G* variation ranged from −10.1% to −46.3%. Cross-linked HAs and those containing mannitol resisted the best to degradation.

Conclusions

We showed large variations in resistance to degradation between viscosupplements. The duration of effectiveness of these products deserves to be compared in randomized clinical studies.
Men’s determinant factors on antenatal care involvement and childbirth place preference in Indonesia: An analysis of the 2012 Indonesia Demographic and Health Survey (IDHS)
Authors: Nurdin Azizah , Amaruddin Aldian Irma , Tahir Andi Mardiah , Jusuf Elizabet Catherine , Sari Mutmainnah
Published: November 2023

Objective:

This study aimed to describe the determinant factors of men’s involvement in antenatal care and childbirth place preference in Indonesia.

Method:

Secondary data from the 2012 Indonesia Demographic and Health Survey was used to identify factors determining men’s presence during antenatal care and childbirth place preference. All factors were analyzed utilizing bivariate and multivariate logistic regression.

Result:

Men living in urban areas, having a sufficient economy, having higher educational levels, and having more interaction with mass media were more likely present during the antenatal care of their wives. Men in Sulawesi and Maluku showed lower involvement in accompanying wives during antenatal care than those in Papua. In terms of delivery place preference, men in age 15–19 and 35–49 years, living in urban areas, having a more stable economy, reading newspapers or magazines as well as watching television at least once a week, and living in Java and Nusa Tenggara, were more likely having wife giving birth in healthcare facilities.

Conclusions:

Type of residence, economic situations, lower educational level, and fewer interactions with mass media and electronics are essential barriers to men’s involvement in wives’ antenatal care visits and childbirth place preference in Indonesia. Particular attention should be put to Sulawesi and Maluku to enforce the men and women as those islands underutilized antenatal care services and health facilities for childbirth.
Evaluating the Potential of a New Low-Profile Urinary Catheter in Preventing Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections: A Prospective Randomized Blinded Clinical Trial
Authors: Ramezani Farahnaz , Khatiban Mahnaz , Rahimbashar Farshid , Soltanian Ali Reza , Mousavi-bahar Seyed Habibollah , Elyasi Ensieh
Published: November 2023

Aim

To investigate the efficacy of a new low-profile catheter on incidence of the catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI) in comatose patients admitted to the intensive care unit.

Background

Catheter-induced urothelial injury is a key component in the development of urinary tract infections in catheterized patients.

Methods

In this prospective randomized blinded clinical trial, 80 patients requiring indwelling urinary catheterization were equally randomized to either the standard Foley catheter (control) or the low-profile catheter (experimental) group. The signs of urinary tract infection for comatose patients were considered (ie, ≥105 of colony-forming unit/milliliter of urine, hematuria, serum leukocytes, and body temperature) and recorded at baseline and on days 3 and 5 after catheterization. The analysis of covariance was applied by the SPSS-20 software at a 95% confidence level.

Results

An increasing proportion of patients with elevated urinary colony counts were seen in the Foley catheter group compared with the low-profile catheter group (12.5% vs 5%). However, there were no between-group differences in the urinary colony counts and body temperature after controlling for antibiotic doses and fluid intake. Patients in the low-profile catheter group had significantly lower rates of hematuria and serum leukocytes than those in the Foley catheter group.

Conclusion

A newly designed low-profile urinary catheter has demonstrated a trend toward reducing the incidence of CAUTI in patients with indwelling urinary catheters. Further studies with larger sample sizes and follow-up are needed to confirm the benefits.
Acute, Treatment-Naïve Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion in Younger Individuals: Risk Factors and Clinical Outcomes
Authors: Kundu Anita , Thomas Akshay S. , Mirzania Delaram , Kim Jane S. , Stinnett Sandra S. , Fekrat Sharon
Published: November 2023

Purpose: To compare the risk factors and clinical outcomes in patients younger than 50 years with acute, treatment-naïve branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) with outcomes in patients 50 years or older. Methods: Patients diagnosed with acute, treatment-naïve BRVO at Duke Eye Center over a 9.5-year period who had BRVO with onset 3 months or less before presentation, BRVO with macular involvement, and 12 months or more of follow-up were included. Demographic data, presenting clinical features, risk factors, treatment patterns, and clinical outcomes were extracted during a retrospective review of medical records. Results: Of 302 patients identified, 23 were younger than 50 years (younger group) and 279 were 50 years or older (older group). Compared with older patients, younger patients had similar rates of hypertension ( P = .275), diabetes mellitus ( P = 1.000), smokers ( P = .787), and open-angle glaucoma ( P = .628). The younger group had a lower rate of hyperlipidemia than the older group (35% vs 59%) ( P = .028). The 2 groups had similar presenting logMAR visual acuities (VAs) in the BRVO eye ( P = .131). At the final follow-up, younger patients had significantly better logMAR VA in the BRVO-affected eye than older patients (mean 0.51 ± 0.65 vs 1.01 ± 1.20) ( P = .016). The 2 groups had similar treatment burdens at 1 year ( P = .516) and at the final follow-up ( P = .782). Conclusions: Younger patients with acute, treatment-naïve BRVO have similar risk factors and treatment patterns as older patients, except for a lower rate of hyperlipidemia. Younger patients with BRVO may have similar presenting VA as older BRVO patients but better final VA, suggesting that age may be a potential prognostic factor.
Reverse shoulder arthroplasty in obstetric brachial plexus injury: our experience with shoulder motion analysis
Authors: Porcellini Giuseppe , Montemagno Marco , Manzini Chiara , Fiumana Gabriele , Giorgini Andrea , Micheloni Gianmario , Tarallo Luigi
Published: November 2023

Background

Obstetric brachial plexus injury (OBPI) is a weakening or paralysis of the upper arm caused by brachial plexus injury followed by a muscle paralysis with severe repercussions on the movement of the shoulder joint following a progressive glenohumeral joint deformity.

This case series analyzes the clinical and radiological outcomes of reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) in OBPI patients with a follow-up of 2 years.

Materials and methods

OBPI patients with secondary end-stage glenohumeral arthritis were enrolled in the study and they were treated with RSA. Patient demographics and clinical outcomes [Range of Motion (ROM), Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Oxford Shoulder Score (OSS)] were evaluated. A novel Shoulder motion analysis was carried out to investigate specific movement patterns of scapulothoracic movements in these patients. This study is a prospective cohort study.

Results

Four Patients (M: F = 1:3) were enrolled in the study, the mean age was 49.3 years (+ 2.75), the mean OSS (Oxford Shoulder Score) decreased from 48.8 (± 2.5) preoperatively to 18.30 (± 2.78), the mean VAS (Visual Analog Scale) decreased from 7.25 (± 0.5) to 1.7 (± 0.3) in the follow up (∆% relative pain reduction:− 76.5%), Shoulder ROM obtained an improvement (p < 0.05) except for abduction and external rotation. The average follow-up time was 26.3 months (+− 4.5). Shoulder motion analysis showed a complete loss of the scapular tilting above 90 degrees of flexion compared to the typical one of standard RSA with a pattern shifted towards scapular retraction (engaging trapezius and rhomboid muscles) to compensate the loss of the posterior tilting.

Conclusions

RSA in OBPI patients demonstrated a significant improvement of pain symptoms and a moderate improvement in daily activities, anyway with a more appreciable quality of life over time even if the marked hypotrophy especially of the posterior shoulder muscles showed some limits in maintaining suspension of the upper limb and a minor external rotation, with an internal rotation attitude during the movements.

Level of evidence: Level IV, Case series.
Nominal logistic regression analysis of variables determining needle visibility in ultrasound images – a full factorial cadaver study
Authors: Dinges Hanns-Christian , Hoeft Julia , Cornelius Valér Michael , Steinfeldt Thorsten , Wiesmann Thomas , Wulf Hinnerk , Schubert Ann-Kristin
Published: November 2023

Background

Needle visualization is essential to avoid vascular puncture and nerve injury in ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia. Several factors that statistically influence needle visibility have been described but the dimensions of their individual impact remain unclear. This study aimed to quantify the impact of various independent factors on ultrasound needle visibility.

Methods

A total of 1500 ultrasound videos of in-plane needle insertions were obtained in embalmed cadavers with ten different commercially available echogenic and non-echogenic needles at different insertion angles and bevel orientations in a full factorial study design. The visibility of needle tip and shaft were rated as “good” or “poor” visibility. Nominal logistic regression analyses were calculated for the visibility of the needle tip and shaft.

Results

SonoPlex Stim Sprotte, SonoTAP Facet (needle tip and shaft) and Spinostar PencilPoint (needle tip)), insertion angle and bevel orientation were associated with good ultrasound visibility, reaching statistical significance (p < 0.05). The range of the effect on the log-odds scale for needle tip visibility was largest for the insertion angle with 6.33, followed by the tissue condition (3.76), bevel orientation (1.45) and the needle types (1.25). Regarding the needle shaft visibility, the largest effect range was observed with the insertion angle (7.36), followed by the tissue conditions with 3.96, needle type (1.86) and bevel orientation (0.95).

Conclusion

In-plane needle visibility in ultrasound images depends mainly on the insertion angle, as expected. This is closely followed by the tissue condition, which is a factor related to the patient, thus cannot be altered to improve needle visibility. In the dimensions of the log-odds scale, the choice of a specific needle is far less important towards achieving a good visualization, whereas optimizing the bevel orientation can have a larger impact than the needle choice. Concluding from the relative dimensions of factors that determine needle visibility in this model, the importance of needles with echogenic features may be overrated.
Role of PPAR-related genes in chronic heart failure: evidence from large populations
Authors: Ke Zun-Ping , Tao Wen-Qi , Zhao Gang , Cheng Kuan
Published: November 2023

Background

The role of PPAR signaling and its associated genes in the pathogenesis and progression of chronic heart failure (CHF) remains elusive.

Methods

We accessed the gene expression profile and relevant baseline information of CHF samples from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, specifically from the GSE57338 project.

Results

From GSE57338 project, we derived the expression value of 126 PPAR-related genes. A protein-protein interaction network was then established to illustrate potential protein interactions. ClueGO analysis results revealed that these genes predominantly participate in functions such as export across plasma membrane, regulation of lipid metabolic process, fatty acid metabolism, circulatory system vascular processes, alcohol metabolism, triglyceride metabolism and regulation of lipid localization and response to nutrient. Using the cytohubba plug-in in Cytoscape, we pinpointed ACADM, PPARG and CPT2 as potential central molecules in HF pathogenesis and progression. Subsequent Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis delved into the potential biological role of these three genes in CHF. Immune infiltration analysis suggested that the infiltration level of neutrophils and M2 macrophages might be notably influenced by these genes, thereby playing a role in the CHF mechanism.

Conclusions

Our research provides a comprehensive insight into the significance of PPAR associated genes in CHF development. Notably, the genes ACADM, PPARG and CPT2 emerged as potential targets for clinical interventions.
The optimal QTc selection in patients of acute myocardial infarction with poor perioperative prognosis
Authors: Wei Xing , Feng Jun , Zhang Zhipeng , Wei Jing , Hu Ben , Long Nv , Luo Chunmiao
Published: November 2023

Background

The predictive utility of QTc values, calculated through various correction formulas for the incidence of postoperative major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) in patients experiencing acute myocardial infarction (AMI), warrants further exploration. This study endeavors to ascertain the predictive accuracy of disparate QTc values for MACCE occurrences in patients with perioperative AMI.

Methods

A retrospective cohort of three hundred fourteen AMI patients, comprising 81 instances of in-hospital MACCE and 233 controls, was assembled, with comprehensive collection of baseline demographic and clinical data. QTc values were derived employing the correction formulas of Bazett, Fridericia, Hodges, Ashman, Framingham, Schlamowitz, Dmitrienko, Rautaharju, and Sarma. Analytical methods encompassed comparative statistics, Spearman correlation analysis, binary logistic regression models, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, and decision curve analysis (DCA).

Results

QTc values were significantly elevated in the MACCE cohort compared to controls (P < 0.05). Spearman’s correlation analysis between heart rate and QTc revealed a modest positive correlation for the Sarma formula (QTcBaz) (ρ = 0.46, P < 0.001). Within the multifactorial binary logistic regression, each QTc variant emerged as an independent risk factor for MACCE, with the Sarma formula-derived QTc (QTcSar) presenting the highest hazard ratio (OR = 1.025). ROC curve analysis identified QTcSar with a threshold of 446 ms as yielding the superior predictive capacity (AUC = 0.734), demonstrating a sensitivity of 60.5% and a specificity of 82.8%. DCA indicated positive net benefits for QTcSar at high-risk thresholds ranging from 0 to 0.66 and 0.71–0.96, with QTcBaz, prevalent in clinical settings, showing positive net benefits at thresholds extending to 0-0.99.

Conclusion

For perioperative AMI patients, QTcSar proves more advantageous in monitoring QTc intervals compared to alternative QT correction formulas, offering enhanced predictive prowess for subsequent MACCE incidents.