bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fatal systemic disorder caused by biallelic variants in FARSA
Authors: Kim Soo Yeon , Ko Saebom , Kang Hyunook , Kim Man Jin , Moon Jangsup , Lim Byung Chan , Kim Ki Joong , Choi Murim , Choi Hee-Jung , Chae Jong-Hee
Published: August 2022

Background

Aminoacyl tRNA transferases play an essential role in protein biosynthesis, and variants of these enzymes result in various human diseases. FARSA, which encodes the α subunit of cytosolic phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase, was recently reported as a suspected causal gene for multiorgan disorder. This study aimed to validate the pathogenicity of variants in the FARSA gene.

Results

Exome sequencing revealed novel compound heterozygous variants in FARSA, P347L and R475Q, from a patient who initially presented neonatal-onset failure to thrive, liver dysfunction, and frequent respiratory infections. His developmental milestones were nearly arrested, and the patient died at 28 months of age as a result of progressive hepatic and respiratory failure. The P347L variant was predicted to disrupt heterodimer interaction and failed to form a functional heterotetramer by structural and biochemical analyses. R475 is located at a highly conserved site and is reported to be involved in phenylalanine activation and transfer to tRNA. The R475Q mutant FARSA were co-purified with FARSB, but the mutant enzyme showed an approximately 36% reduction in activity in our assay relative to the wild-type protein. Additional functional analyses on variants from previous reports (N410K, F256L, R404C, E418D, and F277V) were conducted. The R404C variant from a patient waiting for organ transplantation also failed to form tetramers but the E418D, N410K, F256L, and F277V variants did not affect tetramer formation. In the functional assay, the N410K located at the phenylalanine-binding site exhibited no catalytic activity, whereas other variants (E418D, F256L and F277V) exhibited lower ATPase activity than wild-type FARSA at low phenylalanine concentrations.

Conclusions

Our data demonstrated the pathogenicity of biallelic variants in FARSA and suggested the implication of hypomorphic variants in severe phenotypes.
A secondary qualitative analysis of stakeholder views about participant recruitment, retention, and adherence in decentralised clinical trials (DCTs)
Authors: Coyle Joanne , Rogers Amy , Copland Rachel , De Paoli Giorgia , MacDonald Thomas M. , Mackenzie Isla S. ,   on behalf of the Trials@Home Consortium
Published: July 2022

Background

Decentralised clinical trials (DCTs) are clinical trials where all or most trial activities occur in or near participants’ homes instead of hospitals or research sites. While more convenient for participants, DCTs may offer limited opportunities to build trust with investigators and trial teams. This qualitative analysis explored DCT stakeholder views to inform strategies for maximising participant recruitment, retention, and adherence.

Methods

A secondary analysis of original interview transcripts focused on participant engagement: recruitment, retention, and adherence. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of stakeholders, including trial managers and administrators, investigators, nurses, vendors, and patient representatives. Interview data were coded using a thematic approach to generate descriptive themes.

Results

Forty-eight stakeholders were interviewed. Three components of participant engagement in DCTs were identified: identifying and attracting potential participants, retaining participants and encouraging adherence, and involvement of patients and the public. Interviewees believed that a potential participant’s beliefs about research value and their trust in the research team strongly influenced the likelihood of taking part in a DCT. Early involvement of patients was identified as one way to gauge participant priorities. However, perceived burden was seen as a barrier to recruitment. Factors influencing retention and adherence were related to the same underlying motivators that drove recruitment: personal values, circumstances, and burden. Being part of a DCT should not conflict with the original motivations to participate.

Conclusion

Recruitment, retention, and adherence in DCTs are driven by factors that have previously been found to affect conventional clinical trials. Increasing patient and public involvement can address many of these factors. In contrast to conventional trials, DCTs are perceived as requiring greater emphasis on communication, and contact, to engender trust between participants and researchers despite a relative lack of in-person interaction.
Comparing anterior gastropexy to no anterior gastropexy for paraesophageal hernia repair: a study protocol for a randomized control trial
Authors: Blake K. E. , Zolin S. J. , Tu C. , Baier K. F. , Beffa L. R. , Alaedeen D. , Krpata D. M. , Prabhu A. S. , Rosen M. J. , Petro C. C.
Published: July 2022

Background

More than half of patients undergoing paraesophageal hernia repair (PEHR) will have radiographic hernia recurrence at 5 years after surgery. Gastropexy is a relatively low-risk intervention that may decrease recurrence rates, but it has not been studied in a prospective manner. Our study aims to evaluate the effect of anterior gastropexy on recurrence rates after PEHR, compared to no anterior gastropexy.

Methods

This is a two-armed, single-blinded, registry-based, randomized controlled trial comparing anterior gastropexy to no anterior gastropexy in PEHR. Adult patients (≥18 years) with a symptomatic paraesophageal hernia measuring at least 5 cm in height on computed tomography, upper gastrointestinal series, or endoscopy undergoing elective minimally invasive repair are eligible for recruitment. Patients will be blinded to their arm of the trial. All patients will undergo laparoscopic or robotic PEHR, where some operative techniques (crural closure techniques and fundoplication use or avoidance) are left to the discretion of the operating surgeon. During the operation, after closure of the diaphragmatic crura, participants are randomized to receive either no anterior gastropexy (control arm) or anterior gastropexy (treatment arm). Two hundred forty participants will be recruited and followed for 1 year after surgery. The primary outcome is radiographic PEH recurrence at 1 year. Secondary outcomes are symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease, dysphagia, odynophagia, gas bloat, regurgitation, chest pain, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, postprandial pain, cardiovascular, and pulmonary symptoms as well as patient satisfaction in the immediate postoperative period and at 1-year follow-up. Outcome assessors will be blinded to the patients’ intervention.

Discussion

This randomized controlled trial will examine the effect of anterior gastropexy on radiographic PEH recurrence and patient-reported outcomes. Anterior gastropexy has a theoretical benefit of decreasing PEH recurrence; however, this has not been proven beyond a suggestion of effectiveness in retrospective series. If anterior gastropexy reduces recurrence rates, it would likely become a routine component of surgical PEH management. If it does not reduce PEH recurrence, it will likely be abandoned.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04007952. Registered on July 5, 2019.
Co-culture pellet of human Wharton’s jelly mesenchymal stem cells and rat costal chondrocytes as a candidate for articular cartilage regeneration: in vitro and in vivo study
Authors: Zheng Kaiwen , Ma Yiyang , Chiu Cheng , Pang Yidan , Gao Junjie , Zhang Changqing , Du Dajiang
Published: July 2022

Background

Seeding cells are key factors in cell-based cartilage tissue regeneration. Monoculture of either chondrocyte or mesenchymal stem cells has several limitations. In recent years, co-culture strategies have provided potential solutions. In this study, directly co-cultured rat costal chondrocytes (CCs) and human Wharton’s jelly mesenchymal stem (hWJMSCs) cells were evaluated as a candidate to regenerate articular cartilage.

Methods

Rat CCs are directly co-cultured with hWJMSCs in a pellet model at different ratios (3:1, 1:1, 1:3) for 21 days. The monoculture pellets were used as controls. RT-qPCR, biochemical assays, histological staining and evaluations were performed to analyze the chondrogenic differentiation of each group. The 1:1 ratio co-culture pellet group together with monoculture controls were implanted into the osteochondral defects made on the femoral grooves of the rats for 4, 8, 12 weeks. Then, macroscopic and histological evaluations were performed.

Results

Compared to rat CCs pellet group, 3:1 and 1:1 ratio group demonstrated similar extracellular matrix production but less hypertrophy intendency. Immunochemistry staining found the consistent results. RT-PCR analysis indicated that chondrogenesis was promoted in co-cultured rat CCs, while expressions of hypertrophic genes were inhibited. However, hWJMSCs showed only slightly improved in chondrogenesis but not significantly different in hypertrophic expressions. In vivo experiments showed that all the pellets filled the defects but co-culture pellets demonstrated reduced hypertrophy, better surrounding cartilage integration and appropriate subchondral bone remodeling.

Conclusion

Co-culture of rat CCs and hWJMSCs demonstrated stable chondrogenic phenotype and decreased hypertrophic intendency in both vitro and vivo. These results suggest this co-culture combination as a promising candidate in articular cartilage regeneration.
Rapid reviews for health policy and systems decision-making: more important than ever before
Authors: Tricco Andrea C. , Straus Sharon E. , Ghaffar Abdul , Langlois Etienne V.
Published: July 2022

Background

Due to the explosion in rapid reviews in the literature during COVID-19, their utility in universal health coverage and in other routine situations, there is now a need to document and further advance the application of rapid review methods, particularly in low-resource settings where a scarcity of resources may preclude the production of a full systematic review. This is the introductory article for a series of articles to further the discussion of rapid reviews for health policy and systems decision-making.

Main body

The series of papers builds on a practical guide on the conduct and reporting of rapid reviews that was published in 2019. The first paper provides an evaluation of a rapid review platform that was implemented in four centers in low-resource settings, the second paper presents approaches to tailor the methods for decision-makers through rapid reviews, the third paper focuses on selecting different types of rapid review products, and the fourth pertains to reporting the results from a rapid review.

Conclusion

Rapid reviews have a great potential to inform universal health coverage and global health security interventions, moving forward, including preparedness and response plans to future pandemics. This series of articles will be useful for both researchers leading rapid reviews, as well as decision-makers using the results from rapid reviews.
Exploring the Gantt chart as a tool to highlight double report in case series published during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Hirakata Vânia N. , Oppermann Maria Lúcia R. , Genro Vanessa K. , Reichelt Angela J.
Published: July 2022

Background

During the COVID-19 pandemic, some studies describing different aspects of the infection included very similar participants, rising suspicion about double reporting. We aimed to evaluate the Gantt chart as a tool to highlight possible double reporting. The chart is routinely used in business applications to depict tasks of a project, by plotting horizontal bars against time, showing their time span and overlaps.

Methods

All case reports and case series of pregnant women with COVID-19, published by July 15, 2020, were included. Initial and final dates of participants’ enrollment, country, city, hospital, and number of pregnancies were plotted in the Gantt chart. Bars stand for enrollment dates of each study, according to hospital and city, thus allowing comparisons.

Results

We included 116 articles in the present analysis. The Gantt chart highlighted papers in which some participants were likely the same, thus allowing easier identification of double reporting of cases. Combining all information and pregnancy characteristics and outcomes helped to recognize duplications when the authors did not acknowledged the previous publication.

Conclusions

Unintended double reporting may occur, especially in exceptional times. The Gantt chart may help researchers to visually identify potential duplications, thus avoiding biased estimates in systematic reviews or meta-analysis.
CircWDR26 regulates endometrial carcinoma progression via miR-212-3p-mediated typing genes MSH2
Authors: Lei Tao-Xiang , He De-Jian , Cao Jian , Lv Wang-Gui
Published: July 2022

Background

Circular RNAs (circRNA) are important in mediating tumor progression, but their roles in endometrial carcinoma (EC) are not fully understood yet. Many circRNAs are dysregulated and may contribute to EC progression. The functions of circWDR26 in EC remain unknown.

Methods

The expression of circWDR26 in EC and adjacent normal tissues, and cell lines was determined by qPCR. The proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion of EC cells was examined by CCK-8 assay, flow cytometry, wound healing assay and Transwell assay. The interaction between circWDR26, MSH2 and miR-212-3p was determined by luciferase assay. EC cells were inoculated into nude mice and tumor burden was determined by measuring tumor dimensions, size, and weight. The proliferative marker Ki67 in EC tissue was determined by immunohistochemistry.

Results

The expression of circWDR26 in EC tissues or cell lines was higher than in the normal tissue or endometrial epithelial cells. Downregulation of circWDR26 resulted in attenuated proliferation, increased apoptosis, reduced migration and invasion of EC cells. Mechanistically, circWDR26 targeted and suppressed the expression of miR-212-3p. We further found that MSH2 was the novel target of miR-212-3p and was upregulated by circWDR26 via inhibiting miR-212-3p. In vivo experiment demonstrated that circWDR26 was essential for EC tumor growth.

Conclusion

circWDR26 promoted EC progression by regulating miR-212-3p/MSH2 axis and provided novel insights into anti-cancer treatment.
Evidence for the circulating microRNA hsa-let-7d-3p as a potential new biomarker for sepsis in human subjects
Authors: Zhang Zhaorui , Luo Hailun , Li Chunsun , Liang Zhixin
Published: July 2022

Background

Current biomarkers for the early detection of sepsis have low sensitivity and specificity. Serum microRNAs (miRNAs) have been proposed as novel noninvasive biomarkers for various diseases. The aim of the present study was to discover a novel diagnostic biomarker for sepsis in human subjects.

Methods

miRNA expression profiling was performed using peripheral blood from three sepsis patients in the sepsis stage and improved condition stage using microarray screening. The differentially expressed miRNAs were primary validated by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) in a further set of 20 sepsis patients in the sepsis stage and improved condition stage. Finally, we validated the differentially expressed miRNAs in 95 sepsis patients and 66 nonsepsis patients. The validated miRNAs and patients’ clinical indictors were analysed in a multivariate logistic regression model. The diagnostic value of the changed miRNA in sepsis was determined and compared with CRP and WBC by analysing the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves.

Results

According to the criteria, we detected 11 miRNAs regulated by the miRNA chip. RT-qPCR detection showed that the expression of hsa-let-7d-3p in sepsis patients was upregulated compared with that in nonsepsis patients. In a multiple logistic regression analysis, serum miRNA hsa-let-7d-3p was found to be an independent predictor of sepsis. Receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis showed that the area under the ROC curve of serum hsa-let-7d-3p was 0.696 [95% confidence interval (0.615, 0.778)].

Conclusion

The miRNA hsa-let-7d-3p was identified as a novel biomarker for the early detection of sepsis.
The characteristics and influencing factors of the spatial distribution of intangible cultural heritage in the Yellow River Basin of China
Authors: Nie Xin , Xie Yong , Xie Xiaoxiao , Zheng Lunxing
Published: August 2022

This paper explores the characteristics and influencing factors of the spatial distribution of 889 national intangible cultural heritage sites in the Yellow River basin of China based on ArcGIS spatial analysis and Geodetector. The results show that the distribution of national intangible cultural heritage sites in the Yellow River basin is significantly different among provinces, and most of them are distributed in the central and western regions. From east to west, the density of intangible heritage in the Yellow River basin presents a triangular "one area and three points" pattern. All kinds of intangible cultural heritage in the Yellow River basin generally show the characteristic of aggregated distribution.Traditional skills, traditional medicine, traditional theatre, traditional music, and folklore have high levels of agglomeration, and traditional dance, Quyi, folk literature, and traditional fine arts have lower levels. The levels of traditional sports, entertainment and acrobatics have the lowest agglomeration. Among social and humanistic factors, highway density is the most influential indicator for the spatial distribution of national intangible cultural heritage in the Yellow River basin. GDP, population density and the urbanization level also have a great impact on the spatial distribution of national intangible cultural heritage in the Yellow River basin. Among geographical environmental factors, the river system and topography have a certain effect on the spatial distribution of national intangible cultural heritage in the Yellow River basin. Based on these facts, this paper finally discusses the specific path to protect and develop intangible cultural heritage in the Yellow River basin in the context of the newerato promote its creative protection and innovative development.
Blended Care Interventions to Promote Physical Activity: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Hohberg Vivien , Fuchs Reinhard , Gerber Markus , Künzler David , Paganini Sarah , Faude Oliver
Published: July 2022

Background

Blended care interventions combine therapeutic guidance with digital care. Current research results show the promising role of the blended care approach in clinical care. This new way of delivering health care could have the potential to effectively promote physical activity in different public health settings.

Objective

The aim of the systematic review is to investigate the varieties of intervention characteristics of blended care interventions to promote physical activity in terms of structure, behavior change goals, behavior change techniques, and effectiveness of blended care interventions compared to a control group.

Methods

We searched for randomized controlled trials published from 2000 to March 2021 in MEDLINE, CINAHL, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, SPORTDiscus, PsycINFO, and Web of Science according to the PRISMA guidelines. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration tool. Study characteristics, intervention characteristics, and outcome data were extracted. Furthermore, the effect size on the outcome of physical activity was examined or calculated.

Results

In total, the number of reports identified from the database searches was 4828. Of these, 25 studies were included in the review, with a total of 5923 study participants. Results indicated that the characteristics of blended care interventions showed a high heterogeneity. The combinations of therapist-guided interventions and digital interventions allowed the identification of specific subgroups, but they varied in length (range 8–52 weeks, SD 16.6), intensity, and the combination of the components. The most used combination of blended care interventions to promote physical activity was the combination of one-on-one meetings via telephone and Web-based interventions. Motivational models of behavior change were used most frequently as underlying theoretical foundations. Certain behavior change techniques were used consistently across the individual components, e.g., “problem solving” in the therapist-guided component and “feedback on behavior” in the digital component. Considering the effect size of blended care interventions compared with control groups, most studies showed a small effect.

Conclusions

It can be concluded that blended care interventions have potential to promote physical activity. In the future, further high-quality studies should investigate which type of blended care intervention is effective for which target group. Additionally, insights are required on which intervention characteristics are most effective, taking into account new evidence on behavior change.

Registration This systematic literature review was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42020188556).
Social consequences of COVID-19 on fertility preference consistency and contraceptive use among Nigerian women: insights from population-based data
Authors: Akinyemi Joshua O. , Dipeolu Oluwafemi I. , Adebayo Ayodeji M. , Gbadebo Babatunde M. , Ajuwon Grace A. , Olowolafe Tubosun A. , Adewoyin Yemi , Odimegwu Clifford O.
Published: August 2022

Background

Emerging evidence from high income countries showed that the COVID-19 pandemic has had negative effects on population and reproductive health behaviour. This study provides a sub-Saharan Africa perspective by documenting the social consequences of COVID-19 and its relationship to fertility preference stability and modern contraceptive use in Nigeria.

Method

We analysed panel data collected by Performance Monitoring for Action in Nigeria. Baseline and Follow-up surveys were conducted before the COVID-19 outbreak (November 2019-February 2020) and during the lockdown respectively (May-July 2020). Analysis was restricted to married non-pregnant women during follow-up (n = 774). Descriptive statistics and generalized linear models were employed to explore the relationship between selected social consequences of COVID-19 and fertility preferences stability (between baseline and follow-up) as well as modern contraceptives use.

Results

Reported social consequences of the pandemic lockdown include total loss of household income (31.3%), food insecurity (16.5%), and greater economic reliance on partner (43.0%). Sixty-eight women (8.8%) changed their minds about pregnancy and this was associated with age groups, higher wealth quintile (AOR = 0.38, CI: 0.15-0.97) and household food insecurity (AOR = 2.72, CI: 1.23-5.99). Fertility preference was inconsistent among 26.1%. Women aged 30-34 years (AOR = 4.46, CI:1.29-15.39) were more likely of inconsistent fertility preference compared to 15-24 years. The likelihood was also higher among women with three children compared to those with only one child (AOR = 3.88, CI: 1.36-11.08). During follow-up survey, 59.4% reported they would feel unhappy if pregnant. This was more common among women with tertiary education (AOR = 2.99, CI: 1.41-6.33). The odds increased with parity. The prevalence of modern contraceptive use was 32.8%. Women aged 45-49 years (AOR = 0.24, CI: 0.10-0.56) were less likely to use modern contraceptives than those aged 15-24 years. In contrast, the odds of contraceptive use were significantly higher among those with three (AOR = 1.82, CI: 1.03-3.20), four (AOR = 2.45, CI: 1.36-4.39) and at least five (AOR = 2.89, CI: 1.25-6.74) children. Unhappy disposition towards pregnancy (AOR = 2.48, CI: 1.724-3.58) was also a significant predictor of modern contraceptive use.

Conclusion

Some social consequences of COVID-19 affected pregnancy intention and stability of fertility preference but showed no independent association with modern contraceptive use.
Patterns in age and cause of death contribution to the sex gap in life expectancy: a comparison among ten countries
Authors: Feraldi Alessandro , Zarulli Virginia
Published: August 2022

Women live longer than men and the absolute difference between male and female mortality risk reaches its maximum at old ages. We decomposed the sex gap in life expectancy and investigated the changes over time of the profile of the age–cause specific contributions with indicators of location, magnitude and dispersion in ten countries. Data were retrieved from the Human Cause-of-Death Database. The decomposition analyses revealed that neoplasm, heart diseases and external causes were the main drivers of the gender gap. We also find two main patterns in the development of age-specific contributions. With mortality delay, regarding neoplasm-related mortality and heart disease-related mortality, the shift (i.e., movement of the modal age at contribution towards older ages) and compression (i.e., dispersion concentrated on a shorter age interval) of the survival advantage of women over a narrower age range reveal that men are gradually improving their survival. This might be linked to improvements in survival, diagnosis and access to treatment, at least to those ages no longer affected by the most significant differences.
Comparing western (Megascops kennicottii) and whiskered (M. trichopsis) screech-owl microbiomes in southern Arizona using a novel 16S rRNA sequencing method
Authors: Bartlow Andrew W. , Moser S. Kane , Ellis Jeremy E. , Hathcock Charles D. , Fair Jeanne M.
Published: July 2022

Microbiomes are essential to a host’s physiology and health. Despite the overall importance of microbiomes to animal health, they remain understudied in wildlife. Microbiomes function as physical barriers to invading pathogens, and changes in the diversity or composition of microbes within a host may disrupt this barrier. In order to use microbiomes in wildlife ecology, knowledge of the natural variation within and among species is essential. We compare the diversity and composition of two avian species that share the same habitat and niche in our study area, the western screech-owl (Megascops kennicottii) and the whiskered screech-owl (M. trichopsis). We used a targeted 16S sequencing method to improve the taxonomic resolution of microbiomes. We found similar measures of alpha diversity between species and sample types (cloacal samples vs. fecal samples). However, there were significant differences in bacterial species richness among nestlings from different nest boxes, and the composition differed between the two bird species and among nestlings from different nest boxes. Western screech-owls had more variation in alpha diversity and composition and had fewer bacterial species in their core microbiome than whiskered screech-owls. Siblings are likely to yield similar findings for microbiomes; thus, sampling nestlings from different nests may be most informative for monitoring population-level changes.
Endotracheal intubation in rabbits using a video laryngoscope with a modified blade
Authors: Kim Yujin , Jeon Hee Yeon , Yang Insook , Kim Ji Hyun , Chung Jae Hee , Ju Ji-Hyeon , Kim Gyeonghun , Park Jun Won , Oh Seung Yeon , Seong Je Kyung , Oh Seung Hyun , Joo Young-Shin
Published: July 2022

Rabbits are being increasingly used as companion animals, and in research; thus, the need for proper veterinary care for rabbits has increased. Surgical access is more challenging in rabbits under inhalation anesthesia compared to other animals, such as dogs and cats. Rabbits have a very narrow and deep oral cavity, large incisors, and a large tongue. Moreover, their temporomandibular joint has limited mobility, making it more difficult to approach the larynx. Various methods have been proposed to overcome this difficulty. The video laryngoscope was introduced in 1999 and is useful when airway intubation is unsuccessful using a conventional laryngoscope. We postulated that a video laryngoscope with a modified size 1 Macintosh blade (McGrath MAC Video Laryngoscope, Medtronic, USA) would facilitate the intubation of New Zealand White rabbits. Sixteen specific-pathogen-free male New Zealand White rabbits weighing 3.45–4.70 kg were studied. All rabbits were intubated using the video laryngoscope. Typically, a 3.0 mm endotracheal tube was used for rabbits weighing < 4 kg, while a 3.5 mm tube was used in those weighing > 4 kg. During surgery, anesthesia was well maintained, and there were no major abnormalities in the animals’ conditions. No rabbit developed breathing difficulties or anorexia after recovering from anesthesia. We established an intubation method using a video laryngoscope with a modified blade and stylet in the supine (ventrodorsal) position and successfully applied it in 16 rabbits. It is useful for training novices and for treating rabbits in veterinary hospitals with few staff members and animal research facilities where there are insufficient human resources.
Diffusion‐weighted imaging and conventional magnetic resonance imaging for detection of non-palpable undescended testis
Authors: Mohammed Nagwa Emad Ali , Badwey Manal Ezzat , Nagla Salah Abdelmonsef , Dawoud Rasha Mahmoud
Published: August 2022

Background

MRI is noninvasive imaging tool and does not imply ionizing radiation and applies multiplanes images, but it is sometimes less efficient in locating intraabdominal functioning testicles and it fails to locate most of the atrophied testicles. Our aim in this study was to assess the value of the combined conventional MR imaging and DWI in the detection of non-palpable undescended testes in pediatric patients and correlate the results with the laparoscopic finding.

Results

This prospective study was carried out from January 2020 to February 2022 on 60 pediatric patients with 68 non-palpable undescended testes referred from Urology department to the radiodiagnosis and medical imaging department at our institute for MR imaging evaluation of clinically diagnosed non-palpable undescended testis, and their age ranged from 6 months to 17 years with mean age of 4.24 ± 4.67 years. The conventional MRI sensitivity was 85.71%, specificity was 100%, NPV was 60%, and PPV was 100% with accuracy of 88.23%. The combined DWI and MRI sensitivity was 92.86%, specificity was 100%, NPV was 75%, and PPV was 100% with accuracy of 94.12%. DWI was able to detect all viable abdominal testes, while only detecting 26 (out of 28) inguinal testes. Combined assessment was able to detect all viable abdominal and inguinal testes.

Conclusions

Combined DWI with a high b value and conventional MRI including T1WI, T2WI and fat-suppression T2WI showed considerable diagnostic performance compared to conventional MRI alone improving the preoperative sensitivity and accuracy of detection of non-palpable undescended testes.
Development of molecular resources for the genetic improvement of noug (Guizotia abyssinica (L.f) Cass): a mini review
Authors: Terefe Motbaynor , Girma Dejene
Published: August 2022

Noug (Guizotia abyssinica (L.f) Cass) is an important edible oil-producing crop. Ethiopia is the center of origin and diversity for noug and thousands of noug accessions are being maintained at the Gene Bank in Ethiopian Biodiversity Institute (EBI). The crop is grown mainly for edible oil and the by-product named as noug-cake is widely used as animal feed. However, the production and productivity of noug is too low compared to other oilseed crops mainly due to the self-incompatible nature of the crop species, shattering, lodging, indeterminate growth habit, pests, and diseases. The development and application of molecular resources and tools have played a great role in the improvement of oilseed crops worldwide. Although conventional breeding has been used to develop commercial noug varieties, the application of modern genomic tools to enhance the use of noug germplasm resources is very limited. In this work, we have reviewed the scientific literature available on the development and application of molecular resources on oil-producing crops and specifically reveal research gaps on noug genetic improvement and highlight broadly applicable and affordable short-term strategic interventions.
Kidney Complications and Hospitalization in Patients With Chronic Hypoparathyroidism: A Cohort Study in Sweden
Authors: Swartling Oskar , Evans Marie , Spelman Tim , Kamal Wafa , Kämpe Olle , Mannstadt Michael , Trolle Lagerros Ylva , Björnsdottir Sigridur
Published: July 2022

Context

Kidney complications may be considerably higher in patients with chronic hypoparathyroidism (hypoPT) treated with activated vitamin D and calcium supplementation.

Objective

We aimed to investigate the risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD), urolithiasis, and hospitalization in patients with chronic hypoPT.

Methods

In this population-based cohort study in Sweden, national registries (Swedish National Patient Register, Swedish Prescribed Drug Register, and Total Population Register, 1997–2018) were used to identify patients with chronic hypoPT and controls matched by sex, age, and county of residence. We determined time to CKD and urolithiasis diagnosis, and incidence rates of hospitalization.

Results

A total of 1562 patients with chronic hypoPT without preexisting CKD and 15 620 controls were included. The risk of developing CKD was higher in patients with chronic hypoPT compared with controls (hazard ratio [HR] 4.45; 95% CI, 3.66-5.41). In people without prior urolithiasis (n = 1810 chronic hypoPT and n = 18 100 controls), the risk of developing urolithiasis was higher in patients with chronic hypoPT (HR 3.55; 95% CI, 2.84-4.44) compared with controls. Patients with chronic hypoPT had higher incidence rates for all-cause hospitalization (49.59; 95% CI, 48.50-50.70, per 100 person-years vs 28.43; 95% CI, 28.15-28.71, respectively) and for CKD (3.46; 95% CI, 3.18-3.76, per 100 person-years vs 0.72; 95% CI, 0.68–0.77, respectively), compared with controls. Men with hypoPT appear to have a higher risk of CKD than women.

Conclusion

Patients with chronic hypoPT had an increased risk of CKD, urolithiasis, and hospitalization compared with controls.
Endometriosis and Environmental Violence
Authors: Iengo Ilenia
Published: August 2022

This toxic autobiography seeks to open the conversation around the intersecting injustices marking the epistemological, material, political, and porous entanglements between endometriosis, the bodily inflammatory chronic condition the author is affected by, and the toxic waste fires raging in the territory known as the Land of Fires, between the provinces of Naples and Caserta, in southern Italy. Thinking with the sprouting intersection of environmental humanities and disability justice, while rooted in a critical environmental justice and transfeminist standpoint, the article uncovers the toxic embodiment where bodies and places are enmeshed. Although a growing body of literature acknowledges the role of chemical buildup and endocrine-disrupting toxins in the occurrence of endometriosis, the author delineates the epistemic injustices that keep this relationship silent in mainstream medical discourses. Through the blend of environmental memoir, embodied knowledge, activist campaigns, and medical literature, the article exposes the accumulation of environmental, medical, ableist, misogynist, and capitalist slow violence that living with endometriosis brings about. While emerging from the materiality of experiencing trauma and pain, the article reclaims the emancipatory possibilities that can be articulated. From the politicization of an “invisible” illness standpoint, the article proposes a toxic autobiography in which transfeminist, environmental, and disability justice politics are collectively affirmed through situated ecopolitics of response-ability that accounts for interdependence and self-determination of marginal bodies and territories.
Introduction
Authors: Krøijer Stine , Rubow Cecilie
Published: August 2022

This special issue takes its point of departure in political philosopher Jane Bennett’s concept of enchantment and her discussion of how moods of enchantment may inform an ethics of care. The contributions aim to rethink the concept of enchantment and unfold what an ethic of care may look like in times of ecological crises. The introduction outlines Bennett’s conceptual groundwork and its reception and discusses its continued analytical purchase for understanding the unsettling moods and contradictory affects produced by colonialism and ecological change. Building on recent anthropological contributions to the ethics of care, the authors propose to broaden the way in which we think about ethical doings so they also come to involve unsettling affects, various subjectivities, and more dynamic ecological relations.
The importance of SMA screening tests in newborns – review
Authors: Rusinowska Barbara
Published: August 2022

Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) is an autosomal recessive neuromuscular disease caused by the loss of alfa motor neurons occuring with a frequency of 1 of 11000 births. It leads to muscular weakness and is cause of high rate of mortality in children. 95% cases of SMA are caused by homozygous deletion in SMN1 which is identified as the SMA disease-determining gene. The number of copies of SMN2 determines the phenotype of the disease. Screening tests for SMA can detect 95-98% of the mutations in SMN1, but cannot detect point mutations. The SMA genetic tests are characterized by high sensitivity and specificity, they are inexpensive and therefore can be used on a large scale. Generally DNA is isolated from the dry blood spot and then subjected to PCR analysis. The SMN2 copy number is determined using the MLPA technique. Screening tests allow the diagnosis of SMA even before the onset of symptoms. Numerous scientific studies show that early treatment in most patients  with detected SMA allows for better neuromotor development in children. The most beneficial effects of the SMA  therapy are visible in patients treated pre-symptomatically - and this is only possible thanks to the use of screening tests. In this review we present the importance of SMA screening tests in newborns according to the latest scientific reports.
Acute tonsillopharyngitis - a review
Authors: Osiejewska Aleksandra , Gorajek Anna , Kudan Małgorzata , Grądzik Anna , Mikut Karolina
Published: July 2022

Introduction and purpose: Acute pharyngitis and tonsillitis is the most common reason why people want to visit their primary care physician. Viruses are the most common cause of acute pharyngitis and acute tonsillitis in children and adults. The patient complains about pain with sudden onset and throat irritation, pain on swallowing, fever and headache, and in children also abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting.

Brief description of the state of knowledge: Most acute tonsillopharyngitis is due to rhinoviruses (35%), influenza (30%), RSV and parainfluenza. Bacteria causes 30% of the infections and S. pyogenes is the most common cause. Viral infections are seasonal. S.pyogenes infection is most often in winter and early spring. Changes in the pharyngeal mucosa look similar in both bacterial and viral etiologies. Because of that, scales have been developed to assess the probability of a bacterial infection. The most used is Centor / McIsaac scale. The gold standard of diagnostics is throat swab culture. In the treatment of streptococcal pharyngitis and tonsillitis, penicillins are used as first-line treatment. Antibiotic treatment reduces infectivity, lowers the risk of rheumatic fever and made symptoms disappear two days earlier. Tonsillectomy does not reduce the number of recurrent pharyngitis and tonsillitis, therefore it cannot be recommended.

Conclusion: Acute tonsillopharyngitis can result in many complications, the most serious of them is rheumatic fever. Therefore, it is very important to properly diagnose and use antibiotic therapy when necessary.
Senior education and the quality of life of women in different periods of old age
Authors: Jurkiewicz Beata , Barnaś Edyta , Kołpa Małgorzata
Published: August 2022

Introduction. The current evolution in thinking considers the concern for the dignity of the elderly and their relationship with society. The intellectual and causal potential of older people, which was ignored so far, has also begun to be appreciated.
The aim of the study was to assess the quality of life and its determinants in the group of women over 65 years of age (including age groups), using various forms of education for seniors.
Material and methods. The study was conducted among women aged 65+ living in the Tarnów province (southern Poland): 205 educationally active seniors (group I) and 207 women who do not benefit from senior education (group II). The diagnostic survey method and standardized interview technique using the WHOQoL-AGE quality of life questionnaire were used.
Results and conclusions. A higher level of quality of life was associated primarily with participation in senior education, lower age and better material status of the examined women. It is recommended to carry out activities promoting participation in various forms of senior education, especially in the two oldest age groups (old & oldest old).
L’Einfühlung en situation extrême : la voie husserlienne de l’évidence préréflexive d’autrui
Authors: Zielinski Agata
Published: August 2022

EINFÜHLUNG IN THE EXTREME SITUATION: THE HUSSERLIAN WAY OF THE PRE-REFLEXIVE EVIDENCE OF OTHERS Can we feel empathy for a person who no longer has the ordinary features (les caractéristiques classiques) of a human being? Husserl’s concept of Einfühlung allows us to think that the recognition of the human happens in intercorporeality and gives rise to a pre-reflexive recognition (reconnaissance) of the other.
Impact of Covid-19 on the mental health, quality of life and level of physical activity in university students
Authors: Santos Ana Paula Rodrigues dos , Souza Joyce Neire Vidal Alexandre , Silva Bruno Rafael Vieira Souza , Costa Emília Chagas , Oliveira Marcela Claudia de Paula Oliveira , Aquino Jael Maria de , Santos Marcos André Moura dos , Barros Mauro Virgílio Gomes de , Silva Lygia Maria Pereira da , Correia Junior Marco Aurelio de Valois
Published: July 2022

Young people can have negative repercussions on their mental health, quality of life and on illnesses related to physical inactivity due to social isolation and fear of the disease (Covid-19). This study aimed to analyze the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the quality of life, level of physical activity and mental health of university students. College students (16-24 years old) completed an online interview, considering possible changes in mental health, quality of life and physical activity level, evaluating the moment before and during the pandemic. The recruitment strategy of the participants was the snowball type. 1,167 young people (69.2%-women) attended in the study, of which 8.8% had a confirmed diagnosis of Covid-19. There was a worsening in all scores of quality of life, stress and depression during the pandemic when compared to the period prior to the pandemic (p < 0.001). The pandemic also increased inactivity among young people (49.1% vs 28%, p < 0.001). Female students, from the health area, who had their own home and who did not have confirmed diagnosis of Covid-19 showed increased stress in the pandemic period. The Covid-19 pandemic worsened the indicators of mental health, quality of life and level of physical activity among university students. It is noteworthy that despite not being a risk group for the aggravation of the disease and consequent higher mortality, restrictions related to the pandemic limited or prevented the movement of people and this isolation can represent important changes in health in the medium and long term in this population.
Convergence Rates of Epsilon-Greedy Global Optimization Under Radial Basis Function Interpolation
Authors: Li Jialin , Ryzhov Ilya O.
Published: August 2022

We study a global optimization problem where the objective function can be observed exactly at individual design points with no derivative information. We suppose that the design points are determined sequentially using an epsilon-greedy algorithm, that is, by sampling uniformly on the design space with a certain probability and otherwise sampling in a local neighborhood of the current estimate of the best solution. We study the rate at which the estimate converges to the global optimum and derive two types of bounds: an asymptotic pathwise rate and a concentration inequality measuring the likelihood that the asymptotic rate has not yet gone into effect. The order of the rate becomes faster when the width of the local search neighborhood is made to shrink over time at a suitably chosen speed.
Gabriela: revistiando o seu tempo e a sua glória
Authors: Sa Alzira Tude
Published: August 2022

Este texto pretende fazer uma releitura do romance Gabriela, cravo e canela, de Jorge Amado, rememorando o tempo da sua escritura sem perder de vista o período da sua publicação, o ano de 1958, a década em que foi escrito e seus valores, tanto políticos quanto estéticos, considerando que a transparência histórica que perpassa toda a obra do escritor, favorece o reconhecimento do contexto em que seus escritos foram produzidos. Gabriela é a primeira personagem feminina construída, nesse contexto, uma representação literária que denuncia a afirmação e o anseio do autor de representar e exportar a cultura de sua terra e de seu povo, através do exotismo e da exuberância. Para tanto foi realizada uma extensa pesquisa bibliográfica, representativa das leituras e  avaliações do romance considerado como um marco divisor e como um dos romances mais emblemáticos do escritor Jorge Amado.
Polarization and intensity analysis of lateral scattering light from nanoparticles
Authors: Wu Zheng Bang , He Lin , Han Jun Hao
Published: August 2022

The characteristics of laterally scattered light from nanoparticles can be experimentally studied by polarization imaging technology. This paper compares and analyzes the differences in polarization between nanoparticles and microparticles. Then, the influence of the incident light intensity on scattered light and the degree of polarization is studied. It is found that, when the concentration of nanoparticles is constant, the degree of polarization of scattered light is not affected compared with the scattered light intensity. Finally, the variation law of nanoparticle concentration and polarization is studied. It is found that, with the increase of particle concentration, the polarization of lateral scattered light increases and then decreases.
Stress and wavefront measurement of large-aperture optical components
with a ptychographical iterative engine
Authors: Sun Xiaomeng , Zhang Xuejie , Liu Zhigang , Fan Quantang , Liu Cheng , Zhu Jianqiang
Published: August 2022

The clamping stress of large-aperture optical elements has a significant influence on the optical quality of the system. In this study, a comprehensive measurement system combined with ptychographical iterative engine (PIE) wavefront sensors and polarization components is developed to determine the stress distribution of the optical elements and its effect on the transmitted and reflected wavefronts. This system avoids the use of multiple measuring instruments and has low cost and strong anti-interference ability. The experimental results demonstrate that the stress distributions measured at different resolutions are consistent with the finite element analysis, and the wavefront measurement accuracy is

0.1

λ

. This test configuration is very flexible and provides a useful means for online installation and quality control of large-aperture optical systems.