bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparison of Head Shape Outcomes in Metopic Synostosis Using Limited Strip Craniectomy and Open Vault Reconstruction Techniques
Authors: Pressler Mark Philip , Hallac Rami R. , Geisler Emily L. , Seaward James R. , Kane Alex A.
Published: November 2020

Aim:

Metopic craniosynostosis (MCS), with its trigonocephalic head shape, is often treated with either limited incision strip craniectomy (LISC) followed by helmet orthotic treatment, or open cranial vault reconstruction techniques (OCVR). There is controversy regarding resultant shape outcomes among craniofacial surgeons. Those adverse to LISC claim normal head shape is never attained, while proponents believe there is gradual correction to an equivalent outcome. This study aims to quantitate, over time, the three-dimensional (3D) head shapes in patients who have undergone LISC or OCVR intervention for MCS.

Methods:

Sixty-three 3D images of 26 patients with MCS were analyzed retrospectively. Head shape analyses were performed at: (1) preoperative, (2) 1-month postoperative, (3) 10 to 14 months postoperative (1 year), and (4) 2 years postoperative. Composite 3D head shapes of patients were compared at each time point. Two-dimensional (2D) standardized cross sections of the forehead were also compared.

Results:

Composite head shapes for both groups were nested, to allow visual comparison as the child’s forehead grows and expands. The difference between LISC and OCVR 2D cross sections was calculated; 108.26 mm preoperatively, 127.18 mm after 1-month postoperative, 51.05 mm after 10 to 14 months postoperative, and 27.03 mm after 2 years postoperative.

Conclusions:

This study found excellent head shape outcomes for both the LISC and OCVR techniques at 2 years of age. It also corroborates the slow and progressive improvement in head shape with the LISC technique. This study highlights the advantages of 3D photography for measurement of contour outcomes, utilizing both 2D vector and 3D whole head analytical techniques.
Concepts Important to Patients With Facial Differences: A Qualitative Study Informing a New Module of the FACE-Q for Children and Young Adults
Authors: Kamran Rakhshan , Longmire Natasha M. , Rae Charlene , Riff Karen W. Y. Wong , Forrest Christopher R. , O’Hara Justine , Bulstrode Neil , Klassen Anne F.
Published: November 2020

Objective:

The concepts important to children and young adults who undergo treatments for facial differences are not well-defined. Measurement of treatment outcomes from the patient’s perspective is necessary to ensure goals of treatment are met. We aimed to identify concepts important to children and young adults with facial differences through a qualitative study.

Design:

An interpretive description qualitative approach was followed. Semistructured interviews were conducted, transcribed verbatim, and coded using a line-by-line approach. Qualitative analysis led to the development of a conceptual framework of outcomes important to patients.

Setting:

Interviews were conducted in Canada and the United Kingdom at home, by telephone, or in the hospital.

Participants:

Participants (N = 72) were recruited between May and June 2014 from craniofacial clinics at the Hospital for Sick Children (Toronto) and Great Ormond Street Hospital (London). Participants included anyone with a visible and/or functional facial difference aged 8 to 29 years and fluent in English, excluding patients with a cleft. The sample included 38 females and 34 males, with a mean age of 13.9 years, and included 28 facial conditions (11 facial paralysis, 18 ear anomalies, 26 skeletal conditions, and 17 soft tissue conditions).

Results:

Analysis led to identification of important concepts within 4 overarching domains: facial appearance, facial function, adverse effects of treatment, and health-related quality of life (psychological, social, and school function).

Conclusions:

Our study provides an understanding of concepts important to children and young adults with facial differences.
From Mistrust to Understanding: Inclusive Constitution-Making Design and Agreement in Tunisia
Authors: Jermanová Tereza
Published: November 2020

In 2014, Tunisia’s National Constituent Assembly (NCA) almost unanimously approved the country’s first democratic constitution despite significant identity-based divisions. Drawing on the Tunisian case, the article explores the role of an inclusive constitution-making process in fostering constitutional agreement during democratization. Emerging studies that link different process modalities to democracy have so far brought only limited illumination to how inclusive processes matter, nor were these propositions systematically tested. Using process tracing, and building on original interviews gathered in Tunisia between 2014 and 2020, this article traces a causal mechanism whereby an inclusive constitution-making process allowed for a transformation of interpersonal relationships between political rivals. It demonstrates that more than two years of regular interactions allowed NCA deputies to shatter some of the prejudices that initially separated especially Islamist and non-Islamist partisans and develop cross-partisan ties, thus facilitating constitutional negotiations. However, I argue that the way these transformations contributed to constitutional settlement is more subtle than existing theories envisaged, and suggest alternative explanations. The article contributes to the debate about constitution-making processes by unpacking the understudied concept of partisan inclusion and applying it empirically to trace its effects on constitutional agreement, bringing precision and nuance to current assumptions about its benefits.
Time Course of Quality of Life Improvement Between Resection Arthroplasty and Metatarsophalangeal Joint-Preserving Forefoot Arthroplasty for Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: Shimomura Kota , Yasui Tetsuro , Teramoto Atsushi , Ozasa Yasuhiro , Yamashita Toshihiko , Iwasawa Mitsuyasu
Published: November 2020

Background:

Resection arthroplasty has long been a major treatment option for forefoot deformity caused by rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint–preserving surgery is now surpassing classic resection arthroplasty. This study was performed to compare the postoperative results of these 2 operative methods.

Methods:

Fifty-one toes of 40 patients with RA who underwent resection arthroplasty (resection group) or MTP joint–preserving arthroplasty (preservation group) from 2014 to 2017 for forefoot deformity were followed up for >1 year and were retrospectively analyzed. In the preservation group, open reduction of joint dislocation was performed if needed, and the deformity was corrected by metatarsal shortening osteotomy. The mean follow-up period was 21 months. The Japanese Society for Surgery of the Foot (JSSF) scales (objective outcome measures), the Self-Administered Foot Evaluation Questionnaire (SAFE-Q) (subjective outcome measure), and radiographic indices were compared between the groups. The resection group and preservation group comprised 15 toes of 11 patients and 36 toes of 29 patients, respectively.

Results:

There were no significant differences in the preoperative radiographic indices, JSSF scales, or SAFE-Q results between the 2 groups. The preservation group showed better JSSF scores at the last follow-up (median hallux scale, 89 vs 74; median lesser scale, 87 vs 79). In the preservation group, the SAFE-Q scores gradually improved with time until 12 months postoperatively. In the resection group, the scores decreased 3 months postoperatively and then improved and reached a plateau 6 months postoperatively. At 12 months postoperatively, there was no significant difference in the SAFE-Q scores between the 2 groups.

Conclusions:

MTP joint–preserving arthroplasty resulted in superior objective scores to resection arthroplasty in patients with RA forefoot deformity. Although the subjective scores did not differ between the groups at the last follow-up, the time course of postoperative quality of life improvement was different between the 2 surgeries.

Level of Evidence:

Level III, retrospective comparative study.
A Psychometric Analysis of the Structured Clinical Interview for the DSM-5 Alternative Model for Personality Disorders Module I (SCID-5-AMPD-I): Level of Personality Functioning Scale
Authors: Hummelen Benjamin , Braeken Johan , Buer Christensen Tore , Nysaeter Tor Erik , Germans Selvik Sara , Walther Kristoffer , Pedersen Geir , Eikenaes Ingeborg , Paap Muirne C. S.
Published: November 2020

The current study aims to examine the psychometric properties of the Structured Clinical Interview for the DSM-5 Alternative Model for Personality Disorders Module I (SCID-5-AMPD-I) assessing the Level of Personality Functioning Scale (LPFS) in a heterogeneous sample of 282 nonpsychotic patients. Latent variable models were used to investigate the dimensionality of the LPFS. The results indicate that the LPFS, as assessed by the SCID-5-AMPD-I, can be considered as a unidimensional construct that can be measured reliably across a wide range of the latent trait. Threshold parameters for the 12 indicators of the LPFS increased gradually over the latent scale, indicating that the five LPFS levels were ordered as predicted by the model. In general, the increase of threshold parameters was relatively small for the shift from Level 2 to Level 3. A better distinction among the different severity levels might be obtained by fine-tuning the interview guidelines or the Level 2 indicators themselves.
Age Is Not a Barrier: Older Adults With Cancer Derive Similar Benefit in a Randomized Controlled Trial of a Remote Symptom Monitoring Intervention Compared With Younger Adults
Authors: Coombs Lorinda A. , Ellington Lee , Fagerlin Angela , Mooney Kathi
Published: November 2020

This study investigated a remote symptom monitoring intervention to examine if older participants with cancer received a similar magnitude of benefit compared with younger adults with cancer. We analyzed a longitudinal symptom monitoring intervention for 358 participants beginning a new course of chemotherapy treatment in community and academic oncology practices. The study design was a randomized control trial; participants were randomized to the intervention or usual care, the intervention was delivered during daily automated coaching. Older adults with moderate and severe symptoms derived similar benefit as those adults younger than 60 years of age, adherence to the study protocol which involved daily calls was high. There was no significant difference between the 2 age categories; on average, older adult participants made 88% of expected daily calls and younger adult participants made 90% of expected daily calls. Our results challenge the perception that older adults are unwilling or unable to use a technological tool such as interactive voice response and suggest that patient utilization may be guided by other factors, such as ease of use and perceived benefit from the intervention.
Current-Induced Vasodilation Specifically Detects, and Correlates With the Time Since, Last Aspirin Intake: An Interventional Study of 830 Patients
Authors: Ramondou Pierre , Hersant Jeanne , Fouquet Olivier , Sempore Wendsendate Yves , Abraham Pierre , Henni Samir
Published: November 2020

Background:

Galvanic current-induced vasodilation (CIV) is impaired in patients under low-dose aspirin (ASA; ≤ 500 mg/day), but potential covariates and the impact of the time since the last ASA intake are unknown.

Objectives:

We used tissue viability imaging (TiVi) in patients at risk of cardiovascular disease and examined its association with self-reported treatments.

Patients/Methods:

We recorded the age, gender, height, weight, smoking status, and use of 14 different drug categories in 822 patients either with known peripheral artery disease or at risk thereof. The difference between TiVi arbitrary units (TAUs) where stimulation was applied and an adjacent skin area was recorded, as well as the time since the last ASA intake. Step-by-step regression analysis was used to determine the factors that affect CIV amplitude.

Results and Conclusions:

CIV was 28.2 ± 22.9 vs. 14.6 ± 18.0 TAUs ( P < 0.001) in patients treated with ASA (n = 287) and not treated with ASA (n = 535), respectively. The main determinants of CIV amplitude, by order of importance, were: aspirin intake, diabetes mellitus, age, and male sex. In ASA-treated patients, the main determinants were diabetes mellitus, time since the last ASA intake, male gender, and age. Non-invasive determination of the physiological effects of low-dose ASA is feasible in routine clinical practice. It could be a clinical approach to provide objective evidence of ASA intake, and potentially could be used to test adherence to treatment in ASA-treated patients.
To Eat or Not to Eat: Framing of GMOs in American Media and Its Effects on Attitudes and Behaviors
Authors: Pjesivac Ivanka , Hayslett Marlit A. , Binford Matthew T.
Published: November 2020

This study examined the framing of genetically modified organisms in two American newspapers, The New York Times and the Washington Post (2000-2016) and tested the impact of risk and opportunity framing on attitudes and behaviors regarding genetically modified organisms. The content analysis ( N = 165) showed that the two newspapers did not have a dominant frame type in their coverage. A randomized three-condition experiment ( N = 182) showed that the type of framing significantly affected individuals’ attitudes and was able to change them. The type of framing affected individuals’ behavioral intentions through postexposure attitudes but was not able to significantly affect actual behavior.
Prompts for Making Sense of a Pandemic: The 21-Day Autoethnography Challenge
Authors: Markham Annette , Harris Anne
Published: November 2020

The idea of doing a self-guided series of prompts for a largescale project in the midst of a global pandemic emerged as a solution to the twin problems of distance and distraction. The goal of a “21-day autoethnography challenge” set of self-guided prompts was to build embodied sensibilities toward the material we study, practice autoethnographic forms of writing and analysis, and transform personal experiences through this COVID-19 moment into critical understanding of scale, sensemaking, and relationality of humans, nonhumans, and the planet. This article showcases the prompts to illustrate the method and flexible adaptation required for the project.
The adjuvant use of capecitabine for residual disease following pre-operative chemotherapy for breast cancer: Challenges applying CREATE-X to a US population
Authors: Beyerlin Kassidy , Jimenez Rachel , Zangardi Mark , Fell Geoffrey G , Edmonds Christine , Johnson Andrew , Bossuyt Veerle , Specht Michelle , Mulvey Therese M , Moy Beverly , Ellisen Leif W , Isakoff Steven J , Bardia Aditya , Spring Laura M
Published: November 2020

Introduction

The CREATE-X study, conducted in Japan and South Korea, established capecitabine as an adjuvant treatment option for patients with triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) who have residual disease (RD) following neoadjuvant anthracycline or taxane-based chemotherapy. However, there are no reports on the tolerability and outcomes of adjuvant capecitabine in the US setting following publication of the CREATE-X data.

Methods

We retrospectively collected treatment and tolerability data from the medical records of the first 23 TNBC patients who received adjuvant capecitabine for RD post neoadjuvant chemotherapy at our institution. Disease-free survival was assessed using the Kaplan-Meier method.

Results

The median starting dosage of capecitabine was 1871 mg/m2/day, most commonly divided into two daily doses on days 1-14 of each 21 day cycle. 34.8% of patients completed the treatment as prescribed. Side effects associated with treatment were common with 69.6% of patients experiencing hand-foot syndrome, 39.1% of patients experiencing diarrhea, and 13.0% of patients requiring hospitalization for side effects. Of 23 patients treated with adjuvant capecitabine, 34.8% completed the planned dose, 30.4% completed with dose reduction, and 34.8% discontinued early. At a median follow-up time of 14 months, the median disease-free survival was 22 months, with 30.4% of patients experiencing recurrence.

Conclusion

Tolerability was poor overall compared to the CREATE-X cohort. Administering adjuvant capecitabine for TNBC patients with residual disease in the United States is challenging given differences in tolerability. More research is needed to understand how poor tolerability will affect the efficacy of this approach in the US population.
Methylene blue and ifosfamide-induced encephalopathy: Myth or reality?
Authors: Abahssain Halima , Moukafih Badreddine , Essangri Hajar , Mrabti Hind , Meddah Bouchra , Guessous Fadila , Fadhil Fatima Zahra , Souadka Amine , Errihani Hassan
Published: November 2020

Background

Ifosfamide-induced encephalopathy (IIE) is a rare and serious adverse reaction. Thus far, no standard medication has been documentedto be efficient in the reversal of IIE, and while ifosfamide infusion interruption and hydration are recommended, methylene blue (MB) administration remains controversial.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed medical records to assess cases with IIE after ifosfamide infusion. We included all patients having received an ifosfamide infusion during their hospitalization in the medical oncology unit of the National Institute of Oncology in Rabat, Morocco, between September 2016 and September 2017. We subsequently conducted a literature review to determine the role of MB in IIE by searching PubMed using the terms “Methylene Blue” and “Ifosfamide”.

Results

A total of 88 patients received ifosfamide, and four patients had IIE. Ifosfamide infusion was stopped immediately after the IIE occurrence, and patients underwent renal function correction with hydration. All patients received MB infusion, and three patients had an improvement of their neurological status. As regards the literature review, 34 articles were reviewed and 16 items were included in the review. Overall, 38 (65.5%) patients received MB infusion and 28 (75.6%) patients responded favorably to the treatment.

Conclusions

Methylene blue can be used as a treatment for IIE owing to the severity of the IIE as well as absence of standard medication. Nonetheless, side effects such as serotonergic syndrome should be investigated. More broadly, prospective studies and controlled trials are needed to explore the contribution of MB in IIE management and encourage its use.
Containment of a COVID-19 Outbreak in an Inpatient Geriatric Psychiatry Unit
Authors: Constantino-Shor Cheri , Rani Golo , Olin Svaya , Holmes Charity , Nasenbeny Keri
Published: November 2020

OBJECTIVES: The first known COVID-19 outbreak in a long-term care facility in the United States was identified on February 28, 2020, in King County, Washington. That facility became the initial U.S. epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic when they discovered 129 cases associated with the outbreak (81 residents, 34 staff members, and 14 visitors) and 23 persons died. The vulnerability of the elderly population, shared living and social spaces, suboptimal infection control practices, and prolonged contact between residents were identified as contributing factors to the rapid spread of the disease. The first known case of a severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) outbreak in a U.S. inpatient geriatric psychiatry unit was also in King County, Washington, and occurred soon afterward on March 11th, 2020. Between March 11 and March 18, nine inpatients and seven staff members were confirmed to have SARS-CoV-2 infection. This article examines how the swift identification and isolation of confirmed patients, an enhanced infection prevention protocol, and engagement of frontline psychiatric care staff prevented a catastrophic outcome in a vulnerable population. METHODS: Here we describe infection control and nursing-led interventions that were quickly enacted in response to this SARS-CoV-2 outbreak in an inpatient geriatric psychiatry unit. RESULTS: The interventions effectively contained the outbreak, with no further patients and only one staff member testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 over the subsequent 2-month time period. CONCLUSIONS: We share our learnings and preventative infection control measures that can be adapted to a variety of settings to prevent or contain future outbreaks of COVID-19.
Effect of Home Nursing Care on the Severity of Symptoms in Patients With Bipolar I Disorder: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: Zeighami Reza , Raeisolhagh Arghavan , Ranjbaran Mehdi
Published: November 2020

Bipolar I disorder is a common, chronic, and recurrent disease in which improper and inadequate follow-up of patients after discharge leads to increased hospitalization. This study aimed at investigating the effect of home nursing care on the severity of symptoms of bipolar I disorder. This clinical trial was performed on 90 patients admitted to 22 Bahman Qazvin Hospital in 2019. The available sampling was done using random allocation of six blocks in experimental and control groups. In the experimental group, after leaving the hospital, the intervention was performed for 3 months in the form of two telephone calls and one face-to-face meeting per month. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire, the Yang scale questionnaire, and entered into the SPSS-24 software. Statistical tests such as Mann-Whitney u test, Fisher, independent T-test, paired T-test, chi-square, and ANCOVA were used at the significance level of p < .05. The severity of the disease before the intervention in the experimental and control groups were (93/9 ± 25/32) and (04/11 ± 86/28), respectively, showing no statistically significant difference ( p = .146). However, after the intervention, the mean severity of the disease in the experimental and control groups were (17/5 ± 38/13) and (79/12 ± 21/33), respectively, showing a statistically significant difference ( p < .05). According to the results, the home nursing care for patients leads to a reduction in the severity of symptoms and a reduction in the rate of re-hospitalization of patients.
What Does “Managed Long Term Care Service” Mean in the United States? A Concept Analysis From a Case Manager’s Perspective
Authors: Woo Kyungmi
Published: November 2020

This study aimed to examine the concept of Managed Long Term Care service from a care manager’s perspective. The Walker and Avant concept analysis approach was applied. The defining attributes include (1) chronic disease or disability, (2) coordination of care, and (3) services. Core components of Managed Long Term Care service were found to be a network of providers and capitation. A conceptual model of Managed Long Term Care service was developed with Managed Long Term Care service operationally defined as “a program with a set of services delivered to patients who have a chronic illness or disability and wish to stay safe and healthy at home in the community. The services or benefits are coordinated by a care manager who serves as a point of contact for the patient and provider(s), and are delivered by providers in the network.” Care management is a core concept of Managed Long Term Care. The triple aims of Managed Long Term Care are to deliver the right care at the right time at the right cost to Managed Long Term Care eligible patients. This paper sought to illuminate and clarify varied perspectives on the concept of Managed Long Term Care service. Without a clear understanding of a community-based service or program, delivery of nursing care may be less effective. This study was the first to examine this widely used but often imprecisely defined community health service from a case manager’s point of view.
ADHD May Associate With Reduced Tolerance to Acute Subconcussive Head Impacts: A Pilot Case-Control Intervention Study
Authors: Nowak Madeleine K. , Ejima Keisuke , Quinn Patrick D. , Bazarian Jeffrey J. , Mickleborough Timothy D. , Harezlak Jaroslaw , Newman Sharlene D. , Kawata Keisuke
Published: November 2020

Objective:

To test our hypothesis that individuals with ADHD would exhibit reduced resiliency to subconcussive head impacts induced by ten soccer headings.

Method:

We conducted a case-control intervention study in 51 adults (20.6 ± 1.7 years old). Cognitive assessment, using ImPACT, and plasma levels of neurofilament-light (NF-L), Tau, glial-fibrillary-acidic protein (GFAP), and ubiquitin-C-terminal hydrolase-L1 (UCH-L1) were measured.

Results:

Ten controlled soccer headings demonstrated ADHD-specific transient declines in verbal memory function. Ten headings also blunted learning effects in visual memory function in the ADHD group while the non-ADHD counterparts improved both verbal and visual memory functions even after ten headings. Blood biomarker levels of the ADHD group were sensitive to the stress induced by ten headings, where plasma GFAP and UCH-L1 levels acutely increased after 10 headings. Variance in ADHD-specific verbal memory decline was correlated with increased levels of plasma GFAP in the ADHD group.

Conclusions:

These data suggest that ADHD may reduce brain tolerance to repetitive subconcussive head impacts.
Impact of Medication on Performance of Household Chores by Children with ADHD
Authors: Park Faith , Rapoport Eli , Soled Derek , Adesman Andrew
Published: November 2020

Objective:

To investigate associations between ADHD medication and household chore performance by children with ADHD.

Methods:

A parent questionnaire collected information about the adequacy and quality of their child’s performance of two self-care and six family-care chores. Parent perceptions of ADHD medication effect duration were used to identify children with after-school medication benefits (ASMB). Mann-Whitney U tests compared children with and without ASMB across measures of chore performance.

Results:

A total of 565 parents of children with ADHD that regularly take medication completed the questionnaire. Children with ASMB were more likely to meet parental expectations for five of eight household chores and were more likely to be able to independently complete both self-care and family-care chores than those without ASMB. No differences were noted regarding their need for reminders or assistance with chores.

Conclusion:

Improvement in chore performance may be an additional consideration with respect to medication selection for children with ADHD.
Social Citizenship Aspirations: An Alternative Line of Analysis of the Social Reproduction of Youth Inequality
Authors: Moensted Maja Lindegaard
Published: November 2020

Lifting the aspirations of disadvantaged young people has been a key focus within youth policies, often constructed as a solution to the complicated problem of achieving social mobility. A growing body of work critiques such policy discourses for their inadequate conceptualizations of aspirations. Particularly, the problematic framing of community culture and the tendency to allocate the problem of low aspirations to individuals’ psyche and cultural upbringing have been critiqued. Despite such critiques, this article argues for the importance of analysing disadvantaged young people’s aspirations, as aspirations play a crucial role in determining outcomes. However, further theorizing is needed to capture a more nuanced view on the intersection between material and social embeddedness and individual agency. The concept of social citizenship aspirations is introduced to develop a framework for understanding the reproduction of youth inequality, which also acknowledges agency as an expression of how young people themselves create meaningful lives.
The Film Kids 25 Years On: A Qualitative Study of Rape Culture and Representations of Sexual Violence in Skateboarding
Authors: Willing Indigo
Published: November 2020

This article examines the 1995 fictional feature film Kids, which locates its story in skateboarding culture. The film reached its 25th anniversary in 2020; it is directed by Larry Clark and written by Harmony Korine, both recognizable figures in skateboarding, and it featured a cast of youth from the New York skateboarding scene. The research analyses narrative content that depicts sexual coercion and rape. Contemporary social and feminist theories of sexual violence, rape culture and media on the film inform the analysis. The discussion points to how the characters that the boys play embody forms of hegemonic masculinity, pointing to the social and cultural dimensions of male power and how sexual violence can be an element of that. The article also presents an occasion to reflect on such issues in skateboarding culture more widely, with emerging insights that can be useful to studies of other male-dominated youth cultures, lifestyle sports and subcultures.
Gender differences in clinical presentation and prognosis of thyroid eye disease
Authors: Zloto Ofira , Sagiv Oded , Priel Ayelet , Cukierman-Yaffe Tali , Tirosh Amir , Agmon-Levin Nancy , Madgar Shiran , Serlin Tal , Ben Simon Guy
Published: November 2020

Objective:

To examine the clinical differences in manifestation, treatment, and prognosis of thyroid-eye-disease (TED) between men and women.

Methods:

This is a longitudinal cohort study. Men and women, who diagnosed with TED and treated at a multidisciplinary TED clinic, were compared regarding differences in demographics, eye examination, disease activity, and quality of life evaluation.

Results:

TED was diagnosed in 132 patients during the study period, and they included 38 men (28.78%) and 94 women (71.21%). There were six men and 20 women with active disease (Clinical-Activity-Score (CAS) ⩾ 3) during the entire follow-up period ( p < 0.01). The mean time from TED diagnosis to CAS ⩾ 3 was 4.50 years for men and 2.35 years for women ( p = 0.05). There were no significant differences in mean total Graves’ Orbitopathy-Quality-of-Life questionnaire (GO-QOL) score. However, mean GO-QOL subtotal score of external appearance of women was significantly lower compare to men in the first and last visit ( p = 0.04, 0.03, respectively).

Conclusion:

Active disease was more common in women and the time-from-diagnosis of TED to CAS ⩾ 3 was shorter among women. Moreover, the appearance QOL score of women was poorer. These findings should be taken into consideration when planning the timing of treatment and when choosing the best treatment for TED patients.
Expanded use of transconjunctival orbitotomy in management of different orbital tumors at different locations
Authors: Mohammad Ahmad A , Abo-Ghadir Ahmed A , Othman Ihab S , Abdel-Radi Mahmoud , Mohammad Abd El-Nasser A
Published: November 2020

Purpose:

To assess the surgical outcomes of transconjunctival approach in management of different orbital tumors at different locations.

Methods:

This prospective, non-comparative, clinical interventional study was conducted in the period between March 2017 and January 2020 and included 61 patients with histologically proved orbital tumors. In all cases, a conjunctival incision near the fornix was made depending on the tumor location as revealed by CT or MRI. A traction suture was applied to one or two relevant recti muscles to guide the globe toward the desired direction. Blunt orbital dissection was made toward the tumor until exposing its anterior surface. The procedure was considered successful if the predetermined decision (total excision with improved clinical manifestations for benign and biopsy for diagnosis in malignant tumors) was achieved without causing permanent complications. The procedure was considered a failure if the predetermined decision was not achieved or if permanent complications developed.

Results:

The patients were divided into: Group A of 47 patients (77.05%) with benign tumors and Group B of 14 patients (22.95%) with malignant tumors. The overall success rate of the approach was 98.36% (60 out of 61 patients), while failure occurred in one case (1.64%).

Conclusions:

The transconjunctival orbitotomy is an excellent approach to manage different tumors at different orbital locations with rapid recovery and maximum cosmetic results. It is the only approach that can access intra-conal, mid-orbital tumors whatever their relation to the optic nerve without crossing it.
Association between central retinal thickness and low luminance visual acuity in early age-related macular degeneration
Authors: Puell María Cinta , Hurtado-Ceña Francisco Javier , Pérez-Carrasco María Jesús , Contreras Inés
Published: November 2020

Purpose/Aim:

To examine whether central retinal thickness (CRT) is related to mesopic visual acuity (VA) and low luminance deficit (LLD, difference between photopic and mesopic VA) in eyes with early and intermediate age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Materials and Methods:

In a cross-sectional study, 50 pseudophakic subjects older than 63 years were divided into three groups (no AMD, early AMD and intermediate AMD). Spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) was used to measure CRT in the 1 mm-central-area. Best-corrected distance VA was measured under photopic or mesopic luminance conditions and LLD calculated. Subjects were stratified by VA impairment to compare CRTs across these groups. Relationships were examined by stepwise multiple linear regression.

Results:

No significant differences in mean CRT, photopic and mesopic VA or LLD were detected between the groups no AMD, early AMD and intermediate AMD. However, mean CRTs were 20 microns and 18 microns thicker in the eyes with impaired mesopic VA (> 0.3 logMAR) and impaired LLD (⩾ 0.3 logMAR) compared to the eyes with non-impaired VA or LLD respectively (both p < 0.01). CRT and mesopic pupil size were independent predictors of mesopic VA ( p  = 0.001). CRT emerged as the only independent predictor of LLD ( p  = 0.004).

Conclusions:

Increased CRT was linked to worse retinal function when measured under mesopic conditions in eyes without AMD and eyes with early to intermediate AMD. SD-OCT imaging combined with VA measurements under low luminance conditions could be a useful tool to detect early AMD.
Visual performance and patient satisfaction following the implantation of a novel trifocal supplementary intraocular lens
Authors: Albayrak Sinan , Comba Özge Begüm , Karakaya Muharrem
Published: November 2020

Purpose:

To evaluate the visual quality, visual performance, and patient satisfaction after the implantation of the last generation supplementary intraocular lens (1stQ AddOn Trifocal) for achieving near vision spectacle-independence in pseudophakic patients who had primary monofocal capsular bag implantation.

Methods:

Patients who underwent monofocal lens surgery in the past year, and who expressed their explicit desire to become spectacle-independent were included in this prospective observational study. Uncorrected and corrected distance, intermediate and near visual acuities (CDVA, UDVA, DCIVA, UIVA, CNVA, and UNVA), refractive outcomes, lens positioning, contrast sensitivity and patient satisfaction were assessed 6 months postoperatively.

Results:

About 28 eyes of 18 patients were evaluated. No intra- or postoperative complications (iris chafing, iris capture, interlenticular opacification, IOL-dislocation, etc.) could be observed. The postoperative mean UDVA and CDVA were 0.05 ± 0.08 and 0.01 ± 0.03 (logMAR), respectively. The mean UNVA improved from the preoperative 0.50 ± 0.23 to 0.02 ± 0.05 (logMAR), postoperatively ( p = 0.0104). The postoperative mean UIVA and DCIVA were 0.06 ± 0.020 and 0.01 ± 0.00 (logMAR), respectively. Twenty-five eyes (89%) had a residual spherical equivalent within 1.0 D from the target refraction, emmetropia. Contrast sensitivity measured in photopic and mesopic conditions were statistically indifferent from the preoperative curves. All patients had better visual function and quality scores compared to the preoperative responses. The highest improvement could be achieved in near vision activities, dependency, and limitation of social functioning.

Conclusion:

The 1stQ AddOn Trifocal lens represents a safe and effective option for pseudophakic patients aiming for high quality, spectacle-free vision.
Heterotopic ossification after total hip arthroplasty: radiological comparison between a direct anterior approach without an orthopaedic table and a posterior approach
Authors: Zran Naïm , Joseph Etienne , Callamand Gabriel , Ohl Xavier , Siboni Renaud
Published: November 2020

Introduction:

Heterotopic ossification (HO) occurs in almost ⅓ of total hip arthroplasties (THAs). A direct anterior approach (DAA) with an orthopaedic table is less likely to cause HO than a posterior approach. Without an orthopaedic table, the exposure of the femur requires additional soft tissue release. Soft tissue trauma leads to the production of HO inductors. Our study evaluated the incidence of HO 6 months after THA and compared the results between DAAs without an orthopaedic table and posterior approaches.

Methods:

Retrospectively, 164 consecutive, primary THAs were included: 76 through a posterior approach and 88 through a DAA. The main objective was to measure the presence of HO on pelvis radiography 6 months after surgery.

Results:

The incidence of HO was significantly higher in the DAA group than in the posterior approach group (47.7% vs. 27.6%, respectively; p  < 0.01). The overall incidence of HO was 38.4%. No significant difference was found between the 2 approaches regarding the severity of HO. No significant risk factor for HO was identified other than the surgical approach.

Discussion:

In our study, the incidence of HO after THA in patients undergoing DAA without an orthopaedic table was higher than in patients undergoing a posterior approach after 6 months of follow-up. This result is closely related to the surgical trauma. It suggests that the minimally invasive feature of a surgical approach cannot be dissociated from the overall conditions in which it is performed.
Introducing a “no-touch” maneuver to manage challenging anastomoses in arteriovenous fistulae
Authors: Georgakarakos Efstratios , Tasopoulou Kalliopi-Maria , Georgiadis George S
Published: November 2020

Native arteriovenous fistula or interposition of a synthetic graft for vascular access is crucial for dialysis patients. Optimal surgical technique, microsurgery instrumentation and preventive hemostasis are considered beneficial for a successful surgical outcome. We describe a simple and novel maneuver using soft-feeding tubes to facilitate the manipulation of veins and perform successful anastomoses without using microsurgery instrumentation or vascular clamps during operations for vascular access.
Adolescent Behavioral Characteristics Mediate Familial Effects on Alcohol Use and Problems in College-Bound Students
Authors: Brown April L , España Roberto A , Benca-Bachman Chelsie E , Welsh Justine W , Palmer Rohan HC
Published: November 2020

Background:

Studies suggest a broad spectrum of behaviors associated with drinking. Consequently, it is unclear whether patterns of familial risk for psychopathology are directly or indirectly related to patterns of alcohol use and problems in late adolescence or mediated by behavioral characteristics, such as temperament, mood.

Objectives:

We examined direct and indirect effects of perceived family history of psychopathology on pre-collegiate alcohol use and problems via the Transmissible Liability Index (TLI).

Methods:

Participants (N = 302; 29.6% male) provided self-report data on age of onset of drinking, past 90-day frequency of alcohol use and problems (AUP), family history of internalizing and alcohol and illicit substance use, and TLI.

Results:

Approximately 21% of participants reported having at least one relative with a history of regular and/or problematic alcohol use, compared to 12% for illicit substance use, and −55% for internalizing problems. Higher TLI scores were associated with increased family history of substance use, alcohol use, and internalizing problems, as well as earlier age of onset of drinking. Family history of internalizing problems was the most robust indicator of AUP (β = 0.20 [95% CI = 0.04-0.36], P = .01). Path analyses suggested that the individual-level behaviors that comprise TLI mediate the effects of family history on age of initiation and regular alcohol consumption.

Conclusions:

Family history of internalizing, drinking, and illicit substance use reflect generalized risk for a broad set of behaviors associated with risk for alcohol initiation and use during the transition from high school to college.
A Systemic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis Reporting the Prevalence and Impact of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Infection in India
Authors: Ghia Canna Jagdish , Waghela Shaumil , Rambhad Gautam
Published: November 2020

Aim and objective:

This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to assess the prevalence, burden and epidemiology of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). This systemic review was also aimed to highlight the challenges in the diagnosis and management of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) in India (for all age groups). We also examined the published literature on the available treatment options and the role of prevention in the management of MRSA in India. By summarizing the currently available data, our objectives were to highlight the need for the prevention of MRSA infections and also emphasize the role of vaccination in the prevention of MRSA infections in India.

Methodology:

Electronic databases such as PubMed and databases of the National Institute of Science Communication and Information Resources and Indian Council of Medical Research Embase were searched for relevant literature published from 2005/01/01 to 2020/05/13 in English language, according to the predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. A manual search was also conducted using the key term “MRSA ‘or’ Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ‘and’ India.” An independent reviewer extracted data from the studies using a structured Microsoft Excel spreadsheet, and a meta-analysis of proportion for MRSA prevalence with a corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) for all included individual studies were performed.

Result:

A total of 34 studies involving 16 237 patients were included in the final meta-analysis. The pooled proportion of patients with MRSA infection was 26.8% (95% CI: 23.2%-30.7%). The MRSA infection was more prevalent among male patients (60.4%; 95% CI: 53.9%-66.5%) as compared to female patients (39.6%; 95% CI: 33.5%-46.1%), while the prevalence of MRSA was higher among adults (18 years and above; 32%; 95% CI: 5%-80%) in comparison to pediatric patients (0-18 years; 68%; 95% CI: 20%-94.8%). The degree of heterogeneity was found to be significant.

Conclusion:

The prevalence of MRSA in India was relatively high at 27% with a higher proportion observed among men aged >18 years. The high prevalence of MRSA infections in India necessitates the implementation of surveillance and preventive measures to combat the spread of MRSA in both hospital and community settings.
Against the grain? The craving for domestic femininity in a gender-egalitarian welfare state
Authors: Aarseth Helene
Published: November 2020

This article aims to develop new conceptions of the psychosocial dynamics that drive the re-romanticization of domestic femininity in current financialized capitalism. Feminist scholars have described this heightened cultivation of mothering as a reparative move in response to irreconcilable tensions between cultural ideals of the ‘balancing mother’ and ‘lean-in femininity’. This article adds a materialist-psychosocial lens to these conceptions, to enhance understanding of what drives this craving for domestic femininity. Drawing on a free-association narrative interview study with couples in the financial elite in the comparatively gender-egalitarian Norwegian context, I describe a specific emotional mechanism that resists democratization of gender in this specific group. The interviews reveal a felt need to cultivate ‘the human side of things’ at safe distance from the competitiveness of ‘hard-core finance’. The Nordic earner–carer model with its entwinement of care and professional pursuits, cultivated by the more self-fulfilment-oriented parts of the professional middle-class appears not only unwanted but threatening. In my analysis, I retrieve and develop a psychoanalytically inspired historical-materialist feminism, one that perceives of the gendered division of work as a split in modes of focusing human energy. I suggest that the resurgent cultivation of domestic femininity is nurtured by a self-energizing antagonism between competitive and relational practices. I further argue that the cultivation of domestic femininity in these financial couples points to a potential antagonism between the democratization of love and the specific anxiety-driven competitiveness to which this financial-elite group may be particularly susceptible.
Coefficient of friction and wear rate of paper-based composite friction material against 65Mn steel
Authors: Koranteng Kingsford , Li Heyan , Ma Biao , Ma Chengnan
Published: November 2020

Studies have shown that reinforced paper-based friction material with 600 µm carbon fiber length possesses a high dynamic friction coefficient but is subjected to abrasive wear during sliding contact. This work is devoted to further investigate the effect of operating variables on this friction material subjected to high operating conditions. A pin-on-disc test was carried out to determine the tribological behavior of this friction material sliding against 65Mn steel. The friction and wear rate results from measurements were discussed. The highest friction value of about 0.3 was obtained by varying the applied load at 120 N while the lowest friction value close to 0.02 was obtained when the sliding speed was 0.026 m/s. Increasing the sliding speed above 0.30 m/s caused constant temperature (175 °C) to fluctuate due to high friction heat generation on the sliding surface. The highest wear rate was 1.42 × 10−15m3/Nm by varying the sliding speed at 1.31 m/s. In contrast, the lowest wear rate was 2.1 × 10−16m3/Nm when the temperature was at 400 °C.
Evaluation for planetary health
Authors: Brousselle Astrid , McDavid Jim
Published: November 2020

We are currently being challenged to urgently address the environmental crisis. Intervening in this complex ecology creates the need to adopt approaches that will reconcile natural and human systems, approaches for Planetary Health. In this article, we present a Planetary Health Framework as a conceptual dialogic approach for designing and evaluating interventions. Natural and human systems dimensions have been conceptualized in an integrated way, based on existing scientific knowledge. This framework is intended to be applied using a dialogic approach. We will also show, schematically, how the use of this approach can be overlaid on each of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. The overall aim of this article is to contribute to a transformation in our field, to expand our role from existing narrowly focused evaluation practices to taking into account in our work, how interventions do or do not make a contribution to building a better future for all.