bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Attitude and Information from Health Professionals Were Associated with Decision to Donate Organs among Arabic-Speaking Refugees: Exploring Opportunities for Intervention
Authors: Maneze Della , Ramjan Lucie , Rowhani-Farid Naysan , Kovai Vilas , Gadalla Amin , Barham Yousef , Salamonson Yenna
Published: June 2020

This cross-sectional survey study conducted between May and August 2017 on Arabic-speaking refugees resettled in Australia examined factors associated with willingness to donate organs. Of the 239 respondents, those who expressed greater willingness to donate organs and tissues were more likely to: (a) be Christians; (b) have obtained information from healthcare professionals (HCPs); (c) have higher organ and tissue donation (OTD) knowledge; (d) have a positive attitude towards OTD; and (e) have high English language acculturation levels. Nevertheless, after controlling for English language usage and religion, having a positive attitude towards OTD and receiving information from HCPs emerged as independent predictors of willingness to donate, underscoring the importance of educational interventions by HCPs
Forecasting seeing for the Maunakea Observatories
Authors: Lyman Ryan , Cherubini Tiziana , Businger Steven
Published: June 2020

Optical turbulence greatly impacts the range and quality of astronomical observations. Advanced knowledge of the expected atmospheric optical turbulence provides important guidance that helps astronomers decide which instrument to schedule and enables them to optimize the adaptive optics technology that improves image resolution. Along with forecasts of weather conditions, prediction of the optical observing quality on the Maunakea summit has been a goal for the Maunakea Weather Center (MKWC) since its inception more than 20 yr ago. Forecasting optical turbulence, and its derivative, ‘seeing’, has proven to be quite challenging because optical turbulence is too small and complex to directly capture with a regional weather model. Fortunately, the permanent installation of a Differential Image Motion Monitor (DIMM) and Multi-Aperture Scintillation Sensor (MASS) at the summit of Maunakea has made seeing observations available during the last decade, providing valuable feedback to the MKWC. This paper summarizes the experience at MKWC in anticipating optical turbulence for the summit of Maunakea accrued through years of daily operational forecasting, and continuous comparison between MKWC official forecasts, model guidance, and observational measures of seeing. Access to a decade seeing observations has allowed quantification the factors that impact seeing, including wind shear, atmospheric stability patterns, and optical turbulence, and to document the seasonal and intra-seasonal variations in seeing. Consequently, the combination of experience gained, and custom model guidance has led to more accurate seeing forecasts (rms errors averaging <0.25 arcsec since 2012) for the Maunakea astronomical observatories.
Blind deconvolution in astronomy with adaptive optics: the parametric marginal approach
Authors: Fétick R J-L , Mugnier L M , Fusco T , Neichel B
Published: June 2020

One of the major limitations of using adaptive optics (AO) to correct image post-processing is the lack of knowledge about the system’s point spread function (PSF). The PSF is not always available as direct imaging on isolated point-like objects, such as stars. The use of AO telemetry to predict the PSF also suffers from serious limitations and requires complex and yet not fully operational algorithms. A very attractive solution is to estimate the PSF directly from the scientific images themselves, using blind or myopic post-processing approaches. We demonstrate that such approaches suffer from severe limitations when a joint restitution of object and PSF parameters is performed. As an alternative, here we propose a marginalized PSF identification that overcomes this limitation. In this case, the PSF is used for image post-processing. Here we focus on deconvolution, a post-processing technique to restore the object, given the image and the PSF. We show that the PSF estimated by marginalization provides good-quality deconvolution. The full process of marginalized PSF estimation and deconvolution constitutes a successful blind deconvolution technique. It is tested on simulated data to measure its performance. It is also tested on experimental AO images of the asteroid 4-Vesta taken by the Spectro-Polarimetric High-contrast Exoplanet Research (SPHERE)/Zurich Imaging Polarimeter (Zimpol) on the Very Large Telescope to demonstrate application to on-sky data.
Validation of PSF models for HST and other space-based observations
Authors: Gillis Bryan R , Schrabback Tim , Marggraf Ole , Mandelbaum Rachel , Massey Richard , Rhodes Jason , Taylor Andy
Published: June 2020

Forthcoming space-based observations will require high-quality point spread function (PSF) models for weak gravitational lensing measurements. One approach to generating these models is using a wavefront model based on the known telescope optics. We present an empirical framework for validating such models to confirm that they match the actual PSF to within requirements by comparing the models to the observed light distributions of isolated stars. We apply this framework to Tiny Tim, the standard tool for generating model PSFs for the Hubble Space Telescope (HST), testing its models against images taken by HST’s Advanced Camera for Surveys in the Wide Field Channel. We show that Tiny Tim’s models, in the default configuration, differ significantly from the observed PSFs, most notably in their sizes. We find that the quality of Tiny Tim PSFs can be improved through fitting the full set of Zernike polynomial coefficients that characterize the optics, to the point where the practical significance of the difference between model and observed PSFs is negligible for most use cases, resulting in additive and multiplicative biases both of order ∼4 × 10−4. We also show that most of this improvement can be retained through using an updated set of Zernike coefficients, which we provide.
The XMM Cluster Survey: new evidence for the 3.5-keV feature in clusters is inconsistent with a dark matter origin
Authors: Bhargava S , Giles P A , Romer A K , Jeltema T , Mayers J , Bermeo A , Hilton M , Wilkinson R , Vergara C , Collins C A , Manolopoulou M , Rooney P J , Rosborough S , Sabirli K , Stott J P , Swann E , Viana P T P
Published: June 2020

There have been several reports of a detection of an unexplained excess of X-ray emission at $\simeq$3.5 keV in astrophysical systems. One interpretation of this excess is the decay of sterile neutrino dark matter. The most influential study to date analysed 73 clusters observed by the XMM–Newton satellite. We explore evidence for a ≃3.5-keV excess in the XMM-PN spectra of 117 redMaPPer galaxy clusters (0.1 < z < 0.6). In our analysis of individual spectra, we identify three systems with an excess of flux at $\simeq$3.5 keV. In one case (XCS J0003.3+0204), this excess may result from a discrete emission line. None of these systems are the most dark matter dominated in our sample. We group the remaining 114 clusters into four temperature (TX) bins to search for an increase in ≃3.5-keV flux excess with TX – a reliable tracer of halo mass. However, we do not find evidence of a significant excess in flux at ≃3.5 keV in any TX bins. To maximize sensitivity to a potentially weak dark matter decay feature at ≃3.5 keV, we jointly fit 114 clusters. Again, no significant excess is found at ≃3.5 keV. We estimate the upper limit of an undetected emission line at ≃3.5 keV to be 2.41 × 10−6 photons cm−2 s−1, corresponding to a mixing angle of sin 2(2θ) = 4.4 × 10−11, lower than previous estimates from cluster studies. We conclude that a flux excess at ≃3.5 keV is not a ubiquitous feature in clusters and therefore unlikely to originate from sterile neutrino dark matter decay.
Relationships Between Race, Gender, and Spot Urine Levels of Biomarkers of Tobacco Exposure Vary Based on How Creatinine Is Handled in Analyses
Authors: Carroll Dana M , Cigan Shannon , Ikuemonisan Joshua , Hammonds Taylor , Stepanov Irina , St. Helen Gideon , Benowitz Neal , Hatsukami Dorothy K
Published: June 2020

Introduction

We illustrate the differential impact of common analysis approaches to handling urinary creatinine, a measure for urine dilution, on relationships between race, gender, and biomarkers of exposure measured in spot urine.

Methods

In smokers, spot urine levels of total nicotine equivalents (TNE, sum of total nicotine, total cotinine, and total 3′-hydroxycotinine) and total 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL) overall and per cigarette were examined. Relationships between race (African Americans [AA] n = 373, Whites n = 758) or gender (males n = 629, females n = 502) and TNE or NNAL were examined using the following approaches to handling creatinine: (1) unadjusted/unstandardized; (2) standardization; (3) adjustment as a covariate. Significance was considered at p < .05

Results

Creatinine was higher in AA versus Whites (1.19 vs. 0.96 mg/mL; p < .0001) and in males versus females (1.21 vs. 0.84 mg/mL; p < .0001). Independent of how creatinine was handled, TNE was lower among AA than Whites (TNE ratios AA vs. Whites: 0.67–0.84; p’s < .05). Unadjusted TNE per cigarette was higher among AA versus Whites (ratio 1.12; p = .0411); however, the relationship flipped with standardization (ratio 0.90; p = .0360) and adjustment (ratio 0.95; p = .3165). Regarding gender, unadjusted TNE was higher among males versus females (ratio 1.13; p = .0063), but the relationship flipped with standardization (ratio 0.79; p < .0001) or adjustment (ratio 0.89; p = .0018). Unadjusted TNE per cigarette did not differ across gender (ratio 0.98; p = .6591), but lower levels were found in males versus females with standardization (ratio 0.68; p < .0001) and adjustment (ratio 0.74; p < .0001). NNAL displayed similar patterns.

Conclusions

Relationships between race, gender, and spot urine levels of biomarkers of exposure can vary greatly based on how creatinine is handled in analyses.

Implications

Lack of appropriate methods can lead to discrepancies across reports on variability of urinary biomarkers by race and gender. We recommend that for any analyses of biomarkers of exposure measure in spot urine samples across race, gender, or other population subgroups that differ in urinary creatinine levels, sensitivity analyses comparing the different methods for handling urinary creatinine should be conducted. If methods result in discrepant findings, this should be clearly noted and discussed.
Optimal Treatment Duration of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infections in Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplant Recipients
Authors: Olearo Flaminia , Kronig Ilona , Masouridi-Levrat Stavroula , Chalandon Yves , Khanna Nina , Passweg Jakob , Medinger Michael , Mueller Nicolas J , Schanz Urs , Van Delden Christian , Neofytos Dionysios
Published: June 2020

In a large, multicenter, contemporary, 8-year, cohort study, one third of allogeneic-hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) recipients with Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PSA) infection developed a recurrent infection within 3 months. Antibiotic treatment duration of ≥14 days was the only significantly associated variable with reduced recurrence rates of PSA infections in allogeneic-HCT recipients.
A Randomized Comparative Trial of Targeted Steroid Injection via Epidural Catheter vs Standard Transforaminal Epidural Injection for the Treatment of Unilateral Cervical Radicular Pain: Six-Month Results
Authors: McCormick Zachary L , Conger Aaron , Sperry Beau P , Teramoto Masaru , Petersen Russell , Salazar Fabio , Cunningham Shellie , Michael Henrie A , Bisson Erica , Kendall Richard
Published: June 2020

Objectives

Compare the effectiveness of catheter-directed cervical interlaminar epidural steroid injection (C-CIESI) with triamcinolone to cervical transforaminal steroid injection (CTFESI) with dexamethasone for the treatment of refractory unilateral radicular pain.

Design

Prospective, randomized, comparative trial.

Methods

Primary outcome: proportion of participants with ≥50% numeric rating scale pain score reduction from baseline “dominant pain” (the greater of arm vs neck) at one month postinjection. Secondary outcomes: ≥30% Neck Disability Index (NDI-5) reduction and Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC) response indicating “much improved” or “very much improved.”

Results

One hundred twenty participants (55.6% females, 52.3 ± 12.5 years of age, BMI 28.2 ± 6.5 kg/m2), were enrolled. The proportions of participants who experienced ≥50% pain reduction at one, three, and six months were 68.5% (95% CI = 54.9–79.5%), 59.3% (95% CI = 45.7–71.6%), and 60.8% (95% CI = 46.7–73.2%), respectively, in the C-CIESI group compared with 49.1% (95% CI = 36.4–62.0%), 46.4% (95% CI = 33.8–59.6%), and 51.9% (95% CI = 38.4–65.2%), respectively, in the CTFESI group. The between-group difference at one month was significant (P = 0.038). The proportions of participants who experienced a ≥30% NDI-5 score improvement were 64.0% (95% CI = 49.8–76.1%) and 54.9% (95% CI = 41.1–68.0%) in the C-CIESI and CTFESI groups (P = 0.352). Participants reported similar PGIC improvement in both groups: At six months, 53.2% (95% CI 38.9–67.1%) and 54.5% (95% CI = 39.7–68.7%) of the C-CIESI and CTFESI groups reported being “much improved” or “very much improved,” respectively (P = 0.897).

Conclusions

Both C-CIESI with triamcinolone and CTFESI with dexamethasone are effective in reducing pain and disability associated with refractory unilateral cervical radiculopathy in a substantial proportion of participants for at least six months.
Accurate Determination of the Cold Detection Threshold with High-Speed Cooling of the Skin
Authors: Lithfous Segolene , Després Olivier , Pebayle Thierry , Casadio Claudia , Dufour Andre
Published: June 2020

Objective

This study used high-speed cooling of the skin and exact control of stimulus duration to measure the cold detection threshold in healthy participants. The objective was to compare the method of limits, in which the temperature is slowly and gradually increased/decreased until the subject perceives the stimulation, and the method of levels, in which the subject must detect brief thermal stimulations close to the threshold of perception.

Methods

Twenty healthy volunteers (nine women, 11 men) aged 20–30 years participated in the study. The method of limits and method of levels were performed in all subjects in a counterbalanced order. Four cold detection thresholds were measured with the method of levels, with a temperature ramp of 300°C/sec and stimulus durations of 50 ms, 100 ms, 300 ms, and 500 ms. Three thresholds were measured with the method of limits, with temperature ramps of 1°C/sec, 2°C/sec, and 4°C/sec.

Results

On average, the cold detection thresholds were −0.47°C below skin temperature with the method of levels and −1.67°C the method of limits. Interindividual variability was significantly lower with the method of levels than with the method of limits.

Conclusions

These results suggest that the method of levels is more accurate than the method of limits for measuring cold detection threshold. The improvement of cold detection threshold measurement may provide new perspectives to more precisely assess the function of A-delta fibers and the spino-thalamic pathway.
Frontline Innovation in Times of Crisis: Learning from the Corona Virus Pandemic
Authors: Hartmann Mia R K , Hartmann Rasmus Koss
Published: June 2020

The current COVID-19 pandemic brings about dramatic challenges for frontline police officers and their organizations. This will, we argue, likely have two implications for frontline learning and innovation. First, the pandemic will surely occasion a surge of frontline improvisation and innovation in police organizations responding to the crisis as the experienced needs for new solutions dramatically increase. Secondly, but equally importantly, this wave of frontline innovation is likely to be more transparent than is typically the case for innovations developed in frontline police work, because of changes in formal mandates and informal tolerance for procedural deviance. At this moment of unusually widespread and transparent frontline innovation, we propose an approach to capturing and diffusing this frontline innovation. By taking seriously the unique dynamics of frontline innovation, such an approach is likely to capture valuable innovations that might otherwise rapidly dissipate and be lost.
NICE public health guidance update
Authors: Ali Fizzah , Gabbay Mark , Baillie Nick
Published: June 2020

This article highlights recent guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). It highlights the organization’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and then provides a spotlight on workplace health in the context of long-term sickness absence and capability to work. It discusses some of the actions that need to be taken by a range of stakeholders in order to implement NICE guidance in this area and aid employees in ensuring good workplace health. The NICE guidance on workplace health, discussed in this article, predates the current pandemic. Comment is made specifically on fitness for work assessments, where the COVID-19 pandemic has posed a range of unique clinical challenges.
Prolonged persistence of SARS-CoV-2 in the upper respiratory tract of asymptomatic infected individuals
Authors: Saurabh S , Kumar R , Gupta M K , Bhardwaj P , Nag V L , Garg M K , Misra S
Published: June 2020

Background

Duration of persistence of SARS-CoV-2 in the upper respiratory tract of infected individuals has important clinical and epidemiological implications.

Aim

We aimed to establish the duration and risk factors for persistence of SARS-CoV-2 in the upper respiratory tract of asymptomatic infected individuals.

Methods

Data of repeat rRT-PCR (real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction) test done for SARS-CoV-2 infected individuals at our institute at Jodhpur, India were analysed from 19 March to 21 May 2020. Duration of virus persistence was estimated with parametric regression models based on weibull, log-normal, log-logistic, gamma and generalized gamma distributions. Factors associated with prolonged viral persistence were analysed with the best-fitting model.

Results

Fifty-one SARS-CoV-2 infected individuals with repeat rRT-PCR test were identified with 44 asymptomatics. The asymptomatic individuals had median virus persistence duration of 8.87 days (95% CI: 7.65–10.27) and 95 percentile duration of 20.70 days (95% CI: 16.08–28.20). The overall median virus persistence including both symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals was found to be 9.18 days (95% CI: 8.04–10.48). Around one-fourth asymptomatics (10/44) demonstrated SARS-CoV-2 persistence beyond 2 weeks. Age <60 years and local transmission were found to be significantly associated with longer virus persistence among asymptomatic individuals on univariate regression but not in multivariate analysis.

Conclusion

Recommended home isolation duration for SARS-CoV-2 infected individuals in India should be extended from 17 days to at least 3 weeks. Prolonged persistence of SARS-CoV-2 in a considerable proportion of asymptomatic individuals merits attention with regard to ensuring universal infection prevention precautions irrespective of symptomatic status.
Utility of illness severity scores to predict mortality in patients hospitalized with respiratory deterioration of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
Authors: Hyams C , Hettle D , Bibby A , Adamali H A , Barratt S L
Published: June 2020

Introduction

In the context of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), respiratory-related admissions to hospital are associated with a high morbidity and short-term mortality with significant burden on secondary care services. It has yet to be determined how to accurately identify patients at risk of acute respiratory deterioration (ARD) or the prognosticating factors.

Aim

We sought to define the characteristics of hospitalized ARD-IPF patients in a real-world cohort and investigate factors associated with worse outcomes. Specifically, we wished to determine the association between baseline CURB-65 and NEWS-2 and mortality in IPF, given illness severity scores have not previously been validated in this cohort.

Methods

Single-centre retrospective observational cohort study.

Results

Of 172 first hospitalizations for ARD, 27 admissions (15.7%) were due to an acute exacerbation of IPF (AE-IPF), 28 (16.3%) secondary to cardiac failure/fluid overload and 17 due to pneumonia (9.9%). Other admissions related to lower respiratory tract infection, extra-parenchymal causes and those without a specific trigger. Baseline patient characteristics were comparable for all underlying aetiologies of ARD-IPF. Treatment pathways did not differ significantly between AE-IPF and other causes of ARD-IPF. Short-term mortality was high, with ∼22% patients dying within 30 days. Illness severity scores (NEWS-2 and CURB-65) were independent predictors of mortality in multivariable logistic regression modelling.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest significant mortality related to hospitalization with ARD-IPF of any underlying cause. Our data support the use of CURB-65 and NEWS-2 scores as illness severity scores that can provide a simple tool to help future prognostication in IPF. Research should be aimed at refining the management of these episodes, to try to reduce mortality, where possible, or to facilitate palliative care for those with adverse prognostic characteristics.
Evidence of the Use of the Physiologus as a Source in Aldhelm's Enigmata
Authors: Salvador-Bello Mercedes
Published: June 2020

Among the 100 riddles of Aldhelm’s Enigmata, 36 deal with animals. Apart from Pliny’s Historia naturalis and Solinus’s Polyhistor, Aldhelm made use of the medieval encyclopaedic source par excellence, Isidore’s Book XII (De animalibus) from the Etymologiae, which has universally been acknowledged as the author’s major source for these riddles. However, the Physiologus was a further traditional zoological treatise from which Aldhelm could have drawn some information. Of the 36 zoological topics of Aldhelm’s Enigmata at least 13 of them are also treated in the Physiologus and so the portrayals of the animals offered in these riddles could have been inspired by this work. It has usually been assumed that most of these descriptions derive from Isidore’s Book XII but not much has been said about the possible connection of some of them to the Physiologus. The main aim of this essay is therefore to study the contents of a selected group of zoological riddles from Aldhelm’s collection and demonstrate that some of the clues observed in them suggest that, apart from Isidore’s Book XII, this author had a version of the Physiologus at his disposal for the composition of his Enigmata.
Long-Term Neurodevelopmental Outcomes of Neonatal Chikungunya: Follow-Up of a Series of Cases Till 1 Year
Authors: Shukla Amlin , Bandyopadhyay Tapas , Vallamkonda Nagaratna , Maria Arti
Published: June 2020

Objectives

Short- or long-term neurodevelopmental outcomes of Neonatal Chikungunya infection haven’t been well described. In this study, we describe neurodevelopmental outcomes of a series of 13 infants.

Methods

Study was conducted over a period of 1 year in high-risk follow-up clinic. Follow-up visits were conducted at 3, 6, 9, 12 ± 3 months.

Primary outcome

Development Quotient by Developmental Assessment Scales for Indian Infants. Secondary outcome: growth/anthropometric assessment, neuromotor/neurosensory and re-hospitalization rate.

Results

DASII was <85 in three infants. Two other had expressive speech delay. Two, three and four babies had head circumference, length and weight below third centile, respectively. Two infants had persistent hypertonia and one had hypotonia. Two infants developed strabismus. Two infants had seizures persisting at 12 months requiring re-hospitalization.

Conclusion

Neonatal Chikungunya infection portends a poor neurodevelopmental outcome at 1 year of age. Careful neurodevelopmental follow-up is required for identification and management of sequelae.
Population Genetic Structure of Claviceps purpurea in Cool-Season Grass Seed Crops of Oregon
Authors: Cheng Qunkang , Frost Kenneth E. , Dung Jeremiah K. S.
Published: June 2020

Ergot, caused by Claviceps purpurea, is a primary disease concern in irrigated cool-season grass seed production systems of Oregon. In order to better understand the genetic diversity, population structure, and the epidemiology of C. purpurea in grasses grown for seed, 226 isolates were obtained using a hierarchical sampling strategy from two fields each of Kentucky bluegrass (n = 102) and perennial ryegrass (n = 124) and characterized using 12 microsatellite markers. A total of 194 unique multilocus genotypes (MLGs) were identified in this study. There were moderate levels of genotypic diversity (H = 3.43 to 4.23) and gene diversity (Hexp = 0.45 to 0.57) within fields. After clone correction, analysis of molecular variance revealed that 66% of the genetic variation occurred between the two C. purpurea isolates collected from the same seed head of individual plants, indicating that many of the seed heads bearing multiple sclerotia were infected by ascospores rather than conidia. However, the majority of the clonal isolates obtained in this study were collected from the same seed head (i.e., the two isolates were identical MLGs), indicating a role of conidia (honeydew) in secondary infections within seed heads. Genetic differentiation was observed between populations from different hosts (22%) but was confounded by geography. The standardized index of association ranged from 0.007 to 0.122 among the four populations, suggesting potential outcrossing and differences in the relative contribution of ascospores and conidia to ergot among the fields. The results from this study provide insights into the epidemiology of ergot in cool-season grass seed crops of Oregon.
Investigation of perioperative hypersensitivity reactions: an update
Authors: Melchiors Birgitte Louise Bech , Garvey Lene Heise
Published: June 2020

Purpose of review

The purpose of this review is to provide an update on how best to manage the investigation of suspected perioperative hypersensitivity reactions based on recent literature and key publications.

Recent findings

In the past two years, several very important initiatives have been taken in the field of perioperative hypersensitivity. The 6th national audit project in the United Kingdom has provided new knowledge through a series of studies, including a nationwide prospective study, and the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology has commissioned a position paper with updated recommendations for investigations. Lastly, a large international working group comprising experts in anesthesiology, allergology, and immunology, the International Suspected Perioperative Allergic Reactions group, has published a series of articles providing updates and new insights into several different key areas of perioperative hypersensitivity.

The investigation of perioperative hypersensitivity reactions is highly complex and aims to identify the correct culprit to ensure future avoidance but also to disprove allergy to other suspected culprits, making them available for subsequent anesthesia. To achieve this, close collaboration between anesthesiologists and allergists is called upon to ensure the best possible outcome for the patient.
Screening for Autism Spectrum Disorder in High-Risk Younger Siblings
Authors: Bradbury Kathryn , Robins Diana L. , Barton Marianne , Ibañez Lisa V. , Stone Wendy L. , Warren Zachary E. , Fein Deborah
Published: June 2020

Objective:

Most autism spectrum disorder (ASD) screening measures have been developed for use with low-risk (LR) children; however, measures may perform differently in high-risk (HR) younger sibling populations. The current study sought to investigate the performance of an ASD screening measure, the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers, Revised with Follow-Up (M-CHAT-R/F), in a sample of HR younger siblings and directly compared its performance with that in an LR sample.

Methods:

High-risk younger siblings (n = 187) and LR children (n = 15,848) were screened using the M-CHAT-R/F. Screen-positive children completed comprehensive evaluations. The M-CHAT-R/F psychometric properties and clinical characteristics were compared across the samples.

Results:

The M-CHAT-R/F demonstrated a significantly higher screen-positive rate and ASD detection rate in the HR sample compared with the LR sample. Children with ASD in the HR sample had stronger verbal, nonverbal, and overall cognitive abilities compared with children with ASD in the LR sample despite comparable ASD severity and adaptive functioning. High positive predictive value of the M-CHAT-R at initial screen, with only incremental change after Follow-Up, suggests that Follow-Up is less critical in HR than LR samples. A significantly lower number of changed responses during Follow-Up further supports improved reporting accuracy of parents with ASD experience compared with parents less familiar with ASD.

Conclusion:

The findings suggest that the M-CHAT-R/F can distinguish between ASD and non-ASD at 18 to 24 months in an HR sibling sample, with performance comparable with or better than its performance in the general population.
Behavioral Health Screening: Validation of a Strength-Based Approach
Authors: Mautone Jennifer A. , Pendergast Laura L. , Cassano Michael , Blum Nathan J. , Power Thomas J.
Published: June 2020

Objective:

To evaluate the validity of the Behavioral Health Checklist (BHCL) strength-based factor scores and the extent to which this factor has a buffering effect on the relationship between behavioral health symptom severity and children's social problems.

Method:

The parents of 1,392 children aged 4 to 12 completed the BHCL and Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) during sick and well-child visits to urban and suburban primary care practices affiliated with a large children's hospital.

Results:

Findings support a single, strength-based factor on the BHCL, and the structure was largely invariant across race, sex, and socioeconomic status. Increased psychopathology symptoms (internalizing, externalizing, and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder) and lower levels of strengths predicted increased social problems (p < 0.001). Moreover, the interaction terms were statistically significant in all analyses, suggesting that higher levels of strengths may buffer the deleterious impact of psychopathology symptoms on social problems. Post hoc analyses indicated that the buffering influence of strengths on the relationship between psychopathology symptoms and social problems was clinically meaningful except in the older sample for the relationship between externalizing and social problems.

Conclusion:

The findings support the validity of a strength-based factor of the BHCL and indicate that this factor has a buffering effect on the association between the degree of child mental health symptoms and level of social impairment. This factor, in combination with the problem-focused factors of the BHCL, provides a balanced approach to screening children's mental health functioning.
A proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitor provides comparable efficacy with lower detriment than statins on mitochondria of oxidative muscle of obese estrogen-deprived rats
Authors: Thonusin Chanisa , Pantiya Patcharapong , Jaiwongkam Thidarat , Kerdphoo Sasiwan , Arunsak Busarin , Amput Patchareeya , Palee Siripong , Pratchayasakul Wasana , Chattipakorn Nipon , Chattipakorn Siriporn C.
Published: June 2020

Objectives:

The aim of the study was to compare the effects of atorvastatin, a proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitor (PCSK9i), and 17β-estradiol on oxidative muscle mitochondria in a model of menopause with obesity.

Methods:

Female Wistar rats consumed either a standard diet (n = 12) or a high-fat/calorie diet (HFCD: n = 60). At week 13, standard diet–fed rats underwent a sham operation, whereas HFCD-fed rats underwent either a sham operation (n = 12) or an ovariectomy (n = 48). At week 19, all sham-operated rats received vehicle, and ovariectomized HFCD-fed rats received either vehicle, 40 mg/kg/d of atorvastatin, 4 mg/kg/d of PCSK9i (SBC-115076), or 50 μg/kg/d of 17β-estradiol for 3 weeks (n = 12/group). Metabolic parameters and soleus muscle physiology were investigated at the end of week 21.

Results:

Sham-operated and ovariectomized HFCD-fed rats developed obesity, hyperlipidemia, and insulin resistance, also showing increased oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) proteins, ratio of p-Drp1ser616-to-total Drp1 protein, malondialdehyde level, mitochondrial reactive oxygen species, and mitochondrial membrane depolarization in soleus muscle. All drugs equally decreased insulin resistance, OXPHOS proteins, ratio of p-Drp1ser616-to-total Drp1 protein, and malondialdehyde level in soleus muscle. Only atorvastatin and PCSK9i attenuated hypertriglyceridemia, whereas 17β-estradiol had greater efficacy in preventing weight gain than the other two drugs. In addition, 17β-estradiol decreased mitochondrial reactive oxygen species and mitochondrial membrane depolarization. Atorvastatin increased ratio of cleaved caspase 3,8-to-procaspase 3,8, and cytochrome C.

Conclusions:

17β-Estradiol exhibits the greatest efficacy on the attenuation of obesity with the least harmful effect on skeletal muscle in a model of menopause with obesity, yet its effect on the treatment of hyperlipidemia is inferior to those of standard lipid-lowering agents.
Bone mass in women with premature ovarian insufficiency: a comparative study between hormone therapy and combined oral contraceptives
Authors: Gazarra Lívia B. Carvalho , Bonacordi Camila L. , Yela Daniela A. , Benetti-Pinto Cristina Laguna
Published: June 2020

Objective:

The aim of the study was to evaluate whether combined oral contraceptives (COCs) can be used as hormone therapy (HT) to preserve bone mineral density (BMD) in women with premature ovarian insufficiency (POI).

Methods:

An observational study of women with POI comparing the use of COC (ethinylestradiol 30 μg + levonorgestrel, continuously) with: low-dose HT (continuous conjugated estrogen 0.625 mg plus medroxyprogesterone or continuous estradiol [E2] 1 mg + norethisterone), high-dose HT (continuous conjugated estrogen 1.25 mg + medroxyprogesterone or continuous E2 2 mg + norethisterone), tibolone 2.5 mg, or no treatment. Bone density scans were performed every 2 ± 1 years. The difference between final and initial (delta) BMD values was calculated for the lumbar spine, total femur, and femoral neck. Generalized estimating equations were used to analyze the effect of treatment over time. Variables without normal distribution were transformed into ranks.

Results:

Overall, 420 scans (210 deltas) of 119 women were analyzed. The women were 30.3 ± 9.2 years old (mean ± SD). BMD deltas at the lumbar spine and total femur were grater in the COC and high-dose HT groups. At the lumbar spine, the differences between two scans were greater in the COC group when compared to low-dose HT group: −0.043 (95% CI −0.062 to −0.024), untreated: −0.056 (−0.080 to −0.032), and tibolone: −0.050 (−0.094 to −0.006) groups. Total femur BMD decreases and the delta were lower in the low-dose HT group −0.038 (−0.052 to −0.024) when compared to COC.

Conclusion:

Continuous COC was associated with increased BMD in women with POI compared to low-dose HT, with similar improvement in the COC and high-dose HT groups.

Video Summary:

http://links.lww.com/MENO/A620.
Highlights of Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Community-Acquired Pneumonia
Authors: Wang Hongmei , Brong Molly , Pham Shirley , Dreucean Diane
Published: June 2020

Pneumonia is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States. The American Thoracic Society and The Infectious Diseases Society of America recently published updated guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of community-acquired pneumonia. Initial antibiotic therapy should cover for Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and other gram-negative bacilli. Patients who have risk factors for the development of antibiotic resistant pathogens, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa should have appropriate empiric coverage for these pathogens. The recommended duration of treatment of community-acquired pneumonia is a minimum of 5 days in conjunction with clinical improvement, which has remained consistent from previous guidelines.
Intrathecal Hyaluronidase in Tubercular Arachnoiditis
Authors: Samal Priyanka , Elavarasi Arunmozhimaran , Kumar Anand , Prabhakar Anuj , Vishnu Venugopalan Y. , Singh Mamta B. , Srivastava M. V. Padma , Goyal Vinay
Published: June 2020

Intrathecal hyaluronidase for short duration as an adjuvant for treatment of tubercular arachnoiditis was tried in the past, and although the initial results were promising, surprisingly, no further confirmatory studies were undertaken and have not come into routine clinical use. We did a retrospective chart review of 25 patients who had tubercular meningitis with spinal or opticochiasmatic arachnoiditis who were given weekly intrathecal hyaluronidase for 10 weeks, in addition to antitubercular drugs and steroids. Of the 19 patients with spinal tubercular arachnoiditis, 10 were independent by the time of completion of therapy. All patients with opticochiasmatic arachnoiditis showed some improvement in vision. This promising retrospective study highlights the utility of hyaluronidase in tubercular meningitis with arachnoiditis and need of prospective randomized control trial.
Plasma cell-free DNA methylation combined with tumor mutation detection in prognostic prediction of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)
Authors: Guo Dan , Yang Liang , Yang Jianwei , Shi Ke
Published: June 2020

Background:

Lung Cancer is one of the most common cancers with high degree of malignancy, is a devastating disease with a poor prognosis worldwide. prognostic prediction for patients with non small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is still challenge.

Material and methods:

The cohort consisted of 64 consecutive patients with NSCLC identified from June1, 2014, to June 30, 2018. Liquid biopsy samples were collected. Genomic mutation DNA was calculated by including all substitutions and indels over the entire somatic, coding, sequencing length. statistical evaluations were carried out using SPSS software.

Results:

Quantity of total ctDNA was successfully determined in all 64 patients from whom baseline circulating DNA was available. ctDNA concentration ranged from 4000 to 3,562,000 genome equivalents per milliliter. Treatments induced a significant decrease in cancer specific markers in most patients with response to treatments, while the methylated DNA demonstrated favorable prediction efficiency regardless of the response status. Patients with ctDNA mutation and methylated DNA decreasing have favorable overall survival (P < .05). combination of genetic and methylated DNA decreasing had high reliability in predicting overall survival of patients with NSCLC.

Conclusions:

We have detected both tumor mutations and methylated DNA in plasma of patients with NSCLC. Combined genetic and methylated DNA decreasing after treatment was an independent risk factor for prognosis of patients with NSCLC. Meanwhile, it had favorable predict value and had potential to be defined as a novel biomarker for patients with NSCLC.
Cumulative evidence of relationships between multiple variants in 8q24 region and cancer incidence
Authors: Tong Yu , Tang Ying , Li Shiping , Zhao Fengyan , Ying Junjie , Qu Yi , Niu Xiaoyu , Mu Dezhi
Published: June 2020

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified multiple independent cancer susceptibility loci at chromosome 8q24. We aimed to evaluate the associations between variants in the 8q24 region and cancer susceptibility. A comprehensive research synopsis and meta-analysis was performed to evaluate associations between 28 variants in 8q24 and risk of 7 cancers using data from 103 eligible articles totaling 146,932 cancer cases and 219,724 controls. Results: 20 variants were significantly associated with risk of prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, thyroid cancer, breast cancer, bladder cancer, stomach cancer, and glioma, including 1 variant associated with prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, and thyroid cancer. Cumulative epidemiological evidence of an association was graded as strong for DG8S737 -8 allele, rs10090154, rs7000448 in prostate cancer, rs10808556 in colorectal cancer, rs55705857 in gliomas, rs9642880 in bladder cancer, moderate for rs16901979, rs1447295, rs6983267, rs7017300, rs7837688, rs1016343, rs620861, rs10086908 associated in prostate cancer, rs10505477, rs6983267 in colorectal cancer, rs6983267 in thyroid cancer, rs13281615 in breast cancer, and rs1447295 in stomach cancer, weak for rs6983561, rs13254738, rs7008482, rs4242384 in prostate cancer. Data from ENCODE suggested that these variants with strong evidence and other correlated variants might fall within putative functional regions. Our study provides summary evidence that common variants in the 8q24 are associated with risk of multiple cancers in this large-scale research synopsis and meta-analysis. Further studies are needed to explore the mechanisms underlying variants in the 8q24 involved in various human cancers.
Clinical observation for acupuncture treatment of a small area of hyperplastic scars in young and middle-aged women
Authors: Liu Ya-Hong , Xiang Jun , Han Pei-Pei , Yang Chun , Wang Yu-Zhen , Wang Wei , Zhang Ping-An
Published: June 2020

Introduction:

Hypertrophic scars are a common disease in plastic surgery, which is the reaction of skin connective tissue to trauma beyond the normal range. Although scholars around the world have explored the tissue structure and formation mechanism of HS for decades, they are not satisfactory the result of. No effective treatment has been found. Therefore, the search for safe and effective treatments for HS has always been the focus of medical attention and research. Acupuncture therapy has a definite effect on HS and has unique advantages.

Methods/design:

In this study, we will use our own front-to-back clinical research method. We plan to include 120 young and middle-aged female patients who meet the diagnostic criteria for HS. The untreated HS of the enrolled patients will be used as blank controls. The intervention group will be given acupuncture treatment. The assessment of scar area, color, hardness, thickness, itching and pain will be recorded for 30 days of treatment.

Discussion:

This trial may provide evidence regarding the clinical effectiveness, safety, and cost-effectiveness of Acupuncture for patients with HS.

Trial registration:

ClinicalTrials.gov, ChiCTR2000032624, Registered on 04 May 2020.
Perinatal risk factors for congenital hypothyroidism
Authors: Zhou Jinfu , Luo Jinying , Lin Junyu , Zeng Yinglin , Qiu Xiaolong , Zhu Wenbin , Liu Guanghua
Published: June 2020

Congenital hypothyroidism (CH) is one of the most common neonatal endocrine diseases. This retrospective cohort study aimed to identify the potential perinatal risk factors for CH and to differentiate between transient and permanent CH (TCH and PCH, respectively) as well as determine their prevalence in a southeastern Chinese population.

This study was based on an 18-year surveillance of a neonatal CH screening program in a large tertiary hospital. A retrospective review of the maternal and neonatal perinatal exposures was conducted.

Of the 205,834 newborns screened between 2000 and 2018, 189 were diagnosed with CH (1/1089). Among the 131 CH patients who again underwent thyroid function testing (TFT) after discontinuation of levothyroxine at the age of 3 years, 61 (46.6%) were diagnosed with PCH and 70 (53.4%) were diagnosed with TCH. In the maternal characteristics model, women aged 35 years or older and those who had thyroid disease and/or diabetes mellitus during pregnancy had increased risk of having an offspring with CH (P = .001, .000, and .001, respectively). Significant associations were found with regard to parity and the risk of CH in the offspring (P = .000). In the neonatal characteristics model, infants with female sex, preterm birth, post-term birth, low birth weight, other birth defects, and those born as part of multiple births (P = .011, .034, .001, .000, .000, and .003, respectively) had increased risk of CH. The rate of newborns with other birth defects was higher in the PCH group than that in the TCH group (P = .008), whereas the rate of maternal thyroid disease, newborns with low birth weight, and newborns with preterm birth was higher in the TCH group than that in the PCH group (P = .041, .020, and .013, respectively). The levothyroxine dose (μg/kg/day) at 1 year, 2 years, and 3 years old was significantly lower in the TCH group than that in the PCH group (P = .000, .000, and .000, respectively).

Perinatal factors should be considered during the diagnosis and treatment of CH.
Correlation between radiographic knee osteoarthritis and lifetime cigarette smoking amount in a Korean population
Authors: Kim Jung Woo , Lee Sang Yoon
Published: June 2020

Although the inverse correlation between smoking and degenerative arthritis is controversial, quantitative analysis of the correlation between lifetime cigarette smoking amount and degenerative arthritis has not been performed. We investigated the correlation between knee radiographic osteoarthritis (ROA) and lifetime cigarette smoking amount in the general population.

This cross-sectional study used the Fifth and Sixth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2010–2013) data. Subjects included 11,638 community-dwelling adults aged ≥50 years. Knee ROA was defined as a Kellgren/Lawrence grade ≥2 on plain radiography. Lifetime cigarette smoking amount was calculated in terms of pack-year and further divided into quartile groups. Independent correlation between smoking and knee ROA was determined using odds ratios (OR) adjusted for age, sex, obesity, physical activity, and household income on multivariate logistic regression analysis.

Knee ROA prevalence was 37.3%; prevalence of lifetime cigarette smokers was 26.0%. Subjects with knee ROA had higher mean age, female sex ratio, and body mass index but lower physical activity level. The adjusted logistic regression model revealed that female sex (OR, 2.110; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.895–2.349) was significantly associated with knee ROA. Older age, obesity, and lower household income were positively correlated with knee ROA. Second-and fourth-quartile groups of smokers had the lower ROA prevalence than never-smokers (OR, 0.800; 95% CI, 0.643–0.99; OR, 0.812; 95% CI, 0.684–0.965, respectively).

An inverse correlation with knee ROA was confirmed in mid-light to heavy smokers. Prospective studies are needed to reveal whether knee ROA involves smoking.