bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Pan-Genomic Analysis of Corynebacterium striatum Revealed its Genetic Characteristics as an Emerging Multidrug-Resistant Pathogen
Authors: Qiu Junhui , Shi Yulan , Zhao Fei , Xu Yi , Xu Hui , Dai Yan , Cao Yi
Published: August 2023

Corynebacterium striatum is a Gram-positive bacterium that is straight or slightly curved and non-spore-forming. Although it was originally believed to be a part of the normal microbiome of human skin, a growing number of studies have identified it as a cause of various chronic diseases, bacteremia, and respiratory infections. However, despite its increasing importance as a pathogen, the genetic characteristics of the pathogen population, such as genomic characteristics and differences, the types of resistance genes and virulence factors carried by the pathogen and their distribution in the population are poorly understood. To address these knowledge gaps, we conducted a pan-genomic analysis of 314 strains of C. striatum isolated from various tissues and geographic locations. Our analysis revealed that C. striatum has an open pan-genome, comprising 5692 gene families, including 1845 core gene families, 2362 accessory gene families, and 1485 unique gene families. We also found that C. striatum exhibits a high degree of diversity across different sources, but strains isolated from skin tissue are more conserved. Furthermore, we identified 53 drug resistance genes and 42 virulence factors by comparing the strains to the drug resistance gene database (CARD) and the pathogen virulence factor database (VFDB), respectively. We found that these genes and factors are widely distributed among C. striatum, with 77.7% of strains carrying 2 or more resistance genes and displaying primary resistance to aminoglycosides, tetracyclines, lincomycin, macrolides, and streptomycin. The virulence factors are primarily associated with pathogen survival within the host, iron uptake, pili, and early biofilm formation. In summary, our study provides insights into the population diversity, resistance genes, and virulence factors of C. striatum from different sources. Our findings could inform future research and clinical practices in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of C. striatum-associated diseases.
A cross-sectional study of attitudes and behaviors of snuff use and cessation among people with and without HIV in South Africa
Authors: Loh Samantha M. , Moloantoa Tumelo , Yende Nompumelelo , Variava Ebrahim , Niaura Raymond , Golub Jonathan E. , Martinson Neil , Elf Jessica L.
Published: August 2023

Background

Despite a high (48%) prevalence of snuff use among women with HIV in South Africa, little is known of the attitudes and behaviors of use, strategies for cessation, and potential health risks.

Methods

In a cross-sectional study, a questionnaire was administered to adults (≥18 years) with (HIV+) and without HIV (HIV−) who self-reported current snuff use to collect information on demographics, snuff use and cessation attempts, preferred strategies for cessation, other substance use, history of respiratory illness, and mental health.

Results

150 (74 HIV+, 76 HIV−) participants were enrolled; 115 (77%) were daily snuff users, 6 (4%) were current smokers, and 17 (11%) former smokers. Top reasons for current snuff use included improving health (n = 48, 32%), reducing stress (n = 26, 16%), and “being a habit” (n = 38, 25%). Participants believed snuff use to have mostly positive (n = 68, 46%) or no (n = 54, 36%) health impacts, and 57 (38%) participants believed snuff cures headaches. 103 (69%) participants reported a previous quit attempt, and 110 (73%) indicated high interest in quitting snuff. Although 105 (70%) participants indicated that advice from a healthcare provider would aid them in quitting snuff, only 30 (20%) reported ever receiving that advice. A majority of participants (n = 141, 94%) suffer from moderate to high levels of perceived stress, and overall few differences were seen by HIV status.

Conclusions

Education on negative impacts of snuff, advice to quit from healthcare providers, and nicotine replacement therapy should be considered in the development of a snuff cessation program.
The legal aspects of hotel rate parity
Authors: Bianchi Giuliano , Chen Yong
Published: August 2023

This research note delineates the conflict of hotel rate parity and key clauses of competition laws in both Europe and the U.S. We trace the origin of hotel rate parity to the principle of most favored nation (MFN) in international trade agreements. We show that rate parity challenges two pillars of competition law. Under rate parity agreements, it is travel intermediaries—not hotels—that demand rate parity, which comes down to the dominance of travel intermediaries over small and independent hotels. The courts view MFN status as a hindrance to competition and therefore in violation of competition law. The trend and message in Europe are clear: the clause is most likely to be judged as not complying with EU competition law and its national equivalents. In the U.S. though, a lack of case decisions precludes us from reaching any conclusion about the fate of the MFN clause.
Reassembling #MeToo: Tracing the techno-affective agency of the feminist Instagram influencer
Authors: Barbala Astri Moksnes
Published: August 2023

Political social media influencers are taking increasingly central and agenda-setting roles within contemporary media ecologies; however, little in-depth research has been conducted with regard to their agency and the practices of the specific agents involved. This article examines Scandinavian Instagram feminists’ practices and experiences in light of the #MeToo campaigns. Building on observations and interviews with feminist influencers whose followers exceed 10,000 each, the article seeks to contribute new insights about social media user agency, concentrating on some of the most powerful voices in digital activism. By regarding #MeToo an assemblage of various homogenous and shifting elements, the article highlights how feminist influencers in the Scandinavian context have taken positions as defining agents of feminism through employing Instagram’s user options for performing affective acts of labor. Though they do not utilize Instagram as a means for making money through advertising the way mainstream influencers do, nonprofit influencers such as microcelebrity feminists have large social media followings and are still arguably important players in the platform economy because of their significant reach and ability to influence political agendas.
The longer the better? The impact of online review length on tourist trust and visit intention
Authors: Molly Huang Chien-Jung , Chuang Shih-Chieh , Cheng Yin-Hui , Hsieh Chia-Chen
Published: August 2023

Research has demonstrated that long online reviews tend to inspire more trust than short reviews do. However, the effect of review length on trust overlooks the influence of advertisement suspicion on author identity and, more specifically, the different levels of trust and visit intention inspired by Internet celebrities versus amateurs. To address this research gap, three studies were conducted. The results showed that tourists have higher levels of trust and visit intention in long reviews than in short reviews when they know that the reviews are posted by an amateur rather than an Internet celebrity. Interestingly, the reason for this phenomenon is consumers' suspicion that long reviews written by Internet celebrities are advertisements, and thus they perceive such reviews as less credible. Further, conformity, as well as the primed interdependent self-construal, breaks the interference of the author's identity, and thus advertising suspicion disappears.
Validation of the Nurses’ Skills to Care for Alcohol-Intoxicated Patients in Emergency Department (NSCAIP-ED) instrument
Authors: Mäkelä Kaisu-Leena , Kylmä Jari , Koivisto Anna-Maija , Hakala Tiina , Koivunen Marita
Published: August 2023

Aim To report the development and validation of the Nurses’ Skills to Care for Alcohol-Intoxicated Patients in Emergency Department instrument, shortened NSCAIP-ED. Methods: A mixed-methods design was used to develop the instrument. It was used to conduct a survey where ED nurses self-evaluated their skills to care for acutely ill alcohol-intoxicated patients (N = 1220, n = 252). The data were utilised to perform instrument validation using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and Cronbach's alpha. Results: The construct validity was tested statistically. The CFA model fit indicators showed mostly acceptable fit (chi-square test p < 0.001; RMSEA 0.079; CFI 0.923; TLI 0.918; SRMR 0.084) and instruments’ scales had well acceptable Cronbach's alpha values (all alphas were in the range of 0.866–0.912). Conclusions: The NSCAIP-ED is a feasible and reliable instrument that can be used when measuring nurses’ skills to care for alcohol-intoxicated patients in the ED. This instrument could be useful for nursing managers in EDs for evaluating their nursing staff's skills in the care area in question, but also for designing continuing education based on the results.
Beyond enclosures? Highly protected marine areas in English marine conservation law and policy
Authors: Pieraccini Margherita
Published: August 2023

This paper focuses on a new addition to the English protected seascape: Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMAs). HPMAs hold an important value for meeting pressing conservation targets and for studying the interaction between biodiversity conservation and climate change. By prohibiting extractive, destructive and depositional uses, they are test sites for understanding the resilience of marine ecosystems. However, HPMAs are not neutral tools but are highly political, as they limit sea-users’ access to marine resources. Being strict reserves, they can be contested and perceived as enclosures. The way in which HPMAs are framed in law and policy has important implications for the effectiveness and social acceptability of these sites. This paper, employing the analytical categories of new commons and commoning, explores the way in which English law and policy are framing HPMAs asking whether they are contributing to a perception of HPMAs as enclosures.
“A prison is no place for a pandemic”: Canadian prisoners’ collective action in the time of COVID-19
Authors: Evans Jessica , House Jordan
Published: August 2023

Since the onset of COVID-19, social protest has expanded significantly. Little, however, has been written on prison-led and prison justice organizing in the wake of the pandemic—particularly in the Canadian context. This article is a case study of prisoner organizing in Canada throughout the first 18 months of COVID-19, which draws on qualitative interviews, media, and documentary analysis. We argue that the pandemic generated conditions under which the grievances raised by prisoners, and the strategies through which they were articulated, made possible a discursive bridge to the anxieties and grievances experienced by those in the community, thinning the walls of state-imposed societal exclusion. We demonstrate that prisons are sites of fierce contestation and are deeply embedded in, rather than separate from, our society. An important lesson learned from this case study is the need for prison organizing campaigns to strategically embrace multi-issue framing and engage in sustained coalition building.
Disassembling the actant: A valediction to actor-network theory
Authors: King Anthony
Published: August 2023

On 9 October 2022, Bruno Latour died. His death was widely and deeply mourned. He is a great loss to sociology. This article takes Latour’s death as cue to make an initial posthumous assessment of his work. It argues that, with Latour’s death, sociology is at a cross-roads which in some ways reprises the Tarde-Durkheim debate. When Tarde died in 1904, the Durkheimian school became dominant. After Latour’s death, this article considers whether that history might now been reversed with a subsidence of the Durkheimian tradition. The article argues it should not. While recognising Latour’s ingenious creativity and his massive contribution to sociology, the article rejects Actor-Network Theory (ANT). Despite the many strengths of ANT and the extraordinary influence it has exerted, the article dissects the actant to claim that ANT is a flawed project. It argues in order to avoid accusations of determinism, the status of the actant was always ambiguous in ANT. As a result, although Latour consistently denied the power of human social groups, his analyses eventually relied upon surreptitious appeals to them. The neo-Durkheimian currents which are evident in contemporary sociology should re-assert themselves.
Serious leisure imaginaries: The construction of tourists, locals and localities in scuba diving tourism
Authors: Tunestad Hans
Published: August 2023

Scuba diving is a global leisure activity today often undertaken as a form of tourism, counting millions of practitioners. Drawing on my experience of diving in different parts of the world, as well as on various forms of documentation, this article focuses on the structural characteristics of this form of purposeful tourism. As a sport, scuba diving follows certain routines and regulations and can thus be seen as a form of serious leisure; that is, leisure involving plans and demands. As a form of tourism, it is a particular way of imagining the world, based on a specific form of cartography and mass mediated images and stories of the vast blue and its inhabitants. My argument is that when undertaking scuba as a form of tourism, whether guiding or being guided, divers submit to the structures of both the sport and the touring. These then determine both how they dive from a technical point of view and how they come to think about diving and indeed, in a sense, the world. Divers are thus guided by ‘serious leisure imaginaries’. Altogether, scuba diving tourism here emerges as a transformative social force where tourists, locals and localities are constructed simultaneously in a dynamic interplay.
Acupoint Thread Embedding Combined With Wenshen Bugu Decoction for the Treatment of Aromatase Inhibitor-Associated Musculoskeletal Symptom Among Postmenopausal Breast Cancer Patients: Study Protocol of a Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Zou Xuan , Chen Zi-Yi , Yang Yu-Han , Qiao Yu , He Shu-Jin , Li Qiong , Chen Wei-Li , Zhang Xin-Yue , Li Si-Yu , Sha Shan-Yan , Hu Min-Hao , Zhang Xi-Yin , Yang Ming-Ju , Wang Rui-Ping , Wu Huan-Gan , Shi Yin , Xue Xiao-Hong , Ji Ya-Jie
Published: August 2023

Background:

Aromatase inhibitors (AIs) are recommended as the preferred therapy for postmenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive (HR+) breast cancer. As a result, aromatase inhibitor-associated musculoskeletal symptom (AIMSS) have become a major problem leading to therapy discontinuation and decreased quality of life in patients receiving adjuvant AIs treatment. Multiple therapies have been attempted, but have yielded limited clinical results. This study will be performed to determine whether acupoint thread embedding (ATE) combined with Wenshen Bugu Decoction can effectively treat AIMSS, so as to improve the AIs medication compliance of postmenopausal breast cancer patients.

Methods:

This study will utilize a randomized, 2 parallel groups controlled trial design. A total of 128 eligible postmenopausal breast cancer women with AIMSS will be randomized to receive a 12-week treatment with Wenshen Bugu Decoction alone (control group) or in combination with ATE (treatment group) in a 1:1 ratio. The primary outcome will be the 12 week Brief Pain Inventory Worst Pain (BPI-WP) score. The secondary outcome measures will include response rate, Brief Pain Inventory-Short Form (BFI-SF), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Endocrine Symptom (FACT-ES), Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast (FACT-B), bone marrow density (BMD), blood markers of bone metabolite, Morisky medication adherence scale-8 (MMAS-8), credibility and expectancy, and survival outcomes.

Discussion:

This trial may provide clinical evidence that ATE combined with Wenshen Bugu Decoction can be beneficial for treating AIMSS among postmenopausal breast cancer survivors. Our findings will be helpful to enhance the quality of life and reduce the occurrence of AIs withdrawal.
State-Level Analysis of Subminimum Wage Use for Individuals With Disabilities in the United States: Implications for Policy and Practice
Authors: Avellone Lauren , Taylor Joshua , Wehman Paul , Inge Katherine , Brooke Valerie
Published: August 2023

Despite considerable legislative and advocacy-based efforts to end subminimum wage practices, many Americans with disabilities are still paid below the federal minimum. Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act allows employers holding certificates to pay less than minimum wage to individuals with disabilities whose work capacity or productivity is impaired due to disability. The majority of employers paying subminimum wages are facility-based programs also known as sheltered workshops. This work is usually performed in segregated settings away from the rest of the nation’s workforce. Subminimum wage practices continue despite clear evidence that even those with the most significant disabilities can be successfully employed in competitive integrated employment when supports are provided. The purpose of this study was to examine the continued use of subminimum wages in the United States and to identify whether there are any state-level characteristics or policies that predict their use. Descriptive analysis and linear regression were used in this investigation. Findings indicate that subminimum wage practices continue to be prevalent in most states, and most prominently in the Midwest region. Implications and recommendations for reducing subminimum wage pay for individuals with disabilities are provided.
Comparative analysis of stenting for carotid web and atherosclerotic disease
Authors: Osehobo Ehizele M , Nogueira Raul G , Karunamuni Nilushi , Koneru Achanti Sitara , Landzberg David , Al Shaer Qasem , Grossberg Jonathan A , Al-Bayati Alhamza , Haussen Diogo C
Published: August 2023

Introduction

Carotid Web (CaW) is an increasingly recognized etiology of ischemic stroke, and has been shown to be amenable to endovascular stenting. The technical complexity of stenting for CaW may be lower than for carotid atherosclerotic disease (CAD). We aimed to assess procedural characteristics of stenting for CaW as compared to CAD.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed a cohort of consecutive patients at a single comprehensive stroke center from 2014 to 2021, who had undergone elective endovascular stent placement for symptomatic CAD or CaW.

Results

In total, 118 patients underwent elective stent placement following ischemic stroke/transient ischemic attack; 88 patients had CAD and 30 patients had CaW. CAD patients were older (63.2 vs 51.2 years, p < 0.001), less likely to be female (28.4% vs 73.3%, p < 0.001), and more likely to have pre-existing vascular risk factors. Procedure time (73.0 vs 57.5 min, p = 0.007), radiation exposure (1482 vs 1125 milliGray, p = 0.03), filter time (24 vs 14 min, p = 0.04), and use of pre-stent (68.2% vs 0%, p < 0.001) and post-stent (34.1% vs 3.3%, p < 0.001) balloon angioplasty were higher in CAD cases. There was no significant difference between groups in the rate of periprocedural complications such as hypotension, use of vasopressors, or bradycardia. Recurrent stroke/TIA was reported in five CAD patients and 0 CaW patients by the end of the follow-up period (8.3% vs 0%, p = 0.12). In-stent restenosis was detected in seven CAD patients and 0 CaW patients (10.1% vs 0%, p = 0.09) at a median follow-up of 4 vs 16 months ( p = 0.01), respectively. Periprocedural intracranial hemorrhage was not observed in either group.

Conclusion

Stenting for CaW was found to be technically simpler than CAD and not to confer increased risk of baroreceptor dysregulation. Intimal hyperplasia was uncommon in CaW cases.
Predicting severe disability or death in endovascular thrombectomy with large computed tomography perfusion core infarction and limited penumbra
Authors: Karamchandani Rahul R. , Satyanarayana Sagar , Yang Hongmei , Rhoten Jeremy B. , Strong Dale , Clemente Jonathan D. , Defilipp Gary , Patel Nikhil M. , Bernard Joe , Stetler William R. , Parish Jonathan M. , Guzik Amy K. , Wolfe Stacey Q. , Asimos Andrew W.
Published: August 2023

Background

Patients presenting with large core infarctions benefit from treatment with endovascular thrombectomy (EVT), with a notable 50% reduction in rates of severe disability (modified Rankin Scale [mRS] 5) at 90 days. We studied the ability of previously reported prognostic scales to predict devastating outcomes in patients with a large ischemic core and limited salvageable brain tissue.

Methods

Retrospective analysis from a health system's code stroke registry, including consecutive thrombectomy patients from November 2017 to December 2022 with an anterior circulation large vessel occlusion, computed tomography perfusion core infarct ≥ 50 ml, and mismatch volume < 15 ml or mismatch ratio < 1.8. Previously reported scales were compared using logistic regression and area under the curve (AUC) analyses to predict 90-day mRS 5-6.

Results

Sixty patients (mean age 62.38 ± 14.25 years, median core volume 103 ml [74.75–153]) met inclusion criteria, of whom 27 (45%) had 90-day mRS 5-6. The Charlotte Large artery occlusion endovascular therapy Outcome Score (CLEOS) (odds ratio [OR] 1.35, 95% CI [1.14–1.60], p = 0.0005), Houston Intra-Arterial Therapy-2 (OR 1.35, 95% CI [1.00–1.83], p = 0.0470), and Totaled Health Risks in Vascular Events (OR 1.53, 95% CI [1.07–2.18], p = 0.0199) predicted the primary outcome in the logistic regression analysis. CLEOS performed best in the AUC analysis (AUC 0.83, 95% CI [0.72–0.94]).

Conclusion

CLEOS predicts devastating outcomes after EVT in patients with large core infarctions and small volumes of ischemic penumbra.
Application of Ethics in the South African Rural Context
Authors: Mavhandu-Mudzusi Azwihangwisi Helen
Published: August 2023

When conducting research, it is fundamentally important to adhere to universal ethical principles with the intent to minimise harm and maximise benefits. This is not always relevant as these principles are based on the Western way of doing things. In Western culture, the focus of ethics is mainly on individualism and this value undermines the essence of ubuntu. However, in the South African context, the individual is always seen in relation to significant others, meaning that relational philosophies need to inform context-specific ethics in these communities. This paper aims to advocate for the utilisation of contextually relevant ethical principles to embrace diverse South African contexts. The paper is based on the author’s reflexive practice in conducting research in South Africa’s rural areas. The reflection focuses on the researcher’s dilemma in implementing universal ethical principles in a rural South African context. The paper highlights congruent ethical approaches in a diverse African context guided by relational ethics which is grounded in ubuntu principles. The approaches ensure that researchers remain ethical by embracing ubuntu principles.
Prevalence of dysmenorrhea and associated risk factors among university students in Zimbabwe
Authors: Nyirenda Trust , Nyagumbo Elliot , Murewanhema Grant , Mukonowenzou Nyasha , Kagodora Shingirai Brenda , Mapfumo Cladnos , Bhebhe Michael , Mufunda Jacob
Published: August 2023

Background:

Dysmenorrhea is an often incapacitating condition that is characterized by painful menstruation and general body malaise. In Zimbabwe, this condition is understudied, and its associated risk factors are poorly understood.

Objectives:

To investigate the prevalence and associated risk factors of dysmenorrhea among female students at Midlands State University in Zimbabwe.

Design:

This is a cross-sectional study that employed simple random sampling technique to obtain data from 382 students using pretested and self-administered questionnaires.

Methods:

Data were analyzed using STATA version 16. Associations between dysmenorrhea, menstrual, sociodemographic, and lifestyle characteristics were measured using chi-square test and logistic regression model.

Results:

The prevalence of dysmenorrhea was 75.9%, with 28.6% of sufferers describing their pain as severe. Dysmenorrhea significantly affected the school/daily activities of respondents (χ2 = 18.22, p < 0.001). Family history (χ2 = 4.28, p = 0.04), age of menarche (χ2 = 14.8, p < 0.001), regularity of menstrual cycle (χ2 = 18.1, p < 0.001), and parity (χ2 = 8.8, p = 0.03) were associated with the prevalence of dysmenorrhea. The risk of developing dysmenorrhea almost doubled with positive family history (prevalence odds ratio = 1.68 (95% confidence interval: 1.03 to 2.75, p = 0.040)); increased with decrease in age of menarche (prevalence odds ratio = 0.19 (95% confidence interval: 0.10 to 0.45, p < 0.001)) and decreased with increase in parity (prevalence odds ratio = 0.15 (95% confidence interval: 0.03 to 0.82, p = 0.029)). However, the risk was low among those with irregular menstrual cycles (prevalence odds ratio = 0.14 (95% confidence interval: 0.10 to 0.33, p < 0.001)). Physical exercise, smoking, alcohol, and coffee consumption were not associated with the prevalence of dysmenorrhea (p > 0.05).

Conclusion:

Dysmenorrhea is common among female students at Midlands State University, and it significantly affects their academic activities. Family history, regular menstrual cycle, nulliparity, and lower age of menarche were risk factors. More awareness is recommended including studies on impact and management strategies.
Communities of Knowledge in Trouble
Authors: Rabb Nathaniel , Geana Mugur , Sloman Steven
Published: August 2023

The community-of-knowledge framework explains the extraordinary success of the human species, despite individual members’ demonstrably shallow understanding of many topics, by appealing to outsourcing. People follow the cues of members of their community because understanding of phenomena is generally distributed across the group. Typically, communities do possess the relevant knowledge, but it is possible in principle for communities to send cues despite lacking knowledge—a weakness in the system’s design. COVID-19 in the United States offered a natural experiment in collective-knowledge development because a novel phenomenon arrived at a moment of intense division in political partisanship. We review evidence from the pandemic showing that the thought leaders of the two partisan groups sent radically different messages about COVID, which were, in turn, reinforced by close community members (family, friends, etc.). We show that although actual understanding of the individual plays a role in a key COVID-mitigation behavior (vaccination), it plays a smaller role than perceived understanding of thought leaders and beliefs about COVID-related behaviors of close community members. We discuss implications for theory and practice when all communities are in the same epistemic circumstance—relying on the testimony of others.
One-pot, simple, and facile synthesis of 4-(3-benzylbenzo[d]thiazol-2(3H)-ylidene)-cyclohexa-2,5-dien-1-one derivatives via a novel three-component reaction
Authors: Nassiri Mahmoud
Published: August 2023

In this study, a series of 4-(3-benzylbenzo[ d]thiazol-2(3 H)-ylidene)-cyclohexa-2,5-dien-1-one derivatives are efficiently synthesized in excellent yields by reactions of 2-chlorobenzothiazole, benzyl bromides, and phenols in acetonitrile under reflux and catalyst-free conditions in the presence of triethylamine for 2 h. The structures of the products are characterized by NMR, IR, EI-MS, and elemental analyses.
Similarity and Specificity of Lianhua Qingwen and Damp-Heat Plague Formula for the Management of Mild COVID-19
Authors: Guo Xiao , Li Liyuan , Wang Xiaoying , Li Yikun , Liu Congning , Song Qiuhang , Li Aiying
Published: August 2023

Lianhua Qingwen (LHQW) and damp-heat plague formula (DHPF) have positive therapeutic outcomes on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This study aimed to clarify the mechanisms of LHQW and DHPF in COVID-19 treatment, and examined the differences between the 2 formulas in the treatment process. This study is based on systems biology and network pharmacology; the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology database and Encyclopedia of Traditional Chinese Medicine were used to compare information on LHQW and DHPF; the STRING database was used to construct the “protein–protein interaction (PPI)” and protein module networks. Gene ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment were used to analyze the intersecting targets of LHQW and DHPF. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis was used to analyze the specific targets of the 2 formulas. Molecular docking and molecular dynamic simulation were used to validate the interactions of candidate active compounds and targets. The results show that both LHQW and DHPF alleviate mild COVID-19 by relieving inflammation, increasing immunity, apoptosis, and reducing oxidative stress. Furthermore, Machiline and Estrone in Armeniacae Semen Amarum (Kuxingren) in LHQW can target neurological disease-related genes (ADRA2B, ADRA2C, and DRD2). In contrast, Ellagic acid in Paeoniae Radix Rubra (Chi Shao) in DHPF can target immunity- and inflammation-related genes (GSTA1 and GSTA2). These findings suggest that when translated into clinical applications, LHQW would likely be more potent in treating patients with nervous disorders who experienced mild COVID-19, whereas DHPF would effectively perform antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities.
Acute Effects of Ice Hockey on Hip Range of Motion, Strength, and Pelvic Tilt in Competitive Male Players
Authors: Suits William H. , O’Neil Margaret M. , Fogarty Kieran J.
Published: August 2023

Background:

Ice hockey players are at high risk for hip and groin injury. Several risk factors have been identified or proposed, including lower hip rotation range of motion (ROM), lower hip adductor strength, lower ratio of hip adductor to abductor strength, and lower pelvic tilt angle. It is not known how these risk factors change acutely with ice hockey participation.

Hypothesis:

Acute exposure to ice hockey will result in a reduction in ROM, strength, and pelvic tilt angle in competitive male players.

Study Design:

Controlled cohort study.

Level of Evidence:

Level 3.

Methods:

Risk factors for hip and groin injury, including isometric hip adductor strength at 0° of flexion, the ratio of hip adductor to abductor strength, total hip rotation passive ROM in supine, and the resting pelvic tilt angle, were assessed immediately before, immediately after, and 24 hours after an ice hockey exposure in 42 competitive male ice hockey players. Rating of perceived exertion (RPE) was collected to identify the intensity of the exposure.

Results:

There was a significant decrease in total hip rotation ROM (-7.32°, P < 0.01 (-3.91, -10.70)) and hip adductor strength (-4.41 kg, P < 0.01 (-2.81, -6.00) immediately after the exposure, and a significant decrease in total hip rotation ROM (-18.54°, P < 0.01 (-14.35, -22.73)), hip adductor strength (-6.56 kg, P < 0.01 (-4.58, -8.61)), and the ratio of hip adductor to abductor strength (-0.12, P < 0.01 (-0.21, -0.45)) 24 hours after. There was no significant change in pelvic tilt found in this study immediately after or 24 hours after. There was a moderate relationship between changes in hip adductor strength and changes in the ratio of hip adductor to abductor strength ( r = 0.433, P < 0.01). RPE was not significantly correlated to any of the changes observed.

Conclusion:

Risk factors for hip and groin injury in ice hockey players are modifiable after a single ice hockey exposure.

Clinical Relevance:

The identified fluctuation of injury risk factors for hip and groin injury in ice hockey players has implications for injury risk profiling, rehabilitation, and return-to-competition decision-making.
Non-invasive prenatal testing for fetal Ss, Kidd, and CTL2 blood group prediction by multiplex digital droplet PCR
Authors: Wang Yufeng , Chu Xiaoyue , Chen Xihui , Yin Anan , Yao Yan , Wang Li , Xu Hua , Liu Fangfang , Chen Kun , Wu Yuanming
Published: August 2023

Background:

Some blood groups, such as S and s blood groups in the MNS blood group system, and Kidd and CTL2 blood group systems, can cause severe fetal and newborn alloimmune disorders. Non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) to predict fetal blood groups and knowledge of local blood group gene frequency are both important for pregnancy management decisions. Droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) has high specificity and sensitivity in detecting fetal single nucleotide variation.

Objectives:

The objective is to predict fetal Ss, Kidd, and CTL2 blood groups using multiplex ddPCR. The gene frequencies of three blood groups were detected by ddPCR in northwest China.

Design:

This is a prospective study.

Methods:

Cell-free fetal DNA isolated from 26 healthy single pregnant women at different gestational stages was tested with QX200 Droplet Digital PCR. Results were compared with fetal genotypes. DNA samples purified from 20 blood pools containing a total of 1000 donors in northwest China were subjected to ddPCR to detect the gene frequency of three blood groups.

Results:

Ss, Kidd, and CTL2 blood groups of 26 pregnant fetuses were accurately detected by multiplex ddPCR. The multiplex ddPCR results were consistent with the Sanger sequencing results of 26 fetal blood samples after birth. The gene frequencies of the three blood groups detected by ddPCR were 9.30% for S, 90.70% for s, 48.43% for Jka, 51.57% for Jkb, 66.57% for HNA-3A, and 33.43% for HNA-3B.

Conclusions:

It is reliable to predict fetal Ss, Kidd, and CTL2 blood groups by multiplex ddPCR. Meanwhile, we designed a simple and efficient method for inferring the gene frequency of three blood groups based on ddPCR.
Development and Implementation of an Acute Kidney Injury Remote Patient Monitoring Program: Research Letter
Authors: Charkviani Mariam , Barreto Erin F. , Pearson Kristina K. , Amberg Brigid M. , Amundson Rachel H. , Bell Sarah J. , Cleveland Eric J. , Daniels Craig E. , Kohler Christopher M. , Leuenberger Angela M. , Philpot Lindsey M. , Ramirez David A. , Reinschmidt Karen J. , Zoghby Ziad , Kattah Andrea G.
Published: August 2023

Acute kidney injury (AKI) survivors have a dynamic posthospital course which warrants close monitoring. Remote patient monitoring (RPM) could be used to improve quality and efficiency of AKI survivor care.

Objective:

The objective of this report was to describe the development and preliminary feasibility of an AKI RPM program launched in October 2021.

Setting:

Academic medical center.

Patients:

Patients enrolled in the AKI RPM program were those who experienced AKI during a hospitalization and underwent nephrology consultation.

Measurements/Methods:

At enrollment, patients were provided with home monitoring technology and underwent weekly laboratory assessments. Nurses evaluated the data daily and adhered to prespecified protocols for management and escalation of care if needed.

Results:

Twenty patients were enrolled in AKI RPM in the first 5 months. Median duration of program participation was 36 (31, 40) days. Eight patients (40%) experienced an unplanned readmission, or an emergency department visit, half (N = 4) of which were attributed to AKI and related circumstances. Of the 9 postgraduation survey respondents, all were satisfied with the RPM program and 89% would recommend RPM to other patients with similar health conditions.

Limitations:

Acute kidney injury RPM was made possible by the existing infrastructure in our integrated health system and the robust resources available in the Mayo Clinic Center for Digital Health. Such infrastructure may not be universally available which could limit scale and generalizability of such a program.

Conclusions:

Remote patient monitoring can offer a unique opportunity to bridge the care transition from hospital to home and increase access to quality care for the AKI survivors.
Molecular detection of SARS-CoV-2 in domestic cats in close contact with positively-infected owners in Tehran, Iran in 2021
Authors: Saneei Dorsa , Jamshidi Shahram , Ghalyanchi Langeroudi Arash , Akbarein Hesamedin , Nadji Seyed Alireza , Shoarzargari Laleh , Salehi-Vaziri Mostafa , Moazezi Ghavihelm Ali , Hojabr Rajeoni Ali , Shahbazi Vahid
Published: August 2023

Objectives

In 2019, COVID-19 emerged in China and has since spread worldwide. Owing to the virus’s ability to adhere to specific receptors, cats are susceptible to infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The popularity of pet cats in Iran has sparked fears of human–cat–human transmission of the virus. This study aimed to identify positive cases in cats owned by people infected with SARS-CoV-2, to determine if they remained positive for >3 weeks and to examine the virus genome isolated from a number of cats and one of their owners.

Methods

A total of 30 cats were sampled approximately 3 days after their owners tested positive (day 1), and 3 weeks later, in strict accordance with health regulations. Rectal and oropharyngeal samples were collected. All samples were subjected to a qualitative PCR and reverse transcription PCR. The S-gene region was partially sequenced in positive samples and the results were used to create a phylogenetic tree.

Results

SARS-CoV-2 was detected in 7/30 (23.3%) cats examined. In the third week, every cat tested negative. The sequence data of positive cats and one of their owners revealed that the retrieved RNAs belonged to the alpha variation. The genetic distance between the samples and the reference sequence (20I/B.1.1.7: OM003849, MZ344997) was minimal, with a 99% similarity. Positive samples of cats had four mutations in gene S. Amino acid substitutions in the spike glycoprotein at positions N501Y, A570D, D614G and P681H were recorded in the isolates compared with 780 other sequences of Iranian strains.

Conclusions and relevance

This study confirmed the presence of SARS-CoV-2-infected cats living in close contact with infected owners. Despite cats’ susceptibility to COVID-19, the risk of severe infection in these animals is low, as evidenced by the lack of clinical signs in positive cats.
Machine learning-based prognostic modeling of patients with acute heart failure receiving furosemide in intensive care units
Authors: Kamio Tadashi , Ikegami Masaru , Machida Yoshihito , Uemura Tomoko , Chino Naotaka , Iwagami Masao
Published: August 2023

Purpose

This study developed machine learning models to predict in-hospital mortality, initiation of acute renal replacement therapy, and mechanical ventilation in patients with acute heart failure receiving furosemide in intensive care units.

Method

An extensive database comprising static and dynamic features obtained from a Japanese hospital chain was used to construct and train the machine learning models.

Results

The results revealed that the proposed machine learning models predict in-hospital mortality, initiation of acute renal replacement therapy, and mechanical ventilation with good accuracy. However, the optimal models vary depending on the predicted outcomes. The linear support vector machine classification models exhibited the highest in-hospital mortality and mechanical ventilation prediction accuracy, with the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.73 and 0.73, respectively, whereas the multi-layer neural network exhibited the highest accuracy for acute renal replacement therapy initiation prediction with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.70.

Conclusions

In conclusion, this study demonstrated that machine learning models could help predict the clinical outcomes of patients with acute heart failure receiving furosemide. However, the optimal models may differ depending on the outcome of interest.
Exploring the Benefits of an Arts-Based Mindfulness Group Intervention for Youth Experiencing Challenges in Schooling
Authors: Coholic Diana , Eys Mark , Shaw Kaitlinn , Rienguette Martine
Published: August 2023

Research exploring the benefits of Mindfulness-Based Interventions (MBIs) with youth is emerging and promising for the improvement of resiliencies. We developed an arts-based mindfulness intervention to make learning mindfulness accessible for children who had experienced trauma. Arts-based methods are engaging, enjoyable, and developmentally relevant. Previously, we found benefits of participating in this MBI for children aged 8 to 12 years. Herein we discuss research in which we explored the benefits of this MBI for adolescents who were experiencing challenges with schooling; 146 youth completed the program. Our research question asked whether the MBI was beneficial and/or effective for these youth and, if so, what were these benefits and how did these benefits assist youth to cope? Benefits were explored via reflexive thematic analysis (TA) of pre/post-intervention, and follow-up individual interviews with youth. Effectiveness was assessed by analyzing pre- and post-intervention scores on youth self-report inventories measuring mindfulness and resilience, as well as responses from caregiver assessments of behavior/coping. To assess if there were changes in responses across timeperiods, a series of repeated measures ANOVA were employed. Quantitative findings were mixed in that the youths’ self-report scores measuring resilience showed limited improvement while mindfulness showed no significant change. However, parents’ perceptions regarding their child’s behaviors indicated significant improvements in social competence and both internalizing/externalizing behaviors. Similarly, the thematic analysis suggested improvements in youths’ self-awareness, self-judgment, thinking, mood, ability to make choices, social skills, coping, and emotion regulation. The results are promising and warrant further investigation of arts-based approaches to facilitating mindfulness with youth.
Resilience Among Older Individuals in the Face of Adversity: How Demographic and Trait Factors Affect Mental-Health Constructs and Their Temporal Dynamics
Authors: Brinkhof Lotte P. , Chambon Monique , Ridderinkhof K. Richard , van Harreveld Frenk , Murre Jaap M. J. , Krugers Harm J. , de Wit Sanne
Published: August 2023

Resilience can be conceptualized as a network of interacting mental-health constructs characterized by weak autoconnections and/or interconnections. We investigated whether positive appraisal style (PAS), the ability to bounce back or recover from stress (BRS), age, education level, and urbanization grade can confer such desirable network properties within a network comprising depression, anxiety, loneliness, and mental well-being. Longitudinal data (five time points during the COVID-19 pandemic) were derived from a sample of older adults ( N = 1,270, 55+). Individuals who were 67 or older, highly educated, or scored high on PAS and BRS exhibited more resilient network dynamics and generally better overall mental-health outcomes. Findings pertaining to urbanization grade and the (subgroup-dependent) dynamics among the mental-health constructs are also discussed. These findings may inform theorizing and interventions aimed at resilience during a challenging life phase.
The Effect of Changes in Segmental Lordosis on Global Lumbar and Adjacent Segment Lordosis After L5-S1 Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion
Authors: Nguyen Austin Q. , Harvey Jackson P. , Federico Vincent P. , Nolte Michael T. , Khanna Krishn , Gandhi Sapan D. , Sheha Evan D. , Colman Matthew W. , Phillips Frank M.
Published: August 2023

Study Design

Retrospective Cohort Study.

Objective

Restoration of lordosis in lumbar fusion reduces low back pain, decreases adjacent segment degeneration, and improves postoperative outcomes. However, the potential effects of changes in segmental lordosis on adjacent-level and global lordosis remain less understood. This study aims to examine the relationships between segmental (SL), adjacent-level, and global lumbar lordosis following L5-S1 Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF).

Methods

80 consecutive patients who underwent single-level L5-S1 ALIF were divided into 3 groups based on the degree of change (∆) in index-level segmental lordosis: <5° (n = 23), 5°-10° (n = 29), >10° (n = 28). Radiographic parameters measured included global lumbar, segmental, and adjacent level lordosis, sacral slope, pelvic tilt, pelvic incidence, and PI-LL mismatch.

Results

Patients with ∆SL 5°-10° or ∆SL >10° both showed significant increases in global lumbar lordosis from preoperative to final follow-up. However, patients with ∆SL >10° showed statistically significant losses in adjacent level lordosis at both immediate postoperative and final follow-up compared to preoperative. When comparing patients with ∆SL >10° to those with ∆SL 5-10°, there were no significant differences in global lumbar lordosis at final follow-up, due to significantly greater losses of adjacent level lordosis in these patients.

Conclusion

The degree of compensatory loss of lordosis at the adjacent level L4-L5 correlated with the extent of segmental lordosis creation at the index L5-S1 level. This may suggest that the L4 to S1 segment acts as a “harmonious unit,” able to accommodate only a certain amount of lordosis and further increases in segmental lordosis may be mitigated by loss of adjacent-level lordosis.
Correlation Between Sagittal Balance and Mechanical Distal Junctional Failure in Degenerative Pathology of the Spine: A Retrospective Analysis
Authors: Montanari Sara , Griffoni Cristiana , Cristofolini Luca , Girolami Marco , Gasbarrini Alessandro , Barbanti Bròdano Giovanni
Published: August 2023

Study design

Retrospective cohort study.

Objectives

This study aimed to investigate the failure of the caudal end of lumbar posterior fixation in terms of pre-operative and post-operative spinopelvic parameters, correction performed, demographic and clinical data.

Methods

The lumbar, thoraco-lumbar and lumbo-sacral posterior fixations performed with pedicle screws and rods in 2017-2019 were retrospectively analyzed. As 81% failures occurred within 4 years, an observational period of 4 years was chosen. The revision surgeries due to the failure in the caudal end were collected in the junctional group. Fixations which have not failed were gathered in the control group. The main spinopelvic parameters were measured for each patient on standing lateral radiographs with the software Surgimap. Demographic and clinical data were extracted for both groups.

Results

Among the 457 patients who met the inclusion criteria, the junctional group included 101 patients, who required a revision surgery. The control group collected 356 primary fixations. The two most common causes of revision surgeries were screws pullout (57 cases) and rod breakage (53 cases). SVA, PT, LL, PI-LL and TPA differed significantly between the two groups ( P = .021 for LL, P < .0001 for all the others). The interaction between the two groups and the pre-operative and post-operative conditions was significant for PT, SS, LL, TK, PI-LL and TPA ( P < .005). Sex and BMI did not affect the failure onset.

Conclusions

Mechanical failure is more likely to occur in patients older than 40 years with a thoraco-lumbar fixation where PT, PI-LL and TPA were not properly restored.