bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Religiosity, employee empowerment and employee engagement: an empirical analysis
Authors: Nwachukwu Chijioke , Chládková Helena , Agboga Richard Selase , Vu Hieu Minh
Published: August 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to enhance our understanding of the connection between religiosity, employee empowerment and employee engagement.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on the social exchange theory, a framework of hypotheses is developed that focusses on religiosity, employee empowerment and their impact on employee engagement. This research employed a quantitative survey and data obtained from 232 adults working in companies in Accra Ghana.

Findings

The results suggest that religiosity dimensions (extrinsic and intrinsic) have a counterbalancing effect on employee engagement dimensions (intellectual and affective). Employee empowerment predicts both intellectual and affective engagement.

Research limitations/implications

This study has some limitations which provide opportunities for more research. First, the study is cross-sectional and focusses on employees in selected companies in Accra Ghana. More so, the participants were a convenience, majorly men (only 28% were women). This limits the generalisability of the findings and our confidence in ascertaining the “cause” and “effect” in the relationship. The present paper used a quantitative research approach; mixed method may provide in-depth insight into the subject. The study examined the direct relationship between religiosity, employee empowerment and employee engagement. Future research should explore how the effect of religiosity and employee empowerment on a relevant outcome changes according to other organisational characteristics.

Practical implications

Organisations must develop more interest in religion's relevance and its impact on their employees' engagement. This should be done by providing the necessary platforms for employees to practice their religion. There is the likelihood of lack of engagement when an organisation fails to consider employee religious orientation or attempts to unduly regulate employees' religiosity. Empowering work environment can promote a higher level of employee engagement. It is obvious that empowered employees are focussed, energetic, enthusiastic and have positive disposition to work. These positive attitudes lead to a higher level of engagement which fosters productivity and overall organisational performance.

Originality/value

This study could contribute to the literature on religiosity, employee empowerment and employee engagement in the Ghanaian context. Therefore, there is a need to keep employees engaged and enhance productivity. This study underpins the importance of religiosity and employee empowerment in fostering employee engagement and productivity in the Ghana work setting.
A sequential route of data and document qualities, satisfaction and motivations on researchers' data reuse intentions
Authors: Kim Youngseek
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This study examined how the qualities of both data and documents of existing datasets can contribute to researchers' satisfaction of data reuse, and how it affects their data reuse intentions mediated by attitudinal and normative beliefs of data reuse.

Design/methodology/approach

A combined theoretical framework integrating IS (Information Systems) Success Model and the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) was utilized to develop the research model of researchers' data reuse, which was evaluated using structural equation modeling based on 820 survey responses from STEM disciplines in the US.

Findings

This study found that both data and document qualities significantly contribute to researchers' satisfaction of data reuse. Then, their satisfaction significantly increases perceived usefulness and subjective norm of data reuse, and it decreases perceived risk associated with data reuse. Finally, both perceived usefulness and subjective norm significantly increases their data reuse intentions.

Research limitations/implications

The combined theoretical framework integrating IS success model and TPB provides a new theoretical lens in understanding researchers' data reuse behaviors affected by the qualities of both data and documents.

Practical implications

The findings of this study provided several practical implications in promoting and facilitating researchers' data reuse behaviors by improving data and document qualities of existing datasets.

Originality/value

This is one of the initial studies focusing on the roles of data and document qualities in researchers' data reuse, and it provides a systematic view of how data and document qualities influence researchers' data reuse mediated by their satisfaction of data reuse and attitudinal and normative beliefs.
Wikipedia: an unexplored resource for understanding consumer health information behaviour in library and information science scholarship
Authors: Smith Denise A.
Published: August 2021

Purpose

To date, health information behaviour (HIB) models have not been applied to an exploration of Wikipedia as a consumer health information resource. Wikipedia has been situated and is well established as a valuable resource for the general layperson wishing to learn more about their health or the health of a loved one. This paper aims to identify an approach to exploring the role of Wikipedia in consumer health information behaviour (CHIB) that is grounded in a conceptual framework from the library and information science (LIS) discipline.

Design/methodology/approach

The author draws on current HIB models and relevant theories from existing LIS literature and applies them to propose a new definition of CHIB. The author uses this definition to frame Wikipedia as an unexplored consumer health information resource in the LIS scholarship and suggests future directions for placing such investigations within a conceptual framework from LIS.

Findings

The paper finds that Longo's expanded conceptual model of health information-seeking behaviour (ECMHISB) could be valuable and useful for the exploration of CHIB in relation to Wikipedia's health and medical content. Due to Wikipedia's online nature, research framed by these models must acknowledge and take under consideration the digital divide phenomenon and various factors that influence an individual's place within it.

Research limitations/implications

This work builds a foundation upon which future research into the role of Wikipedia's health and medical content in CHIB can be grounded. Using Longo's model, future research might provide insight into who Wikipedia is helping and who it has left behind. LIS scholars, practicing health librarians and perhaps health workers stand to gain a deeper understanding of the potential influence of Wikipedia's health information on its consumers.

Originality/value

For LIS scholars, this paper is novel in the fact that a HIB model has not yet been applied to the study of Wikipedia's health content. This paper provides a foundation for this research.
Designing a collection of two IoT-Systems for real time health telemonitoring
Authors: Mahmood Ahlam Fadhil , Rafaa Marwa Mohamad
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This paper aims to electronic caring the health of many kinds of patients.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper opted for designing IoT health-care system bracelet used photon as controller collect with five sensors. And second using raspberry 3 B+ collect with ECG, ECG and camera. Thinkspeak cloud was used for plotting data and communicate with doctor by bylnk mobile application.

Findings

The paper provides a real data for six-Covid-19 patient in 22 days.

Originality/value

Design an IoT system that send daily information to doctor if a patient needs to visit him/her or monthly reported to the hospital. Send patient’s vital signs to doctor as curves for fast noting any problems. The proposed system can be operate on two states (special, if need to periodically monitor or normal only when any trouble occurs), It was covered the two Covid-19 patient cases simple and critical by real testing these two systems on six Covid-19 patients. The two collections were succeeded in monitoring simple and critical Covid-19 cases.
What do stakeholders in the construction industry look for in non-financial disclosure and what do they get?
Authors: Hadro Dominika , Fijałkowska Justyna , Daszyńska-Żygadło Karolina , Zumente Ilze , Mjakuškina Svetlana
Published: August 2021

Purpose

This study aims to verify whether non-financial disclosure in the construction industry (CI) responds to stakeholders’ information needs and explores the most frequent topics disclosed in terms of the environmental, social and governance (ESG) pillars.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses a bag-of-words method and latent Dirichlet allocation to match stakeholders’ expectations with information disclosed by companies. This paper assesses the publicly available non-financial disclosure of the 46 European CI companies covered by the Refinitiv database with ESG scores.

Findings

This study provides two main findings. First, it shows the mismatch between stakeholders’ information needs and what they get in non-financial reporting. Despite non-financial information in CI disclosure, the information disclosed by many CI companies does not meet their users’ information needs. CI companies commonly focus on their sustainable products and health policy while omitting other topics of interest – the circular economy, unethical business behaviour, migrant policy and human trafficking. Second, this study indicates the defects of simple disclosure analysis based on keywords and highlights the importance of context in information analysis.

Practical implications

The proposed novel approach to text analysis offers several practical applications. It is a more effective tool for evaluating companies’ sustainability performance. It may be especially important to ESG rating providers. Additionally, the results may be of interest to companies wishing to improve their communication, and, in particular, to regulators and standard setters in two matters. The first is the need for more pressure to increase awareness among issuers to shift from disclosing large amounts of non-financial information to disclosing good quality non-financial information, which would be appropriate for meeting stakeholders’ expectations. The second is the necessity for deepening issuers’ understanding of the diverse stakeholders’ information needs, considering the substantial differences among industries and improving communication to meet them.

Originality/value

This study introduces text analysis that, apart from keywords, considers the context of these keywords’ appearances in a report’s narration. It allows a significantly improved understanding of the information disclosed and a more stable grounding for reasoning, leading to better and informed decisions. Moreover, this study verifies how the information disclosed matches stakeholders’ needs. Finally, it enriches the literature on sectoral analysis concerning non-financial disclosure.
Fatal bilateral pneumothoraces after electroacupuncture treatment: A case report and literature review
Authors: Yamaguchi Rutsuko , Makino Yohsuke , Torimitsu Suguru , Chiba Fumiko , Kihara Yuko , Iwase Hirotaro
Published: August 2021

Acupuncture is practiced as a complementary medicine worldwide. Although it is considered a safe practice, pneumothorax is one of its most common serious complications. However, there have been few reports of deaths due to pneumothorax after acupuncture treatment, especially focused on electroacupuncture. We report an autopsy case of a man in his 60s who went into cardiopulmonary arrest and died immediately after receiving electroacupuncture. Postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) showed bilateral pneumothoraces, as well as the presence of numerous gold threads embedded subcutaneously. An autopsy revealed two ecchymoses in the right thoracic cavity and a pinhole injury on the lower lobe of the right lung, suggesting that the needles had penetrated the lung. There were marked emphysematous changes in the lung, suggesting that rupture of bullae might also have contributed to bilateral pneumothoraces and fatal outcome. The acupuncture needles may have been drawn deeper into the body than at the time of insertion due to electrical pulses and muscle contraction, indicating the need for careful determination of treatment indications and technical safety measures, such as fail‐safe mechanisms. This is the first case report of fatal bilateral pneumothoraces after electroacupuncture reported in the English literature. This case sheds light on the safety of electroacupuncture and the need for special care when administering it to patients with pulmonary disease who may be at a higher risk of pneumothorax. This is also the first report of three‐dimensional reconstructed PMCT images showing the whole‐body distribution of embedded gold acupuncture threads, which is unusual.
Per‐oral pancreatoscopy‐guided lithotripsy for the endoscopic management of pancreatolithiasis: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Guzmán‐Calderón Edson , Martinez‐Moreno Belen , Casellas Juan A. , Aparicio José Ramón
Published: August 2021

Objective

Pancreatic stones result from chronic pancreatitis and can occur in the main pancreatic duct, pancreatic branches or parenchyma. Although extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) is considered the first‐line treatment, per‐oral pancreatoscopy (POP) has emerged as a useful method for treating pancreatic stones. The aim of this systematic review and meta‐analysis was to determine the efficacy and safety of POP‐guided lithotripsy, electrohydraulic lithotripsy (EHL) and laser lithotripsy (LL), in patients with pancreatolithiasis.

Methods

Literature review was conducted in PubMed, OVID, MEDLINE and Cochrane Library databases for studies published up to August 2020.

Results

Altogether 15 studies were analyzed, of which 11 were retrospective and four were prospective. The studies comprised 370 patients, of whom 66.4% were male. The patients underwent 218 EHL and 155 LL. The pooled technical and clinical success rate of the overall POP was 88.1% and 87.1%. For EHL‐POP, the pooled technical success rate was 90.9% (95% CI 87.2%‐95.2%) and the pooled clinical success rate was 89.8% (95% CI 87.2%‐95.2%). While for LL‐POP, the pooled technical and clinical success rate was 88.4% (95% CI 85.9%‐95.1%) and 85.8% (95% CI 80.6%‐91.6%). In total 43 adverse events occurred (12.1%; 95% CI 8.7%‐15.5%).

Conclusion

POP‐guided lithotripsy has a high rate of technical and clinical success for managing pancreatolithiasis with a low complication rate. Both EHL‐POP and LL‐POP achieve similar efficacy in the endoscopic therapy of pancreatolithiasis. Further large randomized controlled trials are needed to compare EHL‐POP and LL‐POP with ESWL and evaluate whether POP may replace ESWL as the first‐line management of pancreatolithiasis.
The predictive value of PET/CT for distant recurrences in locally advanced rectal cancer treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy
Authors: Kong Joseph C , Ryan Jennifer , Akhurst Timothy , Ngan Samuel Y , Michael Michael , Tie Jeanne , Warrier Satish K , Heriot Alexander G
Published: August 2021

Introduction

It is well recognized that pathological complete response (pCR) for locally advanced rectal cancer after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) confers a positive survival advantage. Despite this, a small proportion of patients can develop distant recurrence, and these are the patients that will likely benefit from adjuvant therapy. This study aims to investigate the role of PET/CT as a functional imaging to stratify patients according to their risk of distant recurrence.

Methods

This is a retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained database in a single quaternary teaching hospital from 2010 to 2019. All consecutive cases of locally advanced rectal cancer with restaging PET/CT were included. The primary outcome measure was 5‐year OS and distant recurrence‐free survival.

Results

A pCR and complete metabolic response (CMR) were identified in 47 (18%) patients and 73 (27.4%) patients respectively. Of these, 26 patients had both pCR and CMR and these patients remained free of local and distant recurrence at their last censored date. Patients with both pCR and CMR achieved the highest 5‐year overall survival of 96.2%, followed by those with pCR and incomplete CMR (iCMR) of 85.7%, non‐pCR and CMR of 85.1% and non‐pCR and iCMR of 83.1%. Independent predictors for 5‐year distant recurrence‐free survival were pathological and PET metabolic response, nodal staging and lymphovascular invasion (LVI).

Conclusion

In conclusion, a PET/CT has the potential to better stratify patients of their risk of distant metastasis. However, a larger validation cohort is required before these findings can be translated to clinical utility.
Simultaneous genotyping of snails and infecting trematode parasites using high‐throughput amplicon sequencing
Authors: Hammoud Cyril , Mulero Stephen , Van Bocxlaer Bert , Boissier Jérôme , Verschuren Dirk , Albrecht Christian , Huyse Tine
Published: August 2021

Several methodological issues currently hamper the study of entire trematode communities within populations of their intermediate snail hosts. Here we develop a new workflow using high‐throughput amplicon sequencing to simultaneously genotype snail hosts and their infecting trematode parasites. We designed primers to amplify four snail and five trematode markers in a single multiplex PCR. While also applicable to other genera, we focused on medically and economically important snail genera within the superorder Hygrophila and targeted a broad taxonomic range of parasites within the class Trematoda. We tested the workflow using 417 Biomphalaria glabrata specimens experimentally infected with Schistosoma rodhaini, two strains of Schistosoma mansoni and combinations thereof. We evaluated the reliability of infection diagnostics, the robustness of the workflow, its specificity related to host and parasite identification, and the sensitivity to detect co‐infections, immature infections and changes of parasite biomass during the infection process. Finally, we investigated its applicability in wild‐caught snails of other genera naturally infected with a diverse range of trematodes. After stringent quality control the workflow allows the identification of snails to species level, and of trematodes to taxonomic levels ranging from family to strain. It is sensitive to detect immature infections and changes in parasite biomass described in previous experimental studies. Co‐infections were successfully identified, opening the possibility to examine parasite–parasite interactions such as interspecific competition. Together, these results demonstrate that our workflow provides a powerful tool to analyse the processes shaping trematode communities within natural snail populations.
Performance of methods to detect genetic variants from bisulphite sequencing data in a non‐model species
Authors: Lindner Melanie , Gawehns Fleur , te Molder Sebastiaan , Visser Marcel E. , van Oers Kees , Laine Veronika N.
Published: August 2021

The profiling of epigenetic marks like DNA methylation has become a central aspect of studies in evolution and ecology. Bisulphite sequencing is commonly used for assessing genome‐wide DNA methylation at single nucleotide resolution but these data can also provide information on genetic variants like single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). However, bisulphite conversion causes unmethylated cytosines to appear as thymines, complicating the alignment and subsequent SNP calling. Several tools have been developed to overcome this challenge, but there is no independent evaluation of such tools for non‐model species, which often lack genomic references. Here, we used whole‐genome bisulphite sequencing (WGBS) data from four female great tits (Parus major) to evaluate the performance of seven tools for SNP calling from bisulphite sequencing data. We used SNPs from whole‐genome resequencing data of the same samples as baseline SNPs to assess common performance metrics like sensitivity, precision, and the number of true positive, false positive, and false negative SNPs for the full range of variant and genotype quality values. We found clear differences between the tools in either optimizing precision (Bis‐SNP), sensitivity (biscuit), or a compromise between both (all other tools). Overall, the choice of SNP caller strongly depends on which performance parameter should be maximized and whether ascertainment bias should be minimized to optimize downstream analysis, highlighting the need for studies that assess such differences.
Signs of life: Oxygen sensors confirm viability, measure oxygen consumption and provide rapid, effective contamination monitoring for field‐based tissue culture
Authors: Robinson Kelly J. , Armstrong Holly C. , Moss Simon E. W. , Oller Laura , Hall Ailsa J. , Bennett Kimberley A.
Published: August 2021

Understanding the ecology and evolution of wildlife and domesticated species requires knowledge of their physiological responses to environmental change and the constraints under which they operate. However, whole animal experiments are often limited in sample size and can be logistically and ethically challenging. Culture techniques represent a powerful approach, but are used infrequently in field research due to practical constraints. We used minimal tissue culture equipment in a remote field site for in vitro explant experiments using blubber from wild grey seals Halichoerus grypus. Assessing explant viability and detecting microbial contamination in remote field sites, where facilities are often small, unspecialised and more vulnerable to bacterial or fungal infection, present major challenges.

We investigated whether oxygen‐sensitive planar optodes (OSPO) in closed system respirometry could be used to assess oxygen consumption by blubber explants from suckling and fasting wild seal pups as a proxy for viability. We also explored whether OSPOs could provide rapid information on whole animal relevant physiological metrics by determining whether explant oxygen consumption correlated with the nutritional state of the animal, blubber depth and other tissue metabolic properties, including glucose uptake, lactate production and lipolysis.

Vials containing blubber explants consumed significant amounts of oxygen compared to controls, showing tissues were metabolically active. Oxygen consumption differed between nutritional states and blubber tissue depth. These differences were reflected in other tissue metabolic properties. Dissolved oxygen levels remained consistent over 24 hr in 94% of control vials containing only culture media. In 6% of control vials extremely rapid oxygen consumption preceded, by 2–3 days, colour changes in the phenol‐red containing media that indicate lactic acidosis from microbial metabolic activity.

Oxygen use in control vials was, therefore, an effective monitoring system that provided vital early warning of media contamination, allowing stocks to be discarded, which prevented erroneous results and avoided waste of valuable field time and irreplaceable samples. OSPO are thus a useful tool for simultaneously assessing tissue oxygen consumption, investigating functional physiological differences and monitoring microbiological contamination in culture experiments, particularly in field laboratories studying live tissues from wildlife.
A range‐wide monitoring programme for a critically endangered nomadic bird
Authors: Stojanovic Dejan , Rayner Laura , Tulloch Ayesha , Crates Ross , Webb Matthew , Ingwersen Dean , Runge Claire , Heinsohn Robert
Published: August 2021

Nomads challenge the prevailing approach to species conservation because their unpredictable resource‐driven movements hamper data collection. We developed a monitoring approach to address the conservation needs of critically endangered, nomadic regent honeyeaters Anthochaera phrygia, whose unpredictable movements occur at a continental scale. We used species distribution models that incorporated lagged effects of environmental variation on habitat suitability to refine and prioritise monitoring. By incorporating lagged effects of weather on occurrence, we identified a priority area within which we selected sites to survey. We undertook 1695 surveys in 2016 at 777 priority sites, and in 2017, we conducted a further 1434 surveys at 859 sites. We discovered nesting regent honeyeaters at new locations, locating 218 regent honeyeaters over two years. We validated performance of our priority mapping with the 2016–2017 survey results and the results of Crates et al. (J. Wildl. Manage. 2017, 81, 669). Predictive performance of the priority monitoring range map was best at estimated model values of approximately 0.7 and declined at both higher and lower values. Water availability was an important predictor, but poor resolution of the underlying data used in SDMs (e.g. temporary water sources) may explain our model performance. By accounting for spatiotemporal weather variation, we show that regional habitat suitability within the range of regent honeyeaters varied dramatically among years. Incorporating dynamic weather conditions is a useful approach to designing monitoring programmes for nomads. Our approach shows how to compromise between the need to account for the dynamic environmental conditions that drive site occupancy of nomads and the practical logistic constraints of implementing monitoring with scarce resources.
Space use and social interactions of Central African slender‐snouted crocodiles Mecistops leptorhynchus (Bennett, 1835) in Loango National Park, Gabon
Authors: Kouman Christine Y. , Ebome Angel E. A. , Ahizi Michel N. , Ouattara Mamadou , Ouattara Allassane , Fairet Emilie , Shirley Matthew H.
Published: August 2021

Mecistops leptorhynchus (Bennett, 1935) is among the least studied crocodylians worldwide, and little information exists on its movement patterns and habitat use. Using VHF radio tracking, we determined home range, core use areas and spatio‐temporal interactions for 30 individual M. leptorhynchus (14 females and 16 males), as well as providing a preliminary assessment of their habitat preferences and emergence dynamics in the Echira and Ngové Rivers, Loango National Park (Gabon). During two periods in 2010 (March to June–106 days, and October to November–49 days) we recorded 447 relocations of all tagged individuals (mean of 15 relocations/crocodile). Individual home range varied from 3.03 to 164.83 ha (median = 17.91 ha) and core use area from 0.25 to 25.37 ha (median = 1.50 ha). Males exhibited the largest home ranges whereas females recorded the largest core areas. Subadults covered the largest areas at both spatial scale. These difference were not statistically significant. Interestingly, M. leptorhynchus showed more space sharing than other crocodylian species, though with significant temporal avoidance—likely an adaptive behaviour used to reduce risks of conflict in high density environments. Our emergence assessment, though potentially confounded by transmitter placement, indicated limited basking behaviour in this species with unknown effect on its detection probability. All individuals, irrespective of size and sex, principally used main water courses. Ultimately our findings provide the first data on M. leptorhynchus home range and social organisation, which may help direct targeted management strategies for this species.
Update on pulmonary embolism in pregnancy and post‐partum: The Society of Obstetric Medicine of Australia and New Zealand Position Statement on Pulmonary Embolism in Pregnancy and Post‐partum
Authors: Lowe Sandra A. , Barrett Helen L. , Cutts Briony A. , Idel Irena , Laurie Josephine , Makris Angela , Morton Mark R. , Said Joanne
Published: August 2021

In this clinical review we highlight aspects of the diagnosis and management of pulmonary embolism (PE) in pregnancy and post‐partum and how this may impact on antenatal and postnatal management. Investigation for PE in pregnancy is challenging and includes appropriate patient selection and knowledge of the risks and benefits of pulmonary imaging modalities. The complete Society of Obstetric Medicine of Australia and New Zealand Position Statement on Pulmonary Embolism in Pregnancy and Post‐Partum comprehensively reviews all aspects of diagnosis, investigation and management and is accessible at https://www.somanz.org/guidelines.asp. It includes a summary of all recommendations and a guide to developing a management plan for birth in women on anticoagulation.
What we know about intra‐operative radiation exposure and hazards to operating theatre staff: A systematic review
Authors: Gogos Sophia , Touzell Amy , Lerner Lori Beth
Published: August 2021

Background

The widespread adoption of minimally invasive surgery and increased use of intra‐operative fluoroscopy places surgeons and trainees at risk of cumulative occupational radiation exposure. Unfortunately, there is limited published data specific to surgeons on the potential health implications. This study aims to review current literature regarding the hazards of cumulative radiation exposure among operating theatre staff.

Methods

A systematic review was conducted of four databases for studies reporting on cumulative intra‐operative radiation exposure for operating theatre staff and the hazards associated with prolonged and frequent use. References from relevant studies were screened for additional texts. English language studies, controlled trials and cross‐sectional studies were included. Abstracts and full‐text studies were assessed for relevance and eligibility independently by two authors using Covidence.

Results

Six studies were included, with cancer being the most commonly reported long‐term health hazard possibly associated with cumulative radiation exposure. A 1.85 fold greater prevalence of all cancers and 2.9 fold greater prevalence of breast cancer was reported amongst female orthopaedic surgeons compared to a sex‐ and age‐adjusted population, but the results were not replicated amongst other surgical specialties. Multiple limitations of quantifying health risks of intra‐operative radiation exposure were identified, including identifying a dose‐effect relationship and confounders such as nulliparity and maternal age.

Conclusion

This article highlights the lack of robust evidence regarding the potential hazards of cumulative occupational intra‐operative radiation exposure. This study demonstrates the importance of developing standardised national radiation safety protocols for surgical colleges and subspecialties to minimise risks to operating theatre staff.
Vertical transmission of methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus at delivery and its clinical impact: An observational, prospective cohort study
Authors: Ogura Jumpei , Inayama Yoshihide , Sasamoto Naoko , Hirayama Takahiro , Ohara Tsutomu , Sakai Mie , Suzuki Haruka , Yasumoto Koji , Suginami Koh , Yamanoi Koji
Published: August 2021

Introduction

Methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection has a significant clinical impact on both pregnant women and neonates. The aim of this study was to assess accurately the vertical transmission rate of MRSA and its clinical impacts on both pregnant mothers and neonates.

Material and methods

We conducted a prospective observational cohort study of 898 pregnant women who were admitted to our department and 905 neonates from August 2016 to December 2017. MRSA was cultured from nasal and vaginal samples taken from the mothers at enrollment and from nasal and umbilical surface swabs taken from neonates at the time of delivery. We examined the vertical transmission rate of MRSA in mother‐neonate pairs. We used multivariable logistic regression to identify risk factors for maternal MRSA colonization and maternal/neonatal adverse outcomes associated with maternal MRSA colonization.

Results

The prevalence of maternal MRSA colonization was 6.1% (55 of 898) at enrollment. The independent risk factors were multiparity and occupation (healthcare provider) (odds ratio [OR] 2.35, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.25–4.42 and OR 2.58, 95% CI 1.39–4.79, respectively). The prevalence of neonatal MRSA colonization at birth was 12.7% (7 of 55 mother‐neonate pairs) in the maternal MRSA‐positive group, whereas it was only 0.12% (one of 843 pairs) in the maternal MRSA‐negative group (OR 121, 95% CI 14.6–1000). When maternal vaginal samples were MRSA‐positive, vertical transmission was observed in four of nine cases (44.4%) in this study. Skin and soft tissue infections developed more frequently in neonates in the maternal MRSA‐positive group than in the MRSA‐negative group (OR 7.47, 95% CI 2.50–22.3).

Conclusions

The prevalence of MRSA in pregnant women was approximately 6%. Vertical transmission caused by maternal vaginal MRSA colonization was observed in four of nine cases (44.4%). Although our study includes a limited number of maternal MRSA positive cases, the vertical transmission of MRSA may occur in up to 44% of neonates of mothers with vaginal MRSA colonization. Maternal MRSA colonization may be associated with increased development of skin and soft tissue infections in neonates via vertical transmission.
Risk of adverse perinatal outcomes in infants born to mothers with mental health conditions
Authors: Heuckendorff Signe , Christensen Louise F. , Fonager Kirsten , Overgaard Charlotte
Published: August 2021

Introduction

Maternal mental health conditions have been shown to affect perinatal outcomes negatively. However, knowledge on the impact of different types and severities of maternal mental health conditions is needed. The objective of this study was to determine the association between maternal mental health status and perinatal health outcomes in the infant.

Material and methods

This register‐based cohort study included all live‐born infants in Denmark born between 2000 and 2016. Exposed infants were grouped based on whether the mothers received mental health care in primary care settings only (minor conditions) or required specialized psychiatric intervention (moderate–severe conditions) within 12 months before childbirth. Modified Poisson regression analyses were applied to produce adjusted risk ratios (aRRs) for each perinatal outcome of interest. The primary outcomes were neonatal mortality, 5‐minute Apgar scores <7 and <4 and newborn hospital admission during the neonatal period. Secondary outcomes included several neonatal morbidities such as respiratory distress syndrome and abstinence syndrome.

Results

A total of 952 071 infants were included in the analysis; 4.0% had mothers with minor mental health conditions and 2.9% had mothers with moderate–severe conditions. The risk of neonatal death in exposed infants was aRR 1.08 (95% CI 0.93–1.27) for minor mental health conditions and aRR 0.93 (95% CI 0.78–1.11) for moderate–severe conditions. Both exposure groups had increased risks of 5‐minute Apgar scores <7 (minor: aRR 1.28, 95% CI 1.16–1.41; moderate–severe: aRR 1.49, 95% CI 1.34–1.66); 5‐minute Apgar scores <4 (minor: aRR 1.10, 95% CI 0.93–1.30; moderate–severe: aRR 1.18, 95% CI 0.98–1.43), and hospital admission during the neonatal period (minor: aRR 1.20, 95% CI 1.17–1.23; moderate–severe: aRR 1.22, 95% CI 1.19–1.26) along with several neonatal morbidities. An explicit high risk was seen for abstinence syndrome (minor: aRR 10.30, 95% CI 8.40–12.63; moderate–severe: aRR 12.13, 95% CI 10.17–15.67).

Conclusions

Infants of mothers with moderate–severe and minor mental health conditions were at increased risks of multiple adverse perinatal outcomes. Effective supportive interventions to improve outcomes in both groups are needed.
The effect of chemotherapy on the exposure–response relation of abiraterone in metastatic castration‐resistant prostate cancer
Authors: Boerrigter Emmy , Benoist Guillemette E. , Overbeek Joanneke K. , Donders Rogier , Mehra Niven , van Oort Inge M. , ter Heine Rob , van Erp Nielka P.
Published: August 2021

Aims

To assess whether the exposure–response relation for abiraterone is different in pre‐chemotherapy patients compared to post‐chemotherapy patients with metastatic castration‐resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC).

Methods

Data were collected from three clinical studies in mCRPC patients treated with abiraterone acetate. Cox regression analysis was used to determine the relation between abiraterone exposure and survival (progression‐free survival [PFS] and overall survival [OS]). An interaction term was used to test whether chemotherapy pretreatment was an effect modifier. To investigate the effect of the previously defined exposure threshold of 8.4 ng/mL on survival, Kaplan–Meier analysis was used.

Results

In total, 98 mCRPC patients were included, of which 78 were pre‐chemotherapy and 20 were post‐chemotherapy patients. Chemotherapy pretreatment in mCRPC setting appears to be an effect modifier. In pre‐chemotherapy patients, no significant association between abiraterone exposure and survival was observed (HR 0.68 [95% CI 0.42–1.10], P = .12 and HR 0.85 [95% CI 0.46–1.60], P = .61, PFS and OS, respectively) and no longer survival was seen for patients with an abiraterone exposure above the predefined threshold. In contrast, a significant association was seen in post‐chemotherapy patients (HR 0.30 [95% CI 0.12–0.74], P = .01 and HR 0.38 [95% CI 0.18–0.82] P = .01, PFS and OS, respectively), with an increased survival when exposed above this threshold.

Conclusion

Chemotherapy pretreatment in mCRPC setting modifies the abiraterone exposure–response relation. No relation between abiraterone exposure and survival was seen for pre‐chemotherapy patients. Therefore, potentially lower doses can be used in this setting to prevent overtreatment and reduce financial toxicity.
Causal inference with outcomes truncated by death in multiarm studies
Authors: Luo Shanshan , Li Wei , He Yangbo
Published: August 2021

It is challenging to evaluate causal effects when the outcomes of interest suffer from truncation‐by‐death in many clinical studies; that is, outcomes cannot be observed if patients die before the time of measurement. To address this problem, it is common to consider average treatment effects by principal stratification, for which, the identifiability results and estimation methods with a binary treatment have been established in previous literature. However, in multiarm studies with more than two treatment options, estimation of causal effects becomes more complicated and requires additional techniques. In this article, we consider identification, estimation, and bounds of causal effects with multivalued ordinal treatments and the outcomes subject to truncation‐by‐death. We define causal parameters of interest in this setting and show that they are identifiable either using some auxiliary variable or based on linear model assumption. We then propose a semiparametric method for estimating the causal parameters and derive their asymptotic results. When the identification conditions are invalid, we derive sharp bounds of the causal effects by use of covariates adjustment. Simulation studies show good performance of the proposed estimator. We use the estimator to analyze the effects of a four‐level chronic toxin on fetal developmental outcomes such as birth weight in rats and mice, with data from a developmental toxicity trial conducted by the National Toxicology Program. Data analyses demonstrate that a high dose of the toxin significantly reduces the weights of pups.
Tectono‐stratigraphic development of a salt‐influenced rift margin: Halten Terrace, offshore Mid‐Norway
Authors: Elliott Gavin M. , Jackson Christopher A.‐L. , Gawthorpe Robert L. , Wilson Paul , Sharp Ian R. , Michelsen Lisa
Published: August 2021

Pre‐rift salt controls structural style variability within rifts by decoupling sub‐ and supra‐salt faults. However, the way in which this variability controls sediment erosion and dispersal, and facies distributions within the coeval syn‐rift stratigraphic succession, remains poorly known. We here use 3D seismic reflection and borehole data to study the tectono‐stratigraphic development of the Halten Terrace, offshore Mid‐Norway, a salt‐influenced rifted margin formed during Middle to Late Jurassic extension. On the eastern basin margin, the rift structural style passes southwards from an unbreached extensional growth fold dissected by numerous horst and graben (Bremstein Fault Complex [BFC]), into a single, through‐going normal fault (Vingleia Fault Complex [VFC]). This southwards change in structural style is likely related to the pinch‐out of or a change in the dominant lithology (and thus rheology) within a pre‐rift (Triassic) evaporite layer, which was thick and/or mobile enough in the north to decouple basement‐ and cover‐involved faulting, and to permit extensional forced folding. As a result, the salt‐influenced BFC underwent limited footwall uplift, with minor erosion of relatively small horsts supplying only limited volumes of sediment to the main downdip depocentre. In contrast, the VFC, which was directly coupled to basement, experienced significant uplift and extensive footwall erosion. The footwall of this structure also locally underwent salt‐detached gravity gliding and collapse as the pre‐rift detachment was tilted. Our results show that where through‐going normal faults develop along the rift flanks, the presence of a pre‐rift salt layer will suppress the topographic expression of the footwall. The pre‐rift salt layer may however facilitate footwall collapse and limit the volume of sediment supplied to downdip basins. Our results also show that variable topography along the rift flanks facilitated the development of relatively small, localised, intra‐rift flank accommodation that trapped flank‐derived sediment, and which meant basins nearer the rift axis were starved of sediment.
Phylogenetic analysis of the family Megalopodidae (Coleoptera: Chrysomeloidea): better taxon‐sampling facilitates detection of new relationships and new taxa
Authors: Rodríguez‐Mirón Geovanni M. , Zaragoza‐Caballero Santiago , Morrone Juan J.
Published: August 2021

The systematics of Megalopodidae is not adequately known, in spite of it being a relatively small group of phytophagous beetles. The first phylogenetic analysis of Megalopodidae with a comprehensive generic representation (25 genera of 30 described, 10 subgenera and 77 species) is undertaken. A parsimony analysis under equal and implied weights was carried out based on 147 adult and larval morphological characters. Subfamilies Palophaginae and Zeugophorinae were recovered as monophyletic, by contrast with Megalopodinae, which proved to be paraphyletic. Atelederinae are proposed as a new subfamily. Also, three tribes and three subtribes within Megalopodinae are proposed: Leucasteinitrib.n., Sphondyliinitrib.n. and Megalopodini, the latter including Macrolophinasubtrib.n., Temnaspidinasubtrib.n. and Megalopodina. The generaMacrolopha,Kuilua,Poecilomorpha,Temnaspis,Antonaria,Agathomerus,MegalopusandBothromegalopuswere recovered as non‐monophyletic. New delimitations of the polyphyletic generaPoecilomorphaandMacrolophaare proposed,Clythraxelomais resurrected, and the subgenera ofAgathomerusare suppressed. The following new combinations are proposed:Kuilua apicata(Fairmaire),K. nyassae(Jacoby),Poecilomorpha cribricollis(Pic),P. minuta(Pic),Clythraxeloma assamensis(Jacoby),C. bipartita(Lacordaeri),C. discolineata(Pic),C. downesii(Baly),C. gerstaeckeri(Westwood),C. laosensis (Pic),C. maculata(Pic),C. mouhoti(Baly),C. nigrocyanea(Motschulsky),C. pretiosa(Reineck),Temnaspis tricoloripes(Pic) andBarticaria faciatus(Dalman).Clythraxeloma cyanipennisKraatz is a restored combination. Distribution patterns of Megalopodidae largely conform to the breakup of Gondwanaland, with its main clades having particular distributions: Andean‐Australian (Palophaginae), Ethiopian (Leucasteini, Sphondyliini, and Macrolophina), Neotropical (Ateledrinae and Megalopodina) and Ethiopian‐Oriental‐Palaearctic (Temnaspidina the result of a secondary expansion. Zeugophorinae present a worldwide distribution, except for the Neotropical and Andean regions, which may be the result of geodispersal. The findings of the present study also shed light on groups with taxonomic issues, where phylogenetic analyses are strongly needed.
Bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem cells promote Helicobacter pylori‐associated gastric cancer progression by secreting thrombospondin‐2
Authors: Shi Huiying , Qi Cuihua , Meng Lingjun , Yao Hailing , Jiang Chen , Fan Mengke , Zhang Qin , Hou Xiaohua , Lin Rong
Published: August 2021

Objectives

Bone marrow‐derived cells (BMDCs), especially mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), may be involved in the development of Helicobacter pylori‐associated gastric cancer (GC) in mice, but the specific mechanism remains unclear, and evidence from human studies is lacking.

Materials and Methods

To verify the role of BM‐MSCs in H pylori‐associated GC, green fluorescent protein (GFP)‐labelled BM‐MSCs were transplanted into the subserosal layers of the stomach in a mouse model of chronic H pylori infection. Three months post‐transplantation, the mice were sacrificed, and the gastric tissues were subjected to histopathological and immunofluorescence analyses. In addition, we performed fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and immunofluorescence analyses of gastric tissue from a female patient with H pylori infection and a history of acute myeloid leukaemia who received a BM transplant from a male donor.

Results

In mice with chronic H pylori infection, GFP‐labelled BM‐MSCs migrated from the serous layer to the mucosal layer and promoted GC progression. The BM‐MSCs differentiated into pan‐cytokeratin‐positive epithelial cells and α‐smooth muscle actin‐positive cancer‐associated fibroblasts (CAFs) by secreting the protein thrombospondin‐2. FISH analysis of gastric tissue from the female patient revealed Y‐chromosome‐positive cells. Immunofluorescence analyses further confirmed that Y‐chromosome‐positive cells showed positive BM‐MSCs marker. These results suggested that allogeneic BMDCs, including BM‐MSCs, can migrate to the stomach under chronic H pylori infection.

Conclusions

Taken together, these findings imply that BM‐MSCs participate in the development of chronic H pylori‐associated GC by differentiating into both gastric epithelial cells and CAFs.
Altered mitochondrial metabolism in peripheral blood cells from patients with inborn errors of β‐oxidation
Authors: Stenlid Rasmus , Olsson David , Cen Jing , Manell Hannes , Haglind Charlotte , Chowdhury Azazul Islam , Bergsten Peter , Nordenström Anna , Halldin Maria
Published: August 2021

Inborn errors of mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation (FAO), such as medium‐chain acyl‐CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (MCAD) and very long‐chain acyl‐CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (VLCAD) affects cellular function and whole‐body metabolism. Carnitine uptake deficiency (CUD) disturbs the transportation of fatty acids into the mitochondria, but when treated is a mild disease without significant effects on FAO. For improved clinical care of VLCAD in particular, estimation of FAO severity could be important. We have investigated whether the oxygen consumption rate (OCR) of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) obtained from patients with MCAD, VLCAD, and CUD can be used to study cellular metabolism in patients with FAO defects and to determine the severity of FAO impairment. PBMCs were isolated from patients with VLCAD (n = 9), MCAD (n = 5–7), and CUD (n = 5). OCR was measured within 6‐hours of venous puncture using the Seahorse XFe96. The PBMCs were exposed to glucose alone or with caprylic acid (C8:0) or palmitic acid (C16:0). OCR was significantly lower in cells from patients with β‐oxidation deficiencies (MCAD and VLCAD) compared to CUD at basal conditions. When exposed to C16:0, OCR in VLCAD cells was unchanged, whereas OCR in MCAD cells increased but not to the levels observed in CUD. However, C8:0 did not increase OCR, as would be expected, in VLCAD cells. There was no clear relationship between clinical severity level and OCR. In patients with β‐oxidation deficiencies, changes of mitochondrial respiration in PBMCs are detectable, which indicate that PBMCs have translational potential for studies of β‐oxidation defects. However, further studies are warranted.