bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Early Acute Kidney Injury Following Major Burns
Authors: Ho George , Camacho Fernando , Rogers Alan , Cartotto Robert
Published: August 2020

Acute kidney injury (AKI) early after a major burn has not been widely studied. Our purpose was to evaluate the prevalence of and risk factors for early AKI and the effect of early AKI on outcome. Retrospective cohort study of adults with burns ≥20% TBSA admitted between November 24, 2015 and July 1, 2019. “Early AKI” occurring within 7 days of injury was identified using urine output and serum creatinine Kidney Disease International Global Outcome criteria. Multivariate regression models were developed for development of early AKI, development of AKI on day 0 or 1 postburn (“very early AKI”), and for in-hospital death. Among 85 patients, 62.4% developed early AKI, of which 26% had stage 3 AKI. Renal replacement therapy was required in 64% of stage 3 patients by day 7. Patients with early AKI were significantly older [50 (40.5–61) vs 37.5 (27.2–46.8) years, P < .001], and a significantly greater proportion was intubated in the first 24 hours postburn (90.6 vs 59.4%, P = .001). Resuscitation with high-dose vitamin C (HDVC) was independently associated with more frequent early AKI. Older age was significantly associated and HDVC was closely associated with increased very early AKI. In-hospital mortality was 37.7% for patients with early AKI. Older age, larger burn size, and development of early stage 3 AKI were independently associated with increased in-hospital death. Early AKI is common and carries a poor prognosis for survival. Resuscitation involving HDVC appears to be related to a higher likelihood of early and possibly very early AKI.
Invasive and Quarantine Risks ofCacopsylla chinensis(Hemiptera: Psyllidae) in East Asia: Hybridization or Gene Flow Between Differentiated Lineages
Authors: Tsai Cheng-Lung , Lee Hsien-Chung , Cho Geonho , Liao Yi-Chang , Yang Man-Miao , Yeh Wen-Bin
Published: August 2020

Pear psyllids are major pests and the causal agents of pear decline disease in orchards. In the past two decades, their outbreaks have raised issues pertaining to invasions and taxonomic identification of the dimorphic Cacopsylla chinensis (Yang and Li) in East Asia. The present study elucidated, as an aid to quarantine management, the invasive origins, differentiation history, and putative gene flow and hybridization between C. chinensis and its sibling species Cacopsylla jukyungi (Kwon). Analyses revealed that the ancestors of C. jukyungi might have diverged from C. chinensis approximately 3.5 million yr ago (Mya) and that differentiation between C. chinensis lineages I and II probably occurred 1.5 Mya. The known overlapping distribution of C. chinensis and C. jukyungi in northeastern China and the two C. chinensis lineages in the Bohai Rim region and Taiwan could be attributed to recent population expansion after the Last Glacial Maximum and/or anthropogenic activities. Analyses of the nuclear gene demonstrated that frequent gene flow between the two C. chinensis lineages and the paraphyletic relationship between C. chinensis and C. jukyungi might be caused by incomplete lineage sorting or hybridization events. On the basis of the current distribution, it is evident that C. jukyungi is not present in middle-southern China, whereas C. chinensis is not distributed in Japan and Korea. Preventing new invasions of Cacopsylla psyllids among geographic regions through the transportation of pear scions is thus pivotal in East Asia, particularly for the possible genetic exchanges among differentiated lineages after secondary invasion events.
How has arthroscopic management of the iliopsoas evolved, and why? A survey of high-volume arthroscopic hip surgeons
Authors: Chen Austin W , Steffes Matthew J , Laseter Joseph R , Maldonado David R , Ortiz-Declet Victor , Perets Itay , Domb Benjamin G
Published: August 2020

The rapid growth of hip preservation has left surgeons following trends based on limited, or even anecdotal, evidence in certain circumstances. A consensus as well as high-level research on how best to manage the iliopsoas is lacking. Arthroscopic treatment of the iliopsoas may be an example of how treatment patterns and trends can shift with limited evidence-based medicine. A cross-sectional survey of 16 high-volume hip preservation surgeons was conducted to gather perspectives and opinions on how and why the arthroscopic management of the iliopsoas has evolved. All participants completed the survey in person and anonymously. Of the surveyed surgeons, the mean career hip preservation volume was 1031.25 cases (250 to >3000) with an average annual volume of 162.08 cases (75–400). Of the surveyed surgeons’ caseload, 16.1% involved an iliopsoas tenotomy or fractional lengthening mostly commonly (75%) for recalcitrant internal snapping. Labral repair/reconstruction is performed concomitantly 87.5% of the time. Seventy-five percent of surgeons indicated a decrease in frequency of iliopsoas tenotomy over the course of their practice most commonly (56.3%) because of hip flexion weakness; however, 0% of the surgeons could cite literature evidence to support their practices. Perceived poor outcomes in individual practices was the most common (56.3%) source of this complication. Surgeons were less inclined to perform tenotomy on patients with borderline dysplasia (75%) or ligamentous laxity (56.3%).
Anthropogenic disturbance and chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) habitat use in the Masito-Ugalla Ecosystem, Tanzania
Authors: Maijo Simula P , Piel Alex K , Treydte Anna C
Published: August 2020

The habitat quality of chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes), including the availability of plant food and nesting species, is important to ensure the long-term survival of this endangered species. Botanical composition of vegetation is spatially variable and depends on soil characteristics, weather, topography, and numerous other biotic and abiotic factors. There are few data regarding the availability of chimpanzee plant food and nesting species in the Masito-Ugalla Ecosystem (MUE), a vast area that lies outside national park boundaries in Tanzania, and how the availability of these resources varies with human disturbance. We hypothesized that chimpanzee plant food species richness, diversity, and abundance decline with increasing human disturbance. Further, we predicted that chimpanzee abundance and habitat use is influenced negatively by human disturbance. Published literature from Issa Valley, Gombe, and Mahale Mountains National Parks, in Tanzania, was used to document plant species consumed by chimpanzees, and quantify their richness, diversity, and abundance, along 32 transects totaling 63.8 km in length across four sites of varying human disturbance in MUE. We documented 102 chimpanzee plant food species and found a significant differences in their species richness (H = 55.09, P < 0.001) and diversity (H = 36.81, P < 0.001) across disturbance levels, with the moderately disturbed site exhibiting the highest species richness and diversity. Chimpanzees built nests in 17 different tree species. The abundance of nesting tree species did not vary across survey sites (H = 0.279, P > 0.964). The least disturbed site exhibited the highest encounter rate of chimpanzee nests/km, with rates declining toward the highly disturbed sites. Our results show that severe anthropogenic disturbance in MUE is associated with the loss of chimpanzee plant food species and negatively influences chimpanzee habitat use, a relationship that threatens the future of all chimpanzee populations outside national parks.
Scale dependence in the phylogenetic relatedness of alien and native taxa
Authors: McGrannachan Chris M , Horner Gillis J , McGeoch Melodie A
Published: August 2020

Aims

Darwin’s naturalization hypothesis proposes that successfully established alien species are less closely related to native species due to differences in their ecological niches. Studies have provided support both for and against this hypothesis. One reason for this is the tendency for phylogenetic clustering between aliens and natives at broad spatial scales with overdispersion at fine scales. However, little is known about how the phylogenetic relatedness of alien species alters the phylogenetic structure of the communities they invade, and at which spatial scales effects may manifest. Here, we examine if invaded understorey plant communities, i.e. containing both native and alien taxa, are phylogenetically clustered or overdispersed, how relatedness changes with spatial scale and how aliens affect phylogenetic patterns in understorey communities.

Methods

Field surveys were conducted in dry forest understorey communities in south-east Australia at five spatial scales (1, 20, 500, 1500 and 4500 m2). Standardized effect sizes of two metrics were used to quantify phylogenetic relatedness between communities and their alien and native subcommunities, and to examine how phylogenetic patterns change with spatial scale: (i) mean pairwise distance and (ii) mean nearest taxon distance (MNTD).

Important Findings

Aliens were closely related to each other, and this relatedness tended to increase with scale. Native species and the full community exhibited either no clear pattern of relatedness with increasing spatial scale or were no different from random. At intermediate spatial scales (20–500 m2), the whole community tended towards random whereas the natives were strongly overdispersed and the alien subcommunity strongly clustered. This suggests that invasion by closely related aliens shifts community phylogenetic structure from overdispersed towards random. Aliens and natives were distantly related across spatial scales, supporting Darwin’s naturalization hypothesis, but only when phylogenetic distance was quantified as MNTD. Phylogenetic dissimilarity between aliens and natives increased with spatial scale, counter to expected patterns. Our findings suggest that the strong phylogenetic clustering of aliens is driven by human-mediated introductions involving closely related taxa that can establish and spread successfully. Unexpected scale-dependent patterns of phylogenetic relatedness may result from stochastic processes such as fire and dispersal events and suggest that competition and habitat filtering do not exclusively dominate phylogenetic relationships at fine and coarse spatial scales, respectively. Distinguishing between metrics that focus on different evolutionary depths is important, as different metrics can exhibit different scale-dependent patterns.
Analyses of local control and survival after stereotactic body radiotherapy for pulmonary oligometastases from colorectal adenocarcinoma
Authors: Yamamoto Takaya , Niibe Yuzuru , Matsumoto Yasuo , Onishi Hiroshi , Aoki Masahiko , Nishikawa Atsushi , Oh Ryoong-Jin , Shintani Takashi , Yahara Katsuya , Ozaki Masatoki , Manabe Yoshihiko , Jingu Keiichi
Published: August 2020

This study is a subset analysis of a retrospective multicenter study performed in Japan and its purpose was to investigate the effectiveness of stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for pulmonary oligometastases from colorectal cancer. Local control (LC), freedom from further metastases, relapse-free survival and overall survival (OS) after SBRT were retrospectively analyzed. The Kaplan–Meier method was used to estimate lifetime data and the log-rank test was performed as univariate analyses. The Cox proportional hazards model was applied in multivariate analyses. Data for 330 patients with 371 tumors were used for analyses. The median follow-up period was 25.0 months. The 3-year LC, freedom from further metastases, relapse-free survival and OS rates were 64.9, 34.9, 24.9 and 63.4%, respectively. The results of multivariate analyses showed that a higher LC rate was associated with no history of local therapy for oligometastases (P = 0.01), SBRT without concurrent chemotherapy (P < 0.01), type B calculation algorithm (P < 0.01) and higher biological effective radiation doses (≥115 Gy, P = 0.04). A longer OS was associated with no history of local therapy for oligometastases (P = 0.04), a more recent period of SBRT (2010–15, P = 0.02), tumor located in the upper or middle lobe (P < 0.01) and higher biological effective radiation doses (≥115 Gy, P = 0.01). In conclusion, OS after SBRT was good, but LC rate was relatively low. The use of high biological effective radiation doses can improve both LC and OS outcomes.
Building on a Sequential Mixed-Mode Research Design in the Monitoring the Future Study
Authors: Patrick Megan E , Couper Mick P , Jang Bohyun Joy , Laetz Virginia , Schulenberg John E , O’Malley Patrick M , Bachman Jerald , Johnston Lloyd D
Published: August 2020

Given the promise of the web push plus e-mail survey design for providing cost-effective and high-quality data (Patrick et al. 2018, 2019) as an alternative to a paper-and-pencil mailed survey design for the longitudinal Monitoring the Future (MTF) study, the current study sought to further enhance the web push condition. The MTF sample is based on US nationally representative samples of 12th grade students surveyed annually. The MTF control group for the current study included participants who completed the in-school baseline survey in the 12th grade and were selected to participate in their first follow-up survey in 2017 via mailed surveys (N = 1,222). A supplementary sample (N = ∼2,450) was assigned to one of the two sequential mixed-mode conditions. Those in condition 1 (N = 1,198), or mail push, were invited to complete mailed surveys and later given a web survey option. Those in condition 2 (N = 1,173), or enhanced web push, were invited to complete a web survey (the same as in the 2014 study, but with the addition of text messages and quick response (QR) codes and the web survey was optimized for mobile devices) and then later given a mailed survey option. Research aims were to examine response rates across conditions, as well as how responses were distributed across mode (paper, web), devices (computer, smartphone, table), and method of accessing the web survey (hand-entered URL, QR code, e-mail link, SMS link). Response rates differed significantly: the MTF control group was 34.2 percent, mail push was 35.4 percent, and enhanced web push was 42.05 percent. The higher response rate in the enhanced web push condition suggests that the additional strategies were effective at bringing in more respondents. Key estimates produced by the enhanced web push condition did not differ from those of the MTF control group.
Extended X-ray emission from the z = 4.26 radio galaxy 4C 63.20
Authors: Napier Kate , Foord Adi , Gallo Elena , Ghisellini Gabriele , Hodges-Kluck Edmund , Wu Jianfeng , Haardt Francesco , Ciardi Benedetta
Published: August 2020

We report on deep Chandra X-ray Telescope imaging observations of 4C 63.20, one of the few known radio galaxies at z > 3.5. The X-ray counterpart is resolved into a core plus two off-nuclear sources that (combined) account for close to 30 per cent of the total X-ray flux. Their morphology and orientation are consistent with a diffuse, lobe-like nature, albeit compact hotspots cannot be ruled out. The broad-band spectral energy distribution of 4C 63.20 can be reproduced with a jet model where the majority of the radio flux can be ascribed to synchrotron emission from the hotspots, whereas the (non-nuclear) X-ray emission is produced via inverse Compton (IC) off of cosmic microwave background (CMB) photons within the extended lobes. This scenario is broadly consistent with the expectation from highly magnetized lobes in a hotter CMB, and supports the view that IC/CMB may quench less extreme radio lobes at high redshifts.
Census and classification of low-surface-brightness structures in nearby early-type galaxies from the MATLAS survey
Authors: Bílek Michal , Duc Pierre-Alain , Cuillandre Jean-Charles , Gwyn Stephen , Cappellari Michele , Bekaert David V , Bonfini Paolo , Bitsakis Theodoros , Paudel Sanjaya , Krajnović Davor , Durrell Patrick R , Marleau Francine
Published: August 2020

The morphology of galaxies gives essential constraints on the models of galaxy evolution. The morphology of the features in the low-surface-brightness (LSB) regions of galaxies has not been fully explored yet because of observational difficulties. Here we present the results of our visual inspections of very deep images of a large volume-limited sample of 177 nearby massive early-type galaxies from the MATLAS survey. The images reach a surface-brightness limit of 28.5–29 mag arcsec−2 in the g′ band. Using a dedicated navigation tool and questionnaire, we looked for structures at the outskirts of the galaxies such as tidal shells, streams, tails, disturbed outer isophotes, or peripheral star-forming discs, and simultaneously noted the presence of contaminating sources, such as Galactic cirrus. We also inspected internal substructures such as bars and dust lanes. We discuss the reliability of this visual classification investigating the variety of answers made by the participants. We present the incidence of these structures and the trends of the incidence with the mass of the host galaxy and the density of its environment. We find an incidence of shells, stream, and tails of approximately 15 per cent, about the same for each category. For galaxies with masses over 1011 M⊙, the incidence of shells and streams increases about 1.7 times. We also note a strong unexpected anticorrelation of the incidence of Galactic cirrus with the environment density of the target galaxy. Correlations with other properties of the galaxies, and comparisons to model predictions, will be presented in future papers.
Mapping the ionized gas of the metal-poor H ii galaxy PHL 293B with MEGARA
Authors: Kehrig C , Iglesias-Páramo J , Vílchez J M , Gil de Paz A , Duarte Puertas S , Pérez-Montero E , Díaz A I , Gallego J , Carrasco E , Cardiel N , García-Vargas M L , Castillo-Morales A , Cedazo R , Gómez-Álvarez P , Martínez-Delgado I , Pascual S , Pérez-Calpena A
Published: August 2020

Here we report the first spatially resolved spectroscopic study for the galaxy PHL 293B using the high-resolution GTC/MEGARA integral field unit (IFU). PHL 293B is a local, extremely metal-poor, high ionization galaxy. This makes PHL 293B an excellent analogue for galaxies in the early Universe. The MEGARA aperture (∼ 12.5 arcsec × 11.3 arcsec) covers the entire PHL 293B main body and its far-reaching ionized gas. We created and discussed maps of all relevant emission lines, line ratios, and physical–chemical properties of the ionized ISM. The narrow emission gas appears to be ionized mainly by massive stars according to the observed diagnostic line ratios, regardless of the position across the MEGARA aperture. We detected low intensity broad emission components and blueshifted absorptions in the Balmer lines (H α,H β) which are located in the brightest zone of the galaxy ISM. A chemically homogeneity, across hundreds of parsecs, is observed in O/H. We take the oxygen abundance 12+log (O/H) = 7.64 ± 0.06 derived from the PHL 293B integrated spectrum as the representative metallicity for the galaxy. Our IFU data reveal for the first time that the nebular He iiλ4686 emission from PHL 293B is spatially extended and coincident with the ionizing stellar cluster, and allow us to compute its absolute He ii ionizing photon flux. Wolf-Rayet bumps are not detected excluding therefore Wolf-Rayet stars as the main He ii excitation source. The origin of the nebular He iiλ4686 is discussed.
CCCP and MENeaCS: (updated) weak-lensing masses for 100 galaxy clusters
Authors: Herbonnet Ricardo , Sifón Cristóbal , Hoekstra Henk , Bahé Yannick , van der Burg Remco F J , Melin Jean-Baptiste , von der Linden Anja , Sand David , Kay Scott , Barnes David
Published: August 2020

Large area surveys continue to increase the samples of galaxy clusters that can be used to constrain cosmological parameters, provided that the masses of the clusters are measured robustly. To improve the calibration of cluster masses using weak gravitational lensing we present new results for 48 clusters at 0.05 < z < 0.15, observed as part of the Multi Epoch Nearby Cluster Survey, and re-evaluate the mass estimates for 52 clusters from the Canadian Cluster Comparison Project. Updated high-fidelity photometric redshift catalogues of reference deep fields are used in combination with advances in shape measurements and state-of-the-art cluster simulations, yielding an average systematic uncertainty in the lensing signal below 5 per cent, similar to the statistical uncertainty for our cluster sample. We derive a scaling relation with Planck measurements for the full sample and find a bias in the Planck masses of 1 − b = 0.84 ± 0.04 (stat) ±0.05 (syst). We find no statistically significant trend of the mass bias with redshift or cluster mass, but find that different selections could change the bias by up to 0.07. We find a gas fraction of 0.139 ± 0.014 (stat) for eight relaxed clusters in our sample, which can also be used to infer cosmological parameters.
Transcriptional signatures in histologic structures within glioblastoma tumors may predict personalized drug sensitivity and survival
Authors: Kersch Cymon N , Claunch Cheryl J , Ambady Prakash , Bucher Elmar , Schwartz Daniel L , Barajas Ramon F , Iliff Jeffrey J , Risom Tyler , Heiser Laura , Muldoon Leslie L , Korkola James E , Gray Joe W , Neuwelt Edward A
Published: August 2020

Background

Glioblastoma is a rapidly fatal brain cancer that exhibits extensive intra- and intertumoral heterogeneity. Improving survival will require the development of personalized treatment strategies that can stratify tumors into subtypes that differ in therapeutic vulnerability and outcomes. Glioblastoma stratification has been hampered by intratumoral heterogeneity, limiting our ability to compare tumors in a consistent manner. Here, we develop methods that mitigate the impact of intratumoral heterogeneity on transcriptomic-based patient stratification.

Methods

We accessed open-source transcriptional profiles of histological structures from 34 human glioblastomas from the Ivy Glioblastoma Atlas Project. Principal component and correlation network analyses were performed to assess sample inter-relationships. Gene set enrichment analysis was used to identify enriched biological processes and classify glioblastoma subtype. For survival models, Cox proportional hazards regression was utilized. Transcriptional profiles from 156 human glioblastomas were accessed from The Cancer Genome Atlas to externally validate the survival model.

Results

We showed that intratumoral histologic architecture influences tumor classification when assessing established subtyping and prognostic gene signatures, and that indiscriminate sampling can produce misleading results. We identified the cellular tumor as a glioblastoma structure that can be targeted for transcriptional analysis to more accurately stratify patients by subtype and prognosis. Based on expression from cellular tumor, we created an improved risk stratification gene signature.

Conclusions

Our results highlight that biomarker performance for diagnostics, prognostics, and prediction of therapeutic response can be improved by analyzing transcriptional profiles in pure cellular tumor, which is a critical step toward developing personalized treatment for glioblastoma.
Telemedicine in rheumatology: a reliable approach beyond the pandemic
Authors: Cavagna Lorenzo , Zanframundo Giovanni , Codullo Veronica , Pisu Maria Grazia , Caporali Roberto , Montecucco Carlomaurizio
Published: August 2020

Objectives

The SARS-CoV-2 outbreak has imposed considerable restrictions on people’s mobility, which affects the referral of chronically ill patients to health care structures. The emerging need for alternative ways to follow these patients up is leading to a wide adoption of telemedicine. We aimed to evaluate the feasibility of this approach for our cohort of patients with CTDs, investigating their attitude to adopting telemedicine, even after the pandemic.

Methods

We conducted a telephonic survey among consecutive patients referred to our CTD outpatients’ clinic, evaluating their capability and propensity for adopting telemedicine and whether they would prefer it over face-to-face evaluation. Demographical and occupational factors were also collected, and their influence on the answers has been evaluated by a multivariate analysis.

Results

A total of 175 patients answered our survey (M/F = 28/147), with a median age of 62.5 years [interquartile range (IQR) 53–73]. About 80% of patients owned a device allowing video-calls, and 86% would be able to perform a tele-visit, either alone (50%) or with the help of a relative (36%). Telemedicine was considered acceptable by 78% of patients and 61% would prefer it. Distance from the hospital and patient’s educational level were the strongest predictive factors for the acceptance of telemedicine (P < 0.05), whereas age only affected the mastering of required skills (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

Telemedicine is a viable approach to be considered for routine follow-up of chronic patients, even beyond the pandemic. Our data showed that older patients would be willing to use this approach, although a proper guide for them would be required.
Genome-wide association studies of callus differentiation for the desert tree,Populus euphratica
Authors: Zhang Qianru , Su Zhifang , Guo Yunqian , Zhang Shilong , Jiang Libo , Wu Rongling
Published: August 2020

Callus differentiation is a key developmental process in plant regeneration from cells. A better understanding of the genetic architecture of callus differentiation timing can help improve tissue transformation and the efficiency of artificial propagation. In this study, we investigated genotypic variation in callus differentiation capacity among 297 diverse P. euphratica trees sampled from a natural population. We employed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of binary and growth-based parameters to identify loci and characterize the genetic architecture and genetic network underlying regulation of callus differentiation in P. euphratica. The results of this GWAS experiment suggested potential associations controlling whether the callus could differentiate and the process of callus differentiation. We identified multiple significant quantitative trait loci (QTLs), including the genes LOG1 and LOG7 and a locus containing WOX1. We reconstructed a genetic network that visualizes how each QTL interacts uniquely with other variants, and several core QTLs were detected that are involved in the degree of callus differentiation, providing potential targets for selection. This study represents one of the first to identify genetic variants affecting callus differentiation in a forest tree. Our results suggest that callus differentiation may be a typical qualitative-quantitative trait controlled by a major gene as well as polygenes across the genome of P. euphratica. This GWAS will help to design more complex and specific molecular tools for systematically manipulating organ regeneration.
Point-of-Care Lung Ultrasound for Detecting Severe Presentations of Coronavirus Disease 2019 in the Emergency Department: A Retrospective Analysis
Authors: Favot Mark , Malik Adrienne , Rowland Jonathan , Haber Brian , Ehrman Robert , Harrison Nicholas
Published: August 2020

Objectives:

Analyze the diagnostic test characteristics of point-of-care lung ultrasound for patients suspected to have novel coronavirus disease 2019.

Design:

Retrospective cohort.

Setting:

Two emergency departments in Detroit, Michigan, United States, during a local coronavirus disease 2019 outbreak (March 2020 to April 2020).

Patients:

Emergency department patients receiving lung ultrasound for clinical suspicion of coronavirus disease 2019 during the study period.

Interventions:

None, observational analysis only.

Measurements and Main Results:

By a reference standard of serial reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reactions, 42 patients were coronavirus disease 2019 positive, 16 negative, and eight untested (test results lost, died prior to testing, and/or did not meet hospital guidelines for rationing of reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction tests). Thirty-three percent, 44%, 38%, and 17% had mortality, ICU admission, intubation, and venous or arterial thromboembolism, respectively. Receiver operating characteristics, area under the curve, sensitivity, and specificity with 95% CIs were calculated for five lung ultrasound patterns coded by a blinded reviewer and chest radiograph. Chest radiograph had area under the curve = 0.66 (95% CI, 0.54–0.79), 74% sensitivity (95% CI, 48–93%), and 53% specificity (95% CI, 32–75%). Two lung ultrasound patterns had a statistically significant area under the curve: symmetric bilateral pulmonary edema (area under the curve, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.50–0.64), and a nondependent bilateral pulmonary edema pattern (edema in superior lung ≥ inferior lung and no pleural effusion; area under the curve, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.68–0.90). Chest radiograph plus the nondependent bilateral pulmonary edema pattern showed a statistically improved area under the curve (0.80; 95% CI, 0.68–0.90) compared to either alone, but at the ideal cutoff had sensitivity and specificity equivalent to nondependent bilateral pulmonary edema only (69% and 77%, respectively). The strongest combination of clinical, chest radiograph, and lung ultrasound factors for diagnosis was nondependent bilateral pulmonary edema pattern with temperature and oxygen saturation (area under the curve, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.76–0.94; sensitivity = 77% [58–93%]; specificity = 76% [53–94%] at the ideal cutoff), which was superior to chest radiograph alone.

Conclusions:

Lung ultrasound diagnosed severe presentations of coronavirus disease 2019 with similar sensitivity to chest radiograph, CT, and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (on first testing) and improved specificity compared to chest radiograph. Diagnostically useful lung ultrasound patterns differed from those hypothesized by previous, nonanalytical, reports (case series and expert opinion), and should be evaluated in a rigorous prospective study.
Baseline use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor/AT1 blocker and outcomes in hospitalized coronavirus disease 2019 African-American patients
Authors: Shah Priyank , Owens Jack , Franklin James , Jani Yash , Kumar Ashish , Doshi Rajkumar
Published: August 2020

Objectives:

The primary objective of this study is to determine the effect of baseline use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACE-i)/AT1 blocker (ARB) on mortality in hospitalized coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) African-American patients. The secondary objectives are, to determine the effect of baseline use of ACE-i/ARB on the need for mechanical ventilation, new dialysis, ICU care, and on composite of above-mentioned outcomes in the same cohort.

Methods:

In this retrospective study, we analyzed data using electronic medical records from all hospitalized Covid-19 African-American patients, who either died in the hospital or survived to discharge between 2 March and 22 May 2020. Patients were divided into two groups, those on ACE-i/ARB at baseline and those not on them. We used Pearson chi-square test for categorical variables, and Student's t test for continuous variables. We performed multiple logistic regression to test the primary and secondary objectives using SAS 9.4.

Results:

Out of 531 patients included in the analysis, 207 (39%) were on ACE-i/ARB at baseline. Patients in ACE-i/ARB group were older (64 vs. 57 years, P < 0.001), and had higher prevalence of hypertension (96.6 vs. 69.4%, P < 0.001) and diabetes mellitus (55.6 vs. 34.9%, P < 0.001). There was no difference in sex, BMI, other comorbidities, and presenting illness severity among the groups. After adjustment of multiple covariates, there was no difference in outcomes between the two groups including mortality, need for mechanical ventilation, new dialysis, ICU care, as well as composite outcomes.

Conclusion:

Baseline use of ACE-i/ARB does not worsen outcomes in hospitalized Covid-19 African-American patients.
Cold pain hypersensitivity predicts trajectories of pain and disability after low back surgery: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Müller Monika , Bütikofer Lukas , Andersen Ole K. , Heini Paul , Arendt-Nielsen Lars , Jüni Peter , Curatolo Michele
Published: August 2020

Improving the ability to predict persistent pain after spine surgery would allow identification of patients at risk and guide treatment decisions. Quantitative sensory tests (QST) are measures of altered pain processes, but in our previous study, preoperative QST did not predict pain and disability at single time-points. Trajectory analysis accounts for time-dependent patterns. We hypothesized that QST predict trajectories of pain and disability during 1 year after low back surgery. We performed a trajectory analysis on the cohort of our previous study (n = 141). Baseline QST included electrical, pressure, heat, and cold stimulation of the low back and lower extremity, temporal summation, and conditioned pain modulation. Pain intensity and Oswestry Disability Index were measured before, and 2, 6, and 12 months after surgery. Bivariate trajectories for pain and disability were computed using group-based trajectory models. Multivariable regressions were used to identify QST as predictors of trajectory groups, with sociodemographic, psychological, and clinical characteristics as covariates. Cold pain hypersensitivity at the leg, not being married, and long pain duration independently predicted worse recovery (complete-to-incomplete, incomplete-to-no recovery). Cold pain hypersensitivity increased the odds for worse recovery by 3.8 (95% confidence intervals 1.8-8.0, P < 0.001) and 3.0 (1.3-7.0, P = 0.012) in the univariable and multivariable analyses, respectively. Trajectory analysis, but not analysis at single time-points, identified cold pain hypersensitivity as strong predictor of worse recovery, supporting altered pain processes as predisposing factor for persisting pain and disability, and a broader use of trajectory analysis. Assessment of cold pain sensitivity may be a clinically applicable, prognostic test.
Single-nucleus characterization of adult mouse spinal dynorphin-lineage cells and identification of persistent transcriptional effects of neonatal hindpaw incision
Authors: Serafin Elizabeth K. , Paranjpe Aditi , Brewer Chelsie L. , Baccei Mark L.
Published: August 2020

Neonatal tissue damage can have long-lasting effects on nociceptive processing in the central nervous system, which may reflect persistent injury-evoked alterations to the normal balance between synaptic inhibition and excitation in the spinal dorsal horn. Spinal dynorphin-lineage (pDyn) neurons are part of an inhibitory circuit which limits the flow of nociceptive input to the brain and is disrupted by neonatal tissue damage. To identify the potential molecular underpinnings of this disruption, an unbiased single-nucleus RNAseq analysis of adult mouse spinal pDyn cells characterized this population in depth and then identified changes in gene expression evoked by neonatal hindpaw incision. The analysis revealed 11 transcriptionally distinct subpopulations (ie, clusters) of dynorphin-lineage cells, including both inhibitory and excitatory neurons. Investigation of injury-evoked differential gene expression identified 15 genes that were significantly upregulated or downregulated in adult pDyn neurons from neonatally incised mice compared with naive littermate controls, with both cluster-specific and pan-neuronal transcriptional changes observed. Several of the identified genes, such as Oxr1 and Fth1 (encoding ferritin), were related to the cellular stress response. However, the relatively low number of injury-evoked differentially expressed genes also suggests that posttranscriptional regulation within pDyn neurons may play a key role in the priming of developing nociceptive circuits by early-life injury. Overall, the findings reveal novel insights into the molecular heterogeneity of a key population of dorsal horn interneurons that has previously been implicated in the suppression of mechanical pain and itch.
Anemia in Children With Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Authors: Goyal Alka , Zheng Yuhua , Albenberg Lindsey G. , Stoner Natalie L. , Hart Lara , Alkhouri Razan , Hampson Kyle , Ali Sabina , Cho‐Dorado Michele , Goyal Rakesh K. , Grossman Andrew
Published: August 2020

Anemia is one of the most common extraintestinal manifestations of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). It can be asymptomatic or associated with nonspecific symptoms, such as irritability, headaches, fatigue, dizziness, and anorexia. In IBD patients, the etiology of anemia is often multifactorial. Various causes include iron deficiency, anemia of inflammation and chronic disease, vitamin deficiencies, hemolysis, or myelosuppressive effect of drugs. Anemia and iron deficiency in these patients may be underestimated because of their insidious onset, lack of standardized screening practices, and possibly underappreciation that treatment of anemia is also required when treating IBD. Practitioners may hesitate to use oral preparations because of their intolerance whereas intravenous preparations are underutilized because of fear of adverse events, availability, and cost. Several publications in recent years have documented the safety and comparative efficacy of various intravenous preparations. This article reviews management of anemia in children with IBD, including diagnosis, etiopathogenesis, evaluation of a patient, protocol to screen and monitor patients for early detection and response to therapy, treatment including parenteral iron therapy, and newer approaches in management of anemia of chronic disease. This report has been compiled by a group of pediatric gastroenterologists serving on the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (NASPGHAN) IBD committee, in collaboration with a pediatric hematologist, pharmacist, and a registered dietician who specializes in pediatric IBD (IBD Anemia Working Group), after an extensive review of the current literature. The purpose of this review is to raise awareness of under‐diagnosis of anemia in children with IBD and make recommendations for screening, testing, and treatment in this population.
Investigating the Impact of Using an Alternate Classification Method for Race and Hispanic Ethnicity on Rates of Reported Gonorrhea
Authors: Picchetti Viani , Chesson Harrell , Braxton Jimmy , Torrone Elizabeth
Published: August 2020

Background

We aimed to examine how the classification of gonorrhea cases by race and Hispanic ethnicity (HE) affects the measurement of racial/HE disparities in the rates of reported gonorrhea.

Methods

We examined gonorrhea cases reported through the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System from January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2017, and assigned race and HE using (1) “current classification,” where cases with HE are classified as Hispanic regardless of race (e.g., Hispanic, non-Hispanic White, and non-Hispanic Black), and 2) “alternate classification,” which separates each race category by HE (e.g., Hispanic White and non-Hispanic White). We estimated annual gonorrhea rates during 2010 to 2017 by race/HE category and calculated disparity measures (index of disparity, population-attributable proportion, and Gini coefficient) for gonorrhea rates under each classification strategy.

Results

All disparity measures revealed decreases in racial/HE disparities in the rates of reported gonorrhea during 2010 to 2017, regardless of classification strategy; however, the magnitude of the disparity and the percent change in the disparity over time varied across disparity measures.

Conclusions

Understanding how classification of race/HE affects observed disparities is critical when monitoring interventions to reduce disparities and improve health equity.
Evaluation of Image Quality for 7 Iterative Reconstruction Algorithms in Chest Computed Tomography Imaging: A Phantom Study
Authors: Jensen Kristin , Hagemo Guro , Tingberg Anders , Steinfeldt-Reisse Claudius , Mynarek Georg Karl , Rivero Rodriguez Jezabel , Fosse Erik , Martinsen Anne Catrine
Published: August 2020

Objectives

This study aimed to evaluate the image quality of 7 iterative reconstruction (IR) algorithms in comparison to filtered back-projection (FBP) algorithm.

Methods

An anthropomorphic chest phantom was scanned on 4 computed tomography scanners and reconstructed with FBP and IR algorithms. Image quality of anatomical details—large/medium-sized pulmonary vessels, small pulmonary vessels, thoracic wall, and small and large lesions—was scored. Furthermore, general impression of noise, image contrast, and artifacts were evaluated. Visual grading regression was used to analyze the data. Standard deviations were measured, and the noise power spectrum was calculated.

Results

Iterative reconstruction algorithms showed significantly better results when compared with FBP for these criteria (regression coefficients/P values in parentheses): vessels (FIRST: −1.8/0.05, AIDR Enhanced: <−2.3/0.01, Veo: <−0.1/0.03, ADMIRE: <−2.1/0.04), lesions (FIRST: <−2.6/0.01, AIDR Enhanced: <−1.9/0.03, IMR1: <−2.7/0.01, Veo: <−2.4/0.02, ADMIRE: −2.3/0.02), image noise (FIRST: <−3.2/0.004, AIDR Enhanced: <−3.5/0.002, IMR1: <−6.1/0.001, iDose: <−2.3/0.02, Veo: <−3.4/0.002, ADMIRE: <−3.5/0.02), image contrast (FIRST: −2.3/0.01, AIDR Enhanced: −2.5/0.01, IMR1: −3.7/0.001, iDose: −2.1/0.02), and artifacts (FIRST: <−3.8/0.004, AIDR Enhanced: <−2.7/0.02, IMR1: <−2.6/0.02, iDose: −2.1/0.04, Veo: −2.6/0.02). The iDose algorithm was the only IR algorithm that maintained the noise frequencies.

Conclusions

Iterative reconstruction algorithms performed differently on all evaluated criteria, showing the importance of careful implementation of algorithms for diagnostic purposes.
Radial spreading of turbulent bubble plumes
Authors: Sigurðardóttir Arna , Barnard Jonathan , Bullamore Danielle , McCormick Amy , Cartwright Julyan , Cardoso Silvana
Published: August 2020

Weak bubble plumes carry liquid from the environment upwards and release it at multiple intermediate levels in the form of radial intrusive currents. In this study, laboratory experiments are performed to explore the spreading of turbulent axisymmetric bubble plumes in a liquid with linear density stratification. The thickness, volumetric flowrate and spreading rates of multiple radial intrusions of plume fluid were measured by tracking the movement of dye injected at the source of bubbles. The experimental results are compared with scaling predictions. Our findings suggest that the presence of multiple intrusions reduces their spreading rate, compared to that of a single intrusion. This work is of relevance to the spreading of methane plumes issuing from the seabed in the Arctic Ocean, above methane-hydrate deposits. The slower, multiple spreading favours the presence of methane-rich seawater close to the plume, which may reduce the dissolution of methane in the bubbles, and thus promote the direct transport of methane to the atmosphere.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Stokes at 200 (part 2)’.
On the fate of sinking diatoms: the transport of active buoyancy-regulating cells in the ocean
Authors: Arrieta J. , Jeanneret R. , Roig P. , Tuval I.
Published: August 2020

Diatoms are one of the most abundant, diverse and ecologically relevant phytoplanktonic group, contributing enormously to global biogeochemical processes like the carbon and silica cycles. This large success has been partly attributed to the mechanical and optical properties of the silica shell (the frustule) that envelops their body. But since they lack motility it is difficult to conceive how they cope with the fast-fluctuating environment they live in and where distributions of resources are very heterogeneous and dynamical. This pinpoints an important but yet poorly understood feature of diatoms physiology: buoyancy regulation that helps them controlling their sinking speed and position in the water column. While buoyancy regulation by light and nutrients availability has been well studied, the effect of hydromechanical stress via fluid shear has been rather overlooked when considering diatoms dynamics. Here, we aim to start filling this gap by first presenting direct experimental evidences for buoyancy control in response to hydro-mechanical stress and then review recent theoretical models where simple couplings between local shear and buoyancy control always result in heterogeneous cell distributions, specific accumulation regions within complex flows and increased sedimentation times to the depths, features of direct ecological relevance. We conclude by suggesting future experiments aiming to unveil such coupling and therefore gain better understanding on the fate of these fascinating microorganisms in their natural habitat.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Stokes at 200 (part 2)’.
Stokes settling and particle-laden plumes: implications for deep-sea mining and volcanic eruption plumes
Authors: Mingotti Nicola , Woods Andrew W.
Published: August 2020

Turbulent buoyant plumes moving through density stratified environments transport large volumes of fluid vertically. Eventually, the fluid reaches its neutral buoyancy level at which it intrudes into the environment. For single-phase plume, the well-known theory of Morton, Taylor and Turner (Morton BR, Taylor GI, Turner JS. 1956 Turbulent gravitational convection from maintained and instantaneous sources.Proc. R. Soc. A234, 1–23. (doi:10.1098/rspa.1956.0011)) describes the height of the intrusion with great accuracy. However, in multiphase plumes, such as descending particle plumes formed from the surface vessel during deep-sea mining operations, or ascending volcanic plumes, consisting of hot gas and dense ash particles, the sedimentation of particles can change the buoyancy of the fluid very significantly. Even if the plume speed far exceeds the sedimentation speed, the ultimate intrusion height of the fluid may be significantly affected by particle sedimentation. We explore this process, illustrating the phenomena with a series of analogue experiments and some simple modelling, and we discuss the applications in helping to quantify some environmental impacts of deep-sea mining and in helping to assess the eruption conditions leading to the formation of large laterally spreading ash clouds in the atmosphere.

This article is part of the theme issue ‘Stokes at 200 (part 2)’.
Intestinirhabdus alba gen. nov., sp. nov., a novel genus of the family Enterobacteriaceae, isolated from the gut of plastic-eating larvae of the Coleoptera insect Zophobas atratus
Authors: Xu Ziyu , Xia Mengli , Huo Yi-Xin , Yang Yu
Published: August 2020

A bacterial strain, BIT-B35T, was isolated from the gut of plastic-eating larvae of the Coleoptera insect Zophobas atratus. Its taxonomic position was determined by using a polyphasic approach. Cells were white-pigmented, Gram-stain-negative, motile short rods with terminal flagella. The 16S rRNA gene sequence (1411 bp) of strain BIT-B35T showed highest similarity (98.1%) to

Escherichia fergusonii

ATCC 35469T and

Citrobacter koseri

LMG 5519T. The results of phylogenetic analyses, based on the 16S rRNA gene, concatenated sequences of seven housekeeping genes (atpD, gyrB, infB, rpoB, pyrG, fusA and leuS) and genome sequences, placed strain BIT-B35T in a separate lineage among the family of

Enterobacteriaceae

. The major fatty acids were C16 : 0, C17 : 0 cyclo and C19 : 0 cyclo ω8c. The genomic DNA G+C content of strain BIT-B35T was 57.1 mol%. The chemotaxonomic data plus results of physiological and biochemical tests also distinguished strain BIT-B35T from members of other genera within the family

Enterobacteriaceae

. Therefore, strain BIT-B35T is considered to represent a novel species of a novel genus within the family

Enterobacteriaceae

, for which the name Intestinirhabdus alba gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is BIT-B35T (=CGMCC 1.17042T=KCTC 72448T).