bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Association between maternal oxygenation and brain growth in fetuses with left‐sided cardiac obstructive lesions
Authors: Xu R. , Zhou J. , Zhou D. , Deng W. , Xie L. , Zhou Q. C. , Zeng S.
Published: May 2022

Objective

Impaired brain growth has been observed in fetuses with left‐sided obstructive lesions (LSOL). Maternal oxygenation (MO) can alter fetal cerebral oxygenation and vascular reactivity. Our aim was to observe whether brain growth improves during MO in fetuses with LSOL.

Methods

Forty‐six fetuses with LSOL and 23 control fetuses were enrolled in this prospective longitudinal study. Fetuses with LSOL were subgrouped into those with MO (LSOL‐MO, n = 23) and those without MO (LSOL‐nMO, n = 23). Fetal head circumference (HC) and total intracranial volume (TIV) were evaluated serially at 4‐week intervals. Brain biometry and growth were analyzed using linear mixed models adjusted for gestational age and sex. Spearman's correlation coefficients were calculated to identify baseline characteristics predictive of brain growth in the LSOL‐MO group.

Results

Duration of MO therapy had significant interaction effects on cerebral biometry in fetuses with LSOL. TIV increased more rapidly after 8 weeks of oxygen exposure and HC was larger after 16 weeks of oxygen exposure in the LSOL‐MO group compared with the LSOL‐nMO group (P < 0.001). The change in TIV at the final time‐ point relative to the initial timepoint in the LSOL‐MO group correlated negatively with the baseline pulsatility index of the middle cerebral artery (r = –0.58, P = 0.003) and baseline myocardial performance index of the left ventricle (r = –0.68, P < 0.001).

Conclusions

TIV and HC increased faster in fetuses with LSOL which had MO compared with those that did not. Lower cerebral vascular resistance and preserved left heart function at baseline may predict greater cerebral biometric growth during MO. Additional research, including larger serial studies, is needed to confirm these preliminary findings and evaluate the clinical application of MO in this population. © 2022 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Blood–brain barrier leakage years after pre‐eclampsia: dynamic contrast‐enhanced 7‐Tesla MRI study
Authors: Canjels L. P. W. , Jansen J. F. A. , Alers R. J. , Ghossein‐Doha C. , van den Kerkhof M. , Schiffer V. M. M. M. , Mulder E. , Gerretsen S. C. , Aldenkamp A. P. , Hurks P. P. M. , van de Ven V. , Spaanderman M. E. A. , Backes W. H.
Published: May 2022

Objective

Pre‐eclampsia is a hypertensive complication of pregnancy that is associated with an increased risk of long‐term cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disorders. Although the underlying mechanism of persistent susceptibility to cerebral complications after pre‐eclampsia remains largely unclear, impaired blood–brain barrier (BBB) integrity has been suggested to precede several cerebrovascular diseases. In this study, we aimed to investigate the integrity of the BBB years after pre‐eclampsia.

Methods

This was an observational study of premenopausal formerly pre‐eclamptic women and controls with a history of normotensive pregnancy who underwent cerebral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at ultra‐high field (7 Tesla) to assess the integrity of the BBB. Permeability of the BBB was determined by assessing leakage rate and fractional leakage volume of the contrast agent gadobutrol using dynamic contrast‐enhanced MRI. BBB leakage measures were determined for the whole brain and lobar white and gray matter. Multivariable analyses were performed, and odds ratios were calculated to compare women with and those without a history of pre‐eclampsia, adjusting for potential confounding effects of age, hypertension status at MRI and Fazekas score.

Results

Twenty‐two formerly pre‐eclamptic women (mean age, 37.8 ± 5.4 years) and 13 control women with a history of normotensive pregnancy (mean age, 40.8 ± 5.5 years) were included in the study. The time since the index pregnancy was 6.6 ± 3.2 years in the pre‐eclamptic group and 9.0 ± 3.7 years in controls. The leakage rate and fractional leakage volume were significantly higher in formerly pre‐eclamptic women than in controls in the global white (P = 0.001) and gray (P = 0.02) matter. Regionally, the frontal (P = 0.04) and parietal (P = 0.009) cortical gray matter, and the frontal (P = 0.001), temporal (P < 0.05) and occipital (P = 0.007) white matter showed higher leakage rates in formerly pre‐eclamptic women. The odds of a high leakage rate after pre‐eclampsia were generally higher in white‐matter regions than in gray‐matter regions.

Conclusion

This observational study demonstrates global impairment of the BBB years after a pre‐eclamptic pregnancy, which could be an early marker of long‐term cerebrovascular disorders. © 2022 The Authors. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Pictures Without FGM/C
Authors: Abdulcadir Jasmine , Guedj Noémie Sachs , Yaron Michal , Abdulcadir Omar , Albert Juliet , Caillet Martin , Catania Lucrezia , Creighton Sarah M. , Deguette Céline , Dubuc Elise , Earp Brian D. , Essén Birgitta , Hodes Deborah , Marcusan Adriana Kaplan , Mishori Ranit , Ottenheimer Deborah , Richard Fabienne , Sy Aida , Touré Moustapha , Valladolid Amelia , Vercoutere Anneke , Vissandjée Bilkis , Young Janine
Published: May 2022

Pictures without FGM/C and without lesions. This chapter will help the physician:
Pictures with Potential Differential Diagnosis of FGM/C
Authors: Abdulcadir Jasmine , Guedj Noémie Sachs , Yaron Michal , Abdulcadir Omar , Albert Juliet , Caillet Martin , Catania Lucrezia , Creighton Sarah M. , Deguette Céline , Dubuc Elise , Earp Brian D. , Essén Birgitta , Hodes Deborah , Marcusan Adriana Kaplan , Mishori Ranit , Ottenheimer Deborah , Richard Fabienne , Sy Aida , Touré Moustapha , Valladolid Amelia , Vercoutere Anneke , Vissandjée Bilkis , Young Janine
Published: May 2022

Labial and Clitoral adhesion. Examples of convergence of inner labia under the glans and intersection with clitoral hood.
Fine-Tuning and Order of our Universe
Authors: Loke Andrew
Published: May 2022

Various properties of the universe have been suggested as indicative of the work of ‘a designer’. I focus on two such properties: ‘fine-tuning’ and ‘the existence of orderly patterns of events which can be described by advanced mathematics’. While various forms of design inference have been suggested, for example, analogical, Bayesian, likelihoodist, and abductive, sceptics such as Roger Penrose objected that there could be alternative explanations which we still do not know of, while appealing to God can be used to solve any problem, so it is not helpful. This concern can be addressed by devising an original deductive argument which demonstrates that the following are the only possible categories of hypotheses—(i) Chance, (ii) Regularity, (iii) Combinations of Regularity and Chance, (iv) Uncaused, and (v) Design, and excluding all the alternative categories such that the conclusion of design follows logically (rather than being appealed to solve a problem). In response to the worry that previously unconsidered hypotheses could be lumped together in catch-all baskets, I show that there is an essential feature of each category (except design) which renders it unlikely as an explanation for the fine-tuning and order, beginning with (i)–(iii) and engaging with the multiverse hypothesis and Smolin’s evolutionary hypothesis.
Arguments for a First Cause
Authors: Loke Andrew
Published: May 2022

Cosmological models which postulate an infinite past, such as eternal inflation model, Ekyroptic universe, and Penrose’s conformal cyclic cosmology, face various difficulties related to the Generalized Second Law of Thermodynamics (Aron Wall), and arguments against an infinite regress of causes and events: (1) The argument from the impossibility of concrete actual infinities. (2) The argument from the impossibility of traversing an actual infinite. (3) The argument from the viciousness of dependence regress. (4) The argument from the Grim Reaper paradox. Any one of these arguments would be sufficient. Bounce cosmologies which postulate entropy reversal (Sean Carroll) neglect the problem of causal dependence at the interface. I show that Linford’s suggestion that the universes to either side of the interface might be interpreted as the simultaneous causes of each other entails a vicious circularity. Likewise, a closed causal loop (Gott and Li) is viciously circular. Given that an infinite causal regress and a closed loop is not the case, there is a First Cause.
Rates of Care Poverty
Authors: Kröger Teppo
Published: May 2022

This chapter makes an inventory of earlier research on the prevalence of unmet care needs and summarises these findings under the term of care poverty rates. Care poverty rate is defined as the ratio of people, in a given group of people with care needs, whose care needs are not met. In the chapter care poverty rates are reported separately for different care poverty domains and measurement approaches. Findings are compared between different countries but also between the three care poverty domains and the two measurement approaches. Some countries (like Spain) show consistent results, while in other nations (like the United States) findings display large variations. The chapter also summarises findings on which care needs are most probable to be left unmet. In this respect, moving is found to be the most challenging personal care task and cleaning/housekeeping the most problematic practical care task. In general, the scarcity of research proves to pose the most substantial barrier to drawing conclusions about national levels of care poverty.
Social Inequalities and Care Poverty
Authors: Kröger Teppo
Published: May 2022

This chapter discusses the connections between care poverty and key dimensions of social inequalities (income, educational, gender, regional, ethnic, and racial inequalities). The findings are partly surprising and contradictory. A low income level is a risk factor for personal care poverty in some but not in all countries, while it is more systematically associated with practical care poverty and socio-emotional care poverty. A low level of education does not typically predict care poverty. Neither does gender, though at the same time the clear majority of older people in care poverty are women. Some studies identify an ethnic or racial gradient in care poverty, minorities being more likely to have unmet needs. However, several studies fail to show statistical significance for this difference. Concerning regional inequalities, there are major differences in care poverty rates across different areas, at least in geographically large countries, and in some cases also between rural and urban areas. The chapter ends by arguing that care poverty should be seen as a dimension of inequality in its own right. When some people receive adequate care while others do not, a new type of inequality emerges.
APFS
Authors: Nordvik Rune
Published: May 2022

The Apple File System (APFS) has been the standard FS for Apple devices since 2017. At that time, no digital forensic tools supported it, leaving tool dependent digital or mobile forensic investigators without the ability to investigate this file system properly. The APFS was first enabled on iOS, the operating system of iPhone, and later that same year on MacOS. APFS replaced the HFS+ FS. This chapter will document the important metadata structures of APFS, which is based on state of the art research, and we are focusing on the investigative meaning of the structures.
Property Lists
Authors: Hummert Christian , Humphries Georgina Louise
Published: May 2022

Property List files (*.plist) are a widely used data storage format used by Apple software. Most of the system properties are stored in plists, but also, many apps store their configuration in plist-files. The data held within Property is regularly of high evidential value for forensic analysts, so understanding the format is essential for the forensic investigation of Apple mobile devices and computers. Not all of today’s digital forensics tools recover plists properly. Especially for carved or damaged plists, the support is insufficient. So the forensic examiner must understand the principles of this file format. This chapter gives an overview of the plist structure to give the examiner the knowledge to get the most information out of the evidence possible.
Findings from Traffic Accident Analysis
Authors: Winkle Thomas
Published: May 2022

With regard to safe product development in the dilemma between Artificial Intelligence, ethics and legal risk, Thomas Winkle provides a meta-analysis for safety assessment using accident data to demonstrate potential safety benefits and risks. Thomas Winkle also refers to the disasters of the Chernobyl and Fukushima nuclear power plant accidents. They mark changes in acceptance about the use of nuclear energy. Comparisons are made between the global mortality rates of females and males on traffic mortality in relation to the life expectancy of various countries around the world, from Sierra Leone with the lowest life expectancy to Japan with the highest. The probability of dying from a traffic accident is highest in Venezuela and Sierra Leone. Another overview addresses the global mortality rate with exemplary causes of death in contrast to the ISO 26262 requirements of the Automotive Safety Integrity Level "ASIL D" and a hardware failure rate of less than 1 * 10-81/h. Furthermore, he uses traffic accident data examples of safety-enhancing automated vehicle systems with a low degree of automation that are already available on the market. For testing methods to develop and validate safe automated vehicles with reasonable expenditure, the author recommends combining worldwide traffic accident-, weather-, vehicle operation data and traffic simulations. Based on these findings, a realistic evaluation of internationally prospective, and statistically relevant real-world traffic scenarios as well as error processes and stochastic models can be analyzed (in combination with virtual tests in laboratories and driving simulators) to control critical driving situations.
Stand der Forschung
Authors: Behnert Christiane
Published: May 2022

Die Darstellung des Forschungsstands in diesem Kapitel erfolgt aus zwei Perspektiven – einer inhaltlichen und einer methodischen Perspektive auf die Kriterien, die informationssuchende Personen bei der Relevanzbewertung von Suchergebnissen anwenden. Der erste Teil dieses Kapitels widmet sich den Kriterien aus inhaltlicher Sicht. Dazu wird einleitend auf das Problem einer fehlenden definitorischen Abgrenzung der in der Literatur verwendeten Begriffe „Kriterien“, „Faktoren“ und „Merkmale“ eingegangen und aufgezeigt, welche Konsequenzen sich diesbezüglich für die Auswahl und Betrachtung der für die Erläuterungen der Relevanzkriterien herangezogenen Studien in den nachfolgenden Abschnitten 2.1.1, 2.1.2 und 2.1.3 ergeben.
Muonic vs electronic dark forces: a complete EFT treatment for atomic spectroscopy
Authors: Frugiuele Claudia , Peset Clara
Published: May 2022

Abstract

Precision atomic spectroscopy provides a solid model independent bound on the existence of new dark forces among the atomic constituents. We focus on the keV-GeV region investigating the sensitivity to such dark sectors of the recent measurements on muonic atoms at PSI. To this end we develop for the first time, the effective field theory that describes the leading effect of a new (pseudo-)vector or a (pseudo-)scalar particle of any mass at atomic energies. We identify in the Lamb Shift measurement in muonic deuterium (μD) and the 2s Hyperfine Splitting (HFS) in muonic hydrogen (μH) the most promising measurements to probe respectively spin-independent and spin-dependent new forces. Furthermore, we evaluate the expression of the vector force HFS finding that a future measurement of the 2s HFS in regular hydrogen could provide the strongest atomic bound for such a force for masses above 100 MeV.
Anti-inflammatory effect of SGLT-2 inhibitors via uric acid and insulin
Authors: La Grotta Rosalba , de Candia Paola , Olivieri Fabiola , Matacchione Giulia , Giuliani Angelica , Rippo Maria Rita , Tagliabue Elena , Mancino Monica , Rispoli Francesca , Ferroni Sabina , Berra Cesare Celeste , Ceriello Antonio , Prattichizzo Francesco
Published: May 2022

Sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors (i) reduce cardiovascular and renal events in patients with and without type 2 diabetes (T2D). However, the underlying mechanisms are debated. Low-grade inflammation (LGI) is a key driver of vascular complications, suggested to be attenuated by SGLT-2i in animal models. Based on a specific working hypothesis, here we investigated the net effect of SGLT-2i on LGI in patients with T2D and the possible underlying mechanism. We enrolled patients with T2D treated either with a stable therapy with SGLT-2i or with other glucose-lowering drugs (GLD) (n = 43 per group after matching for a range of pro-inflammatory variables), and tested hs-CRP and interleukin (IL)-6 as primary variables of interest. Patients treated with SGLT-2i had lower circulating levels of IL-6, a prototypical marker of LGI, but also of uric acid and fasting insulin, compared with patients treated with other GLD. Then, to explore whether uric acid and insulin might mediate the effect of SGLT-2i on IL-6, we tested physiologically pertinent doses of these two molecules (i.e. 0.5 mM uric acid and 1 nM insulin) in two in vitro models of LGI, i.e. monocytes (THP-1) treated with LPS and endothelial cells (HUVEC) exposed to hyperglycaemia. Results from in vitro models supported a pro-inflammatory role for uric acid and its combination with insulin in monocytes and for uric acid alone in hyperglycaemia-stimulated endothelial cells. On the contrary, we observed no drug-intrinsic, anti-inflammatory effect for dapagliflozin, empagliflozin, and canagliflozin in the same models. Overall, these results suggest that SGLT-2i possess a tangible activity against LGI, an effect possibly mediated by their ability to lower uric acid and insulin concentrations and that juxtaposes other proposed mechanisms in explaining the observed benefit of this class on cardiovascular and renal endpoints.
Fish body geometry reduces the upstream velocity profile in subcritical flowing waters
Authors: Bensing Katharina , Tuhtan Jeffrey A. , Toming Gert , Khan Ali Hassan , Lehmann Boris
Published: May 2022

Fish body geometry is highly variable across species, affecting the fluid-body interactions fish rely on for habitat choice, feeding, predator avoidance and spawning. We hypothesize that fish body geometry may substantially influence the velocity experienced by fish swimming. To test this hypothesis, we built nine full-scale physical prototypes of common freshwater fish species. The prototypes were placed in a large laboratory flume and upstream time-averaged velocity profiles were measured with increasing distance from the anterior-most location of each body. The measurements revealed that the body geometry can have a significant influence on the velocity profile, reducing the flow field at a distance of one body length upstream of the fish. Furthermore, it was found that the upstream velocity profiles from the nine fish species investigated in this study can be normalized to a single fit curve based on the freestream velocity and fish body length under subcritical flow conditions. These findings are significant, because they show that conventional point velocity measurements overlook the reducing effect of the fish body on the upstream flow field, creating a systematically biased representation of the velocity experienced by fish in subcritical flowing waters. This bias is illustrated by velocity field maps created with and without the presence of the physical models for three different fish species. Finally, we provide an example of how point velocity measurements can be recalculated to provide upstream velocity field maps closer to “the fish’s perspective”.
Endovascular Therapy for Intracranial Giant Cell Arteritis
Authors: Caton M. Travis , Mark Ian T. , Narsinh Kazim H. , Baker Amanda , Cooke Daniel L. , Hetts Steven W. , Dowd Christopher F. , Halbach Van V. , Higashida Randall T. , Ko Nerissa U. , Chung Sharon A. , Amans Matthew R.
Published: May 2022

Background

Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is a systemic vasculitis that may cause ischemic stroke. Rarely, GCA can present with aggressive intracranial stenoses, which are refractory to medical therapy. Endovascular treatment (EVT) is a possible rescue strategy to prevent ischemic complications in intracranial GCA but the safety and efficacy of EVT in this setting are not well-described.

Methods

A systematic literature review was performed to identify case reports and series with individual patient-level data describing EVT for intracranial GCA. The clinical course, therapeutic considerations, and technique of seven endovascular treatments in a single patient from the authors’ experience are presented.

Results

The literature review identified 9 reports of 19 treatments, including percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) with or without stenting, in 14 patients (mean age 69.6 ± 6.3 years). Out of 12 patients 8 (66.7%) with sufficient data had > 1 pre-existing cardiovascular risk factor. All patients had infarction on MRI while on glucocorticoids and 7/14 (50%) progressed despite adjuvant immunosuppressive agents. Treatment was PTA alone in 15/19 (78.9%) cases and PTA + stent in 4/19 (21.1%). Repeat treatments were performed in 4/14 (28.6%) of patients (PTA-only). Non-flow limiting dissection was reported in 2/19 (10.5%) of treatments.

The indications, technical details, and results of PTA are discussed in a single illustrative case. We report the novel use of intra-arterial calcium channel blocker infusion (verapamil) as adjuvant to PTA and as monotherapy, resulting in immediate improvement in cerebral blood flow.

Conclusion

Endovascular treatment, including PTA with or without stenting or calcium channel blocker infusion, may be effective therapies in medically refractory GCA with intracranial stenosis.
The use of radiosensitizing agents in the therapy of glioblastoma multiforme—a comprehensive review
Authors: Pepper Niklas Benedikt , Stummer Walter , Eich Hans Theodor
Published: May 2022

Background

Glioblastoma is the most common malignant brain tumor in human adults. Despite several improvements in resective as well as adjuvant therapy over the last decades, its overall prognosis remains poor. As a means of improving patient outcome, the possibility of enhancing radiation response by using radiosensitizing agents has been tested in an array of studies.

Methods

A comprehensive review of clinical trials involving radiation therapy in combination with radiosensitizing agents on patients diagnosed with glioblastoma was performed in the National Center for Biotechnology Information’s PubMed database.

Results

A total of 96 papers addressing this matter were published between 1976 and 2021, of which 63 matched the subject of this paper. All papers were reviewed, and their findings discussed in the context of their underlining mechanisms of radiosensitization.

Conclusion

In the history of glioblastoma treatment, several approaches of optimizing radiation-effectiveness using radiosensitizers have been made. Even though several different strategies and agents have been explored, clear evidence of improved patient outcome is still missing. Tissue-selectiveness and penetration of the blood–brain barrier seem to be major roadblocks; nevertheless, modern strategies try to circumvent these obstacles, using novel sensitizers based on preclinical data or alternative ways of delivery.
Approach à la Piola for the equilibrium problem of bodies with second gradient energies. Part II: Variational derivation of second gradient equations and their transport
Authors: Fedele Roberto
Published: May 2022

After the wide premise of Part I, where the equations for Cauchy’s continuum were retrieved through the energy minimization and some differential geometric perspectives were specified, the present paper as Part II outlines the variational derivation of the equilibrium equations for second gradient materials and their transformation from the Eulerian to the Lagrangian form. Volume, face and edge contributions to the inner virtual work were provided through integration by parts and by repeated applications of the divergence theorem extended to curved surfaces with border. To sustain double forces over the faces and line forces along the edges, the role of the third rank hyperstress tensor was highlighted. Special attention was devoted to the edge work, and to the evaluation of the variables discontinuous across the edge belonging to the contiguous boundary faces. The detailed expression of the contact pressures was provided, including multiple products of normal vector components, their gradient and a combination of them: in particular, the dependence on the local mean curvature was shown. The transport of the governing equations from the Eulerian to the Lagrangian configuration was developed according to two diverse strategies, exploiting novel differential geometric formulae and revealing a coupling of terms transversely to the involved domains.
Perturbative Symmetry Approach for Differential–Difference Equations
Authors: Mikhailov Alexander V. , Novikov Vladimir S. , Wang Jing Ping
Published: May 2022

We propose a new method to tackle the integrability problem for evolutionary differential–difference equations of arbitrary order. It enables us to produce necessary integrability conditions, to determine whether a given equation is integrable or not, and to advance in classification of integrable equations. We define and develop symbolic representation for the difference polynomial ring, difference operators and formal series. In order to formulate necessary integrability conditions, we introduce a novel quasi-local extension of the difference ring. We apply the developed formalism to solve the classification problem of integrable equations for anti-symmetric quasi-linear equations of order $$(-3,3)$$

(
-
3
,
3
)

and produce a list of 17 equations satisfying the necessary integrability conditions. For every equation from the list we present an infinite family of integrable higher order relatives. Some of the equations obtained are new.
Greenhouse gas (CO2, CH4, and N2O) emissions after abandonment of agriculture
Authors: El-Hawwary Alaa , Brenzinger Kristof , Lee Hyo Jung , Veraart Annelies J. , Morriën Elly , Schloter Michael , van der Putten Wim H. , Bodelier Paul L. E. , Ho Adrian
Published: May 2022

The GHG (CO2, CH4, N2O) emission potential along a chronosequence of former agricultural soils abandoned for 9 to 32 years were compared to an actively managed (on-going) agricultural soil (reference). The soils were incubated in mesocosms with and without manure amendment, and microbial functional groups involved in nitrous oxide emission were quantitatively assessed. Carbon dioxide emission significantly increased after agriculture abandonment (< 24 years) consistent with higher decomposition rate, but total emission decreased in the long term (> 29 years). With the cessation of agriculture, the abandoned sites generally became a net methane sink. Notably, total nitrous oxide emission showed a significant monotonic decrease over years of abandonment in response to manure amendment, possibly reflecting an altered capacity for (de)nitrification as indicated in the response of the (de)nitrifier abundance. Overall, our findings suggest that the GHG legacy of agriculture diminishes over time (> 29 years), with lowered GHG emissions and global warming potential (GWP) after abandonment of agriculture.
Voice quality after transoral CO2 laser microsurgery (TOLMS): systematic review of literature
Authors: Colizza Andrea , Ralli Massimo , D’Elia Chiara , Greco Antonio , de Vincentiis Marco
Published: May 2022

Purpose

Transoral laser microsurgery (TOLMS) with carbon dioxide is a safe approach for laryngeal carcinoma. In literature there are three main methods for evaluating speech outcomes: acoustic and aerodynamics analysis, perceptual evaluation and patient-reported outcomes (PROs). The aim of this study was to systematically review the literature about the voice quality outcomes of TOLMS according to type of cordectomy.

Methods

A systematic literature review was performed and all the results until December 2021 were extrapolated. We evaluated the acoustic and aerodynamics parameters (fundamental frequency, harmonics to noise ratio, jitter, shimmer and maximum phonation time), perceptual data (GRBAS scale) and patient-related outcomes (VHI scale).

Results

24 studies met the inclusion criteria for a total number of 1207 patients enrolled. The number for each type of cordectomy are: 287 type I (23.78%), 311 type II (25.78%), 328 type III (27.14%), 129 type 4 (10.69%) and 152 type V (12.60%). Patients are grouped according to the type of cordectomy in: limited cordectomy (type I and II) and extended cordectomy (types III–IV–V). The difference between two groups is statistically significative in terms of acoustic analysis, perceptual data and patient-related outcomes (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Patients who underwent type I or II cordectomy have significantly better quality of voice in terms of VHI, perceptual voice quality evaluations and acoustic parameters compared to type III, IV and V cordectomies. The effect of TOLMS on the voice should depend from the extent of the resection and in particular from the scar of the vocal muscle.
A SUMO4 initiator codon variant in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis reduces SUMO4 expression and alters stress granule dynamics
Authors: Osmanovic Alma , Förster Alisa , Widjaja Maylin , Auber Bernd , Das Anibh M. , Christians Anne , Brand Frank , Petri Susanne , Weber Ruthild G.
Published: May 2022

Background

Recent evidence points toward a role of the small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) system, including SUMO4, in protecting from stress insults and neurodegeneration, such as the progressive motor neuron disease amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), e.g., by regulating stress granule (SG) dynamics. Here, we investigated whether SUMO4 variants play a role in ALS pathogenesis.

Methods

Whole-exome or targeted SUMO4 sequencing was done in 222 unrelated European ALS patients. The consequences of the identified initiator codon variant were analyzed at the mRNA, protein and cellular level. SUMO4 expression was quantified in human tissues. All patients were subjected to clinical, electrophysiological, and neuroradiological characterization.

Results

A rare heterozygous SUMO4 variant, i.e., SUMO4:c.2T>C p.Met1?, was detected in four of 222 (1.8%) ALS patients, significantly more frequently than in two control cohorts (0.3% each). SUMO4 mRNA and protein expression was diminished in whole blood or fibroblasts of a SUMO4 variant carrier versus controls. Pertinent stress factors, i.e., head trauma or cancer (treated by radiochemotherapy), were significantly more frequent in SUMO4 variant carrier versus non-carrier ALS patients. The mean number of SGs per cell was significantly higher in fibroblasts of a SUMO4 variant carrier compared to controls at baseline, upon oxidative stress, and after recovery, and SUMOylation of ALS-associated valosin-containing protein by SUMO4 was decreased. SUMO4 mRNA expression was highest in brain of all human tissues analyzed.

Conclusions

Our results are consistent with SUMO4 haploinsufficiency as a contributor to ALS pathogenesis impacting SG dynamics and possibly acting in conjunction with environmental oxidative stress-related factors.
Vaccines and myasthenia gravis: a comprehensive review and retrospective study of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in a large cohort of myasthenic patients
Authors: Sansone Giulio , Bonifati Domenico Marco
Published: May 2022

Introduction

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disease, for which the risk of exacerbation after vaccines is debated. The aim of this study is to review the available literature concerning safety and efficacy of vaccines in MG. In addition, we also conducted a retrospective research of MG exacerbations and new onset MG after anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in a large cohort of patients.

Methods

A study of the available literature regarding vaccines and MG was carried out through research in the online database “Pubmed”. We also retrospectively collected data from 80 MG patients, who were followed at the Treviso Hospital and completed an anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccination cycle. For each patient, we recorded MG exacerbations between first and second doses and within a window period of 1 day – 6 weeks after the second dose.

Results

We found 26 relevant articles about influenza, SARS-CoV-2 and other vaccines. No clear associations between most vaccines and MG exacerbations were found. Moreover, cases of new onset post-vaccine MG are mostly anecdotal, except for Japanese encephalitis virus vaccine. Concerning our cohort, 4/80 (5%) MG patients experienced an exacerbation within the post-vaccine window period. In addition, we report a case of new onset post-vaccine MG.

Discussion

Inactivated and subunit vaccines are safe and effective in MG. Although some of them, such as anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccine, might uncommonly cause MG exacerbations, data from our review suggest that benefits still outweigh by far the potential risks, thus they should be recommended to these patients. Nevertheless, large prospective studies are needed for further investigations.
Anatomy of the neural fibers at the superior mesenteric artery—a cadaver study
Authors: Reinehr Michael D. , Vuille-dit-Bille Raphael N. , Soll Christopher , Mittal Anubhav , Samra Jaswinder S. , Staerkle Ralph F.
Published: May 2022

Purpose

Most surgeons perform right-sided semicircular clearance of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) nerve plexus for pancreatic head carcinoma, presuming a linear course of the SMA nerve fibers. The hypothesis was that the SMA nerve plexus fibers follow a non-linear course, and the goal of the present study was to assess the neural fibers distribution along the SMA.

Methods

The course of neural fibers along the retropancreatic and suprapancreatic SMA was assessed in 7 cadavers.

Results

In the retropancreatic course of the vessel, the main nerve cords branch and form a large number of finer nerve branches performing an anti-clockwise rotation of slightly less than 90° around the SMA. Finer nerve branches are located rather close to the vessel, while the main nerve cords are localized in the loose connective tissue of the peripheral parts of the vascular sheath. Nerve fibers around the suprapancreatic SMA run as two main nerve cords framing the artery on the right lateral-ventral and the left lateral to lateral-dorsal side.

Conclusion

The rotation of the nerve fiber around the SMA indicates that a more radical resection of at least 180° of neural tissue around the SMA might be required to achieve tumor clearance in pancreatic cancer with perineural invasion at the uncinate margin.
Assessment of structural disconnections in gliomas: comparison of indirect and direct approaches
Authors: Silvestri Erica , Villani Umberto , Moretto Manuela , Colpo Maria , Salvalaggio Alessandro , Anglani Mariagiulia , Castellaro Marco , Facchini Silvia , Monai Elena , D’Avella Domenico , Della Puppa Alessandro , Cecchin Diego , Corbetta Maurizio , Bertoldo Alessandra
Published: May 2022

Gliomas are amongst the most common primary brain tumours in adults and are often associated with poor prognosis. Understanding the extent of white matter (WM) which is affected outside the tumoral lesion may be of paramount importance to explain cognitive deficits and the clinical progression of the disease. To this end, we explored both direct (i.e., tractography based) and indirect (i.e., atlas-based) approaches to quantifying WM structural disconnections in a cohort of 44 high- and low-grade glioma patients. While these methodologies have recently gained popularity in the context of stroke and other pathologies, to our knowledge, this is the first time they are applied in patients with brain tumours. More specifically, in this work, we present a quantitative comparison of the disconnection maps provided by the two methodologies by applying well-known metrics of spatial similarity, extension, and correlation. Given the important role the oedematous tissue plays in the physiopathology of tumours, we performed these analyses both by including and excluding it in the definition of the tumoral lesion. This was done to investigate possible differences determined by this choice. We found that direct and indirect approaches offer two distinct pictures of structural disconnections in patients affected by brain gliomas, presenting key differences in several regions of the brain. Following the outcomes of our analysis, we eventually discuss the strengths and pitfalls of these two approaches when applied in this critical field.
Priority effects and density promote coexistence between the facultative predator Chrysomya rufifacies and its competitor Calliphora stygia
Authors: Dawson Blake M. , Wallman James F. , Evans Maldwyn J. , Butterworth Nathan J. , Barton Philip S.
Published: May 2022

Highly competitive ephemeral resources like carrion tend to support much greater diversity relative to longer-lived resources. The coexistence of diverse communities on short-lived carrion is a delicate balance, maintained by several processes including competition. Despite this balance, few studies have investigated the effect of competition on carrion, limiting our understanding of how competition drives coexistence. We investigated how priority effects and larval density influence coexistence between two blowfly species, the facultative predator Chrysomya rufifacies and its competitor Calliphora stygia, which occupy broadly similar niches but differ in their ecological strategies for exploiting carrion. We examined how adult oviposition, larval survival, developmental duration, and adult fitness were affected by the presence of differently aged heterospecific larval masses, and how these measures varied under three larval densities. We found C. rufifacies larval survival was lowest in conspecific masses with low larval densities. In heterospecific masses, survival increased, particularly at high larval density, with priority effects having minimal effect, suggesting a dependency on collective exodigestion. For C. stygia, we found survival to be constant across larval densities in a conspecific mass. In heterospecific masses, survival decreased drastically when C. rufifacies arrived first, regardless of larval density, suggesting C. stygia is temporally constrained to avoid competition with C. rufifacies. Neither species appeared to completely outcompete the other, as they were either constrained by density requirements (C. rufifacies) or priority effects (C. stygia). Our results provide new mechanistic insights into the ecological processes allowing for coexistence on a competitively intense, ephemeral resource such as carrion.
Recommendation platform in Internet of Things leveraging on a self-organizing multiagent approach
Authors: Forestiero Agostino , Papuzzo Giuseppe
Published: May 2022

Identifying user requirements and preferences on the basis of the current context, is one of main challenges of the Internet of Things (IoT) paradigm. Users, services and applications interact maintaining, often unreliable, relations which need of smart management systems to satisfy their demands. Traditional information handling approaches in distributed systems are most often unsuitable for modern Smart Environments due to the huge amount and the extreme dynamism of the entities involved. This paper proposes NARIoT platform that allows building recommendation systems in IoT environment. The approach relies on vector representations of IoT resources obtained by using of a word embedding tool, the Doc2Vec neural model, which, starting from text documents describing the resources, provides real-valued vectors mapping them. The vectors are handled through intelligent agents, which self-organize themselves creating an ordered virtual structure, so enabling informed mechanisms of information filtering. In particular, an ordered overlay network emerges from the autonomous, parallel and decentralized work of intelligent agents, thus enabling efficient recommendation operations. The experimental validation confirms the effectiveness of the approach and provides very encouraging results.
External validation of prognostic models predicting outcome after chronic subdural hematoma
Authors: Holl Dana C. , Mikolic Ana , Blaauw Jurre , Lodewijkx Roger , Foppen Merijn , Jellema Korné , van der Gaag Niels A. , den Hertog Heleen M. , Jacobs Bram , van der Naalt Joukje , Verbaan Dagmar , Kho K. H. , Dirven C. M. F. , Dammers Ruben , Lingsma Hester F. , van Klaveren David
Published: May 2022

Background

Several prognostic models for outcomes after chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) treatment have been published in recent years. However, these models are not sufficiently validated for use in daily clinical practice. We aimed to assess the performance of existing prediction models for outcomes in patients diagnosed with CSDH.

Methods

We systematically searched relevant literature databases up to February 2021 to identify prognostic models for outcome prediction in patients diagnosed with CSDH. For the external validation of prognostic models, we used a retrospective database, containing data of 2384 patients from three Dutch regions. Prognostic models were included if they predicted either mortality, hematoma recurrence, functional outcome, or quality of life. Models were excluded when predictors were absent in our database or available for < 150 patients in our database. We assessed calibration, and discrimination (quantified by the concordance index C) of the included prognostic models in our retrospective database.

Results

We identified 1680 original publications of which 1656 were excluded based on title or abstract, mostly because they did not concern CSDH or did not define a prognostic model. Out of 18 identified models, three could be externally validated in our retrospective database: a model for 30-day mortality in 1656 patients, a model for 2 months, and another for 3-month hematoma recurrence both in 1733 patients. The models overestimated the proportion of patients with these outcomes by 11% (15% predicted vs. 4% observed), 1% (10% vs. 9%), and 2% (11% vs. 9%), respectively. Their discriminative ability was poor to modest (C of 0.70 [0.63–0.77]; 0.46 [0.35–0.56]; 0.59 [0.51–0.66], respectively).

Conclusions

None of the examined models showed good predictive performance for outcomes after CSDH treatment in our dataset. This study confirms the difficulty in predicting outcomes after CSDH and emphasizes the heterogeneity of CSDH patients. The importance of developing high-quality models by using unified predictors and relevant outcome measures and appropriate modeling strategies is warranted.
Tolerability of overnight rotigotine transdermal patch combined with intrajejunal levodopa infusion at 1 year: a 24-h treatment option in Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Lau Yue Hui , Leta Valentina , Rukavina Katarina , Parry Miriam , Ann Natividad Jenny , Metta Vinod , Chung-Faye Guy , Chaudhuri K. Ray
Published: May 2022

Background

Twenty-four-hour treatment options could provide a continuous drug delivery strategy in advanced Parkinson’s disease and can ameliorate motor and non-motor complications. Use of levodopa infusion is often limited to 12–16 h/day due to its cost. Adjunctive overnight rotigotine transdermal patch is a continuous drug delivery option successfully used in clinical practice coupled with apomorphine infusion. However, real-life data addressing the tolerability of transdermal dopamine agonist therapy with concomitant use of intrajejunal levodopa infusion in advanced Parkinson’s disease are not available.

Objective

To evaluate the tolerability and beneficial effects of combined therapy with overnight rotigotine transdermal patch and intrajejunal levodopa infusion over a follow-up period of 12 months in advanced Parkinson’s disease.

Method

In this retrospective data analysis, data before and after the initiation of the continuous drug delivery combined therapy using overnight rotigotine transdermal patch and intrajejunal levodopa infusion were collected from the ongoing non-motor-international-longitudinal study (NILS) and local clinical practice at King’s College Hospital (London, United Kingdom). 12 advanced Parkinson’s disease patients on intrajejunal levodopa therapy who were additionally treated with overnight rotigotine transdermal patch (mean dose 5.67 ± 4.19 mg) are included. Tolerability over a 12-month period was assessed. In addition, changes in motor symptoms (SCales for Outcomes in Parkinson's disease, SCOPA-Motor), non-motor symptoms (Non-Motor Symptoms Scale, NMSS) and quality of life (Parkinson's disease Questionnaire-8, PDQ-8) before and 12-month after continuous drug delivery combined therapy initiation are evaluated.

Results

Tolerability was 100% irrespective of age, disease duration, stages of disease. (Treatment with overnight rotigotine transdermal patch that was maintained for a minimum of 6 months was considered “tolerated”, primary tolerability). In addition, we noted a significant reduction of the NMSS total score (p = 0.009) and the NMSS domain 3 score (mood and apathy domain) (p = 0.028), although the latter did not remain statistically significant after correction for multiple testing (p2 = 0.252) at 12 months.

Conclusion

Combination of intrajejunal levodopa infusion with overnight rotigotine transdermal patch is well tolerated and extend the beneficial effects of infusion with excellent tolerability; and also improved aspects of mood and apathy sustained at 12 months in advanced Parkinson’s disease.
Inter-comparability of analytical laboratories in quantifying polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons collected from industrial emission sources
Authors: Lilley Adam , Coleman Marc D. , Goddard Sharon L. , Mills Ellie G. , Brown Richard J. C. , Robinson Rod A. , Clack Martin J.
Published: May 2022

We report an inter-laboratory comparison of analytical laboratories involved in the quantification of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) collected by sampling organisations from industrial stacks (e.g. waste incinerators). Four reference solutions were prepared containing nominally 10 ng/ml, 50 ng/ml, 200 ng/ml and 500 ng/ml of naphthalene, benzo[a]anthracene, chrysene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, benzo[k]fluoranthene, benzo[a]pyrene, indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene and dibenzo[a,h]anthracene prior to despatch to five analytical laboratories with quantification requested in accordance with ISO 11338-2. Across four of the laboratories (the 5th returned unusable data), significant deviations from the reference concentrations were found frequently in excess of the benchmarks of 37 %—from the validation data in ISO 11338-2—and 21 %—from the Environment Agency for England’s Monitoring Certification Scheme. Also, much of the variance was systemic in nature indicating a possible issue with the quality of some of the stock solutions used by the laboratories for calibration. Whilst more proficiency testing would be welcomed to monitor and improve performance, this should be provided in addition to more support for analytical laboratories. A key mechanism of support is the standards themselves and there is a timely opportunity in that ISO/TC 146/SC 1 are due to revise ISO 11338. Possible improvements include full validation of high performance liquid chromatography and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry methods (to better understand what performance can reasonably be expected from laboratories), a requirement to correct results to individual laboratory PAH extraction efficiency, and a required uncertainty stipulated for the overall method (also aiding setting pass/fail criteria for proficiency testing).