bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Corneal Changes After Belantamab Mafodotin in Multiple Myeloma Patients
Authors: Bausell Rebecca B. , Soleimani Arshia , Vinnett Alfred , Baroni Mariana D. , Staub Sheila A. , Binion Katrina , Jeng Bennie H. , Badros Ashraf Z. , Munir Wuqaas M. 
Published: December 2020

Objectives:
To describe progressive corneal microcyst-like epithelial changes (MECs) that developed in patients treated with the investigational drug belantamab mafodotin (belamaf) for refractory multiple myeloma (MM).

Methods:
This is a single center case series of patients with MM receiving the investigational drug belamaf.

Results:
All 12 patients included in this analysis who were treated with belamaf developed MECs that initially appeared in the peripheral cornea and progressed centrally with time. Cessation of therapy resulted in regression of the MECs first in the periphery then centrally. Microcyst-like epithelial changes recurred in all patients on retreatment. With prolonged therapy, eight patients developed corneal staining patterns suggestive of limbal stem cell dysfunction (LSCD).

Conclusion:
We describe MECs and LSCD associated with systemic administration of belamaf. Further study is needed to determine the etiology and composition of the MECs and the mechanism of limbal stem cell involvement.
Audiometric Outcomes Following Transmastoid and Middle Cranial Fossa Approaches for Repair of Cerebrospinal Fluid Otorrhea
Authors: Ren Yin , Tawfik Kareem O. , Cueva Roberto A. 
Published: December 2020

Objective:
Describe audiometric outcomes following transmastoid and middle cranial fossa (MCF) approaches for repair of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) otorhinorrhea.

Study design:
Retrospective case series.

Setting:
Tertiary skull base referral center.

Patients:
Adult patients presenting with CSF otorhinorrhea undergoing operative repair between January 2009 and July 2019.

Intervention:
Transmastoid repair, MCF repair, or a combined approach.

Main outcome measures:
Primary outcome measures included preoperative and postoperative four-frequency pure-tone average (PTA), air-bone gap (ABG) and word recognition score. Secondary outcomes included success of repair, recurrence of CSF leak, and length of stay.

Results:
Twenty-nine patients underwent 32 operations (mean age 52 yr, 75.9% female). Twenty (62.5%) patients underwent transmastoid repair, while 8 (25%) underwent an MCF approach. Patients had significant postoperative improvement in both PTA (34.8 dB preop vs. 24.5 dB postop, p = 0.003) and ABG (20.2 dB preop vs. 8.6 dB postop, p
= 0.0001). CSF leak recurred in 3 patients (9.4%) over 17-month follow-up. Compared to MCF or combined approaches, transmastoid repair was associated with greater improvement in PTA (15.6 vs. 3.0 dB, p = 0.001) and shorter length of stay (0.3 vs. 1.2 days, p = 0.005). On subset analysis, patients with spontaneous CSF leaks, a single skull base defect, or meningoencephaloceles demonstrated significant audiometric improvements.

Conclusions:
The transmastoid approach for repair of CSF otorhinorrhea is effective, safe, and can be done on an outpatient basis. Patients with spontaneous CSF leaks, a single skull base defect, and associated encephaloceles may have better audiometric outcomes.
Streamlining the Cochlear Implant Evaluation: Utility of Community Audiometry in Cochlear Implant Candidacy Assessment
Authors: Shah Ravi R. , Jeon Jun W. , Naples James G. , Hwa Tiffany P. , Davis Sherrie , Eliades Steven J. , Brant Jason A. , Bigelow Douglas C. , Ruckenstein Michael J. 
Published: December 2020

Objective:
To identify redundancy in the cochlear implant candidacy evaluation and assess its financial impact.

Study design:
Retrospective chart review.

Setting:
Tertiary care academic cochlear implant center.

Patients:
One hundred thirty-five patients referred for cochlear implant candidacy evaluation from 2004 through 2019.

Intervention:
Community and academic audiometry were compared in a matched-pair analysis.

Main outcome measures:
Pure-tone audiometry and word recognition scores (WRS) were compared using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Cost of repeated audiometry was estimated using the Medicare Provider Utilization and Payment data.

Results:
The majority of pure-tone thresholds (PTT) and pure-tone averages (PTA) had no statistically significant differences between community and academic centers. Only air PTT at 2000 Hz on the right and air PTA on the right demonstrated differences with α = 0.05 after Bonferroni correction. Despite statistical differences, mean differences in PTT and PTA were all under 3.5 dB. WRS were on average lower at the academic center, by 14.7% on the right (p < 0.001) and 10.6% on the left (p = 0.003). Repeating initial audiometry costs patients up to $60.58 and costs the healthcare system up to $42.94 per patient.

Conclusions:
Pure-tone audiometry between community and academic centers did not demonstrate clinically significant differences. Lower academic WRS implies that patients identified as potential cochlear implant candidates based on community WRS are likely suitable to proceed to sentence testing without repeating audiometry, saving patients and the healthcare system time and resources.
Effect of Graft Size on Air-bone Gap Closure in Cartilage Button Tympanoplasty
Authors: Buck Lauren S. , Carter Ellen B. , Carron Christopher J. , Carron Jeffrey D. 
Published: December 2020

Objective:
To study the effect of graft size on postoperative air-bone gap in children undergoing butterfly inlay cartilage tympanoplasty using circular punch grafts.

Study Design:
Retrospective case review.

Setting:
Tertiary, academic children's hospital.

Patients:
Children less than 16 years old undergoing circular butterfly inlay tympanoplasty using 4, 5, or 6 mm round grafts.

Intervention:
Butterfly inlay tympanoplasty using circular punch graft harvest technique.

Main Outcome Measures:
Postoperative pure-tone average and air-bone gap.

Results:
Fifty-two children were included in the analysis: 18 in the 4 mm group, 28 in the 5 mm group, and 6 in the 6 mm group. There was no significant difference in either postoperative pure-tone average or air-bone gap among the three groups. Closure rates for the 4, 5, and 6 mm graft groups were 94, 96, and 67%, respectively, for an overall rate of 92%.

Conclusions:
Cartilage button butterfly inlay tympanoplasty with punch graft is an effective method for tympanic membrane repair with similar hearing results among various graft diameters but may have diminished success with perforations requiring grafts larger than 5 mm. Larger case series are necessary to determine if larger defects are best managed with other repair techniques.
Radiological and Audiological Outcomes of the LISTENT LCI-20PI Cochlear Implant Device
Authors: Tan Haoyue , Yao Junji , Li Yun , Zhang Zhihua , Chen Ying , Huang Meiping , Sterkers Olivier , Jia Huan , Wu Hao 
Published: December 2020

Objective:
To study the surgical results, intracochlear position of the electrode array (EA) and auditory performance of the LISTENT LCI-20PI cochlear implant device, and daily use status at 3 years.

Study Design:
A retrospective study.

Setting:
A single-tertiary referral center.

Patients:
Between January and December 2016, 20 patients underwent cochlear implantation using the LISTENT LCI-20PI (lateral wall EA).

Intervention:
Cochlear implantation.

Main Outcome Measures:
Measurement of cochlear size, extent of posterior tympanotomy, and insertion depth. Scalar position of the EA evaluated by 3D reconstruction. Auditory outcomes 1 year after implantation and daily use status at 3 years.

Results:
EAs were completely inserted in all cases with an insertion depth of 288 ± 36.8 degrees. One year later, the average sentence recognition score (SRS) was 90 ± 21.7%. EA scalar location was analyzed in 18 patients. Thirteen EAs (72.2%) were fully inserted into the scala tympani (ST) and 5 (27.8%) had shifted from the ST to the scala vestibuli (SV). There was no statistically significant difference in cochlear size, extent of posterior tympanotomy, or insertion depth between these two groups. EAs inserted by cochleostomy had a higher chance of scalar shift than those inserted via the round window (60% vs 15.4%, p = 0.099). SRS at 1 year with full ST insertion was significantly better than in those with scalar shift (99 ± 1.3% vs 83 ± 16.5%, p = 0.002). Three years after implantation, 92% of patients were daily users and 46% were telephone users.

Conclusions:
The LISTENT LCI-20PI provided accredited hearing rehabilitation with a short insertion depth. Full insertion into the ST was associated with better cochlear implantation outcomes.
Robot-assisted Cochlear Implant Electrode Array Insertion in Adults: A Comparative Study With Manual Insertion
Authors: Daoudi Hannah , Lahlou Ghizlene , Torres Renato , Sterkers Olivier , Lefeuvre Vincent , Ferrary Evelyne , Mosnier Isabelle , Nguyen Yann 
Published: December 2020

Objective:
To describe the first cochlear array insertions using a robot-assisted technique, with different types of straight or precurved electrode arrays, compared with arrays manually inserted into the cochlea.

Study Design:
Retrospective review.

Setting:
Tertiary otologic center.

Patients:
Twenty cochlear implantations in the robot-assisted group and 40 in the manually inserted group.

Interventions:
Cochlear implantations using a robot-assisted technique (RobOtol) with straight (eight Cochlear CI522/622, and eight Advanced Bionics Hifocus Slim J) or precurved (four Advanced Bionics Hifocus Mid-Scala) matched to manual cochlear implantations. Three-dimensional reconstruction images of the basilar membrane and the electrode array were obtained from pre- and postimplantation computed tomography.

Main Outcome Measures:
Rate and localization of scalar translocations.

Results:
For straight electrode arrays, scalar translocations occurred in 19% (3/16) of the robot-assisted group and 31% (10/32) of the manually inserted group. Considering the number of translocated electrodes, this was lower in the robot-assisted group (7%) than in the manually inserted group (16%) (p < 0.0001, χ
2 test). For precurved electrode arrays, scalar translocations occurred in 50% (2/4) of the robot-assisted group and 38% (3/8) of the manually inserted group.

Conclusion:
This study showed a safe and reliable insertion of different electrode array types with a robot-assisted technique, with a less traumatic robotic insertion of straight electrode arrays when compared with manual insertion.
Readiness to Change is Related to Real-World Walking and Depressive Symptoms in Chronic Stroke
Authors: Miller Allison , Wright Tamara , Wright Henry , Thompson Elizabeth , Pohlig Ryan T. , Reisman Darcy S. 
Published: December 2020

Background and Purpose:
The transtheoretical model is a health behavior model used to understand an individual's readiness to change their behavior. This study aims to apply the transtheoretical model in understanding a person with stroke's readiness to change their activity level, as it relates to physical capacity, physical health, depressive symptoms, self-efficacy, and daily stepping activity.

Methods:
This was a cross-sectional analysis of baseline data from a clinical trial. Participants' readiness to change their activity levels was measured via self-report and daily stepping activity was measured using a step activity monitor. Robust regression (M-estimation with robust standard errors) was used to test the relationship between readiness to change and measures of physical capacity (6-minute walk test, self-selected walking speed), physical health (body mass index, age-adjusted Charlson Comorbidity Index), depressive symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire-9), self-efficacy (Activities-Specific Balance Confidence Scale), and daily stepping (steps per day).

Results:
A total of 274 individuals were included in the analysis. Adjusted for age, readiness to change was positively related to daily stepping (β = 0.29, P < 0.001) and negatively related to depressive symptoms (β = −0.13, P = 0.01). Readiness to change was not significantly associated with measures of physical capacity, physical health, or self-efficacy.

Discussion:
These results suggest that individuals with stroke in the later stages of change may demonstrate greater daily stepping activity and lower depressive symptoms compared with those in earlier stages.

Conclusions:
Understanding the relationship between readiness to change, daily stepping, and depressive symptoms will help clinicians implement appropriate stage-specific intervention strategies and facilitate greater improvement in activity levels.

Video Abstract available for more insights from the authors (see the Video, Supplemental Digital Content 1, available at: http://links.lww.com/JNPT/A333).
Metagenomic Analysis Reveals A Possible Association Between Respiratory Infection and Periodontitis
Authors: Liu Zhenwei , Zhang Tao , Wu Keke , Li Zhongshan , Chen Xiaomin , Jiang Shan , Du Lifeng , Lu Saisai , Lin Chongxiang , Wu Jinyu , Wang Xiaobing 
Published: December 2020

AbstractPeriodontitis is an inflammatory disease which is characterized by progressive destruction of the periodontium and causes tooth loss in adults. Periodontitis is known to be associated with dysbiosis of the oral microflora, often linked to various diseases. However, the complexity of plaque microbial communities of periodontitis, and antibiotic resistance and enhanced virulence make this disease difficult to treat. Therefore, we used metagenomic shotgun sequencing in this study to investigate the etiology, antibiotic-resistant genes (ARGs) and virulence genes (VirGs) of periodontitis. We revealed a significant shift in the composition of oral microbiota as well as several functional pathways that were represented significantly more abundant in periodontitis patients than in controls. Additionally, we observed several positively selected ARGs and VirGs with the Ka/Ks ratio > 1 by analyzing our data and a previous periodontitis dataset, indicating that ARGs and VirGs in oral microbiota may suffer from positive selection. Moreover, 5 of 12 positively selected ARGs and VirGs in periodontitis patients were found in the genomes of respiratory tract pathogens. Of note, 91.8% of the background VirGs with at least one non-synonymous single-nucleotide polymorphism for natural selection were also from respiratory tract pathogens. These observations suggest a potential association between periodontitis and respiratory infection at the gene level. Our study enriches the knowledge of pathogens and functional pathways as well as the positive selection of antibiotic resistance and pathogen virulence in periodontitis patients, and provides evidence from the gene level for an association between periodontitis and respiratory infection.
Characterizing superspreading of SARS-CoV-2 : from mechanism to measurement
Authors: Susswein Zachary , Bansal Shweta 
Published: December 2020

AbstractSuperspreading is a ubiquitous feature of SARS-CoV-2 transmission dynamics, with a few primary infectors leading to a large proportion of secondary infections. Despite the superspreading events observed in previous coronavirus outbreaks, the mechanisms behind the phenomenon are still poorly understood. Here, we show that superspreading is largely driven by heterogeneity in contact behavior rather than heterogeneity in susceptibility or infectivity caused by biological factors. We find that highly heterogeneous contact behavior is required to produce the extreme superspreading estimated from recent COVID-19 outbreaks. However, we show that superspreading estimates are noisy and subject to biases in data collection and public health capacity, potentially leading to an overestimation of superspreading. These results suggest that superspreading for COVID-19 is substantial, but less than previously estimated. Our findings highlight the complexity inherent to quantitative measurement of epidemic dynamics and the necessity of robust theory to guide public health intervention.
Analysis of the specificity of the SD Biosensor Standard Q Ag-Test based on Slovak mass testing data
Authors: Hledík Michal , Polechová Jitka , Beiglböck Mathias , Herdina Anna Nele , Strassl Robert , Posch Martin 
Published: December 2020

AbstractFrom 31.10. - 1.11.2020 Slovakia has used the SD Biosensor Standard Q Ag-Test for nationwide tests for SARS-CoV-2, in which 3,625,332 persons from 79 counties were tested. Based on this data, we calculate that the specificity of the test is at least 99.6% (with a 97.5% one-sided lower confidence bound). Our analysis is based on a worst case approach in which all positives are assumed to be false positives. Therefore, the actual specificity is expected to exceed 99.6%.
High Frequency and Prevalence of Community-Based Asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 Infection
Authors: Allan-Blitz Lao-Tzu , Turner Isaac , Hertlein Fred , Klausner Jeffrey D. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractApproximately 20-40% of SARS-CoV-2 infection is asymptomatic; however, data are limited on drivers of such infection. Among over 730,000 SARS-CoV-2 test results in Los Angeles between August-October, 2020, we found heterogenous frequencies of asymptomatic infection among various sup-populations. Further research is needed to delineate drivers of asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Pre-stimulus low-alpha frontal networks characterize pareidolias in Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Revankar Gajanan S. , Kajiyama Yuta , Hattori Noriaki , Shimokawa Tetsuya , Nakano Tomohito , Mihara Masahito , Mori Etsuro , Mochizuki Hideki 
Published: December 2020

AbstractBackgroundParkinson’s disease (PD) patients susceptible to visual hallucinations experience perceptual deficits in the form of pareidolias. While pareidolias necessitate top-down modulation of visual processing, the cortical dynamics of internally generated perceptual priors on pareidolic misperceptions is unknown.ObjectivesTo study pre-stimulus related EEG spectral and network abnormalities in PD patients experiencing pareidolias.Methods21 PD in-patients and 10 age-matched healthy controls were evaluated. Neuropsychological assessments included tests for cognition, attention and executive functions. To evoke and quantify pareidolias, participants performed the noise pareidolia test (NPT) with simultaneous EEG recording. PD patients were sub-divided into two groups - those with high pareidolia counts (N=10) and those without (N=11). EEG was analyzed 1000ms before stimulus presentation in the spectral domain (theta, low-alpha and high-alpha frequencies) with corresponding graph networks that evaluated small-world properties, efficiency and centrality measures. Statistical analysis included ANCOVA and multiple regression to evaluate the differences.ResultsPD group with high pareidolias were older with lower scores on neuropsychological tests. Their pre-stimulus EEG low-alpha band showed a tendency towards higher frontal activity (p=0.06). Graph networks showed increased normalized clustering coefficient (p=0.05), higher local parietal cortex efficiency (p=0.049) and lower frontal degree centrality (p=0.005). These network indices correlated positively to patients’ pareidolia scores.ConclusionPareidolias in PD are a consequence of an abnormal top-down modulation of visual processing which are defined by their frontal low-alpha spectral and network alterations in the pre-stimulus phase due to a dissonance between patients’ internally generated mental-processing with external stimuli.
Moderately Inducing Autophagy Reduces Tertiary Brain Injury After Perinatal Hypoxia-Ischemia
Authors: Kim Brian H. , Jeziorek Maciej , Kanal Hur Dolunay , Dobrowolski Radek , Levison Steven W. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractRecent studies of cerebral hypoxia-ischemia (HI) have highlighted slowly progressive neurodegeneration whose mechanisms remain elusive, but if blocked, could considerably improve long-term neurological function. We previously established that the cytokine transforming growth factor (TGF)β1 is highly elevated following HI and that delivering an antagonist for TGFβ receptor activin-like kinase 5 (ALK5) – SB505124 – 3 days after injury in a rat model of moderate pre-term HI significantly preserved the structural integrity of the thalamus and hippocampus as well as neurological functions associated with those brain structures. To elucidate the mechanism whereby ALK5 inhibition reduces cell death, we assessed levels of autophagy markers in neurons and found that SB505124 increased numbers of autophagosomes and levels of lipidated LC3 (light chain 3), a key protein known to mediate autophagy. However, those studies did not determine whether 1) SB was acting directly on the CNS and 2) whether directly inducing autophagy could decrease cell death and improve outcome. Here we show that administering an ALK5 antagonist 3 days after HI reduced actively apoptotic cells by ∼90% when assessed one week after injury. Ex vivo studies using the lysosomal inhibitor chloroquine confirmed that SB505124 enhanced autophagy flux in the injured hemisphere, with a significant accumulation of the autophagic proteins LC3 and p62 in SB505124 + chloroquine treated brain slices. We independently activated autophagy using the stimulatory peptide Tat-Beclin1 to determine if enhanced autophagy is directly responsible for improved outcomes. Administering Tat-Beclin1 starting 3 days after injury preserved the structural integrity of the hippocampus and thalamus with improved sensorimotor function. These data support the conclusion that intervening at this phase of injury represents a window of opportunity where stimulating autophagy is beneficial.
Dietary and body mass reconstruction of the Miocene neotropical batNotonycteris magdalenensis(Phyllostomidae) from La Venta, Colombia
Authors: López-Aguirre Camilo , Czaplewski Nicholas J , Link Andrés , Takai Masanaru , Hand Suzanne J 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThe middle Miocene La Venta bat fauna is the most diverse bat palaeocommunity in South America, with at least 14 species recorded. They include the oldest plant-visiting bat in the New World, and some of the earliest representatives of the extant families Phyllostomidae, Thyropteridae and Noctilionidae. La Venta’sNotonycteris magdalenensisis an extinct member of the subfamily Phyllostominae, a group of modern Neotropical animalivorous and omnivorous bats, and is commonly included in studies of the evolution of Neotropical bats, but aspects of its biology remain unclear. In this study, we used a multivariate dental topography analysis (DTA) to reconstruct the likely diet ofN. magdalenensisby quantitatively comparing measures of molar complexity with that of 25 modern phyllostomid and noctilionid species representing all major dietary habits in bats. We found clear differences in molar complexity between dietary guilds, indicating that DTA is potentially an informative tool to study bat ecomorphology. Our results suggestN. magdalenensiswas probably an omnivore or insectivore, rather than a carnivore like its modern relativesChrotopterus auritusandVampryum spectrum. Also, we reconstructed the body mass ofN. magdalenensisto be ∼50 g, which is larger than most insectivorous bats, but smaller than most carnivorous bats. Our results confirm thatNotonycteris magdalenensiswas probably not a specialised carnivore. It remains to be demonstrated that the specialised carnivory ecological niche was occupied by the same lineage of phyllostomines from at least the middle Miocene. Combining our diet and body mass reconstructions, we suggest thatN. magdalenensisexhibits morphological pre-adaptations crucial for the evolution of specialised carnivory.