bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Methadone‐associated QT interval prolongation in patients undergoing maintenance therapy in an urban opioid treatment program
Authors: Titus‐Lay Erika N. , Jaynes Heather A. , Tomaselli Muensterman Elena , Walroth Todd A. , Ott Carol A. , Desta Zeruesenay , Williams Gabriela , Moe Paul R. , Wilbrandt Michelle , Tisdale James E. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractStudy ObjectiveMethadone is associated with QT interval prolongation and torsades de pointes. The objective of this study was to (a) determine the incidence of QT interval prolongation among patients on maintenance methadone therapy in an urban opioid treatment program (OTP), (b) compare characteristics of patients who developed methadone‐associated QT prolongation with those who did not develop QT prolongation, and (c) investigate the relationship between QT interval prolongation and stereospecific serum methadone and metabolite [2‐ethylidene‐1,5‐dimethyl‐3,3‐diphenylpyrrolidine (EDDP)] concentrations.DesignProspective study.SettingUrban opioid treatment program (OTP).Patientsn = 93 patients on maintenance methadone therapy in an urban OTP.InterventionPatients underwent a 12‐lead electrocardiogram (ECG) prior to initiating methadone and again during steady‐state maintenance methadone therapy. In a subset (n = 43), blood was obtained to determine serum (S)‐ and (R)‐methadone and (S)‐ and (R)‐EDDP concentrations, which were compared in patients who developed Bazett’s‐corrected QT (QTc) prolongation [≥470 ms (men) or ≥480 ms (women) and/or ≥60 ms lengthening from pretreatment value] with those who did not have QTc prolongation.Measurements and Main ResultsMean [± standard deviation (SD)] age was 36 ± 12 years; 73% were female, and 74% were white. QTc prolongation occurred in 14 (15.1%) patients. Patients who developed QTc prolongation were older (41 ± 13 vs. 35 ± 9 years, p = 0.03) and had a longer pre‐methadone QTc compared with those who did not have QTc prolongation (429 ± 11 vs. 420 ± 20 ms, respectively, p = 0.02). Serum (S)‐methadone concentrations were higher in patients with QTc prolongation compared to patients without prolongation (199 ± 81 vs. 128 ± 68 ng/ml, respectively, p = 0.01), whereas the difference in serum (R)‐methadone concentrations between the groups did not reach significance (189 ± 68 vs. 125 ± 60 ng/ml, respectively, p = 0.08). Serum (R)‐methadone concentrations correlated with QTc intervals [R2 = 0.15 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.11–0.62, p = 0.0009)]. The correlation between serum (S)‐methadone concentrations and QTc did not reach significance [R2 = 0.08 (95% CI −0.01 to 0.54, p = 0.06)]. Serum (S)‐and (R)‐EDDP concentrations were not significantly different between the groups and did not significantly correlate with QTc intervals.ConclusionsApproximately 15% of patients taking maintenance methadone therapy developed QT interval prolongation. Both serum (S)‐ and (R)‐methadone concentrations, but not (S)‐ or (R)‐EDDP, contribute to methadone‐associated QT prolongation.
Cytokinin isopentenyladenine and its glucoside isopentenyladenine‐9G delay leaf senescence through activation of cytokinin‐associated genes
Authors: Hallmark H. Tucker , Rashotte Aaron M. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractCytokinins (CKs) are well‐known as a class of phytohormones capable of delaying senescence in detached leaves. However, CKs are often treated as a monolithic group of compounds even though dozens of CK species are present in plants with varied degrees of reported biological activity. One specific type of CK, isopentenyladenine base (iP), has been demonstrated as having roles in delaying leaf senescence, inhibition of root growth, and promoting shoot regeneration. However, its N‐glucosides isopentenyladenine‐7‐ and ‐9‐glucoside (iP7G, iP9G) have remained understudied and thought of as inactive cytokinins for several decades, despite their relatively high concentrations in plants such as the model speciesArabidopsis thaliana. Here we show that iP and one of its glucosides, iP9G, are capable of delaying senescence in leaves, though the glucosides having little to no activity in other bioassays. Additionally, we performed the first transcriptomic study of iP‐delayed cotyledon senescence which shows that iP is capable of upregulating photosynthetic genes and downregulating catabolic genes in detached cotyledons. Transcriptomic analysis also shows iP9G has limited effects on gene expression, but that the few affected genes are CK‐related and are similar to those seen from iP effects during senescence as seen for the type‐A response regulator ARR6. These findings suggest that iP9G functions as an active CK during senescence.
A critical look at the electroweak phase transition
Authors: Ekstedt Andreas , Löfgren Johan 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
The electroweak phase transition broke the electroweak symmetry. Perturbative methods used to calculate observables related to this phase transition suffer from severe problems such as gauge dependence, infrared divergences, and a breakdown of perturbation theory. In this paper we develop robust perturbative tools for dealing with phase transitions. We argue that gauge and infrared problems are absent in a consistent power-counting. We calculate the finite temperature effective potential to two loops for general gauge-fixing parameters in a generic model. We demonstrate gauge invariance, and perform numerical calculations for the Standard Model in Fermi gauge.
Potential roles of mitochondrial cofactors in the adjuvant mitigation of proinflammatory acute infections, as in the case of sepsis and COVID-19 pneumonia
Authors: Pagano Giovanni , Manfredi Carla , Pallardó Federico V. , Lyakhovich Alex , Tiano Luca , Trifuoggi Marco 
Published: December 2020

AbstractBackgroundThe mitochondrial cofactorsα-lipoic acid (ALA), coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) and carnitine (CARN) play distinct and complementary roles in mitochondrial functioning, along with strong antioxidant actions. Also termed mitochondrial nutrients (MNs), these cofactors have demonstrated specific protective actions in a number of chronic disorders, as assessed in a well-established body of literature.MethodsUsing PubMed, the authors searched for articles containing information on the utilization of MNs in inflammatory disorders as assessed from in vitro and animal studies, and in clinical trials, in terms of exerting anti-inflammatory actions.ResultsThe retrieved literature provided evidence relating acute pathologic conditions, such as sepsis and pneumonia, with a number of redox endpoints of biological and clinical relevance. Among these findings, both ALA and CARN were effective in counteracting inflammation-associated redox biomarkers, while CoQ10 showed decreased levels in proinflammatory conditions. MN-associated antioxidant actions were applied in a number of acute disorders, mostly using one MN. The body of literature assessing the safety and the complementary roles of MNs taken together suggests an adjuvant role of MN combinations in counteracting oxidative stress in sepsis and other acute disorders, including COVID-19-associated pneumonia.ConclusionsThe present state of art in the use of individual MNs in acute disorders suggests planning adjuvant therapy trials utilizing MN combinations aimed at counteracting proinflammatory conditions, as in the case of pneumonia and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Evidence for the use of spinal collars in stabilising spinal injuries in the pre-hospital setting in trauma patients: a systematic review
Authors: Hawkridge Katherine , Ahmed Ikhlaaq , Ahmed Zubair 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Purpose
Spinal collars were introduced in 1967 into the management of spinal trauma care as it was thought that this technique of immobilisation would prevent any further neurological or spinal damage in high-risk patients. The aim of this systematic review was to determine whether the use of spinal collars in the pre-hospital trauma patient was recommended by published literature.

Methods
A systematic search of the literature was conducted between 1990 and 2020, screening PubMed, Medline, Science Direct and Google Scholar. The consequent findings were then qualitatively synthesised with the aim of effectively evaluating the evidence to resolve the discrepancy between current practice and literature.

Results
Of the nine eligible studies, six deemed that spinal collars should not be used in pre-hospital trauma patients with the remaining three reporting uncertainty if spinal collars were best practice. Our results suggest that there is a discrepancy between current guidance and practice in that although the guidelines recommend the use of spinal collars in the pre-hospital setting the majority of the studies were against the use of spinal collars. Importantly, none of the studies reported any benefits of spinal collars.

Conclusion
Our study shows a disparity between current guidelines and the published literature and warrants further direct research to obtain a more comprehensive view of the use of spinal collars in a pre-hospital setting.
Operator’s eye lens dose in computed tomography–guided interventions
Authors: Kaartinen Siru , Husso Minna , Matikka Hanna 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Objectives
To survey (1) operator’s eye lens doses in typical computed tomography (CT)-guided interventions, (2) correlation between dose length product (DLP) and the operator’s dose, and (3) different ways for estimating the eye lens dose in clinical settings.

Methods
Doses of 16 radiologists in 164 CT-guided interventional procedures were prospectively measured during a 6-month time period upon radioprotective garments and descriptive statistical outcomes were calculated. The correlations between DLP and measured doses were surveyed.

Results
On average, the operator’s dose at the eye level (DEL, Hp(0.07)) was 22 μSv per procedure and the personal equivalent dose Hp(10) at the collar level was 21 μSv per procedure. The mean DLP of a procedure was 320 mGy cm, where 54% resulted from the fluoroscopy, the mean exposure time being 18 s. Based on the results, the operator’s DEL could be estimated from DLP using the equation DEL (μSv) = 0.10 μSv/mGy cm × patient fluoro DLP (mGycm) (p < 0.001), and the dose at the collar level (DCL) using the equation DCL (μSv) = 0.12 μSv/mGy cm × patient fluoro DLP (mGy cm) (p < 0.001). In addition, DEL (μSv) = 0.7 × DCL (μSv).

Conclusions
The eye lens doses in CT-guided interventions are generally low even without protective equipment, and it is unlikely that the recommended annual equivalent dose limit of 20 mSv for the lens of the eye will be exceeded by conducting CT-guided interventions solely. Eye lens dose can be roughly estimated based on either DLP of the procedure or dose measured at the operator’s collar level.

Key Points
• Eye lens doses in CT-guided operations are generally low.
• It is unlikely that the ICRP recommendation of the yearly equivalent dose limit of 20 mSv will be exceeded by conducting CT-guided interventions solely.
• Magnitude of eye lens dose can be estimated based on either DLP of the procedure or dose measured at the operator’s collar level.
Improving quality of life through the routine use of the patient concerns inventory for head and neck cancer patients: main results of a cluster preference randomised controlled trial
Authors: Rogers Simon N. , Allmark Christine , Bekiroglu Fazilet , Edwards Rhiannon Tudor , Fabbroni Gillon , Flavel Robert , Highet Victoria , Ho Michael W. S. , Humphris Gerald M. , Jones Terry M. , Khattak Owais , Lancaster Jeffrey , Loh Christopher , Lowe Derek , Lowies Cher , Macareavy Dominic , Moor James , Ong T. K. , Prasai A. , Roland Nicholas , Semple Cherith , Spencer Llinos Haf , Tandon Sank , Thomas Steven J. , Schache Andrew , Shaw Richard J. , Kanatas Anastasios 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
Purpose
The patient concerns inventory (PCI) is a prompt list allowing head and neck cancer (HNC) patients to discuss issues that otherwise might be overlooked. This trial evaluated the effectiveness of using the PCI at routine outpatient clinics for one year after treatment on health-related QOL (HRQOL).

Methods
A pragmatic cluster preference randomised control trial with 15 consultants, 8 ‘using’ and 7 ‘not using’ the PCI intervention. Patients treated with curative intent (all sites, disease stages, treatments) were eligible.

Results
Consultants saw a median (inter-quartile range) 16 (13–26) patients, with 140 PCI and 148 control patients. Of the pre-specified outcomes, the 12-month results for the mean University of Washington Quality of Life (UW-QOLv4) social-emotional subscale score suggested a small clinical effect of intervention of 4.6 units (95% CI 0.2, 9.0), p = 0.04 after full adjustment for pre-stated case-mix. Results for UW-QOLv4 overall quality of life being less than good at 12 months (primary outcome) also favoured the PCI with a risk ratio of 0.83 (95% CI 0.66, 1.06) and absolute risk 4.8% (− 2.9%, 12.9%) but without achieving statistical significance. Other non-a-priori analyses, including all 12 UWQOL domains and at consultant level also suggested better HRQOL with PCI. Consultation times were unaffected and the number of items selected decreased over time.

Conclusion
This novel trial supports the integration of the PCI approach into routine consultations as a simple low-cost means of benefiting HNC patients. It adds to a growing body of evidence supporting the use of patient prompt lists more generally.
Maintaining Equity and Access: Successful Implementation of a Virtual Kidney Transplantation Evaluation
Authors: Rohan Vinayak S. , Pilch Nicole , Cassidy Deborah , McGillicuddy John , White Jared , Lin Angello , Nadig Satish N. , Taber David J. , Dubay Derek , Baliga Prabhakar K. 
Published: December 2020

BACKGROUND:
Maintaining access to kidney transplantation during a pandemic is a challenge, particularly for centers that serve a large rural and minority patient population with an additional burden of travel. The aim of this article was to describe our experience with the rollout and use of a virtual pretransplantation evaluation platform to facilitate ongoing transplant waitlisting during the early peak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

STUDY DESIGN:
This is a retrospective analysis of the process improvement project implemented to continue the evaluation of potential kidney transplantation candidates and ensure waitlist placement during the COVID-19 pandemic. Operational metrics include transplantation volume per month, referral volume per month, pretransplantation patients halted before completing an evaluation per month, evaluations completed per month, and patients waitlisted per month.

RESULTS:
Between April and September 2020, a total of 1,258 patients completed an evaluation. Two hundred and forty-seven patients were halted during this time period before completing a full evaluation. One hundred and fifty-two patients were presented at selection and 113 were placed on the waitlist. In addition, the number of patients in the active referral phase was able to be reduced by 46%. More evaluations were completed within the virtual platform (n = 930 vs n = 880), yielding similar additions to the waitlist in 2020 (n = 282) vs 2019 (n = 308) despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

CONCLUSIONS:
The virtual platform allowed continued maintenance of a large kidney transplantation program despite the inability to have in-person visits. The value of this platform will likely transform our approach to the pretransplantation process and provides an additional valuable method to improve patient equity and access to transplantation.
Understanding the full cost of cyber security breaches
Authors: Furnell Steven , Heyburn Harry , Whitehead Andrew , Shah Jayesh Navin 
Published: December 2020

Media reports regularly highlight organisations that have experienced costly cyber attacks or other cyber security breaches. Such breaches can have far-reaching and long-running impacts, compromising systems and data, impacting relationships with customers, suppliers and partners, and in extreme situations becoming existential threats. As an example of the potentially significant costs involved, the cyber attack on TalkTalk, the UK telecommunications company, in 2016, is estimated to have cost up to £60m. 1 When organisations are breached, many will recognise that they have been impacted in some way. But new research suggests that organisations rarely understand the full cost. Steven Furnell of the University of Nottingham and Harry Heyburn, Andrew Whitehead and Jayesh Navin Shah at Ipsos MORI examine the range of potential direct and indirect costs organisations can incur, and the varying timeframes over which these costs come to light. And they offer a data collection tool that can support organisations to fully capture the cost of breaches.
Prevalence of malnutrition in coronavirus disease 19: the NUTRICOV study
Authors: Rouget Antoine , Vardon-Bounes Fanny , Lorber Pierre , Vavasseur Adrien , Marion Olivier , Marcheix Bertrand , Lairez Olivier , Balardy Laurent , Fourcade Olivier , Conil Jean-Marie , Minville Vincent 
Published: December 2020

AbstractRecent European Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition guidelines highlighted the interest of prevention, diagnosis and treatment of malnutrition in the management of coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) patients. The aim of our study was to evaluate the prevalence of malnutrition in patients hospitalised for COVID-19. In a prospective observational cohort study malnutrition was diagnosed according to the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) two-step approach. Patients were divided into two groups according to the diagnosis of malnutrition. Covariate selection for the multivariate analysis was based on P <0·2 in univariate analysis, with a logistic regression model and a backward elimination procedure. A partitioning of the population was realised. Eighty patients were prospectively enrolled. Thirty patients (37·5 %) had criteria for malnutrition. The need for intensive care unit admission (n 46, 57·5 %) was similar in the two groups. Three patients who died (3·75 %) were malnourished. Multivariate analysis exhibited that low BMI (OR 0·83, 95 % CI 0·73, 0·96, P = 0·0083), dyslipidaemia (OR 29·45, 95 % CI 3·12, 277·73, P = 0·0031), oral intake reduction <50 % (OR 3·169, 95 % CI 1·04, 9·64, P = 0·0422) and glomerular filtration rate (Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration; CKD-EPI) at admission (OR 0·979, 95 % CI 0·96, 0·998, P = 0·0297) were associated with the occurrence of malnutrition. We demonstrate the existence of a high prevalence of malnutrition in a general cohort of COVID-19 inpatients according to GLIM criteria. Nutritional support in COVID-19 care seems an essential element.
‘She shouldn't cross the line’: experiential effectivity of social guidance trajectories for socially isolated older adults with complex problems
Authors: Machielse Anja 
Published: December 2020

AbstractSocial isolation of older adults is difficult to break through, and interventions that focus on network development or enhanced social participation are hardly effective, especially when the older adults have been isolated for a long time and have problems in multiple life domains. This study aimed to investigate the needs and subjective experiences of this less-researched group and obtain a deeper understanding of their goals and priorities. The study involved a qualitative study with 25 socially isolated persons who receive assistance from a social worker in an individual guidance trajectory. Data were collected via repeated in-depth interviews with the older adults. By directing the focus towards their subjective experiences, the study gives insight into the ‘experiential effectivity’ of the intervention. It shows what their experienced problems were, and to what degree they benefited from the intervention in this respect. The experience of personal attention and involvement of the social workers represents the most relevant results for them. The participants have no need for network development or engagement in local communities. Yet, the help offered by the social workers produces other results for them, such as solved practical problems, emotional support, more self-sufficiency, a point of contact or a safety net that was not there before. This knowledge can help to improve the quality of intervention for this target group.
The Relationship between Negative Symptoms and Both Emotion Management and Non-social Cognition in Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders
Authors: Yolland Caitlin O. B. , Carruthers Sean P. , Toh Wei Lin , Neill Erica , Sumner Philip J. , Thomas Elizabeth H. X. , Tan Eric J. , Gurvich Caroline , Phillipou Andrea , Van Rheenen Tamsyn E. , Rossell Susan L. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractObjective:There is ongoing debate regarding the relationship between clinical symptoms and cognition in schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD). The present study aimed to explore the potential relationships between symptoms, with an emphasis on negative symptoms, and social and non-social cognition.Method:Hierarchical cluster analysis with k-means optimisation was conducted to characterise clinical subgroups using the Scale for the Assessment of Negative Symptoms and Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms in n = 130 SSD participants. Emergent clusters were compared on the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery, which measures non-social cognition and emotion management as well as demographic and clinical variables. Spearman’s correlations were then used to investigate potential relationships between specific negative symptoms and emotion management and non-social cognition.Results:Four distinct clinical subgroups were identified: 1. high hallucinations, 2. mixed symptoms, 3. high negative symptoms, and 4. relatively asymptomatic. The high negative symptom subgroup was found to have significantly poorer emotion management than the high hallucination and relatively asymptomatic subgroups. No further differences between subgroups were observed. Correlation analyses revealed avolition-apathy and anhedonia-asociality were negatively correlated with emotion management, but not non-social cognition. Affective flattening and alogia were not associated with either emotion management or non-social cognition.Conclusions:The present study identified associations between negative symptoms and emotion management within social cognition, but no domains of non-social cognition. This relationship may be specific to motivation, anhedonia and apathy, but not expressive deficits. This suggests that targeted interventions for social cognition may also result in parallel improvement in some specific negative symptoms.
Cruising Utopia with Brittany Howard:Jaime's Queer Afrofuturism
Authors: ROYSTER FRANCESCA T. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractInspired by Brittany Howard's solo albumJaime(2019), this contribution creates a conversation between music studies, queer studies, African American Literature, and memoir to think about lived ways of understanding, performing, and participating in music to create a future of inclusion. I argue that Black queer strategies of listening and musicking contributes to a new layer of music, the dream space, which helps us understand the impact of music on everyday life.