bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Review of potential risks associated with supplemental dietary exposure to nitrate-containing compounds in swine—a paradox in light of emerging benefits
Authors: Doepker Candace L , Heintz Melissa M , van de Ligt Jennifer , Wikoff Daniele S 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
Calcium nitrate has been reported to benefit reproductive outcomes in sows and their offspring when administered via the feed (15 to 19 mg/kg-body weight [bw]/day) during the periparturient period. Traditionally, dietary nitrate had been considered a methemoglobinemia (MetHb) risk in swine. Similar hazard concerns have existed in humans, but a recent benefit/risk analysis established that nitrate levels associated with well-recognized health benefits outweigh potential risks. A similar benefit/risk perspective in swine was lacking and challenged by sparse published hazard data, often referenced within larger reviews related to all livestock. The objective of this review was to better characterize the potential for adverse health and performance effects reported in the literature for swine consuming nitrate and to provide metrics for evaluating the reliability of the studies reviewed. Supplemental exposure via feed or drinking water was considered for any life stage, dose, and exposure duration. More than 30 relevant studies, including case reports and reviews, examined calcium, potassium, sodium, or unspecified nitrate salts at doses up to 1,800 mg nitrate/kg-bw/day for exposures ranging from 1 to 105 d. The studies primarily evaluated weight gain, blood methemoglobin levels, or vitamin A homeostasis in sows or growing swine. An extensive review of the literature showed reports of adverse effects at low nitrate doses to be of low reliability. Conversely, reliable studies corroborate nitrate intake from feed or drinking water at levels equal to or greater than the European Food Safety Authority’s no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) for swine of 410 mg nitrate/kg-bw/day, with no MetHb or other adverse effects on reproduction, growth, or vitamin A levels. Using a weight-of-evidence evaluation, we have moderate-to-high confidence that the NOAEL for nitrate supplementation in swine is likely between 600 and 800 mg/kg-bw/day. These levels are several-fold higher than dietary nitrate concentrations (19 mg/kg-bw/day) that are known to benefit birth outcomes in sows. This review elucidates the quality and reliability of the information sources historically used to characterize nitrate in swine feed as a contaminant of concern. Results from this evaluation can assist risk managers (e.g., regulatory officials and veterinarians) in consideration of proposed benefits as well as reassuring swine producers that low-level nitrate supplementation is not anticipated to be a concern.
Amplification Self-Adjustment: Controls and Repeatability
Authors: Boothroyd Arthur , Retana Jennifer , Mackersie Carol L. 
Published: October 2021

Objectives:
This study was a continuation of work on an explore-and-select approach to the self-adjustment of amplification. Goals were to determine (i) the effect of changing the number of adjustment controls from three to two, (ii) the effect of changing the initial adjustment from overall output to high-frequency output, (iii) individual repeatability, (iv) the effect on phoneme recognition of increasing and decreasing overall output relative to the starting and adjusted conditions, and (v) listener reactions to, and opinions of, the self-adjustment procedure.

Design:
Twenty-two adults with hearing loss, 10 of whom were hearing aid users, adjusted level and spectrum of connected speech to preference, using three configurations of number and order of adjustment parameters. The three adjustments were replicated to give a total of six. Presentation was monaural, in quiet, using the ear with the better threshold at 2 kHz. The starting condition was a generic prescription for a typical mild-to-moderate hearing loss. Real ear output spectra were measured for the 6 self-adjustments, the generic starting condition, and the individual NAL-NL2 prescriptions for speech at 65 dB SPL. Monaural phoneme recognition in monosyllables was assessed, in quiet, at levels of −14, −7, 0 and +7 dB relative to both the starting and the self-adjusted conditions. Participants completed a questionnaire and their comments on each question were transcribed.

Results:
Changing the number of listener controls from 3 to 2 reduced mean adjustment time by around 50% but had negligible effect on group-mean output response. Starting adjustment with high-frequency output rather than overall output resulted in a 2 to 3 dB reduction of group-mean self-adjusted output below 1 kHz. Individual self-adjustments were within ±5 dB of NAL-NL2 prescription (for a 65 dB SPL speech input) for two-thirds of the participants in the high frequencies and for just over half in the low frequencies. In six self-adjustments, individuals self-adjusted, on average, to within ±4 dB of their own mean in both high and low frequencies. There was no evidence that these findings differed for hearing aid users and nonusers. Changes of overall output by ±7 dB after self-adjustment did not significantly affect group mean phoneme recognition. Preference for number and order of self-adjustment differed among participants, as did opinions on self-fitting of hearing aids.

Conclusions:
These findings support the conclusion that, for many adults with hearing loss, an explore-and-select procedure for self-adjustment of amplification leads to output values that are repeatable within a few dB, are relatively immune to the number and order of adjustment parameters, and place the average listener well along the plateau of a phoneme recognition versus amplitude function.
A Transcriptomic Severity Metric That Predicts Clinical Outcomes in Critically Ill Surgical Sepsis Patients
Authors: Brakenridge Scott C. , Starostik Petr , Ghita Gabriella , Midic Uros , Darden Dijoia , Fenner Brittany , Wacker James , Efron Philip A. , Liesenfeld Oliver , Sweeney Timothy E. , Moldawer Lyle L. 
Published: October 2021

OBJECTIVES:
Clinically deployable methods for the rapid and accurate prediction of sepsis severity that could elicit a meaningful change in clinical practice are currently lacking. We evaluated a whole-blood, multiplex host-messenger RNA expression metric, Inflammatix-Severity-2, for identifying septic, hospitalized patients’ likelihood of 30-day mortality, development of chronic critical illness, discharge disposition, and/or secondary infections.

DESIGN:
Retrospective, validation cohort analysis.

SETTING:
Single, academic health center ICU.

PATIENTS:
Three hundred thirty-five critically ill adult surgical patients with sepsis.

INTERVENTIONS:
None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS:
Whole blood was collected in PAXgene Blood RNA collection tubes at 24 hours after sepsis diagnosis and analyzed using a custom 29-messenger RNA classifier (Inflammatix-Severity-2) in a Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments certified diagnostic laboratory using the NanoString FLEX platform. Among patients meeting Sepsis-3 criteria, the Inflammatix-Severity-2 severity score was significantly better (p < 0.05) at predicting secondary infections (area under the receiver operating curve 0.71) and adverse clinical outcomes (area under the receiver operating curve 0.75) than C-reactive protein, absolute lymphocyte counts, total WBC count, age, and Charlson comorbidity index (and better, albeit nonsignificantly, than interleukin-6 and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II). Using multivariate logistic regression analysis, only combining the Charlson comorbidity index (area under the receiver operating curve 0.80) or Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (area under the receiver operating curve 0.81) with Inflammatix-Severity-2 significantly improved prediction of adverse clinical outcomes, and combining with the Charlson comorbidity index for predicting 30-day mortality (area under the receiver operating curve 0.79).

CONCLUSIONS:
The Inflammatix-Severity-2 severity score was superior at predicting secondary infections and overall adverse clinical outcomes compared with other common metrics. Combining a rapidly measured transcriptomic metric with clinical or physiologic indices offers the potential to optimize risk-based resource utilization and patient management adjustments that may improve outcomes in surgical sepsis. Hospitalized patients who are septic and present with an elevated IMX-SEV2 severity score and preexisting comorbidities may be ideal candidates for clinical interventions aimed at reducing the risk of secondary infections and adverse clinical outcomes.
Schroth exercises improve health-related quality of life and radiographic parameters in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients
Authors: Gao Ang , Li Jun-Yu , Shao Rui , Wu Tong-Xuan , Wang Yong-Qiang , Liu Xiao-Guang , Yu Miao 
Published: October 2021

Abstract

Background:
Finding an optimal treatment strategy for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients remains challenging because of its intrinsic complexity. For mild to moderate scoliosis patients with lower skeletal growth potential (Risser 3–5), most clinicians agree with observation treatment; however, the curve progression that occurs during puberty, the adolescent period, and even in adulthood, remains a challenging issue for clinicians. The aim of the study is to investigate the efficacy of Schroth exercise in AIS patients with lower skeletal growth potential (Risser 3–5) and moderate scoliosis (Cobb angle 20°–40°).

Methods:
From 2015 to 2017, data of 64 patients diagnosed with AIS in Peking University Third Hospital were reviewed. Forty-three patients underwent Schroth exercise were classified as Schroth group, and 21 patients underwent observation were classified as observation group. Outcomes were measured by health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and radiographic parameters. HRQOL was assessed using the visual analog scale (VAS) scores for back, Scoliosis Research Society-22 (SRS-22) patient questionnaire. Radiographic spinopelvic parameters were obtained from anteroposterior and lateral X-rays. The pre-treatment and post-treatment HRQOL and radiographic parameters were tested to validate Schroth exercise efficacy. The inter-rater reliability of the radiographic parameters was tested using the interclass correlation coefficient (ICC). The paired t test was used to examine HRQOL and radiographic parameters. Clinical relevance between C2-C7 sagittal vertical axis (SVA) and thoracic kyphosis was analyzed using Spearman correlation.

Results:
In Schroth group, VAS back score, SRS-22 pain, and SRS-22 self-image domain were significantly improved from pre-treatment 3.0 ± 0.8, 3.6 ± 0.5, and 3.5 ± 0.7 to post-treatment 1.6 ± 0.6 (t = 5.578, P = 0.013), 4.0 ± 0.3 (t = −3.918, P = 0.001), and 3.7 ± 0.4 (t = −6.468, P < 0.001), respectively. No significant improvements of SRS-22 function domain (t = −2.825, P = 0.088) and mental health domain (t = −3.174, P = 0.061) were observed. The mean Cobb angle decreased from 28.9 ± 5.5° to 26.3 ± 5.2° at the final follow-up, despite no statistical significance was observed (t = 1.853, P = 0.102). The mean C2-C7 SVA value decreased from 21.7 ± 8.4 mm to 17.0 ± 8.0 mm (t = −1.224 P = 0.049) and mean T1 tilt decreased from 4.9 ± 4.2 ° to 3.5 ± 3.1° (t = 2.913, P = 0.011). No significant improvement of radiographic parameters and HRQOL were observed in observation group.

Conclusions:
For AIS patients with a Risser 3–5 and a Cobb angle 20°–40°, Schroth exercises improved HRQOL and halted curve progression during the follow-up period. Both cervical spine alignment and shoulder balance were also significantly improved after Schroth exercises. We recommend Schroth exercises for patients with AIS.
A Small-Scale Survey of Bilateral Upper-Limb Loss Individuals
Authors: Sears Harold H. , Doolan Kim , Keenan Denise D. 
Published: October 2021

ABSTRACT

Introduction
Bilateral upper-limb loss (Bil UL Loss) is perhaps the greatest challenge for upper-limb prosthetic care, now even more than ever as we witness the increase of sepsis as a cause of limb loss.

Methods
This small-n survey has recruited 28 individuals with Bil UL Loss, 27 of whom are prosthesis wearers. Twelve of the 28 lost four limbs to sepsis; 17 of the 27 prosthesis wearers use body-powered hooks, six use electric hooks, and four use electric hands as their dominant terminal device (within this report, dominant side is the wearer's postloss dominant side, i.e., the side the subject used more frequently). The survey used person-to-person interviews to compile the broad data about how tasks are performed, how many tasks are performed, whether two prostheses are used, and other details.

Results
Users of each type of prosthesis demonstrate a high level of function. Electric hook users scored slightly higher in number of tasks and other measures. However, no outcomes were significant statistically, except the use of the dominant side prosthesis, which was three times higher than the nondominant side usage. Users identified a dozen categories for desired improvements, with greater dependability and greater grip security as the most commonly requested.

Discussion
The information will be useful for not only for clinical guidance, but hopefully also to help guide the development of future prosthetic devices, considering that the disabled community has called for prioritizing the actual needs and desires of the consumers to guide future developments.

Conclusions
The planning and execution of this small-scale study could be a model for other groups to collect useful outcomes data without requiring a research grant, without large institutional oversight, and by only a small group of interested professionals with access to a reasonable number of individuals with a severe disability.

Clinical Relevance
All caregivers of individuals with bilateral limb loss could benefit from both the data presented and the challenges revealed by this survey group. Future prosthetic designs as well as training and other therapies will also hopefully benefit from the needs expressed directly by these consumers.
Construction and Validation of a Nomogram Based on the Log Odds of Positive Lymph Based on the Log Odds of Positive Lymph Nodes to Predict the Prognosis of Lung Neuroendocrine Tumors
Authors: Wang Suyu , Wei Juan , Guo Yibin , Xu Qiumeng , Lv Xin , Yu Yue , Liu Meiyun 
Published: October 2021

AbstractObjectivesThis study aimed to investigate the prognostic value of Log odds of positive lymph nodes (LODDS) for predicting the long-term prognosis of patients with node-positive lung neuroendocrine tumors (LNETs).Materials and MethodsWe collected 506 eligible patients with resected N1/N2 classification LNETs from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database between 2004 and 2015. First, we applied the Cox proportional-hazards regression model to evaluate the relationship between LODDS and study endpoints (cancer-specific survival [CSS] and overall survival [OS]) based on the entire cohort. Second, the study cohort was divided into derivation cohort (n=300) and external validation cohort (n=206) based on different geographic regions. Nomograms were constructed and validated based on these two cohorts to predict the 1-, 3- and 5-year survival of patients with LNETs. The accuracy and clinical practicability of nomograms were tested and compared by Harrell’s concordance index (C-index), integrated discrimination improvement (IDI), net reclassification improvement (NRI), calibration plots, and decision curve analyses.ResultsThe Cox proportional-hazards model showed the high LODDS group (-0.33≤LODDS≤1.14) had significantly higher mortality compared to those in the low LODDS group (-1.44 ≤LODDS<-0.33) for both CSS and OS. In addition, besides LODDS, age at diagnosis, histotype, type of surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy were shown as independent predictors in Cox regression analyses and included in the nomograms. The values of c-index, NRI, and IDI indicated that the established nomogram performed significantly better than the conventional eighth edition of the TNM staging system alone. The calibration plots for predictions of the 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS were in excellent agreement. Decision curve analyses showed that the nomogram had value in terms of clinical application.ConclusionsWe created visualized nomograms for CSS and OS of LNET patients, facilitating clinicians to provide highly individualized risk assessment and therapy.
Establishment of a teaching hospital-based dementia consultation service for rurally-based regional district general hospitals
Authors: Schott Björn H. , Voetlause Jakob Christian , Amoah Juliana Lisa , Kratzenberg Alexander , Belz Michael , Knipper Tobias , Timäus Charles , Beskow Carmen , Sweeney-Reed Catherine M. , Wiltfang Jens , Radenbach Katrin 
Published: October 2021

AbstractObjectiveThe treatment of patients with dementia poses a considerable challenge to regional district general hospitals, particularly in rural areas. Here we report the establishment and initial evaluation of a dementia-specific consultation service provided by a teaching hospital-based Psychiatry Department to regional district general hospitals in surrounding smaller towns.MethodsThe consultation service was provided to patients with pre-existing or newly suspected dementia, who were in acute hospital care for concurrent conditions. An evaluation of 61 consultations – 49 on-site and 12 via telemedicine – was performed to assess the needs of the participating hospitals and the specific nature of the referrals to the consultation service.ResultsSuspected dementia or cognitive dysfunction was the primary reason for consultation requests (>50% of cases). Other common requests concerned suspected delirium, behavioral symptoms, and therapeutic recommendations. During the consultations, a diagnosis of dementia was reached in 52.5% of cases, with other common diagnoses including delirium and depression. Recommendations related to pharmacotherapy were given in 54.1% of consultations. Other recommendations included referral for outpatient neurological or psychiatric follow-up, further diagnostic assessment, or assessment in a memory clinic. Geriatric psychiatric inpatient treatment was recommended in only seven cases (11.5 %).ConclusionsOur initial evaluation demonstrates the feasibility of providing a dementia-specific consultation service in rural areas. The service has the potential to reduce acute transfers to inpatient geriatric psychiatry and enables older patients with dementia or delirium to be treated locally by helping and empowering rurally-based regional hospitals to manage these problems and associated complications.
Disrupted reward processing in Parkinson’s Disease and its relationship with dopamine state and neuropsychiatric syndromes: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Costello Harry , Berry Alex J. , Reeves Suzanne , Weil Rimona S. , Joyce Eileen M. , Howard Robert , Roiser Jonathan P. 
Published: October 2021

AbstractBackgroundNeuropsychiatric symptoms are common in Parkinson’s disease (PD) and predict poorer outcomes. Reward processing dysfunction is a candidate mechanism for the development of psychiatric symptoms including depression and impulse control disorders (ICD). We aimed to determine whether reward processing is impaired in PD and its relationship with neuropsychiatric syndromes and dopamine replacement therapy.MethodsThe Ovid MEDLINE/PubMed, Embase and PsycInfo databases were searched for articles published up to November 5th, 2020. Studies reporting reward processing task performance by PD patients and healthy controls were included. Summary statistics comparing reward processing between groups were converted to standardized mean difference (SMD) scores and meta-analysed using a random effects model.ResultsWe identified 55 studies containing 2578 participants (1,638 PD and 940 healthy controls). Studies assessing three subcomponent categories of reward processing tasks were included: Option Valuation (n=12), Reinforcement Learning (n=37) and Reward Response Vigour (n=6). Across all studies, PD patients on medication exhibited a small-to-medium impairment versus healthy controls (SMD=0.34; 95%CI 0.14-0.53), with greater impairments observed off dopaminergic medication in within-subjects designs (SMD=0.43, 95%CI 0.29-0.57). Within-subjects subcomponent analysis revealed impaired processing off medication on Option Valuation (SMD=0.57, 95%CI 0.39-0.75) and Reward Response Vigour (SMD=0.36, 95%CI 0.13-0.59) tasks. However, the opposite applied for Reinforcement Learning, which relative to healthy controls was impaired on-medication (SMD=0.45, 95%CI 0.25-0.65) but not off-medication (SMD=0.28, 95%CI -0.03-0.59). ICD was the only neuropsychiatric syndrome with sufficient studies (n=13) for meta-analysis, but no significant impairment was identified compared to non-ICD patients (SMD=-0.02, 95%CI -0.43-0.39).ConclusionReward processing disruption in PD differs according to subcomponent and dopamine medication state and warrants further study as a potential treatment target and mechanism underlying associated neuropsychiatric syndromes.