bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Posterior epidural migration of lumbar disc fragment
Authors: Oh Youngmin , Eun Jongpil 
Published: December 2021

Abstract

Introduction:
Posterior epidural migration of lumbar disc fragment (PEMLDF) is a very rare condition that may lead to a serious neurological deficit such as cauda equina syndrome. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings can often result in cases of PEMLDF being misdiagnosed as extradural masses of other origin or epidural hematomas. In this study, we reported four additional cases of PEMLDF and reviewed the relevant literature.

Patient concerns:
We present four patients with PEMLDF. The mean age of the patients was 53.5 years. Two patients suffered from cauda equine syndrome, and the other two patients complained of radiculopathy.

Diagnosis:
The MRI findings in each case showed masses with slightly high signal intensity in T2-weighted images, as well as heterogenous and peripheral rim enhancement after contrast enhancement. In some patients there was a tract-like enhancement extending from the outer aspect of the disc to the posterolateral epidural space. A definitive diagnosis was made intraoperatively.

Interventions:
We performed laminectomy and discectomy in all patients.

Outcomes:
The PEMLDF patients with radiculopathy had no complaints of weakness or pain after surgery. Both patients with cauda equine syndrome showed a total recovery post-surgery.

Conclusions:
Early diagnosis and treatment via laminectomy and discectomy is critical to achieving the best postoperative outcomes. Understanding the patient's history, recognizing the similar signal intensity of the mass and intervertebral disc on MRI scans, and looking for peripheral rim enhancement, are the keys to the correct diagnosis of PEMLDF.
Utilization of evidence-based guidelines for prevention of obesity and hypercholesterolemia among primary healthcare physicians in southwest of Saudi Arabia
Authors: Gosadi Ibrahim M. 
Published: December 2021

AbstractTo evaluate knowledge and use of evidence-based guidelines for prevention of obesity and hypercholesterolemia among primary healthcare physicians in Jazan, Saudi Arabia.This cross-sectional study targeted 170 primary healthcare centres (PHCs) in Jazan. Measurement of study's variables was completed during personal interviews. The content of the study instrument was based on The Saudi Guidelines on the Prevention and Management of Obesity and The Cholesterol Management Guide for Healthcare Practitioners.A total of 234 physicians participated in this study. The age of the physicians varied between 25 and 65 years and 51.7% of them were females. Knowledge of the physicians about the eat-well plate recommendations was very low, with none of the physicians reporting the recommended daily portions of fruits and vegetables. Less than 20% of the physicians knew the cutoff points for considering central obesity among male and female individuals. Only 21% of the physicians reported adherence concerning screening for obesity and 42% reported adherence to the guidelines concerning screening for hypercholesterolemia. Only 9% of the physicians were adherent to the guidelines concerning reducing the risk of obesity and only 13% reported adherence to the guidelines related to the reduction of hypercholesterolemia risk.The current investigation detected a low level of knowledge and adherence concerning the evidence-based practice related to prevention of the obesity and hypercholesterolemia and therefore limited role of PHC physicians in the prevention of obesity or hypercholesterolemia.
The efficacy of kinesio taping as an adjunct to physical therapy for chronic low back pain for at least two weeks
Authors: Sun Guangchen , Lou Qiliang 
Published: December 2021

Astract

Background:
Kinesio taping (KT) is a relatively new treatment method for chronic low back pain (CLBP). The effectiveness of KT as an adjunct to physical therapy (PT) for CLBP remains controversial.

Objective:
The aim of this updated meta-analysis was to critically examine and evaluate the evidence of recent randomized controlled trials regarding the effectiveness of KT as an adjunct to PT for CLBP for at least 2 weeks.

Methods:
This systematic review and meta-analysis was written following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement guidelines. Seven electronic databases including Web of Science, Embase, PubMed, Wanfang Data, Scopus, Science Direct, Cochrane Library were searched in September 2020 by two independent reviewers. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration's tool. Data analysis was performed with Review Manager Software.

Results:
Twelve randomized controlled trials with a total of 676 patients were included in our study. Mean improvements were significantly higher in the KT+PT group than the PT group for pain score (SMD, 0.73 [95% CI, 0.37–1.08], P < .00001) and disability (SMD, 1.01 [95% CI, 0.42–1.59], P = .0007). Of 12 studies based on the pain score, 7 reported KT+PT patients to have significantly less pain at latest follow-up when compared with PA patients (P < .05). Of 11 studies based on the disability, 8 reported KT+PT patients to have significantly better improvements at latest follow-up when compared with PA patients (P < .05).

Conclusion:
Kinesio taping combined with physical therapy provided better therapeutic effects regarding pain reduction and disability improvement compared with physical therapy alone in individuals with chronic low back pain.
Limitation:
COVID-19 related olfactory dysfunction
Authors: Karamali Katerina , Elliott Michael , Hopkins Claire 
Published: December 2021

Purpose of review
This article reviews the literature on COVID-19 related anosmia, focusing on the epidemiology, pathophysiology recovery rates, current available treatment options, and research regarding novel treatments.

Recent findings
Loss of sense of smell is one of the most prevalent symptoms reported by patients after COVID-19 infection. Even though there is a high self-reported recovery rate, recent studies have demonstrated that up to 7% of the patients remain anosmic more than 12 months after onset, leaving millions worldwide with severe olfactory dysfunction. Olfactory training remains the first line recommended treatment. Given the paucity of effective medical treatments options researchers are exploring novel therapeutic options.

Summary
Olfactory dysfunction remains a significant and persistent legacy of the COVID-19 pandemic, but heightened awareness may stimulate research that leads to the development of much-needed treatment options.
Effect of Autologous Serum Eye Drops on Corneal Haze after Corneal Cross-linking
Authors: Roldan Ana M. , De Arrigunaga Sofia , Ciolino Joseph B. 
Published: December 2021

SIGNIFICANCE
Corneal haze remains a frequent post-operative finding in patients undergoing corneal cross-linking. It has been shown that autologous serum tears promote epithelial healing and reduce post-operative pain; however, the role in the prevention of corneal haze has not been reported.

PURPOSE
This study aimed to compare the effect of autologous serum tears versus preservative-free artificial tears on the prevention and resolution of post–cross-linking corneal haze.

METHODS
A retrospective cohort study was conducted in a sample population from one surgeon at a tertiary eye center from 2016 to 2019. Seventy-six eyes of consecutive patients who underwent cross-linking were included. Records were reviewed for corneal Scheimpflug densitometry values and maximum keratometry, epithelial healing time, and the use of either autologous serum tears or preservative-free artificial tears. Corneal densitometry values, expressed in standardized grayscale units (GSU), were recorded for the anterior 150-μm corneal stroma and in the 0.0 to 2.0 mm and 2.0 to 6.0 mm zones.

RESULTS
Forty-four eyes received autologous serum tears, whereas 32 eyes received preservative-free artificial tears. The baseline GSU of the anterior stromal 0 to 2 mm annulus and the 2 to 6 mm annulus did not significantly differ between groups (P = .50 and P = .40, respectively). There was a statistically significant increase in mean GSU for both anterior 0 to 2 mm and 2 to 6 mm zones between baseline and 1 month (P < .001) and 3 months (P < .001). When comparing the two groups, no statistically significant difference was found post-operatively between the mean GSU at 1 month for the anterior 0 to 2 mm (P = .38) nor the 2 to 6 mm zone (P = .12), or for the third month (P = .60 and P = .44, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS
Using Scheimpflug densitometry, we did not find a significant difference in the post–cross-linking corneal haze at 1 and 3 post-operative months between patients who use autologous serum tears and those who use preservative-free artificial tears.
Effect of Latanoprostene Bunod on Optic Nerve Head Blood Flow
Authors: Samaha Dan , Diaconu Vasile , Bouchard Jean François , Desalliers Charlene , Dupont Ariane 
Published: December 2021

SIGNIFICANCE
Topical latanoprostene bunod increases capillary oxygen saturation and blood volume at the optic nerve head in healthy individuals.

PURPOSE
This study aimed to evaluate the effect of topical latanoprostene bunod on optic nerve blood volume and oxygen saturation in a population of healthy participants.

METHODS
In this prospective double-blind crossover study, 23 healthy participants aged from 21 to 62 years were recruited. Optic nerve head capillary blood volume (ONHvol) and oxygen saturation (ONHSaO2) baselines were measured over a period of 2 hours using multichannel spectroscopic reflectometry and were remeasured after a 7-day once-daily instillation regimen of either latanoprost 0.005% or latanoprostene bunod 0.024%. After a 30-day washout period, participants were crossed over to the alternate product, and measurements were repeated. Participants were used as their own baselines to calculate variation in ONHvol and ONHSaO2 across time and pharmacological agents. The Friedman test was used to establish significant differences in optic nerve head parameters from baseline values, and Conover post hoc analysis was carried for multiple between-group comparisons.

RESULTS
Latanoprostene bunod 0.024% induced a significant increase of 4% in ONHSaO2 compared with latanoprost 0.005% (P < .001). Furthermore, latanoprostene bunod increased ONHvol levels by more than twofold at all time points (P < .001 at T60, T90, and T120). The increase in ONHvol was 66.2% higher than levels achieved with latanoprost at T60 (P = .001), 47% higher at T90 (P < .001), and 45% higher at T120 (P < .01).

CONCLUSIONS
Latanoprostene bunod 0.024% induces a significant increase in optic nerve head blood volume and oxygen saturation in healthy subjects, when compared with latanoprost 0.005%. Future studies are needed to evaluate whether similar responses are elicited in patients suffering from glaucomatous optic neuropathy.
Patient Satisfaction in the Era of COVID-19: Virtual Visit versus In-person Visit Satisfaction
Authors: Roan Vivian D. , Sun Kristie J. , Valentim Carolina C. S. , Bheemidi Abhinav R. , Iyer Amogh , Singh Rishi P. , Talcott Katherine E. 
Published: December 2021

SIGNIFICANCE
Teleophthalmology became widely used during the coronavirus 2019 pandemic; however, the quality of this care remains to be understood.

PURPOSE
This study aimed to compare patient satisfaction levels from virtual and in-person visits based on post-visit surveys, as well as investigate demographic characteristics that may predict patient satisfaction with virtual visits.

METHODS
Virtual (n = 2943) and in-person (n = 56,175) visits from March 19, 2020, to July 31, 2020, were identified using the electronic health record system. For in-person visits, a random subset of 3000 visits was acquired using a random number generator. Of these, 2266 virtual and 2590 in-person visits met the inclusion criteria. Patients who completed the Telemedicine for Medical Practice Survey and Medical Practice Survey were analyzed in this report. Nonparametric Mann-Whitney test was used to compare scores between groups.

RESULTS
Two hundred eleven virtual patients (9.31%; 82 phone, 115 video, 14 hybrid) and 307 in-person patients (11.85%) completed the Telemedicine for Medical Practice Survey and Medical Practice Survey, respectively. Satisfaction scores were similar and high in both groups—virtual visit satisfaction scores averaged 4.82, whereas in-person visit satisfaction averaged 4.85 (P = .80, θ = 0.501 [0.493 to 0.509]). Only one question yielded significantly different satisfaction scores, and no demographic variables were significant predictors of satisfaction scores.

CONCLUSIONS
Patient satisfaction is comparable between virtual and in-person visits, validating the continued usage of telemedicine for eye care visits.
Tenofovir Diphosphate in Dried Blood Spots in Pregnant and Postpartum Women With HIV in Kenya: A Novel Approach to Measuring Peripartum Adherence
Authors: Abuogi Lisa L. , Castillo-Mancilla Jose , Hampanda Karen , Owuor Kevin , Odwar Tobias , Onono Maricianah , Helova Anna , Turan Janet M. , Anderson Peter L. 
Published: December 2021

Background:
Adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) among pregnant and postpartum women with HIV (PWLWH) is critical to promote maternal health and prevent HIV transmission. Tenofovir diphosphate (TFV-DP) in dried blood spots (DBS) is an objective assessment of cumulative ART adherence that has not been fully assessed in PWLWH.

Setting:
Southwestern Kenya.

Methods:
PWLWH receiving tenofovir disoproxil fumarate-based ART from 24 health facilities provided DBS samples at 3 time points [pregnancy/early postpartum (PP), 6 months PP, and 9–12 months PP]. Thresholds for daily adherence were defined as TFV-DP in DBS ≥650 fmol/punch in pregnancy and ≥950 PP. Descriptive analysis is presented. Cluster adjusted χ2 and t-tests were used to test for association with clinical and demographic factors.

Results:
A total of 419 DBS samples were collected from 150 PWLWH. Median TFV-DP in DBS was lowest, 552 fmol/punch [interquartile range (IQR), 395–759] in pregnancy and declined over time [914 (IQR, 644–1176) fmol/punch; early PP; 838 (IQR, 613–1063) fmol/punch 6 months PP; and 785 (IQR, 510–1009) fmol/punch 9–12 months; P < 0.001]. Only 42% of samples in pregnancy and 38.5% of samples in PP met thresholds for daily adherence. Clinical or demographic factors were not associated with suboptimal adherence levels.

Conclusion:
Cumulative ART exposure in PWLWH, quantified by TFV-DP in DBS, demonstrated a stepwise decrease (ie, adherence) PP. Most women demonstrated less than daily adherence throughout the peripartum period. Use of TFV-DP in DBS as a measure of cumulative ART adherence could help optimize health outcomes in PWLWH and their infants.
Genital Inflammation Is Not Associated With Decreased Vaginal Tenofovir Concentrations in Women Taking Oral PrEP
Authors: Morris Sheldon , Cottrell Mackenzie , Rawlings Stephen A. , Peterson Scott , Karris Maile , Pacheco Deedee , Chaillon Antoine , Kay Alexis , Chow Karen , Anderson Peter L. , Gianella Sara , Blumenthal Jill 
Published: December 2021

Background:
We evaluated the association of inflammation and dysbosis on cervicovaginal fluid (CVF) tenofovir (TFV) concentrations in women taking oral tenofovir disoproxil fumarate/emtricitable for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in the United States.

Setting:
Thirty-five women in a HIV PrEP implementation study attended their week 24 visit at a San Diego research clinic and provided CVF specimens.

Methods:
Women in the Adherence Enhancement Guided by Individualized Texting and Drug Levels study had their CVF specimens evaluated for (1) sexually transmitted bacterial (Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis, Gardnerella, and Trichomonas vaginalis), viral (human papillomavirus, cytomegalovirus and herpes simplex virus-1/2) and fungal (Candida) infections; (2) microbiome composition by 16 S sequencing (V3–V4 region); and (3) cytokine profiles by enzyme-linked immunoassay (Interleukin-8, macrophage Inflammatory protein-1a, macrophage Inflammatory Protein-1b and interferon-γ-inducible protein-10). Univariate statistical analysis was used to determine factors associated with CVF TFV concentrations. CVF TFV of 100–1000 ng/mL benchmarked typical genital concentrations and TFV-diphosphate in dried blood spots of 700 fmol/punch was considered adequate adherence.

Results:
Thirty-five women had CVF specimens collected. No factor was associated with CVF TFV concentrations or discordance of blood and vaginal concentrations. Among 27 participants assessed for vaginosis (Candida, Gardnerella or Trichomonas), women with Gardnerella (n = 11) were more likely to have high (>1000 ng/mL) CVF TFV concentrations (82% versus 33%, P = 0.02).

Conclusions:
Presence of genital viruses, cytokines, or vaginal community state types were not associated with low CVF TFV concentrations in cisgender women taking oral tenofovir disoproxil fumarate/emtricitable for PrEP. The surprising association observed between presence of Gardnerella and higher vaginal TFV concentrations needs further evaluation.
Surfing the Big Data Wave: Omics Data Challenges in Transplantation
Authors: Ba Rokhaya , Geffard Estelle , Douillard Venceslas , Simon Françoise , Mesnard Laurent , Vince Nicolas , Gourraud Pierre-Antoine , Limou Sophie 
Published: December 2021

In both research and care, patients, caregivers, and researchers are facing a leap forward in the quantity of data that are available for analysis and interpretation, marking the daunting “big data era.” In the biomedical field, this quantitative shift refers mostly to the -omics that permit measuring and analyzing biological features of the same type as a whole. Omics studies have greatly impacted transplantation research and highlighted their potential to better understand transplant outcomes. Some studies have emphasized the contribution of omics in developing personalized therapies to avoid graft loss. However, integrating omics data remains challenging in terms of analytical processes. These data come from multiple sources. Consequently, they may contain biases and systematic errors that can be mistaken for relevant biological information. Normalization methods and batch effects have been developed to tackle issues related to data quality and homogeneity. In addition, imputation methods handle data missingness. Importantly, the transplantation field represents a unique analytical context as the biological statistical unit is the donor–recipient pair, which brings additional complexity to the omics analyses. Strategies such as combined risk scores between 2 genomes taking into account genetic ancestry are emerging to better understand graft mechanisms and refine biological interpretations. The future omics will be based on integrative biology, considering the analysis of the system as a whole and no longer the study of a single characteristic.
In this review, we summarize omics studies advances in transplantation and address the most challenging analytical issues regarding these approaches.
Current concepts in acute vestibular syndrome and video-oculography
Authors: Mantokoudis Georgios , Otero-Millan Jorge , Gold Daniel R. 
Published: December 2021

Purpose of review
We present here neuro-otological tests using portable video-oculography (VOG) and strategies assisting physicians in the process of decision making beyond the classical ‘HINTS’ testing battery at the bedside.

Recent findings
Patients with acute vestibular syndrome (AVS) experience dizziness, gait unsteadiness and nausea/vomiting. A variety of causes can lead to this condition, including strokes. These patients cannot be adequately identified with the conventional approach by stratifying based on risk factors and symptom type. In addition to bedside methods such as HINTS and HINTS plus, quantitative methods for recording eye movements using VOG can augment the ability to diagnose and localize the lesion. In particular, the ability to identify and quantify the head impulse test (VOR gain, saccade metrics), nystagmus characteristics (waveform, beating direction and intensity), skew deviation, audiometry and lateropulsion expands our diagnostic capabilities. In addition to telemedicine, algorithms and artificial intelligence can be used to support emergency physicians and nonexperts in the future.

Summary
VOG, telemedicine and artificial intelligence may assist physicians in the diagnostic process of AVS patients.
Coalescent tree recording with selection for fast forward-in-time simulations
Authors: Matthey-Doret Remi 
Published: December 2021

AbstractForward simulations are increasingly important in evolutionary genetics to simulate selection with realistic demography, mating systems and ecology. To reach the performance needed for genome-wide simulations a number of new simulation techniques have been developed recently. Kelleher et al. (2018) introduced a technique consisting in recording the entire genetic history of the population and placing mutations on the coalescent tree. This method cannot model selection. I recently introduced a simulation technique that speed up fitness calculation by assuming that fitness effects among haplotypes are multiplicative (Matthey-Doret, 2021). More precisely, fitness measures are stored for subsets of the genome and, at time of reproduction, if no recombination happen within a given subset, then the fitness for this subset for the offspring haplotype is directly inferred from the parental haplotype. Here, I present and benchmark a hybrid of the above two techniques. The algorithm records the genetic history of a species, directly places the mutations on the tree and infers fitness of subsets of the genome from parental haplotypes. At recombinant sites, the algorithm explores the tree to reconstruct the genetic data at the recombining segment. I benchmarked this new technique implemented in SimBit and report an important improvement of performance compared to previous techniques to simulate selection. This improvement is particularly drastic at low recombination rate. Such developments of new simulation techniques are pushing the horizon of the realism with which we can simulate species molecular evolution.
Plant-based expression of SARS-CoV-2 antigen for use in an oral vaccine
Authors: Power Monique , Azad Taha , Bell John C. , MacLean Allyson M 
Published: December 2021

AbstractOral and intra-nasal vaccines represent a key means of inducing mucosal-based immunity against infection with SARS-CoV-2, yet such vaccines represent only a minority of candidates currently in development. In this brief communication, we assessed the expression of the SARS-CoV-2 Receptor Binding Domain (RBD) subunit of the surface-exposed Spike glycoprotein in the leaves of nine edible plant species (lettuce, spinach, collard greens, tomato, cucumber, radish, arugula, pepper, and Coho greens), with a goal of identifying a suitable candidate for the development of an oral vaccine against COVID-19. We report lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. cv. Hilde II Improved) to be a preferred host to support in planta expression of SARS-CoV-2 RBD, representing an important first step towards development of a plant-based oral vaccine.