bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Disruption of Biofilm by Bacteriophages in Clinically Relevant Settings
Authors: Kovacs Christopher J , Rapp Erika M , McKenzie Sophia M , Mazur Michael Z , Mchale Riley P , Brasko Briana , Min Michael Y , Burpo F John , Barnhill Jason C 
Published: October 2023

ABSTRACT

Introduction
Antibiotic-resistant bacteria are a growing threat to civilian and military health today. Although infections were once easily treatable by antibiotics and wound cleaning, the frequent mutation of bacteria has created strains impermeable to antibiotics and physical attack. Bacteria further their pathogenicity because of their ability to form biofilms on wounds, medical devices, and implant surfaces. Methods for treating biofilms in clinical settings are limited, and when formed by antibiotic-resistant bacteria, can generate chronic infections that are recalcitrant to available therapies. Bacteriophages are natural viral predators of bacteria, and their ability to rapidly destroy their host has led to increased attention in potential phage therapy applications.

Materials and Methods
The present article sought to address a knowledge gap in the available literature pertaining to the usage of bacteriophage in clinically relevant settings and the resolution of infections particular to military concerns. PRISMA guidelines were followed for a systematic review of available literature that met the criteria for analysis and inclusion. The research completed for this review article originated from the U.S. Military Academy’s library “Scout” search engine, which complies results from 254 available databases (including PubMed, Google Scholar, and SciFinder). The search criteria included original studies that employed bacteriophage use against biofilms, as well as successful phage therapy strategies for combating chronic bacterial infections. We specifically explored the use of bacteriophage against antibiotic- and treatment-resistant bacteria.

Results
A total of 80 studies were identified that met the inclusion criteria following PRISMA guidelines. The application of bacteriophage has been demonstrated to robustly disrupt biofilm growth in wounds and on implant surfaces. When traditional therapies have failed to disrupt biofilms and chronic infections, a combination of these treatments with phage has proven to be effective, often leading to complete wound healing without reinfection.

Conclusions
This review article examines the available literature where bacteriophages have been utilized to treat biofilms in clinically relevant settings. Specific attention is paid to biofilms on implant medical devices, biofilms formed on wounds, and clinical outcomes, where phage treatment has been efficacious. In addition to the clinical benefit of phage therapies, the military relevance and treatment of combat-related infections is also examined. Phages offer the ability to expand available treatment options in austere environments with relatively low cost and effort, allowing the impacted warfighter to return to duty quicker and healthier.
Really Knowing: A Collocational Argument for an Infallibilist Sense of ‘Know’
Authors: Satta Mark 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
Collocations are recurrent combinations of words where one lexical item occurs near another lexical item with a frequency far greater than chance. Collocations can be used to study meaning. I argue that the collocational phrase ‘really know’, in conjunction with some reasonable interpretive conclusions, provides us with evidence that the verb ‘know’ has an infallibilist sense. I make my case, first, by arguing that ‘really’ when part of the phrase ‘really know’ is best understood as synonymous with ‘truly’. I then argue that there are two plausible interpretations of the function that ‘really’ plays in the phrase ‘really know’. On the first interpretation, ‘really’ helps distinguish claims about genuine infallibilist knowing from loose talk about ‘knowing’. On the second interpretation, ‘really’ is often used to disambiguate an infallibilist sense of ‘know’ from a fallibilist sense of ‘know’. On either interpretation, there is an infallibilist sense of ‘know’.
Cartesian Infallibilism and a Guarantee of Truth
Authors: Anderson Charity 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
This paper draws a line of demarcation between fallibilism and infallibilism. Taking Cartesian Infallibilism as a guide, it advances a picture of infallibilism whereby infallible knowledge requires, among other conditions, luminosity of a truth-guaranteeing property. Some implications for contemporary theories of knowledge are explored.
Respiration in light of evergreen and deciduous woody species and its links to the leaf economic spectrum
Authors: Li Xueqin , Chen Xiaoping , Li Jinlong , Wu Panpan , Hu Dandan , Zhong Quanlin , Cheng Dongliang 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
Leaf respiration in the light (Rlight) is crucial for understanding the net CO2 exchange of individual plants and entire ecosystems. However, Rlight is poorly quantified and rarely discussed in the context of the leaf economic spectrum (LES), especially among woody species differing in plant functional types (PFTs) (e.g., evergreen vs. deciduous species). To address this gap in our knowledge, Rlight, respiration in the dark (Rdark), light-saturated photosynthetic rates (Asat), leaf dry mass per unit area (LMA), leaf nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) concentrations, and maximum carboxylation (Vcmax) and electron transport rates (Jmax) of 54 representative subtropical woody evergreen and deciduous species were measured. With the exception of LMA, the parameters quantified in this study were significantly higher in deciduous species than in evergreen species. The degree of light inhibition did not significantly differ between evergreen (52%) and deciduous (50%) species. Rlight was significantly correlated with LES traits such as Asat, Rdark, LMA, N and P. The Rlight vs. Rdark and N relationships shared common slopes between evergreen and deciduous species, but significantly differed in their y-intercepts, in which the rates of Rlight were slower or faster for any given Rdark or N in deciduous species, respectively. A model for Rlight based on three traits (i.e., Rdark, LMA and P) had an explanatory power of 84.9%. These results show that there is a link between Rlight and the LES, and highlight that PFTs is an important factor in affecting Rlight and the relationships of Rlight with Rdark and N. Thus, this study provides information that can improve the next generation of terrestrial biosphere models (TBMs).
Effects of AMF inoculation on the growth, photosynthesis and root physiological morphology of root-pruned Robinia pseudoacacia seedlings
Authors: Sun Jinhua , Rong Zheng , Yang Liu , Zhu Qimeng , Yuan Yabo , Feng Zhipei , Li Limei , Li Nixuan , Zhang Lei , Guo Shaoxin 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
Root pruning hinders the absorption and utilization of nutrients and water by seedlings in the short term. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are an important source of nutrient and water for seedlings except for the root system. However, the mechanism by which AMF affect the physiological growth of seedlings after root pruning has rarely been studied. In this study, a pot experiment was conducted through a three-compartment partition system to clarify the effects of Funneliformis mosseae (F. mosseae) strain BGC XJ07A on the physiological growth of root-pruned Robinia pseudoacacia seedlings. Five root pruning treatments (zero, one-fifth, one-fourth, one-third and one-half of the taproot length were removed) were applied to noninoculated seedlings and those inoculated with F. mosseae. The results showed that the presence of F. mosseae significantly increased the shoot and root biomasses, leaf photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance and transpiration rate. The root projected area, root surface area, average root diameter, root density, root volume and number of root tips of the inoculated seedlings were higher than those without inoculation in all root pruning treatments. The root cytokinin, gibberellins and indole-3-acetic acid concentrations, but root abscisic acid concentration, were higher than those measured in the absence of inoculation in all root pruning treatments. Moreover, the changes in the root endogenous hormone concentrations of the seedlings were closely related to the root morphological development and seedling biomass. The AMF increased the soil available nitrogen, soil available phosphorus, soil available potassium and soil organic matter concentrations compared with the noninoculated treatment. These results indicate that AMF can alleviate the adverse effects of root pruning on the physiological growth of R. pseudoacacia and soil properties, and can provide a basis for AMF application to forest cultivation and the sustainable development of forest ecosystems.
Revision Free Loss of Sagittal Correction > 3 Years After Adult Spinal Deformity Surgery
Authors: Lovecchio Francis , Lafage Renaud , Kim Han Jo , Bess Shay , Ames Christopher , Gupta Munish , Passias Peter , Klineberg Eric , Mundis Gregory , Burton Douglas , Smith Justin S , Shaffrey Christopher , Schwab Frank , Lafage Virginie ,   International Spine Study Group
Published: October 2023

Study Design.
Multicenter retrospective cohort study

Objective.
To investigate risk factors for loss of correction within the instrumented lumbar spine following ASD surgery.

Summary of Background Data.
The sustainability of adult deformity (ASD) surgery remains a health care challenge. Malalignment is a major reason for revision surgery.

Methods.
321 patients who underwent fusion of the lumbar spine (≥5 levels, LIV pelvis) with a revision-free follow-up ≥3 years were identified. Patients were stratified by change in PI-LL from 6 weeks to 3 years postop as Maintained vs. Loss >5°. Those with instrumentation failure (broken rod, screw pullout, etc.) were excluded before comparisons. Demographics, surgical data, and radiographic alignment were compared. Repeated measure ANOVA was performed to evaluate the maintenance of the correction for L1-L4 and L4-S1. Multivariate logistic regression was conducted to identify independent surgical predictors of correction loss.

Results.
The cohort had a mean age of 64 yrs, mean BMI 28 kg/m2, 80% female. 82 patients (25.5%) lost >5° of PI-LL correction (mean loss 10±5°). After exclusion of patients with instrumentation failure, 52 Loss were compared to 222 Maintained. Demographics, osteotomies, 3CO, IBF, use of BMP, rod material, rod diameter, and fusion length were not significantly different. L1-S1 screw orientation angle was 1.3±4.1 from early postop to 3 years (P=0.031), but not appreciably different at L4-S1 (-0.1±2.9 P=0.97). Lack of a supplemental rod (OR 4.0, P=0.005) and fusion length (OR 2.2, P=0.004) were associated with loss of correction.

Conclusions.
Approximately a quarter of revision-free patients lose an average of 10° of their 6-week correction by 3 years. Lordosis is lost proximally through the instrumentation (i.e. tulip/shank angle shifts and/or rod bending). The use of supplemental rods and avoiding sagittal overcorrection may help mitigate this loss.
The Predictive Validity of the Berlin Definition of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome for Patients With COVID-19-Related Respiratory Failure Treated With High-Flow Nasal Oxygen: A Multicenter, Prospective Cohort Study*
Authors: Busico Marina , Fuentes Nora A. , Gallardo Adrián , Vitali Alejandra , Quintana Jorgelina , Olmos Matias , Burns Karen E.A. , Esperatti Mariano ,   Argentine Collaborative Group on High Flow and Prone Positioning
Published: October 2023

OBJECTIVES:
The Berlin definition of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) was constructed for patients receiving invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) with consideration given to issues related to reliability, feasibility, and validity. Notwithstanding, patients with acute respiratory failure (ARF) may be treated with high-flow nasal oxygen (HFNO) and may not fall within the scope of the original definition. We aimed to evaluate the predictive validity of the Berlin definition in HFNO-treated patients with COVID-19-related respiratory failure who otherwise met ARDS criteria.

DESIGN:
Multicenter, prospective cohort study.

SETTING:
Five ICUs of five centers in Argentina from March 2020 to September 2021.

PATIENTS:
We consecutively included HFNO-treated patients older than 18 years with confirmed COVID-19-related ARF, a Pao
2/Fio
2 of less than 300 mm Hg, bilateral infiltrates on imaging, and worsening respiratory symptoms for less than 1 week.

INTERVENTIONS:
None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS:
We evaluated the predictive validity of mortality at day 28 using the area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC), compared the predictive validity across subgroups, and characterized relevant clinical outcomes. We screened 1,231 patients and included 696 ARDS patients [30 (4%) mild, 380 (55%) moderate, and 286 (41%) severe]. For the study cohort, the AUC for mortality at day 28 was 0.606 (95% CI, 0.561–0.651) with the AUC for subgroups being similar to that of the overall cohort. Two hundred fifty-six patients (37%) received IMV. By day 28, 142 patients (21%) had died, of whom 81 (57%) had severe ARDS. Mortality occurred primarily in patients who were transitioned to IMV.

CONCLUSIONS:
The predictive validity of the Berlin ARDS definition was similar for HFNO-treated patients as compared with the original population of invasively ventilated patients. Our findings support the extension of the Berlin definition to HFNO-treated patients with ARDS.
Sex Differences in Vital Organ Support Provided to ICU Patients*
Authors: Modra Lucy J. , Higgins Alisa M. , Pilcher David V. , Bailey Michael , Bellomo Rinaldo 
Published: October 2023

OBJECTIVES:
Critically ill women may receive less vital organ support than men but the mortality impact of this differential treatment remains unclear. We aimed to quantify sex differences in vital organ support provided to adult ICU patients and describe the relationship between sex, vital organ support, and mortality.

DESIGN:
In this retrospective observational study, we examined the provision of invasive ventilation (primary outcome), noninvasive ventilation, vasoactive medication, renal replacement therapy, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), or any one of these five vital organ supports in women compared with men. We performed logistic regression investigating the association of sex with each vital organ support, adjusted for illness severity, diagnosis, preexisting treatment limitation, year, and hospital. We performed logistic regression for hospital mortality adjusted for the same variables, stratified by vital organ support (secondary outcome).

SETTING AND PATIENTS:
ICU admissions in the Australia and New Zealand Intensive Care Society Adult Patient Database 2018–2021. This registry records admissions from 90% of ICUs in the two nations.

INTERVENTIONS:
None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS:
We examined 699,535 ICU admissions (43.7% women) to 199 ICUs. After adjustment, women were less likely than men to receive invasive ventilation (odds ratio [OR], 0.64; 99% CI, 0.63–0.65) and each other organ support except ECMO. Women had lower adjusted hospital mortality overall (OR, 0.94; 99% CI, 0.91–0.97). Among patients who did not receive any organ support, women had significantly lower adjusted hospital mortality (OR, 0.82; 99% CI, 0.76–0.88); among patients who received any organ support women and men were equally likely to die (OR, 1.01; 99% CI, 0.97–1.04).

CONCLUSIONS:
Women received significantly less vital organ support than men in ICUs in Australia and New Zealand. However, our findings suggest that women may not be harmed by this conservative approach to treatment.
Association Between Nurse Copatient Illness Severity and Mortality in the ICU
Authors: Riman Kathryn A. , Davis Billie S. , Seaman Jennifer B. , Kahn Jeremy M. 
Published: October 2023

OBJECTIVES:
In the context of traditional nurse-to-patient ratios, ICU patients are typically paired with one or more copatients, creating interdependencies that may affect clinical outcomes. We aimed to examine the effect of copatient illness severity on ICU mortality.

DESIGN:
We conducted a retrospective cohort study using electronic health records from a multihospital health system from 2018 to 2020. We identified nurse-to-patient assignments for each 12-hour shift using a validated algorithm. We defined copatient illness severity as whether the index patient’s copatient received mechanical ventilation or vasoactive support during the shift. We used proportional hazards regression with time-varying covariates to assess the relationship between copatient illness severity and 28-day ICU mortality.

SETTING:
Twenty-four ICUs in eight hospitals.

PATIENTS:
Patients hospitalized in the ICU between January 1, 2018, and August 31, 2020.

INTERVENTIONS:
None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS:
The main analysis included 20,650 patients and 84,544 patient-shifts. Regression analyses showed a patient’s risk of death increased when their copatient received both mechanical ventilation and vasoactive support (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.30; 95% CI, 1.05–1.61; p = 0.02) or vasoactive support alone (HR: 1.82; 95% CI, 1.39–2.38; p < 0.001), compared with situations in which the copatient received neither treatment. However, if the copatient was solely on mechanical ventilation, there was no significant increase in the risk of death (HR: 1.03; 95% CI, 0.86–1.23; p = 0.78). Sensitivity analyses conducted on cohorts with varying numbers of copatients consistently showed an increased risk of death when a copatient received vasoactive support.

CONCLUSIONS:
Our findings suggest that considering copatient illness severity, alongside the existing practice of considering individual patient conditions, during the nurse-to-patient assignment process may be an opportunity to improve ICU outcomes.
Mix-and-match vs bilateral trifocal and bilateral EDOF intraocular lens implantation: the spline curve battle
Authors: Labiris Georgios , Panagis Christos , Ntonti Panagiota , Konstantinidis Aristeidis , Bakirtzis Minas 
Published: October 2023

Purpose:
To compare the postoperative visual acuity curves following 3 pseudophakic presbyopic correction techniques.

Setting:
Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Alexandroupolis, Greece.

Design:
Prospective, randomized, comparative trial.

Methods:
For this study, patients with stage 2 Lens Opacities Classification System III cataract were divided into 3 study groups: (1) premium monovision group, including patients who received the Panoptix intraocular lens (IOL) in the recessive eye and Vivity IOL in the dominant one; (2) bilateral trifocal group, including those who received bilaterally the Panoptix IOL; and (3) bilateral xEDOF group, including patients who received bilaterally the Vivity IOL. Postoperative bilateral uncorrected distance visual acuity was measured at 25.5, 28, 33, 40, 50, 66, 100, 200, and 300 cm distances. Spline curve fitting was attempted, and areas of the curves (AOCs) and curvature k were calculated. All patients responded to the National Eye Institute Visual Functioning Questionnaire-25 (NEI-VFQ-25).

Results:
90 patients were equally divided into the 3 groups. Premium monovision and bilateral trifocal implantations delivered similar visual acuity (all AOC P > .05); however, the trifocal patients suffered from drops in vision acuity in certain distance ranges as expressed by negative curvature values. Bilateral xEDOF patients demonstrated worse near vision acuity (P < .05). Premium monovision patients reported better scores in NEI-VFQ 25 (P = .03) and in the near activities (P = .02) and distant activities (P = .04) subscales.

Conclusions:
All surgical options provided impressive outcomes. Premium monovision appeared to deliver the best results.
External iliac artery thrombosis as a result of acetabular fixation through the ilioinguinal approach: a case report
Authors: Hadavi Dorsa , Shahbazi Parmida , Gholami Niloofar , Hajialigol Amirhossein , Azarsina Salman 
Published: October 2023

Introduction and importance:
Acetabular fractures mostly occur in young people who are involved in high-energy trauma and they are treated by orthopedic trauma surgeons. Patients with acetabular fractures are at high risk for different kinds of complications. We report a case of postoperative thrombosis of the external iliac artery following fixation surgery performed by an ilioinguinal approach while receiving thromboprophylaxis during admission to the hospital.

Case presentation:
A 57-year-old healthy woman presented with a left both-column acetabular fracture and underwent acetabular fixation through the ilioinguinal approach. The patient was receiving antithrombotic prophylaxis medications in the course of treatment.

Clinical discussion:
During her convalescence, while at the hospital, she was diagnosed with left external iliac artery thrombosis, needing surgical thrombectomy. These severe and rare complications will lead to uncertainty about a commonly used ilioinguinal approach. Postoperative arterial thrombosis may be rare in patients undergoing acetabular fixation surgery but searching for signs and symptoms of this condition is always necessary.

Conclusion:
It is possible to prevent severe complications by performing a routine measurement of the distal arterial pressure after similar surgeries.
Acute oral poisoning due to pretilachlor herbicide – a rare case report from Nepal
Authors: Nepali Prakash , Adhikari Subodh , Aryal Suraj , Gyawali Pratigya , Pathak Roshan , Upreti Apil , Koirala Saru , Upadhayaya Awaz , Ghimire Bardan , Bhatta Laxmi R. 
Published: October 2023

Introduction:
Acute oral intoxication of pretilachlor, a synthetic chloroacetanilide herbicide, can present similar clinical manifestations of organophosphorus toxicity in humans.

Case presentation:
A 15-year-old male was admitted after suicidal ingestion of pretilachlor poison, with decreased consciousness and blood-mixed vomiting.

Discussion:
Pretilachlor is a colorless and odorless liquid that can cause neurotoxicity and carcinogenicity due to its prolonged exposure. The effects of acute oral exposure are mild and may differ from chronic exposure. Individuals exposed to chloroacetanilides may not show symptoms or experience vomiting and neurological issues. Clinical manifestations such as vomiting, excessive lacrimation, bowel and bladder incontinence, bradycardia, and hypotension can be observed in both organophosphate poisoning and pretilachlor poisoning, making accurate diagnosis challenging, particularly in resource-limited settings like ours. There is no specific antidote for pretilachlor poisoning. Treatment focuses on symptomatic care and monitoring the patient’s hemodynamics as per standard protocol.

Conclusion:
This case underscores the need for prompt stabilization, vigilant monitoring, and supportive care to ensure timely recovery in pretilachlor poisoning cases despite similarities with organophosphate poisoning. It emphasizes the importance of educating and raising awareness among physicians about potential mimickers like organophosphates.