bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Mucormycosis in post-COVID patients: loose cannon waiting to fire at the anaesthesiologist
Authors: Prakash Avinash , Yadav Anita , Raipure Amrusha , Baghel Jyoti 
Published: May 2023

Abstract

Background

Recently, several cases of mucormycosis in people with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have been increasingly reported worldwide, in particular from India. As an increasing number of post-COVID patients with mucormycosis are presenting for surgical management, the onus is on the anaesthesiologists to adequately evaluate and optimise such patients.

Case presentation
We present three cases to highlight the anaesthetic challenges in patients undergoing functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) with debridement surgery for mucormycosis through a series of three cases. In our manuscript, two cases had comorbidities as a challenge uncontrolled diabetes and hypertension. The third case had difficult intubation due to a small mouth opening which was probably due to swelling and tenderness as a result of rhino orbital mucormycosis.

Conclusions
Proper anticipation, optimization and timed promptness to deal with the anaesthetic challenges pertaining to the multisystemic involvement and sequelae of mucormycosis should be done.
Assessment of estimated low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-c) equations: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Ephraim Richard K. D. , Ativi Emmanuel , Ashie Samuel A. , Abaka-Yawson Albert , Darkwah Kwame Osei 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
Background
Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) is the major determinant of cardiovascular disease burden. This study critically reviewed the published literature and performed a meta-analysis to compare and to determine which other equations provide the best means of estimating LDL-c in clinical settings.

Method
English articles indexed in PubMed, Science Open, Biomed central and SpringerLink databases were searched with searches being conducted in or after 2001 up to date. According to the predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, 22 articles out of the 17,970 retrieved were eligible for quantitative analysis. Data were pooled and meta-analysis performed using a random-effects model, and the results are described as event rates (pooled correlation coefficient).

Main body of the abstract
All the twelve equations showed positive correlation with the respective direct low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol measurements. The pooled estimates showed a stronger positive correlation between Martin’s low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol equation and the direct low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol measurement [0.96 (95% CI 0.94–0.98)] as compared to Friedewald’s equation and the direct method [0.94 (95% CI 0.92–0.96)]. At triglycerides levels > 400 mg/dl, Martin’s low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol equation established better performance (77.78%) than the Friedewald’s equation. In studies where triglycerides levels > 400 mg/dl were excluded Martin’s low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol equation still established better performance (83.33%) than the Friedewald’s equation.

Short conclusion
Our data suggest that Martin’s equation showed a better performance than Friedewald equation. Martin’s equation can serve as a more accurate method to estimate low-density lipoprotein cholesterol as compared to Friedewald’s equation especially in situations of the same racial background.
Video-assisted thoracic surgery is associated with faster delivery to adjuvant chemotherapy after lung resection in patients with lung cancer
Authors: Batıhan Güntuğ , Ceylan Kenan Can , Kaya Şeyda Örs 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
Background
Rapid recovery after surgery is especially important for patients who are scheduled for adjuvant therapy.
This study aimed to investigate the effect of video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) on chemotherapy referral time and chemotherapy tolerance in patients who underwent lung resection for non-small cell lung cancer.

Methods
The data of 612 patients who underwent lung resection with the diagnosis of non-small cell lung cancer in our clinic between January 2014 and December 2021 were reviewed. Patients who underwent lobectomy or bilobectomy with systematic mediastinal lymph node dissection and who received at least one cycle of adjuvant chemotherapy were included in the study. The characteristics of the patients, pathological data, postoperative follow-up findings, and the time between the operation and adjuvant chemotherapy were recorded.

Results
A total of 144 patients who met the criteria were included in the study. The mean age was 61.6 ± 7.9 years. The mean visual analogue scale scores were found to be lower, and the length of hospital stay was found to be shorter in the VATS group compared to thoracotomy.
The mean time (days) to initiate chemotherapy after surgery was statistically shorter in the VATS group (48.9 ± 17.6 vs 58.1 ± 27.6, p = 0.049). However, there weren't seen any statistical differences between VATS and thoracotomy groups in terms of mean cycle completed, percentage of planned regimen received, and grade ≥ 3 toxicity rates (p = 0.16, p = 0.18, and p = 0.22, respectively).

Conclusions
VATS provides faster recovery compared to open surgery and shortens the time for patients to refer to adjuvant chemotherapy.
Epstein–Barr virus and cytomegalovirus coinfection in Egyptian COVID-19 patients
Authors: Barakat Eman F , Sherief Ahmed F , Elsheikh Nesma G , Khalifa Mai Mohi M. El-Metwaly 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
Background
Reactivation of herpesviruses such as Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) in COVID-19 patients reported in many studies in different countries during the pandemic. We aimed to measure prevalence of this coinfection in Egyptian COVID-19 patients with elevated liver enzymes and its relation to the severity and the outcome of COVID-19 infection in those patients.

Methods
A cross-sectional study was carried out on 110 COVID-19 patients with elevated liver enzymes regardless the severity of COVID-19 disease. All patients were subjected to medical history, clinical examination, laboratory investigations, high-resolution computed tomography chest (HRCT chest). Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) and Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) were determined by VCA IgM and CMV IgM respectively by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Results
Of the included 110 patients with COVID-19 illness, 5 (4.5%) were Epstein–Barr virus seropositive and 5 (4.5%) were human cytomegalovirus seropositive. Regarding the symptoms, the incidence of fever in the EBV and CMV seropositive group was apparently higher than that in the EBV and CMV seronegative group. In lab tests, the platelets and albumin of EBV and CMV seropositive group decreased more significantly than EBV and HCMV seronegative group, and serum ferritin, D-dimer, and C-reactive protein show higher values in seropositive group than in seronegative group but not statistically significant. Seropositive group had received higher doses of steroids than seronegative group. The median of hospital stay in seropositive group was (15 days) nearly double that of seronegative group with statistically significant difference between both groups.

Conclusion
Coinfection of EBV and CMV in COVID-19 Egyptian has no effect on the disease severity or the clinical outcome of the disease. But those patients had higher hospital stay duration.
The role of video-fluoroscopy in the assessment of obstructive sleep apnea patients: comparative study
Authors: Baz Hemmat , Abdalgalil Amera Ahmed , Zayed Ahmed Mohamed , Morsy Nesreen Elsayed , Elsobki Ahmed , Amer Ayman 
Published: May 2023

Abstract
Background
Pre-operative imaging tools play a crucial role in the anatomic assessment of the upper airway and adjacent structures in obstructive sleep apnea patients. The current study was aimed at comparing and correlating the results of videofluoroscopy in evaluating upper airway obstruction in surgically fit obstructive sleep apnea “OSA” patients with fiberoptic nasoendoscopic examination during the awake “Muller’s maneuver” and during sleep induced with propofol for better selection of the suitable surgical maneuver. The present study was an observational cross-sectional study of 69 surgically fit OSA patients (36 males and 33 females); their ages ranged between 29 and 65 years with mean age of 45.87 ± 9.68 years. The patients were selected from otorhinolaryngology, phoniatric, and pulmonology outpatient clinics during the period from February 2019 to January 2020.

Results
The present study demonstrated that no statistically significant difference was found between the three techniques (video-fluoroscopy, awake fiber-optic nasoendoscopy, and drug-induced sleep nasoendoscopy “DISE”) as regards the shape of upper airway collapse at retropalatal, retroglossal, and hypopharyngeal levels in OSA patient (P: 0.621, 0.669, and 1.0 respectively). Statistically, a significant difference was observed between video-fluoroscopy, awake fiber-optic nasoendoscopy on one hand, and DISE on the other one regarding the grade of upper airway collapse at all levels (P: 0.006, 0.037, and 0.003). It was a mild significant difference in favor of DISE.

Conclusion
Video-fluoroscopy is a good, reliable complementary preoperative assessment tool to identify obstruction patterns of the upper airway in OSA patients with quantitative measurements.
Effects of nonlinear membrane capacitance in the Hodgkin-Huxley model of action potential on the spike train patterns of a single neuron
Authors: Kumar Jitender , Das Gupta Patrick , Ghosh Subhendu 
Published: May 2023

AbstractThe membrane capacitance has been shown to have a nonlinear dependence on the cell membrane potential in various types of cells. But the role of the nonlinear membrane capacitance in neurons has not been studied in detail. Herein, by considering the membrane capacitance to be a nonlinear parameter, we have explored the behavior of the cell membrane in three different types of neurons,i.e., squid giant neuron, rodent hippocampal interneuron, and rodent cortical neuron. The Hodgkin-Huxley equation of action potential was modified accordingly and simulated computationally. Our simulated results suggest that the action potential amplitude of a neuron almost remains the same for some duration when the voltage dependence parameter of the nonlinear capacitance increases up to a certain range, the initiation of the next action potential is delayed and the reduction in spike frequencies occurs in comparison to constant membrane capacitance. This indicates the importance of nonlinearity in membrane capacitance. Simultaneously the inter-spike interval (ISI) changes with the nonlinear membrane capacitance parameter. The gating dynamics show changes mainly in theactivation current while the membrane capacitance is considered to be nonlinear. The above-mentioned computational results are primarily predictive pending experimental verification.
Early Detection of Adrenal Insufficiency: The Impact of Newborn Screening for Adrenoleukodystrophy
Authors: Ramirez Alcantara Jonanlis , Grant Natalie R , Sethuram Swathi , Nagy Amanda , Becker Catherine , Sahai Inderneel , Stanley Takara , Halper Alyssa , Eichler Florian S 
Published: May 2023

Abstract

Context
Males with adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) have an 80% lifetime risk of developing adrenal insufficiency (AI), which can be life-threatening when undetected. Newborn screening (NBS) for ALD has been implemented in 29 states, yet the impact of NBS upon clinical management has not been reported.

Objective
To investigate whether the implementation of NBS has altered the time to diagnosis of AI in children with ALD.

Design
We conducted a retrospective medical chart review of pediatric patients with ALD.

Setting
All patients were seen in a leukodystrophy clinic in an academic medical center.

Patients
We included all pediatric patients with ALD who were seen between May 2006 and January 2022. We identified 116 patients (94% boys).

Main Outcome Measures
We extracted information about ALD diagnosis in all patients and AI surveillance, diagnosis, and treatment in boys with ALD.

Results
Thirty-one (27%) patients were diagnosed with ALD by NBS, and 85 (73%) were diagnosed outside the newborn period. The prevalence of AI among boys in our patient population was 74%. AI diagnosis was made significantly earlier in boys diagnosed with ALD by NBS than in boys diagnosed outside the newborn period (median [IQR] age of diagnosis = 6.7 [3.9, 12.12] months vs 6.05 [3.74, 8.35] years) (P &lt; .001). When maintenance dose of glucocorticoids were initiated, there were significant differences in ACTH and peak cortisol levels in patients diagnosed by NBS and outside the newborn period.

Conclusions
Our results suggest that implementing NBS for ALD leads to significantly earlier detection of AI and earlier initiation of glucocorticoid supplementation in boys affected by ALD.
Coexisting nephrotic syndromes influences in st elevation myocardial infarction patient and chronic limb-threatening ischemia patient: is there any correlation?
Authors: Dakota Iwan , Taofan Taofan , Indriani Suci , Afandy Jonathan Edbert , Asaf Mikhael , Putra Swastya Dwi , Adiarto Suko , Sukmawan Renan 
Published: May 2023

Background: ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) were cardiovascular emergencies and require urgent reperfusion treatment. Both diseases shared same traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Nephrotic syndrome (NS) patients were known for risk of thromboembolic complications that may present as STEMI or CLTI, result of hypercoagulable state stemming leading to thrombus formation. Case illustration: Three cases were described in a case series. The first case presented with anterior extensive STEMI, coroangiography revealed total occlusion at proximal left anterior descending artery with high burden thrombus, treated with defered stenting and medical therapy. The second case presented with CLTI, imaging modality showed occlusion with thrombus in infra-renal abdominal aorta until bilateral superficial femoral artery (SFA), the patient refused any interventional treatment, so he was treated with medical therapy only. The third case presented with CLTI on left leg and chronic limb ischemia on right leg, imaging modality showed occlusion at left external iliac artery and 1/3 distal of right SFA with prominent plaque calcification, treated with percutaneous transluminal angioplasty, and medical therapy. All patients achieved significant improvement in the disease. Conclusion: NS is a risk factor for STEMI and CLTI. Even corticosteroids for NS treatment also a risk factor for thromboembolic complications. Controlling the disease severity with precaution of the therapy side effect should be achieved. If thromboembolic complications related to NS happen, the management mainly follows the available guidelines.
Subcellular protein localisation of Trypanosoma brucei bloodstream form-upregulated proteins maps stage-specific adaptations
Authors: Halliday Clare , Dean Samuel , Sunter Jack Daniel , Wheeler Richard J. 
Published: May 2023

Background: Genome-wide subcellular protein localisation in Trypanosoma brucei, through our TrypTag project, has comprehensively dissected the molecular organisation of this important pathogen. Powerful as this resource is, T. brucei has multiple developmental forms and we previously only analysed the procyclic form. This is an insect life cycle stage, leaving the mammalian bloodstream form unanalysed. The expectation is that between life stages protein localisation would not change dramatically (completely unchanged or shifting to analogous stage-specific structures). However, this has not been specifically tested. Similarly, which organelles tend to contain proteins with stage-specific expression can be predicted from known stage specific adaptations but has not been comprehensively tested. Methods: We used endogenous tagging with mNG to determine the sub-cellular localisation of the majority of proteins encoded by transcripts significantly upregulated in the bloodstream form, and performed comparison to the existing localisation data in procyclic forms. Results: We have confirmed the localisation of known stage-specific proteins and identified the localisation of novel stage-specific proteins. This gave a map of which organelles tend to contain stage specific proteins: the mitochondrion for the procyclic form, and the endoplasmic reticulum, endocytic system and cell surface in the bloodstream form. Conclusions: This represents the first genome-wide map of life cycle stage-specific adaptation of organelle molecular machinery in T. brucei.
Avoiding Peer Information and Its Effects on Charity Crowdfunding: A Field Experiment
Authors: Chan Tat Y. , Liao Li , Martin Xiumin , Wang Zhengwei 
Published: May 2023

We study the behavior of an individual avoiding peer information from a natural field experiment of charity crowdfunding. The unique experimental design enables us to employ an instrumental variable strategy to identify how the behavior influences individual giving to and promotion of charity campaigns. We find that, even with free access, 89% of individuals chose not to seek peer information. These individuals were less likely, whereas their peers were more likely to give and help promote in the past. The behavior would reduce the total distribution of campaigns by 8.5% and the total donation amount by 7.7%. A stylized model is used to illustrate how the pressure from peer comparison drives the individuals not to seek the information and how this behavior could influence giving and promoting behaviors of a group of marginal individuals. This paper was accepted by Yan Chen, behavioral economics and decision analysis. Funding: The project was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [Grants 72103110]. Supplemental Material: The data files are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2023.4807 .
Approximation Algorithms and Linear Programming Relaxations for Scheduling Problems Related to Min-Sum Set Cover
Authors: Happach Felix , Schulz Andreas S. 
Published: May 2023

We consider single-machine scheduling problems that are natural generalizations or variations of the min-sum set-cover problem. For these scheduling problems, we give new approximation algorithms. Some of these algorithms rely on time-indexed linear programming relaxations. We show how a variant of alpha-point scheduling leads to the best known approximation ratios, including a guarantee of four for an interesting special case of the so-called generalized min-sum set-cover problem. We also make explicit the connection between the greedy algorithm for min-sum set cover and the concept of Sidney decomposition for precedence-constrained single-machine scheduling and show how this leads to a 4-approximation algorithm for single-machine scheduling with so-called bipartite OR-precedence constraints. Funding: This work has been supported by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation with funds from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research.
Effect of treadmill training on fibrocartilage complex repair in tendon-bone insertion healing in the postinflammatory stage
Authors: Tan Jindong , Liu Xiao , Zhou Mei , Wang Feng , Ma Lin , Tang Hong , He Gang , Kang Xia , Bian Xuting , Tang Kanglai 
Published: May 2023

AimsMechanical stimulation is a key factor in the development and healing of tendon-bone insertion. Treadmill training is an important rehabilitation treatment. This study aims to investigate the benefits of treadmill training initiated on postoperative day 7 for tendon-bone insertion healing.MethodsA tendon-bone insertion injury healing model was established in 92 C57BL/6 male mice. All mice were divided into control and training groups by random digital table method. The control group mice had full free activity in the cage, and the training group mice started the treadmill training on postoperative day 7. The quality of tendon-bone insertion healing was evaluated by histology, immunohistochemistry, reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction, Western blotting, micro-CT, micro-MRI, open field tests, and CatWalk gait and biomechanical assessments.ResultsOur results showed a significantly higher tendon-bone insertion histomorphological score in the training group, and the messenger RNA and protein expression levels of type II collagen (COL2A1), SOX9, and type X collagen (COL10A1) were significantly elevated. Additionally, tendon-bone insertion resulted in less scar hyperplasia after treadmill training, the bone mineral density (BMD) and bone volume/tissue volume (BV/TV) were significantly improved, and the force required to induce failure became stronger in the training group. Functionally, the motor ability, limb stride length, and stride frequency of mice with tendon-bone insertion injuries were significantly improved in the training group compared with the control group.ConclusionTreadmill training initiated on postoperative day 7 is beneficial to tendon-bone insertion healing, promoting biomechanical strength and motor function. Our findings are expected to guide clinical rehabilitation training programmes.Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2023;12(5):339–351.
Increasing the power and spectral efficiencies of an OFDM-based VLC system through multi-objective optimization
Authors: Costa Wesley , Camporez Higor , Pontes Maria , Segatto Marcelo , Rocha Helder , Silva Jair , Hinrichs Malte , Paraskevopoulos Anagnostis , Jungnickel Volker , Freund Ronald 
Published: May 2023

The nonlinearity induced by light-emitting diodes in visible light communication (VLC) systems presents a challenge to the parametrization of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM). The goal of the multi-objective optimization problem presented in this study is to maximize the transmitted power (superimposed LED bias-current and signal amplification) for both conventional and constant envelope (CE) OFDM while also maximizing spectral efficiency. The bit error rate (BER) metric is used to evaluate the optimization using the non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II. Simulation results show that for a BER of 1×10−3, the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) required decreases with the guard band due to intermodulation distortions. In contrast to SNR values of approximately 13 and 25 dB achieved by traditional OFDM-based systems, the VLC system with CE signals achieves a guard band of 6% of the signal bandwidth with required SNR values of approximately 10.8 and 24 dB for 4-quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) and 16-QAM modulation orders, respectively.
Mid-infrared difference-frequency generation in AlGaAs-on-insulator waveguides
Authors: Madsen Magnus L. , Ulsig Emil Z. , Folsach Sebastian , Godoy Pedro H. , Stanton Eric J. , Volet Nicolas 
Published: May 2023

A design study is presented for difference-frequency generation (DFG) to the mid-infrared (MIR) at 2.3 µm in AlGaAs waveguides heterogeneously integrated on silicon. Perfect phase matching (PhM) is achieved in simulations by engineering the dimensions of the waveguide and by tuning the wavelengths of the input sources. An optimal design of the waveguide is found with a width of 1196 nm and height of 146 nm with a length of about 5 mm. We expect a signal output power of about 1 mW at 2389 nm and a wavelength range from 2231 to 2574 nm by the use of tunable sources around 940 and 1550 nm. The tolerance of the input wavelengths and waveguide dimensions required for perfect PhM is also estimated showing the feasibility of the fabrication. This offers a promising design for a compact MIR source on a chip to be used for gas sensing, in particular for carbon monoxide and ammonia, and for DFG of single photons to the C-band.