bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A single-center real-life study on the use of medical cannabis in patients with dystonia
Authors: Anis Saar , Faust-Socher Achinoam , Sverdlov Diana , Lassman Simon , Hezi Neomi , Anis Omer , Leor Gil , Korczyn Amos D. , Giladi Nir , Gurevich Tanya 
Published: June 2023

BackgroundWhile cannabis-based medicine is being commonly used in patients with movement disorders, there is a scarcity of publications regarding the effect of cannabis on dystonia. We aimed to describe medical cannabis use in patients with dystonia and related pain.MethodsWe employed a structured interview to obtain data on the cannabis treatment regimen, perception of effectiveness and side effect profile. Eligible participants were patients diagnosed with dystonia from the movement disorders unit at the Tel-Aviv Medical Center who had used licensed medical cannabis between January 2019 and January 2021.ResultsTwenty-three subjects were interviewed (11 women, mean age 52.7). The most common way of administration was smoking (n = 11). Following an average of 2.5 ± 2.9 years of use, those with widespread dystonia (generalized, hemi and multifocal, n = 11) self-reported on a numeric rating scale an average 63% (range 0%–100%) reduction in symptoms of dystonia, while those with more focal dystonia patterns reported a significantly lower treatment effect of 32%. Participants reported a positive impact in related pain and quality of life, with an average rating of 3.8 out of 5 (SD = 1.2, median = 4) and 3.6 out of 5 (SD = 1.15, median = 4), respectively. Most common side effects were dry mouth (65%), sedation (43%), dizziness (39%) and psychiatric disorders (26%). Three patients (13%) discontinued therapy.ConclusionA subset of dystonia patients who use medical cannabis under clinical observation reported significant subjective improvement during 30 months of use in average. Further prospective randomized controlled trials are required to examine the effectiveness of cannabis in dystonia.
The impact of exposure to tobacco smoking and maternal trauma in fetal life on risk of migraine
Authors: Kobus Magdalena , Sitek Aneta , Antoszewski Bogusław , Rożniecki Jacek J. , Pełka Jacek , Żądzińska Elżbieta 
Published: June 2023

IntroductionPrenatal period is the key time in human development. Many prenatal factors are well-known and increase the risk of developing diseases’ after birth. Few studies indicated the link between the prenatal period and the prevalence of migraine in childhood and adolescence so far. We decided to broaden current knowledge and investigate whether the prenatal factors influence the prevalence of migraine in adulthood. The objective of this study is to provide evidence of relationship between in utero environment and risk of migraine.MethodsIn total 266 females (136 in the migraine group, 130 in the control group) and 80 males (35 in the migraine group, 45 in the control group), aged 18–65 participated in the study. The quality of prenatal environment was characterized on the basis of mother’s and father’s education, tobacco smoke exposure, alcohol consumption, and traumatic event during pregnancy, which are considered as prenatal factors and affect on fetal development.ResultsMigraine occurrence in adulthood was significantly associated with maternal tobacco smoking during pregnancy (OR 3.42, 95% CI 1.54–7.61, p = 0.036) and traumatic event during pregnancy (OR 2.27, 95% CI 1.24–4.13, p = 0.020).DiscussionOur study suggests that the fetal programming effect of tobacco smoking exposure and maternal trauma is not limited to prenatal life and is suggested as having a role in adulthood. Our findings support evidence that migraine adulthood can be partly influenced by early life conditions.
Impact of environmental noise exposure as an inducing factor on the prognosis of sudden sensorineural hearing loss: a retrospective case–control study
Authors: Wang Yingjun , Xiong Wenping , Sun Xiao , Lu Kunpeng , Duan Fujia , Wang Haibo , Wang Mingming 
Published: June 2023

ObjectiveThe study aimed to evaluate the clinical characteristics and prognostic factors associated with unilateral sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) related to environmental noise exposure before its onset.MethodsA total of 50 unilateral SSNHL patients exposed to environmental noise before onset (case group) and 924 unilateral SSNHL patients without any exposure to obvious inducing factors before onset (control group) were enrolled between January 2018 and October 2022. We retrospectively analyzed differences between both groups using the chi-square test, Fisher's exact tests, independent t-tests, and Mann–Whitney U-tests as appropriate before and after propensity score matching (PSM) based on sex, age, and initial pure-tone average (PTA). Prognostic factors for the case group were analyzed using univariate and multivariate logistic analyses between the effective and ineffective groups.ResultsBefore PSM, significant differences were noted in age, sex, time to treatment, the proportion of combined diabetes mellitus, initial PTA, hearing gain, the incidence of vertigo or aural fulness, the rate of vestibular dysfunction or inner ear MRI abnormalities, the effective rate, the glucose and homocysteine levels, and the proportion of audiogram curve types (P &lt; 0.05) between both groups. After PSM, compared to the control group, a longer time to treatment (Z= −3.02, P &lt; 0.05), higher final PTA (Z= −2.39, P &lt; 0.05), lower hearing gain (Z= −3.46, P &lt; 0.05), lower rate of vestibular dysfunction (χ2 = 55.1, P &lt; 0.001), and lower effective rate (χ2 = 4.87, P &lt; 0.05) were observed in the case group. There was a significant difference between the audiogram curve types in both groups (χ2 = 14.9, P &lt; 0.05). Time to treatment (95% confidence interval: 0.692–0.965, P &lt; 0.05) and final PTA (95% confidence interval: 0.921–0.998, P &lt; 0.05) were associated with the clinical outcomes for the case group.ConclusionUnilateral SSNHL patients exposed to environmental noise triggers before onset showed a poorer effective rate and a lower rate of vestibular dysfunction than those who were not. The time to treatment and final PTA were associated with the prognosis of these patients.
Acute effects of single and repeated mild traumatic brain injury on levels of neurometabolites, lipids, and mitochondrial function in male rats
Authors: Allen Josh , Pham Louise , Bond Simon T. , O’Brien William T. , Spitz Gershon , Shultz Sandy R. , Drew Brian G. , Wright David K. , McDonald Stuart J. 
Published: June 2023

IntroductionMild traumatic brain injuries (mTBIs) are the most common form of acquired brain injury. Symptoms of mTBI are thought to be associated with a neuropathological cascade, potentially involving the dysregulation of neurometabolites, lipids, and mitochondrial bioenergetics. Such alterations may play a role in the period of enhanced vulnerability that occurs after mTBI, such that a second mTBI will exacerbate neuropathology. However, it is unclear whether mTBI-induced alterations in neurometabolites and lipids that are involved in energy metabolism and other important cellular functions are exacerbated by repeat mTBI, and if such alterations are associated with mitochondrial dysfunction.MethodsIn this experiment, using a well-established awake-closed head injury (ACHI) paradigm to model mTBI, male rats were subjected to a single injury, or five injuries delivered 1 day apart, and injuries were confirmed with a beam-walk task and a video observation protocol. Abundance of several neurometabolites was evaluated 24 h post-final injury in the ipsilateral and contralateral hippocampus using in vivo proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS), and mitochondrial bioenergetics were evaluated 30 h post-final injury, or at 24 h in place of 1H-MRS, in the rostral half of the ipsilateral hippocampus. Lipidomic evaluations were conducted in the ipsilateral hippocampus and cortex.ResultsWe found that behavioral deficits in the beam task persisted 1- and 4 h after the final injury in rats that received repetitive mTBIs, and this was paralleled by an increase and decrease in hippocampal glutamine and glucose, respectively, whereas a single mTBI had no effect on sensorimotor and metabolic measurements. No group differences were observed in lipid levels and mitochondrial bioenergetics in the hippocampus, although some lipids were altered in the cortex after repeated mTBI.DiscussionThe decrease in performance in sensorimotor tests and the presence of more neurometabolic and lipidomic abnormalities, after repeated but not singular mTBI, indicates that multiple concussions in short succession can have cumulative effects. Further preclinical research efforts are required to understand the underlying mechanisms that drive these alterations to establish biomarkers and inform treatment strategies to improve patient outcomes.
Mitigating transverse mode instability in fiber laser oscillator by employing direct pump modulation
Authors: Chai Junyu , Liu Wenguang , Wang Xiaolin , Zhou Qiong , Zhang Jiangbin , Liu Pengfei , Zhang Hanwei , Lu Yao , Zhang Dan , Jiang Zongfu , Zhao Guomin 
Published: June 2023

The transverse mode instability (TMI) is a thermal-optical effect, inducing a sudden deterioration of beam quality and average power. This non-linear effect will greatly limit the power scaling of fiber lasers. We demonstrate a direct pump modulation to mitigate TMI in a 30 μm-core-diameter all-fiber laser oscillator. It only relies on function generator and pump drivers without the need of feedback control units. The groups of pump LDs and pump drivers and the phase difference between the channels of function generator have a great impact on the beam stability. Compared with the TMI threshold 180 W in continuous wave (CW) mode, the maximum average output power of a stabilized beam is increased up to 310 W via a multi-parameter-based direct pump modulation.
Effects of acute cervical stretching on arterial wall elastic properties
Authors: Ikebe Harumi , Oi Naoya , Makino Akitoshi , Kume Daisuke , Ishido Minenori , Nakamura Tomohiro , Nishiwaki Masato 
Published: June 2023

Purpose: Acute (immediate) or regular (mid- or long-term) stretching increases arterial compliance and reduces arterial stiffness. Stretching is widely known to induce arterial functional factor changes, but it is unclear whether stretching alters arterial structural factors. Ultrasound shear wave elastography can quantify the distribution of tissue elastic properties as an index of arterial structural factors. This study thus aimed to examine the effects of acute cervical stretching on arterial wall tissue elastic properties.Methods: Seventeen healthy young adults participated in two different trials for 15 min in random order on separate days: a resting and sitting trial (CON) and a supervised cervical stretching trial (CS). In CS, subjects performed 10 different stretches. At each site, the stretch was held for 30 s followed by a 10-s relaxation period. In CON, subjects rested on a chair for 15 min.Results: After the experiment, carotid arterial compliance, assessed by combined ultrasound imaging and applanation tonometry, was significantly increased in CS, but not in CON. However, there was no significant change in tissue elasticity properties of the arterial wall in either trial, as assessed by ultrasound shear wave elastography.Conclusion: Acute cervical stretching significantly increased carotid artery compliance in young participants, but did not reduce elastic tissue properties (i.e., arterial structural factors) of the carotid artery wall. These results strongly suggest that changes in structural factors have little relation to stretching-induced acute increases in arterial compliance.
Diaphragmatic breathing exercises in recovery from fatigue-induced changes in spinal mobility and postural stability: a study protocol
Authors: Amiri Banafsheh , Zemková Erika 
Published: June 2023

Prolonged periods of sitting at work can increase trunk muscle fatigue from the continuous contraction of deep trunk muscles. Insufficient activity of these muscles can decrease muscular support to the spine and increases stress on its passive structures. This can lead to reduced spinal mobility and impaired postural stability. It may also stimulate nociceptor activity leading to pain. However, frequently used recovery modalities such as muscle strengthening and stretching exercises, can be time-consuming, impractical, and difficult to implement in the workplace. Diaphragmatic breathing exercises, which increase the activity of the deep trunk muscles by raising intra-abdominal pressure, seem to be a suitable alternative. However, little is known as to what extent diaphragmatic breathing exercises contribute to the reduction of fatigue induced by prolonged sitting. This paper presents a study protocol that aims to investigate the acute effect of diaphragmatic breathing exercises on recovery of fatigue-induced changes in spinal mobility and postural stability in sedentary middle-aged adults at risk of developing non-specific low back pain. Twenty sedentary adults aged between 25 and 44 years will perform Abt’s fatigue protocol, followed by 1) active recovery using diaphragmatic breathing exercises and 2) passive recovery in the form of lying on the bed, respectively. There will be 1 week of rest in-between. Pre-fatigue, post-fatigue, and after the active and passive recovery, spinal mobility and postural stability will be evaluated using the spinal mouse device and a posturography system, respectively. The electromyography will be used to determine the muscle-fatigue conditions. We hypothesize that active recovery in a form of diaphragmatic breathing exercises would be more effective in restoring spinal mobility and postural stability followed by the fatigue of back and hamstring muscles compared to passive recovery in sedentary adults. Increasing core and respiratory muscle strength via these exercises could be beneficial for overall mobility and stability of the spine. Reducing compressive stress on the passive structures of the spine may be also beneficial for lowering low back pain. Therefore, we believe that diaphragmatic breathing exercises have the possibility to be incorporated into the workplace and contribute to better back health in sedentary middle-aged adults.Clinical Trial Registration: [https://www.irct.ir/trial/67015], identifier [IRCT20221126056606N1].
Assessing executive functions in free-roaming 2- to 3-year-olds
Authors: Schröer Lisanne , Cooper Richard P. , Mareschal Denis 
Published: June 2023

IntroductionCore aspects of executive functions (EFs) are known to be related to academic skills such as literacy and numeracy. However, school outcomes may also be related to higher-level functions such as planning. Nevertheless, few studies have considered assessing natural manifestations of higher-level EFs in children who are on the cusp of entering formal schooling. One reason for this is the difficulty of obtaining ecologically valid measures of EFs in preschool-aged children.MethodWe describe a novel task - building a striped Duplo tower subject to two constraints - designed to assess planning in real-world multi-action situation. Children were instructed to build a tower to a certain height by alternating between two different colors of blocks.ResultsPerformance on one of the constraints in this task was found to vary with age. Importantly, distinct components of multiple constraints planning performance predicted laboratory-based measures of inhibitory control and working memory efficacy.DiscussionThus, this task provides a simple, cheap and effective way of assessing executive function in toddlers through the observation of natural behavior. It also opens up possibilities to investigate the neurodevelopment of EF in the real world.
General and violent recidivism of former forensic psychiatric patients in Finland
Authors: Ojansuu Ilkka , Latvala Antti , Kautiainen Hannu , Forsman Jonas , Tiihonen Jari , Lähteenvuo Markku 
Published: June 2023

BackgroundForensic psychiatric care in Finland is provided to individuals who have committed a crime due to a serious mental disorder and are in need of psychiatric care. The reconviction (recidivism) rates for this patient group vary in time and between countries, likely due to different treatment practices and requirements for forensic care.Materials and methodsWe set out to study criminal recidivism in a national cohort of all patients released from forensic psychiatric care in Finland between 1999 and 2018. National registries were used to identify the patients and gain information on their criminal sentences. Forensic psychiatric examinations were used to record demographic information for the cohort. The cohort was followed up from hospital discharge to the end of 2019.ResultsWe identified a total of 501 patients who were released from forensic psychiatric care (mean age: 46.6 years [SD 13.4), 434 (86.6%) were male). The mean and median times spent in treatment for the cohort was 10.0 years [SD 6.5] and 8.7 years, respectively. 91% of the patients had schizophrenia spectrum disorder (F2*), and 63.5% had a substance use disorder. A total of 83 patients (16.6%) committed any crime after being released from care, and the mean time to recidivism was 3.8 years. The recidivism rate was 2015 per 100,000 person years. A total of 48 patients (9.6%) committed a violent crime. The mean time to violent recidivism was 4.2 years. The violent recidivism rate was 1,083 per 100,000 person years. A longer duration of treatment was associated with a decreased risk of general recidivism (HR 0.95, 95% CI 0.90 to 1.00, p = 0.05). Factors associated with higher recidivism were male sex, having a comorbid substance use disorder and younger age at discharge.ConclusionThe recidivism rate in Finland was markedly lower than has been previously reported for other Western countries, and the mean duration of treatment was also longer. A longer treatment time may reduce the risk of criminal recidivism in forensic psychiatric patients. The results suggest, as previous studies have found, that more effort is indicated on the treatment of substance abuse.
Main barriers to services linked to voluntary pregnancy termination on three grounds in Chile
Authors: Montero Adela , Ramirez-Pereira Mirliana , Robledo Paz , Casas Lidia , Vivaldi Lieta , González Daniela 
Published: June 2023

IntroductionAfter decades of absolute criminalization, on September 14, 2017, Chile decriminalized voluntary termination of pregnancy (VTP) when there is a life risk to the pregnant woman, lethal incompatibility of the embryo or fetus of genetic or chromosomal nature, and pregnancy due to rape. The implementation of the law reveals multiple barriers hindering access to the services provided by the law.ObjectivesTo identify and analyze, using the Tanahashi Model, the main barriers to the implementation of law 21,030 in public health institutions. This article contributes to the follow-up of this public policy, making visible the obstacles that violate women's rights of women to have dignified access to abortion and that affect the quality of health care in Chile.Material and methodQualitative design, following the postpositivist paradigm. The sample consisted of relevant actors directly related to pregnancy termination. Snowball sampling and semi-structured interviews were used. Grounded theory was used through inductive coding, originating categories regrouped into meta-categories following Tanahashi's model. The rigor criteria of transferability, dependability, credibility, authenticity, and epistemological theoretical adequacy were used. The identity of the participants and the confidentiality of the information were protected.ResultsFrom January 2021 to October 2022, 62 interviews were conducted with 20 members of the psychosocial support team; 18 managers; 17 members of the biomedical health team; 4 participants from of civil society, and three women users. The main obstacles correspond to availability barriers, accessibility barriers, acceptability barriers, contact barriers, and effectiveness barriers.ConclusionsBarriers to access abortion under three grounds violate the exercise of women's sexual and reproductive rights. It is urgent to carry out actions of control and follow-up of this public policy to the corresponding entities.
Safety profile of chlorhexidine and povidone-iodine in rectal mucosa cleansing during prostate biopsy
Authors: Pedraza Adriana M. , Álvarez Villarraga Jeffer David , Zapata Copete María Alejandra , Patel Dhruti , García-Perdomo Herney Andrés 
Published: June 2023

ObjectiveTo evaluate the use of rectal mucosal cleansings before transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy with a transrectal approach, comparing the safety profile of chlorhexidine and povidone-iodine.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective analysis of our prospectively maintained database between August 2019 to September 2020 in a high-volume hospital in Cali, Colombia. 428 consecutive patients who underwent TRUS-PB with a transrectal approach were included in this study. 117 patients received povidone-iodine and 311 patients received chlorhexidine for rectal mucosa cleansings. After the procedure, we conducted telephone follow-ups at 48 hours, 7 days, and 30 days. The complications were registered in our database. Analysis was performed using STATA 15.ResultsThere was a statistically significant increased risk of hematuria, urinary retention, and rectal bleeding in those patients exposed to Chlorhexidine (p &lt;0.001, &lt;0.001, and 0.01 respectively). We did not find any differences in sepsis (p 0.18) or urinary tract infection (p 0.77) rates between the groups. Rectal antisepsis with chlorhexidine significantly increased the risk of non-infectious complications.ConclusionsIn terms of infectious complications, there were no differences between the use of povidone-iodine and chlorhexidine for rectal mucosal cleansing prior to TRUS-PB. Povidone iodine appeared to be a safer option, as it is associated with fewer risks of hematuria, rectal bleeding, and urine retention.