bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Autoantibodies and Levels of Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Persons Living near a Hazardous Waste Treatment Facility
Authors: Schoenroth Leeanne , Chan Siu , Fritzler Marvin 
Published: January 2023

Background Increased autoantibody prevalence has been described in instances of high-dose exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). In 1996, an equipment malfunction at the Swan Hills Treatment Centre in Alberta, Canada, caused the release of gases containing PCBs into the ambient air. In view of the immune effects of PCBs and their potential as endocrine disruptors, we assessed autoantibody prevalence and looked for correlations with PCB levels. Methods Fifty-seven persons living within a 100 km radius of the waste treatment facility were assessed. Autoantibodies were measured by indirect immunofluorescence, double immunodiffusion, and immunoblotting. The levels of 26 congeners of PCBs were measured by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. Provincial health records for physician visits and hospitalizations were reviewed for diagnoses of autoimmune disease. Results The prevalence of autoantibodies was 11% in the study participants and 0% in healthy controls. There was no correlation of PCB levels with autoantibody results. There was no associated increase in autoimmune disease noted on physician visits or hospitalizations. PCB levels were comparable to background levels reported for other populations. Conclusion A correlation of titers of autoantibodies in the sera of individuals at risk and the blood levels of PCBs was not found, and the prevalence of autoantibodies in the at-risk group was not statistically different ( p > .05) from that of an unexposed control group. The study group had higher titers of autoantibodies and some strong reactivity with intracellular antigens, but the significance of this observation may be understood only after long-term clinical assessments and follow-up.
Effects of Atorvastatin and Simvastatin on Low-Density Lipoprotein Subtraction Profile, Low-Density Lipoprotein Oxidizability, and Antibodies to Oxidized Low-Density Lipoprotein in Relation to Carotid Intima Media Thickness in Familial Hypercholesterolemia
Authors: van Tits Lambertus J. H. , Smilde Tineke J. , van Wissen Sanne , de Graaf Jacqueline , Kastelein John J. P. , Stalenhoef Anton F. H. 
Published: January 2023

Background Little is known about the effects of statins on the quality of circulating low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in relation to atherosclerosis progression. Methods In a double-blind, randomized trial of 325 patients with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), we assessed the effects of high-dose atorvastatin (80 mg) and conventional-dose simvastatin (40 mg) on LDL subtraction profile ( n = 289), LDL oxidizability ( n = 121), and circulating autoantibodies to oxidized LDL ( n = 220). Progression of atherosclerosis was measured by carotid intima media thickness (IMT) ( n = 325). Results At baseline, the patients showed an intermediate LDL subtraction profile composed of three LDL subtractions (LDL1, LDL2, LDL3), with LDL2 as the predominant subtraction. A strong negative correlation was found between plasma triglycerides and the LDL subtraction profile ( r = - .64, p = .000). Both plasma levels of triglycerides and small dense LDL3 correlated weakly with baseline IMT ( r = .11, p = .04 and r = .15, p = .01, respectively; n = 289). No association was found between baseline IMT and oxidation parameters or circulating antibodies to oxidized LDL. Atorvastatin reduced triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, and all LDL subtractions to a greater extent than did simvastatin and led to regression of carotid IMT. However, LDL subtraction pattern and plasma levels of autoantibodies to oxidized LDL remained unchanged in both treatment groups, and LDL oxidizability increased minimally to a similar extent in both groups. Significant treatment differences were found for the rate of in vitro oxidation of LDL and the amount of dienes formed during in vitro oxidation of LDL, which both decreased more following atorvastatin than after simvastatin. Conclusion Change of IMT after statin treatment was associated with baseline IMT ( r = .41), LDL cholesterol ( r = -.20), and the amount of dienes formed during in vitro oxidation of LDL ( r = .28) but not with plasma levels of antibodies to oxidized LDL, in vitro LDL oxidizability, and LDL subtraction profile.
Simvastatin Induces Death of Multiple Myeloma Cell Lines
Authors: Gronich Naomi , Drucker Liat , Shapiro Hava , Radnay Judith , Yarkoni Shai , Lishner Michael 
Published: January 2023

Background Accumulating reports indicate that statins widely prescribed for hypercholesteromia have antineoplastic activity. We hypothesized that because statins inhibit farnesylation of Ras that is often mutated in multiple myeloma (MM), as well as the production of interleukin (IL)-6, a key cytokine in MM, they may have antiproliferative and/or proapoptotic effects in this malignancy. Methods U266, RPMI 8226, and ARH77 were treated with simvastatin (0–30 μM) for 5 days. The following aspects were evaluated: viability (IC50), cell cycle, cell death, cytoplasmic calcium ion levels, supernatant IL-6 levels, and tyrosine kinase activity. Results Exposure of all cell lines to simvastatin resulted in reduced viability with IC50s of 4.5 μM for ARH77, 8 μM for RPMI 8226, and 13 μM for U266. The decreased viability is attributed to cell-cycle arrest (U266, G1; RPMI 8226, G2M) and cell death. ARH77 underwent apoptosis, whereas U266 and RPMI 8226 displayed a more necrotic form of death. Cytoplasmic calcium levels decreased significantly in all treated cell lines. IL-6 secretion from U266 cells was abrogated on treatment with simvastatin, whereas total tyrosine phosphorylation was unaffected. Conclusions: Simvastatin displays significant antimyeloma activity in vitro. Further research is warranted for elucidation of the modulated molecular pathways and clinical relevance.
Effects of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning on Neutrophil Responses in Patients Treated with Hyperbaric Oxygen
Authors: Schnittger Vendela , Rosendahl Kerstin , Lind Folke , Palmblad Jan 
Published: January 2023

Background Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning can cause tissue injury. Neutrophil granulocytes have been proposed to contribute to the injury, which may be ameliorated by hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2) treatment. We sought to assess the relationship between acute CO poisoning and blood neutrophil count, plasma cytokine, and Cortisol responses, as well as the mechanism behind the observed beneficiary effects of HBO2 treatment. Methods Eight patients (age 26–82 years) with severe acute CO poisoning were enrolled, concomitant with eight healthy controls (age 27–42 years), in a prospective, controlled, clinical study. The patients were given three HBO2 treatments (2.8 atmospheres absolute, 100 minutes) within the first 24 hours. The controls were given identical simultaneous HBO2 treatments. Venous blood samples were taken before and after each treatment. Results At the start of the HBO2 treatment, patients displayed significantly higher blood neutrophil counts ( p < .0001) and plasma Cortisol levels (p = .020) than controls, but the two groups had similar values for interleukin-8, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), neutrophil H2O2 generation, and CD16 and CD18 surface expression. During the observation time, neutrophil H2O2 accumulation declined in patients and in controls ( p = .031), whereas the up-regulation of CD18 expression increased ( p = .002) in both groups. Moreover, G-CSF levels became significantly higher in patients than in controls ( p = .015). G-CSF levels also correlated significantly with neutrophil counts. Conclusion CO poisoning was associated with discrete changes of blood neutrophil counts, Cortisol, and G-CSF plasma concentrations. HBO2 treatment modulated neutrophil generation of H2O2 and surface expression of CD18. These changes may be part of the cascade of events leading to the sequelae of CO poisoning and their attenuation by HBO2.
Journal Impact Factors Do Not Equitably Reflect Academic Staff Performance in Different Medical Subspecialties
Authors: Epstein Richard J. 
Published: January 2023

Background The simplest variables to quantify on an academic curriculum vitae are the impact factors (IFs) of journals in which articles have been published. As a result, these measures are increasingly used as part of academic staff assessment. The present study tests the hypotheses that IFs exhibit patterns that are consistent between journals of different specialties and that these IFs reflect the quality of staff academic performance. Methods The IFs of a sample of journals from each of four medical specialties—medicine, oncology, genetics, and public and occupational health—were downloaded from the Science Citation Index and compared. Overall and specialty-specific journal IF frequencies were analyzed with respect to distribution patterns, averages, and skew. Results Approximately 91% of journal IFs fell within the 0 to 5 range, with 97% being less than 10. The overall IF distribution featured a positive skew and a mean of 2.5. Separate analysis of the journal specialty subsets revealed significant differences in IF means (genetics 3.4 > oncology 3.1 > medicine 2.0 > public health 1.6; p < .006), all of which well exceeded the respective IF medians. Journals from the general medicine category exhibited both the lowest IF median (0.7) and the most positively skewed distribution. Conclusion The distribution of IFs exhibits degrees of skew, numeric average, and spread that differ significantly between journal specialty subsets. This suggests that factors other than random variations underlie much of the IF variation between specialty journals and reduces the plausibility of a reliable correlation between IFs and the quality of academic staff performance. It is concluded that a dominant emphasis on IFs in academic recruitment and promotion may select for long-term faculty characteristics other than academic quality alone.
Spontaneous resolution of parafoveal macular hole post YAG hyaloidotomy in a case of Valsalva retinopathy
Authors: Gaur Sandhya , Singh Deependra V , Sharma Ajay 
Published: January 2023

Purpose To report a rare case of spontaneous resolution of parafoveal macular hole post YAG hyaloidotomy in case of Valsalva retinopathy. Methods Case Report. Results A 29-year-old female presenting with sudden diminution of vision in her left eye (LE) for two months following a bout of vomiting was diagnosed with pre-macular haemorrhage. Patient was planned for YAG hyaloidotomy on the same day followed by propped up positioning. On follow up haemorrhage was seen to be cleared around macula with corresponding improvement of visual acuity. Patient was found to have developed a parafoveal hole post procedure which spontaneously healed without any intervention. Visual acuity was subsequently improved with resolution of macular hole as seen on fundus imaging and Optical coherence tomography (OCT). Conclusion Pre-macular haemorrhage is quite common phenomenon in Valsalva retinopathy cases and YAG hyaloidotomy is an established surgical modality for management of the same in literature with good clinical outcomes. However, formation of macular hole is not very common but described in literature post procedure. It is a rare phenomenon to have spontaneous resolution of macular hole. Hence, observation can be an option for managing such cases.
Home-like care: Collaboration between parents and nurses in everyday situations when children are hospitalized
Authors: Sundal Hildegunn 
Published: January 2023

When children are hospitalized, parents and nurses need to collaborate. This study aims to investigate how parents and nurses experience collaborating and sharing responsibilities and tasks when providing home-like care for hospitalized children in everyday situations. This qualitative study used a hermeneutic phenomenological approach with observations and interviews and was conducted in a general medical pediatric unit. Twelve parents of eleven hospitalized children between the ages of 1 and 6 years with various medical diagnoses and seventeen nurses who cared for those children participated in the study. Parents and nurses collaborated and shared responsibilities and tasks to provide home-like care for hospitalized children in everyday situations by making mealtimes seem familiar, maintaining customary sleeping patterns, adapting washing and dressing routines, and facilitating play and activity. Parents and nurses collaborated to maintain a familiar rhythm in an unfamiliar environment to enhance the children’s well-being. The nurses’ degree of involvement in the children’s everyday situations varied from little to moderate to strong, with parents assuming the main responsibilities. Nurses’ involvement in children’s everyday situations was variable, depending on the complexity of the situations.
Thoracolumbar spinal dural arteriovenous fistulae present with longer arteriovenous transit compared to cranial and cervical dural fistulae
Authors: Itsekzon-Hayosh Ze’ev , Hendriks Eef J , O’Reilly Sean T , Al Shahrani Rabab , Agid Ronit , Nicholson Patrick , Terbrugge Karel , Radovanovic Ivan , Andrade Hugo , Schaafsma Joanna D , Krings Timo 
Published: January 2023

Background Thoraco-lumbar spinal dural arteriovenous fistulae represent a rare subset of central nervous system vascular malformations. One of the unique features of spinal dural arteriovenous fistulae is their extremely low propensity to cause hemorrhage (either parenchymal or subarachnoid), with a distinct clinical presentation of myelopathy secondary to spinal venous congestion. The exact mechanism for this unique presentation is still unclear. Methods Following institutional review board approval, we retrospectively analyzed our prospectively maintained database of spinal dural arteriovenous fistulae and cranial (cr) DAVF cases presenting between 2008 and 2021. For all cases, angiograms were reviewed and arteriovenous transit times were calculated. Patient demographics, angiographic features, and clinical and radiological outcomes were assessed. Results In total, 66 patients presenting with confirmed thoracolumbar spinal dural arteriovenous fistulaes were identified and compared to patients presenting with cervical spinal dural arteriovenous fistulaes ( n  =  10), ruptured crDAVFs ( n  =  32) and unruptured crDAVFs ( n  =  20). Mean age in the target group was 66  ±  13 versus 57–62 in the other groups, p < 0.05 on one-way analysis of variance; with 80% males versus 50%–65% in other groups. Mean arteriovenous transit time in the thoracolumbar group measured 1.98 s ± 0.96 versus 0.25–0.5 s range in other groups ( p < 0.0001 on one-way analysis of variance). Conclusion Prolonged arteriovenous transit times may represent a distinct feature of thoracolumbar spinal dural arteriovenous fistulaes. This may, amongst other factors, play a role in the observed lesser likelihood of hemorrhagic complications compared to other dural arteriovenous shunts.
Pulmonary infection is associated with an increased IL-6 in acute exacerbation chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Authors: Tang Leilei , Zhang Lingdi , Mei Xuan , Yu Jiawen , Jiang Guojun 
Published: January 2023

Objective Acute Exacerbation Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (AECOPD) is associated with an acute worsening of respiratory symptoms that have effects on lung function, quality of life and health economic burden. In addition, the development of pulmonary infections is a common complication of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). In the pathophysiology of AECOPD, interleukin (IL)-6 is a pleiotropic cytokine that can be produced by inflammatory and primary lung epithelial cells in response to a variety of different stimuli. We aim to investigate the correlation between serum cytokine levels and AECOPD with pulmonary infection. Methods 37 AECOPD patients diagnosed with pulmonary infection and 33 patients diagnosed with AECOPD only were selected. All COPD patients were diagnosed according to the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) criteria. Serum samples for C-reactive protein (CRP) and cytokines were obtained from the patients immediately after admission. Serum concentrations of cytokines were measured using a fluorescent bead immunoassay on a flow cytometer. Logistic regression was used to identify risk factors for AECOPD co-infection of the lungs. Results Serum characterization of our cohort showed patients with AECOPD and pulmonary infection had higher levels of IL-6 and IL-10 compared with the AECOPD group, and IL-6 was independently associated with AECOPD with pulmonary infection. ROC curve analysis showed that IL-6 was a useful predictor of the incidence of pulmonary infection in AECOPD patients. Conclusions Our findings highlight the role of IL-6 in the pathogenesis of AECOPD with pulmonary infection.
Acceptable, useful, and ineffective? Recent retirees’ experiences of a 12-month activity tracker-based physical activity intervention
Authors: Tuominen Miika , Koski Pasi , Axelin Anna , Stenholm Sari , Leskinen Tuija 
Published: January 2023

Objective Activity trackers appear cost-effective and acceptable intervention tools for promoting physical activity among older adults, particularly in the short-term. However, long-term studies focused on participants’ experiences continue to be scarce. This study evaluated participants’ experiences of a 12-month activity tracker-driven physical activity intervention. Methods Participants’ experiences were assessed qualitatively using open-ended questionnaire items ( n = 113) and semi-structured interviews conducted after the 12-month intervention ( n = 27). Quantitative items assessed the perceived ease-of-use and usefulness of the activity tracker during the intervention. Qualitative data was analyzed using thematic analysis and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were used to examine changes in the perceived ease-of-use and usefulness over time. Results The 113 participants completing the 12-month intervention were on average 65.2 ( SD 1.0) years old and 81.4% women with 92.3% providing activity tracker data on at least 2 weeks per each intervention month. In the qualitative analysis, four main themes with 20 subthemes were identified: (a) burdens of participation, (b) affective attitudes of using the activity tracker, (c) perceived effects of using the activity tracker, and (d) no perceived behavioral effects. At 12 months, the participants found activity trackers mainly easy to use (mean 4.6, SD 0.6), reliable (mean 3.6, SD 1.2), motivating (mean 3.9, SD 1.0), and helpful in reducing sitting (mean 3.7, SD 1.0) with no changes observed during the intervention. Conclusions The participants’ experiences were highly varied suggesting that tailored intervention designs are likely to be required for effectively using activity trackers to promote long-term changes in daily activity among older adults.
Step-Wise Management of Anemia in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease in Primary Care: Qualitative Study
Authors: Delanerolle Gayathri , Forbes Anna , van Vlymen Jeremy , Gallagher Hugh , Cole Nicholas , Hassan Simon , Tahir Mohammad , Bankhead Clare , Chan Tom , Swift Pauline A. , Suckling Rebecca , Macdougall Iain C. , Joy Mark , de Lusignan Simon 
Published: January 2023

Introduction: Anemia is common in chronic kidney disease (CKD) and is associated with increased cardiovascular risk and reduced quality of life, but is often sub-optimally managed. Most patients are managed in primary care alongside other comorbidities. Interventions to improve the management of anemia in CKD in this setting are needed. Methods: We conducted a qualitative study to evaluate how an audit-based education (ABE) intervention might improve the management of anemia in CKD. We explored outcomes that would be relevant to practitioners and patients, that exposed variation of practice from National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines, and whether the intervention was feasible and acceptable. Results: Practitioners (n = 5 groups) and patients (n = 7) from 4 London general practices participated in discussions. Practitioners welcomed the evidence-based step-wise intervention. However, prescribing erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) was felt to be outside of their scope of practice. There was a gap between NICE guidance and clinical practice in primary care. Iron studies were not well understood and anemia management was often conservative or delayed. Patients were often unaware of having CKD, and were more concerned about their other comorbidities, but largely trusted their GPs to manage them appropriately. Conclusions: The first steps of the intervention were welcomed by practitioners, but they expressed concerns about independently prescribing ESAs. Renal physicians and GPs could develop shared care protocols for ESA use in primary care. There is scope to improve awareness of renal anemia, and enhance knowledge of guideline recommendations; and our intervention should be modified accordingly.
The Bone Bridge for Tibial ACL Graft Fixation: A Biomechanical Analysis of Different Tibial Fixation Methods for ACL Reconstruction
Authors: Peez Christian , Greßmann Marvin , Raschke Michael J. , Glasbrenner Johannes , Briese Thorben , Frank Andre , Herbst Elmar , Kittl Christoph 
Published: January 2023

Background: The tibial fixation site is considered the weak link in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction, and conflicting results regarding the biomechanical properties of various fixation methods have been reported. Purpose: To examine knots tied over a bone bridge and its biomechanical properties as a suitable tibial fixation method in ACL reconstruction. Study Design: Controlled laboratory study. Methods: We divided 40 fresh-frozen porcine tibiae into 4 equal groups to evaluate flexor tendon grafts set with standard tibial fixation techniques: (1) bone bridge (BB group), (2) suspension button (SB group), (3) combined interference screw and bone bridge (IFS/BB group), and (4) combined interference screw and suspension button (IFS/SB group). Each construct was subjected to cyclic loading (1500 cycles, 50-250 N, 1 Hz) with a servohydraulic materials testing machine to measure elongation; load-to-failure testing (displacement rate: 25 mm/s) was then performed. Load to failure, stiffness, and yield load were compared between constructs using 1-way analysis of variance. Results: The hybrid fixation constructs (IFS/BB and IFS/SB groups) showed significantly better biomechanical properties than the isolated extracortical fixation constructs (BB and SB groups) ( P < .05 for all). There were no differences between the isolated extracortical fixation constructs or between the hybrid fixation constructs in elongation or load to failure; however, stiffness of the IFS/BB group was significantly higher than that of the IFS/SB group (175.3 ± 16.6 vs 144.9 ± 20.1 N/mm, respectively; P < .05). Stiffness between the SB and BB groups was not significantly different. Conclusion: Hybrid fixation had superior biomechanical performance compared with isolated extracortical fixation. However, tibial graft fixation using a bone bridge either as isolated extracortical fixation or combined with an interference screw for hybrid fixation showed equivalent biomechanical properties compared with suspension button–based graft fixation. Clinical Relevance: The clinical use of a bone bridge for tibial graft fixation could reduce the cost for ACL reconstruction and lower the rate of implant-associated issues.