bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Closing the abdomen: update on the current surgical toolkit
Authors: Amin Irum , Canovai Emilio 
Published: February 2022

Purpose of review
Achieving abdominal wall closure after intestinal transplantation (ITx) is one of the crucial surgical challenges. This problem is present in 25–50% of all transplants due to reduction in abdominal domain, fistulae and extensive adhesions due to previous surgeries. Failure to achieve closure is an independent risk factor for mortality and graft loss. The aim of this paper is to summarize the current options to achieve this.

Recent findings
Successful closure of the abdomen requires a tension-free repair. Primary closure of the fascia can be reinforced with synthetic or biological mesh. For more complex fascial defects bridging mesh, nonvascularised or vascularised rectus fascia can be utilised. If all components of the abdominal wall are affected, then a full-thickness abdominal wall transplantation may be necessary.

Summary
A variety of successful techniques have been described by different groups to enable abdominal wall closure after ITx. Emerging developments in preoperative imaging, reconstructive surgery and immunology have expanded the surgical toolkit available. Crucial is a tailor-made approach whereby patients with expected closure issues are identified prior to surgery and the simplest technique is chosen.
Are We Working Harder for Less Pay? A Survey of Medicare Reimbursement for Hand and Upper Extremity Surgery
Authors: Nayar Suresh K. , Wollstein Adi , Sullivan Brian T. , Kreulen R. Timothy , Sabharwal Samir , Tuffaha Sami H. , LaPorte Dawn M. , Chen Neal C. , Eberlin Kyle R. 
Published: February 2022

Background:
Ongoing concern for declining Medicare payment to surgeons may incentivize surgeons to perform more cases to maintain productivity goals. The authors evaluated trends in physician payment, patient charges, and reimbursement ratios for the most common hand and upper extremity surgical procedures.

Methods:
The authors examined Medicare surgeon payment, patient charges, and surgical volume from 2012 to 2017 for 83 common surgical procedures, incorporating the year-to-year Consumer Price Index to adjust for inflation. The reimbursement ratio was calculated by dividing payment by charge. Weighted (by surgery type and volume) averages were calculated.

Results:
Total Medicare surgeon payment increased 5.6 percent to $272 million for the studied procedures. Patient charges were seven times greater than payment, growing 24 percent to $1.9 billion. Despite growth of total payment, the average overall weighted payment for a single surgery decreased 3.5 percent. The average weighted patient charge increased 8 percent, whereas the reimbursement ratio decreased 13 percent. A hand surgeon would need to perform three more cases per 100 in 2017 to maintain the same reimbursement received in 2012. After categorizing these 83 surgical procedures, distal radius fixation (>3 parts, 21 percent increase; >2-part intra-articular, extra-articular, and percutaneous pinning, 17 percent increase), bony trauma proximal to the distal radius (10 percent increase), and upper extremity flap (5 percent increase) were subject to the greatest increases in payment. Payment for forearm fasciotomy (39 percent decrease), endoscopic carpal tunnel release (30 percent decrease), and mass excisions proximal to the wrist (18 percent decrease) decreased the most.

Conclusions:
From 2012 to 2017, despite a disproportionate increase in procedure charges, Medicare surgeon payment has not decreased substantially; however, total reimbursement is multifactorial and involves multiple sources of revenue and cost.
Hepatitis B surface antigen and hepatitis B RNA changes in HIV/hepatitis B virus co-infected participants receiving hepatitis B virus-active antiretroviral therapy
Authors: Hawkins Claudia , Kang Minhee , Bhattacharya Debika , Cloherty Gavin , Kuhns Mary , Matining Roy , Thio Chloe , Samaneka Wadzanai , Chinula Lameck , Mulinda Nyirenda , Badal-Faesen Sharlaa , Sugandhavesa Patcharaphan , Lama Javier , Gaseitsiwe Simani , Holzmayer Vera , Anderson Mark , Murphy Robert , Peters Marion 
Published: February 2022

Introduction:
With advances in hepatitis B virus (HBV) therapies, there is a need to identify serum biomarkers that assess the HBV covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) reservoir and predict functional cure in HIV/HBV co-infection.

Methods:
In this retrospective study, combining samples from HIV/HBV co-infected participants enrolled in two ACTG interventional trials, proportions achieving HBsAg less than 0.05 log10 IU/ml and HBV RNA less than log10 1.65 U/ml or not detected (LLoQ/NEG) in response to DUAL [tenofovir TDF+emtricitabine (FTC)] vs. MONO [FTC or lamivudine (3TC)] HBV-active ART, were measured. Predictors of qHBsAg less than 0.05 log10 IU/ml were evaluated in logistic regression models.

Results:
There were 88 participants [58% women, median age 34; 47 on DUAL vs. 41 on MONO HBV-active ART]. Twenty-one percent achieved HBsAg less than 0.05 log10 IU/ml (30% DUAL vs. 10% MONO). Time to HBsAg less than 0.05 log10 IU/ml was lower (P
= 0.02) and the odds of achieving HBsAg less than 0.05 log10 IU/ml were higher (P = 0.07) in DUAL participants. HBV RNA became less than LLoQ/NEG in 47% (DUAL 60% vs. MONO 33%). qHBsAg less than 3 log10 IU/ml was the strongest predictor of HBsAg less than 0.05 log10 IU/ml.

Conclusion:
This study supports current recommendations of TDF-based DUAL-HBV active ART for initial use in HIV/HBV co-infection. HBV RNA could be a useful marker of treatment response in HIV/HBV co-infected patients on HBV-active ART.
Patient-Reported Bowel, Urinary, and Sexual Outcomes After Laparoscopic-Assisted Resection or Open Resection for Rectal Cancer
Authors: Mercieca-Bebber Rebecca , Eggins Renee , Brown Kilian , Gebski Val J. , Brewer Kate , Lai Lenna , Bailey Lisa , Solomon Michael J. , Lumley John W. , Hewett Peter , Clouston Andrew D. , Wilson Kate , Hague Wendy , Hayes Julian , White Stephen , Morgan Matt , Simes R. John , Stevenson Andrew R. L. 
Published: February 2022

Objective:
The aim of this study was to compare patient-reported urinary, bowel, and sexual functioning of ALaCaRT Trial participants randomized to open or laparoscopic surgery for rectal cancer.

Summary Background Data:
The primary endpoint, noninferiority of laparoscopic surgical resection adequacy, was not established.

Methods:
Participants completed QLQ-CR29 at baseline, 3, and 12 months post-surgery. Additionally, women completed Rosen’s Female Sexual Functioning Index (FSFI). Men completed the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) and QLQ-PR25. We compared the proportions of participants in each group who experienced moderate/severe symptoms/dysfunction at each time-point and compared mean difference scores from baseline to 12 months between groups. All analyses were intention-to-treat. Sexual functioning analyses included only the participants who expressed sexual interest at baseline.

Results:
Baseline PRO compliance of 475 randomized participants was 88%. At 12 months, a lower proportion of open surgery participants experienced moderate–severe fecal incontinence and sore skin, compared to Laparoscopic participants, and a lower proportion of men randomized to open surgery experienced moderate–severe urinary symptoms. There were no differences at 3 months for bowel or urinary symptoms. Sexual functioning among sexually interested participants was similar between groups at 3 and 12 months; however, a lower proportion of women reported moderate to severe sexual dissatisfaction at 3 months in the open as compared to the laparoscopic group, (Rebecca.mercieca@sydney.edu.au., 95% CI 0.03–0.39).

Discussion:
Despite the slightly lower proportions of open surgery participants self-reporting moderate-severe symptoms for 3 of 16 urinary/bowel domains, and lack of differences in sexual domains, it remains difficult to recommend one surgical approach over another for rectal resection.
COVID-19 onset reduced the sex ratio at birth in South Africa
Authors: Masukume Gwinyai , Ryan Margaret , Masukume Rumbidzai , Zammit Dorota , Grech Victor , Mapanga Witness 
Published: February 2022

AbstractBackgroundThe sex ratio at birth [defined as male/(male+female) live births] is anticipated to approximate 0.510 with a slight male excess. Following sudden unexpected stressful events, this ratio has been observed to decrease transiently around 3-5 months following such events. We hypothesised that stress engendered by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic may have caused such a decrease in South Africa 3-5 months after March 2020 since in this month, South Africa reported its first COVID-19 case, death and nationwide lockdown restrictions were instituted.MethodsWe used publicly available recorded monthly live birth data from Statistics South Africa. The most recent month for which data was available publicly was December 2020. We analysed live births for a 100-month period from September 2012 to December 2020, taking seasonality into account. Chi-squared tests were applied.ResultsOver this 100-month period, there were 8,151,364 live births. The lowest recorded monthly sex ratio at birth of 0.499 was in June 2020, 3 months after March 2020. This June was the only month during this period where the sex ratio inverted i.e., fewer male live births occurred. The predicted June 2020 ratio was 0.504. The observed June 2020 decrease was statistically significant p = 0.045.ConclusionsThe sex ratio at birth decreased and inverted in South Africa in June 2020, for the first time, during the most recent 100-month period. This decline occurred 3 months after the March 2020 onset of COVID-19 in South Africa. As June 2020 is within the critical window when population stressors are known to impact the sex ratio at birth, these findings suggest that the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic engendered population stress with notable effects on pregnancy and public health in South Africa. These findings have implications for future pandemic preparedness and social policy.
SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern Alpha and Delta show increased viral load in saliva
Authors: King Kylie L. , Wilson Stevin , Napolitano Justin M. , Sell Keegan J. , Rennert Lior , Parkinson Christopher L. , Dean Delphine 
Published: February 2022

AbstractBackgroundHigher viral loads in SARS-CoV-2 infections may be linked to more rapid spread of emerging variants of concern (VOC). Rapid detection and isolation of cases with highest viral loads, even in pre- or asymptomatic individuals, is essential for the mitigation of community outbreaks.Methods and FindingsIn this study, we analyze Ct values from 1297 SARS-CoV-2 positive patient saliva samples collected at the Clemson University testing lab in upstate South Carolina. Samples were identified as positive using RT-qPCR, and clade information was determined via whole genome sequencing at nearby commercial labs. We also obtained patient-reported information on symptoms and exposures at the time of testing. The lowest Ct values were observed among those infected with Delta (median: 22.61, IQR: 16.72-28.51), followed by Alpha (23.93, 18.36-28.49), Gamma (24.74, 18.84-30.64), and the more historic clade 20G (25.21, 20.50-29.916). There was a statistically significant difference in Ct value between Delta and all other clades (all p.adj<0.01), as well as between Alpha and 20G (p.adj<0.05). Additionally, pre- or asymptomatic patients (n=1093) showed the same statistical differences between Delta and all other clades (all p.adj<0.01); however, symptomatic patients (n=167) did not show any significant differences between clades. Our weekly testing strategy ensures that cases are caught earlier in the infection cycle, often before symptoms are present, reducing this sample size in our population.ConclusionsCOVID-19 variants Alpha and Delta have substantially higher viral loads in saliva compared to more historic clades. This trend is especially observed in individuals who are pre- or asymptomatic, which provides evidence supporting higher transmissibility and more rapid spread of emerging variants. Understanding the viral load of variants spreading within a community can inform public policy and clinical decision making.
SARS-CoV-2 IgG seroprevalence in blood donors located in three different federal states, Germany, July 2020 to June 2021 – a follow-up
Authors: Fischer Bastian , Vollmer Tanja , Knabbe Cornelius 
Published: February 2022

AbstractSeroprevalence studies can contribute to better assess the actual incidence of infection. Since long-term data for Germany are lacking, we determined seroprevalence of IgG-antibodies against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in 3,759 regular blood donors in three German federal states between July 2020 and June 2021. The IgG seroprevalence was 5.48% (95% confidence interval (CI): 4.77–6.25) overall, ranging from 5.15% (95% CI: 3.73–6.89) in Lower Saxony to 5.62% (95% CI: 4.57–6.84) in North Rhine Westphalia.
Distinct upper airway epithelium interferon-stimulated and profibrotic gene expression between adult and infant rhesus macaques infected with SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Langel Stephanie N. , Garrido Carolina , Phan Caroline , Travieso Tatianna , DeMarco Todd , Ma Zhong-Min , Reader Rachel , Olstad Katherine J. , Sammak Rebecca L. , Lakshmanappa Yashavanth Shaan , Roh Jamin W. , Watanabe Jennifer , Usachenko Jodie , Immareddy Ramya , Pollard Rachel , Iyer Smita S. , Permar Sallie , Miller Lisa A. , Van Rompay Koen K.A. , Blasi Maria 
Published: February 2022

AbstractThe global spread of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and its associated coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has led to a pandemic of unprecedented scale. An intriguing feature of the infection is the minimal disease in most children, a demographic at higher risk for respiratory viral diseases. To elucidate age-dependent effects of SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis, we inoculated two rhesus macaque monkey dam-infant pairs with SARS-CoV-2 and conducted virological and transcriptomic analysis of the respiratory tract and evaluated systemic cytokine and antibody responses. Viral RNA levels in all sampled mucosal secretions were comparable across dam-infant pairs in the respiratory tract. Despite comparable viral loads, adult macaques showed higher IL-6 in serum while CXCL10 was induced in all animals. Both groups mounted neutralizing antibody (nAb) responses, with infants showing a more rapid induction at day 7. Transcriptome analysis of tracheal tissue isolated at day 14 post-infection revealed significant upregulation of multiple interferon-stimulated genes in infants compared to adults. In contrast, a profibrotic transcriptomic signature with genes associated with cilia structure and function, extracellular matrix (ECM) composition and metabolism, coagulation, angiogenesis, and hypoxia was induced in adults compared to infants. Our observations suggest age-dependent differential airway responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection that could explain the distinction in pathogenesis between infants and adults.
Probing protein ubiquitination in live cells
Authors: Qin Weihua , Steinek Clemens , Kolobynina Ksenia , Cristina Cardoso M. , Leonhardt Heinrich 
Published: February 2022

ABSTRACTThe reversible attachment of ubiquitin governs the interaction, activity and degradation of proteins whereby the type and target of this conjugation determine the biological response. The investigation of this complex and multi-faceted protein ubiquitination mostly relies on painstaking biochemical analyses. Here, we employ recombinant binding domains to probe the ubiquitination of proteins in living cells. We immobilize GFP-fused proteins of interest at a distinct cellular structure and detect their ubiquitination state with red fluorescent ubiquitin binders. With this ubiquitin fluorescent three-hybrid (ubiF3H) assay we identified HP1β as a novel ubiquitination target of UHRF1. The use of linkage specific ubiquitin binding domains enabled the discrimination of K48 and K63 linked protein ubiquitination. To enhance signal-to-noise ratio, we implemented fluorescence complementation (ubiF3Hc) with split YFP. Using in addition a cell cycle marker we could show that HP1β is mostly ubiquitinated by UHRF1 during S phase and deubiquitinated by the protease USP7. With this complementation assay we could also directly detect the ubiquitination of the tumor suppressor p53 and monitor its inhibition by the anti-cancer drug Nutlin-3. Altogether, we demonstrate the utility of the ubiF3H assay to probe the ubiquitination of specific proteins and to screen for ligases, proteases and small molecules controlling this posttranslational modification.
Genome assembly of the numbat (Myrmecobius fasciatus), the only termitivorous marsupial
Authors: Peel Emma , Silver Luke , Brandies Parice , Hayakawa Takashi , Belov Katherine , Hogg Carolyn J 
Published: February 2022

AbstractThe numbat (Myrmecobius fasciatus) is a critically endangered Australian marsupial, and the last surviving member of the Myrmecobiidae family. The numbat regularly undergoes torpor and is unique amongst marsupials as it is the only diurnal and termitivorous species. Here we sequenced the first draft genome of the numbat using 10× Genomics chromium linked-read technology, resulting in a 3.42 Gbp genome with a scaffold N50 of 223 Kbp. A global transcriptome from liver, lung and tongue was also generated to aid genome annotation with Fgenesh++, identifying 21,465 protein-coding genes and 78.7% complete mammalian BUSCOs. To investigate adaptation to the numbat’s termitivorous diet and arid/semi-arid range, we interrogated the most highly expressed transcripts within the tongue and manually annotated taste, vomeronasal and aquaporin gene families. Antimicrobial proteins and proteins involved in digestion were highly expressed in the tongue, as expected. Similarly, umami taste receptors were also expressed in the tongue, however sweet taste receptors were not expressed in this tissue. This pattern of taste receptor expression, combined with the putative contraction of the bitter taste receptor gene repertoire in the numbat genome, may indicate a potential evolutionary adaptation to their specialized termitivorous diet. Vomeronasal and aquaporin gene repertoires were similar to other marsupials and have not undergone expansion or contraction. The draft numbat genome is a valuable tool for conservation and can be applied to population genetics/genomics studies and to investigate the unique biology of this interesting species.
SMN promotes mitochondrial metabolic maturation during myogenesis by regulating the MYOD-miRNA axis
Authors: Ikenaka Akihiro , Kitagawa Yohko , Yoshida Michiko , Lin Chuang-Yu , Niwa Akira , Nakahata Tatsutoshi , Saito Megumu K. 
Published: February 2022

AbstractSpinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a congenital neuromuscular disease caused by the mutation or deletion of survival motor neuron 1 (SMN1) gene. Although the primary cause of progressive muscle atrophy in SMA has classically been considered the degeneration of motor neurons, recent studies have indicated a skeletal muscle-specific pathological phenotype such as impaired mitochondrial function and enhanced cell death. Here we found that the downregulation of SMN causes mitochondrial dysfunction and subsequent cell death in in vitro models of skeletal myogenesis with both a murine C2C12 cell line and human induced pluripotent stem cells. During myogenesis, SMN binds to the genome upstream of the transcriptional start sites of MYOD1 and microRNA (miR)-1 and -206. Accordingly, the loss of SMN downregulates these miRs, whereas supplementation of the miRs recovers the mitochondrial function, cell survival and myotube formation of SMN-deficient C2C12, indicating the SMN-miR axis is essential for myogenic metabolic maturation. Additionally, introduction of the miRs into ex vivo muscle stem cells derived from Δ7-SMA mice caused myotube formation and muscle contraction. In conclusion, our data revealed novel transcriptional roles of SMN during myogenesis, providing an alternative muscle-oriented therapeutic strategy for SMA patients.HighlightsReduced SMN causes mitochondrial dysregulation in myogenic cells.Reduced SMN downregulates miR-1 and miR-206 expression in myogenic cells.SMN protein binds to the genome upstream of MYOD1, miR-1 and miR-206.miR-1 and miR-206 are sufficient to improve skeletal muscle function in an SMA model.
Evaluation of international guidance for the community treatment of complex emotional needs: A systematic review
Authors: Zhan Yuen Nicholas Wong , Barnett Phoebe , Rains Luke Sheridan , Johnson Sonia , Billings Jo 
Published: February 2022

AbstractBackgroundGuidelines for the treatment and management of “personality disorder” were introduced to provide guidance on best practice from evidence and views of key stakeholders. However, this guidance varies as there is yet to be an overall, internationally recognised consensus on the best mental health care for people with complex emotional needs (CEN - our preferred working term for the needs of people using services for or related to “personality disorder”).AimsWe aimed to identify and synthesise recommendations made by different mental health organisations from across the world on community treatment for people with CEN.MethodsThis systematic review consisted of three stages: 1. systematic literature and guideline search, 2. quality appraisal, and 3. data synthesis. We combined a search strategy involving both systematic searching of bibliographic databases and supplementary search methods of grey literature. Key informants were also contacted to further identify relevant guidelines. Codebook thematic analysis was then conducted. The quality of all included guidelines was assessed and considered alongside results.ResultsAfter synthesising 29 guidelines from 11 countries and 1 international organisation, we identified four main domains, with a total of 27 themes. Important key principles on which there was consensus included continuity of care, equity of access, accessibility of services, availability of specialist care, taking a whole systems approach, trauma informed approaches, and collaborative care planning and decision making.ConclusionsExisting international guidelines shared consensus on a set of principles for the community treatment of CEN. However, half of the guidelines were of lower methodological quality, with many recommendations not backed by evidence.
Anarginase 2promoter transgenic illuminates anti-inflammatory signalling in zebrafish
Authors: Hammond Ffion R. , Lewis Amy , Anderson Holly E. , Williams Lewis G. , Meijer Annemarie H. , Wiegertjes Geert F. , Elks Philip M. 
Published: February 2022

AbstractThe innate immune response to inflammatory stimuli must be finely balanced to produce an appropriate pro-inflammatory response while allowing a subsequent return to homeostasis. In recent years,in vivotransgenic zebrafish models have shed light on the temporal regulation of the pro-inflammatory innate response to immune challenges. However, until now, there have been no zebrafish transgenic models of anti-inflammatory signalling. We compared existing expression data of arginase genes in zebrafish neutrophils and macrophages, strong candidates for an anti-inflammatory marker, and identified thatarginase 2is the most highly expressed Arginase in zebrafish immune cells. We developed anarginase 2(arg2) bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) transgenic line,TgBAC(arg2:eGFP)sh571, driving GFP expression under the control of thearg2promoter. We show that, under resting conditions,arg2:GFPis expressed in ionocytes, matching thein situhybridisation pattern. Upon immune challenge by injury, bacterial and fungal insults,arg2:GFPis predominantly expressed in neutrophils at early timepoints post-insult. Later in infections,arg2:GFPis expressed in cells associated with foci of infection (including neutrophils and macrophages), alongside liver expression. Our data indicate thatarginase 2is predominantly expressed in neutrophils after immune challenge and suggest that anti-inflammatory signals coincide with pro-inflammatory signals during early wound and infection responses.