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1. Words for Work Evaluation Report 2011

Author

National Literacy Trust (England)

Abstract

This document analyses and evaluates the findings of the second pilot year of the National Literacy Trust's speaking and listening project, Words for Work. This year's project worked with 219 year 9 pupils across England, and engaged 91 volunteers from the business community to facilitate group work that encouraged pupils to investigate their own communication skills whilst developing communication skills for future employment. The National Literacy Trust views speaking and listening as vital components of literacy. Appended are: (1) Main findings from initial research with schools, October 2009; (2) Initial task timeline for second pilot year schools; (3) Words for Work Case study questions; (4) Evaluation collection summary; (5) Factors affecting evaluation collection and analysis; (6) Individual schools' set-up and delivery performance; (7) Observation visits reports; (8) Schools contact monitoring; (9) Functional skills assessment sheet; and (10) Word Clouds. (Contains 10 figures.)

Published
2011

2. Learning with Business: FE Staff Secondments to Business and Industry.

Author

Further Education Development Agency, London (England). and Hughes, Maria

Abstract

This report provides results of a study of placements in business and industry by 70 further education (FE) colleges and views of managers in Training and Enterprise Councils (TECs) and Education Business Partnerships (EBPs) across England and Wales. Chapter 1 reports that colleges made 848 placements; the most common purposes were upskilling and curriculum development; and more than half reported financial and administrative support from outside sources. These findings from the TEC/EBP survey are reported: placement activity was largely supported through some form of EBP/TEC structure, and the main barrier was definitional and audit constraints on use of placement funding. Chapters 2-5 contain information to assist college managers in planning and implementing useful placements in business. Chapter 2 highlights purposes and benefits; expresses colleges' rationales; and benefits to colleges, students, staff, and business. Chapter 3 lists main sources of funding, followed by examples of how colleges have used them. Chapter 4 reports placements and standards requirements and accreditation sources. Chapter 5 is a good practice guide that expands upon eight steps to plan, implement, and evaluate secondments. A reproducible check list for each step lists suggested actions in column form with other columns for notes, current profile, action needed, by whom, anticipated benefits, and target date. Appendixes include instruments, funding information, and 13 references. (YLB)

Published
1998

3. The Economic Impact of Queen's University Belfast on the Northern Ireland Economy. Higher Education in Focus

Author

Universities UK (England), Kelly, Ursula, McNicoll, Iain, and White, James

Abstract

This study provides an analysis of the economic impact of Queen's University Belfast and its students on the Northern Ireland economy. Based in the City of Belfast, the university has over 22,500 students. Its turnover of nearly £290 million makes it Northern Ireland's largest university in terms of its financial standing. With origins going back to 1845 as Queen's College, the university gained formal independent university status in 1908. It has an extensive portfolio of teaching and research across 20 schools and 11 specialist institutes covering a range of disciplines including the sciences, social sciences, computing, engineering, arts and humanities, law, medicine, pharmacy, and nursing. This report's primary aim is to assess the economic impact of the university as a business generating economic activity and contributing to Northern Ireland in terms of the jobs, output, and "Gross Value Added" (GVA) generated in a "snapshot year". The report presents key economic aspects of Queen's University Belfast (QUB) in the academic and financial year 2012-13 and its impact on Northern Ireland and on the rest of the United Kingdom. 2012-13 was the most recent year for which the relevant Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) data was available. Major economic characteristics of the university are examined, including its revenue, expenditure, and employment. The study also includes modeled analysis of the economic activity generated in other sectors of the economy through the secondary or "knock-on" effects of the expenditure of the university and its students. This analysis used a two-stage approach to the estimation of the economic impact of the university: (1) The impact of the university on the United Kingdom was modeled, using a purpose-designed economic model of the United Kingdom; and (2) A Location Quotient approach was used to estimate the share of the university's impact likely to have accrued to Northern Ireland. The model used was a "Type II" input-output model based on data derived from the United Kingdom Input-Output tables and related Office for National Statistics data. The model had been specifically designed to analyse higher education impact and was updated in 2013 to undertake a United Kingdom-wide study of higher education for Universities UK along with studies of the nine regions of England. This modeling system and analysis framework has also been used for a study of higher education in Wales as well as studies of individual institutions. Institutional income and expenditure data was sourced from HESA and student expenditure data from surveys undertaken for the United Kingdom Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS). The following are appended: (1) Methodology and Data Sources; and (2) References and Bibliography.

Published
2015

4. Big Ideas for the Future: UK Research That Will Have a Profound Effect on Our Future

Author

Universities UK (England)

Abstract

Big ideas for the future is a joint report by Universities UK and Research Councils UK, published as part of the second annual Universities Week campaign. This new report explores the excellent research taking place in UK higher education today and what it will mean for us in 20 years' time. It demonstrates the value of public investment in higher education and research and the positive impact this has on economic growth and the social wellbeing of the UK. By looking to the future, the aim is to inspire and excite the general public about what is happening in universities, and how it might change their lives in the future.

Published
2011

5. Developing Future University Structures: New Funding and Legal Models. Policy Commentary

Author

Universities UK (England) and Stanfield, Glynne

Abstract

The last decade has seen significant changes in the interaction between publicly funded higher education institutions and the private sector. This has led not only to collaborations between the public and the private sectors but also to the public higher education sector seeking to learn from and, in some instances, to replicate the private sector's business structures and operations. This policy commentary sets out the views of Eversheds LLP as to how those trends may continue to develop over the next few years. In some instances, the changes may happen quite soon, while others are more long-term and will depend upon the direction of government policy. Where the phrase "private sector" is used in this paper it covers those parts of the economy not primarily funded by the public purse. (Contains 4 diagrams.) [This paper was co-produced with Eversheds LLP.]

Published
2009

6. When Work Takes Flight: Research Results from the EMERGENCE Project. IES Report.

Author

Sussex Univ., Brighton (England). Inst. for Employment Studies. and Huws, U.

Abstract

The EMERGENCE project reviewed literature on eWork characterization, extent, and distribution and dynamics of its development in 15 European Union (EU) countries and 3 newly associated states (NAS). It identified 12 factors that influenced international diffusion of eWork. Employer survey results showed individual forms of eWork were outweighed in importance by collective forms--groups of workers at a remote office-type location linked to the employer. A model was developed to estimate eWork across the EU and forecast growth. Survey results showed the following: (1) outsourcing eWork primarily involved relocations in Europe; (2) eServices' selling points were technical expertise and low cost; and (3) trends in corporate restructuring were spatial concentration of activities to yield economies of scale, activities' expansion and decentralization to tap remote labor markets or capitalize on wage differentials, and access to knowledge through cooperation over distance. Small and medium-sized enterprises captured important segments of the remote business services market, especially software development and creative work. Distinct European paths to an information society were identified, including high-tech, highly developed social democratic; "corporatist," with more hierarchical occupation-based welfare systems; neo-liberal, using eWork to encourage external forms of flexibility; southern Europe with high use of eOutsourcing mostly within national borders; and NAS with extremely high levels of eOutsourcing, mostly outside national borders. (Appendixes include logistic models of eWork and eSupply and 128-item bibliography.) (YLB)

Published
2003

7. Higher Education Innovation Fund. Funding Proposals. Consultation. Report.

Author

Higher Education Funding Council for England, Bristol.

Abstract

This document outlines proposals for higher education institutions in England to apply for special funding for activities that will increase their capability to respond to the needs of business (including companies of all sizes and a range of bodies within the wider community) for cases in which this will lead to identifiable economic benefits. It asks interested institutions to respond about strategic priorities and funding proposals for this initiative. The new Higher Education Innovation Fund builds on previous findings and is designed to sit alongside institutions' teaching and research activities, enabling them to secure the maximum economic benefit from these activities. The fund will continue to provide a platform of core funding to help institutions enhance organizational and structural arrangements to implement their strategic aims in responding to the needs of business. It is proposed that higher education institutions will be invited to apply for these funds by May 2001. Two appendixes contain guidance notes about funding and the application guidelines. (SLD)

Published
2001

8. Perspectives in Manpower Planning. An Edinburgh Group Report.

Author

Institute of Personnel Management, London (England).

Abstract

The examination of manpower planning is an important management activity rather than as a specialist technique is the purpose of this pamphlet. "The Climate of Manpower Planning" describes the present circumstances in which manpower studies are carried out and the national economic and political forces which affect organizations. "Motivation for Manpower Studies,""Manpower Analysis," and "Manpower Utilization: The First Priority" discuss company involvement in such planning and basic information gathering systems, and emphasize the need for studies of manpower utilization. "Manpower Forecasting" and "Manpower Planning in the Organization" distinguish between manpower forecasting and manpower planning, and indicate how a forecast is turned into a plan. "Manpower and Government" discusses the role of government in national manpower investigations. "Manpower and Training" shows how national training needs and requirements can be closely linked to a manpower plan. "Manpower and Education" discusses the implications of present trends in the educational system for the future availability of manpower. (EM)

Published
1967

10. Non-Bibliographic Data-Bases: An Investigation into Their Uses within the Fields of Economics and Business Studies.

Author

Liverpool Polytechnic (England)., Wisdom, J. Claire, and Houghton, Bernard

Abstract

This state-of-the-art survey of non-bibliographic databases and their use within the fields of economics and business studies recommends that schools of librarianship and information science incorporate online teaching packages encompassing such databases in their programs. The review, conducted through on-site visits and a questionnaire, focuses on the activities of three major suppliers and identifies the environment in which their databases are used and the information needs of end users. It also discusses user interaction with the systems, training programs for system operators and users, online costs and economics, and the impact of online services. The rapidly expanding use of non-bibliographic databases, and the fact that information accessed from these databases in many cases is not available in print, underline the importance of including these sources in information studies curriculums. (RAA)

Published
1977

11. English for Specific Purposes. Information Guide 2.

Author

British Council, London (England). English-Teaching Information Centre.

Abstract

This bibliography of materials for teachers of English for specific purposes lists textbooks, technical readers, articles, resource books, reports, dictionaries, reference books, bibliographies, word frequency lists, catalogues of teaching aids, games and activities, current research in Britain, documents available in the archives of the English Teaching Information Centre of the British Council, and theses and dissertations. The textbook section is annotated and covers social sciences, physical sciences, technology (general, engineering, transport, and agriculture), medicine, and commerce (general, commercial correspondence, and hotels and catering). (JB)

Published
1976

12. Business and Academia: Partners in New England's Economic Renewal.

Author

New England Board of Higher Education, Wellesley, MA., Hoy, John C., Bernstein, Melvin H., Hoy, John C., Bernstein, Melvin H., and New England Board of Higher Education, Wellesley, MA.

Abstract

The relationship of higher education and the health of the economy is examined with emphasis on the rationale for change in some of the attitudes and policies within the New England higher education community that have prevailed during its 1945-1975 period of prosperity and growth, and prior to the 1976-1980 shift to steady state and no-growth policies. Following the preface by John C. Hoy, chapters include: "Emerging Needs of a Reindustralized Economy" (Melvin H. Bernstein); "An Economic Context for Higher Education" (John C. Hoy); "Market Influences on Higher Education: A Perspective for the 1980s" (Peter Doeringer, Patricia Flynn Pannell, and Pankaj Tandon); "The University's Contribution to Community Economic Development: Five Case Studies" (Charles J. Stokes); "Initiatives of Higher Education to Assist the Economy" (Ward S. Curran); "New England's Resilience" (Neal R. Peirce); and "Expanding Higher Education's Role in New England's Economic Development" (Robert E. McGarrah). Appendices include: "The Leadership Opinion Poll on Higher Education and Economy" (Melvin H. Bernstein and Irwin Harrison) and "Perspectives of Two Business Leaders" (Ray Stata and Russell Brace). It is concluded that higher education can and should play a major role in the economic growth and health of a region and that this in turn will create a vitality within the higher education institutions during times of decreasing enrollment and retrenchment. It is suggested that a firm working relationship be developed between higher education and both business and government. Notes for each chapter and author biographies are included. (LC)

Published
1981

13. B/TEC Opens Doors for You.

Author

Business and Technician Education Council, London (England).

Abstract

This package contains a paper summarizing the aims and services provided by the Business and Technician Education Council (B/TEC). Established to advance the quality and availability of a wide range of employment-related education to persons in the United Kingdom who are studying at or beyond the equivalent of the American associate-degree level, B/TEC is empowered to establish educational qualifications and criteria for awarding them, approve colleges or institutions, and validate particular courses. Also included in the package are seven summary sheets that provide basic information about getting a job in the following occupational areas: business, distribution, public administration, engineering, hotel and catering, construction, science, finance. Each of these information sheets contains some or all of the following: a discussion of skills needed by persons employed in the given occupation, ways in which B/TEC can help entry workers and currently employed individuals prepare for employment in the occupation, information concerning where and how to enroll in courses needed, course requirements, and sources of further information. (MN)

Published
1984

14. The Outcomes of Learning from the Social Science Foundation Course: Students' Understandings of Price Control, Power and Oligopoly.

Author

Open Univ., Walton, Bletchley, Bucks (England). Inst. of Educational Technology. and Taylor, Elizabeth

Abstract

Students' understandings of the concepts of price control, oligopoly, and power before, during, and after taking a social science foundation course (D101) at Great Britain's Open University were investigated. Students were asked 10 questions on key concepts taught in the course. Three of the questions are addressed: (1) Why doesn't the conservative government want to control prices? (2) Does it matter that only two companies (Lever Brothers and Procter and Gamble) produce almost all the soap powder sold in Britain? (3) Why are trade unions powerful? These questions gave different pictures of change in students' understanding after the course. Question 1 showed little change in students' understanding, while question 2 showed a marked trend toward a more sophisticated understanding. Question 3 showed a confusing picture of results. Only for question 2 was there any evidence that the course had improved students' level of understanding. One possible reason for the study results is that changing conceptions is difficult and takes time. In addition, the way the course material addresses a concept may have important consequences for the students' ability to understand the concept. The importance of knowing students' initial constructions within a subject area as well as the approach a student takes to learning (i.e., memorizing versus understanding the message in the instructional materials), is suggested. A bibliography and information on the research methodology of the study are appended. (SW)

Published
1981

15. College Companies and Commercial Activities.

Author

Further Education Unit, London (England).

Abstract

A feasibility study determined the number and scope of existing college companies set up by permission of the Commercial Activities in Further Education Act in Great Britain. A sample of six colleges was studied; managing directors of the six companies took part in semistructured interviews to explore some issues in greater depth. The advantages of using a company structure were in the ability of a company to raise capital and its greater financial independence from local education authorities. The companies surveyed were evenly divided between those limited by shares and those by guarantee. Company policy was determined by a board of directors. College company business could be divided into five main types: the delivery of Training Agency-funded services; design and delivery of training programs; production of goods; provision of consultancy services; and provision of a range of other services. Although all colleges identified disadvantages in setting up a company, none regretted the move. The general trend of all college companies was to encourage an expansion and extension of existing activities. As a result of the college companies, staff development had been necessary at a number of levels and a number of changes in the curriculum were accelerated. Colleges had benefited from the companies; profit earning was not a central concern. (YLB)

Published
1988

16. Careers Guide: Opportunities in the Professions, Industry and Commerce.

Author

Central Youth Employment Executive, London (England).

Abstract

This directory contains basic occupational information about 100 career opportunities in business, industry, and the professions in Great Britain. Entry-level employment qualifications, brief job descriptions, salary ranges, employment projections, and resource addresses are provided for each career. Educational and training requirements are detailed for the benefit of young people and guidance counselors. Developed by the Central Youth Employment Executive, this guide covers a wide range of careers, from banking to overseas employment. An index is included, as well as suggestions on finding career guidance materials. (AG)

Published
1972

17. The Experienced Manager, A Major Resource.

Author

British Inst. of Management, London (England). and Mant, Alistair

Abstract

Results are presented of a survey of British top executives (largely from smaller companies) as to general difficulties and specific educational or developmental needs facing experienced business managers. First, a definition of an experienced manager is elaborated, followed by familiar managerial types, conditions conducive to learning, the internal dynamics of company manpower systems, and typical forms of management development. Next comes a brief review of educational sources, including relevant government departments. Two findings are stressed: (1) most company heads who feel they have successfully dealt with motivation, mid career job improvement, obsolescence, and other management development problems had done so through organizational improvements and more appropriate management styles rather than by training; (2) most successful programs were closely job oriented and involved problem oriented project work, preferably in collaboration with outside schools and consultants. Further questions as to clientele, educational wants or needs, suitable methods and settings, and likely sources of experimentation and change are raised in the conclusion. Appendixes give additional data on managers' attitudes, perceptions, and expectations. (LY)

Published
1969

18. The Recruitment and Training of Graduates.

Author

Institute of Personnel Management, London (England)., Rogers, T. G. P., and Williams, Peter

Abstract

As a result of the 1944 Education Act in Great Britain, many more men and women have been graduating from universities and are now going into the field of industrial management. Companies who pioneered in recruiting graduates were the British progressive 'giants' and British subsidiaries of American companies. This publication is designed to be of value to management and to universities in assisting the transition of students into the world of employment. It covers the recruitment process--preparations of both student and employer, first interviews, and follow up selection processes. Then it covers training of the employee--induction, training programs, and provision for personal development. Special problems of women graduates and of graduates from business schools are covered. (EB)

Published
1970

32. DYNAMICS AND PREDICTABILITY OF EL NINO--SOUTHERN OSCILLATION: An Australian Perspective on Progress and Challenges: Many scientific challenges remain for managing the risk of future ENSO impacts in countries like Australia that are strongly affected by ENSO event diversity

Author

Santoso, Agus, Hendon, Harry, Watkins, Andrew, Power, Scott, Dommenget, Dietmar, England, Matthew H., Frankcombe, Leela, Holbrook, Neil J., Holmes, Ryan, Hope, Pandora, Lim, Eun-pa, Luo, Jing-jia, McGregor, Shayne, Neske, Sonja, Nguyen, Hanh, Pepler, Acacia, Rashid, Harun, Gupta, Alex Sen, Taschetto, Andrea S., Wang, Guomin, Abellan, Esteban, Sullivan, Arnold, Huguenin, Maurice F., Gamble, Felicity, and Delage, Francois

Subjects
Droughts -- Australia, Southern oscillation, Business, Earth sciences, University of New South Wales
Abstract

ABSTRACT El Nino and La Nina, the warm and cold phases of El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), cause significant year-to-year disruptions in global climate, including in the atmosphere, oceans, and cryosphere. [...]

Published
2019
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33. Influence of Multimorbidity on New Treatment Initiation and Achieving Target Disease Activity Thresholds in Active Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Cohort Study Using the Rheumatology Informatics System for Effectiveness Registry

Author

Ted R. Mikuls, Kaleb Michaud, Jeffrey R. Curtis, Jared Vanderbleek, Lang Chen, Huifeng Yun, and Bryant England

Subjects
medicine.medical_specialty, business.industry, Retrospective cohort study, medicine.disease, Logistic regression, Article, Rheumatology, Odds, Informatics, Rheumatoid arthritis, Internal medicine, Cohort, Medicine, business, Cohort study
Abstract

To determine whether multimorbidity is associated with treatment changes and achieving target disease activity thresholds in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA).We conducted a retrospective cohort study of adults with active RA within the Rheumatology Informatics System for Effectiveness (RISE) registry. Multimorbidity was measured using RxRisk, a medication-based index of chronic disease. We used multivariable logistic regression models to assess the associations of multimorbidity with the odds of initiating a new disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) in active RA, and among those initiating a new DMARD, the odds of achieving low disease activity or remission.We identified 15,626 patients using the Routine Assessment of Patient Index Data 3 (RAPID3) cohort and 5,733 patients using the Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI) cohort. All patients had active RA, of which 1,558 (RAPID3) and 834 (CDAI) initiated a new DMARD and had follow-up disease activity measures. Patients were middle aged, female, and predominantly White, and on average received medications from 6 to 7 RxRisk categories. Multimorbidity was not associated with new DMARD initiation in active RA. However, a greater burden of multimorbidity was associated with lower odds of achieving treatment targets (per 1-unit RxRisk: RAPID3 cohort odds ratio [OR] 0.95 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.91, 0.98]; CDAI cohort OR 0.94 [95% CI 0.90, 0.99]). Those with the highest burden of multimorbidity had the lowest odds of achieving target RA disease activity (RAPID3 cohort OR 0.54 [95% CI 0.34, 0.85]; CDAI cohort OR 0.65 [95% CI 0.37, 1.15]).These findings from a large, real-world registry illustrate the potential impact of multimorbidity on treatment response and indicate that a more holistic management approach targeting multimorbidity may be needed to optimize RA disease control in these patients.

Published
2022
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34. O'Donnell-Luria-Rodan syndrome

Author

Camille Kumps, Heather Paterson, Benoît Funalot, Marjon van Slegtenhorst, Ingrid M.B.H. van de Laar, Robin Clark, Elliott H. Sherr, Marion Gérard, Jasmine L.F. Fung, Emanuela Argilli, Megan E. Rech, Antonio Vitobello, Christian Netzer, Christian P. Schaaf, Coranne D. Aarts-Tesselaar, Angela Abicht, Lennart Lessmeier, Brian H.Y. Chung, Anne-Sophie Denommé-Pichon, Jason Carmichael, Frédéric Tran Mau-Them, Andrea Superti-Furga, Marion Aubert Mucca, Marcus Cy Chan, Nicolas Chassaing, Christine Coubes, Anne H. O’Donnell-Luria, Lynn Pais, Colleen Kennedy, Daphné Lehalle, Maries Joseph, Kathleen A. Leppig, Florian Erger, John Karl de Dios, Lance H. Rodan, Marjolaine Willems, Subhadra Ramanathan, Clara Velmans, Eleina M. England, and Clinical Genetics

Subjects
0301 basic medicine, Pediatrics, Autism Spectrum Disorder, behavioural, Autism, Medical and Health Sciences, 0302 clinical medicine, Neurodevelopmental disorder, Intellectual disability, 2.1 Biological and endogenous factors, Aetiology, Child, Exome, Genetics (clinical), Pediatric, Genetics & Heredity, Syndrome, Biological Sciences, Mental Health, Autism spectrum disorder, Cohort, medicine.symptom, medicine.medical_specialty, Genetic counseling, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD), human genetics, Article, 03 medical and health sciences, Seizures, Clinical Research, Intellectual Disability, Exome Sequencing, medicine, Genetics, Humans, business.industry, Human Genome, Macrocephaly, Neurosciences, medicine.disease, Human genetics, Megalencephaly, Brain Disorders, 030104 developmental biology, Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Congenital Structural Anomalies, mutation, business, 030217 neurology & neurosurgery, genetic counselling
Abstract

BackgroundO’Donnell-Luria-Rodan syndrome (ODLURO) is an autosomal-dominant neurodevelopmental disorder caused by pathogenic, mostly truncating variants in KMT2E. It was first described by O’Donnell-Luria et al in 2019 in a cohort of 38 patients. Clinical features encompass macrocephaly, mild intellectual disability (ID), autism spectrum disorder (ASD) susceptibility and seizure susceptibility.MethodsAffected individuals were ascertained at paediatric and genetic centres in various countries by diagnostic chromosome microarray or exome/genome sequencing. Patients were collected into a case cohort and were systematically phenotyped where possible.ResultsWe report 18 additional patients from 17 families with genetically confirmed ODLURO. We identified 15 different heterozygous likely pathogenic or pathogenic sequence variants (14 novel) and two partial microdeletions of KMT2E. We confirm and refine the phenotypic spectrum of the KMT2E-related neurodevelopmental disorder, especially concerning cognitive development, with rather mild ID and macrocephaly with subtle facial features in most patients. We observe a high prevalence of ASD in our cohort (41%), while seizures are present in only two patients. We extend the phenotypic spectrum by sleep disturbances.ConclusionOur study, bringing the total of known patients with ODLURO to more than 60 within 2 years of the first publication, suggests an unexpectedly high relative frequency of this syndrome worldwide. It seems likely that ODLURO, although just recently described, is among the more common single-gene aetiologies of neurodevelopmental delay and ASD. We present the second systematic case series of patients with ODLURO, further refining the mutational and phenotypic spectrum of this not-so-rare syndrome.

Published
2022

35. Neonatal digital chest radiography- should we be using additional copper filtration?

Author

J. Tugwell-Allsup, Andrew England, Rhys Wyn Morris, Kate Thomas, and Richard Hibbs

Subjects
Image quality, Radiography, chemistry.chemical_element, Radiation Dosage, Lower energy, law.invention, Ionizing radiation, Visual grading, law, Medicine, Humans, Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and imaging, Filtration, Full Paper, business.industry, Phantoms, Imaging, Infant, Newborn, General Medicine, Radiation Exposure, Copper, Radiographic Image Enhancement, chemistry, Anthropomorphic phantom, Radiography, Thoracic, Radiologic Health, business, Nuclear medicine
Abstract

Objectives: Copper filtration removes lower energy X-ray photons, which do not enhance image quality but would otherwise contribute to patient radiation dose. This study explores the use of additional copper filtration for neonatal mobile chest imaging. Methods: A controlled factorial-designed experiment was used to determine the effect of independent variables on image quality and radiation dose. These variables included: copper filtration (0 Cu, 0.1 Cu and 0.2 Cu), exposure factors, source-to-image distance and image receptor position (direct / tray). Image quality was evaluated using absolute visual grading analysis (VGA) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) and entrance surface dose (ESD) was derived using an ionising chamber within the central X-ray beam. Results: VGA, CNR and ESD significantly reduced (p < 0.01) when using added copper filtration. For 0.1 Cu, the percentage reduction was much greater for ESD (60%) than for VGA (14%) and CNR (20%), respectively. When compared to the optimal combinations of parameters for incubator imaging using no copper filtration, an increase in kV and mAs when using 0.1-mm Cu resulted in better image quality at the same radiation dose (direct) or, equal image quality at reduced dose (in-tray). The use of 0.1-mm Cu for neonatal chest imaging with a corresponding increase in kV and mAs is therefore recommended. Conclusion: Using additional copper filtration significantly reduces radiation dose (at increased mAs) without a detrimental effect on image quality. Advances in knowledge: This is the first study, using an anthropomorphic phantom, to explore the use of additional Cu for digital radiography neonatal chest imaging and therefore helps inform practice to standardise and optimise this imaging examination.

Published
2023

36. Estimating Catchment Populations of Global Health Radiology Outreach Using Geographic Information Systems Analysis

Author

Daniel J. Mollura, Anne-Marie Lugossy, Ryan W. England, and David C. Gage

Subjects
Male, medicine.medical_specialty, Geospatial analysis, Geographic information system, Population, Walking, Land cover, Global Health, computer.software_genre, medicine, Global health, Humans, Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and imaging, Child, education, education.field_of_study, business.industry, Radiography, Child mortality, Outreach, Geography, Child, Preschool, Geographic Information Systems, Life expectancy, Female, Radiology, business, computer
Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this study was to design, develop, and test geographic information systems (GIS) analytic methods for quantifying and characterizing catchment populations across all sites served by a radiology global health organization. Methods The analysis included populations served by 78 low-resource medical facilities in 32 countries partnered with radiology nonprofit organization, RAD-AID International. Three constraints were used to approximate patient catchment areas: (1) 1-hour driving time, (2) 1-hour walking time, and (3) 10-mile circular radius. GIS calculated populations within each constraint using publicly available geospatial input databases, including a global digital elevation model, population and land cover data, and road locations from OpenStreetMap. Demographic and health data from the World Health Organization were incorporated to provide further characteristics of covered populations. Results The total populations served by all RAD-AID sites as measured by driving time, walking time, and 10-mile radius were 189,241,193 (47.8% female), 26,190,117 (48.7% female), and 110,884,095 (48.1% female), respectively. For individual locations, median population within 1-hour driving time was 1,795,977 (range: 8,742-30,630,800), with an average life expectancy of 68.4 ± 5.8 years. Median child mortality before age 5 was 3.8% (range: 0.9%-8.3%), and median prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus infection was 3.1% (range: 0.7%-10.9%). Conclusion In this study, GIS provided a robust multisite analysis for estimating the potential global population reached by an international radiology outreach organization with targeted individual site measurements. Given heightened needs to accurately characterize global outreach populations, this GIS-based approach may be useful for analysis, outreach planning, and resource allocation among global health organizations.

Published
2022
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37. Icosapent Ethyl Reduces Ischemic Events in Patients With a History of Previous Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting: REDUCE-IT CABG

Author

Subodh Verma, Deepak L. Bhatt, Ph. Gabriel Steg, Michael Miller, Eliot A. Brinton, Terry A. Jacobson, Nitish K. Dhingra, Steven B. Ketchum, Rebecca A. Juliano, Lixia Jiao, Ralph T. Doyle, Craig Granowitz, C. Michael Gibson, Duane Pinto, Robert P. Giugliano, Matthew J. Budoff, R. Preston Mason, Jean-Claude Tardif, Christie M. Ballantyne, Fabrice M.A.C. Martens, Astrid Schut, Brian Olshansky, Mina Chung, Al Hallstrom, Lesly Pearce, Cyrus Mehta, Rajat Mukherjee, Anjan K. Chakrabarti, Eli V. Gelfand, Megan Carroll Leary, Duane S. Pinto, Yuri B. Pride, Steven Ketchum, Ramakrishna Bhavanthula, Gertrude Chester, Christina Copland, Katelyn Diffin, Ralph Doyle, Kurt Erz, Alex Giaquinto, Paula Glanton, Angela Granger, Richard H. Iroudayassamy, Rebecca Juliano, James Jin, Dimitry Klevak, Hardik Panchal, Robert Wang, Shin-Ru Wang, Gerard Abate, Peggy J. Berry, Rene Braeckman, Declan Doogan, Anne Elson, Amy HauptmannBaker, Isabel Lamela, Catherine Lubeck, Mehar Manku, Sabina Murphy, Monica Sanford, William Stirtan, Paresh Soni, Arnaud Bastien, Demetria Foster, Evangelito Gascon, Judith Johnson, Lasbert Latona, Gang Liu, Sandra Palleja, Nelly Sanjuan, Jimmy Shi, William Stager, Mukund Venkatakrishnan, Ahmed Youssef-Agha, Julie Zhu, Leela Aertker, Suresh Ankolekar, Lisa Goldberg, Natasa Rajicic, Jianfen Shu, Heng Zou, Magdy Mikhail, Gamil Dawood, N. Mathew Koshy, Sandip K. Mukherjee, Rafik Abadier, Andrea L. Lawless, William P. McGuinn, Howard Weintraub, Kathryn Rohr, Edmund Claxton, Robert J. Weiss, Terry D. Klein, Mani Nallasivan, Stephen Crowley, Marilyn King, Anthony D. Alfieri, David Fitz-Patrick, Irving Loh, Nolan J. Mayer, Rakesh Prashad, Samuel Lederman, Debra Weinstein, Harold E. Bays, Keith Chu, Alireza Maghsoudi, Paul D. Thompson, Jeff Carstens, Anna Chang, Kenneth R. Cohen, Julius Dean, Howard S. Ellison, Bernard Erickson, Enrique A. Flores, Daniel W. Gottlieb, Paul Grena, John R. Guyton, Peter H. Jones, John M. Joseph, Norman E. Lepor, Sam Lerman, Robert D. Matheney, Theodore R. Pacheco, Michael B. Russo, John Rubino, Edward S. Pereira, Albert A. Seals, Eduardo Viera, Alan D. Steljes, Jason Thompson, Shaival Kapadia, Michael McIvor, Jorge E. Salazar, Jose O. Santiago, Ralph Vicari, Martin R. Berk, William A. Kaye, Marcus McKenzie, David Podlecki, Brian D. Snyder, Stephen Nash, David M. Herrington, Wallace Johnson, Joseph R. Lee, Ronald Blonder, Alpa M. Patel, Ramon Castello, Susan Greco, Dean J. Kereiakes, Venkatesh K. Nadar, Mark Nathan, Ranganatha P. Potu, Robert Sangrigoli, Richard Smalling, Mitchell Davis, Robert Braastad, James McCriskin, Kunal Bodiwala, Joe L. Hargrove, Mark W. Graves, George Emlein, Raegan W. Durant, James W. Clower, Rohit Arora, Narendra Singh, Lisa Warsinger Martin, W Herbert Haught, Marc P. Litt, Michael D. Klein, Peter Hoagland, Michael Goldstein, Marco S. Mazzella, Daniel H. Dunker, Brian H. Kahn, Carlos S. Ince, Frank A. McGrew, Jay Lee, David Pan, Salman A. Khan, Uri Elkayam, Wasim Deeb, Anne C. Goldberg, Christopher S. Brown, Wayne N. Leimbach, Thomas S. Backer, David R. Sutton, Joel Gellman, Anu R. George, Alan S. Hoffman, Mark Kates, Kishlay Anand, Robert Bear, Brendan J. Cavanaugh, Ramon G. Reyes, Rodolfo Sotolongo, Kenneth Sabatino, Kevin Gallagher, Ehab Sorial, Chris Geohas, Kathleen E. Magness, Bernard P. Grunstra, Frederik A. Martin, William S. Knapp, Mel E. Lucas, John J. Champlin, Jason Demattia, Patrick H. Peters, Judith Kirstein, William J. Randall, Cezar S. Staniloae, Jennifer G. Robinson, Alexander Adler, Christopher Case, Andrew J. Kaplan, Gregory F. Lakin, Krishan K. Goyle, Michael J. DiGiovanna, Chester L. Fisher, Michael Lillestol, Michael Robinson, Robert G. Perry, Lawrence S. Levinson, Brian G. Everhart, Robert D. Madder, Earl F. Martin, Earl E. Martin, Imtiaz Alam, Jose Mari L. Elacion, Robina Poonawala, Taddese T. Desta, Jerome A. Robinson, Gilbert J. Martinez, Jakkidi S. Reddy, Jeffrey D. Wayne, Samuel Mujica Trenche, Westbrook I. Kaplan, Rubin H. Saavedra, Michael D. DiGregorio, Barry D. Bertolet, Neil J. Fraser, Terence T. Hart, Ronald J. Graf, David A. Jasper, Michael Dunn, Dan A. Streja, David J. Strobl, Nan Jiang, Vicki Kalen, Richard Mascolo, Mercedes B. Samson, Michael Stephens, Bret M. Bellard, Mario Juarez, Patrick J. McCarthy, John B. Checton, Michael Stillabower, Edward Goldenberg, Amin H. Karim, Naseem Jaffrani, Robert C. Touchon, Erich R. Fruehling, Clayton J. Friesen, Pradipta Chaudhuri, Frank H. Morris, Robert E. Broker, Rajesh J. Patel, Susan Hole, Randall P. Miller, Francisco G. Miranda, Sadia Dar, Shawn N. Gentry, Paul Hermany, Charles B. Treasure, Miguel E. Trevino, Raimundo Acosta, Anthony Japour, Samuel J. Durr, Thomas Wang, Om P. Ganda, Perry Krichmar, James L. Arter, Douglas Jacoby, Michael A. Schwartz, Amer Al-Karadsheh, Nelson E. Gencheff, John A. Pasquini, Richard Dunbar, Sarah Kohnstamm, Hector F. Lozano, Francine K. Welty, Thomas L. Pitts, Brian Zehnder, Salah El Hafi, Mark A. King, Arnold Ghitis, Marwan M. Bahu, Hooman Ranjbaran Jahromi, Ronald P. Caputo, Robert S. Busch, Michael D. Shapiro, Suhail Zavaro, Munib Daudjee, Shahram Jacobs, Vipul B. Shah, Frank Rubalcava, Mohsin T. Alhaddad, Henry Lui, Raj T. Rajan, Fadi E. Saba, Mahendra Pai N Gunapooti, Tshiswaka B. Kayembe, Timothy Jennings, Robert A. Strzinek, Michael H. Shanik, Pradeep K. Singh, Alastair C. Kennedy, Howard Rubenstein, Ramin Manshadi, Joanne Ladner, Lily Kakish, Ashley Kakish, Amy L. Little, Jaime Gerber, Nancy J. Hinchion, Janet Guarino, Denise Raychok, Susan Budzinski, Kathleen Kelley-Garvin, April Beckord, Jessica Schlinder, Arthur Schwartzbard, Stanley Cobos, Deborah Freeman, David Abisalih, Dervilla McCann, Kylie Guy, Jennifer Chase, Stacey Samuelson, Madeline Cassidy, Marissa Tardif, Jaime Smith, Brenna Sprout, Nanette Riedeman, Julie Goza, Lori Johnson, Chad Kraske, Sheila Hastings, Chris Dutka, Stephanie Smith, Toni McCabe, Kathleen Maloney, Paul Alfieri, Vinay Hosemane, Chanhsamone Syravanh, Cindy Pau, April Limcoiloc, Tabitha Carreira, Taryn S. Kurosawa, Razmig Krumian, Krista Preston, Ashraf Nashed, Daria Schneidman-Fernandez, Jack Patterson, John Tsakonas, Jennifer Esaki, Lynn Sprafka, Porous Patel, Brian Mitchell, Erin M. Ross, Donna Miller, Akash Prashad, Kristina M. Feyler, Natasha Juarbe, Sandra Herrera, Sarah M. Keiran, Becky Whitehead, Whitney Asher, Coury Hobbs, Abbey Elie, Jean Brooks, Amanda L. Zaleski, Brenda Foxen, Barb Lapke, Philippa Wright, Bristol Pavol, Gwen Carangi, Marla Turner, Katharine W. Sanders, Rikita S. Delamar, Virginia L. Wilson, Sarah M. Harvel, Alison M. Cartledge, Kaitlyn R. Bailey, Kathleen Mahon, Timothy Schuchard, Jen Humbert, Mark C. Hanson, Michael P. Cecil, James S. Abraham, Lorie Benedict, Claudia Slayton, Curtis S. Burnett, Rachel W. Ono-Lim, Sharon Budzinski, Shubi A. Khan, Sharon Goss, Terry Techmanski, Farida Valliani, Rimla Joseph, Edith Flores, Laurn Contreras, Ana Aguillon, Carrie-Ann Silvia, Maria Martin, Edmund K. Kerut, Leslie W. Levenson, Louis B. Glade, Brian J. Cospolich, Maureen W. Stein, Stephen P. LaGuardia, Thelma L. Sonza, Tracy M. Fife, Melissa Forschler, Jasmyne Watts, Judy Fritsch, Emese Futchko, Sarah Utech, Scott B. Baker, Miguel F. Roura, Scott A. Segel, James S. Magee, Cathy Jackson, Rebecca F. Goldfaden, Liudmila Quas, Elizabeth C. Ortiz, Michael Simpson, Robert Foster, Christopher Brian, James Trimm, Michael Bailey, Brian Snoddy, Van Reeder, Rachel Wilkinson, Harold Settle, Cynthia Massey, Angela Maiola, Michele Hall, Shelly Hall, Wanda Hall, Mark Xenakis, Janet Barrett, Giovanni Campanile, David Anthou, Susan F. Neill, Steven Karas, Enrique Polanco, Norberto Schechtman, Grace Tischner, Kay Warren, Cynthia St Cyr, Menna Kuczinski, Latrina Alexander, Maricruz Ibarra, Barry S. Horowitz, Jaime Steinsapir, Jeanette Mangual-Coughlin, Brittany Mooney, Precilia Vasquez, Kathleen Rodkey, Alexandria Biberstein, Christine Ignacio, Irina Robinson, Marcia Hibberd, Lisa B. Hoffman, Daniel J. Murak, Raghupathy Varavenkataraman, Theresa M. Ohlson Elliott, Linda A. Cunningham, Heather L. Palmerton, Sheri Poole, Jeannine Moore, Helene Wallace, Ted Chandler, Robert Riley, Farah Dawood, Amir Azeem, Michael Cammarata, Ashleigh Owen, Shivani Aggarwal, Waqas Qureshi, Mohamed Almahmoud, Abdullahi Oseni, Adam Leigh, Erin Barnes, Adam Pflum, Amer Aladin, Karen Blinson, Vickie Wayne, Lynda Doomy, Michele Wall, Valerie Bitterman, Cindi Young, Rachel Grice, Lioubov Poliakova, Jorge Davalos, David Rosenbaum, Mark Boulware, Heather Mazzola, J. Russell Strader, Russell Linsky, David Schwartz, Elizabeth Graf, Alicia Gneiting, Melissa Palmblad, Ashley Donlin, Emily Ensminger, Hillary Garcia, Dawn Robinson, Carolyn Tran, Jeffrey Jacqmein, Darlene Bartilucci, Michael Koren, Barbara Maluchnik, Melissa Parks, Jennifer Miller, Cynthia DeFosse, Albert B. Knouse, Amy Delancey, Stephanie Chin, Thomas Stephens, Mag Sohal, Juana Ingram, Swarooparani Kumar, Heather Foley, Nina Smith, Vera McKinney, Linda Schwarz, Judith Moore, Hildreth Vernon Anderson, Stefano Sdringola-Maranga, Ali Denktas, Elizabeth Turrentine, Rhonda Patterson, John Marshall, Terri Tolar, Donna Patrick, Pamela Schwartzkopf, Anthony M. Fletcher, Frances R. Harris, Sherry Clements, Tiffany Brown, William Smith, Stacey J. Baehl, Robin Fluty, Daniel VanHamersveld, Dennis Breen, Nancy Bender, Beverly Stafford, Tamika Washington, Margaret N. Pike, Mark A. Stich, Evyan Jawad, Amin Nadeem, Jill Nyland, Rhonda Hamer, Kendra Calhoun, Charlotte Mall, Samuel Cadogan, Kati Raynes, Richard Katz, Lorraine Marshall, Rashida Abbas, Jay L. Dinerman, John T. Hartley, Beth Lamb, Lisa Eskridge, Donna Raymond, Kristy Clemmer, Denise M. Fine, Paula Beardsley, Janet Werner, Bette Mahan, Courtney VanTol, Robert Herman, Christine Raiser-Vignola, Felicia McShan, Stefanie A. Neill, David R. Blick, Michael J. Liston, Denetta K. Nelson, Sandra K. Dorrell, Patricia Wyman, Ambereen Quraishi, Fernando Ferro, Frank Morris, Vicki J. Coombs, Autumn M. Mains, Austin A. Campbell, Jeanne Phelps, Cheryl A. Geary, Ellen G. Sheridan, Jean M. Downing, Arie Swatkowski, Tish Redden, Brian Dragutsky, Susan Thomas, Candace Mitchell, Diana Barker, Elanie Turcotte, Deborah Segerson, Jill Guy, Karena De La Mora, Jennifer Hong, Dennis Do, Rose Norris, Faisal Khan, Hector Montero, Stacy Kelly-White, Alan Cleland, Rosalyn Alcalde-Crawford, Melissa Morgan, Brijmohan Sarabu, Megan Minor, Shweta Kamat, Stephanie M. Estes, Nancee Harless, Alicia Disney, Jodi L. Pagano, Chad M. Alford, Noel W. Bedwell, Warren D. Hardy, Kevin DeAndrade, Jessica G. Elmore, Eric Auerbach, Anthony W. Haney, Miriam H. Brooks, Jose Torres, Lois Roper, Terry Backer, Katie Backer, John G. Evans, Ricardo A. Silva, Lorraine H. Dajani, Veronica Yousif, Tammy Ross, Sion K. Roy, Ronald Oudiz, Sajad Hamal, Ferdinand Flores, Amor Leahy, Debra Ayer, Swapna George, Chrisi Carine Stewart, Elvira Orellana, Cristina Boccalandro, Mary Rangel, Suzanne Hennings, Carl Vanselow, Teri Victor, Darlene Birdwell, Paul Haas, Anthony Sandoval, Gina Ciavarella, Caroline Saglam, Amy Bird, Keith Beck, Brian Poliquin, David Dominguez, Brittany Tenorio, Harvonya Perkins, Esther San Roman, Paris Bransford, Christy Lowrance, Marcy Broussard, Mary Ellis, Bobbi Skiles, Jessica Hamilton, Kathryn Hall, Diego Olvera, Julee A. Hartwell, Nevien Sorial, Mary Rickman, Kevin Berman, Nirav Mehta, Annie Laborin, Rodger Rothenberger, Sarah Beauvilliers, Kathy Morrell, Michael P. Schachter, Cindy L. Perkins, Elizabeth A. Gordon, Jennifer Lauer, Kim Bichsel, Kelly Oliver, Leslie J. Mellor, Candice Demattia, Jennifer Schomburg, Yenniffer Moreno, Eduardo Mansur-Garza, Lena Rippstein, Lorie Chacon, Andrea Pena, Michelle King, Susan Richardson, Annette Jessop, Nicole Tucker, Whitney Royer, Gilbert Templeton, Ann Moell, Christine Weller, Melissa J. Botts, Gretel Hollon, Elsa Homberg-Pinassi, Paula Forest, Aref Bin Abhulhak, Devona Chun-Furlong, Deborah Harrington, Emily Harlynn, Marjorie Schmitt, Constance Shelsky, Patricia Feldick, Mary Cherrico, Courtney Jagle, Nicholas Warnecke, Debra Myer, Deanna J. Ruder, Albina Underwood, Alan Rauba, George Carr, Barbara Oberhaus, Jessica Vanderfeltz, Mary Jo Stucky-Heil, Dale R. Gibson, Vonnie Fuentes, Kimberly L. Talbot, William C. Simon, Katlyn J. Grimes, Christina R. Wheeler, Cassaundra Shultz, Rhonda A. Metcalf, Jennifer L. Hill, Michelle R. Oliver, Basharat Ahmad, Fouzal Azeem, Abdul Rahim, George H. Freeman, Dawn Bloch, Heather Freeman, Jamie Brown, Sarah Rosbach, Pamela Melander, Nick Taralson, Alex Liu, Katlyn Harms, Mahfouz Michale, Jose Lopez, Maria Revoredo, Shari Edevane, Sarah Shawley, Timothy L. Jackson, Michael J. Oliver, Dina DeSalle, Patricia J. Matlock, Ionna M. Beraun, Heather Hendrix, Garrett Bromley, Ashley Niemerski, Gabby Teran, Sonia Guerrero, Murtaza Marvi, Zehra Palanpurwala, Andrea Torres, Patty Gloyd, Michelle Conger, Aziz Laurent, Olia Nayor, Catalina S. Villanueva, Munira Khambati, Tabetha J. Mumford, Melanie J. Castillo, Taddese Desta, Jerome Robinson, La Shawn Woods, Anita Bahri, Nancy Herrera, Cecilia Casaclang, Jeffrey R. Unger, Geraldine Martinez, Mia K. Moon, Stephen M. Mohaupt, Larry Sandoval, Louisito Valenzuela, Victora Ramirez, Nelly Mata, Veronica Avila, Marisol Patino, Cynthia Montano-Pereira, Omar Barnett, William M. Webster, Lorraine M. Christensen, Leighna Bofman, Melanie Livingston, Stacey Adams, Joseph Hobbs, Leesa Koskela, Mia Katz, Samuel Mujica-Trenche, Franklin Cala, Noreen T. Rana, Jennifer Scarlett, Milagros Cala Anaya, Marsha R. Jones, Kelly D. Hollis, Debbie Roth, Kristin Eads, Tina Watts, Judy Perkins, Alice Arnold, Daniel C. Ginsberg, Denise Quinn, Nicole Cureton, David B. Fittingoff, Mohammed I. Iqbal, Stephen R. White, Edith Sisneros, Michelle Ducca, David Streja, Danny Campos, Jennifer L. Boak, Farzeen Amir, Felice Anderson, James J. Kmetzo, Mary O. Bongarzone, Dawn Scott, Mary Grace De Leon, Cynthia Buda, William Graettinger, Michelle Alex, Erika Hess, James Govoni, Melissa Bartel, Travis L. Monchamp, Julie S. Roach, Sara Gibson, Amy M. Allfrey, Kristen Timpy, Kathy Bott, Karin A. Soucy, Jean Willis, Cecilia A. Valerio, Anusha Chunduri, Rebecca Coker, Nicole Vidrine, Ellen A. Thompson, Mark A. Studeny, Melissa K. Marcum, Tammy S. Monway, Douglas L. Kosmicki, Melissa J. Kelley, Corey M. Godfrey, Susan L. Krenk, Randy R. Holcomb, Deb K. Baehr, Mary K. Trauernicht, David Rowland Lowry, Betty Bondy Herts, Jeanne E Phelps, Jean-Marie Downing, Carol Gamer Dignon, Elisabeth S. Cockrill, Pravinchandra G. Chapla, Diane Fera, Margaret Chang, Patricia Fredette, Tamie Ashby, Renee Bergin, Zebediah A. Stearns, David B. Ware, Rachael M. Boudreaux, Joanna Rodriguez, Robert McKenzie, Amanda Huber, Rebecca Sommers, Heather Rowe, Stacy McLallen, Michale Haynes, Ashley Adamson, Janice Henderson, Lori McClure, Beverly A. Harris, Laura Ference, Sue Meissner-Dengler, Lisa Treasure, Doreen Nicely, Timothy L. Light, Tracey A. Osborn, Kimberly J. Mai, Pablo Vivas, Jose Rios, Dunia Rodriguez, Roger DeRaad, James Walder, Oscar Bailon, Denice Hockett, Debbie Anderson, Kelli McIntosh, Amber Odegard, Andrew Shepherd, Mary Seifert, Laurence Kelley, Rajendra Shetty, Michael Castine, David Brill, Gregory Fisher, Nicole Richmond, Kathleen Gray, Patricia Miller, Charlene Coneys, Yarixa Chanza, Monica Sumoza, Victoria M. Caudill, Kelly D. Harris, Courtney A. Manion, Melody J. Lineberger-Moore, Julie J. Wolfe, Barbara J. Rosen, Patricia DiVito, Janet L. Moffat, Christina Michaelis, Prashant Koshy, Diana Perea, Ghaith Al Yacoub, Stephanie Sadeghi, Thomas D. LeGalley, Rudolph F. Evonich, William J. Jean, Gary M. Friesen, John M. Pap, David A. Pesola, Mark D. Cowan, Kristofer M. Dosh, Dianna Larson, Adele M. Price, Jodi A. Nease, Jane E. Anderson, Lori A. Piggott, Robert Iwaoka, Kevin Sharkey, Edward McMillan, Laurie Lowder, Latisha Morgan, Kyle Davis, Tara Caldwell, Erica Breglio, Jasmine Summers, Rachel Poulimas, Muhammad Zahid, Hamid Syed, Maria Escobar, Jacob Levy, Rahma Warsi, Carol Ma, Puxiao Cen, Kimberly A. Cawthon, Delores B. Barnes, Deanna G. Allen, Margaret L. Warrington, Carol R. Stastny, Robin J. Michaels, Mohamad Saleh, John Sorin, Sunny Rathod, Urakay Juett, Steven Spencer, Aziza Keval, Jill McBride, Shane Young, Catherine Baxter, Carol Rasmussen, Shari L. Coxe, Luis Campos, Shahin Tavackoli, Diana Beckham, Darlynee Sanchez, Karanjit Basrai, Dorian Helms, Erica Clinton, Kasie Smith, Henry Cusnir, Mary Klaus Clark, Madhavagopal V. Cherukuri, Ameta Scarfaru, Stephen D. Nash, Loretta C. Grimm, Anna Grace, Kylie McElheran, Dino Subasic, Zedrick Buhay, Janet Litvinoff, Deepak Shah, Shannon Cervantes, Freda Usher, Farra Yasser, Theodore Trusevich, Ronnie L. Garcia, Jamison Wyatt, Rahul Bose, Holllilyn Miska, Traci Spivey, Amy B. Wren, Katie E. Vance, Lani L. Holman, Pam Gibbons, Elaine Eby, Sandra Shepard, Soratree Charoenthongtrakul, Brett Snodgrass, Mohammed Nazem, Shelly Keteenburg, Prathima Murthy, Frederic Prater, Ashley Rumfelt, Christina Eizensmits, Lisa Iannuzzi, Pourus R. Patel, Clellia Bergamino, Elizabeth McFeaters, Botros Rizk, Emiljia Pflaum, Danny Kalish, Rex Ambatali, Mona Ameli, Delaina Sanguinetti, Rakesh Vaidya, Martinus A.W. Broeders, Dorman Henrikus, Adrianus F.M. Kuijper, Nadea Al-Windy, Michael Magro, Karim Hamraoui, Ismail Aksoy, Guy L.J. Vermeiren, H.W.O. Roeters van Lennep, Gerard Hoedemaker, Johannes Jacobus Remmen, Kjell Bogaard, Dirk van der Heijden, Nicole MJ Knufman, Joost Frederiks, Johannes Willem Louwerenburg, Piet van Rossum, Johannes Milhous, Peter van der Meer, Arno van der Weerdt, Rob Breedveld, Mitran Keijzers, Walter Hermans, Ruud van de Wal, Peter A.G. Zwart, Marc M.J.M. van der Linden, Gerardus Zwiers, Dirk J. Boswijk, Jan Geert Tans, Jacob van Eck, Maarten V. Hessen, Barnabas J.B. Hamer, Stieneke Zoet-Nugteren, Lucien Theunissen, E.A. van Beek, Remco Nijmeijer, Pieter R. Nierop, Gerard Linssen, H.P. Swart, Timo Lenderink, Gerard L. Bartels, Frank den Hartog, Brian J. Berg van den, Wouter van Kempen, Susanne Kentgens, Gloria M. Rojas Lingan, Martinus M. Peeters, Hilligje Keterberg, Melchior Nierman, Annemieke K. den Hollander, Jacqueline Hoogendijk, Christine Voors-Pette, Vicdan Kose, Peter Viergever, Larysa Yena, Viktor Syvolap, Mykola P. Kopytsya, Olga Barna, Svitlana S. Panina, Mykhailo I. Lutai, Oxana V. Shershnyova, Iryna Luzkiv, Larysa S. Bula, Sergii Zotov, Ivan Vyjhovaniuk, Olena Lysunets, Volodymyr I. Koshlia, Nataliya Sydor, Myroslava F. Vayda, Olexiy Ushakov, Mykola Rishko, Viktor P. Shcherbak, Yevgeniya Svyshchenko, Vira Tseluyko, Andriy Yagensky, Viktoriia I. Zolotaikina, Olga Godlevska, Larysa Ivanova, Olena Koval, Olena I. Mitchenko, Galyna Y. Kardash, Yurii S. Rudyk, Mykola Stanislavchuk, Volodymyr Ivanovych Volkov, Olena G. Karlinskaya, Susanna A. Tykhonova, Nikolay Vatutin, Ganna Smirnova, Volodymyr M. Kovalenko, Viktor Lizogub, Denys Sebov, Oleksandr Dyadyk, Svetlana Andrievskaya, Mykola P. Krasko, Alexander N. Parkhomenko, Lidiya Horbach, Iryna G. Kupnovytska, Tetyana Pertseva, Oleksandr Karpenko, Dmytro Reshotko, Svitlana V. Zhurba, Leonid Rudenko, Viktoriia Yu Zharinova, Valerii B. Shatylo, Yuriy I. Karpenko, Mariya A. Orynchak, Tatiana R. Kameneva, Elena Zherlitsina, Diana N. Alpenidze, Grigoriy P. Arutyunov, Elena Baranova, Boris Bart, Dmitriy I. Belenkiy, Svetlana A. Boldueva, Elena A. Demchenko, Vera V. Eltishcheva, Alexander M. Gofman, Boris M. Goloshchekin, Ivan Gennadyevich Gordeev, Nikolay Gratsianskiy, Gadel Kamalov, Niyaz R. Khasanov, Irina M. Kholina, Zhanna D. Kobalava, Elena V. Kobeleva, Alexandra O. Konradi, Victor A. Kostenko, Andrey Dmitrievich Kuimov, Polina Y. Ermakova, Sofia K. Malyutina, Alexey V. Panov, Natalia V. Polezhaeva, Olga Reshetko, Nataliya P. Shilkina, Sergey B. Shustov, Elena A. Smolyarchuk, Raisa I. Stryuk, Elena Yurievnar Solovieva, Andrey V. Susekov, Natalia Vezikova, Svetlana N. Ivanova, Alexander A. Petrov, Vladimir O. Konstantinov, Alina S. Agafina, Victor Gurevich, Konstantin N. Zrazhevskiy, Tatiana V. Supryadkina, Nikita B. Perepech, Vadim L. Arkhipovskiy, Dmitry Yu Butko, Irina A. Zobenko, Olga V. Orlikova, Viktor Mordovin, Olga L. Barbarash, Anastasiya Lebedeva, Vladimir Nosov, Oleg V. Averkov, Elena P. Pavlikova, Yuri B. Karpov, Marina Lvovna Giorgadze, Oleg A. Khrustalev, Mikhail Arkhipov, Tatiana A. Raskina, Julia V. Shilko, Yulia Samoilova, Elena D. Kosmacheva, Sergey V. Nedogoda, Kathleen Coetzee, Lesley J. Burgess, F.C.R. Theron, Iftikhar O. Ebrahim, Gerbrand A. Haasbroek, Maria Pretorius, Julien S. Trokis, Dorothea V. Urbach, Mark J. Abelson, Adrian R. Horak, Aysha E. Badat, Ellen M. Makotoko, Hendrik Du Toit Theron, Padaruth Ramlachan, Clive H. Corbett, Ismail H. Mitha, Hendrik F.M. Nortje, Dirkie J. Jansen van Rensburg, Peter J. Sebastian, F.C.J. Bester, Louis J. van Zyl, Brian L. Rayner, Elżbieta Błach, Magda Dąbrowska, Grzegorz Kania, Agata E. Kelm-Warchol, Leszek P. Kinasz, Janusz Korecki, Mariusz Kruk, Ewa Laskowska-Derlaga, Andrzej Madej, Krzysztof Saminski, Katarzyna Wasilewska, Katarzyna Szymkowiak, Małgorzata Wojciechowska, Natalia Piorowska, Andrzej Dyczek, Rajpal K. Abhaichand, Ramesh B. Byrapaneni, Basavanagowdappa Hattur, Malipeddi Bhaskara Rao, Nitin Ghaisas, Sujit Shankar Kadam, Jugal B. Gupta, Santhosh M. Jayadev, V.A. Kothiwale, Atul Mathur, Vijay Bhaskar, Ravi K. Aluri, Udaya P. Ponangi, Mukesh K. Sarna, Sunil Sathe, Manish K. Sharma, Jilendra Pal Singh Sawhney, Chakrabhavi B. Keshavamurthy, Arun Srinivas, Hemant P. Thacker, A. Sharda, Johny Joseph, Sunil Dwivedi, Viswanathan Mohan, Rajendra K. Premchand, Jacques Bedard, Jean Bergeron, Ronald Collette, David Crowley, Richard Dumas, Sam Henein, Geoff Moran, William F. O’Mahony, Michael O’Mahony, Sammy Chan, Mark H. Sherman, Graham C. Wong, Brian D. Carlson, Milan K. Gupta, David Borts, Sean R. Peterson, Martyn Chilvers, Allan J. Kelly, Jean C. Gregoire, Simon Kouz, Josep Rodés Cabau, Minodora Andor, Mircea Cinteza, Radu Ciudin, Radu I. Cojan, Roxana O. Darabont, Dan-Lucian Dumitrascu, Carmen Fierbinteanu-Braticievici, Ana Gabriela Fruntelata, Constantin Militaru, Bogdon E. Minescu, Doina Luminita Serban, Florin Mitu, Dorel Nastase Melicovici, Ovidiu Petrascu, Octavian M. Pirvu, Cristian Podoleanu, Calin Pop, Rodica-Valentina V. Stanescu-Cioranu, Adrian Tase, Cristina Voiculet, Constantine N. Aroney, Anthony M. Dart, Timothy Davis, Karam Kostner, David N. O’Neal, Peter W. Purnell, Bhuwanendu B. Singh, David R. Sullivan, Peter Thompson, Gerald F. Watts, Adam F. Blenkhorn, John V. Amerena, Rafeeq Samie, Randall Hendriks, Joseph Proietto, Nikolai Petrovsky, Alan Whelan, David Colquhoun, Russell S. Scott, Simon C. Young, Tammy Pegg, Samuel JS Wilson, Andrew W. Hamer, Richard A. Luke, Hamish H. Hart, Gerard P. Devlin, Gerard T. Wilkins, Ian F. Ternouth, Samraj Nandra, Bruno S. Loeprich, Nicole McGrath, Stuart L. Tie, Rob J. Bos, Alexandra Wils, Tamara Jacobs, Erik A. Badings, Lillian A. Ebels-Tuinbeek, Mayke L. Scholten, Esther Bayraktar-Verver, Debby Zweers, Manoek Schiks, Carolien Kalkman, Tineke Tiemes, Jeanette Mulderij, Katarzyna Dabrowska, Wilma Wijnakker, Riny Van de Loo, Jeanne de Graauw, Giny Reijnierse, Mirjam van der Zeijst, Mariska Scholten, Henk R. Hofmeijer, Antoinette van Dijk-van der Zanden, Dineke J. van Belle, Jan Van Es, Gera Van Buchem, Wendy Zijda, Harald Verheij, Linnea Oldenhof-Janssen, Martina Bader, Marije Löwik, Sandra Stuij, Pascal Vantrimpont, Krista van Aken, Karen Hamilton, Han Blömer, Gabriela van Laerhoven, Raymond Tukkie, Maarten Janssen, Gerard Verdel, Jon Funke Küpper, Bob van Vlies, Caroline Kalkman, Joke Vooges, Marinella Vermaas, Rachel Langenberg, Niek Haenen, Frans Smeets, Arko Scheepmaker, Marcel Grosfeld, Ilvy Van Lieshout, Marleen van den Berg, Marian Wittekoek, Petra Mol, Antionette Stapel, Margaretha Sierevogel, Nancy van der Ven, Annemiek Berkelmans, Eric Viergever, Hanneke Kramer, Wilma Engelen, Karen V. Houwelingen, Thierry X. Wildbergh, Arend Mosterd, Coriet Hobé-Rap, Marjan van Doorn, Petra Bunschoten, Michel Freericks, Mireille Emans, Petra Den Boer-Penning, Els Verlek, Christine Freericks, Cornelis de Nooijer, Christina Welten, Ingrid Groenenberg, Claudia van der Horst, Esther Vonk, Geert Tjeerdsma, Gerard M. Jochemsen, Corinne van Daalen, Ingrid Y. Danse, Lucy Kuipers, Anke Pieterse, Antonius Oomen, Daan de Waard, Willem Jan Flu, Zusan Kromhout, Petra Van der Bij, Rob Feld, Brigitta Hessels-Linnemeijer, Rob Lardinois, Jan L. Posma, Zwanette R. Aukema-Wouda, Marjolijn Hendriks-van Woerden, Desiree van Wijk, Driek P. Beelen, Ingrid H. Hendriks, Jan J. Jonker, Stefanie Schipperen, Vicdan Köse, Gloria Rojas, Linda Goedhart, Hanneke van Meurs, Jacqueline Rijssemus, Lindy Swinkels-Diepenmaat, Marloes de Louw-Jansen, Dominique Bierens-Peters, Willem W. van Kempen, Marianne E. Wittekoek, Irmaina Agous, Geert Schenk, Janneke Wittekoek, Kevin Cox, Deborah F. Julia, Jan J.C. Jonker, Roel Janssen, Melchor Nierman, Hilligje Katerberg, Irene van der Haar, Willem W. Van Kempen, Taco van Mesdag, Leyda M. Alvarez Costa, Manon Schensema, Salomé Zweekhorst, Deborah Font Julia, Lauri Hanewinckel, Joyce Olsthoorn, Johan C. Berends, Arie C. van der Spek, Roy van der Berg, Rob J. Timmermann, Ingrid Boerema, Iryna Mudruk, Anna Khrystoforova, Serhii Kyselov, Yaroslava V. Hilova, Pavlo Logoida, Nataliia A. Sanina, Ilona P. Golikova, Olena O. Nemchyna, Ivan I. Isaichikov, Olga B. Potapova, Iurii V. Gura, Larysa Berestetska, Olena O. Kulianda, Oleksandr Tantsura, Oleksandr S. Kulbachuk, Volodymyr Petsentiy, Ihor Biskub, Tetyana Handych, Oleg Lagkuti, Alyna Gagarina, Taras Chendey, Oksana F. Bilonko, Olena Matova, Larysa Bezrodna, Olena Yarynkina, Tetiana Ovdiienko, Volodymyr Randchenko, Maryna Mospan, Olena Butko, Olga Romanenko, Mykhailo Pavelko, Iryna Sichkaruk, Svitlana O. Lazareva, Olena A. Kudryk, Inessa M. Koltsun, Tetiana Magdalits, Sergei Zadorozhniy, Kira Kompaniiets, Andrii Ivanov, Sergiy Romanenko, Pavlo Kaplan, Vadym Y. Romanov, Oksana P. Mykytyuk, Nataliia S. Zaitseva, Sergiy N. Pyvovar, Lyudmyla Burdeuna, Emerita Serdobinska, Tatiana I. Shevchenko, Igor I. Ivanytskyi, Olena V. Khyzhnyak, Nataliya Kalinkina, Olena Keting, Olena Sklyanna, Olga Kashanska, Anna Shevelok, Marina Khristichenko, Ievgenii Y. Titov, Danilenko O. Oleksander, Nataliia S. Polenova, Nataliia Altunina, Viktoriia Kororaieva, Stanislav Zborovskiy, Leonid Kholopov, Iurii Suliman, Lanna Lukashenko, Stanislav Shvaykin, Olexandr M. Glavatskiy, Roman O. Sychov, Roman L. Kulynych, Oleksandr A. Skarzhevskyi, Nataliia V. Dovgan, Marta Horbach, Olga Cherkasova, Iryna Tyshchenko, Liudmyla Todoriuk, Svitlana Kizim, Nataliia Brodi, Oleksandr Ivanko, Olga Garbarchuk, Liudmyla Alieksieieva, Tetiana L. Shandra, Olena Beregova, Larisa An Bodretska, Svitlana S. Naskalova, Ivanna A. Antoniuk-Shcheglova, Olena V. Bondarenko, Natalia G. Andreeva, Iryna I. Vakalyuk, Olha S. Chovganyuk, Nataliya R. Artemenko, Kiril A. Maltsev, Natalia Kalishevich, Natalia G. Kondratyeva, Svetlana A. Nikitina, Maria V. Martjanova, Anna V. Sokolova, Dmitrii O. Dragunov, Olga Kolesnik, Vera Larina, Oxana V. Tsygankova, Maria Ivanova, Illia A. Karpov, Elena M. Aronova, Ekaterina S. Vedernikova, Ekaterina I. Lubinskaya, Taras Y. Burak, Sergey I. Skichko, Farhad Rasulev, Ekaterina B. Soldatova, Alexander L. Fenin, Ilya I. Laptev, Elena E. Luchinkina, Alexandr Akatov, Natalia V. Polenova, Natalia N. Slavina, Irina N. Korovnika, Marina Yu Prochorova, Regina Shakirova, Elena N. Andreicheva, Olga A. Krasnova, Tinatin V. Lobzhanidze, Tatiana B. Dmitrova, Viktoriya V. Stakhiv, Maria I. Pechatnikova, Alexandra V. Panova, Maria Y. Tipikina, Oxana P. Rotar, Nikolay A. Bokovin, Saule K. Karabalieva, Farid Y. Tumarov, Elena V. Vasileva, Natalya Gennadevna Lozhkina, Ekaterina V. Filippova, Alisa I. Sharkaeva, Ekanerina V. Filippova Deilik, Natalia Yu Tolkacheva, Elena N. Domracheva, Andrey N. Ryabikov, Inga T. Abesadze, Marianna Z. Alugishvili, Elena P. Nikolaeva, Nadezda V. Smirnova, Valentina I. Rodionova, Polina V. Dolovstaya, Igor E. Yunonin, Sergey V. Kadin, Tatyana S. Sveklina, Anna V. Bushmanova, Elena L. Barkova, Irina S. Gomova, Yana V. Brytkova, Tatiana B. Ivanova, Marina Y. Zubareva, Inga Skopets, Lybov A. Galashevskaya, Emilia D. Butinskaya, Olga G. Gusarova, Natalia B. Kalishevich, Yana R. Pavlova, Marianna P Serebrenitskaya, Vitalina F. Grygorieva, Gulnara R. Kuchaeva, Inna A. Vasileva, Gulnara I. Ospanova, Yulia V. Vahrusheva, Irina A. Semenova, Irina E.E. Mikhailova, Olga O. Kvasova, Valeria D. Shurygina, Alexey E. Rivin, Alexey O. Savelyev, Alexey A. Savelyev, Olesya O. Milyaeva, Nadezhda N. Lapshina, Ninel A. Lantsova, Pavel V. Alexandrov, Evgeniy A. Orlikov, Alla Falkovskaya, Tatiana Ripp, Sergei Triss, Stanislav Pekarskiy, Sitkova Ekaterina, Evgeniya N. Zhuravleva, Olga Perova, Galina Kovaleva, Liubov Koroleva, Lydia Mishchenko, Boris P. Garshin, Svetlana A. Kutuzova, Lyudmila I. Provotorova, Igor P. Zadvorny, Olga V. Okhapkina, Anatoly O. Khrustalev, Tatiana Suvorova, Elena S. Shaf, Varvara A. Vershinina, Andrey A. Kozulin, Oxana A. Oleynik, Irina Y. Martynova, Natalia V. Kizhvatova, Alla S. Salasyuk, Vera V. Tsoma, Alla A. Ledyaeva, Elena V. Chumachek, S.C. Blignaut, Tersia Y. Alexander, Chano Du Plessis, Thirumani Govender, Samatha M. Du Toit, Leya Motala, Areesh Gassiep, Christina Naude (Smit), Marli Terblanche, Marlien Snoer (Kruger), Berenice Pillay, De Vries Basson, Marisa E. Theron, Bianca Fouche, Mareli E. Coetzee, Pieter Odendall, Frederik H. Van Wijk, Anna-Mari Conradie, Trudie Van der Westhuizen, Carine Tredoux, Mohamed S. Mookdam, Andie J. Van der Merwe, Karin Snyman, Gerda Smal, Yvonne De Jager, Thomas A. Mabin, Annusca King, Lindy L. Henley, Brenda M. Zwane, Jane Robinson, Marinda Karsten, Andonia M. Page, Valerie Nsabiyumva, Charmaine Krahenbuhl, Jaiprakash D. Patel, Yunus E. Motala, Ayesha Dawood, Nondumiso B. Koza, Lenore M.S. Peters, Shavashni Ramlachan, Wilhelm J. Bodenstein, Pierre Roux, Lizelle Fouche, Cecilia M. Boshoff, Haroon M. Mitha, Fathima Khan, Henry P. Cyster, Helen Cyster, E. C. Wessels, Florence J. Jacobs, Melanie A. Sebastian, Deborah A. Sebastian, Nadia Mahomed, Ignatius P. Immink, Celia Cotzee, Tanja Cronje, Madele Roscher, Maria Le Roux, Yvonne A. Trinder, Renata Wnętrzak-Michalska, Magdalena Piszczek, Andrzej Piela, Ewa Czernecka, Dorota Knychas, Alina Walczak, Izabella Gładysz, Katarzyna Filas, Ewelina Kiluk, Krzysztof Świgło, Iwona Jędrzejczyk, Kamila Łuczyńska, Katarzyna Tymendorf, Wojciech Piesiewicz, Wojciech L. Kinasz, Stefan Samborski, Ilona Bartuś, Gramzyna Latocha Korecka, Ewa Gulaj, Jolanta Sopa, Bogusław Derlaga, Marcin Baisiak, Allicia Kowalisko, Edyta Stainszewska-Marasazlek, Bartosz Szafran, Malgorzata Swiatkiewicz, Artur Racewicz, Sławomir Grycel, Jerzy Supronik, Sylwia Walendziuk, Magdalena Tarantowicz, Agata Stasiak, Anna Sidorowicz-Białynicka, Marek Dwojak, Ewa Jaźwińska-Tarnawska, Katarzyna Kupczyk, Kamila Martowska, Kamila Kulon, Katarzyna Gajda, Bivin Wilson, Krithika Velusamy, Swaidha S. Sadhiq, Bhavani Siddeshi, M. Bhanukumar, Abhishek Srivatsav, Madhan Ramesh, Sri Harsha Chalasani, Mini Johnson, Prashanth Gopu, Jeesa George, Sowmya Reddy, Swetha Tessy Thara Eleena, Damodara Rao Kodem, Haritha N. Nakkella, Padma Kumari Mandula, Anjan Kumar Vuriya, Syamala Rajana, Aruna Kale, Tiwari Rajeev, Raina Jain, Vipin Jain, Srilakshmi Mandayam Adhyapak, Lumin Sheeba, Uma C R, Ramya R, Aditya V. Kulkarni, M.S. Ganachari, Ruma Sambrekar, Mohammad Bilal, Kalyan Chakravarthy, Ravi Badhavath, Sravan Kumar, Meenakshi Simhadri, Farooque Salamuddin, Venkat Prasad, Vivek Dwivedi, Sudha Sarna, Tilak Arora, Deepak Chawla, Archana Sathe, Chaware Gayatree, Ajeet Nanda, Ram Avtar, Jyoti Sharma, Vaibhavi P S, Sasirekha D, Deepthi Kobbajji, Ramya Ningappa, Shwetha Shree, Chandrashekar K, Nandini M R, Sowjanya S, Devika I G, Yashaswini N, Sonika G, Rathna L, Priyanka R, Rupal J. Shrimanker, Lakshmi Vinutha Reddy, K. Sumathi, Babitha Devi, Bina N. Naik, Rohini Manjunath, Rajeshwari Ashok, Tony V. Kunjumon, Jesline Thomas, Shaik Samdhani, Kasthuri Selvam, Poongothai Subramani, Nandakumar Parthasarathy, Nirmal K. Bohra, Anvesh K. Gatla, Cheryl Horbatuk, Julie Sills, E B. Davey, Liz Paramonczyk, Olga Racanelli, Sandy Strybosch, Andre Belanger, Jean Palardy, Alicia Schiffrin, Sylvie Gauthier, Norman Kalyniuk, Shawn D. Whatley, Heather Lappala, Grishma Patel, Matthew Reeve, Catherine Moran, Jody Everitt, Teresa Ferrari, Christine Bouffard, Jirir Frohlich, Gordon Francis, John Mancini, Gregory Bondy, Debbie DeAngelis, Patricia Fulton, David W. Blank, Angela Lombardo, Mylène Roy, Jackie Chow, Hyman Fox, William J. Grootendorst, Angela Hutchinson, Sharon M. Chan, Christie Fitzgerald, Lynn Wilkins, Rebecca L. Raymond, Arlene Reyes, Lavoie Marc André, Denis Fortin, Hélène Ouimet, Thanh-Thao Tôn-Nu, Martine Dussureault, Marie-Hélène Blain, Madeleine Roy, Nathalie Kopajko, Chantal Fleury, Karine Maheux, Gabriela Valentina Ciobotaru, Maria C. Constantinescu, Carmen-Lucia Gherghinescu, Ana-Maria Avram, Ioan Manitiu, Aura Sinpetrean, Lucian Pop, Delia Lupu, Radu Usvat, Ana Petrisor, Nicoleta Dumitru, Camelia Moruju, Adelina Gheorghita, Magda V. Mitu, Cosmin Macarie, Ana Maria Pop, Maria-Catalina Diaconu, Iulia Grancea, Mihaela Cosma, Mihaela Crisan, Elizabeth Herron, Paul Nestel, Sally B. Kay, Kaye S. Carter, Imran Badshah, Ashley Makepeace, Jocelyn Drinkwater, Michelle England, Azette Rafei, Kylie Patterson, Alicia Jenkins, Sybil McAuley, Sue M. Kent, Joy E. Vibert, Leonie Perrett, Thomas David, Samantha L. Kaye, Monika O’Connor, Nimalie J. Perera, Nicole T. Lai, Kerry A. Kearins, Christinia Dicamillo, Heather Anderson, Louise Ferguson, Sharon D. Radtke, Charles T. Thamarappillil, Janice M. Boys, Anita K. Long, Toni Shanahan, Michael Nyguyen, Nicole Forrest, Gill Tulloch, Della Greenwell, Sarah L. Price, Aye N. Tint, Priya K. Sumithran, Tamara L. Debreceni, Lisa Walker, Mary Caruana, Kira Edwards, Maria Stathopoulos, Cilla Haywood, Dimitar Sajkov, Sharen Pringle, Anne Tabner, Kathrina Bartolay, Chamindi Abeyratne, Kylie Bragg, Patrick Mulhern, Peter Purnell, Lyn Williams, Jane Hamlyn, Aurelia Connelly, Jan Hoffman, Samantha Bailey, Jane Kerr, Zarnia Morrison, Sarah Maeder, Roberta McEwan, Prasanna Kunasekera, Patrice McGregor, Jo Young, Sharon Berry, Rick Cutfield, Michelle Choe, Catherine McNamara, Narrinder K. Shergill, Petra Crone, Miles G. Williams, Keith Dyson, Diana H. Schmid, Audrey C. Doak, Melissa Spooner, Colin Edwards, Anne Turner, Grainne M. McAnnalley, Raewyn A. Fisher, Fraser B. Hamilton, Denis H. Friedlander, Melissa R. Kirk, Jayne E. Scales, Marguerite A. McLelland, Neelam A. Dalman, Cathy E. Vickers, Carolyn Jackson, Wendy Coleman, Phillip I. Garden, and Wendy F. Arnold

Subjects
Male, medicine.medical_specialty, Rate ratio, Double-Blind Method, Ischemia, Risk Factors, Physiology (medical), Internal medicine, medicine, Clinical endpoint, Humans, Myocardial infarction, Coronary Artery Bypass, Stroke, Aged, business.industry, Unstable angina, Hazard ratio, Absolute risk reduction, Middle Aged, medicine.disease, Eicosapentaenoic Acid, Number needed to treat, Cardiology, Female, Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine, business
Abstract

Background: Despite advances in surgery and pharmacotherapy, there remains significant residual ischemic risk after coronary artery bypass grafting surgery. Methods: In REDUCE-IT (Reduction of Cardiovascular Events With Icosapent Ethyl–Intervention Trial), a multicenter, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial, statin-treated patients with controlled low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and mild to moderate hypertriglyceridemia were randomized to 4 g daily of icosapent ethyl or placebo. They experienced a 25% reduction in risk of a primary efficacy end point (composite of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, stroke, coronary revascularization, or hospitalization for unstable angina) and a 26% reduction in risk of a key secondary efficacy end point (composite of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or stroke) when compared with placebo. The current analysis reports on the subgroup of patients from the trial with a history of coronary artery bypass grafting. Results: Of the 8179 patients randomized in REDUCE-IT, a total of 1837 (22.5%) had a history of coronary artery bypass grafting, with 897 patients randomized to icosapent ethyl and 940 to placebo. Baseline characteristics were similar between treatment groups. Randomization to icosapent ethyl was associated with a significant reduction in the primary end point (hazard ratio [HR], 0.76 [95% CI, 0.63–0.92]; P =0.004), in the key secondary end point (HR, 0.69 [95% CI, 0.56–0.87]; P =0.001), and in total (first plus subsequent or recurrent) ischemic events (rate ratio, 0.64 [95% CI, 0.50–0.81]; P =0.0002) compared with placebo. This yielded an absolute risk reduction of 6.2% (95% CI, 2.3%–10.2%) in first events, with a number needed to treat of 16 (95% CI, 10–44) during a median follow-up time of 4.8 years. Safety findings were similar to the overall study: beyond an increased rate of atrial fibrillation/flutter requiring hospitalization for at least 24 hours (5.0% vs 3.1%; P =0.03) and a nonsignificant increase in bleeding, occurrences of adverse events were comparable between groups. Conclusions: In REDUCE-IT patients with a history of coronary artery bypass grafting, treatment with icosapent ethyl was associated with significant reductions in first and recurrent ischemic events. Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov ; Unique identifier: NCT01492361.

Published
2021
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38. The utility of arterial blood gas parameters and chest radiography in predicting appropriate intubations in burn patients with suspected inhalation injury—A retrospective cohort study

Author

Minesh Chotalia, Randeep Mullhi, Kaye England, Thomas Mangham, Tomasz Torlinski, Barbara Torlinska, Christine Pirrone, and Muzzammil Ali

Subjects
medicine.medical_treatment, Radiography, Critical Care and Intensive Care Medicine, law.invention, 030207 dermatology & venereal diseases, 03 medical and health sciences, 0302 clinical medicine, law, Intubation, Intratracheal, Humans, Medicine, Intubation, Retrospective Studies, Receiver operating characteristic, medicine.diagnostic_test, business.industry, 030208 emergency & critical care medicine, Retrospective cohort study, General Medicine, Intensive care unit, Intensive Care Units, Anesthesia, Inhalation injury, Emergency Medicine, Arterial blood, Surgery, Burns, business, Chest radiograph
Abstract

This study evaluates the utility of arterial blood gas (ABG) parameters and chest radiography in predicting intubation need in patients with burn injuries with suspected inhalation injury.Patients with suspected inhalation injury admitted to a single centre, Burn Intensive Care Unit, between April 4th 2016 and July 5th 2019, were included. Admission ABG parameters and chest radiograph opacification were compared with whether the patient received an appropriate intubation: defined as intubation for a duration of over 48 h. Area under the receiver operator characteristic curve was calculated (AUROC).Eighty-nine patients were included. The majority (84%; n = 75) were intubated, of which 81% (n = 61) received appropriate intubations. pH had an AUROC of 0.88 and a pH of7.30 had an 80% sensitivity and specificity for detecting appropriate intubation. P/F ratio had an AUROC of 0.81 and a P/F ratio of40 had a 70% sensitivity and specificity for appropriate intubation. Chest radiograph opacification had poor utility in this regard (AUROC = 0.69). Adding pH and P/F ratio to the ABA criteria improved their sensitivity in detecting appropriate intubations (sensitivity: ABA + pH + P/F = 0.97 vs ABA = 0.86; p = 0.013), without altering their specificity.In patients suspected inhalation injury, pH and P/F ratio were good predictors for appropriate intubations. Incorporating the parameters into the ABA criteria improved their clinical utility.

Published
2021
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39. Emotion regulation moderates between maternal adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and oxytocin response

Author

Harriet L. MacMillan, Gillian England-Mason, Leslie Atkinson, Andrea Gonzalez, and Meir Steiner

Subjects
business.industry, Emotions, Postpartum Period, Psychological intervention, Infant, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oxytocin, Moderation, Child development, Emotional Regulation, Limited access, Clinic visit, Psychiatry and Mental health, Adverse Childhood Experiences, Intervention (counseling), Humans, Medicine, Female, Child, business, Clinical psychology, medicine.drug
Abstract

Exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) is associated with oxytocin dysregulation in women, such as decreased peripheral oxytocin concentrations, but little is known about vulnerability markers for oxytocin dysregulation in mothers exposed to ACEs. Identifying vulnerability markers may help inform future targets for prevention and intervention programmes. This study provided a preliminary examination of emotion regulation as a potential moderator of the association between maternal ACEs and peripheral oxytocin levels. The current study included a sample of 38 postpartum women. Women completed questionnaires on exposure to ACEs and difficulties with emotion regulation. At a clinic visit at 9 months postpartum, women provided plasma and salivary oxytocin samples anchored around a mother-infant interaction. Associations between maternal ACEs, three dimensions of difficulties with emotion regulation, and peripheral oxytocin concentrations were examined. Linear regression analyses showed that greater difficulties engaging in goal-directed behaviour (β = - 0.50, p = 0.01) and more limited access to effective emotion regulation strategies (β = - 0.68, p

Published
2021
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40. IL-33 Depletion in COVID-19 Lungs

Author

Stanley J. Radio, Heather M. Strah, Kristina L. Bailey, Michael J. Duryee, John D. Dickinson, Ted R. Mikuls, Bryant R. England, Todd A. Wyatt, Amy Nelson, Jill A. Poole, Dawn M. Katafiasz, Daniel R. Anderson, Rohit Gaurav, Geoffrey M. Thiele, and Debra J. Romberger

Subjects
Adult, Male, Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine, 2019-20 coronavirus outbreak, Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), Myocytes, Smooth Muscle, Critical Care and Intensive Care Medicine, SARS-CoV-2, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, lung, Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive, Young Adult, IL-33, Interleukin-33, proSP-C, prosurfactant protein C, Research Letter, Humans, Vimentin, IPF, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, Medicine, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, SARS-CoV-2, business.industry, COVID-19, Endothelial Cells, Fibroblasts, Middle Aged, AEC2, type II alveolar epithelial cells, Interleukin-33, Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein C, Virology, Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, Interleukin 33, COPD, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, inflammation, Alveolar Epithelial Cells, Case-Control Studies, SARS-CoV2, IL-33, Female, Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine, business
Published
2021
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41. Renal Doppler indices and their correlation with laboratory indices of human immunodeficiency virus sero-positive adult individuals

Author

Andrew England, Mohammed Sidi, P.O. Manafa, Mohammed Kabir Saleh, Anas Ya’u, Joseph Dlama Zira, Abdu Hamisu Dambatta, Anthony Chukwuka Ugwu, and Umar Mansur

Subjects
Adult, Male, medicine.medical_specialty, Medullary pyramid, Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Renal function, medicine.disease_cause, Gastroenterology, 030218 nuclear medicine & medical imaging, RC902, Correlation, 03 medical and health sciences, chemistry.chemical_compound, 0302 clinical medicine, Internal medicine, Humans, Medicine, Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and imaging, In patient, Prospective Studies, Creatinine, Proteinuria, business.industry, HIV, Ultrasonography, Doppler, R1, Cross-Sectional Studies, chemistry, 030220 oncology & carcinogenesis, Urea, Female, medicine.symptom, Laboratories, business
Abstract

Introduction Renal Doppler resistive index (RI) and pulsatility index (PI) values are potentially more sensitive at detecting renal abnormalities when compared to standard laboratory indices in patients with HIV/AIDS. To the best of our knowledge, there are no published research articles on renal Doppler indices and their correlation with laboratory indices of HIV sero-positive adult individuals. This study aimed to assess the renal function of HIV-sero-positive adults using RI and PI, and correlating these indices against laboratory values. Methods A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted from July 2019 to April 2020. A purposive sampling method was employed and included 396 HIV sero-positive adult individuals. Sampling for the renal RI and PI was performed at the level of the inter-lober arteries, in between the medullary pyramids. An RI value above 0.70 and a PI value above 1.56 were consider abnormal. Serum creatine and urea together with evidence of proteinuria were recorded at the time of scanning. Results Forty-three (10.9%) men had an abnormal RI, 32 (8.1%) had abnormal PI, five (2.5%) had abnormal creatinine, two (1%) abnormal urea and eight (4.1%) with proteinuria. In women, 29 (7.3%) had abnormal RI, 22 (5.6%) abnormal PI, four (2%) abnormal creatinine and urea and six (3%) had proteinuria. There was a statistically significant weak positive correlation between RI and PI and serum creatinine and urea (r > 0.2, P Conclusion The proportion of patients with abnormal RI and PI was higher than the proportion of participants with abnormal serum urea, creatinine and proteinuria. Renal Doppler indices could be used be used in the early assessment of renal function in HIV sero-positive adults individuals. Implications for practice Serum creatinine and urea are routinely used to evaluate renal function in patients with HIV/AIDS. Findings from this initial study show that RI and PI could be used detecting early renal abnormalities when compared to standard laboratory values.

Published
2021
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42. Pre-hospital transdermal glyceryl trinitrate in patients with stroke mimics: data from the RIGHT-2 randomised-controlled ambulance trial

Author

Bronwyn Tunnage, Lisa J. Woodhouse, Mark Dixon, Craig Anderson, Sandeep Ankolekar, Jason Appleton, Lesley Cala, Timothy England, Kailash Krishnan, Diane Havard, Grant Mair, Keith Muir, Steve Phillips, John Potter, Christopher Price, Marc Randall, Thompson G. Robinson, Christine Roffe, Else Sandset, Niro Siriwardena, Polly Scutt, Joanna M. Wardlaw, Nikola Sprigg, Philip M. Bath, and on behalf of the RIGHT-2 Investigators

Subjects
Adult, A300 Clinical Medicine, Ambulances, Ambulance, Glyceryl trinitrate, Brain Ischemia, Nitroglycerin, Seizures, RA0421, Medicine, Humans, In patient, Paramedic, Prospective Studies, Migraine, Aged, RC86-88.9, business.industry, RC952-1245, Stroke mimics, Transdermal glyceryl trinitrate, R735, Medical emergencies. Critical care. Intensive care. First aid, RC346, R1, Hospitals, Stroke, Treatment Outcome, Special situations and conditions, Anesthesia, B780 Paramedical Nursing, Emergency Medicine, Functional stroke, business, RA, Mimic, Research Article
Abstract

Background Prehospital stroke trials will inevitably recruit patients with non-stroke conditions, so called stroke mimics. We undertook a pre-specified analysis to determine outcomes in patients with mimics in the second Rapid Intervention with Glyceryl trinitrate in Hypertensive stroke Trial (RIGHT-2). Methods RIGHT-2 was a prospective, multicentre, paramedic-delivered, ambulance-based, sham-controlled, participant-and outcome-blinded, randomised-controlled trial of transdermal glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) in adults with ultra-acute presumed stroke in the UK. Final diagnosis (intracerebral haemorrhage, ischaemic stroke, transient ischaemic attack, mimic) was determined by the hospital investigator. This pre-specified subgroup analysis assessed the safety and efficacy of transdermal GTN (5 mg daily for 4 days) versus sham patch among stroke mimic patients. The primary outcome was the 7-level modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at 90 days. Results Among 1149 participants in RIGHT-2, 297 (26%) had a final diagnosis of mimic (GTN 134, sham 163). The mimic group were younger, mean age 67 (SD: 18) vs 75 (SD: 13) years, had a longer interval from symptom onset to randomisation, median 75 [95% CI: 47,126] vs 70 [95% CI:45,108] minutes, less atrial fibrillation and a lower systolic blood pressure and Face-Arm-Speech-Time tool score than the stroke group. The three most common mimic diagnoses were seizure (17%), migraine or primary headache disorder (17%) and functional disorders (14%). At 90 days, the GTN group had a better mRS score as compared to the sham group (adjusted common odds ratio 0.54; 95% confidence intervals 0.34, 0.85; p = 0.008), a difference that persisted at 365 days. There was no difference in the proportion of patients who died in hospital, were discharged to a residential care facility, or suffered a serious adverse event. Conclusions One-quarter of patients suspected by paramedics to have an ultra-acute stroke were subsequently diagnosed with a non-stroke condition. GTN was associated with unexplained improved functional outcome observed at 90 days and one year, a finding that may represent an undetected baseline imbalance, chance, or real efficacy. GTN was not associated with harm. Trial registration This trial is registered with International Standard Randomised Controlled Trials Number ISRCTN 26986053.

Published
2022
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43. Perspectives on all-optical Kerr switching for quantum optical applications

Author

Kent Bonsma-Fisher, Philip J. Bustard, Duncan G. England, Kate L. Fenwick, Benjamin J. Sussman, Yingwen Zhang, and Frederic Bouchard

Subjects
Photon, optical fibers, Physics and Astronomy (miscellaneous), Physics::Optics, Quantum key distribution, 7. Clean energy, 01 natural sciences, 010309 optics, noise floor, Quantum state, quantum information, 0103 physical sciences, quantum optics, 010306 general physics, Quantum optics, Physics, business.industry, optical metrology, Noise floor, Qubit, quantum state, Optoelectronics, Kerr effects, Photonics, ultrafast lasers, business, Ultrashort pulse
Abstract

We offer a perspective on recent advances in picosecond-timescale all-optical switching with applications in quantum optics. The switch is based on polarization rotation in standard single-mode fiber via the optical Kerr effect. By using ultrafast laser pulses and short (∼10 cm) fibers, this technique can achieve a switching duration of ≲1 ps, at the repetition rate of 80 MHz or above. This high repetition rate is well-suited to quantum optics where experiments operate in the photon-counting regime. The switch efficiency can be ≳99% with a noise floor of just ∼10−4 photons/pulse, enabling high fidelity operations on quantum states of light, with negligible generation of spurious noise photons. We highlight the capabilities of this technique in four early applications: switching of heralded single photons, time-bin to polarization conversion of photonic qubits, noise gating for quantum key distribution, and pulse carving.

Published
2022
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44. Risk of COVID‐19 in Rheumatoid Arthritis: A National Veterans Affairs Matched Cohort Study in At‐Risk Individuals

Author

Bryant R. England, Andre C. Kalil, Brian C. Sauer, Kaleb Michaud, Ted R. Mikuls, Joshua F. Baker, Punyasha Roul, Yangyuna Yang, and Geoffrey M. Thiele

Subjects
rheumatoid arthritis, Male, medicine.medical_specialty, Full Length, Immunology, Veterans Health, Risk Assessment, Severity of Illness Index, SARS‐CoV‐2, Arthritis, Rheumatoid, Cohort Studies, 03 medical and health sciences, 0302 clinical medicine, Rheumatology, COVID‐19, Prednisone, Internal medicine, Epidemiology, Humans, Immunology and Allergy, Medicine, 030212 general & internal medicine, Veterans Affairs, Aged, Retrospective Studies, 030203 arthritis & rheumatology, business.industry, Proportional hazards model, Hazard ratio, Autoantibody, COVID-19, Middle Aged, medicine.disease, Confidence interval, Hospitalization, Rheumatoid arthritis, epidemiology, Female, business, medicine.drug
Abstract

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and its treatments are associated with an increased risk of infection, but it remains unclear whether these factors have an impact on the risk or severity of COVID-19. The present study was undertaken to assess the risk and severity of COVID-19 in a US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) cohort of patients with RA and those without RA.A matched cohort study using national VA data was conducted. Patients diagnosed as having RA were identified among nondeceased individuals who were active in the VA health care system as of January 1, 2020 and who had received care in a VA medical center in 2019; patients for whom no RA diagnostic code was indicated were matched to the RA patients (1:1) by age, sex, and VA site (non-RA controls). Patients diagnosed as having COVID-19 and those with severe COVID-19 (defined as requiring hospitalization or leading to death) were ascertained from a national VA COVID-19 surveillance database through December 10, 2020. Multivariable Cox models were used to compare the risk of COVID-19 and COVID-19 hospitalization or death between RA patients and non-RA controls, after adjusting for demographic characteristics, comorbidities, health care utilization and access, and county-level COVID-19 incidence rates.This VA cohort of RA patients and non-RA controls (n = 33,886 subjects per group) predominantly comprised male patients (84.5%), and the mean age was 67.8 years. During follow-up, 1,503 patients in the cohort were diagnosed as having COVID-19; among them, 388 patients had severe COVID-19 (hospitalization or death), while in 228 patients, the deaths were not related to COVID-19. In the multivariable model, RA was associated with a higher risk of COVID-19 (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 1.25 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.13-1.39]) and a higher risk of COVID-19 hospitalization or death (adjusted HR 1.35 [95% CI 1.10-1.66]) as compared to non-RA controls. Use of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs and prednisone, as well as self-reported Black race, self-reported Hispanic ethnicity, and presence of several chronic conditions, but not seropositivity for RA autoantibodies, were each associated with risk of COVID-19 and severe COVID-19 (hospitalization or death).Patients with RA are at higher risk of developing COVID-19 and severe COVID-19 (leading to hospitalization or death) compared to those without RA. With a risk of COVID-19 that approaches that of other recognized chronic conditions, these findings suggest that RA patients should be prioritized for COVID-19 prevention and management strategies.

Published
2021
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45. Inter-rater and test-retest reliability of computerized clinical vestibular tools

Author

Ethan T Kicker, Jennifer B. Christy, Graham D. Cochrane, Brandon K England, and Ryan P Kailey

Subjects
medicine.medical_specialty, Visual acuity, Intraclass correlation, Visual Acuity, Audiology, 03 medical and health sciences, 0302 clinical medicine, medicine, Clinical endpoint, Humans, 030223 otorhinolaryngology, Head Impulse Test, Reliability (statistics), Vestibular system, business.industry, Vision Tests, General Neuroscience, Reproducibility of Results, Sensory Systems, Test (assessment), Inter-rater reliability, Otorhinolaryngology, Graduate students, Vestibule, Labyrinth, Neurology (clinical), medicine.symptom, business, 030217 neurology & neurosurgery
Abstract

BACKGROUND: Clinical vestibular technology is rapidly evolving to improve objective assessments of vestibular function. Understanding the reliability and expected score ranges of emerging clinical vestibular tools is important to gauge how these tools should be used as clinical endpoints. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate inter-rater and test-retest reliability intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) of four vestibular tools and to determine expected ranges of scores through smallest real difference (SRD) measures. METHODS: Sixty healthy graduate students completed two 1-hour sessions, at most a week apart, consisting of two video head-impulse tests (vHIT), computerized dynamic visual acuity (cDVA) tests, and a smartphone-assisted bucket test (SA-SVV). Thirty students were tested by different testers at each session (inter-rater) and 30 by the same tester (test-retest). ICCs and SRDs were calculated for both conditions. RESULTS: Most measures fell within the moderate ICC range (0.50–0.75). ICCs were higher for cDVA in the inter-rater subgroup and higher for vHITs in the test-retest subgroup. CONCLUSIONS: Measures from the four tools evaluated were moderately reliable. There may be a tester effect on reliabilities, specifically vHITs. Further research should repeat these analyses in a patient population and explore methodological differences between vHIT systems.

Published
2021
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46. Obesity and the Risk of Incident Chronic Opioid Use in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Author

Sofia Pedro, Michael D. George, Kaleb Michaud, Andrew Stokes, Harlan Sayles, Frederick Wolfe, Joshua F. Baker, Bryant R. England, and Ted R. Mikuls

Subjects
Adult, Male, medicine.medical_specialty, Time Factors, Risk Assessment, Article, Body Mass Index, Arthritis, Rheumatoid, 03 medical and health sciences, 0302 clinical medicine, Rheumatology, Risk Factors, Internal medicine, medicine, Humans, Cumulative incidence, Longitudinal Studies, Obesity, Registries, Aged, 030203 arthritis & rheumatology, Proportional hazards model, business.industry, Hazard ratio, Middle Aged, medicine.disease, Comorbidity, United States, Confidence interval, Analgesics, Opioid, Opioid, Health Care Surveys, Attributable risk, Female, Chronic Pain, business, Body mass index, medicine.drug
Abstract

OBJECTIVE The present study was undertaken to evaluate whether the rate of incident chronic opioid use is higher in obese patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS Participants with RA in the FORWARD databank were asked about their use of weak and strong opioid medications on semiannual surveys. Incident chronic opioid use was defined as new reported use extending over 2 contiguous surveys (~7-12 months). Cox proportional hazards models were used to evaluate associations between body mass index (BMI) at enrollment and incident chronic opioid use (overall use and strong opioid use). Models adjusted for demographics, smoking, disease duration, RA treatments, household income, and education level. The predicted 5-year cumulative incidence was calculated from Cox models. RESULTS Among 19,794 participants, 2,802 experienced an incident episode of chronic opioid use over 93,254 person-years of follow-up. Higher BMI was associated with higher risk of chronic opioid use. Severe obesity (BMI >35 kg/m2 ) was associated with a higher risk of overall use (adjusted hazard ratio [HRadj ] 1.74 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.72-2.04], P < 0.0001) and strong opioid use (HRadj 2.11 [95% CI 1.64-2.71], P < 0.001) compared to normal BMI. This association was partially explained by greater comorbidity, pain, and disability in obese groups. The attributable risk for obesity was 15% of overall opioid use and 24% of strong opioid use. CONCLUSION Obesity is associated with a substantially higher risk of incident chronic opioid use. Approximately 1 in 4 cases of incident use of strong opioids may be attributable to obesity, suggesting a major public health impact. Interventions to prevent or reduce obesity could have an important impact on the use of opioids.

Published
2021
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47. Major brain malformations: corpus callosum dysgenesis, agenesis of septum pellucidum and polymicrogyria in patients with BCORL1-related disorders

Author

Marina Michelson, Emanuela Argilli, Ronen Hady-Cohen, Michal Gafner, Eleina M. England, Dorit Lev, Elliott H. Sherr, Keren Yosovich, Z. Leibovitz, Yael Michaeli-Yosef, Lubov Blumkin, Tally Lerman-Sagie, and Kendall C. Parks

Subjects
Male, Pathology, medicine.medical_specialty, Clinical Sciences, Nervous System Malformations, Corpus callosum, Article, Dysgenesis, Clinical Research, Exome Sequencing, Genetics, Polymicrogyria, Humans, 2.1 Biological and endogenous factors, Medicine, Global developmental delay, Aetiology, Child, Preschool, Genetics (clinical), Septum pellucidum, Exome sequencing, Family Health, Pediatric, Genetics & Heredity, business.industry, Human Genome, Neurosciences, Brain, Infant, Perisylvian polymicrogyria, medicine.disease, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Brain Disorders, Repressor Proteins, Child, Preschool, Agenesis, Mutation, Neurological, Septum Pellucidum, Agenesis of Corpus Callosum, business
Abstract

OBJECTIVE: BCORL1, a transcriptional co-repressor, has a role in cortical migration, neuronal differentiation, maturation, and cerebellar development. We describe BCORL1 as a new genetic cause for major brain malformations. METHODS AND RESULTS: We report three patients from two unrelated families with neonatal onset intractable epilepsy and profound global developmental delay. Brain MRI of two siblings from the first family depicted hypoplastic corpus callosum and septal agenesis (ASP) in the older brother and unilateral perisylvian polymicrogyria (PMG) in the younger one. MRI of the patient from the second family demonstrated complete agenesis of corpus callosum (CC). Whole Exome Sequencing revealed a novel hemizygous variant in NM_021946.5 (BCORL1):c.796C>T (p.Pro266Ser) in the two siblings from the first family and the NM_021946.5 (BCORL1): c.3376G>A; p.Asp1126Asn variant in the patient from the second family, both variants inherited from healthy mothers. We reviewed the patients’ charts and MRIs and compared the phenotype to the other published BCORL1-related cases. Brain malformations have not been previously described in association with the BCORL1 phenotype. We discuss the potential influence of BCORL1 on brain development. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that BCORL1 variants present with a spectrum of neurodevelopmental disorders and can lead to major brain malformations originating at different stages of fetal development. We suggest adding BCORL1 to the genetic causes of PMG, ASP, and CC dysgenesis.

Published
2021
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48. Modified Cephalic Index Measured at Superior Levels of the Cranium Revealed Improved Correction With Helmet Therapy for Patients With Sagittal Suture Craniosynostosis

Author

Dwiesha L. England, Lisa M. Abernethy, Ciera A. Price, Shane R. Wurdeman, and Phillip M. Stevens

Subjects
Male, Post hoc, Treatment duration, Craniosynostosis, Craniosynostoses, medicine, Humans, Retrospective Studies, Sutures, Cephalic index, business.industry, Infant, Repeated measures design, Cranial Sutures, General Medicine, Surgical correction, Glabella, medicine.disease, Sagittal suture, Treatment Outcome, medicine.anatomical_structure, Otorhinolaryngology, Frontal Bone, Female, Surgery, business, Nuclear medicine, Craniotomy
Abstract

OBJECTIVE Historically, studies have shown that cranial remolding therapy improves surgical correction and protects against regression for patients with sagittal suture craniosynostosis. This study aimed to define the most responsive cranial height for measuring cephalic index (CI) following cranial remolding therapy for infants with sagittal suture craniosynostosis. METHODS The authors performed a retrospective analysis of data between January 2018 and August 2019. The outcomes measured were CI-3 (level of glabella) through CI-7 (superior to eurions), where each value was defined as the width at levels 3 through 7 divided by the length at level 3. Differences between baseline- and post-treatment measurements were assessed using a 5 × 2 repeated measures analysis of variance. RESULTS Data from thirty-four patients (19 males, 15 females, and mean age 2.79 months) were analyzed. Mean treatment duration was 4.59 ± 1.86 months. There was a significant increase between baseline and posttreatment measurements (baseline: 72.60% ± 0.70%, post: 76.30% ± 0.80%; F1,33 = 27.74, P

Published
2021
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49. Fibrohistiocytic Variant of Hepatic Pseudotumor

Author

Vikram Deshpande, Kshitij S Arora, Jonathan S. England, Azfar Neyaz, Amaya Pankaj, Osman H Yilmaz, Yoh Zen, Mark Anderson, and Cristina R. Ferrone

Subjects
Adult, Male, Abdominal pain, Pathology, medicine.medical_specialty, medicine.medical_treatment, Liver Abscess, H&E stain, Granuloma, Plasma Cell, Pathology and Forensic Medicine, Metastasis, Diagnosis, Differential, Lesion, Young Adult, Predictive Value of Tests, Risk Factors, medicine, Humans, Microabscess, Aged, medicine.diagnostic_test, business.industry, Middle Aged, medicine.disease, Anti-Bacterial Agents, Treatment Outcome, Liver, Inflammatory pseudotumor, Female, Surgery, Anatomy, medicine.symptom, Hepatectomy, business, Liver function tests
Abstract

Inflammatory pseudotumor is a term used to designate inflammation-rich tumefactive lesions. Following the exclusion of specific entities such as IgG4-related disease and other neoplastic entities previously included in this entity, the majority of hepatic pseudotumors show a prominent fibrohistiocytic inflammatory reaction and have been previously categorized as fibrohistiocytic variant of hepatic pseudotumor (FHVHPT). The goal of this study was to examine the clinical, radiologic, histologic, and etiologic aspects of this entity. After excluding neoplastic diseases, we identified 30 patients with FHVHPT from 3 institutions between 2009 and 2019. We extracted demographic and clinical data, liver function tests as well as culture results and radiologic information. Hematoxylin and eosin-stained slides were reviewed for pattern of inflammation as well as its cellular composition. Immunohistochemistry for IgG4 and IgG was performed in all cases. The mean age of the 30 lesions characterized as FHVHPT was 56 years (range: 23 to 79 y). Nineteen patients showed solitary lesions; 11 were multiple. The mean size of the lesion was 3.8 cm (range: 1 to 7.5 cm). On imaging, a neoplastic process or metastasis was the leading diagnostic consideration (n=15, 50%). The most common symptom was abdominal pain (n=14/30); 8 patients presented with symptoms compatible with an infectious process, including fever. The inflammatory infiltrate was dominated by lymphocytes and plasma cells, and in most cases, a prominent histiocytic infiltrate (22/30). Neutrophils were identified in 12 cases, with microabscess noted in 8. Storiform pattern of fibrosis was seen in 14/30 cases; obliterative phlebitis was not identified. Culture identified a microorganism in 4 of 9 cases evaluated. The mean IgG4 count was 9.3 per HPF (range: 0 to 51) with 9 of the 26 (35%) biopsies showing >10 IgG4 positive plasma cells per HPF. The mean IgG4 to IgG ratio was 8% (range: 8% to 46%). A hepatectomy was performed in 4 cases. On broad spectrum antibiotics (n=14) the lesions either resolved or decreased in size. Eight patients did not receive specific therapy, nevertheless, the lesion(s) resolved spontaneously in 6 cases, remained stable or decreased in size in 2 cases. Notably, none of these patients showed evidence of a hepatic recurrence. FHVHPT, a tumefactive lesion that mimics hepatic neoplasia, is histologically characterized by a fibrohistiocytic infiltrate. In the majority of patients FHVHPT represents the organizing phase of hepatic abscess and can be successfully managed with antibiotic therapy.

Published
2021
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50. Protective Effects of Cannabidivarin and Cannabigerol on Cells of the Blood–Brain Barrier Under Ischemic Conditions

Author

Nicole L. Stone, Timothy J. England, and Saoirse E. O'Sullivan

Subjects
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A, Cannabidivarin, Cannabigerol, Ischemia, ischemia, Pharmacology, blood–brain barrier, Blood–brain barrier, Neuroprotection, cannabigerol, cannabinoids, medicine, Humans, Pharmacology (medical), Special Section: Cannabinoids and the Immune System, business.industry, cannabidivarin, Endothelial Cells, medicine.disease, Guest Editor: Heather Bradshaw, PhD, On cells, medicine.anatomical_structure, Complementary and alternative medicine, Blood-Brain Barrier, Ischemic stroke, neuroprotection, business, Cannabidiol, medicine.drug
Abstract

Background and Objectives: Preclinical studies have shown cannabidiol is protective in models of ischemic stroke. Based on results from our recent systematic review, we investigated the effects of two promising neuroprotective phytocannabinoids, cannabigerol (CBG) and cannabidivarin (CBDV), on cells of the blood–brain barrier (BBB), namely human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMECs), pericytes, and astrocytes. Experimental Approach: Cultures were subjected to oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) protocol to model ischemic stroke and cell culture medium was assessed for cytokines and adhesion molecules post-OGD. Astrocyte cell lysates were also analyzed for DNA damage markers. Antagonist studies were conducted where appropriate to study receptor mechanisms. Results: In astrocytes CBG and CBDV attenuated levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), whereas CBDV (10 nM–10 μM) also decreased vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) secretion. CBDV (300 nM–10 μM) attenuated levels of monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 in HBMECs. In astrocytes, CBG decreased levels of DNA damage proteins, including p53, whereas CBDV increased levels of DNA damage markers. Antagonists for CB1, CB2, PPAR-γ, PPAR-α, 5-HT1A, and TRPV1 had no effect on CBG (3 μM) or CBDV (1 μM)-mediated decreases in LDH in astrocytes. GPR55 and GPR18 were partially implicated in the effects of CBDV, but no molecular target was identified for CBG. Conclusions: We show that CBG and CBDV were protective against OG mediated injury in three different cells that constitute the BBB, modulating different hallmarks of ischemic stroke pathophysiology. These data enhance our understanding of the protective effects of CBG and CBDV and warrant further investigation into these compounds in ischemic stroke. Future studies should identify other possible neuroprotective effects of CBG and CBDV and their corresponding mechanisms of action.

Published
2021
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