Identification of Early Warning Signals of Infectious Diseases in Hospitals by Integrating Clinical Treatment and Disease Prevention.

The global incidence of infectious diseases has increased in recent years, posing a significant threat to human health. Hospitals typically serve as frontline institutions for detecting infectious diseases. However, accurately identifying warning signals of infectious diseases in a timely manner, especially emerging infectious diseases, can be challenging. Consequently, there is a pressing need to integrate treatment and disease prevention data to conduct comprehensive analyses aimed at preventing and controlling infectious diseases within hospitals. This paper examines the role of medical data in the early identification of infectious diseases, explores early warning technologies for infectious disease recognition, and assesses monitoring and early warning mechanisms for infectious diseases. We propose that hospitals adopt novel multidimensional early warning technologies to mine and analyze medical data from various systems, in compliance with national strategies to integrate clinical treatment and disease prevention. Furthermore, hospitals should establish institution-specific, clinical-based early warning models for infectious diseases to actively monitor early signals and enhance preparedness for infectious disease prevention and control.

Humor and morality in organizations.

Successful leaders often use humor to motivate, inspire, and lead. Yet, recent research suggests that the use of humor is risky for leaders. Our review suggests that humor must be morally offensive to some people for it to be perceived as funny. This inherent tension between humor and morality implies that the use of humor can sometimes act as a signal of acceptable moral standards in organizations, where a leader's use of humor carries significant risks because of the norm-violating message it sends to subordinates, or it can even be dangerous in extreme cases. We conclude the paper by offering future research directions on the study of workplace humor.

Meta-Analysis of the Efficacy and Safety Evaluation of Vandetanib in the Treatment of Medullary Thyroid Cancer.

The aim of the work was to systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of Vandetanib in the treatment of advanced medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC). MeSH entries to search for randomized controlled trials and clinical research literature on the application of Vandetanib in the treatment of medullary thyroid cancer from PubMed, Chinese national knowledge infrastructure (CNKI), and Web of Science databases since their establishment until March 2023 were used. In terms of efficacy, the analysis results showed that Vandetanib had a significantly higher objective response rate compared to the control group using placebo (OR=2.13, 95% CI: 1.38, 3.29). In terms of side effects, Vandetanib significantly increases the incidence of hypertension, rash, and diarrhea, and has statistical significance (p+<+0.05). Vandetanib has a better therapeutic effect on MTC, but it also increases the incidence of hypertension, rash, and diarrhea. Attention should be paid to the relief of side effects when using it.

Beet pulp as soluble fiber source and dietary energy levels for growing pigs under heat stress.

The study evaluated the effects of dietary fiber and energy levels administered during two growing periods (d 0-28 and d 29-56) for pigs exposed to a high temperature. A total of 96 growing pigs were used in six treatments as: Two treatments in thermoneutral temperature (21°C-24°C) with dietary energy of 3,300 and the inclusion of high or low fiber, two treatments in heat stress (30°C-34°C) with dietary energy of 3,300 and the inclusion of high or low fiber, and two treatments in heat stress with dietary energy of 3,450 and the inclusion of high or low fiber. Among standard energy level treatments, heat-stressed pigs showed lower average daily gain (ADG), feed intake, digestibility of dry matter, gross energy, crude protein, and crude fiber in phases 1 and 2. Moreover, higher concentrations of acetate, propionate, butyrate, and total short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) in feces were shown in pigs fed high fiber diets. There was a negative interaction between dietary fiber and energy for the fecal concentration of isobutyrate in phase 1 and valerate in phase 2. Pigs in heat stress treatments showed a higher rectal temperature, respiratory rate, hair cortisol, plasma zonulin, and fecal lipocalin-2. Among heat stress treatments, the overall ADG was increased in pigs fed high fiber. Pigs fed high dietary fiber showed a greater concentration of acetate, propionate, butyrate, and total SCFA. High fiber treatments decreased plasma zonulin. In conclusion, the inclusion of beet pulp, soluble fiber, at the level of 4% looks necessary in pigs diet during heat stress.

Measurement Properties of the Stroke-Predischarge Occupational Therapy Assessment.

There is no comprehensive predischarge occupational therapy assessment tool in South Korea. The objective of this study was to determine Stroke-Predischarge Occupational Therapy Assessment (S-POTA) validity and reliability. Twenty-seven occupational therapists (OTs) assessed 97 patients with stroke. Concurrent validity was evaluated by comparing S-POTA scores with stroke-specific quality of life (SS-QOL). Discriminant validity was evaluated by comparing S-POTA scores between outpatient and readmitted groups, and a receiver operating characteristic analysis was conducted. The test-retest was conducted twice in 20 patients, and the inter-rater test was conducted with two OTs per patient. S-POTA positively correlated with SS-QOL. S-POTA rating differs significantly across outpatients and readmitted groups. All S-POTA areas under curve values ranged from .70 to .85, and cut-off points were derived. Cronbach's α for internal consistency was .953, the intraclass correlation coefficient for test-retest was .990, and .987 for inter-rater reliability. The results suggest S-POTA is a reliable tool for efficient implementation of discharge planning.

Effects of a time-use intervention in isolated patients with coronavirus disease 2019: A randomized controlled study.

OBJECTIVE: Patients with coronavirus disease experience deterioration in occupational balance and mental health. The primary objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a time-use intervention on the occupational balance of isolated patients with coronavirus disease. Its impact on secondary outcomes including mental health and quality of life was also assessed. METHODS: This randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted in a single community-based hospital. Forty-one patients (19 in the experimental group and 22 in the control group) with coronavirus disease were recruited between February 1, 2021, and March 19, 2021. Participants were randomly assigned to receive a time-use intervention or education on self-activity. The time-use intervention is to plan a daily routine to engage in meaningful occupations. It consisted of 4 steps: time-use analysis, occupation selection, arrangement of activities and practice, and occupational therapist intervention. The control group was educated on self-activity and spent time autonomously. OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The primary outcome was occupational balance, evaluated using the Korean version of the Life Balance Inventory. Secondary outcomes were mental health and quality of life assessed using the Korean version of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Korean Form of Zung's Self-Rating Anxiety Scale, Korean version of the Insomnia Severity Index, Multidimensional State Boredom Scale-8, Fear of Coronavirus Disease: Korean version of the Fear of Coronavirus Disease Scale, and World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment Instrument-BRIEF. Outcome measures were evaluated at admission and discharge. RESULTS: The time-use intervention significantly improved occupational balance (F = 14.12, p < .001) and all other measures of depression, anxiety, boredom, fear, and quality of life. Conversely, the control group showed a worsening pattern for all measures. CONCLUSION: The time-use intervention is effective for improving occupational balance, mental health, and quality of life in patients with coronavirus disease.

Acoustic and Perceptual Categorization of Sibilants for Mandarin Children With Ankyloglossia.

PURPOSE: To deepen our understanding of the effects of ankyloglossia on articulation, the purpose of this study is to examine consonant production and the perceived accuracy of Mandarin-speaking children with ankyloglossia. METHOD: Ten tongue-tie (TT) and 10 typically developing (TD) children produced nine Mandarin sibilants that contrast in three places of articulation. Their speech productions were analyzed from six acoustic measurements. To further examine the perceptual consequences, an auditory transcription task (N = 21) was conducted. RESULTS: The acoustic analyses discovered that the TT children failed to distinguish the three-way place contrast and produced significant acoustic deviations compared with the TD peers. The perceptual transcription results found that TT children's production was significantly misidentified, suggesting severely affected intelligibility. CONCLUSIONS: The preliminary findings provide strong support for a correlation between ankyloglossia and distorted speech signals and suggest important interactions between sound errors and linguistic experience. We also propose that ankyloglossia should not be a purely appearance-based diagnosis and that speech production is a crucial index of tongue function in clinical decision making and monitoring.

Carcass trait, meat yield and quality characteristics of recently-synthesized Woori Heukdon and commercial LYD pigs under identical rearing condition.

OBJECTIVE: For decades, LYD ([Landrace×Yorkshire] ♀×Duroc ♂) pigs are the most commonly-used commercial breed for meat production in Korea. Recently, due to the increasing demand for premium pork, the National Institute of Animal Science (Korea) has synthesized a novel pig breed named Woori Heukdon (WHD). This study aimed at comparing the carcass traits, meat yield and quality characteristics between the LYD and WHD pigs under identical rearing condition. METHODS: The WHD and LYD pigs (n = 15 each) were reared under identical conditions and fed the same commercial diet until reaching recommended market weight (100 to 120 kg). After slaughter, the carcasses were evaluated for traits and meat yield, and the meat quality was assessed on shoulder butt and belly cuts. RESULTS: Although no significant differences (p>0.05) occurred in slaughter weight between two pig types, WHD had a lower meat yield (by about 6 kg corresponding to approximately 7%) compared to the LYD pigs (p<0.05). The WHD had a higher fat content (by 4.26% and 13.52% in the shoulder butt and belly, respectively) compared to those of LYD pigs (p<0.05). The WHD meat showed a lower cooking loss and higher a* (redness) value (p<0.05). The WHD belly had a significantly (p<0.05) higher oleic acid content and concentrations of nonanal, octanal and decanal associated with fatty odor while, the LYD meat had a higher number of pyrazines associated with roasty odor. Regarding sensory quality, higher flavor, juiciness, and acceptability higher scores were given for the WHD meat than for the LYD meat (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Under identical rearing conditions the WHD exhibited a better meat quality and sensory properties. However, the use of this diet resulted in a high fat level that may be associated with high trimming loss for the WHD.

Capsular Warning Syndrome Leading to Acute Ischemic Stroke in a Pediatric Patient Secondary to Varicella Zoster Virus.

We report the case of a 3-year-old boy who presented with recurrent stereotyped transient episodes of left sided weakness consistent with capsular warning syndrome (CWS) which eventually progressed to acute ischemic stroke (AIS). He received thrombolytic therapy with tissue plasminogen activator. Workup was notable for positive CSF varicella (VZV) PCR, and positive CSF and serum VZV IgG and negative IgM. On further history, he was unvaccinated and had a rash consistent with VZV 5 months prior to presentation. This case highlights the importance of recognizing CWS given the increased risk of progression to AIS. In addition, it emphasizes the importance of considering VZV vasculopathy in pediatric AIS and inquiring about infectious history and immunization status despite high rates of vaccination in the United States.

Predictive factors associated with trajectory of job satisfaction of workers with physical disabilities: A latent growth curve analysis.

BACKGROUND: Job satisfaction is a highly useful factor in maintaining a successful work life for the disabled. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate how job satisfaction among workers with physical disabilities evolves over time, and to identify predictive factors that influence the trajectory of job satisfaction. METHODS: A longitudinal data analysis using the three-year databases of the 2016-2018 Employment Panel Survey for the Disabled (n = 693). A latent growth curve model analysis was conducted to determine the trajectory of the job satisfaction among workers with physical disabilities, as well as the predictive factors affecting it. RESULTS: Job satisfaction among workers with physical disabilities increased over time, and there were substantial individual differences in the trajectory of the job satisfaction. The significant predictors for the job satisfaction over the three years were degree of disability, computer usage ability, employment support services, and experience of discrimination. Gender, educational background, interpersonal relationship/organizational adaptability, convenience facilities for the disabled, job suitability, disability acceptability, and self-esteem had a considerable impact on the intercept of the job satisfaction, but not on the slope. CONCLUSION: The findings would inform healthcare providers to establish mid-to-long-term vocational rehabilitation intervention plans that could increase the job satisfaction among workers with physical disabilities.

Treatment with biological products for chronic urticaria

Chronic urticaria is characterized by repeatedly occurring itchy wheals and/or angioedema for at least six weeks. The prevalence of chronic urticaria is increasing globally, with variations observed among different regions. Chronic urticaria has a long duration and may recur over time. Effective and tolerable treatment for such patients is crucial due to unpredictable, recurrent, and disabling symptoms, as well as the significant impact on quality of life.Current Concepts: Recent guidelines recommend the regular use of non-sedative second generation antihistamines as the first line of treatment for chronic urticaria. For patients whose urticarial symptoms persist or worsen with the approved dose of antihistamines, the guideline recommends the second line of treatment, which involves either increasing the dosage of the initial antihistamine or combining it with three other kinds of antihistamines. However, almost half of patients with chronic urticaria are refractory to antihistamines. Recently, treatment modulating immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels and activities was found to provide an efficient therapeutic approach. Omalizumab, the only approved anti-IgE treatment to date for patients with chronic urticaria, has demonstrated strong evidence of both efficacy and safety. Recent international guidelines recommend omalizumab as the first choice of treatment for antihistamine-refractory chronic spontaneous urticaria.Discussion and Conclusion: As omalizumab is not a curative and disease-modifying agent, there is a subpopulation of patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria who partly or have never responded to omalizumab. To address this, ongoing research is exploring the therapeutic potential of other biological products that target various aspects, such as type 2 inflammation, complement system, and the c-kit pathway.

Effects of COVID-19 and Influenza Vaccination on Rheumatic Diseases:Results From a Survey of PatientReported Outcomes After Vaccination

Background@#This study aimed to compare the occurrence of adverse events (AEs) and disease flares after vaccination against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and influenza in patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARDs). @*Methods@#Between November 2021 and March 2022, a survey was conducted among patients with ARD who received COVID-19 and influenza vaccinations. The questionnaire included 11 mandatory and closed-ended questions, and the following items were collected: medical history, immunization history, type of vaccine, patient-reported AEs, flare-up of the underlying disease after vaccination, and a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 or influenza. We compared the occurrence of vaccine-related adverse reactions to the COVID-19 and influenza vaccines based on the survey results. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify the factors affecting AEs or disease flares and to compare the post-vaccine response to mixed and matched vaccines. @*Results@#We analyzed 601 adults with ARD who received the COVID-19 vaccine, with a mean age of 49.6 years (80.5% female). A total of 255 participants (42.4%) received a complete course of primary vaccination, 342 (56.9%) completed the booster dose, and 132 (38.6%) received a mixed vaccine. The frequencies of AEs (188 [52.2%] vs. 21 [5.8%]; P< 0.001) and disease flares (58 [16.2%] vs. 5 [1.4%]; P < 0.001) after COVID-19 vaccination were significantly higher than those after influenza vaccination. In the risk factor analysis, previous allergic reaction to other vaccines (odds ratio, 1.95; confidence interval, 1.07–3.70; P = 0.034) was the only factor associated with the occurrence of AEs. There was no difference in the post-vaccine responses between the mixed and matched vaccines. @*Results@#We analyzed 601 adults with ARD who received the COVID-19 vaccine, with a mean age of 49.6 years (80.5% female). A total of 255 participants (42.4%) received a complete course of primary vaccination, 342 (56.9%) completed the booster dose, and 132 (38.6%) received a mixed vaccine. The frequencies of AEs (188 [52.2%] vs. 21 [5.8%]; P < 0.001) and disease flares (58 [16.2%] vs. 5 [1.4%]; P < 0.001) after COVID-19 vaccination were significantly higher than those after influenza vaccination. In the risk factor analysis, previous allergic reaction to other vaccines (odds ratio, 1.95; confidence interval, 1.07–3.70; P = 0.034) was the only factor associated with the occurrence of AEs. There was no difference in the post-vaccine responses between the mixed and matched vaccines. @*Conclusion@#The results of the survey of patients with ARD revealed that patient-reported AEs and underlying disease flares after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine were significantly higher than those after the influenza vaccine.

Effects of electroacupuncture at "Siguan" points on the expression of colonic 5-hydroxytryptamine and fecal short-chain fatty acids in rats with post-stroke depression / 中国针灸

OBJECTIVE@#To observe the effects of electroacupuncture at "Siguan" points on behavior, colonic 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and fecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in rats with post-stroke depression (PSD), and explore the effect mechanism of electroacupuncture at Siguan points on PSD.@*METHODS@#Fifty SD rats were randomly divided into a sham-operation group, a stroke group, a PSD group, a drug group and an electroacupuncture group, with 10 rats in each one. The stroke model was established by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) method in the stroke group; except for the sham-operation group, the rats in the other groups were intervened with MCAO combined with solitary and chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) to establish PSD model. In the electroacupuncture group, electroacupuncture was delivered at "Hegu" (LI 4) and "Taichong" (LR 3), with disperse-dense wave, 2 Hz/10 Hz in frequency, for 30 min in each intervention, once daily, for consecutive 21 days. Simultaneously, distilled water (0.01 L•kg-1•d-1) was administrated intragastrically. Fluoxetine solution (2.33 mg•kg-1•d-1) was given by gavage , once a day and for 21 days in the drug group. The same procedure of fixation and gavage with distilled water were adopted in the sham-operation group, the stroke group and the PSD group. Separately, before stroke modeling, after PSD modeling and after 21-day intervention, the consumption of sugar water and the scores of horizontal movement and vertical movement in open-field test were observed. After 21-day intervention, the content of colonic 5-HT was detected by immunohistochemical method, and that of fecal SCFAs was determined by gas chromatography mass spectrometry.@*RESULTS@#After PSD modeling, compared with the stroke group, the sugar water consumption, the horizontal movement scores and vertical movement scores of the open-field test were all reduced in the PSD group, the drug group and the electroacupuncture group (P<0.05). After 21-day intervention, the sugar water consumption and the scores of horizontal movement and vertical movement of the open-field test were increased in the drug group and the electroacupuncture group (P<0.05) when compared with the PSD group; and the horizontal movement score in the electroacupuncture group was lower than that of the drug group (P<0.05). Compared with the sham-operation group, the contents of total fecal SCFAs and acetic acid were lower in the stroke group (P<0.05), and the contents of colonic 5-HT and total fecal SCFAs, acetic acid, propionic acid and butyric acid were reduced in the PSD group (P<0.05). In comparison with the PSD group, the contents of colonic 5-HT and total fecal SCFAs, acetic acid and propionic acid were increased in the drug group and the electroacupuncture group (P<0.05); and the content of colonic 5-HT in the electroacupuncture group was lower than that of the drug group (P<0.05). The level of colonic 5-HT was positively correlated with the contents of total fecal SCFAs and propionic acid (r=0.424, P=0.005; r=0.427, P=0.004).@*CONCLUSION@#Electroacupuncture at "Siguan" points can relieve the depression-like behavior of PSD rats, and its underlying mechanism may be related to the regulation of fecal SCFAs, which affects the release of colonic 5-HT.

Combined Transcriptomic and Metabolomic Analysis of Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome.

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a complex class of endocrine disorders with insulin resistance, compensatory hyperinsulinemia, and obesity. However, the pathogenesis and therapies of PCOS have not been fully elucidated. Exosomal miRNAs have the potential to serve as biomarkers and therapies for a wide range of medical conditions. Method: We collected follicular fluid from 5 PCOS patients and 5 healthy people. High-throughput sequencing technology to identify differentially expressed miRNAs and untargeted metabolome identify differential metabolites in follicular fluid exosomal. RT-qPCR and AUC analysis were performed. Result: miRNA high-throughput sequencing identified 124 differential miRNAs. RT-qPCR analysis confirmed the sequencing results. These differential miRNA target genes are mainly involved in metabolic pathways. Metabolomics studies identified 31 differential metabolites. miRNA and lncRNA coexpression networks in metabolic pathways rigorously screened 28 differentially expressed miRNAs. This network would identify miRNA signatures associated with metabolic processes in PCOS. Meanwhile, the area under curve of receiver operating characteristic revealed that hsa-miR-196a-3p, hsa-miR-143-5p, hsa-miR-106a-3p, hsa-miR-34a-5p, and hsa-miR-20a-5p were potential biomarkers for the diagnosis of PCOS. Conclusion: Collectively, these results demonstrate the potential pathogenesis of PCOS, and follicular fluid exosomal miRNAs may be efficient targets for the diagnosis and treatment of PCOS in long-term clinical studies.

The Joule Heating Effect of a Foldable and Cuttable Sheet Made of SWCNT/ANF Composite.

A foldable and cuttable sheet heater was fabricated using single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and aramid nanofibers (ANFs). SWCNTs are particularly well suited for Joule heating based on their high thermal stability, electrical properties, high current density, and aspect ratio. When the SWCNT/ANF composite reaches a high temperature during Joule heating, ANFs will endure this temperature due to their impressive thermal stability, derived from aramid fibers. With the aim of achieving a synergistic effect between the SWCNTs and ANFs, 0-100 wt% SWCNT/ANF composite sheets were fabricated by tip-type sonication and vacuum filtration. After assessing the thermal stability and electrical properties of the composite sheets, the Joule heating effect was analyzed. TGA showed that our sheet had high thermal stability in an air condition up to around 500 °C. The electrical conductivity of the composite sheet was improved as the amount of SWCNT added rose to 790.0 and 747.5 S/cm in the 75 and 100_SWCNTs/ANF, respectively. The maximum heating temperature, up to 280 °C, reached by Joule heating was measured as a function of SWCNT content and input voltage, and the relationship among SWCNT content, input voltage, heating temperature, and electric power was described. Mechanical properties were also measured in a temperature range similar to the heating temperature of 300 °C reached by Joule heating. Ultimately, we obtained a foldable and cuttable composite sheet with a stretchable structure, capable of being molded into a variety of shapes. This energy-efficient material can potentially be employed in any device in which a heater is required to deliver high temperatures.

Accurate Prediction of Band Structure of FeS2: A Hard Quest of Advanced First-Principles Approaches.

The pyrite and marcasite polymorphs of FeS2 have attracted considerable interests for their potential applications in optoelectronic devices because of their appropriate electronic and optical properties. Controversies regarding their fundamental band gaps remain in both experimental and theoretical materials research of FeS2. In this work, we present a systematic theoretical investigation into the electronic band structures of the two polymorphs by using many-body perturbation theory with the GW approximation implemented in the full-potential linearized augmented plane waves (FP-LAPW) framework. By comparing the quasi-particle (QP) band structures computed with the conventional LAPW basis and the one extended by high-energy local orbitals (HLOs), denoted as LAPW + HLOs, we find that one-shot or partially self-consistent GW (G 0 W 0 and GW 0, respectively) on top of the Perdew-Burke-Ernzerhof (PBE) generalized gradient approximation with a converged LAPW + HLOs basis is able to remedy the artifact reported in the previous GW calculations, and leads to overall good agreement with experiment for the fundamental band gaps of the two polymorphs. Density of states calculated from G 0 W 0@PBE with the converged LAPW + HLOs basis agrees well with the energy distribution curves from photo-electron spectroscopy for pyrite. We have also investigated the performances of several hybrid functionals, which were previously shown to be able to predict band gaps of many insulating systems with accuracy close or comparable to GW. It is shown that the hybrid functionals considered in general fail badly to describe the band structures of FeS2 polymorphs. This work indicates that accurate prediction of electronic band structure of FeS2 poses a stringent test on state-of-the-art first-principles approaches, and the G 0 W 0 method based on semi-local approximation performs well for this difficult system if it is practiced with well-converged numerical accuracy.

A Suggested Vacuum Bagging Process for the Fabrication of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube/Epoxy Composites That Maximize Electromagnetic Interference Shielding Effectiveness.

We designed and tested a manufacturing process that resulted in the formation of composites with maximized electrical conductivity and optimized electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding effectiveness (SE) properties. Single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) paper, which is a microscopic aggregate of van der Waals force interaction, was impregnated with semi-cured epoxy to make SWCNT prepregs. These prepregs were completely cured into SWCNT/epoxy composites. Fabricating and curing processes were executed under proper temperature cycle depending on the time. We inspected SWCNT paper and the interfacial state between the SWCNTs and epoxy in the composite with a field emission-scanning electron microscopy and calculated the SWCNT weight fraction through thermogravimetric analysis measurements. Using these observations, electrical conductivity and EMI SE were investigated according to thickness which could be controlled by the suggested manufacturing process as 1-, 5- and 10-layer composites. Finally, we determined ideal composite thickness and the associated number of prepreg layers using skin depth theory.