Catalyst of hate? Ethnic insulting on YouTube in the aftermath of terror attacks in France, Germany and the United Kingdom 2014–2017

In the last 20 years, several major terror attacks conducted in the name of political Islam hit Western Europe. We examine the impact of such terror attacks on hostile behaviour on social media from a cross-national perspective. To this end, we draw upon time-stamped, behavioural data from YouTube and focus on the frequency and popularity (‘likes’) of ethnically insulting comments among a corpus of approximately one hundred thousand comments. We study aggregate change and use individual-level panel data to investigate within-user change in ethnic insulting in periods leading up to and following major terror events in Germany, France and the UK. Results indicate that terror attacks boost interest in immigration-related topics in general, and lead to a disproportional increase in hate speech in particular. Moreover, we find that attack effects spill over to other countries in several, but not all, instances. Deeper analyses suggest, however, that this pattern is mainly driven by changes in the composition of users and not by changing behaviour of individual users. That is, a surge in ethnic insulting comes from hateful users newly entering online discussions, rather than previous users becoming more hateful following an attack

A many-analysts approach to the relation between religiosity and well-being

The relation between religiosity and well-being is one of the most researched topics in the psychology of religion, yet the directionality and robustness of the effect remains debated. Here, we adopted a many-analysts approach to assess the robustness of this relation based on a new cross-cultural dataset (N = 10, 535 participants from 24 countries). We recruited 120 analysis teams to investigate (1) whether religious people self-report higher well-being, and (2) whether the relation between religiosity and self-reported well-being depends on perceived cultural norms of religion (i.e., whether it is considered normal and desirable to be religious in a given country). In a two-stage procedure, the teams first created an analysis plan and then executed their planned analysis on the data. For the first research question, all but 3 teams reported positive effect sizes with credible/confidence intervals excluding zero (median reported beta = 0.120). For the second research question, this was the case for 65% of the teams (median reported beta = 0.039). While most teams applied (multilevel) linear regression models, there was considerable variability in the choice of items used to construct the independent variables, the dependent variable, and the included covariates.</p

Investigation of the effects of flat cushioning insole on gait parameters in individuals with chronic neck pain

Individuals with chronic neck pain (CNP) walk with a stiffer spine known to cause an increase in dynamic loading on the spine. They also exhibit altered spatiotemporal gait variables, however, it is still unclear whether flat cushioning insole, which reduces dynamic loading on the musculoskeletal system by absorbing the ground reaction force, affects gait parameters in individuals with CNP. The aim of this work was to investigate the effects of flat cushioning insole on neck pain during walking and gait parameters in individuals with CNP. Methods: Twenty-one individuals with CNP and 21 asymptomatic controls were included. Assessments of gait parameters and pain were conducted in two sessions, standard shoe only and standard shoe with flat cushioning. In both sessions, all participants performed the 10-meter walk test in two walking conditions: preferred walking, walking at maximum speed. The force sensitive insoles and the video analysis method were used to assess plantar pressure variables and spatiotemporal gait variables, respectively. Pain was assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale. Results: Our results indicated that flat cushioning reduced the maximum force and force-time integral in both groups ( p 0.05). Conclusions: These results have suggested that the use of flat cushioning insole may improve neck pain during walking and spatiotemporal gait variables in individuals with CNP

Detection of metastases in newly diagnosed prostate cancer by using 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT and its relationship with modified D'Amico risk classification

Purpose We aimed to investigate the diagnostic power of 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT in the detection of metastatic spread of newly diagnosed PCa, and evaluate the relationship with modified D'Amico risk classification. Methods We evaluated newly diagnosed PCa patients who underwent 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT prior to therapy. All images were interpreted retrospectively and areas of abnormally increased tracer uptake were documented according to PSMA-RADS version 1.0 system. Patients were divided into risk groups as low, intermediate, or high risk, according to a modification in D'Amico classification system as ISUP grade 3 tumors were included to high-risk group. 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT findings were compared among risk groups as well as PSA levels, clinical T stages, and ISUP grades. Results A total of 356 patients were included to the study with a median PSA level was 16.42 (1.29-7013) ng/ml and median Gleason score was 8 (range: 6-10). Of these, 13(3.7%), 54 (15.1%), and 289 (81.2%) were in the low-, intermediate-, and high-risk groups, respectively. Lymph node metastases were detected in 125 (35.1%) patients, and in 48 of them, metastasis was limited to pelvic lymph nodes (PLN). Sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were calculated as 71.4%, 100%, 95.9%, 100%, and 95.4%, respectively for the detection of PLN, based on histopathological results of 49 patients. Overall, any metastasis was detected in 47.7% of high-risk patients, while only PLN metastases were defined in 3.7% intermediate-risk patients and none of low-risk patients had any kind of metastasis. Conclusion This study revealed that 68Ga-PSMA PET/CT should be routinely used in newly diagnosed high-risk PCa patients; whereas it seems to be of limited use for intermediate-risk group and useless for the low-risk group

Management of the Splenic Artery Aneurysm: with a Six Different Clinical Presentation and Treatment Modality

Splenic artery aneurysm is the enlargement of the splenic artery more than 1 cm and can be a life-threatening condition. Trauma, pregnancy, portal hypertension, atherosclerosis, advanced age, and female gender are underlying risk factors. Although the patients are mostly asymptomatic, the symptoms may range from pain in the epigastrium, left upper quadrant, to sudden onset of severe abdominal pain and shock as a result of rupture. In our study, the data of six splenic artery aneurysm patients who applied to Istanbul University Cerrahpasa, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty General Surgery Clinic, between 2015 and 2019 with different clinical presentations and treated with different methods were retrospectively analyzed. Six patients with splenic artery aneurysm were reviewed. They were 4 women and 2 men aged 28 to 66 years. The mean diameter of aneurysms was 4.42 cm and the average hospitalization duration was 6.8 days. All patients presented with abdominal pain. Two patients had also low hemoglobin value and hypovolemic shock due to intraabdominal bleeding. Splenic artery aneurysm rupture was diagnosed in 1 patient who was 28 weeks of gestation. Only aneurysmectomy was performed on 2 patients, aneurysmectomy + splenectomy on 3, and coil embolization on 1. Since splenic artery aneurysm may present with different clinical signs and may have high mortality due to the risk of rupture, it can be safely treated by using different modalities according to the patient's specifications after the appropriate and early diagnosis

Clinical Impact of Lower-Limb Imaging in Ga-68-PSMA PET/CT for Patients with Prostate Cancer

Our purpose was to determine whether there is a clinical benefit to add lower-limb imaging in Ga-68-labeled prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) PET/CT scans for patients with prostate cancer. Methods: In total, 701 patients with prostate cancer who underwent Ga-68-PSMA PET/CT were evaluated retrospectively. All patients underwent additional lower-limb imaging. Images were reanalyzed by experienced nuclear medicine physicians, and metastatic sites were documented. The prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level and Gleason score were also compared with Ga-68-PSMA PET/CT findings. Results: In 601 patients (85.7%), at least 1 tumoral lesion was observed on Ga-68-PSMA PET/CT. The number of patients with bone metastasis in 2 forms was 278 patients (39.6%); 108 (15.4%) were oligometastatic (= 4 metastases). In lower-limb imaging, bone metastasis was detected in 61 patients (8.7%), the specific locations of which were as follows: middle-distal femur (n = 54), tibia (n = 19), fibula (n = 24), and calcaneus (n = 1). Lower-limb metastasis was detected mostly in symptom-positive patients (70.1%) but in only 4% of the symptom-negative group. All patients with lower-extremity metastasis also had multiple bone metastases shown on limited whole-body Ga-68-PSMA PET/CT. The median PSA level was significantly higher in multimetastatic patients with lower-limb metastasis than in those without lower-limb metastasis (P < 0.001, Mann-Whitney U test), but no statistical differences was found in terms of Gleason score (chi(2) = 0.042, P = 0.837). According to receiver-operatingcharacteristic analysis, PSA has a good predictive value for detecting lower-limb metastasis, with 76.6% sensitivity and 72% specificity (using a reference cutoff PSA level of 24 ng/mL [area under the curve, 0.81; 95% confidence interval, 0.74-0.87]). Conclusion: Lower-limb imaging did not change the metastatic status of disease or significantly affect the therapeutic approach. However, if multimetastatic patients present relevant symptoms for lower-limb metastasis, it could be beneficial to consider including lower-limb imaging for possible palliative therapies

Somatostatin receptor-positive breast lesions on Ga-68-DOTATATE PET/CT

Objective This study sets out to evaluate patients with increased uptake in breast lesions on Ga-68-DOTATATE PET/CT (DOTA PET) and determine the clinical significance of somatostatin receptor (SSTR) positive breast lesions. Methods We retrospectively evaluated all patients with increased SSTR uptake in breast lesions on DOTA PET. Patients with physiological (e.g., lactation) or normal variant breast uptake (e.g., mild diffuse glandular uptake) were excluded. The maximum standard uptake value (SUVmax) was calculated using a manually drawn region of interest in the most intense uptake of breast lesions. All lesions were correlated with breast imaging, including mammography and ultrasonography. Histopathological correlation was performed if the lesion was suspicious for malignancy. Lesions were followed up radiologically (1-8 years). Results Out of 1573 retrospectively analyzed DOTA PET scans, the incidence of SSTR + breast lesions was measured as 1.1% (n = 18); however, 4 of 18 patients were excluded due to the lack of final diagnosis of lesions. The median age was 35 (range 14-58 years), and all patients were female. The median SUVmax of SSTR + breast lesions was 5.2 (range 1.5-12.6) for a total of 14 patients. Twelve patients had a single SSTR + breast lesion, while 2 patients had multiple SSTR + lesions on bilateral breasts. In 6 patients, single SSTR + lesions were considered as fibroadenoma; in 2 patients, multiple SSTR + lesions were considered as metastases of NET, based on correlative breast imaging. In 6 patients, histopathological confirmation was needed for the final diagnosis. Histopathologic findings confirmed fibroadenoma in 4 patients by biopsy, in 1 patient with surgical removal of the lesion. The last patient who had a history of IDC was diagnosed with a recurrence of IDC with biopsy. The median SUVmax was 5.1 (range 1.5-9.4) for malignant breast lesions and 5.4 (range 2.2-12.6) for benign breast lesions. Conclusion SSTR + breast lesions on DOTA PET are rarely seen in clinical practice. Uptakes of breast lesions in our cases were variable and not useful for differential diagnosis of lesions. It seems that SSTR + breast lesions should be evaluated with clinical and radiological characteristics, and correlative breast imaging and/or histopathological verification should be performed for suspicious lesions to avoid misdiagnosis

Does bone scintigraphy still have a role in the era of 68 Ga-PSMA PET/CT in prostate cancer?

Objection We aimed to evaluate the role of bone scintigraphy (BS) which has long been the imaging modality of choice in prostate cancer (PCa) and performed a head-to-head comparison between BS, BS + SPECT/CT and 68 Ga-PSMA-PET/CT, for the detection of bone metastasis of PCa. Methods We evaluated 138 PCa patients who underwent BS and 68 Ga-PSMA PET/CT and SPECT/CT of 102 of 138 patients. Images were interpreted retrospectively and areas of abnormally increased tracer uptake related to PCa were documented as benign, metastatic or equivocal. Equivocal uptakes were finally diagnosed based on a consensus review of correlative imaging. Patient- and lesion-based analysis was performed. Patients with superscan images were excluded from lesion-based analysis. Results At least one metastatic or equivocal uptake in skeleton was defined in 76 of 138 (55%) BS, in 33 of 102 (32.3%) SPECT/CT, and in 49 of 138 (35.5%) 68 Ga-PSMA PET/CT. 23 (16.7%) patients had also superscan findings on BS and 68 Ga-PSMA PET/CT. For patient-based analysis, sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, PPV, and NPV were calculated as 91.1%, 64.5%, 73.1%, 55.4% and 93.7% for BS; 95.5%, 82.7%, 86.9%, 72.8% and 96.2% for BS + SPECT/CT; 97.7%, 95.7%, 95.6%, 91.6% and 98.8% for 68 Ga-PSMA PET/CT. For lesion-based analysis, sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, PPV, and NPV were 53%, 63.9%, 60.1%, 42.8% and 71.8% for BS; 59.2%, 87.6%, 77.7%, 62.6% and 80% for BS + SPECT/CT; 96.4%, 98.1%, 97.5%, 96.4% and 98.1% for 68 Ga-PSMA PET/CT. Conclusion This study has shown that 68 Ga-PSMA PET/CT overcomes the limitations of BS and proves superiority in detecting bone metastases, even in patients with SPECT/CT. Our findings present important implications that 68 Ga-PSMA PET/CT can replace BS in future practice

Changes in inflammatory mediators as a result of intermittent hypoxia in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome

BackgroundInflammation plays an important role in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship of serum C-reactive protein (CRP), pentraxin-3 (PTX-3), procalcitonin (ProCT), interleukin-33 (IL-33) and its soluble receptor ST2 (sST2) with the syndrome severity and to show theirs importance as biomarkers