Treating older children with clubfoot: results of a cross-sectional survey of expert practitioners

Treating clubfoot in walking-age children is debated, despite studies showing that using the Ponseti casting principles can correct the midfoot effectively. We aimed to explore techniques and approaches for the management of older children with clubfoot and identify consensus areas. A mixed-methods cross-sectional electronic survey on delayed-presenting clubfoot (DPC) was sent to 88 clubfoot practitioners (response rate 56.8%). We collected data on decision-making, casting, imaging, orthotics, surgery, recurrence, rehabilitation, multidisciplinary care, and contextual factors. The quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics. The qualitative data were analysed using conventional content analysis. Many respondents reported using the Pirani score and some used the PAVER score to aid deformity severity assessment and correctability. Respondents consistently applied the Ponseti casting principles with a stepwise approach. Respondents reported economic, social, and other contextual factors that influenced the timing of the treatment, the decision to treat a bilateral deformity simultaneously, and casting intervals. Differences were seen around orthotic usage and surgical approaches, such as the use of tibialis anterior tendon transfer following full correction. In summary, the survey identified consensus areas in the overall principles of management for older children with clubfoot and the implementation of the Ponseti principles. The results indicate these principles are well recognised as a multidisciplinary approach for older children with clubfoot and can be adapted well for different geographical and healthcare contexts

Mental health support for children and adolescents with hearing loss: scoping review

BackgroundChildren with hearing loss are at increased risk of mental health conditions, including behavioural problems, but there is limited evidence about available mental health support.AimsWe aimed to map the evidence on mental health support for children and adolescents with hearing loss.MethodMedline, Embase, PsycINFO and grey literature databases were searched until April 2021. Articles of any study design were eligible if they described an intervention supporting the mental health of children with hearing loss. No restrictions were placed on geography or publication date. Four reviewers independently screened results by title, abstract and full text. Study characteristics and outcome data were extracted, with results narratively synthesised.ResultsFrom 5629 search results, 27 articles were included. A large majority of the studies (81%, n = 22) were from high-income settings, with two-thirds (67%, n = 18) conducted in the USA. Less than half (41%, n = 11) of the articles adopted experimental research designs, and the majority of studies included small samples. The interventions presented were diverse, with the majority either therapy based (30%, n = 8) or skills training (30%, n = 8). Interventions included ice-skating, parent–child interaction therapy and resilience training. When measured, interventions demonstrated at least some evidence of effectiveness, although this was not always assessed with gold-standard methodology.ConclusionsThe evidence is lacking in breadth, study quality and geographical spread. That said, what is available indicates a range of effective approaches to support the mental health of children with hearing loss. Additional research is needed to improve the breadth of evidence on mental health support for this population.</jats:sec

Critical Media Industry Studies: A Research Approach

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/73139/1/j.1753-9137.2009.01037.x.pd

A Compilation of Global Bio-Optical In Situ Data for Ocean-Colour Satellite Applications

A compiled set of in situ data is important to evaluate the quality of ocean-colour satellite-data records. Here we describe the data compiled for the validation of the ocean-colour products from the ESA Ocean Colour Climate Change Initiative (OC-CCI). The data were acquired from several sources (MOBY, BOUSSOLE, AERONET-OC, SeaBASS, NOMAD, MERMAID, AMT, ICES, HOT, GeP&CO), span between 1997 and 2012, and have a global distribution. Observations of the following variables were compiled: spectral remote-sensing reflectances, concentrations of chlorophyll a, spectral inherent optical properties and spectral diffuse attenuation coefficients. The data were from multi-project archives acquired via the open internet services or from individual projects, acquired directly from data providers. Methodologies were implemented for homogenisation, quality control and merging of all data. No changes were made to the original data, other than averaging of observations that were close in time and space, elimination of some points after quality control and conversion to a standard format. The final result is a merged table designed for validation of satellite-derived ocean-colour products and available in text format. Metadata of each in situ measurement (original source, cruise or experiment, principal investigator) were preserved throughout the work and made available in the final table. Using all the data in a validation exercise increases the number of matchups and enhances the representativeness of different marine regimes. By making available the metadata, it is also possible to analyse each set of data separately. The compiled data are available at doi:10.1594/PANGAEA.854832 (Valente et al., 2015)

A compilation of global bio-optical in situ data for ocean-colour satellite applications - version three

A global in situ data set for validation of ocean colour products from the ESA Ocean Colour Climate Change Initiative (OC-CCI) is presented. This version of the compilation, starting in 1997, now extends to 2021, which is important for the validation of the most recent satellite optical sensors such as Sentinel 3B OLCI and NOAA-20 VIIRS. The data set comprises in situ observations of the following variables: spectral remote-sensing reflectance, concentration of chlorophyll-a, spectral inherent optical properties, spectral diffuse attenuation coefficient, and total suspended matter. Data were obtained from multi-project archives acquired via open internet services or from individual projects acquired directly from data providers. Methodologies were implemented for homogenization, quality control, and merging of all data. Minimal changes were made on the original data, other than conversion to a standard format, elimination of some points, after quality control and averaging of observations that were close in time and space. The result is a merged table available in text format. Overall, the size of the data set grew with 148 432 rows, with each row representing a unique station in space and time (cf. 136 250 rows in previous version; Valente et al., 2019). Observations of remote-sensing reflectance increased to 68 641 (cf. 59 781 in previous version; Valente et al., 2019). There was also a near tenfold increase in chlorophyll data since 2016. Metadata of each in situ measurement (original source, cruise or experiment, principal investigator) are included in the final table. By making the metadata available, provenance is better documented and it is also possible to analyse each set of data separately. The compiled data are available at https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.941318 (Valente et al., 2022)

klf2ash317 Mutant Zebrafish Do Not Recapitulate Morpholino-Induced Vascular and Haematopoietic Phenotypes.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: The zinc-finger transcription factor Krϋppel-like factor 2 (KLF2) transduces blood flow into molecular signals responsible for a wide range of responses within the vasculature. KLF2 maintains a healthy, quiescent endothelial phenotype. Previous studies report a range of phenotypes following morpholino antisense oligonucleotide-induced klf2a knockdown in zebrafish. Targeted genome editing is an increasingly applied method for functional assessment of candidate genes. We therefore generated a stable klf2a mutant zebrafish and characterised its cardiovascular and haematopoietic development. METHODS AND RESULTS: Using Transcription Activator-Like Effector Nucleases (TALEN) we generated a klf2a mutant (klf2ash317) with a 14bp deletion leading to a premature stop codon in exon 2. Western blotting confirmed loss of wild type Klf2a protein and the presence of a truncated protein in klf2ash317 mutants. Homozygous klf2ash317 mutants exhibit no defects in vascular patterning, survive to adulthood and are fertile, without displaying previously described morphant phenotypes such as high-output cardiac failure, reduced haematopoetic stem cell (HSC) development or impaired formation of the 5th accessory aortic arch. Homozygous klf2ash317 mutation did not reduce angiogenesis in zebrafish with homozygous mutations in von Hippel Lindau (vhl), a form of angiogenesis that is dependent on blood flow. We examined expression of three klf family members in wildtype and klf2ash317 zebrafish. We detected vascular expression of klf2b (but not klf4a or biklf/klf4b/klf17) in wildtypes but found no differences in expression that might account for the lack of phenotype in klf2ash317 mutants. klf2b morpholino knockdown did not affect heart rate or impair formation of the 5th accessory aortic arch in either wildtypes or klf2ash317 mutants. CONCLUSIONS: The klf2ash317 mutation produces a truncated Klf2a protein but, unlike morpholino induced klf2a knockdown, does not affect cardiovascular development

A compilation of global bio-optical in situ data for ocean colour satellite applications – version three

A global in situ data set for validation of ocean colour products from the ESA Ocean Colour Climate Change Initiative (OC-CCI) is presented. This version of the compilation, starting in 1997, now extends to 2021, which is important for the validation of the most recent satellite optical sensors such as Sentinel 3B OLCI and NOAA-20 VIIRS. The data set comprises in situ observations of the following variables: spectral remote-sensing reflectance, concentration of chlorophyll-a, spectral inherent optical properties, spectral diffuse attenuation coefficient, and total suspended matter. Data were obtained from multi-project archives acquired via open internet services or from individual projects acquired directly from data providers. Methodologies were implemented for homogenization, quality control, and merging of all data. Minimal changes were made on the original data, other than conversion to a standard format, elimination of some points, after quality control and averaging of observations that were close in time and space. The result is a merged table available in text format. Overall, the size of the data set grew with 148 432 rows, with each row representing a unique station in space and time (cf. 136 250 rows in previous version; Valente et al., 2019). Observations of remote-sensing reflectance increased to 68 641 (cf. 59 781 in previous version; Valente et al., 2019). There was also a near tenfold increase in chlorophyll data since 2016. Metadata of each in situ measurement (original source, cruise or experiment, principal investigator) are included in the final table. By making the metadata available, provenance is better documented and it is also possible to analyse each set of data separately. The compiled data are available at https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.941318 (Valente et al., 2022)

Polyphenol Rich Sugarcane Extract Reduces Body Weight in C57/BL6J Mice Fed a High Fat, High Carbohydrate Diet

Background: Energy-dense diets have been implicated as a driving force in the global obesity crisis. Sucrose derived from sugar cane (Saccharum officinarum) is a carbohydrate source at the centre of this discussion. However, sugar cane is a complex plant containing a wide variety of phytochemicals that may have anti-obesity properties. The objective of this study was to assess if polyphenols extracted from sugar cane were capable of mitigating the progression of diet-induced obesity. Methods: Forty-five male, six-week-old C57BL/6J mice were divided into groups of 15 and fed a high-fat, high-carbohydrate diet supplemented with 0%, 2% or 4% polyphenol-rich sugarcane extract (PRSE) for twelve weeks. Body weight, food intake, water intake and faecal content were measured in addition to dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) of the mice. Gene expression was also assessed for a range of key metabolic pathways in both blood and tissue samples in order to determine PRSE’s potential mechanisms of action. Data was analysed using ANOVA and post-hoc statistical methods. Results: Mice fed 4% PRSE were found to have a significantly lower overall bodyweight and adipose tissue accumulation compared to control (0%). This finding was supported by a reduced plasma leptin concentration and an increased excretion of carbohydrates. Upregulated gene transcriptions of adiponectin, PPARγ, PPARα, UCP2 and fatty acid synthase mRNAs were also observed. Conclusions: These results indicate that reduced carbohydrate absorption is the primary mechanism leading to the reduction of body weight in mice fed a high-fat, high-carbohydrate diet. This is predominately supported by the detection of increased carbohydrate concentration in the faeces of mice that lost weight. Other potential mechanisms, such as feed intake and energy expenditure, did not show significant differences between groups and are less likely to be involved