Dissemination of Misinformative and Biased Information about Prostate Cancer on YouTube

YouTube is a social media platform with more than 1 billion users and >600 000 videos about prostate cancer. Two small studies examined the quality of prostate cancer videos on YouTube, but did not use validated instruments, examine user interactions, or characterize the spread of misinformation. We performed the largest, most comprehensive examination of prostate cancer information on YouTube to date, including the first 150 videos on screening and treatment. We used the validated DISCERN quality criteria for consumer health information and the Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool, and compared results for user engagement. The videos in our sample had up to 1.3 million views (average 45 223) and the overall quality of information was moderate. More videos described benefits (75%) than harms (53%), and only 50% promoted shared decision-making as recommended in current guidelines. Only 54% of the videos defined medical terms and few provided summaries or references. There was a significant negative correlation between scientific quality and viewer engagement (views/month p = 0.004; thumbs up/views p = 0.015). The comments section underneath some videos contained advertising and peer-to-peer medical advice. A total of 115 videos (77%) contained potentially misinformative and/or biased content within the video or comments section, with a total reach of >6 million viewers.

Dissected Aorta Repair Through Stent Implantation trial: Canadian results

Objectives

We describe the Canadian results of the Ascyrus Medical Dissection Stent (AMDS), a novel partially uncovered aortic arch hybrid graft implanted antegrade during hypothermic circulatory arrest to promote true lumen expansion and enhance aortic remodeling.

Same-Day Yttrium-90 Radioembolization: Feasibility with Resin Microspheres

Purpose

To evaluate the feasibility of a same-day yttrium-90 (⁹⁰Y) radioembolization protocol with resin microspheres (including pretreatment angiography, lung shunt fraction [LSF] determination, and radioembolization) for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and liver metastases.

Prognosis and prognostic factors of running-related injuries in novice runners: A prospective cohort study

Objectives

To investigate the prognosis and possible prognostic factors of running-related injuries (RRIs) in novice runners.

Evaluating the impact of a targeted brief HIV intervention on multiple inter-related HIV risk factors of knowledge and attitudes among incarcerated drug users

Increases in HIV prevalence indicate ongoing need for HIV interventions. A brief manualized intervention called the Texas Christian University (TCU) WaySafe, which addresses multiple HIV risks, was further evaluated to determine how it addressed individual’s knowledge deficiencies in the assessed risks. The sample of 1,256 offenders in eight correctional substance abuse treatment programs participated either in treatment as usual (TAU) or TCU WaySafe. From multivariate multilevel analysis, WaySafe was more effective in improving the greatest need area, whether knowledge, motivation, or confidence regarding HIV risky behaviors. Findings underscored the importance of addressing HIV risk areas with the greatest need for change and strengthens previous findings of the intervention’s potential for individuals with varying HIV risks.     

Death rates at specific life stages mold the sex gap in life expectancy

Why do women live longer than men? Here, we mine rich lodes of demographic data to reveal that lower female mortality at particular ages is decisive—and that the important ages changed around 1950. Earlier, excess mortality among baby boys was crucial; afterward, the gap largely resulted from elevated mortality among men 60+. Young males bear modest responsibility for the sex gap in life expectancy: Depending on the country and time, their mortality accounts for less than a quarter and often less than a 10th of the gap. Understanding the impact on life expectancy of differences between male and female risks of death by age, over time, and across populations yields insights for research on how the lives of men and women differ.

Between ages 15 and 40, death rates for men are usually two or three times higher than death rates for women. This disparity has fueled widespread interest in the ratio of male to female death rates over the life course and in why it is exceptionally high for younger adults (1–6). Between ages 15 and 40, however, numbers of deaths are relatively low, so the high ratio of male to female death rates has a modest impact on the gap between female and male life expectancies. The sex difference in life expectancy hinges on differences in mortality risks at the ages when deaths are relatively common (7). Up through the early decades of the 20th century, these ages were at both extremes of life, infancy and old age. Afterward, death mostly struck after age 60. Here, we investigate variation across populations, over time, and over the life course in absolute and relative differences in mortality for men and women. We discuss what insights can be gained by scrutinizing relative risks compared to what can be learned by analyzing absolute risks.     

Reston virus causes severe respiratory disease in young domestic pigs

Reston virus (RESTV), an ebolavirus, causes clinical disease in macaques but has yet only been associated with rare asymptomatic infections in humans. Its 2008 emergence in pigs in the Philippines raised concerns about food safety, pathogenicity, and zoonotic potential, questions that are still unanswered. Until today, the virulence of RESTV for pigs has remained elusive, with unclear pathogenicity in naturally infected animals and only one experimental study demonstrating susceptibility and evidence for shedding but no disease. Here we show that combined oropharyngeal and nasal infection of young (3- to 7-wk-old) Yorkshire cross pigs with RESTV resulted in severe respiratory disease, with most animals reaching humane endpoint within a week. RESTV-infected pigs developed severe cyanosis, tachypnea, and acute interstitial pneumonia, with RESTV shedding from oronasal mucosal membranes. Our studies indicate that RESTV should be considered a livestock pathogen with zoonotic potential.

Reston virus (RESTV) was discovered in 1989/1990 in macaques imported into the United States from the Philippines for research purposes (1). Since then, there have been several episodes of disease caused by RESTV in macaques and rare asymptomatic infections in humans (2, 3). Unexpectedly, in 2008, RESTV emerged in pigs in the Philippines, and, shortly thereafter, RESTV sequences were detected in Chinese swine, raising zoonotic and food safety concerns (4, 5). RESTV constitutes a separate species in the genus Ebolavirus, family Filoviridae, and is generally thought of as the human apathogenic filovirus (6). Aside from humans (2, 3), RESTV has been shown to naturally and experimentally infect macaques, swine, ferrets, bats, and several rodent species (4, 5, 7–13). Upon experimental infection, macaques and ferrets, as well as immunocompromised rodents, such as STAT-1 knockout mice, develop severe disease with lethal outcome, whereas immunocompetent rodents generally do not (9–12). Whether RESTV itself causes disease in naturally infected domestic pigs remains unknown, since the RESTV-infected pigs from the Philippines were coinfected with the virulent arterivirus porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV; now Betaarterivirus suid 1). In an initial experimental study, domestic pigs infected with RESTV only exhibited subclinical infections with evidence for virus shedding (7). We studied RESTV infection in young (3- to 7-wk-old) Yorkshire cross pigs, a swine breed used frequently in commercial pig production systems around the world. The main objective was to determine an age-dependent susceptibility to infection.     

Comparison between tension band and cerclage with X-Plate and lag screws in treatment of comminuted patellar fractures

BackgroundComminuted patellar fractures are not rare, and the ideal treatment method remains controversial. The present study was conducted to evaluate effects and compare complications of two different methods used to treat comminuted patellar fractures.MethodsFrom March 2010 to August 2016, 102 cases of 34-C2 or 34-C3 comminuted patellar fractures were treated at our hospital, wherein patients received two different treatments: titanium cable tension band with cerclage method (group A) and intrafragmentary screws with X-shaped plating technique (group B). At follow-ups, articular step-off, range of motion (ROM), Lysholm scores, time of union, and complications were recorded and analyzed. Radiographic and clinical data as well as rate of complications were statistically analyzed.ResultsIn total, 87 patients were included in the final analysis (n = 47 in group A and n = 40 in group B). No significant differences were noted in terms of cost of implant, age, gender, rate of 34-C3 fractures, rate of layered inferior pole fractures, postoperative articular step-off and union time. At 2-year follow-up, average Lysholm scores, ROM and rate of complications were (89.0 ± 4.5), (122°±12°) and (27.7%) in group A and (90.2 ± 3.9), (124°±11°) and (17.5%) in group B, respectively, with no significant differences (p > 0.05). The mean time of surgery in group B was shorter than that in group A with significant difference (p < 0.05).ConclusionsTreatment using the intrafragmentary screws and plate method for amenable comminuted patellar fractures achieved similar complication rate and favorable functional outcomes at the 2-year follow-up, which was comparable to the titanium cable tension band with cerclage method. Thus, the intrafragmentary screws and plate method is effective, safe and convenient for 34-C2/C3 comminuted patellar fractures, especially appropriate for patients with layered fragments.