Medium-term Effects Research Articles

Changes in Income Poverty Risks at the Transition from Unemployment to Employment: Comparing the Short-Term and Medium-Term Effects of Fixed-Term and Permanent Jobs

Unemployment is a major risk factor of poverty and employment is regarded key to overcoming it. The present study examines how the income poverty risk of unemployed individuals changes in the short and medium term, when they take up work, and whether the effects differ according to the type of employment. The focus is on permanent and fixed-term job contracts, as the political promotion of fixed-term employment has often been framed as an effort to reduce long-term unemployment and poverty. Drawing on longitudinal data from the German panel study ‘Labour Market and Social Security’ (PASS) 2010–18, we apply a first difference estimator with asymmetric effects to examine the effect of starting a job out of unemployment on income poverty risks in the subsequent four years. Strikingly, starting in a fixed-term and permanent contract have similarly strong and lasting poverty-reducing effects in the short and medium term. Thus, with regard to risks of income poverty, starting a permanent job does not appear more beneficial than starting a fixed-term job for unemployed persons. We discuss the reasons for this finding and also explore how the poverty-reducing effects of transitions from unemployment to fixed-term versus permanent employment vary by household type, occupation, working time and firm size.

Short and medium-term effects of the COVID-19 lockdowns on child and parent accelerometer-measured physical activity and sedentary time: a natural experiment

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in marked impacts on children’s physical activity, with large reductions in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) reported during lockdowns. Previous evidence showed children’s activity levels were lower and sedentary time higher immediately post-COVID lockdown, while there was little change in parental physical activity. We need to know if these patterns persist.MethodsActive-6 is a natural experiment using repeated cross-sectional data conducted in two waves. Accelerometer data were collected on 393 children aged 10–11 and their parents from 23 schools in Wave 1 (June 2021-December 2021), and 436 children and parents from 27 schools in Wave 2 (January 2022-July 2022). These were compared to a pre-COVID-19 comparator group (March 2017-May 2018) of 1,296 children and parents in the same schools. Mean minutes of accelerometer-measured MVPA and sedentary time were derived for week- and weekend-days and compared across waves via linear multilevel models. We also analysed the date of data collection as a time series, to explore temporal patterns via generalised additive mixed models.ResultsThere was no difference in children’s mean MVPA in Wave 2 (weekdays: -2.3 min; 95% CI: -5.9, 1.3 and weekends: 0.6 min; 95% CI: -3.5, 4.6) when compared to the pre-COVID-19 data. Sedentary time remained higher than pre-pandemic by 13.2 min (95% CI:5.3, 21.1) on weekdays. Differences compared to pre-COVID-19 changed over time, with children’s MVPA decreasing over winter, coinciding with COVID-19 outbreaks, and only returning to pre-pandemic levels towards May/June 2022. Parents’ sedentary time and weekday MVPA was similar to pre-COVID-19 levels, with MVPA higher than pre-pandemic by 7.7 min (95% CI: 1.4, 14.0) on weekends.ConclusionAfter an initial drop, children’s MVPA returned to pre-pandemic levels by July 2022, while sedentary time remained higher. Parents’ MVPA remained higher, especially at weekends. The recovery in physical activity is precarious and potentially susceptible to future COVID-19 outbreaks or changes in provision, and so robust measures to protect against future disruptions are needed. Furthermore, many children are still inactive, with only 41% meeting UK physical activity guidelines, and so there is still a need to increase children’s physical activity.

An assessment of short–medium-term interventions using CAESAR-Lisflood in a post-earthquake mountainous area

Abstract. The 2008 Wenchuan earthquake triggered rapid local geomorphic changes, shifting abundant material through exogenic processes and generating vast amounts of loose material. The substantial material movement increased the geohazard (flash floods, landslides and debris flows) risks induced by extreme precipitation in the area. Intervention measures such as check dams, levees and vegetated slopes have been constructed in specific locations to reduce sediment transport and thereby mitigate the impact of ensuing geohazards. This study assessed the short–medium-term effects of interventions, including multiple control measures, in a post-earthquake mountainous region. Taking the Xingping valley as an example, we used CAESAR-Lisflood, a two-dimensional landscape evolution model, to simulate three scenarios, unprotected landscape, present protected landscape and enhanced protected landscape, between 2011 and 2013. We defined two indices to assess the intervention effects of the three scenarios by comparing the geomorphic changes and sediment yields. The results show that the mitigation measures are effective, especially the geotechnical engineering efforts in combination with ecological engineering in the upstream area. The spatial patterns of erosion and deposition change considerably due to the intervention measures. Additionally, the effectiveness of each intervention scenario shows a gradual decline over time, mainly due to the reduction in the reservoir storage capacity. The enhanced scenario performs better than the present one, with a more gradual downward trend of effectiveness. The simulation results evaluated the ability and effectiveness of comprehensive control measures and will support optimal mitigation strategies.

Clinical Study of a Physician Modified Y-Type Iliac Branch Device (PMYIBD) in the Endovascular Repair of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms to Preserve the Internal Iliac Artery

Objectives: To report the method and curative effect of using a physician modified Y-type iliac branch device (PMYIBD) to preserve the internal iliac artery during the endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms. Methods: From September 2018 to April 2022, 24 patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms or dissecting aneurysms, including 19 true aneurysms and 5 dissecting aneurysms involving the common iliac artery were treated in our department. The average age was (65.3 ± 7.6) years. All patients underwent preoperative evaluation by enhanced computed tomography. Combined with intraoperative angiography, a Y-type stent graft was prepared during surgery to perform endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms. Results: All operations were successfully completed. The average operative duration was (224.8 ± 44.1) minutes. A total of 24 internal iliac arteries were reconstructed. The average follow-up time was (27.1 ± 13.5) months. During the follow-up, there was no expansion of aneurysm cavity, no endoleak or stent displacement, and no death occurred in all patients. Discussion: The physician-modified Y-type iliac branched device (PMYIBD) provides an effective method for full-cavity repair. It has a wide range of indications and convenience. According to follow-up results, the early and mid-term had good curative effects; however, the long-term effects require further follow-up. Conclusion: The modified Y-type IBD technique is safe and effective for aortic diseases involving internal iliac artery especially with complex anatomy. Clinical Impact It is meaningful to preserve the IIA during EVAR. The use of PMYIBD provides a simple and effective method for the total endovascular repair of aortic diseases involving the IIA. Several advantages such as minimal trauma, low mortality, low complication rates and perfect short- and medium-term effects emerge in clinical practice. PMYIBDs are good choices for clinicians before suitable commercial stents are available in markets.

Medium-Term Effect of Organic Amendments on the Chemical Properties of a Soil Used for Vegetable Cultivation with Cereal and Legume Rotation in a Semiarid Climate

The response of a Petrocalcic Palexeroll dedicated to the cultivation of vegetables (Apium graveolens L.) with a rotation of a mixture of cereals and legumes when organic amendments are added has been studied; specifically, three fertilization treatments were experimented with: two organic (LSM and COA) and one with chemical fertilizers (I). The LSM and COA plots were managed according to the regulations governing organic production, while in I, conventional agricultural production practices were used. Over a three-year period, monthly samples were taken from the topsoil and analyzed for organic carbon (OC), total nitrogen (TN), C/N ratio, total P (P), electrical conductivity of the saturation extract (ECext) and extract ions, pH in water (pHw) and 1 M KCl (pHKCl), cation exchange capacity (CEC), exchangeable bases (Mg2+, K+, Na+), and assimilable elements (Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn). The results obtained indicated significant differences between the treatments for the OC, TN, C/N, and P; specifically, in the case of OC the mean concentrations were 22.2 > 20.1 > 17.5 g kg−1 for the LSM, COA, and I, respectively. The addition of organic amendments also improved the soil function for food production, evidenced by the higher concentrations of K, Mg, and micronutrients. The ECext and extracted ions were also sensitive to the treatments such that the sequence of ECext in the third year was COA = LSM > I, with values of 5.0, 4.8, and 3.3 dSm−1, which forced a rethink of the doses of the amendments applied. These results suggest that the LSM-based agronomic model had a beneficial effect on the soil properties and contributed to its function as a C sink.

A dynamic perspective on the evolution of perceived stress levels in Switzerland: drivers before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

As a major socio-historical event affecting different aspects of life, the COVID-19 pandemic presents a unique opportunity to study how different population groups adapt. We investigate the impact of this crisis on the evolution of perceived stress in the short and medium term in Switzerland, using data of the Swiss Household Panel from 2016 to early 2021, which include annual measures of perceived stress and a study between waves, conducted in May and June 2020 at the end of the first semi-lockdown. Using the longitudinal structure of the data with pre-crisis measurements, we estimate pooled OLS, fixed effects and first difference models, which include socio-demographic variables, life events, socio-economic status, work-related variables, stress-reducing resources and restrictions in place. Results for the overall population show a continuous increase in stress levels between 2016 and 2019 and a stress reduction right after the first semi-lockdown followed by a return to pre-pandemic levels. Privileged groups with higher levels of stress before the pandemic were most likely to reduce perceived stress. Characteristics related to more favourable trajectories include stable or improved financial situations and high levels of education (short-term effects), and high-pressure jobs and working hours (short- and medium-term effects). Our analyses reveal the importance of resources, such as social relations and work-life balance, to individuals' management of the effects of the pandemic. Our results show that the effects of the pandemic on perceived stress are context-specific. They underline the importance of longitudinal analyses to understand the complexity of vulnerability and adaptation processes.

Heterogeneous Behavior and Volatility Transmission in the Forex Market using High-Frequency Data

Abstract This paper examines the dynamics of volatility transmission in the forex market using high-frequency data for five exchange rates (EUR/USD, EUR/JPY, EUR/CHF, EUR/GBP and EUR/AUD) from January 2004 to October 2014. We apply a multivariate HAR model in which the daily realized volatility of a given exchange rate depends on both its own lags and the lagged realized volatilities of the other exchange rates. Furthermore, this model is able to identify short-term, medium-term, and long-term transmission effects. We also find evidence of statistically significant volatility transmission between exchange rates in the forex market, especially during periods marked by market uncertainty. JEL classification numbers: C5, F31, G15. Keywords: Foreign exchange markets, Realized volatility, High-frequency data, Volatility transmission, HAR model, DCC-GARCH.

Testing the Novel Weapons Hypothesis of the Argentine Ant Venom on Amphibians

The globally invasive Argentine ant (Linepithema humile) possesses a venom lethal to some amphibian species in the invaded range. To test the novel weapons hypothesis (NWH), the effects of the toxin on the cohabiting amphibian species in the ant's native range need to be investigated. The invader should benefit from the novel chemical in the invaded range, because the species are not adapted, but the venom should not be effective in the native range. We explore the venom effects on juveniles of three amphibian species with different degrees of myrmecophagy inhabiting the ant's native range: Rhinella arenarum, Odontophrynus americanus, and Boana pulchella. We exposed the amphibians to the ant venom, determined the toxic dose, and evaluated the short- (10 min to 24 h) and medium-term (14 days) effects. All amphibian species were affected by the venom independently of myrmecophagy. In addition to amphibian sensitivity, we discuss how the differential Argentine ant abundance and density in the two ranges could be the key to the susceptibility of amphibians to the venom, resulting in the possibility of NWH. Our results confirm the potential magnitude of the impact of the Argentine ant in successfully invaded areas for the conservation of already threatened amphibians.

Medium-term surgical outcomes and health-related quality of life after laparoscopic vs open colorectal cancer resection: SF-36 health survey questionnaire.

Previous studies that compared the postoperative health-related quality of life (HRQoL) outcomes after receiving laparoscopic resection (LR) or open resection (OR) in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) have different conclusions. To explore the medium-term effect of postoperative HRQoL in such patients. This study randomized 567 patients undergoing non-metastatic CRC surgery managed by one surgeon to the LR or OR groups. HRQoL was assessed during the preoperative period and 3, 6, and 12 mo postoperative using a modified version of the 36-Item Short Form (SF-36) Health Survey questionnaire, emphasizing eight specific items. This cohort randomly assigned 541 patients to receive LR (n = 296) or OR (n = 245) surgical procedures. More episodes of postoperative urinary tract infection (P < 0.001), wound infection (P < 0.001), and pneumonia (P = 0.048) were encountered in the OR group. The results demonstrated that the LR group subjectively gained mildly better general health (P = 0.045), moderately better physical activity (P = 0.006), and significantly better social function recovery (P = 0.0001) 3 mo postoperatively. Only the aspect of social function recovery was claimed at 6 mo, with a significant advantage in the LR group (P = 0.001). No clinical difference was found in HRQoL during the 12 mo. Our results demonstrated that LR resulted in better outcomes, including intra-operative blood loss, surgery-related complications, course of recovery, and especially some health domains of HRQoL at least within 6 mo postoperatively. Patients should undergo LR if there is no contraindication.

The effect of nutritional and lifestyle education intervention program on nutrition knowledge, diet quality, lifestyle, and nutritional status of Croatian school children

IntroductionNutrition education during adolescence has proven effective in increasing knowledge, attitudes, and practices in the diet. The Mediterranean diet has proven health benefits and is proposed as a model of a sustainable diet that is beneficial for health and the environment. Its promotion with the educational program can have a significant effect on improvements in nutrition knowledge, diet quality, and nutritive status of adolescents for their healthy adulthood.ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the effect of the educational program on the nutrition knowledge, diet quality, lifestyle, and nutritional status of school children from the littoral part of Croatia.MethodsAn education-based intervention study was carried out on 2,709 schoolchildren aged 10–12 years (educated/control group: 2617/92). The questionnaire about sociodemographic, anthropometric, dietary, physical activity, screen time, sleep habits, and nutrition knowledge was assessed at the baseline and after a 6- to 9-month follow-up for the medium-term effect of education. Nutrition knowledge was provided after 3 weeks for the short-term education effect assessment.ResultsEducated schoolchildren achieved a significant increase in nutrition knowledge (+75.5%), expressed as a short-term effect of the education and maintained at the 6- to 9-month follow-up (+66.8%, p &amp;lt; 0.001). Follow-up of children significantly improved their nutritional status (underweight −56.6%, normal weight 24.8%, overweight −22.1%, and obesity −57.5%) and physical activity engagement (+13.2%). The proportion of children with a diet highly adhering to the Mediterranean diet significantly doubled (+105.0). Those children with the highest nutrition knowledge at the follow-up significantly improved their nutritional status (+218.9%), participated in organized sports (+204.7%), and had a diet that highly adhered to the MD (+291.8%).ConclusionA significantly good medium-term effect of education-based nutrition and lifestyle intervention program on nutrition knowledge, diet quality, lifestyle, and nutritional status of schoolchildren aged 10–12 years was shown. The educational program promoted a Mediterranean diet and lifestyle as a healthy and sustainable way of living, important for children's future health and wellbeing. New research-based approaches are needed for making children more aware and capable of handling the complexity of sustainable living.

Dual-task versus single-task gait rehabilitation after stroke: the protocol of the cognitive-motor synergy multicenter, randomized, controlled superiority trial (SYNCOMOT)

BackgroundGait disorders and cognitive impairments are prime causes of disability and institutionalization after stroke. We hypothesized that relative to single-task gait rehabilitation (ST GR), cognitive-motor dual-task (DT) GR initiated at the subacute stage would be associated with greater improvements in ST and DT gait, balance, and cognitive performance, personal autonomy, disability, and quality of life in the short, medium and long terms after stroke.MethodsThis multicenter (n=12), two-arm, parallel-group, randomized (1:1), controlled clinical study is a superiority trial. With p<0.05, a power of 80%, and an expected loss to follow-up rate of 10%, the inclusion of 300 patients will be required to evidence a 0.1-m.s−1 gain in gait speed. Trial will include adult patients (18–90 years) in the subacute phase (0 to 6 months after a hemispheric stroke) and who are able to walk for 10 m (with or without a technical aid). Registered physiotherapists will deliver a standardized GR program (30 min three times a week, for 4 weeks). The GR program will comprise various DTs (phasic, executive function, praxis, memory, and spatial cognition tasks during gait) in the DT (experimental) group and gait exercises only in the ST (control) group. The primary outcome measure is gait speed 6 months after inclusion. The secondary outcomes are post-stroke impairments (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale and the motor part of the Fugl-Meyer Assessment of the lower extremity), gait speed (10-m walking test), mobility and dynamic balance (timed up-and-go test), ST and DT cognitive function (the French adaptation of the harmonization standards neuropsychological battery, and eight cognitive-motor DTs), personal autonomy (functional independence measure), restrictions in participation (structured interview and the modified Rankin score), and health-related quality of life (on a visual analog scale). These variables will be assessed immediately after the end of the protocol (probing the short-term effect), 1 month thereafter (the medium-term effect), and 5 months thereafter (the long-term effect).DiscussionThe main study limitation is the open design. The trial will focus on a new GR program applicable at various stages after stroke and during neurological disease.Trial registrationNCT03009773. Registered on January 4, 2017.

Results of sphenopalatine ganglion pulsed radio- frequency treatment in patients suffering from episodic cluster headache

Background &amp; Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the short- to medium-term effects of pulsed radiofrequency (PRF) of the sphenopalatine ganglion on episodic cluster headache. Methods: This is a retrospective observational study, 26 patients who underwent PRF of the sphenopalatine ganglion were retrospectively evaluated. The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score, number of headache attacks per week, autonomic symptoms and medication use were recorded at 1, 3 and 6 months after the procedure. Results: The mean VAS scores were significantly lower at the 1-, 3-, and 6-month evaluations compared with pre-procedure values (P &lt; 0.001). At the 6th month after the procedure, the proportion of subjects who completely stopped using medications was 26.9%, and the proportion with a decrease in autonomic symptoms was 61.5%. No complications were encountered as a result of the procedure. Conclusion: The application of PRF to the sphenopalatine ganglion is an effective and safe treatment option for episodic cluster headache in the short to medium term.

Freeze-thaw cycles alter the growth sprouting strategy of wetland plants by promoting denitrification

Freeze-thaw cycles exert an important abiotic stress on plants at the beginning of winter and spring in mid-to-high latitudes. Here, we investigate whether the effects of freeze-thaw cycles are carried over into the growing season in wetlands. We conduct a temperature-controlled experiment under two freeze-thaw and two flooding conditions on a typical plant (Scirpus planiculmis) and soil from the Momoge wetland (China) and analyze the microbial nitrogen metabolism, based on metagenomic sequencing. We show that freeze-thaw cycles earlier in the year significantly inhibit plant sprouting and early growth. Specifically, they promote denitrification and thus reduce nitrogen levels, which in turn intensifies nitrogen limitation in the wetland soil. We find that plants tend to sprout later but faster after they are exposed to freeze-thaw cycles. Wetland flooding could alleviate these medium-term effects of freeze-thaw cycles. Our results suggest that wetland plants in mid-to-high latitudes have evolved sprouting and growth strategies to adapt to climatic conditions at the beginning of winter and spring.

Income Inequality, Household Debt, and Consumption Growth in the United States

In this paper, the SV-TVP-VAR model is used to study the relationships between income inequality, household debt, and consumption growth in the US. This is of great significance for studying whether household debt can become a “substitute” for income and whether it is possible to achieve sustainable growth in consumption under the background of worsening income inequality. According to the research results, the main conclusions are as follows: Firstly, the widening of income inequality would increase consumption in the short term but restrain consumption in the medium and long term, as the relationship between them would turn from positive to negative. Secondly, household debt could improve consumption in the short term but reduce consumption in the medium and long term, with long-term effects being greater than medium-term effects, which means that the long-term negative impact of US household debt on household consumption would be persistent. Lastly, widening income inequality has led to rising household debt over different maturities.

Short- and Medium-Term Effects of Ageism on Loneliness Experienced During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Loneliness, common in old age, may be partially attributed to ageism. The present study explored the short- and medium-term effect of ageism on loneliness experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic using prospective data derived from the Israeli sample of the Survey of Health, Aging and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) (N = 553). Ageism was measured before the COVID-19 outbreak and loneliness in the summer of 2020 and 2021 using a direct single question. We also tested for age differences in this association. In both the 2020 and 2021 models, ageism was related to increased loneliness. This association remained significant after adjusting for a host of demographic, health, and social variables. In the 2020 model, we also found that the positive association between ageism and loneliness was significant only in people aged 70+. We discussed the results with reference to the COVID-19 pandemic, which drew attention to two global social phenomena: loneliness and ageism.

Conceptual Replication of Four Key Findings about Factual Corrections and Misinformation during the 2020 US Election: Evidence from Panel-Survey Experiments

AbstractIn the final two months of the 2020 US election, we conducted eight panel experiments to evaluate the immediate and medium-term effects of misinformation and factual corrections. Our results corroborate four sets of existing findings: fact-checks reliably improve factual accuracy, while misinformation degrades it; effects of fact-checks on belief accuracy endure, though they fade with time; effects on attitudes are minuscule; and there are important partisan asymmetries. We also offer one new empirical finding suggesting that effect heterogeneities by personality type and cognitive style may reflect attention paid to treatments. Our study confirms that the fundamental push and pull of misinformation and factual corrections on political beliefs holds even in electoral settings as saturated with mistruths as the 2020 US election.

Slackening of COVID-19 social isolation measures and resilience in young adults: a longitudinal study on medium-term effects on loneliness

Background Social isolation to contain the COVID-19 pandemic affected young adult mental health, partly through loneliness. Resilience is a protective factor for anxiety and depression after exposure to a stressor such as a pandemic. Medium-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on young adult mental health are yet to be defined. Aims This longitudinal study aimed to evaluate if slackening of social isolation reduced loneliness in young adult living in two European countries, and if this was positively related to their mental health care needs status. Methods A two-phase online survey was conducted from spring 2020 (T1) to summer 2020 (T2). The primary outcomes were the Resilience Scale for Adults (RSA) and the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) Loneliness Scale. Participants reported mental health care needs before and during lockdown: professional help-seeking, psychotropic drugs use, and admission to a psychiatric department. Results There were 88 participants at T2 (retention rate 35%), of whom 78.4% were female, with a mean age of 22±2.4 years. They were grouped according to mental health care needs change. UCLA scale score decreased in 51 (58.0%) participants from T1 to T2. The group who experienced an increase in mental health care needs displayed a more significant decrease in the UCLA scale compared to the other groups (adjusted p=0.02 and 0.01). The difference of UCLA scale scores from T1 to T2 was positively correlated with the RSA score at T1 (p=0.02). Limitations This longitudinal design provides robust evidence, but the drop-off (attrition 65%) is a significant limitation. Our research was explorative and the results need to be confirmed in future studies. Conclusions Loneliness decreased in line with the slackening of social isolation. Resilience predicts the positive medium-term outcome of loneliness. Thus, interpersonal social support and resilience seem particularly beneficial for young adult mental health. Early assessment of resilience in large-scale disasters could represent a powerful tool for identifying at-risk subjects. Future research should focus on the long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on young adult mental health.

Medium-Term Effects of Sprinkler Irrigation Combined with a Single Compost Application on Water and Rice Productivity and Food Safety.

Traditional rice (Oryza sativa L.) management (tillage and flooding) is unsustainable due to soil degradation and the large amount of irrigation water used, an issue which is exacerbated in the Mediterranean region. Therefore, there is a need to explore rice management strategies in order to improve water-use efficiency and ensure its sustainability. Thus, field experiments were conducted to determine the medium-term effects of different irrigation and tillage methods combined with a single compost application on water and rice productivity, as well as food safety in a semiarid Mediterranean region. The management systems evaluated were: sprinkler irrigation in combination with no-tillage (SNT), sprinkler irrigation in combination with conventional tillage (ST), which were implemented in 2015, and flooding irrigation in combination with conventional tillage (FT), and their homologues (SNT-C, ST-C, and FT-C) with single compost application in 2015. In reference to rice grain yield, the highest values were observed under ST treatment with 10 307 and 11 625 kg ha-1 in 2018 and 2019 respectively; whereas between FT and SNT there were no significant differences, with 8 140 kg ha-1 as mean value through the study. Nevertheless, sprinkler irrigation allowed saving 55% of the total amount of water applied in reference to flooding irrigation. Furthermore, the highest arsenic concentration in grains was found under FT but it decreased with compost application (FT-C) and especially with sprinkler irrigation, regardless of tillage management systems. However, sprinkler irrigation favors the cadmium uptake by plants, although this process was reduced under SNT in reference to ST, and especially under amended compost treatments. Therefore, our results suggested that a combination of sprinkler irrigation and compost application, regardless of the tillage system, could be an excellent strategy for rice management for the Mediterranean environment in terms of water and crop productivity as well as food safety.

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy with weekly cisplatin and paclitaxel followed by chemoradiation for locally advanced cervical cancer

BackgroundCurrently, the standard treatment for locally advanced cervical cancer is concurrent chemoradiation (CCRT). Forty percent of patients present with disease recurrence. This study aims to investigate the feasibility, safety and efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) with weekly cisplatin and paclitaxel (TP) followed by CCRT.MethodsWe are conducting a phase III trial comparing the efficacy and side effects of patients with cervical cancer (FIGO 2018 stage IIB to IVA) who were assigned to four cycles of NACT with cisplatin (40 mg/m2) and paclitaxel (60 mg/m2) weekly followed by CCRT or CCRT alone. In this report, we studied the medium-term effect of 50 patients enrolled in the NACT + CCRT arm. The primary endpoints were the response rate post-NACT and 12 weeks post-CCRT evaluated by MR/CT based on RECIST v 1.1. The secondary endpoints were 3-year OS (overall survival) and PFS (progression-free survival) measured by the Kaplan–Meier method.ResultsAmong 50 patients enrolled in the NACT + CCRT arm, the complete and partial response rates were 10.4% and 68.8%, post-NACT. Twelve weeks after treatment completion, the complete response rate was 72.0%, whereas the total response rate (complete and partial response) was 90.0%. After a median follow-up of 28 months, the 3-year OS rate was 83.9%, and the 3-year PFS rate was 73.6%. NACT response was related to superior PFS and OS compared with NACT nonresponse (P < 0.01). Late AEs were exiguous, while early AEs mainly included myelosuppression and gastrointestinal AEs.ConclusionsThis study showed a good response rate achieved by dose-dense weekly cisplatin and paclitaxel followed by standard CCRT. The treatment regimen is feasible, as evidenced by the acceptable toxicity of NACT and by the high compliance with radiotherapy.Trial registrationProtocol version number and date.Chinese clinical trial registry, ChiCTR1900025327; http://www.chictr.org.cn. Registered 24 August 2019. Retrospectively registered, medresman.org.cn/ChiCTR1900025326.The date recruitment began 01–01-2019.

Comparison of a directional cement delivery device versus conventional device in unilateral percutaneous kyphoplasty for the therapy of osteoporotic thoracolumbar fracture in the elderly

BackgroundPercutaneous kyphoplasty (PKP) has been demonstrated to be effective in the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCF). However, bilateral puncture techniques take more time to accept more X-ray radiation; some spinal surgeons apply unilateral puncture PKP, but the cement cannot be symmetrically distributed in the vertebral body, so we apply a directional bone cement delivery device that undergoes PKP through the unilateral pedicle puncture. This research aims to compare the clinical and radiological results of PKP via unilateral pedicle approach using a traditional bone cement delivery device and a directional bone cement delivery device and determine the value of a directional delivery device for the therapy of thoracolumbar compression fracture in the elderly.MethodsWe undertook a retrospective analysis of patients with single-level OVCF treated with unilateral pedicle puncture PKP from Jan 2018 to Jan 2020. Operation time, radiation exposure, bone cement injection volume, and the incidence of bone cement leakage were recorded for presentation, and the cement leakage and bone cement distribution were measured by X-ray and computed tomography scan. The patients were followed up postoperatively and were assessed mainly with regard to clinical and radiological outcomes.ResultsThere was no significant difference in the operation time, radiation exposure time, and incidence of bone cement leakage between the two groups. A significant difference was observed in the volume of bone cement injection between the two groups. All patients in both groups had significantly less pain after the procedures, compared with their preoperative period pain. There were no significant differences in Visual Analogue Scale, the relative height of the vertebral body, Cobb angle, and Quality of Life Questionnaire of the European Foundation for Osteoporosis between the two groups at 1 week after PKP, significant difference was observed only 12 months after operation.ConclusionApplication of directional bone cement delivery device is safe and feasible, compared with the application of traditional bone cement delivery device, without prolonging the operative time, radiation exposure time, and the incidence of bone cement leakage. It has the advantages of good short- and medium-term effect, excellent bone cement distribution, and low incidence of kyphosis recurrence.