Showing papers by "Anne Rasmussen published in 2022"

Novel topical allogeneic bone-marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell treatment of hard-to-heal diabetic foot ulcers: a proof of concept study

Abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate safety of treating diabetic foot ulcers with a topically administered mesenchymal stem cell product.Individuals with diabetes, peripheral neuropathy, toe blood pressure > 39 mmHg and non-infected foot ulcers with duration of four to fifty-two weeks were screened. Participants were treated with a one-time application of a topically applied allogeneic cellular product containing CD362 enriched mesenchymal stem cells suspended in a collagen solution. Participants were subsequently followed for seven months to gather information on adverse event and serious adverse events.A total of sixteen individuals were screened, of whom two were included. The included participants incurred a total of seven adverse events and one serious adverse event. Increased exudation from the treated diabetic foot ulcer was observed for both participants and a connection to investigational medicinal product was suspected. The increased exudation was resolved within one week after application of investigational medicinal product, without any further complications. The serious adverse event consisted of a hospital admission due to neurological symptoms, which were assumed to be caused by hypoglycemia, with no suspected correlation to the investigational medicinal product. None of the other observed adverse events were suspected to be associated with the investigational medicinal product.This study presents data from two individuals with a diabetic foot ulcer treated with a novel topical mesenchymal stem cell product. An adverse event observed for both participants was suspected to be associated to the investigational medicinal product, i.e., increased exudation, which was resolved within one week, did not lead to further complications and can easily be remedied by choosing bandages with higher absorption capacity or increasing frequency of bandage changes. This study lays the groundwork for further large scale randomized clinical studies.EudraCT number 2015-005580-16. Registered 12/06-2018.

The Unequal Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Political Interest Representation

Abstract: Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic is viewed by many as the biggest global crisis since WWII and had profound effects on the daily lives of people and decision-making worldwide. Using the pandemic as a system-wide agenda shock, we employ a difference-in-differences design to estimate its causal effects on inequalities in political access, and social media prominence among business interests and NGOs. Our argument is twofold. First, the urgency and uncertainty of crises incentivized decision-makers to privilege providing access to business groups over securing inclusivity in the types of interests consulted. Second, NGOs compensated by increasing prominence in public communications. Our analysis of data from over 10,000 interest groups from over 100 countries registered in the European Union supports these hypotheses. Business interests successfully capitalized on the crisis in insider access, while NGOs increased prominence on social media. The results have wider implications for understanding how large-scale crises affect inequalities in representation.

Novel topical allogeneic bone-marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell treatment of hard-to-heal diabetic foot ulcers: a proof of concept study

Abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate safety of treating diabetic foot ulcers with a topically administered mesenchymal stem cell product.Individuals with diabetes, peripheral neuropathy, toe blood pressure > 39 mmHg and non-infected foot ulcers with duration of four to fifty-two weeks were screened. Participants were treated with a one-time application of a topically applied allogeneic cellular product containing CD362 enriched mesenchymal stem cells suspended in a collagen solution. Participants were subsequently followed for seven months to gather information on adverse event and serious adverse events.A total of sixteen individuals were screened, of whom two were included. The included participants incurred a total of seven adverse events and one serious adverse event. Increased exudation from the treated diabetic foot ulcer was observed for both participants and a connection to investigational medicinal product was suspected. The increased exudation was resolved within one week after application of investigational medicinal product, without any further complications. The serious adverse event consisted of a hospital admission due to neurological symptoms, which were assumed to be caused by hypoglycemia, with no suspected correlation to the investigational medicinal product. None of the other observed adverse events were suspected to be associated with the investigational medicinal product.This study presents data from two individuals with a diabetic foot ulcer treated with a novel topical mesenchymal stem cell product. An adverse event observed for both participants was suspected to be associated to the investigational medicinal product, i.e., increased exudation, which was resolved within one week, did not lead to further complications and can easily be remedied by choosing bandages with higher absorption capacity or increasing frequency of bandage changes. This study lays the groundwork for further large scale randomized clinical studies.EudraCT number 2015-005580-16. Registered 12/06-2018.

Flexor Tendon Tenotomy Treatment of the Diabetic Foot: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial.

Abstract: OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of needle flexor tendon tenotomy treatment of the diabetic hammertoe deformity. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS A multicenter randomized controlled trial of individuals with diabetes and ulcers or impending ulcers associated with hammertoes was performed between 1 November 2019 and 31 March 2021. Participants were stratified by the presence of ulcers or impending ulcers. Participants were randomly assigned to tenotomy and standard nonsurgical treatment or to standard nonsurgical treatment alone. Primary outcomes were time to ulcer healing and progression from impending ulcer to active ulcer. RESULTS Of 224 screened participants with diabetes, 95 (59.0% men) were included. The mean follow-up was 291 ± 70 days, 28 (29.5%) had type 1 diabetes, mean diabetes (presented with 25-75% quartile) duration was 20 (13-26) years, and mean age was 67.7 ± 9.8 years. Of the included participants, 16 had ulcers, of whom 8 were randomly assigned to intervention. Of the remaining 79 with impending ulcers, 39 were randomly assigned to intervention. For participants with ulcers, healing rates favored tenotomy (100% vs 37.5%, P = 0.026) as did time to ulcer healing (P = 0.04). For those with impending ulcers, incidence of progression to an active ulcer was lower (1 vs 7, P = 0.028) and the number of ulcer-free days higher (P = 0.043) in the tenotomy group. No serious adverse events were recorded. CONCLUSIONS This randomized study showed that the simple procedure of needle flexor tendon tenotomy was effective and safe when treating and preventing ulcers associated with the diabetic hammertoe deformity.

Introducing the party-interest group relationships in contemporary democracies datasets

Abstract: Few existing datasets on parties and interest groups include data from both sides and a wide variety of interest groups and parties. We contribute to filling this gap by making several interconnected new datasets publicly available. The Party-Interest Group Relationships in Contemporary Democracies (PAIRDEM) datasets include cross-national data from three different surveys of (1) central party organizations, (2) legislative party groups, and (3) interest groups. A fourth dataset based on coding of party statutes and party finance data was established together with the Political Party Database. The datasets contain novel indicators on party-group relationships in up to 21 mature democracies. In this research note, we first present the main content of the datasets and the research design. Second, we present descriptive statistics documenting the extent of organizational ties between parties and groups in contemporary democracies. Third, we illustrate more advanced usage through a simple application.

(Inequality in) Interest Group Involvement and the Legitimacy of Policy Making

Abstract: Abstract While interest groups are consulted at different stages of policy making to provide expertise and legitimacy, their influence is often criticized as being undemocratic. Yet, we know little about how their participation in policy making affects citizen perceptions of the legitimacy of governance. Based on survey experiments conducted in the UK, the United States and Germany, our study shows that unequal participation between group types reduces the benefits of interest group consultation for citizens' perceived legitimacy of decision-making processes. Importantly, these legitimacy losses cannot be compensated for by policies that represent the opinion of the under-represented groups and are even greater when policy decisions favour the over-represented groups. Moreover, we show that citizen perceptions of how economically powerful and representative of society different types of interest groups are act as important drivers of legitimacy evaluations. Our results provide important new theoretical and empirical insights into when and why interest groups affect democratic legitimacy.

Metabolomic Risk Predictors of Diabetic Foot Complications: a longitudinal observational study

Abstract: Diabetic foot complications is a collective term used for the ailments of the foot that individuals with diabetes incur. The different entities of the term diabetic foot complications are closely linked to each other and several of the other complications of diabetes. Despite implementation of national and international preventive guidelines, diabetic foot complications are still a growing challenge to the individual and society in general. This highlights the need for new strategies in the treatment and prevention of diabetic foot complications. The aim of the study was to investigate associations between plasma metabolites and diabetic foot complications (diabetic foot ulcer (DFU), amputations and Charcot's Arthropathy) in individuals with diabetes type 1. Non targeted plasma metabolites (n=75) were analyzed using mass spectrometry in a cohort comprising 637 individuals (55% male) with diabetes type 1. Cross sectional associations between metabolites and diabetic foot complications was analysed by linear regression at baseline and by Cox proportional hazards model at follow-up and adjusted for relevant confounders. The median follow up time was 10 years, age 55 (47, 64) years, diabetes duration 35 (25, 44) years and HbA1c 64 (56, 72) mmol/mol. In the adjusted model, four amino acids (proline, threonine, valine, and leucine) were associated with decreased incidence of Charcot's arthropathy at baseline (padjusted < 0.5). In addition, the plasma levels of ribonic acid was associated with an increased risk of diabetic foot ulcers during follow-up (HR 1.38(1.06-1.8) p < 0.05). This study identifies novel circulating metabolites, as potential biomarkers for risk of diabetic foot complications.

Distal symmetrical polyneuropathy is present in all individuals with diabetes and foot ulcers - and does not associate with healing time.

Abstract: We estimated the occurrence of diabetic neuropathy using six different diagnostic modalities in individuals with newly diagnosed diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) and assessed the association with DFU healing time. All individuals with DFU had distal symmetrical polyneuropathy. Presence of neuropathy did not associate with ulcer healing time (p ≥ 0.12).

Tehrangeles Dreaming: Intimacy and Imagination in Southern California’s Iranian Pop Music. Farzaneh Hemmasi. Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 2020, 264 pp. $26.95, paper. ISBN 978-1-4780-0836-1.

Abstract: Previous articleNext article No AccessBook ReviewsTehrangeles Dreaming: Intimacy and Imagination in Southern California’s Iranian Pop Music. Farzaneh Hemmasi. Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 2020, 264 pp. $26.95, paper. ISBN 978-1-4780-0836-1.Anne K. RasmussenAnne K. RasmussenCollege of William & Mary Search for more articles by this author PDFPDF PLUSFull Text Add to favoritesDownload CitationTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints Share onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail SectionsMoreDetailsFiguresReferencesCited by Journal of Anthropological Research Volume 78, Number 1Spring 2022 Article DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1086/717845 Views: 18Total views on this site © 2022 The University of New Mexico. All rights reserved.PDF download Crossref reports no articles citing this article.

The clinical course and mortality of persons with diabetic Charcot foot.

Abstract: INTRODUCTION The aim was to study the mortality and the clinical course of diabetic Charcot foot. METHODS This was a retrospective cohort study including all persons with diabetes and a Charcot diagnosis from 2000 to 2016. RESULTS In the mortality sub-study, 164 persons had the Charcot diagnosis, 52 (31.1%) died in the follow-up period. The mortality rate was 4.6/100 person-years at risk. Rate ratios for death were insignificantly different among smokers and non-smokers, among persons with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, among persons with a diabetes duration below or above ten years and among persons with a glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) level above or below 60 mmol/mol after adjustment for age and gender. In the clinical course sub-study, 114 persons with Charcot were identified whereof 97 (85%) had an active Charcot. The duration from start of symptoms to diagnosis was ten weeks, the treatment period was 7.5 months and 46 (40%) had bony prominences (rocker bottom) in the planta at follow-up. CONCLUSIONS The mortality rate among persons with Charcot was 4.6/person-years at risk, which was unaffected by smoking, diabetes type, diabetes duration and HbA1c level. The persons with Charcot had a long delay from symptom onset to diagnosis, a long treatment period and often developed complications. FUNDING This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors. TRIAL REGISTRATION not relevant.