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Intracranial compliance in patients with COVID-19: a multicenter observational study

Complacência intracraniana em pacientes com COVID-19: um estudo observacional multicêntrico

Abstract

Background

Patients with severe coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) may require the use of invasive mechanical ventilation (MV) for prolonged periods. Aggressive MV parameters have been associated with changes in intracranial pressure (ICP) in patients with acute intracranial disorders. Significant ICP elevation could compromise intracranial compliance (ICC) and cerebrovascular hemodynamics (CVH). However, the effects of these parameters in individuals without neurological disorders have not yet been evaluated.

Objective

To evaluate ICC in patients on MV with COVID-19 infection compared to other diagnoses, to better characterize the effects of MV and COVID-19 upon ICC. We also compared between the ICC in patients with COVID-19 who did not require MV and healthy volunteers, to assess the isolated effect of COVID-19 upon ICC.

Methods

This was an exploratory, observational study with a convenience sample. The ICC was evaluated with a noninvasive ICP monitoring device. The P2/P1 ratio was calculated by dividing the amplitude of these two points, being defined as "abnormal" when P2 > P1. The statistical analysis was performed using a mixed linear model with random effects to compare the P2/P1 ratio in all four groups on the first monitoring day.

Results

A convenience sample of 78 subjects (15 MV-COVID-19, 15 MV non-COVID-19, 24 non-MV-COVID-19, and 24 healthy participants) was prospectively enrolled. There was no difference in P2/P1 ratios between MV patients with and without COVID-19, nor between non-MV patients with COVID-19 and healthy volunteers. However, the P2/P1 ratio was higher in COVID-19 patients with MV use than in those without it.

Conclusion

This exploratory analysis suggests that COVID-19 does not impair ICC.

Keywords
COVID-19; Intracranial Pressure; Hemodynamic Brain Response; Neurophysiological Monitoring

Resumo

Antecedentes

Pacientes com doença grave por coronavírus-19 (COVID-19) podem necessitar do uso de ventilação mecânica (VM) invasiva por um período prolongado. Parâmetros agressivos de VM têm sido associados a alterações na pressão intracraniana (PIC) em pacientes com doenças intracranianas agudas. Elevações significativas da PIC podem comprometer a complacência intracraniana (CIC) e a hemodinâmica cerebrovascular (HVC). No entanto, os efeitos desses parâmetros em indivíduos sem doenças neurológicas ainda não foram sistematicamente avaliados.

Objetivo

Avaliar a CIC em pacientes em VM com COVID-19 comparados com outros diagnósticos, para melhor caracterizar os efeitos da VM e COVID-19 sobre a CIC. Também foi feita a comparação entre a CIC em pacientes com COVID-19 sem VM e voluntários saudáveis, para avaliar o efeito isolado da COVID-19 sobre a ICC.

Métodos

Trata-se de um estudo exploratório, observacional com amostra por conveniência. A CIC foi avaliada com um dispositivo não invasivo de monitoramento da PIC. A relação P2/P1 foi calculada dividindo-se a amplitude desses dois pontos, sendo definida como "anormal" quando P2 > P1. A análise estatística foi realizada usando um modelo linear misto com efeitos aleatórios para comparar a relação P2/P1 nos quatro grupos no primeiro dia de monitoramento.

Resultados

Uma amostra de conveniência com 78 voluntários (15 COVID-19 em VM, 15 sem COVID-19 em VM, 24 com COVID em respiração espontânea e 24 saudáveis) foram prospectivamente incluídos. Não houve diferença nas razões P2/P1 entre pacientes em VM com e sem COVID-19, nem entre pacientes sem VM com COVID-19 ou saudáveis. No entanto, a relação P2/P1 foi maior em pacientes com COVID-19 com uso de VM do que naqueles sem.

Conclusão

Os dados dessa análise exploratória sugerem que a COVID-19 não prejudica a CIC.

Palavras-chave
COVID-19; Pressão Intracraniana; Acoplamento Neurovascular; Monitorização Neurofisiológica

INTRODUCTION

The incidence of neurological symptoms, including headache, dizziness, myalgia, hypogeusia/dysgeusia, and hyposmia/anosmia, in individuals with the coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) is substantial, accounting for approximately 36% of reported symptoms.11 Mao L, Jin H, Wang M, et al. Neurologic Manifestations of Hospitalized Patients With Coronavirus Disease 2019 in Wuhan, China. JAMA Neurol 2020;77(06):683-690. Doi: 10.1001/jamaneurol. 2020.1127
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These neuropathological changes can lead to alterations in vascular permeability, a crucial factor in maintaining the integrity of the blood–brain barrier, regulating gas exchange, and governing cerebral blood flow (CBF). Several factors influence CBF, including arterial pressure, intracranial pressure (ICP), and cerebrovascular resistance. Any factor that affects these determinants can lead to changes in cerebrovascular hemodynamics. Additionally, mechanical ventilation (MV) may induce cardiac overload in patients, as evidenced by increased jugular and central venous pressures, diminished cerebral venous return, and consequent elevation of ICP levels.1616 Dias C, Maia I, Cerejo A, et al. Pressures, flow, and brain oxygenation during plateau waves of intracranial pressure. Neurocrit Care 2014;21(01):124-132. Doi: 10.1007/s12028-013-9918-y
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Even small positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) values were associated with increased ICP in patients with brain injury. While the PEEP's impact on ICP varies among patients with different neurological injuries, its overall effect is minor.2323 Robba C, Ball L, Nogas S, et al. Effects of Positive End-Expiratory Pressure on Lung Recruitment, Respiratory Mechanics, and Intracranial Pressure in Mechanically Ventilated Brain-Injured Patients. Front Physiol 2021;12:711273. Doi: 10.3389/fphys.2021.711273
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Patients with severe SARS-CoV-2 infection usually require prolonged MV with extreme parameters. Nonetheless, the influence of ventilator settings on ICP and compliance in patients lacking brain injury still needs to be more adequately explored. Multimodal brain monitoring offers a means to assess cerebrovascular hemodynamics (CVH) and evaluate the effect of protective lung ventilation, particularly the arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2) and PEEP, on cerebral blood flow (CBF) and intracranial compliance (ICC).2929 Brasil S, Taccone FS, Wayhs SY, et al. Cerebral hemodynamics and intracranial compliance impairment in critically ill covid-19 patients: A pilot study. Brain Sci 2021;11(07):874. Doi: 10.3390/brainsci11070874
https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11070874...

The objective of this study was to evaluate the ICC in patients with COVID-19 infection on MV, compared to patients with other diagnoses, to better characterize its effects. We also compared the ICC in patients with COVID-19 infection not requiring mechanical ventilation and healthy volunteers, to assess the isolated effects of this disease.

METHODS

Study design and setting

This prospective, observational, exploratory, multicenter study was conducted in four tertiary care centers and one university (Federal University of São Carlos) registered on Clinical Trials.gov (registration number 31589920.7.1001.5505). Our study followed the consolidated standards of reporting trials (CONSORT) recommendation for observational studies.3030 Cuschieri S. The CONSORT statement. Saudi J Anaesth 2019;13 (Suppl 1):S27-S30. Doi: 10.4103/sja.SJA_559_18
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,3131 Schulz KF, Altman DG, Moher DCONSORT Group. CONSORT 2010 statement: updated guidelines for reporting parallel group randomised trials. BMJ 2010;340(7748):c332. Doi: 10.1136/bmj.c332
https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.c332...

Our convenience sample was recruited and followed for 15 days after study inclusion. All patients or legal representatives signed an informed consent form. The present study followed the declaration of Helsinki, and it was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP) and São Carlos (UFSCar) under the protocols 31589920.7.1001.5505 and 32338920.5.0000.5504, respectively.

Selection of participants

All COVID-19 participants tested positive on the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and symptoms onset was < 15 days from study inclusion. For MV patients, the time between hospital admission and study inclusion was ≤ 72 hours. The MV non-COVID-19 group was composed of patients in MV due to alternative diagnoses. The healthy volunteer group comprised healthy subjects with no acute respiratory symptoms during evaluation. We excluded patients presenting with acute central nervous system disorders.

Data collection and outcomes

Data obtained from electronic medical records included demographics, anthropometric measurements (weight and height), clinical characteristics, the timing of symptoms, and results of diagnostic tests, including chest imaging and arterial blood gas analysis. Physiological data (heart and respiratory rates, oxygen saturation, and blood pressure) and the utilization of ventilatory support were systematically collected during ICC monitoring. Patients were monitored for 20 to 60 minutes, while healthy controls were evaluated for 90 minutes in a room with appropriate climatization and temperature after 15 minutes of rest.

A certified evaluator applied the modified Rankin scale (mRS) on day 15 of the study participation, either in person or by telephone, to discharge patients. A poor outcome was defined as mRS > 2. A missed outcome was the impossibility of contacting the patient after discharge.

Intracranial compliance measurements

We evaluated ICC with a noninvasive ICP waveform monitoring device developed by Brain4Care Inc. (Johns Creek, GA, USA). The Braincare sensor was placed on the patient's scalp without shaving, surgical incision, or drilling, as previously described by Moraes et al.3232 de Moraes FM, Rocha E, Barros FCD, et al. Waveform Morphology as a Surrogate for ICP Monitoring: A Comparison Between an Invasive and a Noninvasive Method. Neurocrit Care 2022;37(01): 219-227. Doi: 10.1007/s12028-022-01477-4
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12028-022-01477...
(Figure 1A). Minimal changes in the skull caused by changes in ICC were captured by the sensor and provided the ICP waveform, as a proxy.3232 de Moraes FM, Rocha E, Barros FCD, et al. Waveform Morphology as a Surrogate for ICP Monitoring: A Comparison Between an Invasive and a Noninvasive Method. Neurocrit Care 2022;37(01): 219-227. Doi: 10.1007/s12028-022-01477-4
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12028-022-01477...

33 Andrade RDAP, Oshiro HE, Miyazaki CK, et al. A Nanometer Resolution Wearable Wireless Medical Device for Non Invasive Intracranial Pressure Monitoring. IEEE Sens J 2021;21(20): 22270-22284. Doi: 10.1109/JSEN.2021.3090648
https://doi.org/10.1109/JSEN.2021.309064...
-3434 Cabella B, Vilela GHF, Mascarenhas S, et al. Validation of a new noninvasive intracranial pressure monitoring method by direct comparison with an invasive technique. Acta Neurochir Suppl (Wien) 2016;122:93-96. Doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-22533-3_18
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-22533-...

Figure 1
The Brain4Care device in use.

Each cardiac beat generated an ICP waveform with three peaks: P1, associated with systolic arterial pressure transferred from the choroid plexus to the cerebrospinal fluid; P2, associated with the reflection (rebound) of the blood pressure wave in the brain tissue; and P3, related to the closure of the aortic valve. These waveforms closely resembled those obtained through invasive ICP measurements, and the relationship between their components provided insights into the ICC (Figure 1B).3232 de Moraes FM, Rocha E, Barros FCD, et al. Waveform Morphology as a Surrogate for ICP Monitoring: A Comparison Between an Invasive and a Noninvasive Method. Neurocrit Care 2022;37(01): 219-227. Doi: 10.1007/s12028-022-01477-4
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12028-022-01477...

33 Andrade RDAP, Oshiro HE, Miyazaki CK, et al. A Nanometer Resolution Wearable Wireless Medical Device for Non Invasive Intracranial Pressure Monitoring. IEEE Sens J 2021;21(20): 22270-22284. Doi: 10.1109/JSEN.2021.3090648
https://doi.org/10.1109/JSEN.2021.309064...
-3434 Cabella B, Vilela GHF, Mascarenhas S, et al. Validation of a new noninvasive intracranial pressure monitoring method by direct comparison with an invasive technique. Acta Neurochir Suppl (Wien) 2016;122:93-96. Doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-22533-3_18
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-22533-...

The B4C (Brain4Care Inc.) analytics system validated all sensor-collected data, including the P2/P1 ratio, a parameter indicating the morphology of the ICP pulse wave. The software automatically determined P1 and P2, which were visually confirmed by inspecting the waveforms. The amplitudes of the peaks were measured by subtracting the baseline value of the ICP waveform. The P2/P1 ratio was calculated by dividing the amplitude at these two-time points. The mean pulse and its corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) were computed using all valid alignment pulses through a nonparametric bootstrap procedure with 1,000 replications. When P2 > P1, the ICC was categorized as "abnormal" (Figure 1C). The minute-by-minute analysis compared the defined indices with previously reported values.3434 Cabella B, Vilela GHF, Mascarenhas S, et al. Validation of a new noninvasive intracranial pressure monitoring method by direct comparison with an invasive technique. Acta Neurochir Suppl (Wien) 2016;122:93-96. Doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-22533-3_18
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-22533-...

Statistical analysis

Qualitative variables were summarized in absolute (n) and relative (%) frequencies. Continuous variable distributions were assessed for normality by skewness, kurtosis, and graphical methods. Those with normal distribution were presented as mean and standard deviations and compared with the independent samples Student t-test. Otherwise, they were presented as medians and interquartile ranges and compared with the Mann-Whitney nonparametric test. Categorical variables were analyzed using the Chi-Square test.3535 Lumley T, Diehr P, Emerson S, Chen L. The importance of the normality assumption in large public health data sets. Annu Rev Public Health 2002;23:151-169. Doi: 10.1146/annurev.publhealth.23.100901.140546
https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.publheal...

36 Mohd Razali N, Bee Wah Y. Power comparisons of Shapiro-Wilk, Kolmogorov-Smirnov, Lilliefors and Anderson-Darling tests. J Stat Model Anal 2011;2(01):13-14. Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/267205556_Power_Comparisons_of_Shapiro-Wilk_Kolmogorov-Smirnov_Lilliefors_and_Anderson-Darling_Tests
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37 Torman VB, Coster R Riboldi J. Normalidade de variáveis:métodos de verificação e comparação de alguns testes não-paramétricos por simulação | Clinical and Biomedical Research. Revista do HCPA & Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul [Internet]; 227-34. Available at: https://seer.ufrgs.br/hcpa/article/view/29874
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The P2/P1 ratios were analyzed using a mixed linear model with random effects in four groups: MV patients (COVID-19 and non-COVID-19), nonmechanically ventilated COVID-19 patients, and healthy volunteers.3939 De la Cruz R, Marshall G, Quintana FA. Logistic regression when covariates are random effects from a non-linear mixed model. Biom J 2011;53(05):735-749. Doi: 10.1002/bimj.201000142
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40 Saigusa Y, Eguchi S, Komori O. Generalized quasi-linear mixedeffects model. Stat Methods Med Res 2022;31(07):1280-1291. Doi: 10.1177/09622802221085864
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The P2/P1 ratio was obtained from the average of all valid pulses each minute; all results outside 0.5 to 1.8 were considered artifactual and excluded.

For all analyses, statistical significance was set at p-value < 0.05. The R (R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria) software, version 4.0.5, was used for all analyses.

RESULTS

Between June 2020 and September 2021, 192 participants were recruited for this research. However, only 78 participants were included to the final sample, among whom 15 were mechanically ventilated COVID-19 patients (MV-COVID-19), 15 mechanically ventilated participants without COVID-19 (MV non-COVID-19), 24 were nonmechanically ventilated COVID-19 patients (non-MV-COVID-19), and a control group with 24 healthy individuals (Figure 2). In all four groups, the majority were men (60% MV COVID-19, 60% MV non-COVID-19, 67% non-MV-COVID-19, and 67% healthy volunteers) (Figure 2).

Figure 2
Flow diagram of the study.

Mechanically ventilated patients (COVID and non-COVID) were similar in age, sex, and body mass index (BMI). There was no difference in P2/P1 ratios in mechanically ventilated patients (COVID-19 vs. non-COVID-19), p = 0.65 (Figure 3). The MV COVID-19 patients had a higher frequency of systemic arterial hypertension and type II diabetes (p = 0.03) (Table 1).

Figure 3
Summary of all research.
Table 1
Mechanical ventilation sample characterization

The non-MV patients (both COVID-19 and healthy volunteers) were also similar in age and sex. Non-MV-COVID-19 patients had a higher BMI (p < 0.01) and a higher frequency of comorbidities than healthy volunteers (Table 2). There was no difference in P2/P1 ratios in non-MV patients (COVID-19 and healthy volunteers, p = 0.70) (Figure 3).

Table 2
Non-mechanically ventilated participants

The MV COVID-19 patients were older than non-MV-COVID-19 patients (median age 66 [53–72] vs. 52 [45–65], p = 0.04). Other demographic and clinical characteristics were similar between the two groups. The P2/P1 ratio was higher in the MV COVID-19 patients than in the non-MVCOVID-19 (1.13 ± 0.27 vs. 1.07 ± 0.58, p < 0.01), as shown in Figure 3.

At the follow-up, 15 days after study inclusion, 40% of the MV-COVID-19 patients were still on MV, while 75% of the non-MV-COVID-19 patients had been discharged. A poor functional outcome (mRS 3–6) at 15 days was observed in 87% of the MV-COVID-19 and 80% of MV-non-COVID-19 patients. A good functional outcome (mRS 0–2) was observed in 50% of the non-MV COVID-19.

DISCUSSION

Our exploratory study showed no difference in P2/P1 ratios in mechanically ventilated patients (COVID vs. non-COVID). The P2/P1 ratio was higher in MV COVID-19 patients than in non-MVCOVID-19 patients. This finding is suggestive that changes in ICC previously described in COVID-19 patients might have been an effect of MV itself.

There were two studies that evaluated COVID-19 patients under MV within 72 hours of intubation using the B4C and other hemodynamic cerebral parameters.2929 Brasil S, Taccone FS, Wayhs SY, et al. Cerebral hemodynamics and intracranial compliance impairment in critically ill covid-19 patients: A pilot study. Brain Sci 2021;11(07):874. Doi: 10.3390/brainsci11070874
https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11070874...
,4242 Brasil S, Renck AC, Taccone FS, et al. Obesity and its implications on cerebral circulation and intracranial compliance in severe COVID-19. Obes Sci Pract 2021;7(06):751-759. Doi: 10.1002/2Fosp4.534
https://doi.org/10.1002/2Fosp4.534...
Patients who were obese and nonobese were compared, and an ICC/CVH score was altered in obese patients.4242 Brasil S, Renck AC, Taccone FS, et al. Obesity and its implications on cerebral circulation and intracranial compliance in severe COVID-19. Obes Sci Pract 2021;7(06):751-759. Doi: 10.1002/2Fosp4.534
https://doi.org/10.1002/2Fosp4.534...
The authors suggested an association between ICC impairment and obesity, which may have led to unfavorable prognosis in patients with severe COVID-19. In another series, the P2/P1 ratio was abnormal in 66% of subjects, with the P2/P1 ratio between 1.01 and 1.2 in 48%.2929 Brasil S, Taccone FS, Wayhs SY, et al. Cerebral hemodynamics and intracranial compliance impairment in critically ill covid-19 patients: A pilot study. Brain Sci 2021;11(07):874. Doi: 10.3390/brainsci11070874
https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11070874...
However, as showed by the authors, neither of these studies used a control group or aimed to evaluate the effect of COVID-19 on ICC, making it impossible to disentangle the impact of COVID-19 from that of MV alone.

A systematic review2222 Borsellino B, Schultz MJ, Gama de Abreu M, Robba C, Bilotta F. Mechanical ventilation in neurocritical care patients: a systematic literature review. Expert Rev Respir Med 2016;10(10): 1123-1132. Doi: 10.1080/17476348.2017.1235976
https://doi.org/10.1080/17476348.2017.12...
regarding brain-injured patients and MV concluded that PEEP could reduce CBF. However, there are still many questions regarding the impact of airway pressure on ICP, especially in nonneurological patients.2929 Brasil S, Taccone FS, Wayhs SY, et al. Cerebral hemodynamics and intracranial compliance impairment in critically ill covid-19 patients: A pilot study. Brain Sci 2021;11(07):874. Doi: 10.3390/brainsci11070874
https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11070874...
,4242 Brasil S, Renck AC, Taccone FS, et al. Obesity and its implications on cerebral circulation and intracranial compliance in severe COVID-19. Obes Sci Pract 2021;7(06):751-759. Doi: 10.1002/2Fosp4.534
https://doi.org/10.1002/2Fosp4.534...

43 Arnold R, Issar T, Krishnan AV, Pussell BA. Neurological complications in chronic kidney disease. JRSM Cardiovasc Dis 2016; 5:2048004016677687. Doi: 10.1177/2048004016677687
https://doi.org/10.1177/2048004016677687...
-4444 Rickli C, Cosmoski LD, Dos Santos FA, et al. Use of non-invasive intracranial pressure pulse waveform to monitor patients with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). PLoS One 2021;16(07): e0240570. Doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0240570
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.024...
The influence of MV parameters on cerebral blood flow and ICC must be further evaluated. Permissive hypercapnia leading to vasodilation, which is frequently seen in MV-COVID-19 patients, might play a role in derangements of CBF associated with MV.2323 Robba C, Ball L, Nogas S, et al. Effects of Positive End-Expiratory Pressure on Lung Recruitment, Respiratory Mechanics, and Intracranial Pressure in Mechanically Ventilated Brain-Injured Patients. Front Physiol 2021;12:711273. Doi: 10.3389/fphys.2021.711273
https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2021.71127...
,4545 Robba C, Poole D, McNett M, et al. Mechanical ventilation inpatients with acute brain injury: recommendations of the European Society of Intensive CareMedicine consensus. Intensive Care Med 2020;46 (12):2397-2410. Doi: 10.1007/s00134-020-06283-0
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00134-020-06283...
Therefore, as used in our series, noninvasive neurological monitoring might be important in preventing cerebral complications in MV patients.

Our exploratory study has several limitations. First, we utilized a convenience sample. Second, we obtained data from the initial monitoring day, thus providing a single instance of P2/P1 behavior during the intensive care unit stay. Third, we conducted our study in the opening year of the COVID-19 pandemic, when higher mortality rates were witnessed internationally due to lack of familiarity with the disease and understaffed hospitals. Finally, due to the short follow-up period, we did not have enough time to assess our population's functional outcome in the long term.

In conclusion, our data suggest that COVID-19 does not impair ICC, as measured by a noninvasive ICP waveform monitor. However, these results must be interpreted carefully since this study is exploratory. Further studies, with a more elaborate design correlating ventilatory parameters, sedation, and long-term cognitive parameters at follow-up, are of utmost importance to understanding the real impact of MV and COVID-19 upon ICC.

  • Support
    This study was financed by the Coordination of Superior Level Staff Improvement (CAPES, code 001), São Paulo Research Foundation (2023/00506-3); and Brain4Care Inc.
  • Trial Registration
    This study was registered in the Clinical Trials platform at 31589920.7.1001.5505 on April 27, 2021 (https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04861402).

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank all the subjects who participated in this research and all the funding received.

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Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    02 Sept 2024
  • Date of issue
    2024

History

  • Received
    21 July 2023
  • Reviewed
    28 Feb 2024
  • Accepted
    08 May 2024
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