bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Life Stories of Older Gay Men in Italy and Their Response to a Tele-Drama-Based Intervention: A Qualitative Study Protocol
Authors: Biancalani Gianmarco , Orkibi Hod , Keisari Shoshi
Published: December 2023

The global rise in the older adults’ population underscores the urgency of addressing mental health issues among older LGBT adults. Older gay men, navigating the intersection of ageism and homophobia, often confront complex stigma affecting their well-being. In Italy, where research on older LGBT adults is very limited, investigation of this issue is crucial. The overarching purpose of this qualitative research project is to explore the life stories of older gay men in Italy and examine their response to a group tele-drama intervention tailored to their unique psychosocial needs. Narrative interviews will be conducted with older gay men in Italy, and the resulting data will be subjected to narrative analysis principles. Volunteers or social workers who work with older gay men will also be interviewed and the data will be analyzed according to thematic analysis, followed by a triangulation of the two datasets. Building on these findings and relevant literature, a group tele-drama intervention will be adapted for older gay men. Video-recorded intervention sessions will be analyzed using the 6-Key model of drama therapy assessment. Post-intervention, participants will undergo Client Change Interviews, with the data thematically analyzed. Ensuring the qualitative rigor of the study will involve triangulation, reflexive journaling, and member checking. The three-year data collection period will span from 2023 to 2025. The findings of this study will shed light on the life stories of older gay men in Italy and the design and contribution of a tele-drama-based therapy program that can help them cope with challenges associated with the intersectionality of ageism and homophobia.
Some key questions: Pregnancy intention screening by community health workers
Authors: St Clair Stephanie , Dearden Susan , Clark Lauren , Simonsen Sara E
Published: December 2023

Background:

Unintended pregnancy contributes to a high burden of maternal and fetal morbidity in the United States, and pregnancy intention screening offers a key strategy to improve preconception health and reproductive health equity. The One Key Question© is a pregnancy intention screening tool that asks a single question, “Would you like to become pregnant in the next year?” to all reproductive-age women. This study explored the perspectives of community health workers on using One Key Question in community-based settings.

Objectives:

This study aimed to identify barriers and facilitators to the use of the One Key Question pregnancy intention screening tool by community health workers who serve reproductive-age women in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Design:

Using reproductive justice as a guiding conceptual framework, this study employed a qualitative descriptive design. Participants were asked to identify barriers and facilitators to the One Key Question, with open-ended discussion to explore community health workers’ knowledge and perceptions about pregnancy intention screening.

Methods:

We conducted focus groups with 43 community health workers in Salt Lake City, Utah, from December 2017 through January 2018. Participants were trained on the One Key Question algorithm and asked to identify barriers and facilitators to implementation. All focus groups occurred face-to-face in community settings and used a semi-structured facilitation guide developed by the study Principal Investigator with input from community partners.

Results:

Pregnancy intention screening is perceived positively by community health workers. Barriers identified include traditional cultural beliefs about modesty and sex, lack of trust in health care providers, and female bias in the One Key Question algorithm. Facilitators include the simplicity of the One Key Question algorithm and the flexibility of One Key Question responses.

Conclusion:

One Key Question is an effective pregnancy intention screening tool in primary care settings but is limited in its capacity to reach those outside the health system. Community-based pregnancy intention screening offers an alternative avenue for implementation of One Key Question that could address many of these barriers and reduce disparities for underserved populations.
When text mining meets science mapping in the bibliometric analysis: A review and future opportunities
Authors: Chen Haojing , Tsang YP , Wu CH
Published: December 2023

The increasing volume of scientific publications has created a need for more efficient and effective literature review processes. Bibliometric analysis is a quantitative approach to analysing bibliographic data extracted from research studies to identify publishing patterns and trends within specific knowledge domains. Science mapping is a widespread technique in bibliometric analysis that enables researchers to reveal the structure of their respective fields and identify dominant themes. However, there is still a lack of clarity and transparency in describing the science mapping process, which can hinder continued refinement and improvement of this critical field of research. This study provides a comprehensive overview of science mapping in bibliometric analysis based on published review studies from prestigious international journals. It outlines the science mapping mechanism and explores challenges and opportunities, focusing on incorporating text mining approaches to support the analytical literature review process. The study sheds light on previously unexplored mechanisms in the literature of bibliometric analysis, revealing gaps in existing research. The study contributes to the growing body of research on bibliometric analysis by highlighting the need for continuous improvement and the deployment of text mining techniques to support the analysis of scientific publication data. This study offers valuable insights for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners seeking to enhance their understanding of science mapping and bibliometric analysis.
Unveiling the Hungarian landscape of laboratory and clinical management capacities for invasive fungal infections: navigating the frontlines against fungal menaces
Authors: Kovács Renátó , Majoros László , Stemler Jannik , Cornely Oliver Andreas , Salmanton-García Jon
Published: December 2023

Background:

Antifungal diagnostic capacity has been documented in various countries, there is a lack of comprehensive research on clinical mycology diagnostics and treatment in Hungary.

Methods:

We conducted an online survey encompassing questions that explored various aspects of the mycology diagnostic and antifungal therapy-related information. The survey aimed to gather details about institutional profiles, perceptions of invasive fungal infections (IFIs), and access to microscopy, culture, serology, antigen detection, molecular testing, and therapeutic drug monitoring.

Results:

As of May 2023, a total of 17 institutions responded to the questionnaire. Seven participants categorized the institutional incidence of IFI as ‘very low’, four as ‘low’, and six as ‘mild’. The majority of centers identified Candida spp. (94%) and Aspergillus spp. (82%) as the most prevalent fungal pathogens. Nearly half of the laboratories (47%) reported using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry for identification. All institutions had access to microscopy and culture-based diagnostic approaches. A significant number of centers had access to antigen detection (71%) and various molecular assays (59%). Regarding antifungal agents, all reporting sites used at least one triazole, with voriconazole (77%) being the most common mold-active azole. Furthermore, 71% of the centers applied at least one formulation of amphotericin B, and 65% to one echinocandin. However, only 18% of the centers used 5-flucytosine.

Conclusion:

Resource availability for diagnosing and treating IFI in Hungary varies across hospitals based on location. Surveys help identify gaps and limitations in this area. To address these challenges, interregional cooperation within Hungary could be a facilitating strategy.
How do nurses work in chronic management in the age of artificial intelligence? development and future prospects
Authors: Minghui Ye , Hu Yingying , Lu Zhongiu
Published: December 2023

AI is undeniably revolutionizing medical research and patient care across diverse fields. Chronic disease nursing care, a pivotal aspect of clinical management, has significantly reaped the benefits of AI across numerous dimensions. Understanding the operational principles of artificial intelligence before implementation is crucial, avoiding indiscriminate replacement of all tasks with AI. Nurses serve as the primary force in symptom group research, expanding beyond diabetes to encompass various chronic diseases; their primary responsibility involves recording patients’ daily symptoms and vital signs. However, a substantial portion of current AI research excludes nurses from the developmental phase, encompassing them solely in user and feedback populations. The comprehensive design of the symptom analysis and long-term management approach necessitates the guidance and oversight of nurses; however, their current insufficient involvement might stem from nursing staff's comparatively limited comprehension of AI and their ambiguous perception of their role's value in AI. Therefore, an imperative exploration of nurses’ roles in symptom analysis and long-term management, leveraging the latest research in these areas, is vital to pinpoint breakthroughs in nurses’ AI involvement in the future.
Disclosure Standards for Social Media and Generative Artificial Intelligence Research: Toward Transparency and Replicability
Authors: Kostygina Ganna , Kim Yoonsang , Seeskin Zachary , LeClere Felicia , Emery Sherry
Published: December 2023

Social media dominate today’s information ecosystem and provide valuable information for social research. Market researchers, social scientists, policymakers, government entities, public health researchers, and practitioners recognize the potential for social data to inspire innovation, support products and services, characterize public opinion, and guide decisions. The appeal of mining these rich datasets is clear. However, there is potential risk of data misuse, underscoring an equally huge and fundamental flaw in the research: there are no procedural standards and little transparency. Transparency across the processes of collecting and analyzing social media data is often limited due to proprietary algorithms. Spurious findings and biases introduced by artificial intelligence (AI) demonstrate the challenges this lack of transparency poses for research. Social media research remains a virtual “wild west,” with no clear standards for reporting regarding data retrieval, preprocessing steps, analytic methods, or interpretation. Use of emerging generative AI technologies to augment social media analytics can undermine validity and replicability of findings, potentially turning this research into a “black box” enterprise. Clear guidance for social media analyses and reporting is needed to assure the quality of the resulting research. In this article, we propose criteria for evaluating the quality of studies using social media data, grounded in established scientific practice. We offer clear documentation guidelines to ensure that social data are used properly and transparently in research and applications. A checklist of disclosure elements to meet minimal reporting standards is proposed. These criteria will make it possible for scholars and practitioners to assess the quality, credibility, and comparability of research findings using digital data.
Everyone Stop What You’re Doing and BeReal: Live Networked Publics and Authenticity on BeReal
Authors: Taylor Zari A.
Published: December 2023

This article critically analyzes the BeReal social media platform, considering how its infrastructure enables a new kind of networked public. I utilize the walkthrough method to examine how BeReal’s “environment of expected use” and vision aims to instill authenticity as a value and ideal for users. I also employ the concept of networked public as a framework to understand how BeReal organizes attention and action through networked technologies that create both a mediated space and collection of people. From this analysis of BeReal’s digital structure, I develop the concept of a live networked public to characterize BeReal’s ability to coordinate interpersonal and global connections to a specific temporality. Furthermore, I connect live networked public to a concept of authenticity in the app’s design by arguing that BeReal’s concept of “realness” is contingent on its unique affordances. Particular features not only support the core network public on the app, but guide behaviors to encourage a particular version of “sporadic” authenticity. This version is useful for BeReal’s branding as the “most authentic” platform in competition with other social media apps. This work combines scholarship on networked publics and affordances, with that on liveness—specifically online and group liveness. Given that BeReal’s skyrocketing popularity tapered off, this study also highlights the importance of analyzing newcomers to the social media ecosystem that promise and play with new ways of being and interacting online.
Spanish Trainees Teachers’ Attitudes Toward the Use of Technology in Education: Variables Involved
Authors: Albalá Genol Miguel Ángel , Sánchez-Pujalte María-Laura , Etchezahar Edgardo , Durao Marian
Published: December 2023

The aim of this research was to evaluate attitudes toward the use of technology in education among teachers in training and the relationships with other variables derived from the use of technology and teaching style. The study focused on a Spanish sample of 842 future educational professionals in the training stage, belonging to the Autonomous Community of Valencia, with 54.75% identified as female and 46.25% as male, with a mean age of 41.17 years. The results indicated that a constructivist teaching style is related to more favorable attitudes toward the use of technology in teaching, unlike a traditional style. Various variables linked to the use of technology and that have negative effects on people’s well-being (such as experiences of suffering from cyberbullying or the fear of missing out) are related to less favorable attitudes toward technology in education. The implications of the variables studied as possible differential factors in the inclusion of technologies in their profession by future teachers are discussed.
Mapping Research Trends With Factorial Analysis in Organizational Politics
Authors: Iman Busrul , Yuadi Imam , Sukoco Badri Munir , Purwono Rudi , Hu Chih-Chien
Published: December 2023

Organizational politics can lead to stigmatization among employees, creating division within an organization. As a result, researchers are interested in studying this topic. This study aims to identify trends and developments in scientific publications related to organizational politics, using 828 international journals in the Web of Science database. The study employs various factorial analysis visualizations, including correspondence analysis, multiple correspondence analysis, and multidimensional scaling analysis. The present study shows that research on organizational politics has increased over time, with a significant focus on perception in the most recent years. Further analysis reveals that perception and performance are the most frequently associated topics with organizational politics. Besides, the three-factor analysis approach highlights the keyword “perception” as having the largest cluster among the three approaches. However, bibliometric analysis of this topic is limited, particularly regarding the use of biblioshiny software as an analytical tool. The findings suggest potential areas for future research, including creativity and employee personality, using the bibliometric method with a time evolution approach.
Lexical Demands of Academic Written English: From Students’ Assignments to Scholarly Publications
Authors: Huynh Le Nhu , Tan Ha Hung
Published: December 2023

The article presents a lexical study that investigates the lexical demands of academic written texts at different levels of writing. By employing the British National Corpus/ Corpus of Contemporary American English (BNC/COCA) word list and the Academic Word List (AWL), the present study analyzed data from the British Academic Written English (BAWE) corpus, which contained 2,761 student assignments, and the Public Library of Science One (PLOS ONE) corpus which included 4,000 scholarly articles. Results from the analyses demonstrated significant differences in lexical difficulty between students’ assignments and scholarly publications. The proportion of academic vocabulary in written texts was also found to increase as the writers’ levels went up. Cross-discipline comparisons highlighted the difference in lexical difficulties between scientific disciplines.
Itaipu Binational Dam: A Quantitative Analysis of the Economic and Social Impacts in Paraguay. Successful or not?
Authors: Fruet Vicente , Campos Daniel , Caridad Lorena
Published: December 2023

The Itaipu Binational dam is a giant hydroelectric project situated on the Parana River, which began its construction in 1973 and was completed in 1983. It was undertaken by Brazil and Paraguay, two countries with enormous geopolitical and economic differences. With 14,000 MWh of installed power, it is the second largest hydroelectric dam in the world. Both countries are partners in this project, but the socioeconomic results have not been as expected. In this regard, although Paraguay’s GDP per capita, between 1983 and 2020, increased by 341%, Itaipu did not represent a true economic development engine for Paraguay. On the other hand, it had serious negative impacts especially on social, demographic, and environmental aspects. A structural equations model (SEM) was designed, in its Path Analysis modality, which includes 10 variables: 3 exogenous (Royalties from Itaipu, Electric power exports, and External debt) and 7 endogenous (GDP per capita, Proportion of agricultural sector in GDP, Proportion of service sector in GDP, Population with needs unsatisfied, Housing deficit, Changes of land use, and CO2 emissions). The model exposes an adequate simulation range, and the results show a high degree of goodness of fit, using different indices (CMIN, FMIN, CFI, and RMSEA). The corresponding tests upon the model validate the hypotheses raised.

JEL Classification: O13, O54, H54, H60, F34, C18
Keeping It Simple: Developing a Prognostic Tool for Spinal Epidural Abscess
Authors: Boukebous Baptiste , Petrie Liam , Baker Joseph F.
Published: December 2023

Study Design

A retrospective study.

Objective

To develop a prognostic score for mortality and treatment failure in Spinal epidural abscess (SEA), based on simplicity and multidimensional assessment principles.

Methods

One-hundred-fifty patients were reviewed. Variables assessed included comorbidities, functional status, clinical presentation, Frankel classification, and biochemical and radiological parameters. The main outcomes were the 90-day mortality and treatment failure, corresponding to any intensification of the initial treatment plan. Variables were sorted out with a factorial analysis. Logistic regressions were performed, and the new score was derived from the coefficients. ROC curves with Area Under Curve, calibration plots, and cross-validation were performed.

Results

Forty-three patients (29%) had treatment failure, and 15 died (10%) by 90 days. Factorization created 3 groups: C omorbidities (C), S everity (S), and F unction (F). For 90-day mortality, Odds ratios were 1.20 ( P = .0002), 1.15, ( P = .03), 1.36, ( P < 10−4) for C, S, F, respectively. The new score ‘ CSF’ had 1 point per item, ranging from zero to 3. OR increased by 1.2/point for 90-day mortality ( P < 10−4), AUC was .86. For failures OR increased by 1.15/point ( P = .014), AUC was .58, and increased to .64 for patients who survived after 90 days, probably due to competing risks.

Conclusions

Comorbidities, Severity, and Function is a new simplistic tool, easy to use in daily practice; its performances were excellent for 90-day mortality, and acceptable for failures. Simple tools are more likely to be adopted into practice. External validation of this technique is desirable.
A Study on the Use and Effectiveness of Accounting Software Systems in Enhancing the Business Performance in Mumbai
Authors: Vartak Pallavi Sachin , Sharma Meena
Published: December 2023

Accounting software is used by organisations to record their day-to-day financial transactions, which include fixed assets management, expense management, revenue management, accounts receivables, accounts payable, etc. The major problem faced by the users is misperception in using the software for their day-to-day accounting and business needs. The biggest problem for accounting software users is unsuitable accounting packages and apps which has inadequate and unauthorised data. Many firms and organisations do not take correct decisions based on fundamentals due to a lack of information and use of the right accounting software. The question arises of how to select the right accounting software for the business and what are the factors influencing the decision-making process for business performance. We collected data from accounting software users from different firms/organisations and found that accounting software is used majorly in the age group of 20–40 years. SAP, Tally and Algol are the prime software used for recording purposes. Reliability, data quality and ease of use are considered while selecting the software. As per the survey, accounting software helps in increasing profitability, improves productivity and helps in reducing costs.
A Case of Adrenocortical Carcinoma With a Favorable Tumor Control by Radiofrequency Ablation for Liver Metastasis
Authors: Kitsugi Kensuke , Kawata Kazuhito , Kakizawa Keisuke , Noritake Hidenao
Published: December 2023

A 57-year-old woman was diagnosed with adrenocortical carcinoma. Following the adrenalectomy, she underwent adjuvant radiation and mitotane therapy; however, liver metastases were observed. Repeated radiofrequency ablation (RFA) was performed for liver metastases. In addition, a multidisciplinary approach combining systemic chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery was used for lung and distant lymph node metastases that arose during the course of treatment. Notably, 49 months have passed since the adrenalectomy and 36 months since the recurrence of the liver metastases, and the patient remains on multidisciplinary therapy. Thus, RFA for liver metastasis of adrenocortical carcinoma may be an effective component of a multidisciplinary treatment.
Evaluation of a Virtual Health Equity Training for Mid-Career Primary Healthcare Providers
Authors: Roberts Katherine J. , Omaits Elise
Published: December 2023

OBJECTIVES

Providing cultural competence training is recommended as a way to improve patient-centered care and reduce health disparities. Increasing awareness of implicit biases and understanding internal motivations for overcoming these biases can influence provider decisions and communications with patients. This study aims to provide a health equity and implicit bias training to healthcare providers and assess knowledge and attitude gains.

METHODS

Mid-career primary healthcare providers (n = 21) with at least 5 years of primary care experience participated in the training as a prerequisite for providing patient care in a telehealth primary care practice that overwhelmingly serves patients of color.

RESULTS

There was a significant increase in knowledge ( p < .001) as well as attitudes ( p < .001) in healthcare providers from pretest to posttest. Almost none (4.5%) of the providers were distracted during the training, which may be due to the interactive nature of the training that included group-based reflection discussions.

CONCLUSION

A virtual training for primary healthcare providers on health equity and implicit bias improved knowledge and equitable attitudes and had high satisfaction. Additional research is needed to determine if this type of training can influence providers’ ability to actively address known disparities in care.
Natural born cullers? How hunters police the more-than-human right to the city
Authors: von Essen Erica , Redmalm David
Published: December 2023

Urban areas are a messy more-than-human interface for humans and synanthropic wildlife. Norms for what constitutes a ‘problem’ animal to be culled, a displaced animal to be rescued, or a species nuisance whom one simply has to let live, are undergoing rapid change. We investigate the changing expectations that municipal hunters experience that they have from society in relation to managing problem wildlife in cities. Adding to the literature on the constitution of ‘problem’ animals in human environments, we show what happens to these animals in the practical sense, and what informs this decision. Our point of departure is to ask by what rationales hunters consider lethal interventions in urban nature to be legitimate, and which they find to be morally problematic. In a discussion, we reflect on what this says about, and means for, multispecies coexistence. Through interviews and go-along participant observation with 32 municipal hunters in Sweden, we show how municipal hunters wrestle with growing unease about new custodial roles they are expected to inhabit, as facilitators of the natural order, as garbage collectors of society for unwanted wildlife, and as enforcers of an interspecies code of conduct for the city. Based on this analysis, we discuss the relative standing of reparative, sacrificial, aesthetic, goodwill, practical, categorical and situational rationales for culling. This paints a picture of hunters as more conflicted about their control of urban nature, in challenge with the stereotypical idea of the professional hunter as a ‘natural born culler’. It also shows a city of parallel planes of multispecies coexistence, where some species and animals get a pass more than others.
The pharmacological treatment of granulomatosis with polyangiitis: a review of clinical trials registered in clinicaltrials.gov and the International Clinical Trials Registry Platform
Authors: Sultana Janet , Camilleri Nikita , Crisafulli Salvatore , Borg John Joseph , Spagnol Silvan , Tillati Silvia , Borg Joseph
Published: December 2023

To date, there is no published overview of the drug pipeline in granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), a rare disease. The aim of this study was to identify clinical trials from two study repositories. A review of clinical trials was conducted using publicly available data. Clinicaltrials.gov and International Clinical Trials Registry Platform were searched from inception until 25 September 2022. Only GPA-specific studies were included; these were described in detail. A total of 137 studies were identified in the trial repositories, of which 108 (79%) studies were found to concern GPA. Of these 108 studies, 67 enrolled GPA patients to investigate pharmacotherapy in this disease (62%). Most studies included all severity types ( n = 51; 76%); the scope of almost half of the studies was remission induction ( n = 33; 49%). The drug class which was by the most widely investigated in trials was the non-corticosteroid immunosuppressant drug class (46; 68.7%), monoclonal antibodies (32; 47.8%), and corticosteroids (31; 46.3%). There is a need for more GPA trials to generate evidence on effectiveness in terms of severity-specificity and maintenance of remission.
Worlding Chinese environmental geographies: A systematic, bilingual literature review
Authors: Liu Qi , Zhen Nahui , Rogers Sarah , Browne Alison L
Published: December 2023

This bilingual systematic review captures 10 years (2010–2020) of debates and evidence from human geography research that foregrounds the lived experiences of Chinese citizens in accounts of environmental change. In this first bilingual review of everyday environmental geographies, we analyse 157 papers from 10 English and 10 mainland Chinese journals, using a range of thematic categorisations to capture qualitative environment–society research on China. Given the quantitative disparity between Chinese (128) and English (29) papers, we focus primarily on the Chinese literature but bring this into conversation with work in English, identifying the conceptual and theoretical foundations and empirical insights of both, and considering current debates and gaps in environmental research in, and on China. Our review contributes to calls within geography to recognise the importance of regional knowledge production, the need to move beyond Anglophone linguistic and epistemic privilege, and the need for better knowledge to be produced that represents the diverse lived experience of people in China and pushes for better outcomes. In our discussion, we identify key areas for future theoretical, thematic, methodological, and empirical inquiry in environmental geographies of China.
Struggling with inequality and the uncertain reterritorialization of migrants: A case study of Guangzhou
Authors: Liang Xiaowei , Yuan Qifeng , Guo Yan , Lu Junwen
Published: December 2023

The citizenization of migrants has become a challenging practical issue and a significant research topic within the realm of social justice. Nowadays, with a large number of studies concerning the unjust lives of migrants, few researches probe their struggle with inequality. This struggling is reflected in space, in the reterritorialization of the migrants. Reterritorialization involves the reconstruction of the meaning and function of a territory. Deterritorialization meaning the weakening of territoriality. This paper concentrates on the reterritorialization of migrants, and attempts to fill the research gap through an in-depth case study of a representative urban village located in Guangzhou. The data for this study were collected through three rounds of questionnaire surveys conducted with migrants in 2016, 2020, and 2023. Government statistics and semi-structured interviews with local government officials and original villagers are also used in the research. It has been found the initial territorialization of KL Village was driven by the city’s development and the demand for industries and migrant labor. Subsequently, the concentration of migrants led to the transformation of the village into an urban village that caters to professional markets. The distinctive characteristics of the industry and the lifestyles of migrants resulted in the departure of local villagers, making migrants the sole users of the village and facilitating its reterritorialization. Migrants reterritorialized various systems within the village, including the commercial system, public service system, and transportation system. However, the reterritorialization remains uncertain. The urban villages may undergo deterritorialization when industries decline or when significant events with negative societal impacts occur. This paper further emphasizes the importance of governments recognizing the circumstances faced by migrants and ensuring the provision of stable spaces for them. In general, this paper makes an empirical contribution by offering a fresh perspective to the study of migrants and territorialization in China.
Transcriptional and epigenetic changes during tomato yellow leaf curl virus infection in tomato
Authors: Romero-Rodríguez Beatriz , Petek Marko , Jiao Chen , Križnik Maja , Zagorščak Maja , Fei Zhangjun , Bejarano Eduardo R. , Gruden Kristina , Castillo Araceli G.
Published: December 2023

Background

Geminiviruses are DNA plant viruses that cause highly damaging diseases affecting crops worldwide. During the infection, geminiviruses hijack cellular processes, suppress plant defenses, and cause a massive reprogramming of the infected cells leading to major changes in the whole plant homeostasis. The advances in sequencing technologies allow the simultaneous analysis of multiple aspects of viral infection at a large scale, generating new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying plant-virus interactions. However, an integrative study of the changes in the host transcriptome, small RNA profile and methylome during a geminivirus infection has not been performed yet. Using a time-scale approach, we aim to decipher the gene regulation in tomato in response to the infection with the geminivirus, tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV).

Results

We showed that tomato undergoes substantial transcriptional and post-transcriptional changes upon TYLCV infection and identified the main altered regulatory pathways. Interestingly, although the principal plant defense-related processes, gene silencing and the immune response were induced, this cannot prevent the establishment of the infection. Moreover, we identified extra- and intracellular immune receptors as targets for the deregulated microRNAs (miRNAs) and established a network for those that also produced phased secondary small interfering RNAs (phasiRNAs). On the other hand, there were no significant genome-wide changes in tomato methylome at 14 days post infection, the time point at which the symptoms were general, and the amount of viral DNA had reached its maximum level, but we were able to identify differentially methylated regions that could be involved in the transcriptional regulation of some of the differentially expressed genes.

Conclusion

We have conducted a comprehensive and reliable study on the changes at transcriptional, post-transcriptional and epigenetic levels in tomato throughout TYLCV infection. The generated genomic information is substantial for understanding the genetic, molecular and physiological changes caused by TYLCV infection in tomato.
Intraoperative circulatory arrest secondary to high-risk pulmonary embolism. Case series and updated literature review
Authors: Cruz Gustavo , Pedroza Santiago , Giraldo Miller , Peña Alvaro D. , Calderón Camilo A. , Quintero Ivan F.
Published: December 2023

Background

Intraoperative pulmonary embolism (PE) with cardiac arrest (CA) represents a critical and potentially fatal condition. Available treatments include systemic thrombolysis, catheter-based thrombus fragmentation or aspiration, and surgical embolectomy. However, limited studies are focused on the optimal treatment choice for this critical condition. We present a case series and an updated review of the management of intraoperative CA secondary to PE.

Methods

A retrospective review of patients who developed high-risk intraoperative PE was performed between June 2012 and June 2022. For the updated review, a literature search on PubMed and Scopus was conducted which resulted in the inclusion of a total of 46 articles.

Results

A total of 196 174 major non-cardiac surgeries were performed between 2012 and 2022. Eight cases of intraoperative CA secondary to high-risk PE were identified. We found a mortality rate of 75%. Anticoagulation therapy was administered to one patient (12.5%), while two patients (25%) underwent thrombolysis, and one case (12.5%) underwent mechanical thrombectomy combined with thrombus aspiration. Based on the literature review and our 10-year experience, we propose an algorithm for the management of intraoperative CA caused by PE.

Conclusion

The essential components for adequate management of intraoperative PE with CA include hemodynamic support, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and the implementation of a primary perfusion intervention. The prompt identification of the criteria for each specific treatment modality, guided by the individual patient’s characteristics, is necessary for an optimal approach.
The relationship between social support and dimensions of elder maltreatment: a systematic review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Marzbani Behnaz , Ayubi Erfan , Barati Majid , Sahrai Parvaneh
Published: December 2023

Introduction and aims

Many studies have investigated the relationship between social support and the prevention of elder abuse; however, their results are somehow inconsistent in terms of the association. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the published studies on the relationship between social support and the prevention of elder maltreatment.

Materials and methods

An electronic search was conducted until January 2023, using such databases as PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. The present research included cross-sectional, longitudinal, and case-control studies. Study selection, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment were conducted by two researchers independently. The Newcastle-Ottawa checklist was utilized to evaluate the quality of studies. The random effects model was employed to perform a meta-analysis.

Results

In total, 32 studies were included in this systematic review, out of which 26 articles were eligible for meta-analysis. The results showed that 68.75% of the studies were of high quality, and there is a significant relationship between social support and elder maltreatment. Accordingly, the lack of social support increased overall maltreatment (odds ratio: 1.24, 95% confidence interval: 1.16–1.33; I2 = 92.3%, p = 0.000)). Moreover, lack of social support had an increasing effect on the level of psychological abuse (1.55, 1.18–2.04; 88.7%, p = 0.000), physical abuse (1.31, 0.42–4.11; 76.3%, p = 0.005), and neglect (2.02, 0.86–4.72; 87.9%, p = 0.000), which shows heterogeneities among the results of the included studies. On the contrary, the lack of social support showed a decreasing effect on financial abuse (0.92, 0.70–1.21; 62.1%, p = 0.022).

Conclusion

This systematic review provides evidence that social support in the form of structural or functional support may plays an important role in improving the quality of life of the elderly.
Pseudomonas otitidis bacteremia in an immunocompromised patient with cellulitis: case report and literature review
Authors: Mori Takeo , Yoshizawa Sadako , Yamada Kageto , Sato Takahiro , Sasaki Masakazu , Nakamura Yusuke , Gen Ukyo , Murakami Hinako , Kashiwagi Katsuhito , Maeda Tadashi , Miyazaki Taito , Yamaguchi Tetsuo , Urita Yoshihisa , Ishii Yoshikazu , Tateda Kazuhiro
Published: December 2023

Background

Pseudomonas otitidis belongs to the genus Pseudomonas and causes various infections, including ear, skin, and soft tissue infections. P. otitidis has a unique susceptibility profile, being susceptible to penicillins and cephalosporins but resistant to carbapenems, due to the production of the metallo-β-lactamase called POM-1. This revealed genetic similarities with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which can sometimes lead to misidentification.

Case presentation

We report the case of a 70-year-old Japanese male who developed cellulitis and bacteremia during chemotherapy for multiple myeloma. He was initially treated with meropenem, but blood culture later revealed gram-negative bacilli identified as P. otitidis using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). Carbapenem resistance was predicted from previous reports; therefore, we switched to dual therapy with levofloxacin and cefepime, and favorable treatment results were obtained.

Conclusion

This is the first reported case of P. otitidis cellulitis and bacteremia in an immunocompromised patient. Carbapenems are typically used in immunocompromised patients and P. otitidis is often resistant to it. However, its biochemical properties are similar to those of Pseudomonas aeruginosa; therefore, its accurate identification is critical. In the present study, we rapidly identified P. otitidis using MALDI-TOF MS and switched from carbapenems to an appropriate antimicrobial therapy, resulting in a successful outcome.
Lens epithelium cell ferroptosis mediated by m6A-lncRNA and GPX4 expression in lens tissue of age-related cataract
Authors: Wang Yong , Li Pengfei , Wang Congyu , Bao Sijie , Wang Siwen , Zhang Guowei , Zou Xi , Wu Jian , Guan Yu , Ji Min , Guan Huaijin
Published: December 2023

Background

In the present study, we explored the role of N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and its association with ferroptosis in lens epithelium cells (LECs) of age-related cataract (ARC).

Methods

Through m6A RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (m6A-RIP-seq) and RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), we identified m6A mediated and differentially expressed lncRNAs (dme-lncRNAs) in ARC patients. Based on bioinformatics analysis, we selected critical dme-lncRNAs and pathways associated with ARC formation to reveal their potential molecular mechanisms. The downregulation of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), a key component of ferroptosis, was confirmed by real-time RT-PCR (RT-qPCR) and Western blotting in age-related cortical cataract (ARCC) samples. Transmission electron microscopy was used to assess the change in mitochondrial in LECs.

Results

The analysis revealed a total of 11,193 m6A peaks within lncRNAs, among which 7043 were enriched and 4150 were depleted. Among those, lncRNA ENST00000586817(upstream of the GPX4 gene) was not only significantly upregulated in the LECs of ARCC but also potentially augmented the expression of GPX4 through a cis mechanism. The expression of m6A-modified lncRNA (ENST00000586817) was correlated with that of GPX4 and was downregulated in ARC patients. The TEM results indicated significant mitochondrial changes in ARCC samples. GPX4 downregulation enhanced LEC ferroptosis and decreased viability via RSL3 in SRA01/04 cells.

Conclusions

Our results provide insight into the potential function of m6A-modified lncRNAs. M6A-modified lncRNA ENST00000586817 might regulate the expression of GPX4 by a cis mechanism and be implicated in ferroptosis in ARCs.
Uptake and availability of new outpatient cancer medicines in 2010–2021 in Nordic countries – survey of competent authorities
Authors: Sarnola Kati , Koskinen Hanna , Klintrup Katariina , Astrup Cecilie , Kurko Terhi
Published: December 2023

Background

Nordic countries excel in cancer care, but studies on uptake, costs, or managed entry agreements of cancer medicines have not been conducted recently. The aim of this study was to examine the uptake and availability of orally administered new cancer medicines in Nordic countries. Orally administered cancer medicines enable and are used in the community as part of outpatient care. Firstly, we studied the distribution, costs and adoption of managed entry agreements of these medicines, and secondly, uptake of and managed entry agreements for cancer medicines used in outpatient care that were granted marketing authorization in Europe in 2010–2021.

Methods

An E-mail survey of competent authorities, meaning pharmaceutical service organizers, payers or other government or non-government actors developing pharmaceutical service operations, in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden in April-June 2022. The data were analysed using frequencies and percentages for descriptive analysis.

Results

The distribution of cancer medicines has similarities in Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden, where cancer medicines can be distributed both via hospitals or hospital pharmacies for inpatient use, and via community pharmacies for outpatient use. In Denmark, cancer medicines are predominantly distributed via publicly funded hospitals. In all countries that provided data on the costs, the costs of cancer medicines had notably gone up from 2010 to 2021. The number of reimbursable medicines out of new cancer medicines varied from 36 products in Denmark and Iceland to 51 products in Sweden, out of 67 studied products. Managed entry agreements, often with confidential discounts, were in use in all Nordic countries. The number of agreements and the cancer types for which agreements were most often made varied from three agreements made in Iceland to 35 agreements made in Finland, out of 67 studied products. Average days from authorization to reimbursement of new cancer medicines varied from an average of 416 to 895 days.

Conclusions

Nordic countries share similar characteristics but also differ in terms of the details in distribution, adopted managed entry agreements, market entry, and availability of new orally administered cancer medicines used in the outpatient care. The costs of cancer medicines have increased in all Nordic countries during the last decade. Due to differences in health care and because orally administered cancer medicines can be dispensed at community and hospital pharmacies in all studied countries other than Denmark, the number of reimbursable medicines and managed entry agreements vary between countries. However, Nordic countries show good agreement for 2010 to 2021 in entry and reimbursement decisions of novel cancer medicines.
Construction of 11 metabolic-related lncRNAs to predict the prognosis in lung adenocarcinoma
Authors: Jiang Wei , Xu Zhanyu , Huang Liuliu , Qin Fanglu , Yuan Liqiang , Sun Yu , Qin Junqi , Deng Kun , Zheng Tiaozhan , Long Xiaomao , Li Shikang
Published: December 2023

Objective

To explore the metabolism-related lncRNAs in the tumorigenesis of lung adenocarcinoma.

Methods

The transcriptome data and clinical information about lung adenocarcinoma patients were acquired in TCGA (The Cancer Genome Atlas). Metabolism-related genes were from the GSEA (Gene Set Enrichment Analysis) database. Through differential expression analysis and Pearson correlation analysis, lncRNAs about lung adenocarcinoma metabolism were identified. The samples were separated into the training and validation sets in the proportion of 2:1. The prognostic lncRNAs were determined by univariate Cox regression analysis and LASSO (Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator) regression. A risk model was built using Multivariate Cox regression analysis, evaluated by the internal validation data. The model prediction ability was assessed by subgroup analysis. The Nomogram was constructed by combining clinical indicators with independent prognostic significance and risk scores. C-index, calibration curve, DCA (Decision Curve Analysis) clinical decision and ROC (Receiver Operating Characteristic Curve) curves were obtained to assess the prediction ability of the model. Based on the CIBERSORT analysis, the correlation between lncRNAs and tumor infiltrating lymphocytes was obtained.

Results

From 497 lung adenocarcinoma and 54 paracancerous samples, 233 metabolic-related and 11 prognostic-related lncRNAs were further screened. According to the findings of the survival study, the low-risk group had a greater OS (Overall survival) than the high-risk group. ROC analysis indicated AUC (Area Under Curve) value was 0.726. Then, a nomogram with T, N stage and risk ratings was developed according to COX regression analysis. The C-index was 0.743, and the AUC values of 3- and 5-year survival were 0.741 and 0.775, respectively. The above results suggested the nomogram had a good prediction ability. The results based on the CIBERSORT algorithm demonstrated the lncRNAs used to construct the model had a strong correlation with the polarization of immune cells.

Conclusions

The study identified 11 metabolic-related lncRNAs for lung adenocarcinoma prognosis, on which basis a prognostic risk scoring model was created. This model may have a good predictive potential for lung adenocarcinoma.