bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The relationship between depressive symptoms and positive emotional anticipation of goal achievement
Authors: Anderson Rachel J. , Clayton McClure J. Helgi , Boland Jennifer , Howe David , Riggs Kevin J. , Dewhurst Stephen A.
Published: March 2023

Depression is associated with difficulties in goal pursuit which could be related to deficits in emotional anticipation regarding goal success. Therefore, the reported study investigated emotional anticipation for personal goals and whether this differs as a function of depressive symptoms. After listing approach and avoidance goals, 263 participants made predictions about these goals (e.g. likelihood of achievement and controllability) and rated the vividness and perspective with which they envisaged goal achievement. They also provided ratings of either anticipated (predicted emotions that would accompany goal success) or anticipatory (in-the-moment emotions when imagining goal success) positive emotions. Higher levels of depressive symptomatology were associated with pessimistic predictions about goal achievement, coupled with reduced vividness and greater adoption of observer perspective when envisaging achievement. Furthermore, those experiencing higher levels of depressive symptoms evidenced biases in both anticipated and anticipatory positive emotions associated with goal success. They believed that goal achievement would bring them lower levels of positive emotion and also reported less in-the-moment happiness, satisfaction, and pleasure when thinking about achieving their goals. Irrespective of depressive symptom level, anticipated emotions were generally stronger than anticipatory emotions. These findings have implications both for research on future-oriented emotions (anticipated and anticipatory) and for the development of therapeutic techniques to aid depression.
Facial eccrine angiomatous hamartoma in a 52-year-old woman: A case report
Authors: Ahmad Shaymaa M , Mohammad Tariq , Elsebaey Ahmad ML
Published: March 2023

Eccrine angiomatous hamartoma is a rare, benign condition. Patients typically present with a solitary, sometimes enlarging nodule of the extremities usually appearing at birth or arising during childhood. Eccrine angiomatous hamartoma is usually sporadic, but one familial case of the multifocal variant has been reported. It is recognized histologically by increased numbers of eccrine elements as well as numerous vascular channels and proliferation of other dermal elements such as adipose tissue and hair follicles. When symptomatic, eccrine angiomatous hamartoma may be associated with hyperhidrosis or pain. We report a case of a 52-year-old woman with eccrine angiomatous hamartoma on the face and share our experience with botulinum toxins in the treatment of this condition.
Use of a Harmonic scalpel for laparoscopic adrenalectomy in two cats
Authors: Zhang Rey M , Case J Brad
Published: March 2023

Case series summary

Adrenal tumors are rare in cats and reports of laparoscopic adrenalectomy in cats are limited. This case series describes two cats that underwent laparoscopic adrenalectomy using a Harmonic scalpel for dissection and coagulation. Both surgeries were successful, with minimal hemorrhage, smoke production and lateral thermal damage. Vessels were appropriately sealed and surgical times were appropriate. Both cats recovered without complications postoperatively.

Relevance and novel information

To our knowledge, this is the first veterinary report to describe the use of the Harmonic scalpel for laparoscopic adrenalectomy as the sole device in cats. Owing to the absence of hemorrhage, there was no indication for irrigation, suction or hemostatics. The Harmonic scalpel is an ultrasonic vessel-sealing device with benefits over conventional electrosurgery, including less lateral thermal damage, less smoke production and improved safety due to the lack of an electrical current. This case report aims to highlight the usefulness of ultrasonic vessel-sealing devices for laparoscopic adrenalectomy in cats.
School Counselors’ Experience and Self-Efficacy in Providing Career Counseling to High-Ability Visual Artists
Authors: Edwin Mary , Fisher Jennifer
Published: March 2023

School counselors are to leverage purposeful interventions to support the career development of gifted and talented students. This study investigated school counselors’ experiences and self-efficacy in providing career counseling to high-ability visual artists (HAVAs). Participants reported feeling confident in their ability to provide career counseling to HAVAs. Qualitative analyses yielded four themes: giftedness across disciplines, under-preparedness, willingness to learn, and willingness to collaborate. We share recommendations for school counselor practice and training.
ALWAYS STRESSED BUT NEVER EXHAUSTED: HOW STEM CELLS IN MYELOID NEOPLASMS AVOID EXTINCTION IN INFLAMMATORY CONDITIONS
Authors: Zhao Helong Gary , Deininger Michael W.
Published: March 2023

Chronic or recurrent episodes of acute inflammation cause attrition of normal hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) that can lead to hematopoietic failure, but they drive progression in myeloid malignancies and their precursor clonal hematopoiesis (CH). Mechanistic parallels exist between hematopoiesis in chronic inflammation and the continuously increased proliferation of myeloid malignancies, particularly myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs). The ability to enter dormancy, a state of deep quiescence characterized by low oxidative phosphorylation, low glycolysis, reduced protein synthesis, and increased autophagy is central to the preservation of long term HSCs and likely MPN SCs. The metabolic features of dormancy resemble those of diapause, a state of arrested embryonic development triggered by adverse environmental conditions. To outcompete their normal counterparts in the inflammatory MPN environment, MPN SCs co-opt mechanisms used by HSCs to avoid exhaustion, including signal attenuation by negative regulators, insulation from activating cytokine signals, anti-inflammatory signaling, and epigenetic reprogramming. We propose that new therapeutic strategies may be derived from conceptualizing myeloid malignancies as an ecosystem out of balance, where residual normal and malignant hematopoietic cells interact in multiple ways, only few of which have been characterized in detail. Disrupting MPN SC insulation to overcome dormancy, interfering with aberrant cytokines circuits that favor MPN cells and directly boosting residual normal HSCs are potential strategies to tip the balance in favor of normal hematopoiesis. While eradicating the malignant cell clones remains the goal of therapy, this may be a more attainable objective in the short term.
Structural Variation Cooperates with Permissive Chromatin to Control Enhancer Hijacking-Mediated Oncogenic Transcription
Authors: Botten Giovanni , Zhang Yuannyu , Dudnyk Kseniia , Kim Yoon Jung , Liu Xin , Sanders Jacob T , Imanci Aygun , Droin Nathalie M. , Cao Hui , Kaphle Pranita , Dickerson Kathryn E , Kumar Kirthi R , Chen Mingyi , Chen Weina , Solary Eric , Ly Peter , Zhou Jian , Xu Jian
Published: March 2023

Structural variants (SVs) involving enhancer hijacking can rewire chromatin topologies to cause oncogene activation in human cancers including hematologic malignancies; however, due to the lack of tools to assess their effects on gene regulation and chromatin organization, the molecular determinants for the functional output of enhancer hijacking remain poorly understood. Here, we developed a multimodal approach to integrate genome sequencing, chromosome conformation, chromatin state, and transcriptomic alteration for quantitative analysis of transcriptional effects and structural reorganization imposed by SVs in leukemic genomes. We identified known and new pathogenic SVs including recurrent t(5;14) translocations that cause the hijacking of BCL11B enhancers for the allele-specific activation of TLX3 in a subtype of pediatric leukemia. Epigenetic perturbation of SV-hijacked BCL11B enhancers impairs TLX3 transcription required for the growth of t(5;14) leukemia cells. By CRISPR engineering of patient-derived t(5;14) in isogenic leukemia cells, we uncovered a new mechanism whereby the transcriptional output of SV-induced BCL11B enhancer hijacking is dependent on the loss of DNA hypermethylation at the TLX3 promoter. Our results highlight the importance of the cooperation between genetic alteration and permissive chromatin as a critical determinant of SV-mediated oncogene activation, with implications for understanding aberrant gene transcription following epigenetic therapies in leukemia patients. Hence, leveraging the interdependency of genetic alteration on chromatin variation may provide new opportunities to reprogram gene regulation as targeted interventions in human disease.
Elevated CO2 Priming as a Sustainable Approach to Increasing Rice Tiller Number and Yield Potential
Authors: Sloan Jennifer M. , Mujab Azzami Adam Muhamad , Mashitah Jusoh , Zulkarami Berahim , Wilson Matthew J. , Toh Liang Su , Nur Zahirah A. Jalil , Afiq Kamaruzali , Asyraf Ahmad Tajuddin , Zhu Xin-Guang , Yaapar Nazmin , Fleming Andrew J.
Published: March 2023

Tillering and yield are linked in rice, with significant efforts being invested to understand the genetic basis of this phenomenon. However, in addition to genetic factors, tillering is also influenced by the environment. Exploiting experiments in which seedlings were first grown in elevated CO2 (eCO2) before transfer and further growth under ambient CO2 (aCO2) levels, we found that even moderate exposure times to eCO2 were sufficient to induce tillering in seedlings, which was maintained in plants grown to maturity plants in controlled environment chambers. We then explored whether brief exposure to eCO2 (eCO2 priming) could be implemented to regulate tiller number and yield in the field. We designed a cost-effective growth system, using yeast to increase the CO2 level for the first 24 days of growth, and grew these seedlings to maturity in semi-field conditions in Malaysia. The increased growth caused by eCO2 priming translated into larger mature plants with increased tillering, panicle number, and improved grain filling and 1000 grain weight. In order to make the process more appealing to conventional rice farmers, we then developed a system in which fungal mycelium was used to generate the eCO2 via respiration of sugars derived by growing the fungus on lignocellulosic waste. Not only does this provide a sustainable source of CO2, it also has the added financial benefit to farmers of generating economically valuable oyster mushrooms as an end-product of mycelium growth. Our experiments show that the system is capable of generating sufficient CO2 to induce increased tillering in rice seedlings, leading eventually to 18% more tillers and panicles in mature paddy-grown crop. We discuss the potential of eCO2 priming as a rapidly implementable, broadly applicable and sustainable system to increase tillering, and thus yield potential in rice.
Prediction of vancomycin initial dosage using artificial intelligence models applying ensemble strategy
Authors: Ho Wen-Hsien , Huang Tian-Hsiang , Chen Yenming J. , Zeng Lang-Yin , Liao Fen-Fen , Liou Yeong-Cheng
Published: March 2023

Background

Antibiotic resistance has become a global concern. Vancomycin is known as the last line of antibiotics, but its treatment index is narrow. Therefore, clinical dosing decisions must be made with the utmost care; such decisions are said to be “suitable” only when both “efficacy” and “safety” are considered. This study presents a model, namely the “ensemble strategy model,” to predict the suitability of vancomycin regimens. The experimental data consisted of 2141 “suitable” and “unsuitable” patients tagged with a vancomycin regimen, including six diagnostic input attributes (sex, age, weight, serum creatinine, dosing interval, and total daily dose), and the dataset was normalized into a training dataset, a validation dataset, and a test dataset. AdaBoost.M1, Bagging, fastAdaboost, Neyman–Pearson, and Stacking were used for model training. The “ensemble strategy concept” was then used to arrive at the final decision by voting to build a model for predicting the suitability of vancomycin treatment regimens.

Results

The results of the tenfold cross-validation showed that the average accuracy of the proposed “ensemble strategy model” was 86.51% with a standard deviation of 0.006, and it was robust. In addition, the experimental results of the test dataset revealed that the accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of the proposed method were 87.54%, 89.25%, and 85.19%, respectively. The accuracy of the five algorithms ranged from 81 to 86%, the sensitivity from 81 to 92%, and the specificity from 77 to 88%. Thus, the experimental results suggest that the model proposed in this study has high accuracy, high sensitivity, and high specificity.

Conclusions

The “ensemble strategy model” can be used as a reference for the determination of vancomycin doses in clinical treatment.
Palaeobotanical evidence reveals the living conditions of Miocene Lufengpithecus in East Asia
Authors: Lu Li-Li , Yao Yi-Feng , Wang Guo-An , Xie Gan , Lu Kai-Qing , Sun Bin , Li Jin-Feng , Bruch Angela A. , Ferguson David K. , Cui Yi-Ming , Wang Qiang , Zhou Xin-Ying , Gao Feng , Wang Yu-Fei
Published: March 2023

Background

Understanding the relationship between human evolution and environmental changes is the key to lifting the veil on human origin. The hypothesis that environmental changes triggered the divergence of humans from apes (ca. 9.3–6.5 million years ago, Ma) has been poorly tested because of limited continuous environmental data from fossil localities. Lufengpithecus (12.5-6.0 Ma) found on the southeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau (SEMTP) across the ape–human split provides a good chance for testing this hypothesis.

Results

Here, we reconstructed the habitats of L. keiyuanensis (12.5–11.6 Ma) with comprehensive vegetation, climate, and potential food web data by palaeobotanical evidence, together with other multidisciplinary data and partly tested the environment-driven hypothesis by revealing the living conditions of Lufengpithecus.

Conclusion

A detailed comparison of hominoids on different continents reveals their behaviour and fate divergence across the ape–human split against the background of global climate change, i.e., the stable living conditions of SEMTP not only provided a so-called ‘refuge’ for arboreal Lufengpithecus but also acted as a ‘double-edged sword’, preventing their further evolution while vegetation shifts in East Africa probably stimulated the emergence of human bipedalism, and the intense climatic changes in Europe possibly prevented those hominoids from surviving that time interval. Our findings provide interesting insight into the environmental impacts on the behavioural evolution of hominoids.
Anaemia in the first week may be associated with long-term mortality among critically ill patients: propensity score-based analyses
Authors: Lin I-Hung , Liao Pei-Ya , Wong Li-Ting , Chan Ming-Cheng , Wu Chieh-Liang , Chao Wen-Cheng
Published: March 2023

Background

Anaemia is highly prevalent in critically ill patients; however, the long-term effect on mortality remains unclear.

Methods

We retrospectively included patients admitted to the medical intensive care units (ICUs) during 2015–2020 at the Taichung Veterans General Hospital. The primary outcome of interest was one-year mortality, and hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were determined to assess the association. We used propensity score matching (PSM) and propensity score matching methods, including inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) as well as covariate balancing propensity score (CBPS), in the present study.

Results

A total of 7,089 patients were eligible for analyses, and 45.0% (3,189/7,089) of them had anaemia, defined by mean levels of haemoglobin being less than 10 g/dL. The standardised difference of covariates in this study were lower than 0.20 after matching and weighting. The application of CBPS further reduced the imbalance among covariates. We demonstrated a similar association, and adjusted HRs in original, PSM, IPTW and CBPS populations were 1.345 (95% CI 1.227–1.474), 1.265 (95% CI 1.145–1.397), 1.276 (95% CI 1.142–1.427) and 1.260 (95% CI 1.125–1.411), respectively.

Conclusions

We used propensity score-based analyses to identify that anaemia within the first week was associated with increased one-year mortality in critically ill patients.
Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of older adults with burns: a 15-year retrospective analysis of 2554 cases in Wuhan Institute of Burns
Authors: Wu Hong , Xi Maomao , Xie Weiguo
Published: March 2023

Background

With the increase of geriatric burns, it’s urgent to summarize its characteristics. The aim of this study was to analyze the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of older adults with burns in a large center, and to provide suggestions for the prevention and treatment of geriatric burns.

Methods

This retrospective study was conducted at Wuhan Institute of Burns which is the largest burn center in central China between 2004 to 2018. Demographic and clinical data of the 60 years or above older burn inpatients were collected from medical records, analyzed and compared among groups.

Results

This study analyzed 2554 elderly burns, which included 50.9% in young geriatric group (60–69 years old), 32.9% in middle geriatric group (70–79 years old) and 16.2% in the oldest geriatric group (80 years old or above). The most common causes of elderly burns were flames (1081, 42.3%) and scalding (1041, 40.8%). Elderly burns with total body surface area (TBSA) of 0–9% accounted for 60.6% and the larger TBSA, the fewer number of patients. The majority of patients (70.5%) injured at home.The median of time interval from injury to admission was 7 h and the oldest geriatric group (24 h) was highest. One hundred and twenty-one cases (8.5%) were treated by cooling treatment, and 72.7% of these patients were treated less than 10 min. The median number of pre-injury diseases was one. Ninety patients (6.3%) had inhalation injury.The median length of stay (LOS) was 14 days.The median hospital cost was 10,410 CNY or 2137 CNY per % TBSA, which was correlated with TBSA, LOS, surgery, inhalation injury, number of pre-injury diseases and etiology. The mortality rate was 3.0% and correlated with TBSA, inhalation injury, pulmonary disease and Alzheimer’s disease. The lethal area 50% (LA50) for total admitted elderly burns was 78.3% TBSA (95% confidence interval [CI] = 69.8 ~ 89.9% TBSA).

Conclusion

Geriatric burns was still common and even increasing in central China, with flame burns and scalds the most common causes, majority of whom injured at home and often had problems such as few cooling treatment, improper emergency management and delayed admission. TBSA, etiology, pre-injury diseases and inhalation injury were the risk factors of length of stay, hospital cost and treatment outcomes.
Impact of early initiation of renin-angiotensin blockade on renal function and clinical outcomes in patients with hypertensive emergency: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Endo Keita , Hayashi Koichi , Hara Yuki , Miyake Akihiro , Takano Keisuke , Horikawa Takehiro , Yoshino Kaede , Sakai Masahiro , Kitamura Koichi , Ito Shinsuke , Imai Naohiko , Fujitani Shigeki , Suzuki Toshihiko
Published: March 2023

Background

Hypertensive emergency is a critical disease that causes multifaceted sequelae, including end-stage kidney disease and cardiovascular disease. Although the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone (RAA) system is enormously activated in this disease, there are few reports that attempt to characterize the effect of early use of RAA inhibitors (RASi) on the temporal course of kidney function.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study was conducted to clarify whether the early use of RASi during hospitalization offered more favorable benefits on short-term renal function and long-term renal outcomes in patients with hypertensive emergencies. We enrolled a total of 49 patients who visited our medical center with acute severe hypertension and multiple organ dysfunction between April 2012 and August 2020. Upon admission, the patients were treated with intravenous followed by oral antihypertensive drugs, including RASi and Ca channel blockers (CCB). Kidney function as well as other laboratory and clinical parameters were compared between RASi-treated and CCB- treated group over 2 years.

Results

Antihypertensive treatment effectively reduced blood pressure from 222 ± 28/142 ± 21 to 141 ± 18/87 ± 14 mmHg at 2 weeks and eGFR was gradually restored from 33.2 ± 23.3 to 40.4 ± 22.5 mL/min/1.73m2 at 1 year. The renal effect of antihypertensive drugs was particularly conspicuous when RASi was started in combination with other conventional antihypertensive drugs at the early period of hospitalization (2nd day [IQR: 1–5.5]) and even in patients with moderately to severely diminished eGFR (< 30 mL/min/1.73 m2) on admission. In contrast, CCB modestly restored eGFR during the observation period. Furthermore, renal survival probabilities were progressively deteriorated in patients who had manifested reduced eGFR (< 15 mL/min/1.73 m2) or massive proteinuria (urine protein/creatinine ≥ 3.5 g/gCr) on admission. Early use of RASi was associated with a favorable 2-year renal survival probability (0.90 [95%CI: 0.77–1.0] vs. 0.63 [95%CI: 0.34–0.92] for RASi ( +) and RASi (-), respectively, p = 0.036) whereas no apparent difference in renal survival was noted for CCB.

Conclusions

Early use of RASi contributes to the renal functional recovery from acute reduction in eGFR among patients with hypertensive emergencies. Furthermore, RASi offers more favorable effect on 2-year renal survival, compared with CCB.
Nonlinear relationship between glycated hemoglobin and cognitive impairment after acute mild ischemic stroke
Authors: Xu Lei , Xiong Qin , Du Yang , Huang Lu-wen , Yu Ming
Published: March 2023

Background

Stroke is the second most common cause of morbidity and mortality. Even mild stroke survivors have an increased risk of cognitive impairment. Studies have been conducted on the relationship between glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and cognitive decline, but the findings have been inconsistent. Therefore, this study examined the link between HbA1c levels and cognitive impairment following acute mild ischemic stroke.

Methods

Data from 311 patients with acute mild ischemic stroke admitted to Suining Central Hospital, Sichuan Province, China, from January 1, 2015, to December 31, 2018, were evaluated. Fasting venous blood was taken to assess HbA1c levels on the day after admission. Cognitive function was assessed using the Chinese version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale (MoCA) 3–6 months after stroke onset. We used a generalized additive model and smooth curve fitting (penalty spline method) to assess the nonlinear relationship between HbA1c and poststroke cognitive impairment (PSCI).

Results

This study included 311 patients aged 23 to 96 years old (mean age: 67.37 ± 11.92 years), of whom 198 (63.67%) were men. Among the 311 stroke patients, 120 (38.59%) had PSCI. After adjusting for potential confounders, there was a nonlinear relationship between HbA1c and PSCI, with an inflection point of 8.2. To the left of the inflection point, the effect size, 95% confidence interval, and P value were 0.87, 0.58 to 1.31, and 0.5095, respectively; however, to the right of the inflection point, these numbers were 1.96, 1.08 to 3.58, and 0.0280.

Conclusion

We found a nonlinear relationship between HbA1c and PSCI. When HbA1c was greater than 8.2%, HbA1c was positively correlated with PSCI.
Time trends and geographical patterns in suicide among Greenland Inuit
Authors: Seidler Ivalu Katajavaara , Tolstrup Janne Schurmann , Bjerregaard Peter , Crawford Allison , Larsen Christina Viskum Lytken
Published: March 2023

Background

Between 1980 and 2018 Greenland has had one of the highest suicide rates in the world with an average rate of 96 suicides per 100,000 people annually. The aim of this study is to investigate suicide rates in Greenland according to age, birth cohort, period, sex, place of residence and suicide method from 1970 until 2018.

Methods

Suicide rates were examined using register and census data from 1970–2018 among Greenland Inuit. Rates were calculated by Poisson regression in Stata and by use of Excel. In analyses of the period trends, rates were standardized according to the World Standard Population 2000–2025.

Results

The suicide rate has been declining since a peak at 120 suicides per 100,000 people annually in the 1980s but remained high at a rate of 81.3 suicides per 100,000 people annually from 2015–2018. Descriptive analyses point to the decrease in male suicides as the primary factor for the overall decreasing rates while the rate among women has been increasing. Simultaneously, the proportion of women who used a violent suicide method increased from 60% in 1970–1979 to 90% in 2010–2018. The highest rates are seen among young people, especially young men aged 20–24 years and youth suicide rates increased with later birth cohorts. When the rates started to increase in the 1980s both the capital Nuuk and East Greenland had the highest rates. Since then, the rate in Nuuk has declined while the rate in East Greenland was three times the national rate from 2015–2018.

Conclusions

From 1970 to 1989 the suicide rate increased from 28.7 to 120.5 per 100,000 people mirroring a rapid societal transition in the post-colonial period. The rate has slowly declined from the peak in the 1980s but remains at a very high level. Young people in general are at risk, but the steady increase in the rate among women is worrying and there is a need to investigate underlying causes for this development.
The long-term effects of Kerala Diabetes Prevention Program on diabetes incidence and cardiometabolic risk: a study protocol
Authors: Haregu Tilahun , Lekha T. R. , Jasper Smitha , Kapoor Nitin , Sathish Thirunavukkarasu , Panniyammakal Jeemon , Tapp Robyn , Thankappan Kavumpurathu Raman , Mahal Ajay , Absetz Pilvikki , Fisher Edwin B. , Oldenburg Brian
Published: March 2023

Introduction

India currently has more than 74.2 million people with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). This is predicted to increase to 124.9 million by 2045. In combination with controlling blood glucose levels among those with T2DM, preventing the onset of diabetes among those at high risk of developing it is essential. Although many diabetes prevention interventions have been implemented in resource-limited settings in recent years, there is limited evidence about their long-term effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability. Moreover, evidence on the impact of a diabetes prevention program on cardiovascular risk over time is limited.

Objectives

The overall aim of this study is to evaluate the long-term cardiometabolic effects of the Kerala Diabetes Prevention Program (K-DPP). Specific aims are 1) to measure the long-term effectiveness of K-DPP on diabetes incidence and cardiometabolic risk after nine years from participant recruitment; 2) to assess retinal microvasculature, microalbuminuria, and ECG abnormalities and their association with cardiometabolic risk factors over nine years of the intervention; 3) to evaluate the long-term cost-effectiveness and return on investment of the K-DPP; and 4) to assess the sustainability of community engagement, peer-support, and other related community activities after nine years.

Methods

The nine-year follow-up study aims to reach all 1007 study participants (500 intervention and 507 control) from 60 randomized polling areas recruited to the original trial. Data are being collected in two phases. In phase 1 (Survey), we are admintsering a structured questionnaire, undertake physical measurements, and collect blood and urine samples for biochemical analysis. In phase II, we are inviting participants to undergo retinal imaging, body composition measurements, and ECG. All data collection is being conducted by trained Nurses. The primary outcome is the incidence of T2DM. Secondary outcomes include behavioral, psychosocial, clinical, biochemical, and retinal vasculature measures. Data analysis strategies include a comparison of outcome indicators with baseline, and follow-up measurements conducted at 12 and 24 months. Analysis of the long-term cost-effectiveness of the intervention is planned.

Discussion

Findings from this follow-up study will contribute to improved policy and practice regarding the long-term effects of lifestyle interventions for diabetes prevention in India and other resource-limited settings.

Trial registration

Australia and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry–(updated from the original trial)ACTRN12611000262909; India: CTRI/2021/10/037191.
Association between atherogenic index of plasma and periodontitis among U.S. adults
Authors: Sun Jing , Guo Ge
Published: March 2023

Background

Serum lipids have been proven to influence periodontitis. The atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) is an important marker of lipid levels. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between periodontitis and AIP in adults.

Methods

The study included participants from the 2009–2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey who received a complete periodontal exam and a complete record of AIP. AIP was calculated as log10 (triglycerides/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol). Periodontitis can be classified into four categories based on attachment loss and probing depth (no periodontitis, moderate periodontitis, mild periodontitis, and severe periodontitis). Multivariable logistic regression after adjusting and hierarchical analysis were conducted to investigate the relationship between periodontitis and AIP in adults.

Results

The final sample included 4,371 participants, representing approximately 60 million people in the United States. Periodontitis among the AIP groups (quartile, Q1-Q4) was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Univariate analysis showed that AIP was associated with the incidence of periodontitis (P < 0.05), but not with the severity of periodontitis (P > 0.05) in participants. Multifactorial logistic regression analysis showed no correlation between the incidence of periodontitis and AIP among all participants (the trend P-value = 0.341), but a significant association with AIP in the non-smoking participants (the trend P-value = 0.031).

Conclusion

There was a significant correlation between periodontitis and AIP in the non-smoking population.
Construction of an evaluation system for medical staff’s occupational protection ability based on knowledge, attitude, and practice theory, and a cross-sectional survey of current conditions
Authors: Zhao Cunyue , Yu Mingguang , Wang Aijun , Xu Xiaofen , Zheng Xing
Published: March 2023

Introduction

Medical personnel should be in close proximity and high frequency of contact with patients, and be exposed to physical, biological and chemical risk factors for a long time. The incidence of various occupational exposures is high. however, there is still a lack of the medical staff Occupational Protection Core Competence Evaluation Index system with high reliability and validity.

Aim

Based on the theory of knowledge, attitude, and practice, the evaluation system of occupational protection ability of medical personnel was established, and the current situation of occupational protection ability of medical personnel at different levels was investigated, so as to take targeted training and intervention measures to improve the occupational protection ability of medical personnel and reduce the incidence of occupational exposure.

Methods

Based on the knowledge, attitude, and practice theory, the index system of occupational protection core competence of medical personnel was initially constructed by literature retrieval, expert consultation, group discussion, semi-structured interview and other qualitative and quantitative methods, and the reliability and validity of the index system was tested by Delphi expert consultation method. By convenient cluster sampling method, from March to September 2021, the current status of occupational protection core competence of medical personnel was investigated among medical staff from one Class III Grade A hospital and two medical schools in Jinan City, Shandong Province, China.

Results

The evaluation system for medical staff’s occupational protection ability included 3 first-level indexes, 11 second-level indexes, and 109 third-level indexes. A total of 684 valid questionnaires were collected from Grade III, Class A hospital medical staff and two medical school students in clinical practice in Shandong, China. Kruskal Walls test showed that there were significant differences in the overall distribution of occupational protection knowledge, attitude, and practice among registered nurses, nursing students, registered physicians, and physician students (H = 70.252, P < 0.001; H = 76.507, P < 0.001; H = 80.782, P < 0.001); there were statistical significance in the knowledge/ attitude/ practice of nursing and physician students at different levels (H = 33.733, P < 0.001; H = 29.158, P < 0.001; H = 28.740, P < 0.001).

Conclusion

The results of the evaluation system for the medical staff’s occupational protection ability are reliable and can provide a reference for training the medical staff’s occupational protection ability. Managers should strengthen the training of theoretical knowledge of occupational protection ability of medical staff.
Optimizing naloxone distribution to prevent opioid overdose fatalities: results from piloting the Systems Analysis and Improvement Approach within syringe service programs
Authors: Patel Sheila V. , Wenger Lynn D. , Kral Alex H. , Sherr Kenneth , Wagner Anjuli D. , Davidson Peter J. , Lambdin Barrot H.
Published: March 2023

Background

Opioid overdose fatalities are preventable with timely administration of naloxone, an opioid antagonist, during an opioid overdose event. Syringe service programs have pioneered naloxone distribution for potential bystanders of opioid overdose. The objective of this study was to pilot test a multi-component implementation strategy—the systems analysis and improvement approach for naloxone (SAIA-Naloxone)—with the goal of improving naloxone distribution by syringe service programs.

Methods

Two syringe service programs participated in a 6-month pilot of SAIA-Naloxone, which included (1) analyzing program data to identify gaps in the naloxone delivery cascade, (2) flow mapping to identify causes of attrition and brainstorm programmatic changes for improvement, and (3) conducting continuous quality improvement to test and assess whether modifications improve the cascade. We conducted an interrupted time series analysis using 52 weeks of data before and 26 weeks of data after initiating SAIA-Naloxone. Poisson regression was used to evaluate the association between SAIA-Naloxone and the weekly number of participants receiving naloxone and number of naloxone doses distributed.

Results

Over the course of the study, 11,107 doses of naloxone were distributed to 6,071 participants. Through SAIA-Naloxone, syringe service programs prioritized testing programmatic modifications to improve data collection procedures, proactively screen and identify naloxone-naïve participants, streamline naloxone refill systems, and allow for secondary naloxone distribution. SAIA-Naloxone was associated with statistically significant increases in the average number of people receiving naloxone per week (37% more SPP participants; 95% CI, 12% to 67%) and average number of naloxone doses distributed per week (105% more naloxone doses; 95% CI, 79% to 136%) beyond the underlying pre-SAIA-Naloxone levels. These initial increases were extended by ongoing positive changes over time (1.6% more SSP participants received naloxone and 0.3% more naloxone doses were distributed in each subsequent week compared to the weekly trend in the pre-SAIA Naloxone period).

Conclusions

SAIA-Naloxone has strong potential for improving naloxone distribution from syringe service programs. These findings are encouraging in the face of the worsening opioid overdose crisis in the United States and support testing SAIA-Naloxone in a large-scale randomized trial within syringe service programs.
Retraction Note: MicroRNA-30d promotes angiogenesis and tumor growth via MYPT1/c-JUN/VEGFA pathway and predicts aggressive outcome in prostate cancer
Authors: Lin Zhuo-yuan , Chen Guo , Zhang Yan-qiong , He Hui-chan , Liang Yu-xiang , Ye Jian-heng , Liang Ying-ke , Mo Ru-jun , Lu Jian-ming , Zhuo Yang-jia , Zheng Yu , Jiang Fu-neng , Han Zhao-dong , Wu Shu-lin , Zhong Wei-de , Wu Chin-Lee
Published: March 2023

This article has been retracted. Please see the Retraction Notice for more detail: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12943-017-0615-x.
Active targeting schemes for nano-drug delivery systems in osteosarcoma therapeutics
Authors: Shi Pengzhi , Cheng Zhangrong , Zhao Kangcheng , Chen Yuhang , Zhang Anran , Gan Weikang , Zhang Yukun
Published: March 2023

Osteosarcoma, the most common malignant tumor of the bone, seriously influences people’s lives and increases their economic burden. Conventional chemotherapy drugs achieve limited therapeutic effects owing to poor targeting and severe systemic toxicity. Nanocarrier-based drug delivery systems can significantly enhance the utilization efficiency of chemotherapeutic drugs through targeting ligand modifications and reduce the occurrence of systemic adverse effects. A variety of ligand-modified nano-drug delivery systems have been developed for different targeting schemes. Here we review the biological characteristics and the main challenges of current drug therapy of OS, and further elaborate on different targeting schemes and ligand selection for nano-drug delivery systems of osteosarcoma, which may provide new horizons for the development of advanced targeted drug delivery systems in the future.
CT-based deep learning model for the prediction of DNA mismatch repair deficient colorectal cancer: a diagnostic study
Authors: Cao Wuteng , Hu Huabin , Guo Jirui , Qin Qiyuan , Lian Yanbang , Li Jiao , Wu Qianyu , Chen Junhong , Wang Xinhua , Deng Yanhong
Published: March 2023

Background

Stratification of DNA mismatch repair (MMR) status in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) enables individual clinical treatment decision making. The present study aimed to develop and validate a deep learning (DL) model based on the pre-treatment CT images for predicting MMR status in CRC.

Methods

1812 eligible participants (training cohort: n = 1124; internal validation cohort: n = 482; external validation cohort: n = 206) with CRC were enrolled from two institutions. All pretherapeutic CT images from three dimensions were trained by the ResNet101, then integrated by Gaussian process regression (GPR) to develop a full-automatic DL model for MMR status prediction. The predictive performance of the DL model was evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and then tested in the internal and external validation cohorts. Additionally, the participants from institution 1 were sub-grouped by various clinical factors for subgroup analysis, then the predictive performance of the DL model for identifying MMR status between participants in different groups were compared.

Results

The full-automatic DL model was established in the training cohort to stratify the MMR status, which presented promising discriminative ability with the AUCs of 0.986 (95% CI 0.971–1.000) in the internal validation cohort and 0.915 (95% CI 0.870–0.960) in the external validation cohort. In addition, the subgroup analysis based on the thickness of CT images, clinical T and N stages, gender, the longest diameter, and the location of tumors revealed that the DL model showed similar satisfying prediction performance.

Conclusions

The DL model may potentially serve as a noninvasive tool to facilitate the pre-treatment individualized prediction of MMR status in patients with CRC, which could promote the personalized clinical-making decision.
Anti-human immunodeficiency virus-1 activity of MoMo30 protein isolated from the traditional African medicinal plant Momordica balsamina
Authors: Khan Mahfuz , Diop Amad , Gbodossou Erick , Xiao Peng , Coleman Morgan , De Barros Kenya , Duong Hao , Bond Vincent C. , Floyd Virginia , Kondwani Kofi , Rice Valerie Montgomery , Harris-Hooker Sandra , Villinger Francois , Powell Michael D.
Published: March 2023

Background

Plants are used in traditional healing practices of many cultures worldwide.Momordica balsaminais a plant commonly used by traditional African healers as a part of a treatment for HIV/AIDS. It is typically given as a tea to patients with HIV/AIDS. Water-soluble extracts of this plant were found to contain anti-HIV activity.

Methods

We employed cell-based infectivity assays, surface plasmon resonance, and a molecular-cell model of the gp120-CD4 interaction to study the mechanism of action of the MoMo30-plant protein. Using Edman degradation results of the 15 N-terminal amino acids, we determined the gene sequence of the MoMo30-plant protein from an RNAseq library from total RNA extracted fromMomordica balsamina.

Results

Here, we identify the active ingredient of water extracts of the leaves ofMomordica balsaminaas a 30 kDa protein we call MoMo30-plant. We have identified the gene for MoMo30 and found it is homologous to a group of plant lectins known as Hevamine A-like proteins. MoMo30-plant is distinct from other proteins previously reported agents from the Momordica species, such as ribosome-inactivating proteins such as MAP30 and Balsamin. MoMo30-plant binds to gp120 through its glycan groups and functions as a lectin or carbohydrate-binding agent (CBA). It inhibits HIV-1 at nanomolar levels and has minimal cellular toxicity at inhibitory levels.

Conclusions

CBAs like MoMo30 can bind to glycans on the surface of the enveloped glycoprotein of HIV (gp120) and block entry. Exposure to CBAs has two effects on the virus. First, it blocks infection of susceptible cells. Secondly, MoMo30 drives the selection of viruses with altered glycosylation patterns, potentially altering their immunogenicity. Such an agent could represent a change in the treatment strategy for HIV/AIDS that allows a rapid reduction in viral loads while selecting for an underglycosylated virus, potentially facilitating the host immune response.
The persistence and stabilization of auxiliary genes in the human skin virome
Authors: Graham Ema H. , Tom Wesley A. , Neujahr Alison C. , Adamowicz Michael S. , Clarke Jennifer L. , Herr Joshua R. , Fernando Samodha C.
Published: March 2023

Background

The human skin contains a diverse microbiome that provides protective functions against environmental pathogens. Studies have demonstrated that bacteriophages modulate bacterial community composition and facilitate the transfer of host-specific genes, potentially influencing host cellular functions. However, little is known about the human skin virome and its role in human health. Especially, how viral-host relationships influence skin microbiome structure and function is poorly understood.

Results

Population dynamics and genetic diversity of bacteriophage communities in viral metagenomic data collected from three anatomical skin locations from 60 subjects at five different time points revealed that cutaneous bacteriophage populations are mainly composed of tailed Caudovirales phages that carry auxiliary genes to help improve metabolic remodeling to increase bacterial host fitness through antimicrobial resistance. Sequence variation in the MRSA associated antimicrobial resistance gene, erm(C) was evaluated using targeted sequencing to further confirm the presence of antimicrobial resistance genes in the human virome and to demonstrate how functionality of such genes may influence persistence and in turn stabilization of bacterial host and their functions.

Conclusions

This large temporal study of human skin associated viruses indicates that the human skin virome is associated with auxiliary metabolic genes and antimicrobial resistance genes to help increase bacterial host fitness.
Comparison of clinical outcomes between aggressive and non-aggressive intravenous hydration for acute pancreatitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Li Xiu-Wei , Wang Chien-Ho , Dai Jhih-Wei , Tsao Shu-Han , Wang Po-Hsi , Tai Cheng-Chen , Chien Rong-Nan , Shao Shih-Chieh , Lai Edward Chia-Cheng
Published: March 2023

Background

Current practice guidelines for optimal infusion rates during early intravenous hydration in patients with acute pancreatitis (AP) remain inconsistent. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to compare treatment outcomes between aggressive and non-aggressive intravenous hydration in severe and non-severe AP.

Methods

This study followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. We systematically searched PubMed, Embase and Cochrane Library for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on November 23, 2022, and hand-searched the reference lists of included RCTs, relevant review articles and clinical guidelines. We included RCTs that compared clinical outcomes from aggressive and non-aggressive intravenous hydration in AP. Meta-analysis was performed using a random-effects model for participants with severe AP and non-severe AP. Our primary outcome was all-cause mortality, and several secondary outcomes included fluid-related complications, clinical improvement and APACHE II scores within 48 h.

Results

We included a total of 9 RCTs with 953 participants. The meta-analysis indicated that, compared to non-aggressive intravenous hydration, aggressive intravenous hydration significantly increased mortality risk in severe AP (pooled RR: 2.45, 95% CI: 1.37, 4.40), while the result in non-severe AP was inconclusive (pooled RR: 2.26, 95% CI: 0.54, 9.44). However, aggressive intravenous hydration significantly increased fluid-related complication risk in both severe (pooled RR: 2.22, 95% CI 1.36, 3.63) and non-severe AP (pooled RR: 3.25, 95% CI: 1.53, 6.93). The meta-analysis indicated worse APACHE II scores (pooled mean difference: 3.31, 95% CI: 1.79, 4.84) in severe AP, and no increased likelihood of clinical improvement (pooled RR:1.20, 95% CI: 0.63, 2.29) in non-severe AP. Sensitivity analyses including only RCTs with goal-directed fluid therapy after initial fluid resuscitation therapy yielded consistent results.

Conclusions

Aggressive intravenous hydration increased the mortality risk in severe AP, and fluid-related complication risk in both severe and non-severe AP. More conservative intravenous fluid resuscitation protocols for AP are suggested.

Graphical Abstract
Service composition considering energy consumption of users and transferring files in a multicloud environment
Authors: Li Jianmin , Zhu Shunzhi
Published: March 2023

In the internet and cloud environment, service composition is always used to enhance the function and processing ability of clouds. Those clouds work together for a user and provide different functions. A service request may involve multiple clouds. The past work focuses on the method of service composition and ignores the energy composition when files are transferred between clouds, including the energy consumption for transferring files (sending files from the user to the cloud and receiving files from the cloud to the user) of the user. The paper models the service composition in a multicloud environment. Based on those models, we use the GA (genetic algorithm) algorithm (GA-C) to solve the service composition problem with multiple targets in a multicloud environment. Simulation results show that the GA-C can: (1) reduce the average number of involved clouds and the energy consumption between clouds, and (2) reduce the energy consumption of the user and the failure rate of service composition.