bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Enhanced expression of autophagy‐related p62 without increased deposits of neurodegeneration‐associated proteins in glioblastoma and surrounding tissue – An autopsy‐based study
Authors: Klotz Sigrid , Ricken Gerda , Preusser Matthias , Dieckmann Karin , Widhalm Georg , Rössler Karl , Fischer Peter , Kalev Ognian , Wöhrer Adelheid , Kovacs Gabor G. , Gelpi Ellen
Published: March 2022

Neurodegenerative diseases are a major health burden. The underlying causes are not yet fully understood, but different mechanisms such as cell stress and chronic inflammation have been described as contributing factors. Neurodegenerative changes have been observed in the vicinity of brain tumors, typically around slowly growing benign lesions. Moreover, in‐vitro data suggest a potential induction of pathological tau deposits also in glioblastoma, a highly malignant and proliferative brain cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate neurodegeneration‐associated protein deposition and autophagy as well as microglial activation within and surrounding glioblastoma. Post‐mortem brain tissue of 22 patients with glioblastoma was evaluated immunohistochemically for phosphorylated tau, beta‐amyloid, alpha‐synuclein and phosphorylated TDP‐43. Additionally, the autophagy marker p62 and the microglial marker HLA‐DR were investigated. The data was compared to 22 control cases and ten cases with other space occupying brain lesions. An increase of p62‐immunoreactivity was observed within and adjacent to the glioblastoma tumor tissue. Moreover, dense microglial infiltration in the tumor tissue and the immediate surrounding brain tissue was a constant feature. Deposition of neurodegeneration‐associated proteins was found in the majority of cases (86.4%) but in distant sites. These findings suggested a preexisting neurodegenerative pathology, which followed a typical distributional pattern: ten cases with Alzheimer disease neuropathological changes, including two severe cases, eight cases with primary age‐related tauopathy, six cases with aging‐related tau astrogliopathy and one case with progressive supranuclear palsy. Collectively, our data suggests enhanced autophagy in glioblastoma tumor cells and the surrounding brain. The variety and distribution of distant neurodegeneration‐associated protein aggregates observed in the majority of cases, suggest a preexisting rather than a tumor‐induced neurodegenerative condition.
Using biodegradable organic salt for cotton garment dyeing to reduce effluent pollution
Authors: Ali Raza , Ali Shamshad , Khatri Awais , Javeed Alishba
Published: March 2022

The replacement of inorganic salt and alkali in the reactive dyeing of cotton textiles with organic biodegradable compound has been explored in recent years. We report the use of organic salt, tetra sodium salt of glutamic acid diacetic acid (GLDA‐Na4) in the batchwise dyeing of cotton garment as an exhausting and fixing agent. The reactive dye, CI Reactive Black 5 was selected for the present study. The results revealed that the maximum K/S value of 25.5 and fixation of 90.74% was obtained using GLDA‐Na4 at laboratory scale experiments. Furthermore, the effluent samples test results demonstrated considerably reduced total dissolved solids (TDS) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) contents with GLDA‐Na4 in comparison to the inorganic chemicals. The colourfastness to light, rubbing and washing have demonstrated similar ratings with GLDA‐Na4 and inorganic chemicals. The tensile strength of samples was enhanced by using GLDA‐Na4.
Barriers and facilitators to accessing effective clinical supervision and the implementation of a clinical supervision exchange model in the Australian alcohol and other drugs sector
Authors: O'Donnell Courtney , Popovich Sean , Lee Nicole , Hides Leanne
Published: March 2022

Introduction

Internationally, clinical/practice supervision is considered essential in the development and maintenance of professional proficiency across health disciplines. Among alcohol and other drug (AOD) workers, however, access to effective clinical supervision is limited. This study examined perceived barriers and facilitators to: (i) AOD workers accessing effective clinical supervision; and (ii) effective implementation of a clinical supervision exchange model in the AOD sector.

Methods

Qualitative interviews with frontline workers (n = 10) and managers (n = 11) employed by eight government and non‐government AOD treatment services in Brisbane, Australia were undertaken. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed and data were thematically analysed.

Results

Frontline workers and managers shared similar views. Reported barriers and facilitators to accessing effective clinical supervision included limited time, the high cost of providers, availability of skilled clinical supervisors, supervisor–supervisee matching and supervision modality. Participants considered the implementation of a clinical supervision exchange model to be a resource‐effective strategy to increase access to external, individual clinical supervision while also exposing workers to a greater diversity of perspectives, increasing sector collaboration and improving the perceived value of clinical supervision among the workforce.

Discussion and Conclusions

The findings of this study suggest that limited time, cost and availability of skilled supervisors are primary barriers to AOD workers accessing high‐quality clinical supervision. Implementation of a clinical supervision exchange model is perceived by frontline workers and service delivery managers to be a resource‐effective strategy for increasing access to high‐quality clinical supervision among workers.
Deviant circadian rhythmicity, corticosterone variability and trait testosterone levels in aggressive mice
Authors: Mogavero Floriana , van Zwieten Kitty , Buitelaar Jan K. , Glennon Jeffrey C. , Henckens Marloes J. A. G.
Published: March 2022

Although aggression has been linked to disturbances of circadian rhythm, insight into the neural substrate of this association is currently lacking. The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus, the master circadian clock, is regulated by clock genes and known to influence the secretion of cortisosterone and testosterone, important hormones implicated in aggression. Here, we investigated deviations in the regulation of the locomotor circadian rhythm and hormonal levels in a mouse model of abnormal aggression. We tested aggressive BALB/cJ and control BALB/cByJ mice in the resident–intruder paradigm and compared them on their locomotor circadian rhythm during a 12 h light/12 h dark cycle and constant darkness. State (serum) corticosterone and trait (hair) corticosterone and testosterone levels were determined, and immunohistochemistry was performed to assess the expression of important clock proteins, PER1 and PER2, in the core and shell of the SCN at the start of their active phase. Compared with BALB/cByJ mice, aggressive BALB/cJ mice displayed: (1) a shorter free‐running period in constant darkness; (2) reduced state corticosterone variability between circadian peak and trough but no differences in corticosterone trait levels; (3) lower testosterone trait levels; (4) higher PER1 expression in the SCN shell with no changes in PER2 in either SCN subregion during the early dark phase. Together, these results suggest that aggressive BALB/cJ mice have disturbances in different components encompassing the circadian and hormonal cycle, emphasizing their value for future investigation of the causal relationship between SCN function, circadian clocks and aggression.
Dendritic cells in reflectance confocal microscopy are a clue for early melanoma diagnosis in extrafacial flat pigmented melanocytic lesions
Authors: Guiducci Laura , Kaleci Shaniko , Chester Johanna , Longo Caterina , Ciardo Silvana , Farnetani Francesca , Pellacani Giovanni
Published: February 2022

Differential diagnosis of extrafacial flat pigmented lesions with dermoscopic reticular and/or homogeneous pattern is challenging. Dendritic cells upon reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) still represent a pitfall. This study aims to determine the role of dendritic cells upon RCM in the epidermis and dermo‐epidermal junction (DEJ), together with common RCM features for melanoma and nevi, in dermoscopically equivocal extrafacial flat pigmented lesions. A retrospective evaluation of RCM images of melanocytic extrafacial flat pigmented lesions with reticular and/or homogeneous dermoscopic pattern and with histopathological diagnosis, was performed. A multivariate model of RCM features was used to obtain a score of independent risk factors. A total of 698 lesions were included. Increasing patient age, epidermal dendritic cells, many dendritic cells in the DEJ (>30%) and many (>5/mm2) round atypical cells were independent risk factors for melanoma. Edged papillae and melanophages were indicative of nevus. A score based on these features was developed to assist in melanoma differential diagnosis. The RCM observation of abundant (>30%) dendritic cells in the DEJ is highly suggestive of malignity. This independent risk factor should also be considered for improved differential diagnosis of extrafacial melanoma.
A case study of illegal fishing causes during seasonal fishery closure in Kaptai Lake, Bangladesh
Authors: Shalehin Md. Shoyeb , Parvez Md. Taskin , Lucas Martyn C. , Galib Shams M.
Published: February 2022

Growing evidence shows that conservation strategies such as fishing bans may adversely affect the livelihoods of low‐income communities, which often encourages community members to fish illegally. In this study, we determined the underlying factors that influenced fishermen to engage in illegal fishing during the closed season in the largest lake of Bangladesh, Kaptai Lake. Out of 231 fishermen interviewed, 46.8% were engaged in illegal fishing during the closed season. Engagement in illegal fishing was positively related to receipt of a financial loan and negatively related to receipt of a government subsidy and secondary occupation of the fishermen. Financial gain by selling the fish was the prime motive for illegal fishing. Surprisingly, fishermen received a 36% lower price for illegally harvested fish during the closed season (mean price ± SD, BDT 95.8 ± 64.9), when compared to that during the open fishing season (BDT 151.5 ± 64.9). Mid‐level actors secured 99%–154% more profit during the closed season. This study shows that multiple factors are important for the engagement of fishermen in illegal fishing, and therefore, an integrated conservation policy considering all causative factors should be employed to achieve more effective conservation in the region's inland waters.
Impact of biochar amendment on soil hydrological properties and crop water use efficiency: A global meta‐analysis and structural equation model
Authors: Wu Wenao , Han Jiayuan , Gu Yining , Li Tong , Xu Xiangrui , Jiang Yuhan , Li Yunpeng , Sun Jianfei , Pan Genxing , Cheng Kun
Published: February 2022

The regulation of soil water retention by biochar amendment has been concerned especially in cropland ecosystem. However, the quantification of biochar's effects on soil hydrological properties and crop water use efficiency (WUE) is still limited, and the factors driving the biochar effect need to be investigated. Based on a database with 681 observations, meta‐analysis and structural equation model (SEM) were employed to reveal how biochar amendment affects water supply capacity and WUE. The results showed that biochar application increased available water content (AWC) and WUE by 26.8% and 4.7% on average, respectively. According to the SEM of AWC (R2 = 0.70–0.96), the increase of soil organic carbon (+36.1%) by biochar application can not only directly improve AWC but also indirectly improve AWC by affecting permanent wilting point (−1.0%) and mean weight diameter (+11.1%). The SEM of WUE (R2 = 0.74) indicated that soil moisture and porosity were increased by 10.8% and 7.0% under biochar amendment, which was the reason why biochar improved WUE. This study emphasized that biochar can improve soil hydrology and crop yield by increasing soil water supply conditions. And a rational rate of biochar is the precondition to obtaining the benefits of soil hydrology, otherwise, the excessive use of biochar may lead to the decline of WUE.
How universities facilitate city network socialization through knowledge exchange on immigrant integration
Authors: Broadhead Jacqueline , Allen William L.
Published: March 2022

Universities increasingly facilitate as well as study social change alongside decision‐makers and users. This is partly in response to demands for civic engagement and demonstrable public impact. While existing scholarship has critically examined these collaborations’ impacts, less work addresses either how they develop or what benefits they confer to participants—especially those operating at local scales. By examining two university‐initiated networks comprising 28 cities in 12 European countries working on immigrant integration issues, we show how two‐way knowledge exchange among researchers and municipal policymakers can foster peer learning and co‐productive dynamics. We argue that these exchanges socialize cities into more cohesive groups with shared goals and agendas, particularly in low‐salience policy areas, as integration can be in some national contexts. Moreover, universities and university‐affiliated researchers play unique roles in facilitating this process. Our results have theoretical implications for multi‐level and networked governance and offer practical guidance for designing knowledge exchange initiatives.
Utility of sonic hedgehog and keratin 8/18 immunohistochemistry for detecting ballooned hepatocytes
Authors: Kusano Hironori , Kondo Reiichiro , Ogasawara Sachiko , Omuraya Minori , Okudaira Masayuki , Mizuochi Shinji , Mihara Yutaro , Kinjo Yoshinao , Yano Yuta , Nakayama Masamichi , Naito Yoshiki , Akiba Jun , Nakashima Osamu , Yano Hirohisa
Published: February 2022

Aims

Ballooned hepatocytes represent liver cell degeneration and are histological hallmarks in the diagnosis of non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis, a severe form of non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease. However, the identification of ballooned hepatocytes is often difficult, especially in the clinical setting of patients with other chronic liver diseases. In this study, we investigated the utility of immunostaining for positive sonic hedgehog (SHh) protein and negative Keratin 8/18 (K8/18) expression on ballooned hepatocytes.

Methods and results

Immunohistochemistry for SHh and K8/18 was evaluated independently by two experienced liver pathologists in non‐tumorous liver tissue from 100 cases of resected hepatocellular carcinoma of various aetiology. The degree of hepatocyte ballooning was scored as follows: 0, none; 1, few; 2, many ballooned hepatocytes. These evaluations were performed using routine haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, followed by immunostaining for SHh or K8/18. Using SHh or K8/18 immunostaining combined with H&E staining, the score of ballooned hepatocytes was upgraded in 20 and 19 cases, and downgraded in none and 2 cases, respectively. The percentage of observed agreement for ballooned hepatocytes scoring was 85% and 92%, and the weighted kappa value was 0.806 and 0.893 with SHh or K8/18 immunohistochemistry. Considering the immunohistochemistry results, background liver disease diagnosis was changed in 15 out of 100 cases (15%) evaluated.

Conclusions

SHh and K8/18 immunohistochemistry are useful in detecting ballooned hepatocytes, regardless of background liver disease, and improving pathological diagnosis accuracy.
Defunding the police in the UK: Critical questions and practical suggestions
Authors: Fleetwood Jennifer , Lea John
Published: February 2022

Calls to defund the police emerged from Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests of 2020, inspiring USA cities to shift funding from policing to social welfare. Here we consider how defunding might translate to the UK, raising critical questions about our distinct funding arrangements, and social welfare traditions. Next, we consider how the spirit of defunding could be adapted in the UK drawing on the left realist proposition of minimal policing, radically restricting police powers and autonomy. In contrast to many abolitionists, we foresee the state continuing to play an important role in ensuring justice through the development of specialist non‐police led agencies to respond to serious crimes and residual conflicts.
Gauging the effect of investor overconfidence on trading volume from the perspective of the relationship between lagged stock returns and current trading volume
Authors: Huang Jiayu , Wang Yifan , Fan Yaojun , Li Hexuan
Published: March 2022

Is investor overconfidence a major source of stock‐market trading volume? This study refers to the work of Grossman and Odean, introduces the assumption of investor overconfidence and empirically examines the influence of investor overconfidence on market trading volume in China's A‐share market through a vector autoregressive model estimation and Granger causality test. We find that overconfidence and self‐attribution exist in China's A‐share market. When the market is on an upswing, investors attribute large returns to the accuracy of their private information and the quality of their investment abilities; thus they trade more frequently, causing trading volume to increase more quickly. Conversely, when the market is on a downswing, investors attribute their investment losses to uncontrollable external factors; thus they become unwilling to trade, causing trading volume to shrink rapidly.
Multidimensional screening and evaluation of morpho‐physiological indices for salinity stress tolerance in wheat
Authors: Quamruzzaman Md , Manik S. M. Nuruzzaman , Livermore Mark , Johnson Peter , Zhou Meixue , Shabala Sergey
Published: March 2022

Soil salinity is one of the major constraints to crop production worldwide. The multifaceted nature of salinity tolerance traits complicates plant screening and the identification of salt‐tolerant germplasm to be used for the genetic advancement of corps. Many screening criteria have been suggested to distinguish between genotypes. Most of these were applied under controlled environmental conditions and limited to one developmental stage of plants. As a result, most of the reported tolerance could not be validated under field conditions. This study employed a membership function value (MFV) to assess NaCl tolerance of eight wheat (Triticum aestivum) genotypes measured at germination, vegetative and reproductive stages, as an integrative tool for the overall plant performance. Salt stresses had an adverse effect on plant physiological (residual transpiration, stomatal density, chlorophyll fluorescence characteristics; leaf N, Na+ and K+ content) and agronomical (plant height; biomass; root and tiller number; grain) characteristics. Based on this assessment, plants were divided into three contrasting groups: salt tolerant, moderately salt tolerant and salt sensitive. Although genotypes did not show the same degree of tolerance in germination, glasshouse and field experiments, the variety Yu‐07 showed consistently better performance in all trials, whilst Aus19720 was most sensitive in glasshouse and field experiments. These contrasting genotypes could be of a potential value for further studies to uncover the genetic mechanisms governing salt stress response in wheat.
Globalization, Corporate Finance, and the Cost of Capital
Authors: Stulz René M.
Published: March 2022

International financial markets appear to be becoming a single huge, integrated, global capital market—a development that is contributing to higher stock prices in developed as well as developing economies. For companies large and visible enough to attract global investors, having a global shareholder base means having a lower cost of capital, and hence a greater equity value, for two main reasons:

First, because the risks of equity are shared among more investors with different portfolio exposures and hence a different “appetite” for bearing certain risks, equity market risk premiums should fall for all companies in countries with access to global markets. Although the largest reductions in cost of capital resulting from globalization will be experienced by companies in liberalizing economies that are gaining access to the global markets for the first time, risk premiums can also be expected to fall for companies in long‐integrated markets as well.

Second, when companies in countries with less‐developed capital markets raise capital in the public markets of countries (like the U.S.) with highly developed markets, they get more than lower‐cost capital; they also import at least aspects of the corporate governance systems that prevail in those markets. For companies accustomed to less‐developed markets, raising capital overseas is likely to mean that more sophisticated investors, armed with more advanced technologies, will participate in monitoring their performance and management. And in a virtuous cycle, more effective monitoring is expected to increase investor confidence in the future performance of those companies and so improve the terms on which they raise capital.

Besides reducing market risk premiums and improving corporate governance, globalization also affects the systematic risk, or “beta,” of individual companies. In global markets, the beta of a firm's equity depends on how the stock contributes to the volatility not of the home market portfolio, but of the world market portfolio. For companies with access to global capital markets whose profitability is tied more closely to the local than to the global economy, use of the traditional Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM) will overstate the cost of capital because risks that are not diversifiable within a national economy can be diversified by holding a global portfolio. Thus, to reflect the new reality of a globally determined cost of capital, all companies with access to global markets should consider using a global CAPM that views a company as part of the global portfolio of stocks.
Effectiveness of angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers on total and cardiovascular mortality and morbidity in primary prevention: A nationwide study based on French Health Insurance Data (SNDS)
Authors: Oger Emmanuel , Kerbrat Sandrine , Nowak Emmanuel , Paillard François , Scarabin Pierre‐Yves , Happe André
Published: March 2022

Angiotensin‐converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) both inhibit the renin‐angiotensin system (RAS) but have different sites of action. Whether clinically meaningful differences exist is still debated. The authors set up a population‐based nationwide retrospective cohort study with at least 5 years of follow‐up based on the comprehensive French Health Insurance Database linked to the French hospital discharge database. Patients aged 50 or above, identified as ARB or ACE inhibitor new users in 2009 (at least one delivery during the year and no such delivery in 2008) were eligible. Exclusion criteria included history of cancer, cardiovascular disease, or chronic renal insufficiency. Main outcome measure was overall mortality. Secondary outcomes were cardiovascular deaths, major cardiovascular events, and major or other cardiovascular events. Out of 407 815 eligible patients, 233 682 (57%) were ARB users; two‐third had no previous exposure to antihypertensive drug. Based on propensity‐score based Cox model, ARB new user group had a better overall (HR: .878, 95%CI, .854 to .902), and cardiovascular (HR: .841, 95%CI, .800 to .84) survival and had a lower risk for major cardiovascular events (HR: .886, 95%CI, .868 to .905). Statistically significant quantitative interactions were detected with diabetes. Considering subgroup analyses, ARBs had a better survival than ACE inhibitors in nondiabetic patients.
Type 1 diabetes mellitus following COVID‐19 RNA‐based vaccine
Authors: Sakurai Kanako , Narita Daiki , Saito Naomi , Ueno Takayuki , Sato Ryota , Niitsuma Satsuki , Takahashi Kazuhiro , Arihara Zenei
Published: February 2022

The epidemic of coronavirus disease‐2019 (COVID‐19) is the major public health issue in the world. COVID‐19 vaccines are one of the most effective strategies against COVID‐19. Here we report a 36‐year‐old female patient who had thirst, polydipsia, polyuria, palpitations, loss of appetite, and fatigue 3 days after the first dose of COVID‐19 RNA‐based vaccines without a prior history of diabetes. Ten days after vaccination, she visited our hospital with diabetic ketoacidosis and was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Hyperglycemia (501 mg/dL), anion gap metabolic acidosis and ketonuria were observed. The glycated hemoglobin level was 7.0%. Islet‐related autoantibodies were all negative. The glucagon tolerance test revealed attenuated secretion of insulin. Human leukocyte antigen was haplotype DRB1*0405‐DQB1*0401, which was associated with type 1 diabetes in Japan. The present case suggests that COVID‐19 RNA‐based vaccines might trigger the onset of type 1 diabetes, even in subjects without prior histories of diabetes.
Metabolic Score for Insulin Resistance, a novel score to evaluate insulin sensitivity, is associated with the urinary albumin‐to‐creatinine ratio in Chinese adults: A cross‐sectional REACTION study
Authors: Su Wanlu , Wang Jie , Yu Songyan , Chen Kang , Gao Zhengnan , Tang Xuelei , Wan Qin , Luo Zuojie , Ning Guang , Mu Yiming
Published: February 2022

Aims/Introduction

The Metabolic Score for Insulin Resistance (METS‐IR) is a novel non‐insulin‐based metabolic index used as a substitution marker of insulin resistance. However, whether METS‐IR is associated with the urinary albumin‐to‐creatinine ratio (UACR) is not well known. Therefore, we explored the associations between METS‐IR and UACR, and compared the discriminative ability of METS‐IR and its components for elevated UACR.

Materials and Methods

This study included 37,290 participants. METS‐IR was calculated as follows: (Ln[2 × fasting blood glucose + fasting triglyceride level] × body mass index) / (Ln [high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol]). Participants were divided into four groups on the basis of METS‐IR: <25%, 25–49%, 50–74% and ≥75%. Logistic regression analyses were carried out to determine the associations between METS‐IR versus its components (fasting blood glucose, triglyceride level, body mass index and high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol) with UACR.

Results

Participants with the highest quartile METS‐IR presented a more significant trend toward elevated UACR than toward its components (odds ratio 1.260, 95% confidence interval 1.152–1.378, P < 0.001 in all participants; odds ratio 1.321, 95% confidence interval 1.104–1.579, P = 0.002 in men; odds ratio 1.201, 95% confidence interval 1.083–1.330, P < 0.001 in women). There were significant associations between METS‐IR and UACR in younger participants (aged <65 years for women and aged 55–64 years for men). Increased METS‐IR was significantly associated with UACR in men with fasting blood glucose ≥5.6 or postprandial blood glucose ≥7.8 mmol/L and systolic blood pressure ≥120 or diastolic blood pressure ≥80 mmHg. The relationships were significant in women with diabetes and hypertension.

Conclusions

Increased METS‐IR was significantly associated with elevated UACR, its discriminative power for elevated UACR was superior to that of its components.
Incidence, prevalence and risk of acne in adolescent and adult patients with atopic dermatitis: a matched cohort study
Authors: Thyssen Jacob P. , Nymand Lea K. , Maul Julia‐Tatjana , Schmid‐Grendelmeier Peter , Wu Jashin J. , Thomsen Simon Francis , Egeberg Alexander
Published: February 2022

Background

Use of Janus kinase 1 inhibitors in moderate‐to‐severe atopic dermatitis (AD) is associated with incident acne in adolescent and adults that is mostly mild, transient and treatable. There is a need for more knowledge about the risk and severity of acne in patients with AD.

Objectives

To examine the prevalence, incidence and risk of acne in adolescents and adults with AD using nationwide prescription data.

Methods

A matched cohort study of 6600 adults with AD and 66 000 controls was conducted using routinely and prospectively collected nationwide administrative data. Adjusted hazard ratios (HR) are reported with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Results

The 12‐month prevalence of acne was 3.7% in the general population and 3.9% among AD patients. The incidence rate of acne was highest among 12‐ to 18‐year‐old AD patients, and overall slightly higher in women with AD compared with males. The overall risk in patients with AD was similar with that of the general population (HR 0.96; 95% CI 0.88–1.06), whereas the risk of being treated for severe acne was reduced in AD patients (HR 0.59; 95% CI 0.47–0.73) and mainly among adolescents and young adults. The HR of acne increased with age reaching 1.41 (95% CI 1.07–1.87) for ages 30–39 years, and 2.07 (95% CI 1.42–3.03) for patients ≥40 years compared with controls.

Conclusions

The risk and severity of acne in AD patients change with age and sex, which may be used for the risk assessment of acne following treatment with Janus kinase 1 inhibitors.
Nationwide epidemiological survey of immunoglobulin G4‐related disease with malignancy in Japan
Authors: Sumimoto Kimi , Uchida Kazushige , Ikeura Tsukasa , Hirano Kenji , Yamamoto Motohisa , Takahashi Hiroki , Nishino Takayoshi , Mizushima Ichiro , Kawano Mitsuhiro , Kamisawa Terumi , Saeki Takako , Maguchi Hiroyuki , Ushijima Tomoyuki , Shiokawa Masahiro , Seno Hiroshi , Goto Hiroshi , Nakamura Seiji , Okazaki Kazuichi ,   The Research Committee for an Intractable Disease of IgG4‐related disease
Published: March 2022

Background and Aim

To clarify the clinicoepidemiological characteristics of immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4)‐related disease (IgG4‐RD) with malignancy, a nationwide epidemiological survey was conducted.

Methods

Immunoglobulin G4‐related disease patients with malignancy who had visited selected hospitals in Japan were surveyed. The study consisted of two stages: the number of IgG4‐RD patients with malignancy was estimated by the first questionnaire and their clinicoepidemiological characteristics were assessed by the second questionnaire.

Results

The frequencies of autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP), IgG4‐related sialadenitis, IgG4‐related eye disease, IgG4‐related kidney disease, and IgG4‐related retroperitoneal fibrosis were 44.7%, 20.8%, 14.0%, 5.16%, and 5.12%, respectively. The overall prevalence of malignant disease in IgG4‐RD cases was estimated to be 10 900 per 100 000 cases, which was significantly higher than that of malignant disease in the general population. The prevalence of malignant lymphoma in IgG4‐RD cases was the highest and was estimated to be 1985 per 100 000 cases. IgG4‐related kidney disease had the highest frequency of malignant disease (17.1%). In data from 200 patients, 61 (30.5%) cases of cancer were found 2 years or more before the IgG4‐RD diagnosis, 92 cases (46%) during the 1 year preceding or following IgG4‐RD diagnosis, and 62 cases of cancer (31%) 2 or more years following IgG4‐RD diagnosis.

Conclusions

The nationwide survey for IgG4‐RD with malignancy in Japan showed that IgG4‐RD may be related with malignant diseases.
Antimicrobial resistance profile of gram‐positive isolates belonging to the microbiota of non‐human primates
Authors: Zaniolo Melissa M. , Santos Isabela C. , Bondezan Maria Augusta D. , Fazoli Kawany G. Z. , Tramontin Rafael S. , Onaca Flávia M. T. , Silva Lucas L. , Pachaly Evandra M. V. , Pachaly José R. , Barbosa Lidiane N. , Gonçalves Daniela Dib
Published: February 2022

Background

The aim of this work was to identify gram‐positive bacteria and their respective resistance profiles of free‐living capuchin monkeys.

Methods

For this, 15Sapajus nigrituswere captured in a municipal urban park in the northern region of the state of Paraná, Brazil, and under pharmacological restraint, samples were collected with sterile swabs from the oral, rectal, ocular, nasal, and auricular regions. After isolation of the 22 gram‐positive bacteria, each isolate was subjected to the catalase and coagulase tests for presumptive identification. Subsequently, phenotypic tests for bacterial resistance were performed using the agar diffusion disc method. The samples resistant to oxacillin were submitted to the PCR technique to search for themecA gene.

Results

Of the 22 gram‐positive cocci of these two (9.09%) areStreptococcusspp. and twenty (90.91%)Staphylococcusspp. AmongStaphylococcusspp. three (13.64%) were coagulate‐negative (CoNS) and seventeen (86.36%) coagulate‐positive (CoPS). Of the antimicrobials tested, enrofloxacin had the best performance, with only one (04.54%) isolate resistant to it, on the other hand, the antimicrobials with the lowest performance were cefotaxime and penicillin with 19 (82.36%) and 18 (81.81%) resistant isolates, respectively. Only five isolates had MAR less than 0.2, being one ocular, one oral, and three nasal, they had multiple resistance index varied between 0.07 and 0.92, with an average of 0.45 and a mode of 0.3. Among the samples with the highest resistance index, a positive coagulaseStaphylococcusstood out, being intermediate to gentamicin and resistant to other antibiotics and an intermediate streptococcus to gentamicin, enrofloxacin, and resistant to other antibiotics. No sample was positive tomecA gene.

Conclusions

Future studies should be conducted to identify theStaphylococcusspecies, the high rate of antimicrobial resistance of the monkeys in this study suggests that Grooming's behavior may be contributing to the sharing of the resistant microorganism among the members of this group of primates.
Two traditions of cognitive sociology: An analysis and assessment of their cognitive and methodological assumptions
Authors: Kaidesoja Tuukka , Hyyryläinen Mikko , Puustinen Ronny
Published: February 2022

Cognitive sociology has been split into cultural and interdisciplinary traditions that position themselves differently in relation to the cognitive sciences and make incompatible assumptions about cognition. This article provides an analysis and assessment of the cognitive and methodological assumptions of these two traditions from the perspective of the mechanistic theory of explanation. We argue that while the cultural tradition of cognitive sociology has provided important descriptions about how human cognition varies across cultural groups and historical periods, it has not opened up the black box of cognitive mechanisms that produce and sustain this variation. This means that its explanations for the described phenomena have remained weak. By contrast, the interdisciplinary tradition of cognitive sociology has sought to integrate cognitive scientific concepts and methods into explanatory research on how culture influences action and how culture is stored in memory. Although we grant that interdisciplinary cognitive sociologists have brought many fresh ideas, concepts and methods to cultural sociology from the cognitive sciences, they have not always clarified their assumptions about cognition and their models have sketched only a few specific cognitive mechanisms through which culture influences action, meaning that they have not yet provided a comprehensive explanatory understanding of the interactions between culture, cognition and action.
Are environmental problems a barometer of corruption in the eyes of residents? Evidence from China
Authors: Yan Guoyao , Hao Yu , Guo Yunxia , Wu Haitao
Published: March 2022

Actual environmental pollution will worsen people's perception of environmental problems, which may affect people's perception of government corruption, and thus affect the governments' credibility and social stability. From the micro perspective of residents' comprehensive feelings on environmental issues, this paper uses panel data for the period 2014–2018 obtained from a large‐scale dynamics survey in China to investigate the impact of environmental issues on corruption perception. The empirical results suggest that residents' perception of environmental problems has a significantly positive linear correlation with their corruption perception. Moreover, the causal explanation of this correlation is strengthened after the introduction of exogenous environmental condition variables that profoundly affect residents' environmental perception and after mitigating endogenous bias via the instrumental variable method. The findings of this study deeply reveal the political value of environmental governance, suggesting that the deterioration of environmental problems can increase public perception of government corruption, and this relationship is distinct in different demographic groups.
Higher risk of kidney function decline with entecavir than tenofovir alafenamide in patients with chronic hepatitis B
Authors: Jung Chan‐Young , Kim Hyung Woo , Ahn Sang Hoon , Kim Seung Up , Kim Beom Seok
Published: February 2022

Background and Aims

Entecavir (ETV) and tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) are the preferred agents in patients with predisposing factors for nephrotoxicity, but no studies to date have directly compared the renal safety of the two antiviral agents. Hence, we compared the risk of kidney function decline among patients with treatment‐naïve chronic hepatitis B (CHB) treated with ETV or TAF.

Methods

This study included 1988 patients with treatment‐naïve CHB who were treated with ETV (n = 1839) or TAF (n = 149) between 2007 and 2020 for ETV and between 2017 and 2020 for TAF. The primary outcome was chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression, defined as an increase in CKD stage by at least one stage for at least three consecutive months.

Results

A 1:1 propensity score match yielded 149 patients in each treatment group. The mean estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was 100.6 ml/min/1.73 m2 vs. 101.3 ml/min/1.73 m2 in the ETV and TAF groups respectively. A total of 61 patients developed a progression in CKD stage ≥ 1, of which 47 and 14 patients were from the ETV‐ and TAF‐treated groups respectively (19.9 vs. 5.1 per 1000 person‐years; p < .001). The risk of progression in CKD stage ≥1 was significantly higher in patients treated with ETV, even when adjusted for potential confounders (adjusted hazard ratio 4.05; 95% CI 2.14–7.68; p < .001).

Conclusions

ETV was associated with a higher risk of kidney function decline than TAF in patients with treatment‐naïve CHB. Therefore, further prospective randomized studies are needed.
Implementation of HCV screening in the 1969–1989 birth‐cohort undergoing COVID‐19 vaccination
Authors: D’Ambrosio Roberta , Rizzardini Giuliano , Puoti Massimo , Fagiuoli Stefano , Anolli Maria Paola , Gabiati Claudia , D’Amico Federico , Pasulo Luisa , Restelli Umberto , Colombo Massimo , Lampertico Pietro
Published: February 2022

Background and Aim

The World Health Organization (WHO) goal of hepatitis C virus (HCV) elimination by 2030 relies on the scaling‐up of both identification and linkage to care of the infected population, worldwide. In Italy, the estimated burden of HCV carriers who are unaware of their infection amounts to 200 000 persons, a projection that reinforces the need for broadening population access to effective screening programmes.

Methods

A pivotal screening programme targeting subjects born between 1969 and 1989 has been conducted in Lombardy, Northern Italy, where point‐of‐care (POC) testing was offered for free concomitantly to COVID‐19 vaccination.

Results

Amongst 7219 subjects born between 1969 and 1989 who underwent HCV screening through POC, 7 (0.10%) subjects tested anti‐HCV positive: 5 (0.07%) had confirmed anti‐HCV positivity (Table 1) and 4 of them (0.05%) were HCV‐RNA positive by standard confirmation tests.

Conclusions

This pivotal study demonstrated the feasibility of a POC‐based anti‐HCV screening programme in young adults undergoing COVID‐19 vaccination. The prevalence of HCV infection in subjects born in the 1969–1989 cohort in Italy seems to be lower than previously estimated. Whether the extension of this programme to subjects born before 1969 could lead to improved screening effectiveness should be a matter of debate.
A global review of the conservation threats and status of mustelids
Authors: Wright Patrick G. R. , Croose Elizabeth , Macpherson Jenny L.
Published: March 2022

The family Mustelidae is the largest among the order Carnivora. While we know a great deal about certain species, there is still a lack of information about many mustelids.

We first investigated the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List species‐level assessments for each mustelid species. Then, we undertook a systematic review of the scientific literature with the aim of identifying the primary threats and subthreats reported, and which species are most studied. Threats are defined by the IUCN as “the proximate human activities or processes that have impacted, are impacting, or may impact the status of the taxon”.

We analysed 1003 published articles. For each article, we collected year of publication, geographical zone of each study, species studied, and the threats and subthreats identified.

The majority of species (62%) were classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, but 31 out of 63 species were found to be declining globally and only two species were increasing. The species studied and location of studies were biased, with 72% of studies undertaken in North America or Europe and focussing on very few species. A high proportion of species distributed predominantly in the tropics were categorised as declining, and threats linked with hunting, fishing, and logging were identified as the most common for mustelids by the IUCN Red List and in the scientific literature. Differences in the proportion of threats affecting each subfamily were also reported.

The nature of threats varies in different parts of the world and between species. It is essential to undertake more research with a strong focus towards species in highly biodiverse regions. A greater understanding of threats such as wildlife pet trade, emerging diseases, and climate change must also be central to prevent declines.
Deubiquitinase Ubp3 regulates ribophagy and deubiquitinates Smo1 for appressorium‐mediated infection by Magnaporthe oryzae
Authors: Cai Xuan , Xiang Shikun , He Wenhui , Tang Mengxi , Zhang Shimei , Chen Deng , Zhang Xinrong , Liu Caiyun , Li Guotian , Xing Junjie , Li Yunfeng , Chen Xiao‐Lin , Nie Yanfang
Published: February 2022

The Ubp family of deubiquitinating enzymes has been found to play important roles in plant‐pathogenic fungi, but their regulatory mechanisms are still largely unknown. In this study, we revealed the regulatory mechanism of the deubiquitinating enzyme Ubp3 during the infection process of Magnaporthe oryzae. AUBP3 deletion mutant was severely defective in appressorium turgor accumulation, leading to the impairment of appressorial penetration. During appressorium formation, the mutant was also defective in glycogen and lipid metabolism. Interestingly, we found that nitrogen starvation and rapamycin treatment induced the ribophagy process in M. oryzae, which is closely dependent on Ubp3. In the ∆ubp3 mutant, the ribosome proteins and rRNAs were not well degraded on nitrogen starvation and rapamycin treatment. We also found that Ubp3 interacted with the GTPase‐activating protein Smo1 and regulated its de‐ubiquitination. Ubp3‐dependent de‐ubiquitination of Smo1 may be required for Smo1 to coordinate Ras signalling. Taken together, our results showed at least two roles of Ubp3 in M. oryzae: it regulates the ribophagy process and it regulates de‐ubiquitination of GTPase‐activating protein Smo1 for appressorium‐mediated infection.
“I found myself alone” – A phenomenological study of the home care workers' experience during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Simeone Silvio , Vellone Ercole , Virgolesi Michele , Sterling Madeline R. , Alvaro Rosaria , Pucciarelli Gianluca
Published: February 2022

Home care workers (HCWs) are a highly heterogeneous population in Italy in terms of their professional qualifications. HCWs play an important role in helping patients affected by chronic diseases and their families. Although many investigators have studied the lived experiences of family caregivers, few have been conducted “to give a voice” to HCWs and even fewer have examined the experiences of HCWs during the present COVID‐19 pandemic. We investigated the lived experiences of HCWs during the first wave of the pandemic in Italy. Cohen's phenomenological research approach was used to conduct this study. In our study, we enrolled and interviewed 19 HCWs who were female, and most were married, with an average age of 52 years. The participants were enrolled from September 2020 to November 2020, after the first COVID‐19 wave in Italy. Four main themes emerged from the analysis of the data: (1) “I found myself alone”; (2) from invisibility to visibility; (3) a fear of getting sick and infecting others; and (4) “Health or work? That is the question.” Understanding HCWs' lived experiences, especially those related to the COVID‐19 pandemic, is a first step in giving a voice to this important but vulnerable population in the healthcare workforce.
Review of the indications, methods, and clinical utility of anorectal manometry and the rectal balloon expulsion test
Authors: Bharucha Adil E. , Basilisco Guido , Malcolm Allison , Lee Tae Hee , Hoy Matthew B. , Scott S. Mark , Rao Satish S. C.
Published: February 2022

Background

Anorectal manometry (ARM) comprehensively assesses anorectal sensorimotor functions.

Purpose

This review examines the indications, techniques, interpretation, strengths, and weaknesses of high‐resolution ARM (HR‐ARM), 3‐dimensional high‐resolution anorectal manometry (3D‐HR‐ARM), and portable ARM, and other assessments (i.e., rectal sensation and rectal balloon expulsion test) that are performed alongside manometry. It is based on a literature search of articles related to ARM in adults. HR‐ARM and 3D‐HR‐ARM are useful for diagnosing defecatory disorders (DD), to identify anorectal sensorimotor dysfunction and guide management in patients with fecal incontinence (FI), constipation, megacolon, and megarectum; and to screen for anorectal structural (e.g., rectal intussusception) abnormalities. The rectal balloon expulsion test is a useful, low‐cost, radiation‐free, outpatient assessment tool for impaired evacuation that is performed and interpreted in conjunction with ARM. The anorectal function tests should be interpreted with reference to age‐ and sex‐matched normal values, clinical features, and results of other tests. A larger database of technique‐specific normal values and newer paradigms of analyzing anorectal pressure profiles will increase the precision and diagnostic utility of HR‐ARM for identifying abnormal mechanisms of defecation and continence.
Mechanical loading mitigates osteoarthritis symptoms by regulating the inflammatory microenvironment in a mouse model
Authors: Zheng Weiwei , Li Xinle , Li Jie , Wang Xiaoyu , Liu Daquan , Zhai Lidong , Ding Beibei , Li Guang , Sun Yuting , Yokota Hiroki , Zhang Ping
Published: February 2022

Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most common chronic diseases, in which inflammatory responses in the articular cavity induce chondrocyte apoptosis and cartilage degeneration. While mechanical loading is reported to mitigate synovial inflammation, the mechanism and pathways for the loading‐driven improvement of OA symptoms remain unclear. In this study, we evaluated the loading effects on M1/M2 polarization of synovial macrophages via performing histology, cytology, and molecular analyses. In the OA group, the cell layer of the synovial lining was enlarged with an increase in cell density. Also, M1 macrophages were polarized and proinflammatory cytokines were increased. In contrast, in the OA group with mechanical loading, cartilage degradation was reduced and synovial inflammation was alleviated. Notably, the M1 macrophages were diminished by mechanical loading, while M2 macrophages were increased. Furthermore, mechanical loading decreased the levels of proinflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin‐1 beta and tumor necrosis factor‐α, and suppressed PI3K/AKT/NF‐κB signaling. Taken together, this study demonstrates that mechanical loading changes the ratio of M1 and M2 macrophages via regulation of PI3K/AKT/NF‐κB signaling and provides cartilage protection in the mouse OA model.