bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Long‐term outcomes following ileocolic resection for Crohn's disease: does earlier elective resection affect disease recurrence rates?
Authors: Assaf Dan , Hazzan David , Laks Shachar , Segev Lior
Published: August 2023

Background

Surgical resection in Crohn's disease is sometimes the only alternative treating disease complications or refractory disease. The implications of early resection on disease course are still debatable. We aimed to assess the influence of preoperative disease duration on long‐term postoperative disease course.

Methods

A retrospective analysis of all Crohn's disease patients who underwent an elective primary ileocolic resection between 2010 and 2021 in a single tertiary medical center. The cohort was divided based on disease duration, Group A (47 patients) had a disease duration shorter than 3 years (median of 1 year) and Group B (139 patients) had a disease duration longer than 3 years (median of 11 years).

Results

Surgeries were less complex among Group A as noted by higher rates of laparoscopic assisted procedures (68.1% vs. 45.3%, P = 0.006), shorter surgery duration (134 vs. 167 min, P < 0.0001) less estimated blood loss (72.5 vs. 333 mL, P = 0.016) and faster return of bowel function (3 vs. 4 days, P = 0.011). However, propensity score matching nullified all the differences. Younger age (OR = 0.86, P = 0.004), pre‐op steroids (OR = 3.69, P = 0.037) and longer disease duration (OR = 1.18, P = 0.012) were found to be independently significantly associated with severe complications. After a median follow‐up time of 71.38 months no significant differences were found between the groups in terms of endoscopic (P = 0.59), or surgical recurrences rates (P = 0.82).

Conclusions

The main effect of preoperative short disease duration was noted within the surgical complexity; however, matching suggests confounders as cause of the difference. No significant long‐term implication was noted on disease recurrence.
Beyond conventional models: Lending by Native Community Development Financial Institutions
Authors: Dimitrova‐Grajzl Valentina , Grajzl Peter , Guse Joseph , Kokodoko Michou , Wheeler Laurel
Published: August 2023

Native Community Development Financial Institutions (Native CDFIs) have become an increasingly important source of credit and financial services in the areas on or near American Indian reservations in the United States. Guided by a conceptual framework developed on the basis of the related finance literature and drawing on loan‐level data from eleven Native CDFI loan funds, we offer the first systematic quantitative analysis of lending in the Native CDFI industry. As hypothesized, Native CDFIs on average give out small loans but support borrowers in varied circumstances with diverse loan products. Important predictors of delinquency include both conventional, hard information‐based, measures of client risk, and alternative, soft information‐based, community‐informed and character‐based measures. Overall, these findings lend strong support to holistic approaches for assessing client creditworthiness for Native CDFI operations. More generally, our analysis contributes new insights into the operations of an industry that plays an instrumental role in removing barriers to socioeconomic development in Native communities.
A case of acute pulmonary complication due to botulinum toxin: Patient with central pontine myelinolysis developed acute respiratory distress syndrome after botulinum neurotoxin type A injection into spastic lower extremity muscles
Authors: Gökpınar Hasan Hüseyin , Urfalı Furkan Ertürk
Published: August 2023

Chemodenervation with botulinum neurotoxin type A (BoNTA) is the preferred method for focal spasticity management among various treatment options. While BoNTA injection is considered safe, its widespread use and increasing evidence raise safety concerns. In this paper, we present a patient with central pontine myelinolysis, a rare disease, who developed acute respiratory distress syndrome on the third day after BoNTA application to the spastic gastrocnemius muscle group and required intubation in the intensive care unit due to this complication. To our knowledge, this is the first case reported in the literature to develop an acute pulmonary complication after BoNTA injection into spastic lower extremity muscles.
Pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and safety of LPM3480392 in two phase I clinical trials in healthy Chinese male subjects
Authors: Yang Dan‐dan , Wang Jia‐ying , Ruan Zou‐rong , Jiang Bo , Xu Yi‐Chao , Hu Yin , Che Xin , Zhang Yu‐peng , Lou Hong‐gang
Published: August 2023

Drugs for acute postoperative pain and breakthrough cancer pain are still urgent in clinical. LPM3480392 is a G‐protein‐biased ligand at the μ‐opioid receptor and showed potent analgesia in nonclinical studies. Two phase I studies of LPM3480392 were conducted in healthy Chinese male volunteers to explore its tolerability, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics under single ascending doses (Study I 0.1–3.0 mg, 30 min) and different infusion times (Study II, 0.6–1.0 mg, 2–15 min). There was one serious adverse event (AE) observed in Study II, and the rest AEs were mild or moderate in severity and resolved by the end of the study. Plasma LPM3480392 maximum concentration (Cmax) (under lower infusion rate) and area under the plasma concentration‐time curve (AUCs) were generally increased with dose. Moreover, LPM3480392 at a dose of 0.6 mg under a 2 min infusion rate elicited effective analgesia as the peak effect within 10–30 min, which was measured by cold pain test and pupillometry. These findings suggest that LPM3480392 could be a potential treatment for acute pain management.
Freedom, diseases, and public health restrictions
Authors: Giubilini Alberto
Published: August 2023

The debate around lockdowns as a response to the recent pandemic is typically framed in terms of a tension between freedom and health. However, on some views, protection of health or reduction of virus‐related risks can also contribute to freedom. Therefore, there might be no tension between freedom and health in public health restrictions. I argue that such views fail to appreciate the different understandings of freedom that are involved in the trade‐off between freedom and health. Grasping these distinctions would allow to appreciate why different people give more weight to different aspects of limitations of freedom, including whether certain options are made simply risky or impossible, whether limitations of freedom are posed intentionally or happen accidentally, whether risks are beyond a threshold of acceptability, and who gets to decide that. I provide a conceptual analysis of the relationship between different types of freedom, public health policies, viruses and diseases. As I argue, identifying what freedom‐based reasons count for and against different types of public health restrictions requires distinguishing between viruses and diseases, between lockdowns and other types of restrictive policies, and between risks posed by viruses and threats of penalties involved by restrictive policies.
Preemptive effects of etoricoxib, acetaminophen, nimesulide, and ibuprofen on postoperative pain management after single‐implant surgery: A randomized clinical trial
Authors: Mattos‐Pereira Gustavo Henrique , Esteves‐Lima Rafael Paschoal , Cota Luís Otávio Miranda , Alvarenga‐Brant Rachel , Costa Fernando Oliveira
Published: August 2023

Background

There is insufficient evidence for pain control in preemptive analgesia (PA) after dental implant surgery, signaling the need for further studies. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of PA in single dental implant surgeries (SDIS), seeking to identify among the etoricoxib (ETOR), ibuprofen (IBU), nimesulide (NIME), and acetaminophen (ACETA)], which one has the higher efficacy effectiveness in relieving postoperative pain and reducing the use of rescue medication compared to placebo.

Methods

In this triple‐blind, parallel, randomized controlled clinical trial, 135 individuals with a mean age of 57.6 years (±11.7), both genders, were randomly divided into five groups according to the test drug: I—PLACEBO; II—IBU (600 mg); III—NIME (100 mg); IV—ACETA (750 mg); and V—ETOR (90 mg). The occurrence, duration, and intensity of pain were analyzed using the Chi‐square, Fisher's exact and ANOVA tests, and the generalized estimating equation models, when appropriate.

Results

Test drugs provided a reduction in postoperative pain scores and lower use of rescue medication when compared to placebo. The ETOR group presented significantly lower pain scores, when compared to other active treatments. The IBU group showed the highest mean number of rescue medication used.

Conclusions

All test drugs provided a beneficial preemptive effect demonstrated by the reduced postoperative pain and reduced use of rescue medication. The ETOR group presented lower pain scores, and the IBU group showed the highest mean number of rescue medication used among the test groups.
Successful endoscopic biliary intervention using the multiloop traction device for periampullary diverticulum
Authors: Fujiwara Junichi , Sato Yuma , Dohmen Takahiro
Published: August 2023

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Water pressure method for endoscopic submucosal dissection using SB Knife Jr2
Authors: Maruyama Akihiro , Kobayashi Makoto , Yano Motoyoshi
Published: August 2023

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Cardiac and renal outcomes of direct oral anticoagulants in patients with atrial fibrillation
Authors: Wang Yu‐Ting , Chen Jo‐Hsin , Liao Shu‐Fen , Chen Yu‐Jen , Lip Gregory Y. H. , Yeh Jong‐Shiuan
Published: August 2023

Background

Oral anticoagulation therapy with warfarin or direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) is the mainstay for stroke prevention in patients with non‐valvular atrial fibrillation (AF). The DOACs might have a lower risk of declining renal function than warfarin. This study aimed to compare renal outcomes among rivaroxaban, edoxaban, dabigatran, and warfarin.

Method

This cohort study identified 2203 adults with AF who started anticoagulation therapy between 1 July 2013 and 31 December 2020, in a clinical database at a single centre. Inverse probability of treatment weighting was adopted to balance baseline characteristics among four anticoagulants treatment groups. The primary outcome was a composite of cardiac and renal outcomes, involving a ≥30% decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), renal failure and cardiovascular death.

Results

After propensity score weighting, dabigatran was associated with significantly lower risks of a ≥30% decline in eGFR (hazard ratio [HR]: .69, 95% confidence interval [CI]: .497–.951, p = .0237), doubling of the serum creatinine level (HR: .49, 95% CI: .259–.927, p = .0282) and the cardiac and renal outcome composite (HR: .67, 95% CI: .485–.913, p = .0115) than warfarin. Rivaroxaban and edoxaban did not show significant protective effects on renal outcomes compared to warfarin.

Conclusion

In this study, patients treated with dabigatran had significantly reduced risks of declining renal function and composite cardiac and renal events than those treated with warfarin. However, rivaroxaban and edoxaban were not associated with lower risks of any renal outcomes than warfarin. More studies are warranted to investigate and compare the impact of renal function between different DOACs in patients with AF.
Risk factors associated with traumatic dental injuries in individuals with special healthcare needs—A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Devi K. Pavithra , Tewari Nitesh , O'Connell Anne , Srivastav Sukeshana , Rajeswary Amritha , Upadhyay Ashish Dutt , Haldar Partha , Rahul Morankar , Mathur Vijay Prakash , Bansal Kalpana
Published: August 2023

Background/Aim

Individuals with special healthcare needs (SHCN) are more likely to sustain traumatic dental injuries (TDIs) due to distinct risk factors. The aim of this review was to assess various risk factors associated with TDIs in individuals with SHCN.

Materials and Methods

The protocol was designed according to the recommendations of the Cochrane‐handbook, Joanna Briggs Institute, and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and registered in PROSPERO (CRD42022357422). A comprehensive search was performed in PubMed, LILACS, Web of Science, EMBASE and Scopus using a pre‐defined strategy without any limitation of language and year of publication. It was last updated on 25 April 2023. Studies addressing the TDIs in individuals with SHCN were included. Data extraction and analyses were performed, risk of bias (ROB) assessment was done using the Joanna Briggs Institute's critical appraisal tool, and a meta‐analysis was performed using random‐effects model.

Results

A total of 21 studies were included in the review. They were categorized according to the target disease/condition: cerebral palsy (n = 5), ADHD and autism spectrum disorders (n = 5), visually impaired (n = 4), and multiple disorders (n = 7). The studies showed variability in the design and methods; however, 17 out of 21 studies showed moderate to low ROB. Increased overjet and lip incompetence were the main risk factors reported in the studies. The commonest injuries were observed to be enamel and enamel and dentine fractures.

Conclusion

The overall pooled prevalence of TDI in individuals with special healthcare needs was 23.16% with 20.98% in males and 27.06% in females. Overjet >3 mm and inadequate lip coverage were found to be associated with a higher risk of TDI in all the categories of individuals with special healthcare needs except ADHD and ASD. Falls at home in cerebral palsy, falls while walking and self‐harm in ADHD and ASD, falls at home and collision in visual impairment, and unspecified falls in multiple disorders could be identified as the most common cause of TDI.
Patient‐specific virtual simulation in the clinical training for prosthetic dentistry
Authors: Slaidina Anda , Ozolins Karlis , Berzina Sandra , Abeltins Andris
Published: August 2023

Introduction

Dental education always involves live patient treatment, and clinical training for each patient is different for students. Using an intraoral scanner and Simodont Dental Trainer, we can provide students with an opportunity to train on actual patient cases in a virtual environment before real preparation. This study aimed to develop, implement and test patient‐specific virtual simulation training in prosthetic dentistry curriculum.

Materials and Methods

Before the actual preparation, the students' patients were scanned using 3Shape intraoral scanner. Thereafter, the .stl file was uploaded to Simodont Dental Trainer (Nissin dental products) where all the scanned teeth were prepared virtually. The ‘prepared’ .stl file was downloaded and submitted to the teacher. Instruction manuals for virtual simulation patient‐specific tasks were provided. The students were asked to voluntarily complete the survey, at the end of the course.

Results

Forty‐two 4th year students from the Faculty of Dentistry performed a patient‐specific virtual simulation training task and completed a survey. The created training materials served as guidelines for students to perform all the steps on their own without teacher assistance, except in the final step, where the teacher evaluated the digital preparation. Students appreciated the amount of information provided regarding the technologies used and patient‐specific tasks. Students admitted that the patient‐specific task was more interesting than standard tasks. However, they were not satisfied with the technical performance of Simodont Dental Trainer or the reflection of reality.

Conclusion

Patient‐specific virtual simulation can be accepted by students for training before actual teeth preparation in the clinic. However, technical improvements are required in this regard.
Financial uncertainty and stock market volatility
Authors: Jiang Ying , Liu Xiaoquan , Lu Zhenyu
Published: August 2023

This study explores the relation between financial uncertainty and volatility in China. The time variation in financial uncertainty shocks is theoretically closely related to stock return dynamics. Empirically, the financial uncertainty measure is based on a large set of economic and financial variables and captures its unpredictable component. Over the sample period from 2000 to 2021, we find that financial uncertainty positively impacts the trend component of market volatility and that it improves volatility predictions in both statistical and economic terms. Our study sheds new light on the sources driving volatility and the dynamic relation between uncertainty and volatility components.
Elevated serum fibrinogen levels in Chinese patients with minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis: An observational study
Authors: Yao Hui , Deng Yiwen , Du Guanhuan , Wang Yufeng , Tang Guoyao
Published: August 2023

Fibrinogen is a protein that reflects systemic inflammation and regulates the immune response to disease. However, there is a scarcity of data on fibrinogen in recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS). We aimed to test the hypothesis that fibrinogen is involved in the aetiology of RAS. Between November 2016 and November 2018, we included 109 minor RAS patients and 29 age‐ and sex‐matched controls in a single‐center, observational study. Their clinical history and ulcer manifestations led to the diagnosis of minor RAS. The ulcer severity score (USS) was used to assess disease severity, and fibrinogen was also collected. We conducted three analyses: Analysis 1 (comparison of fibrinogen levels between patients and controls), Analysis 2 (comparison of fibrinogen levels between high and low USS patients) and Analysis 3 (comparison of fibrinogen levels between before and after anti‐inflammatory treatment in patients). The fibrinogen levels in the 109 minor RAS patients were statistically higher than in the 29 controls (mean [SD], 2.6 [0.5] vs. 2.3 [0.3]; Student's t‐test, p < 0.001). However, there were no significant differences in fibrinogen levels among the 43 patients with high USS and the 39 patients with low USS (mean [SD], 2.7 [0.5] vs. 2.6 [0.4]; Student's t‐test, p = 0.278). Furthermore, fibrinogen levels were significantly higher before anti‐inflammatory treatment in comparison to those after anti‐inflammatory treatment in the 35 paired patients (mean [SD], 2.6 [0.4] vs. 2.5 [0.4]; Student's t‐test, p = 0.026). Interestingly, fibrinogen levels were significantly higher in the 35 paired patients after anti‐inflammatory treatment compared to the 29 control subjects (mean [SD], 2.5 [0.4] vs. 2.3 [0.3]; Student's t‐test, p = 0.026]. Fibrinogen may play a role in the aetiology of RAS and may be a drug target for RAS treatment. Clinicians should be alert that high serum fibrinogen levels might be associated with the risk of RAS.
Effectiveness of community‐based family‐focused interventions on family functioning among families of children with chronic health conditions: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Nur Anasthasha Bte Sudar Sono , Chua Joelle Yan Xin , Shorey Shefaly
Published: August 2023

Community‐based family‐focused interventions can offer support to families of children with chronic health conditions. This review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of community‐based family‐focused interventions in improving family functioning, disease knowledge, and child health outcomes among families of children with chronic health conditions. Eight electronic databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, CENTRAL, PsycINFO, Scopus, Web of Science, and ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global) and one trial registry (ClinicalTrials.gov) were searched from their dates of inception to October 2022. Meta‐analysis was performed under the random‐effect model when appropriate otherwise, findings were narratively synthesized. I2 statistics and Cochran's Q chi‐squared test were used to determine heterogeneity. Quality appraisal was conducted by the Cochrane risk of bias tool and the Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach at the study and outcome level, respectively. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses guidelines guided this review. Eight studies were included in this review. Community‐based family‐focused interventions were viable methods that could support families of children with chronic health conditions. Family‐focused interventions that incorporate guided role‐playing exercises for parents and children, psychoeducational components, and elements from relationship‐focused interventions could support families more effectively. However, current findings are mostly limited to interventions conducted in patients' homes, and the long‐term effect of these interventions cannot be determined. Overall, community‐based family‐focused interventions have the potential to offer valuable support to families of children with chronic health conditions, and future research could seek to improve the effectiveness of these interventions.
Why are conflicts about race a point of no return for feminist organizations?
Authors: Dorion Léa
Published: August 2023

This article seeks to advance scholarship on conflict in feminist organizations. Using the theoretical framework on agonistic conflict of Chantal Mouffe, it analyzes a conflict about racism that arose in a feminist lesbian, bi and trans social movement organization, located in Paris (France). The main contribution lies in offering a framework to analyze the mechanisms that prevented this conflict from constructively fostering the intersectional politics of the feminist organization. The ethnographic findings show that the organization's inability to challenge its racism and whiteness is linked to its post‐political vision of feminism, which translates into attempts to suppress conflict related to multiple and competing identifications. Thus, this article contributes to existing research on conflict in feminist organizing by suggesting that the subduing of conflict associated with such a post‐political vision of feminism prevents feminist organizing from being “anti‐oppressive”.
Understanding the gaps in headache and migraine treatment with psychological and behavioral interventions: A narrative review
Authors: Zamir Orit , Yarns Brandon C. , Lagman‐Bartolome Ana Marissa , Jobanputra Lina , Lawler Valerie , Lay Christine
Published: August 2023

Objective

In this narrative review, we summarize relevant literature pertaining to psychosocial risk factors for headache and migraine progression, current behavioral and psychological treatments, and consider promising treatments.

Background

Headache and migraine are common and associated with significant burden and disability. Current treatments targeting psychosocial risk factors show modest outcomes and do not directly address the impact of early life adversity, including the development of maladaptive emotional processing. An intervention that could address these factors and include components of current evidence‐based interventions may lead to improved outcomes.

Methods

We searched PubMed and Google Scholar for articles through December 2022. Search terms included headache, migraine, psychological interventions, behavioral interventions, cognitive–behavioral therapy, mindfulness, psychiatric comorbidities, adverse childhood experiences, trauma, and emotional processing.

Results

Trauma and childhood adversity show a correlation with headache and migraine progression. Developmental adversity and trauma interfere with adaptive emotional processing, which may worsen headache and migraine symptoms, while adaptive ways of experiencing emotions are shown to improve symptoms. Current behavioral and psychological interventions, such as cognitive–behavioral and mindfulness therapies, are effective treatments for headache, but they produce small to medium effect sizes and do not directly address the impact of trauma and emotional conflicts—common factors that contribute to chronicity and disability, especially among certain subpopulations of headache patients such as those with migraine. Thus, there exists a gap in current treatment.

Conclusion

There is a gap in headache and migraine treatment for those patients who have a history of trauma, childhood adversity, and maladaptive emotional processing. We suggest that an integrated psychological treatment that includes components of current evidence‐based interventions and addresses gaps by focusing on processing trauma‐related emotions may improve chronic and debilitating symptoms.
Association between tooth loss and adherence to oral maintenance in a dental clinic: A retrospective study of more than 20 years
Authors: Adachi Naoko , Sugimoto Kumiko , Shinada Kayoko
Published: August 2023

Objectives

The relationship between adherence to professional oral maintenance visits and tooth loss is generally accepted in periodontal treatment; however, this relationship has not been clarified in general dental practices. We evaluated the effectiveness of adherence to professional maintenance by a retrospective survey in a private practice.

Methods

We retrospectively extracted data of 395 patients in a general dental practice who had been followed for more than 20 years. For comparisons, two patient groups were created based on oral maintenance rates: a high‐ (≥75%) and a low‐ (<75%) adherence groups. Additionally, multiple logistic regression analysis for tooth loss was conducted with the same two adherence groups and three adherence groups (<50%, ≥50% and <75% and ≥75%), adjusting with risk factors including sex, age, decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT), periodontal status, smoking status, and diabetes at the beginning of maintenance.

Results

The number of teeth lost and increased DMFT over time were significantly lower in the high‐adherence group than in the low‐adherence group. Multiple logistic regression analysis for tooth loss in the two adherence groups yielded an odds ratio (95% confidence interval) of 6.50 (3.73–11.32) in the low‐adherence group relative to the high‐adherence group. Further analysis with the three adherence groups showed highest risk in the low‐adherence group and a higher risk in the moderate‐adherence group than the high‐adherence group.

Conclusions

Patients with high adherence to maintenance schedules for more than 20 years demonstrated significantly less tooth loss. Dental practitioners should promote high adherence to professional maintenance in general dental practices.
Intramacrophage lipid accumulation compromises T cell responses and is associated with impaired drug therapy against visceral leishmaniasis
Authors: Araújo Marta , Moreira Diana , Mesquita Inês , Ferreira Carolina , Mendes‐Frias Ana , Barros‐Carvalho Sónia , Dinis‐Oliveira Ricardo Jorge , Duarte‐Oliveira Cláudio , Cunha Cristina , Carvalho Agostinho , Saha Bhaskar , Cordeiro‐da‐Silva Anabela , Estaquier Jérôme , Silvestre Ricardo
Published: August 2023

Under perturbing conditions such as infection with Leishmania, a protozoan parasite living within the phagosomes in mammalian macrophages, cellular and organellar structures, and metabolism are dynamically regulated for neutralizing the pressure of parasitism. However, how modulations of the host cell metabolic pathways support Leishmania infection remains unknown. Herein, we report that lipid accumulation heightens the susceptibility of mice to L. donovani infection and promotes resistance to first‐line anti‐leishmanial drugs. Despite being pro‐inflammatory, the in vitro generated uninfected lipid‐laden macrophages (LLMs) or adipose‐tissue macrophages (ATMs) display lower levels of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. Upon infection, LLMs secrete higher IL‐10 and lower IL‐12p70 cytokines, inhibiting CD4+ T cell activation and Th1 response suggesting a key modulatory role for intramacrophage lipid accumulation in anti‐leishmanial host defence. We, therefore, examined this causal relationship between lipids and immunomodulation using an in vivo high‐fat diet (HFD) mouse model. HFD increased the susceptibility to L. donovani infection accompanied by a defective CD4+ Th1 and CD8+ T cell response. The white adipose tissue of HFD mice displays increased susceptibility to L. donovani infection with the preferential infection of F4/80+CD11b+CD11c+ macrophages with higher levels of neutral lipids reserve. The HFD increased resistance to a first‐line anti‐leishmanial drug associated with a defective adaptive immune response. These data demonstrate that the accumulation of neutral lipids contributes to susceptibility to visceral leishmaniasis hindering host‐protective immune response and reducing the efficacy of antiparasitic drug therapies.
Androgen receptor agonist and antagonist reduce response of cytokine‐induced killer cells on prostate cancer cells
Authors: Pungsrinont Thanakorn , Schneider Margret Ann , Baniahmad Aria
Published: August 2023

Despite many advances, prostate cancer (PCa) is still the second most frequently diagnosed cancer and fifth leading cause of cancer death in men worldwide. So far, the promising field of onco‐immunology has not yet provided a satisfactory treatment option for PCa. Here we show that the ex vivo expansion and activation of cytokine‐induced killer (CIK) cells isolated from primary peripheral blood mononuclear cells induce immune‐mediated apoptosis in both human PCa LNCaP and C4‐2 cells. Interestingly, pretreating LNCaP and C4‐2 cells with either androgen or the androgen receptor (AR) antagonist enzalutamide mediates resistance to this immunogenic attack. This is associated with a reduction of both total cell loss and apoptosis levels suggesting one possible mechanism blunting onco‐immunological activity. The data also suggest that secreted factors from AR ligand‐treated PCa cell suppress lymphocyte proliferation. Further, we analysed immune‐mediated killing activity using conditioned media from LNCaP and C4‐2 treated cells. The obtained data suggest that the conditioned media from PCa treated cells does not influence a measurable lymphocyte‐mediated apoptosis. However, analysing clonal expansion of activated lymphocytes, the androgen‐derived conditioned media suppresses lymphocyte proliferation/expansion suggesting inhibition of onco‐immunological activity by pretreatment of PCa cells with AR ligands.
Identification of T‐cell exhaustion‐related gene signature for predicting prognosis in glioblastoma multiforme
Authors: Liu Yue‐hui , Jin Hong‐quan , Liu Hai‐ping
Published: August 2023

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a highly malignant primary brain tumour with a poor prognosis in adults. Identifying biomarkers that can aid in the molecular classification and risk stratification of GBM is critical. Here, we conducted a transcriptional profiling analysis of T‐cell immunity in the tumour microenvironment of GBM patients and identified two novel T cell exhaustion (TEX)‐related GBM subtypes (termed TEX‐C1 and TEX‐C2) using the consensus clustering. Our multi‐omics analysis revealed distinct immunological, molecular and clinical characteristics for these two subtypes. Specifically, the TEX‐C1 subtype had higher infiltration levels of immune cells and expressed higher levels of immune checkpoint molecules than the TEX‐C2 subtype. Functional analysis revealed that upregulated genes in the TEX‐C1 subtype were significantly enriched in immune response and signal transduction pathways, and upregulated genes in the TEX‐C2 subtype were predominantly associated with cell fate and nervous system development pathways. Notably, patients with activated T‐cell activity status in the TEX‐C1 subgroup demonstrated a significantly worse prognosis than those with severe T cell exhaustion status in the TEX‐C2 subgroup. Finally, we proposed a machine‐learning‐derived novel gene signature comprising 12 TEX‐related genes (12TexSig) to indicate tumour subtyping. In the TCGA cohort, the 12TexSig demonstrated the ability to accurately predict the prognosis of GBM patients, and this prognostic value was further confirmed in two independent external cohorts. Taken together, our results suggest that the TEX‐derived subtyping and gene signature has the potential to serve as a clinically helpful biomarker for guiding the management of GBM patients, pending further prospective validation.
Geographic distribution of Bemisia tabaci species in Sicily and patterns in facultative endosymbiont community composition
Authors: Milenovic Milan , Massimino Cocuzza Giuseppe Eros , Suma Pompeo , Farina Alessia
Published: August 2023

Bemisia tabaci is a group of cryptic and morphologically indistinguishable species able to cause severe damage to many agricultural and ornamental plants. Among the various species of this complex, the Mediterranean (MED) and Middle East Asia Minor 1 (MEAM1) species stand out as they are highly polyphagous, invasive, easily in acquiring resistance to many insecticides and reproduce quickly. Considering how (1) the geographic distribution of B. tabaci is changing with the ongoing global climate change and (2) no knowledge is presently available on phylogenetics of whitefly endosymbionts in Sicily, a population survey was conducted in the most important horticultural production areas of the island to assess the species composition within the B. tabaci complex, including their endosymbiont community and their geographic distribution. Our results show that the MEAM1 species and two mitochondrial variants of B. tabaci MED are present in pure or mixed populations, the MED Q1 presents the highest level of genetic variability within the MED populations in Sicily, having been found almost across the island and, MED Q2 was nearly exclusively detected in the Ragusa province. MEAM1 individuals were rare and exclusively detected in two localities in the Trapani province. The survey on endosymbionts community revealed the existence of a species specific composition, showing the lowest endosymbiont diversity in MED Q2 populations, typically characterized by only Rickettsia. Moreover, except for Portiera in MEAM1, no sequence variation was found within any endosymbiont sequence. Co‐infection patterns of different endosymbiont species are discussed in the context of their needs for host cell metabolites. The present study defines an updated distribution map of cryptic species and phylogenetic groups of the B. tabaci complex and the first status on the endosymbiont community in Sicily; but it also represents the first report of whitefly endosymbionts sequences not only from Sicily but from Italy as a whole.
A loss‐of‐function mutant allele of a glycosyl hydrolase gene has been co‐opted for seed weight control during soybean domestication
Authors: Wei Siming , Yong Bin , Jiang Hongwei , An Zhenghong , Wang Yan , Li Bingbing , Yang Ce , Zhu Weiwei , Chen Qingshan , He Chaoying
Published: August 2023

The resultant DNA from loss‐of‐function mutation can be recruited in biological evolution and development. Here, we present such a rare and potential case of “to gain by loss” as a neomorphic mutation during soybean domestication for increasing seed weight. Using a population derived from a chromosome segment substitution line of Glycine max (SN14) and Glycine soja (ZYD06), a quantitative trait locus (QTL) of 100‐seed weight (qHSW) was mapped on chromosome 11, corresponding to a truncated β‐1, 3‐glucosidase (βGlu) gene. The novel gene hsw results from a 14‐bp deletion, causing a frameshift mutation and a premature stop codon in the βGlu. In contrast to HSW, the hsw completely lost βGlu activity and function but acquired a novel function to promote cell expansion, thus increasing seed weight. Overexpressing hsw instead of HSW produced large soybean seeds, and surprisingly, truncating hsw via gene editing further increased the seed size. We further found that the core 21‐aa peptide of hsw and its variants acted as a promoter of seed size. Transcriptomic variation in these transgenic soybean lines substantiated the integration hsw into cell and seed size control. Moreover, the hsw allele underwent selection and expansion during soybean domestication and improvement. Our work cloned a likely domesticated QTL controlling soybean seed weight, revealed a novel genetic variation and mechanism in soybean domestication, and provided new insight into crop domestication and breeding, and plant evolution.
IL‐17A is involved in the hyperplasia of blood vessels in local lesions of psoriasis by inhibiting autophagy
Authors: Wang Juanjuan , Zhou Ling , Hou Hui , Li Jiao , Zhao Xincheng , Li Jiajie , Li Junqin , Niu Xuping , Hou Ruixia , Zhang Kaiming
Published: August 2023

Objective

Increased angiogenesis is a pathological feature of psoriasis, but the pathomechanisms of angiogenesis in psoriasis are not clear. Interleukin‐17A (IL‐17A) is the major effect factor in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. Our results showed that IL‐17A can promote angiogenesis and cause endothelial cell inflammation. Autophagy plays an important role not only in regulating inflammation, but also in regulating angiogenesis. Whether angiogenesis in psoriasis is related to autophagy remains unclear. In this study, we treated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) with IL‐17A to simulate increased angiogenesis to study whether increased angiogenesis in psoriasis is related to autophagy.

Methods and Results

Our results showed that treatment of HUVECs with IL‐17A significantly increased angiogenesis and expression levels of mRNA for multiple proinflammatory cytokines (CCL20, IL‐8, CCL2, IL‐6, and IL‐1β) and, while decreasing intracellular levels of nitric oxide (NO) and NO synthase (NOS) activity. Moreover, IL‐17A inhibited autophagy as shown that IL‐17A significantly increased expression levels of LC3II and p62 proteins. Induction of autophagy ameliorated IL‐17A‐mediated inflammatory response and inhibited angiogenesis, accompanied by increased p‐AMPKα(Thr172) and p‐ULK1(Ser555) expression, and decreased p‐mTOR(Ser2448) and p‐ULK1(Ser757) expression. Furthermore, inhibition of either AMPK or lysosomal acidification completely overrode autophagy‐induced changes in angiogenesis and NOS activity. Finally, induction of autophagy decreased apoptosis and caspase‐3 activity in IL‐17A‐treated HUVECs.

Conclusions

These results showed that IL‐17A is involved in angiogenesis and inflammatory response by inhibiting autophagy through AMPK signaling pathway, suggesting that autophagy may be a new therapeutic target for psoriasis.
Clinical evaluation of zirconia crowns cemented with two different resin cements: A retrospective study
Authors: Aziz Ahmed M. , El‐Mowafy Omar
Published: August 2023

Background

Self‐adhesive resin cement has been used extensively with zirconia crowns. Several in vitro studies showed that adhesive resin cementation may increase zirconia crowns' retention and their fatigue resistance.

Objectives

This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the clinical performance, survival and success rates and complications encountered with zirconia crowns cemented with two different self‐adhesive resin cements.

Methods

A total of 112 patients who received 176 monolithic zirconia crowns were evaluated. Crowns were cemented with RelyX Unicem 2 (n = 74) and Panavia SA (n = 102) self‐adhesive resin cements. Clinical assessments of the crowns and supporting periodontal structures were performed following the modified California Dental Association (CDA) criteria. Intraoral photographs and periapical and bitewing radiographs were obtained for further assessment by two evaluators. Descriptive statistics, McNemar, t‐test, log rank (Mantel‐Cox) tests and Kaplan–Meier survival analyses were performed (a = .05).

Results

The 5‐year survival and success rates were 100% and 96.4%, respectively. The complications encountered were recurrent caries (2.2%) and the need for endodontic treatment (0.5%). No technical complications, such as fracture or loss of retention, were observed. The type of cement and patient‐related factors did not influence the survival and success rates of the crowns.

Conclusions

Survival rate of zirconia crowns cemented with two different self‐adhesive resin cements was 100% after 5 years.
Prevention of aflatoxin B1 toxicity by pomegranate peel extract and its effects on growth, blood biochemical changes, oxidative stress and histopathological alterations
Authors: Imbabi Tharwat A. , El‐Sayed Abdelkarim I. M. , Radwan Ahmed A. , Osman Ali , Abdel‐Samad Asmaa M.
Published: August 2023

Contamination of animal feeds with mycotoxins is one of the most serious issues in the world of animal nutrition. The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of pomegranate peel extract (PPE) versus oxytetracycline (OXY) in reducing aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) toxicity in rabbits fed contaminated diets. This experiment was done on 48 weaned NZW, four groups (n = 12). The first (AF) served as the control group feed on an infected diet by AFB1 between 0.02 and 0.03 mg/kg BW; second (AF + OXY) received an infected diet by AFB1 and was treated with OXY 200 mg/kg BW/day; third (AF + PPE) received an infected diet by AFB1 and treated with PPE 130 mg/kg BW/day; fourth (AF + OXY + PPE) received an infected diet by AFB1 and treated with a daily oral dose of 100 mg/kg BW/day of OXY + PPE (65 mg/kg BW/day), the experiment lasted for 8 weeks experiment. The treated group with PPE and its combination with OXY concurrent with AF showed amelioration markedly for liver and kidney function. To summarise, adding PPE and combining it with OXY at a half dose to an AFB1‐contaminated diet can help minimise the harmful effects of AFB1 on rabbit performance.
‘Booktuber: promoting reading and literacy in the classroom among Spanish pre‐service teachers through a video review’
Authors: Pardo Betlem Soler
Published: August 2023

Developments in technology have led to a rethinking of teaching delivery: instructors have found in digital devices an important way to attract students' attention. One of the many applications this technology could potentially have would be to encourage young learners to read through new multimedia products such as Web 2.0. In this article, I provide an account of teaching carried out at the University of Valencia, in the ‘Foreign Language I (English)’ module of the Primary Education degree. The activity was based on the characteristics of Booktubers with the goal of, first, promoting reading and reflection on literature and, second, to improve linguistic, communicative, literary and digital competences in EFL through the elaboration of a video review in the classroom. Thus, I have focused on the formal style from a didactic viewpoint, yet undergraduates had to read literature and write a digital review as part of the tasks to be assessed in the subject. For this purpose, the Youtube platform will be shown to be seen as an emerging source of exploration, which could be exploited as a successful didactic tool. Finally, I also set out to show the challenges both students and teacher had to face throughout the process of using the Booktuber tool.
Global genomic signature reveals the evolution of fall armyworm in the Eastern hemisphere
Authors: Zhang Lei , Li Zaiyuan , Peng Yan , Liang Xinyue , Wilson Kenneth , Chipabika Gilson , Karangwa Patrick , Uzayisenga Bellancile , Mensah Benjamin A. , Kachigamba Donald L. , Xiao Yutao
Published: August 2023

The major plant pest fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda, is native to the Americas and has colonized Africa and Asia within the Eastern hemisphere since 2016, causing severe damage to multiple agricultural crop species. However, the genetic origin of these invasive populations requires more in‐depth exploration. We analysed genetic variation across the genomes of 280 FAW individuals from both the Eastern hemisphere and the Americas. The global range‐wide genetic structure of FAW shows that the FAW in America has experienced deep differentiation, largely consistent with the Z‐chromosomal Tpi haplotypes commonly used to differentiate ‘corn‐strain’ and ‘rice‐strain’ populations. The invasive populations from Africa and Asia are different from the American ones and have a relatively homogeneous population structure, consistent with the common origin and recent spreading from Africa to Asia. Our analyses suggest that north‐ and central American ‘corn‐strain’ FAW are the most likely sources of the invasion into the Eastern hemisphere. Furthermore, evidence based on genomic, transcriptomic and mitochondrial haplotype network analyses indicates an earlier, independent introduction of FAW into Africa, with subsequent migration into the recent invasive population.
Benralizumab and mepolizumab treatment outcomes in two severe asthma clinics
Authors: Langton David , Politis John , Collyer Taya , Khung Su‐Wei , Bardin Philip
Published: August 2023

Background and Objective

This study compared the clinical outcomes of severe asthmatics treated with mepolizumab and benralizumab in a tertiary care severe asthma service setting.

Methods

Patient data at baseline, six and 12 months were collected prospectively at two large tertiary hospital severe asthma clinics following treatment initiation. Two hundred and four patients received treatment with mepolizumab (117) or benralizumab (87). Baseline characteristics between groups were similar in regard to age, gender, body mass index, steroid dose and blood eosinophil count. However, the mepolizumab cohort had a higher Asthma Control Questionnaire Score (ACQ) at baseline (4.0 ± 1.1 vs. 3.6 ± 0.9, p = 0.018), accompanied by more frequent reliever medication usage and lower prebronchodilator FEV1% (56.0 ± 20.1 vs. 63.8 ± 18.9, p = 0.008).

Results

After 6 months treatment, both treatments induced significant improvements in (i) ACQ of 2.3 ± 0.1 (p < 0.001), (ii) oral steroid requiring exacerbations (incident rate ratio 0.26 (0.18–0.37), p < 0.001) and (iii) FEV1. However, the improvement in FEV1 was 0.18 (0.05–0.30) litres greater with benralizumab than with mepolizumab (p = 0.002) even when adjusting statistically for baseline differences between groups. These differences were even more pronounced at 12 months post‐treatment initiation, when the improvement in exacerbation frequency with benralizumab was 64% greater than with mepolizumab (p = 0.01). Whilst both treatments significantly reduced the blood eosinophil count at 6 and 12 months, this reduction was substantially greater with benralizumab than mepolizumab (−260 cells/μL [−400 to −110, p = 0.001]).

Conclusion

In this large group of severe eosinophilic asthmatics, mepolizumab and benralizumab both improved disease parameters. However, benralizumab treatment appeared significantly more effective than mepolizumab in reducing exacerbations, improving FEV1 and depleting blood eosinophils.
Social anxiety and interpersonal risk for suicidal ideation: A longitudinal daily diary analysis
Authors: Brown Bradley A. , Rottenberg Jonathan , Goodman Fallon R.
Published: August 2023

Introduction

Social anxiety is associated with elevated suicidal ideation (SI). One potential explanation is that socially anxious persons experience frequent interpersonal stressors that elicit SI. Longitudinal designs with temporal ordering are needed to adequately test this hypothesis. Therefore, this study leveraged a longitudinal design combining trait and daily reports.

Methods

Two hundred eleven community adult participants with elevated levels of depression and/or social anxiety completed social anxiety and SI measures at baseline and again at a 1.5‐month follow‐up. Between these assessments, participants completed a 14‐day diary study that assessed three forms of interpersonal distress: unfavorable social comparisons, perceived barriers to seeking social support, and loneliness.

Results

As predicted, simple mediation models revealed that baseline social anxiety had a significant indirect effect on SI severity at 1.5 months postbaseline via unfavorable social comparisons (indirect effect: β = 0.07, p < 0.05) and barriers to seeking support (indirect effect: β = 0.08, p < 0.05); however, social anxiety did not have a significant indirect effect on SI severity through loneliness.

Conclusion

Study results are consistent with the proposition that increases in interpersonal distress may explain socially anxious persons' vulnerability to SI. Implications of these findings for the research, assessment, and treatment of suicidality in social anxiety are discussed.