bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Glucocorticoids modify intracranial pressure in freely moving rats
Authors: Westgate Connar Stanley James , Israelsen Ida Marchen Egerod , Kamp-Jensen Christina , Jensen Rigmor Højland , Eftekhari Sajedeh
Published: May 2023

Background

Glucocorticoids (GCs) are widely prescribed for a variety of inflammatory diseases, but they are also used to treat raised intracranial pressure (ICP) caused by trauma or oedema. However, it is unclear if GCs independently modulate ICP and if GCs are involved in normal ICP regulation. In this study, we aimed to assess the ICP modulatory effects of GCs and their molecular consequences on choroid plexus (CP).

Methods

Adult female rats were implanted with telemetric ICP probes for physiological, continuous ICP recordings in a freely moving setup. Rats received prednisolone or vehicle via oral gavage in a randomized acute (24 h) ICP study. In a subsequent study rats received corticosterone or vehicle in drinking water for a 4-week chronic ICP study. CP were removed, and the expression of genes associated with cerebrospinal fluid secretion were assessed.

Results

A single prednisolone dose reduced ICP by up to 48% (P < 0.0001), where ICP was reduced within 7 h and was maintained for at least 14 h. Prednisolone increases ICP spiking (P = 0.0075) while not altering ICP waveforms. Chronic corticosterone reduces ICP by up to 44%, where ICP was lower for the entirety of the 4-week ICP recording period (P = 0.0064). ICP daily periodicity was not altered by corticosterone. Corticosterone ICP reduction was not accompanied by ICP spike differences or alteration in ICP spike periodicity. Chronic corticosterone treatment had modest effects on CP gene expression, lowering the expression of Car2 at CP (P = 0.047).

Conclusions

GCs reduce ICP in both the acute and chronic setting to a similar degree. Moreover, GCs did not modify the diurnal rhythm of ICP, suggesting the diurnal variation of ICP periodicity is not under explicit control of GCs. ICP disturbances should be considered a consequence of GC therapy. Based on these experiments, GCs may have broader ICP therapeutic uses, but side effects must be taken into consideration.
Screening for autophagy/hypoxia/ferroptosis/pyroptosis-related genes of tendon injury and repair in a rat model after celecoxib and lactoferrin treatment
Authors: Zhang Yaonan , Shi Lei , Wang Fei , Wang Lin , Min Nan , Wen Liangyuan , Xue Qingyun
Published: May 2023

Background

Tendon injuries are among the most common musculoskeletal disorders. Celecoxib possesses an effective anti-inflammatory activity in the tendon injury treatment. Lactoferrin has a great potential for the tendon regeneration. However, the efficacy of celecoxib combined with lactoferrin in the treatment of tendon injury has not been reported. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of celecoxib and lactoferrin on tendon injury and repair, and screen for the crucial genes associated with the tendon injury and repair.

Methods

The rat tendon injury models were established and divided into four groups: normal control group (n = 10), tendon injury model group (n = 10), celecoxib treatment group (n = 10), and celecoxib + lactoferrin treatment group (n = 10). Then, RNA sequencing was performed to identify differentially expressed lncRNAs (DElncRNAs), miRNAs (DEmiRNAs) and mRNAs (DEmRNAs) in celecoxib treatment group and celecoxib + lactoferrin treatment group. Next, autophagy/hypoxia/ferroptosis/pyroptosis-related DEmRNAs were further identified. Subsequently, functional enrichment, protein–protein interaction (PPI) network and transcriptional regulatory network construction for these genes were performed.

Results

The animal study demonstrated that combinational administration of celecoxib with lactoferrin rescued the harmful effects caused by celecoxib in the treatment of tendon injury. Compared to tendon injury model group, 945 DEmRNAs, 7 DEmiRNAs and 34 DElncRNAs were obtained in celecoxib treatment group, and 493 DEmRNAs, 8 DEmiRNAs and 21 DElncRNAs were obtained in celecoxib + lactoferrin treatment group, respectively. Subsequently, 376 celecoxib + lactoferrin treatment group-specific DEmRNAs were determined. Then, 25 DEmRNAs associated with autophagy/hypoxia/ferroptosis/pyroptosis were identified.

Conclusions

Several genes, such as, Ppp1r15a, Ddit4, Fos, Casp3, Tgfb3, Hspb1 and Hspa8, were identified to be associated with tendon injury and repair.
Burial workers’ perceptions of community resistance and support systems during an Ebola outbreak in the Eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo: a qualitative study
Authors: Zwick Hana , Asobee Marc Salama , Mitton Isabeaux Kennedy , Headley Jennifer , Eagle David E.
Published: May 2023

Background

Community Health Workers (CHWs) provide vital services during disease outbreaks. Appropriate burials of those who died from an infectious disease outbreak is a critical CHW function to prevent infection and disease spread. During the 2018 Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak in Beni Town, North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo, we sought to understand the levels of understanding, trust, and cooperation of the community in response to the outbreak, the barriers burial workers faced in their health work and its impact on local burial workers and other CHWs.

Methods

12 EVD burial CHWs in Beni Town completed an hour-long qualitative in-depth interview on their experiences. They were recruited from a local counseling center. Interviews were recorded, transcribed and translated into English. A team of 3 researchers identified structural and emergent themes using applied thematic analysis.

Results

Workers reported major misconceptions in the community surrounding the initiation of the outbreak. Community misconceptions were based on widespread governmental mistrust as well as a belief system that intertwines traditional and scientific understandings of the world. EVD burial workers identified violence directed at them and community misinformation as the two largest barriers to effectively carrying out their work. They named several important support systems including family and friends, personal relaxation techniques, and a local counseling center.

Conclusions

As with other disease outbreaks globally, we found that government mistrust and religious beliefs strongly impacted community perceptions of the EVD outbreak. Previous studies have demonstrated clinic-based medical personnel are often the targets of violence. Our research shows that burial workers were also targeted and exposed to extreme levels of violence in their work. Along with their ability to effectively respond to the outbreak, violence has a negative impact on their own mental wellbeing. Burial workers found group counseling sessions to be an effective tool for managing the stress associated with their work. Further developing and testing of group-based interventions for this group is a priority for future research.
Molecular characterization and immune efficacy of fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase from Haemaphysalis longicornis (Acari: Ixodidae)
Authors: Cao Yuan-Yuan , Xiao Shu-Wen , Yang Feng , Liu Xiao-Ya , Lu Hui , Zhang Jin-Cheng , Hu Yong-Hong
Published: May 2023

Background

Ticks are obligate hematophagous ectoparasites that transmit a variety of pathogens to humans, wildlife and domestic animals. Vaccination is an effective and environmentally friendly method for tick control. Fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase (FBA) is an important glycometabolism enzyme that is a candidate vaccine against parasites. However, the immune protection of FBA in ticks is unclear.

Methods and results

The 1092-bp open reading frame (ORF) of FBA from Haemaphysalis longicornis (HlFBA), encoding a 363-amino acid protein, was cloned using PCR methodology. The prokaryotic expression vector pET32a(+)-HlFBA was constructed and transformed into cells of Escherichia coli BL21(DE3) strain for protein expression. The recombinant HlFBA protein (rHlFBA) was purified by affinity chromatography, and the western blot results suggested that the rHlFBA protein was immunogenic.

Results

Results of the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay showed that rabbits immunized with rHlFBA produced a humoral immune response specific to rHlFBA. A tick infestation trial indicated that, compared to the ticks in the histidine-tagged thioredoxin (Trx) group, the engorged tick weight and oviposition of female ticks and egg hatching rate of those in the rHlFBA group was reduced by 22.6%, 45.6% and 24.1%, respectively. Based on the cumulative effect of the these three parameters, the overall immune efficacy of rHlFBA was estimated to be 68.4%.

Conclusions

FBA is a candidate anti-tick vaccine that can significantly reduce the engorged tick weight, oviposition, and egg hatching rate. The use of enzymes involved in glucose metabolism is a new strategy in the development of anti-tick vaccines.

Graphical Abstract
Occult proximal femoral fracture with radiating leg pain masquerading as sciatica: a case report
Authors: Lee Ji-yeon , Oya Akihito , Tsuji Osahiko , Umezu Taro , Kanaji Arihiko , Niki Yasuo , Nakamura Masaya , Matsumoto Morio
Published: May 2023

Background

Occult proximal femoral fractures do not appear as fracture lines in radiographs, causing misdiagnosis and delayed diagnosis unless additional imaging studies, such as computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging, are performed. Here, we present a 51-year-old male with an occult proximal femoral fracture who experienced radiating unilateral leg pain that took 3 months to be diagnosed because his symptoms mimicked lumbar spine disease.

Case presentation

A 51-year-old Japanese male experienced persistent lower back and left thigh pain after falling off a bicycle, and was referred to our hospital 3 months thereafter. Whole-spine computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed minute ossification of the ligamentum flavum at T5/6 without spinal nerve compression, but this did not explain his leg pain. Additional magnetic resonance imaging of the hip joint revealed a fresh left proximal femoral fracture without displacement. He underwent surgery for in situ fixation using a compression hip screw. Post-surgical pain relief was immediate.

Conclusions

Misdiagnosis of occult femoral fractures as lumbar spinal disease may occur if distally radiating referred pain is present. Hip joint disease should be considered as a differential diagnosis in cases of sciatica-like pain with an unknown spinal origin and no specific findings on spinal computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging accounting for the leg pain, especially following trauma.
18F-FDG-PET/CT-based deep learning model for fully automated prediction of pathological grading for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma before surgery
Authors: Zhang Gong , Bao Chengkai , Liu Yanzhe , Wang Zizheng , Du Lei , Zhang Yue , Wang Fei , Xu Baixuan , Zhou S. Kevin , Liu Rong
Published: May 2023

Background

The determination of pathological grading has a guiding significance for the treatment of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) patients. However, there is a lack of an accurate and safe method to obtain pathological grading before surgery. The aim of this study is to develop a deep learning (DL) model based on 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG-PET/CT) for a fully automatic prediction of preoperative pathological grading of pancreatic cancer.

Methods

A total of 370 PDAC patients from January 2016 to September 2021 were collected retrospectively. All patients underwent 18F-FDG-PET/CT examination before surgery and obtained pathological results after surgery. A DL model for pancreatic cancer lesion segmentation was first developed using 100 of these cases and applied to the remaining cases to obtain lesion regions. After that, all patients were divided into training set, validation set, and test set according to the ratio of 5:1:1. A predictive model of pancreatic cancer pathological grade was developed using the features computed from the lesion regions obtained by the lesion segmentation model and key clinical characteristics of the patients. Finally, the stability of the model was verified by sevenfold cross-validation.

Results

The Dice score of the developed PET/CT-based tumor segmentation model for PDAC was 0.89. The area under curve (AUC) of the PET/CT-based DL model developed on the basis of the segmentation model was 0.74, with an accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of 0.72, 0.73, and 0.72, respectively. After integrating key clinical data, the AUC of the model improved to 0.77, with its accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity boosted to 0.75, 0.77, and 0.73, respectively.

Conclusion

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first deep learning model to end-to-end predict the pathological grading of PDAC in a fully automatic manner, which is expected to improve clinical decision-making.
Wireless technologies towards 6G
Authors: Campos Rui , Ricardo Manuel , Pouttu Ari , Correia Luis M.
Published: May 2023

This Special Issue originates from the international conference 2021 Joint EuCNC & 6G Summit (Joint European Conference on Networks and Communications and 6G Summit), which was held in June 2021 in virtual format. The Technical Programme Chairs of the conference selected the best papers and invited authors to submit an extended version of their paper by at least one-third of their length. Only the top ranked papers were invited to this Special Issue, in order to fulfil its purpose. The main target was to collect and present quality research contributions in the most recent activities related to technologies, systems and networks beyond 5G. Through this Special Issue, the state-of-the-art is presented and the new challenges highlighted, regarding the latest advances on systems and network perspectives that are already being positioned beyond 5G, bridging as well with the evolution of 5G, including applications and trials. Therefore, the motivation for this Special Issue is to present the latest and finest results on the evolution of research of mobile and wireless communications, coming, but not exclusively (since Joint EuCNC & 6G Summit is a conference open to the whole research community), from projects co-financed by the European Commission within its R&D programmes.
From ambition to implementation: institutionalisation as a key challenge for a sustainable mobility transition in Germany
Authors: Reichenbach Max , Fleischer Torsten
Published: May 2023

Background

Transport and mobility contribute a significant share of greenhouse gas emissions, and fossil fuel consumption must be reduced for mobility to meet sustainable development goals. Strengthening public transport is a key element of the required mobility transition, including technological innovation. To address the related institutionalisation processes, we analyse the interplay between technological development and the intensifying mobility transition debate. We focus on the challenges for the roles of public transport professionals, who are essential for the implementation of sustainable mobility measures at the local level.

Case selection and methods

We present two cases: First, we address urban ropeways as an incremental option to extend public transport networks. In a series of three expert workshops (23 participants in total), local public transport professionals discussed the potential of urban ropeways, and challenges concerning the related institutional framework. Second, we chose an exploratory approach to understand how public transport professionals engage in the debate on the potentially disruptive role of automated driving in the future of public transport. This included an analysis of strategy documents and experimentation, as well as observations at sectoral events and stakeholder forums. In both cases, we focus on the specific context in Germany, which ensures a coherent institutional framework and a consistent analysis.

Results

We found a general openness among public transport professionals to consider the potential of mature urban ropeway technology. However, critical gaps remain in planning instruments and the densely regulated public transport planning regime. Concerning automated driving, a strong technological focus can be observed in the related transport policy debate. At the local level, despite numerous technical tests, there is hardly any discussion of more far-reaching requirements regarding integration of the technology into the mobility system in a way that ensures sustainability-oriented goals are met.

Conclusions

Beyond both incremental and potentially disruptive technological drivers, the proactive and targeted design of corresponding institutionalisation processes proves to be a key challenge for achieving a sustainable mobility transition. Institutionalisation and the related roles of public transport professionals must be considered in relation to the mobility transition’s substantive goals and the associated political discourse.
In vitro comparative quality evaluation of different brands of carbamazepine tablets commercially available in Dessie town, Northeast Ethiopia
Authors: Asrade Biset , Tessema Ejigu , Tarekegn Abebe
Published: May 2023

Background

Good-quality drugs that fulfill the regulatory parameters and are produced per the current good manufacturing practice (cGMP) standards are very critical for the best therapeutic outcomes. However, the variety of branded drugs circulation in the market often put clinicians and pharmacists in a difficult situation of choice due to the possibility of interchangeability among brands, so we should ascertain the quality of the various brands of drugs, available in the drug market. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the quality and physicochemical equivalence of six brands of carbamazepine tablets that are commercially available in Dessie town, Northeast Ethiopia.

Methods

An experimental study design was used. Six different brands of carbamazepine tablets were purchased from community pharmacies in Dessie town, Northeast Ethiopia, which were selected using simple random sampling methods. Identification, weight variation, friability, hardness, disintegration, dissolution test, and assay for the content of active ingredients were evaluated according to the procedures described in the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) and British Pharmacopeia (BP), and the results were compared with USP and BP standards. The difference (f1) and similarity (f2) factors were calculated to assess in vitro bioequivalence requirements.

Results

The identification test results revealed that all samples contained the stated active pharmaceutical ingredients and all brands of carbamazepine tablets complied with the official specification for weight variation, friability, and hardness tests. The percentage concentration of carbamazepine was found in the range of 97.85 to 102.09, which met the USP specification of 92% to 108% of the stated amount. Similarly, all samples fulfilled disintegration time (i.e., ≤ 30 min) except brand CA1 (34.183 min) and dissolution tolerance limits (i.e., Q ≥ 75% at 60 min), which was found in the range of 91.673% -97.124%. The difference factor (f1) values were < 15 and the similarity factor (f2) values were > 50 for all the tested brands of carbamazepine tablets.

Conclusion

The present study revealed that all brands of carbamazepine 200 mg tablets met the quality control parameters as per pharmacopoeial specifications except the disintegration test of brand CA1, and could be used each brand interchangeably to achieve the desired therapeutic effect.
Split limb phenomenon in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: electrophysiologic study
Authors: Abdul-wahab Dhay Mohammed Ali , Al-Mahdawi Akram
Published: May 2023

Background

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a degenerative disease that affects the upper and lower motor neurons. The onset of the disease is frequently focal, usually involving the distal segments of the extremities. A dissociated pattern of muscle atrophy is commonly found in the hands and feet. This study aims to investigate the presence (if any) of split indices in ALS patients and to correlate these indices with confounding factors. A total of 48 people were studied. The control group consists of 24 ALS patients and another 24 age- and gender-matched patients. To assess functional status and muscle strength, the ALS functional rating scale (ALSFRS) and the Medical Research Council (MRC) were used, respectively. Sensory and motor nerve conduction, as well as compound muscle action potential (CMAP) amplitude, were recorded from the muscles of the upper and lower limbs. The electromyographic (EMG) activity of 20 motor unit action potentials (MUAPs) from four different areas was also studied.

Results

Distal CMAP amplitude was reduced in all tested muscles (especially noticed when comparing the reciprocal muscles). In ALS patients, the split foot index (SFI) is significantly higher, while the split elbow index (SEI) is significantly lower. The split foot index (SFI) was found to be negatively related to disease duration, but positively related to ALSFRS scores. The CMAP amplitude was found to be positively related to the MRC score.

Conclusion

Ankle dorsiflexion muscles are more involved (dissociated) than plantar flexor muscles, and elbow flexors are more involved than extensors. SFI correlates significantly with disease duration and ALSFRS scores.
Asking about self-harm during risk assessment in psychosocial assessments in the emergency department: questions that facilitate and deter disclosure of self-harm
Authors: McCabe Rose , Bergen Clara , Lomas Matthew , Ryan Mary , Albert Rikke
Published: May 2023

Background

Emergency departments are key settings for suicide prevention. Most people are deemed to be at no or low risk in final contacts before death.

Aim

To micro-analyse how clinicians ask about suicidal ideation and/or self-harm in emergency department psychosocial assessments and how patients respond.

Method

Forty-six psychosocial assessments between mental health clinicians and people with suicidal ideation and/or self-harm were video-recorded. Verbal and non-verbal features of 55 question–answer sequences about self-harm thoughts and/or actions were micro-analysed using conversation analysis. Fisher's exact test was used to test the hypothesis that question type was associated with patient disclosure.

Results

(a) Eighty-four per cent of initial questions (N = 46/55) were closed yes/no questions about self-harm thoughts and/or feelings, plans to self-harm, potential for future self-harm, predicting risk of future self-harm and being okay or keeping safe. Patients disclosed minimal information in response to closed questions, whereas open questions elicited ambivalent and information rich responses. (b) All closed questions were leading, with 54% inviting no and 46% inviting yes. When patients were asked no-inviting questions, the disclosure rate was 8%, compared to 65% when asked yes-inviting questions (P < 0.05 Fisher's exact test). (c) Patients struggled to respond when asked to predict future self-harm or guarantee safety. (d) Half of closed questions had a narrow timeframe (e.g. at the moment, overnight) or were tied to possible discharge.

Conclusion

Across assessments, there is a bias towards not uncovering thoughts and plans of self-harm through the cumulative effect of leading questions that invite a no response, their narrow timeframe and tying questions to possible discharge. Open questions, yes-inviting questions and asking how people feel about the future facilitate disclosure.
Improved Survival of Young Patients With Breast Cancer 40 Years and Younger at Diagnosis
Authors: El Saghir Nagi S. , Khalil Lana E. , El Dick Joud , Atwani Rula W. , Safi Nadine , Charafeddine Maya , Al-Masri Ahmad , El Saghir Bassem N. , Chaccour Maha , Tfayli Arafat , Assi Hazem , Abbas Jaber , Ayoub Zeina , Sbaity Eman , Moukadem Hiba A.
Published: May 2023

PURPOSE

Around 50% of patients with breast cancer in low- or middle-income countries are younger than 50 years, a poor prognostic variable. We report the outcome of patients with breast cancer 40 years and younger.

METHODS

We reviewed 386 patients with breast cancer 40 years and younger and retrieved demographic, clinicopathologic, treatment-related, disease progression, and survival data from electronic medical records.

RESULTS

The median age at diagnosis was 36 years, and infiltrating ductal carcinoma was present in 94.3% of patients, infiltrating lobular carcinoma in 1.3%, and ductal carcinoma in situ in 4.4%. Grade 1 disease was present in 8.5% of patients, grade 2 in 35.5%, and grade 3 in 53.4%; 25.1% had human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)–positive, 74.6% had hormone receptor (HR)+, and 16.6% had triple-negative breast cancer. Early breast cancer (EBC) constituted 63.6% (stage I, 22.4%; stage II, 41.2%) of patients, whereas 23.2% had stage III, and 13.2% had metastatic disease at diagnosis. Of patients with EBC, 51% had partial mastectomy and 49.0% had total mastectomy. And 77.1% had chemotherapy with or without anti-HER2 therapy. All HR+ patients received adjuvant hormonal therapy. The disease-free survival at 5 years was 72.5% and 55.9% at 10 years. The overall survival (OS) was 89.4% at 5 years and 76% at 10 years. Patients with stages I/II had an OS of 96.0% at 5 years and 87.1% at 10 years. Patients with stage III had an OS of 88.3% at 5 years and 68.7% at 10 years. The OS of patients with stage IV was 64.5% at 5 years and 48.4% at 10 years.

CONCLUSION

We report survival rates of 89% at 5 years and 76% at 10 years with modern multidisciplinary management. Best results were seen in EBC: OS rates of 96% and 87% at 5 years and 10 years.
Lorentz violation emergence in a superconductivity phase transition scenario
Authors: Granado Diego R.
Published: May 2023

In this letter, we use a condensation of topological defects mechanism to show how a Lorentz-violating (LV) term can emerge. The approach used here was originally developed to describe phase transitions due to a vortice proliferation in systems such as superconductors. First, as a consequence of our approach, we obtain a Podolsky-like LV term as a result of this work. Second, a condensation of topological defects in the theory restores the original Lorentz symmetric phase of the theory. The approach presented here can be seen as an early description of a mechanism to describe a phase transition between a Lorentz symmetric phase and a non-symmetric one. Besides the usage of this mechanism to show how LV terms can emerge, we also show how to extend the condensation mechanism to scalar theories. The condensation mechanism was originally designed for gauge theories. As a result, our scalar extension recovers the Ginzburg-Landau (GL) description of both regular and non-local superconductors. The GL description, in our approach, arises as a consequence of the condensation of topological defects.
“A Form of Reparation”
Authors: Godoy Angelina Snodgrass
Published: May 2023

This article shares insights from participatory research conducted with former political prisoners, all of whom survived torture during El Salvador’s armed conflict (1980–92). An analysis of declassified documents reveals that while US officials generally resisted efforts to examine abuses against guerrilla supporters, they advocated behind the scenes for international oversight of prisons, and, in doing so, helped save lives. However, former prisoners’ analyses of the documents shows that US advocacy perpetuated grave misrepresentations about the nature of state repression, further empowering the apparatus of institutional violence even as it spared selected actors. Participatory research projects like this one can offer victims of human rights abuses abetted by US foreign policy an opportunity to reckon with the records of empire. Not only does this process generate new knowledge, but it contributes to survivor-led processes of healing. This is important to counter the imperialist epistemologies that often characterize scholarship on US foreign policy.
Open Letters from Prison
Authors: Fadem Pam , Klein Rachel Leah , Weber Benjamin D.
Published: May 2023

This article describes the response of a group of California women prisoners and their allies on the outside to the conditions that radically altered and devastated the lives of people in prison during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Benjamin Weber, African American and African Studies faculty member at the University of California, Davis, reached out to the California Coalition for Women Prisoners (CCWP), with its over twenty-six years of relationships with incarcerated women in California prisons. CCWP members Pam Fadem and Rachel Leah Klein collaborated to intervene early in the pandemic to facilitate communication among people both on the inside and outside of prison.
Percutaneous ablative therapies for hepatocellular carcinoma in the caudate lobe of the liver: efficacy and outcome
Authors: Mukund Amar , Tripathy Tara Prasad , Patel Ranjan Kumar , Chandel Karamvir , Patidar Yashwant , Jindal Ankur , Sarin Shiv Kumar
Published: May 2023

Objective:

To assess the efficacy and outcomes of percutaneous ablative therapies for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the caudate lobe.

Methods:

Patients within Milan criteria, who underwent thermal ablation (RFA/MWA) for HCC were analyzed. Based on the inclusion-criteria, patients were categorized in two groups. Group-1 (caudate-lobe HCC) and Group-2 (non-caudate-lobe HCC). Both the groups were analyzed for technical success (TS), local tumor progression (LTP), disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS) were compared between both the groups. Predictive factors for LTP, DFS, or OS in the study cohort were analyzed using appropriate statistical analyses.

Results:

Twenty-one patients qualified to be in Group-1 while 130 patients fulfilled the criteria for Group-2. TS of 90.5 and 97.7% was seen after the first session of ablation for Group-1 and group-2 respectively, while a TS of 95.2% (Group-1) and 100% (Group-2) was achieved after second session. The right-intercostal-approach was used in 66.7% (n = 14) and the anterior-epigastric-approach was used in 33.3% (n = 7) of patients having caudate-lobe HCC. Procedure-related complications in both the groups were comparable. Although, statistically insignificant, LTP in the Group-1 (19.5%, n = 4) was twice that of non-caudate lobe HCC (8.5%, n = 11). The cumulative DFS rate was better in Group-2 while OS in both groups were comparable. Multivariate analysis showed: tumor size and ablative margin of 5 mm being independent predictors of LTP after percutaneous-ablation of caudate-lobe HCC.

Conclusion:

Ablative therapies for HCC in caudate lobe is feasible and safe with comparable LTP and OS to non-caudate lobe HCC. Tumor size >2 cm and lack of 5 mm ablative margin are independent predictors of LTP.

Advances in knowledge:

1. Percutaneous ablation of caudate lobe HCC is feasible using anterior epigastric approach or right intercostal approach. 2. These approaches may allow a safe and effective ablation of caudate lobe HCC with results comparable to non-caudate HCC ablation.
Chinese culture became more individualistic: Evidence from family structure, 1953-2017
Authors: Ogihara Yuji
Published: May 2023

Previous research has indicated that some aspects of Chinese culture became more individualistic. However, prior studies have suggested a decrease in individualism in other aspects of China. Thus, it was unclear whether China became more individualistic. Therefore, the current research investigated whether Chinese culture became more individualistic by examining historical changes in family structure. Specifically, I analyzed temporal shifts in the divorce rate and household size, which have been confirmed as valid representative indicators of individualism. Results showed that the divorce rate increased between 1978 and 2017 and household size decreased between 1953 and 2017, indicating a rise in individualism. Moreover, analyses suggested that the one-child policy was unlikely the sole and major factor in the decrease in household size. Additionally, the aggregated score of divorce rate and household size demonstrated a clear increase in individualism. Therefore, the present research provided further evidence of the rise in individualism in China.
Examination of the Strategic Vision of Banks in Digitalization and the Effects of Innovation on Performance and Artificial Intelligence Perception
Authors: Adiguzel Zafer , Aslan Buket , Sonmez Cakir Fatma
Published: May 2023

This study examines the effects of strategic vision and digital innovation on the performance and perceptionsof digital natives regarding artificial intelligence (AI) in banks. This is due to the increased use of mobile banking applications with the proliferation of the internet. An online questionnaire was administered to 603 experts working in bank headquarters. The collected data were analyzed using theSmartPLS 3.3.3 software. Banks that adopt digital business strategies can gain a significant competitiveadvantage. To successfully transform and compete, banks need to address customer demands in the areasof digitalization, innovation, and mobile banking. This research is original in its evaluation of the strategic visions and digital innovations of banks, which play a crucial role in the service sector, with implications for finance, innovation, and mobile applications. The results demonstrate the positive effects of strategic vision and digital innovation on performance and digital natives' perceptions of AI. The hypotheses support the importance of digitalization and innovation for banks.
An Approximation Algorithm for k-Depot Split Delivery Vehicle Routing Problem
Authors: Lai Xiaofan , Xu Liang , Xu Zhou , Du Yang
Published: May 2023

A multidepot capacitated vehicle routing problem aims to serve customers’ demands using a fleet of capacitated vehicles located in multiple depots, such that the total travel cost of the vehicles is minimized. We study a variant of this problem, the k-depot split delivery vehicle routing problem (or k-DSDVRP in short), for the situation where each customer’s demand can be served by more than one vehicle, and the total number of depots, denoted by [Formula: see text], is a fixed constant. This is a challenging problem with broad applications in the logistics industry, for which no constant ratio approximation algorithm is known. We develop a new approximation algorithm for the k-DSDVRP, ensuring an approximation ratio of [Formula: see text] and a polynomial running time for any fixed constant [Formula: see text]. To achieve this, we propose a novel solution framework based on a new relaxation of the problem, a cycle splitting procedure, and a vehicle assignment procedure. To further enhance its efficiency for practical usage, we adapt the newly developed approximation algorithm to a heuristic, which runs in polynomial time even when k is arbitrarily large. Experimental results show that this heuristic outperforms a commercial optimization solver and a standard vehicle routing heuristic. Moreover, our newly proposed solution framework can be applied to developing new constant ratio approximation algorithms for several other variants of the k-DSDVRP with [Formula: see text] being a fixed constant.

History: Accepted by Erwin Pesch, Area Editor for Heuristic Search & Approximation Algorithms.

Funding: This work was supported in part by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [Grants 71971177, 71725001, U1811462], Research Grants Council of Hong Kong SAR, China [Grant 15221619], and Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation [Grant 2023A1515030260].

Supplemental Material: The e-companion is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/ijoc.2021.0193 . The software that supports the findings of this study is available within the paper and its Supplemental Information ( https://pubsonline.informs.org/doi/suppl/10.1287/ijoc.2021.0193 ) as well as from the IJOC GitHub software repository ( https://github.com/INFORMSJoC/2021.0193 ). The complete IJOC Software and Data Repository is available at https://informsjoc.github.io/ .
The importance of falls assessments and prevention in chronic kidney disease
Authors: Hurst Helen , Ramsey Sarah , Young Hannah ML
Published: May 2023

Falls among older people with chronic kidney disease are of concern. Professor Helen Hurst and colleagues explore assessments of falls and propose the need to consider potentially helpful interventions
Enhancing practice in kidney care: a renal nursing course
Authors: Hurst Helen
Published: May 2023

This report introduces the launch of an online course, Enhancing practice in kidney care, a renal nursing course developed by the Association of Nephrology Nurses (ANN) UK
PROJETOS DE INTERVENÇÃO NA ESCOLA BÁSICA: UM RELATO DE EXPERIÊNCIA DA PRÁTICA CURRICULAR EM EDUCAÇÃO FÍSICA IV E DA CURRICULARIZAÇÃO DA EXTENSÃO
Authors: Borges de Andrade Carla
Published: May 2023

Com a intenção de contribuir para o processo de implantação da curricularização da extensão nos cursos de graduação das universidades públicas, este texto objetiva relatar a experiência vivenciada junto à escolas básica a partir do componente Prática Curricular IV, do Curso de Licenciatura em Educação Física da Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana, desde o aporte legal queregulamenta sua implementação até a efetiva execução na disciplina.
What’s what in a pandemic? Virus, disease, and societal disaster must be differentiated
Authors: Gorbalenya Alexander E. , Perlman Stanley
Published: May 2023

Viruses, the diseases they can trigger, and the possible associated societal disaster represent different entities. To engage with the complexities of viral pandemics, we need to recognize each entity by using a distinctive name.
Four guiding principles for effective trainee-led STEM community engagement through high school outreach
Authors: Luecke Stefanie , Schiffman Allison , Singh Apeksha , Huang Helen , Shannon Barbara , Wilder Catera L.
Published: May 2023

To address ongoing academic achievement gap, there is a need for more school-university partnerships promoting early access to STEM education. During summer 2020, members of our institute initiated QBio-EDGE (Quantitative Biology—Empowering Diversity and Growth in Education), an outreach program for high schools in Los Angeles. In the hope of contributing to increasing diversity in academia, QBio-EDGE aims to make STEM education more accessible for students from historically excluded communities by exposing them to scientific research and diverse scientist role models. This program is led by early career researchers (ECRs), i.e., undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral researchers. In our first year, the outreach activities took place during virtual learning, presenting challenges and opportunities within the program development. Here, we provide a practical guide outlining our outreach efforts, key factors we considered in the program development, and hurdles we overcame. Specifically, we describe how we assembled our diverse team, how we established trusting partnerships with participating schools, and how we designed engaging student-centered, problem-based classroom modules on quantitative biology and computational methods applications to understand living systems. We also discuss the importance of increased institutional support. We hope that this may inspire researchers at all career stages to engage with local schools by participating in science outreach, specifically in quantitative and computational fields. We challenge institutions to actively strengthen these efforts.
Longitudinal findings of a U.S. preventive evidence-based family intervention tested among youth in Ecuador: Familias Unidas
Authors: Estrada Yannine , Lozano Alyssa , Terán Ana M. Quevedo , Eckembrecher Daphne G. , Rojas Lourdes M. , Tamayo Cecilia Condo , Lee Tae Kyoung , Velázquez María Rosa , Tapia María I. , Martin Julio , Prado Guillermo
Published: May 2023

Interventions that address adolescent conduct problems are essential for decreasing negative risk behaviors and promoting positive protective factors among youth. Although interventions have been developed and tested in the United States, preventive evidence-based interventions (EBIs) are less available in Latin American countries such as Ecuador. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of an evidence-based, parent-centered intervention, Familias Unidas, in preventing/reducing conduct problems, across time, among youth in Guayaquil, Ecuador. Ecuadorian youth (ages 12 through 14) and their respective primary caregiver were recruited from two public schools and randomized to either Familias Unidas or Community Practice. A series of latent growth models were run to test for differences between Familias Unidas and Community Practice on conduct disorder symptoms across three timepoints covering 6 months. Ecuadorian mental health professionals were trained to deliver the evidence-based intervention. Findings indicate no direct relationship between condition and average change in conduct problems at 6 months post baseline. However, indirect effects favoring Familias Unidas over Community Practice were found through improvements in family functioning. Findings highlight that Familias Unidas was efficacious in an international setting and indicate the viability of successfully delivering preventive EBIs in Ecuador.
In-silico identification of linear B-cell epitopes in specific proteins of Bartonella bacilliformis for the serological diagnosis of Carrion’s disease
Authors: Jimenez-Vasquez Victor , Calvay-Sanchez Karen Daphne , Zarate-Sulca Yanina , Mendoza-Mujica Giovanna
Published: May 2023

Carrion´s disease is caused by Bartonella bacilliformis, it is a Gram-negative pleomorphic bacterium. B. bacilliformis is transmitted by Lutzomyia verrucarum in endemic areas of the Peruvian Inter-Andean valleys. Additionally, the pathogenicity of B. bacilliformis involves an initial infection of erythrocytes and the further infection of endothelial cells, which mainly affects children and expectant women from extreme poverty rural areas. Therefore, the implementation of serological diagnostic methods and the development of candidate vaccines for the control of CD could be facilitated by the prediction of linear b-cell epitopes in specific proteins of B. bacilliformis by bioinformatics analysis. In this study, We used an in-silico analysis employing six web servers for the identification of epitopes in proteins of B. bacilliformis. The selection of B. bacilliformis-specific proteins and their analysis to identify epitopes allowed the selection of seven protein candidates that are expected to have high antigenic activity.
Presence of mediastinal lymphadenopathy in hospitalized Covid-19 patients in a tertiary care hospital in Pakistan–A cross-sectional study
Authors: Bhatti Faryal S. , Malik Amyn A. , Malik Adeel A.
Published: May 2023

Background

The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of mediastinal lymphadenopathy in hospitalized Covid-19 patients in a tertiary care hospital in the metropolitan city of Lahore, Pakistan from September 2020 till July 2021.

Methods

We retrospectively collected data of Covid-19 patients hospitalized from September 2020 till July 2021. Only those patients who tested PCR positive through a nasopharyngeal swab, were enrolled in the study. Patients’ whose data were missing were excluded from this study. Our exclusion criteria included patients who tested negative on Covid-19 PCR, patients with comorbidities that may cause enlarged mediastinal lymphadenopathies such as haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, neoplasia, tuberculosis, sarcoidosis or a systemic disease. The extent of lung involvement in Covid-19 patients was quantified by using a 25-point visual quantitative assessment called the Chest Computed Tomography Score. This score was then correlated with the presence of mediastinal lymphadenopathy.

Findings

Of the 210 hospitalized patients included in the study, 131 (62.4%) had mediastinal lymphadenopathy. The mean and median Severity Score of Covid-19 patients with mediastinal lymphadenopathy (mean: 17.1, SD:5.7; median: 17, IQR: 13–23) were higher as compared to those without mediastinal lymphadenopathy (mean: 12.3, SD:5.4; median: 12, IQR:9–16)

Interpretation

Our study documents a high prevalence of mediastinal lymphadenopathy in hospitalized patients with Covid-19 with the severity score being higher in its presence representing a more severe course of disease.
The benefits of Shuai Shou Gong (SSG) demonstrated in a Randomised Control Trial (RCT) study of older adults in two communities in Thailand
Authors: Xiao Zhen , Cruz Marcos , Hojo Emi , Eungpinichpong Wichai , Wang Xingze , Xiao Li , Chatchawan Uraiwan , Hu Ying , Roberts Neil
Published: May 2023

Introduction

Shuai Shou Gong (SSG) is a type of Arm Swing Exercise (ASE) developed and practiced especially by older people in China for over one thousand years to maintain physical health and well-being. Until now the potential benefits of SSG have not been investigated in a Randomised Control Trial (RCT).

Materials and methods

Fifty six older women were recruited from each of two urban communities in Khon Kaen, Thailand. One community was randomly assigned as the Exercise Group (mean age 68.3 years, standard deviation 5.6 years) and the other as the Control Group (69.4 years, 4.4 years). The Exercise Group performed SSG for 40 minutes, three days per week for two months, whereas the Control Group maintained their usual daily life. Measurements of Posture (C7 to Wall Distance (C7WD), Standing Height (SH), Flexibility (Back Scratch of Left and Right arms (BSL and BSR) and Chair Sit and Reach of Left and Right legs (CSRL and CSRR), Gait (Timed Up and Go (TUG)), and Cognition (Barthel Activities of Daily Living Index (BADL) and Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale (RSES) questionnaires) were recorded for each group prior to, on day 1, week 4, and week 8 of the SSG training.

Results

The 8 week SSG training course produced a significant interaction between group and time for the combined set of all outcome measures (C7WD, SH, BSL, BSR, CSRL, CSRR, TUG, BADL, and BSES) (Modified ANOVA-Type Statistic (MATS) p-value < 0.001) and for the four categories of Posture, Flexibility, Gait, and Cognition (all Wald-Type Statistic (WTS) p-values < 0.05) and in all cases the changes in the Exercise Group were in the direction predicted to be beneficial. No significant interaction effect between time and group was found after either one session or four weeks of SSG training for any of the categories (all WTS p > 0.05) with significant effects only arising after eight weeks (all WTS p < 0.05). Thus although alterations were shown to be increasingly beneficial over time the minimum period required to produce a statistically significant benefit from performing SSG training was 8 weeks. For the Control Group no significant changes were identified for Posture, Flexibility and Cognition however a significant deterioration was observed in TUG (WTS p = 0.003).

Conclusions

SSG is a holistic, gentle, rhythmic, whole body sequence of movements that may be readily learned and enjoyed in a group setting and has been confirmed in an RCT study of older adult females to produce significant benefits in Posture, Flexibility, Gait and Cognition.