bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Long-read RNA sequencing identifies region- and sex-specific C57BL/6J mouse brain mRNA isoform expression and usage
Authors: Jones Emma F. , Howton Timothy C. , Flanary Victoria L. , Clark Amanda D. , Lasseigne Brittany N.
Published: January 2024

Alternative splicing (AS) contributes to the biological heterogeneity between species, sexes, tissues, and cell types. Many diseases are either caused by alterations in AS or by alterations to AS. Therefore, measuring AS accurately and efficiently is critical for assessing molecular phenotypes, including those associated with disease. Long-read sequencing enables more accurate quantification of differentially spliced isoform expression than short-read sequencing approaches, and third-generation platforms facilitate high-throughput experiments. To assess differences in AS across the cerebellum, cortex, hippocampus, and striatum by sex, we generated and analyzed Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) long-read RNA sequencing (lrRNA-Seq) C57BL/6J mouse brain cDNA libraries. From >85 million reads that passed quality control metrics, we calculated differential gene expression (DGE), differential transcript expression (DTE), and differential transcript usage (DTU) across brain regions and by sex. We found significant DGE, DTE, and DTU across brain regions and that the cerebellum had the most differences compared to the other three regions. Additionally, we found region-specific differential splicing between sexes, with the most sex differences in DTU in the cortex and no DTU in the hippocampus. We also report on two distinct patterns of sex DTU we observed, sex-divergent and sex-specific, that could potentially help explain sex differences in the prevalence and prognosis of various neurological and psychiatric disorders in future studies. Finally, we built a Shiny web application for researchers to explore the data further. Our study provides a resource for the community; it underscores the importance of AS in biological heterogeneity and the utility of long-read sequencing to better understand AS in the brain.
Mixed Alkyl/Aryl Phosphonates Identify Metabolic Serine Hydrolases as Antimalarial Targets
Authors: Bennett John M. , Narwal Sunil K. , Kabeche Stephanie , Abegg Daniel , Hackett Fiona , Yeo Tomas , Li Veronica L. , Muir Ryan K. , Faucher Franco F. , Lovell Scott , Blackman Michael J. , Adibekian Alexander , Yeh Ellen , Fidock David A. , Bogyo Matthew
Published: January 2024

Malaria, caused byPlasmodium falciparum,remains a significant health burden. A barrier for developing anti-malarial drugs is the ability of the parasite to rapidly generate resistance. We demonstrated that Salinipostin A (SalA), a natural product, kills parasites by inhibiting multiple lipid metabolizing serine hydrolases, a mechanism with a low propensity for resistance. Given the difficulty of employing natural products as therapeutic agents, we synthesized a library of lipidic mixed alkyl/aryl phosphonates as bioisosteres of SalA. Two constitutional isomers exhibited divergent anti-parasitic potencies which enabled identification of therapeutically relevant targets. We also confirm that this compound kills parasites through a mechanism that is distinct from both SalA and the pan-lipase inhibitor, Orlistat. Like SalA, our compound induces only weak resistance, attributable to mutations in a single protein involved in multidrug resistance. These data suggest that mixed alkyl/aryl phosphonates are a promising, synthetically tractable anti-malarials with a low-propensity to induce resistance.
Increased mitochondrial transcription initiation does not promote oxidative phosphorylation
Authors: Miranda Maria , Mesaros Andrea , Kuznetsova Irina , Purrio Martin , Pérard Louise , Filipovska Aleksandra , Mourier Arnaud , Larsson Nils-Göran , Kühl Inge
Published: January 2024

POLRMT is the sole RNA polymerase in human mitochondria where it generates primers for mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) replication and transcribes the mitochondrial genome to express genes encoding essential components of the oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) system. Elevated POLRMT levels are found in several cancers and in mouse models with severe mitochondrial dysfunction. Here, we generated and characterized mice over-expressingPolrmtto investigate the physiological and molecular consequences of elevated POLRMT levels. Increasing POLRMT did not result in any pathological phenotype but instead positively affected exercise capacity under stress conditions. POLRMT overexpression increasedin organellotranscription initiation, resulting in higher steady-state levels of the promoter-proximal L-strand transcript 7S RNA and higher mtDNA levels. Surprisingly, the abundance of mature mitochondrial RNAs was not affected by the elevated POLRMT levels. Furthermore, ubiquitous simultaneous overexpression of POLRMT and LRPPRC, which stabilizes mitochondrial messenger RNAs, did not increase steady-state levels of mitochondrial transcripts in the mouse. Our data show that POLRMT levels regulate transcription initiation, but additional regulatory steps downstream of transcription initiation and transcript stability limit OXPHOS biogenesis.
Kinases in motion: impact of protein and small molecule interactions on kinase conformations
Authors: Kugler Valentina , Schwaighofer Selina , Feichtner Andreas , Enzler Florian , Fleischmann Jakob , Strich Sophie , Schwarz Sarah , Wilson Rebecca , Tschaikner Philipp , Troppmair Jakob , Sexl Veronika , Meier Pascal , Kaserer Teresa , Stefan Eduard
Published: January 2024

Protein kinases act as central molecular switches in the control of cellular functions. Alterations in the regulation and function of protein kinases may provoke diseases including cancer. In this study we investigate the conformational states of such disease-associated kinases using the high sensitivity of the Kinase Conformation (KinCon)-reporter system. We ﬁrst track BRAF-kinase activity conformation changes upon melanoma drug binding. Second, we also use the KinCon reporter technology to examine the impact of regulatory protein interactions on LKB1-kinase tumor suppressor functions. Third, we explore the conformational dynamics of RIP-kinases in response to TNF-pathway activation and small molecule interactions. Finally, we show that CDK4/6 interactions with regulatory proteins alter conformations which remain unaffected in the presence of clinically applied inhibitors. Apart from its predictive value, the KinCon technology helps to identify cellular factors that impact drug efficacies. The understanding of the structural dynamics of full-length protein kinases when interacting with small molecule inhibitors or regulatory proteins is crucial for designing more effective therapeutic strategies.
Transient growth factor expression via mRNA in lipid nanoparticles promotes hepatocyte cell therapy to treat murine liver diseases
Authors: Smith Anna R. , Rizvi Fatima , Everton Elissa , Adeagbo Anisah , Wu Susan , Tam Ying , Muramatsu Hiromi , Pardi Norbert , Weissman Drew , Gouon-Evans Valerie
Published: January 2024

Primary human hepatocyte (PHH) transplantation is a promising alternative to liver transplantation, whereby liver function could be restored by partial repopulation of the diseased organ with healthy cells. However, currently PHH engraftment efficiency is low and benefits are not maintained long-term. Here we refine two mouse models of human chronic and acute liver diseases to recapitulate compromised hepatocyte proliferation observed in nearly all human liver diseases by overexpression of p21 in hepatocytes. In these clinically relevant contexts, we demonstrate that transient, yet robust expression of human hepatocyte growth factor and epidermal growth factor in the liver via nucleoside-modified mRNA in lipid nanoparticles, whose safety was validated with mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines, drastically improves PHH engraftment, reduces disease burden, and improves overall liver function. This novel strategy may overcome the critical barriers to clinical translation of cell therapies with primary or stem cell-derived hepatocytes for the treatment of liver diseases.
The Porcine Skin Microbiome Exhibits Broad Fungal Antagonism
Authors: Cruz Karinda F. De La , Townsend Elizabeth C. , Cheong JZ Alex , Salamzade Rauf , Liu Aiping , Sandstrom Shelby , Davila Evelin , Huang Lynda , Xu Kayla H. , Wu Sherrie Y. , Meudt Jennifer J. , Shanmuganayagam Dhanansayan , Gibson Angela LF , Kalan Lindsay R
Published: January 2024

The skin and its microbiome function to protect the host from pathogen colonization and environmental stressors. In this study, using the Wisconsin Miniature Swine™ model, we characterize the porcine skin fungal and bacterial microbiomes, identify bacterial isolates displaying antifungal activity, and use whole-genome sequencing to identify biosynthetic gene clusters encoding for secondary metabolites that may be responsible for the antagonistic effects on fungi. Through this comprehensive approach of paired microbiome sequencing with culturomics, we report the discovery of novel species ofCorynebacteriumandRothia. Further, this study represents the first comprehensive evaluation of the porcine skin mycobiome and the evaluation of bacterial-fungal interactions on this surface. Several diverse bacterial isolates exhibit potent antifungal properties against fungal pathogensin vitro. Genomic analysis of inhibitory species revealed a diverse repertoire of uncharacterized biosynthetic gene clusters suggesting a reservoir of novel chemical and biological diversity. Collectively, the porcine skin microbiome represents a potential unique source of novel antifungals.

Highlights

Porcine skin bacterial communities are consistent with previous reports on porcine and human skin.

Fungal community composition resembles mycobiomes from other mammalian skin, but not human skin.

Bacteria isolated from porcine skin have antimicrobial and particularly strong antifungal activityin vitro.

Discovered three newCorynebacteriumspecies and one newRothiaspecies.
Minimal quantum dot based Kitaev chain with only local superconducting proximity effect
Authors: Samuelson William , Svensson Viktor , Leijnse Martin
Published: January 2024

The possibility to engineer a Kitaev chain in quantum dots coupled via superconductors has recently emerged as a promising path toward topological superconductivity and possibly non-Abelian physics. Here we show that it is possible to avoid some of the main experimental hurdles on this path by using only local proximity effect on each quantum dot in a geometry that resembles a two-dot version of the proposal in Fulga []. There is no need for narrow superconducting couplers, additional Andreev bound states, or spatially varying magnetic fields; it suffices with spin-orbit interaction and a constant magnetic field in combination with control of the superconducting phase to tune the relative strengths of elastic cotunneling and an effective crossed-Andreev-reflection-like process generated by higher-order tunneling. We use a realistic spinful, interacting model and show that high-quality Majorana bound states can be generated already in a double quantum dot.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Inflation and late-time accelerated expansion driven by
k
-essence degenerate dynamics
Authors: Ferreira Alexsandre L. , Pinto-Neto Nelson , Zanelli Jorge
Published: January 2024

We consider a k-essence model in which a single scalar field can be responsible for both primordial inflation and the present observed acceleration of the cosmological background geometry, while also admitting a nonsingular de Sitter beginning of the Universe (it arises from de Sitter and ends in de Sitter). The early one is driven by a slow-roll potential, and the late one is driven by a dynamical dimensional reduction process which freezes the scalar field in a degenerate surface, turning it into a cosmological constant. This is done by proposing a realizable stable cosmic time crystal, although giving a different interpretation to the “moving ground state”, in which there is no motion because the system loses degrees of freedom. Furthermore, the model is free of pathologies such as propagating superluminal perturbations, negative energies, and perturbation instabilities.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Investigating the impact of the Internet of Things on higher education: a systematic literature review
Authors: Kandil Omneya , Rosillo Rafael , Abd El Aziz Rasha , De La Fuente David
Published: January 2024

Purpose

The Internet of things (IoT), an emerging research field, offers solutions to several problems and may result in a paradigm shift in various areas, including education. However, this approach has been under-utilised. Therefore, this research investigates and highlights the primary factors that influence the impact of the IoT on education and reveals the current state of academic research to manage higher education (HE) resources effectively and efficiently.

Design/methodology/approach

Data from 35 academic papers were collected and analysed to understand the current situation and assess the readiness of HE to adopt IoT. A literature review is a well-established method for developing knowledge and interpreting issues under consideration. This study systematically analysed the various research methodologies used to adopt IoT, summarising the content of the studies and highlighting the main factors that may affect IoT adoption in HE.

Findings

The authors examined 95 papers; 35 were investigated and analysed. The literature review and analysis of academic papers revealed the factors influencing the adoption of IoT technology in HE.

Originality/value

By examining the evidence, this study contributes to understanding the context and supplements existing research. It conducts a systematic literature review to assess the impact of the IoT on the educational process, proposes future research directions and presents findings that aid the efficient management of HE resources.
US efficient factors in a Bayesian model scan framework
Authors: O'Connell Michael
Published: January 2024

Purpose

The author examines the impact these efficient factors have on factor model comparison tests in US returns using the Bayesian model scan approach of Chib et al. (2020), and Chib et al.(2022).

Design/methodology/approach

Ehsani and Linnainmaa (2022) show that time-series efficient investment factors in US stock returns span and earn 40% higher Sharpe ratios than the original factors.

Findings

The author shows that the optimal asset pricing model is an eight-factor model which contains efficient versions of the market factor, value factor (HML) and long-horizon behavioral factor (FIN). The findings show that efficient factors enhance the performance of US factor model performance. The top performing asset pricing model does not change in recent data.

Originality/value

The author is the only one to examine if the efficient factors developed by Ehsani and Linnainmaa (2022) have an impact on model comparison tests in US stock returns.
Earnings management detection through budget execution. Insights from Greek municipalities
Authors: Malkogianni Ioanna
Published: January 2024

Purpose

This study examines specific budget execution items (as proxies of vulnerability and sustainability) along with political factors to identify earnings management (EM) practices in Greek municipalities.

Design/methodology/approach

The study employs a sample of 1,831 financial and budget execution statements for the period 2011–2019. EM is proxied by unsigned discretionary accruals that are assessed through the performance-matched modified-Jones model and the modified-Jones model.

Findings

The findings provide evidence that the municipality’s dependence on subsidies (or its self-sufficiency) affects EM, especially during the pre-election year. Municipalities that maintain their financial autonomy engage less in EM in pre-election years. Lastly, it is proven that electoral cycles, weak opposition and other variables exert an effect on the size of EM. Sensitivity analysis confirms the results.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the literature on EM by analyzing for the first time budget execution items (as proxies of vulnerability and sustainability) and their impact on the size of unsigned discretionary accruals.
A priority queueing-inventory approach for inventory management in multi-channel service retailing using machine learning algorithms
Authors: Abdali Nasser , Heidari Saeideh , Alipour-Vaezi Mohammad , Jolai Fariborz , Aghsami Amir
Published: January 2024

Purpose

Nowadays, in many organizations, products are not delivered instantly. So, the customers should wait to receive their needed products, which will form a queueing-inventory model. Waiting a long time in the queue to receive products may cause dissatisfaction and churn of loyal customers, which can be a significant loss for organizations. Although many studies have been done on queueing-inventory models, more practical models in this area are needed, such as considering customer prioritization. Moreover, in many models, minimizing the total cost for the organization has been overlooked.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper will compare several machine learning (ML) algorithms to prioritize customers. Moreover, benefiting from the best ML algorithm, customers will be categorized into different classes based on their value and importance. Finally, a mathematical model will be developed to determine the allocation policy of on-hand products to each group of customers through multi-channel service retailing to minimize the organization’s total costs and increase the loyal customers' satisfaction level.

Findings

To investigate the application of the proposed method, a real-life case study on vaccine distribution at Imam Khomeini Hospital in Tehran has been addressed to ensure model validation. The proposed model’s accuracy was assessed as excellent based on the results generated by the ML algorithms, problem modeling and case study.

Originality/value

Prioritizing customers based on their value with the help of ML algorithms and optimizing the waiting queues to reduce customers' waiting time based on a mathematical model could lead to an increase in satisfaction levels among loyal customers and prevent their churn. This study’s uniqueness lies in its focus on determining the policy in which customers receive products based on their value in the queue, which is a relatively rare topic of research in queueing management systems. Additionally, the results obtained from the study provide strong validation for the model’s functionality.
Comparing sentiment and sentiment shock in stock returns
Authors: Bu Qiang , Forrest Jeffrey
Published: January 2024

Purpose

The authors compare sentiment level with sentiment shock from different angles to determine which measure better captures the relationship between sentiment and stock returns.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper examines the relationship between investor sentiment and contemporaneous stock returns. It also proposes a model of systems science to explain the empirical findings.

Findings

The authors find that sentiment shock has a higher explanatory power on stock returns than sentiment itself, and sentiment shock beta exhibits a much higher statistical significance than sentiment beta. Compared with sentiment level, sentiment shock has a more robust linkage to the market factors and the sentiment shock is more responsive to stock returns.

Originality/value

This is the first study to compare sentiment level and sentiment shock. It concludes that sentiment shock is a better indicator of the relationship between investor sentiment and contemporary stock returns.
Evidence-based knowledge management: a topic modeling analysis of research on knowledge management and analytics
Authors: Thakral Priyanka , Sharma Dheeraj , Ghosh Koustab
Published: January 2024

Purpose

Organizations widely adopt knowledge management (KM) to develop and promote technologies and improve business effectiveness. Analytics can aid in KM, further augmenting company performance and decision-making. There has been significant research in the domain of analytics in KM in the past decade. Therefore, this paper aims to examine the current body of literature on the adoption of analytics in KM by offering prominent themes and laying out a research path for future research endeavors in the field of KM analytics.

Design/methodology/approach

A comprehensive analysis was conducted on a collection of 123 articles sourced from the Scopus database. The research has used a Latent Dirichlet Allocation methodology for topic modeling and content analysis to discover prominent themes in the literature.

Findings

The KM analytics literature is categorized into three clusters of research – KM analytics for optimizing business processes, KM analytics in the industrial context and KM analytics and social media.

Originality/value

Systematizing the literature on KM and analytics has received very minimal attention. The KM analytics view has been examined using complementary topic modeling techniques, including machine-based algorithms, to enable a more reliable, systematic, thorough and objective mapping of this developing field of research.
Entropy generation of thermophysical properties on heat and mass transfer pulsatile flow of non-Newtonian nanofluid
Authors: Ayegbusi F.D. , Idowu A.S.
Published: January 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of entropy generation of some embedded thermophysical properties on heat and mass transfer of pulsatile flow of non-Newtonian nanofluid flows between two porous parallel plates in the presence of Lorentz force are taken into account in this research.

Design/methodology/approach

The governing partial differential equations (PDEs) were nondimensionalized using suitable nondimensional quantities to transform the PDEs into a system of coupled nonlinear PDEs. The resulting equations are solved using the spectral relaxation method due to the effectiveness and accuracy of the method. The obtained velocity and temperature profiles are used to compute the entropy generation rate and Bejan number. The influence of various flow parameters on the velocity, temperature, entropy generation rate and Bejan number are discussed graphically.

Findings

The results indicate that the energy losses can be minimized in the system by choosing appropriate values for pertinent parameters; when thermal conductivity is increasing, this leads to the depreciation of entropy generation, and while this increment in thermal conductivity appreciates the Bejan number, the Eckert number on entropy generation and Bejan number, the graph shows that each time of increase in Eckert will lead to rising of entropy generation while this increase shows a reduction in Bejan number. To shed more light, these results were further demonstrated graphically. The current research was very well supported by prior literature works.

Originality/value

All results are presented graphically, and the results in this article are anticipated to be helpful in the area of engineering.
Relationship between bullous pemphigoid and malignancy: A Mendelian randomization study
Authors: He Ming‐Jie , Wang Yu‐Jia , Ran De‐Long , Fu De‐Shuang , He Qing , Zhang Han‐Yin , Mao Yu , Zhao Peng‐Yuan , Yu Jian‐Bin , Zhang Jiang‐An
Published: January 2024

Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is the most common autoimmune blistering disease, which primarily affects the elderly. However, the relationship between BP and malignancy remains controversial in traditional observational studies. The aim of this study, which included only European populations, was to assess the potential causative link between BP and 13 types of malignant tumors in a two‐sample Mendelian randomization (MR) study. BP was not associated with an increased risk of developing 13 types of malignant tumors. This study did not find a causal relationship between BP and malignant tumors. However, further research is warranted to examine the generalizability of this conclusion in non‐European populations.
Element accumulation by the holoparasitic speciesCuscuta planiflorafrom serpentines in Bulgaria
Authors: Pavlova Dolja , Karadjova Irina , Bani Aida
Published: January 2024

The holoparasitic speciesCuscuta planifloraTen. (Convolvulaceae) parasitizes the Ni hyperaccumulatorOdontarrhena muralis(Waldst. & Kit.) Endl. and a non‐hyperaccumulator,Sanguisorba minorScop., in Bulgarian serpentine areas. This study investigated the host/parasite relationship to evaluate: (1) metal accumulation in different parts of the parasite and the host and (2) its potential threat to Ni phytomining/agromining by suppressing growth of the hyperaccumulator. Elemental concentrations in soil, shoots, leaves, and inflorescences of the two host plants, and in shoots and inflorescences of the parasite, were determined. Elemental concentrations of Ca, Mg, Fe, Ni, Cr, Co, Zn, Cu, Mn, Cd, and Pb were determined after microwave digestion using inductively coupled plasma—optical emission spectrometry (ICP‐OES) under optimal instrumental parameters. Individuals of hosts, both infected and non‐infected, differed in the concentrations of essential elements (P, K) and some micronutrients. Infected individuals ofO. muralisshowed lower Ni concentrations in shoots, leaves, and inflorescences compared to non‐infected ones.Sanguisorba minoris an excluder plant with low tissue Ni concentrations. The parasite had higher P and K, and lower Ca, Mg, Ni, Zn, Co, and Mn concentrations, than the host. The highest Ni concentration measured in the shoots ofC. planiflorawas 279 mg kg−1, whereas that fromS. minorwas 29.9 mg kg−1. Element transfer from host to parasite appeared element‐specific and after infection Ni concentrations in all organs and biomass of hosts were reduced. We conclude that infection byC. planiflorais a potential threat to use ofO. muralisfor Ni agromining.
Performance of low impact development on peak flow reduction in an urban system
Authors: Pampaloni M. , Sordo‐Ward A. , Lompi M. , Pacetti T. , Zubelzu S. , Rodríguez‐Sinobas L. , Bianucci P. , Caporali E. , Garrote L.
Published: January 2024

This study proposes an approach to evaluate the efficiency of low impact development (LID) in reducing urban runoff using a rainfall generator to disaggregate daily rainfall into sub‐hourly rainfall data, which are used as input of a hydrological model at the urban watershed scale. Twelve scenarios are analyzed combining four percentages of impervious area retrofitted with LIDs (25%, 50%, 75% and 100%), and three LID combinations of green roofs (GRs) and rain gardens (RGs). The rainfall generator Rainsim V.3 is used to generate 500 years of rainfall data with a 15‐min time step to analyze the performance of LIDs in the long‐term with the LID module of the Soil and Water Assessment Tool hydrological model. An urban watershed of 3 km2 located in Florence (Italy) is selected as a case study. Results show the performances of GRs and RG on peak flow reduction, highlighting a maximum flow reduction of single facilities ranging between 15% and 60% that can improve in case of their combination. The hydrological performances of LID combinations are very sensitive to the intensity of rainfall events, as well as percentages of area treated underlining the importance of simulating multiple scenarios of intervention to determine the most efficient combination of LIDs for a given case study and support their proper design from a urban water hydrology perspective.
The effects of troponin screening among patients undergoing acute high‐risk abdominal surgery: A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Kanstrup Charlotte T. B. , Svarre Kristina Johansen , Rasmussen Maja Christine , Serup Camilla Mattesen , Lundstrøm Lars Hyldborg , Kleif Jakob , Bertelsen Claus Anders
Published: January 2024

Background

Acute high‐risk abdominal (AHA) surgery is associated with a high short‐term mortality rate. This might be partly attributed to myocardial injury after non‐cardiac surgery (MINS) defined by elevated postoperative troponin levels. The myocardial injury is often asymptomatic; thus, troponin screening seems to be the best diagnostic method.

We aimed to assess whether implementing troponin screening with subsequent individualised interventions as standard care is associated with reduced mortality after AHA surgery. We also explored the treatment implications in the screening period.

Methods

A retrospective cohort of 558 patients undergoing surgery from February 2018 to March 2021 was included. The patients undergoing surgery before March 2019 served as the historical control group, while the screening group consisted of patients undergoing surgery from March 1, 2019. Troponin I was to be measured 6–12 h postoperatively and in the morning of the succeeding 4 days. Patients with myocardial injury were assessed, and treatment was individualised after multiple disciplinary consultations. The primary outcome was the unadjusted 30‐day mortality rates. Inverse probability treatment weighting was used to adjust for selection bias.

Results

We included 558 patients: 382 in the screening group and 176 in the historical control group. In the screening group, 15 patients (3.9%) died before the first blood sampling, and in 31 patients (8.1%), troponin screening was omitted, leaving only 336 patients screened. Myocardial injury was diagnosed in 81 patients (24.1%) of the 336 patients. Of these, 59 (72.8%) had a cardiac consultation. No interventions or alterations in relation to myocardial injury were done in 67 patients (82.7%).

The 30‐day mortality was 13.8% (95% CI 8.7%–18.9%) in the control group and 11.1% (95% CI 8.0%–14.3%) in the screening group. The absolute risk difference was −2.7% (95% CI −8.7%–3.3%; p = .38), which was unchanged after adjustment. The difference remained unchanged after 90 days and 1 year.

Conclusion

The implementation of postoperative troponin screening was not associated with reduced mortality after AHA surgery. Research on the prevention and treatment of MINS is warranted before the implementation of standard troponin screening.
Severe acute maternal morbidity reporting in Australia: Why is it so hard?
Authors: Frost Joanne , Weaver Edward , Callaway Leonie
Published: January 2024

Adverse outcomes associated with pregnancy, including severe acute maternal morbidity (SAMM) and mortality, are internationally regarded as important indicators of quality of maternity services. Varied definitions and processes are barriers for SAMM recording, reporting and review. Identifying and documenting these cases of SAMM is a critical first step. Case reviews allow exploration of factors contributing to SAMM. Translation of the lessons learnt into practice improvement strategies and dissemination of this knowledge is essential for continual quality improvement. This review will outline the current status of SAMM review internationally and in Australia.
Real‐world data of patients affected by advanced heart failure treated with implantable cardioverter defibrillator and left ventricular assist device: Results of a multicenter observational study
Authors: Rordorf Roberto , Pignalosa Leonardo , Casula Matteo , Perna Enrico , Baroni Matteo , Garascia Andrea , Guida Stefania , Gazzoli Fabrizio , Pini Daniela , Cannata Francesco , Pellegrino Marta , Vittori Claudia , De Filippo Paolo , Malanchini Giovanni , Vergara Pasquale , Della Bella Paolo , Gulletta Simone ,   all the Investigators of the study
Published: January 2024

Background

Left ventricular assist device (L‐VAD) implantation is increasingly used in patients with heart failure (HF) and most patients also have an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). Limited data are available on the incidence of ICD therapies and complications in this special setting.

The aim of this study was to analyze the real‐world incidence and predictors of ICD therapies, complications and interactions between ICD and L‐VAD.

Methods

We conducted a multicenter retrospective observational study in patients with advanced HF implanted with ICD and a continuous‐flow L‐VAD, followed‐up in five advanced HF centers in Northern Italy.

Results

A total of 234 patients (89.7% male, median age 59, 48.3% with ischemic etiology) were enrolled. After a median follow‐up of 21 months, 66 patients (28.2%) experienced an appropriate ICD therapy, 22 patients (9.4%) an inappropriate ICD therapy, and 17 patients (7.3%) suffered from an interaction between ICD and L‐VAD. The composite outcome of all ICD‐related complications was reported in 41 patients (17.5%), and 121 (51.7%) experienced an L‐VAD‐related complication. At multivariable analysis, an active ventricular tachycardia (VT) zone and a prior ICD generator replacement were independent predictors of ICD therapies and of total ICD‐related complications, respectively.

Conclusions

Real‐world patients with both L‐VAD and ICD experience a high rate of ICD therapies and complications. Our findings suggest the importance of tailoring device programming in order to minimize the incidence of unnecessary ICD therapies, thus sparing the need for ICD generator replacement, a procedure associated to a high risk of complications.
The prevalence of perinatal mental health disorders and psychosocial characteristics of women in Malta: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Buhagiar Rachel , Bettenzana Kristina , Grant Kerry‐Ann
Published: January 2024

Background

Perinatal mental health disorders (PMHDs) are associated with a myriad of negative outcomes for women, infants, and the rest of the family unit. Understanding the prevalence of these conditions is important to guide prevention and treatment pathways. Indeed, the burden of PMHDs has been studied in many countries, but for Malta, an island with an annual birth rate of 4500 births, this burden is still to be determined. The main objective of this study was to address this gap, determine the prevalence of PMHDs among postpartum women in Malta, and study associated psychosocial determinants for this population.

Methods

A cross‐sectional epidemiological study was conducted between March and April 2022 to determine the point prevalence of postpartum PMHDs in Malta. A representative, random sample of 243 postnatal mothers were recruited and screened for mental health issues using a two stage approach incorporating symptom scales and a diagnostic interview.

Results

The point prevalence of postnatal PMHDs in Malta, according to a diagnostic interview, was found to be 21.4%. Anxiety disorders were the most prevalent conditions (16.8%), followed by obsessive‐compulsive disorder (6.1%) and borderline personality disorder (5.6%), respectively. A higher rate of 32.1% was identified with self‐report measures.

Conclusions

PMHDs are highly prevalent, affecting approximately 20% of women in Malta across the first postnatal year. The value of this finding accentuates the need for service availability and the implementation of perinatal mental health screening programs.
The development and validation of the S‐scan‐parental self‐management support (S‐scan ‐ PS): A self‐reflection tool for child healthcare professionals
Authors: Wong Chung Ruud , Willemen Agnes , Bakker Amber , Maaskant Jolanda , Voorman Jeanine , Becher Jules , Schuengel Carlo , Alsem Mattijs
Published: January 2024

Background

Professionals providing self‐management support to parents regarding the care for their child with a chronic condition nowadays is an important aspect of child healthcare. This requires professionals to orient themselves towards partnership and collaboration with parents. The aims of the current study were the development and validation of the S‐Scan‐Parental self‐management Support (S‐scan ‐ PS) as a tool for healthcare professionals to reflect on their attitude and practices regarding the support for parental self‐management.

Methods

An existing instrument was adapted together with field experts for professionals to self‐evaluate their support for self‐management of parents. The resulting 36‐item self‐report questionnaire was filled in by healthcare professionals in the Netherlands working with children and their parents. Cognitive interviews, exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and test–retest reliability analysis were part of the development and validation process.

Results

In total, 434 professionals, including physicians, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and nurses, from 13 rehabilitation institutes and 5 medical centres participated. The cognitive interviews with child healthcare professionals indicated adequate face and content validity. The S‐scan ‐ PS scale had acceptable internal consistency (0.71 ≤ α ≤ 0.91) for the total score as well as the domain scores. CFA showed acceptable root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) model fit (0.066), though not on other tested goodness‐of‐fit indices. Test–retest reliability of the instrument was moderate with an average intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) = 0.61.

Conclusions

The S‐scan ‐ PS fulfils important psychometric criteria for use by child healthcare professionals to reflect on parental self‐management support. Such self‐reflection might help to improve their approach towards supporting self‐management of parents in the care for their child with a chronic condition. Further research is needed into the construct validity and test–retest reliability of the instrument.
Link between Internet addiction and depression and roles of social withdrawal and school belonging
Authors: Wang Zhiyou , Ye Yajun , Li Chunkai
Published: January 2024

Depression and Internet addiction are common public health problems among adolescents. Previous literature has examined this association, but its underlying mechanisms remain unclear. The present study aims at identifying the influencing mechanisms of this association by constructing a moderated mediation model focusing on social withdrawal and school belonging. A sample of 616 Chinese middle and high school adolescents are surveyed regarding Internet addiction, depression, social withdrawal and school belonging. The Macro PROCESS was used to examine the proposed theoretical model. Results reveal that social withdrawal partially mediates the nexus between Internet addiction and adolescent depression. In addition, school belonging significantly moderates the association of social withdrawal with adolescent depression. These findings may guide future prevention and intervention strategies for depressed teenagers affected by Internet addiction.
Relative poverty is associated with increased risk of diabetic ketoacidosis at onset of type 1 diabetes in children. A Swedish national population‐based study in 2014–2019
Authors: Wersäll Johan H. , Ekelund Jan , Åkesson Karin , Hanas Ragnar , Adolfsson Peter , Ricksten Sven‐Erik , Forsander Gun
Published: January 2024

Aims

The aim of the study was to estimate the effect of household relative poverty on the risk of diabetic ketoacidosis at diagnosis of children with type 1 diabetes using an international standard measurement of relative poverty.

Methods

A national population‐based retrospective study was conducted. The Swedish National Diabetes Register (NDR) was linked with data from Sweden's public statistical agency (Statistics Sweden). Children who were diagnosed with new‐onset type 1 diabetes in the period of 2014–2019 were common identifiers. The definition of diabetic ketoacidosis was venous pH <7.30 or a serum bicarbonate level <18 mmol/L. The exposure variable was defined according to the standard definition of the persistent at‐risk‐of‐poverty rate used by the statistical office of the European Union (Eurostat) and several other European public statistical agencies. Univariate and multi‐variable analyses were used to calculate the effect of relative poverty on the risk of diabetic ketoacidosis.

Results

Children from households with relative poverty had a 41% higher risk of diabetic ketoacidosis (1.41, CI 1.12–1.77, p = 0.004) and more than double the risk of severe diabetic ketoacidosis (pH <7.10) (RR 2.10, CI 1.35–3.25, p = 0.001), as compared to children from households without relative poverty.

Conclusions

Relative poverty significantly increases the risk of diabetic ketoacidosis at onset of type 1 diabetes in children, even in a high‐income country with publicly reimbursed health care.
Transsulfuration and folate pathways in rheumatoid arthritis: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Mangoni Arduino A. , Zinellu Angelo
Published: January 2024

Background

Metabolomic assessment of the transsulfuration and folic acid biochemical pathways could lead to the identification of promising biomarkers of nitric oxide dysregulation and oxidative stress in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods

We conducted a systematic review and meta‐analysis of transsulfuration (methionine, homocysteine, and cysteine) and folic acid (folic acid, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12) metabolites in RA patients in remission and healthy controls. Electronic databases were searched from inception to 15 July 2023 for relevant articles. We assessed the risk of bias using the JBI checklist and the certainty of evidence using GRADE.

Results

In 28 eligible studies, compared to controls, RA patients had significantly higher concentrations of homocysteine (standardized mean difference, SMD = 0.74, 95% CI 0.54–0.93, p < 0.001; low certainty of evidence) and methionine (SMD = 1.00, 95% CI 0.57–1.44, p < 0.001; low certainty) and lower concentrations of vitamin B6 (SMD = −6.62, 95% CI −9.65 to −3.60, p < 0.001; low certainty). By contrast, there were non‐significant between‐group differences in vitamin B12 and folic acid. In meta‐regression and subgroup analysis, there were no associations between the effect size and several study and patient characteristics except for homocysteine (year of publication, C‐reactive protein, triglycerides, and analytical method) and folic acid (biological matrix).

Conclusions

The results of our study suggest that homocysteine, methionine, and vitamin B6 are promising biomarkers to assess nitric oxide dysregulation and oxidative stress in RA. (PROSPERO registration number: CRD42023461081).
Participant and caregiver perspectives on health feedback from a healthy lifestyle check
Authors: Lee Miranda D. , Wild Cervantée E. K. , Taiapa Ken J. , Rawiri Ngauru T. , Egli Victoria , Maessen Sarah E. , Anderson Yvonne C.
Published: January 2024

Introduction

The usual output following health consultations from paediatric services is a clinical letter to the referring professional or primary care provider, with a copy sent to the patient's caregiver. There is little research on how patients and caregivers perceive the letter content. We aimed to: first understand child, young people and caregiver experiences of and preferences for receiving a health feedback letter about the child/young person's health measures within a healthy lifestyle programme; and second to provide a set of recommendations for designing letters to children, young people and their families within a healthy lifestyle programme.

Methods

This qualitative study, informed by Kaupapa Māori principles, included focus groups of children aged 5–11 years and young people aged 12–18 years who were participants in a healthy lifestyle programme in Taranaki, Aotearoa New Zealand and of their respective caregivers (total n = 47). Discussions were audio‐recorded, transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis.

Findings

Key themes were identified: letters sometimes acted as ‘discourses of disempowerment’—some participants experienced a lack of safety, depersonalisation with medical jargon and ‘feeling like a number’. Participants described the need for acknowledgement and affirmation in written communication—health feedback should include validation, choice regarding content, respectful tone and a strengths‐based approach to health messages.

Interpretation

Letters to referrers, copied to families, can be perceived as disempowering, and participant and caregiver perspectives of content should be considered. This study challenges conventional practice in communicating health feedback with broader implications for written communication in healthcare. We propose separate letters aimed at the child/young person and their caregiver that offer choice in the information they receive. The administrative burden of multiple letters can be mitigated by advances in digital health.

Patient Contribution

This study originated in response to feedback from service users that current health feedback was not meeting their needs or expectations. Patient perspectives, especially from children, are rarely considered in the generation of clinic letters from health professionals. Participants were child participants in the community‐based clinical service and their caregivers, and care was taken to represent the demographic backgrounds of service users. Collection and interpretation of Māori data were led by researchers who were local community members to ensure prioritisation and preservation of participant voice. Where possible, results are illustrated in the text by direct quotes from participants, whose identities are protected with a pseudonym.
The use of medicaments in the management of symptomatic irreversible pulpitis: A community‐based cohort study
Authors: Edwards David , Rasaiah Sabrina , Kirkevang Lise‐Lotte , Vaeth Michael , Stone Simon J. , Obara Ilona , Durham Justin , Whitworth John
Published: January 2024

Aim

To investigate patient outcomes from either pulpotomy or pulpectomy for the management of symptomatic irreversible pulpitis, with and without application of antibiotic/corticosteroid pastes in urgent primary dental care settings in the United Kingdom.

Methodology

All patients receiving intervention for symptomatic irreversible pulpitis in three different primary care settings were invited to participate. Pre‐operatively, data regarding patients' numerical ratings scale (NRS), pain score (0–10), analgesic use, oral‐health impact profile‐14 (OHIP‐14) and need for time away from work were collected. For 7 days post‐operatively, participants recorded their NRS pain score, global rating of change score, medication use and their ability to work. Analysis used a mixed‐effects model with post hoc Tukey's multiple comparisons test for continuous data and chi‐squared or Fisher's exact test for categorical data. To test the effect of the corticosteroid/antibiotic paste, pulpectomy and pulpotomy groups were combined following Mantel–Haenszel stratified analysis or a weighted average of the difference between pulpotomy and pulpectomy with and without the use of corticosteroid/antibiotic paste. A binary composite score was constructed using pre‐ and post‐operative data, whereby overall treatment success was defined as: (i) patients did not return for treatment due to pain by day seven; (ii) at day three, there was a 33% (or 2‐points) reduction in NRS pain score; (iii) there was a change score of +3 in global rating; (iv) the patient was no longer using analgesia and able to return to work.

Results

Eighty‐five participants were recruited, with 83 completing follow up. Overall treatment success was 57%, with 25% of participants returning for more treatment due to inadequate pain relief. Overall treatment success did not differ between the two groups (p = .645), although patients self‐reported greater improvement with an antibiotic/corticosteroid dressing for global rating of change (p = .015).

Conclusions

This study identified limited evidence of improved outcomes using antibiotic/corticosteroid dressings in the management of symptomatic irreversible pulpitis in the emergency setting. Further clinical research is needed to understand if these medications are beneficial in affording pain relief, above that of simple excision of irreversibly inflamed pulp tissue.