bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Investigating the association between socioeconomic and agricultural risk factors and the incidence of Salmonella Heidelberg and Salmonella Typhimurium in Ontario in 2015: A multi‐level ecological approach
Authors: Paphitis Katherine , Pearl David L. , Berke Olaf , Trotz‐Williams Lise
Published: July 2023

The incidence of salmonellosis, and other enteric zoonotic diseases, has been associated with various food and environmental exposures and socioeconomic factors. Increasingly, there is interest in exploring differences among serotypes of Salmonella to better inform public health prevention efforts. Consequently, we investigated whether rates of Salmonella Heidelberg and Typhimurium in Ontario communities in 2015 were influenced by household characteristics, agricultural factors, and the presence of meat plants. Data for each reported case of S. Heidelberg and S. Typhimurium in Ontario in 2015 were collected. Expected cases of each serotype were calculated, stratified by age group and sex, according to the underlying population distribution from the Canadian census. Socioeconomic, agricultural census data, and data concerning provincial and federally inspected meat plants were combined with observed and expected case counts. The association between community‐level agricultural, meat processing, and socioeconomic variables, serotype, and the rate of salmonellosis in each census subdivision (CSD) was explored using multilevel Poisson models, with random intercepts for CSD and census division (CD). Rates of S. Heidelberg and S. Typhimurium were associated with the proportion of married individuals in a CSD, and were higher in CSDs with the highest quantile of labour participation compared to those in the lowest quantile. There was an interaction effect between cattle, poultry and swine farm density in a CD and serotype, with rates of either serotype decreasing as cattle, poultry, or swine farm density in the encompassing CD increased. The rate of the decrease varied by serotype. Our findings concerning community‐level household characteristics may be explained by the influence of family structure and occupation on food consumption patterns and environmental exposures. Rates of S. Heidelberg and S. Typhimurium may be lower in areas with increased animal farm density due to naturally acquired immunity from routine exposure to Salmonella via livestock.
Using clinical risk models to predict outcomes: what are we predicting and why?
Authors: Goodacre Steve
Published: July 2023

Clinical risk prediction models can support decision making in emergency medicine, but directing intervention towards high-risk patients may involve a flawed assumption. This concepts paper examines prognostic clinical risk prediction and specifically describes the potential impact of treatment effects in model development studies. Treatment effects may lead to models failing to achieve the aim of identifying the patients most likely to benefit from intervention, and may instead identify patients who are unlikely to benefit from intervention. The paper provides practical advice to help clinicians who wish to use clinical prediction scores to assist clinical judgement rather than dictate clinical decision making.
SARS-CoV-2 infections in migrants and the role of household overcrowding: a causal mediation analysis of Virus Watch data
Authors: Boukari Yamina , Beale Sarah , Nguyen Vincent , Fong Wing Lam Erica , Burns Rachel , Yavlinsky Alexei , Hoskins Susan , Lewis Kate , Geismar Cyril , Navaratnam Annalan MD , Braithwaite Isobel , Byrne Thomas E , Oskrochi Youssof , Tweed Sam , Kovar Jana , Patel Parth , Hayward Andrew , Aldridge Robert
Published: July 2023

Background

Migrants are over-represented in SARS-CoV-2 infections globally; however, evidence is limited for migrants in England and Wales. Household overcrowding is a risk factor for SARS-CoV-2 infection, with migrants more likely to live in overcrowded households than UK-born individuals. We aimed to estimate the total effect of migration status on SARS-CoV-2 infection and to what extent household overcrowding mediated this effect.

Methods

We included a subcohort of individuals from the Virus Watch prospective cohort study during the second SARS-CoV-2 wave (1 September 2020–30 April 2021) who were aged ≥18 years, self-reported the number of rooms in their household and had no evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection pre-September 2020. We estimated total, indirect and direct effects using Buis’ logistic decomposition regression controlling for age, sex, ethnicity, clinical vulnerability, occupation, income and whether they lived with children.

Results

In total, 23 478 individuals were included. 9.07% (187/2062) of migrants had evidence of infection during the study period vs 6.27% (1342/21 416) of UK-born individuals. Migrants had 22% higher odds of infection during the second wave (total effect; OR 1.22, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.47). Household overcrowding accounted for approximately 36% (95% CI −4% to 77%) of these increased odds (indirect effect, OR 1.07, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.12; proportion accounted for: indirect effect on log odds scale/total effect on log odds scale=0.36).

Conclusion

Migrants had higher odds of SARS-CoV-2 infection during the second wave compared with UK-born individuals and household overcrowding explained 36% of these increased odds. Policy interventions to reduce household overcrowding for migrants are needed as part of efforts to tackle health inequalities during the pandemic and beyond.
Is there a bidirectional relationship between workplace bullying and the risk of sickness absence? Systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective studies
Authors: Liao Xinqi , Wang Yuqiang , Zeng Qinglin , Wang Jinfeng , Yang Xiangyu , Yan Wen , Wang Guofu , Zeng Yanli
Published: July 2023

Exposure to workplace bullying increases the risk of sickness absence. However, the extent and direction of this relationship for different follow-up lengths are not well established. To provide evidence regarding the direction and extent of the relationship between workplace bullying and different durations of sickness absence. We searched nine databases from their inception to 29 November 2022. Multiple independent observers screened the literature, extracted the data and used the Risk Of Bias In Non-randomised Studies of Exposure to assess the methodological quality. The overall effect sizes of odds ratio, relative risk, hazard ratio and 95% confidence intervals were calculated. Our meta-analysis demonstrated a 26% increased risk of sick leave among workers exposed to workplace bullying for all follow-up lengths (95% CI 1.18 to 1.35), even after adjusting for confounding factors. Moreover, we found a significant association between long-term sickness absence and a higher likelihood of subsequent exposure to workplace bullying, with a pooled OR of 1.63 (95% CI 1.21 to 2.04). Our study established a bidirectional relationship between workplace bullying and long-term sickness absence, highlighting that it increases the risk of sickness absence at different follow-up lengths among employees who have been bullied. Hence, organisations should be mindful of workers who resume work after prolonged absences due to illness and adopt appropriate management strategies to prevent workplace bullying.
The longitudinal association between coupon receipt and established cigarette smoking initiation among young adults in USA
Authors: Siegel Leeann Nicole , Cook Steven , Oh Hayoung , Liber Alex C , Levy David T , Fleischer Nancy L
Published: July 2023

Introduction

Tobacco companies frequently distribute coupons for their products. This marketing tactic may be particularly effective among young adults, who tend to be especially price-sensitive. Young adulthood is also a stage during which many individuals initiate established cigarette smoking and are especially vulnerable to the effects of tobacco marketing.

Methods

We used five waves of data from the US Population Assessment on Tobacco and Health Study (2013–2019) to assess the longitudinal relationship between cigarette coupon receipt and initiation of established cigarette smoking among young adults (18–24 years) who did not report current smoking and had smoked <100 cigarettes in their lifetime at baseline. Initiation of established cigarette smoking was defined as reporting current cigarette use and having smoked ≥100 cigarettes at follow-up. To test this relationship, we fit four discrete time survival models to an unbalanced person-period data set. The first model included our time-varying coupon receipt variable, which was lagged one wave. Subsequent models added sociodemographic, cigarette smoking exposure and other tobacco use variables.

Results

Adopting the model adjusting for sociodemographic variables, respondents who received a coupon were found to be more likely to initiate established cigarette smoking at follow-up (adjusted HR (aHR): 2.31, 95% CI 1.41 to 3.80). This relationship remained significant when controlling for all covariates in the fully adjusted model (aHR: 1.96, 95% CI 1.18 to 3.26).

Conclusions

These findings show that receiving tobacco coupons may increase the likelihood that young adults will initiate established cigarette smoking, underscoring the need to address the effects of this tobacco marketing tactic.
Research Progress of Immunomodulation on Anti-COVID-19 and the Effective Components from Traditional Chinese Medicine
Authors: Hu Ting , Li Li , Ma Qin
Published: July 2023

SARS-CoV-2 has posed a threat to the health of people around the world because of its strong transmission and high virulence. Currently, there is no specific medicine for the treatment of COVID-19. However, for a wide variety of medicines used to treat COVID-19, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) plays a major role. In this paper, the effective treatment of COVID-19 using TCM was consulted first, and several Chinese medicines that were frequently used apart from their huge role in treating it were found. Then, when exploring the active ingredients of these herbs, it was discovered that most of them contained flavonoids. Therefore, the structure and function of the potential active substances of flavonoids, including flavonols, flavonoids, and flavanes, respectively, are discussed in this paper. According to the screening data, these flavonoids can bind to the key proteins of SARS-CoV-2, 3CLpro, PLpro, and RdRp, respectively, or block the interface between the viral spike protein and ACE2 receptor, which could inhibit the proliferation of coronavirus and prevent the virus from entering human cells. Besides, the effects of flavonoids on the human body systems are expounded on in this paper, including the respiratory system, digestive system, and immune system, respectively. Normally, flavonoids boost the body’s immune system. However, they can suppress the immune system when over immunized. Ultimately, this study hopes to provide a reference for the clinical drug treatment of COVID-19 patients, and more TCM can be put into the market accordingly, which is expected to promote the development of TCM on the international stage.
The Conditional Curse, a Missing Dimension of the Oil Curse — Economic Sanctions Channel in a Petrostate Economy: A Curse or a Blessing
Authors: Ertimi Basem , Sarmidi Tamat , Cahyadin Malik , Oqab Basem
Published: July 2023

This paper seeks to expand the concept of a contractual natural resource curse and suggests another channel that may not be addressed as one of the resource curse channels in petrostate countries since there remains little understanding of the Resource Curse Hypothesis (RCH), by which economic sanctions bring a new manifestation and shape the prospect of international economic relations. A sample of 21 petrostate economies is investigated over 1995–2018. The empirical results show a symptom of the oil curse from a new transmission channel under the international relations arena. This result supports our argument that the interactive relationship between sanctions and oil dependence affects sanctioned countries’ economic growth. Transmission channels determine whether natural resources are either a curse or a blessing. Our study found evidence supporting the concept of the oil resource curse taking place through economic sanctions. Hence, the presence of such a negative link casts new light on the debate concerning the influence of natural resource/oil resource curse on the international relations–growth nexus. Policy research needs to be conducted in understanding and mitigating the resource curse.
Antimicrobial Resistance and Biofilm Production in Uropathogens from Renal Disease Patients Admitted to Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Nepal
Authors: Dahal Anuja , Shrestha Kamal , Karki Rashmi , Bhattarai Saraswati , Aryal Shiva , Deo Satish Kumar , Regmi Balmukunda , Willcox Mark , Mishra Shyam Kumar
Published: July 2023

Background. Various antibiotics are prescribed empirically by physicians to cope with infections in renal disease patients. A urinary tract infection (UTI) is often caused by biofilm-forming multidrug-resistant (MDR) uropathogens. This study aimed to analyze the antibiogram of UTI strains from renal disease patients and the biofilm-forming ability of those strains. Methods. 102 patients clinically diagnosed with a UTI and renal disease were recruited into the study from August 2017 to January 2018. Clean-catch midstream urine samples were processed for the isolation and identification of the bacteria following standard methodologies. The antibiogram of the isolates (n = 106) was produced by the Kirby–Bauer disc diffusion method. Detection of biofilm formation was performed in tissue culture plates. Results. The incidence of a UTI in renal disease was 19.1%. Most patients were diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (18.63%), nephrotic syndrome (16.67%), and nephrolithiasis (14.71%). The commonest uropathogens were Escherichia coli (52.8%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (16%), and Enterococcus spp. (15.0%). Ceftriaxone was the most common antibiotic prescribed empirically (37%), whereas nitrofurantoin was the most prescribed antibiotic as adjusted therapy (36.1%). Among the first- and second-line antibiotics, most Gram-negative bacteria were sensitive to amikacin (70.7%), meropenem (70.7%), cefoperazone-sulbactam (70.0%), piperacillin-tazobactam (67.2%), gentamicin (66.7%), and nitrofurantoin (66.7%). Most Gram-positive bacteria were sensitive to doxycycline (90.0%), nitrofurantoin (72.2%), gentamicin (66.7%), and tetracycline (62.5%). All MDR Gram-negative uropathogens were susceptible to colistin sulfate and polymyxin B. Among the 106 isolates, 74.5% produced biofilms and 70.8% were MDR. In 67.0% of cases, including both MDR and biofilm-producing bacteria, the empirical therapy needed adjustment. Conclusions. Aminoglycoside, carbapenem, beta-lactam inhibitor, and nitrofuran group of antibiotics may be the optimal first-line empirical therapies for uropathogens in hospitalized renal disease patients. Regular surveillance of resistance patterns and the study of biofilm formation in uropathogens must be performed to ensure effective management of the patients.
Failure of tDCS to impact militarised threat-detection in a military cohort
Authors: Willmot Nicholas S. , Leow Li-Ann , Filmer Hannah L. , Dux Paul E.
Published: July 2023

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), a form of non-invasive brain stimulation, has become a focus of military organisations due to its reported positive effects on cognitive and motor performance. However, the majority of tDCS research in this space is conducted with civilian participants and/or uses abstract tasks. Additionally, of the small subset of studies that have used military participants or military-relevant tasks, few have employed both, and none with a considerable sample size. Here, we extend on previous work by exploring whether tDCS to the right inferior frontal gyrus (rIFG) enhances the performance of a large military cohort during a militaristic threat-detection task. 98 participants aged between 18 and 45 were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: (1) 2 mA anodal tDCS to the rIFG; (2) Sham stimulation to the rIFG; or (3) 2 mA anodal tDCS to the visual cortex (V1). Participants viewed serially presented, virtually generated militaristic images, and responded Yes/No via keypress to a threat being present. tDCS was applied for 25 min during the first two training blocks of the 50 min task. Results showed evidence for the null hypothesis: tDCS did not influence mean accuracy or reaction time across the task, in contrast to previous work. We discuss possible methodological and population factors that may explain why previously published effects of tDCS were not reproduced.
Commodifying Indigeneity? Settler Colonialism and Racial Capitalism in Fair Trade Farming in Palestine
Authors: Kirk Gabi
Published: July 2023

The recent proliferation of settler colonial and Indigenous studies of Palestine have addressed the historical and present-day enclosure of Palestinian land, yet the question of ‘indigeneity’ is underexamined in this literature. Claims to indigeneity in Palestine straddle varied definitions: a racial category; as constructed through the colonial encounter or preceding colonialism; and as a local relation or an international juridico-political category. Using discourse analysis and ethnography of a specific Palestinian sustainable agriculture initiative, I show how for Palestinians, claiming indigeneity brings into tension potential political economic gains, social relations of struggle, and discursive formations of collective subjectivity. A valorisation and commodification of indigeneity as a racial category narrows notions of indigeneity to the biological-cultural, offering challenges for Palestinian struggles for sovereignty. I conclude by asking what theorising from Palestine offers to Marxist theories of racial capitalism and settler colonialism, and whether indigeneity can exceed its commodification.
Design and Geometric Characterization of Three-Dimensional Gradient Heterogeneous Bone Tissue Structures Based on Voronoi
Authors: Pei Hong-Liang , Fan Qing-Wen , Ma Dong , Yang Yi-Fei
Published: July 2023

Bone tissue is one of the most transplanted tissues. During transplantation, additive manufacturing enables fast and efficient production and fabrication of shaped external implants, and designing porous interconnected bionic external implants is the focus and difficulty of bone tissue
engineering. Based on Voronoi geometry to design a bone tissue structure with hole position gradient—Voronoi gradient structure (VFGM, Voronoi functional gradient materials), the design hole center conforms to the uniform gradient probability spatial distribution, and the boundary in
3D Voronoi is calculated with the hole center as the bone trabecular skeletal. It can be used to design a variety of heterogeneous structures to match with the damaged location. The heteromorphic VFGM structure is highly similar to the human bone structure and can provide geometric design
for bone tissue engineering external implants.
Dry-to-Wet Soil Gradients Enhance Convection and Rainfall over Subtropical South America
Authors: Chug Divyansh , Dominguez Francina , Taylor Christopher M. , Klein Cornelia , Nesbitt Stephen W.
Published: July 2023

Soil moisture–precipitation (SM–PPT) feedbacks at the mesoscale represent a major challenge for numerical weather prediction, especially for subtropical regions that exhibit large variability in surface SM. How does surface heterogeneity, specifically mesoscale gradients in SM and land surface temperature (LST), affect convective initiation (CI) over South America? Using satellite data, we track nascent, daytime convective clouds and quantify the underlying antecedent (morning) surface heterogeneity. We find that convection initiates preferentially on the dry side of strong SM/LST boundaries with spatial scales of tens of kilometers. The strongest alongwind gradients in LST anomalies at 30-km length scale underlying the CI location occur during weak background low-level wind (<2.5 m s−1), high convective available potential energy (>1500 J kg−1), and low convective inhibition (<250 J kg−1) over sparse vegetation. At 100-km scale, strong gradients occur at the CI location during convectively unfavorable conditions and strong background flow. The location of PPT is strongly sensitive to the strength of the background flow. The wind profile during weak background flow inhibits propagation of convection away from the dry regions leading to negative SM–PPT feedback whereas strong background flow is related to longer life cycle and rainfall hundreds of kilometers away from the CI location. Thus, the sign of the SM–PPT feedback is dependent on the background flow. This work presents the first observational evidence that CI over subtropical South America is associated with dry soil patches on the order of tens of kilometers. Convection-permitting numerical weather prediction models need to be examined for accurately capturing the effect of SM heterogeneity in initiating convection over such semiarid regions.
Airport evacuation under panic conditions: a microsimulation modeling applied at Ottawa International Airport
Authors: Alam MD Jahedul , Pinchemel Alexandre , Habib Muhammad Ahsanul , Caetano Mauro
Published: July 2023

This study develops a framework of pedestrian evacuation microsimulation modeling that considers pedestrians’ social-physiological behavior in assessing an airport evacuation. The study implements social force model within a simulation platform enabling the articulation of stochastic pedestrian walking behavior realistically and reliably. It performs a sensitivity analysis of pedestrian behavior parameters to identify the candidate parameters required to capture pedestrian behavior under different levels of panic conditions. The study considers the case study of the Ottawa International Airport and tests and evaluates contrasting evacuation scenarios under low panic, medium panic, and high panic situations. Results indicate that under the low panic evacuation scenario, the pedestrians yield their movements with an increase in network bottleneck, potentially exhibit cooperative behavior, and control their speed with the rise of crowd density. On the contrary, individuals in high panic evacuation scenarios exhibit aggressive behavior indicated by their average speed, which is approximately 1.15 and 3.5 times the average compared with medium panic and low panic evacuation scenarios, respectively. Results suggest that it takes 5.38 min to evacuate 1300 passengers under high panic conditions compared with 9.75 min for a low panic evacuation scenario. However, in the case of a high panic evacuation scenario, the average speed keeps increasing even with the increase in crowd density. This framework can develop and evaluate strategies for safely evacuating the airport in the case of an emergency.
Identified eleven exon variants in PKD1 and PKD2 genes that altered RNA splicing by minigene assay
Authors: Liu Xuyan , Shi Xiaomeng , Xin Qing , Liu Zhiying , Pan Fengjiao , Qiao Dan , Chen Mengke , Zhang Yiyin , Guo Wencong , Li Changying , Zhang Yan , Shao Leping , Zhang Ruixiao
Published: July 2023

Background

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is a common monogenic multisystem disease caused primarily by mutations in the PKD1 gene or PKD2 gene. There is increasing evidence that some of these variants, which are described as missense, synonymous or nonsense mutations in the literature or databases, may be deleterious by affecting the pre-mRNA splicing process.

Results

This study aimed to determine the effect of these PKD1 and PKD2 variants on exon splicing combined with predictive bioinformatics tools and minigene assay. As a result, among the 19 candidate single nucleotide alterations, 11 variants distributed in PKD1 (c.7866C > A, c.7960A > G, c.7979A > T, c.7987C > T, c.11248C > G, c.11251C > T, c.11257C > G, c.11257C > T, c.11346C > T, and c.11393C > G) and PKD2 (c.1480G > T) were identified to result in exon skipping.

Conclusions

We confirmed that 11 variants in the gene of PKD1 and PKD2 affect normal splicing by interfering the recognition of classical splicing sites or by disrupting exon splicing enhancers and generating exon splicing silencers. This is the most comprehensive study to date on pre-mRNA splicing of exonic variants in ADPKD-associated disease-causing genes in consideration of the increasing number of identified variants in PKD1 and PKD2 gene in recent years. These results emphasize the significance of assessing the effect of exon single nucleotide variants in ADPKD at the mRNA level.
Differentiating gastrointestinal tuberculosis and Crohn's disease- a comprehensive review
Authors: Choudhury Arup , Dhillon Jasdeep , Sekar Aravind , Gupta Pankaj , Singh Harjeet , Sharma Vishal
Published: July 2023

Gastrointestinal Tuberculosis (GITB) and Crohn’s disease (CD) are both chronic granulomatous diseases with a predilection to involve primarily the terminal ileum. GITB is often considered a disease of the developing world, while CD and inflammatory bowel disease are considered a disease of the developed world. But in recent times, the epidemiology of both diseases has changed. Differentiating GITB from CD is of immense clinical importance as the management of both diseases differs. While GITB needs anti-tubercular therapy (ATT), CD needs immunosuppressive therapy. Misdiagnosis or a delay in diagnosis can lead to catastrophic consequences. Most of the clinical features, endoscopic findings, and imaging features are not pathognomonic for either of these two conditions. The definitive diagnosis of GITB can be clinched only in a fraction of cases with microbiological positivity (acid-fast bacilli, mycobacterial culture, or PCR-based tests). In most cases, the diagnosis is often based on consistent clinical, endoscopic, imaging, and histological findings. Similarly, no single finding can conclusively diagnose CD. Multiparametric-based predictive models incorporating clinical, endoscopy findings, histology, radiology, and serology have been used to differentiate GITB from CD with varied results. However, it is limited by the lack of validation studies for most such models. Many patients, especially in TB endemic regions, are initiated on a trial of ATT to see for an objective response to therapy. Early mucosal response assessed at two months is an objective marker of response to ATT. Prolonged ATT in CD is recognized to have a fibrotic effect. Therefore, early discrimination may be vital in preventing the delay in the diagnosis of CD and avoiding a complicated course.
Negative associations between folate and bacterial vaginosis in the NHANES 2001 to 2004
Authors: Cui Ting-Ting , Luo Jing , Deng Rui-Lan , Yang Yun-Ting , Yin Ya-Wen , Chen Xing-Fei , Chen Hao-Kai , Liao Wan-Zhe , Huang Ze-Min , Deng Xiao-Yan , Guo Xu-Guang
Published: July 2023

Background

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is one of the most common infections among women of reproductive age and accounts for 15–50% of infections globally. The role played by folate in the pathogenesis and progression of BV is poorly understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between serum folate, red blood cell (RBC) folate, and BV in American women.

Methods

1,954 participants from the 2001-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) program were included in this study. Multiple logistic regression was used to analyze the association between serum folate, RBC folate, and BV, and covariates including race, age, education level, and body mass index were used to construct adjusted models. Stratified analysis was used to explore the stability of the above associations in different populations.

Results

In the present cross-sectional study, we found that serum folate and RBC folate were inversely associated with the risk of BV. In the fully adjusted model, the risk of BV was reduced by 35% (OR=0.65, 95% CI: 0.51~0.83, p=0.0007) in the highest serum folate group and 32% (OR=0.68, 95% CI: 0.53~0.87, p=0.0023) in the highest RBC folate group compared to the lowest group.

Conclusions

The results of this study indicated that serum folate and RBC folate were inversely associated with the risk of BV folate supplementation may play an important role in the prevention and management of BV.
Assessing the influencing factors of out-of-pocket costs on tuberculosis in Sichuan Province: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Xia Lan , Gao Lijie , Zhong Yin , Wu Ya , He Jinge , Zou Fengjuan , Jian Ronghua , Xia Sujian , Chen Chuang , Zhu Sui
Published: July 2023

Background

Although diagnosis and treatment services for tuberculosis (TB) are provided free of charge in most countries, direct non-medical and indirect costs due to absenteeism, also place a significant burden on patients and their families. Sichuan Province has the second highest incidence of TB in China, with an incidence of approximately 100 cases per 100 000 people. However, there are limited research on out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE) and its influencing factors in TB patients in Sichuan Province.

Methods

A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted on TB patients in designated medical institutions for TB in Sichuan Province from 2017-2021. A face-to-face questionnaire was conducted to obtain the information related to hospitalization of patients, and the multi-level regression model was used to analyse the factors that influence OOPE and total out-of-pocket expenditure (TOOPE) of TB patients.

Results

A total of 2644 patients were investigated, and 74.24% of TB patients and their families experienced catastrophic total costs due to TB. The median total cost was 9223.37 CNY (1429.98 USD), in which the median direct and indirect costs of TB patients were 10185.00 CNY (1579.07 USD) and 2400.00 CNY (372.09 USD), respectively, and indirect costs contributed to 43% of total costs. The median OOPE and TOOPE costs were 6024.00 CNY (933.95 USD) and 11890.50 CNY (1843.49 USD), respectively. OOPE and TOOPE had common influencing factors including whether the patient's family had four or more members, a history of hospitalization, combination with other types of TB, the number of visits before diagnosis, and co-occurrence with chronic disease.

Conclusions

The OOPE and TOOPE for TB patients and their families in Sichuan Province are still heavy. In the long run, it is necessary to strengthen education and awareness campaigns on TB related knowledge, disseminate basic medical knowledge to the public, improve healthcare-seeking behavior, and enhance the healthcare infrastructure to improve the accuracy of TB diagnosis and reduce the significant OOPE and TOOPE faced by TB patients and their families in Sichuan Province.
Dietary patterns associated with colorectal cancer risk in the Malaysian population: a case–control study with exploratory factor and regression analysis
Authors: Abd Rashid Ainaa Almardhiyah , Ashari Lydiatul Shima , Shafiee Nor Hamizah , Raja Ali Raja Affendi , Yeong Yeh Lee , Shahril Mohd Razif , Jan Mohamed Hamid Jan
Published: July 2023

Background

Studies on the relationship between diet and colorectal cancer (CRC) risk using single food or nutrient approach are widely conducted as opposed to dietary pattern approach. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the major dietary patterns and their association with CRC risk among Malaysians.

Methods

Patients aged between 18 and 80 years old from two teaching hospitals in Peninsular Malaysia were recruited through purposive sampling. Socio-demographic information and anthropometry data were assessed before the colonoscopy procedure, and dietary intake was also recorded using a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Cases were those patients having histopathologically proven CRC, while controls were those without.

Results

Four major dietary patterns were identified: the allergenic diet, plant-based diet, processed diet, and energy-dense diet pattern. After adjusting for potential covariates, the processed diet pattern was consistently associated with CRC (OR = 3.45; 95% CI = 1.25–9.52; P = 0.017) while the plant-based diet, energy-dense diet, and allergenic diet were not associated with CRC risk.

Conclusions

The processed diet pattern attributed to a diet high in confectionaries and fast foods was associated with an increased risk of CRC in the Malaysian population. In order to give prevention measures through lifestyle change, more research could be done on the effect of food patterns on faecal microbiota associated with CRC.
Imaging characteristics of tenosynovial giant cell tumors on 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography: a retrospective observational study
Authors: Mizuta Kohei , Oshiro Hiromichi , Tsuha Yuichi , Tome Yasunori , Nishida Kotaro
Published: July 2023

Background

18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F-FDG-PET/CT) is useful for assessing location, metastasis, staging, and recurrence of malignant tumors. Tenosynovial giant cell tumor (TSGCT) is a benign tumor; however, some studies have reported that TSGCTs have a high uptake of FDG. Few studies have reported on the detailed evaluation of TSGCT using 18F-FDG-PET/CT. The purpose of the current study is to evaluate the image characteristics and locations, particularly where possible, with or without, extra-articular invasion from TSGCT of the knee in 18F-FDG-PET/CT could occur.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed the patients with TSGCT who were diagnosed pathologically either by biopsy or surgical specimen. Furthermore, we evaluated the difference of the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) between diffused TSGCT with extra-articular invasion and TSGCT with intra-articular localization in the knee.

Results

The study consisted of 20 patients with TSGCT. The mean SUVmax of TSGCT was 12.0 ± 6.50. There were five patients with TSGCT arising in the knee with extra-articular invasion and six with TSGCT with intra-articular localization. The mean SUVmax of TSGCT with extra-articular invasion and those with intra-articular localization were 14.3 ± 6.00 and 5.94 ± 3.89, respectively. TSGCT with extra-articular invasion had significantly higher SUVmax than TSGCT with intra-articular localization (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

TSGCT revealed high FDG uptake. Furthermore, SUVmax was higher in diffused TSGCT with extra-articular invasion than in intra-articular localized TSGCT; this may reflect its local aggressiveness.
Effect of an low-energy Nd: YAG laser on periodontal ligament stem cell homing through the SDF-1/CXCR4 signaling pathway
Authors: Wu Nan , Song Jianing , Liu Xin , Ma Xiangtao , Guo Xiaoman , Liu Taohong , Wu Mingxuan
Published: July 2023

Background

The key to the success of endogenous regeneration is to improve the homing rate of stem cells, and low-energy laser is an effective auxiliary means to promote cell migration and proliferation. The purpose of this study was to observe whether low-energy neodymium (Nd: YAG) laser with appropriate parameters can affect the proliferation and migration of periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) through SDF-1/CXCR4 pathway.

Methods

h PDLSCs were cultured and identified. CCK8 assay was used to detect the proliferation of h PDLSCs after different power (0, 0.25, 0.5, 1, and 1.5 W) Nd: YAG laser (MSP, 10 Hz, 30 s, 300 μ m) irradiation at 2th, 3rd,5th, and 7th days, and the optimal laser irradiation parameters were selected for subsequent experiments. Then, the cells were categorized into five groups: control group (C), SDF-1 group (S), AMD3100 group (A), Nd: YAG laser irradiation group (N), and Nd: YAG laser irradiation + AMD3100 group (N + A). the migration of h PDLSCs was observed using Transwell, and the SDF-1 expression was evaluated using ELISA andRT-PCR. The SPSS Statistics 21.0 software was used for statistical analysis.

Results

The fibroblasts cultured were identified as h PDLSCs. Compared with the C, when the power was 1 W, the proliferation rate of h PDLSCs was accelerated (P < 0.05). When the power was 1.5 W, the proliferation rate decreased (P < 0.05). When the power was 0.25 and 0.5 W, no statistically significant difference in the proliferation rate was observed (P > 0.05). The number of cell perforations values as follows: C (956.5 ± 51.74), A (981.5 ± 21.15), S (1253 ± 87.21), N (1336 ± 48.54), and N + A (1044 ± 22.13), that increased significantly in group N (P < 0.05), but decreased in group N + A (P < 0.05). The level of SDF-1 and the expression level of SDF-1 mRNA in groups N and N + A was higher than that in group C (P < 0.05) but lower than that in group A (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Nd: YAG laser irradiation with appropriate parameters provides a new method for endogenous regeneration of periodontal tissue. SDF-1/CXCR4 signaling pathway may be the mechanism of LLLT promoting periodontal regeneration.
Predictive risk modelling of high resource users under different prescription drug coverage policies in Ontario and Manitoba, Canada
Authors: Kornas Kathy , Sarkar Joykrishna , Fransoo Randall , Rosella Laura C.
Published: July 2023

Introduction

Studying high resource users (HRUs) across jurisdictions is a challenge due to variation in data availability and health services coverage. In Canada, coverage for pharmaceuticals varies across provinces under a mix of public and private plans, which has implications for ascertaining HRUs. We examined sociodemographic and behavioural predictors of HRUs in the presence of different prescription drug coverages in the provinces of Manitoba and Ontario.

Methods

Linked Canadian Community Health Surveys were used to create two cohorts of respondents from Ontario (n = 58,617, cycles 2005–2008) and Manitoba (n = 10,504, cycles 2007–2010). HRUs (top 5%) were identified by calculating health care utilization 5 years following interview date and computing all costs in the linked administrative databases, with three approaches used to include drug costs: (1) costs paid for by the provincial payer under age-based coverage; (2) costs paid for by the provincial payer under income-based coverage; (3) total costs regardless of the payer (publicly insured, privately insured, and out-of-pocket). Logistic regression estimated the association between sociodemographic, health, and behavioral predictors on HRU risk.

Results

The strength of the association between age (≥ 80 vs. <30) and becoming an HRU were attenuated with the inclusion of broader drug data (age based: OR 37.29, CI: 30.08–46.24; income based: OR 27.34, CI: 18.53–40.33; all drug payees: OR 29.08, CI: 19.64–43.08). With broader drug coverage, the association between heavy smokers vs. non-smokers on odds of becoming an HRU strengthened (age based: OR 1.58, CI: 1.32–1.90; income based: OR 2.97, CI: 2.18–4.05; all drug payees: OR 3.12, CI: 2.29–4.25). Across the different drug coverage policies, there was persistence in higher odds of becoming an HRU in low income households vs. high income households and in those with a reported chronic condition vs. no chronic conditions.

Conclusions

The study illustrates that jurisdictional differences in how HRUs are ascertained based on drug coverage policies can influence the relative importance of some behavioural risk factors on HRU status, but most observed associations with health and sociodemographic risk factors were persistent, demonstrating that predictive risk modelling of HRUs can occur effectively across jurisdictions, even with some differences in public drug coverage policies.
Large-scale real-life analysis of survival and usage of therapies in multiple myeloma
Authors: Lopez-Muñoz N. , Hernández-Ibarburu G. , Alonso R. , Sanchez-Pina J. M. , Ayala R. , Calbacho M. , Cuellar C. , Cedena M. T. , Jiménez-Ubieto A. , Iñiguez R. , Pedrera M. , Cruz J. , Meloni L. , Pérez-Rey D. , Serrano P. , de la Cruz J. , Martinez-Lopez J.
Published: July 2023

Survival in multiple myeloma has improved significantly in recent years, especially in young patients. We reviewed the evolution of the survival of patients with MM in three groups based on age at MM diagnosis over three time periods between 1999 and 2020 at our 12 de Octubre Hospital institution (H12O). Then, to confirm our results, we used data from TriNetx, a global health research platform that includes patients from Europe to US. Finally, we analysed differences in the patterns of treatment between networks across the world. Kaplan‒Meier analysis was used to estimate survival probabilities, and between-group differences were tested using the log-rank test and hazard ratio. For patients from H12O, the median OS was 35.61, 55.59 and 68.67 months for the 1999–2009, 2010–2014 and 2015–2020 cohorts, respectively (p = 0.0001). Among all patients included in the EMEA network, the median OS was 20.32 months versus 34.75 months from 1999–2009 versus 2010–2014. The median OS from the 2010–2014 versus 2015–2020 time cohorts was 34.75 months versus 54.43 months, respectively. In relation to the US cohort, the median OS from before 2010 versus 2010–2014 was not reached in either time cohort and neither when comparing the 2010–2014 versus 2015–2019 time cohorts. Bortezomib is the most commonly used drug in the EMEA cohort, while lenalidomide is the most commonly used drug in the US cohort. This large-scale study based on real-world data confirms the previous finding that MM patients have increased their survival in the last two decades.
SAFB associates with nascent RNAs and can promote gene expression in mouse embryonic stem cells
Authors: Cherney Rachel E. , Eberhard Quinn E. , Giri Gilbert , Mills Christine A. , Porrello Alessandro , Zhang Zhiyue , White David , Trotman Jackson B. , Herring Laura E. , Dominguez Daniel , Calabrese J. Mauro
Published: July 2023

Scaffold attachment factor B (SAFB) is a conserved RNA-binding protein that is essential for early mammalian development. However, the functions of SAFB in mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) have not been characterized. Using RNA immunoprecipitation followed by RNA-seq (RIP-seq), we examined the RNAs associated with SAFB in wild-type and SAFB/SAFB2 double-knockout ESCs. SAFB predominantly associated with introns of protein-coding genes through purine-rich motifs. The transcript most enriched in SAFB association was the lncRNAMalat1, which also contains a purine-rich region in its 5′ end. Knockout of SAFB/SAFB2 led to differential expression of approximately 1000 genes associated with multiple biological processes, including apoptosis, cell division, and cell migration. Knockout of SAFB/SAFB2 also led to splicing changes in a set of genes that were largely distinct from those that exhibited changes in expression level. The spliced and nascent transcripts of many genes whose expression levels were positively regulated by SAFB also associated with high levels of SAFB, implying that SAFB binding promotes their expression. Reintroduction of SAFB into double-knockout cells restored gene expression toward wild-type levels, an effect again observable at the level of spliced and nascent transcripts. Proteomics analysis revealed a significant enrichment of nuclear speckle-associated and RS domain-containing proteins among SAFB interactors. NeitherXistnor Polycomb functions were dramatically altered in SAFB/2 knockout ESCs. Our findings suggest that among other potential functions in ESCs, SAFB promotes the expression of certain genes through its ability to bind nascent RNA.
Ηθικοδεοντολογικά και νομικά προβλήματα στην υποβοηθούμενη αναπαραγωγή
Authors: Δρέττας Πέτρος
Published: July 2023

Ο προεμφυτευτικός γενετικός έλεγχος αποτελεί ένα νέο επιστημονικό εργαλείο ικανό να ανιχνεύει καταστάσεις που μπορούν να αντιμετωπιστούν αμέσως μετά τη γέννηση ή κατά τη διάρκεια της εγκυμοσύνης. Η εφαρμογή του θα μπορούσε να επηρεάσει τόσο την προγεννητική περίοδο όσο και τις τεχνικές υποβοηθούμενης αναπαραγωγής. Είναι πολύ ωφέλιμο καθώς παρέχει πολλές χρήσιμες πληροφορίες στους μελλοντικούς γονείς σχετικά με την ιατρική κατάσταση των απογόνων τους. Επιπλέον, ο ορισμός της «σοβαρής νόσου», που ρυθμίζει την προεμφυτευτική διάγνωση, τη σπερματέγχυση από δότη, ακόμη και τους ορισμούς των προϋποθέσεων για τις ασθένειες της άμβλωσης, θα πρέπει να αναθεωρηθεί, συμπεριλαμβανομένων όλων των κλινικά σοβαρών ασθενειών. Από την άλλη πλευρά, μπορεί να προκύψουν αντιπαραθέσεις ειδικά σχετικά με τη δωρεά γαμετών. Οι μελλοντικοί γονείς και οι απόγονοι ενδέχεται να ενημερωθούν σχετικά με τα δημογραφικά και ιατρικά χαρακτηριστικά των δοτών. Αυτή η μελέτη στοχεύει στη διερεύνηση των επιπτώσεων της εφαρμογής του προεμφυτευτικού γενετικού ελέγχου στην αναμόρφωση των ηθικών κριτηρίων στην υποβοηθούμενη αναπαραγωγή.
Fanatical, Rational, Mystical
Authors: Galván Hector
Published: July 2023

In the following article, I introduce three forms of spirituality elucidated by Santayana in his Reason in Religion, viz. the Fanatical, the Rational, and the Mystical. First, I explore what kinds of spiritual practices and ideologies are considered fanatical or devoted to escaping worldliness via establishing a single, essentially arbitrary, interest. Second, I explore what kinds of spiritual practices and ideologies are considered mystical or devoted to escaping worldliness via abstention and surrender. Third, I explore what kinds of spiritual practices and ideologies are considered rational or devoted to escaping worldliness via seeking “a rational advance over it”. Finally, I use these forms to demonstrate the unity between Santayana’s earlier works with his later works, to clarify Santayana’s notion of a Union with The Good, and to explore similarities and differences between the Life of Reason and Realms of Being.
Learning Symbolic Expressions: Mixed-Integer Formulations, Cuts, and Heuristics
Authors: Kim Jongeun , Leyffer Sven , Balaprakash Prasanna
Published: July 2023

In this paper, we consider the problem of learning a regression function without assuming its functional form. This problem is referred to as symbolic regression. An expression tree is typically used to represent a solution function, which is determined by assigning operators and operands to the nodes. Cozad and Sahinidis propose a nonconvex mixed-integer nonlinear program (MINLP), in which binary variables are used to assign operators and nonlinear expressions are used to propagate data values through nonlinear operators, such as square, square root, and exponential. We extend this formulation by adding new cuts that improve the solution of this challenging MINLP. We also propose a heuristic that iteratively builds an expression tree by solving a restricted MINLP. We perform computational experiments and compare our approach with a mixed-integer program–based method and a neural network–based method from the literature.

History: Accepted by Pascal Van Hentenryck, Area Editor for Computational Modeling: Methods & Analysis.

Funding: This work was supported by the Applied Mathematics activity within the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Advanced Scientific Computing Research [Grant DE-AC02-06CH11357].

Supplemental Material: 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.2022.0050 ) as well as from the IJOC GitHub software repository ( https://github.com/INFORMSJoC/2022.0050 ). The complete IJOC Software and Data Repository is available at https://informsjoc.github.io/ .