bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Religious Approaches to Constitutionalism: Empirical Scholarship and Exceptionalism
Authors: Powell Russell
Published: November 2023

Nearly half of all countries have official religions or give preference to specific religious traditions. Most countries with an official religion are majority Muslim; however, most of those with a preference for particular religious traditions are majority Christian. This paper considers empirical data related to constitutional references to specific religions as a framework for a discussion of the comparative constitutional histories of Turkey and the Republic of Ireland. Both moved from systems that preferred their majority religions to ostensive neutrality. This analysis reinforces the importance of religion in law and policy regardless of cultural context and constitutional choices. Constitutional drafters have established a number of approaches to the treatment of religion, including freedom of religion, establishment of religion, separation of religion and state, neutrality, official religion, conformity, repugnancy, and sources of law/legislation. Although these linguistic choices are significant, they may not result in consistent practices across jurisdictions.
Colloquium 5 Aristotle’s Rejection of Mathematized Metaphysics
Authors: Katz Emily
Published: November 2023

According to Aristotle, those who seek mathematical principles of sensible things are looking in entirely the wrong place. But despite his strong opposition to mathematized metaphysics, Aristotle does not outright reject mathematical explanation of the natural world. In fact, he argues that mathematics does explain certain sensible phenomena, that the natural world has many mathematical patterns and features, and that this is often not mere coincidence. That he devotes two books of his Metaphysics to shoring up the boundary between mathematics and metaphysics indicates that this issue is crucially important to him. Yet it receives little systematic scholarly discussion. I take up the issue by examining Aristotle’s treatment of the sensible phenomena that have mathematical explanations. This examination shows that—and why—on his view, mathematics explains many things about the natural world, but not the most fundamental things.
A new species of the Drosophila tripunctata group (Diptera: Drosophilidae) associated with fallen flowers of six Lecythidaceae species in the Amazon Rainforest
Authors: MACIEL VINÍCIUS QUEIROZ , BURLAMAQUI TIBÉRIO CESAR TORTOLA , SANTA-BRÍGIDA ROSÂNGELA , SANTOS RITA DE CÁSSIA OLIVEIRA , MARTINS MARLÚCIA BONIFÁCIO
Published: November 2023

The tripunctata group falls under the subgenus Drosophila Fallén, 1823 of the genus Drosophila Fallén, 1823, and is composed of four subgroups and 17 species not assigned to subgroups. This group is widely distributed throughout tropical regions and is predominantly found in preserved forest environments. With a predicted high number of cryptic species, the occurrence of intraspecific morphological polymorphisms made it difficult to establish lines in the laboratory. The capture of males for comparison of the terminalia makes it hard to identify and delimit species; however, these difficulties can be overcome through the use of techniques such as searching for species in naturally occurring places, establishing isofemale lines in the laboratory, or using molecular techniques. In this work, we search for imagoes of species of the tripunctata group over present fallen flowers of the Lecythidaceae on the ground of the Amazon rainforest. The collected individuals were morphologically and molecularly analyzed. This species is described here under the binomial Drosophila lecythus sp. nov.
A new species of Uroxys Westwood, 1842 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) from central Brazil, and taxonomical remarks on Uroxys epipleuralis (Boucomont, 1928)
Authors: NAZARÉ-SILVA EVERTON E. , MOURA ANA B.G. , SILVA FERNANDO A.B.
Published: November 2023

Uroxys punctatus, new species, is described from central Brazil based on taxonomic characters in the cephalic and pronotal punctations and in the male genitalia. A comparative diagnosis with U. epipleuralis (Boucomont, 1928), a morphologically similar species, is provided. A lectotype is designated for U. epipleuralis from a series of four syntypes. Uroxys thoracalis Balthasar, 1940 is newly established as a junior subjective synonym of U. epipleuralis, whereas the previously proposed synonymy between the latter and U. dureti Martínez, 1947 is confirmed. Both nomenclatural acts are based on the study of the respective type specimens. A detailed literature review, illustrations of diagnostic characters, and distributional data for each species are provided.
New synonyms in western Palaearctic Ciidae (Coleoptera)
Authors: BEZDĚK JAN
Published: November 2023

Based on the study of type specimens, the following new synonyms in western Palaearctic Ciidae are proposed: Cis glabratus Mellié, 1849 = C. bituberculosus Roubal, 1937 (syn. nov.) = C. bituberculatus Roubal, 1912 (syn. nov.); Cis micans (Fabricius, 1792) = C. crenatus C. R. Sahlberg, 1836 (syn. nov.); Cis rugulosus Mellié, 1849 = C. puncticollis Thomson, 1870 (syn. nov.) = C. thomsoni Dalla Torre, 1911 (syn. nov.); Cis vestitus Mellié, 1849 = C. incanus Rey, 1892 (syn. nov.); and Ennearthron cornutum (Gyllenhal, 1827) = E. ondreji Roubal, 1919 (syn. nov.). The lectotypes are designated for Cis bituberculatus Roubal, 1912; C. crenatus C. R. Sahlberg, 1836; C. hispidus var. albohispidulus Reitter, 1901; C. puncticollis Thomson, 1870; and Cis incanus Rey, 1892.
6. Commissioning Political Sympathies
Authors: Philippou Eleni
Published: November 2023

The first book translation of Jane Eyre was translated into Modern Greek by Ninila Papagiannē, and published in 1949 by Ikaros publishers under the aegis of the British Council in Greece. This translation, published at the end of the Greek Civil War, was part of a wider political and ideological strategy conducted by Britain to make Greece conducive to British influence. In the wake of the Cold War, Britain was conscious of Greece’s significant political and geographic importance, and adopted a policy of soft power that included the translation of English classics, such as Jane Eyre, to cultivate political sympathy towards Britain.
VI. ‘Plain’ through Language(s)
Authors: Reynolds Matthew
Published: November 2023

Pursuing the method outlined in Chapters IV and V, this chapter offers a close reading of ‘plain’ in the text Brontë wrote and in multiple translations, presenting a series of instances in video animations and printed multilingual arrays (with back-translations). It explains the argument that is made via reiterations of the word in English and shows how that argument morphs in different directions through translation. It then discusses the different patterns of significance created by repetitions of the French word ‘laid’ in Lesbazeilles-Souvestres’s 1854 French translation and the Italian word ‘brutto’ in the anonymous first Italian translation of 1904.
VII. ‘Walk’ and ‘Wander’ through Language(s)
Authors: Reynolds Matthew
Published: November 2023

This chapter offers a close reading of the pair of terms ‘walk’ and ‘wander’ in the English text, and explains the different patterns of significance created in Greek, Estonian, Italian and Chinese, presenting a series of instances in video animations and printed multilingual arrays (with back-translations). It then introduces Javascript animations of ‘Prismatic Scenes’ (the ‘red-room’ and the ‘shape in Jane’s bedroom) created by Paola Gaudio. Finally, it expounds the theory of ‘littoral reading’ – that is, a mode of close reading suited to a world literary text, in which the words’ potential to transform across language difference is continually being activated.
Liquiritigenin suppresses gastric cancer cells through regulating miR-4534 to target phosphatase and tensin homolog
Authors: Feng Yang , Fan Ping , Zheng Minglin , Guo Yi , He Lulu , Long Min
Published: November 2023

Gastrointestinal tumors are highly malignant tumors and liquiritigenin can be used for prevention and development of chronic diseases related to inflammation. But its role in gastric cancer cells is elusive. Gastric cancer cells were treated with liquiritigenin for 48 hours. After treatment,
assays were conducted to assess cell activity. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) analysis determined the expression of miR-4534 and dual-luciferase reporter gene assay explored the downstream target genes of miR-4534. Transfection of anti-miR-4534 was carried
out to investigate its role in gastric cancer cell growth and proliferation. Liquiritigenin treatment resulted in increased miR-4534 expression in gastric cancer when suppressing cell proliferation and inducing apoptosis. PTEN was a target of miR-4534. Interestingly, miR-4534 inhibitor abrogated
the inhibitory effect of liquiritigenin on cancer cell growth, enhancing cell proliferation and facilitating cell cycle (P < 0.05). In conclusion, liquiritigenin inhibit gastric cancer cell growth through upregulation of miR-4534 to regulate PTEN expression. Inhibiting the expression
of miR-4534 can significantly promote gastric cancer progression, thereby reversing the anticancer effect of liquiritigenin.
Management of nerve injury by curcumin after sevoflurane anesthesia in gastric cancer through MAPK signaling pathway
Authors: Ren Jianguang , Cai Ben
Published: November 2023

Currently, surgery is the only treatment that can completely remove gastric tumor. This study investigated the effect of curcumin on sevoflurane anesthesia-induced nerve damage in rats with gastric cancer (GC). A rat GC model was established and received sevoflurane for anesthesia.
The rats were then divided into model group, low-dose (20 mg/kg), high-dose (60 mg/kg) group and blank control group (n = 5, each group). To identify the interaction between curcumin and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) expression, we set up MAPK mimic group, MAPK inhibitor group,
and high-dose curcumin+MAPK inhibitor group (n = 5). The cognitive ability of rats after anesthesia and neuronal damage was assessed using Morris water maze test, whilst the expressions of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), nerve growth factor (NGF) and pyroptosis were also detected.
Administration of curcumin attenuated neuronal injury and pyroptosis in the hippocampus induced by sevoflurane, and facilitated the recovery of memory impairment in rats, resulting in decreased expression of MAPK and increased expressions of BNDF and NGF. After treatment with MAPK inhibitors,
the nerve damage in the rat hippocampus tissue was controlled, and more prominently neuroprotective effect appeared in the curcumin high-dose+MAPK inhibitor group. Curcumin can thus effectively up-regulate BNDF and NGF in hippocampal tissue, which is closely related to inhibited MAPK pathway
activity. Curcumin protects the nervous system by inhibiting the expression of pyroptin, contributing toimprovement of cognitive impairment in rats.
Effect of carboxymethyl chitosan/amorphous calcium phosphate complexes on postoperative infection in patients with spinal cord injury
Authors: Wang Hao , Wang Xiaojuan , Wang Shengli , Xian Xuehong , Ye Jiaxin
Published: November 2023

To explore the postoperative rehabilitative effect of continuity of nursing care and nanomaterial oral nursing intervention in patients with spinal cord injuries (SCI). Eighty patients with SCIs from spinal fractures, who were treated in our hospital from January 2019 to August 2021,
were randomly divided into control and nursing groups (n = 40 each). The control group patients received conventional nursing care, while the nursing group received continuity of care (regular timely follow-ups, guided diet and medication plans, and countermeasures for complications)
and oral care using nanoscale carboxymethyl chitosan/amorphous calcium phosphate (CMC/ACP) composite particles. Perioperative indicators, complication rates, oral and dental scores, and satisfaction with nursing care were compared postoperatively between the two groups. Control group patients
had significantly higher out of bed activity time, hospitalization time, hospitalization expenses, and incidence of complications than those in the nursing group. Additionally, they had higher serum levels of inflammatory markers (TGF-β1, IL-6, and TNF-α) than the
nursing group (P <0.05). On the other hand, the nursing group had higher oral scores and significantly lower buccal plaque index than the control group. Lastly, satisfaction rates were higher in the nursing group (97.5%) than in the control group. Continuity of care in SCI patients
is an effective nursing approach to minimize the incidence of postoperative debilitating infections and related complications, and facilitate recovery. Additional oral care using nano-CMC/ACP composites can improve oral health in these patients.
Specification of the optimal gas metal arc welding (GMAW) parameters to enhance the mild steel strength (MS1018)
Authors: Sanjay Krishna G. R. , Sai Sarath K. , Nageswara Rao Boggarapu , Atgur Vinay , Banapurmath N. R. , Vadlamudi Chandramouli , Krishnappa Sanjay , Umarfarooq M. A. , Sajjan A. M.
Published: November 2023

Arc fusion processes, such as high-efficiency gas metal arc welding (GMAW), have become increasingly prevalent in various industries. To optimize the GMAW parameters and enhance the strength of MS 1018, Monika and Chauhan conducted experiments using the low carbon steel filler wire
(ER 70 S6). They used a Taguchi L9 OA (orthogonal array) to generate test data focusing on 3 GMAW parameters such as gas flow rate, arc voltage, and welding current. The performance characteristics considered were tensile strength (TS), weld zone hardness (WZH), and heat-affected
zone hardness (HAZH). The effect of GMAW parameters investigated using the S/N (signal-to-noise ratio) transformation of individual test data, which is valid to account for variations observed in repeated tests. By conducting a thorough analysis of variance (ANOVA) on this transformed data,
they were able to identify the optimal GMAW parameters for achieving high TS, WZH, and HAZH. Given that HAZH exhibited higher values than WZH, it was evident that TS had the most significant impact on the GMAW process. Consequently, the researchers established empirical relationships for TS,
WZH, and HAZH in terms of the GMAW parameters. Their test data aligned reasonably well with the expected range of performance indicators, supporting the validity of their findings. Overall, Monika and Chauhan’s modified Taguchi approach, based on the L9 OA, allowed them to
efficiently conduct a limited number of tests while obtaining comprehensive information on the optimal GMAW parameters for enhancing the strength of MS 1018.
Total glucosides of peony regulate toll-like receptor to inhibit inflammatory response in diabetic nephropathy
Authors: Li Lang , Wang Huan , Zhao Chunyu
Published: November 2023

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a common chronic disease affecting people’s life. Total glucosides of peony (TGP) regulates TLR4/NF-κB activation. This study aims at investigating the underlying mechanism of TGP in DN treatment. A retrospective analysis of clinical data
was conducted to observe periodic acid-silver metheramine (PASM) staining and detect the expression of TLR4 and VEGF in DN. Additionally, rats were injected with Streptozocin (STZ) (30–60 mg) according to the ratio of 45–65 mg/kg to establish DN model. 8 weeks later, rats of experimental
group were intraperitoneally injected with TGP. Kidney was collected for HE staining to observe morphological changes. Fibronectin expression was detected by histochemistry and the level of TLR4/NF-κB pathway-related proteins and apoptosis were detected by Western blot. PASM staining
revealed focal tubular atrophy and interstitial fibrosis in DN patients. The renal medulla gradually disappeared and infiltration increased in control group, while inflammatory cells decreased in experimental group. The expression of fibronectin, TLR4 and p-p65 was decreased after TGP treatment.
TGP treatment significantly decreased fibronectin expression and TGP treatment-induced inhibition of NF-κB signaling enhanced apoptotic activation of HK-2 cells, which was partially reversed by TLR4 and NF-κB inhibitors. TGP can inhibit inflammatory response of DN
via regulating TLR4/NF-κB.
Ensuring an Equitable Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic in Pima County, Arizona, Through Local Political Support and Policy Action
Authors: Monroy Amanda , Berry Jennifer , Brambl Selene , Mullins Jennie , Cullen Theresa A.
Published: November 2023

In the United States, persistent health disparities and preexisting gaps in local public health infrastructure led to disproportionate effects of COVID-19 across populations at high risk of COVID-19–related morbidity and mortality. In Pima County, Arizona, equity-centered local government engagement and policy action, multipronged community-based responses, and expansion of historically underfunded local public health infrastructure improved equitable outcomes and addressed multiple systemic factors. This case study examined Pima County’s 3-pronged public health response to COVID-19 using an equity-based approach. As a result, COVID-19 was the third leading cause of death in Pima County in 2021, compared with being the leading cause of death in Arizona. Strong political support from local elected officials created the authorizing environment for the Pima County Health Department to advance health equity. Passage of a resolution in December 2020, which framed the racial and ethnic health and socioeconomic inequities as a public health crisis, supported innovation and fostered the creation of an Office of Health Equity, a public health policy program, and a data and informatics program. New structures for community engagement were formed, including an ethics committee and a community advisory committee, to ensure a formalized process for community participation in public health actions, during and after the pandemic response. Key lessons learned included (1) the importance of local government support, codified to allow implementation of creative strategies; (2) opening avenues for community voice and engagement in planning and implementation to respond in areas of greatest need; and (3) having flexible funding to sustain an equitable response.
Do Accents Speak Louder Than Words? Perceptions of Linguistic Speech Characteristics on Deception Detection
Authors: Woolridge Lyndsay R. , Leach Amy-May , Blake Chelsea , Elliott Elizabeth
Published: November 2023

Using videotaped interviews of beginner, intermediate, and native English speakers, we examined whether observers’ perceptions of linguistic measures of accentedness, temporal fluency, lexicogrammar, and comprehensibility influenced their deception detection. We found that observers could detect differences in speech characteristics between proficiency levels, and that they were less able to detect deception among beginner speakers compared to intermediate and native speakers. Beginner speakers were also afforded more of a truth bias compared to intermediate, but not native speakers. Interestingly, observers’ backgrounds, including prior exposure to non-native speech, did not influence their judgments. Rather, observers’ discrimination and response bias appeared to be most affected by speakers’ fluency and comprehensibility, respectively. This study is one of the first to separate and directly compare perceptions of linguistic characteristics and their role in deception detection. Findings raise questions about equitable deception detection in legal settings.
Thermoplastic polyurethane surface coated with polymer brushes for reduced protein and cell attachment
Authors: Almousa Rashed , Xie Dong , Chen Yong , Li Jiliang , Anderson Gregory G.
Published: November 2023

The objective of this study was to coat negatively charged polymer brushes covalently onto the surface of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) using a simple conventional surface free-radical polymerization technique. The coated surfaces were assessed with contact angle, protein adsorption, cell adhesion and bacterial adhesion. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) and bovine fibrinogen (BFG) were used for protein adsorption evaluation. Mouse fibroblasts (NIH-3T3) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) were used to assess surface adhesion. Results show that the TPU surface modified with the attached polymer brushes exhibited significantly reduced contact angle, protein adsorption, and cell as well as bacterial adhesion, among which the negatively charged polymers showed the extremely low values in all the tests. Its contact angle is 5°, as compared to 70° for original TPU. Its BSA, BFG, 3T3 adhesion and P. aeruginosa adhesion were 93%, 84%, 92%, and 93% lower than original TPU. Furthermore, the TPU surface coated with negatively charged polymer brushes exhibited a hydrogel-like property. The results indicate that placing acrylic acids using a simple surface-initiated free-radical polymerization onto a TPU surface and then converting those to negative charges can be an effective and efficient route for fouling resistant applications.
Blastic Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell Neoplasm Presenting as a Mammary Gland Tumor in a Pediatric Patient: A Case Report
Authors: Yu Baodan , Liu Chunping , Qin Pengfei , Li Qingen , Li Xue
Published: November 2023

Emanating from a discrete category within the lympho-hematopoietic tumor system, as established by the World Health Organization in 2008, the blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm constitutes an uncommon malignant hematological disorder. It is routinely misidentified on account of its conspicuous dermatological manifestation, yet may insidiously permeate bone marrow and lymph nodes, involving peripheral blood and diverse extra-nodal tissues. Instances of mammary gland encroachment are extraordinarily infrequent. The current document delineates a case of a 14-year-old female patient contending with blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm, whose primary symptom was a mammary nodule, and whose breast and bone marrow/blood involvement were synchronous, in attempt to increase clinical vigilance.
Experiences of deliberate practice orientated psychological skills training for cancer care staff: Barriers and facilitators to learning and implementation in practice
Authors: Boutry Clement , Rathbone James , Gibbons Felicity , Brooks Dan , Moghaddam Nima , Mays Chloe , Patel Priya , Malins Sam
Published: November 2023

This study explored participant-reported facilitators and barriers to learning and implementation from a 2-day training in psychological assessment and intervention skills for cancer staff, involving deliberate practice and supervision. Twenty-six semi-structured interviews were analysed using thematic analysis leading to four meta-themes: perceived practicality of training, impact of training: practice and its effects, implementation transfer processes and supervision engagement. Analysis identified a learning process to implementation: observation and practice of techniques during training facilitated participant learning; personal use and relevance of training content encouraged reflection, which enabled selection of appropriate tools for clinical practice; gains in commitment and confidence to use techniques supported participants to adapt clinical consultations, and supervision further facilitated implementation. Changing practice increased confidence, sense of achievement and engagement with participants’ own wellbeing. Interactive training, deliberate practice and continuous learning were facilitators to implementation whilst time constraint and low confidence in using techniques in remote consultations were barriers.
Progesterone distribution in the trigeminal system and its role to modulate sensory neurotransmission: influence of sex
Authors: Maddahi Aida , Warfvinge Karin , Holm Anja , Edvinsson Jacob C. A. , Reducha Philip Victor , Kazantzi Spyridoula , Haanes Kristian A. , Edvinsson Lars
Published: November 2023

Background

Women are disproportionately affected by migraine, representing up to 75% of all migraine cases. This discrepancy has been proposed to be influenced by differences in hormone levels between the sexes. One such hormone is progesterone. Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) system is an important factor in migraine pathophysiology and could be influenced by circulating hormones. The purpose of this study was to investigate the distribution of progesterone and its receptor (PR) in the trigeminovascular system, and to examine the role of progesterone to modulate sensory neurotransmission.

Methods

Trigeminal ganglion (TG), hypothalamus, dura mater, and the basilar artery from male and female rats were carefully dissected. Expression of progesterone and PR proteins, and mRNA levels from TG and hypothalamus were analyzed by immunohistochemistry and real-time quantitative PCR. CGRP release from TG and dura mater were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In addition, the vasomotor effect of progesterone on male and female basilar artery segments was investigated with myography.

Results

Progesterone and progesterone receptor -A (PR-A) immunoreactivity were found in TG. Progesterone was located predominantly in cell membranes and in Aδ-fibers, and PR-A was found in neuronal cytoplasm and nucleus, and in satellite glial cells. The number of positive progesterone immunoreactive cells in the TG was higher in female compared to male rats. The PR mRNA was expressed in both hypothalamus and TG; however, the PR expression level was significantly higher in the hypothalamus. Progesterone did not induce a significant change neither in basal level nor upon stimulated release of CGRP from dura mater or TG in male or female rats when compared to the vehicle control. However, pre-treated with 10 µM progesterone weakly enhanced capsaicin induced CGRP release observed in the dura mater of male rats. Similarly, in male basilar arteries, progesterone significantly amplified the dilation in response to capsaicin.

Conclusions

In conclusion, these results highlight the potential for progesterone to modulate sensory neurotransmission and vascular responses in a complex manner, with effects varying by sex, tissue type, and the nature of the stimulus. Further investigations are needed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and physiological implications of these findings.

Graphical Abstract
Similarity-assisted variational autoencoder for nonlinear dimension reduction with application to single-cell RNA sequencing data
Authors: Kim Gwangwoo , Chun Hyonho
Published: November 2023

Background

Deep generative models naturally become nonlinear dimension reduction tools to visualize large-scale datasets such as single-cell RNA sequencing datasets for revealing latent grouping patterns or identifying outliers. The variational autoencoder (VAE) is a popular deep generative method equipped with encoder/decoder structures. The encoder and decoder are useful when a new sample is mapped to the latent space and a data point is generated from a point in a latent space. However, the VAE tends not to show grouping pattern clearly without additional annotation information. On the other hand, similarity-based dimension reduction methods such as t-SNE or UMAP present clear grouping patterns even though these methods do not have encoder/decoder structures.

Results

To bridge this gap, we propose a new approach that adopts similarity information in the VAE framework. In addition, for biological applications, we extend our approach to a conditional VAE to account for covariate effects in the dimension reduction step. In the simulation study and real single-cell RNA sequencing data analyses, our method shows great performance compared to existing state-of-the-art methods by producing clear grouping structures using an inferred encoder and decoder. Our method also successfully adjusts for covariate effects, resulting in more useful dimension reduction.

Conclusions

Our method is able to produce clearer grouping patterns than those of other regularized VAE methods by utilizing similarity information encoded in the data via the highly celebrated UMAP loss function.
Analysis of inpatient cost burden and influencing factors of seniors’ patients with mental illness in Dalian, China
Authors: Dai Xin , Gao Mingcheng , Liu Yue , Lv Run , Chen Huanhong , Miao Huayi , Zhang Ying
Published: November 2023

Background

As China's aging population continues to grow, the prevalence of mental illness among the seniors has been steadily increasing. The aim of this study is to reveal the changing trends and characteristics of economic burden among seniors patients with long-term hospitalization for mental illness, and to analyze the influencing factors.

Methods

The data for this study were gathered from seniors’ patients with mental illness who were hospitalized and aged 60 years or older. The patients were admitted to four specialized and general hospitals located in Dalian city between January 2018 and December 2020. The types of diseases include affective mental disorders (mood disorders), Schizophrenia, schizotypal, and delusional disorders, Organic (including symptomatic) mental disorders, Neurotic, stress-related and somatoform disorders, Mental retardation, Mental and behavioral disorders due to substance use. (Identify the main diagnosis at discharge using ICD-10 coding). This study analyzed the basic characteristics and disease-related information of seniors patients with long-term psychiatric disorders who were hospitalized, and explored the factors influencing hospitalization costs among patients with different illnesses.

Results

Among the 3871 study subjects, the average length of hospital stay was 127.51 days. The average hospitalization expenses per case were 33,656.07 yuan. Seniors’ patients with mental illness who receives treatment in specialized hospitals have higher hospitalization costs. Long-term hospitalization increases the total hospitalization costs. Age has an impact on hospitalization costs for patients with organic mental disorders. Patients with affective disorders (mood disorders) and neurotic, stress-related, and somatoform disorders who are covered by urban employee medical insurance have higher hospitalization costs.Patients with severe psychiatric disorders who have a 31-day readmission plan, as well as senior patients with somatoform disorders comorbid with other illnesses, incur higher hospitalization costs.

Conclusions

We should take corresponding measures to reduce the number of readmissions for patients with severe mental illnesses. The impact of treatment methods and differences in healthcare institutions on total hospitalization costs deserves further research. It is necessary to strengthen the prevention and diagnosis of comorbid physical illnesses in patients with mental disorders. The burden of mental illnesses in the seniors is significant, and medical insurance policies should be inclined towards providing support.
Do sexual minorities believe that they die earlier? Results from a large, representative survey
Authors: Hajek André , Buczak-Stec Elzbieta , König Hans-Helmut
Published: November 2023

Background

While various consequences of belonging to sexual minorities have been examined – it remains completely unclear whether sexual minorities believe that they die earlier. Thus, our aim was to investigate the association between sexual orientation and expected longevity.

Methods

Data from the German Ageing Survey, a nationally representative sample, were used (year 2014, n = 6,424 individuals; mean age: 63.6 years). It included individuals residing in private households aged 40 years and over in Germany. Sexual orientation (heterosexual; sexual minorities including homosexual, bisexual, or other) served as key independent variable. As outcome, we used the expected life expectancy. In multiple linear regressions it was adjusted for gender, age, education, marital status, labour force participation, BMI, smoking status, alcohol intake, sports activities, physical functioning, self-rated health and the number of chronic conditions.

Results

Adjusting for sociodemographic, lifestyle-related and health-related factors, our study showed that sexual minorities reported a lower expected longevity (β=-0.69, p = .02) compared to heterosexuals. This association remained nearly the same in robustness checks.

Conclusion

After adjusting for various other factors, our findings showed a lower life expectancy among sexual minorities compared to heterosexuals. Efforts are required to make sexual minorities believe in a high life expectancy (e.g., increased optimism or reduced perceived discrimination) – which in turn can help to increase their actual longevity and successful ageing. Future research is required to explore underlying mechanisms (such as expected stigma in later life).
Demand creation and retention strategies for oral pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV prevention among men who have sex with men and transgender women: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Guimarães Nathalia Sernizon , Magno Laio , Monteiro Gabriel Marinho Bahia , Ramos Izabel Cristina Neves , de Castro Caroline Tianeze , Aranha-Rossi Thais Regis , Pereira Marcos , Dourado Inês
Published: November 2023

Background

Men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TGW) have a disproportionately higher risk of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection than other groups. Oral HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is an effective prevention tool and should be offered to those at higher risk. Identifying demand creation strategies (DCS) and retention strategies (RS) to improve PrEP persistence is essential to control the HIV epidemic.

Aim

We aimed to identify the (DCS and RS with higher proportions among MSM and TGW.

Methods

A systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective studies were conducted, with studies retrieved from five databases until November, 2022 following the Cochrane and PRISMA guidelines. The study protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42022323220). The outcomes were DCS and RS for PrEP use among MSM and TGW. Strategies used for users enrolled in the PrEP-recruited (DCS) were classified as face-to-face (peer educator recruitment at social venues, nongovernmental organizations, and parties; direct referrals by health services; friends and/or sexual partners); online (chatbot or peer educator recruitment on social media [e.g., , Instagram or Facebook] or dating/hook-up apps [e.g., Grindr, Tinder, Badoo, and Scruff]); and mixed (face-to-face and online). RS was classified as provider counseling (face-to-face by a health professional; prevention of HIV risk counseling, distribution of condoms, lubricants, and testing for HIV or other sexually transmitted infections); online counseling (text messages, chatbots, telephone calls, social media, and peer educators); and mixed (all previous strategies). Subgroup analyses were conducted for each treatment strategy. Meta-analyses were performed using the R software version 4.2.1.

Results

A total of 1, 129 studies were retrieved from the five databases. After eligibility, 46 studies were included. For MSM, most DCS and RS were online at 91% (95% CI: 0.85–0.97; I2=53%), and 83% (95% CI: 0.80–0.85; I2=17%) respectively. For TGW, mixed DCS and RS were the most frequent at85% (95% CI: 0.60–1.00; I2=91%) and online counseling at 84% (95% CI: 0.64–0.95) compared to other strategies.

Conclusion

Critical issues play. Pivotal role in increasing PrEP awareness among MSM and TGW, minimizing access gaps, and ensuring retention of PrEP services. Offering oral PrEP using online DCS and RS can reach and retain high numbers of MSM and TGW, and reduce HIV incidence in these populations.
Evaluation of the diagnostic utility on 1.5T and 3.0T 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy for temporal lobe epilepsy
Authors: Qu Biao , Tan Hejuan , Xiao Min , Liu Dongbao , Wang Shijin , Zhang Yiwen , Chen Runhan , Zheng Gaofeng , Yang Yonggui , Yan Gen , Qu Xiaobo
Published: November 2023

Background

1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) can be used to study neurological disorders because it can be utilized to examine the concentrations of related metabolites. However, the diagnostic utility of different field strengths for temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) remains unclear. The purpose of this study is to make quantitative comparisons of metabolites of TLE at 1.5T and 3.0T and evaluate their efficacy.

Methods

Our retrospective collections included the single-voxel 1H-MRS of 23 TLE patients and 17 healthy control volunteers (HCs) with a 1.5T scanner, as well as 29 TLE patients and 17 HCs with a 3.0T scanner. Particularly, HCs were involved both the scans with 1.5T and 3.0T scanners, respectively. The metabolites, including the N-acetylaspartate (NAA), creatine (Cr), and choline (Cho), were measured in the left or right temporal pole of brain. To analyze the ratio of brain metabolites, including NAA/Cr, NAA/Cho, NAA/(Cho + Cr) and Cho/Cr, four controlled experiments were designed to evaluate the diagnostic utility of TLE on 1.5T and 3.0T MRS, included: (1) 1.5T TLE group vs. 1.5T HCs by the Mann-Whitney U Test, (2) 3.0T TLE group vs. 3.0T HCs by the Mann-Whitney U Test, (3) the power analysis for the 1.5T and 3.0T scanner, and (4) 3.0T HCs vs. 1.5T HCs by Paired T-Test.

Results

Three metabolite ratios (NAA/Cr, NAA/Cho, and NAA/(Cho + Cr) showed the same statistical difference (p < 0.05) in distinguishing the TLE from HCs in the bilateral temporal poles when using 1.5T or 3.0T scanners. Similarly, the power analysis demonstrated that four metabolite ratios (NAA/Cr, NAA/Cho, NAA/(Cho + Cr), Cho/Cr) had similar distinction abilities between 1.5T and 3.0T scanner, denoting both 1.5T and 3.0T scanners were provided with similar sensitivities and reproducibilities for metabolites detection. Moreover, the metabolite ratios of the same healthy volunteers were not statistically different between 1.5T and 3.0T scanners, except for NAA/Cho (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

1.5T and 3.0T scanners may have comparable diagnostic potential when 1H-MRS was used to diagnose patients with TLE.
The immunoreactivity of GLI1 and VEGFA is a potential prognostic factor in kidney renal clear cell carcinoma
Authors: Kotulak-Chrzaszcz Anna , Kiezun Jacek , Czajkowski Mateusz , Matuszewski Marcin , Klacz Jakub , Krazinski Bartlomiej E. , Godlewski Janusz , Kmiec Zbigniew , Wierzbicki Piotr M.
Published: November 2023

Kidney renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC) is the most common type of kidney cancer and its pathogenesis is strongly associated with VHL–HIF–VEGF signaling. SHH ligand is the upstream SHH pathway regulator, while GLI1 is its major effector that stimulates as a transcription factor, i.a. expression of VEGFA gene. The aim of present study was to assess the prognostic significance of SHH, GLI1 and VEGFA immunoreactivity in KIRC tissues. The analysis included paired tumor and normal samples from 34 patients with KIRC. The immunoreactivity of SHH, GLI1 and VEGFA proteins was determined by immunohistochemical (IHC) renal tissues staining. The IHC staining results were assessed using the immunoreactive score (IRS) method which takes into account the number of cells showing a positive reaction and the intensity of the reaction. Increased GLI1 protein immunoreactivity was observed in KIRC tissues, especially in early-stage tumors, according to the TNM classification. Elevated expression of the VEGFA protein was noted primarily in high-grade KIRC samples according to the Fuhrman/WHO/ISUP scale. Moreover, a directly proportional correlation was observed between SHH and VEGFA immunoreactivity in TNM 3 + 4 and Fuhrman/ISUP/WHO 3 + 4 tumor tissues as well as in samples of patients with shorter survival. We also observed an association between shorter patient survival as well as increased and decreased immunoreactivity, of the VEGFA and GLI1, respectively. The aforementioned findings suggest that the expression pattern of SHH, GLI1 and VEGFA demonstrates prognostic potential in KIRC.
A smartphone-based intervention for young people who self-harm (‘PRIMARY’): study protocol for a multicenter randomized controlled trial
Authors: Aleva Anouk , van den Berg Tessa , Laceulle Odilia M. , van Aken Marcel A. G. , Chanen Andrew M. , Betts Jennifer K. , Hessels Christel J.
Published: November 2023

Background

Self-harm in young people is a public health concern connected with severe mental health problems, such as personality pathology. Currently, there are no specific evidence-based interventions available for young people who self-harm. Therefore, we developedPRe-Intervention Monitoring of Affect and Relationships in Youth (PRIMARY), a smartphone-based intervention, co-designed by clinicians and young people with lived experience of mental ill-health. PRIMARY combines the Experience Sampling Method (ESM) with weekly report sessions. The study aims to examine the effectiveness of PRIMARY with regard to reducing self-harm, and improving emotion regulation and quality of relationships.

Methods

This study is a multicenter, parallel groups, randomized controlled trial (RCT) comparing the PRIMARY intervention to a waiting list control group. PRIMARY comprises 28 consecutive days of questionnaires five times each day (i.e., ESM) and four weekly report sessions. Participants will comprise 180 young people referred for treatment to the participating Dutch mental healthcare institutions and (1) are aged 12 to 25 years, and (2) engaged in ≥ 1 act of self-harm in the past year. Participants are randomly allocated to a study group after screening in a 1:1 ratio by an independent researcher using computer-generated randomization sequences with stratified block randomization by age (12 to 15 years / 16 to 25 years). Staff will conduct assessments with all participants at baseline (Wave 1), after 28 days (Wave 2), and in a subsample after 10 weeks of subsequent specialized treatment (Wave 3). The primary outcomes are self-harm, emotion regulation, and quality of relationships. Secondary outcomes include patient and clinician satisfaction. Exploratory analyses of ESM data will examine the relationship between emotions, social relationships, and self-harm.

Discussion

The results of this trial will clarify whether an innovative smartphone-based intervention is effective for reducing self harm and improving emotion regulation and the quality of social relationships. It has the potential to fill a treatment gap of interventions specifically targeting self-harm. If proven effective, it would provide an accessible, easy-to-implement, low-cost intervention for young people. Furthermore, the ESM-data will allow detailed analyses into the processes underlying self-harm, which will contribute to theoretical knowledge regarding the behavior.

Trial registration

ISRCTN42088538 (https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN42088538), retrospectively registered on the 26th of October 2022.
Geographical and sociodemographic disparities in fruit and vegetables consumption among adults in Burkina Faso: baseline results from the 2013 WHO STEPS survey
Authors: Diendéré Jeoffray , Somé Jérôme Winbetouréfâ , Kaboré Jean , Sawadogo Amadé , Dabiré Estelle-Edith , Compaoré Ella Rakèta W. , Millogo Athanase , Zeba Augustin Nawidimbasba
Published: November 2023

Background

Evidence on sociodemographic determinants and spatial variations in the fruit and/or vegetable (FV) consumption was reported. This study aimed to explore geographical and sociodemographic disparities in the level of FV consumption among adults in Burkina Faso, using the national baseline data.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional secondary study of primary data obtained by the 2013 (September to October) World Health Organization Stepwise Approach to Surveillance survey conducted in Burkina Faso. The participants were 4402 women and men aged 25–64 years and living in all 13 Burkinabè Regions. Descriptive and analytical analyses were performed using Student’s t test, ANOVA, the chi-square test, Fisher’s exact test and logistic regressions.

Results

The prevalence of a typical daily consumption of at least three servings was 4.1% (95% CI: 3.6–4.8) for fruits and 6.6% (95% CI: 5.9–7.3) for vegetables. The national prevalence of adequate FV intake was 5.1% (95% CI: 4.4–5.8), and for two Regions (“Centre-Ouest” and “Nord”) the pooled prevalence was 22.4%, while in the other eleven Regions its was significantly lower, 2.4% (p = 0.0001). Using quartiles derived from the national level of consumption, each of these two Regions had a higher proportion (about 50%) of their participants in the fourth quartile (the higher level). The associated sociodemographic factors with the adequate intake were being rural residents (aOR = 1.7, p = 0.011) and women (aOR = 1.3; p = 0.03).

Conclusion

Except for the Regions of “Centre-Ouest” and “Nord” of Burkina Faso, the prevalence of adequate consumption of FV was very low in its other eleven Regions. Measures to increase consumption in urban people are urgent while women should be the key actor in the family-based approaches implementation and the nutrition education promoting FV consumption.
Fluoroscopy-guided direct anterior approach total hip arthroplasty provides more accurate component positions in the supine position than in the lateral position
Authors: Chen Penglei , Liu Wangxin , Wu Cong , Ruan Pengfei , Zeng Jicheng , Ji Weifeng
Published: November 2023

Purpose

The position of the acetabular and femoral components is critical for stability and wear resistance. The aim of this study is to investigate whether the fluoroscopy-guided direct anterior approach in the supine position (S-DAA) is more helpful in improving the position of acetabular and femoral components than the fluoroscopy-guided direct anterior approach in the lateral decubitus position (L-DAA).

Methods

A retrospective analysis of 76 cases of fluoroscopy-guided direct anterior approach total hip arthroplasty (38 cases in the S-DAA and 38 cases in the L-DAA group) was performed in one hospital from 2019 to 2021. The differences in inclination, anteversion, femoral offset (FO), global offset (GO), and leg length discrepancy (LLD) measurements during and after surgery were analyzed. The postoperative femoral offset (FO), global offset (GO), leg length discrepancy (LLD), and preoperative and postoperative Harris hip score were compared between the two groups.

Results

In the S-DAA group, there were no significant differences in the mean intraoperative inclination angle anteversion angle, FO, GO, and LLD compared to the postoperative values, whereas in the L-DAA group, there were significant differences between the intraoperative and postoperative measurements (P < 0.001, P = 0.009, P＜0.001, P＜0.001 and P = 0.008, respectively). Additionally, there were significant differences in the accuracy of LLD, FO, and GO between the two groups (P < 0.001). Compared with the L-DAA group, the average differences of inclination, anteversion, LLD, FO, and GO during and after operation in the S-DAA group were smaller, and the consistency was higher. There was a significant difference in Harris hip score between the two groups at 1 week after surgery (P = 0.033). There was no significant difference in Harris hip score between 1 month and 3 months after surgery (P = 0.482 and P = 0.797, respectively).

Conclusions

In the supine group, the direct anterior approach (DAA) provides more accurate positioning of the acetabular and femoral components. However, there was no significant difference in hip joint function and activity between the two groups at follow-up.