bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Innate immune mediator, Interleukin-1 receptor accessory protein (IL1RAP), is expressed and pro-tumorigenic in pancreatic cancer
Authors: Zhang Yang , Chen Xiaoyi , Wang Huamin , Gordon-Mitchell Shanisha , Sahu Srabani , Bhagat Tushar D. , Choudhary Gaurav , Aluri Srinivas , Pradhan Kith , Sahu Plabani , Carbajal Milagros , Zhang Hui , Agarwal Beamon , Shastri Aditi , Martell Robert , Starczynowski Daniel , Steidl Ulrich , Maitra Anirban , Verma Amit
Published: May 2022

Advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is usually an incurable malignancy that needs newer therapeutic targets. Interleukin-1 receptor accessory protein (IL1RAP) is an innate immune mediator that regulates activation of pro-inflammatory and mitogenic signaling pathways. Immunohistochemistry on tissue microarrays demonstrated expression of IL1RAP in majority of human PDAC specimens and in murine pancreatic tumors from K-RasG122D/p53R172H/PDXCre (KPC) mice. Single cell RNA-Seq analysis of human primary pre-neoplastic lesions and adenocarcinoma specimens indicated that overexpression occurs during carcinogenesis. IL1RAP overexpression was associated with worse overall survival. IL1RAP knockdown significantly reduced cell viability, invasiveness, and clonogenic growth in pancreatic cancer cell lines. Inhibition of the downstream interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase 4 (IRAK4) using two pharmacologic inhibitors, CA-4948 and PF06650833, resulted in reduced growth in pancreatic cancer cell lines and in xenograft models.
The effect of Rosa canina L. and a polyherbal formulation syrup in patients with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a study protocol for a multicenter randomized controlled trial
Authors: Golsorkhi Haide , Qorbani Mostafa , Kamalinejad Mohammad , Sabbaghzadegan Saeideh , Bahrami Mohsen , Vafaee-Shahi Mohammad , Montazerlotfelahi Hadi , Abniki Elham , Dadmehr Majid
Published: May 2022

Background

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common behavioral disorder in childhood and adolescence. A number of these patients do not respond to the current pharmacological treatments and there may also be drug side effects. This study aims to determine the efficacy and safety of two herbal medicine products, including Rosa canina L. (RC) and a polyherbal formulation (PHF) syrup, on the clinical manifestations of ADHD in children and adolescents.

Methods

Ninety ADHD patients based on DSM-5 diagnostic criteria will be randomly assigned equally into three groups: (1) RC syrup + methylphenidate (MP), (2) PHF syrup + MP, and (3) placebo + MP according to the inclusion criteria (30 subjects in each group). The syrup dosage is 5cc every 8 h, and MP will have a stabilized dose for 8 weeks during the study. Moreover, Conner’s questionnaires will be completed by the teacher and parents before the intervention and then every 4 weeks. Also, the Child Symptom Inventory-fourth edition (CSI-4) and temperament questionnaires will be completed before the intervention and every 4 weeks until 2 months.

Discussion

This trial is the first experiment to determine the effects of RC and PHF syrups on the clinical manifestations of ADHD in children and adolescents. Our findings provide new insight into the effect of these herbal products on the clinical manifestations of ADHD.

Trial registration

Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials IRCT20190923044855N1. Registered on 14 January 2020. The trial was registered at https://www.irct.ir/.
Evolocumab administration prior to Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting in patients with multivessel coronary artery disease (EVOCABG): study protocol for a randomized controlled clinical trial
Authors: Na Hye Rim , Kwon O Sung , Kang Joon Kyu , Kim Yong Han , Lim Ju Yong
Published: May 2022

Background

Despite advances in surgical and postoperative care, myocardial injury or infarction (MI) is still a common complication in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG). Several studies that aimed to reduce postoperative myocardial injury, including those investigating statin loading, have been conducted but did not indicate any clear benefits. Evolocumab, a PCSK9 inhibitor, has been reported to lower lipids and prevent ischemic events in various medical conditions. However, the effect of evolocumab in cardiovascular surgery has not been evaluated. The objective of this trial is to evaluate the cardioprotective effects of evolocumab in elective CABG patients with multivessel coronary artery disease.

Methods

EVOCABG is a prospective, randomized, open, controlled, multicenter, superiority, phase III clinical trial. Patients with multivessel coronary artery disease without initial cardiac enzyme elevation will be recruited (n=100). Participants will be randomly allocated into two groups: a test group (evolocumab (140mg) administration once within 72 h before CABG) and a control group (no administration). The primary outcome is the change in peak levels of serum cardiac marker (troponin-I) within 3 days of CABG surgery compared to the baseline. Secondary outcomes include post-operative clinical events including death, myocardial infarction, heart failure, stroke, and atrial fibrillation.

Discussion

This trial is the first prospective randomized controlled trial to demonstrate the efficacy of evolocumab in reducing ischemic-reperfusion injury in patients undergoing CABG. This trial will provide the first high-quality evidence for preoperative use of evolocumab in mitigating or preventing ischemic-reperfusion-related myocardial injury during the surgery.

Trial registration

Clinical Research Information Service (CRIS) of the Republic of Korea KCT0005577. Registered on 4 November 2020.
Zinc supplementation and COVID-19 mortality: a meta-analysis
Authors: Tabatabaeizadeh Seyed-Amir
Published: May 2022

Background and aims

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the agent of a pneumonia outbreak and was called 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). COVID-19 emerged in December 2019 and now considered a pandemic. Zinc supplementation can reduce mortality in patients with severe pneumonia. This study aimed at meta-analysis of the results of related studies and evaluate the effect of zinc supplementation on COVID-19 mortality.

Methods

A systematic search has conducted for manuscripts through PUBMED/Medline and Google Scholar (Cochrane guideline has considered it as the gray literature) up to September 2021. This meta-analysis followed Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) Guideline for evaluation of the effect zinc supplementation on COVID-19 mortality. Based on the heterogeneity a fixed-effect or random-effect model, the OR and 95% CI were used to assess the combined risk.

Results

After assessment, five studies with 1506 participants in case and control groups were included in meta-analysis. The OR for one study was not estimable, and the pool OR was estimated for other studies with 1398 participants. The meta-analysis showed that zinc supplementation in cases led to a significant lower risk of mortality when it was compared with the control group; pooled OR (95% CI) was 0.57 [0.43, 0.77] (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

This meta-analysis has suggested that zinc supplementation is associated with a lower mortality rate in COVID-19 patients. Zinc supplementation could be considered as a simple way and cost benefit approach for reduction of mortality in COVID-19 patients.
Leveraging farm production diversity for dietary diversity: evidence from national level panel data
Authors: Khandoker Sayla , Singh Alka , Srivastava Shivendra Kumar
Published: May 2022

Dietary diversity is the key to improved health and nutrition. Farm production diversity has the potential of enhancing dietary diversity but this interrelationship varies and is ambiguous in many societies. To examine the effect of farm production diversity on household dietary diversity using nationally representative panel data of Bangladesh we have used Bangladesh Integrated Household Survey (BIHS) data collected by International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) in 2011/12, 2015 and 2018/19. Total sample size is 11,720. For assessing dietary diversity we have used different indicators namely household dietary diversity score (HDDS) and food variety score (FVS). We have also used multiple methods for measuring farm production diversity including production diversity score, crop diversity score and Simpson diversification index. Poisson regression model has been used. Results revealed a strong positive association among farm production diversity, income and dietary diversity though the extent of the association is small. The variables such as market orientation, access to market, age and education are also found to influence on household dietary diversity. Our results propose that for increasing dietary diversity efforts should be taken to increase farm production diversity combined with diverse income and market access.
Eavesdropping on the brain at sea: development of a surface-mounted system to detect weak electrophysiological signals from wild animals
Authors: Kendall-Bar Jessica M. , Mukherji Ritika , Nichols Jordan , Lopez Catherine , Lozano Daniel A. , Pitman Julie K. , Holser Rachel R. , Beltran Roxanne S. , Schalles Matt , Field Cara L. , Johnson Shawn P. , Vyssotski Alexei L. , Costa Daniel P. , Williams Terrie M.
Published: May 2022

Despite rapid advances in sensor development and technological miniaturization, it remains challenging to non-invasively record small-amplitude electrophysiological signals from an animal in its natural environment. Many advances in ecophysiology and biologging have arisen through sleep studies, which rely on detecting small signals over multiple days and minimal disruption of natural animal behavior. This paper describes the development of a surface-mounted system that has allowed novel electrophysiological recordings of sleep in wild marine mammals. We discuss our iterative design process by providing sensor-comparison data, detailed technical illustrations, and material recommendations. We describe the system’s performance over multiple days in 12 freely moving northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris) sleeping on land and in water in captivity and the wild. We leverage advances in signal processing by applying independent components analysis and inertial motion sensor calibrations to maximize signal quality across large (> 10 gigabyte), multi-day datasets. Our study adds to the suite of biologging tools available to scientists seeking to understand the physiology and behavior of wild animals in the context in which they evolved.
Controlling risky behavior associated with AIDS: the role of social support, family functioning, self-efficacy and AIDS risk perception
Authors: Zakiei Ali , Norouzi‬ Ebrahim , Ghasemi Seyed Ramin , Komasi Saeid , Rostampour Masoumeh , Khazaie Habibolah
Published: May 2022

Objectives

We believe that major steps can be taken towards Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) prevention through identifying the relevant factors that are apt to predict risky behavior. The main purpose of the present study was to analyze and evaluate the relationship of social support, family functioning, self-efficacy and AIDS risk perception to controlling risky behavior associated with AIDS.

Methods

To conduct this cross-sectional study, 765 subjects (59% female) were selected from the youth inhabiting the western provinces of Iran through cluster sampling. Five questionnaires were used: AIDS risk perception, self-efficacy in controlling risky behavior associated with AIDS, controlling risky behavior associated with AIDS, the multidimensional scale of perceived social support, and the family assessment device.

Results

The results demonstrated that all two models enjoyed acceptable fitness, and the mediating roles of self-efficacy and AIDS risk perception were confirmed. Moreover, family functioning and perceived social support together could predict 20% of the variance of controlling risky behavior associated with AIDS. The results also indicated that family functioning with a standardized coefficient of − 0.24 and self-efficacy in controlling risky behavior associated with AIDS with a standardized coefficient of 0.58 could predict the controlling risky behavior associated with AIDS (p < 0.01).

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that self-efficacy and AIDS risk perception play major roles in controlling risky behavior associated with AIDS. Therefore, it is recommended that families and psychologists promote self-efficacy in order to prevent the occurrence of high-risk behaviors.
Improving predictability of IgE-high type 2 chronic sinusitis with nasal polyps in the biologic era
Authors: Heffernan Austin , Phulka Jobanjit , Thamboo Andrew
Published: May 2022

Background

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is an inflammatory disease that may require biological therapy. Omalizumab is an anti-IgE biologic that was recently approved by the FDA and Health Canada for use in severe CRS with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) recalcitrant to intranasal corticosteroids. Dosing is based on weight and pre-treatment serum IgE, with elevated levels of the latter being an indication for biologic treatment according to EPOS and EUFOREA guidelines. The goal of this study was to identify variables that predict IgE-high type 2 inflammation and serve as indicators for biologic treatment in CRS.

Methods

Patients ≥ 19 yo diagnosed with CRS undergoing functional endoscopic sinus surgery were included retrospectively. Demographics, past medical history, preoperative blood work, Lund-Mackay (LM), Lund Kennedy (LK), and SNOT-22 scores were extracted. Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression analyses were conducted. Model superiority was based on Nagelkerke R2 scores and receiver operating characteristic curves.

Results

Sixty-five patients, average age 49.96 ± 13.59 years, were included. Sixty-one binary logistic regression models for elevated serum IgE were created. Among the top 3 models, the best model had sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive values of 82.1, 69.2, 80.0, and 72.0. All performance measures except sensitivity exceeded the Canadian Biologics Guideline model. Serum eosinophils ≥ 300 cell/uL, CRSwNP and LM ≥ 17 increased the odds of elevated IgE.

Conclusions

IgE-high type-2 inflammation can be predicted by a model that includes eosinophil ≥ 300 cell/uL, CRSwNP, LM ≥ 17, asthma diagnosis and SNOT-22 ≥ 40. Patients meeting these parameters have a high pretest probability for elevated IgE and would benefit from IgE serology to determine qualification for omalizumab. This could reduce unwarranted IgE serology in patients with CRSwNP but also target a patient population for further workup that will lead to optimization of resource allocation and improve healthcare equity in rural and remote areas within Canada.
Unique characteristics of G719X and S768I compound double mutations of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene in lung cancer of coal-producing areas of East Yunnan in Southwestern China
Authors: Wang Jun-Ling , Fu Yu-Dong , Gao Yan-Hong , Li Xiu-Ping , Xiong Qian , Li Rui , Hou Bo , Huang Ruo-Shan , Wang Jun-Feng , Zhang Jian-Kun , Lv Jia-Ling , Zhang Chao , Li Hong-Wei
Published: May 2022

Background

The principal objective of this project was to investigate the Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) gene mutation characteristics of lung cancer patients, which can provide a molecular basis for explaining the clinicopathological features, epidemiology and use of targeted therapy in lung cancer patients in the coal-producing areas of East Yunnan.

Methodology

We collected 864 pathologically confirmed lung cancer patients’ specimens in First People’s Hospital of Qujing City of Yunnan Province from September 2016 to September 2021. We thereafter employed Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) technology to detect all exons present in the EGFR gene.

Results

The overall mutation frequency of the EGFR gene was 47.22%. The frequency of EGFR gene mutations in the tissue, plasma, and cytology samples were found to be 53.40%, 23.33%, and 62.50%, respectively. Univariate analysis indicated that the coal-producing areas and Fuyuan county origin were significantly associated with relatively low EGFR gene mutation frequency. Female, non-smoking history, adenocarcinoma, non-brain metastasis, and tissue specimens were found to be related to high EGFR gene mutation frequency. Multivariate logistic regression analysis suggested the lung cancer patients in the central area of Qujing City, stage Ia, non-coal-producing areas, non-Fuyuan origin, and non-Xuanwei origin were more likely to develop EGFR gene mutations. The most common mutations were L858R point mutation (33.09%) and exon 19 deletion (19-del) (21.32%). Interestingly, the mutation frequency of G719X (p = 0.001) and G719X + S768I (p = 0.000) in the coal-producing areas were noted to be more significant than those in non-coal-producing regions.

Conclusion

This findings of this study might be important in establishing the correlation between routine using NGS for EGFR gene mutation diagnosis and clinical practice in the lung cancer patients.
AMPLIFY-NEOVAC: a randomized, 3-arm multicenter phase I trial to assess safety, tolerability and immunogenicity of IDH1-vac combined with an immune checkpoint inhibitor targeting programmed death-ligand 1 in isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 mutant gliomas
Authors: Bunse Lukas , Rupp Anne-Kathleen , Poschke Isabel , Bunse Theresa , Lindner Katharina , Wick Antje , Blobner Jens , Misch Martin , Tabatabai Ghazaleh , Glas Martin , Schnell Oliver , Gempt Jens , Denk Monika , Reifenberger Guido , Bendszus Martin , Wuchter Patrick , Steinbach Joachim P , Wick Wolfgang , Platten Michael
Published: May 2022

Introduction

Isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) mutations are disease-defining mutations in IDH-mutant astrocytomas and IDH-mutant and 1p/19q-codeleted oligodendrogliomas. In more than 80% of these tumors, point mutations in IDH type 1 (IDH1) lead to expression of the tumor-specific protein IDH1R132H. IDH1R132H harbors a major histocompatibility complex class II (MHCII)-restricted neoantigen that was safely and successfully targeted in a first-in human clinical phase 1 trial evaluating an IDH1R132H 20-mer peptide vaccine (IDH1-vac) in newly diagnosed astrocytomas concomitant to standard of care (SOC).

Methods

AMPLIFY-NEOVAC is a randomized, 3-arm, window-of-opportunity, multicenter national phase 1 trial to assess safety, tolerability and immunogenicity of IDH1-vac combined with avelumab (AVE), an immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) targeting programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1). The target population includes patients with resectable IDH1R132H-mutant recurrent astrocytoma or oligodendroglioma after SOC. Neoadjuvant and adjuvant immunotherapy will be administered to 48 evaluable patients. In arm 1, 12 patients will receive IDH1-vac; in arm 2, 12 patients will receive the combination of IDH1-vac and AVE, and in arm 3, 24 patients will receive AVE only. Until disease progression according to immunotherapy response assessment for neuro-oncology (iRANO) criteria, treatment will be administered over a period of maximum 43 weeks (primary treatment phase) followed by facultative maintenance treatment.

Perspective

IDH1R132H 20-mer peptide is a shared clonal driver mutation-derived neoepitope in diffuse gliomas. IDH1-vac safely targets IDH1R132H in newly diagnosed astrocytomas. AMPLIFY-NEOVAC aims at (1) demonstrating safety of enhanced peripheral IDH1-vac-induced T cell responses by combined therapy with AVE compared to IDH1-vac only and (2) investigating intra-glioma abundance and phenotypes of IDH1-vac induced T cells in exploratory post-treatment tissue analyses. In an exploratory analysis, both will be correlated with clinical outcome.

Trial registration

NCT03893903.
Genetic polymorphisms and gene expression of one-carbon metabolizing enzymes and their relation to breast cancer
Authors: Eldeeb Mona Kamal , Shoaib Mai Maher Abd-Elaziz , Abd-Elmonem Esraa Ahmed , Saeed Hesham Mahmoud Sayd , Embaby Amira Mohammad , Farouk Ayman Mohamed , Rashad Radwa Mohammed
Published: May 2022

Background

Breast cancer is considered the leading cause of cancer-related death among Egyptian women (15.41%). One of the common BC risk factors is the genetic factor. One-carbon metabolism is one of the pathways reported to increase BC risk by influencing DNA synthesis and methylation. Methyl tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR), thymidylate synthase (TYMS) and DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) enzymes are key enzymes in one-carbon metabolism directly and through influencing folate metabolism. We aimed to study the association of the gene expression level and polymorphisms of MTHER C677T (rs1801133), TYMS (rs45445694), TYMS 3′UTR 1494del6 and ΔDNMT3B − 149C>T with breast cancer risk in a sample of Egyptian women.

Methods

This study was conducted on one hundred female breast cancer patients. Genotyping and gene expression of the MTHFR and TYMS (1494del6, rs45445694) and DNMT3B genes were performed.

Results

There was no significant difference (OR 1.493; 95% CI 0.78–2.84; P = 0.288) in the frequency of the MTHFR (C677T) genotypes between breast cancer patients and control subjects and no significant difference in the frequency of the MTHFR mutant T allele. TYMS tandem repeats showed a significant difference (OR 2.232; CI 1.21–4.12; P = 0.01) in the frequency of the genotype 2R/3R among breast cancer patients and control subjects; however, the frequency of the 2R allele was not significantly different from that of the 3R allele (OR 1.461; 95% CI 0.96–2.21; P = 0.073). TYMS 3′-UTR 1494del6 showed a significant difference in the distribution of (+ 6/ + 6), (+ 6/− 6) and (− 6/− 6) genotypes between the patient and control groups (P ≤ 0.001*), and its corresponding mutant allele showed P value ≤ 0.001, 95% CI = 1.64–3.76 and OR = 2.483. The expression of MTHFR was downregulated by 0.62-fold in all malignant tissues compared to normal adjacent tissues (0.57 ± 0.20, P < 0.001*). On the other hand, no significant difference (P = 0.143) in the expression level of TYMS was found. Gene expression of DNMT3B was upregulated by 1.65-fold in all breast cancerous tissue samples compared with the control normal adjacent tissue with mean ± SD of 1.81 ± 0.63. (P ≤ 0.001*).

Conclusion

The current study showed that the 2R/3R TYMS allele and DNMT3B (− 149C>T) SNP are associated with a high risk of breast cancer and that there is a correlation between the 3′-UTR 1494del6 polymorphism (genotype − 6/− 6) and breast cancer risk. A significant reduction was found in the MTHFR gene expression level in BC compared with control tissues, and the DNMT3B (− 149C>T) SNP did affect the DNMT3B expression level.
Do related party transactions affect the relationship between political connections and firm value? Evidence from Egypt
Authors: Ismail Tariq H. , El-Deeb Mohamed , Halim Yasser Tawfik
Published: May 2022

This paper aims to (i) investigate the impact of political connections (PC) and related party transactions (RPTs) on the firm value (FV), and (ii) test the moderating effect of RPTs on such relationship, while controlling for the firms’ corporate governance mechanisms. Based on 315 observations from publicly listed firms in Egypt, our results reveal that (i) there is a positive relationship between PC and the FV, (ii) there is a negative relationship between RPTs and the FV, and (iii) the existing of RPTs as a moderating variable enhances the impact of the politically connected companies on the FV. The findings suggest that the Egyptian firms are much affected by the politically connected board of directors or owners, and this significantly exists when associated with related party transactions, despite that, the corporate governance practices could mitigate such effects.
Exercise and emersion in air, and recovery in seawater in the green crab (Carcinus maenas): metabolic, acid–base, cardio-ventilatory and ionoregulatory responses
Authors: Wood Chris M. , Po Beverly H. K.
Published: May 2022

In nature, the green crab exhibits emersion and terrestrial activity at low tide. Treadmill exercise in air (20–23°C) of crabs acclimated to 32 ppt seawater (13°C) revealed an inverse relationship between velocity and duration: 2.0 body lengths (BL) s−1 was sustainable for several minutes, and 0.25 BL s−1 was sustainable for long periods. Fatigue was not due to dehydration. Physiological responses over an 18 h recovery in seawater after near-exhaustive exercise (0.25 BL s−1, 1 h) in air were compared with responses after quiet emersion (1 h) in air. Exercising crabs exhibited transient scaphognathite slowing and progressive increases in heart rate, whereas emersed crabs exhibited persistent inhibition of ventilation and transient heart slowing. Upon return to seawater, all these rates increased above both control and treatment levels. Post-exercise disturbances were more marked and/or longer lasting (e.g. EPOC, hyperventilation, tachycardia, metabolic acidosis, lactate elevation, ionic disturbances) than those after simple air exposure. However, an increase in net acidic equivalent excretion to the environment occurred after emersion but not after exercise. Instead, post-exercise crabs relied on carapace buffering, signalled by elevated haemolymph Ca2+ and Mg2+. Prolonged lowering of haemolymph PCO2 associated with hyperventilation also played a key role in acid–base recovery. EPOC after exercise was 3-fold greater than after emersion, sufficient to support resting ṀO2 for >14 h. This reflected clearance of a large lactate load, likely by glycogen re-synthesis rather than oxidation. We conclude that the amphibious green crab uses a combination of aquatic and terrestrial strategies to support exercise in air, emersion in air and recovery in seawater.
Treatment of Metastatic Spinal Disease; what the Radiologist needs to know
Authors: Supple Stephen , Ahmad Shahjehan , Gaddikeri Santhosh , Jhaveri Miral D.
Published: May 2022

Advancements in technology and multidisciplinary management have revolutionized the treatment of spinal metastases. Imaging plays a pivotal role in determining the treatment course for spinal metastases. This article aims to review the relevant imaging findings in spinal metastases from the perspective of the treating clinician, describe the various treatment options, and discuss factors influencing choice for each available treatment option. Cases that once required radical surgical resection or low-dose conventional external beam radiation therapy, or both, are now being managed with separation surgery, spine stereotactic radiosurgery/stereotactic body radiation therapy, or both, with decreased morbidity, improved local control, and more durable pain control. The primary focus in determining treatment choice is now on tumor control outcomes, treatment-related morbidity, and quality of life.
Benign incidental do-not-touch bone lesions
Authors: Pattamapaspong Nuttaya , Peh Wilfred CG
Published: May 2022

Benign bone lesions may occasionally be incidentally detected on radiographs and are also increasingly found on CT or MRI performed for other clinical indications. Although mostly asymptomatic or associated with minor symptoms, these lesions may simulate true pathological lesions, causing problems in diagnosis. For instance, asymptomatic benign bone lesions can be misinterpreted as metastasis when incidentally encountered in a patient with known cancer. Recognising these entities as “do-not-touch” lesions helps avoid unnecessary further investigation or harmful intervention. In this review, we highlight three groups of bone incidentalomas found in adults, namely: osteolytic lesions, osteoblastic lesions, and bone protuberances. We aim to review the key imaging features of selected common and less common conditions in these three groups, so as to help radiologists confidently identify these benign do-not-touch lesions and to distinguish them from more sinister pathological lesions.
The clinical value of conventional ultrasound combined with contrast-enhanced ultrasound in the evaluation of BI-RADS 4 lesions detected by magnetic resonance imaging
Authors: Guo Wenjuan , Li Fan , Jia Chao , Wang Tong , Zhang Xuemei , Yao Gehong , Shi Xiudong , Bai Min
Published: May 2022

Objective

To determine the value of conventional ultrasound combined with contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) Category 4 lesions as detected by MRI.

Methods

A total of 176 breast lesions from 171 patients were detected by MRI and categorised as BI-RADS 4. All patients also underwent ultrasound and CEUS scans. The combination of ultrasound-BI-RADS and CEUS 5-point scoring system created the Rerated BI-RADS (referred to as CEUS-BI-RADS). The diagnostic performances of ultrasound and CEUS-BI-RADS were then compared. A χ  2 test was used to compare the CEUS features of mass-like and non-mass-like enhancement types of MRI-BI-RADS 4 lesions.

Results

There were 167 (167/176) breast lesions detected by ultrasound, with a detection rate of 94.89%, while all were subsequently detected by “second-look” ultrasound combined with CEUS, with a detection rate of 100%. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves for ultrasound and CEUS-BI-RADS were 0.810 and 0.940, respectively. The diagnostic efficiency of CEUS-BI-RADS was significantly higher than that of ultrasound alone (z = 3.264, p = 0.001). For both mass-like and non-mass-like enhancement types of MRI-BI-RADS 4 lesions, CEUS-BI-RADS demonstrated satisfactory sensitivity and accuracy. Moreover, 29 (29/176) category 4 lesions were downgraded to 3 by CEUS-BI-RADS.

Conclusion

Ultrasound combined with CEUS can allow reclassification, reduce biopsy rates, and facilitate pre-surgical localisation for biopsy or surgery for MRI-BI-RADS 4 lesions.

Advances in knowledge

For MRI-BI-RADS Category 4 lesions with a wide range of malignancies, ultrasound combined with CEUS is a promising diagnostic approach with high clinical utility.
Hospital costs and cosmetic outcome of benign and high-risk breast lesions managed by vacuum-assisted excision versus surgical excision
Authors: van de Voort Elles MF , Struik Gerson M , van Streun Sophia P , Verhoef Cornelis , Uyl-de Groot Carin A , Klem Taco MAL
Published: May 2022

Objectives:

Although vacuum-assisted excision (VAE) is a safe and effective alternative to surgical excision (SE), the latter is most commonly used for the management of benign and high-risk breast lesions. To evaluate the healthcare benefit of VAE, hospital costs and cosmetic outcome after VAE were compared to SE. Additionally, the impact of VAE implementation on hospital costs was investigated.

Methods:

This was a single-centre retrospective cohort study with two cohorts: “VAE” and “SE”. All patients with a benign or high-risk lesion excised by VAE or SE from January 2016 up to December 2019 were included. Cosmetic outcome was measured with the BCTOS-cosmetic subscale, and hospital costs were presented as mean (SD) and median (IQR).

Results:

During the study period, 258 patients with 295 excised lesions were included. The initial procedure was VAE in 102 patients and SE in 156 patients. Hospital costs after (median € 2324) were significantly lower than before (median € 3,144) implementation of VAE (mean difference € 1,004, p < 0.001), most likely attributable to the lower costs for patients treated with VAE (mean difference € 1,979, p < 0.001). Mean cosmetic outcome was comparable between VAE (median 1.35) and SE (median 1.44, p = 0.802).

Conclusions:

Implementing VAE as an alternative treatment option for benign and high-risk breast lesions resulted in a large decrease in hospital costs but a cosmetic benefit of VAE could not be demonstrated in this retrospective study.

Advances in knowledge:

Costs associated with the complete patient pathway were included and not only VAE was compared to SE but also the before cohort was compared to the after cohort to demonstrate the benefit of VAE implementation in clinical practice. Additionally, cosmetic outcome was compared between VAE and SE using patient reported outcome measures.
Négation lexicale vs négation syntaxique en français et en grec moderne
Authors: Καζάλα Φωτεινή
Published: May 2022

Η παρούσα διατριβή έχει ως αντικείμενο την αντιπαραβολική μελέτη της άρνησης στην ελληνική και γαλλική γλώσσα, με σημείο εκκίνησης και παρατήρησης την επαφή των δύο γλωσσών κατά τη μεταφραστική διαδικασία.Κατά την αποδελτίωση μεγάλου αριθμού δεδομένων μεταφρασμένων κειμένων από τη γαλλική προς την ελληνική γλώσσα εντοπίζονται δομές που συστηματικά προτιμούν οι μεταφραστές. Σύμφωνα με το θεωρητικό μοντέλο που έχει προτείνει η Guillemin-Flescher (1981), της συλλογικής οργάνωσης του λόγου (organisation collective du discours) (1986), αυτή η συστηματικότητα δεν μπορεί να αποδοθεί στην τυχαιότητα. Ειδικότερα όσον αφορά την έννοια της άρνησης, παρατηρείται ότι ο μεταφραστής πολύ συχνά επιλέγει να αποδώσει με συντακτική άρνηση ένα πρωτότυπο με καταφατική πρόταση που περιλαμβάνει ένα στοιχείο με αρνητική σημασιολογία. Στόχος της διατριβής είναι να καταστήσει εμφανή αυτή την τάση και να προτείνει μια αιτιολόγηση γι’ αυτή την αντίθεση μεταξύ των δύο γλωσσών, δηλ. τη συχνή χρήση συντακτικής άρνησης στα νέα ελληνικά εκεί που τα γαλλικά χρησιμοποιούν τη λεξική άρνηση. Η κύρια υπόθεση της έρευνας είναι ότι αιτία αυτής της τάσης είναι διάφορες ιδιότητες και χαρακτηριστικά που ανήκουν στο επίπεδο της μορφολογίας και της σύνταξης, αλλά επίσης και της σημασιολογίας και της πραγματολογίας. Ο μεταφραστής δεν επιλέγει την κατά λέξη μετάφραση, δηλ. την λεξική άρνηση, καθώς αυτή θα άφηνε ανοικτές κάποιες ερμηνείες που δεν προβλέπονται από το πρωτότυπο. Λόγω της πολυπλοκότητας του θέματος της άρνησης υιοθετούνται διαφορετικά θεωρητικά πλαίσια, όπως η θεωρία των κλιμάκων επιχειρηματολογίας των Anscombre και Ducrot (1978), τα συνομιλιακά αξιώματα του Grice (1979) και η θεωρία του νοηματικού πεδίου του Culioli (1990). Το corpus εργασίας αποτελείται από μεταφρασμένα μυθιστορήματα, από κείμενα στον γαλλικό έντυπο τύπο μεταφρασμένα στα ελληνικά, επίσημα κείμενα του Ευρωκοινοβουλίου και το παράλληλο γαλλο-ελληνικό corpus (SOURCe).
Clonal heterogeneity and biomarkers in colorectal cancer with liver metastasis
Authors: Κυροχρήστος Ιωάννης
Published: May 2022

Σκοπός: Ο καρκίνος του παχέος εντέρου και του ορθού αποτελεί τον τρίτο πιο συχνό τύπο καρκίνου και στα δύο φύλα και τη δεύτερη πιο συχνή αιτία θανάτου από καρκίνο παγκοσμίως. Ωστόσο, παρά την τυποποίηση της πολυπαραγοντικής θεραπείας, οι μηχανισμοί που ευθύνονται για τα υψηλά ποσοστά της θεραπευτικής αντοχής και υποτροπής μετά από πλήρη χειρουργική εξαίρεση και επικουρική ή/και νέο-επικουρική θεραπεία σε ασθενείς με κολοορθικό καρκίνο και ηπατικές μεταστάσεις παραμένουν ελάχιστα κατανοητοί. Με βάση πρόσφατα δεδομένα που αφορούν την ενδοογκική ετερογένεια, καθως και την ετερογένεια του κυκλοφορούντος ελεύθερου κυττάρων DNA, σχεδιάσαμε και αναπτύξαμε μια προοπτική μελέτη για να διερευνήσουμε τις δυνητικές μεταφραστικές εφαρμογές της εκτεταμένης συνολικής ετερογένειας σε κάθε ασθενή, που αποτελείται από την ενδοογκιή ετερογένεια του πρωτοπαθούς και του μεταστατικού όγκου, σε συνδυασμό με το τοπίο των μεταλλάξεων του ελεύθερου DNA του πλάσματος σε κάθε ασθενή ξεχωριστά.Ασθενείς και μέθοδοι: Στην προοπτική μας μελέτη συμπεριλήφθηκαν 18 ασθενείς με εξαιρέσιμο καρκίνο του παχέος εντέρου και του ορθού με ηπατικές μεταστάσεις και έγινε ανάλυση του συνόλου των 122 πολυπεριοχικών ογκικών και περιεγχειριτικών υγρών βιοψιών με αλληλούχιση επόμενης γενιάς, χρησιμοποιώντας ένα προσααρμοσμένο πάνελ 77-γονιδίων σχετιζόμενων με τον καρκίνο. Οι πρωταρχικοί στόχοι περιελάμβαναν τη διερεύνηση της έκτασης της ενδοογκικής ετερογένειας σε δείγματα πρωτοπαθούς και μεταστατικού όγκου από τον ίδιο ασθενή, τον εντοπισμό μεταλλάξεων σε περιεγχειρητικά δείγματα ελεύθερου DNA πλάσματος, καθώς και την εξέταση πιθανής κλινικής σημασίας του εκτεταμένου εξατομικευμένου τοπίου στοχεύσιμων μεταλλάξεων.Αποτελέσματα: Συνολικά, ενδοογκική ετερογένεια στο πρωτοπαθή και μεταστατικό όγκο ανιχνεύθηκε στο 53% και 56% των ασθενών αντίστοιχα. Επιπροσθέτως, γενετικές διαφορές μεταξύ πρωτοπαθούς και μεταστατικού όγκου από τον ίδιο ασθενή εντοπίστηκαν στο 53% των ασθενών της κοόρτης μας και 35% των ασθενών εμφάνισαν νέες μεταλλάξεις ανιχνεύσιμες μόνο στις ηπατικές μεταστάσεις. Η ανάλυση του ελεύθερου DNA πλάσματος εντόπισε μεταλλάξεις στο 56% των ασθενών, ενώ 25% των ασθενών είχαν νέες μεταλλάξεις στο DNA του πλάσματος, οι οποίες δεν ανιχνεύθηκαν στην πολυπεριοχική ανάλυση των όγκων. Μεταξύ των 17 ασθενών με ανιχνεύσιμες μεταλλάξεις, όλοι εμφάνιζαν μεταλλαγές στοχεύσιμες είτε με εγκεκριμένα φάρμακα είτε με ουσίες υπό διερεύνηση σε κλινικές δοκιμές ή προ-κλινικές μελέτες, με μέσο όρο 3,2 μεταλλάξεις ανά ασθενή.Συμπεράσματα: Η πρωτοποριακή προοπτική μας μελέτη παρέχει αρχικά αποδεικτικά στοιχεία υπέρ της εκτεταμένης εξατομικευμένης γενετικής ετερογένειας με μεταφραστικές εφαρμογές, ώστε να ξεπεραστούν τα άλυτα προβλήματα την θεραπευτικής αντοχής και της υποτροπής, και εγγυάται τη διεξαγωγή κλινικών δοκιμών ακριβείας προς επιβεβαίωση.
Case Report: What—or who—killed Frank Ramsey? Some reflections on cause of death and the nature of medical reasoning
Authors: Misak Cheryl , Naylor C David , Tonelli Mark , Greenhalgh Trisha , Foster Graham
Published: May 2022

Philosopher Frank Ramsey died in 1930 aged only 26. There has been much speculation about the nature of his final illness and the sequence of events which led to his death. To prepare this case report, we traced Ramsey’s medical records and combined them with an extensive and unique dataset of contemporaneous sources. We use these to evaluate three possible explanations for Ramsey’s illness and its unexpectedly fatal trajectory—infectious (Weil’s disease), autoimmune (primary sclerosing cholangitis) and obstructive (gallstones). We explore how uncertainty surrounding each of these possibilities might have influenced Ramsey’s doctors’ thoughts and actions, including their ill-fated decision to perform the emergency operation that appears to have precipitated his final decline.  We then reflect on the unfinished opus on which Ramsey was working when he died—on the nature of truth and how humans reason under conditions of uncertainty. We end with some thoughts linking Ramsey’s death to his philosophy.
PSYCHOLOGICAL FEATURES OF INTELLECTUAL ACTIVITY OF DOCTORS-TEACHERS OF MEDICAL UNIVERSITY
Authors: Averin Vyacheslav A. , Zinkevich Elena R. , Fedyaev Andrey A. , Royalo Kirill V.
Published: May 2022

The history of Russian medical education indicates the importance of developing the clinical thinking of a future doctor. Today, the problem has become even more acute due to the peculiarities of the educational situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, when the training of future doctors was carried out online. Considering the difficulties of forming the clinical thinking of future doctors, in 2019-2022 a study was conducted at St. Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University to identify specific cognitive skills of medical university teachers who train prospective doctors.

Purpose. To study specific cognitive skills that determine the specifics of the intellectual activity of teachers of clinical and theoretical departments of medical universities that train prospective doctors.

Methodology. The research is based on activity-based and cognitive approaches that allow studying personality as a subject of professional activity. The diagnostic procedure was carried out using the R. Amthauer test. The structure of intelligence was determined by the factor analysis and the principal component method followed by varimax rotation with Kaiser normalization. The Statistica 10.0 program was used to process the obtained empirical results.

Results. The research materials served as a source of forming ideas about the features of cognitive skills underlying the clinical thinking of doctors – teachers of clinical and theoretical departments, contributing to the development of cognitive skills of prospective doctors and determining the success of their intellectual activity.

Conclusions. The obtained results can be used in the field of higher medical education.
FORMATION OF INTERETHNIC TOLERANCE THROUGH EDUCATIONAL SITUATION AT THE STAGE OF ADAPTATION OF STUDENTS TO THE EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT OF THE UNIVERSITY
Authors: Sinenko Tatiana N. , Zalipaeva Olga A.
Published: May 2022

Background. Political and socio-economic transformations taking place in the modern world, an orientation of Russian education to humanization and democratization impose a number of requirements on a specialist professional training quality at a university. Particularly in the modern labor community there are requirements regarding the readiness of a future specialist to carry out interpersonal interaction in professional activity in a multicultural, multinational and multi-confessional society. For the higher professional education of the Russian Federation the task of training a specialist with the ability to interpersonal interaction in professional activities (including empathy and interethnic tolerance) is of prime importance.

The purpose of the work is to describe the educational situation aimed at the formation of interethnic tolerance among students at the stage of adaptation to the educational environment of the university.

Methods. In the course of the study, a theoretical analysis of psychological and pedagogical literature of the problem was carried out. It helped us to clarify the degree of relevance of the problem being studied. The method of observation and pedagogical experience analysis allowed us to describe the educational situation aimed at the interethnic tolerance formation.

The results of the study. Interethnic tolerance is considered to be a manifestation of the future specialist’s ability to interpersonal interaction in professional activities. The levels of interethnic tolerance formation among university students are given: amorphous-fragmentary, interiorization-reflexive and activity-holistic. In the article the educational situation “Adaptation” is described which is aimed at the formation of interethnic tolerance among students of multicultural educational groups the period of adaptation to the educational environment of the university..

Practical implications. The article will be useful for lecturers, curators of study groups, specialists in educational work with students, including tutors.
PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSISTANCE TO PATIENTS WITH VASCULAR DISEASES AFTER SURGERY
Authors: Popenko Natalya V. , Chupina Viktoriia B. , Gavrilenko Larisa S.
Published: May 2022

Currently, in the situation of coronavirus infection, diseases of the vascular system still occupy one of the leading positions among the causes of mortality. At this moment, an important task is providing psychological assistance to patients after surgery in a hospital setting.

Purpose. The research of the possibilities of psychological assistance after surgery for patients with chronic obliterating diseases of the arteries of the lower limbs.

Materials and methods of research. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) (A.S. Sigmondi R.P. Snaith) was used for diagnosis. The analysis of the results of psychological examination of patients with chronic obliterating diseases of the arteries of the lower limbs was carried out in the period from 2020 to 2021 in Krasnoyarsk.

Results. The conducted research demonstrates the availability of depression as one of the clinical manifestations in the emotional sphere of patients with obliterating diseases of the arteries of the lower limbs. The information of the effectiveness of psychological assistance to patients in a vascular hospital are presented. Methods of autogenic training, short-term positive psychotherapy and one of the methods of a standardized program of complex non-medicated therapy were used.

Conclusions. The obtained information allows us to talk about the positive impact of psychological care on patients after reconstructive operations in vascular surgery departments. With the activation of internal psychological resources, patients pay less attention to the issue of possible disability and strive to adapt to the conditions of the disease.

Practical implications. The results can be used in the psychotherapeutic practice of clinical psychologists.
Modern Trends in the Field of Corporate Personnel Training
Authors: Kashtanova YEkatyerina , Lobacheva A.
Published: May 2022

The article reflects the changes that have occurred recently in the system of corporate staff training. The author considers the current areas of corporate training, new tools used in the organization of training, notes the tasks solved in the system of corporate training. The undoubted advantage of the work is the description of various types of corporate training programs given by the author with a simultaneous study of their advantages and limitations. Particular attention is paid to the rethinking of the role and content of the corporate university.
Difficulties and Prospects for the Development of Social Partnership in Russia
Authors: Ermolaeva S. , Sokolova E.
Published: May 2022

In the understanding of social partnership, two approaches are described: intersectoral and trade unionist. In this publication, the authors turn to the trade unionist theory of social partnership, understanding it from the point of view of social and labor relations. What are the limitations in the development of social partnership in the field of work? The authors have undertaken a study of the satisfaction of employees of organizations with social partnership. The analysis of following the principles of social partnership in the organization, attitude to the Collective agreement is carried out. The results allow us to conclude that there is a positive dynamics in the development of social partnership, at the same time, there is partial satisfaction with social partnership, there are limitations in the form of lack of awareness of social partnership as a multi-level system, lack of understanding among respondents about the possibilities of participation in the regulation of social and labor relations on the part of all participants in social partnership, including, the employees themselves. Following all the principles of social partnership outlined in the Labor Code would mean a more perfect development of social partnership in the field of labor.
INWESTYCJE EKOLOGICZNE SAMORZĄDÓW GMINNYCH, JAKO ELEMENT STRATEGII ZRÓWNOWAŻONEGO ROZWOJU – NA PRZYKŁADZIE WOJEWÓDZTWA KUJAWSKO-POMORSKIEGO
Authors: Osowska Sylwia
Published: May 2022

Celem artykułu jest przedstawienie i ocena roli inwestycji ekologicznych samorządów gminnych, jako głównego inicjatora procesów zrównoważonego rozwoju na przykładzie województwa kujawsko-pomorskiego. Fundusze Unii Europejskiej w znacznym stopniu zmieniły warunki funkcjonowania jednostek samorządu terytorialnego. Obecnie wiele podejmowanych przez samorządy gminne działań realizowanych jest dzięki środkom Regionalnego Programu Operacyjnego. Dla osiągnięcia wymiernego celu dokonano oceny wsparcia rozwoju inwestycji ekologicznych finansowanych ze środków Regionalnego Programu Operacyjnego Województwa Kujawsko-Pomorskiego (RPO WK-P). Ponadto wskazano, jak jest realizowana zasada zrównoważonego rozwoju z zakresie inwestycji ekologicznych.
The Self in Israelite Culture: A Preliminary Overview
Authors: Newsom Carol A.
Published: May 2022

Previous studies of Israelite anthropology of the self have often focused on the use of terms for various parts of the body to represent the self and its agency. Still contested is the question whether a privileged term (“heart”) served to represent an executive center of the self. This chapter reframes the discussion in terms of the “I-Me” relationship often used in psychology. Also debated is whether ancient Israel’s model of the self was dominantly sociocentric. This chapter argues for a more nuanced view of the relation of self and agency in relation to social context. In addition, it considers other ways in which one might examine evidence for changing models of the self in Second Temple Judaism other than a focus on moral agency, which characterizes the present study.