bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Practical use of nadofaragene firadenovec-vncg for pharmacists
Authors: Holler Seth D , Smith Sara Moran
Published: February 2025

Objective

To provide a practical approach to pharmacists regarding the safe and effective use of nadofaragene firadenovec.

Data sources

Clinical study data and pharmacist experience in institutional settings.

Data summary

This review article discusses the role of pharmacists caring for patients with Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG)–unresponsive non–muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) receiving nadofaragene firadenovec. Pharmacist roles in a multidisciplinary care team are described and involve considerations surrounding nadofaragene firadenovec, including its mechanism of action, indication, handling, storage, administration, adverse event profile, disposal, counseling, and other practical points.

Conclusions

Pharmacists are positioned to be key contributors to the care team regarding the effective use of nadofaragene firadenovec. Further awareness and education will continue to optimize the clinical use of nadofaragene firadenovec in the high-risk BCG-unresponsive NMIBC setting.
ADHD and Identity Formation: Adolescents’ Experiences From the Healthcare System and Peer Relationships
Authors: Frick Matilda A. , Brandt Anders , Hellund Sandra , Grimell Jan
Published: February 2025

Objective:

ADHD is often a lifelong condition, and has grown increasingly prevalent over the past few decades. Adolescence is a period characterized by the quest to develop a coherent identity, yet relatively little research has examined the relationship between ADHD diagnosis and identity. The purpose of this study was to explore the importance of experiences of the healthcare system and of peer relationships in the identity formation of adolescents with ADHD.

Method:

This was investigated through semi-structured interviews with 10 adolescents ( n = 8 females and 2 males) aged 15 to 18 years. An inductive thematic analysis was conducted within a narrative framework.

Results:

The results revealed seven main themes indicating that ADHD played a central role in the adolescents’ self-narratives: (1) limited effect of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (CAP) contact on identity formation, (2) the ADHD concept as meaning-making, (3) heterogeneity of the role of medication on identity formation, (4) negotiation of identity in relation to others, (5) varying degrees of acceptance in different relationships, (6) perceiving oneself as a troublemaker, and (7) relationship difficulties.

Conclusions:

Overall, the diagnosis constituted an important narrative and symptoms of ADHD rather than the label of ADHD tended to be stigmatizing. Furthermore, medication affected identity, and some felt pressured to medicate to adhere to social norms. A common pattern was that adolescents set aside their individual identity in favor of their relational identity.
Self-Reported ADHD Diagnosis Status Among Working-Age Adults in the United States: Evidence From the 2023 National Wellbeing Survey
Authors: London Andrew S. , Monnat Shannon M. , Gutin Iliya
Published: February 2025

Objective:

To estimate the percentage of U.S. working-age (18- to 64-year-old) adults in 2023 who self-reported ever being diagnosed with ADHD by a health care professional.

Method:

We analyze data from the 2023 National Wellbeing Survey ( N = 7,053) to estimate self-reported lifetime ADHD diagnosis status among working-age adults, overall and by sex, age, race/ethnicity, nativity, education, and rural-urban residence.

Results:

Among U.S. working-age adults in 2023, we estimate that 13.9% (95% confidence interval [13.0%, 15.0%]) self-reported ever being diagnosed with ADHD by a health care professional. We find statistically significant variation by each of the demographic variables analyzed, with higher rates among working-age adults who are female, younger, non-Hispanic White, U.S.-born, less well-educated, and residing in metro areas with 250,000 to 1 million people (relative to those living in metro areas with 1+ million population).

Conclusion:

The percentage of U.S. working-age adults who self-report in 2023 that they have ever been diagnosed with ADHD by a health care professional (13.9%) is substantially higher than estimates from 2012 (4.25%) and a 2023 estimate of 7.8% among adults of all ages (18+ years). The increase over time may reflect changes in diagnostic criteria for children and adults, greater acceptance of adult diagnosis, over- and mis-diagnosis, and methodological issues. The difference between the 2023 estimates likely reflects study-specific differences in the constructs measured, the age range of the samples, and methodological differences in the online panels used for sampling, in quality control approaches, and in post-survey weight construction. Additional data collection and empirical research is needed to validate or refine provisional estimates based on samples drawn from online panels, and to determine explanations for the observed increase over time.
Graph guided local structure propagation for tensorial multi-view subspace clustering
Authors: Zhang Tao , Qin Yan , Wang Yizhang , Shen Xiaobo , Liu Fan
Published: February 2025

Multi-view subspace clustering (MSC) is widely studied owing to the ability to capture the diverse and complementary information hidden in multiple views. As a representative model, tensorial MSC can capture global information by leveraging high-order correlations across various perspectives, leading to promising results. However, this approach fails to reveal the local structure in the specific view and ignores the prior information of the self-representation tensor. To address the problems, we propose the novel graph-guided local structure propagation (GGLSP) for tensorial MSC. First, we improve the adaptive graph model to acquire a fused graph similarity matrix for extracting the relationships between samples and propagating the local structure information to the self-representation tensor. Subsequently, we introduce the weighted tensor Schatten p-norm to approximate the tensor rank function by exploiting the contributions of different singular values so that the self-representation tensor can better reveal the global low-rank structure information. Finally, we develop two efficient algorithms to solve the optimization problems. Large numbers of experiments on seven popular datasets confirm the superiority of our proposed GGLSP.
A rare case of mal-positioning of an internal jugular central venous catheter due to an anomalous right upper pulmonary venous return
Authors: Hajeh Haidar , Garcia-Pacheco Ralph
Published: February 2025

Partial anomalous pulmonary venous return is a congenital defect where one or more pulmonary veins drain into the right atrium instead of the left. Most cases are asymptomatic and are discovered incidentally. Anomalous left upper pulmonary venous return is considered the most common type. We present a case of an 84-year-old male who presented to the hospital with altered mentation and suprapubic pain. He was found to be hypotensive and tachycardic and was diagnosed with septic shock of urinary source. He was resuscitated with fluids and antibiotics were started. He continued to be hypotensive and norepinephrine was started. A left internal jugular central venous catheter was inserted with no difficulty and a chest Xray was done for placement confirmation. Xray showed the catheter passing midline to the right hemithorax and pointing toward the right upper lung. A blood gas was drawn from the central catheter and showed pO2 of 80 mmHg. A CT scan was performed and showed the catheter coursing into the superior vena cava and pointing toward the right upper lung, wedging into the right upper pulmonary vein that is draining into the superior vena cava. This represents an anomalous right upper pulmonary venous return into the superior vena cava. This would also explain the imaging findings and the unexpected arterial levels of oxygen in the catheter blood gas. The catheter was removed and a femoral central venous access was established.
Citizens’ perceptions of the country brand as a tourist and investment destination: A market segmentation approach
Authors: Makgosa Rina , Maswabi Tshepo
Published: February 2025

This article aims to contribute to country branding using market segmentation principles relying on the perceptions of citizens about a country brand. An online survey research in the form of a structured questionnaire was utilized in this study, yielding a useable purposive sample of 405 citizens from a single country, Botswana. Findings show that citizens perceive the country’s brand unfavourably based on brand equity, identity, strength and satisfaction. There is also a lack of homogeneity in the perceptions that citizens have about the country brand except for the cultural environment that was perceived as a crucial element of brand identity across all segments. Five segments labelled as inspired enthusiasts, uninspired experts,enlightened spectators, exposed spectators and uninvolved spectators emerged in the study. Most respondents emerged as passive spectators who had minimal engagement with the country brand. This study provides deeper insights into the diversity of the internal audience through market segmentation and a comprehensive conceptualization of country branding tapping on brand equity, identity, strength and satisfaction. This study suggests ways in which tourism marketers and policymakers could engage citizens in strategies for branding a country as a tourist and investment destination to increase its competitive advantage.
Corrosion behaviour of 6016 aluminium/steel resistance spot welding joints in salt spray environment
Authors: Meng Xian-Ming , Shi Xuan , Li Tao , Zhang Sai , Cheng Cong-Qian , Wu Xiao-Zhong , Zhang Xue-Na , Cao Tie-Shan , Zhao Jie
Published: February 2025

The corrosion behaviour of lightweight aluminium/steel joints formed through resistance spot welding with multi-ring domed electrodes was investigated. A detailed examination of the RSW joint between 6016 aluminium and DP780 galvanised steel was conducted using electrochemical corrosion tests in a 3.5% NaCl solution and spray acceleration tests. The bonding process involved the formation of an interfacial Fe–Al intermetallic layer, with oxide inclusions near the aluminium nugget. Unlike the interfacial intermetallic layer, microcracks and Si-rich regions at the aluminium-side interface front were found to be particularly vulnerable to corrosion during salt spray exposure. This study demonstrates that the microstructure and interface oxides are key factors affecting corrosion resistance of the joint nugget and provides insights into optimising the RSW process.
Machine learning-based strain response prediction method for structural members of a building using ground motion data and intensity measures
Authors: Park Hyo Seon , Oh Byung Kwan
Published: February 2025

This study presents a strain response prediction method for structural members of a building using ground motion (GM) data. The relationship between the strain response and the GM data is determined by a convolutional neural network (CNN), which is a machine learning technique. A CNN model with the time history GM data set as input and the strain response of structural members to earthquakes set as output is trained using the measurement data. The constructed CNN model is used to predict strain based on the recorded GM data when a seismic event occurs afterwards. In the proposed method, three seismic intensity measures such as singular value matrix, Arias Intensity, and cumulative absolute velocity extracted from the GM data are used as input data for the CNN in addition to time history GM data. Each seismic intensity measure with the GM data is employed in each CNN. Thus, a total four CNN models are presented. A comparison of strain prediction performance when subjected to seismic loads is made between the presented CNN models. The CNN model’s prediction performance is examined using the measured strain of structural members obtained from a shaking table test of a 3-story reinforced concrete frame specimen. Through the experimental study, intensity measures that are effective at predicting strain are discussed in detail.
Characterizing diagnostic disclosure communication strategies and challenges in dementia care: A qualitative study of interprofessional clinicians across three systems
Authors: Paladino Joanna , Chavez Granados Heily , Bernstein Sideman Alissa , Davila Carine , Ramirez Gomez Liliana , Lindenberger Elizabeth , Block Susan , Vranceanu Ana-Maria , Blacker Deborah , Rentz Dorene , Ritchie Christine
Published: February 2025

Background: Diagnostic disclosure communication in dementia care proves challenging for clinicians and inadequately addresses patient and caregiver needs. We characterized clinician communication strategies and challenges for diagnostic disclosure conversations as an initial step in developing a structured communication intervention. Methods: Thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with 23 clinicians across three academic medical centers in neurology, geriatrics, geriatric psychiatry, neuropsychology, and primary care. Findings: Communicating a dementia diagnosis, because of its gravity, requires incremental communication strategies organized in the following domains. First, building and maintaining strong relationships with patients and caregivers by establishing rapport and emotional connection builds trust and creates a sense of partnership. Second, assessing illness awareness and establishing readiness to discuss diagnosis occurs over multiple visits. This involves creating psychological safety to discuss cognitive concerns, especially for individuals from racial and ethnic marginalized communities in which there is enhanced stigma. Third, clinicians tailor word choice for disclosure based on patient and caregiver needs and their own comfort. Fourth, clinicians are attuned to patient and caregiver emotions but feel varying levels of comfort responding to emotions. Fifth, approaches to sharing prognostic information include emphasis on individual variability and discussions of longer-term anticipated changes to function, although clinicians identified challenges with discussing prognosis due to uncertainty about rates of progression. Sixth, supporting hope and preparation in care planning supports patients and caregivers to adapt to the diagnosis and plan for future changes. Building relationships with caregivers and adapting communication for patients of different cultural backgrounds occurs throughout the process. Common challenges include: harm to the therapeutic relationship from ‘abrupt’ disclosures; limitations in patient ability to retain or accept diagnostic information; clinicians’ challenges with their own emotions that arise with disclosure. Conclusion: A customized, structured communication framework and training for clinicians may enhance the quality of diagnostic disclosure conversations in dementia care.
Emancipated through the basis of cultural heritage? Intersections between democratic and historical consciousness in the Danish history curriculum
Authors: Alvén Fredrik , Knudsen Heidi Eskelund
Published: February 2025

This article examines how the Danish history curriculum encourages students to understand history and develop a sense of temporal orientation, and how this orientation can be linked to the fostering of democratic consciousness. This syllabus is analysed through critical discourse analysis (CDA). Historical consciousness is described as rooted in history, while also empowering individuals to act. The primary finding regarding democracy suggests a vision where both individuals and smaller communities are not only granted but also expected to exercise their rights to participate in an ever-evolving society. Democracy is portrayed as a daily practice aimed at enhancing one's own life or the community. However, interconnecting historical and democratic consciousness to understand the purpose of history education raises questions about the interpretation of historical guidance. Should it be viewed as a framework that restricts citizens’ ability to act independently or as a tool that offers opportunities for change?
In Brief
Authors: van Stee Elena G. , Uscola Colter J. , Muzzerall Parker
Published: February 2025

Neighborhood partisanship, help-seeking stigma, and coercive debt: A snapshot of new research.
“You Want us to Think Outside the Box, but Who’s Funding it?”: Tensions Between Profitability and Corporate Environmental Sustainability
Authors: Adel Vanessa , King Leslie
Published: February 2025

Corporations may talk a good game when it comes to environmental stewardship yet balk at projects that threaten the bottom line. Unpacking the "business case" framework with CES professionals reveals their limited agency to effect more than minor change.
Beyond #Girlboss and #Tradwife: Reclaiming Joy by Expanding Our Feminist Imagination
Authors: Radhakrishnan Smitha , Solari Cinzia D.
Published: February 2025

Hashtag feminism responds to White western women’s binds and the limits of "having it all" but overlooks the global, utopic feminist visions that might help struggling women everywhere forge paths toward liberatory futures.
Why Conservatives Embrace Social Democracy
Authors: Scarritt Arthur , Kreiter Michael , Jobe Amelia , Kowalczuk Danilla
Published: February 2025

Arthur Scarritt, Michael Kreiter, Amelia Jobe, and Danilla Kowalczuk on surprising support for social programs.
Geographies of Trauma
Authors: Bloch Stefano
Published: February 2025

Stefano Bloch on Sons, Daughters, and Sidewalk Psychotics and The Marvelous Ones.
P3a, P3b Characteristics of OSA Patients in the Acute Stroke Population
Authors: Zhang Pingshu , Qian Hongchun , Yuan Jianxin , Ou Ya , Yuan Xiaodong , Cao Lingyun , Duan Liqin , Ling Qirong
Published: February 2025

Objective: To investigate the neurophysiological and cognitive impairments in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) among the acute stroke population. Methods: A total of 268 acute ischemic stroke patients with OSA underwent sleep monitoring within 24 h of admission and event-related potential tests within three days. They were categorized into groups based on their AHI: stroke only, and stroke with mild, moderate, or severe OSA. This classification served to analyze the electrophysiological profiles associated with stroke and OSA severity. Results: Compared with the control group, in the P3b series, the P3b-FZ amplitude was significantly reduced in the stroke with mild, moderate, and severe OSA group; the N2-PZ latency was significantly prolonged in the stroke with severe OSA group; and the P3b-FZ, P3b-CZ, and P3b-FZ latencies were significantly prolonged in the stroke with mild, moderate, and severe OSA group; in the P3a series, the N2-CZ amplitude was decreased in the stroke with severe OSA group, P2-FZ latency was significantly prolonged in the stroke with mild and moderate OSA group, P3a-FZ latency was significantly prolonged in the stroke with mild OSA group, P3a-CZ latency was significantly prolonged in the stroke with severe OSA group, and P3a-PZ latency was significantly prolonged in the stroke with mild and severe OSA group. Conclusions: The electrophysiologic changes compared with the stroke-only group were mainly characterized by prolonged latencies of the endogenous components P3a and P3b, suggesting that they are related to attention allocation and cognitive control.
Electroencephalogram Electrode and Amplifier Temperature Changes During Routine Anatomical and Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Sequences at 3 Tesla
Authors: Stark Adam J , Han Caleb J , Eisma Jarrod J , Song Alexander K , Garza Maria E , Mann Leah G , Claassen Daniel O , Donahue Manus J
Published: February 2025

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequences commonly used in simultaneous electroencephalogram (EEG)-MRI studies include blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) and anatomical T1-weighted MRI. Safety and electrode heating profiles for these sequences have been well-characterized. However, recent improvements in EEG design may allow for additional sequences to be performed with similar expectations of heating safety, which would expand the EEG-MRI infrastructure for quantitative physiological studies. We evaluated temperature changes ex vivo and in vivo over a wider range of preparation and readout modules with differing specific absorption rate (SAR). A 32-channel EEG cap was used at 3 T and ex vivo heating was assessed for 2D- and 3D-pseudo-continuous-arterial-spin-labeling, 2D-cine, 2D-phase-contrast, 2D T2-Relaxation-Under-Spin-Tagging, 32-direction b = 1000 s/mm2 and b = 2000 s/mm2 2D-diffusion tensor imaging, multiband-BOLD, 3D-T1 MPRAGE, 3D-FLAIR, and 3D-T2. Temperature was monitored with a fiberoptic probe system and plotted over six different electrodes, the amplifier, and battery pack. In vivo assessments were conducted in three participants with the same system. A further in vivo supplemental cohort (n = 10) was used to further evaluate qualitative self-reported heating. Device integrity was evaluated by the manufacturer following experiments. Peak temperature and maximum temperature increases were 23.0°C and 0.4°C respectively ex vivo, and 37.6°C and 0.7°C respectively in vivo. Temperatures did not approach the safety heating threshold of 40°C (defined as a conservative threshold based on manufacturer recommendations and burn injury data). Participants completed in vivo scans without adverse events. No manufacturer-reported device damage was identified. Overall, the tested scans induced heating below critical limits at the clinical field strength of 3 T.
“Talking the Same Language”: The Influence of Sharing a Visual Impairment Identity Between Researchers and Participants on Enhancing Participant Recruitment and Fostering Rapport During Interviews With Blind Individuals
Authors: Emara Ibrahim
Published: February 2025

Interviews are increasingly being recognized as a valuable data collection method among researchers conducting studies involving individuals with visual impairments. Conducting interviews with individuals who are visually impaired raises diverse ethical, methodological, and theoretical concerns. However, several compelling questions remain unresolved, such as: Should qualitative researchers belong to the population they are studying, such as being visually impaired when researching the experiences of visually impaired individuals? Is a blind individual’s willingness to participate in interviews influenced by whether the interviewer has a visual impairment or not? Does a researcher’s membership within the group being studied ensure the establishment of strong rapport? What are the recommended guidelines for establishing rapport with blind individuals during interviews? Using autoethnography, I will share my personal experiences and those of other researchers investigating visually impaired people in establishing rapport with blind interview subjects. The article will provide insights into the principles of rapport building, informed by the perspectives of ten disability scholars who have conducted interviews with blind individuals. I contend that when researchers share the same identity as the community they are studying, the number of study participants tends to increase. Additionally, the sense of rapport between researchers and participants is significantly enhanced. Consequently, the article makes several significant contributions that benefit both blind and sighted researchers. It equips them with techniques and strategies for interacting effectively with visually impaired individuals during interviews.
Study on the evolution of spatio-temporal pattern of healthcare resource distribution in Changsha City under the perspective of health equity
Authors: Tang Hui , Yan Jie , Pan Deng , Chen Yu
Published: February 2025

This paper analyzes the healthcare level and the evolution of spatial and temporal pattern of each district and county in Changsha City by using the entropy value method based on the statistics of the number of healthcare facilities, beds, and health technicians in Changsha City from 2010 to 2018, and evaluates the fairness and trend of healthcare resource distribution in Changsha City over the years in terms of per capita level through the calculation of the Gini coefficient. The results show that the medical level in the southern part of Changsha City is better, the medical level in the northern part is weaker, there are significant differences in the healthcare level between districts and counties and the differences between districts and counties are decreasing year by year; there is a lack of fairness in the level of healthcare technicians in each district and counties in comparison with the level of the number of health care institutions and beds. In this regard, suggestions are made to improve the level of protection of health technical personnel, to equalize the distribution of the internal components of health care, and to improve the construction of the health care system and resource sharing.
A two-step method to reduce misclassification and uncertainty in spam filtering using two-way classification and probabilistic rough set methods
Authors: Soumya T V , Sabu M K
Published: February 2025

Traditional Two-way classification algorithms fail to represent the uncertainty in data, whereas Three-way classification algorithms represent uncertainty regarding the boundary region. In Two-way classification algorithms, based on the specific strategy of the model, objects are classified and the classification accuracy is improved by the appropriate selection of the model. The Three-way classification models extend to various methods based on rough sets, fuzzy sets and interval sets. Among these methods, Probabilistic rough sets work on the basis of equivalence classes which impart the indiscernibility among the objects. Adding a proper dimensionality for the object description reduces the uncertainty which leads to definite classifications. By focusing on the benefits of both types of algorithms, this paper proposes a hybridized method using Two-way classifications and Probabilistic rough sets to reduce the misclassification error and uncertainty. For that, proper Two-way classification is adapted to generate a Three-way classification, and the boundary region is re-examined to reduce the uncertainty by incorporating Information-theoretic rough sets. The experiment on the spam data sets proves that the proposed method increases the accuracy and coverage with minimum uncertainty compared to the existing methods. This work showcases the advantages of both Two-way as well as Three-way probabilistic rough set algorithms.
Andrographolide Inhibits the NF-κB Signaling Pathway and Alleviates High-Fat Diet-Induced Hepatic Inflammation in a Mouse Model of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Authors: Hu Weiwen , Chen Yilin , Tan Wenhong , Wang Yirong , Huang Die , Yuan Hao
Published: February 2025

Background

High-fat diet (HFD)-induced nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a key link between several medical conditions and is becoming a major health concern affecting thousands of people globally. Andrographolide, an active ingredient extracted from Andrographis paniculate, has shown anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrosis effects in recent studies.

Objective

This study aims to explore whether andrographolide can mitigate HFD-induced NAFLD and the underlying mechanism.

Methods

We treated C57B/6 mice consuming a high-fat diet (HFD) with varying concentrations of andrographolide. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was employed to evaluate liver function indicators in circulating blood. Haematoxylin and Eosin and Oil Red O staining were used to assess inflammation infiltration and lipid deposits in liver tissues. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and immunoblotting were used to analyze the expression levels of genes and proteins.

Results

ELISA revealed that andrographolide dose-dependently mitigated the HFD-induced elevations of glucose, alanine aminotransferase, and aspartate aminotransferase in circulating blood. Histological analysis indicated that andrographolide dose-dependently reduced HFD-induced inflammation infiltration and lipid deposition. RT-qPCR and immunoblotting analyses showed that andrographolide dose-dependently inhibited the HFD-induced overproduction of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and the up-regulation of p-p65 and NLRP3 proteins.

Conclusion

Together, these results suggest that andrographolide treatment can dose-dependently mitigate HFD-induced liver function impairments, lipid accumulation, pro-inflammatory cytokine overproduction, and inflammatory responses in the liver of mice by regulating the NF-κB signaling pathway. However, it is important to note that our results are observational and do not conclusively demonstrate the necessity of the NF-κB signaling pathway's involvement in the NAFLD-alleviating effects of andrographolide. This highlights the need for further validation at both the gene and protein levels through additional in vitro and in vivo experiments.
Xiaohan Liqi Granules Alleviate Inflammation and Modulate PI3K/Akt Pathway in an Intermittent Hypoxia-Induced Rat Model of OSAHS: A Network Pharmacology and Experimental Study
Authors: Zhang Shiyu , Guo Qi , Jin Ruifeng , Cui Hongsheng , Chen Qiuyi , Huang Guirui , Lv Mingsheng , Huang Shuaiyang , Gong Xuefeng , Zhang Zhijie , Liu Shuan
Published: February 2025

Objective: To investigate the mechanism of Xiaohan Liqi granules (XHLQ) on obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) using network pharmacology and animal validation. Methods: Network pharmacology was used to demonstrate the mechanism of XHLQ in OSAHS with the use of databases and software such as The Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP), GeneCards, Cytoscape 3.7.2, etcetera. The intermittent hypoxia (IH)-induced rat model was established by placing the rats in an IH chamber and adjusting the oxygen concentration. Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) staining was performed to observe the pathological changes in the lung tissues of the rats. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was used to determine the average optical density values of PI3K and Akt. Quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) was performed to compare the relative mRNA expression levels of PI3K and Akt in each group. And Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay (ELISA) was used to measure serum IL-6 and TNF-α in rats. Results: The core ingredients of XHLQ for OSAHS were β-sitosterol, palmitoleic acid, α-linolenic acid (ALA), kaempferol and linoleic acid, and the core targets were ALB, IL6, CXCL8, HIF1A, IGF1, MMP9, TLR4, NOS3 and PPARG. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis showed that the common targets of XHLQ and OSAHS were mainly involved PI3K/Akt, HIF-1, TNF-α, NF-κB and other signaling pathways. H&E staining demonstrated that XHLQ can alleviate inflammatory infiltration in the lung tissues. ELISA indicated that XHLQ decreases the expression of IL-6 and TNF-α. IHC staining and RT-qPCR confirmed that XHLQ can reduce the activation of PI3K and Akt. Conclusion: XHLQ may exert therapeutic effects in OSAHS through multiple targets and pathways. Animal experiments verified that XHLQ attenuated airway inflammation and down-regulated PI3K and Akt expression in an IH rat model. Thus, XHLQ shows potential as an adjunctive treatment for OSAHS.
Ultrasonicated Ginseng Berry Extract mediated protective effect against Mild Bile Duct Ligation induced Hepatic Encephalopathy in rats
Authors: Choi Won Seok , Nam Yoonjin , Lee Ji-Yun , Lee Jong Hyuk , Sohn Uy Dong
Published: February 2025

Background

Panax ginseng Meyer ( P. ginseng) is a well-known herb of traditional Chinese medicine that has been used to revitalize the body and mind. A recent study revealed that P. ginseng exhibits neuroprotective activity against brain damage. P. ginseng also enhances cognitive function. However, the protective effects of P. ginseng berry against hepatic encephalopathy (HE) have not yet been studied. We investigated the protective effect of ultrasonication-processed GBE (UGBE) compared to GBE on mild bile duct ligation (MBDL) to verify the effect of P. ginseng berry on HE.

Methods

After ultrasonication, the component ratios of ginsenosides Rh1, Rh4, Rg2, Rg3, Rk1, Rk3, and F4 in the extract increased. In this study, the protective effect of the newly developed UGBE against neuronal damage was evaluated in an MBDL model. Silymarin was used as a positive control. UGBE, GBE, and silymarin were orally administered for 6 weeks after MBDL surgery.

Results

MBDL rats demonstrated delayed pain response and impaired motor coordination, mobility, spatial learning, and related memory errors. However, UGBE administration ameliorated HE symptoms, whereas treatment with GBE or silymarin did not show a recovery effect. The recovery effects of UGBE are due to a reduction in neuronal damage caused by MBDL surgery. Microglial activation and the production of inflammatory cytokines were decreased in the UGBE treatment group.

Conclusion

UGBE has a protective effect against MBDL-induced HE in rats through the inhibition of microglial activation in the brain.
Role of Ascorbic Acid and Pyridoxal-5-Phosphate in the Prevention of Glucose-Induced Damage of Protein and DNA
Authors: Kumar Dinesh , Al-Anazi Khalid Mashay , Farah Mohammad Abul , Ali Ahmad
Published: February 2025

Objective: This study aims to assess the interaction of ascorbic acid (AA) and pyridoxal-5-phosphate (PLP) with serum protein for binding affinity. These vitamins are investigated for the glucose-induced glycation products for 28 days at 37 °C. Methods: The interaction of AA-BSA and PLP-BSA complexes was analysed spectroflurometrically. The glycation process was checked by spectroscopically measuring fructosamine content, carbonyl content, and total fluorescent advanced glycated end products (AGEs). The aggregation of amyloid β-structure was measured with Congo red and Thioflavin-T dye assays in glycation-induced BSA. The damage prevention of DNA strands was analyzed using electrophoresis. Results: Both, ascorbic acid and pyridoxal-5-phosphate showed the quenching of fluorescence of AA-BSA and PLP-BSA complexes. Pyridoxal-5-phosphate showed more binding affinity than ascorbic acid and found a Kb value of 5.63 × 104 M−1. Pyridoxal-5-phosphate showed suppression of generated Amadori products (45%), carbonyl content (33.54%), and total fluorescent AGEs (36.32%) in the glycation system. However, ascorbic acid caused a reduction in the total fluorescent AGEs by 24.55%. The glycation-induced aggregation in the presence of AA and PLP was prevented by 23.91% and 31.26%. Both vitamins could prevent the DNA breaks, which were caused due to glycoxidation. Conclusion: These findings suggest that pyridoxal-5-phosphate showed more binding affinity, anti-glycation, and anti-aggregation properties than ascorbic acid.
IL-23 blockade in a patient with psoriasis and Toxoplasma gondii reactivation history: Case report and review
Authors: Dagher J. , Ringuet J.
Published: February 2025

Toxoplasma gondii infection can lead to severe disease in immunocompromised patients. Current systemic therapies in psoriasis rely on varying degrees of immunomodulation. Few studies have investigated the involvement of key cytokines targeted by these novel therapies (interleukins 23 and 17) in the immune response against T. gondii. We describe a case of a patient with severe plaque psoriasis and a history of frequent ocular toxoplasmosis reactivations successfully treated using anti-IL-23 therapy without T. gondii reactivation. A brief scoping review of the literature is presented to address current data on toxoplasmosis and biologic therapy for psoriasis.
Endometriosis-associated obstructive uropathy: A case report
Authors: Ryan Caoimhe , Burns Michael , Redahan Lynn
Published: February 2025

Endometriosis affects approximately 10% of premenopausal women, with urinary tract involvement in 1% of cases. Ureteric endometriosis is a rare, typically asymptomatic, cause of obstructive renal failure. We present the case of a 30-year-old woman with stage IV endometriosis and advanced human immunodeficiency virus presenting with acute, severe left flank pain and kidney injury. Imaging revealed severe, bilateral hydronephrosis due to extensive endometriosis deposits obstructing the urinary tract. Recurrent ureteric obstruction by infiltrating endometrial disease necessitated eight procedures (bilateral nephroureteric stent placements and nephrostomy insertions). Despite the severity of the disease surgery was successfully avoided. At the time of discharge and subsequent follow-up, the patient was clinically well with stable renal function (Creatinine 1.33–1.61 mg/dL). This case highlights the importance of considering endometriosis in the differential diagnosis of acute kidney injury in women. It demonstrates successful non-surgical management of severe ureteric disease to prevent irreversible renal damage.
The Identity Development and Adjustment of Spanish Emerging Adult College Students: A Study Across Two Waves
Authors: Domínguez-Alarcón Paula , Parra Águeda , Schwartz Seth J. , Montero-Zamora Pablo , Sánchez-Queija Inmaculada
Published: February 2025

The aim of this study was to explore identity development across two waves, and its relationship with adjustment, among Spanish emerging adults. The sample consisted of 400 emerging adult undergraduates (67% women, 33% men) aged between 18–29 years ( M = 20.31, SD = 2.04 in Wave 1; M = 23.66, SD = 2.08 in Wave 2) from two Spanish universities. Results indicated that identification with commitment decreased, and exploration in depth increased, over time. For men, cross-lagged effects showed that exploration in breadth positively predicted exploration in depth, while ruminative exploration negatively predicted commitment making. In women, identification with commitment positively predicted commitment making, and exploration in depth positively predicted exploration in breadth. Significant associations of wave 1 identity dimensions with adjustment variables at wave 2 were observed. Gender differences emerged both in terms of (a) mean levels of identity processes and (b) associations of identity processes with outcome variables.
Improvement of Cardiac and Pulmonary Function in Patients With Moderate-to-Severe Idiopathic Scoliosis After Posterior Corrective surgery—A Single-Center, Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Liu Chunxia , Tan Kunyue , Huang Xiaofeng , Wang Shuzhen , Yu Bin , Xiong Feng
Published: February 2025

Study Design

Prospective single-center cohort study.

Objective

To evaluate cardiac morphology, cardiac function, and pulmonary hypertension impairment in patients with idiopathic scoliosis (IS) and their changes one year after scoliosis surgery.

Methods

70 patients with IS with predominantly thoracic curvature Cobb angle >40° were enrolled and categorized into moderate (<70°) and severe (≥70°) groups. Preoperative radiography and transthoracic echocardiography were performed. Postoperatively, 51 patients completed a one-year follow-up and were compared with preoperative data.

Results

(1) Left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD), left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LVGLS), and e were lower and E/e was higher in the moderate vs severe group, and the aortic internal diameter and LVEF were lower in the severe group than in the control group ( P < 0.05); (2) Right ventricular free wall strain (RVFWS), tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), and TAPSE/systolic pulmonary artery pressure (SPAP) were lower, and SPAP was higher in the moderate vs severe group than in the control group ( P < 0.05); (3) The thoracic curve Cobb angle was significantly negatively correlated with LVEDD, SV, LVGLS, RVFWS, TAPSE, TAPSE/SPAP and FVC and FEV1 measured/predicted ( P < 0.05), and positively correlated with SPAP ( P < 0.05); (4) After one-year postoperative follow-up, LVEDD, LVGLS, SV, e, RVFWS, TAPSE and TAPSE/SPAP were higher, and E/e and SPAP were lower ( P < 0.05) compared to pre-operation.

Conclusion

Cardiac morphology, left and right heart function, and pulmonary function were impaired in patients with IS, and which showed significant improvement after posterior corrective surgery.
Anterior Versus Posterior and Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion for Spondylolisthesis: A Comparison of Radiographic, Clinical, and Patient Reported Outcomes
Authors: Lavu Monish S. , Halkiadakis Penelope N. , Meade Seth M. , Makineni Pratheek S. , Shost Michael D. , Thompson Nicolas R. , White Alexandra J. , Golubovsky Joshua L. , Mroz Thomas E. , Steinmetz Michael P.
Published: February 2025

Study Design

Retrospective Cohort Study.

Objectives

Lumbar spinal fusion is an increasingly utilized surgery within the United States attributed to an aging population with an increasing prevalence of degenerative spinal disease. Primary approaches include anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) and posterior or transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF/TLIF), for which indications are preference driven. This study’s objectives were to compare the clinical, radiographic, and functional outcomes of approaches for lumbar spondylolisthesis.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective chart review of 1156 (267 ALIF; 889 PLIF/TLIF) patients who underwent ALIF or PLIF/TLIF due to spondylolisthesis at the L4-5, L5-S1, or L4-S1 levels at a large tertiary referral center from 2010 through 2018. Univariate and multivariable linear and logistic regressions were used to compare outcomes including radiologic fusion, change in lumbar lordosis, postoperative complications, and pre- to postoperative changes in quality-of-life (QoL) variables.

Results

Between propensity-weighted cohorts, multivariate regression showed markedly increased odds of radiographic fusion for the ALIF cohort (Odds Ratio [OR]: 2.50, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 1.51-4.15). ALIF patients had shorter lengths of stay and less blood loss. However, there was no difference in the odds of reoperation within 1 year or any complications. There was also no significant group difference in change in Cobb angle or in any of the QoL variables.

Conclusions

These results indicate that ALIF may have greater radiologic success of fusion. However, when controlling for confounders, there is no difference in clinical outcomes between the approaches. Further research should evaluate the long-term cost-effectiveness of the 2 procedures.
Masquerading Ventricular Double Rupture in Inferior Wall Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Walse Rohit Sunil , Sasidharan Bijulal , Gopalakrishnan Arun
Published: February 2025

Ventricular septal rupture is a rare mechanical complication of acute myocardial infarction that continues to have high mortality outcomes in the 21st century. Mechanical complications rarely co-occur after myocardial infarction, posing significant management challenges. We present an extremely rare case of a true ventricular double rupture in a patient with inferior wall myocardial infarction and its management implications, wherein the second rupture may be missed.
Comparison of outcomes in postinduction strategies for primary central nervous system lymphoma: a Mayo Clinic experience
Authors: Hwang Steven R. , Godby Richard C. , Negaard Brianna J. , Mwangi Raphael , Nedved Adrienne N. , Barreto Jason N. , Micallef Ivana N. , Ansell Stephen M. , Porrata Luis , Durani Urshila , Thanarajasingam Gita , Habermann Thomas M. , Maurer Matthew J. , Johnston Patrick B. , Khurana Arushi
Published: February 2025

Primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) is a rare form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma involving the brain, cerebrospinal fluid, or retina/vitreous without systemic involvement. Induction with high-dose methotrexate (HD-MTX) followed by consolidation with autologous stem cell transplant (auto-SCT) has become the standard treatment paradigm for most patients. However, limited data are available regarding the efficacy of a maintenance approach with HD-MTX. Herein, we retrospectively reviewed the characteristics and outcomes of 148 patients diagnosed with PCNSL between October 2010 and June 2022, who underwent HD-MTX–based induction therapy followed by either auto-SCT consolidation (n = 70) or HD-MTX maintenance therapy (n = 37). At a median follow-up time of 4.5 years, the progression-free survival (PFS) was 8.3 years and the overall survival (OS) was not reached. Compared to patients who underwent auto-SCT, patients who received maintenance HD-MTX had a higher median age at diagnosis of 72 vs 62 years and a trend toward higher proportion of patients being Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group 2 or higher (41% vs 29%). At 5-years postinduction treatment initiation, the PFS rates in the auto-SCT cohort and HD-MTX maintenance cohort were 74.6% and 72.6%, respectively, and the OS rates were 76.0% and 82.4%, respectively. Overall, there was no significant difference in PFS or OS based on postinduction management strategy. Our data suggest that maintenance HD-MTX may be a reasonable, time-limited treatment strategy for patients with PCNSL responding to initial induction therapy.
A Dirichlet-multinomial mixed model for determining differential abundance of mutational signatures
Authors: Morrill Gavarró Lena , Couturier Dominique-Laurent , Markowetz Florian
Published: February 2025

Background

Mutational processes of diverse origin leave their imprints in the genome during tumour evolution. These imprints are called mutational signatures and they have been characterised for point mutations, structural variants and copy number changes. Each signature has an exposure, or abundance, per sample, which indicates how much a process has contributed to the overall genomic change. Mutational processes are not static, and a better understanding of their dynamics is key to characterise tumour evolution and identify cancer cell vulnerabilities that can be exploited during treatment. However, the structure of the data typically collected in this context makes it difficult to test whether signature exposures differ between conditions or time-points when comparing groups of samples. In general, the data consists of multivariate count mutational data (e.g. signature exposures) with two observations per patient, each reflecting a group.

Results

We propose a mixed-effects Dirichlet-multinomial model: within-patient correlations are taken into account with random effects, possible correlations between signatures by making such random effects multivariate, and a group-specific dispersion parameter can deal with particularities of the groups. Moreover, the model is flexible in its fixed-effects structure, so that the two-group comparison can be generalised to several groups, or to a regression setting. We apply our approach to characterise differences of mutational processes between clonal and subclonal mutations across 23 cancer types of the PCAWG cohort. We find ubiquitous differential abundance of clonal and subclonal signatures across cancer types, and higher dispersion of signatures in the subclonal group, indicating higher variability between patients at subclonal level, possibly due to the presence of different clones with distinct active mutational processes.

Conclusions

Mutational signature analysis is an expanding field and we envision our framework to be used widely to detect global changes in mutational process activity. Our methodology is available in the R package CompSign and offers an ample toolkit for the analysis and visualisation of differential abundance of compositional data such as, but not restricted to, mutational signatures.