bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Elastography of the thyroid nodule, cut-off points between benign and malignant lesions for strain, 2D shear wave real time and point shear wave: a correlation with pathology, ACR TIRADS and Alpha Score
Authors: Mena Glenn , Montalvo Alejandro , Ubidia Michael , Olmedo Julio , Guerrero Ana , Leon-Rojas Jose E.
Published: June 2023

Objective

A prospective cross-sectional investigation of 170 thyroid nodules (TN) between January 2020 and December 2021 at Alpha Imagen was conducted to determine cut-off points (C/O) for elastography measurements and their diagnostic accuracy.

Methods

Nodules were categorized by ACR TI-RADS, Alpha Score (AS), and Bethesda; all were evaluated using 2D Shear Wave Real Time Elastography (RT-SWE), point Shear Wave (pSWE), and Strain Elastography (SE). Data was assessed with ROC curves, the Shapiro-Wilk test, T test, Chi-square test, and ANOVA.

Results

C/O were as follows: RTSWE Emax of 115kPa and 6.5 m/s, Emean of 47.5 kPa and 4.1 m/s, pSWE (average) of 52.4 kpa and 4.15 m/s; sensitivity of 81.2% and specificity of 57.6%, with a PPV of 72.4% and NPV of 70.0%. SE Value A had a C/O of 0.20%, with a sensitivity of 84%, specificity of 57%, PPV of 72.4% and NPP of 73.6%. The Strain Ratio nodule/tissue C/O was calculated as 2.69, with a sensitivity of 84%, specificity of 57%, PPV of 72.3%, and NPV of 73.5%. The RLBIndex quality control must be at least 92%; for pSWE, we suggest a mean interquartile ratio of ≤15.7% for kPa and 8.1% for m/s. The recommended depth is between 1.2 and 1.5 cm, and commonly used ROI boxes were 3x3 and 5x5mm.

Conclusion

2D-SWE and pSWE with Emax and Emean demonstrated C/O with excellent diagnostic accuracy. To maximize the correct classification of TN, we suggest combining ACR TI-RADS and AS with any of the elastography measurements assessed here.
Multiple-Rusophycus assemblage from the Parnaíba Basin (NE Brazil) reflects trilobites as tracemakers and molting behavior
Authors: Sedorko Daniel , de Barros Gabriel E. B. , Netto Renata Guimarães , Ghilardi Renato Pirani , Agostinho Sônia , Ramos Kimberly Silva , Franco Neto Emmanuel , Moreira Junior Carlos Alves , Borghi Leonardo
Published: June 2023

Trilobites inhabited all environments of Paleozoic seas, ranging from estuaries to continental slopes, and were globally distributed. Although their functional morphology and phylogenetic relations are established by well-preserved body fossils, the behavior of trilobites has received less attention. Three well-known trace fossils are interpreted to be produced by trilobitomorphs when preserved in Paleozoic rocks, Rusophycus (a resting trace), Cruziana (a furrowing trace), and Diplichnites (a locomotion trace). Those trace fossils unveil some aspects of trilobite behavior, but they were not investigated to test paleoecologic strategies based on morphometric parameters. This study uses Rusophycus to access the paleoecologic strategies of trilobites in storm-dominated shallow marine deposits of the Pimenteira and Cabeças formations (Middle to Upper Devonian, Parnaíba Basin, Brazil). It was conducted a detailed analysis of the Rusophycus specimens in a section that represents the transition between the Pimenteira and Cabeças formations (Parnaíba Basin). The width and length of the Rusophycus were measured, and statistical analyses were performed to understand the population characteristics. Relatively small-sized Rusophycus are dominant in such deposits, suggesting the dominance of young tracemakers and inferred r-strategist populations. The here reported multiple-Rusophycus assemblage reveals paleoecologic strategies of the population, and tiers relationship (cross-cutting epistratal and shallow-tier trace fossils such as Bergaueria, Palaeophycus, and Protopaleodictyon) indicate deep Rusophycus. The main reason for those burrowing activities deep in the substrate might be protection during ecdysis. Thus, the random distribution, lack of hunting evidence, and depth of Rusophycus suggest molting activity as the trigger for their production in storm-influenced beds of the Pimenteira Formation, probably by calmoniids or homalonotids.
Effects of extreme drought on soil microbial functional genes involved in carbon and nitrogen cycling in alpine peatland
Authors: Yan Zhongqing , Li Meng , Hao Yanbin , Li Yong , Zhang Xiaodong , Yan Liang , Kang Enze , Wang Xiaodong , Yang Ao , Niu Yuechuan , Yu Xiaoshun , Kang Xiaoming , Zhang Kerou
Published: June 2023

Diverse microorganisms drive biogeochemical cycles and consequently influence ecosystem-level processes in alpine peatlands, which are vulnerable to extreme drought induced by climate change. However, there are few reports about the effects of extreme drought on microbial function. Here we identify microbial functional genes associated with carbon and nitrogen metabolisms of extreme drought experiments that occurred at different periods of plant growth, the results show that early extreme drought reduces the abundance of functional genes involved in the decomposition of starch and cellulose; midterm extreme drought increases the abundance of lignin decomposition functional genes; late extreme drought reduces the hemicellulose but increases cellulose decomposition functional genes. In the carbon fixation pathway, extreme drought mainly changes the abundance of functional genes involved in the reductive citrate cycle process, the 3-hydroxy propionate bi-cycle, the dicarboxylate-hydroxybutyrate cycle and the incomplete reductive citrate cycle. Among the nitrogen cycling functional genes, amoA involved in oxidizing ammonia to hydroxylamine significantly increases under early extreme drought; midterm extreme drought reduces nrtC and nifD genes, which participate in nitrate assimilation and nitrogen fixation, respectively; late extreme drought significantly increases hcp genes involved in ammonification. pH and TN had the largest effects on the carbon degradation, fixation and nitrogen cycling functional genes. The composition of microbial community structures involved in carbon fixation differed between treatments in early extreme drought. There is a good linear fit between the diversity of gene abundance and corresponding microbial communities in the reductive citrate cycle, hydroxy propionate-hydroxybutyrate cycle, dicarboxylate-hydroxybutyrate cycle and nitrogen cycling, which suggests that the functional genes and community composition of microorganisms involved in these processes are consistent in response to extreme drought. This study provides new insights into the adaptability and response characteristics of microbial communities and functional genes in plateau peatland ecosystems to extreme drought events.
Competencies of the UK nursing and midwifery workforce to mainstream genomics in the National Health Service: the ongoing gap between perceived importance and confidence in genomics
Authors: Carpenter-Clawson Catherine , Watson Melanie , Pope Alison , Lynch Kathleen , Miles Tracie , Bell Dany , Talbot Maureen , Varadi Aniko
Published: June 2023

The United Kingdom is recognised worldwide as a leader in genomics. The use of genomic technologies in the National Health Service (NHS) is expected to deliver faster and more accurate diagnoses, supporting personalized treatments to improve patient outcomes. The ambition of embedding genomic medicine in the diagnostic pathway requires involvement of the front-line clinical workforce, known as ‘mainstreaming’. Nurses and midwives are the largest professionally qualified workforce in the National Health Service thus, it is anticipated that they will play key roles in mainstreaming. This study investigated the level of competence/confidence of practicing nurses and midwives to support mainstreaming and their perception of the importance of genomics in delivery of patient care. A literature review of genetics/genomics competency frameworks, semi structured interviews of lead nurses and stakeholders were conducted to identify relevant competencies needed for mainstreaming. These were then used to survey four cohorts of nurses (n = 153) across England in four consecutive years (2019–22). The confidence level of these professionals in all aspects of genomics was 2.07 ± 0.47 measured on a 5-point Likert scale (1“Low confidence”; 5 “High confidence”). Intriguingly, these professionals all appreciated the importance of genomics for their patient care (4.01 ± 0.06). Whilst the importance scores increased, the confidence scores declined at the time when major genomic transformation took place in the NHS (e.g.: launch of the Genomic Medicine Service, the National Genomic Test Directory). To bridge this gap, relevant genomic education can play key roles. However, nurses and midwives were found to be grossly underrepresented in formal genomic education courses offered by Health Education England Genomics Education Programme since 2014. This may result from the lack of direct applicability of the currently offered courses for their practice and role. Thematic analysis revealed that nurses and midwives wish to support their patients by providing more information on their condition, inheritance, and treatment options in combination with the use of relevant genetic counselling skills. This study identified easy to follow competencies for embedding genomics into routine clinical care. We propose a training programme that addresses the gap that nurses and midwives currently have, to enable them to harness genomic opportunities for patients and services.
Human-murine chimeric autoantibodies with high affinity and specificity for systemic sclerosis
Authors: Chen Sunhui , Liang Qiong , Zhuo Yanhang , Hong Qin
Published: June 2023

Scleroderma 70 (Scl-70) is commonly used in the clinic for aiding systemic sclerosis (SSc) diagnosis due to its recognition as autoantibodies in the serum of SSc patients. However, obtaining sera positive for anti-Scl-70 antibody can be challenging; therefore, there is an urgent need to develop a specific, sensitive, and easily available reference for SSc diagnosis. In this study, murine-sourced scFv library were screened by phage display technology against human Scl-70, and the scFvs with high affinity were constructed into humanized antibodies for clinical application. Finally, ten high-affinity scFv fragments were obtained. Three fragments (2A, 2AB, and 2HD) were select for humanization. The physicochemical properties of the amino acid sequence, three-dimensional structural basis, and electrostatic potential distribution of the protein surface of different scFv fragments revealed differences in the electrostatic potential of their CDR regions determined their affinity for Scl-70 and expression. Notably, the specificity test showed the half-maximal effective concentration values of the three humanized antibodies were lower than that of positive patient serum. Moreover, these humanized antibodies showed high specificity for Scl-70 in diagnostic immunoassays for ANA. Among these three antibodies, 2A exhibited most positive electrostatic potential on the surface of the CDRs and highest affinity and specificity for Scl-70 but with least expression level; thus, it may provide new foundations for developing enhanced diagnostic strategies for SSc.
Comparison of dexmedetomidine and dexamethasone as adjuvants to the ultrasound-guided interscalene nerve block in arthroscopic shoulder surgery: a systematic review and Bayesian network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Wei Xiu-Min , Liu Zheng , Lv Lian-Chao , Wu Guang-Han , Sun Peng-Yu , Gu Chang-Ping , Shi Peng-Cai
Published: June 2023

Introduction

Interscalene block (ISB) is widely regarded as the gold standard treatment for acute pain following arthroscopic shoulder surgery. However, a single injection of a local anesthetic for ISB may not offer sufficient analgesia. Various adjuvants have been demonstrated to prolong the analgesic duration of the block. Hence, this study aimed to assess the relative efficacy of dexamethasone and dexmedetomidine as adjuncts to prolong the analgesic duration for a single- shot ISB.

Methods

The efficacy of adjuvants was compared using a network meta-analysis. The methodological quality of the included studies was evaluated using the Cochrane bias risk assessment tool. A comprehensive search of the PubMed, Cochrane, Web of Science, and Embase databases was conducted with a search deadline of March 1, 2023. Various adjuvant prevention randomized controlled trials have been conducted in patients undergoing interscalene brachial plexus block for shoulder arthroscopic surgery.

Results

Twenty-five studies enrolling a total of 2,194 patients reported duration of analgesia. Combined dexmedetomidine and dexamethasone (MD = 22.13, 95% CI 16.67, 27.58), dexamethasone administered perineurally (MD = 9.94, 95% CI 7.71, 12.17), high-dose intravenous dexamethasone (MD = 7.47, 95% CI 4.41, 10.53), dexmedetomidine administered perineurally (MD = 6.82, 95% CI 3.43, 10.20), and low-dose intravenous dexamethasone (MD = 6.72, 95% CI 3.74, 9.70) provided significantly longer analgesic effects compared with the control group.

Discussion

The combination of intravenous dexamethasone and dexmedetomidine provided the greatest effect in terms of prolonged analgesia, reduced opioid doses, and lower pain scores. Furthermore, peripheral dexamethasone in prolonging the analgesic duration and lowering opioid usage was better than the other adjuvants when used a single medication. All therapies significantly prolonged the analgesic duration and reduced the opioid dose of a single-shot ISB in shoulder arthroscopy compared with the placebo.
Fellow of the European board of ophthalmology glaucoma examination and diploma (FEBOS-Gl): update on 8 years of experience and future perspectives
Authors: Sunaric Mégevand Gordana , Bron Alain M. , Topouzis Fotis
Published: June 2023

Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. Early diagnosis and appropriate management of the disease are essential to avoid a significant impact on the quality of life of millions of patients and the socioeconomic impact on societies. Education is the hallmark of good medical care. The European Glaucoma Society (EGS) has dedicated significant efforts to provide means of improving education, training, and testing knowledge in the field of glaucoma. The Fellow of the European Board of Ophthalmology Subspecialty (FEBOS)-Glaucoma examination, introduced and organized yearly by the EGS since 2015 in collaboration with the European Board of Ophthalmology (EBO), has become a valuable tool for increasing overall knowledge in the field. Over the 8 years of experience, several updates and new projects have emerged around the examination to further increase the overall quality of education, training, and knowledge in the field of glaucoma in Europe, particularly in UEMS and associated countries. This article discusses in detail the various projects and measures introduced by the EGS.
Percutaneous angioplasty and/or stenting versus aggressive medical therapy in patients with symptomatic intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis: a 1-year follow-up study
Authors: Li Xiaohui , Qin Xiaodan , Liu Chengfang , Zhu Lin , Wang Meng , Jiang Teng , Liu Yukai , Li Shuo , Shi Hongchao , Sun Huiling , Deng Qiwen , Zhou Junshan
Published: June 2023

Background

Symptomatic intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (sICAS) is one of the common causes of ischemic stroke. However, the treatment of sICAS remains a challenge in the past with unfavorable findings. The purpose of this study was to explore the effect of stenting versus aggressive medical management on preventing recurrent stroke in patients with sICAS.

Methods

We prospectively collected the clinical information of patients with sICAS who underwent percutaneous angioplasty and/or stenting (PTAS) or aggressive medical therapy from March 2020 to February 2022. Propensity score matching (PSM) was employed to ensure well-balanced characteristics of two groups. The primary outcome endpoint was defined as recurrent stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) within 1 year.

Results

We enrolled 207 patients (51 in the PTAS and 156 in the aggressive medical groups) with sICAS. No significant difference was found between PTAS group and aggressive medical group for the risk of stroke or TIA in the same territory beyond 30 days through 6 months (P = 0.570) and beyond 30 days through 1 year (P = 0.739) except for within 30 days (P = 0.003). Furthermore, none showed a significant difference for disabling stroke, death and intracranial hemorrhage within 1 year. These results remain stable after adjustment. After PSM, all the outcomes have no significant difference between these two groups.

Conclusion

The PTAS has similar treatment outcomes compared with aggressive medical therapy in patients with sICAS across 1-year follow-up.
The emerging double-edged sword role of exosomes in Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Liang Tao , Wu Zubo , Li Junjun , Wu Suyuan , Shi Wuhe , Wang Lin
Published: June 2023

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive loss of memory and cognitive dysfunction. The primary pathological hallmarks of AD are senile plaques formed by deposition of amyloid β (Aβ) protein, intracellular neurofibrillary tangles resulting from hyperphosphorylation of microtubule-associated protein tau, and loss of neurons. At present, although the exact pathogenesis of AD is still unclear and there is a lack of effective treatment for AD in clinical practice, researchers have never stopped exploring the pathogenic mechanism of AD. In recent years, with the rise of the research of extracellular vesicles (EVs), people gradually realize that EVs also play important roles in neurodegenerative diseases. Exosomes, as a member of the small EVs, are regarded as carriers for information exchange and material transport between cells. Many cells of the central nervous system can release exosomes in both physiological and pathological conditions. Exosomes derived from damaged nerve cells can not only participate in Aβ production and oligomerization, but also disseminate the toxic proteins of Aβ and tau to neighboring neurons, thereby acting as “seeds” to amplify the toxic effects of misfolded proteins. Furthermore, exosomes may also be involved in the degradation and clearance process of Aβ. There is increasing evidence to suggest that exosomes play multiple roles in AD. Just like a double-edged sword, exosomes can participate in AD pathology in a direct or indirect way, causing neuronal loss, and can also participate in alleviating the pathological progression of AD. In this review, we summarize and discuss the current reported research findings on this double-edged role of exosomes in AD.
Computed tomography angiography-based radiomics model for predicting carotid atherosclerotic plaque vulnerability
Authors: Shan Dezhi , Wang Siyu , Wang Junjie , Lu Jun , Ren Junhong , Chen Juan , Wang Daming , Qi Peng
Published: June 2023

Vulnerable carotid atherosclerotic plaque (CAP) significantly contributes to ischemic stroke. Neovascularization within plaques is an emerging biomarker linked to plaque vulnerability that can be detected using contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS). Computed tomography angiography (CTA) is a common method used in clinical cerebrovascular assessments that can be employed to evaluate the vulnerability of CAPs. Radiomics is a technique that automatically extracts radiomic features from images. This study aimed to identify radiomic features associated with the neovascularization of CAP and construct a prediction model for CAP vulnerability based on radiomic features. CTA data and clinical data of patients with CAPs who underwent CTA and CEUS between January 2018 and December 2021 in Beijing Hospital were retrospectively collected. The data were divided into a training cohort and a testing cohort using a 7:3 split. According to the examination of CEUS, CAPs were dichotomized into vulnerable and stable groups. 3D Slicer software was used to delineate the region of interest in CTA images, and the Pyradiomics package was used to extract radiomic features in Python. Machine learning algorithms containing logistic regression (LR), support vector machine (SVM), random forest (RF), light gradient boosting machine (LGBM), adaptive boosting (AdaBoost), extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), and multi-layer perception (MLP) were used to construct the models. The confusion matrix, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, accuracy, precision, recall, and f-1 score were used to evaluate the performance of the models. A total of 74 patients with 110 CAPs were included. In all, 1,316 radiomic features were extracted, and 10 radiomic features were selected for machine-learning model construction. After evaluating several models on the testing cohorts, it was discovered that model_RF outperformed the others, achieving an AUC value of 0.93 (95% CI: 0.88–0.99). The accuracy, precision, recall, and f-1 score of model_RF in the testing cohort were 0.85, 0.87, 0.85, and 0.85, respectively. Radiomic features associated with the neovascularization of CAP were obtained. Our study highlights the potential of radiomics-based models for improving the accuracy and efficiency of diagnosing vulnerable CAP. In particular, the model_RF, utilizing radiomic features extracted from CTA, provides a noninvasive and efficient method for accurately predicting the vulnerability status of CAP. This model shows great potential for offering clinical guidance for early detection and improving patient outcomes.
Mapping the time-varying functional brain networks in response to naturalistic movie stimuli
Authors: Song Limei , Ren Yudan , Wang Kexin , Hou Yuqing , Nie Jingsi , He Xiaowei
Published: June 2023

One of human brain’s remarkable traits lies in its capacity to dynamically coordinate the activities of multiple brain regions or networks, adapting to an externally changing environment. Studying the dynamic functional brain networks (DFNs) and their role in perception, assessment, and action can significantly advance our comprehension of how the brain responds to patterns of sensory input. Movies provide a valuable tool for studying DFNs, as they offer a naturalistic paradigm that can evoke complex cognitive and emotional experiences through rich multimodal and dynamic stimuli. However, most previous research on DFNs have predominantly concentrated on the resting-state paradigm, investigating the topological structure of temporal dynamic brain networks generated via chosen templates. The dynamic spatial configurations of the functional networks elicited by naturalistic stimuli demand further exploration. In this study, we employed an unsupervised dictionary learning and sparse coding method combing with a sliding window strategy to map and quantify the dynamic spatial patterns of functional brain networks (FBNs) present in naturalistic functional magnetic resonance imaging (NfMRI) data, and further evaluated whether the temporal dynamics of distinct FBNs are aligned to the sensory, cognitive, and affective processes involved in the subjective perception of the movie. The results revealed that movie viewing can evoke complex FBNs, and these FBNs were time-varying with the movie storylines and were correlated with the movie annotations and the subjective ratings of viewing experience. The reliability of DFNs was also validated by assessing the Intra-class coefficient (ICC) among two scanning sessions under the same naturalistic paradigm with a three-month interval. Our findings offer novel insight into comprehending the dynamic properties of FBNs in response to naturalistic stimuli, which could potentially deepen our understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying the brain’s dynamic changes during the processing of visual and auditory stimuli.
Direct learning-based deep spiking neural networks: a review
Authors: Guo Yufei , Huang Xuhui , Ma Zhe
Published: June 2023

The spiking neural network (SNN), as a promising brain-inspired computational model with binary spike information transmission mechanism, rich spatially-temporal dynamics, and event-driven characteristics, has received extensive attention. However, its intricately discontinuous spike mechanism brings difficulty to the optimization of the deep SNN. Since the surrogate gradient method can greatly mitigate the optimization difficulty and shows great potential in directly training deep SNNs, a variety of direct learning-based deep SNN works have been proposed and achieved satisfying progress in recent years. In this paper, we present a comprehensive survey of these direct learning-based deep SNN works, mainly categorized into accuracy improvement methods, efficiency improvement methods, and temporal dynamics utilization methods. In addition, we also divide these categorizations into finer granularities further to better organize and introduce them. Finally, the challenges and trends that may be faced in future research are prospected.
Stroke death in patients receiving radiation for head and neck cancer in the modern era
Authors: Hardy Sara J. , Bandyopadhyay Sanjukta , Yang Hongmei , Williams Annalynn , Gudina Abdi , Cummings Michael A. , Zhang Hong , Singh Deepinder P. , Chen Yuhchyau , Mohile Nimish A. , Janelsins Michelle C. , Milano Michael T.
Published: June 2023

Objectives

Head and neck cancer is a common malignancy frequently treated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Studies have shown an increased risk of stroke with the receipt of radiotherapy, but data on stroke-related mortality are limited, particularly in the modern era. Evaluating stroke mortality related to radiotherapy is vital given the curative nature of head and neck cancer treatment and the need to understand the risk of severe stroke in this population.

Methods

We analyzed the risk of stroke death among 122,362 patients (83,651 patients who received radiation and 38,711 patients who did not) with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (HNSCC) diagnosed between 1973 and 2015 in the SEER database. Patients in radiation vs. no radiation groups were matched using propensity scores. Our primary hypothesis was that radiotherapy would increase the hazard of death from stroke. We also examined other factors impacting the hazard of stroke death, including whether radiotherapy was performed during the modern era when IMRT and modern stroke care were available as well as increased HPV-mediated cancers of the head and neck. We hypothesized that the hazard of stroke death would be less in the modern era.

Results

There was an increased hazard of stroke-related death in the group receiving radiation therapy (HR 1.203, p = 0.006); however, this was a very small absolute increase, and the cumulative incidence function of stroke death was significantly reduced in the modern era (p < 0.001), cohorts with chemotherapy (p=0.003), males (p=0.002), younger cohorts (p<0.001) and subsites other than nasopharynx (p=0.025).

Conclusions

While radiotherapy for head and neck cancer increases the hazard of stroke death, this is reduced in the modern era and remains a very small absolute risk.
Anticancer properties of sulforaphane: current insights at the molecular level
Authors: Asif Ali Muhammad , Khan Noohela , Kaleem Nabeeha , Ahmad Waqas , Alharethi Salem Hussain , Alharbi Bandar , Alhassan Hassan H. , Al-Enazi Maher M. , Razis Ahmad Faizal Abdull , Modu Babagana , Calina Daniela , Sharifi-Rad Javad
Published: June 2023

Sulforaphane (SFN) is an isothiocyanate with multiple biomedical applications. Sulforaphane can be extracted from the plants of the genus Brassica. However, broccoli sprouts are the chief source of sulforaphane and are 20 to 50 times richer than mature broccoli as they contain 1,153 mg/100 g. SFN is a secondary metabolite that is produced as a result of the hydrolysis of glucoraphanin (a glucosinolate) by the enzyme myrosinase. This review paper aims to summarize and understand the mechanisms behind the anticancer potential of sulforaphane. The data was collected by searching PubMed/MedLine, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. This paper concludes that sulforaphane provides cancer protection through the alteration of various epigenetic and non-epigenetic pathways. It is a potent anticancer phytochemical that is safe to consume with minimal side effects. However, there is still a need for further research regarding SFN and the development of a standard dose.
The epidemic of acute lymphoid leukemia in China: current trends and future prediction
Authors: Zhu Wenxuan , Liu Shixuan , Shi Ying , Tang Qingyu , Sun Jianzhong , Bai Ruhai , Sun Zhonghe , Du Zhaoqing
Published: June 2023

Background

China has experienced one of the fastest increases in the incidence of acute lymphoid leukemia (ALL). The aim of this study was to assess the long-term trends of the incidence and mortality of ALL in mainland China between 1990 and 2019 and to project these trends through 2028.

Methods

Data on ALL were extracted from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019; population data were extracted from World Population Prospects 2019. An age–period–cohort framework was used in the analysis.

Results

The net drift for the incidence of ALL was 7.5% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 7.1%, 7.8%) per year in women and 7.1% (95% CI: 6.7%, 7.6%) in men, and local drift was found to be higher than 0 in every studied age group (p<0.05). The net drift for mortality was 1.2% (95% CI: 1.0%, 1.5%) in women and 2.0% (95% CI: 1.7%, 2.3%) in men. Local drift was lower than 0 in boys aged 0–4 years and girls aged 0–9 years and higher than 0 in men aged 10–84 years and women aged 15–84 years. The estimated period relative risks (RRs) for both incidence and mortality showed increasing trends in the recent period. The cohort RRs for incidence showed increasing trends in both sexes; however, the cohort RR for mortality was decreased in the recent birth cohort (women born after 1988–1992 and men born after 2003–2007). Compared with that in 2019, the incidence of ALL in 2028 is projected to increase by 64.1% in men and 75.0% in women, and the mortality is predicted to decrease by 11.1% in men and 14.3% in women. The proportion of older adult/adults individuals with incident ALL and ALL-related death was projected to increase.

Conclusions

Over the last three decades, the incidence and mortality rates of ALL have generally increased. It is projected that the incidence rate of ALL in mainland China will continue to increase in the future, but the associated mortality rate will decline. The proportion of older adult/adults individuals with incident ALL and ALL-related death was projected to increase gradually among both sexes. More efforts are needed, especially for older adult/adults individuals.
Case report: Thyroid storm in a three-year-old girl presenting with febrile status epilepticus and hypoglycemia
Authors: Aoki Yusuke , Hanaki Ryo , Toyoda Hidemi , Emori Koichi , Miyahara Masazumi , Hirayama Masahiro
Published: June 2023

Thyroid storm, though extremely rare in toddlers, requires prompt diagnosis and treatment because it can be fatal if left untreated. However, thyroid storm is not often considered in the differential diagnosis of a febrile convulsion due to its rarity in children. Herein, we report the case of a 3-year-old girl with thyroid storm who presented with febrile status epilepticus. Although the seizure was stopped by diazepam administration, her tachycardia and widened pulse pressure persisted, and severe hypoglycemia was observed. Based on the findings of thyromegaly, a history of excessive sweating and hyperactivity, and a family history of Graves' disease, she was eventually diagnosed with a thyroid storm. The patient was successfully treated with thiamazole, landiolol, hydrocortisone, and potassium iodide. Propranolol, a non-selective β-blocker, has been used to manage tachycardia during thyroid storm. However, a cardio-selective β1-blockers, landiolol hydrochloride, was used in our case to avoid worsening hypoglycemia. Febrile status epilepticus is one of the most common medical emergencies in childhood; it is necessary to rule out treatable underlying critical diseases such as septic meningitis and encephalitis. Thyroid storm should be considered in children presenting with prolonged febrile convulsion accompanied by findings that are not usually observed with febrile convulsions.
Screening and evaluation of drought resistance traits of winter wheat in the North China Plain
Authors: Bao Xiaoyuan , Hou Xiaoyang , Duan Weiwei , Yin Baozhong , Ren Jianhong , Wang Yandong , Liu Xuejing , Gu Limin , Zhen Wenchao
Published: June 2023

Background

Drought-resistant varieties are an important way to address the conflict between wheat’s high water demand and the scarcity of water resources in the North China Plain (NCP). Drought stress impacts many morphological and physiological indicators in winter wheat. To increase the effectiveness of breeding drought-tolerant varieties, choosing indices that can accurately indicate a variety’s drought resistance is advantageous.

Results

From 2019 to 2021, 16 representative winter wheat cultivars were cultivated in the field, and 24 traits, including morphological, photosynthetic, physiological, canopy, and yield component traits, were measured to evaluate the drought tolerance of the cultivars. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to transform 24 conventional traits into 7 independent, comprehensive indices, and 10 drought tolerance indicators were screened out by regression analysis. The 10 drought tolerance indicators were plant height (PH), spike number (SN), spikelet per spike(SP), canopy temperature (CT), leaf water content (LWC), photosynthetic rate (A), intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci), peroxidase activity (POD), malondialdehyde content (MDA), and abscisic acid (ABA). In addition, through membership function and cluster analysis, 16 wheat varieties were divided into 3 categories: drought-resistant, drought weak sensitive, and drought-sensitive.

Conclusion

JM418, HM19,SM22, H4399, HG35, and GY2018 exhibited excellent drought tolerance and,therefore, can be used as ideal references to study the drought tolerance mechanism in wheat and breeding drought-tolerant wheat cultivars.
Huntington disease exacerbates action impulses
Authors: Shiino Shuhei , van Wouwe Nelleke Corine , Wylie Scott A. , Claassen Daniel O. , McDonell Katherine E.
Published: June 2023

Background

Impulsivity is a common clinical feature of Huntington disease (HD), but the underlying cognitive dynamics of impulse control in this population have not been well-studied.

Objective

To investigate the temporal dynamics of action impulse control in HD patients using an inhibitory action control task.

Methods

Sixteen motor manifest HD patients and seventeen age-matched healthy controls (HC) completed the action control task. We applied the activation-suppression theoretical model and distributional analytic techniques to differentiate the strength of fast impulses from their top-down suppression.

Results

Overall, HD patients produced slower and less accurate reactions than HCs. HD patients also exhibited an exacerbated interference effect, as evidenced by a greater slowing of RT on non-corresponding compared to corresponding trials. HD patients made more fast, impulsive errors than HC, evidenced by significantly lower accuracy on their fastest reaction time trials. The slope reduction of interference effects as reactions slowed was similar between HD and controls, indicating preserved impulse suppression.

Conclusion

Our results indicate that patients with HD show a greater susceptibility to act rapidly on incorrect motor impulses but preserved proficiency of top-down suppression. Further research is needed to determine how these findings relate to clinical behavioral symptoms.
The digital edge: examining the relationship between digital competency and language learning outcomes
Authors: Cao Jiafan , Bhuvaneswari G. , Arumugam Thangaraja , Aravind B. R.
Published: June 2023

Introduction

Technology in education, including language learning, is on the rise. Digital competency is essential for teachers to effectively integrate technology and enhance language teaching. It enables access to authentic materials, interactive exercises, and collaboration opportunities. However, integrating technology poses challenges for teachers.

Objective

This empirical research aimed to investigate the impact of digital competency on language learning outcomes in the context of “smart education,” which incorporates sustainable practices and digital technologies in the language classroom.

Methods

The study adopted a quantitative approach to collect and analyze data. The sample population for the study comprised of 344 language teachers at various language schools in a metropolitan city. The data collection carried out with a digital competency questionnaire. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multivariate technique, i.e., structural equation modeling.

Findings

The study found that digital competency positively correlated with language proficiency outcomes. Participants with higher levels of digital competency achieved better language learning outcomes compared to those with lower levels of digital competency. Additionally, the study found that incorporating sustainable practices, such as digitalized learning materials and virtual classrooms, positively contributed to language learning outcomes. The findings of this study suggest that digital competency plays a vital role in language learning outcomes in the context of “smart education.”

Discussion & Recommendation

Teachers should consider incorporating digital tools and sustainable practices into their language teaching to enhance language learning outcomes. The study recommends that language educators should focus on developing digital competency and integrating sustainable practices into their language classroom to promote effective language learning.
The associations of Positive and Negative Valence Systems, Cognitive Systems and Social Processes on disease severity in anxiety and depressive disorders
Authors: Förstner Bernd R. , Böttger Sarah Jane , Moldavski Alexander , Bajbouj Malek , Pfennig Andrea , Manook André , Ising Marcus , Pittig Andre , Heinig Ingmar , Heinz Andreas , Mathiak Klaus , Schulze Thomas G. , Schneider Frank , Kamp-Becker Inge , Meyer-Lindenberg Andreas , Padberg Frank , Banaschewski Tobias , Bauer Michael , Rupprecht Rainer , Wittchen Hans-Ulrich , Rapp Michael A. , Tschorn Mira
Published: June 2023

Background

Anxiety and depressive disorders share common features of mood dysfunctions. This has stimulated interest in transdiagnostic dimensional research as proposed by the Research Domain Criteria (RDoC) approach by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) aiming to improve the understanding of underlying disease mechanisms. The purpose of this study was to investigate the processing of RDoC domains in relation to disease severity in order to identify latent disorder-specific as well as transdiagnostic indicators of disease severity in patients with anxiety and depressive disorders.

Methods

Within the German research network for mental disorders, 895 participants (n = 476 female, n = 602 anxiety disorder, n = 257 depressive disorder) were recruited for the Phenotypic, Diagnostic and Clinical Domain Assessment Network Germany (PD-CAN) and included in this cross-sectional study. We performed incremental regression models to investigate the association of four RDoC domains on disease severity in patients with affective disorders: Positive (PVS) and Negative Valance System (NVS), Cognitive Systems (CS) and Social Processes (SP).

Results

The results confirmed a transdiagnostic relationship for all four domains, as we found significant main effects on disease severity within domain-specific models (PVS: β = −0.35; NVS: β = 0.39; CS: β = −0.12; SP: β = −0.32). We also found three significant interaction effects with main diagnosis showing a disease-specific association.

Limitations

The cross-sectional study design prevents causal conclusions. Further limitations include possible outliers and heteroskedasticity in all regression models which we appropriately controlled for.

Conclusion

Our key results show that symptom burden in anxiety and depressive disorders is associated with latent RDoC indicators in transdiagnostic and disease-specific ways.
Psychedelics and workplace harm
Authors: Viña Sean Matthew , Stephens Amanda Layne
Published: June 2023

This study aims to understand the relationship between Lifetime Classic Psychedelic Use (LCPU), employment status, and weekly work hours on levels of psychological distress. The data used for this analysis is pooled from the National Survey of Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) from 2008–2019 and includes a sample size of 484,732 individuals. The findings suggest that LCPU and being employed are independently associated with better health. Additionally, the results indicate that psychedelic use is associated with lower distress for those who are employed, volunteer, retired, or permanently disabled. However, those who are unemployed, full-time students, or homemakers may experience higher levels of distress with psychedelic use. Interestingly, the analysis also suggests that those who use psychedelics are working longer hours per week before experiencing an increase in stress. Overall, the study suggests that psychedelics are not likely to have a negative impact on employment outcomes.
Effects of social factors on the COVID-19 cases and its evolution in Hubei, China
Authors: Yin Shuqi , Du Lijing , Meng Dongmei
Published: June 2023

Introduction

In order to study the impact of social factors on the evolution of the epidemic, this paper takes the COVID-19 in Hubei Province of China as an example to study the impact of social factors such as the permanent population, universities, hospitals, the distance between Wuhan seafood market and 17 cities in Hubei Province, and the distribution of medical supplies on the COVID-19. This is of great significance for helping to develop effective prevention and control measures and response strategies, ensuring public health and social stability.

Methods

Time series regression analysis is used to study the impact of various factors on the epidemic situation, multidimensional scale analysis is used to assess the differences among provinces, and Almon polynomial is used to study the lag effect of the impact.

Results

We found that these cities can be divided into three groups based on the number of confirmed cases and the time course data of the cases. The results verify that these factors have a great impact on the evolution of the COVID-19.

Discussion

With the increase in the number of universities, the number of confirmed cases and new cases has significantly increased. With the increase in population density, the number of new cases has significantly increased. In addition, the farther away from the Wuhan seafood market, the fewer confirmed cases. It is worth noting that the insufficient increase in medical supplies in some cities still leads to a significant increase in new cases. This impact is regional, and their lag periods are also different. Through the comparison with Guangdong Province, it is concluded that social factors will affect COVID-19. Overall, promoting the construction of medical schools and ensuring the reasonable distribution of medical supplies is crucial as it can effectively assist decision-making.
The hidden inequality: the disparities in the quality of daily use masks associated with family economic status
Authors: Hua Lei , Wang Ying , Mo Bijuan , Guo Zuqi , Wang Yulei , Su Zexuan , Huang Minqi , Chen Han , Ma Xiaowen , Xie Jiaxin , Luo Mengxian
Published: June 2023

Wearing high-quality masks plays a critical role in reducing COVID-19 transmission. However, no study has investigated socioeconomic inequality in the quality of masks. Addressing this gap, this paper explored the relationships between mask’s quality and family economic status. The cross-sectional survey was conducted in two Chinese universities by distributing structured questionnaires to assess participants’ characteristics including family economic status, and meanwhile collecting their masks to evaluate the quality by measuring particle filtration efficiency. The valid responses were obtained from 912 students with mean age of 19.556 ± 1.453  years and were analyzed by using fractional or binary logistic regression. Three main findings were presented. First, inequality existed in the quality of masks. 36.07% of students were using unqualified masks with average filtration efficiency of 0.795 ± 0.119, which was much lower than China’s national standard (0.9). Of those masks with identified production date, 11.43% were manufactured during COVID-19 outbreak when market was flooded with counterfeit production, and thus were of poor quality with average filtration efficiency of 0.819 ± 0.152. Second, better family economic status was associated with better masks’ filtration efficiency and greater probability of using qualified masks. Third, students with better family economic status tend to use masks with individual packaging, and unique patterns and special designs, which may lead to inequality on a psychological level. Our analysis reveals the hidden socioeconomic inequality that exist behind cheap masks. In facing the challenges of future emerging infectious diseases, it is important to address the inequity to ensure equal access to affordable qualified personal protection equipment.
Association between living environmental quality and risk of arthritis in middle-aged and older adults: a national study in China
Authors: Liu Ri , Zhou Yuefei , Liu Yang , Guo Run , Gao Lishu
Published: June 2023

Background

The association between combined environmental factors and the risk of arthritis is still scarcely studied. The present study performed cross-sectional and cohort studies to explore the association between risk score of living environment quality and the risk of arthritis in middle-aged and older adults in China.

Methods

The study was based on China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS), and it recruited 17,218 participants in the cross-sectional study and 11,242 participants in the seven-year follow-up study. The living environment quality was measured by household fuel types, household water sources, room temperature, residence types, and ambient concentration of PM2.5. Logistic regression and Cox proportional hazard regression models were utilized to examine the association between the living environment quality and the risk of arthritis. Competing risk models and stratified analyses were applied to further verify our results.

Results

Compared with individuals in the suitable environment group, people who lived in moderate (OR:1.28, 95%CI: 1.14–1.43) and unfavorable environments (OR:1.49, 95%CI:1.31–1.70) showed higher risks of arthritis when considering the multiple living environmental factors (P for trend <0.001) in the cross-sectional analysis. In the follow-up study, similar results (P for trend = 0.021), moderate environment group (HR:1.26, 95%CI:1.01–1.56) and unfavorable environment group (HR: 1.36, 95%CI: 1.07–1.74), were founded.

Conclusion

Inferior living environment might promote the development of arthritis. It is necessary for the public, especially old people, to improve the living environment, which may be the key to the primary prevention of arthritis.